The Sun.
London, England, 1855-05-21 00:00:00

AUSTRALIA.

LIVERPOOL, MAY 20.
The Royal mail steam-ship James Baines, one of
the Black Ball line, has arrived from Melbourne,
whence she sailed on the 12th of March.

She bas brought 40,000 ounces of gold and 360
passengers.
The Douglas and Dannebrog, from London, had
arrived at Geelong, and St. Michael, from London,
at Port Philip Heads. _ _

The artisans who had been thrown. out gof em-
ployment owing to the demand for building having
ceased were beginning to turn their attention to
gardening and other industrious pursuits. The
question of the importance of agriculture was be-
coming stronger every day, and the necessity for
the colony to endeavour to ra_ise.itsemrt brsptcl6oA
land which had previously been laid down with
grass had this year been sown with wheat, and in
some districts considerable progress has been made
in the erection of flour-mills.

The total amount of gold brought by the Go-
verment escorts from the various gold fields from
the beginning of January to the 3d of March was
176,584 ounces.

The weather had been unusually dry, and the
miners were busy making piles of " washing stuff,"
and it was expected that the average of the preced-
ing year would be maintained. Quartz crushing
was beginning to be carried on with great activity
at Bendigo and Ballarat. At Ballarat also ma-
chines were extensively used for pumping water
from the deep levels, which in some cases are up-
wards of 200 feet from the surface.

The circulation of the banks continues steady,
but there was a slight increase in the deposits.
The drain upon them is said to have 'ceased, and
the accounts of the colonists to be improving
rapidly.
The suspension of steam communication, both
via India and the Cape, of Good Hope, had created
great dissatisfaction throughout the whole of the
Australian colonies.

The supplies at the diggings, in 'consequence of
the suspension of credit, were short ; every one
was endeavouring to lay in Stock, which caused a
brisk trade in provisions, ironmongery, machinery,
cordage, and other suitable goods.
In Victoria for months past the rate of wages
has been declining. Rents were falling.
The trial of the diggers taken prisoners at Bal-
larat commenced on the 22d of February ; but,
verdicts of acquittal having been returned in two
cases, the Attorney-General declared he had no
confidence in the jury, and refused to proceed with
the trial of the other prisoners that session.
On the 16th of February the Council voted
20,0001. as a contribation from the colony to the
Patriotic Fund.
Discoveries of gold have been made on the. Keilor
plqins, and also at Mount Ararat, near the river
Hopkins ; tile workings at' Anderson's Creek, or
rather in the bed of the Yarra-Yarra, are still
spoken of favourably,.and several hundreds of men
are reported to be at work there.
The clipper ships Lightning and Red Jacket had
not arrived out when the James Baines left Mel-
bourne.

The price of gold remained at 765. Several new
gold fields had been hit upon, but the yield from
them was not great. The old gold, fields were going
on steadily.
No alteration in rates of exchange.
Gold freights, by sailing-vessels, 4d. per ounce,
delivered in Lohdon.

The wool•market was dull, principally owing t,
the small quantity of wool coming into the market.
In manufactured goods there was little alteration.

A MERICA.
-ARRIVALOF THE AFRICA.

LIVERPOOL, SUNDAY. -
This day the Royal Mail steam-ship Africa, Cap-
tain S. W. Harrison, arrived in the Mersey, with
the usual mails from the United States and British
North America.

She sailed from Boston on the 9th instant, and
Halifax on the 11th, and has brought, besides/the
mails, 196 passengers, nearly $90,000, and 6,000/.
in specie on freight,
The Royal Mail,steam-ship, Asia from hence on
the 29th ult., arrived at Boston on the 9th inst.
The news are not important. On the 7lth 4,000
European emigrants arrived at New York.
The prosecution instituted against Col. Kinney
has been abandoned.
The Havannah advices, dated May 1, are not
important. The 11th instant was observed as a day
of humiliation in Nova Scotia on account of the
war. •

The New York Money Market is reported as more
active ; a good demand and au abundant supply of
first-class paper, at 6to 7 per cent. Stocks
.dull
and lower.

The Cotton Market was steady, with an upward
tendency.
The Market for breadstuffs was advancing. Flour
was 12 per cent. higher. Wheat was firm, and
In(lian corn buoyant.
The Pl-)vision Market was improving and holders
expecting higher prices.
Freights unchanged, and nothing doing.
Exchange on London, 11.0 to 110 k.

DANTZIC' May 18.—Her Majesty's steamer Driver
has an ived here with despatches from the Baltic fleet.
Ten neutral vessels that had left Riga with cargoes had
been captured. The fleet is off Nargen.
DROWNING IN A TUB.—An inquest was held at Whit-
by on Wedne-day last, on the body of Thomas Lund, a
ilnrnernan curlier, who died the same afternoon by
ailing into a scouring-tub during an epileptic fit. The
eater in the tub was 10 inches deep, and the tub 15
inche4 high.—Leeds intellisocer. ;