CO882-(1-2) — Page 184

Eastern

Au XI

Financial Condition.

-

CONFIDENTIAL.

CEYLON.

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

TTLE C.O. 882

1

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO

·

Auditor-General's Report:

June 3, 1847.

Comp. Sir E. Tennent's Evid., July 11, 1850, 9289 et seq.

Lord Torrington's despatch;

April 14, 1848.

LORD TORRINGTON arrived the end of May 1847.

The state of the finances at that time is thus described by the Auditor-General of the colony:

"The year 1846 presents a lamentable falling off, there having been in that year an excess of expen- diture over revenue amounting to 81,8014. 138. 7ąd., which, though lessened by advances recovered, drafts in transit, &c., by the sum of 6,9341. 68. 11§d., still leaves a net deficit on the year, of 74,8571. 6s. 8fd. Deducting this amount from the balance of 129,4601. 38. 94d. in hand on the 1st of January, 1846, it will consequently appear that on the 1st of January, 1847, the balance actually in hand was reduced to the sum of 54,5921. 17%. ląd."

The following is an extract from Lord Torring- ton's despatch, to the same effect:

"The revenue has, for two or three years past, fallen considerably short of the expenditure, although many public works of importance have been post- poned, or imperfectly carried out, owing to the want of adequate funds. I have already had occa- sion to notice the almost total cessation the revenue derived from the sales of public lands."

"

On reviewing carefully the state and prospects of the colony in the Executive Council, many inte-

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