Amongst the remaining measures of the Session, we trust, that
the National Debt Bill is pretty sure of cordial support.. When we see what our American cousins are doing in the re- duction of Debt, a sensation of positive shame comes over us. Here is the account of their achievements as given in a recent. number of the St. James's Gazette :—" The amount of Debt. paid off in the year ended June 30th, 1880, was £17,000,000, £20,300,000 in 1881, £30,200,000 in 1882, and £27,500,000 in 1883,"-95 millions sterling in four years. "The interest on the Debt at the close of the fiscal year 1880 was 215,900,000- In the fiscal year ended June 30th, 1883, it was £10,200,000, a reduction to two-thirds the amount of four years ago. The Treasury balance at June 30th last stood at 26,000,000 more than it was a year ago; consequently, whatever surplus there is in the Revenue receipts of 1883-84 will be applicable to the further redaction of Debt." Mr. Childers's wise proposals appear very modest indeed, when we compare them with this Titanic operation for the extinction of Debt.
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