The Sun.
London, England, 1853-09-07 00:00:00

LIFE AT THE DIGGINGS.

- -
We have been favoured with a letter from a
a Cambridgeshire emigrant, dated Melbourne, May
28, from which we make the following extracts.
He arrived in the heart of the Forest Creek dig-
gings, Mount Alexander district, on the last day
of February

" On my return, for a short time, to Melbourne, after
nearly three months' absence, I perceived evident marks
of improvement the autumnal rains had washed the
houses clean, a few more houses had been built, and the
foundations of others were being laid. Still, however,
at present, it labours under too many disadvantages to
render it a desirable town for a residence. The greater
part of the town is very low, almost on a level with the
river ; and as no steps have yet been taken towards a
general drainage, it is a perfect swamp in rainy weather,
and abounds in fever and mosquitoes. We are now get-
ting into our winter season, and if the weather does not
become more unfavourable, I shall consider it an im-
provement upon the summer. The rains have not been
so continuous as I expected, and in fine weather, al-
though the mornings are a little cold and frosty, we have
clear sunny days, and the face of the country wears a
cheerful countenance. The grass has become green, the
trees (for they never shed their leaves) retain the garb
of summer, and, what is a great comfort, there are no
flies to drive one out of existence. Prices of grain and
provisions still keep up, and I see no chance of their
falling for some time to come—not until the gold fever
has somewhat abated, and men settle down quietly
to agricultural pursuits. Labour also is still very dear,
notwithstanding the vast influx of emigrants every month.
Masons, who seems to be at the top of the ladder,
are earning 30s. a day, and the daily pay of a carpenter
is 255. The clerk seems to be the worst-paid person irk,
the colony ; he, whether in a Government office or in a
merchant's counting-house, receives about 2001. a year,
a remuneration which in general renders his situation
worse than it was in the mother country. The price of
land, too, in Melbourne and the immediate neighbour-
hood, is still going up, and it is the general opinion that
it is far from having reached its maximum. The day
before I left for the diggings I saw land sold at St.
Kilda, in small lots, at the rate of 2,0001. an acre ; and
since then I have heard of land being sold, about a mile
and a half from Melbourne, for 3,2001. an acre. What
it fetches in the town I am almost afraid to say ; but I
am within the mark when I tell you that 4501. per foot
has been given for land having a street frontage of 60
feet, with a depth of 100 feet or so. This almost un-
heard-of price has put enormous profits into the pockets
of the fortunate sellers, and many of them have realised
large fortunes, and are rushing home to England to en-
joy their wealth there."

THE ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY AND
CONVERSIONS TO ROMANISM.

The Archbishop of Canterbury is now engaged visit-
ing his diocesse. During the past week his Grace has
met the clergy at Sevenoaks, Tunbridge, and Canter-
bury. At the latter city, in addressing the Dean and
Chapter, his Grace thus alluded to the secession of Lord
Charles Thynee, one of the canons of the cathedral :
" I am also reminded of another loss, not less lamented
and much less reasonably to be expected—l am re-
minded of one with whom we took counsel, who has
renounced our Reformed Church, and has given
his adhesion to the corrupt doctrines and depraved
worship of the church of Rome. But he is only one of
many who have taken the same course, and taken it at
a cost, too, which gives sufficient proof of their sin-
cerity ; still, this does not diminish our surprise at that
course, which seems nothing less than infatuation. This
has led me to reflect on the causes that have produced
results so strange, so little to be expected in persons of
education, piety, and intelligence—in persons such as
many of those who have recently become victims of
the same delusion. The causes are manifest. They
who have gone out from among us had not been content
with the law and the testimony as declared to us by
God himself. They had turned away from the pure and
uncorrupted source, and derived their religious views
from the traditions of men, till a human system became
on their minds a divine revelation. Now, I confess
myself to be one of those who dare not seek the way
of salvation from any ether authority than that of
Him from whom salvation must flow. I know of
nothing as able to make us wise unto salvation'
except what is written by the inspiration of God.
Whatever is not absolutely declared therein, and
yet claims to be implicitely received, I look upon with
suspicion. I weigh it in the balance of the sanctuary ;
if it agree with the revealed word of God, and may be
proved thereby in the way of just deduction, then, and
then only, is it to be embraced. If this had been the
view of him whose perversion we have especial reason to
lament, he might, as far as it appears, have been minis-
tering still among us, for the very first reason he alleges
implies a desire of something that the Scripture
does not warrant nor require. He states his belief
that it is necessary for those who have fallen into
sin after baptism to confess their sins to some one
possessed of power to receive confession and give
absolution ; and then he complains that the sacrament
of penance, of which confession is an important part,
and the consequent absolution, is no doctrine of the
Church of England.. This is no single case. Many have
been induced to seek that absolution from a Romish
priest which they could not be satisfied our Reformed
church had authority to pronounce. It would have been
a wiser and a safer step to consult the Scriptures,
and inquire what they revealed concerning the remis-
sion of sins. That is the great purpose of the Gospel,
and there He who is offended by sin declares in what
terms He will pardon. Accordingly, we may be sure to
find there whatever is needful for procuring forgiveness
of sin. They who could heal the sick and recall the
dead to life might well be intrusted with the power
of retaining or absolving transgressions. Other ex-
traordinary powers were granted to the Apostles. But
those who succeeded the Apostles in the ministry of the
church had no such power extended unto them. Why
should it be ? The link is entirely wanting which
should connect the promise attending the commission of
the Apostles with the commission given to future minis-
ters of the church. And, for evident reasons, extraordi-
nary powers were granted while needed, and no longer;
but it is remarkable further that the Apostles themselves
have left no example of the exercise of special absolution.
Since, however, the apostolic epistles were commonly
and chiefly addressed to the baptized, we should surely
hear in them some mention of matters so important as
confession and absolution, if they were indeed a part
of the general discipline of the church. The difference
on this point between the apostolic and Romish
preacher must carry conviction to every unprejudiced
inquirer. We have no authority from the Apostles
for the system, the want of which has been com-
plained of as a defect in the church of England, and
what the Apostles have not sanctioned, either by
word or example, our Lord by implication, condemns,
The person whose departure from us we regret
acknowledges that he was led step by step till
he became convinced that union with Rome
is necessary for the vitality of the church. With
most of those who have left us, this has been the chief
ground. of their perversion ; and others, who, though
withheld from taking the final step, are in that hesitat-
ing and doubtful state respecting continuance in the
church, the foundation of which must keep them stran-
gers to that peace and comfort which are the privileges
of the confirmed believer." His Grace then concluded
with an exhortation to those present, showing that there
was no scriptural ground for such apprehension, and
expressing a hope that they would still repose on the
bosom of the church to which they happily belonged.

POLLING AT ELECTIONS.—It is enacted by a statute
of the late session, that in future no polls shall be taken
at inns, hotels, public-houses, &c., or in any booth or
place communicating with such, unless by the consent
of all the candidates, expressed in writing.
BOROUGH ELECTIONS.- -By an act lately passed, elec-
tions in future for boroughs, cities, &c., are to take
place within six days after the receipt of the writ or pre-
cept, giving threo clear days' notice at least of the day of
election, exclusive of the day of proclamation and the
day of election.

REGISTRATION OF ELECTORS.—At the last registration
of electors for England and Wales, thenumber registered
was 421,413, of which 409,958 were on the lists for Eng-
land, and 11,455 for Wales. There were in England and
Wales 55,879 freemen, or members of the old corpora-
tions ; 331,534 were registered as 101. householders, and
10,844 in both capacities.
DESTRUCTIVE FIRE IN ALDERSGATE• STREET. This
morning, about half-past 7 o'clock, a most terrific fire
broke out on the premises No. 23 and 24, Aldersgate-
street, in the occupation of the Messrs. Lorkin, whole-
sale druggists. The fire was first discovered in the back
warehouse, which runs to a very considerable depth
towards Falcon-square, and messengers were imme-
diately dispatched for engines, which promptly arrived ;
but, owing to the combustible nature of the stock, the
flames had made considerable progress before they were
got into full work. There being an abundant supply of
water, and a strong body of the Moor-lane, Smithfield,
and Bow-lane police on the spot, nine of the most power-
ful brigade engines were soon playing on the burning
mass, throwing an immense volume of water on the
flames. By very great exertions the fire was confined
to the warehouse, and ultimately subdued, after a tre-
mendous quantity of valuable property had been de-
stroyed. No fewer than fifteen engines were present at
one time, and great praise is due to the firemen and po-
lice for their exertions. The amount of damage has not
yet been ascertained, but it must be very considerable.
The origin of the fire is not known. The buildings and
contents are insured.
WRECK OF THE GLENDOWER STEAM-SHIP.---The Glen-
dower, Captain W. J. Beckett, Liverpool and Bristol
steam-ship, was wrecked in the course of Sunday after-
noon, a few miles to the southward of Milford. Pro-
videntially the whole of the passengers and crew were
saved. The Glendower left the Mersey on Saturday
morning for Bristol, having to call at Milford on her
way. About 3 o'clock in the afternoon she ran on to
the Crow Rock, a formidable reef situate between five
and six miles to the southward of that place. It was
quickly ascertained that her hull had sustained some
serious injury by striking on the rock, and that she was
rapidly filling with water. The necessary precautions
were taken for the preservation of life, and the crew
exerted themselves very creditably in endeavouring to
get the ill-fated steamer into shallow water before she
foundered. They contrived to keep her afloat, although
a very difficult and perilous task, until she drifted a
short distance on to the sand at the point known as
Freshwater West, where she sunk in three fathoms.
The passengers and crew had previously taken to the
boats, and were safely landed.

MELANCHOLY DEATH OF A LICENSED
VICTUALLER.

Yesterday Mr. W. Carter, the coroner for East Sur-
rey, held a long inquiry, at the White Hart Tavern,
Green-street, Blackfriars-road, on the body of Mr.
Christopher Feetum, aged 32, the proprietor of the above
establishment, whose death occurred under the following
melancholy circumstances :

Mrs. Isabella Feetum said that the deceased was her
husband. On the previous Tuesday she had been out,
and returned home rather fatigued, when the deceased
said that he would go out and take a walk. Witness
soon afterwards went to the front door, and saw her
husband speaking to two men, whose names she be-
lieved to be Smith and Harwood. She then walked
into her room again, when she heard a quarrel outside
of the bar counter. One of the persons so quarrelling
was a Mr. Christmas. Another was a man whom she
knew only by sight. There was likewise a third per-
son. who was a perfect stranger to her. These parties,
whilst she was sitting in the bar-parlour, commenced
fighting, when she informed the deceased, who had re-
turned to the parlour, and desired him to go to them.
The parties then went to the door, her husband pushing
them out. Two minutes after that her husband was
brought into the house. He appeared very faint, his
clothes and face were covered with blood, and she no-
ticed an extensive wound on the side of the head. -Me-
dical assistance was procured, but deceased lived only
till half-past twelve o'clock on Saturday morning. When
the surgeon came he dressed the wound in his head.
Ile was then put to bed, which he never afterwards left,
unless when he was in a' state of mental derangement.
By the Coroner--The deceased was in the habit of
taking a glass of liquor now and then, but she thought
not too
freely.
state. He had lately been in a very nervous

Mr. W. Pain, a cabinet-maker, of 25, Church-street,
Blackfriars-road, said that he did not know the deceased,
and never saw him until Tuesday night last, when, at
nearly twelve o'clock, he (witness) was standing outside
of the house, and then heard a loud quarrelling inside,
at the front of the bar. He went just inside of the door,
when two men whom he did not know commenced
fighting. After the lapse of one or two minutes the
landlord came from behind the bar, took hold of the
men as they were fighting, and tried to force them out
of the door, but during the struggling the men and the
deceased fell. They got up again. The deceased kept
hold of them and tried again to force them towards the
door. The whole three then went out together, the de-
ceased holding them from behind. As one of the men
had hold of the other's hair, when they got on the pave-
ment there was another struggle, and the three persons
fell across the kerb and the gutter. They were down
for two or three minutes. It being dark, he was unable
for some time to see which was the landlord, but at last
lie was lifted up and assisted into his house. He saw
that the deceased was under the other two men before
he was picked up. He saw a wound at the back of the
head, and the hair was matted with blood. The blood
also ran from the wound over witness's shirt.

By the Coroner—He saw no act of itself done to the
deceased. They all three fell together. There was a
third person present who was urging them on to fight.
He had not seen the parties since. The two men who
were fighting were so intoxicated as to be scarcely able
to stand.

By a Juror—He heard the sound of one of their heads
come in contact with the kerb, which is raised some two
or three inches.

By the Coroner—The deceased, when picked up, was
quite senseless. For ten minutes or a quarter of an hour
after deceased was brought in the two men were on the
ground fighting. They went back to the house, and as
they entered witness left.
Mr. Edward Doubleday, surgeon, of 249, Blackfriars-
road, said that he first saw the deceased on Wednesday
evening last. Mr. Bianchi, who was acting for him in
his absence, had previously attended upon him. He was
sensible when witness saw him. He had received an in•
cised, deep scalp wound, extending through the muscles
to about an inch or an inch and a half in length. He
was much exhausted, and nearly pulseless, which he
accounted for from the great loss of blood, it being
estimated that he lost three quarts. There was like-
wise great irritability of the nervous system, which
he also attributed to the loss of blood and his gene-
ral habits of living. The irritability continued, and
ended in delirium tremens. Notwithstanding his
endeavours, by opiates and stimulants, he was unable
to tranquillise the brain, and he died at half-past
twelve o'clock on Saturday morning. He attributed
death to the great loss of blood consequent on the
wound.

By the Coroner.—The wound might have been caused
by a sharp instrument, or from a fall upon the sharp
edge of a stone.

The pot-boy having given similar evidence as the
witness Pain,
Charles Christmas; after being cautioned by the coro-
ner that anything he might say would be taken down
and might be used against him, said that on the night
in question he was in front of the bar in a state of in-

toxication, when some strange man, after abusing him,
offered to wrestle with him for 51., and afterwards

for nothing. He then took his coat off and flew at him.
He did not know anything more, but the next morn-
ing he found himself at home in bed.
The learned Coroner having summed up in his
usual clear and impartial manner, the room was
cleared of strangers, and the jury having consulted,
they returned a verdict of "Accidental death."
The Coroner, in addressing Christmas and the other
man, said, that although the jury had returned a
verdict which did not fix them with having caused
the deceased's death, they ought both to feel, that
although not legally guilty, yet they were morally
guilty of the deceased's death. He hoped the present
melancholy case would prove a lesson to them as to
how they regulated their conduct in future.

THE SOVEREIGN OF THE SEAS.—This celebrated
clipper-ship, which was to have left the Mersey yester-
day for Australia, has been delayed owing to the diffi-
culty experienced in getting her cargo cleared through
the Custom-house. She carries out the largest and
most valuable cargo of merchandise ever shipped in one
bottom from any port in the world. The measurement
tonnage of her cargo is about 3,000 tons, giving her a
freight list of nearly 20,0001., while the estimated value
of her cargo falls little short of 300,0001. In addition
to her immense cargo she has 25 first and 40 second-
cabin prssengers. She would sail to-day (Wednesday)
at noon.

THE CLIPPER SHIP GUIDING STAR. —LIVERPOOL,
SEPT. s.—This noble vessel which arrived at this port
from St. John's, New Brunswick, a few days ago, has
been chartered by the owners of one of the Liverpool
and Australian line of packets, for the sum of 12,0001.,
an unprecedented amount, even for the best kind of
ships trading to the golden regions. The Guiding Star,
seen from a distance, presents the appearance of a large
yacht with her tall tapering spars, and square yards ;
and it is only by being on board and viewing her pro-
portions that we can be satisfied that she is upwards of
2,000 tons burden, carpenters' measurement. She has
very sharp entrance, which is carried well aft, though
her extreme length gives her a long floor, and she again
gracefully sharpens towards the stern. Her 'tween decks
are laid with 3-inch planks ; and as the ventilators
admit a good light, her great length and fine pro-
portions are seen to advantage, as also her accoinoda-
tions for passengers, the height between the decks being
7i feet, and her breadth affording ample space. The
chief and fore cabins are placed on the main deck, the
former being as a poop, while the latter is joined as a deck-
house. The chief cabin is fitted with berths for about 20
passengers, baths, and every requisite to ensure comfort
and convenience ; while the saloon is finished with rich
pannelling of satin-wood and mahogany, with handsome
gilt cornices ; and the tapestry, carpets, sofas, settees,
and lounges are on an elegant and artistic scale. The
fore-cabin is also fitted with a number of handsome
berths, and a staircase leads from it to the poop deck
through a smoking-room. The poop affords a promenade
of 80 feet, which is extended by platforms to the top of
the deck-house forward, which is appropriated to the
comforts of the crew, and fitted with cooking apparatus
for them and the passengers. In connection with
this part of the vessel there is room for spacious
hospitals. A roomy top-gallant forecastle com-
pletes her deck fittings, and this isintended as
an ice-house, stock-house, &c., instead of being con-
verted, as is usually the case, into berths for the crew.
Her dimensions are—length on deck, 251 feet; beam,
43 feet ; depth, 221 feet. The whole of her fittings are
on the best scale ; and, whether as regards her superior
mode! or faithful build, she reflects the greatest credit
upon her builders, Messrs. W. and R. Wright, of St.
John's, to whom we are indebted for some of the fastest
sailing vessels trading between this country and the gold
regions. She has been chartered by Messrs. Miller and
Thompson, of Liverpool, in connection with their
Golden Line of Astralian packets.

GREAT INDUSTRIAL EXHIBITION FOR SCOTLAND.
The following circular, addressed to the parties who
have more directly interested themselves in this under-
taking, is now published for general information : - "The
Interim Acting Committee of Promoters of a great In-
dustrial Exhibition for Scotland having received coin-
munications from nearly the whole of the burghs, incor-
porated bodies, and numerous influential parties
throughout the country, intimating their cordial ap-
proval of the proposed undertaking ; and considering
that several important towns have expressed an opinion
that, under existing circumstances, next year would not
be the most advantageous season for carrying out the
proposal. Resolved, That while it is expedient to sus-
pend the immediate arrangements for a Scottish Exhibi-
tion in 1854, it is highly advisable that full effect should
be given to the unanimously expressed feeling of the
community in support of the object, whenever circum-
stances are most favourable for its successful accomplish-
ment, and that, accordingly, the committee will continue
to discharge the duty of communicating with such pub-
lic bodies and others as are desirous of co-operating in
the undertaking, who are most respectfully requested
also to continue their exertions within their respective
districts, in aid of a proposal so pre-eminently fitted to
extend and advance the industrial arts, and to promote
the best interests of the country."
THE QUEEN AND THE SHAMROCK.—The Daily Ex-
prts3 says :—" It might not be amiss to mention, as an
interesting fact connected with her Majesty's visit, that
one of the Royal servants brought with him to the train
a sod of shamrock which bad been dug up in the grounds
attached to the Viceregal Lodge. A porcelain pot re-
ceived the plant, which, as it had been obtained at the
special request of her Majesty, is probably destined to he
transplanted to some of the Royal grounds, and culti-
vated as a memento of a visit which will be long memo-
rable in Ireland."