7497. But I suppose the merchant was entitled to be paid for his debt?-I'm only giving that as an illustration showing how destructive the system is to the morality of the common people, and I have only brought in the merchant because I could not give the illustration without mentioning him.
7498. But you are speaking rather against the people at present than against the merchant?-I am to tell the truth whatever will be its effects.
7499. Did you advise the man not to pay the merchant?-I had nothing to do with advising him. I gave him no advice whatever; it was not part of my duty. I was merely employed by the Board of Trade to hand over the money to him, and I did no more in the way of advising him what to do with it than the Board of Trade would have done. If he had asked me whether he should pay his debts, I would have told him that every man should pay his debts.
7500. But did you advise him not to pay the merchant?-I did no such thing.
7501. You left him to do as he liked with regard to that?- Distinctly.
7502. Did you know anything about the nature of the account which the merchant had against him?-Nothing whatever.
7503. Did you know that the account was due by him to the merchant?-He told me he was afraid of the merchant which led me to conclude at once that he had an account with him, but I knew nothing more about it than that.
7504. You only inferred that he might have an account, and you did not inquire further?-Quite so.
7505. Are you quite sure about that?-Perfectly sure. I knew nothing about the nature of the account, or the amount of the account, or what it was for, or anything about it.
7506. How long is it since that case happened?-It may have been three or four years ago, I cannot be sure of the time.