_——  ———- 
and salutary effects. 
ton then concluded with moving his 
HISTORY OF EUROPE. 53 
waids were 1933, tons 419,067, 
men 28,112.—The diminution of 
foreign shipping was not less re- 
markable than the increase of Bri- 
tish. In 1801, the number of fo- 
‘reign ships which entered inwards 
was 3385, tonnage 452,677, men 
20,388. The foreign ships which 
cleared outwards were 3381, ton- 
nage 445,651, men 23,302, In the 
year 1802, the number of foreign 
ships entered inwatds was reduced 
to 1549, tonnage 214,117, men 
10,555. The foreign ships which 
cleared outwards were 1868, ton- 
nage 262,006, men 14,826. Such 
were the proofs of the increasing 
rosperity of Great Britain. But 
that of the other part of the United 
Kingdom was not less remarkable. 
—The revenue of Ireland had in- 
creased between the 5th of January 
and the month of August last above 
£900,000, compared with the cor- 
responding period of the preceding 
year. An increase which in pro- 
portion to the total amount of the 
Irish revenue was even greater and 
more rapid thanever known. Hethen 
took a view of the state of the sink- 
ing fund—a measure which had 
originated in the sagacity and abi- 
lities of the late minister, and had 
been established by the wisdom and 
firmness of parliament. In 1787 
the sinking fund bore a proportion 
to the national debt as one to ten. 
It now had risen to the proportion 
of one to three, and amounted to 
no less than six millions, a sum, 
which annually added to the pro- 
ductive capital of the nation, cannot 
fail to produce the most extensive 
Mr. Adding- 
resolutions, which were agreed to, 
_ andthe report ordered to be received 
on the next day. The first resolution - 
was, ‘“ that towards raising the 
supply, there be granted the sum of 
£4,000,000 net of the growing pro- 
duce of the consolidated fund.” 
On the report being brought up, 
Mr. Princep, without wishing by 
any means to abate the exultation 
which must be felt at the flourishing 
state of our resources, as stated in 
the report, recommended a revisal 
of our commercial system, and the 
navigation laws to which this country 
was principally indebted for its 
naval superiority. He decidedly 
preferred the commercial, prudent, 
and pacific system recommended 
by Mr, Fox,to the chivalrous system 
which seemed such a favourite with 
another right hon, gentleman (Mr. 
Windham). ; 
The chancellor of the exchequer 
corrected an error the honorable 
gentleman had fallen into, in sup- 
posing, that because he had stated 
the growing produce of the con- 
solidated fund at six million and a 
half, that therefore he wanted that 
sum at present: although he be- 
lieved, the growing produce of that 
fund would exceed six millions and 
a half, yet the present vote was 
only for four millions. 
Mr. Windham disavowed his ever 
having used theexpression ‘‘ Perish 
commerce, but let the constitution 
live !” he knew that in this country 
they mutually supported each 
other; but he also knew, that the 
opinions of mercantile men, were 
often somewhat influenced by their 
personal interest and immediate 
gain, and often differed materially 
from the opinions of statesmen; 
he was therefore for giving their 
opinions all the weight they really 
deserved, but nothing more. 
Bind After 
