The Express.
London, England, 1847-04-06 00:00:00

LONDON, TUESDAY, APRIL 6.
We publish in another part of this day's paper the
revenue returns for the year and quarter which termi-
nated yesterday. In general, quarter-day is held
sacred by newspapers for solemn assaults upon, or
encomiums of, the financial administration of the
government for the time being. On the present occa-
sion these returns will be inspected with less of a
narrow partisan feeling, than as an index of the
country's ability to grapple with continued destitution
in Ireland.
Regarded in this point of view, the returns are
eminently cheering. There is an increase for the
year upon every item of ordinary revenue except
two, the stamps and the crown lands ; and in both the
exceptional cases the decrease is trifling. There is,
likewise, an increase for the quarter upon every item
save two, the taxes and the crown lands ; and on
these also the decrease is inconsiderable.
The increase in the customs is, 1,132,002!. for the
year, and 48.5,7551. for the quarter ; in the excise,
661,5721. for the year, and 26,4071. for the quarter;
in the post-office, 52,0001. for the year, and 4,0001.1
for the quarter ; in the miscellaneous, 129,273/. for
the year, and 1,0711. for the quarter. The increase
oa the income of the year is 1,538,168.; of the
quarter, 403,6321.
The general result prompts confidence in the
country's resources for struggling ktainst the cala-
mity by, which it has been visited. A more narrow
inspection of details strengthens this confidence.
There is a marked increase both in the
customs, which indicate the condition of our
general trade, and, in the post-office, which indicates
the activity of commercial enterprise. But the same
scrutiny suggests the great and increasing amount of
individual privation which is attendant upon this
general prosperity. The increase upon the excise has
been rapidly, diminishing. during the last two
quarters; and the increase in the property tax speaks
of a more stringent exaction of that impost. In-
creased payments to the state, concurrent with di-
minished expenditure for household comforts, must,
it is obvious, be at present the lot of a numer-
ous section of the population. These facts
read a lesson to statesmen : they. warn them
while cherishing an honourable pride in the
.power
and resources of their country, to be wary in the
measures by which they meet the present emergency,
inasmuch as careless husbandry of the public means
cannot fail to inflict an immense amount of personal
suffering.
The comparative statement of income and charge
for the last quarter in these returns is calculated to
allay undue apprehensions of a monetary crisis,
arising out of the arrangements for supplying the
destitute districts in Scotland and Ireland. The
total income for the quarter is 10,661,4171.; the
first instalment of the loan of eight millions is
960,0001. ; giving a total of 11,621,4171. The total
charge, including 2,300,0001. of advances to Ireland
during the quarter, under the act 9 & 10 Vic.' c. 107, is
10,992,6361., leaving a surplus of 628,7811. This sur-
plus, added to the 1,365,4554 of surplus remaining
at the close of the quarter ending sth January, 1841,
gives an available total of 1,994,2361. The amount
issued during the quarter just ended, of the sums
granted by parliament out of the consolidated fund
for supply, services, is 5,461,1961. So the probable
amount of exchequer bills required to meet the charge
on the consolidated fund during the quarter does not
exceed 3,466,9601.
A visitation like that against which we are strug-
gling would have paralysed and sunk aimed agy
other state : but Great Britain, under God's pron.
dence, will wrestle through it, not without much of
transient pain, but without incurring permanent de-