The Sun.
London, England, 1855-04-02 00:00:00

fRURY-LANE.—Lessee, Mr. E. T. Smith.—
Reduced Prices as usual.

THIS EVENING,
Will be presented a GRLND PROME v ADE CONCERT. The
Mn ical arrangements w.ll Include the whole of the Popular Mu Ic
frt.m Meyerbeer's Opera L'Etoile du Nord, executed by the Opera
Band of 100 Performers and 60 Chorus.

ROYAL PRINCESS'S TEIEATRE, OXFORD-ST REET.
Under the Management of Mr. Cmiat.r.s KEAN.
ON EASTER MONDAY
Will be performed LIVING TOO FAST.
To be folowed by THE CORSICAN BROTHERS. Principal
character by Mr. C. Kean.
To conclude with (first tame) a Romance, in two acts. entitled
THE MULETEER OF TOLEDO ; cr, King, Queen, and Knave.

ASTLEY'S ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE.
Lessee and Manager, Mr. Wm. Cooke.
Mr. William Ccoke begs to acknowledge one of the most successful
seasons of the Royal Amphitheatre, and announces that on EASTER
MONDAY there will be produced an original Equidrama, to be called,
THE FIELD AGAINST IIIE FAVOURITE ; developing events of
reculiar character and general interest
Novel SCENES in the CIRCLE, and a variety of amusements, will
1 end their aid t) the evening's entertainmt nt.
Box-office open from Eleven till Four. Stage Manager, Mr. W.
West. Acting Mar a:;er, r. W. H. Cooke. Equestrian Director,
Xr. W. Cooke, jun.

item.

ICATIONAL STANDARD•
THIS EVENING,
Mr. G. HODSON, the celebrated Irish Comedian, will give his
popular Musical Entertainment, cllled MY IRISH PORTFOLIO;
or, Gems from the Emerald Isle ; with Imitations of Henry Russell,
M. Robins, &c. The wonder of the wol Id, Well,ngton Young, her
Majesty's Royal Conjurer, will appear in hid Grand Soirees NI agiques.
Madame Miter, the greatest Tight-Rope Dancer in the world. M.
Delevenlle and Pup, Is' Grand Drawing -loom Entertainment. Lapong
and Son in La Perche. Morgan's Disselving Views, &c.

ROYAL STRAND THEATRE.
Under the direction of Miss Rebecca Isaacs.

THIS EVENING,

lbe WIZARD of the WORLD will appear in his Magic Salon,
with a variety of amusements.
To be follovred by THE BARBER OF CADIZ, Introducing the
Drury-lane Ballet Com; ary.

HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.
Tam UST —Vorning 4 niin.aftar 2 I Evening 19 min.aft. 2
To-Ulm* -13orning 36 caln.after 2 Evening 49 min.s't• 2

TUZ WEATHER.—pus Orila, April. 1.
TSICUMOIIINTIEB, IN TIM SF ADS.
48—highest since neon yesterday.
32—:ewest this morning and during the night.
46—this day, at 1100 n.

BIROWATEF, 30.33.
WIND, N.E.—Light breeze. In the morning there was

a slight fall of snow:

APRIL 2.
47—Lighest since nocu
—lowcst this morning az d iurirg the night.
43 -this day at noon.
iAROI itTE? , 3)•13.
WIND, E.—Light breeze, with fine cold wea her.

engaged.

•
"'„

LONDON, MONDAY, APRIL 2, 1855.

The new style financial year, which, according to
the Act of last session, terminated on the 31st
March, instead of on the sth of April, having
been brought to a conclusion, we once more have
the Revenue Returns to inspect and criticise. In
the present instance both terms have been
abridged by five days. The account for the re-
duced term of 85 days show that 15,021,276/.
had actually been received, lacing an average of
176,720/. 18s. per diem, so that but for the
change there would have been an addition of
883,6041. 10s. to the returns for the year and
quarter. Due allowance has, however, been
made for this alteration, inasmuch as the receipts
of the corresponding year and quarter were only
made up to the 31st of March in last year. Al-
though some confusion has for the time being
been occasioned by the alteration, it may be re-
garded as a valuable improvement in bringing the
accounts of incomings and outgoings to the same
period. Previously, the expenditure was only
reckoned to the end of the month—that is, 31st
March, 30th June, 30th „September, and 31st
December, while, on the other hand, the receipts
were taken to the sth April, sth July, 10th October,
and sth January, by means whereof, a gross de-
lusion was practised on the community, there be-
ing a deficiency of five days in each of three
quarters, and ten days in the fourth, the Sep-
tember quarter. Henceforward the national
balance sheet will be correctly balanced to the
same day, and one of the many fallacies, put forth
on official authority, will be removed.
The receipts for the year, of 360 days, and the
quarter of 85 days, exceed those of the corres-
ponding periods last year by 6,312,6241. and
4,384,3081. respectively. These might be, and
have, by many of our contemporaries, been re-
garded as eminently satisfactory results. Looking,
however, to the increased taxation that has taken
place during the past year, we cannot take quite
so favourable a view thereof. We know that in
the first budget—that of the 6th of March—the
then Chancellor of the Exchequer estimated the
revenue—with the doubled income tax for half
a year—at 56,800,060/. sterling. Two months
afterwards—on Bth of May—when asking for the
continued duplication of the Income Tax, during
the War, and increased duties on malt and spirits,
and the cessation of the gradual reduction on tea
and sugar, he calculated on obtaining from
these various sources 6,850,0001. additional,
making a grand total for the year of 63,450,0001,
The actual receipts have, however, been but
59,469,1541., or 3,954,8461. less than the esti-
mate. Considerable allowance must, however, be
made for taxes as yet in arrear, and which the
Right Hon. Gentleman declared might probably
be the case to the extent of nearly four millions.
It is, therefore, but justice to say that the pre-
vious calculation has been pretty nearly realised
in the gross amounts, although there have been
considerable variations in some of the details.
Looking to the particular items, we find that
in the Customs there has been an improvement in
the year and quarter of 295,725/. and 221,0601.
respectively. Mr. GLADSTONE'S estimate was at
nnu m, b ut, ate
the rate of l'oo,ooo/. per a
changes which he proposed did not comes into
operation until the July quarter, we could not
reasonably anticipate the full extent thereof
already--the improvement for which more than
realises his hopes is in sugar and tea. Now, these
are the very articles where there had been gra-
dual reductions which were arrested by the Right
Honourable Gentleman ; and in these the revenue
obtained the benefit of there reductions in conse-
quence of an increased demand—a striking proof
that it is not the heaviest duties
which are most
productive to the revenue.
The Excise Returns afford additional corrobora-
tion to the same principle. The improvement on
the year and quarter has been 1 077 5'7A/
/ - -.• and
211,284/. The estimated improvement for the
year in the May budget was 2,450,0001., so that
the deficiency is nearly 1,377,500/. How has
this occurred ? From the diminished consumption
of malt and spirits, or at least of that which J
paid duty, owing to the additional tax. It has
been well ascertained that any addition to the tax
is invariably attended with increased activity in
contraband articles. Mr. GLADSTONE was warned
of this probability by ourselves, as well as
by others. He disregarded the salutary warn-
ing, and behold the result ! The consumption
of malt in the term eliding sth January, 1854,

arise.

was 41,992,178 bushels ; in that ending sth
S L ifinuary, 1855, 36,812,727 bushels only. These
-,,,-.21-711-fi-gtres speak for themselves, and require no argil
iwaents to deduce the inevitable conclusion.
1 - ... 44
.1.:,4c ~' 4,-' - ,-. « .4" Ain Stamps the increase on the year is 176,1311.,
2 , -'.• .7; sf-- .
")::2,-:',.• macron the quarter 54,9441., while in taxes then
~, 10_.• , •
(
Z",./-1 : Is -it decrease on the year of 105. r,"- 07
''(
I. 1 aN.,-.7,' -these variations may be -- -

_ s•ob. 130t11

...cribed to the stringency
atner than to any alteration in the

which the chief amounts are received—in that of
1854 only 99,302/. was realised ; while, pro-
bably in consequence of arrears from the previous
quarter, 194,897/. was obtained. There is,
therefore, nothing to boast of in the quarter's

increase.
The Property Tax is that in which the great
change took place, the improvement for the
year being no less than 5,137,3341., and that for
the quarter being 3,798,6121. As we have
already stated, however, it was estimated
to produce for the year 12,889,0001. ;
whereas 10,515,369/. only has been rea-
lised. As we cannot judge of the amount of
outstanding arrears, it is manifest that we are
still in the Sark respecting this all-important

In the Post-office, thanks to the efficiency of
One of our best public servants-,-Mr. ROWLAND
HlLL—there is an improvement on the year of
230,1561., and on the quarter of 45,9221. The
outlay in adding to the postal facilities being--
like money spent in advertising—more than re-
turned, by enhanced profits. Tn Crown Lands
there is a deficiency on the year of 123,3161., in
consequence of the large receipts in the July
quarter of last Sear, but an improvement on the
quarter of 1;000/. ; while in Miscellaneous there
is a decrease c.f 375,4261. on the year, and of
44,1091. on the quarter. Such is the state of the
ordinary revenue, on which we have something
yet to say—and all we can say is, that while it
gives no occasion for any extraordinary exulta-
I, tion, there is none for depression of spirits. The
people feel these increased burdens ; there is less
cinsumption of the comforts of the million, but
our resources are still elastic, and we can do far
more if necessity should arise, and that extra
funds be required for the vigorous maintenance
of the just and necessary War in which we are

Various and conflicting reasons have been as-
signed for the journey of M. DROEYN DE L' HEYS
to Vienna. It is epsitively asserted in sonic
qaarters that the participation of the French Mi-
nister in the Conferences is likely to tend to a
pacific solution of the existing difficuties ; that
M. DE BOURQIIENEY has not exhibited a suffi-
ciently conciliatory manner ; but from too ri-
gorous au adhesion to his instructions had
given offence to the Russian and Austrian Diplo-
matists. Should these statements, unfortunately,
prove well founded—should greater concessions
be contemplated, and a discreditable and tempo-
rary " truce"—se shall not term it " peace"—
be patched up, we shudder to think of the results,
which will be fully as injurious to France as to
Eflgland.

We, however, hope better things from our mag-
nanimous and chivalrous Allies. We are there.

f )re disposed rather to credit the opposite version,
also in circulation, and to believe that the im-
portant step may be occasioned by a desire to
keep the English Plenipotentiary up to the mark,
and to counteract the symptoms of yielding already
displayed by Lord "JOHN RUSSELL. This view of

the case is strengthened by the hasty journey to
England of M. DROUYN DE L'FlUYS—his prolonged
conference with Lords PALMERSTON, LANSDOWNE,
and CLARENDON, and subsequent audience by her
Most Gracious MAJESTY. If the necessity had
arisen from any deficiency on the part of M. DE
BOURQUENEY, that would have been under his own
control, he could himself have supplied an ade-
quate remedy. He would have required no com-
munication with the English Government to do so.
It is therefore more than probable that the neces-
sity has arisen from the too complying disposition
of Lord J. RUSSELL, who has so frequently yielded
to pressure at home that he is quite accustomed
to the operation. Something also may be attrl-
, buted to the already ascertained duplicity of Aus-
tria, and the propriety of having the very highest
French authority, save that of the EMPEROR,
ready to pronounce on any alternative that may

The second view of the case receives additional
corroboration from the very significant report that
recently appeared in the books of the Viennese
Police—" Lord JOHN RUSSELL has walked arm
in arm on the Glacis with Prince GORTSCHAIKOFF."

Now, while repudiating the feeling which induced

,he illustrious PICKWICK to dilate with great ab-
-torrence on the cold-blooded villany with which

,Nlr. Sergeant 131:JZFUZ, the counsel for Mrs,
BARDELL, presumed to tell Sergeant SNIIBBIN,

liis own advocate, that it was a fine morning
—we cannot help thinking that such dis-
plays should have been avoided. In all such
matters :appearances should be kept up. A
very powerful effect might, and very probably
has been produced' on Austria by the announce-
ment. The probable conclusion would be that

there was some underhand or secret negotiation
going on, in which the Representatives of Eng-
land and Russia were trying to arrive at a conclu-
sion without consulting the other parties to the
Diplomatic Conference. We have no doubt that
Lord J. RUSSELL was very innocently betrayed
into the indiscretion, but still it was an indiscre-
tion, and one of a very grave character, which a
Plenipotentiary entrusted with such important
and responsible duties should carefully have
avoided—not, an we have stated, for its results so
far as he himself was concerned, but for its pro-
bable effects on Austria.

We must again, then, repeat the warnings
which we have so frequently uttered against any
undue dependence on the co-operation of that
slippery Government. As we have already
pointed out, we have only sayings, but no doings,
to rely on. It. is notorious that the German
policy—that at least of Austrianot and Prussia has
in-
terested, been strictly selfish—and now that the points in
whichA
have,ustria to a
is
s chiefly,if
certain extent, been conceded
by Russia, we can look for no further assistance
at her hands. We do not believe that Russia ever
centemplated a bona fide or lasting peace. The
navel interpretation given to the Third Point
proves this almost beyond the possibility of doubt.
It was, however, desirable to supply a plausible
excuse for Austria, and this has been afforded
by the pending Conference. Should the treachery
of Austria become apparent, the presence of the
French Minister may terminate the diplomatic
farce. To his Imperial Master the destruction or
cession of Sebastopol is even more important
than to ourselves. He should, therefore, firmly
Ldeijffieccan
tuleletveepry substitute, and press for that which
can
rboebldeeme ra.
edsahould satisfactorytbisn stolbuet i opnr
promptly
of thetly
achieved a fifth point
establishment of Poland be henceforth regarded
'nay be added, and the re-
as an indispensable condition to any
treaty nego-
tiated by the Western Powers. The hints of the
British Premier have excited hopes which 11.0
fervently trust may yet be realised, awl

xe should willingly subm"
,or which
tices. to any further sled-

A striking instance of the folly, or worse, of
which our rulers are clpable, and of signal impu,
'Nice and want of honour on the part of a Pils,