The Sun.
London, England, 1853-10-11 00:00:00

InCll WATER AT LONDON DRIDG7L.

Tara DA: —Morning 22 mitt.after 8 Eveivin,3ll
ro. iin-kno‘.7----Atoraing 0 win.aftex 10 Evening 47 win.aft. 10

ÜBE WEATIIER.—Sus ()mot, OCT. 11.

THERMOILETER, IS: THE SHADE.
60 since noon yesterday.
52—iowest this morning anti during the night.
56—this day at noon.

BAROMETEI3., 29'78.
WEND, Easterly—dull weather,

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LOt.-4 DON, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 1553,

THE QUARTER'S REVENUE.

The Revenue Returns for the Yerer and Quarter,
ending the 10th October instant, are once more
before the public. They still maintain the favour-
able appearance which we have noticed with so
much pleasure on former occasions, proving, be-
yond the possibility of doubt, the wonderful elas-
ticity of the national resources and the efficacy of
the Free Trade policy, which has now been sub-
jected to so many stringent tests, and on ever:,
occasion with the most auspicious results. Never,
perhaps, has there been a more complete and sig-
nal triumph than that which has attended the
great fiscal experiment, under so many different
phases, and with such varying circumstances.
We have found that a reduction of indirect taxa-
tion is almost invariably followed by such au in-
crease of consumption, that there is frequently
rather an improvement than a diminution of
Revenue arising from that particular item.
But this is not all. It is even found that-,
the total repeal of a particular impost, for
which it would seem to the superficial ob-
server that no equivalent could be found, does
not lead to a permanent loss, the money saved
being applied in the purchase of other taxable
commodities, and thus finding its way, albeit by
rather a circuitous route, to the National Ex-
chequer.

We do not remember ever to have witnessed
more favourable returns, not even those of July
last, of which we have already spoken in high
terms. And what is the more remarkable is, that
it should so closely follow one so extraordinary
in every particular as that to which we have just
referred. All the fiscal boons, whether those
freely granted by the Chancellor of the Exche-
quer, or those wrung from his unwilling hands
by the pertinacity of financial reformers, have, it
appears, not only led to no losses whatsoever,
but have been attended by very considerable
gains under almost every different head, even
those that have been most largely interfered with.
We find, then, a large increase in the available
revenue of the year and quarter—on the former
of no less than 2,311,7521., of which 1,559,8641.
arises from the ordinary branches of revenue ;
and on the latter of 417,7271., of which 226,7541.
is from the permanent items which may be fairly
looked forward to in future years. These simple
figures speak more conclusively in favour of the
general prosperity than all the arguments that
could be adduced by the most brilliant orator ;
and the satisfaction excited at first sight will not
be deteriorated by a close examination of the de-
tails of which the sums total are composed.
First, then, we find under the head " Customs,"
which indicates the condition of our foreign trade
and dealings with other lands, there is an increase
of 361,5191. on the year, and of 120,667/. on
the quarter ; and this, be it remembered, not-
withstanding the diminution of the duties on tea
and sugar, and other articles which have recently
come into operation,
The " Excise" returns—the indices of the
amount of comfort enjoyed by the working popu-
lation of the country-,are no less favourable.
the year is even greater
The improvement on
than the Customs, it being no less than 372,7681.
The quarter only exhibits a trifling improvement
of 5,4741. ; but when we consider that the duties
on soap, which have been totally repealed, pro-
duced no less than 1,200,000/. per annum, we
have abundant cause for self-gratulation at find-
ing that there has not been a serious deficiency in
place of a trifling improvement. It must be
bc)rne.in mind, too, that the revenue has not, in
the first place, had time to recover the total aboli-
tion of an item so very productive ; and, secondly,
that the increase of price of tallow, in consequence
of the unsettled state of the Eastern question, has
prevented consumers from experiencing the benefit
of the repeal of the duty. The full improvement,
then, may be estimated at no less than 300,0001.
on the quarter, and 675,0001. on the year ; and
yet we find the working classes rebelling against
a state of affairs that has been productive if such

auspicious results. We have indisputable evi-
dence in the Excise returns that they have been
4',,in.t4Lenjoyment not merely of the necessaries of
.4 ~i-41:;,7-tiit of
.m.any unwonted comforts ; and yet
;,,,, •1:,;'-", -- - they are striking for an advance of wages, and,
i'?`'ii.f , --:.' with strange fatuity, endeavouring to cut off the
,1 i.%,. - _
.4
.94i ''.-IY7 sources of employment by which they have been
4
~.,, ~÷„,4;,‘ enabled to accomplish the enjoyment of so many
kz7.
C.- • .4 o'.flinTiii)le luxuries...
Al. a .Tii-- " Stamps" there is also an improvement 011
lalith periods—the year showing an advance of

(IL-%%-S1

ee&.

476,3721., and the quarter of 98,742/. On this
point we must take into consideration the fact,
that there was a nearly similar addition to the
receipts this time last year when com-
pared with the corresponding quarter of 1851.
We must also recollect that several reductions
have been coming into operation just now, and
that, consequently, stocks have been materially
reduced, and yet we still find the large imProve-
ment above referred to.
In " Taxes" there is an improvement on the
year of 27,1591., but a falling off on the quarter
of 29,9961. The Property Tax, however, shows
an increase of 204,1911. on the year (equivalent
to an addition of nearly seven millions to the in-
oomes of the industrious middle classes, for these
are the only incomes that fluctuate materially),
and of 24,4671. on the quarter. , The changes in
the area of taxation have not yet come into prac-
tical operation, as no money has as yet been col-
lected from persons having incomes amounting to
1001., and less than 1501.
Of the other items it is sufficient to say that
the " Post-office " shows an increase of 45,0001.
on the year, but a falling off of 25,0001. on the
quarter. The " Crown Lands " an advance of
182,8881. on the year, and of 10,0001. on the
quarter ; and the " Miscellaneous," of 22,4001.
on the quarter, but a falling off (the only one in
1 all the items), on the year, of 110,0331.
So much for the ordinary branches. On the
extraordinary there is an increase, on the year, of
133,8801., but a diminution, on the quarter, of
16,2391., while the repayments of advances show
that the general prosperity has enabled the pub-
lic debtors to exhibit much greater punctuality
than heretofore, the addition to the payments
be:ng for the year 61830081., and for the quarter
207,212/.

We heartily_ qongratulate our friends on this
very favoirzable state of things. We only trust
that it rr,ay be continued, and that the working
classes may not have themselves to blame for any
diwnution in the consumption of Exciseable
erlmmodities that may reduce the receipts
.under
that important item in the national balance-
We know not how the alarmists will

attempt to get over such an imposing array of
figures, or venture to assail the public credit o
a State based upon such solid foundations.

We wrote a few days ago on the assumption,
justified by the information which had then ar-
rived, that Miss OUNNINGHAME had distributed
the tracts and Bibles in conscious and somewhat
ostentatious defiance of the Tuscan •law. We are
most happy to recal this assumption on the expli-
cit assurance of our countrywoman, that she was
at the time entirely ignorant of the law ; an as-
sertion which we could most thoroughly credit in
the face of all the police lies or witnesses which
can be furnished from Tuscany. Moreover, it is
corroborated by the fact, that the new penal code,
for Tuscany only came into operation on the first
of last month ; and that it is under this code that
Protestantism is made for the first time a felony.

It appears also that the edict itself is not
only very recent, and, therefore, preSumably
unknown to a foreigner, but that it is even of
doubtful validity. The DUKE had given his sub-
jects a constitution including a certain measure of
religious liberty, and this edict is in direct viola-
tion of it. To be sure petty continental despots
following their greater brethren, have been ready
enough in recalling constitutions they had granted.
It would seem, however, that the Duke has issued
an edict which alters a former solemn charter,
without the important form of previously abro-
gating the more liberal enactment. All this,

however, must be left to the lawyers. We stand
firmly on the ground that England will never suf-
fer a subject, and a female too, to be imprisoned
for unconssiously violating the newly-promulgated
law of a foreign country. The Earl of ABER-
DEEN is a fellow-countryman, and, we pre-
sume, a co-religionist of Miss CONNINGHAME,
and much as he may sympathise with Continental
Autocrats, he is doubtless Scotchman enough to
protect a Presbyterian lady guilty only of not
knowing the extent of Grand-ducal intolerance.
We can hardly doubt that he will concur heartily
with the Foreign Secretary in such "official repre-
sentations" as will be potent enough with a despot
whose subjects would fling him into the sea at
half a word of encouragement from us.
While, however, we assume that England will
never submit to months of negotiations for the
liberation of one of her daughters, whom she
knows to be most unrighteously imprisoned, we
by no means recal our censure of many censurers
of the DUKE. No terms would be too strong- to
express our indignation at his persecuting
enactments. They are a disgrace to Christianity ;
they are undoubtedly, as Lord CLARENDON says,
" opposed to the spirit of the Gospel," but we
wish we could add with him " opposed to the
spirit of the age." The spirit of the age is still
for Governments to have pretty much their own
way in matters of religion. It is so with little
exception from Petersburgh to Madrid, and our
own " enlightened and free country" furnishes,
after all, but an inconsistent exception to the rule.
The Duke could point out to an Irish Church
here, a very small minority, subsisting entirely on
the spoils of Catholics. He could remind us that
an arbitrary Monarch, throughout a very long
reign, deterred some of the ablest and most
powerful ministers England ever saw from
bringing forward any measure of Catholic
emancipation. He could tell us of declara-
tions required from Catholic Members of Par-
liament and Dissenting Municipal Councillors,
" that they would not injure the Church as by
law established." He could, if he carefully rum-
maged our Church laws, find that most unrighteous
powers of oppression still remained in the hands
of English Bishops, but that they are simply
afraid to use them. We once asked an intelligent
Dissenting solicitor to tell us the legal disadvan-
tages of Dissenters ; he mentioned several more
obvious ones, but assured us that it was quite a
study to ascertain what might and what might
not be done to Nonconformists. One recent
fact is very striking, as exemplifying the
Tuscan temper of the English hierarchy. When
Lord LYNDHURST brought in his noble bill
to relieve Dissenteis from the consequences
of many old acts, he dared not for fear of the
bishops repeal the Acts themselves ; it would have
endangered his bill ; the penalties only were re-
pealed, and Dissenters left, consequently, liable to
prosecution for contravening the acts themselves,
which, it is said, would amount legally to a mis-
demeanour. Even Spain could point to Church
laws (and Church clergymen too) which refuse
Christian buxial in the parish churchyards to the
child of a Baptist or a Quaker ; and not only do
Acts of Parliament give all their good things, even
to the chaplaincy of a gaol or a workhouse, to the
dominant sect, but only the other day the sup-
posed liberal Corporation of London, by a majo-
rity of 35 to 27, prohibited the most qualified
Dissenter from being Master of its ORPHAN
SCHOOL. But we forbear to multiply illustra-
tions. We do not write these things to extenuate
Tuscan intolerance, but to remind many how
much they need to clear their own vision while
they are taking others to task. Religious Liberty
is but ill understood in England itself.

Every day's intelligence affords additional con-
firmation of the melancholy fact, that violent and
aggravated assaults against the person, more espe-
cially of women, are on the increase, and that the
Act of last session, notwithstanding its stringent
provisions, is utterly inadequate to meet the exi-
gencies of the case. Not a single journal is pub-
lished in which we do not read of some miscreant
being brought to the bar to answer for severe
injuries inflicted on one of the weaker sex, gene-
rally a wife or mistress, without any provocation
whatsoever, and under circumstances exhibiting a
degree of brutality that could scarcely be credited,
if they had not been proved beyond the possi-
bility of doubt. It seems too as if the depraved
taste for women-beating did not arise very sud-
denly, that it requires careful development and
cultivation. In almost every instance the first
part of the statement refers to a long course of
habitual ill-usage by the prisoner against his unfor-
tunate victim. We can trace the rise and progress
of the practice—fostered by a long course of