The National Register.
London, England, 1812-06-21 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

Of which sum for Ireland was
For Great Britain . . . .

. ..

JUNE 2T

To meet this enormous charge there was
The Annual Duties, amounting to
Surphis of the Consolidated Fund
War Taxes
Five per Cent. Loan by the Subscribers to Exchequer Bills
Exchequer Bills Vore of Credit
Old Naval Stores sold
Surplus of Ways and Means of last year
Loan for Great Britain

55,3.:0,(4,t;

5,0P0
3,600,00;
40.000 occ'
6,i59,1;(0
3,000,e.Q.
44),((p)
2.200 ()CO
15,650,CC0,


X 55,3905:c0
This was an excess of 40,001. The Right Htmourahle Gentleman then
took a short review of the state of our finances, and from thence took
occasion to argue, that the revenue of the country, instead of being in
a falling, was ha a rising state. Owing to the state of public credit the
loan of the present year had not been contracted for on tel ms so advan-
tageous a. had been the case last year ; yst the terms were better than
those of former years. The whole expense and additional charge: up:
the loon would be somewhat under 1,900,0001. which additional charge
he proposed to meet by the following new taxes :—The first was a tax
which would fill upon ncbody.—(A tough) It was well known that there
was at present a bounty allowed on the exportation of printed linen, of
1-,d. per yard on inferior sorts, and 10. on superior. This bounty,
amouliting to 380,0001. it was intended to discontinue. The next !ax
i he had to propose was an increase of the duty on hides of 1:d. per :h.
I which he calculated would produce 32.5,0001. The next source of re.
venue he should propose would he double the duty on glass; which, Le
calculated, would produce 328,0001. He should also advise a duty of
ten per cent. upon tobacco, which he estimated at 107,0001. The fourth
source of Ways and Means was not a new duty, but merely a regalia-
tion of an old one, namely, of the Auction Duties, which, at preseno
were very much evaded. It was well known that estates and other pro-
perty were frequently put up only to ascertain their value, and st:er-
I wards bought in when they paid no duty, and were afterwards sold ts
private contract. He should propose that property bought in shcold
pay the duty, which might be recovered, provided the property had net
changed hands during twelve months. This regulation, he calculated,
would produce 100,0001. He also had to propose an additional duty of
ld. upon all letters going more than twenty miles from town ; this, he
thought would produce 220,0001. all these taxes had been considered ar.d
approved of by Mr. Perceval. He had aho, at the time of his death,
under his consideration, a proposal of a tax upon private breweries; it
had not, however, been digested ; and, upon consideration, he (Mr.
I Vansittart) found it would be pregnant with many evils. He therefies
proposed in its itead, to make an addition to the assessed taxes as fol-
lows, viz.
For one male servant the tax now payable was two pounds four shil-
lings; to this he proposed to add four shillings, making on the whole two
pounds eight shillings.
The existing tax on occasional gardners was four shillings; this would
be raised to ten shillings.
The duty upon riders, travellers, and other commercial retainers sf
that nature, was now only two pounds, and as considerable einehnneso
were derivable from the eusployment of these people, an addition of ight
shillings, making in the whole two pounds eight shillings, would not
be thought too much.
It was intended to lay a duty of 21. on clerks and bookkeepers, and
one of the same amount on stewards and overseers.
On porters and persons of that class, except such of them as were en-
gaged in hashandry, on whom there was now a duty of twenty-tour shil•
dings, it was intended to lay an additional duty of 'sixteen shilling:smok-
ing on the whole two pounds.
The existing duty on waiters, ar.'ounting to two pounds five shillings,
would be increased to three pounds. On occasional waiters in taverni
and private houses, there would be imposed a duty of twelve shillings
The duty on agricultural servants, which was now four shillings. would
be raised ,to six.
That on four wheeled carriages, which was now eleven pounds five
shillings, it was intended to raise to twelve pounds.
On horses kept for pleasure, the existing duty was two pounds thirteen
shillings anti sixpence; four shillings would be added to this, making Ul
the whole two pounds seventeen shillings and sixpence. On horses keit
for husbandry there would be a duty imposed of three shillings lied sis-
pence, and on those which were kept for purposes of trade, as there"
considerable profit derived from them, the Impost would be hesvari
namely, ten shillings.
It had been suggested to him by persons, whose reassess were !', t
known to them o selves, that the duty on grey-hounds should bc
than that on other dogs.—(A laugh )—lfgame-keepers were retaisee, s
as necessary servants, they wsual be subject to a duty of tour shinnies
if retained hut as servants, to a duty of half ,a-guinea.
The amount of the addition to the Assessed 'faxes was 515.0001.
this, added to those be had before enumerated, made a total of ,90:50'41..:
It most be a satisfaction to the Committee to consider, that whette,.
appeared to be approaching that period when the funds for taxation eve..:,
I likely to fail, that it was still found possible to provide for the exigem
of the State with so little pressure osi the lower orders of the Peqk
The socount would then stand thus--