The Sun.
London, England, 1853-07-06 00:00:00

year of 225,1691., but a trifling decrease on the
quarter of 3,6941. The last mentioned deficiency
may be easily explained by the pendency of the
measure for the renewal of the impost, as the col-
lectors were not willing to proceed too stringently,
lest cases of great individual hardship might be
adduced during the discussions in either House of
Parliament. They will, now, however, resume
their activity, or perhaps exhibit additional zeal
and energy. The improvement on the year may
be considered as indicating additional profits by
the industrial middle classes, equivalent to nearly
7,700,0001. sterling during the period.
In the Post-Office there is an increase of
25,0001. on the year, and of 21,000/. on the
quarter ; while, in Crown Lands, the improve-
ment amounts to no less than 172,8881. ! on the
year and 140,888/. !! ! on the quarter. The
beneficial effects of the excitement produced by
Lord DUNCAN'S celebrated inquiry, and the im-
proved management consequent thereon, being
thus at length perceptible. The only item ex-
hibiting a falling off on both the year and the
quarter is the " Miscellaneous," in which the
the decrease on the year is 143,0361., and on the'
quarter 111,6521.
So much for the ordinary sources from whence
the National Exchequer is replenished. There
are also improvements in the extraordinary
branches—that under the head of imprest and
other moneys, being for the year 163,7851., and
for the quarter 44,071/. ; and, under Repayment
of Advances, for the year, 479,5831., and for the
quarter 207,9211. The general and widely-
diffused prosperity leading to greater punctuality
on the part of the public debtors.
The total increase, under all the heads for the
entire year is 1,922,954/. ; and, on the quarter,
of 1,146,6361., a truly astonishing result on
which we heartily congratulate those to whose in-
dustry it is mainly, if not altogether, ascribable.
Why then, with such an array of figures afford-
ing more convincing arguments than the most
brilliant and effective orator could adduce, should
there be a falling off in the price of Government
Stock I Stagnation, if not a panic in the share
market. Nothing that can occur can make the
matters worse than they are. The commence-
ment of actual hostilities, in which the Western
Powers were actively engaged with the fleet or
the troops of the CZAR, could not render matters
worse, or make the quotations lower than at pre-
sent ; while the manifesto of the AUTOCRAT, a
copy of which appeared in our impression of yes-
terday, shows that NICHOLAS, blinded as he is by
the madness of ambition, still expressly avows
that he has no intention of commencing war ;
" that in occupying the provinces on the
Danube, he only wishes to hold a sufficient
pledge to guarantee the re-establishment of his
right, under any circumstances whatever." This,
coupled with the distinct assertion that " he does
not seek for conquests," may be regarded to a
certain extent as a holding out of the olive branch
—an opening the way for new negotiations, that
may bring matters, notwithstanding the present
lowering aspect of the political atmosphere, to an
auspicious and pacific termination. If so, every-
thing must experience an extraordinary and rapid
advance, that must insure enormous profits to
every person investing his money at present prices.
But if, on the contrary, the contest should be
forced on us—if the battle of constitutional free-
dom against despotic authority be forced upon us, we
shall enter on it cheerfully, convinced of its speedy
and satisfactory issue, while we are too well aware
of the blessings of a just and equitable peace, to
do anything that would risk its continuance while
there is any prospect of an amicable arrange-
ment, consistent with the national honour and
the future security of Europe.

We recently dropped the remark, that if an
old trading company, or rather the caput mortuum
of one, were so desirable for the Government of
India, it was singular that the claims of actual
traders to India should have been so entirely
overlooked. We find the advantage of having
our commercial interests fully and fairly repre-
sented in our own Legislature. The East India
Company when really a trading establishment,
the West India interest, and other interests, have
all felt it desirable to have a voice in the national
councils; and we apprehend that none of our
real statesmen, though not shirking the accus-
tomed joke at the " Manchester School" would
like to see that school excluded from Parlia-
ment. The wiser of those who differ widely
enough from it on many points, still would
not like to miss its peculiar knowledge on
others. If, then, we must have double
government in some form, if the President of the
Board of Control must have an English council,
and if the council must consist of eighteen mem-
bers, one-third of them nominated by Govern-
ment, why should not another third be chosen by
all persons engaged in trade between England and
India to a certain amount ? It is universally
agreed that the annuitants whose dividends are a
first charge on Indian revenue, can have but little
peculiar interest in the prosperity of that country.
We will not re-open the endless question whether
they have effectually shown such an interest; their
incomes, at least, can hardly be affected by it.
On the other hand, every merchant actually en-
gaged in Indian commerce, and every manu-
facturer whose profits depend on the con-
suming powers of the natives, has a direct
interest in the ability of his customers to pur-
chase. He has, moreover, the same interest in
moderating the tendencies of the war party, which
is of unquestionable service at home. Indeed, it
were now almost a truism to mention that the in-
evitable consequence of Free Trade is to interest
men, through mere selfish considerations alone, in
the peace and wealth of the nations they deal
with. A Birmingham, Manchester, or Sheffield
merchant engaged in the Indian trade, has a per-
sonal concern in preventing such wars as make
money scarce in India, and in the bulk of
the people being in a condition to purchase
his goods. He has the strongest interest,
for the same reasons, in encouraging their
productive powers as the grand source ok wealth.
Hence the efficient administration of justice,

through which alone steady and sustained indus-
try is possible, irrigation, road making, railroad
making especially, and all the points on which the
Government of the last twenty years is accused of
coming short, are subjects of pressing interest to
the intelligent trader. What is there, then, un-
reasonable in the suggestion (always taking for
granted the necessity of a double government)
that one part of it should be chosen by the class
we have mentioned ? They would be certain to
elect East India Directors, if that name be re-
tained as sacred to the memory of departed mono-
poly, who have adequate knowledge on all thepoints
which have been chiefly canvassed in the late debates.
Less vitally concerned in the welfare of our
Indian Empire than the present Directors they
could not be. Nepotism and favouritism they
dare not indulge in to the same extent ; indeed,
we can think of no point of view in which they
would be a whit behind the immaculate twenty-
four who are so soon to be reduced to twelve.
While we can think of many, in which on the
most common calculations from human nature,
they must have greatly the advantage of them.
Impartial and practical men may well think that
India would be none the worse for Mr. BRIGHT'S
and Mr. COBDEN'S sitting
on one side a Council
table, of which Sir JAS HOGAG
Board
darMa Mr.
which
hSTEhRa-s
MAN sat on the other.
not merely to administer, but to decide on
measures and projects of all kinds for 150 mil-
lions of people, wants a vigorous opposition in it
as much as our Houses of Parliament. And it is
quite supposable that six nominees of Government
—all men of official Indian experience--with six
of the old sort of Directors, qualified by Sir C.
WOOD'S determination to retain them, might
mingle in advantageous discussion with six persons
selected by commercial men to represent English
and Indian commercial interests. More of Indian
doings would assuredly become public; much of
the deprecated mystery would be dispelled ; the
Autocratic President would be closely watched in
connection with the suspicious "secret" and "poli-
tical"dispatches. Indeed, we suspect that the
presence of
six such Directors, especially if
liable to reasonably frequent re-election or