The Sun.
London, England, 1854-03-23 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

SIR,—As your columns are always open to any
remarks that may tend to ease the increased bur-
dens imposed on the people, I should feel obliged
by your inserting the following suggestions, should
they be worthy of your journal. In the opinion
of the wisest legislators, the doubling of the income
tax seems to be, by almost universal consent, the
only available means by which the expenses of war
are to be defrayed. Might not a mite be added to
the revenue by substituting half-pay officers to
collect the assessed taxes of this country, in hex of
the present amply paid officials. The duties of col-
lecting such taxes I think would be far from onerous,
considering the number of pensioners located in the
'various towns, &c., throughout the kingdom. The
demand, too, I have no doubt, would be both .po-
Pular and readily met, under present exigencies,
and fraught with both benefit to the Exchequer and
the country.
I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
ROBERT CHAMPLEY.
Scarborough, March 22, 1854.

[We apprehend the task would be considered
infra. dig. by officers, being gentlemen. The case
Would be very different in an enemy's country.—
ED. SIIN.]

THE HAY TO TRE EAST.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Sir,—ln your report •f the proceedings of the House
of Lords last night my name is mentioned as contractor
for the supply of hay, to be put on shipboard for the
east of Europe, and as I know of no other person in the
trade of the same ❑ame, I beg you to insert my unquali-
fied contradiction of the fraudulent charge, as I am
utterly ignorant of the transaction, except from public
report, having never held nor sought for any Govern-
Meat contract.—l am, sir, your obedient servant,

„
JOHN STURGES.
Orchard-street, Portman-square, March 22.

OLYMPIC THEATRE.

The very clever adaptation to the stage of this theatre
of the French vaudeville La Nuit aux Sou lets, under
the title of The lVroiig Box, met with a very good recep-
tion, and promises for some time to please the frequenters
of the establishment. The piece is of very slight con-
struction, and derives its chief interest from the smart-
'Uess and vivacity of the acting. It turns upon an affair
of love, between Helene,. a maid of honour at the court
of the Duke of Ferrara, and R6ni-, a captain in the
guards. Their attachment is reciprocal, but the lady's
guardian, a count at the same court, having secret in-
tentions of wedding for himself, refuses his consent, al-
leging as his reason the poverty of Rend, and the latter,
In despair, resolves to sail in a military expedition to
Africa. To prevent his departure, the damsel writes to
Lim an anonymous letter demanding a meeting in the
garden at night on an affair of honour. Ren6 feels
himself bound in honour to keep the rendesvous, though
en the point of sailing. The hour arrives, and the lover
comes to meet his unknown challenger. The lady also
repairs to the spot. The guardian, who suspects a clan-
destine meeting between his ward and her lover, also
comes to watch them ; and lastly appears the Duke
himself, who is on foot in search of an adventure. There
Is a scene of hide-and-seek in the dark, with various
SL a and bvAcs vi. thc ear given and received. Next
rnornjng the young Captain is furious at the insult
he has received from his imaginary enemy, against
"hem he vows vengeance ; the Duke is resolved to
luflict the direst punishment on the hand that has been
uplifted against his sacred person, while the Count,
conscious that he has been the criminal, is terrified
out of his wits for the consequence. The imbroglio is
Most amusingly kept up for some time, till the young
lady sets herself right with her lover, by avowing her-
self the author of the anonymous note he had received,
as well as of the box on the ear. To pacify the Duke he
i 8 persuaded that he also has received his box from the
tame fair hand ; and the guardian, thus got out of the
serape, withdraws his opposition to the union of the
lovers. The piece is got up with the neatness, and
acted with the vivacity, of the French comic stage. The
Puke, a foolish dandy, with a mixture of ferociousness,
is admirably personated by Miss P. Horton, and Mr.
Wigan and Mr. Robinson are both excellent, the one
as the Count, and the other as the disconsolate soldier.