The Sun.
London, England, 1844-07-06 00:00:00

/11,Ibironba
,

LONDON, SATURDAY, JULY 6. 1644.

THE QUARTER'S REVENUE.

The returns fur the year and quarter ending July
5,11844, arc of the most cheering description. The
total amount for the year is 50,220,6781.—1a5t
year it was 47,780,3421., showing an increase of
2,440,3361. A considerable, portion of this increase
must 'be placed to the amount of the property-tax ;
but independent of that department of the revenue, it
is satisfactory to state that all the others are in a
prosperous condition. The Customs revenue is
19,770,158/. showing an increase on the year of
835,3491., and an increase on the quarter
of 312,0291. The Excise produces 11,965,6021.,
exceeding the amount collected last year •by
420,0731., and that for the quarter by 85,479/.
The Stamps produce 6,518,063/., exhibiting an in-
crease on the year of 72,693/, and on "the quarter of
46,023/. The Taxes amount to 4,197,516/., the in-
crease on the year being 6,387/., and on the quarter
of 5,0431. The property-tax we pass over, because
its amount is already known. The net revenue of
the Post-office is 632,000/., showing an increase on
the year of 34,0001., and on the quarter of 10,000/.
In the Miscellaneous there is a great decrease, both
in the year and-darter. In the former the decreaie •
is 1,154,4011., and in the latter 641,3371. This is ac-
counted for by the large amount of Sycee silver
received last year; while during the present year, till
within files° few days, no importation of the kind
from the Celestial Empire has taken place. We are
only surprised that the Government did not make a
push to place under the head of "'Miscellaneous" the

waggon-1, ads of silver brought to the Mint the other
day, to swell out the amount; but possibly they keep
it as a bcdy of reserve in case of future accidents.
Without adverting to that further, however, there is
sufficient cause for rejoicing. All the great branches
of industry seem to be in a prosperous state. There
is an increase in almost every department of the re-
venue, both for the year and quarter, and, we are
happy to state that in two departments, reckoned the
best tests of the prosperity and trade of the country,
the Custbnes and the Excise, the increase is most
conspicuous. Taking them together, the increase on
the year is 1,255,4221., and on the quarter,
397,508/. These show_ the vast resources of the
country, and are an honourable tribute to the indus-
try, skill, and enterprising spirit of the people. We
learn, by accounts from the manufacturing districts
that trade is still exhibiting symptoms of im-
provement. In Birmingham all hands are fully
employed, and this remark will apply to most
other places. Could not Sir ROBERT PEEL, then,
try to give these industrious and hard-working peo-
ple a little more encouragement, by reducing the
taxes that press more heavily upon their necessaries
of life, and place them on a footing with their riva's
on the Continent ? He has reduced the duties on
sugar to a certain extent, but he might carry the
reduction much further, and that, too, without any
danger to the revenue. If he were also to reduce the
duty on tobacco, cofThe, tea, and corn, which would
include nearly all the• rbreign articles they require for
domestic use, the revenue and the comforts of the
people would be increased together. He would thus
put down those daring robbers of the community., the
smugglers, and bring into the Exchequer all the legi-
timate duties intended by.the Legislature to be ex-
acted from the public. Even admitting there might
be a risk, of which we have no fear, does not the
prosperous state of the revenue warrant him in making
the experiment ?

The Earl .of MINTO, after adverting to the re-
duced state of the British navy when -qUegtions of
threat importance, such as those of Texas, the Oregon
trritory, and the war in Morocco, were in an un-
settled state, asked the Earl of HADDINGTON if it
was the intention of the Government to send to the
coast of Africa, or elsewhere, such naval force as
might be necessary, to protect British interests ?
The Earl of HADDINGTON replied by stating that,
the Government had such naval forces on every
station as they thought sufficient. They had gradu-
ally increased the forces orj the coast of Africa
Ships had been sent out, and others ordered there,
and nothing would have prevented them from send-
ing them out sooner, but the necessity of having
ships on the Irish coast. Could 'there be a stronger
proof of the impolicy of the Government in regard to
Ireland than this admission ?

The Bank Charter Bill was read a first time, and
the second reading was ordered for Tuesday.
,Lord CAMPBELL moved the third reading of the
Law of Libel Bill, which was opposed by the Loan
CHANCELLOR and Lord DENMAN. A. division took
place, when there were for the third reading 3, and
against it 33.
The Earl of lIADDINGTON reported from the Com-
mittee on the Sees of St. Asaph and Bangor, that the
Bill of Lord Powis could not be introduced without
the consent of the Crown, and the llouse adjourned.
In the Commons, on the motion of Mr. THORNELY,
a new writ was ordered for Birmingham, in the room
of Mr. SCHOLEFIELD, deceased.
On the motion of Sir J. GRAHAM, the House went
into Committee on the Poor-law Amendment Bill.

A lengthened conversation took place on the bastardy
clause. Mr. T. DUNCOMRE suggested that the time,
six months, allowed to unhappy females to name the
putative father of the child, was hardly long enough,
and urged on the Government the propriety of ex-
tending it to twelve months. Sir J. GnAnam readily
adopted the suggestion, and moved that the word
" twelve " be substituted for " six." The clause as
amended was agreed to. A number of clauses were
passed, and the House resumed.

The other orders of the day were then disposed of
and the House adjourned at a Quarter to One o'clock,

Decent circumstances seem to have inflicted " a
heavy blow and great discouragement" on that ar-
rogant and dictatorial bearing which the Home Se-
cretary has so often exhibited during the present
session, when matters were taking an unpleasant and
embarrassing turn, and lion. Members on the Oppo •
sition side of the House were speaking their senti-

ments with more freedom than ceremony; and
he , appears to have become as moderate and
acquiescent in his tone as he was once, notoriously
the reverse. Last night, in particular, during the
Debate on the New Poor-law Bill, he displayed a readi-
ness to conciliate the opponents of that measure—
so far at least as might be practicable without abso-
lutely compromising what little remains to him of
consistency—that- it was quite edifying to wit-
ness, forcibly illustrating, as it does, the truth of
SLIAKSPEARE'S remark, " sweet are the uses of ad-
versity." On Mr. DUNCOMBE'S suggesting, with re-
verence to theßastardy clause, that the time allowed to
unhappy females to name the father of their child,
namely six months, was hardly long enough, and
urging on Government the propriety of extending the
period to twelve calendar months, the Home Secre-
tary at once assented to the alteration, adding, with

unwonted courtesy, that he thought that the Hon.
Member for Finsbury was perfectly right in his view
of thee case. Again, nothing could be more conciliatory
or deferential than his manner of defending the power
given to the Commissioners of apprenticing illegitimate.

:hildren, which Mr. WYNN Ews and several other

Nlembers objected to, remarking that such a power
could be much more properly exercised by the poor-
law guardians in their several districts. "He might
be wrong," said the Right Hon. Secretary, "in having
proposed the clause"—this is no slight admission for
Sir JAMES GRAHAM, who last session would pro-
bably have told the dissentients that they were a set
of J'Acs. CADE legislators—" but no one, he was
happy to find, impugned his motive in doing so. He
was afraid that in those local Boards of Guardians

Local interests might be consulted at the expense of

the persons about to be bound out. It could not
be denied that, in such boards, there might
be a natural, though selfish desire, to economise,
even at the expense of the poor little helpless
children whom they might be willing to bind
into a distant and perhaps incommodious situation, in
order, to rid themselves and their district of the
probable expense of providing for them, in future.
What he wished to impose was, net any unnecessary
or unfair restriction on the board of guardians, but
only to give to the CommissiOners a power over the ap-
pointments of the board, which would tend towards
the benefit of the poor apprentices." • We are no
ad*vocates for increasing the already enormous
powers of the Peer-law -Commissioners, but
on this particular occasion—which is an ex-
ception ft-) the general rule—we think that
the authority which -it .is proposed to invest in them
is perfectly justifiable, and that Sir JAMES GRAHAM.
exercised a sound discretion in standing by the
clause. In far too many places, the present condition
of parochial apprentices is one of stern, unqualified
slavery ; it is work—work—work—and nothinghut
work —with them from morning till nigh ; hardly
the slightest interval
"of relaxation is allowed them ;
they are ill-fed, ill-clothed, ill-lodged, ill-treated,
their masters having, apparently, no other object than
to make as xnuch money by their incessant labour
as possible. The description of the sufferings
.of
these squalid, helpless little creatures—dread-
ful as it confessedly is—has, we fear, been
little, if at all exaggerated, in Mr. DICKENS'
admirable tale of " oiver Twist." Under
these circumstances, we agree with Sir JAMES
GRAHAM that the Commissioners—or if not the Com-
missioners; some other unbiassed, uninterestedf dis-
passionate party—should be allowed to exercise a
restrictive influence, as regards the binding of
parochial apprentices ; for, as Mr. WAKLEr con-
siderately urged, they are " the orphans of the •
State," and, as such, are every way entitled to its I
protection.

• Accounts rrem Madrid of the 20th ult., announce
more arrests. General SAN MiGuEL and his brother
had been ordered to quit the capital, but for what
reason is not stated.: A general belief prevailed that
a decree would appear in a few days for dissolving
the Cortes, and summoning a new assembly for
October.

The Three per Cents. were done at 27 13-16th for

cash, and 28 at 60 days. was no quotation for
I the Five per Cents.

The Moniteur publishes the following intelligence
from Morocco :
TELEGRAPHIC DISPATCH :
" OUCIIDA, MOROCCO, JUNE 19.
" On the 16th I informed the Morocco chief that
I was about to march on Ouchda, but that I still
offered him the conditions proposed by me before the
battle of the 15th ; he replied pacifically, but with-
out coming to any conclusion. On the 19th I entered
Ouchda without firing a shot.
" The Morocco troops had retired two days be
fore in the greatest disorder. Discord reigns amongst
the chiefs and indiscipline amongst the soldiers. •
" This- small army appears to be diasolved. Ouchda
will be respected. I shall leave it on the 21st, taking
with me about 1,500 persons of the population of
Tlemcen and the remnant of the Deyza, who were
retained by force, and are desirous of following us.
(Signed)
"BUGEAUD, Marshal of France."
" Ouchda," says the Journal des Debats, " is a
little town inclosed by the walls of its gardens, and
protected by a large fortress. Its population is esti-
mated at a thousand inhabitants of the Moorish and
Arab race. It has a mosque and three chapels, dedi-
cated to ancient cantons. The houses, built of clay,
are low and of wretched appearance, the streets w find-
ing and covered with flints. The fortress, where the
Raid of the district resides, is guarded in ordinary
times by a dozen of soldiers ; but were there
.even
more it could not be defended, in consequence of its
wretched condition. A spring of excellent water, at
a little distance from Ouchda, keeps up the whole
year round verdure and freshness in the gardens,
through which it is distributed by the system of irri-
gation that the Arabs practise so well. The distance
between Tlemcen and Ouchda is sixteen leagues, or
about sixteen hours march for the troops. The Inter-
mediate camp of Lalla-Magrania, in front of Bridgi,
is nine leagues from Tlemcen. Ouchda and the camp are
each nearly three leagues from the frontier, and con-
sequently six leagues from each other. A great mis-
take would be made, if the country where the troops
now are was to be judged of by the gardens of
Ouchda. This spot can only be looked on as an
oasis in the desert of Angad: This desert com-
mences beyond the River MatoUia, at more than forty
leagues from Tlemcen. Like the Algerine Angad,
which extends to the south of Tlemcen, it is of fright-
ful aridity, particularly in summer, though here
and there may be seen spots where irrigation is prac-
tisect,--alid where tillage is carried on. All the
rivulets are in that season dried up, and one may
march for six or eight hours without finding water.
It is impossible at this season to carry on military
operations in such a country, and therefore we are
not astonished to find, by Marshal BUGEAUD'S dispatch,
that he is about to evacuate Ouchda, and return to
the Tlemcen territory. Whilst Marshal BUGEAUD
was marching on Ouchda, General LAMORICIERE
was proceeding back in the direction of Mascara, to
defend, if necessary, against the presumed incursions
of Ann-EL-KADEn, the countries to the south and
south-west, which are, besides, guarded by the
columns posted at Sebdou, Saida, and Tiaret, in the
limit of the little desert. All the tribes of Oran re-
main peaceable. Letters confirm what we have al-
ready announced relative to the occupation of a point
on the coast, near Nedroma. Two steamers, each
towing a merchant vessel, left Oran on the 23d fp;
Djema-Gazouma, transporting a battalion; with pro-
visions, ammunition, and all the nzateriel required fcr
an,entrenched camp. This place is situated at the
mouth of the Telez rivulet, which flows from the
Nedroma. Opposite is the little isle of Los Cara-
coles, a Spanish name, which means Isle of Snails.
Not far from this are the Zapharine isles, belonging
to Spain, opposite the mouth of the Malouia. The
post of Gazouma, on the maritime frontier of Morocco,
will serve to neutralise all the incursions which the
enemy might attempt between Tlemcen and the sea
in the district of the lower Tafna."

Another telegraphic dispatch announces that the
Prince DE JOINVILLE arrived at Oran after a passage
of five days. The Funds were slightly depressed on
Thursday in consequence of rumours !hat there
would be a break up, or at all events a partial modifi-
cation of the Ministry, and that several of the mem-
bers of the Cabinet were dissatisfied with the article
in the Moniteur, which had been inserted without
their knowledge. That article still furnishes subject
fur angry comment. Both the Globe and the Journal
des Debats deny the correctness of the statements put
forth in the Opposition papers, according to which
the amount cf indemnity received by Louis PHILIPPE
when Duke of ORLEANS, was above 16,000,000 f.;
the total amount, as they state, not being more than
5,000,000 f.

In the Chamber of Deputies a discussion took
place on the recruitment of the army, when Marshal
SOULT contended for the eight years' service, on the
ground that a levy of 80,000 men a year for seven
years' service would only furnish an army of 450,000
men. The Marshal, however, was defeated, and the
term of service was reduced to seven years. The de-
bate on the Budget then commenced, and it is ex-

petted to last for several days. The amount of sup.
plementary credits demanded is 8,000,000 f. It ap.
pears from the Navy Estimates that during the las.
twenty years they have increased from 60,000,000 f
to 116,000,000 f. per annum.