MONTHLY DIGEST.

GREAT BRITAIN.

Net Produce of the Revenue of Great Britain in the

Total. 11,789,072 11,697,525 318,120 409,667 || 43,379,339 42,936,845 264,741 689,235

By this net abstract of the revenue for the year and quarter ended Jan. 5th, it will be seen that there is a decrease on the year of 442,4947. and on the quarter of 91,5477. When, however, the taxes which have been remitted-as for example, the tax on soap, and various other articles-are taken into consideration, the loss in the revenue will not only not excite any surprise, but rather be deemed a gain to the public. The decrease on the customs amounts, for the quarter, to 293,0197. The uncompensated deficiency of 94,1227. is found under the head of taxes, which may probably arise from an unwillingness to enforce rigidly the law in their collection. The defalcation in the revenue of Customs on the quarter just expired, as compared with its produce in the corresponding quarter of last year, is owing, we have no doubt, in a great measure, to the difference in the duties for corn. The rise in the Excise presents a gratifying feature in these returns, as this tax is levied on articles chiefly consumed by the middle and labouring classes.

Lord Althorp, in his speech of 20th of April last, calculated the annual diminution of revenue consequent on the repeal of taxes which then took place, at 1,056,000l., or 264,000l. per quarter. That deficiency for the last three quarters accordingly amounts to 792,000l., but the actual diminution of revenue for these three quarters is precisely 349,0747., leaving a balance of 442,9267. in favour of the revenue.

This view must be reckoned a very favourable one by all, who do not expect that a reduction of taxation is not to be followed by a diminution of revenue.

The diminution for the last quarter is
For the quarter ending Oct. 10, it was

91,5477. 252,2761.

160,7297.

Here, too, there is a cause of satisfaction to those who consider a surplus of 160,729%. to be of some amount.

There has been, in fact, a prodigious increase in the revenue, both for the last quarter and during the last year, in the Excise department, which affords the best means of judging that the people have it in their power to supply themselves, not only with the necessaries, but with the comforts, and even superfluities of life.

Those who complain of a falling revenue should remember that the present Ministers have repealed taxes, according to Mr. Spring Rice's statement, to the amount of 3,335,000l., and that the late Ministers repealed taxes in 1830, which did not begin to take effect till October of that year, to the amount of 3,400,000l., making a total in three years and three months of 6,735,000l. Now if the produce of the unrepealed taxes had not augmented, the revenue for the 5th of January, 1834, instead of 42,936,8457, would have been about 38,700,0007.

THE COLONIES.

WEST INDIES.

AN official document has been published, containing an outline of the arrangements made by the Colonial Department, for bringing about the abolition of Slavery in the West Indies, and for maintaining order and justice, especially between the planters and the negroes, in the intermediate period. This document has been prepared specially for the Crown colony of Guiana, including Demerara and its dependencies; but it will be applied, with the modifications required by circumstances, to all the other Crown colonies, and will be recommended to the legislative assemblies of those islands which possess them. The following is an abstract of the principal provisions:

"Each justice, having jurisdiction over a given district, is to fix his station there, a track of land being set apart, and buildings thereon erected, one of which is always to be a house of correction, as near as may be to that spot where the population of the district appears most dense, and therefore the subject-matter for magisterial interference most frequent. The station thus fixed upon is to be termed the Police Settlement' of the district. The police are to execute the orders of the justice for the repression of crimes, and for enforcing obedience to the laws. In determining the procedure to be observed by these new magistrates in the administration of justice, great and laudable pains are taken by Government to facilitate amicable compromises, and to deter, by reasonable and appropriate penalties, both employers and apprentices from bringing forward frivolous, vexatious, or unfounded charges. The apprentices are to receive, henceforth, from their masters the same amount of provisions, &c., for their maintenance, in consideration of forty-five hours' work per week, as they now receive for sixty hours, and no extra labour imposed as a penalty on the apprentice for misconduct is to exceed fifteen hours per week in addition to the forty-five, during which the Abolition Act compels him to labour. The clauses which treat of the duties to be performed by the apprentices and employers reciprocally have been drawn up with great good sense, and in a spirit of laudable impartiality. Hard labour, and in some aggravated cases whipping, but under the sentence of the magistrate, are the chief punishments resorted to for neglect of duty, absence, desertion, &c., on the part of the apprentice: repetition of an offence always subjects him to an increase of punishment. Drunkenness, insubordination, turbulence, are marked out distinctly for the visitation of the law. Women are in no case to be degraded by whipping; but for offences which expose) men to that species of chastisement, females shall be confined in the stocks, and clad in peculiar and disgraceful dresses. The employers are restrained from the exercise of fraud or injustice towards the labourer by the authorized vigilance of the magistrate, both as to the nature of all contracts for task or other special work entered into between the parties, and as to the manner in which their stipulations have been fulfilled. Fine, and, in some instances, imprisonment, are the penalties to be inflicted on employers for a breach of contract."

CANADA.

The number of emigrants to Canada, in the last three years, amounts to 134,970; and the market for British manufactures has increased in a greater ratio than the population. During the last year, 1035 British vessels, amounting to 279,704 tons, navigated by 12,243 seamen, have entered the port of Quebec alone. This astonishing trade has increased from 69 vessels, navigated by 731 seamen, in the year 1805. A million and a half of value on British manufactures had paid duties of import.

FALKLAND ISLANDS.

Our Government having judged the Falkland Islands to be a station of some importance and convenience to our ships proceeding to the Pacific, and, having taken possession of them, have directed that Captain Fitzroy, in the Beagle, should survey them; for which service he was about to leave the River Plate. Lieutenant H. Smith, late First Lieutenant of the Tyne, is appointed Governor of these islands, and four seamen, volunteers, as a boat's crew, for his use and protection. They were to proceed by the first ship from Rio. It was expected that this little nucleus party of a new colony would be reinforced by a party of Royal Marines from England. It has been ascertained that these islands are not so unproductive as has been believed, and that a limited number of settlers would do well on the eastern island, where, in fact, one is forming; a situation called Port Louis, at the head of Berkeley Sound, had been fixed upon as head-quarters. At least

seven thousand head of fine wild cattle, and five hundred wild horses, are roaming over a large expanse of most excellent pasturage. Game is also in abundance, particularly rabbits; and the shores abound with excellent fish, as well as whales and seals. Though there is no timber on the islands, the sheltered spots are favourable to the growth of hardy trees; there is peat in abundance, which would furnish a never-failing supply of fuel, and kelp for manure. The climate is not severe, considering its localities, and there is anchorage all round the coast.

CEYLON.

On the 9th of July the Governor of Ceylon issued a proclamation, repealing all the existing laws relating to cinnamon, and declaring that, from next day, it should be lawful for all persons to cultivate, possess, and sell the same, subject to certain restrictions and exceptions; and allowing the exportation of it, in any quantity, from Columbo and Point de Galle, at a duty of 3s. per pound.

FOREIGN STATES.

FRANCE.

THE Session of the French Chamber was opened on Dec. 23rd, by the King in person. The following is an abstract of the Speech :

:

"The tranquillity of France has not been disturbed since your last session. It is in the enjoyment of the blessings of order and peace. Throughout the country industry and labour meet with their reward. The population, occupied and peaceful, feels assured of the stability of our institutions, of my fidelity in watching over them; and the public security is the pledge of national prosperity. It was by guaranteeing our rights, protecting our interests, and by the equity and moderation of our policy, that we have obtained these happy results. In order to render them lasting, we shall persevere with energy and patience in the same system. An unceasing vigilance is still necessary; insensate passions and culpable manœuvres are at work to undermine the foundations of social order. We will oppose to them your loyal concurrence, the firmness of the magistrates, the activity of the administration, the courage and patriotism of the National Guard and of the army; the wisdom of the nation, enlightened as to the danger of the illusions which those who attack liberty, in pretending to defend it, seek still to propagate; and we shall ensure the triumph of constitutional order and our progress in civilization. It is thus, gentlemen, that we shall at length put an end to revolution, and that we shall fulfil the wishes of France. thank her for the support she has given me; I thank her for the tokens of confidence and affection with which she has surrounded me. I received them with emotion in such of the provinces as I have been able to visit, and I render thanks to Providence for the blessings which our country already enjoys, and for those which the future promises." The Speech proceeds to allude to the new law of customs, which it hopes "will reconcile the protection due to industry, with those principles of prudent freedom which enlightened governments are disposed to admit." His Majesty announces an amelioration in the state of the finances of the country, as well as various projects of law for general improvement. He states that the dispositions of foreign powers towards France promise the preservation of general peace. The affairs of Portugal and Spain are briefly alluded to, and the suppression of the insurrection in the latter country anticipated :-at all events, it is remarked, the French frontier is protected by the corps of observation. A strong hope is declared, that France" continuing to be intimately united with Great Britain," a settlement of the affairs of Belgium will be effected without any interrup

tion to the tranquillity of Europe. The state of Turkey is briefly referred to, and an assurance is given that the French Government will continue to watch over the preservation of peace in that country.

M. Dupin has been re-elected President of the Chamber of Deputies.

AMERICA.

President's Message.-The speech of the American President, on the opening of Congress at Washington, has been received. It is, as usual, a document of great length, and very explicit in its details, as to the existing state and prospects of the Union, which, it must be admitted, are, generally speaking, satisfactory. The President commences by observing :

"Peace reigns within our borders-abundance crowns the labours of our fields-commerce and domestic industry flourish and increase-and individual happiness rewards the private virtue and enterprise of our citizens. Our condition abroad is no less honourable than it is prosperous at home. Seeking nothing that is not right, and determined to submit to nothing that is wrong, but desiring honest friendships and liberal intercourse with all nations, the United States have gained throughout the world the confidence and respect which are due to the character of the American people, and to a policy so just and so congenial to the spirit of their institutions. With Great Britain, the interesting question of our northern boundary remains still undecided. A negotiation, however, upon that subject, has been renewed since the close of the last congress, and a proposition has been submitted to the British government, with the view of establishing, in conformity with the resolution of the Senate, the line designated by the treaty of 1783. Though no definitive answer has been received, it may be daily looked for, and I entertain a hope that the overture may ultimately lead to a satisfactory adjustment of this important matter. I have the satisfaction to inform you, that a negotiation which, by desire of the House of Representatives, was opened some years ago with the British Government for the erection of light-houses on the Bahamas, has been successful. These works, when completed, together with some which the United States have constructed on the western side of the Gulf of Florida, will contribute essentially to the safety of navigation in that sea. This joint participation in establishments, interesting to humanity and beneficial to commerce, is worthy of two enlightened nations, and indicates feelings which cannot fail to have a happy influence upon their political relations. It is gratifying to the friends of both to perceive that the intercourse between the two people is becoming daily more extensive, and that sentiments of mutual good will have grown up benefiting their common origin, justifying the hope that by wise councils on each side, not only unsettled questions may be satisfactorily terminated, but new causes of misunderstanding prevented."

After speaking somewhat in the language of complaint of France not having fulfilled all the stipulations of the convention concluded with the United States in July, 1831, in reference to the payment of certain sums of money, the President proceeds to give a passing notice of the principal European governments, with all of whom it is affirmed a good understanding exists, and with many of them fresh arrangements of a commercial character have been made which are likely to be beneficial to the United States. In referring to Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Holland, Turkey, &c., while sufficient is said to denote that the American government is not unobservant of what is going on in these several kingdoms, the utmost caution is exercised not to say any thing which amounts to an opinion respecting the rights of any parties: all is strict neutrality. The following is the announcement respecting the finances and the extinction of the national debt: It gives me great pleasure to congratulate you upon the prosperous condition of the finances of the country. The receipts into the Treasury during this year will amount to more than 32,000,000 of dollars. The expenditure within the year for all objects, will not amount to 25,000,000;

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