Under the head of Expenditure, we read “Commerce, Fine Arts, Agriculture, Manufactures, and Public Works, 601,764 scudi.”  A tolerable lump, this.

This powerful simplification of accounts enables the Minister to perform some capital tricks of financial sleight of hand.  Supposing, for instance, the Government wants half a million of scudi for some mysterious purpose, nothing is easier than to bring their direct contributions in as having paid half a million less than they really have.  What will Europe ever know about the matter?

  “Speech is silver, but silence is gold.”

Successive Finance Ministers at Rome have all adopted this device, even when they are forced to speak, they have the art of not saying the very thing the country wants to hear.

In almost all civilized countries the nation enjoys two rights which seem perfectly just and natural.  The first is that of voting the taxes, either directly or through the medium of its deputies; the second, that of verifying the expenditure of its own money.

In the Papal kingdom, the Pope or his Minister says to the citizens, “Here is what you have to pay!” And he takes the money, spends it, and never more alludes to it except in the vaguest language.

Still, in order to afford some sort of satisfaction to the conscience of Europe, Pius IX. promised to place the finances under the control of a sort of Chamber of Deputies.  Here is the text of this promise, which figured, with many others, in the Motu Proprio of the 12th of September, 1849.

“A Consulta di Stato for the Finances is established.  It will be heard on the estimates of the forthcoming year.  It will examine the balance of accounts for the previous year, and sign the vote of credit.  It will give its advice on the establishment of new, or the reduction of old taxes; on the better distribution of the general taxation; on the measures to be taken for the improvement of commerce, and in general on all that concerns the interests of the public Treasury.

“The Councillors shall be selected by Us from lists presented by the Provincial Councils.  Their number shall be fixed in proportion to the provinces of the State.  This number may be increased within fixed limits by the addition of some of our subjects, whom we reserve to ourselves the right to name.”

Now, allow me to dwell briefly upon the meaning of this promise, and the results which have followed it.  Who knows whether diplomacy may not ere long be again occupied in demanding promises of the Pope?—­whether the Pope may not again think it wise to promise mountains and marvels?—­whether these new promises may not be just as hollow and insincere as the old ones?  This short paragraph deserves a long commentary, for it is fraught with instruction.

“It is established!” said the Pope.  But the Consulta di Stato of Finances, established the 12th of September, 1849, only gave signs of life in December, 1853.  Four years afterwards!  This is what I call drawing a bill at a pretty long date.  It is admitted that the nation needs some guarantees, and that it is entitled to tender some advice, and to exercise some control.  And so the nation is requested to call again in four years.