The Sun.
London, England, 1853-04-21 00:00:00

LONDON, THURSDAY, APRIL 21, 1853.

Notwithstanding all the efforts that have been
made to puff the Budget as the most brilliant
financial scheme ever submitted for Legislative
consideration, its defects are becoming too plainly
and too painfully apparent to let it be supposed
that it will be permitted to pass without great
and serious opposition. The proposal for the re-
newal of the Income Tax, in all its unmitigated
atrocity, has excited universal disgust throughout
the country—a disgust considerably enhanced in
many quarters by the specious sophistries with which
its author has attempted to show that there is prac-
tically no injustice to the merchants, traders, and
manufacturers who, notwithstanding the precarious
nature of their profits, are compelled to pay on
"what the collectors choose to assess" as much
as the fundholder on his dividend, or the landowner
on his ground-rent. True it is that trade may for a
period be brisk, and matters go on swimmingly,
but there are terrible reverses to be encountered--
reverses for which every person embarked in busi-
ness of the ordinary class must make full prepara-
tion ; and although he may cheerfully pay his
quota when times are propitious, and his account
shows a balance at the right side of the ledger,
it will be very difficult to do so when bad debts have
accumulated, and he is greatly puzzled to make both
ends meet, so as to avoid a very unenviable notice
in the Gazette. Then, indeed, the visit of the
collector becomes not merely irksome, but alto-
together detestable. In place of gaining hand-
Som profits, he has sustained heavy, perhaps
ruinous, losses. His time and labour have
hisneattritoar
has
a large proportion of
still the inexoasrabl accompanied
them
; but
tax-gatherer insists on
payment to the
last farthing on ideal profits, or, if
there be any demur,
a transactions. His
and prying
examination into all his n Bactions. His refusal
to pay, or to appeal againaant the
dealings,assessment, may in-
volve the disclosure of his
possi-
bly
the betrayal of his secrets to his
is tradingo and
ADSTONE L to
com-
petitors. It is very well for m
:nl
speak of the evils of self-assessment, an to hint
that British merchants and traders
have hitherto maintained unblemished repeuntation
who
—are willing to commit gross frauds on the les
venue—to state wilful and deliberate falsehoods
under their hands for the purpose of obtaining
paltry savings. There may, and we have no
doubt are, many persons who consider that an
unjust and inequitable impost of the kind may be
evaded by any means, but it is a gross libel on a
numerous, an influential, and a high-minded class
to assert that such unjustifiable proceedings are
commonly resorted to—or that the merchants and
traders of Great Britain are so notoriously dis-
honest that their unfair returns, and,. conse-
quently, diminishedequivalents

tween precarious and transitory, and fixed and per-
manent incomes.
That the existing system has a very demoralising
tendency we willingly admit. It is one of the
strongest objections to the system which Mr.
GLADSTONE is endeavouring to renew, with all its
atrocities unchanged and unmitigated. But al-
though many may unfortunately fall, on behalf of
the general body, we repel, with just indignation,
the foul imputation. We believe that on a
strict scrutiny it would be found that
many men submit to pay double or even
treble assessment rather than submit to the
unpleasant alternative—and that, taking the en-
tire as a class, an average of far more than 7d. in
the pound is paid on the bona fide profits of per-
sons chargeable under schedule D.

But beside the objections to the Income Tax,
there is one portion of the Budget so unfair—we
will not use the still stronger terms justly applicable
to the matter—that it must induce independent
Members to hesitate before they can lend their
sanction to such a transaction. It may not be
Parliamentary to impute motives, but their can-
not be much doubt as to the intent and object of
the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER in offering—
we will not call it the bribe—" the rose by any
other name will smell as sweet "—but the great
concession to the Times. That journal had long
ably and eloquently denounced the gross injustice
of the present system under which the Income
Tax was apportioned. It pointed out the gross
and palpable injustice of charging equally all de-
scriptions of income without reference to the source
from whence it might be derived. And from its pre-
vious observations—it was almost certain that it
would have hurled its thunder at the devoted head
of any man, or any Ministry, that proposed to con-
tinue so monstrous a grievance. The Times could
not, we believe, be bribed with money. But
there are other modes of accomplishing a similar
object by more delicate means. The man
who accepted a good situation for himself,
or his friend, as the condition of his support,
should not regard with virtuous indignation
the backslidings of the more vulgar recipient
of £s. d. The immaculate proprietor of East
India Stock, who votes with the promise of a
cadetship for his younger son, should not con-
demn the guzzling elector of the borough of
Eatanswill, whose most sweet voice could be ob-
tained for a gluttonous meal, accompanied by
sundry glasses of diluted alcohol. There can be
no doubt on the point. The CHANCELLOR of the
EXCHEQUER threw a tempting .sop to the
Cerberus of the fourth estate, and the vigilant
guardian devoured the delectable morsel. Mr.
BRIGHT'S motion, this evening, will show that it
is the only journal that will profit by the change.
The whole 40,0001. per annum will go into its
coffers ! For although there may be other papers
that publish supplements, there are none in which
the supplements can be devoted exclusively
to advertisements, and be it remembered,
that, without the stamp, these supplements
will have similar postal facilities to those
enjoyed by others that are duly stamped.
The double supplement to the Times—such
as were published yesterday and this day,
and for which 40,000 pence, or £166 3s. 4d.,
has been paid for each publication—will become of
daily occurrence. This is no ordinary inducement,
and its effect will be seen by the altered tone of
the Leviathan respecting the renewal of an un-
modified Income Tax.

It is consolatory to observe the pertinacity with
which reformers, really devoted to the cause they
have espoused, continue their exertions, repeat
their efforts, reiterate their arguments, until they
have actually attained the object of their aspira-
tions. From the history of their proceedings we
might cull illustration after illustration in testi-
mony of the all-conquering energies of Persever-
ance. Perseverance, indeed, like JACK in the
story-book, is endowed at once with the shoes of
swiftness and the sword of sharpness. Even if, at
times, apparently most sluggish, it is nevertheless
all the while advancing, imperceptibly it may be,
but on that account no less surely, to the goal—
and arrives there at last like 2Esor's tortoise.
Remember how CHARLES VILLIERS battled session
after session for those doctrines of Free Trade
which were ultimately enabled to triumph, through
the patriotic magnanimity of Sir ROBERT PEEL—
those great principles which since the death
of that illustrious statesman havo been
recognised and adopted even by the agricu.-
turists under the modified phrase of " un-
restricted competition." Remember how one of
the surgeons of London, unaided by any sustain-
ing auspices, unbacked by any potent influence,
supported only by his indomitable resolution, and
his unflinching determination, ineisted upon the
really " vital" importance of the Dead-Man's
Question for fifteen or sixteen consecutive years,
in spite of scarcely numerable discouragements—
at first even without one solitary supporter. And
see him now, rewarded, morally rewarded at
least, by the dawning triumphs of the beneficent
purpose to the furtherance of which his whole
heart and soul (to say nothing of his time and
money) seem to have been ungrudgingly dedicated.
Recollect, too, the dogged resolve shown year
after year by HENRY BERKELEY in bringing the
merits of the Ballot favourably under the con-
sideration of Parliament : and recollect, as we
shall infallibly have to recollect, for the success of
the Ballot is inevitable—its success we mean, here,
in being accepted by the Legislature when
Bribery shall at last have been effectually pre-
vented through its instrumentality, and when it
shall thereby have removed an odious and damn-
ing blot from the system of popular representation.
Acting with like resolution, CHARLES PEARSON
has long continued to agitate the advisability of
carrying out his scheme for a great Central Rail-
way Terminus as the core of a comprehensive pro-
ject of metropolitan improvements. We are re-
joiced to observe that an eminent fellow-labourer,
FRANCIS BENNOCH, is evincing at this moment a
similar sense of the efficacy of perseverance. He
is doing this not by another effective speech be-
fore the Common Councilmen, but by echoing his
previous assertions on the subject of the Bridges
of London, in his newly-assumed character as a
pamphleteer. " Are More Bridges Needed I" is
the designation of his apt brochure ;* and as the
very title-page informs the reader plainly, that
question is " Answered Affirmatively." Every
one who bears in recollection Mr. BENNOCH'S
previous arguments in relation to this sub-
ject, besides those of our readers who re-
member the comments passed upon the mat-
ter more than once by ourselves, will not
marvel for an instant that the inquiry has been
made at all, much less will they wonder that, having
been made, it has been at once boldly answered in
the affirmative. The insufficiency of the present
means of transit across the Silent Highway is suffi-
ciently apparent. Hitherto the utmost amount
of accommodation obtained in this way has been
the construction of six bridges between the twin
cities of London and Westminster. Six—while
Paris has about four times as many for the con-
venience of its inhabitants. Six—namely, Lon-
don, Southwark, Blackfriars, Waterloo, Hunger-
ford, and Westminster. Six—and out of these
six actually but one in every way worthy of the
British metropolis, the other five being either
tolled or dilapidated That one is, of course,
London-bridge. Among the remaining five, two
of them are free, but it must be remembered
at the same time that they are ruinously ricketty,
meaning obviously Blackfriars and Westminster.
Three others have still to be accounted for in our
Qxamination—but those three, though otherwise
in e
foot their stability admirable, are unhappily tolled,
passenger being mulcted of a penny before
he
can cross Southwark, and of a halfpenny if he
wishes to traverse either 'Waterloo or Hungerford.
It i
m
only must be
between ve:i
its
position.
that London-bridge is the
one among tthaendsix bridges spanning the
Westminster in every re-
spect Thames
worthy b
reoleinarlfyorthimis
is p
v en-
no way satisfactory. There n. •
o
ment. Our endeavour
should be to render free—
Southwark, Waterloo, and Hungerford. Another

* "The Bridges of London. 'Are more Bridges
Needed ?' Answered Affirmatively." By Francis Ben.
noch. Bvo. pp. 55. Effingham Wilson, London, 1853.

effort should be, to thoroughly renovate—Black-
friars and Westminster. Another, according to •
Mr. BENNOCH, should be to erect three other
bridges (" free," of course, and " adapted for car-
riage traffic") at points thus situated—St.
Paul's, Temple, and Charing-cross. Besides
this increase of accommodation, the originator
of this most commendable scheme proposes that
there should be intermediate points for additional
transit across the river by steam ferries. It must
be confessed, even by those who may be the most
strenuously opposed to the boldness of these pro-
jected innovations, that as yet London has at-
tended but indifferently in this matter to the con-
venience of its enormous population. Nowadays
there are plenty of steamboats plying to and fro
along the channel of the Thames, but across the
river, what inadequate means of conveyance have
hitherto been afforded to the multitude. Some-
thing in the way of speedy and comprehensive
change has at length become in this respect,
we rejoice to think, imperatively requisite.
People almost universally allow, at last, that each
of the five bridges already specified, is nothing
less odious than a most intolerable nuisance.
Southwark, Waterloo, and Hungerford—by not
being free ! Blackfriars and Westminster, by
being in a disgraceful state of dilapidation !
London-bridge alone is really creditable to the
metropolis, and worthy of its designation.
From the perseverance shown by Mr. BEN-
Nom, we are disposed to augur well for the
scheme of which he is the originator. His
new pamphlet is appropriately addressed "to the
metropolitan public in general, and to the mem-
bers of the Corporation of the City of London in
particular." It insists especially upon the necessity
of constructing another bridge across the river
Thames, nearly half-way between Southwark and
Blackfriars. It reminds the community that no
less than thirty years have elapsed since any addi-
tional bridge was projected, and that twenty-
two years have elapsed since the last was
opened, although meanwhile " nearly a mil-
lion has been added to the metropolitan
population." Time enough that some energetic
efibrt was made to remove this discredit from the
inhabitants of London and Westminster. With
London-bridge already possessing (as it undoubt-
edly does) " traffic enough for any three bridges
of equal width," with Southwark tolled, and
Blackfriars ruinous, and Waterloo tolled, and
Hungerford tolled, and Westminster dilapidated—
there is obviously room in this matter, as we
cannot readily tire of repeating, for very
desirable and very comprehensive improvements.
Mr. WALKER is witnessing the gradual adoption
of his ideas in regard to the intramural graveyards.
Mr. PEARSON is beginning to perceive the accept-
ance of his project for a Central Railway Terminus.
Mr. BENNOCII, we must hope, will very speedily
prove not less fortunate in reference to the adop-
tion of his noble scheme for better bridges across
the Thames in London and Westminster.

PRICE o➢' GOLD.—The quotation of gold at Paris is
about at par (according to the last tariff), which, at the
English Mint price of 3/. 17s. 104 d. per ounce for
standard gold, gives au exchange of 25.17 ; and the ex-
change at Paris on London at short being 25.05, it
follows that gold is about 0.48 per cent, dearer in Paris
than in London. By advices from Hamburgh the price
of gold is 427 per mark, which, at the English Mint
price of 3/. 17s. 101 d. per ounce for standard gold, gives
an exchange of 13.6 ; and the exchange at Hamburgh
on London at short being 13.6, it fellows that gold is
the same price in Hamburgh that it is in London. The
course of exchange at New York on London for bills at
60 days' sight is 1091- per cent., and, the par of exchange
between England and America being 109 23-40 per cent.,
it follows that the exchange is nominally 0.08 per cent.
against England ; but, after making allowance for
charges of transport, the present rate leaves no profit
on the transmission of gold either way between the two
countries.

THE Tower.—The Tower Wharf has been for some
days a semi-fashionable promenade, in consequence of
her Majesty's ship Crocodile having hauled close along-
side, so that persons are enabled to walk on board, and
many have availed themselves of the opportunity of
visiting this ship of war. Her removal to her present
situation has been rendered necessary in consequence of
the accumulation of mud at her old moorings, so that
she could not lie afloat at low water, although drawing
but 11 feet. This having been represented to the
Trinity Board, one of their large dredging engines,
driven by steam-power, has been set to work with such
success, that it is expected she will resume her old
position in a few days.
CLOSING OF CHEAPSIDE.—This morning Cheapside,
one of the most important thoroughfares within the
City, as being the principal line for traffic from the
West-end to the Bank and the eastern districts of the
metropolis, was closed for the purpose of repairing Milk-
street to the Old Jewry, by order of the Lord Mayor.
The obstruction is the source of considerable incon-
venience and delay to passengers by omnibuses and
other vehicles, as they have to take a very cir-
cuitous route, either by Gresham-street or Watling-
street, both already overcrowded with heavily laden
vans and waggons. The repaving has been rendered
necessary owing to late heavy rains having caused the
substratum to sink so much that, in some places, the
ruts were nearly six inches deep. The new pavement is
being laid with oblong blocks of granite, on a bed of
concrete, which method is expected to withstand the
constant abrasion much better than that heretofore