The Sun.
London, England, 1856-03-25 00:00:00

SPAIN.

MADRID, March 22.—The rumours which have
been published in the journals of a Ministerial
crisis are entirely unfounded. The railway from
Valladolid to Burgos will be commenced in a very
short time. The financial question has been solved
by the Cortes according to the wishes of the Go-
meut. The Basque provinces are tranquil.

SYDNEY.
(From the Sydney Empire.)
From the intelligence which reaches us by various
channels from the agricultural districts, we gather
gratifying evidences of an almost universally flour.
ishing condition of the crops. But a short time ago
the prevalence of hot winds and drought had begun
to exercise a depressing influence on the spirits of
the settlers, previously elated by the prospect of
unusual good fortune. Considerable damage was
indeed done. In some places the corn was prema-
turely ripened and shrunk ; in others, so rapid was
the drying effect of the scorching winds, the grain
tumbled from the ears before the crop could be
housed ; whilst in others, again, where the wheat
was of rank growth, and in blossom, it was found
necessary to cut it down as hay. One-half of the
wheat lands from Burrowa to the Fish River have,
it is asserted, been thus disposed of. Few districts
have altogether escaped the blighting influence of
the obnoxious north-westerly winds, and in some
instances of untimely frosts. But our latest ac-
°mints partake once more of a cheerful tone. The
favourable change in the weather has repaired much
of the damage previously done ; and again the set-
tler's hopes are buoyant. The grain in some dis-
tricts is rapidly filling ; in others fast ripening ;
whilst in others again harvest operations have
alreadybegun, and labour beine tolerably abundant,
will proceed with rapidity till the crops are safely
garnered. From almost every district we have re-
ceived assuring reports of a good harvest rapidly
approaching fruition.
It was needless to say that in this there is abun-
dant cause for thankfulness and gratulation. A suc-
cessful season, by the hopefulness it will infuse
amongst the many new settlers in the various dis-
tricts, will give a much-needed impetus to agricul-
ture. The colony has, it would seem, to establish a
reputation for successful agriculture, which at pre-
sent it p asesses to a partial extent only. Agricul-
ture, pursued with the same care and energy as other
branches of industry, seldom fails to be successful,
under circumstances ordinarily propitious ; and
there can be no insurmountable obstacles in the
case of this country. The difficulties to be encoun
tared are not greater than have been effectually sur-
meunted elsewhere. With abundance of fertile soil,
wi.h a variety of climate adapted to the production
of a wide range of articles necessary to human sub-
sistence, and with ready markets, the agricultural
interests of the country cannot surely long remain
of secondary importance. But a successful season
and remunerative prices will effect more to ad-
vance those interests than any amount of abstract
reaFosing. And therefore it is that, at the pre-
sent juncture, when agriculture with us is, as it
were, on its trial, we conceive we have more than
ordinlry cause to rejoice at the encouraging
proapeAl of the coming harvest, apart from the im-
mediate advantages accruing to all classes of the
community.
From almost every part of the colony, accounts
agree in representing the breadth of wheat sown
this year as much greater than in previous years.
Muck new land has been broken up, and the fire,
the axe, and the plough have been making exten-
sive inroads upon the ancient domain of scrub and
foreit. Stimulated by a well earned success, future
seasons will no doubt exhibit a still great activity;
and the area of civilisation may be confidently ex-
pected to extend far and wide, under the auspices
of an industrious and prosperous agricultural popu-
lation.
The present hay harvest is represented as abun-
dant, and the prospects of a good supply of herbage
for stock are everywhere encouraging. So active
with us are the reparative forces of nature under
the influence of the genial weather we are now
favoured with, that, in a space of time almost mar-
vellously brief, fresh verdure has sprung up where
previously all had been parched and bare ; and
the ravages of the scorching blast and the blighting
frost are repaired almost before their full extent is
ascertain3d.

The Bank of Frankfort has raised its discoun
on commercial bills from 3 to 4 per cent.

The Austrian Gazette announces the death and
burial at Warsaw of Gen. Popoff, hetman of the
Don Cossacks.

90A
89
44
40

The second. regiment of the Anglo.ltalian Legion
arrived at Turin on the 20th from Suza, and im-
mediately set out again for Genoa, thence to em-
bark for Malta.

A letter fro in Modena, in the Opinione of Turin,
announces that the Duke of Modena has pardoned
several persons who had been in prison for several
years on political charges.

The Messavere di Modena publishes a decree, by
which the Duke of Moieua establishes a uniform
system of cool munal administration throughout his
States.

One of the 'Vienna papers says that everything
concerning navigation of the Danube has
been definiti-vely regulated in the Congress at
Paris, notwithstanding the apprehensions enter-
tained of discussions arising on the subjict between
Austria and t&IQ belligerent powers.

A marriage is spoken of as likely to take place
between one of the King of Naples' children and a
member of thm Grand Duke of Tuscany's family.

The negotiations for a new Concordat are pro-
gressing rapidly both at Florence and Naples. It is
similar to tha tt which is now giving so much trouble
to the Austri. in Government.

A letter frotm Rome, in the Milan Gazette, says:
—" The Ron )e and Frascati Railway, which, as
already state il, will be opened in May text, has
the terminus ji ust outside the Porta Maggior. This
line will beco o ie the main section of the Rome and
Naples Rails'? ay, which is soon to be conceded ;
both the Cou.:ut de Montinolin and the family of
Orleans are deeply interested in the matter."

CAMP AT WI r CElESTER.—lnstructions have been given
by the Govern.o lent, that 500 acres of land in the neigh-
b ,urhood of W-inchester shall be purchased •for the pur-
pose of forminl ; a permanent camp for 500 men:
SAILING OF `THE SHALIMAR.—The White Star royal
mail ship Shalio iar, Captain Brown, belonging to Messrs.
Pilkington and. Wilson, sailed from Liverpool on Sunday
with the usual snails, a large and valuable cargo, and
250 passengers..

The departuoes from the port of London for the Aus-
tralian colonies: during the past week have comprised
five vessels—t• Ro to Port Philip, one to Adelaide, one
to New Zealar ,sl, and one to Sydney—with an aggregate
capacity of 4,013 tons. The rates of freight exhibit
little variation..

Smith, who 'wag known to have rerpe'rated several
burglaries in Etonehouse, and who, while filling the
situation of railway porter, is suppo ei to have picked
the lock and sti 3len money from a drawer at the Soot,r
Devon Railway• station at Plymouth, contrived to break
out of the lock-,fp at Stonehouse, when awaiting exami-
nation, and es( t sped.
LOANS TO TF I E INDIAN GOVERNMENT EROM THE KING
OF OUDE.—Ont Saturday a parliamentary return was
issued of all slims of money borrowed by the Indian I
Government f,,cemi the King of Oude between the
years 1811 a rid 1855. From this return it ap-
pears that loa :as to the following amount in Luck-
now or Compa i y's rupees have been borrowed :—at six
per cent., 2,,t18,50,000 rupees : at five per cent.,
2,12,40,000 ; four per cent., 53,00,000 making a t?ta
of 4,73,90,000 rupees. There has been repaid by cession
of territory to t t re Nabob Vizier, under treaty of' May 1,
1816, 100,00,01)0 rupees ; in notes of the Four per Cen'.
Public Loan f 1854 55, 36,00,000 rupees ;in cash,
1,57,82,765„ 5,.., 4, making the total re p dcl 2,93,83,765,,
5„4, leaving an. amount outgtandirg ie Lucknow rupees
of 1,80,07,234,,, 10 ~ 8.
THE SFrf AL :9,ERAION AT CHRIST CHURCH, NEWGATR-
SCREET.—Y,st arday, being Easter Monday, the boys of
Christ's Hospital waked in pre cession, accompanied
by treir mast ers, to the Mansi ,n-house, where they
were iiiined by. the Right Hon. the Lord Mayor" he
La ly M :yore-es, the Sheriffs, the R 'corder, Town Clerk,
and other civic functionaries. They then nroce.ede d
to Christ Chia ,rcb, Newgate•street, where the Lord
Bishop of Lin cola preached the Spital Sermon. The
Bluecoat- boys, accompanied by A r. Gen. Coover, the
c ,mposer of th. 3 music, sane an original Easter A.nr herr,
the words by the Senior Grecian, Ernest Montague.
After the servii 3e, the company adjournei to the great
hall, when the report of the number of ohii4rent
was read, .