The remainder
is of no use but to the Government,--in other words, to a parcel of
priests.
The Pope and the partners of his power must be indifferent financiers,
when, after spending such a pittance on the nation, they contrive to
wind up every year with a deficit. The balance of 1858 showed a
deficit of nearly half a million sterling, which does not prevent the
government from promising a surplus in the estimates of 1859.
In order to fill up the gaps in the budget, the Government has
recourse to borrowing, sometimes openly, by a loan from the house of
Rothschild, sometimes secretly, by an issue of stock.
In 1857 the Pontifical Government contracted its eleventh loan with
Rothschild's house; it was a trifle, something under L700,000.
Nevertheless there were quiet issues of stock from 1851 to 1858, to
the tune of L1,320,000. The capital of the debt for which its subjects
are liable, amounts to L14,376,150. 5s. If you will take the trouble
to divide this grand total by the figure which represents the
population, you will find that every little subject born to the Pope
comes into the world a debtor of something like L4. 10s., whereof he
will contribute to pay the interest all his life, although neither he
nor his ancestors have ever derived the least benefit from the outlay.
It is true these fourteen millions and a half (in round numbers) have
not been lost for all the world. The nephews of the Popes have
pocketed a good round sum.
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