The Sun.
London, England, 1841-05-01 00:00:00

THE BUDGET.

On the motion of the CHANCELLOR of the EX.
CHEQUER, the House then resolved itself into a Com-
mittee of Supply.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCAEQUER then
rose and said—Sir, the vote I am about to put into your
hands is one of the usual votes of the Session, and is put
fot tne purpose of beim. followed up by a resolut;ort
Ways and Means to vote certain Exchequer bills ne-
cessary for the public service, and for paOng hills
now outstanding. The vete itself would in rea;ity require
no explanation, and I take it with a view of laying before
the House at the earliest possible period a statement of
our financial prospects of the year, and those me isui ea
which her Majesty's Government propose to recommend
to the consideration of the House. Sir, I shall detain
the House in endeavouring to bring the case before
them with as few words as possible, and with
this view, I cell the attention of the House
to the statement which was made by me last year of the
expectations which I had of the income fir the year, and
of its expenditure. Gentlemen who will refer to that
will find, upon the whole—(there were some few additions
after I made the statement, which, however, correspond with
it)—that the expenditure of last year, as stated, amounted to
49,499,000/.,while the income was estimated at 48,641,0001.
leaving an estimated deficiency of 858,0001., which was
proposed to be met by a vote of credit, respecting which,
if Hon. Gentlemen will look at the paper which is before
them, I need not enter into detail. They will find by that
return that the return was 49,285,0001., and the ac-
tual revenue 47,443,0001. leaving aeleficiency of 1,840,0001.
So far the House would recollect that if that 800,0001.
which was proposed to be met by Exchequer Bills, were not
paid, it would leave a deficiency beyond what had hitherto
occurred. Perhaps it is advisable I should state the com-
parison between the expenditure and the income. The
estimate of the expenditure is 9,449,000/. There was
an expenditure of 48,6411., in one case, where the income
amounted only to 47,0001. It may be asked how this
great deficiency has taken place. I think I shall be able
to show the House that this deficiency had not arisen from
the manner in which it was admitted the tax was made,
but arose from the falling off of the main revenue, which
would have taken place even if the taxation had not been
made in the way it was. With respect to the Cus-
toms and Excise, five per cent. had been taken off
from the amount of even former years, and I find
on reference to the returns, that the Customs in
the first quarter of the year increased to an amount of
161,0001., while the increase on the second quarter was
266,000/. Upon the Excise in the first two quarters there
was an increase of 230,000/., making thus an increase in
the first half-year of 651,000/. beyond what was received in
former years. Thus, so far as regards the first part of the
year, the expectations entertained respecting the revenue
exceeded what they had been induced to hope for. —( Hear.)
He would first state the partic,lar articles upon which
there hal been an increase. Upon butter there had been
an increase of 25,00(11 ; coffee, 1,891,000 pounds; olive
oil one hundred and seventy.thrce thousand gallons ; pepper
98,000 ;timber, 74,000 loads ; cotton wool, .175,000,00011 n.
I will now state some of the articles upon which there has
been a falling off, and if Honourable Members will
attend to the articles themselves, there are few of
these articles respecting which their own know-
ledge will not at once give them the ground why
that falling off had not naturally taken place. On
currants there has been a small falling off-6,000 pounds.
On molasses 111,000/., on spirits 279,000 gellens, on
sugar, 250,000 cwt., wine 397,000 gallons. The House
will observe that the falling off in sugar and molasses
arises from Ow prices at which those articles have been sold.
The other main article is tea, and it will likewise suggest
itself to the Committee that the reason for that falling off
has been the state of our relations with China, and the con-
sequent rise in price occasioned thereby. That is the falling
off in the article of Customs. In the Excise the falling cff
has been principally in Ireland—the increase to the revenue
on that article in Great Britain has been 490,000/., while
the decrease in Ireland has been 354,000/. Th decrease
in spirits in Ireland amounts to 305,000/., and upon malt
50,000/. Now, Sir, if that falling off had arisen from any
diminution of the resources of the country, cr,
if it had been that the smuggler had taken
the place of the fair trader, that result would
have been a subject of deep and sincere regret, but from
all I can learn from the united opinions of gentlemen
connected with Ireland, and in conformity with
the opinion of the Revenue officers, who were
the best able to furnish official information, I am afraid that
it has arisen from increased habits of temperance in the
people—(Loud cries of " Hear, hear," from Mr. O'Con-
nell and the Irish Members)—and I own, Sir, that how-
ever inconvenient it may be to the statement I have now
to make, I should be ashamed of myself if I did not make
that statement with the greatest and sincerest pleasure.—
(Cheers from both sides of the House.) I may mention
incidentally that I have not the account for the
last quarter of the revenue from the corresponding
articles of tea, sugar, and coffee ; but on the
early part of the year there was an increase,
and I have no doubt that a still larger increase
will be found en the last quarter.--( Hear, hear.) With
regard to other articles, I will just mention, as I am
anxious to show that the falling off in the Excise has not
arisen from any material defalcation in the resources of the
country, and with that view I have a statement drawn up
to show the per centage of the increase and de-
crease on all exciseable articles for the last three years,
from which it appeared that there was an increase upon auc-
tions of 3i per cent., upon plate upwards of 30 per cent.,
broad glass 31 per m nt., malt, 51 per cent., post horses
3 per cent , hard soap si, and soft 14 per
cent.—(the Right Honourable Gentleman enumerated
some oiler articles which we were unable to catch. )
glass one twentieth per cent ; hops 81 per cent.—
( Hear, hear)—licences 23 per cent. That has arisen
partly from the diminution of spirit licences in Ireland, and
partly from the effect of the bill passed last year for re-
stricting the sale of beer. The diminution of spirit
licenses was 131 per cent. The stamps and
taxes had produced more than was expected by
115,000/.—( Hear, hear.) On the subject of postage I
have to say that the falling off has not taken place from
my Noble Friend the Post-master General being mis.
taken in his calculations as to the increase of letters ; bnt
in consequence of the increase ofexpenditure which has been
occasioned by incrcaied accommodation to the public, and by'
the arrangement of the Post-office for the registration of let-
ters, which bas caused an extension of the establishment.
I have now stated to the House the amount of the actual
income of last year—the deficiency which appears in the
accounts—and such information as will enable the Clouse to
judge of the causes of the falling off. I have
Slow to lay before them the anticipations cf the Govern-
ment. The charge upon the Consolidated Fund will in
all amount to 31,820,000/. The Army, including the
;:,,?mmissariat and Militia expenditure, 6,587,0001. The
Navy, ieelusive of 199,000/. of former years, 6,805,000/.
•• leence, 2,075.0001. The miscellaneous charges,
The Orue • -le of the items actually on the table of
including the w(l,. " items, which a ill be laid be.
the House, and some sme.. Q 35,000/. The Estimate
fore the House in a short time, _, -.messed to state
fur Canada, 108,0001. I am not p. -an end to
that in the present year I shall be able to pm. ' ^ne,
the present system, which I acknowledge to be a bin
and has lasted long enough ; but I think it will be neces-
sary on the present occasion that we should have the
money, but of course the House ought to have and to
exercise a complete control over it. I will be able to
give the House every insight into the details hereafter.
The House is in possession of all the information re-
specting China which I could afford them. The charge
made by the East India Company amounts to
475,0001. That estimate was framed up till to-morrow,
the Ist of May, 1841, that being the termination of the
East India Company's financial year. There is a question
pending between the Company and the Government, as to
certain charges, and upon whom they were to fall. I
apprehend, however, that if I made provision for
400,0001., leaving the 75,000/. over until the accounts
are made up, I think I shall satisfy the East India
Company, and have made provision for the present
year. I have not deducted any corn in
the expectation, or upon any supposition that the expedi-
tion will terminate sooner than expected, I merely deduct
the 75,000/. until the accounts arc squared. The charges
will then stand thus :
Consolidated Fund £31,520,000
Army 6 587,000
Navy 6,805,000
Ordnance
Miscellaneous 2,933,000
Canada lOB,OOO
China 400,000
Making the total of the estimated expenditure 50,731,0001.
I now propose to state the estimate I have made of the
coming revenue, and in so doing, although last year I
stated I was prepared to take a favourable view of the
prospects of the year, I have endeavoured in the present
year, finding the difficulties which I anticipated might be
passed over still continue—l have endeavoured, in com-
munication with those Officers of my own Department
and of the Treasury, who were the hest fitted to assist nee
by their experience, to take an estimate, which I
am able to tell the House is one of a veri