The Sun.
London, England, 1853-04-06 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, APRIL 6, 1853.

the year and quarter—that on the year
amounting to 920,9991., and on the quar-
ter to 44,613/. We thus find that a liberal
reduction of duty on an article of general con-
sumption is nearly, if not altogether, compensated
by a greatly increased demand, mid also that some-
thing springs up in other directions that may be
considered almost as an equivalent. This is more
perceptible in cases of the total abolition of taxation.
The money still finds its way to the Exchequer,
although it must be through a different channel.
The strongest, the most powerful arguments,
however, that can be adduced must prove less
coßvincing than the array of figures now offered
for public inspection, which more than justify the
fiscal experiments that have been attempted, and
afford the greatest encouragement to the pursu-
ance, even with augmented speed, of the course
which we have for some years followed with such
peculiarly auspicious results.
We have already stated that the increase on
the year amounts to no less than 920,9991. It
is, however, right to say, that a considerable por-
tion thereof, viz., 557,5371., is made up by the
extraordinary items—the improvement under the
head of Imprest and other Moneys being
192,6321., and under the head Repayments of
Advances, of 364,9051. This 'latter, however,
affords propitious auguries in several distinct
points of view. It shows that the parties who bor-
rowed money from the Exchequer are participat-
ing in -the general prosperity, and that notwith-
standing the debt to the Crown; while it also shows
that these advances were prudently and judiciously
made, and are now yielding handsome returns to
those who accepted the Government assist-
ance for the purpose of carrying on works of na-
tional utility. On the quarter there are also pro-
portionate increases in the extraordinary items—
the " Imprest and other Moneys" showing an im-
provement of 80,6551., and the "Repayments of
Advances" of 83,2511.
On the ordinary branches of revenue• there is
still an improvement on the year of 345,462/.,
but a decrehse on the quarter of 119,2931. The
latter can, however, be easily explained, and need
not excite the slightest apprehension with respect
to the stability of the existing prosperity even in
the most timid minds. We must bear in mind
the fact that the increase of 345,4621. on the
year is not only despite the reductions and
important remissions of taxation that came into
operation, but also that the year with which it has
been compared was one of extraordinary pros-
perity, eml9racing as it did the entire period of the
Great Exhibition, which attracted to England a
concourse from all the civilised nations of the
earth, and of course led to a great augmentation
in the consumption of taxable articles. It is,
therefore, peculiarly
,gratifying to be enabled to
state, that, notwithstanding the substitution of
the House Duties for the taxes on light and air,
the repeat of the duty on bricks, and the reduc-
tions of the duties of coffee, sugar, timber, stamps,
&c., arc., there has been no perceptible loss to the
revenue, but that, on the contrary, the Exchequer
is in a better condition, with a larger surplus
available for further fiscal experiments than be-
fore any of these acceptable boons had been con-
ceded.

Looking to the particular items of which the
account is made up, we find that in the Customs
there is a decrease on the year of 314,6391., and
on the quarter of 182,1931. These deficiencies
are, however, to be explained, as we have already
stated, by the reductions on sugar and timber
that have come into operation during the past
year—to say nothing of the 'circumstances of our
numerous visitors to the Crystal Palace in 1852 ; and
thatthequarter ending the sth ofApril in that year
showed an increase of 662'7591., and the year of
917,216/., when compared with the corresponding
periods of 1850-51.

The Excise return—the index to the prosperity
of the labouring classes—is still more satisfac-
tory. There is an increase on the year of
202,8001., and on the quarter of 28,5171., and
that notwithstanding that the former return ex-
hibited improvements on the year and quarter of
57,6741. and of 89,5281. (I) respectively. In
Stamps, too, there has been an addition on the
year of 527,4991., and on the quarter of 141,7641.
This proves how fully our prediction has been
verified, that the equitable modification of the
duties, estimated by Sir CHARLES WOOD to occa-
sion a loss of half-a-million sterling per annum,
would, after a few years, be productive rather
than otherwise.

In the Taxes there have, of course, been heavy
reductions. 496, 9551. on the year and 183, 572/.
on the quarter, appear very formidable. We
must, however, not forget that in 1851 the Window
Tax was abolished, and that the difference between
the quarters ending sthApril, 1851, and sthApril,
1853, are not more than had been anticipated by
the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER. The loss was
estimated at 1,100,0001., and it has been about
that amount. In the qUarter of last year there
was, however, an increase of 127,2641. In the
Income and Property-Tax, which expired at mid-
night, there was an increase on the year of
309,2431., and on the quarter of 83,4061. In
the Crown Lands, on the year, of 62,0001. ; there
is, however, a falling off of 8,0001. on the quarter.
In the Post-office, on the other hand, the de-
crease is on the year 6,000/., accompanied by an
increase on the quarter of 23,000/. ; while in
Miscellaneous the improvement on the year is
79,5141., the falling off on the quarter 22,215/.
On the whole we can once more cordially con-
gratulate the community at large—more especially
the industrious classes—on these peculiarlygratify-
ing results, the most satisfactory which it has
fallen to our lot to notice for many years.

It may be reasonably calculated that the
members of the Coalition Cabinet are in no
way ambitious of being regarded as a Do-
Nothing Administration. Yet what have they
hitherto accomplished ? Possibly, however, it
might be argued with some show of justice,
that we are scarcely fair in assuming that their
conduct during the past quarter is a criterion of
their merits as a _Government. Admitting, never-
theless, that the brief period which has elapsed
since their consolidation into a Ministry precludes
them from the opportunity of revealing their ad-
ministrative capacities, we may undoubtedly shape
our inquiry as to their merits in a different form
by asking—What prospects have they held out
as yet in reference to any comprehensive
or systematic improvements ? Without fear
of contradiction, we may at once answer
—None. None, at least, entitled to any ear-
nest or exalted commendation. The Easter
Holidays have passed by, and Parliament has
again assembled, and still the country remains
without the promise, without even the promise of
half-a-dozen, out of a score, or rather one might
say out of a hundred most desirable innovations.
Everything is postponed. Instead of measures
being introduced, Commissions are to be formed
for the purposes of investigation. Delays are pro-
lific of delays. Procrastination is born of procras-
tination. " Hope deferred " must again sicken
the hearts of the community. The multitude is
once more required to exercise the virtue of
patience—learning "to labour and to wait," like
the Young Man who answered the Psalmist accord-
ing to the beautiful verses of Professor LorraFEL-
Low. Illustrations of our accuracy in venturing
upon these unwelcome assertions, may be culled at
all points from the proceedings of the Imperial
Legislature. Parliamentary Reform, for example,
is coolly given the "go by" for another session.
It is complacently presumed that the matter is of
such importance as to admit of yet a little more
consideration. We are warned against precipi-
tancy. Precipitancy, forsooth ! As well accuse
the Seven Sleepers of over-activity. Again
—the settlement of the East Indian difficulty
is to be deferred by postponement after
by our rulers in a number of other remarkable
particulars. Notwithstandingfor granted that the Members of the ABERDEEN,
resolved
by So likewise has it been
RITSSILL, GLADSTONE, GRAHAM,
is termed in the cant
eryofoutthsaett
been animated by what CLARENDONaIIthis,
IVe
tAakde-
ministration, have all
phrase of the day--the best
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intentwe feel, from our hearts, and in our conscience,
from
thoroughly convinced. We are persuaded that