NEWS OF THE WEEK.
Wrra two important exceptions, the Revenue-accounts for the year and quarter may be considered stationary. On most of the items, in both tables, there is a slight decrease, especially in the account for the year. In the Stamps there is a marked de- crease,--932,000l. on the year and 246,000/. on the quarter ; but as that decrease is incidental to a cessation of the railway mania, it is not very deplorable. There is a more marked increase in the Excise, of 733,000/. on the year, and 562,000/. on the quarter ; a fact which is satisfactory in itself as a matter of revenue, and still more as an index of the general condition of the people. The Customs show a trifling decrease of 59,000/. on the year, and an increase of 469,000/. on the quarter ; but the latter sum is swelled by receipts for the duty on corn ; so that practically the Customs may be deemed stationary. The last instalment of China-money comes in to check the decrease on the year, which is 300,0001. ; the quarter exhibits a nett increase of 772,000/. On the whole, therefore, the accounts are satisfactory ; though by no means de- manding the extreme jubilation on the one hand, as still less the xcessive mourning on the other, which party-spirit has dictated.
These accounts would be much more instructive if the com- parison were made, not only with the past year, which is often a delusive standard, but with the average, say, of the ten years just concluded: the real rise and fall of the revenue would then be distinctly visible.
