The Sun.
London, England, 1852-12-27 00:00:00

THE COLONY OF VICTORIA.

The Melbourne Argus of the 7th September last,
received this week, contains an elaborate descrip-
tion of the present slate of that colony, a digest of
which will prove of interest. With regard to the
present social state of this colony a very unfavour-
able account is given by the journal referred to, as
will be seen by the following remarks :
" Deeply interested_as we are in the welfare of the colony,
and naturally tenacious of its character, it is with the most
sincere sorrow that we confess that its present condition,
in a social point of view, is almost as bad as it well can be.
Aparts .from the natural effects of a rich gold country in
drawing together a population of at least a very adven-
turous character, our near neighbourhood to the island to
which Great Britain so recklessly persists in pouring
the criminals from her crowded gaols, has very
seriously affected the composition of our commu-
nity. From this source many thousands of the greatest
wretches alive have reached our shores, and the tone there-
by imparted to our society is one which every good citizen
must painfully deplore. Added to this, a negligent, feeble,
and incompetent Government has, by its laxity, its parsi-
mony, and its absolute imbecility, so complicated and fo-
mented the evils around us, that the social constitution of
the colony is in the most wretched condition. Crimes of
the most fearful character and degree abound on all sides ;
the roads swarm with bushrangers; the streets with bur-
glars and desperadoes of every kind, &c.
" This is doubtless a painful picture ; it is also too true
a one. We wish that we could soften its tints or colour it
a little more brightly. But we cannot honestly suppress
its evils. We write to inform, not to mislead, and what-
ever the aspect cf the colony, our duty at present is simply
to describe it."
'Unsatisfactory, however, as this description repre-
sents the social state of the colony to be in, the jour-
nal from which the above extract is taken does not
consider the cause of order and decency hopeless,
provided that prompt, energetic, and efficient mea-
sures be taken to correct so discreditable a state-
of things. - Upon other subjects, however, the
Argus furnishes a more satisfactory statement, and
as regards the eligibility of the colony as a field for
immigration; it is shown to offer great inducements
to men able 3,nd willing to earn an honest living,
and for whose encouragement and guidance the
annexed table of the current rate of wages of work-
ing men has been specially furnished ; but it may
be first necessary to observe, that when the term
"rations" is mentioned, it means about 101bs. of
beef or mutton, 101bs. of flour, Vb. of tea, and
21bs. of sugar, weekly.
Married couples (without family), per annum,
with rations. £so to £6O
Ditto, with family 55 to 60
Shepherds, with rations, per annum 32 to 35
Hutkeepers, par annum
General useful servants, with rations, per
annum
Bullock-drivers, with rations, 501. per annum,
or 11. to 11. 108. per week.
Bullock-drivers for the mads, per week 3 to 4
Gardners, per annum 4O to 50
Cooks, 11: to 11. 10s. per week, or per annum 50 to 60
Bush carpenters, with rations, per annum
Stock-keepers, per annum 5O to 55
Grooms, per annum ................................
Carpenters, par annum
Blacksmiths, per annum. 6O to 70
General farm servants, weekly, 11. to 11. 55.
Compositors, ls. 9d. per thousand;
Pressmen, 41. per week.
Shearers, 61. per week and rations.
Seamen for London, 501. tae run home, or 101.
per month.
Ditto, coasting, 51. to 81. for the run, or 71. to
81. per month.

40 to 50

FEMAIE SERVANTS.
Thorough servants, per annum £2O to £25
Housemaids, per annum.. 2O to 25
Laundresses, per annum. 22 to 25
It is stated in addition, that carpenters, stone-
masons, blacksmiths,
izc., employed in the towns,
are receiving without rations from 18s. to 20s. per
day. What the colony is in the most urgent need
of, however, is female servants of an eligible cha-
racter, the want of which is a source of great an-
noyance to the famlies resident at Melbourne.
One great drawback which intending emigrants
must put up with, is the extreme scarcity of house
accommodation, and, as a natural consequence, an
extravagant rate of rental. Two-roomed houses,
even in narrow dirty lanes, are stated to let readily
at 14s. to 16s. per week, and the same in front
situations from 20s. to 255. Three- roomed cottages
fetch about. 308. to 40s. per week ; four-roomed
Cottages are worts from 1501; to 2001. per annum,
those still larger from 3001. and upwards ; whilst
good shops and stores are stated to be worth almost
anything the miters like to ask for them. As re-
gards the retail prices of provisions, the following
list is given for the information of emigrants
The 41b. loaf of bread, Is. 4d. ; beef and mutton,
4d. per lb. ; veal, 8d ; pork, ls. ; butter, 2s. 6d. ;
cheese, 2s. • eggs, ss. per dozen ; tea, Is. 6d. to 2s.
per lb. i•d. ;
coffee, is. 4d. ; suga r' 3d. to 4d.: loaf
sugar,
ham and bacon, 2s. ; candles, Bd. :
soap, 4d. to 54. ; milk, ls. to is. 6d. per quart ;
potatoes,
12s. per cwt. ; coals, 5/. per ton ; fire-
wood, 41. per load, that four bullocks will draw
through bad roads ; water, 6s.
per load of about
two hogshead; ; hay, 141. to 181. per ton ' • and
oats, 95. to 10s. per bushel. These prices, it must
be understood, are those current at Melbourne.
At the diggings they are very considerably
higher. Them is one class of emigrants which the
Argus specially cautions against hastily leaving
situations in England for Australia. It is the 6
very large class of
clerks and shopmen, With this description of labour, it is remarked,
" this Marker, is constantly over-stocked, and
eager as is the demand for most kinds of
labour,
it is quite distressing to notice the num-
ber of worthy young men, incapable of severe ma-
nual labour, who, with delicate health and pro-
bably still more delicate purses, swarm our towns
in search of employment, exposed to very heavy
expenses
which they can earn nothing to meet, and
gradually sink into poverty, and too often into dis-
sipated habits, till they vanish somewhere and make
way for the constantly recurring supply. Such men
have rarely been successful at the diggings ; the
demand for their labour in their accustomed pur-
suits is very limited in proportion to their numbers,
and we distinctly warn them that in rashly throw-
ing up good situations at home and trying their
luck here, they are guilty of an act that is little
better than sheer insanity."

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

The following very imposing fleet is now at Spithead,
consisting of, and commencing from, the eastward :
Guns. Tons- Men.
Fury 6 steam-sloop 1,123 .... 170
Phaeton 5O 1,941 ... 500 '
Vengeance B4 2,284 ... 850
Arrogant 46 screw-frigate 1,871 ... 450
Encounter l4 screw-corvette 1,200 ... 170
Prince Regent 9O 2,613 ... 900
Leander 5O 1,968 ... 500
Rodney 9O 2,598... 850
Termagant 24 screw-steam-frigate 1,547 ... 300
The squadron attempted to tow over the bar (Lisbon)
on the 16th, wind blowing in and very fresh, with heavy
swell on the bar—Rodney in tow of Inflexible, and Ven-
geance in tow of Fury—they both parted their hawsers.
They then got their heads round, and made sail in again,
but Rodney and Inflexible were in dangerous proximity
to the shoal. Prince Regent, in tow of Termagant, put
back in time • Phaeton,- having no steamer, did not lift
her anchor. The squadron finally left on the 19th.
Wind S. W. and stormy.
ROYAL MARINES.
First Lieutenant Symonds embarked on Friday last in
the Odin at this port ; First Lieutenant Yule in the Fire-
brand, at Woolwich.

PLYMOUTH, DEC. 26.
Her Majesty's steam-frigate Termagant, Captain G.
Giffard, arrived here at 10 o'clock on Friday evening.
She left the Tagus on Sunday, in company with Admi-
ral Corry's fleet, viz., the flag-ship Prince Regent, 92,
Captain Hutton ; the Rodney, 92, Captain Charles
Graham ; the Vengeance, 84, Lord Edward Russell ;
the Phaeton, 50, Captain George Elliot ; and the steam-
vessel Fury, Commander Tatham. The squadron had
the wind from south-east and south-west, and but for the
Rodney, which could scarcely keep pace with the other
ships, although under studding sail exclusively, they
would have reached the Channel much sooner. The
Termagant parted company at noon on Friday, 50 miles
to the southward of the Lizard. The Admiral was
bound to Spithead.
The merchant schooner Eliza Fox, belonging to Mr.
T. W. Fox, jun., of this port, left Denia on the 9th inst.,
passed Lisbon on Tuesday, two days after the squadron
had left, and arrived at Plymouth four hours before the
Termagant. The schooner experienced bad weather, and
lost bulwarks, &c.
On Friday, at 7 30 a.m., thirty miles southward of St.
Katherine's Point, the Ajax, steamer, Captain Mowle,
spoke the ship Montagu, with loss of jib-boom, and by
her request steamed three miles to the southward, and
found a bark showing Dutch colours, with nothing
standing but her mizen mast, having probably been in
collision. The proffered help of the steamer to tow her
into the Wight was declined ; a dandy-rigged vessel lay
by the Dutchman.

We had a very heavy gale here from the southward on
Friday night, by which some injury was done to the tele-
graphic wires of the South Devon Railway, near Brent.
The mail steam-packet Forerunner, which sailed for the
Coast of Africa on Friday afternoon, was compelled to
put back when near the Ram's Head.

SHEERNESS, DEC. 24.
The Goodwill lighter, Second-Master J. Patrick, ar-
rived here to-day from Woolwich, with stores for this
and Chatham yard,
The Longboat tender, Second-Master Reuben Harvey,
arrived here this morning with stores from Woolwich.
The Myrtle paddle-wheel steam-ship, Master Com-
mander Win. S. Bourchier, returned this morning from
Woolwich.

The African steam-tug vessel, Second-Master Thomas
Gill, returned from Chatham to-day.
The Miranda, 14, screw steam-sloop of 250-horse
power, is ordered to be rigged immediately as she lies in
the fitting basin. A portion of the crew of the Horatio,
24, screw steam-guard-ship are to be placed under the
orders of Mr. Jonathan Aylen, the Master Attendant
of this yard, to assist the seamen riggers to rig her with
all possible dispatch.
The Royal George, 120 guns, now in dock at Chat-
ham, will not be ready to be taken out of dock until
April next. Masts, spars, rigging, and sails are ordered
to be prepared at this yard, and ready by the Ist of
April next. She will, on being taken out of dock, be
towed down here and prepared for being commissioned.
The Thames cutter yacht, tender to Waterloo flag-
ship, left here this morning for Chatham, and returned
this afternoon with the money for the service of the
yard and port under charge of Mr. Henry Morgan,
treasury clerk here.

In addition to the report of yesterday, the following
commissions have arrived for the Amphion, 34, screw
steam-frigate :—Lieutenant Armine Wodehouse (late of
Sampson, 6, paddle-wheel steam-frigate); Mr. James G.
Buchanan, surgeon ; and Mr. Joseph Coulter, M.D.,
assistant-surgeon.
The commissions for the following officers for the Bar-
racouta, 6, paddle-wheel steam-sloop have arrived in ad-
dition to the report of yesterday :—Lieutenant Robert
Gibson, surgeon ; Mr. John Batterson (late of Spiteful,
6, paddle-wheel steam-sloop); Mr. J. M. Trouson, acting
assistant-surgeon. The following appointments have
also taken place for this vessel :—viz., Mr. Arthur Wing,
mate ; Mr. Thomas W. Woodcock, chief engineer, of
the third class (now in Horatio); Mr. George Robertson,
assistant-engineer, of the second class (now in the Blen-
heim, 60, screw steam-guard-ship at Portsmouth), and
at present on leave of absence, which will not expire
until the 12th of January next ; Mr. Robert J. Wilson,
assistant-engineer, of the third class (now in Horatio).
A first class assistant-engineer will be appointed to this
vessel before she proceeds to sea.
The steam squadron of reserve here, under charge of
Captain the Hon. S. Carnegie, of the 24-gun screw
steam-frigate Horatio, is composed of the following
ships, viz. :—The Cyclops, 6, paddle-wheel steam-frigate,
of 320-horse power, chief engineer Mr. W. Chelcott ;
Driver, 6, paddle-wheel steam-sloop, of 280-horse power,
chief engineer Mr. J. Eyres (acting); Cuckoo, 2, pad-
dle-wheel steam-vessel, of 100-horse power ; and Lizard,
iron paddle-wheel steam-vessel, of 150-horse power.
Ships in Docks.—The Ganges, of 84 guns ; Howe,
120 guns ; and Rattlesnake, of 8 guns.
On Building Slip (ready for launching).—The Tribune,
30 guns, screw steam-frigate.
In the Fitting Basin.—The Agamemnon, 91 guns,
screw steam line-of-battle ship, Captain Sir T. Maitland ;
Hawke, 72 guns ; Miranda' 14, screw steam-sloop, of
250-horse power ; also the barques Hercules, Roallan,
and Valleyfleld, Swinton, both from Quebec, discharging
masts, &c., for this yard and Chatham.
Ships in Harbour.—The Waterloo, 120 guns, flag-
ship to Vice-Admiral of the White the Hon. Josceline
Percy, and in command of Captain the Hon. Montagu
Stopford ; Monarch, 84 guns, guard-ship of ordinary,
Captain Charles Hope ; Wildfire paddle-wheel steam-
vessel, tender to Waterloo, Second Master Mr. George
Brockman in command ; Myrtle paddle-wheel steam-
vessel, Master-Commander William Bourchiere ; Fearless
paddle-wheel steam-vessel, Captain Frederick Bullock ;
Hart cutter, tender to Waterloo, in command of Second
Master J. Green ; Thames cutter yacht, Second Master
J. Anstey ; African steam-tug vessel, Second Master
Thomas Gill.

In Discharging Basin.—The Goodwill lighter, Second
Master J. Partrick ; and. Long boat tender, Reuben
Harvey, Second Master.

THE FRENCH NAVY.

- -
We find the following in the French paper Union, on
the subject of the French Mediterranean squadron.
We have since heard that the Napoleon has broken
down in her machinery :
.
" The Mediterranean squadron returned to port on the
19th from a cruise, which it had made in order to try a
series of experiments of the speed of the sailing and
steam-vessels. The following are details, the exactitude
of which are guaranteed to us in a manner almost offi-
cial :—The squadron was composed of two screw-steam
line-of-battle ships, the Napoleon, of 950 horse-power,
and the Charlemagne, of 450, with six sailing. The
former have not shown themselves inferior to the
second, even if with sails alone. They then began
making experiments in towing with a smart gale
of wind. The Charlemagne made 6 4-10ths knots
while towing one ship, and 4 5-10ths with two. The
Napoleon made 4 5-10ths with three line-of-battle ships
in tow, the Valmy, Bayard, and the Jupiter. With
the two last only in . tow she made 8 5-10ths
knots. The Montebello, three-decker, could not take
part in the experiments ; her machine, the weakest of
the mixed ships, had not been sufficiently proved. This
immense vessel scarcely made four knots with half the
force of her steam employed, and it was thought that
with the whole of it she might attain six knots. This
is, doubtless, very little as compared with the Napoleon,
but it mtist only be attributed to the weakness of her ma-
chine. In an expedition which requires celerity, this in-
convenience might be supplied by towing, and by this it
may be seen what essential services may be performed by
powerful vessels such as the Charlemagne and the Napo-
leon. At any time when it might be required to trans-
port troops on any point, some powerful towing vessels
like those above-mentioned, would be able to surmount
the most contrary weather. Whatever may be the
future political situation of the country, the above mili-
tary results may be said to be acquired. It is easy to
see the influence which they must exercise on the solu-
tion of naval wars ; for, from the moment when
masses of troops can• be transported with that facility,
naval tactics lose much of their value, skill in evolu-
tions have no longer the same chances of stopping an
enemy, and the advantage returns to the side of numer-
ous battalions. That nation which can land the greatest
number will resume that ascendant which it no longer
possessed when national quarrels were only settled be-
tween fleets. It had been predicted that steam would
produce a revolution in the navy ; that revolution is

Vice Admiral Sir Thomas Cochrane, K.C.8., the
newly-appointed Commander-in-Chief at Portsmouth,
will hoist his flag this day on board the Victory, and
enter upon the duties of his office, with Captain John
Shepherd as his flag-captain. We were in error in stat-
ing that Captain Shepherd's name is not in the official
Navy List. Captain Shepherd's name stands in the seni-
ority as well as in the alphabetical list, but with the
seniority of 1850, instead of the correct year, 1840.—.
Morning Rerald.

PORTSMOUTH, DEC. 26.
The Western squadron, under the command in chief
of Rear-Admiral Corry, arrived at Spithead in the fol-
lowing order yesterday.
Phaeton, 50, Captain Elliott, at 11 a.m. ; Rodney,
92, Captain Graham, C. 8., at 11.30 a.m. ; Prince Re-
gent, 90, Captain Hutton, at 3.45 p.m. (flag-ship) ;
Vengeance, 84, Captain Lord Russell, at 3.45 p.m., and
saluted the flag of Rear-Admiral Fanshawe, of the Nep-
tune, 120. The remainder of the squadron anchored at
Spithead—Fury, 6, Commander Tatham, at daylight ;
Termagant, 24, screw-frigate, Captain Gifford, at 8.30
a.m.

now palpable ; it is seen to be accomplished by the mere
force of circumstances."

NEW WORKS AT DUNKIRK.—The Journal de Com-
; nterce of Dunkirk, gives a piece of news which it is
proper should be recommended to the special attention
of our new First Lord of the Admiralty, whomsoever
he may be. It states that the French government has
great views with respect to that port, and not only is
the concession demanded in 1845 by the municipal
council with respect to the enlargement of that harbour
to be granted, but all the establishments of the marine,
without exception, are to be increased to such an extent
that they will form the most extensive docks existing
in the north-west coast of France. The journal adds :
" But this is not all. According to the plan it is in-
tended to place the railway station in the park of the
Marine, and to construct a new basin to the east of the
present port, and in front of the commercial basin, the
use of which will be reserved exclusively for the steamers
belonging to the state."