From the best authority I have been able to procure, the revenue of the state, considered under the three general branches of customs, excise, and other inland duties, which comprehend the whole permanent income of this kingdom, was then as follows: Customs net into the exchequer, about £2 000 000 Excise in all its permanent branches net, about 4 600 000 Other inland duties net 1 000 000 Land tax at 4_s._ in the pound 2 000 000 Annual malt tax net 613 000 —————————— In all 10 213 000 Let us next state the annual charges and appropriations settled upon this fund. First then the civil list, to the amount of £800 000 2_do_, The interest of about 131 millions of funded debts at different rates of interest, about 4 500 000 3_tio_, The interest of nine millions not then provided for, supposed to be at 4 _per cent._ 360 000 —————————— In all of regular and permanent annual charge 5 660 000 —————————— So there remains free, about 4 553 000 From which if we deduct the annual grants of land and malt-taxes, which extend together, as above, to 2 613 000 —————————— There will remain as the produce of the sinking fund[29] 1 940 000 Footnote 29: I find that the sinking fund is now estimated at 2 100 000_l._ by the author of the Considerations on Trade, &c. above cited. I am also informed that the net produce of the customs exceeds 2 000 000_l._ considerably: but 4 600 000_l._ is rather the gross than the net produce of the _permanent_ duties of excise; that is, of all the excise duties, excepting the annual malt-duty. It must also be observed, that the annuities payable to the national creditors, amounted, the 5th January 1764, to more than 4 720 000_l._ But on the other hand, the interest of the unfunded 9 millions is rated too high, as appears from the author above quoted. I cannot pretend to give exact details. The general sketch here stated is sufficient for my purpose. In that state, nearly, stood the affairs of Great Britain after the conclusion of the peace in 1763.