The Sun.
London, England, 1856-04-07 00:00:00

'lll:ther south struck the ice on the 31st of January in

lat. 46 deg. lon. 46 deg. That encounter was not
without peril. The steam ship Edinburgh reported
that "on the 7th February, in lat. 46.37, don. 45.43,
at four p.m., passed two oak doors, the knobs of which
appeared to be white ; also two windows with Venetian
blinds and a work box ; and at the same time saw seve-
ral pieces of wrecked stuff." Bearing in mind that the
Pacific would have steered for a point cf latitude and
longitude not more than 30 or 40 miles distant (lean the
place in which this wr' ck was seem, and that she pro-
bably reached that desired point 10 days prior to the
7th of February, that she then certainly and unexpect-
edly encountered masses of ice, and it leaves scarcely
a doubt that the Pacific was lost on or about the 28th
of January, between the parallels of 46 and 47 of lati-
tude, and 45 and 46 of longitude. The fate of the chip
may not, necessarily, have become the fate of her pas-
sengers and crew. We have not the heart to dissipate
the hope which still lingers in many a stricken breast.
With life-boats more than sufficient to accommodate
every soul on board there are chances that some, or many,
or all may have been rescued by a passing vessel.
Whether living or dead we cast no word of repreaoh
against Captain Asa Eldredge, the commander of the
Pacific. If, in a spirit of emulation, he exposed his sh'p
and his life to hazard, he only did as they have done who
in his professi _in are everywhere regarded as patterns a f
prude nce and ability. Captain Judkine, of the Persia,
escaped narrowly. Captain Lines, of the Arago, struck
heavily on ice. Captain Stone, of the Arabia, was ex-
posed to imminent peril from contact with ice, while
Captain Comstock, of the Baltic, and Captain West, of
the Atlantic, were in positions which caused them the
bravest apprehensions.
The money value of the Pacific and her cargo was about
two millions of dollar', and the leas will fall heavily on
the underwriters. It would seem to be proper that they
should now assume control over the routes whip h
steamers may take between the months of January and
August. The owners of the Pacific have decided to
keep their steamers below 42 deg. of latitude until they
reach 46 deg. of longitude. The log of the Persia, on
her last voyage out, shows that her coreman ter fel owed
a southern, and con.equently safe route. But it is not
unreasonable that the underwriters should establish tx
rule which none may be at lit,eaty to violate. The time
which may be saved by pursuing the northern and
hazardous route does not exceed frern four to eight hours.
This trifling difference is not only effected at a positive
and tremendous risk of life and property, but in almost
every case this winter steamers taking that route have
lost frem a day and a half to three days' hindrance from
ice—a loss on one voyage for each sh p equal to the en•
3 tire loss of time on her voyages for a year by a more
' southerly route.

THE BIRMINGHAM CHAMBER OF COM-
MERCE ..4ND THE L.VUUME-TAX.

The following petition Lai been agreed to by the
Chamber of Commerce at Birmingba-n, and forwaried
for presentation to the House of Commons

The humble Petition of the Council of the Chamber of
Commerce for Birmingham and the Midland district,

Sheweth,---That while your petitioners have no objection
to allege to the principle of direct, taxation, if equitably
assessed, yet that the present system of assessing all de-
scriptions of income at the same rate per cent, is very un-
just iu principle, especially injurious in its operation to the
industrious classes, and thus prejudicial to the commercial
progress of the nation.
Thet although your petitioners fully admit the necessity
of efficient regulations for the protection of the public
revenue, they believe that the arbitrary and irresponsible
inquisitorial powers as at present exercised by the COM-
mihsioners of Property and Income Tax are unnecessary
and ineffective for the protection of the revenue, while
they are most oppressive in their operation to those en-
gnl,-;€3,1 in commerce, and at the same time offer powerful
inducement to fraud.

That although it niay be admitted to ho impracticable
to define with strict accuracy the just assessment of each
individual case, 3 our petitioners submit that no practical
difficulty would be found in classifying all taxable incomes
under a few general heads at different rates of duty, by
which (with the aid of some simple and authenticated
tables) the duties on property and income may be assessed
in a manner sufficiently accurate for all fiscal purposes,
an a equitabletth ei ns a
mi t se
time
operation
productiveto a l all classeso of
a l
larger
ethe
revenuec o m m
flan n tan'

at present.
Your petitioners, therefore, humbly pray your honour-
he evils complained
with a view to remedying t i
y loYusrt e ell rloyf cl ee tiv syi --
ai
nb
gl e
dho (tui :
se
onto
no
p takerop etrhtey present
om oppresse in into
v e
of, and especially
That income derived from the profits of trade, from the
practice of professions, or from salaries or Wages, be as-
sessed at a lower rate per coot. than that derived from re-
alised property.
That terminable and life annuities be assessed in suck
proportion only to income derived from realised property,
as the value of such annuity (estimated according to some
well-authenticated table) bears to the value of a permanent
annuity of like amount.
That on appeal (in cases relating to income derived from
professions or from the profits of trade) a statement, sup-
ported by the solemn declaration of the taxpayer, that no
other than certain legally defined and specified deductions
from gross profits have been made in his return, yet that
his profits do not exceed the sum so returned by him.
should be final ; and that much more stringent measures
than at present be adopted to enforce the strictest privacy
as to all returns when made to the Government officers.
And your petitioners, &e.
(Signed) SAMPSON S. LLOYD, Vice-President.
Birmingham, April 2, 1856.

The Kate Carnie (Rodger), 549 tons burden, arrived
on Saturday morning from Shanghai in 90 dayr, sup-
posed to be the shortest passage ou record.
The Brilliant has arrived from Port Phillip with 15,4215
ounces of gold, valued at 61,6041. The Vimiera, from
Sydney, and the Alecto, from Morton-bay, are also re-
ported, but are not stated to have brought any gold.
MESSEIB. STEM, WALKER, AND Co.'s SIISPINSIOII.
Messrs. Syers, Walker, and Co., East India and general
merchants, whose suspension was announced on Friday,
have issued the following circular. It appears that their
uncovered liabilities are likely to prove larger tdbeapnrecwiaas.
at first supposed. They are stated to owe 260,000/.,
while the unsold produce they hole'., and which cost more
thanton _
22 0,
A.llla
0 0011.,
iw
cano
sh.
chartb
realisedel e r
o,
only
Lombard-street, April 5.
—From the disappointment that we experienced by the
non-receipt of expected remittances by the last India
mail, added to the almost unprecedented depreciation on
the large amount of produce which we have still unsold,
we have felt it our duty to suspend our payment ; aid,
in order that tbo position of our affairs may be ascer-
tained as speedily as possible, we have placed the same
in the bands of Mr. Coleman, the accountant, with a
request that he will use his best exertions to place the
results of his inquiries before you as early as pssible.
In the meantime v. e respectfully solicit your forbearance,
and beg to assure you that whatever property may Writ
to hand will be held specially to the purposes fur which
it is advised, and also that the funds belonging to the
estate will be protected in like manner for your genera
ipterests.--We are yours faithfully, SUDO, Wat,g,
and Cv."