The Express.
London, England, 1868-04-24 00:00:00

18 PUBLISHED

EVERY EVENING.

LONDON, FRIDAY, APRIL 24.

THE BUDGET NIGHT.

POLITICAL weather prophets dreal a dull Budget I
ni:.;ht as much as a farmer el•eads a falling
glans and an overcast sky in harvest time, and
with good reason, for a dull Budget night is
always a bad omen for the British taxpayer. It
means a diminishing surplus, if not an actual
deficit, and a maintenance cf all existing charges,
if not a positive increase of taxation. What is
life without hope? What is a financial statement
when no one expects even to be disappointed
by it, when that powerful element of public
curiosity, the Unforeseen, is absolutely want-
ing, and the Finance Minister's story, if he
has any to tell, is as stale as the three volumes of a
serial to the monthly magazine reader who has
boon devouring it, thirty pages at a bite, for a year
or more 1 We have had a great variety of Chan-
oellors of the Exchequer since the death
of Sir ROBERT PEEL, of very various calibre. Sir
ORARLSB WOOD, eminently "tolerable and not to be
" endured ; " Mr. Duman', who began by being
inventive and absurd, and ended by being safe,
decorous, and dismal ; Sir GEORiM CORNEWALL
LEWIS, who seemed to find in a financial statement
the one occasion and excuse for being facetious and
funny, the only one of life's amusements which was
not to him insufferable ; and, to crown all, Mr. GLAD-
STONE, who, whatever honours may await him, will go
go down to posterity as " the CHANCELLOR of
" the EXCHEQUER;" who, even after Mr. DISRAELI
had succeeded to the office, was constantly re-
ferred to in debate by the title he had made his
own—who made every successive Budget
night an epoch in financial history, who
discoursed upon molasses and methylated spirits
with all the zest and abundance of a professor who
is interpreting a favourite poet, who to the solidity
and keenness of the Lancashire genius lent a
Roman dignity and an Attic grace, who expounded
great financial principles and comprehensive fiscal
systems, and dissected every Libre of the minutest
detail of customs or excise duties with equal
plastery and equal felicity. That was the
golden age, so near to us and yet so far! A year
of Mr. DIBRAELI in his new form, as a safe and
sure-footed financial roadster, was needed to pre-
pare the country for the weighty qualities of the
honest, painstaking, unexceptionable Mr. WARD
Runt, who, whatever may be hie dreams in
moments of exaltation—does not every comic actor
pine for the buskin I—deserves to be congratulated,
not only on his respectable performance of an un-
grateful task last evening, but (we beg respectfully
to assure him for his comfort) on having filled the
office he now holds in days when nothing to be
called financial legislation was expected by the
patient indifference of the public. The House
wore an air of indulgent resignation last evening
which was reflected by the incurious and inani-
mate aspect of people and things out of doors.
_ As it is more beyond the bounds of probability
that Mr. WARD Brie: will be known in the
annals of Parliament an the Single-Budget
Chancellor of the Exchequer than that he
will sasially survive to repeat the does, we

beg leave to felicitate • his

Shemin:War opportuneness.
in falling upon an Abyssinian
Gf.euirrows, who sdministered f

of the Idxcazqtrza the

genarents _
the additional taxation to mast
&it was not in fact the fault of __ _
Nen& as Of ttre years of Tory ballasts.. Dot ths
Moral public seldom grasps amee than one great
fact at a time, and the gre4fiet. of the present
moment is the 600,0001. a -month for the
Abyssinian expedition. This la quite enough
in common estimation to account far the
absence of originality in Mr. HUNT'S
statement. At least it bas the merit of extreme
simplicity, for Mr. Flynt is not the man to extract
sunbeams from cucumbers. It is almost as simple
as Mr. CANNING'S famous despatch to the British
Minister at the Hague. A slight adaptation and
abridgment of that celebrated quatrain would
make • precise and perfect resume of Mr. Braces
Budget:
Twopence a pound ! Twopence a pound ;
Nora f+opperosa Bum. at twopence a peas&
It isn't more difficult than that ! It would be
unjust, however, to refuse to Mr. Burr the credit
of clearness and frankness in his exposition. His
sentimental regret at the circumstances which
compel him to renounce for the present any further
reform of our financial system, may excite a
not unkindly smile. lint be has resisted the dan-
gerous advice from influential quarters to disturb
the trade of the country by increasing the indirect
taxation to defray the cost of a foreign expedition,
and thus to relapse into the bad old courses, and
create a new precedent far more mischievous than
that which Mr. Taunts Baaiwo denounces with
all the emotion of an injured philanthropist.
In suggesting the possibility of future transfers of
assessed taxes to the Excise he shows at all events
that he is not without " ideas." And in his replies
to miscellaneous objections last night he evinced
a readiness and a briskness of spirit which are
better displayed in answering facts and figures
with confident assurance by counter-facto and
counter-figures than in floundering metaphors—
such as " turning our backs upon King THEODORE
" and his army—l meant, of course, after defeat "
—which recall the most celebrated feats of Cairrix-
MAW! in that perilous department of
official rhetoric. The charge with which
he met Mr. GLannrowe's assertion that the
added income tax was due to the augmented
general expenditure of the Government was almost
a formal challenge. It might be well for the
Liberal leaders on the eve of a general election to
take it up. Mr. Burr insists that the
increase of 2,840,0001. in the Estimates within the
past two years has been necessitated by the " un-
wise parsimony" of the Liberal Government in pro-
viding for the defences of the country, and by the
denuded condition to which they had reduced the
army and navy. Yet we have been paying some-
thing like 28,000,0001. a year.for the maintenance of
the forces, besides the cost of the Patmearrow
" fixed forts " and other follies. This is really a
question, which must be met, if not in the
House on the hustings, and the sooner it is
met the better. The country has a right
to demand economy and efficiency ; if it
obtains neither the one nor the other it
must know the reason why. It will not be
satisfied with Mr. Hymn's imputing to Site weather
the annual surplus of Mr. GLanirronz's budgets, or
to King THEODORE his own deficit. Perhaps it will
not be far wrong in laying more than half the blame
on that general inattention to the Estimates on
which we commented the other day. If the new
Parliament is to be no better than the old in this
respect the British taxpayer will save very little
(whatever he may gain) by the change.

reign of ..,.me tenor. The
called "Kodarsdoes," his moderation consisted of
a brutal abuse of power. He shot down, he
hung, he transpdrted hundreds of .men whose
worst crime was that they wee in his way. The
whole tenor of his policy was repression and
terrorism. Such shadows of political freedom as
were left to Spain he wiped out, and it was not
until the Constitution wa's destroyed, and the
press readered abjectly subservient to his
will, that he attempted administrative improve-
ments and national reforms. While his heel was
on the nation he was content to encourage pub&
instruction and financial improvements, and his
foreign policy became conciliatory and discreet.
Btu he imported into political rule the savagery
of the camp, and was, perhaps in consequence,
jpref erred to his great rival, O'Doiranu., by both
the Spanish Queens. That he should have also
been more popular with the nation at large is •
strong testimony to his manners and address.
But his principal achievements are written
in blood, and happily for the world, there
are few modern statesmen to whom so much
misery, wretchedness, and cruelty can be ascribed
as to NARVASZ, Duke of Valencia. His successor,
Grazim BRAVO, is DOS an outer. intriguer, and
that is perhaps the beat that can be said of his
career.

THE income-tax collected from the general public
under Schedule D next October will be at the rate
of sixpence in the pound ; or, in other words, the
ordinary taxpayer will feel no difference between
the sum he is paying this present April and the
impost proposed last night by the CHANCELLOR of
the Exonsurrea. The course condemned by Mr.
I Warn HUNT of making the whole of an extra
income tax payable in a single half of the year,
was necessarily pursued with respect to the
" Abyssinian penny," which thus became a
virtual twopenoe, and raised the income
tax being collected now from fourpence to
sixpence in the pound. The twopence Mr. Hurt
propeses to add is to date from the sth of this
month until the sth of April, 1869 ; and its collec-
tion will commence next October, and extend over
the period between then and the June—or, in
in cases of arrears, the October following. This rule
applies to the great body of payers of the income
tax, but fund-holders, officials, and others feel the
effect of an alteration at once, and are mulct or
relieved the first time they received their
income after the rate has been increased or
reduced. But the broad effect is that
the 1,450,000/., which is gained in round numbers
by the addition of a penny in the income-tax,
becomes 2,900,000/. by the addition of twopence ;
and that one moiety of this-I,Boo,ooo&.—becomes
payable in the current financial year, and the
other moiety-1,100,000/.—payable in the financial
year following. But the point interesting
to the payers of income-tax, the trades, professions,
and occupiers is, that the rate they have paid or
are paying this month is the one they will be
called on to pay for many months to come ; and that
the present demand of the collector is a sample of
the demands to come from him during the same
time.

Tae death which places another bishopric at
the disposal of the Government reminds us of a
stormy quart d'heure in modern Church history.
It must be said, however, of Dr. HAMPDZN that, if
in 1836 he deserved the vote of censure which was
passed upon hini in the Oxford University Convo-
cation, and the frantic opposition to his consecration
which was raised on his appointment to the See of
Hereford, he did his utmost in the calmer days of
his episcopal prosperity to establish a character as
an orthodox churchman. Dr. NewmaN himself,
who was one of the first to impugn the soundness
of his opinions, must have been satisfied by the
hostages given by the bishop in the later contro-
versies of the day. The letter of Lord Resszee,
informing a certain dignitary that he had received
the letter " intimating your intention to violate the
" law," and the scenes of excitement at the period of
the election, had been almost forgotten in the interval
of unbroken silence which the incriminated
prelate preserved towards the world, until the
COLZNBO disputes produced his sudden apparition
as the champion, in their full entirety, of the views
which were challenged by the Bishop of NATAL.
The probability is that the deceased bishop was
never, according to present ideas, really heterodox,
and that the misapprehension arose rather from
uncertainties
of language than from any sensible
departure from the creeds of the Church.

• puNd
110 IT% rostra lir Majesty's rely, chapter
all fir pesialkos War kaj.sty duties ea profit'
=WL Protessioss, tuts*, sad Aims, the
I wiss ead dales (that is to say) :—Yor every
twenty Mei. of the annual Talus or amount el all each
preperty, pelts, sad pine (except them charresble nadir
ineedule (B) of the said set!, the rate or duty of sixpence.
And for and in roped of the owsepation of leads, Mae-
nads, hereditament., sad iteriteges shareable wider
sehmiale (5) of the said sot, for every twenty @MUMp of
the mead value tisseeet, la fraglead, the rate or duty of
threepence, and in Beetland sad Ireland reepeetively, the
rawer daty d teepee. farthing. Sabjest to the pint-
mime eentsimed is seediest 3 of the Act With Victoria,
chapter 22, for the exemption of persons whose whole in•
ears from every source is sutler 1001. a you, and relief of
these whom lama. is ender XIX a year.
" RIONIQVIR

" 2. That, towards making good the supply panted to
h." Majesty, ths sommimiceses at bar Majesty's Treasury
be authorised to raise any sum of money not ismosding one
liana pounds atseling by an nano of exchmarr Ueda
"3. Thai the principal of all exchequer bone which
may be so issued shall be paid off at par ►t any period
not eximadlag twelve months from the ame of such bonds.
"4. That the interest of such exchequer bonds shall be
payable half-yearly, and shall be charged upon and issued
out of the ooasolidated fund of the United Kingdom, or
the growing produce thereof."

Efts Court.

The Queen walked and drove in the grounds
yeatezday afteniooa aoompaaied by Priam. Christian,
ew and h Majesty drove oat this morning with her royal
highwaa.

08BORNE,_ Aran. 23.

The other members of the royal family also went out.

Despatches were received yesterday at the Colonial.
office from the Governor of Gibraltar. Despatches were
mint to the Governors of the Settlements on the West
Coast of ahica, and to the Governor.G•aeral of Canada.

THE ROYAL VISIT TO IRELAND.

(THIS DAY.)

(FRON 002 OWN COI

DUBLIN, FRIDAY.

The Prince of Wales visited the College of
Physicians to-day, sad afterwards attended
the flower show of the Royal Horticultural Society
at the Rotunda. He was loudly cheered by crowds
assembled at the different points.
The royal party leave Dublin at 6 o'clock
this evening for Kingstown, when the Prince will
entertain the Lord-Lieutenant and a distinguished
party on board the royal yacht. The fleet will be
illuminated.
The weather is fine.

Yesterday afternoon the Lord-Lieutenant and the
Marchioness of Aberoorn, the Prince and Princess
of Wales, and the members of their suites left
Dublin Castle for Bray, en route, to Powers-
court. The Prince was attired in a black frock
coat, grey trousers, and black hat. He also
wore the ribbon and star of the Order of
St. Patrick. The Princess wore • dress of
blue tabinet, with flounces of rich Irish lace,
and white lace bonnet. The viceregal and royal
party were accompanied by his Royal Highness
the Duke of Cambridge, Prince Edward of Saxe-
Weimar Prince Teck, the Duke of Manchester,
&c. The special train consisted of the royal saloon
carriage, and one first and one third-class
carriage. The train was drawn by a powerful
locomotive, which bad the Union Jack flying
from it. n enormous crowd had assembled at
the station to witness the departure of the
distinguished party, and the train left the station
amid deafening shouts of applause. The route
selected was admirably devised to give their royal
highnesses an opportunity of witnesaing the beau-
ties of Dublin Bay and the coast scenery.
At Bray the railway station was neatly deco-
rated, and the inhabitants of the town erected
triumphal arches. At Znniakerry, also, the resi-
dents erected triumphal arches, and similar
festive decorations were to be seen along the
avenue to Powersoonrt-house, along which the dis-
tinguished party were preceded by a cavalcade
formed by the tenantry of the noble proprietor.
An address was presented at Bray to the Prince
of Wales by the Earl of Meath, chairman of the
Town Commissioners.

Tke Lord Lieutenant and Marchioness of Aber-
corn and the Prince and Princess of Wales pro-
ceeded to Powersoourt in Visoount Powersco urt's
equipages.

His Excellency the Prussian Ambassador and
the Countess Bernstorft and the Oenntesa Therese Berne-

Weir arrived at the Prussian embassy, on Carlton-house-
forme, on Wednesday afternoon, from spending a few
dap at Brighten.

The Archbishop of York and Mrs. Thomson
entertained the following select oompany at dinner on
Wednesday evening, at their reddence in Grosvenor-place :
His Exosllsracy the Permian Ambassador and the Counters
Bernstorff and the Countess Therese Haunted!. the Earl
and Countess Grey, Viscount and Visconstem Halifax,
Lord William Hay, M.P., the Right Hon. the Speaker and
lady Charlotte Denison, the Hight Hon. W. K. Gladstone,
M.P., Mr. Otto Trevelysa, M.P., Kr. W. Harman, Mr.
Venahles, he.

Viscount Milton, M.P., sad Viscountess Milton
arrived in town on Wedniedey tram pawing the Nester
ream in Paris. His lordship bee taken • ruidenee in
Groavenor-etzeet tor • terms[ years.

Lord and Lady Egerton el Tattoo entertained
the following party at Maser lad erasing at their resi-
dence in St. Jaincesaquare :.-1111a Eamß•icy the Swedish
Minister and Barmen Heeheshild. the Earl and Countess
of Illinghana, the Osialres Itisehope, Lord and Lady
Sande. and Hon. Mir Mills., the Bight. Hem Sir Hairy
Storks, G.C.8., the Bight Rea. Sir Almarader Coekburn
(the Lord Chief Justice of Ragland), Rea Ralph Dation,
M.P., sad Mrs. Duties, Six James and Lady Hogg and
Rim Hogg, Ma. Fard, Mr. Leigliboa, Mr. Campbell, Mr.
Millais, be. Later in the arming k ladyship had •
small and early party.

Sir Henry and Lady Cotterell received Ms
Ranßray the Panora Ambassador sad tra Orator
Barrlost sad the 00110iNII Therm Busitorlf, the Earl
and Counter Maven, Imam Counter Waldsgravo and
the Right Bea. Cleldessior Yortrous, 1f..P., Lord Cour-
tray, ILP., Lord Edward Mara, ILP., sad lady Clin-
ton, tles Ban. lady figrawar and Kir &moor, Count P.
litradadd, 0.8., Xt. William Pool, ka., at dinar last
erring, at their redder, in Balgravareuro.
Mr. Psreshfield intends to move in eonunitlee
on Banday Trading Bill Br following mans,:—" theft
in ate sot ratained Audi operate to meal or atm way
el the provisions of an an pared in ileo twsalgrbili
year of the nip of Erg Clarks Br Brood, intituisd
'An Asa for fro briar Observer, of the lard's Day;
eesanseats sand Banday,' wart In at far as by this
inworod ganaltir are ispord for oarlain violations
of that ash"

It is the intentiott ef Sir Bounden Abair to
move ea the 10th of sat swath "That Ude home regrets
VW a eels foe a pest of nosey, be Indemnity the bee
preset el Vieleets for the lea widish be esolehtel by
his meek. AMA bon boss nommessori by a woomose of
tioe gevereet I. the legisierrve mem* of that eelesy,
*ilk the sesetles sad approval i.fre 11.4•Ses 11011"
mat" • J.3%5-Sllll
JO& A

Ariege
-leasbeggieppointsd to take place on the 16th May.
♦ report has been published, dated 16th Apra,
from the Consuls of Ragland, France, Greer.,
Prussia, and Runts, residing at Jassy, confirming
apilaullissiionting the persecution and expulsion
of the Jews from Roumania.

SPAIN.

MADRID, Aran 23, Hymnal's.
The Queen has accepted the resignation of the
ministry.

Senor Gonzalez Bravo has been charged with the
formation of a new cabinet.

The funeral of Marshal Narraez will take place
OD Sunday.
Tranquillity prevails in the Peninsula.

DENMARK_
COPENHAGEN, Aram Et.

The Landsthing, by 380 votes against 13, has
decided that the Municipality Bill shall be read a
third time. It was explained that the object of
this was to facilitate in the interval between the
second and third reading an understanding being
come to between the Government and the Rigaraad
on the question. It is, however, unlikely that such
an understanding will be arrived at.

el : EXpREft s FRIDAY '
I .tl,l \IAPRIL 24)
I. Mos , .
•1. 4, 1 -
- -
.. , f,l", . • - illi BUDGET. [.,s !. A a :' e ,
. .
friends • • • . Irr lir
i • I .4
T. . . ' . 2
of his •• •
_,• , "' • i t
the resolutions to ! •• o \ 1 • '
Milian alguatition• 70 1.,• . • "1' ' ' ' i. 1101 •• - I '
b 7 Ezebequer es t • N.,. ; W DAY.)
1
etred to tlla ballicz • , . — . " iIIOOYI Tas. .
.
cruel compassion of a sad • • • • beet the i - . " L That, tewarde raising she supply granted to •• , mum% maszaza.)
rsibsimmosairstion- whis--lis- similifino"._
___ ~ - , ..._,,- -- -- - akiiitri ihere-aall a, ars* soUssist,miti Dana
The election for traLdepartmenrt Rolt.thAti:RlLArieft.g
mast the anticipated de- power he -at —firmice=t D"esaaziale.
te7eigipsveserlimmeirge o
amprordeirm i 00,14.4644)14 ailed, a
samAgell,nasovisslol, fecl
ult of Xing TEZODOM so ministries, Nanvsas and
.._— , - - . ta..* as. reins of esprees• teem. The beat of lie axis- !fe....desertbed e sherge,9,4 is the net paired is tia,
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