The Sun.
London, England, 1846-10-12 00:00:00

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LONDON, MONDAY, OCTOBER 12, 1841.

THE QUARTER'S REVENUE.
The returns of the state of the public revenue for
the year and quarter ending the 10th of October,
1846, are moet satisfactory—satisfactory as showing
not only a positive increase of revenue, but as demon-
strating the truth of the doctrine upon which the
Government has of late years acted, viz., that a di-
minution of the duties upon cuatomable and excise-
able articles causes such an increase of consumption
as to create an increase of revenue as a consequence
of a diminution of taxation. Notwithstanding the
recent reduction in the duties of the Customs, and
although the decrease upon the year is 501,6191., yet
the increase upon the quarter is 462,4721., showing
such a tendency towards permanent increase, that
in a very short period the Customs' revenue under the
low duty tariff will, probably, considerably exceed
the Customs' revenue under the high duty tariff.
The total Customs revenue for the year is 18,150,9331.,
for the quarter 5,310,8351. The fact that diminished
duties lead to increased revenue is still more clearly
demonstrated under the head of Excise. Notwith-
standing the total removal of the glass and auction
duties, and the diminution of various of the Excise
duties levied on articles of consumption, we find
ender this head an increase both on;the year and on the
quarter ; on the year of 182,717/., and on the quarter
of 226,8201., thus showing that the increase is still
progressing. The total amount of the Excise revenue
for the year is 12,251,932/., and for the quarter
4,181,9261. The total revenue for Stamps is for the
year 6,983,129/., for the quarter 1,174,3641., showing
an increase in the year of 21,7591., and a decrease on
the quarter of 5,8111. Now considering that during
the corresponding quarter of last year the railway
fever was at its height., it is satisfactory to find that
the deficiency in the quarter is only to so small an
amount. Under the head Taxes we find an in-
ereSse on the quarter of 8,6611., and on the year of
10,279/., the total revenue from the Taxes for the year
being 4,238,560/., and for the quarter 209,940/. The
amount derived from the property-tax during the'year
was 5,332,1571. ; during the quarter 1,972,198/. ;
showing an increase on the year of 205,031/., and on
the quarter of 148,245/. The Post-office revenue
still continues to increase in such a ratio as fully to
bear out the anticipations of the advocates of the plan
of cheap postage ; and if the plan were carried out to its
full extent, as originally'proposed—if the greatest pos-
sible accommodation were afforded to the public, at the
least possible charge, there cannot be a doubt but that
the revenue derived from the Post-office would be at
once more than doubled. Even under the present
very inefficient arrangements, we find that it shows
an increase on the year of 114,000/., and on the
quarter of 8,000/. ; the total amount for the year
being 802,000/, and for the quarter 217,0001.
The revenue frost the Crown Lands for the year is
115,000/., for the quarter 45,000/. ; showing a decrease
on the year of 30,000/., and an increase on the
quarter of 15,0004 Under the head of Miscel-
laneous, we find entered for the quarter a sum of
403,5544 (which includes 217,6441., the produce of

silver received from China), and for the year of
1,394,548/. There is an increase under this head on
the year of 421,5881., but a decrease on the quarter of
59,5481. The total amount of ordinary revenue for
the year is 49,198,2.591., for the quarter 14,116,7471.,
showing an increase on the year of 88,2641., and on
the quarter of 539,0641. The total charge for the
quarter ending the 10th October, 1846, is 8,598,6771.,
and the surplus of the Consolidated Fund is 5,762,3701.
Under these circumstances, we think we are perfectly
justified in asserting that the financial state of the
country, as shown by the returns of the public re-
venue for the past quarter, is most satisfactory.

But that we recognise an awful importance in the

possible consequences of the Montpensier marriage
we should probably be inclined to participate with

certain of our Contemporaries in appreciating the

facetiousness of its preliminary circumstances. There
is such extravagant absurdity visible in the develope-

went of this political and matrimonial lalliauce, its
principal actors are surrounded by so many of the

adjuncts of burlesque, and the whole proceeding is so
intimately blended with the humorous, that laughter
is alone suppressed from a dread lest the denouement
may be calamitous While the Dukes D'AUMALE
and DR MOaTPRNSIER are being tended by Spanish
Ilebes in the mansion of Madame LirtnizanAL, "the
diplomatic sword" is being torn from its scabbard in
the Cabinet of a gigantic ally. While the
French princes are being regaled with the evo-
lutions of variegated petticoats and spotless pan-

taloons, the stormy influences of a reviving jealousy
are threatening to destroy the lengthened pacification
of Europe. And it is because we are convinced that

:his farcical induction will, in all human likelihood

lead to a tragical catastrophe, that we behold in these
circumstances rather texts for mourning than themes

for amusement.

Many hours must have already elapsed since the
double marriages were solemnized in the cathedral of
the Peninsular metropolis. Queen ISABELLA has
matter for gratulation in having espoused a prince
who was in no particular politically objectionable.
The Infanta MARIA LUISA FERNANDA. has, on the con-
trary, received a consort by whose acceptance all her
constitutional claims have been endangered, and all
her regal expectations most seriously jeopardized. It
is unnecessary to particularise the relative position as-
sumed by the different Governments in consequence
of this precipitate ceremonial. The temporary so-
journ of Mr. BULWER at Aranjuez is a tolerable in-
dication of the attitudes at present maintained in the
ministerial tableaux. When we consider the preca-
rious hypocrisy which has environed the cortge of
the Princes during their progress towards the Spanish
capital, and the purchased acclamations with which
they have been welcomed in a land whose population
is in truth so infuriated at their advent, we can-
not but tremble for the bloody consequences which
may be thereby entailed upon an abused people.
Beholding the subservient enthusiasm of the Afran -
cesados on an occasion when the independence of a
great nation is virtually bartered for a debasing
friendship, we might paraphrase that startling allu-
sion of MIRABEAU to "those foreign satellites, who,
gorged with gold and wine, predicted in their
impious songs the subjection of France, and invoked
the destruction of Peninsular nationality." The
dilemma into which this nzsalliance has plunged the
affairs of Western Europe is enormous; and the
uncertainty of their future is most embarrassing to
all the lovers of peace and civilisation. That extra-

ordinary state contrivance, which 31. DE LAMARTINE

has happily designated as "an unfortunate temerity
and a giddy deception," commenced with the tears cf
a QUEEN on the night of the 27th of August, has
terminated with the anguish of a people on the
morning of the 10th October. " The posthumous
dream of 1713" has been realised ; but the penalties
of its realisation have yet to be estimated. " L'assur-
ance que les Couronnes d'Espagne et de France ne
seroient jamais anises sur une mime tile, a ete un des
principaux et des plus importans motifs de la guerre
qui a afflige I 'Europe jusqu'it ce jour," said PHILIP V.
on the Bth of July, 1712. On the 10th of October,
1846, the junction of the two diadems was again
placed within the limits of possibility. May not
some other sovereign have occasion at some
future period to deplore as Pinup did " /a guerre qui
a aifiigg l'Europe jusqu' a ce jour," and that because of
this lamentable renewal of that same unnatural motive?
LOUIS PHILIPPE should have remembered while on-
' deavouring to sate his kingly ambition, and to en-
hance his family influence, that some amongst his
greatest predecessors had been subdued while striving
• to render the Pyrenees a nullity, and to transform
the Spanish dominions into a French province. He
should have borne in recollection that "Le Grand
Monarque" was overwhelmed by a series of disasters
because of a similar policy towards the
Peninsula, and that even NAPOLEON LE GRAND first
rendered the stability of his colossal empire doubtful
by endeavouring to merge the realm of Spain into his
vast and complicated system. We cannot sufficiently
regret the accomplishment of this nefarious alliance.
It is the virtual abrogation of the constitutional laws
of the Peninsula; the hypocritical subjugation of an
unoffending race ; the trepanning of a helpless Prin-
cess ; and the advancement of a dynasty, at the cost
of an illustrious people. Such, at least, is the present
picture of the political position of Spain—that picture
6 may be reversed by Lord PALMERSTON.

The prompt and vigorous decision arrived at by
the Irish Executive, as detailed in the letter of the
Chief Secretary to the Chairman of the Board of
Works, which we published in The Sun of Thursday,
has proved to the gentlemen who have exerted them-
selves for the purpose of procuring signatures to the
requisition calling the meeting of landowners to as-
semble together in the city of Dublin, that they may
repose the most unlimited confidence in the Govern-
ment, and that it is no longer necessary to petition
for an immediate meeting of Parliament, in order
that the provisions of the 9th and 10th Vic., cap. 107,
might be altered. His Excellency has taken upon
himself the grave responsibility of sanctioning the
expenditure of the money to be presented at the
different sessions assembled under that Act, in the
execution of such works of a reproductive character,
and of permanent utility within the districts as may
be selected at the sessions, and confirmed by the
officers of the Board of Works. And it was there-
fore manifest that the object for which the assemblage
of the Legislature was desirable being already at-
tained, there could be no advantage gained thereby.
The committee have therefore resolved that they
would no longer be justified in apting upon the re-
quisition, and it has accordingly been withdrawn.
Indeed it could not be otherwise from the terms of
the requisition itself, which was limited to the altera-
tion of the provisions of that Act. It still, how-
ever, appears to us that it would be most
desirable that a general meeting of persons of all
varieties of political and religious feeling, who were
owners of, or interested in, land, should assemble to-
gether, that they should co-operate with each other
for the benefit of their common country ; and that
they should appoint a permanent committee, whose
especial duty it would be to take into their considera-
tion all questions relating to the existing, or probable
future, distress throughout the entire kingdom ; that
they should report on all projects submitted to them,
by which the condition of the people might be
ameliorated, particularly to such as related to an im-
proved cultivation of the soil, and the production of
such crops as might afford a substitute for the potato
as food for the multitude, in the event of a continued
failure of that esculent. 'We doubt not that themos

perfect good faith would be observed by Mr,

O'CONNELL and his supporters, and that no attempt
would be made at the introduction of any question
of an irritating nature likely to introduce party
dissensions or religious differences; indeed, any
effort of the kind could instantly take
away from the efficiency of the body, which would
only be valuable as representing the opinions of all.
Mr. O'CONNELL is far too sagacious to effect by such
means the destruction of a body which might confer
such vast benefit on his country, and this alone would
be a sufficient guarantee were it not confirmed by the
solemn pledges that would undoubtedly be given at its
formation, and which, indeed, have been already con-
tained in his letters on the subject. A fundamental
rule should be adopted in the first instance, similar
to that which bound the Repeal Association to act
only on the principle of moral force, and which

should provide that any person introducing any ques.
tion not having a direct reference to the objects for
which the body was created, should "eo instante"

cease to be a member. The reasons urged by Mr.
O'CoNNlr..t. in his admirable letters appear to us
quite unanswerable. It is, we hope, unnecessary
to say, that we are no repeaters of the
union between the countries; on the con-

,rary, we are anxious to cement more closely the

,ies by which we are mutually bound together, and
;0 raise the people of Ireland to a full and perfect

equality with ourselves in all their civil, municipal,

and political institutions. A perfect union can only
exist in a perfect equality. Suffer one of the parties

to be placed in an inferior condition under any pre- '
text whatsoever, and you forthwith endanger the
stability of that union which it is for the benefit of
both nations to consolidate and strengthen by every
legitimate means. We cannot but think that the pa-
ternal solicitude, the energetic exertions of the Go-
vernment for the welfare of the Irish in this the
season of their trial will not be without their effects on
that generous and high-minded people. They will
see that they have been unduly prejudiced against
the English connexion, and that they will gain
everything from an united Legislature that may be
demanded by the exigencies of their country as fully
as if it had been submitted to the consideration
of an Irish Parliament sitting in College-green.
Already we have seen the good effects of per
sons of opposite political opinions meeting together
on a neutral ground, where no causes of disunion
could arise, and where they could labour together for the
benefit of their suffering brethren. The feelings on
both sides have been softened sown, and flowed in a
more kindly channel, and the prejudices by which
each party have been influenced, if not wholly re-
moved, have at least been greatly mitigated. From
this beneficial change we augur the happiest conse-
quences for the nation at large. We hope to see the
time when Irishman can meet Irishman without the
introduction of irritating topics, without difference,