The Sun.
London, England, 1854-04-06 00:00:00

STRAND THEATRE,

Solo Lessee Mr. P. W. Allcroft.—Directress, Miss Rebecca Isaacs.
THIS. EVENING, APRIL 6,
Will be performed THE BEGGAR'S OPERA.
To be followed by BORN TO GOOD LUCK.
With THE DUMB BELLE. Eliza, Miss R. Isaacs.
After which, THE BLUE JACKETS.
Stalls, 55.; Boxes, 35.; Pit, Is. 6d; Gallery, 6d•;
Private Boxes
X 1 I is. 6d., to be had of Mr. Allcroft, 15,
.New Bond-street.

ASTLEY'S EUROPE'S NATIONAL AMPHITHEATRE.
Lessee and Manager, Mr. William Cooke.
THIS EVENING, APRIL 6,

The entertainmedt.4 will commence with the chivalric spectacle,
THE WOOD3fAN'S HORSE ; or, The False Knight. Followed by
an elegant routine of Scenes in the CIRCLE, introducing Miss
KATE COOKE; the Wonder of the World, Miss EMILY COOKE; the
Premier Horseman, Mr. ALYSED Coosa ; Mr. WILLIAM Coors on
his matchless steed RAVEN, and a new Burlesque Equestrian Pari-
sian Pastoral BALLET—the appointments expressly made in Paris.
Concluding with (4th time) an entirely new Farce, DALRY.A-
PLE VERSUS TUBBS.

Box-office open from Eleven till Four. Stage Manager, Mr. W.
West.

HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.
Teta DAY —Morning 16 min.after 7 Evening 52 min.aft.
To.MOmovr—Morning 37 mithafter 8 Evening 23 min.aft. 9

THE WEATHER.—Sum Orrin, APRIL G.
THRRHOIRTICB, IN THE SHADE.
64 —highest since noon yesterday.
43—lowest this morning and during the night.
59 —this day at noon.

BAROMETER, 30'47.
WIND, S.W.—Light breeze, and line, sunshiny weather.

AAW ^ " f

LONDON, THURSDAY, APRIL 6, 1854.

At a critical juncture like the present, when a
general European war may be said to have actu-
ally commenced, it is more than ever advisable,
as already intimated by ourselves, that we should
endeavour to discover, by a careful investigation
into the present state of the Finances of Austria,
whether or not it be possible to demonstrate the
solvency of the Viennese Government. That the
course which may be pursued by that Cabinet
still continues to be a subject of uncertainty and
mere conjecture, cannot but render it the more
important to discern, if possible, the weight or
valueof that power which may thus at any moment,
as it were, be thrown into either scale, to
swell the chances of a preponderancy on the one
side or on the other, on the side of barbarism or
on that of civilisation. It is, undoubtedly, true,
that in the secret correspondence recently pub-
lished, we learn from Sir HAMILTON SEYMOUR
that, during the course of one of those strange
dialogues between the Russian AUTOCRAT and the
British Ambassador at St. Petersburg, on his
Excellency observing to the CZAR --" But your
MAJESTY has forgotten Austria ; now all these
Eastern questions affect her very nearly ; she, of
course, would expect to be consulted"—the
EMPEROR replied, "ph ! but you must under-
stand, that when I speak of Russia, I speak of
Austria as well : what suits the one suits the
other ; our interests as regards Turkey are per-
fectly identical." It is undoubtedly true that we
have received this avowal from the lips of the
CZAR, through the issue of this secret and confi-
dential correspondence. But it is likewise indis-
putable that the revelation of the designs of the
Russian AUTOCRAT thereby made, through the
disclosure of that very correspondence between
the British and the Muscovite Government; may
perchance so fa,: wound the amour propre of the
Viennese Cabinet by rendering it painfully con-
scious of its subordination to the CZAR, and
of his sense of his imperial and para-
mount authority over the councils of the
RAIsER as to Prepare the way for some extraordi-
nary and startling estrangement. However this
may be, the line of policy
about to be pursued by
Austria remains still, we repeat,
up to this mo-
ment, entirely questionable. It is still doubtful
whether Austria, and with her, of course, Prussia/
will persist in a course of rigid but armed neu-
trality. It is still uncertain whether she may
declare herself in cordial and active alliance
with the Western Powers as opposed to the
Northern AUTOCRAT
nish the whether she may asto-
world by the enormous ingratitude
threatened by Prince S
CFIWA RTZENBURG, or
whether, on the contrary,
to the forces of the Emperor NICHOLAS the
advantages of her energetic and vigorous co-ope-
ration. Because of that very uncertaint we con-
sider it to be more than
ever desirabley' that we
should examine into the
uestion of the solvency
of the Austrian Governmqent.
Literally with this end in view , rece tly
took occasion to direct the notice
of the Engle"' public at large to a really reraarkable anonymous treatise* upon the Present State of the Finances
and Currency in Austria---a pamphlet originall y
printed at Leipzic, in German, but
published
also in our own capital in the form of an
exact and lucid translation. Anonymous though
the brochure has continued to be from first to last,
both in the German original and in the English
translation, it betrays throughout the fact of its
emanation from a masterhand, from a hand
skilled in the unravelruen t of financial difficulties,
and guided by au intellect wonderfully conver-
sant with the resources of the vast empire presided
over by the Imperial Councils at Schoenbrunn.
Differing, though we do, repeatedly foto ceelo
from several of the more remarkable deductions
of our pamphleteer, we must, nevertheless, "ac-
knowledge at once the throughout the hole of hisimpartiality ingenious
evidenced
production. Th© sewntiments of the writer in
no perceptible instance are, to our thinking
at least, dictated by Partisanship As he
himself avouches (p. 62.), " •
Is
been "to give description of
tsole object" has
he real state of I
the Finances and of the Currenc •
in Austria, no
ark
724 fitter to what result the investigation might lead."
M that ! Occasionally, we con •
ceive, he en-
tirely mistakes the nature of the reoult, but no-

where can we recognise any wilful perversion of
the facts such as might arise from cooked statistics
or plausible prevarication. " I wished," says the I
writer, immediately after the remark just quoted,
" as far as was in my power to throw light on this
highly interesting subject." Highly interesting
the subject undoubtedly is—affecting as it does,
lat the present moment, not merely the stability
of the Austrian Empire directly, but indirectly
also the balance of probabilities in favour of one
or other of the two great opposing forces
about to contest the superiority of Northern
Barbarism, or of Western Civilisation. Light,
moreover, the pamphlet before us has indisputably
thrown upon that curious problem—as any one
may readily perceive who enters without preju-
dice upon the labour of minute investigation.
The precise character of the problem to be
solved is, as to how it possibly can come to pass
that a great State like that of Austria—a State
gifted with enormous powers of productiveness,
both of soil and industry—labours, nevertheless,
under a deficit in its finances, and under an ex-
cess of paper money in its currency.
Nearly one decade from the present time the
novel luxury of a surplus was undoubtedly en-
joyed for once by the Viennese Government.
For, in 1845, while the national receipts of
Austria amounted to 160,566,323 florins, her
expenditure did not exceed 152,954,867 florins
in the aggregate—leaving a surplus, of course,
of no less than 7,611,456 florins. That was in
1845, remember. In 1846 the surplus had shrunk
to one of only 1,130,493 florins, for although in
the meantime the receipts had improved by nearly
four millions, the expenses had become aug-
mented by more than ten millions—the latter
amounting altogether to 163,106,265 florins,
and the former to 164,236,758 florins. How-
ever, in regard to this year (1846), it
must not be forgotten that about the close
of February there occurred the Cracow-enterprise
and the Galicia-rebellion. By the termination
of the next financial year, that of 1847, the sur-
plus, however, had altogether disappeared. In-
stead of a surplus there was a deficit—and a
deficit, too, of as much as 7,060,334 florins, of
course to be covered by credit operations. This
diminution of the finances by the excess of an
expenditure of 168,798,485 florins over the
receipts, amounting to no more than 161,738,151
florins--and the consequent deterioration of the
currency through the increase of the funded debt
by the raising of a loan, and of the floating debt
by the issue of Central-Kassenanweisungen--
must be attributed naturally enough to the
high price of corn consequent on a bad har-
vest, producing a diminution in the Excise,
together with a fall in the Lotto-dues and
in the proceeds of the State-property—these
misfortunes, coupled with an increase of the army
expenses in 1847, to 64,238,766 florins, chiefly
by reason of the agitation in Italy on account of
the affair at Ferrara. The revolution of 1848
brought a deficit of 45,110,646 florins, and that
of 1849 one of actually 121,905,804 florins in
the Austrian Finances—both deficits, of course,
as usual, requiring to be covered by credit
operations. By the end of 1850 the deficit
was less than that of the preceding year
(1849) by 67,040,942 florins, amounting, in fact,
to 54,864,862 florins altogether. The deficit of
1851, however, being increased by 7, 35 8, 768 be-
yond that of 1850, amounted to no less than
62,223,630 florins. While that of 1852 was
53,447,331 florins—less than that of 1851 by
8,776, 299 florins, thanthat of 1850 by 1,417,531
florins, than that of 1849 by 68,458,503 florins
—but no more requiring in 1852 to be covered
by a new issue of state paper money ! A very
important and a very substantial amelioration.

Having observed the reality and the magnitude
of the deficit existing, ever since 1845-1846, in
the Austrian Finances, and having marked also
the deterioration of the national currency conse-
quent upon that deficit, a deficit ever fluctuating,
but always (since 1846) considerable—it becomes
necessary to discover, if possible, the origin of its
existence in an empire so manifestly prolific in all
the sources of wealth as that ruled by the
HAPSBURG dynasty, and guided by the BUOL Ad-
ministration.

As affording us appreciable assistance towards
this end, towards the attainment of this really de-
sirable object, it cannot, we conceive, be deemed
altogether idle to revert, at a fitting opportunity,
to the arguments of our anonymous Leipzie
pamphleteer.

* "The Present State of the Finances and Currency
in Austria. By an Impartial Observer. Bvo., pp. 64."
Leipzic : Armbruster. London : Dulau ; Lumley ;
Nutt ; Routiedge. 1853.

The Revenue Returns have just appeared,
showing the receipts from the different sources of
national income up to yesterday, the close of the
financial year ; and, according to custom, drawing
comparisons between the past and the preceding
twelvemonth, and the quarter just ended with
that of the corresponding one of 1853. Never,
perhaps, were the figures which afforded the best
evidence of the financial position of the country
more anxiously looked for than on the present
occasion. It is true that the Chancellor of the
Exchequer, on opening his Budget a month
since, had tolerably clearly indicated the nature
of the present revelation—acting on the know-
ledge of what had taken place during two
of the three months, and close estimates of the
probable results of the portion then unexpired.
But the people wished to see the figures them-
selves, about which there could be no mistake,
and which would at once place the fiscal resources
of the country in a light by which they might be
accurately examined. This examination, at all
times interesting and important, becomes doubly
so when war has just been proclaimed—a war of
which it is impossible to predict the duration, or
to calculate the cost with the slightest pretensions
to accuracy.
Well, the figures have appeared—are in the
hands of the public—and every person has the
opportunity of forming his own judgment, as-
sisted possibly by the observations and
comments of his favourite journal. The
ABERDEEN organ tells us that they are " very fa-
vourable." We regret to say, however, that we
cannot altogether coincide with that view of the
subject. That they exhibit most unmistakeable
evidence of past prosperity is certain, but unfor-
tunately it is "past," and we find that the tide
turned in October ; and that, though the large
income realised from April to October places the
year's revenue at a high figure, there have been
deplorable deficiencies during the two last quar-
ters, save where fresh taxes have been imposed or
new contributors compelled to furnish their quota.
On the year we find an increase under almost
every head. On the quarter, unfortunately (as
well as on the last quarter), also a decrease is the
rule, while any improvement is the exception.
We cannot, therefore, exult in what we had in
bygone times, when our palmy days have de-
parted, and we are thinking rather of what we
have been than what we are.

On the year, then, as we have stated, the re-
turns are highly favourable. There is a gross
increase of income of 1,485,0861., and this not-
withstanding the reductions that have taken place
in many departments. In the Customs the im-
provement amounts to 358,1481., in the Excise
to 88,3741., Stamps 65,9131., Taxes 47,4301.,
Property Tax 382,6341., Post-office 59,0001.,
Crown Lands 143,888/., Imprest and other
moneys 219,5911., and Repayments of Advances
224,0531., while the solitary instance of defi-
ciency occurs to the amount of 103,9701. under
the not very important item, Miscellaneous. If
we could, here, we might safely congratulate
the country on its brilliant position. But it would
be very -unfair -to do so, and lending ourselves
to what would be neither more nor less than a
(I‘;ception on the community. If we are asked to
gi vo credit to a person, we look rather to what
ho has than what he had. He might have been
perfectly solvent, nay wealthy, six months, and
unable to obtain.. a single shilling's worth without
the money down. We might sympathise with
him for his lost prosperity, but we would not
trust him in business a bit the more. We must,
therefore look to the later accounts, in order to

judge correctly as to the present state of the
Exchequer, and the financial prospects of the
country.

In the Customs, then, the falling off on the
quarter is no less than 106,8911. Last quarter.
also there was a falling off of 96,8061., showing
a total loss within the six months of 203,697/.
—rather a formidable deficiency in a depart-
ment where, notwithstanding the constant re-
ductions going on, there had previously
been a steady and most satisfactory improve-
ment. We must not, however, forget that we
have not only had the reductions on tea and
sugar, which came into operation during the past
year, but many minor articles that were struck
out of the tariff, while we had only a trifling aug-
mentation arising from the additional duty in
lieu to place to the credit side of the account.
There has also been a loss occasioned by the fail-
ure of the currant crop, the duties having, in the
past year, not quite realised one-half of what they
yielded in the previous year, or one-third of the
year immediately preceding. Some allowance ,
must also be made for the fact, that the increase
in the first cost price of tea nearly equalled the
reduction of duty, so that the usual increase of
consumption that generally follows a reduction of
duty, and prevents any considerable loss, did not
occur. As it was, however, we find that in place
of a loss of 950,0001., as it would have been
if the demand remained without variation,
the loss was only 375,0001., much less than
half the amount. We must also, under this head,
recollect that the internecine conflict waging at
Preston has affected the comforts of many fami-
lies, and kept the wife's teapot as well as the
husband's beer-can empty.
In the Excise, the deficiency on the quarter is
155,2311. Last quarter also it was 113,9701. So
that on the six months during which the strike
has been going on, we find that there has been a
loss to the revenue in that which has been justly
regarded as indicating the condition of the
labouring population of the country, and the
amount of comforts of which they were in the
enjoyment. It is, of course, necessary to bear in
mind that the soap duties have been abolished,
but it also should not be forgotten that there is a
set-off to the extent of about 425,0001. by the
enhanced spirit duties in Scotland and Ireland.
On the whole, although there is some credit to be
given for abolished soap duties, we acknowledge
ourselves disappointed in the returns' under this
most imporiant head.

In Stamps there is a trifling falling off—only
6,0501. We mast, however, protest against the
attempt of the Times to account for that falling
off by the modification of the duties on receipts,
and the adoption of a uniform ld. stamp. The
Times says—" Notwithstanding the adoption of a
uniform penny stamp on receipts, and other re-
ductions, the loss under this head is 6,0581."
This plainly implies that the receipt experiment
led to a loss. But what did Mr. GLADSTONE de-
clare in his budget ? "Well," said the Right
Honourable Gentleman, " notwithstanding the
very great reduction made ih the amount of duty
payable for the instruments to which I have re-
ferred, to an uniform duty at ld., yet for the six
months commencing on the 10th October, and
ending on sth April next, the revenue on account
of receipt stamps will, instead of falling off by
37,000/., have improved by 36,0001." It is,
therefore, scarcely fairly to imply that what really
gave an addition of 36,0001. within the six
months was, in any respect, the cause of a loss
of 6,0501. this quarter, and of 75,1011. on the
last.

The increases are on Taxes and Property Tax
—on the former of 87,8331., on the latter of no
less than 415,4811! The Times can only ac-
count for this latter increase " from the rigorous
collection of arrears, or some other extraordinary
stimulus."

We regret to say that there is a more obvious
reason to be assigned. Half a year's tax from
the new contributors (Mr. J. LLOYD PHELPS and
his class), and from Ireland—which was paid
during the past quarter—will, we believe, fully
account for the improvement. Besides, there
was a falling off of 53,3501. last quarter, which
has probably been collected during the present,
so that we see nothing of which to boast in the
so-called improvement.

The Post-office remains in state quo, the re-
ceipts in each quarter being exactly the same,
282,0001. In the Crown Lands there is a defi-
ciency of 7,000/., and in Miscellaneous of 8,831.1.
So much for the ordinary revenue. In the ex-
traordinary items it is sufficient to say that there
has been an increase of 55,2201. under the head
of " Imprest and other Moneys," and a falling off
of 60,7871. in the Repayment of Advances.

Forty years have nearly elapsed since the
Artists' General Benevolent Institution was first
consolidated as an institution. It was not in-
corporated by Royal Charter until the June of
1842, but as early as 1814 it was first instituted.
On Saturday next, the Bth of this present April,
1854, the customary public dinner will be give'
in celebration of its (thirty-ninth) anniversary.
The Chair will upon that evening be occupied
by the Right Honourable BENJAMIN DIS-
RAELI, the leader of her MAJESTY'S Opposi-
tion in the Commons House of Parliament. His
predecessors in that chair, it is not uninteresting
to remember, have been as various in their charac-
ter as for the most part they have been eminently
distinguished. Glancing down from the record
of the earliest to that of the latest anniversary
banquets, we find that the dinner of 1815 was
presided over by the Father of our present gracious
SOVEREIGN, while that of 1853 had as its chairman
the President of the Council in herManorY's existing
Government. During the interval between 1815
and 1853, H.R.H. the Duke of SUSSEX acted as
chairman at similar festivals on no less than five
of these anniversaries. Sir ROBERT PEEL was
chairman in 1830—in 1831- the chairman was
Lord LYNDHURST—in 1833 the Marquis of LANs-
D OWNE—in 1834 the Earl of DURHAM—in 1835
Lord BROUGHAM. Now (1843) it was Viscount
MAHON, and now (1832 and 1842) Sir MAR-
TIN ARCHER SHEE. One year (1852) it was
the Earl of CARLISLE, and previously, upon two
occasions (1844 and 1851), it was Sir ROBERT
HARRY INGLIS. The Liberal-Reformer, once
representative of the West Riding of Yorkshire,
or the Tory-Conservative, then member for the
Oxford University—it signified nothing as to
political views, it signified only as to personal
character, who, upon these interesting anniver-
saries, was selected as the Chairman of the Artists'
General Benevolent Institution.

Saturday, as we have already observed, will
find the chair occupied at the Freemasons' Tavern,
not by some follower or member of the present
Cabinet—not by some conspicuouS or subordinate
Ministerialist--but by the Leader (in the House
of Commons) of her MAJESTY'S Opposition.
Charity, however, is of no creed or party, to the
exclusion of the remainder—it appeals to all in-
discriminately. As Chairman of the banquet on
Saturdayevening, Mr. DISRAELI will be regarded
in his personal capacity, in his individual emi-
nence as one of the chief men of our time,
and as himself an artist, both as an orator and as
one of the most brilliant and popular contributors
to our living literature. If his political position
be borne at all in remembrance upon the occa-
sion among those who will be assembled to aid
in the convivial celebration of the Artists' Gene-
ral Benevolent Institution, it will only tend to
mark the extent, and to enhance their sense, of his
intellectual superiority over the masses of his
fellow-citizens, who are his contemporaries.
Cherishing 11;mself a genial sympathy for art and
artists, Mr. DISRAELI may, we feel assured, anti-
cipate, with all confidence, the gathering around
him on Saturday evening of an adequate muster
of congenial sympathisers—men, not only ready,
but eager to afford to the widows and orphans of
decayed artists that assistance which for forty
years has been unremittingly supplied by the
funds of the Artists' General Benevolent Institu-
tion.

' -
REPORTED SEIZURE—The following was posted at
Lloyd's yesterday It is reported that the Flavio
Gioja, from Antwerp to Montreal, has been arrested iQ
the Downs under" Admiralty warrant, luppond to hay o
arms on board.