The Sun.
London, England, 1856-04-28 00:00:00

special perusal between Mr. Cumming's book anti.
Mons. Gerard's, we should certainly prefer that cm
the latter gentleman.

AUSTRALIA.

ARRIVAL OF THE BEEI.IIAH.
LIVERPOOL, SeTLTEDAY.
Tho Royal Mail ship Beemah, Captain Picker.
nell, arrived in the Mersey this morning, from
Melbourne, with the mails of January 31, 172
passengers (12 of whom were saloon and 180
second and third cabin), and 18,000 ounces of gold,
of the value of 72,000/.
The Beemah was placed on the line in lieu of the
Schomberg, and has delivered her mails in 85 days.
Her cargo was chiefly wool and copper ore. She
spoke, in lat. 22.8, the emigrant ship Switzerland,
from this port—all well. Her Majesty's brig Fan.
tome was to sail for Portsmouth the same day
the Beemah.
The Beemah reports the arrival of the following
ships at Melbourne :—The Phoenix, Eagle, and
Ocean Chief, from Liverpool ; George Marshall,
Empress Eugenic, Forest Queen, and Evening Star,
from London ; the Alorning Star, from Bristol;
and the Ophir, from Dundee.
The Albatross sailed for Liverpool Jan. 18, with
18,902 ounces of gold (about 78,60810 ; the Angles
sey, with 51,308 ounces of gold for London, on
20th Jan. ; the S'atesma.n, with 14,198 ounces;
and the Thames, with 41,788 ounces of gold, for
London, on the 24th of the same month.
The Indemnity and the Invincible were to sail
for London Fob. 5; the Sultana, with the mails,
on Feb. 10, for Liverpool ; and the Eagle, also for
Liverpool, about Feb. 2/.
In the suatinary for the Beemah, prepared by the
Melbourne Argus, we find the following statistics
of the gold fields of Victoria for the year 1855 :
In presenting the fourth annual statistical account of
the gold fields of Victoria, the subscriber has much satis-
faction in producing a statement which he hopes will
interest every one connected with this colony. In come
paring it with 1854 it shows an increase of 35 per cent.
The introduction of machinery to the goldfields of Vic-
toria during 1855 has been extensive, but has not been
attended with results at all encouraging. Some of the
machinery does the pulverising of the quartz satisfac-
torily, but the great desideratum is the extracting the
gold by the process of amalgamation. Notwithstanding
the number of men of Califorenan and of continental
experience, who profess a competent knowledge of the
emcees, there is still evidently wanted the chemical
ebility to successfully combat with the foreign metals con-
tained in the gold-bearing quartz. Were a perfect pro-
cess of extracting the gold discovered, the amount of
10,0001. moved for in the council by one of the members
from the gold fields, would be a paltry recompeuce when
compared with the amount of benefit to be derived from
such process. If the amount be granted we hope that
sufficient time will be given, that scientific men from all
parts of the globe may be induced to compete. From
inquiries made we estimate the production.of gold from
quartz to be under 20,000 ounces—small in amount when
the extent of the machinery employed is taken into no-
c mnt. We hope to be able to give a more satisfactory
account of this process twelve months hence, if spared to
record the fifth year of our gold produce. An export dutv
of 2s 6d per ounce having come into operation in May bute
had the effect of lowering the price of gold by nearly tinst
sum per ounce. The digger is now freed from the of
system of licence hunting, and if unsuccessful has no fee'
to pay ; and he who meets with success does not object
to the reduced price. The introduction of the duty
was attended with many annoyances, which might have
been obviated by a little foresight on the part of the
Customs, and which, after an experience of eight months,
are not wholly removed. The Amount of duty collected
is 230,0001. upon 1,842,392 ounces.
The price of gold continuing to he regulated by the
rate of exchange, it has gradually given way in price as
the exchange feil, since the begiuning of the year. The
export duty of 2s 6d per ounce came into ope ration in
May, which had the effect of lowering the price nearly
to that amount.

Of the present state of the trade and commerce
of the colony, the Argus reinirks :
The import houses are doing a steady and profitable
trade. The roads to the interior are alive with traffic, bills
are met as they become due—the third day of the elontla
is no longer looked forward to with uneasiness ;
deuce is in the main restored. The market has been teba-
racterised by a lar4e amount of speculation. The int;e3i-
4ence of the continued advance in the value of money' in
the home market has led to the belief that speculati,Ye
shipments:will be checked by the withdrawal of capital
to the profitable investments which are now insuring a,
quicker reture than the shipment of goods to a distant
market. Tb arrivals of imports from the United King-
dom have been very heavy during the month, but the
bulk of the goods has been of a seasonable character; and
if a spirit of caution similar to that which has been mani-
fested in late shipments be continued, the Australian
colonies will be a profitable market to the British mer-
chant during the year 1856. One of the most remarkable
features of trade as conducted now, in comparison with
the commencement of the past year, is the failing off in
forced sales by auction. Daring the last 3 months of
1354 and the 3 months of 1855. goods were sacrificed at
prices much below the orignal cost—to the annoyance of
the legitimate trader, and to the eventual disgust to the
shipper at home. This is no longer the case. Large Sales
by auction are of frequent occurrence, but the prices re•
alised are the wholesale prices current of the day, and
this method of selling is only resorted to as a ready
means of realising, or in order to close consignments. As
regards our commerce with the world, the returns of the
past year exhibit a most healthy result, the ascertained
balance of the value of exports over imports having been
upwar Jo of 2,500,0001.

The news of the death of Sir William Moles-
worth had caused very great and general regret
amongst all classes of politicians in Victoria.
Oh the present state of the gold market Mr. Ed-
ward Khull, bullion broker, of Melbourne, writes :
Gold has advanced in price 3d. per ounce since last
week's report. This arises from the scarcity of the metal
caused by the diggers only selling a portion of their pro.
duce. The quantity deposited at the different camps is
evidence of the correctness of this view of the scarcity.
The market has been dull from this cause, aided also by
a large amount of this week's escort having been let oat
of the Gold Office for shipment by the Anglesey.
The escorts have brought from :
ozs.
Mt. Alexander and Bendigo.. 19,904
Ballarat, including Geelong... 15,677
Maryborough
Daisy Hill 1,133
Avoca l3B

OZI.

Amount this week ..... —40,129, and year 150,382

Gold shipped in 1856 199,941
Per steamers to Sydney 2,699
Per Thames to London 41,789
Per Statesman, to ditto 14,193

258,622

Or 10 tons 15 cwt. 2 qr. 1 lb. 10 ozs., at 80s. 1,034,488/.
EXCHANGE ON LONDON.—Drafts against gold pur-
chased at 2 per cent. dis. Freights, 40. per oz., de.
livered at the Bullion-office, Bank. of England, London.
WooL AND TALLOIY.—Messrs. E. Row and Co. rt.
port :—At our sale on Thursday, the 24th inst., we have
to report a slight advance on former week's prices, which
we partially account for in consequence of very few good
lots of wool being offered on that day. Toe following
was the result of 546 bales offered by as, viz.: EA., 24
bales greasy, at 84 1. ; LY, 30 do., 71d. ; AEI, 24 do.,
Bd. ; H, 26 do., 94d. ; JG, 40 bales washed fleece,
150. ; MK conjoined, 91 do., 1611. ; Ly, 75 do., bought
in ; ESP, 1 bale greasy, 12d. ; ESP, 1 do. greaoy,
8. I.; OK, 50 bales scoured, 174 d. ; OG, 2 do., mixed
50. ; IC., 28 do., fleece, 134 I.; RM. 33 do., 120.;
RH under YP, 30 do., withdrawn ; Y. 12 do., hand-
washed, 13d. ; 0, 5 do., mixed,
sd. ; B, 4 do., black,
94d. ; D, 23 do., fleece, 144 d ; PS, 30 do., 16 I. ; McNI,
20 do., greasy, withdrawn ; MK conjoined, 2 do.,
scoured, 17id. ; TM, 10 do., fleece, 12d.

ME ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION IN

BUP.ERT-ST RE BT.

SUPPOSEFD
CHDISCOVERY OF THE BODY Or
OSINI IN rilE THAMES.

Yesterday inf irmation was received at the Chief Police
Office, Scotland-yard, that the body of Foschini, the Ita-
lian who wilfully and maliciously
mbeand been discovered stabbed four of hie
c ee- hcu
in
theinßußipert-street,Hay
market, oaurnkterty,
tice of the circumstance was at once sent to Vine-street„
to the inspector who has the case in hand, and he then
communicated with some persons who were well ac-
quainted with Foschini, and they all proceeded to the
place where the body bad been conveyed for the purpose
of identification. They there found the budy of a man
agreeing in every particular with the description given
of Foschini, the clothes being identical with those worn
by him ou the night of the terrible occurrence, and the
thin beard and moustache corresponding. The only dif-
ficulty was the identification of the features, the head
having swollen to nearly double the natural size, owing,
it is supposed, to the body having been in the water se-
veral days. The police, however, are firmly of opinion
that the body was that of Foschini ; and that no doubt
is entertained that such is the case may be gathered from
the fact that yesterday afternoon a man, somewhat re-
sembling Foschini, was apprehended at Woolwich, and
information of the circumstance telegraphed to London ;
when directions were instantly sent from head-quarters
to release him, and he was accordingly set at liberty.
Upon inquiring last evening at Charing-cross Hospital
the reporter was informed that Kouelli and two of his un-
fortunate companions were still in adangerous condition,
the former continually spitting blood and evincing very
alarming symptoms. Rossi, however, had sufficiently
recovered to be enabled to leave the institution on the
previous day. They all maintain great taciturnity as to
the cause which led to the horrible affair.

IThe petition to Parliament against the abolition of
the la,iv which requires all contracts of 101. and upward
to be in writirg is stated to have been signed by $OO of
1, the principal firms in London.
The Queen has appointed Mr. James' Clerk Maxwell,
Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge, to be Professor
t of Natural Philosophy
lit the University of Marisehal
college, Aborion.