OPERATIC FINANCE.

The eloquence with which Mr. Gladstone delivered his Budget appears to have rendered a statement of dry details and disagreeable things extremely pleasant, indeed absolutely enchanting to those who listened to it. A long speech, one would think, would be only an aggravation of a recital of hard facts and an announcement of harder taxation. Yet Mr. Gladstone discoursed financial music on themes which included an Income-Tax on tenpence in the pound, for the space of four hours, to the delight of his hearers. He did well to stay till his cold was gone before attempting to charm their ears with the melody of Ways and Means. Just so would Signor Mario postpone his appearance in a new character in case he had the misfortune of being attacked with diphtheria. This consideration suggests an improvement on the present plan of revealing the proposed financial measures of Government to the House of Commons. Instead of being merely declaimed, let the Budget in future be sung. By a judicious mixture of air and recitative, it would not only be rendered additionally agreeable to the ear, but the pleasure of hearing it would be prolonged considerably beyond the short term of four hours. The sweet sounds announcing increased taxation would be as sugar to a bitter pill. In future, therefore, let statesmen who desire to qualify themselves for the Chancellorship of the Exchequer, study tuneful numbers as well as common arithmetic; and let that important office be filled, if possible, by a gifted tenor.

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