The Sun.
London, England, 1856-11-25 00:00:00

doubt the deep interest taken by the community
at large in this interesting subject, and the earnest
determination to obtain speedy redress. What-
ever may be thought of the policy of the impost,
or of the oppressive inequality of its assessment,
there can be no difference respecting the unfairness

of levying the full amount of the war-tax for a
year longer than it was intended to be granted by
Parliament, or than it was supposed it could possibly
be enforced. It was merely by a discreditable trick

tliat the charge could be protracted until the sth
April, 1858. The Peace was, to all intents and
purposes, concluded in March last. But by the
substitution of the word " ratification" for "con
elusion," it is endeavoured to maintain the tax in
all its oppressive stringency for twelve months
longer than was at all contemplated, either by

the Parliament or the People of Great Britain.
If Government insist on the necessity or expedi-
ency of the present rate, they have full power to
bring the matter fairly before the Legislature.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer can explain the
point fully in his financial scheme, and then it

will r,ceive full consideration. This course would
avoid even the imputation of deception—a mat-
ter of vast importance to any Administration,
which should be placed even beyond suspicion on

such a point.
Great disingenuousness has, however, been dis
played ab initio in reference to this impost,
although Mr. GLADSTONE has rendered himself
more amenable to the accusation than any of his
predecessors. It was always represented as a mere
temporary burden—only required for an existing
emergency, and one that could be dispensed with
after a few years. It was by these weans alone
that the gross injustice of charging precarious and
temporary incomes, obtained by physical or intel-
lectual labour, at as high a rate as if derived from
accumulated and realised property, was tolerated.
In 1842 Sir ROBERT PEEL asked for it for three
years to restore the shattered finances of the
nation. During the interval he effected so many
fiscal improvements that it was gladly renewed
for a further term of three years, in order
to enable him to push his experiments to
their legitmate conclusion. A very different
person, however, was at the head of the financial
department when the matter was again forced en
the consideration of the House and country.
" The iron had deeply entered into the souls " of
the commercial community ; and when Sir
CHARLES WOOD proposed a considerable increase,
it was received with universal execration—not,
as we explained at the period, against the tax
itself, which, if fairly apportioned, would have
been preferred to indirect imposts, but to its un-
just and unequal operation. The unfortunate
financier was but too happy to obtain a renewal
of the charge for a single year. Had it not been
for that compromise it would have been unequivo-
cally rejected. But the monetary condition of
the country forbade so formidable a mode of tes-
tifying the displeasure of the people.
In 1849 it was renewed for a further term of
three years, due notice being given that the
Minister should " set his house in order" daring
the interval, and be prepared to bring forward a
more equitable project. Mr. DISRAELI, although
not going sufficiently far, made a move in the
right direction by recognising a distinction be-
tween permanent and precarious incomes ; but
the overthrow of the DERBY Administration pre-
vented his scheme from being adjudicated on by
the Legislature. It was then thought that the
matter would be satisfactorily disposed of. The
Premier, Lord ABERDBEN, and the leader of the
Rouse of Commons, Lord Joux RUSSELL, succes-
sively declared that the system could nut be de-
fended. Parliament and the country were al'
but unanimous ; but unfortunately Mr. GLAD
STONE had resolved to carry out his crotchet,
and by his indomitable energy he defeated
the wishes of the entire community. He per-
suaded the nation that it was better to abolish
than to modify the impost, and by a specious and
flattering tale induced them to believe that it was
possible to do so. The result was that he got it
renewed for a longer period than any of his pre-
decessors, under the supposition that a reduction
should commence in 1857, which would lead to the
eventual expiration of the burden in 1860. The
bait was eagerly swallowed, although we explained
the absurdity of the notion, and the nature of
the gross deception practised. A. single year
verified the accuracy of our predictions, the tax
was doubled in 1853, and subsequently raised by
Sir G. C. LEWIS to 16d. in the pound, to be
continued until a year after the termination of the
war. This, by a species of official legerdemain,
bast been construed to mean something more
these two years, and this is the first although by
no means the only point to be assailed. It is
the whole question what the taking of the Ma-
lakhoff was to the capture of Sebastopol. All
other matters must speedily follow. The Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer cannot spare eight or nine
millions sterling, and therefore the point must be
put on a proper foundation, so as to satisfy the
country. If energetic efforts be made in the
right direction there most be a satisfactory ar-
rangement, and those who display zeal and activity
in producing a result so desirable will entitle
themselves to the thanks and gratitude of their
fellow-citizens.

"The pearly shell for him and thee, ,
The oyster ii the lawyer's fee."
The unfortunate shareholders and creditors of
the Royal British Bank have ample cause to ac-
knowledge the accuracy of the illustration afforded
in the well-known fable. Their substance is con
seined, their rights withheld, while the legal
shuttlecock is tossed backwards and forwards
between the long-robed players. The great ob-
ject, of course, is to obtain the most speedy dis-
tribution possible of the large amount on hand,
and to make provision at the earliest possible time
for -the liquidation of the balance. But this is
defeated by the earnest contest between the
official manager and the official assignee as to
which of them shall have the pleasing percentage
allowed for the duty. While they can fight for
heir own peculiar interests at the cost of the
victims, while all the expenses on either side are
to be paid out of the fund in Court, we may be
assured that the matter will be carried on from
Court to Court until it terminates in a manner
similar to the leading case of Jarndyce and Jarn-
dyce. At present
the official assignee, the decision is favourable to
but the official manager is
not discouraged. There are the Judges of Ap-
peal, who may take a different view of the sub-
ject ; and the Rouse of Lords, after a few
years' consideration, may aF,ain alter either or both
decisions. The unhappy shareholders, if they hare
p
the means, will have to pay for all—if not, the
loss will:fall on the creditors, Who will, thebe
interim, be deprived of the relief that
afforded by the division of the fund. Surely such
a state of affairs should not he allowed to con-
-1 tinue. The depositors may well exclaim, 441
plague on both your houses." It would practically
be far better that they should pay both parties
than suffer their property to be frittered away by
such vexatious litigation.
Surely an arrangement might bc made for the
immediate division of the available at•sers, allow-