electors*. On this plan, it is almost needless to observe that the prediction of its advocate was not verified, nor his hopes realized. The winter came, but petitions never appeared, and the project was not resumed. CHAP. LVIII. 1785. Feb. 17th. Regulation of public offices. In the speech from the throne, the attention of Finance. Parliament was called to the subject of finance. For the investigation of public accounts, a Board of Commissioners had been appointed during Lord North's administration, and they had presented twelve voluminous, able, and well-digested reports. In moving for leave to bring in bills founded on them, Mr. Pitt observed that the objects of attention had been the manner of collecting the revenue; the several offices of expenditure, the mode in which the public money was issued, chequed, controlled, and accounted for. Parliament had already made sufficient arrangements with respect to the collection; they had assigned fixed salaries to the commissioners of the land-tax, instead of fees and poundages; and the Post Office was so improved, that, instead of seven hundred, it was now paying into the treasury the weekly sum of three thousand pounds. The Pay Office had also been regulated; but, in the Navy Office balances had been suffered to accumulate in the hands of officers, long after they had quitted the public service. The present treasurer of the navy, Mr. Rose, had most laudably recommended that every treasurer, while in office, should close his accounts at the end of each year; and, on retiring, transfer the balances in hand to his successor; which should all be paid into the Bank. The latter regulation was to be extended to the Ordnance and Pay Offices. He proposed also, in conformity with the reports, to consolidate the different offices of audit for the several departments of expenditure into one general establishment, with efficient powers. When first he was in office, he had observed that, through relaxation and neglect, accountants had been permitted to retain balances, some even to the term of forty years. He had sug See Wyvill's Summary Explanation of Mr. Pitt's intended Bill. Political Papers, vol. ii. p. 357, and p. 584. CHAP. 1785. Bills brought in; and passed. March 8th. Taxes. gested an inquiry, and afterward, when out of office, had stated that the sums unaccounted for amounted to no less than forty-four millions. The subject was treated, at the time, with great pleasantry, as a mere chimera, a supposed discovery of stolen money, which he could rescue from the hands of the robbers; but, in reality, what had been treated as a romance, had proved itself the tale of truth. Twenty-seven millions unaccounted for had been discovered; a balance of two hundred and fifty-seven thousand pounds would be immediately collected; and, on further inquiry, he expected that the balance would be considerably increased. He moved to bring in bills for better examining and auditing accounts, for appointing commissioners to inquire into the fees of offices and examine abuses, and for better regulating the office of treasurer of the navy. After a few unimportant observations from other members, the motions were agreed to, and the bills passed without much debate. A few words of opposition were offered on the third reading of that for appointing commissioners of accounts, which Mr. Sheridan considered unnecessary, Mr. Fox unconstitutional, and Mr. Burke a direct violation of Magna Charta. In the selection of taxes for raising the supplies, the minister was not very fortunate. The annual sum required was four hundred and thirteen thousand pounds; and, to meet the demand, an additional tax was imposed on male, and a new one on female servants; on retail shops, according to the rent of the houses; on post-horses of one half-penny per mile, a stamp duty on gloves; a licence to be taken out by pawnbrokers; and, in addition to these, a regulation on salt. The principal attacks of opposition were levelled against the assessments on shops, and on female servants. On the shop tax, much good argument was employed; and, in hope to reconcile the parties, a licence was imposed on hawkers and pedlars. On the maid servants, much argument, some wit, and, to say the truth, a little ribaldry, were displayed. The bills passed. There were besides, in the course of the session, taxes imposed, by way of licence, on coach makers, and on sportsmen carrying arms with intent to kill game, and a sum was raised by a lottery; but the two most obnoxious taxes were, after the experiment of a few years, repealed; the duty on gloves also was, upon a longer trial, found to be less beneficial to the state than injurious to vendors and to society, by the great encouragement it afforded to informers; and it was also discontinued. CHAP. LVIII. 1785. The session was not closed by a speech from the August 2nd. throne, but merely adjourned. End of the session. CHAP: LIX. Occurrences CHAPTER THE FIFTY-NINTH. 1783-1786. Occurrences on the Continent.-State of Holland.-Views and conduct of the Emperor of Germany-his desire to abrogate the barrier treaty begins hostile operations against the Dutch. His demands.-Opening of the Scheldt.-Views of France.-Conduct of the Dutch.-Termination of the affair humiliating to the Emperor.--Effect of these proceedings. Meeting of Parliament.-Debate on the address in the House of Lords.-Amendment moved in the House of Commons. Speeches of Mr. Fox. Measures of finance. Report of a committee. - Speech of Mr. Pitt. ---A sinking fund proposed. -Objections of Sir Grey Cooper.-Answer.-Progress of the measure.-Resolutions moved by Mr. Sheridan.—Mr. Fox's proposition-agreed to by Mr. Pitt-but withdrawn.-Proceedings in the House of Lords.-Motion of Earl Stanhope.-General views of the measure which gives great satisfaction.-Arrears of the civil list.-A supply proposed.-Debate.-Mention of the Prince of Wales.-Supply granted.-Wine subjected to the excise.-Observations of Mr. Fox.-Duke of Richmond's plan of fortification-much discussed.-Motion in Parliament.-Speech of Mr. Pitt.-Mr. Bastard.—Amendment moved--and carried by the casting vote of the Speaker. Regulation of the woods and forests.-- Alteration in the militia laws.-Close of the session. CIRCUMSTANCES occurred on the Continent, during the recess of Parliament, which appeared to menace the tranquillity of Europe. A contention had arisen on the Conti- between the Emperor and the States General; but its abrupt and almost ridiculous termination formed a just contrast to the violence and haughty injustice which marked its beginning. nent. CHAP LIX. 1783. Views and conduct of the Joseph the Second was endowed with considerable talents and benevolent feelings. He was anxious for the glory and greatness of his dominions, and for the happiness of his people; but he had speculated rather extensively than wisely on principles of government, Emperor. and had not sufficient calmness to allow causes gradually to produce their expected effects, or firmness to repair temporary discouragements by time and prudence. His internal reforms, sometimes characterized by childish frivolity, at others by a pernicious spirit of hazardous innovation, disgusted his subjects, offending alike the clergy, the nobility, and the people. While they attacked the establishments of religion and the privileges of the peers, they descended to minute particulars, from which not only present inconvenience was felt, but future evils apprehended. Thus he gave offence and alarm by edicts for numbering the inhabitants of houses in his hereditary dominions, preparatory, as it was believed, to a military conscription; for prohibiting the importation of foreign merchandizes; for preventing emigration, by the effect of which persons were not only restrained from quitting the kingdom, but even passing from one village to another, without entering into sureties; and for preventing the burial of corpses in winding sheets; they were merely to be sewed up in sacks*. In his foreign politics, he was actuated by views of ambition, seeking to augment his power by strong alliances, and to extend his dominions by unprincipled aggressions. He had endeavoured, and, as he had reason to believe, successfully, to secure the friendship of the Empress of Russia. Of his two visits to the French court, and the change of his sentiments after the last, mention already has been madet. The favourable alteration, so beneficial at the time to France, is attributed in a great measure to his sister, who hoped, and, in the confidence of ingenuous youth, expected, by such means, to serve the interest of her husband, and conse Letter from the Duke of Dorset to Lord Carmarthen; 6th Sept. 1784. State Papers. + See Chapter 43, vol. iii. p. 290. |