1802
was ushered in under the greatest embarrassments. The vitals of the
people were nearly destroyed by the enormous taxation they had endured
for so many years, and it was doubtless owing to the intolerable load
they had sustained, and still expected to have forced upon them, that
independent sentiments were proclaimed. They had a right to condemn the
usurping power of the queen, for producing all their troubles.
The recess having terminated, the House met. The chancellor came forward
to shew that the sovereign's pecuniary affairs were very much in arrear.
After introducing his plan of finance, he was obliged to inform the
House that certain taxes had been mortgaged by Mr. Pitt, (_who had now
resigned_) for which the present minister must provide. To defray this
expense, very heavy additional duties were imposed on beer, malt, hops,
&c. A considerable addition was also made to the assessed taxes, and
upon imports and exports. At this period, the whole of the "funded
debt," including the loans of the present year, amounted to _five
hundred and forty millions_, and the interest was annually _seventeen
millions sterling_!
On the 7th of May, Mr. Nichol moved that an address be presented to his
majesty, thanking him for the removal of Mr. Pitt from his councils,
when Lord Belgrave rose, and moved an amendment, expressive of the high
approbation of that House respecting the character and conduct of the
late minister and his colleagues! In the face of all opposition, Lord
Belgrave's amendment was carried by more than _four to one_, as also a
second motion, by Sir H. Mildmay, "that the _thanks_ of the House be
given to the Right Hon. Mr. Pitt." This was assurance in perfection!
These discussions only seemed to increase Mr. Pitt's popularity, and on
the occasion of his next birth-day, Earl Spencer, late first lord of the
Admiralty, gave as a toast to the company, "the pilot that weathered the
storm," instead of "the pilot who _gathered_ the storm!"
In the latter part of this year, much fear was excited, lest hostilities
should again arise between France and England, on account of the
ascendency of Buonaparte.