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

result.
We cannot resist the conclusion that the cabin wreck
seen by the Edinburgh was all that will ever be seem of
the missing steam-ship. The Pacific sailed from Liver-
pool on the 23d of January, before any ice bad been re.
ported, and with the winds that then prevailed she would
have reached in due course lat. 47 deg. lon. 46 deg. on
about the 2Sth of January, and would then moat cer-
tainly have encountered the ice. The Persia sailed three
days after the Pacific, and running probably a degree
further south struck the ice on the 31st of January in
lat. 46 deg. lon. 46 deg. That encounter was not
without peril. The steamship Edinburgh reported
that "on the 7th February, in lat. 46.37, lon. 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 of latitude wed
longitude not more than 30 or 40 miles distant !rem she
place in which this wreck was seen, 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, end it leaves scarcely
a doubt that the Pacific was lost on or about the 28th
of January, between the parallels of 46 atn4 47 of lati-
tude, and 45 and 46 of longitude. The fate of the ship
' 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 brea't.
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 reproach
against Captain Asa Eldredge, the commander of the
Pacific. If, in a spirit of emulation, he exposed his step
and his life to hazard, he only did as they have done Nilo
in his profession are everywhere regarded as patterns I
prod, ace and ability. Captain Judkins, 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 \Vest, of
the Atlantic, were in positions which caused them the
gravest apprehensions.
The money value of the Pacific and her cargo was about
two millions of dollers, and the loss will fall heavily on
the underwriters. It would seem to be proper that they
should now assume control over the routes which
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 cowman ler fol owed
a 'southern, and con-equently safe route. But it is not
unreasonable that the underwriters should establish a
rule which none may be at liberty to violate. The time
which may be saved by pursuing the northern and
hazardoni route does not exceed fr,)m four to eight hours.
This trifling difference is not only effected at a positive
and tretnerrious risk of Fie and property, but in almost
every case the winter steamers taking that route have
lost from a day and a half to three days' hindrance from
ice—a loss on one voyage for each sh p equal to the en-
tire loss of tune on her voyages for a year by a more
southerly route.

THE BIRMINGHAM CHAMBER OF COM-
AiLtICE AND THE INUOME-PAX.

The following petitio❑ Lai been agreed to by the
Chamber of Commerce at Birmingham, and forwaried
for presentation to the House of Commons :

The humble Petition of th 6 Council of the Chamber of
Commerce fur Birmingham and the Midland diAtriet,

Sheweth,—That while your petitioners have no objection
to allege to the principle of direct taxation, if equitably
alses=ed, yet that the present system of assessing all de-
scriptions of income at the same rate per cent. is very un-
justespecially injurious in its operation to the
iml nuistrlirin
ousercilaises'es, and thus prejudicial to the commercial
progress of the nation.
That although your petitioners fully admit the necessity
of efficient regelations for the protection of the public
revenue, they believe that the arbitrary and irresponsible
inquisitorial powers as at present exercised by the Com.
missioncrs of Property and Income Tax are unnecesviry
and ineffective for the protection of the revenue, 'while
they are most oppressive in their operation to those ea-
gaged in commerce, and at the same time offer powerftU
inducement to fraud.

That. although it may be admitted to be insvracticable
to define with strict accuracy the just assessment of each
individual case, your 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
hich (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,
equitable in its operation to all classes of the community,
and at the same time productive of a larger revenue than
at present.
Your petitioners, therefore, humbly pray your honour-
able house to take the present oppressive, system of levy-
ing duties on property and income into your early consi-
duration, with a view to remedying the evils complained
of, and especially
That income derived from the profits of trade, from the
practice of professions, or from salaries or wages, be as•
timed at a lower rate per cent. than that derived from re-
alised property.
That terminable and life annuities be assessed in such
proportion only to incense 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
r than at present be adopted to enforce the strictest privacy
as to all returns when made to the Government officers.
And your petitioners, &c.
(Signed) SAMPSON S. LLOTD, Vice-Ps esident.
Birmingham, April 2, 1856.

The Kate Carnie (Rodger), 549 tons burden, arrived
on Saturday morning from Shanghai in 90 days, sup.
posed to be the shortest passage on record.
The Brilliant has arrived from Port Phillip with 15,426
ounces of gold, valued at 61,6041. The Vimiers, from
Sydney, and the Alecto, from Morton-bay, are also re-
ported, but are not stated to have brought any gold.
mEssßs. Sults, WALKER, AND CO.'s SUSPENSION.—
Messrs. Syers, Walker, and Co., East India and general
merchants, whose suspension was announced on Friday,
have issued the following circular. It t
appears hat their
uncovered liabilities are likely to prove larger than was
at first supposed. They are stated to owe 260,000/.,
while the unsold produce they bole., and which cost more
than 220,0001., can be realised only at a heavy deprecia-
tion :—" Allba lows-chambers, Lornbard-steet, 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 ; aLd,
in order that the position of our affairs niay be
tainted as 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 possible.
In the meantime we respectfully solicit your forbearance,
and beg to assure you that whatever property may eenle
to hand will be held specially to the purposes for which
it is advised, and also that the funds belonging to the
estate will be protected in like manner for your genera
interests.—We are yours faithfully,
STIRS, VSTALS-I 2
and CO.",