The Sun.
London, England, 1853-01-06 00:00:00

any circumstances, be regarded as a legitimate

portion of the public income.

If any further

proof were required of the beneficial results of
the commercial and financial legislation of the

Last ten years, it would be found in these columns

of figures.

As Alderman BECIEFORD once re-

marked, " Them 'ere facts are stubborn things."
And even the most obtuse of the impracticable
53 could scarcely argue against the validity of the

proofs contained in these important accounts.
On the general account we find that the total
amount paid into the Exchequer during the year
1852, exclusive of the stoppages in transitu for

perpetual pensions, annual stipends, &c., &c.,

amounted to no less than 50,468,1931., against
49,489,267/. received in 1851, the year of
the Great Exhibition. - So that notwith-

standing the extraordinary consumption occa-
sioned by that unprecedented concourse of
nations, there was an increase on the

year of 978,926/.

As that disturbing element

did not enter into the calculations between the

quarters ending ending sth January, 1852 and
1853, we find that th'e increase on the latter
amounts to '702,776/. An extraordinary and ex-
ceedingly gratifying result. A portion of this
improvement is attributable to the extraordinary
sources of revenue,—the repayments of advances
having, in consequence of the general prosperity,
been made with much greater punctuality than
in the preceding year. These extraordinary items
account for 219,007/. of the improvement on the
year, and 145,0171. on the quarter ; sufficient,
however, remains, more particularly when coupled
with the reductions of the Sugar Duties that have
come into operation within the year, to prove
the very satisfactory state of our finances, the im-
provement on the year (from ordinary sources)
being 759,9191., and on the quarter 557,7591.
Looking to the particular items of which this
gigantic balance-sheet is composed, we find that
in the Customs' there is a falling off on the year
of 65,6871., and on the quarter of 18,1281. This,
however, is explained partly by the reduction in
the sugar duties, to which we have already alluded,
partly to the smaller importation of cereals, which,
owing to the excellent harvest, were not so much
required. We may also state, that in the year
the results of the Exhibition must be taken into
account, so that we are equally surprised in find-
ing the deficiency under this head less than we
should have anticipated.
In the Excise, possibly the most important
branch, inasmuch as it is generally regarded as
the index from which the comforts of the labour-
ing population of the country—of those who earn
their daily bread by the sweat of their brow—
may be estimated, there has been an improve-
ment on the year of 263,811/., but a decrease on
the quarter of 13,324/. This latter may partly
be ascribed to the large stocks previously laid
in, partly to the collection• of arrears of
Hop Duty in the corresponding quarter of last
year, and also in some degree to the high prices
of barley during the last quarter, and the antici-
pations of a reduction in the Malt Duties, which
prevented the great brewers from laying in as
heavy stocks as usual at this season. On the
whole, however, and taking these several• matters
into consideration, the returns under this impor-
tant head give cause for unmitigated gratification.
In Stamps, which indicate the degree of com-
mercial activity exhibited during the period under
notice, there has been an increase on the year and
quarter—on the former of 353,712/., and on the
latter of 187,5441. On the Assessed Taxes there
has been a decrease on the year of 186,1191.—far
less than the loss to the Revenue accruing from
the abolition of the infamous tax on light and air,
and the substitution of the scarcely less iniquitous
House Tax. In the quarter where that clement
is omitted the increase is no less than 233,9511.

—a truly wonderful amelioration, when the
generally unchangeable character of these imposts
are taken into considerition.

The improvement in the Property and Income
Tax is, however, the great feature in these impor-
tant and gratifying returns. It is well known
that, as the Excise represents the condition of the
labouring classes, the Property Tax indicates the
state of the middle classes. The great landed
proprietors, the owners of accumulated and
realised property of every description, continue to
contribute about the same amounts to the Revenue.
It is on the physical and intellectual labourers, on
those embarking their capital in trading, manu-
facturing, or commercial pursuits, that the state
of the accounts will chiefly depend. If success at-
tends their laudable exertions, it will be percep-
tible in the Income Tax returns. We find then
that the improvement under this head has been
on the year 204,7141., representing an additional
amount of earnings of nearly 7,000,000/. sterling,
and on the quarter of 100,2821., the improvement
on the last being nearly equivalent to that on the
three preceding quarters.

In the Post-office there has been a decrease on
the year of 42,0001., but an increase on the
quarter of 26,0001. In the Crown lands an im-
provement on the year of 110,0001., and on the
quarter of 40,0001. We shall hope that the
management of Sir WILLIAM MoT.Eswonnr may
be even better than that of Lord JOHN MANNERS
in this department. There is, indeed, great room
for improvement, and there is little doubt that,
with ordinary care and judicious alterations, the
proceeds, which last year amounted to 260,0001.,
might be nearly doubled. The only remaining
item of the ordinary revenue, the " Miscellane-
ous," exhibits an improvement on the year
of 121,4811., and on the quarter of 1,4341. The
result
increase
the year, which, by the
o f the
75 wh01e9,5 72 being,on
balance of 219,0071. from extraordinary sources,
is swelled to 978,9261.--the increase on the re-
payments of advances during that period being
228,3541., from which should be deducted 9,347/.
for the decrease of imprest and other moneys.
The addition on the quarter is 145,0171., which
is made up of 25,3931. improvement on "imprest
and other moneys," and 119,6241. on Miscella-
neous. On the whole, it will, we believe, be ad-
mitted, even by habitual croakers, that more
satisfactory financial returns have seldom, if ever,
been ()tiered for public consideration, and that the
most propitious omens may be adduced from the
imposing array of figures to which we have re-
ferred.

In another column will be found a report of a
at Liverpool, by the American Chamber of
eveorymminetrecreetsotin.
theg 3nquet which was: given
Americanyester-
day, Minister in this coun-
try. The meeting was in two respects remark-
able, and in both not less singularly satisfactory.
As an evidence of mutual good feeling between
the different nations of the same race, the speeches
on both sides were received with enthusiasm, and
will be responded to with pleasure on both•sides
of the Atlantic. A Chamber of Commerce was the
most for any such amicable demon-
stration, seeing that Commerce is the espe-
cial place
fitting Divinity who links together the hearts
and hands of divers nations. It is by
her blessed instrumentality that seas are made to
" join" the kingdoms they "divide." It is by her
good offices that the terrible threat of " depen-
dence upon foreigners" is happily realised, and a
mutual need of mutual good offices goes far to-
wards dissipating hostile desires. If ever the
dreams of the Pa,cificators are realised, that desi-
deratum will be due not to their discourses, but to
the deeds of that glorious community so nobly
apostrophised by Mr. smyTHE--

" The merchants of Old England—
The Seigneurs of the seas."
As a recognition of this fact, as another evidence
of the happy effects of commercial intercourse, the
Banquet of yesterday must be regarded with satis-
faction.

The other point worthy of remark in that en-
tertainment is the discourse of Lord DERBY, and
more especially that portion in which the Noble
ex-Premier, in the presence of an Ambassador
from a Republic, and at a meeting of commercial
men, spoke of the House of Lords. His Lord-
ship's observations tend still fufther to justify the
appellation of Tory Reformer, which we have al-
ready bestowed on him. As a Tory, as an Earl

as a Member of the Hereditary Legislature,
Lord DERBY'S sympathies are naturally with
his order, and his ideas of the importait
and beneficial influence of the House of Peers
ale not those likely to be entertained by
the majority ; nevertheless, the following obser-
vations will be read, we cannot doubt, with very
general approbation. We admire in them not
only the spirit of justice by which they are cha-
racterised, but the courage manifest in such a
declaration from such a speaker ; for remember it
is the High Tory, the exclusive Earl of DERBY,
who is the Speaker :

"Gentlemen" said the Nobe Earl, " allow me to say, is
the House of Lords in this country what in some other
countries it may be, an exclusive branch between which
and the rest of the community there is an impassable
gulf ? There are countries in which noblemen and the
commonalty are so far separated, that from generation
to generation they are within the same country, but not
connected together,—in different societies, and incapable
of passing the barrier which subsists between them.
Happily, far different is the case with us. The House
of Lords in this country is constantly receiving fresh
reinforcements and influence from the popular element,
constantly receiving reinforcements of new blood ;
while, on the other hand, in the second generation
at all events, the younger sons of the peerage are
merged in the commonalty, and becomes a portion of the
general mass of the community without any separating
barrier. Gentlemen, I think I could hardly take a
stronger instance of the manner in which these reinforce-
ments of the House of Lords takes place, than those
which have occurred in the last ten months—in three
cases, the only three in which I have had the honour of
advising the Crown to grant a peerage. These three
cases are drawn from three different professions. One
was a noble and gallant officer, connected originally with
a distinguished family, but still more distinguished for
having been for many years the right-handed counsel-
lor of that distinguished and lamented man this coun-
try has lately lost. In the chief command of the
army he had attained a military name, and his ser-
vices were well known to every military officer,
and his conduct in that position was well and highly ap-
preciated. (Applause.) The second was a genleman of
a family of recent origin, bid whose services in the dip-
lomatic career have reflected even additional lustre upon
that great name which you in this town had many years
ago the honour and privilege of calling your own repre-
sentative, bearing the name of Canning. (Hear.) The
third was a gentlemen whose parents were of the very
humblest class ; whose parents had no higher rank than
small shopkeepers in a little country town, who started
in public life with no advantages beyond those of his
own ability and his own energy ; and yet, by his own
labour and own talents, without any adventitious advan-
tages, passed through all the higher ranks of that labo-
rious and learned profession to which he had devoted
himself. It will over be a satisfactiOn to me that I ad-
vised the Crown to call to the House of Lords, as Lord
High Chancellor of England, the son of a small trades-
man of Lewes, who has illustrated his own name and
character as Sir E. Sugden ; and who has reflected, I
will venture to say, still higher honour by the name of
Lord St. Leonard's. (Hear, and cheers.) Gentlemen,
I can hardly give, I think, three stronger instances to
show that, while according to the working of our con-
stitution, while a seat in the Lords is an oiject of just
and laudable ambition, how far that distinction is con-
stantly open to every rank and class, and now, by the
instance of three different professions, the only three in
last year raised to that rank had the opportunity of
showing the favour of the Sovereign conferred upon in-
dividuals possessing high and meritorious claims in those
Iprofessions."

While we are disposed to go much farther than
Lord DERBY on this matter, and to regard these
instances to which he alludes only as a small
movement in the right direction, nevertheless the
above remarks, coming from such a quarter, are,
as we have said, a satisfactory indication of his
Lordship's appreciation of the requirements of the
age.

We earnestly hope that the voice of public
opinion will make itself heard plainly and intel-
ligibly on the subject of the renewal of the Pro-
perty and Income Tax, even in the deepest re-
cesses of Downing-treet,—that the middle' classes,
more especially those embarked in trading, commer-
cial, or manufactui ing pursuits, or in the liberal
professions, will speak out unequivocally on
the important topic. It is certain that the im-
post must be renewed in some form, and it depends
on the energy now exhibited by those who for
eleven years have been suffering under gross
and palpable injustice, what that form will
be. Whether it be in accordance with the
iniquitous system now in operation, or whether
any and what attempt shall be made, to
achieve—to use the words of the Ministerial
Leader of the .House of Commons—" a greater
approximation to justice than in the measure
hitherto in force." The statements of the PER-
MIER in the House of Peers, and of Lord JOHN
RUSSELL in the Guildhall of the City of London,
warrant a reasonable expectation that some change
will be effected, to render the impost less objec-
tionable than heretofore. We regret, however,
to be obliged to add, that these statements were
too vague and unsatisfactory, to rest on with im-
plicit confidence. We cannot, as we have already
repeatedly stated, know " with absolute certainty
what that excellent ABERDEEN" may consider to be
in accordance with "Justice and Equity," and Lord
JOHN RUSSELL expressly reserved a locus penitentice,
by declaring that " if not successful in the en-
deavour " (i, e. to revise the apportionment, and
thus to obtain " a greater approximation to jus-
tice " than can be hoped for under the present
system), " they, the Ministers would come down
to the House of Commons, . and explain
all their arguments and reasons on the
subject, and then ask the House to judge
whether they had not fairly grappled with the
question with the view of making as just cta
possible (0 the measure in regard to that large
portion of our revenue." If these statements
prove anything, and we yield every credence to
the Noble Lord's honest desire for the ameliora-
tion of the system, so far as to his peculiar
notions, on the subject may be practicable—they
only show that the matter is still sub
judice, and that nothing has yet been
conclusively determined in reference thereto.
It is on Mr. GLADSTONE that it chiefly depends ;
and we must confess the tone assumed by that
Right 'Honourable Gentleman on the sub.; ec'.;
during the recent debate, leaves by no means a L-
vourable impression on our minds. Can he pa..-
sibly assent to that which he so positively and
unequivocally declared to be " a breach of na-
tional faith"—" a violation of the contract into
which we entered with the public creditor 1"
We have heard much of " the sacrifice of
personal and private ambition, and the surrender
of individual opinions for 'the national advantage."
But, hitherto, these "sacrifices" have been made
on matters of expediency only—not of principle,
and not on questions, by which the honour and
honesty of the Government of the United King-
dom—their faith towards the public creditor—
enree, untilre still
the hesitatepoint
creditor—
might be compromised or endangered. We must,
therefore,
placedwhat beyond
d
as to
be
the possibility of doubt. We should greatly re-
gret the rejection of Mr. GLADSTONE by the Uni-
versity of Oxford, at this moment. We should
not willingly do anything to injure his chance of
success, or to offer a factious opposition to the
Government, of which he is an influential Mem-
ber. It is by their acts that we would judge them,
and we would allow every reasonable time for the
development of their intentions. It, however,
appears only fair, that some intimation should
be forthwith given by, or on behalf of,
the Right Honourable Gentleman, that he
has altered his views on this all-important topic.
We ask nothing as to the details. If he
is prepared to recognise the distinction between
permanent and precarious income, we should be
perfectly satisfied to leave the matter in his hands.
If he abandon the untenable position he assumed,
we would render him every aid in overcoming the
difficulties that have hitherto retarded, and
still retard, an equitable arrangement. But
it is time that he should have arrived at a
decision on that point,—that he should
know his
own mind at least to that extent ; and it could
not be considered as unreasonable
of the profes-
sional men, who have already suffered so deeply
under the present system, if they required full
and authentic information on the subject before
recording their votes in his favour as Representa-
tive for the University, of which they constitute
no unimportant portion of the constituency.

SOUTH DEVON RAILWAY.—On Monday this line was
opened where the slip took place. The 6.50 p.m. train
passed through, and the traffic has since then gone
through without any interruption. OnZuesday morn-
ing a long train of 34 carriages of goods, drawn by two
engines, came in with the parcels, &c., that had accumu-
lated during the week east of Teignmouth.