The Sun.
London, England, 1858-05-04 00:00:00

LONDON, TITESDA.Y, MAY 4, 1858.

We have already pointed out what the country
would have had to encounter if Sir G. C. Lewis
remained at the' head of the financial department.
Re has already verefied our predictions, has com-
plained of the non-payment of the Exchequer-
Bands, of the abolition of the Sinking Fund, and
the reduction of the Income Tax. It is obvious, ,
therefore, that he would not have proposed any
of these plans. No matter how severely the tax-
mem-were burdened, and the people suffering,
the debt should be reduced by 3,500,0001., and
that although he had a deficiency of Four Mil-
lions, in round numbers, to provide for.
But how was this to be accomplished ? BS
what touch of the enchanter's wand could the de-
ficiency be converted into a surplus, or the income
be made to square with the expenditure ?
toull only be by new taxation, and that in its
worst form, an unmodified Income Tax, with all
Its unfair and oppressive inequalitie4. Arresting
the reduction would give an extra million within
the current year. But three millions more would
!_.4llcluired, and that could only have been oh-
ui~ by adding to the burden, and making it
14
I'll" of 7d., 13d.
il
in the 11. We say 13 I.
for although
each (. produces 1,000,000/ ,
' when it is fairly in operation, it cannot be esti
mated to produce more than odne half of the
amount during the first year, an
would be required to produce 6d. additional
3‘,000,000/. within
the time. There was also a saving of 800,000%
on the estimates prepared by the late Govern-
ment, which would scarcely have been obtained
had they remained in office. This would have
reqUired the reimposition of 83. out of the war
9d. And the Palmerstonians ought to consider
the effect which such an announcement
would' have produced throughout the country,
more especially when there was no suggestion for
retdoring it more fair or equitable, or distinguish-

ing between permanent and precarious and fiuctu-

a Ling incomes.

We have assumed that the entire deficiency
would have been provided for by an addition to
the income tax ; and we are fully warranted in
so doing, inasmuch as the Right Hon. Baronet
sneered at the "precarious" 800,0001. to be ob-
tained
from the equalisation of the spirit duties
and the ld. stamp on cheques, and " doubted"
whether his successor, the present financial Mini-
ster, could " confidently expect to receive the
money from those sources." It is quite clear,
therefore, that he would not have adopted either
course ; and we are at a loss to conceive what
other impost could be suggested to make up the
amount. The substitution of Mr. DISZAELI for
Sir G. I.4zins has saved the payers of income tax
at least 9d. in the pound, far mere than they
would give to retain the ex-Edinburgh reviewer
and all his colleagues in office during their re-
spective livesl
The late financial Minister emphatically cau-
tioned the House against entering into rash obli-
gations, or debarring themselves from " the full
and unfettered liberty of discussing and deciding,
when the exigency has arisen, as t) the
iature and character of that exigency, and
the best way of meeting it." Why, who
was the person that did so ? Was he not

self-flagellant, whose missiles, like the
Australian boomerangs, returned to the person
.:..tting them. He ought to have remembered the
iuggestion of the Scottish bard—
" Oh wad some power the giftie gie us
To see ourselves as others see us—
It wad frae mony a blunder free us,
And foolish notion."

Was he not the man who created the sinking

fund of 1,500,0001., to be paid off whether there
was a surplus or a deficiency, albeit we were, as
in the olden time, borrowing at an extravagant
rate of interest in order to reduce (!) the national
debt, while we were enhancing it to a far greater
extent in consequence of the rash engagement ?
The sinking fund was one of the great mis-

takes of Mr. PITT. But Sir G. C. LEWIS
fancies that because he had revived, or
rather attempted to revive, the exploded
fallacy, that the mantle of the deceased financier
}tad des ended to him with double power. Of
this error he has been, or ought to be, cured. It

ffould require an impenetrable covering of self=

conceit to bear without wincing the severe casti-
otion administered by Mr. GLADSTONE, which
will probably prevent any Palmerstonian from
again setting up the dethroned financier as a high
authority on any fiscal question.
It only remains to say that the Exchequer
Bonds Bill and the Stamp Duties on Drafts Bill
were each read a second time without a division
—a clear indication of the feeling of the House
with respect to the dreary and tedious oration of
the Right Hon. Baronet.

The arrival of the Overland Mail gives intelli-
gence from Bombay to the 9th ult., from Madras
io the A th, and from Calcutta to the 31st March.
The telegrams which have already been published
have pointed out the leading features of the pre-
sent accounts. The fall of Lucknow has
reduced the last stronghold of the rebels, and
coaverted what was once a numerous army into
a gang of fugitives, who are hunted from
place to place by the avengers of blood, and
who cannot long evade the terrible retribution
that awaits their unparalleled atrocities.
At present the interest is concentrated on the
proceedings of the Central India field force under
Sir Ruoff RosE. That gallant officer is worthily
maintaining the honour of the British name. He
had destroyed the fort of Chuderee, the capture
whereof has already been narrated, following up
Chat judicious course by blowing up the fort of
Tal Betuck. He then proceeded to Jhansi,
where he besieged the inveterate enemy
of Europeans the Ranee, who has earned
for herself a reputation scarcely exceeded
by that of the arch-fiend NANA SAHIB himself.
A female, who could have treated any woman in
the manner she dealt with the unfortunate
prisoners who fell within her power, is even worse
than any man. It is said that she attempted
negotiations, but that they ware sternly rejected
by the British General. The garrison fought
desperately, like men who knew that the contest
was one of life and death, whose crimes had
deprived them of any hope of mercy. A desperate
attempt was made to relieve the beleaguered city
by a considerable force under a near relation of
NANA. SAHIB, a participator in all the outrages of
which he was guilty, with from 20,000 to
25,000 men. He advanced to the attack ; but Sir
did not in consequence abandon or in any
degree slacken his fire against Jhansi. Ho met
his assailants with a portion of his troops, and
gained a complete victory. Having turned their
flank with cavalry and artillery, he put them to
light, and pursued themmost energetically, inflict-
' ing heavy blows on the scattered fugitives. There
were several of the Gwalior Contingent who, fight-
ing desperately, were greatly cut up by the good
men and true who were arrayed against them. This
was on the Ist of April, and on the 4th Jhansi
was taken after a desperate and determined resis-
tance. The Ranee, who had taken refuge in
the citadel, contrived to slip away under the
cover of darkness, and is now at Jalom.
General ROBERTS had also taken Kotab, and a
reward of a lac of rupees (10,0001.) was offered
for the NANA, who must now bitterly deplore his
treachery and bloodthirstiness. All is guing on
well, although for some time we must expect that
the pursuit will be continued, and that those who
know they have sinned beyond the hope of par-
don, will oppose a fruitless and ineffectual resist-
ance to our victorious arms.

HER MAJESTY'S STATE COW:ART.—Last evening the
Queen gave a concert, at which the following artistes
Assisted, viz. :—Madlle. Titiens, Miss Pyne, Madame
Castellon, Miss Balfe, Miss Palmer, Signor Giuglini,
Vir. Sims Reeves, Signor Beletti, Mr. Weiss, and Sig-
nor Vialetti. Invitations were issued to a party
about four hundred.

It is said the report of the accountants on the
estate of Messrs. Calvert and Cc. will be issued to-day,
and that according to present estimates it wi'l show a
good
Court of Bankruptcy yesterday Messrs.
t suthrpelus .
Bishop and Gissing, wholesale stationers, passed their
died examination.
The Earl and Countess of Harrington and Lady Ge-
raldine Stanhope have arrived at Harrington House for
the season.
Viscountess Palmerston has issued cards for an as-
sembly on Saturday the 15th inst.
Lord and Lady Waterpark arrived in town yesterday
from their seat in Derbyshire. His lordship has taken
a residence in Cl.iesham-s!reet fir the season.
Lady Mary Craven was saftly delivered of a son
yesterday mornirg, at her reiidence in Hertford-street.
Sir Henry Bulwer Lytton has arrived at the Bruns-
i Hotel (St. James'?) from the Continent.
Lady Emily Ileeketh's ball, announced to take place
on Wednesday, the 19th of May, is po3tponed to the
f llowi day.
Tho Mag
arquis of Bath and Lord Burghers!' aro se'ected,
we believe, to accompany the special mission to repre-
sent 6r Majesty at the marriage of the King of Por-
tugal.
The Countess Spencer and Lady Sarah Spencer ar-
rived at Spencer House yesterday from staying on a
visit to the Dowager Lady Citton at Hampton Court
P. lace.

The Countess of Westmoreland and Lady Rosa Fane
have arrived in Cavendish-square from Apthorpe-park,
Northamptonshire. The countess is, we regret to learn,
in delicate health.
The Earl of Carlisle, since his arrival in town last week
from Castle Howard, has been staying at the late Duke
of Devonshire's villa at idib is wick, which has been left to
his lurdship's mother for her lite. The Countess will
shortly leave Castla Howard for Chiswick.