The Sun.
London, England, 1858-06-16 00:00:00

arrivals continue extremely large ; some of the
Liverpool vessels now bring manifests in which
scarcely anything else appears. It is impossible to
obtain a proper advance for the latter, even if the
article is scarcely anything else appears. It is im-
possible to obtain a proper advance for the latter,
even if the article is scarce and wanted ; and with
every mail importers find increased difficulty to
sell ironmongery, as the trade, almost without ex-
ception, import direct, and the number of buyers
is becoming more and more restricted.
Provisions are amongst the few imports that
have been doing well, hams more especially,
which are quite scarce, and worth ls. 4d. Butter
has been up to 15d. during the month, but also
down to 131 d. Oats, for the first fortnight after
the departure of last mail, were very dull, and de-
clined to ss. 6d. for Scotch. They have since
rallied, and are again worth Gs. Oilnien's Stores
have been saleable, but prices are slightly lower,
and though considered just now to be one of the
best class of imports, leave but a very meagre
margin.
Up to the hour at which we go to press, the
Columbian, which carries the English February
mail, has not made her appearance, and the pub-
lic have again to deplore that our postal arrange-
ments are controlled by such miserably feeble
andincompetent hands as those of the Company
which pretend to carry on the mail service be-
tween Great Britain and Australia. The injury
done by the delay of the Columbian, which renders
it impossible to reply to the February letters, is
incalculable, and we can only hope that the Home
Government will give quick and practical effect
to the unanimous resolution of our Legislative
Assembly, which, on the 13th instant, recom-
mended that the contract with the E. and A. Mail
Company be at once rescinded. The colonial pub-
lic is positively now a great deal worse served than
when clippers carried the mail, as no business ar-
rangements were then made, based on regularity
of arrival and departure. As the service is at pre-
sent carried out, we have all the disadvantages and
none of the advantages of quick communication,
and such an utter disarrangement of our corres-
pondence with home as that caused by the non-
arrival of the Columbia; is really an incon-
venience of a sufficiently grave nature to justify,
even were it but an isolated case, the
forfeiture of the contract. As irregularity in
arriving is however the rule, and anything like
proper time the exception, Rwe sincerely trust tlat
we may soon hear that the contract has been again
thrown open to public competition, the more so as
up to the present the company has been likewise
singularly unfortunate in its representatives hero
and in Sydney, who we would almost suppose had
received instructions to be as peremptory and un-
conciliatory as possible, as, whenever they have
come into contact with the Government and the
public, they have been as persistently disobliging
towards the one as they have been illiberal with
the other, and any change which we may get can-
not ba otherwise than for the better.

W 1 ER MAJESTY'S THEATRE
First Night of Lucrezia Borgia.
TO-MORROW EVENING, June 17, will be revived
Donizetti's admired Opera,
LUCREZIA BORGIA.
with the following powerful cast :
Lucrezia Borgia Madlle. Titien s.
Maffio Orsini Madame Alboni.
Gubetta...Signor Vialetti I Petrucci, Signor Aldighieri.
Gazelle, signor BeneventaLo.
Duke Alfonso... Signor Beletti I Gennaro.„Signor Giuglini.
Conductor—Sig. Arditi.
To give the fullest effect to the production of this admired
work, the principal Artistes of the Establishment will appear
in the Prologue.
To conclude with the entirely New Ballet Divertissement,
by M. Massot, entitled LA REINE DES SONGES. The
principal characters by Madlle. Mario Taglioni, Mesdlles.
Annetta, Rosa, Pasquale, Morlacchi, and M. Durand.
The Opera will commence at 8 o'clock.
A limited number of Boxes have been secured to the public.
Price 21s and 31s 6d each, which may be had at the Box
OffiCe, at the Theatre.

FIER MAJESTY'S THEATRE.—
Titiens, Alboni, Giuglini.
Piccolomini, Ortolani, Belletti, Beneventano, Aldighieri.
The following arrangements have been m tde :
TO-MORROW—LUCREZIA BORGIA and LA REINE
DES SONGES, with Madlle. Taglioni.
MONDAY, Juue 2I—GRAND MORNING CONCERT,
with all the Artistes of the Theatre.
TUESDAY, June 22— LUISA MILLER will be repeated.
—Luisa, Madlle. Piccolomini ; Duchesa Frederica, Madame
Alboni ; Rodolfo, Signor Giuglini ; Walter, Signor Vialetti ;
Wurm, Signor Castelli ; and Miller, Signor Beneventano.
Applications to be made at the Box-office at the Theatre

ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA, COVENT-
GARDEN, NEW THEATRE.

LES 'HUGUENOTS.

In consequence of the numerous inquiries, it is respectfully
announced that Meyerbeer's Grand Opera,
LES HUGUENOTS,
will be given TO-MORROW EVENING, June 17, it being the
last time but two that it can be performed this season.
Valentina, Madame Gr si ; Margarita di Valois, Mallle.
Marai Dama d'Onore, Madame Tagliafico ; Urbano, Madlle.
Didiee ; Marcello, M. Zelger; Il Conte di San Bris, Signor
Polonini ; Il Conte di Nevers, Signor Tagliafico • Meru, Sig.
Pierini ; Tavannes, Signor Rossi ; Huguenot Soldier, Signor
Soldi ; aad Raoul di Nangis, Signor Mario.
. _

Conductor—Mr. Costa.

The Incidental Divertissement will be supported by Mdlles.
Delecnaux and Esper, and M. Desplaces,
Prices of Admission : —Boxes—pit tier, 5/. 15s. 641.; grand
tier, 6/. 6s ; first tier, Si. ss. ; second tier, 21. 12s. 6d. ;
10s. 6d. ; amphitheatre stalls,
orchestra stalls, Is. ; pit,
10s. 6d., 75., and ss. ; amphitheatre, 2s. 6d.
Application for boxes, stalls, and pit tickets, to be made
at the Box-office of the Theatre, under the portico iu Bow-
street, and at the principal musicsellers and librarians.

ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA,
COVENT-GARDEN.

NEW THEATRE.
IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA.

On SATURDAY NEXT, June 19, will be performed
Roasini's Opera,
IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA.

Rosini, Madame Bosio ; Bertha, Madame Tagliafico ;
Figaro, Signor Ronconi
Bartolo, M. Zelger ; Basilio, Signor Tagliafico ;
Fiorello, Sig. Soldi ; and Almaviva, Signor Mario.
Conductor—Mr. Costa.

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.
MONET MARKET. —The money market is without
change : money is plentiful, but the rates of discount
remain nevertheless at 8 per cent. for paper having 93
days to run, and at 9 per cent. for paper beyond that
currency. The bills under discount have been running
off remarkably well, and it is generally considered that
most parties are trading within their means, and that
business is being conducted on a very sound and healthy
basis. In the share market there has been rather more
activity, and local stooks have a somewhat upward ten-
dency. The debentures which the Government will
presently have to issue to defray the railway expen-
diture will be negotiated, it is expected, at par.,
but much depends upon the rapidity with which
they will be emitted. The tenders for the con•
struction of all the lines of railway at present contem-
plated, have not yet been reported upon, and it is there-
fore not known who will eventually obtain the contracts.
The tenders for the whole line differ nearly 2,000,0001.,
the 10% est tender being about 5,000,0001, the bighe4
7,000,0001. It is expected that for the l resent not more
than 34 miles will be contracted for, but the moment
the works are begun, emigration from England may
certainly be resumed without fear of labour coming
to an over-stocked market.

After which, LA. BRESILIENNE, in which M.1(111e. Zina
will appear.
On TUESDAY NEXT, June 22, Auber's Opera,

FRA DIAVoLO.

Zerlina, Madame Bosio ; Lady Allcash, Madlle. Marai ;
11 Marchese, Signor Gardoni ; Loren2.o, Signor Neri:Barahli. ;
Matteo, S.gnor Pohnini ; Beppo, Signor Tagliafico ;
Giacomo, M. Zelger ; and Lord Allcash, Signor Ronconi.
Iu a few days will be produced Flotow's Opera, entitled
MARTHA.

ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE.
Proprietor, Mr. Charles Kean.
THIS EVENING, will be presented MUSIC HATH
CHARMS.

After which, Shakspere's Play of THE MERCHANT OF
VENICE, Shylock, Mr. C. Kean— Portia, Mrs. C. Kean.

"fHEATRE ROYAL, HAYMARKET.
Lessee—Mr. J. B. Buclistono.
THIS EVENING, to commence at Seven o'clock, with
LONDON ASSURANCE.

Followed by A STRIKING WIDOW.
After which a Classical Extravaganza, entitled PLUTO
AND PROSERPINE.

ALE AND PORTER.—Throughout the month there has
been a brisk demand for Bulk ale. Bass' has been sale-
able at 91. 102 ; Salt's and Worthington and Robinson's
at 8/. to 81. 103. Any Bulk ale, if but sound, has bee
worth 61. to 71. 10a., and much which was not quite
sound, and which a month or so back sold for 2/. 10s., Las
fetched that price. We may remark, however, that
even 71. 10s., which is considered an extraordinary price
for second-class ales, will not bring any one home ship-
ping it out on consignment, and that the probabilities are
that the moment the better brands are plentiful the price
will recede then to 51. Bulk stout has sold fairly in
small lots at 61. 10s. for Truman's, and Taylor Walker's.
For bottled beers durlog the last three weeks there has
been a very good demand ; and if arrivals had not been
so enormously large, prices would have advanced to lls.
for Byass'. As it was, the very contrary took place,
and some sales were effected at 9s. 6,1. fur half-ale-half,-
porter, although regular holders of it have kept the pric:
at 10e. to 10s, 6d. ; at auction two•thirds porter and
one-third ale brought 9g. 6d.

Orchestra Stalls (which may be retained the whole of the

evening). ds. each. (No charge for booking.)
First Price. s. d. Second price. s. d.
Dress Boxes 5 0 Dress Boxes 3 0
Upper Boxes... ...... ..... 3 0 Upper Boxes 2 0
it ....... ... ...

BUTTER —This- article has been in continuous
demand during the month, and though the price
was u)lowed to recede to 130., it was more owing
to mismanagement on the part of importers who
got frightened at some large lots brought by Jan-
uary Liverpool vessels than to anything else. The
market rate to-day is about 14. id., and we have to notice
that the trade will now more easily buy than formerly
brands other than Gould's or Honan's, as many of the
less known names have lately turned out very good and
even in quality.
BOOTS AND SHOES.—The market has again got worse,
and large shipments have been pushed off at auction at
very unsatisfactory prices. Tor men's winter goods,
such as water tights, army bluchers, and sprigged wel-
lingtons, some demand exists, and for these kinds invoice
to 10 per cent. advance can be made.
Cheese remains a very miserable article of import. It
is true that prime will bring 141, but the bulk of the
shipments to band have been in bad order.
CANDLES.—It seems quite impossible to raise the
value of candles. The imports from the Continent of
1 lb. packages are very heavy, and they more than coun-
terbalance any falling off in shipments from Great Bri-
tain.

COFFEE —Our market is well supplied at present with
Ceylon coffee, both native and plantation, and the price
remains stationary at our quotations. Should any addi-
tion take place to the stocks in hand, lower rates may
be expected.

DRIED FRIIITS.—The market is bare of every kind
except currants, which are worth 64d., and during the
whole month, almonds, muscatel and pudding raisins,
and nuts %mild have brought remunerative rate,.
EASTERN PROM:IE.—We have to notice a consider-
able improvement in almost every kind of eastern pro-
duce, owing chiefly to the cessation of forced auction
sales both of sugars and teas..

FLOUR AND - GRAlN.—Prices of flour have gone
backward in consequence of supplies from Ade-
laide having come more freely to hand, and the very best
brands cannot be quoted higher than 171. 53., whilst
many are selling at 161. 10s. to 171. Wheat has de.
clined :o 6s. 9d., and is offering much more freely, and
we hear far les of shortness of crops now than wo
a month back—in fact by ail accounts the harvest, both
in Victoria and South Australia, has after all been
abundant, and prices of grain have a downward ten-
dency.
HAMS AND BACON.—Daring the entire month Hams
have been scarce, and really good, in white covers, have
brought 16i. Bacon has been selling more freely than
it did, at 11d. to 1114.
METALS AND BUILDING MATERIALS.—Iron continues
to arrive in excessive quantities, and although the con-
mitnption of Bar and Rod is just now large, imports ate
too heavy ti allow of improvement in value.

SETTLING- OF THE CAGLIARI
QUESTION.

i (From the Times.)
Mae public has reason t.) be. satisfied not only
with the settlement of the Caultari affair, but with
; the manner in which it was arranged.' Mr. Fitz-
', qera'd last night,
and
his
colleagues
in
tahnswer to a question from
the
House
had
Lknrr.
d DarbyDeasy, informed
ofCommonspresented
a
that
note to the King of Naples,
that sufficient indemnitysbeel(lThe given to the
requiring not only
two British subjects who had bee so grievously
wronged by his acts, but that the Cagliari and her
crew should be at once restored. W are glad to
see that there was no dissociation
from that of our Sardinian allies. We
hadousru ffcause
: re
a common wrong, and we give the present
advisersed
of the Crown credit for the spirit with which they
demanded a common redress. They might have
contented themselves with obtaining satisfaction
for our own wrongs, but they recognised that the
cause of cur allies was inextricably bound up with
our own. The King of Naples seems to have felt
that the time for "argumentative refwa's" was at
an end, and did not even wait until the Sardinian
ltepreientative at Naples had made hi-t demand.
The Cagliari and lip r crew were released before the
final categs)rital dema.:d from Turin was delivered
to the Neapolitan Court. It was no doubt consi
dered by the Neapolitan King that there was less
loss of dignity in yielding to pressure from Eng-
land than from Sardinia. lie might also suppose
that a ready acquescynco. in our demand might
pave the way .6 a renewal of diplomatic relations.
Lord Malmesbury, however' is well entitled to the
favourable considera.ion of the country for the
efficient manner in which he has brought this
troublesome affair to so satisfactory a conclusion.

Gallery

THE COMMISSION OF LUNACY ON SIR H. METJX.—
The hearing of evidence closed this morning, and Mr.
Edsvin Janes addressed the jury on behalf of Lady
to the summing-up by Meux• Several other speeches have to be delivered prior
the learned commissioner. It is
not expected that the cage will close before late to-mor-
row evening.

STRAND THEATRE.—Levee and Directress,
Miss Swanborough.—This Evening will be
performed THE VICAR OF WAKEFIELD.
After which, a new Burlesque, entitled TILE BRIDE OF
ABYDOS. Messrs. Charles Youtigl Turner, &c.; Misses M.
Oliver, Swanborough, &c.

etA.NTERBII RY HALL, Westminster-road.-
- OPEN EVERY EVENING.—The follow-
tag company of Vocalists are engaged for the performance of
S3leutions from all tho popular OPERAS, MADRIGALS,
CHORUSES, GLEES, D UETS, &c., viz. :—Miss Russell, Hrs.
Badzey, Miss Brinell, Miss Ray, Madame Bartoletti,
MLA Montague, Mrs. Lawrence, and Mrs. Anderson;
Herr F. Jonghmans, Mr. Henshaw, S. Joner, J. Barker,
IV. Melling, Senor Antonio, E. L, Hime, Mr. Badzey,
Senor Tiroli, Mr. Cozens, Mr. Bell, and Mr. Bernard;
Messrs. W. T. Critchaeld, John G. Fords, and E. Mackney.
Pianoforte, Mr. Cecil Hicks ; harmonium, Mr. Courtnay ;
Director, Herr F. Jonghmans. Commence at Seven o'clock
precisely. Suppers, &e., until twelve o'clock.
Mr. AUGUSTUS BRAHAM will appear every Evening
in a Selection from "LA DAME BLANCHE" (THE WHITE
LADY), first produced at the Canterbury Hall. English
words by Desmond Ryan, Esq.
Mr. SAM. COWELL This Evening, in addition to the
usual Vocal Entertainment.

THE WEATHER—SUN OFFIOE, JUNE 16.
ThERMOMETER, IN THE SPIADE.
84—highest since noon yesterday.
66—lowest this morning and during the night,
82—this day at noon.
BAROMETER, 29.94.
WIND, S. S.E. ; rather fresh. It veered to the North-
ast this morning, and is now Sonthely.

HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.
Fnis DAY—Morn., 25 min. aft. 4 —Even., 49 min. aft. 4
ro-MORROW—Morn., 16 min. aft. s—Even., 40 min aft. 5

r,crt cc:
J ') ,•"ri
•
- •

that honour, inasmuch as, if he did not possess
the necessary qualification himself, he must, be-
fore ho could take his seat, obtain one from some-
body who did possess it, and who might be re-
garded as being to some extent responsible for his
being a person of respectability." This was the
most extraordinary argument of any. The down-
right, wilful, and deliberate perjury was lost sight
of, the solemn declaration of a gross and palpable
falsehood, with all its demoralising consequences,
was disregarded, somebody that bad the magical
3001. per annum was responsible for his respect-
ability ! Why that person was virtually guilty
of subornation of perjury, by encouraging a per-
son to swear to what he knew to be false !
and that very frequently merely to enable a soli-
citor to make some fifty pounds for the costs of
the deeds ! Lord WICKLOW is a nobleman of un-
blemished reputation and high honour, and he is
certainly not the person from whom we should
have expected such a plea.
At the very time that the qualification was
properly abolished in the Upper House, it was
noticed in another form in the House of Com-
mons. Mr. JOHN TOWNSEND, the member for
Greenwich, had unfortunately been adjudicated
a bankrupt, mainly, as his friends allege,
through the political persecution to which
he was exposed in consequence of his election.
His constituents were, however, satisfied with
his conduct, and had made very creditable exnr
tions to retain his services, and which exertions,
there is reason to believe, will eventually be suc-
cessful. Whatever might be his pecuniary means
he had faithfully represented their wants and
wishes, and invariably voted in accordance, not
only with the pledges he had given, but with the
political views he hal expressed ; and yet he will
be prevented from sitting or voting until the bank-
ruptcy is superseded. Greenwich will thus be
virtually disfranchised, and that although the
privilege belongs to the constituency, and not to
the representative. We know nothing of Mr.
TOWNSEND personally, but it certainly seems
that, on the abolition of the property qualifica-
tion, Mr. TOWNSEND ought to be enabled to re-
sume the discharge of his Legislative duties.

Slavery and the Slave Trade for ever ! might
well be the heading of many a letter and leader
in the " Leading Journal." Certain enough,
however, is it, that on this subject it neither leads
nor follows the public opinion of the country.
Almost every immigration scheme, unless, per-
haps, an audacious French one, almost every dif-
ficulty connected with our African or Cuban anti-
slave squadron, every letter vilifying the emanci-
pated peasantry, all seem welcome as pegs
whereon to hang a pro-slavery lecture. Conti-
nental despots, slaveholders, and slavery, seem
to enjoy the special patronage of the Times.
Of course, a cert lin appearance of homage to
the deeply•rooted sentiments of Englishmen is
kept up, yet we regret to feel too sure that slave-
traders and slaveholders, and immigration-mon-
gers, must easily see through the thin disguise,
and rejoice in a plausible, and what would be, but
for the jury to whom the special pleading is ad-
dressed, a powerful advocacy.

We have just seen how the lying exaggerations
of some Yankee skippers, and it may be the
ex-
cessive zeal of some of our indignant young Lieu-
tenants, has served for a little political dust in
America, and bow "British Outrages" may pos-
sibly be nursed "to keep them warm " till the
glorious sth of July. Then, indeed, we shall read
of "Stump oratory" on maintaining the honour
of their flag ; and verily we wish the
orators would maintain it ; that they would free
it from the foul dishonour of floating over cargoes
of slaves, a disgrace to it infinitely beyond any
that our cruisers are likely to inflict upon it. They
know that their flag enjoys at present the distin-
guished honour of being hoisted by every trader
in human flesh—and they glory in the honour.
They well know the difference between a visit to
verify the title of a ship to hoist American colours,
and an attack upon the American flag itself. If
we wrong an innocent trader in hunting after the
guilty one, let us make reparation to the wronged
man. It ought to be done in every case of mis-
taken arrest—even of an individual ; but, in the
name of common sense, what individual would ask
that the colour or quality of his coat shoed pro-
tect him from being taken into custody on reason-
able ground of suspicion ? He would well know
that if that were law, every man who kaew it,
would have but to spend a pound or two more on
his coat to enable him to rob him of his watch
with impunity. Yet a little silly bluster of the
Yankees, we must do the Government the credit
of confessing, not shared by it, has served an
English journal as a reason for denouncing our
keeping up any longer an anti-slave trade police
of the seas. Dr. LIVINGSTONE, who, of all per-
sons ought to know, assures us in his book, that
when we kept an efficient squadron on the
African coast we did stop the trade.
We are pleased to see that the infamous ca-
lumnies of " EXPERTUS" which appeared in the
Times, and which seemed to be very welcome,
have not been left unrefuted. The Anti-Slavery
Society sent over to numerous respectable and
well-informed persons in the West India Islands
a series of questions bearing on the actual want
of labour, the effects of immigration, and the re-
sults of liberty on the habits of the negroes.
The pamphlet containing the answers lies before
us, and we have examined every one of the
numerous letters in it. The whole of them appear
to be written with an anxious desire to state the
truth as exactly as the writer could do it, and what
is the result? Are the negroes lazy,
improvident,
disposed to go naked rather tTian toil for wages?
" beasts," as we aro told, rather than men ; with
none of the wants of civilisation, and therefore
unwilling to work for what they do not wish for Y

It is clear that the facts are altogether the re-
v.exse of all this. True, men will not and cannot
work, under a sun that is death to •Europeans, as
they could and would under our temperate clime.
True, also, that there are numerous individuals as
lazy as individuals here, where work is compara-
tively pleasure. True, also, that plantation work,
the work which is not only most toilsome, but
which most of all reminds them of the whip and
the treadmill, is not the work preferred. But,
true it is also, that the readiness to work is the
rule, and willing idleness the exception.
The grand obstruction to negro industry is
the conduct of the planter. He offers a man from
eightpence to eighteenpence—generally, perhaps,
a shilling—to labour ten hours under a Jamaica
sun ! Worse even than that, he is but too prone
to dispute payment after the work has been done,
thus rendering day labour unpopular by the uncer-
tainty of the remuneration. Whenever, there-
fore, ground can be cheaply rented or bought,
and that is the case over a cinsiderable part Of
Jamaica and same other islands, the negro does
what we must surely commend him for-..-he works
for himself. Ile tills his own ground and sells
the produce. In this way he keeps the market of
the island well supplied with provisions, and not
only that, lie raises a very large quantity of

produce for exportation. Sugar itself, coffee,
pimento, arrowroot, &-c., he cultivates so succes-
fully, that it ii due to him that the exports of

TIRE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, JUNE l6, 1858.

Jamaica rival now those of the latter years of
slavery. The roads, we ara told, are literally
crowded, at certain times of the year, with their
produce coming to the towns for sale, and the
country in many places exhibits their industrious
small-farm cultivation, ride which way you will.
It is acknowledged, in some districts, that
there is a deficiency of labour, but it is denied
that the indolence of the negro is the cause
of it ; and truly denied. Partly, in those
districts, they have not yet recovered from
the decimating ravages of the cholera
or the small-pox ; and partly, and that
is the too common case, the planters want not la-
bour, but slave labour again. They cannot bring
themselves to treat the negroes as freemen, they
get perhaps some coolies or Chinese, which ulti-
mately cost them as much as if they paid good
wages to the coloured people ; the coloured peo-
ple have however left the estate in disgust, on
the arrival of the intruders, and when the appren-
tices have fulfilled their term, if they have not died
first, the negroes have found better employ in
working for themselves. All this appears to be
of frequent occurrence .

When the men are fairly paid and kindly
treated the evidence is conclusive that they are
as willing to work as the inhabitants of any tro-
pical clime, nay, decidedly more so than most.
As to the wants of civilisation they "rival the
Europeans in dress," and are fond of acquiring
horses and cattle. Perhaps the most remarkable
fact of all is their large contributions to religious
and charitable objects. They support a large
number of the missionaries who labour amongst
them, build chapels and :schoolrooms, and contri-
bute considerable amounts for education
of their children. The wonder, we think,
is, that they are what they are. It is hardly
five-and-twenty years since they had no induce•
ment to labour but the cat-o'-nine-tails ; since
labour was rendered as hateful as it could be to
them by its being unrequited and cruel, since
they were indeed treated as " beasts" by those
who were themselves worse than beasts ; since a
thought beyond the gratification of the hour was
an absurdity ; and since licentiousness and de-
bauchery were taught them by the example of
their masters, and by denial of the rights of mar-
riage. It is truly wonderful that such men are
now peaceful and intensely loyal subjects ; that
the militia even is disbanded as superfluous ; that
as a body they are industrious and thrifty, and
the exports of the islands are increasing every
year. It is a wicked, unrighteous policy that
sends among them a set of heathen Chinese and
Coolies to demoralise them again by the vices of
paganism, on the one hand, and to bid against
them in the labour market on the other—to bid
against them after having been imported by
taxation, to which they must contribute. Were
a labour immigration into Manchester, or into the
West Riding, or into London, carried on by aid
of the public taxes, we imagine it would not be
long before we should have a little work for our
soldiery. The maligned negroes endure it, with-
out even a militia to protect those who wrong
them !

The last explanation respecting the Cagliari
was given last night. The business was not only
quietly done, but well done. The nation has
every cause to rejoice at the manner in which its
honour was vindicated by Lord MAL MESE [TRY. Mr,
S. FITZGERALD last night stated that her MAJESTY'S
Government had presented a note calling for a
categorical answer from the King of NAPLES, re-
quiring indemnity and the restoration of the ship
and crew. It was also intimated that a similar
demand would be preferred by the Sardinian
Government. We did not then desert our ally,
and the Neapolitan authorities made a merit of
necessity, and at once yielded both demands.
The result was, that Count CA TOUR, on learning
that the ship had been restored, and the crew set
at liberty, directed the Sardinian. representative
to keep back the note that had previously been
forwarded to him, and the Minister for Pied-
mont at the Court of St. James's has expressed
the satisfaction of his Government with the ar-
rangement made.
This untoward affair has now been amicably
and satisfactorily arranged, through the tempe-
rate, but firm and decided, course adopted by
Lord MA LMESBITRY . There is no longer any
danger of hostilities that might disturb the
tranquillity of Europe, and, perhaps, even-
tually load to a general war. There is
a strong contrast between the conduct of
the present and the late Government in this mat-
ter, and that not only so far as our countrymen,
but as Sardinia's, were implicated and concerned.
They had sustained a common wrong, and a com-
mon remedy was obtained for all.

The Australian overland has arrived at last,
and the Government have acted wisely in delay-
ing the departure of the Overland Mail until to-
morrow, thereby affording merchants an opportu-
nity toreturn answers more considerately than they
would have been enabled to do upon the spur
and excitement of the moment of arrival.

There is great complaint with respect to the
postal communication by the recent arrangement
with the European and Australian Royal
Mail Company, who have broke down
almost on every occasion, and have there-
by inflicted great commercial losses on the
mercantile interests, besides wounding the
private feelings of the community by reckless in-
difference to their engagements. From the first
we denounced the contract as a specious job, and
the result has unfortunately fulfilled our predic-
tion even beyond our apprehensions. We now
think that the parties concerned, both public and
private, ought to be brought to book before a
competent tribunal.

If we remember rightly, the ex-Secretary of the
Treasury was the great god of the Philistines on
that unhappy occasion, and wonderfully well
have his chosen people contrived to mar the
adventure in spite of the heavy penalties for
non-performance, which were never expected
to be enforced. Why, the vessel which
brought the present mail has incurred
penalties amounting to nearly six thousand
pounds for non-performance of the contract !
Will these be paid ?—and suppose they will,
what recompense will merchants receive for their
losses solely occasioned by the Contracting Mail
Company's mismanagement in non-performing
their duty ? The public have to pay, and that
rather extravagantly, in this case ; they should
therefore be well served, but the very reverse is
the woeful experience. Let us hope our autho-
rities may be luckier in their contracts hereafter.
Why should there not be a mail by Panama as well
as by Suez ? We should then have two strings to
our Low, and, consequently, be even more than
doubly independent.
Very copious extracts will be found in another
part of commercial and all other news from Mel-
bourne to the 15th April inclusive.

The Duchess et Kent visited. the PrifleeßSl Alice and
the younger royal children yesterday, at Buckingham
Palace. Her Royal Highness honoured the performance
of the Italian Opera with her pretence in the evening.
In attendance were Lady Fanny Howard, Lady Anna
Maria Dawson, and Culoutl Stephens.

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