The Sun.
London, England, 1853-04-19 00:00:00

CLERICAL, MEDICAL, AND GENERAL it otherwise. If placed on a just and- equitable
ASSURANCE SOCIETY. foundation, it would unquestionably be the best
Five Bonuses have been declared ; at the last in January, 1852, the
sum of 131,125/. was added to the Policies, producing, a Bonus vary- and most popular tax for the community.
311,7, with the different ages from 24% to 55 per cent. on the Premiums _
paid dark; Vita five years, or from 51 to 121. 10s. per cent. on the VN, e know not how the Fiscal Reformers—how
Sum Assured. HUME and COBDEN and their coadjutors—can sup-
'l he small share of Profit divisible in future among the -Share-
holders being now provided for, the Assured will hereafter derive port a Budget the chief feature of which is the
all the benefits obtainable from a Mutual Office, without any Liability
total abolition of that important and highly pro-
or Risk of Partnership.
One-half the life premium for the first five years may remain on ductive source of revenue which, as Mr. HUME
credit.
Invalid Lives may be assured at rates proportioned to the risk. justly remarked, " would, if fairly levied, give
Claims paid thirty days after proof of death, and all Policies are
10,000,000/.," and would enable the CHAN-
Indisputable except in cm( s of frand.
The last year's Report (just printed) can be obtained free-of CELLOR of the EXCHEQUER to make further
GEORGE H. PINCKARD, Resident Secretary.
99, Great Russell-street, Bloomsbury, London. and more rapid progress in the full development
of the doctrines of Free Trade. On this part of
the case, he must be defeated if any faith remain
in public men ; and as this appears to be the
great principle of his Budget, it must prove fatal
to the entire scheme. The same may be said of
the anticipated reductions in 1855 and 1857. It
would be far better to grant the tax only for two
years, and to allow it to be dealt with according to
the then circumstances of the country. We regard
the tampering with the Income Tax, so far as
the reduction of the rate to 6d. and 5d., and
its intended abolition in 1860, as nothing
but " a mockery. and a delusion," and the
refusal to listen to the voice of public opi-
nion, or to carry into practical operation the
implied promises of his Ministerial leaders as a
most unaccountable and totally indefensible piece
of effronirary, an insult which it is to be hoped that
the independent representatives of independent
constituencies will know how to resent and

THEATRE ROYAL, HAYMARKET,

Under the Management of Mr. Buckstone.
THIS EVENING, APRIL 19,
Will be performed ELOPEMENTS IN RICH LIFE. By Messrs.
B. Sullivan, Chippendale, Howe, W. Farren, Buckstone, and Comp-
ton : Mesdames Fitzwilliam, Reynolds, L. S. Buckingham, Sm.
After which MR. BUCKSTONVS ASCENT OF MOULT PAR-
NASSUS.
To conclude with OUR MARY ANNE.

ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE, OXFORD-STREET.
Under the Management of Mr. Charles Kean.
THIS EVENING, AParr. 19,
Will be performed the new and original Play, in five acts, by West-
land Marston, Esq., entitled ANNE BLAKE. Principal characters
by Messrs. Kean Lacy, Aidison, and Chester ; Mrs. C. Kean, Mrs.
Winstanley, and Mrs. Daly.
After which will be performed the new Drama, adapted from the
the French of Mons. Scribe, by Mr. Pa:grave Simpson, called
MARCO SPADA.

ROYAL LYCEUM THEATRE.
Under the Management of Madame Vestrts.
THIS EVENING, APRIL 19,

Will be performed USED UP. Principal character Mr. C.
Mathews:
After which, THE GOOD WOMAN IN THE WOOD. Charac-
ers by Me=srs. F. Matthews, Suter, Horncastle, and Templeton;
Madame Vestris, Misses Robertson, Eglinton, &c.
To coaclude with A PRACTICAL MAN.

avenge.
As to the proposed enlargement of the area
of taxation, it is only necessary to say, that
the Right Hon. Gentleman adopts so much of his
predecessor's Budget as to make incomes of 1001.
a-year liable, but they are to be charged only at
sd. in place of 7d. in the pound. He also ex-
tends its operation to Ireland, precisely under the•
same conditions and for the same term as
for England and Scotland. No person can
fairly object to that extension, more espe-
cially as it is to be accompanied by an ample
equivalent in the shape of the remission of the
Consolidated Annuities amounting to 4,500,0001.,
all payments whereof on account of sales which
occurred subsequent to the 29th of September
last are to be returned.
By far the best part of the Budget is the ex-
tension of the probate and legacy duties to real
estate. This was an act of simple justice which
the middle classes had long demanded, and which
could not long have been witheld. Its exemption
so long afforded a striking instance of the undue
favouritism exhibited towards a powerful class,
and the predominance of class legislation. The act
of tardy justice will be received with all but
universal approbation. This source of revenue
alone will produce nearly 2,000,0001. sterling
per annum to the Exchequer, and it enables the
financial Minister to give extensive relief in other
matters. He also adds is. per gallon to the duty
on spirits in Scotland, and Bd. in Ireland. giving
him an addition of about half a million ; but,
inasmuch as he makes allowance for the waste in
bond—the propriety of which we have so fre-
quently pointed out—the addition to the revenue
from spirits is only estimated at 436,000/. We do
not object to this ; the only limitation to the tax
on spirits is, that it should not be so high as to
act as an incentive to illicit distillation. Some
years since, an attempt was made to add is. in
Ireland, which was speedily relinquished. It re-
mains to be seen whether the Bd. will have a
better fate. The allowance for waste in
bond, was so plain a matter of justice, that
it could scarcely be resisted, even by the man un-
able to discriminate between realised and indus-
trial income.

So much for the additions to the existing
sources of revenue. The reductions are nume-
rous and important. The Soap Duties will be
completely abolished. Men may now wash their
garments, or their faces, without paying a tax on
cleanliness. This alone will absorb 1,111,0001.,
but, as the impost will remain in force until July,
the loss during the present year will be only
771,0001. This highly acceptable boon will be
received with general commendation. In the Stamp
Duties there will be a reduction on life assurances
from 28.6 d. to 6d. This is perfectly correct. A tax on
prudence should not be maintained. But why is no-
thing done on fire assurances; a person now paying
is. 6d. by way of premium, has to pay an additional
3s. 2id. to the Government, the most monstrous
and unreasonable charge ever levied. Receipts
are to be reduced to an uniform Id. rate, a judi-
cious and proper concession. There is also to be
a great alteration in the assessed taxes. Those
on private carriages, men-servants, horses, and
dogs, being dealt with. Hackney carriages are
also to be reduced by one-third, and the Post-
horse Duties to be abolished, or rather levied
under another form by way of licences.
In the Customs, Tea is, according to Mr.
DISRAELI'S proposition, to be gradually reduced
to a shilling, and a variety of other small duties
dealt with—all the changes being beneficial, and
meriting general approbation.
On the matters where the Right Honour-
able Gentleman has already sustained de-
feats, he only partially carries out the resolu-
tions of the House. The duties on Attornies'
Certificates, in place of being abolished,
are to be reduced from 121. and 81. to 9/. and 6/.
respectively. The Advertisement Duty to be
reduced to 6d., notwithstanding the recent deci-

sion of a decisive majority that it should be alto-
gether repealed. We trust that Mr. MILNER GIBSON
and those by whom he was supported will not accept
this compromise. It would not, we believe, have
been attempted, but for the private memorial of
persons connected with three morning journals—
the Herald, the Chronicle, and the Daily News—
who separated themselves from those with whom
they had previously been acting, and thus weak-
ened the force of the movement. The total
repeal of the Advertisement- Duty, will, however,
we hope, be enforced, notwithstanding this
inexplicable and injurious secession. The only
remaining feature worthy of notice is the sop
flung to the Leviathan, and which will fix on the
prezen.% scheme the name of " the Times Budget."
It is too manifest that this remission, which, in fact,
can only be felt by one journal in the Empire, is
intended to appease the anger of our contempo-
rary, at the neglect of the interests of the
Income-tax payers under Schedule D. Its
effects may be judged of by the extravagant
eulogiums bestowed on the entire project by our
disinterested contemporary, and its overwrought
and fulsome panegyrics on " the great enter-
prise (1), the rare opportunities (! !), and the high
favour of HEAVEN (! ! to which the people owe
thep ossibility of these great, almost unexpected, re-
ductions from their now hereditary burdens" ! ! !
Well, 40,0001. a-year is a great deal ; but still
we should not have supposed such servile flattery
would have appeared in any paper desirous of
maintaining an unblemished reputation.