[The Prose Works of Jonathan Swift, Vol. X. by Jonathan Swift]@TWC D-Link book
The Prose Works of Jonathan Swift, Vol. X.

BOOK II
47/492

33, 41, and 42 of that paper (see vol.
ix, of this edition).

[W.S.J.]] The overtures made by this minister, of paying so vast a debt, under the pressures of a long war, and the difficulty of finding supplies for continuing it, was, during the time of his illness, ridiculed by his enemies as an impracticable and visionary project: and when, upon his return to the House, he had explained his proposal, the very proprietors of the debt were, many of them, prevailed on to oppose it; although the obtaining this trade, either through Old Spain, or directly to the Spanish West Indies, had been one principal end we aimed at by this war.
However, the bill passed; and, as an immediate consequence, the naval bills rose to about twenty _per cent_., nor ever fell within ten of their discount.

Another good effect of this work appeared by the parliamentary lotteries, which have been since erected.

The last of that kind, under the former ministry, was eleven weeks in filling; whereas the first, under the present, was filled in a very few hours, although it cost the government less; and the others, which followed, were full before the Acts concerning them could pass.

And to prevent incumbrances of this kind from growing for the future, he took care, by the utmost parsimony, or by suspending payments, where they seemed less to press, that all stores for the navy should be bought with ready money; by which _cent.


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