Star.
London, England, 1831-02-15 00:00:00

policy which satisfies no oue ; and must end, we fear, in dis-

appointment.
Our opinion of the new taxes, and remissions, has been ex-
pressed. The public necessities demanded the remission of cer-
tain taxes to the amount of five or six millions; and the true
substitute for them was a Tax on REAL PROPERTY and Mo-
' NET J o BBIN 0 in every form, in which the blightingoperations
of the latter can be detected. if the undueinfiuence in Parlia-
ment arrested Ministers, the people would then have under-
stood the dilemma in which the country is placed ; while the
Members of the Administration would have preserved their
character, even if, for a time, they had lost their places.
But to announce an impost on Tranfers of STOCK and
LAND, and a remission of the Duties on TOBACCO and
GLASS; and then to withdraw on the exhibition of objec-
tions, which ought to have been fully anticipated, is, be •
fond all question, an occurrence which the friends of a
Whig Administration would have wished should not have
taken place.
The debate consisted of apologies of the Ministers and
their friends, and of the taunts of their opponents, who
pressed them about the plan, as though it had not been with-
dtawn. From party speeches our readers will turn with
sickuess of heart to the only practical speech of the even-
ing, that of Mr. ATT WOOD.
The country learn this much, that the only way of treat-
ing with the Fundholders, is to return to the currency is
which the funds were created. If they will not yield to as
indirect impost, and in truth to taxes which bring the funds
to their value in gold, the remedy is to return to that circle.-
lation from which we ought never to have departed, till the
funds had been liquidated.
In the Upper House, Lord KING moved for some Eccle-
siastical Returns, and after some debate, withdrew his mo-
tion to amend it.

Of the several additions to taxation, or rather commutation
of it, which have been proposed by the Cu A CELLOR of
the EXCHEQUER, we conceive there is none so in-
judicious and unfair, to the interests concerned, as
that which lays an additional duty in Cape wines.
If Lord ALTHORPE would peruse a valuable little
work on the Cape of Good Hope, attributed to Mr.
COLEBROOK E, and published a few years ago, he would, we
think, see the impolicy of destroying the only productive ex-
port of a colony, which can never thrive commercially, or be
a source of commercial advantage, either to this country or to
itself, until its producible exports be adequately increased,
to effect the equalization of the exchange. Industry and
capital have been engaged in that Colony, to accomplish this
object; or, in other words, to make the colony nourish
within itself, and prove advantageous to this country ; and
now to frustrate this praiseworthy industry and enterprise, a
market is to be closed to the only export it can produce.
Vacillation in the conduct of the Government at home to-
wards colonies, is constantly producing much individual
ruin, and it should not occur ; or if it do occur, the par-
ties ruined have a fair claim for indemnification.
Why all this proscription of Cape wine ? From one branch
of state policy, port wine is to be protected ; and from ano-
ther, Cape wine, the production of our own colony, is to be
driven out of use !

Irish affairs have taken anew turn. The jury selected
by the clerk of the crown office, being such person*, as, in
the opinion of Mr. O'Cow 14 ELL and his friends, afforded no
chance of a fair trial, they have preferred at once to plead
GUILTY We have already remarked on the omission of
Sir R. PEEL s bill, to provide for immutable rotation, by
which he left the selection of special juries to
an officer of the court, and of common juries, to the sheriff ;
and we consider this discretion as one of the greatest blots
in our juridical system. Every Jury ought to be summoned
in equal numbers, from three districts of the jurisdiction;
and from each district IN EXACT ROTATION. To leave the
selection to any one, is a power highly dangerous, especially
in cases between the crown and the subject ; yet such is the
condition of our jury system under Sir ROBERT PEEL'S well
intended, but delusory improvement.