The Sun.
London, England, 1851-09-04 00:00:00

LONDON,

nution, and we may, without claiming any extra-
ordinary powers of vaticination, venture to predict
that it will prevail, until the bullionist theories be
displaced by a wiser and more philosophical system.
But, happily, in Australia the gold-seekers well
avoid the sufferings and viccissitudes that have
awaited their brethren in all preceding ages and
climes. The districts in which the coveted prize had
been discovered on all previous occasions were barr en
and unproductive. It would, appear as if PLUT US
had suffered no meaner rival near his throne, that
CEREs especially had been banished to a considerable
distance. The sterility of the soil, the inclemency of the
climate, the barbarity of the neighbouring population,
acted as the most serious impediments to extensive oTe-
rations.

In these respects California was incomparably
superior to any of the mining localities that had pre-
viously been resorted to ; but even there the draw-
backs and disadvantages were of the most formidable
character. The necessaries, to say nothing of the
ordinary comforts of life, could not be obtained
except at the most exorbitant prices ; and the go ld-
seeker literally "set his life on the cast," for if he
failed in the pursuit be could not obtain
the means of supporting existence, unless by
totally abandoning his self-respect, and con-
senting to discharge the most degrading and ser-
vile offices ; and even if his success exceeded his most
sanguine anticipations, he should still submit to pri-
vations of no ordinary character, or sacrifice by far
the larger portion of his gains for the most common
luxuries or even comforts. We have all heard of a
dollar a glass being readily, nay eagerly, given for
brandy, and the quotations of other articles
being even still more surprising, we have !felt
astonishment at the magnitude of the profits that al-
lowed the labourers to participate in such expensive,
we might say extravagant indulgences. But 'the
very facts showed that there was a darker side of the
picture, and we might indeed shudder at the melan-
choly fate of the unsuccessful digger, who had se-
lected an unfavourable spot for his operations, or wiho,
in the spirit of enterprise, had pushed far beyond
his fellows, and too late discovered that in the w
il-
derness all his gold could not procure him a morsel
of bread or a single drop of water.

But all these matters will be different in Aus-
tralia. There the miners will go to a land abounding
in all the necessaries of life, where they may ob-
tain anything to satisfy the desires of reasonable men
in the utmost profusion, and at the most moderate
charges. Even if the intelligence that has been re-
ceived from the mining localities were altogether fa-
bulous, none would have cause to complain at being
induced to seek the modern " Land of Promise,"
where every man able and willing to work would be
sure of obtaining remunerative employment, enabling
him to enjoy an abundance that does not fall to the
lot of persons moving in a far superior station in, the
mother country. There may be the chance of a
prize, but there is no possibility of a blank. Should
the washing or mining prove abortive, there is yet
something to fall back upon ; and like the
sons of the farmer, alluded to in the com-
mencement of this article, wealth will flow into
the speculators, although in another mode from that
which they had looked forward to. If, then, the
stories are well founded—if Australia is indeed a
rival to California, it is certain that its capabilities
will be developed to the uttermost; while, even should
it prove a failure in that respect, and prove no better
than the " Lageuian Mines," celebrated by MocuE,
the influx of searchers who must seek other sources of
employment will prove of incalculable advantage to
the colony, the mother country, and to the par ties
themselves.

AMERICAN NEWS.

(BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.)

SOUTHAMPTON, THURSDAY MORNING.

The United States mail steam-ship Humboldt,
Captain Lines, with dates from New York to the
23c1 ult., arrived off Cowes at nine o'clock this
morning, and after landing her mails proceeded to
Havre.

The Humboldt brings 40 passengers, 100,000 dol-
lars in American gold, for London, and a full cargo
for Havre.

Advices from Cuba report the landing of Lopex
at Matanzas, with 450 men 3 his situation was cri-
tical.

Advices from Havannah to the 17th ult. state, the
Spanish war-steamer Habanero had captured four
boats' load of men, and that 50 of them (Americans)
had been publicly shot in the presence of 20,000
spectators. The Governor-General had sent 800 men
to intercept Lopez.

The America steamer Falcon, from Chagres, bad
been fired upon by a Spanish steamer in error.

_ .
The enthusiasm in the United States in reference
to Cuban affairs was tremendous. Fears were enter-
tained of disturbances in New Orleans, and the mili-
tary were held in readiness to act.

At New York a great mass meeting had been held,
and mobs had paraded the streets with banners bear-
ing thelinscription " The blood of 50 Americans cries
for Vengeance." The 50 men shot were a portion of
the Lopez invaders, which had become separated from
the main body. Their names are published in the
New York papers.
The Stock Market at New York was firm.
Exchange on London 9i to 10i.
Freights steady.
Confidence has been renewed in the money market.

LIVERPOOL, WEDNESDAY.--The United States
Mail steam-ship Pacific, Captain Nye, sailed to-day fcr New
York with the usual mails.

DON'T RUN FOE GOLD.—The latest intelligence
from California seems to show that the golden age is by no
means the most virtuous, for incendiarism, robbery, and
murder are every-day occurrences. As the ordinary tri-
bunals cannot keep pace with the extraordinary amount of
crime, the inhabitants have established Lynch law; but it is
a bad symptom when it is only by the use of a Lynch-pin
such as this, that the common wheel is kept in regular mo-
tion.—Punch.

THE MOOES.—CAITHNESS. •-• Complaints are still
general of the great scarcity of grouse in this country. Sir
George Dunbar's gamekeeper, a first-rate shot, was out all
day, Monday last, on the Kilminster moors, and only killed
six and a half brace, going over ground upon which Sir
George, in former seasons, had repeatedly shot as many as
34 birds in the same time. The gamekeeper saw only four
other birds during the day; these, though within reach,
being old hens, he spared for the 'sake of the stock. Sir
George Dunbar's Highland moors are much better stocked
this season than his grounds in this parish, and the birds
everywhere are all quite sound. There has been another
week's good sport (says the Inverness Advertiser), even
though the weather has not been very favourable. The
grouse have come in well, and the expectations formed as
to the condition of the birds
Shave been amply verified.
Deer-stalking has been very successfully prosecuted in the
neighbourhood, and the heads are generally good. On
Friday a magnificent stag, weighing 24% stones, and having
thirteen points, was brought down by Mr. Dempster, of
Skibo. At Achnacarry Lord and Lady Malmesbury are
entertaining a succession of distinguished visitors. Among
the number are Lord and Lady Canning, Lord Edward
Thynne, the Hon. Captain Harris, &c. Little has been done
by the gentlemen in the forest, but the rivers have afforded
some excellent angling.—John o' Groat Journal.

A FATHER DROWNED IN RESCUING HIS DAUGHTER.
—An inquest was held,on Saturday last, at West Carr, near
Epworth, upon the bodies of a father and daughter, named
Reuben and Ann Leggott, who came to their death under
extraordinary circumstances. It appeared from the evidence
that there had been some disagreement on the previous
Thursday between Mrs. Leggott and her daughter, and in
the quarrel the father interfered, remarking, in a tone of
reproach, that he did not know what was to be done with the
deceased girl. The latter said hastily, that she knew what
was to be done with her, and walked out of the house. In a
few moments screams were heard, and on running out in the
direction of the sound, the parents saw that their daughter
had thrown herself into a deep pit, which had been made in
the progress of some warping operations upon the neigh-
bouring land. The father instantly plunged in, in the hope
of saving his child, but she clung to him so tightly that he
was unable to extricate himself, and, the sides of the pit
being nearly perpendicular, both were drowned before any
assistance could be rendered. The poor mother was an
agonised eye-witness of the catastrophe, which, however, she
could not avert. A verdict of temporary insanity was re-
turned in the case of the daughter, and one of accidental
death in that of Mr. Leggott. The respective ages of the
deceased were forty-eight and eighteen years.
ACCIDENT AT A TAN MILL, NEAR SHEFFIELD.—
Oa Wednesday morning a frightful accident occurred at the
Neepsend tan-yard, to a workman named Thomas Malone.
It appears that Malone was teeding a bark-mill, when his
shirt sleeve became entangled in the cutters, and before Le
could extricate it his left hand and arm were drawn in also.
His screams brought his fellow-workmen to the spot, when
they found him stretched across the mill-top, quite insen-
sible. Having stopped the machinery and extricated the
poor fellow, a most pitiable sight presented itself. His left
hand aid arm were crushed by tne cutter in a most fearful
manner, and hung together in shreds; not a bone escaped,
but all within a few inches of the shoulder was literally
smashed to pieces. Had the aperture at top been sufficiently
large, the body of the unfortunate man would have shared
the same fate. Malone stated that he made an endeavour to
extricate himself, but was unable to do so in consequence of
the strength of the material of which his shirt was mace.
Both his shirt and waistcoat were torn to pieces by the ma-
chinery. Malone was taken immediately to the Infirmary,
where the arut Was amputated at the shoulder..-Sheffield
Independent.