The Sun.
London, England, 1870-06-07 00:00:00

BUDGET REFLECTIONS.

The slight alterations which Mr. Lowe has introduced
into his financial proposals for the year have had one
effect which, we believe, has not been noticed. Mr. Lowe's
estimated surplus of £331,000 has been increased to
about £550,000. The Exchequer will be richer
by £lOB,OOO in consequence of the determina-
tion to leave the railway duty alone ; and the
desire of the country gentlemen to continue paying £3 a
year for the privilege of killing their own game—though
it may slightly affect the proceeds of the gun tax-- will
unquestionably account for the remaining £lll,OOO re-
quired to bring up the surplus to the point at which
we have now computed it. A surplus of a little more
than half a million may not seem a very immoderate
provision against the contingencies of the future,
but we believe we are right in saying that it is larger than
the largest of those reserved by the most provident of
Mr. Lowe's predecessors. In France a windfall of
£220,000 would raise a host of claimants, and its occur-
rence would be probably thought an unanswerable rea-
son for immediately commencing a new National Gallery
or some similar work. In England we shall probably
be content to leave the amount to fructify in the national
coffers. But, at the same time we cannot resist offering one
suggestion to Mr. Lowe. He has assented to the demand
of the game preservers and retained the game licence. Is
there any reason why he should destroy the hopes of the
large number of persons whose circumstances only enable
them to have a few days' shooting in the year, but who had
hoped, when they read the Budget, to get their few days'
enjoyment for the payment of one pound in lieu of two ?
If even game preservers have raised no objection to the
system which Mr. Gladstone introduced of issuing licences
to kill game for half the season at £2 instead of £3, there
Is every reason to suppose that no objection would be
raised by"them to the issue of such a licence for, say, one
month, at the lower rate of £l.—Pall Mall Gazette.

THE HORSE SHOW AT THE AGRICULTURAL

HALL.

With extended accommodation, an increase in the
number of the entries, and a decided improvement gene-
rally in the animals exhibited, the Horse Show of 1870,
at the Agricultural Hall; Islington, may be set down as
the most successful of the seven exhibitions yet held.
The opening day (Saturday) promised this, and the
prediction thus far has been fully realised. Yesterday
there was again a large attendance, and the
judging was watched with considerable interest, not
only by the male portion of those present, but also by a
large number of ladies who occupied the reserved seats.
On Saturday the judges devoted their attention to Classes
Ito 7 inclusive, and Classes 13, 14, and 15. Their awards,
which were made with much care and after mature consi-
deration, appear to have given unqualified satisfaction.
The names of the noblemen and gentlemen who have
accepted this onerous and responsible duty art the Earl of
Coventry, the Earl of Portsmouth, Mr. Henry Chaplin,
M.P., Colonel George A. Maude, C. 8., and Mr. James
Baillie.
Business commenced with Class 8 for harness horses with
good shape and park action. Mr. H. Frisby, of London,
won the first prize with his grey mare "Daisy." In Class
9 and Class 10, for park hacks and ladies' horses
and class 11 for harness horses 14 hands 2, Mr. Frisby
was also successful. For ponies not exceeding 13 hands 3,
Mr. William King, of Leighton Buzzard, took the first
prize. In the extra class (E) for any animal of extraordinary
merit not qualified to compete in the 16 classes, the Agri-
cultural Hall medal and £lO were awarded to Mr. H. W.
Peek, M.P., of Wimbledon-house, for Selim, grey Arab
stallion, 15} hands, 9 years old. After the judges had
concluded their labours the whole of the horses and ponies
were paraded in the ring, and their capabilities at fencing
were tested. This interesting exhibition will be repeated
every day until the close of the show on Friday, and on
that day the hunters will be tried at the water jump. The
Prince and Princess of Wales have intimated their
intention of visiting the show pn Wednesday, and
every arrongement for the reception and entertainment of
their Royol Highnesses will be made. We may add that
in addiiion to the horse show proper, there is also an ex-
tensive display of carriages, implements, articles for the
stable, &c., in We arcade and galleries, which has attracted
considerable notice and which will well repay the trouble
of a visit.

COLLISION IN THE CHANNEL.—The Liverpool
steamer Constance, bound to Nantes, was on Saturday
reported in collision off the Longships with the Selina,
Porthcawl to Plymouth, the latter had foundered, the
Constance proceeding with little damage. The collision
took place in a dense fog. The Constance is the property
of Messrs. Pothonier and Co., Liverpool.
An English sailor was washed overboard from a
ship in the South Atlantic last year. The case was duly
reported to the British Vice-Consul at the port next
visited, who granted a certificate to the captain of the
vessel, of which the following portion is rather Hiber-
than :—" I hereby certify that the within named
has been discharged and left behind at sea on the alleged
4'4 ground of being drowned ; that I have inquired into the
matter, and find the allegation true and the ground suffi-
-471* t j and I have accordingly granted my sanction to his
+7,.44being so left behind."
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