The Sun.
London, England, 1853-10-29 00:00:00

be found in the fact that what we principally re-
quire is brute force. We are but in embryo as yet,
and the hewing and quarrying must precede the
plastering and finishing off. I would particularly
caution young men who have received a scientific
education against hastily emigrating to a colony
where there is little or no demand for their ser-
vices. A few engineers of first-rate ability would
find a field for exertion ; but young gentlemen
' who have served their time' are utterly useless,
and their only resource is the bush or the diggings,
both about as melancholy a prospect for them as
can be conceived. Farmers' sons, and young
country gentlemen who are a burden to themselves
and their families, may do well. The mau who
has nothing more than a college education is a fool
to come here, unless with well-defined and well-
studied objects to carry out. Clerks and lawyers
are at a woful discount. Literary men for the
most part starve. To these three classes of people
may emphatically be applied the old proverb : A
bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.' "
The following wholesale price-current contains
the last commercial news from Melbourne, of the
18th of July :--
" Since our last summary, by the Chnsan, at the be-
ginning of this month, we can scarcely quote any very
important alteration. We then noticed particularly the
fgorr
me a te
rdeclinee
E4whichd hwaedhtkee no
nplyl place in prioe
add
th cae since
that
we cannot
u or
quote any improvement.
"The accumulation of stock is a point of much im-
portance for the consideration of those at a distance,
and therefore we have taken the trouble to ascertain
how these stand, so far as bonded goods are concerned
—the only articles, of course, in which we can arrive at
Anything like-accurate data.

QUANTITY OF BONDED GOODS IN WAREHOUSE AND
ENTERED FOR WAREHOUSE, JULY 5, 1853.
SPIRITS.
Casks of all kinds.
In bond
Entered for do.

Cases.
11,402
15,000

11,866 26,402
Equal to 652,636 gals., or upwards of 40 weeks' supply.

TOBACCO.

In bond
Entered for do

.. 600,125
. 200,000

800,125
Equal to upwards of a twelvemonth's supply.
Wine and tea, small supply ; coffee, nil.
We do not profess to describe the quality of kinds,
either of the spirits or tobacco ; but the quantity, we
believe, is rather under than over estimated, and there-
fore may be depended on.
The supply of other goods it is difficult to arrive at,
but the following note of our imports of flour, for the
year ending the 30th of June last, and the comparison
we give at the same time of the quantities imported for
the year ending the 30th of June, 1852, may be interest-
ing, as enabling people at a distance to calculate our
wants in this particular respect :

Year ending' Year ending
30th June, 30th June,
1853. 1852.

2,430
9,036
17
285
11,325

Europe
'United States.
British America
East Indies
Neighbouring Australian Colonies

Total Tong_

23,093

15,080

From this table it will be perceived that America has
sent us no less than 9,036 tons during the last 12
months, against only eight tons in the preceding year ;
while the imports from the neighbouring colonies have
actually decreased in this article to the extent of upwards
of 3,000 tons. This is rather a striking commentary
upon the effects of gold as respects the cultivation of the
important article of food ; and the fact will appear still
mere striking when we mention that in 1851 there were
under enitivation in this colony no less than 29,733 acres
of wheat, yielding about 740 tons of flour, which had
decreased last year (1852) to 16,823 acres under culti-
vation, yielding only about 420 tons of flour. Here we
have a decrease in the supply from the neighbouring colo-
nies of 3,000, and a decrease on our own yield of 320
tons ; to compensate for which we have the enormous
imports from America and other ports, to which we have
already alluded. The quantity of these foreign supplies
has certainly been great of late, but they have been
removed by shipments of inferior qualities to England,
and of other and larger quantities to Sydney and other
colonial ports. No less than from 20,000 to 30,000
barrels has found an outlet in this manner during
the last two months, and, in consequence, the market
has been much relieved. At present, though it is
very difficult to form an estimate, it is pretty generally.
believed that the quantity of all kinds on hand exceeds
considerably 100,000 barrels ; but great as this supply
is, we see no reason to conclude that it very far exceeds
what we shall be able to take off, within reasonable
limits ; and we do not consider that there is any ground
as yet for fancying, as many do, that stocks have
reached that extent when they begin to be oppressive.
The former opinion seems to gain ground, for stocks are
held firmer within the last week, and large holders are
now very considerably advancing their demands. Colo-
nial is held firm at 301., and 60s. per barrel we know
has been refused for American, though small lots have
changed hands at lower prices. Other breadatuffs have
also experienced rather an improvement. Oats in Mel-
bourne are quoted at about 14s. per bushel. Maize and
bran are likewise firmer, though oatmeal continues at a
very low rate.
In referring under this Price Current List to the
ordinary articles of the trade, we may remark that
provisions, groceries, bacon and hams still continue
without improvement. The latter particularly are
difficult of sale at any price, and, when forced, as
they must be, sales are effepted at ruinous rates.
Oilmen's stores, pickles, preserves, &c., come under
a similar category with the above, being also diffi-
cult of sale even at low rates. Sugar and tea are
quoted the same as last week, though the latter seems
rather to be on the rise, and must go up if disturbances
continue in China. Coffee has rather fallen this week.
Spices and fruits maintain former quotations.
Soft goods, if we may be allowed to use the expres-
sion, are the heaviest stocks in the market, and are
therefore moved off with great difficulty. When forced
which at present is too common, they do not generally
realise cost prices. Boots and shoes, from the large
arrivals, have also fallen and continue to fall, though
their sale is also very much hurt by the great quantity
of useless and worthless stock which has been recently
introduced into the colony.
Building materials are scarcely so high, though still
in great demand. Like everything else, it is quite pos-
sible even to overwhelm this demand ; but though the
extravagantare ratesgreat,t
that
td
havewill probablyatelyruled,
e
the quantitiesutterly
arriving
have no expectation that prices can possibly, at least not
for a long time, fall anything below a handsome remune-
ration to those who ship judiciously.
Hardware goods present little room for observation.
They are difficult of sale, and consequently, as we have
already said, are accumulating largely. There are few
articles so much requiring the opening of the spring
trade. Iron maintains good prices, and so do lead, oil,
and whitening.