The Sun. — 1839-03-30 (London, England)

CONSUMPTION OF SPIRITS IN  NEW SOUTH WALES.  • - New South Wales Papers to the 10th of Nov., state that the colony was suffering from drought so alarmingly, that the Governor had promised a day of general fasting and prayer for rain. In looking over ti►e revenue accounts, an extract from which we give below, we observe something that even more than the drought indicates the propriety of fasting and prayer. During the year 1837, the duty on wines and spirits consumed by a population of about 77.000 souls, exceeded 142,0001. ! while, at a single Session of the Supreme Court at Sydnev, there were no less than n►ne cases for murder ! In Van Diemen's Land the Governor, Sir John Franklin, proposes to prohibit distillation. At Sydney we have something better than this —a Society, namely, for the protection of the Aborigines. This is magnanimous. They have also Societies for extending education ; for the diffusion of Christian knowledge, and for various other purposes connected with the welfare of man as man, and not merely as an animal, mechanic, or herdsman. These things will bring dow❑ the blessing of hea yen upon them if they faint not amidst the tempest of inebriety that at present whistles over the land.  (From the Colonist, October 20.) The duties on spirits imported, duties on spirits distilled in the colony, permits to remove sprits, licenses to distillers, and licenses to retail spirituous and malt liquors—these five classes of taxation upon our appetite for stroug, drink, during the last fourteen years, give the following amounts—fractions of a pound not included. We give only the extremes. In 1824 £27,586 / locrease on the year £15,309 1825 1836 1837  5,671  Total in 14 years £1,158,136 Thus has the infant colony paid to Government, an the space of fourteen years, upwards of one million sterling, for permission to drink spirituous liquors It appears that within these fourteen years there were but three general musters—namely, in 1828, in 1833, and in 1836. The total population in those vears respectively, including free and bond—men, women, and children, was as follows : In 1826—Total population Revenue from spirits £57,112 In 1833—Total population Revenue from 5pirit5.....,,,, £104,692 In 1836—Total population ............ 71,096 Revenue from 5pirit5.........  This last comparison gives nearly 2/. per head. But the fairest way of putting the case is to exclude the amount paid for publican's licenses on one hand, and children under twelve years of age. We shall thus have, for the year 1836  ............. : . .................... £62,925 Consumers, Direct revenue from 5pirit5,................... 127,057 Showing that every male and female throughout the entire territory of New. South Wales, above twelve years of age,supposinj the consumption to equally- divided, paid in direct taxation, have been for ardent spirits, rather more than two pounds sterlino' ! What part of the world, we mournfully ask, could exhibit a parallel to this awful picture ? Another most remarkable fact, in connection with these comparisons, demands attention. The entire revenue of the last fourteen years ? exclusively of the land revenue, was. ...... s 1,702,7621. From this deduct the amount derived from } 1,158,136/. duties on spirits and publicans licenses...  And we have left 0n1y.... ................ A similar deduction from the entire revenue o, 1836 gives this result,-Entire revenue . .................................... £195,129 Revenue from spirits ................................. 136,562  544,6261.  61,59'  In other words, while the adult population paid rather more than two pounds per head for spirituous liquors, they paid rather less than one pound per head for all other taxes put together I