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LONDON, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1852

The debate on the Budget has again been ad-
journed. It is impossible to deny the propriety
of such a course, when, at the termination of the
evening's discussion, some doubt appeared to have
been entertained as to the real question before the
House- a doubt which to this moment has not
been altogether removed. The desire of Ministers,
and the general intention of all parties, has, un-
questionably, been to deliberate on the principle
of the entire financial scheme, without being in
any degree committed to the details. The re-
solution on which the decision of the House
is to be taken, however, applies to only
- one portion, and that by far the most ob-
jectionable of the whole project—the intended al-
teration in the House-tax. It is,. however, worded
so vaguely and uncertainly, that it requires ad-
ditional explanations as to its objects. The
strongest opponent of the Rouse-tax might freely
vote in favour of a proposition which would com-
mit, or bind him to nothing—which is just as
consistent with the reduction as with the increase
of the impost,—which merely determines that the
House Duties payable under the 14th and 15th
Victoria, c. 36, wall cease, and determine that,
in lieu thereof, there shall be granted and made
payable upon all such dwelling houses " certain
other duties."
These substituted duties might as well be 3d.
and 2d. in the pound, or an uniform rate of ld.,
as ls. 6d., and is. Nor is there anything to show
that the exemptions 'are to be diminished, or in
any degree varied. It merely authorises a deal-
ing with the tax. What, then, is really meant
by the resolution ? We are obliged to accept the
issue tendered by the CHANCELLOR, and that has
been variously stated. In the first instance, in
answer to the Hon. and Gallant Member for
Westminster, he declared that all he asked was,
that the House would allow the Government
"to bring forward measures of financial
reform (not merely with reference to the particu-
lar plans proposed), which depend upon the coun-
try being agreed to bear a certain quantity of di-
rect taxation." The Right Hon. Gentleman
added--" Ido not ask any gentleman to be in
the least pledged, by the vote he may come to to-
night, to any details of this resolution. I only
ask you to agree to this—that the area of direct
taxation should be extended."
If this were the only point in dispute, it would
be carried by acclamation, at least by an over-
whelming majority. Every fiscal reformer is
pledges on the subject, which has been strenuously
advocated for many years, and the opposition to '
which by Sir
of the CHARLES WOOD led to the overthrow
`Whig Government. We cannot, indeed,
conceive iiov. any person rson who voted in favour
either of Air. -vi ,
Luz Ats s resolution, or Lord PAL-
toMTON's amendment, could refuse his sanction
a propositio, essential to the further extension
of the wise and Judi
unrestricted
policy which, whether
it be denominated
competition," or
by its " Saxon" appellati "Free Trade," has
certainly obtained the sanctionveof
theco and
.adhesion of
Walla
the great majority
within as without the unity, as well
Westminster. of the Palace at
But another question then arises as tothe
rti
Jar form of direct taxation towbich this r Paesoluti cu-
,is on is
applicable. We are exceedingly desirous
equitable and ICIOIIB system of
-ua- of the
substitution of an
direct taxation for many of the indirect imposts
that now fetter the industry and materially de.,
teriorate the prosperity of the country ; but we
are strongly opposed to anythingthat will press
unequally on different descriptions of property.
The House-tax appears to be unjust in principle,
and unfair in practice. If it were simply a tax
on occupiers, it might possibly be defended ; but
it practically falls upon the proprietors, not per-
haps of the ground-rents, but of the houses erected
thereon, which are, generally speaking, held for
limited terms by those who have invested
their capital in creating additional house accom-
modation for the middle classes. It is notorious
that persons about to select a dwelling, inquire,
not merely the amount of rent, but also of rates,
taxes, and other outgoings incident to the occu-

A grievance of considerable magnitude, as
affecting the civil servants of the Crown, was re-
cently pointed out in these columns ; and on its
more careful consideration we feel ourselves called
upon, as among the independent organs of public
opinion, to force the matter with increased ear-
nestness upon the attention of Her MAJESTY'S
Government. We feel that an enormous injury
is being hourly inflicted upon a large and deserv-
ing class of the population, and that the removal
of that injury is very readily within reach of the
Administration. The nature of the evil com-
plained of, we have in these columns already clearly
enough indicated. We have shown that a need-
less reduction of the restricted salaries of the
clerks and other officials in our Government esta-
blishments, has—ever since the 27th section of
the enactment 4 and 5, WILL. IV., cap. 24, came
into operation—painfully crippled the means of
those civilians, and this merely to swell :the
amount of a fund nominally applied to purposes
of relief in the way of systematic superannuation.
It must be remembered that the number of the
servants of the Crown claiming release from the
pressure of this intolerable and bootless burthen,
reaches an aggregate of no less than 16,353 indi-
viduals. Upon their exertions are dependent up-
wards of 70,000 altogether—those 70,000 includ-
ing, of course, aged parents, women and children.
According to a comprehensive estimate formed as
to the average of the salaries and emoluments
upon which the above-mentioned 16,353 civi-
lians have to provide for the support of
their 70,000 dependent relatives—while with
two-thirds it does not exceed 861. per annum,
with regard to the whole body of officials collec-
tively it does not exceed 1411. per annum__
surely no such very exorbitant expenditure as to
require the interpOsition of the economic pruning-
knife by way of retrenchment. Recollect what
was said only the other evening by the CHANCELLOR
of the EXCHEQUER. Recollect the eulogistic men-
tion made by the Right Hon. Gentleman in re-
ference to the unflagging energy and 'indefatigable
application of those Civil Servants of the Crown,
without whose aid the toils of the Statesman would
be ineffectual in carrying on the labours of Go-
vernment. The tribute was one eminently well
deserved. It came gracefully, too, from the lips
of one who must have experienced some solace in
his severe and laborious researches, from the as-
sistance cheerfully accorded, under every emer-
gency, to the rulers of the British Empire by these
obscure but important, and sometimes, and that
not unfrequently, highly-gifted movers of the
grand and complicated machinery of administra-
tion. We listened to no portion of the Financial
Statement of Mr. DisnAnu with more interest
than to the sentences in which he pronounced this
merited panegyric on the Civil Servants in the
offices of the Government. And our interest in
the eulogium was not the less earnest from our re-
collection of the very bitter injustice of which
those same hard-working .and inestimable, but
abused and neglected, officials have been recently,
with so much reason, complaining to the Members
of the Imperial Legislature.
It ought particularly to be borne in mind that
the Civil Servants of the Crown are asking for no
boon or bounty—they are merely demanding their
own—they are merely beseeching the Parliament
and the Government that the money they earn by
their laborious and valuable services may not be
diminished yet further, with a view to swell this
useless, and worse than useless, fund of superannua-
tion. In brief, they are seeking justice and not
benevolence. Let it be considered, in proof of
this, that their salaries are decreased by a deduc-
tion, made under section 27 of Act 4 and 5
WILL. IV., cap. 24, of 21. 10s. per cent. from
salaries not exceeding 1001. per annum, and of
51. per cent. from salaries exceeding 1001. per
annum, and that these deductions are made for
the purpose of " reducing, prospectively,
the charge incurred in providing super-
annuation allowances." Supposing, for an instant,
that the amount thus annually collected by means
of these provident deductions from the salaries of
civilians in the offices of the Government--proved
effectually in securing the benefit k in view by
the enactment already particularised,ept there could
scarcely,weadrait b
either the fact or na'anenaellry causeofcomplainttheseforergulati
ons against
-
sion would only be thereby assured in anticipation of
any casualties to the Civil Servants of the Crown,
by the interposition of the Crown itself in their
behalf. But such as we
have explaieed with all
necessary minuteness
upon a previous occasion
very far indeed from being
the case. The result
f that unfortunate Act, 4 and 5 WILL. IV., cap.
4, has been directly the reverse of what, We pro.

ROBBERY. BY A CLERK.—Yesterday, at the Mary-
;bone Folic:: Court, John Hoskins, clerk to Messrs. Chap-
in and Hone, the well-known carriers, who have extensive
premises at the Camden station of the London and North-
-IVestern Railway, was placed at the bar, before Mr.
Broughton, for re-examination, charged with having car-
ried on a system of plunder to a considerable extent.
Five charges of robbery were clearly substantiated against
the prisoner, who thereupon was fully committed for trial
at the Middlesex sessions.
SUDDEN DEATH OF A GIANT DRATMAN.—Yesterday,
Mr. Wakley held an inquest at the Crown, Old Saint Pan-
cras-road, touching the death of John Sheppard Hardy, a
drayman, late in the employ of Messrs. Truman, Hanbury,
and Co., the well-known brewers, of Brick-lane. The de-
ceased was a remarkably fine man, standing six feet seven
inches, and weighing 17 stone. The evidence of Mr.
Smellie, the surgeon, who performed the autopsy,
went toprove that deceased died ofapoplexy, brought on by
effusion of blood on the brain. The liver was of an un-
usual size ; the heart perfectly bloodless. The jury re-
turned a verdict in accordance with the medical evidence.
ACCIDENT AT JULLIEN'S BAL MASQUE.--Yesterday
morning, towards one o'clock, when the excitement of
Jullien's masked ball was at its height, considerable alarm
was caused by the falling of what was supposed to be the
body of a lady from the upper tier of boxes into the pit.
It was soon aiscovered that a hoax had been played, and
that the Supposed lady was only a " dummy," but of such
a weight as to cause considerable injury to a gentleman
upon whom it fell, and to render him insensible for some
time. Medical aid was obtained, and he was removed in a
cab to his residence. The perpetrator of this silly and
mischievous joke escaped undetected.
FALSE IMPRISONMENT.—In the Queen's Bench yes-
terday, the case of Isaacs v. Cook was tried. The action
was brought for false imprisonment under these circum-
stances :—On the 27th of July the defendant had an annual
sale of goods, and the plaintiff purchased several lots at
the sale, among which were two oil-stones, or hones, for
setting razors on. He paid for them, and removed them
on the morning of the 28th of July. When he got them
home he exhibited them outside his door for sale. They
continued there about a fortnight. He had written upon
them, "Mr. Cook, Old-street." He did so because he
did not keep any books. On the 13th of August the
defendant stopped at the plaintiff's shop about eleven
o'clock in the day. The plaintiff asked him what
he was looking at. Cook replied ho had reason to
thtshimplliha
Ipremises
reeewemkm:ew.ihowever,
minutes:asaeunrs
ts Theplaintiff went into his shop, and in a few
aatiauny ,taken
thatrelit policemansaose;tatiehhhaytcc.o.(
rssio,etntaihaht came,npsemambrdn,
oaepecfhthoesstelarthennei andrisceagiissgst
rtthht;3( tlei
dot
o.d ohrnneCoabhuodttaeahonhetriendge:
empess tet:snhmt
oallhaet eibncol
tceoedhidn
aumnofitogt
aeihorfhglnre.
Smithfield, and
plain-
tiff letoktaa
iaoipcdi
takinw
g
to Guildhall, where ho was discharged, the alderman
directing the policeman to give the stones to the rightful
owner, Mr. Isaacs. Since that time a person with whom
Isaacs had previously had large dealings had refused to deal
with him. He had the name "Diggins " over the door,
which was a nickname his father and grandfather had gone
by. The defendant had put a plea on the record that the
plaintiff had stolen the articles. The jury found a verdict
for the plaintiff; damages 301.
LYCEUM THEATRE.—A comic drama from the French
was successfully produced here on Monday night, entitled
A Phenomenon in a Smock. _Frock ; Mr. Charles Mathews
as John Buttercup, the plain-spoken milkman, presented
an amusing bit of personation, his rustic gait and provin-
cial dialect being perfect. The cynical and acrimonious
Sowerberry met with a genial representative in Mr. Frank
Matthews, who fulminated his tirades against the truth-
lessness of society with a good savage relish, quite in
keeping with the bitter irritability of the monomaniac. The
applause at the close was universal. Both the above.
named performers were -cordially called for, and greeted ;
and on the author being called for, the lessee declared the
Ipiece to be by Mr. W. Brough.
ADELAIDE STEAMER.—The departure of the Adelaide
Australian steamer, which was to have taken place to-day
from Plymouth, has been delayed by order of the Admi.
ralty until Thursday the 16th, for the purpose, it is pre.
sinned, of enabling dispatches to be sent to the Cape in
reply to those just received. Letters will be in time if
forwarded by the London evening mail of Wednesday.
M ICLBOURNE STEAMER.—The intelligence received by
the Cape mail regarding the Melbourne Australian steamer
ta satisfactory. She left the Tagus on the 21st November,
and arrived, it appears, at St. Vincent on the 29th. The
sailing distance between the two places is 1,597 miles, and
her average speed, therefore, was 200 miles a day. It is
stated also that the passengers had expressed satisfaction
at the altered state of affairs, and likewise that the crew
had behaved well. Sufficient coal would be taken in at St.
Vincent for the run to the Cape.
SINKING OF A RAILWAY ARCH IN THE WESTMINSTER
ROAD.—It has been discovered that the arch of the South
Western Railway, spanning the Westminster-road near the
Marsh-gate, has sunk, owing to the continued and unusual
rain which has fallen for these last ten or twelve weeks.
Men were employed yesterday afternoon in placing strong
girders under the immense arches on each side, to prevent
any serious accident from occurring while the repairs are
being carried out.
MEETING OF JAMAICA PROPRIETORS. —A meeting of
proprietors and merchants connected with the island of
Jamaica, was held yesterday afternoon at Willis's Rooms,
St. James's, for the purpose of resolving what steps should
be taken with respect to that portion of the Chancellor of
the . Exchequer's statement bearing reference to this once
flourishing colony. A memorial to the Earl of Derby on
the subject of the present distress was agreed to, praying
for relief.

BETHLEHEM HOSPlTAL.—Yesterday, Alderman Fare-
brother announced, in the Court of Aldermen, that at the
next court of the governors of the Bethlehem Hospital,
ho should move the following resolution :—" That the
court do appoint a day to discuss the accusation made
against the management of the poor insane persons in
Bethlehem Hospital, and to invite the Lunacy Commis-
sioners to attend, that all the medical officers be required
to be present, and that upon that occasion the reporters of
the press be_invited to be present." _