The Sun.
London, England, 1855-03-26 00:00:00

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(From, the Sunday Tintes.)

If the Chancellor of the Exchequer should persevere
in pressing on his Newspaper Stamp Duty Bill, he will
entitle himnself to the singular merit of having sacrificed
250,0001. or 300,0001. a year, at a time when the re-
sources of taxation are being strained to the uttermost ;
and that, too, 'by an operation about which the pub-
lic is utterly indifferent, and to which all whom it
affects are strongly opposed. It is net from fear of any
anticipated competition, consequent upon the aboli-
tion of the compulsory stamp, that newspaper proprietors
are averse to the change, for it is manifest that the diffe-
rence of a penny in the cost of publication, which will
extend to them, as well as to any new proprietors that
may start up, cannot place them at a disadvantage in
the race of competition. That is not the ground of our
dislike to the measure,. therefore. In a pecuniary sense
the present newspapers will not lose ; but the inconvc-
vitnee, and trouble, and confusion that will be produced,
not only.iri the newspaper offices, but throughout the
trade, ere boyond all calculation. The ne..vsvendors,
who -met on TOursda,y evening in St. Martin's-hall,
slowed clearly wough to what an extent, and how pre-
jud:cialy, they, wit: he affected by the measure. The
proprietor of the Sussex Herald has put the measure •in
a light which may interest newspaper purchasers" more
we can say of newspaper vendors ;
than anything
"It may be said that the circulation of the Sussex
Express depends solely upon the post for the transmission
of its copies. Now, all this va,luable business of trans-
mil=lion is accomplished by the pest, by the means of the
newspaper paying for stamp?, to the amount cf only
18/. 63. 4d., whereas, with the greatest ingenuity and
strictest economy, if I were compelled to distribute my
journal by other means, I could net do it, and ensure
expedition, at a less stun than 521. 18s. 4d., so that my
subscribers gain by the newspaper stamp, 321. 19s.
weekly, or 1,7991. 4s. annually, and also the advantage
of res-transmitting their papers to their distant friends,
without iurthercharge, an advantage of incalculable bene-
fit, aed used to an enormous extent. In fact, I have little
doubt that after the 4,000 copies of my journal have been
read by the subscribers, 3,500 of them are re-transreitted
by pest to distant countries ; and if the cost is estimated
to each reader, I have no hesitation in saying that it is
far less than id. each, much below the cheapest paper
in America, taking quantity and quality into consi-
deration."

(Front the Weekly Dispatch.)
If we were to regard merely our own individual Neon-
ven;ence and profit we might accept as some advantage
the small difference made by Sir G. C. Lewis in Mr.
Gladstone's Newspaper Stamp Bill. We are more and
more fortified in the conviction that the entire movement
is a combination of knavery and dupery, and that an ig-
norance more presumptuous than ordinary patronises the
change. Are the people, those who can judge (and we
give the utmost latitude to the qualification), dissatisfied
with the press as it is ? They have confessedly the
best in the world. No other gives information so
speedily or so completely. No other gives half
the encouragement to talent for the specific pur-
pose of judging aright and enforcing judgmen •
ably. If there be as able writers connected with some
of the French and one or two of the German papers, they
write for their party, not for the press itself or on behalf
of the public. Compare the best papers sold in Eng-
land, price and all, with any and all others, and they are
the cheapest. Do the advocates of change say that they
can do something better ? No ; they only pretend to
establish low-priced journals, depending for all that is
good in them upon piracy. Suppose, for instance, in
the matter of news, that England had none but half-
penny or penny newspapers. The news, collected now
a complete Rem, would not and could not be gathered,
even in an imperfect one, for days and weeks after the
present ordinary course of publicity. We repeat, then,
that now avemy n Tv• LLa r...11..b
measure and with the shortest interval from the occur-
rence, all that can be known and narrated ; and that i
a"cheap" press were utterly to supplant a fairly
priced one, the reader must wait a long and uncertain
time for the most imperfect, partial, and shallow report.
We will say nothing of the leading articles which, in imi-
tation of Mr. Toots, John Bright declares to be, of " no
consequence, thank yon," but which he isfascinated to read
through in spite of himself; we are quite sure that any fall-
ing off in their staple would be the most serious detriment
British literatureand politics could sustain. Where there is.
little or nothing to amend and every thing to spoil, we cannot
but indulge an irrepressible contempt for the rashness
that pr,)vokes, and the cowardice that acquiesces in,,
alteration, or for that still lower and more baneful mean-
ness that would fain sap the power of too effectual a
censor. We cannot, however, suppose that the fiscal
aspect of the question will escape accurate criticism in
these times. We cannot imagine that John Bright's ar-
gument, that because the House of Commons is voting
away millions nightly, therefore it ought to give up half
or quarter millions of means, can appeal to any braies
unaffected with sheer lunacy. Is John Bright himself
in the habit of purposely cutting down his profits to meet
increased expenses ? If a workman asked for higher
wages on that principle, is he prepared immediately to
assent, as feeling the logic irresistible t We are told,
however, that there are considerations beyond those of
revenue, that the diffusion of knowledge must not be
stopped for want of money, that when the improvement
of the uneducated people, their elevation in the scale
of humanity, is in question, pounds, shillings, and pence
are mere dross. We have shown that the people will not
be bettered ; but let that pass. We will give the Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer the full use of the appeal, which,
as the Edinburgh Review philosopher, he is naturally so
prone to parade. But we confess that we do like con-
sistency in morals—that we cannot put faith in any
morals that are not consistent, but rather class them as
expedient hypocrisy and Pharisaical humbug.

NATAL AND MILITARY INTELLIGENCE.

A Malta correspondent, in his letter of the 17th inst.,
says :

" The Osiris (French) due two days ago, only arrived to-
day from Alexandria ; and the Austrian boat, also three
days overdue, has arrived.
" The screw steam-ship Tencriffe has arrived from
Alexandria. By her it is known that a large port;on
of the cavalry had reached that prat from Cairo, but
the transports to. take them away had not arrived.
" Major-General Ashburnham, en route to Italy, has
arrived by the French steamer from Alexandria.
"Two transport-steamers, the Etna and the Baltic,
have arrived this morning.
"By the Etna, No. 18C), arrived Lieutenant-Colonel
Needham, RA., Captain G. H. Vesey, J. E. Phriag,
Lieutenant F. G. Ravenhill, Lieutenant M. Tweedle,
Surgeon J. Bent, Veterinary-Surgeon Rawlings, 181
men, 191 horses, and a battery. Elevsn horses died on
the passage. Commander Bathurst is the Admiralty
agent en board.
"By the Baltic, No. 192, bound for Smyrna, Mrs.
Macdonell, Messrs. Macdonell, Read, Warwick, Davies,
J. Wilkinson, Wright, C. Wilkinson, Knapp, Bennett,
Eden, Livecay, Phibeox, Little, Davies, Hertschel, Sal-
mon, and Blow have arrived.
"The French mail-steamer from the Levant has ar-
rived, having been detained by very heavy weather and
want of coals at Zante, Navarino, and Milo, at which
places she put in.
"About 230 French soldiers and 36 officers have
arrived.

" The French steamer touched at Zante. Some of
the French officers who have arrived to-day wish to
make known the high sense they entertain of the very
warm reception given them by the British officers in
garrison there, and the great hospitality they exhibited.
It is their wish to express publicly the grateful remem-
brance of their welcome, and their hopes one day of re-
quiting it.
"The only English officer who has arrived on his
route home i 3 Lieutenant Barwell, of the 50th Regi-
ment. The Hon. Lieutenant-Colonel Upton, of the
Scots Fusilier Guards, Colonel Irring, Royal Artillery,
Captain Rogers, of her Majesty's ship Albion, and Dr.
Smith, Lady Emily Stuart Wortley, and the Hon. Mr.
Rolle are among the passengers arrived by the Car-
mel."
A letter from Balaklava, dated the 9th of March,
states that there were then in harbour the Leander,
Diamond, Wasp, Vesuvius, Caradoc, and Beagle. Rear-
Admiral Stewart had arrived on that day in the Beagle
gun-boat. Lieutenant Richards, R.M., had been sent
to Therapia Hospital for medical treatment. Lieut.
Casey, R.M., had been sent on board atrans
Viper,
and medical treatment. At Eupatoria—Her Majesty's ships
Curacoa, Dauntless, Valorous, Furious, Curlew,
and Industry.
The fleet at Portsmouth yesterday consisted 0f...t...h..
.....
16
Duke of Wellingten
113201
TR4eatariiebirt.e.nt.i.n0..en.................................. 21 2,G
. ............................. 11
66
Neptune
12091 OdinEalcon
102088141 CruiserADDrrriaid Dragon
Driver
rn .... . . . w
St. George
Royal George
9108 va
Bulldogue lyt
Geyser
o ...........
Caesar
.............
.........
Nile
1 Exmouth
James Watt 6
Calcutta 6
6
Cressy
Majestic 6
6
Hogue
B l Ajaxceih e. il ni.. 6
GO Centaur
.......................... 60 Basilisk
Edinburgh ................. 5S Li 6
.......... 60 Gorgon. ...••••••.......... ••
Pembroke .. ' '
.............. ... 60 Palter 3
Hastings
ehtning
3
The Rastings, 60, Captain Caffin, got up her steam
again on Saturday, and proceeded out of harbour to test
her engines, returning after the trial. The Pembroke,
60, Captain Seymour, also got up steam for a similar
•test, but did not go out. The Hogue, 60, Captain Ram-
say, steamecl out of harbour, and joined the fleet, which

has been supplied with an enormous quantity of Om.
greve rockets for boat service, and shot, shell, a • =
der, at the discretion of each Captain, and not r- _ • `,..141/ `-(< ,71
by any before regulated " establishment." Sattri• ity,, " e
the 7th proximo, is the day rumoured as that of theod
pasture of this fleet for the Baltic. The Drive Ijiiz
steam-sloop, left Spithead on Friday night with super--1 i`
.117
nuaaeraries for the squadron in the Downs, and returned
to Spithead yesterday.
The Alps steam-transport, Captain Moodie, did not
proceed to Chatham on Saturday, as ordered, but landed
her invalids at Portsmouth dockyard, and they left at
two o'clock in the afte*oon for the invalid depot at
Chatham. Several of the worst cases were detained in
Portsmouth garrison hospital. Such was the expedition
used by the agent at Lloyd's in clearing this ship that at
five o'clock on Saturday evening she was on her way to
Liverpool.

We learn by electric telegraph from Plymouth that
her Majesty's screw steam-Aiip Colossus, 80, Captain
Robert S. Robinson, and the screw steam-sloop Hartier,
17, Commander Storey, left Plymouth Sound yesterday
forenoon for Spithead. His Prussian Majesty's frigate
Thetis, Captain Sundewali, sailed from Plymouth Sound
yesterday morning for Dantzic.
The Cossack, 20 guns, screw steam-corvette, on. Satur-
day, sailed from Sheerness direct for Elsinore, and will
receive farther orders there.

The Amphiou, 34 gung, screw steam-frigate, completed
the a•ljustuient of her compasses on Saturday, and at 3
p.m. proceeded to the Great Nore. She leaves for the
Baltic to-day.

•
The Esk, 26 guns, screw steam-corvette, will by to-
morrow have had the damage sustained by collision re-
paired, and will immediately proceed for the Baltic.
The Pylades, 20 guns, screw steam-corvette, will
leave Sheerness in a few days direct for the Baltic. On
Saturday she completed taking in ammunition, shells,
rockets, &a.

The Russell, 60 guns, screw steam-ship, has com-
menced taking her guns on board, and is progressing
favuurably with her equipment.
Thu Volage, 22 guns, is fitting in dock at Sheerness
for an extensive floating magazine for powder, with
shell and rocket-rooms, for the use of the Baltic fleet.
Great activity prevailS at Sheerness to get the Ho-
ratio completed and ready fur sea.
The Melampus, 42, frigate, Commander John Borlase,
heavily laden with stores fur the seat of war, baying been
reported ready for sea, Captain E. A. Wylde, with a de-
taeltment of 2 serjeants, 2 corporals, and 47 privates
of the Chtithatu division, and 1 serjeant, 1 .corporal,
and 48 privates of the Woolwich divisien of-Royal Ma-
rines, embarked on board the frigate at Woolwich dock-
'yard on Saturday.
The Meander, 44, Captain Thomas Bailie, from
Lisi-.on arrived in Plymouth Sound on Saturday
evening.
Tao scrow steam-ship Colossus, 80, Captain R. S.
Robinson, and the steam-sloop :Rosamond, 8, Com-
mander S. Crofton, steamed from Hameaze into Ply-
mouta Stand on. Friday, and took in their powder and
shell

The paddle-wheel steam gun-boats Weser Lieutenant
Commander Coinmerell ; and the Recruit.'Lietrteuxot-
Commander George F. Day, at Plymouth, received their
ammunition on Friday.
The bt'cum-vessel Rhadamanthus, 4, Commander John
Pawn, :arrived at Plymouth on Friday, from 'Woolwich,
with machinery and boilers fur the Conqueror steam-
ship. The Rhadamanthus was placed in Keyham. Docks
the same day, to have her boilers taken out.

Tue PrusSlau ship Mercure, Captain Stencross, front
Dantzic, with timber, went alongside the Devonpert
dockyard on Friday.
A mail will be made up this evening for the army in
the Crimea and the Land Transport Corps, the 'troops,
in the Pincus (Greece), and Malta, for the Hospitals at
S:mtari, and the Black Sea fleet and transport vessels,
tl be forwarded via Marseilles, whence it will be carried
on by French mail packet. The postage, 3d. the quarter
ounce, must be paid in advance.