The Sun.
London, England, 1849-01-06 00:00:00

ebtlaill)l ga',Atit

LONLON, SATURDAY, JANUARY 6, 1849.

THE QUARTER'S REVENUE.

The Revenue Returns for the financial year, ending
the sth of January instant, will be found in another
part of our impression. A steady and progressive
improvement is apparent in the more important items,
more especially in those which are generally looked
upon Its indicating the national prosperity and the
degree of comfort enjoyed by the industrious classes.
It is indeed satisfactory to find the national finances
in so favourable a condition after a year of such ex-
citement and turmoil as that which has just elapsed.
When the great majority of European nations were
convulsed with intestine commotions—when so many
thrones were shaken to their very foundation, and
when the tumults and disturbances that prevailed on
every side had disarranged the finances of the Con-
tinent, and occasioned the most deplorable deficiencies
in the national balance-sheets, we might be well
contented if we had merely maintained our former
position, and were not compelled to record a considerable
deficit. It is, however, our pleasing duty to announce
an improvement both on the year and quarter—on the
former of 1,533,957/. ; on the latter of 686,8271., which
has chiefly taken place under the heads of Customs
and Excise.

In the Customs there is an increase on the year of
914,0621., and on the quarter of 570,5331. The
quarter ending January 5, 1848, was, however, one
of great depression. The panic that had existed in
the money market, and the general stagnation of trade
and commerce, greatly reduced the importations into
the country. Every effort was also made to Qbtain
payment for our goodi in specie, and not in
other merchandize. Gold should be obtained
at any sacrifice, and hence the duties paid
into the Exchequer were considerably below the
average amount. The duties on the importation of
corn had also been suspended, which were in opera-
tion during the past quarter, we are happy to say,
almost for' the last time. The improvement does not,
therefore, afford so much ground for unalloyed grati-
fication as might otherwise have been the case. The
total receipts under this head were, for the year,
against 18,015,2951. last year, for the
18,929,330/.,
quarter, 4,6893951./
against 4,111,862/. in the cor-
responding quarter of las, year.
In the Excise, the actual receipts for the year
amounted to 12,832,140/. against 11,730,7461., and
on the quarter, 3,253,1621. against 3,246,883/. ; there
is, therefore, an increase on the year of 1,101,3941.,
and on the quarter of 6,279/. It must, however, be
borne in mind that the carriage duties and other
credits, Which were formerly included under the
head of " Stamps," have been transferred to the Ex-
cise within the past year. A considerable part of
the improvement may be accounted for in this
manner; we must, therefore, be prepared to look for a
large deficit in the stamps, occasioned partly by the
alteration in the manner of taking the accounts to
which we have just alluded, and partly by the
decrease of speculation, and the caution that existed,
which materially reduced the amount of discounts.
" Stamps" then for the year, produced 6,110,848/.
against 6,959,546/. last year—and for the quarter
1,472,5981. against 1,564,8551., thus exhibiting a fall-
ing off of 848,6981. on the year, and 92,257/, on the
quarter.

Taxes show a small improvement on the quarter of
6,2301., but a deficit of 19,8571. on the year. The pro-
perty-tax presents the worst feature in the present
return. The amount for the year had sunk to
5,347,3651, and for the quarter to 424,4341., showing
a decrease of 103,4351. on the year, and of 38,133/.
the quarter• This lamentable change on the quarter
proves that there has been a diminution in the re-
sources of those possessed of incomes amounting
to 1501. per annum and upwards of more
than 5,000,000/. a year. This ho of course
fatien almcst exclusively on merchants, traders, and
professional men, and leads to the most painful re-
flections as to the melancholy changes, which must
have fallen on the prospects of many families, once in
the enjoyment of comfort and affluence. The middle
classes are the chief sufferers.
In the Post-office there has been a decrease on the
year and quarter of 88,0001. and 10,0001. respectively.
Great improvements have, however, been effected in