Often, the wits said, when a pump appears to be dry, if a very small quantity of water is poured in, a great quantity of water gushes out: and so, when a Parliament appears to be niggardly, ten thousand pounds judiciously given in bribes will often produce a million in supplies.

The evil was not diminished, nay, it was aggravated, by that Revolution which freed our country from so many other evils.

The House of Commons was now more powerful than ever as against the Crown, and yet was not more strictly responsible than formerly to the nation.

The government had a new motive for buying the members; and the members had no new motive for refusing to sell themselves.

William, indeed, had an aversion to bribery; he resolved to abstain from it; and, during the first year of his reign, he kept his resolution.