NEWS OF THE WEEK.
THE Revenue-accounts for the year and quarter, published this week, are paturally examined in relation to the change of Ministry, as the accounts of the first quarter of the Conservative Government. -They are favourable enough to be made a boast of by the Tory papers, while there are drawbacks sufficient to supply the Whig journals with a theme for croaking. In most departments there is an increase on the quarter—in the Customs an increase of no less than 414,000/., in the Taxes of 123,0001,; while there is the large decrease of 277,000/. in the Excise. That falling • off has been attributed in great part to the effect of the Temperance movement ; and a leading Tory paper is charmed at the " self-denial " of the working-classes. A much more obvious and cogent reason is the deplorable destitution of great numbers of the people. The distress of which we read throughout the manufacturing-districts, and the certainly not mitigated poverty in the agricultural, are reflected in the returns of the Excise revenue. It is remarked, indeed, that "the increased ability to ,.-Ray housetaxes, stamp-taxes, and taxes on correspondenci,n ii--tiffconsistent with the idea that the decrease "is altogether the effect of a deterioration in the condition of the people " : but it should be remem'bered that the poor pay a very small share of the taxes enumerated. Further attempts are made to account for the falling-off by the application of "the screw" in the last Whig quarter, so as to anticipate the proceeds of this quarter, and by the transfer of some duties to the Customs. These refinements, however, will not avail to divert attention from the broad, glaring, undeniable cause— popular distress. Of the increase in the Customs more than onehalf, 270,000/., is attributed to the augmented consumption of sugar. We have no authority for the figures ; but the greater cheapness of sugar makes it most probable that the revenue has benefited with the consumer. The Whig " screw " was applied to the Taxes before they left office, and the Tories reap the advantage. Taking the general increase on the quarter's revenue, however, 338,0001., at its fullest value, it gives no hope of meeting the yearly deficiency of two and a half millions : that remains to be provided for, in the face of the difficulty indicated by the declining Excise.
