§ The House having resolved into a Committee of Ways and Means,
The Chancellor of the Exchequermoved,
"1. That towards making good the Supply granted to his Majesty, there be issued and applied the sum of 996, 927l. 18s. 4½. being the Surplus of the Consolidated. Fund remaining in the Exchequer for the disposition of parliament, upon the 50 day of April 1811. 2. That toward making good the supply granted to his Majesty for Naval Services, there applied the sum of 420,364l., arisen, from the sale of old Naval and Victualling Stores." There was in the last year a surplus of 7,000,000l. and odd thousands pounds, but it was a surplus produced by the concurrence of many circumstances: which would not be reckoned on in other years, a surplus of 600,000l. having taken, place on the taxes alone. In consequence of this, he had been induced at that period to recommend the application of a certain portion to the expences of the current year; and he had even the satisfaction to state to the House that the actual produce exceeded the estimate by 1,353,000l. He felt the greater satisfaction in stating this, as it afforded a practical refutation of reports which had gone abroad, calculated to give a gloomy view of the trade and finances of the country. The House would no doubt rejoice in this proof indeed, any proof were wanted, that there was such a vigour in the trade, and such a solidity and stamina in the revenue, that it was not a little, nor even a great thing that would be sufficient to destroy them The House had now before it a view of the consequences of what he had recommended last year—that of meeting the expenses without recurring to any new tax. It would also be seen by reference to the produce for the last three years, that so far from declining, the country was evidently in a state of great prosperity. In 1809, the produce was 36,446,000l; that of last year, upon which, as he had already stated; a considerable increase had occurred that could not be calculated upon in future, was 41,441,474l. and that of the present year was 41,300,000l. so that the difference between the present and the former year, was by no means so great as they had reason to expect, on considering the peculiar circumstances by which the former year was favoured. After such a statement, the House would see there was no reason for indulging that despondency which some people were inclined to entertain.
Mr. Bankescongratulated the House on the statement of his right hon. friend, and the proofs then before them of the prosperous condition of the finances; but he begged leave to observe, and to press upon their consideration, that though our resources were large and prosperous, it was necessary to exercise the greatest economy in their application. He wished that the corresponding sums of this last year's produce should be laid before the House, and was desirous to know whether the fines for the militia were included, which he understood amounted to two or three millions.
The Chancellor of the Exchequerread the corresponding sums, but said that he had no conception that the fines for the militia were so great as his hon. friend had represented. With respect to the question Whether those fines were included in the present statement? he observes that such as were paid into the Exchequer were certainly comprehended in it, but he could not say whether those which were paid into the Bank were considered part of the consolidated fund.
§ Mr. Franklandthought the amount of the fines could not be so great as had been stated.
§ Mr. H. Thorntonrecommended a strict adherence to economy, and expressed his apprehension that the increase was not really great as it appeared to be.
The Chancellor of the Exchequersaid, that economy should be undoubtedly a paramount object with that House; but it was also Bound to provide For the necessary 743 expences of the government, and the former object should never be pursued so far as to exclude the latter from their consideration. The excess of the Consolidated Fund, which had exceeded the estimate of the year in which the taxes were paid out of it, afforded a ground for representing the increasing prosperity of the country. He remembered that in the former instance, when he recommended that application of the fund, he was charged with having taken a too sanguine view of the subject; but experience had proved that that view was not sanguine, and the increase already mentioned had truly justified his predictions. The produce of the Post Office itself, in the year, ending 1810, exceeded that of the former year by, he believed, 100,000l.; and in the last year the excess was still greater. The Excise was also considerably increased, and there was every prospect of a flourishing revenue.
§ The Resolutions were then agreed to.