The Earl of STAIR has also, in this method, calculated the _surplus_ of the Revenue; and makes the total, for eleven years, to be no more than 2.557,378l. even with the assistance of lotteries, and the land-tax at 4s. in the pound for five years; from whence it follows, that _without_ these assistances, there would have been a deficiency of near 60,000l. _per ann._—The reason is, that his Lordship has taken the whole debt paid since 1763, at no more than 7.053,855l. or three millions and a half less than I have made it; and he has taken it so much less, chiefly in consequence of including in the amount of the public debt in 1775, the excess of the expences of that year above the common peace expences. This excess is to be charged to the present war; and, in determining the ordinary peace _surplus_, which is my object, it was proper to exclude it, and to terminate the account at the commencement of the war.—I will only add, that Lord STAIR has also included more in the extraordinary receipts than I have; and, particularly, 700,000l. which he supposes the public gained by the TEA INDEMNITY.—But this was only a compensation made by the _East-India_ Company for the loss which the public sustained by taking off, in 1766, a part (or 1s. _per_ pound) of the duty on tea. In 1772 it was restored; and the excise upon tea has since, if I am rightly informed, produced as much as ever. _Before_ 1766, it produced annually 474,091l. Immediately[134] after 1766, it produced 341,284l.—But in 1775, it produced near half a million.
_Sketch of an Account of the Money drawn from the Public by the Taxes, before the Year 1776._
CUSTOMS in ENGLAND, being the medium of the payments into the Exchequer, for 3 years ending in 1773[135] 2.528,275
Amount of the EXCISES in ENGLAND, including the malt tax, being the medium of 3 years ending in 1773 4.649,892
SALT DUTIES, being the medium of the years 1765 and 1766 218,739
Duties on Stamps, Cards, Dice, Advertisements, Bonds, Leases, Indentures, News-papers, Almanacks, &c. 280,788
Duties on houses and windows, being the medium of 3 years ending in 1771 385,369
Post Office, Seizures, Wine Licences, Hackney Coaches, Tenths of the Clergy, &c. 250,000
EXCISES in SCOTLAND, being the medium of 3 years ending in 1773 95,229