Star. — London, England, 1802-12-11 00:00:00

given, I apprifed the Houle of the motion it was toy intention to make, of granting four millions out of the Confolidated Fund, and of taking a ge neral view of our refources, and the financial fitua tion of the Country, as far as it could be done with propriety and clearnefs, as nearly as poffible to the prefent period. With rcfpeft to the firft part of the notice, it is with great fatisfaCtion I have to obferve, that in confequence of the rapid encleafe of the revenue, in confequence of having large (urns in the Exchequer, and in confequence of a large produft of taxes, Government has been enabled to fupply defi ciencies, and to provide for calls, which might otherwife have required new aids. I have to (fate that to the gth of April 1802, a credit has been accumulated, and realized, to the amount of three millions eight hundred thoufand pounds, and if Parliament had not been fitting, it might have continued to be in the Exchequer. With regard to the fecond, it is at prefent fufficient for me to temark, that in every department, the financial fitnation of the country, infeparably connefted as ' it is with the growing produce of theConfolidated Fund, holds out a moil fatisfaftory profpeet. It mutt be highly gratifying to have, without any new burdens, the Ways and Means by which the Supplies may be met. Upon thefe grounds, Sir, I thought it proper to lay before the Houle the financial ilatements which are now upon the Table. Before I advert to the Supplies of the prefent year, I beg leave to revert to thofe of a preceding pe riod. It is well known to every Gentleman who hears me, that during the !aft Seffion of the late Parliament, credit was taken for ninety-fix mil lions, and that the fum total of intereft which was to be provided, exceeded three millions two hundred thoufand pounds. I cannot forget a hope which was then thrown out, that the Taxes in. tended to meet the amount of the intereft, would, according to every well-founded probability, prove fuperior to the objeft; and I have now the fatif fation of flaring to the Committee, that their produa has not only anfwered, but even evinced stfelf fuperior to every eipeftation. In thus expref. flog my fatisfaftion, I allude to a charge rather of a pointed nature, which was then brought forward againii the providing of taxes beyond the amount warranted by the exaa preffure of the moment, and the exigency of the cafe. I certainly did ex. prefs a confident hope that the Taxes would not fall fhort of four millions ; and when I recolleit, that I then took the difference between the in tereft to be provided for of three millions two hun dred thoufand, and the eftimated produit of the Taxes at four millions, giving an excels beyond the intereft of eight hundred thoufand pounds, I can now fay, that I was not difappointed in the event. lam happy in being enabled to allure the Committee, that in the firft quarter, the Duties on Malt, Hops, Beer, and Tonnage, have reached fo very large a fum as nine hundred and twenty thoufand pounds; and what muff be truly grad fying to know, is, that I can further Rate, no proportion has been received, or confidered in that produft, of the new Duties on Houfes, or the other Taxes. I did obferve, upon a former day, that among the provifions f a financial nature, which were determined upon laft year, was that of reducing the Unfunded Debt; a meafure which, in principle and operation, was admitted to be of the g reaten moment. The provi fi on has fence been carefully attended to, and its effect has been pro poriionate to the moftfanguine wifhes of thofewho were carneft in its fupport. Gentlemen will learn, with pleafure, that no Ws than eighteen millions of the Unfunded Debt have been redeemed within the current year. They will alto learn, with fatis fadion, that the credits for the Navy and Army Extraordinaries are fuch as will preclude the ne ceffity of any new additions. The grants already made are fufficient to provide for thefe branches of the public fervice, with the exception of the of the Army. I muff, however _ _ remark, that I did not expel the fum voted for the Extraordinaries of our military eftablithment would be adequate, and I did exprefs an opinion to that effect . I am forry to fay, that they amount to one million ; yet the whole amount, I am jußi fied in affuring the Committee, is not likely to ex ceed, by the one half, the (urns incurred under that head for the fervice of Taft year. Betides, it may be fairly argued, that the wife fyllem of economy which has been adopted, and is Rill car vying on, in our Naval Department, and which mull be productive of a moll material faving, may be let up againft any excefs like that to which I have adverted in the cafe of the Army Extraordi. dinaries. I have no hefitation to fay, that on an impartial review, the whole of the expenditure to be incurred for the current year, in the various branches of the Military and Naval Ellablithments will be fund inferior to one-half of the total ex pence, incurred during the preceding year. The _unfunded debt, which at the commencement of the left feffion of Parliament, was fo very cotta. derable, has been_ fince, as I have already re marked, very much diminifhed, and in its prefent Rate, is (bort of nineteen millions, forming a reduaion of one half of the whole debt as it then Rood. The reduCtion of the Navy Debt has been to material, as to firike the mind of every man, however nightly converfant in financial meafures. In the November of laf year, it was no lets than nine millions and a half, and it is now, taken up to Michaelmas with every probable ellimate, no mole than half that fum. Gentlemen mull alto be fenfible of the beneficial effeßs, which have refulted from the diminution of the outßanding Exchequer Bills. I feel it, Sir, my duty to flaw to the Committee, that there is no deficiency in the item of Land and Malt, but what will be fupplied by the out Randing arrears. Baying entered into thefe particular Ratements, I shall now bcf , leave to call the attention of the Houle to the Supplies for the prefent year. The firfl article that prefents itfclf, is the Navy. The to lIMOOnt to 6,669,3781. I (hall not, Sir, attempt to conceal, that the Supply neceffary to meet the expences of an Army Eftablifhment is much more confiderable ; but I muft obferve, that I include in it a million for the purpofe of making good the deficiency which was. incurred ;aft year, for the extraordinaries of this department of the public fervice. The grofs amount may be taken at 5,500,0001. to which, when ladd the extraordi naries, including the furplus extraordinary for 1802, of two millions, we 111,111 have a total of 7,500,0001. The Ordnance is Rated at 787,9471. and the Corn-bounties amount to 524,5731. Ido not calculate the Mifcellaneous Services for Eng land and Ireland, confidered jointly, at more than one million ; and for the hills Permanent Grants, I take the fum of 563,3391. We (hall now find, by putting all there items of expenditm e together, that they give a total fum, to be contributed joint ly between England and Ireland, of 16,845,2371. —The feparate charges placed to the account of, England, are 5,981,0001. confifting of Exchequer Bills to be paid off on the Aids of 18ot, of fimi lar Bills on Aids of 1803, of payments to the In-' , dia Company, of the intereft due on Exchequer Bills to December, and of the annual fum to be applied to the reduction of the National Debt. The total of the Supplies muft confequently (land at 22,826,2371. Of this fum, it is almoft unnecef fug for me to obferve, that according to the Ar ticles of Union, two.feventeenths are to be provided by Ireland, which will amount to 1,981,7921. while that country is on the fame principle bound to furnifh two feventeenths of 1,200,4011. for the Civil Lift, as well as for other charges to which the Confolidated Fund is fubjea, without any re lation to the Public Debt. The laft two feven teenths will be found to make no more than 144,2231.—f0 that the whole of the fum to be contributed by Ireland amounts to 2,123,0151. leaving England to provide for 20,703,2221. RECAPITULATION OF THE SUPPLIES.. Novy—sopoo Men,at 71. per Man £4,1,50,000 Ordinary and Extraordinary 1,218,238 Building, rec. 901,140 -L.6,669,378 Aims - - 5,3 00 , 000 Extruordinaries, (including Cur plus Extraordinaries, 'Boa) a,otto,ooo Ordnance . Corn Bounties - • • 7,5 00 1 00 0 7 8 7,947 524,573 Mlfeellaneons--England Z - - 5,000,000 Ditto Ireland S kith Pertnanent Grants - 3 6 3,339 To be contributed jointly between England and Ireland Ireland - - 16,84.5,237 *NOLAND'S SEPARATE CIIAILOES: To pay off Exchequer Bi Us on Aids x Box 2,781,000 Ditto onpAids ao3 (Bank) x,scopoo Payment to India Company - x,000,000 Intereft on Exchequer Mk, Dec. &c. 600,000 Rednaion National Debt - xoo,ooo 5,981p00 Total Supplies 22,826,237 2-i7tha of the above turn 0f16,845,237L are to be contributed by Ireland 1,981,792 Add for Ireland 247tlis of ,200040t1. for Civil Lift and other Chargeson the Coofolidated Fund, not relating to Public Debt 144,223 On Account of Ireland 2,113,015 On Account of England I now, Sir, come to the Ways and Means. The Land and Malt is 2,750,0001. the furplus of the Confolidated Fund I !late at 6,500,0001. the Ex. chequer Bills in aids for i 804, at eleven millions, and the fum arifing from the Lottery at half a million. The items of the Ways and Means will, of courfe, make 20,750,0001. exceeding by nearly 50,0001. the amount of the Supplies. 20,703.212 RECAPITULATION OF WAYS AND MEANS. Land and Malt - . . Z.2,750,0n0 Surplus of Confoadated Fund - 6,,5000n0 Exchequer Bills on Aids, 1804 - 11,000,000 Lottery . - - soopoo 20,750,000 There are certainly, Sir, feveral articles of a tem porary nature, fuch as the Corn Bounties, and the paying off of Exchequer Bills on aids of 18ot and 1803. There will alfo be a demand on the Public by the Eat India Company, of one mil lion, and perhaps more. Thefe occasional charges may make upwards of five millions, and, while I Rate them to the Committee, I truft I eiprefs the gederal fenfe of this Houfe, in faying, that effec tual provifion mull be made for charges of a per manent nature. [A general cry of Hear ! Hear .0 — If any dill ultio occur, they ( hould be met fairly in the face. In my mind , Sir, a permanent revenue (hould be provided for a permanent charge, and I fhould not think myfelfjullified in my conduel, did theoccafion require it, were Ito decline appealing to the fortitude of this Houfe, for the purpofe of mak ing confiderable additions to the Taxes. Such an appeal, I amhappy to fay, is notat prefentneceffary ; and I trull no financial operation will be requifite to jnilify the impo fi tion of any new burthen. The only meafure of finance which is likely to be called for, is one that may prevent the glut of Exchequer Bills. For that purpofe, it is my intention, (hould circumfiances prove favourable, to pro le the funding of from fix to eight millions of Exche quer Bills. But if the meafure cannot be advan tageoufly carried into effedl, a load may become neceffary ' • yet, at the fame time, I feel it my duty to fax, that there is every fair ground to hope for fuccefs. In taking the produce of the Confolidated Fund at fix millions and a half, I have not gone too far, for I have (hong grounds to believe, that before the end of the year, its actual produce will be 7,845,0001- However, as I take no credit for this expelled increafe, I do not alk the Committee to place a perfedt reliance upon my opinion, but beg they will wait for the tefl f of experience. It will appear, that the furplus of the Confolidated Fund for the prefent year has exceeded, in a propor tionate degree, the product of all , preceding years. In the year 1792, certainly one of our molt prof periodb, it amounted to 4,310,0641. and it the prefent time nearly double. The produce old permanent taxes is 15483,7 6 2 4 f. and of the new permanent t axes 11,345,3 mak- Aer 26,839,0881. This prod uce is larger year. with the excep. tftd), the old permanent taxes amounted to 15,70ch00c1. In order to account for the compa rative deficiency between 1799, and the current yeaf, I malt, however, obferve, that during the firft quarter of this year, the difiilleries were lop ped, and I have every reafon to believe, if that produaive fource of revenue had been open, the prefent year would, in the branch of the old per manent taxes, have exceeded the year 1799, as much as it has done in other infiances. I have now, Sir, to congratulate the Committee that, however fatisfaanry the financial ftatements of laft year have proved, thole of the prefent year are not leis gratifying ; that the profpFa of a great increafe in the revenue of the country is well found ed ; and that, notwithftanding the gloomy pre diaions which have been hazarded, there is every reafon, from the experience of the pall, to. look with confidence to the future. Mr. Addington then called the attention of the Houle to the late ' of our commerce, manufaatires, and various other refources. He hoped the Houfe would think the ftatement he had jul made a fatisfaaory one; and he lrutied the profpeas which we had before us for the enfuing year were not leis fatisfaaory : and that our refources, which had hitherto been pro greffively encrcafing, would be (ill greater, and more flourithing, while the country purfued the fame fyftem, that had concluded her to that high pitch of commercial profperity in which the was now placed. He could with confidence now look forward to the encreafe of our revenue in future years. With regard to the trade of the country, it was flouri(hing beyond his molt fanguine expec tations. The value of the exports for the year ending the loth of aft.ber !ail, amounted to the fum of 27,800,0001. being three millions and a half greater than in the former year. Our exports in manufaeures and other articles had increafed in equal proportion. A correfponding increafe had taken place in the 'hipping of the country : and in order to fatisfy the Houfe on that point, it was his intention, thortly after the recefs, to lay upon the 'table a fi:11 and accurate account of the compara tive amount of the tonnage of the country in seve ral part years. At prefent he had not there accounts made out : but he could afore the Houfe, that the amount of Briti(h (hipping had very confiderably encreafed laft year, beyond what it was in former years. The number of Britith (hips entered in wards, was this year much greater than in the year 1801 ; the number of foreign (hips much lefs. For the port of London alone, the tonnage of Britifh vac's entered inwards in the year ending the toth of Oaober 18ot, was 418,699 . tons. For the next year the tonnage was 574,700 tons ; the number of vac's 2455. The number of men in the former year was 23,096; in the latter year 33,740. The number of. Foreign Chips that had entered inwards in the port of London, during the year ending the loth of October 1801, was 3385 ; the number in the enfuing year 1549. The quantity of tonnage in the former year 452,677 ; in the latter 214,199. This flattering view of our affairs it was impoffible for him to contemplate without a confiderable degree of fatisfattion; par ticularly when he looked back to the dole of laft Seffion'of Parliament, and recolleaed the appre henfions at that time thrown out, with regard to the deficiency that was likely to take place in the revenue and commerce of the country. I trial (laid he) that while every man in the United Kingdom rejoices at this flourithing late of our refources, and this raft encreafe of our commer cial profperity ; there is not a country in Europe which (tall not participate in our fatisfaCtion ;• for there is not a country in Europe which {hall not be benefited by this encreafe of our wealth and our trade.—What we have gained will not be loft to others The flourithing Rate of our maritime corn merce will promote the interell of other countries; and the increafe of our maritime ftrength will give additional proteCtion to the trade of every (late, not only of Europe, but of the civilized world. It is to our exertions that the Continent of Europe has for more than a century pal been indebted for its independence. But, Str, there is one fubjea which cannot be too often brought before the confedera tion of the Houfe, and which I mutt now beg leave to allude to ; this is the fyfiem of the Sinking Fund : that fyftem, which has been the great in ftrument of our falvation, in the courfe of that dread ful period in which we have ftruggled with enry difficulty infeparable from that long and arduous war in which we were engaged. This was the fyftem which my Right Hon. Friend had planned in the year 1782, and then propofed for the adop tion of Parliament: a plan which has had the molt happy and alionithing effeift in reducing the debt of the country, and which by its rapidly progrcf five operation, will ultimately relieve the country of the weight of that burthen ; 3s it has already opened more fources of enterprife, which will en creafe our trade \ and navig ation , and mull add confiderably to the radical ftrength of our com merce. Having timed fo many favourable circum fiances concerning the interefts of Great Britain, I mull trefpafs for a {port time on the patience of the Houfe, while I take notice of the late of Ireland. That country has been in a rapid and encreafing late of profperity for fome time pall. Her profperity never retied on a more fore and solid foundation than it does at this moment ; and I mull now declare it army opinion, that this im provement has been principally occasioned by, and grown our of an event which I than never con template without fatishaion ; I mean that great and important meafure, by which the Legiflatures, the intereli, ftrength, and refources of both coun tries have been united and confolidated. What is the, aattal fi tuation of Ireland at this time ? In the month of Augutt 'aft, the excefs of her revenue was 920,0001. and her revenue was in proportion to her debt much greater than the revenue of Great Britain. There is, befides, every reafon to fuppofe, that the refources of Ireland will continue every year to increafe, in (till greater proportion. Before I fit down, I Mil begleave to fay a few words on the fubjed of the force which is to be kept up during the enfuing year. I Rated, on a former night, that I had no reafon to think the eftablithment of tBo3 would be a permanent the contrary, that it was • -1!-- _ 1P- • I number of men voted is fifty thonfand, and, taken perow at the ufnal ). ~_.., . r man per month, they is at tl will req.' • ''' .i l ;4?'-• • • .1. The Mina. of the of the • ' Jot" • I . ties ta ke at the that a ../ • \ ' • . . le of Buildin ~ ing to • . oli '4 ) , ~,,,....„„,,,,,................... . . have reafon to much er" diffi cult y 13 o n f t t e rie P M iati eit tl ary of E t r e e a dte n tne th p e ar C t CIV - Meat to mean the Garrifon 13atalli arYbut I 'This that may be re affembled without "s* rhis is a f orce fhould it be found need hope that a much greater redusa' ton will I have - eftimated the Ordnance tak e pl ace of the foll year much higher, in p • roporuon to what • ne been hitherto; than anyother at it has part of t he the year. I have realon to hope , force of that be fuffi th e • • ing revenue of the c ountrywill • maintain the wh o le o f the Naval Cleilt IC J and Eftabliihment ; and if it is not , 1 1 Military means mu ft be-fought a ft er , betides 4y, that ether thole that hav e hitherto been retorted to. I fay, w ay, th a t raife our permanent revenue , f o as ti, e molt fwer the fervices of th e year. mull not de. pend upon loans : for the f ft y em of loans will b e ruinous to the country, if perfever d• e in. w e mull bring our revenue up to fuch a pitch as to enfu re its fu ffi ciency to anfwer all t h e ex peaces of each year. With regard to the Indian • contributio entertain no doubt, from viewing the flat the finances of the Company, the profits of its e of trade, and the quantity of its furplus revenue, but t hat there is every thing belonging to them which will enfure the payment of this contribution to the public. In what I have been now flitting to th e Houfe, I have hazarded no conject ures of m - y ow n ai s I have entered into no fpecul at i ( ' , but hav e endeavoured, as much as poffible, to confine myfelf to faets. I am not willing to trefpf, fur . tiler on the Houfe, by noticing thofe thing s whicli muft he a fubjed of general congratulation to every body. If the Rate of the country is fuch as to afford us profpeas of happinefs, I claim not the merit of having placed EL_ country in that fan. ation. I have no other merit than that of having were already endeavoured to purfne the fleps th a t laid down to me • and it is to the wifd om and for titude of this Houfe, lam to attribute ' the high and commanding lituation in which the country now (lands. But with refpea to myfelf, I mutt ark thofe Gentlemen who have found fuchfault with my condud, whether I have (hewn myfelf fo void of energy, vigour, and decifiun, as • they would reprefent ? It has been admitted, even by thofe Gentlemen, that there was no want of energy in the profecution of the war, after 1 had the honour of a place in his Majefty's Councils. They cannot fay that in the financial flatements I have made to this Honfe, there was any thing that betrayed a want of energy or vigour. But they have charge d the prefent Miniliers with growing confident in pro. portion as they loft the confidence of the people. For my own part, I deny that any fuch thing can be imputed to me. I feel that I ferve a jug and generous public, who will judge of me by my owa condudt alone, and not by the language of others. Itteel within my own breaft a confcioufnefs of hay. in atied with zeal in the fervice of my country; of having anxioufly ftruggled to raife her hem her difficulties, and increafe her profperity ; and I can lay my hand to my heart and fay, that I have never been governed or influenced by any other motive than a fenfe of public duty ; that I have had no other objea on earth in view than the happinefs of my country. I beg pardon of the Houfe for having faid thus much on a fubje4t which relates to me perfitally.—[if loud cry of Near! Hear!]--1t is the firft time I have talked of myfelf. When I look round at the Rate of the Country, I mutt fay that I fee nothing to juftify thofe apprehenfions and gloomy predietions that have fallen from Gentlemen who are in the habit of finding' fault with the prefent Adminiftration. —I fee Revenue rapidly increafing, from caufes at once folid and permanent. I fee a National Com merce, flourifhing and extending itfelf beyond all former example. We have a fleet that may at this moment defy any force which could be brought againft it ; nay, which is equal to the united naval force of the univerfe. We have an army that is amply fufficient_ for every purpofe of internal de fence. Befides which, we can command a militia of 90,000 men, and a powerful body of armed Yeo manry ; and what is the life and foul of all, and without which neither men nor arms could much avail, there is in the people a difpolition to main tain the honour and independence of their country. There is in the people, an almoft univerfal fpirit of I'atriotifm, and a fenfe of Loyalty, which will ever protea their country and their Conftitution from danger. I admit there are fume few exceptions; but they are contemptible in point of number, although not fo contemptible as that they thould be entirely overlooked. They may be numerous in a Tavern, but they would appear nothing in the Strand. In fhort, I fee fources of Itrength that have never been acquired by any other country ; and I look forward with fatisfadion, when I refled that, with all thefe advantages and means, within the power of his Majefly's Government, there exift a people who are animated with the molt ardent zeal in the prefer vation of their Conflitution and Government, and contemplate this circumftance with joy, and I hold it up as a fubjed of admiration to the univerfe. hope the Houfe will not think that 1 have drawn an exaggerated flatement of the situation 61 the country. What I have fetid is the refult of long deliberation, and in every thing I have done, have been guided according to the bell of my opinion." Mr. Addington then concl;ided with moving refolutions puritiant to his ftatement. The Howe being returned, the Report was or dered to be brought up on Monday. Mr. VANSITTART brought up the Accounts re- lative to the Expences in New South Wales, and in the employment of Convias at home. Oid .red to lie on the table. The Aa for indemnifying thofe Magifirates and others who have neglcaed qualify,and for grant in tonic further time f'n - the purpofe of their qua lifying, was read a third time and palled. Mr. VANSITTART moved for leave to bring in a Bill to fufpend the Aa relpeaing the penalties on certain proceffts of the Woollen Manufaeture.-- Leave granted. no . CHANCELLOR of the EXCHFuER gave tice, that in the Committee of Supply, on g next, he would move for the fum of 1,500,( he paid to the Bank of England, for Mil vaneed by them, for Corn Bount ies, and la tegmil.”‘lsosit C. wat;noC Adinurrifa to blOl Monday i n pool. to jim j )(l ies ad- d other onda = la c I? igli It c fau the we the wit WC is il tell] ban clui is n chip pail Uni cee to ' the' Pot tior We Mr. rytr fire he I