Swift accused him, as Lord-lieutenant, of shameless depravity of manners, of injustice, greed, and gross venality.

It is still one of the speculations of history; it is not one of its established facts, although the opinions of enlightened historians seem to lean to the necessity of the Caesarian imperialism, in view of the misrule of the aristocracy and the abject venality of the citizens who had votes to sell.

But the most marked feature of the times was excessive venality.

So we pass from the fact that individualism is hopeless muddle to the fact that the individualist idea is one of limitless venality, Who can buy, may control.

Even this was not enough; justice was administered with scandalous venality and disregard of the existing laws and procedure.