HISTORY OF EUROPE. 
the further sum of 25,000 a year, 
~ was voted to him by parliament, 
on account of this matrimonial al- 
liance. 
_. The discussions that took place 
in the House,on this occasion, were 
neither warm nor interesting. Mr. 
Fox observed, that in a monar- 
ehical government suchasEngland, 
founded on the preference given to 
it by the natives to all other forms, 
the splendor with which they were 
desirousto see itattended, of course 
required that every branch of the 
royal family should be main- 
tained with suitable magnificence. 
He also observed, that the free- 
dom and personal dignity of the 
several. personages who were a 
more distant part of that family, 
ought to be particularly consulted, 
by providing for them.in such man- 
nev as to preventtireir total depend- 
ence on the crown, 
There was at the same'time some 
difference of opinion concerning 
the allowanee to be granted to the 
Duke of York on his marriage: se- 
veral members\deemed the revenue 
proposed by the minister too large; 
as the Duke received a very consi- 
derable one from the bishoprick of 
Osnaburgh, stated by some at no 
less than 35,0001. a year. But this 
appearing an object unfit for’ par- 
liamentary discussion, the votespro- 
posed by the ministry passed in his 
favour. 
After the settlement of this busi- 
ness, which took place on the 17th 
of February, the House resolved it- 
self into a committee, to consider 
the state of the finances. Mr. Pitt 
represented them in so favourable a 
light, that.a diminution of the pub- 
lic) burdens might reasonably be 
expected, The permanent taxes, 
from the year 1791 to the com- 
@5) 
[143 
mencement of 1792, had produced 
16,730,000). exceeding the average 
of the last four yearsabout500,000 ; 
dedueting from which the totai of 
the expenditures, amounting by the 
reductions proposed, to15,811,0001. 
the permanent income would ex- 
ceed) the permanent expence, in- 
cluding the million annually ap- 
propriated to the extinction of the 
national debt, by no less than 
400,0001. 
The supplies wanted for the 
present year, would amount to 
5;654,000i. for which the means 
provided amounted to a sum ex- 
ceeding the former, by 37,0001. 
From the foregoing statement, 
Mr. Pitt was of opinion, that the 
surplus of the 4090]. would enable 
government to take off such taxes 
as’bore chiefly on the poorer classes, 
to the amount of one half of that 
sum; and to appropriate the other 
half to the diminution of the public 
debts. 
By, the methods projected for the 
redemption of this debt, 25,000,000 
would be paid off in the space of 
fifteen years; towards which the in- 
terest of the sums annually redeem- 
ed, shou!d be carried to the sinking 
fund, till the annual sum to be ap- 
plied tothe redemption of thatdebt, 
amounted to'4,000,000. 
Having made this favourable re- 
presentation of the state of the fi- 
nances, Mr. Pitt added toita warm 
description of the actual prosperity 
of the nation; which, though arrived 
at an eminent degree, had not yet 
attained that summit of grandeur 
and felicity which lay within the 
reach of its industry and manifold 
abilities, But,toxsecure these hap- 
py projects, domestic tranquillity, 
and peace with other nations, were 
indispensably required. Of both 
these 
