The Sun.
London, England, 1847-04-06 00:00:00

S N 7 APRIL 6, 1847.

means of increasing the revenue of the country. If,
however, to this single item of increase we add the
corn duties received during the last six months of
1846, we shall find that we considerably more than
exhaust the whole apparent increase. So that the
Customs receipts for the year, as far as regards the
general trade of the country, and irrespective of these
Chat
much
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et
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i nh correspondingoswusipieluncsiei
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Turing the first three months of 1846, pending the
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Customs showed a deficiency of no less than 440,0001.
['he general result of the Customs receipts,
when considered in reference to the whole
trade of the country, and looked to as
in index of its prosperity, cannot, therefore,
be considered so satisfactory as they looked
at first sight. The other great index of national wel-
fare, and of the command of social comforts, the Ex-
cise duties, we fear, affords in the present return no
more satisfactory evidence. It is true that the in-
crease shown upon the year is large, and that that
increase is fairly divided over all the various items
which contribute to the Excise, and which may be
taken as evidence of increased activity in industry,
or of increased comforts enjoyed by the people. But
while the increase upon the year is 661,5721., that
upon the q,iarter is, only 26,4Q71. Weilave here a
palpable proof of a declining state. The high price
of food, and the scantiness and dearness of some of
the chief raw materials of our manufacturing indus-
try, have already begun their work of deterioration.
The complaints from the busy seats of industry
during the last three months, the mills working short
time, the increasing difficulty in obtaining railway
" calls," and the consequent " slackness" of some of
those works, and the difficulty which the labour-
ing population find in obtaining anything beyond the
barest necessaries of life at their present prices ; these
facts are all loudly proclaimed in the comparative de-
cline of the Excise receipts during the quarter just
finished. A consequence, moreover, which we fear
will only be further developed as the year advances.
The other general items of the revenue are not of a
character which speak much to the immediate state of
the country, still it is satisfactory to observe that they
show, generally, a considerable increase both on the
year and the quarter. But notwithstanding the in-
crease apparent under all these heads, unfortunately,
when we look to the side of expenditure, we find it
all inadequate to meet the extraordinary demands
upon the Governmedt. Notwithstanding the increase
on the ordinary sources of the Exchequer, and not-
withstanding the addition of 960,0001., as the first in-
stalment of the " loan of eight millions," the result
of the accounts now published is, that in place of a
surplus to meet the various Parliamentary grants for
the public service, amounting last year to 11,783,3081.,
that surplus at the present time is only' 628,7811., a
-sum altogether inadequate for the purpose.
ADVERTISER.—We publish, in another part of
our paper, a tabular view of the revenue returns for
the years and quarters ending sth April, 1846, and
sth April, 1847; and we heartily congratulate the
country on the extremely gratifying results which
they exhibit. Under the head of Customs— the
source of revenue which of all others affords the best
criterion of the real condition of the people, and the
healthy state, or otherwise, of the national finances:—
thew e haveiner
increase
eincrease,quarteron the
is
rear,rei
relatively
vle,
11y32s ,toilol2/g. ,rewhilegreater,
being
,
being no less than 485,7551., or close on half a mil-
lion. We will undertake to say, that this is an in-
crease far exceeding anything of which the most san-
guine ever dreamt. It is all the more surprising,
when it is remembered, that it only includes, so far
as relates to the quarter, a mere trifle in the shape of
corn' duties, the corn-laws having been suspended
early in the quarter. In the Excise there i:
also an augmentation on the year to the extent
of 661,5721., and on the quarter of 26,407/.
*The Stamps have likewise proved unusually
productive on the quarter, giving an increase of
131,4141., as compared with the corresponding quar-
ter of 1846. The Property-tax has also proved '
unprecedentedly productive, the amount for the year
being 5,464,5811., which gives an increase over the
year ending April 5, 1846 of 379,8401., and of
.....13/4.-f..' . ' .
69,1901. over the re-ending at the same date.
The Post-office still continues, though'gradually, to
augment the national resources, yielding, as it
does, 52,0001. more than last year, and 4,0001. more,
on the quarter than on the corresponding quarter
of 1846. Under the head of Miscellaneous, we
have an addition, on the year, of 129,2731., though,
on the quarter, the increase is only 1,0711. The.
only departments in which there is a falling off
are those of the Taxes and Crown Lands. The
deficit is trifling in either case. Under the first
head it is only 15,250/4 and under the second,
8,000/. The total increase on the year is 1,538,1681.,
and on the quarter 403,632/. This, we repeat, is a
most gratifying state of things. So far from expecting
so large an augmentation, there were general appre-
hensions of a defalcation. Nothing could more con-
clusively prove the solid foundation on which our
commercial and monetary edifice is based. The im-
provement in the revenue which it is thus our pleasing
duty to record, as having taken place in a period of
unexampled destitution in Ireland and part of Scot-
land, will, there is every reason to hope, go on pro-
gressing for months and years to come. If, indeed,
Providence should bless the land with an abundant
harvest, we may confidently calculate, considering the
extensive trade with America which is now opening
up to us, on a period of commercial and financial
prosperity wholly unparalleled in the history of the
country.
HERALD.—We bare before us the official state-
ment of the national revenue for the year and the
quarter which ended yesterday evening. If any evi-
dence were necessary to prove the vitality of British
vigour in resisting the results of a new-fangled system
of legislation, which must have proved destructive to
the interests of any country whose innate strength
had been less positively confirmed by the considerate
policy that was formerly the principle of action by
which British statesmen were guided—if any testi-
mony were requisite to show the elasticity of British
resources in repelling the heavy load of depression
which recent Acts of Parliament have heaped upon
them, and which projected measures promise to aug-
ment—we have the proof before us in the abstract of
the net produce of the revenue of the country, to
which it is our duty to refer.—( ! ) In every
department whence we derive our ordinary
revenues, save two, there is an increase for the
year ended yesterday, compared with the year
which ended on the sth of April, 1846. The two
items which exhibit a decrement on a comparison of
years are Stamps and Crown Lands. Let us now ex-
hibit the condition of the whole revenue of the
country for the year and the quarter, as compared
with that of the previous year, and that of the cor-
responding quarter of 1846. In the present year
there is from the Customs an increase of 1,132,0021. ;
from the Excise an increase of 661,5721. The de-
crease on Stamps,', as we have already mentioned, is
32,6931. The increase from Taxes for the year is
33,1191.; from the Property-tax an augmentation has
been derived amounting to 379,840/. ; from the Post-
office it is 52,0001. The Crown Lands, as we have
stated, exhibit a decrease of 18,0001., whilst, from
Miscellaneous resources, we have procured an increase
of revenue which has placed in the national coffers
129,2731. In the quarter's receipts, as compared
with those of the April quarter of last year, we
find an increase from Customs of 485,755/. ; from the
Excise of 26,407/. ; from Stamps of 131,414/.! ! the
decrease on Taxes is 15,250/. ; the increase from
the Property-tax is 69,1901.; from the Post-office
it is 4,000/. ; with reference to Crown Lands, the de-
crease is 8,000/. ; from Miscellaneous resources there
is an increase of 1,071/. Now, in dealing with these
various items of our income, to-day, our observations
must necessarily be brief—our comments upon these
items few. We deal only with those sums which
form the ordinary revenue of the nation. The other
portions of the account, embracing " advances," " im-
prest and other monies," &c., we leave intact for re-
mark on a future day. In reference, then, to the
year's ordinary revenue, there is a net increase over
that received up to the sth of April, 1846, which
amounts to 2,387,8061. The net ordinary revenue
for the quarter ended yesterday, shows an increase
over the receipts for the same quarter of the previous
year, amounting to 717,837/. Let us at once ask
these questions—Has the value of manufactured stock
become augmented during the past year, or during the
past quarter ? Has the condition of the manufacturing
operative been improved, or the position of the agricul-
tural labourer been made betterduring the same period ?
Has the character of our monetary exchanges, com-
pared with that of other countries whence our
largely-increased imports have been derived, exhibited
a corresponding amount of exports, or has it even
manifested the exportation of an amount of home-
made merchandise equal to that sent abroad during
several past yearsop?eo
operative
a tTi
vhee
work,si e
forquestions
Seek
t h
fcorcondition
°trail, rdeei t
pi eooanssiit
01
in of
easily
th
re-
solved by facts. Look to the prices current for the
returns paid for our manufactured produce ! Look
tnousifae
theiumtuilri mills
out
manufacturing

the agricultural labourer (notwithstanding the efforts
of his employers to promote his comparative prospe-
rity, despite the sacrifices made by landlords and land•
holders, and the advances made in agricultural
science) —seek for this in the daily tale told by the
provincial press ! seek for it in the hopes of the Irish
landlord from the new Poor Relief Bill ! Notwith-
standing these facts there is an incrersl upon the
year and the quarter from the Customs revenue!
The consumption of imported produce, used in lieu
of grain, of course has something to do with this ;
but the energy and unfired, not worn-out activity
and resources of Great Britain have dealt much
more largely with it. 'raking our course
through the other items of receipt, we are
compelled to stop at " Stamps." What a
tale is told by the official development of
the condition of this department of the revenue.
The increase for the year is only 32,693/. The in-
crease for the quarter is 131,414/. ! What has caused
this increase ? Has it been an augmentation of the
legitimate trade of the country ? Did our legitimate
imports, or has an augmentation of our internal—our
home traffic in the manufactures of Great Britain,
rendered such an accession to our national income
the probable result of such a salutary process ? No !
whilst there has been a great decrease in the Excise
receipts of the quarter, as compared with those of
the year, the Stamp Duties' receipts exhibit an
increase of 400 per cent. more upon the quarter
than they do upon the whole year. Here is
the result of Sir Robert Peel's Corn Bill ! here
is the effect of the gambling and speculation
which were to have ,been destroyed and deter-
mined 'by the damage -dime_ to .. the cultivators of
the soil of Great Britain and the sister kingdom !
here are assets derived in a great degree from corn
accommodation bills ! We have neither time nor
space to dwell at greater length to-day upon the
official document before us. It is to us matter for
hearty rejoicing, that, under so many circumstances,
which in any other nation must have'causesl a decrease
of revenue, we have an increased income as the
subject for our remarks.

OPENING OF THE BIRKENHEAD

DOCKS.
This event is looked forward to with considerable
interest, and every arrangement is in progress for
conducting its celebration with becoming splendour.
The extensive warehouses, the opening of which will
be a striking feature in the day's prcceedings, are
twelve in number, and will each hold 4,000 bales of
cotton. The extension line of railway runs in a
diagonal line, by means of an open excavation, across
the town, from the Grange-lane station, through
Oliver-street, Conway-street, Price-street, and Cleve-
land-street, to the dock warehouses ; having branch
lines communicating with the docks, so that goods
may be at once hoisted from the vessel's
side on the railway trucks, and dispatched
into the interior, or from the ship into the
warehouses, without the least hazard or
delay from exposure on the quays. After the cere-
mony of opening the dock, the company will proceed
to the dijeiiner, and this part of the proceedings
being completed, the next object of interest will be
the opening of the new park, which has been com-
pleted at a cost of 127,7781. The celebrated proprietor
of the magnificent marquee, which is fitted up on pub-
lic festivals in Greenwich-park, will there pitch his
refreshment tent, 170 feet long; and various other
booths, camps, &c., will be erected. Cricket, foot-
ball, and other athletic games, rural sports, and
divers amusements, will occupy the holiday throng
in that vast and picturesque arena. The beau-
tiful new market, on which a sum of 26,0001. has
been expended, will likewise present its attractions.
On the east quay of the new docks, facing the river,
six pieces of ordnance will be placed, for the purpose
of firing salutes; the guns being under the manage-
ment of a detachment of the Royal Artillery from
Chester Castle, kindly granted by their commanding
officer, Major Robe. As we intimated last week
there will be no procession, but the quays of the
docks will be lined with pensioners, clubs, and socie-
ties of various kinds, with flags, music, &c., and after

the docks have been opened, they will repair to the
park to be in waiting to receive Lord Morpeth. Four
of the warehouse rooms, each 140 feet long and
50 wide, are beautifully and most tastefully fitted
up for the festival with pink and white drapery, by
Mr. Shaw, upholsterer, of Birkenhead, under the
direction of Mr. liornblower and Mr. Brine, archi-

tects, who kindly-give their servites on the occasion,-
and are most indefatigable in promoting the arrange-
ments. The suite will include reception, withdraw-
ing, ball, and banquet rooms ; in the fnrmer of which
a magnificent cascade will throw forth its silvery
streams, amidst a profusion of choice conservatory
plants, flowers, and other decorations. The dejeliner
and supper will be provided by Mr. Hillier, of the
Monk's Ferry Hotel ; all the orders have been given,
as it is proper they should be, to Birkenhead trades-
men. After the ball there will be a special train to
Chester, and the Woodside boats will continue run-
ning during the whole of the night. All the work-
men employed at the docks (2,000 in number) are to
have the gift of a day's wages, and the various con-
tractors have come forward most liberally as regards
this part of the proceedings. Mr. J. Laird has given
his men leave to take part in the festivities, and they
will be paid their wages for the day. We understand
that all the principal builders will give their men a
holiday, and the day is expected to be one of general
rejoicing.—Liverpool Mercury.

OPENING OF TILE LOCKS.
Yesterday was a memorable day on the banks of the
Mersey, having been chosen for the triple purpose of
opening the new docks at Birkenhead, the spl2ndid new
park, and the extension line of the Chester and Birken-
head Railway to the docks. The docks to be opened on
this occasion were the Woodside and Bridge-end, the
joint accommodation of which is equal to the Prince's

Dock at Liverpool.
Immediately adjoining these docks are the extensive
warehouses of the Birkenhead Dock Company ; twelve
of which, each capable of storing 4,000 bales of cotton,
are already completed. These warehouses are two
stories in height, and when finished will form three long
tiers, running rectangularly from the shore.
The extension line of railway to the docks affcrds
facilities and advantges which few railways or docks

enjoy. From the main line branches run along each
side of the warehouses: one side will be made available

for the storing of goods by vessels just arrived—the
other for conveying goods to vessels loading for sea.
The rails run so close, that the goods can be hoisted
direct from, or lowered into, the trucks, and thus all

confusion and necessity for carting will be avoided ;
neither will there be delay nor hazard from exposure on
the quays.
The docks were opened in person by Lord Morpeth,
Chief Commissioner of Woods and Forests. His Lord-
ship arrived in Liverpool about ten o'clock in the fore-
noon. A special train, with Lord Lincoln, Lord Mont-
eagle, and other visitors, left London about six o'clock
in the morning, and arrived in Birkenhead at twelve
o'clock. Shortly after that hour the Lords Commis •
sioners, with other distingushed guests, the Birkenhead
Dock • Commissioners, the Birkenhead Improvement
Commissioners, the Directors of the Birkenhead Dock
(Warehouses) Company the Directors of the Birken-

Lancashire, and Cheshire Junction Railway, and
the Directors of the Chester and Birkenhead Railway,
embarked at Monk's Ferry, on board the Lord Warden,
a handsome new iron steamer. Six pieces of artillery
were posted along the quays ; and the steamer, which
was beautifully decorated, started amid music, the roar
of cannon, and the cheers of the spectators. After
steaming about a mile up the river, the boat returned,
and, similarly saluted in its progress, slowly entered the
new docks, and moored alongside the south wall of the
Bridge-end Dock ; after which the party repaired to the
new warehouses to partake of a dejeuner, at which 800
ladies and gentlemen sat down.
The weather was serene ; flags and streamers floated

from every available spot - the ferry steamers were
crowded : Liverpool poured its throng to the opposite
bank. A more animating spectacle than the river pre-
sented it would be impossible to conceive.
Four of the warehouse rooms, each 140 feet long and
50 feet wide, were beautifully and tastefully fitted up
for the festival with pink and white drapery. The wall'
and roofs were lined with fluted drapery. The recep-
tion-room was adorned with a magnificent cascade,
which poured out a crystal jet amidst a profusion of
choice conservatory plants and flowers.
Joseph Bailey, jun , Esq., M.P., occupied the chair ;
John Land and William Potter, Esqs., the vice-chairs.
After the toasts—the Queen, the Queen Dowager,
Prince Albert, and the rest of the Royal Family, the
Army and Navy, the Bishop and Clergy of the Diocese,
and the Lord• Lieutenant of the County, had been given,
with the usual honour:,
The CHAIRMAN proposed the health of Lord Viscount
Morpeth. He thanked the Noble Lord, not only in the
name of the two boards of directors and the dock com-
missioners, and those who had taken a direct interest in
the prosecution of these works, but also in the name of
the public, for having given his sanction to the pro-
ceedings of that day by his presence. The Noble L 4d's
rrublic. career had now been of some consid, rabic
duration, and his public character was so well known
that it would be needless for him to enlarge upon
it. His private worth was also as conspicuous
as his public virtues, and he felt great pleasure in
doing honour to them.—(Hear.) It might not be inap-
propriate to remark, as they were on the shores of the
Mersey, that the Noble Lord had recently visited a
country which was the most intimately connected with
as by commerce, and from which we were now drawing
largely our necessary supplies of food. In that country
the Noble Lord had had the opportunity of witnessing
the energies of that great people the Americans—(Hear)
—of seeing the fertility of their soil, timid ju.d4ing to