The Sun.
London, England, 1853-01-06 00:00:00

ficulty. From this calculation it will, of course,
be understood that we exclude the stipulated
payments from China, which could not, under
any circumstances, be regarded as a legitimate
portion of the public income. If any further
proof were required of the beneficial results of
the commercial and financial legislation of the
last ten years, it would be found in these columns
of figures. As Alderman BECKFORD once re-
marked, " Them 'ere facts are stubborn things."
And even the most 'obtuse of the impracticable
53 could scarcely argue against the validity of the
proofs contained in these important accounts.
On the general account we find that the total
amount paid into the Exchequer during the year
1852, exclusive of the stoppages in, transitu for
perpetual pensions, annual stipends, &c., &c.,
amounted to no less than 50,468,1931., against
49,489,2671. received in 1851, the year of
the Great Exhibition. So that notwith-
standing the extraordinary consumption occa-
sioned by that unprecedented concourse of
nations, there was an increase on the
year of 978,9261. As that disturbing element
did not enter into the calculations between the
quarters ending ending sth January, 1852 and
1853, we find that the increase on the latter
amounts to 702,7761. An extraordinary and ex-
ceedingly gratifying result. A portion of this
improvement is attributable to the extraordinary
sources of revenue,—the repayments of advances
having, in consequence of the general prosperity,
been made with much greater punctuality than
in the preceding year. These extraordinary items
account for 219,0071. of the improvement on the
year, and 145,0171. on the quarter ; sufficient,
however, remains, more particularly when coupled
with the reductions of the Sugar Duties that have
cane into operation within the year, to prove
the very satisfactory state of our finances, the im-
provement on the year (from ordinary sources)
being 759,9191., and on the quarter 557,759/.
Looking to the particular items of which this
gigantic balance-sheet is composed, we find that
in the Customs' there is a falling off on the year
of 65,687/., and on the quarter of 18,128/. This,
however, is explained partly by the reduction in
the sugar duties, to which we have already alluded,
partly to the smaller importation of cereals, which,
owing to the excellent harvest, were not so much
required. We may also state, that in the year
the results of the Exhibition must be taken into
account, so that we are equally surprised in find-
ing the deficiency under this head less than we
should have anticipated.

In the Excise, possibly the most important
branch, inasmuch as it is generally regarded as
the index from which the comforts of the labour-
ing population of the country—of those who earn
their daily bread by the sweat of their brow—
may be estimated, there has been an improve-
ment on the year of 263,8111., but a decrease on
the quarter of 13,324/. This latter may partly
be ascribed to the large stocks previously laid
in, partly to the collection of arrears of
Hop Duty in the corresponding quarter of last
year, and also in some degree to the high prices
of barley during the last quarter, and the antici-
pations of a reduction in the Malt Duties, which
prevented the great brewers from laying in as
heavy stocks as usual at this season. On the
whole, however, and taking these several matters
into consideration, the .returns under this impor-
tant head give came for unmitigated gratification.
In Stamps, which indicate the degree of com-
mercial activity exhibited during the period under
notice, there has been an increase on the year and
quarter—on the former of 353,7121., and on the
latter of 187,544/. On the Assessed Taxes there
has been a decrease on the year of 186,1191.—far
less than the loss to the Revenue accruing from
the abolition of the infamous tax on light and air,
and the substitution of the scarcely less iniquitous
House Tax. In the quarter where that element
is omitted the increase is no less than 233,951/.
—a truly wonderful amelioration, when the
generally unchangeable character of these imposts
are taken into consideration.

The improvement in the Property and Income
Tax is, however, the great feature in these impor-
tant and gratifying returns. It is well known
that, as the Excise represents the condition of the
labouring classes, the Property Tax indicates the
state of the middle classes. The great landed
proprietors, the owners of accumulated and
realised property of every'description, continue to
contribute about the same amounts to the Revenue.
It is on the physical and intellectual labourers, on
those embarking their capital in trading, manu-
facturing, or commercial pursuits, that the state
of the accounts will chiefly depend. If success at-
tends their laudable exertions, it will be percep-
tible in the Income Tax returns. We find then
that the improvement under this head has been
on the year 204,714/., representing an additional
amount of earnings of nearly 7,000,000/. sterling,
and on the quarter of 100,2821., the improvement
on the last being nearly equivalent to that on the
three preceding quarters.
In the Post-office there has been a decrease on
the year of 42,0.001., but an increase on the
quarter of 26,000/. In the Crown lands an im-
provementer
of o n
4o t,h oe
year of 110,0001., and on the
quarter
00/. We shall hope that the
ar
management of Sir WILLIAM MOLESWORTH may
that of Lord JOHN MANNERS
in this department. There is, indeed, great room
befor even better haentt,
and there is little doubt that,
with ordinary care and judicious alterations, the
proceeds, which last year amounted to 260,0001.,
might be nearly doubled. The only remaining
item of the ordinary revenue, the " Miscellane-
ous," exhibits an improvement on the year
of on the quarter of 1,4341. The
resultl,
o 4f
theB 1. , and /
whole
being, as above-mentioned, an
increase of 759,572/. on the year, which, by the
balance of 219,007/, from extraordinary sources,
is swelled to 978,9261.—the increase on the re-
payments of advances during that period being
228,354/., from which should be deducted 9,347/.
for the decrease of imprest and other moneys.
The addition on the quarter is 145,017/., which
is made up of 25,3931. improvement on "imprest
and other moneys," and 119,624/. on Miscella-
neous. On the whole, it will, we believe, be ad-
mitted, even by habitual croakers, that more
satisfactory financial returns have seldom, if ever,
been offered for public consideration, and that the
most propitious omens may be adduced from the
imposing array of figures to which we have re-
ferred.

In another column will be found
.a report of a
very interesting Banquet which was! given yester-
day,Liverpl, by the American Chamber of
at
Commerce to the American Minister in this coun-
try.oo The meeting was in two respects remark-
able,As an evidence of mutual good feeling between
the
in both not less singularly satisfactory.
diaffnedrent nations of the same race, the speeches
on both sides were received with enthusiasm, and
will be responded to with pleasure on both sides
of the Atlantic. A Chamber of Commerce was the
most fitting
place for any such amicable demon-
stration, seeing that Commerce is the espe-
cial Divinity who links together the hearts
and hands of divers nations. It is by
her blessed instrumentality that seas are made to
" join" the kingdoms they " divide." It is by her
good offices that the terrible threat of " depen-
dence upon foreigners" is happily realised, and a
mutual need of mutual good offices goes far to-
wards dissipating hostile desires. If ever the
dreams of the Pacificators are realised, that desi-
deratum will be due not to their discourses, but to
the deeds of that glorious community so nobly
apostrophised by Mr. SMYTHE—

" The merchants of Oki England—
The Seigneurs of the seas."
As a recognition of this fact,. as another evidence
of the happy effects of commercial i ntercourse, the
Banquet of yesterday must be regarded with satis-
faction.

The other point worthy of remark in that en-
tertainment is the discourse of Lord DERBY, and
more especially that portion in which the Noble
ex-Premier, in the presence of an Ambassador
from a Republic, and at a meeting of commercial
men, spoke of the House of Lords. His Lord-
ship's observations tend still further to justify the
appellation of Tory Reformer, wytch we have al-
ready bestowed on him. As aTo ry, as an Earl,