The Sun.
London, England, 1849-07-06 00:00:00

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LONDON, FRIDAY, JULY 6, 1849.

THE QUARTER'S REVENUE.

The quarterly statement of Revenue for the finan-
cial year ending the sth July instant, will be found
in aaotber part of this day's impression. It is not,
we regret to say, a very encouraging document, and
its appearance would more than justify the "inquiry
into the state of the nation," asked for by the Hon.
Member for Buckinghamshire—were it not, for the
ulterior objects contemplated by the Hon. Gentle-
man if his motion should, unfortunately, be acceded to
by the House. These simple fig ures, undoubtedly, in-
dicate the distress and difficulties experienced by the
industrious classes more strongly than any language
howeverever glowing or enthusiastic, could possibly'
depict. They exhibit in the strongest point of view
the depressed condition of our foreign trade, and the
privations endured by those who gain their daily
bread by the sweat of their brows. The picture,
however, although gloomy, is not altogether dark :4
some bright spots are to be discovered which show
that hope has not altogether vanished, and that rea-
sonable expectations may still be cherished
of a gradual improvement in the state of
affairs. Those entrusted with the government of the
country—more especially the parties whose imme-
diate province it is to regulate the management of
the national finances—should not, however, be sloth-
ful or apathetic, but should direct all their energies
to the measures that may be required to stimulate
trade and commerce, and to provide full employment
for the labouring classes. For that purpose they
must especially direct their attention to the monetary
and tscal codes, and practise a strict and rigid eco-
nomy, by which, while the efficiency of the national
establishments will be fully maintained, all unneces-
sary expenditure will be scrutinia.d with the utmost
care and every job be peremptorily.
on h
rejected.
The first point in the balance-sheet that will
attract attention is the falling
ael
ast quarter
as as compared with the corresponding
e .111 t aed
year. This deficiency amounts to no quarter
468,547/., and the gloomy reflections thereby excited
than
are not in any degree mitigated by a econsiderationl
of the items of which it is composed, In
.
the Customs the decrease on the quarter
amounts to no less than 319,0531. This, however,
may be in some degree accounted for by the almost
total cessation of the corn duties, from which, during
the year ending sth April, nearly 1,000,0001. sterling
was realised ; and also by the reduction of the sugar
duties. There is, however, an increase on the year
of 991,7861., a portion of which is undoubtedly as-
cribable to the same corn duties which bad been sus-
pended, during the greater part of the pre-
ceding year, and in some degree to the
diminution of every description of importation which
followed the commercial crisis of October, 1847.

In the Excise, which has generally been regarded
its the index to the degree of comfort enjoyed by the

working classes, the deficiency is still more remark-
able. The decrease on the quarter amounts to
453,201/., and there is also a falling off on the year
of 66,3201., which would have been much greater,
but for the transfer of the carriage and other duties, to
which we have already directed the public attention,
from the department of Stamps to the Excise.
A portion of the quarter's deficiency may, how-
ever, be explained by the fact that the Chancellor of
the Exchequer has consented to the postponement of
the collection of certain hop duties, amounting in all
to 180,000/., in consequence of the distress and diffi-
culties experienced in the hop-growing districts, and
the great loss sustained by the cultivators. The malt
duties also exhibit a considerable deficiency, in conse-
quence of the partial failure and inferior quality of
the barley last harvest.
A reasonable indulgence has also been afforded to
distillers, by permitting them to postpone payment of
certain spirit duties until the spirits are entered for
consumption. The receipt of about 20,0001. has
therefore only been deferred, and will not be alto-
gether lost to the revenue.
The remaining branches of the ordinary revenue,
however, exhibit a more satisfactory appearance.
There are improvements to be found in all
on the quarter, and (with the exception of
Stamps and Property-tax), on the year also.
The increase on Stamps for the quarter amounts to
62,0571., indicating greater activity in our home
trade. The falling off in the year under this head
amounts to 345,7001., which may, however, be ex-
plained by the transfer of the carriage duties, to
which we adverted when speaking of the Excise.
Taxes show an increase both on the year and
quarter—on the former of 32,7971., on the latter of
20,597/. In the Property-tax there is an increase on
the quarter of 44,8391., but a deficiency on the year
of 49,170/. This is, perhaps, the most important
item in the national balance-sheet, next to the
Customs and Excise ; for as the Customs indicate the
state of our foreign trade, and the Excise the con-
dition of the working classes,
so the Property-
tax may be regarded as the best test of
enjoyedpthroefepsrsoiospnearlitmyen,ra d
et
rhse,
anu flaCr t
t uri the
middler
,merchants, classes,
t traders,
and others. The incomes of the aristocracy are
seldom much affected by the vicissitudes of the times;
they receive pretty nearly the same amount whatever
may be the condition of the country. The labouring
classes are also excluded, for few, indeed, we regret
to say, can realise profits to the amount of 1501. per
annum. The increase or deficiency will, therefore,
represent the gains of the middle classes, and an im-
provement of 44,8391. will exhibit an improvement
amounting to nearly 6,000,000/. sterling per annum
in their profits. The Post-office, thanks to the inde-
fatigable exertions of Mr. ROWLAND HILL, and
the judicious alterations effected under his auspices,
shows an improvement on the year of 62,0001., and
on the quarter of no less than 60,000/. This very
satisfactory result proves how efficiently the authori-
ties have discharged their duties in that important
department, more especially as, in addition to the
improvement in the revenue, many additional facilities
and increased accommodations have been afforded to
the public.
In the Crown Lands there has been an increase
on the year of 59,0001., and on the quarter of 30,0001.
This item may, however, be very materially im-
proved by a due attention to the ma-
nagement. The Honourable Member for Glas-
gow has pointed out in his admirable letter to his
constituents that 500,0001. per annum might easily
be realised from this source. In the Miscellaneous
there is an increase for the year of 54,1581., and on
the quarter of 60,9131. The above items comprise
the whole of the ordinary revenues of the country,
and it will be seen that there is a falling off on the
quarter of nearly 494,0001.
In the extraordinary revenue there is a de-
crease under the head of Imprest and other
Moneys of 58,7251., and an increase on the Repay-
ments of Advances of 84,0281., showing an improve-
ment in the extraordinary revenue of 25,303/. There
is no other point calling for any particular notice.
The above observations will show that while there is
yet a hope of better times, the utmost attention
must be devoted by the Minister of Finance to the
" state and condition of the country."

Oppressed by many grievous reminiscences, and
yet more grievous forebodings, the Quarterly Review
has considered the subject of Democracy. " We
regret to say," such is the final sentence of this most
melancholy article, " that we never concluded a re-
view of the state of our own country, or of Europe,
with less of comfort fur the present, less of confidence
for the futurP, or with a greater perplexity as to the
probable solution of the complicated difficulties that
are gathering round the British Monarchy." These
gloomy reflections have apparently been occasioned,
in part by a perusal of M. Guizox's recent pamphlet, in
part by a consideration of the adoption of universal
suffrage in France, and in part, and more especially,
by a recollection of the great triumph of the
Anti-Corn-law League, and the fearful precedent
which that triumph holds forth. But, not-
withstanding the intolerant spirit of the re-
viewer, he occasionally, and with the utmost
naiveté, makes use of expressions so much at variance
with the principles he is laying down, that we are
again and again tempted to exclaim with GRATIANo,
"I thank thee, Jew, for teaching me that word !"
For example—" Has not agitation," asks the re-
viewer, " become a kind of chronic fever among us
of the same kind as that which assumes an acute
character in France under the form of eineutes? They
are both," he goes on, " the heavings of the demo-
cratic deep," but—and let the distinction be well
remarked—"our better formed ship and more ex-
perienced crew still manage to keep the sea in com-
parative safety, while our neighbours, less practised
in the exercise of popular rights, are on the breakers.
Let us endeavour to profit by their experience, and
let us hope that we in return may hold out to them
the signal of a safer course." To which aspira-
tion we most heartily respond. Free as the French
people are at the present moment, they are as
the reviewer justly remarks, " less exercised
than ourselves in the practice of popular rights,"
which circumstance is at once the cause and the pal-
liation of those errors and excesses on which this
same writer here lays such great stress. Often since
the dawning of the revolution of 1848—when the
vicissitudes of time and human fallibility have failed
to realise the bright prospects then held forth, when
the enthusiasm of many once ardent hearts has grown
cold, and others, like MACAULAY, have imagined
that the preservation of civilization might
require the extinction of liberty—how often
have we had occasion to remind the lovers
of Democracy of the truth of the old
adage, " Rome was not built in a day." Continental
nations, like even France herself, are, as the
Quarterly has just told us, less practised in the ex-
ercise of popular rights than ourselves. Time, and
the sterner teaching of experience must develope
their latent capabilities and discipline—their im-
mature yearnings for the possesion of constitutional
freedom, which possession once acquired, and
rightly made use of, will lead the way to all other
civil blessings. This fact, namely, the progressive
nature of constitutional privileges, is also
corroborated by this very article in the Quarterly,
where, in coinciding with an opinion expressed many
years back by Sir R. PEEL, that, " bad as the Re-
form Bill was, and in principle is, it is the duty, and
indeed the only hope, of the Conservative interest to
endeavour to support and maintain it—even against
its authors, though," very wisely observes the writer,
" we cannot venture to:promise a successful resistance
to a principle of progressive force, that ',ties acquirit
eundo." Such a promise would be indeed a delusion.
When the sluice gates are once opened the waters of
the long pent-up torrent rush forth irresistibly, and
in like manner, despite the arguments of M. Guzzoir
and the lamentations of quarterly reviewers, the
spirit of Democracy which has already asserted its
power so triumphantly, will, ac
Democracy,qng strength
paramount.
As
as it
proceeds, ere long reign universally
an evidence of the triumph of
universal
suffrage is especially abhorrent in th
e eyes of the
Quarterly. Quoting the authority of Bust
in
disparagement of abstract principles, it proceeds r-
y
determinately to condemn the idea of nulabvee
having any influence in the formation of a Govern-
ment.' Arguments advocating the superior claims of
the intellectual and educated classes may appear very
plausible (and to a.,:ertain extent we agree with them),

but the chief claim here put forward by the Quar-
terly is for the influence of property. It might be
inferred, from the reasoning of this article, that if
one man, by purchase or inheritance, or any other
means, became possessed :of all the landed property
of the kingdom, that one man should legally have a
more powerful voice in the government of the coun-
try than all the other inhabitants of the kingdom put
together. Of course! because the influence of numbers
is ridiculous. With such notions floating through
his brain, the gloomy visions conjured up by the
Quarterly Reviewer will have little effect in damping
the ardour or diminishing the exertions of the real
friends of Democracy.