The Sun.
London, England, 1853-06-16 00:00:00

whose virtual monopoly may be thereby endan-
gered.
But passing from Stamps, let us turn to an-
other and far more important point. We find
that the Right Honourable Gentleman still per-
severes in his intention of retaining a sixpenny
duty on Advertisements. We had hoped that
the. remonstrances of the periodicals of every
shade and variety of public opinion, together
with calm and attentive consideration of the
subject, would have induced Mr. GLADSTONE
to abandon so paltry, but at the same time so
vexatious, an impost, which will necessitate the
maintenance of all the machinery now in opera-
tion for levying the tax. Why should newspapers,
periodicals, pamphlets, and literary works be
taxed, while omnibuses, monster vans, and dead
walls escape free ? Why should there be any im-
pediment to the publication of notices that might
procure occupation for the unemployed, or
relief for the destitute ? Why should we
not facilitate announcements which may bring
vendors and purchasers together, and thus
indirectly increase the revenue by the addi-
tional consumption of exciseable or taxable arti-
cles. The impost is universally admitted to be
unwise and impolitic, and it is vexatious and annoy-
ing. Why, then, should any portion be retained,
more especially after the resolution of the House
of Commons for its complete abolition ? No
adequate cause can be assigned for this trumpery
proceeding. We trust that the Right Honourable
Gentleman the Member for Manchester will be
true to himself, and that he will once more call
upon the independent Representatives of the
people not to stultify themselves, but to follow up
the victory they have achieved, and to teach the
Financial Minister that he must respect their de-
cisions—that he is only the servant, and not the
master, of the popular branch of the Legislature.

It is lamentable to reflect that summer has
again arrived without due regard being had to the
necessity of sanitary preparations. True, un-
doubtedly, that much good has been here and there
accomplished in the metropolis since Viscount
PALMERSTON was appointed by her MAJESTY the
principal Secretary of State for the Home De-
partment. But regarding even under the best
light those judicious Orders in Council by which
certain of the more detestable among the intra-
mural graveyards have been closed against any
further interments the system has not
been absolutely or entirely uprooted. The
benefit imparted to the community, in other words,
has only been partial in its operation. It has not
diffused itself over the whole mass of the metro-
politan population. Numerous pits of corruption
are still reeking with the stench of pestilence in
some of the most crowded localities of London
and Westminster. Until it be rendered rigorously
punishable by the law to bury the dead in the
midst of the living, we cannot reasonably congra-
tulate the capital upon being relieved from the
curse of one of its most grievous abominations.
It were idle, therefore, to make too much of
the meritorious work already accomplished. We
shall abstain, consequently, from pronouncing
over it any panegyric whatsoever, until the whole
scheme of extramural sepulture has been to the
full realised.
Whenever the warm weather arrives, the tables
of mortality for the metropolis reveal in a lament-
able manner the deteriorating influence of the
detestable graveyards upon the atmosphere res-
pired by the populaticn. How this happens to
be the case cannot remain long subject of marvel,
when it is remembered that the corrupt soil around
our churches is being continually stirred up by the
sexton's spade and mattock. If left entirely to
itself to rot away into pestiferous exhalations, it
would be dreadful enough. But with its decom-
posed substance broken up, and shovelled about,
and stirred and stirred perpetually, like the
horrid ingredients in the witches' cauldron, no
wonder the effects are shown by the Registrar's
statistics from week to week to be most calami-
tous and most melancholy. No wonder that with all
this foul mass of earth, and flesh, and crumbling
boards around them and underneath them so many
of the parishioners assembled together for the
worship of the DIVINITY should be infected with
the breath of a subtle and invisible destroyer !
No wonder that their dear brothers and sisters
departed—whose remains are rapidly decomposing
under their very nostrils—should become the
unconscious instruments of their destruction It
is an old story. A story so old and so often
repeated, without having yet adequately in-
fluenced by its moral the consciences of the com-
munity and the Government, that we may almost
be forgiven if it at times we begin to despair of
witnessing the dissipation of the evil by the
substitution of ultra-suburban cemeteries. Peti-
tions have been presented time and again, in this
matter, to both Houses of the Imperial Parliament.
Committees of inquiry have sat, and their reports
have been after wards published. Blue books and
pamphlets have competed with each other in in-
structing those who might still continue ignorant
of the real importance of the subject under
discussion. Speeches have been delivered, lead-
ing articles have been written, lectures have
been read, books have been produced—all
tending to show the imperative necessity of
some legislative interposition in this matter with
a view to the improvement of the public health,
to say nothing about the dictates of Christianity
or the interests of civilisation. A regular com-
mission, in fact, has been organised. Gwydyr
House has long been the scene of its deliberations.
It has sent its inspectors and its sub-inspectors,
its engineers and its assistant-engineers, here,
there, and everywhere, not only in the metropolis,
but in several of the provinces in like man.
ner. Elaborate details have been collected.

Plans have been drawn up, and expenses cal-
culated. Substantial works have now and
then been actually commenced. And yet—
In what better position is the community at
large at this moment, after all this talk and stir
about efficient drainage, about extramural inter-
ment, and about proper ventilation ? We believe
the back slums of London and Westminster are
still the scenes of horrible squalor, destructive
disease, and odious degradation. We believe the
low lodging-homes are still crowded with
wretched inmates in the same harrowing state of
filth and indecency as when some of them were
penetrated by the Earl of SHAFTESBURY years
ago, while he was still Lord AsHLEY—the
vermin rattling down upon his hat, like peas,
from the ceiling. Thousands and thousands in
the very thick of this great capital are even now,
we believe, wholly ignorant of the miseries endured
daily and nightly in these sordid dens of sin and
wretchedness, notwithstanding all that has been said
and written of late years about the sufferings of
such vast numbers of their fellow-creatures. It
cannot be surprising therefore, that among these
portions of the community there should be
apathy upon a subject of the real import-
ance of which they have no adequate
consciousness. But with the Lords and
the Commons it is otherwise, With the Ca-
binet it is different. Aware, as they are, of
the magnitude of the evils complained of, it might
reasonably have been expected that some benefi-
cent efforts at reform would have been adven-
tured upon in this matter by the Legislature and
the Administration. The necessity for interposition
is every day becoming more imperative. Let
us still continue to hope that it may come sooner
than could be expected, judging simply from the
disappointments we have experienced.

DEPARTURE OF HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUKE DE
GENOA.—Yesterday his Royal Highness the Duke de
Genoa, and the gentlemen of his suite, accompanied by
the Marquis d'Azeglio, Sardinian Ambassador, and Col.
Wylde, left Mivart's Hotel, on his return to Italy.
ST. PETERSBURGIL —The letters from St. Petersburgh
reach to the Bth of June, at which date the quotation
of exchange had receded to 37/d. to 38d.—a rate that
will allow of gold being sent to London, supposing the
Emperor to permit its being shipped. With regard to
business' it is said that although it was believed the
hquestion would be pacifically arranged, the un-
certait
kinds, les connected with it checked transactions of all
BANKRUPTCY
terday of Air
.—The suspension was announced yes-
wool trade.
• Arthur it Homersham, in the English
stated, but it isThseupapmosoeud to be b
n.tof liabilities, Bpties,ohoaosi. not been