Pliny, Letter 10.54

1The public funds, sir, thanks to your foresight and my own service, have both already been collected and are still being collected; 1and I fear that they may lie idle. 1For there is either no opportunity or only a very rare one for buying estates, nor can people be found who are willing to be in debt to the city, especially at twelve per cent, the rate at which they borrow from private lenders. 2Consider, then, sir, whether you think the interest ought to be lowered and suitable borrowers attracted by this means, and, if even so they are not found, whether the money should be distributed among the town councillors, on condition that they give the city proper security; 2and although they are unwilling and refuse, this will be less harsh if a lighter rate of interest has been fixed.