The Sun.
London, England, 1834-02-18 00:00:00

SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS.

A complete and satisfactory return has been
drawn up, under the superintendence of the Trea-
sury, and has been printed by order of the House of
Commons, of the state of the trade and navigation
of the United Kingdom for the year ending the sth
of January last, compared with a similar return for
the previous year. This return embraces an account
of the imports of the principal articles of foreign and
colonial produce ;—of the consumption of such ar-
ticles, and of the amount of duties received on their
admission for the above-mentioned annual periods ;
an account of the exports of foreign and colonial
produce for the same periods ;—an account of the
exports of the principal branches of our domestic
manufactures and produce for the same periods ;
an account of the net and gross produce of the du-
ties of customs for the same periods;—an ac-
count of the number of vessels and of their
tonnage which were employed in conducting
this foreign trade ;—and, lastly, a comparative ac
count of the number of vessels, and of the
amount of tonnage employed, in our coasting
trade for the same two annual periods. These
returns contain in a short compass a vast body
of useful information, while their tabular fore,
renders that information of easy access. They, in
fact, constitute the balance-sheet of the nationai,
commerce and navigation for the last two years,
show us in what branches of them art increase or
decline has taken place, exhibit the amount of the
duties collected in -connexion with the separate arti-
cles of import on which they are levied, and give
us the relative proportion between the employment
of our cwn shipping and that of our foreign ctia.4
tourers in carrying on our foreign trade. Accounts'
of this kind laid before Parliament once or twice;
every year, or, at any rate, at the commencement or
very session, as regularly as the state of the re•
venue and the expenditure, must save the country
om the commission of many mistakes, and curious
Members of Parliament from the necessity of mov.
ing for many returns. We shall take an early op-
portunity of publishing the whole or moat of these
tables; but as we have not room for their insertion
to-day, we shall beg leave to advert to a few of the
prominent facts which they explain or illustrate.
In the first place, we find that there has been a
falling off in the gross produce of the Customs
in the year ending the s;h of January last, as
compared with the year ending the 6th January,
1833, of more than 1,000,0001. sterling ; the
former produce being 18,329,3221., and the latter
19,519,1851. We therefore look through the table
to see on what articles the deficiency has occurred,
and we find under the head of corn, that the revenue
derived from the duties on the various sorts of grain
during the year ending the sth of January, 1833,
was 310,0044, whereas last year the produce of the
same duties amounted only to 36,252/. We thu.
discover that more than a quarter of a million of the
deficiency in the Exchequer income is to be ascribed
to that abundance of our own harvests which re-
duced the necessity of importing supplies from
abroad, or to the corn law of the landlords, which
has excluded such imports at moderate prices. The
next ►arge item of decrease which we remark in
looking over the table of articles, occurs under the
head of foreign spirits, particularly brandy, which
produced in- the year ending January 5, 1833,
duties to the amount of 1,801,7961., and in last
year only 1,526,3271., or created considerably
more than the fourth part of the whole deficiency
of the Customs. Sugar is the next commo-
dity, on the duties of which we detect a great
falling off, the amount of these duties being in
the year ending January 5, 1833, 4,595,3771,,
;red last year only 4,167 2681., making a difference
of 428,1094, or a sum nearly equivalent to the rest
of the deficiency in the Customs' revenue. A
great part of this sum has been, however, saved in
the reduction of the premiums or excessive drawl
backs given on the exportation of refined suga►
which had greatly declined within the last twelve
months. These drawbacks amounted in 1833 to
954,941/., and last year were only 504,797/. The
defalcation of nearly 80,000/. in the duties on wine
more than accounts for the remaining part of ail.
deficiency in the Customs' revenue for the year
ending in the beginning of January last. The next
point to which we may advert is the amount of
the whole declared value of our exports. We know
that some well-meaning people have of late been
alarmed at the growing disproportion between the
official and the declared value of our exports, and
have conceived that we were actually ruining our-
selves by giving our neighbours cheap bargains.
But it is not necessary to puzzle themselves
with disquisitions on this subject on looking
at these official tables. They will is them
find declared value confronted with declared
value, and they will perceive that our exports,
even by this criterion, have increased within the
last year nearly 4,000,000/. sterling, having been, in
the year ending January .5, 1833, only 31,751,7924,
and in the year ending January last, 35,521,558/.
The shipowners have been assuring us for several
years past, that they are on the brink of ruin from
our reciprocity treaties, and even lately invited their
countrymen to witness with what injustice they
were to be pushed over the precipice. These tables
tell a different tale. This ruined interest has ac-
tually added 225 ships, with a tonnage of 63,000
to its amount of lost capital within the last year,
the number of British ships entering inwards, in the
year ending January 5, 1833, being 10,762, and in
the year ending January last 10,990, and the amount
of tonnage for the corresponding periods being
1,936,846 and 1,999,930. The number of ships
and the amount of tonnage in the coasting trade
have scarcely varied, though in clearing outwards
both have in a small degree increased. The acti-
vity of this trade may be conceived, when we men-
tion that its tonnage, both in clearing outwards and
entering inwards, amounts to about 10,000,000, in
vessels amounting to the number of 120,000 or
13i ,nno, c,•ch are some of the interesting or
consolatory results brought before the view of Par-
liament in these official tables.—Times.

The public discussion of public abuses is, in the
present day, the first step towards their remedy. It
seems as if all Governments, even the most liberal,
had resolved to liesbaek antLdo nothing in the way
of reformation of abuseso e drillim to it by the
„ t A
impelling force of public ,ion. et one would
is
think that men, capable . directing ,the affairs of
nations, ought to be gifted with some of that saga-
city which discovers what FOciely wants in the way
of improvement, and wi.h some of that courage
which is necessary to carry its views into effect, be-
fore 1 general clamour makes fear perform the work
of virtue, uivesting concession of all its grace and
reformation of half its merit. Still we are not dis-
posed to withhold praise where a meritorious work
bas been achieved even ata. late hour, or to decry
improvement becauee it has come so slowly as to
appear rather an extorted .reenceision than a free and
generous boon. We, therefore, give the commen-
dation due to the Postmaster-Genetal ' for at length
breaking down the monopoly of the Post-office
clerks, as to the introduction . and transmis-
sion of Foreign Journala. This step in the
reform of the Post-office system—one of the most
palpable and grievous abuses of that establishment
—has not been taken until after frequent and ener-
getic remonstrances on the part of the public presi.
As it is, the Duke of Richmoud deserves credit fer
breaking through the obstacles which inveterate
abuse had thrown. in- the way of improvement;
and, having made this beginning in something like:a
substantial reform ef the nUportant department over
which he presides, we trues he is ill proceed, 111;61
he purifies every hole and corner of it from the loNg
accumulated abuses which have greatly impaired the
usefulness of an otherwise excellent institutihh.
Where abuses are ascertained to exist in public de-
Tartments the sooner they are removed the better,
except for those who derive a private advantage
from the public detriment. A Morning Papr,
which eulogises the authorities at the Post-office
for what they have just now done, with regard to
the breaking down of the monopoly of the clerks

in regard to foreign journals, states, at the same
time, enough to show that a great public ad-
vantage was lost by this reform not having
been carried into effect a year sooner. It states
that the Director-General of the Posts in France
came to London last spring to make a settlement
better adapted to the increasing intimacy and fr, -
quency of intercourse between the two countries,
and that one of his objects was to procure an equit-
able exchange of the journals of France and Eng-
land at a reasonable rate of postage, hut that his
" liberal offers were resisted by the subaltern au-
thority of the English Plenipotentiary, on the mise-
rable condition that the clerks of the office would
thus be deprived of their monopolising perquisites."
The opposition to this beneficial arrangement was
then successful, and thus a proffered national benefit
was rejected, rather than disturb " vested rights"
in established abuse. We quite agree with the
same paper that " as perquisites are allowed to be
bad in some instances, they ought to be abolished
in all ; and that the clerks of the Post-office ought
no more to have the transmission of unstamped pa-
pers for their own benefit than the monopoly of
foreign Journals." This and other abuses must be
done away with before the Post-office will be
all that the country should reasonably expect
such an establishment to be. Why should
Post-office clerks and clerks of the roads be
permitted to take advantage of the facilities
which their official position gives them to interfere
with the trade of newsvenders ? If they are not
paid sufficient salaries for the work which they do,
let their cases be submitted to Parliament, and we
have no doubt that the evil will be remedied. The
Legislature will rather remove the cause of com-
plaint than allow it to be an apology for a gross
system of public abuse. There are other abuses in
the Post-office which we do not believe either the
Duke of Richmond or Sir Francis Freeling counte-
nance; but the malpractices of underlings are often
laid to the charge of their superiors, and certainly it
behoves those who are at the head of public depart-
ments to be very careful of employing only trust-
worthy persons, whose characters constitute some
protection against practices which bring useful in•
stitutions into public discredit. We are glad, how-
ever, that Mr. Wellace has taken up the subject of
the General Post-office, and that he is determined to
carry inquiry into the whole of its system. We
hope the chief authorities will give him all the assis-
tance in their power; for it will redound to their
credit and advantage, as well as to the public bene-
fir, if he be enabled to achieve a complete reforma-
tion of this great national and commercial establish-
ment.-11forning Herald.
The Navy Estimates were brought on last night.
Sir James Graham gave a succinct account of the
reductions which had taken place generally in the
public expenditure, and particularly in the Navy.
In the year preceding the retirement of the Duke of
Well'ng,-ton, taxes were reduced to the extent of
3,200,0001., a co-equal reduction of expenditure
having taken place. Since 1830, Ministers had re-
duced taxes to the extent of 3,200,000/. ; and this,
with the Duke of Wellington's reductions, made, in
all, 6,400,000/. When Ministers came into power
they found the annual expenditure susceptible of re-
duction 15 millions : they had now reduced it to
12 millions, being 20 per cent. on the whole dis-
bursements of the nation. There would this year
be an additional reduction of 500,000/., of which
what was within his department would amount to
180,0001. Since 1831, the reduction in the Navy
Estimates alone had been no less than one million;
and, with this year, it would be in all 1,200,000/,
The Right Hon. Baronet specified the various items
on which the saving would be made. There had been
diminwion of 500 men, and an addition of 500
boys. This change was the result of the discussions of
last session, when the attention of the Admiralty was
called to the fact, that it was of great importance
to induce boys to go to sea for the first time in the
King's service. " Boys so entering acquired a de-
cided preference to that service; and it was one of
the means of supplying the navy with men without
resort to forcible impressment." In all, the number
to be employed was 27,500 men, including 9,000
marines; and 1,000 boys. The general feeling in
the House seemed to be, that in the present state
of the world, the navy ought to be maintained in an
effective state, and the proposition of Mr. Hume to
reduce the number of men was very ill received. In
answer to the charge of an improper exercise of
patronage by favouring the aristocracy, Sir James
expressly " denied the charge. It was altogether
unfounded. If there had been any leaning at all,

it was towards other classes; but he was not con-
scious that there had been any leaning either the
one way or the other. It was of the utmost conse-
quence that patronage should be distributed among
all classes, and without any other regard than to
merit alone; and on this principle he (Sir James
Graham) had always acted." The case of Captain
Ross was introduced by Mr. Cutler Fergusson, who
announced that on an early day he would move that
a certain sum be given to him for the losses he had
incurred and the discoveries he had made in the
North Seas. This announcement was received with

cheers, and Mr. Chapman said he should second
any proposition for voting a reward to that merito-
rious officer.—Morning Chronicle.

NEWPORT, ISLE OF WIGHT, FEBRUARY
15.—A public meeting of the Dissenters of the Isle of
'Wight was held at the Baptist Chapel, High-street, New.
port, en Tuesday, to present a memorial to Earl Grey.
The meeting was very numerous. The speakers were—
the Rev. Messrs. Bishop, Giles, Hill, and J. Davies ;
A. Clarke, T. and J. Cooke, and K. G. Kirkpatrick.
Esqrs., and Messrs. Gould, Wilkins, Sayer, Brama, and
Cooper. On the motion of Mr. J. Gould, A. Clarke,
Esq., was calved to the chair. The language of this meet-
ing was very strong. The memorialists agreed in all
points with those from Nottingham, and were anxious to
convey that sentiment to Earl Grey. A memorial, in
accordance, alluding to the local statistics of Newport,
was drawn up and signed.—Portsmouth Herald.

An attempt was made upon the life of Captain
Robinson, of Ardfinnan, County of Tipperary, a f w nights
since. He was fired at and dangerously rounded by a
band of assassins. Tue cause assigned is that he had
threatened legal proceedings for the recovery of rent from
some of his tenantry.

DISGRACEFUL CONDUCT OF A PERSON
WEANING HIS DIA4ESTY'S UNIFORII.-Yesterday morn•
ing, as a respectabifemarried lady, a resident in this city,
was proceeding alone from Gardiner-street to Mountjny.
square, she was followed by an infantry officer, belonging
to one of the regiments at present in garrison, who behaved
towards her in the most ungentlemanly and insulting
manner. The lady went into a shop to avoid him, but she
was pureded thither, and this gallant gentleman several
time` poked his head under her bonnet, which threw her
into such a st-te of agitation, that she lost the presence of
mind which would have pointed out to her that, by call.
ing upon some gent:eman passing !)y, a stop must hare
beer. Flit to the impertinent conduct of her unmanly tor-
mentor. The name and regiment of this individual are at
present unknown, but the lady will be able to recognise hi 3
parson, and her husband will take care that both shall be
made known to the puhlic, on the first opportunity. In
this ins'ance such conduct cannot in any way be defended,
rs t'ie officer must have perceived that the lady was mar-
ried.—Dublin Freeman's Journal.

- •
EXTRAORDINARY OCCURRENCE.-.—On
Friday night last, the Governor of the House of C ;rrec-
tion at Swansea, let loose his •iog to range the garden and
space between the outer wall and prisons, which before
that had always been kept tied up. In the morning, he
was again secured, but four ducks, which had been left in
the yard, were not to be found, and there being no trace
of feathers nor means of escape, the astonishment at ttis
strange disappearance was not dispelled until Sunday
morning, when it was discovered that the dog had
dug holes in the garden, some yards apart, and bad buried
the ducks i❑ them ! In one ease, however, he failad, in
degree, which occasioned the discovery, although inge-
nuity was exercised to complete it, namely, one of the
holes was dug so near to a fennel bush, that the head of
the duck protruded underneath it, and as the dog could
not completely, cover it, he placed thereon ketone., Still,
however, the duck was dug out alive, awl is likely to
survive the extraordinary treatment; the others were of
course suffocated, though neither bad the appearance of
ray bite or other injury. The graves had been patted
down very closely by the paws of the dog.— Cambrian.

COURT OF CHANCERY, FEB. 17.