The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1818-12-26 00:00:00

DUTCH AND FLANDERS MAILS.

AMSTERDAM. DECEMSER 20.

ACCOIIIIt6 from Curaeos, 01 the snow h of October,
state. that the epidemic on board Ins Alajesty'a fri-
gate Ear ydice, Capt. Polden, and the brig Swallow.
Captain 13ulkrn, ha. been very fatal. +a) that these
two vessels hive scarcely half their crews; the two
commanders have also been seized with the disorder ;
about 100 men have died of it.

BRU‘SF.I.S. IDECEMSER lg.
SECOND CHAMBER OF THE STATES GENERAL.
SITTING OF TILE 19111 DECEMBER.

Their Excellencies the Ministers of the Finances,
of Ju►tice, of the Interior. of the Waterstaarit, of
Foreign Affairs, the Director-General of the Af-
fairs relative to the Catholic Religion, M. Appe-
line, Director-General of the Indirect Taxes, were
present at the Sitting, to explain and to defend
each in what concerns his department, the project
of the law which regulates the receipts end expert..
diture of the kingdoo for the year 1919.
His Royal Highness the Prince of Orange was on
his own seat.

Mr. Gockinja lint spoke in Dutch .775sinst some
articles of the Budget, which he does nut
Mr. Clifford spoke also in Dutch ; he pacticu-
lowly blamed the expenses of levying the
which are its proportion higher thaw in Enghoutl,

where, lie laid, the expenses of collecting are but
5 per cent. whereas with us they are sometimes 40
or 50 per cent. Cons paring the financial system of
England with our., lie sliewed the difference be-
tween them, since in England every thing is made
public, and with us the operations relative to the
'linking fund are often kept secret. He attributed
the deficit in the indirect taxes to their being too
burdensome, and to the embarrassments which it
causes. Ile, however, votes for the Budget.
M. Van Alphen spoke warmly against the ex-
penses of some 11inisteral Departments. He attack-
ed with great force our system of indirect taxes and
of customs, which he thit►ke particularly favoura-
ble to France. Eve►y where frauds are committed,
lie attys, and many branches of the public revenue
are in arrear. He owes it to his conscience and his
duties to speak freely and without prejudice. It is
not as a Dutchmen that he disapproves of the sys-
tem of customs, but from conviction, and for the
public good. Industry has no value if you deprive
it of the facility of exerting itself. After having de-
monstrated the disadvantages under which we la-
bour from the small extent of our territory, and
from our geographical position, lie maintains that
arbitrary measuree fetter the national industry, and
leave it no resource but to turn itself to contra. I
bend, to speculations in the public funds, or
to withdraw its funds from commerce. The
conclusion of this orator is especially interest-
ing, becauw it has long drawn the general atten-
tion, and has been so often the subject of observa-
tion in the Chamber. He requested, then, that the
Budget should he discussed, article by article—and
declared, that, if it was attempted to pass it all to-
gether, lie should vote against it.
M. Getidahren spoke with much eloquence
against the law.
M. Plassehaert delivered a speech, full of alt►-
quence, energy, and reasimilig, in which he proved
►usew the great incolivenience that arises front placing
the Legislator under the necessity of adopting or
rejector laws in a mass. He disapproved the man-
lier of pi esenting, in one law, the budget of ezpeu-
ditute sod the means oh meeting it. He examined
the expense of the several departments, and observes,
that in the kingdom with respect to the finances,
whatever is not strictly and absolutely necessary
ought to be suppressed or modified. He regrets
that the Ugh Court of Justice, and the other
Tribunals, are not yet constitutionally organised.
The permanency of the Judges, giving them
a salary conformable to the office they hold,
would, he said, be a new act of goodness in
his Majesty. Examining, then, the expenses for
the support of the Catholic and Protestant worship,
he shews that there is a great difference to the pre-
judice of the Catholics. With respect to public in-
struction, he find. that the Northern Provinces are
more favoured than the Southern, since the three
Universities of the North► have a faculty of theology,
which those in the Southern Provinces have not;
where, besides, prona.y instruction is much ne-
gleet&-d. llr ni-lies there was a greater number of
primary I lr. would wish a reduction in the
ev.laries of piahin functionaries, and the suppression
or the Receivers-General. He fears, that if means
are slot found to place the expenditure on a level
with the receipts, 1k hick has not yet been done, the
Dation will at length consider the system of eco-
nomy which hi. Mejesty follows with so much care,
as wholly lie concludes by proposing,
that his Majesty be requested to re•coustder the
.proposed law.
Several other Members spoke against the law,
amusing whom M. Iteyphins was particularly dis-
tinguielied, and also M. Dolreuge. The Minister
of Finance aud M. Appelists replied in defence of
the law, which being put to the vote by the Presi-
dent, was carried by a Majority of 80 votes to 19.
The As•en►lrly rose at half-past four, and ad.
journed till Tuesday.

BRUVIELS, DECEDISER 21.

The projects of laws on the changes ti, be made
in do- indirect taxer, will be shortly presented to
the Statts Gerier.,l, There is every reason to be-
lieve that the debates which will take place on this
impoit.iiit subject, will be highly interesting,—
( Brussels Paper, Dr eeniher gi.)