The Sun.
London, England, 1854-03-07 00:00:00

NO. 19,172.]

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[PRICE &D.

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amount voted last year, and which shows a diminution
of ttun.--at 792,0001. And then; sir, it is necessary I
shontll state to the committee some amount of money
which, without attempting at the present moment to deter-
mine what shall be its technical designation, or snider what
form it shall be voted, I may describe as a provision for
the extraordinary military expenditure connected with
the expedition to the East, (Hear, hear.) It is extremely
difficult to form anything which can be called an estimate
of that expenditure. (Hear, hear.) lam bound to remind
the committee, war is a disturber, as of other things more
serious, so likewise of financial computations and the re-
gularity of financial prodeedings. We have thought it
right, in deference to the house— that it may well under-
stand the nature of the obligations it is contracting—to
make known at the earliest possible moment what we pro-
pose with reference to provision for the wants of the pub-
lic service ; but it is quite impossible for us to undertake
to say at this moment that the provision we now propose,
and which we propose after due deliberation and the best
exercise of our judgment, shall be a provis,ion adequate,
and neither too great ner too small, for the exige noses• and
wants of the whole year. (Hear, hear.) It is of necessity,
therefore, an indefinite sum for which we ask, with refe-
rence tq the expense of this expedition to the East. On
what principle shall we attempt to calculate that sum ?
On this principle. That it is our duty not to remove the
public expenditure of the country, and especially the war
expenditure, from the control of the House of Commons.
(Cheers.) If we were to'ask you to place in our hands, as
the proceeds of the taxes of the country, a very large sum
of money to be applied to the purposes of the war, amount-
ing to several millions, you might justly say, " wait until
the necessity has arisen ; Parliament is not about to sepa-
rate in the month of March ; it is in your power to make
a further proposal in the month of June or July, if the cir-
cumstances of the country and the state of Europe should
then seem to warrant such a proposal." (Hear.) We are about
to act on that principle, and to ask only for such an amount,
which though it may seem large to some gentlemen we feel
convinced is the smallest by which, under the most favour-
able circumstances, we can hope to see those gallan t forces now
leaving our shores brought back after the completion of the
object for which they are sent. (Cheers.) Taking those
forces at 25,000 men, we propose to ask the committee to
vote a sum of money for the purpose of extraordinary mili-
tary service at the rate of 501. per head, or a sum of
1,250,000/. (Murmurs of surprise.) Inserting, therefore,
that amount in the estimate of expenditure which I have
ventured to give to the committee, the total amount of es-
timated expenditure, including that sum of 1,250,0001., is
56,189,0004 The estimated revenue, as I have already
stated to the committee, is 53,349,000/. And therefore there
is a deficiency upon the estimate of revenue for the year
1854-5, as compared with the estimate of expenditure,
amounting to no less than 2,8400001. That estimated ex-
cess, sir ,of expenditure above income does hot represent
the whole cost of the war. Had it not been for the measure
in which we are engaged, and which we deemed necessary
for the honour and welfare of the country, we should not
only have been spared presenting to you that deficiency, but
we should have been in a condition to promise you a surplus
(Cheers.) I will just now state concisely to the committee
how the account would stand, but for the augmentation of
the estimates rendered necessary by the demands of the
public service. As compared with the estimate of last year,
the excess, or rather the increase—for the word " excess" is
equivocal—the increase upon the army is 832,0001. ; the
increase upon the navy, 1,253,000/ ; the increase upon the
Ordnance, 793,0001.; the increase upon the commissariat,
88,0001.: the increase upon the miscellaneous is 299,000 e
There is a small diminution upon the packet service of
8,0001., and an increase under the head of military extra-
ordinary expenses of 1,050,000/. I stated' the cost of
the expedition to the East—or rather, not the cost, but the
sum we are about to ask of the house en account of the
cost—to be 1,250,000/. Last year there was an'expenditure
of 200,0001. on account of the Kafir war. Therefore, the
balance under the head of military extraordinary expenses
is an increase of 1,050,0001. With the small deduc-
ion I have mentioned, that shows a total exeess in the
estimates of the present year over last year of 4,307,0001.
The estimate of expenditure which I presented to you in
April, 1853 (and I refer to it now in order to enable the
committee to judge what would have been our position in
the absence of disturbing circumstances), was 52,183;000/.
The estimated revenue whieh I now look for for the year
1851-5 is 53,349,0001. So that if our expenditure, accord-
ing to estimate, had continued the same as it' was twelve
months ago, instead of a deficiency of 2,840,0001., I should
have been ablei to present to you a surplus of 1,166,0001., in
addition to the saving on the funded debt to which I have
already referred, and which I may state in round numbers
at 500,000/. ; so that there would have been, in fact, a fund
to apply to fresh and further remissions of taxes of 1,666,000 e
Adding that surplus which there would have been, in the
absence of disturbing circumstances, to the deficien6y- I
now present, the total difference on the account against the
Exchequer amounts to no less than 4,506,000/. Well, then,
sir, that is the total difference against the Exchequer, and
the total sum for which we have to provide, without iking
the surplus into account at all, is 2,810,000/. Under these
circumstances it will be for the committee top consider in
what manner this deficiency shall be ma u. Now, in
the first place, I trust that the committees will not consent
to make up any portion of this deficiency by interfering with
those reductions of taxation which have acquired the force
of law, although they have not yet taken actual effect.
(Cheers.) The amount of those reductions is considerable.
They reach for the year 1854-5 in round numbers a million
and a half. There is also upon the soap duties, on which
there was a small receipt at the commencement of last year,
a loss of 140,0001. And while lam touching on the soap
duties, it may be as well to state to the committee, to show
that reduction of establishment does notalwayeunduly leg
behind reduction of taxation--it may be as well to state
to you, in consequence of the change with respect to the
soap duties, and in consequence of the change in system
with respect to the post-horse duty, which the house was
pleased to adopt last, year, there has been a reduction on
the establishment of the Inland Revenue Department,
amounting to no less than 30,0001. a year. It was thought
proper to place a portion of the staff to watch the effect of
the spirit duty, but the reduction, distinct from that tem-
porary arrangement, reaches the considerable sum of
30,0001. a year. (Cheers.) There is a loss' upon soap, which
I may call the residue of the duty on soap, of 140,000/.
The reduction of 4d: per lb. on the duty on tea, which will
.take effect on the sth of April next, will cause a loss to the
revenue of 050,0001. The amount of relief given by the
cir,rges on the assessed taxes, which will likewise take
effect on the sth of April, will be 334,00(11., and the mea-
sure devised last year by my noble friend the Postmaster-
General, for the purpose of effecting a most beneficial
change in colonial postage, will cost 40,000/. The whole
amount of relief from taxes now in force, which the public
will enjoy between the sth of April, 1851, and the sth of
April, 1855, in consequence of the measures you adopted
last year, and the votes you came to, reaches 1,474,000/. Note also, what you recover if you retrace your steps is
1,002,000/. But, as I have said already, I will not attempt
to argue that question, for I am well persuaded, whatever
other course you may think proper to adopt, you will not
retrace the steps you entered on last year, so far as the
present measures and the demands of the present exigency
are concerned. (Hear, hear.) I must now express my hope
that the committee, if it is determined not to withdraw
the boons which last year it promised, andwhich it cannot
withdraw without serious disturbance to trade, and great
discomfort to a multitude of individuals—l must express
my hope that the committee will support the Government
in standing by those branches of public., revenue which
exist and are available. We do'not think it consistent
with our public duty, in the face of such a state of Europe,
of such circumstances at home and abroad, of such figures
as I have now laid before you, to propose to you to part
with any branch or any sensible part of any branch of ex-
isting public revenue. (Cheers.) Well, then, sir, if money
must be had, is it to be had by increasing duties on other
articles ? If you are determined not to repeal the laws of
last year, and likewise determined not to part with any
income now, would it be right, do you think, at the pre-
sent moment to increase the rates of duty on articles of
consumption in the branches of Customs and Excise, or to
replace those duties, or any of those duties, which during
some years you have abolished? I cannot doubt the
answer of the committee will be in the negative. (Loud
cheers.) The answer of the Government is that we ought
not to take that course. (Cheers.) But, at the same time,
while Igive that answer on my own behalf and on the
part of my colleagues, with the clearest conviction of its
justice, it is impossible, I think, to put out of View the
contingencies which must necessarily attend upon the pro-
longation of the war on which we have now entered. I
cannot, so far as the views of the Government are con-
cerned, hold out to this committee any reasonable expecta-
tion that if, which God forbid ! the struggle we are now
entering upon should be prolonged for years, it would bo
in our power to secure toall those articles recently relieved
from duty, permanent continuance of that immunity. I
fear, sir, all we can say with respect to those objects of
indirect taxation, as compared to direct taxation, is that
which the Cyclops said to Ulysses, when he gave the pro-
mise of this privilege, that he would devour him the last.
(Cheers and laughter.) This is a matter which the com-
mittee cannot put out of view. I speak strongly, and with
the sincerest conviction ; we cannot and do not advise you
to add one farthing to the indirect taxation of the country.
(Cheers.) There is one other proposition to which I antici-
pate the ready assent of the committee. We have enter
on a great struggle ; but wo have entered uponit under
favourable circumstances. We have proposed to you,
to make great efforts, and you have nobly and cheerfully
backed our proposition. (Loud cheers.) You have already
by vote added very nearly 40,000 men to the establish-
ments of the country • and, taking into view the changes
which have actually taken effect in the return of soldiers
from the colonies, and the reductions which might be
made, in the present state of Ireland, in the amount of
the constabulary force there, but which are not made in
order to render our military forces disposable to the utmost
possible extent, it is not too much to say the virtual ad-
dition to our forces by sea and land, as compared with the
number 12 months ago, nearly reaches 50,000 men. (Loud
cheers.) This, sir, looks like an intention of carrying on
war with vigour. (Renewed cheers.) The wish and hope
of the Government is, that it may be said with regard to
this war—that it may be truly said of the people of Eng-
land—what was not, perhaps, so truly said by a courtier
and great poet, Dryden, of King Charles
" He without fear a dangerous war pursues,
Which without rashness he began before "
(Cheers.) That, we trust, will be the motto of the people
of England ; and we have the advantage that the
senti-
ments of Europe, and, I trust, the mit of Europe, are
with us. (Renewed cheers.) These circumstances, although lam not sanguine—although it would be the wildest pre-
sumption in any man to pretend to say, when the ravages
of war have once begun, at what point they will be stayed
—yet justify us in cherishing the hope that possibly this
may not be a prolonged struggle. But, as long as that
possibility remains, the committee will agree with me in
thinking it not wise, in the endeavour to supply
the wants
of the country, to do it by a series of measures which
shall worry different classes and different interests, dif-
ferent trades and different industries, disturbing every-
body's calculations and operations, adding 100,000/. to
income here, 200,000/. there, and 300,000/. somewhere
else. (Hear, hear, hear.) I am sure the • committee
will agree with the Government that is not the course
which the present exigency requiries. And whatever we
do, I take it. further for granted that we are to endeavour
to do it with a minimum disturbance to trade and indus-
try.
(Hear.) But there is ono great question which it
impossible for me to pass by without notice. Is it right
that we should ourselves make a resolute endeavour to
would it be just,
meet the charges of the coming war,
charge those burdens
n thise e d
sir,u e
would it be manly, would it be worthyoorflvthe wealth and
power of England, that we should _
that at the present moment
upon our posterity. (Hear, htheearre.)
abmothcoinnv
COUTSO,IIO
to the money market fora loan would
and throughout the country, a
_stronge pens that to re-
sort(Lend cheers.)
Sir,it may be that the required by our necessities, and therefore unworthy of cu.
character.
be otherwise—but it may prove, it is but t
de-
mand I am now about to make upon the committee--God
grant it may'
first of a series of demands. I, therefore, do not speak
frankly own, with respect to the present occa-
sion.simply' I is for the
(Hear.) It impossible Government
impossible for the house—it is impossible for the count
to gave an absolute pledge or to record any immovable re'

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