By the second of these Returns Your Lordship will observe that the Expenditure during 1849 is less than that for 1848 by £23672 Enclosure No. 3 that the Revenue falls short of the Estimate by £1815. 13. 5, which sum it has been found impossible to collect, notwithstanding every exertion has been made to recover it before the close of the year. Steps are now in progress to insist on its payment, and I expect that about £1188 will be recovered, and the real deficiency may therefore be estimated at £646.
The principal item in arrear is the Land Revenue, and amounts to £1324. Of this sum £1044 is accounted for by the resumption of lands during the year, and the balance, £1120, I am informed, will be shortly paid.
There is a considerable decrease in the Opium Licenses, amounting to £486, which has been met by an increase in the other Licenses; so that only £46.14.4 is deficient in this item.
In my Estimate, large allowance was made for a shortcoming in the Fees and Fines of Courts, when compared with former years, notwithstanding which the sum received is £557 less than I anticipated.
Fees of Office and Special Receipts are also less than were estimated. These are, however, contingent in their nature, and cannot be calculated with any degree of accuracy.
A few items of Revenue show a small increase; and a considerable...