The Sun.
London, England, 1853-07-26 00:00:00

OYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE, OXFORD-STREET.
' Under the Management of Mr. Charles Van.
THIS EVENING, JULY 26,

Will be performed THE DAY AFTER THE WEDDING. Sup-
ported by Mr. and Mrs. W. Lacy.
After which, Lord Byron's Tragedy of SARDANAPALITS
Principal characters by Mr. and Mrs. C. Kean.
To be followed by CHESTERFIELD THINSKIN.
by Messrs. Harley, Meadows, Addison, and Miss Vivash.

Characters

THEATRE ROYAL ADELPHI.
Proprietor, Mr. B. Webster..--DieeCteoBS, 318441391 e Celeste.
THIS EVENING, JULY 26,
Will be performed GENE TIEVE. Characters by Messrs. Ben.
Webster, A. Wigan, Leigh Murray, Keeley, Parselle, Paul Bedford,
Cullenford, Woolgar, 0. Smith, and C. J. Smith; Madame Celeste
and' Mrs. Keeley.
After which, will be presented SARDANAPALUP.
To be followed by THE CAMP AT CHOBHAM.
To conclude with JOHN JONES.

ROYAL OLYMPIC THEATRE.

Lessee and Manager, Mr. Farren.
Great success of the New Drama.

THIS EVENING, JULY 26,

Will be performed the New Drama entitled THE TIMES. Charac-
ters by Messrs. Farren, T. Mead, H. Marston, William Farren,
G. Cooke, and ShaLlers ; Mesdames Anderton, 11. Gordon, E. Tur-
ner, and Bartlett.

Aster which, an entirely New Burlesque, by Francis Talfourd,
Esq., entitled SIIYLOCK, or, THE MERCHANT OF " VENICE
PRESERVED." Shylock, Mr. F. Robson.

---
To conclude with TUE WANDERING MINSTREL. Jem Bags,
Mr. F. Robson.

ASTLEY'S ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE.

Now tinder the Direction and Management of Mr. W. Cooke.
The tide of success has fairly set in to this favourite Establishment.
No greater test can be given than the crowded state of the Theatre
nightly to witness the ever-memorable Battle of Waterloo, with
its marches, encounters, and brilliant tableaux.

------ -----
New and splendid Scenes in the CIRCLE, by Artistes of known
talent—introducing a new engagement, MAROMET BEN SAID,
the Arabian Groterque, from the Cirque Royal, St. Petersbargh, by
permission of the Emperor.
61st NIGHT OF LIFE ON THE TURF, with a real Fox Chase.
N.B.—Miss Emily Cooke is re-engaged, and will appear at this
Theatre at the conclusion of her Continental professional trip.

THIS EVENING, JULY 26,

And during the week, the Performances will commence with
THE BATTLE OF WATERLOO, with all its original military,
affects.

To be followed by Mr. W. Cooke's Scenes in the CIRCLE, intro-
ducing talent unprecedented, among whom will be found the great
Arabian Wonder, Mahomet Ben Said.

To conclude with the successful Hippo Drama of THE CHASE ;
or, LIFE ON THE TURF, in which a real Fox Chase will take
place.

Doors open at Half-past Six. Box-office open daily from Eleven
to roar. Stage Manager, Mr. W. West.

ROYAL SURRDY ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS.
THIS EVENING, JuLT 26,

PANORAMIC VIEW of CHUSAN, Splendid and Interesting
M ENAGERIE.
tionrarr's-unrivalled MILITARY BAND. Vocal and Instrumental
Concert. Various amusing novelties, concluding with the extraor-
dinary spectacle of THE FEAST OF LANTERNS, and a grand
display of FIREWORKS, and EXPLOSION of CHINESE FIRE
RAFTS, Admission Is.

HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRLDGE.
Turt DAY —Morning 48 min. after 51 Evening 9 min.aft. 6
To-Momow—Morning 30 min. after 6 I Evening 51 min.aft. 6

THE WEATHER.—SuN OFFICE, JULY 2G.
THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE-
73—highest since noon yesterday.
58—lowest this morning and during the night.
69—this day at noon.

BAROMETER, 29.92.
WIND, S.W.--Light breeze, and fine weather.

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LONDON, TUESDAY, JULY 26, 1853.

Our anticipations with respect to the course about
to be adopted by the House of Lords on the Succes-
sion Duty Bill have been already fully and com-
pletely verified. The measure passed through
Committee without mutilation or alteration of any
kind ; and it may now be considered as having
received the Legislative sanction. It has indeed
weathered the storm—the shoals and quicksands
that obstructed its progress have been safely
avoided, and the vessel, if it has not as yet cast
anchor, has at least arrived within sight of its
destined port. We heartily congratulate Parlia-
ment and the country on this auspicious result ;
but more especially do we congratulate the Noble
Lords to whose temperate and judicious conduct it
may be attributed. It would, indeed, have been
productive of the most serious consequences if,
through any hasty or ill-considered decision, there
had been a collision with the other House of Par-
liament—and that on a question on which the
dissentients (whether justly or otherwise it is un-
necessary now to speculate) might be sup-
posed to have been influenced by personal
feelings and a selfish desire to escape their
fair proportion of the public burdens. We
say whether justly or otherwise, because grave
suspicion on such a point would be almost as in-
jurious as the reality ; and, if under present cir-
cumstances, the Bill had been practically rejected,
it would have been impossible to have vindicated
the motives by which a large proportion of its
opponents had been actuated is their proceedings.
The impending danger has, however, been averted.
The formidable evil has been crushed in the bud,
and that which has been described as " the cor-
ner-stone and foundation of the financial system
of the year," has been triumphantly carried through
the House in its integrity, without being in any
degree impaired, or without even a single verbal
alteration.

There was, however, a very unequivocal trial
of strength. A contest which, although "short,"
was also "sharp and decisive." No less than one
hundred and seventy Peers attended in their
places, while eighty-two more paired off, so that
practically, two hundred and fifty-two lent their
assistance in the struggle ; the majority on the
side of Ministers being thirty-four. One divi-
sion only was taken, but that was so con-
clusive, that, although sundry objections
were made to other points, no amendment was
pressed, and all the clauses were eventually car-
ried through Committee.

The proposition, on which the trial of strength
took place would, if carried, have been fatal to
one of the most important principles of the Bill,
and, as a matter of course, to the entire measure.
It would have exempted the existing settlements
from the operation of the Act, and thus have
deferred, for some 30 or 40 years, the equalisation
of the burden which has been so urgently and so
justly demanded. The Noble Lord undoubtedly
showed that the working of the law might, in
certain cases, be attended with great hardship to
individuals ; but similar hardships have been sus-
tained for a series of years under the Probate
and Legacy Duties, and yet no effort was made
to relieve the sufferers, or to act equitably towards
the middle classes, who were the aggrieved
parties under the system heretofore in operation.
Now, however, that it comes home to themselves
—that it touches their cwn pockets—it can be
appreciated, and we trust that the appreciation
will speedily be followed by an efficient remedy.
Into what, after all
solve itself ? Sim , does the complaint re-
ply this. Not only was one
description of property-----real estate—completely
exonerated from any
f
charge in any shape, either or Probate or Legacy Duty—
but the Legislators
who sanctioned this partial
enactment were, at
the time when it passed through •
Parliament, ne-
cessarily Landowners. They freed themselves
from the charge, although every consideration of
justice and equity should have induced them to
place the burden equally on all, without favour or
affection of any kind. They had not
even the
decency to make any attempt at concealment, to
disp,uise the palpable favouritism by even the
most flimsy eil.
Had every description of
v
anded property been exempted there might have
araument put forward on
been some plausible ,
the other charges to which it was exclusively
liable, and to which personalty, properly so
called, did notl in any degree contribute.
But the " bold Barons" and Honourable Gentle-
men of these good old times did not deem it
essential to make any excuse or apology for their
aet. Thel-, therefore, cut the ground away
from the argument—a, weak one at the best—by
placing the charge on what are technically termed
"chattels real," and the inheritor of every lease-
hold was compelled to pay the double impost.
• Probates and L gacies, as well as eina liable for
- the local taxes—the 0
payment whereof was male
the chief pretext for the exemption of freehold
estates—and the devisee of Such leasehold pro-
perty was compelled to sell or mortgage his
acquisition for the purpose of • •
demands of the tax-gatherer. providing for the
But this was not by any meansthe worst
portion of the regulation ; nor, indeed, Was

1
the part of the evil which the amendment of last
night attempted to retain for a prolonged term.
Not only was one description of property totally
exonerated, but a loophole was afforded through
which parties desirous of defrauding the
Exchequer might creep and evade the operation
of the law at a comparatively trifling expense.
Settled personalty was also exempted, and the in-
genuity of lawyers was taxed to the uttermost to
drive " coaches and six" through the provisions
of the statute. The success that attended these
efforts may be judged from the simple fact that,
notwithstanding the enormous increase of personal
property, the Legacy Duties have not only not in-
creased in a similar ratio, but they have remained
stationary during the enhanced prosperity of the
nation. This proves beyond the possibility of
doubt the serious extent of the evil, when
so many persons could contrive to cheat
the revenue and to avoid their fair con-
tributions to the national exigencies. Lord
DERBY'S complaint is that those attempts will no
longer be successful—that the evasion will no
longer be practicable. Smugglers might as well
remonstrate because their plans have been de-
tected, and the wines or brandies which they had
so long provided duty free to their customers
should at length be compelled to satisfy the claims
of the Custom-house: Yes, there is a grievance
connected with the bill, but it is not that alluded
to by the ex-Premier—it is that it only renders
half justice, that it permits the Probate Duties
still to be evaded, and does not, as it professes,
equalise the burden on settled and unsettled
property,

It was with something like incredulity that we
perused, some months back, the intelligence of
China being involved in the toils of Revolution.
It seemed preposterous. Generally speaking, we
believe that the majority of persons in Europe
would have experienced scarcely more amazement
had they received information that San Marino
had suddenly resolved itself into a despotism, or
that 031 IR PACHA had been summarily elected
Vladika of Montenegro. Yet, inconceivable
though the first rumour of the Chinese rebellion
appeared, every fresh dispatch relating to it
brought us only additional, and at last wholly in-
controvertible, facts of a confirmatory or corrobo-
rative character. There was no mistake at all
about it : JOHN CHINAIVAN had indisputably, un-
conscionably, incontinently, gone mad—that is to
say, of course, in a political acceptation. It must
be remembered that the disturbance we are here
speaking of is no mere emeute of a fleeting or
superficial kind, a momentary outbreak a la
Chinoise. It proves on inquiry to be a gigantic
rising of that ancient race against the Tartar
dynasty, whose annals reveal an existence of
scarcely two hundred years' duration. A rising,
however, not in vindication of the old Ming
dynasty, but—wonderful to relate—in the glori-
ous name and under the shadow of the benignant
principles of Christianity.
Everybody can realise the idea of " everlasting
smash," conveyed by the proverbial phrase of
A Bull in a China-shop ! But fancy the China-
man himself and all his dependents suddenly
demented in the very heart of the region of
crockery—" gane daft" in their own warehouse—
crazed by the bite of a political tarantula ! Ima-
gine the consequent destruction—the din of the
breakage—the "confusion worse confounded !"
Why, compared with this, A Bull in a China-shop
would be mere child's play, a butterfly in a bed
of roses and hearts'-ease. And it has been pre-
cisely thus with our good friends the worshippers
of the Trimarti and the disciples of Confucius.
In 1841 we English gave the world a pretty good
notion of a Bull in a China-shop. Since then,
but particularly during this year of grace
1853, our some time foes of the Celestial
Empire have afforded us a tolerably fair
illustration of Chinamen gone distracted in their
own warehouse. The result has been proportion-
ately disastrous. The whole of the southern half
of the Empire has been already conquered by the
insurgents. The standard of rebellion has flut-
tered in triumph before the walls both of
Nankin and Chin-kiang-foo. Everywhere, as
yet, the troops and generals of the EmPEnon
have been defeated, and defeated, too, igno-
miniously. Nay, it may even be said, with-
out exaggeration, that the advance line of the
revolutionary army has drawn a no less distinct
barrier between the upper and the lower moieties
of China, than had been defined by nature through
the channel of the Yang-tsze-kiang. Such, in-
deed, had been the progress made by the so-called
rebels two or three months ago, that the Brother
of the Sun, the Cousin of the Moon, and the
Nephew of the Stars and Comets, in other words,
the reigning Sovereign of China, the Emperor
TrErr-mr, had humbled his celestial dignity, so far
as to call loudly for the aid of the British bar-
barians.

At such an emergency it is surely both allow-
able and reasonable to reflect, for an instant, how
far these passing occurrences might be turned to
advantage by our Government. We are all suffi-
ciently acquainted with the exclusiveness of the
Chinese as a nation—living within the limits of
their own dominions, allo wing no intercourse
between their own and any foreign population,
continuing for centuries secluded from the rest of
the human family, and impervious to the beauti-
ful and beneficent influences of civilisation. It
is notorious, in fact, that this insulation of them-
selves from the rest of mankind continued,
until little more than a dozen years ago, to be
secured by penalties of death against over-curious
foreigners as with the Japanese, those congenial
islanders of the Eastern Archipelago. Scarcely
any appreciable improvement in this respect,
moreover, has been effected by the long-vaunted
treaty of Nankin—China having been virtually
closed up from the scrutiny of other countries as
effectually, to all intents and purposes, since the
peace of 1842 as it had been prior to that result
of war and diplomacy. It is true that no less
than five different ports on its extended seaboard
were rendered accessible to our commerce by that
memorable arrangement ; but beyond that our
guns and our statesmanship have alike proved in-
effiacious ; they have alike failed to obtain
for us any facility towards penetrating the
crust of prejudice in which the genius of the
Chinese people is still imbedded. They continue
still an enigma, a riddle, a mystery. It seems
almost as hopeless even now to dream of making
ourselves square with them among the nation-
alities within our own hemisphere, as to count
upon the quadrature of the circle as within the
limits of possibility. They remain at this moment
influenced in our regard with a barely definable
repugnance. They are jealous of our interference
almost beyond the reach of accurate delineation.
They recoil before the horrible notion of a closer
intimacy with Western barbarism—in a sublime
ignorance (an ignorance that would be irresistibly
ludicrous, were it not in some sort pathetic in
like manner) of the marvellous fruits of this
same savage Western cultivation of inductive
philosophy—the steam-engine and the spinning-
jenny, the railroad and the electric telegraph.
Precisely when, from the remembrance of our
past ten or eleven years' experience, we might
not unreasonably feel disposed to despair of ever
effectually breaking this life in death, this sleep
in waking of the Chinese—a novel and inesti-
mable for so doing is all at once pre-
sented to our rulers in the entreaties made for
assistance on
behalf of the Emperor TIEN-TIII, dis-
mayed
the young monarch i; and almost
paralysed before the steady and apparently irre-
sistible advance of
Clhinese eiste
b11ev:3ool the riountic army of the-
ly nsts'
borne recollection that the in-
habitants of that vast and populous empire num-
ber in the aggregate about one-third of the whole
human family, it will be manifest, of course,
on the instant, that the right conduct of
affairs at the present crisis is of the first,
or, as the phrase goes, of the last import-
ance. 4. heavy responsibility, therefore, we
cannot but think devolves underoftbrheeseßprietcaunlinaier
circumstances upon the Councils
interference
Majesty's Government. Direct
the civil war now raging in China, l% , e should in
be
the foremost to reprobate as in the uttermost
satisfied reprehensible. Nevertheless we feel

at the same moment that incalculable benefits
might be secured simultaneously to the Chinese
and to ourselves in the event of a right use being
made of the power for good or evil now within
the grasp of our Administration. Availing our-
selves of the confusion caused throughout the
Celestial Empire by these internecine struggles
between the upholders of the Tartar dynasty,
and the revolutionary champions of a species
of mongrel Buddhist-Christianity, England• might
discover means for opening up a new and enormous
field to her own commercial enterprise, while
awakening that hitherto dormant among the
Chinese, bestowing upon the latter, in the very
act of bringing about this mutual intercourse, the
benign and incalculable blessings of modern civil-
isation. Cannot these priceless boons be secured
by the adroit interposition of our statecraft ? It
is a problem deserving the most extended and deli-
berate consideration. It would add a nobler con-
quest than that of Scinde or of A ffganhistan to the
history of the golden days of Queen VICTORIA—
whiIe, if effected with his connivance, or, still
more, through the instrumentality of his active
and personal co-operation, it would justify the
Emperor TIEN-TIH in applying to his reign the
title of Tae-ping, that of "universal peace" or of
"subjugation"—giving the title, of course, a dif-
ferent meaning than that which was, no doubt,
originally intended the " subjugation " of
ancient prejudices and the " universal peace" of a
conquered revolution.