The Sun.
London, England, 1862-11-03 00:00:00

true ; but, to those who are familiar with the pauperised
unions of the cast and south of Englan \d it appears no very
alarming pressure, for a period of deep and undoubted dis-
tress.
As we have already intimated, the get terally healthy con-
dition of the multiform industries of Eng land, when we quit
Lancashire, should cheer us in our efforts for her relief.
Her distress is: augmenting as the win ter approaches, yet
there are many reasons why we should not be cast down.
Bad as the " cotton famine," with its doubtful duration
may be, it must be admitted that we have often had
seasons when its results would have be en more disas-
trous than we can fairly anticipate for the pre-
sent. England's trade, injured by the American civil
war, if her losses be not balanced in other regions,
are at least greatly mitigated by new gain. s. England's
har Fest for weeks in jeopardy, or in doubt, wlls not below
an average crop. Wheat, at 50s. a quarter, or legs; potatoes
cheap ; and fuel under the usual winter prices. Money
abundant, \with bank discounts at a comparatively low rate,
,
and commerclictl cfedit unshaken, are all very substantial
reasona why we
.should regard the Lancashire distress and
the a roachin with some anxiety it may be, yet
~md steadfast faith of safe pp g el',
not without lively hope
deliver-
ance.—Manchester Gua,,dt,ln•

O
THE REDUCTIONF THE PUBLIC
ExpENvi:iURE.

lira.vket Review.)
(Front the Money
It is stated in well-informed circi'es that Government, in
deference to public opinion, will introAuCe considerably re-
duced estimates of the public expenditure the next session
of Parliament. The nation, rich and pov er.Fl2l as it is, can
ill bear the weight of its present taxation ; a,,nd when we
consider, in addition, the large aggregate ca 11 which must
be made on the resources of the community, iv order to
relieve the present destitution in the cotton distri.4B, it be-
comes still more clearly the duty of Government to Pause
in
the enormous expenditure carried on during the last', three
years. Retrenchment can now certainly be effected without
detriment to the public service. Our navy has been re-
modelled, our artillery recast ; Brown Bess has given place
to the Minie ; and we have now a stock of Armstrong guns,
rifled cannon, and small arms, sufficient for any emergency
that may arise. As, therefore, we have amply stocked our
arsenals, the mere cessation of expenditure under these
heads would be attended with a great reduction in the
estimates. Let us consider what our army and navy for
the last four years have cost us :

ARMY. NAVY.
1858-59 .... £12,512,290 1858-59.... £9,225,487
1859-60 .... 14,057,186 1859 60.... 11,823,859
1860.61 .... 14,970,100 1860-61.... 13,331,668
1861-62 .... 15,570,868 1861-62.... 12,598,042

£57,100,344 I X 46,969,056
Making a total expenditure for both services of so less a.
sum during four years than £104,069,400.
Our total expenditure has been as follows'--
1858-59 £64,799,420
1859-60 • . 69,619,266
1860-61 .. .. 72,964,536
1861-62 .. • • .. 72,223,627
We have brought forward these figures in order to ahoy
that, were our expenditure cut down to the amount that
was sufficient in 1859, there would be a saving of upwards
of £7,000,000 per annum from last year. The proposed re-
duction may not be carried to this extent, but we believe it
will be considerable, unless ministers repent of their present,
good intentions. It is believed, also, that if England would
but take the initiative, France would follow her example;
and if so, there would be a good prospect of a general dis-
armament throughout Europe. And, we may add, not be-
fore it is needed, nor before the germs of discontent have
begun to manifest themselves in various countries. Unless
the Governments of Europe become wiser in time, arma-
ments raised under the plea of discouraging ideas of foreign
invasion may yet be required to repress popular discontent
at home. The civil war in America has demonstrated that
the only result to be gained by keeping up an enormous
force of armed men is to add to the public debt without
adding to the real force of a nation, inasmuch as the in-
creased force on one side is invariably neutralised by an
increase on the other. It is now almost certain that if
England will reduce her forces, Europe generally will fol-
low her example. Public opinion is everywhere making
itself heard, for popular instinct knows well that a reduction
of armies and armaments will naturally be followed by a
diminution in the now almost intolerable burdens of the
people. The stimulus which a movement in this direction
would give to confidence, and to commercial and financial
enterprise, needs no demonstration.