The Sun.
London, England, 1845-07-18 00:00:00

CITY DUES ON COALS.

A stronger feeling than we at first supposed seems to have been
excited by the determination of Government to continue the en-
forcement of a penny duty on all the coal imported into London,
in order to provide a fund for metropolitan improvements. The
friends of the poor say, that if a specific tax is to be levied for the
purpose of making such improvements, it would be infinitely more
just and ra'ional to levy it upon wines and silks than upon a corn.
modity which, next after food, is that which the poor man most
requires. It is admitted that the duty is an extremely small thing
in itself; but it is alleged—and we believe experiencebears out the
position—that every impost of this kind is exceedingly multiplied
upon the retail purchaser. So long as a tax remains, it is made
the excuse for much extortion which otherwise would not be ven-
tured upon, and it throws difficulties and expenses into the trade
which embarrass those who might be willing to embark in it, and
to supply the poor at a lower rate of profit.
At all evens, of the abstract injustice of taxing the poor
man's fuel to pay for what are called the metropolitan improve..
ments, there cannot be a moment's question. Why should
poor people pay more for the means of warming themselves,
that rich people may have more convenient houses and more
airy streets? Why should not the rich pay for such ad.
vantages out of their own pockets, or by means of a tax
upon some commodities which they exclusively consume?
It is true that labouring people are employed upon these improve-
ments, and in so far they derive a benefit from them ; but so they
would if the funds came from some other source than a tax upon
one of the main necessaries of a poor man's life. We do not
object to the improvements, nor deny that indirectly the poor have
some benefit from them ; but it is for the sake of the rich, or the
comparatively rich, they are undertaken, and therefore the rich,
and not the pour, ought to pay for them.

Let us see Government Commissioners undertaking to provide
proper drainage, and light, and fresh air, and abundance of clean
water, for the districts in which the poor live, and are expected to
continue to live, and then, but not until then, we shall recognise the
justice of taxing the poor that such improvements may be accom.
plished. Were it, however (aa it ought to be), the object of Govern.
ment to be generous to the poor, as well as just, we should see the
Administration proposing measure after measure to improve the
condition of the lower orders at the expense of the wealthier classes
of the community.—post.

FRENCH YS.—These delightful perfornothees
closed last evening, after a most successful season of seventy-one
nights, during which eighty-four pieces have been produced, fifty
of which were new to this country. During the course of the
season almost every French artiste of celebrity has appeared at
the St. James's, Mr. Mitchell has richly merited the success with
which his efforts have been crowned, for never was manager more
untiring in his exertions to secure his patrons. Au revoir, Mr.
Mitchell, we anticipate great pleasure in meeting you again next
season.

FIRE AT THE MANSION OF GENERAL RAMSAY,
NEAR BEREELEY-SQUARE.—On Wednesday morning, about a
quarter.past three o'clock, as the lamplighter on the dig_
trict was going his rounds for the purpose of extinguishing the
gas-lights, his attention was arrested by a volume of smoke, which
he perceived issuing from the rear of the building belonging to
General Ramsay, in John-street, near Berkeley.square. Having
succeeded in arousing the inmates, it was found that the back
kitchen on the basement story was in a blaze. Immediate and
effective assistance being rendered without delay, the progress of
the flames was arrested by the Inmates, police-constables, and fire-
men from the brigade, County, and West of England offices, and
the flames were happily prevented from extending beyond the
kitchen, the contents of which were destroyed. The origin of the
fire could not be satisfactorily ascertained.
The appointment (If Mr. M‘Lane as Minister in
England for the United States is regarded as an event of much im.
portance by those who take interest in our relations with America.
The greatest possible respect is testified for Mr. Everett, the pre-
sent Minister, but it has been considered that as he differs in
politics from the present Executive, he has less power than will be
possessed by Mr. M`Lane, who is completely i❑ the confidence and
favourable to the views of President Polk. Mr. MiLane is also
Nvell and favourably known in this country, and as he is, we believe,
a personal and intimate friend of the present Foreign Secretary,
his appointment may be considered as evincing a disposition on the
part of Mr. Polk to maintain the friendly relations with Great Bri-
tain which Mr. Everett has been so successful in preserving.
BRITISH MANUFACTURES.—It' th, re are many
more home-made pictures jai the National Gallery, like the
Clerkenwell Holbein, which has been sold at a dead loss of 2001..
the collection may appropriately be called " Pictures of the
English, painted by themselves."—Punch.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.
TATTERSALL'3.—YESTERDAY.
LIVERPOOL CUP.
4 to 1 agst Duke of Richmond's Lothario—taken
GOODWOOD STAKES.
14 to 1 agst Mr. Meiklam's Lightning—taken
15 to 1 agst Mr. Payne's Queen Mab—taken
18 to 1 agat Mr. Parr's Europa—taken
20 to 1 agst Lord G. Bentinck's John o'Gaunt—taken
20 to 1 agst Lord Howth's Warp —taken
20 to 1 agst Mr. Etwall's Egis--taken
25 to 1 agst Duke of Richmond's Lothario
100 to 3 agst Sir J. B. Mill's Giantess—taken
35 to 1 agst Mr. Hook's Una—taken
GOODWOOD CUP.
12 to 1 agst Mr. Gratwicke's Stomacher—taken
ST. LEGER.
10 to 1 agst Mr. Gulley's Old England—taken
25 to 1 agst Mr. Watt's the Thiron
LIVERPOOL RACES.
•WEDNESDAY EVENING.
The Croxteth Stakes of 15 sovs. each, 10 ft, and 30 added ;
3 yrs old 6st Sib, 4 yrs 84 21b, 5 yrs Bst 91b, 6 yrs and aged
9st ; mares, &c., allowed 31b. Mile and quarter.
Lord Eglinton's Vaudeville, 3 yrs (Prince) 1
Mr. Ramsay's Mid-Lothian, 3 yrs
Mr. Jacques's Semiseria, 5 yrs 3
The following also ran : Sir J. Gerard's Erebus, 3 yrs—
Mr. Meiklam's Trueboy, 5 yrs—Mr. Mostyn's A-la-mode, 4
yrs—and Mr. Worthington's Lancashire Witch, 3 yrs.
Betting-3 to 1 agst Trueboy, 3to 1 agst Mid-Lothian, 5
to I agst A-1 i-mode, and 5 to 1 agst Lancashire Witch.
Won by a length. Mid-Lothian beating Semiseria by a
neck ; Trueboy a respectable fourth.
The Produce Sweepst Aces, of 50 Sqvs. each, for 3 yrs old colts,
Set 61b. and fides, Bat 31b ; two miles. Off.
The Sefton Stakes, of 30 Soya. each, for 3 }rs old, mile-and-a-
half.
Lord George Bentinck's Pug, SA 71b walked over
The Mersey Stakes or 25 soya. each, with 50 added, for two
yrs old colts, Bst 711); and fillies, Bst 41b ; the second to
receive 50 sovs. out of the stakes. T.Y.C.
Mr. Jones's f Luminary, by Launcelot (Whitehouse) 1
Lord G Bentinck's Princess Alice
Sir R. Pigot's Birthday
Lord Eglinton's Sotades
Mr. Meiklam's Andrew Brandy
Mr. Mr styn's b c by Phoenix, out of L'Hirondelle
5t04 on Princess Alice, 7to 1 agst Luminary. Won by
a length ,rd a half.
Plate of CO soya. for }vases that never won 50/. ; the second
to receive 101. Heats, one mile and a half.
Mr. A. Johnstone's br cby Slane, 3 yrs......(Lye) 1 4 1
Lord Eglinton's Bretwalda 3 yrs
Mr. Mostvn's f Steam, 3 yrs
Mr. Blake's bg by Jack Palmer, 4 yrs 4 3 dr
Mr. Bennett's Ada. 3 yrs
Lord Chesterfield's Triumvir, 3 yrs 6 dr
Won in a canter.
LATEST BETTING.
LIVERPOOL CUP.-7 to 2 agst Winesour-5 to 1 agst Lo-
thario-6 to 1 agst Milton-9 to 1 agst Rowena-10 to 1 agst
Truehoy-12 to 1 agst Extravaganza-10 to 1 agst Corranna
—l5 to 1 agst Ironmaster—and 20 to 1 agst The Dean.
DONCASTER ST. LEGER.—II to 2 agst Weatherbit (t)-11
to 2 agst Merry Monarch (t)—and 40 to 1 agst Mid-Lo-
thian (t)
GOODWOOD STAKES.-12 to 1 agst Pythia (t)-15 to 1
agst Queen Mab-20 to 1 agst Boarding School Miss-20 to
1 agat Warp-20 to 1 agst Lightning-20 to 1 agst Europa—
and 20 to 1 agst Agis.
(RECEIVED LAST NIGHT.)
LIVERPOOL RACES. THURSDAY.
RACE-COURSE, HALF-PAST THREE O'CLOCK.
Free Handicap of 10 sovs. each. with 25 added. Mile and a
quarter. 8 Subs.
Mr. Mostyn's Beaumont, 4 yrs, 9st (Marlow) I
Lord Maidstone's Arcanus, 6 yrs. 7st 101 b... 2
Mr. A. Johnstone's Sir Henry, 3 yrs, 6 st 3
Mr. Skerratt's Miss Holbrook, 3 yrs, Est 4
Captain Harcourt's Sir Abstrupus, 5 yrs, Bst 71b
2 to 1 agst Sir Al,strupus-3 to 1 agst Beaumont—and
7 to 2 agst Miss Holbrook.
Arcanus made slow running until within a distance and a
half of home, when Beaumont, who had waited on him, took it
up, kept the lead to the end, anti won easy by a length.
The Tradesmen's Cup of '2OO soy., added to a Handicap of
25 soya. each, 15 ft, and 5 only if declared. Two miles.
Duke of Richmond's Lothario, 5 yrs, Bst 51b (Nat) 1
Mr. A, Johnstone's Rowena, 4 yrs, 7st 21b 2
Mr. Collett's Corranna, 6 yrs, Bst 61b 3
The following also ran :—Mr. Bell's Winesour, 5 yrs, Bst 61b
—Mr. Meiklam's Trueboy, 5 yrs Bst 21b—Mr. Irwin's Mickey
Free, 4 yrs, 7st 121b—Mr. A. W. Hill's The Ironmaster, 3 yrs,
7st—Mr. Mostyn's Milton, 4 yrs, 6st 121 b (carried 79t)—Mr.
Speed's Everton, 5 yrs, Est 81b—Sir J. Gerard's Brunell, 4 yrs,
6st 81b—Captain Boyd's Ihe Dog Billy, 4 yrs, 6st Sib—Mr.
Standish's Little Hampton, 4 yrs, sst 91b—Mr. E. G. Hornby's
Cock Robin, 4 yrs, sst 7lb—Mr. Robinson's April Noddy, 4 yrs,
sst 71b—Lord Stanley's Ambition, 4 yrs, sst 41b—Mr. Allen's
The Duke of Kent, 3 yrs sst ; and Mr. J. Armstrong's Ex-
travaganza, 3 yrs, 4st 121b1
Betting-4 to 1 agst Lothario (t), 9to 2 agst Winesour,
5 to 1 agst Milton, 10 to 1 agst Extravaganza, 12 to 1 agst Cor-
ranna, 12 to 1 agat Trueboy, 12 to 1 agst Rowena, 12 to 1 agst
Ironmaster, and 25 to 1 agst Little Hampton.
Won cleverly by a length, the second beating the third by a
length.