The Sun.
London, England, 1855-03-01 00:00:00

AUSTRALIA.

LIVERPOOL, FEB. 28.
The Black Ball clipper Marco Polo has arrived
from Port Philip, whence she sailed Dec. 4, at 7
a.m.
She brought 208 passengers, 1,000 tons of cargo,
including 1,360 bales of wool, 260,0001. specie OR
freight, and 40,0001. in the hands of the passen-
gers. She experienced light weather from the
Cape Horn to the Equator, and light baffling trade
winds to Liverpool, was four days in the Channel,
was off Tuskar Light on the 26th, and was spoken
by La Plata.
We take the following from the Melbourne Argus
of the Ist of December :
" Wednesday, Nov. 29, 1854.
" Never, perhaps, have these colonies seen suet& an
outburst of popular feeling as was exhibited last night
on these diggings. In the course of the afternoon of
yesterday a detachment of the 40th arrived bore from
Geelong. At 10 p.m. a squadron of the mounted police
arrived from the same place, passing through the Main
street at a hand-gallop. As they proceeded they were
attacked' with sticks and stones by the exasperated dig-
gers, and some severe injuries were the consequence.
The populace were by this time wrought up to an awful
pitch of excitement, but it remained for the detachment
of the 12th from Melbourne, at 11 p.m., to feel what a
wronged and neglected class could be capable of doing,
and to what lengths an indignant population could go.
On passing the Eureka they were met by a large number
of di,ggers, who allowed all the waggons containing the
soldiers and ammunition to pass, except the last one,
which they upset, cutting the traces and beating the sol-
diers with their own arms, partially smashing the wag-
gon, and injuring the driver in such a manner that his
life is in danger. One drummer boy was shot in the
thigh. The return of the wounded is not forthcoming;
but from the number of bullets, sticks, boulders, and
other missiles flying about, I have no doubt that very
many accidents occurred. I never wish to pass again
through such scenes as I witnessed last night. This state
of excitement lasted until this morning. Everything
was quiet until two p.m., when the diggers began to as-
semble on Bakery-hill, according to public notice.
"3 p.m.—About 4,000 assembled to hear the issue of
the Melbourne deputation, and also the report of the
Committee of the Reform League. The following were
the resolutions :--

" 1. That this meeting views with the hottest indig-
nation the daiing calumny of his Honour the Acting
Chief-Justice, while on the bench, of the bravo and strug-
gling sufferers of Clare, Tipperary, Bristol, and other
districts, on their endeavours to assert their legitimate
rights ; and do hereby give the most unmitigated and
the most emphatic denial to the assertion of his Honour
in stigmatising as riots the persevering and indomitable
struggles for freedom of the brave people of England and
Ireland for the last 80 years.
" '2. That a meeting of the members of the Reform
League be called at the Adelphi Theatre next Sunday at
2 p.m., to elect a central committee, and that each 50
members of the League have the power to elect one
member for the central committee.

" 3. That this meeting, being convinced that the
obnoxious license-fee is as imposition and an unjustifia-
ble tax on free labour, pledges itself to tike immediate
steps to abolish the same by at once burning all their
licenses. That in the event of any party being arrested
for having no licenses, that the united people will, under
all circumstances, defend and protect them.

" 4. That as the diggers have determined to pay no
more licenses, it is necessary for them to be prepared for
the contingency ; as it would be utterly inconsistent,
after refusing to pay a license, to call in a commissioner
for the adjustment of such disputes, and this meeting
resolves whenever any party or parties have a dispute,
the parties so disputing shall each appoint one man, the
two men thus appointed to call in a third, and these
three to decide the case finally.
" '5. That this meeting will not feel bound to pro-
tect any man after the 15th of December who shall not
be a member of the League by that day.
" 6. That this meeting protests against the common
practice of bodies of military marching into a peaceable
district with fixed bayonets, and also any force, police or
otherwise, firing on the people, under any circumstances
without the previous reading of the Riot Act, and that
if Government officia!s continue to act thus unconstitu-
tionally, we cannot be responsible for similar or worse
deeds from the people.' "

The correspondent of the Ai gus makes the fol-
lowing observations upon the meeting :
"The above were the resolutions. I endeavoured to
write a report of the proceedings, but I confess it was im-
possible. The scene of excitement and confusion on the
platform precluded the idea of a competent and proper
report, and if the honourable speakers do not find any of
their strong remarks or lucid illustrations quoted in your
paper, the committee must thank themselves, for the
manner in which they allowed the meeting to be con-
duoted. I feel I should be compromising both niy own
and your position by sending what must necessarily be a
garbied statement. I did my utmost, and once was
obliged to abandon the platform.
Some thousands of guns and revolvers were fired off
at one period of the meeting ; two bonfires of licenses
were male. I had no means of ascei Lining the dates
of those burnt. Maoiy tickets were issued to those who
widied to become members of the Reform League. I
believe the subscription to be r, . •
Among the easualtiec of 1a.4 night was the firing of
Day's Poun,', find the township ; hie house was burnt,
and Providence only saved the lives of his wife and
' child.

"Thursday, 3 a.in.--I have just heard a report that
one man of the 12th has died, and that several are
severely vvouuded, but everything is smothered at the