The Sun.
London, England, 1849-01-02 00:00:00

THE REVENUE.

There is still a week to run before the tabular re-
turns of the quarter's revenue can be published. IA
whole week's receipts have yet to be added to the pre-
sent quarter—to be published on Saturday next, be-
fore a strictly accurate estimate can be made of the
comparison of the present quarter and year-with the
corresponding period ending the sth of January,
1848. There is enough known, however, Ito allow
us to make a close approximation to the probable re-
sult, and to institute a comparison which, we are happy
to say, will be a favourable one. It is satisfactory in
the highest degree to find that the falling off in the
revenue of the country which was observable at the
close of 1847 and the commencement of 1848 has at
length received a wholesome check, and that
.our or-
dinary resources begin again to show a buoyant and
upward tendency. The Customs' revenue is expected
to exhibit an increase over the corresponding ;quarter
of last year little short of half a million. We are
sorry to:add, that the other most important indication
of the state of trade and of employment, the Excise,
will not answer so favourably the wishes of
the public. In this important item the receipts will
vary little from those of the last January quarter.
The only other item from which an increase is ex-
pected is that classed under the head of "Miscella-
neous," which is expected to yield more than 200,0001.
in this quarter; 80,0001. of which, however, is the
last payment on account of the Chinese ransom,
which was referred to in the Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer's estimate last session. The other items,
stamps, taxes, property-tax, &c., will be scarcely as
good as last year. The most considerable falling off
is apprehended in the stamps, which is expected to be
about 200,0001., a great part of which is accounted
for by the transfer of the carriage duties from the
Stamps to the Excise. In noticing the Excise reve-
nue as one cf the great tests of the condition of the
people, we may remark that the duties on malt—the
largest in amount as well as the most important in
marking the ability to purchase on the part of the
labouring population—are in a much more favourable
state than they were at this time last year. The Post-
office shows little difference. The amount of falling
off in the property-tax in the quarter is not much
of a criterion, since that impost is collected with
more or less uncertainty in the different quarters of
the year—by much the larger portions being received
in the April and October quarters. The gross re-
venue for the year will also show favourablysthhe
com-
parison with the corresponding period ending
assumed
fli.B,7B.theFrsothmotfhAisr
ainl'dln7:4eizoi::ol;blishfairly
ofof rJeatnuurnariyng, IpBr4oBs.p
prosperity
t yu t
isa sttui l lb me ofrueu
ncorrectd
otcfiritaiAt criteriontil
that the nine months, counting from thea stn
da gr
eo
he considerable
IS4B, to the present time, extitin
advance over the corresponding°
t moret-ni activitythsatisfactory of
of
trade
January,aadne
that
otni.tiebss
sth
houAnpterdil
still so happily observable,
the know
in than we were on the sthA April
prosperous condition
fully beta. out
conclusionutleiextwill
fiud ofus the financial
thej anticipations of the
last, and will
lexcheeuer at the
close of the ses-
Chancellor of tbevith
then had, he
Sion, on which, i
was jjustified t calculations which he made for
ust'
was to come. These that
the year .ill calculations, it is
now found, "'ill be completely borne out, and upon
a review of our entire financial and commercial pros-
pects, we arei able to congratulate the country upon
a steadY and progr •
essive improvement.—Observer.
T.

vweirthiodt
of Scotland h
coast
Or
erecent melancholy shipwrecks on the
u R N Or ABERDEEN AND TUB SCOTCH
unfortunate"e
class universal aflo
rc otnhdeogl ernecaet
attroafctfiedsheurnmis
ihceal suffering which results therefrom. We are
glad, however, to announce that the general sympathy
has, at least in one instance, been shown in a practical
shape, and that the noble and benevolent Earl of Aber-
deen has given orders to Mr. West, the well-known
optician of the Strand, for a first-rate barometer, to be
placed in a solid block of granite, and to be fixed in a
conspicuous and accessible spot on the coast, near Aber-
deen, for the sole use and advantage of the fishermen of
that neighbourhood. Tho instrument, which is fitted in
a Gothic case made of solid carved oak, surmounted with
the Earl's coronet, has the advantage of the double ver-
nier for registering from one observation to another. It
is the opinion of numbers of old and experienced seamen
that many of the accidents occurring from storms at sea
arise from the want of duo observation of the barometer,
end if the same attention were paid to the indications of
the coming gale given by the barometer as was observed
on board Lord Collingivood's ship, we should not have
to record so many grievous disasters to our intrepid but
careless seataring population. In Lord Colling wood's
ship, we are told, it was the custom of every officer of
the watch to take a register of the barometer on going
on duty, and it was generally remarked that by so doing
they frequently, by reducing sail, &c., were enabled to
guard against accident. We have no doubt that this
very appropriate and handsome present of the Earl of
Aberdeen will be duly valued by his Lordship's tenantry;
and we are sure that the hardy and fearless race of
fishermen will not fail to evince their gratitude to the
Noble Earl by strictly attending to the indications of
the barometer, and thus save their property and their
lives from destruction, and their wives and families from
destitution.