1-150-349 - The Cartoon Collector/Heritage-Images

'Gladstone Salve - For Tender Consciences', 1863. Mr Gladstone's 1863 Budget began with the premise that there was a surplus of £3,741,000. Various small increases in duties would bring that to a total of £3,874,000. But then, a number of reductions in duties and income tax (down from 9d to 7d in the pound) would diminish the return and the surplus would dwindle by £3,343,000. Here, Mr Punch translates Mr Gladstone's 'political language' to show that nothing much is being given back to the public, and that the Budget was carefully calculated to squeeze as much from the tax payers as it was thought they could bear. This cartoon may also refer to the Budget proposal - later abandoned - to tax the income of charities. From Punch, or the London Charivari, April 4, 1863.