The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1818-04-21 00:00:00

COMMITTEE OF WAYS AND MEANS.

The CIPANCELLOIL of the Exictiagutit moved
the Order of the liqy for the Usisere resolving itself
into a Committer of the whole llosise to consider of
the Ways and Means lowan!' raisiiig, the Supply to
be granted to his Majesty.
Mr. METticax was asixiosis to know, before the
House went sushi the C 1111 l mittee, whether the Hots.
Gentleman (Mr. S. Bourne) intended to bring fur-
ward the Vestry Regulation Bill this evening.
Mr. S. BOURNE said, if the statement of his
Hon. Friend (Mr. Vaissitsari) did slot occupy much
time, be certainly would proceed with the measure.
Lord STANLEY rose to ask a question of the
Chancellor of the Exchequer (the noise in the body.
of the House was so very great, that we could hear
very imperfectly what the Noble Lord said). A.
far as we could collect, lie observed, that there was
a measure then before the House for the consolida-
tion of the duties ou'voriotts goods. He under-
stood, on a former occation, that no new duty
would he imposed by this meosure ; hut he
►ipice heard that it did go to create a duty of 1.5 a.
per cent. on dill'erent articles. Ile wished to know
whether his information wary correct.

The CHANCELLOR of the ExctletwEit, as we un-
derstood, intimated that the measure only weut to
a modification of the duties.
Mr. B. 1%. I 1.68411 AU suggested, as the Budget
must necessarily take tip a vonaiderable time, that
it would be advisable for his Hon. Friend (Mr. S.
Bourne) to postpone the consideration of his Bills
relative to the Poor's Laws, to sonic future d4y.
Mr. METtiunt inquired of the Hun. Baronet
(Sir K. Peel), whether be meant to press his mea-
sure relative to the regulation of labour in Cotton-
Factories, in the present evening ?
Sir R. PEEL said, under the existing circum-
stances, lie would not bring it Forward to-uiglit—
but lie hoped lie would, on Mouday next, be al-
lowed to call the attention of the House to it.

The SPEAKER here ioteepOsed, mod pointed nut
the delay and inconvenience which arms front a de.
sultory conversation of this kind.
The House now resolved itself into the Commit-
tee, to which were referred an estimate of the
amount of property in the Exidierper, and un ac-
count of the arrears of Property Tax.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER' the.
proceeded to address the Committee. Hon: Gen:
tlemeu must he aware, he observed, that tautest the
earliest opportunity were taken to procure the sauc-
lion of Parliament to financial arrangements, a
great risk would be run of disapp .inting some of
the parties concerned in them. On this account,
whets the consideration of so important a measure
as a loan was brought before Parliament, other
business was obliged to give way to it. lie had, in
his official character, to state to the [loose the
terms of a bargain which had been arranged be-
tweet' Government and certain individuals, al-
though the whole amount of the subscriptson had
not yet been furnished : 7 oe fttlo,ooo/. still re-
mained to he supplied ; but the transaction was in
a state of sack forwauluess, that he conceived he

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Would he wanting in his *duly to the house and to
the oubticribers, if he did not that day call the at-
tention of Parliament to it. Before he proeeeiled
to that point, however, he had to take a succin, r
view of the financial operations of the year. Most Of
the pipers connected with this subject had been
presented—but some, containing certain animal
accounts, lied not been laic/ before Parliament,
and, therefore, he could not have the satisfac-
tion to make so full and 'dein a statement, as
he could have done, it' tire busineee had been intros.
duced at a later period of the Session. But a time
would arrive, when, every information being to
the possession of floaciurable Members, they
would have an opportunity of remarking on any
deficiency that might be apparent, and of offeriti
such observations as suggested themselves on the
financial arrangements of the year. Although the
fieaticial operations of the year hail been gone
through, only part of the necessary grants had
been voted. He could, however, introduce a view
of the whole subject, with but a few exceptions.
'Flue Committee was aware, that the Navy arid
Army Estimates (with the exception of the barrack
and commissariat departments, and the army ex-
traordinirries, which still were to be proposed) had
been voted, and a considerable sum raised in aid,
alibi:high a part still remained for the consideration
of the House. On referring to the votes, it would be
seen, that the Army Estimates had been granted—
leaving for the consideration of the Huuse, at a
finure period, the sum of 1,400,0001. for army .x.
traordinaries, and to cover the estimates of time bar-
rack and commissariat departments, which were on
the table. The total amount of expense for the
army would. fur the current year, he 8.970,000/.
in the last year it was 9,414,373/. here it wits to
be observed that the grant for the diseinhtidital mi-
litia was not voted till a very late period of the I i.t
'Session—the charge of which was now to be titaile
' good. The sum necessary for the support of ife
navy was 6,456,800/.—in the last year it ants
7,56,•net. The Ordnance Estimates, excled le;
' the vote for naval purposes, which formed a part of
the Navy Estimates, amounted to 1,9.45,Gua It
was last year, 1,970,6,961. The Miscellaneous Se,
vices, of which a considerable portion still remaiiii 41
unprovided for, amounted to 1,7-20,000/.—tint in.
eluding the vote for churches—which he took as 3
separate account to he provided for by a different
arrangement—namely, by the issue at Exchequer
Bills. The Miscellaneous Services did however coat-
! prise a grunt of 100,000/. for the increase of siiia;'.
livings, under the Act of Qiieeit Anne. I:1
the last year, the amount of Aliscellitneotis S.
~
I vices was 1,795,0001. The total supply, therci.,ir,
Iwas 18,394,400/.—the supply, last year, bring;
20,074,0911. In addition to the service of the year,
I properly so called, they had to provide 2,000,000/.
for the interest of Exchequer bills—and the Sink-
ing Fund on Exchequer bills outstanding, 560,000/.
of
thought it was very probable, in ciiiiseqnetice
of the arrangement he that evening would state to
the Committee, that there would be a considerable
saving on the interest of Exchequer bills, because.
as a large sum was to be funded, an immediate re-
duction must be effected, and a still more extensive
one probably next year, by this operation. Add.
in;; the last mentioned sums of 2,000,000/. and
560,000/. to the sum of 18,394,000/. the total
amount of' all these services was 20,910,4001. in
addition to the items already mentioned, thine were
several extraordinary claims arising out of the cir-
cumstances of the present year, which were Irons td
be provided for. The first of these was the grant.
of 725,0001. that had been voted for the fortifica-
tions in the Netherlands. under the Treaty of 1815.
Though that sum was voted in the Committee of
Supply, yet no new burden would be imposed rat
the country for the purpose of meeting it ; it would
be defrayed out of the French contributions in the
hands of the Commissioners. The next sum fa
which it would•be necessary to provide, was an :tr.
rear of 400,0001. part of the grind voted fur t: e
purpose of carrying into execution the Treaty won
Spain for the abolition of the Slave Trade. A. -
other extraordinary claim arose from a deficieni v
in the Ways and Means of the preceding year.lBl7.
The deficiency, which amounted to 2.59.6861. ,:tat
not arise from any failure of the Wes, and sle3i.s,
as they were planned for the year—but from tli.-
circunsstance that a provision of 'wetly 300,000/.
had been made, after all the Ways aid :il,,,ns et
the year had been completed, by it parti,•idar ar-
rangement in his office. Amy Gentlest air who s :is
in the habit of considering these mutters must k,,,,,,,,_
that the disembodied militia were formerly limy's&
ed for by a charge on the land tax. It oils lint:,
therefore, a visible provision by Parliament, but ti
reduction of the revenue to that extent. Last yew.
it was considered a better and more regular cut:rte.:
' of proceeding, because it would tend to render cvery:i
thing clear to the House, to vote, its supply, the suns
necessary for the disembodied militia, instead ail
acting on un anticipation of the revenue. A granti•
therefore, was voted in supply, but it was too lattel„
for a corresponding vote in Wily* and Maims. It
therefore became necessary to provide for this aunt '
of :239,686/. The amount of the two ex t rattrifiela rys
services lie mentioned, 659,68 W. joined with the
former items, completed the charge for the poesrin
year. On the side of WAYS and Memo to meet
this charge, amounting to 21.612,016/. there was
first the ordinary vote of 3,000,000/. for animal
duties—a vote that did not require explanation,
There was next 3,500,000/. on those Excise glut', s,
which were to be continued till the year 1821. It
would be found, by reference to the amount of the
Excise duties to which he had alluded, that thee
produced, in the year ending the sth of .18tittiii,.
1118, 3,104,0001.—and there was no doubt, !hi:,
in the course of 1818, they would amount 1..
3,500,000/. The 'text item wits time orilioury or:-
of the Lottery—which would produce 250,0001.
(kkur, leer, from the Oppositeurt.)—The Ilt xi
sum was 4250,000/. alik4i would accrue from mho
sale of old stores. Last year, the old stores s.a,i
produced 400,0001. But it was clear, that, in
proportion as the country receded from a state of
war, the quitotity of old stores must necessarily di-
minish. The next item arose from some arrests
still remaining to be received froin time property
l'ax. The Committee must be aware, that Imo
year arrears of this tax, to the amount 4
1,540,000/. were paid, and applied to time servici•
of the year. There still remained 350,000/. to 1.-
collected—and of' this sum the officers at the T..\
Office hotted to be able to collect :150,000/. in ii .
'present year: There was also a email tutu ~'.