The Sun.
London, England, 1853-11-01 00:00:00

DEPARTURES FOR AUSTRALIA.--The departures for
the Australian colonies from the port of London during
the past week show an increase. They have comprised
altogether seventeen vessels—eight to Port Phillip, with
an aggregate burden of 4,772 tons ; four to Sydney, with
an aggregate burden of 1,939 tons ; two to Hobart
Town, with an aggregate burden of 567 tons ; one to
New Zealand, of 565 tons ; one to Swan River of 443
tons ; and one to Portland Bay, of 368 tons. Their total
capacity was consequently 8,644 tons. The rates of
freight exhibit no great alteration, but they have been
genet ally well maintained.
AUSTRALIAN MAlLS.—There has now been established
an overland mail communication from Melbourne to
Sydney twice a week. To Geelong the mail communi-
cation is daily ; to Ballarat, Forest Creek, Mount
Alexander, and Bendigo, twice a week ; and to Mao
Ivor once a week. All letters and newspapers posted
in Melbourne for England are sent by the first mail
steamer, unless directed "by first ship." Letters not
marked via Southampton are sent via Marseilles. For
the future a mail will be made up at Melbourne for
England via Trieste, to be forwarded by Lloyd's steamers
from Alexandria. Postage stamps have been intro-
duced into Melbourne ; their colour is green, and their
value 3d.

CANADA.—The advices from Canada by the present
mail describe a state of great prosperity, which will be
further increased by the maintenance of the European
demand for grain. The revenue continued to augment,
and the surplus will be larger this year than on any for-
mer occasion. Under these circumstances, the Govern-
ment had already made arrangements for paying off the
debentures of the province falling due in April next.
DANGEROUS STATE OF THE HOUSES IN THE STRAND.
—On Saturday, at the Court Leet of the manor and
liberty of the Savoy, held at the Court-house of the
Duchy of Lancaster, before Arthur Edward Somerset,
Esq., high steward, and a jury of the principal inhabi-
tants of the duchy, the jury viewed two houses on the
estate of the Duke of Norfolk, which had been reported
to be in a dangerous condition. These houses are
situate in Norfolk-street, near the spot where the late
fatal accident occurred. The jury reported, after in-
specting the premises, that they were in a most dilapi-
dated state.
Norfolk
te.Afine of 501. was then imposed upon the
Duke of

NEW YORK.—The accounts from New York yester-
day show a partial revival in the stock-market, and a
general increase of confidence. Several additional fail-
ures had, however, been reported, the parties being
Messrs. Winston, Seaman, and Co., merchants ; Work
and Drake, provision merchants ; and Perkins and
Brooks, dry goods jobbers, all of New York ; and Di-
mond and Co., of Bristol, Rhode Island, sugar refiners.
i md
draughts
ao
lin
gt i
hoe
tnds
on
The first and ast of these are for large amounts, and
may probably bring down other firms of less importance.
As regards the rate of exchange on this country, although
it was still high, and the present steamer has brought
245,0001., making nearly 600,0001. from the United
States within eight days, there was a tendency, at
the departure of the steamer, to reaction, and it
must he expected that this will take place to a marked
extent the moment affairs assume a more steady course.
cTiahlelyreavvgas a considerable number of bills offering espe-
ainst consignments of breadstuff's, and a distrust
in relation to the grain-market on this side and the
probable effects of the rapid advance in the Bank of
England rate of discount were the principal causes of
persons preferring to send goldi.nwtihlNlVehspeneciietrsehmalhnaoes
supported,been
slightest of wheateem rehen33pdievi
quiet has existed here, the bills in question will be more
thifesoounb
country
r y rendered
in c on-
hdoeccasion
ETSHIRE.thOII Friday night last a
mwrehoaArideeßihlspyomoNtsaaitykilevNneth.fpurosoTmEhbsete
used
nexion with the new cotton crop.
asenrdiow.usedyimsasontethr occurred
Railvira
ase a worksstab stable, and
the Dorchester
nloewwsly:_eroecitietdhebuidin
in question
Ridgway-hill, whereby a
eight valuable horses, g,
totally destroyed
they are possible with new sets of harness, &c., was
and containing
by fire. The circumstances, so far as
. eat present to be ascertained, are as fol-
lows
night in question a man named George
Symes, who is employed in the capacity of a stable-
keeper, went to perform his duties, as usual, about 8
o'clock, and was left there at that 1-:me by some navvies
who were returning to their homes: It is said that he
was
I intoxicated, and that his proper time to have left the
1 stable was about half-past 9 o'clock, whereas it would
appear that he fell asleep, leaving the candle burning,
which, in some way or other, must have ignited the
straw, as the fire seems to have originated inside the
building. Nothing, however, was seen or known of the
fire until about midnight, when some men, who were
working in a tunnel some 100 yards distant, observed a
reflection of light on a pool of water, and, turning to see
the cause, they observed the stable involved in one
complete conflagration. Upon approaching the spot it
was found that the stable, together with the eight horses,
&c., were reduced to a cinder ; but no remains of Symes
have been discovered among the ashes. A doubt, there.
fore, has arisen as to whether he has not decamped in a
fright, and, it being necessary to investigate the matter,
a warrant has been issued for his apprehension. The
entire property belongs to Mr. Charles Edward Lana-
down, one of the contractors for the line.
SIR H. G. WARD.—The Sheffield Independent says
a rumour has lately been circulated that Sir H. G.
Ward was about to quit the office of Lord High Com-
missioner of the lonian Isles, either by his own act or
that of the Government. We have good reason to be-
lieve that no such idea is entertained, and that the ru-
mour may be most fully and distinctly contradicted.