The Sun.
London, England, 1860-02-15 00:00:00

THE BUDGET.

The Budget is something more than a Bud-
get; it is a Treaty, and a Treaty contracted
with a State far behind ourselves in all commercial
and financial respects. It is a Treaty with a Sove-
reign who has to make ignominious apologies for
the prejudices of his subjects, and ask us to humour
them. So we have to make heavy concessions,
trusting to that immense superiority which en-
ables us to give the vantage to competitors, and
knowing that a nation which puts any restrictions
on commerce is its own worst enemy. Yet
.the
course which France compels on its Government is
in several instances so indecently unjust that it
cannot be passed without remark, even if there
were no factions ready to profit by it. 'the Treaty
binds us for ever neither to prohibit the exporta-
tion of coal, nor to put any duty upqn it, whatever
our financial wants or our political extremity. We
are thus bound to supply France herself with coal
up to the very eve of war ; and, with fleets steam-
ing against us, to allow coal to go we can never tell
whither. France puts herself under no such re-
strictions, for, as she exports no coal, her share in
this clause means nothing. Certainly the clause
ought to be modified, and we ought to leave ourselves
at liberty to forbid, on just cause, the export of the
chief munition of modern warfare. Coal, next to
the sea, is the great defence of this country, and at
the same time the means by which it can be most
readily assailed. In one other point also the Treaty
is so one-sided that it can hardly pass without some
modification. It reserves for France all the advan-
tage she attempts to secure by her Navigation Laws,
and denies to us the power of reimposing our own
code, even if we wished it. The English merchant,
besides that he has still to meet high protective
duties on English goods imported into France,
against no such duty on French goods imported
into England, will further have to struggle against
another code of duties and prohibitions for the en-
couragement of the French marine. We in this
country know by this time that all attempts to
favour the native shipowner at the expense of the
world at large, Though a nuisance to everybody, are
most mischievous to the nation itself which makes
the attempt. But, even with this steady convic-
tion on our part, it is not agreeable to recognise
what we believe to be at once a jealousy and
folly. Then, what limits does the Treaty impose
to the additions which France may please to make
to her Navigation Laws, if a new access of popular
frenzy should force it on the Emperor ? We
trust that these clauses, at least, will be amended.
—Times.

REALM- OF LONDON DURING THE

WEEK.

(From the Report of the Registrar-General.)

The mortality in London has risen, apparently
in consequence of the cold weather. The deaths
were less than 1,390 in each of the two previous
weeks ; in the week that ended last Saturday they
were 1,442. In the ten years 1850-59 the average
number of deaths in the weeks corresponding with
last week was 1188; but as the deaths in the pre-
sent return occurred in a population that had in-
creased, they should be compared with the average
raised in proportion to the increase, namely, with
1306. The comparison shows that 136 persons died
last week, who would have survived if the rate of
mortality had not exceeded the average for this
period of the year. The mean temperature of the
air has been lower than the average on every day,
except two, of the current month. On last Friday
the mean was as low as 28.5 deg. ; on Dec. 17th in
last year it was 22.8 deg., and on the same day the
thermometer fell as low as 15.5 deg.
The deaths arising from pulmonary diseases, not
including phthisis, rose from 368 and 389 in the
two previous weeks to 401 last week ; the corrected
average for ton weeks corresponding to last week
is 296 ; this class of complaints is at the present
time, therefore, mach more fatal than usual. In the
corresponding week of 1855, when the mean tem-
perature of the air was as low as 30.9 deg., the
deaths under the same head rose to 424 ; but with
this exception they were considerably less in all
the corresponding weeks than the number shown
in the present return. Bronchitis was fatal last
week in 217 cases, pneumonia in 144; phthisis (or
consumption) in 129; and it deserves to be noticed
that the first two were more fatal, the last less
fatal, than usual.

The deaths from small-pox now returned are 3Y,
of which 10 occurred to persons 20 years old and
upwards. There were 47 from scarlatina, 4 of
which were returned in the sub-district
of Kensington-town, and 4 in Rotherhitho.
There were also 11 from diphtheria. A hawker of
fruit died at 90, Great Peter-street, Westminster,
from destitution. A labourer died from apoplexy,
caused by inhaling the vapours of spirit in a ram
vault in the London Docks. Seven persons died at
the age of 90 years and upwards, and amongst
these was a widow in the Marylebone Workhouse,
who had attained the age of 100.
Last week the births of 1,030 boys and 991 girl.,
in all 2,021 children, were registered in London.
In the ten corresponding weeks of the years 1850-9
the average number was 1,721.
At the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, the mean
height of the barometer in the week was 29.
in. in. The
respectivelyreadi ngstohfe the
highest barometer
an d t
hteelllofwroems t 30:9
in. on Sunday to 29.44 in. on Wednesday,
air inin the
7 deg., which i s 2.2 deg.of
tabhseel
do
ewt
ct
rhme
janveei
wean temperature
mean 43 years e
day except Sunday
ars(daily
wwb eeei
eenkkg.
wa sT3hBe
rage of the same weeTkhien
temperature
)rnaagoe on every
nthl
ambnyads klbfver.
le.
odwGn
el
tsandi seahyae,yr
ae.
epreassstiotnwwo
adsayfrsomof7thwe
week the amount of this de
10 degrees. The thermometer in the shade rose to
50.2 on Wednesday, and fell to 23.2 degrees on
Saturday, which were respectively the highest and
lowest points in the week. The entire range of
temperature in the week was therefore 27 degrees.
The mean daily range was 10 3 degrees. The dif-
ference between the mean dew-point temperature
and air temperature was 5.6 degrees, representing
the dryness of the air. The mean degree of
humidity was 81, comi.lete saturation being re pr.
sented by 100. On Friday the humidity of the air
was only 70 ; and on that day a thermometer on the
grass fell to 9.5 degrees. The wind which was
chiefly in the south-west on the first folly days,
changed to north on Thursday, end on Saturday
turned again to south. Rain fell to the amount of
0.40 inches, three-fourths of which fell ors Monday.
Snow fell on Monday, Thursday, and Saturday.

It is stated, and we believe with good reason, that
Colonel Sir John Douglas, K.C.8., of the 7Pith Highlanders,
will succeed Colonel M'Cleverty as AsF istant-Adjutant.
General at Edinburgh.—Arin and Haug/ Gazette.

IrIIPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS—(YESTERMY.)
The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack'
at the usual hour.
The Earl of SIIAFTESBURY presented a number of
petitions from Corfe Castle and other places in favour sf
church-rates.
The Bishop of WINCHESTER also presented a great
number of petitions from several places in his diocese to a
similar effect.
The Earl of MALMESBURY presented peti-

tions.
The Duke of MARLBOROUGH presented a petition
from Leeds relative to the hostilities in China.
PRIVATE BUSINESS.
On the motion of Lord REDESD the Grimsby Fen
Drainage Improvemeut, the Royal Nayal School, the Shef-
field Cutlers' Company, the Grand Canal, the Midland
Great Western of Ireland, and Great Southern and Western
Companies' bills were read a s
INecond time.
CHA.
The Earl of MALMESBURY then said a statement had
been made in another place by the noble lord the Minister
for Foreign. Affairs, to the effect that Mr. Bruce was act-
ing according to his instructions when he forced the passage
of the Peiho. Tie must say he had the greate3t
respect for Mr. Bruce, but he (the Earl of Malmesbury) could
not consent to the assertion that had been made that Mr.
Bruce was acting exactly according to his instructions. He,
therefore, proposed on Tuesday, the 21st, to make a state-
ment of the instructions he had given to Mr. Bruce, her
Majesty's Envoy in China.