The Sun.
London, England, 1850-04-06 00:00:00

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LONDON, SATURDAY, APRIL 6, 1850.

THE QUARTER'S REVENUE.

The Revenue returns for the financial year, ending

the sth of April instant, fully justify the sanguine
anticipations that had for some time been indulged

in. Even before Sir CHARLES WOOD brought forward
his annual Budget, on the 15th ultimo, it was known
that there would be a considerable excess of revenue
over expenditure, arising as well from the receipts
exceeding, as from the expenditure falling short of
the original estimates. The statement of the Right
Ilon. Baronet added additional confirmation to the
pleasing expectation. With great complacency, and as
if the public were in any degree indebted to his
judicious calculations and financial ability, he
_an-
nounced that there would be a surplus of no less than
two millions and a quarter of pounds sterling after
providing for every demand, 523,5001. of which was
ascribable to larger assets than had been anticipated
and more than three times that amount, or 1,624,0431:
to the. reduction of expenditure—the zealous and
indefatigable exertions of the Financial Reform As-
sociation, and the success of Mr. DRUMMOND'S motion
towards the close of last session, having convinced the
Ministry of the actual necessity of economy and
retrenchment. The nation was so far satisfied. Ac-
cording to the old proverb, " A pound saved is a
pound gained." They were well satisfied of the ex-
istence of a surplus, no matter to what cause or
causes it might be ascribable. Indeed the reduction
of expenditure was considered even a more desirable
source of the easy state of the Exchequer than an
increased productiveness of the different branches
of revenue. Having thus official authority for the
prosperous state of affairs, the nation waited
patiently for the time when the Right
ilonbnrible Baronet's announcement could.- be
tested by the rules of COCKER ; and the op-
portunity has at length arisen,- and all our hopes are
verified beyond the possibility of doubt or disappoint-
ment.

The first points to which the eye is naturally
directed, even before we look to the various items of
which the revenue is made up, is the general com-
parison of the total receipts for the year and quarter
with that of the preceding year. It will be found
tbat there is an increase on both—on the former of
185,8161., and on the latter of 1,8541.; this trifling
improvemement on the quarter is, however,
altogether produced by additions to the extraordinary
revenue, there having been no less than 97,3981
increase on the receipts under the head of " impresi
and other monies," and 3,7521. for repayments of ad-
vances beyond the corresponding quarter. So that, if
these, which may be regarded as mere casualties,
were struck out, there would be a falling off of
99,2961. in place of an improvement of 1,8541. Thal
increase on the year arises in part from a more satis-
factory repayment c•f advances, there being an in-
crease under that head of 125,5881., from which,
however, must be d ~.ducted the decrease of 84,284/.
for China money, al t item which will henceforth dis-
thet -national balance-sheet. On the
appear from
whole, however, iby far the greater portion of
the annual increase bas been produced from perma-
nent and legitin Jae sources.
There is ade crease in the Customs revenue, both
on the year and. quarter—on the former of 494,5661.,
and on the latter of 160,535/. This result is not,
however, attributt 'hie to any commercial inactivity,
but to varioes ree .uctions and modifications of duties
that have come into operation, more especially to
the change in the
corn-laws and the sugar tariff, and
in part to the dii ninished importation of corn and
foreign sugar. T he entire deficiency indeed is mope
than accounted fez by sugar and corn, so that there

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