The Sun.
London, England, 1857-03-02 00:00:00

SPAIN.

The Madrid journals of the 23d do not contain
any political news of interest. The Epoca says that
Marshal Serrano, ambassador at Paris, was about
to return to Madrid on leave of absence to take
part in the deliberations of the Senate. The cold
had`become much less severe in Madrid, but a good
deal of sickness was prevalent. The Queen had
given a magnificent ball, and opened it by dancing
with the Duke de Valencia (Narvaez) ; her Ma.
jesty afterwards danced with the French ambassa-
dor. It appears from an official return, that from
May, 6849, up to July, 1856, 2,866 kilometres
(1,791 miles) of railway had been eonceded, and
that 506 of them are now being worked, and 1,474
in construction.

EGYPT.
ALEXANDRIA, FEB. 20.
The Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamer
Valetta arrived hero from Marseilles this day, and
will leave on her return voyage early to-morrow
morning. The Ripon, with the heavy portion of
the mails, had just reached Malta when the Valetta
loft that island, and she is hourly expected here ;
but not being yet sighted it is still uncertain when
the Outward mails are likely to leave Suez.
We are now in momentary expectation of bearing
I of the Viceroy's arrival at Cairo, intelligence having
been received some days ago that he might be ex-
pected about this time. Meanwhile, and in conse-‘
quence of orders which have preceded his High-
ness, the authorities of Cairo and of Alexandria
are levying a number of young men, out of whom
it appears 600 are to be selected and formed
into a special corps of " Guards." The number
required is not large, but it has been suffi-
cient to cause considerable perturbation among the
labouring classes, and even, to some extent, a ces-
sation of business in the bazaars. Notwithstanding
the improvements introduced by lie present Vice-
roy into the treatment of the Egyptian soldier, both
in regard to his food and to his clothing, all classes
of the population look upon Government service of
every description with feelings of groat aversion,
and although the men generally appear soon to
grow reconciled to their new mode of life, still the
spec'acle attending these oft-recurring impress-
ntents is not the leis distressing, when mere lads
are seen carried off along the streets, followed by a
bevy of shrieking and wailing women, they them-
selves wearing an air of hopeless resignation.
It does not appear likely that we h 41 hear of ,

many important changes or reforms in connection
with the government of the districts that have just
been visited by the Viceroy. We have, however,
already some rumours of the dismissal and punish-
ment of sundry officials convicted of peculation and
oppressive practices, and a note-worthy innovation,
inasmuch as it in some degree affects one of the ge-
nsral principles according to which taxes have been
levied in the East from time immemorial, is likewise
spoken.of. A considerable impost is levied in the
upper country upon the sakiehs, or machines used
for raising water for purposes of irrigation. This tax
has not only been very materially reduced, but it ap-
pears that the Viceroy, having had an opportunity of
seeing the evil effects arising from the rule by which
the successive neighbours of an absconding taxpayer
are held responsible for his arrears, has decreed
that henceforward the responsibility will be
limited to the fugitives' immediate neighbours, who
will be entitled to the use of the deserted Sakieh. The
flight of one man might, under the old system, lead
to the desertion of an entire di-trict, astute of ihings
which the measure spoken of certainly remedies,
but the policy of the tax itself, however much the
amount may have been reduced, is looked upon as
very questionable, acting as it does in the form of
a check on the much, needed extension of further
means of irrigation.
Over what may be the ultimate fate of the expe-
dition that had been organised to explore the White
Nile there still, to some extent, hangs a doubt, but
it is very generally feared that all prospect of seeing
the realisation of the hopes that were entertained
respecting it must be abandoned; and, owing chiefly
to the deplorable dissensions between several mem-
bers of the expedition and their leader, the affairhas
certainly for the present come to an avowed dead-
lock. It may perhaps, however, stilt be hoped that
the return of the Viceroy will lead to a reorganisa-
tion, and meanwhile Mr. Twyford, who by last
accounts had reached Dongo!a, and who, it will be
remembered, was to be overtaken by his colleague,
was still pursuing his way up the river, though,
probably, in perfect uncertainty as to how soon he
may have to retrace his steps.
Transactions in the Alexandria grain markets
during the past fortnight have been on a very
limited scale, attributable, however, in great mea-
sure to the prevalence of wet and stormy weather,
causing a suspension both in shipping operations
and in the reception of grain from native boats.
Said wheat, of private trade produce, is quoted 40s.
to 425. per quarter free on board ; beans, 325. to
325. 6d. In cotton there has been an active busi-.
uess, with further advance in prices, and it ia uni-
versally admitted that this year's crop will prove
seriously deficient in quantity. The depression in
the freight market is greater than ever, and ships
with difficulty obtain any offer whatever. Ex-
change on London, at three months, 1011 piastres
per pound ; Marseilles, sf. lc. to sf. 2c. per dollar.

AUSTRALIA.

( Prom the Sydney Empire of Nov. 27 )

The Sydney banks have raised their rates of ex-
change a half per cent. They now draw at 21 per
cent. premium ; their selling rates are unaltered.
The total amount of treasure shipped by the
Maid of Judah, for London, is as follows :

oz. dwt. gr.
Union Bank of Australia
Bank of New South Wales
J. Last B5 0 0

6,226 4 13
C. Chapman (specie) £4o.)

Hardy and JOY (je'wellery valued at) £4OO
We learn that a locomotive railway engine,
lately imported by Mr. Randle, has been purchased
from him by the Railway Commissioners for 2,5001.
Messrs. Mort and Co. disposed of the following
pr-perties :—An allotment of land at the corner
of Liverpool and Sussex-streets, having 34 feet
frontage to the former street, and 47 feet to the
latter, at 141. per foot, taking the Liverpool-street
as the frontage. Another allotment with 20 feet,
frontage to Liverpool-street, at 101. per foot ; two
small weather-board houses in Middle-street, Chip-
pendale, 2001. One weather-board house, and au
allotment land adjoining, in Chippendale-street,
360/.

Messrs. W. Dean and Co.'s sale of wines, spirits,
beer, &c., was but thinly attended, and there was
a want of animation throughout. The principal
portions of the wines ex Equator and Alarm were
withdrawn ; the few lots sold reali?ed prices
scarcely paying the importers. Marzetti's ale and
porter were a shade lower than former quotations.
A batch of port wine, ex Woolloomooloo, was
quitted at full rates. The sale for the finer class
wines was postponed till a future day.
We hear of a sale of 123 casks of tallow for ship-
ment at 421.

A Government land sale was held at the Trea-
sury, Macquarie-street. The town lots, city of
Sydney, near the Circular Quay (adjoining Messrs.
Turning and Son's) were offered, but there was no
bid, the upset price of 501. per foot being considered
too high.
By a private letter from Melbourne we learn that
it is contemplated to abolish the poll-tax, and to
levy a duty on opium of 12s. Gd. per lb. This will
effect chiefly the Chinese population.
From Wellington to the Bth of November we
learn that fine flour was 251., seconds, 24/. ; wheat,
Bs. Gd. to 9s.