The Sun.
London, England, 1850-04-26 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING,

it be a:lvanced at home, pLi:-,iculady
in this clEe, roont-y could be adv...‘nced at prt.v-nt,
in Irea,;(l with de- adv:intirw,e; rend if inis Bill
should lave the eff,in of directing fte course of capital
to that country, the proprietors of land would have the
benefit of ouch an introduction of capital. lie believedthat a great number of those now in possession of those
eitcumbered properties had not themselves thrown these
burthons on the land. but hAstrivea earn,,stly against the
hard circumstances of their condition, and were worthy of
any reward which this. measure could confer up.iti them.
He did not say this Bill could not be improved, and he
should be very ready, when the Bill went into Com-
mittee, to give all the assistance in his power to render
it as perfect as possible. He had ascertained that the
Bill was regarded favourably in Ireland. It was certain
that it could do no harm, end might do much good, and
it his judgment would contribute to relieve the country
from the depression with which it was at present bur-
thened.
Mr. G. A. HAMILTON said the prospect now held
out to result from this measure was, that it would ex-
change one class of encumbered pioprietors for another;
but the I-lon. anti Learned Gentleman said that those to
be constituted under this Bill would be mere cereful and
thrifty than those that preceded them. If the induce-
ment was so great to invest property in thee purchase of
land in Ireland, as had been alleged, why Wes it that the
Government found it necessary to stimulate this outlay
of money in land in Ireland? The Bill and the speech
of the Hoe. and Learned Gentleman indicated rather a
desire for a change of persons than to serve the pro-
prietors. The representations which had been made
against landed proprietors in Ire land, induced a belief
that a change in the persons would be desirable. That
was not the fact, the tenants in Ireland would greatly
regret any such change. Giving cred.t to the Govern-
ment for good intentions, he should be obliged to vote
for the motion of the Noble Lord (Naas.)
Ms. SADLEIR said the estates sold under the Com-
mission were involved long before the famine or the
adoption of free trade, and the greater part of them
could not be sold at all under the Court of Chancery.
It was objected that this Bill would be injurious to af-
ford facilities to purchasers to raise money on the es-
tates they might propose to buy. The same power was
every day granted to railway companies to borrow
money to the extent of one-third of their value, and he
regarded this as a great advantage. The fact was that
as yet no such bargains were obtained through purchases
made under the Commission. The Irish titles, speaking
generally, were not marketable, except through the me-
dium of the Encumbered Estates Commission. Irish
Members should urge the appointment of a second
Commission, with the view of enabling,all Irish proprie-
tors to prove their titles, and through the Commission
have a Parliamentary title. The purchaser of land
under the Encumbered Estates Act obtained a Parlia-
mentary title, and going into the market to sell that
land, those proprietors who had not such a title could
could not compete with him. He therefore wished all
Irish proprietors to have that title.
The O'GORMAN MAHON said that he concurred in
the suggestions of the Hon. Member who had just sat
down. The concurrent testimony of the parties inte-
rested in this Bill approved of its provisions, and were
anxious to have them brought into immediate operation.
There had been no petitions against this Bill, and the
landed gentry generally were in favour of the Bill,
It was deemed to be a boon, and the sooner it was
bestowed the greater would be their feeling of grati-
tude.—(Hear, hear.)
Mr. H. HERBERT said that the principle of the Bill
should be extended to unencumbered as well as encum-
bered estates in Ireland.—(Hear.) Not to do that would
be to inflict a great herdship on a most deserving class
in that country. namely, on those who had paid the
greutest attention to their e6ia'es, with a view to their
improvement. Unless that was done, they would pre-
vent them from raising a shilling of money for the fur-
ther improvement of their estates. If that boon were
not conceded, those landed proprietors who had paid at-
tention to the improvement of their estates would be
worse off than others who had pursued an opposite
course. He could not raise money in the market on the
security of his estate with anything like the facility
enjoyed now by those persons who came under the En-
cumbered Estates Commission. Unless that suggestion
was adopted, he should be compelled to support the
amendment.
Major BLACKALL said he regretted the conclusion
to which his Hon. Friend (Mr. Herbert) had arrived.
He did not think that a good Bill should be rejec'ei be-
cause it did not embrace everything—because it did not
include all the proprietors in Ireland. He should, there-
fore, give his support to the Bill.
Mr. GROGAN felt it to be his duty to oppose this
Bill, because he knew that land worth 41 per cent. was
actually sold for 9i per cent. ; and he, therefore, asked
the Houso could such a Bill be supported by any unpre-
judiced Member?
Mr. S. WORTLEY said that, if he were an Irishman,
he should feel that much satisfaction was effected by
such a Bill as this, and -that the facility of sale was
greatly advanced, particularly when no less than
500,0001, had been advanced in the case of sale of pro-
perty. He then entered into details to show that very
great facility would be afforded by this Bill to increa e
competition, and to reduce the system of monopoly in
the purchase of land.—(Hear, hear.)
Colonel DUNNE said that all the measure& that had
been brought in on this and similar subjects had been
total failures, and therefore he could not concur in this
measure, which he felt assured, from previous circum-
stances, would be very prejudicial to that country.
The House then divided, when there appeared—
For the second reading ... 186
Against it ... 41
Majority ... —145
The Bill was read a second time, and ordered to be
committed on Monday.
Colonel DUNNE gave notice that on going into
Committee on the Bill he would move that the same pri-
vileges grantel to purchasers should be extended to
owners.—( Hear.)
NAVAL PRIZE BALANCE BILL.

f~S ~~'~'-'1'..~

PARLIAMENT ARY DIVISION S.

(From the Votes (mei .Proceerirngs ef the house Commo:s..s

THURSDAY, APRIL 25.
AUSTItALIAN COLONIES GoVERNMENT BILL.
(IS TUE COMMITTEE.)

Clause 30 Power to establish a General Assembly for the

Australian Colonies):—Motion made, and Question put,
" That the Clause, ss ameaded, stand part of the Bill." The
Committee divided:—

MAJORITY—AYES, 63.
Adair, It. A. French, F. Russell, Lord J.
AllAoll, Colonel Gibson, T. M. Rutherford, A.
Armstrong, Sir A. Hatchell, John Salwey, Colonel
Battles, M. T. Hawes, Benjamin Seymour, Lord
Baring, Sir F. Hervey, Lord A. Shafto, It. D.
Barnard, E. G. llobhouse, Sir John Sheil, R. L.l
Barrington, Viscount Hobhouse, T. B. Smith, John B.
Illackall, S. W. Howard, P. 11. Somers, J. P.
Bright, John Hume, J.
Somerville, Sir W.
Brother ton, J. Humphery, Ald.
Stanton, W. 11.
Brown, W. Labouchere, Henry Strickland, Sir G.
Busfeild, W. Lesseelles, W. S. Thompson, Colonel
Carter, John B. Lewis, George C. Thornely, T.
Chstterton, Colonel Lowden, l'ryse Trelawny, J. S.
Cowper, W. F. Mackie, John Tuniell, Henry
Craig, Sir W. G. 3P Gregor, John Verney Sir li.
Denison, J. E. M'Taggart, Sir J. Vivian, J. H.
Duiteuft, John Manic, Fox Williamson, Sir 11.
Hondas, Sir David Morison, Sir W. Wilson, James
Ebrington, Viscount Owen, Sir John TELLkKS.
Ellis, John Roinilly, Sir John Hill, Lord Marcus
Fordyce, A. D. Rambold, C. E. Bellew, R. M.

MINORITY-NOES. 10.
!Wine, H. J. Hamilton, G. A. Wyld, James
Baldwin, Barry Manners, Lord J.
Bernard, Viscount Naas, Lord TELLERS.
Best, John Smith, Vernon Molesworth, Sir W.
Campbell, W. F. Adderley, C. B.

SECURITIES FOR ADVANCES (IRELAND) BILL.
Order read f-r resuming adjourned Debate on Question
(15th April), "That the Bill be now read a second time:"—
Question again proposed; Debate resumed : —Amendment
proposed to leave out the word " now," and at the end of
the Question to add the words " upon this day six months :"
Question put, " That the word ' now' stand part of the
Question." The House divided:—
MAJORITY—AYES, IS6.
Frewen, C. H. Norreys, Lord
Grace, 0. D. O'Connell, Maurice
Graham. Sir James O'Flaherty, Anthony
Greenall, Gilbert Ogle, S. C.
Greene. John Osborne, Ralph
Grenfell, Charles W. Paget,;Lord A.
Grey, Sir George Palmerston, Vis.
Grey, R. W. Parker, John
Grogan, Edward Patten, J. W.
Grosvenor, Earl Perfect, R.
Hallyburton, Lord J. Plowden, W. H.
Hanmer, Sir John Power, Dr.
Hardcastle, J. A. Powlett, Lord,W.
Harris, Richard Pusey, P.
Hustle, Archibald Rawdon, Colonel
Hatchell, John Ricardo, Osman
Hayter, W. G. Rice, E. R.
Headlam, Thomas Rich, Henry
Heald, James Robartes, T. J.
Heathcoat, John Romilly, Colonel
Hervey, Lord A. Romilly, Sir John
Hobhouse, Sir J. Rumbold, C. E.
Hobhouse, T. B. Russell, Lord J.
Plodges, T. T. Russell, E.
Ilollond, Robert Russell, F. C.
Howard4E. G. Rutherfurd, A.
Howard, P. H. Sadleir,:John
Howard, Sir R. Salwey, Colonel
Hughes, W. B. Sandars, Joseph
Jervis, Sir John Scholelleld, William
Jocelyn, Viscount Scrope, G. P.
Johnstone, Sir J. Scully, Francis
Keating, Robert Scymer, H. K.
Keogh, William Simeon, John
Kershaw, James Slaney, Robert A.
Kildare, Marquis Smith, J. A.
King, P. J. Somerville, Sir W.
Labouchere, Henry Sotheron, T.
Lewis, G. C. • Stafford, Augustus
Lindsay, Colonel Stanton, W. S.
Littleton, E. It. Stuart, H.
Loveden, Pryse Talbot, C. R.
Mackie, John Talbot, J. H.
M`Naghten, Sir E. Teulson, E. K.
31`Cullagh, W. T. Thicknesse, Ralph
M'Taggart, Sir J. Thompson, Colonel
Meagher, Thomas Thorneiy, T.
Mahon, O'Gorman Townley, R. G.
Mangles, R. D. Trelawny, J. S.
Marshall, William Tufnell. H.
Martin, Samuel Vane, Lord H.
Matheson, J. Verney, Sir H.
Matheson, Colonel Villiers, Viscount
Maule, Fox Vivian, J. H.
Miles, P. W. S. Watkins, Colonel
Milner, W. M. Williamson, Sir H.

Abdy, Sir T. N.
Acland, Sir T. D.
Anstey, T. C.
Archdall, Captaia
Armstrong. Sir A.
Arundel, Earl of
Bagshaw, John
Baines, M. T.
Baring, Sir I'. T.
Barnard, E. G.
Barrington, Lord
Bass, Thomas
Bellew, K. M.
Berkeley, Henry F.
Berkeley, C. L. G.
Birch, Sir Thomas
Blackall, S. W.
_Blake, M. J.
:Bouverie, E. P.
Boyle, Colonel
Brockman. H. D.
Brooke, Sir A.)
Brothcrton, Joseph
Brown, W.
Browne, A. D.
Campbell, W. F.
Carter, J. B.
Cavendish, C. C.
Cavendish, G. H.
Cavendish, W. G.
Chichester, Lord J.
Childers, J. W.
Cholmeley, Sir M.
Clay, James
Clay, Sir W.
Clements, Charles
Cockburn, A. J.
Coke, Edward K.
Corhally, M. E.
Corry, H.
Cowper, W. F.
Craig, Sir W. G.
Crowder,
Dalrymple, Captain
Dawson, T. V.
Devereux, John T.
Douglas, Sir C.
Duff; George S.
Dull, James
Duncan, Lord
Duncutt, John
Dundas, Admiral
Dundas, Sir David
Ebrington, Lord
Ellis, John
Evans, William

Fagan, William Mitchell, T. A.
Foley, John H. Monsell, William
Foley, J. H. Moore, G. H.
Forster, M. Morgan, H. K.
Fertescue, Chichester Morris, Nivid
Fortescue, J. W. Mostyn, E.
Freestun, Colonel Mulgrave, Earl

Wilson, James
Wood, W. P.
Wortley, J. S.
Young, Sir John
TELLERS.
Hill, Lord Marcus
Howard, Lord E.

MINORITY-NOES, 41. ,
Batllie, H. J. Edwards, henry Maxwell, Hon. J. P.
Maddock, E. 11. Farnham, E. B. Meux, Sir H.
Bennet, P. Farrer, James Newport, Viscount
Beresford, William Ferguson, Sir R. Stanley, Edward
Bernard, Viscount Fihner, Sir E. Stanley, E. H.
Best, John French, F. Stuart, J.
Blackstone, W. Gore, W. R. 0. Sturt, Henry G.
Booth, Sir lt. G. Gwyn, Howel Tyrell, Sir J.
Christy, Samuel Plalsey, T. I'. Verner, Sir W.
Cole, Hon. H. A. Hamilton, G. A. Villiers, F. W.
Coles, 11. B. llodgson, W. N. Walsh, Sir J.
Conolly, ThomaS Ilornby, John
Disraeli, B. Hudson, George
Dodd, G. Jones, Captain
Dunne, Colonel Mackenzie, W. F.

TELLERS.
Naas, Lord
lieruert, 11. A.

NAVAL PRIZE BALANCE BILL.
(IN THE COMMITTEE.)
Bill read a first time :—Motion made, and Question put,
" That the Bill be read a second time, paragraph by para-
graph." The Committee divided:—
MAJORITY—AYES, 70.

MINORITY—NOES, 5.
Hodgson, W. N. TELLERS.
Horuby, Joint Harris, Captain
Stuart, John

Bennet, Philip
Grogan, E.
Gwyn, Rowel

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

The Admiralty have directed that Captain Fitz-
msurice.'a rotary steam-engine shall be fitted to a
pinnace, and tried at Woolwich.
We understand that Captain James, R.E., will
continue to do duty as director of works at forts•-
mou'h until his successor is appointed.
The Widgeon, steam-vessel, Captain Bullock, is
ordered to Woolwich, to tow Sir John Ross's yacht,
the Mary, to the northward.
PORTSMOUTH, THURSDAY.—The Dauntless steam-
frigate is being prepared for commission with all dis-
patch.
The Maria Soames convict-ship arrived at Spithead
this morning from the eastward.
Her Mnjesty's yacht Victoria and Albert came out
of the New Basin under steam this morning, and
went to the measured mile in Stokes'-bay to try her
engine?.
The Elfin Royal dispatch-boat, Master Commander
A. Balliston, also went to Stokes'-bay for a similar
purpose. They returned at half-past one.
The Ajax, 60, screw guard-3hip, is expected to be
put in commission daily as guard-ship at
Queenstown.
The Havannah, 22, Captain Erskine, was at Sydney
on the 14th of January, all well, and was to sail on
the following day for Wellington, New Zealand. Mr.
Stretton, of the Havannah, was invalided a few
days prior, and returning to England a passenger in
the Kate merchant-ship.

The Rouse then n ent into Committee on the Naval
Priz3 Ililacce Bill.
Captain HARRIS objected to the Bill as rendering
the priz3 money more difficult of recovery by sailors.
Sir F. BARING said that the Bill would have no
such effect.
Captain HARRIS thought it would, and moved that
the Bill be considered that day six months.
The Committee then divided, when there appeared—
For the motion ... ... 70
Against it ... ... ... 5
Majority ... ... —65
The Bill the❑ passed through Committee.
F RIE NDLY SOCIETIES.
Mr. SOTHERON obtained leave to bring in a Bill
to amend and consolidate the laws relating to friendly
societies; and the Bill was subsequently read a first time.
The House arijoureed at One o'clock.

RAILWAY SHARE MARKETS.
BRISTOL, APRIL 23.

STOCK EXCHANGE.—The market was rather firmer to-day,
and prices had a slight tendency upwards. The sales
were principally confined to Great Western Quarter Shares,
which closed at 12 9- lii—London and North- Western, 103
Wilts, Somerset, and Weymouth, 38!4—Taff Vale, New, i 4 p.

SPIRIT of the PUBLIC JO URN ALS. ; traordinary anecdotes of popular delit=ion in less • en-
CIIitOSICLE.—So Sir Charles Wood does not ,igilt,,ne.l times. A kind Of ind Anne k
know his own mind even yet, about this unlucky appears to be derived from contrasting the inferiority
Stamp Duties Bill ! We can quite enter into his of previous generations. The confidence with which
difficulties. Nothing more natural, under the cir• for many years together 5,000,000 English Protes-
cumstances, than the pathetic demand which he made tants believed themselves in bodily peril from 100,000
to the House last night for a week's postponement, in Catholics is a favori'e instance of the kind. The
order to give him " time to consider." This most un- " loss of our eleven days" is another, when, upon a
f rtunate of Bills has become such a signal example simple correction of the calendar, grave divines ac-
of, his unhappy mode of dealing with the technical tuelly lectured from the pulpit on the blasphemous
business of his department, that we cannot be stir- wickedness of interfering with the course of time,
prised to find him as much puzzled about it as and denounced the profanity which brought every
the rest of mankind. By the aid of two radical sinner in the kingdom nearly a fortnight closer to
his end. Mr. Macaulay, too, informs us that,
changes in its structure, by three essential
.
alterations in the scale of duties, by the aban• the post when first established was the ob-
.
donment of nearly all the new formulas, and by ject of violent invective, as a manifest con-
a succession of fugitive and conflicting emenda- trivance of the Pope to enslave the souls of English-
tions, the Government measure for the " repeal and men, and most books of history or anecdote
amendment" of the stamp duties has arrived at a will supply stories equally notable. But we really
pitch of complexity which places it almost beyond very much doubt whether any tale of ancient times
the reach of comprehension. We shall not, in offer- can snatch the exhibition of credulity which occurred
ing a few further observations on the perplexed po- in our own country, and under our own eyes, within
sition in which the bewildered Chancellor of the these last twelve months. We need not enter upon I
Exchequer now finds himself, recur to the precipitate any narrative. Every reader's recollection will carry
abaodoarnent of the new phrase, " any matter or him lo:ck to last Christmas, when, from one end of
thing whatsoever"—nor to the equally precipitate the kingdom to the other, there was a loud and steady
withdrawal of the novel and vexatious regulations outcry against a projected " desecration of the Sib-
with reference to the stamping of executed instru- bath." Mr. Rowland Hill was introducing " Sunday
ments. Last Monday evening he had further con- labour" into this decorous and religious country. He
cessions to announce to the House. Ile no longer had succeeded in inserting " the small end of the
intends, we then learned (though, of course, it is im- wedge." He had asked for twenty-five additional
passible now to be quite sure of anything), to inter- clerks on Sunday, and a few months would see this
fere with annuities and settlements, beyond the pro- pressed labour indefinitely multiplied, and all
visions of the existing law ; he was willing to adopt ideas of Sabbath observance contemptuously fore-
certain important technical clauses suggested by Mr. sworn. Such was the belief, even amongst in-
Mullings,
and to acquiesce in the amendment telligent people. Meetings were held in all great
proposed by that gentleman on the subject of agree- towns to record a protest against the iniquity, !
ments of bargain and sale. These are all, no doubt, and when the resistance proved unsuccessful, it I
very excellent corrections; but their reasonableness was plainly asserted that the national character was
is so apparent, and their expediency is so striking, for ever gone. As for the promoter of the measure,
that people of common sense can hardly forgive the he was a forsaken reprobate, who looked only to the
negligence which forced upon the public the disagree- acceleration of day-mails without the smallest heed
able task of agitating for the withdrawal of proposi- to the fourth commandment. We have before us at
tions so perfectly indefensible, so purely gratuitous, this moment a sheet of letter-paper, headed by an en-
and so essentially impertinent. With reference to graving of "Rowland Hill's New Chapel, St. Martin's-
the amendment carried by Sir H. Willoughby for le-Grand," under which title is depicted the General
reducing the stamp duty on bonds and mortgages to Post-office on a Sunday morning, with all the symbols I
a rate cf one-tenth (2 o) per cent., Sir Charles Wood of unholy industry and bustle. However, the measure
was not quite so complacent; and even the modicum in question was carried out, and we will now, from
of concession which he then expressed himself pre- the official returns on the subject, inform the reader
pared to make is already, pro tempore, withdrawn— in plain unadorned language how it originated, what
for he has received "so many communications," stating it contemplated, and what it has actually brought to
"so many objections," that he really must take a week, pass. More than two years ago the attention of the
to collect his thoughts. In effect, he was willing to Post-office authorities was directed towards the
give his sanction to the letter, but not to the spirit, of means of abridging Sunday labour in the various
Sir H. Willoughby's amendment. He said, on the offices, and inquiries were instituted with this
part of the Government, "We are willing to adopt a object. While they were in progress Mr.
rate of duty of is. on bonds of 501., but we are not Hill succeeded to the secretaryship of a ,
willing- to apply the scale of one-tenth per cent. to any certain department which brought the sub-
other class of transactions. We propose, therefore, ject under his immediate care, and he pro-
to introduce a modified scale of duties from 501. to moted with all his efforts the advapcement of the
2001.; and then to assess one-fourth (55.) per cent. great end in view. Opinions were not altogether
on all sums from 2001. to 100,000/., upon which sum concurrent on the matter, but a step was at length
the duty would, of course, amount to 2501. ; and taken, and on Sunday, the 6th of February, 1848,
there the scale of assessment would terminate." To the Post-office at Bath was closed for money-order
what particular point of the scheme thus announced business on that day. The experiment succeeded, and
Sir Charles Wood's present doubt applies, we are on the 13th of August in the same year the regulation
not distinctly informed. Certainly, as it stands, was extended to Leeds, and, six weeks later, to Bir-
it is singularly unsatisfactory. For it unfortu- mingham, still without inconvenience or complaint.
nately happens that, into a scheme which has been Fortified by these results, the authorities conceived
brought before the House and the public purely themselves competent to push still further their great
as an ad valorem plan—which rests the whole of its object of abridging Sunday labour, and the arrange-
claims to support upon the strength of the plea ments above-mentioned were, at the commencement
that it is a laudable attempt to introduce the equit- of last year, extended to all offices in England and
able principle of proportion into our stamp duties— Wales, so that 450 offices were relieved of a material
this alteration would introduce the glaring anomaly portion of their Sunday duties in a single day. Three
of a scale of duties which violates the ad valorem months more saw the same indulgence conceded to
principles at both ends—but most conspicuously with Ireland and Scotland, by which 234 additional offices
reference to those large transactions which the Chan. experienced the same relief. Pending these trials
cellor of the Exchequer has expressed so much anxiety and successes Mr. Rowland Hill conceived a
to bring within the reach of the revenue. Sir Charles plan for abridging Sunday labour still more
Wood proposes to tax the borrower of 100,0001. to the considerably, and, indeed, to a great extent,
amount of 250/., and to tax the borrower of 500,0001. abolishing it altogether. The duties hitherto
to no greater extent. But upon what ground ? Why suspended had been those of the money-order depart-
stop short at 100,000/. ? It is perfectly well known ment alone, but a scheme was now entertained of
that transactions of a magnitude far beyond 100,000/. greatly limiting Sunday deliveries, and of absolutely
are by no means uncommon ; and surely, if the ad closing the offices between the hours of ten and five,
valorem principle is to be saved from utter ridicule or, in other words, from the commencement of the
—if it be not intended to afford a new and a further morning service in churches till the close of the after-
justification to those who denounce the in- noon. With this proposed limitation of deliveries
justice of our fiscal system—there is not the was combined a regulation, long known to be de-
smallest reason why any arbitrary limit whatever sirable, for the transmission of a certain class of letters
should be placed on the scale of duties. through London on a Sunday, which would, it was
If a man borrows a million of money on mortgage, thought, by giving very considerable accommodation
let him by all means pay the same rateable tax as the at a small cost of labour, tend to reconcile the public
man who borrows the thousandth part of that sum. to the cessation of those Sunday deliveries which
The borrowers and lenders of millions, or even of half were now to be stopped. It was this proposal which
or quarter millions, may not be very numerous—but caused the outcry. Mr. Hill asked but for the tern-
that is not the question. Let us have the scale of aorary service of twenty-five clerks as a present
duties perfectly fair upon the face of the statute. Let means of relieving twenty times that number, and he
no partiality be displayed to any particular class, or -hawed his reasons for anticipating that no mea-
to any particular transactions. The state will then sure could ultimately be more effective in
be able to say, honestly and openly, to all its subjects abridging Sunday labour altogether than that now
—" The law is perfectly impartial, and it is so framed proposed. All this was in vain. He was,
that it will reach the most wealthy as effectually as is our readers know, decried, denounced, and
the poorest of those who owe it obedience." The stigmatized as a Sabbath-breaker and appostate, al-
only possible ground upon which a proposal can be :hough his very proposition was actually one of a
defended for departing from an ad valorem scale well-considered series for diminishing Sunday labour
in the case of the smaller transactions, is on the pled -hroughout the kingdom. Now, let the results be
of revenue. It may be contended, that unless a marked, for certainly never was popular delusion more
larger rate of duty be assessed upon those :onspicuously displayed. To begin with the parti-
transactions which are the most numerous, cular incident complained of:—Mr. Hill had always
it will be impossible to raise the necessary amount of stated that the necessity for the extra labour would
revenue except by commencing the ascent from a be brief, whereas his assailants declared that the ex-
comparatively high point, and consequently exacting pedient would inevitably tend to nationalize Sabbath-
such an amount of duty upon the more considerable 'weaking and demoralize the whole State. On Sun -
transactions as will in reality be prejudicial to the lay, the 28th of October, the additional London
true interests of the public. This is a line of argu- force of 25 men was first employed ; on the 6th of
ment which we can perfectly appreciate. But it must January following it was reduced to 13; on the 13th
be used with discretion. There are certain cases of the the same month to 3, and on the very next
where the advantages of a low rate of assessment upon Sunday it was dispensed with altogether, having
small transactions are so palpable that any trifling effected its objects within the space of three
gain to the revenue, which might be obtained by a months. So much for the " evil" done. Now
higher scale of duties, is not deserving of considera- let us see what good was brought by it. By the
tion. We maintain that bonds and mortgages fall device and execution of these measures 576
pre-eminently within that category. It is most provincial post-offices have experienced a total
important that the rate of duty upon legal positive relief of about 7k hours each Sunday, and
instruments of this class should be as low up wards of 4,000 dependent offices have received a
as possible, and that it should be at one similar relief of about 7 hours. Estimated in relation
uniform per tentage. If, indeed, the financial to individuals, the effect of the measures has been to
necessities of the country forbade us to attempt give to 5,829 persons an average Sunday relief of 5i
any change whatever in the existing scale of stamp hours each; that is to say, nearly 6,000 people have
duties, we must bear the evil with as little impatience been relieved from nearly 6 hours' work every Sun-
as possible. But having a bona fide surplus to ex- day by the operation of a scheme which was denounced
pend, there would be neither wisdom, consistency, nor is a deliberate encouragement to Sabbath-breaking
common sense in merely substituting one grievance and profanity. Nor have the results ended here, for,
for another—in effecting an alteration which was not is if to complete the exposure, the new arrangements
an improvement—and in leaving to accident and the have actually led to a discontinuance even of that
future the accomplishment of a reform which we are existing labour which they were described as aug-
perfectly able to achieve at present. We adhere, menting in perpetuity. The Sunday force regularly
therefore, to our decided preference for Sir H. employed in the Post-office before the famous provisions
Willoughby's amendment of one-tenth per cent., of Mr. Rowland Hill's scheme amounted to 27 men. On
to be applied to all sums raised by bond the first day of operations under the new system this, to
or mortgage ; and we trust that, whatever, may the scandal and horror of the public, was increased
be the issue of Sir Charles Wood's renewed delibera- to 52. To betoture, some 4,000 or 5,000 were re-
tions, the House of Commons will adhere to it. lieved in other quarters by the same regulation, but
We feel the more confidence in contending for this little compensation was altogether overlooked in
the low scale of duties already sanctioned by the the great iniquity. But what followed ? Not only
House in the case of bonds and mortgages, because was this additional force dispensed with in toto before
we are convinced that Sir Charles Wood has very three months had passed, but its labours had even
greatly over-estimated the extent of loss to which contributed to lighten the lot of those who still re-
the revenue will be exposed in consequence of his mained. So well did the new arrangements act,
proposed reductions. We could not have a stronger that the work of the original force began gradually
confirmation of this conviction than is furnished by and steadily to diminish, and we are now officially
the very papers which Sir Charles Wood has distri- told that " the whole Sunday force ordinarily em-
buted within the last few days in defence oloyed in the London office will be reduced to five or
of his original computation. These papers six men, which, even with the addition of the ten clerks
contain a report and certain tables, supplied by the employed in the mail trains (and their duties will
authorities of the Stamp-office, relative to the intrench but little on the observances of the Sun-
produce of those branches of the stamp revenue day), will make a total force of little more than half
included in the Government measure—more par- that employed before the 28th of October last." Sol
titularly of the duties on conveyances. Upon that the very expedient which, notwithstanding its
these the Chancellor of the Exchequer expects beneficial effects elsewhere, was obstinately condemned
to lose 266,2991. per annum, if the reduced scale of on' the simple ground of its augmenting Sunday la-
assessment embodied in the Bill now before the House bour in a particular office, has actually resulted not I
should become law. Now we think that, without re- only in completely effecting all its proposed ends, but
sorting to any elaborate calculations—without the in diminishing, by nearly one-half, the identical la-
assistance of either algebra or logarithms, and taking bour which it appeared for a moment to augment.
the figures as they appear on the face of the official We think the reader will admit that, upon the whole,
document—we can show good reason for believing the outcry by which such a measure as this was re-
that an estimated loss of 266,299/. is very much presented as a profane and godless scheme for abolish-
beyond the mark. In the papers from the Stamp- ing the observance of the Sabbath, has no equal in
office, the sum of 159,425/. is entered as having arisen history for prodigious and incredible absurdity. Even
in 1848 from the sale of stamps of 10s. and 1/. each, vaccination, we believe, was never described as a
as the ad valorem duties on conveyances of real pro- device for actually perpetuating small-pox, whereas
perty. That is to say, taing into account the nature the most judicious and effective step in a series of
of the transactions to which these rates of duty apply, measures expressly designed to abridge Sunday la-
it is assumed in these papers that there were 180,688 hour has been thus, in the middle of the nineteenth
distinct conveyances of real property in one year, in century, represented, taken, and accepted as a deli-
which the purchase money did not amount to 50/. berate stratagem for destroying the holiness of the
We appeal to any person haying an ordinary ac- Sabbath-day. That the spirit which facilitated the
quaintance with this particular branch of practice delusion was, in itself, honourable to the country, we
whether such an estimate is not perfectly inadmisa freely admit, but that the common sense of English-
Bible. If peasant properties in the soil were as men should be so strangely misled is a fact not very
common in this country as they are in Germany,
creditable to the national intelligence, or satisfactory
Belgium, or France, there might be some show of to the national pride.
reason for computing the number of transactions
under 501. at the prodigious number of 180,688 in
the course of a single twelvemonth. But, consi-
dering the peculiar relation of real property in
this country to the class of small purchasers, we
feel fully convinced that Sir Charles Wood and
the Board of Inland Revenue have fallen into
a serious error in proceeding upon this cal-
culation. The truth is, that the great mass of
10s. and 1/. stamps are applied to purposes utterly
distinct from the preparation of deeds of conveyance
for cottages and strips cf land. And if Sir Charles
Wood will correct his table under the guidance of
some sagacious and practical man, who knows all
about "counterparts" and " followers," we under-
take to say that lie will find himself relieved of an
amount of loss to the extent, at least, of 100,0001.; in
other words, he will find that 166,0001., instead of
266,000/., will amply cover any possible deficit in the
produce of the duties on conveyances. Here, there-
fore, in one item alone, there is a difference of
100,0001, which may be employed in rendering the
details of the Government measure more liberal, and
the scales of assessment more just and self-consistents
TlMES.—Historians and essayists delight in flat:
tering the self-opinion of their contemporaries by ex-

THE SHAVERS.
The barber shaves with polished blade,
The mercer shaves when ladies trade,
The broker shaves at twelve per cent.,
The landlord shaves by raising rent,
The doctor shaves in draughts and pills,
The tapster shaves in pints and gills,
The farmer shaves in hay and oats,
The banker shaves in his own notes,
The lawyer shaves both friends and foes,
The pedlar shaves where'er he goes,
The wily merchant shaves his brother,
The pe,,ple all shave one another.

BOROUGH ECONOMY.—A meeting of the borough
magistrates was held in the council room on Thursday last,
specially convened to consider the propriety of the charge
for issuing notices by circular from the clerk to the magis-
trates, of special and other meetings. This charge, it ap-
pears, has amounted to something like 401. annually. The
magistrates present at this meeting were the Mayor, J.
Brent, Esq., Alderman Plummer, Messrs. Dorman, Mount,
Sprakeling, and Wootton, and after some discussion, it was
proposed, seconded, and carried, that in future the clerk be
instructed to send the requisite notices free of expense. In
these times of financial reform, and when the burthen of the
borough rate is so severely felt, it is creditable to the magis-
I tract' that they have resolved to reduce the municipal ex-
penditure wherever practicable.. Kent Rerald.