The Sun.
London, England, 1855-02-13 00:00:00

LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 13, 1855.

NAVAL AND MILITARY INTELLIGENCE.

We are requested to state that all the commis-
missioned appointments; civil and military, in the
" Land Transport Corps" now forming for the Crimea
are filled up.
Direct appointments to the non-commissioned ranks
of superintendent and sub-superintsndent can only be
given to men who are, or have beenenon-commissioned
officers in the army, or who hold a corresponding rank
in the police forces of Great Britain and Ireland.
All other candidates must, in the first instance, enlist
as second-class drivers.
As the applications for employment in this corps
are very numerous, it is requested that this notice
may be considered as an answer to all persons whose
applications to Sir Richard Mayne and to the Director-
General of Transport have remained unanswered.
A letter from Ba'aklava, dated the 30th of January,
says
vessels in harbour are the Sanspareil, Diamond,
Wasp, Vesuvius, Malacca, Sphinx, Caradoc, and Fu-
rious.
" Report says that Acting-Surgeon Elliott will fill the
vacancy caused by the death of Dr. Forster, and that
Dr. Cotton will get the appointment of Acting-Surgeon
to the Marine Brigade.
"Admiral Boxer is hourly expected. When the Sane-
pared leaves for England the Admiral will hoist his
flag on board the Diamond."
The James Watt, 91, Captain Elliot, received her
main and fore-masts yesterday in the basin at Ports-
mouth. A party of shipwrights were engaged on Sun-
day in preparing them for her. It is much to be regret-
ted that the machinery of this fine ship
_should have
been so defective, causing so niuch delay and expense in
again preparing her for sea. She received her new air-
pump on Saturday Irons the contractors. She is nearly
100 men short of her complement.
Tee Nankin arrived at Shithead yesterday morning
and saluted the flag of Vice-Admiral Sir Thomas
Cochrane. K.C.B.
The hired screw steam-ship Crcesus, Capt. Vine Hall,
which left Plymouth on Saturday, for Malta, made an
extraordinary run from Portsmouth. She cast off from
the Dockyard jetty on Saturday at 3 p.m., was off Cowes
at 3.40, and loosed foretopsail, foresail, and topgallant-
sail, the wind blowing bard from the eastward ; at 4.45
she passed the Needles rocks, and at 6 was abreast of
St. Alban's ; Portland was passed at 7, and the Start
Light was made at 9.30, bearing W.N.W.; at 10.15
this light bore N.N.W., distant six miles ; at 11 she
made the Eddystone Light, bearing W. by N.; and at
11.30 she rounded to the Eddystone bearing W. by S.,
distant five or six miles. In consequence of the
thickness of the weather and the crowded state of
the harbour, she did not bear away for the Sound
until 5 a.i.u. The Crcesus, piloted by Mr. Richards,
came to an anchor at 7 o'clock to windward of 300 sail
of merchantmen, in a position most convenient for the
reception of the troops. This fine ship is only 15 feet
shorter than the Himalaya. She now draws 20 feet 6
inches forward and 19 feet 10 inches aft,; but, as her
stores and water are stored near the bows, she will soon
get into her proper sailing trim. The distance run from
Portsmouth to the Eddystone is about 127 miles, and
the time occupied was about eight hours.
Her Majesty's screw steam-ship Himalaya, Commander
Priest, went into the river, at Southampton, yesterday.
She sails for Portsmouth to embark horses, &c., this
day.

The padd!e-wheel transport steam-ship Orinoco, Capt.
Wilson, arrived at SouVaampton, from Portsmouth, yes-
terday afternoon. She will bo once got ready for
further use in the transport service.

The screw steamer Glasgow, Captain Cumming, from
New York, a►rived in the Clyde on Saturday last, after
a tedious passage, during which she had to p•tt into the
Shannon to replenish her coal. She brings 77 passengers
and a large cargo. The Glasgow, like her consort, the
INew York (now in the East), has been engaged by the
French Government for the conveyance of troops and
..stores to the Crimea, and she will be instantly unloaded,
overhauled, and despatched to Marseilles. The Glasgow
is a magnificent roomy ship of between 2,000 and 3,000
tons burden, and can be fitted to carry 1,800 men with
ease. Now that this ship is temporarily withdrawn
there is no direct steam communication between the Clyde
and New York.

The hired steam transport Telegraph arrived at Ports-
mouth en Sunday afternoon from Liverpool in 48 hours.
She will immediately fill up with cargo for the seat of
war, consisting of victualling and other stores, packages
for officers and men, drivers of the Commissariat, &c.
This is now the only steamer at Portsmouth loading for
the B;sok Sea.

Lieutenants Walter Strickiand and St. George C. D'A,
Irvine have been appointed to the Centaur.
Lieutenant Thomas Brandreth, from the Neptune, to
be Flag-Lieutenant to the St. Vincent guard•ship.
Paymaster Alfred Wood, from the Formidable, guard.
ship of ordinary at Sheerness, to the Phoenix.
Cleric in Charge Oetavius Spong, from the Sampson,
to the Oberon.

Clerk Joseph Singleton to the Formidable, vice Wood.
Lieutenant J. B. Scott, of the Neptune, has been ap-
pointed First Lieutenant of the Pembroke.

Yesterday upwards of 5,000 pairs of blankets ware
shipped from the Tower stores, in bales of 50, on board
transports at Deptford, for the hospital'at Scutari, for
the use of the sick and wounded.

Royal Marine detachments (or other Royal Marine
Light Infantry) are ordered to embark as follows for
service in tae fleet :—Captain Hunt, Second Lieutenant
Stark, 2 sergeants, 2 corporals, 1 fifer, and 92 privates,
to embark in her Majesty's ship Pembroke, 60, Captain
Seymour, at Portsmouth ; Captain Symonds, Second
Lieut. Price, 2 sergeants, 2 corporals, 1 bugler, and 92
privates, to embark in her Majesty's ship Hastings, 60,
Capt. Clan, at Portsmouth, this day. One subaltern, 1
fifer, and 12 privates of the divisional, and 1 sergeant,
1 corporal, and 13 gunners of the artillery companies, to
embark in her Majesty's ship Centaur, 6, paddle-frigate,
Captain Clifford, at Portsmouth ; 1 colour-sergeant, 1
corporal, and 12 privates, to embark in her Majesty's
steamer Himalaya, at Southampton.
Yesterday a court-martial was assembled on board her
Majesty's ship Victory, in Portsmouth harbour, pre-
sided over by Captain Sir Thomas Maitland, K.C.8., of
her Majesty's ship Excellent, to try Mr. Richard H.
Alvin, Acting Assistant-Engineer of her Majesty's ship
James Watt, upon two charges—first, for having dis-
obeyed the orders of Mr. John Boswell, the Chief En-
gineer, by absenting himself from the ship without leave;
second, for having on the 18th of January disobeyed the
orders of Lieutenant George Parker, by absenting him-.
self from the hulk of the James Watt, without leave.
The court, in consideration of the prisoner's previous
good conduct, adjudged him to be severely reprimanded,
and to forfeit promotion for one year.
The Galway papers announce the death, after a short
illness, of Captain Richardson, R.N., Inspecting Com-
mander of Coastguards.
The Provisional Battalion in Limerick comprises the
9th, 17th, 39th, and 89th depots, under Colonel Stack,
and musters 1,000 rank and file.

AUSTRALIA.

MELBOURNE, Nov. 23, 1854-
The Norna, carrying the overland mail, is dua from
Sydney to-day, and after her arrival will remain only 24
hours. I therefore commence my letter, leaving for• a
postscript anything worth communicating that may occur
during the short period of the Norna's detention here.
The quarterly refurna of the banks, having their chief
offices or branches here, have just been published up to
the 30th of September. These returns, as compared
with the corresponding returns for the third quarter of
1853, show the banks to be in a flourishing condition,
and yet'they exhibit some indications of the pressure
upon trade which I have noticed in previous communi-
cations.

There is another bank in operation here—namely, the
Oriental Bank Corporation ; but it is only a bank of
discount and deposit, and not one of issue. This seems
to have been taken as an excuse for not ditcclosing its
liabilities and assets. This circumstance can hardly be
deemed a satisfactory reason for the omission, and the
Argun—always well-informed and sound in its views
upon commercial and financial subjects—remarks that
"It is by such publication alone that the bank in ques-
tion can deserve and obtain the confidence of the pub-
lic." I am indebted to the same paper for The fol-
lowing :
AGGREGATZ AVERAGES OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES OF
SIR BANKS IN VICTORIA.

Qu ending -
Sept. 30, 1853arters,
Sept. 30, 1854.
Circulation (notes) £1,735,651 ... 22,386,759
Deposits not bearing interest 5,Z18,498 5 882 215
Total liabilities a . .
1;31956i:17,28
......
438022:523791
8;253.3,e55 ...,.. 9,307,727
Pant:trp-capital 2,676,760 ... 3,291,(07
Reserved profits
Dividends paid
Coin
••• 2,670,819
Bullion (uncoined metals)
2 , 7475 °4322; 60545;034 •..: ts , 731697;25:: 303939233935
Landed property
Government securities
Debts, &c., duo banks
Total assets
307,727/. in
While the total liabilities of the banks have increased
from 8,533,6551. hr September, 1853, to 9,
September, 1854, their total assets have increased from
8,254,5501. to 11,348,7481. This statement, together
with the large dividends which they have hitherto been
able to keep up, in one case amounting to 40 per century
per annum, will no doubt satisfy the English share-
holders,
Their coin and bullion accounts for the two periods
stood thus :
Septembcr, 1853
September, 1854
This, I think, may be easily explained. In the early
part of 1853 gold was an article of commercial specu-
lation rather than of mere exchange ; its value was at
first but little known. The banks and mercantile houses
purchased at prices commencing at less than 60s. per
wince, remaining long. at about 715., and only slowly
advancing to its intrinsic value as its fineness and net
return because known. To effect these purchases large
imam in coin were imported. Specie, consequently, ac-
cumulated in the banks, and it soon became profitable
to export coin, as the exchanges gradually recovered
from 8 per cent, discount to par, and then gradually
rose to 5 per cent. premium. This decrease of specie is
a natural consequence of the excessive importation of
1853, and there can be no doubt that if iron houses,
sawn timber, boots and shoes, and other articles could
be moved from oae country to another as easily as coin,
we should have a diminution of boots and shoes, dec., in
the hands of the dealer,. I regard the decrease of coin
as salutary, and not as a just cause of alarm.
A. more serious feature in the abstract is the great in-
crease in the debts due to the banks, chiefly in the shape
of mercantile bills discounted. In September, 1853, it
was 2,772,6501. ; in September, 1854, the amount had
increased to 6,791,3331., an enormous amount, .cer-
tainly, in proportion to oar population of about 250,000.
The banks, however, conduct their affairs prudently,
and, by requiring additional endorses, generally manage
to•avoid bad debts, except new banks or new branches,
which are always liable to be favoured with the patron.
age of shaky accounts.
It is not to be expected that the large profits of the
banks will be kept up. The value of gold is now well
known. We have within the colony accurate means of
assaying. The banks can no longer take advantage of
the general ignorance and consequent timidity wich
prevailed. One merchant, who had bought largely at
61s. Bd. and 62e. 6d., told me that, on making a further
purchase at 655., he became so nervous as to be deprived
of sleep for many nights ; yet a considerable portion of
his gold sold for 41. per ounce, and some as high as
41. 2s. 6d., being nearly pure. The days of almost fabu-
lous profits are over. The price keeps steady at 31.185.
(exchange being at a premium), so that the profit is
l a mere- exchange, the purchase and -Use-transmission
I a mere rernit..-.... I and au It will continue, and ought
to continue.
A. few Union Bank shares sold in the market the other
day as high as'ool. the 251. 'share. Now, investments
here ought to pay aornething like 10 per cent. at the
least. To do this on the price paid the dividend should
be 19 1-sth per cent. ; but th,e mean dividend of all the
banks this year is under 18 percent., and this rate can.
not be kept up. I should say the Union Bank is the
most flourishing, and is likely to continue so. It has a
large number of good non-mercantile customers, who
keep good balances, and who do not require documents.
I have before alluded to the number of small failures
of late, and the causes of them, and I expressed an
opinion that the mercantile houses of note were quite
safe. I have since made considerable inquiry on the
subject in channels worthy of reliance, and I have no
reason to vary my previous statement. The aggregate
of failures, is however, large, but then all our aegregates
are large. Dating from the culminating point of prices,
and the first failure thereafter, I am assured that the
total to the present time amounts to 1,000,000/., but,
from the classes who have been compelled to yield to
here they will
the pressure of the times, I do not theiscnkeun purchases of
.eimilar anti.aage m
o
will fall on the English
shippedmerchans.Nsr
goods on con-
i Thisa they a nt
kindshat ofl havelabour paid within the
last ; ss
iugffnen
ir ei s wherent,goodsmerelym a theyd have
besc)onans e
Melbournebny
theyblindly l h a
v.Re
seers
have n many cases done in fraud of their own customers,
and we cannot much deplore their burnt fingers.
The cry of " the unemployed" has been almost hushed.
I can
in some few
cases mixed up with a small dose of remuneration fory
.
capital. I paid a jobbing carpenter 20s. a day lam
paying a pair of hewers of wood 12s. a day each for cut-
ting ten state
day ins fora few
some cases
w
up firewood into convenient billets ; I have recently
paid a carter for taking a single horse cartload of miscel-
laneous purchases a distance of three and a half miles
20s. This is an honest fair-dealing man
whom I always
employ ; another, for the single job, would have charged
me 25e. The charge for a cab (2 horses) the same dis-
tance varies from 255. to 40e. (generally 305.), according
to the competition on the stand., We
Pay A laundress Bs.
a day and her food, but washing given out is Bs. per
dozen. The drawers of water are as well paid as the
hewers of wood. These are all I can state from my own
payments
, • but I know that common labourers get 10s.
a day, and the police get 12s. If the unemployed were
anything more than a very insignificant proportion, these
rates could not be maintained.
It should bo observed, however, that there always
has been a considerable number of men either without
any serviceable qualifications, or for whose particular
kind of work there is no demand--." Gents" from the
counters of Regent-street, for instance, and soft-handed
clerks from the large commercial towns. They are far
less able to tnrn their hands to souse profitable account
than gentlemen from our public schools and universi-
ties, whose palms have been prepared for the pick and
spade by handling an oar on the once "Silver Thames."
1 think, also, there must be some pressure among pro-
fessional men of all kinds. Surgeons, doctors, barristers,
and attorneys in England hear of the large professional
incomes realised here. These are not so large or so
1 numerous as they were, but still there are, no doubt,
men of all professwas who are .making large gains
; but
they are men known and established, and of rePetation
commensurate with their skill and experience. On the
other hand, we have professional men in very straitened
circumstances, and in walks of life very repugnant
to
their previous habits. I have heard of a barrister of
eighteen years' standing acting as the clerk Qf another
barrister, and subsisting, or trying to subsist, on the
usual clerks' fees. I know of a physician who is act-
ing as clerk to a brace of barristers who have contiguous
abiding places. Some of the large solicitors' firm,
are
making many thousands a year. I have heard of others
who are in insolvent circumstances. This inequality
of condition is net confined to the professions, but ex.
tends to all occupations, though least of all to mechanics
and labourers, who must always, in all countries, be
more on an equality.
Rotel
Bentley, the landlord of the Eureka ~ at Ballarat,
who was accused of the murder of one Scobie, has been
tried and convicted of ,maaslaughter,:and sentenced to
three years' hard labour on the roads. The lawyers say
the verdict is perfectly correct, and the sentence a proper
one. The rioters, who burnt down Bentley's inn, after
the magistrate had dismissed the case against Bentley,
telling him that there was not a tittle of evidence against
him, have also been tried and convicted. They were
recommended to mercy on account of the supposed laxity
on the part of the public authorities. The Jury asoom.
palsied their verdict with this "rider," as they called it :
"The jury feel that in returning a verdict of guilty
against the prisoners for the riot at Ballarat, they would
not have had that painful duty to perform if those in-
trusted with the conduct of the Government affairs at
Ballarat had done theirs properly." The Judge said,
he could not receive this "rider," but asked for a copy.
It is believed that it influenced his sentence, for, as an
adequate punishment for this enormous outrage, the
three prisoners were sentenced respectively to three,
four, and six months' imprisonment, without hard
labour. Generally speaking, the judges here are severe
in their sentences, but this certainly appears to err the
other way.
His Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor has given
the Royal assent to the Convicts Prevention Bill. I have
in a former letter given a history of this bill, and its
bearing on the policy pursued in Van Diemen's Land.
I think it is pretty certain that the bill will be disallowed,,
and the governor will receive a peremptory order to
proclaim such disallowances. I think a better bill might
be devised in the shape of a very stringent Vagrant Act

which would generally reach the bad subjects among the
convict class, whereas the present measure catchee only
the best, or rather the least ill-disposed.
Sir Charles Hotharn is proceeding to institute erten,
sive inquiries into the details of the administration of
every branch-of the Government. No one doubts that
there has been laxity and abuse of every kind in- every
quarter, and, wiieri that is the case, public opinion very
often takes an exaggerated view of the evil. There has,
no doubt, been a good deal of what is called "jobbing ;"
first opinion, and then rumours, have coa-Verted this
into something far worse. The ease of one magistrate
charged with accepting a bribe from a person desirous
of obtaining a publichouse license is now under investi-
gation. He must be a clumsy practitioner, for, gene-
rally, the " squaring," as it is called, is so managed as
to allude full exposure.
The method-adopted by Sir C. Hotharn for the prose-
cution of these inquiries is to issue a commission to in-
quire and report, similar to commissions of a like nature
issued in England. Thus, we have had a Finance Com-
mission, and have now a Police Commission, a Gold-
field Commission, a Squatting Commission, and others
are talked of. These commissions are unpaid. In most
cases they are composei of Government officers in whom
the public have confidence, with one person wholly in-
dependent of the Government. The officers of the Go-
vernment, especially those who are connected with the
department suspected of laxity or jobbery, do not hall
like these boards, and in seine cases very palpable at-
tempts are made to thwart them. They have, however,
the support of the head of the executive, who seems dis-
posed to give them all the powers they require, and the
public will aid theca because it is perceived...that they may
be instruments of good.
This bas been a very remarkable season ; with the ex-
ception of a few hot days now and then we have really
had no summer in our sense of the word. The weather,
indeed, has been absolutely cold. At this season of the
year the country around Melbourne is generally brown ;
this year, however, the fields have not yet lost their ver-
dant appearance. For three days past we have had very
heavy showers, and a good deal of rain has fallen. It
commenced with a thunderstorm on Monday night.
This rain will be favourable to the country. Besides
improving the vegetables in the market gardens and in-
creasing the "feed" around Melbourne, it will have
benefitted the diggers and increase the quantity of gold
by affording a supply-of water, of late much wanted.
There was a general impression two years ago that
the attractions of the gold-fields would deprive the wool
growers of labour to an extent to cause a very consider.
able decrease in the production of wool. This fear has
not been realised, for the quantity exported bas in-
creased from 21,765,1041 b. in 1853, to 22,598,688 in
1354. I think it is not unlikely, however, that wool is
now shipped in not quite such clean condition, and not
generally so well prepared for exportation as it used
to be.

The Van Diemen's Land papers announce that gold
has been found in that ceiony, on the east coast, in suf-
ficient quantities to render its working remunerative.
Gold was found at Fingal in 1852, and it was worked
for some months by several parties of four and six. Early
in 1853 a large amount was subscribed (10,000!.) as a
reward for the successful discoverer of an available gold-
field. That reward has not hitherto been earned or even
claimed, and the present report is too uncertain to de-
servo reliance without confirmation.

Nov. 24.
The estimates were last night laid before the Legisla-
tive Council. They are of the most astounding charac-
ter. A sanguine estimate of revenue for 1E55 places it
at 3,015,6831. The expenditure is coolly put down at
4,801,292/. ; the deficiency being 1,785,6091. No one
here doubts that this is the result of the most reckless
extravagance, the most palpable inefficiency, and no
small amount of corruption in the local executive. I
need hardly describe the effects of this statement of our
financial condition on the public mind. It seemed to
take people's breath away. The Colonial Secretary
promises to expound the views of the Government on
Thursday next (30th of November), and the considera-
tion of his budget will then be postponed till the 7th of
December, to give hon, members time to recover from
the shock.

Nov. The Norna came in from Sydney yesterday, and2s. will
sail at about 2 p.m. today.
The price of gold has been utationary for some time at
31. 165., upon which the banks, which sell their draughts
on London at 5 per cent. preminm must get a profit.
They keep the trade in their own hands by only buying
bills at a discount.

THE TURKISH EXPEDITION TO THE
CRIMEA.

VARNA, Jan. 28. Thanks to English transport
steamers,_and thanks to the activity of the employes,
mostly foreigners, who have been chosen for the pur-
pose, the embarkation of the Turkish troops for the
Crimea is progressing without interruption.
The tliree places chosen for the embarkation are Varna,
Italtschik, and Bourgas, the last exclusively for cavalry,
the two former promiscuously.
Varna is the centre of the embarkation, but it was a
good plan to choose three places, instead of one for the
purpo&e, and thus to avoid the confusion naturally
arising from too great a crowding of troops, provisions,
and materials of war. The troops intended for the
Crimea arrive by detachments, so that the pressure is
net much felt, only at Bourgas, where it is intended to
concentrate the whole cavalry, with little exception, and
to erect a stage, so that, if possible, the horses may walk
on board the steamers.

About one-half of the troops have already gone, and at
the rate the embarkation is progressing, it is hoped that
in a fortnight more the rest will have followed. On good
days three battalions have been embarked at Varna, and
as many at Baltechik. The steamers employed for the
purpose are cleared forctard, so that most of them can
take from 1,300 to 1,500 men on board. The Turks
give little trouble, owing to their sedentary habits and
their soberness. They dispense almost with cooking,
and live on their biscuits ; even the officers content them-
selves with a piece of cooked meat or a roast fowl, which
they take with them. It is rather strange that these
latter are not, any more than the men, accommodated
with cabins ; but the officers of the steamers complain
of their dirty habits, which make this measure neoessary.
The men, when they embark, take a month's provi-
sions with them, so as to be on their arrival at least in-
dependent of the commissariat. But the illusions about
abundance of provisions in the Crimea—at any rate, in
the small part occupied by the Allies, have been too
dearly paid for already not to make Omer Pasha, who is
by nature rather prudent, anxious about the commissariat
department. Accordingly, stores have been erected, both
at Baltscbik and at Yarns, to which large quantities of
wheat, flour, butter, " kaurma" (a kind of preserved
meat), and other articles of provisions are sent from all
parts.

- The feeding of so large an army for more than 18
months has, of course, sensibly affected Bulgaria, and
the drain of provisions occasioned by the presence of
the allied forces during several months, and the occa-
sional supplies still sent to the Crimea, pr;nc;pally for
the French army, have all tended to exhaust the country,
which, being comparatively well-populated, requires a
not inconsiderable amount for its own consumption.
Moreover, a state of war, the continual marching of
troops, the excesses inevitably connected with it, and
the excitement and insecurity attending it are not ex-
actly calculated to developo the productive powers of
the country, especially as since the " Bono Inglis" have
gone paper receipts have replaced the glittering stove-
reigns.

Buis in spite of all this, the country behind is still
well able to feed the whole army, without having need
of help from elsewhere.

A great part of the troops have fur-lined coats, but
they were not all provided with them.
The army will consist of three infantry and one
cavalry division. The first infantry division, which is
already in the Crimea, is commanded by Mel Led Pasha
(Ferik), and Teofik and Bebram (General Cannon)
Pashas as Brigadiers. The second, which is likewise
partly gone, will be under Ferik Ismail Pasha, not to be
mistaken for Mushir Ismail Pasha, who distinguished
himself at Kalafat, and who remains as commander in
Bulgaria. Sely Pasha is spoken of as commander of
the third division, and Halim Pasha as commander of
the cavalry.
Besides the Turkish detachments which are daily em-
barked, there are still some remains of the allied armies
at Varna. ; but even these are beginning to disappear.
Three days ago the Simla took the last lot of bat horses
belonging to the English army to the Crimea, and soon
the last traces of that army will have vanished from
Varna. The French are, as yet, in greater number,
but they, too, are daily embarking for the Crimea to
join their regiments.