The Sun.
London, England, 1865-09-19 00:00:00

THE SUB, LONDON, TUESDAY EVE.NIII/4, G, SEPTEMBER 19, 1865.

agriculturist and the small farmer, so that the
rich and fertile soil so long lying idle as mere pas-
ture land may serve to contribute to the bread-
stuffs of the colony, instead of their being imported
at a great expense, to the discouragement of native
industry. If there is any country in the
world where the soil can be cultivated with profit
it is certainly Australia, for although some parts
may be sterile and unprofitable, yet others are so
rich and fertile that it is only to be wondered they
should have been left so long without being turned
to their proper purpose. Already numbers of
ploughs have been sent up from Melbourne to
break up the new ground selected under the Land
Act, and an important step has thus been made
in the progress of the colony.
The long-talked-of expedition had just set out on
its journey when the mail left, and we can only
hope that its efforts may be crowned with success,
and that it may return with stores of valuable in-
formation. The " Ladies Committee who have
taken a prominent part in raising the necessary
funds, have busied themselves in providing the ex-
pedition with various articles to facilitate their
intercourse with the aborigines of the interior.
Many of these things seem quaint enough—beads,
fish-hooks, wax tapers, needles, knives, and especi-
lly red nightcaps, are included. It is tolbe hoped
that this exploration will be more fortunate than
the others, and may not only sueceed in penetrating
to the interior and gaining the information required
but do so at a less cost to the ind

viduals and without the sacrifice of valuable
lives. The great mistake in most of these
expeditions is the want of properly qualified leaders.
Men are too often placed in command for their
intellectual abilities, their geographicql knowledge,
their scientific attainments, or similar reasons. But

;hose qualities, however important, are not enough

in fact the leader of an exploring party can dispense
with most of them. What he requires is a thorough
practical knowledge of bush life, and wilderness
travelling, with the confidence, the experience, the
resource, the self-reliance which men may possess
who would be quite capable of a scientific report.
The doctor, the botanist, the geologist, may all
assist, and may all form part of the expedition, but
the lives of a whole party should only be trusted to
a man of thorough practical experience and natural
cool courage and common sense. The lack of
simple precautions which would have occurred to
men used to caring for their own lives at a dis-
tance from all human succour has often caused
great and unnecessary suffering, and turned a noble
and enterprising exploit into a mournful memory.
We hope that the experience of past mistakes
will render this party more careful, and that
they have not started without men who
will be able to extricate them from difficulties
and preserve them from dangers, not by their scien--
tific leanings, but by their practical experience and
natural savoir faire. It will be a most interesting
expedition, and will probably enlarge our know-
ledge of the southern continent considerably. The
interior of Australia, like the interior of Africa, may
prove to be less inhospitable and less intolerant of
cultivation and civilisation than was believed, and
we may thus live to see the great tide of colonial
life roll inwards till the vast continent is no longer
merely fringed by inhabitants, but peopled with
great and thriving communities.

The Reform League.

-0-

An open-air meeting, convened by the Poplar
Branch of the above League, was held, on Saturday
evening last, at Cubitt-town, Isle of Dogs.
Mr. CHARLES SHEARMAN, Hon. Secretary of the
Local Branch, occupied the chair.

Mr. GEO. DAVIS moved the following resolution :
—" That having maturely considered the existing
state of the representation of the United Kingdom,
and that such a representation is a gross injustice to
the working classes, who are almost excluded from
the franchise, notwithstanding that their skill and
industry largely contribute to the prosperity of the
nation ; therefore this meeting is of opinion that the
principles of the Reform League—presided over by
Edmond Beals, Esq., at 8, Adelphi-terrace, Strand
—viz., Registered Residential Manhood Suffrage,
under the protection of the ballot, are deserving of
the strenuous support of all true Reformers in this
district."

This was seconded by Mr. BAXTER LANGLEY
(who was most warmly received), and carried
unanimously.

Moved by Mr. WHrrFoRD, seconded by Mr.
WYNNE :-" That the Poplar branch of the Reform
League being now firmly established in this district,
it becomes the duty of the electors and non-electors
to render it their personal and pecuniary support."
Carried.

A vote of thanks to the chairman, Mr. Baxter
Langley, and the rest of the deputation, closed the
proceedings, which throughout were of the most en-
thusiastic character. A large number of members
were enrolled during the evening.

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

(REUTER'S 'TELEGRAMS.)

AMERICA.

ARRIVAL OF THE CITY OF WASHINGTON
(Via Crookhaven).

NEW YORK, SEPT. 9 (Morning).

The New York Times says that, in consequence of
President Johnson having received numerous reports
from the South of apprehensions of a rising of
freedmen, General Howard has recommended the
citizens to institute a police-patrol system, under
the control of the departmental commander, in
countries where there arc no agents of the Freed-
men's Bureau.

It is reported that a very excited state of feeling
exists at Chattanooga between the whites and blacks.
The Clerk of the Circuit Court at Knoxville,
Tennessee, has been killed by a former rebel soldier,
who was afterwards lynched by the citizens.
President Johnson has written a letter to Gover-
nor Sharkey approving the formation of militia
companies throughout Mississippi. He considers
the movement a proper one, and that the people
must be trusted with their own government.
The President has pardoned ex-Governor Brown,

Georgia.
The New York Times says that the public senti-
ment, except among the Irish element, though dis-
approving England's course during the rebellion,
decidedly opposes war.
Mr. Davis's health continues to improve.
The New York Democratic State Convention
has passed resolutions denouncing military rule and
negro suffrage, and claiming the equality of the
States. The resolutions also endorse President
Johnson's reconstruction policy, state the obligation
upon the country for the payment of the national
debt, and support the Monroe doctrine. The Con-
vention has nominated General Patrick for the post
of State Treasurer, and General Slocum as Secre-
tary of State.
The Minnesota Republican States Convention
has passed resolutions demanding that the Govern-
ment should compel the withdrawal of Maximilian.
It rejected a resolution approving President John-
stone's military and civil course of policy.
The grand jury have found eleven indictments
for forgery against Ketchum, one being for grand

larceny.
The New York Chamber of Commerce have
appointed a committee to invite Mr John Bright to
visit America.

The Louisiana and Texas cotton crops are stated
to be seriously injured by the army worm.
It is reported via Cairo that the cotton trade at
Mobile is almost entirely suspended in consequence
of an order forbidding the sending of cotton from
the interior to Mobile. Middling had risen to 40

cents per pound.
The Courier des Etats (This states that a Cabinet
Council has been held at Washington on the Mexi-
can question. All the Ministers except Mr. Hanilan
favoured the statu quo. Mr. Seward stated that it
was not dignified to assist Juarez indirectly, nor ad-
visable to support him in an open and occult
manner. President Johnson declared that he
would not decide concerning the renewal of relations
with Mexico until Congress meets, and would re-
serve for his message the announcement of the
policy which seemed to him best.
It is denied that the visit of a Haytian war
steamer to the United States is for any official
object.

ArAFT
granted to officials in the sanitary department of
the State shall be at once considered to have ter-
minated. These officials will immediately present
themselves at their posts, note being taken of any
who may not comply with the present summons
before the 25th inst.

The Spanish squadron in the Rio de la Plata is
to be reinforced, in order that there may be a suffi•
cient naval force in those waters to protect Spanish
subjects in the present disturbed state of the country.
Efforts are being made that the meeting of the
Progressist Committee may take place at Zaragoza,
in which case it is expected that Espartero would
preside at the deliberation. Both Espartero and
Olozaga are represented as indisposed to influence
the decision of the party by their presence. They
will, however, be invited to take part in the pro-
ceedings, but should they finally decline, the com-
mittee will meet in Madrid.

The Epoca, reviewing an article published by a
Madrid paper especially devoted to economic ques-
tions, says :

" The state of the country as depicted by our
colleague is by no means encouraging. Mercantile
operations are altogether paralysed, and the pro-
ducts that were formerly easily disposed of, now
either find no purchasers, or are sold under very
unfavourable conditions. Public securities have
suffered an extraordinary depreciation, and capital,
always sensitive, withdraws itself from speculation.
Failures threaten to terminate the existence, and,
what is more, affect the honour, of a large number
of companies and commercial houses formerly
powerful and respectable. The rate of discount is
rising, and consternation is now felt precisely in
those places hitherto most distinguished for their
wealth and commercial activity."
Admitting the justice of these representations,
the Epoca continues :

" The periodical from which we quote calls atten-
tion to the immense development which credit has
reached in our country, occasioning an affluence of
French capital, attracted ity the high rate of interest
offered by the Government and the prospect of
liquidation. But the evil thus produced would still
not be irremediable were it not for the abuse of the
institution of the Bank of Deposits, to which the
Government suddenly draws all the floating capital
when it most injuriously affects the companies and
banks. This capital accumulated at the disposal of
the Government, and the Bank of Spain being con-
verted into an auxiliary establishment instead of
being a credit institution, the perturbation caused
by the monetary crisis sufficed to place the Treasury
in a most disadvantageous position."
The article cocludes from this state of things
that it is not expedient for the Government to hold
at its disposal the funds in the Bank of Deposits,
neither is it possible for the Bank of Spain to depart
from the obligation of its statutes, Art. 20 of which
directs that its bills shall be payable within 90 days.
Defects exist in both institutions, which have been
the cause of serious difficulties ; and the best service
to the country is to point out the evil and demand
the proper remedy.