Financial Reform. 67 



a rental of 150,000/. per annum 3 for the estates consist of lands in the 

 highest condition of cultivation, with the best farm-buildings and appur- 

 tenances in the kingdom, and amongst fine natural scenery in the county of 

 Northumberland. There is likewise an immense amount in timber, lead- 

 mines, moorlands, and many thousands per annum in church patronage. 

 The railway, now commenced from Newcastle to the Solway Frith, passes 

 through the centre of the estate, by which the tracts of waste land will be 

 rendered more valuable than the cultivated part of the estate j this being 

 the richest district in the kingdom for lead, coal, lime, and other mineral 

 productions. Thus, by the sale of this property, we shall sweep away 

 whole ranks of ministerial underlings, improve the condition of the pen- 

 sioners, and derive a large sum for the payment of the national debt. 

 It is probable that all this mass of property, and the building and appur- 

 tenances of the hospital, with Greenwich Park, will produce the sum of 

 twenty millions. 



Chelsea Hospital is another national nuisance which ought to be abo- 

 lished. We pay an annual sum of 1,325,00(U. for the support of this 

 establishment in the neighbourhood of an already too crowded metropolis j 

 whereas the in-door pensioners, who are principally Irish and Scotch 

 soldiers, ought now to be dismissed to their native places j when this 

 immense annual grant would be distributed and expended on the most 

 distant and impoverished districts of the kingdom, and not in London, 

 which already absorbs too large a portion of the revenue. Perhaps one 

 half of the annual allowance may be saved by the abolition of Chelsea 

 Hospital, and the substitution of outdoor-pensions; for the establishment 

 is crowded with sinecurists and useless placemen ; and the sale of the 

 building and appurtenances of the hospital would produce a large sum. 



We also propose the sale of the Scottish crown and regalia, now depo- 

 sited in a chest of Holyrood Palace, only to be stolen, or destroyed by fire. 

 In the altered condition of national feeling in Scotland, no resistance would 

 be made to the measure, for the feudal motives for preserving these em- 

 blems of sovereignty are long ago forgotton, and our policy now is not 

 to consult the prejudices of the Highland chiefs, but to give bread to the 

 Paisley weavers. Holyrood House itself may also be sold, with many other 

 uninhabited palaces and royal castles in various parts of the kingdom. 

 Viewed together, these sums are as follows : 



Crown lands . . 17,000,000 



Corporation property . 100,000,000 



Church ditto . . 60,000,000 



Decayed charities . . 25,000,000 



Greenwich Hospital . . . 20,000,000 



Chelsea Hospital 1 



Scottish regalia . . 10,000,000 



3, &c. &c. ) 



Holyrood house, 



232,000,000 



Thus it is apparent that one-third portion of the national debt may, in 

 a single session of Parliament, be made to disappear, if the slightest 

 vigour be displayed, and this fact be properly understood, that small 

 measurs and nibbling retrenchments will no longer satisfy the nation. 



We propose next to examine the various departments of the public 



F 2 



