ayor; and the consequence was that, in the west end of the
town, the rabble vented their fury on the houses of all those members of
parliament who had expressed sentiments unfavourable to the bill, and
in whose windows no candles were placed. Many people, doubtless,
illuminated their houses lest they should become obnoxious to the mob;
yet these illuminations were made use of by the reformers to keep up
their incessant cry, that the inhabitants of the country, from one end
to the other, were animated by one universal feeling of enthusiasm for
the reform bill, and for the act which got rid of a parliament that
refused it. It has been well remarked that, in political disputes,
to place candles in windows is no proof of political opinion, or of
anything else than a prudent desire to avoid the outrages of a mob.

THE BUDGET--PROPOSED CHANGES IN TAXES, ETC.--ARRANGEMENT OF THE CIVIL
LIST.

The other business of this session related chiefly to financial matters.
The budget was opened on the 11th of February by Lord Althorp, who
estimated the charge for the year at L46,850,000; while the revenue, on
account of the many taxes repealed, would yield only L47,150,000, and
thus give an excess over the charge of only about L300,000. This, he
said, did not afford much room for the reduction of taxation; but still
he thought that something might be done, especially by reducing those
imposts which pressed on the industry of the country; by relieving trade
from fiscal embarrassments; and by introducing, in many cases, a more
equal distribution of taxes. Lord Althorp avowed that he had taken his
principles and general views from Sir Henry Parnell's work entitled
"Financial Reform." He divided the taxes into three classes:--first,
taxes on commodities of which there would be an increased consumption
and revenue; secondly, taxes which, instead of being equally and
impartially distributed amongst all classes, pressed more severely
on one part of the community; and thirdly, those taxes which, besides
interfering with commerce, took more out of the pockets of the people
than was furnished to the revenue. Under the first head, his lordship
explained that he intended to reduce the duty on tobacco, and on
newspapers, stamps, and advertisements; under the second, that of
sea-borne coal, which he proposed to repeal altogether; and under
the third, the duties on tallow and candles, calicoes, glass, &c.
The estimated loss of the reductions in