The Sun.
London, England, 1842-03-17 00:00:00

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LONDON
THURSDAY MORNING, MARCH 17, 1842.

• The communication made by Sir ROBERT PEEL last
night to the House of Commons, announcing that it was
the voluntary determination of her MAJESTY to place
herself on a footing with her subjects in respect to the
new income tax, and subject her salary, as Chief
Magistrate, to the reduction proposed for relieving
the necessities of the State, will be hailed with pride
and satisfaction by all classes. 11er MAJESTY rejects,
with dignity, the privileges and immunities usually al-
lotted to crowned heads, and seems anxious only to
identify herself with her people. Such an example will
not be without due effect. It will excite all the branches
of the Royal Family, even King ERNEST, to pay over a
portion of their incomes to relieve the public burdens.
Why, indeed, should they be exempted ? While vast
numbers of industrious, hard-working artisans and small
shopkeepers are struggling for a bare subsistence, and
at the same time paying their proportion of taxes to
support the Crown and the State, is it reasonable that
those who live by their exertions should not contribute
at least in the same proportion ? The QUEEN says it is
reasonable that all should pay, and shame be on those
who fail to imitate her noble conduct. The QUEEN
DOWAGER has 100,00c1, and can well afford to give
3,0001. a-year out of that sum for the exigencies of that
commonwealth which furnishes her with such a princely
income. The other branches of the Royal Family will
have to pay only about 6001. a-year each, and if the
King of IrallovEn refuses to accede to the plan of Sir
ROBERT PEEL, and submit to a reduction on his salary
sent out of the country, the remedy is very simple—cut
It off altogether. It is, indeed, a disgrace to both Whig
and Tory Governments to have allowed this enemy of
the people of England to take from them yearly 22,0001.,
to which, as a foreign Sovereign, he has no earthly
claim. The conduct of the QUEEN in this affair is above
all praise. It shows that she sympathises with her
people, and that she is determined to induce all those
who enjoy wealth at the expense of the people, to come
forward and contribute, like all other classes, to the re-
venue of the country.

The more we reflect upon the necessary operation
of an income tax upon the trade and commerce of this
country, the more we feel satisfied that an extensive
modification of Sir ROBERT PEEL'S plan must take
place, unless the Tory Premier intends, by enforcing
it, to increase the present general distress. Letters
upon the subject are pouring in upon us from all
parts of the country, all breathing hostility to a pro-
ject of taxation which makes no distinction between
income derived from capital, and income arising
from the profits of enterprise, and the wages of
labour. The cry of one class of objectionists is this :
" Why did not Sir ROBERT PEEL begin with a mode-
rate property tax, and try first what that would pro-
duce ? Nearly all the expenses of Government are
incurred to protect property, therefore upon it ought
to fall the chief burdens of the State. It is to pro-
tect property that ware are carried on ; that armies
are levied ; that fleets are equipped and manned ;
that garrisons are kept up ; that diplomacy performs
its farce of solemn grimace ; and that Royalty,
itself is declared by the possessors of pro-
perty to be necessary. Begin, then, with the
taxation of this costly property, whether landed
or funded, and should there still be a deficit, no one
able to bear it will object to a slight income tax,
proportioned to the stake which his income gives him
in the welfare of the country." Others again con-
t!nd, that the inquisition into the affairs of commer-
c. al people to which the tax, as proposed, must give
rise, will ruin an immense number of small traders,
who now contrive to support themselves honestly upon
a nominal capital. Even the business of extensive