chap, iv.] PUBLIC EEVENDES. 85 



PUBLIC REVENUES. 



All public revenues are paid into the central chest of 

 Fuuchal ; this chest is under the guardianship of three 

 keepers, the civil governor, the paymaster of the treasury, 

 and the treasury delegate ; each of these has a key of the 

 chest. The treasury delegate presides over a department 

 charged with the collection of public revenue, and the direc- 

 tion of public accounts ; he is answerable directly to the 

 Lisbon government, although under the supervision of the 

 civil governor. The paymaster of the treasury forms one of 

 a tribunal, of which the civil governor and the delegado do 

 procurador regio are the other members ; this commission 

 (junta) is charged with the sale of the produce of the na- 

 tional properties and tithes. It also takes cognizance of 

 appeals from the decisions of the director of customs. The 

 director is accountable only to the Lisbon government, but 

 the Custom House, over which he presides, is under the super- 

 intendence of the civil governor. The revenues of the Cus- 

 tom House, with the exception of the imposts on foreign 

 grain, are paid into the central chest, and disposed of in the 

 same manner as the other revenues of the treasury*. The 

 amount annually paid into the public chest generally exceeds 

 £41,672 13s. 4rf. Government imposes a duty upon all im- 

 ports into Madeira, except provisions. Protection is afforded 

 on all articles of Portuguese production or manufacture, which, 

 with the exception of wine, pay next to no duty on export or 



* The usual gross receipts of the Custom House average from £23,988 6s. Sd. 

 to £25,003 per annum. In 1847, the receipts from customs amounted to 

 £23,919 9s. 2d.; in 1848, they amounted to £21,785 5s. l±d.; and in 

 1849, to £24,898 Is. 10a!. These figures include the moneys accruing from 

 the imposts on foreign grain, which moneys are paid to the Cameras, and not 

 into the treasury. 



