466.000

.

Charges on Imperial Loan

of .

2,000 ted, that after twenty years of actual Ditto on Portuguese Ivan Charges on Civil list and others 1,571,000 service, the state of our navý required

very extensive repairs. Respecting the Mabing a total of .

37,544,000

peace establishment, he did not think he Which being deducted from the above 40,962.000 should be able to bring it under 18 or

19 millions, including the Irish establishLeft a surplus of

3,417,000

ment. He should be happy to find To this is to be added in Annual Duties

another year, that a greater reduction substituted to War Taxes, about 3.000,000

should be practicable. The present calcuWhich formed a total of ..

6,417,000 lation would allow two millions for Ire. Jeft for the service of the State, so that at the close land, and 17 for Great Britain. of the late extensive, long and expensive war, there to meet the annual sum, he would take emained a disposable surplus fund much larger froin the Annual Taxes and Consolie han at its cominencement,

dated Fund, nearly

6,000,000

He would continue War Taxes to the
The sinking fund, which now. produced

amount of

6,500,000 upwards of eleven millions, did not yield and would levy additionul Taxes 10 at that period more than 1,300,000l. It

an amount of about .

5,000,000 was true that we now had a debt of 150 millions, and tliat it only amounted to Making in all

17,500,000 250, at the time of the breaking out of There would'then only remain two milthe revolutionary war. We had in adidi- lions to be provided for Ireland. The tion an'unfunded debt that must be pro- expense of the Loan for the present year yided for. But io meet that expense, we and the charge of the unfunded debt, had 20,000,000 of war taxes.

If it were

would also still be to be detrayed. If it possible to reduce our expenditure to were possible to reduce the amount of what it was at the coramencement of the the peace establishment to 13,000,0001. war, then we should have ample means which was at this moment utterly imin our power to encounter it: but it must practicable

, still the taxes which he had be evident to every one, that such a re- mentioned would be necessary.

He duction was impracticable, and that ex thought them preferable to making aa ertions must be made to meet what could

application to the sinking fuad. not be avoided. The expense of the Every gentleman in the house must be peace establishment would depend upon aware of the expenses which a long war the wisdom of Parliament; he wished entailed upon a nation. These it required įts most deliberate attention should be time to liquidate. After the contest with given to the subject. But it would be America was closed, it was not 'until unfair to look merely at what the peace 1786 that Parliment took the Peace Estaestablishment cost formerly, and not to blis!iment seriously into consideration, take into consideration what was now and even as late as 1731 the Committee really wanted. An augmentation of ex- reported expenses incurred on the account pense was rendered unavoidable at pre- of the war. Therefore he thought he spoke sent, hy many circumstances connected within compuss, when he said that it with the prosperity and greatness of the would scarcely be practicable to wind up empire. We must of necessity auginent the Peace establishinent in less than four our Military Establishment, on account years from the present time. Until 1819, of the increase of our Colonies, Malta, therefore, it would be necessary to have the Cape o Good Hope, several impor- resort to funding Exchequer Bills,. tant islands in the East and West Indies Loans; and, to meet the charges which had been added to our dominions; and those would'occasion' with new taxes. In a great extent of services had been provi- this he had the example of Mr. Pitt, who ded by Parliament, which it did not de- as early as the year 1784, proposed by pend on Government to reduce. Amongst anticipation to form a fund to liquidate these might be mentioned the expence of the debt then funding. There was also the the half-pay allowance, and the widows' unfunded debt, the charge for which was pensions, which alone would not fall also to be provided for, as well as for that much short of the whole amount of our which was funded. The first resource to military establishment at the beginning meet this expenditure might have beer

Was

the continuance of the war taxes, which of 3s. 6d. per window. This assessment wauld have expired last Christmas, had would not yet admit of very accurate they not then been renewed till next estimate ; but it was calculated it July. There were some that had since would produce 50,0001. a year.expired, such as those on the Export of The next tax should affect the rates of British Manufactures, and on goods inhabited houses in a scale of augcarried coastways. These he did not in- mentation, forming an increase of thirty tend to renew, and if he did, their per cent. on the present taxes. The rents amount would not have been consider- of warehouses should be subjected to able. Neither did he propose to continue the 'same impost. The produce of the the duty on cotton wool, if imported in tax upon houses

estimated at British ships. This provision, he thought, 396,5001. and that 61 warehouses at was but a fair encouragement to our 150,0001. The next would be laid

on planters, and no one could contemplate servants and carriages, and would be a it with any regret.

He would not read more considerable and progressive inover the list of taxes; they were familiar to crease of 80 to 90 per cent. If any Genevery one ; he would state their total tleman should object to such an auga amount, which for the year finishing in mentation, he begged of biru to recollect January 1815, consisted of 9,857,0001. what proportion it bore to the Property from this were to be deducted 2,750,0001. Tax. The produce of this tax on ser, and 630,000l. for taxes which had al- vants, 'exclusive of those in trade, was ready expired. He should prepose to con- calculatori at 410,0001. a year. The lat. tirsue only out of the rest to ihe amount ter would vot produce so large a sum, of 6,513,0001.--He should now proceed the estimate was about 140,0001. 'The to the new taxes wlich die land in view. impost on carriages, ata rate of alout He thought he should gratily the curiosity 75 per cent. would produce, it was of the house if he did not bring the in thought, 360,000l. "That on the horses forward in the usual order, but cone at of pleasure, for he should refrain from cnice to the Assessed Taxes, on which taxing those for husbandry, would bring the attention of most people seemed to at the rate of 80 per cent. about be fixed. He should oot propose any ad-. 632,3001. The new duty on trade herses dition to the duty on winslows in india would enly be 40 per cent. and would bited houses. He knew it was a tax most produce 13,5001. '1 hat on dogs, al 30 inconvenient to the middling classes, per cent. Would yield 105,5001., ani that whom it was his mosi sintele wisli to on game certificates, 42,0001. relieve as effectually as possible. But he lors had hiidento paid an additional duty, would lay a duty on new objects, to be on servants only: they should now pay included in the denomination of windouis an increase of 50 per cent. both on ser: ---hencant greenhouses, boi-licuses, vants and carriages and horses. The and conservatories, which had hitherto produce of this fax was expected to paid no duties. ? he assessment vould be amount to 120,000l, and the total of the made on a superticial nieasure of glass, of new Assessed Taxes to 2,500,0001.

Не 48 fect, which should be deemed equal should now proceed to the additions he 10 a window. The rate would not be pro- intended to make to theWar Taxes whichi gressive, but would not exceed 3s. Od. were to be retained. He should propose per window. 'lbus an extent of glass, an additional duty on tobacco, on the 60 feet broad by 12 in height, would pay ground that the peace with America upon the whole 31. 7s. bu. No one, die would necessarily reuder the price of that trusted, would consider such a tax ob- article very low, and enable it to bear a jectionable.-(hiar, hear!). Considering | fresh duty of nearly 9d. in the pound, The great advantages which traders would at ibe rate of 2d. three-farthings per der.ve fiuin de opening of the European pound paid to the customs, and 6d. per pents, and the revival of peace and com-pound paid to the excise, which would mercial itlarious throughout the world, jointly produce 300,0007. The excise he thought they might fauly he brought duties on wine should also experience

hairly to contribute more than theylad done to increase of 201. per tun, which the public service. Hie slivaldi therefore would yield a revenue of 600,0001, propose, that shops and warehouses annually. The next tax would not sxculd pay the same propertionate duty perkaps be unobjecticeable. li vaight

an

RATE.

PRODUOS.

tun

cent.

per cent.

.

press hard upon the persons whom it, however, would be a subsequent consi) concerned, but it was an object which deration. The total essimated amount had scarcely experienced any increase of the new measures which he has already during the whole of the late protracted proposed, was 3,728,0001. war. He meant licences to dealers in For the better information of the Com. excisable articles. A duty of fifty per mittee, he would repeat in a more concent. progressive upon

these would nected form the statements which he had produce 300,0001. It would certainly made, enumerating the various articles, be unequal in its pressure, but by a describing the rate of duty, and the proreference to the 43d of the King, c. 65, bable produce, viz. it would be found that what he proposed was moderate.

The whole of the new Customs---Tobacco, 24d. per lb. taxes under the head of the Excise Excise Tobacco, cid. per Ib. 150,000

130,000 would yield to the country 950,0001. a

Licences-Double fixed Rates year. He would now proceed to imposts

300,000 of a different description.

50 per cent progressive
The first
Wine--201.
per

500,000 would not be very considerable, and

950,00* this was not the first tiine that it had ASSESSB) Taxes, viz. been thought of, though it had never yet Inhabited House Duty, 30 per been entirely adopted. As early as

396,000 1788, it was proposed that one penny Progressive Servants' Tax, 80 should be paid on every newspaper sent to 90 per cent.

308,300 by post. This had been carried into Under Gardeners, &c. various 101,500 etfect with respect to papers forwarded Trade Servants and Servants by the Two-penny post, but not by the for hire, various

148,000 Cieneral: for it was supposed that any Carriages, about 75 per cent. 363,000 thing that would check the circulation Horses for pleasure, about 80 of papers would have an injurious ten

632,500 dency. But he was certain that no one Trade Horses, about 40 per who indulged in the luxury of reading

85,500 a London Paper, a luxury with which Dogs, about 30 per cent, 105,500

well acquainted, would deprive Game Certificates, ditto 42,000 himself of that enjoyment for the sake

New Doris8, of saving one penny. He should appre- Windows in Warehouses and hend, however, that Members of Parlia

Hot-houses, $s. 6d. per win. ment would contrive to receive their

dow

50,000 newspapers free of postage, (Here a

Rent of Warehouses, same as general cry of No, no, arose, and Mr.

Houses

150,000 Whitbread said across the table, “ Members."). As it appeared to be the

Bachelors---53 per cent. addi

tional on Servants, Carriages universal sense of the House not to avail

and Horses

120,000 themselves of their prerogatives on this

2,503,009 occasion, he would make no exception Post Office--1d.

on each in their favour in this duty, which was Newspaper

50,000 calculated to produce 50,0001. a year. East India and Foreign PostIt was not his intention to propose any

age Regulation

75,000 further vote with respect to the Post

123,000 Office that night; but other measures

3,728,000 were in conteni plation, which he should hereafter submit to the judgment of But he had already said, that he should Parliament. These, however, would not propose taxes to the amount of five milaffect the inland 'revenue. They would lions. He would, now therefore state to refer to the establishment of a regular the Committee what other measures conveyance of letters to the East Indies, were in contemplation, and the reason for and to an improveinent in the measures the delay in submitting them to Parliaadopted last session with respect to fo- ment. It was intended to propose a: reign and other ship letters, from which considerable and proportionate increase he expected that the revenue would de- of the Stamp Duties, (with the exception Tire an augmentatioą of 75,0001. This, of those on law proceedings) from which

cent.

all

were

.

«Тах

1

.

it was expected that an additional reve- sum for the purpose of liquidating the nge of 7 or 800,0001. would be derived ; | immediate and pressing expences of the but, as the Committee must be well aware, winding up of the war. He now, however, a new Schedule on a subject so compli-thought that it would be more beueficial cater, could not be prepared without to allow the sinking Fund to increase for considerable delay-Supposing that this four years at compound interest, withnew proposition would be productive out any reserve or deduction whatever; to the amount which he had descrised, in which it would produce there would remain about 800,0031. Still 150,000,0001. a sum that would be to be raised ; and he trusted, that in re- capanse of redeeming the whole funded viewing the existing system of bounties debt (if it were thought advisable wholly sud drawbacks, Parlisaient might find tu redeene il) in 15 years, which would the means of obtaining this sum. In the be winiu the limits prescribed by article of printed cottons for instance, 19.1. Pirtsaci. It was peculiarly desirathe bounties were rendered unnecessary i ble, só recently after the cessation of by the prosperity of the manufaciure hostilities, to avoid trenching on sa The bounties demanded, were in some important a resoirce, and one whicb cases so extensive, that although ie was could be converted into the means of reluctant to suspect the 'existence et enabling us to meet an uafvreseen and fraud, there was reason for circumspec suidea contingency. The ferment into tion and enquiry. (The Right ilondura- which barere had been throwd was bie Gentleman made some furicer obser- scarcely calmed; the iü.tary ardour vations on this subject, and on the drawn which had been so prevaluat was scarcely backs on sugar, &c. but in a tone of voice ahated. In this point of view the lapse 80 low as to prevent, us from accurately of a littię time iniy bi le of the greatest collecting his meaning.) le came now impertance. Every car, every month, to say a few words on an article of very rendered stronger the probability of a extensive cor.sumption in this country-- contiaux.ee of peace. At the expira, he meant beer. A few years ago a great tion of four years--ving prudentiy re, increase took place in the price of beer. served to ourselves during that period The public were convinced that the pre- the power of answering any unexpected sent price was greater than it oughi to but imperious demand-should then, be; and that if it were continuert, the in greater security, have an opportunity to country hail a fair title to participate in consider of the best mode of avalling The advautages which must consequently ourselves of all the resources which we accruelle was very in withig, how possessed for lightening the burthens ever, to appear to increase to charge of the country. The committee and the of an article of so great necessity; and country must be well aware, that the he would much rather, by the hint | best security for peace was to show that which he had thrown out, be tiie means we were perfectly prepared for war. By çf diminishing the existing price. "Ile a continuance of the Property Tax, and Po dwave ibat in cases of this nature it by an abstence from the Sinking Fund, was a delicate nialter for Government we should every year strengthen our to interfere between the producer and lands; and as on the one hand he trusted the coósumer; but living been a party we should fibibit a moderation equal to to the fomier increase of Pich, and ba- our power, so on the other we should ving no aithculty in saying that in bis lay a fountation for the attainment of a opinion the present price was excrbitant, force tijat was best calculated to preserve tre did not wish to be cousidered tespen- us is indisturbed tranquillity. That sible for it. -lie was now about to sub- very night would deliver tie country mit to the Coniniitee liis siycessions with from an annual taxation of nine respect to the provien fox rhe charges millions; and not only would the of the Loan, and of the unfundec debt. relief be directly advantageous to those Adverting ta the sum in tisa hands of by whom it nouke' lie feit, but in the the Commissioners wr the reduction of expenditure of ihe money thus saved by the Natiotat Debt, be observed that be the people, a iarge portion of it would hart on a former occasion stated that it circuitously, but yet çezainly, find its might be advisable on the restoration way into the public Treasury, and thus of peace; to reserve a portion on pat contribute ju the strength of the State

revenue

The gradual but steady inerease of the Tax,which Mr. PORTALI, at the Ilaniprevenue was also a subject of gratifying shire Meeting, called a Highway, man's-tax, contemplation. On the 5th of April, bat which Mi. VANSITTART said, it had 1814, the total amount of the revenue enabled us to eflect the deliverance of for the year, (exclusive of the Property Europe. What would this deliverance

Tax) was 48,436,000. In the preceding appear to be, if Mr. Portall's defiuition year the revenue (with the same exclusi- were taken into account? It is very true, on) did not amount to 37,000,0001. ? so however, that the Pope has been dethat in that year there was an increase livered, that the Jesuiis have been deof about 1,800'0001. At Christmas livered, that the Dominicuns have been last the

revenue for the year (ex- delivered (except in France), that the clusive of the Property Pax) was 51,- Holy Inquisition as been delivered, that 211,000l. being an increase of near Genoa bas been delivered up, that Italy 3,000,000). This progress of the public bas shared the same jäle, thiet Saxony and

woulu teud materially to re- Poland and Belgium aie all likely to unhieve the public burtheus; and here he dergo the same kind of deliverance. The could not refrain from congratulating Bourbons, two bave been delivered ; but the comitee and the country on having the people of Prace do not seem to har achived the great object of the arduous leen delivered on their means of surpassing struggle in which they had been engaged, us 'in agriculiural produce, ror of their with the resources of the country in a

of carrying on manufactories state of such strength and hope. He upon an extensive scale. They are not we'l recoilected that at the first dipper yet delivered of the Code Napoleon, ror whici: 12. Pitt gure aiter the con mence- í their sutierings from the want oit;thes, ment of the contest, Mir: Burke til!cd a monks, gabelles, corvées, and ièudal glass of wine and drank “Euccess to this leadres a vassaluge, It is, however, long war!'? The Company in general very good to hear, that the successes of were not prepared for this express.on, the war are to be attributed to our taxes, ** long," conceiving that the war would though it may not be so palatable to the soon ve terminated; and some of them heroos who have been personally engageri having expressed their surprise, Mr. in that war. It may vex, then io hear it Burke continued—“I say this long and asserted, isat we owe our victories to che sanguinary war; for such it must be purse; and the assersion does indeed, Durate, et vosmet rebus servate secundis. seem to justify the plaintive allusion, in Let' durute,' be your motto," The per- the Hampshje l'etition, to the Repu severance which that great man recom- Knighis oy the Butle ; for, really, if our mended had been undeviating adopted ; , warlike successes le to be attributed to and never had the efforts of any staie our purse, is seems but just, that those been crowned with more coinpiete irinwho'filled that parse, should share umph. The Right Hon. Gentleman con in the honours which are the reward of cluded by moving his first jesuiution. those victories. The Order of Taxalica,

) scens, tberefore, to be fully justified ou There was nothing in the debate worthy the assertion of these gentlemen, and why of the smailest notice. No one objecteu should we not llave it?--Of the fact, to the proposed taxes, as being the means however, I have not the least dcubi. I of supporting a stanuing army in time or have always been of opinion, that peace; no one found ia ult of the intention the iaxes of England wun the victo keep tip, in time of peace, all the war tories; and, indeed, so have the taxes except the property tax; no one, French always said. They, to do them in short, nor any single word, at all in- jasiice, acknowledged, trom the comteresting 10 any man, who has a regaru mencement of the war with us, that it was for the principles of our ancient laws and our money that weat them. They used to governmen --There was nothing but co call it

call it "tor de Pitt," Pitts gold; and .. vil; nothing at all, that came tv any in our present doctrine seems fuliy to tally

teresting point. Therefore, I shali only with that assertion. Yes, it certainly was have to remark on the Budgel-speech it the English taxes that overthrew Napoself-The Chancellor of the Exchequer leon, and that restored Ferdinand the begun by ap. eulogjan ou the Property beloved, and the Pope. Talk of the Løs

fsacks indeed! They, to be sure, carried