The Sun.
London, England, 1854-02-15 00:00:00

ARRIVAL OF THE GREAT BRITAIN.

The inhabitants of Liverpool were surprised this morn-
ing by the arrival of their old favourite vessel, the Great
Britain, on her second trip from the Antipodes. She
arrived at 10.15 a.m. after a passage of 72 days, from
Melbourne, having sailed from that port on the 4th of
December, having on board 199 passengers, and
164,465 ounces of gold. After leaving Melbourne she
had no wind until she rounded the Horn, when she en-
countered strong and favourable breezes for three days,
logging 340 miles daily, which was succeeded by south-
east trade and light winds. During the latter part of
the voyage she was completely under steam, having no
sails set. She brings the first shipment of cotton to
this port ever made from Sydney. She also has a large
quantity of wool and tin on board, and her mails weigh
15 tons.
No deaths occurred during the voyage—the passen-
gers enjoying the most perfect health, and at the close
of the voyage presented the captain (Mathews) and the
first officer (Mr. Grey) with an address, accompanied by
a piece of plate to the former and a purse of 50 sove-
reigns to the latter.
She reports the arrival at Melbourne of the Gauntlet
and Anglesea, from London, and of the Ann Dashwood,
Wassenaar, Lavaan, Marie, Escape, Echo, and Australia
from hence, and of the Gebroeders, hence at Adelaide.
The Sovereign of the Seas was to sail from Melbourne
for this port direct on the 28th of December.
A writer in the Sydney Herald says, between the nor-
thern boundary of New South Wales and Cape York
there is but little doubt that extensive and rich gold
fields are to be found.
The price of gold was 31. 16s. 9d per ounce, but very
little business was doing, and the market had a down-
ward tendency.
The arrivals of gold from the Melbourne diggings
from September 24th to November 26th were 403,000
oz., and the shipments to England 556,913 oz.
A bill, which was giving dissatisfaction to the diggers,
was before the Council, fixing the license fees at 1/. per
month ; 2/. for three months ; 41. for six months ; and
8/, per annum.
Melbourne was rapidly improving, and an electric
telegraph between that town and Williamstown was in
full operation. It was proposed to make a ship canal
from Hobson's-bay to Melbourne, and the connecting
railroad was in a fair way of completion.
Business in Melbourne was improving, although
imports were on a large scale. Money was still
light in commercial circles, and nearly all business
was transacted by bills at three months' date. The
market was abundantly supplied with flour, and Ame-
rican was saleable at 60s. per barrel ; timber was lower,
but still commanded high rates. Many of the portable
houses received from England, not being adapted to the
climate, had not realised more than the cost of freight.
Dry goods are dull of sale. Some linens had been
sold at an advance of invoice prices. The market
was overstocked with wearing apparel as well as
with boots and shoes ; hardware commanded an ad-
vance of 50 per cent. on invoice prices ; and Collinge's
axles and pulls are much wanted. Corrugated
sheet iron and zinc are much wanted, and high
prices given. Sheet lead is scarce and dear. The fol-
lowing articles were much inquired for :—Liverpool
curing and stored salts, English glue, roofing slates,
potash, whitening, salad oil, and wool-lashing. We
give the following quoted prices :----Beer (Burton), 71.
10s. to 81. 10s. per hhd. ; cheese, is. per lb. ; salt, coarse
Liverpool, 81. to 101. per ton ; sheet lead, 451. to 501.
per ton ; slates, 251. to 481. per 1,000; bricks, 101. to 11/.
Freights to England :—Wool, td. to ld. per lb. and
five per cent. ; tallow, 50s. per ton and 5 per cent. ;
gold, 41d. per ounce.