The Sun.
London, England, 1810-05-17 00:00:00

plus, but proceeded t 6 ittp6se ne* taxes. With
the feeling which had of late years existed as-to the
inexpediency of imposing new taxes; he owned he
thoue,ht Mr. Addington would have done better to
epely the surplus as he now recommended. The
want of precedent was no argument against him. It
by no means• followed that because it had not been
done, before, it ought not to be done in the present'
instance: •He would again remind the-Committee
bow strong a disposition existed since the year 1807
to avoid the imposition of new taxes. In conse-
quence of that disposition no new taxes were laid on
in the years 1807 and 1809; but,in the intermedi-
a'e year an increase had been made, which pro-
duced one million more than the exigencies of that
year required. Thus they were in etfeel taxed two
years oat of three. Adverting lo thessubjeet of the'
arrears of the Property' and Assessed Taxese 'he ob-
served, that the arrears .colleEted during the last
Year amounted, according to the best calculation, to'
:280,0001. Tliat circumstance alone
.was a strong
reason for believing that this was -not the period at
which new taxes should be imposed, if, byepolS`-
sibility, they could be avoided. In .a revolution,
adopted by the House in 1807, ;at-the recommenda-
tion of the Noble Lord who was his predeces.Sifr in
office, it was stated 'to-be their opinion that if in an.
average of three years the produce of the assessed
taxes exceeded the estimate in a certain proporti4i, .
the whole of the excess would be at the disposal of',
Parliament ; 'and if the produce should fall sliterti)f.
the estimate the deficiency to be made good by Pars
liament. The principle of that Resolution was not
that on which he was ailing. If he were to take
the excess of the intermediate years there would be
a surplus Q 1,600,0001. more than he wanted ; btit
he merely w'ilieet to remind the Committee that
such a Resole:toil had been passed. He next ad- .
vertecl to the trade of the country, a subje& on
which lie was ellaV)led to dwell with pectiliar satis-
faction. The state of the exports and imports of the
last year greatly exceeded that of any year which the
country had known before. The imports of the
last year amounted to 36,25.5,2091. Those of the
year 1802, a year of peace, and tete of 4begreatest
amount before known, were 31,442,4'81.--Thus
it appeared, that there was an excess in this respect
of near 5,000,0001. in the laityear,,over a year of
peace and nourishing commerce. The exports
of British maeufactures last year amounted to
35,107,0001. ; those of 1802, w ere 26,9113,1-221.
Thus there were an excess of bet iveen eight and
nine millions in favour of the last year, as compared
with the most flourishing year of peace. The ex-
ports of foreign produce last year amounted to
15,194,3241. Those of 1802 were 19, .27;8331.
in this Jespea, therefore, the exports were' not
equal to those of 1802, but it was obvious that the
excess of the exports of our own manufactures- was
much more desirable. The total amount of the ex-
ports and imports of last year was 50,301,7631. In
1802, they were but 46,1z0,9621. the increase h t..ere.
fore was 4,180,8011. The comparative increase of
our foreign trade would be striking, were he to take
any other year than 1802,- hut he would content
himself with the statement he had already made. It
.rnight, however, be said that it was not fair to take
the exports and imparts of the last year only ; but
that the average-ought to have' been struck between
the years 1808 and 1809. Be it so ; the average of
the imports during these two years was 32,942,2811.
The average of the two last years at a per iud of war,
(1800 and 1801) was 31,683,0801. This evidently
sheaved that our foreign commerce was not only not
stationary, but that it was progressive ; although if
it had been stationary, that some time ago, was as
much as any body expeCted. Of the internal trade
of the country he had not the same means of judg-
ing, but he had been told that in Yorkshire a very
considerable increase had taken place last year, iat
the manufatclure of cloth..

Mr. WILBERFORCE stated the increase to be a
Million and a half of yards.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER observed,
that the statement of the Hon. Gentleman cor-
responded with his own information on the subject.
But not only was thegreat increase of internal trade
evinced by this ciicuwstauce, but in every other pos-
sible respeet. The ereCtion of great public works and
warehouses, the creation of docks, &c. were com-
plete proofs of that accumulation of national wealth,
without which such efforts could not be made, or if
made, would not be encouraged—a wealth grow-
ing out of individual acquisition and the general
trade of the country. This was a subject by no
means unnaturally connealed with that before the
Committee, for on our agriculture and our com-
merce depended our revenue. If the two former
increased, the latter would stand upon a sure foun-
dation, and he hoped and trusted that no further
apprehensions would be entertained of this being a
failing or, a- falling country. However much the
Committee might and must lament the pressure of
the times on individuals, they lad reason to congra-
tulate themselves on being in such a state with re-
spe& to general prosperity as to warrant no appre-
hensions of national calamity. The view of our
foreign relations was most important and most
cheering. Not many years ago the enemy had told
the world that all that remained to enabled hint to
satiate his amb:tion was the acquisition of " ships,
colonies, and commerce." Front that declaration it
was not unreasonable to suppose that there were
possessions which lie expected to obtain by his ex-
ertions against us. Wnat had been the result of his
projects ?- What the result of our efibrts to resist
him ? He not only made a progress, but he made
a, retrograde motion. He had lost all his colonies,
and almost all his commerce ; and as-tor ships, his
navy, however numerous they might be, were not
in a state to induce them to venture out of their
ports. As be was on this subjeet, he would report
to the Committee some of the details of the French
Minister of Finance on-the revenues of that coun-
try.
.The customs in France in 1808, produced only
2 millions of francs. The French Minister declared
that this was lesi than two thirds of the sum'to
which the customs had been. reduced in the pre-
ceding year, but that the circumstance was one that
was rather gratifying than otherwise to France, be-
cause England had suffered a diminution of 460
millions in her yearly exports; and that while the
trade of France was merely restricted that of Eng-
land was utterly destroyed. It was evident that
;n Franc , during the operation of the Orders in

Couticii, -the forties (*le. esf that eout try bad been
reduced 4-Obs of its .whole amount. He men-
tioned ttese tircUmstances for the dile considetation
Of those who could see nothing but consummate
ability and wisdom in the councils of the enemy,
and nothing but the extreme of folly and imbecility
in the councils of their own country. He conclud-
ed by repeating, that the general appearance of trade
furnished hint with the most flatttring hopes, and
with the rifflest ground for the conviaion, that the
revenues of Great Britatn would prove fUlly adequate
to any efforts, however vigorous or long continued,
which she might be called upon to make.
-.The first ResOlution, for raising by loan the sum
of eight millions for Great Britain and four millions
for lreland, was then read and agreed to.
_
the
second Resolution, which involved the
terms of this loan,

Mr. HUSKISSON never thought that the resources
of the country were in a slate of failure, on the con-
trary, he believed, that notwithstanding the great
demands, the.. national capital was increasing; • his
propositictn.was; -that there should be a limit to taX-
,ation„' wkieh. he had likewise endeavoured to' sup-
port... -He:simply wished to ask if 1,200.,0001. was a
sum suffieient to'Carry on a. war under such peculiar
circumstances;? 'ton this 'subjed his -_Right Hon.
Friend had not touched. Heriad stated that he was
-corripetent to' meet the additional charges, but did
not "particularly coMprehend in his view the re-
sources of the succeeding year; of Huse prospects
he had a right, if not now, in future, to expect an
explanation. Suppose the 15 tatnents had been
brought forward 'with, the'Ocksion, that the war
was either shortly toesid, or last a number of yews.
Look to both alternalives ; if the ratter be Adopted,
: we must conyider a redUction:hvoist annual expen-
' diture abspliiiyly necessary ; if tOt of the restoration
of peace .tie,preferred, we-May .'expett, a relief .from
our anntJal Jurdeulc, vpfiiefi, di.iing the War, cannot
be; taken consistent „With. • the maintenance
.and establishment -of the public credit,. •When his
Right Honourable Ftieekdipioposes fq.4ake away one
millioh, he siii)poskd.-4 did not include the pro-
sped of-ac-peaoe establishment, ' The Committee
should tarn (heir. .corisideration. 'tiot theimanneY;
they should'get over tb.is Budget, ),tut. to Ow next,
notito,the difficulties in, the present,,, but in the cu.,.
suing Session. Such a 'mode of i&ing renh.lnds halt
of an auecdote of a person." whdpresided over the
Finance of France; a 'friend. asked him. " if,
he should go on in 'the'-wily he_ was pnrgti-
ing, what. would become of the people_?" • To
this he 'replied; ‘‘. -It will last our'aisne," or
rather, in the idiomatic language of
_the country
his answer was, " Apres nous ledelugi." He was
not an advocate for betraying ''any weakriess pr.
doubt of resources to the enemy; on the contrary,..
he wished to spew him the measure of our sttength.
He lamented that his Right Hon. Friend shohld.call
in question wh it his view of the charges might` be ;
the loan and the surplus of the consolidated fund,.
&c. amounted in all to. 20,220,0001.: with this he
was quite satisfied. The stamps were first consoli-
dated in 1106. At that time a great addition was
made. They were consolidated again since. Still
there was nothing to continue the growth of that
part of the revenue. As to the increase of the Ma-
rine Insurance, which was 1,20°,0001. he attributed
it wholly to himself. In the present instance the
grounds which had been acted .on for the last
two or three years were only shifted; however, it
must give pleasure not only to the Committee, but
to Gentlemen of the country, to find that no
additional taxes are to be laid on. In the
statement of the supplies, he was consider- ,
ably disappointed ;—he understood, in the open-
ing of the Session, that there were to be
great retrenchments in the establishment, he thought
that an abatement might be made coincident and
consistent with the war, the necessity of which
must appear evident ; he did now intend to enter at
large into the subjett, but he was convinced that
some millions might be dedu&ed from the annual
expenditure, and this he had the most sanguine ex-
peeations might be done without the smallest in-
jury to the country.—When the Army Estimates ,
were agreed to, in the state the House was in at
that time, consisting of not more than forty Mem--
bars, he did not make any observations.. From the
grant of 145,000 seamen, lie supposed the country
would not be in safety without them,. at the same
time lie would observe, that such a number had
never been before granted, some reasons therefore
should have been stated. It was proposed• that our
navy should be equal to all the navies in the world,
and that we should have a reserve besides. With
the necessity of this he agreed, but thought that
Many difficulties would arise from such an exten-
sion. It had been said out of doors that liberty was
desirables this, however, was not alone the objet
of the country. The expedition to Copenhagen in
i 801 was not the first, then a great naval force
had been sent, and in 1805 120,000 seamen, under
Lord Nelson, achieved the Battle of Trafalgar ; at
that time the fleets of the enemy wet e in every part
Of Spain and Portugal, yet such a demand as the pre-
sent was not thought of. With respe& to the Navy
estimates, the nature of the war in which we are en-
gaged has not been discriMinatod rrom the last.—
Then France was deprived of commerce, and poor
in revnue ; at present she is not so; then there was
a necessity for naval superiority, as on it depended
the .restoration of peace; it does not depend on it
now, for if our fleets were doUbled, it could not thus
be obtained. Our enemy possesses Europe ; the
Kings which he has made vassals to his throne are, as
it were, his commissaries and recruiting serjeants;w ho
send him never-failing mean of carrying on a war.
He pays now no regard to c tminerce, his ambition
has taken another turn; he, like every Other usurper;
has a peculiar madness, and this is directed to the
destruction of commerce; whatever diminution his
revenue may suffer from this, he makes up by exac-
tions in other parts of the world.- The revenue in
the other parts of the kingdom ought to be looked
to, five millions and a half are to be raised in Ire-
land by extraordinary means. He charged therefore
the Committee to look seriously, and find out the.
views of the Right Hon. Geittleinan.

Mr. Ross thought that several things asserted by
his Right Hon. Friend had been overstated. Ex-
pressions he had used out of doors had been alluded
to; l,e certainly did say that there was a positive ne-
cessity of retrenchment, to twc or three persons in

ttnfidence,-but did not expect it to be iiS)liSheil.
He was convinted that whim•iver 'the Minittels were
next year, they would come down to the House
with a bad grace, if they were not able to state where
retrenchments could be made. He believed that
a considerable reduction. might be made without
endangering the safety of the country, yet if it
appeared to be attended with hazard, it should
not be adopted. As to, the increase of 15,000 sea-
men, he did not see any reasonable grounds for it.
It was, in his opinion, totally unusual for Ministers
to state what taxes they intended introducing next
year; the measure itself was not commendable, for
" sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof" What-
ever our resources may be, superabundance in the
termer year does not justify the propriety of laying
on new taxes. If one million has been given to the
Sinking Fund, it is better now to take the Supply
from that than impose new taxes. Although tins
measure was not adopted in Mr. Addington's time,
yet the country was not then exhausted as it is now;
to this effea he read a clause from the Consolidating
Al,. which was passed in 1787. It would have been
unpardonable in laying new taxes : enough has been
done for posterity, and as such sums as are wanting
can be raised from the Sinking Fuld, unneces,ary
burden should not be impored ou the people.
Mr. TIERNEY made a few observations.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER observed,
that the terms upon which the Loan had been this
day negociated was, in his opinion, the best proof
of the increasing wealth and resources of the court.,
try, and gave the best assurances of hope that in
future the people would be enabled to bear the bur-
thens which. the necessities of affairs might induce:
With respe& to the prosperous state of the coun-
try, and the application of the Revenue, he agreed
with his Honourable Friend and the Right Ho-
nourable Gentleman, that under any Government
less disposed to pay attention to measures of eco,
nomy, it might rather be productive of evil than
good. It however could not be denied that there
were considerable diminutions in many of the
items, certainly not in so great a degree as that
the.Commito e ceu:d look to them as any ma e. ial
In the Ordnance there was a saving this year
of l )500,000i. In the army 800,0001. and there was
most assuredly an increase in the navy expense of be-
tween 2 and 300,0001. It would be recollect, how-
ever,.with respect to the increase in the nary, that
he-had stated. formerly that expectation from the
necessity ot: making an addition to the number of sea..
Wen of 15,000 more than the number in the former
year, for the purpose of affording assistance to our
allies in Spain. I'he Right Hon. Gentlemen opposite
seemed to regret the good fortune which awaited
his Majesty's Government ; he appeared somewhat
jealous_ of it, and looked at it with a sour eye, and
talked of his (Mr; Perceval's) having abused the
resources, which the predecessors in office of his
Majesty's present Government had provided for
them. , The faa was not so ; for, so far from
having abused the system of the last Government,
he had uniformly commended it, nay he would
put it to many of his Friends to say whether
when he (Mr. P.) was in Opposition he kid sup-
ported the,system which precluded the necessity of
laying any taxes for three years. Was it then to be
expected, supporting a system when out of office,
and having acted upon it when in, that those very
Gentlemen who originated it should now turn round
and condemn it ? The Right Hon. Gentleman then..
defended the produce of the different duties allud,
ed to by some Hon. Gentleman, and contended that
he had left tho surplus of the consolidated fund
higher than the preceding year, and that, there was
every probability it would instead 4,400,0001. be
the next year 5,000,0001. With respect to the
complaint of the Right Honourable Gentleman
as to the breach of faith, he could not com-
prehend what he meant by it. When a loan
was contracted for, all the contractors required
was, that the faith of Parliament should be pledged
fir the fulfilnkett of the contract, in case the do—
vernment did not ; but as to the idea of the interest
being guaranteed to them out of the Consolidated
Fund, there neither was, nor could be, any such
stipulation.

Some convex-cation, in the way of explanation,
then arose between Mr. Tierney, the Chancellor of
the Exchequer, Mr. Rose, Mr. H. Thornton, and
Mr. Huskisson.

Sir THOMAS TURTON congratulated .the House on
the flourishing state of the resources. He wished
however to be informed, whether it was the inten-
tion of his Majesty's Ministers to make any altera-
tion in ihe collection of the Property Tax ; it not,
-he should state-his objections to it on another op-
portunity. . _

The resolutions were agreed to, the House re-
sumed, and the report was ordered to be received
to-morrow.

• The Irish Malt Bill was read a third time and
passed.

Sir Jont4 NEWPORT postponed his motion (which
stood for to-morrow) respeCting Sir George Shee,
until Thursday se'nnight.

LAMBETH WORKHOUSE RILL.
Mr. SHERIDAN adverted to a Bill for regulating
the workhouse at Lambeth, which hod inadver-
tently passed both Houses, although it. contained a
clause of a natrre wholly unprecedented. al Fri-
day next lie would submit to the House some mo-
tion on the subject.

Mr. WHITBREAD obtained leave to bring in a
Bill to explain, and render more eficival the Woi k-
house A& of last Session.

The Overseers' Accounts Bill went through a
Committee, the repo: t of which was received, and
ordered to be taken into further consideration on
Tuesday, and to be printed as amended.
The other •Orders of the Day were disposed of,
and the House at Eleven o'Clock adjourned.

Another Com Mon Hall is, by appointment of the
Lord Mayor, to be convened on Monday next. We
understand that the requisition to his Lordship ex-
presses the purpose of the intended ,Meeting to be
" to take into consideration the teje6,tion of the late
Petition of the Livery to the House of Commons,
and to assert the independence and dignity of the
Livery in Common Hall assembled, against the ca-
lumnies of men calling themselves Liverymen of
London, and signing their Address and Declaratith
at a Tavern."