1 A 1 M 1 A o 1 A o o o 1 ^^^^~- X I ^=^= X) I n ^^^= • S T A T E OF THE PUBLIC DEBTS, AND OF THE ANNUAL INTEREST and BENEFITS PAID FOR THEM; AS THEY WILL STAND ON THE 5th OF JANUARY, 1783. Li K E W I S E, As they will ftand (if the War continues) on the 5th of January, 1784. TO WHICH THE ATTENTION of the PUBLIC is HUMBLY REQUESTED, BEFORE THEY DECIDE AS TO PEACE OR WAR. TOGETHER WITH SOME THOUGHTS on the EXTENT to which the STATE may be BENEFITED by OECONOMY ; t. N D A FEW REFLECTIONS on the CONDUCT and MERIT of the PARTIES contending for POWER. By JOHN Earl of S T A I R. - Sunt lachrymse rerun i-OBE -. j&z^cc^^sm -ajccj=" FOURTH E D I T I O N. TO WHICH 13 NOW FIRST APDED, A P O S T S C R I P T, In Anfwer to a POSTSCRIPT addreflcd to the Earl of Stais, by the Author of" A Dcllnci of the E*rl of Shelsurne." L O N I) O N : Printed for J. Stgckdale, oppofite Eurlington-IIoufc, Piccadilly. 1783. ( P R T C E C) N ;: « Ii I L L I N G . ] URL uj S7? STATE OF THE PUBLIC D E B T S, &c. OU R late political Changes, though they do not appear to have ferved any other very material public Purpofe, have at leaft afforded us the Confolation of know- ing, that there is no Situation of public Affairs fo defperate, as to preclude the Ad- miniftration of them from being fought after, and embraced with the moll eager Avidity. Our prefent Men in Power, after repro- bating in the ftrongeft and moil unequivo- cal Terms the War, as a Contefl too un- equal to promife even a Poffibility of Suc- £ cefs, [ 2 ] cefs, have rufhed into the public Admini- stration without having concluded, or, as far as I can fee, having any probable Hopes of concluding a Peace. After their frequent, indeed their never-ceafing Declarations, that lb enormous was our military Expence, that even Succefs might protract but could not prevent our Ruin, they have under- taken the Government, and continued the War, without materially diminishing the Expence of it -, without even having it in their Power to do fo : for the War, on our Part, being almcil: entirely defenfiye, the Scale and Limits of Expence are in the Option and Power of our Enemies, not m ours. What new Lights Power, Place, and Emolument, may have given, I know not; nor on what fair Grounds of honeft Can- dour they difpoiTeiTed thofe who neither defpaired of our Succefs nor of our Re- iburces (and for whom I am in other Re- fpecls no Advocate), and poiTeued them- felves [ 3 ] felves of their public Situations, without either the Will, or at lead: without the Power, (and as to the Argument, it is alike which is wanting) of materially altering that Syflem, which in their PredecefTors Hands they had fo often declared abfurd and rui- nous. Poor, inconfiderable, and unavailing as my DifTent may be, yet I will not be in- cluded nor concluded by a Condudt Co glar- ingly inconfiftent, to fay no worfe of it. I muft dill declare, that every Thing I have offered to the public Confideration on the ruinous and defperate Situation of our Fi- nances and Refources, ftill exifls, goes on, and gathers Force in its Progrefs to Ruin. I muft ftill, from the fame Fads, Caufes, and Inducements, which I have already ftated to the Public, and to which every Hour adds Strength, pronounce the abfolute Neceftity of a Peace. The Experience of the Time that has dapied fince my laft Publication, and, above B 2 all, [ 4 ] all, the Fads authenticated by the Report from the Committee of the Houfe of Com- mons appointed to enquire into the a&ual State of our Finances, have made mofl of what I then offered to the Public as well- founded Conjecture, now Matters of Truth, Reality, and Proof. A Report from a Com- mittee of the Houfe of Commons unani- moufly appointed, framed, though without Preemption or Pretention, yet with great Ability, Opennefs, Perfpicuity, Impartia- lity, and Candour, annihilates every weak or interefted Argument againfl the Propriety of difclofmg to the World the real State of our internal Situation and Refources. Indeed, without this Aid, fo conclufive to the Point in queftion, from what is, and mull conftantly, from the Nature of our Conflitution, be laid before Parliament, none but thofe who are too dull to under., fland, or thofe who are too indolent to take the Trouble of a very ample and eafy Inves- tigation and Deduction, need want any ma- terial Information as to the true State of the Nation ; [ 5 ] Nation j and to Perfons of thefe Defcriptions no Information whatever will be of any ufe. I mean therefore to adduce what ad- ditional Facts have occurred in Proof of the two Proportions I laid down in the Pamphlet I publiuhed in the Beginning of this Year *„ The Propositions are ; ift. That the Demands on the Public from the Creditors of the Public would, on the 5th of January 1783, amount to Fif- teen Millions annually, neat Money. 2d. That there are the moft probable In- ducements to believe, that the neat annual Revenue of this Country can never be brought for a Permanency, and Average of Years, to exceed Twelve Millions. I mean likewife to confider, and to eive o fome Outlines of Conjecture to what Extent it may reach, and what Relief may be ex- pected to the Public from OECONOMF, * Fads and their Confequcnccs, 8rc. Printed fcr J. Stockdalc, Price is. the [ 6 ] the Chymic Gold that pays the Debts of every Administration ; and to conclude with a few Reflections that may arife out of thefe Subjects, on the Merits and Conduct of the Parties contending for Power ; which fhall be made with that Freedom and Impartiality that are at all Times becoming in an honeffc and independent Man; and are now, in thefe Times of Delufion and Danger, a Duty in- cumbent on him. In the Profecution of thefe Objects, I (hall, firft, again lay before the Public an Account fubmitted to them in my laft Publication. By crediting the Public with what I have over-fbted, or omitted to credit, in this Ac- count ; and by debiting the Public with what I have under-dated, or omitted to debit the Public with in it ; the Remit, I think, will enable me to give a nearly proved and vouched State of the Nation, as it will ftand en the 5th of January 1783. Te [ 7 ] ACCOUNT No. I. To Intereft of the Debt incurred and funded before the War - . f a 20.0 nnn To Intereft of the Funded Debt of the ^20,000 War, to 1 781 inclufive - . 2 - 00 00Q To Civil Lift Eftablifhment, prefent ' and contingent - „ „_ To Peace EiLiftm™, . . ^° ^°° £l2, 220,000 Debt contra&ed in and previous to 1781, waiting for Funds. Navy Debt on the 31ft December 1781 - £11,000,000 Exchequer Bills - 3,400,000 Ditto to the Bank - 2,000,000 £16,400,000 Debts thatmuft be contra&ed for 1782, The Loan - - £17,000,000 Extraordinaries of Sea and Land - - I0,oco,ooo Arrear and winding up of the War - - 9,000,000 Total Unfunded Debt, and what funded or unfunded muft be in- curred for 1782 - £52,400,000 Or which £.52. 400,000 only Fifty Millions (to keep within Bounds) arc charged to the Public at an Intereft of 5] per Cent, which, the Expence at the Bank included, makes rj« e ~ r c r • " 1 t^~ " £2,800,000 On a buppofinon that a Peace is con- - . eluded in 1782, the Annual Charge on the Public on the 5th January 178-2, exclufivc of Collection and Manage- ment, will bi of neat Money to . £15,020,000 ACCOUNT, t 8 ] ACCOUNT No. II. The Public is Creditor for the following Sums over-flated, or omitted to be credited, in Account No. I. The Extraordinaries for 178 r, for Sea and Land, having amounted only to £.9,481,844 ; if thefe in 1782 amount to no more (and it is likely they will not) being ftated to amount to £.10,000,000, they are therefore pro- bably over-rated - - Z5l8,i5($ N. B. This Over-flatement arifes from the Extraordinaries of the Army hav- ing, contrary to all Precedent in the Progreffion of the War, decreafed a Trifle in 1 78 1, inftead of advancing; but I fufpeet. this has happened from, either by Accident or Design, their not being fairly brought forward; for from the Report of the Committee of the Houfe of Commons, it appears, that £.1,092,248 was paid for the Extra- ordinaries for Two Months, from the ill of February 1782 to the 5th of the April following. I therefore recredit this Sum with Hcfitation and Doubt, for Part of the above out-of-Propor- tion vafl Sum muff, undoubtedly have been paid for Debts incurred in 1781. To carried from the Supplies 1782, to- wards the Difcharge of the Navy Debt, on the 31ft of December 1781, omitted to be credited - - I,500>00© The Loan being ftated at £.17,000,000, and the Sum borrowed being only £.13,500,000, over-flated in Account No. I. - - - 3,500,000 Total over-flated and emitted in Account No. I. - -. - £5,518,156 ACCOUNT C '9 ] ACCOUNT No. III. The Public is Debtor to Sums not drawn out againfr. it in Account No. I. to the Sums omitted in that Account, to Ser- vices unprovided for, and to the Balance of Services defc^'ivdy provided for. To Allowance made in Account Num- ber [. on the Unfunded Debt, amount- in g to £.52,400,000, of which only 50 Millions are drawn out and ftated againft the Public _ _ A* ,™ ™,* To Debt of the Civil Lift, for which £2 *° > 00 « the Public is liable, in the firft Place 700 C oo To Ordnance Debt and Debentures, 3 c °,co. which on the 5th of January i~' ' tnayatleaftbeftatedat - ' t liQO0i009 I he giovving Produce of the Sinking Fund being taken to the 10th of Oc° tobcr 1782 for £.2,284,715, and it having only produced for the Half Year ending the 5th of April 1782, £•670,760, and double this Sum be- ing thought a liberal Allowance foi that Half Year ending on the 10th of October 1 782 ; after allowing the Half Year's Difference of Jntereft: on vi per Cent reduced to 3 per Cent, it will be taken for more than it will probably produce - - _ t To Deficiency of Funds not confolidated with the Sinking Fund, the fame as in 1781 " /-, r 9 g To Deficiency of the Funds for 1-82, / '' 4 ' 5 " by the Jntereft running fo long be- fore the Taxes are laid, or made pro- ductive Carried over 350,000 L 10 ] Brought over fSAS^ A "l 1 o Deficiency of Grants for 17S2, the ° " Ways and Means after deducting the Lottery Prizes, and only ^.".400,000 for the Deficiency of the Land and Malt Taxes, exceeding the Supplies in no more than £.11,009 - 300,000 J o Interef!: on Exchequer Bills - 715,014. To Annual Expence of Exchequer Bill Office To the Bank of England, for receiving-, 3,888 paying, and accounting for the Loan 10,669 To Difcount on prompt Payment of the Loan 00 To the Navy Debt, dated in Account Number I. to amountcnlyon the 31ft December 1781 to /,'. 1 1 ,oco,cco, whereas it amounted to/".i 1,318,450, understated therefore " - . 318,450 1 o received from the Eaft India Com- pan}-, which mui.i be repaid to the ~f ^ ,a 7 D , ■ . u - - 4co,cco i he i otal Salancewith which the Pub- - lie is to be debited, amounts to - f 6,784,404 I <-tal Amount of the Sums with which '*»*** the Public is to be credited perAccount No. II. is - _ _ j. J..O T , ( Balance by which the Public Debt - ' 3 unfunded and funded in 1782, will exceed the 50 Millions drawn out againft the Public in Account No. I. £ 1,266, ??8 This authenticates, and in a Manner proves, the Mty Millions ftated againft the Public in Account No. I. with the above Balance over - } all but the nine Millions ftated as the Arrear and Winding-up of the War, which cannot [ ll J cannot be liquidated till a Peace takes place. It is however prefumed, this cannot vary- much from, at leaft cannot exceed, the Truth, being fomething lower, as will appear by Account No. V. than the gene- rally received Calculation that the Arrearand Winding-up of the War is equal to Haifa Year's Expence of the War, without men- tioning the large Demands from our German Mercenaries at the Concluiion of the W r ar, to which Treaties vevy loofely worded eive Extent and Countenance. A C C O U N T No. IV. Having now cleared my Way, I ihtil pro- ceed to ftate the National Debt a"s it will ftand on the 5th of January 1783, and the In- tererc that is, or will be to be paid for it. The capital Debt (as none of it can ever be expected to be paid) is, I am afraid, but a mere Matter of Curioiity j though I could with it to be a Matter of fericas Reflec- tion j and on that Account have ftated it. The Funded Debt on the 5th of Janu- ary 178 3 , amounts to £ ; — The Value of" /". 980,338 of Annuities given as Premiums, fome for Life, fome for Terms of Years, at, or un- der the Prices they fell at, may be dii- mated to amount to - » , s ' Carried over -ly. ^5.500 C 2 J h« [ 12 J Brought over 211,025,503 1 he Balance of Unfunded Debt, after deducting from the £.50,000,000 charged againft the Public in Ac- count No. I. the £. 1 -3,500,000 fund- ed in 1782, and adJing the Balance of /.1, 266,338, over the Fifty Mil- lion?, as per Account No. III. is - 37,766,338 Borrowed on the bd. in the Pound Civil Lift Duty - 1,000,000 Equivalent to Scotland - - 248,550 Total Capital Debt on the 5th January 1783 - - - £250,040,388 For which is, or will be to be paid annually by the Public, Intereft of Debt already funded - £7,481, 311 Intereft on the Million borrowed on the Civil Lift bd. Duty - - 30,000 Intereft on the Scotch Equivalent, and £.2,000 paid Yearly to Scotch Fish- eries, &c. - 12,000 Intereft on the above £.37,766,338 Unfunded Debt, at 5 4 per Cent. Charges at the Bank included, nearly 2,100,000 The Charges at the Bank on Loans 1781 and 1782, not yet allowed, nearly - 15,000 Total to be paid Annually to the Cre- ditors of the Public, on the 5th Ja- nuary J} S3 - - - 9> 5 A3 ir The Civil Lift, and Peace Eihbiifh- rncr'.- w : ii require Arnualiy, as per Account No. 1. - ' - 5,500,000 Total Annual Charge on the Fuh'ic on the sd.o'-j:.;: «:[ 1783, nc.atMor.ry £15,138,311 The [ '3 ] The annual Charge here ftated is pretty confiderably larger than that flated in Ac- count No. I. This arifes from the Intereft on the Million borrowed on the Civil Lift 6d. i from the Intereft on the Equivalent to Scotland; the 2000I. yearly to the Scotch Fisheries and Manufacturers ; from the In- tereft on the £1,266,338 over the fifty Milli- ons beinpr ftated here ; though thev were not in Account No. I. ; and to the £13,500,000 funded in 1^82 being borrowed at an Inte- reft above 57 per Cent. Thefe are Additions, which are fomcthing diminifhed by the fall- ins-in of Life-Annuities. It is believed the Account is nowjuft, or fo to a Trifle. If fo, and if the annual neat Amount of the Public Revenue cannot be brought to rife higher than twelve Millions, (and we think we ihall in the Sequel ihew that there is no ereat Probability that it will t> rife higher, as Government mull: be carri M-r-;- 1 o on) the whole of the Deficiency muft fall on the Creditors of the Public, who, inftead of L H ] receiving annually £9,638,31 1 will only re- ceive £6,500,000, or 13s. 6d. in the Pound. N. B. The Civil Lift and Peace Eftablilh- ments, to the Amount they are ftated at, is accounted for in my Pamphlet entitled, " Facts, and their Confequences;" fo I do not trouble the Public with Repetitions. ACCOUNT No. V. Should we be compelled to continue the War for another Year, it may be fairly pre- fumed the Charge will not be lefs for 1783 than it was for 1782. If fo, the Public Account will ftand on the 5th of January 1784, as follows : To the Loan as in 1782 - - £. 13,500,00a Provisions omitted, or ihort and de- tective, Funds taken for more than they will produce in 1782 Balance of the Debt of the Navy, after allowing the £. 1,500,000 carried to- wards it from the Supplies 178.2 The whole Increafe for the Year ending the 31ft of Dec. 1 7 81, being £4,145,722. Balance therefore is /.. 2,641,722 Carried over 13,500,0^0 The [ is ] Brought over 13,500,000 Balance as in precedingPage^2, 641,722 The Sinking Fund ta- ken for more than it will produce as per Account No. Ill, crediting Haifa Year more of" the Diffe- rence gained by th« Reduction of the 3^ per Cent to 3 per Cent - 9,20,695 Deficiency of Funds as per Account No. Ill, for 1783, by theln- tereft running before theTaxes commence, or at Jeaftcan be made productive - - 350,000 Deficiency of Grants as per Account No.ll 1. 200,oco Intereft on Exchequer Bills, as per Ac- count No. III. - 315,0/4 Exchequer Bill Office, as per ditto - 3, 80S' To the Bank of En- gland for receiving the Loan, &c J 7«3 - - - /J. 18,021,988 Intereft [ 16 1 Intereir on 1 8 Millions only, at 6 per Cent. - - £. i,o8o,oco Charges at the Bank on 18 Millions, nearly - - 11,000 Total additional Annual Burthen on the Public (if the War continues) ■ ■ on the 5th January 1784 - £. 1,091,000 Capital Debt on the 5th of January 1783, was per Account No. IV. - £ 250,040,000 Addition, if the War continues during 1783 - 18,021,988 Total Capital Debt on the 5th of Janu- aiy 1784 - - £.268,061,988 Intcrefr. payable to the Creditors on the 5th of January 1 7 B 3 , ^.r Account No. IV. - - - - £-9.638,311 Additional Intereft for Debt contracted, if the War continues for 1783 - ^091,000 To the Creditors of the Public, on the 5th of January 1784 - - £.10,729,311 To the Amount of the Peace and Civil Lift Eftabliftiments, per Account No. 1. - - - 5,500,000 Total Annual Charge of neat Money on the Public, if trie War continues • tor 1783 - - - £.16,220,311 Which, on the more than probable Suppofition, that the Public Revenue cannot on a Permanency, and Average of Years, be brought to exceed 12 Millions neat Annu- ally; the Creditors in that Cafe, in place of £.10,729,31 1 will receive Annually only £.6, 500*000, or 12s. id. in the Pound. The [ '7 ] The foregoing Accounts muft certainly ftrike every thinking Mind with Aftonim- ment, and Apprehenfion for the Confe- quences. They are, indeed, more like unto the feverifh Dreams of mad Speculation, than unto the real unexaggerated State of the Finances of a wife, inquiring, philofo- phical People. And, in truth, without fome one or other of the illuftrious Compe- titors for the Management of the Treafures of this opulent Country have, amongft their other great Acquirements, of which we hear fo much, got Pofiefiion of the grand Secret, the great Work, the Phi- Jofophcrs Stone (and I do not know that any of them have as yet urged that Plea) I cannot fee how they are to go on. Ridicule may, perhaps, do more, at lead I am fure it cannot do lefs, than ferious Admonition has done. Avarice and Credulity may promife any Thing, on extravagant Terms being offered; hut in the Event of Public Misfortune, or even on the Change of the Caprice of Public Opinion, how are they to make good their D Promifcs : [ '8 ] Promifes ? If they fail in Time of War, the worft of Ruins, Anarchy enfues. In Time of Peace, the Public not being able to completely fulfil their Engagements to their Creditors, will be a great Calamity ; but will not, I hope, endanger the Safety of the State. Indeed, moil of the few public Creditors who look beyond the Price of the Day, fee that this laft Event muft neceffarily happen foon. The Funds are now kept up at the Rates they are at, only by an Idea, fo generally prevalent, that Peace muft be at hand, becaufe we are no longer able to co on with the War ; and conlequently, as has generally happened on a Peace, there will be a great Rife in the Value of Govern- ment Securities, which every-body hopes by felling out to profit by -, not reflecting, that if all croud to Market with their Stock at one Time, the Quantity on Sale exceed- ing, as it needs muft, the Demand, the Price cannot advance. Not having by me herejuft all the heavy Luggage of Authenticity, I may poiTibly have made fome fmall Errors in my Figures -, but [ '9 ] but I apprehend, if any, they are trifling, and (the Extent of the Sums confidered) of no Importance ; at lead, not of Confe- quence to affect or alter the Conclusions that mull be drawn from what I have here fubmitted to the Public. In the Sums that are anticipated, and confequently in forne Degree conjectural at prefent, the Errors, which cannot be con- iiderable, will, I apprehend, nearly balance each other ; and I dare, I think, pledge myfelf to the Public, at leaft on the general Balance not to have exceeded the Truth. Any Information or Corrections I mall re- ceive with Gratitude, and, on Conviction, acknowledge them in the bed Manner, viz. by correcting my Errors. I was defirous to ftate thefe Matters to the Public as early as I could, to avoid having their Prejudices and Prep oiTeflions to combat with ; and to prevent the ufual Anfwer from Minifters, that Plans are formed, and Information comes too late, D 2 Through [ *° ] Through the whole of the Figures and Calculations already flated, or to be dated to the Public, I have endeavoured, as much as was pofiible in a Subject of fuch vaft Extent and Intricacy, to join together Sim- plicity and Conviction, Concifenefs and Clearnefs, which conflitute the true Sublime in Matters of Account. The Public will judge how near I have approached to the Per- fection I aim at. If I have abfolutely failed, I fliould be afhamed to mention the Trouble and Pains the Attempt has coft me. I shall now proceed to ftate the Proba- bilities on which I prefume, that the neat annual Revenue of the Nation can never durably and permanently, for an Average of Years, be brought to exceed Twelve Mil- lions. Of thefe Probabilities the Review is very fnort, no Year previous to that end- ing on the icth of October 1781, having ever produced, or even very nearly approach- ed to, the Sum of Twelve Millions neat Money. The Produce of that Year is as follows : Neat [ 21 ] ACCOUNT No. VI. Neat Produce of the Public Revenue from the ioth October 1780, to the 10th of October 1781. To the funded Creditors of the Public before the War - £. 4,211,506 To the funded Creditors fmce the War, only one Half- Year of the Intereft of the Debt con- tracted in 1 781 being paid in this Period - 2,146,680 To the Civil Lift Eftabliiliment 900/000 To Pi od Lice of the Sinking Fund - 2,988,34.5 To neat Produce of Land and Malt Taxes at the u tmofl - 2,3-0,000 Total Produce of the Year end- ing on the ioth of October 1781 - - - 12,596,531 Deduct One Year's Defici- ency of the Taxes not con- folidated with the Sinking Fund - 474-5-9 Neat Produce of the Year end- ing on the 10th of October J781 - - - £. 12,122,002 »■*■ ■- " t - M .^l ■ - , „ Here, [ « ] Here, I acknowledge, is a lmall Balance ; but whether Management or Accident was the Cauie of it, the Effccl was not durable, In the next Quarter ending the 5th of January 1782, inflead of a Surplus there was a Deficiency ; and the Half- Year ending the 5th of April 1782, did not produce fo much as the Half- Year ending the 5th of April 1781 by £.374,673. This is decifive againft 1782, and the fcanty Crop of Barley reaped in 1782 -, of Barley, on which One-Fourth of the Revenue depends; gives too well-grounded Appreheniions, that the Revenue of 1783 will fuffer great Dimi- nutions. Indeed, the general Situation of the Country, and the Scarcity of Grain anorehended, deferves the ferious Confider- ation of the Public, and of Individuals. I am well aware, that the Inability of the Eafl-India Company to pay up their Duties, was in a great Part the Caufe of this preat FaUinp--oft of the Revenue in the current Year. But certainly nothing fa- vourable can be inferred from thence. In every Edifice, the weaken; Part: are the ilrll [ *3 1 firft that give Way. However fully Go- vernment may be employed, they mufl of Necefiity look in the Face the Difficulties, and efpoufe with Vigour and Effect the Caufe, of the Baft-India Company. They will require other and very powerful Aids from Parliament, befides the good Advice they are fo liberal of to them. If their Affairs go to ruin, or even fuffer any very great Check or Diminution, our Syftem of Finance is at an End. The Company's Duties having, on the moft moderate Cal- culation for many Years paft, produced full £.1,200,000 yearly; and directly, or circuit toufly, their Servants, and thofe connected with them or their Servants, are luppoie4 for a great Number of Years to have remit- ted into this Country about Four Millions Sterling yearly ; and this, together with fo much of what was expended on the War, circulating amongft ourfelves ; and the va- luable C . s made by our Ships of War and Privateer, in the Beginning of the War with France and Spain, and afterwards at the Commencement of the War with Holland, all of which in a Manner werealmoftinftan- taneoufly [ 2 4 ] taneoufly veiled in our Funds; have been the great Sources that have enabled Govern- ment to raife the enormous Sums that they have railed on the Public. I now come to our laft Refource, our laft Appeal, the promifed Land of Oeconomy, which, narrow and barren as it may prove, I am afraid many of us will never live to porTefs. I am not Mafter enough of the Detail of the Navy, to fay whether any Reform in the Expence of it is neceffary or not ; but no Complaints being made, it may fairly be prefumed that there is no Foundation for any. In the Army, as in the Church, the Sum Total, I believe, is not too much, but the Divifion of it is highly partial and unjuft. The expenfive Eflablifhments kept up for thofe Heaps of Ruins nick- named Fortrejfes, and the giving thofe lucrative Sinecures, as they generally are given, to thofe who have already too much, are Reproaches on Go- vernment. f 25 ] vernment. The Sums they coft mould be formed into an Eftabliffiment, to reward great and noble Actions in War, and to affift Military Merit, when attended, as it too often is, by Misfortune. From the Cloathing Profits and other Profits of the Regiments, a competent Al- lowance mould be made to the commanding Officers who refide with their Regiments. From their Care and Affiduity, the moral and military Character of the Army, the good Difcipline and the good Behaviour of our Troops, are principally formed -, and yet, laborious and important as the Truft is, no Benefit is derived from it : On the con- trary, Men of Spirit, in order to do credit to the Corps they command, are forced into a Style and Rate of Living their Pay will not afford, and too often by it are brought into Difficulties and Diftrefs. I mention only what is mofl flrikinp* ; many other ufeful Reformations in the E Armv [ 26 ] Army might be pointed out ; but Increafe of Revenue being my prefent Object, which I think is not, at lead to any Extent, to be found there, I quit the Subject. The whole Sum paid by Government, exclullve of what is paid to the Navy and Armv (adverted to above) calculated from the Produce of the Sixpence in the Pound which extends to all other Payments, amounts to One Million Seven Hundred and Ten Thoufand Pounds yearly. Out of this Sum the Orfices alone which exceed in Income One Hundred Pounds yearly, are th^ Obiects of Reform, the Parliament hav- ing already, ^nd I think with great Juftice, exempted Offices not Dioducino- more than One Hundred Pounds yearly, from even the additional Shilling in the Pound which made Part of the Ways and Means for 1758. Now the Produce of the Tax of One Shilling in the Pound on Offices exceeding One Plundred Pounds of yearly Income, amounting to about Forty Thoufand Pounds yearly, it follows, that Eight Hundred Thoufand Pounds yearly is [ 27 ] is the grofs Sum upon which the Reform is to operate - 3 from which deducting the Judges Salaries, Appointments to Foreign Miniiters, and fome other Articles which do not admit of any Diminution, the Amount of which taken together will exceed Two Hundred Thoufand Pounds yearly, it follows, that the real neat Sum on which the Oneration of Pveform can take Place, will at the ut- moft not exceed Six Hundred Thoufand Pounds yearly. And of this, were we to retrench One-Third, or Two Hundred Thoufand Pounds yearly, it certainly would be too fevere an Amputation ; fo about One Hundred and Fifty Thoufand Pounds yearly is all that can be faved, was the Reform *o take Place in its full Extent : A poor Obiecr furely, to be offered in Defence of the Con- tinuance of a War, of which, alas I it wouhl not do much more than pay the Intereir. of the Sum that mud: be borrowed to carry it on for only Six Weeks, as may be feen in the Account No. V. fubrnitted to the Pubiic in the foregoing Part of this Performance. E 2 jl i i r: [ 28 ] The only true, the only real Oeconomy is Peace; a temperate, calm Adminiftration ; a wife Forbearance, and a fleady Contempt for popular Clamour, ever ready to plunge the Nation into War, and fall more ready to repine at the Calamities infeparable from War. War and Oeconomy are incompatible ; they cannot, nay often they ought not to affociate together. The true Science of War is to make it grojfe et courte, fhort and powerful. Two bad, flarved, niggardly Campaigns will coil greatly more than one of the beft-fupported, and of the moft bril- liant Succefs ; and will only ferve to retard, inftead of promoting, the only really jufl Object of War, a fafe and an honourable Peace, which the other in a manner fecures. Had the Objedt they purfued been attain- able, the late Minifters certainly deferved well of the Public, for the great and unpa- ralleled Attention with which they fupport- ed the War in America; which, though in a Country fo remote, and in Situations fo 1 J" ULu [ *9 ] fubjected to the Accidents and Variations of Climate, of Wind and of Weather, never fuffered from the Want of any necerTary Supplies. Even the Navy, of the Neglect and Mifmanagement of which we heard fo much, has by the glorious Effort on the 12th of April, of fuperior Skill, Courage, and Preparation, refuted every ram Afperflon; and mould in fo far reftore the Noble Lord who lately prefided over it to the Public Gratitude and Efleem. Although the Relief OEconomy can give is very fmall, if confidered relatively to the boundlefs Expences we are at prefent involved in ; and though I have thought it neceffary to (hew and afcertain its narrow Bounds and Extent, in order that the extra- vagant and delufive Boafts of Minifters of the Effects it will produce under their Admi- niftration, may meet with the Contempt- that they deferve; yet I am far, very fir from mean- ing to difcourage the Practice of it. It is a Duty Government owe to the rcil of their fubi^rs. [ 3° ] fubje&s, daggering under the Load and Weight of a Multiplicity of Taxes, to fup- prefs, or at leaft to bring within moderate Bounds, thofe enormous Sinecures, that throw a too great always, and too often an unmerited Wealth into the Hands of a few Individuals : Sinecures which fre- quently owe the extravagant Advance of their Profits to the Public Calamities, and pre- pofteroufly increafe inllead of diminishing by the Neceflities of the State. They are hateful to the People.; and by the fuppreffing or moderating of them, Government would acquire the befr. and moit defirable of all Returns, the Confidence, the Gratitude, and Good-will of the Public. But mould any Thine material or efTential be meant to be done in this Matter, I am much of Opinion, that it mud be accomplifhed by general and peremptory Refolutions of the Parliament itfelf. Any inferior Powers, Infpecuon, or Controul, will foon become, as they have ever done, a Part of thole very Grievance? they were meant to redrefs. Minifters, if well L 3 1 J intenrioned (which they feldom are) to go all Lengths, have icarce ever a decided Influence, Majority, and Weight fufficient to embolden and to enable them to eradicate Abufes, con- flrued by long Ufage into Right, and fup- ported by the powerful Influence of the PofTeifors and their Adherents. Amongst the many wc:y fagacious Max- ims and Reflections in the Reports from the Commiffioners of Accounts, none firike me more forcibly, than thofe which inculcate the Amplifying the Mode of Accounting with the Public j for certainly, of all Accounts, the fimple one of Debtor and Ci editor is * the moll fatisfactory. To what good End or Purpofe all thofe various Officers, Offices, and Checks with ftrange Names, have been eftabliihed at lb great an Expence, which, cither directly or indirectly, comes out of the Pocket of the Public, I am intirely ig- norant. Nor [ y- ] Nor from the Reports already mentioned does there appear any particular Benefit to have arifen to the Public from them. If the Advantages derived from them are not very great and uncontrovertible, they never can balance the Harm that they do. The Dread of the Difficulties, the Intricacies, and, above all, the Delays in paffing Ac- counts through thefe Offices, make a pro- portionable Indemnification attended to, and included in the Price demanded for every Thing to be furnifhed to Government; which even in Peace creates a great Lofs to the Public -, and in a War, at the low Efti- mation on the Sums paid to the different Contractors of One per Cent, extraordinary, the Lofs will amount to a very large Sum, exciufive of the Expence to the Public of the Offices themfelves. Surely, in the prefent improved State of Science in Figures and Fi- nance, fome Mode might eafily be devifed, more fimple and equally fafe, for paffing the Public Accounts, without the great Prejudice to the Public flated above. Though [ 33 3 Though more extenfive Operations of Reform ought to take place, and though confiderable Parts of what were promifed were left out, for no good Reafons that I know of, yet the Public Gratitude and Thanks are due to the Promoters of the confiderable Beginnings already made ; of which we fhall be able to fpeak with more Precision, when they are ultimately fettled and adjufted, and the Extent of the Savings are liquidated and known ; and when the Caufes of the Deficiency in the Civil Lift Eflabliihment are investigated, and Means fallen on to prevent any future Accident of this kind ; other wife we may be faving Far- things with one Hand, whilft we are running; Pounds into Debt with the other. No i* ought we, perhaps, to neglect to offer our Thanks, and to acknowledge with be- coming Gratitude the Generality of thofe Gentlemen who have offered, and accepted of the Service of the Public at reduced Prices i fb low, I think, on? Gentleman, F as [ 34 ] as at Four Thoufand Pounds a-Year hard Money, and to name his Deputy. To thofe who know the great Abilities of the Men, this will appear ferving the Public for next to Nothing > in the mercantile Stile of Adver- tifino-, at the ready-money Price, far below Prime Coil. But as the Public, as well as Individuals, may be hurt by buying Penny- worths^! would not advife them to make many more fuch good Bargains. In truth, however great the Merit of the Propofer may be, a Reform is introduced with no good Grace by thofe who are to con- tinue to poflefs Offices infinitely more lucra- tive, and perhaps not much more efficient,than thofe that are to be abolifhed. One cannot help recollecting Ophelia's Admonition to her Brother Laertes : But, good my Brother, Do not as fome ungracious Paftors do, Shew me the fleep and thorny Way to Heaven ^ Whilft like a puft and carelefs Libertine, Himfelf the Primrofe Path of Dalliance treads, And recks not his own Reed, But [ 35 3 But the foregoing are, in the State Things iuft now are in, but very fubaltern Confi- derations : the preffing Dangers of the Pub- lic Situation demand far other Aids. And in the prefent tremendous Crifis, nothing ap- pears to me in any Degree fo equal to the ObjecT: in view, viz. the Prefervation of the State, as by a Concurrence and Declaration of the virtuous independent Majority, (which I hope dill fubfift, at Icaft in one of the Houies of Parliament) to afcertain and limit the Terms of Conceiiion, the Nation, to obtain a Peace, will fubmit to. If thefe are refufed by the Enemy, the Parliament mnft call on the Public at large, to fupport with their Lives and Fortunes the Independence of the Nation, to fave or perifh with their Country. Whatever is to be done, ought to be done fpeedily. By a defenfive War nothing can be gained ; all may be loft. This Year 1782 has been accounted rather a fortunate Year; and the Superiority of Force employed againft us, weighed and I - * r 1 j 1 2 conuoeicu, [ 3* ] confidered, I think it has been fo : yet it is not yet expired ; and in it we have already loft the Iflands of Minorca, St. Chriftopher's, Nevis, and Montferrat; the Bahama Iflands; the Settlements taken from the Dutch near Surinam, retaken by the French ; what- ever we held by our Indian Allies, or by ourfelves, on the Spanifh Continent of Ame- rica ; together with our Forts and Ter- ritories in Hudfon's Bay, and all our much- "boafted Conquefts to the Southward of New York j and by confequential Reafoning New York itfelf icon to follow. Thefe, with In- dependence granted to America, the indif- penfable Requifite to every Negotiation for Peace, might, either by the Ceffion of them, or fomething equivalent to them, have gone a great Way towards procuring a Peace. Our Situation with our neighbouring Kingdom of Ireland does not moreover improve, and promifes nothing but hu- miliating and dangerous Alternatives to us ; nor indeed to them, I think, ail the folid Profperity and Comfort they expect from it 3 [ 37 ] it j unlefs the felf-armed, felf-difciplined, Hoft of Volunteers, who have hitherto be- haved with fuch diftinguifhed Order and Propriety, can be induced (the End ob- tained for which they armed, as it nearly is\ without Force or Bloodfhed, to fall back into the laborious, obfcure, and unimportant Situations of Life the Mafs of them at lean: advanced from : for till they lay down their Arms, all depends on the jufr. and generous Way of thinking and acting of thofe, who may think and act otherwife if they fo pleafe ; which, the Follies and Frail- ties infeparably connected with Humanity confidered, is but a precarious Tenure. ■ But I will not anticipate Misfortune; vet certainly here is Matter for Meditation to all ; but particularly, and in fome Sort ex- clusively, to the noble Lord now at the Head of the Britiih Council?, who is an Irishman, and the Bulk of whofe Property is (ituated in that Country, where he does not refide. But, above all, let us not r.^ain be the Fools of our own over-heated Im :;-in:.ti ins, [ 38 1 nor the Dupes of the Profeflions, that know no Bounds, of the Competitors for Power. Only a few fhort Months have parTed, fince all was Triumph, all was Exultation. Like Moliere's Bourgeois Gentiihomme y who at laft found out he had been fpeaking Prole all his Life, without knowing any Thing of the Matter -, we difcovered, that, without hav- ing in the leaft fufpedted it, we had all our Lives been living amongft the moft diftin- guifhed Set of Men that any Age or Coun- try ever produced ; amongft Law-givers 7 Heroes, and Demigods, whofe Virtues could onlv be furpaffed by their tranfcendent Abi- lities ; and who being now called by the united Voice of the People to the Admini- ftration of Public Affairs, created us from that very Inftant the moil powerful, and the moil happy Nation the Sun ever ihone upon. The irrefiftible Current of popular Enthuliafm fwept into Oblivion all former Surmifes of Falfehood, Frailty, and Incon- fiftencv of Character in the Bufinefs of A me- rica ; all was perfect, all were faultlefs. Under C 39 J Under Credentials Co ample, our iliuftri- ous Band of Worthies proceeded to the Sack of St. James's ; which being accom- plifhed, and all felfim Covetoufnefs being dead and buried with Lord North and his Adminiftration, they proceeded without Lois of Time to divide the Plunder amongft themfelves. Honours they beftowed pro- fufely on each other, and Emoluments of any Confequence they parcelled out to the* kit. Farthing ; all which they executed with grea* Cordiality, and a due Regard to diftri- hutive Juftice ; never forgetting at proper Time? to found each other's Praife, and, above all, the matchlefs Dilintereftedneft that pervaded the Conduct of all concerned. As few only of the chofcn were admitted to a Participation of the Public Spoils, the Shares were good and comfortable. To the general an-prep-ate Bodv of their Adhe- rents they gave nothing, except boundlefs Praife, fome lean Baronetage;;, and a ge- nerous and liberal Indulgence, without De- gree, Licence, or Diploma, to prefcribe for and [ 4° ] and pra&ife on the Difeafes and Infirmities of the Conftitution. Yet all were pleafed, and Addreffes of Thanks to the Crown flowed from every Quarter. But fhort are the Friendships of intereft- ed Ambition, though cemented by Accom- modations very repugnant to their Profef- fions, and very unbecoming the impoverished State of the National Finances, acknow- ledged and even attempted to be juflified by both Parties. No fooner does an Object come in fight, and in probability foon to be open to the Claims of each Party; an Object, great in Emolument, and in Power fupreme; to which both pretend a Right, and but one alone can enjoy; then firft we hear of Diffe- rences of Opinion great, and deciiive in pub- lic Matters of high Import ; then all the imputed Virtues difappear, and in their Place fucceed Bitternefs, Rage, and Re- vilings, with dark and foul Sufpicions, and Names too harm for me to ufe, Now all is Uproar, and factious CanvafTing. Pro- mues, [ 41 ] mlfes, Honours, and all the little Wealth that is left, are profufely fquandered on each bold Abettor of Party. From every Profef- fion Orators are fought, and retained on Terms aimoft as high as the Subfidies we ufed to pay to foreign Princes ; but moft from that Profemon to which long Practice has made it familiar to varnifh over the Er- rors, to make each crooked Deviation from right Reafon, of the human Head or Heart appear to be itraight; to puzzle without con- vincing ; to perplex without proving ; and without applying to our Paffions, by mere Dint of Length and Drynefs o{' Aro-nnent to force from us a relucTant Acquiefcence, which our Underftandings, made tame by Wearinefs and Difguft, would fain deny, but dare not. For this idle War of Words, for thefe folemn Mummeries of Replies, Dupplies, Trippiies, and Rejoinders, which fignify juft as much (but without his Wit) as poor Punch in the puppet-fhow, each Party are provided with a long-robed Pha- lanx, that cofts more than would maintain a firfl-ratc Ship of (he Line to fL-ht o- Battles. ° G The [ 42 ] The great, the fimplc, the felf-denying Virtues that make Nations great, and keep them fo, are all out of Fafhion, out of Date -, and in my Confidence I believe, a Man would gain more Credit, and certainly would be much more fare of Preferment, by an ingeni- ous rhetorical Apology for the Want of every human Virtue, than by poiTemng, without the Power of announcing them, every great and good Quality that can adorn human Nature. Where the Treafure lies, there the Heart will be alio ; and if to fpeak at all Hazards, as long as a Man can Hand upon his Legs j if to tell a Tale, like that of an Idiot, full of Sound and Fury, but meaning nothing j which, when tricked up and arranged in twenty puffing Publications, fcarce riles to common Senfe ; if this is the Sum, the ultimate Reach of human Excel- lence, and the fare Path to every Honour and Emolument the State has to beftow, we (hall foon, alas ! all be nothing better than Sophias and Rhetoricians. Yet r 43 j Yet I do not mean to deny that Oratory is an ingenious Art, and very uncommon to be found in any Degree of Perfection : I only mean to bring under Queftion its All-Sufficiency, independent of thofe Qua- lifications that ufed to merit, and ufed to cnfure the Confidence of Mankind to govern the Affairs of the State. It is recorded, that a Man came before Alexander the Great, who, by a Juftnefs of Eye, and by great Praclke, had acquired fuch a Dexterity of Hand, that at a confiderable Diftance he could hit and fix a Pea upon a Needle's Point. This illuftrious Conqueror did not call this Son of Ingenuity to the Head of his Councils, did not give him the Dif- pofal of his Fleets and Armies ; he only rewarded him, by ordering a Bumel of Peafe to be given him. If talking floridly and fluently about great Actions, is equi- valent to the doing of them, very f tw w ju be performed. A«d C 44 ] And thus the native Hue of Refolution Is ficklied o'er with the pale Caft of Thought : And Enterprizes of great Pith and Moment With this Regard, their Currents turn away, And lofe the Name of A&ion. Like the Greek Monks, who at the Siege of Constantinople, inftead of manning the Battlements againft the common Enemy, were nightly cutting one another's Throats in civil Broil, in furious Fanaticifm of Dif- pute, on vifionary Prerogatives, Purity, and Pre-eminence of the Greek over the Latin Church, till Mahomet itormed the Place, and put an End to their Difputes and to them, to the Greek Religion, and to the Greek Empire : Thus we, torn into Pieces by paltry DirTentions about Place and Power; perplexed by Plans of conftitu- tional Purity and Reformation, about which no Two People can agree, yet both Par- ties feem to favour, becaufe both Parties wim to make life of the worthy, well- meaning; L 45 3 meaning Promoters of them, to retain or to acquire Power : Thus we, I fay, alive to thefe alone, dead to all the reft, mall be- come an eafy Prey to the Ambition of the Houfe of Bourbon ; our Laws, our Liber- ties, our Conftitution, and our Empire be involved in one common Ruin 3 our Fall unpitied, and our Name forgot. Culhorn, Oft. 26th, 1782. THE END. POSTSCRIPT. IH A V E had fent to me by my Publifher, a Postscript, addreiTed to me (added, I fuppofe, to give ibme Celebrity to a Pam- phlet about the Earl of Shelburne and his Tenants in the County of Kerry). All I need fay on the Subject is, that it is a wretch- ed Caufe indeed, that mud be fupported by fuch grofs and palpable Mifreprefentations of what is meant to be confuted in the An- tagonist. Could it give any Peace to the perturbed Spirit of the Author of the above -mentioned Postscript, I would declare, that I have as little Connection with Shelburne the Je- fuit, as with Fox the Janfenift ; and as I am not allowed to quote Shakefpeare, I mall content myfelf with faying, with the good Henry IV, of France, in Voltaire's Henriade, 7«? [ 43 ] Je ne decide point entre Geneve &? Rome ; De quelque nom divin que leur parti les nomme, J'ai vu de deux cotez la fourbe et la fureur. I have jufl as little Connection with the Earl of Bute and Lord North. I live one hundred and fifty Miles from Edinburgh, and have not been there thefe ten Years, nor flept a Night out of this Houfe for thefe eighteen Months pail. I farm and improve largely and never meddle with Figures but on rainy Days ; -and I think of the public Misfortunes as little as I poflibly can. ■ Ilia fug a fylvas faltufquc peragrat Diftaos : haret lateri lethalis ariindo. I do not write to hurt Mr. Burke. He is, as I am informed, a virtuous and amiable Character in private Life, and certainly pof- feiles very eminent literary Abilities - 3 but, viewed as a public Party Pattern Man, I am \n the Right, and I will not recede. I accept, embrace, and apply to myfelf with Gratitude, the Omen of the Quotation in the aforefaid Postscript from Shakefpeare: it is the Character of the Earl of Kent, who is fpoke of by an abandoned man in the way the abandoned fpeak of thofe whom they do not [ 49 ] not like, becaufe they do not refemble them* felves : a Man who loved his Country and his King, yet would not ftoop to make him- felf agreeable to either by Flattery, and fcorned to make himfelf formidable to either by Faclion. As to the illuftrious body of Irifli Volun- teers, I never faid any Thing that by the moll ftrained ConftrucKon can be torutred into Difrefpecr. to them. I only wifhed, as I ftill wifh, that they may know when they have done enough, and then their Conduct will be in every Part of it Perfection. The Queiiion is brought within narrow- Bounds, viz. Have the Gentlemen who over- turned Lord North's Adminiftration jointly or feverally fulfilled their out-of- Power Pro- mifes to the Public ; or have they not? What fay you, Gentlemen of the Jury, Guilty, or Not Guilty ? I fay " Guilty, upon my Ho- nour." Once for all I declare, I will not lower the Dignity of my Name and Character by Party Wranglings and Altercations. I never have, nor ever will deceive the Public. I have deferved their Confidence, and J demand it Cui.hor:^, \S Da; is pVwfafi ung, STOCKD ALE'* NEW COMPANION to the NEW ROYAL KALENDAR.and COURT and CITY REGISTER, for the Year 1785 ; being a Lift of all the CHANGES in ADMI- NISTRATION, from the Acccffion of the prefent King, in October 1760, to the prefent Time. To which is prefixed, a Lift of the late and prefent HOUSE of QOMMONS, mewinr the Changes made in the Members of Parliament by the Genera. .Election in September 1780, with the Names of the Candidates where the Elections were contefted, the Numbers polled, and the Decifions fmce made by the Select Committees. Alfo the Dates when each City and Borough firft fent Reprefentatives to Parliament, the Right of Ele&ion in each Place, and the fup- pcfed Number of Voters. To which is added, a complete INDEX of NAMES. Printed for J. STOCKD ALE, (from Mr. Almok's) Piccadilly ; T. Carnan, St. Paul's Church-Yard; and R.Faulder, New Bond Street. V Be careful t0 a& for STOCKD ALE'« NEW COMPANION, which may be had feparate, or bound with the New Royal Kalendak. Where may be had, 1. A DEFENCE of the Right Honourable the EARL OF f\ 9HELBURNE, from the REPROACHES OF HIS NUMEROUS ENEMIES ; In a LETTER to Sir GEORGE SAV1LE, Bart. And intended for the Direction of all other Members of Parliament, whofe Object is rather to reftore the Glory of the Brhfh Empire, than adminiiler to the Views of a Faction. To which is added, a POSTSCRIPT addreiTed to the Right Honourable JOHN EARL OF STAIR. SIXTH EDITION. Price One Shilling and Sixpence. t. FACTS ana their CONSEQUENCES : fubmitted to the Confederation of the Public at large ; but more particular- ly to that of the Finance Minister, and thofe who are, 0: mean to become, Creditors of the State. To which is added, a Poftfcript containing Thoughts on the Alteration iaid to be in- icndedof the Land Tax. By JOHN Earl of STAIR. Fourth Edition, Price is. v THE CONSTITUTIONS of the feveral INDEPEN- DENT STATES of AMERICA ; the Declaration of Inde- pendence ; the Articles of Confederation between the faid States ; the Treaties between his Moil Chriilian Majefty and the United States of America. Published by Order of Congress. 4, REFLECTIONS upon the Prefent State of England, and the Independence of America. By THOMAS DAY, Efq. Second Edition Price zj.