The Sun.
London, England, 1842-03-14 00:00:00

SPIRIT of the PUBLIC JOURNALS.
• FROM THE DAILY PAPERS OF SATURDAY.
GLOBE.—We think that an annually recurring
deficiency, which they had vainly attempted to meet
by increased taxes on consumption, ought to have led
the late Ministers, like the present, to bring forward
a temporary plan of direct taxation. It may, in-
deed, be said with truth, that none but a strong
Government could carry such a plan. But with equal
truth it might have been said that none but a very
strong Government could hope to carry the fiscal and
commercial changes which were then proposed. The
present Government have taken a leaf from the book
of the last, as regards these changes, and there would
have been no harm in turning over another and bolder
leaf for their benefit by bringing forward a temporary
scheme of direct taxation, on principles as much
better than the present as Whig policy could devise.
The heads of our party not having done so, have,
_s:ve
think, in a good degree disabled themselves, and indiA-
posed the sober portion of their followers (amongst
whom we h•pe we may rank) from offering any
effective opposition to such measures as are now pro-
posed. The mode of direct taxation adopted is not
that which we think most eligible. We wait, with
Lord Howick, to know what are the practical
means which Sir Robert Peel proposes to take
to levy his income tax—to arrive at an accurate know-
,iedge of the amount of income on , which it is to
i'-be levied. We cannot but approve of The exemption
':olf small incomes from the levy; but we foresee the
danger that the revenue will lose what it ought to re-
. ceive from some, and receive what it ought not to re-
. ceive from others. Those who. do not care for ap-
pearances may contrive to evade taxation ; and those
who do will suffer taxation beyond the real rate of
their incomes. These objections of detail, however,
we reserve, till we have further information.
STANDARD.—It may be said, and doubtless it
will •be said, that an income tax is inquisitorial. This
is mere pretence. No inquisition can be necessary to
aacertairi the income of the landholder, shareholder, or
fundholder ; and as to professional and commercial
men,, there is not one of them whose probable income
is not already subject to an inquisition far less
delicate, far more invidious and malicious than
that of income tax commissioners, bound to se-
el'esy: The inquisition of neighbours, creditors,
commercial correspondents, and commercial, or
professional competitors—this is an inquisition which
we have never known any one fortunate enough to es-
cape, and it is the only inquiSition that can do any one
a mischief. We do not know what honest motive any
one can have for concealing the amount of his income.
Tt seems to us that the interests of all honest men are
---much-ctineeened that there should be no conceal-
ment in the matter ; but the truth is, that 'no man
-can or ever does conceal the amount of his income
from those who are curious enough to inquire
after it. Secondly, it is said that an income tax
ought to be reserved for a time of war. It might
be answer enough to this objection to say that the
empire is at War, unhappily plunged into two most
expensive wars by the late Government ; but we
take leave to deny the principle. We say ' that
a tax which is proper in war • cannot, when
the wants of the country demand new taxes,
be improper in peace. True, . you have not the
whole of your available income tax with which to
menace the enemy ; but what of that ? Neither
have you the whole of your. available revenue; but
you have all 'your reserved resources, of whatever
Lind, and the shape of them does not make the slight-
est difference. Call the available income tax 15 per
cent. (more was paid during the late war), will
you employ 3 per cent. of this hi time of peace, in
preference to taxes which cripple the industry and
retard the progress of the country ? Are you the
worse, because, with resources vastly improved
by the preference, you face your enemy with
three par cent. in appearance less of your income
tax, but really with a greater revenue—meet him,
too, with all the machinery necessary for drawing
forth your reserved 12 per cent. in complete order
and in' constant action? The pretence of a distinc-
tion between war taxes and peace taxes belonged, to
• times when it was necessary to cheat men into the
payment of taxes by artificial pretexts, because taxes
were neither impartially levied nor always honestly
.I%re repeat, that Sir nebert Peel's propo-
sition is the opening of a new and a happy era in
financial Government—and the measure with which
he opens it, is the measure of a true Statesman—
bold, just, and, efficient.
COLTRIER.With the 3 per cent. tax on pro-
perty, we cry content ;. with the tax on income we
cry content also; but in respect of the supplementary
houe. tax we must confess that our conviction of its
judiciousness and impartiality is not so strong, al-
though we may take leave to say, that in comparison
with the other burdens referred to its pressure can
be of inferior concern only. We object to the
house tax because, .if borne by the tenant, it
will be an oppressive tax, except in the case
of great fortunes and large. establishments, whilst if
cast on the landlord, With the pecaliar uncertainty of
returns from that sort of property, it will beano
less oppressive, besides being a supplementary, tax
on propeity.- ,'The ;only thOthentarily good 'object
which,' as it seems to us, it will achieve, will be to
discourage the inordinate rage -for building specula-
tions which has prevailed for many years, and whiCh
has generally .ended in the ruin of projectors and
traders, of all, in fiat but the owners of land co-
vered. But whilst this good will be achieved, and
the population left to overtake the. means provided
tbr their heaSe accommodation, on the other hand
labour employed in that way will be thrown out of
action, and the effect also may be to crowd families in
the same dwelling by increasing rents, and for the
labouring classes this would lead to the evil of
depriving them of small' houses of their own, the
happiest, result of industrial independence, unless,
which does not clearly appear, a proper exemption
should ,be made in respect of such sort of property.
The exemptions from taxation of income and property
under 1501. per annum arc humane. and judicious, so
far as they go, although we think that 2001., as a round
sum, and as freeing a larger class, not able to bear
burdens, would have been a preferable limit. Upon in-
comes at the point stated it will forma heavy deduction.
We cannot exactly comprehend the utility of some of
Sir Robert's reductions of duty upon Commodities
exported. The separate amounts are so insignificant
that they appear to us to be levied almost solely
for the purposes of statistical information ; and the
total amount of the remissions is quite inconsiderable.
We can perfectly appreciate tin piney of abolish-
ing or reducing the duties on the imports of raw
produce indispensable for manufactures, as well as
the export duty propoSed to be levied on coal. But
-what will the free trader say to this ? Is it part o:
the system of Russia—that land of exclusive prote.:
tion, and intolerance of free trade ?

SHIPWRECK OFF CA.LAI S.
A letter signed " IL. W. Powell' (late of the East
India (company's service)," dated march 10, and who
appears to: have been an eye-witness of the following
transaction; "firridithes 'the following account of this
inconsiderate'and sharneful affair:—

On the 9th inst., about eight or nine o'clock r.u.,
a heavy storm •arose, and in the offing this morning
was discovered a brig, with all her sails in shivers.
About 11 o'clock A:M. to-day, she let go her anchor to
the eastward of the pier, about a mile from shore, a
most tremendously heavy sea running. About
three o'clock the life-boat of this place was, after great
persuasion, and after a reward of 501. was offered,
sent to the assistance of the Vessel. From some great
mismanagement on the part of the French authori-
ties the launch was not effected. At half-past six
o'clock the vessel in the meantime cut away her an-
chors, hoping to drift ashore. She struck, and no
further attempt was made by the French. The tide
axas coming in, and the sea breaking over her. The
eries for help of the unfortunate crew were dread-
ful. She was within a quarter of a mile at that
*imp of land )half-past six -o'clock p.m.) The
French, to their disgrace, ion 'every way. opposed all
succour. At half-past seven o'clock Mr. Slater,
second master of the 'Widgeon steam-packet of Dover,
with a crew of six men, five of- whom were of the
Widgeon, with the.. assistance of Lieutenant Scriven,
Commander, procured from the harbour master, after
two applications and immense,- difficulty, a boat be-
longing to the Humane Society, and then only upon Mr.
.Slater guaranteeing the payment of any damage that
"might accrue—boldly, with his small crew, manned
t:he boat ; 200, EngliShmen in the laCe business, under the
AuPerintendenee of Lieut. Scriven, nobly assisted in
launching. the boat, a most tremendous sea running.
They started from the westward, and had to pass the
head of both piers, a verydangeious `service even in
mild weather; it took them half an hour to get through
the bar ; and but for
the gallant intrepidity and dex-
terity of noble this otlicer and. his, crew, they Must
have been all lost:
,rN%
succeeded in their g 0 hours elapsed Vefore tliey
1,i,01 t en t rpßse reached-
the vessel; say m gallant
water.y. en human,
beings ; tel minutes uiu
aud.omustvery soul. must have
peiished. ; Me brig eva4 ~zerJersey,
-bound from Stinderland, the master William Perrv,
laden with' coals ; • tonmwe 163. ',', he vessof is a per-
fect wreck ; her' mainmast was , • • a .
bakwards and
t the time of the
rescue sWinkinj,,,, forwards, and Mr.
Slater exgeoted every- moment. she would iro over
and had she done so, the gallant huat's crew must havi:.
all met with instantaneous death.
This is not the first 'time that '3lr. Slater, of the
Widgeon, has evinced his courage. The names of
those brave 'men who manned the life-boat are—
Richard annoy, quarter-master, Thomas Sinclair:
Thomas Lawrence, Watkin Edwards, and Daifel
Trim, able.-bodied; all of the Widgew;'and Nicholson,
of the 'Frederick, of Sunderland, a collier, a yOUng
'mail, whose intrepidity and gallant conduct through-
out ought to meet with a high reward.

A Madrid let►er in the Mire of. Bayonne states that
the exact amount of the budget of expenditure for 1841 is
,7160.301,6b1 reals, and of that of receipts 871,730,Cr44r., !Fay-
mg a dencitlor'the current year of 490,10t3,206r.