The Statesman.
London, England, 1821-10-26 00:00:00

010-

111$ f Aar QUARTIIiSigrENUIL

tilsom LlvettroOL atanconv.]
The last Quarter's Revenue up to October 10, com-
pared with the corresponding quarter of the preceding
year, exhibits an excess of about 840,8281.; whilst the
Revenue of the whole financial year just terminated,
falls short of that of the year IMO by 116,0001. We
are called upon to sing si obe joyful !" at these re-
sults; as if the experiment of four months afforded bet-
ter data, upon which to ground the future hopes of Mi-
nisters, than the average of the whole year.
There are many causes to which the excess of the
last quarter may be ascribed, amongst which the Sa-
turnalia of the coronation must not be overlooked.—
This has had no trifling share in producing the in.
crease of the excise revenue ; and there is little doubt
that the prevalence of private brewing, in consequence
of the low price of malt has else contributed to swell
the "meant of the malt duty, in which, alone, an in-
crease of about half a million has been experienced.
For our own parts, so far from feeling aby surprise
sit the extraordinary productiveness of the last quar-
ter. we are rather led to wonder that the entire re-
venue of the last twelve mouths should not have sallied
upon that of the preceding year. If :t be true, as
Mr. Canning and the Ministers have been all along
telling us, that the distresses of the country were
mainly occasioned by a revulsion from war to peace,
then ought every succeeding year of tranquillity to
be accompanied with a visible improvement in the con-
dition of our countrymen.

We are not disposed to deny, that a change for the
truer, has been experienced amongst the manufac-
turing classes : and, indeed, it was high time for some
improvement, when men, after toiling• sixteen or
eighteen hours a day at their looms, could scarcely
procure sufficient food, of the worst description, " to
keep body and soul together," if we may be permitted
to adopt a homely, but in this instance, a most appli-
cubic phrase.

In discussing the subject of the National Resources
we bare been not a little surprised, to find one cir-
cumstance wholly overlooked, although, if we are nut
greatly mistaken, the public revenue must be very
materially effected by its operation. We allude to
what is termed Compounding for Taxes : a notable
&modal expedient, by which Government is enabled
to anticipate receipts to a vast amount. Perhaps we
may be told, that this measure effects the Assessed Tax
Department' alone ;and that as there is rather a falling
of in that quarter no stress ought to be laid upon
this point. But we maintain, that the compounding
fur taxes, which is gaining ground every day, ought
not to be lost sight of, in the consideration of this
question :—for. although the assessed taxes, notwith-
standing its operation, may have suffered a diminu-
tion upon the whole, it will not be denied that the de-
ficiency would' lave been more visible without its
aid ; ani-that ite math* *nasal revenue is therefore
affected by this " reckoning of chickens before they
are hatched."

Would it not be more satisfactory to the country,
were ministers, instead of issuing only an ex-parte
rtatemeat of the public accounts.occasionally to favour
us with a regular balance sleet, by which we could as-
certain whether our revenue, immense as it is, be equal
to our expenditure ?
_

We confess we have not much dependence upon the
exhibitions of the revenue, which are periodically pro-
duced in evidence of our very flourishing condition.
Soch statements resemble those of our lottery agents,
whose last schemes are always more favourable to the
public than any of the preceding ones. Neither can
we chime in with the notion that the prosperity of,
the people ought to be estimated by the sum which can
be squeezed out of them by the irresistible lever of
taxation. We grant, indeed, that if men have acquired
lynch inveterate habits of extravagance, that they will
expend in %asides or superfluities, all which remains
to them after procuring the necessaries of life, the re-
venue paid to tiovernment for exciseable articles, may
be adopted as some criterion of national wealth ;
whilst, at the ;me time, it may be equally indicative
of national depravity, political dependence, and domes-
tie wretchedness.
Nothing, however, can be more easy than to ima-
gine an improved state of society in which the public
revenue should be much more circumscribed than it is
at present, whilst the enjoyments and the real wealth of
ti:e community should be much more generally diffused.
By way of illustration, let us suppose that our country-
r ev, instead of squandering a large portion of their
igs on those exciseable articles which are super-
fluous or detrimental, should lay out their spare money
upon more wholesome and substantial food, or more
comfortable clothing for themselves and families ; and
thst, instead of gambliog in lottery shares they should
expend somewhat snore than they now do upon the
education of their children. Suppose so great a moral
change as this were effected in the national character,
it not obvious that the revenue, which is now point-
ed to as the index of our prosperity, would decline in
the ratio in which oar happiness, physical strength,
and real wealth increased?

A Bzr or A 150111• MOT.—A loin of mutton being on
the dieser table. the gentleman opposite to is, took the
carver in band, and asked his host if he should cut it
andellerrieef "You had better cut it bridletviee," re-
plied his friend," for then we shall all stand a better
chance to get a BIT Cu our mouths."
A number of woodcocks hare already made their
appearance in Kent; three or four of these birds were
seen last week in King's Wood. Langley.
Tuesday se'nuight while Sir Neil Monies, of Castle-
mensier, was coursing hares, along with two gentle-
s:l,-n, near the hamlet of Dalranir, he happened, is
passing. to touch an Highland poney which was
grazing, in order to drive it out of his way. The
poney resisted the interference of the Baronet, and,
by a kick with one of its hind feet, broke his leg be-
low the knee. Sir Neil is in a fair way of recovery.
Sunday sight the village of Yeasley was pet into
much alarm by a fire which broke oat in the stable of
Benwell. a farmer, anti in a few misuses the
whole yard was in a blaze ; a farm yard on each side

newt eaa gig ire, and the whole of the onthaligings,
and eight ricks were destroyed, hat it did Dot reach
the' bonus; three horses were band. It was °era-
inured by a boy in the stable racking up. when he
carelessliset Are to the straw loft.