The Sun.
London, England, 1854-05-10 00:00:00

purpose of meeting the expenses that had been incurred
by the Government in sending an expedition to the
East !" He follows the argument of the Times,
that "the financial scheme provided for the cost
of preparations, and no more !" That it was a
" temporary provision"—for the expenses of
the Eastern Expedition ! Now the largest por-
tion of the Supplemental Estimates consists of
freight and charges connected with the transport
service under this head. No less than 3,096,700/.
was demanded and granted, all of which,' as well
as other charges contained in the various esti-
mates, were included in the costs of the Expedi-
tion to the East which was under orders, and a
part of which had actually sailed at the very
time. Mr. GLADSTONE must, therefore, have
known, if not the exact accounts, at least that
very large sums would be required on these ac-
counts. And one charge is that, with that distinct
knowledge, he not only refrained from giving the
slightest intimation of the true state of facts, but,
on the contrary, led the people to believe that the
doubling of the Income Tax for six months would
meet all the expenses that might fairly be antici-
pated, and, unless something unforeseen occurred,
provide for the vigorous " prosecution" of the war
for twelve months. He not only spoke of what
had been done, and what he was then aunounc-

ing as "looking like an intention to carry on
war with vigour," but he also says we
quote from his own organ, that there may
be no dispute as to the authenticity of the pas-
Eine :—" I WISH THE COMMITTEE TO UNDERSTAND
IT IS OUR BELIEF, THAT THE FUNDS FOR WHICH
WE NOW ASK WILL NOT SUFFICE Tr,) CARRY ON THE

ACTIVE OPERATIONS OF WAR BEYOND TWELVE
MONTHS ! ! !"

Now, we ask any person of ordinary capacity,
what is the meaning of that passage ? What can
it be, but that the expenditure then referred to
would suffice, unless something unexpected should
happen, to carry on the active operations of war.
This was the sense in which he intended it to be
received. This was the sense in which it was
received by the House and the country. Nay,
more, he explained the reason why he demanded
the whole increase of the Income Tax on the first six

months, instead of spreading it over. the entire
year, in these words—" It is only, therefore, by
laying the increase of the Income Tax on the first
moiety of the year that we shall be able to levyit
within the year !" It is true that he also
declared that it was desirable to leave open the
question as to the augmentation of taxes, in the
event of the duration of the war rendering such a
proceeding necessary. But he permitted, nay,
more, induced the House to believe that unless
something unexpected should happen there would
be no further demand. How then, we ask, is it,
ipossible to believe that his present statement is a
particle more binding or conclusive than either of
those by which it was preceded ? or, that if the
Income Tax be permanently doubled, and the
duties on Spirits, Malt, and Sugar increased in
accordance with his proposition, he may not again
' come within a few weeks or mouths, and ask for
the addition of ten or twelve millions more to our
expenditure, and the restoration of the various
indirect imposts which have happily been got rid
of during the last quarter of a century. When no
reliance can be placed on the veracity of the Mi-
nister, very grave suspicions must naturally be
entertained, and the consequences may be ex-
ceedingly prejudicial 4o the public service.
But this is not all. We shall not at present
refer to his opinions in March as to the impolicy
of indirect taxation, which he unhesi atingly
adopts to the extent of 3,600,0001. in the begin-
ning of May. We cannot forego the charge that
the Right Hon. Gentleman pledged himself on
the 6th of March that there should .be :no early
loan—a pledge virtually repeated and confirmed
on the 11th of April, and violated on the 21st of
the same month. The Right Hon. Gentleman
designates it as a charge of "a most gratuitous
and a most foolish character !" We emphatically
repeat it, however, notwithstanding his denial.
He says there was "no war on. the 21st of April !"
that it was merely " a provision for the tempo-
rary raising of money !!" Why, what pitiful
casuistry what contemptible equivocation—
what special pleading is here I He asks to
borrow six millions for terms of four, five, and
six year 3. If ho did not succeed in that object—.
if it proved a total and very humiliating failure—
it was not the will that was wanting, but his
utter incompetence to manage the transaction.
Hear it, ye expectant heirs, who are desirous of
anticipating the period of enjoyment ! Hear it,
ye spendthrift youths, who are rapidly alienating
the provisions secured by the prudence of your
ancestors ! You may safely resort to your bill-
discounters, for the money raised on bonds or bills
for from five or six years is " not a loan at all,
but a provision for. the temporary raising of
money !" This is a refinement beyond the com-
prehension of ordinary men—a refinement which
plain men of business will not sanction or tole-
rate. Mr. GLADSTONE has himself laid down the
principle, " that a period of war is the last when
that important trust (the Ministership of Finance)
should be committed to hands that have been dis-
credited in the view of the House and the coun-
try." Acquiescing to the fullest extent in that
view, we leave our—readers to draw-the obvious
conclusion, asking whether lie should be continued
in a station for which he is disqualified on even
graver grounds than those of financial incompe-
tence.

ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA.

IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA.

We have never seen a more magnificent performance of
Il Bctrbiere than we witnessed last night at this opera. The
vocalism, acting, and instrumentation were all perfect, awl
the east, as it ought to be, was also perfect. It was as fol-
lows—Rosins, Mdlle. Bosio ; Bertha, Mdlle. Cotti ; Count
Almaviva, Signor Mario, who, of course, experienced a mag-
nificent reception, as did, and' rather indeed in a greater de-
gree, the old favourite, Signor Lablache. Signor Ronconi
was the barber, and Signor Tagliafico, Basilio.
It would be, of course, ridiculous to enter into anything
approaching detail in an opera perhaps the most familiar to
the public of an' of Rossini's. We shall content ourselves
with pointing out the prominent features of the different per-
formers, 'beginning, of course, with the ladies.
3lclllos 13osio improves every day. We never heard a more
delightful Rosins, with the exception of the queen of all
Rosivas. In everything she had to do she was perfect. Her
voice is strengthening, her vocalisation is more facile and
brilliant, and her intonation correct. She sang the exceed-
ingly difficult " Rode's Variations," originally intended for
the violin in the music lesson, with perfect facility. Her
bearing on the stage is also improving as her experience in-
creases, and she is now altogether one of the most promis-
ing of our prime donne. Mdlle. Cotti is also one of the im-
provers. She sang the rapid air describing the hubbub in
the house remarkably well, and she is taking a considerably
higher place than we remember her heretofore as holding.
Signor Mario's voice appeared to us at first rather husky
and restrained, but it brightened up as he advanced in his
part, and be acted capitally in the development of the charac-
tersof count, drunken officer, and music master.
Of Lablache, we have to say that ho was as young, and as
gambolsome, and as waddling in his gait, as ever. His mag.
nificent voice appears to have improved by rest, and in the
music lesson he sang 'the song that the Caffarelli sang with
all the vast power of his organ. Of course he was as
frolicsome as ever, keeping the house in a continued roar
when he was on the stage, as ho was wont to do in the days
of yore.
Roneoni's barber is well known, and he played it to per-
fection. His powerful voice came out strongly in the con-
certed parts. Tagibffico made up in the most dismal fashion,
and sang the calumniating and hypocritical aria, in which he
instils these amiable qualities into the ear of Dr. Bartolo, in
the most masterly fashion.
Altogether, we repeat that the performance was eminently
complete in all the departments of the opera.
The house was brilliantly crowded, and her Majesty and
the Prince were present for a part of the evening.

The youthful Prince Victor of Hohenlohe, nephew to
her Majesty, and the Duchess of Kent's grandson, who
is serving in our navy as midshipman, has embarked,
via Copenhagen, to join the Cumberland ship-of-the-line,
one of Vice-Admiral Sir Charles Napier's squadron.
Mr. Freshfieid, M.P. for Falmouth and Penryn, has
been unable to attend to his parliamentary duties since
the recess in consequence of an attack of inflammation.
The hon. gentleman is slowly recovering.
ARRIVAL 01' THE BRITISH AMBASSADOR FROM PARTS.
—ln consequence of bad weather Lord Cowley did not
leave Boulogne iu the Dover Royal mail service packet
Violet until yesterday morning. Ilis lordship on arrival
at Dover, breakfasted at Birmingham's Ship Hotel, and
came up to London by the 9.15 express train.
THE AUSTRIAN FRIGATE RADETZR Y.—SOUTHAMPTON,
TUESDAY.—This;fine screw-ship, which was laid down
under orders received from the Austrian Government,
and built by the Messrs. Wigratn, of Northam, left the
dock this evening for London, for the purpose of receiv-
ing her machinery. It will be remembered that a few
weeks since we noticed the launch, which took place at
the premises of her builders, since which time she has
been lying in the Southampton docks, where she has
been rigged, and a great portion of her interior fittings
placed on board, She is heti assisted to London by
two ateazAugsv which, arri from the ThsWea t 1438
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