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

is in fact an improvement on the remaining branches
of the Custom,.

But this is not all ; there is actually, notwithstand-
ing the great boon bestowed upon the country with
respect to the corn of Europe, and the corn of the
tropics, an increase on the Customs, when compared
with the year ending the sth April, 1848—an addi-
tional illustration, if any were required, of the truth
of the financial proposition, " that the reduction of
taxation does not necessarily tend to a proportionate
reduction of the net revenue."

On every other ordinary branch of the revenue
there is an improvement on the year, and on the
quarter, of the Excise, Taxes, and Property-tax, while
there is a falling off in the less important items
of Stamps, Post-office, and Miscellaneous, the Crown
Lands remaining exactly in statu quo. The Excise,
which may be regarded as the barometer which indicates
the condition of the labouring classes, and the amount
of the comforts bestowed on the working population,
shows an improvement of 142,59,91. on the year, and of
38,8981. on the quarter. This is indeed a result for
which we have every reason to be thankful. Most
sincerely do we hope that it may continue to increase,
until a sound and judicicapi measure of fiscal reform
may abolish the odious impost, and enable every labour-
ing man to enjoy the comforts that are essential to his
ease and contentment. Such a boon may be granted.
The Honourable Member for Glasgow, probably the
best financier in the kingdom, has shown clearly and.
distinctly that itmight be covered by a small increase
of the direct taxation en accumulated and realised'
Property. This "consummation, so devoutly to be
wished for," is worth a struggle, and if the great
body of the people only support their friends a
speedy victory will most assuredly be obtained.
On the Stamps there is an increase on the
year of 313,0781., but a decrease on the
quarter of 11,0461, The measure introduced by
Sir CHARLES WOOD, for the equalization and more
equitable assessment of the stamps on transfers of
land, mortgages, bonds, and leases, will lead to some
changes in this department. We are, however, con-
vinced that the falling off of revenue occasioned by
the change will, if any should be at all apparent, be
much below the anticipations of the Right Hon
Baronet. Indeed, we shrewdly suspect that he him-
self scarcely supposed that it would be so much as he
took credit for ; but he achieved a double ob-
ject by taking a gloomy view—he prevented
applications for other reductions by stating
that the balance bad been already appropriated, and
he reserved a trump card to play off before the House
when bringing forward his next year's Budget.
The Assessed Taxes show an increase on the year
and quarter of 14,0761. and 22,1301. respectively.
As, however, this branch of the revenue is generally
tolerably stationery, the increase on the quarter may
probably be accounted for by the more prompt pay-
ment of the charges, and fewer arrears remaining
outstanding. This would seem to show that there
was difficulty experienced in making both ends
meet by those on whom these charges fall so heavily.
The Property-tar, which , indicates the con-
dition of the middle classes, as the Excise does
of the working population, sholvs the most
satisfactory result of any. The sum collected
under this head during the year amounted to
5,466,248/., being an increase of 149,0041. in that
time, while that on the quarter is 58,0891. This
shows an improvement in the incomes of persons
possessed of 1501. per annum and upwards of more
than 5,000,0001. sterling in the year, while the
quarter's increase would represent an improvement to
the extent of 8,000,0001. per annum. If the incomes
below 150/. per annum should have increased
in a similar ratio, according to Mr. MACGUE.
GOR'S calculation, the total net improvement
would amount to nearly 11,000,0001. sterling per
annum, a wonderful amelioration, indeed, show-
ing the extraordinary elasticity of our natural re.
sources, and the exertions which Englishmen make
to recover and improve their position in society.
Oa the Pest-office there is an improvement on the
year- of 14,000/., but a falling off on the quarter of
3,0001. Considering, however, the extraordinary im•
provements that have been effected, and the universal
accommodation given to the public in the tram-
mission of correspondence; under the auspices of the
Noble Postmaster-General, and his efficient and able
coadjutor, Mr. ROWLAND HILL, we are only surprised
that the revenue should have been not only main-
tained, but even increased. Miscellaneous also
shows an increase on the year, but a falling off on the
quarter, the former being 54,759/., the latter 50,832/.
In the Crown Lands there is an increase of
60,0001. on the year, while there is no alteration
on the quarter. We trust that a searching investi-
gation may take place into the gross mismanagement
that has heretofore prevailed in this department, which
under judicious and careful control, such as a private
individual bestows on his own affairs, might be
made to produce at least half a million sterling per
annum.

On the whole, we heartily congratulate the nation
on the improved position and prospects indicated by
the above returns ; and we have no doubt that, for
some time at least, matters will go on smoothly,
until the recurrence of a monetary crisis, which may
be looked for with perfect certainty in due course if
our infamous currency-laws be maintained with un-
abated rigour, and the best interests of the nation be
sacrificed to the auri aacra fames, and the indus-
trious classes be ground down to suit the wishes of
the moneyocracy.

" The liberty of the press," says BLACKSTONE, "is
indeed essential to the nature of a free state ; but this
consists in laying no previous restraints upon publi-
cation 4 and not in freedom from censure for criminal
matter when published." With this very appro-
priate quotation, the Eclectic Review, commences an
article upon the knowledge taxes, the proposed re-
peal of which should just now very particularly
occupy the public attention. It does not require
much argument to show how entirely the definition
of BLacasTorin is set aside by these taxes, more
especially by that "impost on the raw material of
knowledge"—the paper duty.- Another monthly pe-
riodical (Tait's Magazine) has also very ably demon-
strated the evil effects of the present system, and
the good likely to accrue on an altered plan,
in order to obtain which advantages it justly remarks
that a million signatures would repeal the obnoxious
thee, " and if they be obtained before the Whitsun-
tide holidays the taxes on knowledge will be repealed
by July ; and if they are not we must bear them for
an indefinite period—far when may we ever hare a
surplus revenue again I" This reflection should
, stimulate public activity. We have a surplus revenue
to dispose of now, and now, if ever, is the time for the
public voice to make itself heard clamorous for those
boons to which common justice and pressing necessity
alike entitle it. The proposed attempt at diminishing
the National Debt is tantamount to throwing a drop of
precious water into the ocean--a loss to the donor and
no gain to the recipient, but otherwise bestowed, that
same surplus might be literally " twice blessed
productive of public benefit, and Ministerial popu-
larity. The Chancellor of the Exchequer has reck-
lessly lost the opportunity of affording a voluntary
gratification to. the public desires. It remains now
people, in the persons of their representatives,
nitnlycon-
eide the momentous question. But, notwith-
tfoordtehe
aosesuvffiotceise,
notwith-
standing the vicarious responsibility of those repre-
sentatives,vincing demonstration, nor . many
their votes will noatrebeth
little of the infallible " pressure from without."*
instances, to be satisfactorily relied on, without a
When, indeed, if ever, should the popular voice be
heard, if not now—now when the, question
at issue concerns so especially the best interests of the
great body of the people ? Excepting only the all-
important daily bread, fresh water, and pure air,
cheap literature is one of the most vitally essential
elements of the popular well-being. And how do our
legislators act ? Instead of doing their utmost to
dispense the life-giving elixir of knowledge, they
place their insuperable barriers at the fountain-head,
and only a scanty and muddy current, with here and
there a few pure drops trickling forth, is vouchsafed
for the benefit of the community. With such a scanty
supply of the source of fertilization, the mental
dearth of our people is not to be wondered
at ; with such legal incitements to augment
the quantity by detoriorating the quality of this moral
food, the depravity of the lower orders is only a
matter of course. We do not assert that there is no
good literature provided for the poorer classes, for
such, notwithstanding all obstacles, is, from time to