The Sun.
London, England, 1851-05-03 00:00:00

MGR WATER AI LONDON BRIDGE

Trja IJas—Morning 5 ann. after 3 I Evening 21 nem, after 3
To .loaaow —Morning 38 rain. after 3 I Evening 56 'ctn. after 3

WEATHER.—Stx OFFICE, MAY 3.
THERmomwrza, IN THE
52—highest since neon yesterday.
34—lowest this morning and during the night.
45—this day, at noon.
BAD:M=I4 29.79

WIND W.—cloudy, with eccasinnal showers.

DAILY WEAriihit IABLI.

State of the Wind and Weather at each of the following
places at Nine o'clock yesterday morning.—The stations
are arranged in order of latitude.
PLYMOUTH—Wind N.W., strong breeze—partially cloudy.
Poor.E—Wind N.. gentle breeze—partially cloudy.
Ponsmorrn—W Ind W., gentle breeze—overcast.
BRIGHTON—Wind N., gentle breeze—partially cloudy.
HASTINGS—Wit d N., gentle breeze—partially cloudy.
SOUTHAMPTON—Wind N.W., strong breeze—parti ally cloudy.
ForxesToNe— Wind N.E., gentle breeze—partially cloudy.
TUNBRIDGE—Wind N.W., gentle breeze--partially cloudy.
BAsisagrome —Wind N.. gentle breeze—partially cloudy.
GREE.NWICH—Wind N. gentle breeze—partially cloudy.
SWLYDoN Wind N., gentle breeze—overcast.
COLCIIRsTER —Wind 4.E., gentle breeze—partially cloudy.
CAMBRIDOE—Wind N., gentle breeze—partially cloudy.
YARMOUTH—Wind N.E., strong breeze—cloudless.
Iftwie—Wind N., gentle breeze—partially cloudy.
Lxvkiirbot.— Wind N.E., gentle breeze—partially cloudy.
The returns from the following places indicate the state of
the wind and weather on Thursday morning at nine
:
Coatc—Wind W., light breeze—rain.
garGsToWN (D u Ras)— W ind N.Y., gentle breeze—
partially cloudy.
aalrl3 t.iacllolyudy. cloudy.
gutt.mo.an.— ind N.W., gentle breeze—principally cloudy.
scr.viblttpoouruN_—Wind ind‘N.N.; N.`%. gentle
bentrleeezbre—eezpea
;IP
CoNwAY—Win.l W., gentle breeze—rain.
YORK— Wind W., gentle breeze—partially cloudy.
LANCAsTIR—Wind W., calm—partially —partially cloudy.
ind N.W., calm partially cloudy.
WurrEnAvEN Wind N.E., gentle breeze—partially cloudy.
BEATIOCK— Wind N. W.,•
ge..t e oreeze princi pally clear.

cf.!. (t;.• 1:4
ts
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e7ittenitaft Mt&
LONDON, SATURDAY, MAY 3, 1851.

The House of Lords sat for a few minutes last night, but
:ransacted no business of importance.
In the House of Coin Mons,

Lord JOHN RUSSELL stated, in reply to a question from
Mr. CHILDERS, that he bad consulted the law officers of the
Crown as to the legality of the meeting of the c!ergy sum-
moned by the Bishop of EXETER, and which he called a
synod, and that they had given it as their opinion that the
proposed meeting was no synod at, all, and that as it was
distinctly stated that no attempt would be made to enact
canons, it was not illegal.

The House then went into Committee on the Property
Tax Bill, and after several amendments had been proposed
by Mr. FRISIIFIELD and negatived,
Mr. Hymn moved that the tax should be continued for
one year only, for the purpose of 'affording an opportunity
for the appointment of a Committee-to devise some plan fur
remedyin4 the inequalities of its a4sesament.
Mr. Aldtrman Tnoarrsorr supported the amendment with
a view' of getting rid of direct taxation, and raising the re-
venue from import duties.
Mr. MowATT supported the amendment.
Mr. NICE: declared the tax had been imposed under false
pretences.
Mr. MACGREGOR was convinced that the tax might be as-
sessed more equitably than at present, and should therefore
vote in tavour of the amendment.

The Marquis of GRANBY would support the amendment as
step towards doing away with free trade.
Mr. ConnEM would support the Government, as he consi-
dered that the amendment was supported by the Protec-
tionists solely for the purpose of getting rid of free trade.
Mr. JACOB BELL would vote against the amendment.
Mr. S. HERBERT opposed, and Mr. W. MILES supported
the amendment.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, he had endea-
voured to form a plan for the moditicaiion of the income-tax.
but found it was quite impossible to do so in such a way as
to render it equitable. It was therefore absurd to confine the
operation of the tax to one year, because they could not
thereby render it More equitable; while, on the other hand,
it would prevent the Government from turning its attention
to the reiuction of other taxes

Nr. DISRAELI would support the amendment because be was
of opinion that the mode of assessment of the tax might be
rendered less inequitable than at present. He elicited enor-
mous cheering by retorting upon Mr. COBDIZN with a quota-
Von from one of thiet gentleman's speeches, made in 18-15, in
which he .described the income-tax as a "fungus upi,n the
tree of monopoly, and ;:nly rendered necessary by the corn-
laws."

Lord Jothr RUSSELL was surprised at the conduct of Mr.
Hums, who was playing into the hands of the Protectionists,
of whose views there could be no doubt, notwithstanding
the studiods at.empt of Mr. DISRAELI to conceal them. The
Noble Lora concluded by arguing the itnpolicy of expo-ink;
so large a revenue as that derived from the income-tax to
the chances of an annual vote.

Mr. MJNTZ could not sea a objection to having the tax
voted only trom year to year.
Mr. GEACH opposed the amendment.
Dir. &AMUCK supported the ame: dment, and was sur-
prised at the conduct of Mr. COBDEN, who ought to know
that the most effectual manner of enforcing economy was by
keeping the supplies short. The tact was, the Government
intended to make the tax permanent, and dared not avow it.
Mr...FUJIE shortly replied;
After which the Committee dividei, when the numbers
were --

For the amendment
Against it
Majority against the Government -14
The House then resumed, and _ _ _

Lord J. RUSSELL said he would proceed with the Com-
mittee on Blonday next, instead of taking the Ecclesiastical
Titles Assumption Bill.

The sanguine anticipations as to the success of Mr.
Humes amendment, to which 'we yesterday gave
expression, have been fully realized. The proposition
for limiting the duration of the tax to a single year
was last night adopted by a majority of 14, not-
withstanding the defection of the Hon. Gentleman
the Member for the West Riding, and others, from
whom we should have looked for a very different
policy. We cordially congratulate the community
in general, and more especially the large and daily
increasing body of fiscal reformers, on this
auspicious result. A more important de-
cision has seldom been arrived at in either
branch of the Legislature. It will prevent the
Ministry, collectively or individually, from slighting
the voice of public opinion, or disregarding all con-
siderations of equity and expedieLcy. Sir CHARLES
WOOD will no longer be enabled to bestrido his finan•
cial hobbies, with a grace so easy, an aspect so
debonnaire, as he has hitherto exhibited. His suc-
cessors in cffice—for we cannot for a moment contem-
plate so grievous a calamity as his continuance, for
even another year, at the head of the department
which he now mismanages—must study the popular
feeling, and adapt their measures to the popu-
' lar will. Nothing, in fact, could do more to
consolidate and strengthen the power of the people,
or to place more firmly within their grasp the control
of the national purse-strings.

These are.no new,opinions put forward in conse-
quence of the victory just obtained—we have on
many occasions, for some time pae, repeated these views,
and called upon the fiscal aad financial relortm.rs to
take_ advantage of the golden opportupity afforded to
.
them by the tettniatitioris or:lhis impost. An in-
strument of tremendous `power was placed
in their hands, which it would have been
an act of either . madness or treachery to have
relinquished without making it fully available for the
redress of existing grievances. Those grievances are,
unfortunately, so numerous that it is impossible to
hope that they can be remedied in a single year. The
only course, then, was to retain possession of the for-
midable weapon until ado quate remedies had been ob-
tained—until our entire fiscal and financial s) stem bad
' undergoLe a thorough revision. This could only he
achieved by renewing the property and income-tax
T4'll Year to year, and we believe we may claim credit
for being the
, first who recommended an annual vote
with respect to the property and income-tax. The
Suh of
Wednesday, the 23d October, 1850, contained
thefollowin
passages in its leading article :
~ The firat,gand
determined in roerPerhaps the most important point to be
is to te to the new property-tax is the
period for which it
tempt was made to increase
igranted. * * In 1848 an at-
Shilling in the pound, vitiecititie charge from sevenpence to a
eventually abandoned ;
_but the existing strenuously resisted, and
before, and it was(
the same form and for a similar term tax was renewed in I
again granted until the year 18,eim
be made to get it for a longer tern'i .;
at least to continue it in force for ilvoe
Thea attempt will now
inimet,,ithabdreoe rteon ew
conic d
make it permanent, or
must be vigorously resisted. why
should yeart,, but that
7°,e,,,,h,: a
for a single .year? Why should not Ai
before Parliament in each and every session' as it. I
goaleour set
.o tji.
t'e :1
ti.ou
yt
ii
cniyaaor
7dnoSrtioelito-in-
consolidate: I'r le ExaTupi n Billcitifl re
is impoudde to estimate too higky the impoitance of4 such lt 1
•,
poputar Lower, to vilorce a due respect jOr the popular wish 1
than airy other step that could be adopted." . . es, i
And again two days Lter, on the 25th . October, we
added : ,
•`Tie great eesidefatum to he achieved is, as we have
already stated, to limit the duration of the renewed property.
tax, or any substitute that may be granted in lieu thereof,
to a single year. It is the control over the national revenue,
the holding of the national purse- strings that constitutes the
e. It
strength. How greatly woull that strength be enhanced if
eoarThotantly principal items of income should 'be assented to in
cm every session, as well as the; application of that in-
be known berb
indirect taxation,'night not be practicable to .do' so in matters if
might The Customs and Excise duties should
ne d , in order that merchants and manu-
facturerswould be willing bet;
.124 bled to decide on the business they
dertake. But there is no such OM'

~,,
..