The Sun.
London, England, 1859-12-08 00:00:00

" RAILWAYS.

" The Melbourne and Murray River Railway, the
most important of the Government Victorian line,
both as regards the extent of the country to
.be tra-
versed and the portions of the interior with which
it wi'.l open a communication, ie progressing satis-
factorily. It has for the last nine months been
opened for traffic to Sunbury, a distance of 23 miles.
There the engineering difficulties of its construction
may be said t,) commence. That portion of the line
already completed crosses the level tract known as
Keller Plains, but at Sunbury it enters upon the
elevated country formed by the Mount Macedon
Ranges. At Sanbur3 , and at . the Big frill, near
Bendigo, about 100 miles from Melbourne, the
efforts of the contractors are for the present concen-
trated. The works to' be constructed at these two
points are of such a character as to require the exer-
tions of about 2,000 men, in order to complete them
within the period limited by the. contract. A stone
viaduct, 30 feet in height, and 60 feet in length, on
the Sunbury section, is now nearly completed, and
a girder bridge of about the same elevation to cross
Jackson's creek, the foundation stone of which his
Excellency the Governor laid some months since, is
in course of erection. The embankments here are
about 60 feet in height, and somewhat more than a
mile in extent. The most formidable portion of the
work is an excavation of a mile in length and 40
feet in depth through an almost impenetrable mass
of basaltic rock. It is, however, being proceeded
with, and about one7third of the distance is cut the
requisite width, a gullet having been formed some
100 yards further.,
" The Geelong and Ballarat line is also progress-
ing as rapidly as the engineering difficulties will
allow; but some time must elapse before any im-
portant section can be opened for the public. The
stability of the works on both these Government lines
is unquestionable, and they would contrast favour-
ably with some of the best constructed lines in Eng-
land. The excess of their cost over those of an in-
ferior character will be more than counterbalanced
by the small cost which will be necessary to main-
tain them in repair.
" The Geelong and Melbourne line is not yet in
the hands of the Government, but the accounts are
being gone through, and it is probable that our
next monthly report will convey the intelligence
that the arrangements with the directors are ap-
proaching completion. Another Geelong line has
been projected—the Geelong and Queenseliffe Rail-
way, which is meeting with some support among
investors.

" The returns of the Melbourne and Hobson's
Bay Railway continue to exhibit the usual substan-
tial results. The traffic from the Ist of May to the
13th of October has been :

Passengers, parcels, &c., receipts, as per last £ s. d.
statement, September 8
Ditto, from September Bto October 13 4,649 8 10

Merchandise receipts, as per
last statement, Sept. 8 ... £12,099 4 6
Ditto, from Sept. 8t• Oct. 13 2,458 3 9

22,540 8 4

14,618 8 3

Total receipts
Tonnage discharged from ships and steamers, Tons.
as per last statenteat, Sept. 8 ... 69,764
From Sept. Bto Oct. 13

Total tonnage 72,414
" The number of ships discharged at Sandridge
Railway Pier, exclusive of colonial steamers, as per
statement during this period, has been 63.
" The following ships have been taken along-
side the railway pier since our last summary :
The Sussex, the William Kidston, the Ida, the
Argonaut, the Roxburgh Castle, the Spark of the
Ocean, the Saldanha, the Exodus, the Zambesi,
and the State of Maine.
The Brighton and St. Kilda Railway, which
joins the Melbourne and Hobson's Bay line at St
Kilda, will be completed in a few weeks. This line
will proide accommodation for the numerous resi-
dents along the picturesque shores of the bay. The
Melbourne and Suburban Railway Company are
pushing their works vigorously in the direction of
Hawthorne, and the Melbourne and Essendon Rail-
way Company aro engaged in the heaviest of the
cuttings and embankments along their line.

COMMERCIAL.

" Two or three failures have taken place in the
import trade, not involving very large amounts.
Messrs. Molienbaeek, Uhlhorn, and Co. suspended
payment on the 3d inst. At a meeting of the cre-
ditors a statement was produced, showing that the
liabilities to foreign creditors amounted to £14,760;
to Australian creditors, £8,696 ; total, £23,456.
The assets were stated at—goods in stock, £4,012 ;
debts due, £2,956 ; total, £6,968. Messrs. Smither
and Clark :gave notice on the 10th inst. to their
creditors that they were unable to meet their en-
gagements. The liabilities of this firm amount to
to £25,000. The estate will be wound up under a
deed of assignment, and is expected to yield 12s. in
the pound sterling.
"There appears to be no immediate probability
of the stocks of imported goods in Melbourne un•

dergOing any diminution. The arriv sls continue
to be in excess of the consumption, and the ware-
houses are becoming crowded. The declared value
of the imports for the current year, up to the Bth
inst., has amounted to £11,399,656, and of the ex-
ports to £10,053,803, leaving a balance in favour of
the former of £1,345,843. Up to the cormspotiding
date of last year the imports amounted to £9,996,697,
and: the exports to £9,997,272, leaving-a balance in
favour of the latter of £575. These figures show
very plainly that, while our export trade has been
stationary, our import trade hiss been greatly on the
increase, and this 'at a time when the home powers
of production are expanding to a greater ratio than
is necessary to keep pace with the growing num-
bers of the population.
"The revenue returns for the year and quarter
ending the 30th ult. have been issued, and are in
the main satisfactory. The general revenues have
been maintained, and that derived from:the aliena-
tion of the Crown lands increased.
"The goldfields! returns are • not quite up to the
average, and, as the last quarter of the year is less
favourable for milling pursuits than the autumnal
and winter quarters, the prospect of bringing the
production up to that of last year is now very re-
mote.. Up to Saturday the quantities brought down
by escort amounted to the total of 1,736;569 ounces,
against 1,861.591 ounces for the corresponding poi,
flow of -1858 ; and the shipments to 1,827,419
ounces against 1,949,795 ounces.
The escort returns for the third quarter of the
year are 110 W complete, and we find ,that the'.aver-
age weekly production was only 44,5232 z. against
48,2350 i. for the third quarter of 1858. The weekly
average of the year has been 44,0070 z. against
45,1500 z. for the first three quarters of 1858. The-
yield of the older fieldS appears to 'be undergoing
one of those periodical fluctuations which have
always characterized the pursuit of mining industry
in this colony. Political excitement may have had
some hand in causing the decline Of this month and
its predecessor, and the share-jobbing mania has un-
doubtedly exercised no mean influence. Prices
have varied with the fluctuations in the rates of ex-
change on England, and parcels have been held
back. No new fields have been opened up, and the
joint- stock companies are only making preparations ;
they are not yet producers of the metal.
" The published returns of the Registrar-Gene-
ral's-office enabled us to compile for our last month's

report a statement of the numbers of the population
of the colony on the 30th of June last. The totals
were—males, 330,212; females,. 187,151; total,
517,366.

" The demand for labour is steadily increasing
with the advance of the season."

NEW SOUTH WALES.
We take the following from the Sydney Morning
Herald of the 13th of October

" Since our last summary, dated September 12th,
the share-market has been steady, and the ad-
vance that had taken place in most securities
has been fully maintained. The fluctuations that
have taken place during the month are as follow:
Some large sales of the shares of Bank of New
South Wales have been made at £57 per share, but
at a recent sale by auction these shares were sold at
£54 10s. per share, but they are not now to be ob-
tained at this price. At a meeting of the share-
holders, held on the 28th of September, a resolution
was passed to increase the capital to .1..:750,000. The
new shares are to be allotted at the rate of one new
share to two old shares. Commercial Bank shares
are firm, and have been sold at an advance of 108
per share. Australian Joint-stock Bank shares are
dull of sale. The calls due this and the next month
on the new shares of this bank, as well as the Bank
of New South Wales, have caused sellers to come
forward. Steam shares have been inquired for, and
some sales have been effected, both in the old and
new company's shares, at par. General Assurance
shares have been sold at au advance of 5s per share.
Sydney Insurance shares hate been sought after,
and have advanced is Gd per share. Gaslight shares
are firm at quotations, and the new shares have
been sold by auction at an improvemsnt of Gs per
share.

" Government debentures are not quito so firm.
Terminables are about half per cent lower, in con-
sequence of a reduction in the rate of exchange on
London. Interminables are without any alteration.
" The rates of discount charged by the banks
remain the same—viz., 7 per cent. for three months'
bills, 8 per cent. for four months', and 9 per cent.
for six months.

" The banks have reduced the rate of exchange
on London since last month 1 per cent. The sell-
ing rate for bills on London at 60 da3s'sight is nc.w
4 per cent. premium, and the buying rate par.
" The quantity of golddust imported into the
Sydney branch of the Royal Mint, for the purpose
of coinage, from the Ist of January to the 71h of
October, 1859, has been 237;136 ounces. The amount
of gold coin issued during the same period has
been 643,000 sovereigns and 321,000 half-sovereigns.
Total value, £808,500. During the same periorl of
1856 the quantity of golddust received for coinage
was 265,026 ounces, and the amount of coin issued

791,500 sovereigns and 486,000 half-sovereigns.
Total value £1,334,000.

" The quantity of golddust received by the escorts
from our several gold•fields, during the month of
September, was 21,822 ounces. For the same month
of 1858 the amount received was 31,822 ounces.
There is, therefore, a decrease of 2,054 ounces, or
about 7 per cent on the receipts of the month. The
falling off is in the quantity received from the
Western Gold-fields, but there is a considerable in-
crease in the yield from the Southern and Northern
Gold-fields. Froni Jan. 1 to Sept. 30, 1858, the re-
ceipt amounted to 182,076 ounces. For the corre-
sponding nine months of the present year the
amount received has been 214,306 ounces. There
is therefore an increase of 32,520 ounces in favour
of the present year.
" The amount of Customs revenue collected at the
port of Sydney during the month of September has
been £38,643 14s l ld. During the corresponding
month of 1859 the receipts amounted to £45,895 106
sd. There is therefore a decrease of £7,251, 15s 6d
on the receipts •f th• month. This flecline in the
Customs revenue is to be attributed to the motion
recommending the abolition of the duty on tea and
sugar, which was passed by the Legislative Assem-
bly, but was afterwards rescinded. As it was stated,
however, to be the intention of the Government to
propose a reduction in the duty on these articles,
holders have held back payin,, the duty, and until
the financial statement of the Colonial Treasurer

has been made, there will be no desire to pay the
duty, except for actual requirements. During the
nine months of the year 1858, the amount of duties
received was £405,728 135 Id ; for the same period
of the present year the duties collected have
amounted to £445,194 19s I hi, which is an increase
of £39,466 Os 10d, or nearly 10 per cent. in favour
of the present year.
" It is satisfactory to find that the Customs
revenue during the last five years has gone on
gradually improving, the increase on the re-
ceipts of the present three quarters of the year,
as compared with 1855, being £117,964 ns sd,
or 36 per cent. ; with 1856, £125,265 18s 10d,
or 39 per cent.; with 1857, £61,983 is Bd, or
about 16 per cent. ; and with 1858, £39,466 Gs
101, or nearly 10 per cent. On referring to the
Ways and Means laid before the late Parliament by
Mr. Cowper last year, we find that the estimated
revenue to be derived from tho customs during the
year 1859 was £572,250, or £429,187 lOs for nine
months. On comparing this estimate with the an-
nual receipts of the present year, it will be seen
that there is an increase of £16,007 9s ld, or over
31 per cent. on the amount received at the port of
Sydney only ; now, if we include the Customs re-
ceipts at the ports of Brisbane and Newcastle, the
gross Customs revenue will be augmented by the
sum of at least £22,000, so that the real increase
in the estimated revenue is nearly 9 per cent.
" Some very fine specimens of cotton grown in
Queensland have been sent to Sydney. It is pro-
bable that cotton will become a staple production
of this new colony after its separation from New.
South Wales. The great difficulty in the way will
be labour. Without cheap labour it will not pay
well ; and, although the growth of cotton may be
profitably carried on in conjunction with other agri•
cultural pursuits, it has as yet been found impossi-
ble to impress the classes interested with a due ap-
preciation of this fact, and to make them turn it to
account."

REPORTED BOMBARDMENT OF A BRITISH MAN-
or-AVAR.—A despatch, dated Mexico, Nov. 2, which was
yesterday posted in the Liverpool Underwriters' rooms,
states that two sailing vessels entered the port of San Blas,
laden with goods for Baron, Forbes, and Co., at Tepic.
They were, however, immediately seized by the orders of
Coronada. Tnforivation was at once conveyed to the cap-
tain of her Majesty's ship Amethyst, who at once demanded
the restoration of the captured ships. The captain's request
was mot with a flat refusal, Coronada declining to give them
up. The British captain then hoisted out his boats, and
gave orders to cut the ships out of the harbour. On the
boats approaching the citadel opened fire, which was
vigorously returned by the guns ot' the Amethyst. In the
meantime the boats proceeded up the river to the place
where the vessels lay moored, and, after some resistance,
succeeded in cutting the two ships out from under the guns
of the citadel of San Blas,—Manchester Guardian,

1 'IV -,'-.l_lf7'' .4- ''. •
t'4lttt-4 q -4
10-
*
POLICY OF.RUIVI4 p7O
, 0 \__
w r in s67'-.- 7.'
The Laval e lusse, an r .
words apropos of 'the Congregi,xpllbs 6
the
following terms the policy to be VVrsuedlty Russia
in the regulation of the questions which are to be
submitted to the deliberations of the4Congress. The
Russian journal says :
" Let us examine what are the principal points
to which the Congress will direct its inquiries. It
would have been extremely useful in the month
of April last, because it would haVe prevented a
terrible loss mt.. blood between two powerful And
warlike nations. At present it has only to
pronounce on filets accomplished previous 'to'7ind
since the War- The first question that presents it-
self is this :-L--What powers ought to be invited
to take part in it ? First, the Congress ought cer-
tainly to be composed of representatives from- the
five great Powers. According to the principles laid
down at the Congress of Vienna no change should
take place in Europe without the consent of .the
five Powers. The Congress of Aix-la-Chapelle, of
Laybach: and of Verona, which succeeded the Con-
gress of Vienna formed a species of tribunal for the
other POWQII4. The war between France and Spain
for the re-establishment of Ferdinand -VII. was not
the result of that Congress. The kingdom of Greece
was established by three Powers only. Belgium
was separated from 'Holland by a conference of the
great Powers assembled in London. Again. in the
month of April last, it was proposed to convoke the
five great Powers solely to decide the fate of Italy.
At present it is determined to appeal to a Congress
of all the Powers who signed the treaty of Vienna,
which treaty has undergone a change by the pre-
sent situation of Italy and Naples. Rome and Sar-
dinia will moreover he admitted. The approaching
Congress will have first to settle the affairs of Cen-
tral Italy. It is necessary to re-establish the order
of things which existed previous to the war, or are
the facts accomplished since the 25th April last to be
acknowledged ? If the majority of the Powers adopt
the first of these two alternatives the Congress must
find means to execute the decree of the European
Areopagus. Should the employment of force become
necessary, to what Power will be entrusted the exe-
cution of the clause ? Above all, the congress will
-have to enter on the question of right. The Congress
of Zurich decided that the rights of the Grand Dukes
are reserved. England, on the contrary, maintains
that the people have aright to choose their sovereign
and the form of their government. That Power re-
minds the others, and that with some reason, that
France, Sweden, and herself have already applied
that principle. The Bourbons, the 'deSeendants of
Gustavus Wasa, and the Stuarts no lhnger reign in
these countries. She maintains that Europe, having
already admitted that principle in Belgium and in
Greece, can scarcely repudiate it in Central Italy.
This will be the first danger for the Congress, be-
cause Austria, Prance, the Pope and with them
Spain. Portugal, and Naples, will not fail to main-
tain that the rights of the dispossessed dynasties are
sacred and immutable. But this is a merely histori-
cal question. while the rights of the Grand Dukes
of Central Italy constitute a thorny question. These .
Sovereigns are connected with Austria by family ties
and by treaties. Austria commenced the war in spite
of the representations of Europe ; she should, conse-
quently, endure the fate of war, and submit to all its
consequences. Austria and France have resolved
to restore the Grand Dukes, but they had not the
right to do so without the consent of Europe. Not
being permitted to proceed to an armed interven-
tion, they have recourse to moral stimulants and to
persuasion to induce the people to replace the dis-
possessed Sovereigns on their thrones. All these
proceedings have as yet failed of success, and the
solution of this question will be referred to the Con-
gress. But the Congress, while confirming the
dynastic right, will find itself invslved in great
difficulties if it wishes to restore the Dukes by
force of arms. The influence of one Power will
carry with it others. War will break out again,
and we declare that it will then become a war im-
possible to localize or to circumscribe. Such
is the object of the deliberations of the ap-
proaching Congress. We repeat the opinion we
have frequently expressed, that the affairs of Italy
are not the only ones which ought to occupy the
Congress. Four years have elapsed since the con-
clusion of the treaty of Paris. Has the object then
promised been obtained ? Where is regenerated
Turkey ? Has she become a- European Power ?
Has the persecution of the Christians ceased ? Has
Europe obtained guarantees of tranquillity its that
quarter? Is fanaticism extinguished? Can it
ever be hoped that Christians and Alahomedans
shall ever be equal before the law ?"

HEALTH OP LONDON DUPING THE

TVEEK.

(R•ont the _Report of the RegiBtrar-Getteral.)

The total number of deaths registered in London
in the week that ended last Saturday was 1,304,
being nearly the same as that returned for the
preceding week. In the 10 years 1849-58 the
average number of deaths in the weeks correspond-
ing with last week was 1,233; but as the deaths
included in the present return occurred in a popula-
tion that has increased, they should be compared
with the average raised in proportion to the in-
crease—namely, with 1.356. The result is that the
deaths of last week were less by 52 than the num-
ber that Would have occurred if the average rate of
mortality for the end of November had ruled.
The deaths from puln:onary diseases, exclusive
of phthisis, declined last week from 314 to 284. Of
these figures the chief constituent is bronchitis,
which declined from 198 to 167. The mortality
from! small-pox increases, for the deaths from
this disease in the last three weeks were successively
29, 30, and 39. Eleven of these 39 occurred to
persons who were 15 years old and under 60. Mr.
Mears, the registrar of the sub-district of Waterloo,
first part, registered a death from small-pox last
week iu Salutation-place, where he states that many
cases have occurred. Scarlatina was fatal in 87
cases ; diphtheria in 13. The former seems still to
prevail much in Islington ; there were also four
deaths from it in Cripplegate ; seven in Mile-end
01(1 Town; four in ltotherhitho. Ten children
died from suffocation in bed, aparentlT by accident,
four were murdered ; 16 died from having been born
prematurely. Six nonagenarians appear in the re-
turns ; the oldest died at the age of 97 years.
Ltst week the births of 915 boys and 912 girls,
in all 1.827 children, were registered in London.
In the 10 corresponding weeks of the years 1849-
58, the average number was 1,609:

METROPOLITAN WATERS IN NOVEMBER, 1859.
The analyses of the London waters made by Dr:
Robert Dundas Thompson, F.R:S:, in the month of
November exhibit the gradual increase of the solid
impurities as the moist. season adTances. Those
samples in which the impwity is greatest were
taken after a rain-fall. For the sake of comparison,
the
_composition of the water of Loch Katrine, the
new supply to G lasr,.ow, and of one of the impure
surface wells of London is added :

Total impurity Organic im -
per gallon. purity.
grs. ordeg. grs. or deg.
o'o 0.0

0.8
15.92

112
2.36
2%12
113-1
220

21 '36
2210
28•428

102
2 *2 •
1.92