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

mystery of our intolerable conveyances, and
adopting a similar plan. If we have older diffi-
culties here, our Colonial-office had created no

,rivial difficulties in Victoria also, but there the

people have emancipated themselves from the

lawyers.

Victoria and the Australian colonies have been
hitherto the butt of those who scoff at the ballot

and a widely extended suffrage. Unable to deny

the marvellous change for 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 voting and
a popular franchise. Still, by the good old prac-

tice of overlooking the beam in our own eye, we,
or rather some who assume to speak for us, have
not ceased to abuse the Australians, as unable to
create, by their popular institutions, a working

government. The truth is the Great Land

Question, bequeathed them by our own

blundering authorities at home, was the
cause of the struggle, and the parties being nearly
balanced in political strength, for a long time, as the

necessary result of such a position under any form o:

representative Government, neither the squatter,
nor the "free selection" party could obtain the

upper hand. The act 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 frequent changes of Ministry. As
there is, however, something of compromise in it, we
may expect that in time, if other causes of conten-
tion are wanting, such concessions to unjust privi-
lege as still remain must become the watchword of
parties.
Our antipodean fellow 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 LordJoHN 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 cattle runs are of enormous
extent, little counties, and the land act permits
n 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 Austra-
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. The 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 Westarn
farmers apparently being tempted to hurry their produce
forward by the high price it realizes in the inconvertible
currency. During 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
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 afcer
departure from England.
CRYSTAL PALACE.—ONE SHILLING DAY.—MON-
DAY, Aug. P.—Admissions on payment, 6,030; ditto, by
season tickets, 693; total, 6,723.
ENORMOUS SNAKE.—A specimen of the diamond
snake, measuring 12ft., 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 creatures are inactive, Every care has,
however, been taken to keep it alive. It is snugly en-
sconced in a cask lined with sheepskins.--/SYdneY il9rak4
Arne 21,