The Statesman.
London, England, 1821-10-16 00:00:00

THE STATESMAN.

• THE LAST QUARTER'S REVENUE.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE STATESMAN.-

Sta,—l am still disposed to question your bypothe.l
sis deduced from the official accounts of the quarter's
Revenue, ending 10th October, 1821. It is an easy
matter, in making up this vast account, to choose the
most favourable period and use the most ingenious
method of exhibiting the receipts in a Battering light.
It is but right to strip this production of a little of its
gloss or false colourinz, and to satisfy the public that
we have still a very steep hill to climb ere we arrive at
prosperity. 1 shall, in the first place, review the in-
crease : this appears to arise from Beer, Bricks, and
Tiles, Glass, Malt, Salt, Soap, Tea, Spirits, &c., and
hence it is to be augured that a vastimprovement in the
condition of the people must have taken place. To
form a proper basis for arriving at a just conclusion
other information is here wanted. Beer, Bricks, and

Tiles, (Hass, Salt, Soap, Tea, Spirits, Paper, (and I
- - - - •

shall include other articles upon which there is an app.

rent decrease, ♦is.: Cyder, Perry, and Hides and Skins,
Printed Goods, Tobacco, Snuff and Wine,) are all ar-

titles of great export. The debentures or drawbacks
granted, bat not arrived at maturity, lOth Oct. 1821,
will form an abatement ofno little magnitude, and affect
the succeeding quarter accordingly. Still the effect of
this should be she►vn, else we cannot arrive at the ac-
tual home consumption of the respective commodities
enumerated. In the first instance, the whole amount
of duties is collected ; upon exportation, a propurtio*
of that duty is given back by debentures, at two months
from date of exportation. Strip time actual receipts of
these duties of the augmentation derived from our ex-
, port trade, and we may then estimate our exact con-
sumption, not otherwise. In my former letter I made
it appear that the increase upon Beer fell short of
what might have been expected from such a quarter of
rejoicings and festivities. The Queen's vindication
and the King's coronation have affected the duties upon
malt. So vast an immediate consumption must have
i enlarged the payment of duty upon this article, to
meet such an exigency ; and our annual exportation,
which, particularly at this period, is extensive ; unless
you can assume it as a fact, that our brewers
have less malt now on hand, upon which duty
has been paid, or less beer in their premi•cs
than they had at the corresponding period last year,
there is no ground here of exultation. The
reverse will be found nearer the truth. All attempts

to repeal the Malt Tax proved abortive, and the in
creased consumption of beer by the festivities and foot
cries that have passed, have been met with correspond-
ing activity on the part of oar brewers. As a neces-
sary of life, while our population increases, this reve-
nue ought not materially to fall off; and as soon as it
does decline, it is fair to assume, that the cause is in-
creasing starvation amongst the lower orders of so-
ciety. A greater increase of revenue might have been
looked for from bricks and tiles. The bonus given to
build churches, and the speculative improvements of
our metropolis seem here to have made but a very
Blender effect. If the value of rags was sensibly af-
fected during the Queen's trial, the increased con-
sumption of paper caused it, and this also helps to
swell the Battering columns. and to account for the in-
creased duty on stamps. I fear this increase will not be
perpetual. But it is now time to look to the deficiencies.
First in the list are the auction duties. Because these
diminish, it is assumed, that less distress and povertv
exist. So shallow an assumption should be treated
with contempt. The cause is the diini.sialacd ratite of
every commodity exposed to public sale. This fact
comes home to every man of common sagacity. Ship
ping is reduced to one-third its valve, and, in many
instances, less ; and not an article exposed to sale its
this way is exempt from similar depreciation. The
decrease fron► hops, cyder, pepper, tobacco, snuff, and
wise, arises front the poverty of the people, who are
compelled to dispense with Ins mines, and every neces-
sary comfort. Hides and skins cannot produce an in-
crease, when those who need shoes to their feet are
compelled to go barefoot. He must be a callous and
indifferent observer, who does not witness the suffer-
ings to which those who have seen better days are now
exposed. A little insight into the condition of society
is, perhaps, beneath the notice of our modern States-,
men. In the abstract we can notice a decrease from
the Post-office. This cannot display increased activity
in our commerce. But then, there is a grand increase
from the Assessed Taxes : this arises front a deep laid
scheme of our worthy Chancellor of the Exchequer,
to gull the community. Have we forgot that to fill his
coffers he lately introduced and passed a Bill to enable
us to purchase freedom from Assessed Taxes, as we
would an annuity ? This increase arises then, from
such compounding system, and argues, like many
other items I have pointed out, strongly against the
inferences you, in your laudable and patriotic ardour,
have drawn.
The expense of collecting our revenue requires a
little investigation ; reducing this and reducing tax-
ation way, in process of time, improve our condition.
At present, there are too many pampered appetites sa-
tiated by a disgraceful system of expenditure.
Oct. 15, 1820.

At the sitting of the Paris Court of Assize, on the
9th ipstant, M. A. Barginet and M. Flacon were tried
for having committed a public offence against the
person of the King; the former in a work published
in August last, entitled. " Of the Queen of England
and Napoleon Bonaparte, who have both died of can-
cer;. and the latter, in an essay published under the
following title, " To Fraucis Charles Joseph Napo-
leon, bora at the Castle of the Tuileries, the 20th of
March, 1811." In both cases the Juries returned a
verdict of—Not Guilty.

An error we understand appeared in the report
given in our paper, on Friday last, of what passed at
the Bow-street office, when Major Cartwright entered
into a recognizance on behalf of Sir Charles Wollesley.
That report says—" Mr. Miushull asked, if be was
bail for any other person at present ? And Mr. Jones
was understood to say that the Major nes under his
own personal recognizance of lOU fur good beha-
viour." Here the report emits the Major's warm re•
ply—" No, Sir, I was not asked for arty;" and we
are authorised to say, that, had any such recognizance
been demanded of him, it would not bare been given ;
as a compliance would bare amounted to an admission
of there having been some truth in the accusation on
which he had been tried, which the Major, by bleat-
davit made is Court, had solemuly denied.