The Sun.
London, England, 1846-08-12 00:00:00

DISCOVERIES IN AUSTRALIA.

Important advices came to hand from Sydney by one or
the mail packets. The latest date is March 31. Mr. Leich-
hardt, the enterprising traveller, had made some extra-
ordinary discoveries in the interior of Australia, and under
the most trying difficulties, of which it is almost impossible
to foresee the consequences. A new region, offering a con-
stant succession of water, is opened from Gilbert's Lagoon to
the Yappar, extending along the east coast of the Gulf of
Carpentaria, is desCribed as being highly adapted for pastoral
pursuits; but only as regards cattle and horses, the climate
not being favourable for sheep. Large plains limited by
-narrow belts of open forest land—extensive box-flats and tea
tree flats openly timbered, changing with a more undulating
country—fine grassy meadows along frequent chains of
lagoons and shady forest land along the rivers, render the
country, it is said, pleasing to the eye of the traveller, and
inviting to the squatter, and long stretches of country would
be adapted to the cultivation of rice and cotton. Even as far
north as lat. 14 deg. 48 min„ a country openly timbered was
discovered, and near the forest land of a black soil and richly
grassed. The season in Australia has been the dryest and
warmest experienced for 'six or seven years, and yet Mr.
Leichhardt discovered a country unlike that hitherto known.
because so well watered. There had been no fall of rain for
eight months, consequently the pools, lagoons, brooks, wells,
and streams discovered are fairly presumed to be perpetual.
Our enterprising traveller had given names to about 12 creeks
and 15 rivers. It is considered probable that some of these
rivers will be found to flow into the Albert, which empties its
waters into the southern extre,rity of the Gulfof Carpentaria,
and which Captain Stokes of the Beagle ascended for the
distance of .50 miles, and that some one or more of the others
will connect Halifax Bay, on the eastern coast of Australia,
with the GulfSf Carpentaria. Mr. Leichhardt, as had been
truly observed in the colony, if recent experiences justifies the
expectations raised, has discovered an " Australian Paradise"
of immense importance to the mother country, and perhaps
of still greater to the world. The joyous emotions excited
in the colony by these brilliant discoveries were heightened
because they-so soon followed the gloomy disappointment
caused by the disastrous issue of Capt. Sturt's last expedition.
. _

Captain Pilfold, of the schoonel. Frolic had discovered
some islands and reefs on his voyage, shortly after leaving
Chilcott Island, and as these lie directly in the track of ves-
sels proceeding through Torres' Straits, their discovery is
considered most fortunate. The latitude was 16 deg. 23 min.
S., and the longitude 149 deg. 15 min. E.

THE BOTANISTS.—At the Police Correctionelle ir!
Paris, a few days ago, two young naturalists, of tendertheere
'Being
ages of fifty and fifty-two, named Flacon and Rozeeriye;
their appearance on a
being©
of aim'sg rocebrtba_n
i locality,
questioned as to their being found
Flacon informed the President that flu were returning
from botanising in the forest of Bondy. President—
" Botanising at three o'clock in the afternoon,
intheheight
Yon each had a large
of the dog-days! That's not usual.
sack."hasn't
that Ro
to putzeleur—"Wgot on e a box,
n d.' osn ' T 6 must
he
get something thehe none
subjects in
President—But when your sacks
Rozeleur—"Add werealso opened, they were
found full of beans, peas, and onions.
asparagus, new potatoes, and carrots. We have demon-
strated that the potato is free from disease this year, and the
carrots we found were in remarkably fine condition." The
President—" But all these things are useful productions of
the earth, according to the code." Flacon—" At that rate,
one must leave off botanising, for everything in nature is
useful; besides, what fault was it of ours if the subject of
the lecture chanced to be vegetables?" Rozeleur—" In
botany, the lecture is suited to the season. You may ask at
the Jardin des Plants, of M. Pacquet, M. Noisette, or any-
body you please; they will tell you that it is the season of
vegetables." In slip of this definition, the unhappy victims
of science were sent to prison, to make up a /wrtus siccus at
leiure.

ROYAL BUCKS AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION.—The
annual ploughing match of this association is fixed to take
place at Aylesbury, on Wednesday, the 7th of September.
After the ploughing match, a public dinner will take place
at the George Inn, at which the Duke of Buckingham and
Chandos, K.G., President, will preside, when a large attend-
ance of the gentry and farmers of the neighbourhood is ex-
pected.—Bucks Herald.
ROYAL BOTANIC SOClETY.—Yesterday the annual
meeting of this society was held at the gardens, Regent's Park ; Sir
George Cockburn in the chair. The report was read, from which it
appeared that the society is in a flourishing state, there having been
numerous additions to the list of Fellows, and also large contribu-
tions to the fund for building the conservatory, and a great increase
in the proceeds of exhibitions. During the past year the council
have execute d works of great extent, and great progress has been
made in tha building of the conservatory, an erection positively ne-
cessary for the purposes contemplated by the society, and specified
in the charter, and the early completion of which two years ago
would have been looked on as impossible ; the completed part, how.
ever, is but a fragment of wt'at it will be when completed. The
plant• already placed there consist chiefly of donations. The sum
of 3,0001. was contributed by 247 out of 1,050 Fellows, and the total
amount received by the Curator towards the sum of 6,0001., which
it is expected will be subscribed, i 9 4,0001. Tile report was recsive4

LATEST PRICES OF SHARSS,
IN BANKS, ASSURANCE, AND OTHER COg
PANIES' STOCK.

From eze Offici,zl List,
PUBLISHED. EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY EVENISO.
LONDON, TUESDAY, AUGUST 11.
JOINT-STOCH

Dividend Amount
Name of Company. per of raid. Fri°.
Annum. Mare.
....---"
£ s. d. X 0. d. 2,N
Australasia •• •• •• •• 6/. per cent. 10 0 0 40 0 0 ,L
Brash North American 5/. per cent. 50 0 0 50 0 0 !,',7,
Commercial of London 5/. per cent. 100 0 0 20 0 0 vr
Londn and Westminstr
'colonial..
5611: ppQerr
cceetnitt.. 110000
00
00
2205
00 0
2.17:4
London Joint-Stock .• • 61. per cent. 50 0 0 10 0 0
Metropolitan . 25 0, 0 710 0 4gt
Provincial of Ireland.. 81. per cent. 100 0 0 25 0 0 19
Ditto, New......• • • 8/. per cent. 10 0 0 10 0 0 21
National of Ireland .. 6/. per cent. 50 0 0 20 0 0 23
Nat. Provncial of Eng. 51. per cent. 100 0 0 35 0 0
Ditto, New......... 51. per cent. 20 0 0 10 0 0 26
Union of Australia.... 61. per cent. 25 0 0 25 vn i 1,4
Union of London... . • 5/. p 0
er cent. 50 0 0 10 0

=NS"

Name of Company.