If any of them gave a bribe, he gave it out of his own pocket, with little chance of being reimbursed.

But the Old Company, though surrounded by dangers, still held its exclusive privileges, and still made its enormous profits.

Its stock had indeed gone down greatly in value since the golden days of Charles the Second; but a hundred pounds still sold for a hundred and twenty-two.

[180] After a large dividend had been paid to the proprietors, a surplus remained amply sufficient, in those days, to corrupt half a cabinet; and this surplus was absolutely at the disposal of one able, determined and unscrupulous man, who maintained the fight with wonderful art and pertinacity.
The majority of the Commons wished to effect a compromise, to retain the Old Company, but to remodel it, to impose on it new conditions, and to incorporate with it the members of the New Company.

With this view it was, after long and vehement debates and close divisions, resolved that the capital should be increased to a million and a half.