ENGLISH WARS.
A pamphlet, entitled, A Call upon the People of Great Britain and Ireland, has lately reached us; but as its contents are purely political, we must content ourselves with a few historical data. Thus, of the 127 years from the Revolution to 1815, 65 have passed in war, during which “high trials of right,” 2,023½ millions have been expended in seven wars. Of these we give a synopsis:
| Lasted Years. | Cost in Millions. | |
| War of the Revolution, 1688-1697 | 9 | 36 |
| War of Spanish Succession, 1702-1713 | 11 | 62½ |
| Spanish War, 1739-1748 | 9 | 54 |
| Seven Years’ War, 1756-1763 | 7 | 112 |
| American War, 1775-1783 | 8 | 136 |
| War of the French Revolution, 1793-1802 | 9 | 464 |
| War against Napoleon, 1803-1815 | 12 | 1159 |
Of this expenditure we borrowed 834½ millions, and raised by taxes 1,189 millions. During the 127 years, the annual poor-rates rose from ¾ of a million to 5½ millions, and the price of wheat from 44s. to 92s. 8d. per quarter.
But it is time to clear the table, for it “strikes us more dead than a great reckoning in a little room.”