House of Commons
Saturday, July 14 1804
Minutes
The Deputy Usher of the Black Rod attended at the bar, and summoned the house to appear in the house of Lords, to hear the royal assent given by commission. The Speaker, with the house, attended accordingly; and, on his return, he informed the house that he had been in the house of Peers, and heard the royal assent given by commission, to the Kilwarden Annuity bill, the Irish Additional Force bill, the Foreign Enlistment bill, the Clandestine Marriage bill, and the Coal Market bill, with several private bills.—Lord C. Somerset took the oaths and his seat for the borough of Monmouth.—Mr. Alderman Combe brought up the report of the Committe on the Additional Force Amendment bill, so far as relates to the City of London, which was agreed to.—The British Fishery bill, the Leather Manufacturers bill, and the Property Commissioners bill, were severally read a 3d. time and passed.—A message from the Lords informed the house, that their lordships had agreed to the Hackney Coach bill, the Irish Counties Peace bill, and the Corn Regulation bill, without any amendments.—The Woolwich Ordnance Lands bill, the bill to obviate Inconveniencies in the Acceptant General's Office in Chancery, the Irish Revenue bill for raising 800,000l. the Nassau Free Port bill, the Loyalty Loan bill, the Tobacco and Snuff Warehousing bill, and the 2,500,000l. bill, were severally reported, and the resolutions agreed to.—A new writ was ordered to be issued for the county of Loath, in Ireland, in the room of the right hon. J. Foster, who, since ins election, has accepted the office of Chancellor of the Exchequer in Ireland.—The Consolidated Fund bill, and the Irish Revenue Regulation bill, were severally committed.
Irish Revenue Bill
On the question that the house should go into a committee upon the bill for regulating the revenue of Ireland,
said, it was impossible that he could consent to such a motion, without previously making a few observations upon a bill, which went to raise no less than 400,000l. in addition to the revenue, so as to occasion double the amount of taxes to be paid by the people of Ireland. The house seemed already to have decided a very important question, as to the distillers in that country, by discontinuing the allowance of 8 and 16 per cent. on the exportation of their spirits; for although there would be another opportunity to argue the matter, yet he was afraid it would end unfavourably towards them. He felt it, therefore, to be consistent with his duty to his constituents, to entreat the house, previous to their going into a committee, that they would endeavour to make additional burdens press as little as possible upon that description of persons. He really believed, that the proposals contained in the bill were not sufficiently known in Ireland by those whom it materially concerned, he meant the distillers, the barley growers, and the landed gentlemen of that country. To all of these people it must create considerable uneasiness. The distiller was one of the most useful members of that part of the united kingdom, on account of his employing several thousands of people, who otherwise would not procure a livelihood. He hoped such considerations would have some weight upon the house, and prevent them from imposing additional burdens upon distillers, which they were by no means able to sustain.—After a few observations from Sir E. Nepean and Mr. Beresford, relative to the policy of obliging the distillers to perform a certain portion of work in a certain number of days, the house went into the committee. Several amendments were therein made relative to the distillers. The report was brought up, and ordered to be received on Monday next.
Finance Resolutions
submitted to the consideration of the house, a string of resolutions respecting the finances of the country, which, he admitted, he had taken up on the same ground as a right hon. friend of his (Mr. Tierney) had formerly done. He wished to proceed in the same way, which was, that the 1st resolution should be read, and the debate adjourned to some future day. The 1st resolution was then read. The resolutions were then ordered to be printed, and, on the motion of Mr. Huskisson, the debate thereon was adjourned to Tuesday. The resolutions moved by the hon. gent. are as follow:
I. That the total amount of the public funded debt of Great Britain was, on the 1st of Feb. 1803, 567,008,978l.; of which 67,255,915l. had been purchased by the commissioners, and 19,180,387l. had been transferred to them on account of land tax redeemed, leaving a funded debt of 480,572,476l.; and that the amount of annuities charged on G. Britain (after deducting what have fallen in) was, on the 1st of Feb. in short annuities and for lives, 539,979l. and in long annuities, 1,015,410l.
That the total amount of public funded debt, chargeable on G. Britain for account of Ireland, was, on the 1st of Feb. 1803, 22 348,000l. of which there had been purchased by the commissioners 1,123,415l. leaving a funded debt of 21,224,585l. together with long annuities to the amount of 9,791l.
That the total amount of public funded debt, chargeable on G. Britain for account of the Emperor of Germany, was, on the 1st of Feb. 7,502,633l. of which 375,137l. had been purchased by the commissioners, leaving a funded debt of 7,127,496l. together with annuities to the amount of 230,000l. which will expire in 1820.
That under the heads of treasury, ordnance, barracks (and including 171,431l. deficient in the ways and means of 1802), outstanding demands, as far as the same can be made up, remained to be provided
for on the 5th Jan. 1803, to the amount of 762,867 That the unfunded debt in Exchequer bills unprovided for was, on the 5th Jan. 1803 9,500,000 That the debt of the navy was, on the 5th Jan. 1803 3,105,648 Making the total amount of unfunded debt 13,368,515 That the total debt may be stated as follows: Funded debt unredeemed of G. Britain 480,572,476 Funded debt unredeemed of G. Britain for account of Ireland 21,224,585 Funded debt unredeemed of G. Britain for account of the Emperor of Germany 7,127,496 besides short annuities to the amount of 230,000l. Long annuities, value at 16 years purchase, 1,015,410l. for G. Britain; 9,791l. for Ireland 16,403,216 Unfunded debt 13,368,515 Leaving a total sum charged or chargeable on G. Britain (exclusive of 539,979l. and 230,000l. short annuities) of 538,696,288
II. That the total amount of the public funded debt of G. Britain (including the amount created by the sums borrowed in the present session) was, on the 1st Feb. 1804, 601,208.978l. of which 77,698,167l. had been purchased by the commissioners, and 21,147,888l had been transferred to them to account of land tax redeemed; leaving a funded debt of 502,362,622l. and that the amount of annuities charged on G. Britain after deducting what have fallen in) was, on the 1st Feb. in short annuities and for lives, 516,383l. and in long annuities, 1,045,494l.
That the total amount of public funded debt chargeable on G. Britain for account of Ireland, including the amount created by the sums borrowed in the present session, was, on the 1st Feb. 1804, 33,738,000l. of which there had been purchased by the commissioners 1,595,671l. leaving a funded debt of 32,142,329l. together with long annuities to the amount of 16,208l.
That the total amount of public funded debt, chargeable on G. Britain for account of the Emperor of Germany, was, on the 1st Feb. 1804, 7,502,633l. of which 459,828l. had been purchased by the commissioners, leaving a funded debt of 7,042,805l. together with annuities to the amount of 230,000l. which will expire in 1820.
That under the heads of treasury, ordnance, barracks, and civil list advances, after deducting 1,370,664l. surplus, in the ways and means of 1803, outstanding demands as far as the same can be made up, remained to be provided for on the 5th Jan. 1804,
to the amount of 653,421 That the unfunded debt in Exchequer bills, unprovided for, was on the 5th of Jan. 1804 15,390,800 That the debt of the navy was, on the 5th Jan. 1804 4,037,307 Making the total amount of unfunded debt 20,081,528 That the total debt may be stated as follows: Funded debt unredeemed of G. Britain 502,362,622 Funded debt unredeemed of G. Britain for account of Ireland 32,142,329 Funded debt unredeemed of G. Britain for account of the Emperor of Germany, besides short annuities to the amount of 230,000l. 7,040,405 Long annuities, valued at 16 years purchase, 1,047,194l. for G. Britain, 16,208l. for Ireland 17,019,232 Unfunded debt 20,081,528 Leaving a total sum charged or chargeable on G. Britain (exclusive a 616,383l. and 230,000l. short annuities) of 578,643,516
III. That the annual charge for account of the funded debt of G. Britain was, on the 1st Feb. 1803, 23,510,967l.; and on the 1st Feb. 1804, including the charge incurred by the loan of the present session, was 24,846,665l.
That the sum applicable to the reduction of the funded debt of G. Britain was, on the 1st Feb. 1803, 5,834,986l.; and on the 1st Feb. 1804, including one per cent. on the stock created by the loan of the present session, was 6,493,626l.
That the net produce of the permanent taxes was, in the year ending 5th Jan. 1803, 27,531,358l.; and in the year ending 5th Jan. 1804, 30,710,747l.
IV. That the total official value of all imports into G. Britain, in the year ending the 5th Jan. 1803, was 31,442,318l.; and on the average of 6 years, ending 5th Jan. 1803, 28,419,625l.
That the total official value of all imports into G. Britain was, in the year ending 5th Jan. 1804 (supposing the imports from the E. Indies, of which no account has been made up, to be the same as in the year preceding) 27,441,874l.; and on an average of 6 years, ending 5th Jan. 1804, 29,490,945l.
That the total official value of British produce and manufacture exported, in the year ending 5th Jan. 1803, was 26,993,129l.; and on an average of 6 years, ending 5th Jan. 1803, was 20,942,840l.
That the total official value of British produce and manufacture exported in the year ending 5th Jan. Jan. 1804, was 22,232,103l., and on an average of 6 years, ending 5th Jan. 1804, 23,834,339l.
That the total official value of foreign merchandize exported from G. Britain in the year ending 5th Jan. 1803, was 14,418,837l; and on an average of 6 years, ending 5th Jan. 1803, was 11,651,333l.
That the total official value of foreign merchandize exported from G. Britain in the year ending 5th Jan. 1804, was 9,323,257l.; and on an average of 6 years, ending 5th Jan. 1804, was 11,636,441l.
V. That the total turn to be raised in G. Britain in the year 1804, May be estimated as follows:
Interest of the public funded debt, charges of management and sinking fund, on the 5th Feb. 1801 24,110,475 Interest, charges of management, &c. to be paid between the 5th Feb. 1804, and the 5th Jan. 1805, on. Stock created by loans of the present session, to the amount of 18,200,000l. 534,190 Interest on Exchequer bills, the amount issued and bearing interest, exceeding 20,000,000l. 1,000,000 Civil govt. of Scotland, pensions on revenue, militia and deserters' warrants, bounties for promoting fisheries, &c. &c. estimated to be the same as in the year ending 5th Jan. 1804 723,056 Charges of collecting and Management of the revenue, estimated to be the same as in the year ending 5th Jan, 1804 1,955,368 Proportion to be defrayed by G. Britain, of the civil list and other charges on the consolidated fund of G. Britain (the charges on the consolidated fund of Ireland, which is likewise a joint charge, being included in the supplies) 15–17ths of 1,346,043l. 1,187,690 Supplies voted in 1804 for G. Britain exclusively 2,292,000 Supplies voted in 1801 for G. Britain and Ireland, proportion to be defrayed by G. Britain, 15–17ths of 40,572,380l. 35,799,159 38,091,159 Advance to Ireland 4,500,000 Interest for loans to the Emperor of Germany 497,735 Sums to be raised parochially for the maintenance of the poor, estimated to be the same as in the year ending Easter, 1803 5,246,506 Making in the whole the sum of 77,846,179
That the funds applicable to discharge the sum required for the service of the year 1804, may be estimated as follow:
The gross receipt of the permanent revenue, after deducting the re-payment of over entries, drawbacks, &c. estimated to be the same as in the year ending the 5th Jan. 1804 36,139,171 Estimated produce to the 5th Jan. 1805, of the permanent taxes imposed in the present session 400,000 Carried forward 46,539,171 Brought forward 36,539,171 Small branches of the hereditary revenue and impress monies repaid, estimated to be the same as in the year ending the 5th Jan. 1804 228,253 Lottery, after deducting the proportion of Ireland 250,000 War taxes, estimated produce to the 5th April, 1805 15,440,000 Surplus of the ways and means for the year 1803 1,370,664 Loan constituting an increase of funded debt 14,500,000 Loan by Exchequer bills, charged on the supplies of the year 1805 (V. C.) 2,500,000 Sums to be raised parochially for the maintenance of the poor, estimated to be the same as in the year ending Easter 1303 5,246,506 Making in the whole the sum of 76,074,594 And leaving a deficiency of 1,771,585