The Sun.
London, England, 1856-04-22 00:00:00

MUTUAL FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY.

"That while the returns of the London fire brigade
show that even in London the neglect of fire assurance
prevails to the extent of more than one-half of the pro-
perty, and there is reason to believe the proportion to be
much greater in the provinces, the great obstruction to
the extension cf thi3 prudent precaution is found in the
enormous duty charged upon this method of providing
against a sudden calamity.
"That this tax, being 3s. per cent. per annum, with an
additional duty of is. on the first year, while common
assurances are Effected at the premium of ls. id. per
cent., a duty of from 200 to 300 per cent. upon the
price, becomes to a large extent prohibitory.
"That inasmuch as the tax is charged upon fire as-
surance, while other descriptions of assurance are almost
free from duty, it is exceedingly unfair and unjust.
"That, being a tax levied only upon one class of her
Majesty's subjects—the prudent-- while the improvident
and careless go free, it is highly oppressive.
" That, inasmuch as the destruction of property unin-
sured--leaving debtors without any property to meet
their obligations to their creditors, and occasioning the
sudden nun of many families, leads on to pauperism and
crime, s. tax which obstructs and prohibits fire insurance
is, in a great commercial country litre this, most im-
politic.
"That, for these reasons, the principle of a tax upon fire
assurance has been generally censured by the greatest
statesmen and writers on political economy.
." That your hon. house has given its high sanction to
the wholesome principle, that prudent habits should be
encouraged and promoted, by parsing various measures,
with that object, during the last few years, and especi-
ally by taking off, to a great extent, the duties on lire
and marine assurance, by allowing the sums paid for life
assurance to be free from income tax, and by exempting
'farming stock, agricultural produce, and implements of
husbandry, from the fire assurance tax altogether ; thus
virtually condemning such tax as inexpedient, unequal,
and unjust. _

"Your petitioners therefore pray your bon. house to
extend the benefit conferred upon the owners of agricul-
tural property to all classes of her Majesty's subjects, by
totally repeali, g the duty on fire a.,suraoce.
" And your petitioners will ever pray," &c.

Sporting Intelligence.

TATTERSALL'S.-MONDAY.

A number of members having left town for York, the
Room was thinly attended, and very little business was
transacted.

For the Flying Dutchman's Handicap Uzella and
Zeta MI back to 6 to 1 each, and were passed by Hospi-
tality and Pumicestone.
ITtllow Jack again obtained a distinct lead for the
Two Thousand, notwithstanding the fitrce demonstration
which' within the last two days had driven him back
from 6t04t07 to 2. An opinion prevailed in well-in-
formed quarters that the movement against him waa a
mere ruse. Be this as it may no strong effort on the
part of his friends was required to enable him to return
to-day to 2to 1. 7t i 2 would have been taken freely
about Porto Rico. Fly-by-Night was "nowhere."
50.0 to 200 and 450 to 200 were taken about Went-
worth for the Derby, and 12 to 1 was laid once to 501.
against Caunobie-10 to 1 was afterwards taken and
offt red.

The transactions relative to the Great Northern Handi-
cap and the Chester Cup were few and unimportant.

CLOSING PRICES.
GREAT NORTHERN HANDICAP.
10 to 3 azst One Act (taken)
11,to 2 agst The Earl (taken)
6to 1 ag,t Fandango (taken)
Bto 1 agst Heir of Linne (taken)
FLYING DUTCHMAN'S HANDICAP.
5 to Ind-Hospitality (taken)
sto 1 agat Pumicestone (taken)
6 to 1 agst Uzella (talicn)
6to 1 agst Zeta (take')
THE TWO THOUSAND.
2to 1 agst Yellow Jack (taken )
3to 1 agst Porto Rico (take 7to 2) '
Bto 1 apt Milton

CHESTER CCP.
Bto 1 agst Hospitality (taken)
Bto 1 agst Imogene
10 to 1 agst Yorkshire Grey (taken)
25 to 1 agst Fatalist (taken)
25 to 1 agst Scythian

DERBY.
9 to 4 apt Wentworth (taken)
sto 1 agst Ellington (take 11 to 2)
10 bo 1 apt Cannobie (taken and offered)
33 to 1 flat Peter Wilkins (taken)

THE ALLEGED POISONING AT BIIENEWOOD, NEAR
LICHFIELD.—BURNTWOOD, Monday.—The adjourned
inquiry into the cause of death of Mrs. Catharine Ash-
man, of Edial, Burntwood, near Lichfield, wife of Mr.
Joseph Ashmal', a farmer, was resumed this morning
at the Star Inn, Burntwood, before Wm. Webb Ward,
Esq., the district coroner for Staffordshire. The inquiry
had been adjourned for the purpose of Dr. Mooch ton,
of Rn.eeley, making a post mortars 'examination of the
body, and an analysis of the stomach and intestines by
Dr. Taylor. Dr. Monckton, phyvicau, of Rugeley, was
next examined. He said the appearances indicated bili-
ons diarrhoea. Supposing such diarrhea% to have been
present, it might have arisen either from natural causes
or from the administration of medicinal or poisonous
drugs. The coroner then submitted to the jury a repor
which be had received from Dr. Taylor, containing the
result of his analysis of the contents of the stomach of
the deceased. Thq report detailed at considerable length
the experiments and tests which he bad made on the
various portions of the viscera, the result of which was
that he had been unable to discover any traces of poison
which would produce the symptoms from which thelle-
ceaed suffered. The coroner, having briefly addressed
the jary," theY returned a verdict that-tho deceased died
frOm natural causes. Immediately on the verdict tieing
delivered, loud cheers burst from the friends of Mr. Ael.
mall, who had aEsembred in comideralo ambit% 14 and
around the tort.

~.. ..

JISATRE 'LOYAL, DRUBY•LAFE
Lessee, Mr. E. T. Smith.
ENGLISH OPERA.
THIS EVENING will be produced
IL TROVATORE, or the Gipsy's Vengeance. Lucy Escatt, Miss
canny Huddart, Mr. Augustus Braham, Mr. Henri Drayton, Mr.
Durand.

To elnlltide with

A Grand Ballet Divertissement entitled THE ENCHANTED
GARDEN. Miss Lees, Mr. Tanner, and the numerous Corps de
Ballet.

An engagement having been formed with Mr. and Mrs. FLORENCE,
from the United States, these celebrated artistes will have the honour
of making their first appearance In England on Monday, April 28th,
in one of their most popular natiorialJOomedierttas.

THEATRE ROYAL, HAYMARKET.
Under the Management of Mr. Buckstone.
THIS EVENING,
THE EVIL GENIUS.
After which,
Er, GAMBUATNO ; or, The Mexican Goldseeker.
In which PEREA NENA and the Spanish Dancers wily appear.

Followed by
GRIIISUAW, 13AGSIIA.W, AND ERADSITANV.

To conclude with
THE POSTMAN'S KNOCK.

ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE, OXFORD-STREET.
Under the ilanagement of Yfr. CnAsr.ss ICEAre.
TUTS EVENING,
THE FIRST PRINTER.

To be followed by
THE VICTOR VANQUISHED.
To conclude with
A PRINCE FOR AN HOUR.

ROYAL THEATRE ADELPRI.
Propriator and Manager, Mr. B. Webster.
Directress, Madame Celeste.
q'
THIS EVENING,
LIKE AND UNLIKE.
Messrs, B. Webster, Wright, P. Bedford, C. Selby, Garden
Madame Celeste, Miss Wyndham.
After which,
URGENT ERIVATE AFFAIRS.
To conclude with
MOTHER AND CHILD ARE DOING WELL.

ROYAL OLYMPIC THEATRE.
Lessee and Manager, Mr. Alfred Wigan.
THIS EVENING

STTLL WATERS RUN DEEP.

After which will be produced a New and doubly-moral, though
eTeeslively old, Melodramatic Fairy Extravaganza, entitled
• ME DISCREET PRINCERi ; or, the Three Glass Distaffs.
1.,' which Messrs. Emery, F. Robson, H. Cooper, Miss Marston,
an I Miss Maskell will appear.

ROYAL SU'lltEY TITEATRE.

Lessees, Messrs. Shepherd and Creswlok.

THIS EVENING,
Will be performed a new Drama, entitled
HOW WE LIVE IN THE WORLD OF LONDON,

Followed by

S tRAW3 YOUNG MAN.

To conclude with
THE POSTMAN'S KNOCK.

ROYAL KARYLEBONE THEATRE.

EVENING, for one night only, the great ActresP, Miss
cURTIM AN, in her great character of Romeo. Juliet, Miss Anderton.
Miss Cushman's last appearance in London, for a lengthened period.

The performances will commence with
ROMEO AND JULIET.
After which,
THE HAUNTED INN.
Boxes, 2s. ; Pit, ls ; Gallery, ed.
Stage Manager, Mr. E. Stirling.

ASTLEY'S ROYAL AMPHITHFATRE.
Lessee and Manaler. Mr. Wm. Cooke.
THIS EVENING,

The Complimentary BENEFIT ef WILLIAM COOKE, under
Vie immediate patronage, and honoured by the presence, of the Right
lion. the Lord Mayor.
Reproduction of Lord Byron's MA ZEPI'A and the WILD HORSE.
The SCENES in the CIRCLE, with Miss Kate Cooke and Mr.
William Cooke.

To conclude with a Drame introducing ENGLAND'S HARVEST
HOME and NATIONAL STEEPLECHASE.

Box-ollice open from Eleven till Four. Stage Manager, Mr. W
West. Equestrian Director, Mr.• W. Cooke, jun.

EMMA STANLEY'S " SEVEN AGES OF WOMAN."
Eventngperfomances as usual, on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays
and F'idays, at 13 o'clock.
Admission—Back Seats, Is.; Centre Seats, 2s. ; Stalls, 3s.
SAINT MARTIN'S HALL, Long-acre.

'um WATER. AT LO VDON BRIDGE.
TAM DAY—Morn. 2 min. aft. 3—Evening 19 min. aft. 3
Tn-liolutow-7iforn. 32 min. aft. 3 —Evening 43 min. aft. 3

THE WF.A_THER.—Sux Omen, Apitit 22.
THItIINOMETER, IN TUX 5111.131 L
59 -hirrbest sfneo noon yesterday.
47 -'ov►est this mdrning and during the night.
56 -tbl4 dam at noon.

BAROMETER, 30'06—falling.
WIND, E.S.E.—Light, with dull weather.

•.* ,
,§3,/,31

LONDON, TUESDAY, APRIL 22, 1856.

Considerable doubts have from time to time
been expressed, both in Parliament and by some
of the public journals, respecting the policy of the
invasion of the Crimea and the attack on Sebas-
topol. It has been positively asserted that the
movement was made without the privity or assent
of Austria ; that the Cabinet of Vienna had at
the very moment arranged to take an active part
in the operations of the War by an advance of
a large body of troops on the Russian frontier,
which would inevitably have included the Russo-
Polish territories within its scope ; and that the
course then adopted was the real cause of the
Austrian tergiversation and backsliding.
On the first part of this case we shall express
no opinion. Our contemporary has usually ex-
cellent information, and would not be
inclined to put forward a distinct and po-
sitive statement without prima facie evidence
of its accuracy, and we fully concur in its views
o 2 the treachery of the then Government of Eng-
land. It was, in fact, the deliberate determina-
tion of Lord ABERDEEN, and the colleagues whom
he had contrived to place at the head of all the
departments connected with the management of
the War, that no real injury should be inflicted
on Russia. The " dear and excellent" Premier
would not hurt his "friend of forty years'
standing," who had been betrayed into the pre-
mature development of his intentions by the ad-
vent to office of the Joint-stock Administration.
A demonstration was all that was ever contem-
plated, which it was hoped would have
induced. the AUTOCRAT to postpone the
administration of the sick man's assets to
a more convenient season. But we cannot believe
that Austria would, under any circumstances,
have acted with good faith or straightforward in-
tegrity, or that she would have taken any step
that might have committed her to hostilities with
her quondam friend and benefactor, or by any
possibility have conduced to the benefit, perhaps
the resuscitation, of much-wronged and deeply,
injured Poland !

That she might have held out hopes to that
effect is by no means improbable. That she might
have endeavoured to procrastinate, and to per-

suade the Allies not to besiege the Russian strong-
hold is very likely. We are prepared to lend an
easy credence to any degree of duplicity and in-
sincerity that may be alleged against that treach-

emus and selfish Power. But nothing could
have led to her drawing the sword against a for-

midable enemy. She would only be valiant in
tyrannising over and oppressing - those who

could offer no serious resistance.

It would have been well if, front the beginning
and at, the first symptoms of indecision, the Allied

Powers had altogether ignored her existence, and
treated her as they were subsequently obliged to
do Prussia. tcad the British Ministry been in

earnest at that time, when Louis NAPOLEON had

no recent dynantic considerations to influence his

conduct, tha War would. have been brought to a
speedy and satisfactory conclusion. But it was

" starved" under the " penny-wise-and-pound-
foolish" financial administration of Mr. GLAD-

sioNz ; and =tbe motbid seatimentality that spared
Odessai and strove to wage a rose-water contest,

IRE R MAJESTY'S THEATRE.-
I t is respectffilly announced that her MAJESTY'S THEATRE
will RE-OPEN early in May. Engalements of great interest have
been effected both in Opera and, Ballet, and the best exertions used
to make the arrangements worthy of the occasion.
The prospectus will immediately appear.