The Sun.
London, England, 1853-12-20 00:00:00

AMERICAN COMMERCIAL AFFAIRS.

The commercial advices from the United States show
great steadiness in the stock-markets and a general ab-
sence of excitement, news from England regarding the
Eastern question being more eagerly looked for than
anything else. The rate of exchange continues in
favour of this country, and the amount of gold brought
by the present packet—viz., 140,0001., appears the
more considerable from the fact of the vessel having
sailed from Boston, on which occasions the sums sent are
usually limited. Under these circumstances, a further
arrival may be expected by the Baltic on Wednes-
day. The purchases of United States stocks for the
Treasury had continued at the rate of about 100,0001. a-
week, and on the 30th of November, at which date the
period expired up to which they were to be continued,
a notice was issued extending the time till the Ist of
January. Large consignments of grain and flour wore
still likely to be made to Europe, and it appears that,
although a want of water in the western rivers had thus
far prevented the full supplies coming forward that
would have been attracted by high prices, the quantity
shipped since the commencement of July up to the 26th
ult., compared with the corresponding period of last
year, had been as follows :
From July to November,
1853. 1852.
Flour Barrels. Barrels.
To Great Britain 466,865
To other countries 585,801
Wheat. Bushels. Bushels.
To Great Britain 3,724,104
To other countries
Indian Corn. Bushels. Bushels.
To Great Britain 130,450
To other countries

The great comparative increase in the shipments to
other countries than Great Britain exhibited by the
above figures illustrates the manner in which the exten-
sive demands for France and the Continent generally
have operated in diverting much that would otherwise
have been received here. Henceforth it was expected
the continual stimulus of high prices would cause the
receipts to increase, and the rivers and railroads were
now bringing forward large quantities. The prices
current at the end of November were $6.94 per barrel
for flour, against $5.25 at the same time last' year,
and W. 72 pr-unann-rui astslun 401.10. Indian
corn was rather cheaper than in 1852, the price being
80 cents. per bushel against 83 cents. at that time.

The Rev. Dr. Burgess, Curate of St. Mary's Black-
burn, was elected a Member of the Royal Society of
Literature on Wednesday last. Dr. Burgess is the
Translator of various woks from the Syriac, and Editor
of the Journal of Sacred Literature.
EXTRAORDINARY NEWS FROM AIISTRALIA.—The fol-
lowing extraordinary intelligence is contained in a letter
received by Mr. Joseph Abraham, of Bristol, from a
relative in Hobart Town, and kindly handed to us by
the latter gentleman. For really startling intelligence
it beats every thing that has yet reached us from
that golden land. Mr. Abraham, from the personal
knowledge which he has of his relative, knows
he would not impose upon others, and does not be-
lieve he is likely to be imposed upon himself. If, there-
fore, the account be true, well may the writer say,
" Goodness only knows where all this will endl" Some
conjectures have been recently ventured that the au-
riferous yield, which was apparently lessening, had seen
its best days ; but, if the intelligence contained in the
subjoined letter be true, we are now oily coming
to the genuine deposit. Well may it be called a
" quarry of gold," if 18,000 ounces have been taken
out in three days by a few persons :—" Hobart
Town, Sept. 8, 1853.—Knowing how deeply interest-
ing any news respecting Australia must be to you, I
write to inform you of a great discovery that has again
been made on the Geelong side, about 56 miles from the
town. They have been digging very deep, and have come
on a table of gold about 100 feet from the surface,
apparently inexhaustible. All I can tell you respect-
ing it is that the people's. minds are partly turned
from the immense discovery. Every tubful of earth
they raise from these holes contains pounds weight of
gold, The more they dig the more inexhaustible it
appears. At Geelong a tumult has broken out among
the diggers. The Government has sent up all the
military to quell the.disturbances, and the marines of her
,Majesty's ship Electra are mounting guard at the
Treasury, and the sailors of the above steamer of war
mount sentry at the banks. The military from Van
Diemen's Land are about to be despatched to Mel-
bourne to aid the military already there. Goodness only
knows how all this will end!--Hobart Town, Sept. 5.
By the steamer from Geelong this day I find that a gold
quarry has been discovered near Geelong, 100 to 130
feet from the surface of the earth, putting all other dig-
gings in the shade ; 18,000 ounces have been taken out
in three days by a few persons, and one person has got
a lump weighing 190 pounds in one solid piece. This is
no exaggeration, and the greatest excitement prevails."
7—Briita hefrital.