The Parliamentary records of William’s reign are curious. The demands which he made for money, the hatred to France which he encouraged, and the frequent supplies he received, are remarkable features in his history. Every art was employed; at one time a mild remonstrance, at another a haughty menace, at a third the reproach that he had ventured his life for the benefit of the country. The bribery during this reign was the commencement of a system which has been very injurious to the credit and character of England. The support of the members was purchased with places, with contracts, with titles, with promises, with portions of the loans, and with tickets in the lottery. The famous axiom of Sir Robert Walpole was a practice and a principle with William; he found that custom could not stale the infinite variety of its effect, and that, so long as bribes continued, so long would supplies be free. Exorbitant premiums were given for money; and so low was public credit, and so great public corruption, that, of 5 millions granted to carry on the war, only 2-½ millions reached the exchequer. Long annuities and short annuities, lottery-tickets and irredeemable debts, made their frequent appearance; and the duties, which principally date from this period, were most pernicious. The hearth-tax was nearly as obnoxious as the poll-tax. The custom and excise duties were doubled. The hawker and the hackney-coach driver, companies and corporations, land and labor, came under his supervision. Births, burials, and bachelors were added to the list, and whether a wife lost a husband, or whether a widow gained one, the effect was alike. Beer and ale, wine and vinegar, coal and culm, all contributed to the impoverished state; and although some who looked back with regret occasionally indulged their spleen, the general tone of the Parliament was submissive. Still, there were times when the truth was spoken; and truths like the following were unpleasant:— “We have provided,” said Sir Charles Sedley, “for the army; we have provided for the navy; and now we must provide for the list. Truly, Mr. Speaker, ’tis a sad reflection that some men should wallow in wealth and places, while others pay away in taxes the fourth part of their revenue. The courtiers and great officers feel not the terms, while the country gentleman is shot through and through. His Majesty sees nothing but coaches and six, and great tables, and therefore cannot imagine the want and misery of the rest of his subjects. He is encompassed by a company of crafty old courtiers.”