The assessed taxes consist principally of the house and window taxes. In the year 1800, these together, with the land-tax, amounted to 4.451,9001.: in 1804, to 5,747,3741.: and in the year 1810, to 7,210.3841. In the year 1813, the assessed taxes, independently of the land-tax, amounted to 6,155,8661. gross ; and to , 9 0 3 , 8 1 8 . net: the rate at which the gross revenue of the land and assessed taxes is collected, is 41.: 58. : 8d. per cent.
The present establishment of the Post Office was trac ed in outline in 1642 ; but there was no regular Post Of fice till 1654. In the year 1724, the revenue from this source amounted only to the sum of 96,332/.: the plan of conveying letters by the mail coaches was begun in 1784, the revenue the year before amounting to 159.000/. In the year 1800, the gross produce of the Post Of fice was 999,3541.: in 1804, 1,178.4081.: and in 18102 1,574,3431. In the year 1813, the gross produce of the inland post was 1,532,980/.; of the foreign post, 128,6471.; and of the twopenny post, 93,2991.; making a tutai of 1,754.926l.: the net produce was 1,236.148l.: the reve nue is collected at the rate of 251.: : 4d. per cent. on the gross receipts.
The income or property tax is 10 per cent. on all in comes, (with some exceptions and modifications); in the year 1800, when it was only 5 per cent. it amounted to 4,677,7661.: in 1804, to 3,572,556i.: in 1810, when it was 10 per cent. it amounted to the sum of 12,514,3691. : and in 1813, the gross produce of it was 13,016,0411. Of the following Tables, the first exhibits the amount of the in come of England and Wales, in the years 1806, 180$, and 1810, derived from all the different sources, except the public funds, public offices, Ste. on which the income tax was levied ; and the second, the amount of income in 1810, derived from trades and professions, sheaving the particular sums derived from every rate of income, from 501. to 50001. and upwards.
The following particulars, strictly speaking, relate to the finances of Great Britain ; but as the revenue de rived from Scotland is comparatively very trifling, and as it is impossible to ascertain what proportion of the expenditure belongs to that country, and what to Eng land, it is thought proper to give them under the pre sent article.
Total revenue of Great Britain for the year 1813, 79,448,1111. : Loans paid into the Exchequer, including six millions for Ireland, 35,050,5741. Exchequer bills issued between 5th January 1813, and 5th January 1814, and not redeemed within that period, 41,354,0001. : Navy, victualling, and transport bills issued, 3,699,7401. Total income of the consolidated fund, (which consists princi pally of the customs, excise, stamps, assessed taxes, Ste.) as it stood 5th January 1814, 41,827,3041. : Total charge upon it, 41,555,7521. Net produce of the permanent taxes of Great Britain, in the year 1813, 37,597,8351.; in the year 1814, 38,893,0271.
The following statement shews the particulars of the expenditure of Great Britain for 1813, and also the state of the national debt in February 1814. For further particulars respecting the national debt, see DEBT, Na tional.
Total charge for debt payable in Great Britain, 39,337,2161. : 3a.: 81d.
Unfunded debt and demands outstanding, 5th January 1814, 60,968,9661. : 118. : 11 id.
The Navy of Great Britain forms its principal bul wark and pride ; and its increase and present strength are not more astonishing, than the increase and present amount of the wealth of the kingdom, which we have just exhibited. At the death of Queen Elizabeth, the total number of ships belonging to the navy was 42, the largest mounting 40 guns, and the whole navigated by 8376 men. At the death of King William, the total number of ships was 256, of which 123 were of the line. At the death of George II. it had not increased much, there being only 136 ships of the line. At the com mencement of the war in 1793, there were 156 sail of the line : in January 1801, 195 sail of the line : and in the month of April 1814, there were in commission 727 ships of war ; of which, 157 were of the line, 24 from 50 to 44 guns, 145 frigates, 124 sloops of war, 8 bombs and fire ships, 184 armed brigs, 39 cutters, and 49 schooners ; besides which, there were in ordinary, re pairing, and building, a number, making the total 1022, and the ships of the line 250. The seamen and marines employed at this time amounted to 140,000.