The Sun.
London, England, 1853-02-18 00:00:00

ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE, OXFORD-STREET.
Under' the Management of Mr. C. Kean.
THIS EVENING, FEB. 18,

Will be produced Shakspere's Tragedy of MACBETH (as acted
at Windsor Castle, by Royal command). Principal characters by
Mr. and Mrs. C. Kean.
To conclude with the new and original Grand Comic Christ-
mas Pantomime, entitled HARLEQUIN CHERRY AND FAIR
STAR; or, The Green Bird, the Dancing Waters, and the
singing Tree.

ROYAL OLYMPIC; THE/TEE.
Lessee and Manager, Mr. Farrea.
THIS EVENING, FEL 18,

Will be presented (by desire) LILIAN GERVAIS. Supported
by IM essrs. Compton, W. Farren, jun., Hoskins. Cooke, Edgar,
Bonder, and Clifton; Misses Anderton ad H. Gordon.
After which, the new and successful: Farce of A DEED WITH-
OUT A NAME, in which Mr. Compton will appear.
To conclude with THE, WATERMAN.
Box-office open from Eleven till Five, under the superintendence
of Mr. E. Chatterton.

ASTLEY'S ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE.
Proprietor nd Manager, Mr. W. Ratty.
LAST WEEK BUT THREE of Mr. BATTY'S MANAGEMENT.
Extraordinary Attraction. The Two most powerftil Equestrian
Dramas ever produced—Mazeppa, and Uncle Tom's Cabin.
THIS EVENING, FEB. 18,

And during the Week, the Entertainments will commence with
the superb Spectacle of MAZEPPA AND THE WILD HORSE,
reproduced with all its original splendid and magnificent effects.

After which, Ratty's brilliant Scenes in the Arena, supported by
the first Equestrian talent in Europe. •

To conclude with UNCLE TOM'S CABIN.

Doors open at Half-past Six o'clock. To commence at Seven.
Box-Wilco open daily from Eleven to Four. Stage Manager. Mr,
W. West.

HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.

THIS DAT —Morning 47 min. after 8 Evening 27 min.aft. 9
To-MORROW—Morning 7 min. after 10 1 Evening 47 min.aft. 10

THE WEATHER.—SUN Orna, FEB. 18.

THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE.

31—highest since noon yesterday.
22—lowest this morning and during the night.
29—this day at noon.

BAROMETER, 29'56.

WIND, N.NW.—Smart breeze, and sunshine. A heavy
fall of snow in the night.

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LONDON, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1853.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER appears to
be thoroughly versed in the official cant for which
his predecessors, during many ages, have, with
scarcely a single exception, been distinguished.
The Right Hon. Gentleman has, at his fingers'
ends, the usual evasions and excuses. His argu-
ments are certainly more plausible than those of
Sir CHARLES WooD, who had a stereotyped
answer in every case. No matter how unjust or
oppressive might . be the impost under considera-
tion for the time being—no matter how potent
might be the arguments adduced for its repeal or
reduction—the invariable response of the Finan-
cial Minister was, that it produced so many
pounds sterling to the Exchequer, " which
he certainly was not prepared to relin-
quish." Such was the reasoning to which
a person occupying a prominent position in the
Government of the country deemed it respectful
to offer to the Parliament of the United Ringdom ;
and for a time it was successful. The Whig
whippers-in discharged their duties effici-
ently, and a host of "waiters on PROVIDENCE"
were prepared to sustain the opinions of one of
the dispensers of official patronage—of a man who
had the distribution of a considerable amount of
the anxiously " looked-for loaves and fishes"—

and to laugh to scorn the folly of those who
believed that old-fashioned notions of equity and
expediency could, in any degree, influence the
determination, or rather the votes, of the British
Legislature. The total and unmitigated contempt
for public opinion, however, ultimately produced
its natural result. Dissatisfaction rapidly ripened
into disgust. Sir CHARLES WOOD was hurled from
office. His colleagues shared his fall ; and a pure
Whig Administration was rendered among the
" has beens" which could never again, by any pos-
sibility, be tolerated or recognised by the com-
munity.

Mr: GLADSTONE, as we have already Mated, has
more tact and ability than the Whig Minister.
He can clothe his ideas in more gfaceful language,
and is more competent " to make' the worse appear
the better reason." But a slight examination will
show that his arguments are based on no better
foundation. If Sir CHARLES WOOD could bluntly
declare that "he certainly was not prepared to relin-
quish 300,0001. per annum," Mr. GLADSTONE can,
with an air of most provoking candour, assure any.
Hon. Member who exposes a fiscal grievance, that "a
very considerable value was attached to 300,0001.
and more in addition to the other sources of re-
venue." If, according to Sir CHART:PIA WOOD,
there never was a fitting time for redressing such
grievances, the moment selected being always in-
opportune—too early or too late for the purpose--
Mr. GLADSTONE can urge the impolicy of repealing
any tax until the House had considered "'what
was to be the expenditure of the year, for which
it was necessary to provide." Thus objecting to
early relief, he is equally adverse to a mere ab-
stract resolution condemnatory of any tai--a
practice which he denounced as being "still more
dangerous to the honour and character of the
House and the interests of the country." If,- on
the other hand, the matter was allowed to stand
over until after the Budget had been submitted to
the House and the country, then the Hon. Member
had lapsed his time ; it would be a very incon-
venient—almost a factious—course to disturb the
Ministerial arrangements. A toping casuist of
the olden time showed that every day should be
consumed in imbibing liquids—that " each was
the properest day to drink." Mr. GLADSTONE,
by a similar train of reasoning, discovers that
there is no possible time in which the evils of an
impolitic or inequitable tax can be exposed, and
in good round terms lectures an independent
Member for venturing to bring forward a mat-
ter which is peculiarly onerous and unfair
to the constituency of which he is the chosen re-
presentative, and ventures to assert that the Hon.
Gentleman who gives expression to the com-
plaints of those by whom he is sent into the
House, is setting a very indifferent example
on the ground of public policy.
This may be very clever—may occasion a cheer
or a laugh for the time being, but it will not
deter Honourable Gentlemen from bringing forward
subjects, which although unpalatable to the
Champion of existing abuses, are yet eminently
deserving of calm and attentive consideration. It
will not prevent Mr. MILNER GIBSON from propos-
ing the total repeal of the duty on Advertisements,
a matter which appeared so very absurd to Honour-
able Gentlemen, and excited such extraordinary
risibility. Nay more, we should not wonder
even if the Right Hon. Member for Manchester
had the audacity even to complain of the others
on knowledge, and to demand their abolition.
It will not induce Mr. OLIVEIRA to refrain from
showing the evil results of the Wine Duties as now
levied, and demanding their reduction. Nor will
it convince the Iri4. distillers that they should

cheerfully pay duties on spirits that had eva-
porated or been otherwise wasted, while their
foreign competitors are exempted from the un-
fair exaction. Mr. GLADSTONE may lash him-

self into a high state of virtuous indignation,
but he will still find men who neither deprecate

his frowns nor seek his favour.

We have so often exposed the gross and palpa-
ble injustice of the Hop Duties, that it is unne-
cessary to recapitulate the numerous unanswerable
arguments that have been addubed against their
continuance. Suffice it to say, that the practical'
operation of the impost amounts to neither more
nor less than confiscation—a confiscation of three-
fourths, or possibly nine-tenths, of the value of
the land on which the crop will grow.. What
reason can there be for seizing on so large a
proportion of the value of the produce"as
nearly one-third, and that, too, of a description
requiring extraordinary care and attention, and
necessarily a great outlay on labour ? The simple
fact, that the tax on 26 acres on which hops were
grown, amounted to more than the rent of an
entire farm of 503 acres, of which these very 26
acres constituted a portion, exhibits the grievance *'
in the very strongest point of view. As well map
nine-tenths of the lands in arty particular district,
or of any particular landowner, be seized for State
purposes without compensation, and the appropri-
ation defended, as may the imposition of the flop
Duties be be justified.

The Hon. Member for East Sussex has emi.
nently entitled himself to the thanks of his con-
stituents and of the community in general, for the
temperate statements in which he so clearly and
unanswe]rably exposed the injustice and impolici
of the in iquitous impost ; and the support which
he recei'v edfrom Mr. Him and Mr. BRIGHT, 811010

hat the Joint-Stock Administration are reckon-

ing with out their host if they suppose that the
admission of Sir WILLIAM MOLESWORTH to a scab
in the Cabinet will ensure the support of the
Liberal party, under any and every circumstance•

Although people talk less nowadays about the
establish ment of an entente cordials between the
French .and English Governments, it is gratifying
to observe continually increasing illustrations of
the truth mentioned the other evening in the .
House .of Conlmons by Lord JOHN RUSSELL---*
namely, that a better understanding has not for
a long time subsisted between the Cabinet of St,
James's and the Cabinet of the Tuileries. Some-
where about a dozen years since the rulers of Great
Britain, afforded the great nation on the opposite
shores .a the Channel a very brilliant and even
touching evidence of the diminution of that
lament, ble animosity which had been productive,
from 1.193 to 1815, of so much bloodshed, and
which had moreover burthened our peril**
tion with an additional debt of just 500,000,0001.
sterling ! Everybody surely remembers the
beautiful and noble incident here alluded te-
Everyht)dy surely remembers how France, faith'•
ful to -ft.-; he souvenirs of the glory of her Rev:AP
tion, d.omanded upon that occasion from her 13ri"
tish ally the ashes of that illustrious chieftain,
who has been called by the European annalist the
Child o f that Revolution. It was at that period
when the councils of the ORLEANS dynasty 'were
presided over by M. THIERS, and when, amongst,
ourselv es, Viscount PALMERSTON was happily stalx
presiding over the Foreign Department. 11°W
the request of the neighbouring Administration
was acceded to, history has already recorded, and
recorded too in language that cannot very spendilY
be forgotten. The response of Lord PALREnsro°
was worthy in every respect of himself, of the,
people over whom he was administrator, and
of the Sovereign of whom, in regard to
content p2rary Powers, he was at once the
recogni sed adviser and the Ministerial renre;
sentatir ve. It was intimated by that distinguish
statesman that England not only hastened
grant the request of the French Monarchy, but the;
she entertained a hope that thenceforth the enmity
which had unfortunately raged between the two
countries would be buried in the tomb 0t
NAPOLEON. Since then, in fact, the relations maul:
tained between the two foremost races of Chris-
tendom have been (we may venture t°
_flaY
uninterruptedly) of the most amicable Character.
Notwithstanding all the changes that have taker'
place in Paris, notwithstanding the dethrone-
ment and expatriation of one dynasty and the
recal and re-establishment of another notwith'
standing the political convulsions which followed •
each other with such astounding rapidity innr
diately after the first outbreak in 1848—the •
English Government has continued all along t‘'
regard her neighbour with friendly eyes) 11°
matters whether it was a poet like Lem.AnTuos et.
a soldlier like CAVAIGNAC, or an imperial chieftsia.
like NAPoLsoN 111., who pfesided in undisputT
authority over the deliberations of the Franc.'
Government. The truth is, that a disastrous °
perien ce has taught our rulers to be tolerant te'
wards the opinions deliberately entertained 13/ '
35,00 0,000 of Frenchmen. May we not hope, '
then, with some show of reason, that
PALMERSTON was correct in his anticipation, the:
from the period of the delivery of the remains "j
the heroic captive of St. Helena, the ancient
animosity reciprocated by France and Engle°
would. be buried in the tomb of NAroLsoll_u
Yes---bearing in mind the political throes -*chic'
have agitated the adjacent Empire since the out".
burst of its last revolution, and beholding the
ration.al course that has been adopted towar°:
France throughout by our Government, with th
unanimous accord of the most eminent of British
Statesmen, we may, without extravagance, ijr
dulge in the belief (madmen like M. BILLOT to
„,
tbe;
contrary, nevertheless, notwithstanding), that al
those by-gone feuds have been abandoned---LIL
grant that it may prove for ever !—now that
ashes of the wonderful Conqueror are repo"f
" upon the banks of the Seine, in the midst °
the people whom he loved so under the
dome in the midst of the temple consecrated /3):,
Religion to the GOD of Armies." So that 'te
gorgeous tomb of the Invalides may constitute
at once in the eyes of France the 11°1)
trophy of her victories, and the surest guarantee'
of a lasting and honourable tranquillity.
Yesterday, there, was afforded to the Cabinet °I
the Tuileries a crowning evidence of the an" —_,,o
feelings entertained towards it by her BRIOo
MAJESTY'S Government. We refer to an inert
which then took place in the Prerogative C 0
tA6
before Sir JOHN DODSON, "In the matter of 8
will and codicils of the late EMPEROR NA-r°•,
BONAPARTE, deceased." That will and those cv—
oils, it will be remembered, have continued up ea
this this time among the testamentary treasures ho
up in Doctors' Commons, having been origirio
deposited there immediately after their arriv":4l,d
this country from the Island of St. Helena. •'1,66
were duly proved, in fact, this will and those 8e
codicils were duly proved in the month of x..
1824, by CHARLES TRISTAN, Count Pi re.
THOLON, one of the executors, power being tio
served of making the like grant to the otheLov,
executors, HENRY GRATIAN, Count BEEnot
and Lours, Count MARCHAND. Application
has
these important and interesting documents cot,
recently been made by the French Goveroleor
and the first and third of those executors, beingeo-
vivors, have, in support of that applicatiet! 0
cuted a proxy consenting to the will being
delivered up by the British Governmen'ttol
consequence of this request—surely a verYys het
and reasonable one under all circumstanceoraS
MAJESTY'S advisers have taken every step te 311
01 •
complying with the desire thereby exPre.ted
ea
the utmost possible expedition. After m fore
the explanatory affidavit of Lord Jo° there'
SELL, the Prerogative Court
andcide aen
fore, yesterday, that the will
codicils of the Emperor NAPOLEON the Gr
io the
shall be delivered over forthwithr the
Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs)
purpose of being transmitted by him to :08.ferly
stituted legal authorities of the French f
asojtf
ment. Another and a brilliant pledge j3ritisb.
has consequently been afforded by the
of that
Cabinet—a, new and touching testimony
1)&01
friendship which we hope has at length s
permanently established between the two
powerful, most enlightened, and 111°5b.c3
raceB of Christendom.