The Sun.
London, England, 1841-04-23 00:00:00

AMERICAN PUBLIC LANDS.

In the New York papers just received, is contained a
table showing the ratio of the proceeds of the puhite lands,
if divided among the States, with parallel columns of the
debts and interest ; so that a notion may be given bow
far the distribution-measure, even if carried, would increase
the security of State credit. The general result
drawn from the examination of this table is, that the
western States, which are so deeply indebted, would gain
but ►ittle by the proposed distribution. The share of Il-
linois, for instance, in the proceeds is estimated at no
more than $37,070 per annum, while the deficiency
of that State amounts to several hundred thousand
dollars; while the share of Pennsylvania, whose de
Lit is $1,600,000, is estimated at $346,460 per
annum. This new argument against the distribu-
tion is very important, though its effect would
be to render the question of less interest to the
English capitalist than it would be if it were
proved that the public lands were an immense addition
to State security. Still it must increase the uneasi-
ness which the late aspect of affairs in America
has created, to observe one patty eagerly grasping
at the distribution scheme as a means of sustain-
ing State credit, while there is an argument, and that
well supported, that those very means, if obtained, would
prove but a flimsy resource. In the meanwhile the anti-
distribution party have not teen idle ; a Commi!tee of the
General Assembly of Louisiana, to which the resolu-
tions of New York and Kentucky in favour of the
scheme were referred, have made a Report Tsinst it,
and submitted some resolutions, which have been adopted
by the State Senate. These are to the eff. ct,
that the separation of the proceeds of the public
lands from the general revenue would be uncon-
stitutional, unjust, and illiberal to the new States,
destructive of the sovereignty and independence of
the States, and calculated to endanger the Union; that a
conditional cession of the public lands to the nine ne.v
States would be neither unreasonable nor unjust, and that
the new States, now the national debt is paid, have a
right to a liberal system in the occupation and settle-
ment of the public domain in America.
Another argument against the use of the distribution in

improving the State credit that it will increase the
borrowing of the Federal Government, which would thus
come into the market as a powerful competitor.
With respect to this notion, the Federal Government
borrowing, it appears to be a rumour in the New York
market that a 5 per cent. national stock to meet the wants
of the Government will be a result of the extra session of
Congress.
The State Stocks seem to have been dec:ining in the
New York market. The Legislature of that State
were considering a Bill for the issue of $4,000,000
of seven per cent. stock, and the City Corporation
had been applying for leave to issue $2,800,000
of five per cent stock. The states in general are said to be
doing nothing towards meeting their liabilities, but to be
all looking forward with anxiety to some action by the
Federal Government.—Times.

Some further accounts from the Mauritius deal
with the subject of Indian labour in the colony, and
show that the high wages at present paid are not to
be supported without bringing ruin on the planters.
It seems that the very unequal rates paid by differ-
ent planters incite those engaged on the lowest scale
to acts of insubordination to get their engagements
cancelled, that they may hire themselves to others on bet-
ter terms; and it very often turns out that those who pay
the better wages get no more work done than those who
refuse to give them. Upon the whole, the introduction
of Indian labour, although high wages have been paid,
has not benefited the colony, and the planters are now as
loud in their complaints against it as they were pre-
viously in favour of it. As to the comparative increase
of wages, it is said that at first five rupees per month
were given, and this has been increased to tea, and
even more, but the planters are in a great measure
dissatisfied wish these as standing wages, and feel
much inclined to reduce them to three dollars (about
six rupees), referring to the " little fortunes" that the
labourers who have returned to India saved from the
five rupees monthly wages, as a proof that it would
be adequate for all wants. To do this they pro-
posed to encourage emigration from Java, Suma-
tra, and the other islands in the Indian Archipelago,
but it has strong opposition, as flooding the col my
with a population which its plantations have not the
means to support, and it is also said that the introduction
of labour under such circumstances would not he accele-
rated at wages little better, taking all things into consider-
ation, than could be procured at the places from which they
hope to obtain the supply. Emigration is at any time a
very undesirable change, but the more so when it appears
to have so signally failed in the Mauritius, bo,h as respects
he planter and the labourer.
ENGLISH OPERA HOUSE.—Wednesday night
a comic opetetta, in one act, entitled Paddy Whack
in Italia, from the pen of the versatile Samuel
Lover, was roduced at this theatre. It is one of those
trifles in a ich the plot is made subservient to the
introduction of light musical pieces; and slight as it was,
it served to combine almost the whole present strength of
the company.. Balfe, Wilson, Stretton, Barker, Duruset,
and Miss Gould, each and all exerted themselves to the
utmost to gve effect to the humour of the writer, and by
their good comic acting, no less than by their singing,
contributed to the success of the piece. Balfe, as an Irish
gentleman disguised as a footman for the nonce, evinced
considerable talent in the purveys' of silibCrniars humour,
and gave " Paddy Murphy's song" in a style that called
forth an unanimous encore. Wilson also sang in his simple
and melodious manner an air of much beauty from the pen,
we presume, of the author of the piece, and Duruset, as a
1111 f-witted cockney, showed reach of the spirit of true
burlesque in his execution of a parody upon " Tie soldier
tir'd with war's alarms " He also met with an encore, and
his acting generally would not have been unworthy a pro-
fessed comedian. To describe the plot of such a trifle is
out of the question ; suffice it to say, that the operetta
went off very well, and was announced for repetition every
evening. At the close Mr. Lover was led on by Mr.
Balfe to receive the gratulations of the audience.
INFLUENCE OF RAILWAYS IN DEVELOPING
THE MINERAL RESOURCES OF A COUNTRY.-011 our re-
cent trip to Darlington, at the opening of the Great
North of England Railway, the probable influence of
that undertaking on the commercial interests of the
district through which it passes was naturally a sub-
ject of inquiry. While obtaining information as to this
point, in reference to the line just completed, we learned a
number of facts in relation to several of the previously ex-
isting northern railways, which appear worthy of being re-
corded to illustrate the power of those great means of com-
munication to develope the resources of a country. Betore
the opening of the Stockton and Darlington Railway, the
export trade in coals might• be said to be confined to the
rivers Tyne and Wear. That railway was originated chiefly
in order to supply the wants of the district it traverses in
reference to fuel; and the estimate then made of the pro-
bable quantity of coals which would pass along the line,
was, that there would be 80,000 tons for the neighbour-
hood, and 10,000 for export annually. The number of tons
now carried by the Company is, for the neighbouring dis-
tricts, 130,000 tons; for exportation, 560,000 tons yearly.
Ir. the meantime, the Clarence Railway, terminating on the
Tees, has been brought into operation, and contributes to the
coals exported probably not less than 150,000 tons per an-
num. At a later period the Marquis of Londonderry con-
structed his harbour of Seaharn, a port about four miles
south of Sunderland ; it is difficult to state the quantity
thence exported yearly, but it probably exceeds 300,000 tons.
At a still more recent period, the ancient fishing town of
Hartlepool has become the scene of the export of a still
larger quantity. How striking is the contrast between the
at a-e of Durham at the present time, and et the period
when Domesday Book was compiled ! The amount of money
annually received within 30 miles of Darlington, for coals
alone, may be roughly stated at four millions sterling (of
course this area embraces Newcastle and its vicinity) ; but
a large proportion of this enormous ras cane flows into that
county, of which nothing better could be said by the sur-
veyors of William the Conqueror, than " Durham is
waste."—Leeds Mercury.
Whenever smell is naturally powerful, the or-
gan and olfactory nerves are greatly developed. In dis-
ease it may become surprisingly acute. T. Bartholin men-
tions an individual, labouring under dropsy, aho could name
the individuals in the next room by the smell. The boy
Mitchell, deaf and blind from his birth, is described by Mr.
Wardrop as basing, probably from great use and attention,
so power el a sense of smell, that, " when a stranger ap-
proached him, he eagerly began to touch some part of his
body, commonly taking hold of the arm, which he held
near his nose, and, after two or three strong inspirations,
appeared to form a sudden opinion regarding him. If this
was favourable he showed a disposition to become more in-
timate, examined more minutely his dress, and expressed by
his countenance more or less satisfaction : but if it hap-
pened to be unfavourable, he suddenly went off to a dis-
tance, with expressions of carelessness or of diEgust."—
Elliotson's Human Physiology.