The Sun.
London, England, 1856-01-29 00:00:00

MIDDLESEX SESSIONS—Jan. 28.

The January adjourned sessions of ace peace for the
county of Middlesex commenced this morning, at Clerk-
en will, before the Assistant-Judge and a full Court.
There were 79 prisoners for trial, 73 charged with folony,
and 7 with misdemeanour.

The Assistant-Judge delivered a short charge to the
grand jury.
Abort, 19, was indicted for feloniously break-
ing and entering the dwelling-house of James Flempy,
and stealing therein five spoons and other articles valued
at 20/., his property.
The prosecutor lived at 1, De Beauvoir-place, Kings-
land, and during the night of the 31st of December some
one got into his house by taking a pane of glass out of
the back kitchen window, and then unfastening the
bolts. About six o'clock on the morning of the Ist in-
stant James Thorn, police-constable 435 .Nr9 foued a sack
filled with various articles at a corner of Stamford-road.
He concealed himself, and in a short time the prisoner
made his appearance with a truck, upon which he tried
to place the sack. He said to him, "You have got a
heavy load this morning ;" to which he replied, " Yes,
it is rather heavy ;" and, in answer to an inquiry as to
what the sack contained, he said, " Only a few things
lam going to take to market." He kept him in con-
venation till another constable came up, and they took
him in charge. On inquiry being made it was found
that a robbery had been committed at the prosecutor's,
and the whole of the articles in the sack were identified
as having been stolen from his house on the night in
question.
The jury fund the prisoner guilty.
The Assistant-Judge sentenced him to 13 months' hard
labour, and said he should have sentenced him to penal
servitude if there had been anything known against him.
John, Sh,atc, 30, was indicted for feloniously breaking
and entering the dwelling-house ef William Patten, and
stealing therein a coat and other articles, his property.
Mr. Payne appeared for the prosecution ; Mr. 'lorry
for the prisoner.
The prosecutor stated that he lived at 2, Little Cant-
bridge place, Heckney road. At a quarter to six on the
morning of the 31st of December he left home to go to
work, and on his return in the evening he found a po-
liceman there with a coat, trousers, and other articles of
clothing, his property. We
• • -en he went out in the morn-
ing he left his five children at home, but only the young-
est of them was there when he returned.
Eleanor Patten, 18 years of age, said she was the
daughter of the prosecutor, awl on the day in question
she left home with the other children, having previously
securely fastened the doors. On her return about seven
o'clock she was surprised to see a light in the front room
downstairs, and Os screaming out it was extinguished.
A man rushed out of the doorway, and she said, " Is
that you, father ?" it being so dark at the time that she
could not see who it was. The man replied, " it's all
right," but she said it was not all right, and laid hold of
him by the arm, but he broke away and ran off. She
pursued him, and he was stopped by a butcher, who
held hint until a policeman came up, and then gavelim
n charge. On going home she found a -bundle of cloth-
ing packed up seedy for removal. The prisoner had a
struggle with the policeman, and near the spot where it
took place two skeleton keys were picked up, and one
of them, it was found, would open the door of the pro-
secutor's house.
The jury found him guilty.
A sergeant of the K division saidlthe prisoner in 1851
was in custody for having hou.sebreaking implements in
his possession, and he was then the regular associate of
a notorious gang of burglars, most of whom had been
sentenced to transportation. Since thee( he had been con.
netted with similar characters, and was one of the most
determined burglars in that neighbourhood.
The Assistant-Judge said it was quite clear that the
prisoner was a very bad character, and it wee; entirely
owing to the courageous and creditable conduct of the
git I, Eleanor Fatten, that be was secured and brought to
justice. The Court owed it to the public to pass a severe
sentence in such ca.!es, when dearly proved, to deter
others. The sentence was that the prisoner be kept in
penal servitude for six years, and, in consideratiou of
"he praiseworthy conduct of the girl Patten, the Court
'ould direct thet 20s. should be given to her.
ChM. Hovey, convicted at the last Stlasions of assault.
off the roof of
burs
up for judg-
two years' hard
tai
ue, isteo ep
in tsentenced
bwl Obayayn.
rmdd
art
:311,r‘OvwSSi
taihsnagburlhotiu:
lab Der.

derstoodidthat about
20
brought by the Chainpiou of the
[;:7loci
01.1 v .a.,t )if P
the
Se a; h been takpoLidp. It is un
taken to the Bank of England.. The re-
o G
0.0-te,‘Futing
te,‘Futing 300,0001., it is presumed, will all be sent to
P.l; i i ill the courie of the week. _

A 3 [ERICA.—& commercial advisee from New York
yeste, '.day wore uninteresting, except that they show a re-
action in the stock-market, consequent upon renewed re-
ports 0 I a desire on the part of the President to fasten a
quarrel upon England in connection with Mr. Crampton
and the enlistment question. A few days previously
there he d been a rapid rise in most des4riptions of secu-
rities, an d ~.he money market altogether bad assumed an
improved appearance. The latest quotations of the
principal risilway stacks were--Erie, 601 ; Reading, 92;
Panama, 991 ; and Illinois Centrai Bonds, 81k. The
Atlantic wa44 to sail on the 19th inst., and may be ex-
pected on "ednesday or Thursday text, but will not be
likely to brili ig any specie. The news of the commence-
ment of peat t, s negotiations had influenced the grain-mar-
ket, and a f. 1.11 had taken place in veleat equal to ae. or
S. Clel, per qi

The fitc; is, that the efficient demand for laud for
use, as distinct from speculation or anticipated use,
is more than satiated. I have already, in a former
letter, pointed out in what manner Melbourne and
the smaller towns of the colony may be made to
contain Many tirnos their present population with-
out any extension of their present boundaries--
namely, by building on vacant spaces, and replacing
the many single-storey, or mere ground-floor houses,
by three and four storey dwellings and warehouses.
This process, called into use by the high price of
town land, is now going on to a large extent. A
very large number of the purchases at the highest
prices were partly on. credit, and properties are
now selling every day for less than the mortgage
money. Excepting town landi in a few favoured
' streets of business; and villa lands in choice situa-
tions, for which people will pay " fancy prices," I
see no re tson way the ordinary -run of suburban
land as well as country land should not get down
to something like what may be called an agricul-
tural price ; that is, inasmuch as, if usAi at all,
they must be used.. for cultivation, the measure of
their value is what the cultivator can afford to Fay.
The Land Department hero, which seems to have
seen about an inch beyond its nose, has favoured
the popular delusion by subdividing land into in-
finitesimal portions, creating townships where they
aro not wanted, limiting the quantity exposed for
sale for the purpose of showing a high rate per acre.
Having thus fed the demand by instalments, as it
were, the accumulated supply now exceeds the
effective demand, and hence the result of the Oct.
sales.

During the early part of this year, owing to the
enormous price of flour (401. to 59/. per ton), there
was really a good demand for farms. This the
Land-office ought to have met. But it was wedded
to the small allotment and high-rate system, and
neglected the golden opportunity of selling a large
quantity of country land until too late. There is
now no confidence in the maintenance of the price
of flour and wheat. Oats are very low. Hay is
moderate, and the demand for farming laud has,
to a certain extent, passed away.
Reduced rents, a declining price of land, food at
a moderate price, the suppty of gold increasing,
and trade reviving, are features favourable to the
prospects of immigrants, and all these elements in
our condition now prevail."
The mineral resources of this colony are cdrifinu-
ally receiving fresh illustration and development.
There has been a great " rush" to Fiery Creek, and
the surface diggings are said to be yielding well.
New diggings, a rich, quartz vein, have been dis-
covered about 25 miles from Geelong. Their exact
position is kept "dark" by the discoverers until
they can get their claims marked out by the Com-
missioners according to regulations. The speci-
mens exhibited are very rich in gold, and will, if
the whole vein is equally rich, pay well for
crushing.
The general revenue for the quarter has increased
14,9871. Os. 2d., and for the year 89,335/.188.10d.,
but the land revenue has fallen off on the quarter
317,437/. 23. 3d., and on the year 715,443/.43.84.,
making the actual decrease on the quarter
302,4471.135. ld., and on the year 626,107/.53.101
But the expenditure has been economised, and,
thanks to the resolution of the Council against ad-
ditional taxation, 1 believe the Governor will be
able to lay a more flourishing account of our finan-
cial condition before the Council when he calls
them together.
The heads of revenue for, the years 1854 and
1855, ending the 30th of September, are as
follows :
Gold revenue (not ex-
port duty)
Customs
Other sources of re

Telma ....
Territoz ial.

1854. 1855.
1:451,062 8 0 51,259,441 10 3
9`23,21217 6 1,086,183 19 4
877,520 7 10 806,885 410
1,668,774 1 7 953,330 16 11

Debentures sold .

23,472,507 6 11 22,81'3,400 1 1

£435,5)7 1 1

We have received copies of our new constitution,
but not the official copies. :They must await the
slow processes of the Colonial-office. As soon as
we get it we shall begin amending it, and fortu-
nately it does contain Blaekstone's vis me dicatrix in
express terms.
Such of your readers as occasionally see the Mel-
bourne papers must be amused by the column of
" Missing friends." Here is a specimen of one.
As the celebrated Anthony Collins, I believe, died
unmarried, the wandering Anthony cannot be a
descendant of that philosopher :
" Anthony Collin, Esq., age 37, of Simmons-court
and Booterstown, County Dublin. Arrived io Port
Philip September, 1842. Known at Mount Macedon,
Emu Creek, Wardy Yallock, Warna:obool—at Benoio
1852. Known to Archdeacon Weartney, Messrs.
Westgattli, Ross, and Co., Mr. robert Fennell, and Mr.
Barry, Melbourne. Married in 1847, Miss Barry,
daughter of a settler in New Zealand, thought to be a
niece of Mr. Barry, hotelkeeper, Collins•street, Mel-
bourne. Was robbed coming home from Bendigo
Drove a team of bullocks, and was going to the Ovens.
May have gone to New Zealand to his wife's relatives.
—Your father is dead, and you are entitled to money
Apply at the office of this paper."
• MELBOURNE, FRIDAY, OCT. 2G.
In consequence of the arrival of the James
Baines in 77 days. with the August mails, tin
Champion of the SJas will be detained until to-
morrow, to enable merchants to answer their Au-
g-rust letters. The mail will close to-day, and the
ship will sail at daylight in the morning.
The Tasmanian Council has been further pro-
rogued until the 20th of November, perhaps in the
hope that agitation may subside. The colonists of
Australia look with some hope to Sir

" The petition of— - •
"Humbly sheweth,---That your petitioners are of opi-
nion that the possession of wealth and family influence
should be no longer recognised.by .:the Government of a
free country as standards for the regulation of military
merit ; or for conferring exclueive privileges upon any
class of her Majesty's subjects.
"That we, accordingly, participate-in the feeling of dis-
satisfaction recently expressed throughout her Majesty's
dominions by the public press, of all shades of political
opinions, at the exclusive privileges conferred on the offl-
cers of the regiments of Fout Guards, and the additional
advantages solicited in their behalf, in a memorial ad-
dressed to her Majesty, the Queen, on the 17th of August
last, a few days after the last adjournment of your hone:m-
alls house by H. 11. H. Prince Albert and the other
colonels and officers commanding these regiments.
"That the rapid advancement ofincomp gent officers to
important commends, consequent upon such unmerited
privileges, is not only calcutatud to lower the mili-
tary character of this country in the eyes of other
nations, but to augment the feelings of jealousy which
have so long -prevailed amongst, other -..ieritorious candi•
dates for promotion in those regiments of cavalry, infantry,
and artillery, who, notwithstanding their exposure to vi-
cissitudes of climate, . . . sanguinary conflicts, and
other contiuganciee consequent Upon foreign service, for
the protection of our colonial possessions in all pills of the
globe, have the mortification to rind, after attaining the
rank of captain, that it frequently required from 20 to 30
years Wore they could obtain the subsequent steps of ma-
jor and lieutenant-colonel without purchase or other un-
due influence, which throe steps are obtained in one day
by officers of the Guards, who are not exposed to such
contingencies, but who have been in the enjayment of
comparative domestic repose during our late European
pence.of.4.o years.

"That, in consequence of this rapid promotion, officers
of the Guards attain, while comparatively young men, the
rank of General, std command of armies in the field, to
the exclusion of officers of the line of recogniied capacity
and merit, but whose advanoeti ages, by the time they
generally attain this rank, affords a pretext for the pre-
ference ,thus given to officers of the t: cards, as recently ex-
perieneed in the.,Vrirnea, where none but Officers who had
been in the Guards were entrusted with the chief com-
mand, and in whom a degree of incapacity' had been mani-
fested on certain occasions that did ant tend to augment
our military reputation, nor the confidence of the troops,
nor of the public in the officers thus selected, nor in the
system by whioh such comparatively rapid advancements
had been regulaled.
" That the valuable lives of many regimental officers aid
soldiers had been thus unnecessarily sacrificed, in a mat.
nor that, by all aecounta, excited not only the sympathies
of our gallant allies, but eve© of the common enemy, who,
at the same time, could not withhold their admiration of
the bravery of our troops, who would not, it is presumed,
have been thus exposed had the chief command been con-
fided, as in the armies of `other nations, to officers whose
pretensions for such important trusts had been founded in
a reputation for merit, acquired in the execution of regi-
mental dntiea, and not on Pretensions founded on fatuity
influence, staff appointments, or the purchase of commis.
miens.

" That by the said pre:nodal .it appears that the privi-
lege of prorention by purchase bad }men introduced in the
reign of Charles 11. ; and, also, that the rank of lieutenant-
colonel had been conferred upon captains of the Guards by
his successor, James If., the year preceiling the rebellion
of 1688, when the family of these monarchs had been ex-
pelled from the throne for repeated acts of infringement on
the constitutional rights and. privileges of the people of
this country, facts that your petitioners beg leave to submit
to your honourable House ought to tend to the removal of
such unmerited privileges, rather than to their augmenta-
tion as solicited by the before-mentioned memorial : your
petitioners having no doubt that our present most gracious
sovereign reposes more confidence in the affections of her
loyal subjects than upon any confidence that could result
from unmerited privileges conferred tivin aby class of
officers in her Majesty's service--a .confidence in the afire-
tions of the people of this country, which bad not been
enjoyed by the sovereigns who introduced such innova-
tions into the British Army.
" That the abolition of such unmerited privileges would,
door! for the ad-
when even fount in the ranks, a bet-
termoreover, be the moans of opening the
concurrent of merit,
class of men would ha thus induced voluntarily to enter
her Majesty's service than the class now sought for by high
bounties iu the streets of London and other populous
places ; men of ability and education, with whom cotninia-
stoned officers world no longer hesitate to associate when
thus advanced, and the objections heretofore made to such
advancement thus removed.
petitioners, so for fro am
--11-6--01:: a Dr blame
:cads, in whew) behalf Vaii, memo
t
rtioalhiTv3ha°s'flitpYcrec°rs'e'lrnotfleit,heeuiU,si;der them eutitleil to every praise,
for not only causing these Cute to Have been Um: hr
to public notice, but for the desire they appear to expressou
g
that they should be placed ' on an eqnalitCwith theirtoM-
rades of the line ; or, as stated in the concluding line ef
that memorial,
in a position, -in short, which will put
them upon a footing
of equality with the remainder of her
Mejesty's eervice.'

'-' That the system is what your petitioners object; as
vicious system, when once recognised in any liiapartntent
of the State, becomes, invariably, the patron pr bribery,
corruption, and other minor abuses, a dettlinilat to the
public service, and prejudicial the charael er of the
country—more particularly at a period like th,e present,
when its energies have been called forward in a great pith-
lie cause in allianco with an enlightened continental State,
where motif, is recognised as the only passport t'o advance-
ment, awl where th superior advantages of th is principle
of action, compared with our system of routing , hair," been
40 frequently manifested during our recent cor !joint: opera-
tions.

..—„.
'"That when so much incapacity in the lis;atis of 'public
departments, and so many evilsinhereut,;ll 'this sy view,
have been thus brought to light, without way prospoc t of 11
remedy being provided, your iletitioners, are apprehe,isive
that no individual exertions will be of 6ny avail, nor '.any
'any
-itfectual remedy be provided, unlesr: your honour thle
lions° should be pleased to address tier Majesty on
subject.
" That while your netitioners xio desirous of seeinw
;eneral officers, like all other nie;ftorious public servants,
apply rewndetl, they, consider that the sin-cella (AM of 1