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HISTORY OP EXGLAIsD.

CHAP.XX1.161 ) 5 .

Inquiryby a jointcommit-tee ofLordsand Com-mons.

bill of indemnity; and I will tell you all.” The Lords thoughthis request not altogether unreasonable. After some com-munication with the Commons, it was determined that a jointcommittee of the two Houses should be appointed to inquireinto the manner in which the secret service money of the EastIndia Company had been expended; and an Act was rapidlypassed providing that, if Cook would make to this committee atrue and full discovery, he should be indemnified for the crimeswhich he might confess; and that, till he made such a discovery,he should remain in the Tower. To this arrangement Leedsgave in public all the opposition that he could with decencygive. In private those who were conscious of guilt employednumerous artifices for the purpose of averting inquiry. It waswhispered that things might come out which every goodEnglishman would wish to hide, and that the greater part of theenormous sums which had passed through Cook’s hands hadbeen paid to Portland for His Majesty’s use. But the Parlia-ment and the nation were determined to know the truth, who-ever might suffer by the disclosure.*

As soon as the Bill of Indemnity had received the royalassent, the joint committee, consisting of twelve lords andtwenty four members of the House of Commons, met in theExchequer Chamber. Wharton was placed in the chair; and ina few hours great discoveries were made.

The King and Portland came out of the inquiry with un-blemished honour. Not only had not the King taken any partof the secret service money dispensed by Cook; but he had not,during some years, received even the ordinary present whichthe Company had, in former reigns, laid annually at the foot ofthe throne. It appeared that not less than fifty thousandpounds had been offered to Portland, and rejected. The moneylay during a whole year ready to be paid to him if he should

* Exact Collection of Debates and Proceedings.