PROCEEDINGS IN PARLIAMENT, April 5. The Houfe having refolved itself into a Committee of Ways and Means, the Cbansellor of the Exchequer ftared, that, for the fervice of five months of the present year, the following fums (excluding fractions) had been already voted under the head of Supplies: The estimates of the Navy already voted, 7,770,8961.; for the Army of Great Britain, 6,158,200l.; ditto for Ireland, 1,520,130.; Army Extraordinaries for Great Britain, 2,400,000!.; ditto for Ireland, upwards of 300,cool.; the ordnance for. England, 829, 621.; dito, for Ireland, 125,00cl.; mifcellaneous fervices for England,265,000l.; ditto for Ireland, 163,000l.; for liquidating the National Deb, the annual fum of 200.000l.; for Corn Bounties, 1,690,000l.; deficiencies of the Malt Tax of 1851, 400,000l.; the defalcation of the estimated amount of the export and import tax, 400,000l.; Exchequer Bills, 3,300,000).; Intereft on Exchequer Bills, Discount on the Loan, &c. 1,877,000l. ; voted to pay off the arrears of the Civil Lift, 990,000l.; making the total of the Supply voted, 24,614,000l; of which total fum there is for Ireland, 1,318.cool. leaving provifion to be made for the Army, Navy, and Ordnance, for the remainder of the year, namely feven months, to be provided for. The precife amount of the fum neceffary to this object he was unable to ftate, as the arrangements on which it depended had not yet been formed. Towards the Ways and Means there had been already voted, duties on Malt and Penfions, together with the fum now given in heu of the Land-tax, 2,750,000l.; furplus fubfcription on funded Exchequer Bills, 188,8741.; Loan (of which two millions are for Ireland) 25,000,000l.; amounting in the whole to 27,980,cool.; being 3,300,000l.; more than the amount of the fupply. This fum, however, being inadequate to the fervices of the Army, Navy, Ordnance, and Mifcellaneous Articles during the feven months to be provided for, and which would probably exceed 12 millions, it was intended to propofe a feparate vate for five millions, to be fued in Exchequer bills; there was likewife a Lottery, and a feperate Loan for Ireland, to the amount of 1,500,cool. Mr. Addington then it-ted the terms of the Loan of 25 milhons which he had negotiated, obferving, that the fubfcriber for every col. advanced was to have 651. stock in the three per cent, confols; 601. in the three per cent. reduced; and 61. 195. 3d. of a deferred stock; which is not to bear intereft till January 1808; making in all 1311. 195. 6d. ftock, for each Bool advanced. Of this fum 23 millions GENT. MAG. July, 1802. 1802. is exclufively for Great Britain, and the ftock created by this Lon amounts to 14,950,000l. confols, 13,800,000l reduced, and the deferred may be eflinated at 1,601,cool. making in all 30.351,000l. The fock creared by the fanding of Exchequer hills before Christmas amounts to 11,000,000l. and with the 56,000,cool. ftock, for which the Income-tax, about to be repealed, is now pledged, make a general total of 97,934,0 ol deht, for the intereft of which provifion is to be made,viz. intereft and management of prefent Loan of 30 millions stock, 875,000!.; intereft on 11 millions, including management and one per cent. finking fund, 548 oool.; intereft of 56,600,000l. in confequence of the repeal of the Income-tax, 1,738,000l; making in all 3,162,000l. the amount of new taxes to be impofed. Mr. Addington, after fome general oblervations on the fubject of the Income-tax, which he thought it now expedient to repeal, without lofing fight of this great refource, fhould the empire be again compelled to puc forth its faculties, ftated the following to be the objects of new taxation: BEER. That the rates on Beer or Ale, of the price of 13s. or under per barrel, fhall ceafe. That for every barrel of table b er of 16s. the barrel, or under, brewed by a brewer, or other perfon, there fhall be paid, exclufive of the Excife duties, a duty of 2s. per barrel. For every harrel of beer or ale above 16s. the barrel, 2s. additional. Upon every barrel of twopenny ale fcots, 10d. Upon every barrel of Irish beer or ale imported, 6s. Upon every barrel of beer, ale, or mum, imported, except from Ireland, an additional 128. 11d. Upon every banel of strong heer exported, there thall be a drawback of 6s. Hops. Upon every pound weight of hops grown in Great Britain, an addicional id. 48-2cths. Upon every pound of hops imported from Ireland, 1d 48 20ths. Upon every pound of hops exported to Ireland, a drawback of rd3-20ths. SPIRITS. Upon every gallon of fpirits imported from Leland, 240. MALT. Upon every bushel of Malt, Is. Cad. The aggregate of thefe duties, Mr. Addington eft mated at 2,000,000l. HOUSES. Upon houfes of 51. a year, and noder zol an additional duty of 8d. in the pound.-zol, and under 401. an additi onal duty of rs.-gol, and upwa ds, Is. 3d. WINDOWS. Upon houfes (exc pt fuch as are rated at 51. per year) containing 6 windows, an additional duty of 15. 6d. Upon houfes rated at 51 per year and upwards, containing 6 windows, an addititional duty of 25. Upon every houfe containing not more than 7 windows, an additional duty of 45. Vindo s 180 & upw. 22 MALE SERVANTS. Upon every Person who shall keep one Male fervant, an addi tional duty of ros. 2 ditto do. each 8s. d 3 ditto do. each 6 o ditto do. each 16 o 6 ditto do. each cl. 18. 10 ditto do. each 17. 65. 7 ditto do. each I And for every Ser 2 5 ditto do. each 14 0 CARRIAGES. That every perfon who fhall keep any Coach, Berlin, Chariot, Landau, Chaife Marine, Chaife with four wheels, or Caravan, or any number thereof, For I Carriage ol. 8. For 4 Carriages 17. 25.For 7 Carriages 27. 6s. 6d. 5 do. each 19 vant or Journeyman who fhall board in his master's house, 109. for his or her own ufe, or let out to hire, excepting Stage Coaches, fhall be charged with the feveral additional yearly fums following: 2 do. each o 16 3 do. each o 18 6 do. each I 18 That the duties granted by an act of the 38th year of his Majefty upon calafhes, charles, or chairs with two or three wheels, drawn by one or more horfes, do ceafe and determine. That every perfon, who fhall keep any calafh, chaife, or chair, with two or three wheels, drawn by one horfe and no more, for his or her own use, or let out to hire, shall be charged with an abnual duty of 51. 5s. That every perfon who fhall keep any calash, chaife, or chair, with two or three wheels, drawn by two er more horses, for his or her own uf, or to let out to hire, fhall be charged with an annual duty of 71. 78. HORSES. That every person who fhall keep a horse, mare, or gelding, either for riding or drawing a carriage of any defcription, thall be charged with an additional duty of 6s. For two horfes, &c each ros. For every horfe, not charged as a horfe kept for riding or drawing, an additional duty of 2s. 6d. Dogs. That every perfon who fhall keep any greyhound, pointer, fetting-dog, fpaniel, lurcher, or terrier, or who shall keep two or more dogs, of whatever defcription of denomination the fame may be, fhall be charged with an additional annual duty, for each, of 4s.; and alfo for each dog, where two or more fhall le fo kept. And every perfon who hail inhabit any dwelling-houfe, affelfed to any of the duties on inhabited houses, or on windows or lights, and fhall keep one dog, and no more, fuch dog not being a greyhound, hound, pointer, fetting-dog, fpaniel, lurcher, or 8 do. each 2 16 0 or more do. 3 60 terrier, fhall be charged with an additional annual duty of 25. [This modification and increase of the affeffed taxes is to produce one-third, or goo,oool. more than at prefent; and the duty on Clerks and Shopmen (fince relinquifhed) was to produce 100,000l. thus making an addition of one million annually to the prefent amount of the affeffed taxes.] The next object of taxation was a duty on imports and exports, of a modification of the late convoy-tax, which he was fatisfied might be levied without impairing the means of public wealth, or impeding the operations of commercial enterprize. The convoy-tax comprized a tonnage-duty on the veffel, and two per cent. ad valorem on the cargo; it is intended to confolidate thefetwo branches with modifications, principally by fubftituting a schedule of 500 articles with a fpecific duty to each, instead of the duty ad valorem, excepting in regard to goods fold at the Eaft India Company's fales; the tax on exports to other ports than Europe to be reduced from two to one per cent, and on the imports to impofe an increase of about one-tenth; and from thefe he calculated to obtain a fum of one million. The bonding fystem, he obferved, is to be extended, the Custom houfe duties are to be confolidated fo as to remove many causes of delay, and various regulations are about to be adopted to facilitate the duty of the revenue-officer and the general operations of trade. Mr. Addington refifted the opinion, that our commerce would decreafe in confequence of the peace: the reduction of of freight, infurance, and other heavy charges, he thought, would more than counterbalance any thing favourable to commerce that existed in the peculiar nature of war. He then obferved, that he had eftimated the looked-for revenue at four millions, being Sco.oocl. more than the intereft of the 97 millions of new debt now created. Heikewife entered into a comprehensive statement of his intentions in regard to the application of the Sinking Fund, which obviated the neceffity of impofing 970,000l.new taxes,to make the accustomed provifion of one per cent. to the Sinking Fund, for the liquidation of the new debt of 97 millions. In the year 1786, he ohferved, the Sinking Fund of one million was established and fecured. It was then provided that the intereft and accumulation of this fund fhould be vefted in commiffioners, who should apply the produce to the extinction of the national debt; and that this mode of application should continue till the annual fum in the hands of the commiffioners amounted to 4,000,cool. After this took place, it was referved for Parliament to confider in what manner it was to be employed; whether in diminishing the amount of taxes, or in accelerating the extinction of the whole debt. A feparate Sinking Fund was likewife fettled, by which one per cent. (befides the provifion of intereft) was fet afide, to operate fo as in 45 years to redeem the capital of the debt, In February last, the old Sinking Fund, in the hands of the commiffioners, was 2,500,cool.; and the old debt, for the redemption of which it was fixed, amounted to 199,000,000l. The new Sinking Fund at the fame period amounted to three millions; and the debt to which it was applicable amounted to 212,000,000l.: he now propofed to confolidate these two Sinking Fonds, and to make them co-operate directly in the general extinction of the whole mass of the debt, which by this mode will be effected faster than could be done by adhering to the old fyftem; befides this, it Immediately relieves us from the neceffity of impofing taxes to the amount of go0,000l. which would be the amount of the one per cent. Sinking Fund. The object of this confolidation, said Mr. Addington, even on the most unfavourable calculation of buying up at par, will be to extinguish the national debt in 45 years, allowing that in the interim 100 millions thould he added to it. Mr. Addington deferred until the effect of the peace be ascertained, to make any alteration in the falt duties; and concluded by obferving, "We have a profpect of a long period of tranquillity, to cultivate the riches of commerce, and to promote our financial improvement. By not infulting the honour, or invading the independence of other nations, we shall avoid the danger of embroil ing ourselves with our neighbours, while we fhall continue to be more and more prepared in cafes of attack to protect our own honour, and defend our own interefts, Animofity, I troft, has ceased with the war; but vigilance, firmuets, and energy, will be preferved, though not guided by jealousy. We ought ever to employ a wife caution in our relations with other powers By these means we fhall enjoy all the bleffings of peace, and increafe all the refources of war." On the first of the Refolutions being read, Mr. Whitbread rofe, and entered into a brief recital of the injuries which the brewers and the publick must suffer by the tax on malt and beer. He did not conceive that the tokens of triumph which the Minifter expreffed either for peace obtained, or for the repeal of the Income-tax, or yet for his bargain this day upon the loan, would at all compenfate these perfons, or the publick, for the ruinous tax he had introduced this night against a branch of trade that rendered more real fervices to the ftare than any other whatfoever in this country. He contended, that if this tax be enforced, the poor will naturally suffer by i; for it will be wholly impoffible for the brewer to make it, and the retailer fell it at 4d. per pot. I he addition of 11d. per barrel is of much more magnitude than the publick are aware of; and hefthewed, that where a perfon, as many did, brews 200,000 barrels a year, that with a small fraction would take no less than 10,000l. a year out of fuch brewer's pocket. After fome pointed obfervations on the conduct of the late miniftry, he concluded with hoping, that the 'ax, in its proposed shape, might not be pafled. The Chancellor of the Exchequer, in explanation, itated, that the stock of beer which the brewers might have on hand would be exempt from the additional duty; he could not itate the fame fatisfactory answer with refpect to the malt flock. Mr. Pitt then rofe in reply to Mr. Whitbread. He faid, the Hon. Gentleman had thought proper to allude to what he (Mr. Whitbread) called his words in 1792, wherein he had expreffed an earnest belief that the Peace would be lafting, notwithstanding the French Revolution; and that it only required time to avail ourselves of the attendants on Peace, by extending our commerce, increafing our manufacture, improving the agriculture of the country, and, by cultivating the arts, to raise the country to the highest degree of eminence, and to ameliorate the fituation of the people. Thefe, he would agree, were the fanguine hopes he had then formed: he had also adopted the funded system, which had met the Hon. Gentleman's anim. Iverfion, in a conviction that the taxes bore hard upon the lower ranks of fuciety, whom if poffible poflible he wished to relieve. The opinions I In this fituation did his Majefty's Ministers Mr. Pitt exclaimed, "I have not yet fitten down, though I doubt not the Hon. Gentleman thinks I ought to do fo.” Mr. Pitt then flightly glanced at the fubject of the Ways and Means, approving in ge'neral of the taxes to be adopted,obferving that he should have a future opportunity of difcuffing them more particularly. He agreed that Mr. Whitbread had come forward in behalf of a very refpectable body of men, and deferved to be heard with candour; but conceived he had miftaken the nature of the tax; obferving that it was his opinion, and he begged to be understood as cafting ninvidious reflection, that a confiderable revenue might be drawn from perfons engigel in breweries without the generality of the public being taxed more than they were at prefent, by raifing the article of the confumer. He fhould juf fay another word on a fubject which he conceived of the greatest importance, before he fat down: he meant the propofed modification of the Sinking Fund, of which the Chancellor of the Exchequer had given notice. No one, he faid, was likely to view that modification with more jealouẩy than himfelf, not more from the circumstances of the fyftem having ongnated with him, than from the conviction he felt of its fold and fabitantial effets, and he would infift that it would be better to raife the goo,oool. annually, annually, than to fuffer a deviation to take place from a plan, which he was well affered, next to the firmnefs, vigour, and wifdom difplayed in the character of the Houfe, had fecured the fafety, honour, and independence of the nat on. Should, how ever, a change he confidered as productive of effential en fit, it no lefs proved the excellence of the fyftem; for if, after all the aftance it had afforded the country, a colateral aid could be reforted to, productive of henefit, by the alleviation of the public burthens, it furnished at once the fruits of his best and fincereft wishes. Mr. Burdon fpoke to the fame effect. Mr. Grey, in reply to Mr. Pitt, entered into a comprehenfive view of his adminiftration, and a decided reprobation of the war. After fome obfervations from Meffrs. Combe, Jones, Baker, Robson, and Mainwaring, the refolutions were read, and agreed to. H. OF LORDS. April 6. On the motion of Lord Holland, the amount of the duties of 44 per cent. payable out of certam Weft India property to the Crown, from Jan. 1785 to 1801, was ordered to be laid before the House. On the motion of Lord Hobart, the thanks of the Houfe were voted to the Army and Navy. His Lordship obferved, that the bravery of our feamen exceeded any thing ever known before, and that their fuccefs was proportionable: in the course of the war, they had taken or destroyed 77 fail of the line belonging to the enemy, 124 frigates, and about 1000 fmaller veifels; and our Army, wherever it was engaged on equal terms, was victorious. His Lordship paid an high eulogium on Gen. Doyle, who had been ccidentally omitted to be noticed in the official dispatch from Egypt, In the Commons the fame day, the Chan cellor of the Exchequer, after expatiating on the fplendid achievements of the Navy and Army in different quarters of the globe, concluded with moving the thanks of the Houle to the Navy, Army, Marines, Volunteers, Yeomanry, Sea Fencibles, and Militia of the United Kingdom, for their gallant fervices during the late war.-The motions were carried nem. con. The report of the Committee of Ways and Means was received; and after fome converfation, the refolutions were feverally agreed to. the Act of Henry VIII. relative to the non-refidence of the Clergy, Sir W. Scott stated numerous objections to the law as it now ftands, He obferved, that the condition of fome C'ergymen in England was not fo good as that of menial fervants; and dwelt with his accustomed ability on the neceffite of making an adequate provifion for the Clergy, as the poverty of many of them diminished the respect due to the body in general, and was injurious to the caufe of religion. The Houfe, on being resumed, received the Report of the Committee; and ordered a bill to be brought in, to amend and render more effectual the Act of Henry VIII. The bills refpeting the Affeffed-taxes, Beet, Malt, and Hops, were brought in, and read a first time. Lord Grenville made creditable mention of two Noble Lords who prolided over the British territory in that quarter. Lord Moira wifhed the world to believe, as he did, that the conduct of the Noblemau alluded to was in every refpect highly meritorions, till the period when it was ftated the Nabob of Ascot had been deprived of the dominions he inherited by the will of his father, by the laws of his country, and by the concurrence of the Company, without any other caufe for fuch deprivation than that he had refufed to comply with a demand, to code to the India Company his government and revenues. This his lordthip conceived fo violent and unjust an abufe of power, as to demand enquiry; which he anxiously hoped would terminate, as every thing else had done, to the honour of the perfous concerned. April 9. The order of the day for a Committee on the Window and House Tax bill was, after a long debate, agreed to. The Chancellor of the Exchequer stated, that the relations between this country and the Continent rendered it expedient, to continue for a limited time the existing reftriction on the iffue of fpecie, with certain difcretionary power to the Bank; and concludes by moving for leave to bring in a bill to that effect, which, after fome debate, was agreed to. The Houfe, in a Committee of Ways and Means, agreed to certain refolutions propofed by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, calcul ted to form a fubftitute for the Couvoy Duty, and to raife the duty on Imports, and tower it on Exports. The Hoofe in a Committee of Irish Supply, |