The Sun.
London, England, 1847-10-11 00:00:00

gage in a foot-race with the legs tied is not a
more irrational step. Statesmanship in such follies
as these seems utterly lost sight of. One of the chief
duties of a Government must be admitted to be the
proper regulation of the currency, so as to secure, as
far as possible, an equable and permanent condition.
A comparatively slight fluctuation often leads to pro-
digious and most calamitous results. For, as the
greater part of the currency is necessarily diffused, in
small quantities, among the millions—the masses—
it follows that a rapid increase, or reduction, in the
quantity of money afloat,—effects an increase, or re-
duction, of perhaps one-fourth or one-third, of the
money employed in mercantile transactions. If an
increase, it leads to ruinous speculations ;—if a dimi-
nution, it brings those speculations to a sudden close
by bankruptcy. The complacency of Sir Charles
Wood, and the confidence of Lord John Russell, is
said to be, as yet, unshaken. Well, there are still
several weeks to pass over, before the return of the
usual period for the meeting of Parliament. We have
considerable doubt whether their self-satisfied tone of
mind will be endurable after Christmas. Nine or ten
weeks more, of the present state of discomfort and
extreme danger, may be more than the patience of
the merchants of London may prove equal to. And
the inconvenience of a want of money will, very soon,
begin to make itself felt, even in Downing-street.
ADVERTISER.—The Quarterly Revenue Tables
are always looked forward to with considerable inte-
rest, as they form, as it were, the pulse of the nation,
whereby its healthy or ailing condition may be
clearly and indisputably judged. Political partisans
may impart varied aspects to the condition of public
affairs, to suit party feelings. But figures it is im-
possible to distort to serve such objects, and conse-
quently they form most valuable materials, where-
from correct and well-grounded opinions may be de-
duced, respecting the position of the country, the
relative prosperity or diminution of the public re-
ceipts, and the entire state of the various branches of
the national revenue. If, however, the quarterly tables
are, ordinarily, expected and inspected with great
interest, it is needless to say how much deeper has
been the anxiety with which the statement of the
revenue for the last three months has been awaited.
Numerous causes have combined, with sad potency,
to extend difficulties, especially among the com-
mercial classes. The depression originating therefrom
necessarily exerts its baneful interest in other and
far more extensive circles. It was to be expected,
therefore, that the Revenue Tables (which ever sym-
pathise with the aspect and condition of national
affairs) might bear a gloomy appearance, and display
some of the results of the moneyed difficulties of the
time. We regret to state that these anticipations
have been too well realised. The total income for
the quarter ending Oct. 10, has been 12,843,214/.
The income for the corresponding quarter of last
year was 14,350,444/. Thus, the decrease in the last

quarter has been no less than 1,525,897/. Upon the
year ending on Saturday, the decrease, compared with
the year ending Oct. 10, 1846, however, is not more
than 1,042,268/. These results are, certainly, dis-
couraging enough, at first sight; but it is gratifying
to notice, upon a closer inspection of the tables, that
there are many reasons for the falling off, other than
a regular depreciation in the receipts from the various
sources of the revenue. Thus last year there was a
payment of 968,503/. on acconnt of the " China
money," while there has since been no such addition to
the revenue. Again, the "repayment of advances," in
1846 amounted to 1,172,1411., but in the present
year it has been only 792,447/. In fact, taking alone
the " total ordinary revenue" (which was last year,
48,229,7561., and has, during the corresponding
twelve months, endinglthe 10th of this month, been
48,542,5200, there has been an increase of 312,764/.
The falling off in the quarter compared with the
corresponding quarter of 1846, is, however, a de-
cided and gloomy fact. First, there is a decrease in
the Customs of 374,191/. In the Excise, there is a
decrease of 641,9801., the largest deficiency among
the several items. Some 66,419/. less have been
derived from Stamp duties, last quarter, than in the
same quarter of last year ; nearly 53,5001. less from
the Property-tax ; 45,0001. less from Crown lands ;
and 104,784/. less from the " Miscellaneous"

sources of revenue. Such are the items in which
there has been a decrease ; and satisfactory reasons
can be given for the same in several instances.
Thus, the entire discontinuance of receipts from corn
duties may account, in great measure, for the loss on
the Customs ; while, as regards, the Excise, the falling
off results principally from the deficiency in malting,
in the use of sugar, and in spirit duties. " There is
a bright side to every cloud," however; and, even
from the last quarter's revenue tables, unpromising
and gloomy as they may appear, there may be
gathered some grounds for satisfaction and hope.
First of all, there is shown a steady and decided in-
crease in the Post•office receipts. We were among
the very earliest to recommend the reduction of the
postage duty ; and we contended that, not only should
that department not be made a source of revenue,
but that the adoption of the reduced system of charge
would not ultimately be so great a losss to the Ex-
chequer as many anticipated. Since the reduction,
the quarterly accounts have exhibited a regular in-
crease in that item. On the quarter there is an in-
crease of 5,000/. ; and on the year, one of no less
than 57,0001. Under the head of " Taxes" there
is a trifling advance on the quarter, compared
with the corresponding period of last year ; and also
in the items of " Imprest and other moneys." Such
are the principal features that distinguish the tabular
statement which appears in this day's Morning Ad
nertiser. With the exception of the falling off in the
Excise, the other items of decrease are not of any
very serious aspect. The legislative reduction of
duties on imports must have a beneficial effect upon
trade ; and there are no grounds for fearing the good
results of the adoption of those enlightened principles of
commercial policy which have, of late, added fresh
honour to this great country. The state of national
affairs at present is, undoubtedly, gloomy enough ;
but we trust and hope that the temporary clouds that
now darken the social horizon will pass away, and be
followed by the brightness of renewed prosperity.
The revenue account, even in the existing depression
of affairs, bears by no means the disastrous aspect
which some might have anticipated. That very fact
justifies the expectation, that the immense resources
of this country ; the cool, enlightened course of its
higher productive and trading classes ; the measures
of precaution and relief that may be adopted on the
part of its executive authorities—will, in combination,
result in the restoration of affairs to a prosperous
condition, and, consequently, to the material im-
provement of the revenue tables for the approaching
year.

DEPARTURE OF THE QUEEN

DOWAGER FOR MADEIRA

PORTSMOUTH, OCT. 10.—Her Majesty the Queen
Dowager, their Serene Highnesses the Duke and
Duchess of Saxe Weimar, four of their children and
suite, Lord and Lady Howe, the Hon. Miss Sey-
mour, Sir David Daeies, Lieutenant Bedford, R.N.,
and one of her Majesty's private chaplains, with their
personal attendants, cooks, dressers, women, and their
servants, amounting to about fifty persons, arrived at
the Clarence-yard at one o'clock yesterday, by special
train on the South-Western Railway, and having
been received, on alighting from the carriage, by
Admiral Sir Charles Ogle, Rear-Admiral Shireff,
Major-General Lord Frederick Fitzclarence, Cap-
tain Lord Adolphus Fitzclarence, Captain Sir
Edward Parry and the officers of the Victualling
establishment, the captains and commanders of the
ships and vessels in the harbour, and a guard of
honour furnished from the 60th Rifles, embarked in
the Fairy and Fire Queen steam yachts, and were
conveyed to Spithead and put on board her
Majesty's ship Howe. The usual salutes
were fired on her Majesty passing oat of
harbour, and arriving at Spithead, and every demon-
stration of respect paid to the royal party. Admiral
Sir Charles Ogle and Lords Frederick and Adolphus
Fitzclarence accompanied her Majesty and her guests
were quite settled and prepared to put to sea, but
owing to the time occupied in getting things on
board, and the wind blowing fresh from the south,
with thick weather, it was not deemed prudent to un-
moor and go to sea last night. This morning the
Fire Queen has been out with more luggage and fur-
niture, and everything is on board, but it has been
blowing hard from the south all the forenoon, and the
weather is still thick and foggy, so that it is not ex-
pected, if the Howe does weigh, that she will go
further to-night than St. Helens, and there anchor.
The Scourge steamer is crowded with the spare ser •
vents, horses, &c. The Amphion, Arab, and Nau-
tilus are to accompany the Howe down.channel (the
Arab arrived this morning). The Vixen is to be de-
tained until Tuesday or Wednesday to take her
Grace the Duchess of Palmella (whose health is very
precarious) and suite, first to Lisbon, and then to
Madeira. Commander Ryder will probably reach
Lisbon before the Howe and Scourge. The Duchess
will remain there for a few days, and then re-embark
in the Vixen to be conveyed to Madeira, and after her
G
the fuerhthaes rbeen execution landed o thef
h steamerer
commander's will proceed,d
o r e r
s i no
Bermuda, Havannah, and lastly to Vera Cruz to la, tnd
Mr. Percy Doyle.

n gA,
betweenCClD ENT
siAxT
andT u LsseEv-HILL. tot:cri.o7
o'clock,
[al
coal-porterS atu rda y even-
e nh
name of George Lees, in the employ of Mr. Davis o
f t
coal-
merchant, of Scotland-yard, was proceeding with hhis
waggon and team down when a vicious mare
suddenly commenced kicking and plunging terrifically.
The man ran to the fore horse, when the whole took
fright, and Lees was thrown down, and the wheels of the
vehicle passed over his body, crushing his legs at flat as
a deal board. A party rushed forward and pulled the
unfortunate man away, and he was forthwith removed to
St. Thomas's Hospital, when the surgeons found that the
bones of the poor fellow's right leg were literally ground
to powder. A consultation was held last night at the
hospital, and it was decided that the only hope of saving
the man's life was to amputate the leg.