The Sun.
London, England, 1853-12-28 00:00:00

THE NEW AUSTRALIAN MINT.

The Cyclone, now loadini in the London Docks, sails
next week, and conveys the apparatus for the Royal
Mint, about to be established at Sydney. A gentleman
connected with the establishment left last month in the
Maid of Judah to make the preliminary arrangements,
and it is intended to commence operations with the
least possible delay.
The melting pots, crucibles, and other requisites for
converting the dust into coin of the realm, ha,re been
supplied by Messrs. Morgan and Rees, and are the new
kind, known in the trade as their " Patent Plumbago "
and " Fluxing Pots," which had been selected on ac-
count of their superior safety and durability.
We understand the experience of the last 12 months
at the principal refining establishments (amongst which
are included that of the Bank of England, and the
French Mint) has proved the " Plumbago " to be six
times more durable than the ."
Black .Lead" kind
hitherto employed, and much less liable to accidents, a
fact of some importance in this golden age.

COURT CIRCULAR.

WINDSOR, DEC. 27.

The dinner party yesterday included her Royal High-
ness the Duchess of Kent, his Serene Highness Prince
Leopold of Saxe Coburg, the Lady in Waiting to the
Duchess of Kent, the Baroness do Speth, Lord James
Murray, and Lieut.-Colonel Hon. N. and Lady Mary
Hood. ,
The band of the Ist Life Guards attended in the Castle
during dinner, and performed the following pieces :
March, Feiza Baari
Overture, " Struensee"
Walzer, Die Provinzialen
Festlicher Tanz, opera " Rienzi" Wagner.
Selection, " Mountain Sylph" Barnett.
Polka, " Bonvivant" •
Her Majesty's private band was afterwards in attend.
ance, and performed the following selection :
Overture, " Egmont"
Trio, "Guillaume Tell"
Selection, " Le Prophete" Meyerbeer.
Scene de Danse, " La Bayadere" Auber.
His Serene Highness Prince Leopold of Saxe Coburg
left the Castle early this morning for Lisbon, via
Southampton.
The Queen and Prince walked in the Home Park this
morning. His Royal Highness and the Gentlemen in
Waiting enjoyed the diversion of skating.

PRIVY CoUNOIL.—Her Majesty will hold a. Privy
Council to-morrow (Thursday) at Windsor Castle.

VICEREGAL COURT.— Their Excellencies entertained
the following personages at dinner on Saturday :—Capt.
the Hon. C. and Mrs. Lindsay, Mr. Macartney, M.P.,
Mr. Ross Moore, M.P., Mr. Vernon, M.P., Colonel
and Mrs. Clarke, Lieut.-Colonel Doyle, Lord Eliot,
Major Larcom, the Misses Stephenson, Mr. Burton,
Major and Miss J. Ponsonby, Mr. Walling Everard,
Captain the Hon. Granville Eliot, aide.de-camp in
waiting.

The Duke and Duchess of Leeds are passing the
holidays in strict retirement, at Hornby Castle, in conse-
quence of the recent demise of her grace's sister, the
Marchioness 'Wellesley.

The Duke and Duchess of Norfolk will continue to
receive visitors at Arundel Castle until the close of the
recess. His Grace's resignation of Lord Steward will,
it is said, take place before the meeting of Parliament.
The Duke and Duchess of Hamilton are entertaining
a select party at Hamilton Palace. Early in the en-
suing season his Grace will take possession of the Duke
of Beaufort's spacious mansion, the duke and duchess
removing from their present abode in St. James's-place.
The Duke and Duchess of Bedford's party, at Wo-
burn Abbey, is strictly limited to a family circle, owing
to their recent bereavement, the demise of Lady Caro
line Sandford. Lord and Lady Charles Russell have
returned from Paris.

Lord and Lady Braybrooke are entertaining a large
party of friends at Audley-end.

PRICE OF GOLD.—The quotation of gold at Paris is
about 3 per mille discount (according to the last tariff),
which, at the English Mint price of 31. 17s. 10d. per
ounce for standard gold, gives an exchange of 25.091 ;
and, the exchange at Paris on London at short being
being 25.00, it follows that gold is about 0.38 per cent.
dearer in Paris than in London. By advices from Ham-
burg the price of gold is 421? per mark, which, at the
English Mint price of 31. 17s. 101 d. per ounce for
standard gold, gives an exchange of 13.31 ; and, the ex-
change at Hamburg on London at short being 13.11, it
follows that gold is 0.90 per cent, dearer in Hamburg
than in London. The course of exchange at New York
on London for bills at 60 days' sight is 110 per cent.,
and, the par of exchange between England and America
being 109 23-40 per cent., it follows that the exchange
is nominally 0.42 per cent. in favour or England ; and,
after making allowance for charges of transport and
difference of interest, the present rate leaves a profit on
the importation of gold from the United States.
UNITED MEXICAN ASSOCIATION.—At afspecial meet-
ing
of the United Mexican Association held yesterday
Mr. J. Weston was elected a director, to supply the 1
vacancy occasioned by the death of Mr. W. Flockton.
The question of raising additional capital for the
development of the mines was also brought for-
ward, with the view of preparing the shareholders
for its discussion at the approaching half-yearly
meeting. The principal works now in operation are at
Jesu Maria and La Trinidad, but, although recent dis-
coveries have proved favourable, the superintendent has
intimated that, unless other resources are available, his
existing means will be absorbed in about -five months.
With regard to the Zacatecas settlement, it was men-
tioned that $14,000 have been received on acccount, but,
as the instalments are regulated by the amount of silver
exported from Vera Cruz anti Tampico, they cannot be
with certainty relied on. The directors propose to for-
ward 3,0001. to Mexico by the next mail, in anticipation
of the decision which may be hereafter arrived at.
.A.IISTRALIAN CORDILLERA COMPANY.—The Sydney
papers received by the Euxine contain statements indi-
cating a complete break up of the expedition sent out
by the 6 Australian Cordillera Company. This company
leased a small tract of land from the Peel River Com-
pany, and dispatched a body of miners from London
with a full supply of implements and stores by a vessel
called the Tory, which they chartered for the purpose.
That vessel was wrecked on its arrival off Port Stephen,
but all on board, as well as part of the cargo, were
saved. Subsequently, the members of the expedition
have disputed the authority of their superintendent,
Captain Price, and, while he is endeavouring to get
them committed to prison for conspiracy, they are de-
nouncing him by means of advertisements. From the
nature of the charges made the parties on both sides
appear to be culpable or undisciplined ; and it may
therefore be apprehended that the shareholders will
never receive any return for their outlay. It was from
these circumstances that the erroneous report on a for-
mer arrival that the Peel River Company had been un-
successful may be assumed to have arisen.
DEATH OF DR. MILL.—It is with great regret that we
announce the death of Dr. William Hodge Mill, Regius
Professor of Hebrew, Canon of Ely, and Rector of
Brasted, which event took place at Ely, on Christmas
Day, at 9.30 p.m., after less than a week s illness. On
Monday last he came up to London to attend a meeting
of the Foreign Translation Committee of the Society for
Promoting Christian Knowledge. The extreme cold of
the day brought on an obstruction which no medical
skill could counteract, and he died, without pain, on
Sunday ;tight. Dr. Mill took a very high degree in
1813, and was elected Fellow of Trinity College. In 1820
he went out as first principal of Bishop's College, Cal-
cutta, the noble foundation of Bishop Middleton. On his
return, in 1838, he received the honourable and important
appointment of domestic and examining chaplain to the
late Archbishop Howley. Subsequently he was aripointed
Christian Advocate. In 1843 his patron and friend,
Archbishcp Howley, presented him to the living of
Brasted, Kent ; and in 1848 he was elected Regius Pro-
fessor of Hebrew, to which a Canonry at Ely is attached.
Dr. Mill leaves behind him a widow and a surviving
daughter, the wife of the Rev. Benjamin Webb, of i
I Sheen.'