The Sun.
London, England, 1860-06-16 00:00:00

ROYAL YACIIT SQUADRON INTELLIGENCE.

Arrived, June 11—The Albatross, Thomas Brassey, Esq.,
from Liverpool; 12th, the Galley of Lorn, the Marquis of
Breadalbane, from the westward, and passed through for
Portsmouth; 13th, the Petrel, P. Perceval, Esq., from
Cherbourg ; and Plover, Col. Henry Brown.
Yachts at and about the Station—The Zoe, the Earl of
Yarborough ; the Eugenie, R. Frankland, Esq. ; the
Petrel, P. Perceval, Esq. ; the Georgiana, John Tremayne,
Esq. ; the Cayman, R. B. Baxendale, Esq. ; the Albatross,
Thomas Brassey, Esq. ; the Isabel, H. Lambton, Esq. ;
Freak, Col Sir David Wood, K.C.B. ; the Plover, Col. H.
Brown ; the Haidee, H. Thorold, Esq. ; the Oak Apple,
11. M. Hamersley, Esq. ; the Leda, H. J. Adene, Esq.,
M.P. ; the Gipsy Queen, Earl Fitzwilliam.
Yachts fitting out since our last—The Yara, Commodore
the Earl of Wilton ; the Amazon, Sir J. B. Walsh, Bart. ;
the Rattlesnake, Major D. J. Dickenson; the Derwent, C.
Lee, Esq. ; the Fidelio, C. R. Colvile, Esq., M.P.

TOLLS ON TRACTION ENGINES.

(From the Times' City Article.)

The following relates to tolls on traction engines,
and serves to illustrate the system of obstruction
with which every effort to improve locomotion in
this commercial country has to contend :

" Sir,—l was glad to see, by the observations in your
City Article on Saturday, in reference to traction engines
on common roads, that you are coming to our rescue. You
are, however, in error in sr caking of the present as the first
effort of legislation on the subject. The first effort was
made as long ago as 1831, when a far more liberal bill, in-
tended to relieve us from the exorbitant tolls which have
ever since prevented our using steam on the turnpike-roads,
after being referred to a select committee, passed the House
of Commons, but does not appear to have gone any further.
" I am not aware to what extent this prohibition (for such
in effect it is) exists in the neighbourhood of London ; but I
need only mention the fact that on coals from the collieries
at Little Hulton, drawn into Manchester, a distance of eight
miles, by horses, the turnpike tolls amount to about 31d.
per ton, whereas if drawn by steam they would, under the
existing rates, amount to fully 4s. per ton. It was proved
to the satisfaction of the select committee, to whom the
subject was again referred in the last session of Parliament,
that traction engines are now made which do for less injury
to turnpike-roads than the feet of horses which would so
far be superseded; and, as the doubt on that subject was
the only ostensible excuse for imposing these extortionate
and prohibitory tolls, I trust you will give us your power-
ful aid in removing so unjust and absurd a restriction.—
Your humble servant, " JOHN GIBSON."

" 4, Acton-square, Salford, Manchester, June 12."

THE NEW INCOME TAX.

Attention has been directed to the following
clause in the new Income Tax Act. The manner
of taking the assessments, fixing them at the same
rate for the present as last year, is considered to be
highly objectionable, and furnishing another speci-
men of the encroaching spirit of Mr. Gladstone's
financial legislation. A appeal will, of course,
be allowed; but the inconvenience attending this
proceeding is almost an effectual barrier to any one
attempting remonstrance, except in such cases
where enormous discrepancieemay arise. Several
branches of business have suffered severely through
the French treaty, and hardly a single one can be
selected showing an equal amount of prosperity in
1860 as in 1859, taking for a guide the appearance
of affairs through the first six months :

" 3. The sum charged as the annual value of any property,
profits, or gains in the several and respective assessments
made under Schedules A, B, D, and E of the said act for
the year ending on the sth day of April, 1860, shall (except
as to railways and otherwise, as hereinafter provided) be
taken as the annual value or amount of such property,
profits, or gains for the year commencing on tha 6th day of
April, 1860, and the duties granted by this act shall be
computed and charged according to such annual value or
amount, and shall be collected, levied, and paid for the
said year commencing on the 6th day of April, 1860, sub-
ject, nevertheless, to be increased, abated, or discharged in
like manner as the assessments made for the year ending
on the said sth day of April, 1860: Provided, whenever it
shall appear that, any property, profits, or gains chargeable
under this act have not been charged by the assessments
made for the said last-mentioned year, such property, pro-
fits, and gains shall be assessed to the duties granted by
this act, under the provisions of the said several acts ap-
plicable therteTar---11forning Herald City Article.

CIVIL CON TIN GEN CIE s.—An interesting, though
not very important Parliamentary paper was issued yester.
day. It shows in detail the expenditure of the grant for
civil service contingencies for the past year. The total
cost of special missions abroad amounted to £46,618, of
which the most important item, £15,351, was the cost of
the commission appointed to survey the boundary line be-
tween her Majesty's possessions in North America and
those of the United States. The special mission of Sir
William Gore Ouseley to Central America cost £7,000;
that of Lord Elgin to China £6,085. The outfit of diplo-
matic officers on their appointment cost £8,000; the con-
veyance and entertainment of distinguished persons cost
£11,891. Mr. Bruce's expenses in China £3,000, being the
moat considerable item in this account. Including cost
of
presents and expenses incurred for legal and other pro !fi-
sional services, the total sum spent in civil contingencies
amounted to £125,836,