The Sun.
London, England, 1845-04-07 00:00:00

g Ittilin 11 Ant

LONDON, MONDAY, APRIL 7, 1845.

THE QUARTER'S REVENUE.

The official returns of the Revenue for the year
and quarter, ending on Saturday, the sth inst., like
those of the preceding year and quarter, are highly
satisfactory. In all the principal departments, with
the solitary exception of the Property-tax, there is a
considerable increase on the year. In the Crown
Lands and Miscellaneous there is a decrease, but
the revenue from these sources is of an uncertain and
accidental character, and forms no test whatever of
the trade, commerce, and wealth of the country.
At one season, for instance, Sycee silver, varying
from half a million to a million sterling, is received
and classed under the head of Miscellaneous ; at an-
other not a penny is paid into the Exchequer; and
the Crown Lands vary in a similar manner, though
not to such an extent. The following are the items
of increase on the year :—Customs, 718,602/. ;
Excise, 344,784/. ; Stamps, 242,800/.; Taxes,
25,2751.; awl Post-office, 57,0001. The de-
crease is : Property-tax, 252,439/. ; Crown
Lands, 22,500/. ; aad Miscellaneous, 67,183/. ;
thus showing an increase on the year, including im-
prest and other moneys, and repayments of advances,
of 1,752,7881., and a decrease of 342,062/., leaving for
the year a total increase of 1,410,726/. The increase
on the quarter is equally satisfactory, notwithstanding
a decrease in the Customs to the amount of 201,9411
This may be attributed- entirely to the anticipated
new tariff, as the least possible quantity of articles
paying Customs duty would be taken out
of bond till the reduction and abolition of
duties would come into operation. In the
Property- tax there is also a decrease on the
quarter, amounting to 87,148/, and 30,0001. for
Crown Lands—making a total of 319,0891., while in
other departments the increase for the quarter is—
Excise, 64,7961.; Stamps, 103,4501.; Taxes, 1,2601.;
Post-office, 4,0001., and Miscellaneous, 373,7241.;
Total, with imprest and other moneys, and repayment
of advances, 891,2541., leaving an increase on the
quarter of 572,1651. It thus appears, that with all
the reductions in the Customs already in operation,
the revenue of that department still goes on increasing,
as well as the revenue of the Excise, the Post-office,
and the Taxes; and we may, therefore, confidently
trust that when trade is left still more free by the
abolition of duties on at least 400 different import
articles, with the reductioniof duty on glass, auctions,
&c., the result will be the same. The next half year,
however, will be looked forward to with great in-
terest. The new system will by that time have a
fair trial, and we fondly cherish the hope that the
monopolists will then see by the result the errors of
their policy, and support the reforming Minister in
putting an end to all exorbitant and ruinous duties.

The debate in the House of Lords, on Friday
evening last, was of a character, an interest, an
importance far, indeed, above the average of the
discussions in that assembly. It may well suffice
for a text to the future historian, who would trace
the history of our past financial policy to the results
exhibited in our present fiscal condition. It might
have sufficed for a salutary discouragement to Sir R.
PEEL—had the forms and Standing Orders of Par-
liamentary business permitted the business of taxa-
tion to be originated in the Upper instead of the
Lower House—when he first contemplated the proposi-
tion, in 1842, of the property and income-tax. Such
a case, in our opinion, has been made out by two of
the highest authorities in the Lords against the prin-
ciple, and to demonstrate the practical injustice of a
measure that we have had such frequent occasion to
denounce in all its bearings, as to leave it no matter
of doubt that, had it been addressed to a House of
Commons not controlled by a slavish Ministerial
majority, but able and willing to act upon
their own conscientious convictions, the effect would
have been to rescue the country from the position
in which the event of Friday last has left her. The
Income-tax Bill has passed a third reading in the
Lords; and we are now saddled—Ministers do not
attempt to deny, permanently, although ostensibly for
a very-limited term—with one of the most disgrace-
ful and oppressive burdens ever placed upon a great
and free people, in the thirtieth year of profound peace.
L
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hasea nhsimisnetel f
nwdortkoedimpute
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supreme
official power from the ranks of the people, that he
would wittingly afflict them with any visitation either
oppressive or disgraceful. It is the instinctive mo-
rality of Ministers, as well as of most " Matnmalia "
not to eat one another. Dogs do not prey upon
dogs ; and one cannot imagine a man of Sir
ROBERT PEEL'S associations and sympathies
disposed to devour the commonalty. But a
man may take any line of road that is to be found in
the vast country of political experiment, and yet ar-
rive at the very point which his course has been most
carefully shaped to avoid. Giving Sir ROBERT PEEL
full credit for good intentions, we fear that they