The feeiing of the public...
The Times, 1824-03-04T00:00:00

The feeiing of the public with tespect to thc finanicc plan of the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER is at this moment very peculiar: for, to whatever cause it may be owing, no one thinks the plan settled. On the contrary, all seem to consider the budget of the year in the light of sosne college subject proposAd to the consideration of the students, and on which the best essay will obtain the prize. We have writteni our treatise, and are sure, also, that we have obtained the majority, or nearly the whole of the free suffrages or rather that the free suifFragcs were wit}l us cc we began to write, and that we only said that which every one felt before-" Repeal for us the assessed taxes," and the vigour infused into the people by that act will enable them to break the fetters which control their foreign coTmmerec. Thie C HANCELLOA of the ExcHEQu ERs system has been the direct reverse. He is like one who gives the rein to an horse not yet recovered from a state of exhaustion. WVe would inifuse bis native viaour into the aniinal, and then, if he.is impatient of control, slacken the rein, and suffer hiim to bound into the open space. We do not blame the principles of the CH.i:NCEIAOR of the Exci1bQuER; on the contrary, we approve of them mnuch, as general principles: nor are they in truth his- they are those for which every liberal man has been con- tending for years; and it is upon this very feeling that he has seized, it is this prLvalent conviction that he has flattered or attempted to flatter, in offerifing to us the allure- ment of foreign tradle, when he ought to have removed do- mestic pressure. But who, we ask, ever thought of allevia- ting the sufferings of a people, by opexations of an external nature ? That wbich is felt at home inust be removed at home. He would place us at the goal, wlhen we are but in the middle of the course. In all their foreign transactions, also, reciprocity is necessary between states. WVe are to re- ceive the raw and manufactured articles of our neighbours: what assurance have wve that they will accept ours in re- turn ? The new project may givej us silks: the repeal of the assessed taxes would give us comfoits, and luxuries would followv. Besides, it is proper to observe that the lpresent is not a contest between two nartics which shall receive a boon cx- elusively; the contest is, whetlher a part only shall be be- nefited (supposing beniefit to accrue from the change of the silk and wool laws), or the whole nation, comprising that part, shall receive the most sensible relief. For will not the ailk-merehant antd manufacturer be relieved, if their window and house duties be wholly repealed? But of what advantage is it to the farner and shopkeeper, and general artisan, that silk should become cheap ? The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQLEER has given tip the oppressive dluties upon law proceedings on tbc representa- tions of Mlr. J. S,MIiH : in this respect a good thing has becn conceded to a good manr. But Mr. S.Nivrui perceives no less strongly, that farther relaxation of domestic im- posts is necessary. sire could say much of the manner in Nvhich it is proposed to waste the public moncy, in repairs of Windsor Castle, &e., but shall delay resuming our remarks on this subject, in the hope that the provoking oc- casion may be removed. * A meeting, was yesterday morning held at Lloyd's, to ropsider the propriety of appouiting a committee to meet a deputs. tioni of shii-.orrner, on the subjeet 6o the classiication of merchant- vessel,. A! ter someAdiscus5ion, a comimitteeof eight was appeioted.