The Sun.
London, England, 1856-04-15 00:00:00

ROYAL SIMILEY TIIENTRE.

Leman, 3fesirs. Shepherd and Crevrick.
THIS EVENING,
Will be performed a new Drama, entitled
HOW WE LIVE IN TIIE WO ILD OF LONDON.

Followed by
VIE POSTMAN'S KNOCK.

To conclude with
TIJFFLEFIA.USrS; or, Thl Lawyer's Le;end

ROYAL MARYLEBONE TEIEATRE.

Under the Management of Mr. E. Stirling.

Engagement of Miss FITZ PATRICK, of the Theatres Royal Drury-

lane, and Covent-Garden, for Six Nights only.
TUESDAY, April 15th, will be performed

LOVE CrtiSE Constance, Miss Fitzpatrick. Messrs. Belford,
Lewis Bail, Saunders, Carter, Langton, Masses Anderton, Turner,
and: Mars. _ . _

Tu conclude with

TILE HAUNTED INN. Messrs. Lewis Ball, Saunders, Bedford,
Misses Morrell, and Mars.
on Wednesday, THE SOLDIER'S DAUGHTER. Widow Cheerly,
Mka Fitzpatrick.

4 gT1.14.: PA IZOYA.I. A.NipitETIIP:ATRE.
Lessco and Mana:•er, Mr. Win. Cooke.

TIIN EVENING,

The Performances will embrace that startling novelty, a Real
English Steeplechase, with all ita exciting Incidents.

The Entertainments c mmenee with THE ARAB OF Till,.
DESERT AND MS FAITHFUL STEED.
After which. the EQUESTRIAN WONDERS OF THE AREA,
Trampoline, Gymnastics, &c.

To conclude with a Draune introducing ENGLAND'S HARVEST
HOME and NATIONAL S rF,EPLEcuisz, with a noble Stud of
Iforses, trained by Mr. Will am Cooke.

Box-office open from Eleven till Fear. Rage Manager, Mr. W
West. 4:,aestrian Director. "tr. Cookc, len.

ENEMA STANLEY'S "SEVEN AGES OF. WOMIN."

The Mana;er respectfully announces the TWO i.IST MORN-
ING PERFORMANCES of this most popular an .1 amusing Enter-
tainment, Wednesday, the IGth, and Saturday, the 19th, at half•past
two:

Evening performances as usual, on Mondays, Tues lays, Thursdays
and F..idays, at S o'clock.

Admission—Back Seats, 13.; Centre 23. ; Stalls, 3s.
SAINT MARTIN'S HALL, Long-acre.

HIGH WATER, AT LONDON IMMO- E.

THIS DAY—Morn. 55 loin. aft. 10—Evening 30 inin. aft. 11
DI-MORRO cY—Morn. 0 min. aft. 0 —Evening 4 min. aft.l2

THE WE ATTIE a—SuN OFFICE, APRIL 15.
TIIERUOILETER, IN TILE SHADE.
57 - highest 2inc3 noon yestortiay.
50 -lowest this morning and dur!.ng the night.
a 5 this day at nool.

BAROMETER, 30.02.
WIND, N.N.E. to N.E.—Fresh, with fine, cold sunshiny
weather.

•

§rilC.'.

LONDON, TUESDAY, APRIL 15, 1856.

The National Balance-sheet for the financial
year ending on the 31st ultimo, which has jusl
been published, will be found in another part of
this day's impression. It is, under any circum-
stances, a document of vast importance, which
should receive the calui and attentive considera-
tion of every man desirous of maintaining the
national credit. It is peculiarly so at the present
moment, inasmuch as it is by its means alone that
we can form auy notion of Vie actual expenses
incurred in resisting the unconcieutious and un-
warrantable aggression of the late Czar, and of
the enormous amount which has been wantonly
sacrificed, without any demand being put forward
for compensation or rairess. It shows the actual
outlay on what may be termed the War Depart-
ments of the public service ; and comparing these
with the similar charges in times of peace wo may
form a fair estimate of what might justly be
debited to Russia is the public ledger for the last
twelve months of the War. It will not show the fuli
extent of the cost, inasmuch as there are a variety
of incidental charges which will drop in from time
to time. There will be a larae addition to the
half•pay and pension lists, that may be continued
for many years to COllO. Our foreign legions are
not as yet disbanded, nor can we as yet judge
of the expenses attendant on the operation.
The troops have not returned from the
Crimea. Transports are still chartered, and

numerous items remain that will not easily
be satisfied. We cannot see why the War
expenses should not be fairly laid before the
public in a distinct and separate form. But until
that be done, and we can easily conceive the strenu-
ous opposition that would be offered by Ministers
t 9 any such returns, we must avail ourselves of
the information that can be obtained from the
document under notice.

kind in every particular. Here is a glimpse of
it, as seen through the vigilant and kindling eyes
of Boz--eyes kindling with horror. and indigna-
tion " When the sun rose brightly—as it
lid—it gilded thousands upon thousands of up-
turned faces, so inexpressibly odious in their
!mita' mirth and callousness, that a man had
cause to feel ashamed of the shape he wore, and
to shrink from himself, as fashioned in the image
of the And again . . . " When the two
miserable creatures who attracted all this ghastly
sight about them were turned quivering into the
air, there was no more emotion, no more pity, no
more thought that two immortal souls had gone
to judgment, no more restraint in any of the pre-
vious obscenities, than if the name of CHRIST had
sever been heard in this world,' and there were
no belief among men but that they perished like
the beasts." Nor can this be wondered at, when
we remember who made up the bulk of the bye-
standers—" Thieves, low prostitutes, ruffians,
vagabonds of every kind, when the day dawned,
docked on to the ground with every variety of
offensive and foul behaviour." Upon all which
terrific aggregation of horror, note now the sen-
tence pronounced with all imaginable emphasis by
Mr. DICKENS, who first of all observes truly—" I
think there are not many phases of London life that
could surprise me ;" previously remarking, " I
have seen, habitually, some of the worst sources
of general contamination and corruption in the
country,' and who yet, with all this awful expe-
rience as an Observer—as the Observer of his Age
—avers :—" /am solemnly convinced that nothing
that human ingenuity could devise to be
done in this city, in the same compass of time,
could work such ruin as one public execution, and
I stand astounded and appalled by the wickedness
it exhibits." Memorable words, coming from the
lips of one with a mind so ample, with eyes so
keen, with an imagination so vivid, with a heart
so large and generous—words of thrilling admo-
nition uttered long ago—and since which time
we have been blindly and obdurately hanging,
and hanging, and hanging in the populous streets
of London, in the midst of the same scenes, with
all their concomitant horrors, in the midst of--
" Fightings, faintings, whistlings, imitations of
Punch, brutal jokes, tumultuous demonstrations
of indecent delight when swooning women were
dragged out of the crowd by the police, with their
dresses disordered," giving as Boz tells us, as he
told us five or six years ago, " a new zest to the
general entertainment." No marvel that large
and gentle Heart broke out into that cry of
anguish, " I believe that a sight so inconceivably
awful as the wickedness and levity of the immense
crowd collected at that execution--[meaning the
execution of the MANNING; he might have said
with equal truth in lieu of this, 'collected at every
execution in London indiscriminately']—could be
imagined by no man, and could be presented in
no heathen land under the sun." And with these
same hideous spectacles continually recurring and
recurring among us, our legisl hors are babbling
session after session in long and wearisome debates
about the worthiest scheme for a popular system
of National Education ! Good GOD-My Lords
and Gentlemen, honourable and right honour-
able let us rid ourselves first of all of
such prolific sources of moral disease and
depravity, before we begin to talk about abstract
theories of Education.

It appears that the actual revenue of the year
amounted to 65,704,4901. 15s. 10d. and the ex-
penditure to 88,428,3451. Os. 11d., leaving an
actual deficiency of 22,723,8541. ss. id. A
terrible array of figures, when we consider
the vast increase of taxation since the com-
mencement of the Eastern difficulty, and the
small results actually achieved. The addi-
tional imposts cheerfully submitted to by tilt-
nation—a more than doubled Income Tax, in-
creased duties on tea, coffee, sugar, malt, spirits,
&(. —produced about 15,000,000/., while loans
to the extent of 21,000,0001. were contracted,
besides an addition of several millions to the Un-
funded Debt. From this statement it would
appear that some 36,000,0001. or 37,000,0001.
were actually expended on the War within the
year, and that estimate is further verified by the
fact that, in ordinary times, the expenditure is
about 1,000,0001. per week, or, 52,000,0001.
per annum, whereas it has been, in round num-
bers, about eighty-eight and a half millions—
showing the extra cost to have been about thirty-
six and a half millions.

A third test may also be applied, which leads
to a similar conclusion. The Naval, Military,
and Ordnance Estimates, have been so low
as eighteen or nineteen millions, and may be
safely taken at twenty-two millions, which would
have covered everything but for the criminal
ambition and grasping cupidity of the late AUTO-
CRAT, in the present return they are set down
at no less than 58,592,100/. 12.4. We thus
find that similar results are obtained by three
different methods ; and we may, therefore, safely
assume the general accuracy of the calculation.

Here, then, is 36,500,0001. literally flung
away ; and we may probably assume that at least
as much more was expended during the first year,
or must be paid before the matter has been fully
weund up, and the war account completely closed.
Seventy-three millions have thus been improvi-
dently squandered, without obtaining honour for
the past or security for the future. Our gallant
brethren have uselessly laid down their lives—and
for what? To render England the laughing-stock of
every petty German despot, who joyously pockets
the bribes profusely paid by Russia for his venal
support. The English People, we are told, have
" their victories and their undiminished resources
for their own reward," and this is one of the re-
sults—and we fear by no means the most objec-
tionable—of the secret and unconstitutional in-
fluence that pervades almost every department of
the public service, but is peculiarly conspicuous
at the Horse Guards and in the Cabinet.
What might this seventy-three millions
properly applied have done for, the country ? The
speculation is too vast to be entered on at the close
of an article. It should, however, entitle the
oppressed tax-payers to some relief from their
enormous burdens, and yet we see no appearance
of the slightest intention to mitigate the load,
We have already ascertained that no attempt is
to be made towards a more equitable assessment
of the Income Tax, which is to be continued with
all its monstrous inequalities to the last possible
moment. No step is to be taken towards placing
the national currency on a better foundation, cr
regulating the relations of the country with the
Bank of England. The iniquitous and impolitic
Act, of 1844 has virtually expired, but no hint has
been thrown out as to the nature of thefuture mone-
tary legislation, and the manifest intention is to
tide over the difficulty for the present year, and to
leave a, troublesome legacy as a bequest to the future
Ministers. The Chancellor of theExchever declares
that Government cannot make any proposition for
the alteration of the act without a prelitninar
inquiry. Why, then, is it not at once instituted
Because, forsooth, it is too late ! No great pro-
gress can be made during this latter part of the
session. A short time since it was, according to
the Right Honourable gentleman, "unseasonable
and premature." Now the postponement, that
took place at his own instance, is fatal to the
cause, and no progress can be made ! Was thei e
ever such palpable absurdity ? We trust that tl e
House will not suffer itself to be so grossly bam-
boozled. Much may be effected within a coupe
of months, and ample time would remain for a
Bill, founded on the report of the Committee, to
be passed through Parliament, or, at all events,
there would be every material for legislation at
the very commencement of the next s2ssion,
which might be held before Christmas for a sub-
jecl; of such vital importance to the nation. If
:Nliiiisters desire to retain the public confidence,
they must show themselves adequate to their du-
ties, and give better proof of efficiency than the
postponement of every question of doubt and
difficulty to a future time.

Let us look to the uses of the Hang-
man before we think of those of the School-
master. Lot us dig away the filth and rot-
tenness choking up the broad area chalked out for
the foundation before we bagin to amuse ourselves
over the various plAn.s suggested by one ingenious
architect or another for the ornate and elaborate
sverstructure which has yet even to be com-
menced ! Setting aside the problem propounded
by BECCA.RTA —putting altogether out of the ques-
tion the rather startling axiom enunciation by the
benevolent: wit, to wit, that there are perhaps

after all better uses to which you eau put a man
than to hang him—forgetting wholly and entirely

. -
the proposition put forward by the philanthropists
who would altogether do away with the supreme
penalty of the law, that of capital punishment—
it may possibly be just as well to consider whether
we may not, with some small advantage to our-
selves, abandon at last, for once and for all, the
rather more than merely questionable benefits
resulting from the system of public executions.
Particularly after the recent horrors witnessed at
the hanging of the wretched murderer BOUSFIELD
And more particularly when it is announced that
the very infamous office of public executioner has,

in consequence of that wretched spectacle, actually

once more gone a-begging ! CALCRA.FT, after
s3venteen years of official Thug gism, falls into
disgrace (if it be possible for a Hangman to
"sink" any lower from the depth of his own
primary and profound abasement !) by reason of
11i3 skulking, through fear, away from the gallows
before the last wretch " turned off " by his ter-
rible hands had been effectually strangled, the nerves
of the hoary old hangman trembling under the
threat of some anonymous correspondent. Con-
sequent upon which frightful incident, and remem
bering the dying throes of BOUSFIELD as some
horrid sort of Nightmare, seen by many hundreds
of people by broad day light in front of Newgate
Prison, there is actually heard now a talk of
CA ',CRAFT, the hangman, having a successor ! Is
not this the very opportunity long felt to be most
de,drable ? Simultaneously with the appointment
of another executioner, might we not modify at
once the very nature and the very locality of our
executions—modifying both for the general public
most advantageously ? Might we not? It is a
question, we really think, worthy of instant and
serious consideration.

Fl.i.)rarNu—Shall it be private, or shall it he
abolished ? One Honourable Member wants to
have our criminals under sentence of death,
strangled within the walls of their prison, instead
of the gibbet being made, as hitherto, a herriblu
public exhibition. Another Honourable Member
is anxious, on the contrary, to do away altogether
with capital punishment. Which is it to be ? Either
or neither ? Supposing we cannot persuade our-
selves to arrive at the humane conclusions asserted
by the benevolent arguinent of BEccann—sup-
posing we cannot at all recognise the necessity of
doing away with Death as the dread arch-penalty
of Crime—supposing we still cling Pertinaciously
to the belief that that penalty does really, after
all, act, in some measure at least, as a preventive
I—must1—must all murderers and poisoners, and such
like horrible wretches, in this land of ours, still
die like dogs by public strangulation ? Is an exe•
cation of a miserable criminal at the hands of
the common hangman in the midst of a crowded
thorouglifare—necessary ?—is it advisable ? These
are questions of a very momentous character—for
they affect, in a rather serious way, the moral
well-being or ill-being of the community. Upon
the eantinuance of this terrible custom depends,
to a considerable extent, the lesser or
greater de-
pravity of very many among
There can hardly be any the eye- wi tn esses.
doubt as to which direc-
tion the proportion takes in this rather frightful
alternative.

Suppose—beyond what we have here already sug-
gested—suppose we not only abandon at last this
brutal and brutalising system of strangling our great
criminals in the public streets, with all kinds of
horrible accompaniments in the way of obscenities
and blasphealies—suppose we seize this favourable
opportunity for doing away with the office of
Jack Ketch altogether, adopting, in lieu of the
black beams of the Gallows, with its dangling
noose, the scarlet apparatus, the inexorable Made,
and the blood-stained basket of the Guillotine ?
Suppos3 !—Might not the majesty of the law be
vindicated then more humanely, more terribly,
and with less chance of shame to us all--our con-
demned criminals "Dying the Death," not as
hitherto by the hands of a fellow-mortal, but by
means of a grimly piece of mechanism, a wood
and metal NEMESIS, the material Antoros born
of the French Revolution ?

The Great Observer of the Age has de-
scribed in vivid words the appalling spectacle,
as it was presented to him upon an occasion
very
memorable in the Annals of Atrocity. And that
was no exceptional sight. It was one, the horror
of which (as far as the execution went) Was
about the average. The crime expiated
was more than usually horrible no doubt—being
the murder of the miserable caitiff, O'CoNNon, by
those male and female monsters, the -I‘ir -ANNINGS.
But the manner of the expiation was quite of the
ordinary character. Aiid the scene witnessed en
that lamentable Tuesday morning, upon the 13th
of November, was, alas ! of only a customary

We beg to direct the attention of our readers
to a report (which will be found in another column)
of the important meeting yesterday, at the London
Tavern, of merchants, commercial men, and others
interested in the welfare of our Australian colonies.
The object of the meeting, it will be seen, was to
consider what steps should be adopted to insure
the immediate re-establishment of our postal steam
communication with Australia, and this naturally
led the speakers to statements and explanations
with which,
We are of opinion, it were well the
public should be thoroughly acquainted. As a
matter of course, and of fact, it was shown that
Australia is nearly our best customer, taking from

THE SUN, LO-NDON, TUESDAY EVENINet, APRIL 15 1856.

us fifteen millions worth of our produce
annually ; that a tardy communication was in
existence,' prior to the War, but, strange to
tell, that communication was stopped on account
of hostilities, in other words, of the strongest
motive fur improving it, that the colonists
are dissatisfied with such treatment, and
offer to contribute half of the expenditure of a
more rapid steam service by another and nigher
route, that Government, in its ineffable wis-
dom, instead of laying down the required ser-
vice, has referred the matter to the colonists,
whose wishes are known already, thereby incur-
ring a delay, wholly unnecessary and uncalled
for, of 18 months, and that the interests of this
country as well as of Australia have suffered, do
suffer, and must continue to suffer, from the
want of a rapid communication between the two
countries. These facts, and others elucidating
or confirming them, had, as might be expected,
their weight, and a petition for the immediate
establishment of the sort of postal service required
was unanimously agreed on. The speech of Lord
STANLEY may be particularly pointed out as de-
serving of perusal, not so much for the position
and ability of the speaker, as for the home truths
respecting the wretched dealing of our officials
with the colonies to which he gave utterance.
How bitter, yet how true—indeed the bitterness
is exclusively in its truth—is the remark—" In
the Colonial Department of the Government those
in power are too apt to treat the affairs of the
colonies as if they were negotiating with hostile,
or at least neutral, parties, and not with friends."

THE BALANCE-SHEET.

An Account of .the Net Public Income of the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, in the year
ended the 31st day of March, 1856 (after abating the Ex-
penditure thereout defrayed by the several Revenue De-
partments), and of the Actual Issues or Payments within
the same period, exclusive of the Sums applied to the
Redemption of Funded or paying off Unfunded Debt,
and of the Advances and Repayments for Local Works,
&c.

INCONUE OR REVENUE,

ORDINARY REVENUE AND RECEIPTS.
Customs
Excise
Stamps
Taxes (Land and Assessed)
Property Tax
Post-office
Crown Lands
Produce of the Sale of Old Stores, and other extra
Receipts
Afoney received from the East India Company
Tinprest and other Moneys
Unclaimed DRridends (received)

Excess of expenditure ov,
year ending March 31, 1

EXPEN

interest and Management of the
Permanent Debt
Unclaimed dividends paid
Terminable Annuities
Interest of Exchequer-bonds,
1854
Interest on Exchequer-bills, 5up-
p1y............ • ... • • • • .• • •
Interest of Exchequer bills, De-
ficiency ...... •...... .....
Interest of Exchequer -bills,
Ways anB Means....

er income In the
L 855.... ......

It appears to be generally believed at Lisbon that
Queen Victoria will vied,: Portugal this year.
Thee has been some gossip in the papers about a ma-
trimonial connection between the royal family of Naples
and the ducal family of Tuscany. There is nothing of
the kind. The eldest daughter of the grand duke h
only twelve years of age.
The Duke and Ductless of Buccleuch and family, who
are staying at Bowhill, the ducal seat in Selkirkshire,
do not intend to come to Montague-house, Whitehall,
until the middle of next month. The Earl of Dalkelth,
M.P., has arrived at Montague-house for the season.
The steam-transport Trent has been ordered by the
Government to be put into immediate repair at S mth-
ampton, she having received injuries in towing home
from tee East a floating battery.
Mzxrco.—By way of New Orleans we have news from
Vera Cruz to the 22i ult. The Government forces had
blockaded Puebla. Tarnariz had proposed a surrender,
but Cornonfort would not accept the terms offered.
RUSSIAN RAILWAY SHARES.—The directors of the
Riga and Dunaburg Railway gave notice yesterday after-
noon that they intend to issue their shares " to bearer,"
and that a deed of settlement will be avoided.
THE FATAL PRUSSIAN DUEL.—M. de Munchausen,
the second of the late M. de Hinckeldy in the fatal
duel, has resumed his functions at the Ministry of the
Interior. M. de Rochow, it is stated, is preparing a
statement in justification of his conduct.
The Mon tear of yesterday states that his Imperial
Highness Prince Jerome Napoleon, who has recovered
from the illness with which he had been attacked, visited
the Emperor and Empress and the Imperial Prince on
Sunday. On leaving the Tuileries his Imperial High-
ness took a drive to the Bois de Boulogne.
THE BISHOP OF NORWICH.—The health of the Bishop
of Norwic h has been slowly improving during the plot
few months. It is now so far re-established that his
lordship has resumed the active duties of his diocese,
which his severe and continued indisposition compelled
him to relinquish.
The discovery ship Resolute is to be sold for the bene-
fit of those who brought her into port, the British Go-
vernment having ahan'loned all e'aim to the vessel.
As soon as the Empress is in a condition to move out
she will take up her residence at St. Cloud, and remain
there till the middle or end of June, when the ceremony
of the baptism of the Imperial Prince will take place.
She will then proceed to the south for sea•bathing.
Preparations are already making at Biarritz for her re-
ception.
AMERICAN MAILS.—The steamer Ericsson will sail
from Liverpool for New Yerk on Wednesday morning
with the mails for the United States and Canada. Letters
will be received at the Liverpool post-office on the morn.
,ng of that day till 6.30 a.m., with late fees till 7.30, and
on tho landing stage till 8.30 a m.
TURKISH MISSIONS Am SOClETY.—Yesterday, the
second annual meeting of the above society was held, in
Willis's Rooms, King-street, St. James's, under the
presidency of the Earl of Shaftesbury. The attendance
was numerous. Tue balance-sheet showed a reception
of 2,6211. Oa. 21d., which, after paying all expenses,
left a balance in the hands of the treasurer of 419/. Os. 10d.
THE AUSTRIANS IN PARllA.—During the last few
days, dozens of persons, arrested for supposed political
opinions have been sent off to Mantua. Military law is
applied with the utmost severity. The Au,trians say
there will be no long trials—" The guilty will be shot,
and the innocent set at liberty." The- whole male
population wearing beards have been shaved by au-
thority.

OPPOSITION TO THE CORPORATION RE€ULATION BILL.
--Yesterday afternoon, a meeting of the inhabitants of
the Walbrook ward was held at the Bay-tree Tavern,
St. Swithin's-laue' to consider the propriety of petition-
ing the Irouse of Commons against the second reading
•it the London Corporation Regulation Bill ; David
Williams Wire, Esq., Alderman, presided. Resolutions
against the bill were agreed to unanimously.
A subscription has been entered into by the British
residents at Hamburg, for the purpose of presenting
Miss Nightingale with a souvenir, expressive of their
admiration of the noble and disinterested conduct of
that la.ly in ministering to the wants and comforts of
the army in the East. The subscription amounts at
present to about 2,000 marks, nearly 1201.
MISS NIGHTINGALE.—Among the Crimean photo-
graphs lately published by Messrs. Fenton and Robert-
son is one of no slight interest. In No. 191, " Mortar
Batteries in front of Picket-house, Light Division," are
shown three mortars in position, on the centre one of
which the heroic Miss Nightingale was raised at. her
own request by a gentleman belonging to the sanitary
commission, in order that she might obtain a view of
Sebasopol —a perilous peep, most mercifully taken with
impunity.
THE PACIFIC.—The Panama Star gives the follow-
ing news from Nicaragua :—" Costa Rica has declared
war against the Filibusters, and is joined by the other
Central American States. Costa Rica requires 9,000
men and $lOO,OOO from the Republic. Walker has also
declared war against Costa Rica, and marched to
Guanacasta, a frontier station of Costa Rica, to meet
Colonel 13 )equct, of the Costa Rica army, who has
quite a respectable force. Walker has not over 1,500
men in all, of whom a large percentage is unfit for duty,
owing to sickness."

CHARGES ON CONSOLIDATED
FUND.

rDITURE.
£ s. d,

23,205,392 13 21

173,240 17 5
3,863,907 0 9,

210,000 0 C

616,083 7 5,

17,450 16

26,749 13 91

TIPPERARY BANK.—The English shareholders of the
Tipperary Bank have held several meetings, with the
view of concerting mea,ures for their own protection in
the arrangement of the affairs of that establishment.
Toe), are said to have availed themselves of the best ad-
vice at the Irish bar, and to have bee❑ informed that
several legal points can be raised in resistance to their
liabilitie'. At the same time they express a disposition
to deal with the case, if possible, on equitable terms. It
is therefore hoped that the creditors, both in England
and Ireland, will eventually agree to a settlement which
may in some degree avert the disastrous consequences
of this suspension. Subscriptions have been raised in
London toward; a " Defence Fund," and a committee
has been formed to conduct negotiations. Some of the
shareholder:, however, anticipating the worst results
from a winding-up, have already left the country to
avoid reSpetlei')tility.
DEPOSIT AND GENERAL LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY.
—lt was mentioned on Wednesday that an annual
general meeting of this company bad been held on the
previous d ev, at which the directors deemed it expe-
client to avoid publicity. Although anxious on that
occasion t ) prevent the presence of independent report.
ers, they have since thought it desirable to incur great
expense in the publication of a report framed by them-
selves. This chiefly consists of a series of inflated and
complimentary speeches as to the thriving condition of
the concern, one gentleman predicting that the company
would ultimately be second to none in London, and
another assuring his hearers, notwithstanding the recent
developments in the case of the Protestant Life office,
that old companies are not so safe as yowl.. ones. The
fact appears to have been tbat a report drawn up by
their own auditors was rejected at the instance of the
direct•irs, together with a statement, by which it was
accompanied, of the finances of the company, and that a
report of the directors of a more pleasant character was
subst;tuted. As a natural consequence, the intractable
auditors were got rid of before the termination of the
meeting. The nature of their report is not explained in
the lengthy advertisement devoted to the flittering ex-
preesiona of the various speakers, and it is fair to
infer that the exclusion of reporters was also resolved
upon in order that it should not see the light. The au-

TOTAL.
s. d.
21,788,770 16 1
16,636,(.69 11 3
6,894,307 7 9
2,958,626 4 8
14,814,754 15 8
1,171,696 5 0
281,515 15 9

527,377 9 0
60, 00 0 0
472,029 9 0
98,741 1 8

65,704,490 15 10

22,723,854 5 1

Civil List ........

Annuities and Petitions ....
Salaries and Allowances
Diplomatic Salaries and Pensions
Courts of Justice

Miscellaneous Charges on th -
Consolidated Fund

however, in their own justification,—as well ai in
fulfilment of their duty to the assurers, have transmitted
it for publication. If the directors can controvert its
all,,gations they shall have every opportunity of doing
so, and the company will then take its proper stand
before the public. The sole object of the appointment
of auditors is to provide that some persons independent
of the directors should pledge themselves to the accu-
racy of the accounts submitted, and when it is found
that their statements are rejected at the instance of the
very pai ties upon whom they are intended as a check all
sense of security must be weakened. In the present
case there is, apart from this circumstance, enough to
call for more than ordinary vigilance, since it is under-
stood that the late Mr. John Sadleir was a trustee of
the company, and that Mr. Clement Sadleir retired from
the post of managing director only a short time pre-
viously to the death of his brother. Should these cir-
cumstances, together with the details iu the auditor's
report, prove to be beyond contradiction, it may be a
point for consideration whether the advertisment just
put forth by the directors would not furnish grounds for
the most severe legal proceedings on the part of any one
who might suffer damage how being raided by it.—
Tima City Article.

SUPPLY SERVICES.

Army
Navy
Ordnance

Vote of credit (addition.d ex-1
penses, war with Russia) ....

Miscellaneous civil services ....

85,428,315 0 11

396,457 10 0
340,491 3
161,731 18 11
147,659 7 8
493,2,9 3 0

183,860 16 8

X e. d.

28,112,424 9 2

17,395,059 0 0
19,654,585 1 5
10,411,543 13 2

1,723,419 19 9

4,200,000 0 0
6,930,912 17 5

58,592,100 12 2

89,428,345 0

An Account of the Balances of the Public Money remain-
ing in the Exchequer on the 31st day of March, 1855; the
Amount of Money raised by the Additions to the Funded
or Unfunded Debt in the year ended the 31st day of
March, 1856 ; the Money applied towards the Redemption
of the Funded or paying off Unfunded Debt ; the Total
Amount of Advances and Repayments on account of
Local Works, &c., with the difference accruing thereon,
and the Balances in the Exchequer on the 31st day of
March, 1856.
Balances in the Exchequer OD
the 31st March, 1655,
Engl yid
Ireland
Money raised in the year ended
March 31, 1856,—
FUNDED DEBT.
Money paid Into the Exche-
quer on account of loan of
£16,030,000, per act 18th Vic-
toria, c. 18
Amount retained by the Bank
for receiving the loan, being
at the rate of£3oo per million
Money paid into the Exche
quer on account of loan of
£5,000,000, per act 19th Vic-
toria, c. 6
Money paid into the Exchequer
towards funding £3,000,001
Exchequer-bills, 19th Vic
tonic, c. 5

EXCIIEQUER-BONDS,

Raised per act 18th and 15th
Victoria, c. 130 (in part of
X 7,000,000)
EXCIIEQUER-BILILS

In part of grant of £17,183,000,
per Act 18th Victoria, c. 8, and
dated in June,lsss,and March,

1856 . . •
In part of grant of £17,1113,000
per Act 18th Victoria, c. 8,

and dated in Ilarch, 1E66, and

applied i i aid of money grants
In part of grant of .£7,000.000,
per act 18th and 19th Victoria,
c 13), and dated is August,
1855

£ s. d.

3,212,409 1 5
737,3G5 10 3

EXCREQUER CONSOLIDATED
FUND-BILLS.
Issued in the quarter to the 30th
of June, 1855,in part of Ways
and Means Grants of the year
1853-56, and charged on the
Income of the Consolidated
Fund for the quarter, to the
30th of September, 1856

ISSUED
To the Commisssloners for the
Reduction of the National,

15,995,200 0 01

Debt, to be applied to the Re-
demption of the Public Debt,
per Act 10 Gco. IV., c, 27 ..
Interest on Donations and Be-

quests
Redemption of Hereditary Pen
BMus

To the Bank of England for re-
ceiving the loan of£ 16,000,030
To the Paymaster-General, in
Exchequer-bilis, to exchange
Supply Bill,
To the Paymaster-General, in
Money,out of Ways and Means
Grants, to pay off Supply 131 lb.
To the Paymaster-General, iu
money, to be applied to the
purchase of Exchequer-bills,
under the act for fundink
£3,000,000

Total Issues on account of Un-
funded Debt in the Year
ended the 31st of March,
1856
To the Paymaster-General, tol
pay off Exchequer Consoli-
dated Fund Bills Issued in the
Quarter, to the 31st of March
1855, in part of Ways and
Means Grants
To the Paymaster-General, to
pay of Exchequer Consoli-
dated Fund Bills I,,sued in the
quarter to the 30th of June,
1855, In part of Ways and
Means Grants ........

4,800 0 0

3,561,000 0 01

622,000 0 01

15,930,700 0 01

d

soo,ooo 0 of

13,949,774 11 8

6,000,000 0 01

£ s. d

Advances for Loctl Works, &a ,
under various Acts of Pavia
rnent (including loan to Sar
dinia, £I,OG0,000)
Less—Repayments of ditto

:19,898 5

213,177 1 21

Excess of expenditure over In-
come in the year ended the'
31. t of March, 1856 -
Balances in the Exchequer en
the 31st of March, 1856 :
Bank of England.—
Consolidated
Fund balance .. 4,160,573 19 6
Balance of pay-
ments on account
of fundingExche-

15,930,700 0

526,500 0 0

*463,000 0 01

1,000,000 0

20,123,000 0 0

977,750 0 0

21,430,700 0 0

1,740,000 0 01

1,740,000 0 0

49,221,224 11 S

2,243,927 10 11
1,245,248 17 4

X s. a.

233,070 6 2

4,800 0 0

16,920,200 0 0

2,740,000 0 0

993,G78 13 7

22,723,854 5

quer Bills ...... 159,000 0 0

Bank of Ireland .........

4,319,573 19 5
1,281,047 7 5

/5,600,421 6 10

49,221,224 11 8
WILSON.

Treasury-chambers, April 8, 1

* In addition to this sum, hills to the amount of £1,479,100 have
been delivered in to NI cancelled.

ALARM OF FIRE AT DRURY-LANE

THEATRE.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
stage-manager of the operatic performances
at the Theatre Royal, Drury-lane, permit me to. say that
the account which appeared in the journals of this morn-
ing of a fire which is sail to have occurred in dila theatre
on Saturday night is highly exaggerated. 16 is quite
true that, at the c!ooe of the performances on that even-
ing, at the sole request of the committee, an experiment
was tried on the stage by the Fire Annihilator Clompany,
and that, during the course of the experiment, one of
their machines burst, and caused some littlk alarm
among those present ; but, owing to the prestautions
taken in the building, no danger of any kind existed,
nor indeed could any arise at any time.
As the performances have in no manner been inter-
rupted by the occurrence referred to, I trust you will
favour me with space in your columns for this cxplana-
tion.—l am, sir, your faithful servant,

ROBERT R;OXEY.
Theatre Royal, Drury-lane, April 14.

THE FIRE AT THE VAUXHALL Emil-

WAY STATION.

The fire which broke out on Sunday evening last, as
noticed yesterday in this paper, was not extinguished
until past eleven o'clock, when every building and case
belonging to the railway station were destroyed.
During yesterday morning a very searching inquiry
was made by the officials of the company, for the pur-
pose of finding out, if possible, how the fire commenced,
the result ot 'which clearly showed that it begart in Mr.
Maudsley's office, and was first discovered in this way :
—Mr. Inspector Parker, having been sent by Mr. God-
son to make .some inquiries respecting a passenger, he
crossed the lines of metals, when he saw two persons
leaning over the counter and looking very attentively at
the wall. Thinking that they were looking for an op-
portunity to get into the office to commit a felony, he
pushed them '.a little on one side, and then perceived a
piece of fire burning in the wall, but not larger than a
man's hat. At that moment a man raised a ladder to
the place, and endeavoured to pull the burning paper
which lined the wall, but upon pulling some of the lining
down the flames shot forth with extraordinary violence,
and ran round the office like lightning, seizing upon the
walls and roof of the compartment, and in less than ten
minutes crossing the line and seizing upon every part of
the station.

It is here necessary to state that the building' forming
the station was 60 feet wide and upwards of 150 feet long,
and being composed exclusively of wood, canvas, and
paper, it is not surprising. that the flames spread so
rapidly, more especially when the high wind and the lofty
position of the premises are taken into consideration.
Fortunately the whole of the money and tickets were
saved, and Mr. Darvon, one of her Majesty's guards,
having hastened to the terminus at the Waterloo-road,
all trains about proceeding down the line were stopped,
as was the case at stations further down the line for some

time, and the traffic was transferred to the Nine Elms ;
but although the rails at Vauxhall had been twisted and
reduced to sundry forms by the action of the flames, they
were removed and replaced in time to allow tbe mail
train to reach London at the usual time yesterday morn-
ing, and the regular traffic was resume;] as usual, and
the station will be re-opened for passenger traffic this
morning.