The Sun. — London, England, 1853-05-31 00:00:00

GRAND._ FLOWER SHOW, TO-DAY (TUESDAY), May 31, Royal Surrey Zoological Gardens. — The Royal South London Floricultural Society will hold their First Grand Show of the Season for Flowers, Fruit, and Vegetables, on a scale of unusual spiendour. The spacious tents and marquees sup plied by Mrs. Staff, Borough. An extra Military Band will attend during the day. Vocal and Instrumental Concert, and all the varied attractions of the Gardens, the evening concluding with a brilliant display of Fireworks, Feast of Lanterns, and Grand Tableau.—Dnine.oors open at one ; Flowers on view t ill seven; Fireworks, half-past Admission, as usual, Is. SALE OF OLD STORES AT GOSPORT. Admiralty, Somerset-place, 31st May, 1653. The Commissioners for executing t he Office of Lord High Admiral of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, do hereby give Notice, that on Tnuasukr, the 16th June next, at Twelve ecleclt at Noon. the Captain Superintendent will put up to Sale, at the Royal Clarence Vlctnalling-yard at Gosport, several Lots of OLD STORES; consisting of serviceable Tongues, old Provisions, Biscuit Bags, Pay- , master's Necessaries, Books, Mess U tensils, Glass Lamps, &C.. &C. all lying in the said Yard. Persons wishing to view the Lots m ust apply to the Superint endent for Notes of Admission for that purpose. Catalogues and Conditions of Sale may ke had here and at the Yard. THEATRE ROYAL, HAYMARKET. 'Under the management of Mr. BuckstOne. T HIS EVENING, MAT 31, Wll lbe perfbrmed THE MOUSETRAP. Characters by Messrs. Chippendale and Buckstone, and Mrs. Fitzwilllam, &c. After which, MR. BUCKSTONE'S ASCENT OF MOUNT PAR NASSUS. To be followed by T HE BOARDING SCHOOL BALL. To conclude with DR. DILWORTH. RoyAL runlcEsrs THEATRE, OXFORD-STREET. Under the Management of Mr. Charles Kean. THIS EVENING, MAY 31, win be performed the new and original Comedy, in three acts, by Douglas Jerrold, entitled ST. CUPID ; or, Dorothy's Fortane. Principal characters by Messrs. Wright, W. Lacy, Harley, J. Vin ing, Terry, F. Cooke, Everett, and Chester; Mrs. W. Lacy and Miss Murray. To be followed by BLACK-EYED SUSAN. ROYAL LYCEUM THEATRE. Under the Management of Madame Warts. THIS EVENING, MAT 31, Will be performed AILS. Characters by Messrs. F. Mathews, Sister, and Rosiere ; Mrs. Macnamara and Miss Wyndham. After which, A FAST TRAIN—HIGH PRESSURE EXPRESS. Characters by Messrs. C. Mathews, Baker, and Suter. To be followed by THE LAWYERS. Characters by Messrs. C. Mathews, F. Matthews, and Roxby ; Mrs. F. Matthews, and Misses Robertson and Ellis. After which, A BALLET DIVERTISSEMENT. To 'conclude with TRYING IT ON. Principal character by Mr. C. Mathews. THEATRES ROYAL ADELPEL Proprietor, Ur. B. Webster.—Directress, Madame Celeste. THIS EVENING, MAY 31, Will be performed MASKS AND FACES; or, Before and Behind ti Caffein—by Ale.s.rs. B. Webster, L. Murray, Parselle, P. Bedford, and Collenford ; Madame Celeste, and Misses Woolgar and F. Maskell, 31rs L. Murray, &c. .dter which A DESPERATE GAME. To be followed by THE PRETTY GIRLS OF STILSBERG. To conclude with GOING TO THE DERBY. . . EOYAL OLYMPIC THE &TAB. Lessee and Manager. Mr. Farren. For the BENEFIT of Mr. HENRY FABEEN. THIS EVENING, MAT 31, Will he performed THE: SCHOOL FOR SCANDAL. Sir Peter Teazle (Ist time), r. Henry Farren ; Moses, Mr. F. Robson ; Lady 'leave, Miss F. Vining ; Mrs. Candour, Mrs. Phillips. Alter '4l l th, GAN El Nr. Genera (pesitlvely for this Night only), Misr; Louisa Howard ; Caliph, Mr. Shalders; Giaffar, Mr. Clifton. To be biliowed py A CONCERT. To be tollowed by TUE WANDERING MINSTREL. Jem gg9. Mr. F. Robson. ' ASTLEY'S ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE. Sole Lessee and Manager, Mr. W. Cooke. ASTOITNEING NOV ELT Y.—A rrival of the celebrated and intrepid M. ALPHONSE; THEVELIN, the First Gymnaslarque rErien of Franco, alitl I,ventor of the Cybistique Gaines under the French and 13.;Igi3ii Ea loons, who w 11 make his First Appearance in this Country • TO-NIGH F. SECOND JUVENILE EQUESTRIAN MORNING PER FORMANCE Will take place on WEDNESDAY, June 1, commencing at Two o'clock. i:y kind permission of Sir Charles Adam, and by compli mentary invit,,tion o• Air. W. Cooke, the boys of Greenwich hos pital School; with their Band, will attend. THIS EVENING, MAY 30, And dnring - the week, the Entertainments will commence with the high ty sueecS3lll HI;po DIAM 3, with new scenery, costnmes, and appotntments, entitled THE CHASE, or LIFE O, THE TURF— iIt i,itrating•a `;porting Ilan 's Career. To be followed by M. Alphonse Therelin in his incredible Per formance of LE4 CYBISTIQUE ; or, The Four Trapeze— witnthe wanderfel Vaulting Traverser iErien of 130 'Feet from the _Back or the citage to the Centre of the Ring, for the First Thee in Europe. To eonchtle with brilliant Scenes in the ARENA. by thl most talented Artistes of tlvi day. _ train Pleven to Four. Stage Zu.lanager, Mr. 'W. West ilO 11 WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE, Till , DAY ---);ornilig 55 min. after 8 Evening 30 min.aft. 9 I'o•Mcnu,o. 0 min. after 10 j Evening 32 min.aft. 10 TUI WEATHER.--seN OFFICE, MAT 31. THERIIOMETEB, IN TM SHADE. highest since noon yesterday. 54--lowest this morning and. during the night. C 3— this day at noon. BAROMETER, 30'8. --Fresh breeze, and dull, hazy weather. WIND, N r-Z- LT, z, ,14A •••,, I I 1 - 1 t • 4 4 -- 4%4 , LONDON, TUESDAY, MAY 31, 18.53. Discretion last evening—in reference .to the Turkish difficulty—closed the lips of tie Leaders of her MAJESTY'S Government. We are satisfied that reection must already have assured the Noble Earl the ex-Postmaster-General, and the Right Hon. Gentleman the ex-Chancellor of the Exche quer; of the reasonableness of this exemplary silent on the part of o'urAdministrators. Although Mr. DISRAELI' subsequendly, in the course of the discussion which took place in regard to the Tea Duties, taunted Lord JOHN RUSSELL with finding some difficulty in stating what has taken place in Constantinople, we are convinced that no one in the House of Commons is more alive to.the neces sity of refraining from anything like premature disclosures in reference to a still pending diplomatic negotiation than the gifted and expe rienced representative of Buckinghamshire. It would, we fear, have loeen little less than an European calamity, had•the Noble Lord the mem ber for the City of London in the Lower House, or the Noble Earl her MAJESTY'S Chief Foreign Secretary in the Upper Ilouse, consented yester day .to announce to the. world the nature of the orders transmitted to A dmiral DUNDAS, in conse quence 9f Prince MEN 3CHIKOFF'S departure from Constantinople. An explanation of that kind might no doubt have been exceodingly satisfactory to the more curious lookers-on ; but, in sober reality, we do believe, as already :remarked, that it would have amounted to lath j less in result than an European calamity. Wit h the four honours on our side, and every rations 1 probability of the odd trick, it would have been t like displaying our hand, in the very crisis of the game, to our antagonist. We rejoice, therefore, th at neither in the Lords nor in the Commons the nature of the orders re ferred to, was even hinted at by the Leaders of the Administration. Possibly the reasonable inquisi tiveness of many may thereby have been doomed to a somewhat irksome disappointment—but, at any rate, the success of *our policy has been effec tually secured from beet r: compromised. Nevertheless, while iv e admit that it was only rational in Ministers top refuse entering at this moment into further ex planations as to the course now being pursued by t hem in regard to the po litical differences between • the SULTAN and the AUTOCRAT, we are none - the less sensible that upon'tke Coalition rests„ ai this critical period, a heavy and even awful resi,K ,risibility. Caution is all very well, no doubt—but, carried beyond a certain point, it degenerates into p usillanimity. Caution the present Cabinet has alreaely shown in its conduct of late towards the two great Eastern disputants. There cannot, we believe, be said to exist nowa days any need for further such prudential con siderations. The CZAR has flagrantly broken faith with us and with our AM ies in the character of his proceedings towards thei Divan at Constantinople. While assuring England .and the rest of the prin cipal Powers of Western. Europe that his negotia tions with the Sublime :9 orte had regard only to (Petitions of subordivato interest to the majority of the nations of 'C •hristeridom, NICHOLAS, as we have seen, 1!: is been surreptitiously ernPlevinef viev every means of intimidation with of the Tur t i o_ iii the I thimate dismemberment foundations domb ons, and to sap the of the Turk i s h G overnment. That i s the notorious. It is Div 2.X leaning of the ultimatum thrust ttPc:n the week ijalftern within a or acceptance or refusal Rentenii :is;,e production by Prince MENSCHIKOFF. mgthat consequently —remembering how e Allies . in acted towards ourselveti Russian„(l Emperor has duplic t i h ty is , matter, treating Wester! al Europe with most and the Sublime Porte 'with the unjustbl turpitnde-we repeattliat further necessity for I e (Ailed caution in diplomacy —that further, Il uo l e at l for what are termed merely prudential considera tions, has by this time:altogether disappeared. The dvisability of so ac Li n g.vamslied at themoment when the /10t017.011S at/Handl rgt was laid before the Divan by at Cons tantinoe. I the RusNian Plenipotelitiary becam e requisite, therefore, f o r some more ener t getic proceeding on our part immediately Prince MENSCHIKOFF was known to have taken his de parture for St. Peter4urglr., As it appears to us, but one course lay open to our rulers instantly on their becoming acquainted with- this emergency. , That course, we conceive, is sufficiently obvious even to the least intelligent capacity—namely, the concentration forthwith of our maritime forces in the Mediterranean, at the entrance of the Dardanelles. Unless orders to this effect have been dispatched to Admiral DuNDAs, directing him to conduct his fleet immediately to the vicinity of the Golden Horn, to be ready, in case of need, to afford every assistance in his power to ABD-UL-MEDJID, we cannot conceive that due efforts will be allowed to have been made—" to maintain inviolate the faith of Treaties and the independence and integrity of the Turkish Empire "—by the chiefs of her Britannic MAJESTY'S Government. A little while longer, however, and it will be seen whether the Cabinet has acquitted itself of its responsibilities in this matter, by acting with becoming vigour, decision, and promptitude. A little while longer and the country will learn whether the Coalition Ministry has fulfilled its promises in reference to what we have designated before now the only rational policy in regard to this Turkish difficulty. A little while longer and we shall see whether Eng land has been spared the shame of that exagge rated caution which we have declared may so soon, beyond a certain limit, degenerate into the most abject pusillanimity. Two guarantees that such may prove the case, we conceive to be just now, happily visible—one, the fact that Viscount PA LMERSTON still continues to be a mem ber of her MAJESTY'S Government --the other, that our policy in regatta to Turkey has been already declared to be identical with that resolved upon by the Imperial Councils of the third NA POLEON. The present Home Secretary is not the man to deal over-leniently with the despotic Cabinet of St. Petersburgh : neither is the reigning EMPEROR of the French a potentate likely to con cede over much to the arrogant ambition of the Au TOCRAT. The Income Tax Bill has at length gone through committee. Some few trivial changes may pos sibly be introduced when the Bill is once more re committed, but the measure is now before the covartry in the form in which, most probably, it will eventually be carried into practical operation; and we would once more, while there is yet time for amendments, claim at the hands of Hon. Gentle men the close and attentive consideration to its provisions which its vast importance and the pro longed term for which it is about to be granted so imperatively demands. The Bill itself, accord ing to the admission of its author, is made up of a multitude of inconsistencies and inequalities, all pulling in different directions, so as eventually, in a great degree, to nearly balance each other. This is a convenient mode of reasoning, in which Sir CHARLES Woon, when he mis-managed the national finances, used to greatly delight. It finished a stereotyped answer to every com plaint that could be brought 'forward. When the grievance was clearly and unequivocally exposed—.when the gross and palpable injustice to which a particular class was subjected was exhi bited in all its enormity, there Was no attempt at justification, no denial of that which could admit of no doubt or difficulty—all that was considered necessary being that the Financial Minister should acknowledge with a bland smile the magnitude of the evil, declaring, however, at the same time, that the sufferer could not justly complain, as others were nearly as badly off. The landed pro prietor, who objected to being compelled to pay the duty on the amount which he was compelled to allow for repairs, rates, taxes, insurance, ab sconding tenants, &c.,. &c., was assured that the contributor under schedule D was still more severely treated, and that there could be no doubt that the impost pressed more hardly on industry than on property. While to the murmurs of the phy sical or intellectual labourer, at having the pre carious profits of his exertions charged as highly as the dividends on the Three per Cents., or the ground rents of well-circumstanced real estate — the answer was, that some landowners were charged on what they did not receive, or, at all events, on What was not applicable to their own use. During all this time, the favoured classes, the fundholders and capitalists, stood aloof, chuckling in their sleeves at the dexterity with which their advocate shifted the pea from thimble to thimble, playing off one grievance against an other, and all the time covering his protegees under the folds of his ample cloak. What would be said of the City Police if they suffered the swell-mobs men to ply their vocation on Ludgate-hill with out let or hinderance, so long as they abstained from touching the sacred persons or appropria,t-• in g the property of the Freemen of the City, comforting the country gentleman who had lost his gloves and , handkerchief with the assurance that a gentleman from Manchester had been plun dered of his watch and spectacles, and both the narrative of the mode in which a passing Barris ter had been eased of his purse, or a country Sur geon relieved of his pocket-book. The uninitiated would probably think that it was the duty of the so-called guardians of the public peace to stop these nefarious operations altogether, rather than to justify themselves on account of the number of the victims. So those unversed in State-craft might imagine that it would be more becoming in a Financial Minister to endeavour to remove every well-grounded source of complaint, and to obtain as near an approximation to justice as possible, rather than to play off the agricul tural against the trading classes, and both against professional men. What, for instance, can be more unfair than making the landlord liable for the tax, or rent to which he was entitled, but had never received, and rendering the tax a charge on the land, to be received from a future occupier ? Surely the loss of the rent should be considered quite sufficient without requiring the unfortunate proprietor to satisfy the claims of the collector at the very moment when he would require peculiar indul gence. Mr. GLADSTONE seemed to think it would be a very great hardship " if the Govern ment should lose the tax when a tenant disap peared, having succeeded in spiriting away his stock from his farm without the landlord knowing anything of the matter," and this because " the landlord might succeed in recovering the amount of the rent from the tenant at a subsequent period without the Government being enabled to recover the amount of the tax from him." Now this argument will perhaps exhibit more clearly than any other the distorted and one-sided view of ( the subject taken by the Right Honourable Gentleman. How often, we ask, is the landlord so fortunate as to recover his arrears from ab sconding tenants, particularly after " the stock has been spirited away from the farm ? " Let Lord CAMPBELL return an answer on behalf of the Irish proprietors. He is surely an unimpeachable witness, in whom the Government may repose im plicit confidence. It appears as if the Noble and Learned Lord has reckoned without his host in assuming that the tax will only fall on the sums actually received. It may, after all; turn out to be rather an expensive luxury to become an Irish landowner, where the party will be charged on his nominal rent-roll rather than on his actual receipts. It will, of course, operate as a heavy blow and a great discouragement to the invest ment of English capital in Ireland, for which so many inducements have been held forth, and which is at length beginning to find its way to that much-neglected country. We must confess 1 1 that we cannot help doubting the prudence of such a course, which appears to be as impolitic as it is manifestly inequitable. Nor is it either more just or expedient to charge the amount of the tax on the sums actually paid into the public exchequer, either as interest on the amounts ori ginally ailvancc,d, or as instalments of the principal. Every allowance, too, should be made for public burdens, which a pp ear to our judgment to possess even stronger claims to exemption than ~a -spairs," inasrauch as the rates, dTc., are imperative, while thinks otherwiseit repairs are, to The CHANCELLOR extent i at least, optional. of the EXCHEQUER, however, whatever they majorit y , ' are ; and as " his well-disciplined decrees, quite really to register his black white a t hi s ni uY he, or to vote coirn , and, it is almost needless to say that he succesaful on every point--indeed, discussion in such a case ap pears to be perfectly useless. It is well, how ever, that the community should be made ac quainted with the atrocities of the infamous tax —whichis renewed without modification or amend ment, nominally for seven years, but more pro bably for seventeen or seventy years—and which indeed, cannot be relinquished so long as it is necessary to provide for the interest of a heavy national debt. THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, MAY 31, 1853. COURT CIRCULAR. LORD CHAMBERLAIN'S OFFICE, MAY 30. Notice is hereby given, that the State Apartments at Windsor Castle will be closed from Tuesday, the 7th of June next, until the 15th of June, both days inclusive. The Queen and Prince Albert, accompanied by the Princess Royal, and attended by the Hon. Flora Mac donald, Colonel the Hon. Charles Grey, and Lieut.-Col. Hon. A. Gordon, went yesterday morning to Gore house, Kensington, and inspected the collection of cabinet furniture. Her Majesty, attended by the Viscountess Jocelyn, and Colonel the Hon. Charles Grey, visited her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cambridge, at her residence, in St. James's Palace, and her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, at Clarence-house, St. James's, yes terday afternoon. The Queen and Prince Albert honoured the perfor mance of the French Plays with their presence last evening. Her Majesty and his Royal Highness were attended by the Viscountess Jocelyn, Hon. Caroline Cavendish, Earl Somers, Colonel the Hon. G. Grey, and Lieutenant-Colonel the Hon. A. Gordon. Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, accompanied by her Serene Highness the Princess Adelaide of Hohenlohe, and attended by Lady Anna Maria Dawson and Sir George Couper, also honoured the performance with her presence. Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, accompa nied by her Serene Highness the Princess Adelaide of Hohenlohe, and attended by Sir George Couper, visited the Adult Orphan Institution, in the Regent's Park, yesterday afternoon. A deputation of the Burial Board of St. Pancras, con sisting of the Rev. Thomas Dale, vica r ( chairman), Mr. Churchwarden Billett, Mr. Francis Healey, Mr. James P. Pearce, and Mr. H. Stock (county magistrates), Messrs. tirettingham, Durrant Cooper, Farrer, Timpson, and Mr. G. W. F. Cook (vestry clerk), had an interview with Viscount Palmerston [ yesterday, at the Home office. The Rev. Dr. Cook and Mr. Cochrane had an inter view with the Earl of Aberdeen yesterday, at his official residence in Downing-street. A deputation, consisting of Mr. Cockerell, Mr. Fresh field, and Mr. J. Gurney Hoare, had an interview with Earl Granville yesterday, at the Privy Council Office. The Archdeacon of Middlesex, the Rector of Maryle bone, the Rector of St. George's the Rector of Padding ton, the Incumbent of St. Mark's, Kennington, the Vicar of St. Bride's, and the Rector of St. Margaret's, had an interview with Viscount Palmerston at the Home Office yesterday. Mr. Ross, and Mr. Jackson, M.P., had an interview with the Duke of Newcastle yesterday, at the Colonial office. Colonel Godfrey had also an interview with the Noble Duke. The Marquis of Winchester and Mr. Jacob Bell had interviews with Viscount Palmerston yesterday, at the Home-office. Mr. Alderman Farebrother had also an interview with the Noble Viscount. Dispatches were received at the Colonial-affice yester day, from the Governors of Hong Kong, Australia, Van Diemen's Land, New Zealand, and Malta. INDIA AND CHINA. The commercial advices by the overland mail report no material alteration in the import markets, except that at Bombay the desire of holders to realise had led to a decline in prices in the face of the recent improve ment in demand. With respect to the state of affairg in China, the letters both from Canton and Shanghai seem to throw doubt upon the interference of the com bined foreign squadrons in support of the Emperor, at least to any active - extent. At Canton it was under stood that, although up to the 18th of March, Nankin had not been taken, the outer walls bad been breached, and there was a prospect of an early capitulation, after which Pekin, the capital, would be in imminent danger, as the insurgents would be able to stop all supplies of grain from the south. At Shanghai, on the 28th of March, a general belief prevailed that the assault had been attended with partial, if not entire, success. The force, consisting of several foreign vessels, which the Imperial authorities at Shanghai had been collecting to convey stores and ammunition to the besieged city, had not yet been sent off, and it was now thought unlikely that any assistance would arrive there in time. Mean while, business affairs at Shanghai were less disturbed than might have been anticipated. The presence of the various British and American ships and steamers pro duced a feeling of security among the natives of the vicinity calculated to induce them to carry on such trading operations as could be conducted by barter. There were now available for export about 20 chops of tea and 700 bales of silk, which there were no means of getting rid of, except against foreign manufactures or opium. Meanwhile, the most important question was as to the probable effect of the rebellion on-next season's production. This would, of course, greatly depend on the duration of the contest, but it was supposed that if it should continue only a short time longer a serious falling off in the quantity, at least of silk, would be ex perienced, some persons even estimating it at 50 per cent. With regard to tea opinions were less settled. On the subject of the popular feeling as to the issue of the struggle, the present letters tend strongly to show that the ruling dynasty has no real hold upon the nation. One writer from Canton says, " The Chinese with whom we come in contact, and who may, perhaps, be dig nified with the title of 'middle classes,' express themselves, both here and at Shanghai, rather in favour of the revolution than otherwise, and I believe that this is the feeling of the masses throughout the country." An impression consequently prevailed that when the capture of Nankin should have been effected the country to the south would pass under the sway of the rebels with no other disturbance than would be caused by the displacement of unpopular local officers. The presence of foreigners among the in- Aurgents appears to be confirmed in a letter received ldy an English house from a young man who lbft this country a few years back, and who now writes that he is engaged with them as as artillery officer, and that he knows of six others who are likewise active in the service. The following is an extract of a circular from Messrs. Russell and Co., dated Canton, the 9th of April. Its reference to the movements of the American. British, and French ships at Shanghai up to the date of the 28th of March scarcely agrees with the accounts brought by the Ganges to Bombay and which were not later than the 21st of March), to the effect that a posi tive interference was about to take place, and that Colonel Marshall, the American CommissiOner, had de termined to place the Susquehanna before Di ankin : " At our last dates from Shanghai, the 28th ult., the revolutionary forces were certainly gaining strength, and it was reported among the people that they had taken Nankin, which was credited by foreigners in conb'equence of the admission by the highest Imperial officer in the neighbourhood of Shanghai that they had taken . the outer vralls.' At Soochow, and in Shanghai, even the local trade is suspended, valuable property secreted, and we are advised that such of the inhabitants as were able to do so have left. The Taoutae of Shanghai (formerly the Hong merchant Samqua) has, we learn, removed his residence to the foreign quarter. This is the sum of the intelligence we received from the north ; and, how ever bare it may be, we are assured that the representa tives of the American and British Governments now at Shanghai have not more precise accounts from the interior. We have heard no apprehension expressed regarding the safety of foreigners or their property at Shanghai. There are at present inthe Woosung two British one American, and one French war steamers, but for no other reason than precaution." The accounts from Singapore came down to the 19th of April. Considerable activity had. prevailed in the market for imports, and before the close of the month it was expected a further extension of business would take place, as the junk traders would then have to purchase their return cargoes. In produce no material alteration had occurred, with the exception of Straits tin, which had been sold at advanced quotations. No later advices had been received from Labuan. THE BENGAL PRESIDENCY.—Major-General the Hon. George Anson, M.P.; brother of the Earl of Lichfield, has been appointed to succeed Major-General Sir Joseph Thackwell, G.C.8., as Commander-in-Chief of the Pre sidency of Bengal. Major-General Anson will leave England for the seat of his command by an early mail, accompanied by the Hon, Mrs. Anson and family. A RRIV ALS OF SPECIE.--7he following arrivals of specie have taken place this week : viz.,— x Asia, from New York .... 123,000 La Plata, from the West Indies, gold 86,0001., silver 147,000/ -. 233,000 Sarah Sands from Melbourne, gold 320,0 00 /., s ilver 20,000/. Northumberland, from Melbourne, 17;9540z gold . Cheapside from Sydney, 11,6080 z. gold Lydia, from Sydney, 10,000 oz. g old . 40,000 Windsor, from Sydney , 20,7180 z. g old 82,870 May Queen, from Portland-bay, 1620 z. gold 650 £934,160 In addition to the Po above, the. Blackwall, fro mrt Phillip, on the 22 d of February, has arrived, and is rumoured to have about 240,0001. on board, in which case the total will be raised to nearly 1,200,0001. All these vessels from Australia have made rather long pas sages, and bring only old dates. ROCKY BAR MINING COMPANY. —Yesterday a special meeting of this company took place at the office in Throginorton-street ; Mr. Satterthwaite (from New York), in the chair. The business of the meeting con sisted in passing resolutions by which the English share holders protest against the terms of the propose p d le n ase of the Rocky Bar Mines t o the Ag Fria Comay, considering that it does not sufficiently serve their in terests, and require the board of directors in New York not to confirm the lease as aforesaid. Further, that considering the well-ascertained value of the property now in possession of the company, the English share holders deem it very undesirable at present, either by sale or lease, to part with the direct control of the un dertaking. These resolutions having been agreed 'to, the meeting adjourned. BANKRUPTCY COURT.-(THIS DAY.) (Before Mr. Commissioner Holroyd.) IN RE ASHTON AND SPRIGGS. To-day was appointed for audit and dividend meeting under the estate of these bankrupts, who had carried on business as warehousemen in Aldermanbury. The balance-sheet, commencing Dec. 1850 and ending Sept. 14, 1852, shows :—Dr. to Cred., 8,0021. 10s. 9d. ; liabilities, 106/ . . Bs. 3d. ; capital, 1,305/. 13s. ; profits on trading, 1,8831. 4s. 7d. Cr.: Debtors good, 1.8161. 16s. 4d. ; doubtful, 951. 4s. 6d. ; property taken by as signees, 2,7551. 6s. 2d. ; losses, 6651. is. 9d. ; bad debts, 861. - 4s. 7d. ; trade expenses, 1,5531. 3s. 4d. Drawings by partners—Ashton, 8631. Is. Bd. ' • Spriggs, 6691. Bs. Bd. Spriggs' deficiency, on cash account, 2,6871. The case has excited much interest in consequence of the bankrupt Spriggs having absconded to Australia. It appears that previously to absconding he paid in to his own credit with the Bank of Australia a sum of 1,0001., which was duly advised before his departure, and also fraudulently drew bills to the amount of 1,700/. on the firm. The bankrupt (Spriggs) was appre hended at Melbourne, and brought to England, and is now in custody for felony. The business of the day was to declare a dividend, and the apprehension of the bankrupt (Spriggs) was reported to his k Honour. The dividend will be officially declared in a few days, and is likely to be very satisfactory under the circum , stances. _ It should be mentioned that Mr. Ashton obtained an immediate certificate of the first class as soon as the forms would allow, as he placed himself in the hands of his creditors immediately he discovered Spriggs had absconded. . IN RE WEST AND WEST. These bankrupts (brothers) had carried on business at Donnington, Lincoln, as drapers, and absconded, but were apprehended and allowed to surrender, instead of being subject to be tried under the Bankruptcy Act. The debts are comparatively of small amount, and a dividend will be declared in a few days. MARLBOROUGH-STREET-(THIS DAY.) CHARGE OF EmßEzzumENT.--Louis Aggersis, a re ppectable working man, was brought before Mr. Hard wick, in custody of Jeapes, an active officer of the detective force attached to the C division, charged with having embezzled various sums of money, received for and on account of his employer, Mr. Richard Paget, the extensive cutler, and surgical instrument maker, No. 195, Piccadilly. Mr. Paget stated that the prisoner had been in his employment as clerk for about three years, but left him about a month ago, to enter upon another situation at Fortnum and Mason's, which he , (Mr. Paget) recom mended him to. During the time the prisoner was with the prosecutor, it was his duty to receive all monies, and to enter the same in the usual books kept for that purpose. , since the prisoner had left witness had applied to various customers for the amount of their bills, and to his great surprise found that the prisoner had received the money and appropriated it to his own I use. He (prosecutor) was not at present prepared with any further evidence, and produced bills receipted by the prisoner, whom he wished to be remanded to a future day. Jeapes, 145 C, said he took defendant into custody, and if remanded he should be able to produce several persons who had paid prisoner money. Piisoner ' in defence, said necessity drove him to keep the money he received. Mr. Paget said it could not be that. The prisoner was a single man, and received a liberal salary. Mr. Hardwick remanded the prisoner for a week. LITERATURE. Memorandums made in Ireland in the Autumn of 1852. By J. Forbes, M.D., Author of a " Phy sician's Holiday." Smith and Elder. It is evident that these volumes have been written by one who is well acquainted with his subject, and does not borrow from foreign sources. All the remarks here offered, and the opinions here expressed, are the result of personal experience and minute investigation. It must have been an ela borate study of the country only that could have enabled the author to obtain such a thorough knowledge of its concerns. Besides this undeniable advantage, the work has another attraction in its impartiality. " Nothing extenuate, nor set down aught in malice," might have been chosen for its text, for it maintains throughout a dignified tone, apart from exaggerated praise or satirical remarks. This is a merit as rare as it is precious in works of this kind, wherein we often find talents thrown away in flippant criticism that might have proved of good service in the cause of sober reality ; while national prejudices are awakened, and abeyant ani mosities aroused, by the careless jests and thought less words. Happily nothing of the sort pervades the spirit of these pages, or intrudes on the notice of their readers. The most sensitive or patriotic can here meet with nothing to excite pain or cause indignation. The style is very interesting. It is enlivened by anecdote and enriched with details. Information of the most varied kind is, given con cerning the diversified ranks of society, the present position of affairs, social, political, and religious, the mode of management at the schools and col leges, the forms and ceremonies of the Ca tholic in contradistinction to the observances of the Established Church. On all these topics, the most desirable points in the arguments of both sides are Iset forth ; and the author, in some cases, subjoins his own opinion, founded on the evidence adduced before us, and drawn from the conclusions there met with. On the whole, he takes a not un favourable view of the prospects of the Emerald Isle. He seems deeply impressed with its native worth and its immense resources ; but, at the same time, he declares it to be his conviction, that until many changes take place in its regulations and arrangements the government of Ireland will reflect no credit on its rulers, and result in no comfort to the people. In conclu sion, however, it is asserted that the measures for relief and amelioration are not more diffi cult of realisation and adoption than many that have already been carried into effect ; and a hope is expressed that such " an accomplishment is des tined to shed around the memory of some of our living statesmen a portion of the same glorious light that must render conspicuous through all time the names of the authors of the great acts referred to." Those who would study the subject of Irish rights and wrongs will be well pleased to meet with this work, for however they may differ from its opinions in particulars, they must admire the general purpose of its'pages. They will there find an endeavour to discover .truth, an earnest exposition of grievances, and an ardent desire for reform. The lovers of justice will appreciate such efforts, and the admirers of progress acknowledge such advances. MARKET NEWS-(THIS DAY.) COLONIAL. SI:MAR.—This article is rather dull. The quantity of British Plantation landed last week at the East and West India Docks was 2,341 hhds, 181 tierces, 287 barrels—there were taken for home consumption 1,379 hhds, 123 tierces, 100 barrels. The stock in the same places is 6,832 hhds, 1,252 tierces, 1,219 barrels. COFFEE.—A large quantity is being put up. Rust.—The quantity last week at the East and West India Docks was 135 puns. There were taken for home consumption, 297 pun.. 12 hhds., and exported 115 puns. 194 hhds. The stock in the same place is 8,208 puns. 440 hhds,. RlCE.—Bengal, 1,828 bags offered by auction, were all taken in at 10s 6d to us for mid. and good. SALTPETRE.—At auction 3,857 bags Bengal partly sold at 26s to 27s for 6L; to 7 per cent., 27s 6d to 28s for good 41 per cent. The rest were taken in, fine 29s to 30s for 34 to 2 per cent. refraction. TALLOW.—P.Y.C. is 47s 6d per cwt. on the spot, and town 49s 3d. TEA.—There are public sales now in progress,. HAY MARKETS. SMITHFIELD.—Meadow hay, 3/ 5s to 41 lOs ; clover ditto, 4/ Os to 5/ 8s ; and straw, 1/ 7s to 1/ 14s per load. Supply very moderate, and trade firm. COMBEIMAND.—Meadow hay, 3/ 8s to 4/ 12s ; clover ditto, 4/ Os to 5/ 8s ; and straw, 1/ 8s to 1/ 15s per load. A fair average supply, and a steady demand. WHITECHApEL.—Meadow hay, 3/ 5s to 4/ 10s ; clover ditto, 41 Os to 5/ lOs ; and. straw, 1/ 8s to 1/ 14s per load. Trade steady, at full prices. PRINCESS'S THEATRE.—Mr. Lambert, the respected treasurer of this establishment, takes his benefit on Thursday evening next. The performances will consist of The Corsican Brothers, and Black Eyed Susan, in which Mr. T. P. Cooke will make his last appearance but two at this theatre. CUSTOMS SEIZURES.—The Commissioners of Customs have directed the principal officers at the several ports throughout the kingdom to prepare and transmit to the accountant of petty; receipts, [with all practicable dis patch, an account, agreeably to a form approved for the purpose, of the amount of fines and satisfactions (not legal penalties enforced) imposed on the release of goods or vessels from detention or seizure in the years 1829, 1845, 1850, 1851, and 1852, confining the same to mer cantile transactions only. The object of this return is to show particularly what total amount of fines and satisfactions have been imposed - upon the mercantile community and shipping interests, during the above years, in lieu of enforcing the provisions of the law. Should there be any difficulty in rendering a strictly correct account, it is to be given as nearly as possible. THE CHICORY FRAUD.—Yesterday, in order to secure the object of the Government in its recent orders relative to the sale of coffee, a new general order was issued by the Commissioners of Inland Revenue. By this order it is prescribed that in place of the words "Mixture of chicory and coffee," required by the said general order to be printed on every package containing such mixture, the words, "This is sold as a mixture of chicory and coffee," be printed in capital letters of Roman charac ter of at least one-eighth of an inch in height, on the outside of one side of every such package, on which side no other printing or writing whatever must he placed ; and that there he no other printing or a riting whatever on any other part of the packages, except the name and address of tile seller thereof, SPORTING INTELLIGENCE, SPORTING NOTES.-110. CCCCXXXI. A RETROSPECTIVE , AT THE GREAT EPSOM MEETING, WITH ITS EFFECTS UPON THE FUTURE. The past meeting, the greatest ever celebrated at Epsom or elsewhere, has not passed away without leav ing behind it many reminiscences of its existence, and some most-telling effects upon the future. It is to these last I intend to turn my sole and undivided attention, as being of considerable service to the turfite. The running for the Craven Stakes shews that Joe Miller's star is on the decline, and that considering Har binger, is a mile horse, and the distance was only a quar ter further, his defeat shews him to be a fit companion for Joe. Grapeshot, the representative of Osborne's stable, if not handicapped too heavily, will be ready to do a good thing in the course of the autumn. The winner of the Woodcote, Mr. Rowland E. Cooper's ch c by Cotherstone, out of Empress, is a smartish animal, but has not the smallest pretensions for the Derby of next year. Between now and then he has not a single engagement. I fancy not one of the lot in the rear of the winner will ever distinguish them selves in any great races, unless carrying very light weights. I last week glanced at several incidents connected with the Derby, so shall now merely add that I have not the slightest doubt the race was won by the best horse, and that Sittingbourne was the second best. Mr. Bowes' victory with West Australian will affect several of the horse's future engagements. I believe he runs for the Fourth Triennial Stakes at Ascot, which, of course, he will win. He is also engaged in the North Derby Stakes at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, for which, how ever, I should say he will not start, it being dangerous to trust good horses upon such a hard soil as that is for small stakes. At Goodwood he is engaged in the Drawing Room Stakes, where, however, he is not likely to put in an appearance against his rival of the other day, Sittingbourne. He is also entered in the second year of the second Bentinck Memorial Stakes, which I should book a certainty for him. At York he figures among the entries for the Ebor St. Leger, and also in the Great Yorkshire Stakes, for both of which he will have to carry penalties ; therefore it is somewhat doubtful whether he will put in an appearance. At Doncaster he is in the Great St. Leger, which, if he keeps well he is sure to win. He is also engaged in the Doncaster Stakes, in which, I presume, he will decline starting ; and in a sweepstakes of 200 sovs. over the St. Leger Course, with his stable companion, Umbriel, as his only opponent, and he going merely to save his stake, the value of the stake being 2,200 sovs. The same day he figures in the Don Stakes, but has Pelion, Vindex, Cineas, and Orestes—all more or less good mile horses— are engaged against him, it is probable Mr. Bowes will think discretion the better part of valour after his pre vious races. The Triennial at Newmarket will, of course, fall to him ; and I see no reason why the Grand Duke Michael Stakes should not likewise. Thus, it will be seen, if all goes on right, West Austrilian's career will be a bright and profitable one. Sittingbourne, who ran so excellent a second to West Australian has no less than fourteen e ngagemen t s , th e first of which is at Ascot for a 50 sovs. sweep, which he will walk over for. The second is for the Welcome Stakes, also at Ascot, in which he will probably have to meet Pelion. The third is for the Triennial, in which, I presume, he will not show, as West Au s t ra li an runs . At Stockbridge he has nothing opposed to him worth mentioning for the Fourth Triennial Stakes. At the same meeting he is engaged in the Steward's Plate, for which his running is very dubious. At Goodwood he has only two rivals of any note for the Gratwicke Stakes —Pharos and Umbriel. Notwithstanding a 41b penalty for running second in the Derby, he will probably start and win the Drawing Room Stakes. Ills starting for the Second Bentinck Memorial Stakes I doubt. His running is also dubious for the First Biennial Stakes at Brighton. From penalties previously incurred he will most probably decline going to the post for the Ebor St. Leger at York, but his opponents being of a very ordi nary description, with the exception of Vindex, he might be tempted into the field. His next appearance will be at Doncaster for the St. Leger, where he cannot expect to play anything more than second fiddle. He will pro bably be the winner of the Doncaster Stakes, without Catherine Hayes should bowl him over. His last two engagements are for the Grand Duke Michael Stakes and Fifth Triennial, about which I need say no more than that West Australian is entered for both. Cineas and Rataplan will run uncommonly well in their future engagements ; and Orestes will do good during some of these days when he is a little less fractious than at present. Umbriel, as I long ago remarked, will prove himself to be a second Uriel. The Two-Year-Old Stakes brought out a very pro mising Derby colt, 'yclept Dervish, by Cowl, the pro perty of Lord Derby. He won his race so out of hand that he stands an equal favourite with Ruby at 20 to 1 for next year's great engagement. The animal bids fair to be a large, flashing creature, but I should hesitate lie fore I backed him at 20 to 1 a twelvemonth before the race. The field behind him, with the exception of Lady Audrey, were a not particuliarly brilliant lot. Catherine Hayes, the splendid daughter of L anercos t, notwithstanding she has ran five races, is still unbeaten. She won the Oaks easier than I anticipated. She has five engagements, the first of which is at Ascot for the Coronation Stakes, which she will carry off easily enough, disregarding the penalty. Her next is at Goodwood for the 50 sovs. Stakes, in which figure the names of Pha r os, Vindex, Pelien, and Ninnyhammer. At Brighton her starting is very doubtful for the Biennial Stakes, on ac count of the accumulative penalties she will have to carry. Her next engagement is in the Doncaster Stakes, at Doncaster; and her last in the Fifth Triennial, at Newmarket. Her chance for either lam not enabled to say anything about. The seitling — to-night, it is expected, will be tolerably good, considering the heavy amount lost. The only meeting of any note _this week is that at Newton, which I shall touch upon to-morrow. THE SPIRIT OF THE TURF. TATTERSALL'S.-YESTERDA.Y. Although the regular settling does not take place until to-day, yet a good deal of business was transacted yes terday in checking balances and paying and receiving. A large amount of money changed hands, and in the absence of ill-omened rumours we may infer that the settling in general will pass over smoothly. Most of the money comes out of the Ring ; Mr. Davis loses an im mense stake. At intervals there was a little betting on future events, particulars of which are subjoined. ASCOT STAKES. 3to 1 agst Lord Wilton's Lady Evelyn (taken). Bto 1 agst General Anson's King Pepin. THE EMPEROR'S PLATE. 7to 4 agst Lord Exeter's Stockwell (2 to 1 taken freely). 7to 2 agst Mr. J. M. Stanley's Teddington (taken). 6to 1 agst Lord Clifden's Pelion (taken). At the commencement 5 to 2 was laid against Stock well, and he and Teddington were backed for 2001. at evens against the field. NORTHUMBERLAND PLATE. 12 to 1 agst Mr. William's Chief Justice (taken). ST. LEGER. 350 to 200 agst Mr. Bowes's West Australian (taken). DERBY, 1854. 20 to 1 agst Lord Derby's Dervish (taken to 1501.) 20 to 1 agst Mr. Merry's The Wild Huntsman (taken to 1001.) 25 to 1 agst Mr. Bowes's Marley Hill (taken). 500 to 15 agst Lord Eglinton's Julian (taken). 1000 to 50 each agst Dervish, Ruby, and Woodcote (laid in one bet). Misletoe, for some time the leading favourite for the Oaks, is to be sold with her engagements, and without reserve, on Thursday next, at Tattersall's. NEWTON RAMIS. These races will take place on Thursday and Friday next. The programme is of a varied and attractive character, and a large meeting is expected. The fol lowing are the acceptances for THE GOLD CUP. Yrs st lb Weathergage 4 8 3 Woolwich a 7 6 Gholab Singh 5 6 13 Little Davie 4 6 12 Le Juif 5 6 1% Sir Robert 6 i 6 Yrs st lb TheMorningSfar 4 5 12 Athena Pallas 4 5 10 The Carrier 4 5 10 Angelo 3 5 0 Mary Aislabie 3 4 12 To check the discreditable practice of withdrawing horses after their numbers are put up, the following new rule will be strictly enforced : " When a horse's number has once been exhibited on the Telegraph, it shall not be allowed to be withdrawn, unless from accident to the rider or horse, and the party causing it to be withdrawn will be fined 5 sovs." MILITARY NEWS.—Captain Boyle, 72d Highlanders, military secretary to the Lieutenant-General Command ing the Forces in the Windward and Leeward Islands, has been appointed 'governor of the Military Prison at Weedon. Colonel Bentinek, of the Coldstream Guards, will command the Brigade of Guards at Chobham-com mon encampment, and Majors-General Sir De Lacy Evans and Mildmay Fane the regiments of Infantry of the Line. Captain A. Makenzie, having resigned the Barrack-Mastership at Woolwich, is to be succeeded by Barrack-Master H. F. Farquharson, from Portobello Barrack, Dublin. Lieutenant-General Sir Richard Armstrong, K.C.8., commanding the troops in Madras, Was to leave on the 26th inst. for England. An order has been sent to each of the divisions of Marines, direct ing the captains of companies to send in a return, through the commanding officer, of such men in their companies as have votes for the election of an M.P. I n the 88th Regimen of Connaught Rangers there is not at this moment one man either in the military prisons, garrison cells, or in the guard-room ; neither is there a single man confined to barrack ; in fact, there is no crime in regiment.—United Service Gazette. THE SARAH SANDS.—PLYMOUTH, MONDAY.—Eighty eight packages of bullion, including the great nugget of 1341 b., were landed under police escort, from the Sarah Sands yesterday morning, and taken in the South Devon Railway Company's contract waggons from the Barbi can to the station, whence this valuable freight was dispatched by the 10 25 a.m. express train, due at six p.m. at Paddington. The bullion, which weighs nearly five tons, includes about 80,000 ounces of silver from the Cape of Good Hope. The mails landed from the Sarah Sands yesterday morning were 'dispatched by the 12 noon Bristol snail trains. They were packed in 73 bags and 8 boxes, weighed 2 tons 13 cwt., and in cluded a small mail from the Ckipe of Good Hope. Much to the credit of Captain Thompson and his officers, the mails aro in excellent conaitien. AUSTRALIA We extract the following from the Melbourne Argus of the 10th February : THE COLONY OF VICTORIA. In accordance with our custom, we present our readers with a review of events in the colony since our previous summary on the 3d January, the date of the sailing of the Chusan and Great Britain. TIE GOLD. A statistical table drawn up by Mr. Westgarth ex hibits as accurately as possible the produce of the Vic torian mines up to the end of last year. It will be seen that the total represents the astonishing amount of 4,890,000 ounces. Our own calculations made it some thing lower, but they were founded upon. less carefully collected data, and we have no hesitation in expressing our belief in the superior accuracy of Mr. Westgarth's estimate. Since the commencement of this year the quantities brought down by escort have been as under ? BY PRIVATE ESCORT. Ounces. January 7. From Mount Alexander 32,060 ~ 14. ditto 20,145 „ 21. ditto 18,772 .... • „ 28. ditto 20,204 February 4. ditto 23,747 Total 114,928 BY GOVERNMENT ESCORT. January 5. From Ballarat PP 5. From Mount Alexander 20,007 PP 12. ditto 5,870 12. From Ballarat „ 15. From Mount Alexander 3,897 ~ 17. From the Ovens PP 19. From Ballarat PP 19. From Mount Alexander 4,942 „ 22. ditto 4,577 PP 26. ditto ....... , 5,617 I, 26. From Ballarat 3P 29. From tho Ovens PP 29. From Mount Ale xan d er 5,943 February 2. From ditto 10,803 PP 2. From Ballarat PP 5. From the Ovens PP 5. From Mount Al exan d er 6,132 Total 126,617 By private escort Taken to Adelaide by escort 26th Jan., 1853 33,763 Total 275,308 RECAPITULA.TION. Ounces. Estimated produce to 31st December, 1852 4,893,926 Ditto from Ist Jan. to sth Feb. 1853, 275,308 Grand total.. 5,166,234 Which, at 755. per ounce, is equal to £19,373,377 The produce for the present year shows that there is not yet any reason to apprehend a sudden failure in the yield of gold ; but even if the amount were less than it is, there are still abundant evidences of the inexhaustible character of our mines. Of these the most remarkable is the fact that within the last few days three unpa ralleled masses of gold have been brought to light—such as perhaps the world has never seen before. They were found in a spot never much frequented hitherto, and there are reports of numerous smaller lumps having been found in the same locality. The largest of these three great lumps weighs 1344-lbs., of which upwards of 1201bs. are pure gold. The other two lumps weigh 931bs. 2 oz. 5 dwt., and 831bs. 9 oz. 5 dwt, respectively, only a very small proportion being quartz. They are superb specimens of gold and quartz interblended. The largest weighs many pounds more than the famous " Kerr hundred-weight of New South Wales, and has the additional advantage of being in one solid lump. The fortunate finders are taking it to England in the Sarah Sands for exhibition. The locality where these splendid masses have been found is called the Canadian Gully, and is a branch of the Ballarat diggings. These diggings were the first opened up in Victoria; and attracted a large number of people ; but they were almost wholly deserted when the superior richness of the Mount Alexander diggings was discovered. They have lately risen again into favour, however, and there is no doubt that tens of thousands will now flock to them, and explore them more thoroughly. The difference between the two localities seems to be that at Mount Alexander the gold is finer and more equably diffused ; while at Ballarat it is in larger lumps, and occurs less frequently. A similar difference has been observed between the Ophir and Turon diggings, in New South Wales. The difference would seem to indicate the existence of an orignal matrix or fountain head of the gold deposits, to which Balaarat probably lies nearer than Mount Alexander. Our scientific men can help us but little in the solution of that problem ; but there is no saying what continuous exploration may reveal. There really seems no ante cedent improbability •of the existence of some such original gold-beds. The price of gold in Melbourne has gradually risen to 3/. 16s. an ounce, and it is likely to continue rising till it reaches the Mint price. The abundance of specie, the competition in the trade, and the raising of the rate of exchange by the banks, have increased the pride, and almost annihilated the profits derivable from exporting gold. Yet the number of brokers is very considerable ; and the dubiousness attaching to the transactions of many of them is proportionately increased. The Sydney people have organised a private escort to the Victorian diggings, with the design of drawing some of our gold in their direction. The scheme is not at all feasible, and it appears likely that it will fail. Our neighbours may well be satisfied with their own diggings and the large quantities of our gold which, as Mr. West garth's table shows, find their way to the Sydney mar ket in the regular way of trade. MELBOURNE, FEB. 10.—A circumstance has just oc curred here which fully warrants the observations made in my former letter relative to the continued yield of gold to the labour of the digger, and its effect deranging the general labour market. I stated in my last that not the least probability existed, as I considered, of the gold fields ceasing to yield their present average return for a very long period, and in my first letter, of the 9th of November, I remarked that " new rich spots will con tinually be found there, new excitement will be created, and renewed desertion of ordinary occupation follow." The news which reached this town a few dais ago from the Ballarat diggings, and the immediate results of it are a verification of this. The discovery of this splendid mass of gold is thus announced in the Melbourne and Geelong pa pers—" 1201 b. nugget ! A most splendid discovery of the largest nugget of gold ever yet found in the world has taken place in Canadian Gully, Ballarat. The mass is quite pure, and the weight no less than 1201 b. It was deposited in the office of Mr. Commissioner Green, at Ballarat, and conveyed from Canadian Gully to the commissioner's tent slung to a pole carried on men's shoulders. Since then Mr. Welsh has arrived in town, and informs us he has handled the specimen. Placing the mass on the ground between his legs it was a good lift to raise it from the floor. The fortunate finders were a party of four. It is their intention to proceed to Eng land with the gold. After finding it they offered to sell the hole for 3001., but there was some hesitation, and they went down into the hole again, and got another nugget, weighing 76 ounces. A purchaser then stepped forward, and the lucky diggers retired from their toil with their fortunes made." I am informed that within a few hours of the appear ance of this statement—of the correctness of which there is no doubt—some hundreds of persons left Melbourne, and an advance instantly took place in the labour market. The passage in the Queen's speech alluding to the sub ject of transportation to Van Diemen's Land has given the highest satisfaction here, it being concluded from it as certain that the wretched and unjust system of Eng land's continuing to flood these fine colonies with her convicts is to cease immediately. I believe the power ful articles on this subject in your own influential jour nal, have mainly contributed to bring about this most desirable alteration. But whether or not they have been the means of opening the eyes of her Majesty's Government on the natter, it is difficult for any lan guage of mine to express adequately my sense of the inestimable benefit such a measure will be to the future well-being of Australia. No one can have been, as I am, a daily observer of the amount of crime, for which the large number of bad characters are mainly respon sible, who have contrived, in one way or another, to get over from the neighbouring convict-cursed colony, but must hail with the greatest joy the intelligence that at last the death-blow is to be dealt to the system. That it will powerfully stimulate the immigration into these colonies of a better and higher class of emigrants, I have no doubt ; for, in spite of all the advantages they hold out to the intending settler, there was this one plague-spot which loomed upon his vision, and inter fered with the otherwise almost perfect brightness of the prospect. Thus another impulse has been given to the rapid colonisation of this great country. I am glad to say that a committee of the Legislative Council has presented an elaborate report on the impor tant matter I alluded to in my last, namely, the drain ing and water supply of this city, without some effectual proviso for which the inestimable benefit we enjoy of living in one of the healthiest climates in the world is in a great measure lost to us. As there is no difference of opinion as to its urgent necessity, I trust, notwithstanding the high price of labour, the work will shortly be commenced. Another thing which for the comfort of the inhabit ants is greatly needed, and the absence of which is greatly felt by all the now corners, is the daily watering of the streets by water-carts, as in England. If required there, it is far more here, for the extreme drynesss of the atmosphere reduces the unpaved streets to a mass of sandy dust, which the wind raises into a column more like what you would expect to meet with in the deserts of Arabia than in an English-built city. Many fears have been entertained for the fate of the Melbourne steamer, owing to the unfavourable reports which the English papers had brought us of her bad con dition, and of the disastrous commencement of her voyage, but these fears were happily allayed on Friday last by her arrival. A portion of her mail is said to be seriously injured, some of the letters being in a defaced and rotten state, from the access of water to the bags during the voyage. It may be •truly said, that, up to this time, steam has been of no service whatever to the trade of this place ; but, on the contrary, from the irregularity and utter disappointment as to the length of passage, it has greatly inconvenienced the merchants of Melbourne, goods arriving in some instances by sailing vessels before the adviees and bills of lading forwarded by the steamer. However, it being simply a question'of better management (effectual arrangement for an abundant and quick supply of coals at the coaling stations being the main point), I antici pate this will soon be set right. The general state o 1 trade here continues good, except that among theretai shops there has been some decline in their generally tace tive business during the last few weeks. One of h most noticeable features in the business of the pla is ce is the vast amount of property of all kinds which is dis posed of by public auction. Some of th e auction rooms' are really such fine spacious buildings as would do credit to any city in Europe, and they are crowded daily h - buyers of all classes, from the dealer to the private con sumer. Unlike what t it is in England, where a g rey sacrifice in price is usually made when property brought to the hammer, the rices which are real ised are on the average excellent, paying the owners a handsom. profit. In fact, it is the general and preferred mode f)! effecting sales, and has the great advantage of a raped disposal of goods, saving warehouse rent, and mall other expenses incident to holding over g oods for the chance of higher prices by private oontract. There is nothing particular to notice connected Nri.t. the gold fields, except that the dangerous course vihr the Government were about to adopt in licensing public' houses for the sale of spirits at the diggings has be l abandoned. The bill for this measure was innerduoT into the Legislative Council by the Attorney but public opinion was very properly opposed to it, an it was thrown out by a small majority. Bad it b i _ e f, carried the evil consequences, I fear, would have 7,e appalling. The pursuit of the gold digger i s of .1417 one of the most intense excitement, and it being follovi; mostly by a class possessing so little se lf-control, obvious, as has been justly remarked, that "gold -dig' it ' • and spirit-drinking 'cannot, consistent with the gelt r t safety, go together." The " sly-grog selling, as, it called, exists at the mines, no doubt, to a consiae r t - , ts extent, and to put this down was one of the argcle'7,. of the framers of the bill ; but I am satisfied that fs, lll. toting the sale of spirits would have increased the de' mand and consumption on tho whole very greatly. There has just been compiled an accurate accouel''„, the quantity and value of the gold produced by the r,', toric. Mines in the year 1852, which I quote for the"; formation of your readers. In the year 1862, it f t l is pears that the total number of ounces raised frel li _ iren various mines in Victoria was 4,475,247, w hich, Ton i at Si. 10s. per ounce, produces the sum of 14,163,3 e; sterling. With such wealth you might well suPPe.lll that everything conducive to the comfort of 0%5: habitants which internal improvements and 0 0 . cient police could effect would be speedily a„i f plished. It is far, otherwise, however. Not °P i ; are public improvements of every kind retarded ly the very high price of labour, which I hay s in trio former letters adverted to, but there it; a . 1 r apathy and indifference to allpublic busines s 1: 0 ; vading the community. th e merchant , ' to the shopkeeper, nor the professional man, ea r _„ eB blic step out, even for a brief space, into the arena of Fi'm usefulness, for the hours and the minutes just o_t:d period are too richly wealth-laden to them to such a diversion of their thoughts. 0% Altogether we must be content to take things as are. The evils alluded to are, perhaps, inseparable flo, such a sudden and extraordinary change as, in th e g covery of the gold fields, came over this vigorous Ye„,, —no colony, which I verily believe is destined to becorseorie of the greatest commercial countries which the W has beheld, either in ancient or modern times. Of P.S.—The delay of a couple of days in the the Sarah Sands enables me to add a postscript, eeil;':f ing the interesting intelligence that two more m as t; gold, of large size, have been discovered contiOnbe the spot whence the monster nugget was dug ;hi two weighing together 163 lb.—Correspondent °I Times. STEAM ON CANALS. Notwithstanding many attempts have been Pi f o r during the present century to introduce steampow er Ty canal haulage and navigation, to supersede the mioeliq slow process of horse traction, nothing really e lle et li• has hitherto been accomplished, the principal inlr s ty ment having been the injury done to the canal propel)/ by the liability of the banks to be washed down A the swell, occasioned by the action of the paddll'„ e r. trial, however, was made on the Leeds and -0".,0 pool Canal on Saturday last, under the direcittlir, of Mr. William Laird, general manager, an d &Al J. Darlington, mining engineer of the Ince Ha" r y, and Cannel Company, which was highly satis fa lio and bids fair to establish this great desideraturnt,„ f o r canal is unusually well adapted and highly favoura b le the change ; the distance from Wigan to Liv, if e 'Llo being 36 miles, with only one lock, and from ", : f e e to Appley five miles, it is proposed to continue L' 3 l haulage, and the remainder of the distancey,a, miles of level water, to use steam power. Mr. LP; ( 1.„ first suggestions for the use of steam were 'Ol more with the view of certainty of deliverfp prevention from pilfering, to which the cargoes are ject by the men, who dispose of small portions on t route, and stop at beer-houses instead of s leeping on i board their barges ; while the company, having t° their own boats and waggons, it becomes of importsct; to get as much as possible out of their carrying 4 01 as they pay in tolls alone to railways and canals frpf 30,0001. to 40,000/, per annum, their yearly ye ll _ _ coal being nearly 400,000 tons. No The steamer employed on this occasion was the Ivo queror, belonging to Mr. Inshaw, engineer, Binning, f o r —the first steam canal vessel that ever anSWereUso passenger traffic, and she has now made a snec e e jel trial in connection with canal coal traffic. She preee,eol from Liverpool to Appley Lock on Friday with sod re . empty barges, at a speed of four miles an hour, ana e s, turned on aturday with four loaded coal ba r ge , 40 tons each, 160 tons in all, towing them ` l. 3 'd the greatest ease at the rate of two miles , er , a half per hour. The engine is but 6-horse P°`i,gi cylinders 6 in. diameter, 10-in. stroke ; she liss te r, screws, one on each side the rudder, 23 in. dian i Ltsl They worked most satisfactorily, there being a 'bf absence of swell ; in fact, not more than is protium o a horse traction. The re-action of a right and left %lei screw prevents all disturbance of the water at 0 0 1' 0 0 of the vessel, and she is gently propelled wiw - s o the least vibration. This rate of 21 naiv e , hour is as rapid a speed as the company the principal object being the prevention of and regular conveyance. The trial was Inau re y per satisfy the directors of the canal that the pro' adaptation of steam-power would not injure th,„e r t iV . ; perty ; and Mr. Birkbeck (a director), Mr. a wit (secretary), and Mr. Stanley (engineer), were pleased with the results, that they then arrang ot y , Mr. Inshaw for further experiments, to alloy e s t 9 directors to witness them. The practical r pr e" show a large saving by steam-power ; the te r o o• sent cost of haulage is 100. per ton • _ll 1 0 ,1 0 power the tug would carry 35 tons, and four t or following, 40 tons each, making a total of 1 9 ; 10 0 i , which would make two trips per week, % o p of two trips in three weeks, as at present, a„n ci tt a, p e , r , deliver-in Liverpool 390 tons, at a charge et i c oo" ton, effecting a clear saving of 6d. per ton on n acs „ o°l and as it is proposed to connect a drum and cra c- ee engine, each boat will discharge their own carri3e'sic!' thus effect a further saving in terminal ex penses- t M r ' the gentlemen already named, there were pr ee e l ' ie tol* Barton, firm of Barton and Windus, coal PrO c i,o9 o ; Liverpool ; Mr. Kegg, of Kirklees Hall Coal Cererof Mr. Braithwaite Poole, general goods manag er iesl 3s London and North-Western Railway ; Messrs., so; and Son ; Mr. Smith, firm of Alex. Smith au u Mr. Murray ; and other gentlemen interested - we re r e ; On the following Thursday the experiment 9 ofir ope c J i Dewed, at the express cost of the Leeds Cans , ' l i r xbe c ie i in the presence of Mr. Aldam, of Leeds ; Mr- aced Settle ; and Mr. Myers, a large propietory . whe t by the secretary and engineer to that conaPanY t io t he the results were still more favourable than cameo trial. We cannot, therefore, doubt for a ' lie f tro l l entire success of the plan, since the economy ee ollg r , and certainty of delivery thus attained is qui t f io r eet e i j to extend the operation of this very praisewo r ' ca . ' t prise on the part of Mr. W. Laird throughent,,,nt o f systems of this country at least ; but improveon-bilitlf gradually, if not rapidly, demonstrate the fe l , locr e _„i e g attaining greater speed, and therewith a large l i np*" e f ing ratio of saving, to the mutual profit of coal n itut ge and canal proprietors, and the general at ly society. —Mining Journal. 0 TEMPERANCE REFORM. —On Friday r oe , . tbo instant, a privateconferonce of ladies int,e c _ cs reac ce o' Temperance Reformation was held at D r ' nee residence, 20, Finsbury-circus. The at t i l d hav, e o dio numerous and highly respectable, and w c f r tha t eluded Mrs. Stowe but for the state o lteo o f o4o health. Several members of the corn rc e i re tasi!, A National Temperance Society, with the s e noe upit's - ,, t ioe also present, one of whom, S. Bowly, Esq ., ircn'' ea era' c fa r chair. An address, intended for gen _, a nd r e C• among Englishwomen, was read, approve" , o f IVir ° s- 0 3. for publication to a committee, consietli re . 1 1 %00 S. Balfour and Mrs. Dunlop, of London t ; on ; and 000, son, of Tottenham ; Mrs. Ellis, of Iloddese,'_d t wo h,, after teci In leo Bowly, of Gloucester. The conference laste hic h, it " t be and elicited much pleasing conversation, : sures W o o lieved, will issue in the adoption of m e eet ionr er is more extensive diffusion of temperan ce d o r " r practice among females of every rank sand a tion society. s , The t THE 'VACANT ALDER3fANIC GOW' • renders ve Sir John Key to the chamberlainship oboo stir ward of Bridge Without, to which the h gun°, ne t; ceeded on the death of the late Sir Clan dut i e s t,' e l e of 1851. The aldermen of this ward has n oas a Pc: iaer, form ; and, as it is generally looked %r e so ioly i ' d f e el retirement for some aged incumbent',ll4.ho ehen`osl, man has always the option of taking i t ;wait In 040 disposed to do so. When it becam e romainltZe sins' Alderman Thompson, M.P., ef d d e cline d , be , his constituents in Cheap ward, a n of sir ° _ w oe°, cure, and then it fell to the choici e ll On the o ffe r who accepted it, resikning CI! o f eouro c P ;o b :it, °if occasion, it must again, as a his dec lil le'r V l l l. ll to Alderman Thompson, and 111)" 1 „ to sir yet 0 w ort j is understood he will do, it will fan__, by th, al 3 _ (elected 1826), and, in case aa _ r e f u _ri r oto s ti, ie ' r . t ; l ee_ knight, it will go to the next alde a" of the 9 ; di n 8 on. The following are the n ame d s ga yer, ro pe', 1826) , Sir C';l. tive elections. Mr. Farebrother .( / 031), sir IA b w e h lo o w ih s av ir e pperredLauthriee,chwaltrh of e L d o a r man Marshall (1832), Mr. Hump Carroll ( 1 Pr rro (1829); Mr. Kelly (1830), Mr. Wils i c l i r V 0831 40) , g o t . : dates efastrbegerehitc: liam Magnay (1838), Sir Georg .. ? , Ca ti B4o), City Wi ll / nod 66 t ag , combo e er (l ( 4 8 1 4 ) 0? m , Sri.rmJaussirDovuek(ei r ll c u o n o t s ' e L (i ` o e: er s One or other of the wards of the hls alrsadY n a i , oe° become vacant, and rumour * aldert nan- st er gr , gentlemen as desirous of securing, mentioned and of Amongst those most prominently cotterel4, office ev ening are Mr. Swift, MY.' ' fined ~ Donald Nicoll, all of whom hav° „ v ie. COr r Id ° I s heriff.E AS TERN a s be' be MR. THOMAS HALL, OF THE yea r, h of t e , This gentleman, who, for n early 1 , dona rtin e ';, serv i o r important position in the secretary's corinpanYualperej Eastern Counties Railway, leaves the loge 11 01 , 0 ecc o in July next, much to the every. e ri „ i dol c the shareholders, and almost esteew,„so to A-W eri with the company, who held hiin din i g 0' believe Mr. 114 Intends procee day Tim% '~ .. ~( eStit ;t iyi rim / fd . Zis. 8 t' ''