The Express.
London, England, 1849-05-29 00:00:00

before you have obtained the sanction of parliament
for the measures by which you propose to raise it :
it "has always been the doctrine" that you are to
arrange all your payments before you have raised
the funds wherewith to defray them : that you are to
settle all the details of your expenditure before you
know the principles upon which that expenditure is
to be applied, and before the public are possessed of
proper constitutional information as to the taxes they
are to contribute to defray the payments of the state.
We do not know whose "doctrine" this is, or what
is the authority Lord JOHN Roams, has for it. One
of his colleagues has recently contributed to our meta-
physical literature a work upon the "Influence of
Authority in Matters of Opinion." We should be glad
to know how fax Lord JOHN RUSSELL, in enunciating
this " doctriee" is fortified by the considerations and
arguments Mr. Lams has enforced ? By what " autho-
rity" is he influenced in this matter of opinion ? Did
ADAM SMITH sanction it? Mr. IlusKisson, we are
sure, never gave his" authority" for such a" doctrine."
Si, ROBERT PEEL'S practice) was pre-eminently
opposed to it: by him the budget was
always unfolded on one of the earliest days
of the session. What is the atithority for this new
" doctrine? Is it a whig osLa tory authority : does
Lord JOHN derive it as the redClt of experience ; or is
it only a " doctrine" cooked up to suit tbe conve-
nience of the CHANCELLOR OP THE EXCHEQUER?
It seems to be a doctrine repudiated by the tories
of every section. Mr. CARDWELL, Sir JAMES
GRAHAM, Mr. DISRAELI, and Mr. GLADSTONE, all
FOAM surprised at its enunciation. Even Mr.
HENLEY had a kick at it, and Mr. SPOONER appeared
to insinuate that at least " the Birmingham School"
was not responsible for that.
Let this "doctrine" coma from whence it may, we
are bound to say that it seems to us one of the most
monstrous a financier could imagine. If the financial
statement for the year is only to be made after
all the money is voted and applied, what is
the use of making it at all. It will be
only telling the house once egaia what they
have done,—not explaining to them what they are
to be asked to do, and the why and the where-
fore. If the CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER'S
Budget is to be in future only a recapitula-
tion of what the house has ken doing, why
not dispenee with the " annual financial state-
ment" altogether? Nor should we only be disposed
to dispense with it from personal inclination ;—we
should be disposed to think it desirable for public
reasons that such an annual financial statement should
not be made at all. The CHANCELLOR OF THE Ex-
CHEQUER would, no doubt, make it a very convenient
occasion for shifting from his own shoulders to those
of " hon. members' the entire responsibility which
rests with him as regards the financial
position of the empire. Instead of being a speech of
explanation, the " budget" would speedily become
nothing more than a speech of recrimination. " The
deficiency upon the year," the CHANCELLOR will say,
"is so much." (Hundreds of thousands or millions,
as the case may be.) "But how," he will continue,
" how does this arise ? The house chose to grant so
much for such a purpose, and so much more for some-
thing else. And of course the house, having voted
these sums, must now find the money to meet the
payments. On you be the responsibility, not on me."
This is inverting the usual and natural course of
things. The duty of the CHANCELLOR OP THE Ex-
CHEQUER is, first, to show what monies are received
for and are applicable to the public service ; second,
to lay before the country a scheme for the application
of those monies, in which scheme the expenditure is
made to come within the year's receipts. But by the
" doctrine " now laid down, the responsibility of pro-
viding the public funds is thrown upon parliament,
and instead of the expenditure being arranged to
meet the income, the income is to be arranged-to meet
the expenditure. Truly it is a monstrous thing for a
minister of the crown to come down to the Commors
of England in this year, one thousand eight hundred
and forty-nice, with such a " doctrine" as this.
The miscellaneous estimates are now before Par-
liament and the country. We gave an abstract of
them yesterday, and we propose, as occasion offers,
to examine them in detail and with rigorous scrutiny.
These estimates were asked for at the commencement
of the month of May. They were not the., prepared.
Some hint was given to Mr. HUME that the
delay in their production arose from the desire
of the government to frame them with a strict eye
to economy. What does this "strict eye to economy"
amount to? The total sum expended in:these esti-
mates exceeds three millions of money. The saving
upon this year, as compared with the last, is no more
than 20,0001. upon this three millions; and, contrasted
with 1847, the estimates absolutely show au increase
of 5,0001. upon the total expenditure of that year!
This is economy! A p -or clerk of 1001. a-year struck
off tt:e list, without any compensation: another of
1,0001. a-year put upon a superannuation and retired
allowance of 8001., and his place not filled up—at
present.
It is time to reform all this. Government know
that the public think so, and they are consequently
very desirous to get through these estimates quiskly.
They were delivered on Saturday morning. Lord
JOHN proposes to consider them immediately the
house resumes on Thursday next. Membate are hav-
ing a " holiday," and he thinks they cannot amuse
themselves better in the country than by puzzling
their brains over these estimates. He knows, how.
ever, that very few indeed will look at them, and
consequently, thinks he, we shall get them through
all the easier. In justice to the country, the House
ought to demand the usual annual financial state-
ment " of ways and means " before they vote money
for " Public salaries and wages."

NEW DISSENTING COLLEGE.—We are glad to hear
that an important measure, which has long been in agitation
for the improvement of education among the independent
body of dissenters, is at length likely to be carried into effect.
The Independents have for many years put supported, in the
neighbourhood of the metrepoli-, three separate institutions
for the education especially of theological students, namely,
Homerton, Highbury, and Coward Colleges; but thetrustees
and committees of these institutions have wisely resolved no
longer to divide their strength and distract their energies,
but to unite these three so as to form one really efficient col-
lege, with a larger staff of professors than were connected
with the older colleges, and with a more extended course of
study in the various branches of theology, literature, and
science. An eligible piece of ground has been purchased for
the site of the new college. in fi'. John's-woad, at the junc-
tion of the Avenue and Finchley Roads, and it is expected
that the building will be completed by the eutum of next
year. This will account for the sale of Highbury and Ho-
merlon, which some of our contemporaries announced a short
time since as ontinoos of the decree*, of dissent.
THE LATE ATTACK ON THE ROMAN REPUBLIC.—
Yesterday evening a meeting of Italians, resident in Lon-
don took place at the Italian-school, Grevill•street, Hatton-
garden, to receive the report of the committee appointed to
eains what measures should be adopted for the purpose
of raising funds to relieve the wounded patriots, and the
widows, and families of those who had fallen in the late con-
flict with the French troops. t3* 0. Vaud having been
called to the chair, congutulated the meeting upon the sym-
pathy which had been expressed in behalt of his fellow-
countrymen by the English nation, independent of the
national feeling that had been displayed by the Italians who
were resident in London. Slater A. Vischi, the honorary
secretary, read alo list of subscriptions, the total amount
of which exceeded NW. Among the contributors were Mr.
M. Gibson, M.P. ; Dr. Epps, and family, Miss Cushman (the
American actress), Miss Eliza Cook (the poetess), &e. The
secretary also read several letters from Italians of distinction
expressing condolence with those who had suffered from the
invasion, and a warm sympathy in their struggles against
foreign interference.
THE WHITSON HOLIDAYS.—The unpropitious wea-
ther of yesterday considerably damped the ardour of the
holiday-makers. Vast numbers, however, made their way
down to the different spots of suburban amusement. The
chief point of attraction, se usual, was Greenwich. Here
the railway and numerous steam-vessels continued through.
out the day to land crowds of pleasure-sleeken, the numbers
increasing as occasional cessations of the rain gave promise
of fairer weather. Rithardson's and the Crown and Anchor
booth occupied their usual ground, and the caterers for pub-
lic amusement found to their cost that their speculations had
been on the losing side. At Stepney, Chalk Farm, Batter-
sea, and Wandsworth, similar preparations were attended
with a like result. The British Museum and National Gal-
lery did not receive one hell the usual amount of patronage,
the numbers of visitants averaging only 200 per hour. The
Tower, the United Service Museum, St. Paul's Cathedral,
the College of Surgeons, and the oth sr scientific and popular
places of research and amusement, though not absolutely
deserted, were considerably thinned of their customary holi-
day frequenters.
SUPERSTITION IN Hots.—A few days ago an
unfortunate individual had the misfortune to lose nix 61.
SOUPS in one of the streets, ant on discovering his lose he
repaired to the residence of some woman in this town who
was understood to be able to tell him if he could ever get
ft hack again, The lady of coarse demanded a respectable
fee, which the man immediately paid her, when the informed
him that he had been robbed by a woman in black, who at
that moment, she said, was craning the Humber on her
way to Lincolnshire, and that he would never see his money
again. It tamed out, however, that the prophetess was
mistaken, for the notes were found by a lad in one of the
streets in the town, and he was rewarded with one of the 51.
notes for his trouble.—Hull Packet.