To this arrangement Leeds gave in public all the opposition that he could with decency give.

In private those who were conscious of guilt employed numerous artifices for the purpose of averting inquiry.

It was whispered that things might come out which every good Englishman would wish to hide, and that the greater part of the enormous sums which had passed through Cook's hands had been paid to Portland for His Majesty's use.
But the Parliament and the nation were determined to know the truth, whoever might suffer by the disclosure.

[579] As soon as the Bill of Indemnity had received the royal assent, the joint committee, consisting of twelve lords and twenty-four members of the House of Commons, met in the Exchequer Chamber.

Wharton was placed in the chair; and in a few hours great discoveries were made.
The King and Portland came out of the inquiry with unblemished honour.
Not only had not the King taken any part of the secret service money dispensed by Cook; but he had not, during some years, received even the ordinary present which the Company had, in former reigns, laid annually at the foot of the throne.