Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1805 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAP. VI. On the Finances of the Order. General Observations on the Science of Finance. Meaning of Deficit. Origin of Loans. Venerable Chamber of the common Treasury; in what Manner composed; its Functions; Arrangement of the Accounts; general Receipt; Explanation of the Articles which compose it. The annual Produce, on an Average of ten Years. Contingent of each Language. Income of different Foundations fallen into the Treasury; their Amount, and hmv employed. Explanation of the Articles which form the general Expences of the Order; their annual Amount, on an Average of ten Years. A Comparison between the Balance of the Treasury in April, 1779, ond April, 1789. A Table of Receipts and Expences. x H E science of finance was never carried to so high a point of perfection, nor studied with so much attention, as in the last century. The expences of all the different powers exceeding their revenues, it was necessary to devise some method to supply the void in the sovereign's coffers. This void is termed deficit; and those ministers who were most skilled in the art of procuring money were regarded as the most able, and the only ones, indeed, whom a prince was desirous of retaining in his service. This necessity gave rise to what is called the science of finance; the knowledge of which raises a nation to the height of glory, while ignorance of it plunges it into an abyss of misery. Such repeated want of money made it necessary to borrow, by way of loan; consequently, to establish a certain degree of credit: whence arose the obligation of giving in accounts, and the estimation in which a government was held by the other European powers. Since, then, in the present order of things, the real solidity of a state can only be judged of by a...
