Star.
London, England, 1824-02-24 00:00:00

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was 57,385.0001.. He would now proceed to the Expen-
diture for the year 1824. 'lie first item was a charge of
interest on the Funded Debt, which amounted to
27.973,1961. The gradual accumulation of interest
Exchequer Bills, 100,0001. Annual and permanent
charges upon the Consolidated Fund, 2,050.0004 Half'.
pay Annuities to 2,500,0001. The Sinking Fond to
5,1445 EL The total amount was 38,057,6541. He
would now proceed to the. items on the Sapply. • In-
terest on Exchequer Bilk, 1,050,0001. The Army Es-
_ titnates were 7,490,9451. Navy Estimates 5,762;8931.
0rdnapce,4,410,0441. and the Miscellaneous account,
2,611,3831. The total amounted to 56,332,92-1/. De-
ducting this sum from the total amount of the Income,
57,355,0004 there would be a,sorplus at the end of the
year of 1,052,0761. Having troubled the House with
the figures of the accounts,
.without offering any obser-
vations, he should now state what appeared necessary
to him for their elucidation. He begged the House
would compare the actual receipts of the Revenue of
ISO. At the commencement of last year he had calcu-
lated that the Customi would amount to ten millions
, and a half. He did not then think he was too sanguine
in Iris anticipations, and the result strewed that his opi-
nions rote not fallacious. In point of fact, gfeat had been
the increase of our harelips duties by a mote liberal po.
licy, of which he had always been the humble advocate.
—(Chrers)—and in which the House had always, in its
wi.dom, gone along with him to complete his measures.
He was not wrong in his anticipations; for the Customs
did, in point of fact, produce no less a sum than eleven
millions and a half—(Goers):—This was an additional
reason for thinking that the course of liberal policy
which had been acted upon would be an abundant rea-
son for the House-continuing it. Another 4ranch of the
Revenue, the Excise, however, did not exactly exhibit
the same result ; but'he hoped that lie should not hive
,any -difficulty in shevring, that although those Duties
had fallen short of the amount of the preceding year,
that although there had been some deficiency, yet that
. deficiency did not actually arise from the failure of ar-
ticles consumed. He asserted last year that the Excise
would produce 26,000,0001. but the actual receipt was
'25.342,0004, The difference arose from some circutn-
staoces which he did not then advert 'to, but which he
should now explain. In the first place, a diminution
was Or be made of the Malt Duties, amounting to ope
=hundred and thirty thousand pounds. The Revenue
would shave been greater had it not been for this circum-
stance. Owing to the distress which was represented to
prevail in hop counties, his Majesty's Ministers did
think it would be advisable to make a temporary post-
ponementof the payment of those Duties: consequently,
the Duties 'of 1823, on the hop crop of 1822, which
amounted to about 330,0004 were never received at all.
There was only a sum of 47,0001. paid, which arose
from former arrears of Duties on that article. In addi-
tion to this diminution, the Excise had suffered from
another nseature. It would be remembered that a Bill
had 'passed through the House last year relating to dis-
tillatioa. When that Bill was in its progres4 he ,as-
serted that the base of that measure would cause a great
reduction in the Revenue. Hedid not state what parti-1
cular amount the Revenue was likely to be deficient by I
the.measure: suffice it to say, that a considerable reduc-
tion had taken place. The deficiency was not so- much
felt in Ireland and-Scotland as in England. He believed
that he wassiarrautedlp stating that the great measure
which that Bill was intended to effect bad been accom-
phshed—it bad destroyed in a great degree illicit distilla-
tion. He believed, however, it would be found that the
consumption of spirits would increase—not that he by
any means considered this a desirable object—(Near)—
but he considered himself justified in stating that the
duty would increase in Scotland and Ireland. And,
although a considerable loss in this branch of the reve-
nue bad occurred, yet he was persuaded, that at no dis-
tant period, the loss which it had thus sustained would
not affect it. From a document which he held in his
hand, it would appear that the diminution did not arise
from any diminution in the articles used in the country.
He could state, for the satisfacction of the House, that in
almost all the articles which paid duty, there were very
few in which a diminution of consumption occurred.
And, with the exception of one or two articles, the Re-
venue of last year had increased, not only as compared'
with the preceding year, hut also as compared with the
three preceding years. Thus it would appear that the
Revenue had gradually been improving—(Cheirs), and
the warmest hopes might be indulged in its continuation
—(licar). To return to the deficiency arising from the
- hop crop. Every one knew that the crop was very de-
ficient last year. Indeed, it was considerably less than
the former year,- which was also a deficient crap. There
was a diminution in the duties on malt, but in the du-
ties on beer there was a considerable increase. • He did
not knew how to account for this--(Laughter). But
be thought it might arise from the length ofcredit given
for the payment of beer; or, in addition to that, it
might proceed from the deficiency in the barley crop,
which was well-known not to be so productive last
year as the preceding one. To advert to the Miscella-
neous Department. There was an increase of duties on
paper, pepper, and on, salt a considerable increase—
(t ear, hep). On soap there was also an increase of
duty, as also on Irish spirits and foreign spirits, likewise
on tobacco and snuff. In
.short, upon the long list of
articles contained in the Miscellaneous Account, there
were not more than fonr which sustained any diminu-
tion ; and upon aU the other articles there was a very
considerable increase pf duties. Comparing these arti-
cles, not only with last year, but with the preceding
years, there was a gradual increase—(Cheers).. As
11:s Majesty's Speech from the Throne asserted that this
country was in a state of almost unprecedented pro-
sperity, so it was proved b) the flourishing condition of
our Revenue. To revert to the last pears revenue, it
would be seen that the duty on stamps amounted to
6,700,0001. in the present 'ear it was 6,800,0004 an
increase of 100,0001. The taxes were estimated at
7,100,0001. last year, but the. actual receipt was
6.200,0001. The Post Office account was 14,0001. lie
e.tisna;e3 it at 14,6001. and in the Miscellaneous Ac.
comse dice was a small variation between the actual
receipt and the expenditure. The Miscellaneous Ac-
count of the present year bad been increased on account
of the payment of the Austrian Loan. On this salject
he would address a few oessentations. How few there
were in that House who amjcipatediberrimenrt of that
of his majesty—Wear, hear).
money into the Treasury
It was but fair to say, that Aitli.usit we were entitled to
sell the Beads of his Impel ial Majesty the Emperor of
).did think,
Austria, he (the Chancellor of the Exchequet
in of equity, we should not have had •so
.gootid a
prospect of obtain:l the motley, if we had risked re
sum. The Emperor of Austria
payment of thew
• was a man of whose personal honour he had the highest
°pill*. and whose disposition and private conduct