The Sun.
London, England, 1853-05-21 00:00:00

Austria and Prussia, but also—and in a more
earnest manner—by Queen VICTORIA and the
Emperor NAPOLEON. Turkey would discover her
safety, not so much in treaties or in diplomacy, as
in the sense of justice common to all the chief
States of Christendom.

The contest on the Income Tax Bill has been
postponed. It last night received its second
reading without prejudice to future proceedings.
Mr. DISRAELI, and those usually acting with
him, reserving to themselves the full right of
bringing forward in Committee any amendments
they might think proper to propose, and it
being also understood that they must not be
supposed to have at all assented to the prin-
ciple of the Bill. This was a generous and
at the same time a judicious course. It
proved that the Right Honourable Gentleman
was not actuated by any desire to embarrass
Ministers, to whom time was of considerable im-
portance—that his opposition was not of a fac-
tious character. All parties concur in the opinion,
that something in the shape of an Income Tax. or
Property Tax is essential, that no suitable sub-
stitute can at present be found, and that a delib-
erate refusal to revive it would greatly confuse
the national finances, and materially damage the
public credit. No' person of proper feeling would
incur so formidable a risk, while there was
any prospect, however remote, of the re-
moval of the serious obligations to the sys-
tem which expired on the sth of April,
and which is now intended to be revived. If the
only alternative lay between the renewal of the
Income Tax without modification and its total
rejection, a serious question might arise but
while there remains a reasonable expectation of
improvement—although it should only be a slight
mitigation of the serious evils, a very gradual ap-
proximation to an equitable arrangement—every
allowance should be made. The contest should
not be one of outposts, or on matters of trivial
importance, but on questions of deep and serious
interest, involving the practical utility of the
measure.

In addition to the several amendments to the
original resolutions on which the opinions of the
Committee will unquestionably be taken, two of
paramount importance will be brought forward.
The one relating to the period for which the im-
post shall be renewed ; the other to the distinc-
tion (if any) to be established between permanent
and precarious incomes, and the establishment of
the direct taxation of the country on a sound and
equitable foundation.

On the first point, we have repeatedly urged the
great benefit that would be derived if the popular
branch of the Legislature, the guardians of
the National purse, retained a certain degree of
control over Ministers, by compelling them to ob-
tain the Legislative sanction, -to raising at least
some considerable portion of the National Re-
venue in each, and every Session. We showed
that a direct impost was the only one in which
this control and power of periodical revision, or
even of absolute rejection, could safely be main-
tained, inasmuch as to leave the Customs or Excise,
or, indeed, any indirect dukes in doubt, would
greatly derange and materially prejudice all com-
mercial and manufacturing transactions in re-
ference thereto. Nor is it every species of direct
taxation that would answer for the purpose. If
the House Duties -were frequently tampered with,
it would injuriously influence the dealings be-
tween landlord and tenant, and reasonable -objec-
tions might be urged to any item of uncertainty
in the list of the Assessed Taxes. But nothing of
the kind could fairly be complained of with re-
spect to the Income Tax. By its means alone
could that salutary control be obtained which
makes " the People" " the true source of legitimate
power." Although we might not agree with the
demand for Annual Parliaments, seeing the mis-
chief that might arise from such frequent appeals
to the country, and the incessant agitation and
excitement that would be maintained, we can per-
ceive no possible danger from an annual bill for the
renewal of an Income Tax, on which, if once
equitably adjusted, no debates would take place,
or time be wasted.

But if an annual appeal to Parliament were
considered too frequent, there certainly is no rea-
son why the term of the Income Tax should be
extended from three to seven years. How, we
ask, can any consistent Parliamentary Reformer—
men who profess to be desirous of shortening the
duration of Parliament itself from seven to -three
years—vote for such a proposition ? A short
time time since we should have said that
such a notion was too absurd to be deemed
worthy of serious consideration ; but, unfortunately,
our faith in public men has been so greatly shaken
by recent transactions, that we shall abide the
event before venturing to express our opinion on
the result. But this, we will say, that if profes-
sing Reformers vote for the renewal of the tax for
seven years, they will exhibit a degree of slavish
subservience to Ministers disgraceful to them-
selves as men, and very prejudicial to the best
interests of the community, and more especially
so to those of the industrious classes, for whom
they profess to be the zealous and disinterested
advocates.

COURT CIRCULAR.

OSBORNE, FRIDAY.

The Queen and Prince, with the Princess Royal ac-
companied by the Duchess of Kent and Princess Ade-
laide of Hohenlohe, and attended by the Marchioness of
Ely, drove over to Ryde yesterday afternoon, and re.
turned to Osborne at seven o'clock.
Lieutenant-Colonel the Hon. A. Gordon attended on
horseback.

M. Musurus, the Turkish Minister, transacted busi-
ness yesterday at the Foreign-office.
M. Drouet has returned from the Continent to take
charge of the Belgian Legation, in the absence of M. Van
de Weyer.
The Lord President of the Council and the Countess
Granville returned to their residence in Bruton-street on
Thursday night from Dublin.
Viscount Palmerston returned to his residence in
Carlton-gardens on Thursday night, from his seat,
Broadland, Hants. The Lord Chancellor had an inter-
view with the noble viscount yesterday at the Home-
office.

Mrs. Gladstone returned to town yesterday from
Eden-bridge.
Lord Mulgrave transacted business yesterday at the
Board of Trade.

Dispatches were sent from the Colonial-office yester.
day to the Governor-General of Canada.

MR. MITCHELL'S BENEFIT.—We perceive that Mr.
Mitchell takes his benefit at the St. James's Theatre on
Wednesday next, the 25th. Mr. Mitchell is a manager
of consummate taste and enterprise, and it is mainly him
we have to thank for the existence of a French play in
London. It has now become as much an essential of the
season as the Opera itself. Considering the brilliant
stars which he has at times transferred to its orbit, and
the varied treasures of art and genius poured in such
profusion before his audiences, we think that not only
the Western world of fashion, but the larger dramatic
public owe him a considerable debt of gratitude. Not
that there has ever been any backwardness in acknow-
ledging it on these occasions, for everybody knows that
Mr. Mitchell's benefits always were and always are
bumpers. We feel certain, too, that they always will be
—on ne s'arrete pas dans un si beau eltemn—and, there-
fore, we expect to see the house crammed from top to
bottom on Wednesday night. The performance on this
occasion will be under the immediate patronage of her
Majesty ; and the programme consists of the very ex-
cellent comedy of Le Mari a lce Campagne, with the
Bonhomm,e jadis, of which Regnier has made such a
favourite. The comedy has not been performed since
1850, and will only be performed once during this
season, on the present occasion, which is the last night
but two of the comedies.
THE COMMON COUNCIL AND THE CITY RAILWAY
TERMINUS.—Some of the opponents in the Common
Council of the proposed Railway Terminus in Farringdon-
street—the greatest City improvement which has been
projected for a series of years—yesterday carried their
hostility to the scheme to an extent which was positively
diecretitable. By the most miserable quibbling to
which it would be possible to resort, the parties to whom
we allude sought to reject the petitions of the citizens
in favour of the project. For the sake of the character
of the Corporation, we trust that at the adjourned
meeting of to-day, there will be such an expression of
feeling, as will make it patent to all the world, that the
majority of the Council have no sympathy with the
faatrtneeottieohuuerrse and unworthy conduct of these persons. We
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THE HULL BRIBERY Commrssiox.--The Commis-
sioners appointed by the Crown to inquire into alleged
corrupt practices at the last and previous elections for
the borough of Kinrrsto
that they will commen:l2.l)hon-Hull, have given notice
the 2 Zr* inquiries at the Town-
ehfa
warrants
rrtMonday e nheexeti,iissued. mpg, and a large number
Mr. R. Solly n Flood, Mr. Job De e e
commissioners are
Balliol Brett. des, aaid Mr. Wm.