Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

In 1784, the expences amounted to
The revenue in the fame

Expences exceeded the revenue

In 1785, expences amounted to
The revenue in the fame year was
Expences exceeded the revenue

934,000 that lay on the table? But how could they have 832,000 answered the high spirit of the Irish nation, for having doomed her to the fituation of an inactive 102,000 fpectator, of the diftreffes of the fifter-kingdom, and the struggles of the empire? Had you wished 913,000 to lavish your men as you had already lavished 789,000 your money, you could not have even paid for the levies, and how muft you have blushed to own, that by your profufion you were rendered unable to put arms in the hands of the peasant that was willing to go fight the battle of the empire, and to fupport the honour of his Prince à That you were unable to clothe the nakednes of thofe who were willing to fly from the consequenz ces of your prodigality.

124,000

It is to be observed in this period alfo fome few new taxes were granted, and alfo the Poft-office was brought home. In 1785, the right hon. Gentleman who prefided in the finance depart ment, faw with his ufual attention and judgment, the fituation of the country, and came to Parliament with a full and fair flatement of it. He advised the Parliament to look their fituation in the face, and put an end to the annual excefs of expence of above revenue--he told them to do that it was neceffary to grant from 150,000 to 160,000l. to fet government free, to grant 14,000). a year of new taxes, and to give a power to raile 50,000l. to keep the Government afloat, till the taxes fhould come into operation. Parliament clofed with the propofition, in hopes to put a ftop to the ruinous excefs, and departed in full confidence that that would happen, but the next year, how did you ftand the expences again exceeded the revenue, as they had done before, ard the excess was thus: 1786, Expences Revenues,

1,082,000
970,000

[blocks in formation]

Excefs of expence above revenues 180,000 And thus have you continually encreafed your debt. He admitted that the bounties or exports had encreased, but that was, he faid, not a fufficient apology for the prodigality of Government; for when they flated, that the encreate of the newly opened trade would enable the country to pay the new taxes, they ought to have known, if they knew any thing, that encreafe of trade muft mean encrease of exports as well as import, and that of courfe the linen and corn exports must demand encrease of bounties; and therefore why did they with falling revenues and encreasing bounties to be paid from it, proceed in the idle and unneceflary expences in which they had lavifhed the public money, before fome turn of affairs fhould enable and justify them? Having dwelt upon this, he afked, what must have been the feelings of the Miniftry, if Great Britain when the lately refumed her former rank of arbitrels of Europe, had been involved in a war, how could they had anfwered the Prince, when he thould have enquired, what and Ireland could afford to give the empire? Would they have fent bim over plans of houfes and law courts, an elevation of the custom houfe, or a drawing of the beautiful villas with which they had adorned the environs of the metropolis? Or would they have sent over for their juftification that pention-lift

Mr. Corry declared, he had a well-founded confidence in the present Administration, and he was certain it was not their intention or wish to encrease the public expenditure; at the same time he was free to declare, that this country bore a promising appearance, if not checked, and kept down by a wanton prodigality. He concing ded a speech, in which he displayed uncommon abilities, and in which he evinced a thorough and complete knowledge of the national accounts, with moving the following refolution:

"Refolved, That it appears by the public accounts, that the expences of the nation exceed the revenues thereof, in one year, ending Ladyday, 1787, in the fum of 180,0021. 7. 4dh."

Chancellor of the Exchequer, after thanking the hon. Gentleman for his great candour and fairnefs in ftating the public accounts, proceeded to obferve, that the deficiency ftated by the hon. Gentleman, did not arife from any excefs of expence on the part of Government, but from feveral other caufes, for which he should endeavour to account. He inuft obferve, that this country, far from carrying a gloomy afpect at prefent, is rapidly advancing into profperity; that the deficiency, as stated by the hon. Gentleman, is prin cipally owing to a diminution of imperts-to an increase of charge for the management of the public duties, and to an increase of bounties and drawbacks, and to feveral unforeseen charges, which the exigencies of the times rendered abfolutely neceffary; thefe could not be faid to be the fault of Government-The hon. Gentleman asked, if Great Britain fhould find herself engaged in a war, and should call upon us for affiltance? would the anfwer that this Houle wou d give be~we cannot affift you, for we have laid out our refources, in erecting buildings of various kinds, and in raising unnecessary structures? No, we would apfwer, and fay, that notwithstanding Parliament has granted confiderable fums, for public ufes, without the public having suffered any injury, we can, and will affitt you-for our credit ftands high, and our trade is rapidly increasing. He faid, that if we were called on to give affittance to Britain, we were never better able to do it, than at prefent, when money can be had at three one-half per cent. for which, at former periods, Government was obliged to pay feven one-half per cent. the nation he laid was in a profperous and rifing fituation, and he must lay that he gloried in it. He proceeded to accoun for the apparent deficiency as flated by the hon

Gentleman

DE KILMAINHAM MIN

When to

fee Luke's last jig we agreed, we tip'd all our Gripes in a Tangle, And

mounted our trotlers wid speed, to

[ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small]

Notes.

Oh! you know dat id is my laft Hope
"As de Surgints of Otomy tell us
"Dat when I'm cut down from de Rope,'
"You'll bring back de Puff to me Bellows,
"And Jet me, once more, on me P.ns.'
VI.

"He finifb'd dis Speech wid a Sigh!
We far de poor Fellow was funking
De Drizzle fole down from bis Eye,
Tho' we taut he had
got better Spunk in
Wid a Tip of de Slangt we reply'd,

And a Blinker dat Nobody noted;

De Clargy fept down from bis Side,
And de Gabbard from under bim floated,

Oh! be de Hoky, id was den det me Claret run c. ld.

The laft Line of every Verfe to be spoken the Newgate Style. ↑ The Singer at this Part is to put the Fore-finger of his Right Hand on his Nose.

[ocr errors]

Pads foremost he died, and den round

He caper'd de Kilmainham Minit ;.
But fuan ruhen be luy on de Ground,

Our Business we taut to begin id:
Wid de Stiff to a Shebeen we bied,

But Det bad fout fast ev'ry Grinder

His Brain box bung all a one-Side,

And no Diftiller's Pig could be blinder ;

But dat, you know, is what we must all cum to.

VIII.

His Pufbing-block pilly came in,

From tipping de Trottler a Dufting;

Her Stuff-fhop was up to her Chin,

Like a cram Ford wid Tenderness busting a

We lent him a Snig, as be faid,

On de Fugler, 'tis bore dat ae mark is;

But foon as we found him quite ded,

In de Duft cafe we bundled his Carcafe,

And gave him a bloody long Leafe of de fanctified Sed in de Ofpital-fields, your Soul!

THE DEVONSHIRE MINUET.

For the GUITAR.

Danced by Sigr. VESTRIS, at the Opera Houfe, London.

Gentleman, and he obferved that the increase of bounties on the exports, particularly of corn, was highly advantageous to this country; that the increase of the expence in the manage ment of the revenue was neceffary-because by that means the revenue was more productive; and he alfo obferved, that in the accounts there were feveral charges which accidentally arofe, and which he hoped, would never occur again, fuch as charges for law expences in carrying on crown profecutions, the expence of marching the army to quell riots and ditturbances in remote parts of the kingdom, charges for extra forage, and abfolute debt contracted above a century ago, and a great number of other items. He ftated that the increase of bounties and drawbacks was 42,000l. the diminution of the imports of fugars 40,000l. of tobacco 10,000!,that it appeared by the laft accounts, there was paid to Mr. Talbot 4000l. to the Commiffioners of Barracks for purchafing a house 10001. 8000l. for a military infirmary, 10,000l. for the Commiffioners for making wide and convenient streets, 3000l. for printing the journals, and 1500l. for the expence incurred by the army marching into Munster thofe he laid were accidental charges; and if those was added to these, the increase of the expences in the management of the revenue, he believed that the hon. gentleman would find that there was fcarcely any deficiency at all; in refpect to what the hon. Gentleman had mentioned about the expence of printing, he understood there was a fum given to one person who paid for all the advertisements that Government had oceafion to infert.

After making several obfervations on the ftate of the public account at former period- and draws ing inferences, highly favourable to the flatement now lying on the table, and after congratulating the country on the encreafed credit of the nation, and of its exemption from the loans, he moved the following amendment-" which difference principally arifes from a diminution of the grofs revenue, by the encreated charge, of managing the duties, by the encrease of bounties and drawback, from an accidental diminution of the imports of fugers, and tobaccos, and by unforeseen charges, which are not likely to recur, and that the expences of government had decreased 10,000l, during that period,”

Mr. Corry ipoke a few words in reply.

Mr. Parfons went into a comparative ftate of taxation, in the kingdoms of Ireland, France, and England, by which he proved that this kingcom, in proportion to its wealth, is taxed onehalf more than England is.

Sir Henry Cavendish, in answer to what fell from the hon. Gentleman who fpoke laft, obferved, that he had fome property in both king doms, and when he received 100l in England, heis furrounded with warms of tax gatherers, and he is left but little to put in his pocket, whilst in Ireland he receives the whole with very little deduction.

Mr. Forbes faid, that after the accurate manper in which his hon. friend (Mr. Corry) had treated the bufinefs, it would be totally unnecefTary to add one word morc-he fhould, therefore, only propose an amendment to that moved by

the Chancellor of the Exchequer which was that after the words "bounties and drawbacks," fhould be added-" and penfions on the civil eftablishment, and exceedings under the head of concordatum-and falaries on the revenue efta. blishment, and incident charges, and penfions and gratuities on the revenue eftablishment, and the expences of the Park."

The Chancellor of the Exchequer moved, as another amendment, "all which accounts were examined and approved of by the Houfe."-The motion was feconded.

Mr. Forbes, obferved that the accounts relative to barracks, and several other public accounts had not been laid before the House until that very day-and made another perplexing amendment in confequence.

This variety of amendments had kept the House for fome time, in laughter-which was heightened by the Attorney General moving-that there fhould be added, "all which appears more fully, fafely and accurately by the report of the Committee of Accounts, than poffibly can by the refolution propofed." Mr. Tighe spoke to order, which was explained by the Speaker and the business was at length got rid of by the Chancellor of the Exchequer moving the qaettion of adjourn

ment.

Mr. Trench faid, he infifted on the attention of the House, before the question of adjourn ment was put, relative to an item mentioned in the accounts, and in the debate, which related to a very refpe&table friend, not in Parlia ment [Mr. Talbot]. He faid, not many within, and fewer out of the Houle, knew the circumftances of the tranfaction. There was an estate difpofed of to the crown, for the enlargement of the Park. The price was 2000l. and chargeabie with 150l. per annum, until faid fum was difcharged at one payment for fome years the payments were regular, but arretok place, and though the first legal opinio doms were in his favour, Mr. T conceivable delay-he commence cepted compromife. The Audi ted his account at upwards of 2,000l. The Crown Officers eftablished his right; yet this 40001. (one-third of the last demand) was all he could obtain. The parties were too refpectable to term it afwindling transaction; but it certainly was an act in the plenitude of power, in which Mr. Talbot had conferred, and not received obligations from the crown.

both king.

ound in. uit, but ac General fta

Attorney General faid, the facts were nearly as ftated; that the petition to the Exchequer was an error in proceeding; that he had reported, as to the merits of the claim, but recommended a compromife; and that there was no fwindling in the matter.

Right Hon. Mr. Beresford, in order to account for the encrease of expence in managing the revenue, begged to inform the Houfe, that in the feffion when 140,000l. taxes were laid on, there were two new taxes impofed, which obliged the Commiffioners of the Revenue to employ an additional number of officers, and in fome inftances, to give an encrease of falary.

The queftion of adjournment was now put, and carried without a divifion. Feb.

Feb. 1. The Houfe entered into the Committee of Supply.

The Rt. Hon. Mr. Mason in the Chair. The Chancellor of the Exchequer moved, that it is the opinion of this Committee, that 12,000 men are neceffary to be retained in this kingdom for its defence. All which were feverally agreed

to.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer thought it proper to declare, that the additional number he meant to propofe, varied from that of last year. However, he should make it appear, that the augmentation would not exceed more than by three the number of men allotted for foreign fervice by the contract of 1769, and that there would be gained a very confiderable encrease of men, without a proportionate expenditure of the public money. The reafon of the augmentation was, that the number of troops at prefent in pay had been found infufficient for the protection of the British colonies, and he obferved, that fo long as it was poffible England had forborne to augment her forces; but it had been determined in Great Britain to augment the number of companies in each regiment from eight to ten. This plan was adopted here. And gentlemen, he hoped, would be pleafed to obferve, that it was on an unavoidable circumftance. It was a matter of neceffity, and not of choice in the, prefent government of this country. Now if this was admitted to be a tact, and that every attention had been paid to economy in the management of the bufinef-that is it the force of the country would experience a confiderable encreate without a proportionate expence, he truited it would meet with general approbation. However, if gentlemen wished to enter into the detail of the bulinefs, for his part, he was per⚫ fectly willing and ready.

The Rt. Hon. Mr. Grattan thought it highly neceffary that a matter of this nature fhould be fully flated.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer resumed, and informed, that the whole of the encrease in fact, would be five hundred men. Bul this encrease would be made up out of 146 men, that had been deficient in the eltimate, as it ought to be under the original compact of 1769-and 360 men more would be added to the army. He then went into a flatement, by which it appeared, that by the fyftem, 5 men additional would be placed on each regiment of horfe, and on the twentyone regiments of foot-that the fix regiments abroad would be augmented 54 each, in order to bring them up to the prefent number of the refpective regiments. Another alteration, he faid, was intended, under the prefent fyftem, which would be highly beneficial to this country. It was formerly the cuftom to allow two men in each company in the mufters, and to convert the pay allowed for them to regimental purpofes

that is, the nation paid for the fervice of two men in each company, which two men had no existence whatever. The object now was to have them effective, as in England he deficiency would be made good, which was no less than 424 ont of the whole--and we should have the 12,000 men complete, without any additional charge upon the nation, omitting the cafualties of deaths and defertion. This mode of proceeding he con tended, was beneficial to the country in a high degree-for it was certainly better to referve the limited number of forces allotted for the defence of the country, than to devife or invent new fchemes for its protection.

[To be continued.]

POETRY.

[blocks in formation]

You've heard of sable [froth:

Sins thriek, or groan.
broth
More priz'd than rich iced creams, and luscious
With many other monstrous-noble things,
At which more naughty times have had their flings.
But long pofterior to that virtuous day.

Th' events were borne on which we found our
Play.

Sparta conceived a whim to be polite, Black broth, and bafom'd foxes took their flight; Then luxury her food-gates opened wide; And tathion onward roll'd its heady tide, Plain diefs and frugal meals foon dropt their yokes,

And godlike Spartans—liv'd like other folks; Turn'd fidlers, brokers, merchants, gamed and betted,

This boafting what he won-this what he netted.
Ladies their Op'ra-Boxers hall heir stage,
And Spartan Humphries' foon became the rage;
Their placemen finecures could ne'er refufe,
And zeal infected Lords, at times turn'd Jews.
The Doctors, fage then hit upon a plan,
To mend the weak degen'iate creature man.
They bade two monarchs wear the splendid

[blocks in formation]
« ZurückWeiter »