JB_172_172.xml

Title: [1820 Aug. 20 Rid Yourselves]

Description: 1820 Aug. 20

Rid Yourselves

Introduction

' 6. Tables Grounds of the Opinion

Note (a) to Table III

(a) From the distribution thus made, inferences of no small

importance, can scarcely fail to present themselves to the most incurious eye. In

Class 1, the titles of the articles will serve as an object

of comparison for the use of the present day: at present are there any that can be

struck off? any that require to be added? Then, as to the sums belonging to each, allowance made fo the difference in the value of the

money, on those of the present day, what are they? will they bear substraction will

they require addition? and for what reasons?- and so on in regard to the several

articles belonging to the three other classes.

By the amount of the articles in Class 2, will be seen the amount of the expenditure

of the Monarchical form of Government, as contrasted with the Republican form, for

example, as exemplified in the Anglo-American United States: with the 128,000,000 of

reals vellon will be compared the 600,000 reals vellon or thereabouts which, form the

official emolument of the Chief functionary in these republican States: and hereupon,

by a review of the several articles, the question is suggested, on the one hand, by

how much the condition of the people in Spain would be deteriorated, if those same

articles were respectively struck out of the list: and, on the other hand, by how

much the condition of the people of those United States would be improved, if, for

the purpose of additional expenditure under those several heads, the sums stated in a

line with them, or some greater sums, were added to the official emolument of the not

very scantily provided chief functionary just mentioned. With correspondent

instruction and advantage, the like questions might be applied to the several other

European Monarchies: not forgetting France, England, and the several Monarchies of

inferior rank which, for the more effectual swelling of the amount of this branch of

the public expenditure, have so lately been promoted into kingdoms. How can it be otherwise? In all these, as well as all other

Monarchies, the principle acted upon on this and all other occasions, is it not this?

namely that (to use part of the wording of the Spanish Constitution Art. 13 "the

proper end of all political society is nothing but the welfare of the one ruling

individual? In Spain, /on the contrary/ under this same Article "the end of all

political society is nothing but the welfare of all individuals of which it is

composed". A better principle can not be desired. Whether its destiny be to be

consistently acted upon, the event, as to so many other points, so in particular as

to the one here in question, will shew.

The profitableness or burthensome of the dominion to the Spanish people, in a

pecuniary point of view - i.e. its effect in respect of the diminution or

augmentation of the mass of taxes being the point here in question - and this, too,

independently of all charges for quelling existing insurrection - let me now conclude

with the opinion of Madrid itself, has colected by Townsend in 1786: I say for

shortness of Madrid; for it was that of a circle composed of the foreign Ministers

and the leading members of the Government.

The fact, however, is (says Townsend II. 181) "if we may believe those who are best

informed, that the Spanish Colonies yield no direct revenue to the mother country.

This being the case (he adds) I can not conceive upon what authority the Abbe Kaynas

states the clear revenue from America at 34,500,000 livres, or in reals vellon

130,000,000 clear, beside 82,337,800 reals paid for duties in Europe."

Before this, under the head of Finance, "The Indian Revenue (he had said) amounts in

America, to near 4 1/2 millions sterling; but, although variously states in the

schedule as productive of revenue, it is doubted (he adds) whether it yields a

profit, or becomes a loss to Spain".

If the product was loss even then, what is it now? Spaniards! the enquiry is in your

hands

JB_162_120.xml

Title: [[162- 120] 1820 June 4 Emancipation]

Description: [162- 120]

1820 June 4

Emancipation Spanish

'.5. People Sufferers

Taking that same year for the standard, or /that is/ at any rate for the object of reference, /in the account of pecuniary[?] profit and loss in those days was/ such was then the loss by those distant possessions.

Per contra, what shall we find to set against that loss - to set on the profit side, for the purpose of striking a balance? If we may believe that some intelligent, well-informed and [...?] searching and scrutinizing traveller, exactly nothing.......0

In Vol. II. p. 181. After speaking of five conjectural statements by two of which the direct revenue yielded to the mother country by the Spanish Colonies had been set down by one at 40,000,000, Reals vellon, (,400,000) by another /a third/ at 400,000,000 (,4,000,000) and by a fourth at 60,000,000 Reals vellon (,600,000) the two first stating the gross, the third the net amount, he proceeds thus. "The fact, however, is, if we may believe those who are the best informed, that the Spanish Colonies yield no direct revenue to the mother country.

So decided is he in this persuasion, that in this subject he continues and concludes as follows. "This being the case, I can not conceive upon what authority, the Abbé Raynal states the clear revenue from America at thirty-four millions five hundred thousand livres, or, in reals vellon, at one hundred thirty-eight millions clear, besides eighty-two millions three hundred thirty-seven thousand eight hundred reals paid for duties in Europe."

JB_172_164.xml

Title: [1821. Jan y. 1 ' Revised 1822 March 20]

Description: 1821. Jan y. 1 ' Revised 1822 March 20

Rid Yourselves of Ultramaria

Note

Introduction

'. 6. Tables - grounds of the opinion

Note (a) to Table 1.

(a) In this Table, under the head of Indian

Revenue, vast differences will be found between some periods and others. For

solution of the difficulty, the observation made by Townsend is that, when the amounts are so large it is the gross revenue that is given; when they are so small the net revenue. By net, what he seems to have meant

is - that part, which found its way into the treasury is

Spain: by gross, the whole of

what was collected in America and Spain together: the rest

being expended, in the countries in and from which it was collected. At the same

time, you have seen him insisting that " the Spanish Colonies

yield no direct revenue to the Mother Country": and the time, in relation to

which this is said, is little distant from the times, at which, if the above

supposition be correct, they are stated by him as yielding to the Mother Country

considerable sums: namely Reals vellon 39,899,918 on an average of 10 years ending

1778; and 60,000,000 reals vellon, on an average of 5 years, ending 1785. To

reconcile the general assertion with these articular accounts, we must suppose, that,

on the occasion of the general assertion, he took into consideration that part of the

expenditure of Spain which, being made in Spain on account of Spanish America, was

drawn from Spain: namely of the total expenditure of Spain in Spain, that part, which was bestowed upon such parts, of the Army,

Navy, Judicial and Financial establishments respectively the demand for which was

produced by the dominion exercised in Spanish America by the Spanish rulers. On this

supposition, the expenditure, in Spain on account of Spanish America, being deducted from the net amount of the receipt in Spain from Spanish

America,- the balance, according to his abovementioned general assertion, was