37,544,000 Making a total of To this is to be added in Annual Duties Which formed a total of 3,417 466.000 of the war. It must likewise be 'recollec57,000 ted, that after twenty years of actual 1,571,000 service, the state of our navy required very extensive repairs. Respecting the peace establishment, he did not think he should be able to bring it under 18 or 19 millions, including the Irish establishment. He should be happy to find another year, that a greater reduction should be practicable. The present calcu lation would allow two millions for Ireland, and 17 for Great Britain. To meet the annual sum, he would take from the Annual Taxes and Consoli dated Fund, nearly He would continue Wat Taxes to the 1 3.000,000 6,417,000 left for the service of the State, so that af the close of the late extensive, long and expensive war, there emained a disposable surplus fund much larger han at its commencement, amount of an amount of about Making in all .... 6,000,000 6,500,000 5,000,000 17,500,000 The sinking fund, which now. produced upwards of eleven millions, did not yield And would levy additional Taxes to at that period more than 1,300,000l. It was true that we now had a debt of 850 millions, and that it only amounted to 250, at the time of the breaking out of the revolutionary war. We had in addition an unfunded debt that must be provided for. But to meet that expense, we had 20,000,000 of war taxes. If it were possible to reduce our expenditure to what it was at the commencement of the war, then we should have ample means in our power to encounter it: but it must be evident to every one, that such a re-mentioned would be necessary. He duction was impracticable, and that ex ertions must be made to meet what could There would then only remain two millions to be provided for Ireland. The expense of the Loan for the present year and the charge of the unfunded debt, would also still be to be defrayed. If it were possible to reduce the amount of the peace establishment to 13,000,0001. which was at this moment utterly impracticable, still the taxes which he had thought them preferable to making an application to the sinking fuad.Every gentleman in the house must be aware of the expenses which a long war entailed upon a nation. These it required time to liquidate. After the contest with America was closed, it was not until 1786 that Parliment took the Peace Esta blishment seriously into consideration, and even as late as 1791 the Committee not be avoided. The expense of the peace establishment would depend upon the wisdom of Parliament; he wished its most deliberate attention should be given to the subject. But it would be unfair to look merely at what the peace establishment cost formerly, and not to take into consideration what was now really wanted. An augmentation of ex-reported expenses incurred on the account pense was rendered unavoidable at present, by many circumstances connected with the prosperity and greatness of the empire. We must of necessity augment our Military Establishment, on account of the increase of our Colonies, Malta, the Cape of Good Hope, several important islands in the East and West Indies had been added to our dominions; and a great extent of services had been provided by Parliament, which it did not depend on Government to reduce. Amongst these might be mentioned the expence of the half-pay allowance, and the widows' pensions, which alone would not fall much short of the whole amount of our military establishment at the beginning of the war. Therefore he thought he spoke within compass, when he said that it would scarcely be practicable to wind up the Peace establishment in less than four years from the present time. Until 1819, therefore, it would be necessary to have resort to funding Exchequer Bills, or Loans; and, to meet the charges which those would occasion' with new taxes. In this he had the example of Mr. Pitt, who as early as the year 1781, proposed by anticipation to form a fund to liquidate the debt then funding. There was also the unfunded debt, the charge for which was also to be provided for, as well as for that which was funded. The first resource to meet this expenditure might have beer Gen of 3s. 6d. per window. This assessment the continuance of the war taxes, which would have expired last Christmas, had they not then been renewed till next July. There were some that had since expired, such as those on the Export of British Manufactures, and on goods carried coastways. These he did not intend to renew, and if he did, their amount would not have been consider able. Neither did he propose to continue the duty on cotton wool, if imported in British ships. This provision, he thought, was but a fair encouragement to our planters, and no one could contemplate it with any regret. He would not read over the list of taxes; they were familiar to every one; he would state their total amount, which for the year finishing in January 1815, consisted of 9,857,000l. From this were to be deducted 2,750,000l. and 630,000l. for taxes which had already expired. He should propose to continue only out of the rest to the amount of 6,518,0007.-He should now proceed to the new taxes which he had in view. He thought he should gratify the curiosity of the House if he did not bring them forward in the usual order, but come at cnce to the Assessed Taxes, on which the attention of most people seemed to be fixed. He should not propose any addition to the duty on windows in inha-would only be 40 per cent. and would bited houses. He knew it was a tax most produce 85,5007. That on dogs, at 30 inconvenient to the middling classes, per cent, would yield 105,5007., and that whom it was his most sincere wish to on game certificates, 42,0001. Backerelieve as effectually as possible. But he lors had hitherto 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 windows an increase of 50 per cent. both on ser he meant green-houses, hot-houses, vants and carriages and horses. The and conservatories, which had hitherto produce of this tax was expected to paid no duties. The assessment would be amount to 120,000l. and the total of the made on a superficial measure of glass, of new Assessed Taxes to 2,500,0007. 48 fect, which should be deemed equal should now proceed to the additions he to a window. The rate would not be pro-intended to make to theWar Taxes which gressive, but would not exceed 3s. Gd. per window. Thus an extent of glass, 60 feet broad by 12 in height, would pay apon the whole 37. 7s. 6d. No one, he trusted, would consider such a tax objectionable.-(car, hear !) - Considering the great advantages which traders would derive from the opening of the European ports, and the revival of peace and com-pound paid to the excise, which would mercial relations throughout the world, he thought they might fairly be brought to contribute more than they had done to the public service. He should therefore propose, that shops and warehouses should pay the same propertionate duty He were to be retained. He should propose an additional duty on tobacco, on the ground that the peace with America would necessarily render the price of that article very low, and enable it to bear a fresh duty of nearly 9d. in the pound, at the rate of 2d. three-farthings per pound paid to the customs, and 6d. per jointly produce 300,0007. The excise duties on wine should also experience an increase of 207. per tun, which would yield a revenue of 500,0007, annually. The next fax would not perkaps be unobjectionable. It might RATE. PRODUCE. Customs-Tobacco, 24d. per lb. 50 per cent. progressive 300,000 ASSESSED TAXES, viz. cent. 596,000 308,500 Progressive Servants' Tax, 80 for hire, various 148,000 Carriages, about 75 per cent. 363,000 per cent. Trade Horses, about 40 per 632,500 150,000 950,000 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 permittee, he would repeat in a more concent. progressive upon these would nected form the statements which he had produce 300,000l. It would certainly made, enumerating the various articles, be unequal in its pressure, but by a describing the rate of duty, and the pro reference 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 taxes under the head of the Excise would yield to the country 950,000l. a year. He would now proceed to imposts of a different description. The first would not be very considerable, and this was not the first time that it had been thought of, though it had never yet been entirely adopted. As early as 1788, it was proposed that one penny should be paid on every newspaper sent by post. This had been carried into effect with respect to papers forwarded by the Two-penny post, but not by the ieneral: for it was supposed that any thing that would check the circulation of papers would have an injurious tendency. But he was certain that no one who indulged in the luxury of reading a London Paper, a luxury with which all were well acquainted, would deprive himself of that enjoyment for the sake of saving one penny. He should apprehend, however, that Members of Parliament would contrive to receive their newspapers free of postage. (Here a general cry of No, no, arose, and Mr. Whitbread said across the table, Members.") As it appeared to be the universal sense of the House not to avail themselves of their prerogatives on this occasion, he would make no exception in their favour in this duty, which was calculated to produce 50,000l. a year. It was not his intention to propose any further vote with respect to the Post Office that night; but other measures were in contemplation, which he should hereafter submit to the judgment of Parliament. These, however, would not affect the inland revenue. They would refer to the establishment of a regular conveyance of letters to the East Indies, and to an improvement in the measures adopted last session with respect to foreign and other ship letters, from which he expected that the revenue would deTive an augmentation of 75,0001. This, sum for the purpose of liquidating the immediate and pressing expences of the winding up of the war. He now, however, thought that it would be more beneficial to allow the Sinking Fund to increase for four years at compound interest, without any reserve or deduction whatever; in which case it would produce it was expected that an additional revenue of 7 or 800,0001. would be derived; but, as the Committee must be well aware, a new Schedule on a subject so complicated, could not be prepared without considerable delay-Supposing that this new proposition would be productive to the amount which he had described, there would remain about 800,0001. súli | 150,000,0007. a sum that would be to be raised; and he trusted, that in reviewing the existing system of bounties and drawbacks, Parliament might find the means of obtaining this sum. In the article of printed cottons for instance, the bounties were rendered unnecessary by the prosperity of the manufacture. The bounties demanded, were in some cases so extensive, that although he was reluctant to suspect the existence of fraud, there was reason for circumspection and enquiry. (The Right Honourable Gentleman made some further observations on this subject, and on the draw backs on sugar, &c. but in a tone of voice so low as to prevent us from accurately collecting his meaning.) He came now to say a few words on an article of very extensive consumption in this country--| he meant beer. A few years ago a great increase took place in the price of beer. The public were convinced that the present price was greater than it ought to be; and that if it were continued, the country had a fair title to participate in the advantages which must consequently accrue. He was very unwilling, how ever, to appear to increase the charge of an article of so great necessity; and he would much rather, by the hint which he had thrown out, be the means of diminishing the existing price. He was aware that in cases of this nature it was a delicate matter for Government to interfere netween the producer and the consumer; but having been a party to the former increase of quic, and baving no difcuity in saying that in his opinion the present price was exorbitant, Ire did not wish to be considered lespon sible for it. He was now about to submit to the Committee his suggestions with respect to the provision for the charges of the Loan, and of the unfunded debt. Adverting to the sum in the hands of the Commissioners for the reduction of the National Debt, he observed that he had on a former occasion stated that it might be advisable on the restoration of peace, tu reserve a portion of that capable of redeeming the whole funded debt (if it were thought advisable wholly to redeem it) in 45 years; which would be within the limits prescribed by Mr. Piits act. It was peculiarly desirable, so recently after the cessation of hostilities, to avoid trenching on so important a resource, and one which could be converted into the means of enabling us to meet an unforeseen and surden conflagency. The ferment into which-Hurone had been thrown was scarcely calmed; the military ardour which had been so prevaleat was scarcely abated. In this point of view the lapse of a little time might be of the greatest importance. Every year, every month, rendered stronger the probability of a continuance of peace. At the expira tion of four years--iving prudently reserved to ourselves during that period the power of answering any unexpected but imperious demand- --we should then, in greater security, have an opportunity to consider of the best mode of availing ourselves of all the resources which we possessed for lightening the burtheng of the country. The committee and the country must be well aware, that the best security for peace was to shew that we were perfectly prepared for war. By a continuance of the Property Tax, and by an abstinence from the Sinking Fund, we should every year strengthen our Lands; and as on the one hand he trusted we should exhibit a moderation equal to our power, so on the other we should lay a foundation for the attainment of a force that was best calculated to preserve us i undisturbed tranquillity. That very night would deliver the country from an annual taxation of nine millions; and not only would the relief be directly advantageous to those by whom it would be felt, but in the expenditure of the money thus saved by the people, a large portion of it would circuitously, but yet certainly, find its way into the public Treasury, and thus contribute to the strength of the State The gradual but steady increase of the Tax,which Mr. PORTALI, at the Hamp revenue was also a subject of gratifying shire Meeting, called a highwayman's-tax, contemplation. On the 5th of April, bat which Mr. VANSITTART said, it had 1814, the total amount of the revenue enabled us to effect 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 definition year the revenue (with the same exclusi- were taken into account? It is very true, on) did not amount to 37,000,000. ? so however, that the Pope has been dethat in that vear there was an increase livered, that the Jesuits have been deof about 1,800'0007. At Christmas livered, that the Dominicans have been last the revenue for the year (ex- delivered (except in France), that the clusive of the Property Tax) was 51,- Holy Inquisition has been delivered, that 211,000 being an increase of near Genoa has been delivered up, that Italy 3,000,000). This progress of the public has shared the same fate, that Saxony and revenue would teud materially to re- Poland and Belgium are all likely to unlieve 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 committee and the country on having the people of France do not seem to hav achived the great object of the arduous been delivered or their means of surpassing struggle in which they had been engaged, us in agricultural produce, nor of their with the resources of the country in a means of carrying o manufactories state of such strength and hope. He upon an extensive scale. They are not well recollected that at the first dinner yet delivered of the Code Napoleon, nor which Mr. Pitt gave after the commence ment of the contest, Mr. Burke filled a glass of wine and drank “Success to this long war! The Company in general | were not prepared for this expression, long," conceiving that the war would soon be terminated; and some of them having expressed their surprise, Mr. Burke continued-"I say this long and sanguinary war; for such it must be, Durate, et vosmet rebus servate secundis, Let' durate,' be your motto," The perseverance which that great man recommended had been undeviating adopted; and never had the efforts of any state been crowned with more complete tri- } umph. The Right Hon. Gentleman concluded by moving his first tesolution. their sufferings from the want of tythes, monks, gabelles, corvées, and feudal tenures and vassalage, It is, however, very good to hear, that the successes of the war are to be attributed to our taxes, though it may not be so palatable to the heroes who have been personally engaged in that war. It may vex them to hear it asserted, that we owe our victories to the purse; and the assersion does indeed, seem to justify the plaintive allusion, in the Hampshire Petition, to the new Knights of the Bath; for, really, if our warlike successes be to be attributed to our purse, is seems but just, that those who filled that purse, should share in the honours which are the reward of those victories. The Order of Taxation, seems, therefore, to be fully justified ou the assertion of these gentlemen, and why should we not have it?-Of the fact, however, I have not the least doubt. have always been of opinion, that the taxes of England wen the victories; and, indeed, SO have the French always said. They, to do them justice, acknowledged, trom the commencement of the war with us, that it was our moncy that beat them. They used to I There was nothing in the debate worthy of the smallest notice. No one objected to the proposed taxes, as being the means of supporting a standing army in time of peace; no one found fault of the intention to keep up, in time of peace, all the war taxes except the property tax; no one, in short, nor any single word, at all interesting to any man, who has a regard for the principles of our ancient laws and governmem. There was nothing but cecall it "l'or_de_Pitt," Pitts gold; and vil; nothing at all, that came to any in- our present doctrine seems fully to tally teresting point. Therefore, I shall only with that assertion. Yes, it certainly was have to remark on the Budget-speech it- the English taxes that overthrew Napo self. The Chancellor of the Exchequer eon, and that restored Ferdinand the begun by an eulogium on the Property-beloved, and the Pope. Talk of the Cos Psacks indeed! They, to be sure, carried |