THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF 1853, 1860-1863. TO WHICH ARE ADDED, A SPEECH ON TAX-BILLS, 1861, AND ON CHARITIES, 1863. BY THE RIGHT HON. W. E. GLADSTONE, CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER, AND M.P. FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD. LONDON: JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET. 1863. The right of Translation is reserved, 260. p. 29. 232 FINANCIAL STATEMENT OF 1853. DELIVERED ON MONDAY, APRIL 18, 1853. The House having resolved itself into a Committee of Ways and Means, The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER rose and said, THE annual exposition of the financial state and prospects of this country, even upon ordinary occasions, affords abundant material of interest to this House and to the public, and of anxiety to the person charged with the preparation of that exposition; but on the present occasion, perhaps that interest on the one hand, and certainly that anxiety on the other, are greatly enhanced by a variety of circumstances, including among them the number of separate motions relating to taxes which have recently been submitted to the House, and which indicate the increasing interest, if not even eagerness, of the people with respect to financial questions. Political events, shocks which have enfeebled or overthrown Administrations, and which have made it necessary to adjourn from year to year questions of taxation, have likewise, in the case of the present Government, greatly added to the weight of the task they have to discharge in that department. And, in connexion with those questions, there have of late been raised discussions of a nature most deeply interesting, which descend to the first elementary principles of B |