REVENUE, 
floating stock, and thus facilitate the raising 
of new loans. It was estimated that this 
measure would transfer about eighty mil- 
lions of stock to government, but the terms 
offered were by no means such as to induce 
a general approval of it, and the total 
amount of stock transferred for land-tax 
redeemed on the first of February 1808 was 
only 22,976,8291. 10s. 4d. of course a very 
considerable portion of the tax still re- 
mained unredeemed. The assessed taxes 
consist of the duties on houses, windows, 
servants, carriages, horses, and horse-dealers, 
dogs, hair powder, and armorial bearings. 
The gross produce of tlie land and assessed 
taxes, in the year ending January 5th, 
1808, was 6,909,1901. 12.s. 9^(1. and as the 
balances in hand at the beginning of the 
year exceeded the charges of manage- 
ment and other payments, the total net 
amount applicable to national purposes was 
7,073,5501. 10s. S^d. 
5. The Post Office. King James I. ori- 
ginally erected a post office for the convey- 
ance of letters to foreign parts, previously 
to which an establishment of this kind had 
existed for the conveyance of inland letters. 
Some improvements were made in the ma- 
nagement of it during the time of the com- 
monwealth, and soon after the restoration 
a new general post office was established, 
the revenue derived from which was at 
first of small amount, but has since gra- 
dually increased, both from the increase of 
commercial intercourse, and the additional 
rates of postage which have since been im- 
posed. In 1715, the gross produce of the 
inland office was 145,2271. in the year 1744 
it amounted to 198,2261. and the gross 
amount of both the inland and foreign 
offices to 235,4921. In 1764 it amounted to 
281,5351. at which time an act was passed 
for preventing abuses of the privilege of 
franking, which, with a further restriction 
at a subsequent period, has considerably 
improved this source of revenue. The to- 
tal gross produce for the year, ending Ja- 
nuary 5th, 1808, was 1,493,4901. 11s. 9tl. 
and the net produce 1,277,5381. 11s. 4-*<l. 
6. Sixpence in the pound on pensions 
and salaries. This deduction originated 
from a debt of the civil list in the reign of 
George I. To satisfy this debt an act was 
passed for raising half a million at five per 
cent, interest, to be charged upon a deduc- 
tion of sixpence in the pound on all salaries, 
fees, and wages, payable in respect of 
offices of profit granted or derived from the 
crown. About three years after it was 
found necessary to raise half a million more 
for the same purpose, and the former sum 
bearing five per cent, interest was then paid 
off, the whole sum of 1,000,0001. being 
raised by way of lottery at an interest of 
three per cent, per annum. This debt is 
now charged on the consolidated fund, and 
consequently the duty established for the 
payment of its interest forms part of the in- 
come of the fund. The gross produce for 
the year ending the 5th of January 1808, 
was 72,2071. 12s. Z^d. and the nett produce 
7 i, 3531. Os. bid. 
7. One shilling in the pound on pensions 
and salaries. This is a duty of a similar na- 
ture witli the foregoing, and was first im- 
posed by 31 George II. c. 22. It extends 
to all salaries, fees, and perquisites, pen- 
sions, or gratuities payable out of any re- 
venue belonging to his Majesty in Great 
Britain, exceeding the value of 1001. a 
year. Its gross amount in the year ending 
the fiftli of January 1808 was 61,0571. 2s. Id. 
and including a balance in hand at the 
beginning of the year, the nett amount was 
62,6851. .5s. 8d. 
8. Hackney coaches. In 1694 the licence 
of hackney coaches first became a branch 
of the public revenue. It has iinueased, 
both from the number licensed being 
greater than formerly, and from the duty 
imposed upon them having been raised very 
considerably, but it can never become of 
much importance ; it produced in the year 
ending the 5th of January 1808, 28,7511. 15s. 
gross, and 26,4551. 2s. 5^. nett. 
9. Hawkers and pedlars. In the year 
1697 these itinerant merchants were first 
made subject to a particular tax, which 
could never be of much consequence as an 
object of revenue, and will probably fall off 
as new towns and villages are built in dif- 
ferent parts of the country. The gross 
amount in the year ending the 5th of Ja- 
nuary 1808 was 13,2311. Os. 4d. the nett 
produce 10,3251. 9s. 5d. 
In addition to these several branches of 
the public revenue, there are some small 
branches of the old hereditary revenue still 
remaining. These consist chiefly of aliena- 
nation fines, post fines, seizures of uncus- 
tomed and prohibited goods, compositions, 
profers, and the crown lands, of which the 
last is by far the most ^important. 
