The Express.
London, England, 1866-04-02 00:00:00

THE PUBLIC REVENUE.

The usual tabular returns of the revenue for the
quarter and for the year were made up to Saturday night,
and will be found at length in another column.
In reducing the tea duties from Is. a pound to 6d., and
the income-tax from 6d. to 4d. in the pound last year, Mr.
Gladstone estimated this remission of taxation to amount
to a loss of 360,0001. The actual reduction on the whole
year is only two millions and a half. A very considerable
portion of this decrease falls upon the quarter, on which the
net decrease is no less than 11384,1861. The difference is
owing to the fact that the income-tax is somewhat in
arrest, and that the tea duties were so much more than
the estimate on the previous return. It is satisfactory in
the highest degree to find the general revenue recover no
less than a million of the sum remitted, and this under
some adverse circumstances of foreign trade.
The chief falling off is of course in the Customs, owing to
the reduction of the tea duties and some other small items.
The Excise—the great test of home consumption—shows an
increase of near a quarter of a million. The Stamps are
30,0001. better, showing a progressive increase, although no
new items have been added. The increase may be chiefly
put to the continuous additions, as the succession-tax be-
comes more developed. There is also an increase in the
item of Taxes, showing mainly the addition tothenninber of
inhabited houses paying duty. The great falling off is in
the Property-tax, owing, of course, to the reduction to four-
pence in the pound, which still, however, yields over six
millions on the year. The Post-office gives the usual
increase of 150,000/. in the gross receipts. The crown lands
have improved 10,0001., and the miscellaneous is more than
100,0001. worse.
Such is the account, which must be regarded as satis-
factory on the whole. It will enable Mr. Gladstone to
continue his financial reforms, though not perhaps upon
the large scale—as to the amount of taxation remitted—
with which he felt himself permitted to dealest year:
Observer.

Tnz ACCIDRNT TO LORD MILTON.—Lord Milton
is believed to be progressing favourably. The only injury
his lordship has received by the accident, rep on
Saturday, is a fracture of his left arm, and it is dated that
his recovery is not likely to be long delayed.
FATAL CRINOLINE ACCIDENT.--(M Saturday an
inquest was held by Dr. Lankester, at the Queen's Arms,
Red Lion-passage, Holborn, on Pearce Butler, aged 14.
Deceased was walking along Ludgate-hill, on Friday, when
his foot caught in the dress of a woman wearing a crinoline,
by which he was thrown to the ground, and so severely in-
jured that death ensued from effusion of blood on the
brain. The coroner said that death had evidently been
caused by the practice of women wearing drams of such
length that they covered part of the pavement upon which
people ought to walk. He had in his mind four cases in
which persons had been killed in a similar loaner. Verdict,
" Accidental Death from treading on a woman's crinoline."
A LADY BURNT TO DEATII.—On Saturday an
inquest was held on the body of Ann Parker, aged 73 years,
who on Wednesday last was found on fire in her apart-
ments. Before the flames could be extinguished she was
so dreadfully burnt that she expired on the following day.
Verdict—" Accidental death."
Tug Vitusis MURDER.--Mr. Aspinall, barrister,
made an application with regard to this remarkable case
on Saturday before the close of Mr. Justice Helloes coati
at the Liverpool anises. John Healey and Thomas
Walton are both under indictment for the murder, on
their own confession, but the real murderer having been
idnoe discoveres Mr. Anyinall applied for a postponement
et the trial of Healey and Walton until the investigation
nowwith reference to the Dartmoor convict had
been'.The judge ordered a postponement till
the summer dases. Walton appeared very ill. Healey
declared that his statement as to having been concerned
in the murder was untrue, and that be was intoxicated
when he made it. Mr. depinall said he had no doubt that
the in to which he had alluded would result in
showing that neither Healey nor Walton had been con-
owned la the murder. The yrkonwe ware then stint
be/ow, sad will ba detained midi the summer seises.
RV/ AND HADDIUMAX RAILWAY.—This ham
been offieldly inspeated by Carlota Tyler, ILL, sad twine
is wspeeted to be aeaseseased s few days.
CREVIAL PALACE. RALP•A•CROWN DAY, Si.
Tr/RDA; MAWR 11.—Adualados w payment, 1,018 ; ditto
by seems LAW, SAX ; fetal ditto, 0,1101.

THE PRUSSIAN CIRCULAR NOTE TO THE
GERMAN MINOR STATES.
BERLIN, Alsecu 31.
The National Zeitung of to-day publishes the
text of the circular note forwarded by Prussia to
the German minor States, bearing date the With
instant. It states that Austria, without any provo-
cation on the part of Prussia, has ordered arma-
ments of a threatening character, which compel the
letter power to arm also on her side. Prussia must
now seek guarantees for her security, having vainly
endeavoured to obtain them in an alliance with
Austria. The German policy of Prussia and the feel-
ings of the King induced her to seek these guarantees
first in Germany. The present organisation of the
federal constitution does not, however, permit of
an active part being taken by Germany in any
emergency, even with the beet intentions on the
part of the different governments. Prussia must,
therefore (continues the note), propose a reform of
the federal constitution adapted to the present
state of slain. This course is the more incumbent
upon Prussia, since even from her geographical
position alone, her interests are identical with the
interests of Germany. The destiny of Prussia is
intimately connected with that of Germany.
Count von Bismarck asks in conclusion how far
Prussia can rely upon the support of the different
governments in the event of her being attacked by
Austria, or being compelled by threats from that
Power to make war.