The Sun.
London, England, 1854-07-27 00:00:00

CANTON MARKET.-JUNE 4..

Teas.—The transactions (luring the mouth have been so
trifling as scarcely to call for any remark. For the few
country teas remaining holders demand extreme prices,
and the new Canton teas are held at rates which prevent
operations to any extent.
FREIGHTS.—To England, 6/. to 61. 10s. To United
States, 16 to 18 dols.

IMPORTS.—Cotton and Woollens.—Business in piece
goods remains at a complete stand-still.

AUSTRALIA.

SYDNEY, MAY 24.—TheGovernor-General returned
from his tour to Moreton Bay and Port Curtis on
the 10th of May, one day too late to prevent the
little difficulty in which the Legislative Council
had been placed by his absence. It met from its
prorogation on the 9th, but found no official in-
structions as to what it was to do : it could
neither proceed to business, nor prorogue itself again.
The Colonial Secretary, Mr. Riddle; proposed an
adjournment for a month, it having been intended that
the meeting for " the despatch of business" was not to
take place till the beginning of June. This interval
was thought too long, chiefly from an anxiety in the
public mind as to the defences of the port and harbour,
on which a communicati ,n from the Executive, at the
earliest possible moment, was desirable. Finally, an
adjournment for a week was moved and carried. The
Calliope must have been almost within sight of
_the Heads when the members were resolving
the little legal puzzle presented to them, b t
the winds and waves perversely delayed the Governor's
landing till the following morning. On the 16th, when
the Council re-assembled, his Excellency sent down the
following Message :
" The Governor-General, in announcing to the Legisla-
tive Council that he deems it expedient to prorogue the
Council to Tuesday, the 6th of June now next, desires to
express his regret that any inconvenience to the members
and anxiety to the public mind should have been occa-
sioned by his unexpected inability to return from his visit
to the Northern Settlement before the day to which the
Council lately stood prorogued. His Exc elleney's move-
ments were regulated with a view to his return by the Ist
of the present month ; but they .vere impeded by circum-
stances entirely beyond his control.
"2. The Governor-General would gladly have availed
himself of au earlier time for receiving the advice and
assistance of the Legislative Council if he had seen grounds
for participating in the anxiety which is stated to prevail
on the subject of the defences of the port and city of
Sydney; but his Excellency has great pleasure in stating
that he is satisfied, from the ruo .t authentic sources of in-
forwatio❑ within his reach, that no immediate occasion for
alarm exists.

"3. FlOll3 this information it would appear that the
accounts which have reached the co:ony with respect to
the strength of the Russian naval force in the East Indian
seas have bee❑ much exaggerated, as will be seen by the
annexed return of the English, French, and Russian squa-
drons in the China seas.

" 4. It has nut been in the Governor-General's power to
obtain such anth'ntie intelligence regarding the Russian
naval force in the Pacific ; but he has reason to believe
that only one ship of war belonging to that nation is sta-
tioned there; while it is well known that the British and
French squadrons in that vicinity are of considerable
strength.
"C. Under these circumstances the Governor-General
does not deem it expedient to convene the Council for the
despatch of business without giving the usual time fur
preparation, and for the assembling of members from the
country. Meanwhile his Excellency will cause the works of
defence already commenced to be prosecuted with vigour,
and will` secure the continued presence of one of her
Majesty's ships of war.
" Government House, Sydney, 16th May, 1854."
The Council was then prorogued till the 6th of June.
Though no business was done, these two short sittings
will be reckoned as a session.