The Sun.
London, England, 1856-01-18 00:00:00

fiscal requirements from reduced means. The
natural result followed—industry was paralysed
—production decreased—and many of those who,
under a more judicious policy, might have been
the creators and producers of national wealth,
were compelled to become unprofitable consumers,
and with their helpless families to become the
recipients of parochial aid—dependent for a
scanty supply of the bare necessaries of existence
on the tender mercies of the Union Workhouses
in their respective districts. No English Minis-
ter can state, with honest pride, that "in 1865,
commerce and industry have attained a degree of
development such as no one could have ventured
to foresee, even at the most prosperous periods."
But "revenons a nous 711014010 :" we have to
deal with the efficiency of the French Govern-
ment rather than the shortcomings of our own.
We find that with respect to the " service of
1854," causes already clearly explained had
loaded the budget—apart from the extraordinary
requirements of the War and the Navy—with
supplementary credits amounting to 120,000, 000 f.
(4,800,0001. sterling), and that in May last the
general financial statement exhibited a probable
excess of expenditure of nearly 100,000,000 f.
It is now certain that this deficiency will not reach
70;000,000f., and but for a supplement in order
to complete the sums set apart for great public
works, over and above the special resources set
apart for them, that has risen as high as
72,000,000 f., "the definitive balance between
the receipts and the ordinary expenses would
show an excess of revenue."

So far for the service of 1854, than which
the most sanguine statesman could scarcely have
anticipated a more auspicious state of of airs, or
one more creditable to the financial resources of
France, the energies of its intelligent and high-
minded population, or the statesman-like policy of
its Government. With respect to that of 1855,
the estimates of which have been affected by a
variety of unforeseen circumstances, a supple-
mentary charge of 120,000,000 francs was im-
posed on the budget. Of this amount, however,
no less than 84,000,000 f. are accounted for in a
very satisfactory manner—a part, that of pre-
miums, amounting to 17,000,000 f., is merely the
giving back of duties levied. Another part, that
of tobacco and snuff, is not a real expense, but a
mere transformation of stock, while the great
public works have taken 52,000,000 f. from
the ordinary revenue. The effects produced,
however, prove, beyond the possibility of doubt,
that such an outlay invariably produces a vast
increase of other duties, and is not only consistent
with, but eminently conducive to, a sound syst em

of economy.
With respect to the indirect revenue we find
that the new duties have yielded 33,000,000 f.,
while on those previously in operation there has
been, " in favour of 1855 an enormous increase
of more than 70,000,000 f., which raises to
917,000,000 f., the total yield of the old duties ;"
so that not merely has the ground lost in 1846,
but that year itself, the most remarkable under
the preceding Government, is already surpassed
by 100,000,000 f.

Passing over other points of comparatively
trivial importance, we may briefly refer to the
loan operations, on which 1,120,000,000 francs
(44,800,000 sterling) have already been realised
—that is to say, the loan of 250,000,000 f.
has been fully paid up ; of that of 500,000,000 f.
476,000,000 f. had been realised ; and of that
of 780,000,000 f. 394,000,000 f., of which
160,000,000 f. have been paid in anticipation ;
and a sum of 535,900,000 f. (21,800,0001.) still
remains available for the extraordinary require-
ments of the War of 1856

Well may our faithful Allies be proud of this
great result. Well may the Financial Minister
congratulate himself and his Imperial Master on
the auspicious prospects of the nation—more
particularly when he is enabled to state that the
floating debt Las been reduced by no less than
121,000,000f.(4,840,0001. sterling) below that of
last year. We commend the entire statement to the
especial consideration of Sir G. C. LEWIS. It will
afford a valuable lesson as to the mode in which
the affairs of a mighty nation may be managed,
under circumstances of peculiar difficulty, so that
extraordinary demands may be met without
imposing extraordinary difficulties or privations
on the People.

We refer to a report, given. in our paper of
to-day, on the opening of discussions on the sub-
ject of Administrative Reform at Manchester, and
to the extension of the topics, from which it will
be seen that it is by no means so dead in popular
appreciation as it has been assumed and denied
in some quarters. From what was stated the
public may expect that the convenient pass exami-
nations for the Civil Service must be given up,
and competitive examinations substituted. From
Mr. HEYWOOD'S statement of his views, the ex-
tension of competitive examinations from Com-
missions for the Engineers and Artillery to the
whole Army, and the abolition of Patronage as
well as Parchase, will soon be demanded from
the House of Commons, and Members will not
be enabled to evade it beyond the next session.

The Marquis of Lansdowne, after attending the Ca-
binet Council on Wednesday, left town for Windsor
Castle.

His Excellency the Ambassador of the Ottoman Porte
and Madame Musurus have returned to the Turkish
Embassy, from visiting the Earl and Countess of Har-
rington, at Elverston Castle, Derbyshire.
His Excellency the Hon.. P. C. Scarlett, the newly-
appointed Minister Plenipotentiary to the Court of
Brazil, will leave this country in the course of the en-
suing month, to enter on his diplomatic functions.
The Marquis of Lansdowne, after attending the
Cabinet Council on Wednesday, left town for Windsor
Castle. His lordship comes to town to-day.
The Earl and Countess of Durham are expected to
arrive at Lambton Castle next week, from a tour of
visits in Ireland.

The Earl and Countess of Winchilsea are passing the
winter at Haverholme Priory, Lincolnshire.
The Countess of Caledon, accompanied by the youth.
ful earl and family, have arrived in Carlton House-
terrace, from Caledon-park, county Tyrone Ireland.
Viscountess Hardinge and the Hon. Miss Hardinge
arrived in town a few days since, from Penshurst, Kent.
Lord and. Lady Abinger are surrounded by a select
circle at their seat near Dorking. Lieut.-Colonel the
Hon. W. F. Scarlett, recently returned from the
Crimea, and the Hon. Mrs. Toler, are staying with the
noble lord and her ladyship. Lieut.-General the Hon.
Sir James Scarlett arrived in England last week, from
the Crimea, on leave of absence.
Lord and Lady Feversham hays been entertaining a
succession of visitors at Duncombe Park, Yorkshire.
We are glad to learn that Lord Adolphus Fitzclarence
is now thought to be going on favourably. His lord-
ship is relieved of gout, and the medical bulletin yester-
day stated that "Lord Adolphus Fitzclarenoe was con-
siderably better."
Lord Crewe, since his arrival at Crewe Hall, Cheshire,
from visiting the Marquis of Lansdowne at Bowood, has
been entertaining a succession of visitors.
The Bishop of Jamaica, Mr. Mantel!, Chief Justice of
the Gambia, and Mr. Thos. Brown, member of Council,
Gambia, had interviews with Mr. Secretary Laboucbere
yesterday at the Colonial-office.
Lord Napier, secretary to the British Embassy at
Constantinople, accompanied by Lady Napier and
family, has arrived in town from the Turkish capital,
having obtained leave of absence. The noble lord has
been nearly two years principal secretary, and during
the whole of that period has been resident at Constan-
tinople.
FUNERAL OF TEE LATE MARQUIS OF AILBSBURT.—
The remains of this nobleman were conveyed to the
family vault in Great Bedwin Church, Wilts, on Satui-
day last. The funeral cortege left Tottenham Park I
shortly after noon. The mourners were the prose&
Marquis, Lord Ernest Bruce, M.P., Lord Charles
Bruce, sons of the deceased peer; Mr. Wentworth, son-
in-law ; Mr. Bruce, &c. The funeral was conducted ipa
i very quiet manner, all pomp being avoided, in accor4-
mace with the desire of the deceased.