THE

HE finances of the year 1799 were introduced by a notice given to the house of commons, on the 26th of November, by the chancellor of the exchequer, that on that day fortnight he should have the honour of making a statement of the whole ways and means of the year. The plan of proceeding which he meant to recommend, was that of raising within the year a considerable part of the supplies. The principle of that plan had already received the approbation of the house; but what he had to propose would, he trusted, be done in a mode less exceptionable than that of the former year. The principle, however, was the same, and the advantage of it had been already felt; and so far was he from apprehending it would not be approved, that he expected a general concurrence. For the present he should defer the detail of the plan, and propose that the resolutions should be voted, and a bill introduced in pursuance of them on Monday; he should then propose that the blanks should be filled up, and that the interval of nearly a week should be taken to peruse it; and

afterwards he should propose the re-commitment, which he hoped would take place on Friday.

Preparatory to the introduction of the minister's new plan of finance, the house entered into a committee of supply on the 27th of November. Mr. Hobart then brought up the report, in which it had been voted that 120,000 men be employed for the service of the navy for the year 1799, including 20,000 marines. The several resolutions were read a first time; and, on their second reading, granting 120,000 men for the service of the navy,

Sir John Sinclair rose, and said, that, after a cool and careful deliberation on the subject of the present resolution, he found himself countenanced and confirmed, by a variety of what he deemed to be cogent reasons, in an opinion he had formerly expressed, namely, that the number of seamen proposed to be employed was by no means called for by the necessary service and exigences of the state. When he considered the depressed and ruined condition of the enemy's fleet, the fallen condition to which it was reduced by the superior skill and gal

lantry

lantry of British seamen, he could not but rest satisfied, that victories so brilliant and decisive as those which our navy had achieved must render a far less naval force than that hitherto employed fully adequate to every purpose of annoyance and defence. But when he moreover considered, that our exertions were now to be seconded and invigorated by the co-operation of Russia, of Turkey, of the Neapolitans, and the Portuguese, he was further strengthened in the opinion that a less naval force would be necessary; and he was more par ticularly impressed with the necessity of turning the most serious-attention of the house to the deranged situation of our finances; a situation which pointed out economy as the great object that should now engross their exertions and their thoughts; not that economy, as it had been characterised by the right honourable gentleman, but a vigorous, an essential, and general economy, that should regulate the expenditure of not only one branch of the administrative power, an economy which should pervade and purify every department of the

state.

He had carefully perused Steel's List, and there he observed that we were now in possession of one hundred and forty-three sail of ships of war; of these, that eighty-five were employed in actual service; that twenty-eight were fitting out, refiting, in the different ports; that no less than thi ty sail of the line were actually employed as guardships: and that thirty sail of the line should be thus cooped up in a state of inertness that only accumulated idle expense, was what he could not think of with ut regret, and what loudly called for the most serious consideration of the well-wishers to

public economy. He was charged with holding opinions of a singular nature; but the more he considered them, the less he could see them chargeable with singularity. What he advanced was, that a greater number than that 'called for last year, viz. 110,000 seamen, was not necessary for the service of the ensuing year. He alluded to the opinion of Mr. Hussey, who was not now present. But the enemy did not now possess seventy sail of effective ships: there was therefore nothing like the same number now necessary on our side; and were the house to vote a supply of naval force in proportion to the now existing force of the enemy, they could not well exceed fifty-five ships. Should a peace be speedily concluded, what would be the result? Immediately we should have to discharge at once the immense force of 90,000 seamen, and 350,000 soldiers. Should a war with France continue for a length of time longer, would not wisdom and experience suggest the propriety of our then carrying on the war upon as reduced a scale as possible? This caution was hinted and enforced by an old political maxim, a maxim wise as it was old, that exhausto denario et imminente calamitate cavendum ergt ne res publica deseretur.

Mr. Thomas Wallace said, he could by no means agree in opinion with the honourable baronet, notwithstanding the declaration he had made, that his sentiments upon the present question were the result of a cool and careful examination.

General Tarleton assured the house also, and the honourable baronet who opposed the resolution, that neither he, nor those political friends with whom he had the honour to act, either now or ever did entertain an idea of opposing any thing that went to strengthen our naval

depart

department, which was the pride of the nation and its best defence; on the contrary, they had always approved of the measures that had that tendency, and gave them al the countenance in their power. The resolution was then put and agreed to, with only one dissenting voice, namely, that of Sir John Sinclair.

On the 28th of November the chancellor of the exchequer moved the house to resolve itself into a committee of the whole house, to consider of the ways and means for raising a supply granted to his majesty.

The house having accordingly resolved itself into a committee, he moved the following resolutions: "That it is the opinion of this committee, that, wards raising the supply granted to his majesty, the severat duties imposed upon sugar by the 27th, 34th, and 37th of his present majesty, and also the datics of excise on tobacco and snuff, directed in the last session of parliament to be continued until the th of March, 1730, should be further continued until the 5th day of March, 1800.

"That four shillings in the pound, and no more, be imposed on all pensions, offices, &c. a..d continued. "That the duty on malt, &c. be continued from the 23d of June, 1799 to the 24th of June, 1800."

These resolutions were agreed to; and the house being resumed, the report was ordered for Friday; on which day the secretary at war proceeded to open the army estimates; his great cbject in doing which, he said, was to shew the difference between present and former estimates. The difference between this and the last year would be some thing more than one million. The objects which had created this dif

ference were the supplementary militia, provisional cavalry, the vo lunteer corps, and barracks. The estimates for the year 1797 amounted to the sum of 6,900,000l. T ose of the following year were voted at two different times. The first sum (5.900,000l.) was considerably less than that of the preceding year, and would have answered for the charges of last year, were it not that other objects, not expected at the time the estimates were made, arose out of the situation ofalfairs that afterwards took plwe: the charges, therefore, attendant upon those new arrangements, added to those already estimated for the year 178 (2,316, col.) amounted in the whole to the sum of 8,305,9251. Besides these increased establishments, which we e to be kept up for the ensuing year,” there were some volunteer corps that had not been called out till the present time, and others that had considerably increased since the las es mate: on this account the esimate for the ensuing year would amount to somewhat more than the sum of nine millions. There was one circumstance which had swelled the estimate of 1798 above that of the preceding year, and that was the augmentation of pay to the army; and he apprehended, that was an increase which must continue. Besides, there was a number of regiments serving in Ireland, and now remaining there. Should it be continued, Ireland might here. after be called upon to contribute a part towards bearing that burden.

An augmentation had also taken place in the regiments of dragoons, which brought on an additional expense of 65,000l. Another of 39,0col. took place in consequence of the increase of the companies of foot guards from 100 to 120 men, and other troops. Another

increase