The Sun.
London, England, 1850-11-15 00:00:00

sion, to a " high, mighty, and puissant"
Lord, owning all the estates and dignities app-rtaining
to the Dukedom of Northumberland, the indus •
trious classes of this country hisve had to drudge un-
ceasiegly so that they might be enabled to produce
tlieir quota of taxation. During the last few years,
indeed, the payment may be regarded as attributable
to moneys forthcoming through the regulated extor-
tion of the income• tax. It would be difficult to con-
jecture to their full extent the grievances which the
industrious part of the community has had to
undergo since the revival of this unpopu-
lar tax, in order that the pension of the
Gallant Nobleman should be duly paid in
to his account. Multitudes of similar instances
might be readily adduced from the long catalogue of
post-captains and flag officers in the" Navy List." 'the
circumstances relating to his Grace of NORTHUMBER-
LAND will, however, be amply sufficient to illustrate
the justice of our argument. These circumstances,
moreover, have not been dragged in for the purpose
of patching up a specious and ricketty sophism ; they
have presented themselves to our observation in the
due course of things, and must, consequently, be ac-
knowledged as of a character quite as apposite as
they are unquestionably conclusive.
The truth is, as we have already so fre-
quently insisted, that all these evils, evils most
detrimental to the interests of the naval pro-
feKion, are most embarrassing to the practice
of true economy in the management of the
Exchequer, and are attributable to the entire system
of promotion, Instead of going by merit, as at the
bar, or by money, as in the army, promotion in the
nary is owing to the favour shown towards those
possessing aristocratic influence. This kind of indis-
criminate favour is more or less evinced in the conduct
of promotions in each of the three fashionable
professions—in the church, in the army,
and in the navy, but in the navy especially. Pur-
chase may carry a young cadet forward rapidly in
the attainment of military promotion. The editing of
a Greek play, or the accident of becoming tutor to a
royal stripling, may transform a poor vicar some-
times into a rich bishop, adding to the modest broad-
cloth the silk apron and the lawn sleeves. In the
nary money can do nothing, neither will the offices of
the pedagogue or the penning of annotative remarks
on ARISTOPHANES. Advancement in that profession is
almost exclusively owing to the good luck of favour
arising out of aristocratic connexions. Without this
passport to promotion the most gallant and the most
intelligent may remain throughout a long life in the
subordinate ranks of the profession. Lieutenants,
generally speaking, are presumed to be young men in
a fair way to advancement. In the Royal Navy cf
England they are, unhappily, but too often veterans
entitled to respect, fur their years and their misfor-
tunes. Greyheaded midshipmen, even, have not un-
frequently been found serving in the ships of war of
the greatest maritime nation on the face of the globe;
and what is more, a nation equally prominent for its
wealth. With justice might these ill-starred victims
of a cruel and iniquitous system exclaim—
" My country's blind—Coruption veils her eyes,
Or paints her heroes in a strange disguise.
Her tars are brave, intrepid, and so torth—
But mourn the bar opposed to friendless worth."

Against the continuance of an evil so apparent and
pernicious every nerve of the economists in the House
of Commons should be exerted. A refusal should
be given to the continuance of any such severe and
inquisitorial imposts as the income-tax, at any rate
until such time as the miserable malpractices to
which we have directed attention shall have been dis-
continued. To ourselves it appears somewhat
indecent for the Government to look for
taxes like this, wrung, as we have already said,
from the very vitals of the industrial population, when
the proceeds of their taxation go to the payment of
pensions, during periods as long as five-and-thirty
years, to men as opulent and powerful as his Grace
the Duke of NORTHUMBERLAND. The unnatural-
ness, the cruelty, and the extravagance of the system
is altogether too flagrant to be any longer tolerated.
For its destruction we look at once with hope and
anxiety to the ensuing session of Parliament.

No great question can be properly or equitably de-
cided during a period of panic and excitement. No
important measure of reform can be settled upon a
(fife and judicious basis, if the public mind be in a
state of disturbance and irritation respecting the sub-
jPct-rnatter then under consideration. Hasty reme-
dies arising from the want of any better alternative,
and adopted rather from the preesure of circum-
stances and the emergency of the moment, will seldom
bear the test of sober examination, when the reason
can be applied, without bias or prfjudice, to the calm
and dispassionate investigation of truth ; and yet it is
but too frequently necessary to take advantage of
such crises. The apathy and indifference exhibited
on questions of the most vital importance, if there be
a temporary absence of suffering, may well dis-

hearten the must zealous and enthusiastic re
former. No matter how great the misery and
retchedness previously produced by causes
still in operation, no matter bow great the
certainty that similar scenes will again be witnessed
at no very distant period, the majority of the
people will remain quiescent, contented to " let
well alone," until, when the danger, of which they
have been repeatedly forewarned, at length appears—.
when the day of retribution arrives, they are, when
too late, awakened to a painful and humiliating sense
of the folly as id absurdity of their conduct.
Such is the case at ()resent with respect to the cur-

rency question. Three years since, when the country
was brought to the verge of ruin, when a national
bankruptcy was actu4lly impending which might have
convince d the rnoneyocracy of the truth of the adage
that "honesty is the best policy," all classes in society,

from the highest to the lowest, were fully aroused.
Monetary reform was the topic of the day. Pamphlet
after pamphlet, many of them written with great
ability, and disclosing much sound iuformation, issued
from the press, while almost daily articles appeared in
the public journals. There were few, indeed, of any
weight or influence in the country that remained
neutral. And for the honour of " the fourth estate,"
we are happy to be enabled to say that the great ma-
jority concurred in the unequivocal condemnation of

the existing system, and adduced the most satisfactory
reasons, the most convincing arguments, with respect
to the necessity of substituting one better suited to
the wants and exigencies of the country. Where now
are these champions ? What voices are at present
uplifted on the most interesting topic that can
attract the public attention ? A few of our con-
temporaries alone continue faithful to the good
cause—not that they have deserted the stan-
dard erected in 1847, or that they have changed
sides, but that they appear to shun the subject,
and seem disposed to let it sink into oblivion, to slur
it over sub silentio. We need sacrcely say that there
are honourable exceptions, chiefly to be found among
our provincial contemporaries, prominent amongst
whom we may class the Derbyshire Courier, which has
never relaxed its exertions even for a single moment.
We need not say that there are many others entitled
to similar praise, and we trust that our readers
will acknowledge that we ourselves have never
exhibited any indifference in the good cause.
There are also private individuals (would we could
say many) who, actuated by an ardent spirit of pa-
triotism, by an unflagging zeal for the prosperity and
happiness of their native land, devote themselves,
with an energy and enthusiasm beyond all praise, to
the enlightenment of the public mind and the
awakening of the public attention to the

injuAtice and impolicy of our monetary code, and the
propriety, nay, the imperative necessity, of a large and
comprehensive measure of reform.
Such a person is the Rev. JOHN TWbLLS, the
respected vicar of Eaton, to whose unwearied exer-
tions in the great cause of monetary reform we hare
borne repeatui testimony—who has done more to
ke.e2 the public attention st-dily dirk cted to the topic
I.han any other person in the ULited Kifig,iom—who
'bay justly be.termed the "C..b(len" of tile movemnt.
We Lii.lll not say,
" Of the thee., htr4c7;el, grant but three
To mv.ko a tiy./v Thermopyiae—
, but we will affirm, that if we had such a person in
er4ry county, who, with eqqal informe.ion and
abiliv, would eenibit similar energy and devotion,
the, question wild,' spedily be brought before
• the Legislature, and the pressure from with-
out would compel an early settlement. The
monetary reformers do not, however, appear to

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