wn,
Village or hamlet of this merry land,
Though lean and beggar'd, every twentieth face,
Conducts th' unguarded nose to such a whiff
Of state debauch, forth issuing from the sties
That law has licensed, as makes temperance rec."

It is probable that this measure has occasioned more evil than any act
passed during the whole period to which this portion of the history of
England refers. Yet there can be no question that ministers conceived
that they were legislating for the poor man's comfort; experience,
however, has proved that it was for the poor man's bane. After stating
the intention of ministers on this subject, the chancellor of the
exchequer next gave his estimate of the revenue of the present year.
The demands of the public service, including the charge of the national
debt, were L47,812,000, and the available income was estimated at
L50,470,000, leaving a probable balance of about L2,500,000 only for
the sinking-fund. In the revenue of last year a deficiency of more than
L500,000 below the estimate was acknowledged; but at the same time a
clear surplus of L4,000,000 had been applied to the redemption of the
national debt. To compensate for the loss of revenue from the repeal of
the above duties, it was proposed to consolidate all the laws relative
to the stamp-duties, for placing the management of the whole of that
branch of the revenue under the stamp-office in England, and make
similar articles everywhere subject to the same duties. It was also
proposed to levy an additional duty on spirits; and also to effect a
yearly saving of about L800,000 by the conversion of four per cent,
stock into three and a half. These measures were subsequently carried
into effect. The chancellor of the exchequer finally held out hopes of a
reduction in the amount of expenditure, by the consolidation of various
departments of the public service: this he said was likely hereafter to
place at the disposal of the government a great surplus revenue which
would enable ministers to make a further repeal of taxes. The principal
reduction promised by government this year, that of the beer-duty, was
not carried without great opposition. Brewers and publicans alike were
arrayed against it, as it would break up their monopoly. The latter
complained loudly of the deterioration to which the capital invested by
them in the trade would be exposed, since every man who could pay two
guineas might take out a licence. The l