Star.
London, England, 1821-04-07 00:00:00

11

LOS DON.

THE FUNDS.

THE EVII.NING STAR.

SATURDAY, APRIL 7, 1821.

CURRENT PRICES AT ONE O'CLOCK :
3 per Cent. Reduced 711 ex. div.
3 per Cent. Cons. 72 71 y. 721/8
4 per Cent. 883 s % ex. dm.
S per Cent. Navy 1061/2 %
Long Aims. 18 4 ex. div.
Lldia Bonds 495. 475. pr.
Exchequer Bilk. 4s. Gs. pra.
•
Cons. fur Acct. 721% 72.

~: T . _

The quarterly statement of the Revenue bas made
it; appearance, and, as usual, accompanied with a
consolatory tail-piece, accounting for the deficiency
of ,he Quarter just ended as compared with the cor-
res;:owiing Quarter of last year--occasioned, as we
ale told, by the Malt Duty charred on the stock on
land in July; 1819, but not paid till the April Quar-
ter of 1820—and consequently making that Quarter
appear larger. It is exceedingly convenient, so far
as statements on paper are concerned, to be thus able
to place the same sum to either the debit or credit
side of the account, as may best suit any temporary
purpose. NVhen the corresponding Quarter's Revenue
for 1819 was announced, there was not a word said
about the receipt of the Malt Duty constituting a por-
tion of the amount which ought to be excluded as com-
pared with that received in the same Quarter in 1818.
—Such shuffling salvos cannot, 'however, in any way
alter the fact that there is a falling off in the general
consumption of Exciseable articles. The Revenue de-
lived from the Excise articles for the January Quarter
of 1820, is less than that for the corresponding Quarter
of 1819 by1+:123.806, and thellevenue from Exciseable
articles for the Quarter just expired, is less than that
for the corresponding Quarter of 18'20, by £168,745.
In half a year, therefore, there is a decrease in the Ex-
cise of £292,551; and the total decrease on the last
January Quarter amounting to £309,329, and the de-
crease in the April Quarter t0E235,051, the whole Half
Year's Revenue just ended has sunk below that oflB2o,
by thesum of t .514,382; or, mother words, thelle venue
is declining at more than the rate of a Million a year.
♦Ve do not state these facts with any pleasant feeling;
but much the contrary : for they furnish an evidence
of two great evils—that the Revenue is declining, and
the People at the same time compelled to lessen their
consumption of articles hitherto reckoned indispen-
sable to their comfort. But the real facts ought to
be known, without any disguise whatever ; for, unleis
our Ministers can make bare statements of figures
pass for payment of some portion of the interest of
out immense debt, they are of no beneficial use what-
ever. If they cannot do this, let them profit by the
lessons which the state of the Revenue offer- them
daily. The real question is not now, How the Reve-
nue is to be raised to meet the charges ? But, How
can the charges be reduced so as to bring the expen-
diture within the Revenue?

We have received to-day the Paris Papers of Wed-
nesday, from which we subjoin some interesting ex-
tracts. It appears that a struggle is still likely to
take place in Piedmont, and that a Declaration affect-
ing that country, similar to the Declaration against
Naples, is expected from the Sovereigns. There is
a strong determination of military force in France,
towards the frontier of Piedmont—not, however,
from any dread of invasion—nor yet any intention
to attack the Piedmontese, but to repress the insur-
rettionary .spirit which has already manifested itself
in the direction of Lyons and Grenoble. The accounts
from Frankfort state, that 93,000 Russians, Infantry,
Cavalry, and Cossacks, stationed in Volhinia, had
received orders to be in readiness to march, by the
Etarratort's orders, at five days notice.