This would consequently give him admission into
the printing-office where the sheets of this work were then lying; and
as booksellers and printers are free with each other, he would have
the opportunity of seeing what was going on.- Be the case, however, as
it may, Mr. Pitt's plan, little and diminutive as it is, would have
made a very awkward appearance, had this work appeared at the time the
printer had engaged to finish it.
I have now stated the particulars which occasioned the delay, from
the proposal to purchase, to the refusal to print. If all the
Gentlemen are innocent, it is very unfortunate for them that such a
variety of suspicious circumstances should, without any design,
arrange themselves together.
Having now finished this part, I will conclude with stating
another circumstance.
About a fortnight or three weeks before the meeting of Parliament, a
small addition, amounting to about twelve shillings and sixpence a
year, was made to the pay of the soldiers, or rather their pay was
docked so much less. Some Gentlemen who knew, in part, that this
work would contain a plan of reforms respecting the oppressed
condition of soldiers, wished me to add a note to the work, signifying
that the part upon that subject had been in the printer's hands some
weeks before that addition of pay was proposed.
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