The Sun.
London, England, 1851-06-26 00:00:00

THE SUN,

GPF.ENwItlir F.41.5:CT10N
.

---
The nomination of the candidates at the Greenwict
election took place this morning, in the vacant space op-
posite St. Alphage Church, where large and commodi-
OM hustings were erected, and every accommodation
provided for the convenience of the contesting parties.
At an eariy hour the old town began to present the
usual animated appearance which the bustle of a con-
tested election generally causes in a free and indepen-
dent English borough. The old church tells rang out a
merry peal, bands of music patrolled the town, and ft one
almost every alternate window large flags streamed fortb,
beseeching the electors to Vote for Salomons
and the Liberty of the People," or " Wire and Purity of
Election". Alderman Salomon's colours were purple and
orange, while .Alderman Wire's partizans sported light
blue and white rosettes. The crowd assembled round
the hustings was exceedingly numerous, and the parti-
z ins of Alderman Salomons seemed from the first to
outnumber those of his opponents, to judge at least from
the preponderance of dark-blue flags and rosettes dis-
played in the crowd, as the demonstrations of Alderman
Wire's partizans were confined principally to placards
displayed on boards, after the manner of itinerant
advertisers, and did not rise to the dignity of silk.
The excitement of the event seemed to have ex-
tended even to the calm retreat of the Hospital, for the
old pensioners were on the ground in great numbers, and
seemed to take quite as great an interest in the proceed-
ings as the youngest and most ardent politician present.
Three of Alderman Salomon's bands took up their posi-
tion in front of the hustings at an early hour, and con-
tinued at intervals todiscourse sweet music to the assem-
bled electors, thereby, no doubt, contributing greatly to
prevent the resorting to many of those uproarous
amusements to which a crowd kept waiting is generally
addicted. The Alderman's liberality, too, mede him
decidedly the first favourite, for Alderman Wire, pro-
bably, not being gifted with a musical taste, had not
provided a band for the entertainment of his supporters.
Every window which could by any possibility command
a view of the hustings was crowded, and in many in-
stances the anxious spectators had climbed to the roofs
of the houses. Alderman Salomon's committee had
taken up their quarters at the White Hart Inn, while
Alder man Wire's supporters made the Greyhound Inn
their house of call; and from these houses the respec-
tive candidates took their departure for the hustings,
followed in procession by their principal supporters.
The proceedings were opened shortly after ten o'clock,
at which hour Mr. Joshua Morris, the returning officer
of the borough, made his appearance on the hustings,
and was received with manifestations of applause from
the electors who had collected on the spot.
The RETURNING OFFICER read the Sheriff's warrant,
commanding ,him to summons the burgesses to elect a
Member to serve in Parliament as one of the representa-
tives of the borough, in the room of G. S. Barnard, Esq.,
deceased, and then peoceeded to exhort the electors to
observe order and decorum during the period of the
election. He said they were assembled to exercise a
valuable and important privilege, and as ho should
allow none to address them but those who had a
right to do so, he hoped they would give
every one a fair hearing, and ultimately decide fairly
whom they thought the most fitting of the two candi-
dates to serve them in Parliament.—(Cheers.)
Mr. PONTIFEX was then introduced to the electors as
the proposer of Mr. Salomons, and after dwelling a
short while upon the important character of the duties
which a Member of Parliament undertook, he went on
to canvass the merits of the two candidates. He believed
there was no difference whatever between the political
views and principles of the two gentlemen.—(Hear,
hear.) They were, in fact, identical —(No, no.)
Alderman Wire had come into the field at
the last moment, hoping to defeat his rival
by pandering to the religious prejudices of the electors.
—(No, no.) Mr. Salomons, it should be remembered,
had long occupied this ground, for, if he was not mis-
taken, that gentleman was a candidate for the borough
at the last general election, and there could be no doubt
whatever that he was the most fit and proper person to
represent the borough.—(No, no.) rs sure he
could do so efficiently; and as his rival had attained all
the honours that he was justly entitled to, having been
s common councilman and under-sheriff, and being now
an alderman and vestry-clerk, ho trusted the electors
would not encourage his overweening and undue ambi-
tion, but bestow their confidence on one who would not
abuse it, even if he bad the opportunity, and who cer-
tainly had the best claim to ask for it.—(Ne, no.)
A VOICE—Turn that two shillings-a-day man out.
Mr. PONTIFEX continued to observe that it was not fit
or proper for the electors, if they valued their own re-
spectability, to return a man who bad been twice re-
jected by two other constituencies.—(Hear, hear.) True,
Alderman Salomons was a Jew, but he was a Jew of
the most liberal kind, and in the district where
he resided he had founded a school and
given the patronage of it to a Protestant.
clergyman.—(Hear, hear.) He was a munificent contri-
butor to all the deserving charities of the metropolis,
while ho bore a most unsullied character for honourable
conduct and fair dealing; and on neither of those points,
therefore, could any objection be raised to his preten-
sions on this occasion. —(Hear, hear.) He would not
trouble them with any explanation of the Alderman's
political principles, because they were too well known in
this part of the country to need recapitulation; and,
therefore, without detaining them longer, be would sim-
ply propose to them Mr. Alderman Salomons as a fit
and proper person to represent them in Parliament.
Mr. H. B. RoFF briefly seconded the nomination, and
said he knew that the Alderman was a most charitable
man; he was ready to devote his time and energies to
the interest of the electors; and since his political views
coincided with their own in almost every particular,
while his standing and reputation in the world were
equally acknowledged to be unexceptionable, he had no
hesitation in saying that he would eventually prove the
choice of the majority of the electors.—(Cheers.)
Mr. WADE, who was received with mingled cheers and
hooting, which prevented him from being heard for some
minutes, stood forward to propose Mr. Alderman Wire.
He said he did not come to bandy personalities with
Alderman Salomons' supporters, but to bear his share in
the solemn duty of electing the best man who might
come forward. Ho repudiated the sentiments of the last
speaker that the principles of the two candidates were
identical. There was a great difference between them.
He also denied that Alderman Wire relied for his elec-
tion on the prejudices of the electors against Alderman
Salomons, as a Jew.—(Cries of "No, no,' " Sit down," ac-
companied by the ringing of a small bell in the middle of
the crowd. The Hon. Gentleman took advantage of the
interruption to take a draught out of a huge pot of
porter which was handed to him by Mr. Alderman
Salomons amid loud cheers.) They would see if he was
not a supporter of the Hon. Alderman, he had no ob-
jection to drink porter with him.—(Laughter.) Neither
was an undue ambition the motive of Mr. Alderman
Wire coming forward. How could it be an undue am-
bition for any man to wish to represent the masses of the
people in Parliament? As to Mr. Alderman Wire being
a vestry-clerk, was it a shame for a man to earn his
living by the sweat of his brow. Mr. Pontifex himself
was nothing more than a vestry-clerk. He was quite
willing to allow that Alderman Salomons was a charit-
able man.—(Cries of " Ob, oh.") Ho was not to be in-
terrupted by a band of hired ruffians.
Mr. Alderman Senomotts interposed. He denied that
the persons in the crowd who shouted were hired. He
had never done such a thing in his life.—(Cheers.)
Mr. WADE continued—Their object in being there
was to elect a man who would be instrumental in ob-
taining an extension of the suffrage, and would obtain
vote by ballot and the extension of civil and religious
liberty. Alderman Wire was the man for this he was
a man against whom there was no legal disqualification,
who could take his seat at once without any struggle.
Alderman Salomons could not do this, but Alderman
Wire could, and with all the respect he entertained for
Alderman Salomons, he would only say that they would
send Mr. Wire into Parliament for the purpose of clear-
ing the way fur Mr. Salomons. The Hon. Gentleman
concluded by nominating Mr. Alderman Wire as a fit
and proper person to represent the borough of Green-
wich.—(Cheers.)
Mr. STONE seconded the nomination, as he
magibeleved
from his heart that the Alderman was the who
would do them justice, and who would avail himself of
every opportunity of promoting the good and welfare of
the people.—(Bear, hear.) He denied that Mr. Wire
was an enemy to religious freedom, or in the remotest
degree anxious to take advantage of the momentary
prejudice that might have arisen out of the Papal aggres-
sion.—(Elear, hear.) Both the Alderman and his
friends would scorn such a proceeding; he and they
were desirous of securing the election by fair and legiti-
mate means, and whatever their opponents might say
to the contrary, the assembled electors might rely upon
it that nothing would be done by the Wire party either
to sully the purity of election or to throw disgrace upon
the borough.—(Cheers.)
Mr. Alderman SALOSIONS then stood forward amid
loud cheers. lie said that in coming forward to solicit
their suffiages be was not only fulfilling his duty, but
also to accomplish that solemn pledge which he had
given them on the last occasion. He, therefore, asked
them to redeem their pledges by giving him their votes
at the poll.—(Cheers.) It was the highest ambition to
which an Englishman could look forward—the repre-
sentation of his fellow-countrymen in the British Parlia-
ment. His only regret was to find himself opposed to
Mr. Alderman Wire, for whom he entertained the
highest respect. The argument of Mr. Alderman Wire
that he lived at Greenwich was not of any great weight,
but his own appearance there was in consequence of the
pledge which he had given and received at the last elec-
tion. With regard to his public opinion, he could pledge
himself to them that never would his vote be given for
the imposition of any tax on the food of the people. He
was a firm and consistent advocate of free trade.
He was in favour of an extension of the suffrage to every
man who paid rates and taxes.—(Cheers.) He was
also in favour of vote by ballot, and he would pledge
himself that one of the conditions by which he would
hold his seat should be that he would on all occasions
vote for the ballot. lie was also in favour of an ex-
tended scheme of education, and would pledge himself
to do all that he could for this purpose. [Here Mr.
Wade handed the worthy Alderman a pot of porter, from
which he refreshed himself, amid loud cheers from all
sides.] He considered education to be the most valuable
capital which a an could have, available in all parts
of the world, which would never desert him, and which
ho could make use of whenever his money was lost. But
people differed greatly in their ideas of education, espe-
cially with regard to religious views. His idea was that
education should be entirely free from religious bias--
that all classes and sects should receive a fair
share of the public money to carry out this great
public ot ject. He wee glad to hear that it was not the
intention of Mr. Wire's supporters to proceed in the
election ou any ground cif public prejudice against him
as a Jew. He was sure that Mr. Wire himself would
not do it. There was a great deal of difference between
the political system of England and foreign countries.

THE MASTER OP ST. PANCRAS WORKHOUSE AND
THE LATE Pi OSECEITION.—Yesterday a fully-attended and
special meeting of the vestry of St. Pancras took place at the
new Vestry-rooms, Camden Town, for the purpose of re-
ceiving a communication from the board of directors, re-
ferring to the vestry a letter from Mr. J. H. Eaton, the
master of the workhouse, requesting the payment of the sum
of 43/ 103. Id., costs incurred by him in defending himself
from the recent prosecution on a charge of having violated
Eliza Smith. an inmate of the workhouse. On the question
being put to a show of hands there appeared for the motion \
in favour of the governor, eleven • against it, forty-two. A
division being demanded the numbers were for the motion,
eleven; against it, forty-nine; majority rejecting the pay-
ment of the bill, thirty-eight.
ROYAL VISIT TO THE ISLE OF WIGHT.—COWES,
Julys 25.—The Royal Family and the King of the Belgians
are expected at Osborne on Saturday next. Her Majesty's
stay is not expected to exceed four days.
ARCHERY.-011 Saturday last the silver bowl of
the Royal Company of Archers, the Queen's Body Guard for
Scotland, was shot for in Hope park, and gained by John
Maxton, Esq., wine-merchant, being the seventh time he has
von it.--Edinburgh Advertiser.

Abroad the whole government rested with hereditary It is uefortunately essential to the operation of such a
re., ..reh , w oer;vtet from whet as called diviee tax that, after t: v roost diligent iequiseion,_ every man
right. In Ragland, on see contrary, all public ques- muet still be his own assessor; met the conscientious
tions were decided by the people, and whatever they man will have a severe assessor, and the unscrupulous
took up was sure to be taken up by the higher ranks, as man a very indulgent assessor. The one pilgrim will
was evident from the course of the agitation for free perform his penance with hard peas, and the other will
trade. The cause of religious freedom was now in their take the precaution to boil them, the only difference in
hands, and though Mr. Alderman Wire had offered the visible result being that the scrupulous man does
himself for their suffrages, and promised when not make halt so good a pilgrim or look half so honest
in Parliament to advocate his (Mr. Alderman and bold as the man who has cooked his penance to his
Salomon'e) cause, he was much obliged to him, but he taste. If railway directors know how to make things
would rather be returned himself, and advocate his own pleasant, incomo-tax payers, we may be sure, will nut
cause. There was no legal disqualification against him, want that accomplishment.
and ho could assure them that he would take his seat But it is disgraceful and even ridiculous to go on as-
if they elected him. He came forward in the fullest sessing the tax, and levying the tax, altogether in the
confidence, and he would pledge himself; if returned, to dark, without either affirming or denying its inequality,
go down to the House of Commons and take his seat and without being able to say that the expedients for an
as their representative. He could assure them that his equitable asssesment have been thoroughly sifted and ex-
whole efforts if returned would be to advance their local hausted. If any credit is to be attached to the language
advantages, and his whole political conduct had been of our statesmen in 1842 and 1845, there certainly would
shaped by a desire to extend the liberties of the people; have been an inquiry, with an attempt to rectify the in-
and he confidently presented himself to claim their suf- equalities of the tax on both these occasions, but for the
(rages with this claim. This course of conduct had idea that the tax was only for a time;and that for only
already secured him the offices of Alderman and Sheriff three years, it was hardly worth while to go to the bot-
of London and High Sheriff of the county. If his tom of so difficult a discussion. But that excuse no
friend Rothschild had taken his advice, he would have longer exists. The income-tax must at all events be
gone down to the House and have voted at once for treated as perpetual, for when a man has paid it nine
the election of the. Speaker, without taking the oaths ; years, and is now asked for it a tenth year, it is his own
but Rothschild was too easy, and had got himself fault if he indulges in any dreams of its abolition. There
into a web from which he was bound to extricate him- are things under the sun which we really expect one
self, and which he (Mr. Alderman Salomons) would take day to see the end of, that is if we live long
care not to get into. He would go into the House, run- enough. We shall see the Thames flow at Black-
ring the ris of all penalties, take his seat, and vote, friars as clear as at Maidenhead-bridge; we shall see
until he was brought before a jury, and until that jury a National Gallery worthy of this nation; we shall see.
gave a verdict against him. If that were so, he would a viaduct over liolborn-hill, Middle-row demolished,
promise to come back to them and restore to them Holywell-street thrown into the Strand, and Pater-
the trust which they had reposed in him. At any noster-row into St. Paul's Churchyard. We shall
rate he would take the seat, and while there he would see quays, walks, and, perhaps, railways, along the
do all that lay in his power in the cause of civil and hanks of the Thames. We shall see the House of
religious freedom, and to advance the interests of the Commons finishing its debates before midnight,. We ex-
electors of Greenwich who bad put him there.—(Chccrs.) pect a reform in dress and a revolution in diet. After
Alderman WIRE next presented himself in front of the changes that have actually taken place within the
the hustings, and his appearance was the signal for an compass of our recollection we hardly despair of any seri.
outburst of cheers and hisses. When silence was par- sible improvement. But there is one thing of which we
tially restored he commenced his address by stating that altogether despair. We see no end of the income-tax.
he was glad that it had been his good fortune to listen So long as we hold Gibraltar and the Cape of Good
to the speeches of the proposer and the seconder of his Hope, so long as we maintain the African squadron, and
hon. opponent, as well as the speech of the Hon. Gen- employ our men-of-war in carrying gold dust for freight,
tieman himself, because it enable him to say more we shall have the income-tax. It will last our time at
in his own defence, and upon the character of the op- all events. We have then a fair right to demand that
position that was likely to be brought to hear.—(Hear, it be equitably assessed. That is the object for which
bear.) Mr. Puntifex had told them that he was an un- the Committee now sitting has been appointed. But we
grateful man, and he assigned as his reason for that do not wish to see the aggregate produce of the tax con-
expression of opinion, that he (the Alderman) had re- siderably, if at all, diminished. Raise 5.000,0001. a year
cowed 2;0001. from his opponent.—(Hear, hear.) He on property by all means, but spare the more fragile
was glad, however, that his honourable opponent had and ephemeral forms of income. Respect science, re-
corrected that mistake, and he would take leave to add verence genius, do justice to art, bear gently on that
to that explanation, that he was only paid for services which Is hollow and transient, and, at any rate, take
which he rendered to the cause of humanity, and which away all excuse for a growing dishonesty of returns
required him to quit his family and abandon his profes- which bids fair to sap the morals of the nation.—Times:
sion for the space of six months.—(Cheers.) Mr. Pond-
fex, however, was just as much wrong in his facts as
he was inconclusive in his reasoning, and he hoped the
electors would take his speech for what it was worth
and no more.—(Hear, hear, and laughter.) Mr. Ponti-
fex had made some allusion to his defeat at the borough
of Boston, but let the electors remember that if he were
so disposed, he could retort upon him that his honour-
able opponent had met with far less success in his at-
tempts to get into Parliament.—(Hear, hear, and
laughter.) He was sorry to find himself so frequently
interrupted by a set of fellows who belonged to his oppo-
nent'a party, and who, for aught he knew, might also
belong to the town, but certainly they were not invested
with the franchise, and as they had no right to vote,
they had no right to be present, and he suspected
they had only been brought there for the pur-
pose of interrupting the proceedings.—(Hear, hear.)
Ho disputed the position of his opponent in reference to
his being allowed to take his seat in the event of his
being elected. No one would dispute that the electors
had a right to choose whom they pleased, but until the
law was altered he could not sit in the House of Commons.

SUICIDES THROUGH FEAR of ILLNESS.
Two melancholy suicides have just taken place in
Paris. The first was that of a chocoate manufac-
turer in the Rue du Petit-Lion Saint Stuvenr. This
person had been for some time afflicted with leprosy,
and had confined himself to his house discharging
his servant, and being resolved to live alone. His
workmen and shopmen who came every morning,
but left at night, had frequently heard hini exclaim that
he preferred death to an existence like his. Yesterday
morning the workmen knocked at the parlmrshutters be-
hind the shop, where their employer had his bed, and re-
ceiving no reply, applied to the Coramissar3 of Police, who
.went and opened the door by force. The unhappy man was
found dead on the sofa, and near him was a large iron
mortar containing the ashes of some charcoal, with
which he had produced suffocation. On the table was
a letter written by the deceased, in which he said
that he was not a partisan of suicide, sal on the con-
trary regarded it as a crime, but his me was an ex-
ception, and he hoped that God would not punish
him herafter for destroying a life of continual suffering
without a hope of cure. •
The other suicide was that of a lace.dealer, at No.
25, in the Rue do la Monnaie. This tradesman being
very ill, a physician was sent for, whe, after visiting
him went into an adjoining room, vhere the wife
was waiting to hear his opionion of her husband's
case. The physician told her that it was very serious,
and that if he recovered, which was my doubtful, the
illness would be of long duration. It appears that the
sick man had quitted his bed, and listened to the con-
versation. A minute afterwards he opened the window
of his room, and throwing himself into the street, was
killed on the spot.

(Hear, hear.) Like his opponent ho was in favour of
an Extension of Suffrage and an advocate of the Ballot,
while he would vote for an extension of free trade, which
he thought would advance the interest of the country
and improve the condition of the people.—(Hear,
hoe r.) Again, reverting to the legal matter of his Hon.
Opponent's spc ech, he repeated that he was convinced Mr.
Alderman Salomon's could not take his seat if he were
elected, but he was just as much satisfied that the electors
would not return him. He was in favour of national ed-
ucation, and, therefore, he appealed to the intelect, and
not to the prejudices, of the electors, to their minds, and
not to their bodies ; and in that spirit he called upon
them to assist him in purging the borough of the vile
practices which were being encouraged, if not by his
Hon. Opponent, at least by his supporters.—(Hear.)
He did not come thee with a full purse, nor was he pre-
pared to secure votes by any corupt means whatever, or
to gain strength through the means of personality.—
(Hear.) He and his party were the defenders of purity
of election, and he was convinced that the straightforward
course would, in the end, place him at the top of the poll.
He would not detain them longer, as before the election
closed he should have many opportunities of addressing
and expressing his regret that he should bo opposed to
his Hon. Friend en this occasion, who by the way was
not in the field first, as had been represented, for long
before Mr. Salomons came forward, at the last elec-
tion he was solicited to become a candidate for their
borough. He would take his leave of the electors until
to-no:row, when he hoped he should be able to say that,
notwithstanding; the silk banners, the musk, and the
money of his opponent, he was the Member for the
ancient town of Greenwich.—(Cheers.)
The worthy Alderman was repeatedly interrupted in
the course of his address by a small rabble in the body of
the crowd, but the noisest portion of the entire as-
semblage were the Alderman's own Mends, who were
permitted to enter the hustings. One of them in par-
ticular, who was particularly conspicuous in attributing
bribery and corruption to the opposite party, did all he
could to throw obstacles in the way of the reporters,
and his effrontery was carried so far that he threatened
to have a portion of that body removed by the police,
because, forsooth, they were not electors.
The returning officer then put the show of hands, Mr.
Alderman Salomons first, and Mr. Alderman Wire next.
The show of bands was declared in favour of Mr. Alder-
man Salomons, though this decision seemed to excite
great dissatisfaction, many maintaining that the majority
was in favour of Mr. Wire.
A poll was demanded for Mr. Wire, and fixed to open
to-morrow at eight o'clock.
The proceedings then terminated with a vote of thanks
to the returning officer, moved by Mr. Salomons and
seconded by Mr. Wire, which was carried with loud

SEABORNE MAILS,
[N signifies that the mails are sent from the General Post-office
by the night—and M by the morning— dispatch.)

When made up in Frcm what Wben
PLACES. General Post-office pat dis- due.
London. pitched.
America (by Brit. pkt.) N June 27 .. Livepeol .. July 5
America (by U.S. pkt.) N July t .. • • Livsrpool July 2
America (by U.S. pkt.) M July 2 Souhampt. June 20
Africa (West coast).. N 14th of the month Plyaouth July 3
Alexandria* •....... N 19th & 30th of mo. Doer .. June 22
Belgium • • .. •• N Daily • • .. D .. Daily
Brazil .. 9th of the month Souhampt. July 12
Buenos Ayres • • .. M 9th of the month Souhampt. July 12
Califonsia(viaChagres)M 2d & 17th of month Souhampt. July 5
Cape of Good Hope N 14th of month Plynouth • • Jury 3
Constantinople* .. •• N 7th 17th 27th of mo Dover .. June 30
Central America .. Pi 2d & 17th of mon. Souhampt. July 5
Channel Isles • • .. N , Mon., Wed., &Fri. Southampt. Tn. Th.Sa
Chili .. Mll7th of the month Sotthampt. July 20
France .. M& N (Twice daily .. Dover .. Twicedaily
Greece* . • .. • • N 17th 17th 27th ef mo Dover • • June 30
Hamburgh NiTuesclay & Friday London .. Tues. Sat.
Holland •• MlWednes. & Satur. London Mon.Tlscr
Honduras . Nll7th of the mouth Sou:llama. July 20
Ireland .. M& N Twice daily .. Holthead • • Twicedaily
India(via Sonthamp.) Ml2oth of the month Souhampt. July 23
India (via Marseilles) N 7 th& 24th ef month Dove • • July 1
Mediterranean (via
Southampton) .. M 20th of the month Sontlampt. July 23
Mediterranean (via
Marseilles) N.7th&24th ofmonth Doves • • July 1
Mexico .. M 12d of the month.. Soutlumpt. July 5
Madeira .. 9th of the month Soutlumpt. July 12
Malta* 7th,11 th,l9th,27th
(Dover June 28
& 30th of month
Naples* N sth 15th 25th ofmo Dover .. July 2
Papal States* N sth 15th25th of mo Dover .. July 2
Peninsular.. • • .. M 7th 17th 27th of mo Southanpt. June 26
Peru 17th of the month southtuapt.iJuly 20
Tuscany* .. N sth 15th 25th of mo Dover • • July 2
West Indies 17th of the month Southanpt. 'July 20
West Indies (except
Havana & Nassau) M 2d of the month ..,Southanpt. July 5

Wben Ib,
due.

* The mails to those c
French packet 11;K Mars&
CALIFORNIA.—MaiIs tc
are now despatched and

ISonthanpt. (July 5
Eed (*) we conveyed by

cheers.
A body of police of the R division were on the ground,
but no occasion for their services occurred, except in the
Case of the gentleman with the bell, who was summarily
ordered off to prison for the unseasonable exercise of
his musical instrument.

THE IN COME-TAX.
The task confided to the Committee on the income-tax
is not less difficult than important; but if there is any
one conclusion to which the Committee are not bound,
and which may almost be regarded as beyond the
scope of the Commission, it is a recommendation to
lower the aggregate produce of the tax. All classes,
whether they contribute or not, are fully alive to the
value of an impost which extracts a good round sum
from the pockets of the wealthy or well-to-do classes,
and affords a continual fund and cover for the removal of
taxes that press more directly on labour and skill. The
question for the Committee is the method of collecting
the tax. Is it fair that the mind should be taxed as
heavily as the funds, and that a fleeting profession should
be put on a par with a landed estate? This, of course,
is a very different thing from quarrelling with the prin-
ciple of a property-tax, or with the proportion of the
taxes levied directly on the public. We are not, then,
prepared, with Mr. Disraeli, to deal with the existing
surplus as no surplus at all, till the Committee on the
income-tax has given its award. We had a surplus of
about two millions. But we have already spent, so the
majority: of mankind believes, this little fortune. We
have bought with our two millions the commutation of the
odious window-tax for a mild form of the house-tax and
a relaxation of the duties on coffee. It is only by
accident that the public perceive every now and then
through a chink in the Parliamentary debates that the
window-tax is still the law of the land, and that the
measure repealing it is still in the form of a Bill. The
effort of a public decision has been gone through, and
the tax has been finally doomed. The resolution, then,
of which Mr. Disraeli has given notice, and which brings
these settled reductions again into controversy, will be
regarded simply as an attempt to revive the past and to
wake the dead. Every thoughtful householder of this
metropolis—and what householder is not thoughtful?—
has already calculated his gain on the inhabited house duty.
It has been thoroughly realised in imagination, and laid
out to the best possible advantage. People arc begin-
ning to look through their windows without grudging.
They are even letting in light to their coal cellars and
their passages, and talking of more air holes and sky-
lights, not to speak of a bit of conservatory here or
there. All of a suaden a dark, sullen cloud passes over
the opening flood of light in the shape of a big motion
by bin Disraeli that nothing is to be done with our
windows, or our coffee, or anything else, till the income-
tax is put on a satisfactory basis. What if this should
be putting off all financial reforms to the Greek
Calends?
The income-tax wants sifting, and it is hardly credit-
able to the good sense of the nation and the honesty of
our statesmen, that now for nine years we have endured
a tax which one and all have avowed to be unwisely,
unjustly, and injuriously levied. There is not a financier
of the present or the bygone generation who has not ad-
mitted the hardship of taxing a precarious income as if
it were merely a moderate interest on real or funded
property; nor is there a statesman who has not deplored
the trap which this duty lays for lax consciences, and
the burden which it consequently imposes on the scru-
pulous. It is an established fact, placed beyond a shadow
of doubt by the returns of the income-tax, that the public
are gradually doing for themselves that which they think
Parliament ought to do for them. They are assessing
their own income-tax in what they think an equitable
manner. They are allowing so much for the insurance
of their lives, so much for insurance against sickness or
any other casualty, so much in the name of expenses,
and only returning for income just that amount which
they think they may properly spend on their maintenance
End in the demands of their social position. All
do not make this calculation, and therein consists the
secret, but nevertheless the crying injustice of the tax.
One man takes the pen in his hand and at once fills up
the blank form with the very outside of his income,
even though he will never receive it again, even if he has
really received it ; another man first covers a sheet of
foolscap with ingenious calculations for realising in-
come, besides taking a view of his professional expenses
which never entered into the mind of his more simple
neighbour. Now this is an injustice of the most paintul
character. Yet who can doubt its continual recurrence?

la, via the United States
[can packet.