The Sun. — London, England, 1849-01-01 00:00:00

THE ARMY AND NAVY. (From the United Service Gazette.) Major-General Thomas James Wemyss, C. 8., has succeded to the unattached pay of 255. per diem. The Major-General is an old Peninsular officer, and during his home service since the peace, has gained " golden opinions of all sorts of men." We lately gave an account of the presentation of a piece of plate to Major-General Vireymss, the result of the high claims he had established to the grateful consideration of the inhabitants of the northern district. ROYAL MILITARY ASYLIIM.—Doctor Balfour, who has been recently appointed medical officer to this establish ment, has recommended an alteration in the diet for the children, which we are sure will lead to the most bene ficial results. THE ADMIRAL OF TILE FLEET. —Upon inquiries at Cavendish-square this morning, we w ere informed that the gallant and distinguished Admiral of the Fleet had somewhat rallied during the p ast week, but still con tinued in a very dangerous state. THE ACCOUNTANT -GENERAL.—We regret to state that the very much and deservedly-respected Account: ant-General of the Navy, John Thomas Briggs, Esq., is seriously ill at Brighton. RETIREMENT OF THE CHIEF CLERK AT THE ADMI RALTY.—We have heard from good authority that Mr. Araedroa, the venerable chief clerk at the Admiralty, having completed half a century's service, is about to retire from his arduous and responsible office. His re tirement will promote Mr. John Hay, the senior clerk, to be chief clerk ; Mr. John Briggs, of the second class, to be one of the senior clerks; and Mr. Thomas James, of the third class, to the second class. CONVEYANCE OF TROOPS.—In addition to the subject of the rations of the soldier, to which we referred last week, we find that the committee, of which Lord Har ding() is a member, is considering the question of the best means of providing carriage for the troops, their stores, baggage, &c., in moments of emergency. To avoid the expense of permanent establishment of carts, cattle, &c., it has been customary to levy such means of conveyance just when they are wanted ; but, as they are not always obtainable when a country is in a state of commotion, some modification of the plan has been deemed advisable. TO THE ELECTORS AND NON ELECTORS OF THE CITY OF GLASGOW. My Friends and Constituents, —I have, during the last and present month, been frequently requested by several of my friends, and by a good many of those who take a leading part in the affairs of these king doms, to give a public expression of my opinions respecting the financial questions which are now en gaging public attention, more particularly in the chief manufacturing and commercial districts in England, of which Manchester and Liverpool are the great influential centre points, and of which, as regards Scotland, our city of Glasgow is the metro polis. The state of our revenue and expenditure will, after the lapse of a month, which will swiftly pass away, and which leaves but a short time for delibe rate consideration, be introduced and discussed in Parliament. It will, assuredly, occupy a great part of the time of that Legislative Assembly of which I have the honour of being a member in virtue of your confidence in me, when exercising that first of responsiqle duties confided to you as a sacred trust by the Reform Bill and the constitution of these realms. I therefore consider it my first duty to address and express to you, as your representative, the opi nions which I have formed, after giving this question my careful and impartial consideration. I have brought to the aid of my judgment all the informa tion I could collect, and the results of the measures, which experience has proved the most practically good or the most pernicious in their operation, either in these kingdoms, in our colonial possessions, or in foreign countries. The questions which probably necessarily must engage the attention and occupy the time of Parlia ment are chiefly those of 1. The taxation, revenue, and expenditure of the United Kingdom. 2. The naval and military establishments of the empire. 3. The condnion of Ireland question. 4. The electoral franchise. 5. The sanitary laws and regulations. 6. The means and plans of education. 7. The navigation laws. 8. The commerce and navigation of the country. 9. The whole question of colonial administration. 10. Our foreign policy, and relations with foreign states. To these ten questions, there will be added many others of local and general importance ; but I shall at present confine my statements and remarks to the subject of the taxation, revenue, and expenditure of the United Kingdom. This being a subject to which, with those of trade, navigation, colonies, and our foreign commercial interests, I have the most assidu ously, and for many 'years, devoted my labours. I am compelled to remark, at the outset, that I cannot agree with many very sincere but very san guine persons, who consider a perfectly equitable system of taxation practicable. Experience, facts, and reflections have brought me to consider that the more numerous are the interests of society, the more varied their employments, trades, pursuits, sources of income, and the kinds of property which men possess, the greater and more perplexing are the difficulties which are opposed to an equitable adjustment of the public taxation. With respect to this first great question, and all others of human legislation, of the acts of man, who, with infirmities incident to his mortal nature, can never attain to perfection in this world, the most that I expect is the best approximate equitable adjustment of the public burdens, and of the public expenditure, that all the moral, social, and ma terial circumstances of the country which we inhabit render practical. It is with this view, and this con• viction, that I shall endeavour to point out, free of the bias of party or of prejudice, that which I be lieve to be within the limits of practical legislation, rather than contend for all that I would desire—for all that I would consider the most equitable, but from which many others may differ entirely in opinion. I must take, as they exist in the House of Commons, its members, their intelligence, their prejudices, and, I fear, in many cases, their interests; and I must also take the whole condition, in all its elements, of good and of evil, of these kingdoms—of the colonies—of public opinion,--and of individual and local in terests; all these I must take into my calculation when I enter upon a financial inquiry, and endeavour to expound practical fiscal reforms. If we cannot ob tain all that others who have gravely considered the subject anticipate and propound, or all that I would propose, we ought, instead of rejecting, to prefer ob taining such ameliorations as are practical, in con f?nding or agreeing with the elements, justly but not disrespectfully designated by Sir Robert Peel, of " a proud aristocracy and a reformed House of Com mons," and of all the circumstances which s tren g then or enfeeble the pressure of public opinion from with out that assembly. All our researches can discover no Government, of any nation that ever existed, with a claim to civi lization, that did not tax its people. It would almost appear that taxes are necessarily allied to civilization, they certainly are to :an age of luxury. Augustus decreed that all the world should be taxed, and all the world was taxed. The more complicated the affairs, the more varied the interests, the more numerous the pursuits of any, but especially of a great commercial country—the more highly have the people been taxed. Greece, Rome, Venice, France, and Hol land, are historical examples of this truth. The example of the United States of America is usually quoted as a great free country, where citizens are but slightly taxed. I have taken con siderable pains to estimate the burdens of the general state and local taxes, and of the personal ser vioes of the inhabitants of the great Anglo-Saxon Republic, and I am prepared to prove that the whole taxation borne by the citizens is far from moderate. They are a people, however, at all times active; they have no poor, strictly speaking, except the masses of hum an poverty exported to their shores from Europe ; and thou g h we thrust ma n y of our p oor u p on them the citizens of America . are not oppressed with poor rates. am, however, not going to defend either extra vagant exo rellaiture, nor excessive taxation , and I frankly declare - taxed cou n t ry in Great Britain is the hi g hest great fiscal reform to world, and that I consider a high taxation of G.,:ale absolutely necessary . The guish that from the t u Ilritain—for I must distin ctionsame time, unequally levied of each class of those who at the pnl,,pa,roportion to the means The first question with regard to burdens. the amount to levied. This amo unt to our taxation, is and the by the expenditure ; this expen,tnrilleuet be decided purely subservient to the necess i ti es ought to be the nation. credit of This necessity, and the maintenance of this involves the preservation of our civil lib erty and religions freedom—a just administration of the f our !domestic tranquillity—security against foreign dangers—and the protection of our maritime co p. coerce. The question then is—how far the amount of this expenditure can be diminished ? Its minimum amount since the war, was, in the year ending sth January, 1836, 48,787,635/. ; or, after deducting the expenses of collecting the revenue and payments oa its way to the Exchequer, 44,422,7221. Taking the twenty-one years, from sth January, 1827, to sth January, 1848, inclusive, the gross and net revenue, and the charges for collecting the revenue and other payments, were as follows : - - Yews Gross Total Charge of Net Amount E,ning Jan. 5. Revenue. Collection and of Payments. Revenue. 1828 ... 56,336,819 ... 6,268,486 ... 51,068,333 1329 • •• 54,144,241 ... 5,286,592 ... 48,8.57,649 1830 ... 54,223,412 ... 5,148,280 ... 49,075,132 1631 ... 52,018,617 ... 4,875,674 ... 47,142,943 1832 „.. 51,711,465 ... 5,888,167 ... 45,823,298 1838 ... 50,908,328 ... 4,534,322 ... 46,573,996 1334 49,166,514 ••• 4,408,071 ... 44,758,243 1835 ... 49,223,116 ... 4,321,415 ... 44,901,701 1836 "• 45 ,767,638 ... 4,364,916 ... 44,422,722 1837 ... 50 ,81.8,30 „, 4,346,743 ~. 46,572,562 1838 ... 51,319,113 ... 4,188,159 ... 47,130,9541 1839 ... 51,720,748 ... 4,042,0E1 47,678,687 1940 ... 53,440,287 ... 4,082,596 ... 49,357,691 1841 ... 53,444,053 ... 4,282,517 ... 49,161,536 1842 ... 54,465,318 ... 4 , 279 , 589 ... 50,185,729 1843 ... 55,223,873 ... 4,278,704 ... 50,945,169 1844 ... 55,501,739 ... 4,362,226 ... 51,139,513 1845 . . 55,103,645 ... 4,555,997 ... 50,547,648 1846 ... 53,873,063 ... 4,630,350 ... 49,242,713 1847 ... 55,583,025 4,639,195 ... 50,943,830 1848 ... 59,230,413 ... 4,727,465 ... 54,502,948 Deducting about six millions of this sum collected in Ireland, or say even 6,230,413/., there remains 53 millions of taxes levied in Great Britain ; to which, if we add poor-rates, county-rates, and countless local burdens, at least seventeen millions, we cannot reduce the whole taxation of Great Britain for the year end ing sth January, 1849, to less than 70 millions sterling. The charge of collecting the revenue in the year ending sth January, 1828, amounted to 3,966,456/. The other payments deducted from the revenue, in its way to the Exchequer, amounted to 1,302,030/. This large amount requires some explanation. At that time, the payments included other and extra deduc tions from the Customs' revenue on account of a much greater number of drawbacks than at present, on various articles,lwhich had then paid, but now do not pay, an Excise duty. These duties were abolished, on printed calicoes, in 1831; candles, in 1832 ; tiles, in 1833 ; starch, stone bottles, sweets, mead, and home-made wines, in 1834; glass reduced in 1835 ; paper and soap, in 1836 ; and glass duty, nearly abolished in 1844: and when those articles were ex ported a drawback was allowed, but the amount of those drawbacks is not included in the other pay ments, which, with the charges of collection, are deducted from the gross revenue, which latter is not the whole revenue, but the gross, after deducting drawbacks and allowances. The charges of collecting the revenue in the year end ing sth January, 1848, amounted to 3,963,5391. ; 596,7001. more than in 1835. The other payments from the different branches of re venue, in its way to the Exchequer, were the following:— First from the Customs— a. d. Quarantine expenses ... ... 16,291 0 0 Warehousing department ... ... 135,660 0 0 Officers connected with the Act of Na vigation, and keeping account of the trade and navigation of the empire, and Merchant Seamen's Act 10,075 0 0 £162,026 0 0 Payments on account of Trinity lights and pilot dues, for difference between charges on British and foreign vessels ••• ••• ••• ••• Compensations and allowances, coast guard and naval officers ... ... 41,528 0 0 Judicial, paid out of Scotc h customs, for defraying judicial establishments in Scotland .. ... Civil government (Isle of Man) Corn returns (incidental) Miscellaneous payments 39,629 0 0 ... 93,227 0 0 , 9 335 0 0 ..• ••• 306 0 0 66 0 0 ••• duce much lower than its present amount, but we do believe that the naval expenditure may be reduced without enfeebling its strength and efficiency. We believe, by adopting a different system in the British possessions, and especially in Ireland, the military and ordnance expenditure may also be greatly diminished. But the condition of Ireland—the great expenditure and small revenue of that part of the United King dom, meets and perplexes us at every attempt we make in financial calculations. I am, however, of opinion, and I feel prepared to show, that we may accomplish the following reduc tions, but not without their being contingent upon other measures. The reductions I would propose, and still maintain the efficiency of the services, are : The naval expenditure to ... £6,500,000 The army expenditure to 6,000,000 The ordnance expenditure to ... ... 1,750,000 X 14,250,000 Expenditure in 1847 ... 18,500,000 Saving ... ... ... £4,250,000 The national debt interest we must not estimate at less than ... ... ... £28,250,000 Add navy, army, and ordnance ... ... 14,250,000 Total debt, navy, army, and ordnance £42,500,000 Various payments out of the consolidated fund, from... £2,319,530 to 2,200,000 Miscellaneous services, from 3,561,067 to 3,250,000 Charges of collecting the re venue, from ... 3,963,539 to 3,350,000 £9,844,136 £51,300,000 Other payments out of the taxes in their progress to the Exchequer, from ... 763,926 to 710,000 Civil list, from ... ... 393,830 to 390,000 X 11,001,892 £10,000,000 Total proposed gross expenditure.. ... 52,400,000 Total of expenditure in 1847 (after deduct ing 1,527,8001. for Irish distress) ... 57,704,614 Total proposed saving £5,304,614 These calculations ar•, however, based upon greatly. diminishing the amount paid out of the revenues of Great Britain, and spent for military and police pur poses in Ireland, which I will hereafter notice. I think, further, that we might possibly reduce the gross revenue nearly half a million more ; or say Gross revenue, including charges of collection, 52,000,0001. Now, the next consideration, and the greatest diffi culty is, how to levy this revenue in the most equit ably practical manner. First. With respect to the chief sources of re venue—the Customs and Excise :-- In 1840, I submitted a pro forma tariff, reduced to 20 rates, or heads of Customs' duties, to the Corn-, mittee of the House of Commons. I there stated that it was far from being the best commercial tariff I would propose, for that I considered all articles the essential food of man, and all raw materials for ma nufactures, should pay no duty whatever. But, under all circumstances, it was the most approximate scale I then thought practicable. It .was, however, a far better revenue tariff than the present ; for I propose (though not on principle) a fixed duty of Bs. per quarter on wheat, and duties of from 10 to 20 per cent. upon provisions generally ; 10s. per cwt. on butter; Bs. on cheese; and from 2kd to 5 per cent. upon most raw materials, and 10 per cent. on ma nufactured articles. Instead of reducing the duty on colonial wood from 10s. to ls. on fir timber, and to 2s. on deals, &c., I proposed Is. 6d. per load on tim ber, and 1 ls. per load on deals, and I reduced the foreign duty on timber from 555. to 255. per load, and on deals in proportion. I proposed on all other woods, for ship or other building purposes, a duty of sa. and 105. per load. The revenue levied on timber of all kinds during the year 1839 amounted to 1,603,1911. I contemplated a large increase in this revenue. But the duty may be said to be abolished on all oolonial timber. It has been so on all furniture and on nearly all ship-building woods. In 1846 the quantity imported of all colo nial timber, not deals or split, reduced to loads, was, in round numbers, about 800,000 loads, which, at 7s. 6d. per load, would yield a revenue of _ Deals ' staves, &c., about 500,000 loads, would yield, at lls. per load ... Foreign timber, about 580,000 loads, at 251. per load, would yield . Foreign deals, about 300,000 loads, at 30s. per load, would produce ••• Oa Oak and other ship building and furniture woods, from British possessions, 60,000 loads, at 55., would give ••• ••• Ditto ditto, foreign, 40,000 loads, at 10s. per load £300,000 316,000 725,000 450,000 15,000 ... 20,000 Total revenue from timber ... £1,826,000 The present revenue is about half this amount, and as we have abolished the duty on cotton wool, sheep's wool, flax, and hemp, and most other raw materials, I would now recommend that the duty on timber should be altogether repealed. It has already been abolished on mahogany and on all furniture woods, on logwood and on all dyewoods, and on several kinds of ship building woods. _ _ _ I also - proposed in that tariff a protective duty on colonial sugars of 103., viz.-20s. per cwt. on colo nial sugars, and 30s. per cwt. on foreign sugar. I contemplated by this tariff an increase of revenue which would have prevented the necessity for any new tax, and, considering the vast distance which then appeared to separate us, between the then exist ing corn-laws, sugar, and other duties and any real approach to free trade, th a t t ar iff, which was really throughout protective, was considered a most revolu tionary and desperate project, and that too by men then high in office. I was only, however, two years in advance even of the most timid statesmen of the day. Lord John Russell, as the leader of the Mel bourne Government, proposed, in 1841, the fixed duty which I had submitted to the Committee in the previous year, and it was proposed to reduce the pro hibitive duty on foreign sugar to a revenue duty of 86s. and 5 per cent., or to a duty of 375. 9d. 3-5 per cwt. The agricultural protectionist party, and those who represented the West Indian interests, combined. They refused to receive those rates of protection, and the Melbourne Ministry, on being in a minority, im mediately resigned. Instead of Ss. per quarter, the agriculturists will, in a month, have no protective duty whatever; and the West Indians, who bare now only a few shillings, will, in three or four years, not have one farthing. Both parties were, assuredly, not wise in their generation. They both, however, assert, in no Christian spirit, that they have been betrayed by Sir R. Peel. The tact ia, they have deceived them selves; he never has deceived them. He voted against a fixed duty ; but he never promised them any more than a moderate sliding scale ; and if that should fail (as it did), he gave them no pledge that he would not abolish the duty on corn altogether. He never pro mised them high protective duties on sugar. He would have shut out sugar produced by slave labour, if that should have proved practical, but he would not exclude any sugar produced by free labour, and he gave them the benefit of that experiment, which, when it failed, he joined in voting for that measure which he considered more practically good, as every able and wise statesman would and will do. At the end of 1843 I again examined the whole state, item by item, of our taxation—the revenue it produced, and the expenditure. I reduced the result of my labours to as precise a shape as I could, and printed a very few copies of the document for the the confidential use, at the time, of a few persons. On 19th of February, 1844, the substance of this docu ment appeared in a leading article of the Times. This contained a free-trade tariff, as far as the revenue would allow, an exemption from duties upon com modities, and also a pro forma financial project. In that project I proposed to abolish all taxes then under the excise (excepting spirits, malt,and licences),all the assessed taxes (excepting the unredeemed laud-tax), and all the duties of Customs, except on eight articles. I then ) with a good harvest, a flourishing trade, and peace over the world, estimated that a gross revenue of 50,000,0001., including charges of collection, would be required. My project, calculated with great care, then stood as follows, viz. : Pro forma View of equalising the Annual Revenue and Expenditure, presuming that the Excise and Assessed taxes, and the stamps on marine and fire assurances, and also the duties of Customs (except on eight articles) should be abolished, and adding distilled spirits and malt, now under the Excise, to the Customs, and Excise licenses to the Stamps:: abolishing all other of the Assessed taxes, and! the whole Excise establishment. First. Assuming the total annual expendi tare not to exceed £50,000,000 Revenue, necessary to meet this expendi ture to be raised as follows 1. From uniform duties on (1) tea ; (2) sugar and molasses ; (3) coffee and cocoa ; (4) tobacco ; (5) distilled spirits ; (6) VfIEIC3 ; (7) dried fruits ; (8) ...£21,500,000 2. Home distilled spirits ... 5,000,000 Malt, whether made at home or imported from abroad ... ... 5,000,000 3. Stamps, leaving out marine and fir• in surances, and including licenses now under the Excise.— ... 4. Unredeemed land-tax ... ... ... Deficit to be provided for during the first year 31,500,A00 7,500,000 1,200,000 9,800,000 £50,000,000 This deficit to be levied, not by doubling, or rather more than doubling, the present income-tax, but by the less inquisitorial and more direct and equitable plan of an annual assessment, in the pound, upon the annual value of all realised property, viz., the rents and profits of all lands, tenements, houses, constructions, funds, stocks and shares including factories, warehouses, docks, shipyards, railways, canals, public funds, Bank of Eng land stock, East India and South Sea stock, and the stock and shares of all companies whose stocks and shares az, bpught and sold in the market. Total of all the above artlclesi 14 Quicksilver ••.. •• 15 Barilla and bark . • • ........ 16 Saltpetre .•..•••••• • • • • • • • • 17 Metals ........ ••..•• .. • • 18 Hides and skins • • ...... •• .. 19 Tar and Turpentine 20 Oil : Train, sperm, palm, olive, and cocoa-nut.. 22 ...... • • 23 Dyes and dyeing stuffs .. 24 Animals .• • • ...... ........ 25 Bacon, beef, pork, and *hams 26 Eggs ..... ........ ...... 27 8utter........ • • ...... 28 Cheese ...... 29 Fish of all sorts, now nearly all tree . 30 Corn : grain, meal, and flour 31 Seeds : viz., clover, rape, flax, and liuseedt .............. 32 Rice • • • • .. • ............ 33 Silk manufactures 34 Gloves 35 Other articles Totals .......... Deduct corn .... Totals exclusive of corn .. Deduct provisions and seeds, Nos. 24 to 32, except cern Totals exclusive of corn and provisions ...• •• ..... Deduct cotton wool and raw, materials, duty paid .... • • Total, deducting articles now duty free • • ....... * Now all free except hams. 68,6881 20,819,20 1,328 21,570 9,665 25,746 72,741 87,964 84,684 206,464 2,1338 68,100 4,379 33,524 262,967 136,0541 98SI .575,407, 107,111 35,793 244,076 26,199 73G,168 23,606,124 575,407 23,030,7171 .51,4751 21,209,1861 1,080 9,171 9,321 98,767 10,4411 3,3331 65,602 174,602 1,718 9,100 5,304 !3,803 24,606 186,667 117,272 580,8161 1,988' 1,107,817 51,310 22,840 286,535 28,557 404,737 23,849,560 1,107,817 22,449,901 922,0161 22,741,7431 20,502,589 700,325 free free free! 22,041,41$ 814,698 43,434 free free *16,226 17,325 free 4,915 28,261 152,977 90,207 3,105 13,912 43,834 2,360 217,623 32,442 408,939 21,578,149 13,912 21,564.237 325,G59 21,827,8531 t All 21,238,578 21,226,720! except clove ii 21,238,578 -er free. It will be observed by the foregoing table there has been a great advance made, as far as the Customs re venue is in question, towards the pro forma scheme which I proposed in 1843,and that out of the 34 heads then yield ing the whole Customs revenue (excepting 404,7374), the duties have been abolished on-1, cotton wool; 2, sheep wool; 3, silk, raw, waste, and thrown; 4, flax and hemp; 5, quicksilver; 6, barilla and bark; 7, saltpetre; 3, metals (nearly all); 9, hides and skins; 10, tar and turpentine; 11, oil, train, sperm, palm, olive, cocoa -nut, &c.; 12, dyes and dyestuffs; 13, animals living; 14, bacon, beef, and pork (except hams); 15, fish of all sorts (anchovies, salmon, turbots, oysters, and eels ex • cepted); 16, seeds (all except clover); 17, rice. So that there only remain 16 of the 34 heads, and of the 35th or miscellaneous head, which included, in the tariff of 1841, about 384 articles, absolutely enumerated, with special duties, in that tariff, the duties have all been abolished, and so have the duties on all unenusnerated articles whatever. There now remain about 150 articles still specified, as enumerated in the tariff. which altogether have yielded only 408,9381. in 1847, but the duty on many of those arttcles is so purely nominal as not to amount to one-eighth per cent. We may remark that the duties on coffee have been reduced from the several duties of 15d., 12d., 9d., and 6d. per lb. to duties of gd. and 4d. ; on sugar the duty has been greatly reduced, and on a scale which will in three years admit them at revenue duties, without distinction as to the place of growth ; on foreign spirits from 225. 6d. to 145., greatly on spices, on tallow from 2s. 6d. to is. 6d. per cwt., but ter from 20s. to IGs. per cwt., cheese from 10s. to ss. per cwt. The duties are also abolished on bacon, pork, and beef ; and the duties have been either abolished or reduced to revenue duties on every article of impor tance excepting tea, tobacco, and wines upon the first of which the high duty is certainly the most objection able of any tax now remaining upon articles of con sumption. We shall now proceed to examine the duties of Excise and Theth e Excise Assessed d uTtTex:s.y yielded in 1843 a revenue of 14,450,903 L Sir 1t ,, 0 Itbh3e,er9tgl. yielde do, e6ses6l2aaltm. revenueoev then abolished b o o bf i r i it s cht h khe e sa d , 6x t s h yci e ei:3aor2 d 9 u ri t oe ) ; ; v o3 e no n s u ,a3 e u3e a 9t m li O n u sl n n t amounted ch hackney and stage carriages, 104,867/.; hops, 440,403/ ; licenses, 993,0111.; railway-tax, 61,9481.; poet-horse duty, 161,118/4 ditto licenses, 6,8321.; paper, 761,174/; soap, 896,6481.; sugar, 1691.; malt, 4,456,7381.; home made spirits, 5,245,490/. Now, there is not one of the above taxes, except that upon spirits, to which we do not highly object, and we are equally opposed to Excise laws, and even to the necessary rigour of those laws; but from what source are we to replace the revenue derived from them. The least objectionable of the above taxes are certainly in their order—spirits, malt, railway-tax, an d li censes , ai d we would abolish all the others first. Spirits, malt, and licenses yielded, in 1847, 10,764,018/ 4 the remaining articles—bricks, Irish game'certificates (only 8231.), car riages, hops, paper, post-horse duty, soap, and sugar, 3,242,494. It would be a great relief if all the latter amount were, as it ought to be, abolished. The revenue of stamps, duties of legacy, probates, &c., yielded in 1847, 7,082,433/. in Great Britain, and 588,990/. is Ireland; total, 7,871,423/. The most ob jectionable of these duties are those on marine and fire assurances, amounting to 1,257,591/., and the duties on stage carriages and hackney coaches, 329,0771. They produce together a large revenue, 1,587,6681. I am, however, of opinion that these duties may be abolished, when a much more productive distribution of the stamp duties can be male, and by adjusting the probate and legacy duties, as proposed by Mr. Pitt. Th e re v e nue now under the head of stamps might, after abolishing the marine and fire insurance duties, and stamps on stage carriages, on being more equitably levied, realise at least its present amount, or say 7,500,000/. The assessed taxes come next. They are not levied in Ireland, and in Great Briiain they yielded, in 1847. viz., land -tax, 1,154,7451 ; window-duty, 1,663,3201. ; or both, 2,818,065/.; and the other taxes, on servants, carriages, horses, dogs, horse-dealers, hair-powder, ar morial bearings, game licences, and the additional 10 per cent., amounted to about 1,735,795/. All the latter duties are, as well as the window-tax, highly objection able, being unequal in their pressure, offensive in their collection; and the window-tax is injurious to health, and to the construction of dwellings. The income-tax, which does not extend to Ireland, realised in Great Britain, in 1847, 5,612,654/. The Post-office yielded a net income, in 1847, of 923,0001., and a gross revenue of 2,181,9501; and the Crown lands, &e., about 480,0001. I have now gone through the heads of revenue, and I have therefore to propose a pro forma project, with a view to raise a revenue for defraying the lowest amount to which I believe it will be found practicable to diminish the expenditure, viz.:— A gross expenditure, including charges of collection, and all payments now made in THE SUN, LONDON, £340,117 0 0 Excise:— Salariesof inspectors of corn returns and officers ... Compensation to revenue officers, &c. Hereditary Pensions to— The Duke of Grafton ... Earl Cowper ... Assignees of the late Charles 800ne... Fishery Board ... Towards the Judicial establishment, — Sheriffs, &c., Scotland ... ... 36,710 10 0 Annuity to Agricultural Company, Scotland, under Royal sign manual . Miscellaneous 5,454 0 0 4,330 0 0 7,191 12 0 1,595 16 0 1,200 0 0 16,978 10 0 ... £97,106 9 44 10,600 0 0 13,046 1 41 Total, Excise... Post•office. Hereditary Pensions:— Duke of Marlborough... ... Duke of Grafton, over and above 7,1911. 12s. from Excise ... Heirs of the Duke of Schomberg Advance to Milford Haven works ... 4,000 0 0 ... 3,407 10 0 2,900 0 0 875 15 0 Total Post-office ... £11,183 5 0 Taxes:— Augmentation `of stipends to Scotch clergy, &c. ... ... ... ... 17,824 0 0 Advanced commissioners of roads ... 5,000 0 0 Miscellaneous ... ... ... ... 48 15 0 #22,872 15 0 Crown Lands:— Woods and Forests, perpetual pensions, annual stipends, parks, &c.... ... 286,646 15 0 Recapitulation of payments, deducted from the revenue, exclusive of charges, on its way to the Exchequer, viz.:— Customs... Excise ... Post-office Taxes ... Crown lands ... 346,117 0 0 ... 97,106 9 44 ... 11,183 5 0 ... 22,872 15 0 ... 286,646 15 0 Total ... ....C763,926 4 41 Thera was an excess of the expenditure over the in come during the following years, viz.:— In 1827 of ... ... £826.674 1831 „ 698,857 1837 „ ... 655,760 1838 „ 345 9 28 ••• ••• ••• • 1839 „ ... 1,512,792 1840 „ „, ... 1,593,970 1841 „ „, 2,101,369 1842 „ 3,979,538 1847 „ . . 2,956,683 exclusive of the sum received of the loan contracted for Ireland. The years 1837.8-9-40, and 1841, were periods succeeding commercial distress and bad bar- vests, and of the insurrection in Canada ; there were, in consequence, the following additional charges spread over those years. The insurrection in Canada drew out of the Treasury, from 1837 to 1841-2, the enormous sum of 2,106,046/. The Chinese war drew out of the Treasury in 1840, 1841, and 1842, 1,652,9211., and in 1843 an additional amount of 437,849/., and for the opium compensation 1,254,8231.; and further, in 1844, 404,9641. for opium compensa tion ; total on account of our quarrel with China, 3,752,557/. The moneys received from China realised in 1843, 1,315,2091. ; in 1844, 385,0081.; in 1845, 1,142,924/. ; in 1847, 667,6441. ; total, 3,510,785/. ; loss to the Treasury by the Chinese war, 239,9751. If we add to this the expenses of the Kafir war, which, we fear, will at least exceed 1,250,0001., and of the Canada insurrection war, there will have been an excess drawn from the Treasury, for warlike operations, of more than 3,595,818/. sterling, besides very great contingent expenses, which have increased those of the army and navy. There was an excess of revenue over the expendi ture during the following years :—viz., in 1828, 3,246,9941.; in 1829, 1,711,5511.; in 1830, 2,913,6731.; in 1832, 614,559/. ; in 1833, 1,513,083/. ; in 1834, 1,608,1551.; in 1835, 1,620,9411.; in 1836, 2,130,0921. Then came a commercial crisis—a Canada war—bad harvests—and a deficient revenue, until 1843, when there was an excess over the expenditure of 1,443 ; 3041. ; but then there was an excess of taxation on the one hand, caused by the income-tax, of 5,387,455/. ; but on the other hand, the Custom-house duties were greatly reduced on various articles of consumption, which I will notice further on. The income-tax, instead of being imposed for three years, having been continued, there was a surplus revenue over expenditure, in 1844, of 3,356,1061.; in 1845 of 3,817,5411. This included 1,14 2 ,924/. hina money. Inasmuch as the opium compensation, the China war expenses, had been paid off, during the two pre ceding years. In 1846 there was a surplus revenue of 2,846,3081. ; but in 1847 the country was overwhelmed with the crisis consequent upon bad harvests, the potato rot, an Irish famine, and the railway specu lations ; which latter locked up many inconvertible millious of capital ; and all which causes combined effected a stagnation of trade, a greatly diminished employment of labour in manufactures and other branches of industry, and the ruin of many great commercial houses of long standing, and with re sponsibilities of unexampled magnitude. The failure of those houses brought countless others of minor standing into ruin, that might otherwise have con tinued solvent. Let us add the elements of disturb ances that were preparing their development on the continent of Europe, and we may, I believe, then, consider it remarkable, that the falling off of the revenue was not much greater. It is certainly more surprising than otherwise that there was not a much greater deficiency in the year 1847 than 2,956,683/. ; and we must also take into account that more than one-half of that amount was occasioned by the sum of 1,525,800/. sent to relieve distress in Ireland. The expenditure on account of the navy, army, and ordnance, and for paying the interest and ex penses of the public debt, was, during the following years, as follows : Navy ' ' I Ord '''' of Debt. Ordnance, Ira ' N A V' A rin Y' nanco. Tot"'. Exp.zenBe Army, and Debt. -- -___--7-_,x____ £--- ------- -- ,Z X £ 813 22 417,513 45,6 , 23 356 1 " , 7 87G 6 ^27 1 914_43 16,205, , ' ' 5942 033 535 1830 0 , 99 , 8 36,414,‘ , ' I j 4 67429,1 18 , 8 . , ~ 938113'91 ' ' 5 9 2 507 1433 ',5,3t' 0g 16315.3" ' 6°3 1,613' ,I 2 265,103 28, -,, i 40,787,610 1834 G,493'.ii144,30,235 1,314,506, 12'066,057!23,504,096 40,570,1563 1835 6,706,144.50,909 1,068,223, '11'657 486,28,514,610'40,171,09 1836 6,473,14i4.2095'4?9 1,151,914. •, '968'29,243,599; 41,356,567 1837 6,521,716;750'7468 1'434,859'12,112, i 9;29 482,571;42,206,468 1838 6,815,641 3,520'4 2g 1 ,444,523, 12,716,81 '99'260 238!41,980,963 1839 6,542 , 66 2',549i,2 04 j't!4,6B 1 112,720,730; ' '4002'43, 438,078 1840 6 , 89 0,257;4,597,5„ 1 , 4 2,2 40113,984,076,29,4 a , _ I ~, 4,136 1841 6,418,422'6,487,074 t'811'64"'14,119,418'29,381,713, 4 i au ' 1842 5,937,921;6,640,143 2:174'112314,732 , ,62S 1.17'41,172,873 29,450, ~,, 577 1843 5,997,156,6,605,057 1,919 - 70 4 \ i 4."2 4 , ,75 7 29,428,12044, 2 "___ 1844 5,178,714,5,858,219 1,924;312 13.'913,917 29,269,160143,7 83 , 07 : 7 : 1845 6 ,774,5896,809,873 2,109,70 7 , 5 ,51 245 30495455 44,4:56,704 1846 6,699,699 7,803,464 2 , 3 61,531116, 664'16928 , 2 53 ,872, 43,918,0 11 1647 7,540,40514,013,873 2 , 94 7,869118,5'? 7 28 ,077,987 44,942,684 ---- 12. 1 4 7 28 ,141,531 46,653,678 From all the f _orecfni no. .f.i.-- _ . From all the foregoing statements, which I have compiled with great care from the official finance ac counts of each year, it will appear conclusive, that if we are unable to reduce the expenditure of the navy, army, ordnance, and th e i n t eres t o f t h e public debt, it is vain for us to expect a very great diminution of the national expenditure. The interest of the public debt we cannot honestly, 4nd witholit disgrace, re% MONDAY EVENING, J ANUARY l, I 849: At that time, the year after Sir Robert Peel's first new tariff came into operation, the Customs yielded a gross revenue of 22,720,8861. of duties, levied on 813 articles, there being about 1,100 on the whole tariff ; nearly 300 of which were never imported, or were long unknown to use:-17 articles yielded 21,417,4621., and of which 17 articles nine produced 20,436,932/ ; 22 were admitted free, and 775 articles yielded 1,303,4241,, of which 448 articles produced only 8,0401. The following table will illustrate further the revenue of the Customs under the tariff of 1841, and Sir Robert Peel's tariffs (the revenue from sugar is, however, under the duties carried by the present Government):— ARTICLES. 1841. 1844. 1847. 1 r Coffee .. .. L Cocoa .. .. 2 Molasses .. 'Sugar .. .. Total of sugar and molassesl 4 Spirits : Rum, • brandy, and Geneva.... •• • • • ......... 5 Wine •• • • •• 7 Fruits, viz., currants, figs„ raisins, oranges, &e 8 Spices of all sorts.... • • Total of Die above articles . 9 Timber of all sorts • • ...... . Total of do., including timber! 10 Wool, cotton.... • • • ... • • • • • . 11 —, sheep and lambs . ... Total of Cotton and Sheep's Total of the above articles 12 Silk, raw, waste, and thrown 13 Flax and hemp • •• •• ........ Total of silk, flax, and hemp) £52,000,000 its progress to the Exchequer ... ---; To meet which I propose : 1.-DUTIES OF CUSTOMS. _ _ (A) Tobacco ••• ... ... ...! £4,000,000 (B) Sugar (at present) duties „. ... 5,500,000 (C) Distilled spirits, all kinds ... ... 2,500,000 (D) Wines (at duties adjusted for revenue) 2,000,000 (E) Spices of all kinds ... ... ... 100,000 (F) Fruits of all kinds ... ... ... 300,000 (G) Tea, at Is. the lb ... ... 3,000,000 (H) Silk manufactures, and other articles of luxury, at an ad valorem duty, exclud ing all raw materials, and articles of food 900,000 2.—EXCISE, UNDER ONE OFFICE, WITH STAMPS. Spirits and malt ... ...X10,000,0001 11,200,000 Licences ... 1,200,000 Stamps, legacy duty, and probates... ••• 7,500,000 3. Post office, gross revenue 2,300,000 4. Crown lands (should give more) ••• 500,000 Total from ordinary sources ... ... £41,000,000 5. Duty of 5 per cent. upon the rents or profits of all realised property, whether funded, houses, lands, ware houses, docks, East India Stock, B ank Stoc k, an d a ll stocks and shares wh atever, b oug ht a nd sold in the market, w hi ch I est i ma t e a t 220 millions sterlin g per annum... ... 11,000,000 Total estimated revenue to meet esti mated expenditure —£52,000,000 The last item of eleven millions will appear startling at first sight to those who are not fully acquainted with our taxaticn and sources of revenue. But I am pre• pared to prove, as the result of very laborious calcula tions, that it is by far the most equitable mode of levying the balance of revenue which it is necessary to levy, ex clusive of duties on commodities, in order to meet the expenditure. In the first place, an income tax—for all in comes temporary or permanent, yields ... £5,600,000 The other direct tax which I pro pose to abolish are window taxes, and other :assessed taxes, exclusive of land-tax ...A2,818,000 Fire insurances about 1,100,0001. and duty on bricks 680,0001., are in reality taxes on pro perty ... ... 1,760,000 4,593,000 Utti m ~.419,199,000 Now, this amount of 10,198,0001., and of some por tions of the other taxes which I propose to abolish, c,,n stitute, when analyzed, in reality, a property and in come tax—the question is, can we arrange a satisfactory scale for permanent and for temporary incomes? I have tried in vain to do so, and I have failed to arrange any scale in any way which would work with any pos sible satisfaction to the public. Having also examined carefully the scheme proposed last session by Mr. Hors man, I regret to say that I consider it would have proved utterly impracticable, and far more inquisitorial than the present income-tax. The tax I have proposed is per haps not in every respect the most equitable; but as I would extend it to all realised property, my own opinion is that it would, with the relief I propose from abolishing the window and other assessed taxes, and stamps on fire insurances, not press more heavily on lands or houses than the present income-tax. I have alluded to the expenditure and revenue of Ire land. To unravel the condition of Ireland question is, I confess, beyond my power. But if we aro only to hold that country by as great a military and police force as that which would be necessary to hold any conquered country, with a population of eight millions of inha bitants, it would, as far as the interests of England and Scotland are concerned, be preferable to repeal the union at once, withdraw the army, and leave Ireland to pay for its own police and civil establishments. But this is a remedy for Irish maladies which I cannot join in re commending. It would be, no doubt, a remedy which would be attended with little less than anarchy and civil war ; I hope that, instead of a repeal, equal and impartial justice will be fully carried out in Ire land. I am confident that such h.. , s been the policy of the four last Administrations—that is to say, the Administrations of the Duke of Wellington, of Lords Grey and Melbourne, of Sir Hubert Peel, and that it is the policy of the Government of Lurd John Russell. Let the members, landlords, and people of Ireland do justice to themselves, and they will have no reason to complain of the union with Great Britain. We cannot, however, go on spending millions annually in that country, over the amount levied by taxation in Ire land. The Parliamentary returns are not very clear as respects Irish expenditure. Nor can I enter now in de tail upon this subject. I may briefly state, that when, in 1817, the expenses of Great Britain and Ireland were united, the funded debt of the latter amounted to about 134,000,0001., and the floating debt to about 6,009,000/. It was all spent or wasted in Ireland. I find that about 130,000,0001. of this debt was funded in Great Britain; and that since 1817, or for the last thirty years, the expenditure on account of Ireland, in Ireland, has exceeded the revenue collected there, to from three to four millions per annum. Let it also be taken into account that no property, no income tax, no window, nor any assessed tax, no tax upon bricks, &c., is levied in Ireland. Since the union, in the reign of Queen Anne, of the Crowns of England and Scotland, the same taxes have been levied in both countries. I have examined the revenue and expendi ture of Scotland since that period, and the result I find to be, that, as nearly as possible, three-fourths of the taxes levied in Scotland have peen paid to the British Treasury, and that one-fourth has been sufficient for the whole civil, military, and other expenditure of Scot land. With regard to colonial expenditure, I believe that, as fir as money is expended for colonial purposes by the British Treasury, that expenditure may be, to a gr, at extent, diminished. With respect to the expenses of the revenue and other departments, reforms appear to be necessary, and will, I have reason to believe, be made. The increased navigation and trade of these kingdoms require a though reorganization of the Customs depart psrtment. I gave notice of resolutions which would em brace the changes which I consider necessary; and, in case the Government does not bring forward a good plan, I will submit mine early in the session, in pur suance of the notice I have given. The Government has appointed a commission of inquiry, which now sits at the Custom-house in London. It is, I believe, already de cided that the Excise and Stamp offices shall be placed under one department. I could enter into many further details regarding our finances, expenditure, our national burdens, and our national credit. But I hope I have stated enough to ex plain to you my opinions of any really efficient and prac tical financial adjustment. Grievous as our taxation must continue to be, with every economy, and, as I have shown, with every possible diminution of expenditure, I must ever advocate the up holding, under every circumstance, the credit of the country. The failure of that credit would inflict a penalty upon every one of her Majesty's subjects far more grievous than the payment even of our present heavy taxation. I❑ Great Britain it would be ruinous to those who now employ others, and it would throw those em ployed out of work. - It requires but little inquiry to prove that the calamity of a stoppage of the payment of dividends, or interest of the national debt, would break up every monetary and commercial engagement in the United Kingdom; that the rights of property, whether in lands or moveables, would no longer be sacred; that Bank stock, India stock, and all other stocks, together with private banks, and private credit would all be involved in the general calamity of a national bankruptcy. The failure of a great commercial firm or banking house always carries extensive misery within the limits of its operations; and the breaking up of national credit would reduce the whole population of the country to more irretrievable destitution than the failure of a bank f)r mercantile establishment would subject those to, whose means were all involved in the ruin of such bank or concern. If we examine the artifilial circumstances upon which the population of the United Kingdom depend for their means of living, it will th, , n appear that f,w families, especially in London and ether large towns, keep more more ready money within their houses than the amount necessary for a week's expenditure, and that there is seldom more than provision for the day in any one larder. Money, or securities representing money, which are received or owned in sums of any magnitude, are at once deposited in the Bank of England, or other banks or places of security. When money is r, quired by those who own it, either to pay their current expenses or to pay the wages of those they employ, the sums wanted are drawn at the time required, and not before. In the present state of the Public Funds, or rather debt, these funds or debts are distributed over the United Kingdom, the greater part in moderate amounts, and in the hands of private individuals, who have their divi dends, when due, paid in to their respective bankers. The Bank of England is not only the manager and payer of those dividends, but the stability of every other bank is, including savings banks, under the existing system of securities, bil's, and dividends, involved in the solvency of the Bank of England, and in the unerring regular payment of the interest of the National Debt. The ruin of public credit would, therefore, be followed by the failure of private credit. Individual and national confidence would fall at the same time. * The destitution and misery, especially in the large towns, would be unparalleled in history. Take London, for example, with a population of nearly 2,000,000 souls, in the calamitous evt nt of a non-pay ment of the dividends at the Bank of England. Every bank in London would, from necessity, stop paying on the very day such an announcement was made. The grazier would not then trust the butcher, nor the latter the families he supplied, • • - The farmer would not credit the corn-dealer or miller, nor the latter the baker ; and the baker, grocer, butter man, milkman, greengrocer, fruiterer, and other dealers would all cease to supply their usual customers. So on with respect to all credits and trades. The evil would extend to all employments ; whether in manufactures, ea wages could nut be paid to those employed, in our ships of war or merchant vessels, for when wages ceased to be paid, our sailors would not navigate them, and necessity would make them seek employment elsewhere. The calamity would be ilos sibly a general dismemberment of the empire, amidst the anarchy and the general national degradation which would be the certain consequence of not providing the revenue necessary to meet the public expenditure. Such a calamity must, under every circumstance of pressure, public or private, be prevented. A wise and just Government, and all honest men, will we say so with confidence, unite in providing the means to avert the calamity and anarchy which would fellow a breaking down of the credit and faith of our common country. Therefore, while I shall in every just way exert my humble abilities in advocating economy in the expenditure, and an equitable system of taxation, I must always continue my support to the maintenance of na tional credit. Having thus addressed you at great length upon probably the most important question which will be discussed during the approaching session, I beg leave to assure you that I am your faithful servant, JOHN MACGREGOR. Athenaeum Club, London, 28th December, 1848. 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Price Is. 2s. 9d., or 4s. 6,1. per box; to be had of all respectable Chemists and Medicine Venders. UNEXPECTED CHRISTMAS Box.—On Christmas morning, as a female servant at Sneating Hall, Kirby-le- Soken, was washing her hands, she observed whet ap peared to be a piece of dark coloured paper embedded in the soap; end, on taHng it out, she was still more surprised to find that it contained a half-sovereign. From the appearance of the soap it was quite evident that the valuable little package must have got there during the POMO 9t Planufocture.--,Essex Standard, SUPPLY OF PURE WATER. The question how London shall be supplied with water, ample in quantity, and good in quality, as well as reasonable in price, is one which interests two mile lions of her Majesty's lieges, and may well engage again the deliberate attention of Parliament. The select com mittees which have already had the subject under con sideration have shown clearly enough that years ago London was insufficiently supplied with water, and that the supply was bad in quality as well as far less than what the population required. These facts may now be safely taken for granted, and it would be mere waste of time to listen to the evidence of a single witness to confirm them. We want far more water than now is or can be supplied to the metropolis. Let it be shown where we can get water enough and good enough, and howit can be :supplied at the cheapest rate, and the ne cessity of so obtaining and supplying it will not be dis puted. There is no reason to apprehend any irresistible opposition from the water compa nies. They know that Parliament takes quite sufficient care of " vested inter. sts," and that whatever alterations may be m tele in the existing sys tem the shareholders will not be robbed; and we suspect that they have already pretty well made up their minds that many years will not elapse before they are " com pensated." If not, we would suggest that their coming to that conclusion speedily would, probably, not only save them in the long run a considerable amount of needless vexation, but also render the settlement of the amount of compensation to be granted to them more satisfactory to themselves. When a monopolist offers to surrender his rights for a round sum without hag gling, there is a semblance of generosity in the preced— ing ; and, though th e mono p o l y i s not worth to him more than what he makes by it, the purchaser hopes that it will be worth more to himself. If, how ever, the monopolist should insist on his pound of flesh, he would find a Portia in the public. Various in detail as well as in efficiency have been the plans suggested within the last few years for supplying London with water. The latest scheme —or rather the scheme which has last come under our notice, for we dare not pledge ourselves that it has not already a successor—is that of conducting the water of the Thames from Henley to West Drayton by means of a new navigable canal, and thence to Paddington by the existing Grand Junction Canal. The promoters, without distinctly crying "stinking fish." intimate their apprehension that the public would grumble at having to drink the water of a barge river, by providing for an addition of 250,0001. to their proposed capital, "if up ,n more mature deliberation it should be found expedient that aseparate:channel should be made for the water for the whole distance." It may be thought easy to show by figures that " 100 barges a-day can produce no effect upon the vast body of water in question;" but we should be inclined to think that a single barge would be objectionable, and that, though half London may be drinking Thames water because they cannot help it, there would be a loud outcry against the channel being used for anything but the trans mission of clean water. In a mere engineering point of view the Henley scheme may be very practicable, and as a commercial speculation it might prove profitable; but there are other considerations involved which are of much more importance to the water drinkers. The quality of all the water at present supplied to London by the water companies is, us regards hardness, decidedly bad. Whether hard or soft water be the better for the health of those who drink it, and what is the degree of hardness the best for, or the least injurious to, the human body, are questions yet, we believe, unanswered. That hard water is decidedly bad for most domestic and many manufacturing purposes, is a fact not admitting of a doubt. The hundreds of thousands of pounds which have been literally " sunk " in boring to the sand or the chalk under London for a supply of soft water to breweries, sugar works, and other large establishments, render an argument on this point needless. We are by no means inclined to pin our faith to the statistics of sanitary reformers, who run riot in estimating on guess the pecuniary value of all the ills that flesh is heir to. But, without subscribing to the dictum of the sanitary statists, who put the value of the soap wasted in London by the hardness of the water at 630,000 L a year, we fully admit that the loss must be so great as to render it in disputable that a very large outlay to secure a supply of soft water might be a pecuniary gain to the metropolis. One of the first points, therefore, to be established by the projectors of the Henley waterworks is, that the tivater of the Thames at Henley is of decidedly better quality than at Brentford, Chelsea, or London. bridge. In order to establish this point, the difference between water holding matter in solution, and water holding matter in suspension, must be particularly considered. Matter held in suspension may be cleansed by inex pensive filtration; while water may run brilliantly sparkling from the filter, and yet, by reason of the matter held in solution, be of a thoroughly bad quality for domestic or manufacturing use. Another point of probably equal importance would be, whatever should be the source of the supply, to show that the water would not act on lead. The water at present supplied to London is understood to pass through leaden pipes and to remain in leaden cisterns without acquiring any poisonous taint. The recent experience at Claremont is quite enough to convince the most sceptical that the introduction into London of any water, the qualities of which had not been previously found to be such as to permit its harmless contact with lead, might be far worse than going on with the present scanty supply. We throw out these hints for the guidance o• the projectors of the scheme as well as of Parliament. The sub ject is not one which effects the interests of a com pany alone, or principally ; and though Parliament ought to facilitate any well-directed private efforts to increase the supply of water, great care must be taken that the establishment of a new monopoly bo not per mitted, unless it be conclusively proved teat the pubic will be the eventual gainers. The projectors propose to afford an additional supply to the existing eater com panies, and to enable them to retail it as they do at pre sent. It must, however, be considered whether the pre sent mode of supplying water to London should be per petuated. Modern experience tends to show that great advantages may result from plating the water supply and the drainage of towns under . the same juris diction; and the provisions of the Public Health Act seem to take this as proved. It does not, however, follow that private capitalists may not be encouraged to assist in the performance of such public duties. Money must be had for all improvements, and it is a financial rather than an administrative consideration, whether it is better to raise it by rates, by borrowing on the credit of rates, or by the agency of a company and shareholders—the company being subjected to such con ditions as the public good requires. The Thames, the Lea, the Wand's, the Comae, and the Brent seem to be the streams to which those w h o h ave proposed to sup ply London it with surface w a t er h ave chiefly confined their attention. It may b e i mportant to ascertain whe ther might not be advisable, for the sake of obtaining water of the best qua li ty , to bring it from a greater distance than has hitherto been contemplated. The Artesian wells proposal should also receive due con sideration, and not the less so because the accuracy of the assertions as to the possibility of drawing an ample supply for London from the chalk stratum below it, is scarcely ascertainable at present by reference to known facts. The Trafalgar -square fountains throw some doubt on the denials of the capabilities of deep wells. We would not prejudge any one of the points which may be mooted. Tee whole s u bj ect requ i res, and must have, the mostimpartial investigation by Parliament, and every side should have its hearing. Among others we cannot but hope that the Metropolitan Sanitary Com mission will be h ear d , and that they will not postpone their report on water supply till the question has been decided without their opinion being known.—Times. THE COUNTRY MARKETS. LIVERPOOL, DEC. 30.—The duty on wheat has ad vanced to 8s per quarter, and on fl cur to 4s 9p per barrel. No other change in the scale this week. The arrivals of foreign wheat and flour are large the last two days. The corn exchange yesterday was very thinly attended by buyers, and the business done in free wheat was merely in retail, at a decline of Id to 2d per bushel on Tuesday's prices. Duty paid and sack flour was 61 per barrel and 6d per 2801 b lower. There was not a transaction in either bonded wheat or flour reported at the close of the market. Oats, oatmeal, barley, beans, and peas were all quoted as on Tuesday, and very little doing in any of them. At a concession of 6d, and in some :instances is per quarter, several large parcels of Indian corn found buyers for Ireland. The best Arne. rican yellow corn brought 32s to 32s 6d, mixed quality 31s, and white 303 6d to 31s per 4801 b. No business of consequence has occurred to-lay. s. d. N. cl s. d. S. d. Wheat, per 701 i : Earley, Feediag•• 3 8 to 4 0 English, white .. 7 6 to S 0 kye, per 4801 b •. 0 0— 0 0 Do. red.. .. 7 0 7 6 Beans, English, pr Irish, new .. .. 6 0 7 0 imperial quartr 40 0 42 0 De., old • • 7 0 7 2 Irish and Scotch, Dantsic.. .. • • 7 9 - 8 0 per 4801 b.. • • 33 0 34 0 Do., good mixed 7 3 7 6 Foreign, duty pd. 29 0 30 0 Lowerßaltic,vvhit9 7 0 7 9 European, per im- Do. red.. 7 2 7 6 perialquarter.. 34 0— 35 0 American . • • 7 0 7 9 Peas, English, per Canadian .. .. 7 0— 7 6 imperial quartr 40 0— 42 9 Spanish, red and Foreign .. 22 • 36 0 white.. .. • • 0 0 0 0 Malt, English, per Tuscan and Bar- Imperial quartr 54 0 58 4) letta, red .. • • 6 9 -• 7 0 Do., Irish .. 10 0 12 0 Marlanepoll • • 6 6 6 9 Do., brows .. 45 0 50 0 Odessa, Polish .• 6 8 -- 6 9 Flour, English, pr Do., hard.. .. 5 6 6 0 2801 b 38 0 40 0 Egyptian .. .. 4 6 5 0 Irish, extra flne.. 40 0 -- 41 0 Oats, per 451 b United States, per English and Scotch 3 0 3 8 barrel .. 27 G 28 0 Welsh • • .• .. 2 9 —2 10it Canadian .. .. 27 0 28 0 Irish, sew .. 2 9 2 11 Oatmeal, English, Do., old .•3 2 3 4 &Scotch,pr24olb 57 0 23 0 Barley, English, pr Irish, new .. .. 24 0 25 0 imperial quarter 35 0 37 0 Do., old . 24 0 25 0 Irish, Scotch, and Indl in corn, per Manx,per6olb.. 3 6 4 3 4801 b .. 31 0 33 0 MA.NCUESTER, DEC. 30.—The trade during the pre sent week has again been of a slow and languid cha racter, without any change in prices worthy of notice. Of English and Irish produce the arrivals at Liverpool and Runcorn continue unimportant; but of foreign wheat and flour f ur th er extens i ve suppl i es are reported, with fair quantities of beans and Indian corn. Our market this morning was exceedingly quiet, and wheat must be noted ld to 2.1 per 701 b lower. Flour, being in limited demand, was rather easier to purchase. There was very . little doing in either oats or oatmea', but the previous currency was maintained for both artic!es. COLCIIESTEII, DEC. 29.—The supplies and attendance at tho markets in this district have been good fur a Christmas week, but the trade has been dull, and the prices drooping. In our market to-day wheat and bar ley were is cheaper, and in some instances, and for samples not of first quality, even a larger reduction had to be submitted to to effect sales. White wheat was 508 to 52i; red, 41s to 495; best barley, 31s to 335; white peas, 38s to 41s; oats, 18s to 255; tick beans, 27s to 325; Mazagan, 25s to 283. At Chelmsford yesterday there was an abatement in wheat of is to 2s per quarter, and in barley of 2s; white wheat, 47s to 525; red, 40s to 465; malting barley, 28s to 31s. In all the markets of Suffolk there is a general report of dulness, but the quo tations have not been reduced. READING, DEC. 30 . —There was about the usual at tendance at market, with ala iacremerl supply of wheat, t the demand for which was slow, and the turn was in favour of the buyer. A great heaviness prevailed the whole moruing, and au unusually large proportion left unsold. There was a moderate supply of barley, but scarcely any demand, particularly for inferior descrip tions, which were from Is to 2s per quarter cheaper. In oats, beans, and peas, the trade was dull, at declining prices. Wheat (old), per quarter, 38s to 60s ; ditto new, 35s to 603; barley, 25s to 365; oats, 16s to 21s; beans, 30; to 41s; peas, 30s to 42s.—Poultry market: Fowls, per cuupla, 3s 6d to 41 6d; ducks, ditto, 3s 6d to 4s 6d; geefe, each, 5a to 5s 6d; butter, per pound, is Id to Is 2d; Ez,v, 8 to 10 for ls. ABERDEEN MARKET, DEC. 29.—There was a good at tendance at market to-day, the supplies much larger than usual, sales brisk, and a good business done at our quotations. Oats, 14s to 16s, 401bs per bushel; barley, 24s to 255, bear, 24s to 255, 521bs per bushel; wheat, 54s to 635; oatmeal, 13s to 14s per boll ; flour, 43s to 52: per sack. ABERDEEN PROVISION MARKET, DEC. 29. —We had a goo I supply of dairy and vegetable produce at market to-day, the display of butcher meat was exten sive, the demand good, and lair clearances were effected. Beet', 5d to 7d; mutton, 5d to 7d; veal, 6d to 7d per lb; pork, 4s 6d to 5s per stone; lamb, Os to Os Od per qr; tallow, 4s 6i to 5s per stone; potatoes, 9d to is per peek; hitter. 7d to. 8d per lb; eggs, 8d to 10d per dozen; hens, 3s to 33 6d; chickens, is 6d to 2s; ducks, 2s Od to 2s 6d; ducklings, 2s to 2s Gd per pair; turkeys, 4s Od te 5s Od; geese, 4s to 4s 6d vach. Butter for exportation (press nt cure), 50s to 52; per cwt. Eggs, wholesale price, 7d per &amt. Bread, 4lb loaf, 8d; 21b loaf, 4d. Pork, per stone of 141 b, 3s 6d; pork, fine small, 5a 6d; pork, large, 3s 61 to 43 3d. Ship pork, per barrel of 204 lbs, 1003. ABERDEEN . TEAL MARKET, DEC. 28 —The supply of meal at mutket to••night was good. No alteration in prices. Oatmeal, is 4d to is sd; bearmeal, 1s 5d to is 6d; peasmeal, is 10d to 2s Od; side, 6d to 7d; barley flour, is 6d to is 7d; barley dust, 7d to 8d; flour„ 23 to 2s 3d; barley, per lb. lid to 2d. STONESAVEN GRAIN MARKET, DEC. 28.--Oats, 401 b, 14s to 16s; barley and bear, 531 b, 24s to 26s per bushel. Very little doing. NfONTROSE, DEC. 29.—This has been the dullest mar ket we have had during th a season. Wheat, 621bs, from 403 to 465, according to quality; barley, 531b5., 24s to 253; oats, 401b5., 15s to 17s; beans and peas, 24s per qudrter; potatoes, per five cwt. 15s to 16s. DALKEITH, DEC. 28.—There was a large supply of grain at this day's market. Sales dull fur all kinds of grain. Wheat on the top same as last week, but the average 3s Old per quarter down; Qats on the top same as last week, but the current prices is 4d per quarter down; barley on the top 6cl per quarter up, but the cur rent price is 61 per quarter down; peas and beans, is 6d to 2s per quarter down. The relative weight per four bushels of the three prices of whe it were 18st 111 b; 18st 61b; and 16st 81b. Oats, 12st 10ib; 12st 61b; and lOst 11b. Barley, 164 101 b; 1 sst 121 b; and 14st 71b. Peas and beans, 19st 01b; 18st 101 b, and 18st 01b. Quarters. Best. I Current. Inferi o r. 221 Wheat ... 21 12s Od 21 8s Od 11 16s Od 1,357 Oats. ... 1/ is 4d 01 18s 8d 01 12s Od 916 Barley ... 11 12s 6d 1/ 8s Od 11 is Od 47 Peas, &e. 11 lOs 6d,1/ 8s Od 11 2s Od Averages of wheat, 213 s 10d per qr. BELFAST, DEO. 28.—We Come to the close of a year, remarkable, in a mercantile point of view, for the continued depression and monotony with which busi ness has been carried on; and it is now only a t t h e c l ose of the year that a doubtul appearance of a reaction has arisen; and whether it may be that we are to have a re vival or not depends on so many contingencies, few of which are under our control, that it is quite impossible to form any correct estimate for the future ; and all we can say i<, that the feeling is pretty general that we have past the worst, and that with the new year, and the turn over of a new leaf in the volume of free trade, we are likely to have a revival of trade generally, and of the grain trade in particular—and this opinion is formed from the estimate made of stocks and demand. This being Christmas week, our supplies have been smaller than usual; the quality and condition are, how ever, improved with the change of the weather. Wheat sells slowly at about former prices. Flour is also a slow sale, and prices are in favour of the buyer. Barley, good malting qualities sell freely at an advance of 3d to 4d per cwt, whilst grinding qualities are dull of sale, and lower. Oats sell freely at an ad vance o f 2 d to 3 d, and oatmeal at a similar advance. India corn is a slow sale at 7115 s to 8/ per ton. CORK, DEc:29.—Flour—First quality, 16s to 16s 6d; second ditto, 14s Od to 15s 3d; household, Ils to 13s; third ditto, 9s to lOs per cwt. Oatmeal, 12s to 12s 6d per cwt. Indian corn, 71 15s to 8112 s Od; Indian meal, 91 to 915 s per ton. Bran, 41 53 to 515 s per ton. Hay— Farmers', 28s to 45s Od; average, 42s ; retailers , 42s to 50s per ton; old hay, 45s to 60s per ton. Straw—Far mers', 21s to 30s; average, 255; retailers', 00s to 30s per ton. Whisky, at the Distillery, 25 over proof, 6i 3,1 per imperial gallon. Bread, bid to 8d per 41bs. Fresh butter, 10d to lld per lb. Beef, 3d to 6d; mut ton, 3id to 5d ; veal, 3id to 4id; pork, sid to 7d ; bacon, 6d to 9d; sausages, 5d per lb. Coals—New port, 17s; Lydney, 18s. Culm, 16s per ton. Potatoes, white, 10d to 14d; Minions, 20d. Hides—Market ditto, Ils to 17s; salted ditto, 12s to 17s per cwt; market skins, 2d to lid; calf ditto, 2d to 24d; veal skins, 3d to 3id per lb. Tar—Archangel, 18s per bl. Timber—Quebec red pine, 31 15s; yellow ditto, 3/; deal, 171 to 201 per hundred ; Bangor Queens, 31 2s 6d per ton. Scotch herrings,l9s to 20s per barrel; Norway ditto, 00s. New. .undland dry cod fish, 11/ to 12/ 10s per ton.. Tallow 475. Woul, 10s to 12s per stone. RAILWAY SHAEL AL-riftliETS. BRISTOL, DEC. 30. STOCK ExCIIANGE.—The market remains inactive; in deed, ,it is very unusual for much business to be done during the Christmas week. The sales are—Great Western, Quar ters, 3% dis.—Ditto, Fifths, l% dis. LIVERPOOL, DEC. 30. STOCK Excitallon.— The market has been steady to-day, and prices have an advancing tendency. The sales are_ Caledonian, I'reference, p.— Great Northern (A Shares), Deferred, 47 x. int.—Lancashire and Yorkshire (late Man • chester and Leeds), 22 dis.—Ditto, fifths, 3% di'.—Ditto (late West Riding Union), 5 c. dis.—London and North- Western, 125—Ditto, New Quarters, 1 3 / 4 p.—Ditto, Quarters (C), 21. Ss. 9d. p.—Manchester, Stieffield, and Lincolnshire, Eighths, 6 1 7 .', dis. ex Int.—Ditto, 10/. Preference,flo%—alid land Stock, New Halves, 71. 16s. 3d. ex int.—North Stafford shire, 4% dis.—North- Western, ii z 4 dis.—Shropshire Union, 2 7 / R dis. eK int.—South-Eastern and Dover, No. 2, 11 dis.— Ditto, No. 4, Eighths, 71. 6s. 3d. dis,—York, N ewcastle, and Berwick (Original Newcastle and Berwicks), Ditto (G. N. E. Purchase), 3s. 9d. dis. ex int. BIRMINGHAM, DEC. 30. STocx EXCHANGE.— A small amount of business was transacted to-day, but prices remained firm, with a tendency upwards. The sales are—Birmingham, Welverhampton, and Stour Valley, 101—North Staffordshire, 4 1 4 ) dis.— Shrewsbury and Birmingham (B), 31. 16s. 3d. YORK, Dzc. 29. STOCK EXCHANGE.—The business transacted to-day was as follows :—Caledonian, 2 241—North British, Thirds, 4 1 4-- York, Newcastle, and Berwick (G. N. E. Purchase), 7%. NE WCASTL E-UPON-TYNE, DEC. 30. STOCK EXCHANGIC.—The only sale was—North British, Thirds, 4 1 / 2 . _ _ _ GLASGOW, Dec. 29. STOCK EXCHANGE.—The sales are—Dundee and Ar broath, New, No. 8, 525. 6d.—Edinburgh and Northern (Newport), Ph—Glasgow, Dumfries, and Carlisle, 5-, Glasgow, Kilmarnock, and Ayr, 49—Ditto, Halves, No. I, 5/. 7a.—Glasgow and Greenock, Prefereace, 61. 193.—York, Newcastle, and Berwick (G. N. E. Purchase), 7%. TRIIRO.—DESTRUCTIVB STORM AND FLOOD:— On Wednesday evening last, this town was visited by one of the most destructive floods ever known here; and, probably, in the serious amount of damage to property effected in a short time, it has rarely been exceeded. There had been eery heavy rain all through the evening, in the town and neighbourhood; and the consequence was that the rivers Kenwyn and Allen became heavily swollen. But no very serious damage seems to have occurred until between 10 and 11 o'clock, when the •water in the lower streets, which had been a little more than ancle-deep, suddenly rose to 4or 5 feet high. The most serious injury to property took place in that busy commercial part of the town, comprising St. Nicholas street, and part of Kenwyn-street. The water at this part extended ft ora the eastern end of St. Nicholek-street to the William IV. Inn in henwyn•street, and at the low ground by the Queen's Head Inn, was nearly 6 feet deep. The tradesmen in various lines of business in this neighbourhood, have suffered severe loss in the de st -uc tion and damage of their stocks.—Ccrnwo'l Royal Gazette. BRISTOL SUGAR MARKET, DEC. 29.--This has been a blank week in our sugar market, the offices being closed for the Christmas holidays.—Bristol Mercury. 888,5631 16,900 193,546 5,123,936 5,317,532 3,978,5181 2,410,181 1,800,128 3,580,164 512,157 97,801 18,601,947 1,488,531 19,520,326 91G,60G 20,099,478 20,436,932 529,792 130,250 660,0421 20,730,52( 682,216 11,612 290,868 5,216,569 5,507,437 4,524,613 2,211,243 1 1,991,1'96 3,977,037 509,241 105,829, 682,923 1 37,8561 720,7791 21,157,711 20,502,589 746,446 20,421 188,213 4,404,837 4,593,050 5,066,592 2,499,810 1,704,325 4,263,762 520,9,13 t 5,763 19,511,134 991,455 20,502,589 BIRTHS. On the 27th ult., at Campden-grove, Kensington, the wife of Mr. Charles Elder, of a son. On the 27st ult., the wife of James Oldham, Esq., of Norton-square, Brighton, of a son. On the 27th ult..: at Runwell Rectory, Essex, the lady of the Rev. Thomas Knox, of a daughter. --- On - the 28th ult., at ------- ---- ' Glocester-crescent, Regent's-p ar k, Mrs. Joseph Gibbons, of a son. On the 28th ult., at Tonbridge-well3, the lady of John Bortoni Esq., of a sett and heir. On the 28th ult., in Thurloe•square, the wife of T. H. l a u t l e t. , 0 f a t t h C e h 2 el 6 t t e a n h ( r am , e t r h o e ni l a a u d ) y R o e f g i ll m . e n E t . , S. Frazer, Esq , of a son. nu O d n y e t r h d e , r 2 s B q t . h , 11 SOIL MARRIED. At Mellifont Church, county of Louth, Edward Willi am Jeffreys, Esq., to Letitia Dorothea, daughter of the late Rev. J. APCreight, rector of Ready, in the county of Armagh. On the 28th ult., at St. Pancras New Church, Henry C. Lunn, Esq., to Miss Ann Lincoln, of Burton-street, Burton crescent. On the 2Fth ult., at Bletchingley, Surrey, Mr. W. Howard, of Camberwell, Surrey , to Sarah , third daughter of the lat e John Selmes, of the former place. DIED. On the 28th ult., at Roehampton, Edward, fifth Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer, aged 76. At Inverness, on the l ltn ult., Mr. Lewis Grant, book seller. At Funchal, Madeira, on the 29th Nov., where he had gone for the sake of his health, Robert Mackenzie, Esq., o f Flowerhurn On the 22d Nov., at Barbadoes, Captain John T. Hope, of the 72d Regiment, eldest son of the late General Sir J. Hope. On the 23d ult., at Judd-place, New-road, Mr. J. Ilogg, aged 73, forty one years an officer of her Majesty's D,ck yard, Chatham. On the 24th ult., a t Clift on , aged 71, George Hilh ouse, Esq., late of Comb a -h ouse . On the 27th ult., a t St a mford-hill, Middlesex, Geddes M. Simpson, Esq., of Great Tower-street, London, aged 74. On the 28th ult., Samuel Johnson, Esq., of Upper Rana , lagh-street, Pimlico. London: Printed and Published by MURDO YOUNG, of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at The Sun Office, No. 112, Strand, in the Precinct if the Savoy, itt the %sway st Nicicuupa, AULIcIOI, MAW,' 1, 1548. . 59,890 8,798 40,475 11,000