The Sun.
London, England, 1860-03-01 00:00:00

CIIRISTIW MINSTRELS.

These popular artists resumed their celebrated
entertainments on Monday evening last at the
Polygraphic Hall, previous to their departure for
America. The performances were characterised
with the vivacity and displayed the talent that
have before so often called forth the applause
of the public. Among the best niorceaux were
" Beautiful Star" and " Come where my love lies
dreaming," which touching and graceful pieces
form a striking contrast to the more humorous
portions of the entertainment. The second part
was of this order, and, to judge from the
amusement of the audience, the efforts of
the performers were crowned with the
most signal success, The dancing was really
admirable in its peculiar and forcibly illus-
trated in a burlesque, named the " Peculiarities of
Certain Operatic Celebrities." Altogether, the
result of Monday evening's performance furnished
more satisfaction than is often afforded by the per-
formances at larger house.F.

21IE REV. T. RI. NNEY ON THE BALLOT
IS A UASTI?A LIA.

TO THE VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE BALLOT
SOCIETY.
Sir,—My time and attention when in Australia
were so much given to other subjects that I fear any
impressions I may retain of political matters will
be to you very unsatisfactory. In respect to the
object of your inquiry the following things occur
to MC:-

1. On my arrival in Victoria, in 1858, all with
whom I came in contact, ministers of religion espe-
cially, expressed themselves as alike gratified and
surprised by the results which had taken place
under some new experiment, including, if my im-
pressions are correct, an extension of the suffrage
and the employment of the ballot. Not only was
everything quietly conducted, but the successful
men were well and wisely chosen. The late elec-
tions have not, I fear, issued in quite so happy a
result. Indeed, I know that in more of the colonies
than one there is an apprehension among moderate
but liberal men, that the predominance of the
purely democratic element will ere long prove em-
barrassing.
2. I was in Sydney at the time of the general
election last year. So far as the working of the
ballot was concerned nothing could be more satis-
factory. There was no disorder, excitement, in-
temperance ; everything passed off with the utmost
decorum. There were meetings of the supporters
of the different candidates in various localities pre-
vious to the day of election, and there were the
hustings and a crowd when that day came; but I
never heard any complaint of any sort about
the proceedings, unless it was the remark " that
everything was so dull and quiet now, that the
spirit of an election seems to have evaporated." I
don't know that the ballot is much needed in Aus-
tralia as a protection ; the state of the labour
market is often such that the employed have the
whip-hand of the employers, and are quite inde-
pendent enough to vote openly for whom they like.
The ballot does not prevent persons publicly band-
ing together and acting in concert as the supporters
of particular candidates. The election for East
Sydney was said to have terminated as it did, in
consequence of an understanding, suddenly come
to by the friends of Mr. A. to give one of their
votes to Mr. B. instead of to Mr. C. The gentle-
man who put up for a suburb of Sydney carried
his ideas of the intention and meaning of the ballet
so far that he would not have a committee, nor ask
a vote, nor do anything by which an individual
should openly commit himself. His extreme deli-
cacy, however, was not rewarded. He lost his
election.

3. In South Australia, I remember a gentleman
petitioned the Legislature for liberty to be given
to those who wished it to vote openly. He did
not ask for the ballot to be discontinued, only that
it might not be imperative. Many, perhaps, may
sympathise with this so far as they themselves are
concerned; but, as I have mentioned, though the
voting be secret, men may be as open as they please
in their actions and their utterances.
Whatever may be the feeling of individuals,
their particular wish or liking, personally—l think
I may say that, with respect to the working of the
measure generally, I do not remember to have
heard anything of dissatisfaction or complaint.—l
am, sir, yours truly, T. BINN EY.
Upper Clapton, Feb. 24.