§ The same is true, but lo a less extent, of Excise. The Exchequer receipts from Excise last year were £27,460,000, or £460,000 over my estimate and £660,000 over the Exchequer receipts of 1895–96; but the receipts in 1895–96 were £750,000 more than the receipts of the previous year. Last year the net receipts on beer were £10,900,000, showing an increase of £181,000. Spirits produced £16,038,000, an increase of £434,000 upon the receipts in 1895–96.