instruments in forwarding the amiable design of our present Sovereign, to promote, by every practicable means, the welfare of all ranks and classes of his subjects.

It is, in truth, a duty we owe to our King and Country, and, if performed faithfully, and without prejudice, entitles us to respect, and attention from the confidential advisers of the Crown, and the ministerial officers of the Government...

It would be more desirable, however, cer tainly, and appear more respectful to the Sovereign, if our information could be intrusted to his Majesty's confidential advisers, and our reliance placed upon their judgment and discretion.

1

But having repeatedly conveyed our sentiments to those whose duty it was to investigate matters concerning the welfare of the Country -having afforded them the result of our inquiries, knowledge, and experience—having laboured in making calculations for them, and referred them to public documents, proving, indisputably, the truth of our statements, and the utility of our advice, and having found that advice and those suggestions treated with indifference or contempt, we are surely justified in making a public appeal to those who have the power to effect a permanent remedy.

The writer of this statement has done all this, has experienced all this. He has contemplated and felt, in common with every other individual in the Printing Business, the injurious effects of the Grants for long terms of the Office of King's Printer. He has, at various times, been assured, that the Government had determined to pursue the most stern system of economy, meaning, no doubt, pecuniary saving, in all branches of their expenditure; he knows that a system of the most rigid kind has been pursued with regard to himself and others, whom no proof of fidelity, no length of service, could save from the ruin of its sweeping and destructive consequences. His complaints of ruinous injury, have been repeatedly met by the assurance, that Government were impelled to this system of parsimony by the distressed state of the Country, and the imperative duty of relieving the people from some portion of the burthen of taxation. In vain did the writerin vain did the other Printers for the Stationery Office, appeal to the unparallelled lowness of the Scale by which their charges were regulated, and minutely checked.* No-competition, to the utmost extent, is the Treasury

t

* This Scale of Prices, settled by Referees appointed by Government in 1814, is given at the end of the pamphlet.

instruments in forwarding the amiable design of our present Sovereign, to promote, by every practicable means, the welfare of all ranks and classes of his subjects.

t

It is, in truth, a duty we owe to our King and Country, and, if performed faithfully, and without prejudice, entitles us to respect, and attention from the confidential advisers of the Crown, and the ministerial officers of the Government.

"

It would be more desirable, however, certainly, and appear more respectful to the Sovereign, if our information could be intrusted to his Majesty's confidential advisers, and our reliance placed upon their judgment and discretion.

1

But having repeatedly conveyed our sentiments to those whose duty it was to investigate matters concerning the welfare of the Country -having afforded them the result of our inquiries, knowledge, and experience—having laboured in making calculations for them, and referred them to public documents, proving, indisputably, the truth of our statements, and the utility of our advice, and having found that advice and those suggestions treated with indifference or contempt, we are surely justified in making a public appeal to those who have the power to effect a permanent remedy.

The writer of this statement has done all this, has experienced all this. He has contemplated and felt, in common with every other individual in the Printing Business, the injurious effects of the Grants for long terms of the Office of King's Printer. He has, at various times, been assured, that the Government had determined to pursue the most stern system of economy, meaning, no doubt, pecuniary saving, in all branches of their expenditure; he knows that a system of the most rigid kind has been pursued with regard to himself and others, whom no proof of fidelity, no length of service, could save from the ruin of its sweeping and destructive consequences. His complaints of ruinous injury, have been repeatedly met by the assurance, that Government were impelled to this system of parsimony by the distressed state of the Country, and the imperative duty of relieving the people from some portion of the burthen of taxation. In vain did the writerin vain did the other Printers for the Stationery Office, appeal to the unparallelled lowness of the Scale by which their charges were regulated, and minutely checked.* No-competition, to the utmost extent, is the Treasury

This Scale of Prices, settled by Referees appointed by Government in 1814, is given at the end of the pamphlet.

command; the writer submits with the others. he retires, after thirty years' service, but without its usual consequences..

But it comes to the writer's knowledge, that a perfectly contrary line of conduct is pursued towards persons transacting the same description of business in other departmentsa conduct the very reverse of economical; in fact, most wasteful and extravagant; and that immensely large sums of money remain in possession of the Patent Printers, which belong to the public, and which ought to be applied to the nécessities of the State.* Not doubting that the heads of the Government are in ignorance of these facts, he thinks it a most imperative duty to undeceive them. He therefore sits down calmly to re-examine the facts of the case, giving to the oral and documentary evidence in his possession, the most attentive and

* I must here, once for all, declare most unequivocally, that I mean no imputation on the Parliamentary Printers. If they have been more favored than myself and others, it is their good fortune, and very possibly their greater merits. Few men would resist the temptation of making a speedy fortune by means of high charges, if they were sure of having them not only passed, but applauded. And as to the vast sums which I imagine to belong to the public, in the hands of the Patentees, I will acknowledge that most men would be desirous of retaining those large sums, if not only permitted, but encouraged in so doing, by persons who should bring them to account. I blame the Government-not their agents.