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

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 2i 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. Chapnvin (specie) £4o.)
Hardy and Joy (jewellery valued at) £4OO
We learn that a locomotive railway engine,
lately imported by Mr. Randle, has been purchased
from him by the Railway Commissioners f)r 2,5001.
Messrs. Mort and Co. disposed of the following
properties :—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 JO/. per foot ; two
small weather-board houses in Middle-street, Chip-
pendale, 2001. One weather-board house, and an
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withdrawn ; the few lots sold realised prices
scarcely paying the importers. Marzetti's ale and
porter were a shade lower than former quot Ations.
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 lot?,'` city of
'Sydney, near the Circular Quay (adjoining Messrs.
Torning 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 Melb9urne we learn that
it is contemplated to abolish the poll-tax, and to
levy a duty on opium of 12s. 6d. per lb. This will
effect chiefly the Chinese population.
From Wellington to the Bth of November we
learn that fine flour was 251., seconds, 241.; wheat,
Bs. 6d. to 9s.

TASTE AND GENIUS FOR ART IN

AIICIEIVT TIMES.

Upwards of 2,000 years ago (says Mr. Smirks, in
his first lecture at the Royal Academy) amore re-
fined and delicate taste, and a more thorough mas-
tery of the power of representing beauty, existed
than the world has since been able to acquire ; nor
was that extraordinary mettle. ic development con-
fined to a few rarely-gifted artists, for there is not,
wanting good ground to believe that it pervaded
the general mind of the Greek people. Again, 1,700
or 1,800 years ago, the grandeur of the Roman
empire was well typified by a corresponding gran-
deur of architecture, which has never since been
. equalled. we are compelled to acknowledge that
500 or 600 years ago workmen wrought wit!) a
freer spirit, a bolder genius, and a more genuine
artistic ardour than d:stingui-hes the workmen
of the present day. We find, 1,200 years ago,
in the Gregorian chants, musical compositions
conceived of a grander • character and deeper
feeling than the music of the modern school can lay
claim to. It seems to be in accordance with these
general views, which I have ventured to express in
the examination of the supposed tardy advance at-
tributed to our architectural art, that a great Inusi-
, cal composer of the present day has attempted t
account for the admitted want of originality in
modern musical compositiOn, by expressing his opi-
nion, or at least his suspicion, that all the material
changes of which the notes of music are susceptible
may have been already lung out. I cannot indeed
adopt this theory, even in respect to music, and I
'am still less disposed to damp the aspirations
young architects by countenancing any such doc-
trine of exhausted originality. I believe, indeed,
that the fundamental principles of architecture
leave but little room for important future disco-
very ; but the combinations which the component
materials of art permit—their variation, composi-
tion, and decoration—are practically infinite and
inexhaustible.-The Builder.

NORTHERN BENGAL BAILTV.,Ay
COMPANY.

A new undertaking in connection with our East In-
dian empire has been brought out. It is introduced
to public notice as the Northern Bengal Railway GM-
pany (limited). The capital is 2,000,000/., to be raised
in 100,000 shares of 201., or 200 rupees each, with
power to increase. The deposit is to be 3s. per share
on application, and it is determined that all issues of new
stock shall be offered rat eably among existing shareholders.
'We are aware that the East Indian Railway is open to
Ranegunge, on the route to Delhi,' and will soon be
completed to Rajmahal. The object of the present un-
dertaking is to construct a northerly extension to Dinsj-
pore and Darjeeling, accommodating the districts of
Rungpore, Malda, and Purneah. The connection may
be made by one of several routes, the comparative ad-
vantages of which can only be 'determined by actual
survey. The total length of railway to be constructed
will be between 200 and 300 miles, to be undertaken in
sections, as the Court of Directors of the East India
Company may direct, A report has been published by
Dr. Campbell, who has nearly 20 years occupied an
official position in the districts through which the propos eo
railway will traverse. The lower country produces and
l
shipment,
sugar, largely to Calcutta, for'consumption and.i seeds,&c.,
sugar, tobacco, cotton, hemp, jute, rice, ol
and in the kipper country the production
of copper and
tea is being extended, for ail which these lines will be
the chief route. The hill regions also produce coal and
railways proposed
commandother
Assamo ns, an col tdh
Centrale rail w
Besides this, Darjeeling,
y a climate equal
to that of England,
Calcutta, and wi command
a first-
to the community of
is a sanwithaireihumen-o.°t greats importance
week of a mous travelling
distance is reduced from a
class traffic, which will be greatly increased whenthe
It it to
to
TabseinEglaesdt
be so great
baret transit.fe
have it •
that
theyin contemplation to
be-
tween these places
ay
Indiaof
an object to increase the means of communication
expend 150,000/. on an improved high road to Darjeeling,.
It is estimated at present that the cost of the proposed
railway will not exceed.on v, 9,ith the 'E st Company
per mile. The directors
arwiethln communication a
view to obtain a guarantee of a 'wtaiti amount
"
of interest; and if this most desirable object be not ob-
tained, the deposit of 3s. per share will be returned, less
the expenses incurred. Mr. T. R. Cramptork has been
nominated as engineer to the company.