Star.
London, England, 1825-03-01 00:00:00

pet Cent,
. 15

Strong Beer . . 1-5 Skins
Table Beer . 20 Linens
Bricks . 40 Malt •
filee 15 P..per
Candles . 9j 64/Jp .
Wai Candles 9 Sot t Soap
Coffee . . . 3i British Spirits
Cocoa Foreign ditto
Glass Sweets
Cider and Perry Tea
Leather I Wrought Plata . IS
Upon Salt, continued the 11 ight Honourable Gentle-
man, there has been some diminuti,:n, owing to the
expectation confidently entertained that the duties upon
that article were about to expire. But in every other
article there has been an increase—(Hear). The next
branch of the Revenue to which 1 shall advert, is the
Stamps. The House bill recollect, that in the course
of last year, after the first statement which I made to
the Hou•.e relative to the duty on Law Stamps, I thought
myself bound to propose the repeal of that duty, and I
anticipated that it would cost the Revenue £200,000.—
The amount of the produce of Stamps for last year I
had estimated at 0,800,000, and I considered that one-
fourth only of the reduction of duty would actually be
lost since the repeal was not to be operative before Oc-
tober. I expected, therefore, the produce of this part
of the Revenue to be £6,750,000, but the actual amount
is 1:7,244,000—(Hear, hear). 'Thus we have the ad-
vantages of cheap justice and no sacrifice of Revenue,
we have gained a good, and sustained no loss. The Post
Office return I had estimated at £'1,460,000; the real pro-
duce is C 1,520,000, an increase naturally to be expected,
from the increased activity in the various departments of
national industry, as seen in other parts of the Revenue.
Although there were some individuals who thought that
1 was too sanguine in the view which I took of the re-
sources of the country, and feared that I should ex-
pose the Revenue to risk, when last year I proposed
these reductions, every one, I hope, will now admit.,
that so far from exceeding the limits of my subject, I
was in reality within bounds. Having, therefore, ex-
plained to the Committee the state of the Revenue of
last year, as compared u ith the Estimate which I ven-
tured to submit to the House, I will now unfold the
Estimate which I have formed for the present year, and
explain thegrounds upon which I found it. In the fist
place I will detail the figures, and then explain the
ground upon which I make the calculation. I take,
then, the whole receipt for 1825 at 56,445,3701. The
total expenditure I take At 56,001,812/. giving a sur-
plus of 443,5281. Upon each of these items I will say a
word or two. I take the Customs at 11,350,0001. a sum,
which, the Committee will observe, exceeds the actual
produce oflast year, the brit:Rinds of which I will explain.
I think I have said enough to satisfy the House that
there is nothing unreasonable in taking the financial
results of 1824 as the basis of calculation, deducting
those taxes which will come into operation this year.
Taking, therefore, 11,327,7411. I add 50,0001. as the
first benefit, to be derived from the reduction of certain
bounties, which, upon the system lately adopted, Par-
liament has agreed to cut down. Then I add 460,0001.
being the amount paid last year upon the stock of silk
in hand. These being casual are not likely to occur
again this year. A total is thus gained of 11,837,7411.
From this, however, I think myielf bound to deduct
410,0001. for that portion of taxes which was remitted
last year, and came into operation this year. The total
probable Revenue, therefore, is 11,427,7411. but in or-
der to be within bounds, I take it at 11,350,0001.
leaving as a sort of allowance 77,0001. The Excise
I estimate at 26,400,0001. last year it was 26,768,0001.
but I deduct from .this 237,0001. for the remission of
the Salt Duty, and the duty on Rum, which was re•
duced last year. This will give .us 26,531,0001. but
I prefer, for the sake of caution, taking it at 26,400,0001.

• 71
. 121
. 66
. 25
. 45

'the more moderate sum. The Stamps I put down at
7,100,0001. allowing for the completion of the reduo-
tion of Law Stamps 150,000/. The Assessed and Land
Taxes I estimate at 4,875,000/. which is founded upon
the most accurate calculation made at the Stamp Office.
The Post Office I take at 1,500,0001. and Miscellaneous
Revenue at 750,0001. I ought to state, that the Mis-
cellaneous is more this year than it is likely to be
again, owing to a payment of one hundred thousand
pounds to be made by the Netherlands, under a late
Treaty relating to the East Indies. I add also a sum due
by the Trustees of the Bank. These various items make
the total Revenue for the present year 56,445,3701.--
I now turn to the.supposed expenditure: the charge
on the Consolidated Fund I have set down at
37,610,3241. With respect to the Supply, I put the
interest on Exchequer Bills at 820,000/. and the Army,
including everything relating to it, at 7,911,7511. Ive
Navy I have put down at 5,983,1261. the Ordnance is
1,376,6411. and the Miscellaneous, 2,300,0001. 1 mar
here mention that these is a sum between 200,0001. and
300,000/. that we shall be under the necessity of paying
to the United States, on account of teveral slaves being

received into our possessions, by a Lich they became
free, and consequently a loss was sustained by their
former proprietors; the justice of the claim was ac-
knowledged by us, and the question has been referred
to the Emperor of Russia, and the sum fixed upon is
somewhere ab,mt 250,000/. The result, then, of this

estimate is, that there will be a surplus of 44.3,5281. and
I consider the whole of these calculations to apply si-
milarly to the two succeeding years, 1826 and 1827.
My calculations for those two years are as follow :
The Receipts for 1826, 55,195,000/. the Expenditure,
55,330,324/. leaving a balance of 864,6761. F. r
the year 1827, the Receipts will be 56.360,000/.
the Expenditure 55,105,324/. leaving a balance of
1,251,676/. making a total surplus, on the four years,
of 4 000 624/. The reason why I have calculated
that the revenue of 1827 will be larger than that of
1826, arises from an increase I expect in the Customs.
The Committee are aware that, in the discussion Aids
took place la-t Sestion on the duties on sugar, it ap-
peared that a considerable sum was paid as bcunty on
the exportation of that article ; and according to the
scale of duties paid, it was evident that the Li unty on
the exportation exceeded the amount of duty paid by
three shillings in the hundred weight. When a discus-
sion arose on a former occasicn, those duties were laid
on an ascending scale, according to the price, so that
while the duty was no more than 275. the drawback
amounted to 30s. Now, I contend, that tl.is arrange-
ment re,ted upon no sound principle; for foreign
Powers, who saw out error in this point, were disposed
to take advantage of it; and by laying additional duties
on sugars exported from England, and imported into
their States, they put these three shillings bounty into
their.owii treasury. The Committee will admit, that
the continuance of such a system on our part would be
absurd. However, it may perhaps inter fete with >everal
existing interests to have this drawback or bounty re-
pealed all at once; I shall therefore propose that, {tom
the 26th of July, 1826, it should cease altogether ; and
that the scale of ascending duties should also cease to exist.
It is true, that this regulation may affect some interests,
but it is right to state chat those interests may be cents
pensated on other points by a reduction of the duties on
other articles of their produce—(Heer, hear). The result
of the calculations which I have detailed to the Com-
mittee ate, that there is a surplus from 1814, of
1,437,714/. from 1825, of 443,528/. from 1826, of
864,6761. from 1827, of 1,254,6761. being a total of
4,000,6241. When I made this calculation last year, I
was asked what I would do with the surplus ? I now
answer that a great deal may be done with it, and I
think I can satisfy the House that the application of it
which I shall recommend, will be most advantageous,
looking to all the interests of the country. I have three
objects in view in the application of our surplus revenue
in those years. The first is to extend our commerce,
by increasing the facility. of consumption of foreign
, produce in this country ; the next is the cart ping
farther the attempts which have been made to ester-
minate that monstrous evil, smuggling—(Hear, hear)
and the third is the remission of a portion of t:irtet
taxes, provided I am not driven by that to an abandon-
ment of the two other points, which I consider of much
more importance to the general interests of the county
than the pat tial remission of direct taxes. I know well
the feelings which are entertained on this subject. I
know it is said that-Minivers might obtain a great ac-
cession of popularity by the repeal of the assessed taxes.
I do not wish for popularity when it is to be obtained
at the expense of the better interests of the country;
and those interests would be sacrificed if the two points
to which 1 have adverted are neglected. To come to
the first of these point, that of an extension of our
commerce with foreign nations—it is to be observed,
that the House has already admitted the principle,
by the good sound sense it displayed in getting rid
of many of those prohibitory duties which so long
fettered our intercourse with foreign nations.—Much,
I admit, has been already done in this respect,
but much still remains to be done; and I hope that no
great length of time will elapse before my Right Hon.
Friend (Mr. Hoskisson) will have to submit a motion
for the repeal of the whole of the duties on foreign pro-
duce —( Hear, bear). lam satisfied that such a mea-
sure would not interfere injuriously with our domestic
produce, but will in the end, be found of the utmost
advantage to every class of the community. It is un-
necessary to go into the detail of all the articles of fo-
reign produce upon which the very high, and, in many
cases, the prohibitory duties ought to be withdrawn,
but there is one upon which I cannot avoid saying a few
words—l mean foreign iron. The price of iron has
lately risen to an enormous height, not from any new
speculation in that article—not from any belief that the
country is to be covered with iron rail-roads, and that
all the iron which could be dug out of the bowels of the
earth would be required to supply the demand ;• but
from a general increase of trade produced by the in-
creased and increasing comforts and prosperity of the
people in this and other nations. -The fact is, the !up-
ply of iron in this country is not at all in proportion t.(3
the demand ; and there are, at this moment,foreign ordet s
in Sheffield and Birmingham, which cannot be executed.
because the manufacturers there cannot supply the ar-
ticles at the price which the foreign customers could
afford to pay. The consequence is, that several such
orders have been withdrawn, and are sent to other
countries, where, though they could not be executed in
the same good style, yet, as being much cheaper, they
are preferred by those who cannot afford the higher
price. Swell Jt is not sound policy in this country
to continue restrictions w hich have the effect of thus
crippling a very important branch of her nianufactur:?,
and 1 think the interests of the community will be best
consulted by reducing the duty from 71. to 11. 10s. As

.

the high duty has acted as a kind of prohibitory duty
n the importation of foreign iron, the mmediate loss
to the revenue will not be anything worth naming; bur
I am certain that, before the end of the year, it will be
found that the low duty will have made a considerable
addition to the income from Customs--(Hear, hear).—
One of the objects in view in removing those high
prohibitory duties is to set other nations an example of
what will in the end be for their as well as our interest.
Some countries have already shewn a disposition to avail
themselves of it ; but it cannot be expected that all
countries will at once enter into our feelings on the
subject. There are, however, some States willing to
adopt our regulations, and to open their ports to articles
of our produce. To these the remission of the heavy
duties will for the present be confined, and they will
find from us a full compensation for the advantages
'they are thus disposed to give; and I have no doubt
that our example will, in the end, produce general
imitation, provided that we ourselves are consistent
There is another article of foreign-produce upon which.
though the duty is high, it has not a prohibitory effect
I mean the duty on hemp. This, though it is not an
article which interests the community generally, is
still of great consequence to a very important class—
the shipping interest. The high duty presses upon them
heavily, and it is necessary that they should be re-
lieved; for after all, our naval interest forms the grand
fulcrum of our national prosperity—(Hear). I shall
propose a !eduction of 50 per cent. on the duty on
hemp, that is, to reduce it from one penny to one half-
penny in the pound. The immediate loss to the revenue
ft om this reduction will be about 100,0001. The nex
article on which I prolose a reduction is to be coffee
which, though not very important in itself, is so in re-
ference to an interest of great value to the country. The
duty on %Vest India coffee at present is is. in the pound,
and that on East India and other foreign coffees is higher.
That duty had been increased in 1819, and since then
the consumption has considerably fallen off. To renew
the consumption, I pi opose to diminish the present
duty (me half; and another object in view is, to give
every encouragement to our West India planters for its
cultivation. The reduction intended, is from Is. to 6d.
in the pallid, by which I calculate a reduction of re-
venue to the amount of 150,0001. The next article to
which I shall call the attention of the Committee is
one of \A I: ich the consumption appears to be matet ially
affected by the amount of duty, which has been often
noticed in this House. I allude to foreign wines. 1
have noticed thy decrease of consumption by the increase
of (lades ; and by that decrease, the power of other na-
tioi.s to take our commodities has been also reduced.
Now, in ',Joking at the amount of consumption of wine,
I find that in the years 18J1, 1802, and 1803, when
the duty was much lower than its present rate, die
avetage consumption in this country was, of Fiench
.. wines, 2,745,590 gallons ; and of port and other wines,
in the same time, the consumption was 7,396,165 gal-
lons. I now speak of Great Britain only. And I find
that in the year 1821, nearly a qua' ter of a century af-
ter, notwithstanding the immense increase in our popu-
lation, in our trade, commerce, and in our general
prosperity, the consumption of French wines was
254,263 gallons; and of Portugal and other wines, it
was reduced to 4,847,976 gallons. How are we to
account for this fact? lam told that the habits of the
peoi:le are changed, and that people do not drink so
much wine as they did formerly. Perhaps they do
not; but one reason is, that the duties are too
high, and the natural remedy for this is to endea-
vour, as fir as possible, to remove them—(A laugh).
The present duty on French wine, is 11. sd. a gallon,
or 145/. is. Gd. a tun ; the duty on port wine, is 7s. 7d.
u gallon, or 991. I Is. a tun. In the years 1801, 1302,
and 1803, the duty on French wine WAS, for the year
1801, Bs. 9J. and for the years 1822 and 1823, Bs.lod.
the duty on port wine, for the same periods, was 6s. sd.
and Gs. Gd. I propose, therefor e, to substitute, for tlitpre-
sent duty on French wine, which is 11 s. sd. six shil-
lings, which will be a little more than fifty per cent. I
propose to reduce the duty on port wine, Spanish and
Rhenish wines, to four shillings, which will be very
little mute than half the present duty. The reduction
of duty which I propose on the wines of France, will
amount to Is. 3d. a bottle, and the reduction on Porto
guese, and other wines, to nearly one shilling a bottle.
Reducing the duty, therefore, to a lower point than in the
three years to which I have alluded, I do not think I am
making an extravagant calculation, when I say that the
consumption will rise to the average of those three years.
With respect to Ireland, the difference in the consump-
tion of Wine in that country, which may be attributed
to the magnitude of the duty, is still more striking than.
iin England. Ido not at all believe that the hospitality
of the country is in the slightest degree diminished, and
I should be very sorry to suppose that that ancient cha-
racteristic of the Irish Gentry was effaced.—Whatever
change I may wish to see in Ireland, I trust that none
will take place in her habits of 'realty, hospitable, and
generous conviviality. I think there is every reason to
believe that the reduction will have the most beneficial
effects in the revival of the ancient hospitality of Ire-
land, especially as there are no assessed taxes there—
(/' laugh ).—I will state in round numbers what is likely
to be the loss of the revenue from this reduction, for
there will certainly be some loss. Supposing the con-
sumption in England and in Scotland, where I hope
also that the ancient hospitality will be revived, and
that they will drink claret with as much zest as they
were wont to do—to be equal to the consumption of
those threeyears, and in Ireland to two-thirds of that
consumption, I calculate that the loss to the revenue
. Iwill amount to 230,0001.—The next branch of the re-
venue which I wish to bring under the consideration of
the House, is one of very peculiar importance.
cleeskl.r ould omit no means that afford anything like
a probability of lessening so great a mischief. It haunts
us wherever we go ; it surrounds our coasts, and forces
its way into every sea-port, into every harbour and
No place is exempt from its mischievous in-
fluence, no class of society. It gains admittance into the
cottages of the poor, and offers temptations in the pa-
laces of the wealthy, where I fear its seductions are not
always resisted. All classes, in a word, are affected by.
this crying evil. We have had recourse to a variety of
expedients to put it down ; we haveblockaded the coast,
x. e have employed lot ce, ne have put the law in force,
!‘. have died everything but an alteration of the law.
1:e I.t N is the cause of the evil. I say, therefore, alter
true law. We have altered the law in Scotland and
Ireland, with the most triumphant success. The House
law,
recollect, that when it was proposed to alter the
_ with respect to ilicit distillation in Ireland, some
lonourable Gentlemen exclaimed—what reduce the
lduties on spiiits? Make all the people drunk?—for
Heaven's.sake-abstain fipm so fatal a measure. We
aitered the law, however, and how did •it tutu out?
So far from producing the effects which were andel-