The daily union., 1846-05-01

upon our boundary, to make sure Of the accuracy of
our maps.
The following view of the financial condition oil
England at the close Of the last fiscal year, on inc
5th of April, which we find in the London Times
of the 4th ult will not be without interest to our
readers. II shows the working in respect to reSe-
nue. Of the freer commercial system which has oeeh
gradually introduced by Sir Robert Peel, eommenc-
ing with the English tariff act Of lS42. This tArin'
il will be remembered, effected very considerable
reduction of duties.
THE PUBLIC FINANCES.
Il will be satisfactory to the country 10 know that
the financial year closing with the 5h Of April 1916,
will present considerable surplus Of income above
expenditure. The 5th Of April falling on Sunday,
the accounts for Great Britain usually made up on
WILL we believe, be closed this evening.
Sufficient information is however already upon the
table Of Parliament to justify confident antiePa-
ton that the general statement Of the revenue and
expenditure OF the United Kingdom (ineluding the
money which during that period has been received
from China, about S750,O00) will exhibit a clear
surplus Of about t., ,500, 900.
In the return moved for by Sir r. Peel II appears
that in the several years 1872 l643, l544 le45 no
less than IS, 1877, ,074 has been RENTED from the
customs and excise, thus exhibiting relief gwen TO
the public in those two departments equal TO the
value Of the income tax. The same return shows,
that Notwithstanding this great reduction the reve-
nue. derived in the year l645 from the customs and
excise, exclusive Of corn duties, amounted To x33,-
AIS 43l; while that Of l642, from the sources
was only x32, ,lT8, sl4.
Notwithstanding these reductions, and the impor-
tant commercial relaxatons announced TO Parlia-
ment at the opening Of the present sessionthe con-
sequent indisposton Of parties TO clear at the GUS
toe had fak af-
feet, which not until the 18th ult and that all
articles subsequently cleared have, Of course, been
entered at the lower rate Of duty-it s satisfactory
to believe that the large balance to which we have
above referred will be found on the right side Of the
national account.
In comparing the quarter now drawing TO a close
with the corresponding quarter Of last year. 1t must
not be forgotten that the reductions OF l645 alone
were estimated to amount to 1881 ,000L, Of which
2,4ls,OOOL belongs TO the customs, and 9l3 0O0L TO
the excise department
This will probably lead to adisadysntageous COM
parson as regards the present year. The measures
Of lo45 having been submitted at later period to
the House Of Commons, the contemplated reductions
operated less unfayorably than in the present in
stance upon the receipts Of the current quarter.
Thus we are led to expect great diminution upon
the quarter in the customs revenue, douby affected
by the reduction Of duty and by the temporary stag
nation Of trade. Yet we shall be greatly disappont-
ed if, under these uniavorable circumstances, the
dimnuton Of revenue in this department be equal
or even nearly equal, TO proportionete-i C., one
fourth part Of the reduction Of 24l5, ,OOOI above
mentioned.
Again, It cannot be supposed that the excise,
which, during a considerable portion OF the same
quarter IN last year, receiving the duties upon
glass and auctions, (the receipts ofwhch during the
period between the 5th of January and the 18th OF
February were not checked by any anticipation Of
repea) will wholly maintain in the present quarter
the large amount Of revenue It then exhibited Some
dminuuon will naturally be looked for 10 this de-
partment.
In the stamps and taxes, upon which, in the year.
there will be considerable increase some reduction
owing TO the temporary interruption of trade and to
the reaction in the railway market, may fairly be
expected in the quarter.
These circumstances being borne in mind, il will
be considered eminenty satisfactory that the bal
ance upon the year Of income over expenditure
should amount to 80 large a sum.
The details of the account, far Great Britain
is concerned shall be able to present on Monday
and at no very distant period the whole account for
the United Kingdom to the close of the financial
year will be presented TO Parliament.
WAR BETWEEN ENGLAND AND AMERICA.
Correspondence Of the Liverpool Mail
LONDON, March "a, 1886.
The discussion last Tuesday night in the Lords
our relations with the United States unimportant
it was, still served to gracefully contrast the high
bred reserve and dignihed language of our govern
ment, with the braggart insolence and vulgar vitu-
peration of that Of America. That our government
will leave nothing undone, consistently with nation
al honor to prevent rupture, may be safely relied
upon; but that 1t will be possible to avoid an appeal
to the sword we very much question.
True it is that commercial and manufacturing in
terests are now in the ascendency; that from the
dangerous direction which the economical sciences
are assuming, under the combined influence of a
false philosophy and moneyed ambition, that all our
powers Of knowledge all the resources of art, are
exclusively applied to the attainment Of wealth, and
therefore is it inferred that the material interests of
the two countries will render war impossible. New
ertheless, knowledge of human nature, and of
those fierce passions which, in every age, have ex-
ercised so paramount and so constant an influence
on human affairs, should warrant different conclu-
sion. We allow that the Americans are even more
ardent in the pursuit of wealth than ourselves
Still the operation Of this passion is neutralized
by two others, which we behold so strongly devel-
oped in the American people-ambition, and the
lust of territorial aggrandizement. The first spring.
ing from that love Of military fame so peculiar to
young and powerful nation the second, from the
moral and physical causes powerfully acting upon
them, eminently diffused through the mass, and
artfuy fostered by the government. Thus, with
the mass war with this country will be popular
measure, inasmuch as the nation are firmly per-
suaded that it would lead to the annexation of the
whole Of our North American possessions. The
Canadas, not the distant and barren Oregon, scarce
worth the expenditure Of a cartridge, is the stake
for which Jonathan will throw. Strategetically con-
sidered, the Canadas, from their immense extent
of frontier, will require for their defence great de-
velopment Of force on our part, and which would
prove inefficient for the purpose, if not backed by
the cordial and active cooperation Of the Canadians
themselves 1t is great question: if the free trade
measures now in progress through Parliament will
have tendency to improve the loyalty and attach
ment Of North American colonies to the British
crown. They will no longer find in Great Britain
an exclusive market for their produce but must
now contend with the corn Of Russia, and the tim
Der of the Baltic IT, then, their material interests
are made to suffer, can we expect of them to peril
their lives and properties preserve political con.
nexion which no longer holds out to them any ad-
vantage' This the American government know and
feel and will not fail, at the proper moment, to turn
to advantage. They likewise Aat,er themselves that
in the event Of a war, our exclusive maritime code
would embroil us with France. In fact, under such
a contingency, M. Guizot has himself allowed that
the preservation Of the entente cordale would be
difficult. IL these conclusions be correct IL f,lIows