The Sun.
London, England, 1853-05-18 00:00:00

SELF-PRESERVATION.

A Medical Treatise on the Philosophy of Marriage, and Nervous and
Generative Debility, illustrated by fifty coloured engravings, and des-
cribing in detail the various disorders resulting from secret habits and
excesses. The perusal of this treatise will assist in the correct
description of their cases, and may be had, price 2s Gd, in English,
French, Spanish, Dutch, Italian, or German, of Messrs. Piper
Brothers and Co., 23, Paternoster-row; Hannay, 63, Oxford-street ;
,lann, 39, Cornhill ; Storie, Titchborne-street, Haymarket ; or tree
by post for forty-two stamps, to any address from the Author's resi-
dence. 37. BEDFORD-SQUARE, LONDON.

IMPORTANT MEDICAL AND SURGICAL WORKS,
Just published, by U. Rainer% 219, Regent-street, London
No I.
vo., in cloth, price ss. by post free, ss. 6d.,
lON TRITE & FALSE SPERMATORRHCEA,
with the View to the Correction of wide-spread Errors
in relation to the Treatment and Cure of Sufferers front Debility of the
Generative System, or Sexual Hypoehondriasis.
Translated from the German of Dr. PICKFORD

"Dr. rickford 'A known to English readers by his frequent practi-
cal contributions to German medical literature. This is the 111'
time, he informs Es, that he has addressed himself to the noe-medi-
cal reader. We trust this may not be the last, if he shall
detect any other equally flagrant evil which it may be in his
sower to correct."—London Medical Gazette, May 30, 1851.
"We promised in a former number that we should recur to this
war's, in order to exhibit its aim more clearly. The author lashes
with great severity the impostors who make a livelihood by preying
on the credulity of the public. The tribe of Quiet Symathisers,'
and ' Medical Friends,' are mercilessly exposed ; and if this book
could find its way into the hands of those who sailer from th com-
plaint of which it treats, we are satisfied that many h indreds would
be saved much needless suffering of body and mind, and what is of
less importance, though it is that which the quacks most prize—
much money...... This volume is well qualified to put an end to the
empirical system of treating Spermatorrhcea, and to place the treat-
ment upon a more rational and physiological basis. It is, therefore,
ql,ely to do much good.''—Medical Circular, June 16, 1852.
No. 11.

live., in cloth, pricWii. 6d., by post free, 4a.,
THE CURE OF STRICTURE OF THE URETHRA, on Princi-
ples at once Simple, Safe, and Efficient, in even its most Inveterate
and apparently Intractable Forms.
BY F. B. COURTENAY,
Member of the Royal College of Surgeons of England.
"In proof of his views he (M'. Courtenay) has given
history of a great many cases successfully treated, as bad
any which Mr. Syme adduced, and on which he had operatod.
Such are cases ix., xi., xii., and No. ix. had resisted, for a
period of twelve years, the treatment by dilitation, and was finally
removed in as many weeks. But cases waif. and six. appear, both
in duration, severity, and complication of symptoms, of a more rl-
ravated character than any detailed by Mr. Sy
me, ,and yet the
treatment adopted by Mr. Courtenay proved eminently sueeepful?
=Professor Lizars on the Treatment Of Stricture.

DR. CULVERWELL'S NEW WORKS.
To bo had of Sherwood, 23, Paternoster-row, Carvalho,
47, Fleet-street, Mann, 39, Cornhill. Price One Shilling each; by
Is 61.

ENJOYMENT OF LIFE.
"Health, Recreation, and Rational Use of Time."
CONTEkrB : —Early Rising—Spring and Summer Mornings—Ex-
cursions about the Environs of London—The Parks, Lynes, Hills
Forests, Fields, High-roads, and other pleasant places - Country
Trips and Rambles—The Sea —London at Night—Evenings at Home
Music—The Drama—On Eating, Drinking, Sleeping, Bathing, Air,
Rest, Ease, Occupation, &c., &c.

FRAGMENTS FROM THE FOUNTAINS. Two Vols.
Vol. I.
VISIT 10 THE LAKES; SKETCH OF EDINBURGH, &c.
Vol. IL

. _.__.
TAIE LAKES OF KILLARNEY; REMINISCENCES OF
DUBLIN, &c.

WHAT TO EAT, DRINK, AND AVOID,
"That three score years and ten our course may run."
A. popular review of almost every form (cause and cure) of ner-
vously-debilitated health and enfeebled constitution that harasses
the young, besets the man of pleasure, business or study, and em•
bitters old age; with tables and rulesfor the diet and physical regu-
lation of every-day life.

THE PASSIONS.
" What passions hurt the body—what improve,
Truths as refined as Athens ever heard."
SUBJECT :—Life's pilgrimage, from infancy to old age. The ad-
vent of the passions. Chastity and its infringement. The casualties
oflicentiousness and dissipation, with illustrations, graphic, narra-
tive, and remediative. Advocacy of early marriages.
V.

THE MARRIAGE STATE.

To be or not to be, that's the question."

Panonesraz :—Laws and obligations of nature, society, and reli-
gion regarding marriage, to be observed by either sex. Time and
choice, on both sides, as to age temperament, complexion, and
figure, to secure healthy offspring, with the art of rearing them.
Physical defectiveness and Its removal. Sterility and its conversion,
Cases, &c.
By It. J. MILVERWELL, M.D. (1841), M.R.C.S. (1827), L.S.A.
24), Twenty-live years Medical and Forensic Referee in there
matters.

Price Is. each; by post, Is. 6d.
To be had of Sherwood, 23, Paternoster-row ; Carvalbo, 147,
Fleet-street ; Mann, 39, Cornhill ; or of M. It. Culverwell, M.D.,
10, Argyll-place. Regent-street, who may be consulted daily from
Ten till Five and Seven till /4lno.

CONSUMPTION OF SPIRITS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM.—
A Parliamentary paper states that 24,423,202 gallons of
proof spirits were distilled in the United Kingdom dur-
ing the year ending the sth of January, 1853. Of these
5,286,322 gallons were distilled from malt only (Ireland
and Scotland) ; 15,360,243 gallons from malt, with un-
malted grain ; 1,208,207 gallons from sugar or molasses,
with unmalted grain ; and 6,792 gallons from molasses
only (Scotland). The quantity distilled in England was
6,363,276 gallons ; in Scotland, 9,942,218 gallons ; and
in Ireland, 8,117,706. In the same year 9,820,608 gal-
lons paid a duty for consumption of 3,846,404/., at the
rate of 7s. 10d. per gallon, in England; 7,172,015 gal-
lons, a duty of 1,314,8691., in Scotland, at the rate of
3s. Bd. ; and 8,208,256 gallons, a duty of 1,094,4341., in
Ireland, at 2s. Bd. per gallon ; making, for the total
duty paid on 25,200,879 gallons for consumption in the
United Kingdom, 6,255,7081. 2,267,419 gallons were
imported into England from Scotland, on which the duty,
at 7s. 10d. per gallon, was 888,072 ; and 1,258,993 gal-
lons from Ireland to England, on which the duty, at the
same rate, was 493,1051. ; 1,008,857 gallons, paying a
duty of 134,5141., at the rate of 2s. Bd. per gallon, were
imported into Ireland from Scotland, and 25,598 gal-
lons, paying a duty of 4,6921., at the rate of 3s. Bd. per
gallon, into Scotland from Ireland. From England,
10,858 gallons were imported into Ireland, on which the
duty, at 2s. Bd. per gallon, was 1,447. The number of
gallons removed under bond, to be warehoused in Eng-
land without payment of duty, was 1,303,162, being
623,829 gallons from Scotland, and 679,333 gallons from
Ireland. On 1,109,187 gallons of the above quantity
the duty was paid within 21 days, leaving 193,975 gal-
lons actually warehoused under Excise lock. Of the
de liddelivered
tdiunttyo
bpoani dd ; for
of from mt t9h,e94d2i, s2tlillBe rs'
6,363,276 gallons distilled in England, 6,311,502 were
gallonshe
sto
ckdsis,tilalnedd
in Scotland, 3,798,344 were delivered duty paid, and
6,143,874 put into bond ; and of the 8,117,708 gallons
distilled in Ireland, 1,977,704 were delivered duty paid,
and 6,140,004 put into bond, making the total amount
on which the duty was paid direct 12,087,550 gallons,
and the total amount put into bond 12,335,662 gallons ;
54,337 gallons were permitted in 1851 for exportation
abroad, and 09,383 in 1852.
•

SOUTHAMPTON, TUESDAY, MAY 17.
The Royal Mail steam-ship Severn, Captain
Strutt, arrived here this •morning with the usual
River Plate and Brazilian mails, in charge of
Lieutenant-La Touche, R.N., Admiralty agent.
The latest dates are, Buenos Ayres, April 8 ;
Monte Video, April 6 ; Rio de Janeiro, April 14 ;
Bahia, April 19 ; Pernambuco, April 22 ; St. Vin-
cent's (Cape Verd), May 2 ; Teneriffe, May 8 ;
Madeira, May 9 ; Lisbon, May 12.
After leaving the Brazil coast the Severn expe-
rienced strong head winds, and between Madeira
and Lisbon encountered a heavy gale from the
north-west ; from Lisbon the winds have been from
the north-east, with thick weather. She landed
91 passengers at Lisbon and 3 at Madeira, and
brings 79 to Southampton, among whom are Cap-
tain Prolet, Governor of Senegal ; Baron V. Ker-
mann, from Madeira, Major White, C. 8., &c. The
freight list includes specie from Monte Video, value
260/. ; silver bars from Lisbon, value 1,6501. ; dia-
monds from the Brazils, value 100,000/. ; 128 bar-
rels tapioca, 129 serons cochineal, 11 casks wine,
11 boxes lemons, 724 half chests oranges, 222 boxes
potatoes, and 106 packages sundries.
The accounts from the River Plate are of a most
unfavourable character. The expectations enter-
tained that peace between the belligerent parties in
the province of Buenos Ayres would be preserved
are negatived by the intelligence brought by this
packet, which states that General Urquiza, having
refused to ratify the convention of the 9th of March
fora suspension of hostilities, preparatory_to_a treaty
of peP:ce, had marched upon Buenos Ayres and
effected a junction with the rebellious forces en-
camped outside that city. All hopes of a pacific
settlement of the dispute had therefore vanished,
and both sides were preparing for active warfare.
The British Packet gives the following summary of
events during the past month
"It would be a long and difficult task to enumerate
the ever changing aspects of the past month. In the
official documents, recorded in our successive numbers,
may be traced the fallacious hopes of peace, rudely dashed
from our parched lips at the moment least expected, and
by the hand of him who had proposed and initiated the
negotiations—consequently the very last quarter from
which so unkind a blow could have been anticipated.
Bearing in mind that the commissioners came invested
with full power's ' • that they brought specific instructions
as to the ends to be attained andythe means for their
attainment • that one of these commissioners was the
President of what General Urquiza recognises and in-
vokes as the National . Congress, and that another was
his Minister of Foreign Relations ; that they had been
met by the Government of the province of Buenos Ayres
in the most frank and conciliatory spirit ; and that every-
thing had been arranged to the entire satisfaction of the
respective commissions ; the veto of General Urquiza
places the question in a new light, that leaves much
room to doubt the sincerity of his professions and the
sanity of his intentions.

" his conduct during the negotiations and consequent
suspension of hostilities is still more flagrant and inde-
fensible. Instead of maintaining the stipulated statu quo,
we see every exertion made in the sense of a premeditated
rupture, and the sanctity of the armistice violated by an
armed invasion of the province. Nay, to add insult to
injury, the announcement of his non-ratification of the
treaty, and march to join the provincial rebellion, is
accompanied by the modest request that the capital
should still maintain the suspension of hostilities—that
is, allow him to effect his movements and concert his
measures of aggression without molestation.
"We are aware that such charges must appear fabu-
lous at a distance, but we refer to the public documents
in which they are consigned ; and, were other proofs
wanted of sinister intentions and Punic faith, we have
them in every column and syllable of the Federal Argen-
tine, published under the eye of the Provisional Direetor,
and no doubt the faithful echo of his sentiments and
l
poaun Urquiza
cuwyi
z.
ill never
iste
vni
eos
thereoe
pd needless
nnt
eoogwoml
tep
gt cieoednt
shh:e
a exceptdm oa ft ttehrt
there
gain
eGb ee ei
011
na
e
or for some sinister motive, nor respect and ratify what
may be stipulated in his name, unless compelled to do so
by the extremity of hiti situation.
"On the other hand the Government has taken its
stand, in the note of the 23d of March—a document
cordially responded to by public opinion, and from which
it cannot deviate with either safety or honour. We can
therefore see no alternative but the prosecution of the
civil war ; and the next question that presents itself is,
what direction may that probably take ? Will Urquiza
venture an assault on the capital, or content himself with
carrying out the programme of Lagos, by waging war to
the knife against the inoffensive oxen ? In either case,
and especially the last, which appears to us the more
probable, we can foresee only a gloomy prospect for
commercial interests, and that for an indefinite period,
be the immediate results of the contest what they may.
If the treaty of the Vth of March be set aside and Gene-
ral Urquiza, openly espouse the cause of the rebellion,
farewell, a long farewell, to all our fondly cherished
hopes of national organisation, of peace, progress, com-
merce, and the dearest rights and interests of humanity."

The Buenos Ayreans accuse the besiegers of vio-
lating the armistice by acts of wanton barbarity,
and mention the assassination of Messrs. Romero
and Andrade. "These gentlemen," says the
.13z itish Packet—

"Availing themselves of the suspension of hostilities,
left their families and companions on the morning of
the 4th, in all the buyancy of youth health, and hope, to
visit certain friends in the neutral camp. Night came,
but the youths returned not. On the following morning
a bloody cravat was picked up and identified as the pro-
perty of Romero. The fears of their relatives instigated
every inquiry and reclamation, but in vain, and an at-
tempted search was opposed by open N:olence, and re-
pelled by a threat of armed force. This state of agoniz-
ing suspense lasted for two days, when the bodies were
discovered in the Saladero of Don Prudencio Rosas,
mangled and mutilated in a manner too horrible for
description, and ultimately,, on the interposition of
Admiral De Sum, delivered up, by the order of Lagos,
to their bereaved and distracted families.
" Such is a faint outline of as dark and revolting a
tragedy as ever cannibals enacted in our pampas, or the
heathen wilds of the South Sea Islands.

" The intense excitement arising from the events al-
luded to above at one time threatened the public order
of the capital, and individuals of the besieging forces
who had entered the city were in imminent peril from
sanguinary reprisals. Fortunately the counsels of rea-
son and prudence -prevailed, and the popular resentment
was in some degree allayed and pacified, by merely de-
taining some 50 of the rebels as hostages for the good
conduct of their companions."

With regard to the movements of Urquiza the
same paper says :

" As to the movements of Urquiza reports are con-
flicting. Some have him already at the encampment of
Lagos, others at the Villa de Lujan yesterday morning,
and others still on a countermarch for the province of
Santa F 4 to suppress an insurrection that had broken
out at the Rosario. We have no means of deciding
among these rival surmises, but in the Comercio del
Plata of the 18th inst. it is stated that he had levied a
contributions of $20,000 on the town of Rosario, which
we cannot fancy a very popular measure, however
patriotic the destination to which they were to be
applied.
" The same uncertainty prevails as to the armed force
he brings along with him, the sum total varying from
390 to 2,500. Whatever the number may be, we know
from private and reliable sources that the proportion of
Entre-Rianos is small indeed many of the militia force,
when cited, having emigrated to the Oriental republic,
while others sought a temporary asylum in the forests
of Entre Rios."

The British Packet also states—
" Our news from the south of this province are far
from satisfactory. On their retreat, after the dis-
persion of the. 22d January, some serious depredations
were committed by the Indians, all along their route
to the Azul. The reclamations of Olmos and Bustos
have been disregarded ; and reports, we fear too
well founded, announce a subsequent incursion,
more towards the coast, with depredations on a much
larger scale, and all the revolting atrocities of a
savage invasion. The latest accounts represent the
garrison of Bakia Blanca as closely besieged and reduced
to the last extremity, without other means of subsistence
than a few remaining mares and horses, and their only
prospect death by starvation or the lance of Indians.
Allowing for some exaggeration in the current rumours,
there is room to apprehend the most disastrous accounts
from that important section of the province."
The arrival at Buenos Ayres of the treaty with
Paraguay is thus alluded to :--
" On the afternoon of Saturday last the Locust and
Flambart arrived at this port from the interior rivers,
conveying Sir Charles Hotham, Chevalier St. Georges,
and the Hon. Mr. Pendleton, bringing with them re-
spectively, it is said, a treaty of commerce and naviga-
tion with the Republic of Paraguay, thereby solemnly
recognising its national independence. As to the con-
tents of these documents nothing has transpired. They
are probably of a uniform tenor, and cast in the com-
mon reciprocity mould !of such South American docu-

ments.
" Since the recantation of San Nicolas we have been
in open dissidence with the march of foreign diplomacy
in the river Plate. The declaration of Urquiza, leaving
the province of Buenos Ayres to its own fatal resources,
and confining his directorship to the 13 remaining pro.
vinces, presented then an opportunity of conciliating all
interests ; by understanding with him officially as to the
foreign relations of said 13 provinces, and officially with
the Government of this province, as to what concerned.
it. Taking into consideration that nearly all the exist-
ing foreign interests are centred in the province of
Buenos Ayres, this was a course of self-evident expe-
diency, and might have saved a world of painful sacri-
fices and unseemly and formidable complications. It
might have been done without any derogation to their
official dignity, without a semblance of disrespect to
General Urquiza, and with the happiest effect to the

"BUENOS AYRES, APRIL 3.
"With General Urquiza's last note, and the reply of
the Government, our last hopes of a pacific arrangement
vanish. I enclose the Progreso of this morning, in which
they are contained. We believe Uroniza has got into
a fix. From the provinces, Santa Fe excepted, he need
not expect a man. The commissioner he sent to Cor-
rientes to demand its contingent, had to make a precipi-
tate retreat, and we know positively that the province
was arming in mass, and had 4,000 men on the Entre
Rios as soon as they know Urquiza to be in active hos-
tilities with the Buenos Ayreans.
" We are also satisfied that the Gauchos here will not
fight against the city on behalf of Urquiza, but we
have serious fears that he may ravage and desolate the
province, and blight our prospects for many years to
come.

"The reports of a revolution in MonteFideo seem all
but confirmed. We believe the Brazilians to be at the
bottom of it, and, if successful, it will strengthen the
hands of Government in various ways."

The British Packet gives the following account
of mutiny and murder on board an English
vessel :

CO We have just heard, and fear it is likely to prove
correct, that a mutiny took place on board the British
vessel Reindeer, on her homeward passage, somewhere
in the neighbourhood of Cape Horn, in which the cap-
tain, mate, cook, and two passengers were murdered,
and that the mutineers have subsequently landed at or
near the Salado, in this province, and fled into the in-
terior. We have as yet no dates, nor further details
than those mentioned."

From Rio de Janeiro and' the Brazilian ports
there is no news of importance. It is mentioned
there was a probability of a modification, if not a
change of the Cabinet soon after the report of the
Ministers, to be presented to the Chambers on the
16th of May. By a decree of the Government,
the export duties on coffee will be reduced to 9
instead of 11 per cent. from the Ist of July next.
Her Majesty's ships Centaur, Trident, and Lo-
cust were at Buenos Ayres ; the Sharpshooter at
Rio, and the express at Bahia. Her Majesty's
troop-ship Resistance, from Jamaica, bound to
Gambia, was at Teneriffe.

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.
(From the British Packet.)
BUENOS AYRES, APRIL 3.
The stagnation of the past month can hardly be ex-
ceeded—a sort of negative consolation for those who
have the philosophy to accept and appropriate it. The
transactions of the wholesale market, besides a very
limited demand for local consumption, were confined to
a few unimportant remittances for the Paraguay market.
The demand for the littoral and interior provinces, that
gave a character of comparative buoyancy to the month
of February, was completely checked, first by the hopes
of peace, and latterly by the fear of war—so true is it
that extremes meet, the most opposite causes, in this in-
stance, conspiring to produce the same effect. In
ordinary times Easter week is a season of display and
finery, especially among the fair sex, that gives a lively
impulse to various departments of business ; but in this
instance, to their honour be it recorded, everything was
conducted with a commendable frugality and simplicity
—the sentiments of patriotism and religion enhancing
and ennobling each other.
RIO DE JANEIRO, APRIL 12.

The exchange upon London for this conveyance
opened on the 29th ult. at 28d. at 90 days. Later little
was doneuntil the 9th inst., when business recommenced
at 28, 27i, and 271 d. at 60 and 90 days. These have
since been the ruling rates. In all there have been
passed 240,0001. upon London (of which about 110,0001.
at 28d. and 77,0001. at 27id.), 950,000 f. upon Paris,
360,000 M. B. upon Hamburgh.
The shipments last month were 157,234 bags of coffee
(against 157,050 in March, 1852)), 182 cases, .10 boxes,
184 barrels of sugar; 3,073 hides, 810 tanned half-hides,
25,096 ox and cow horns, 40 pipes rum, 644 rolls to-
bacco, 51 bags rice, 2,777 planks Jacaranda, 431 bar-
rels Tapioca, 3341 b. Ipecacuanlia.
. _ _

- Stock—There was as fair demand at the close of last
month for Six per Cent. Stock, but transactions on the
whole were moderate. The rate advanced to 1071 to
108, and closes firm at these quotations. Unimportant
business done in Provincial at 101 to 102 per cent.

P.S.—Ami. 13, 2 P.M.
Exchange—Upon London, 20,000/. have been passed
this morning at 27'0. and 28d.

BAHIA, APRIL 18.

Up to within the last few days the same dry and hot
weather continued, but now, fortunately, we have beon
blessed with some copious showers, and hope better times
are coming.

The traCie in British manufactures never was worse;
there is not the slightest demand for any goods whatever,
and stocks have accumulated to that extent that it will
require six months' active demand to clear them off. We
are again well supplied with all the principal articles of
food—say beef, flour, and fish.

Fever very bad indeed among the shipping; 17 sailors
buried one day last week, besides several cases on shore,
but chiefly among new arrivals.
A few days ago the Forte-de-Mor fired into an English
barque, the Mariner, as they say, for going out without
being visited, which was not the case. The English
Consul detained the vessel here some days, and demanded
an explanation from the President, but nothing satisfac-
tory was offered ; on the contrary, the President made
light of the affair. The ship has since gone to sea. The
ball passed between her masts, and was very nearly
causing the death of two men who were just below it.
Exchange opened at 28id., and closed at 284 d.
Vessels are scarce, and 4/. and 4/. ss. paid to Europe.
We do not expect any decline at present.
Tobacco—A very large stock on hand, say 30,000 to
40,000 bales. Last sale---firsts, 3,200; second and thirds,
2,500 per arroba.
Cotton nominal. 4,800 to 5,000 per arr. Little on
sale.

PE RNAMBUCO, APRIL 18. '
Sugar—Since the departure of the Tay on the 24th
ult., owing to very wet weather the supply has fallen off.
The favourable accounts for the article brought by the
Severn caused dealers to be more firm, and an active
business was done at advanced prices for the stocks of
dry sugars then on hand. There is now less inclination
to purchase, the late supplies being damp and inferior in
quality.
Freights—Tonnage continues scare, and our last quo-
tations have been sustained, of 80s. to 82s. 6d. to the
Channel and British ports, and 83s. to 85s. Mediterra-
nean, calling at Gibraltar, 755. to 82s. 6d. Genoa direct,
80s. to 82s. 6d. to load at Paraiba, 85s. at Rio Grande
de Norte, and 925. 6d. at Maceio (the last for " cases")
to the Channel and United Kingdom. There are few
disengaged vessels, but, with the present high prices de-
manded. for sugar, there is less demand for vessels, and
the rates look flat.

Exchange—About 100,0001. has been done for this
mail, at 29d., 28id., 284 d., of which the greater part at
28id. Our rate closes at the lowest quotation.

TVESTERN AUSTRALIA.

The following is from a correspondent of the Times,
dated—

PERTH, W. A., FEB. 16.
The sailing of the brig Jane, for Singapore, affords a
chance of forwarding letters vid the overland mail, of
which I gladly avail myself.
Things in general in this colony are looking well. The
advent of convicts, after nearly three years' experience,
has been found to contribute more to the welldoing of
the pockets of the settlers than detriment to their morals.
There is not telling, however, how berg this is to continue,
as by the Dudbrooke, which arrived on the 7th with 200
odd convicts, the report is brought that we are to be
honoured with the company of some Irish felons, who are
to be conveyed hither from Cork by the Pyrenees. lam
not certain whether the influx of a few ribandmen and
tenant-right gentry would not have an unpleasant effect
upon the existing peaceful state of affairs. The force at
present for keeping those we have here already consists
of not more than 200 enrolled pensioners and one com-
pany of the 99th Regiment —a force manifestly insuffi-
cient. The local Government has, however, bestirred
itself in the matter, and steps are to be taken to organise
a truly effective police, under the superintendence of Mr.
J. Conroy, a nephew of Sir John Conroy, and who will
receive a salary of 2001. and forage for three horses from
the Home Government.

The prospects to farmer emigrants held out in this
colony are equal to those of any other part of Australia.
]i is now ranging from 28/. to 301. per ton (fine),
and this, too, at the end of the harvest, and in spite of
large importations from America pouring into the neigh-
bouring colonies. The crop this year of wheat was
splendid, and the quantity on hand, kept back from last
harvest in expectation of still higher rise, is considerable;
yet flour at the present moment fetches the prices named
above, and no fear of diminution when we see the num-
ber of people pouring into South Australia and Victoria
from all parts of the world.
The mining prospects of the colony are certainly im-
proving. The Geraldine, one of our local companies,
have lately procured from England a mining captain and
several miners, and have besides some 30 or 40 men
(ticket-of-leaves and others) at work on their property,
and which, from the report of the captain, appears to
consist of • several very valuable lodes of lead, and
capable of being easily worked. The great drawback
to this undertaking has been the want of a passable road
between the mine and Champion Bay, the port of ship-
ment. The local government promised to assist them in
this particular, but as yet have not done so. Coal has
also been discovered at Bunbury, a location about sixty
miles to the southward of Perth, and near the settle-
ment of Australind, established by the late company of
that name. The seam appears to be of good quality,
and is near the sea, with a favourable place for loading,
and an easy country to traverse. A company is on the
tapis for working it.
You good folks at home are, no doubt, fancying that
we arc in the full enjoyment of the blessings of steam
communication. The neighbouring settlements may be,

but, as for us, we are worse off than before. We could
then depend upon getting letters and papers from Eng-
land per sailing vessels, and by the Overland mail, via
Singapore, in some reasonable time ; but now we stand
in the same relation to the two steam companies—the
Australian and the Peninsular and Oriental—as the
bumpkin between two stools. Both companies eschew
Swan River, calling with their mails and coaling at
King George's Sound, instead of at Fremantle. /Cow,
King George's Sound is very near as far off, or occupies
very near as much time in communicating- with, as
formerly3o o miles le fto.v e
rTI
ahned ltehtrt eorusg
hh aav
ce 0
ut 34
rbye
which,broug ht Anger Point—the place where our Overland mails
weresome
the winter season, is not only dangerous, but at times,
from swollen rivers, &c., absolutely impassable, and if
sent up to Fremantle by sea, the dangers attendant
upon rounding Cape Leuwin would prevent many bold
sailors from attempting it. The result is, that we are
in a worse plight as regards postal communication than
before. As an instance, at the time of writing this part
of my letter (Feb. 14) our latest news from England is
to the 22d Nov., and that by means of a stray news-
paper from the Cape of Good Hope, received per
steamer Melbourne, which called at King George's
Sound on her way to Adelaide, &c., Jan. 23. The sub-
ject was brought forward at the late meeting of the
Legislative Council by Mr. Marshal Waller Clifton, the
late agent of the Australind Company, who moved and
carried a vote of 1,0001. towards repaying the expenses
of whatever company should first make a rule to call at
Fremantle with the mails, and also pledging the Govern-
ment to run out a jetty and provide other conveniences
in the harbour for them. Surely it is the place of the
Home Government to look to this, now that Fremantle
is a large convict depot, and Western Australia has up-
wards of 1,300 convicts and ticket-of-leave men, and
every likelihood of the number being doubled in 18
months.

The gold mania has drawn off' a few from this colony
to Melbourne and Adelaide, but not to any serious
amount. Many of those who have gone have returned,
and many more would be glad of the chance, if they had
but the means,

The Queen of the Netherlands, Dutch steamer, from
Batavia, en route for Adelaide, put in at Fremantle for
fuel on the 29th of January, and on her departure carried
away a few naore of those infected with the yellow fever.
We can well afford to stay at home. Growing corn for
the market offered in Port Philip will be as good as a
gold field in point of economy. We need not, however,
give up all hopes of finding the precious metal in West-
ern Australia. It has been found here, and very lately,
but not to such an extent as justified its being made
public. Some few ounces were found in a quartz rock,
in the northern district, in the eastern portion of the
colony, and several of the returned diggers are out
" prospecting ;" and I should not be surprised if in my
next communication I had to announce the existence of
an extensive geld field here.
The party political matters of great moment here are
not likely to be of such importance as you would render
a chronicle of 'them interesting. I will merely state that
at the last meeting of Council (in December), among
other things, the Colonial Secretary (W. A. Sandford)
carried a grant of 1,400/. for building two schools—here
and at Fremantle ; and Mr. Clifton, in addition to his
1,0001. for aiding steam communication, gave notice of
his intention to move at the next session, some time this
month, a grant of 5,0001. towards building a new Go-
vernment house—a measure which is not only useful but
imperatively necessary, owing to the disgraceful tumble-
down of the present shed.

MARKETs;—FIour, as before Stated, 281. to 301. for
fine ; seconds, none in market. Butter and cheese are
scarce articles, and, imported, realise, the former 21. Bd.
to 35., and the latter ls. 6d. to 2s. per lb. retail. The
stores are very near empty of articles of men's require-
ments, and any consignments arriving about this period
will meet with good prices. Good broadcloth and supe-
rior shirtings are in demand, and boots and shoes of
every description will meet with a ready sale at fair
prices.