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

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LONDON, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER li, 1850.

Next year Ministers will require from the national
representatives a renewal of the income-tax, the
most iniquitous and unpopular impost ever levied upon
the multitude. It will be just as well, before this
demand is laid before the House of Commons, for the
advicates of economy to consider, a little more than
they have done recently, the purposes to which the
millions of moat/ thus obtained from the very vitals
of the national industry are dedicated. It will be
judicious at least to contrast in some measure the luxu-
ries which much of this hard cash goes to swell with
tli e necessities out of which it is wrung by the collector.
We doubt not that in Many Instances such a scrutiny
would, result in showing two moat lanientable and
important facts—first, that among numerous classes
of the population the payment of the income-tax is
almost as bitter a grievance as if they had literally to
" drop their blood for drachnaas ;" and, secondly, that
the recipients of the revenues thus accumulated are
raised far above the want of any such superfluous
disbursements.

An announcement made within the 135 t few days
in our naval intelligence goes fir to demon-
strate the shameless extravagance of the Exche-
quer in squandering among the opulent the
moneys extorted in the shape of such odious
imposts as the income-tax from the pockets of the ne-
cessitous. Our more obsGrvanc readers will not need
to be reminded that the paragraph alluded to had
reference to the promotion of. his Grace the present
Duke of NORTIIUMZERLAND to the rank of Rear-
Admiral. In conseqnenoe of one or two recent deaths
among the lag-officers in the royal navy, it had come
to the turn of this nobleman to pass from the list of
post captains to the position of the youngest among
the admirals of Great Britain. We have no
intention whatever of invoighing against his
Grace in particular ; we merely take his case
into consideration as being conspicuously illus-
trative of the monstrous system so long practised in
the management of the maritime service of England.
We mention the circumstance we are about to refer
to merely as a case in point, not at all as an excep-
tional occurrence. The grievance of which we would
here complain most loudly is unfortunately but of
too frequent occurrence. Be it said then, without
any intention to be personally invidious, that his
Grace the Eittke of NORVIIIMBEILLAND has, in consi-
deration of just eleven years'- service, been receiving
half-pay as a post-captain for a period of no lees than
thirty-Ave" years' duration ? For the payment of
this salary, or we should rather call it this pen-

sion, to a " high, mighty, and puissant"
Lord, owning all the estates and dignities appertaining
to the Dukedom of Northumberland, the indus-
trious classes of this country have had to drudge un-
eeasingly so that they might be enabled to produce
their 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 inthe"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-
fession, 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
navy 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
navy money can do nothing, neither will the offices of
the pedagogue or the penning of annotative remarks
on AnisTormarins. 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 for 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—
" Aly country's blind—Coruption veils her eyes,
Or paints her heroes in a strange disguise.
Her tars are brave, intrepid, and so forth—
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
safe and judicious basis, if the public mind be in a
state of disturbance and irritation respecting the sub.
ject-matter 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 prejudice, 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 most zealous and enthusiastic re-
former. No matter how great the misery and
wretchedness previously produced by causes
still in operation, no matter how 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 and absurdity of their conduct.
Such is the case at present 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 actually impending which might have
convinced the moneyocracy 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 seal 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
injustice and impolicy of our monetary code, and the
propriety, nay, the imperative necessity, ail large and
comprehensive measure of reform.
Such a person is the Rev. Jour TWELLS, the
respected vicar of Eaton, to whose unwearied exer-
tions in the great cause of monetary reform we have
borne repeated testimony—who has done more to
keep the public attention steadily directed to the topic
than any other person in the United kingdom—who
may justly be termed the "Cobden" of the movement.
We shall not say,

" Of the three hundred, grant but three
To make a new Thermopy/ie"—
but we will affirm, that if we had such a person in
levary county, who, with equal information and
ability, would exhibit similar energy and devotion,
the question would speedily be brought before
the Legislature, and the pressure from with-
out would compel an early settlement. The
monetary reformers do nor, however, appear to

know their own strength. They have never hitherto
made the question a test as to the fitness of the can-
didates for their suffrages ; they are contented with
some vague promise to look into the subject, or to
make future inquiries. But they do not, as trey
ought to, make it the sine qua non, the question of
paramount importance by which the merits of the
candidates should be tested. Mr. TwELLs is unfor-
tunately disqualified from being sent to Parliament ;
bu',', if those who have profited by his teaching, are
only true to themselves, they will take care that they
have none to represent them in Parliament who are
opposed, or even indifferent and careless, with respect
to the currency question. It was by such means that
free trade was carried—it is by such means that
monetary reform can alone be achieved.

In another part of this day's impression will be
found the report of an important meeting held on
Friday evening in the lecture-room of the Mechanics'
Institute, Derby, in which Mr. TWELLS attended as a
deputation from the Retford Currency Society. We
earnestly entreat the public attention to the admirable
address of the Rev. Gentleman, which will well repay
perusal.' Mr. TWELLS cited two high authorities as to
the vital importance of the subject—the late Sir
ROBERT PEEL and Sir JAMES GRAHAM. The de-
ceased statesman declared that " there is no contract
public or private, no engagement, national or indivi-
dual, which is unaffected by it;" while his talented
colleague in the Ministry, Sir JAMES GRAHAM, long
since, shortly after the fatal Act of 1819, said that
" the real difficulties of the State, and the present
danger of the landed interest will be found to
lurk under the question of the currency." There
could, however, be but little necessity for any
authority on this point, which enters so deeply into
the concerns of every individual, which forms a por-
tion of every transaction into which he may enter in
the ordinary business of life. But still the "diffi-
culty" of the subject, as it is termed, appears to be
considered a sufficient excuse for neglecting it. There
is certainly, as Mr. TWELLS justly remarked, " no
royal road to learning" on this more than on any
other point. A little attention must be bestowed on
the point of controversy ; but we venture to say that
the difficulties are more apparent than real, and that
any person entering upon the investigation without
bias or prejudice, without suffering his mind to be
influenced by the clap-traps put forward by the bul-
lionists, will speedily begin to see his way with tole-
rable accuracy. The light will not be withheld from
the anxious student,"who seeks information in a proper
spirit. The nation has been retrograding—we have
surrendered the advantages derived from civilization,
and are going back to the condition of ages long since
past by, when credit was unknown and the world
was in a state of barter. If the paper representatives
of value are so worthless as the bullionists allege,
may not gold and silver also get into disrepute ? for
they likewise are but the representatives of value, and
the same reasoning that condemns paper may lead to
their deterioration rather sooner than the bullionists
desire.

SOUTHAMPTON, FRIDAY MORNING.—In conse-
quence of unfavourable advices from Liverpool the Havre
market was much depressed. Sales at two o'clock 483 bales,
with a decline in prices of from 50c. to lf. upon last quota-
tion. Tres ordinaire, New Orleans 116 f. to 116 f. 50e. Ar •
rived at Havre on the 13th November, the Exertion, from
Newcastle, and the Nautilus, from Hull ; on the 14th, the
steamer Rotterdam, from Rotterdam ; the Van, from New-
castle; and the Maria and Elizabeth, from Sunderland.
Sailed on the 13th, the Zampa, for New York; Emanuel,
for California ; Oak, for Liverpool ; Perv, for Dublin ; Wil-
liam Jolliffe steamer, for London; Isabella, for Newcastle;
Adventure, for Glasgow, and Valentine, for Glasgow.
A TREATISE UPON THE MECHANISM AND GENERAL
PRINCIPLES OP THE FLUTE. BY J. CLINTON.—A work
having this title has just appeared in the shape of a pam-
phlet. The author, Mr Clinton, already known as an ac •
complished player upon and writer for the instrument in
question, has extended his studies much beyond the usual
range of the artist; he has thoroughly investigated the
nature and construction of the flute, and explained the causes
of the difficulties which have beset amateurs in their choice
of an instrument. The explanation is simple, lucid, and
sensible, while the method adopted to elucidate the abstruse
le obscure parts of his subject is so clear as to leave no
iitibt of the author's complete fitness for his task. Mr.
Clinton also describes a new flute of his own invention,
which offers great advantages to amateurs both for correct-
ness of tone and facility of execution. We are much pleased
with the unassuming and modest manner in which Mr. C.
has introduced himself and his flute to the public, and we
recommend a careful perusal of this little pamphlet to all who
are interested iu the history and perfection of the flute.
ROMANTIC CASE OF LOVE AND SUlClDE.—Yes-
terday afternoon Mr. William Carter, the Surrey coroner,
held an inquest at the Mitre, Broadwall, Lambeth, on the
body of Espily Nott, aged 21, late in the service of Mr. Van
Buren, at Chelsea, who committed suicide at Blackfriars-
bridge. The inquiry lasted upwards of three hours. The
brief facts of the case may be thus narrated :—The deceased
formed an attachment to a constable of the M division, who
being already engaged to another young female, could only
see her as a private friend. In spite, however, of which she
wrote, on a beautifully enamelled card, some verses for the
officer, which commenced—

" You were the first and only one my bosom ever knew;
And it is my present prayer to live alone for you."
On Monday last she left her situation and went to the
Borough, where the officer was, but before doing so, she
placed on the window-sill a letter, which ran as follows :
" Dear Madame,—By the time you receive this I shall be no
more. I am, Madame, your unhappy servant, EMILY Norr."
The deceased, after leaving, inquired the way to Blackfriars-
bridge, and having reached there, mounted to the top, and
plunged head foremost on to the causeway below. The
policeman on duty at the bridge saw her fall, and on going
to her, found her head battered in. lie lifted her up, when
she groaned twice and expired. The jury returned a verdict
—" That the deceased destroyed her lite whilst labouring
under temporary mental derangement, and they were further
of opinion that the police-constable was entirely exonerated
from any blame."

We have much Pleasure in announcing the ap-
pointmeat of Mr. George Arbuthnot to the Auditorship of
the Civil List, one of the most important offices in the Trea-
sury. Mr. Arbuthnot has fulfilled the laborious and respon-
sible duties of private secretary to several successive Chan-
cellors of the Exchequer. We believe that be served under
Lord Aithorp, Sir R. Peel, Mr. Goulburn, and Sir C. Wood.
The importance and the confidential character of the duties
discharged by the private secretary of a Cabinet Minister
were well described by Sir R. Peel in his evidence before
the Committee on Official Salaries, and can only be rewarded
by such appointments as that now most appropriately con-
ferred on Mr. Arbuthnot. Mr. Stephenson, one of the
private secretaries especially referred to by Sir R. Peel,
will succeed Mr. Arbuthnot as private secretary to Sir C.
Wood.

Field-Marshal his Grace the Duke of Wellington,
accompanied by the Marchioness of Douro, left Dover at two
o'clock yesterday afternoon by the South-Eastern Railway,
and arrived in London at six o'clock.

INTERMENT OF SIR R. PEEL'S BROTHER.—The
remains of the late E. Peel, brother of the late Sir Robert
Peel and of the Very Rev. the Dean of Worcester, were last
week interred in the parish church of Drayton Bassett.
The dean, with the other members of the family, attendtd
the funeral. Mr. Peel was the third son of the first baronet,
and was in his 60th year. The deceased gentleman was
Lieutenant-Colonel in the Queen's Own Royal ,Regiment
of Staffordshire Yeomanry, and represented the borough:of
..Ne% castle-under-Lyme in several Parliaments, but has for
some years past retired from public life.— Worcester Chronicle.

Rkert Murray Campbell and William Pomfret
were yesterday remanded by the Lord Mayor on several
charges of having obtained pods fraudulently from several
tradesmen. The prisoners represented themselves to their
victims as respectable merchants, carrying on business as
Campbell and Co., 8, Billiter-street.

EASTERN COUNTIES JUNCTION AND SOUTHEND
RAlLWAY.—Yesterday Mr. Ewart, the official manager,
attended before Master in Chancery Sir William Home,
with the list of contributories in this company, in number
about 1,200, but its settlement was not proceeded with in
consequence of the various cases and decisions of the superior
courts, on the liability of different classes of contributories,
and bearing on the adjudication of 'various questions to be
decided, not having been brought before his Honour in the
form required.

GENERAL SCREW STEAM SHIPPING COMPANY.--
A special meeting of the proprietors of this company took
place yesterday, at their offices, 2, Royal Exchange-build-
ings, City. It appeared that tenders having been invited by
the Admiralty for the establishment of a steam postal com-
munication, by means of screw vessels, with the Cape of
Good Hope, a tender for that service had been presented on
behalf of this company on the 13th of August last, and had
been accepted. The contract taken from the Government for
the carriage of the royal mails to the Cape of Good Hope
was submitted to the proprietors, and received their unani-
mous assent. The first ship will leave England on the 15th
of December next.

DISTRESSING ACClDENT.—Yeaterday afternoon, an
accident of a most distressing character occurred in Black-
moor-street, Drury-lane. A little girl, named Mary Ann
Lewis, was proceeding with her mother through the street,
when a hoop the child was trundling escaped from her con-
trol, and rolled into the road ; she was in the act of recover-
ing it, when a heavily-laden coal-waggen knocked her down.
The screams of the poor mother were of no avail in rescuing
her child from destruction, for in an instant the wheels had
passed over her body, and crushed the head so dreadfully
that the brains were scattered about the road. The lifeless
body of the child was removed to the Craven Head, Drury-
lane, were it awaits the coroner's inquest.
FRIGHTFUL FALL.—On the arrival at Shrewsbury
of the 7.20 Wolverhampton train on Monday eve: ing,
while it was on the bridge over the Severn at the station,
where trains always stop for collecting tickets, Mr. Milner,
dealer, of l3ridgnorth, incautiously got out of the carriage
which was close to the parapet, and before he was aware of
his danger, he was precipitated into the river beneath, a
height of 6S feet. Fortunately he only broke his ancle hone.
—Salopian Journal.—[lt is rather a singular fact that, on
almost every railway, where there happens to be a bridge or
archway near the terminus, the trains invariably stop just
over that bridge, for the purpose of taking the tickets.
Whether this be done to consolidate the arch, or to frighten
the passengers, we cannot say, but that it frequently
occasions much uneasiness to nervous people is very certain.
The continuance of the practice is the more objectionable
because it is of easy remedy.—ED. Sun.]
AMERICAN ELOQUENCE.—A Yankee auctioneer
lately indulged in the following little bit of pathetic:—
Gentlemen, if my father and mother stood where you do,
and did'nt buy these boots, these elegant boots, when they
were going for one dollar, I should feel it my duty as a son,
to tell both of 'em that they were false to themselves and
false to their country."

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