The Sun.
London, England, 1859-09-08 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Silt,--The subject of increasing the pay of sub-
altern officers of the army is at present engrossing
a considerable share of public attention, and several
able letters have appeared in the different periodicals
on the subject; but I venture to remark that, in
the present state of finance, it is not likely that
anything will be done ; therefore the next best
thing to do is to endeavour to curtail unnecessary
expenditure as much as possible.
This may in some measure be achieved, either by
doing away with messes altogether in the line, or
else by exempting all officers under the rank of
captain from being dining members. But there is
still another way to meet the difficulty ; that is by
having each mess-room in the style of a club coffee-
room, and letting there be breakfast from 8 till 12,
lunch from 1 till 4, and dinner from 4 till 8. By
this means an officer could have his meals at any
hour that suited his time or purse.

This plan might be modified by having a com-
pulsory dinner once or twice a-week, when it would
he incumbent on every officer to dine at mess. By
the adoption of this plan much money would be
saved to individuals, and no one would suffer
thereby. In cavalry regiments it is not customary
for officers promoted from the ranks to be dining
members of their mess. By that means they are
enabled to live comfortably, keep two horses, and
dress like gentlemen, and above all—avoid debt !
Why cannot this system be adopted in the Line ?
All military bands should be maintained at the
expense of Government.—l remain your obedient
servant,

A CAVALRY OFFICER.

Her Highness the Princess Helene Kotschoubey,
accompanied by hP.r son, Prince Belosselsky, and her
daughters, has returned to Grillion's Clarendon Hotel from
the Isle of Wight. _ .

Sir Pyers- and Lady Mostyn have left the St.
George's Hotel.

THE INCOME TAX.—A series of tables relating to
the property and income tax was moved for by Mr. Moffat.
The total amount of all the incomes charged with income
tax under schedule D, which relates to trade' in Great Bri-
tain alone, for the year ending the sth of April, 1858, was
£80,214,119, on which the total amount of the tax pas
£2,260,334, paid by 267,014 persons. The incomes between
£lOO and £l5O a year formed no less a sum than £12,343,795,
on which 124,717 persons paid £291,637. The sum next in
magnitude was formed by the incomes between £lO,OOO and
150,000 a year, which together amounted to £9,277,603,
and the numben, of persons whose aggregate incomes
amounted to this sum was 495, paying £270,597. Only 51
persons returned their business incomes at £50,000 a year
and upwards, while the gross amount was £5,036,428, so
that that the average income in this class Must be about
£98,000 a year. The incomes between £9OO and £l,OOO
were leas in the aggregate than any others. They amounted
together to £786,888, the number of persons being 845, pay-
ing £22,952. In schedule E, which relates to incomes from
public offices and pensions, the number of persons was
91,780, their gross incomes amounted to. £17,129,967, and
their taxation to £474,684. Under schedule A, which re-
lates to land, buildings, and railway property, the total tax
paid was £3,329,836. Under B, which comprises farming
profits, the amount was £417,531. Under C, which in-
cludes annuities and stocks, it was £819,088. The total
from all classes was £7,306,089.