The Sun.
London, England, 1842-09-03 00:00:00

RAILWAY SHARES.

Versailles, R.ll 286 25. 286 25... 286 25... 286 25
25...

L.B - 95 100 ... 95 ... 100
Rouen
Orleans. 567 50... 570 ... 570
Strasburg to Bale 203 75... 203 75... 203-75... 203 75

BEAUTIES OF THE INCOME-TAX.—It IS to be re-
gretted that this light, pleasing, and well-intentioned
impost is by no means so popular as our " lovely"
Premier fondly predicted it would be. The middle
classes, with that " vulgar impatience of taxation"—
to quote Lord Castlereagh's famous expression—
which has always characterised them, are beginning
to discover that it is as oppressive as it is un-
intelligible, and to resent Sir Robert Peel's medi-
tated invasion of the sacred recesses of their
breeches-pockets, as a sort of personal affront, which
it undoubtedly is. Letters, full of the sternest,
and most solemn pathos, are constantly appear-
ing in The Sun, and other public Journals, on this
touching subject ; and among them, is one, from
a small fundholder, whose " income does not amount
to 1501. a year.;" but who, nevertheless, was officially
fleeced at the Bank last July ; and who states that
he can only obtain redress, by journeying from his
residence, " a distance of sixty miles from London"
to Somerset Howe ; and attending there daily till
the authorities are at leisure to hear his explanation!
Of course, while in town, he must be put to con-
siderable expense for board, lodging, &c., which,
with his coach-hire to and fro, will leave
him a loser to the tune of some six or eight pounds,
even should he succeed in getting back
the sum of which the Bank has eased him ! Under
these circumstances he feels that he has no alternative
but to make a present of the sum to Government, for
which we do not think it at all likely that he will
receive the thanks of the Chancellor of the Exchequer!
This is one instance of the lively and gracious work-
ing of the Income-tax. Another, is that of a young
surgeon who, having filled up one Exemption Form,
has had another open one left at his house; and being
absent at the time from home, he has the consola-
tion of knowing that his whole establishment have
read the second document, and are consequently
acquainted w:th the fact that his.entire professional
;ncome is under 1501., which he says will most likely
do hini ififinite damage in the neighbourhood where
he practices. Illesa Are but two out of a hundred
other instances that we -mild mention, all of which
tend to show that the Income-tax is by no means a
paragon of financial perfection, notwithstanding-that
Mr. Goulburn declared in the House of Commons
that Le wanted words to expreaa his sense of its sur-
passing excelleoce! Chancellors of the Exchequer
are ye] y apt to go off in raptures at the idea of a
new tax.

A curious admission has been recently made by
the Debats and the Constitutionnel. It is now found
that the dreadful ordonnance or Juno against English
linens and threads, will not effectually exclude them from
the French markets ; this branch of industry being so
much behind in France, that the English will be able to
undersell the French manufacturers, even after payment
of the enormous duty recently imposed. These journals
throw out a hint that a further duty will be laid on.
The Courser Francais, however, which takes a wider
and better view of commercial affairs than the Constitu-
tionnel or the Debats, laughs at the idea of an additional
duty, which would, it says, only operate as a premium
for contraband trade in every part of France.—Letter
Ifrom Paris.