superior numbers; and
accordingly this was the source of certain triumph in all debates in
which the servants of the crown were united. The nation had reason
to expect an immediate mitigation in the article of annual expense,
considering the number of troops and ships of war which had been reduced
at the ratification of the treaty: but they were disagreeably undeceived
in finding themselves again loaded with very extraordinary impositions,
for the payment of a vast debt which government had contracted in
the course of the war, notwithstanding the incredible aids granted
by parliament. The committee of supply established four points of
consideration, in their deliberations concerning the sums necessary to
be raised; namely, for fulfilling the engagements which the parliament
had entered into with his majesty, and the services undertaken for the
success of the war; for discharging debts contracted by government; for
making good deficiencies; and for defraying the current expense of the
year. It appeared, that the nation owed four-and-forty thousand
pounds to the elector of Bavaria; above thirty thousand to the duke of
Brunswick; the like sum to the landgrave of Hesse-Cassel; and near nine
thousand pounds to the elector of Mentz. The queen of Hungary claimed
an arrear of one hundred thousand pounds. The city of Glasgow, in North
Britain, presented a petition, praying to be reimbursed the sum of
ten thousand pounds, extorted from that corporation by the son of the
pretender during the rebellion. One hundred and twelve thousand pounds
were owing to the forces in North America and the East Indies; besides
near half a million due on extraordinary expense incurred by the
land-forces in America, Flanders, and North Britain, by the office
of ordnance, and other services of the last year, to which the
parliamentary provision did not extend. The remaining debt of the
ordnance amounted to above two hundred and thirty thousand pounds; but
the navy-bills could not be discharged for less than four millions. An
addition of two millions three hundred and seventy-four thousand three
hundred and thirty-three pounds, fifteen shillings and two-pence, was
also required for the current service of the year. In a word, the whole
annual supply exceeded eight millions sterling-a sum at which the whole
nation expressed equal astonishment and disgust. It was charged upon the
duties on malt, mum, cyder, and perry, the land-tax at four shillings in
the