The Sun.
London, England, 1855-12-10 00:00:00

THE FIRST WAR STEAMER FOR
AUSTRALIA.

SOUTHAMPTON; Saturday.—This day our docks were
graced by the presence of her Majesty's colonial war
steamer (screw) Victoria, which arrived at an early hour
from Deptford Dockyard. She is under the command
of Captain Norman, formerly commander of the General
Screw Company's steam-ship Queen of the South.
The Victoria is destined for the colony of Australia,
and is the first war steamer secured by the government
of Victoria, for whose service she will be used. She is
fitted as a sloop of war, and will have the same comple-
meet of men. The Victoria is nearly 600 tons burden,
and of 150-horse power (nominal). The draught is 12
feet. She is built on the diagonal principle of Mr. Lang,
was launched from the yard of Young, Son, and Co.,
with engines from the factory of Rennie and Sons, being
on the patent direct action principle. The Victoria is
pierced for 8 guns, having six 32-pounders on her broad-
sides. At present there are but three guns mounted ;
the remainder will be put on board on her arrival out.
She has one 32-pounder swivel gun, which can be fought
both at stem and stern. On her passage from Deptford
she averaged a speed of about 11 knots per hour. When
in Dover roads on Thursday night she encountered a
heavy gale of wind, when she sustained a trifling da-
mage. The ostensible purpose for calling at Southamp-
ton is to take on board two cows for Sir Charles Hotharn,
governor of Victoria. During the day she has been an
object of much interest, and her beautiful proportions
have excited much admiration. She will remain here
until Tuesday next, when she will proceed to her desti-
nation, after calling at Plymouth.

CABINET COUNCIL.—Summonses have been issued to
attend a Cabinet Council to-morrow at the Foreign.
office, Downing-street. The fifteen members of the
Cabinet are expected to attend the meeting.
THE AUSTRIAN CONCORDAT.—Permission has been
refused to a Prussian Protestant nobleman to purchase
a domain in the Tyrol. This is looked on as one of the
first fruits of the Austrian Concordat.
Mdlie. Rachel's brother has written to the Figaro to
state that the receipts of the French company for the
first two months of their acting; in America (at New
York and Boston) amounted to upwards of 21,0001.
We have no confirmatio❑ of the fall of Kars.
According to despatches from the Crimea, the allies
were about to commence offensive operations on the
north side of Sebastopol. Important news may be ex-
pected in a few days.
The news from Russia continues to be very warlike.
Recruits are driven up to their stations by the military
like cattle. It is stated that large orders for arms have
been given in Prussia for the Russian army. There is
no idea of peace at St. Petersburg.
THE WIZARD'S ONE HUNDREDTH NIGHT.—To-mor-
row Mr. Anderson achieves the hundredth representa-
tion of his magical performances. He has advertised
that the entertainments will be more interesting than
usual, and that every visitor will obtain some presents as
a souvenir of the occasion.
OXFOBD WORKING MEN'S EDUCATIONAL INSTITU•
TION.—The promoters of this institution have succeeded
in organising classes for study in the various depart-
ments of literature, science, and art, the first of which,
an advanced drawing class, commences this day with
12 pupils. An elementary drawing class also commences
with 30 pupils. The number who have voluntarily
come forward to undergo a course of instruction is about
150 of all classes.
PRINTERS' DRAMATIC ASSOCIATION.—The members
of this society, with the praiseworthy object of assisting
the widow and family of one of their body, propose to
give a theatrical performance to-morrow night at the
Strad Theatre, assisted by a few professionals. The
programme selected for the evening's entertainment in-
cludes Sheridan Knowles's play of the "Hunchback,'
followed by "The Critic." The Spanish Dancers will
appear between the two plays in a new ballet divertisse-
ment, supported by an efficient corps de ballet.
THE INDIAN ARMY.—WO believe that there is no
longer any doubt that the new Commander-in Chief of
Madras will be a company's officer, and that the man
who will have the honour of being the first to break
through the old fence of privilege, which has hitherto
excluded the officers of the East India Company from
the command of armies chiefly composed of company's
soldiers, will be General Patrick Grant, of the Bengal
Service. This concession has not been obtained without
a struggle. As we intimated on a former occasion, the
authorities of the Horse Guards have strenuously re-
sisted the nomination of a company's officer ; but neither
the President of the Board of Control nor the First
Minister could be brought to support the Commander.
in-Chief. The appointment of Gen. Grant has not yet
taken place, but it will not improbably be proposed to
the Court of Directors on Wednesday next.—Overland
Mail.
CRYSTAL PALACE—FIVE SHILLING DAY, Dec. 8.—
Admissions on payment, 69 ; ditto by season tickets,
436 ; total visitors, 505. Corresponding day last year,
3,937.
THE BANK OF LONDON.—The Third Monthly return
of the Bank of London has appeared in the Gazette, and
exhibits a progress without precedent in the annals of
Joint-Stock Banking in the Metropolis ; the amount of
deposits at the end of three months is 539,2811, and the
assets are 839,2811. The following were the amounts
of deposits of the entire Joint-Stock Banks at the periods
of their Second Annual Reports, viz.:—(taken from
Knight's Statistics of Joint-Stock Banking)—
The London and Westminster £266,884
The Union Bank of London
The London and County
The Commercial Bank
The British Bank
It appears therefore that the Bank of London has re-
ceived a larger share of public patronage in three months
then the above Banks enjoyed at the end of the second
year.