■^v 
 
 .>^ '^r? 
 
 .'•S:r^iiv'r 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 
 OF ILLINOIS 
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 332 
 5675 
 
 V6
 
 M%\""'
 
 FINANCIAL AND POLITICAL 
 FACTS 
 
 OF THE 
 
 EIGHTEENTH CENTURY; 
 
 WITH 
 
 COMPARATIVE ESTIMATES 
 
 OF THE 
 
 REVENUE, EXPENDITURE, DEBTS, MANUFACTURES, 
 AND COMMERCE 
 
 OF 
 
 GREAT BRITAIN. 
 
 By JOHN M'ARTHUR, Esq. 
 
 AUTHOR OF A TREATISE ON NAVAL COURTS MARTIAL. 
 
 Neque quics gentium fine armis, nequc arma fine ftipcndiis ; ncquc ftipcndia 
 fine tributis habere queunt. — Tacit. H'tJ}. Lib. iv. Cap. 74. 
 
 THIRD EDITION. 
 
 with 
 
 AN APPENDIX 
 
 OF 
 
 USEFUL AND INTERESTING DOCUMENTS. 
 
 THE WHOLE REVISED, CORRECTED, AND CONS1De'RaB1.V ENLARGED, 
 
 LONDON : 
 
 PRINTED FOR J. WRIGHT, PICCAPIHV- 
 1801.
 
 S. GosMELL, Printer, 
 tittle Queen Street, Holborn.
 
 ADVERTISEMENT 
 
 to tH£ 
 
 THIRD EDITION. 
 
 1 HE Public is already in pofleflion of 
 fuch a prodigious number of tradls on the 
 fubjed of Finance, that the Writer of the 
 following pages is aware it may cxpofe him 
 to a charge of vanity in adding to the num- 
 ber ; but it appeared to him that the fubje(5i: 
 was fufceptible of greater perfpicuity in ar- 
 rangement, and more illuftration than it has 
 lately received. He therefore prefumes to 
 claim the indulgent attention of the public, for 
 having, with induftry and labour, made 
 careful refearches into the works of the beft 
 writers on the fubjed of political economy ; 
 a a and
 
 IV ADVERTISEMENT. 
 
 and having colledled, from official and au- 
 thentic documents, moft: of the fadts on 
 which his reafoning is founded. 
 
 It has been the Author's objed to fimpHfy 
 the matter, by adhering, as much as poffiblc, 
 to firfl: principles ; and, by bringing into a 
 narrow compafs the feveral fad:s connedled 
 with the fubjed:, to render truth the more 
 eafily difcoverable. With this view, it has 
 been his aim to prefent the reader with a cor- 
 real and faithful detail of fads ; and he has 
 in many inftances been content to leave the 
 inferences to be drawn, to the reafoning of 
 men of greater abilities and experience in 
 political fcience. 
 
 It will be enough, if, by the humble efforts 
 made in the following flieets, to colkd and 
 arrange, as the Writer trufls, with feme de- 
 gree of perfpicuity, the moft prominently 
 important financial, political, and commer- 
 cial fads of the lafl ccntur}', he may be 
 found to have afforded fome ufeful informa- 
 tion
 
 ADVERTISEMENT. V 
 
 tion to gentlemen who have not leifure to 
 read or wade through voluminous works on 
 politxal fcience. It will alfo be gratifying, 
 fhould his labours contribute to furnilh the 
 flatefman, and accomplilhed financier, in a 
 fmall compafs, with fome ftatements and 
 tables to be found in the Appendix, which 
 may pofTibly tend to increafe the facihty of 
 his own deducftions ; and to fuch men the 
 Author trufts the work may be deemed an 
 ufeful and compendious vademecum. But 
 if difappointed in this humble hope, fl:ill the 
 Author has the coniblation left, that, during 
 an interval of recefs from his former public 
 and active employments, the leifure hours 
 devoted to this httle work have ftored his 
 mmd with much valuable knowledge, and 
 thereby given him a more elevated idea of 
 the weight and importance of his country, 
 and increafed his love and veneration for her 
 conftitution. 
 
 The prefent edition will be found to be 
 % conliderably
 
 \ii ADVERTISEMENT. 
 
 confiderably enlarged, with much new mat- 
 ter introduced, and its plan in fome degree 
 altered. It having been reprefented to the 
 Author, that it was neceflary to the ufeful- 
 nefs of the piece, in its original form as a 
 pamphlet, that it fliould appear foon after 
 the meeting of the Imperial Parliament, or 
 before the annual difcuflion on the fub- 
 je(5t of Finance took place; he was in^ 
 duced to deliver the manufcript in its then 
 imperfed: ftate ; and this may perhaps be 
 received by the indulgent reader as an apo- 
 logy for fome of the errors in the former edi^ 
 tions^ molt of which, it is hoped, are cor- 
 revSled in this. 
 
 The Author begs to add, that although 
 confiderable labour has been beftcwed on the 
 prefent edition, in order to render it more 
 worthy the public eye, he has not prefixed 
 his name to it, from a confidence in its 
 merit, but rather with a view to avoid the 
 appearance of affedation, in concealing what 
 
 he
 
 ADVERTISEMENT. Vil 
 
 he underftands to have bten pretty generally 
 known ; and alfo from motives of juftice, 
 that no innocent man fliould be falfely 
 accufed, and held refponfible for fins not his 
 own. 
 
 Tork Place^ Portma?2 Square ^ 
 Augujl \Ji, iSoi. 
 
 THE
 
 THE 
 
 TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAP. I. 
 
 PrELIMINART Obfer-vatiom--Vinan^ 
 cialPropofitiojis — Additional Capital to the 
 funded Debt Jince 1793 — Rejletlions on the 
 Progrcfs of our Wealthy Revenue^ Exports 
 and Imports , during the eighteenth Century 
 — National Refources adequate to the Pref- 
 fure of the Times — Arguments made ufe of 
 to excite public Alarm and Dcfpondency — 
 ReflecJions on the Pr editions of D^Ave^ 
 nant, and other def ponding IVriters of the 
 fe-je/itcenth Century. Page i to 15 
 
 CHAP. II. 
 
 Curfory View of the public Revenue and Ex- 
 penditure in the Beginning of the eigh- 
 b tee nth
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 teenth Century — liaxes then ckjf&d under 
 the Heads of Cujianis, Excife, and Inland 
 Duties — PoJl'OJjice Revenue at different 
 Periods in the Century — Rates of Pojiage 
 in King Charles the Firffs Reign y and at 
 different Periods from 1653 to 1800 — 
 Average Produce of net Revenue of PoJi-of~ 
 fee from 1697 ^^ 1800 — SuccinB View of 
 the public Revenue in the feventcenth Cen^ 
 tury — Coin par ative Statements of Exports 
 and hnports at different Periods during the 
 Century — French Exports and Imports — 
 1!he annual Average of Exports in every 
 War jince the Revolution^ compared with 
 the preceding Tears of Peace , have inva* 
 riably ditniniffed, except in the prefe?it War 
 — Proofs and Illuf rations of this FaB 
 fince 1 699 — Inferences deduced therefrom 
 — Proportional hicreafe of Exports ^ Im- 
 ports, and Balance of Trade ^ during the 
 eighteenth Century — Convoy Tax — Pro- 
 grefs of the Eaf India Company^ s Sales of 
 Teas — Cargoes imported^ and Tonnage of 
 Shipping — Effed of the CotnmutationAB — 
 Bullion annually fent to China on the Ave- 
 rage
 
 CONTENTS. Xi 
 
 rage of three Tears — Territorial Acquiji- 
 lions andEJlimates of the Eaji India Compa- 
 ny's Revenues for 1798, 1799, and 1800 — 
 Beneficial Effects of the Redutiion of Duties 
 on Coffee imported from the Britifi Wejl 
 Indies — General hnports from thence into 
 Great Britain, for I'joo and 1798, con- 
 trafied — Imports and Exports of Sugar 
 compared. Page 16 to 47 
 
 CHAP. III. 
 
 Refults from a comparative Statement of the 
 Average of fix Years Exports and Imports 
 in the Time of Peace — The real Value 
 of Exports and Imports defined — Taxes 
 doubled fince the Cotrimencement of 
 the JVar — RefleBions on the progref- 
 fivc Increafe of Wealth and Refources 
 of the "Nation — The increafcd Reve- 
 nue arifing from the old and new Taxes 
 exceeds the Efimate of the Peace Eftablifj- 
 ment. Page 48 to 55 
 
 b 2 CHAP.
 
 Xll CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAP. IV. 
 
 Lownefs of Interejl, and augmented Value 
 of Land in Great Britain ^ cofnpared with 
 France, and Progrefs of Intereft of Money 
 in the middle Ages — Progre£ive Value of 
 Land in England for the lajl Century — 
 ProgreJJive Influx of Wealth and Rental 
 of England for Lands^ Houfes, and 
 Mines, during the fcventeenth Century 
 '^Computations made by D*Avenant, Sir 
 William Petty, Mr, King, Mr. Hooke, 
 Sir William Pulteney, and other Writers 
 at different Periods of the fcventeenth and 
 eighteenth Centuries — Reflections — Gold 
 and Silver Coin in Circulation — Re?nark- 
 ahle A^ra for the prodigious Tncreafe of 
 Tirade, from the Refloration to the Revo-- 
 hit ion, compared with the lafl twenty 
 Tears of the eighteenth Century — The 
 net Revenue of the Pofl- office nearly 
 trebled the lafl twelve Tears — Progrefs of 
 the Pofl-offce Revenue during the Cen^ 
 tury-^Charges of Management at different 
 Periods of the Century — Refletlions — Ob- 
 fervations on the numerous Clafs of pro- 
 phetic and defponding Writers of the eigh- 
 teenth Century, Page 56 to 73 
 
 CHAP,
 
 CONTENTS. Xlll 
 
 CHAP. V. 
 
 The Dtitie? of Excife — The Salt La^vs and 
 Fifieries con fide red — Review of our Taxes ^ 
 and their Effe&s, conjidered, either as de^ 
 trimental to the Public or Individuals — 
 Income-tax — ObjeBions to it confidcred — 
 Annuitants 'pay in a greater Proportion 
 than Pe>fo-:c of landed or funded Intc- 
 refl — The relative Values demonjlrative 
 of the FaB — Montefquieu*s Obferva-- 
 tiohS refpetling Annuitants — Comparative 
 Statements of the Taxes paid by the upper, 
 middle, and lower Clajfes of the Commu- 
 nity — Amount of the Capital charged on 
 the IncofHC'tax, and Time of Redemption, 
 
 Page 74 to 117 
 
 CHAP. VI. 
 
 Ref eel ions on the §luefion of a total Exemp- 
 tion of Taxes ^ in favour of the lower Clafs — 
 Doctor Franklin's Obfervations — Hints 
 for an equitable Scale of taxing Income^ on 
 an Emergency, in proportion to the Mafs of 
 
 Property
 
 Xiv CONTENTS. 
 
 Property— -Taxes mpofed during the Domi- 
 nion of the Romans in Great Britain — 
 Poll Taxes peculiar at prefent^ as well as 
 in the Time of the Rofnans^ to moft Coun- 
 tries of Europe — Necejfaries of Life taxed 
 in Holland — Comparative Advantages oj 
 this Country efimated. Page 1 18 to 127 
 
 CHAP. VIL 
 
 Conf deration of the Affertions made tending 
 to excite popular Difcontenrs on the prefent 
 high Price of Provifions — Arguments in 
 Refutation of the Affertions that the War 
 is the principal Caufe — Proofs and Illuf ra- 
 tions of the average Prices of Wheat for 
 Tears of Peace and War in the eighteenth 
 Century— ^Additional Proofs of the ave- 
 rage Prices of Wheat in War and Peace 
 during the feventeenth Century, with the 
 cotnparative Cheapnefs in War — Refedlions 
 on this Topic — Dearths and Famines in 
 England at different Periods for upwards of 
 '];'00 Tears — The Incojne and other Taxes 
 afjignedas Caufes of the high Price of Pro- 
 vifons — Eacls of a Century contradi^ing 
 the Affertion — Ea^s in Refutation of the 
 
 Affcrtion,
 
 \ 
 
 CONTENTS. XV 
 
 AJfertion^ that the Increafc of Bank of 
 England Paper Money is another Caufe of 
 the high Price of Provifions — Proofs of 
 the Solidity of the Bank^ and its fur plus 
 Property — Refections, Page 128 to 147 
 
 CHAP. VIII. 
 
 Exchanges 'with foreign Countries co?ifdercd 
 — Obfervations on Mr. Boyd*s and Sir 
 Francis Baring* s Pamphlets with refpeH 
 to the Rate of Exchange at Hamburgh 
 being lately fo much againf this Country^ 
 and the great Premiu?n on foreign Bullion 
 of the fi?ne Standard as our Gold Currency 
 — Caufes ajjignedfor the pref en t unfavour- 
 able Rate of Exchange with Hamburgh — 
 Proofs of its not militating cjfcntially 
 a^ainfl the commercial Prof peri ty of Great 
 Britain, Page 148 to 158. 
 
 CHAP. IX. 
 
 Agriculture confidered — IVafe Lands in Eng- 
 land and France uncultivated — Progrefs of 
 public Debts in the eighteenth Century — 
 3 French
 
 XVI CONTENTS. 
 
 French iiational Credit compared with 
 the public C> nt of Great Britain at 
 the prefent Momoit — M. Neck^r^s ele- 
 gant Obfervations o?j the Influence that the 
 moral Char abler of a Sovereign has on pub^ 
 lie Credit — Ihe French Junded Property 
 called Thiers Confolide confidered, and con- 
 trajled with the Englifh Funds — How the 
 Dividends were paid in Robefpierre's 
 Tifne — How paid fince Bonaparte became 
 Firji Confulof France — Severe Shocks to 
 the public* Credit of France ^ at different 
 Periods during the lafi Century — Mr» 
 Hume's Obfervations on public Credit^ and 
 Remarks thereon — Progrefs and Stability of 
 the public Credit of Great Britain — Re^ 
 duilion of the Inter ef of our national Debt 
 at differoit Periods of the eighteenth Cen- 
 tury — Redublion of the legal Interefi in the 
 ,feven teen th an d e'lgh teen th Cen t uries — Spe- 
 culative Obfervations on public Credit, 
 arifng from the philofophical Reafoning 
 contained in a Fetter from a Member of 
 Parliament to the Author. 
 
 Page 15910177 
 
 CHAP.
 
 CONTENT^. XVU 
 
 CHAP. X. 
 
 Beneficial Efe&s refultlngfrom the Operations 
 of the Sinking Fund — Siwis annually ap^ 
 fropriatedfor the Redudion of the national 
 Debt, in x-j^^ and i-jgz — Capital of Debt 
 7- e deemed by the Sinking Fund and Land^ 
 tax — Examples of fiinilar Operations y as 
 the Appropriation of the Sinking Fund to 
 the Extitidion oj private Debts — Annual 
 Application oJ the Surplus oj One per Cent, 
 on the Capital of every new Loan, and 
 its Effetls fince adopted — T^he old Sinking 
 Fund infiituted in 171 6, compared with 
 the prefent — Stability oj our public 
 Credit — Accumulation oj Debt by the fe^ 
 veral JVars oj' the eighteenth Century — ■ 
 Retrofpecfive Fiew of the remote Wars of 
 E?igiand — Reflexions — Dean Tucker* s 
 philanthropic Obj'ervations on the Sub" 
 jedl — Salutary financial Flans adopted 
 during Mr. Fitt*s Adminifiration — Rej'orni 
 in the Redudion of fever al tfelefs Places ^ 
 and various Retrenchments — Charges 
 of Management of the principal Heads 
 of Revenue, compared ivithfoi mer 'Times — • 
 Contrafied with the Charges of Manage^ 
 ment in France. Page 178 to 195 
 
 A CHAP.
 
 XVlll CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAP. XL 
 
 'Heads of public 'Expenditure — Civil Ltjl, 
 as fettled by Law, and divided into eight 
 difinfi Clajfes — Progrefs of the Civil hiji 
 Revenue during the eighteenth Century — 
 "Progrefs of the King^s Heufehold Expenfes 
 during the Century — Hereditary Revenues 
 of the Crown relinquifhed by his prefent 
 Majejly to the Public — In what Proportion 
 the hereditary Revenues would have exceeded 
 the limited Sum fettled by Law in their 
 fie ad, had they been fiill retained by his 
 Majejly — Advantages accruing to the 
 Public — RefieSlions, Page 196 to 205 
 
 a 
 
 CHAP. XII. 
 
 Comparative View of the Strength of Great 
 Brisain with that of Prance, and the 
 principal maritime Powers of Europe 
 — "Natural and geographical Advantages 
 of Great Britain — Line of Sea Coaji com^ 
 pared with that of France — Difadvantages 
 to the Commerce of this Country, fiould the 
 French fucceed in fecuring to t he?) f elves 
 the free Navigation of the Rivers Rhine, 
 3 Meuf^e,
 
 CONTENTS. XIX 
 
 Meufcy aJidScheld — Vaji ProjeHs of joining 
 many of their navigable Rivets and Canals 
 to thofe three great Rivers — Develofement 
 of the Views and Defgns of the French 
 Nation — Bafis laid for carrying them into 
 "Execution on the Return of Peace — Secret 
 Articles of Campo Formio — Treaty of Lu- 
 neville — Advantages to the Commerc of 
 Prance, floould Bonaparte befuccefsful in 
 accomplifjing his Defgns — In what Man- 
 ner they would militate againji the Com- 
 jnerce of Great Britain, and ajfeB the In- 
 ter eft of the Northern Powers — RefleElions. 
 Page 206 to 237 
 
 CHAP. XIII. 
 
 Relative Progref of Great Britain^s Com- 
 merce — Tonnage of Shipping now belong- 
 ifig to Great Britain equal to that of the 
 ^uuhole of Europe^ in Sir William Pettfs 
 Time — Compared with the Tonnage of Ship- 
 ping belonging to France — Official Imports 
 and Exports of France for the eighth lear 
 of the Republic — Ordinary and extraordi- 
 nary Taxes levied in France for i 799 — 
 Refe6fions — The relative Strength and 
 A 2 Rcfources
 
 XX CONTENTS. 
 
 Refources of States confidered — Efiimated 
 Population of Great Britain at diferent 
 Periods — E/iiwated Population at prefent. 
 ' — EflimaU of the Number of produ^ive 
 Labourers, or tndufrious Claffes, tn Great 
 Britain — NeceJJity Jor providing Reme- 
 dies againft Deficiencies of Crops, to an- 
 fwer the Confumption of an increafed Po- 
 pulation — Economical Examples- — Sav ing 
 illu/lrated^ by reducing the Allowajice of 
 Corn ufually given to Horfes — Population 
 of Fran^e^ Spain,. PuJJia^ Denmark, and 
 Sw^kh^ at different Periods of the eigh- 
 teenih Century. Page 238 to 368 
 
 CHAP. XIV. 
 
 ProgreJJive Increafe oj Happinefs among 
 Nations, in proportion to Arts and 
 Jndujlry — Sirik ing Example — Afylums Jor 
 the Poor — Hofpitals — Royal College at 
 Greenwich, Cheji at Chatham, and Chelfea 
 Hofpital — Reflexions — Difficulties in 
 drawing accurate Comparifons of the 
 Revenue and Expenditure of foreign 
 States — Immenfe Commerce of the Port of 
 London — Curfory Fiezv of the Commerce 
 
 and
 
 CONTENTS. 7;Xl 
 
 end Per^fHUi. of France, Spain, RuJJia^ 
 TJin.,ark, and Sxveden, at different Periods 
 — Proportion bet^veen the Population, Ex' 
 ttnt oj Territoyy^ and Revenue of Great 
 Britain — Comparative View of EngUind*s 
 Commerce, after eight Years War, at the 
 End oj the feventecnth and eighteenth Cen- 
 turici — ProgreJJive Increafe of the Tonnage 
 of Shipping and Seamen at different Periods- 
 — Progrefs of the BriliJJj, French, SpaniJJj, 
 Ruffian, DanifJj, and S-wcdiJh Navies — 
 ReJie5iions on the prefent efficient Stiength 
 of our Navy — Progreffive Lnprovefuent 
 in the Admiiiijlration of our Laws — 
 Conch fi on. Page zd^ to 313 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 No. I. — State of the Public Revenue from 
 1700 to 1800 inch/fve, computed on the 
 Medium of every fcven Te^irs ; alfo the 
 Amount of Loans for the fame Period. 
 
 Page 315 
 
 No. II. Sc(5l. I. — General Vitzv of the Public 
 Expenditure from 1700 to 1800 inclufive^ 
 computed on the Medium of every fcven 
 Tears, with the particular Amount of the 
 lajl two Tears of the Century. Page 316 
 
 Scdt.
 
 XXII CONTENTS. 
 
 Sed:. 2. — The Heads of Public Expen" 
 diture for 1800 ejiimated, P-^g^ 3^7 
 
 No. III. — Table exhibiting the official Value 
 of Imports and Exports^ and apparent 
 Balance of Trade ; difiinguijloing the official 
 Value of Wcjl India Imports into Great 
 Britain, for upwards oj one hundred Tears. 
 
 Page 318 
 
 No. IV. Sedt. I.— A Lijl of the Supplies 
 
 and Ways and Means for the eighteenth 
 
 Century. Page 321 
 
 Sedt. 2. — Heads under which the Sup^ 
 
 plies ^ and Ways and Means of 1799, were 
 
 claffed^ and Supplies for 1800. Page 324 
 
 No. V. Sed. I. — General View of the Public 
 
 Debts, funded and unfunded, at particular 
 
 Periods, during the eighteenth Century, 
 
 Page 325 
 Sedl. 2. — Return to an Order of the 
 Houfe of Commons of the Funded Debt, at 
 the Periods therein mentioned. Page 327 
 No. VI. — State of the Funded Debt, Long 
 and Short Annuities ; with the Progrefs 
 of the Sinking Funds f nee January 1786, 
 and annual Charges; including the Sums 
 applicable to the Rcdudion of Debt. 
 
 Page 3.28 
 No,
 
 CONTENTS. XXUl 
 
 No. VII. — Letter from a Member of Par- 
 liament, referred to in the Notes, Pages 1 16 
 and 177. Page 329 
 
 No. VIII. Sed:. i.—OgicialRcportofthebn- 
 ports and Exports oj Prance, jor the %th 
 Tear of the Republic, made by the Minijier 
 of the Interior^ to the French Cc?fuh^ 
 May 1 801. Page '^Z'^ 
 
 Secft. 2. — Divifion of the French lm~ 
 -ports and Exports, with the principal 
 Powers of 'Europe, for the ^th Tear of 
 the Republic. , P^g^ 334 
 
 Sed:. 3. — General Navigation of France ^ 
 and Tonnage of Merchant Vejfels, 
 
 Page 334 
 No. IX. Sed:. i.—A Table exhibiting the 
 Commerce of the Port of London, as made 
 up from the Public Accou7its, for one 
 Tear ending the c^ih January 1798, with 
 the real Value of foreign Imports and Ex- 
 ports, ef /mated from the Payment of the 
 Convoy Duties. Page t^-^^^ 
 
 Sed:. 2. — AbfraSi of the Number of 
 Fejfels, including repeated Voyages, and 
 average Tontiage, that tranfportcd the 
 Commerce of the Port of London for 
 1798. Page 336 
 
 ERRATA.
 
 ERRATA. 
 
 Page4r, line ii-tfor igg,oii,reni/, 99,011 — and line 13, a/iet 
 Great Britain, add, and Ireland.
 
 FINANCIAL 
 
 AND 
 
 POLITICAL FACTS, 
 
 CHAP. I. 
 
 Preliminary Obfervations — Financial Pro-' 
 fo/itions — Additional Capital to ourfund^ 
 ed Debt Jince 1793 — Real Value of fund- 
 ed Capital — Reflexions on the Progrefs of 
 our Wealthy Revenue^ Exports and Im- 
 ports^ during tl:e eighteenth Century — 
 National Refources adequate to the Pref 
 fire of the Times — Arguments made ufe of 
 to excite public Alarm and Defpondency — 
 Reflexions on the PrediXions of D*Ave^ 
 nant, and other defponding Writers of the 
 fevcntcenth Century. 
 
 At this eventful and Angularly important 
 
 sera, when a new century is commenced, and, 
 
 B after
 
 i, FINANCIAL AND 
 
 after fo many ftruggles, an union with the 
 fifter kingdoni happily effeded ; when, after 
 waging eight years war without example 
 bloody and deflrudive to the human rac^, 
 we are befet on all fides by new and unex- 
 peded enemies, and a frefh field is opened for 
 the continuance of the contefl ; an attempt to 
 afcertain our powers and relative fituation, 
 under the preffure of the furrounding diffi- 
 culties, and the alarm and defpondency 
 thereby excited, it may reafonably be hoped, 
 will be received by the public at Icaft with 
 candour and attention. 
 
 The public mind has been long diftracfted 
 and depreffed with accounts of our pad dif- 
 afters, and predi(51:ions even of greater evils to 
 cnfue ; mifcarriages which human forefight 
 could not provide againft, have been moft 
 illiberally and unfairly attributed to want of 
 ability in the planners, and want of conduct 
 in the executers of our feveral enterprifes. 
 The occafional fucceffes of an enemy have 
 |)een exaggerated, and even applauded, by 
 
 men,
 
 I'OLITICAL FACTS. 3 
 
 men, who forget, that, while they are thus 
 indulging in party fpirit, they are in effe(fl 
 themfelves the greatefl: enemies of the ftate. 
 To play upon th: popular prejudices of man- 
 kind, to deprei'o the fpirit of thofe who have 
 not the means of contradidling fallacious ac- 
 counts, to make gloomy impreffions on the 
 multitude, '•*' Jpargcrc -voces in vulgum ambi^ 
 guas^^^ and thereby to give life and encou- 
 ragcm.ent to the enemy, are ads unbecoming 
 the charader of a true patriot. When parties 
 run high, the calm, independent, and difpaf- 
 fionate man, will confidcr fubjcds of a po- 
 litical nature^ by fearching for the truth be- 
 tween the two extremes. Mankind, 
 throughout the world, are governed not by 
 extremes, but by principles of moderation. 
 When the contradictory opinions, paffions, 
 and interefts of men, are fo copioufiy mixed 
 intheftream, the water cannot remain pure 
 and undiflurbed ; it is therefore of ufe to an 
 unbiaflcd writer, in imitation of the expe- 
 rienced chemift, to analyze the properties of 
 B % matter.
 
 4 FINANCIAL AND 
 
 matter, and, as it were, decompofe the various 
 particles. Without following the opponent 
 of Junius in charging poHticians with having 
 loofe principles, the Writer of the following 
 llieets has had caufe to know, that the ac- 
 counts of men in power are not at all times 
 to be relied upon, nor are their reafonings 
 always well-grounded. He is alfo perfuad- 
 ed that conviction is not always produced by 
 mere arguments, and will therefore reft fa- 
 tisfied with giving ftrong fads and accurate 
 calculations, to prove the real lituation of 
 this country, with refpedt to its relative 
 power and financial ability for a further 
 profecution of the conteft in which we are 
 engaged, and how far it is adequate to the 
 purpofes of meeting the fuperadded hoftile 
 confederacy formed againil our ftrength and 
 independency as a maritime nation. All the 
 Writer requires is, that the reader will bring 
 with him, to the perufal of the following 
 Hieets, a mind free from bias and prejudice; 
 and that he will fufpend his judgment, until 
 
 he, has gone through the whole. 
 
 Previouily
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. 5 
 
 PrcvIoLifiy to entering upon tlie brief in- 
 quiry propofed, it nuy not be amifs to lay 
 down a few received political maxims on the 
 fubjed: of finance. 
 
 I ft, When an incrcafc of the annual ex- 
 penditure becomes ncccdary for the fecurity 
 of property, or in vindication of the hom^ur 
 and rights ot a nation, the annual revenue 
 ci.'glit to be incrcafcd, if necefiary, to the 
 iitmoil: the people can fpare. 
 
 2d, The fubjeds of every flatc ought t(5 
 contribute towards the fupport of the Go- 
 vernment, as nearly as pollible, in proportn.ni 
 to the abilities or incomes which they refpec- 
 tively enjoy, under the protedt-on oi the ftate. 
 
 3d, When the higher orders of any coun- 
 try, efpccially thofe wh.o have a ibare of the 
 executive Covernmeiit, do not fcreen them- 
 ftlves from taxation on emcr^'cncie, the 
 tr:id€, revenue, and credit of the ilate will, 
 io a proportional degree, be promoted, and 
 public confidence thereby maintained. 
 
 The Writer of tl.e followir.g pages, hold*
 
 6 r I N A N C I A L AND 
 
 inj; in view the foregoing propofitions, and 
 having the profperity of his country {incere* 
 ly at heart, feels it no lefs his duty than in* 
 clination, at a crifis like the prefent, to offer 
 his remarks on the fubjed of our national 
 finaaces. However dry in the minutiae of 
 detail and calculations fuch inquiries may be 
 deemed by the generality of mankind, yet a 
 due confideration of the great outlines and 
 moil: prominent features, will, he conceives, 
 be thought, as they really are, of fome im- 
 portance to every Britilh fubje(5t. The fol* 
 lovv^ing flictches, originally intended for the 
 Writer's own private ufe as financial remi- 
 nifcences, are either drawn from the mofl: au- 
 thentic fources, or grounded upon long cbfer- 
 vations of what has been pafling both in and 
 out of Parliament, and are f.ipported by the 
 tell: of expci-icnce and the evidence of facts* 
 
 After eight years war with aa implacable 
 
 enemy, in vindication of our own riglits and 
 
 liberties, as well as thofe of Europe, and 
 
 ato thereby unavoidably incurring an addi- 
 
 c; tional
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. 7 
 
 tional capital to our funded debt of more 
 than two hundred and thirteen millions *, 
 our afloniihmcnt muft naturally be excited 
 
 * By a return to the order of the Houfe of Com- 
 mons, it appears,' that in the beginning of ihe ycir 
 J 793, the funded debt was — ^.238,231,248 
 
 In the beginning of ttie year 1800, the 
 
 funded debt — — 451,699,919 
 
 Additional funded capital — 213,468,671 
 
 The greatefl: part of the funded debt incurred this 
 war being invefled in tlie 3 per cent, confols, or 3 per 
 cent, reduced annuities, the real value oi the whole, were 
 it difcharged by 3 per cent, confo'.s, purchafed at 70 per 
 cent, would be 149,528,174/. ; and if by (lock pur- 
 chafed at 80 per cent, would make 160,774,940/. 
 
 Mr. Grey, in his fpeech on the flate of the nition 
 (25th March 1801 j, magnified the debt incurred duri;ig 
 the war, by ailverting to its nominal value ; but Mr. Pitt, 
 in reply, without entering into calculations, maintained, 
 that its real value was no more than i6o millions, inittad 
 of 270 millions, as dated by Mr. Grey. If we dcdu6l 
 the debt of Ireland, the amount paid by the unking fund, 
 and alfo the part of the i;aiional debt charged on the in- 
 come tax, the amount of debt incurred in the war will 
 be no more than 106 millions, inflead of tlie tiomhial 
 270 millions, dated by Mr. (jrcy. 
 
 The realvalue of the whole nominal capital of funded 
 debt would not exceed 286 million?, in edimating the 
 ieveral tunds at their prcfent market prices, nainely, 3 
 per cent, confols at 60 — 3 per cent, reduced annuities, 
 at 61, cScc. 
 
 at
 
 8 FINANCIAL AND 
 
 at the rrteans wifely purfued and adopted, 
 which have enabled this country to fupport 
 its progreffive accumulation of taxes, without 
 bearing particularly hard either upon national 
 induftry, or upon the lower orders ot the 
 community, by whofe labour the wealth of 
 the country is chiefly produced. 
 
 In confidering and comparing the wealth 
 or capital of the kingdom at the prefent day, 
 with what it was a century ago, as well as at 
 different intermediate periods ; in comparing 
 alfo the extenlion and improvements in agri- 
 culture, the increafe and encouragement of 
 our manufadlures and trade, more efpecially 
 the unparalleled increafe of its general ex- 
 ports and imports *, and the augmented in- 
 land trade conneded with it, together with 
 
 the 
 
 * Year*. Import!. Eiport*. Balance of 
 
 Trade. 
 
 1697- /-S'^is.sSo /.3, 525,906 /.43>326 
 1800. 29,945,808 35,900,000 6,044,192 
 The official value of exports for the year ending 5th 
 January iSoi^as laid betore Parliament, was, of Biitidi 
 nianufa6lures, to the value of 24,411,067/. and of fo- 
 reign mcrchaiidife 17,466,145/.; making the enormous 
 -total of Britiih and foreign exports 41,877,213/. /.' 
 
 It
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. 6 
 
 the various and alnioft imperceptible chan- 
 nels of the influx of wealth into this coun- 
 try ; we can have little difficulty in afligning 
 and tracing the true caufes, from which, at 
 the beginning of the nineteenth century, fuch 
 aftoniihing (and to fome minds alarming) 
 efFecfls have been produced. 
 
 It having been proved, by the operations of the con- 
 voy tax, that the real value of our exports exceeds in 
 the proportion of 70 per cent, ihe official value, it will be 
 found, by this computation, that the nW value of our 
 exports laftyear, ending 5th January 1801, amounted 
 to 70,671,262/. including4i, 498,813/. the real value of 
 Britlfh manufadures exported. If to this we add the real 
 value of imports exceeding 45 millions, the total real 
 value of exports and imports will amount to upwards 
 of J 15 millions ! 
 
 One of the late Moniieurs (May 1801) contains a re- 
 port prefentcd to the Confuls of France (May 12, 1801) 
 relative to the imports and exports for the eighth year of 
 the Republic, viz. the total value of imports amounted 
 to 325, 1 16,000 livres, nearly 14 millions ftcrling, and the 
 value of exports amounted to no more than 271,575,000 
 livres, nearly 11 millions fterling : hence there is an ap- 
 parent balance of about 3 millions flerling againft France, 
 \vhich is a demonftrative proof of the diminution of her 
 wealth, and the ruin of her manufadurcs. Thecontraftis 
 ftriking, when a comparifon is made cither with her 
 former commerce, to be hereafter noticed, or with the 
 commerce of Great Britain at thcprcfeni epoch. 
 
 c Evcrv
 
 lO FINANCIAL AND 
 
 Every friend to his country muft be grati- 
 fied in contemplating the proud and pre-emi- 
 nent lituation to which the financial profpe- 
 rity of the ftate has been progreffively raifed, 
 as well by the induftry and exertions of indi- 
 viduals, as by the energy and perfeverance of 
 Government, in fuggefting the neceflary 
 means, and the wifdom of the Legillature in 
 adopting them. When we rcfled:, at the 
 fame time, on a fad no lefs curious than un- 
 exampled in the hiilory of mankind, of a 
 public revenue exceeding- the aggregate 
 amount of the annual rent-roll of cultivated 
 landed property in the ftate, including the 
 general income arifing from tithes and 
 houfes *, we (hould be apt to conclude, on a 
 
 "^ According to Mr. Pitt's computation of the income 
 of Great Britain, landlords' rents on forty millions of 
 cultivated acres, eftimatcd at 12.^. 6d. per acre, amount 
 to — • — — j^.25, 000,000 
 
 On tithes five millions, and on houfes fix 
 
 millions — — 11.000,000 
 
 'otal — 36,000,000 
 
 T!.e permanent and temporary taxes for 
 
 the year 1800, computed at — 36,728,000 
 
 iupcrficial
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. II 
 
 fuperficial view of the fubjedl, that our na- 
 tional refources and public exertions had 
 reached their climax, and doled with the 
 eighteenth century. 
 
 I fliall, however, endeavour to prove that 
 the national refources have not even yet been 
 entirely called forth, nor flretchcd to the lit- 
 moft; and that, fhould any future exigency 
 unhappily render it neccffar}' to draw them 
 more fully into acflion, they may, like the 
 cords of a bow, fafcly be flrained to a greater 
 tenfion than it is poflible at prefent to ima- 
 gine, without the rilk of breaking the one or 
 the other. I may add, alfo in a metaphoric 
 fenfe, that the body politic, like the body 
 corporate, or the mental powers, will, in 
 time, be fubjed: to relaxation and decay, 
 unlefs called into due activity. In this 
 place I am aware of the common-place 
 arguments that may be offered, fuch as the 
 impending ruin of the nation from the multi- 
 plicity of permanent taxes, and the immenfe 
 ^nnual expenditure for public fervices ; the 
 c Q, probable
 
 la FINANCIAL AND 
 
 probable ftagnation of public credit ; the new 
 taxes that increafe the price of provilions ; 
 the new acquifitions of wealth which de- 
 creafe the value of money, and aggravate the 
 evil; the augmented price of labour, and 
 confequent rife of all articles of manufac- 
 ture ; the deflrucftion of trade, and the pre- 
 dictions of univerfal bankruptcy, riot, and 
 confuflonj to which alarming and croaking 
 catalogue of national difafters, it is now 
 ^dded, that the prefent fcarcity of provifions 
 is, in a great meafure, owing to the opera- 
 tions of the income-tax : and this lafl argu- 
 ment has, in the late feffion, been, Proteus- 
 like, changed, and coupled with the confe- 
 quences of war i fcarcity and war ^ war and 
 fcarcity^ have alternately rung the changes. 
 With regard to all fuch affertions, accom- 
 panied with plaufible and eloquent reafoning, 
 I will admit they may have great influence 
 on the weaknelTes and prejudices of man- 
 kind, and are too often believed upon mere 
 vague fuggeflions. AlTertions that tend 
 
 to
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. I3 
 
 to alarm or agitate the public mind, frequent- 
 ly fucceed in making tranfient impreflions, 
 from no other evidence than the air of confi- 
 dence with which they are ufliered to the 
 world, and the induftry with which they are 
 circulated. But as fatts, in all political dif- 
 cuffions, like experiments in natural philofo- 
 phy, are the medium by which we difcover 
 truth, I fliall at prefent reft contented with 
 obferving, that the fad:s fufficiently authen- 
 ticated and verified by experience, to be here- 
 after noticed, and occafionally adduced as 
 they may arife from the fubjed:, are the beft 
 refutation of general aflertions on which 
 plaufible reafoning has been grounded. 
 
 In contemplating a finglc fatSt, exhibited 
 in various fhapes to awaken the public feel- 
 ings, with refpecfl to the imperious neceflity 
 which requires fuch an enormous annual ex- 
 penditure, amounting laft year to about 64 
 millions and a half*, being upwards of 27 
 
 * Financial refolutions moved by Mr. Pitt in the 
 Houfe of Commons on the 28th July 1800. 
 
 millions
 
 14 TINANCIAL AN3) 
 
 millions more than the eflimatcd receipt of 
 the permanent and temporary taxes, the 
 mind is apt to panfc, and fluctuate between 
 doubts and fears. But when our refiecflions 
 ori this gloomy topic are in the natural chain 
 of connexion, combined with a candid in- 
 quiry into the adual refources of the nation, 
 compared with thofe at the beginning of 
 the eighteenth century *, or at intermediate 
 periods, ^he mind is filled with aftoniihment 
 fningled with exultation. 
 
 Were the fpirits of D'Avenant, and other 
 able political writers of the feventeenth cen- 
 tury, to behold the coloiTal portals of Fi- 
 nance raifcd, in the prefcnt age, on a fuper- 
 ftrudure not reding on the b ajc I ejs fabric of 
 
 * All the taxes for the year J700, only produced 
 ",769,375/. ; and the amount of funded national debt, 
 Michaelmas 17GO, was 10,382,766/. — Hiji. of National 
 Taxes. The }' nded and unfunded debt, at the fame 
 period, amounted tc upwards of 1 6,000,000/. 
 
 According to Dr. D'Avenant, all the taxes fubfiftrng 
 at the revolution, at the higheft computation, produced 
 but 2,061,856/. ; and the annual public expenditure 
 amounted to no more than 1,699,363^,
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. t^ 
 
 a "oijloyx^ but iupportcd by the three grand 
 pillars of Agriculture, Manufadures, and 
 Commerce, thefources of private wealth and 
 public credit ; they would retra^fl their pre- 
 dictions of the inability of this country to 
 iland long the annual burden of more than 
 two millions * ; a new field of calculation in 
 the fcience of political arithmetic, like the 
 infinite feries, would now be opened to 
 their exploring minds. 
 
 * D'Avenant, who was eReemed the moft intelligent 
 political writer of his time, afferted that the commerce 
 and ma.nufa€lures of England would fink under a hea- 
 vier load than two millions. — Vol. ii. p. 283. 
 
 The fame writer, in an Eifay on Trade^, pnbliflied in 
 the year 1699, obferves, *' Unlefs this can be com- 
 pafled" (tiamely, reducing the revenue of the Crown tc 
 the fum of 2,300,000/. per annum), " it will be found 
 tliat in no long courfe of time we Ihail languifii and 
 decay every year by iteps eafy enough to be perceived h\ 
 fuch as confuler of thefe matters. Our gold and filvet 
 will be carried off by degrees, rents will fall, the pur- 
 chafe of land will decreafe, wool will fink in its price. 
 our ftock of fliipping will be diminilhed, farm-houfes 
 will goto ruin, induflry will decay, ayid we Jhall have 
 upon us all the vifible marks of a declbiing people. " 
 
 CHAP.
 
 i6l FINANCIAL AND 
 
 CHAP. IL 
 
 Curfory View of the public Revenue and £x- 
 penditure in the Beginning of the eigh^ 
 teenth Century — Taxes then clajfed under 
 the Heads of Cujloms^ Excife, and Inland 
 Duties — Poji-ojfice Revenue at different 
 Periods in the Century — Rates of Pojlage 
 in King Charles the Firffs Reign ^ and at 
 different Periods from 1653 to 1800—- 
 Average Produce of?iet Revenue of Poji- of- 
 fice from 1697 ^^ 1800 — SuccinB View of 
 the public Revenue in the feventeenth Cen- 
 tury — Comparative Statements of Exports 
 and Imports at different Periods during the 
 Century — French Exports a fid Imports — 
 The annual Average of Exports in every 
 War fi nee the Revolution^ compared with 
 the preceding Tears of Peace y have inva* 
 riably dijninijloed^ except in theprefent War 
 — Proofs and Illujlrations of this Facl 
 4 Jince
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. I7 
 
 jlncc 1699 — Inferences deduced therefrom 
 • — Proportional Increafe of Exports^ hn-^ 
 ports ^ and Balance of Trade ^ during the 
 eighteenth Century — Co?ivoy Tax-^Pro- 
 grcfs of the Eaji India Company* s Sales of 
 Teas — Cargoes imported^ and Tonnage of 
 Shipping — Effc5l of the Commutation A6i^^ 
 Bullion annually fent to China on the Ave^ 
 rage of three Tears — Territorial Acquifi* 
 tion and Efiimatcs of the Eafl India Lorn* 
 pany^s Revenues for 1798 and 1799 — Be- 
 nefcial Effedis of the ReduBion of Duties 
 on Coffee imported from the Britifi Wefl 
 Indies — General Imports from thence into 
 Great Britain^ in i '^00 and 1798, con* 
 trafed — Imports and Exports of Sugar 
 compared. 
 
 In order that wc may more clearly per- 
 ceive how the fevcral branches of our public 
 revenue have been multiphed, increafed, or 
 continued, from time to time, I fliall firfi: ilate 
 the fcveral branches exifting at the clofe ot 
 King Wilham's reign, and thence be enabled 
 D at
 
 iS FINANCtAL AND 
 
 at particular periods to take comparative 
 views of the increafed refources, wealth, and 
 induflry of the country. 
 
 Towards the end of this King*s reign, our 
 taxes became numerous, and may be claded 
 under the three following heads, of Cujioms, 
 Excife^ and Inland Duties, The firfl: com- 
 prehended all thofe duties payable at the 
 Cuftom-houfe upon the importation of 
 goods, and which had been eftablifhed 
 during the reign of Charles the Second, 
 under the title oi Tonnage and Poundage i 
 but at the clofe of King William's reign, 
 were fubfifting under the title of CuJIoms. 
 Under the fecond head were included the 
 temporary and hereditary excifes * which 
 had been granted to Charles the Second, his 
 
 ■* According to D'Avenant, thefe two branches of ex- 
 cise were computed to produce, at the revolution, only 
 about 60,000/. The excife was originally introduced 
 in 1643, by the Parliament, then in rebellion againH: 
 King Charles ihe Firft. Its progrefs was gradual, 
 being at firft laid on the venders of beer, ale, cider, and 
 perry, and afterwards was impofedon fo many articles, 
 that it might be fairly called general. 
 
 heirs
 
 POLITICAL FACTS, 19 
 
 heirs and fucceflbrs, and made part of the 
 civil lift revenue. The other branches were 
 the new excifes upon fait, malt, fweets, 
 fpirits, &c. *. 
 
 Under the laft and third head, were in- 
 cluded the Poft-office revenue, firft granted 
 to Charles the Second, his heirs and fuccef- 
 fors for ever-f-; alfo wine licenfes, feizures, 
 &c. J ; ftamp duties, duty on hackney- 
 coaches, 
 
 ♦ Out of the ten branches of excife then fubfifting, 
 eight of them had been introduced fince the revolution. 
 
 -{-The Poft-office produced only, at the beginning of 
 the eighteenth century, of net revenue 58,67a/. but for 
 the year ending the 5th April 1800, it produced of net 
 revenue 7i7>33S^« The charges of management in 
 this department, are, on an average, annually from 26 
 to 27 per cent, op the grofs revenue. 
 
 ^ The fevcral fmall branches and cafual profits annu- 
 ally arifing to the Crovv-n from wine licenfes, feizures, 
 ice. which have always been deemed a fort of hereditary 
 eftate in the Crown, have been, on every dcmife, grant- 
 ed towards making up the civil lift revenue of the next 
 fucceftbr, and were computed, at the revolution, at 
 70,000/. a year. 
 
 His prefent Majefty, foon after his acceffion to the 
 
 throne, fpontaneoufly fignified his confcnt, that the he- 
 
 D a reditary
 
 20 FINANCIAL AND 
 
 coaches, firft granted to William and Mary ; 
 tax on marriages, births and burials, hawk- 
 ers and pedlars *. 
 
 In 1635, Ki.g Charles the Firfl made re- 
 gulations and eflablifhed pots to Scc/ia:id 
 and many parts of England. The rates of 
 poilage then efiabliihed were twopence for a 
 lingle letter, if conveyed a diflance under 80 
 Hiiles ; fourpence between 80 and 140 miles ; 
 iixpcnce if abovo 140 miles ; and eightpence 
 to Scotland j and in this proportion for dou- 
 ble letters. The privilege of franking al- 
 lowed to Members of Parliament was co- 
 eval with this period, 
 
 redltary revenue might be dlfpofed of as might beft con- 
 duce to the public advantage, an.i in lieu gracionfly ac- 
 cepted of the limited fum of 800 000/. per annum, for 
 the fupport of the civil li(h This fum being found in-, 
 fufficient, it was increafed to 900,000/. The expendi- 
 ture under the head oi Civii Liji being now divided by 
 law into di(Hn(51 clafles, will be hereafter more particu- 
 larly dcfcnbcd in the text, when the general head of 
 Public Expenditure comes under confideration. 
 
 * Out of eight branches of inland duties under the 
 above head, no lefs than fix had been introduced fince 
 the revolution. 
 
 In
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. 21 
 
 In 1653, the pofls of England, Scotland, 
 and Ireland, were farmed for 10,000/. In 
 the year 1660, the rates of poflage were le- 
 gally eflabliilied by Act of Parliament. In 
 1663, ^^^ revenue was fettled on the Duke 
 of York, and produced 21,500/. In 1685, 
 the revenue was fettled on King James the 
 Second, his heirs and fuccellors for ever, 
 then eftimated at 65,000/. per annum, and 
 was not, as other revenues, accounted for 
 annually to Parliament. At the peace of 
 Ryfvvick, 1697, we find the net revenue de- 
 creafed, iince it then only produced 58,672/. 
 The average net revenue for four years in the 
 beginning of the eighteenth century, from 
 1702 to 1706, produced 61,568/. 
 
 In the ninth year of Qiieen Anne's reign 
 (i 11% the former laws were repealed, and 
 one General Poft-office and Poil-maikT 
 were eftabliflied tor the united kingdom, and 
 the office extended to every dominion of the 
 Crown ; the poflage of letters was mcrcafed, 
 viz.finglc letters, which paid twopence before, 
 
 now
 
 2Z FINANCIAL AND 
 
 now paid threepence, and double letters were 
 increafed to fixpence, &c. being an addition 
 of one third to the former portage ; the 
 grofs amount of revenue for the year 1710, 
 was I 1 1,461/.; the net amounted to 56,664/. 
 At this period wc find firft mention of a 
 Penny-poft in the ftatute-book. In 17 14, 
 the grofs amount of the Poft-office revenue 
 was 145,227/. and the net 98,010/. In 
 50 years after, we find the grofs revenue 
 to have nearly doubled, viz. in 1764 it pro- 
 duced 281,535/. *. In about 20 years after 
 (1784), wc find the Poft-ofHce produced 
 420,101/. having increafed in its annual 
 grofs revenue 138,566/. And in the yeap 
 
 * In the Annual Regifter, vol. xvi. Ap. to Chronicle, 
 p. 225, the grofs amount for the year 1764 is ftated at 
 432,04b/. Jn Anderfon's Origin of Commerce, vql. 
 iv. p. 150, there is alfo fbted the fame amount. But 
 Chalmers, in his Eftimate of the comparative Strength 
 of Great Britain, edition 17941 p. 132, makes the grofs 
 amount of inland and foreign portage the fame as given 
 in the text; and by comparing this with the progrefs of 
 the fubfequenj: years of the century, and CQnfi4ering the 
 official documents to which Mr. Chalmers h^d accefs, it 
 is obvious his (latement is corre6l. 
 
 1790
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. 2^ 
 
 1790, it produced 533,198/. Hence, in a 
 period of 26 years (from 1764 to 1790), the 
 grofs annual revenue was again nearly dou- 
 bled. 
 
 While thefe fads evince the increafed trade 
 of the country, and, as Mr. Anderfon ob- 
 fervcs, *' demonjlrate the extent of our corre^ 
 fpondencc,'* we are to confider that the ad- 
 ditional rates of portage laid on letters in 
 1784 and 1797, and the regulations and re- 
 ftridions made refpedling franking in i784» 
 and other periods, together with the adop- 
 tion of the moft material points of Mr. Pal- 
 mer's plan, iirft prefented to the Minifter in 
 I 783, have contributed in no fmall degree to 
 the advantage and convenience of the public, 
 as well as to the incrcafe of the revenue of 
 the Poft-office. 
 
 For the year ending the 5th April iSco, 
 thegrofs revenue amounted to 1,078,420/.; it 
 having in the fhort fpace of the laft ten years 
 of the century been nearly doubled. Thus 
 
 It is no Icfs curious than interelling to ob- 
 
 fcrvc
 
 5t4 FINANCIAL AND 
 
 ferve the progreffions of the Pofl-officc 
 revenue at periods of 50, 20, and lo years, 
 during the eighteenth century. Were thefe 
 terms to be taken into the conftrudion of 
 our calculation, it would appear, that they 
 bear rather more than an arithmetical pro- 
 greflion, though not amounting to a geome- 
 trical one. 
 
 The following is an abftradl of the receipts 
 and payments for one yearj from Michael- 
 mas 1700 to Michaelmas 1701 : 
 
 Paid into the 'Exchequer^ 
 For Cufloms — ^.1,539,100 
 
 Excife — 986,004 
 
 Hearth-money and Poft-office, 
 
 &c. — 
 
 i30'399 
 
 Land-tax, is. in the pound 
 
 835^405 
 
 Poll taxes — — 
 
 14,814 
 
 Promifcuous taxes — 
 
 M9^131 
 
 Sundry other receipts — 
 
 13,916 
 
 Total revenue the firit year of 
 
 
 the eighteenth century 
 
 3.769»375 
 
 n 
 
 The
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. 2^ 
 
 Brought over /^. 3,769, 375 
 
 The grofs cilimated 
 receipt of perma- 
 nent and temporary- 
 revenue for the laft 
 year, ending 5th 
 July 1800 X-36,738.000 
 
 Dedud: the eftimated 
 charges of manage- 
 ment, including the 
 expenfe of colled:- 
 ing the income-tax i ,779,769 
 
 Total net eflimated receipt for 
 
 1800 — . — X-34.948>23i 
 
 Tot^l additional net revenue in 
 
 100 years — — 31,178,856 
 
 The following is an abftrad: of the fums 
 
 ifTued or paid from Michaelmas 1700 to 
 
 Michaelmas 1701 : 
 
 Sea fervice — jC*^»°46>397 
 
 Land fervice — 425,998 
 
 Carried forward 1,472,395 
 C Ordnance
 
 i6 FINANCIAL AND 
 
 Broiighf over /;. 1,472,395 
 Ordnance for fea and land fervice 704,339 
 Mifcellaneous fervices * i ,41 1 ,91 2 
 
 Total iffiicd t £.3.63^,sU 
 
 Before I proeeed to ftate the exports and 
 imports at the clofe of King William's reign, 
 it may not be deemed improper to take a 
 glance at the public revenue for the preced- 
 ing hundred years. In the year 1600, the 
 laft year but one of Queen Elizabeth, the 
 whole of the ordinary public revenue 
 amounted to no more than 600,000/. per 
 annum; in 1660, the 12th of Charles II. it 
 amounted to 1,200,000/.: confequently in 
 fixty years it was doubled. In 1700, forty 
 
 * Including interefl on national debt, exchequer 
 bills, &c. 
 
 -\- Supplies granted for the year 1800, as more par- 
 ticularly claffed in Appendix, No. IV. fee. 2. 
 Navy — — /.i3,6i9,o79 
 
 Army — — 11,356,079 
 
 Ordnance — — 1,695,956 
 
 Mifcellaneous and unforefeen fervices 12,828,986 
 
 Total amount of fupply j^.39,500,000 
 
 years
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. 27 
 
 years after, we find it trebled ; or in other 
 words, during the ftveatcenth century, the 
 national burdens were increafed more than 
 fixfold j but during the laft hundred years, 
 though we perceive with aflonilhment that 
 our burdens have increafed nearly tenfold, 
 yet it will appear in the courfe of this cur- 
 fory view of fad:s, that our exports and im- 
 ports, trade and manufactures, and confe- 
 quent public and private wealth, have alfo 
 increafed, and kept pace with the taxes im- 
 pofed on the nation. 
 
 At the clofe of King William's reign 
 (1697) the annual value of exports amount- 
 ed to — — X^.3,525,906 
 And the value of imports to 3,482,580 
 
 The balance in our favour amount- 
 ed to — — 43.326 
 
 The total value of exports and imports, 
 therefore, amounted to little more thsinjeven 
 millions. 
 B But if the exports and imports of thepre- 
 fent day, as well as the balance of our trade, 
 E 2 be 
 
 i
 
 28 FINANCIAL AND 
 
 be taken into the fcale of comparifon, we 
 Ihall difcover by fuch comparative truths, 
 the bed criterion to judge of the capabihty 
 of this nation to bear its increaftd burdens, 
 as well from the augmented general com- 
 merce of the country, as from the exertions 
 and induftry of the people; all which have 
 at the fame time given an increafed vigour 
 and energy to our naval power beyond the 
 example of all former times. 
 
 The total value of the exports of Great 
 Britain for the year ending <th January 
 1800, including no lefs than the value of 
 more than 24 millions in Britifli manufac- 
 tures, amounted to — ^♦35»990>°®° 
 Total value of imports into Great 
 
 Britain for the year ending 5th 
 
 January 1 800 — 29,945,808 
 
 Amount * of exports, and imports 65 ,935 , 808 
 
 The balance in our favour /. 6,044, i gi 
 
 There 
 
 * Refolutlons of the Houfc of Commons, July 28, 
 
 iSqo. Sec Pailiamentary Regifter. For the progref* 
 
 ;-^^ of
 
 POLITICAL FACTs. CJ<) 
 
 There is included in our exports nearly to the 
 amount of 3 millions per annum, in commo- 
 dities the produce of the French Wcfl: In- 
 dies, which is a balance abfolutely turned in 
 our favour fince the commencement of the 
 war *. Hence, although our burdens have 
 
 progreiTively 
 
 of the official value of imports and exports for the cen- 
 tury, together with the balance of trade, fee Table, 
 Appendix, No. HI. 
 
 * The French, according to M. Necker, formerly 
 eTcported to the amount of 3 millions flerling annually, 
 of Weft India produce, and about 6 millions more of 
 articles of manufadure. 
 
 At the conclufion of laft war (1784), the exports of 
 France were valued at 330 millions of livres, or 12 
 millions and a half fterling. The whole of the general 
 exports of France appear now added to that of England, 
 fince not a fjngle merchant veffel with French colours is 
 to be feen on the ocean. The imports of France in 
 1784, were valued at 230 millions of livres, or about 9 
 millions and a half fterling; confequently the apparent 
 balance of trade was about 3 millions. It is now, as« 
 will be more particularly noticed when we come to 
 confiJer the prefent relative fituation of France, nearly 
 3 millions againft her. 
 
 In comparing the imports and exports of Great Bri- 
 tain v;ith thofe of France at the fame period, we find 
 that the imports of the former amounted to more than 15 
 
 millions.
 
 j6 FINANCIAL AND 
 
 progreflively increafed nearly in a tenfold 
 proportion fince the beginning of the eigh- 
 teenth century, yet it is matter of juft exulta- 
 tion to refled on the glorious pitch of pro- 
 fperity and greatncfs, to which, from the 
 above ftatement, it appears our commerce 
 has, in the fame time, been raifed ; while 
 the inland trade connedled with it has been 
 augmented in a flill greater proportion, to- 
 gether with the circulating medium of the 
 nation. 
 
 It is no lefs curious than interefting to ob- 
 ferve, that in every war fince the revolution 
 (except the prefent and the war of 1756) our 
 
 millions, and its exports alfo to upwards of 15 millions 
 (fee Appendix, No. III.) : in which laft were included 
 of Britifh manufa£lures to the value of more than ten 
 milUons. Hence we obferve, that France is here 
 compared with England in her moil flourifhing ftate, 
 with an apparent balance of trade in her favour of 3 
 millions, when England, with a trade one third more than 
 France, had little or no balance* This, however, was 
 more than compenfatcd by England having at leafl two 
 thirds of its general exports in Britifh manufadures. 
 The French manufadlmes exported did not amount to 
 xnore than one half of its general exports. 
 
 I exports,
 
 POLITICAL FACTS, 3I 
 
 exports, compared with an equal number of 
 years in the preceding peace, were always 
 confiderably diminiflied ; but that foon after 
 the return of peace the value of exports rofc 
 beyond their former level. 
 
 Commerce, withall nations, is a prodigious 
 fource of wealth ; but war, with its other con- 
 comitant evils, fufpends for a time its courfe 
 throughout all the maritime flates of Europe. 
 Great Britain alone in the prefent war is an 
 exception to this important tyuth, fince the 
 fources of its commerce have been nearly 
 doubled during the prefent war. This is 
 perhaps the only inftance of the kind in the 
 annals of the commercial hiflory of any 
 other nation, after an eight years war the 
 moft expenfive ever waged. 
 
 An important and confolatory refledion 
 however occurs, on this fubjedt, which is, 
 that France, Spain, and other maritime 
 powers which may be plunged into war, 
 make tenfold facrificcs of their commercial 
 interefts compared with Great Britain. 
 
 In
 
 32 FINANCIAL AND 
 
 In taking the average exports for three oi" 
 four years of peace, and the average of ex- 
 poits for three or four years of war, at dif- 
 ferent periods during the eighteenth century, 
 we ill all find that the average exports of the 
 preceding years of peace, were, with the ex- 
 ception already mentioned, invariably greater 
 than the average exports of the fubfequent 
 years of war*. 
 
 If 
 
 * As proofs, the following average of exports is 
 eomputed from the Table of Import? and Exports, Ap- 
 pendix, No. III. 
 Annual average value of exports for 3 years 
 
 feaccy from 1699 to 1701 inclufive ;^•7>237^3^ 
 
 Annual average of do. for 3 years wary from 
 
 1703 to 1705 inclufive - 6,165,966 
 
 Annual average excefs in 3 years peace 1,07 1,345 
 
 Annual average of exports for 4 ye:irs peace, 
 
 from 1735 to 1738 inclufive - 12,324,078 
 
 Annual average of do. for 4 years wary from 
 
 1739 to 1742 inclufive - 10,354,901 
 
 Annual average excefs in 4 years peace 15969, 177 
 
 Annual
 
 FOLITICAL FACTS. ^3 
 
 If, therefore, we are to judge of the future 
 by the prefent and the pad, we may, with- 
 out being too fanguirie, chenili wcll-foun led 
 hopes, that on the return of peace our com- 
 merce will be confideriibly augmented, new 
 channels of induilry and wealth will be 
 
 Annual average of exports for 5 ytzx% peace^ /*. 
 
 from 1750 to 1754 luclufive - 13*998,479 
 
 Annual average of do. for 5 years war, from 
 
 1757 to 1761 inclufive - i5>989,S52 
 
 Annual average excejs in 5 years war 1,991,073 
 
 Annual average value of exports for 5 years 
 
 pcaccyiiom i 764 to 1768 inclufive 16,075,301 
 
 Annual average of do. for 5 years war, from 
 
 1776 to 1760 inclufive - I3>9i8,677 
 
 Annual average excefs in 5 years peace 2,057,624 
 
 Annual average of exports for 5 years peace, 
 
 from 1784 to 1788 inclufive I7>317)703 
 
 Annual average of do. for 5 years war, from 
 
 1796 to 1800 inclufive - 34., 145,076 
 
 Annual average excefs of exports the la ft ^ years 
 of the war., which is marly double the ave- 
 rage of exports in the lafi peace ! — 16.827,373 
 
 F o^^encd
 
 34 FINANCIAL AND 
 
 opened to the capitals of enterprifing mer- 
 chants, and to the dexterity and fRill of our 
 manufadlurers. The fiflieries, now loll to 
 the Dutch, may, by proper encouragement, 
 become an additional acceffion of wealth to 
 this nation, and a confiderable augmentation 
 to its ilrengiih in fhipping and feamen. 
 Upon the whole, it may reafonably be ex- 
 pecfled, that renovated fpring and energy 
 will be given to both our foreign and domef- 
 tic trade, thereby exciting more induftry, 
 and confequently increafing the general hap- 
 pinefs and comforts of the feveral claffes of 
 the community. 
 
 Thefe fads are obvious, fmce we find that 
 our exports now, compared with thofe in 
 the beginning of the eighteenth century, 
 have, from the moft accurate computation, 
 increafed nearly in a twelvefold proportion ; 
 that the aggregate amount of exports and 
 imports has increafed in a tenfold propor- 
 tion; and that the apparent balance of trade 
 in our favour at this period, compared with 
 
 it
 
 PDLniCAL FACTS. 3_J 
 
 it a century ago, is augmented in the incre- 
 dible proportion of one hundred ard forty 
 fold. It is to be obferved, that the annual 
 public fales of teas by the Eaft India Com- 
 pany did not, in the beginning of the eigh- 
 teenth century, much exceed 50,000 pounds 
 weight : the Company's annual fales now 
 approach to 20 millions of pounds wei q^ht, 
 being an increafe of four hundred fold in 
 one hundred years. The value of Weft In- 
 dia imports into Great Britain, according to 
 the official rates in the Infpecftor General's 
 office, in the year 1700, amounted to 
 824,246/. but in the year 1798 they amounted 
 to 6,390,658/. * The quantity of Britifh 
 plantation fugar, imported into England in 
 the year 1700, amounted to four hundred 
 and eighty-nine thoufand three hundred and 
 twenty-fix hundred weight; and the exports 
 of raw and refined fugar, for the fame pe- 
 riod, amounted to one hundred and eighty- 
 three thoufand and thirty- five hundred 
 weight ; confequently, the total of home 
 
 * See Appendix, No. III. 
 
 ¥ 2 con-
 
 36 FINANCIAL AND 
 
 confumptlon was only three hundred and fix 
 thou land two hundred and ninety- two hun- 
 dred weight, being equal to twenty-one thou- 
 fand eight hundred and feventy-eight hog{* 
 heads, of fourteen hundred weight each. la 
 1798, the quantity of fugar imported, 
 amounted to two million three hundred and 
 lixty-one thoufand feven hundred and fifteen 
 hundred weight ; the quantity of raw and re- 
 fined exported, was feven hundred and fe- 
 venty thoufand eight hundred and thirty-nine 
 hundred weight, and the home confurnption 
 amounted to one million five hundred and 
 ninety thoufand eight hundred and fevcnty- 
 fix hundred weight, equal to one hundred 
 and thirteen thoufand fix hundred and 
 thirty-four hogfiieads of fourteen hundred 
 weight each ; hence we perceive the home 
 confurnption to have increafed more than 
 fivefold within the century. The grofs duty 
 received for fugar imported in 1798, 
 amounted to 2,070,377/. And the net pro- 
 duce of duties, after deducting drawbacks 
 
 and
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. 37 
 
 and bounties, &c. amounted to 1,765,022/. 
 It is alfo worthy of remark, that the Jate tax 
 on imports and exports is efl:ima<-ed to pro- 
 duce alone for 1800, no lefs a fum than 
 1,250,000/. which is nearly one half the 
 amount of public revenue in the year 1700*. 
 
 Although, previous to the Commutation 
 A6t, pafTed in 1784, the India Company fold 
 only five millions and a half pounds weight 
 of tea annually for home confumption, yet it 
 was computed there were about 13 millions 
 of pounds weight confumed in the kingdom; 
 eight millions of pounds thereof were fup- 
 pofed to have been fmuggled or adulterated. 
 
 The Commutation Adt, by reducing the 
 duty on tea, and in lieu of the fuppofed de- 
 
 * The a(5>ual produce of the convoy-tax, which com- 
 prehends a fmall percentage on goods exported and im- 
 ported, and a fmall tonnage on Jhips arriving at, or fail- 
 ing from, any port in Great Britain, adually produced 
 in the year ending 0£lober 10, 1799, 1,292,000/. — Sec 
 Mr. Rofc's pamphlet on the Incrcafe of the Revenue, 
 Commerce, and Manufadlures of Great Britain, fixth 
 edit. p. 40. 
 
 I ficiency
 
 ^8 t'lliANCIAL AND 
 
 ficiency impofing a tax upon windows, had 
 the immediate effed: of adding to the Eaft 
 India Company's annual importation of tea 
 upwards of 12 millions and a half of pounds 
 weight, making the total annual importation 
 1 8 millions of pounds weight. The revenue 
 was thereby confiderably increafed, the fair 
 trader was encouraged, and fmuggling in a 
 great meafure fuppreiTed. It had alfo the 
 beneficial effed of augmenting our fliipping 
 and feamen, and extending our navigation 
 in the China trade. 
 
 If we take a retrofpedive glance of this 
 branch of the Eaft India Company's trade 
 forty years beyond the period of pafling the 
 Commutation Aa, we fliall find that in 
 1744 the Company's fales of teas amounted 
 to no more than 600,000 pounds weight an- 
 nually, producing a revenue of 140,000/. 
 flerling. In 1745 a prodigious increafe to 
 the revenue was made by an ad that pafTed 
 for lowering the duties on teas, and prevent- 
 ing illicit trade, infomuch that in the year 
 
 1746
 
 POLITICAL FACT8. 39 
 
 174'/ the f les amounted to nearly two mil- 
 lions of pounds weight, producing 228,000/. 
 of revenue. The judicious regulations of 
 this adl were not long adhered to ; for in 
 1748 an additional duty was laid on teas, 
 and other duties of cuftoms and excife from 
 time to time levied fince that period, info- 
 much that, in the year 1783, previous to the 
 Commutation Ad:, they amounted io about 
 60 per cent. * : hence thefe duties were fo 
 heavy, that fmuggling of tea was carried oij 
 to a moft enormous extent. Previous to the 
 year 1745 the India Company fcarcely fold 
 the cargoes of three fliips annually; but 
 foon after pafTing the 3.0i in 1745, they fold 
 the cargoes of feven tea-lhips annually. 
 At prefent, although the fliips are of 
 much larger dimenfions, the Company 
 
 *The duties of cuftoms and excife on tea, taking the 
 average of five years prior to the Commutation A6t, 
 amounted to 904,646/. 
 
 fell
 
 AO FINANCIAL AND 
 
 (cil the cargoes of 30 Cliii-ia fhlps an- 
 nually. * 
 
 The iliipping which yearly failed to 
 
 China, according to a fix years average prior 
 
 to the Commutation Aa, meafured only 
 
 6059 tons. In the feafon 1786-7 there were 
 
 29 iliips laden in China for the Eaft India 
 
 Company, meafuring 22,448 tons, builder's 
 
 mealurement. In 1787, the tea imported in 
 
 27 fliips t which arrived from China, 
 
 ^mounted to 18,852,675 pounds weight. 
 
 The annual average of fix years fliippiog to 
 
 China, ending in 1792, meafured no lefs 
 
 than 17,981 tons: and the whole annual 
 
 tonnaoe of the Eail India Company i^ 
 
 30,000, on the average of the lad four years. 
 
 The filver fcnt to China by the Company 
 
 * In 1794 the whole average amount of the cuftoms 
 and inland duties on the import trade ot India and China 
 to Great Britain, ^^'as eaimated at yv.^^'^nh of one mil- 
 lion, and the fale amount thereof at nearly fix mulions 
 I..r annum. The amount of the fale of goods from 
 India and China in 1799-1800, to 7,367.727^- 
 
 i Andcrfon's Chron. Hift. of Commerce, vol. iv. 
 p. 666. ^^
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. 41 
 
 on ihe annual average of thi*ee years, from 
 17S5 to 1788 inclufive, amounted to 
 674,867/. 
 
 The territorial acquifitions in tlie Eaft: In- 
 dies are now immenfe. They were com- 
 puted before the termination of the former 
 war in India, to be 182,122 fquare miles, 
 with the addition of 21,589* fquare miles 
 lately ceded by Tippoo Sultaun, making an 
 aggregate extent of territory of no lefs than 
 203,711 fquare miles, being 199,011 fquare 
 miles more than the united kingdom of 
 Great Britain, and containing upwards of 
 26 millions of people. From fuch an immenfe 
 acceilion of territory and population, addi- 
 tional refources may reafonably be expeded. 
 The eflimates of the revenues of the three 
 prefidcncies in India for 1798-9, according 
 to parliamentary documents, amounted to 
 8,610,703/. -f : and the revenues for 1799* 
 
 * Rennel's Memoir of his Map of the Penirtfula of 
 India. 
 
 t Mr. Dundas's Speech on the Finances of the Eaft 
 I ndiaCompany, Parliamentary Rcgifler for 1800, vol. xii. 
 G 1800
 
 4^ FINANCIAL AND 
 
 1800 collcdlively, amounted to 9,742,937/; 
 a revenue greater than the whole empire 
 of RuiTia produces, although containing 
 1,194,978 fquare miles. 
 
 The aggregate amount of the fale of goods 
 from India and China (1798-9), including 
 the Company's, the private trade, and the 
 goods fold under the neutral property adl, 
 was 10,315,256/. which exceeded the pre- 
 ceding year 1797-8 in no lefs a fum than 
 4,261,855/.* The fales of the Eaft India 
 Company's goods alone, which in February 
 1793 were eftimated on an average to amount 
 to 4,988,300/. amounted in the year 1799- 
 1800, to the fum of 7,367,727/. The ag- 
 gregate amount of fales for 1 800-1 801 is 
 10,323,452/. The Company's fales alone 
 adually amounted to 7,602,041/. w^hich is 
 more than laft year by 234,314/. They 
 have nearly doubled iince the war ; for in 
 1793 the Company's fales amounted to no 
 
 *The cxcefs on the Company's goods alone was 
 3,618,244^; 
 
 more
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. 43 
 
 more than four millions fterling. Such is 
 the profperous flate of the Company's pro- 
 perty at the clofe of the eighteenth century, 
 after a period of moft expenfive warfare ; and 
 it is reafonable to exped: that its profperity 
 will be augmented in a time of perfedt tran- 
 quillity. 
 
 Let us only compare the prefent brilliant 
 ftate of the Company's affairs with 1783, 
 and they may be confidered as having reach- 
 ed to a height of meridian fplendour that 
 could not have been anticipated feventeen 
 years ago by the mofl fanguine mind : the 
 contemplation of which affords jurt matter 
 of exultation, not only to the country at 
 large, but mufl be peculiarly gratifying to 
 the late Prefident of the Board of Controul 
 (Mr. Dundas), who has with fo much zeal 
 and perfeverance contributed to bring the 
 Company's affairs to fuch a tranfcendent 
 ftate of profperity. 
 
 The duties of excife and cuftoms on the 
 
 importation and confumption of coflc^ in 
 
 G 2 England
 
 44 FINANCIAL AND 
 
 England previous to the year i7S3,and which 
 had been impoliticly continued for nearly 
 fifty years antecedent, were no lefs than 450 
 per cent, on its then marketable value. The 
 reduiSion of one (hilling per pound from the 
 excife duties, had an immediate effed, by 
 creating an increafed importation, promoting 
 the in tereft of our colonies, and augmenting 
 the revenue of the (late. The duties on coffee 
 for 1783 amounted to 2,869/.; but for the 
 year 1 784, after the reduction of one fhilling 
 per pound had taken place, the duties increaf- 
 ed to 7,200/. and nearly treble the former 
 quantity of coffee was imported. 
 
 This fad: is a proof, among many others 
 of a fimilar nature, that the impofing of 
 heavy duties on the produce of our colonies 
 frequently defeats the financial views of flatef- 
 men. It might, perhaps, at the prefent 
 moment be deemed wife and politic, were a 
 f^ill greater redudion to be made from the 
 duties on coffee, fo as to make it, from its 
 cheapnefs, a beverage of more general ufe 
 
 aniong
 
 PO.LITICAL FACTS^ 45 
 
 among all clallcs in Great Britain, more 
 cfpecially fince our fouthern acquifitions 
 of Surinam, Berbice, Demerara, and Effe- 
 quibo, are alone, n'ith proper encourage- 
 ment, fufficient to fupply all Europe with 
 this ftaple commodity. 
 
 Mr. Bryan Edwards, in his Hiftory of the 
 Weft Indies, ilates, that the whole annual 
 import of coff-e into Great Britain, on an 
 average of five years (1783 to 1787 inclu- 
 (ive), did not exceed 5,600,000 pounds 
 weight J whereas the ifland of Hifpaniola 
 alone has produced to the French an annual 
 fupply of more than 70 millions of pounds 
 weight ! 
 
 The bounty of 240 livres (10/, fterling") 
 allowed by the French for every Have im- 
 ported into St. Domingo, had the efPed: of 
 augmenting prodigiouily the cultivation of 
 coffee. Had no difturbanccs happened in 
 that colony, it was calculated that the crop 
 of 1792 would have been 80 milHons of 
 pounds weight, which ii valued at 5/. 
 
 ftcrling
 
 4^ IINANCIAL AND 
 
 ikrlingper hundred weight, would be xvorth 
 four millions fterling. By the infurrection 
 of the negroes in the colony, upwards of 
 looo coffee plantations have been totally de- 
 flroyed ; it will, therefore, require many 
 years of tranquillity and induflry before the 
 deficiency occafioned by the rebellion can be 
 reflored . 
 
 The greater part of the former exports of 
 coffee from St. Domingo, is now transferred 
 to the Britifh Weft India iflands, and to our 
 recently acquired colonies in South America. 
 It might therefore be deemed an objecft wor- 
 thy of the ferious confideration of the Legif- 
 lature, whether a redud;ion of one half the 
 prefent duty on coffee y and fubftituting in 
 its ftcad an additional one on teas^ would 
 not confiderably increafe the demand for 
 the former, as well as for the ftaple com- 
 modity of fugars, by encouraging a more 
 general confumption in Great Britain, pro- 
 moting at the fame time the cultivation 
 and induftry of our own colonies, and 
 
 adding
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. 47 
 
 adding to the revenue of the flatc. Were 
 even the confumptiou of tea to be dimi- 
 nifhed in proportion as coffee came into 
 more general ufe, it would be qf advan- 
 tage to the nation in another rcfped:, name- 
 ly, a correfponding diminution of the annual 
 export of filver from this country to 
 China, for the purchafe of the former 
 plant, and which would be fo much mo- 
 ney thrown into the general mafs of adlive 
 circulation at home. 
 
 CHAP.
 
 4^ riJQANClALAND 
 
 CHAP. III. 
 
 Refults from a comparative Statement of the^ 
 Average affix Tears Exports ami hn ports 
 in the Time of Peace — The real Value of 
 Exports and Imports defined — Exports and 
 permanent Taxes doubled Jince the Com^ 
 menceinent of the War — RefleBions on the 
 progrejfive Increafe of Wealth and Re- 
 fources of the "Nation — The increafe d Re- 
 venue arifing from the old and new Taxes 
 exceeds the Efiimate of the Peace Eftabliflo- 
 ment. 
 
 Notwithstanding the foregoing 
 
 teft of the increafed profperity and wealth 
 of this nation, I am aware that defponding 
 minds may objedt to its being a fair crite- 
 rion, on the ground of the probable diminu- 
 tion of our exports and imports on the return 
 of peace ; we may, therefore, affume as data, 
 the average of fix years exports and imports 
 I in
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. 49 
 
 in the time of peace preceding the 5th Janu. 
 ary 1793, and then fee how the proportions 
 refulting from the comparative computations 
 will ftand. 
 
 The total value of foreign and Britifh ex- 
 ports on an average of fix years, ending the 
 5th January 1793, amounted to^.24, 904,851 
 Total value of imports - 18,685,390 
 
 Total exports and imports >C-43'59o>24i 
 
 Confequently the apparent ba- 
 lance in our favour, on an 
 average of fix years peace, 
 amounted to - >C-6,2 19,461 
 
 The public revenue, including land-tax, 
 Sec. on an average of the fix years peace, 
 ending the 5th January 1793, amounted to 
 ^ 5 ' 7 3O'C0o/. Therefore the revenue of this 
 period, compared with that in the beginning 
 of the eighteenth century, had increafed near- 
 ly in a fivefold proportion; while we find 
 I the exports and imports, compared in the 
 H fame
 
 ^O FINANCIAL AND 
 
 fame manner, to have increafed in a fixfold 
 proportion ; and the apparent balance of 
 trade in our favour, on an average of fix years 
 peace, compared with the balance in the be- 
 ginning of the eighteenth century, is one 
 hundred and forty-three times greater*. 
 
 The real value of imports and exports, as 
 ftated by Mr. Rofe for the year 1798, 
 amounting to 94,963,000/. is greater by 29 
 millions than what was ftated by Mr. Pitt 
 for 1800, in the refolutions moved 28th 
 July of that year. This apparent difference 
 in value is eafily reconciled, when it is con- 
 fidered that Mr. Pitt's ftatements are made 
 from the old Cuftom-houfc valuations, and 
 Mr. Rofe's from the operation of the con- 
 voy^'tax, where the duty on exports is 
 
 * It is alfo afcertcined, that although our permanent 
 taxes have been more than doubled Hnce the commence- 
 ment of the war, yet the ofEcial value of our exports 
 has alfo been more than doubled I viz. On the 5th Ja- 
 nuary each year of 
 
 iy93, off.c'uil value of exports - ^.20,390,000 
 1801, ditto ditto - - 4i>577'^^3 
 
 A taken
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. 5I 
 
 taken on the value declared by the mer- 
 chants j and the duty on imports, in moft 
 cafes, on the value declared in the fame man- 
 ner *. 
 
 . From all the foregoing refults, obvious to 
 every peribn converfant in the common rules 
 
 * Mr. Rofe, in his pamphlet, has ftated in p. 41, 
 from unqueftionable documents, the real vahie of im- 
 ports into Great Britain for 1798 to be /'.46, 963, 000 
 The exports of Britilh manufadures 33,602,000 
 
 The exports of foreign goods - 14,387,000 
 
 Total of imports and exports in 1798 £-94,()t)^,ooo 
 
 The balance of trade he has alfo ftated to be in our fa- 
 vour, on the average of the laft four years, to the 
 amount of about 14,8*0,000/. per annum, after mak- 
 ing due allowances for varioi:s articles of impori, that 
 are in fad accelTIons of wealth. 
 
 This enormous balance in our favour, when com- 
 pared with the 3 millions in favour of France, ftated 
 by Mr. Necker when its population was nearly as three 
 to one compared to ours, and when its commerce and 
 induftry had reached its meridian fplendour, will, we 
 truft, diftipate the appreb.enfions of the molt timid and 
 defponding mind, and afcertain to a moral certainty the 
 exalted and pre-eminent fituation of this countrv over 
 every other, with refpcd to its commerce, inJuftry, 
 and fources of wealth. 
 
 H 2 o{
 
 tjj FINANCIAL AND 
 
 of arithmetic, and difpofed to make the calcu- 
 lation, it is apparent that the weahh and re- 
 fources of the nation, in this eflential point of 
 view, have been progreffively increafing 
 during the laft century in a greater ratio than 
 our taxes. 
 
 From the above-mentioned caufes, as well 
 as the effeds refulting from the comparative 
 value of labour, provifions, improvements in 
 agriculture and manufadures, alfo the in- 
 creafed circulation of gold and filver in the 
 kingdom, to be hereafter noticed, an opinion 
 may fafely be hazarded, that the fubjeds of 
 the BritiOi empire, with a £ew exceptions, feel 
 kfs at this moment, the various burdens im- 
 pofed upon them, than our predecelTorsinthe 
 beginning of the eighteenth century. That the 
 fources of wealth have been progreffive with 
 the burdens impofed, is a truth I have already 
 endeavoured to prove, and which may be Hill 
 carried further, and corroborated by compa- 
 rative ftatements drawn from the moil au- 
 thentic chanr.els of information at different 
 
 and
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. fj 
 
 and intermediate periods ; and for that pur- 
 pofe I refer to the tables and papers in the 
 Appendix, exhibiting the public revenue and 
 expenditure for the lall century, computed on 
 a medium of every feven years, together with 
 the fuppHes, and ways and means ; alfo a 
 table of official value of our imports and 
 exports and balance of trade for every year 
 of the eighteenth century*. 
 
 Mr. Rofe, to whom I have already refer- 
 red my readers, has, in his able pamphlet on 
 the Increafe of the Revenue, Commerce, and 
 Manufactures of Great Britain, from the 
 year 1792 to 1799, clearly and fatisfadorily 
 demonftrated, by comparative ftatements, 
 that the increafed revenue in the year 1799, 
 arifing from the amount of old and new 
 taxes, annual profit on the land-tax then re- 
 deemed, Eaft India participation, and lotte- 
 ry, would exceed by no lefs a fum than 
 1,330,00c/. the eftimate of the peace ella- 
 
 • See Appendix, No. I. II. III. IV. 
 
 blifhment.
 
 j;4 FINANCIAL AND 
 
 blifhment, as ftated by the fcled: committee 
 On finance in 1791, as well as the amount of 
 annual charges incurred during the war, by 
 loans and funding, and all the increafcd 
 charges incident thereto *. 
 
 From every confideration df all thefe pro- 
 pitious circumftances, have we not, there- 
 fore, caufe for exultadon rather than defpond- 
 ency ? In thus hav.ng the fources developed 
 
 * Amount of old taxes in the year ending lotli Odober 
 1799 __ _ _ ^.15,245,000 
 
 Taxes impofed during the war, inchjding 
 
 62,000/. annual profit on land-tax 8,301,000 
 
 Add land and malt-tax, Eaft India parti- 
 cipation, and lottery — — 3,308,000 
 
 26,854,000 
 
 Charges incurred during the war 
 by loans and funding, alfo in- 
 creafed charges of finking and 
 confolidated fund — jr-i6,oco,00o 
 
 Additional charges in confe- 
 quence of augmentation of pay 
 and provifions in the navy and 
 army, &c. — — 9,524,000 
 
 25,524,003 
 
 Excefs of income • — • ^.1,330,000 
 whence
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. 55 
 
 whence fuch immenfe revenue is drawn, it 
 muH: convey convidion to the mod fccptical 
 mind, of the increafing wealth and pro fpcrity 
 of the country ; at the fime time that it will 
 exhibit to our enemies the increafed energy 
 excited in the nation by a continuance of the 
 contell: in which \vc are now, from dire nc- 
 ceflity, engaged ; and will tend to imprefs 
 our accumulated foes with a proper idea of 
 our extenfive power, refulting from the won- 
 derful refources of the kingdom, fairly 
 brought into acftion. 
 
 CHAP.
 
 FINANCIAL ANI> 
 
 CHAP. IV. 
 
 l^ownefs of Jnterejl, and augmented Value 
 of hand in Great Britain^ compared with 
 France y and Progrefs of Inter eji of Money 
 in the middle Ages — ProgreJJive Value of 
 Land in England for a Century— Pro^ 
 grcffive Influx of Wealth and Rental of 
 England fr Lands, HoufeSy and Mines ^ 
 during the fcventeenth Century — Compu-^ 
 iation made by Sir V/ilUam Petty^ Mr, 
 Kingy Mr. Hoake, Sir William Pulteney, 
 and other Writers at different Periods of 
 the eighteenth Century — ReflcLiions — Gold 
 and Silver Coin in Circulation — Remark-^ 
 able Era for the prodigious Incrcafe of 
 Trade, from the Rejloration to the Revo- 
 lution ^ compared with the lafl twenty 
 Tears of the eighteenth Century — The 
 net Revenue of the P of -office nearly 
 trebled the laft twelve Years — Progrefs of 
 
 th^
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. 57 
 
 the Poji-qffice Revenue during the Cen- 
 tury — Charges of Management at different 
 Periods of the Century — Refie5lions — Ob- 
 fervations on the numerous Clafs of pro- 
 phetic and def ponding Writers of the eigh- 
 teenth Century. 
 
 Another criterion of the wealth and 
 profperity of a nation is, thelownefs of inte- 
 reft and augmented value of land. In France, 
 at the prefent moment, 1 8oi , money produces 
 at leaft 1 2 per cent, intereft, and landed pro- 
 perty is only valued from fourteen to fifteen 
 years purchafc. In this country, about an 
 hundred years ago, intcreft was from 8 to 9 
 per cent, and landed property from fifteen to 
 eighteen years purchafe. But now, as exem- 
 plified by the loan of lafl year, Government 
 may raife money under 5 per cent.*, and 
 
 * Mr. Pitt, laft year (1800), raifed a loan of 18 mil- 
 lions and a half, at the rate of \\ per cent. ; and the 
 prefent (1801) is raifed at 5I per cent. Money is now 
 borrowed with greater facility than at the beginning of 
 the war. 
 
 I landed
 
 5$ FINANCIAL AND 
 
 landed property is valued from twenty-eight 
 to thirty years purchafe. Lownefs of inte- 
 refl:, as Mr. Hume obferves *, proceeds from 
 three circumftances, viz. the imall demand 
 for borrowing, great riches to fupply that 
 demand, and fmall profits arifing from com- 
 merce. Thefe circumftances are all con- 
 nected together, and proceed from the in- 
 creafe of induftry and trade, not of gold and 
 lilver. Lownefs of intercft, therefore, we 
 find raifes the value of land, and the contrary 
 in an inverfe ratio -f. 
 
 The 
 
 * EiTay IV. of Interen. 
 
 t We find, that in the middle ages, when commerce 
 was fettered and reftrained throughout Europe, mod 
 exorbitant intcrefl was demanded. In the fourteenth 
 century, A. D. 1311, Philip IV. fixed the intereft 
 which might be legally exaded in the fairs of Cham- 
 paigne at twenty per cent. James I. A. D. 1242, fixed 
 it by law at 18 per cent. In the year 1490, it 
 ;5ppears that the interefl: of money in Placentia was at 
 the rate of 40 per cent. This, as Dr. ]R.obertfon ob- 
 fi^rves, is the more extraordinary, becaufe, at that time, 
 the commerce of the Italian States was become confi- 
 derable. It appears, from Lod. Guicciardini, that 
 Charles V. had fixed the rate of intcrefl in his domi- 
 I nions
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. 59 
 
 The value of land has progrcflively in- 
 creafed, in confequence of improvements in 
 agriculture, lov/nefs of intereft, and the in- 
 creafed confumption of the produce of the 
 land. Before England became a trading 
 nation, we find the general price of land to 
 have been twelve years purchafe; and we 
 fee it is little more at the prefent day in 
 France, fince her trade has been almoil anni- 
 hilated. In the beginning of the feventeenth 
 century, land fold in England from fourteen 
 to fixtecn years purchafe, and at the com- 
 mencement of the eighteenth century, it had 
 advanced to about eighteen years purchafe ; 
 in half a century more, it rofe to about 
 twenty-four years purchafe ; and at prefent, 
 as we have already obferved, it is generally 
 
 nions in the Low Countries at 12 percent.; and at 
 the time when Guicciardini wrote, about the year 1560, 
 it was not uncommon to exa£t more than that fum. 
 
 The high intereft of money is alone a proof that the 
 profits on commerce were exorbitant, and that it was 
 not carried on to great extent. Robert/on s Proofs and 
 IlJuJlral'tons to Charles F. Note xxx. 
 
 I 2 valued
 
 6b FINANCIAL AND 
 
 valued from twenty-eight to thirty years 
 purchafe. 
 
 The value of land has increafed in fome 
 parts of Scotland in a ftill greater proportion. 
 It is not unfrequent in this part of the united 
 kingdom, more efpecially in the Highlands, 
 to have eftates fold at forty years purchafe. 
 The valued rent of the county of Argyle, in 
 the year 1757, was only 12,466/.; but the 
 real value, in 1795, vvas 1 1 2,752/. ; having, 
 in lefs than forty years, increafed ninefold *. 
 This increafe of the number of years pur- 
 chafe of land, is the bell and moft obvious 
 proof of its augmented value, and is the effecft 
 of lownefs of intereft and the increafed con- 
 fumption of its produce, combined with the 
 general trade of the nation. 
 
 The progreffive influx of wealth into Great 
 Britain, bears a proportion flill much greater 
 than the moft fanguine calculator coiild ex- 
 pedl j fince, according to D*Avenant, the ge^ 
 
 * Smith's Stat. Account and agricultural Survey of 
 Apgylefhire, 
 
 neral
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. 6t 
 
 neral rental of England for lands, houfes, and 
 mines, in the year i6oo, did not exceed fix 
 millions per annum. This, multiplied by- 
 twelve years purchafe, the common price for 
 land at that period, was worth feventy-two 
 millions. 
 
 The general rental of England for i683, 
 the fame writer computed at fourteen mil- 
 lions, and valued at eighteen years purchafe, 
 would be worth two hundred and fifty -two 
 millions. Thus he alfo eflimated the gene- 
 ral rental and value of land in 1698, when 
 his Difcourfes on public Revenue and Trade 
 were written. Hence we perceive, that in the 
 feventeenth century the rental of land had 
 increafed more than in a twofold propor- 
 tion, and its value more than threefold. By 
 Sir William Petty's computation, in the year 
 1664, ^he total wealth of the nation, con/ift- 
 ing of lands, houfes, (hipping, gold and 
 filvercoin, wares, merchandife, plate, furni- 
 ture, &c. amounted only to 250 millions, 
 and the whole annud profit he computed a( 
 
 fifteen
 
 dZ FINANCIAL AND 
 
 fifteen millions. In the beginning of the 
 eighteenth century, Gregory King computed 
 the landed and perfonal property at Jix hun- 
 dred and Jif teen millions *. Mr. Hooke com- 
 puted the whole value of real and perfonal 
 property about fifty years ago, at two thou- 
 fand one hundred millions Jlerling -f , Sir 
 William Pulteney, in about thirty years after, 
 valued the landed and perfonal property at 
 two thoufand fuil lions J. The total amount 
 of the wealth of Great Britain, confifting of 
 the value of articles above enumerated, has 
 been computed by Dr. Beeke, to be nearly 
 two thoufand five hundred millions Jlerling^ 
 exclufive of one hundred millions Jlerlijig^ tlie 
 value of foreign poffeffions belonging to the 
 fubjeds of Great Britain. The value of 
 lands, houfes, and perfonal propert}i in Great 
 
 * King's Pol. Obfervations. 
 
 ■f Mr. Hooke valued landed property at one thoufand 
 millions, and perfonal property at one thoijfand one hun- 
 dred millions. See Eflay on the National Debt, &c. 
 publifhed in 1750. 
 
 + Confiderations on theprefent State of public Affairs, 
 publiflied anno 1779. •, 
 
 Britain
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. 63 
 
 Bri'ain has been recently computed (and \vc 
 have reafon to believe with fufficicnt corredt- 
 nefs) to be no lefs than the enormous fum of 
 two thoufand fcven hundred millions* ', and its 
 whole annual produce may be fairly cfti- 
 mated at 405 millions fterling, fince the an- 
 nual intereft alone of this accumulated wealth 
 will amount to 135 millions. 
 
 In comparing the rental and value of 
 landed property at prefent with the eftimate 
 made by D'Avenant one hundred years ago, 
 we fliall find, by a fimple calculation, that 
 valuing our prefent landed property, incum- 
 bered with tithes, at 28 years purchafe, the 
 annual rental corrcfponding to one thoiifand 
 two hundred and ffty millions^ will amount 
 to upwards oi forty -four millions and ahalf\^ 
 
 which 
 
 * Bird's Propofal for paying off the National Debt, 
 
 piiblifhed in 1799. £- 
 
 Value of landed property — 1,250,000,000 
 
 Perfonal property — — 1,450,000,000 
 
 Total /_'. 2, 7 00,000,000 
 
 t By a computation of the income of England and 
 Scotland, as ftatcd by Mr. Pitt in the Hoiifc of Com- 
 mons,
 
 j6^ FINANCIAL AND 
 
 which proves an increafcd rental of thirty 
 millions per annum. 
 
 In comparing the prefent vahied amount 
 wjth that eftimated by D'Avenant, we fhall 
 £nd, that in the eighteenth century it has 
 jncreafed eightfold. 
 
 Hence it appears, that fmce Sir William 
 Petty's computation, 136 years ago, the na- 
 tional wealth of Great Britain has increafed 
 in the immenfc fum of two thoufajid jour 
 hundred and fifty millions ; and the annual 
 intereft of the faid increafe of wealth amounts 
 to upwards of one hundred and twenty-feven 
 millions five hundred thoufiand fierling. If, 
 therefore, we allow 15 per cent, for the an- 
 nual profits or produce of fuch increafe of 
 wealth, it will amoupt to upwards of three 
 fjundred and eighty-two millions five hundred 
 thoufandfierlingy additional income, in lefs 
 than 150 years, being an increafe at the rate 
 
 inons, the annual grofs income, arifing from lands, 
 tithes, mines, timber, and houfes, amounted to/jr/j'-/oMr 
 
 jnillims.. 
 
 of
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. 6^ 
 
 of two thou I and five hundred and fifty millions 
 (lerling per annum of general income. 
 
 Our national wealth having incrcafed in fo 
 wonderful a degree, it is natural to fuppofe 
 the power of Great Britain has alfo kept 
 pace with it. Whether we confider fepa- 
 rately or conjointly tlie increafed number of 
 fliipping and feamen ; the incrcafe of build- 
 ings and population ; the augmented manu- 
 fadiures and trade; the improvements in 
 agriculture, and the increafed value of lands 
 and houfes ; the increafed conveniences and 
 luxuries of life, and the augmented circulat- 
 ing medium, or nu??ieraire of the country, 
 including the augmentation of gold and 
 filver *; we Ihall find they have all increafed 
 
 nearly 
 
 * Sir William Petty, in his Ferbum Sapienti, com- 
 puted the gold coin and filver in the kingdom at the Re* 
 ftoration to be fcarce worth fix millions. Gregory King 
 computed the gold coin in the kingdom at the Revolu- 
 tion to be three millions, and the filver coin eight mil- 
 lions ; which was then deemed fufficient to drive the 
 trade of the nation. Mr. Rofe, in his pamphlet on the 
 revenue, &c. of Great Britain, has given the public, trora 
 authentic documents, Itatements of the gold coin alone 
 
 in
 
 66 FINANCIAL AND 
 
 nearly in the fame proportion, and, as it were, 
 have mutually kept pace with one another. 
 It therefore requires no argument nor reafon- 
 ing to convince the moft incredulous mind 
 of the comparative facility with which our 
 prefent immenfe revenue is drawn from fuch 
 indubitable fourccs, and that, too, without 
 bearing hard upon the lower orders of the 
 people. 
 
 In the fhort fpace of twenty-two years 
 from the Reftoration ( 1 666) to the Revolution 
 (T 688) we find that our exports were doubled ; 
 our gold and filvercoin were alfo doubled * ; 
 
 the 
 
 in circulation, viz. at the end of the year 1777, it 
 amounted to upwards of twenty-five millions ; and in 
 January 1798, the gold money in circulation amounted 
 to ntzr forty-four millions!!! If we add to this the 
 filver coin in circulation, fuppofed to be about three 
 hundred thoufand pounds, and fifteen millions and a half 
 of Bank of England notes, our circulatiiig medium will 
 amount to nearly ftxty millions. 
 
 Exports, Tons cf 
 
 Shipping. 
 
 * At the Reftoration — ^^.2,04.3,043 95,266 
 At the Revolution — • 4,086,000 190,533 
 
 At
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. 6'] 
 
 the tonnage of trading fliips was alfo-in the 
 fame time doubled. This rapid progrefs in 
 our commerce and wealth, for the period juft 
 mentioned, is principally to be afcribeJ to 
 the beneficial eflPeds that refulted from the 
 navigation ad:. There is, however, one pe- 
 riod of twenty years, the laft of the eigh- 
 teenth century, that exceeds every former 
 period, and is unparalleled in the progrefs of 
 our commerce. For the year 1780, our 
 imports amounted to 11,700,000/. the ex- 
 ports for the fame year amounted to 
 13,554,093/. ; but for the year 1800, our 
 imports were to the value of 29,9145,808/. 
 and the exports were 35,990,000/. ; being an 
 
 At the peace of Ryfwick (1697) our exports and (hip- 
 ping decreafed, viz. exports, 3)525,987/. — tons of fliip- 
 ping, 144*264. 
 
 If we calculate fix feamen to every hundred tons, we 
 fhall find, that at the beginning of the feventeenth cen- 
 tury, it would give 8662 j and upon an emergency of 
 Vi'ar, by adding one tliird landmen, there might be raifed 
 of men for the navy 11,549, fcarcely fufficient to man 
 fixteen line of battle fliips, according lo theprefentefta- 
 Vlidied complements of men. 
 
 K 3 incrcafc.
 
 ^8 FINANCIAL AND 
 
 incrcafe, during twenty years, of more than 
 double of imports, and nearly treble of ex- 
 ports ; at the fame time the exports of Bntifh 
 irianufiidiures, included in the above, were 
 more than doubled. 
 
 The revenue of the Poft-office alone has 
 increafed twelvefold within thefe laft hun- 
 dred years. At the beginning of the eigh- 
 teenth century, it produced of net revenue 
 about 58,672/.; the average net revenue for 
 four years, from 1702 to 1706, was 61,568/; 
 and for the year ending the 5th of April 
 1800, the grofs revenue was i ,078,420/. and 
 the nctt 717,335/. In thefe laft twelve 
 years the net revenue has been nearly trebled, 
 iince, for the year ending the 5th of April 
 1788, it produced 294,792/. but it now pro- 
 duces more than feven hundred thoufand 
 pounds. 
 
 By comparing the grofs and net revenue 
 of the Pofl-office at prefent, with its grofs 
 and net revenue at different periods of the 
 century, we fhall find that the charges and 
 
 expenfes
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. 69 
 
 expenfes of manngement are now confider- 
 ably lefs than formerly*. It having been 
 very properly obferved by Mr. Anderfon, in 
 his Chronological Hiftory of the Commerce 
 of Great Britain, " that the Poft-officc revenue 
 is in fome fort a kind of politico-commercial 
 pulfe, or teft of a nation's profperity," we 
 have thought it might be gratifying to many 
 readers to exhibit, under one view, its pro- 
 grefs during the eighteenth century, which 
 may ferve as a kind of barometric criterion 
 of our foreign commerce, domeftic trade 
 and confumption, together with the extent 
 
 * For the year 1722, the grofs amount of 
 
 £' 
 
 revenue — — 
 
 — 
 
 201,804 
 
 Net amount 
 
 -- 
 
 98,010 
 
 For the year 1788. — Grofs amount 
 
 — 
 
 527,050 
 
 Ditto. — Net amount 
 
 -- 
 
 294,792 
 
 For the year 1800.— Grofs amount 
 
 
 1,078,420 
 
 Ditto. — Net revenue 
 
 — 
 
 717^335 
 
 The charges of management, in 1722, appear to be 51 
 and a fraGion per cent.; in 1788, at the rate of 43 
 and a fradion per cent. ; and in 1800, at the rate of 
 little more than 33 percent. 
 
 I of
 
 7<^ FINANCIAL AND 
 
 of our foreign and domellic correfpond- 
 ence*. 
 
 The 
 
 * Years. Groft Revenue. Net Rerenue. 
 
 1697 /■58,67» 
 
 Average of 1702 to 1706 61,568 
 
 ,1710 /.1 1 1,461 56,664 
 
 1714 i45»*27 ■ 
 
 1722 201,804 98,010* 
 
 1744 a35'49* 
 
 I754 210,663 ; . 
 
 1764 281,535 
 
 ^774 345»32i 
 
 1784 420,101 . 
 
 1785 463.753 
 
 1786 47i>i76 • 
 
 . 1787 474.347 
 
 1788 527,050 294,792* 
 
 1789 514,53^ r 
 
 1790 533.198 
 
 1791 575>079 r 
 
 1792 585,432 — — . 
 
 179? 607,268 
 
 1797 1,009,179 586,000 
 
 1798 96q,222 623,145 
 1800 1,078,420 7i7»335* 
 
 N. B. The periods marked with afteriflcs, are thofe 
 that are contrafled in note, page 69, to prove the re- 
 duced expenfes of management. 
 
 Remarks. — From 1710, the rates of portages had 
 been increafed one third, and the office extendetl to every 
 dominion of the Crown. In 1774, the franking of 
 letters, now regulated, and other improvements. In 
 57S3, Mr. Palmer's plan firftprefented. In 1784, ad- 
 ditional
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. 7I 
 
 The revenue, arifing from confumption 
 and luxuries, has incrcafcd alfo in a propor- 
 tion beyond what the moft fanguine mind 
 could have imagined. Hence it appears, 
 that the means of paying the burdens una- 
 voidably impofed in this mod arduous con- 
 tefl, where great facrifices muft be made, 
 are adequate to the increafed general wealth 
 and refources of the nation. We have, at 
 the fame time, amidft all our difficulties and 
 facrifices, the cheering confolation to know 
 
 dltional rates of poPcages laid on, and franking reflri6l- 
 cd. In 1797, additional rates of poftages impofed. In 
 the prefent felfion of Parliament, February 18, 1801 ; 
 and fince the laft edition, an additional rate of poftage 
 has been made, and a general modification, by which the 
 revenue will be very materially augmented. Thefe 
 rates are clafTed under the diftindion of diftance, of 
 fo much for one hundred, and fo much more for 150 
 miles, and fo on, without increafing that which pays at 
 prefent the leafl: : Additional duty on letters to Ireland 
 and foreign letters, which laft have not had an addi- 
 tional duty upon them for near a century : Additional 
 charges on letters by crofs ports, and the penny pofl in- 
 creafed to twopence. The whole eftimated to produce 
 « 50,000/. additional revenue. 
 
 that
 
 ^a FINANCIAL AND 
 
 that the enemy*s views of ruining oiii- 
 finances will be completely fruftrated *, fince^ 
 from the foarces whence they flow, they are 
 fo fiir from being exhaufted, that they may 
 ftill, by the wifdom of the Legiflature, be 
 extended to a degree beyond what the gene- 
 rality of people imagine, without giving folid 
 reafons to apprehend ruin and national bank-* 
 ruptcy, as hath been predicated, by many abld 
 and intelligent writers fince the Revolution -fi 
 
 * ^' War is now become a fcience of money. That 
 fide muft firft quit the field whofe exchequer firft 
 fails." Letters by William Eden, Efq. (now Lord 
 Auckland) to Lord Carlifle ; publiflied in 1779. 
 
 t Some of the ablefl men of the feventeenth and eigh- 
 teenth centuries, have periodically entertained the moft 
 defponding and groundlcfs apprehenfions refpefting the 
 financial refources of Great Britain. At the prefent 
 tried crifis, it is our pride and glory to know, from the 
 unerring guide of fa£ls and experience, that the fpecula- 
 tive opinions of the greateft minds, on fubjedls of this 
 nature, are often liable to error and mifconception. 
 
 Dr. D'Avenant's gloomy ideas and prognoftications 
 are already given in the note, page 15. He has been fol- 
 lowed up in a limilar train of thinking by feveral refped- 
 able authorities, namely, Archibald Hutchtfon, Efq. in 
 his Colledlion of Treaties, publifhed anno 1720 ; Tho- 
 mas Gordon, Efq in a Colledion of Trads, publifhed 
 
 ia
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. 73 
 
 in 1722 ; William Richardfon, Efq. on the Canfes of 
 the Decline of foreign Trade, 1738; Lord Lyttelton, 
 in a Letter from a Member of Parliament to a Friend in 
 the Country, publiflied anno 1739 ; Lord Vifcoiint Bo- 
 lingbroke, in Reflexions on the prefent State of the Na- 
 tion, publiOicd anno 1749 ; David Hume, Efq. in his 
 Political ElTays ; alfo in the Hiftory of England, vol. 
 iii. page 215, originally priiitcd in 1761. Mr. Hume, 
 jb late as 1776, Hiltory of England, vol. v. p. 475, 
 note B. obfervcs, ♦' I fuppofe there is no mathematical. 
 Hill lefs an arithmetical demonftration, that the road to 
 the Holy Land was not the road w Paradlfe, as there is, 
 that the endlefs increafe of national debt is the diredl 
 road to national ruin. But having nou> c:miletely reach- 
 ed that goal, it is needlefs, at pruent, to reflcdt on the 
 part. It will be found, in the prefent year 1776, that 
 all the revenues of thisifland north of Trent, and weft of 
 Reading, are mortgaged or anticipated for ever." 
 
 Dr. Price, in his additional Obfervations on the Na- 
 ture and Value of civil Liberty, publiflied anno 1777, 
 fays, " We are now involved in another war, and the 
 public debts are increafing again fafl : the prefent yeaf 
 1777, muft make another grand addition to them ; and 
 what they will be at the end of thefe troubles, no one 
 can tell. The union of a foreign war to the prefent 
 civil war, might perhaps raifc them to two hundred mil- 
 lions \ but more probably it would fink them to nothing. 
 
 The Earls of Stair and Stanhope have more recently 
 trod fimilar gloomy paths of defpondency ; and the j)refs 
 has groaned, for acjntury, with the fugitive produdlions 
 of anonymous writers on the fame fubjcd. 
 
 L CHAP.
 
 74 riNANCIAL AND 
 
 CHAP. V. 
 
 ne Duties of Excife — T/j^ Salt Laws and 
 Fifieries corijidered — Review of our Taxes ^ 
 and their EffeBs, confidered, either as dc^ 
 trimental to the Public or Individuals — 
 Income-tax — ObjeHions to it confidered — 
 Annuitants pay in a greater Proportion 
 than Perfons of landed or funded Inte- 
 rejl — The relative Values detnonjlrative 
 of the Facl — Montcfquieu''s Obferva- 
 tions refpeBing Annuitants — Comparative 
 Statements of the Taxes paid by the upper, 
 jniddle, and lower Clajfes of the Commu- 
 jiity — Amount of the Capital charged on 
 the Income Tax, and Time of Redemption. 
 
 Having thus eftabllfKed, from indubi- 
 table authority, the increafed income and 
 wealth of this country, and that the facility 
 of raifing the public revenue is in dire^^ pro- 
 q portloa
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. 7^ 
 
 portion to the quantity of luch wealth, I fhall 
 now make fome curfory obfervations on the 
 principal taxes impofcd, and confidcr them 
 with regard to their efTeds. Our ears are 
 often allailed, both in and out of Parliament, 
 with clamours againft taxes in general, parti- 
 cularly thofe deemed moft obnoxious, and 
 falling under the management of the excifc. 
 The branches chiefly levied on articles ufually 
 confidered neceflaries of life, fuch as falt^ 
 candles, foap, and leather, are held out in 
 jthe glare of party colouring as the mofl 
 odious. It is urged with plaufibiJity, that 
 thcfe taxes tend to raife the price of provi- 
 (ions and labour, confcquently augment the 
 price of all manufidures, and ultimately 
 tend to dcftroy our trade in foreign markets. 
 But if we calmly examine the mofl: reprchen- 
 fible of our taxes with refped to their efteds, 
 either as being detrimental to the public or 
 to individuals, we fliall find that what is le- 
 vied on the articles jufl mentioned, cannot 
 afll'(5l but in a very fmnll degree the price of 
 I. 2 provifions
 
 ^6 FINANCIAL AND 
 
 provilions and labour. The evils are exag^ 
 gerated, and unfair conclufions drawn frora 
 the premifes. 
 
 Thecxcife levied on the neceHaries of life 
 inay be ftatcd on an average to produce an- 
 nually about one roiiiion and a half, more 
 than half a million of which is paid into 
 the Exchequer for ths article of fait alone*. 
 
 Salt, though a ncceflary of life, has ever 
 been among all nations an article of public 
 revenue -f-. While this country was under 
 
 the 
 
 * It mufl: afford much gratification to the public to 
 find, that on the 14th May 1801, the Chancellor of the 
 Exchequer, Mr. Addington, moved for a committee to 
 confider the expediency of abolilhing the duty on fait, 
 and for fubftituting fome other tax in its ftead. The 
 committee to report from time to time, although Mr. 
 Addington apprehended that nothing could be done on 
 the fiibje£i: till the next feffion of Parliament, 
 
 -|- The duties on fait in France, called Gabclk^ had 
 been eftablifhed in that country fincethe year 1342 ; and 
 it appears from the Compte rendu au Roi, par Af. Necker, 
 Dire£feur General de Financesy in the month of January 
 J78l,that thenet produce of the duties on fait, yielded 54 
 millions of French livres, which is equal to 2,362,500/. 
 (Icrling. Jn the year 1784, when M. Necker publilhed 
 
 his
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. 77 
 
 the Roman dominion, the vending of fait 
 belonged exclufively to the public, which, 
 from its vail confumption, produced an im- 
 menfe revenue to the ftate; but in thofc times 
 the principles of commerce were not well 
 underftood. Every friend, therefore, to the 
 iifheries and naval power of Great Britain 
 inufl wifii for the repeal of the duties on 
 fait. 
 
 As an objed: of national importance, thefc 
 duties have, at different periods during the 
 lafl century, excited much animadverfion and 
 public attention; and it may therefore be of 
 ^fe to take particular notice of a fubjed: fo 
 peculiarly interefting, and fo much connects 
 led with our national profperity. 
 
 his Treatife on the Adminiftratlon of the Finances of 
 France, the net receipt of the Gabclle amounted to 60 
 inillions of French livres, equal to 2,625,000/. fterling. 
 This minider painted in itrong colours the hardlliips 
 and inconveniences which attended this mode of levy- 
 ing money from the fiibjedls, and propofcd the total 
 abolition of the Galfe/Ie, and fiibrtituting other taxes lefs 
 bnrdenfome, more beneficial to the revenue, and bet- 
 ter adapted to promote the trade of the nation. 
 
 The
 
 70 FINANCIAL AND 
 
 The management of the duties upon fait 
 was originally under the diredion of the 
 Board of Excife, and continued fo till the 
 year 1702, when it was formed into a dif- 
 tind cftabliihment, and the Cro\yn was en* 
 ablcd to appoint particular commiflioners for 
 the exprefs purpoic of managing this branch 
 of the revenue, with the fame powers as the 
 Commiflioners of Excife, In confequence 
 oi the recommendation of the Seled: Com- 
 mittee on Finance, Mr. Pitt (2 ill: February 
 1798) moved in a Committee of the Houfe, 
 for leave to brino; in a bill to transfer the 
 management of the fait duties to the Com- 
 miflioners of Excife, which was palled into 
 a lavv' ; and on the i oth day of October 1 798 j 
 It was accordingly transferred. 
 
 There vv'crc in England, under the coin- 
 miflioners for managing the fait duties, up- 
 wards of four hundred and fifty officers em- 
 ployed in this department ; a greater num- 
 ber than were employed in the excife, al- 
 though this lafi yielded a net revenue twenty- 
 times
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. 79 
 
 times larger in amount, and the cxpcnfos of 
 management were greater, in proportion, 
 than of the cuftoms and excife. The annual 
 grofs amount of fait duty, on an average of 
 three years preceding the 5th April 179S, 
 exceeded two millions, which alter deduct- 
 ing the drawhacks, difcount on prompt pay- 
 ment, and for wafte fait carried coaliways, 
 bounty on cured fifli exported, and charges 
 of management, was reduced to ahout one 
 fifth of the grofs amount*; and the net re- 
 ceipt of the fait duty of Scotland Icldom 
 amounted to much more than half the 
 amount of grofs produce -f-. 
 
 Before 
 
 * By ihe ninth Report of the Sclefl: Committee on 
 Finance, it appears that tlie grofs amount of the duty 
 from the 5th April 1795, to the 5th April 1796, %\as 
 2,262,795/. ; but after the ciediidions above enumerated, 
 it was reduced to 429,576/. being tiic whole net pro- 
 duce paid into the Exchequer. In ihc year ending the 
 5th January 1799, the payments made into the Exche- 
 quer for the lotal fall duties in Great Britain, amounted 
 10717,223/. 
 
 t The grofs receipt of the fait duty in Scotland, for tjie 
 
 year
 
 $0 FINANCIAL AND 
 
 Before animadverting on the impolicy of 
 the fait laws, and thehardfliips and reftraints 
 that attend a due obfervance of them by all 
 perfons engaged in the liflieries, it may not be 
 amifs to touch briefly on the progrefs of the 
 feveral ftatutes during the eighteenth cen- 
 tury. By flat. lo & II W. III. c. 22, 
 and Anne, ftat. i. c. 21. a duty was im- 
 pofed on fait at the pits, and entry to be 
 made of fait works and pits, under the pe- 
 nalty of 40/. Commiflioners were appointed 
 with the fame powers as the Commiflioners 
 of Excife. It was alfo cnadted, *' That no 
 rock fait fliall be refined into white fait, 
 except within ten miles oi" the pits, or at 
 fuch places as upon or before the loth May 
 1702 fliall have been ufed for the refining of 
 rock-falt, under the pain of forty fliillings 
 for every bufhel." By ftat. 5 Ann. c. 29. 
 the proprietor of rock-pits fhall clear off the 
 
 year ending 5th January 1797, appears to have been 
 512,300/. ; and after making the dedudion- fordrawbacks, 
 difcounts, bounties, &c. it amounted only to 12,694/. 
 
 duties
 
 POLITICVL FACTS. Ol 
 
 duties of all rock-falt in two days after the 
 chal-ge is made by the officer, or give fecu- 
 tity to pay the fame in twelve months. 
 
 By flat. 3 Geo. II. cap. 20, the duHes on 
 fait made in this kingdom were aboliihed, 
 and the duty on foreign fait to continue, ex- 
 cept for f.dt imported for the Britifti fifli- 
 eries ; no foreign fait to be imported in any 
 veflel of lefs burden than 40 tons, and in 
 bulk only, on pain of forfeiting the fait, and 
 double the value. By flat. 5 Geo. II. c. 6, 
 and 7 Geo. II. c. 6, the duties on fait 
 were revived, and limited for a term of 
 years, to be managed by commiffioners 
 invefled with the fame powers as thofe 
 of the Excife. By ftat. 8 Geo. II. c. 
 12, and 14 Geo. II. c. 22, the fait duties 
 were continued for a further term of years, 
 and proprietors of falt-works in Scotland 
 not to pay their work-people in fait, under 
 the penalty of 20/. By ftat. 26 Geo. II. c. 3, 
 the fait duties are made perpetual, with fun- 
 dry regulations and reftridions, Sec. 
 
 M The
 
 SZ FINANCIAL AND 
 
 The duties are further regulated, and pra- 
 vifions and reftridlions made as to the ufe of 
 fait in the fiflieries, by ftat. 5 Cto. III. c. 43, 
 12 Geo. III. c. 58, 19 Geo. III. c. 52, 20 
 Geo. III. c. 34, 22 Geo. III. c. 90, 25 Geo. 
 III. c. 58, and a variety of fubfequent fta- 
 tutes. By flat. 25 Geo. III. c. 6^y all foul 
 fait ufed for the manuring of land, is liable 
 to the fame duty as Englifli white fait. 
 
 The flat. 39 Geo. III. c. 100, recites the 
 26 Geo. III. c. 81, continued and amended 
 by 35 Geo. III. c. 56, and enadts that all 
 the powers and provilions therein contained, 
 lliall, from and after the ift of March 1799, 
 be revived, and (liall continue in force until 
 the end of the next feiiion of Parliament. 
 
 Although by the late ftatutes, refined Eng- 
 lifh fait be allowed to be imported into Scot- 
 land for the purpofe of curing of fifli, while 
 rock-falt is prohibited to Scotland, at the fame 
 time it is allowed to be exported to foreign 
 countries, and to Ireland, free of duty. Yet 
 the oaths, bonds, fecurities, certificates, and 
 other tedious formalities required by law, to- 
 gether
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. Sj 
 
 gcther with the penalties, if not fliidlly com- 
 phcd with, are altogether lb embarrafling and 
 vexatious, that it is an acknowledged fac^t, 
 they in a great meafure defeat the wife in- 
 tention of the Legiflature. The feveral lakes 
 or lochs, arms, and inlets of the fea on the 
 northern and weltern diilricls of Scotland, 
 are frequented and repleniflicd with innume- 
 rable Ihoals of herring. The inhabitants are 
 difperfedon thecoaftatthe diftance of 20, 30, 
 40 miles, or more, from a cufbom-houfe, or a 
 fait officer, and are fubjedl to great inconve- 
 nience and difficulty in procuring this necef- 
 fary article ; fince by law they muft repair 
 thither, if only for a few buHiels of fait, and 
 make oath that it is intended for the curing 
 of fiffi. They muft at the fams time give 
 bond and fecurity to double the amount 
 of the duty, and anfwer the penalties. This 
 bond is not difcharged until they have caught 
 the herring, and returned with them to the 
 cuflom-houfe ; or if no herring be taken or 
 M 2 cured.
 
 ?4 FINANCIAL AND 
 
 cuifcd, the fait muft be produced, re- weighed, 
 and lodged in charge of the oflicer. 
 
 Thefe laws and reflri^ilions enmbarrafs and 
 diflrefs not only the opulent fifhers engaged 
 in the bufs trade, but fall peculiarly hard 
 upon thofe who are in indigent circum- 
 ilances*. The poor fiflierman, in order to 
 provide himfelf with a fmall quantity of fait, 
 leaves his wife and family, commits himfelf 
 and boy, in an open boat, to the hazard of 
 baffling winds, currents, and accidents, to go 
 a diflance of 30, 40, and in fome places 50 
 miles, to appear before a fait officer. After 
 going through all the tedious formalities pre- 
 fcribed, and of which he probably is wholly 
 
 *The grievances of the fait laws are not confined to 
 the remote coafts of Scotland, but are fenfibly ft- it by the 
 great curers of fifti for exportation on the coaA of Eng- 
 land, alfo by thofe who are engaged in the cod-fifliery, 
 in the North Sea and Iceland. 
 
 At Liverpool and Briftol there are bonds, amounting, 
 it is faid, to feveral hundred thoiifand pounds, which 
 have lain over for feveral years undifcharged for want 
 of complying with all the nunutc formalities required 
 by law. 
 
 ignorant,
 
 POLITICAL FACTS, 85 
 
 ignorant, he returns with anxious cares and 
 fohcitude to the coaft, loch, or inlet, where, 
 on his departure for the fait, he had obfcrved 
 Ihoals of herring ; but his hopes are difap- 
 pointed by the herring, in their migrations, 
 having difippeared ; their route is uncertain : 
 the poor man perfcveres in his toils for days 
 and nights in queft of fubfiflence for himfclf 
 and family, but in vain — his fait may have 
 got damaged or embezzled, and he muft 
 come back with the original quantity to the 
 cuflom-houfe ; and in this fecond voyiige 
 account for what he has expended, with 
 nearly as many formalities as when deli- 
 vered. If he has been fortunate, the ex- 
 penditure of fait is accounted for, by pro- 
 ducing his little flore of filh cured, conform- 
 ably to law. Hence, fiiould the diflance 
 from home be 40 miles (and which is fre- 
 quently the cafe), his traverfes backwards 
 and forwards in purchafing fait for one fmall 
 cargo, will amount to more than 160 miles, 
 being four times the dired courfc or diflance. 
 
 In
 
 86 FINANCIAL AND 
 
 In aggravation of all the trouble, mifery, 
 and expenfe the poor fiflierman has incurred, 
 when unfuccefsful in taking fifli, the penal- 
 ties of the fait laws hanging over him, pro- 
 duce defpondency, reprefs his natural induf- 
 try, and perhaps difcourage him from mak- 
 ing a fecond attempt to cure herring. Thus 
 from hard neceffity, owing to the reilraints 
 and difficulties attending the procuring gf 
 fait, the boat fi flier men on the coafts and lakes 
 are contented to catch no greater quantity of 
 iiih than is neceffary for the fubfiftence of 
 theirfamilies. Hence we perceive the impoli- 
 cy of the prefent fyflemof fait laws, by which 
 the induftrious poor, who conftitute the ma- 
 jority of inhabitants, and from whofe labour 
 the wealth of a nation is chiefly derived, 
 have been for many years excluded from en- 
 joying thofe advantages which their local 
 iituation and the bounty of Providence place 
 within their reach, and where at the fame 
 time Nature, though lavifh in one refpedlj has 
 excluded them from almoft every other ob- 
 je.fl of induftry. 
 
 Whether
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. ^7 
 
 Whether we confider the cfFcdls of thefe 
 laws and reftrid:ions as pecuharly detrimental 
 to a clafs of people, from whom are formed 
 as brave and loyal failors and Ibldiers as any 
 in his Majefty's dominions, and who are 
 ever forward to conquer or perifli in their 
 country's caufe ; or whether we confider 
 the effeds in a commercial, pohtical, or 
 financial point of view, they will no doubt 
 at this critical period appear to be equally 
 defervin^r the fcrious attention of the Leo:if- 
 lature. 
 
 In the reign of Charles the Second, moft 
 fldutiry laws were enadled by the Parlia- 
 ments of England and Scotland, in virtue] of 
 which, all materials ufcd in, or even depend- 
 ing upon the fifhcries, were exempted from 
 all duties, excifes, or imports ^vhatevcr. 
 Dut li families were invited and encouraged 
 to cflabJifli themfelves on the north- weft 
 coail: of Scotland. At the prcfent jundlu'c, 
 were the duties on fait repealed, and proper 
 encouragement extended to the filheries, 
 there would be no difficulty in prevailing 
 
 upon
 
 u 
 
 FINANCIAL AND 
 
 upon many hundreds of Dutch fifhermcn of 
 all clafTes, now prifoners of war in England^ 
 to fettle and eftablilh themfclves with their 
 families on the north and weft coafls of 
 Great Britain, where the fifhcries are moil 
 actively carried on. 
 
 The exiting regulations and reftri6lions 
 with refpe(it to fait counterad; mofl: effediu- 
 ally the wife policy difplayed by the Legif- 
 lature in the flat. 35 Geo. III. c. 56, by 
 which the freedom of the fifheries was ex- 
 tended, under certain reftridiions, to the fub- 
 jeds of the United Provinces ; and among 
 other regulations J it is thereby enadied : "If 
 any perfon being a fubject or inhabitant of 
 th. United Provinces, who has been employed 
 in carrying on the herring, cod, ling, had- 
 dock, or other white fiflieries, or the fiflieries 
 carried on in the Greenland Seas, and 
 Davis's Straits, or the turbot fiflieries, 
 or in building veiTels, or in cutting whale- 
 bone, or in making nets or barrels, or in 
 preparing fait for the faid fiflieries, Hiall 
 4 come
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. 89 
 
 come into this kingdom with intent to refide 
 herein, and Ihall go before feme julh'ce of 
 the peace, flicriff depute or fiibititute, or 
 principal magiilnUe of fonie city or town ia 
 this kingdom, and Ihall take the oath of 
 allegiance to his Majefty, and fliall obtain a 
 certificate of his or their having taken fuch 
 oath, fuch perfon or perfons Ihall be entitled 
 and authorized to carry on the fiflieries, and 
 to import and export fuch fifli or oil, or the 
 produce thereof, to or from any ports in this 
 kingdom, in the fame manner and with the 
 fiime advantages as any Britifh fubjed:, and 
 be entitled to all fuch bounties, premiums, 
 and emoluments, as are granted by the 
 acls of the 26 Geo. III. c. 8i, and 27 Geo. 
 III. c. 10, *S:c." 
 
 But as it is impoflible to cure fifh, parti- 
 cularly herring, without the very beft fait, 
 and the ufmg of which has hitherto been 
 one great caufe of the Dutch herrings caught 
 on our coaft, having a preference m the 
 N markets
 
 go riNANCIAL AND 
 
 of Europe*; it v/ould no doubt be a wife 
 meafure to admit of a free importation of 
 rock-falt from England into Scotland, the 
 fame as allowed to foreign countries and to 
 Ireland. Salt-works might then be eAablitli- 
 ed with effed: at the fevcral fiHiing Nations 
 on the north and weft coafls of Scotland ; 
 the beft common or white fait might be ma- 
 nufadured at a moderate expenfe; and fifli, 
 in plentiful feafons, inftead of being thrown 
 into the fea, which has frequently happened 
 for want of Mt-f, or fold at an under value, 
 
 might 
 
 * The Dutch have been long famous for curing fi/h> 
 meat, butter, &c. better than any nation in Europe, 
 which has been principally owing to the fuperior qua* 
 lity of the fait they made life of. The bell Spanifh or 
 Portugal bay fait is not deemed fufficiently pure ; the 
 Dutch therefore, by a proceXs of their own, which they 
 endeavoured to keep fecret, freed the bay fait from the 
 impurities with which it is mixed, by adding to it a cer- 
 tain quantity of Englifh rock-faU. 
 
 t Loch Fyne, a lake which extends more than 30 miles 
 from the weflern ocean into the county of Argyle, has 
 
 ever
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. ^t 
 
 might become a ftaple article of trade, and be 
 exported in prodigious quantities to feveral 
 ilates of Europe, and to our Weft India co- 
 lonies, in greater quantities than heretofore, 
 {o as to increafe, proportionally, our nur- 
 fery for feamen, contributing to the wealth 
 and'profperity of the nation, and to the com- 
 forts and happincfs of individuals *. 
 
 A moft 
 
 ever been renowned for herring of a fuperior quality, 
 and the country people very emphatically exprefs the 
 fhoals of herring that frequent this Loch, by faying, the 
 Lake contains one part of water and two parts of fifh. 
 The quantity caught in one night has been fo great, that, 
 for want of fait to cure them, frefii herrings havq been 
 fold at Inveraray, the county town, for one penny and 
 three halfpence the hundred. This is not a hearfay 
 report, but a fad that fell within the writer's own ob- 
 fcrvation when on the fpot, at an early period of life, in 
 the year 1772. The value of herrings caught in Loch 
 Fync in the years 1794 and 1795, has been computed at 
 more than 40,000/. each year. In this Loch there are, 
 upon an average of feafons, about 600 filhing-boats cm- 
 ployed. 
 
 * The Dutch ufually employed about 20,000 men In 
 
 their fifhing buiTes on our coail : this mull have given 
 
 i^mploymcnt to 20,000 more people on fliorc ; and then 
 
 jIic foreign cxpt^rts of fifh at Icafl employed an equal 
 
 N 2 number.
 
 9^ FINANCIAL AND 
 
 A moft important fad has been afcertained" 
 by the experiments of philofophical travel- 
 lers, namely, that the fea- water of northern 
 latitudes contains fait in greater quantity than 
 in latitudes under the torrid zone. We find 
 in M. de Page's Travels round the World, a 
 table of feveral experiments and comparifons 
 he made on a hundred pounds of fea-water 
 taken at tlie depth of ten fathoms in differ- 
 ent latitudes, and weighed in a hydroftatical 
 
 number; This obfervatlon will not appear to be exag- 
 gerated, when the reader confiders thofe of Sir Edward 
 Raleigh on the fame fubje£t, in the feventeenth century, 
 and whofe profound refieftions refulted from the wif^ 
 dom of well-applied Induftry. In 1603, he remarks, 
 the Dutch fold to different nations as many herrings as 
 amounted to 1,759,000/. fterling. In the year 161 5 
 they at once fent out 2COO buffes, and employed in 
 them 37,000 fifhermen. In the year 1618, they fent 
 out 3000 fhips, with 50,000 men, to take the herrings, 
 and 9000 more ihips to tranfport and fell the fifli j 
 which by fea and land employed 150,000 men, befides 
 thofe firft mentioned. All this wealth was gotten on 
 our coafts, while our attention was taken up in a diftaat 
 •whale fifhery. 
 
 balancG'.
 
 POLITICAL PACTS. 93 
 
 balance. The refults were, tliat a hundred 
 pounds weight of fcii-wiitcr in latitude 
 46*^ \%' fouth gave four pounds and a half of 
 fait, and in latitude i° i6' only three pounds 
 and a half j and that in latitude -j a^ north, 
 one hundred pounds of fea-water gave four 
 pounds and three quarters, and in latitude 
 4^ 22' north, only three pounds and a half ; 
 thefe being the higheft and lowelt latitudes 
 in which the experiments were made, and 
 alfo the grcateft and leaft quantities of fait. 
 ♦' I had been anxious (fays M. de Page) 
 to afccrtain by comparifon whether fea- 
 water contains fait in greater quantity under 
 tl.e torrid than under the other zones ; and 
 my experiments on this fuhjctft ferved to 
 fliow, contrary to what I cxpcc^led, that fea- 
 water is impregnated with fdt in lefs quai^- 
 tJty within than without the tropics." 
 
 it is, therefore, not furprifing to find other 
 philofophers who have, without exhibiting 
 proofs by expcrimcntr, aflcrted, on rcafonablc 
 
 conjedurc,
 
 94 i'lNANCIAL AND 
 
 conje<flure, the fca to be falter under the lines 
 than towards the poles*. 
 
 An Englilli traveller, Newte, in his Eco- 
 nomical and literary Obl'ervations on a Tour 
 to Scotland, fays, in illullrationof the import- 
 ance of admitting Englifh rotk-falt free of 
 duty into Scotland, and as tending materially 
 to reduce the price of fine fait manufadlured, 
 that fea- water on the coall of Scotland con- 
 tains about three per cent, of fait : the fait 
 manufadurer is therefore obliged to evapo^ 
 rate out of loo tons of fca- water, 97 tons of 
 fi-efh water, in order to obtain three tons of 
 fait ; whereas, if he had the ufeof rock-fidt, 
 iie would be enabled, by diffolving this fub- 
 liance in fca-water before boiling, to obtain 
 out of 100 tons of this folution 23 tons of 
 full, and would not be obliged to evaporate 
 more than 77 tons of water; which would 
 
 * BiifFon, Hifioire Naturelle, torn. ii. p. 61, ed. In. 
 J :mo. '* La mer eft a pen pies egalement falee partcut, 
 r.u iIclFus comme an ioDcl, egalement fous la llgne ct 
 :ki Cap de Bonne "Erperance. On pretend auOi qu'elle 
 clt moins,X|i.lee dans la zohc ardliquco" 
 
 3 further
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. 95 
 
 further be attended with a proportionable 
 iiiving in fuel, time, and labour*. 
 
 Were the free importation of rock-falt into 
 Scotland to be allowed the fame as into Ire- 
 land, fine fait might be manufadured and 
 fold from 15^/. to I Si/, per buHicl, which, 
 imder the prefcnt reflridions, no manufac- 
 turer in Scotland is able to fell for lefs thun 
 three fhillings, or three (hillings and fix- ' 
 pence per bulliel. It is a fa (3: of notoriety, 
 that fait made from rock-falt can, at equal 
 profits to the manuflidurers, be fold at half 
 the price of fait made from fea-water; and 
 bcfides, it will be of a much purer quality. 
 
 The fifherics of Scotland at prefent con- 
 fume about twelve thoufand tons of fait 
 annually ; and as nine thoufand tons of this 
 are found neccfiary to be imported from Por- 
 tugal, a confidcrablc fum is font annually 
 
 • Ncwte's Tour in Fng'ancl and Scotland, page 109, 
 410. ProfclFgr G.anett, a traveller of great chemi- 
 cal abilities, has made fimilar obftrvations, in a late 
 loiir through the Highlands of Scotland, and has ana- 
 lyzed the properties of fait made from fea- water, vol. i. 
 page 151. 
 
 out
 
 q6 financial and 
 
 out of the country to purchafe Portugal bay- 
 falt; whereas, were the free importation of 
 rock-llilt allowed, this money would be 
 thrown into the general mafs of circulation 
 at home, would be beneficial to the fiflic- 
 ries, and many of our manufadories, as 
 well as to the proprietors of the fait mines 
 in ChePnire, by increafmg the demand 
 for rock-llilt in at leafl a threefold propor- 
 tion, and would fupprefs the fmuggling of 
 fait carried on from Ireland to many parts of 
 England and Scotland, to the great detriment 
 of the revenue, and morals of the people. 
 
 The free importation of rock-falt into 
 Scotland would place the inhabitants upon 
 an equal footing with thofe of Ireland ; more 
 efpecially w^ith regard to the curing of filh, 
 as well as beef, pork, and butter, for the 
 navy. It would alfo be of elTential fervice 
 to all manufadures where fait is employed as 
 a necedary ingredient *. 
 
 * Salt is ufed in great quantities in the manufaaures 
 of dreffin^ white leather ; and it is a well-known faft, 
 
 th;5:
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. 97 
 
 It would alfo be produdiive of great ad- 
 vantage, from its comparative cheapnefs, and 
 by the iin retrained ufe of it for the purpofes 
 of agriculture, in amcKorating manure for the 
 improvement of land, and occafionally mix- 
 ing it with the food given to cattle. 
 
 It would ftimulate men of property to 
 rillv their capitals in the fait manufadtories 
 and filLeries -f*. The fouthcrn countries of 
 Europe might be underfold in the northern 
 markets ; and BritiHi fait, of a fuperior qua- 
 
 that the Irifli underfell the Englifli and Scotch in the 
 article of gloves ; and indeed the manufacture of leather 
 is of a fuperior quality, and much better dreflcd than the 
 Englilh, from the advantage of having fait fo cheap. Ij: 
 in alfo employed in the manufadlures of foap, fal-ammo- 
 tiiac, glafs, earthenware, and feveral others. 
 
 t The fifheries are not only advantageous to the {late, 
 confidercd as a nurfcry for feamen, but the duties that 
 would arife from the incrcafed confumption of the feve- 
 ral materials independent of fait, woulil be a great addi- 
 tion to the revenue, befides the employment they give to 
 the various other branches of trade connected with them ; 
 fuch as coopers, fliip-carpenters, blackfmiths, joiners, 
 fail and rope makers, block-makers, fpinners, net 
 makers, befides women and children in gipping> &c. 
 
 o lity,
 
 o8 FINANCIAL AND 
 
 lity, might be made an article of great trade 
 and export. 
 
 Thefe arc fome of the principal advantages 
 that would attend th^i free importation of 
 Englifli rock-falt into Scotland; and as a 
 collateral one, a fum of money no lefs than 
 30,000/. which has been, on the annual ave- 
 rage often years, fent to Portugal to pur- 
 chafe bay-falt, would remain in the country ; 
 and at this critical period with Portugal f it is 
 of great importance to make our hfheries in 
 future independent of aids from foreign 
 countries. 
 
 By encouraging the fifheries of this kmg- 
 dom in the mod extenfive and liberal man- 
 ner, improvements in agriculture and an in- 
 crcafed population would follow. Manu- 
 fadures and commerce would be eflabliihed 
 onthefifhingcoafls, and a confiderable aug- 
 mentation would not only be made to the 
 
 ^ Thefe fiieets were put to prefs at the time the news 
 reached this country of the Spanilh forces having inva- 
 ded Portugal. 
 
 wealth
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. 99 
 
 wealth and profpcrity of the nation, but the 
 comforts and happinefs of the poorer claflTes 
 , throughout the kingdom would be thereby 
 amehorated. 
 
 It ciannot be doubted, that, on ty^iy prin- 
 ciple of found policy and humanity, it would 
 be wife alfo to cherifh and encourage, by 
 every means the wifdom of the Legiflaturc 
 can devife, the remains of a brave and once 
 numerous people in the Highlands of Scot- 
 land *, who, in times of old, flood the tor- 
 rent of the Roman legions under the renown- 
 ed Agricola, and checked their progrefs; who, 
 
 * It is a melancholy truth, that although we find, from 
 the evidence of hiaorical fads, the population of the 
 Highlands of Scotland to have been great in ancient 
 times i yet, within thefc lail fifty years, by the ftatiftical 
 accounts pubhlTied, it appears the population has, in 
 moll parishes (with the exception of fomc towns), con- 
 fiderably decreafed. Tins may be attributed not only 
 to the great difcouragement. the poor people labour 
 under, with refped to the fait laws and fiflxerics, but alfo 
 the prevailing fyftem of (heep-farming, and the land- 
 lords letting fo many fmall farms together to the highell 
 bidder, for the purpofe of being converted into one lar?e 
 poircjOion. ^ 
 
 02 iQ
 
 lOO riNANClAL AND 
 
 in the middle ages, fubdued the Pi(5ls, and 
 foon (liook off the Danifli yoke; and who, 
 in modern times, on all occafions, at homo 
 and abroad, have given confpicuous and dif. 
 tinguilhed proofs of loyalty and intrepidity 
 in the fervice of their King and country *. 
 
 Thus, fince the days of Alfred, as the 
 Foet-laureat fmgs, the fons of Offian have 
 been diilinguiibed for valorous deeds : 
 
 i( From every plain, 
 
 Mountain, and woody vale of Scotia's reign, 
 Her race of manly hardihood Ihe pours, 
 Shining in arms by Perth's imperial towers: 
 From Inverary's bleak and hoary brow. 
 Frowning with craggy rocks, and white with fnow i 
 From chill Lochaber's wild and defert plain, 
 Walh'd by the furges of the riorthern main ; 
 From Grampian hills, with piny forefts crown'd, 
 And Cheviot's heaths, in former fongrenown'd, 
 The generous warriors crowd with fierce delight, 
 Breathing alarms, and panting for the fight." 
 
 Pye's Alfred, an Epic Poenij B. 2. 
 
 * The Highland corps have always been forward to 
 diftinguilh themfelves, and have difplayed equal firmnefs 
 and intrepidity recently before Alexandria, when their 
 gallant Chief, Abercromby, received his death-wound, 
 as on a former occafion, before Qiiebec, when the brave 
 General Wolfe fell covered with glory. 
 
 I
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. IO[ 
 
 The aggregate amount of exclfe on ne- 
 celTaries appears fmall, when compared with 
 the taxes on articles of confumption and 
 luxury, as will be hereafter more particularly 
 noticed, and how fmall in its effl-as with 
 refped: to the price of labour or manufac- 
 tures. I admit, that, were the taxes upon 
 neceil^ries multiplied in the fame ratio as on 
 the articles of general confumption and 
 luxury, there might be fome reafon for the 
 popular clamour; but here we difcover the 
 wife forbearance of the Legiflature : it may, 
 perhaps, excite aflonifhment, at the end of 
 the next fifty years, to find, that in the eighth 
 year of a war, the moft expenfive that Great 
 Britain ever waged, the only new taxes im- 
 pofed in the beginning of 1800, and thefe 
 for the purpofe of paying off the intereft of 
 the new debt created in the fame year, were 
 a fmall increafed duty of 5 per cent, on the 
 higheft priced teas, and a fmall additional 
 o 3 duty
 
 102 
 
 FINANCIAL AND 
 
 duty on foreign and Britifli fpirlts, both efli- 
 mated at 350,000/. * 
 
 * 14th Feb. 1800. Opening of the budget. See 
 Parliamentary Debates. 
 
 WefinJ, that, on the opening of the budget, i8th Feb. 
 1801, and in the ninth year of war, the new taxes im- 
 pofed are eflimated to amount to 1,730,00c/. They 
 fall on eleven articles, that cannot materially afFed the 
 public, viz. 
 
 Paper — — — 
 
 Tea — — 
 
 t Printed cotton — 
 
 Sugar — — 
 
 Pepper 
 
 Stamps 
 
 Horfes ■ 
 
 Poft-office 
 
 Timber 
 
 RaifiHS 
 
 Lead 
 
 ^.132. 000 
 
 3c 0,000 
 
 154,000 
 
 iGi-,ooo 
 
 119,000 
 
 350,000 
 
 306,000 
 
 150,000 
 
 95,000 
 
 10,000 
 
 12,000 
 
 ^.1,794,000 
 
 The fum to be provided for as intereft of the loan is 
 about 1,785,000/. 
 
 t The tax on printed cotton lias been fmcc repealed. 
 In a Committee of Ways and Means faoth May 1801), 
 the Minifler moved the following taxe?, in lieu of 
 printed cottons and pepper exported : — ift, An addi- 
 tional duty on the -probates of wills, under certain mndin- 
 cations— 2d, Additional duty en deeds— 3d, Additional 
 duty on licenfes— 4th, Additional duty of bd, on ^each 
 pack of card?, and 2s. 6J. additional duty per pair on 
 dice ; the whole ellimated to produce 2^4,000/. 
 
 It
 
 POLITICAL FACTS, IO3 
 
 It may appear equally Grange, that in the 
 fame year (iSoo), the advantages derived 
 to the pubhc by the loan v^-ere lingular, and 
 that no loan in the lafl century is, in that re- 
 fpect, to be compared to it. The Miniflcr 
 (Mr. Pitt) raifcd iS millions and a half at 
 a Icfs x.itc. than the legal intcreft of 5 per 
 cent, (ince it is fairly calculated the money 
 was borrowed a fraction under the rate of 
 41 per cent. viz. 4/. 14/. per cent. At the 
 fame time exchequer bills, bearing an intc- 
 reft of about 5I per cent, were in the market 
 at 2x. and y, per cent, premium*. Thefe 
 fimplc fadts prove, beyond the power of 
 controvcrfy, the mcreafcd wealth and profpe- 
 rity of the nation ; and may be contemplated 
 by every perfon having the welfare of his 
 country at heart, as demonflrative of the be- 
 
 * In the beginning of the eighteenth century, loans 
 were made at 8 and () per cent, exchequer bills weie at 
 the difcount of 50 per cent, and even Bank of England 
 notes, fooM after the Bank's Hid ertablilliment, were at 
 14 and I 5 per cent, difcount. Campbell's Political Sur- 
 vey of Great Britain,* vol. ii. p. 54. 
 
 neficial
 
 104 FINANCIAL AN» 
 
 ncficial efFedts refulting from the prefent fyfr 
 tern of finance. 
 
 The difrt^rent manafadiires on which ex- 
 cife duties are levied, namely, paper, glafs, 
 wire, and printed linens, produce, on an 
 average, about half a million, not being the 
 fiftieth part of the whole permanent taxes. 
 The fbamp duties, which originated with the 
 Dutch, w^ere firfl: eftabiidied in this country 
 in the year 1671, and in the beginning of 
 the eighteenth century produced only about 
 70,000/. The produce of this branch of the 
 revenue, in 1788, Was 1,278,214/. ; for the 
 year ending the 5th January 1798, it pro- 
 duced of net revenue* 1,727,294/. ; and at 
 this time (Feb. 1801) it produces upwards 
 of two millions : confequently it has in- 
 creafed, during an hundred years, in a twenty- 
 five iold degree. 
 
 The revenue derived from this mode of 
 taxation is unexceptionable, fince the burden 
 
 * Vide Twenty-third Report of the Sele6l Committee 
 on Finance. 
 
 on
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. IO5 
 
 on each indivieiual being but finall, is little 
 felt by the public. The lower ranks of the 
 community are almofl: totally exempt, as 
 having little or no occafion for ftamped writ- 
 ings, nor for wearing articles on which 
 ftamps are required. This tax, therefore, 
 falls heaviefl where it ought, namely, upon 
 the higher and middling dalles. 
 
 In comparing the net average produce of 
 permanent taxes for the three years preceding 
 5th January 1800, and which were created 
 previoufly to the year 1785, with the average 
 amount of three years in peace, preceding 
 January 1793, we find they produced an 
 excefs of one million and a half annually -f* ; 
 and in comparing the net produce of the faid 
 permanent taxes on the 5th January 1800, 
 viz. nearly 15 millions and an half, with the 
 net produce exifling in a year of profound 
 peace (1785), we find it exceeds the latter 
 by 4,163,000/. This fad:, together with 
 
 'Y Refoliitlon of the Houfc of Commons, July 28ili, 
 1800.
 
 I06 FINANCIAL AND 
 
 the experience of three years of the affefTed 
 and income taxes, by raifing fo much of the 
 fupplies within the year, prove how much 
 the commerce, wealth, and refources of the 
 country have increafed, and what a fmall 
 proportion of thofe taxes falls on the necef< 
 faries of life. 
 
 The tax on income has, with a few ex- 
 ceptions, been found wife and politic in 
 its principles, and has fucceeded beyond cal- 
 culation, in relieving public credit, by railing 
 the funds, while it efFc<5tually tended to fruf- 
 trate the views of the enemy, in their chief 
 hopes of fuccefs, by ruining our finances. 
 It alfo produced a prodigious faving to the 
 nation in the loans which have fince been 
 made; and this, combined with the opera- 
 tions of the redemption of the land-tax, 
 raifed the funds, and kept them at leail: 1*7 
 per cent, above their former level *, until the 
 
 temporary 
 
 * Mr. Pitt, in his fpcecb on Mr. Tierney's motion 
 to bring in a bill to limit the duration of the tax on in- 
 come
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. IO7 
 
 temporary deprcffion which has now (viz. 
 
 Feb. 1801) happened in confequence of the 
 
 impending war with the Northern powers *. 
 
 When to thefe coniiderations we add, that 
 
 upwards of 400,000 individuals, of every 
 
 defcription, hold fliares in the funds of this 
 
 come (June 5, 1800), made feveral pertinent obferva- 
 tions on the probable efFed, that the borrowing all the 
 money, which has been raifed for three preceding years, 
 would have upon the public funds, if the old fyftem 
 only had been adhered to. At the firft of thefe three 
 years, Mr. Pitt faid, ** he believed ftock would be found 
 to be, inftead of 48, 45 ; and that it rofe from that to 
 55 i and that, in the year 1801, it rofe to 61 ; fo that 
 here was an increafe of 16 upon 4^ ; that is to fay, an 
 increafe in ftock of between 33 and 34 per cent." 
 
 But as in no inftance it is necelfary to avail myfelf of 
 the full extent of the arguments arifing from the fads 
 adduced, I am content to take the medium, by calculat- 
 ing upon 17 per cent, gained to the public by loans, in 
 confequence of the operations refulting from raifing fa 
 much of the fupplies within the year. This calcula- 
 tion is fairly made upon grounds t.iat it is trufted will 
 be admitted, fince ii is prefumed 3 per cent, ftock, by 
 the old funding fyftcm, might have kept the level, or not 
 exceeded 52 per cent. ; and as it lofe from the caufes 
 juft alligned to 61, in the year 1800, this made an in- 
 creafe of 9 upon 52, which is equal to an increafe of 
 ftock, as mentii'ncd, of about 17 percent. 
 
 * The firft edition of this woik was publifhcd at the 
 time the naval armament was preparing for the Baltic. 
 
 p 2 country
 
 1 08 FINANCIAL AND 
 
 country, it requires little argument to fliow, 
 that the income-tax, in its general efFedts, 
 has been of no inconfiderable advantage to 
 the landed, as well as to the mercantile in- 
 tereils of this kingdom. 
 
 There however appears too much jufticc 
 ^ fome of the objedlions raifed againft the 
 inccme-tax, which perhaps, on revision, may- 
 be modified and amended, by the wifdom of 
 the Legiilature : fuch as, that gentlemen of 
 the army and navy *, who have been dedi- 
 cating their lives to the fervice of their King 
 and country, ought not to pay in the fame 
 proportion as other individuals, but Ihould 
 rather be exempted from this tax. 
 
 * The army and navy ought to be exempted from 
 many other taxes, more efpeclaliy as their pay has not 
 kept pace with the price of labour and provifions. Ac- 
 cording to the ancient regime In France, the officers 
 had particular indulgences in this refpedl ; and have now, 
 in many countries in Europe. Since the commence- 
 ment of the prefent war, the navy officers have been ex- 
 empted from the duty on wine drank on board King's 
 ffiips. Why (hould not this be extended to the officers 
 of the army, vv^hile on fervice in the field or camp?, under 
 proper rcUritSlions ? 
 
 It
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. 1 09 
 
 It is alfo objedcd to the income-tax, that 
 
 it aifeds fliiauating property ariflng from 
 
 trade. Hence, from its inequality, it does 
 
 not properly fill under the fccond propofi- 
 
 tion on finance, page 5. That it alfoafteds 
 
 annuitants, and every man depending upon 
 
 his labour and indullry, fuch as the farmer, 
 
 tradefman, Ihopkeeper, mercliant, and pro- 
 
 feflionnl man, who have fluctuating incomes, 
 
 and ought not to be taxed in the fame pro- 
 
 portion as thofe polTefTing fettled incomes 
 
 arifing from landed or funded property. 
 
 The annuitants of every defcription are 
 very numerous in the kingdom. Befides 
 officers of the army and ravy, there arc 
 widows with jointures, polfefTors of entailed 
 eftatcs, tenants by the curtefy, judges, 
 bifhops, and clergy, &c. The value of an an- 
 nuity on a life is generally eftimated, on tak- 
 ing the medium of old and young, to be 
 worth 1 2 years purchafe ; hence an annuity 
 of 200/. eflimated at 12 years purchafe, is 
 worth only 240c/. ; which capital, laid out 
 
 at
 
 no FINANCIAL AND 
 
 at 5 per cent, intcrcft, would produce a per- 
 manent income of 1 20/. ; and although this 
 annuitant pays one tenth of 200/. it ought 
 in juflice to be according to the intrinfic va- 
 lue ; and in proportion of the prefent fchedule 
 of income-tax, it fhould be no more than a 
 thirty-fecond part of 120/. ; makirg 3/. 15/, 
 infted of 20/. acflually paid for the annuity. 
 Thus it appears, that the income-tax, in this 
 as well as in many other refpecfts, requires 
 modification, fince it is obvious the annuitant 
 of 200/. pays in an equal proportion as the 
 perfon having a permanent income, to the 
 fame amount, from the interefi: of funded 
 capital, or from landed property. The in- 
 trinfic value of the annuity, at 12 years 
 purchafe, will be, as already flated, 2400/0 
 But the value of 200/. per annum, arifing 
 from interefi of capital, will be, at 20 years 
 purchafe, worth 40C0/. ; and the fame in- 
 come, arifing from landed property, will 
 produce, eflimatinglandat 30 years purchafe, 
 6000/. Hence, by this flatement, the annui- 
 tant
 
 POLITICAL FACTS, 
 
 III 
 
 tant pays in the unequal proportion of near- 
 ly two to one, compared with the permanent 
 income arifing from funded capital, and 
 nearly as three to one compared with the 
 landed income. 
 
 In order to dcmonilrate this fad in another 
 fhape, let us afTumc the relative values of the 
 above different defcriptions of incomes, and 
 from the permanent intereft they will re- 
 fpe(5lively produce, calculate the proportion- 
 ate tax which ought to be paid. 
 
 
 Intrin c Le^al In- 
 
 Proportion 
 
 Tax to be 
 
 Firft, The annuity of 
 
 Values. 
 
 terefl. 
 
 to be paid. 
 
 paid. 
 
 aoo/.at I a yqarspurchafe, 
 
 £' 
 
 £' 
 
 
 £. s. d. 
 
 is worth 
 
 2400 
 
 I20 
 
 32dpart. 
 
 3 IS 
 
 Second, The income 
 
 
 
 
 
 of 200/. arifing from the 
 
 
 
 
 
 intercft of capital, at 20 
 
 
 
 
 
 years f urchaie, is worth 
 
 40C0 
 
 200 
 
 loth part. 
 
 20 
 
 Third, The income of 
 
 
 
 
 
 »oo/. a year landed pro- 
 
 
 
 
 
 perty, at 30 years pur- 
 chafe, is worth .... 
 
 6000 
 
 300 
 
 loth part. 
 
 30 
 
 The truth of the above flatcment is dif- 
 covcred between the extremes, whereby it 
 appears, that, on every jufl: and fair prin- 
 ciple, the annuitant of 200/. ought to pay 
 
 only
 
 JnZ FINANCIAL AND 
 
 only 3/. r5-r. inftead of 20/. to which he is 
 now fubjedl ; and that in the fame fcale of 
 intrinfic value, the man of 200/. a year, land- 
 ed property, fliould, according to the fche- 
 duJe of income-taXi pay 30/. ; the annuitant 
 therefore being made to pay a tax in equal 
 proportion to the other two claffes, appears 
 tinjufl ; fince, from this laft ilatement, it is 
 proved he thereby pays as iix to one, com- 
 pared with the middle term, and nearly in 
 the proportion often to one, compared with 
 the landed interefl. 
 
 The above fingle example, it is conceived, 
 will fuffice to (how, that the income-tax, 
 although the policy and expediency of its 
 general principles be admitted, is in many 
 parts exceptionable, and will, on a future re-r 
 vifion, require modifications and amend- 
 inents. 
 
 While thefe objed:ions are admitted, it 
 muft not be palTed unnoticed, that the ine- 
 quality complained of, though in many in- 
 fiances jftriking, is more or lefs infeparable 
 
 from
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. JI3 
 
 from every fubjed: of taxation, fince a pcr- 
 fcdi fcale or gradation of taxes has not hither- 
 to been devifed by human ingenuity. 
 
 There i5, however, an observation that 
 Montefquieu makes refpediing annuitants, 
 that maay have confiderable^ weight iti the 
 fcale of taxation. He obfervcs, " that there 
 are four claffes of men who pay.tlie debts of 
 the flate ; the proprietors of land, thofe .ea»- 
 gaged in trade, the labourers and artificcTS, 
 and annuitants of the ilate, or of private 
 people. Of thefe four clafles, the laft, in a 
 cafe of neceffity, one would imagine, ought 
 leaft to be fpared, becaufe it is a clafs en» 
 tirely paflive, while the flatc is fupportcd by 
 the ^£tiwe vigour of the other three *." There 
 
 * " II y a quatre clafTeS de gens qui payenfles dettes 
 tie I'etat : les proprietaires des fqnds dc terre, Ccux.qoi 
 exercent leur induftrie par le negoce, les laboureurs 
 et artifans, enfin les rentiers de I'ctat ou dcs partit:u- 
 lieres. De ces ijuatre claffes la derniere dan? un casidfe 
 neccffiie fcmblcroit devoiretre la moins menagee, parco- 
 que c'eft une claflTe entierement paffive dans I'etat, 
 tandis que ce memo etat eft foutenii par la forte aftive 
 dci trov autres." Dc rEfpritdes Loix, lib. xxii. c, 18.
 
 114 FINANCIAL AND 
 
 is alfo another ftrong argument, that the Mi- 
 m{\:ct (Mr. Pitt) made ufe of*, namely, 
 that a prpvifion is made in the income bill, 
 for perfons who are anxious to fccure their 
 offspring, by making a fmall infurance, 
 which is to be deduded from the tax on 
 income. 
 
 If we candidly examine all the objedlibns 
 made againft the inequality of the income- 
 tax with mathematical precifion, we may 
 £nd fome flanding on juft grounds, while 
 others remain problematical. If- we alTume 
 as data the extremes of taxes paid by the 
 lower and upper orders of the community, 
 and thence reafon upon the mean of the two 
 extremes, we might approach the truth ; 
 but as all calculations of this kind are rather 
 complex, and would exceed the limits of the 
 curfory viev/ oi faBs here intended, I fhall 
 only further make a few brief obfervationSy 
 tending to prove, that neither the upper nor 
 the lower orders have reafon to complain. It 
 
 * Debates, Parliamentary Regifter, Dec. 14, 1798. 
 
 4 is
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. II5 
 
 is a fad univerfally admitted, that the mid- 
 dle clafles of fociety contribute in a greater 
 proportion towards all kinds of taxes, than 
 either thepoorefl labourer or the richefl peer. 
 We may take, for example, the man of 1 500/. 
 of annual income, as a mean of the ex- 
 tremes. According to the ufual eftablifh- 
 ment of this clafs, he pays by the dircv^l 
 taxes on income, horfcs, fcrvants, carriages, 
 houfes, windows, dec. at a moderate calcula- 
 tion, about 250/. annually, being one fixth 
 of his income. He pays alfo, though 
 not fo fenfibly felt, by indired: taxes on ar-. 
 tides of neceffity, convenience, and luxury 
 (fuppofing his expenditure to be equal to 
 his income), at leaft 500/. additional, being 
 one third more of his annual income, making 
 together, by di'rc^ and indire£l taxes, no lefs 
 than one half of his real annual income *. 
 
 * Although the confumer pays, by the operation of 
 indiredl taxes, to the amount ftated, yet not more than 
 two thirds goes into the Exchequer. Many political 
 writers have alTcrted, that individuals of the middle clafs 
 pay at the rate of i6f. in the pound. This, however, 
 has never been fatisfadlorily demonftrated, 
 
 0.2 The
 
 ffV^ FINANCIAL AND 
 
 ■ The- labourer, artift, or mechanie, lia-ve 
 comparatively little reafon to complain, as, 
 with- the fmall annua} produce of their in* 
 diallry, in the prefcnt fcale of t:ixation, they 
 d<> hoi contribute a fra(5lJon to the afl^efled 
 awd^ income taxes, and not more perhaps- 
 than one twentieth, or at moft one fifteenth 
 of their amiaai income to the indirect taxes. 
 The (Condition of i^he labouring poor is not' 
 conYparatiYely worfe now than at former 
 ^ti^eds?-, ^osfidering that the increafed price 
 oi":^ab«»'Ar kas nearly kept pace with the ave- 
 ra'ge pcice of provifions * ; and confidering 
 
 * /V though the price of labour has, in the eighteentJ* 
 century, nearly kept pac^ witr; the average price of pro-^ 
 vifions, yet it is believed, by the beft writers on political 
 economy, that no injury can thereby poliibly accrue to 
 our foreign trade. It is the increafed capital, quick re- 
 turns, circulation of wealth, and angmenicd confump- 
 tion of the produce of induftry, vhich promote foreign 
 commerce. Hence, perhaps, the expediency and policy 
 of favouring a moderate irxreafe of wages to the in- 
 duftrious clafs of labourers, on the principles fuggefted 
 by a refpeclable Member of Parliament (in his letter. 
 Appendix,, No. 7}, might be attended with falutary 
 efFeds. 
 
 alfd,
 
 POLITICAL PACTS. tlj^ 
 
 alfo, the voluntary benefactions in times of 
 (carcity, which no age or cuuntry has ever 
 equalled. Were it to fall within the limits 
 of my talk to enter into minute calculations 
 on this fubjcCt, tlie fiKlls juft mentioned 
 might be ilcmonlh-ated as clearly as any pro- 
 polition of Euclid *. 
 
 * The capital, created in the prefent year (February 
 iStDi), will add 20 millions to ihe public di^bt, which, 
 added to the 56 nulliorib already charged on the income- 
 tax, will amount to 76 millions; the whole of which, 
 according to Mr. Pitt's calculations, will, by the opera- 
 tions of the linking fund, together with the income- 
 tax, be redeemed in fix years. But as, on the return of 
 peace, many ihoufand perfons will emigrate from this 
 country, the revenue will thereby fuifer, unieis fuch per- 
 fons are made to pay ihe income-tax during their ab- 
 fence. During laft peace, no fewer than 40,000 Britilh 
 fubje<£ls refided in Fr ..cr- ; and piobably a greater num- 
 ber may be induced : uin to emigrate, the u-gregate of 
 whofe incomes may be computed at 20 millions. A 
 tax paid on quitting the country was known to the 
 Romans, and called Cen/us emigrationis. *' Every man 
 (as Vattel, on the Laws of Nations, obferves) has a riglit 
 to quit his country, on making it a compenfation for 
 •What it has done in his favour." 
 
 CHAP.
 
 l^rft FINANCIAL ANI> 
 
 CHAP. vr. 
 
 RejleBioris on the ^cf/:on of a total Exempt 
 tion jf 'Taxes, in favour oj the lower Clafs-^—- 
 Do5lor Franklin s Obfervations — Hints 
 for an equitable Scale of taxing Income y on 
 an Eifiergency, in proportion to the Mafs of 
 P ropcrty— Taxes inipofed duriiig the Domi- 
 nion of the Romans in Great Britain — - 
 Toll Taxes peculiar at prcfejit^ as well as 
 in the Time of the Romans^ to 7noft Coun- 
 tries of Europe — Necejfaries of Life taxed 
 in Holland — Comparative Advantages of 
 this Country cjlimated. 
 
 At has been queftioned by fome able politi- 
 cians, whether a total exemption from taxes 
 in favour of the lower clafs would contribute 
 to their comforts and happinefs, or tend to 
 lower the price of labour and manufadlures, 
 fince it is well known, that where the ne- 
 
 celiaries
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. II9 
 
 celTarics of life are to be had at too eafy a 
 rate, idlcnefs is often encouraged, and the 
 fame Iki U and induftry would not be employed 
 by the workmen in bringing maniifa<5lurcs 
 to perfection . It is found, that in years of 
 fcarcity there is generally more labour than 
 in plentiful years *. Should, however, 
 fcarcity continue many years fucceffively, 
 wages mufl confequently rife till the labourer 
 finds comfortable living. Hence a falutary 
 idodtrine, as Lord Kaimes obferves, in his 
 Sketches of the Hiilory of Man f, '* That 
 tvherc the expenfeof living equals, or nearly 
 equals, what is gamed by bodily labour, mo- 
 
 * Dr. Franklin, in his Political Fragments, obferves, 
 ** The common people do not work for pleafure gene- 
 fally, but from nccelHty. Cheapnefs of provifions 
 makes them more idle; lefs work is then done ; it is 
 then more in demand proportionally, and of coiirfe the 
 price rifes. Dearnefs of provifions obliges the manti- 
 fa£lurers to work more days and more hours : thus 
 more work is done than equals the ufual demand; of 
 courfe, it becomes cheaper, and the manufa£lures in 
 confequence." 
 
 t Vol. ii. page 293, 
 
 derate
 
 ,720 FINA.NCIAL ANB 
 
 •derate taxes, from time to time, after confix 
 derablp intervals, will promote induftry, 
 without railing the price of labour." 
 
 A repeal, however, of fome of the taxes 
 on the nec^flliries of life, and which are felt 
 fey the labQuring poor, is an event *' devoutly 
 to be wified,'* At the fame time we are con- 
 vinced of the policy and expediency of the 
 lower orders contributing their mite, by mo- 
 derate taxes, in return for the aid and pro^ 
 te6lion the Government under which they 
 ]ive affords them, in common with the mid- 
 die and higher cJaifes. Were a total aboli- 
 tion of thefe taxes to take place, it would 
 be, as it were, breaking a link in the chair> 
 of focicty, and dcllroying the progreffive 
 fcale of confidcration and confequence among 
 the different ranks of a free flate. 
 
 As the neceflity of extraordinary and uni- 
 verfal exertions at this crilis is admitted, 
 facrifices muft be made by every clafs, in 
 proportion to the accumulated difficulties we 
 have to encounter. The extent and fuffi- 
 
 ciency
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. 121 
 
 ciency of our refourccs are afcertained. The 
 wealth of the country, and its powers to fuf- 
 tain extraordinary efforts, in a moft arduous 
 conteft, arc not denied. It is alfo eflabliflied, 
 by convincing proofs, that the general wealth 
 of the country has been progreflively increaf- 
 ing for thefe hundred years, and, fo far 
 from being impaired during the war, is con* 
 iiderably augmented. 
 
 While our independence and exigence 
 as a nation depend upon the firmncfs and 
 exertions of the people in this eventful 
 llruggle, we ought not to repine at the 
 burdens unavoidably impofed, but fhould, 
 if neceffary, cheerfully contribute one fifth, 
 nay, one fourth, of our incomes, to fave the 
 remainder from the rapacious grafp of an in- 
 veterate enemy *, Incalculable advantages 
 
 may 
 
 * Although the writer may excite the fneer of fome 
 critics, he will hazard an opinion, that he believes it 
 would be congenial to the feelings of the majority of 
 wealthy merchants in England, to contribute one fifth 
 of their incomes for the enjoyment and protedlion of the 
 R remainder,
 
 122 FINANCIAL AND 
 
 may reafonably be expected to refult from 
 our flcady perfeverance and manly exertions 
 to obtain an honourable termination of the 
 war, as well as to fecure our future independ- 
 ence. Then will the vigour and fpirit cha- 
 radleriftic of the Englifh people, the public 
 credit and competency of our refources, be 
 proved beyond difpute, and will be eftabhfh-' 
 ed on a bails moie fohd than ever fell to the 
 lot of any human inftitution. 
 
 During the dominion of the Romans in 
 
 remainder, and for the profecution of the war in which 
 we are involved, rather than fubmit to hunniliating or 
 infecure terms of peace. Were a fcale of taxing in- 
 come, with proper modifications for annuitants or te- 
 nants for life, to be applied in proportion to the mafs of 
 property protefted by Government, it might, on an 
 emergency, be made extremely produdive, more ef- 
 pecially if equitably adjuft?d, by taxing all incomes 
 of 5000/. and upwards, at one fifth — incomes of 4000/. 
 and not exceeding 5000/. at one fixth — incomes of 
 3000/. at one fevtnth — of 2000/. at one eighth — of , 
 1500/. at one ninth — and incomes of 300/. and not ex- I 
 ceeding 1500/. at one tenth ; and the fcale to continue 
 defcending in the fame ratio from 300/. income to 60/. 
 as in the fchedule of proportions in the income adl, 
 from 200/. 
 
 this
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. I 23 
 
 tJiis country, feveral taxes, that were inafiter 
 times deemed particularly obnoxious, were 
 levied, namely, a capitation or poll tax*; 
 taxes upon births and burials : an import in 
 the nature of an excife, to a very confider- 
 able amount, arofc from arable, as well as 
 pafture lands, alio on the produce of the land 
 (independent of tithes). In addition to all 
 thefe taxes, inland duties and culioms were 
 levied, in an arbitrary manner, upon all goods 
 according to their value, fometimes at five, 
 and at other times at feven and an half per 
 t:ent. t ; and, what in the prefent age will 
 appear extraordinary, there was a tax upon 
 
 * Moft countries of Europe at this time have poll- 
 taxes, viz. RufTia, Sweden, Denmark, 6cc. A tax of 
 this nature is liable to become arbitrary and opprellive, 
 under the beft of governments, and may be gradually 
 augmented till the burden becomes intolerable. On the 
 contrary, when a revenue is chiefly raifed by a tax on 
 commodities, the limits to which it can be carried with- 
 out opprelFrng the people, prefent themfelves to Govern- 
 ment by a decreafe in the revenue proportioned to the 
 increafe of duties injudicioufly impofcd. 
 
 -h Dion. Hirt. Rom. lib. Ixj'i^ 
 
 R 2 horfes
 
 10,4 FINANCIAL ANd 
 
 ^orfes dungy and another equally whimfical 
 and fingular, called Fefpa//a;i*s taxy men- 
 tioned by ancient and modern writers *. 
 
 The whole revenue of the province of 
 Britain was fuppofed to amount to at leaf! 
 two millions flerling, equal to what it was 
 in the reign of James II. fixteen hundred 
 years after the Roman dominion -f. 
 
 In the time of the Romans, as well as at 
 the prefent epoch, the burdens of the people 
 muft have been great, though perhaps not 
 oppreffive, fince the multiplicity of taxes is, 
 in a mcafure, balanced by the increafed ex- 
 penfes of the Government, in fupporting 
 the fplendour and dignity of a crown, toge- 
 ther with its civil, military, and naval efta- 
 
 * Eutrop. lib. vi. cap. 14. Tacit. Annal. lib. i. cap, 
 II. Such readers as may be defirous to have a particular 
 account of the fingular tax alluded to, will find it in 
 Campbell's Political Survey of Great Britain, vol. ii, 
 p. 493. Alfo an anecdote of Vefpafian and his fon, 
 Telative to it, recorded by Bacon, in his Collediou of 
 Apophthegms, No. 211. 
 
 t Henry's Hid. vol. i. p. 238. 
 
 blifliments.
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. 1 25 
 
 blifhments, the building and repairing of 
 fhips, and a variety of contingent anicles, 
 whereby the greateft part of the revenue arif- 
 ing from taxes is gradually diffufed among 
 the people, and then, like the vital principle, 
 is conftantly returning to the fources whence 
 it had been drawn. Moreover, where the 
 foreign trade of a nation is maintained chiefly 
 by its native commodities and manufa(ftures, 
 its continual fupplies oi' wealth will pour in 
 and be circulated in every diredion amongrt 
 all claiTes, paffing from one hand to another; 
 and like one of the laws of nature, the adion 
 and re-adlion, in this refr>ed:, will always be 
 equal. From all which it may juftly be in- 
 ferred, that our taxes, i'o far as laid on arti- 
 cles of general confumption, and luxury, 
 contribute not a little to the public welfare, 
 by promoting an adive and regular circula- 
 tion, exciting induftry, encouraging talents, 
 and rcprefling idlenefs. 
 
 Notwithftanding the accumulation of 
 taxes within the la(l century, it mull afford 
 
 confolation
 
 126 FINANCIAL AND 
 
 confolation to a reflecting mind, that many 
 oppreffive fources of taxation peculiar to 
 other countries, have not been introduced 
 into this. In Holland the indifpenfuble ne- 
 tefTaries of life even, were fabjccl to high 
 excife duties, namely, wheat, and ground 
 corn of all forts^ butter, butcher's meat, 
 poultry, fruits, and vegetables, &c. *. 
 
 The hiftorical lads of more than a cen- 
 tury, however, prove the colofTal power to 
 which the States of Holland had rifen, and 
 how rapidly the wealth of the fubjeds had 
 increafed, under burdens that muil have 
 ruined any other than a trading nation. We 
 find that the excife of victuals at Amflerdam 
 was, I 30 years ago, more than half the ori- 
 ginal value of the fame*!'. 
 
 All taxes of the nature jufi: mentioned, are 
 not only impolitic, and no Icfs detrimental 
 
 * See Appendix to Sir John Sinclair's Hiftory of the 
 Public Revenue, Part III. Similar taxes were levied 
 in feveral ftates of Italy. — Smith's Wealth of Nations, 
 vol. iii. p. 340. 
 
 t Sir William Peity's Political Arithmetic, chap. L 
 
 a, to
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. 1 27 
 
 to the public revenue than to individuals ; 
 but they are alfo extremely partial and op- 
 preflive, as they materially tend to raife the 
 price of labour, and it is obvious would ex- 
 clufively fall, notwithftanding popular feel- 
 ings, on the fuperior ranks of people. If, 
 therefore, from known fadts, we take relative 
 eftimates of the various advantages this 
 country intrinfically poflelTes over all others, 
 in refpedl: to the wealth, power, and re- 
 fources of the nation, we (liall duly appre- 
 ciate the bleffings we enjoy under Divine 
 Providence, and a conftitution allowed to 
 be the beft that human wifdom ever de- 
 viied. 
 
 CHAP.
 
 128 FiNANCiAL AND 
 
 CHAP. VII. 
 
 Conjiderat'ion of the AJfertions made tending 
 to excite popular Difcontenr on the prefcnt 
 high Price of Provi/ions — Arguments in 
 Refutation of the AJfertions that the War 
 is the principal Caufe — Proofs and Wu ft ra- 
 tions of the average Prices of Wheat for 
 Tears of Peace and War in the eighteenth 
 Century — Additional Proofs of the aver- 
 age Prices of JVheat in War and Peace 
 during thefcventeenth Century, with com- 
 parative Cheapnefs in War — Reflexions on 
 this Topic — Dearths and Famines in Eng- 
 land at different Periods for upwards of 
 700 Tears — The Income and other Taxes 
 affignedas Caufes of the high Price of Pro- 
 vifeons — FaBs of a Century contraditiing 
 the Affertion — Fatls in Refutation of the 
 Affertion^ that the Increafe of Bank of 
 England Paper Money is another Caufe of 
 
 the
 
 POLITICAL FACTS, l<2.g 
 
 the high Price of Provifiom — Proofs of 
 the Solidity of the Bunk, and itsfurplus 
 Prolcrty — RejleBions. 
 
 In this place, although it may not full di- 
 rcdly within the fcope of the objecfls firft 
 propofcd j yet, as being conneded with tax- 
 ation, I cannot refift making a few brief 
 obfervations on the popular clamour endea- 
 voured to be excited in the minds of the peo- 
 ple on the prefent fcarcity of provifions. Some 
 men of high refpedability in Parliament have 
 declared the fcarcity artificial ; fome have 
 declared it to be natural, and the effeds of 
 the feafon ; while others have attributed the 
 efll^ds to the conjund operations of artificial 
 and natural caufcs. The enemies of Go- 
 vernment have not failed, at fuch a crifis, to 
 endeavour to fprcad diflatisflidlion, to encou- 
 r.ige defpondency, and to inflame the minds 
 of the lower orders by publicly avowing that 
 the prefent fcarcity is caufed by the war, and 
 confcqucnt new taxes impofcd. Some men 
 s have
 
 130 FINANCIAL AND 
 
 have with equal boldnefs afll-rted, without 
 proof, and laid it down as a principle, that the 
 prefent high price of proviiions is to be at- 
 tributed principal!)^ to the additional quantity 
 of Bank notes in circulation : • " 
 
 On a fubjea of fo. much delicacy, when 
 the attention of the Legiflature is acftiially 
 occupied with a confideration of the caufcs 
 and remedies of the prefent dearth of provi- 
 fions, it might perhaps be deemed prefump- 
 tuous to offer a decided opinion. 
 
 On a (][ueftion too, where various opinions 
 prevail, and doctrines of a mifchievous tend- 
 ency are induftrioufly propagated, it would 
 be improper, and at this time unnecefTary, 
 to enter into a minute difcuflion of its merits. 
 It is, however, incumbent on every man^ 
 who has the welfare of his country at heart, 
 to adhere to fads as the tefts of truth, in re- 
 futation of every general affertion tending to 
 excite popular difcontent. Under fuch im- 
 preffions, I have to obferve, with refpcd: to 
 the affirmation that the war is the principal 
 caufe of the prefent high price of provifions, 
 
 that
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. 13I 
 
 that k would be no difficult talk to prove the 
 negative ot this allcrtion from a concatena- 
 tion of events, and a variety of concurring 
 facls. 
 
 Let us recur to the hillory of this country 
 for the Lift 400 years, and mark the average 
 prices of grain, and other provifions, at par- 
 ticular periods, in peace and in war. Or 
 let us take with accuracy, the average price 
 of any three, five, or feven years in war, 
 and compare it with the average of three, 
 five, or feven years profound peace. The 
 rcfult will prove, that in the average years of 
 war, provifions have been, on the whole, 
 cheaper than in the fame number of average 
 years in peace. In order that this may not ap- 
 pear paradoxical, wc lliall, to avoid prolixity, 
 give a few examples only, at particular pe- 
 riods of peace and war, and leave the reader 
 to con (lilt Fleetwood, Adam Smith, and 
 others of cur beft political writers, for the 
 details on which tliefe calculations are 
 founded *. The 
 
 *^ See tnblcs of ilic pi ices of wheat from 1202 to 
 
 1764, annexed to Sir/ilh's Wealth ot NaliojiF, b. I. 
 
 S 2. vyK
 
 13* 
 
 FINANCIAL AND 
 
 The average price of wheat for three yeara 
 of peace, at the condufion of the feventeenth 
 century, viz* from 1698 to 1700 inclufive, 
 was 2/. i^j. ^d, per quarter; and in three 
 years war at the beginning of the eighteenth 
 century, viz. from 1702 to 1704 inclufive, 
 the average price was only i/. 171. 4^. per 
 quarter *. The 
 
 vol. i. and from 1765 to 1800 In the Audit Books of 
 Eton College, and in the Corn Regirter. 
 * The Prices of Wheat for the feveral Years of the 
 Periods in Peace and War, for the laft Century. 
 
 Years, 
 
 Aver. Price 
 annually. 
 
 ^1698 - 3' 8 4 •) 
 
 Peace < 1699 — 3 4 o > 
 
 Li 700 — a o o J 
 
 Average for Cheaper i 
 the Periods. War thaa 
 
 Peace. 
 £. s. d. jr. s. d. 
 
 % 17 5 
 
 War 
 
 Peace 
 
 War 
 
 ' 1702 — I 9 
 
 6 
 
 1 
 
 
 1703 — I 16 
 
 
 
 r 
 
 17 
 
 ^ 1704 — 26 
 
 5 
 
 
 '1713 — a II 
 
 
 
 
 1714 — 2 10 
 
 
 
 
 
 1715 - 2 3 
 
 8 
 
 >2 
 
 7 
 
 1716 — 2 8 
 
 10 
 
 
 
 ^1717 — 2 5 
 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 175b 2 10 O 
 
 1759 — I 19 ID 
 
 1760 — I 16 6 
 
 1761 — I 10 3 
 176X — I 19 o J 
 
 ^086 
 
 Years,
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. 
 
 T -^ ^ 
 
 The average of five years peace between 
 1713 and 1 717 inclufive, we find to be 
 2/. 'js. ^J. and in tbe five lall years of the 
 war following, viz. from 1758 to 1762 in- 
 clulive, the average price was no more than 
 i/. i^x. 1 7. per quarter. We find alfo, ou 
 taking the aver.ige ofleven years peace from 
 1766 to 177^ inclulive, that the price ot 
 wheat was 2/. 4/. zJ. per quarter ; but 
 taking the average price of feven years war. 
 
 YeaK. Aver. Price Average for Cheaper hi 
 
 annually. the Pfiiiods. War than 
 
 ri766 - 1 18 3 1 
 
 I 1767 — 2 10 I I I 
 
 176B — 2 7 10 I 
 
 Peace ^ 17O9 — i 16 i y 
 
 1770 — I 18 8 
 
 I 177T — 2 7 2 I 
 
 1^1772 — 2 10 8 J 
 
 '775-^ ^ 4 1 
 1770 — I 18 2 I 
 
 1777 —2561 
 
 1778 — z & o } 
 
 1779 — I 13 8 ! 
 
 War 
 
 1780 — I 15 8 I 
 
 1781 — 2 4 8 J 
 
 4 2 
 
 ri797 — 2 12 9 -^ -j o r I 
 
 War < 1798 — 2 9 7 >2l6 4 V>mpareJ •riilt 
 Ll79.^ ~ 3 6 10 J J^^'' 100 year. 
 
 VIZ,
 
 134- FINANCIAL AND 
 
 viz. from 1775 to 1781 inclufive, we find It 
 only i/. iSj. 3^/. p^T quarter. Finally* 
 taking the average price of three years in 
 the prefent war, viz. froni 1797 to 1799 in- 
 clufive, it appears to b? ^/. i6s. ^d. ; and 
 comparing it with the average price of three 
 years peace a century ago, viz. 2/. i^s. ^d. 
 we find that it is one Ihilhng and one penny 
 cheaper the three years of war. 
 
 If we take a retrofpecftive view of the 
 average price of wheat in war and in peace 
 during the fcventeenth century, we fliall "find 
 limilar rcuiUs*. Thcfe fadls are io felf- 
 
 evident 
 
 * The average Prices of Wheat in War and Peace 
 duiii^r: the fcventcenth Century, with the compara- 
 tive Chcapnefs in War. 
 
 Average Cheaper ia 
 Vucii. War. 
 
 The average of three years war^ /'. s. tL £^. s. d, 
 
 from 1600 to 1602 inclulivo 1 13 2 "j 
 Ditto three years/>fj(:^j fioni 160 -; .0 2 o 
 
 to 1607 inclu live - - - i 15 2 J 
 Tiie average of five years w.n-^ 
 
 from 1625 to 1629 inclu live 2 I 6 | 
 Ditto of five years peare^ from io 16 8 
 
 1630 to 1634 inclufive - - 2 iB Zj 
 The average of hve years luar, 
 
 from 1655 to 1659 inclufive 2 10 10^ 
 Ditto of five years pcuce, from \o 7 4 
 
 1664 to i66j 2 18 2J 
 
 The
 
 POLITICAL PACTS. I 35 
 
 evident in refutation of the filL.cious uoc- 
 trines promulgated, that they require no fur- 
 ther arguments to fupport them. It may, 
 however, he faid, that in the lafl: yeiir of ihc 
 century, and towards its cloi'e (Dec. iSoo"), 
 the average price of wheat being d. \os. per 
 quarter, was higher than it had been at any- 
 period for 200 years before*. While this 
 
 Average Cheaper in 
 i-'ncc. W-ir. 
 
 The average of Hx years ivar, £. s. d. f. i. d. 
 
 from i6f>8 to 1673 incliifive i 19 lo-j 
 Ditto of fix years feace^ from >o ii 7 
 
 1675 to 1680 incliifive - - 2 ii 5J 
 The average of five years pro- 
 found pence^ from 168 1 to 
 1685 inclufive ----243'^ 
 Ditto of five years ivar^ the lafl I 
 
 of the fevcntcenth century, j ° 
 
 from 1689 to 1693 inchifive 2 2 7 J 
 In taking the total averages of the above prices in 
 v\ ar and peace, v/c fliall find tliat the average of twenty- 
 four years v,ar amounts to 10/. 71. ii<^. ; while the 
 average of tvvc;nty-four years peace amounts to 
 12/. 7J. id. 
 
 * By Bifliop Fleetw^ood's Chronicon Preciofum, it 
 appears that wheat in the year 1270 was at two prices 
 the quarter : the one is 4/. i6j. equal to 14/. 85. of our 
 prefent money ; the gther is 6/ 8f. per quarter, or 
 19/. 4x. of our prefent money. No price can be found
 
 136 FINANCIAL AMD 
 
 argument is admitted, it mull: be recollect- 
 ed that it is proved not to be occafioned 
 by the war. It appears evidently to be 
 the effed principally of natural caufcs, 
 and the unfavourablenefs of the feafon. It 
 ought rather to be viev/ed, not as a perma- 
 nent evil, but as a tranfient event. The hif- 
 tory of all nations, particularly in the eaftern 
 world, points out to us that calamities of this 
 r.ature have occarionally happened, and mud 
 be expefted; and tiiat provifions will, at 
 particular feafons, rife in price, from natural 
 and unfurefi'cn caufcs, notwithRanding all 
 the efforts of Minifters and Parliaments to 
 prevent or remedy the evil. Thefe ought to 
 be confidered as the visitations of the Divi- 
 nity, and as confequcnccs which the wifdoni 
 
 ill any age, which approaches to the extravagance of 
 tlie thirteenth century. 
 
 It is curious to remark, that in 1699, being a dear 
 feafon, the price of wheat was on an average 3/. 4.S. 
 per quarter ; and that in one hundred years after (1799 , 
 another dear feafon, the average price fliould be nearly 
 the fame, viz. ^/. 6j. lod. 
 
 3 ^^^
 
 POLITICAL FACTS, I 37 
 
 of man cannot forefee or provide againft. 
 The Government, therefore, ought by no 
 means to be. blamed for not cffeding impofli- 
 bilities and counteradiing natural events *. 
 
 In 
 
 * In every country and in all ages, dearths and fa- 
 mines have occafionally happened. In 1 193, 1 194, and 
 1195, a dearth of provifions was fo great in England 
 and France, that a quarter of wheat was then fold for 
 twenty (hillings, almoft as much as 6/. of our prefent 
 money. This dearth was followed by a pcftilential fever. 
 In 1222 another dearth occurred, followed alfo by a pcf- 
 tilential fever. In 1315 another, with a murrain or 
 plague among cattle, when wheat fold for forty ftiillings a 
 quarter, equal to 8/. of our prefent money. la 1 316 
 wheat fold for 3/. per bufhel. In 1335 there was ano- 
 ther great dearth in England and France, called the 
 Dear Summer, attended with a murrain or plague 
 among cattle. In 1348 and 1353 there were two 
 other great dearths. In 1438 there was fo great a 
 dearth, that bread was made in many places of fern- 
 roots and ivy-berries. In calculating from 1069 to 
 1353, there were no fewer than twenty-one dearths 
 and famines in England, being on an average feven to 
 every century. — See a Colle£tion of the mod remark- 
 able Dearths and Famines, publiflied by Edward Howe, 
 anno 163 1. 
 
 In 1597 the average price of wheat for the year was 
 at 4/. 1 2 J. per quarter of the prefent money, and fince 
 that period it has not be«n fo high till December lad 
 (1800J. 
 
 T It
 
 138 FINANCIAL AND 
 
 In a year of profound peace (1767), pro- 
 vifions were at a mofl: exorbitant price: a 
 proclamation was then iflued for putting in 
 force feveral flatutes that had been formerly 
 pafled againft foreftallers, regraters, and en- 
 gr offers of corn. But many doubted whe- 
 ther this meafure was well conceived or well 
 timecj: it was, in fa<S, declaririg, in fon^c 
 fort, the fcarcity to be artificial, which expe-». 
 rience afterwards proved to have been natu- 
 ral. The diftrefTes of the poor at the period 
 alluded to, were as great as at the prefent 
 moment. The populace, by the inftigations 
 and inflammatory docftrines of the evil- 
 minded, had recourfe to riots and tumults, in 
 which great irregularities were committed, 
 much mifchief was done, and many lives 
 were loft in different parts of the kingdorn; 
 
 It is to be remarked, that the higheft prices in the 
 feventeenth century occurred in the laft year of the 
 unfortunate Charles the Firft's reign, and the two firlt 
 years of the Commonwealth; namely, in 1648 the price 
 was 4/. 5j. per quarter, in 1649 it was 4/., and in 
 1650 it was 4/. 5x. per quarter. 
 
 and
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. I39 
 
 and by wJiich the evil was moil alarmingly 
 incrcafed, as it always is on thefe occafions, 
 by the moil extraordinary and profligate 
 dcflrudion of corn and other neceiTarics of 
 life. 
 
 If the income and other taxes impofed be 
 the caufe of the high price of provifions, it 
 may be a(ked what was the caufe of provi- 
 iions being cheaper in the year 1798, than 
 at any other period iince the commencement 
 of the war, and nearly as cheap as the 
 average price of the lail ten years peace? 
 The average price of wheat in 1798 was 
 iL gs. and the average of ten years in peace 
 2/. 6s. 2,d, 
 
 The fa(5ls of a century contradi(5l the aiTer- 
 tlon of taxes impofed during the war being 
 the caufe of the high price of proviiions; 
 fince, in comparing the prefent war and lafl 
 peace prices, with other war and peace 
 prices, we find no fuch proportional &Sq(X to 
 be produced by the increafe of taxes. 
 
 T 2 In
 
 ^430 FINANCIAL AND 
 
 In taking as an example the average price 
 of the quarter of wheat for three years after 
 the nation had been at war, for a period of 
 five years in the beginning of the eighteenth 
 century, and comparing it with the average 
 price of the fifth, fixth, and feventh years of 
 the prefent war, the moft expenfive ever 
 waged; we Ihall find, that from 1708 to 
 1 710 inclufive, the average price was 3/. 6/* 
 per quartcf *, and from 1797 to 1799 inclii- 
 
 five^ 
 
 £. s. d. 
 
 * Year 170J, wheat per quarter - - 2 i 6 
 
 — — 1709, ditto ------ 3 18 6 
 
 1 7 10, ditto ------318a 
 
 3)9 18 o 
 Average price for 3 years - - - - 3 6 a 
 
 Year 1797, wheat per quarter - - 2 12 ^ 
 
 — 1798, ditto ------297 
 
 — 1799, ditto ------ 3 6 10 
 
 3)8 9 z 
 The average price for 3^ years - - 2 16 4. 
 
 It is worthy of remark, that in comparing the ave- 
 rage of the foregoing three years war, with the average 
 price of five years peace, viz » from 163010 1634 in- 
 
 ckifive
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. t^t 
 
 five, it was only 2/. 1 6s. /\.d. confequ€ntly 
 cheaper by 91. Sd, per quarter. But in a 
 period of 90 years, our taxes have increafed 
 more than feven fold*. 
 
 If the increafe of Bank of England paper 
 money, now in circulation, be another caufc 
 of the high price of provifions, as a recent 
 writer has aflerted-f-, it would be natural to 
 fuppofe that the price would bear a perma- 
 nent proportion to the Bank notes in circula- 
 tion. But we find that no change of feafons 
 or circumftances makes a fluduation in the 
 value of Bank notes J. They have continued 
 
 at 
 
 clufive (fee Note, p. 134}, we find the quarter of wheat 
 to have been is. ^d. dearer 180 years ago than at the 
 clofe of the eighteenth century. 
 
 * Permanent and temporary taxes for the year end- 
 ing 5th July 1800 - - - - ,{'.36,725,000 
 Ditto for the year ending 17 10 - 5,198,000 
 
 t A Letter to Mr. Pitt on the Stoppage of Ilfues in 
 Specie at the Bank of England, by Walter Boyd, Efq. 
 M. P. 
 
 X It was decided in Hilary term of the year 179O, 
 that Bank notes are money, and therefore a proper ten- 
 der in payment ; the cafe of Wright againft Reid. — 
 It was alfo held by Lord Mansfield and the Court, in 
 
 the
 
 14^ FINANCIAL AND 
 
 at par fince the floppage of ifllics in fpecicj^ 
 
 and will doubtlefs remain foj though the 
 
 fufpenfion of paying in cafh may be for a 
 
 length of time continued*. The inveftiga- 
 
 tion 
 
 the cafe of Miller agalnft Race, that Bank notes are 
 confidered as money, and a good tender in payment. 
 
 * A confideration of the queftion fuggefted by a Mem- 
 ber of Parliament, in his letter, Appendix, No. Vll.Jmay 
 perhaps excite public attention, and be deemed worthy 
 of difcuilion ; namely, *' whether, on the return of peace, 
 ifllies of cafh at the Bank might not be re-eftablifhed 
 under the fiipport of a proper aflbciation, formed by the 
 great proprietors and bankers, to fupport the Bank 
 paper, together with a regulation on the part of the Bank, 
 to publi(h the names of thofe who might, on a fyftem of 
 hoftility or melting, make extraordinary drains of cafh 
 at any particular times." 
 
 Aflociations both of a civil and military nature, in a 
 commercial country, have ever on emergencies been of 
 the greateff advantage to the ftability of public credit^ 
 and to th'e fecurity of private property. The allbciation 
 inftituted at the Crown and Anchor in the latter end of 
 1792, and followed up throughout the kingdom, for 
 pre-ferving liberty and property, and countera£ling the 
 mifchievous dodlrincs induftrioufly propagated by the 
 Correfponding and other confederate focicties, produced 
 the moft falutary efFedls. Our military afTociations infli- 
 tuted fince the time the Bank fufpended payments in 
 calh, have given an addition of 200,000 yeomanry and 
 1 infantry
 
 POT-ITICAL FACTS. 1 43 
 
 tion of a Secret Committee of the Houfe of 
 Commons, foon after the Aoppagc of iflbes 
 in fpecie, was, in its rcfiilt, gratifying to the 
 public. It confirmed the folidity of the Bank, 
 and afcertained with accuracy, that this great 
 Company had more than fifteen millions of 
 clear furplus property. 
 
 At periods when not one half the quantity 
 of Bank paper was in circulation as at pre- 
 fent, provifions were occafionally at exorbit- 
 ant prices ; as it appears from ftatements laid 
 
 infantry to our regular forces and militia ; thereby dif- 
 fipating the fears of the moft timid, refpeding the ene- 
 my's threats of invafion. 
 
 The alTociation entered into fince the ftoppage of 
 ifTuesat the Bank, by the principal merchants and bank- 
 ers of London, to take and pafs Bank notes as fpecie, 
 was immediately followed up with zeal throughout the 
 kingdom. 
 
 Thefe are the moft prominent affociations that have 
 been cftablifhed ; but feveral minor ones of great public 
 utility might alfo be enumerated. 
 
 An alTociation formed, therefore, on the principles 
 fuggefted, for the purpofe of preventing or detefling im- 
 proper drains of fpecie on the return of peace, it is con- 
 ceived might be found a meafure extremely falutary, 
 cither in a commercial, financial, or political point of 
 view. 
 
 before
 
 144 FINANCIAL AND 
 
 before Parliament, that the Bank had in cir- 
 culation, of paper currency, for the year 
 i3oo, to the amount oi fifteen fnillions and a 
 halj^t and in the year 1795, to the amount 
 of twelve millions nearly ; being an increafe 
 of three millions and a half in five years. It 
 would be natural to fuppofe, if the aflertion 
 be well founded, th^t the prices of wheat and 
 provifions would bear fome proportion to the 
 increafed circulation of Bank riotes. The 
 f^pverfe is abfolutely the fad, iince, in the 
 year 1795, the average price of a quarter of 
 wheat was 3/. 1 41. 6d. ; but we find the 
 average price of wheat was cheaper in the 
 years 1797, 1798, and 1799; viz. in the year 
 
 1797, it was 2/. I2J, gi. per quarter; iu 
 
 1798, 2/. 9^. 7^. per quarter; and in i ;99, 
 3/. 6j. lod. Hence, taking the average of 
 three years fince the ftoppage of iffues in 
 fpecie, and the coafequent increafed circula- 
 tion of Bank notes, it will amount to 
 
 ♦ By the return made to the 25th January i8ei, the 
 average appears to be nearly fifteen millions and a half. 
 
 2/.
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. I4J 
 
 2/. i6s. 4^. per quarter, which is cheaper by 
 i8j. 2J, per quarter than in the year 1795. 
 
 I fliall conclude this fubjed by adducing 
 another fimple fad, which, confidered with 
 thofealready ftated, will prove incontroverti- 
 biy the fallacy of the aflertions made, with 
 rcfped to the increafed circulation of Bank 
 notes being the principal caufe of the pre* 
 fent high price of provifions. It being ad- 
 mitted that the price of wheat regulates, in a 
 great meafure, the price of all other provi- 
 fions j we have only to take the average 
 price of wheat for three years at the end 
 of the feventeenth century, when there was 
 not a tenth part of the prefent Bank notes 
 in circulation*, and compare it with the 
 average price of three years at the clofe of 
 the eighteenth century ; the refult will be, 
 that for the years 1697, 1698, and 1699 in- 
 
 * In the year 1696, a Committee of the Houfe Qf 
 Commons was appointed to infpe£l the Bankbooks, and 
 to examine the accounts ; it then appeared that little 
 more than a million and a half of paper money was in 
 circulation. — Com. Journals, vol. viii. p. 614. 
 
 u clufive.
 
 146 FINANCIAL ANE? 
 
 clufive, the average price of wheat was 
 2/. I Ss. gd. per quarter ; but taking the 
 average of three years in a century afterwards, 
 viz. 1797, ^79^» ^^^ ^799 inclufive, wq 
 lliall find it no more than 2/. 1 6s. j\.d. per 
 quarter. This is a firiking fad: oppofed to 
 the outcry againft an increafe of Bank notes, 
 the accumulation of taxes, and the expendi^ 
 ture of the >var *. 
 
 Whether the increafed number of country- 
 banks may not be confidered, as has ofteq 
 ■yvith better reafon been urged, a collateral or 
 principal caufe, tending to raife the price of 
 provifions, I fhall not in this place attempt 
 
 * Smith, in his Wealth of Nations, vol. i. p. 490, 
 gives a fa6l which corroborates what has been advanced, 
 to prove that Bank paper money is not the caufe of pro- 
 vifions being dear. " From the beginning of the laft cen- 
 tury to the prefent time 1^^1776)," he obferves, "provifions 
 never were cheaper in Scotland than in 1759; though, 
 from the circulation of ten and five fhilling Bank notes, 
 there was then more paper money in the country than at 
 prefent. 
 
 " Corn was, upon mod occafions, fully as cheap in 
 ^England as in France, though there was a great deal of 
 paper money in England, and fcarcely any in France," 
 
 to
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. 147 
 
 to difcufs. It is fufficient to prove, by well- 
 authenticated fads, that neither the war nor 
 the accumulation of taxes, nor the increafed 
 circulation of national Bank notes, arc the 
 caufes of the prefent high price ofprovifions. 
 The calamity of the times, every feeling 
 mind muil deplore : but the evil ought not 
 to be exaggerated, fincc it m.ay be traced 
 more to naiural than artificial caufes, and to 
 which, as before obferved, every nation on 
 the face of the globe is more or Icfs tran- 
 fiently fubjedt. 
 
 CHAP.
 
 -j^S FINANCIAL AND 
 
 CHAP. VIII. 
 
 ^^Exchangcs with foreign Countries confidcred 
 ^Observations on Mr, Boyd's and 5/r 
 Francis Baring's Pamphlets unth refpect 
 to the Rate of Exchange at Hamburgh 
 being lately fo much againjl this Country, 
 and the great Bremium on foreign Bullion 
 of the fame Standard as our Gold Currency 
 .^Caufes affignedfor the prefentunfavour^ 
 able Rate of Exchange with Hamburgh-- 
 Proofs of its not militating ejfentiaUy 
 againfl the commercial Profperity of Great 
 Britain, 
 
 Much has been faid and written, and 
 feveral arguments adduced, refpeaing the 
 prefent premium on gold bulhon, and the 
 low rate of exchange with Hamburgh*, 
 
 tending 
 
 * Mr. Boyd, in his Letter to Mr. Pitt, on the Stop- 
 page of Iffuesin Specie at the Bank, fecond edition, 
 Ls ftated, and we believe correaiy, that in December 
 
 latt,
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. I49 
 
 tending to prove the fuperabundance of 
 Bank paper in circulation : hence the infer- 
 ences to be drawn are, that they are collateral 
 caufes of the increafed price of all commo- 
 dities. 
 
 The pradical and political knowledge of 
 this branch of commerce (exchange), con- 
 iidering its feveral affinities and involutions, 
 is perhaps the moll complicated of any in 
 the whole circle of political fcience. On a 
 fubjed: {o extenfive, entangled with a diver^ 
 fity of combinations and foreign relations, 
 it is no wonder that fo many men with the 
 early habits of ftudy and application to this 
 branch of trade, fhould fo often differ in opi- 
 nion. This may fometimes happen, from 
 their being themfelves led into error, and 
 often from an over-tenacioufnefs of opinion. 
 
 Uft, 1800, there was a lofs of nearly nine per cent. In 
 purchafing with our currency gold bullion, or Portugal 
 gold, in coin of the fame quality; and that the exchange 
 with Hamburgh was upwards of 14 per cent, againft our 
 currency. 
 
 Thus
 
 rjO rXJvANClAl ANJJ 
 
 Thus we find objccfts mlfreprefented juil its* 
 it may fuit their particular interclls, or the 
 impreffions thereby intended to be made on 
 the pubHc mind. It may therefore be of 
 life to touch upon this topic with as much 
 perfpicuity and brevity as the hmits of this 
 tradt will admit, in order that the reader 
 may draw his own inferences from the prin- 
 ciples ilated by Mr. Boyd and Sir Francis- 
 Baring on the fubje(5L*. 
 
 In tracing the relations and dependencies 
 of the fcveral links which compofe the great 
 chain of caufes and efxecls, no fubjed: in com- 
 merce affords a wider range of refearch than 
 the exchanges between ftates. If, however,' 
 like the algebraift, we adhere to the fimpli- 
 citjr t)f firft principles on which the fcience 
 of exchange is founded, we fhall the more 
 eafily difcover truths. But if we confound 
 thefe iimple principles, with others, extra- 
 
 * Mr. Boyd's Letter to Mr. Pitt, and Sir Francis 
 Baring's Obfervations. 
 
 neous
 
 pqj^ITICAL FACTi. 451 
 
 i).e.ous and irrelative to the fubjedt, the mind 
 is loH: in a labyrinth of myflery and invo- 
 lution. 
 
 The flu(fluations and mutations in the 
 exchange of different ftates, have their perpe- 
 tual ebbs and flows eftablifhed from known 
 principles and citufcs, more perceptible to 
 the common eye than the laws of attrac^liorj 
 and gayitation to that of the philofopher. 
 Specie being the fign which reprefents the 
 value of all merchandife, paper is the fign of 
 the value of fpccie ; and when it is of that 
 quality as to be at par with the value of the 
 fpccie it reprefents, the tffcdls prociuced in 
 this fcnfe with rcfpc61: to exchange with other 
 countries, will occafion little or no difrcr- 
 cnce. The relative value of money, as it ij 
 compared with tlie -pq/itive value of money 
 in other flutes, is cflabliflied by the exchange, 
 and fubjcdl to frequent fluctuations. From 
 the relative fcarcity or plenty of money (not 
 tlie rcal\ together with the rllk nnd the ex- 
 prnfcs of tranfporting and infiiring of bul- 
 4 lion,
 
 152 FINANCIAL AND 
 
 lion, to pay the debts one (late may owe to 
 another, refujts the mutability of the courfe 
 of exchange. 
 
 If the balance of trade be againft a foreign 
 ilate, fo as to make her buy and remit bul- 
 lion, it is a proof fhe owes England a ba- 
 lance. But the courfe of exchange is no 
 certain criterion for judging of the profperity 
 of trade, or real balance that a foreign ilate 
 may owe England, as wiU be hereafter more 
 particularly noticed. 
 
 Mr. Boyd's reafoning on the effects of the^ 
 exchange with Hamburgh, being, in Decem- 
 ber 1800, fo much deprefled, or below par, 
 and which he calculated to be about 14 pei 
 cent, againft England, may be admitted in 
 the full extent, fo far as it goes to prove an 
 increafe in the price of commodities import- 
 ed from thence. At the fame time the juft- 
 ncfs of Sir Francis Baring's obfervations 
 and arguments cannot be denied, fo far as 
 ihey go to prove that the depreflion of the 
 ■^>:.changc with Hamburgh can have no effecfl 
 
 on
 
 ^?0LITICAL FACTS, I53 
 
 on the price of proviilons or other commo- 
 dities grown and conftimed in Great Britain. 
 But it is prefumed another general pr'nciplc 
 fliould not have been paflcd over by either 
 party, efpecially by gentlemen lb converfant 
 in the arcana of exchanges, and, from their 
 habits and purfuits in life, competent to give 
 folid information to the public, in reafoning 
 upon the influences or effeds relative to fo- 
 reign exchanges. The principle alluded to, is 
 a comparative view of the combinations of 
 the rates of exchange that London and Ham- 
 burgh may have with other places on the 
 Contdnent. Hamburgh, like what Amfler- 
 dam was formerly, has now become the great 
 mart of trade, and the centre of exchange for 
 all Europe. By finding the correfponding 
 rates of exchange between the refpedtivs 
 places, the average price, ox par of arbitral 
 tion, may be afcertained. Thus let us fup- 
 pofc a remittance from London to Naples, 
 and from thence pafTmg through Leghorn, 
 Venice, Vienna, Frankfort, Berlin, and at 
 X lalt
 
 154 FINANCIAL AND 
 
 laft to Hamburgh, or vice vejfa, the re-- 
 fpe6live courfes of exchange being calcu- 
 lated and noted as they may arife plus or 
 fiiinus, in this circular mode of remittance, 
 we have the average ^ or what is called the 
 arbitrated price, corredly afcertained ; and 
 which, on the whole, may be in favour of 
 England, though by a dire(5l remittance 
 of the bills from London to Hamburgh, or 
 vice verfa^ it would be againfl her. 
 
 This v/ould furely be a better criterion to 
 judge whether England is a gainer or lofer 
 by its trade with the Continent, were it to 
 be admitted as a certain rule to judge of the 
 real balance of trade. The greater part of 
 our exports to Hamburgh, and other neutral 
 ports, finds its way to France, and the prin- 
 cipal places on the Continent. Were the 
 arbitrated price of exchange jufl mentioned, 
 to be found againfl us, after the remittances 
 had made the round of Europe, and with an 
 apparent balance of trade in our favour of 
 
 upwards
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. I55 
 
 upwards of 41 millions, feme other caufes 
 of a more latent nature than the fuperabun- 
 dancc of Bank notes in circulation, or the pre- 
 mium on bullion, ought to be afTigned for 
 fuch paradoxical effed:. 
 
 The interefl of our public debts due to 
 foreigners, and which, it is conjectured, 
 may be about one fifth of the whole, or 
 nearly four millions ; the fums remitted to 
 foreigners who are proprietors of Eaft India 
 and Bank flock ; the drains of cafli occafion- 
 ally made forfubfidies ; the falaries, or other 
 fums remitted to our foreign miniflers ; the 
 fums lately remitted for purchafing of corn ; 
 the fyflcm of melting down and fmuggling 
 the gold currency, which will always prevail 
 where temptations exifl; the loans alfo, of a 
 public or private nature, to foreign powers or 
 fubjcdts ; will all, confidered feparately or 
 combined, have due cffecfl on the courfe of 
 exchange of a great commercial nation with 
 other flatrs. 
 
 X ^ At
 
 156 FINANCIAL AND 
 
 At the fame time, fhould the average rate 
 occafionally turn out againft this country, it 
 cannot militate eflcntially againfl: our com- 
 mercial profperity, fo long as the apparent 
 balance of adlive trade continues fo much in 
 our favour. Thus, for example, let usfuppofe 
 that the exchange with Italy and Portugal is 
 alfo againfl England (which, by the by, is 
 not the cafe), and that the greater part of the 
 balances of trade due to Hamburgh is remit- 
 ted in bullion to London, in Englifh fliips 
 (which is believed to be the fad), and from 
 thence tranfmittcd to Hamburgh: this of 
 itfelf, independent of the other circumftances 
 already noticed, would materially affe(fl the 
 rate of exchange againft us with Ham- 
 burgh, although our merchants in this 
 inftance will gain much more by freight 
 and commiiTion than they lofe by the rate of 
 exchange. 
 
 Although it is natural to expe(5l that the 
 exchange would be always in favour of this 
 
 country
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. 
 
 country when the balance of trade is fo con- 
 siderably in our tavour, yet by the involutions 
 of the rates of exchange, and various 
 mercantile fpeculations and combinations 
 throughout the feveral ilates of Europe, wc 
 find that the courie of exchange againfl: us 
 at one or two places on the Continent, is no 
 criterion of a balance of trade again ft us, or 
 "vice verfa. This fceming paradox may be 
 illuftrated by other paradoxical truths, and 
 by obferving the progrefs of exchange at dif- 
 ferent periods of the century. 
 
 In order to avoid dwelling too long upon 
 this fubjed:, I fliall only notice one inftance 
 among many that might be cited. In the 
 iniddle of laft war (anno 1779;, the couife 
 of exchange at Madrid, Lifl)on, and Leg- 
 horn, was more favourable than in a time of 
 profound peace, nine years before (viz. 
 l^yo), although in the year 1779 our 
 exports exceeded the imports only, by 
 2,095,438/. forming the apparent balance of 
 
 trade ;
 
 158 FINANCIAL AND 
 
 trade ; but in 1770 there was an excefs of 
 21,^64,273/.* 
 
 t See Official Table of Imports and Exports, Ap- 
 pendix, No. III. 
 
 CHAP.
 
 POLITICAL FACTS* I59 
 
 CHAP. IX. 
 
 Agriculture co7ifidcred — Wdjfe La?jds in Eng- 
 land and France uncultivated — Progrcfs of 
 public Debts in the eighteenth Century — 
 French national Credit compared i^ith 
 the public Credit of Great Britain at 
 the pj'cfcnt Moment — M, Necker's ele- 
 gant Obfervations on the LiflueJice that the 
 ?noral Chara&erofa Sovereign has on pub- 
 lic Credit — The French funded Property 
 called Tiers Confolide confidered, and con- 
 trajied with the Englifh Funds — How the 
 Dividends were paid in Robefpierre^s 
 Time — How paid ji nee Bonaparte became 
 Firfl Cohful of France-^Severe Shocks to 
 the public Credit of France^ at different 
 Periods during the lajl Century — Mr, 
 Hume's Obfervations on public Credit^ and 
 Remarks thereon' — Progrcfs and Stability of 
 the public Credit of Great Britain — Re- 
 duilion of the Intereji of our national Deb: 
 
 at
 
 x5a FINANCIAL AND 
 
 at different Periods of the eighteenth Ce/u 
 tiiry — RcduBion of the legal Interejl in the 
 f event ce nth and eighteenth Centuries — Spe^ 
 dilative Obfervations on public Credit^ 
 arijing from the philofophical Reafoning 
 contained in a Letter from a Member of 
 Parliament to the Author, 
 
 Although agriculture be carried on to 
 great perfecftion in this country, fo far as it 
 extends, yet experience has taught us, that 
 neither the 11:111 of the cultivators of land, nor 
 the periodical afliflance of the Lcgiflature, 
 can guard againft deficiencies in crops, occa- 
 sioned by unfivourable feafons. The only 
 remedy for this is an extenfion of our cultiva- 
 tion, under proper encouragement and regu- 
 lations. This has been repeatedly and ilre- 
 nuoufly recommended ; and when we confi- 
 dcr that, according to Sir John Sinclair's 
 computation, there appear to be no lefs than 
 twenty-two millions three hundred and fifty 
 thoufand acres of wade land in Great Bri- 
 
 3 t^'"*
 
 ?OLITICAX FACTS l6t 
 
 tain*, it muft be admitted, that, were the 
 third of thefe lands brought to their proper 
 date of cultivation, they would afford main- 
 tenance to double the population of this 
 <:ountry. 
 
 That a nation poflefling th^ blcflings of 
 foil and climate, remarkable for its induflry, 
 and exccUing all the world in the art oi^ agri- 
 culture, fiiould fo long have negledted to 
 avail itfelf of the opportunity to extend its 
 cultivation of fo many dioufand wafte acres 
 capable of produdion, appears not only extra- 
 
 ♦ it is fairly computed that eight millions of acres are 
 uncultivated in England, «xclufive of vroods, foreft«, 
 parks, commons, roads, &c. that is, one fifth of the land 
 under cultivation in England. Mr. Pitt, in his compu- 
 tation of the income of Great Britain, has eftimated 40 
 millions of cultivated acres. W'e find that in the exten- 
 sive territory of France no more than 36 million^; cf 
 acres are cultivated, and there are upwards of 44 mil- 
 lions of acres uncultivated ; yet the population in that 
 country is nearly as two to one of Great Britain, and 
 the extent of territory as four to three. France, and 
 mod of the other ftates of Europe, do not, one year with 
 another, produce fufficient corn for their own confump- 
 tion, and they are occafionally obliged to have fup[)lies 
 fiom America, whofe inhabitants 8r€ chieiiy employed 
 iu agriculture. 
 
 Y ordinary,
 
 l6z -FINANCIAL AND 
 
 ordinary, but paradoxical and enigmatical* 
 Agriculture being the key-ftone of our ma- 
 nufadures apd commerce, confequently the 
 grand prop of our national rcfources and do- 
 meflic felicity, its encouragement is, on every- 
 principle of policy and humanity, an obje(ft 
 equally important to Government, as to the 
 landed and mercantile interefts. It muft, 
 however, be gratifying to the public to be- 
 hold the Legiilature earneftly occupied to re- 
 medy the adlual diftrelTes arifing from a. 
 dearth of provifions, and at the fame time to 
 find that refolutions have been lately pafled 
 in Parliament, in order to promote the culti- 
 vation, and improvement of the wafte, unen- 
 clofed and unprodudlive lands in this king* 
 dom*. 
 
 In contemplating the enormous debt of 
 the nation at the clofe of the eighteenth 
 century, viz. no lefs than four hundred and 
 fifty-one millions funded, and about twelve 
 millions unfunded debt, and comparing it 
 
 i* Refolutions of Parliament, June iith, 1801. 
 
 with
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. 1 63 
 
 >virh tPie 16 millions funded and unfunded 
 debr of the year 1700, the mind is loft in 
 conjcdlure and amazement ; but when we 
 trace its gradual progrefs *, and compare it 
 with the progrefs and improvement in agri- 
 culture, man u failures, and the increafed ex- 
 ternal and internal commerce, together with 
 the revenue of the country, our aftonifhment 
 and apprehenfions fubfide. 
 
 It may be proper to remind our readers, 
 that whenever the topic of our enormous na- 
 tional debt is ftarted, it will be ncceffary to 
 advert to the comparative increafed amount of 
 our general commerce and inland trade con- 
 nected therewith, as illuftrated in the preced- 
 ing pages, by ftatemcnts of our exports and 
 imports. It Hiould alfo be held in view, that 
 our revenue and wealth have kept parallel, 
 and increafed in greater proportion than our 
 debt or expenditure ; and that while our taxes 
 have not exhaufted the refources of the na- 
 
 • See Appendix, No. V. 
 
 T a tion.
 
 1^4 FINANCIAL AN9 
 
 tion, the operation of the finking fund, to be 
 pFefently notriced, is more than the moft Hvn- 
 guine mind could have expedled. In ad- 
 hering confcientioufly to the principles with 
 which I fet out, I fliall endeavour to prove 
 our relative iituation with refped: to the 
 debts of the nation, and its power to bear 
 the burdens impofed, fince it is obvious the 
 exertions of the country mufl be commenfu- 
 rate with the flake for which we contend. 
 Let us, by the way, refle(5l for a moment on 
 the public credit of this country as it now 
 ilands, compared with that of France, where 
 we find manufadures diecayed, and trade al- 
 mofl annihilated ; where money bears an in- 
 terefl: of about 12 per cent, and where landed 
 property is to be had at thirteen or fourteen 
 years purchafe. What then is the flate of 
 the French national credit ? It is obvious 
 that it never was at a lower ebb. The com- 
 modities of the great Republic find no vent, 
 and are therefore fold at a low price. Dif- 
 trufl. prevails among the mercantile people; 
 2 • the
 
 POLITICAL FACt^. 165 
 
 rfie value of land and houfes is depreciated ; 
 money is at an exorbitant intereft ; little or 
 no ftock is riiked in trade, where there are fo 
 many evident difad vantages; what remains 
 of private treafure is hidden or locked up ; 
 national notes are not at par, but at a great 
 difcount; dividends are not regularly paid, 
 but procrafHnared to five or fix months; pri- 
 vate notes and fecurities cannot be realized 
 into money without paying an enormous 
 difcount. Let us take the converfe of thefe 
 proportions, and we fhall at once perceive 
 the public credit of Great Britain ; to which 
 may be added, in the words of M. Necker*, 
 " that the moral character of a fovereign has 
 the greatcil influence over public credit ; the 
 idea formed of his probity, of his love of 
 order, of his perfonal difguft to fuperflifous 
 cxpcnfes ami inconfiderate prodigalities, be- 
 comes a valuable opinion, winch at all rinics 
 
 * On the Admiiiiftraiiun of the Finances of France, 
 btnok xxi. 
 
 feconcU
 
 l66 FINANCIAL AND 
 
 feconds thepublic confidence. Thofe miniflers 
 who are recommcndable by their conduct, 
 are fo much the more dear to the nation, as 
 they recall to mind the virtues of the fove- 
 reign ; and thofe whofe adminiftration is 
 found fault with, at leaft do not deftroy the 
 hopes of a better." 
 
 It will be faid by many who read the daily 
 papers, without going deeper, that the French 
 funds called Tiers Confolide^ are flourifhing 
 beyond example, by keeping pace, and bearing 
 an equal price to our three per cent, confols. 
 This is extremely fallacious J for the fad is, 
 though not generally underftood by people in 
 this country, that their Tiers Confolide at 56, 
 and bearing an intereft of five per cent, has no 
 analogy to our three per cent confols, while 
 they are at the fame price, viz. 56; nor to 
 our five per cent, annuities, at the coire- 
 fponding market price of 86 per cent. *. It 
 
 compared 
 
 * "Note to third Edition. — At the time the firft edition 
 •was printing, the French 77^rj Cofi/olide were aX ^6 per 
 cejjt. but now, while thefe fheets arc at prefs (July 2, 
 l8oi ), they are reduced to 47. Our 3 per cent, con- 
 
 fois
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. 167 
 
 compared to the latter, there is in the firft 
 inftance 30/. of difference upon 86/. which 
 is nearly ^S P^r cent, pofitively in favour of 
 the Enghlh £ve per cent, annuities. But if 
 we take into the calculation, the relative value 
 of the original capitals bearing the fame in- 
 terefl, we (hall find that there is about 68 per 
 cent, more than the pofitive difference al- 
 ready ffated in favour of the Englifli funded 
 capital of five per cent, annuities. In illudrat- 
 ing this laff fadl, it is neceffary to obferve, 
 that, by a decree of the National Convention, 
 two thirds of what may be called the French 
 funded property, was at a moment fei zed by 
 the ffate, and thrown into the vortex of the 
 Jacobinical treafury; confequently there only 
 remained one third of the former capital, and 
 which conftitutes the fund now called Tiers 
 Confolide*, 
 
 The 
 fols are at 62, and the new 5 per cent, at 96. The dif- 
 ference, therefore, compared with that ftated in the text, 
 Is obvious and ftriking.' 
 
 • The literal meaning of the denomination of this 
 ftock is mt third conjolidaud, that is, a third of former 
 
 capital
 
 j68 FINANCIAL AND 
 
 The value of the Tien Confolide fund 
 muft ftill fink much lower in the public ef- 
 timation when it is known that the dividends 
 have been paid in national notes, bearing a 
 confiderable difcount, confequently have no 
 analogy to the Bank of England notes. The 
 dividends of the T;>ri Co?jfolide were, in 
 Robefpierre's time, originally paid by na^ 
 tional bills, fomewhat analogous to our Ex- 
 chequer bills, and were received in payment 
 of certain impofls or taxes, fuch as licenfes 
 for profeffions. &c. But as the demand for 
 thefe licenfes was by no means adequate to 
 the amount of dividends to be paid the pub- 
 lic creditors, thefe national bills foon bore a 
 difcount of 20 and 25 per cent. 
 
 Since Bonaparte*s reign as Firft Conful. 
 he has endeavoured to reftore the public cre- 
 dit, and to pay the creditors their dividends 
 infpecie, but has not been able toaccomplifh 
 this objed ; and he has been obliged to coun- 
 tenance indiredly the plans of various pro- 
 
 capital funded ; and it ought not to be taken in the fenfc 
 generally underftood, as three per cent, confsls. 
 
 . ' jedors
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. 1 69 
 
 jecflors for the accommodation and relief of 
 the national treafury. Thcfe are principally 
 a procraftination of the payment of the divi- 
 dends when they regularly become due, by 
 a mofl extraordinary 7?//^ in direcfling the 
 public creditors to be paid in the alphabeti- 
 cal order of their Chrijl'uvi 71 a me s. Hence 
 the Jews, Aaron and Abraham^ will be paid 
 five or fix months before Zachary and Zc- 
 dekiah^ fince the paucity of clerks and inter- 
 nal regulations are favourable to procraflina- 
 tion, It is a well-known fad, that while 
 Aaron and Abraha?n can receive their divi^ 
 dends at par, or at a trifling difcount, Zacha^ 
 ry and Zedekiah will be obliged to fell theirs 
 at feven or eight per cent, difcount, before 
 their names come in the routine of payment. 
 Hence it is no uncommon thing for the pro- 
 prietors to have their children baptized 
 Aaron or Abraham^ with a profpedive view 
 of interefland precedency, in fecuring future 
 dividends. 
 
 The public credit of France has often 
 z withia
 
 fib FINANCIAL AND 
 
 within the kft century, at periods 'of ' tran* 
 quillity and apparent profperity, undergone 
 fevere fhocks. We do not however find, 
 that, according to the paradoxical dod:rine 
 announced upwards of fifty years ago by 
 the great hiftorian Hume, a nation can 
 ever gain additional public confidence or 
 credit, after a fponge had been taken to wipe 
 away the ' whole, or even two thirds of the 
 national debt*. On the contrary, experience 
 and reafon teach us that the generality of 
 rhahfeind, governed by paft events, would 
 noti by any fubfequent allurements of in- 
 t^refl:, be eafily induced to run the rifk of 
 making' fimilar facriiices. 
 
 Prudent men would confider, that the 
 iame power which once invaded private pro- 
 
 * Mr. Hume fays, **A prudent man, in reality, would 
 yather lend to the public immediately after we had taken 
 a fponge to our debts than at prefent, inafmuch as an opu- 
 lent knave, even though one could not force him to pay,l 
 is a preferable debtor to an honed bankrupt. For the 
 former, in order to carry on bufinefs, may find it his in- 
 lereft to difcharge his debts where they are not exor- 
 bitant ; the latter has it not in his power." Eflay ix. 
 Of Public Credit. 
 
 perty
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. IJX 
 
 perty and fliocked public credit, would, from 
 fo dangerous a precedent, be apt to dertroy 
 the whole edifice. 
 
 Odl" landed and mercantile interefts, as well 
 as that adlive circulation which gives energy 
 to our arts, manufadures, and induftry, are 
 fo interwoven with our public credit, that a 
 national bankruptcy, as has been predicated 
 within the laft fifty yei\rs by Mr. Hume, and 
 preceding writers a century ago, appears, 
 from the prefent financial profperiry of the 
 country, to be an event more remote than 
 when Mr. Hume publifhed his Political Ef- 
 fays. Neither a Ihock, nor even flrong 
 fymptoms indicating its approach, have been 
 fince felt. 
 
 The public credit of Great Britain has 
 within the lail hundred years rifen to a pitch 
 of grandeur and flability unknown to other 
 nations. It has been foftered under the pro- 
 tection of rational liberty, and the genial in- 
 fluence of a wife adminiftration of the laws, 
 extended equally to every rank and order of 
 the ftate. In the other ftatcs of Europe 
 z 2 (Holland-
 
 I'yz FINANCIAL AND 
 
 (Holland excepted) we find that public cre- 
 dit had been reared under the influence of ar- 
 bitrary power and compulfory adts of govern- 
 ment. In France, under the ancient regime, 
 repeated ad:s of power hoflile to the interefts 
 of the public creditors were unrelentingly 
 exercifed. To thefe caufes may chiefly be 
 attributed the ruin of that nation, and which 
 was predicted thirty years ago, by an able 
 writer on political economy *• 
 
 When a reduction of the interefl: of our 
 national debts from four to three and a half, 
 and three percent, laft took place, about half 
 a century ago (1749 and 1757), the public 
 clamour was great, although the creditors 
 had the option to receive the acftual re-im- 
 
 * Sir James Stewart obferves, *' It is folly to prophe- 
 fy, I know ; but I may be allowed to conjedture, that 
 the fame caufes which have raifed the credit of Great 
 Britain to fuch an amazing height, will either force the 
 French from their old principles, or they will fome time 
 or other bury her credit in the duft. Had one half of the 
 adls of power been exerted with us which have been fo 
 familiar in France, and half the liberties been taken in 
 tampering with the claims of creditors, a total bank- 
 ruptcy would long ere now have been the confcquence." 
 Political Economy, vol. ii. p. 378. 
 
 burfement
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. l^J 
 
 burfement of their capitals *. Sudden re- 
 ductions of intereft have been made at differ- 
 ent periods in France of two per cent, with- 
 out any alternatives or palliatives for the 
 meafure. Liferent annuities, and annuities 
 
 * The reduaions of the legal intereft of money in 
 England, have at different periods taken place, when a 
 proportionable increafe of money and commerce, with 
 a due regard to the current natural intereft of our own 
 and other commercial ftatcs, warranted the meafures. In 
 1624, the legal intereft of money was reduced from ten 
 »o eight percent, flat. 21 Jas. I. cap. 17. In 1660, it 
 was reduced from eight to lix per cent. ftat. 12 Car. 11. 
 cap. 13. In 1 7 14, from fix to five per cent. flat*. 12 
 Ann. cap. 16. Hence in ninety years the legal intereft 
 of money was reduced one half I 
 
 The firft redudion of the intereft on the national 
 debt, was made by the confentof the proprietors in the 
 year 1717, from fix to five per cent, and which had the 
 immediate effecl to raife the price of (locks. The 
 ravings by fuch rcdu<5lions of intereft gave rife to the ef. 
 tablilhmentof the firft finking fund. In 1727, the rc- 
 duaion of the intereft on the national debt from five to 
 four per cent, took place, and the finking fund thereby 
 incrcafed to above one million per annum. This, as in 
 the former reduaion, had the effed of raifing the 
 market price of ftock confiderably. In 1749, a third 
 reduaion of the intereft on the national debt from four 
 to three and a half per cent, took place, with the con- 
 fcnt of the proprietors. And in 1 757, it was reduced to 
 three per cent, forever. 
 
 for
 
 1^4 Financial an© 
 
 for a term of years, were equally involved in 
 the fhocks. Had fimilar invafions of the 
 creditors' rights, and violations of parliamen- 
 tary faith, been made in England, our pub- 
 lic credit would have mouldered away, and 
 national bankruptcy and ruin would have 
 foon enfued. 
 
 There is a principle, which, perhaps, is 
 not fufficiently attended to with thofe fenti- 
 ments of liberality that one civilized nation 
 owes to another, namely, a more unreftrain- 
 ed and free intercourfe of trade, diverted of 
 thofe grovelling prejudices and antipathies 
 which tend to awaken and keep alive ancient 
 animofities. In proportion to the civiliza- 
 tion and profperity of neighbouring nations, 
 the traffic or exchange of commodities be- 
 tween them will naturally be augmented, 
 and the adion and reaction be recipro- 
 cally beneficial. If we take the converfe 
 of the proportion, and fuppofe all the ilates 
 of Europe, except Great Britain, immerged 
 again in Gothic barbarifm, the confequence 
 would evidently be, that the edifice of her 
 
 commercial
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. 17^ 
 
 commercial glory would foon tumble from 
 the high pinnacle on which it has for ages 
 pre-eminently ilood. Our manufadlures 
 and induflry would be buried in its ruins. 
 Hence it is obvious, there is a common inte- 
 reft, or reciprocity of interefls, eikbliflied 
 between nations confidered in maffes, as 
 among individuals, in a flate of civilization. 
 This fympathy we find ac^ls reciprocally for 
 the common benefit and happinefs of man- 
 kind. The profperity of one nation is nearly 
 connecfled with that of the others in pro- 
 portion to their approximation, and their 
 refpc(flive enjoyments of civil and political 
 liberty. It appears, therefore, that, were a 
 nation to enjoy the bleffings of a long and 
 uninterrupted peace, at the fame time culti- 
 vating a good underflanding with neighbour- 
 ing ftates; encouraging arts and fciences, 
 and induflrioully purfuing manufactures and 
 commerce; they would not only tend to be 
 beneficial to every particular flate, but alfo 
 contribute to the profperity and happinefs of 
 
 the
 
 ind iINx\NClAL AND 
 
 the whole. By the reciprocity of intercfts, 
 the public credit of the one nation would be 
 fo linked and conneded with the other, that 
 ilrength and {lability would be communi- 
 cated to all. 
 
 In tracing from the middle ages the pro- 
 gyefs of public credit, we find, that, during 
 the contmuance of the crufades, the great cities 
 in Italy, and in other countries in the fouth 
 of Europe, opened through Egypt an exten- 
 five commercial communication with the 
 eailcrn world. By this, they acquired liberty, 
 wealth, and independence. The Italians, 
 commonly diftinguidred by the name of 
 Lombards, carried on the principal com- 
 merce of the world during the twelfth and 
 thirteenth centuries, and were the carriers. 
 manufaa:urers, and bankers of all Europe. 
 It was from Afia they received the firfl fyf. 
 tem of public credit : it paiTed by Egypt to 
 Venice and Lombardy, and fpread after- 
 wards over Europe. A regular intercourfe 
 was thus opened between the ftates of Italy 
 I and
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. lyy 
 
 and the nations of the North. Habits of 
 indufiry and emulation were thereby excited; 
 the prejudices connected with barbarifni 
 \vere by banking, commerce, and public 
 credit gradually done away. In proportion 
 as the relations of commerce, finance, and 
 public credit made progrcfs, we find that 
 civilization and a refinement of manners 
 prevailed in the different countries of Eu- 
 rope*. 
 
 * The author has been led into the above train of 
 fpeculative obfervations on commerce and public credit, 
 in con'"equence of a letter written to him fince the 
 firfl: edition was publifhed, by a fenfible friend, a 
 Member in the prefent Parliament, and whofe 
 ideas on thefe fiibje£ts are well known. It con- 
 tains fo much folid and philofophical rcafoning on 
 finance and public credit, that the author has been in- 
 duced to folicit permiflion to give the letter alluded to 
 verbatim to the public. (See Appendix, Nq^ VII.j 
 To fome readers it may appear oftentatious in the 
 author not to have fuppreflfed the complimentary parts 
 interfperfed in the letter referred to, but he deemed it 
 better to incur that cenfure than to give partial extra^s. 
 
 A A CHAP.
 
 1*78 FINANCIAL AND 
 
 CHAP. X. 
 
 Beneficial Effe^s refulthigfrom the Operations 
 of the Sinking Fund — Sums annually ap' 
 propriatedfor the Redu^ion of the national 
 Debty in iyS6and 1792 — Capital of Debt 
 redeemed by the Sinking Fund and Land- 
 fax — Examples of fimilar Operations, as 
 the ^appropriation of the Sinking Fund to 
 the Exiifidiion oj private Debts — Annual 
 Application oJ the Surplus of One per Cent, 
 on the Capital of every 7iew Loan, and 
 its EffeHs fnce adopted — l^he old Sinking 
 Fund injiitiited in 171 6, compared ivith 
 the prefent — Stability oJ our public 
 Credit — Accumulation oj- Debt by the fe- 
 deral Wars of the eighteenth Century — 
 R^trofpcciive Fiew of the remote Wars of 
 England — Refe^ions — Dean 'Tucker^ s 
 philanthropic Ohfervations on the Sub*
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. I79 
 
 jedi-^Salutary financial Plans adopted 
 during Mr. Pitt's Adminifir ation — Reform 
 in the ReduBion of fever al ufelefs PlaceSy 
 and various Retrenchments — Charges 
 of Management of the principal Heads 
 of Revenue^ compared with former Times — 
 Co7itrafied with the Charges of Manage- 
 ment in France, 
 
 The beneficial effeds refulting from the 
 operations of the finking funds, inftituted 
 for the redudion of our national debt, are 
 admitted by all parties to be of the utmofi: 
 importance to the liability of our public 
 credit and national profperity. It was early 
 in the feffion of the year 1 7 8 6 , Mr . Pitt moved 
 Parliament to make a provilionfor the diminu- 
 tion of the national debt; and for that purpofe, 
 feveral accounts, and other papers prefented 
 that feffion relating to the public income and 
 expenditure, were referred to a Committee, 
 and one million was allotted annually for that 
 purpofe, being about the 238th part of the 
 A \ 1 capital
 
 l€o riNANCIAL AND 
 
 capital of the permanent debt then exiting *. 
 In 1792, another ad was pafTed, by which a 
 furplus of one per cent, per annum, on the 
 capital created by future loans, fhould be 
 applied for the redemption of the fum bor- 
 rowed, befides the new taxes to be impofed 
 fof paying the intereft of fuch loans -f. We 
 find, confequently, the fum applied annually 
 to the reduction of the national debt was, on, 
 July 28tli, 1800 J, ellimated at 4,700, Soo/. 
 being about an B^d part of the capital of the 
 permanent debt exilling in 1800 ; and it ap- 
 pears that the total amount of the finking 
 
 * Slat. 26 Geo. III. cap. 31. 
 
 t Stat. 32 Geo. III. c. 55, for providing for new 
 loans, and 33 Geo. III. c. 24, and 34 Geo. III. c. 48, 
 for turthering the fame purpofes. Dr. Price has, with 
 accuracy, calcuJatedj that, by annexing to each loan a 
 fund, producing a furplus of one pound per cent, after 
 paying the intereft, fuch furplus would be fuificient to 
 annihilate the principal of every loan in thirty-three 
 years. See EfTay or; public Credit. 
 
 X By the refolution of the Houfe of Commons, Feb. 
 1-800, upwards of 32 millions of the old debt has beeii 
 redeemed, and more than 12 millions of the new debt 
 created fince 1793. • 
 
 fund.
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. iBl 
 
 fund, (Feb. 1801), was five millions fler- 
 ling, which nnay beeRimated to be about the 
 80th part of the public debt now cxifting. 
 We ought, therefore, never to lofeiiglit of 
 the inviolable appropriation of this fund to 
 tTie redu(^l:ion of our national debt, as it is 
 gratifying and confolatory, amidlf all our 
 burdens, and the magnitude of our debts, to 
 find that the progrefs of redemption goes be- 
 yond the proportion of taxes impofed. The 
 amount of the capital of the old and new 
 debt, redeemed by the operation of the fmk- 
 ing fund, and by fome annuities falling in, 
 was, on the ifl: of Feb. 1800, upwards of 
 44 millions ; and the amount of capital re- 
 deemed by the fale of the land-tax, was up- 
 wards of 16 millions *. Thus we perceive, 
 that the progrefs in the redemption of the 
 national debt has, within a few years, been 
 
 * Mr. Pitt, on opening the budget for the prefent 
 year (i8th Feb. 1801), ftatcs, ftiat nokruhan 52 mil- 
 lions of the capital of the national debt has been com- 
 pletely paid off by the finking fund, bcfides i8 millions 
 redeemed by the fale of the land-tax. 
 
 1 in
 
 j82 FINANCIAL AND 
 
 in a greater proportion than its accumulation, 
 ivhich is a fad that ilands unexampled in 
 the hiilorj of this or any other nation. When, 
 by the operation of the finking fund of 1786. 
 it fhall have attained its maximum, viz. four 
 jniUions a year, a repeal of taxes to an equal 
 annual amount will confequently take place; 
 and which event may fairly be reckoned upon 
 as likely to happen in eight or nine years. 
 It has been proved, from accurate flatements, 
 that the redemption of the old permanent 
 debt, with the accumulation of the fmking 
 fund, and combined operation of the land- 
 tax, will, in all probability, be efFeded in 
 the year 1 840; and that the new debt, created 
 fince 1793, affuming the average price of 3 
 per cent, funds at 60 per cent, would be re- 
 deemed in the year 1827. All thefe effeds 
 will be produced, without taking into the 
 calculation the fcveral annuities for terips of 
 years, or lives that will, from time to time, 
 fall in. Thefe truths cannot at this moment 
 be exhibited in too many Ihapes to im- 
 prefs the mii^i of the public with a juft 
 
 opinion
 
 POLITICAL FACTS, 1S3 
 
 Opinion of the finances of this country* 
 I Ihall therefore, to (implify the idea, 
 apply a fimilar operation as the accu- 
 mulation of the finking fund to the extinc- 
 tion of a debt owing by a private individual. 
 Let us fuppofc, on a fmall, comparative 
 fcale, he owes 4000/. and, with a laudable 
 fpirit of economy, refolves to appropriate, 
 annually, for its extindlion, one eightieth 
 part (that is, 50/. or i| per cent.), and that 
 this fum fhall be inviolably applied, w^ith its 
 accumulation of compound interefl, reckon- 
 ing it to be at the rate of five per cent, until 
 the principal is annihilated, the reader will 
 difcover, fhould he take the trouble of mak- 
 ing the calculation, or recurring to tables of 
 compound interefl: *, that the principal of 
 the debt jufl mentioned will be difcharged in 
 thirty-three years. In this cafe of the indi- 
 vidual, there is fuppofed to be no maximum 
 to interrupt, in the above time, its progrcf- 
 
 * Dr. Price, in his Obfervations on rcverfionary 
 Payments, has adapted tables for thcfe calculations. 
 Vol. ii. table 4.
 
 i84 FINANCIAL AND 
 
 five extindion. On the other hand, we 
 may fuppofe, in rejeding fradional parts, 
 that the accumulated amount of the na- 
 tional finking fund (February i8oi)j 
 may be computed at five millions, which 
 is not far from the truth, to be appro- 
 priated annually, with the fame inviolable 
 faith as has been adhered to during Mr» 
 Fitt*s adminiftration, to the extindlion of 
 400 millions of debt : it will be found, 
 that, independent of the other cafualties of 
 annuities falling in, and the operations of 
 land-tax to accelerate the redemption, it 
 would, in like manner, be extinguifhed in 
 ihirty-three years. But as this term of re- 
 deeming the whole national debt will be pro- 
 trailed for about feven years more, by the 
 interruption of the maximum already men- 
 tioned, we fliall make a comparative ftate- 
 ment on the redemption of new loans or 
 debts ; and further fuppofe, an individual 
 adhering to a fimilar fyftem of rigid eco- 
 nomy, and who appropriates annually one per 
 cent, furplus, with its accumulation of com- 
 pound
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. 185 
 
 pound intereft, at five percent, for the extinc- 
 tion of a new debt of 2000/. he will fink 
 the debt in about thirty-feven years. 
 
 On this lafl principle is the annual appli- 
 cation of the furplus of one per cent, made on 
 the capital of every new loan that has been 
 contracted fince 1793, allowing for a little 
 variation that may arife from the fludluaiing 
 prices of the funds *. 
 
 No encroachment has been made on the 
 prefent finking fund, as in the old one, in- 
 to uted in 1 7 16, by Sir Robert Walpole : 
 the latter was firft charged with the payment 
 of the intereft on new loans, and at length its 
 efficacy was completely deftroyed in the year 
 
 * Sir John Sinclair, in 1784, fuggcfted a plan on fimi- 
 lar principles, for the annual application of a fum for 
 defraying the capital of every new loan, Hift. of the 
 Public Revenue, part ii. page 127. 
 
 Mr. Fox had the merit of moving the claufe in the 
 bill laid before Parliament, in May 1786, for the annual 
 application of one per ce:)t. on the capital of every new 
 loan, which Mr. Pitt received with approbation, and 
 highly applauded the principle of the claufe, inafmuch 
 as it had a rtrong tendency to fortify and give flability to 
 the whole inftitution. 
 
 BB 1733,
 
 l86 FINANCIAL AND 
 
 "^733» ^t ^ *^^^ of profound peace, by charg- 
 ing it with half a million for the fervices of 
 the current year. Had it been appropriated 
 Wth the fame facred adherence as the fmking 
 funds created in 1786 and 1792, the con fe- 
 quctice would have been, that, at the com- 
 mencement of this war, our national debt, 
 then exifting, would have been extinguilhed, 
 and at lead: one half of our permanent taxes 
 annihilated. From the appropriation, in 
 certain cafes, of the finking fund at this mo- 
 ment, it is evident that a part of the burden 
 incurred by the prefent war has gone to dif- 
 chargc a part of the debts contraded by our 
 ancefliors. 
 
 On contemplating the progrefs of our natio- 
 nal debts, during the lafl: century*, and mark- 
 ing the periods when it was nearly doubled, 
 viz. at the conclufion of the American war, 
 and again by the expenfes incurred during 
 the prefent, there appear to be juft grounds 
 to be alaruAed for the ftability of our public 
 
 * See Appendix, No. V, 
 
 credit,
 
 POLITICAL FACTSJ 187 
 
 credit, under a prefTure fo unexampled. 
 But in proportion as we duly confider the 
 beneficial efFeds refulting from the unalien- 
 able appropriation of the finking fund, toge- 
 ther with the increafed imports and exports, 
 and general wealth and income of the nation, 
 from which the comparative increafed reve- 
 nue is derived, our apprehenfions will natu- 
 rally fubfide ; and in their room, it is to be 
 hoped and trufted, energy and unanimity, 
 among all defcriptions of Englifhmen, will, 
 at this crifis, be predominant. 
 
 While I profefs ** nothing to extenuate,'' 
 in my comparative ftatements of fadls, the 
 rapid progrefs and extraordinary accumula- 
 tion of debts, occafioned by the feveral wars 
 during the lafi: hundred years, cannot be 
 pafTed unnoticed. In feparating them from 
 the general mafs of debts *, with as much 
 accuracy as the nature of the documents will 
 admit, the reader will find the following 
 rcfults : 
 
 * See Appendix, No. V, 
 
 B B 2 The 
 
 I
 
 -I?BS 
 
 riNANCIAL AND 
 
 
 No. of 
 
 Amount of Debts 
 
 Annual average 
 
 The filft ten years 
 of Queen Anne's reign, 
 
 Yrs War 
 
 com rafted. 
 
 Amount. 
 
 
 
 
 from 1702 to the peace 
 
 
 I' 
 
 ^' . 
 
 of Utrecht in 17 13 . 
 
 II 
 
 43,360,000 
 
 43*360 
 
 In the reign of Geo. 
 I. from 1718 to 1 72 1 
 
 
 
 
 3 
 
 6,048,267 
 
 2,016,089 
 
 In the reign of Geo. 
 
 
 
 
 II. the war, which 
 
 
 
 
 began in 1739, and 
 
 
 
 
 ended in 1748, peace 
 
 
 
 
 of Aix la Chapelle . 
 
 9 
 
 46,418,689 
 
 5,156,501 
 
 Ditto, the fecond 
 
 
 
 
 war, which began in 
 
 
 
 
 17C6, and ended in 
 
 
 
 
 1703 
 
 7 
 
 111,271,996 
 
 i5»895>999 
 
 In the reign of Geo. 
 
 
 
 
 III. the American war 
 
 7 
 
 i39>i7i>876 
 
 19,881,696 
 
 Ditto, the prefent 
 
 
 
 
 war ......;.. 
 
 8 
 
 230,000,000 
 
 a8, 759,000 
 
 Total amount . 
 
 45 
 
 592,910,828 
 
 
 From the above ftatement we fee the ex- 
 traordinary expenfes incurred in the fix wars 
 of the laft century, amounting, in the fpace 
 of forty- five years, to nearly the aggregate 
 fum oi fx hundred 7mUions, The annual 
 average for the above time amounts to up- 
 wards oi eleverl millions ; and if we may add 
 the rebelHons of 17 15 and 1745, it will ap- 
 pear, that the country has been half the cen- 
 tury in a flate of warfare. In a philofophic 
 point of view, it is truly a mofi: melancholy 
 
 fubjedt
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. iSg 
 
 fubjev5l of reflexion ; and the mind is apt to 
 Ihudder, in taking into the account the ag- 
 gregate nunaber of lives loft, with the im- 
 menfe expenditure incurred *. 
 
 Dean Tucker, who invariably blended fa 
 jnuch religious and philanthropic principles 
 in all his writings on political economy, has 
 juftly obfcrved, ** That the wars of Europe, 
 for thefe 200 years laft paft, by the confef- 
 fion of all parties, have really ended in the 
 
 * If we take a retrofpeflivc view of the wars of re- 
 mote ages, we fliall find, that in the thirteenth century, 
 and during the long reign of Henry III. from 1216 to 
 1272, the country wastorn with wars and infurredions, 
 and that, during a reign of fifty-fix years, there were 
 fcarcely fix years of profound peace. In the reigns of 
 Edward 1. II. and III. a period of 103 years, viz. from 
 1274 to 1377, there were fcarcely ten years of peace. 
 Puring the fifteenth century, the nation was ahiioft 
 conftantly engaged in war with Scotland or France, and 
 harafled nearly half the century with defiruaive civil 
 wars. That between the houfes of York and Lan- 
 caftcr lafted thirty-three years, viz. from 1452 till the 
 battle of Bofworth, 1485. It may therefore be jultly 
 faid that England, in the fifteenth century, when tlie 
 mifts of bnrbarifm began to be dilTipated, fcarcely en- 
 joyed ten years of pcrie<St tranquillity. 
 
 advantage
 
 IpO riNANCIAL AND 
 
 advantage of none, but to the manifeil de- 
 triment of them all. Suffice it to remark, 
 that had each of the contending powers em- 
 ployed their fubje(5ls in cultivating and im- 
 proving fuch lands as were clear of all dif- 
 pated titles, inftead of aiming at more ex- 
 lendcd pofleflions^ they had confulted both 
 their own and their people's greatnefs, much 
 more efficacioiifly than all the victories of a 
 Csefar or an Alexander/* 
 
 Having, in this curfory view of facfls, oc- 
 cafionally touiched on the financial plans 
 adopted during Mr. Pitt's adminiflration, 
 more efpecially thole relative to the appro- 
 priation of the finking fund, dec, and which, 
 from experience, have proved confpicuoufly 
 beneficial to the public, and produced more 
 falutary confequences than any limilar mea- 
 fures purfued by his predecelTors in office ; it 
 is with infinite regret we behold, at this pe- 
 lilous moment, his retirement from the helm 
 of ilate, after a period of feventeen ye^rs 
 
 eminent
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. I9I 
 
 eminent and faithful fervices, amidft a pref- 
 fure of flrugglcs and difficulties Linexampled- 
 In reviewing the early part of his adminijfljA- 
 tion, we find a prudent iyftem of economy 
 had been adopted and purfued, in the fevera! 
 ■departments of the ftate. The accounts of 
 the Cuiloms were much fimplified by the 
 confolidation of the duties, which took place 
 in 1787. Great and multiplied evils cxiftel 
 under the old fyftem, in the Cufloms, Ex- 
 cife, and Stamp-office, but more efpecially in 
 the Cuftoms, from the duties bearing a pro- 
 portion to an uncertain and fluduating value 
 of the goods; and in many inftances, various 
 additional duties impofed, calculated by a 
 per centage on the duty before paid ; the 
 whole producing a mafs of confufion, pro- 
 dudive of great inconveniency and delay t» 
 the mercantile intereft of the country *. The 
 
 * As an example, a pound of nutmegs was charged 
 with nine different duties ; firft 8d. then A, it* A, ^^^c. 
 Spirits and French wine were charged with duties 
 equally complicated and embarrading. 
 
 2 remedy
 
 19^ FINANCIAL ANi> 
 
 remedy propofed and adopted was, by abo- 
 lifliing all the complex duties which then 
 fub filled, and fubflituting in their flead one 
 lingle duty on each article, amounting, as 
 nearly as poffible, to the aggregate of all the 
 various fubiidies formerly paid. 
 
 The plans of reform purfued by Mr. Pitt, 
 in the redud:ion of feveral ufelefs places, 
 abolition of fees in different offices, and va- 
 rious retrenchments, firft fuggefted by the 
 Commiffioners appointed for examining the 
 Public Accounts, as well as the other re- 
 trenchments recently recommended by the 
 Seledl Committee on Finance, have been 
 eminently beneficial to the public ; and it is 
 devoutly to be wiihed his fucceffor in office 
 may continue this moll laudable but Hercu- 
 lean work. 
 
 The charges of the management of the 
 principal revenues of Great Britain (Poll- 
 office and Hawkers and Pedlars excepted), 
 amount now only to about 4I per cent, on the 
 net produce. This, compared with the ex- 
 
 penfes
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. I93 
 
 penfes of management in former times*, ^s 
 Well as in other ftates, will be found ex- 
 tremely moderate. 
 
 It appears that the duties of Cuftoms in 
 France, called DouaneSy in the month of 
 March 1 80 1, produced only of net revenue 
 one third of grofs receipts, or what is levied, 
 becaufe the other two thirds are abforbed by 
 the expenfes of collection and manage- 
 ment. It is a recent fa(ft acknowledged 
 by a French writer, that for every hundred 
 livres colleded of duties, feventy-five are 
 fwallowed up by the diforganized ftate of 
 management in that country -f*. The writer 
 
 * In the year 1779, the expenfes attending the ma- 
 nagement of Cuftoms amounted to ten percent, and 
 that of tlie Excife to five and a half per cent. See Let- 
 ters from William Eden, Efq. (now Lord Auckland), to 
 Lord Carlifle. 
 
 t " Les douanes par exemple ne donnent a£luellement 
 de net qu'un tiers de letir recette, parceque les deuX 
 autres tiers font abforbes par les fraix : mais les fraix 
 feront a la paix beaucoup moins confiderables, et les 
 rentrees certainemcnt beaucoup plus abondantes." Sur 
 VEtat des Finances en France. Le Spcdaleur du Nord, 
 Mars 1801, p. 443. 
 
 c c' alluded
 
 194 FINANCIAL AND 
 
 alluded to offers, however, fome confolation 
 to his fellow-citizens, by adverting to the 
 probable decreafe of expenfes, and the in- 
 creafe of imports on the return of peace. 
 
 It appeared, from a report made by Mr. 
 Necker, in June 1791, to the Conftituent 
 Aflembly of France -f , that the expenfes of 
 the collecftion of the revenue of finance, under 
 the old Government, amounted to more than 
 20 per cent. The uncertainty, however, 
 with which Mr. Necker fpeaks of the re- 
 ceipt of the revenue of France, or the charges 
 of management, may raife doubts as to the 
 accuracy of the French minifler's flatement. 
 On the other hand, the accounts of our reve- 
 nues and expenditure, with the expenfes of 
 management, from time to time, laid before 
 the public, are fimple in their form, and 
 
 "1^ The whole revenue of France, at the prefent mo- 
 ment, including the fale of national domains, &c. 
 amounts to about 15 millions, and the charges of ma- 
 nagement are at leaft 12 per cent, being greater than 
 the expenfe of this country in the colledion of 36 mil- 
 lions. 
 
 clearly
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. Ip^ 
 
 clearly to be underftood. The accounts of 
 new taxes impofed arc now kept dillindl 
 from the old, and annually laid before Par-, 
 lian^ient ; and, to ufe the words of the late in- 
 telligent Infpedtor of Exports and Imports of 
 this kingdom, on his examination before the 
 Committee on finance * : ** In Great Britain 
 every farthing drawn from the fubjc<5l, on 
 account of the public revenues,- and all de- 
 dudlions therefrom, until the net produce is 
 paid into the Exchequer, and falls under the 
 view of Parliament, can be afcertained with 
 a mathematical accuracy." 
 
 * See Mr. Trving's evidence before the Sele£l Com- 
 mittee on Finance, Report IV. Appendix. 
 
 c c 2 CHAP.
 
 ig6 FINANCIAL AND, 
 
 CHAP. XL 
 
 Heads of public Expenditure — Civil Lifl, 
 as feitled by Law, and divided into, eighi 
 diJlinB Clajfes — Progrefs of the Civil Ufi 
 "Revenue during the eighteenth Century — - 
 Progrefi.of the King^s B^<iu.feholdE}<;penfes 
 during the Century — Hereditary J^evenues 
 of the Crown relinquijhed by his prefent 
 Mtyejly ia the Public — Jn v^hdt Proportion 
 the hereditary ^.<e'^enues> 'W.ouldhav^ exceeded 
 thfi firnitAd Sum fet^tUd by haw in their 
 fie ad, had they heenfiill retained by his 
 ^^ejly-^ Advantages accruing to the 
 Public— Reflexions, 
 
 JnL A VI NG noticed the progrefs of our public 
 debts, revenue, and expenditure, during the 
 eighteenth century, it may not be amifs now 
 to make a few obfervations on fome of the 
 branches of the public expenditure, for the 
 current fervices of the ftate, which are ufually 
 clafTed, and flated to Parliament in the fol- 
 ' ■* ' lowing
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. I97 
 
 lowing order * ; i . Intercll and charges 
 incident to the funded debt, and the fums 
 applicable to its redudtion. 2. Intereft oa 
 ftock, created by loans. 3. Intereft oa 
 Exche(juer bills. 4. Civil lill. 5. Other 
 charges on confolidated fund, viz. for 
 courts of juftice, mint, pensions, falarics, 
 and allowances to certain public off^c^s, toge- 
 ther with fome bounties on hemp and flax. 
 6. Civil government of Scotland, pendens, 
 or hereditary revenues, militia and deferters' 
 warrants, bounties, &c. 7. Charges of 
 management of the revenue, and the fupplies 
 annually voted, which lafl: are claffed under 
 the heads of navy, army, ordnance, militia^ 
 mifccllaneous fer vices, &c. The fupplies 
 voted for the year 1799, amounted to 
 44,782,922/. being the higheft of any year 
 during the century; and for 1800, amounted 
 to 39,500,000/. -f- 
 
 ♦ Sec Appendix, N^o. II. Scfl. 2. Heads of Expend, 
 for 1800. 
 t Ap. No. IV. Sea. 2. Supplies. 
 
 The
 
 I9S FINANCIAL AND 
 
 The expenditure of the navy is diflin- 
 guifhed into the navy (properly fo called) 
 and the marines ; vidualling, fick and 
 wounded ; tranfports, and prifoners of war. 
 The previous eftimate for the year 1800 was 
 13,619,079/. and the eftimates are now cal- 
 culated at the rate of 7/. per man per month, 
 inftead of the former rate of 4/. : viz. 3/. per 
 man per month, for wear and tear ; i /. i js, 
 for wages; i/. iSj. vidlualling ; 5J-. ord- 
 nance. Total 7/. per man per month. 
 
 8. The army expenditure is divided into 
 ordinary and extraordinary fervices ; and 
 for the year 1800, was eflimated at 
 11,350,079/.* 
 
 9. The ordinary and extraordinary fer- 
 vices for the ordnance, which, for 1800, 
 were eflimated at 1,695,958/. 
 
 10. Mifcellaneous fervices. The articles 
 of expenditure, included under this head, 
 have varied in name and number at different 
 periods. They are now generally diflin- 
 
 * Appendix, No. IV. Se6l. 2. Supplies. 
 
 guiflied
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. 1 99 
 
 guilhed by fervices at home and fervices 
 abroad. The civil eftabhfhments for the 
 Britifh colonics are always provided for 
 under this head by a vote for plantation efti- 
 mates. The mifcellaneous fervices for the 
 year 1799, were eftimated at 6,105,311/. 
 and for 1800, were eftimated at 750,00c/. * 
 
 The feveral heads of expenditure, amount- 
 ing, in the aggregate, for la ft year, 1800, 
 to 64,438,427/.-^- , are divided and fubdivided 
 into fo many others, that it would exceed 
 the limits of our plan, to enumerate them all 
 fpecifically. 
 
 There is, however, one head of expendi- 
 ture, namely, his Majelly's civil lift for the 
 fupport and dignity of the Crown and Royal 
 Family, which claims the moft candid atten- 
 tion, as having been, at different periods, but 
 without good reafon, cenforioufly animad- 
 verted upon. 
 
 The Civil Lift of 900,000/. as now fet- 
 tled upon his Majefty, is divided into eight 
 
 * Ap. No. IV. Sea. 2. Supplies. 
 t Ap. No. 11. St-a. 2. 
 4 diftina
 
 500 ^tNANCtAL AND 
 
 diftind claffes*, viz. i. The royal fiirnily. 
 1. The judges* falaries, &c. 3. The fak- 
 ries and appointments of foreign minifters* 
 4. Tradefmen of the hoiifehold. 5. Me- 
 nial fervants. 6. Pcnfions. 7. Salaries of 
 different officers. 8. Salaries of the Com- 
 miflioners of the Treafury, and Chancellor of 
 the Exchequer ; befides fundry occalional 
 payments, fuch as fecret fervice money, 
 compenfations, gratuities, fhcriffs for the 
 convidlion of felonies, 6cc. 
 
 In comparing the Civil Lift of former 
 times with the prefent, and tracing its pro- 
 grefs with the alterations in the value of 
 money, and rife in the price of commodities, 
 the refult vv'ill be, that it is proportionally 
 lefs now than in former times. 
 
 Soon after the Revolution, ihe Civil Lift 
 revenue was fettled [though not fo regularly 
 claficd as at prefent) on King William and 
 puecn Mary, amounting, with the heredi- 
 tary duties, to 700,000/. per annum. In 
 
 * Stat. 22 Geo. Ill, cap. 82. 
 
 1691
 
 POLITICAL FACTS- 201 
 
 1 69 1 the fum of 856,123''. was applied to 
 the lupport of the civil eftablifliment. The 
 nominal fum of 700,000/. was, however, 
 continued to Queen Anne and George I. and 
 additional fums were frequently voted by- 
 Parliament. The Civil Lift fettled on 
 George II. was augmented nominally to 
 800,000/., but in fadl was confiderably 
 more, as in fomc years it amounted to one 
 i-nillion. His prefent Majefty, foon after 
 his acccffion to the throne, fpontaneoufly 
 fignified his confent that his own hereditary 
 revenue might be difpofed of as might beft 
 conduce to the benefit of the public, and in 
 lieu thereof, accepted the limited fum of 
 800,000/. per annum * for the fupport of the 
 Civil Lift, including the annuity of 1 20,000/. 
 for the fupport of his Majefty's houfehold. 
 The fums allotted for this branch of the 
 civil lift at different periods have been as fol-. 
 lows : the houfehold expenfes of King James 
 the Second in 1687, 90,455/. The fum allot- 
 
 * Stat. 17 Geo. III. cap. 21. 
 
 DD ted
 
 i,0:t fINANClAL AND 
 
 led to King William and Qneen M^ry 
 (1692% 1 14,685/. The fum allowed for the 
 houfehold expenfes of Queen Anne at the v 
 medium of two years, from 1703 to 
 1705, 83,710/. The fum granted to King 
 George the Firft, on the average of nine 
 years, from 1715 to 1724, was at the rate of 
 80,000/. per annum. King George the Se- 
 cond had, from 1730 to 1731, the fum of 
 118,487/., and in the year 1732, 124,806/. ; 
 but in 1759, it was reduced to 108,290/. 
 At the accefTion of his prefent Majefly, 
 a confiderable redu(5tion was made in 
 the houfehold expenfes. An increafe at- 
 tended the increafe of the royal family, but 
 it was again reduced in 1782*. 
 
 The fum of 800,000/. firfl: fettled on his 
 Majefty for his civil lift, in lieu of the whole 
 hereditary revenue, being found infufficient, 
 
 * For the particulars of the expenfe of the royal 
 houfehold, from the reign of Henry VII. to the prefent 
 !in>e, fee the twelfth volume of Archaologia^ publifhed 
 by the Society of Antiquaries of London, 
 
 it
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. 203 
 
 it was increafed to 900,000/. of which 
 898,000/. is paid out of the confolidated 
 fund, and the remaining lOOoL is paid out 
 of the alienation office into the hanaper in 
 chancery. 
 
 The hereditary revenue of the Crown re- 
 linquifhed by his Majefly to the pubhc, arofe 
 from certain branches of thccxcife, cufloms, 
 and pofl-office, alfo from the duties on wine 
 licenfes, the revenues of the remaining 
 Crown lands, and the profits arifing from 
 courts of juftice, &c. 
 
 Were the total amount of monies which 
 would have been applicable to the expenfes 
 of his Maje{l:y*s government in England, as 
 being the hereditary and temporary revenues of 
 the Crown, enjoyed by the prefent King from 
 the 5th January 1777, to the 5th January 
 1801, it would be 29,275,080/. The annuity 
 received by his Majcfty in lieu of the heredi- 
 tary revenue during the fame period amounts 
 to 21,735,115/, making a difference in 
 twenty,four years of 7,539,^65/, which on 
 D D 2. the
 
 204 FINANCIAL AND 
 
 the average, would be at the rate of 3 1 4, 1 6 1 A 
 annual additional fum to his Majefty*s pre- 
 fent civil lift; confequently, had the King not 
 given up the hereditary revenue, as enjoyed 
 by his late Majefty, the civil lift revenue 
 would have at prefent amounted to upwards 
 of one million two hundred and fourteen thou-^^ 
 Jand pounds. 
 
 This fad proves that the relinquifhment 
 of the hereditary revenue of the Crown 
 has been greatly to the advantage of the 
 public, and has kept pace in its progrefs 
 with the improvements of the other branches 
 cf the revenue, and the general wealth and 
 profperity of the nation. 
 
 Although complaints have frequently been 
 made of the increafe of the civil lift, yet 
 they will appear not well founded; for 
 when the amount of fums granted to the 
 Crown in former reigns, the conceftions made 
 by the prefent King, as before ftated, the 
 multiplied objeds of expenfe, the numerous 
 branches of the Royal Family; alfo the 
 4 great
 
 .POLITICAL FACTS. 20^ 
 
 great increafe in the price of all articles of 
 confumption, and the depreciation in the 
 value of money, are duly confidered ; when 
 we confider, likevvifc, that it is the 
 fplendour of the nation reflected in the 
 perfon of his Majefty, and not the unmean- 
 ing pomp and pageantry of an individual, the 
 cxpenfes of the civil lift cannot furely be 
 deemed extravagant; moreefpecially, as they 
 have not been increafed in any comparative 
 proportion with the wealth and refources 
 of the nation ; and that it may be impof- 
 fible to fupport the dignity which the king of 
 a great united empire fliould maintain, with 
 lefs than what is now eftabhflicd by Parlia- 
 ITient. 
 
 CHAP.
 
 206 FINANCIAL AND 
 
 CHAP. XII. 
 
 Comparative View of the Strength of Great 
 Britain with that of France, and the 
 ■principal maritime Powers of Europe 
 ^Natural and geographical Advantages 
 of Great Britain-^ Line of Sea Coaji com^. 
 pared with that of France— Dif advantages 
 to the Commerce of this Country, foould the 
 French fucceed tn fecuring to themjelves 
 the free Navigation of the Rivers Rhine, 
 Mcufe, andScheld^VaJl Proje^s of joining 
 many of their navigable Rivers and Canals 
 tothofe three great River s-^Devehpement 
 of the Views and Defgns of the French 
 Nation-^-BaJis laid for carrying them into 
 Execution on the Return of Peace-Secret 
 Articles ofCampo Formio-'Treaty of Lu^ 
 ^,.jUle--Advantagcs to the Commerce of 
 France, fiould Bonaparte he fuccefsful in 
 accomplifiinghis Dcfgns-ln what Man. 
 ner they would militate agaiuft the Com^ 
 merce of Great Britain, and affeB the In. 
 tereP of the Northern Powers-Reflexions. 
 ^ GREAT
 
 I»OtlTlCAL FACTS. 207 
 
 VjrilEAT Britain at this epoch, the com- 
 mencement of a new century, rtands in 
 the foreground of the grand picture of poli- 
 tical economy and public credit in Europe, 
 whether we confider her relative power, 
 wealth, profperity, and happinefs, as a mari- 
 time and commercial nation. As the real 
 flrength of a flate is relative, and ought to be 
 meafured with that of other nations, as v/ell 
 as compared with itfelf at different periods, 
 I fhall attempt, however difficult be the tafk, 
 to take a concife comparative view of Great 
 Britain's ftrength with the principal mari- 
 time ftates of Europe, from whom flie may 
 have any thing to fear, either from a compe- 
 tition of greatnefs as a belligerent power, or 
 a jealoufy of commercial interefls. 
 
 We have, from ourinfular iituation, natural 
 and local advantages, fuch as neither Athens, 
 Carthage, nor Romepoffcffed, and by which 
 we have acquired, and now enjoy, the 
 empire of the fca. It is this which 
 enables us on an emergency to annoy 
 
 other
 
 208 fiNANCIAL AND 
 
 Other Hates, and at the fame time to be out 
 of danger of being annoyed at home. Hence 
 ofFenfive operations in maintaining our honour 
 and weight in the national fcale, and repel- 
 ling aggreffions tendingto plunge us into war, 
 are peculiarly favouriible to an infular Htua- 
 tion. 
 
 V/e have alfo the local advantages and con- 
 veniences of a number of navigable rivers and 
 canals, that communicate with all our prin- 
 cipal manufaduring towns, and facilitate 
 the tranfport of bulky articles of commerce 
 from one fea to another, in this inland na- 
 vigation Great Britain has advantages that no 
 other nation at prefent enjoys, by having no 
 midland manufacturing town at a greater dif- 
 tance than 70 miles from the fea, or, which is 
 the fam.e tiling, from the port where the com* 
 modities either for a foreign or home market 
 are to be fliipped. Thefe are circumftances 
 which are probably of more confequence to 
 this as a commercial country, than all her 
 foreign conquefls and acquilltions. 
 
 National firength is allowed to confifl: in 
 
 a po-
 
 JPOLlTtCAL PACTS. 509 
 
 s population proportionate to the extent of 
 territory, in military virtues, private and 
 public wealth, and indultry of thf* inhabit- 
 ants. France, Spain, Portugal, and other 
 Catholic countries, are not, in comparing ex- 
 tent of territory, To populous as Great Bri- 
 tain. Theaflimblageof the military virtues 
 of France, Spain, and Portugal, and the 
 other Catholic or Chriftian maritime ftates 
 of Europe do not furpafs thofe of Britons. 
 Our naval exertions during almoft the whole 
 of the prefent war, have been fo extraordi- 
 nary and gigantic, and to fuch a pitch of 
 heroic valour is our navy arrived, that 
 they may poflibly appear to pofterity in the 
 light in which we now view the fabulous 
 hiflories of the feats of ancient chivalry; 
 and the late difplay of the fame fpirit in a 
 foreign lafid, will be fufficient to convince our 
 haughty military neighbours, that the Briton 
 on fhore now claims to fhare with his brother 
 on the water, the gl ory and honour of conquefl. 
 The induftry of the Englifli is held up as 
 an example for imitation to the fubjeds of 
 E E the
 
 2IO FINANCIAL AND 
 
 the Other ftates of Europe. And the public 
 and private wealth of the nation at the pre- 
 fent moment, will be found to exceed the 
 aggregate amount poflefled by all the mari- 
 time powers of Europe. 
 
 The immenfe capitals of Britifh merchants 
 launched into commerce, the fmall profits, 
 quick returns, and lownefs of intereft already- 
 noticed, together with the fliill and dexterity 
 of Britifli manufadurers and farmers, avow- 
 edly furpafs every nation in the univerfe* 
 The circulating medium being difFufed 
 among all claffes, and returning with rapi- 
 dity whence it flowed, gives a wonderful 
 impulfe and energy to our manufactures and 
 trade; hence the celerity with which be- 
 tween 40 and 50 millions of fpecie, and up- 
 wards of 15 millions of Bank of England 
 notes, revolving as it were in concentric circles 
 (London being fuppofed to form the centre of 
 thefe circles), independent of Government fe- 
 curities, fuch as Exchequer, Navy, Tranfport, 
 and Victualling bills, anfvver the purpofe of 
 driving the prodigious trade of the Britiili 
 
 nation
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. 2H 
 
 nation more effedrually than the 90 millions 
 of fpeciefaid to have been the circulating me- 
 dium of France before the revolution *. The 
 wonderful ad:ivity of the circulating me- 
 dium depends upon caufcs peculiar to this 
 country, and gives Great Britain lingular ad- 
 vantages over France, or any other country 
 of more extendve territory. The credit and 
 ftability of the Bank of England caufes the 
 payments to be made either by poft bills or 
 5ank notes with as much rapidity as the 
 mail coaches can travel. The comparatively 
 fmall extent of Great Britain, and the conti- 
 nual communication that one trading town 
 has with another ; Lor^don being a fea-port, 
 and the principal trading city in the king- 
 dom, where all the exchange operations with 
 foreign ftates are concentrated ; the pabUc 
 
 * M. Necker,in his Treatife on the Adminlftration 
 of the Finances of France, fuppofed that the gold and 
 filver coin exiiting in the kingdom at the time he wrofe, 
 amounted to two ihonfand ttco hundred mtUions of Uvrcs^ 
 ec^ual to 91,666,666/. Iterling. 
 
 E E 2i COnfklenct^
 
 2t« fINANCIAL AND 
 
 confidence in the funds, the form of our 
 government, and the cuftoms of the country, 
 all contribute to give a more adive and 
 rapid circulation than is found in any other 
 nation. 
 
 The public expenditureoflafl:year,amount-» 
 ing to more than the circulating medium ia 
 the kingdom*, will appear aftonifhing to 
 minds who only feparately examine the firfl: 
 idea, and dwell upon its magnitude, without 
 combining and comparing it with other ideas, 
 and thence tracing their analogy. The an- 
 nual produce of the loans and revenue which 
 is difperfed in every dirediion to defray the 
 public expenfes, paflcs with fuch rapidity 
 among all clafTes of the community, and in 
 its rotation foon returns into the hands of 
 the monied men, who, if necefTary, lend ii 
 again to Government j and which at length, 
 with the produce of revenues, is again accu- 
 
 ♦ The public expenditure for 1800 amounted to up» 
 wards of 64 millions ; and the circulating medium, ia# 
 eluding Bank notes, is computed to amount to about 60. 
 jnillions, 
 
 mulated
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. Q,X ^ 
 
 mukted in the Exchequer. Thus we per- 
 ceive there is a continual adion and rc-adion. 
 When France had upwards of 90 millions 
 Jlerling of circulating fpecie, England had 
 not much more than half that fum, includ- 
 ing Bank notes j yet it was admitted by M. 
 Necker, that the produce of the loans diftri- 
 buted by the French government in the dif- 
 charge of the public expenfes, remained two 
 or three years in circulation before it return- 
 ed into the hands of the monied men; but the 
 fame return is accomplifhed in England in 
 the courfe of one year*. 
 
 In the further illuflration of this important 
 truth, the well-known properties in mecha- 
 nics may be juftly applied, namely, that the 
 abfolute power which gives to moving bo- 
 dies what is called their force or momentum^ 
 muft be meafured by comparing the fpecific 
 gravity of different'bodies together. Thus, 
 if 45 millions of fpecie in this country circu- 
 
 * M. Necker's Treatifeon the Adminiftration of the 
 Finances of France, vol. iii. book 2i. 
 
 late
 
 214 FINANCIAL AND 
 
 late through a given fpace with twice the 
 vciocity that 90 milHons did in France, 
 the force or momentum will be equal; but if 
 with three times the velocity, the momentum 
 will be as three to two. Hence it is evident, 
 the mode in which abfolute power a(5ts may 
 communicate to fmall bodies more force 
 than to larger mafles of matter. 
 
 Trade moft effentially conftitutes the 
 i^rength and happinefs of a nation, let the 
 form of its government be what it will, be- 
 caufe it introduces induftry and arts, by 
 which the manners of a people are civil- 
 ized. It is not the number of paffive, 
 but the number of ufeful andadive fubjeils, 
 that make a commercial ftate powerful; and 
 by the foreign trade of a nation, and the de^ 
 mandfor its manufadures, we may judge of 
 the nature, extent, and comparative flrength 
 of what is called maritime power. 
 
 The Chinefe, from the wifdom of theix 
 
 laws, are, with refpedl to agriculture, the 
 
 moft induflrious people, and with the beftcuU 
 
 4 tivatcd
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. 21^ 
 
 tivated country in the world ; hence this 
 empire's wonderfully increafed population 
 during the laft hundred years : but with re- 
 fped to the progrefs of the inhabitants in Ikill 
 and dexterity in the arts, as well as improve- 
 ments in language, they appear to have been 
 ftationary, if not retrograde, for the laft 
 thoufand years. 
 
 Spain is naturally the mofh fertile, and yet, 
 from want of induftry, is the worft cultivated 
 country in Europe. The church lands are im- 
 menfe, and Government authorizes the con- 
 tractors for the royal magazine, to purchafc 
 from the farmers their furplus of corn at a 
 low price, which difcourages them from 
 fowing more than is necelTary for their own 
 families. Hence we find, that in the fpacc 
 of one hundred years there have been in Spain 
 more frequent dearths of provifions than in 
 neighbouring countries lefs fertile but more 
 induftrious. 
 
 Europe, in a diagonal line from the mouth 
 of the river Oby in the N. E. to Cape St. 
 
 Vincent
 
 2l6 FINANCIAL AND 
 
 Vincent in the S. W. quarter, meafures 
 about 3000 miles, and its greatell breadth is 
 about 2000 miles. The line of fea-coallin 
 Great Britain and Ireland, according to Sir 
 William Petty, was computed to be nearly 
 4000 miles *; but this muft be greatly under- 
 rated, as, by a late furvey made by Mr. 
 Lan gland, of the line of coafl: in the county 
 of Argyle, North Britain, it alone meafures 
 no lefs than 1 500 miles, taking all the inlets 
 and adjacent iflands, and contains a great 
 number of ports and havens towards the 
 Weftern Ocean. 
 
 The line of fea-coail in France before the 
 revolution, meafured about 1000 miles, and 
 her ports are feparated fixty or feventy miles 
 from each other ; her land boundary was 
 about five times more than her line of fea- 
 coafb, and fome parts of the interior an im- 
 menfe diftance from the fea. But if we take 
 into the account at the prefent moment the 
 
 * Sir William Petty's Pol. Arith. p. 260. 
 
 line
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. 217 
 
 line of fea-coaftof the Netherlands, Holland, 
 and the annexed countries, \vc lliall find it 
 nearly trebled to what it formerly was. 
 Should the French fucceed in their attempts 
 to retain their conquefts, and fecure to thein- 
 fclves the free navigation of the rivers Rhine ^ 
 Mcufc, and Scheld, they may on the return 
 of peace put in execution the vaft proje(ils 
 formed by the National Convention in 1792, 
 and which Bonaparte has obvioufly in con- 
 templation. A confideration of the outlines 
 of thefe proje<5ts may create fome apprehen- 
 iions in the minds of the generality of 
 readers ; yet it is to be hoped, for the com- 
 mercial profperity of this country, that the 
 Chief ConfuFs views in his prefent arrange- 
 ment of indemnities on the banks of the 
 Rhine, &c. and thereby attempting to ob- 
 tain the free navigation of thofe rivers, may 
 be completely fruflrated before this country 
 makes peace. In order to (how the import- 
 ance of our Uruggles to prevent fuch a mea- 
 furc on the part ©f France, we beg to trefpafs 
 F F oa
 
 2l8 FINANCIAL AND 
 
 on the reader's patience a few minutes, in 
 pointing out to him the probable confe- 
 quences of our permitting France to purfuc 
 her plans of aggrandizement. 
 
 The French Republic, by joining, as in- 
 tended, many of her navigable rivers and 
 canals, to the Rhine, Meufe, and Scheld, 
 will be enabled to tranfport, at a cheaper 
 rate than heretofore, the various bulky com- 
 modities of foreign growth and manufacflures, 
 and convey them to the centre of Germany ; 
 alfo from the Mediterranean Sea to the Bay 
 of Bifcay, to the Britifii Channel, and to the 
 North Sea. The confequence obvioufly re- 
 fulting from f ich boundaries would be to 
 exclude the trade and manufadures of Great 
 Britain from the northern parts of Europe. 
 By joining fome of the rivers and canals to 
 the Scheld, the French would, in time of 
 war, be able to tranfport, without interrup- 
 tion, naval ftores, ammunition, and provi- 
 fionsof all forts, from one place to another, 
 in the ci-devant Belgic provinces, and 
 
 thence into Holland. 
 
 The
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. 219 
 
 The river Meufe would alfo open an ex- 
 tended communication with part of Germany 
 and Holland, and facilitate the tranfport of 
 their various articles of commerce. The 
 river Rhine would moft eftedually complete 
 the interior communication with the rcit of 
 Germany and Holland. 
 
 It appears, from a developement of the 
 views and deiigns of the French nation, that 
 it has been in contemplation to open a com- 
 munication from the city of Brifach, in the 
 province of Brifgau, on the Rhine, to the 
 head of the river Danube, which is near Sun- 
 berg, in the province of Suabia *. A canal 
 of about thirty miles only is wanting to ac- 
 complish this grand junction; by which 
 France will obtain from the midland depart- 
 ments an interior water navigation into the 
 centre of Germatiy, into Hungary, to the 
 
 * Developement of the Views and Defigns of the 
 French Nation, accompanying maps of the Rhine, 
 Macfe, and Scheld, by Mathias Koops, Efq. 
 
 F F i Black 
 
 I
 
 220 FINANCIAL AND 
 
 Black Sca^ and European 'Turkey ^ which are 
 the eaftern extremities of Europe. 
 
 France, with three hundred navigable 
 rivers, and a number of extenfive canals, 
 fomc of them already opening communica- 
 tions between the Mediterranean Sea and 
 Atlantic Ocean, would, in accomplifhing 
 her ambitious plans, of fecuring the naviga- 
 tion of the three great rivers juil: mentioned, 
 moft effentially militate against the commer-» 
 cial interefts of this country, and contribute 
 to her own aggrandizement, population, 
 wealth, and profperity. 
 
 The fecret articles, and additional conven- 
 tion of the treaty of Campo Formio *, de- 
 velope, in a ftriking manner, the ambitious 
 views of the French Republic, with refpe^t | 
 to the free navigation of thefe rivers. His p 
 Imperial Majefty confents to employ hi^ \ 
 good offices in the negotiation of the peace \ 
 of the Empire, to obtain, i. That the navi- 
 
 « Publiflied at Raftadt April i8, 1799. 
 
 gation
 
 POLITICAL FACTS* 22T 
 
 gation of the Rhine, from Huningen to the 
 territory of Holland, fliall be free both to the 
 French Republic and the States of the Em- 
 pire, on the rii^ht bank. 2. That the poiTef- 
 fors of territory near the mouth of the 
 Mofelle, fliail, on no pretence, attempt 
 to interrupt the free navigation and palTage 
 of fliips and other veflels from the Mofelle 
 into the Rhine. 3. The French Republic 
 fhall have the free navigation of the Meufe ; 
 and the tolls and other impofls, from Venloo 
 to Holland, fliall be abolilhed. 
 
 The treaty of peace, concluded at Lune- 
 ville on the 9th February 1801, having re- 
 gard to what had been agreed upon by the 
 deputation of the Empire, at the preceding 
 Congrefs at Raftadt, refolved, in confor- 
 mity with the precedent of what had taken 
 place in iimilar circumftances, to ftipulatc 
 in the name of the Germanic body. Some 
 of the principal obje<fls flipulated are the 
 pefiion of the ci-devant Belgic provinces to 
 
 the
 
 922 FINANCIAL AND 
 
 the French Republic in the moft formal man- 
 ner*. The Comt6of Falkcnftein, with its 
 dependencies, the Fricthall, and all belong- 
 ing to the Houfe of Auftria on the left bank 
 of the Rhine, between Zarzach and Bafle, 
 are to be given up to the French Republic. 
 The Duke of Modena, as an indemnity for 
 the countries which this Prince had in Italy, 
 is tQ have the Bri/gau-f. Jn conformity 
 
 with 
 
 "f Independent of jthe additional line of fea-coaft the 
 ceffion of thefe provinces will give to the French, they 
 ■will have the advantages of bringing, by interior water- 
 carriage, iron, copper, lead, and brimftone, found in 
 the mjnes of Luxemburgh and Limburgh ; alfo coals 
 and foffil nitre, foupd in great abundance in the province 
 of Namur. 
 
 t The cefTion of the Brifgau to the Duke of Modena 
 may, on a future day, facilitate the accomplifhment of 
 the ambitious defigns of France In joining the Rhine to 
 the Danube, by a canal from the city of Brifach, to the 
 head of the river Danube, and by another fhpxt canal of 
 about four miles from the head of the river Birfe, to the 
 city of St. Urfanne, on the river Doubs, and making 
 thefe rivers navigable certain diftances, a communica- 
 tion between the Mediterranean, the Weftern Ocean, 
 
 and
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. 22^ 
 
 with the fecond article of the treaty of 
 Campo Formio, the navigation of the Adige, 
 which ferves as the hmits between his Ma- 
 jefty the Emperor and King, and the naviga- 
 tion of the rivers in the Cifalpine RepubHc, 
 are to be free ; nor is any toll to be impofed, 
 nor any Ihip of war kept there. 
 
 France, by fccu ring the unlimited freedom 
 of navigating the great rivers already no- 
 ticed, it is natural to expedt that flie will 
 make every effort, on the return of peace, to 
 promote an extenfive inland commerce, by 
 means of making canals and rivers naviga- 
 ble. It will give many years employment to 
 at leaft 50,000 difbanded foldicrs, and render 
 
 and Black Sea, would be effe6led. This projed is ad- 
 mitted to be more eligible than the one formed in the 
 ninth century by Charlemagne, in order to make a 
 communication between the ocean and Black Sea, by a 
 canal from the river Almutz (which difcharges itfelf 
 into the Danube) to tli« Reditz, vvhich falls into the 
 Maine, and this laft falls into the Rhine, near Mayence. 
 For this purpofe, a prodigious number of workmen 
 wereemploycd , but having met with fo many obltacles, 
 and incurred fo great an expenfe, the plan was aban- 
 doned. 
 
 her
 
 224 FINANCIAL AND 
 
 her ultimately independent, in peace of war,C>f 
 many bulky commodities, drawn from the 
 Northern States of Europe ; more efpecially 
 fuch articles as may be required for the con- 
 Urucftiort, repairs, and equipment of fhips in 
 the navy and merchant fervice. In procefs 
 of time, it may be feared that France may 
 eventually, by dint of numbers, even fuper- 
 fede Great Britain in thofe two grand points, 
 Navy and Commerce ; the former of which 
 may juftly be confidered the palladium of 
 the country. There are men who treat this 
 matter lightly, and lull their apprehenfions 
 to reft, by an idea that thefe things cannot 
 happen in our times ; but may the fun of 
 Great Britain never fet fo long as there fhall 
 remain a fun in heaven ! It is unbecoming us 
 to entrench ourfelves in felfifli reflediions, 
 fj contrary to that amor patrice which ought 
 to warm and animate the bofom of every 
 true patriot. 
 
 The fecuring the free navigation of 
 
 the Rhine to the fea, and the prad:i-» 
 
 cability of opening a communication 
 
 1 between
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. 225 
 
 between the Mediterranean and Black 
 Sea ; alfo from the Atlantic and Northern 
 oceans to the Black Sea ; are objeds 
 of fo much importance to France, that 
 it is not furprifing the towering ambition of 
 Bonaparte fhould have, by the fecret articles 
 of Campo Formio, and the treaty of Lune- 
 ville, laid the foiindation-ftone for carrying 
 his long-projedcd defign into execution. 
 Not contented with imitating Alexander and 
 Hannibal in his career of military achieve- 
 ments, he mufl afpire to accomplifh what 
 Charlemagne in vain attempted. Thus, in 
 imitation of feveral kings of Egypt, of 
 Cleopatra, and Solyman II. Emperor of the 
 Turks, to join the Rtd Sta to the Mediter- 
 ranean ; alfo in imitation of Demetrius, 
 Julius Cecfar, Caligula, and Nero, to join 
 the Morea and Achaia, by a canal acrofs the 
 ifthm.i'.s of Corinth, does the Corfican hero 
 afpire at " plucking honour from the pale- 
 faced moon.'* 
 
 That liib dcfigt^s Hiould not appear chime- 
 
 ncil, it may be proper to mention in what 
 
 G G manner
 
 226 tI^:Ai;ulAL AKD ' 
 
 maniner it has been propofed to put them in 
 execution, and which will more obvioufly 
 iirike the reader, by tracing the names of 
 the places and rivers on a good map. 
 
 It is well known, that a preference is given 
 to the river Doux or Doubs, for effediing a 
 j«nd:ion of the rivers Seine and Rhone with 
 the Rhine. The river Saone is united with 
 the^ river Doubs y at the city of Verdun, in 
 the dutchy of Burgundy ; and it iseftimated 
 that it would be attended with very little ex- 
 penie to make the river Doubs navigable, 
 from its confluence with the Saone to the 
 city of Saint Urfanne, in the bifliopric of 
 Baile, a diftance of about 150 miles. From 
 St, Urfanne a canal is propofed to be made to 
 the head of the river Birfe, a diflance only 
 of between three and four miles. This lafj: 
 river, from its head to its confluence with 
 the river Rhine, at the city of Bafle, is about 
 25 miles, and which may alfo be eafily made' 
 navigable at a very little expenfe. From the 
 city of Brifach, in the province of Brifgau, 
 
 on
 
 POtlTICAC FACTS. «27 
 
 on the Rhine, to the head of the river Danube, 
 which is near Sunberg, in the province of 
 uSuabia, is about 30 nnik-s ; and a canal this 
 diftance, in a country convenient for the pur- 
 pofe, is only wanting to accompli fh the 
 grand jundion, whereby France would 
 liave a water communication from the inte- 
 rior to the centre of Gennany into Hungary, 
 to the Black Sea, and the eaftcrn European 
 territory, as well as to and from the Medi- 
 terranean, the Atlantic Ocean, and North 
 Sea. 
 
 If we begin with the city of Lyons, where 
 the Saone river joins that of the Rhone, the 
 water communication, juO: noticed, would 
 pafs through the following principal cities 
 and towns, in a north diredion, viz. Belle- 
 ville, Macon, Chalons, Verdun ; and from 
 Verdun, on its confluence with the Doubs 
 river, it takes a winding courfe of 150 miles 
 to St. Urfanne, pafllng by Clerval St. Hip- 
 polite. From St. Urfanne the propofcd cut 
 of three or four miles is to be made to the 
 c G 2 head
 
 2%^ FINANCIAL AND 
 
 head of the river Birfe, which runs into the 
 Rhine, near Bafle. From Brifach, on the 
 Rhine, about 30 miles from Bafle, the other 
 canal of 30 miles is propofed to be made, in 
 an eaflierly direcftion, to the head of the 
 Danube, near Sunberg, from whence the 
 communication through the interior of Ger- 
 many would be accomplifhed, takinga north- 
 eaft and eafterly diredlion. The principal 
 cities on the borders of the Danube, in its 
 paffage in a north- eaft and caflerly diredion, 
 are Ulm, Donawert, Ingolftadt, Ratifbon, 
 Ottenburgh, Paflau, Linz, Ens, and Vienna. 
 It then enters the kingdom of Hungary, near 
 the city of Prefburgh ; foon after takes a 
 fouth-eaft and foutherly diredtion, pailing 
 through Hungary, Servia, Bulgaria, Walla- 
 chia, and Moldavia, and empties irielf, by 
 feveral mouths, into the Black Sea. 
 
 By the free navigation of the Rhine, the 
 French will have on that rivcran interior water 
 carriage of more than 500 miles, beiidcsanex-' 
 tenfive communication by thirty-five naviga- 
 ble
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. 229 
 
 bic rivers, which, in its courfc, arc, at dii- 
 ferent places, united with this great river. 
 
 From Bafle the river Ilhine palles near, or 
 
 wallies the walls of the following cities and 
 
 towns : Erifach, Strafburgh, Spire, Worms, 
 
 Oppenheim, Mentz, Bingen, St. Goar, 
 
 Coblentz, Bonn, Cologn, Sons, Nuys, 
 
 Diifleldorf, Duylburgh, Rees, Emmeric. 
 
 A little way below this laft place a large 
 
 branch feparates to the left, and takes the 
 
 name of Wahal j another branch, which 
 
 joins the Illel, breaks off to the riglit. The 
 
 Rhine paffes on to Wageningen and Wyck 
 
 le Duerftede, where the ftream again divides. 
 
 The largeft branch to the left takes the name 
 
 of the Leek, and joins the Meufe; the 
 
 fmallefl: branch palTes by Utrecht, Vocrdcn, 
 
 Leyden, and at length lofes itfelf in the fands, 
 
 juft before it reaches the German Sea, about 
 
 five miles after it has paffed Leyden. 
 
 The river Saone is united with the river 
 Loire, which falls into the Bay of Bifcay, 
 and is alfo joined to the river Seine, which 
 falls into the Britilli Channel at Havre de 
 
 Grace,
 
 a JO FINANCIAL AND 
 
 Graee, and the Rhone, which runs into the 
 Mediterranean. The principal canals in 
 France, belides thofe already mentioned, are 
 the following : The canal of Briare opens- a 
 communicatioa between tlie Loire and Seine, 
 from the. Bay of Bifcay to the Britifli Channel 
 at Havre de Grace. The canal of Orleans 
 opens another communication from tlic 
 Loire, to the Seine. The canal of Langue- 
 doc joins the Atlantic Ocean to the Medi- 
 terranean, and is about 190 miles in length. 
 The grand canal of Burgundy, begun in the 
 leign of Henry 11. of Fi'ance, and rcfimied 
 lanider Henry IV. ftill remains unexecuted'. 
 The object of this canal is to unite the 
 Mediterranean Sea with the Bay of Bifcay, 
 and to join the rivers Saone and Loire, across 
 the Charolois, from the town of Scmurto tiie 
 city of Macon. The com.pletion of this 
 projedied canal, as well as the comniunica.- 
 tion from the river Saone to the Rhine, by 
 the river Doubs, and fliort canal aheady no- 
 ticed, was, fo early as 1792, in the contem- 
 plation of the National Convention ; and it is 
 
 avowedly
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. S^l 
 
 :^.vowedly the intention of the Chief Conful 
 to avail hioifelf of the firft opportunity to put 
 thefe important projeds into execution, 
 
 Should France be fuffercd to retain tiic 
 three great rivers before mentioned, as ,the 
 boundaries of the republic, it will give, her 
 incalculable advantages ; and in proportion 
 as fuch an event would diminidi our com- 
 merce and manufadures, as well as militate 
 againfl the interefls of the Northern powers 
 of Europe, it would give vigour and 
 energy to thofe of the French. They would 
 open the mo ft extenlive interior navigation 
 with Germany and Holland ; tliey would 
 be able to receive, in a diredt manner, the 
 productions and manufactures of Germany, 
 with which they have hitherto been fuppJied 
 through Holland, Bremen, and Hamburgh^ 
 It would open a more extended market for 
 their wines, the growth of Burgundv and 
 Champaign, which would be conveyed at a 
 much cheaper rate by interior water carriage, 
 inilead of being tranfported, as heretofore, 
 
 bv
 
 232 FINANCIAL AND 
 
 by land carriage to Rouen and Havre de Grace, 
 and thence carried by fea to the Netherlands 
 and Holland ; and, what is of fargreatercon- 
 fequence, in time of war they would be able 
 to fend naval flores, annmunition, and pro- 
 vifions, to the cities and fortified places fitu- 
 ated on thefe rivers, and carry on an exten- 
 flve commerce from the fea-ports in the 
 fouth and north, without the proteflion of 
 armed vefTels. 
 
 Should Bonaparte be fuccefsful in accom- 
 plifhing the avowed defigns of all the rulers 
 of France fince the revolution, it would not 
 only militate againft the trade of this country 
 to Germany, but alfo materially afFed the 
 interefts of the Northern powers, from whom 
 France formerly purchafed timber for her 
 navy ; alfo iron, flax, hemp, &c. ; fince it is 
 obvious, that, were France to have the exclu- 
 flve and free navigation of the Rhine, the 
 Meufe, and Scheld, and joining to them by 
 art many rivers and canals, fhe could, in any 
 future war, receive at the feveral ports in the 
 3 kingdom.
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. 233 
 
 kingdom, timber of all kinds, from the im- 
 menfe forefts in Alface, Lorraine, and Bur- 
 gundy; alfo flax and hemp, the growth 
 of the different countries iituated on the 
 borders of the Rhine, and of the fevcral rivers 
 which are united to it. The mines of iron, 
 copper, and lead, of Luxemburgh and Lim- 
 burgh, and the iron-mines and coal-pits in 
 the provinces of Namur, Liege, and other 
 places ; the leather manufactories in the prin- 
 cipalities of Stavelo and Malmedy ; and the 
 manufactories of linen and woollen cloths, 
 difperfed in the countries annexed to France, 
 in the vicinity of thefe jrivers, would all tend 
 to increafe the v/ealth and power of that na- 
 tion, to the prejudice of the other flates of 
 Europe. In fiiort, France would acquire 
 fuch a gigantic preponderance in the fcale of 
 nations, that flie might, on a future day, be- 
 come more formidable to the liberties of all 
 Europe than flie was when in the zenith of 
 her glory and profperity, in the reign of 
 J^ouis the Fourteenth, or than tyrannical 
 H u Rome
 
 2^4 FINANCIAL AND 
 
 Rome in her beft times. Indeed the ftrength 
 of France would become too great for any 
 power to reiiH. 
 
 The rulers of France have, from the very* 
 beginning of the revolution, invariably held 
 out their defigns to deftroy owx finances^ com- 
 merce, and manufaBures. The members of 
 the National Convention, alfo of the Direc- 
 tory, and of the exifting executive power, 
 have repeatedly and publicly avowed their 
 projeds for that purpofe. *' Peace with the 
 whole worlds and continual war with Eng- 
 land, till fie is ruined by the deJiruBion of 
 her commerce ^^^ has been the language uni- 
 verfally adopted *. Can Great Britain, then, 
 
 feeing 
 
 * Merlin of Douay, on the queftion of the union of 
 Belgium and the county of Liege, in his report, ob.- 
 ferved, *' It is of confequence to the republic to fecure 
 a preponderance in the fcale of commerce, and to take 
 from the Englifh feveral branches of the trade which 
 they carry on with fo much advantage. It is of confe- 
 quence to the republic to extend its territories injuch a man- 
 jir, that the North and South Jhall balance each others 
 and ajjord a reciprocal Jupport." Roberjot, another 
 
 member
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. 235 
 
 feeing that her power depends upon the pro- 
 fperity of her commerce, view with indif- 
 ference, thefe momentous and colofTal at- 
 tempts of France towards monopoly, and 
 univerfal tyranny ? Shall flie fucceed in her 
 defigns of extending her territories and line 
 of coaft ; at the fame time annexing, either 
 by dired: or indired means (and which, if 
 permitted, flic will do), all the ports on the 
 continent, from Dunkirk to Hamburgh, 
 together with the enjoyment of the exclufive 
 navigation of the three great rivers before 
 mentioned ? And can the Northern powers 
 of Europe be fo blind to their own political 
 interefts, and even national independence, as 
 to fubmit to fuch encroachments and facri- 
 fices, by this ambitious and devouring re- 
 public ? If it be not infifted upon that France 
 
 member of the Convention, in the further difcufllon 
 of the trade with Bclgiun:i and Liege, obferved, *' Thut 
 the union of the Belgian canals with the canals and rivers 
 in FrancCy will produce immenfe advantages, in opening to 
 France the whole immediate commene with the not th of 
 Europe'* 
 
 11 H 2 relinquifh
 
 236 FINANCIAL AND 
 
 relinquifli her former pretenfions, and con- 
 fent to fome alienation of thefe countries, 
 which, according to the laws of her own 
 making, were, and are intended to conftitute 
 the territory of the republic *, fo as to cut 
 up by the roots, the vaft objedls anddefigns 
 conflantly avowed by her fucceflive revolu- 
 tionary rulers, there can be little fecurity 
 in peace either for the commerce of Great 
 Britain, or for the tranquillity of the Conti- 
 nental powers, whofe proximity to the cx*^' 
 tenfive boundaries of the republic, will at 
 all times particularly expofe them to the 
 danger of further encroachments. Neither 
 can there be much confidence placed in her 
 preferving, for any length of time, the rela- 
 tions of peace and amity. However painfuP 
 and burdenfome the alternative may be, 
 namely, a vigorous continuance of the waj;jjj 
 
 * In the former overtures for peace, France inCiilei^. 
 as a bafis to the negotiation, that all thofe provinces^ 
 which the laws have appropriated to the French terri- 
 tory, fliould be admitted and recognifed . 
 
 yet
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. 2^1 
 
 yet furely the evil will be compen fated, if, 
 by our energy and exertion, we ultimately 
 defeat the developed views of France, and 
 thereby retain that weight in the fcale of 
 Europe, and influence among nation?, 
 which, by the fpirit and indullry of our- 
 felves and our forefathers, we have, at the 
 clofe of the eighteenth century, fo juflly 
 acquired. 
 
 CHAP.
 
 2^8 FINANCIAL AND 
 
 CHAP. XIII. 
 
 Re/a. he Progrefi of Great Britain's Com^ 
 friifrce — T'onnage of Shipping now belong- 
 , mg to Great Britain equal to that of the 
 whole of Europe, in Sir William Petty* s 
 ^Imc — Compared with the tonnage of Ship- 
 ping belonging to France- — Official Imports 
 and Exports of France for the eighth I car 
 of the Republic — Ordinary and extraordi- 
 nary Taxes levied in France for 1 799 — 
 Reflexions — The relative Strength and 
 Refources of States confJered—Efimated 
 Population of Great Britain at cliferent 
 Periods— EJlimated Population at prefent 
 — EJlimate of the Number of produdiive 
 Labourers , or indufrious Clajfes, in Great 
 Britain — Neceflity for providing Reme- 
 dies againfi Deficiencies of Crops, to an- 
 fwer the Confumption of an increafed Po- 
 pulation — Economical Examples — Sav ing 
 \ illujlratedy
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. ^39 
 
 illuftrated^ by reducing the Allowance of 
 Corn ufually given to Horfes — Population 
 of France, Spain^ Bujfui, Denmark, and 
 Sweden, at different Periods of the eigh- 
 teenth Century, 
 
 IT is now about 140 years fincc Sir Wil- 
 liam Petty eftimated, that the value of all 
 the commodities annually exchanged by 
 Europeans with the world, did not exceed 
 forty-five millions, and that England pof- 
 fefTed about ten of ihtjorty-fve, being two 
 parts out of nine of the trade of the whole 
 world. But at the prefent day, wc find that 
 the nominal value of our foreign trade 
 amounts to more than one half, and the real 
 value to double the amount of the aggregate 
 value of the trade of Europe 140 years ago. 
 During the fame period, the other fiates of 
 Europe have alfo increafed their commerce, 
 though by no means in fo great a proportion 
 as Great Britain. But as it is difficult to 
 afcertain, without authentic documents, the 
 
 pofitive
 
 240 POLITICAL FACTS. 
 
 jpolitive and relative proportions, we can only 
 hazard probable conjedlures and opinions, 
 with refped: to the comparative eflimatcs 
 that might, with accuracy, be made, were 
 we in poffeiTion of all the neceiTary fadts re- 
 lative to this particular fubjed. If, how- 
 ever, we reafon from analogy, and embrace 
 within our view all the collateral fadls with 
 regard to the progrcfs of our relative increafed 
 wealth, induflry, fliipping, &c. we ihould 
 have no difficulty in making it appear that 
 our foreign commerce, at this epoch, exceeds 
 the aggregate value of the other maritime 
 flates of Europe colledlively. Hence, as it 
 is fairly {hewn, in fome of the preceding 
 pages of this work, that while Great Britain 
 as compared with herfelf during the cen- 
 tury, has increafed her foreign commerce 
 nearly twelvefold, it muft at the fame time 
 be admitted, that the other ftates of Europe, 
 taken colled ivcly, and compared in the fame 
 manner, may have increafed theirs in. a five- 
 fold proportion. 
 
 Sir
 
 POLITICAL FACTS- 24I 
 
 Sir William Petty made a very ingenious 
 calculation, from unqueftionable documents, 
 of the tonnage of fliipping in his time be- 
 longing to the maritime powers of Europe*, 
 namely : 
 
 Tons. 
 
 The Dutch had of fnipping - 900,000 
 Great Britain, next in order - 500,000 
 Sweden, Denmark, and the trading 
 
 towns in Germany - 
 
 ih 
 
 . - 
 
 250,000 
 
 Portugal and Italy 
 
 - 
 
 - 
 
 250,000 
 
 France 
 
 - 
 
 .. 
 
 100,000 
 
 Total tonnage of Europe 2,oco,ooo 
 
 Since Sir William Petty's time, things 
 have altered much, both with refpecfl to us 
 and other powers ; and commerce may be 
 faid to have, in fome inftances, changed its 
 abode, as will appear from the relative pro- 
 grcfs of Ihipping, to be hereafter noticed. 
 
 The tonnage of Britifh (hipping employed 
 in trade in the year i8co, appears, by 
 
 • Sir William Petty's Pol. Arith. chap. i. 
 
 I X documents
 
 242 FINANCIAL AND 
 
 documents laid before Parliament, to be 
 1,905,438, being nearly equal to the before- 
 mentioned aggregate tonnage of fhippiiig in 
 Europe, as eftimated by Sir William Petty. 
 The number of veflels returned to Parliament 
 at the fame time amounted to 18,877, and 
 the number of men and boys navigating the 
 faid vefTels to 143,661 *. 
 
 It appears, from an official report made to 
 the Confuls of France (May 1801), that in 
 the eighth year of the republic, there were 
 only employed in trade, and entered in the 
 ports of France, 2,975 veflels, whofe tonnage 
 amounted to 98,304; and there were clear- 
 ed outwards 3,358 veflels, whofe tonnage 
 amounted to 104,687 -f. The total imports 
 into France, for the fame period, amounted 
 to no more than 325,116,400 livres, or 
 13,546,516/. flerling; and the total ex- 
 
 * Refolution moved by the Chancellor of the Ex- 
 chequer, igxh June 1801. 
 
 -f- Moniteur, 30th Floreal, An 9. de la Republique 
 (i. e. 1 6th May 1801). 
 
 ports
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. 243 
 
 ports amounted to 27i,5;'5,6oo livrcs (or 
 11,307,316/. fterling) ; which includes of 
 French snanufadures to the real value of 
 140,854,20'jlivrcs (or 5,868,925/. fterling): 
 confequently there is an apparent balance of 
 trade againft the republic of 53,540,800 
 livrcs, equal to 2,239,200/. flerling. As 
 this balance arifes chiefly on articles of mere 
 luxury and neceffity, it is highly detrimental 
 to the commercial profperity of the republic, 
 and mufl, in a fliort time, completely drain 
 the Great Nation of all her fpecie. Were 
 the French imports, like the Britifh, prin- 
 cipally to confift of raw and other materials, 
 fuch as filk, cotton, flax, hemp, &c. neceflary 
 for carrying on the feveral manufactures 
 in the kingdom, they would obvioufly be 
 beneficial to the country. The reader, on 
 calling his eye over the French official im- 
 ports for the 8th year of the republic (1800) 
 already alluded to *, will fee that the im- 
 ports of fugar, coffee, and fpices, &c. 
 
 ♦ Appendix, No. VHI. 
 
 I I 2 amounted
 
 244 FINANCIAL AND 
 
 amounted to 114,190,100 livrcs (or 
 4,757,920/. fterling). The foreign nrianu- 
 facftures imported amounted to 39,255,500/. 
 (or 1,635,645/. fterling). 
 
 The greater part of thefe importations is 
 indiredly made from Great Britain, how- 
 ever guarded the report of the French Mi- 
 nifler of the Interior may be, in not fpecify- 
 ing any imports from Great Britain, while 
 he has acknowledged certain imports from all 
 the other belligerent powers *. The total 
 of French imports from their colonies in 
 the Eaft and Weft Indies, confifling of 
 India cloths, coffee, and fpices, amounted 
 to no more than 1,483,800 livres (or 
 61,825/. flerling) ; yet the total value of 
 coffee, fiigar, fpices, &c. imported from 
 other countries into France, amounted to no 
 lefs than 1 14,190,000 livres, or 4,757,920/. 
 flerling. 
 
 The ordinary and extraordinary taxes and 
 impofitions, levied in 1799, amounted to the 
 enormous fum of 1200 millions of livres, 
 * Appendix, No. VIII. Sefl. 2. 
 
 equal
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. 245 
 
 equal to 50 millions ftcrling, being double 
 the burdens of the French monarchy under 
 Louis XVI. at the moftflourifliingand opu- 
 lent period of his reign ; and which is equal 
 to the whole produce of the land and in- 
 duftry of France at the prefcnt moment, 
 even including that of the provinces an- 
 nexed to the republic. 
 
 Thefe facfts are deplorable contrafls for the 
 French nation, cither when her Ihippingand 
 commerce are compared \vith each othc^r, at 
 different periods of peace or war before the re- 
 volution, or with Great Britain at tlieprefent 
 moment. And among many other r fads that 
 might be mentioned, there is a moil linking 
 and exemplary one, to prove to the infatuated 
 multitude of France (and which it is hoped 
 may be kept in view as a leiTon to other na- 
 tions) that after eight years of crimes, and 
 blood, and flaughtcr ; and after eredling, on the 
 ruinsof their ancient thrones and altars, an am- 
 bitious and unfettled republic, under the fpe- 
 cious pretexts of reforming abufes, and de- 
 
 flroying
 
 246 FINANCIAL AND 
 
 ftroying the enormous expenfe of the for- 
 mer government, they find that their bur- 
 dens, inftead of being lefTened, are confider- 
 ably increafed, and that the refources of the 
 nation, if not dried up, are now nearly ex- 
 haufled. 
 
 The ftrength of ftates, as Mr. Necker ob- 
 ferves, exckifively of all other moral caufes, 
 depends on their population, and the quan- 
 tity of their fpecie. The one furniflies fol- 
 diers and feamen ; the other, the means of 
 maintaining them, and putting them in mo- 
 tion, of building and equipping fhips, of 
 keeping up fortified places, and of paying 
 fubfidies. But to judge of the real flrength 
 and refources of a ftate, we ought to confider 
 the number of a^ive and ifjdujirious inha^ 
 bitants ', fi nee from our land, arts, manu- 
 factures, and labour, flow all our refources. 
 A comparative view of this nature will evince 
 our preponderance m the fcale of nations ; 
 and fo far as the flatiftical accounts of our 
 own or other countries extend, we may 
 3 form
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. 247 
 
 form an accurate judgment ; but, failing of 
 fuch authentic documents, we can only ap- 
 proximate the truth. 
 
 It has been laid down as a general maxim, 
 which will admit of few exceptions, that 
 every nation, taken colledlively, is happy 
 in proportion to its induftry ; and as the 
 number of the induflrious claiTes, in a com- 
 mercial ftate, are in general the greater pro- 
 portion to the whole number, it is but jufl to 
 obferve, that thefe clades are more numerous, 
 in proportion to the population of this 
 country, than in any other ilate of Europe. 
 
 The refources of Great Britain are chiefly 
 derived from the labour and iiiJuftry of the 
 inhabitants. The ad:ive clafTes are the prin- 
 cipal finevvs of a ftate in peace or war; and 
 in no country in the world is more attention 
 paid to their comforts and happmefs than in 
 England. In France a'^i Spain there have 
 been always Icfs labour and indufl:ry than in 
 this country, and confequently a greater pro- 
 portion ot wretchedncfs and mifcry. 
 
 It
 
 248 FINANCIAL AND 
 
 It will be no difficult matter to afcertain, 
 that the number of induftrious or labouring 
 claflTes of the community in this country have 
 increafed in a greater proportion than the 
 other clafTes conftituting the population. 
 The number in the middle and higher claffes 
 form a very fmall proportion to the whole 
 number of labouring and induftrious ; and 
 as labour, too, is better paid in this country 
 than el fe where in Europe, thence it may be 
 inferred, that there is a greater ratio of 
 national happinefs. It is this, more than 
 wealth, which conftitutes the real flrength 
 of a flate ; and will, under our glorious con- 
 ftitution, and the wife adminiflration of 
 our laws, always give us a decided fupe- 
 riority over every other commercial nation. 
 
 The nations of Europe, with the excep- 
 tion of France, and fome other countries 
 convulfed by revolutions, have, within thefe 
 laft fifty years, made great progrefs in their 
 population, induftry, wealth, and refinement 
 of manners. The a;^hial enumeration of the 
 
 population
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. 249 
 
 population of Great Britain, now going on 
 under the authority of Parliament, will in a 
 ihort time enable us to difcriminate the pro- 
 portion the induftrious clafs bears to the other 
 clafTes ; and, as far as human wifdom can 
 devife, will remove all doubts and uncer- 
 tainty refpedling the progrefs of our popula- 
 tion. The knowledge of the population of 
 this country will not only be found beneficial 
 for the purpofes of wife legiflation, but will 
 afcertain, to a moral certainty, the import- 
 ant queftion, whether our land in cultivation 
 be adequate to provide for the public lubfift- 
 ence, or how far the extenfion of our agri- 
 culture may be deemed neceflary, fo as to 
 prevent a fimilar recurrence of the evils 
 arifing from a fcarcity of provifions. If, 
 in the mean time, it may be permitted 
 to rcafon from analogy, and from the 
 returns already made in purfuance of the ad:, 
 we may approximate the truth. 
 
 Writers on political economy differ eflen- 
 
 tially refpcdling the population of this coun- 
 
 K K tiy
 
 2^0 FINANCIAL AND 
 
 try at particular periods of the feventeenth 
 century ; and it has been a fubjedl of much 
 controverfy during the eighteenth century. 
 In the reign of Elizabeth, the population 
 was eftimated at five millions, by returns 
 made by the Billiops, of the number of fa- 
 milies in their refpecflive diocefes. At 
 the revolution, England and Wales were 
 computed, from the beft authorities, to 
 contain 1,300,000 inhabited houfes, which, 
 multiplied by five, would give a population 
 of fix millions and a half. Gregory King 
 makes the population of England and Wales, 
 in 1690, to be only 5,500,000, although he 
 admitted the number of inhabited houfes 
 to be about 1,300,000, the number of fea- 
 m en and foldiers 140,000, the number of 
 vagrants, hawkers, pedlars, carriers, gipfies, 
 thieves, and beggars, 30,000. In Queen 
 Elizabeth's time, there were computed to be 
 in England about 10,000 gipfies; but fince 
 that period they have much decreafed. 
 
 Dr. D*Avenant remarked, in 1698, that 
 
 there
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. 2^1 
 
 there were almoft undeniable reafons to be 
 drawn from political arithmetic, that, fince 
 the year 1 600, we had increafed in number 
 of inhabitants about 900,000, which could 
 not have happened, if the plantations were 
 fuch a drain of the people as was then fup- 
 pofcd to have been injurious to the common- 
 wealth *. 
 
 At the time of the union with Scotland, 
 1 706, it was fuppofed that the population 
 of the united kingdom amounted to upwards 
 of feven millions. The controverfies which 
 were carried on between Dr. Brackenridge 
 and Dr. Forftcr, and afterwards by Dr. 
 Price, Mr. Wales, Mr. Howlet, and others, 
 leave the mind in doubts and uncertainty re- 
 fpeding the progrefs of population during 
 the century-f-. 
 
 "* Difcourfes on the public Revenue and Trade of 
 England, publiflied in 1698. 
 
 + Dr. Price, and other dcfponding men, aflerted, that 
 the population decreafed by a million and a half, between 
 the Revolution and the peace of 1763, although there 
 "were then, as now, flrong reafons to believe the rcverfc. 
 
 K K 2 Sir
 
 252 FINANCIAL AND 
 
 Sir Frederick Morton Eden has, in a 
 pamphlet lately publifhedj with a laudable 
 fpirit of refearch, and as being connedted 
 with the materials given in his " State of the 
 Poor^'* made comparative eftimates of the 
 population of Great Britain and Ireland at 
 the clofe of the feventeenth and eighteenth 
 centuries *. The documents to which he 
 has had accefs, and the principles on which 
 his calculations arc founded, afford hopes to 
 a fanguine mind, that the aggregate popula- 
 tion of the united kingdoms may amount to* 
 what he has eftimated. If we may be al- 
 lowed to judge from the returns already 
 niade, there is flrong reafon to believe Sir 
 
 * Sir Frederick Eden eftimates the aggregate popula- 
 tion of Great Britain and Ireland as follows : 
 England and Wales _ _ - 10,710,006 
 
 Scotland at leaft » _ _ 1,500,000 
 
 Ireland - - _ _ 3,800,000 
 
 Maritime and military population, exclufive 
 
 of India and foreign corps - - 500,000 
 
 Total population of the Britifli ifles 16,510,000, 
 
 Frederick
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. ^^^ 
 
 Frederick Eden's eflimate is not wide of 
 the truth. AfTi.iming, therefore, in rouncj 
 numbers, i6 milhons, asdata or approxinia- 
 tions to tlic truth, it is to be piclumed 
 that the produitive hibourers in Great 
 Britain and Ireland will exceed eight mil- 
 lions. In this grand clafs of produSiivc 
 labourers are to be comprehended, in a libe- 
 ral fenfe, the following orders, whofe num- 
 bers are thus hazarded to be cfiimated, viz. 
 Merchants, brokers, fadlorr., and 
 
 others depending upon trade 80,000 
 
 Clerks to diUo _ _ _ 120,000 
 
 Lightermen, watermen, bargemen, 
 
 on rivers, canals, &c. - - 35.000 
 
 Seamen in the merchant fervice, coa fl- 
 ing trade, and fifhcrics - 180,000 
 Perfons employed in manufaclurcs * 4,000,000 
 
 Carried over 4,415,000 
 
 * Our -woollen manufa6lures alone employ upwards 
 of one million of people, the produce of whole labour 
 amounts, on an annual average, to fix millions lierling. 
 In our manufadtures of iron, fteel, tin, lead, copper^j 
 and brafs, are employed upwards of halt a million of 
 people.
 
 254 FINANCIAL AND 
 
 Brought over 4,415,000 
 
 Mechanics - - - - 90,000 
 
 Artifts, painters, engravers, carvers, &c. 15,000 
 Shopkeepers of every defcription, viz. 
 butchers, bakers, pubHcans, fifli- 
 moDgers, poulterers, paftry-cooks, 
 grocers, chandlers, pawnbrokers, 
 apothecaries, &c. - _ . 300,000 
 Farmers, graziers, perfons employed 
 in agriculture, including millers, 
 mealmen, farriers, horfe- dealers, &c. 3,500,000 
 
 Tola! produdlive labourers eftiraated 8,320,000 
 
 UNPRODUCTIVE LABOUP.ERS. 
 
 Kegular forces, fencibles, and 
 
 mil ilia, from returns lately 
 
 made - . _ 186,733 
 Artillery and engineer forces, 
 
 ditto - - - 11,618 
 
 Seamen and marines, navy, 
 
 ditto - - _ 106,128 
 
 Marines at head quarters, 
 
 ditto - - - 20,151 
 
 Seamen under the Board of 
 
 Cufloms, ditto - - 897 
 
 325.5^7 
 
 8,645,527 
 Carried over 8,645,527
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. 2SS 
 
 Brought over 8,645,327 
 
 To which may be added, for the 
 following defcription of unprodu(5live 
 labourers . - - - 7,354,473 
 
 Making of total eft imated population 16,000,000 
 
 In the clafs of wiproduBlve labourers arc 
 included officers and clerks under Govern- 
 ment ; clergy of the church of England and 
 Scotland ; clergy diflenters of every defcrip- 
 tion ; fchoolmaflers and fchoolmiftrelTes ; 
 judges, counfel, attornies, fhcriffs officers, 
 jailors, &c; players, muficians, dancing- 
 ir.afters ; women fupportcd by their huf- 
 bands* labour ; female fervants of all defcrip- 
 tions J male fervants ; children under ten 
 years of age ; perfons incapacitated by old 
 age in hofpitals ; gamblers, fvvindlers, 
 tliieves, prollltutes, beggars, gipfies j con- 
 victs, prifoners, &c. vvhofe labours are loft 
 to the community; nobility, gentry, 6cc. 
 not following any ufeful occupation. 
 
 Great Britain and Ireland contain 104,700 
 
 Aparc
 
 256 FINANCIAL AKd 
 
 fquare miles ; and admitting the popiilatiotl 
 to be 16 millions, as above eftimated, 
 it will give 151 fouls for each fquare mile; 
 but if we reje(5l Scotland, the lead: populous, 
 which conrains 27,793 fquare miles, and a 
 population of about 57 fouls to a fquare 
 mile, we fliall find the remaining 76,907 
 fquare miles for England, Wales, and Ire- 
 land, to contain a population of fourteen mil- 
 lions and a half, which will give 188 fouls 
 to the fquare mile, being a much greater 
 proportion than is to be found in any of the 
 Other flatcs of Europe. By the returns lately 
 made, it appears we have no lefs than half 
 a million of people under arms, including 
 regular forces, militia, fencibles, fcamen, 
 and marines in the navy ; alfo all the volun- 
 teer corps, &c. in the kingdom. Our army 
 and navy may be faid to employ at the pre- 
 fect moment one thirty-fccond part of the 
 inhabitants of Great Britain. 
 
 Frqm the incrcafed population of Great 
 Britain, it is not furpriling, that, when 
 
 bad
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. 257 
 
 bad feafons, or a deficiency of crops happen, 
 as we have lately experienced, provifions 
 fhould become exorbitantly dear, and that 
 large fums fhould be fent out of the country 
 to provide for its ufual confumption. The 
 wafte land enclofed within the lail: fifty 
 years has not been found fufficient to 
 provide againfl: bad crops *. The remedy 
 is not only to enclofe more of the many 
 millions of wafte acres in the kingdom ; 
 but, independent of this, the mofl be- 
 neficial efFeds would immediately refult from 
 economy, both to the nation and individuals. 
 One inftance, among many, may be given as 
 a pradlical example, and of which I have 
 convincing proofs, by an experiment made 
 during the laft eight months. The ex- 
 ample alluded to, is the faving of half the 
 quantity of corn ufually given to horfes. 
 This is done by feeding them with cut 
 ftraw and hay mixed with half their daily 
 
 * There have been enclofed of wafle lands, within the 
 laft iifty years, upwards of 2,800,000 acres. 
 
 L L quantum
 
 25S FINANCIAL AND 
 
 quantum of corn, whereby there is a bufhel 
 of corn for each horfe faved weekly, mak- 
 ing, in the year for each horfe, fix quarters 
 and a half*. A faving of this kind for 
 
 50,000 
 
 * The following account, from aflual experiment, 
 •is given to the public as proofs or illuftrations of the 
 mode adopted in faving corn, as alluded to in the text. 
 The writer has, for the Lift eight months, inftcad of 
 giving three horfes the ordinary provender, fed them 
 with clover hay, and flraw, cut by a patent machine in 
 equal proportions, into what is commonly called chaff. 
 Two trufles and a half of clover, or meadow hay, cut 
 with four tniiTes of wheaten or barley draw, make 
 nearly equal quantities of each in weight ; two heaped 
 bulhels of which, equal to 14 lbs. weight, are given 
 to each horfe in the 24 hours, being previoudy mixed 
 with half a peck of corn, which has been bruifed or 
 broken in a mill made for that purpofe, and fhouid be 
 fprinkled with water, in order that the corn may adhere 
 to the chaff. This daily proportion of bruifed corn 
 weighs five pounds, and which, mixed with the two 
 bufhels of cut hay and draw, make 19 lbs. This is divided 
 into ux portions, or feeds, for each horfe, and given at 
 fix different intervals during the day ; and no hay what- 
 ever is put into their racks till late at night, when each 
 horfe is allowed about 5 lbs. ; being nearly two truffes in 
 the week for three horfes. By this mode each horfe 
 
 has.
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. 2^9 
 
 50,000 cavalry, would amount to 375,000 
 quarters per annum, which, at 2/. per quar- 
 ter, would be a laving of '750,000/. Aerling. 
 As an acre of land produces four quarters 
 of oats, there would, in confequence of the 
 above faving, be 93,750 difpofable acres, 
 
 has, in 24 hours, 23 lbs. of mixed provender, and with 
 half the quantity of corn ufually allowed. This has 
 been found more nutritious than when double the 
 tjuantity of corn was given, In a whole or dry ftate ; 
 and there is, befides, no wafle of hay or corn. Wiih a 
 patent machine, made at Mr. Cook's manufac- 
 tory in Red Lion Square, one man can, with eafe, 
 cut in two hours as much hay and ftraw as will ferve 
 three horfes for one week, and their week's allowance 
 of corn, namely, three bufliels, may be bruifed or uroken 
 with the mill in about twenty minutes. Since the 
 writer has followed the above method, ht has I"aved, on 
 the provender of three horfes, three bufhels of corn 
 every week, which, at the late average price of p. per 
 buftiel, is one guinea per week on this article alone. 
 His horfes are now in much better condition than when 
 doubL the quantity of corn was given whole, and with 
 an allowance of twotrulVes of hay for each horfe in the 
 week. Whfirc the intereil of the public and of fo ir.any 
 individuals is fo much concerned, the writer has no 
 doubt, but in time this new mode will find its way, and 
 be univcifally adopted. 
 
 L L ^ and
 
 26o FINANCIAL AND 
 
 and which, if allotted for wheat, and pro- 
 ducing three quarters per acre, would b& 
 fufficient to maintain 281,250 perfons. 
 
 Suppofing there to be only 150,000 horfes 
 in Great Britain, that are fed with the ufual 
 full allowance of two bufhels of corn each 
 horfe per week, the aggregate amount of corn 
 faved would be 1,125,000 quarters, which 
 valued at 2/. per quarter, would amount to 
 2,250,000/. The correfponding acres that 
 might be allotted for wheat, or other wife, 
 would be 281 ,250, and would be fufficient 
 to fupply at leaft 843,750 perfons, calculat- 
 ing three for every acre. If a plan of this 
 nature were univerfally adopted throughout 
 the kingdom, we might fairly reckon, in tak- 
 ing into the account a proportional faving on 
 horfes of every defcription, that it would at 
 Icaft be equal to fupply a million of fouls. 
 It would have faved to the country lafl: year 
 a correfponding fum fent abroad to purchafe 
 the quantity of wheat to fupply the deficient 
 
 - crop
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. 261 
 
 crop neceffary for the confumption of one 
 million of people, namely, one million of 
 quarters, which, at 5/. per quarter, amount- 
 ed to five millions fterling. 
 
 It appears, from documents laid before the 
 Houfcof Commons (November iSoo), that 
 the- wheat and flour imported into Great 
 Britain, for one year from the 26th of Sep- 
 tember 1799 to the 26th of September 1800, 
 amounted to upwards of fix millions and a 
 half fterling. The annual confumption of 
 wheat, for the population of Great Britain, is 
 about twelve millions of quarters, that is, 
 reckoning one quarter for each inhabitant, 
 and requires for its cultivation four millions 
 of acres. It has been afcertained, from good 
 authority, that laft year there was a deficiency 
 in the crop of one third, or about four millions 
 of quarters; confequently ^,333,333 acres 
 of land would have been adequate to have 
 fupplied the deficiency. 
 
 The population of the other flatcs of 
 '2, Europe
 
 l6z FINANCIAL AND 
 
 Europe has no doubt increafed confiderablv 
 during the laft hundred years, though perhaps 
 not in io great a proportion as Great Britain. 
 Puffendorf fays, that in the reign of Charles 
 IX. (middle of the fixteenth century) there 
 were in France 20 millions of inhabitants. 
 At the fame period, in Queen Elizabeth's 
 reign, the population of England did not ex- 
 ceed five millions and a half*. The poli- 
 tics of the ancient Greeks inc.ffantly com- 
 plain of the inconvenience attentiing a repub- 
 lic, from the exceffive number of citizens i 
 but the politics of this age call upon us to take 
 proper means to encourage population. 
 Louis the Fourteenth, by an edid of 1666, 
 in favour of marriages, appointed particular 
 penfions to thole who had tcii children, and 
 much larger to fuch as had twelve. Mar- 
 Ihal Vauban, in the beginning of the laft 
 century (1707), cflimated the population 
 of France to be upwards of 19 millions. 
 
 * Introduction to the Hiflory of Europe, Chap. V. of 
 France. 
 
 Monfieur
 
 POLITICAL FACTS* 263 
 
 Monficur D*Efpilly, in the year 1772, cal- 
 culated the population of France at upwards 
 of 22 millions ; namely, 10,562,631 males, 
 and 11,451,726 females; confcqucntly the 
 proportion of females to males was about 
 1 4 to 13. This proportion is fuppofcd to 
 be corred:, and to hold good in mod of the 
 ilates of Europe, by the obfervations made 
 on births and bills of mortality. Mr. Necker, 
 a few years before the revolution, flated the 
 population of France to have been about 
 24 millions. In purfuance of an enumera- 
 tion, directed to be made by th^ National 
 Aflembly in 1790, the population of France, 
 including Corfica, appeared to be 26 mil- 
 lions. Boetticher, in his Statiftical Tables, 
 alfo flates the population at 26 millions. 
 But in order to afcertain the prefent popula-*. 
 tion, dedudlion mufl be made for all thofc 
 who have perifhed by the guillotine, nume- 
 rous malTiacres, war, emigration, &c. j and 
 jhc actual population of France will not, if 
 
 is
 
 264 FINANCIAL AND 
 
 is imagined, exceed 23 millions *. If we 
 take into the account the countries annexed 
 to the republic, there will be an addition of 
 about four millions. 
 
 France, with its ancient boundary, includ- 
 ing Corfica, contained 1 48,840 fquare miles ; 
 and calculating the prefent population at 
 23 millions, it will give 154 perfons to a 
 fquare mile. 
 
 Although Spain be in extent of territory near- 
 ly thrice as large as England, Wales, and Ire- 
 land, yet (lie has not, by one third, the popu- 
 lation, nor one half the number of people 
 to a fquare mile. Mr. Chalmers, from a 
 document in the Britifli Mufeum, has efti- 
 mated the population of Spain, at the epoch 
 
 * The clergy in France, before the revolution, were 
 confidered to amount to 500,000 : the greateft part 
 fcmigrated to England, Portugal, Spain, Italy, and Ger- 
 many. This number may be underrated, when it is 
 confidered that there were formerly in France 18 arch- 
 ])i(hoprics, n8 bilhoprics, 256 commanderies of the 
 Order of Malta, 700 convents, 1240 priories, 1891 
 abbies, 15,200 chapels, 140,000 parilh churches, 
 
 of
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. 265 
 
 of the Armada, at five millions and a half*. 
 According to returns made to the Count de 
 Aranda in 1768, the general population of 
 Spain, including the Canaries and Mediter- 
 ranean iflands, amounted to about nine mil- 
 lions. In 1778, it was calculated to be 
 about ten millions ; and, by an enumeration 
 made in 1787, the population was afcertain- 
 ed to be 10,409,879; and Boetticher, in his 
 Statiftical Accounts, ftates the popula- 
 tion at II millions. Spain, including the 
 iflands in the Mediterranean, contains 
 148,400 fquare miles; and calculating the 
 population at 1 1 millions, it will give 
 74 perfons to a fquare mile. Hence Eng- 
 land is twice as populous as Spain, accord- 
 ing to extent of territory. 
 
 The population of RulTia, as well as its 
 progrefs in civihzation, has confiderably in- 
 creafed within thefe laft hundred years. 
 
 By the rcgifter of 1764, it appears that 
 the population amounted to 2o,ioo,00Q. 
 
 ♦ Eftimates, Ded. page vi. 
 
 MM By
 
 266 FINANCIAL AND 
 
 By the afleflments made in 1782, the total 
 population of the RufTLin empire amounted 
 to 26,764,360. Boetticher, in his Statiftical 
 Accounts, makes the population of the whole 
 empire of RufTia only 25 millions ; viz. for 
 the Ruffian European territory 20,882,986, 
 and for Ruffia in Afia 4,117,014. As 
 the Ruffian territory in Europe contains 
 1,194,978 fquare miles, and the Afiatic 
 3,669,122, there are 17 perfons to every 
 fquare mile in Europe, and only about three 
 people to every two fquare miles in Afia. 
 The whole Ruffian empire contains 4, 864,000 
 fquare miles, and has five perfons to every 
 fquare mile. Mr. Tooke makes the popu- 
 lation of Ruffia, including the acquifition 
 of territory fince 1783, to amount to ^6 
 millions ; and the mean term of the popula- 
 tion of Rufiia is, on this enumeration, 18 
 perfons to the fquare mile in the European, 
 territory, and twelve to the fquare mile, in 
 Afiatic Ruffia, 
 
 By an enumeration of the population of 
 
 Denmark
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. ^67 
 
 Denmark in 1759, t^e whole of the Danifli 
 dominions, including Norway, Holftein, the 
 iflands in the Baltic, and the counties of 
 Oldenburgh and Delmenhorft, in Weflpha- 
 lia, were faid to amount to 2,444,000 fouls ; 
 but the mofl: accurate account is fuppofed to 
 have been made under the direction of the 
 famous Struenfce, by which the population 
 then appeared to be only 2,017,027. Ac- 
 cording to Boetticher's Statiftical Tables 
 (1792), the population of Denmark is made 
 to be two millions and a half; the extent of 
 territory in and out of Europe is 182,400 
 fquare miles, having only 14 perfons to a 
 fquare mile. 
 
 The progrefs of population in Sweden for 
 the laft 50 years is as follovv's : In 1752, it 
 was 2,215,639. By Cantzler's State of 
 Sweden, it appears, that in 1760, the popu- 
 lation amounted to 2,383,113 fouls*. In 
 J 776, by another enumeration, the popula- 
 
 * Memoires pour fcrvir a la ConnoifTance du Royaume 
 dc Sucdc, p. 1 86. 
 
 M M 2 tion
 
 a68 FINANCIAL AND 
 
 tion amounted to 2,215,639; in 1 781, to 
 2,767,000; and, by Boetticher's Statiftical 
 Tables, the territory of Sweden contains 
 308,912 fquare miles, with a population of 
 2,997,345, being 14 perfons to a fquare 
 mile. 
 
 The population of Ruffia, Denmark, and 
 Sweden, is by no means proportionate to 
 their vaft extent of territories. 
 
 China has fifteen times more extent of ter- 
 ritory than Great Britain ; and though not 
 half the fize of Europe, contains full as many 
 people *. The arts of agriculture, together 
 with the domeftic trade that is carried on 
 between the feveral province? and dependen- 
 cies of the Chinefe empire, are the great 
 fources of its wealth and population. 
 * Tcmpleman's Survey, pi. 23. 
 
 CHAP.
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. 269 
 
 CHAP. XIV. 
 
 ProgreJJive Increafe of Happinefs among 
 Nations, hi proportion to Arts and 
 In dujiry — Strik ing Kxamph-^ Afylumsjor 
 the Poor — Hofpitals — Royal College at 
 Greenwich, Cheji at Chatham, and Chelfia 
 Hofpital — Rejiediions — Dij^icultics in 
 drawing accurate Comparifons cf the 
 Revenue and Expenditure of foreign 
 States — Immcnfe Commerce oj the Fort of 
 London — Curfory Fiew of the Commerce 
 and Revenue of France, Spain, RuJJia, 
 Denmark, and Sweden, at diferent Periods 
 — Proportion between the Population, Ex- 
 tent of Territory, and Revenue of Great 
 Britain — Comparative Fiew of England*s 
 Commerce, after eight Years War, at the 
 End oJ the feventeenth and eighteenth Cen- 
 turies — ProgreJJive Incrcaf ^J the T^onnage
 
 2J0 FINANCIAL ANS 
 
 of Shipping and Seamen at different Periods 
 — Progrefs of the Britijh, Vrench^ Spanijh, 
 Ruftan, Vanijh, and Swedijh Navies — - 
 Refections on the prefent efficient Strength 
 of our Navy-^ProgreJJive Improvement 
 in the Admimf ration of our Laws — 
 Cone It fan* 
 
 XF we compare the hifl:ory of the lall cen- 
 tury with the annals of Europe for the pre- 
 ceding century, we fhall find a progrefTive 
 increafe of happinefs among nations in pro- 
 portion as civihzation, arts, and induftry, 
 have been introduced. The comforts and 
 conveniencies of lite have been more gene- 
 rally diffufed, and are now more univerfally 
 and equally enjoyed. RufHa is a flriking 
 example of the truth of thefe portions, and 
 to what a comparative ftate of civilization it 
 has reached the lail hundred years, by encou- 
 raging and protecting arts and fciences. The 
 confequences attending the gradual increafe 
 
 of
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. 27I 
 
 of civilization in the Ruffian empire has 
 been a gradual increafe in its revenues *. 
 
 In moft Hates of Europe, afylums are pro- 
 vided for the poor, and in no country more 
 than in England. If the various objecfts of 
 charity, parochial and private, in this 
 country, were to be eftimated, we may 
 venture to fay, that the money annually 
 deftined to the alleviation of the dif- 
 treffes of the poor exceeds twelve millions ; 
 which, if added to our permanent and tem- 
 porary taxes, would make an aggregate of 
 more than forty-eight millions. This fum 
 may be rather underrated ; and nothing 
 will place in a ftronger light the extenfive 
 
 ♦ In the reign of Peter the Great (1700), the revenue 
 amounted to little more than one million ; at the accef- 
 fion of Catherine in 1725, it produced a million and a 
 half. In 1750, the revenue was increafed to three mil- 
 lions and a half. At the acceffion of the late Emprefs, 
 1762, it amounted to nearly four millions and a half ; 
 in 17S4, to fix millions; in 1792, to 7, 350,000/.— 
 prcfcnt revenue, upwards of eight millions and a 
 half. 
 
 charities
 
 ^7^ FINANCIAL AND 
 
 charities and benevolence of this country, 
 than to take into our view the voluntary con- 
 tributions, afylums, hofpitals, and charity- 
 fchools, in the nnetropolis and its environs ; 
 which, added to the legal afTeflmcnts, v^all 
 maketogcther 850,000/.*, beingabout a four- 
 teenth part of the whole eftimated voluntary 
 contributions and lecral ajfTefTments for Great 
 Britain ; and perhaps this may be found to 
 be nearly the ratio that the population of the 
 metropolis bears to the whole kingdom . Hof- 
 pitals, too, of every denomination, have been 
 multiplied and extended during the laft century 
 over all Europe. But in no age, nor in any 
 country, do we find fuch a monument of 
 the munilicence and gratitude of a nation to 
 
 * Voluntary contributions in fupport of afy- 
 lums, hofpitals, benevolent and charitable in- 
 ftitutions, in the metropolis and its en- 
 virons - - - . _ ;^-595>c>oo 
 
 Annual afleffments for the poor rates - 255,000 
 
 j^. 850,000 
 See the details in Colquhoun's Treatife on the Police 
 of the Metropolis, fixth edition, p. 257. 
 
 its
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. 273 
 
 its brave defenders by fea, as the inflitution 
 of the Royal College at Greenwich. It may 
 be truly faid to be ** fuperior to any other, 
 and fuitable to the greateft maritime power 
 that has exifled in the hiftory of mankind." 
 The charitable eftablifhmcnt of the cheft of 
 Chatham provides for our brave feamen, 
 when hurt or maimed in the fervice ; yet 
 we find, on many occafions, that the libera- 
 lity of individuals rivals that of Government, 
 as is evinced by the fubfcriptions for the re- 
 lief of the wounded, and the relatives of the 
 flain in our feveral glorious battles by fea. 
 The inftitution of Chelfea Hofpital is another 
 beneficial eftablifhment for old, maimed, or 
 difcharged foldiers. Neither the inflitution 
 of the Invalides at Paris, nor any other mili- 
 tary hofpital in Europe, has been founded 
 on a fcale fo extenfive and liberal. 
 
 In taking a curfory view of the progrefs 
 
 of the revenues of thefe noble inftitutions, 
 
 we (hall find that they have increafed, and 
 
 M N kept
 
 274 FINANCIAL AND 
 
 kept pace with the general revenues and re-; 
 fources of the country. 
 
 The Royal College of Greenwich was 
 
 founded (in 1694) originally by the royal 
 
 donations of King William and Queen 
 
 Mary; andbefides many private fubfcriptions 
 
 and bequeffcs, has received, in the courfe of 
 
 the lafl: century, feveral grants and eftates 
 
 from Parliament. The number of feamen, 
 
 provided for by the hofpital, has gradually 
 
 increafed. In 1708, there were only 300 
 
 feamen on the eflablifliment ; in 1728, there 
 
 were 450 J in 173S, 1000 ; in 1751, there 
 
 were 1300; in 1782, 2300 ; which, with 
 
 140 nurfes, and 150 boys (the fons of feamen 
 
 who are educatecj for the fea fervice), in the 
 
 prefent eftablilhment, together with about 
 
 2000 out-penHoners, make a total of 4640 
 
 perfons. 
 
 Tiie revenue principally confifts of the 
 following branches : fixpence per man per 
 month from ail feamen and marines in the 
 King's and merchant's fervice ; the half pay 
 
 of
 
 POLITICAL FACTS- 275 
 
 of certain officers of the hofpital ; forfeited 
 and unclaimed fliares of prize and bounty 
 money ; the duties arifing from the North 
 and South Foreland light-houfes ; the rents 
 of the market at Greenwich, and of houfcs 
 there and in London ; the rents and profits of 
 the Dervventwater eftates, including lead- 
 mines, and of other eftates purchafed in the 
 north ; and the interefl of money invcfled in 
 the public funds. 
 
 The total revenue of Greenwich Hofpital 
 for the year 1787, was 59,043/. For the 
 year 1797, the total receipt amounted to 
 85,840/. The total expenditure for the 
 fame year was 85,875/. For the year 1800, 
 
 ; the total revenue was 133,581/. and the tota:! 
 
 ! expenditure 100,936/.* Thus we fee, that 
 
 in 
 
 ♦ Heads of Revenue for 1800. 
 
 Merchant feamen*s fixpences - - C''^^->S9^ 
 
 Navy ditto ditto - - 40,000 
 
 North and South Foreland lights - - 6,483 
 
 Dervventwater eftate - - _ 27,000 
 
 Officers' half pay, including arrears - - 2,544 
 
 Carried over C-9^)^'^?i,
 
 ^jG FINANCIAL AND 
 
 in ten years the revenue has been increafed 
 by 26,832/. j and in twenty-three years it 
 has been more than doubled ; and the reve- 
 nue of laft year exceeds the expenditure by 
 32,645/. which is more than half the total 
 amount of revenue twenty-three years ago. 
 
 The firfl: head of revenue, viz. merchant 
 feamen^s Jixpences^ flatcd in the note, p. 275, 
 is collecfted at the Sixpenny Receiver's office, 
 which is a branch of Greenwich Hofpital 
 eftabllHiment, by a grant from Parliament, 
 and acSts under the dire<5tion of the Admiralty 
 Board. The function of this office is to 
 
 Brought over ;£^*90j623 
 
 Intereft of money in the funds - - 173634 
 
 Rent of houfes, &c. - - - 161 
 
 Unclaimed, &:c. (hares of prize-money - 25,163 
 
 Total revenue £,'^ZZ^S^^ 
 
 Heads of Expenditure^ viz. 
 
 One year's houfehold, works, and contingent 
 
 accounts - - - . - 81,812 
 
 Out-penfioners - - - - 155239 
 
 Derv^rentwater annuity - - . 2,500 
 
 Taxes, &c. - _ » . 66 
 
 Prize-money refunded _ _ - ^yV9 
 
 Total expenditure j^. 100,936 
 
 receive
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. 277 
 
 receive the duty of fixpence per month from 
 the wages of fcamen employed in the mer- 
 chant fervice ; to appoint deputy receivers at 
 the out-ports of England, Scotland, and Ire- 
 land, as alfoat feveral iflands and dominions 
 in America and the Weft Indies, for the pur- 
 pofe of colle(^ing the faid duty ; to receive 
 all forfeitures payable to Greenwich Hofpi- 
 tal ; to receive payment of run men's wages, 
 employed in the African trade ; and to re- 
 ceive, by a late ad of Parliament, the wages 
 of feamen employed in the Weft India trade, 
 who die on their voyage, for the ufe of their 
 executors, &c. 
 
 From the annual receipts of this office for 
 the laft eighteen years, it is curious to ob- 
 icrve how regular they have been, and how 
 little they have fludluated in years of peace or 
 war*. It affords us, in fome meafure, a 
 
 * Peace. 
 Year. Grofs Rec. 
 
 1786 - - 13,562 
 
 1787 . . 13,877 
 3)41,734 
 
 ^n. average £* 13,911 
 
 fVar. 
 Year. Grofs Rec. 
 
 1795 - - ;^-i4,o6o 
 
 1796 - - 15,286 
 
 1797 - - '3.533 
 
 3)4' > 8 79 
 An. average /"• '4,293 
 criterion
 
 2/^ FINANCIAL AND 
 
 criterion to judge of the incrcafe or decrcafe 
 of commerce. The annual average grofs 
 receipt, for three years of peace, from 1785 
 to 1787 inclufivc, was 13,911/.; and for 
 three years of war, from 1795 to 1797 in- 
 clufive, was 14,293/. The grofs receipt 
 for the year 1783, was 13,224/. and the net 
 receipt paid to the treafurer of Greenwich 
 Hofpital w^as 1 2,007/. 
 
 The charge of maintenance, clothing, 
 and education of 150 boys, is defrayed out 
 of a feparate fund, chiefly arifing from the 
 profits of fhowing the Royal Hofpital, and 
 from a faving upon the allowance made to 
 penfioners, who choofe to receive money in 
 lieuof provifions. This laudable ellablini- 
 irient for the boys might be confiderably ex- 
 tended, and an adequate revenue obtained, 
 on a fimilar application of the profits arifing 
 onboard his Majefly's fliips, from the fea- 
 men and marines frequently iiot taking up 
 their whole allowance, and which is now 
 ufually paid to them in money by the pur- 
 
 fers,
 
 POLITIC A.L FACTS. 279 
 
 fers, at about two thirds of the value paid to 
 them by Government, on pafling their ac- 
 counts J and which is nearly another third 
 lefs than the real value paid by the Vi<5lual- 
 ling-office to the fcveral contradors. 
 
 The late increaled allowance of provifions 
 to the feamen in the navy, and which is 
 greater than what is given by any other ma- 
 ritime ftate in Europe, would render a fund 
 of this nature extremely producftive ; and 
 might be applied to other purpofcs, as 
 well as that juft mentioned ; more efpe- 
 cially, as the whole allowance now given 
 cannot be fairly confumed. With the for- 
 mer allowance even, it was no uncommon 
 thing for five men in a mefs to take up the 
 allowance of four only, and be paid in money, 
 at the end of the month-, the odd jnan^s allow- 
 a>icc \ which proves the redundancy of the 
 provifions. 
 
 The charitable inftitution of the chefl: at 
 Chatham was eflablifhcd in the reign of 
 Queen Elizabeth (1588), when many feamen, 
 being hurt and maimed in the fervice againft 
 
 the
 
 tSO FINANCIAL AND 
 
 the Spaniards, petitioned her Majcfly for re- 
 lief. The funds of this inftituiion chiefly 
 arife fronn a dedudion of fixpence per month 
 made from the wages of every warrant of- 
 ficer, petty officer, and feaman in the navy ; 
 fourpence per month for the chaplain, and 
 twopence per month for the furgeon. But 
 whenever it happens that no chaplain or fur- 
 geon is borne in any of the fhips books, the 
 fourpences or twopences fo appropriated are 
 pafTed to the credit of the chell: at Chatham. 
 Alfo muldls or fines impofed in confequence 
 of naval courts martial. The money thence 
 arifing is called defalcations, and is remitted, 
 as required, by the Treafurer of the Navy to 
 the o-overnors of the cheil: at Chatham. The 
 
 o 
 
 number of peniioners in 1782, was 4197; 
 in 1797, 5762 ; and upon the 26th March 
 1798, the return was 640c. When any of 
 them recover from their hurts, or are admitted 
 to Greenwich Hofpital, their penfions ceafe. 
 The revenues of the chefi:, arifing from 
 rents and intereft of money inverted in the 
 funds, amounted, in 1798, to about 26,000/. 
 2 per
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. 281 
 
 per annum, befides the defalcation of fix- 
 pence per month per man, already mention- 
 ed, which, for the year ending 31ft Decem- 
 ber 1797, amounted to 45>57i/-i and this 
 revenue mufl have received a confiderable 
 annual increafe fince that time. The reve- 
 nue arifing from defalcations in a year of 
 profound peace (1788), produced only 
 6608/. Hence, in nine years, there has been 
 an annual increafe nearly feven-fold. In time 
 of peace, the expenditure of the cheft exceeds 
 the revenue. The governors, however, 
 having taken this into confideration, refolv- 
 ed, in 1794, with the approbation of the 
 two fupervifors, Sir Andrew S. Hammond, 
 comptroller of the navy, and Mr. Proby, 
 the late refldent commiflioner of Chatham 
 yard, to inveH: the furplus money, after the 
 general payment, in the three per cent, con- 
 folidatcd annuities, which have been con- 
 tinued every year iince that time ; and the 
 dividends, as they became due, having been 
 alfo invcilcd, ftock to a confiderable amount 
 o o has
 
 28Z FINANCIAL AND 
 
 has thereby accumulated. Hence a perma-i' 
 nent fund, upon a large fcale, will be efta- 
 blilhed for the relief of our many brave 
 maimed and wounded feamen in the navy. 
 
 Within the walls of Chelfea Hofpital are 
 lodged, clothed, and vidualled, about 500 
 maimed or difcharged foldiers ; and the 
 funds generally maintain from 15 to 
 16,000 out-pen (loners. The expenditure 
 of the eftablilhment at the hofpital, in 
 1797, was ftated to have been 29,044/. and 
 was formerly defrayed out of the poundage 
 of the army, but now goes generally in aid 
 of the vote of Parliament. In 1782, the 
 out-penfioners were in number 1 1,907; and 
 in 1795, they were 16,955; in 1782, their 
 expenfe was 85,586/. and in 1795, 114,136/..- 
 to which, if we add the expenfes of the in- 
 penfioners, and eftablifliment at the hofpital, 
 it will make, for thatyear, a total of 143,180/. 
 For the year 1799, there was voted 142,688/. 
 for the in and out penfioners of Chelfea 
 
 Hofpital,
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. 283 
 
 Hofpital, and the expenfes of the eftablifh- 
 nient. 
 
 The poHcy of this inflitution, as well as 
 that of Greenwich Hofpital, feems to re- 
 quire, that all the offices ihould be filled by 
 MILITARY or NAVAL men; and it is to 
 be regretted that this has not hitherto been 
 fufficiently attended to ; more efpecially in 
 the rcfpedive civil departments. Profef- 
 fional men, who have devoted a long life in 
 civil capacities, either in the army or navy^ 
 ought to have fome leading objedts of remu- 
 neration held out to them, at the clofe of a 
 long life of fervices. It would be an excite- 
 ment to the more fleady and faithful difcharge 
 of their refpedlive profcffional duties. Men, 
 too, who have been in the early habits of bu- 
 finefs in the civil departments of army or 
 navy, poflelTed of that competent knowledge 
 of official concerns, neceffarily acquired in 
 fuch public duties, are furcly the mofl fit 
 perfons to fill the feveral civil offices at 
 Chclfea and Greenwich Hofpitals. 
 
 o Q z Grand
 
 iS^ FINANCIAL AND 
 
 Grand and munificent as are the provi-» 
 fions made at the two places above men- 
 tioned, for many of our failors and foldiers, 
 it is devoutly to be vviflied that thefe inftitu- 
 tions fhould be fo far extended as to become 
 competent receptacles for every worn-out 
 man of good charader, not only in the pub- 
 lic, but in the merchant fervice. Foreign- 
 ers, who may every hour of the day be an- 
 noyed by the prayers of the wretched wound- 
 ed men, to be met with in our public flreets^ 
 more particularly in the metropolis, to the 
 great difgrace of its police, may reafonably 
 entertain doubts as to the exigence of thefe 
 two great pillars of national benevolence. 
 
 In a country, long fo celebrated for ks 
 charity and liberality, and fo juftly proud oi 
 its powers in war and commerce, it ouglit 
 to be reckoned a crime, and punifliahle as 
 fuch, for a man, wounded in the fervice ol 
 his country, to appear in our public llreets as 
 a mendicant ; and the facility of getting ac- 
 cefs to thefe national inllitutions fhould. be 
 3 ^^
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. 285 
 
 fo great, as to inake nothing neceflary to the 
 fuccefs of the wretched claimant, except a 
 good charader and difabled frame. — 
 It is incompatible with the n?.tional gra- 
 titude, that a man, worn out in our 
 fervice, fliould be cxpofed to the ** proud 
 man's contumely, or the fcorns of office,** 
 in making his appeal for the reward to which 
 he is fo juflly entitled. In this place it is 
 not meant to infinuate any thing to the pre- 
 judice of the feveral honourable and humane 
 gentlemen, who fill the different ftations in 
 the public offices, through which the fup- 
 plicants for admiffion firft make tbxir ap- 
 peals ; but our experience teaches us, that 
 many a poor wretch returns difappointcd, 
 and in afflidion even to defpair, from caufes 
 of objection, not arifing out of himfelf or 
 his own condudt ; and it is to remedy this 
 evil, that we here venture to fugged an ex- 
 tcnlion of the national benevolence. 
 
 It
 
 a86 FINANCIAL AND 
 
 It was my intenrion, in fumming up tlld 
 fads in the preceding chapters, to have drawii 
 comparifons of the revenues, expenditure, 
 debts, commerce) and manufactures of the 
 other principal maritime powers of Europe ; 
 but in the inveftigation of this fubjed there is 
 found much difficulty to obtain authentic do- 
 cuments, particularly fuch as relate to revenue 
 and expenditure, for afcertaining, with accu- 
 racy, the true ftate of the finances of foreign 
 nations. Hence it is not furprifing to find 
 hiflorians, geographers, and travellers of 
 every defcription, differ effentially from one 
 another on thefe important points, by adopt- 
 ing hypothetical opinions. 
 
 Having, in the preceding pages of this 
 work, occafionally touched upon the revenues 
 and commerce of France at particular pe- 
 riods, as they grew from the fubjed, it is 
 unneceffary, in this place, to take up the 
 reader's time in expatiating upon their pro- 
 grefs during the eighteenth century. Their 
 relative fituation, however, at the prefent 
 moment, is obvious and ilriking, by com- 
 paring
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. '287 
 
 paring the official returns of French exports 
 and imports *, and their navigation and (hip- 
 ping with thofe of Great Britain ; the com- 
 merce of the port of London alone, includ- 
 ing the foreign imports and exports, toge- 
 ther with the coafting trade, amounting to 
 upwards of fixty millions annually, would, 
 from its magnitude, appear to many readers 
 almofl incredible, were it not accurately 
 afcertained, from the moft authentic docu- 
 ments -f*. While the immenfc refources of 
 this country are proved in this one inftance, 
 it mufl be gratifying to an Englifliman ta 
 find, on a minute inquiry, that the real value 
 of the imports and exports of the metropo- 
 lis, taken feparately from the coafling trade, 
 amounted, in the year 1798, to more than 
 49 millions ; which exceeds, at the prefent 
 moment, the aggregate amount of the ini- 
 
 • Appendix, No. VIII. 
 
 t Appendix, No. JX. The details clafled in this table 
 have been tak' n from an abftradl made up from the 
 public accounts, and given in Mr. Colquhoun's 
 Treatifc on the Police of the Metropolis, Ilxth edit, 
 p. 214. 
 
 ports
 
 288 FINANCIAL AND 
 
 ports and exports of the kingdoms and cnv. 
 pires of France, Spain, Ruffia, Sweden, and 
 Denmark. It is a pid:ure that exhibits to 
 Europe a grand difplay of the wealth and 
 power of a nation, principally arifing from 
 the metropolis being a port, and the centrical 
 point as an emporium for almof!: the wliole 
 commerce of the world. 
 
 If we brietiy bring into a focus the fad:s 
 already mentioned, relative to the revenue 
 and commerce of France, and combine them 
 with a few others, we fliall be better able to 
 examine their relations, and the reader will 
 find the following refult. According to Mr. 
 Necker *, the total amount of the revenues in 
 1-84 amounted to 585 millions of livres, or 
 24,375,000/. flerling, eftimating the livre 
 at the rate of 24 to the pound flerling. The 
 annual expenditure of the ftate, includ- 
 ing the civil and military eftabiifliments, 
 amounted to 610 millions of livres, 
 
 •* Treatife on the Adminiftration of the Finances of 
 France. 
 
 or
 
 POLITICAL FACTS, 289 
 
 W 25,416,666/. fterlingj the expenfcs of 
 Colleding the taxes, 58 millions of livrcs, or 
 2,416,666/. fberling ; annual amount of ex- 
 portation, 230 millions, or 9,583,333/. fter- 
 ling ; and annual amount of importation 300 
 millions of livres, or 12,500,000/. fterling; 
 the apparent balance of commerce 70 mil- 
 lions of livrcs, or 2,916,666/. ftcrling; an- 
 nual intereft of the national debt, 207 mil- 
 lions of livres, or 8,625,000/. flerling. The 
 revenue of France had decreafed in the year 
 1788, juft before the revolution, when it 
 amounted to about 20 millions and a half 
 fterling; and its ordinary expenditure ex- 
 ceeded the revenue by five millions and a half 
 flerling. In the beginning of the year 1792, 
 the eftimate of fupplies, prefented by Mon- 
 fieur Lafond to the National Afiembly, 
 amounted to 665,450,000 livres, or 
 26,477,083/. fterling; the ways and means, 
 by land-tax, tax on perfonal property, pa- 
 tents, (lamps, c^c. were cflimated at 530 
 p p millions
 
 290 FINANCIAL AND 
 
 millions of livres, or 22,083,333/. ilerlingj 
 confqucntly there was a deficit of more than 
 four millions flerling. The .ordinary reve- 
 nue at prefcnt does not exceed 1 5 millions 
 fterling ; and there is a deficit of nearly one 
 half in the receipts, from the enormous 
 charges of management, the numberlefs pro- 
 fecutions of the defaulters, &c. The annual 
 produce of the French colonies, which for- 
 merly amounted to about zoo millions of 
 livies, is now only 1,483,800 livres : for- 
 merly they exported one half of the produce 
 of their colonies j now they import to the 
 amount of 114 millions of livres. France 
 formerly fent out to their colonies, of mer- 
 chandife tothe valueof 78 millions of livres; 
 Ihe now only fends, as by the official report, 
 to the amount of 282,300 livres*. For- 
 merly France imported raw filks to mix 
 with their own manufacftures, to the 
 amount of 27 milHons annually, and ex- 
 ported their furplus manufactured filks to an 
 
 * Appendix, Ne. VIII. Se6l. i. 
 
 immcnfe
 
 POLITICAL FACTS." 29I 
 
 ifnmenfe amojnt. The city of Lyons alone 
 ufually exported to the value of 90 millions 
 of livres, and had 18,000 looms at work; 
 and at prefent the whole exports of France, 
 as appears from the official report in Appen- 
 dix, only amount to 41 millions of livres ; 
 and there is fcarcely one tenth of the number 
 of former looms remaining. The revolu- 
 tion has not only defolated the kingdom, 
 and deftroycd the trade and manufactures, 
 and the very machines that abridged manual 
 labour, but it has alfo ruined the perfons 
 connecfted with trade and manufdd:ures. 
 The army has been from time to time re- 
 cruited with the beft artifts and mechanics; 
 and the remaining refources of the nation are 
 now nearly exhaufted. 
 
 The revenues of Spain, at the prefent mo- 
 ment, cannot be accurately afcertained, fmce 
 the taxes whence the internal revenue 
 arifes, are various, arbitrary, and depend 
 much on emergencies. They fall upon all 
 kinds of goods, lands, houfes, timber, and 
 p p 2 provifions :
 
 2gz Financial and 
 
 provifions : the clergy and military ordeif^ 
 are likevvife taxed. The revenue, it is true, 
 arifing to the King of Spain, from all the 
 Spanifli poflcfTjons in America, is very con-, 
 fiderable, and amounts annually to about nine 
 millions fterling; but it is generally embez- 
 zled or anticipated before it arrives in Old 
 Spain. The King has a fifth part of the 
 mines that are worked, but little of it comes 
 into his coffers. The revenue arifing to the 
 King from Old Spain, for fome years before 
 the prefent war, amounted annually to little 
 more than five millions fterling, derived from 
 the domains, monopolies, grand maflerfhips, 
 tithes, contributions from the Pope, cufloms^ 
 excife, tax on plate, and various other im^ 
 ports. The expenfes w^ere generally equal 
 to (he revenue ; and, according 'to t^Boetti- 
 cher*s Statilhcal Tables, the debts of the 
 flate amounted to 40 millions ; and the 
 quantity of cafli in circulation amounted to 
 about I o millions and a half. 
 
 Havmg. glanced at the progrefs of the 
 
 revenue
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. 293 
 
 r e venue of the Ruffian empire, during the 
 eighteenth century, as aproof of the gradual 
 progrefs of that country's civiHzation *, it 
 is to be remarked, that the prefent revenue, 
 according to Tooke-f , amou:Us to about 46 
 milhons of rubles, which, valued at 2^. 6d. 
 would make 8,550,000/. fterling. The poll- 
 tax conftitutes nearly one half part of this 
 revenue ; the tax on fait, one twentieth part ; 
 the tax of one percent, on the capital of mer- 
 chants, to about one thirty-fifth part; and 
 
 * See page 271. 
 
 t View of the Ruflian Empire, vol. ii. p. 545. 
 
 Principal Heads of the RttJJian Revenue, 1708. 
 
 Rubles. 
 Poll-taxes _ . - - 19,677,000 
 
 Salt duties - _ _ _ 2,000,000 
 
 Tax on merchants' capital - - 1,300,000 
 
 Cuftoms at the ports - - - 8,000,000 
 
 Public houfes _ . _ _ 8,000,000 
 
 Excife, &c. . - - - 000,000 
 
 Land duties, flamps, mines, mint, poll- 
 office, (hops, horfes, mills, bathing-houfes, 
 beehives, &c. _ - - _ 6,500,000 
 
 Rubles 46.077,000 
 
 Eftimatcd at y. td. each ruble, in ftcrl. ^".8,350,000 
 
 the
 
 294 FINANCIAL ANO 
 
 the cuftoms at all the fea-ports to about one 
 fixth part of the whole revenue. The pub- 
 lic debt of Ruflia is faid to amount to no 
 more than 40 millions rubles, which pays an 
 interefl of eight per cent. The loan which 
 the Ruffian government was obliged to bor- 
 TO'.v, to fupport the expenfes of the Turkifh 
 war, fo lowered the credit of the ftate, that 
 in 1790, the difcount againft the paper cur- 
 rency was nearly 20 per cent. The general 
 imports and exports of Ruflia have alfo, 
 during the century, made rapid progrefs, 
 compared alone with this country ; and 
 there has been invariably an annual balance 
 in favour of Ruflia : hence the trade to Ruflia 
 is apparently a lofing one. In 1700, the 
 value of imports frori that country into 
 this amounted to 124,220/. and the exports 
 to only 76,784/. In the year 1750, the im- 
 ports amounted to 459,410/. and the exports 
 to 1-6,313/. In 1780, the value of imports 
 amounted to 1,150,429/. and the exports 
 only to 16,1 03/. 
 
 3 The
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. ^95 
 
 The relations of RufTia's trade with other 
 countries are alfo, on the whole, in her fa- 
 vour, and have been progrefTively increafing. 
 In the year 1758, the general exports from 
 RufTia amounted to 8,150,683 rubles, and 
 the imports to 5,826,126 rubles; in ten 
 years after (1768), the exports amounted to 
 12,971,542, and the imports to 10,856,161 j 
 in 1775, the exports amounted to 
 18,557,279, and the imports to 12,469,378; 
 in 1790, the foreign trade of Peterfburgh, 
 Riga alone, amounted to 50 millions of 
 rubles, viz. exports, 27,500,000 rubies; 
 imports, 22,500,000 rubles; and the 
 balance in favour of Ruflia amounted to 
 five millions of rubles, which if va- 
 lued at y. 6 J. the ruble, the aggregate 
 amount of foreign trade would be 8,750,000/. 
 fterling annually, and the balance of trade 
 825,000/. fterling*. 
 
 The aggregate value of exports and im- 
 ports of Peterfburgh alone, the emporium of 
 
 * The value of the ruble fludluatcs from 2x. 6d. to 
 
 4i. ik'iling. 
 
 almoft
 
 29^ FINANCIAL AND 
 
 almoft the whole trade of the Baltic, amount- 
 ed, for the year 1790, to upwards of 44 
 millions of rubles, or 7,200,000/. fterling. 
 This, as already fhown, is not an eighth part 
 of the trade of the port of London *. In 
 contemplating the rapid progrefs of the 
 commerce of Ruffia, we are peculiarly llruck 
 with the trade of this Imperial city and port, 
 iince it has only been ereded within the 
 century, to which thefe prominent fads re- 
 late -j^. In viewing the relative fituation of 
 Great Britain with refped to Ruflia, we are 
 alfo flruck with the vaft extent of that em- 
 pire j but there is great difficulty to appor- 
 tion the rcfources of the executive govern- 
 ment to the extent. There is, we prcfume, 
 one principle that may be eflabliflied as a ge- 
 
 * In 1703, Peter the Great formed the projeft of 
 opening the trade between Ruffia and the Baltic fea ; 
 and for that pnrpofe fortified the iHands at the mouth of 
 the river Neva, at the bottom of the Gulf of Finland. 
 Soon after he ereded the handfome royal city of St. 
 Peterfburgh, by which there was opened ro the trade of 
 the Ruffian empire a much Ihorter und fater communi- 
 cation than as formerly, by Archangel. 
 
 t See p. 287 and Appendix, No. iX. 
 
 neral
 
 Political facts. 297 
 
 j neral one, namely, that in all flates where 
 i the refourccs of the executive power cannot 
 be proportioned to the meafure of population 
 and extent of territory, the Government 
 ousht to make continual exertions to re- 
 medy, by every means pofTible, the evil tend- 
 ency of fuch difproportion. It is a well- 
 known fa(5t, that the largefl flates are not al- 
 ways the mofl powerful, nor is the largefl: 
 man always the mofl: courageous. Skill, 
 <iexterity, ingenuity, and, above all, activity, 
 are ever an overmatch for fluggifh flrength. 
 The revenues of the King of Denmark 
 arife from the impofitions he lays upon his 
 own fubjedls, duties paid by foreigners, and 
 the King's own demefne lands, including 
 confifcations. The principal taxes impofed 
 are upon land, wine, fait, tobacco, fpirits, 
 and provifions of all kinds ; alfo a poll-tax, 
 tax on ranks, marriages, places, and penfions. 
 The revenue, according to Coxe, amounted.
 
 29^ FINANCIAL AND 
 
 in 1785, to 1,460,000/.*; the expendi^ 
 ture was 1,384,000/., and the pubhc debt 
 amounted to 3,600,000/. In 1792, the an^ 
 nual revenue of the crown of Denmark 
 amounted to about 1,520,000/. and the 
 Sound duties amounted to 122,554/. ; the 
 expenfes of the ftate amounted to i ,050,000/. 
 and the public debt was 2,600,000/. 
 
 The revenue of Sweden has confiderably 
 
 * Coxe, in his Travels into Denmark, ftates the re- 
 venues of Denmark, in 1785, to have been as follows: 
 JLand-tax . . . - _ j(^. 800,000 
 
 Sound duties _ « _ - 200,000 
 
 Poll taxes and other taxes - - - 300,000 
 Extraordinary contributions • - 200,000 
 
 ;^. 1, 400, 000 
 
 Among the extraordinary contributions is the tax on 
 honours and rank, in the following proportions : Per- 
 fons of the firft rank pay annually 80 rix-doliars, or 
 16/. ; of the fecond, 14/. ; of the third, 8/. ; of the 
 fourth, 6/. ; fifth, 3/. 4^. : fixth, 3/. ; feventh, 2/. Ss.; 
 eighth, 1/. I2J. ; and ninth, i/. 4s. Penfions of the 
 higheft order pay i o per cent ; and the loweft penfion 
 pays 2 per cent. : the five intermediate clalTes of pen- 
 fions pay, in the defcending fcale, eight, feven, five, 
 four, and three per cent. 
 
 diminiflied
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. 299 
 
 dimlniflied fince the unfortunate wars of 
 Charles the Twelfth, in the early part of the 
 eighteenth century. At the revolution in 
 1772, the revenue amounted to little more 
 than 700,000/. and the capital of the na- 
 tional debt to 3,600,000/. fterling; there- 
 venue in 1792 amounted to 1,443,574/.; 
 the annual expenditure to i ,400,000/. ; and 
 the national debt to upwards of feven mil- 
 lions, the interefl: of which is nearly four 
 millions. Hence the debt has, in its 
 progrefs, doubled in twenty years. The re- 
 venue is chiefly drawn from the rents of the 
 royal demefnes, part of the great tithes, 
 houfe-rents, a poll-tax *, window-tax, 
 ftamps, duties upon exports and imports, 
 mines and forges, diflilled fpirits, falaries^ 
 penfions, and chimnies. 
 
 Eflimating, in round numbers, the popu*. 
 lation of England, Wales, and Scotland, to 
 be twelve millions, and the extent of terri- 
 
 * About IS. ^d. each perfon. The foldiers and 
 f;^ilorsare exempt from the poll-tax in Sweden. 
 
 (^ Q^ 2 tory
 
 300 FINANCIAL AND 
 
 tory 77,243 fquare miles, the permanent and 
 temporary revenue of Great Britain, amount- 
 ing to ^6 millions, will give 472/. 14J'. for 
 every fquare mile, and 3/. 2s. 7^. per head 
 for perfons of all ages, and of both fexes. 
 
 If we compare the (ituation of Great Bri-. 
 tain, after eight years war, at the conclufion 
 of the feventeenth century, with her fitua- 
 tion after eight years of the prefent war, we 
 fliall find, that, in the former, the progreflive 
 difafters and loiFcs to the nation were pro- 
 digious, that our trade and revenue were re^ 
 trograde, and reduced to nearly one half. Iii 
 the later period, we find the trade and reve- 
 nue have progreflively increafed, and are 
 nearly doubled *. It is worthy of remark, 
 
 * Epoch. Year. Tons of Value of Cargoes 
 
 Shipping. exported. 
 
 Eight years war, to- -| 1688 285,800 j^. 4,086,087 
 wards the end of 
 
 
 the 17th century J 1696 174,791 2,729,520 
 
 Annual lofs 111,009 ;^«i)356,567 
 
 Eight years war, at ^1792 1,540,145 22,700,000 
 the end of the > 
 
 18th century. J i8oo 1,905,438 35}99i>329 
 
 Annual gain 3^5»293 ;^-i3>29i>329 
 
 that
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. 301 
 
 that the prefent is the only war in which 
 our commerce has progreffively flouriflied, 
 fince, in all former wtirs, it gradually de- 
 clined, and in feven or eight years became 
 extremely deprefled. Smce the commence- 
 ment of the prefent war, there have been 
 added to the number of regiftered vcfllls, 
 belonging to the Britifli dominions, and 
 employed in trade, no lefs than 2,798 
 veflels, and their additional tonnage of 
 365,293, with 25,375 additional feamen 
 navigating the fame. 
 
 The progreflive increafe of the tonnage of 
 Britifh fhipping employed in trade, together 
 with the feamen navigating the fame, will be 
 exhibited in the following tabic, at different 
 periods during the century, and may be con- 
 traftcd in peace or war *. 
 
 * In the table the tonnage of Britifli fliipping, to 1782, 
 is taken from Chalmers's Chronological Table of Com- 
 ineice, and for the years 1792 and 800, from parlia- 
 mentary documents. The feamen are eftimatcd fijc 
 to every hundred tons, prior to 1792. 
 
 Periods.
 
 20% FINANCIAL AND 
 
 Periods. Years. 
 
 Tons of Shi))ping. 
 
 Seamen. 
 
 Peace 1700 
 
 273,693 
 
 i6,4i& 
 
 Average of three J 1709 1 
 years war j J?!? J 
 
 243^693 
 
 14,596 
 
 Average of three f 1 7 1 3 
 years peace 1 1715 . 
 
 421,431 
 
 25,284 
 
 Average of three f 1739 1 
 years war 1 1 741 J 
 
 384,191 
 
 23,050 
 
 Average of three f 17-^91 
 years peace [ 1751 -> 
 
 609,798 
 
 37>i«2 
 
 Average of three f 1755 
 years war li757. 
 
 451*254 
 
 27.072 
 
 Peace - 17-4 
 
 7q8,240 
 
 47,90^ 
 
 War - 1782 
 
 552,851 
 
 33>i68 
 
 Peace - 1792 
 
 1,540,145 
 
 118,286 
 
 War - 1800 
 
 i>9o5»438 
 
 143,661 
 
 If we take a curfory view of the progrefs 
 of our navy during the century, and com- 
 pare it at particular periods with the other 
 maritime powers, we fhall find the inquiry 
 equally interefting ; and in no war will it be 
 found that the relative fituation of the naval 
 power of France and Spain was fo much re- 
 duced as at prefent. At the beginning 
 of the eighteenth century, the French navy 
 vvas nearly equal to the Englidi : the for- 
 mer had 73 fail of the line, from 60 to 
 108 guns, 22 frigates and 50-gun fliips : 
 the latter had 72 fail of the line, 38 frigates 
 4 an4
 
 J'OLITICAL FACTS. 30,3 
 
 and 50-gun fliips, which carried about 
 110,000 tons, with a" complement of 
 45,000 men. In 1714, at the acceflion of 
 George the Firfl, the tonnage of the navy- 
 amounted to 167,596. At the accefTion of 
 George the Second, 1727, the royal navy 
 carried 170,862 tons. At the beginning of 
 the Spaniili war, 1739, the navy had in* 
 creafed to 147 fliips and vcfTels of war, 
 carrying 198,387 tons, and upwards of 
 38,000 feamen ; in 1748, the navy confined 
 of 89 fhips of the line, and 150 frigates, 
 meafuring 228,215 tons, and whofe com- 
 plement of men amounted to 60,654; in 
 1760, the tonnage of the navy amounted to 
 300,416; in 1783, our navy confided of 
 145 fliips of the line, carrying 10,132 guns. 
 France had, at the fame period, 82 fliips of 
 the line ; the Spaniards had 67 fliips, from 50 
 to 1 10 guns; the Dutch navy confifl:ed of 
 33 fail of the line; making the aggregate 
 naval force of the combined powers 182 
 fail of the line, carrying i 2,574 guns. 
 
 la
 
 304 FINAKCIAL AND 
 
 In 1 78 1 , France, as on a recent occafion ** 
 had influence to fucceed in drawing all 
 Europe into a confederacy for the deftruc* 
 tion of the naval power of Great Britain, and 
 then the maritime ftrength of all Europe was 
 marfhalled, in battle array, againfl: her. Cur 
 military and naval ftrength was then, how- 
 ever, very formidable, though not to he 
 compared with our prefent fituation. Our 
 navy, at this epoch, confifted of 430 fliips 
 and velTels of different rates, carrying 
 422,700 tons, well manned and equipped. 
 The combined fleets of France, Spain, and 
 Holland, were fuperior in numbers and in 
 metal to that of Great Britain. Ruffia had 
 62 armed fliips, of which 37 were of the 
 line. Denmark had 31 fail of the line, ex- 
 clufive of eight 50-gun fhips and frigates, 
 Sweden had from 26 to 28 fail of the line, 
 and feveral frigates. Portugal had 13 fail 
 of the line, and feveral frigates ; and Naples 
 had four line of battle fliips, and feve- 
 
 * The Northern confederacy. 
 
 ral
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. 3O5 
 
 ral frigates*. In 1792, the whole navy of 
 Great Britain confided of 140 (hips, of the 
 firll:, fecond, and third rates, and 166 fliips 
 of the fourth, fifth, and fixth rates, with 
 192 floops of war; making a total of 498 
 fhips and vcfTcls, carrying 433,239 tons. 
 The navy of France, at the fame time, con- 
 iifted of 91 fail of the line, and 78 frigates, 
 bcfides corvettes, fire-fhips, &c. The Spa- 
 nifli navy confifted of 74 fnips of the line, 
 and ^6 frigates, carrying about 6000 guns. 
 Holland, in 1792, had 40 fliips of the line, 
 from 50 to 74 guns, and 40 frigates, from 
 20 to 44 guns. Rufiia had 60 ihips of the 
 
 * At the time of the armed neutrality in 1781, the 
 following is a recapitulation of the (hips of the line, 
 when the fleet of Great Britain confifted of 140 (hips. 
 
 Ships of the Line. 
 
 France ----.-- 82 
 
 Spain --_-__ 67 
 
 Holland ------ 33 
 
 Ruflia ------ 37 
 
 Denmark ----- 2^ 
 
 Sweden - - . - - - 26 
 
 Total combined andarmed neutral forces 276 
 
 R R line,
 
 3d6 financial and 
 
 line, and 6o frigateSj befides many galleys, 
 &c. Denmark had 23 fl^ips of the line, 
 from 56 to 90 guns ; and Sweden, at the 
 fame time, had 30 fliips of the line, 10 
 frigates, 60 galleys, and a number of fmall 
 armed velTels. 
 
 At the prefent moment, our navy has 
 reached an unparalleled pitch of magnitude 
 and efficient flrength, and confifls of 197 
 iail of the line, including thofe in commif- 
 lion, in ordinary, and building, befides 37 
 50-gunlhips, 246 frigates, 315 (loops, fire- 
 ihips, &c. ; making a total of 815 fhips and 
 veflels of war. 
 
 The navies of France, Spain, and Holland, 
 have been greatly reduced iince 1792, by the 
 number of iliips and veffels taken, funk, 
 burnt, loft, or deftroyed, during the war; 
 and the nominal force of the recent confede- 
 rated powers, as it flood before the blow 
 was ilruck at Copenhagen, was 123 fail of 
 the line, 89 frigates and Hoops, befides 158 
 
 galleys,
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. 3O7 
 
 galleys, flat-bottomed veflels, Szc .* Many 
 of the (hips belonging to thefe powers arc in 
 bad condition, and their fleets are unofficer- 
 cd and undifciplined. 
 
 The Britifli fquadrons, in full exercife, 
 activity, and difcipline, having their com- 
 plements of men on board, amounting in 
 the aggregate to o/ie hundred and twenty- 
 Jive thoufand of the bravefl: and beft difci- 
 plined feamen and marines in the univerfe, are 
 fpread over the ocean, and difplay in both 
 hemifpheres their triumphant flags. When 
 we confider the diftinguifhed and unparal- 
 leled proofs of profefl!ional flcill, valour, and 
 intrepidity, difplayed by our officers and 
 men this war in every quarter of the world, 
 and that a greater nu^nber of the enemy's 
 fhips of war than half of our exifling fliips 
 of the line, and an equal number to our 
 
 Of the Line. Frigates. Galleys, &c. 
 
 ♦ Ruflia - - 82 36 84 
 
 Denmark - - 23 39 — 
 
 Swedjin - - 18 14 74 
 
 Total 123 89 158 
 
 R R 2 frigates
 
 3o8 
 
 FINANCIAL AND 
 
 frigates and iloops adually in commifTion, 
 have, in a fhort time, been either captured, 
 funk, burnt, or deftroycd ; and at the fame 
 time contrail this with our inconfiderable lofs, 
 at the clofe of the eighteenth century, of 
 only two fhips of the hne, and one frigate*; 
 what then have we to dread from the com- 
 bined naval force of Europe, or the threat- 
 ened invafion, fo long as we continue, 
 like our invincible fcamen, loyal and 
 
 ^ During the prefent war, and at the clofe of the 
 eighteenth century, the following flaips of war, veffels, 
 and privateers, have been captured, funk, burnt, or 
 
 deftroyed. 
 
 Total. 
 Line. Fifties. Frigates. Sloops. Ships, &.c. Guns. 
 French - 45 2 130 143 320 9,486 
 Spanifh - 8 — 18 49 
 
 Putch - 25 I 31 32 
 
 Total 
 
 179 224 
 
 Privateers belonging to France 
 
 ■ Spain 
 
 Holland 
 
 75 
 89 
 
 [,706 
 3.048 
 
 484 14,240 
 
 743 5>3^o 
 
 76 484 
 
 15 100 
 
 Total fhips of war and privateers 1^318 20,174 
 ITaien or dejiroyedjince iji January i8ol- 
 French frigates and floops - - 10 
 
 Spanifli floop - » . - 1 
 
 232 
 18 
 
 Grand Total 
 
 3,329 20,424 
 true
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. 309 
 
 true to our King and country, and to one 
 another ? If upon the united exertions of a 
 (hip's crew depend her prefervation in the 
 hour of danger; fo, upon the joint efforts of 
 all the members of a ftate, muft neceflarily 
 depend that fecurity which is ever conneded 
 with its fafety. Frefh difficuhies in defence 
 of our religion, laws, and liberties, fliould 
 excite in the bofom of Britons increafed 
 energy, vigour, and perfeyerance, and difli- 
 pate every idea of defpair and defpondency 
 that may be inftilled into our minds by ill- 
 founded or exaggerated alarms. 
 
 Surrounded by the florms and convullions 
 of Europe, Great Britain may be metapho- 
 jically compared to a fliip held with three 
 anchors, religion^ morality^ and law. Al- 
 though, in recent times, we have feen alliances 
 no fooner formed than they are diflblyed, 
 and, like the phantoms of a difordered ima- 
 gination, appear and vanifh in the fame in- 
 ftant j yet this favoured ]fle Hands alone 
 amidft the jarring confli(5ts, like a vail: rock 
 
 in
 
 310 FINANCIAL AND* 
 
 in the ocean, a firm monument of unfliaken 
 power and greatnefs. 
 
 With a Conflitution which excels all 
 other political inftitutions, the admin iftration 
 of our laivs has been progreflively improv- 
 ing during the laft two hundred years. 
 Therein confifts much of the welfare and hap- 
 pinefs of the public ; and no government 
 approaches nearer to the end for which it was 
 inflituted, by the means it affords, in giving 
 equal protection to every rank and order of- 
 the ftate. 
 
 In the reign of Queen Elizabeth, there 
 was a great relaxation of the adminiftration 
 of juflice in this country ; and there were at 
 one period (1601) complaints made in Par- 
 liament of the rapine of juflices of peace, 
 and a member faid, ** that this magiftrate 
 was an animal, who, for half a dozen of 
 chickens, would difpenfe with a dozen of 
 penal ftatutes*." Although the morals of 
 the prefent age are vulgarly deemed more lax 
 
 * Hume's Hift. of England, vol. v. Ap. p. 471, 8V9, 
 edition. 
 
 * 4 than
 
 POLITICAL TACTS. 31I 
 
 than in former ages, yet if we recur to hiftori- 
 cal fads, we fhall find thefe prejudices ill- 
 founded. It argues little in favour of the 
 morals of the fixteenth century, when we 
 are told, that, in the reign of Henry the 
 Eighth, a period of thirty-fix years, there 
 were hanged in England feventy-two thou- 
 fand thieves and rogues, befides other ma- 
 lefadlors. This makes, on an average, 
 about two thoufand offenders executed each 
 year during his reign *. In Queen Eliza- 
 beth's reign, there were between three and 
 four hundred malefactors a year hanged for 
 theft and robbery ; but in the pre font age, 
 there are not, upon an average, above fifty a 
 year hanged in Great Britain for thefc 
 crimes; yet the population of England is now 
 more than doubled. In no country are the 
 laws, as they are now adminiftered, fo mild 
 and well defined, and in no country are the 
 judges of our tiibunals fo independent and 
 upright. 
 
 At no period, in peace or war, have the 
 
 * Harrifon's Dcfcri^-'tion of Britain, printed in 1577, 
 book ii. c. II. 
 
 wealth
 
 JlJl FINANCIAL AND 
 
 Wealth and power of Great Britain been fo 
 confiderable as at the prefent moment. The 
 extent of our commerce and naval power has 
 excited the envy of the world. Since the 
 fceginning of the laft century, the nation has 
 rifen under her preiTures with accumulated 
 energy. Our naval force, as fliewn in the 
 preceding pages, was then hardly fufficient 
 to cope with a fingle power, but is now fo 
 formidable, as to be a match for the com- 
 bined fea forces of Europe ; and our re- 
 fources are proved to be adequate to encounter 
 the hoftile powers who envy our greatnefs. 
 
 In fecuring the rights and liberties handed 
 down to us by our anceilors, and tranfmit- 
 ting them unfullied and undiminiflied to 
 pofterity, it is neceflary we fhould make our 
 alliance and friefidfliip refpecSed and court- 
 ed, and our enmity at the fame time dreaded 
 by the accumulated hoftile powers we have 
 to encounter. As a great and envied nation, 
 we have, at this time, a vaft intereft at flake; 
 it hath, however, pleafed God we fliould 
 poflefs the means and power of vindicating 
 
 our
 
 POLITICAL FACTS. 313 
 
 our rights, and preferving our independency. 
 Let us therefore avail ourfelves fully of our 
 national refources and advantages; and, if 
 with energy and unanimity brought into 
 adion, they will be fuccefsfully and glori- 
 oufly exerted. 
 
 S S APPENDIX
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 No. I. 
 State of the Public Revenue trom 1700 to i8oo inclufiv^e, 
 computed on the iMcdium of every levcn Years i alfo the 
 Amount of Loans for the fame Period. 
 
 Years- 
 
 to .! 
 1707 I 
 
 Heads of ordinary Revenue 
 
 Annual average amount of 
 cuftoms, exciie, (lumps, land- 
 tax, mifccUane-jUa taxes, in- 
 cluding fait, poft-officc, &c. 
 for fcven years, from Michnel- 
 mas 1 700' to Michaelmas 1707 , 
 inclufive • 
 
 Annual average amount of 
 Do. to 1 7 14 
 
 Do. 
 Do. 
 Do. 
 Do. 
 Do. 
 Do. 
 Do. 
 Do. 
 Do. 
 Do. 
 Do. 
 Do. 
 Do. 
 Do. 
 
 Do. to 1 72 1 
 
 — Do. to 1728 
 
 — Do. to 1735 
 
 — Do. to 1742 
 
 — Do. to T749 
 
 — Do. to 1756 
 
 — Do. to 1763 
 
 — Do. to 1770 
 
 — Do. to 1777 
 
 — Do. to 1784 
 
 — Do. to 1 791 
 
 — D(j. to 1798 
 — . Do. to 1799 
 
 — Do. to 1800 
 
 Annual Me- 
 dium of fe 
 vvii Yc-.iis. 
 
 S,oii 
 
 ,770 
 
 4,419,111 
 
 5,629,004 
 
 5,559,001 
 
 5,224,961 
 
 5.91 1,128 
 
 6,290,422 
 
 6,481,946 
 
 7,540,065 
 
 9,314,285 
 
 10,395,687 
 
 I2.013-747 
 
 1 5, 73-' 5*^' 
 
 21,434,00c 
 
 34,707,906 
 
 36,7285000 
 
 Amount of 
 Loans. 
 
 34,900,609 
 
 00.000,000 
 2,832,093 
 1,800,000 
 2,600,000 
 
 22,302,472 
 6,100,000 
 
 7»3i3'553 
 
 4,900,000 
 
 7,000,000 
 
 68,500,000 
 
 1,002,500 
 
 : 00, 500,000 
 
 18,000,000 
 
 20,500,000 
 
 The Amount of the permanent and temporary Taxes for the Year 
 
 1800, ertimated at 36,728,800/. viz. 
 The grofs receipt of the permanent revenue, after 
 dedu6ting repayments for over-entries, drawbaoks, 
 and l)ounties, amounted, in the year ending the 
 5th July 1800, to _ — 
 
 The tax on income eftimated at — — 
 
 Tax on imports and exports — 
 
 txpeded additional produce of taxes for 1800 
 
 /'•30,728,ooo 
 N. B. By adding the loans, ^ims railed by lottery, and other 
 extraordinary relources, to the ordinary revenue, the public incoin* 
 of Great Britain is afcertauicd. 
 
 s s z 
 
 28,238,000 
 
 7,000,000 
 
 1,250,000 
 
 240,000
 
 3l6 APPENDIX. 
 
 No. II. Section i. 
 
 General View of the Public Expenditure from 1700 to 1806 
 inclufive, computed on the Medium of every feven Years, 
 with the particular Amounts of the laft two Years of the 
 Century. 
 
 Annual Medium for 
 
 _, feven Years. 
 
 rrom /'The average ;,er annum of expenditure n 
 
 1700 to) for army, navy, civil lift, ordnance, I £. 
 
 370710-) mifcellaneous fervices, intereft of?* c, 76c. 172 
 
 clufive. I debts, &c. J ^ ^ ^^ 
 
 T01714. Do. -, Do. — 10,087,079 
 
 1721. Do. — Do, — 6,283,048 
 
 1728. Do. - Do. — 11,715.455 
 
 1735. 1^0. — Do. — 6,215,310 
 
 J 742. Do. — Do. ~ 9,151,422 
 
 1749. Do. — Do. — 9,910,433 
 
 1756. Do. — Do. — 6,900,477 
 
 1763. Do. — Do. — 17,885,328 
 
 1770. Do. — Do. — 13,139,600 
 
 J 777. Do. — Do. — 14,117,992 
 
 1784. Do. — Do. — 21,210,399 
 
 1791. Do. — Do. — 13,181,326 
 
 1798. Do. — . Do. — 30,440,398 
 
 Sum of mediums — — 176,003,440 
 
 7 
 
 Multiplied by 7 gives total amount of 
 expenditure from 1700 to 1798 in- 
 clufive - _ /. 1,232,024,080 
 
 1799. Amount or expenditure for one year, 
 
 to 5th Jan. 1800 — 54,566,306 
 
 1800. Do. do. eftimated lor tliis year 64,438,427 
 
 Total expenditure for one hundred 
 years ^ — ;^. 1,35 1,028,8 13 
 
 No.
 
 APPENDIX. Sn 
 
 No. II. Section 2. 
 
 The Heads of public Expenditure for 1800 eftimated as follows : 
 
 Intereft of public funded debt, charges 
 of management, and finking fund, 
 
 after deducing intereft payable by £' 
 
 Ireland — — — 19,307,000 
 
 Intereft on ftock created by loans — 962,000 
 
 Do. on Exchequer bills — — 1,021,626 
 
 The civil lift _ — — 898,000 
 
 Other charges on confolidated funds !i39»-97 
 Civil government of Scotland, penfion 
 on hereditary revenue, militia, and 
 
 deferters, warrants, bounties, &c. 64.7,183 
 
 Charges of management of the revenue 1,779,769 
 
 Supplies voted for i8oc». including advance to Ireland, 
 vote of credit for probable contingencies, and inte- 
 reft for Imperial loan _ — — ->- 39'583'55^ 
 
 Total expenditure /■.64, 438,427 
 
 No.
 
 3i8 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 No. III. 
 
 Table exhibiting the official Value of Imports and Exports, 
 and apparent Balance of Trade ; dillingnifhing the official 
 Value of Weft India Imports into Great Britain, for up- 
 wards of one hundred YearF. 
 
 Pcri'^Ai. { Years, j Imports, j Evpnrts. j Balance. 
 
 1 W«ft indja 
 1 Inipoits. 
 
 1 
 
 /;. 
 
 /:. 
 
 /o- 
 
 £• 
 
 r 1697 
 
 3,482,586 
 
 3,525,906 
 
 43,32c 
 
 ) 
 
 : 1608 
 
 4,732,36c 
 
 0,!;22,IO4 
 
 1,789,84^ 
 
 629,533 
 
 Peace { 1699 
 
 5,707',66g 
 
 6,788,166 
 
 1,080,497 
 
 586,255 
 
 j 1 700 
 '- 1701 
 
 5,970>i75 
 
 7,302,716 
 
 i»332,54i 
 
 824,246 
 
 5,869,606 
 
 7,621,053 
 
 1,75^447 
 
 738,601 
 
 f 1702 
 I 1703 
 
 4,159,304 
 
 5,235,874 
 
 [,076,570 
 
 476,168 
 
 4,526,596 
 
 6,644,103 
 
 2,117,507 
 
 626,488 
 
 
 170+ 
 
 5,383,200 
 
 6,552,019 
 
 1,169,819 
 
 489,906 
 
 
 1705 
 
 4,031,649 
 
 S'5or,677 
 
 1,470,028 
 
 706,574 
 
 
 1706 
 
 4,i'3»933 
 
 6,512,086 
 
 2,398,153 
 
 537*744 
 
 War J 1 707 
 
 4,274,055 
 
 6,767,178 
 
 2,493»i23 
 
 604,889 
 
 1708 
 
 4,698,663 
 
 6,969,089 
 
 2,270,426 
 
 592,750 
 
 
 1709 
 
 4,510,593 
 
 6,627,045 
 
 2,116,452 
 
 645,689 
 
 
 1710 
 
 4,0 T 1,341 
 
 6,690,828 
 
 2,679,487 
 
 780,505 
 
 
 1711 
 
 4,685,785 
 
 6,447,170 
 
 1,761,385 
 
 556,198 
 
 L 1712 
 
 4,454,682 
 
 7,468,857 
 
 3,0 H, 1 75 
 
 648,190 
 
 f ^713 
 
 5,811,077 
 
 7*352,655 
 
 i»54i,578 
 
 762,248 
 
 5,929,227 
 
 8,361,638 
 
 2,432,411 
 
 843*390 
 
 Peace ^ 17 15 
 
 5,640,943 
 
 7,379,409 
 
 1,738,466 
 
 999,412 
 
 ■ 17.6 
 L 1717 
 
 5,800,258 
 
 7,614,085 
 
 i,8'3,827 
 
 1,104,188 
 
 6,346,768 
 
 9,'47,7oo 
 
 2,800,932 
 
 1,204,057 
 
 f i7'8 
 
 6,669,390 
 
 8,255,302 
 
 1,585,912 
 
 896,03 r 
 
 War ) ^719 
 
 5,367,499 
 
 7,709,528 
 
 2,342,079 
 
 875*358 
 
 1 1720 
 
 6,090,083 
 
 7.936,728 
 
 1,846,6451 
 
 1,117,576 
 
 L i-ai 
 
 5-768,510 
 
 8,681,200 
 
 2,912,790 
 
 852,529 
 
 r 1722 
 
 1723 
 
 6,^78,098 
 
 9,650,7891 
 
 3,272,691 
 
 1,015,617 
 
 6,535,676 
 
 9,489,811 
 
 2,984,135 
 
 1,087,254 
 
 : 1724 
 
 7,-^^94,405 
 
 9,1 :3,3 56 
 
 1,748,95' 
 
 1,160,568 
 
 I 1725J 7,094, 7o;s| 
 
 11,325.480 
 
 7,094,708 
 
 1*3 59, '85 
 
 Peace ^ 1726 
 
 6,677,865 
 
 9,406,731 
 
 2,728,866 
 
 1,222,511 
 
 1 17^7 
 
 6,798,908 
 
 9,553,043 
 
 2*754,135 
 
 '*039*5i3 
 
 i '72S 
 
 17^9 
 I 1730! 
 
 7,569,299 
 
 .1,631,383 
 
 4,062,084 
 
 1,498,023 
 
 7,540,620 
 
 :^475,77i 
 
 3,935' 15' 
 
 1,515,421 
 
 7,780,019 
 
 'J»974,i35 
 
 4,194,116 
 
 1,571,608
 
 AVPENDIX. 
 
 3^9 
 
 Periods. Years. 
 
 Wc'l luQi« 
 
 Peace J 
 
 War -l 
 
 I 
 
 War 
 
 Peace <( 
 
 1/3^ 
 
 1/33 
 1734 
 
 173"; 
 1736 
 
 1737 
 173^ 
 U39 
 1740 
 1741 
 1743 
 1743 
 1744 
 
 1745 
 1746 
 
 1747 
 1748 
 
 1749 
 1750 
 1751 
 
 6,991,500 
 7,087,914 
 8,010,814 
 7,095,861 
 8,100,184 
 7,307,966 
 7,073,638 
 7,438,900 
 
 /. 
 
 11,167,380 
 11,786,6^8 
 11,777,306 
 11,000,645 
 
 i3>S44,i44 
 1 1,616.356 
 11,842,^20 
 
 ,... ., I2,289,4..)5 
 
 7,^29,373 9,49 S'S*^^ 
 ^> 703' 7 78] 8,869,939 
 7,936,084,11,469,8721 
 6,066,864 11,584,427! 
 7,802,353 14,623,653! 
 6,362,9/ 1 1 1,429,628 ' 
 7,847,123 10,497,329' 
 6,205,687111,360,792! 
 7'ii6'757|ii>442,o49i 
 8,136,408112,351,432! 
 7,917,804 14,099,366' 
 7,772,039 15,132,004 
 7'943'436. 13,967,81 1 
 ,. 7>8i^9»369 135221,116 
 753l 8,625,029 14.264,614 
 
 1754 
 
 i75i; 
 
 r 1756 
 1757 
 1758 
 
 '759 
 1760 
 1761 
 1762 
 
 176 
 
 ^,093,472 i3>396,853 
 
 Peace 
 
 9,238,276 12,717,8:12 
 8,442,027 1 3,1 43,689 
 9,873,153 14,266,861 
 9,074,190 15,866,251 
 9,528,864 15,637,696 
 10,683,595 16,665,278 
 10,292,541 17,531,671; 
 9,579,160 15,^2,258 
 12,568,927117,251,617 
 1 764J1 1,2 i;o,66o! 17,7 56,331 
 1765111,812,144 15,721,374 
 1 7601 12,456,7641 1 5, 1 88,668 
 1 7^7 '3>097» ' 53 i J 5,090,00 1 
 1768 13,115,309,16,620,132 
 
 ^' i 
 
 4^175,880 
 
 4/^9^^.744, 
 3,760,492' 
 3,904,784, 
 5,383,960, 
 4,308,390; 
 4,768,682! 
 
 4,85^,535; 
 1,665,9^3; 
 
 2,l00,l6l I 
 
 3»533'788| 
 
 4.7 '7' 563, 
 6,821,300 
 5,066,657; 
 2,650,2^6^ 
 
 5,325,29^! 
 4,215,0241 
 6,181,562' 
 
 7.359'965' 
 6,024,375 
 
 v33'.747 
 5'639.58s 
 S'3'33'38i 
 
 3.479>5';6 
 4,701,6'. 2 
 
 4,393 
 
 1769 
 1770 
 1771 
 1772 
 1773 
 
 Jlli 
 
 13, 1 34,090! 14,40 1,289 
 
 13,430,298 
 14,218,324 
 
 iS'994»57' 
 19,018,480 
 
 14,508,7 iq 17,720,168 
 12,522,643116,375,430 
 '4,549-9'4!t7'2'r8,486 
 
 6,792, 61 
 
 6,lo8,8:;2 
 5,981,683 
 
 7'239.»34 
 5' 5 53,098 
 4,682,690 
 6,505,671! 
 3,909,230! 
 2,731,004 
 1,992. S.4S 
 3,t;o4,823| 
 1,267,1991 
 
 5,994,571 
 4.800,156 
 
 i 3'2ii,4 53 
 I 3,852,787 
 I 2,738,57*1 
 
 I' 
 1,310,580 
 
 1,3 '5,458 
 1,018,013 
 1,141,063 
 1,460,609 
 
 1,423,039 
 946,423 
 
 1,475,910 
 1,506,838 
 1,185,107 
 1,402,986 
 1,309,886 
 1,404,610 
 1, 150,952 
 1,024,097 
 1,148,124 
 941,116 
 1,615,122 
 1,478,075 
 1,5 '4,45^ 
 i»44i-,775 
 1,42;-., 824 
 1,838,137 
 1,462,601 
 1,867,256 
 1,687,1,7 
 1,906,147 
 1,858.425 
 j,8:(3,646 
 1,86 1,608 
 1,953,622 
 1,762,406 
 2,254,231 
 2,391,552 
 2,196,549 
 2,704,114 
 2,690,673 
 2,042,717 
 2,6^6.714 
 
 2,1 1^,026 
 2,979,178 
 3,530,082 
 2, '.102,407 
 
 3' 574,702
 
 2.ZO 
 
 
 AP 
 
 P END IX. 
 
 
 
 Periods. 
 
 Ye<irE. Imports. Exports. 
 
 B-nce. --^ 
 
 
 
 £' 
 
 ^■• 
 
 £' 1 £■ 
 
 , 
 
 - ^775 
 
 14,815,855 
 
 46,326,363 
 
 1,510,508! 3,688,795 
 
 
 1776 
 
 12,443,429 
 
 i4,75S»698 
 
 2,312,269 
 
 3,340,949 
 
 
 '7^Z 
 
 12,643,833 
 
 13,491,006 
 
 847,173 
 
 2,840,80a 
 
 
 I77S 
 
 ^o,97S>533|i2,253'^90 
 
 1,^78,357 
 
 3,059,922 
 
 War ^ 
 
 1779 
 
 11,435,264 
 
 i3'530»7o* 
 
 2,095,4381 2,836,489 
 
 
 1780 
 
 11,664,967 
 
 i3'554,093 
 
 1,889,126 
 
 2,612,236 
 
 
 I7Br 
 
 12,722,862 
 
 i^332»29S* 
 
 — 
 
 2,023,546 
 
 
 1782 
 
 10,341,628 
 
 i3^°°9545^ 
 
 2,-657,830 
 
 2,612,910 
 
 1 
 
 . 1783 
 
 13,122,235 
 
 i 4,68 1,494 
 
 1,559,259 
 
 3,820,387 
 
 1 
 
 ^ 1784 
 
 15,272,672 
 
 i5,io*,276* 
 
 
 3,531,705 
 
 ' 
 
 1785 
 
 16,279,418 
 
 16,770,228 
 
 490,810 
 
 4,400,956 
 
 
 1786 
 
 15,786,072 
 
 16,300,725 
 
 514,653 
 
 3,484,025 
 
 1787 
 
 17,804,024 
 
 18,296,166 
 
 492,142 
 
 3,758,087 
 
 r»:ace « 
 
 1788 
 
 18,027,170 
 
 18,124,082 
 
 96,912' 4307,666 
 
 
 1789 
 
 17,821,202 
 
 20,014,298 
 
 2,193,^96; 3,9i7»30i 
 
 
 1790 
 
 19,130,596 
 
 20,120,120 
 
 989,524! 3,854.204 
 
 
 I79I 
 
 19,600,000 
 
 22,731,994 
 
 3,13^,994' 3'^5i»6ii 
 
 
 . 1792 
 
 19,128,585 
 
 24,905,200 
 
 5,776,6:5: 4<' 28,047 
 
 
 " 1793 
 1794 
 
 19,2 56,000 
 
 20,3v0,O0O 
 
 1,134,000 
 
 4'339,t>i3 
 
 
 22,280,000 
 
 26,734,000 
 
 4,446,000 
 
 5,^94,742 
 
 ] 
 
 1795 
 
 22,7 <c,ooo 
 
 27,312,000 
 
 4,576,000 
 
 4,645,97* 
 
 War < 
 1 
 
 179b 
 
 23,187,000 
 
 30,518,000 
 
 7,331,000 
 
 4,541,2^7 
 
 17^7 
 
 21,013,000 
 
 28,917,000 
 
 7,904,000 
 
 5,i73>o09 
 
 1 
 
 1798 27,275,760 
 
 33,591,777 
 
 6,316,017 
 
 6,390,658 
 
 
 179, 26,837,432 
 
 35,99^39^ 
 
 9,153,960 
 
 \ Not al- 
 Jcertained- 
 
 
 i8co 29,945,808 
 
 35,990,000 
 
 6,044,192 
 
 * In the year 178 1, the imports exceeded the exports by 1,390,567/, 
 and in the yean-; 84, by 171,396/, TheCeare the only inftancesofbalance 
 :!rain(l Great Britain during the century. At the former period, in 
 ♦ he American war, a great part of the capital of our merchants was 
 fiidf'ienly withdrawn from trade, owing to the great fpeculations and 
 misi'ortunes of fome remarkable individuals, which tended, for a time, 
 *o dertrov mutual confidence. 
 
 No.
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 32^ 
 
 No. IV. Section i. 
 
 A Lift of the Supplies and Ways and Means for the eighteenth 
 Century. 
 
 Periods. 
 
 ! Years. 
 
 Annual 
 Supplies. 
 
 j Annual 
 
 1 Ways and Means. 
 
 Peace 
 
 1 
 r 1700 
 
 2,886,536 
 
 2,620,000 
 
 
 1 1701 
 
 4,380,045 
 
 6,91^,628 
 
 
 - 1702 
 
 3»S35'457 
 
 3,887,630 
 
 
 1703 
 
 4.oo5'369 
 
 4,200,000 
 
 
 170+ 
 
 4,717,488 
 
 4,914,888 
 
 
 1705 
 
 5,075,761 
 
 5,282,232 
 
 
 ; 1706 
 
 5>94',84i 
 
 6,142,381 
 
 Wai- -] 1707 
 
 5,926,849 
 
 6,189,067 
 
 
 1708 
 
 6,563,138 
 
 6,868,839 
 
 
 J 709 
 
 ■ 6,425,268 
 
 6,896,552 
 
 
 1710 
 
 i4»37o,744 
 
 16,246,325 
 
 
 1 1711 
 L 171a 
 
 6,671,386 
 
 6,304,615 
 
 
 3,520,072 
 
 3,400,000 
 
 
 r ^7^3 
 
 3,062,079 
 
 3,100,000 
 
 Peace, the 1 1 th 
 April 1 7 13 
 
 I7I4 
 
 17. <; 
 
 3,282,223 1 
 2,053,363 J 
 
 7,3i7'75' 
 
 1716 
 L 1717 
 
 3,697,767 
 
 3»2ii,3i3 
 
 
 2,644,437 
 
 2,229,514 
 
 
 r 1718 
 
 2,989,109 
 
 2,735^509 
 
 War with Spain •< 
 
 1719 
 
 2,623,537 
 
 2,742,000 
 
 
 L 1720 
 
 2,738,156 
 
 2,920,264 
 
 
 r 1721 
 
 2,923,108 
 
 2,719,412 
 
 
 TJ2Z 
 
 1, 935'° 54 
 
 1,837,799 
 
 
 17*3 
 
 1,863,888 
 
 1,730,744 
 
 
 1724 1 
 
 1,82-^,229 
 
 1,782,212 
 
 
 1725 
 
 2,978,954 
 
 3,282,328 
 
 
 1726 
 
 2,895,305 
 
 3'i75'287 
 
 Peace, June 1721 ■< 
 
 1727 
 
 5,392,966 
 
 5'544,594 
 
 1728 
 
 3,224,697 
 
 3,540,478 
 
 
 1729 
 
 3,345»T90 
 
 3,530,766 
 
 
 1730 
 
 2,752,833 
 
 3,826,825 
 
 
 1731 
 
 2,784,705 
 
 2,883,180 
 
 
 »73^ 
 
 3,004,936 
 
 2,8£7-943 
 
 
 ^ 1733 
 
 3,870,230 
 
 3,989,689 
 
 T T
 
 322 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 
 
 Annual 
 
 Annual 
 
 Periods 
 
 Years. 
 
 Supplies. 
 
 Ways and IVTean^. ' 
 
 1 
 
 
 ^• 
 
 £ 
 
 
 ■ 1734 
 
 3'i5o>452 
 
 3,269,000 
 
 1735 
 
 3»2^S>903 
 
 3,380,565 
 
 Peace J 
 
 '736 
 
 3,025,172 
 
 3,26v,ooo 
 
 { 
 
 1737 
 
 3,444*246 
 
 3,769,000 
 
 ^ 1738 1 
 
 2,633,328 
 
 2,908,506 
 
 f 
 
 1739 
 
 3»874,o76 
 
 4,097,831 
 
 1 
 
 1740 
 
 5,017.651 
 
 5,039,102 
 
 ^Var with'^^pain, 19 
 Oflobtr 1739, 
 an*l with France * 
 15 March 1744 
 
 1741 
 1742 
 1743 
 1744 
 1745 
 
 5:723'537 
 5,912,483 
 
 6,-^-B3,537 
 
 6,462, e;02 
 7,088,353 
 
 6,188,065 
 6,119,157 
 6,624,065 
 6,609,310 
 7'303'C65 
 
 J 
 
 1746 
 
 9,402.978 
 
 9,400,574 
 
 - 1747 
 
 10.059,104 
 
 10,088,065 
 
 1 
 
 " 1748 
 
 8,1-82,409 
 
 8,018,007 
 
 
 1749 
 
 4,014,136 
 
 4,3i3.;30 
 
 1750 
 
 4,969,635 
 
 5.17S.023 
 
 Peace, 7th Oftober 
 
 I75r 
 
 3'907'435 
 
 4.'78.4';9 
 
 1748 
 
 1752 
 
 2,132.7-7 
 
 2,422,911 
 
 
 •753 
 
 2,797,916 
 
 3.°77'897 
 
 
 1754 
 ^ 175? 
 
 4.0/3' -79 
 
 4,256,909 
 
 
 7,229,1.7 
 
 7,4-7'26i 
 
 ' 
 
 r 1756 
 »757 
 
 8,35^-325 
 
 8,689,051 
 
 
 10,486.447 
 
 11,079,722 
 
 17^8 
 
 i2,749;S6o 
 
 12,991,240 
 
 War 
 
 1759 
 
 15,^03,564 
 
 16,130,561 
 
 
 1760 
 
 1761 
 
 - 1762 
 
 19,616,119 
 
 19,953,922 
 
 
 18,299,153 
 
 18,655,750 
 
 
 13,522,(^40 
 
 14,199.375 
 
 
 r 1763 
 
 13,522,039 
 
 U. 1 99.3 73 
 
 
 1764 
 
 7,712,562 
 
 7,759.574 
 
 
 1765 
 
 7,763,090 
 
 7,78:5,068 
 
 
 1766 
 
 8,273,280 
 
 8,558,824 
 
 
 1767 
 
 8,?27'7^8 
 
 8, 7 53.2 c 6 
 
 Peace, 10 February 
 
 1768 
 
 8,3^5,746 
 
 8,754,626 
 
 1763 
 
 1769 
 
 6,909,003 
 
 7,208,312 
 
 
 1770 
 
 7'455'04!i 
 
 7.794,224 
 
 
 1771 
 
 7.158,779 
 
 7,639,782 
 
 
 1772 
 
 7,186,253 
 
 7.722,593 
 
 i 
 
 ^773 
 
 6,980,216 
 
 7.539,360 
 
 I ^774 
 
 6,1 ^9,661 
 
 6,546,108
 
 APPENDIX, 
 
 3*3 
 
 
 
 — 
 
 1 
 
 Annual 
 
 1 Annual 
 
 Peiiods. 
 
 
 Yrars. 
 
 Su|ip!ios. 
 
 j Ways and Means. 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 r 1775 
 
 6,559,24.6 
 
 6,559,^46 
 
 
 
 1776 
 
 9^097.577 
 
 9.' 54.230 
 
 
 
 1777 
 
 1^,89:1,543 
 
 12,952,534 
 
 War 
 
 ^ 
 
 1778 
 
 i4,345'497 
 
 14.378.567 
 
 
 . 1/7') 
 
 15.729.^54 
 
 i5.r^9»9'5 
 
 
 
 - 
 
 CO CO 
 
 51,196,496 
 
 21,382,249 
 
 
 
 25,373' S24 
 
 25o53>857 
 
 
 
 L '782 
 
 24,261,477 
 
 24,244,373 
 
 
 
 r 1783 
 
 1 9.} 88, 803 
 
 20,009,236 
 
 
 
 ,734 
 
 11,988,174 
 
 12,957,520 
 
 
 
 1785 
 
 9,73^>868 
 
 16,436,668 
 
 
 
 1786 
 
 13,420,962 
 
 13,900,9 ,2 
 
 Peace in 1783 
 
 < 
 
 1787 
 1788 
 
 i2,4'4.570 
 1 1,860, 263 
 
 12,9^,855 
 Il,88^6oo 
 
 
 
 1789 
 
 11,2.^3,^36 
 
 11,639,831 
 
 
 
 17Q0 
 
 1 1,931,201 
 
 12,496.088 
 
 
 
 1791 
 
 14,064,656 
 
 14,881,674 
 
 
 
 L 1792 
 
 11,138,813 
 
 ii,503>99? 
 
 
 
 r 1793 
 1794 
 1795 
 
 16,6^8,553 
 
 16,157,456 
 
 
 
 20,228,1 19 
 
 20,419,508 
 
 
 « 
 
 29,307,265 
 
 29.9°3>54i 
 
 War 
 
 1796 
 
 37,588,502 
 
 38,030,000 
 
 
 1797 
 
 44,781,262 
 
 41,816,250 
 
 
 
 1798 
 
 35,028,7(18 
 
 33,980,672 
 
 
 
 1799 
 
 44,782,923 
 
 42>738,577 
 
 
 
 1800 
 
 39,500,000 
 
 ^(),i;-o. -^0 
 
 No,
 
 3^4 APPENDIX. 
 
 No. IV. Section 2. 
 
 Heads under which the Supplies, and Ways and Means ot 
 
 • 1799, were clalFed. 
 
 SUPPLIES. 
 
 Navy — — — — — /.13, 654,015 
 
 Army — — _ _ 7'^77.3^9 
 
 Militia and fencible corps — — , — 4,532,435 
 
 Ordnance — — — — 1,570,827 
 
 Mifcellaneous fervices — — — • 6,105,310 
 
 Redudlion of national debt — — — 200,000 
 
 Exchequer bills — — — 8,443,017 
 
 Vote of credit — — — 3,000,000 
 
 Total amount for J 799 — ^^.44, 782,922. 
 
 WAYS AND MEANS for 1 799. 
 
 Annual grants of certain duties on fiigar, malt, 
 
 tobacco, &c. — — — /.2, 7 50,000 
 
 Extraordinary aids by loans — — 18,500,000 
 
 Exchequer bills — — — — 1 7,000,000 
 
 Surplus of confolidatcd fund — ■ — 521,891 
 
 Lottery -— ~ . ~ — 703»54-' 
 
 Further application out of the monies of the farplus of 
 
 confolidatcd fund — — — 3,229,000 
 
 Remaining in the hands of the Paymafter General of 
 
 the Forces — ■ — — — 34>i45 
 
 ^.42,738,577 
 
 SUPPLfES FOR 1800, VIZ. 
 
 Navy — — — — ^.13,619,079 
 
 Army — — ____ 11,350,079 
 
 Ordnance — — • — — 1,695,958 
 
 Mifcellaneous fervices — — — 750,000 
 
 Intereft due to the Bank — — — 816,650 
 
 Deficiency of Ways and Means — — 447,039 
 
 To pay off Exchequer bills > — " — 2,906,250 
 
 Ditto aids and contributions 
 
 1,079,730 
 
 Ditto — fupply — — — — 1,914,000 
 
 Reduction of national debt — — 200,000 
 
 Subfidies — — ■ — — 3,000,000 
 
 For unforefeen fervicers — — • — 
 
 37,778,785 
 1,771,215 
 
 Total ^^.39,500,000
 
 APPENDIX. 325 
 
 No. V. Section i. 
 
 General View of the Public Debts, funded and unfunded, at 
 
 particular Periods, during the eighteenth Century. 
 
 Years. Amount. An. Intereft, 
 
 1700. At the commencement of the eigh- &;c. &c. 
 
 teenth century the funded and £. £. 
 
 unfunded debts amounted to . 16,394,700 1,109,12^ 
 
 1714, Do 55,681,076 2,811,904. 
 
 1722, Do. Do 55,282,987 
 
 1728, Do. Do 51,008,431 2,137,78* 
 
 1739, Do. Do 46,954.623 1,964,025 
 
 In feventeen years of profound 
 
 peace, no more than 8,328,354/. 
 
 of the capital was paid otf. 
 1748. At this period, the national debt, 
 
 after nine years war, amounted 
 
 t" 78,293,303 3,061,004 
 
 i755.Befoiethebreakingoutof anew war 74,571,840 2,416,719 
 N.B. In feven years peace there 
 
 was only paid oft' about four 
 
 milhons. 
 1763, Jan. At this period, after feven 
 
 years war, the national debt 
 
 amounted to 139,561,806 4,840,821 
 
 1770, Jan. After feven years peace . . 133,506,500 
 Hence fix milhons had been paid 
 
 otf. 
 1775, J^"' I" thefe four years about four 
 
 millions more was paid off. — 
 
 Ttie debt now rem.'iining . , 129,146,322 
 1783, Jan. After the American war of 
 
 feven years, the debts amounted 
 
 to 262,318,198 
 
 Confequently more than doubled 
 
 the former debt. 
 1786, Jan. From an authentic lift laid be- 
 fore Parliament, amount of debt 266.725,097 
 1793, Jan. By the Report of the Seleft 
 
 Committee on Finances, the 
 
 debts amounted to . . . 247,156,670 10,332,435 
 In about feven years, there ap- 
 pears to have been paid upwards 
 
 of nineteen milhons and a half. 
 iSoo, Jan. Amount of debt, including 
 
 upwards of twelve millions un- 
 
 fuiHlcd 463,^78,034. 10,186.507 
 
 N. B.
 
 326 
 
 APPENDIX* 
 
 N. B. By deducing i :;,3 15,000/. charged on accoimt of Ireland, 
 and 56 ooojOOo/. piovtded for by the im-ome-tax, there wU remain^ 
 of permanent debt, charged on Great Britain, 379, i;'2 5.746/. 
 
 By the operation of the finking funds, from 1 786 u> the opening 
 of the budget (i8th Feb. 1801), no lefs than Hfty two millions of 
 capita! has been redeemed, independent of abo.;t eighteen millions 
 of capital, redeemed by the land tax. 
 
 The fum annually applica!)!e to the redudion of the national 
 debt by the finking fund, is now eflim :ted to be nv millions, bein* 
 under an eightieth part of the permanent debt extfting. 
 
 No.
 
 No. V. SECTION 2. 
 
 Return to an Order of the Houfe of Commons of the Funded 
 
 Debt;, at the Periods under nHntioued. 
 
 Beginning ot the 
 
 Funded Debt. 
 
 Beginning of the 
 
 Funded Debt. 
 
 Years. 
 
 
 \ ears. 
 
 
 
 £■ 
 
 
 f.' 
 
 1730 
 
 47,7o5>'22 
 
 1791 
 
 238,231,248 
 
 1740 
 
 44,072,024 
 
 1792 
 
 238,231,248 
 
 1750 
 
 72,178,898 
 
 1793 
 
 238,231,248 
 
 1760 
 
 88,341,26s 
 
 179-1- 
 
 244,481,248 
 
 1765 
 
 127, 58;, 821 
 
 1795- 
 
 2&3.'57.773 
 
 1770 
 
 126,963,267 
 
 1796 
 
 285,767,670 
 
 1775 
 
 122,963,267 
 
 1797 
 
 327,671,869 
 
 T780 
 
 142,113,266 
 
 1798 
 
 394)159)046 
 
 17S5 
 
 226,260,80;; 
 
 1799 
 
 424,159,046 
 
 1790 
 
 238,231,240 
 
 1800 
 
 45 1,699.9 1 9« 
 
 N. B. The books of the Exchequer not being found to contain 
 accounts of the public debt for 1700, 1710, and 1720; the above 
 were therefore the bed returns that could be made to the order of 
 the Houfe of Commons. 
 
 * Heads of the Public Funded Debt, as the fame flood on the ift 
 February 1800. 
 
 1 1,686,800 
 
 24,065,084 
 
 1,919.600 
 
 - 250,484,27a 
 09,023,876 
 45,2(0,860 
 
 - 28,125,583 
 1,000.100 
 
 20,124,844 
 
 Bank of Fngland 3 per cent, annuities 
 Old and new .-outh Sea annuities 
 3 per cent, annuitites, anno 1751 
 3 per cent, confolidatod annuities 
 
 3 percent, reduced annuities 
 
 4 ptr cent. do. do. 
 
 5 per cent. do. do. 
 
 3 per cent, annuities, anno 1726 
 5 per cent, annuities 
 
 Total ;^.4 5 ,699,919 
 
 N.B. The real value of the above nominal capital would not amount 
 to more than 280 millions, in eftimatino the 3 per cent, confols at 
 60, the prefcnt market price (July l8oi),and the other funds in 
 proportion.
 
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 t) rt
 
 APPENDIX. 329 
 
 No. VII. 
 Letter from a Member of Parliament, r.-ferud to in 
 Ko.'es, Tages 116, 142, and l^^. 
 Dear Sir, Bromfm, loih M.r^h 1801. 
 
 I WAS fo much Interefted, and fo pU-afed «-.ih your 
 
 pamphlet, ,hat I fenl it immediately to Mr. *■ I« 
 
 comains. without compliment, the beft h.ftoty, and ,n he 
 narrowed fpace. of our receipts and expendttures for the 1ft 
 century ; and the refult is as encouraging as our prefettt poli- 
 tical cLation is embarraffing. It ^vm do a great deal of 
 Eood.andlhouldbetrannated into French. 
 
 Finance, in a different point of view, from .he .^ore 
 praaical one in which youhjve brought i. forward, has been 
 lone the obiea of my refleaion. 
 
 lUs curious to olferve how the relations of commerce 
 finance, and public credit, confoUdate the growing ttes of 
 r^l-ra'tion. a'd that in proportion as the -re local t,es of 
 opinion and feparate interefts in countries of d.ffer nt «h- 
 gfons. are weakened by the imerm.xture of nations. The 
 predominance of the pureft and the moft humane of all reli- 
 gions, and the intermingled rights of a common property, may 
 Lw be faid to have united with Europe "- "«""; ^ 
 «eaern nations of the earth, and to have fonned the beft bund 
 for the prefervation of order among mankind. 
 
 We exift, in the crifis of the diilblu.ion of the old, and of 
 ,he eftablilhment of this grand cement of civiliwfon. 
 
 What you fay of the lncm..la. is as juft as it is plea fing to 
 
 „e • for here you have hit the key-ftone of p.M.c credit and 
 
 ":i;ifa:ion. If the aaual proprieiois would p.y tne.r.uft 
 
 tribute for the pto.eaion of their ?r.^./;- in f ,-.^«V,., to its 
 
 • A Gentleman high in ofSce. 
 
 V u • "'"/''
 
 33^ APPENDIX. 
 
 ma/s, they would be fafe : revolution, diverted of its fpollated' 
 finance, would ccafe, or prove only a gradual legal revolu- 
 tion, moving with the progrefs of things, and without its 
 bloody convulfions. 
 
 When you print a new edition of your very interefting 
 work, it would not be amifs to combine, with your pradical 
 ideas, fpeculative views of finance. I wi(h you to confider, 
 whether, on the return of peace, ilTues of cafh at the Bank 
 might not be re-eftablifhed under the fupport of a proper 
 aflbciation, formed by the great proprietors and Bankers, to 
 fupport the Bank paper, together with a regulation on the 
 part of the Bank, to publifh the names of thofe who might, 
 on a fyftem of hoftihty or melting, make extraordinary drains 
 of cafh at any particular times. 
 
 The force and fuperiority of the Britifh empire and con- 
 ftitution confift no lefs in the freedom which they fecurc to 
 the fubjea, than in the fecurity which the fyftem of afTocia- 
 tions and infurance gives to property. The nation is in fad 
 one great company of infurance, in which the whole fecures 
 the parts or individuals, and the individuals are the fecurity of 
 the whole. The mafs of our public debts ferves as a capital 
 for our trade, and the fhare in it, which is due to other na- 
 tions, and which is double to what is generally fuppofed, is no 
 bad fecurity for their eventual good behaviour. I wifti to fa- 
 vour the increafe of wages to the induftrious labourer, and to 
 open to him the door to become a proprietor in the common 
 ftock of debt and of property. Nothing is more ideal than 
 the alarms that fom'e people feel from the decline of our ma- 
 nufadures, if the prices of labour increafe much in this 
 country beyond what they are in other nations. Capital, 
 in being able to give long credit, is our fuperiority. 
 In fad, we have over-traded in fome articles of ma- 
 nufadure, fo as to forget that bread is the article the 
 mofl valuable, becaufe the moft indifpenfable of all manu- 
 4 fadures.
 
 APPENDIX. 331 
 
 failures. This error will find its own remedy. And you 
 will pleafe to obferve, in your comparative eftimates of our 
 wealth, that our folid wealth depends not op the multiplica- 
 tion of money, or increafe of commerce and luxury, but on 
 the facility with which the mafs of the people can be happy, 
 from the returns of their induftry. 
 
 The length of this letter will (how you how heartily I have 
 embraced the fubjedl of your very ufeful pamphlet. 
 I am, dear Sir, 
 
 Very faithfully yours, &c. 
 
 To John M' Arthur, Efq. 
 Tork Place, Pertman Square. 
 
 u a 
 
 No-.
 
 33^ APPENDIX. 
 
 No. VIII. Section t. 
 
 Official Report of the Imports and Exports of France, for 
 the 8th Year of the Republic ; made by the Minifter of the 
 Interior, to the French Confuls, May i8oi. 
 
 IMPORTS. # 
 e urn. Livres. 
 
 1. SubhRence, commodities of foreign plantaiions, "I 
 
 hquors of all forts . . . |ii4,i90»^oo 
 
 «2 f Brandy, cheefe, olive oil, 1 , 
 ^ fifh, &c. . . / ii>639,0oo 
 
 .o <! Coifee . . . 36,671,000 
 
 ^ Sugar . ... 46,856,000 
 
 ^ V. Spices, &c. . . 9,259,000 ^ 
 
 2. Metals in copper, iron, tin, lead, &c. , . c,6gi,aoo 
 
 3. Raw materials for the manufaftures . . .ii^CQicoa 
 
 fCotton . . . 35,172,000 1 '^'^^ '^ 
 
 „. Wool . . . 14,813,000 
 
 ^ I Potafties . . . 11,476,000 
 
 g <^ Oil ^ . , , 13,121,000 
 
 '■£ Indigo . . . 13,235 000 
 
 e2 I Cochineal . . . 9,462,000 , 
 
 tTobacco . . . 11,657,000 J 
 
 Horfes for hufbandry 788,600 
 
 4. Foreign manufaaures, fuch as ribands, linen, 1 
 
 calico, ftraw hats, haberdaftiery, (kins, furs, I 39,255,500 
 earthenware, foap, &c. . . . J ^ ^J ^ 
 
 ^ rCahcos . . , 24,000,000 1 
 
 .a j^ I Ribands . . 2,728,000 I 
 
 ■g -5 I Haberdafliery, Ikins, furs, \ o I 
 
 ^ L earthenware, loap, &c. J ^^4^3'OOo J 
 
 5. Silver and gold regiftered, chiefly in dollars from loo 
 
 Spain / 28,487,700 
 
 6. Sundries 3,098,800 
 
 Total imports . . 325,116,400 
 
 Ditto in fterling, reckoning the livre 24 to 
 
 the pound llerling . . . /•. 13,546,516 
 
 Imports from the French Colonies in the Eaft 
 
 and Weft Indies. 
 Produce of the colonies in coffee, fpice«, 
 India cloths, gums . . Livres 1,483,800 
 
 Inflerling /• 61,825 
 
 EXPORTS.
 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 333 
 
 
 EXTORT! 
 
 
 Livres. 
 
 I. 
 
 Sabliftence and liquors of all forts 
 
 , , 
 
 87,562,000 
 
 
 X^attle 
 
 13,654,000' 
 
 
 
 ^ Brandy 
 j Wines, different iorts 
 
 16,669,000 
 21,339,000 
 
 
 
 1 ■{ Bourdeaux wines 
 
 11,488,000 >■ 
 
 
 
 •£ 1 Salt 
 
 5,386,000 
 
 
 
 f£ ! Corn an'' flour 
 
 5,527000 
 
 
 
 I^Cheele And dried fruits 
 
 3,875 oooj 
 
 
 2 
 
 Metals in copper, iron, &c. 
 
 
 4,530,800 
 
 3' 
 
 Raw ma'erials for manufactures 
 
 . 
 
 33.694.500 
 
 
 ^Couonthreid 
 
 2,263,ooc^ 
 
 
 
 5 ^ j Dreffe J leather 
 
 7,552,000 1 
 
 
 
 u jS Coc.r..ical 
 
 5,604,000 1 
 
 
 
 (2 iTobi.co 
 
 4 963,000 J 
 
 
 
 Afles r.nJ .i.ules 
 
 . 
 
 2,244,000 
 
 French mani-fatlures, fuch as bonnets, drapery, 
 wooi'en lluffs, lilks, hats, linen, canvafs, jew- 
 cile;y,hnberdaftiery, furniture^ earthenware,&c. 140,854,200 
 
 i^ 
 
 Iks 
 
 oollen ftufFs 
 
 •5 1 Cotton fluffs 
 .^ J Li.ien and canvafs . 
 !« HaberdrP.cry, jewellery, 
 (_ china, glafs, &c. 
 5. Silver and gold 
 Sundiles 
 
 Total exports 
 
 41,222,000^1 
 23,146,000 I 
 12,335 coo '). 
 
 34,866,coo • 
 > 22,000,000 } 
 
 490,500 
 2,199,100 
 
 Livres 271,575,600 
 
 Ditto in ftcrling, reckoning the livre at 24 to 
 
 the pound fVerling . . /"• 1 1,307,316 
 
 Exports to the French Colonies in the Eaft 
 
 and Weft Indies. 
 SubtiftencCj metals, and other objedts for Livres 282,300 
 
 In fterling 
 
 £• 1 1,76* 
 
 No,
 
 334 APPENDIX. 
 
 No. VIII, Section 2. 
 
 Divifion of the French Imports and Exports, with the prin- 
 cipal Powers of Europe, for the 8th Year of the Republic. 
 
 IMPORTS. 
 
 Livres. Livres. 
 
 _>s"C . rFrom Spain . . 64,446,500- 
 
 -g^ e I Batavian Republic. . 80,788.300 l.gS.Soc.ooo 
 
 "" "* I I Ligurian ditto . . 26 f^^t 600 r > 3- 
 
 1 'O 
 
 i*t £ Pi ^Helvetic ditto 
 
 .^ -^ - »95<^ 
 
 , , ^ r Levant, Sardinia, Portugal, Naples and->v 
 ^p2 . J Sicily, Tufcany, Rome, States belong- I 
 ^ c B 1 ingtothe Emperor in Germany and Italy, C 
 '^ " L partof the empire of Germany and Ruffia J 
 
 84»783'3oo 
 51^528,106 
 
 Total Livres 325.11 6,400 
 
 Total fterling . . /• 13,546,516 
 
 EXPORTS. 
 
 Livres. Livres. 
 
 >,-« . /-To Spain . . 62,441,400^ 
 
 ^S S J Batavian Republic . 37>75i'6oo I ^ g^^ 
 
 •i-SllLigurianditto. . ^3. 
 
 p^ g (^ ^Helvetic ditto . . 3^^ 
 
 33,527,400 
 
 — . r To the Northern States, viz.^j ■^ 
 
 S E J Denmark, Sweden, Truf- > 32,969,700 I 
 
 %%\ fia, Hanfe-tovvns J ( 
 
 5^P^ [^United States of America 557,700.; 
 
 , ^ /-Levant, Sardinia, Portugal, Naples and Si- ~\ 
 
 ^^ » J cily, Tufcany, Rome, States belonging I ^(,r,.,,^o 
 
 S « SS to the Emperor in Germany and Italy, | ' ' ^^ "^ 
 
 W S I. part of the empire of Germany and Ruffia J 
 
 Total exports . Livres 271,575,600 
 
 Totalfterling . £- ii,307»3i6 
 
 No.
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 33S 
 
 No. VIII. Section 3. 
 
 General Navigation of France, and Tonnage of Merchant 
 VefTels. 
 
 Nature of the Navigation. 
 
 ^ . f French 
 
 .Foreign commerce {p^^^jg^ 
 
 Total foreign commerce . 
 
 . Coafting trade {ll^^^^^ 
 
 Total coafting trade 
 
 Entered Inwards. 
 
 No. of 
 Veflicls. 
 
 2.975 
 4,606 
 
 Ponnage. 
 
 98,304 
 74,833 
 
 7.58' 273.137 
 
 25,o84'698,486 
 2261 25,208 
 
 2 ;,3 101723,6941 
 
 Cleared Outwards. 
 
 No. of 
 Veffcls. 
 
 3.358 
 $.^7 8 
 
 8,636 
 
 25,189 
 323 
 
 25,512 
 
 Tonnage, 
 
 04,687 
 208,280 
 
 312,967 
 
 644.109 
 
 22,545 
 
 666,654 
 
 No.
 
 ^6 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 No. IX. Section i, 
 
 A Table exhibiting the Commerce of the Port of London, 
 as made up from the Public Accounts, for one Year, ending 
 the 5th January 1798, with the real "Value of Foreign Im- 
 ports and Exports, eltimated f- -m the Payment of the Con- 
 voy Duties. 
 
 General 
 Heads. 
 
 Countries. 
 
 Bri^mOg^^ft Indies 
 Settle- 
 ments, 
 
 Colo- 
 nies, 
 and 
 Elia- 
 bliOi- 
 ments. ^ 
 
 Allied 
 Pow- 
 ers. 
 
 Neu- 
 tral 
 
 Pow- 
 ers. 
 
 BelHge- 
 rent 
 Pow- 
 ers. 
 
 Weft Indies . 
 
 Britifli continental 
 . colorjcs 
 'Africa, and Cape of 
 Good Hope 
 
 Sonthern filheiy . 
 
 Greenland filhery 
 
 ■Ruflia . . 
 
 Germany 
 
 Portugal 
 
 Turkey and Medi- 
 terranean . 
 ■Prnffia 
 
 Poland 
 
 Sweden 
 
 Denmark and Nor- 
 
 of 
 
 Coaft- 
 Trade, 
 
 way 
 
 United States 
 America . 
 "France and Flan- 
 ders, 
 
 Holland . . 
 
 Spain 
 ^Foreign coafting, 
 including Guern- 
 sey, Jerley, Al- 
 derney, and Ire- 
 l.ind . . 
 
 Britifli coafting, in- 
 cluding ccal- 
 tvade, Englifti, 
 Wtilli,andScotch 
 coafting 
 
 Total 
 
 Real Value o' 
 Impotts. 
 
 £ 
 
 6,1544,402 
 7,118,523 
 
 290,894 
 
 82,370 
 
 2 50,689 
 
 64,142 
 
 1,565,1 18 
 
 2,658,01 1 
 
 414,359 
 
 390.794 
 220,827 
 207477 
 152,707 
 
 94,821 
 
 1,517.386 
 
 36,978 
 
 673,241 
 776,686 
 
 2,097,887 
 
 5,800,000 
 
 30.967,4: 
 
 Real Value of 
 ExpoiU. 
 
 £. 
 
 3'957,9'^5 
 3»^95'3i3 
 
 TotalValue of 
 
 Import? and 
 
 Exports. _ 
 
 £' 
 
 ^'347,^50 ;>a4,ooo,7i9 
 
 449)077 
 54 
 
 452,106' 
 8,014,260 
 438,877 V 14,052,439 
 
 118,914, 
 
 21 1,662^ 
 
 35.408 
 
 169,293 I 
 
 711,082 
 
 3,898,864j 
 
 7,229,587 
 
 978,038 
 
 1,538,120 
 
 171,073 
 
 } 
 
 4,164,136 
 
 743,203 ; 2,841,090 
 
 2,510,000 
 
 29,630,559 60,597,97 
 
 8,310,000
 
 r 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 No. IX. Section 2. 
 
 337 
 
 Abfl:ra£lof the Number of VeflTels, including repeated Voy- 
 ages, and average Tonnage, that tranfported the Conimerce 
 of the Port of London, for 1798. 
 
 General Heads. 
 
 No. of 
 
 Average 
 
 
 Veflels. 
 
 Tonnage. 
 
 Eafl and Weft Indies, Britifli continental co- 
 
 
 
 lonies, Africa, Cape of Good Hope, fouth- 
 
 
 
 ern and Greenland fiflierics 
 
 529 
 
 i73'492 
 
 Countries in alliance with Great Britain 
 
 7'7 
 
 136,205 
 
 Neutral powers . . . . 
 
 1,128 
 
 169,099 
 
 Belligerent powers . . . . 
 
 57^ 
 
 ""i'^ll 
 
 Coafting trade . . . . 
 
 10,498 
 
 1,188,168 
 
 
 
 
 
 Total veflTels and tonnage 
 
 13.44411,713,316!
 
 THE INDEX. 
 
 A, 
 
 .GRICULTURE confidered, and Sir John Sinclair'! 
 coinputaiion of the wafte land in Great Erirain, i6o. 
 Watie liiiids in England and France uncultivated, Note^ 
 n>i. Walte lands incloled within the lall filty years, 
 257. Lands in cultivation not adequate to fupply the 
 increafed population of the kingdom, 257. 
 
 Alarms. Arguments ufed at the prefent moment to excite 
 ill-founded alarms, 12. Obfervations thereon, ib. 
 
 Annuitants pay in a greater proportion to the income-tax 
 than landed or funded incomes, 1 1 1. Statements in illuf- 
 tration of this i\\£t, 112. Montefquieu's obfervations re- 
 fpeding annuitants, 113. 
 
 Army and navy, officers of, exempted from taxes in France 
 formerly, and now in many ftatcs of Europe, 108. Navy 
 officers exempted from the duty on wine drank on board 
 King's (hips, Kote, 108. This indulgence might be ex- 
 tended to army officers in camps, or in the field, ib. Re- 
 turns of army nnd navy, as lately made for 1801, 254. 
 Employ at prefent one thirty-fccond part of the popula- 
 tion o\ Great Britain, 256. 
 
 Arms. Half a million of people under arms in Great Bri- 
 tain, including militia, fencib'es, volunteer corps, &c. 250. 
 
 Afylums for ihe poor in England, benevolent and charitable 
 inftitutions, 271. Amount cf contributions in Great 
 Britain, voluntary and affl-fled, for their fupport, ib. 
 Amount of contributions in London and its environs, 
 272. vJc.lquhoun's Treaiife on the Police of the Metropo- 
 lis quoted, ib. 
 
 B 
 
 Bacon, his colleiSlion of apophthegms refpcding the ye/- 
 fafian tax, quoted, 124. 
 
 Balance of trade at the commencement and clofe of the iSth 
 century, 8. Apparci't balance in 1800,28. Balance of 
 trade in France for 1784, compared with that of England 
 lor the fame pcri(;d, 29. 
 
 XX 2 Bank
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Bank of England notes in circulation for the year 1800, 
 Note, 66. Legal tender in payment, as decid>id in Hilary 
 term, 1790, Notc^ 14 r. Proofs in refutation of the ar- 
 guments adduced by Mr. Boyd, that dearncfs of provifions 
 IS occafioned by the increafed circulation of Bank notes, 
 141 — 146. Adam Smith quoted in corroboration of thofe 
 •prooh.Note, 146. Confideration of thequeftionfuggeftedby 
 a INJember of Parliament relative to forming an aflbciation 
 to fuppoit the Bank paper, and prevent improper drains 
 of fpecie in peace, Note, 142. Solidity of the Biink and 
 iurplus property, 143. Paper currency in circulation for 
 1795 and 1 80c, 144. The rapidity of the circulation of 
 Bank notes great advantages to commerce, 210. 
 
 Bonaparte. Sec France. 
 
 C 
 
 Canals, defigns of the French in opening canals to the Rhine, 
 &c. 218. Projefted canal from Brifach on the Riiine, to 
 the head of the Danube, near Snnberg, 219. Advantages 
 to France, 220. The ceffion of the Brifgau to the Duke of 
 Modena will facilitate Bonaparte's projeds in joining the 
 Rhine to the Danube, Note, 222. This projeded canal 
 more eligible than the one formed in Charlemagne's time, 
 Note, 223. Canals will give many years employment to 
 dilbanded foldiers, 223. Other advantages, 224. Principal 
 canals in France, 230. Neceiiity of refilling the ambitious 
 views of France, 231—232. For further particulars, fee 
 France. 
 
 Cavalry. Saving on the redudion of the allowance of" corn 
 ufually given, illuftrated by an experiment, 258. 
 
 Circulating medium in Great Britain, including gold and filver. 
 Note, 66. The rapid circulation gives impuHe and energy to 
 our commerce, 210. Quantity of, formerly in France, 21 1. 
 Mr. Necker quoted. Note, 211. Advantages that Great Bri- 
 tain has over France, or any other country of more extenfn\ 
 territory, from the activity of the circuia'ting medium, 21 > 
 The public expenditure for 1800 amounted to more thau 
 the whole of the circulating medium, in the kingdom, 212. 
 Circulating medium of France, when in her meridian 
 Iplendour, compared with England!, 2 13. The weJl-knowii, 
 properties m mechanics applied to illuftrate the advan- 
 tages England had over France, though with half the 
 quantity of the circulating medium, 21^. 
 
 Cheft at Chatham, when eftablifhed, 2'^79. Revenue and 
 number of j.cnf.oaers at dilferent peiioda, a8o— 2 Si. Ad- 
 
 vantages
 
 INDEX. 
 
 vantages derived from the plan adopted in 1794, 2S1 — 
 
 £02. 
 
 Chcilea Hofpit.il. Number of in and out penfioners at dif 
 ferent perifd;, 282. Revenue and expenditure, ib. Policy 
 of filling up all the offices in this and Greenwich Hofpital, 
 by military and naval men, 283. Refltdions, 284 — 285. 
 
 China, filver fent to, by the Eall: India Company for the pur- 
 chal'e of cargoes, 40. Great population of, from in- 
 duftry and agiiculture, 214. Progrcfs in arts Aationary, 
 if not retrograde, for 1 000 years, 215. Agriculture and 
 domeftic trade, great fources of its wealth and popula- 
 tion, 268. 
 
 Civil lift. The revenue and hereditary revenue of the crown, 
 at the Revolution, Note, 19. Settled by law on his prcfcic 
 Majefty, in lieu of hereditary revenue, JVc/r, ib. As let- 
 tied by law, and divided intoeii;ht iieads or branches, 199. 
 Civil lift of former times, compared with the preient, and 
 progrefs, during the i8th centuiy, 20c — 201. Ptogrels of 
 the King's houfehold expenfes, 200 — 201. Hereditary 
 revenues of the crown relinquiflied by his Majefty to the 
 public, in lieu o^ civil lift, 202. In what proportion the 
 hereditary revenues would have exceeded the fum fettled 
 by Parliament in their ftead, had they been ftill retained by 
 his IMajefty, 203. Advantages accruing to the public, 
 204. Reflciftions, 204 — 205. 
 Coffee. The duties of excife and cuftoms on coffee prior to 
 1^83, increafed alter the excife duties, in 1784, and nearlv 
 treble of the former quantity was imported, 44. Prools 
 that heavy duties defeat the intention of the Jegillaturc, 
 
 44. Policy of a ftill greater reduftion of the duties, 44 — 
 
 45. Annual import, on an average of five years, 45. iMr. 
 Bryan Edwards quoted, 45. Quantity formerly produced 
 annually to the French in Hilpaniola, 45 — 46. Greater 
 part now transferred to the Weft Indies and our coloiues 
 in South Ameiica, 46. Advantages of promoting a greater 
 confumption of coftee in Great Britain, 46 — 47. 
 
 Colquhoun, Mr. his computation of the voluntary contribu- 
 tions and alfeiVmenrs, in fupport of the poor in London 
 and its environ^;, quoted, 272. On the trade of the port 
 of London, quoted, 287. 
 
 Commerce of Great Britain has nearly doubled during the 
 prefent war, 31. France, Spain, and other maritime 
 powers, make greater iaciifices in war than Great Bri- 
 tain, 31. Reafons to believe that it will be augmented on 
 the return of peace, 34. Produce oFconvoy tax, a proof of 
 our exrenfivc commerce, 37. The imaieide capitals, 
 quick returns, lovvnels of intereft, and other caufes, which 
 
 give
 
 INDEX. 
 
 give us the fuperiority over every other nation, 210. 
 Conftitutes the ftrength and happinefs of a nation, 214. 
 Relative progrefs of Great Britain's commerce, 239, 
 Ke'ative fituaiioii of the comn^erce of Fiance at different 
 periods, 2'o6 — 291. Commerce of the port of London, 
 for 1798, 289. Of Ruffia, at different periods, 294 — 296. 
 Comparative view of England's commerce after eight years 
 war, at the end of the 17th and 18th centuries, '300. 
 Theprefent the only war in which our commerce has pro- 
 grcffively flouiiflied, 301. Tnble exhibiting the official 
 value of impuris and exports during the century, Ap. No. 
 Ill 318. AHo, a Table of foreign and coalling trade of ifie 
 port of London^ for 1798, Ap. No. JX. 336. For other par- 
 ticulars, fee fclxports and Imports, Trade, Shipping, &c. 
 Commutation A6t, amount of tea annually fold prior to 
 palling it, 37. F:ffcas of tlie aft, 38—39. Duties of cuftoms 
 and excife prior to the aft. Note, 39. Tonnage of Hup- 
 ping prior and fubfequent to the aft, 40. 
 Convoy tax, produce of, for the year 1799, 37. 
 Credit, public, of Great Britain, France, &:c.— See France, 
 
 Public Credit. 
 Cuftoms, confolidation of, 191. Inconvenience of former 
 fyftem, ib. Wm. Eden, f.fq. (now Lord Auckland), 
 quoted. Note, 193. Exorbitant charges of management 
 of the French cufioms, i8oi, p. 193. Charges of manage- 
 ment in France, about 75 per cent. 193. French writer 
 quoted, hiote, ib. 
 
 D 
 Danube. Projeft of the French to open to the head of this 
 river a canal from Brilach, on the Rhine, 219 — 222 — 223. 
 See Canal, France, Rivers, Rhine, SiC. 
 D'Avenant, Dr. on the taxes fubfilling at the Revolution, 
 quoted, 14. His prediftions of national ruin, ib. Quoted 
 on the excife at the Revolution, and the branches introduced 
 till his time, 18. On the valueof land, 60. 
 Dearnefs of provifions. See Provifions. 
 Dearths and famines in England at ditierent periods for the 
 laft 700 years,_ Note, 137. Spain fuhjcft to frequent 
 dearths of provifions, 215. 
 Debts, public. Amount of the funded capital in 1793, and 
 increafe during the war, 7. Real value of the whole' 
 funded debt in 1800, ib.'Mr. Grey magnified the debt 
 by adverting to the nominal, inftead of the real value, in 
 his fpeech {25th iVlarch 1801; on the ftate of the nation, 
 ib. Capital added to the funded debt (February, 1801), 
 Note., 117. National debt at the clofe of the i8th century,' 
 compared with that of 1700, and its progrefs, 162. Ne- 
 3 ' celfity
 
 INDEX. 
 
 ceffity of adverting to increafed amount of commerce, and 
 beneficial effects of the finking funds, 163. Relative licu- 
 ation with relpc6t to our Jchrs, conficeix-d, and etSriencjr 
 of refources, 164. Kedudtions ot tiic intcrelt of, during 
 the i8th ct- itury, 172 — 173. Sums appropriated to the 
 finking funds for the lediiction of debt, iSo. Statutes 
 quoted, ib. Dr. Price quoted, ib. Rclolution of the 
 Houfe of Commons, Feb. 1800, regarding the redemp- 
 tion of old and new debts, I\ote, 180. Capital of debt 
 red. cmed by the finkng funds and land-tax, i'6:. State- 
 ment made by Mr. Pitt on opening the budget, Feb. i8ot, 
 JVo/r, 181. Probable periods of the redemption of old 
 and new debts, 182. Sir John Sinclair's fuggeftion for 
 the annual application of a fum to reduce the debt, and 
 Mr. Fox's claufe in the bill for the annual application of i 
 per cent. A'i'/f, 1S5. Progrefs of, during the 1 8th century, 
 185. Tah'e exhibiting the progrefs, Ap. No. V.325. Ac- 
 cumulation of debt occafioned by the wars of the i8th 
 century, with flatcments, i86. Reiledions, 187—188. 
 Dean Tucker's philanthropic obfervations on the fubjcft, 
 189. 
 Debts, national, of France, 289. Of Spain, 292. Of Ruflia, 
 
 294. Of Denmark, 298. Of Sweden, 299. 
 Denmaik, population of, and number of inhabitants to a 
 iquare mile, 266. Revenue and expenditure of, at differ- 
 ent periods, 297 — 298. Progrefs of the navy, and com- 
 parative ftatements, 304 — 307. 
 E 
 Eden, Wm. Efq. (now Lord Auckland), his obfervation* 
 that war is now become a fcience of money, quoted, 72. 
 Quoted on the charges of management of the cuftoras, 
 NotCy 193. 
 Eden, Sir Frederick Morton, population of Great Britain, 
 as eftimated by him, 252. JMaritime and military popula- 
 tion. Note, 252. 
 Ealt India Company. Annual public fales of teas at the 
 beginning and clofc of the 1 8th centuries, 3^;. Teas iold 
 annually, prior to the commutation acl, 37. F.ffeds of the 
 commutation aiff, 38 — 39. Duties of cultoms and excife 
 prior to the commutation aft, Nofe, 39. Tonnnge of fliip- 
 ping prior and fubfequent to the commtitation aft, 40. 
 Amount of cuftoms and inland duties in 1794 and 1800, Note, 
 4,0. Tonnage of fliipping and quantity of tea imported in 17S7 
 and 1792,40. Anderfon quoted 40. Silver lent to China 
 for teas, Sic. in 1785 and 1788, ib. Territorial acquifitions 
 and population in the Eaft Indies, 41. Rcnncl quoted, 41. 
 ilrtimates of the revenues of the three prelidencies in India, 
 
 for
 
 INDEX. 
 
 for 1798 — 9, and 1800, p. 41 — 42. Aggregate amount of 
 the iale of goods, 1797 — 8, and 1799 — 1800, 42. Com- 
 pany's fales nearly doubled in amount (ince the commence- 
 ment of the war, 43. Reflexions on the profperous ftate of 
 the Company's affairs, 43. 
 
 Exchange with foreign countries confidered, 14S. Mr. Boyd 
 on the exchange at Hamburgh for 1800 quoted, Note, 148. 
 Practical and political knowledge of, complicated, 149. 
 Obfervations on Mr. Boyd's pamphlet relative to ex- 
 change, and Sir PVancis Baring's anfwer, 152. Caufes af- 
 figned for the prefeiit unfavourable rate of exchange with 
 Hamburgh, confidered, 153. Proofs of its not militating 
 eflentially againft the commercial profperity of Great Bri- 
 tain, 157. 
 
 Europe. Length in a diagonal line, and breadth, 216. Sir 
 Wm. Betty's calculation of the tonnage of fliipping be- 
 longing to the maritime powers, 241. Ruffian territory in 
 Europe, and number of inhabitants to a fquare mile, 266. 
 China contains as many people as Europe, 268. Progref- 
 five increafe of happinefs in proportion to the civilization 
 of the flates of Europe, 270. 
 
 Excife, hereditary, produce of, at the Revolution, Note, i2. 
 When originally introduced, Nou, 18. The duties of, 
 confidered, 75. On the neceflaries of life, 76. Salt laws 
 confidered, 76. — See Salt, Fifiieries. The duties of fait in 
 France called gabelle. Note, 76. The aggregate amount 
 of excife on neceflariesof life, compared with other duties, 
 300. Manufaftures on which excife duties are levied, 104. 
 Oppreffive duties were levied on the neceflaries of life in 
 Holland, 126. 
 
 Expenditure, public, for the year 1800, 13. Obfervations 
 thereon, 14. For 1700 — 1 701, compared with 1800, 25 
 — 26. Several heads or branches of, 196. Navy, army, 
 ordnance, mifcelianeous, 198. Aggregate amount, 199. 
 The annual, greater than the whole of the circulating me- 
 dium in the kingdom, 212. Difficulty of afcertaining the ex- 
 penditure of foreign flates, 286, Expenditure of France, 
 at different periods, 286—291. Of Spain, 292. Of Den- 
 mark, 298. Of Sweden, 299. Of Great Britain during the 
 18th century, Ap. No. V. 316. 
 
 Exports and imports at the commencement and clofe 
 of the 1 8th century, 8. Official and real value com- 
 pared for the year ending 5th January 1801 — 9, Of 
 France, as reported to fhe Confuls, May 1801, ib. 
 Of Great Britain, at the clofe of King William's reign, 27. 
 Total official value for 1800, and apparent balance of trade, 
 J18. Value of th.e French exports and imports in 1784, 
 
 cojupared
 
 INDEX. 
 
 compared with thofe of Great Britain at the fame pcrioJ, 
 zg — '^o. Exports of Great Britain in every war lince 
 the kevohition (except the prefenr, and the war of 1756), 
 have comparatively with years of peace diminiflicd, 30. 
 Annual average value of, for three and four years of peace, 
 and three and four years of war, during the 18th century, 
 32 — 33. Proportion in which tliey have incrcaled during 
 the century, 34. Produce of tax on exports aud im- 
 ports, or convoy tax, 37. Refults from a comparative 
 flatement of the average amount of fix years in time of 
 peace, 48. The real value of, for the yean 798, qo. Differ- 
 ence between the official value and rcal^ 50. Mr. Rofe quot- 
 ed, 50 — 51. Exports and permanent taxes compared, 50. 
 Both doubled fince the war, h^ote, 50. Prodigious balance 
 of trade in Great Britain's favour in 1798, compared with 
 France when her commeice was in the moft flourilTiing 
 ftate, Note, 51. Reflcdions and inferences drawn, 52 — 53. 
 Value of exports and tonnage of fliipping doubled in 
 twenty-two years, Irom the Reftoration to the Revolution, 
 66. Thib period compared with the laft twenty years of the 
 18th century, 67. Decreafe of exports and fliipping at the 
 peace of Ryfwick, 1697, Note, 67. Relative lituation of 
 the exports and imports ot France and Great Britain, 2S6. 
 Magnitude of the exports and imports of the port of Lon- 
 don, 287. Of Fiance, at different periods, 289 — 291. 
 Of Rulfia, at different periods of the century, 294—296. 
 Table of official value of exports and imports during the 
 i8th century, to which are added, imports from the Wefl 
 Indies from 1700 to 1798, inclufive, Ap. No. III. 31S. 
 
 F 
 
 Famines in England. See Dearths, and Provifions. 
 
 Financial propofitions, 3. Financial plans of a falutary na- 
 ture, adopted during Mr. Pitt's adminiflration, 190. 
 
 Finances, national, a knowledge of, ufeful, 6. F-nemy's 
 view of ruining thofe of England, 72. Delponding writers 
 on the fubjeft of finance in the 17th and i8th centuries, 
 Note, -ji—yi,. 
 
 Fiflieries. TheYeveral f^atutes relative to fait for the fiflienes 
 during the i8th century, enumerated, 80— 82. Salt laws 
 oppreliive to the fiflieries in Scotland, 83—87. Sa'utary 
 laws relative to, in the reign of Charles II. 87. The cx- 
 ifting regulations defeat the beneficent intention of the le- 
 giflamre, 88. Reafons why the Dutch had a preference in 
 the markets of Europe, 89. Prej udice to the herring fifliery 
 OB the north and weA coafls of'Siotland, from the import- 
 ation of rock-fak not being admitted duty free, 90. Rc- 
 t Y markabic
 
 INDEX. 
 
 inarkable inftance of a quantity of herrings caught in 
 Lochfyne being thrown into ihe lea tor want of fait, Notey 
 90 — 91. Annual va'ue upon an aver.ige of feafons, and 
 number of boats en.ployed, ib. bii VVaher Raleigh's 
 obfervations on the number of Dutch veflels and men em- 
 ployed ill the fiflieries on our cf^art, hlotc^ 91 — 92. Quan- 
 tities of fait conlnmed annually in the fiQicricsof Scotland, 
 98. Policy of encouraging the fi.hciies in Scot a.id, by 
 taking off tliereftn('tion> on f;ilt, yq— 9( . 
 
 Fleetwood, Bifliop, quot d ti dearnefs j | rovifi ns, Islote, 135. 
 
 Fox, Mr. fugtjcltcd iIk claule in the bili brought into Par- 
 liament, 1786, for tlie annual application of i percent, on 
 the capital or every new loan, A'o/f, 185. 
 
 France. Vahie of the French exports and imports in 1784, 
 compared with thofe of Great Britain at the i'anie perio I, 
 29 — 30. Necker quoted, ib. Balance of trade in the moft 
 fiourilhing Hate, compaicd wirh tliC piodigi'-us b?lance in 
 favour of Grta^ Britain, i:i .798, Note, 51. Pu'^lic credit 
 conlidered and contralk/i with th u ff hngland, 164 — '65. 
 Funded pn perty called tifrs coniolide, confuieit-d, 166 — 
 169. Dividends, he w paid -w Rubelpitire't time, 168 H'>w 
 paid by Bonaparte, 168 — 109. shorks to Jepiblic credit of 
 France during the laft cehiury, 170. ^'w Jaines Stewart's 
 obfervati. ns on the public credit ot Fi ance, 172. Proj; tta of 
 Bonaparte and the former revolutionary uilrrs of France, in 
 fecnringthefree navigation of the R'nine, iVleuie, and beheld, 
 217. Confequences that would refult to the trade of Great 
 IBritain, fliould the Chief Coniul fucceed in his views, zi8. 
 Dcvelopement of his projeds for opening cana s and mak- 
 ing rivers navigable, 219. Secret articles of Campo Poi"- 
 mio, 320. Treaty of Luneville, 221. How the celTion of 
 the Brifgau to the Duke of Modena will facihtate the de- 
 figns of Bonnparte, 232. Advantages to France, 223. 
 Difadvantages 10 Great Britain, and the northern powers 
 of Europe, 231 — 233. Inveterate enmity of France, and 
 plans of the feveral levolutiorary rulers, for deftroying 
 the finances, commerce, and manura(5tures of Great Bri- 
 tain, 234. ]\'lerlin of Douay's report, Note, 234 Rober- 
 jot's obfervations, Note, ib. Imperious neceliiiy of refift- 
 ing the ambitious views of France by a vigorous continu- 
 ance of the war, 234 — 237. Tonnage and number of 
 fhipping for 1800, 242, Exports and imports for 1800, 
 ib. Balance of trade againft France, chiefly firifes from 
 the imports of articles of necelTity and luxury, 243. Value 
 of imports of fugar, coffee, &c. for 1800, 244. Imports 
 from the Eaft and VVeft Indies, 244. Ordinary and ex- 
 traordinary taxes and impofitions, ib. Deplorable pic- 
 ture for the infatuated multitude of France, and leflbu to 
 
 other
 
 INDEX. 
 
 other nations, 245. Popularion at different periods in th* 
 i7t; II I iSch ccnuries, 262. Square miles contained in 
 former boundary, 264. Iiftimare ot inhabitants to a fqiiare 
 mile, 2f>4. Clergy in France before the revolution, ib. 
 Comparative view of the trade at prefent, 286. The pro- 
 grels of revenue and expenditure of France, alfo exports 
 and imports, and ba'ance of trade, 28S — 291. Progrefs 
 of the French navy, 304 — 306. Sh'ps of war and pri- 
 vateers captured, burnt, funk, and deftroyed this war. 
 Note, ■?o8. 
 
 Fund.?d debt of Great Britain. See Debts, public. 
 
 —————— France. See France. 
 
 G 
 
 George I. IT. and HI. See Civil Lift, Hereditary Revenues, 
 Houlchold Expenies. 
 
 Garnett, Profeffor, his Tour in Scotland quoted on the fait, 
 contained in fea wutcr, Note, 94. 
 
 Gold in circiilttion at the Refloration, Revolution, and dif- 
 ferent periods of the i8th century, 65—66. 
 
 Greenwich, Royal College of, its infticution, 273. Gradual 
 increaleOi feamen received during the century, 274. Reve- 
 nue and expenditure fpe"ilied, 275 — 276. Funftions of the 
 Sixpenny Receiver's offi.e, 276 — 277. Annual receipts iti 
 peice and war, Note, 277. Fund tor the maintenance and 
 education of 150 boys, 278. Suggeftions for extending 
 this laudable inftitution, 278 — 279. Policy of filling 
 up all the offices ill this and Chelfea' Hofpital, by naval 
 and military men, 283. Reflcffions, 2S4 — 285. 
 
 H 
 
 Happincfs, national, progrefs of, among nations during the 
 
 i8th century, 270. 
 Herring fiflicry in Scotland. See Fiflieries, Salt. 
 Highlands of Scotland, caufes of the decrcafe in its popu- 
 lation for the laft fifty years, AW, 99. 
 Horfes. Vaft faving to the nation and individuals in reducing 
 
 the allowance of corn ufually given to horfes, and a fub- 
 
 ftitute of provender equally nutritious fuijgefted, 258. 
 
 Calculation of the annual faving of wheat by adopting the 
 
 economical plan propofed, 260. 
 Holland. Stamp duties originated with the Dutch, 104. 
 
 Neceiriries of life were highly taxed in Ht)lland, p. 126. 
 
 Dutch fliips of wnr and privateers captured, burnt, funk, 
 
 or dtftroyed, dp ing the war, 30S. 
 Houlchold cxpcnfes (King's), progiefs of, du:ingthc jSth 
 
 century, 201 — 202. 
 
 V Y 2 HUiliC,
 
 INDEX. 
 
 flume, David, quoted on intereft of money, 58. One o 
 the delponding writers on finance, Note, 72. Quoted on 
 public credit, AW^*, 170. 
 
 Hofpital. See Greenwich, Chelfea. 
 
 I 
 
 Imports. Value of Weft India imports into Great Britain in 
 1700 and 1798, contrafted, 35. Quantity of britifli 
 plantation fugar imported in 1700 and 1798, 35 — 36. 
 Grofs and net duties on thefe imports, 36. Table of im- 
 ports and exports during this century, Ap. No. III. 318. 
 For other particulars fee Exports, Eaft India Company, &c. 
 
 Income of England, as computed by Mr. Pitt, Note, 63,- 
 Additional income in 150 years, 64. 
 
 Income-tax confidered with refpe£l to its efFe£ls, 106. Mr. 
 Pittas remarks on Mr. Tierney's objeftions, Note, 106. 
 Objedious to the tax confidered, 108. Annuitants pay 
 in a greater proportion than landed or funded incomes, 
 III. Statements in illuftration of this faft, 112. Mon- 
 tefquieu's obfervations refpefting annuitants, 113. Emi- 
 grations on the return of peace will prove detrimental to 
 the income-tax, Note^ 117. 
 
 Intereft of money, lownefs of, a criterion of the wealth and 
 profperity of a nntion, 57. Rate of intereft on the loans of 
 1800 — 1801, Xotc, 57. Mr. David Hume quoted, 58 — 
 Progrefs of, in the middle ages, Noic, 58. Dr. Robertfon 
 q^uoted, 58 — 59. Redu£i:ion of the intereft of national 
 debts during the j8th century, 172 — 173. Sudden re- 
 ductions that have taken place in Erance, 173. Reductions 
 of the legal intereft at different periods of the 17th and 
 i8th •-nturies. Note, 173. 
 
 Induilrious clafles of the nation eftimated, 253 — 254.. 
 
 Jnclofures of waile land within thefe 50 years, 257. 
 
 ■K 
 
 King's houfehold expenfes. See Civil Lift, Houfehold 
 Expenfes. 
 
 King, Gregory, quoted on value of land, 61. On popula- 
 tion, 250. 
 
 T 
 Ij 
 
 Land, rental of, and augmented value fince the beginning 
 of the 17th century, i;8 — 59. Increafed value of, in 
 fome parts of Scotland, 60. Valued rent in 1757 and 
 1795, compared, 60. Rental of land, houfes, and mines, 
 during the 17th and i8th centuries, 60 — bi — 62 — 63. 
 D'Avenant, Sir vVilliam Petty, Gregory King, Mr. Hooke, 
 Dr. Beeke, Sir William Pultney, and Bir. Bird, quoted, ib. 
 
 Comparative
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Comparative eftimates of the Jaiuled property, 63 — 64. 
 Computation by Mr. Pitt, NotCy 63. 
 
 Laus, progrelfive improvement in the adminiflration of, in 
 Great Britain, 309. Inftanccs of the relaxation of the 
 adminiftration of juftice in Queen Elizabeth's time, 310. 
 
 Labour, the price of, in the iSth century, has nearly kept 
 pace with the average price of provifions, 1 16. No injury 
 can accrue to our foreign trade by a moderate increaie of 
 wages, Note, 116. Induflrious and hibouring dalles in 
 greater proportion than the other claflcs, 248. Better 
 paid in England than elfcivherein Europe, ib. 
 
 Labourers, produ^^ive number eftimatcd in Great Britain, 
 253. Unprodufti\e, eilimated, 254. 
 
 Loan, advantageous one of 1800, 103. Difadvantageous 
 loans in Ruliia to carry on the Turkish war, 294. Loans 
 of Great Britain during the 18th century, Ap. No. L 3 15. 
 
 London. Voluntary contiibut'ons and legal afleffmcnts in 
 fupport of the poor in London and its environs, 272. 
 Magnitude of its foreign expoits and imports. Shipping 
 and coafting trade for the year 1798, 287. Real value 
 of exports and imports exceeds the aggregate amount of 
 that of France, Spain, Ruilia, Denmark, and Sweden, 287 
 — 288. Table of the exports and imports, coafting trade, 
 and (hipping, Ap, No. IX. 336. 
 
 IM 
 
 Manufaftuies, pcrfons employed in, eftimated, 253. Num- 
 ber of perfons employed in the woollen, and proiluce of 
 annual labour, Note^ 253. Number of perfons employed 
 in iron, fteel, tin, lead, copper, and brafs, ib. 
 
 Money. Gold and filver in circulation at the Reftoration, 
 Revolution, and different periods of the i8th cen- 
 tury, 65 — 66. The quantity of gold and filver in circu- 
 lation doubled, from the Reftoration to the Revolution, 
 Note, bb. Lord Auckland's obfervation quoted, Note, 72. 
 Circulating in the kingdom, and rapid return, 210. 
 Languid circulation in France, with a greater quantity 
 than in England, compaicd, 213. Properties in mecha- 
 nics applied to the circulating medium of a country, 213 — 
 214. Sec Intereft, Gold and Silver, Wealth. 
 
 Montefquieu's obfervations refpefting annuitants, quoted. 
 
 Morals of the prefent age contrafted with thofe of the i6th 
 century, ^10. Comparifon of the number of tlweves and 
 rogues executed in the reigns of Henry the Eighth, and 
 Queen Elizabeth, 311. 
 
 National
 
 INDEX. 
 
 N 
 
 National debt. See Pebts, public. 
 
 IWational ruin, predidions of, loo years ago by D'Avenant, 
 and othei writers, 14 —15. Defpoiidin;^ writt rs of the 
 17th and i8:h centuries enumerated, A'otc. 72—73. 
 
 Navigation ad, beneficial eSe^s refu'ting from it, in 22 
 years f-om the Rclloration to the Revolution, 67. 
 
 Navigation, inland. See Canals. 
 
 Navy, curlbry view of its piogrefs during the i8th cen- 
 tury, 302, Compared with the maritime pov\ers of 
 Europe, 302 — 303 — 306. State of the Britilh navy at the 
 prefent moment, 306. State of the navies of France, 
 Spain, and Ho' land, at the commencement of the war, 306. 
 Pic'iure of the efficient ftrength of the Britidi navy, 307. 
 Number of fliips of war, vtflels, and privateers, belonging 
 to France, Spain, and Holland, that have been capiured, 
 burnt, funk, or deftroycd, during the war, Nofe^ 308. 
 
 Neceflaries of life, how taxed, 76. Highly taxed in Holland, 
 126. 
 
 Necker quoted, on exports and imports of France, 29 — 30. 
 His obfervations on the mornl charafter of a fovereign, 
 165. On the circulating medium of France, 211 — 213. 
 On population and fpecie, 246. On exports and imports, 
 revenue and expenditure of France, 280 — 289. 
 O 
 
 Oats. See Cavalry, Horfes, Population, Wheat. 
 P 
 
 Paper money. See Bank. 
 
 Peterfburgh, trade of, compared with London, 295 — 296. 
 When ereded, ib 
 
 Petty, Sir William, quoted, on the value of land, 60. On 
 the tonnage of fliipping in £\Hope, 241. 
 
 Pitt, Mr. Beneficial efiefts refulting from the operations of 
 finking funds, as adopted by Mr. Pitt, 179. His ftate- 
 ment on opening the budget, February 1801, Note, 181. 
 Curfory view of his adminiftration, and falutary plans 
 adopted, 190. Confolidation of the cuftoms, 19 ». In- 
 convenience and perplexity of the former lyftem of duties, 
 ib. Plans of reform in the redudfion 'if leveral ufelefs 
 places, 192. Reduction in tre chaiges of management of 
 the principal revenues, compared with former times, 192 
 — 193. Lord Auckland quoted, 193. Cha: ges of ma- 
 nagement compared with thofe of France, in ^ir. Necker's 
 time, 194. 
 
 Poor, eftimated annual amount of contributions for the fup- 
 port of, both voluntary and alfefled, in Great B'ita-n, 271. 
 Voluntary and affeired contributions in London and its en- 
 virons.
 
 ' INDEX. 
 
 virons, 272. Mr. Colquhoun's Treatifc on the Police of the 
 Wetijpolis quoted, Note^ tjz, Thele contributions, lup- 
 pnled o be nearly tne ratio that the population ot the aiC- 
 trop-^'io beat's to the whole kingdom, 272. 
 Population, great, in China, from indultry and agricultuie, 
 214. Observations by Mr. Necker on population and 
 fpecie, 246 Comparative view of the adive and indnf- 
 trious clafles in Great Britain, 247. Remarks on the 
 enumeration of the population of Great Britain, now f;o\n^ 
 on under the authority of Parliament, 249. Different 
 opinions on the popuiation of England during the 17111 
 and i8th centuries. Mr. King and Dr. D'Avenant's elfima- 
 tions, 250. 6uppofed population at the Union, 2 1; I. Tl\c 
 progrefs during the i8th century doubtful, 251. Dr. 
 Price's afl'ertions, Ko/c, 251. Sir Frederick Morton Eden's 
 late eftimate, 2^2. Data alTumed in elfimating the aftual 
 population of Great Br;tain and Ireland, 253. The feve- 
 ral clafles of the commimity eftimated, 253 — 255. Pro- 
 portion of fouls to a fquare mile in Great Biiiain and Ire- 
 land, 254 — 255. The proportion in England and V\ ales 
 greater than in any other ftate in Europe, ib. Army and 
 navy employ one 32d part of the population, 256. Ne- 
 ceflity ot incloling more walte lands, 2:56—257. The an- 
 nual confumption of wheat correlpondin^,' to the popula- 
 tion of Great Britain, 261. Population of France at dif- 
 ferent periods in the 17th and i8th centuries, 262. Efti- 
 matc to a fquare mile in France, 264. Of Spain, at differ- 
 ent periods, ib. Of Ruffia, Denmark, and Sweden, at 
 different periods, 265 — 267. Of China, 268. Proportion 
 between the popuIa:ion, extent of territory, and revenue of 
 Great Britain, 299 — 300. 
 
 Poft-oflice, the revenue of, firft granted to Charles the 
 Second, 19. Net produce at the beginning and clofe of 
 the i8ih centurv. Note, 19. Rates of poftages, as 
 eftabliflied by Ch.ules ihe lirft, 20. The privilege of 
 franking cocval with this pe. iod, ib. Pofls of England, 
 Scotland, and IreiancI, farmed for 10,000/. 2t. Rates 
 legally tftablilhed in 1660, ib. Revenue of, at different 
 periods in the 17th and i8th centuries, ib. Progrellive 
 in rcaff demonftrative of the increaibd trade of the coun- 
 try, 23. Net levenue of, neaily trebled within the lift 
 twelve \ears, 68. (Jrofp and net revenues conpired, 68 — 
 69. Charges of m magement at different periods ot ilio 
 century, compared, Nofr, 69. Table exhibiting the pro- 
 grefs of grofs and net rev>.nues, No/e, 70. Rcmaiks on the 
 rates of portages, and feveral regulations made at different 
 periods of the century, NofCf 70 — 7:. 
 
 Preliminary observations on finance, 1. 
 
 3 Provilions,
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Provifions, clamour on the fcarcity of, izg. Confidera- 
 tions of the afleitions made, tending to excite popular dif- 
 content on the piefent dcarncfs of, 130. Arguments in 
 refutation of thefe alfertions, 131. Proofs and illuftrations 
 of the annual average prices of wheat for years of peace 
 and war in the iSth century, 132 — 133. Average prices 
 of wheat in war and peace during the 17th century, 134. 
 Bifliop Fleetwood quoted, Note, 135. Dearths and famines 
 in Enojand for upwards of 700 years, Note, 137. Dear- 
 jiefs of provifions in profound peace, 138. Highefl prices 
 in the 17th and iSih centuries, iV^i?/^', 138. Arguments to 
 prove that the prefent dearnefs is not attributable to the 
 income-tax, 139. That it is not to be afcribed to the war, 
 ib. Proofs that the dearnefs is not occafioned by the in- 
 creafed circulation of Bank of England notes, 141. Adam 
 Smith quoted in corroboration of thefe fafts, Note, 146. 
 The lands in cultivation not fufficient to fupply the in- 
 creafed populati^in of the country in bad feafons, 257. 
 Remedies propofed, ib. Economical! example, and vaft 
 faving to the nation, in reducing the allowance of corn 
 iifually given to horfes, 238. Illuftration and experiment 
 made by the author, Note, 258. Calculations on the an- 
 nua! faving of wheat, by adopting a finular plan of eco- 
 nomy, 260. 
 
 Price, Dr. his obfervations on the application of i per cent. 
 for the reduftion of national debt, quoted. Note, 180. 
 His afleitions relative to the progrefs of population, 251. 
 
 Public credit of France conlidered and contrailed with that 
 of England, 164 — 165. Moral chnrafter of a fovereign 
 has great influence over public credit, 165. French funded 
 property, called tiers confolidc, conlidered, 166 — 169. 
 Shocks to the public credit of France during the laft cen- 
 tury, 170. Mr. Hume's obfervations quoted, Note, 170. 
 ProgrtTs and liability of the public credit of Great Britain, 
 171. Sir James Stewart's obfervations in comparing the 
 credit of Great Britain and France, 172. Speculative ob- 
 fervatic/iis on public credit, 174 — 177. Philofophical rea- 
 funing on the iame fubje^f, in a letter from a Member of 
 Parliament to the author, referred to in Note, i-j"], 
 
 P\;bl'c debt. See Debts, public. 
 
 Puffendorf quoted on the population of France, 262. 
 
 R 
 
 Raleigh, Sir Walter, quoted, on the fiflieries. Note, 91 — 92. 
 Rental of land, &.c. at ditferenl periods. See Land. 
 Refouices, national, adequate ,to the prcllure of the times, 
 
 II. Have pro^^veffively increafed during the i8th cen- 
 
 tuiy, in a grea.er ratio than our taxes, 52. 
 Rivers Rhine, Meufe, and Scheld. Conlequences that would 
 
 relull
 
 INDEX. 
 
 refult in a commercial and political point of view, fliould 
 the French luccecd in their defigns to fccure the free na- 
 vigation or theie rivers, 217. Outlines of the vaft projeds 
 fv)r'nc^d by the National Convention, and the fuccdrive 
 rcvuliitionary rulers in France, 217 — 222. Advantages to 
 France, Ihould flte fuececd in hei views of aggiandize- 
 ment, 22:?. Uifa-Jvantag> s to Great Britain and the 
 Northern powers of hiirope, 231 — 233. Ncceflity of 
 Gieai Britain's rt lifting the ambitious views of Fiance, 
 by a vigorous continuance uf the war, 234 — 237. 
 
 Revenue at prefent • xrecds the aggregate amount of the an- 
 nual rents of landed property, &c. lo. Mr. Pitt's corn- 
 putati )n of the landed income of Great Britr.'n, Ndtt-^ ib. 
 Curlory view of revenue and expenditure at the beginning 
 of the 1 8th century, 16. Abftra(5t of net proceeds of reve- 
 nue paid into ihi- Exchequer, for one year, 1700 — 1701, 
 and Compared with th.- eftitnated receipt lor 1800, 24 — 
 25. Sums illued or expanded for public fervices, 25 — 26. 
 Keduftion in the charges of management, cooipaied 
 with farmer times, 192 — 193. Charges of coKeoting, 
 in France, as reported by Necker, compared with that 
 of England, 194. Rev.nne of Fran-e at prefenr, ]!^ote^ 
 194. How the revenue of Great Britain is difliibuted, 
 and circulated with rapidity among aU claflTes, 213. 
 Advantages in this refpecT: over the French revenue, ib, 
 Mr. Necker quoted, ib. Piogrefs of the revenues of the 
 Royal College at Greenwich, 274—278. Of the cheft at 
 Chatham, 279 — 281. Of Cheilea Hoipital, ^82. Dif- 
 ficul.y of afcertaining accurately the reventies of foreign 
 flares, 286. Fafts relative to the revenues of France, 
 brought together in order to examine their relations, 286 — 
 291. Revenue of Spain, ib. Of Ruffia, 293. Of Den- 
 mark, 297 — 2q8. Of Sweden, 299. For other particu- 
 lars, lee I'oft-offi e. Salt, Stamps, &c. Table of revenue 
 and expendituie for the i8th century, Ap. No. 1.311;. 
 
 Romans. Salt, an article of great revenue, 77. Ol;noxii)US 
 t.ixes levieil in Great Britain in their time, 122. 
 
 Ruffn, Progiefs of papulation, extent of territory, and 
 number of mhabitants to a fquare mile, 264. rrogrefs of 
 iis civilization during the laft century, 270. Revenue at 
 different periods during the ccntuiy, 271. For othct par- 
 ticulars, lee Navy, Revenue, Shipping, &;c. 
 
 Salt, the laws relative to, confidcred, 76. The duties of 
 fait in France railed gabclie, Note, 7O. Management of 
 the duties in England originally under the Board of Ex- 
 ciCe, 77. Cliar^^rs of the management transftired, 78. 
 Grofs and net produce of fait duties in Gie.it Britain, 79. 
 Impolicy of the fall laws. So. The fevcial lUtutcs uf the 
 zz 18th
 
 INDEX. 
 
 i8(h century enumerated, 80 — 82. Hardfliips attending the 
 due ohfervatice ot the fait laws in the filheries of bcotiand, 
 83 — 87. Salutary laws relative to tl.e liflieries in the reiga 
 'of Charles the Second, 87. The exifting regulations de- 
 feat the beneficent intention of the legiflature, 88. Reafons 
 why the Dutch herrings were preferred in the niarkets of 
 Europe, 89. Policy of admitting the free importation of 
 rock-falt from England into Scotland, 90 — qg. Obferva- 
 tions made by Sir Walter Raleigh on the Dutch fiftieries, 
 Note, g I — 92. Experiments made by IMoniieur de Page 
 on the lalt contained in fea water under the torrid and frigid 
 zones, 92 — 93. Newte's illuftrations of the fait in fea 
 water on the coaft of Scotland, 94. Profeflbr Garnett on 
 the fame fubjed quoted, ib. Policy of encouraging the 
 iiflieries on the north and north-weft coafts of Scotland, 99. 
 See Fifheries. 
 
 Seamen in the merchant fervice for 1800, 242. Eftimate of 
 the number in merchant fervice, coafting" trade, and 
 fifheries, 253. Returns of feamen and marines in the navy 
 for 1800, 254. 
 
 Sea-coaft, line of, in Great Britain, as eftimated by Sir Wil- 
 liam Petty,' 216. Suppofed to be under-rated, and line of 
 fea-coaft in the county of Argyle, Scotland, 216. Line of, 
 in France, former boundary, 217. 
 
 Shipping, tonnage of, in Europe, as eftimated by Sir Wil- 
 liam Petty, 241. Tonnage of Britifti fhipping in 1800, ib. 
 Number of lliips and veflels in 1800,242, Tonnage and 
 number offtiips and veflels in France, ib. and Appendix, 
 No. VIII. Of the port of London for 1798, 287, and Ap 
 pendix, No. IX. Seel. 2, 337. Tonnage of flapping in Great 
 j3ritain ftatcd for eight years, at the clofe of the 17th and 
 1 8th centuries, Noft\ 300. Additional tonnage to the fliip- 
 ping and feamen of Great Britain fince the war, 301. Table 
 exhibiting the tonnage of fliipping at different periods iu 
 peace and war during the century, 303. 
 
 Silk formerly exported from France, 290. 
 
 Silver exported to China by the Eaft India Company in 
 1785 — 1788, 40. Jn circulation at the Revolution, and 
 at different periods of the iSth century, 65 — 66. 
 
 Sinking fund, beneficial effeds refulting from the operations 
 of, 179. Sums annually appropriated and ftatutes quoted, 
 180. Capital of debt redeemed, 181. ]Mr. Pitt's ftatcment 
 on opening the budget, February i8or, Note, 181. Proba- 
 ble periods of the redemption of old and new debts, 182. 
 Examples of fimilar operations, as the appropriation of the 
 finking fund to the extinction of private debts, 183 — 185. 
 Dr. Price on revcrfionary paymerrts, quoted, Noti; 183. Sir 
 John Sinclair's fuggeflion of a plan on fimilar principles as 
 the finking fund of 1786, Nofc, 185. Meritorious claufe pro- 
 3 pofed
 
 INDEX. 
 
 pofed by Mr. Fox in the bill for the cinnual application of one 
 per cent. Nofe, 185. Efticacy of former finking funds, how 
 dell roved, 185. 
 Sovereign, how the moral charafter of, has great influence 
 
 over public credit, 165, 
 Spain, why the worft cultivated country in F.\irf)pe, 215. 
 Subjeft to frequent dearths of provifions, ib. Population 
 at different periods, 264.. For other particulars Ite Navy, 
 Population, Revenue, &^c. 
 Specie. See Money, Gold and Silver. 
 Stamp duties, origin of, 104. Produce of net revenue at 
 
 the beginning and end of the 18th cent\iry, 104. 
 Strength, national, compnrative view of that of Grtnt Eri- 
 tain with France, and the principal maritime fiates of Eu- 
 rope, 207. Natural and geogiaphical advantages of Great 
 Britain, ib. National luength defined, 2c8. The aflem- 
 blages of military virtues ot other nations compared with 
 Great Britain, 209. Naval exertions, allufions to the re- 
 cent military exertions in Egypt, ib. Commerce and active 
 iubjefts, 214. Relative ftiength confidered, 246. Com- 
 parative view of the adfive and indultnous clafs of inhabit- 
 ants, 246. General maxim concerning them, 247. 
 Sinclair, Sir John, on the walte lands m England, qxivtted, 160. 
 Suggefled a plan fimilar to the finking iuiid of 1786, Ao/f, 
 185. 
 Smith, Adam, quoted on dearnefs of provifions, 146. 
 Sugar. See Well Indies. 
 
 Supplies voted for the year 1800, Nofe, 26. For 1799, the 
 higheftof any year during the i8th century, 197. Lift of, 
 for every year during the century, Ap. No. IV. 321. 
 Sweden. Prog re fs of population for the laft ^oyears, extent 
 of territory, and number of inhabitants to a Iquare mile, 
 267. Progrefs of revenue, expenditure, debts, and taxes, 
 during the laft century, 298. Navy at different periods, 
 304—306. 
 
 T 
 
 Taxes, amount of, at the Revolution, Kofc, 14. How clafTed 
 
 at the beginning of the iSrh century, 16. Produce of the 
 
 convoy-tax, for 1799, 37. Doubled fince the war, and 
 
 compared with the progrefs of exports and impoits, No/e, 50. 
 
 Refurces of the nation piogrLlfively increafed during ihe 
 
 century, in a greater ratio than our taxes, 52. Taxes and 
 
 their effects confidered, 74. New taxes imp()ied, February 
 
 i8oi, Nofe; 102. Repeal of the rax on printed cotton, ib. 
 
 ! xcife, income-tax, fait, fiamps : fee thefe heads. Compa- 
 
 r.unof the net average produce of taxes in three years of 
 
 peace, and three years of war, 105. Middle clalfes of the 
 
 community pay taxes in a greater proportion than the 
 
 -/. z z higher
 
 INDEX. 
 
 higher and lower, iij;. Proofs in illuflration of this fa6>, 
 1 1 6. Emigrations vn the return of peace will be detrimen- 
 tal to the income-tax, Ncte, 117. T h^: queftion of a total 
 exemption of taxes in favour of the lower ciafles confidered, 
 I iS — 1 19. Doftor Franklin's oblerv„tions on the fuhjeft, 
 Note, iig. l^olicy of t^e lower ordeis contributing their 
 mite, 120. Hints foi an equitable fcalc of taxing income, 
 Notcj 121 — 122. Obn >xioiis taxes iii the time of the Ro- 
 mans, 122 — 123. VeJpa.iaij's tjx, 124. Poll-taxes at pre- 
 sent peculiar to nioft countries "f Eur.^pe, as well as in the 
 time of the Romans, 123. Kefli.-61ions on the multiplicity 
 of t xcs, 124 Ncccflaiifs of ife, ho'vv tc;xed in Holland, 
 126. Detrimental to the J ublic and individuals, 127. Per- 
 inanent and tempi'rafy tnxes, for 18. .'O, Nnfe, 141. New 
 taxes kept diflir!<5^ fiom old, T95. Mr. Irving's obierva- 
 tions in his evidence V cfore the belift Committee on Fi- 
 nance, ib. Ordinary and txtrani linaiy raxes levied in 
 Fiance, for 1799.. ^44. r->|'rn;es foimerly in collefting 
 the taxes in 'ranee, 289. Tax'^s of France, Spain, Ruffia, 
 Denmark, and Svved-n, partly enumerated, 288 — 289. 
 
 Tea. See Eaft indh Company. 
 
 Tiers confolidc fund See France. 
 
 Tonnage. See Shipping. 
 
 Trade. See Ccmmeice, Exports, Imports, Eaft India Com- 
 pany, Wefl Indies, &c. 
 
 W 
 
 War. Wm. Eden, Efq. (now Lord Auckland's) obferva- 
 ticn, quoted, 72. Accumulation of debts during the wars 
 of the 18th century, 188. Dean Tucker's philanthropic 
 obfervations on the fubjeft, 189. Retrofpeftive view of the 
 wars of remote ages, Note, 189. The prefent the only war 
 in which commerce has progreffively flouriflied, 301. 
 
 Ways and Means voted for 1799, the higheftof any year du- 
 ring the lall: century, 197. Lift of, for every year of the 
 century, Ap. No. IV. 321. 
 
 Wealth, progreflive influx of, during the 17th and i8th cen- 
 turies, 60 — 65. D'Avenant, and other writers of the 17th 
 and 1 8th centuries, quoted, ib. Facility of drawing a 
 great revenue from the fources oi wealth, 65 — 66. Gold 
 and filver in circulation at the Reftoration, Revolution, and 
 different periods, ib. Aggregate amount of wealth in 
 Great Britain, iuppofed to exceed the aggregate value pof. 
 fefled ny all the maritime powers of Europe, 2 10. Reflec- 
 tions on the wealth and power of Great Britain at prefent, 
 311—312. 
 
 Weil Indies. Value of Weft India produce formerly exported 
 
 by
 
 INDEX. 
 
 by France, 29. Value of imports into Great Britain in 1700 
 and 1798, cj.iTafted, ^55. Quantity of Britim plantation 
 iuc^ar imported in 1700 and 17^8, 3<;— 3^- ^'/"'^ ^"^ 
 ne" duties, 36. OfHcial value of amual iniports from the 
 Weft Indies from 1700 'to 1798 iti-lufive, Table, Ap. No. 
 
 III. 318. , . T, • 
 
 Wheat. See Agriculture, Cavalry, Horfcs, ropulation, Frovi- 
 
 Cons. 
 Window-tax. See Commutation. 
 Woollen manufaaures, number of perfon". employed in, ancj 
 
 produce of annual labour, 253. 
 
 THE END. 
 
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