The Sun.
London, England, 1830-05-21 00:00:00

THE FUNDS.

Consols, which left off yesterday at 93% for the account.
opened at the same price, and at present they are 935 s to %, and
for next account 93%, with little doing as yet.
In the Foreign Market Greek Bonds have receded about I%
per cent.

ENGLISH
Bank Stock, 216'17
India Stock, 2H% 2%
3 per Cent. Cons. 931,i %
1)o. for Account, 931 %
Ditto Reduced, 92% %
FOREIGN

FONDS.
per Cent. 091/2 %
4 per Cent. 102!,, %
4 per Cent. 1826, 104%
India Bonds, 82 84
Exchequer Bills, 77 '7B

Brazilian, 73% 414
Buenos Ayres, 38 39
Chilian,
Colombian, 2514 34
Danish, 74% 5
French 5 per Cent. Rd
Ditto 3 per Cent. 813( 823 a

FUNDS,
Greek, 4374 4M
Mexican, 37% 8
Pezuvian,
Portuguese, 60 61
Prussian,
Russian 110( 11
Spanish, 18% %
HALF-PAST ONE.

A proclamation of General Pacz has been received, which
says, after pledging himself to the Venezuelans to discharge his
duty with fidelity, he adds, that should the invader by misfor-
tune obtain a victory, that he shall not enjoy the fruits of his
fatal triumph without passing over his dead body, for he is re-
solved not to endure ignominy.
Letters from Messina, received this day, state that the Rus-
sian remaining force in the Mediterranean and the English squa.
dron have sailed for Algiers to observe the French expedition.
Consols have remained steady during the morning, with little
fluctuation. They have been done at 93g and 93> for the Ac-
count, at present they are 9314, and for next Account 9)%.
The only business doing is making in their accounts against
next Tuesday, which is settling day in Consols. The Express
from Paris, with the expedition on the eve of sailing, causes
some excitement in the city.
In the Foreign Market little doing.

TWO O'CLOCK.

The report of an angry correspondence between the Duke of
Wellington and Prince Coburg on the affairs of Greece has
caused the Greek Stock to recede about 2 per cent.
Consols have this moment been done at 93%%, and for next
Account 93% to 94. This rise is supposed to be caused by the
expectation that the Bulletin this day will be of a favourable de.
scription.
Comols, 931 I.

3 HREE 0' CL 0 CK.

SPIRIT DUTIES.

(From an excellent article in the last number of the Edinburgh
Review, on the propriety of making every possible reduction in
taxation—an article which we recommend to the serious at-
tention of the Chancellor of the Exchequer.)—En. SUN.

4, Thus far, there is every thing to praise, and nothing
to blame, in the Budget. We confess, however, that we
think Ministers made an improper concession either to an
ill-founded clamour, or to a powerful party, when they
consented to increase the duty on spirits. But it is
scarcely necessary, after what we stated in our last num-
ber, to enter upon this topic. In so far as respects Ire-
land and Scotland, the increase of 2d. per gallon is so very
trifling as not to be worth notice, except as an evil prece-
dent ; but the increase of Is. a gallon on the duty of spirits
consumed in England, appears to us to be a most objec-
tionable measure. It increases the temptation to smuggle
from Scotland and Ireland into England, and to illicit
distillation and adulteration in the latter. We see no good
reason for supposing that it will have any beneficial effect
whatever. As a means of decreasing drunkenness, it will
be found to be quite impotent. The repeal of the beer
duty is, in this respect, worth ten thousand Acts to in-
crease the price or prohibit the use of gin. And we
are sorry that Mr. Goulburn should have adulterated his
great measure with this base alloy.
" Supposing, however, that the measure were in other
respects expedient, it is altogether objectionable from its
giving an unjust preference to rout over British spirits. In
1825, the duty was fixed, en the former at Ss. 6d., and on
the latter at 7s. a gallon. Here it must he borne in mind
that the corn-distiller has to use barley, the price of which
is artificially increased at least 2s. a bushel, by duties and
restrictions on its importation ; that he has to pay a far-
ther duty of 2s. 7d. on every bushel of malt made out of
such barley ; and that he is subjected to a severe code of
revenue regulations, and to innumerable penalties,--many
of these inflicted for unintentional breaches of the law.
The situation of the West India distiller of rum is quite the
reverse of this. He buys his sugar and molasses in the
cheapest markets, and is allowed to distil them as he
pleases, without any sort of reference, or being subject to
any fiscal regulations, duties, or penalties whatever. To
impose the same duty upon spirits produced under such
different circumstances, would be a glaring injustice. In
estimating the duty to be laid on a finished article, those
laid on the materials of which it is made must always be
taken into account and allowed for; and if this be done,
it will certainly be found that British spirits in England
are at this moment as heavily taxed as rum. On this
ground, therefore, were there no other, this part of Mr.
Goulburn's project must be abandoned."

EXECUTIONS FOR FORGERY.—By a Return
presented to the House of Commons it appears that the
number of pet sons who have been executed for forgery,
or uttering forged instruments, during each of the last
ten years, is as follows :

1820 9I 201 1822 6 I 1814 1826 1 I 1828 4
182' l6 I 1823. 2 1825 1 1827...... 4 I 1829 7
ALMACK's.-The ball on Wednesday night
was more numerously attended than any former one of the
present reason, which may be attributed to the improved
state of his MAJESTY'S health. Between five and six
hundred of the principal Nobility and distinguished per-
sons were present. Dancing commenced shortly after
eleven o'clock, and was kept up with much spirit till 41f-
Fag four iu Iltmortung.