The Sun.
London, England, 1854-05-25 00:00:00

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TIIE WAR.

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morning, about half-past 6 o'clock, off Plymouth, under
steam only. Wind light.
The Otter, steam-gun vessel, Commander Lieutenant
Hunt, late of her Majesty's ship St. George, having
completed her crew and armament, is appointed to leave
Woolwich for the Baltic this day (Thursday). She will
be followed immediately by the Pigmy, Minx, and the
other vessels appointed to this service. -
The indefatigable, 50 guns, fitting at Devonport, will
carry the flag of Rear-Admiral W. J. Hope Johnstone,
appointed to the command on the South American
station.
We are authorised to state that a paragraph which
has appeared in a weekly newspaper, in which it was
stated that the Admiralty was in want of dispensers of
medicine, at the salary of 100/. a year, is without foun-
dation. Assistant-surgeons only are required, if qualified
according to the established regulations.
Isaac Western, leading workman of engine-smiths, 7
engine and boiler-smiths, 7 fitters, 1 .coppersmith, and
1 moulder in brass and iron, have volunteered from the
factory at Woolwich dockyard to proceed to Malta for
service there. There are 17 in all, of whom 13 are mar-
ried and four single.
Captain Sir Baldwin Walker, K.C.B. Surveyor of the
Navy, Mr. Isaac Watts, Assistant-Surveyor of the
Navy, and Mr. Thomas Lloyd, Chief Engineer and In-
spector of Machinery, left Somerset-house on Tuesday
evening for Paris.
The Camperdown Indiaman, one of Dunbar's fleet, is
corning to Portsmouth to ship an enormous quantity of
provisions for the naval victualling depot at Malta. She
will take from the Clarence-yard, where the supplies are
all ready for her, 2,500 casks of beef and pork, besides
other stores.

- -
NAVAL AND MILITARY INTELLIGENCE.
MALTA, MAY 17.

The continued arrival of English and French troops,
en route to the eastward, forms the only subject of local
information of the least interest. Up to the evening
of the 11th inst. the total amount of French troops and
horses that have passed through were—troops, 4.721
rank and file, exclusive of officers ; horses, 1,883 ;
mules, 67. -Up to last night at gun fire the following is
the gross total of French troops, with horses and mules,
viz., troops, 5,636 ; horses, 585. Grand total, troops,
10,357 ; horses, 2,468 ; mules, 67.
It is not a little remarkable that the amount of
casualties among the French horses has been. of a very
insignificant nature, while the English have lost a con-
siderable number, and among them some very valuable
animals. The glanders has appeared among the French
horses, and five of them have been destroyed.
The Vulcan is about to proceed to England.
The number of English troops that have arrived is :
By the Blundell. —45 horses, Captain White, Lieu-
tenant Thomson, Assistant Surgeon Brady, Veterinary
Surgeon Constant, and 55 rank and file of the 17th
Lancers.
By the Bombay—Lieutanant-Colonel Barlow, Major
Watson, Captains Budd, Dwyer, Douglas, and Trevor,
Lieutenants Hawley, Segrave, Grogan, Barlow, Smythe,
Heywood, Bower, Mathews, and Wilson (Adjutant),
Ensigns Inglefield, Vivian, Crosby, and Blunt, Paymas.
ter Hall, Quartermaster O'Connor, Surgeon Denny, As-
sistant-Surgeon Bleckley, and 749 rank and file of the
14th Regiment.
By the Edmundsbury-35 horses, Captain Morgan,
Lieutenant Knight, Paymaster Stephenson, Surgeon
Powell, and 40 troopers of the 17th Lancers.
By the St. Vincent—Dr. Baxter, 54th Regiment,
Lieutenant Davidson, and 51 rank and file of the Royal
Artillery.
By the British Queen-264 rank and file and officers
for the service companies of the regiments in garrison
here, Lieutenant Maxse, aide-decamp to Lord Cardigan,
and Major Mayow, also attached to his staff, arrived by
the British Queen.
By the Baalbec detachments for the East also arrived,
but no report has been as yet made.
Up to post hour the Simla, with the India mails (out-
ward), had not been telegraphed. She has been ex-
pected since the 14th.

No. 90 transport passed down the river yesterday
from Deptford on her way to one of the western ports,
to embark horses and troops for the seat of war in the
East.
Yesterday morning the first division of the 35th Regi-
ment of Foot marched from the Tower and proceeded by
railway to Chatham.
The 18th Regiment of Foot were paraded on Tuesday
at Chatham for the inspection of Colonel Marcus Beres-
ford, Commandant of the Garrison. Eight companies
left Chatham at 6 a.m. yesterday for Canterbury, and
will billet at Sittingbourne and Milton. Two companies,
with the head quarters, will leave Chatham to-day, and
proceed en route to Canterbury. The regiment is to be
supplied with new arms, &c., as soon as possible.
Captain Oldfield's company of the Royal Artillery
embarked at Belfast on Tuesday for Fleetwood, en route
to Woolwich. It is understood that this company has
been ordered to join Lord Raglan's forces in the East.
The 46th (replacing the 97th, ordered to Candia), 63d,
21st, 20th, and 34th Regiments, and the Ist battalion of
Rifles, now forming the reserved division, are under
orders fur Greece. The 63d numbers 1,300, and the 218 t
1,260 rank and file.
Accounts from Cork say —" The number of recruits
that arrive here weekly from England for the depots
serving in this country are incredible, while the few that
enli,t, here are scarcely to be counted. The enlistment
of men in England for active service is going on very
briskly, so that the requirements of the service are fully
provided for. On Sunday and Monday about 70 English
recruits arrived here from London, Liverpool, and Bris.

By the Peninsular and Oriental company's steamer
Ripon, which arrived at Southampton yesterday, we
have accounts from Gibraltar to the 18th inst. The
British transport ships Courier, Timandra, Star of the
South, and Gomelza, which had landed the 39th and
89th Regiments at Gibraltar, sailed thence on thq 6th,
laden with Minig rifle ammunition, stores, and coals, for
the East. The transport-ship Dunbar, with the head-
quarters of the 17th Regiment, under the command of
Lieutenant-Colonel M‘Pherson, C. 8., arrived at Gib-
raltar on the 7th, from Cork. The 55th Regiment,
commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Warren,
C. 8., embarked on the 10th inst. by the Medway
steam-ship from Gibraltar for the East. Their de-
parture was the signal for a complete ovation on the
part of the inhabitants of the garrison. The steamer
Admiral, six days and a half from Cardiff, with
hay, •beef, and pork for Constantinople, touched at
Gibraltar on the 9th. The screw-steamer British
Queen, five days from Cork, with detachments of the
3d and 9th Regiments, for Malta, arrived on the 10th
inst. The transport-ship No. 43 passed the Straits of
Gibraltar on the 10th inst. The steamer Baalb3c, with
a draught of the 55th Regiment, from Cork, touched at
Gibraltar on the 11th inst., en route to Constantinople
Tire left wing of the 17th Regiment, under command of
Major Bourke, arrived at Gibraltar on the 12th inst., in
the transport-ship'Cornwall.
Her Majesty's screw troop-ship Suroom, having on
board the 79th Highlanders, commanded by Lieutenant-
Colonel Elliott, touched at Gibraltar on the 12th on her
way to Constantinople. The gallant Highlanders met
with a most enthusiastic reception from the troops in the
garrison during their short stay at Gibraltar. The
British transport Rodsley, No. 37, 18 days from Wool-
wich, with a detachment of the Royal Horse Ar-
tillery, arrived at Gibraltar on the 13th inst., and left
on the 14th for the East. The transport Sultana passed
the Straits on the 15 inst., and the Rubicon on the 17th
inst.

Each week a similar number are lauded here."
Recruiting is going on briskly in Belfast. The 62d
picked up last week 70 serviceable-looking young men.
A suns of above 5001. has been subscribed by the offi-
cers of the 13th Light Dragoons, which forms part of
the expeditionary army to the East, for the support of
the wives of the men and their families during their ab-
sence from England. The money is deposited in the
hands of Lady Gore (the wife of Major Gore, accom-
panying the regiment), who resides at Hampton•court
Palace. Her Ladyship has visited several of the women,
and has distributed some of the money among them.
This will be continued weekly till the fund is exhausted.

ARRIVAL FROM THE BALTIC FLEET.
The Holyrood, screw steam hired transport, Coro
mander Lovett, arrived at Sheerness at 7.30 a.m. yes-
terday from the Baltic fleet. Commander Lovett left
Sir Charles Napier with his flag-ship the Duke of Wel-
lington, and his squadron, cruising N.N.E. of the
Island of Gottska. Sandoe, distant about 30 miles. No
attempts up to the 16th inst. (the day on which the
Holyrood left the fleet) had been made to attack either
Revel. the Island of Aland, or any other Russian port.
The English fleet were then waiting the arrival of the
French fleet, and no operations are anticipated until the
fleets unite. Only one ,French line-of-battle ship had
joined Sir Charles Napier's squadron, but the whole of
the French fleet were daily expected. On the 17th inst.
the Royal George, 121 guns, sent a boat alongside the
Holyrood for information, and she reported having
passed six sail of the line of the French fleet on the pre-
vious day. The Holyrood has brought home 61 invalids
from the fleet ; 63 were sent on board, but two seamen
(invalids) died on the passage home ; one died on the
17th, and the other on the 22d, from the effects 'of in-
termittent fever.
Captain Dunlop (who went out passenger in the St.
Jean d'Acre) has taken a passage home in the Holyrood.
A Mr. Ringrose, mate, is among the invalids sent home;
also a boy named Parsons, who lot his right arm by
firing a musket. On 'the 18th inst., the Holyrood
passed the Penelope steam-frigate, with the Water Tank
in tow, in the East Sea ; the Penelope steam-frigate sent
a boat alongside, and reported all well.
The Holyrood arrived at Copenhagen on the 18th,
and left there on the 20th inst., passed .Elsinore the same
day at noon, and cleared the Scaw at 1 a.m. the follow-
ing day. She did not afterwards pass any English or
French men-of-war, and saw no vessel bearing the Rus-
sian colours during her passage home. The Holyrood
has steamed home from Copenhagen in 74 hours. Mr.
George Frankish, pilot for the Baltic, came home as
passenger in the Holyrood. Mr. Frankish left the
Edinburgh, 60 guns, Rear-Admiral Henry D. Chads.
The Edinburgh was then in company with Sir Charles
Napier's squadron.
The Basilisk, 6 guns, paddle-wheel steam-sloop, bad
been close in off Hango Head, and sighted the Russian
fleet, from 10 to 12 sail. A shot was fired from the bat-
tery, which fell short of the Basilisk. After recon-
noitring sufficiently, she returned. Up to the time of
the Holyrood leaving the allied fleet had not been above
Revel, the ice not having cleared away.

LONDON, TH_URSDAY EVENING, MAY 25, 1854.

VAN

The following information regarding the colony of
Van Diemen's Land, intended for the use of emigrants,
has been printed by order of his Excellency Sir William
Denison, Lieutenant-Governor of the colony :
DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTRY.—The avernge length
of Van Diemen's Land is 165 miles, and the average
breadth 155 miles.
The island. contains about 16 millions of acres, of
which nearly three millions are private property. The
remaining 13 millions are Crown land ; and about two
millions of the latter are occupied by the settlers under

grazing licenses.
With this limited area there is an extensive line of coast,
broken into at various points by deep bays and inlets, af-
fording not only accommodation for any amount of foreign
trade, but facilitating the transport of produce from
one part of the colony to another—a matter of no trifling
importance, when the delay and difficulty attendant upon
transport by land in a new country is considered.
Hobart Town, the seat of Government, is situated on
the estuary of the Derwent, 40 miles within the southern
boundary of the colony.
Launceston is situated at the head of the navigation
of the river Tamar, about 40 miles within the northern
line of sea-coast.

----- --
Spring Bay on the east, and Port Davey and Macquarie
Harbour on the west, afford shelter for vessels : the
latter, which reaches far into the interior, has, however,
a bar at the entrance.
The means of communication are of a better descrip-
tion than are to be found in the other colonies of Aus-
tralia. A good turnpike-road extends from Hobart
Town to Launceston, a distance of 120 miles ; and this
is traversed by coaches at the rate of 10 miles per hour ;
the traffic being sufficient at present to support two day
coaches and one night coach each way.
The island, in general, is covered with an open forest,
without much underwood, and consisting of the different
gum trees, wattles, stringy-hark, she-oak, and other
trees bearing colonial names, all of which are evergreens,
the timber being in some situations close and heavy, and
in others the scenery resembling that of a park ; and the
natural pasture of both hills and plains affords support
to sheep, which are the chief source of profit to the set-
tlers, and also to cattle and horses ; turnip husbandry is
becoming general. The wheat of Van Diemen's Land
is considered of the finest quality ; and the potatoes are
excellent, forming an important article of the most pro-
fitable exportation to the neighbouring colonies. The
soil arid climate are highly favourable to English fruits
and vegetables, to the culture and improvement of which
much attention is paid. Apple, pear, and other fruit
trees grow here, and come into hearing with a rapidity
unknown in England ; and apples, preservesand onions
are extensively exported with great advantage. The cul-
tivation of hops is followed to a considerable extent ; and
irrigation has in several places been successfully adopted.
There are large dairy establishments ; and considerable
attention is given to the manufacture of butter and
cheese, which realise, the former 2s. 6d. to 35., and the
latter is. ld. to is. 3d. per lb. retail. Various kinds of
excellent fish are obtained ; and also oysters ; and, with
more attention than has hitherto been paid to it, this
branch of colonial industry might, in all probability, be
much increased. The timber of Van Diemen's Land is
valuable for ship and house building, furniture, &c., and
some kinds which split readily are extensively employed
in making post and rail fence for the enclosure of land,
and also for making shingles, with which the houses are
covered instead of slates. The colonial gums are also
useful ; and the bark of the wattle tree is largely ex-
ported for tanning, and also used in the colony in the
manufacture of leather. There are no formidable wild
animals, and the aboriginal natives are almost extinct,
the few who remain living willingly in one place, pro-
tected and supported by the Government.
Van Diemen's Land has, from the commencement of
the colony, been resorted to by tree settlers of un-
questionable respectability. A large portion of the island is
either owned or rented by persons of established character,
many of whom are retired officers. The majority of
these persons have been long settled on the land which
they occupy. Their possessions are of various extent,
from perhaps 70,000 acres downwards. The settlers are
engaged in agriculture, in sheep and cattle farming, and
the cultivation of hops, &c. The country is studded
with their mansions, houses, and farm buildings, which,
in many instances, are of the most substantial and
superior description. Hobart Town is a city of con-
siderable size, containing 23,000 inhabitants, and 16
places of worship. Here, and in a smaller proportion at
Launceston, are numerous clergymen, merchants, pro-
fessional gentlemen, shopkeepers, master tradesmen, and
mechanics, and many Government officers and others,
of character certainly equal to those in a similar position
in other countries.
DEMAND FOR LABOUR.—The consideration of the
preceding observations will show that, even under ordi-
nary circumstances there must have been in Van
Diemen's Land a very considerable and increasing de-
mand for labour. There is now a most urgent necessity
for ordinary working people of all kinds, both male and
female, and this has been produced by a combination of
various causes.
The sudden increase of population in the adjacent
colony of Victoria, in consequence of the discovery of
gold, has raised the price of grain and other produce,
and has also oreated a greatly increased demand for
them ; and, as a large number of persons of the labour-
class have left this colony in search of gold (which pur-
suit, as will be hereafter explained, was formerly more
attractive to the inhabitants of Van Diemen's Land than
at present), the available agricultural labour of the
colony has been greatly diminished, at the time when a
large addition to the ordinary amount is rendered ne-
cessary by the increased demand for produce above re-
ferred to ; and, in a similar manner, the amount of
labour of all kinds has been reduced to an extent highly
injurious to the interests of the colony.
At the present time, expenses of some kinds are con-
siderable, and particularly house•rent and butcher's
meat. Beef is Bd. to 9d. per lb., mutton 7d. to Bd.,
and bread is 61d. the two-pound loaf ; but agricultural
labourers and domestic servants are provided by their
employers with lodging and a liberal supply of food—.
and the wages of the mechanics are so high that these
expenses are not felt by them as oppressive. Wearing
apparel and cloth, being imported, are, of course, not so
cheap as at home, but are reasonable in price. Tea and
sugar are cheaper than in England ; the former being
about Is. 6d. per lb. of an ordinary description, and
coarse sugar 3d. per lb. ; and a removal to this colony
must generally be to emigrants a change from poverty
or absolute want, not merely to comfort and an abund-
ance of all the necessaries of life, but to so great a facility
in obtaining money as enables the industrious and care-
ful to acquire property, and greatly to advance their
condition in life.
RATE OF WAGES.—Good carpenters, 10s. to 12s.
per day.
Bricklayers, stonemasons, stonecutters, blacksmiths,
coppersmiths, and brass-finishers, moulders, good hands,
Bs. to 10s. per day.
Wheelwrights and millwrights. 10s., 125,, and 15s.
per day.
Engineer and fitter-up, 15s. per day.
Cabinetmakers and upholsterers, 11s. per day. Some
of these can make 51. or 61. per week by piece-work.
Sawyers, from 10s. to 14s. per day, in Hobart Town ;
but they make much more by piece-work. Sawyers at
Huon River, where sawing is largely carried for home
consumption and exportation to Victoria, receive from
employers at least half the price of the sawn stuff, which
at present sells on the spot for fully 20s. per 100 feet.
It is considered that a pair of good sawyers can thus
earn with ease 101. per week. In general, sawyers
prefer sawing on their own account, paying ls. a week
for liberty to cut timber on Crown land or making
agreements with owners of land for the same pur-
pose. In this manner they are able to earn much more
than the amount above stated ; and, in whatever mode
they are employed, many of those who work steadily
accumulate large sums of money. Persons employed in
splitting shingles and paling also realise large amounts in
a similar manner. Sawyers. axe-men, and navigators
are now advertised for at 11. per, day for six months

certain.
Shoemakers work by the piece, and are paid about
the following rates :—For making and closing strong
boots, 9s. 6d., for making and closing Wellington boots,
20s. ; women's shoes, for bottoming, 6s. ; women's
boots, for bottoming, 6s. 6d. Good hands may earn
4/. a week.
Tailors are also paid by the piece, and a fair workman
can earn 4/. 10s. per week. From 31. to 51. per week is
made, according to abilities.
Painters and glaziers, ordinary, 6s. to Bs. per day.
Good ornamental painters are so scarce that no rate can
be named for them. In this trade there is not so great a
demand for labour as in others, as painting is generally
deferred till a cheaper time.
Seamen receive, for short colonial voyages 101. per
month and provisions. For lo iger voyages they receive
even more, and no certain rate can be mentioned.
Married agricultural labourers obtain from 351. to
70/., or upwards, according to the qualifications of both
persons.
Single agricultural labourers, 181. to 30/.
Men servants, domestic, receive from 20/. to 30/., ac-
cording to ability.
Female domestic servants, from 12/. to 30/., accord-
ing
to qualifications. Ordinary and useful domestic
servants, 14/. to 16/. Good cooks, 20/. to 25/. Good
needlewomen, who will be otherwise useful 16/. to 20/.
These rates of remuneration are excessive, and are
the consequences of the discovery of gold. They may,
h weve continue for a considerable period : the fall
will r,
be gradual, and wages must be high for many years
to come.
ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE ASSISTANCE AND PROTEC-
TION OF IMMIGRANTS, AND ESPECIALLY CF FEMALES.—
In order to prevent embarrassment and inconvenience
to emigrants on first reaching their destination, the
Government emigrant ships despatched by the Colonial
Land and Emigration Commissioners are under engage.
ment to support them on board for fourteen working