The Budget estimates for the year ending March 31, 1888, are:

The national revenue is derived mainly from taxation (under the six heads specified in the following table), which in 1886-87 produced 76,115,000l., or nearly five-sixths of the whole. The remaining sixth is subdivided into five heads, as below.

The national expenditure falls under three categories: (1) the Consolidated Fund Charges, 29,701,9147., mainly bestowed on the National Debt; (2) the Army and Navy, 31,694,6737.; and (3) the Civil Services, 28,600,1657. in 1887.

Full details of the expenditure under the heads of Army and Navy will be found at pp. 242 and 245. It will be seen that the Post Office yields a revenue of about three millions, while the Telegraph Service barely paid its way.

FURTHER DETAILS OF THE BUDGET.

The estimates for the financial year ending March 31, 1888, have for comparison been embodied with the two preceding general tables. Some of the original estimates have, however, been increased. by subsequent votes of credit.

The following are the proposed amounts of expenditure for 1887-88 under the head of Civil Services :

The following are among the more important items:-Local Government Board-England, 444,2417., Ireland, 144,8097.; Stationery Office and Printing, 556,2601.; Supreme Court of Judicature, 410,7387.; County Courts, 410,7897.; Metropolitan Police, 575,6201.; County and Borough Police (G. B.), 1,009,8231.; Convict Establishments, Prisons, and Reformatory Schools, 1,039,2791.; Prisons, Scotland, 108,4947.; Law Charges, and Supreme Court, Ireland, 160,8951.; Land Commission, Ireland, 62,4531.; Dublin Police, 150,000l.; Irish Constabulary, 1,412,3157.; Prisons, &c., Ireland, 257,2921.; Public Education-England, 3,458,8077.; Scotland, 553,3927.; Ireland, 874,0511.; Science and Art Department, 438,5581.; British Museum, 147,3851.; Queen's Colleges, Ireland, 10,0287.; National and Portrait Galleries, England, 10,524.; Learned Societies, 23,9001.; London University, 13,3211.; University Colleges, Wales, 12,000l.; Scotch Universities, 19,0187.; Superannuation and Retired Allowances, 476,0827.; Pauper Lunatics, 681,3007.

The total issues charged directly on the Consolidated Fund during 1886-87 amounted to 61,169,0857. In addition to the ordinary expenditure above given, there were Exchequer and Treasury Bills paid off 25,700,6007.; temporary advances for local works and purchase of bullion, 1,827,000l.; met by new bills, 25,699,1007.; repayments for advances, 1,376,6581., besides a balance left in the Exchequer of 5,625,9441. from previous year. The whole receipts into the treasury in 1886-87 amounted to 138,364,7587., which were balanced by the issues.

The balances in the Exchequer for the last twelve years, ending 31st March, were as follows:

Thus, during the financial year ending 31st March, 1887, Treasury receipts amounted to 138,364,7591., and the Treasury

the

issues to 132,414,6527., if we include the above-mentioned bills and advances.

The following tables show the total amounts of the estimated and actual gross public revenue and expenditure for the ten financial years from 1878 to 1887, together with the proportion per head of population of the United Kingdom :—

The estimates for 1888 include 363,7991. for the Civil Services in addition to the sums already provided, and the total grants out of the Consolidated Fund are 61,247,7447. (September 16, 1887). The following table (derived from the two preceding) shows the

*By the system now adopted, these items exclude Army and Navy Extra Receipts' and the contributions by India for 'Military Charges.'