The Sun.
London, England, 1854-04-06 00:00:00

* "The Present State of the Finances and Currency
in Austria. By an Impartial Observer. Bvo., pp. 64."
Leipzic : Armbruster. London : Dulau ; Lumley ;
Nutt ; Routledge. 1853.

The Revenue Returns have just appeared,
showing the receipts from the different sources of
national income up to yesterday, the close of the
financial year ; and, according to custom, drawing
comparisons between the past and the preceding
twelvemonth, and the quarter just ended with
that of the corresponding one of 1853. - Never,
perhaps, were the figures which afforded the best
evidence of the financial position of the country
more anxiously looked for than on the present
occasion. It is true that the Chancellor of the
Exchequer, on opening his Budget a month
since, had tolerably clearly indicated the nature
of the present revelation--acting on the know-
ledge of what had taken place during two
of the three months, and close estimates of the
probable results of the portion then unexpired.
But the people wished to see the figures them-
selves, about which there could be no mistake,
and which would at once place the fiscal resources
of the country in a light by which they might be
accurately examined. This examination, at all
times interesting and important, becomes doubly
so when war has just been proclaimed—a war of
which it is impossible to predict the duration, or
to calculate the cost with the slightest pretensions
to accuracy.
Well, the figures have appeared—are in the
hands of the public--and every person has the
opportunity of forming his own judgment, as-
sisted possibly by the observations and
comments of his favourite journal. The
ABERDEEN organ tells us that they are " very fa-
vourable." We regret to say, however, that we
cannot altogether coincide with that view of the
subject. That they exhibit most unmistakeable
evidence of past prosperity is certain, but unfor-
tunately it is " past," and we find that the tide
turned in October; and that, though the large
income realised from April to October places the
year's revenue at a high figure, there have been
deplorable deficiencies during the two last quar-
ters, save where fresh taxes have been imposed or
new contributors compelled to furnish their quota.
On tilt.) year we find an increase under almost
every head. On the quarter, unfortunately (as
well as on the last quarter), also a decrease is the
rule, while any improvement is the exception.
We cannot, therefore, exult in what we had in
bygone times, when our palmy days have de-
parted, and we are thinking rather of what we
have bee.o than what we are.

On the year, then, as we have stated, the re-
. turns are highly favourable. There is a gross
increase of income of 1,485,0861., and this not-
withstanding the reductions that have taken place
in many departme.nts. In the Customs the im-
provement amounts to 358,1481., in the Excise
to 88,3741., Stamps 65,9131., Taxes 47,4301.,
Property Tax 382,6 341., Post-office 59,0001.,
Crown Lands 143,8881., Imprest and other
moneys 219,5911., and Repayments of Advances
224,0%53/., while the solitary instance of defi-
ciency occurs to the amount of 103,970/. under
the not very. important item, Miscollaueous. If
we could, here, we might safely- congratulate
1 the country on its brilliant position. But it u-9uld
lic very unfair to do so, and lending curselvo.7
t,, what; would be neither• more nor less than a
deceptit .n on the community. If we are asked to
give orek lit to a person, we look rather to what
lie liar; tk tan what he had. He might have been
perfectiy *solvent, nay wealthy, six months, and
unable to obtain a single shilling's worth without
the ma ne, y down. We might sympathise with
him for. h is lost prosperity, but we would not
trust hii ni n business a bit the more. We must,
therefor e, 1. ook to the later accounts, in order to