The Sun.
London, England, 1858-04-01 00:00:00

THE WEATHER—SUN OFFICE, APRIL 1.
THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE.
56—highest since noon yesterday.
46—lowest this morning and during the night,
47—this day at noon.
BAROMETER, down to 29.07—n0w up to 29.55.
WIND, N.N.W. to N.W. ; strong, with cold dull wea-
ther.
Half-past Two—Wind, North-Easterly ; very fresh and
squally, with rain.

c 4.4
;.(7.:1)
Ary
4

LONDON, THURSDAY, APRIL 1, 1858.

The Revenue Returns for the year and quarter
are, as we yesterday intimated, more favourable
than had been anticipated. The terrible financial
crisis occasioned, or at all events materially ag-
gravated by the Bank Charter Act, had deprived
the working•classes of many comforts which had
almost become necessaries, It was therefore
apprehended that the Revenue would suffer con-
siderably from the reduction of consumption.
The argument was not altogether wrong, although
as yet it has not been verified. The consequences
of dear money and reduced credit will still be
felt at the National Exchequer. But Sir-G. C.
Lawns has escaped from the censure that would
otherwise fall on him, and Mr. DISRABLT, who
earnestly protested against the mistakes of his
predecessor, will have to provide the ways and
means by which they may be remedied. Twelve
months since we pointed out that there must
inevitably be a heavy deficit ; but not until next
year. The balances of the war income tax, many
of which were collected during the last quarter,
would enable the former Minister to tide over the
financial year. But no such resource is available
for the present, from which there will be a further
withdraw al of assets to the extent of 2,000,0001.,
by the further reduction of the 2d. in the pound
on the income tax, or from 7d. to 5d., on the
sth instant.

The receipts are a million and a half better than
Was anticipated last year, and would have been
still more, but for the monetary embarrassment.
This is claimed as a triumph by the partisans of
Sir G. C. Lzwts, but to our simple judgment it
appears to have been either an error of calculation,
for which a charity boy, ambitious of passing in
the primary rules of arithmetic, would receive
severe castigation, or a deliberate obtaining of
money from the tax-paying community under false
and fraudulent pretences. We shall permit the
admirers of that peculiarly stolid and wooden-
headed financier to decide on which horn of the
dilemma their favourite is to be tossed. He must
fall within one of the categories.
Coming to the actual figures, we find that the
decrease on the year is 4,452,5501., and on the
quarter 2,508,8301. At first sight this seems
bad, but a little consideration will show
that it is quite as well as could be expected.
The war income tax, 9d., was struck off,
which should have made a reduction of
9,000,0001. on that single ite n, but, as we
have already indicated, all the industrial
income and a considerable portion of the pro-
perty tax, payable by tenants, and for which
landlords must give credit in payment of rents,
were received during the pear just terminated, and
consequently the diminution under that head in
place of being 9,000,0001. on the year, and of
2,250,0001. on the quarter, is but 4,503,8191.
on the former, although it is 3,551,882/. on the
latter, which partially shows the effects of the
disastrous failures between October and
January. We have said "partially," inasmuch
as the tax collectors make no allowance for misfor-
tune, and although a man may be bankrupt
or insolvent, kept away from his home and
family, and deprived of the means of earning a
livelihood by being imprisoned at the suit of some
vindictive creditor, his goods will still be seizei
on and sold to pay what ought only to be
charged on net income that could be applied to
his own private exigencies.
The Customs have rallied within the quarter.
There is an increase since Christmas of 644,7521.,
which does not, however, make up for
the deficiencies of the previous quarters,
which must, on the average, have amounted
to nearly 290,0001. on each, inasmuch that
the decrease of the year was 212,7391. This
was while discounts wore high, and money ani -
thing but a drug in the market. Since it has
become cheap, traders have availed themselves of
the, opportunity so far as the payment of duties
concerned, although it will be some time before
the returns will come in from those who pay for
all—the working bees in the national hive.

The Excise exhibits a similar aspect. The in-
orease on Itbe quirter is 353,000/., while th
faUing off on the year is 340,0001. This is also
the result of the fluctuations in the price of money
—the effects of conspiracy of the hard caleul,ii
tors. Stocks became reduced. They should be
replenished, and the reduction of disc )unt from
10 to 3 per cent., and the increased facilities for
obtaining money, both induced and enabled traders