The Sun.
London, England, 1831-01-07 00:00:00

SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS.

The returns of the last quartet's revenue, and that
of the last twelvemonth, as compared with the pre-
cetiihg year and corresponding quarter of 1829, are
chicfly valuable as proofs end illu.trations of thA
principle in financial science which is, of all others,
the most encouraging to a patriotic Sta,c!synan, and
the most beneficial to every citizett,—namely, that
according to which the proportionate amount of the
national income is incrensed by the nominal reduc-
tion of the tax on each separate article, in the
quarter ending the of January, 18:„40, the Beer
Tax and that on leather were in lid! operation. In
the quarter ending the day before yesterday, the
country has enjoyed the entire exemption from
both these imposts; at the same time, w,her,
the proposition to abolish them was laid by
Mr. Goulburn before Parliament, that gentle-
man calculated their annual produce at be-
tween three and four millions of pounds sterling.
Taking that yearly produce at 3,200,0001., the
consequent loss of revenue upon the single quarter
ought to be not less than 800,000/., no regard
being had to any thing beyond the direct operation
of the measure. Instead of which, it appears from
the official documents that the decrease of Excise in
this quitter as compared with that ending the Sth
of January, 1830, is no more than :37,000/. It
further appears that tic deficiency in the Excise,
upon which branch of revenue the repeal of the
above-mentioned duties might have been expected
to operate with peculiar force, so far from reaching
800,0001., has not exceeded 38,0004 Moreover, if
we look at the successive half-yearly periods of
1829 and 1830, we shall find a decided progress
in the recovery of the Excise duties in the last
six months as compared with the six months pre-

ceding.
The ikficiency of the quarter ending the
sth of April, 1830, was about £310,000 0 0
sth of July, 1530 337,000 0 0

Deficiency of fit st six months of I 830.£667,000 0 0

Quarter ending 10th of October,lB3o—
..
sth of January, 1831

£130,000 0 0
37,000 0 0

Deficiency of last six months f,i57,000 0 0
In the Customs, notwithstanding a deficit in the
?est quarter of about 80,0001.. there has been an in-
crease on the year of 320,000/. In taxes, compre-
hending the assessed taxes, there is an improve-
ment, which seems to have been a tolerably steely
one, of between 40,000/. and 50,0001. a quarter.
We trust, nevertheless, that the house-tax, which,
as assessed by the officers, is the most arb:trary
of all imposts; and the window-tax, which,
no matter how fairly levied, is of all others
the most oppressive, will no longer Le per-
mitted to disgrace our financial system. Of
the other assessed taxes,—viz. those on servants,
horses, carriages, armorial bearings, &c.—they come
clearly under the head of such luxurious indulgences
as the affluent only can enjoy, and are therefore most
equitable sources of revenue. With regard to the
Itwoene and Charges on the Consolidated Fund, no
Civil List has been brought to account for the
quarter just expired, by which a sum of 212,000/.,
assigned to the corresponding quarter of 1829, does
not come againt the present; from which, and a re-
duction in some other articles of charge, an appa-
rent increase is exhibited in the surplus of this quar-
ter over the former; and the same circumstance is
quoted in our city article, as an explanation of the
(temporary) augmentation of the Sinking Fund ap-
plied by the Commissioners to the extinction of
debt. The causes of these inequalities, however,
still be adjusted shortly after the re-assembling of
Padiameet. On the whole, the revenue looks in
some degree convalescent. Those who wish to
consider the subject more in detail, we refer to a
statement, headed " Revenue," in a subsequent
rolumn.—Times.
Every day brings us a number of accounts of
meetings for Parliamentary Reform. There is
_scarcely a town throughout the island which has
„sot cheerfully responded to the call of Ministers for
the support of public opinion in their arduous un-
dertaking. At all these meetings, we may say
without a single exception, the ballot has been con-
sidered a sine qua non in any Reform from which
benefit is to be delisted. We assume that property
is not sufficiently protected by the present distribu-
tion of., the franchise, and that the object of a Re-
form is to communicate the franchise to those whose
interests are identical with the interests of the com-
munity. At present a small number of individuals
have the power of rettuning a majority of those
who have the whole property of the country at their
disposal. If the franchise were communicated to
all who possessed property to a certain amount—
say to all persons possessed of an income of
100/. a year, no matter how derived, which would
take in all the liberal professions, respectable trades-
men, and the more skilful mechanics—i. c. all
the property and intelligence of the country—
correption would receive a deadly blow. It may
be said, how is income to be ascertained ? Nothing
more easy. Let Commissioners be appointed
for every district, to whom the electors may show,
in a satisfactory mallets, that they possess the re-
quisite income. The Commissioners, in such a case,
coil hardly be supposed to have any motive for deciding
partially; and nothing is more easy than to substan-
tiate the possession of such an income. It may be
said, why exclude any part of the population ? But
there is a jealousy on the part of the rich, that from
the ignorance of the great body of the working
classes, they might be the tools of demagogues.
Bodily labour, at all events, leaves little leisure for
reading er discussion, and when the toil of the day
is ever, the workman is too exhausted to be able to
bestow his attention on any matter which requires
mental exertion. The possession of property is of
itself a presumption in favour of mental alleviation.
Besides, such an extension of the franchise would
ensure all the objects which could be attained by the
most extended suffrage, exercised with intelligence,
for the electors could have no interest separate from
that of the country. But, then, this class of electors
hieing of all others the most dependent, from their
position in scciety, are the most in need of protec-
tion. The labouring man is independent because he
cannot be thrown down lower, but the shopkeeper
os tradesman is generally afraid of giving offence,
or creating enemies. He is able, but afraid to de-
cide, and to impose on him unnecessarily the
anxiety incident to voting under apprehension
is utterly unjustifiable. What tenant would
not dread to vote contrary to the solicitation of his
landlord ? The tenant may be a man of property,
and as intelligent as his landlord ; and there is, there-
fore, no reason why he should be influenced by the
latter. Even in a Westminster election, notwith-
standing the diffusion of the suffrage, shopkeepers
and tradesmen often vote under great apprehension.
'Why should this be ? The middle classes are alive
to this consideration, and strenuous for the ballot.
We may observe, by the bye, that at a Reform Din-
ner, on Thursday week, at Belfast, a Mr. Alexander,
who gave evidence, in presence of several gentle-
men well acquainted with America, as to the be-
nefit of the ballot in that country, explained the mis-
take committed by Sir Robert Wilson respecting

Virginia :
" It has (he said) been stated in Parliament, by Sir R.
Wilson, that the ballot is unpopular in Aineri,:a. If this
were true, it would soon cease to exist. The people have
the power ; and they would exercise it, in doing away
with any practice that was odious to them. He further
states, that ' at a convention, met lately in Virginia, it
was proposed to adopt the ballot, hut it was completely
rejected.' The ballot proposed for adoption was, that
the Members of the Legislature should themselves vote by
ballot, on questions discussed in the House. This pro-
posed innovation was scouted; hut has nothing to do
with the vote by billet,' which sent them to their places,
and which, having been in long use, could not then be
adopted.--Morning Chronicle.
The proclamation of the Emperor of Russia de-
clares, in no measured language, that there can be
no terms held with those who drove his brother
from the Viceroyalty of Poland, and that they must

submit unconditionally. Let every friend the
freedom and the just rights of rnalikind pray to
Heaven that they do net accept the proclamation—
that they may fall by thousands, rather than belie
the hopes entertained from their recent conduct,
and that the tree of liberty, though fructified 1:y the
blood of the people, may sprin.;.; in every guar
ter, city, town, awl prz;Vin'ee of Poland ! Such pro-
elamatiore I'riose of the Emperor are a disgrace
to traiianity—they tell thousands of human beings
that they must put their lives in jeopardy, and the
property and welfare of themselves alit, raii;ilies at
hazard, merely for the sake of •._;-r..A,tifying the caprice
arid despotic will di malt, and beerinse that
man is styled an Emperor ! Can any other reason
Iho alleged fur them ? Can any other account be
given of their origin ? Is the ,:unction of a portion
of Poland with Russi necessary to the happicess
and comfort o the inhabitants of the two countries ?
Is there no a mortal hatred in existence between the
two nations, and is not the Polish portion more de-
serving of liberty than the other; Whit!), as yet, only
possesses the barbarian characteristic of aptitude for
warlike enterprises aßut why should we expend
time on a question so straight-forward in every re-
spect as the Revolution in Poland ? Have not the
people—and not what is generally termed the people
only, but the intelligence of Poland---,expelled the
satellites of the despot ? and was not their inde-
pendence wrested from them by one of the foulest
conspiracies that ever marked the history of ancient
or modern time ?
" How," as well observed in the Westminster Re-
view, " the three barbarian Powers of the East of Europe
united to attack Poland and France-11.ow the fourth in
the West, the English absuluti'As, joined them in the part
of the plan which lay within their reach—how the unit, d
robbers; aft _ 3 sallad of murder and Tc Dennis, of con-
flagrations and general fasts, succeeded in dividing Po-
land, but did not succeed in dividing France ; how glo-
riously they were beaten, and, with the excepti n of one
of the guilty parties (on whom, for some inset utable rea-
son. Providence had merry) were visit, d with just and
thank-worthy humiliation in their capitals—how the na-
tion, and the leader, whom the said Providence in its
goodness, had raised to be the instruments of its just
punishments, forgot Poland, and by the direct conse-
quences of that tmhappy act were within a little year sub-
jectrd. to the Holy Confederated Plunderers themselves—
how the world rolled on for fifteen years, and fools
thought the crime was clinched and rivetted ; and what
sufferings and miseries fell upon mankind, and, above all,
upon the gulled end guilty nation who had sinned in the
face of the most light and knowledge of the whole ; how
men were starved here and ruined there, and society
seemed doomed to exist in a hopeless agony, which was
nut life, but never clos,d in death—how this went on ac-
cumulating, till all at once light sprang from the bayonets
of Paris, and justice, which robbers call revolution, was
once more afoot and con lucring from Toulouse to the
Tartar—how all the world divided itself into two parts,
the honest man and the dishonest, and no question was
asked of any man, but which side he chose to take—all
these are things," as is justly observed, "our schoolboys
know and babies sing of, and it would he lost time to en-
ter on the detail with any grown man or woman who has
lived within the sound of tongues or reach of rumour !"

But although this is well known it is not the less
necessary to remember, or rather to bring to recol-
lection, that the partition of Poland between Russia,
Prussia, and Austria, was one of the basest tran-
sactions—nay, the most base and cold-blooded, not
even excepting the massacre of St. Bartholomew—
which ever disgraced the " elect" of the earth.
The Poles are neither Russians, Prussians, or Aus-
trians—and what right have the despots of these
people to interfere with them ? If any one should
say to us that they possessed the right of such supe-
rior power, why then we should answer that supe-
rior power might destroy the right—England and
France may, if they choose, attack them in their
capitals, or even, if they have the power, cause their
own subjects to rebel against them! But it is need-
less to pursue an argument of this kind ; for no
argument of such a nature can be held. The times
also are altered—the crowned heads no longer rule
the destiny of nations as they were wont to do—
the people have begun to think for themselves, and
anxious in every country as they must be for peace
and prosperity, there are few, we believe, who would
not give their vote for the resuscitation of Poland,
and as few who would not incur the risk of addi-
tional loss of comfort, rather than that Poland should
not become an independent state. Will Europe
then—we mean intelligent and free Europe—desert
Poland ?—.ilforning Advertiser.

SPECIAL COMMISSION.

ABINGDON, JAN. 5.

Shortly after eleven o'clock the Judges, escorted
by the High Sheriff, reached this place, and the
commission was opened. Besides the Judges there
were present, of the other commissioners, the Earl
of Abingdon, Viscount Barrington and Mr. C.
Dundas.

The calendar contains the names of forty-seven
prisoners, who are for the most part charged with
riot, accompanied by various acts of robbery, as-
sault, and machine-breaking. The number of in-
dictments specified in the calendar is thirty, and of
course under some of these several prisoners are in-
cluded. Generally speaking, the offences imputed
to the accused are not so serious as those which
came before the commission at Reading; nor is there
such an acconadation of indictments, against indivi-
dual prisoners. Of the thirty indictments, twenty-two
are for riot : a few of these also charged with as-
saults and robberies, or attempts to rob. In but
two instances are threshing-machines stated to have
been broken, although several prisoners are indicted
for attempting or threatening the destruction of that
species of property. One person has been committed
for having, in concert with other rioters, threatened
to set fire to the village of Eastbury ; and another
is accused of threatening to destroy machines and
set fire to the premises of a farmer. There is only
a single committal for arson, and that took place
subsequently to the departure of the Judges from
London, the warrant bearing date the 27th of De-
cember. The party who stands charged with this
offence is Charles Costar, described in the calendar
as a labourer, 27 years of age ; and committed on
suspicion of having set fire to the barn and out-
houses of Joseph Clantield, at Cumnor, on Sunday,
the sth of December. It is proper to observe, that
there exists no pretence for connecting this fire with
the recent disturbances ; it appears:to have arisen out
of circumstances of a private nature. It may be
added thit the charge of arson is the most recent
in point of date, of all the:offences in the calendar ;
the others ranging between the 22d arid 29th of No-
vember. The prisoners are nearly all young men,
there being only seven whose ages amount to or ex-
ceed 40. All with the exception of two are de-
scribed as labourers ; six, one-eighth of the entire
number, can read and write; rather less than one-
fourth (eleven) are able to read; the remaining thirty
are wholly uneducated.
The proclamation against vice and immorality
having► been read by Mr. Bellamy the associate,
Mr. Justice PARK proceeded to charge the Grand
Jury.
The Grand Jury then retired, and after a short
time returned with two true bills.
The Court then adjourned till to-morrow at nine
o'clock.

SALISBURY, DEC. 5.

James Lane, 23, Charles Davis, 31, John Rose,
25, Henry Rose, Gifford North, John Ro7nain,
George Smith, 36, Thomas Goddard, 20, Thomas
Hiscocks, 26, James Burden, 33, W, Rivers, 33,
James Luis, alias Love, Isaac Paved, James Mai-
lings, Charles Cooke, Thomas Gilbert, and Joseph
111archment, were indicted for riotously assembling
together, and beginning to demolish the house of Ro-
bert Pile.

The ATTORNEY-GENERAL, in stating the case,
said there never was one which more plainly showed
the manner in which one crime led on to another.
It would require their most serious attention ; for,
if the prisoners should be convicted, their lives would
be forfeited, and they would have to suffer death as
felons.

After hearing evidence, the Jury acquitted all the

prisoners. They are to be placed on their trial,
however, for robbing Mrs. Pyle of a 10/. note.
Isaac Millar,nomasPiggct, and john Romain
were convicted or having destroyed certain ma-
ch;ttery iiscd in the manufactory of cloth, the pro-
perty of Thomas Gaby, at Figheklen.
Georac Darman (25) was convicted of robbing
W. Defdman of a sovereign, his property.
Hillman was convicted Of breaking tilt thresh-•
ing-matthiwe of Mr. Sullivan, and sentenced to tran:7-
portatiOn for seven years.
The Court rose at seven o'clock
At the sitting of the Court this morning, Silas
Webb, aged 17, convicted of breaking machinery,
and who had been recommended to mercy by the
Jury in consequence of his good character and youth,
was put to the bar to receive judgment.
Mr. Justice ALDERSON said, the sentence of the
Court was; that he be imprisoned in the house of
coritrltion and kept to hard labour for the term of
three months.

Mathias Alexander,Joseph Alexander, and Joseph
Liddiard, were next put to the bar, having been
convicted of a like offence.

The sentence of the Court on each of the pri-
soners was, that they should be transported to such
place beyond seas as his Majesty should direct, for
the term of seven years.
Charles Bennet, Charles Waters, and. Barnabas
Hutchinson, also convicted of destroying du eshing-
machines, were next put to the bar, and briefly ad-
dressed by the learned Judge on the nature of their
offence, and were then sentenced each to seven
years' transportation.