The Sun.
London, England, 1862-05-08 00:00:00

AUSTRIA'S FINANCIAL CONDITION.

Under this title M. Debrauz de Saldapenna,
diplomatic writer of some note, has published Et
pamphlet, in which he examines M. de Plener's
financial plan. M. Debrauz represents the Austrian
empire:under colours very different from those which.
are generally adopted to depict it. Instead of a
sinking monarchy, in a decrepid state, and in full
dissolution, he glowingly describes the rich valley
of the Danube, sprinkled with towns and villages,
wbere ease and comfort seem to be universal; the
river with its numerous steamers, and the fac-
tories, which increase in number as the
traveller approaches the capital. Vienna it-
self is an industrious bee-hive, where pauperism
is all but unknown. Instead of a discontented
population, all the various nations which form part
of the Empire are peacefully assembled in the capi-
tal, and seem more disposed to enjoy themselves
than to plan insurrections. The Emperor and Arch-
dukes go out at all hours, without an escort, and on
1 •

foot, in the midst of the crowdi-whyriv.ipetl4l4l44F-Takw
off their hats. If such is the physical state of the
country, its financial state is equally satisfactory,
entrusted as it is to the able hands of M. de Planer,
who, instead of endeavouring to conceal the embar-
rassments of the treasury, frankly states the maxi-
mum of the probable expenditure, and the minimum
of the expected income. The consequence was
that the accounts of 1860 resulted in a reduction
of 15 millions of florins (the florin is 2f. 40c.), on the
supposed deficit, and an increase of 10 millions in
the revenue, making together a total improvement
of 60 millions of francs. M. Debrauz does not deny
that the deficiency of 1861 amounted to 105,000,000
florins, but he remarks that the Minister was
enabled to meet it without having recourse to foreign
capital. Owing to the abnormal state of Italy and
other parts of the empire, the deficit of 1862 is esti-
mated at 109 millions of florins, which M. de planer
proposes to meet by increased taxation, and bY a
loan without interest from the National Bank inill
We w
return for the renewal of its charter.
not follow M. Debrauz through all the details of
the above plan, but conclude our notice with two
statements adduced by the author in support of his
opinions as to the flourishing state of the Austrian
Empire. One of these is that, while in 1855 the
number of passengers on the Austrian railways was
9,461,521, and the number of quintals of goods c0n-
ger5,15,711,948
veyed was 68,748,266, producing a gross income of
36,166,208 fiorine, the same items in 1859 stood as
;g00d5,112,379,367
quintals; receipts, 66,921,632 fl •
orms. The other is
a statistical table compiled by Dr. Block, one of the
followsPassen
superior functionaries of the Ministry of Public
Works of France, showing the relative condition of
income and debt in various countries. It is as fol-
lows :

Average Revenue Average Debt
States, per head. per head.
Franco 49f. 75c.
Great Britain .... 57 12
Austria.. 2l 37
Prussia 2B 60
Russia lB 14 ..
Germany 22 --
Italy..
Spain
Belgium
Low Countries.... 68 12
Greece
Whence M. Debrauz concludes that Austria is tho
country where the lowest amount of taxes is
paid.