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 Philip, 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
generally 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 Mac
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 hy'the present
mail describe a state of great prosperity, which win 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 Led of the manor and
liberty of the Savoy, held at the Court-house of the
Duchy of Lmicaqer, 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. A line of 501. was then imposed upon the
Duke of Norfolk.

NEW YORK.—The accounts from New York yester-
day show a partial revival in the stockmarket, 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.
The first and last 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 600,000/. from the United
States within eight days, there was a tendency, at
the departure of the steamer, to reaction, and it
must be expected that this will take place to a marked
extent the momeet affairs assume a more steady course.
There was a considerable number of bills offering espe-
cially against consignments of breadstuffe, and a distrust
iu 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 gold. When it shall have
been ascertained that the high prices of wheat have been
supported, and that not the slightest commercial 'll
t has existed here, the bills in question will bemdoirse-
rcieuaideily taken. The diminution in the specie remittances
which may thus be occasioned will also be rendered
more positive
from the draughts on this country in con-
nexion with the new cotton crop.
l On Friday night last a
serious
occurred on the works of the Dorchester
and Weymouth Railway, near Ridgway-hill, whereby a
jas°dNisaslNteDr
IR.
newly erected building, used as a stable, and containing
eight valuable horses, with new sets of harness, &c. was
totally destroyed by fire. The circumstances, so far as
they are possible
at present to be ascertained, are as fol-
lows
p Symes, who
went
0 7h( i
nt1:11e night in question a man named George
s employed in the capacity of a stable-
keeper,
returning to perform his duties, as usual, about 8
navvies v is
wase
who were ret
o'clock, and
negftttohere their
at
homes.tha
t
tlralteis saibysd thomeat
intoxicated, and that his proper time to have left the
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. Warm.—. The Shedd Independent says
a rumour has lately been circulated that Sir H. G.
Ward was about to quit the office of Lord High Corn.
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•
moor may be most fully and distinctly contradicted.