Before night six hundred thousand pounds had been subscribed.

The next day the throng was as great.

More than one capitalist put down his name for thirty thousand pounds.

To the astonishment of those ill boding politicians who were constantly repeating that the war, the debt, the taxes, the grants to Dutch courtiers, had ruined the kingdom, the sum, which it had been doubted whether England would be able to raise in many weeks, was subscribed by London in a few hours.

The applications from the provincial towns and rural districts came too late.