The Sun.
London, England, 1859-01-06 00:00:00

SPAIN.

AUSTRALIA.

(From the Times' Correspondent.)
MELBOURNE, Nov. 15, 1858,
The September mail has not yet arrived, and the
Emeu will probably leave to-morrow morning,
without any intelligence of its whereabouts.
Electric communication was opened with Syd-
ney on the 2d inst., and the lines bet Ween Mel-
bourne, Sydney, and Adelaide reciprocally are in
full operation. The three Governors exchanged
complimentary messages. The lines are used freely
by the Governments and trades, and the newspapers
contain every morning the distant news of the pre-
vious evening. Though the first expectations of a
great goldfield at Port Curtis have been completely
disappointed, it is by no means improbable that
enough may be disclosed to cause the country to be
settled, especially as it is a fine country, well suited
for stock and the culture of tropical productions.
If so, the New South Wales telegraphic lines will
soon be extended to Roehampton—another step
towards India, and thence to Europe.
How different is the actual condition of this great
insular continent from the conception entertained
of it 30 years since ! Every new exploration dis-
closes new and hitherto unanticipated features,
which show a large portion of the country to be fit
for settlement. From a recent report of Mr. Gre-
gOry, in command of an expedition from South
Australia, it seems probable that a low-lying belt
of sandy desert extends from the great Australian
bight, west of Spencer's Gulf, towards the Gulf
of Carpentaria, uniting into one great insular
continent what was once two islands, the more
fertile portion lying to the eastward of this sandy
belt. A patriotic inhabitant of this colony, who
conceals his name, offers £l,OOO towards further
explorations, and a subscription is now in course
of collection for the purpose. It will, no doubt,
be supplemented by the Assembly, and it
is now thought quite practicable to traverse the
continent from our boundary, the Murray, to the
northern coasts. For this and other purposes this
Government is about to introduce camels as an ex-
periment. Those who are acquainted with the
habits of the camel affirm that they will thrive and
breed freely in this climate.
The gold has certainly peopled these colonies in
a very extraordinary manner, but it has reached its
maxonum effect, or nearly so ; and we must hence-
forward look to other productions, such as the vine,
the olive, the mulberry, cotton, tobacco, and rice, to
promote the further progress of these colonies.
Exploration is a necessary step to development, and
it is the conviction of this truth which has stimu-
lated so much enterprie in this way.
We also want facts to account for some of the
phenomena connected with our climate. The north
wind in the winter is the coldest wind we have ;
in summer the wind from the same quarter is like
the hot blast from a furnace, sometimes marking
117 deg. in the shade. What is the condition of
the interior which causes this anomaly? That the
north wind should be less hot in winter than in
summer might be inferred a priori, but why, coming
from the tropic, should it be colder than the south
wind, coming from the frozen ocean ? This is the
problem to be solved, and it cannot be solved .with-
out greatly adding to our 'stock of knowledge.
We have been just threatened with a Ministerial
crisis on a question scarcely worthy of so momen-
tous a political convulsion. A Captain McMahon,
formerly an officer in a cavalry regiment in Canada,
and for about five years Chief' Commissioner of
Police here, was charged in the Assembly in the
early part of this year with irregular practices,
which, as the report exonerated him, I shall not
further allude to. This was before the present
Government came into office, and when the motion
for a committee was made two members of the
present Government spoke rather in his favour.
By the change of Ministry in March the mover
and chairman of this select committee crossed
the House as a supporter of the new Go-
vernment, but the inquiry went on without
any aid from the Government. There were
rumours afloat that Capt. Nl'Mahon was somewhat
damaged by the evidence, but the report of the Com.
mittee was to the effect that " they had not disco-
vered the slightest evidence to substantiate the
charges." This was brought up on the Ist day of the
session, 'June 4th, but the evidence was not delivered
to members until July 21st. It is a pity that the
matter was not allowed to rest there. It is not alleged
that the Government showed any want of confi-
dence in McMahon, and he should have been con-
tent with this acquittal, for such it really was. On.
June Bth, however, Capt. McMahon wrote a semi-
private letter to the Chief Secretary, alluding to
the investigation before the select committee, and,
" in order to give the Government an opportunity
of expressing their opinion of his qualifications,
placed his office at their disposal. The answer of
the Chief Secretary was, that the Government had
not had an opportunity of forming an epinion, as the
evidence was not printed. All this time there had
been going on a dispute between Capt. M'Mahon
and one of his officers, on a question of removal to
the metropolitan district on account of ill-health,
impaired by 14 years' service. This man's claim to
indulgence had been recognised by three succeeding
Ministries, if not four. He thought Capt. M'Mahon
thwarted his claim. Capt. McMahon thought him
insubordinate, and at length moved him to a new
goldfield, with a hut, 12 by 8, without door, win-
dow, or floor.
At length the papers connected with this man's
application were submitted to the Chief Secretary
for his decision, 'the police being under that Minis-
ter. The decision was that Mr. Dana should have
his leave. A few days afterwards Capt. McMahon
resigned, making the decision a ground for assum-
ing " that he had lost the confidence and sympathy
of the Government." The resignation was accepted;
to have done otherwise would have rendered the
Chief Commissioner the master of his master. All
this occurred before the Legislature met.
At length Capt. Anderson gave notice of a mo-
tion of censure on the Chief Secretary, on the ground
that his conduct was unjust to Captain M'Mahon,
and detrimental to the discipline of the police. I
do not think he had, at first, any political object in
view. He said he was actuated only by sympathy
for a brother officer, and as he is really a high-
minded gentleman, no one doubted what he said.
But his motion was eagerly seized on by the Oppo-
sition, every effort was made to secure votes, it was
rumoured that the late Chief Commissioner would
be restored in a fortnight, and the successors of the
Ministry were even named The motion was made
on Wednesday last, the 10th inst., was debated for
nine hours, and was met by an amendment. The
.result was a majority for Ministers of 24 to 19. All
the 24 were the habitual supporters of the Ministry,
but among the 19 were three who had before sup-
ported Ministers; two "ultra democrats" voting
with those whom they probably designate old foggy
Tories. In other cases of late the Ministerial majo-
rities have been five or six, in houses of 33 or 44.
On Friday the bill to increase the number of
members was read a third time and passed. The
number of members has been reduced in committee
to 78, the present house having 60. The goldfields
will return 27 members, the metropolitan districts
17, the agricultural districts and towns 23, and the
squatting districts and towns 11.
The supplies will probably be voted by the end
of this week, and there seems no reason for pro-
tracting the session beyond the 20th Dec.
The vote of Wednesday, which was not merely
negativing a motion of no confidence, but wag con-
verted into a vote of confidence, will probably stop
further obstruction of the business of the session.
There is rather a•singular feature in the mode in
which the Opposition has been conducted. The late
Ministers, who sit on the front bench, have scarcely
originated any motion directed against the Govern-

The Madrid journals of the Ist contain a brief
report of what took place in the Chamber of Depu-
ties on the preceding day, relative to the Message
of the President of the United States about Cuba—
of which proceedings some mention has been made
by telegraph. The report is as follows : •
M. ULLon said—l ask the Government if it intends to
reply to the Message of Mr. Buchanan, inasmuch as in that
Message is a paragraph on the project of annexing Cuba to
the United States, which contains a,new and really grave
insult to the Spanish nation.
Marshal O'DONNELL declared that the Government was
disposed to demand due satisfaction for such an insult ; and
then said—l can assure the Chamber that during the
six months we have been in office our relations with the
Government of the 'United States have not ceased to be
marked with the greatest cordiality. Accordingly, I was
surprised to read in the message of the President of the
United States that those relations were in an unsatisfactory
state. In the few conferences I have had with the worthy
representative, in this city, of the Anglo-American Re-
public, such a cordial spirit was manifested that I felt con-
vinced the relations between the two Governments were
perfectly amicable, and that they could run no risk of being
troubled. This confidence of the Queen's Government
still subsists. In its relations with the United States, as
in those with all other countries, it has always endea-
voured to be circumspect, moderate, reserved, but always
dignified and firm, as the Government of a great
people ought to be. The period of discouragement
caused by war and disunion has ceased in Spain.
Our country is now positively in an era of development
and veritable restoration. If the power of Spain be not
great enough to menace, it is strong enough to defend the
integrity of the territory of the monarchy, and to preserve
the dignity of the Spanish name without stain. In what-
ever circumstances the Spanish nation may find itself, it
will in the future, as in the past, never be insensible to its
honour, never will it abandon the smallest portion of its
territory—and a proposition having that tendency will
always be considered by the Government as an insult to
the Spanish people. (Approbation.) The sentiment of na-
tionality, which was supposed -to be weakened, and
which unhappily was slightly weakened, by our in-
testine discords—this sentiment, the source of high
deeds, and of generous and heroic inspirations, displays
now new vigour, and is increasing in such a way that,
whilst we will never be aggressive, and never aspire to
dominate, we will never allow any encroachment to be made
on the inheritance left us by our fathers. (Approbation.)
In the name of the Queen's Government I must and do
declare that in any dissension which may arise between the
two Governments, the Spanish Government, if it be forced
to take a resolute attitude, will think only of one thing—to
maintain the rights of the nation. We will always endea-

your to maintain intact, pure, and immaculate, Spanish ment, but hake left the leading business of opposi-
honour, and after the satisfactory issue of any difference tion to their hangers-on, ready, no doubt, to take
we will not seek any sort of advantage. Such is the advantage of any success. No one can say that the
policy we have followed with regard to Mexico ; such late Government has originated any factious oppo-
is the policy we shall follow in all the questions sition to the present, for they .have originated
that may arise, and we are fully assured, gentle- nothing at all.
men, that the day on which it may be necessary Two bills affecting the Constitution of the colony
to make an appeal to the public sentiment, and on are before the house—one to shorten the dura-
which the national honour may be compromised, there lion of Parliament from five to three years, and
will not be any differences of opinion. All minds will another to limit the number of office-holders who
unite and all hearts will join in one effort to protect the may sit in either house. The former is not opposed
national honour and the integrity of the Spanish monarchy. anti is ripe for the third reading, which, by .a clause
(Applause.) These feelings of justice, moderation, and in the Constitution Act, requires to be carried by a
dignity are calculated to give new strength to the Queen's full majority of both houses. It was for want of
Government in directing the destinies of the country, and that that it lapsed in the last session. In the other,
will increase the confidence inspired by its devotion to the Ministers propose to limit the number of office-
welfare and honour of our country, which country is worthy holders who may hold seats in either house to ten.
of lrll our sacrifices and of the happiest future. (Applause.) At present there are seven Cabinet Ministers, and
M. OLOZAGA, in his own name and in that of several one—the Vice-President of the Board of Land and
other eminent members representing the different political Works—is not in the Cabinet. They propose two
parties, then proposed this resolution :—" The Congress more—the President of the Sewerage and Water
declares that it has received with satisfaction the delaration Commission, who has always, by the mere accident
of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and that it is disposed to of election, enjoyed a seat. and a new Commissioner
give to the Government its constant support in order to of Mines, the great interest of the country. This
maintain the integrity of the Spanish dominions." will lead to considerable discussion, as the house is
The resolution was unanimously adopted, and very jealous of official members. There is another
bill of a similar character, brought in by a
ordered to be inscribed in the archives. The
private member, to "secure the independence of
_Espana, though a violent adversary of the Cabinet, Parliament," somewhat similar to the Govern-
expresses warm approbation of the patriotic decla- ment Bill, but which embodies the vulgar
ration of the Minister, and states that in a question jealousy against the legal profession, by making
which, like that of Cuba affects the national honour, the accepting of a fee from the Crown a ground of
Spaniards, whatever their differences on other exclusion. It seeks to place the barrister on the
points, will always be united. The other journals footing of a contractor, and proposes to enforce
observance by a penalty of £2OO. I do not think it
employ similar language. • will create a Parliamentum indoctum, even if car
vied, as the bar will for the most part forego the
fees for the sake of a seat. There is also a bill, in-
troduced by the same member, to repeal the pen-
sion clause of the Constitution Act giving pensions
to retiring Ministers, not exceeding £4,000 to all
at any one time, on the same terms as the English
statutes. The other bills introduced and to be in-
troduced are not of a political complexion. There
is, however, a resolution in favour of paying mem-
bers, which was rejected last session. It is not
unlikely to pass the Lower House. On the whole,
I think the legislation of the session will improve
the working of the Constitution. A house of 78
members more equally representing the country is
a great improvement on the present house. Two
years have served very much to disorganise the
house, and had it lasted five years it would
have been impossible for any Ministry to
carry on the Government. The coming dissolu-
tion will not be a day too soon. The exclusion of
place-holders, except certain specified Ministers,
will put an end to an anomaly which now exists of
one member holding an office under the Crovhi who
has managed to keep both his place and his seat
through four successive Ministries, in spite of
minute of the Haines Ministry requiring the un;
conditional support of every office holder on pain 01
dismissal. Some moderate indemnity to members
is necessary to enable distant constituencies to elect
men whom they know, and who are connected witll
their constituents. At present 41 out of the 60 tiro
Melbourne men.