The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1818-04-08 00:00:00

The WM Weeds@ of die 10e-swolidate:l

Fund in the (porter ended the bib
April, was • £9,724,042 I S
Merge on ditto •,330,000 0 0

Surplus F 854,942 4 3
a The sbrplds of the Consolidated Fund" has
so long ceased to be an item in the Budget of the
CHANCIILLOII of the EICH4QUER'S Ways and
Means, that its occurrence now would be regarded
almost as a novelty. Previous, however, to the
late dreadful accumulation of evils that overbur-
dened this country, this item far the entire year
used not unfrequently to amount to three millions.
By the statement we have given, the surplus for the
last -quarter amotrats to 094,944/.-; and if the
taxes forming the Consolidated Fund prove equally
productive during the present quarter, we may en-
tertain hopes of once more seeing it constituting a
prominent feature in the Ways and Means for the
year.
The funds yesterday experienced great fluctu-
ations, and it 'would seem as if the•accounts of the
quarter's revenue had not exercised any favour-
able influence upon The market. Nothing, hoir-
ever, could be more visionary than the idea of

seeking in ordinary circumstances the causes of
the variationsivitich we have lately witnessed in the
prices of the funds, and which have baffled the
rpeculations of those west versant in stock affairs.
While the Lords of the Treasury think fit to
continue the present Mystery that envelopes their
financial scheme for the year, no regularity can
be expected in the arrangements of the market.
Those who are initiated in the mystery will,
for their private advantage, deceive and perplex
all others out of 'their pale, and will, or course,
extract no small gains from the adventurous spirit
of gambling which their conduct is calculated to
excite. Our system has become so petfectly arti.
'ficial, end works by so many variiitts springs, that
we cannot be surprised at occasionidly finding it
thrown into confusion, by the conflicting efforts of
individual interests. An increased paper currency,
suds as is said to be contemplated by the Ministers,
must of course render this evil still more dreadful ;
while, on the contrmiNnothing holds outtbe slightest

prospect of escape for 'the eountey bdt an imme-
diate return to a wholesome metallic currency.
The fernier would, however, facilitate the obtaining
of money by Ministers to support their extravagant
establishments, while the latter would eventually
render economy neeeirrary. Let the aysteme,'there-
lore, be ineasured by'fbeir results. It is fold the
country to decide between them.

Recent advice. from HAWK, state, that 'the"
French Gorertasset, has sistoandirefrem.that of the
Netherlands the carreridn of certain French re-
fagees,•said is Ware been implicated in the etteusptl
on his Grua the bake of Witutturos. Vendee.
of these stiles have been emoted, and coalisedut.
Brussels, besides one who had been ernistednot
Antwerp. • ..t
This heiug the first day of Enter Term, 'kali
Judges will breiikfast with the --an enntrociailic,lB
at his house in Bedford squire, after which chrr/i
will go in grand precession to Westminster-Ibn, NI
open the di&reat Courts of Law,
We ire happy to find, from en authentic does.
went, that there has been a greet increase this year
in the woollen manufactures; in the narrow cloths •
milled, this increase amounts to i,58e,947 yards,
and in broad cloths milled, to 4,4%4135 yards.