The Sun.
London, England, 1859-05-14 00:00:00

TILE FATAL ACCIDENT AT WEST-
MINSTER.

Nothing farfEer has transpired this morning relative to
the fatal accident which occurred yesterday at the West-
minster Palace Hotel Works at the corner of Victoria-
street.

The whole of the sufferers in the Westminster Hospital
are going on most favourably, no deaths having occurred in
addition to those mentioned yesterday.

The inquest will be opened this afternoon, but it is ex-
pected to be confined merely to the identification of the
bodies, in order that they may be removed and interred by
their friends.

INDIAN FINANCE.

The subjugation of the revolted provinces of
Hindostan necessarily caused a heavy drain on the
resources of the Indian treasury, and now that the
warrior has returned ,his sword to the scabbard it
becomes the duty of the statesman to review the
condition of his finances. This task the Governor-
General has performed, an d proposed some important
changes in the revenue system which demand very
serious consideration. The statement which he pre-
sented to the Legislative Council, though mainly
applying to the expenditure incurred by the mutiny,
embraces the preceding year, at which period the
deficiency amounted to 104 lacs of rupees, which
arose chiefly from the outlay on public works of
utility. With a view to economy this item of
disbursement was greatly reduced, orders being
issued that no work should be commenced of which
the cost would exceed 10,000 rupees, and these
restrictions were imposed on all the local govern-
ments. To this suspension of roads, canals, and
bridges, the Court of Directors were decidedly
opopsed, and to carry them on with proper activity
authorised the Governor General to raise a crore of
rupees, or one million sterling, for their vigorous
prosecution. This was done ; the suspended enter-
prises were recommenced and fresh ones under-
taken ; but the estimate fixed by the Court of
Directors, in spite of the most- careful supervision,
was exceeded by half a million sterling, and as the
treasury could not bear the burden the works were
again stopped before completion. By their cessation
the public Exchequer was relieved, and a productive
harvest scattered the blessings of plenty throughout
the whole country, so that by these combinations the
financial department recovered strength, and at the
end of the year ending in April, 1857, exhibited a
prosperous appearance. The balance-sheet shoived
that the former deficit had been reduced from 104
lass to 18 lacs, although a large sum had been ab-
,sorbed by the Persian war, the result of Lord Pal-
•merston's turbulent and bellicose policy; and an
additional outlay has been incurred by the measures
`rendered necessary to secure ourselves in the occu-
katioikpf Oude, of which we had taken possession.
TlVisse two items figured for an aggregate of 22 lacs,
ec• that if that outlay had not taken place there
could have been an actual surplus of four lacs, or
of £4o,ooo—a trifle, it is true, but still on the
right side of the account.
The mutiny now broke out which will ever mark
a grand epoch, both political and financial, in Indian
history,`and if the measures recommended by the
Governor-General to the Legislative Council are
acted upon it will also be memorable as an era in
tariffs and taxation. It is right that the public should
know under what circumstances the financial changes
have been proposed, and also that the Indian Go-
vernment shout be vindicated against vague charges
of extravagant expenditure; and that vindication
fully appears in the sudden and alarming difficulties
of the crisis, which might have daunted the boldest
and embarrassed the most skilful. It appears from
the statement of Lord Canning, that sine May, 1857,
when the native troops revolted, there had arrived
at Calcutta from England 52 recriments of infantry,
9 regiments of cavalry, and 38 companies of artil-
lery and engineers. Yo keep that army in readiness
for the field it was strengthened by reinforcements
from Bengal alone of 20,000 men ; 165 transports,
mostly of large size, had reached Calcutta, with
5,000 horses, and, in addition, there had been large
arrivals from Bombay. It was of course necessary
to feed this host, and the commissariat expenditure
for the year 1857 exceeded two millions sterling.
In 1858 that item was doubled, and for the current
year, 1859, Lord Canning says "it would be
largely increased." Of munitions of war there
had been landed 70,000 stand of arms and 186,000
rounds of shot and shell. It may well be sup-
posed that the disbursements in each separate
branch of the war department to render this mighty
armament fully effective and to sustain it during
the struggle, must have been on a gigantic scale.
There was a general rise in prices, "from an
elephant down to a camp kettle, ranging in some
cases as high as 300 per cent." The cost of carriage
to the north-west provinces rose in 1858 to
£lO,OOO per month to Allahabad alone from Cal-
cutta. The financial state of the country on the
30th of April, 1858, when the mutiny had lasted
one year. will be fully appreciated by the single
fact that there then appeared a deficiency of
817 lacs of rupees, of which 601 were due to
expenditure in India and 216 to expenditure in
England. The Governor-General computes the
loss of revenue in the year ending 30th April, 1858,
at 350 lacs of rupees, the loss of treasure at 130, and
the increase of military expenditure at 382 lacs, in all
862 lacs, or in English money, £8,620,000 ; and ex-
pressed his apprehension that at the end of April,
1859, the deficiency:would amount to 1,300 lacs, or
£13,000,000 sterling. It must be understood that
Lord Canning made this statement on the 12th of
last March, so that it stands clear of the Indian
Loan now floating in the London market. From
the several items he furnished at the date just men-
tioned the account would stand thus, partly from
what is known, and partly from what ho anticipates
at the close of the Indian financial year ending
30th April, 1859 :
Deficit on 30th April, 1858
Computed deficit on 30th April, 1859 13,000,000

Total
This has been met by debentures
in England £8,000,000
By loans in India of 1,914 lacs, or 9,140,000
Balance in Indian Treasury, 414
lass of 1857 over 1858, or,

£21,280,000

Difference against the Government .... £340,000
The question, then, is how to meet the interest on
this war debt out of the Indian revenue ; and this
brings us to the new tariff and scheme of taxation
proposed by the Governor-General. At present the
tariff varies from 31 to 5 per cent. on British, and
from sto 7 per cent. on goods of foreign origin. The
plan embraces the principle of abolishing all protec-
tive and differential duties. As a general rule, articles
of luxury, not necessaries of life, are to pay 20 per
cent. Other articles, not falling under this definition,
will bo charged 10 per cent, excepting cotton yarn,
which will escape with 5 per cent: Beer, wine, and
spirits are to be assimilated to an ad valorem duty of 20
per cent. As these three articles do not fall within the
consumption of the natives, who have not the means
of purchasing them, even if their use were not pro-
hibited by their religion, this tax will fall exclu-
sively upon the English residents; but the Governor-
General urges that the impost will be lighter than
in the colonies. On cotton piece goods the dut
will be 10 p
pet
her
rec
cent.einnt
c. ,
r eo
ar
sTedouble
hvt hee r
ne
import
rdp.
Generaloduty,rt
of t whichthis
mwaarskosnityhaSt
article has been steady, now amounting annually
not think
ttho
atthtrehee mexiltlriaoneshasrtgereliwill n
manadterhiaelly
lis
mit the con-
sumption ; but those conversant with Indian trade
remember that speculative exports to India by our
manufacturers have been frequent, entailing heavy
losses. This was the case in 1854-55, when the
were excheessitvhea,t fotrhea time checking the
tsrhaipdem;enatns dit may
intro-
duction of piece goodsi indicates recentrather laa
temporary
reaction from a state of lethargy than the assurance
of sustained continuity in the demand of the article.
However, this is a point only to be decided by expe-
rience, should the new tariff be enforced.
We now turn to the exports. Grain of all kinds
is the only article on which an additional duty will
be raised, and from this Lord Canning expects a
revenue of 201 lacs upon the same amount of exports,
without pressure upon any class. The export duty
on silk has only yielded 11 lacs; and that on tobacco,
which is not of a quality to favour its introduction
to foreign markets, the mere nominal stun of
29,394 rupees, so that the two together have only
produced £32,939 sterling. This is abandoned
as unproductive ; but an internal, or excise tax,
will be imposed on the growers of tobacco and the
cultivators of silk. The present export and import
duties realise £1,040,000, and by the new tariff it is
estimated that the amount will be raised to
£1,970,000. At a future date, of which notice will
be given, the duty on Malwa opium is to be raised,
from which an extra sum of £370,000 is expected,
without lowering the consumption or affording
encouragement to the smuggler. These are among
the ways and means for meeting the interest on
the war debt, but the experiment has yet to stand
the test of time. Such, then, is a narration of Lord
Canning's financial policy, on which for the present
we abstrain from comment.—Morning Herald.

land Were there-
Astt. 2 athcoeugretnotfleezatun examiners
heldA PonOTTHhEurscAdua37st'hHe
HALL.—At
the S •
- upon admitted licentiates of Society of Apothecaries,
names we subjoin passed their examinations
viz. :—Messrs. H. Barber, Eastwood, Nottinghamshire;
J. Cribb, London ; R. M. Gover, Andover, Hunts ; S. C.
Langford, Hingham, Norfolk; H. F. T. Martin, Gaudette,
France:W. Waxing, St. Ann.'s-terrace' Brixton- road; and
w. p. Wood, Ashton-under-Lyne. At the sable court Mr.
W. Howse, Burford, Oxfordshire, passed hig first PTAmina'
tiOlis

9-
COURT OF COMMON COUNCIL..

A Colitt of Common Council was held yestprday
at Guildhall, for the despatch of business, the Lord
Mayor presiding.
THE WAR AND NON-INTERVENTION.
Mr. Deputy WHITE—My lord, I beg leave to
submit the following notice of motion, " That a
dutiful and loyal address be presented to her Ma-
jesty, expressive of the deep regret of this Court at
the commencement of hostilities between Austria
and France and Sardinia—(" oh, oh")—and its de.
tided conviction that the best interests of England
will be consulted by the observance of the strictest
neutrality consistent with the security and honour
of the nation." (Cheers.) I will ask your lordship
to appoint an early day for discussing the question.
(Rear, hear.)
Mr. ANDERTON—When it comes on I sballniove
the previous question. (Hear, bear.) •
Mr. BARKLY—And I hope the hon. member will
withdraw it. (Rear, hear.)
The LORD MAYOR—I have seen several members
of this Court who are deeply•interested in the dis-
cussion of this question, and I have told them that
if the Court permit me I will appoint Monday next.
(Loud cries of " No, no.")
THE LORD MAYOR'S COURT.
Mr. J. HUDSON, chairman of the Law, Parlia-
mentary, and City Lands Committee, moved ' the
adoption of a report, delivered in at a previous
Court, on the nature, duties, and einolumente of
the office of Registrar of the Mayor's Court, the
principal recommendations of the report being con-
tained in the following paragraph :—" Your com-
mittee having carefully considered the duties and
heavy pecuniary responsibilities attached to the
office, are of opinion that it will be greatly to the
advantage of the public and suitors of the Mayor's
Court that the duties of Registrar of the Mayor's
Court should be performed by a gentleman Who
has had great experience therein, and we are una-
nimously of opinion that Mr. Brandon, who now
holds the office of registrar pro tenzpore, has had
such experience, and that, if he be appointed regis-
trar, he should receive a salary of X7oolper annum,
to commence from the Ist day of January last, and
that he should also receive an increase of £5O per
annum so long as he shall hold that office, until his
salary shall amount to £l,OOO per annum."
Mr. H. L. TAYLOR objected to the proposal for
increasing the salary of the registrar £5O
_per
annum, until it should reach £l,OOO, and moved as
an amendment to fix it at £7OO permanently.
Mr. PEAD seconded the amendment. -
Mr. DE JERSEY said Mr. Brandon received £5OO
a year as deputy registrar, and as registrar would
have to discharge duties which would be by no
means overpaid by £l,OOO a year, and would be
poorly paid until his salary reached that amount.
(Hear.) He would have to discharge the duties ota
Master in Chancery and a Master in Common Law,
and masters in chancery used to receive £2,000 a year.
After some discussion, the question was put from
the chair to a show of hands, when the amendment
was declared to be carried—a decision which wit§
affirmed on a division by 63 to 50—majoritY, 13.
The amendment was then put as a substantive
motion and agreed to.