The Sun.
London, England, 1853-05-12 00:00:00

42.1,,64:7,-.1.11'-'
over to Admiral Parker his statement of Mr.
words, " That it was of no use blinking the questi ' __t ~ r_.
was so pressed by Lord Derby and the Chancello
Exchequer, that he could not help himself." Whe Vd S hia
words were read he (Admiral Berkeley) said, " Surely, no
man could be guilty of such an indiscretion." Upon which
Admiral Parker turned round and said, "He did, though;
I heard him."
In answer to the noble Chairman, Admiral Berkeley
said, he had. been on six Boards of Admiralty, and believed
the practice to be, that the appointment of men to enter
the dockyards for the first time was the Secretary's pa.
tronage, but that when once a man had entered the yard
the Secretary had nothing further to do with him as to pa-
tronage. That was the practice under Lord Auckland and
Sir F. Baring,
The committee then adjourned until to-day.

AMERICAN AFFAIRS.

The commercial advices from New York indicate, a
state of business not unlike that which is observable on
this side. The prices of securities show great steadiness,
and the tendency is towards an advance ; but owing to
the activity of the legitimate commerce, and the con-
stant employment for capital, there is little disposition
for mere stock speculations, and the market is conse-
quently without excitement. The general movement
for increased wages was also manifesting itself as exten-
sively as in England, and strikes were causing inconve-
nience. The importations of foreign manufactures con-
tinue large, and there was a renewed disposition to an
advance in the rates of exchange, but the demand for
money was still sufficiently felt to cause all remittances
to be delayed where practicable, and hence the ship-
ment of gold by the present packet' was inconsiderable.
The first parcels of the new silver coinage had just
been issued from the Mint, and so great is the
want of small silver that they fetched a premium
of 11 to 2 per cent. The Crystal Palace was to
be ready for the reception of goods on the Ist of
June, and, meanwhile, the price of its shares of
$lOO each was steadily maintained at $l4O. The
Ericsson ship was receiving some additions to her ma-
chinery, and WAS to be ready for sea on the Ist July,
when, it is said, she will proceed direct to London. The
emigration from New York to Australia was increasing,
and it was believed that 600 persons had left within a
fortnight. A bill before the Massachusetts Legislature,
to compel the banks of that State to keep specie to the
extent of 10 per cent, of their capital, had excited remark
from its uselessness, since the capital of these institutions
is no measure of their relative circulation, some of those
with the most moderate capital having the largest issue
of notes. The arrangements for the California mint had
at length been decided upon, and the Government at
Washington had accepted a tender for the building of it
at a cost of 239,913 dollars, or 48,0001. The intelligence
from the territory of New Mexico, of the act of aggres-
sion on the part of Governor Lane in taking forcible
possession of a district claimed by Mexico, had created
no disquiet, the opinion being general that it was a pre-
cipitate proceeding, and would meet with no countenance
from the American Cabinet.

The accounts from Oregon by this arrival contain
further references to the discovery of the new harbour
on that coast, but make no mention of its actual capacity.
Gold is said to be found in its vicinity, and a city, to be
called the Crescent City, is already rising there. The
agricultural progress of the State was very favourable,
and great efforts were being made 'to raise large crops
for California.

With regard to the gold discoveries in the State of
Texas, the following is the principal paragraph, which
must be taken with every allowance for the interested
motives of land jobbers :

" A new El Dorado is now being found in our own beau-
tiful State. Rumours are rife of large quantities of gold
being found throughout the western portion of the country.
We understand that there is great excitement prevailing at
Austin, San Antonio, Seguin, Gonzales, and other points
up the country, and that several companies have left those
points within a few days past in search of the hidden trea-
sure, and others are making ready to follow. These mines
are found on the Upper Colorado, Hamilton's Valley, and
various other places, and are said to be very rich—supposed
by some to equal the best California mines.• We have
been shown a letter from a merchant at San Marcus, fully
confirming the above reports. If these reports should
prove to be well founded (as! we have every reason to be-
lieve they will) it will turn the tide of emigration from
Australia and California to our own State, being more
accessible than either of these points. One person sold a
piece of quartz in San Antonio for 25 dols."