The Express.
London, England, 1853-06-06 00:00:00

THE AUSTRALIAN GOLD DIGGINGS.

The foUowing is an extract from a letter just re-
ceived by a respectable eitiun of London from his eon :
Stepheo's-street, Melbourne, Feb. 1, 1853.
" Charles mentions in his letter the number about to
emigrate. I don't know what they will all do, for Mel-
bourne is quite full. A great number of persons have re•
turned by the Great Britain, who, I have no doubt, will
give a fine account of Australia. I guess the emigration
spots will be rather slack forth, future. I have been up
to the diggings, as I thought it best to satisfy myself with
regard to them, before I made use of my letters of introduc-
tion. Oar party consisted of o—, a fellow shipmate, and
myself. We walked 80 miles through the country, sleeping
in the woods, or rather bush, of a night (a very few houses
ion the road). We accomplished our Journey n three days.
When we arrived, we bought a tent sad pitched it ; then
had to look about us. To form a correct vies of the dig-
gings, one must pay theta a visit in person. The de-
scription that I can give of them is that they put me in
mind of a large brick field, with a number of
wells sunk, some of them from 20 to 30 feet in depth sad
half full of water. We marked out one plate and began
to work (the tools they sell in London are useless); we sunk
two holes, each shout 20 feet deep and 6 feet square, we
bailed out about en hundred buckets of water, and after
wishing the stuff, which is no easy. work, we obtained for
our trouble about as much again as is contained in the piece
of ribbon. I remained above three weeks at the diggings.
I should have given them a longer trial, only one of our
party wished to go to other diggings further up the
country. So I came back t o town to make use of my
letters. One has to rough it at t',* digging,. It is very
hard work and a great uncertainty. I would not advise any
one to leave England to go to the gold fields of Australis.
Should fresh diggings be discovered I may stand a chance,
as those did who came over here when they were first dis-
covered. I took my letter to the governor. Had I seen the
contents beforehand I should not have taken the trouble to
have gone. He has received hundreds of the same
stamp. He said it was quite out of his power to
procure for me a situation. I was much obliged to him
for his candour, thanked him, and departed. I teen made
use of Mr. B's lettar to J. W., Esq., oridently a valuable
introduction. He took me to the chief commissioner of
_

the police, who uid that he could not put me in the
mounted force first starting off, but he would put me on
foot, at a township about sixty miles from Melbourne, at
wages 8... per diem, with board and lodging and clothes
found. I hare to call on him to-morrow morning to let him
know if I intend accepting the situation. I think I shall
decline. Policemen are not tho same here as at borne.
Should you hear bad accounts of Australia, don't make
yourself uneasy about me. I have only myself to look to,
and I can manage to push along some how or other.
"There are almost as many tents as houses here."

VALUE OF THE CABINET-WORK EXHIBITED AT
Qoatt Bores—One of the best-informed dealers in articles
of this character tells us, he should think the collection
would sell for nearly half-a-million of money. We should
not go so far as this, although we are perfectly well aware
of the fabulous prices which may be obtained just now,
both on the continent and at home, fur remarkable speci-
mens of furnAure ; but we can vouch for its great value.
We may add, that the same authority said he would him-
self give 5,0001. for the cabinet of mahogany and ormolu
sent by the Queen, and that the three China vases which
stand on the cabinet No. 61 would probably sell fur 3,0001.
These are figures which startle one, and serve to show that
the money which a country may spend in improving, and
getting a reputation for its productions, is not thrown away.
—The Builder.

BUIIL CABINET WORK.—Buhl has its name, we I,
may mention, from its inventor, Brute, a French cabinet-
maker, who introduced this mode of ornamenting furniture
at the end of the seventeenth century. In this proceu, no
part of the material is wasted : two or three thin veneers of
different woods are fastened together ; the patterns are then
cut out with a fine saw, and the cavity in one veneer is
filled up with the pattern cut out of the other. Brass with
• d.rk wood or tortoiseshell, were the materials which
Houle himself employed, and it is to works in these mate-
rials that the term is more particularly applied.—The
Builder.

451), Court.
The Queen held a Court at three o'clock on Satinr
day afternoon, at Buckiegham Palace, for the reception of
addresses, on the throne.
The Lord Mayor arrived at the palace at lire minutes
before three o'clock, in processioa from the city of London,
M his state coack drawn by six greys, and was attended
by his Chaplain, the Sword-bearer, and the Mace-bearer.
his lordship was accompanied by the Aldermen, the Sheriffs
of London and Middlesex (Messrs. Carter sad Cro
Common Councillors, and a number of officers of the
Corporation.

The aldermen present were Sir Peter Laurie, Hume.
Cubitt, Moon, Plante, and Sir James Duke,

Among the members of the Common Council were—Mr.
Deputy Cork, Henn. T. CotterelL John Wood, Barnard.
Harker, H. L. Taylor, Lambe, Hogg, Brans, W. Simpsm,
T. B. Simpson, C. Whetham, Fuller, Vadance, Knott, Low,
Pewtrass, Langbourne, Millard, Lloyd, J. Rippe, g,„bm,
Rathbone, Randall, Perkins, Webster, Bache, D. Sidon,
Sully, Deputy Bedford, Butler, and Williams.

The officers of the Corporation present were—The Re.
corder, the Remembrancer, the Comptroller, Secomi,7
Potter, the Bridge Comptroller, the Water Bailiff, the Ton
Clerk, and Mr. Temple, keeper of the Guildhall.

At three o'clock the Lord Mayor and the deputation wets
ushered from the library to the throne room by Sir William
Martins, Gentleman Usher in Waiting.

Her Majesty was seated on the throne, Prince Albert
being by her side ; the ladies in waiting and officers 01
the royal household occupying their usual stations •n either
side of the sovereign. Viscount Palmerston, G C.s., the
Queen's Principal Secretary of State for the Home N.
partment, stood near her Majesty.

- The Lord Mayor and aldermen advanced, when the Re.
corder read an address of congratulation on the birth of a
prince from the Court of Aldermen. The Queen returned
the following most gracious answer:

" I thank you very sincerely for your loyal and dutiful
address, and for the affectionate interest which you hsee
expressed in my domestic happiness. I have the mattes•
tire reliance on the loyalty and attachment of the City of
London. It is at all times my earnest endeavour to two.
fain and strengthen the free institutions which this consul
has long enjoyed, and which affird the best [(inmates fer
the welfare of all classes of my subjacts."

The Lord Mayor, kneeling, received a copy of her sumer
from the Queen, and delivered it to the City Remembrances.
Sir Peter Lawrie, the mover of the address, and Alder.
man Hunter, had the honour of kissing hands.

This deputation having retired, to form part in the pre.
imitation of the address from the Lord Mayor, Aldermen,
and Commons of the City of London, in Common Celina
assembled, the whole body advanced, headed by the Lard
Mayor, the Recorder being on his right. The Recorder
read the address, congratulating the Queen on the auspi-
cious event of the birth of a prince. Her Majesty returned
the following most gracious reply :

"I have received your dutiful and affintionste address
with feelings of the greatest satisfaction. I fully appreciate
the loyalty of the citizens of Landon and their warm at.
taehment to the free institutions of this country. The
welfare of my people engages my constant attention. and I
derive my greatest gratification (ruin the assurance that
they are happy and contented."
A copy of the Queen's answer was again delivered to the
Lord Mayor.
Mr. Deputy Cork, the mover, and Mr. Thomas Cotterell
(late sheriff), the seconder of the address, were presented,
and kissed hands.

The corporation then withdrew.
The following Commissioners of Lieutenancy of the City
of London, Mr. James Bentley, Mr. Arthur Wilford, Mr.
Donald Nicoll, Mr. John Wood, Mr. Edward Wilson, Mr.
Thomas Jeffries Holt, Mr. J. O. Hanson, Lieut.-Colonel
W. H. Sykes, F.R S., Major J. A. Moore, Mr. Toker, Mr.
Hookey, Mr. Jeremiah Evans, Mr. John Humphery, Mr.
Deputy Lake, Mr. Bonus, Mr. J. Kinnersley Hooper, Mr.
William Lawrence, Mr. Charles Alliston, Mr. Dodd, Mr.
Bedford, Mr. James Hatton!, Mr. Robert Obbud and
Mr. Charles John Baker, headed by the Lord Mayor, and
attended by Mr. Henley Smith, clerk and treasurer, then
advanced to the presence of the Sovereign, the Lord Mayor
reading their address of congratulation on the birth of s
prince.