The Sun.
London, England, 1857-01-16 00:00:00

LONDON, FEIDAY EVENING, JANUARY 16, /857.

LIVERPOOL REVISION OF TAXATION.

To the Middle, Commercial, Manufactnting„ and Indus
trial Classes of the United Kingdom.

Fellow-Countrymen, —ln redeeming our promise to point
out more distinctly the evils of the system of taxation
which prevails at present in this country, and to suggest a
better, we adopt the heading prefixed to our first address
by the editor of the Time-1, though we have no intention
of replying seriously to the bantering commentary with
which he has been pleased to accompany it. To do this
would be sheer supererogation, since you are able to judge
for yourselves how far that commentary applies to or is
justified by our remonstrances. To some portions of it
wo shall allude, because they embody and foster very
common prejudices; as to the rest,
only ob-
serve that if our critic thinks the present system a
good one he ought to have defended it ; while, if he
deems it bad, it was his duty to state what ho would
substitute for it. Having neglected to do either be
has only wasted time, perverted talent,, and m•nked
the public, by indulging in burlesque misrepresen-
tations of those who do suggest reforms which, in their
judgment, will be most beneficial to all classes of the com-
munity.

There must be taxation. The solo question is, whether it
shall be direct, indirect, or a combination of both. New, wo
-are firmly convinced that a system of direct taxation only is
that which will best promote the interests of this country.
It is not true, as the Times suggests, that we contem-
plat ) "the abolition of every impost whatever, except one,"
or that we are so foolish as to Imagine that such a tax, how-
ever just and equitable, can be levied " in a manner which
shall be perfectly inoffensive and agreeable ;" or, as it is else-
where worded, " both pleasant to all palates and harmless
to all constitutions." What we do contemplate is, the
abolition of all imposts on commodities and materials of
manufacture, and the substitution of a tax on property,
income, and earnings of all k:nds, fairly assessed, according
to their capitllised value; retaining, if necessary or advis-
able, the succession duties, and some others, direct in their
operation, cheaply collected, and unexceptionable in their
nature as any taxes can be. We also believe that much, if
not all, that is annoying and inquisitorial in the proceedings
of agents now irresponsible may be avoided under the plan
suggested by one of your body—Mr. J. R. Jeffrey—in his
evidenee before the select committee of the House of Com-
mons. It may suffice here to state that one part of that plan
embodies great improvements in the machinery for working
the tax, the effects of which will be to secure fitness and re-
sponsibility in the agents, and to prevent all unnecessary
publicity. Wo confess that we are not sanguine enough to
imagine that, by any process, taxation can be rendered either
pleasant or palatable to all parties. It is at best a necessary
evil, but we see no reason why the evil should be aggravated
by grass injustice, preposterous waste, or most unwarrantable
exposure of private affairs.

It is not true, as, tho Tinzes states, that our " plan" in-
cludes a tax of " not less than de. a pound, more probably
7s. or Bs., on the estimated income of all the property in
the kingdom." Supposing that incomes and earnings of all
kinds only amounted to 65,/,000,000/. a year (a moderate es

timate, considering that much more than a tenth of this sum
was raised by taxes last year), the Editor will see that a tax
of 28. in the pound would raise the revenue he mentions,
paying the cost of esllection besides, oven on the present ex-
travagant scale ; and also that, retaining other direct taxes,
a smaller rate per cent, than this would be sufficient.

It is not true that we propose to tax " the fortunate pro-
prietor of a house, or a farm, or a bank, or a gallery of
pictures, a service of silver plate, a diamond necklace, or
anything that can be sold in the market, only 1 per cent.

annually, or, at the most, 1 per cent." We would assess all
such things at their marketable value, and. charge one uniform
rate on the interest of that value.

Neitheri;l;;;; that ilie " Liverpool Financial Reformers"
contemplate exacting from persons having an income of less
than 1001. from the Funds a contribution of "30 or 40 per
cent, of th 3 annual dividend ;" but, inasmuch as an income of
551. from the Funds has a present marketable value of about
2,9701., which may be realised any day, while the clerk or
artisan's income of 100/., supposing it to be worth fully five
times that amount, only represents at the utmost a capital of
they think it a crying injustice that one should be liable
to the tax and the other wholly escape it.
But the most invidious of the many misrepresentations of
the Times is, perhaps, that which, for the purpose of exciting
prejudice, seeks to identify us with the town dues' question.
Our reply is simply that, inasmuch as we are neither the
mak-rs, supporters, nor advocates of taxes on trade, and have
nothing whatever to do with them beyond paying them, the
sneers of the Times fall wholly beside the mark in Vila matter
as they do in others. _ _

We now proceed with the general question, and in the first
instance we beg to call your most serious attention to the
mode in which indirect taxation operates.
From the official " Finance Accounts" for the year ending
March 31, 1856, page 8, we find that the nett revenue from
taxes was 69,808,996/. 2s. 2d., and that of this Burn Customs
and Excise duties yielded 40,345,180?. 3s. 3d., or very con-
siderably more than half. Of tkis amount no loss than
36,607,794/. 10s. Giltd. appears to have been levied on 15
articles only—viz., butter, cheese, coffee, corn, currants,
figs, malt, pepper, raisins, rice, spirits, sugar, tea, tobacco,
and wine (see Finance Accounts, pages 21, 22, 23, and 25).
Enormous as this sum may seem, it is not half, or anything
like half, what these duties actually cost the country in en-
hanced prices to cover expenses and profits of importers and
dealers, and charges for collection in the shape Of actual
payments, and in restricted or utterly prevented trade, in
the way of loss, to say nothing of an enormous military and
naval expenditure, now, it may, more or less necessary for
the defence of our coasts against neighbours whom the Cus-
tomhouse makes strangers, and whose alliance with us, now
at the mercy of the first diplomatic squabble about some
matter of equal importance with a Spanish marriage, or a
Syrian invasion, would soon bo made enduring by open ports
and free trade. Now, wo ask you to consider seriously whe-
ther anything can be more preposterous than a system which
imposes upon the country a burden of 2s. at the very least
for the purpose of realising ls. ?
Here you see what trade and industry contributed. What
was the quota from land ? You know that all the land of
this country not retained by the Crown was parcelled out at
the Conquest, on condition of military service, and that this
condition was afterwards commuted for a tax of 4s. in the
pound, " at a rack rend, and according to the true yearly
value thereof." We find from Sir J. Sinclair's " rlistory of
the Revenue" that, during the reign of William 111., from
1638 to 1702, the whole sum raised by tlxes was 72,047,359/.
to which the land tax contributed 19,174,059/., or consider-
ably more than a fourth part. Now, last year the nett
amount of the land tax Ivas just 1,157,525?. Os. 11d. (" Fi-
nance Accounts," p. 28,) being less than a 62d part of the
nett revenue from taxes only. It is not worth while to con-
sider by what sort of legislative juggling this transfer of the
burden, from land to trade and industry, has been
effected, and whether the injustice cannot be redressed
Is it rational to seek the repeal of a tax which does reach
land, though inadequately, and leave it liable only to the frac-
tion of a f ,rthing in the pound, to which the "45." have
dwindled, thus inevitably making the burden, so ingeniously
shifted to your shoulders, still heavier than it is ? We think
that nothing can be more irrational ; but we are sure that
such is the tendency of the present agitation for the immediate
reduction and early abolition of the present tax.
We have stated our reasons for believing that the gross
reduce of Customs and Excise duties is not half of what they
actually cost the country. It would bo well if this doubling
of the burden were all the evil occasioned by indirect taxa-
tion, but it constitutes only a small portion of that evil. We
crave your attention to other consequences which flow una-
voidably from it.
It is demonstrable that the effect of such duties as those on
butter, cheese, and corn, is to raisethe price of all the butter,
cheese, and corn consumed in this country, whether of home
or foreign growth, by at least the amount of those duties, and
thus the consumer, even though he never uses an atom of the
foreign articles, to which the tax is ostensibly limited, does,
in reality, pay that tax, not to the State, but for the benefit
of the home producers. They arc, in fact, protective duties
imposed upon the whole community for‘the advantage of one
particular class, and that not the working agriculturists,
whose interests are most strictly ideritified with the prospe-
rity of commerce and industry, but of the owners of land,
who are our legislators.

the duties on commodities not produced in this country,
whether levied by weight or measure, aro equally objection-
able in another way. Being precisely the same in amount,
whatever tbo price and quality of the article, they, of
course, press most heavily on the description of goods in
general use—that is to say, on those used by the poor—
and most lightly on those which are only accessible to the
rich. Thus, whether the actual value of tea be 10d. or Cs
per lb. ; that of spirits ls. or 10a. per gallon; that of
tobacco, fid. or ss. per lb ; or that of wine 6d. or 10s. per
bottle, the duties, in all cases, are the same, the poor paying
several times over mere per cent, than the rich. The effects
are to limit consumption, to restrict trade, and often to pre-
vent it altogether. For example : a paltry revenue of 26,231/...
appears to have been extracted last year from figs. Now,
there is a description of figs suitable for general consumption,
and produced in large quantities, which, we are assured by
an experienced importer, might be introduced and sold at 4d.
por pound but for the duty, which altogether excludes them
from the market. We are further informed that a trade
in this article, amounting to a large sum annually, might
speedily be developed but for this obstacle. You see, there-
fore, that a lucrative branch of trade, a new opening to
our manifaetnr,s, increaser employment to the industrial
trisdudion of a. cheap and
fruit, arc all prevented by, an impolitic tax, wail' pro-
duces comparatively nothing to the State. And this is
but a sample, derived from one article only, of the effects
of that short-sighted and most injurious system which so

sii.eg, at

many of you seem disposed at present to extend and aggra.
rate.

Another objection to indirect taxation is that, under it,
the working man, who has nothing but his labour to depend
upon, consumes, individually, of articles not produced in this
country, such as coffee, sugar, and to; as much as the rich
man who is in the enjoyment of thousands of patrimonial
,ores, and, if he be in good health and constant employment,
probably more. Thus be pays through his atom: ch at least
as much as the rich man, and he also pays, indirectly, the
protective duties on butter, cheese, and corn, which enhance
the prices of the rich man's produce at home, even though he
never use an ounce of the things on whioh the duties .are
actually paid. Moreover, under this system, contribution to
national necessities becomes, in defiance of every sound Prin-
ciple, a matter of choice or accident—the rich unmarried
miser need pay nothing ; the poor man, with a large family,
must ply heavily.

It ie, in fact, almost impossible to exaggerate the injustice
inherent in and the evils inevitably resulting from our present
system of indirect taxation. The latter may be thus epito-
mised,—improvidenee, fraud, political corruption, perjury,
adulteration, restriction of trade and industry, contempt of
revenue legislation, which soon leads to contempt of all other
laws, smuggling, bloo :shed, murder, and, in short, almost
every kind of villanY. On the other hand, it is equally im-
possible to exaggerate the benefits which would flow from the
abolition of that system. We believe that, with perfectly un-
trammelled commerce, this country would soon become the
European depo". for the producepf &he -whole world, thus
attaining a degree of greatness And prosperity such as has
never yet been seen on earth ; and that, with all mankind
for our customers and friends, and our example spreading

daily throughout the nations, the bare idea of war would soon
be scouted by the common sense and common interests of the
whole family of man. Talk of diplomacy, of treaties of peace,
and alliance 1 the best of all diplomatists, the merit perma-
nent of pacifioators, will be perfect freedom of trade.
We aro quite prepared ,to hear these anticipations de-
nounced as Utopian by many who will not give themselves
the trouble to reflect, and by others who find it easier, per-
haps more profitable, to sneer at reforms suggested by others
than to set seriously about the removal of abuses the existence
of which they cannot deny, even though those abuses are
p'reying on the very vitals of the country, crippling its re-
sources, and driving every year thousands of its best, bravest,
and most enterprising sons to seek in foreign climes a liveli-
hood which, under better government, they might obtain at
home much more advantageously both to themselves and the
nation. Wo have, nevertheless, an abiding faith in the sound•

ness of those anticipations. Therefore, uninfluenced by the
dread of unreflecting censure, interested opposition, or hollow
and heartless ridicule, we proceed to indicate the means by
which, according to our conviction, this great work of na-
tional regeneration may be effected.
The remedy wa propose is the abolition of all indirect
taxes, and the substitution of a just and equitable system of
direct taxation, of which, a real property and income tax
shall be the main feature. The present tax which, on so many
grounds, has so justly excited your indignation is not such a
tax at all. As the act originally proposing it properly alleges,
it is a tax "on profits arising from property, professions,
trades, and offices;" but, unfortunately the profits, whether

their tources be transitory or permanent, whether north
3, 10, or 30 years' purchase, whether held in perpetuity, or
entirely dependent on the health and life of the person re-
ceiving them, all aro treated as if they were exactly equal
value, all are subjected to one truly Procrustean process by
the tax collector. What we suggest as a substitute for this,
and for all indirect taxes, is that all property, whether pro-
ductive or unproductive, and all incomes and earnings
above pauperism, shall be capitalised according to their mar-
k etable or their calculated value, and that the ordinary inte-
rest of that capitalised value shall bo the sane on which the
tax, whether that be 5 or 10 per cent., or whatever it may
be, shall be levied.
Under this system perfect justice would be done to al
classes, an t whatever statesmen and politicians, anxious to
avoid trouble or interested in the preservation of abases, may
say to the contrary, there is no real difficulty in the way of
carrying out the necessary arrangements. There are in com-
mon and daily use tables in which the value of property held
in fee, on lease for years, or for lives, of terminable and per-
petual annuities, and of the expectation of life at different
ages, is calculated to a fraction. In point of fact, the obsta-
cles which our rulers and legislators choose to represent as
insuperable are daily encountered and overcome by every in-
surance-office in the kingdom.
Justice being thus made the basis of all taxation and wise
economy, accompanied by lamest anal intelligible accounts,
the rule of Government, vre shonl.l expect soon to abo such
an improvement in the tone of public morality that to cheat
the State, now too gencra!ly regarded as the merest roc.-
dillo in the world, will be looked upo.l pretty much in the
same light as the picking of pockets or robbing v-. 1 the high-
way. Thus the patriot, the moralist, the philanthropist, the
lover of peaCe, the friend of progress, and the taxpayer him-
self, have all the strongest motives and most direct interest
in bringing about that entire revision of our fiscal system
which we recommend.

There is one other point to which we must allude the
way in which this change would 'affact the industrial

classes,

To the working man in the receipt of, say 235. per week,
it may sewn at first sight that it would be a great hardship
ro have 2s. stopped weekly from his wages, if a tax so
high as 10 per cent. were found requisite ; which we by no
means anticipate.. But, supposing that it were so, when he
comes to consider that he will have all his necessaries and
luxuries untaxed; that in all probability the consequences
of the immense impetus thus given to commerce and manu-
factures will be constant instead of precarious employment,
and the raising of his wages from 20s. to 255. a week ; and,
lastly, that when receiving no wages, from sickness or other
cause, ho would pay no taxes, as he now must do, whether
sick or. moll, working or idle, lie will see that nobody has a
greater interest than himself in the substitution of direct for
itidirect taxation. In order still'farther to reconcile the
working classes to the proposed change, which may seem
hard to the unreflecting portion of them until its advantages
are proved by their own experience, we would Also suggest
that every man peying this tax should have a vote for
members of Parliament, thus realising for the first time the
constitutional theofy of the coincidence of represwitation
with taxation.

Wo have now, fellow-countrymen, indicated the principl o
on which a just system of direct taxation may be founded.
It is, as we have previously observed, for our rulers and
representatives to work out that principle for you to
insist that this shall be done. The present tax "on profits"

is one mass of anomalous injustice,' so well calculated to
disgust you with direct taxatien that it might have been
contrived for that especial purpose : but it differs most
widely from what direct taxation ought to be and might be
made. Still the existing impost as it stands, with all its
faults, its iniquities if you will, is infinitely preferable to

the continuance and aggravation of restrictions upon com-
merce and industry, which will be the inevitable result of its
abolition.

We therefore counsel you, as you value your own true in-
terests and those of the nation, not to direct your efforts to
any mere tinkering of the property and income tax, so callei
—still less to its absolute repeal—but to insist, with one heart
and one voice, on the adoption of tho two fundamental princi-
ples of the Liverpool Financial Reform Association, which are

these :
"1. To use all lawful and constitutional means of inducing
the most rigid economy in the expenditure of the Govern.
ment, consistent with due efilciencyin the several departments
of the public service.

" 2. To advocate the adoption of a simple and equitable
system of direct taxation, fairly levied upon property and in-
come, in lieu of the present unequal, complicated, and expen-
sively collected duties upon commodities."
atnhassinee we tha
seep a certain prospect of such a pitch
period steadily maintained them, and
On these principles the association was founded in April,
18
in
national triumphital greatness and prosperity as cannot otherwise be
attained. • .

--lßefore concluding this appeal to your patriotism and com-
mon sense, we think it right to correct two inaccuracies in
our first address, though they affect the illustrations only, not
the argument. The provisions of the sth and 6th Victoria,
cap. 35, for ascertaining the full annual value of laud, seem
to meet the case supposed—that of low rents and periodical
fines; and the 16th and 17th Victoria, cap. 34, did reduce
the agricultural boundary from 300/. t• 2001., so that the
farmer paying the latter rent is liable to the income tax on
half of it. _ _

By order of the Council.
ROBERTSON GLADSTONE, President.
Financial Reform Association, 0, York-buildings,
Dale-street, Liverpool, Jan., 1857.

OPENING OF THE NEW _HALL OP THE
MECHANICS' INS TITUTION, HALIFAX.

The new building of the Halifax Mechanics' Ineti' utn
was formally opened on Wednesday evening by a publie
soiree and meeting. The greatest enthutiaem xeae
manifested f:e. some days previous to the operaeg to
obtain tickets of admission. Within a day er two of their
issue all were bought up, and hundreds experience:i
disappointment when they found theweolves shut eut
from taking pact in the event. Upwards of 600 -persons
took tea together in the rooms of the building
The building presents its principal front to one of the
new streets now being made through the centre of Hali•
fax by Messrs. John Crossley and Sons, 'arid will torn
one of a group of public builainge (including the new
Swan Hotel, the Halifax Joint St'ck Bank, the pre pesed •.
Exchange, 'and numerous handsome shops) now being
concentrated in that locality. .As the institute will thus
be surrounded in a sbert time by other buildings, the
front alone has been made the object of architectural
display. The new ball covers an area of 670 square
yards. The large room is calculated to teat 700 persons,
exclu.ive of the orchestra, 'and is 400 square yards in:
extent. Beneath the orchestra are retiring and refresh-•
tnent rooms,"&c. The news-room is in front of the
build-
ing, and its area is 105 square feet. The drawing class
room is immediately over it, and of the same sze, and

lighted from the roof. The library-room, which includei,
a reading-room, is 75 square feet in extent—ample for
the necessities of many succeeding years. The small lec
ture-room opposite, is the same size. The class rooms
are of varying sizes, are 12 in . number, and will accom-
modate upwards of 300 pupils at the same time, and
will be used by Irth males aiirl females, but on separate
fl iors. In addition to all these tht-re is a room to the
front, in a line with the- intended new street, hitherto
called the telegraph-room, and which it is intended to
let off on rent.

The plans and drawings from which the building 11,70
been erected were by Messrs. Lockwood and Maw•inti,
architect,,, Bradford. The works were let on the 11th
April, 1855, as follows':—Masons' work, 2,0451.;
joiners' work, 1,4301. ; plumbers' work, 3411. s+. ;
plasterers' and k work, 4941. 10s. ; ironmongers'
work; 241. 17s. ; painters' work, 541. 17,,. 61. ; Orna-
mental masonry work, 1251.—together, 4,5651. 9.r. Bd.
The price of the land, 2,0001. Extras—warming, veuti
latior, draining, lighting, &ct., 826/. 16s. 7d. Total,
7,4921. 6s, 31. ; which, together with architects' fees
and furnishing, &c., may be placed a gross total of
8,0001. To meet this large expenditure subscriptions
have been promised or paid to the amount of about
3,6001., leaving a debt of 4,4001.
At the soir6a which followed the tea meeting about

1,000 persons were present.
John Crossley, E,q., the president of the institute,
took the chair, and the following, amongst other-, we eh-
served present :—Lord Wharncliffe, the Hon. E. Las-
cellos, MX., F. Crossley, Esq., M.P., M. Mclnev, E-q.,
M.P., Dr. Sandwith, C. 8., Henry Edwards, E B.
Wheatley, Esq. (Miraeld), and Edward Akroyd, Esq.
The report which was read stated that the number of
members and subscribers, male and female, at present.
on the books, is—Adult members, contributing 103.-10 d.
per annum and upwards, 593; subscribers, that is, per-.
sons under 18 years of age, and receiving instructions in
the evening classes , mostly, 186 ; total, 779. The news
and reading-room attract the attendance of a I:=rge num:
ber of members. The library. has 3,917 volumes. There
are evening classes for young people and adult-, and
there is a penny savings-bank, established at the be-
ginning of last year, of which the following are the
remarkable and instructivo statisqCs :—Gross sum
'deposited from Feb. 23, 1366, 1,7461. 10h. 10 ?. ; gross
sum withdrawn in the sauce period, 468/. 9s. 5.'4d. ; n. t
amount to credit of depositors, Dec. 31, 1,278/, T.,. ;
total number of deposits made since Feb. 23, 1850,
17,669 ; average amount of each deposit, 11. 51d. ; twal
number of pass-hooks issued from commencement, 2,021.
On last Saturday evening the lar,-;est sum ever received
on one bank night, viz., 1071. 7s. 2d., was taken, and
63 new depositors wt re accepted.,
Lstters Irons Lord Stanley, Lird Godericb, M”. War-
ren, Q.C. S:r Jos. Paxton, and Sir E. Buiwer Lytton,
were read, excusing their non-attendance ; also the fol-
lowing letter from Sir R. Peet :
"Drayton Manor, Jam. 2.

"Sir,—l am in receipt of your letter of yesterday',,
date, and owing to previous engagements much regret
that it will not be in my power to avail myself of the
invitation which you have, forwarded from the &rector.,
of the Lialifax Mechanics' institute.

" I a'n, Sir, yours respee.tfully,
" ROBERT PEEL.
" The Preßident, 'Mechanics' Institution, liadifax,"
The CHAIRMAN; after addressing the visitors present,
%nd ei4ying *saw-4=N of aLcuuragenieut tp the yr)*
I..ects of the institution, invited Ur. M. 2J.P. rta.
Pontefract, to addres3 them. . . . .

Mr. MONCKTON l'kluNzs said : I think that thi4 is the
very first time I have had to address an audience Bice
this without a r,,solation. I asked the oh...irenau what
resolution I had to propose, and he said, "brooo at all."
(Laughter.) o.te t illiculty of not hav,rig a resolution
is, that one is drivel, so much into generalities, and
therefore the best thing to do is, to treat upon national
and general e lucation—but that is not a very general
subject ; it may, also, be too. particular—not that I
think that under general circumstances there is nut any
other matter a hiela affects the great social interests of
this cominuni'y, and which does not touch upon pary
politics. Keep it in the minds tf every one of you,
although it may be in the discretion of the Government
not to press this subject at the present moment, that the
question of education is one which affects every man in
this country of ours, that those. who walk a'ong, our
streets see that there are children growing up in those
streets who know not the very foundation of education,
and that there are villages and towns at the mouth of a
coal-pit or at the terminus of a railway growing up in
the great conglomeration of mankind, and that it is a ques-
tion with us whether they shall grow up heathens or
Christian men. There are certain subjects connected
with this question which I think it not unadvisable that
I should allude to : there is one subject which demands
'particular attention at this moment, and that is the
present condition of what is called our criminal popu-
lation. I will not, however, touch upon that question
in any political sense, because I think we shall have
quite enough of it in the approaching session of Par.
liament, and before many months are over you will
be so " bored " with the subject that you will think
it a greater evil than having your own houses broken
into. (Laughter and applause.) I touch upon this
question as having two matters comprised, within it
which it is necessary to *keep distinct—viz,, first, the
general.state and circumstances of a large number of pet).
pie in this country thrown up >n the population; and
second, e treatment of ourcriminals. You kno not how
difficult it will be for any government to meet this matter,
and I feel that we shall take their measures into con-
sideration. Circumstances over which we have no con-

trdl have done away with that Eyitem of tran-portation
by which a large portion of our criminal population was
absorbed into society at the other end of the world, and,
for their own good, got on very well, and, fur our good,
we were relieved of their presence. Ciicutustances have
done away with that state of thinv, but I aui sorry to
say that no provision, has been made by tho adiniuis
tration of this country la. that end.
The meeting was afterwards addressed by Lard
Wintroc:iffe, Dr. Sandwith, Mr. Frank Oreisloy,
Mr. E. Baines, and othe'es.

CENTRAL AMERICA N STEAM' LINE.

(From the Panama Star, of Dec. 24 )

The Panama Railroad Company's steamship Columbus
will, we understand, sail hence positively on 17 iust.
for Central America, and may be looked for here again
about the end of the present month. This is the first
regular trip of the Columbus on this route, and it is ex-
pected that she will make regular monthly trips in future
to Guatemla, touching at Salvador, Costa Rica, and the
province of Chiriqui. She will leave here on her second
trip early in January. The Columbus takes up several
of our Panama traders, who go to various parts of the
coast in order to gain a knowledge of the different mar-
kets, and to ascertain the class of goods suitable for that
trade, and also with.a view of purchasing such products
of the coast as may be found advantageous fur shipment
via the Isthmus to the United States. We know of no
enterprise which could be more of .
real benefit to Central
America than the opening of this ;it is one which
we have advocated for year=, and for which a greater
necessity exists at present than at any previous period.
Merchants in Costa R ca, Salvador, and Guatemla, who
have hitherto been compelled to wait for mouths for an
opportunity to ship their cargo to Europe or the States
via Cape Horn, will now have an opportunity of doin,
so monthly, at a less expense, and at a saving of sey,r;l
months. In fact, they can now ship their produce home
and receive their merchandise in return, in much less
time than it formerly took to procure and load a ve4sel
with homeward cargo.

STATE OF TRADE.

NOTTINGHAM, JAN. 15.

The lace trade, although by no means active at pre-
sent, is rather more buoyant, more partleularlyas respects
the foreign demand, which is just now commencing. The
home trade in dull. For plain goods there is a fair in-
quiry. The prospects of a good spring trade are cheer-
ing.
In hosiery there is a fair amount of business doing ;
we have buyers in the market, both foreign and home,
and operations to souse extent are being carsied on. In
most branches of the hosiery trade there is considerable
activity for the pzriod of the year, and hosiers are anti-
cipating a busy season.
Silk and yarns are exceedingly high.
LEICESTER, JAN. 15.
The hosiery trade is in a healthy condition. We ex.
Piet a!ie to rep rt a fartithr ln.prcverntnt,
!2,101-4,1v we Kett' anticipwo operations. Stock in hand
ar: N,ry that with a hit' quantity i.f 01-11,N nur
market will be very active. Wools are Belling at an
enormous price, and worsted yarns are exceedingly dear.
The operatives, on the whole, are tolerably employed.

.Nav4l anti inteiligeuce.

i The following officers:attached to the Prov:sional De-
pot Battalion at Parsonstown are ordered to proceed to
Nova Scotia, to join the t.ervice companies of their re-
giments—viz., 62d• Depots—Lieutenants Chippendall,
Holder, Walsh, Staines, and Harrisson. '63(1 Depot—
Capt. Fitzroy, Lieutenants Hand, Pye, Grant, Tuyston,
and Moorshead. 76th Depot—Lieut. Preston. These
officers will sail in the Araiota fr,on Liverpool to-m0r-
.1%) Capt. .Bouverie, of the 63d. has also received an
ord:T of readiness to proceed to Nova Scotia.
H. k. steam frigate Amphinn, 34, Capt. Chads, arrived
at Spithead yesterday nu:Tiring from the 17:4,5t India Sta-
tion, 35 chips from Port Royal. She brotutht no news,
and only ::ne invalid. The orders f:pr her Majesty'a steam
frigate Imperieuae, 51, Capt. WAsort, C. 8., to proceed
to-Er:Wand, w.ra despatched from Port Royal to Grey-
town the day before the Ampition's sailing. The Am-
phion passed Sf-. Alban's Head during the sight of
Wednesday, some distance off, and, cons:foot .ntly, saw
notbingot the Royal Mail Steam Navigation Company's
ship Tyne on shore there. Tire Amphiou proceeded to
Sheerness at 2 p.m. to be paid off.
The Simoom, 18, iron troop. steamship, Commander
Cooke; bent sails at Portsmouth on Wednegday. She
i • being fitted, in pursuance of Admiralty order, with. a
30-feet cutt.r, and the sterai jollyboat with Gifford's
low*T4ig apparatu Limier the personal direction of the
patentac, in ord,:r that tke workmen mry prt pare in lthe
ruann r the whole of the boats of the Megaeraan:i Urgent
troopships and other vessels, whose officers,- since the
report of Grinntander Pullen, of H.M.S. Dee, off the
Nore, have made application for -
Her Majesty', steanivevel Trident, 6, Cotnrna'rd-r
Ctose, left Spit head yesterday at noon for the West toast
of Africa station.

Toe gegsera, 6, iron steam troopship, Con]. Purvis,
talon out of the st,atu basin and harbour at Ports•
mouth yesterday to' proVe her machinery befure being
reported ready for embarkation.
The Urgent, 6, Ream troopship, Commander Phillips,
was talon into the steam basin dock yesterday, at Ports-
mouth, f u- refit.
_ _

Herilsjesty's steam frigate Retribution arc' Pigmy
tug were eel-patched from Portsmouth in the night of
Wednesday to St. Alban's Head to render assistance to
the stranded mail-hip Tyne. The Pig►my took down
pumps, hawsers, and other gear that might be useful.
The steam troopship Transit was uudocked yesterday
at Portsmouth after repairs.
The Sharpshooter, 8, steam sloop, was placed under
the shears at Portsmouth yesterday to be masted for re-
coinnrission.

A discharge of troops took place from Chatham yes-
terday. 180 men belonging to various regiment, received
their db.chArge.
Her Majesty's steam troop ship Dee, MastFr Com-
mander Pollen, from Portsmouth, was yestsrilay received
under the shears in the outer basin at Woolwich from
the river; to he reladen with 'pa abinery.

. • -
The•gueboats Hunter, bandy, Garnet, and ,Fenella,
of 40-horse power respectively, were hauled out of the
fitting basin at Woolwich yesterday, and placed along.
side the wharf, to be masted.
The following appointments were made yesterday at
the Admiralty :
Clerks--F. M. S Dufour, to the Retribution ; Rus-
sell Hill, to the Waterloo.
Mr. Augustus Mayford, William F. Law, George P.
Heather, and W. H. Obre,e, have been promoted to the
rank of Master.

STRANDED MAIL STEAMER TYNE.

SOU PITLIMPTON, TIIURSDIT AFrERIJODN.

- ,
A sloop has just arrived h.-re .vithsa portion of the
cochineal and the bedding of the Tyne. Two more sleeps
are expected here with cargo and stores. One of them
bas a cage in which are enclosed two lire American lion-
esses, which have been sewed from the wreck. The name
et. the spot where the Tyne is lying is Kiairidge Lodge,
scarcely a mile from St. Aihae's Point. Her bow is
[relating due south, and has been seen cornpl,aely out of
the water. Had the Tyue been steered a mile further to
the east she ve•uld have weathered the point-, and escaped.
On pessieg Paraland she R131;111(1 have been steered east, •
or east by north, but she must have been steered north-
eaet by moth, and must have gone wrobg by four pints.
It is singulAr that, notwith,tawling the denienees of the
log where the Tyne went ashore, a few miles off it was
quite clear, f r on'the night of the wreck and about the
same time St. Catherine's Light, in the Isle of Wight,
was st en tdrteen wiles down the channel in the
direction of S. Alban's Head, and not jar from it
Whether the Type was 'leered badly, or the . corn-
, passes were wrong, or the swift current of St. Al-
ban's Race, as tt is cari,l,'AreW lie"L"dut'of h_,eaconrets,
no one sae Fay. It iele been e7i.iii7re"ii:T why the leed
was not use f. Bu', pitchy ,lark as it was, ti e mwtain
o add not but imagine, frara the time he • acv the P.:,,rt•
lend Light, ami believieg that his vessel was steered pre.
party, that he was in mid-channel, where roundie4 would /
he ri,licelous, But, even if the lead had here used just
before the chip ran aeround, it is very probable that 12
or 14 f a horn would have been found at oefaininute, and
the next minute she might have been 'ashore, such is th:?
abrupt and treacherous nature of the bottom there
There was no sea pilot on board the Tyne, for it is a
most difficult thing to pick up one in dark and ferry
nights. Had a sea pilot been on boar:!, it is roost pro-
bable the accident would not have happened. Tee very
last voyage of the Tyne, Capt. Yeller went considerably
out of his way to take in a Channel pilot not far from
where his ship was wrecked. Capt. Yeller is not what
is called a kid-glove commander. He is a good naviga-
tor and a hard-working man, sparing no labour or skill
to bring his ship through a voyage safely. But the ex.-
gencies of commerce and the mail service and the powers
of steam compel men to drive on in storms and darkness.
Thi4 ia the cause in a great measure of those multiplied
disasters at sea that we now hear of every winter. The
royal mail company never employ a man after be has
lost a ship. This, perhaps, is not unnatural ; hut there
cannot bo a doubt that there is a growing distaste to un-
dertake the higher respensibilities of seamen. Common-
menders of large steamers get splendid salaries, but the
wear and tear of the mind and body; are fearful ; and,
after all, success is oftentimes a lottery. Rarely do we
fihd a commander of a large steampacket who does not
pine for a shore berth after he passes 40 years of age
and it does not much, matter that this is so, for the ro-
mance of the sea to youth is everlasting ; and' those who
have learnt the trade- of a sailer are too old to learn any-
thing else. The sloop that arrived here this afternoon
from the Tyne left her at 7 o'clock this morning. Evtry-
thing looked faVoura'ile for getting off the ship, but the
wind has since Hain from the south-west, and will, it is
feared be fatal to the safety of the steamer. It ie believed
that a trial to get her off will not be made for a week,
when the spring tides will be on. ner stern is damaged,
and she is half full of water. A bulkhead is to be
formed near the stern, and men will pump her out
while an attempt is made to fleet her. The wreck can
be seen from the steamers which go up and down the
Channel as they pass St. Alban's Head.