The Sun.
London, England, 1862-08-19 00:00:00

SDAY EVENING, AUGUST 19, 1862.

mystery of our intolerable conveyances, and
adopting a similar plan. If we have older diffi-
culties here, our Colonial-office had created no
trivial difficulties in Victoria also, but there the
people have emancipated themselves from the
lawyers.

Victoria and the Austraaan colonies have been
hitherto the butt of those who scoff at the ballot
and a widely extended suffrage. Unable to deny
the marvellous change fcr the better in the con-
duct of elections, they have, endeavoured to depre-
ciate the character of the elected. The changes
of Ministry, and the appeals to the country have
been as numerous as in some periods of our his-
tory, though we are not cursed with free ♦oting and
a popular franchise. Still, by the good old prac-
tice of overlooking the beam in our own eye, we,
or rather some who astune to speak for us, have
not ceased to abuse the Australians, as unable to
create, by their popular institutions, a working
government. The troth is the Great Land
Question, bequeathed them by our own
blundering authorities at home, was the
cause of the struggle, ald the parties being nearly
balanced in political strength, for a long time, as the
necessary result of such 1 position under any form of
representative Governnent, neither the squatter,
nor the "free selection" party could obtain the
upper hand. The a:t just passed will, it is
thought, satisfy such large classes of the commu-
nity that the Land Question is not likely again to
be the cause of frequen changes of Ministry. As
there is, however, somehing of compromise in it, we
may expect that in tine, if other causes of conten-
tion are wanting, such concessions to unjust privi-
lege as still remain rant become the watchword of
parties.

Our antipodean felbw subjects appear also likely
to become our ecclesiastical, as well as political
antipodes. They are realising the happy consum-
mation of having no State-favoured Church to mar
their political action, and to become a source of bit-
terness and irritation between differing sects. In
Victoria they have had their education troubles
like us, and of course the clergy have, as every-
where, been the chief cause of the trouble. Again,
however, the laity have taken the matter into their
own more prudent hands, and a " Common School
Bill," based on the dictates of common .sense, has
been carried. It has amalgamated two hoards, the
the "Denominational" one, and the " Secular or
National" one ; and a board, composed entirely of
laymen, promise to bring the school system into an
efficient working one. The Roman Catholic
and the Church of England clergy are,
as usual, the factious and discontented
parties. In New South Wales the Government
itself is also actively supporting the principles of
Religious Equality. Some lands originally granted
to the Church of England as the national Church,
have reverted to the Government—they were in
trust for religion and education. The religion is
to be struck out, and the proceeds of the sale of the
lands appropriated to education. It is almost a
fac simile of the celebrated " Irish Appropriation
Clause," with which the Lord JOHN of that day, and
the Whigs, threw up their character and their real
power together. The Government of Sydney, how-
ever, insists on its appropriation clause, and will
carry it. It has done more. It has brought in a
bill to abolish the State aid now accorded to religion.
Four denominations share it, so that the approach
to equality is much greater than in England. But,
very wisely we doubt not, the colony now prefers
that each body of religionists should tax themselves
voluntarily, rather than that all should tax all and
take it back from the common Exchequer.
One of the most singular of the acts proposed in
New South Wales is an act for the fencing in of
properties. The great :tattle runs are of enormous
extent, little counties, and the land act permits
"free selectors," under a Government survey, to
obtain portions of the runs not exceeding 320 acres.
It is on these men that the compulsory fencing will
bear hard. The rich holder of the great run can
easily afford his half of the fencing, but the poorer
small holder will have difficulty in meeting a cash
demand. Yet the interminglement of cattle of the
larger proprietors with those of each other, and
with those of the smaller proprietors, is a prolific
source of thieving and quarrels. How the practical
difficulties will be overcome, does not appear to be
quite settled ; but for the promotion of honesty and
peace, it seems very desirable, however, that the
Bill in some working form should become law. One
reflection can but occur to every reader of Aus►_ra--
lian news—how much better our fellow-subjects
12,000 miles off can dispute over and settle their
own business, than our Colonial-office could settle
it for them.

We are authorised to state that the Prince of
Wales has addressed a letter to the Earl of Derby, as
' chairman of the committee appointed to advise her Majesty
in reference to the Prince Consort Memorial, expressing
the great pleasure with which his royal highness had read
the recommendations contained in the report of the com-
mittee ; and intimating his intention of; subscribing at the
proper time, the sum of £2,000 towards the erection of the
central hall suggested as one portion of the general plan.
To-day Lord Palmerston will be presented by
the mayor and corporation of Dover, with a portrait of his
lordship in his capacity of Lord Warden of the Cinque
Ports. '1 he ceremony will take place in the Maison Dieu
Hall, Dover.

His Excellency the Earl of Carlisle arrived in
London, from Dublin Castle, on Friday night.
The Duke of Leinster left his residence, on Carl-
ton House-terrace, on Friday, for his seat, Carlton House,
county Kildare.
The commercial accounts from New York by the

present mail show an interval of/general inactivity. The
premium on gold continued to depend almost solely on the
fluctuations in the demand for foreign remittances, the con-
fidence of the people at large in the value of the Federal
paper being still undisturbed—a circumstance which will
add terribly to the final crash. The exportations of wheat
averaged about 110,000 quarters per week, and those of
salted provisions were proportionably large, the Western
farmers apparently being tempted to hurry their produce
currency. forward
b y
During
the high price it realizes in the inconvertible
the seven months ended the 31st of
July the shipments of flour this year have amounted to
1,780,733 barrels, or one-fifth more than in the correspond-
ing period of 1861, and between two and three times as
much as in 1860; while those of wheat have been 1,240,000
quarters against 1,490,000 in 1861, and only 340,000 in
1860. Of Indian corn the shipments have been 920,000
quarters against 650,000 last year, and 230,000 in the pre-
vious year. From the magnitude of these figures some
persons are disposed to apprehend, looking at the neglect of
cultivation that must have taken place in various districts,
that the country may have been draining itself of supplies
that will hereafter be needed, and that a comparative
scarcity of food may eventually be added to the other dis-
asters of the war. The total shipments of specie from
New York this year have been 7,300,000 dollars— a sum
very considerably in excess of the amount received from I
California.

RAPID PASSAGES TO CALCUTTA.—A private tele-
gram received in Liverpool yesterday announces that the
ship Ghazepore had arrived out at Calcutta, making the
passage from Liverpool in 78 days. We are informed that
a telegram has just been received via Jubal by the East
India and London Shipping Company, announcing the safe
arrival of their screw steamer Hydaspes at Calcutta, having
made (including detention at Madras) the quickest passage
on record. She arrived at Madras in 65 days, Saugor Roads
in 68 days, and anchored at Calcutta within 69 days after
departure from England.
CRYSTAL PALACE.—ONE SHILLING DAY.—MON-
DAY, Aug. 18.—A.dmissions on payment, 6,030; ditto, by
season tickets, 693; total, 6,723.

ENOR➢IOUS SNAKE.--A specimen of the diamond
snake, measuring 121 t., and of considerable thickness, is
being taken to England by the steward of the Rifleman,
for presentation to the Zoological Society of London. The
reptile is at present in a dormant state, this being the season
at which these creattms are inactive. Every care has,
however, been taken to keep it alive. It is snugly en-
sconced in a cask lined with aheepskins.--Sydney Herald,
4119 21.

LATEST NEWS•

CIVIL WAR IN AMERICA.

QUEENSTOWN, AUG. 19.

The Liverpool, New York, and Philadelphia
Company's steam -ship Edinburgh, which arrived
here this morning, brought 173,690 dole. in specie
and 107 passengers. She had no mails.
NEW YORK, AUG. 7.
(Per Edinburgh via Queenstown.)

President Lincoln attended the war meeting held
at Washington on the 6th instant, and was enthu-
siastically received. Resolutions were passed urg-
ing a vigorous prosecution of the war.
It is stated from Memphis that a fight occurred
on the 3d inst. between 4,000 Federals and Con-.
federates. The latter, under the command of Jeff.
Thomson, were driven back with great loss. No

particulars are given.
A band of 1,000 guerillas attacked the town of
Newark, Knox county, on August 1. The place
was defended by only 75 Federals, who were cap-
tured.

Captain Brown, commander of the Confederate
ram Arkansas, was wounded in the head while
running the gauntlet of the Federal fleet.

500 Boston merchants have pledged themselves to
give their employes the situations they now occupy.
after they return from the war, if they volunteer
immediately.
The Edinburgh called off Cape Race on the lltb,
bnt received no later news than on the 7th instant.
The wires were broken at Nova Scotia.

The commercial intelligence brought by the
Edinburgh has been anticipated.

INDIA AND CHINA.

(From Telegraph to India Company's Station,
Jubal.)
CANTON, JULY 11.

Governor R3bertson goes home by this mail.

The Government of Manilla has stopped the
transit of cargo in the mail steamers between
Manilla and Hongkong.
The arrival of the American Minister in Japan
has been announced.

Exchange on London, 4s. Md.
SHANGHAI, JULY 3.
The rebels remain quiet.
The American steamer Union Star has been
blown up. Seieral lives were lost.

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.
Silk market excited. Settlements in fortnight,
5,500 bales.
Exchange on London, 6s. 4d.
Freight, 100 s. to 1108.

INDIA.

(BY TELEGRAPH TO GALLE.)
COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

CALCUTTA, JULY 31.

Sh:rtings tending downwards. Mule twist active.
The indigo crop is estimated at 98,000 maunds.
Copper unchanged. Saltpetre and linseed active.
Exchange, 2s 07,d.
Government Securities.—Four per Cents., 93;
Five per Cents., 104 f.
Freight advancing.

BOMBAY, 'JULY 30.
Cotton tending downwards. Linseed unchanged
Government Securities.—Five per Cents., 105.
Freight dull.

PARIS, AUG. 18.
The Paris papers of this evening publish the fol-
lowing telegram:—

ALEXANDRIA, AUG. 17.

News received here from Damascus states that
general discontent prevails in Syria, and that the
situation of affairs is serious.

Troops have been sent to the Haouran.
The revolted Bedouins and Druses have refused
to pay the taxes.

Fears are entertained that the Mussulmans, by
intercepting the roads leading to the south, will
bring about a stoppage of the payment of the
Christian indemnity.

TURIN, AUG. 18.
The official Gazette of today states that Gari-
baldi has gone from Piazza to Aidone.
Influential persons belonging to the extreme
party have written to Garibaldi, urging him to
abandon his enterprise, and spare Sicily a civil war.

Garibaldi has proposed to some of his friends at
Palermo to establish a Committee of Public Safety.
It is said that they absolutely refused.
Perfect tranquillity prevails throughout Sicily.

Acoriling to further advices received here from
Palermo, Garibaldi was still in the neighbourhood
of Piazza. The Royal troops had arrived within
half a day's journey from the Volunteers. The
number of the former was much superior.
It was believed that a pacific solution of matters
would be arrived at.

The conduct of the population continued to be
such as to render any extension of the movement
impossible.

MOSTAR, AUG. 17.
The Turks have been driven back across the
River Rieka with considerable loss.

They still continue, however, to attack the
Montenegrins.
Cannonading was heard yesterday in the direc-
tion of Cettigne.