The Sun.
London, England, 1852-05-20 00:00:00

TIII AUSTRALIAN DIGGINGS.

The following; is an (ixtract from u letter dated Mel-
bourne, Jan.

having had ocoaiion to visit the
" I have been for the last two months -from home,
Peint Fairy and Portland
districts, situate about 100 and 220 miles hence respec-
tively, all of which has been done on horseback. I re-
turn by the steamer to Sydney next-week, whero, in all
probability, I shall have ans wers to mine. written to you
M last ay and June, announcing the discovery cf.
gold in
the Bathurst district.

" Long ere this you will have learnt the opening of
the Victoria Mines of Baehurst and Mount Alexander.
To these
regions, ianlut satronuonwa btheeaVinflt
ridded
In pointparentlyi of fact, inexhaustibly
the
1,
yield is actually incredible, and daily increasing.
The pursuit of gold-digging absorbi i,ll other voca-
tions; nothing is thought of, spoken Of; or
written about, except gold. Business . contracts of
all kinds,—the social compact, domestic content,
the relation of master and servant, and all other ties,
either civil or religious, tire in a state of disruption
beyond the power cf language to describe. Six
weeks, a muuth, a fertnight, nay, even a week's
labour, produces occasionally podigioas sums.. I
saw four men lifting
a seaman's chest into a dray
indf an hour ago, almost too heavy for their
united strength. This chest contained the product
of six weeks' labour, and contained at least 2001te3.1
of gold. The banks 'and the post-office are work-
ing double hours ; all other public departments
are crippled for want of hands •; male servants
are not to be had, even et extravagant rates ; wo-
men are not much better. Marriages. are now in
high favour; almost all the single men arrive from the
diggings with gold enough to maintain a wife. So far
the abstraction of yoting women from service is desirable,
be the inconvenience what it may; but there are other
channels for expenditure where pv,.ilig,;oy rtud,lioonti,,..-
ness are exhibited on a fearful scale, amid the riot of
waste end reckless prodigality. Enormous eums are
squandered by the diggers and their families. Every
Jack has hid Gill, and Jack .has more money besides
than his roaster of the preceding month.
"I asked the waiter, and then the chambermaid of
the inn where I stop, to send me out a small bundle of
linen to the laundress; they, however, stated that they
could not find any person willing to wash--under these
circumstances, I went to the haberdasher for a sup•
ply. I notice this as an instance of the state of
things here, which aro fast assuming a Cali-
fornian character, with respect to the rate of high
prices, equally for the necessaries and luxuries of life.
Do you want a pair of boots the price ie 21. 103.; a pair
of strong shoes, '2os. Then there is such a consump-
tion of bottle beer, champagne, and other wines, spirits,
and tobacco as would astonish a new-corner. An order
Came to town yesterday from a publican on the M, ant
Alexander road for 1,200 dczens of battled beer. This
man, I am told actually sold 70 dozses in one day to
the coming and going diggers, hundreds of whom call as
his house every day.
I think the community of Victoria, taking them all
in all, ere now the wealthiest in the world, and poss.:ss,
besides, a beentiful country and healthy • climate in the
mein—though I must say I do not like the site of Mel-
bourne as a metropolis; it is singularly hot, dusty,
without sev,e-rs or drainage, and will by-and-by become
very unhealthy. • The country between Belfort end
Wamambhool is extremely fine (close to the coast) fur
agricultural purposes, and the climate much milder than
in the neighbouring district. I think Geelong ought to
have been the site of the capital. I am convinced in a
few years it will rival this city. It stands much higher,
on the margin of a floe open bay, and commands a tine
back country. The wheat crops on the liarrabul hills,
close to Geelong, are magnificent; I calculate them to
yield 50 bushels an acre. There, however, will be great
difficulty in getting them in for want of labourers,
though 10s. and 12s. 6d. per diem, with rations, is freely
offered. _ _ _

" The total quantity
of gold shipped to this date from
Victoria is 102,4790 z, since, the 24th ult., and pro-
ceding 117,8250 z., or, in round numbers, 220,3000 z.,
.
which, taken at 3/. per ounce only, gives 660,9001., or
hive
shipped as much as the Sydney people
shipped since the discovery, in May last. The effect of
of wool and tallow
has been a most extensive or extended
issue of .
such an immense addition of exportable commodity
to the customary transport
principles—for which, indeed, there was no help. In
banks may
tact, the whole circulation-of the three _
bank-
notes, far beyond the ordinary regulations of banking
be said to be out, in proof of which I obtained with
some difficulty 4001. on Wednesday last from
one of the Anglo banks, and on another occasion
I have known a bank in Sydney quite cleared
out. All our banks stand so high in the public
estimation that little can be apprehended from their
expanded circulation; still, large addition to their
coin is necessary in the absence of an assay-
of ee, making our gold in biers a legal tender
under a Government stump, or a , branch mint, which
would be still better, though I foresee a difficulty in
obtaining from the home Government a branch mint.
An assay-office, however, in the hands of Govern-
ment, issuing.gold bars of certain fineness and weight,
will, I think, be necessary.
Under such an arrange•
ment, our gold would speedily assume a convertible
form for remittances to any part of the world.
Situated as we now are, wo must transmit our
gold sixteen thousand miles, trammelled with heavy
transit charges, to obtain a currency value, and
then bring it back again, thus losing at least six
months' interest. I think eve ought to have a Go-
vernment assay establishment at Sydney or Melbourne,
or both, the expense of which would be defrayed by a
small charge on the gold,
each ingot receiving the stamp
of Great Britain to determine one uniform fineness'
'rho earth in certain parts of these colonies teems
with the precious metal. Conceive the astounding
quantity of about 9f tons of pure gold being taken in
tour months from Victoria
elone, and this, too, in
the most slovenly way i
-sieginable! It is well known
that a great deal more of
tine gold, in dust and scales,
has been left (as too troublesome) by the golcb diggers
unwashed, the search being confined principally to nug-
gets or small lumps of metal, ranging from the size of
a pinhead to a horsebean. The
price to-day of gold is
60s. to 61s. per on. The Brilliant sails tomorrow with
55,100 ez , of which one house alone ships B,oooa.
The Statesman will take, I believe, a still larger
quantity.
" You will doubtleta have
noticed the separation of
the colonies. One ot the first fruits has been the eateb-
lishment of differential duties, in some casts almost pro-
hibitory, against each other,--a moat insane project,
realizing the filet° of " the members warring against the
belly." Only conceive the
South Wales, maize, Ord.,
e ptoduced there), firing
,addled with duty here ; and wheat, the product ot
oran
de man
exhibitingP i tthe
Victoria or Van i)iemen'scharged in
reciprocation at Sydney. Such is the effect of petty
Land'coalssia:idlarileydar of
New
colonial jealousy, or rather discord, as I presume no one
will deny Nature and Providence iutended us to be one
fam"ilit.is wonderful to reflect upon the facts included
oafndProvidence. Had our auti-
(crone wealth been apparentlydenoted
these colonies were one vast prison house, and fifteen-
tweutieths
have been our condition? Wisely has it
ibne benevolent 1 ent gold
intentions discovery,
of thefi fifteen
ynd
years
rs
Belo:
gedn, inwhen the
would
ordained that these countries thould become pos-
sessedral abundance, average amount of order and virtue abounding
a t
and
people-
ai elsho efaeoiltroi I: i
nw beenhthate
vast flocks and herds,
earth'
disclosed its riches—to attract the hundrede of
before the
thousands that will find their way during
the present year, to this our land of o
m witho th e r
aacgotuipanoutprl
tuyal,
phir and
glittering nuggets! Conceiie a boundless country teem-
ing with abundance of food, a fine climate, and gold by
the ton! If these are not subjects of attraction—if these
fail to produce spontaneous and self-sustaining emigra-
tion to our colonies from all parts of the world, then
the materials of man's composition are changed.
" Van Diemen's Land must cease to be a penal colony.
Let Swan River enjoy all the benefit she has peti-
tioned for in a large Goeernment expenditure for the
support of imperial convicts and improvement of her lo-
Van Diemen's L
cality. Be assured . _ and must be re-
lieved from all further stain, she is far too near the
regions of gold, and has borne long enough the miseries
of penal infliction.
" I fear South Australia, once the most promising of
the Australian group, is on the eve of great suffering
and disaster.. The accounts are alarmiug; land has
ceased almost to possess a value. The people are
coming hither in thousands. Without gold fields
she will be lost. Even Sydney begins to
feel the emigration of her population for the
superior diggings of Victoria. No person can, however,
may bo before the tables tura. The
free how long it
~ , , „ e
of Van Diemen s Land free populationare fast
coming over to
All Melbourne. the Sydney people
California and
are returning from
but I the
Polyne-
sian group of' islande,
the trust Yankee we
may not
be favoured with any. of .
least of that portion rejoicingb itnera thea and bowie
of
vigilance committees,
six's
thaneo I ever . knives.
I have now written moreuch as I could
intended, yet
certainly not half slny,touchd-
atshein wonderful things
ing and concerning
place. seeand
hear in this extraordinary Nell-regulated
the stns.!) CiS of ass-
minds -are bewildered by . gen . p
. t
ing events; sobriety of thought and tee ancient slow
s are upset; and how can it be
operations of business
men, after an absence of a month
or so, return each witotherwise when youngh
1001.
to Lord knows how much
more a piece, and prepare
for a rig out on a more ex-
tensive and approved scale for the mines?
"All below the
standard of
this is true, and infinitely. s
ite again from ydacy shortly
fact. Purpesing to Wr
after my arrival.

* " I have sines tiscertained at the Barak of AllE-
tralasiA (where this go!d was deposited) that the weight
was 2501 h, fer fivo moo in six week:4"

The-vacant office of Solicitor-General for St.totland
has been conferred upon Mr. Charles Neale-es, who has to re-
sign the sheriffship of Orkney, which has, it is said, been
River' tq Mr. W. E. Aytoun.

EVEN

j_"

Ai A Y

SPORTING NOTES.
No. CCXXX.

TIIE PROBABLE FATE OFTIJE CANDIDATES
FOR THE SEVENTY-T[IIRD DERBY.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
Sits,—ls is now quite titne that I gave my opinion on
the probable issue of the great race of next week.
Having already sent nut a list of absentees and probable
starters, i 4 will be-potfeetly superfluous to do so again.
Commocing with the horses in preprltion at head-
quarter q Newmarket s'rtrige to say, this year turns out
the alaiost unprecedented number, or thorn, of probnbly
half-a-dozen starters.

Lord Orford's br c LCORAete by Theon out of
Adelgued, by Bay Middleton, being the ono most
fooled in the betting' out of this lot, I shall
begin my comments with him. He never appeared as a
two years old; and his chance was thoiveht to be so re-
mote in December last, that 100 to 1 was absolutely
refased about him ; some good judges, however, Who saw
him eerly in the epriug, raid he wept,' turn out a clip-
par, and becl,ed him eccordinely at long shots. He
has, to some extent, jusetied their prediction, by
heathr; Stockwell for the 100 Soya. Stakes in the
Craven Meeting very cleverly, giving him three
pounds. This horse; it seems, is possessed of a re-
markably vicious temper, and, at his debut jest men•
tinned, satietied his had propensities by flying
at Stockwell immediettly before stsrting; which,
some people ray, so cowed the latter that he
wes riot likely to attempt to pass his adversary;
this Hen, in my opinion, is all stuff and nonsense. In
the First Spring Meeting at Newmarket ho made his
second and last appearance previous to the achy, dis-
posing of those wretched animas Wingenund and Hou-
lakiu with the most consummate ease imaginable.
Stockwell also figured among the entries, but as ho
would in this Instance hive had to concede slbs to
Aleeran, of course he stopped at home in his stable.
Everything in the way of traioieg tint Beresford can
accomplish has been dello for Alcoran, who is in as fine
coadition as it is possible for hone to bo, Be will finish
in front next Wednesday.
Turning newt to Lord Exater's lot, two, I perceive,
are already disposed of; thus leaving the other two to do
battle for the blue and white stripe.
STOCKWELL. by the Baron, out of Pocohontas, ran
twice last year: in the fleet race, at the Second October
Meeting, finishing close in the :car of Maidstone; and in
the other, runainges- queer fourth. for the Criterion
Stakes to Red Hind, Ambrcse being_second, and the
Knight of the Shire third: the filly carried 41bs more
than Stockwell. This year .he made his first appear-
ance for the 100 Save. Stakes in the Craven meeting,
(or which h. was beaten by Altioran. His second ap-
pearance was for the Two Thousand Guineas Stakes.
which, with 12 to 1 against him, he won very cleverly
from end to end, but beating a very inferior lot, Home-
brewed and Maid: tone being perhaps the best. It must
be observed however, that in condition, to all appear-
ance, he was four or five pounds at the least on this
occasion superior to his Craven form. His next engage.
ment was for the 50 Save. Stakes, which he declined
contesting; and did the same for the 100 Soya. Stakes,
coming out on the Friday and winning the Newmarket
Stakes by a bead, which could have been two lengths
but for Norman—who must have been going to sleep—
taking it eery easy, fancying he had the race in hand,
enabling Butler on Maidstone to get to his head. This
horse's chance has been very much deteriorated by the
little work he has-done for the last fortnight; he is,
however, once more looking up and taking his exercise
freely. I cannot however, all things considered, imagine he
has any chance of. obtaining a place.
AMBROSE by Tom:theme, out of Annette, by Priam,
considered last summer to be much better than Stock-
well, has been one of the unluckiest horses the' ever
trod the turf, having, as a two years old, appeared in
public a dozen times, and in every instance having run '
well up. He was second no less than four times, and
third seven times, thus having been only fairly out of
the race in one instance, when ho ran nowhere to Red
Hind. He ha's been doing very good work, but I can-
not for an instant suppose he has any chance of carrying
off the Derby. He will, iu ell probability, fiatsh in the
leading portion of the ruck.
Out of Cooper's string of five, Kingston and the Nabob
will be the couple selected to represent the stable.
Lard Ribbesclale'e b c KINGSTON, by Venison, out of
Queen Anne, by Shine, is their great gun. As a two
years old he appeared in public four times, making his
debtit at Ascot, where he ran a moderate third to Bobbie
Noble, Grey Tommy occupying the second place. This
performance is not very satisfactory, as the winner had
the race in band all the way. In his second essay he
ran a couple of dead heats, with Chief Boron Nicholson,
at Stockbridge—another very equivocal performance.
Then he took a long rest, and came out at the
Newmarket First October Meeting, where, carrying
Bst 10Ib for the Hopeful, he beat. Ambrose, Bst 71b, and
Flirt, Bst Sib, but only had half a length the advantage
of Ambrose, who in his turn beat Flirt by a neck. In
the Second October Meeting he accomplished his best
performances, carrying Bst 131 b, he won the Clearwell
Stakes, beating Harbinger, at 61b less, by a neck, Am-
brose and Elcot also being among the defeated. He
has as yet not run this year. He has been doing good
work for a long time past; looks as well as any horse
can look; has satisfied his owner and trainer of his
capabilities, and will probably finish in the fourth or fifth
position, perhaps nearer, his blood being undeniable on
both sides. He is descended through Garcia by Octa-
vian, dam by Shuttle, out of Catherine, one of the best
daughters of Delpini.
IHE NABOB, by The Nob oat of Hester, by Camel
out of Monimia, by Muley, did not appear as a two
years old, but made his debit at the Newmarket Craven
Meeting by winning the Tuesday's Riddlesworth with
great ease trom Weathergage and Magnes. On Friday
in the acme meeting he won the 100 Sove. Stakes easily
from Sackbut second, and • Ambrose third—the last
named beaten several lengths, finishing his per-
formancss, so far as this year is yet concerned, by giving
a dollop of weight away to Hugo and beating him out
of hand. This animal is a remarkably leggy
brute, and, if I mistake not, will. be completely out 91 his
element at Epsom, so I cannot award- him a respectable
place; besides, he may be entrusted with cutting not
the work for his stable companion, Kingston.
The betting has undergone a slight alteration since '
yesterday, Hobble's advance to 5 to 1 being the prin-
cipal feature. Kingston is very steady at 15 to 1.
Stockwell has re-appeared again at his old price, 20
to 1; and the King of Trumps has advanced three
points since yesterday, and is now quoted at 15 to 1.
I am, Sir, yours, &e ,
THE SPIRIT OF THE TURF.

May 20, 1852.
(To bn continued.)

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.
BATH RACES—WEDNESDAY.
The City Cup of 100 soya. in specie' added to a Sweep-
stakes of 10 BC,VJ. each; the sevnd to save his stake;
for three yrs old and upwards. Two miles arid a half.
(19 Subs)
Mr. J. M. Stanley's Storyteller, Bst 51b...(Charlton) 1
Mr. Woolcot's Kate, 3 yrs, 6st 1016 ..(Cowley) 2
Mr. Parr's Clothworkt,r, 6 yrs, 9st l llb (Owner)
Mr. B. Austin's Miss Talbot, Bst 1116...(Ctornento 0
lir. W. Rei ves's Norm,Lnton, 7st 1116 ...(J. Sharp) 0
Mr. Hewitt's Mademe Wharton, Bst 51b (Ocrillr) 0
Betting-5 to 4 zgat Kite, 9to 1 aget Storyteller,
and sto 1 agst Clothworker. Won by three pirts of a
Vegth; Clothworker a bad third. Ran in 1 mie. 9 sec..
The Weston Stakes of 10 soy% each; and 50 added; for
two yrs old colts, 83t gib; and fillies, Bst 416, &o.
T.Y.C. (14 Subs.)
Mr. Howard's Vaultress, 84t 41b (A. Day) 1
Lord W. Puwlett's Libel f, Bst 416 (b. 1-I.(lers) 2
Mr. Armstreog's Placid, Bst 416 (Charlton) 3
Mr. Treen na Dexterous be, Bst 916...(Treen, jun.) 4
Mr. Osbaldt-ston's c.by Cotherstone, Bst 91b...(Iliett) 5
Betting-2 to lon Vaultress, Bto 4 agst Placid. Won
by three lengths, the same between second and third.
Run in 55 arcs.
The Aristocratic Handicap of 10 sow. each, 5 ft, and
20 added. Gentlemen riders ; professionals to carry
61b extra. Once round. (7 Subs.)
Mr. Tarr's Welthergage, 3 yrs, 9st tilb (Owner) 1
Mr. Stevens's Vesta, aged, lOst 2lb (Mr. Elwes) 2
Captain Little's Bullfinch, 5 yrs, lOst 71b ...(Owner) 3
Mr. Isaac Day's Justice, aged, 9st 61b .........(Cook) 4
Mr. Cooper's Montague, 6 yrs, llst 21b (Wakefield) 5
Betting-2 to 1 agst Justice, and sto 2 agst Weather-
gage. Won by three lengths. Run in 3 mins. 11 secs.
The Dyrbam Handicap of 100 sm., for all ages. Once
round, about one mile and a half.
Duke of Bedford's Hugo, 3 yrs, sst (S. Steggles) 2
1
Mr. H. Hill's Pitsford, 5 yrs, Bst 131 b (A• Day)
The following also ran, but were not plrced :
Sir R. Pigott's Runnymede, 4 yrs, Bst (Maton) 0
Mr. H. Waring's Manifold, 5 yrs,7stl3lt(T Carlisle) 0
Mr. S. Darling's Sir Robert, 5 yrs, 7st 10!b (J. Sharp) 0
0
Mr. Waller's Ephesus, 4 yrs, 7st 41b (Wakefield)
Mr. Whitehouse's Scapulary, Est 91b ... (R. Archer) 0
Mr. Winch's The Brahmin, 3 yrs, Est (Hayward) 0
Mr. B. Austin's Madeline, 3 yrs, 53t 101 b (Clements) 00
Mr. B. Tomb's Nizza, b g, 3 yrs, sst 41b ...(G. Bren)
Mr. G. Higgins's Apostate, 3 yrs, sst ......(Kendall)
Captain H.B. Powell's Freetrader, 3 yrs, sst (Salter) 00
Mr. Southby's APpleton, 3 yrs, 4st 121 b (Oliver, jun.)
Mr. H. Drewe's Ballet Girl, 5 yrs, 7st (Charlton) 0
Betting-4 to 1 agst Freetrader, sto 1 agst Hugo, 5
to 1 agst Pitsford, and 7 to 1 agst Appleton.
Won by half a length, Madeline a bad third, and
Ballet Girl fourth. Run in 3 mins. 5 secs.
The Selling Stakes of 5 soya. each and 20, added, for
2 yrs old and upwards, half-a-mile (10 subs.), were
won in four beats, by Sir C. Rushout's Flounce, 3 yrs
(400, 63t 61b, beating Maid of the West,
3 yrs (2001.),
Bst 31b, and several others.

- •
ROYAL ASYLUM OF ST. ANN'S SOCIETY.—The
annual meeting of the girls who have bat een
the Royal Asylum
on Brixton-hill. The friends of this institution,
maintenance
not con-
tented with affording a home, clothing,. and ,
and a most excellent and useful education to the children
under their more immediate care, take every
on theop of
of
encouraging and rewarding good conduct part
those who hav6 left the school. For this purpose these an-
nual meetings were instituted, and the success of which
it was stated had been highly satisfactory. The Bisaid, thhopat of
Norwich presided, and in opening the proceedings, s
from the good testimonials which had been presented that
day, there ought to be no difficulty in providing for the girls
on leaving the institution. His Lordship then presented the
prizes which had been awarded, and addressed the whole of
the former pupils in an able and impressive exhortation. A
vote of thanks was given to the Bishop of Norwich by accla-
mation, and the assembly broke up, after hearing an address
from one of the boys.
A dramatic festival, which will extend from the
7th to the 12th June, is about to be given, under the patron-
age of the Queen and Prince Albert, in aid of the local cha-
rities of Manchester. Letters have been addressed to the
principal actors and actresses who have been in the habit of
visiting Manchester, stating the object of the festival, and
may severally see fit to give
expressing a hope that they
their gratuitous services,

.20 It-52

RACING FIXTURES FOR 1852.
NAY.

HarrPtiden ...... 2l I
Wye 3l
Epsom 25 6luth Shi4ll9 ...... 81