The people, heavily pressed by taxes, were naturally disposed to regard those who lived on the taxes with little favour.

The war, it was generally acknowledged, was just and necessary; and war could not be carried on without large expenditure.

But the larger the expenditure which was required for the defence of the nation, the more important it was that nothing should be squandered.

The immense gains of official men moved envy and indignation.

Here a gentleman was paid to do nothing.