The Sun.
London, England, 1842-04-29 00:00:00

titg, o§lla,

LONDON
FRIDAY MORNING, APRIL 29, 1842.

The House of Commons has just published a paper
entitled " Property-tax Bill, arrangement of clauses."
This is a sort of synopsis of the measure, and ought to
have formed part of the Bill when. it was laid on the
table of the House ? Why did it not ? Because the
Tory workmen,• with all their boasting, are no better
than bunglers. They disdained to follow the Whig ex-
ample, but they have in the end been compelled. Pretty
work, too, they have made, of this synopsis. It is as
great a bungle as the Bill, but it is useful, as giving us a
bird's-eye view of the deformities of the hated measure.
It begins by stating the objects of the three first
clauses, and then says--" Schedules A and B, Bales
tier estimating the duty contained in Schedule A, in
respect of the property in lands and tenements, and in
Schedule B, in respect of the occupation thereof—page
3" to 46." Now that is a general head, and we naturally
supposed that the whole of the Bill relative to these niat-
ters was to be found in these pages. The correctness of
our supposition is proved by what occurs at Schedule E,
under which head we find a similar enumeration of pages
and clauses, and all the clauses which refer to that sub-
ject are found in the pages .there set down. But we
hind subordinate heads under Schedules -A and B,
"piles to be observed by the assessors inmuking the as-
sessment of this kind of property," which is clause 47,
to be found at page 26, and 'not included within the
general heading. That shows that both Bill and synopsis
are jumbles.

Again, the Clauses which refer to the. Commissioners

and their duties range nearly all through the Bill ; they
amount to no less than 45, in every one of which some-
thing is said of these Commissioners, and they in-
clude the fourth and the one hundred and eighty-sixth
clauses. So with respect to Schedule D, which so deeply.
concerns the bulk of the traders of the empire. We ex-
pected to find from this synopsis all the "Rules for
ascertaining the duties on profits of trades and profes-
sions," according to the reference, between pages 68 and
74 ; but, on looking over the clauses, we find them run-
ning between pages 68 and 95, and amounting to not less
than forty-two. Yes ; forty-two complicated clauses,
scattered through twenty-seven pages, must the unhappy
traders study, to know the rules by which they must
guide themselves in making returns in order to be taxed,
or, like camels, kneel down that the Tory satraps may
mount on their backs.

As we have before said, the Bill is a horrid jumble,
drawn up without any guiding principle, or any regard
to order and method. Being complicated, if not abso-
lutely incomprehensible, it is a proper instrument for the
tyrant to work with who insists on fleecing us by an
Income-tax. IC is a huge piece of mysticism, expressly
calculated to confuse and perplex plain men, mid place
them at the mercy of the subtle tools who will have to
inform this dead mass with their living cunning. It is
bad enough, we think, for'men to be the slaves of some
splendid though perhaps brufal tyrant; but to be the slaves
of incomprehensible jargon—of a thing called an Act of
Parliament-4s worse than being the slaves of the Grand
Turk. Men may understand why they must give up
their money or their lives to him—it gratifies him per-
sonally ; but they cannot understand the advantage of
giving up their property and their liberty to a disorderly
mass of gibberish.
In the hands of SOLON, LYCUROUS, or MOSES,
legislation was, at least, intelligible to their sub-
jects, but WE are called upon to obey laws we
cannot comprehend. With singular vanity, too,
the clodpole repress ntatives of a few counties,
and the money-gathering representatives of a few towns,
imagine that the mantles of these great lawgivers have
fallen on them, and that their incomprehensible rubbish
is to be obeyed and honoured, and reverenced like the
rules of the most profound wisdom, or the decrees of
inspiration itself. They may find themselves deceived.
There are indications at Nottingham, Norwich, and
other places that a Is Ming obedience will not be ren-
dered to this slovenly piece of Tory tyranny. It is one
thing for the House of Commons to ordain an Income-
tax in time of peace, in order to maintain the Corn-law
and the sugar moaopoly: it is another and a very diffe-
rent thing to collect the money.

The First Report of the Children's Employment Corn
missioners has just been published. It relates to mines,
and describes the ages, sex, number of children who

work in mines, &c. The Commissioners, among the
conclusions which they draw from the evidence supplied
by their Sub-Commissioners, say that instances occur of
children being taken into the mines to work as early as
four years of age, sometimes at five, and between five
and six. " A very large proportion of the per-
sons working in the mines is under thirteen years
of age." "In several districts female children
begin to work at the same early age as the males."
" Parish apprentices are bound to serve masters in the
mines till they are 21 years of age." " There is no skill
to be acquired, and they secure only food and wages:,
" The children must be in the pit as soon as the work of
day commences, and they do not leave the pit before the
work of day is at an end." " They are excluded from
light, are without companions, and, except for the passing
of the coal carriages, would be in solitary confinement of
the worst description." " These children are compara-
tively dull, cheerless, and stupid." "In some districts
they remain in solitude and darkness during the whole
time they are in the pit, and never see the light of day
in the winter season for weeks together, except
when there is no work going on in the pits,
and on Sundays." " Both sexes are employed in
the same kind of labour, and work together
almost naked. ' The men are sometimes stark naked.
In many mines night work is organised, which is very
injurious, especially to children and young persons."
" The regular hours for work are rarely less than eleven,
more often twelve, and in some instances thirteen." We
must, however, stop, having quoted a small specimen of
the Commissioners' important conclusions.

The evidence, in which an extensive account is given
of the mode of working in the various kinds of mines, is
much more curious than the conclusions of the Commis-
sioners. We will quote a single specimen :
" I visited the house of the parents of a little boy," says
Mr. Sub-Commissioner, " whom I saw keeping a door down
Flatworth Pit on the 20th of May. It was about seven o'clock
on the Sunday evening, and the boy was in bed asleep. His
mother said he was aged about six years and seven months,
and he had been doWn the pit about a month or six, weeks.
Always puts him to bed early, because he might get
up every working morning at three o'clock, A.M., and goes
down the pit at four. A.m. He gets his dinner directly he
comes home, abOut half•past four, P.M' . or a quarter to five,
r.st., and then he washes himself and goes to bed, between
six and seven; so that he will never be up mote than two hours
from the pit for eating, washing, and playing. When his son
geti a little more hardened to the pit his' father means to send
him to a night school and stop an hour off his sleep. The pit
does not hurt him, but makes him a little whiter, and perhaps
a little thinner. He was a fat boy when three years old."

• The evidence is illustrated by a considerable number
of
.cuts, to show how the work is carried on in mines,
and those why do not feel the degradation to which
females are exposed in the pit, dragging along coals on
their hands and knees, with a chain fastened round their
waist, and passing between their legs, may, perhaps, be
struck and affected by. the plates.
If nature ba not kinder to those poor infants than
man, or even than their own parents, and do not temper
their lot by that benevolent principle by which she
adapts man to circumstances, their condition must
be 'truly pitiable. We trust, however, that it is
not so bad as it looks—that the apparent excess
of hardship, going to it so young, makes use a second
nature, and renders the infants indifferent to that which
to us appears an overwhelniing evil. If the mines be
one of the sources of England's power and wealth, they
are also, as at present worked, a source of great moral

degradation. That a CommisSion should have been re-
quired to bring these facts to light, is not creditable to
the clergy of the Church of -England, one of whom is in
every parish, and amongst whose flocks all this occurs.
They ought before now to have made all England ring
with their loud and indignant expostulations against the
slavery of the mines. From whatever source the informa-
tion is derived, the public will receive it greedily, and be
thankful to the Commissioners who, by making them
acquainted with the matter,- have placed it in their power
to lessen, if they cannot extinguish, the shame of binding
infants of such tender years to such extreme drudgery.

At the dinner given on Wednesday by the Directors of
the East India gompany to the Marquis of TWEEDDALE
and Sir GEORGE ARTHUR, Sir ROBERT PEEL, in advert-
ing to the disasters in Affghanistan, said, " there is no
occasion for any other feelings than those which are most
becoming to an EngliSliman, the firm determination to

repair every disaster we may have met with, and to
overcome every diffictilty with which we may be en-
compassed in the administration of affairs in India." All
who take an interest in the stability of our Eastern Em-
pire, and in the character of British subjects will
cordially respond to these sentiments. It is need-
less to animadvert on the causes of our reverses

till the full details are laid befure the public ;
but in the meantime it is the duty of the Government to
show to the world that we are both able and determined

to vindicate the honour of the country, and maintain fur
our own advantage, as well as that of the natives, our su-
premacy in the East. The loss of India would be fol-
lowed by calamities, of which no one can see the extent.
both as regards trade and the interests of humanity; and
it is therefore the bounden duty of every Ministry to take
care that no chance shall be given to any one Power or
another of wresting it from us. By meeting the present
difficulties with decision and energy, the late disgrace will
speedily be wiped away, and the a uthority and power
of tile country stand even higher than before. Two of the
appointments at least, those of the Marquis of TWEEDDALE
to the office of Governor of Madras, and Commander-

in-Chief of the Indian army,- are commendable, and we
confidently trust will be attended with the best
results. His Lordship is distinguished for firm-
ness and decision of character, as well as habits
of business ; and all those acquainted with his career in
the Peninsula rest assured that he will not be frightened
by difficulties, nor fail to maintain the honour of the
British army in battle. Few officers in the campaigns

nndtr IVELLINGTON displayed more bravery or judg-
ment in earrying the orders'of his superior into effect.
Let us confidently hope that he will be equally successful
when raised to this high rank, and that he will, by his
example, as well as by his judicious arrangements,
inspire the army under his command with that courage
and perseverance which shall make it bath respected
and feared in the East.

The brains of our Parliamentary Saints are fertile in
absurdities. -Did they not struggle so hard to be mis-
chtevons, they would be exceedingly amusing. What,
for instance, can be more absurd than the idea of
enacting that no railway ShOuld be used on Sundays,
except in cases of charity or necessity ? Yet this
is a specimen of AU:a PTRE legislation which
was last night to be submitted to the House of
ComMOnS upon going into Committee on the
Railway Rill. • Has Mr. PVC MPTRE ever .attempted
to specify even to himself what are works of charity and
necessity ? It was a maxim of WILLIAM ConnE'rr's that
no man laboured but - upon compulsion ; so that

with him every work was a work of necessity. Works
of charity and necessity include all works that contribute
to the comfort, pleasure, and sustenance of the human
race. To afford facilities for the meeting of friends and
relations is a work of charity. The conveying the pale,
over-toiled, artisans of this great metropolis, to where
they may breathe for a few hours the fresh air of heaven,
and catch a glimpse of green fields, is a work of charity
—a work more meritorious in the sight of Gon than the
distribution of as many religious tracts as Mr. PLUMPTRE
could carry on his back from this to the crack of doom:
We never knew a Parliamentary Saint who could
comprehend the meaning of the word charity. Mr.
PLumr-inE evidently does not, or he would not seek
to foist such a clause as the one under considera-
tion into a Railway Bill. We can tell the Honourable
and sanctimonious gentleman that even work done on a
railway is a work of charity or necessity. Not an
engine would be- put in motion if the engineers could
help it. They werk because they must ; therefore, with
them, every rotation of the wheel is a work of necessity.
The locking the doors of carriages carrying passengers
is frequently a very great annoyance, and therefore we
approve of Mr. O'BniEN's proposed clause for preventing
it on the side next the stations at which such carriages
are to make any considerable delay. We have ourselves
experiehced very great inconvenience from the locking
of carriages at places where the trains delayed for ten
or twenty minutes, most of the time being consumed be-
fore the doors could be opened.
We adverted on Monday last to Mr. HAunv's clause
for making it imperative on the Directors to place
two or more luggage-trucks between the tender and
the passengers' train. Now, although the House has
once rejected that clause, we consider it the duty of
some member of the Committee to move it a second,
and, if necessary, a third, and a fourth, and a fifth
time, rather than it should not be embodied in
the Bill. The convenience of the Directors is not to be
studied at the expense of the lives and limbs of railway
travellers. We proved on that occasion, by the evi-
dence of Captain LAwEs, who had been for some time
Manager of the Manchester and Leeds Railway, that the
placing luggage-trucks between the tender and the
passengers' train was essential to the security of pas-
sengers ; and such security it is the bounden duty of
the Legislature to afford them.

The Madrid papers of the 19th contain no news of
importance.
Madrid Bourse of the 19th:—.27 7-16 for cash ;
et CO days.

The death of M. HUMANN is the principal topic of
discussion in the French Journals. By most of them
the deceased Minister is lauded as one of the greatest
financiers of modern times. We entertain a very dif-
ferent opinion. M. HUMANX, was a man of considerable
talent, great obstinacy, which his friends called firmness,
and respectable in all the private relations of life. He
had not a spark of genius or originality, and perhaps no
man so useful ever was less popular. Whatever lan-
guage Ministers may hold in public, we are convinced
that at heart they are glad to have got rid of him. Cer-
tainly his name would have done them no service at
the ensuing election, as it was well known that
he it was who first proposed the taking of
the census, which led to such deplorable excesses in
the South of France. His successor, M. LACAVE-LA-
PLAGNE, has been before in office as Minister of Finance,
and is a man of very moderate abilities. His colleagues,
however, will find him as flexible as M. llvmaNN was ob-
stinate.

It is a remarkable circumstance, that when death ar-
rested the pen of IftratANN, he was writing directions to
the Post-office to put additional restrictions upon the ex-
pressing of the overland mails. He dreamt not then
that death was preparing in his person the subject of an
express for the London journals.
The Finance portfolio was at, first offered to M.
PLASSY. He, however, declined it, being under au en-
gagement mit to take office without the concurrence of M.
DUFAURE and his friends. It does not appear that the
name of M. DUCHATEL, by far the ablest financier in
the Chambers, was one mentioned in the Cabinet Coun-
cil. The body who will most mourn the accession of
the new Minister of Finance, arc the beet-root sugar
growers, as ho is for throwing the trade in sugar open
to the colonists.

There is no political news of any interest in the
French Journals. The funeral of Marshal MONCEY
was celebrated, with great pomp. Marshal SOULT and
M. DUPIN delivered the usual orations over the grave.
Nothing can be conceived more ridiculous than this
theatrical display over the rotting remains of a fellow-
worm.

The Monileur Parisien assures us that there is no founda-
tion whatever for the statement given in a letter from Turin,
respecting the Marquis of Dalmatia, published by the Courrier
de Lyons, of the 10th, of which that Journal itself expressed
its doubts.

It is raid that aneurism was, the cause of M. Ilumann's
death ; his father and his brother, the-Bishop of Mayence, died,
as we ate informed, of the same disorder.

The day before yesterday one of the chief clerks of the
Finance Department, transacting business with M. Humann,
observed that he had a slight swelling on the cheek, and asked
him what it was. .‘ That is nothing," replied M. Humann,
" but I feel that I am going. The life which I lead fatigues
and exhausts me. 1 have not long to live. No, I repeat I
have not long to live. "—Journal des Debats.
The Styx steamer, from Africa, anchored at Toulon on the
24th, with letters from Algiers of the 15th, and from Oran of
the 20th of April. The letters from Algiers announce the re-
turn of General Bugeaud to the capital of Algeria. He returned
on the 14.11 from Cherchell, having left the command to
General Chargarnier. who had quitted Cherchell with six days'
provisions, and taken the road to Tenez. It was said that
General Bugeaud was going to set out for Oran, because affairs
were not going on in that province so well as might be wished.
A steamer had gone to Oran with a battalion of the 3d regiment
of light infantry. The Arabs have effected another coup de
main in the environs of Algiers. The escort of the mail from
Bouffarick to Blidah, consisting of twenty-two men, was sud-
denly attacked by between 200 and 300 Arabs, who, in
very good French, summoned the quartermaster, who com-
manded, to surrender. He replied, by killing the man who
summoned him ; but the enemy fell on the twenty-two men,
and when succour came from the garrison of Bouffarick, only
five of the twenty-two men remained alive. The Arabs im-
mediately fled, and it was impossible to overtake them.—
Commerce.
BOURSE—Rana, TUESDAY, APRIL 26.

kMt Highest Lowest Last
Price Price. Pric. Prici.
French 5 per COM, - 119 40 ... 119 50 ... 1 9 40 -. 119 LO
41,7, per Cent. lO7 50 ... 1.1 50 ... 107 50 ... 107 59
4pet Cents. ...... .. 101 99 ... 102 ... 101 90 ... 102
3 per cvnti Bl 15 - 81 40 ... 81 35 ... 81 40
"lank or etance -.370 ...,'Lfi'D ...5570 _2370

Witte Bank 1,0001. Shares 1032 50 :::ie3..; 50 :;:1020 50 7.:1F62 50
5,000 t. Shares 5050 —5050 ...50.50
nelaian flank

Belgian 5 per Cents.
5 per Cents., 1840 104% ... 104% ... 104% .. 104:4
ipanish Active V5,s, ... :15% ... 253¢ ... 25%
Pa55ive..........
...% ... 5
Neapolitan lO7 50 ... 10 50 ... 107 50 ... iO7 50
Itmen 105% ... 10 % ... 105% ... 105%
Dutch 2% per Cents.
nAILWAY SHARI:b.
.._ _ .

St. Germain
Versailles.(. B (New)
L.B 2ll ... 210 ...:105 ... 210
Konen 55 i ... 550 ... 546 25 ... 550
Ode's].
Strasburg to Bale '..ti 25 ... V. 16 25 .. 236 25 ... 5::16 15

FINE ARTS.
THE ROYAL MARRIAGE.

We yesterday attended a private view of Mr.
Hayter's picture of the Royal Marriage, which
was painted by order of her Majesty, and
from which, by , her gracious permission, an en-
graving will shortly be made. The most conspi-
cuous figures in the picture are, of, course, her Ma-
jesty and Prince Albert, who are represented stand-
ing at the altar with their hands joined, while the
Archbishop
.of Canterbury is reading the marriage ser-
vice. A little behind the Queen stands the Viscount
Melbourne, bearing the Sword of State ;:and close beside
him the Duke of Sussex, who, if we remember rightly,
gave away the Royal bride. Behind the altar, in the
bark-ground, appears the Duke of Cambridge ; and
on this side of it, close to the spectator, are Princess
Augusta of Cambridge and her Royal Highness
Princess Sophia Matilda. On the right hand of the
Queen, but at some distance from the altar, stand Prince
George of Cambridge, the Duchess of Cambridge, Prince
Ernest of Saxe Coburg, and- the Duke of Saxe Coburg
and Gotha, which last bears a striking resemblance to
the present King of Belgium. In a box, in the rear
of the chapel, are seated the Duke of Wellington—who,
by-the-by, looks exceedingly grim, or rather sulky—
the Dukes of Sutherland and Devonshire, and the Mar-
quis of Anglesea, each of whom is dresSed out in the richest
and most showy Court costume7-in, fact, is quite in a
blaze with gold face and orders. The twelve bridesmaids,
who stand immediately behind the Queen, holding up her
train, are grouped together with great skill and judg-
ment. The portrait of her Majesty is excellent as a
likeness, but we cannot help thinking that the coun-
tenance has a little too much set gravity of expression.
Prince Albert, too, is rather too tall :; but his figure and
attitude are ftill of easy grace and dignity. Of the like-
ness of the Duke of Sussex, we must speak in terms of very
qualified praise, for we were compelled tc turn to the ex-
planatory printed sketch in order to ascertain who he was.
Lord Melbourne may be detected at a glance, and there
is a arch smile in the eye, that is very character-
istic. The colouring of the-picture, considerins, the sub-
ject, is remarkable for its chasteness, but ue should hive
been glad to have seen a little more cheerfulness of
expression thrown into it. Almost all the distin-
guished personages represented, look as grave and
thoughtful as if they were attending at a funeral rather
than a bridal ; but this was s.'arcely the artist's fault,
for every one knows that an English wedding is one
of the most formal and melancholy affitirs in
existence. In nine cases out of ten, the bride
bursts into a passion of tears ; the bridegroom
looks exceedingly foolish ; the bridesmaids rest-
less, and, perhaps, envious,--in short, all parties up-
pear out of their element, with the exception of the parson
and the clerk, who alone look tranquil and eon tentec., from
a prompt and pleasurable recollection of their fees. The
Royal Marriage will make an excellent engraving, and it
will, we understand, he immediately put into the hands
of one of the first artists of the day.

The Sardinian Government, wishing to encourage
the influx of company to the waters of Aix (in Savoy), has just
ordered that strangers going to that town shall not be required
to pay for the visa of their pa,sports, either on the frontiers of
the Sardinian States, or at Chambery, or Aix, provided they
stay at least forty-eight hours in the town,