The Alexandria Herald

BRITISH FINANCES
The chancellor of the exchequer, in stating the ways and means for the present year, congratulated the country on the great increase of its foreign commerce. and the immense advantages resulting from the system of free trade which had been adopted by the government. The duties collected the last year had exceeded the estimate by one million of pounds sterling ; which is an aggregate of ten per cent. upon the aggregate amount.- The annual income of Great Britain, is estimated at £57,385,000. The payment of the Austrian loan, which is discharging gradually, appears to be regarded with much complacency by the English financiers, and is termed a God-send.- £500,000 of this debt, it is proposed to appropriate to the erection of new churches; under a vote of parliament, some time since, to that effect ; £300,000 to the repairs of Windsor Castle, to be expended by a commission for that purpose, uncontrolled by the king ; £60,000 for a national gallery of fine paintings, belonging to the late Mr. Angerstein.-- While on this topic, the chancellor of the exchequer became warmed and eloquent. He anticipated that generous individuals would second this national patronage of the arts, and that Englishmen would gaze with pride upon them, as the free gifts of their high-minded countrymen, not the rifled plunder of pillaged palaces, nor the blood-stained spoils of violated altars.' Granting these appropriations, the year 1824 will leave. it is believed, a surplus of revenue, beyond expenditure, of £2,763,000. The quantity of money in England, depreciating the rate of interest, the government are availing themselves of that circumstance to call in their loans hitherto made, and effect new loans at a lower interest. It is proposed to discontinue the bounty on the whale fishery, as well as the herring bounty--these trades depending on their own value, rather than the national encouragement. It is proposed to abolish, gradually, the bounties on exported linens, beginning with those of the lowest quality. The reduction of the duty on rum, on foreign wool, and on coal, are among the projects of the chancellor.- The speech is liberal, and encouraging throughout to the hopes of the British nation, and contains, among other wise reflections, this, which we extract as applicable to the wayward councils at Washington :—'For some years past, the ablest statesmen, and the most acute writers upon subjects of national economy had arrived at a conviction, that to maintain manufactures, by a system of prohibitions, is exceedingly impolitic.'