The Sun.
London, England, 1863-03-20 00:00:00

WESTMINSTER.

SELF-ACCUSATION OF CHILD MURDER AND ATTEMPTED
SUICIDE.—Emma Cobblestone, a respectably dressed young
woman, was placed at the bar charged with having accused
herself with the murder of her child, and with making two
or three attempts to commit suicide.

William Laughlan, police. constable 56 B, said—l was
on duty in the King's-road, Chelsea, at half-past one this
morning, when I SAW the prisoner, who appeared in a most
excited and dejected state. I inquired of her what was
the matter, when she said that her distress was caused by
her having thrown her child from Battersea-bridge into the
river Thames. She ran towards the bridge, and I followed
her, accompanied by 285 B, determined to wa ch her
closely, When she got to Cheyne-walk she filled her
handkerchief full of stones, and tied it round her neck.
She then got over the railing between her and the river.
and was about to plunge in when I seized and pre-
vented her. She assigned as a reason for attempting to
jump into the river that her heart was broken in conse-
quence of her having destroyed her child. She did not at-
tempt to deny that it was her intention to drown herself.
Mr. Arnold—Did she give any further explanation of
her conduct ?

Witness—She said that her husband had left her, and
that she became destitute, and had in consequence been in-
duced to throw the child into the Thames. She was very
excited, and appeared as if she had been drinking.
Mr. Arnold—Did you make any search for the child
Witness—We did, and found it safe at prisoner's mother's.
Her sister is here now with the child. Prisoner made two
other desperate attempts to drown herself.
Mr. Arnold—Did you not take her to the station when
you took her n Cheyne-walk
Policeman—She was anxious to show us the particular
spot, as she said, where she had thrown her child into the
water, and took us to Battersea. bridge for that purpose,
when she twice suddenly broke away from us.
The sister having produced the child, which is at the
breast, the magistrate suggested that it should be given up
to the prisoner, whom he remanded for a week, but that the
sister should accompany her to the prison, lest she should
hurt it.

MARKETS--This Day.

MARK-LANE.

The fresh arrivals of English wheat to this morning's
market were very moderate. Selected samples moved off
steadily, and prices ruled firm, but the demand for inferior
produce was by no means active, on former terms.
I'ho market was well supplied with foreign wheat. The
business transacted, however, was chiefly in retail, yet the
quotations were supported.
Floating cargoes of grain changed hands to a moderate
extent, at previous currencies.

The supply of foreign barley was large, of English mode-
rate, and the trade was in a sluggish state, at fully the late
decline in prices. In the value of malt no change took
place.
Oats, the supply of which was small, were vary dull, but
holders were indisposed to accept further reduced rates.
Beans and peas changed hands somewhat heavily, and
the quotations had a downward tendency.
In flour sales progressed slowly on former terms. The
supply of American qualities was moderate.

ARRIVALS THIS WEEK.
Wheat. Barley. Malt. Oats. Flour.
English.-- 730 I 1,660 8,660 i 130 / 620
Irish.. —
Foreign.... —15,460 11,760 61,020

201 sks
11,280 brlB.

The Debdale Stakes of 5 soya each, with 25 added, 12st
each, for horses that have been regularly and fairly
hunted. Winners extra. Half-bred horses allowed 7lb.
To be ridden by gentlemen. Two miles. 14 subs.
Mr. J. S. Shaw's Little Dick, 6 yrs, 12st 71b (in. 71b ex.)
(Mr. W. Beville) 1
Mr. F. Rowland's Gavazzi, 5 yrs, 12st (Owner) 2
Lord Westmoreland's Tambourgi, list 91b (Capt. Little) 3
Mr. Park's Paddy from Cork, aged, list 71b (car. llst
101 b)
Mr. Elyod's St. James, aged, 12st
Mr. Wadlow's Pot•pourri, 4 yrs, 12st (Mr. Edwards) 6
Paddy from Cork started in advance, followed half-way
up the hill by St. James and Pot-pourri, and others lying
some lengths in their rear. Approaching the House the
latter went to the front, closely attended by St. James and
Little Dick, Gavazzi and Tambourgi following side by side
next. In this way they ran along the Swan-meadows, but
on reaching the half-mile post Tambourgi ran past his
horses and for a brief period held possession of the lead,
and then dropped back—Gavazzi at the same time joined
the two leaders in Star. close. In a few strides after Pot-
pourri was beaten, leaving the race with Little Dick and
Gavazzi, the former having the lead, which he held to the
end, and won in a canter by three lengths, Tambourgi was
a bad third, Paddy from Cork fifth, and Pot Pourri next.
The Walton Handicap of 5 soya each, 2 forfeit, with 25
sovs added, for all ages ; five furlongs. 12 subs.
Mr. R. Ten Broeck's Batsman, 3 yre sst 121 b (Murfitt) 1
Mr. T. Jacob's Lufra, 3 yrs, sst 7th..., (Ward) 2
Mr. ll..dguaan's Confusion, 6 yrs, 78t (T. French) 3
Mr. Meredyth's Abernethy, 3 yrs, sst 71b (J. Grimshaw) 4
Lord Strathmore's Sugarstick, 4 yrs, 6st 21b ....(Jebb) 5
Betting-6 to 4 (at first sto 4) agst Batsman, sto 2 agst
Abernethy, 4 to 1 agst Confusion, and 7 to 1 agst Sugar-
stick.

Several failures preceded the'start, in which the favourite
broke away and ran to the distance. Whenithe flag was
lowered Confusion, being the first away, came on with a
clear lead, with Abernethy and Batsman next, but before
they reached the half-mile post Abernethy rushed to the
front, and made strong running, with the favourite and Con-
fusion lying up, Sugarsti-k bringing up the rear. At the
distance Abernethy was beaten, and his place was taken by
Batsman, who with Confusion and Lufra finished the race
home, Batsman winning cleverly by two lengths, Confusion
Was a bad third, and Abernethy fourth.

The Great Warwickshire Handicap of 25 sovs each, 10 ft,
and 5 only if declared, with 200 added. The second horse

to receive 25 sovs out of the stakes. Two miles, 43 subs,
26 of whom pay 5 soya each.
Count Batthyany's Suburban, 6 yrs, 7st 91b (Wheatley) 1
Mr. R. Ten Broeck's Optimist, 6 yrs, Bst 71b
(G. Fordham) 2
Mr. F. Swindell's Tolurno, 4 yrs, Bst (inc 51b extra)

(S. Adams) 3
Lord Stamford's Dulcibella, G yrs, Bst 411).... (J. Mann) 4
Mr. F. Cooper's Bonnycastle, 4 yrs, 7st 41b (Chillman) 5
Betting-6 to 4 agst Tolurno, 2to 1 agst Dulcibella, 4to
1 agst Optimist, and 6 to 1 agst Suburban.
Suburbanin
advance was
off,
othfeDfiaricsitbeiia and Bonnycastle, the latter
and came past the stand a
length
running wide on the right ; then came Optimist and To-
lurno. These positions were retained until they fairly
entered the Lammas land, where he was headed by Dul-
cibella, who, on going up tho hill, increased her lead,
Suburban going on second, Optimist third, with Bonny-
catle and the favourite bringing up the rear. On enter-
ing the meadows, at the far side, Suburban joined Lord
Stamford's mare, the pair singling themselves away from
their followers, and raced across the Swan Meadows
fur the lead, Tolurno, with Optimist at his quarter,
lying close up, the four joining issue as they reached
the half-mile post, and ran together to half way across
the Star enclosure, where the favourite obtained a
decided lead, and came in advance of Dulcibella into the
straight, where the latter was in trouble, and shortly after
gave way to Suburban and Optimist, the former coming up
on the upper ground, and the latter next the rails, and
joined Tolurno at the enclosure, had him beaten in a few
strides, and finished the race home together, Suburban full
of runnin3. winning in a canter by a length, four lengths
separating the second and third. Dulcibella finished a bad
fourth, and Bonnyerstle last, beaten off a long way.
The Two years-old Snakes of 5 sovs each, with 50 added,
for 2-yr-olds; colts Bst 101 b, and fillies Bst 71b. Winners
extra. About three furlongs. 25 subs.
Captain Rennie's Starbeam, Bst 1 llb (includ 41b extra)
(Reeves) 1
Prince D. Soltykoff's Whitefield, Bst llib (in 41b extra)
(Custance) 2
Mr. H. Marsh's Lady Nichol, Bst 1 llb (in 41b extra)
(H. Grimshaw) 3
The following also ran :—Royston, Merry Sunshine dam
filly, Area, Bristles, Jane Shore, Chicquot the Jester, Faith,
and Sorceress.

Betting-2 to 1 agst Lady Nichol, 4to 1 agst Starbeam,
7 to 1 agst Chicquot, 100 to 12 agst Whitefield, 12 to 1 each
agst the Area filly and Faith, and 20 to 1 agst Royston.
A tedious delay took place at the post, upwards of an
hour being lost before Mr. M'George could in any way get
them in older, At length the signal was given to one of the
most unsatisfactory starts, the:horses being widely spread at
the time. Starbeam,with Whitefield at her girths, got away
several lengths in advance of L'Ay Nichol next the rails,
the three a little distance in front of Chiqrtot the Jester,
Jane Shore, Royston, and Sorceress, who came on i o a body
on the upper ground, the others following in straggling
order, with the exception of Faith and Mountain Deer, who
were left at the post. At the half distance Starbeam got
her head in front, and won, after a find set to, by that dis-
tance; Lady Nichol, who was chopped early in the race,
never fairly got up, and was beaten by two lengths,
Chiquot the Jester was a bad fourth, Jane Shore fifth, and
Royston next; the others were pulling up as they passed
the post. On returning to scale Lord Bateman lodged a
complaint against the starter. After the race the starter
also made a complaint against H. Grimshaw, Payne, and
Reeves, who were fined £lO each for disobedience.
A Handicap Plate of £5O for all ages. Three-quarters of a

mile. -
Lord Stamford's Ellerton, 5 yrs, 7st 121 b.... (J. Mann) 1
Lord Bateman's Peignoir, 4 yrs, Bst 71b.. (G. Fordham) 2
Mr. Merodyth's Abernethy, 3 yrs, Est 81b • • (Whir°lcY) 3
Mr. Brayley's Foie de Gras, 3 yrs, Est 81b.. (S. Adams) 4
Mr. G. Lambert's Kangaroo, 3 yrs, Est 61b.• • • (Morgan) 5
Mr. Saxon's Churchman, 4 yrs, 7st 71b...... (31idgley) 6
Ellerton jumped away with the le id, with Churchman
and Kangaroo in attendance from half a mile, when
Peignoir took the second place, but failed to get up, and
was beaten easily by a length. Abernethy finished an in-
different third, the others close up with them.
Handicap Hurdle Race of 5 soya each, 1 ft, with 30 added ;
a winner of a handicap hurdle race after the declaration
of the weights (Feb. 27, at 10 a.m.) to carry 71b extra;
the second horse to save his stake, and the winner to pay
5 soya towards expenses. Two miles, over five flights of
hurdles. 26 subs.
Mr. Hudson's Little Dick, yrs, 9st 131 b (B. Land, jun,) 1
Mr. Green's Mutineer, aged, 9st 31b....
(J. Nightingale) 2
Mr. West's Mary Stewart, 6 yrs, 9st (car 9st 31b)
(R. Sherwood) 3
Mr. Bignell's The Prophet, 6 yrs, 9st 71b .. (Knott) 0
Betting-6 to 5 agst The Prophet, 2to 1 agst Mutineer,
7 to 2 agst Little Dick.

Mutineer started with the lead, followed by Mary
Stewart, the Prophet, and Little Dick, in the order we have
given them to the hurdle opposite the stand, which was
cleared by Mary Stewart in advance, but she was shortly
after headed by Mr. Hudson's horse, who went on with the
running, attended by Mary Stewart, the Prophet, and Lit-
tle Dick. Both hurdles were placed in the meadows at
the foot of the hill, at which the favourite blundered and
fell, and unhorsed Knott, which left the two leaders a long
way in advance of Little Dick. On rounding the turn into
the straight Mutineer somewhat increased his lead, waited
upon Mary Stewart and Little Dick, to the hurdles at the
distance, which the latter struck heavily and nearly came
down, but he was soon righted, and before Mutineer reached
the stand he was at his side, and won in a canter by a
length; a bad third.

HORSES STRUCK OUT OF THEIR ENGAGEMENTS.--On
the 16th inst., at 9 a.m., Promotion and Fat Jack out of
Warwick Spring engagements, and Hubert out of Doncaster
Spring Handicap ; 11 a.m., Libellous out of Londesborough
Cup, Doncaster ; and at 1.30 p.m., Avalanche out of all
engagements in England. On the 17th, at 9 a,m,, Master
Bagot out of all engagements; at 12.30 p.m., Ireton out of
all engagements ; and at 6.10 p.m., King of Kent out of
the Northamptonshire Stakes. On the 19th, at 11.5 a,m.,
Sister to Sage out of the Northamptonshire Stakes.
The Bishop of Orleans on Poland.

The Bishop of Orleans has published the follow-
ing reply to the appeal made by M. E. Quinet to
the Catholic clergy in favour of Poland :
Sir,—Among the astonishing events which one
often experiences in these extraordinary times, it
has rarely happened to me to meet any equal to
that caused by the appeal to the Catholic clergy,
published by you in the columns of the Siecle end
of the Opinion Nationale. It is you, sir, who some
years since wrote this phrase—." Catholicism must
be dishonoured—that is not enough, it must be
smothered in mud." Son and Pontiff of the Catho-
lic Church, my hand trembles in copying this out-
rage. I must surmount a strong repugnance in order
to write to the author, and you would esteem me
but little if I entertained any other feeling. You
would laugh at my credulity if I did not mistrust
the prayers you address to-day to that clergy whose
faith you so cruelly attacked yesterday, and whose
honour you wound even in that prayer. Neverthe-
less, I will—l ought—to respond to a challenge so
strange that one asks oneself, while reading it,
whether it is an homage or an insult—a snare or a
defiance.

You accuse us in the first words of taking our
place on the strongest side, This calumny enrages
me. We are in Great Britain on the side of Ire-
land, in the East for the Christians of the Lebanon,
in America on the side of the slaves, in Russia on
the side of Poland, in Italy on the side of the Pope,
throughout the entire world on the side of the weak,
the poor, the children, the deserted ; on the side of
modesty, conscience, probity, of all here below that
is buffeted, insulted, crucified with Jesus Christ.
That is how we are on the strongest side.
You say that we have during the last century
broken the heart of Poland. When I open the his-
tory of the last century I see that Pope Clement
XIII. wrote on April 30, 1767, to the King of
France, to the King of Spain, to the Emperor of
Germany, in favour of Poland ; that Clement XIV.
again recommended that great cause on Sept. 7,
1774, 15 days before he appeared before God; that
20 times—bear this in mind—in public and solemn
documents these two Popes alone in Europe pro-
tested with all the energy inspired by faith, charity,
love of justice, against the iniquity of the conquest
and partition.
And I read in the same history of the last cen-
tury that on the 18th of November, 1773, Voltaire
wrote to the King of Prussia, " It is pretended that
it was you, sire, who imagined the partition of
Poland ; and I believe it, because it was a stioke of
genius."

After this strange exordium of the prayer you
address to us, what, sir, do you finally demand of
us ? Our money P We are ready to give it for the
victims. But you say yourself that there is no ques-
tion here of collections. Our words ? Who then
has spoken during a century ?—who have written
so eloquently—who are petitioning at this moment
for the Poles more than the Catholics ? Is it not
one of us, the Count de Maistre, who from the first
proclaimed the partition of Poland execrable P
What do you want, then ? Acts ? What acts ?
That we should march forward ; that we should
sound the tocsin ; in a word, that we should make
an appeal to arms ?
I answer you. All that can be done by the clergy
the Polish clergy are doing valiantly. They bless,
they console, they care, they support. The churches
are open to the wounded ; the priests fear not to
expose themselves to all perils in order to succour
their brethren, and I bless them for it.

When one knows what has passed and is passing
on that land—what souls and faith have antlered
there during a century, it is impossible not to feel
that there is a great Catholic cause there. The
Polish clergy is national, and there is not a single
priest among them whose heart does not beat with
the heart of his country.
You wish that we should preach war. Should we
do so, are you certain that some of your party would
not remind us that wo are ministers of peace ?
Could ye not, however, do more than we are do-
ing—speak louder and excite all hearts for this un-
fortunate nation ? I examine not whether we could
do so; but, if we do not, who prevents us? It is
you; yes, you, who al ways drive the clergy behind
he altar, and who call them forward when that
suits you ; you, who fetter them, and then reproach
them for not acting ; you, who wished that arms
should be laid down at Castelfidardo, and wish that
they should be taken up at Warsaw ; you, who ex-
hort them to silence when they speak of defending
themselves against you, and to be violent when you
think they may assist you.
There is something more serious on this occasion,
which both the most elevated and the gravest inte-
rests of Poland induce m? to tell you. It is you,
Sir, and those who follow you—it is you who not
only east a cloud over, but destroy the best causes,
by meddling with them ; you who render liberty
respected, and ruin it by uniting with force and
revolution, which destroy it. An honourable man
does not know how to move, pressed between two
obstacles—laws which prevent what he wishes to
say—parties which corrupt what he wishes to
accomplish.

If we could give the signal you demand, who
would come to the meeting ? Those not called on.
We could induce generous souls and Christian
heroes to hasten, and at your voice would come revo-
lutionists to fall on that noble and religious nation
to make it their prey. We could summon eagles,
and vultures would come. This is the great danger
of Poland. lam ready to obey you if you promise
that the revolution shall not meddle with it, If La
Vendee was great, it is because you were not there.
If 1789 was compromised, it is because you were
present.

_
Moreover, the signal is no longer to be given; it
is done. Men are dying ; we are praying. What
shall happen to-morrow ? Should God permit it,
the victory or defeat must be glorious—that Poland
shall come out of this unequal struggle more free
and more deserving than ever of love, compassion,
and respect.

You eay that that nation will not be free except
through us. You are right. Abandoned to revo-
lution, it should tremble for its liberty. But, no;
I entertain better hopes. The blood which flows is
fruitful when it is pure. Even victorious, were the
cause corrupted by the agitators throughout
Europe, it is lost—even vanquished, if served by
patriotism and faith only, it will rise again, for jus-
tice is eternally justice. _ _ _

Do you know, sir, how should I wish to serve
Poland? It is in the councils of the nations of
Europe. I would, at the cost of my blood, per-
suade those who can accomplish what we cannot
that there is a great iniquity to be repaired, a right
scandalously violated to be restored, a bar-
rier necessary to Europe and to France to be raised.
And may we never know to what extent we may
require that barrier, of which Providence so admi-
rably marked the place, and which has been so
imprudently and unworthily . sacrificed.
FELIX, Bishop of Orleans.

FIRE AT BERMONDSEY.—Last night, between 7
and 8 o'clock, a fire took place in the range of pre-
mises belonging to Mr. T. Thacker and Co., export and
inland coopers, No. 20, Pages'-walk, Bermondsey. The
flames originated from some unexplained cause in a brick
and timber building used as the workshops. Adjoining the
building were other structures filled with goods, whilst the
open yard contained stocks of timber. The fire brigade
was soon in attendance, and the supply of water was good.
At a little before midnight the firemen had succeeded in
getting the flames extinguished, but not until the work-
shops and their contents were nearly destroyed, including
the men's working tools, and part of the roofs burned off,
The sufferers were insured in the Phconix,

At a meeting of the Royal Dublin Society held on
the 16th inst.—the Rev. Profeszor Naughton in the
chair—Mr. Locke gave a detailed account of John
M'Douali's third and happily successful attempt to
penetrate through the geographical centre to the
north coast. lie started from Mooiooloo, one of the
outlying pastoral stations of South Australia, on the
20th December, 1801, and on the 25th of July fol-
lowing planted the British flag on the shores of Van
Dieman's Gulf, in let. 21 deg. 14 min. 50 sec. The
expedition was in every respect successful, and Mr.
Stuart arrived safely at his starting-point, Mooloo-
boo, in the middle of December, having been absent
one year all but a few days. We subjoin some in-
teresting passages from Mr. Locke's paper respect.
ing the aborigines, the natural history of the northern
country traversed, and its capabilities for colonisa-
tion :—" The stolid obstinacy of the aborigines in
adhering to their miserable lifc of savagery, with the
full light of intellectual power and Christian civili-
sation before their eyes, is a fact as marvellous as the li
proved impracticability of arresting their decadence
in presence of the superior race; and this cotempo-
raneous existence of barbarism and progress of the
age of stone and age of all the metals may supply
instructive suggestions on a subject which has lately
been discussed with unreflective haste and rashness
by some even of the highest scientific authorities.
Human development has not eonsisted in a gene-
rally unform gradation from primitive barbarism
to civilisation ; but there has been in all ages and in
every region a Pariah people who, fallen by their
own fault from a state of comparative enlighten-
ment in primitive times, have been unable without
external aid to emerge from their condition of bar-
barism; and sometimes, as in this instance of the
Australian savage, seemed doomed to inevitable
extinction notwithstanding all the laborious solici-
tude of Christian philanthropy. The very fauna
and flora of Australia are at this time undergoing
beneath our colonising influences a mutation as
complete and radical as any geological revo-
lution could effect ; and if the Papuans of that vast
region were extinct, the stone implements scattered
over the plains, or imbedded in refuse heaps of
shells of edible fish on the banks of the creeks or
inland waters, would indicate the same design and
phase of existence as similar remains discovered
throughout Europe beneath the peat, and lower
still in the alluvia of the pleistocene. Now, the
ebvious induction from these facts would be, that
as now, so in former ages, as far back as history is
confirmed by the tangible records of archeology,
human life was presented under the same cotem-
poraneous contrast of decadence and progress. Thus
in this green islandof ours, it may have been thatan
ancient debased race gradually declined in presence
of a more enlightened people ; and, retreating into
the forests and marshes of the interior, there hunted,
or rather worried to death, with their rude weapons
of flint, the broad-antlered giant and other great
pachyderms, until at length both themselves and
the animals that supplied their food alike perished,
giving place to men of superior mental' cultivation,
who introduced a new fauna and flora, as British
colonists are in this century accomplishing at the
antipodes. However, no historic notice of either
of these races has reached us ; and so may it have
been likewise that the mound builders of the Mis-
sissippi were contemporaries of the architects of
those gorgeous fanes in Central America wh:ch are
covered with an undeciphered symbolic sculpture.
Even supposing the geologist to be successful in
welding human history upon a distinct geologic
epoch, his success could only establish the secular
conditions of a limited region ; and these are likely
to be different, both in circumstances of time and
physical relations, from the disclosures of similar
researches in other parts of the world. We shall,
therefore, reason more satisfactorily from the few
and scattered intimations supplied by archaeological
discovery upon the antiquity of man, if we carefully
note the distinction between indefinite geologic dura-
tions and historic time. The extant creational phase
of Australia,for instance, exhibits nogradational im-
provement in type, but rather decline; the evidence of
alternating formative agency is not legible in the
everlasting rock. Marsupial and apteim remain
unchanged, save in dwindled size, an coincide, or
nearly so, with the pre-historic oolitic fauna of other
..ea for aietaes regime:, A noralia. in short, is alto-
gether strange and isolfsted in its conditions of or-
ganic life, and may be more significantly denomi-
nated a new world to the men of this generatior.
than America was to Columbus 370 years ago.
There dwell together, yet unmixed, the savage of a
remote and uulenown past, and an immigrant people
who, both in time and in the character of their
civilisation, approximate the sixth millennium of
the history of man upon the globe. Now, these
brief remarks, for which the subject gives fair occa-
sion, are not intended to intrude the historic evi-
dences of the 11.1osaic record into the domain of com-
parative geology, but rather to question the converse
of this proposition so rashly theorised in the mate-
rialistic hypotheses of our day. Certainly, if Scrip-
ture history be authentic, enlightenment and bar-
barism were exhibitea in contrast even in the
primeval societies of man, while their associated
continuance, ever since, awaits its solution in the
future : and pre-historic, in application to the human
species, is altogether a misnomer, if intended to in-
timate a period when an enlightened people, capable
of transmitting the record of their era, did not exist ;
though philology may have failed as yet to interpret
the media of transmission, or the record itself may
have perished in the lapse of ages. The country
from Newcastle Water in lat, 17 deg. 35 min. to
the coast is described to be peculiarly suitable for
the prodnotion of cotton ; wood, water, tropical
temperature, and a virgin soil, being all present, and
the one indispensable requisite of labour alone want-
ing. In lat. 13 deg. 44 min. 14 sec. he came to an
elevated plateau which presented a strange and very
interesting sample of stratification. ' The top course
(he writes) of this table land is a layer of magnetic
ironstone, which deflected my compass upwards of
20 degs. Underneath is a layer of red sandstone, and
below that an immense mass of white sandstone,
very soft, and crumbling away from action of the
atmosphere.' Again, in the same vicinity border-
ing the Adelaide River, he passes over a great num-
ber of steep, stony rises, composed of conglomerate
quartz, resting upon a course of slate lying north-
west, and nearly perpendicular ; also several layers
of iron-stone, and a sharp rectangular grey flint. I
should think' (he continues) this is a likely place to
find gold, from the quantity of quartz, its colour,
and having so lately traversed an extensive basaltic
and granite country ; the conglomerate quartz
bedded in iron, and the slate perpendicular are good
signs.' Now gold is found in Australia not only in
the matrix of white quartz veins, and interstices in
the primitive rock, but also frequently associated
with black magnetic iron-sand in the superficial de-
tritus; and it is not unlikely that Stuart's conjec-
ture may prove correct; but his notices respecting
mineralogy, botany, and other branches of natural
history are so few and incomplete, that we must
wait for the report of Mr. Waterhouse, naturalist to
the expedition, ere we possess sufficient information
to enter on the discussion of these interesting and
important subjects. The claim of South Australia,
founded on priority of discovery, for an extension of
territory to the north coast, bisecting the continent
by a comparatively narrow strip, is not to be
entertained by the Home Governdmisecnotv;erbeudt
s-
pacious and secure roadstead be ifa c
within
not seem any
of Adelaide
establishing a mercantile marine and goods depots
fit hnea
ngcui gulf of ohfinVdarann Diemen,c
t the there
merchantsdoes
on the northern coast, thereby avoiding the perils
end delays of the circuitous ocean routes, i e., pro-
vided the overland transit is ascertained to be safe
and facile, as well as also less expensive for trans-
ports of cattle and merchandise. The abandonment
in 1847, after nine years' trial, of Port Essington
(only one degree north of Stuart's terminus and nearly
on the same parallel of longitude), in consequence
of insalubrity of climate, unproductiveness of soil,
and want of markets, will render the British
Government cautious in encouraging colonial
settlement without a careful preliminary survey
and examination, especia,ly of the climate and capa-
bilities of the maritime districts. Again, Govern-
ment may be disposed to organise a penal settlement
on the northern coast. The nucleus of such settle-
, meat would be over 1,200 miles from the nearest

colonial capital ; and the measure might likewise
be rendered less distasteful by making it available
for Australian as well as British convicts. Wittin
little morn than half a century the State Executive
has recaded from sanguinary severity to the ex-
treme of injudicious lenity; and statesmen seem
gradually inclining to the necessity of readopting
the punishment of exile for repeated and incor-
rigible offenders, as desirable not only in a financial
view, but chiefly to preserve social and civil interests
at home from the dangers involved in the over-
whelming increase of criminals among a dense
population within a very limited territory ; at the
same time not altogether abrogating the reforma-
tory system, which may serve the co-ordinate pur-
pose of neutralising crime in its incipience in the
case of juvenile offenders, just as sanitary preven-
tives to counteract the injurious effects ofmiasmata
are combined with great conduits for expulsion of
the selvage, which, if damned back, would he de-
war:tire of health and life in cur eitica. In thus
adverting to the i robability of a partial recurrence
to the punishment of transportation, I by no means
presume to advocate that measure with special re-
ference to Australia; but certainly a great propor-
tion of our adult convicts would be employed more
advantageously (in a moral point of view) for them-
selves and the British world at large, in cultivating
cotton on the shores of Van Diemen's gulf or even
collecting the precious metal in Stuart'a-gold-fielcis
on the Adelaide (supposing his conjecture true)
than in gaols and reformatories at home, where
their mode of living is in every respect more com-
fortable than that of our honest agricultural
labourers or poor artisans. However, the prosperity,
wealth, and public spirit of these great colonial
commonwealths entitle their declared opinion
upon all Australian matters to respectful considera-
tion."

Society for Encouragement of the Fine Arts,

Last night a meeting of the members of this so-
ciety was held at their rooms, Conduit-street,
Regent-street—Mr. Earle in the chair.

Mr. H OTTLEY read a lecture on " The Present
Position of the Royal Academy."
.The appoint-
ment of the royal commission to inquire into
that institution was a great fact, whatever
might be its results, but whatever these results
were to eventuate in the promotion of the welfare
of the arts and its professors solely depended on the
artists themselves, who must take the lead if the
public were to take up the question and see all
parties righted. The lecturer then referred to the
last agitation on the subject, which he defined as
one purely limited to the "ins" and the "onto," but
the possessions of large funds and the support of
fashion gave the former the victory. The chief griev-
ance was perhaps the irresponsible action of the
" hanging committee," by which, at the annual ex-
hibitions, the works of those who were working
their way to fame were placed out of sight, and it
often happened, too, that the worst pictures were
those selected for exhibition. He would not say so
designedly—that these inartistic works might serve
as a foil to the works of the academicians. Nothing,
however, came of the contest, as the public only
looked upon it as a professional squabble, and Sir
Nlartin Arthur Shee, the then president, succeeded
in making good his position—that it was not a na-
tional but a royal institution. He took the same
course in 1839, and refused to comply with the
order of the House of Commons calling for an ac-
count of the receipts and expenditure of the institu-
tion. So matters went on until last year, when
Lord Etch° succeeded in obtaining the appointment
of the royal commission, and although the noble
lord had to some degree lost the confidence of the
public as an art reformer, from his subsequent con-
duct in dining with the academicians, still the same
public had now come to look with greater discern-
ment upon the importance of a national art-educa-
tion. Looking at the constitution of the commis-
sion, he was afraid that Lord Eleho would surren-
der his old point and allow the academy still to re-
tain the National Gallery. Mr. Denby Seymour
was very likely to take the same course, and the
other noblemen and gentlemen associated with them
were unknown either es artists or men of taste,
although some of them were men of learning, and
others were men of crotchets. However, in con-
eenting to the commission, the academy had sur-
rendered the high ground of irresponsibility to
Parliament taken up by Sir M. A. Shoe; but their
complacence was to be regarded with some hesita-
tion and doubt, although it was undoubtedly good
policy on their part to yield, They were still the
"ins," and the "outs'' were still unrepresented;
but the sooner their inactivity was got rid of the
better, else they and the public would have
t o thank themselves for the failure of the com-
miseion, and the condition of the artists of Great
Britain would be in a lower and more degraded
position than the Poles, who, although oppressed,
were fighting for their liberty. The admission
of lay members—amateur artists—would lead
to dilettanteism, which had always been
the curse of art; and, so far as the intentions of the
commission had leaked out, he dreaded they would
establish a huge and gigantic monopoly. Having re-
ferred to the modifications which have already taken
place in the constitution of the academy and the
position of the associates, which was, he said, one
of indignity, he said the number of academicians
was too confined. It was said that, as the academi-
cians had the first claim for space, there would not
be room for the works of a greater number than
those already incorporated, and it was said by Wil-
kie to the hanging committee, " Gentlemen, first
take care of yourselves, next of your friends, and
next of the poor devils who have no friends."
Looking to the state of feeling at the time the aca-
demy was established, and the haste with which it
was constituted, the public had now a right to ask, if
it were now to be established for the first time,
would it be placed upon the same basis as that on
which it had hitherto been placed P The inquiry
by the commissioners should not be limited to the
terms of the commission, but should go to show how
to supply a great public want and put the crown
upon the art education of the country as initiated
in the schools of design throughout the kingdom.
Mr. SoLLY inquired if George 111. had not esta-
blished s: me prizes in the academy.
Mr. OTTLEY rer lied in the negative.
Mr. HURLSTON was afraid the subject was one
that excited little interest in the public, who were
satisfied with the annual exhibition without in-
quiring what portion of it was the work of the
academicians, and how others had been forced to
send their works there as the only place in which
they would have an opportunity of being seen. The
occupation, however, of the National Gallery by the
Royal Academy was a great grievance, and one in
which the public did take a deep interest. Their
occupying so much space had kept down the na-
tional collection to a dwarfish size, as there was not
room for the admission of good pictures. They had,
h too,ein baonudg hp ta
uspurious
epsiec, t
andur es
raesj
et
chtee
ds u
tphpeo se Hol -
Michael
nowbeenoffered in the possessioneed to
theof Mr.
nation lea
fbooru eih2eorcie
Angeloaltho although it h
A great deal of ridicule had been cast on the build-
ing itself, but that had been the work of the academy
I through the agency of Mr. Writhes. From the mo-
ad
ment the academy got possession of the rooms they
now occupy, they determined to remain there, and
t
they were now intriguing to get possession of the
whole building, which had cost the nation 4'90,000.
Mr_ WOOD inquired whether the influence of
Government would or would not be beneficial in
the promotion of the fine arts, through the agency
of such an institution. He hoped that on some
future occasion Mr. Ottley would enter into a
detail of the delinquencies of the academy, und
suggest practical remedies for their refortr.

Mr. HURLSTONE considered the annual dinner
the great protection of the Royal Academy.

Mr. OTTLEY said that on a future cecasion he
would consider the academy in three aspects; first,
as an educational establishment ; second, as a foun-
tain of art honours ; and, lastly, as an exhibitioual
institution.

The thanks of the meeting were voted to the lec-
turer, and the proceedings tel minated.
The next conversazione will take place on the
26th inst. ; that in April at the rooms of the Society,
of British Artists; and that in May in the Man-
sion-house.