The Sun.
London, England, 1857-10-19 00:00:00

AUSTRALIA.

The Liverpool and Australian Navigation Com-
pany's steam cli,aper Royal Charter, Taylor, com-
mander, arrived at Liverpool on Saturday morning,
from Melbourne, after a rapid passage, with dates
to the 14th of August, 118 passengers, and 84,000
ounces of gold and 24,000 sovereigns in specie on
freight. She had also an extensive and valuable
carg,, consisting of 279 bales of wool, 1,352 skins,
64 hhds. of hides, 137 packages of tallow, 2 bales
of horsehair, 96 packages of British goods, 1
package of woodwork, an 13,625 bags of copper
ore.

At Sydney the floods were subsiding. The
amount of gold coin issued by the Sydney branch
of the Royal Mint during the week previous to the
Bth of August, had been 5,0001. in half-sovereigns ;
the quantity of gold received for mintgage 8,456
ounces, of which 7,000 ounces were for Melbourne
account. The escort from the Sydney goldfields
had taken down a total of 3,438 ounces. Flout:
firm without alteration in price. Liquids a little
easier, but holders not disposed to sell ia any
quantity except at full rates. Beer in bulk and
bottled ale and porter commanded quotations.
A parcel of Eagle and Lion negrohead tobacco from
the United Sates had been nearly all disposed of at
advanced prices. Speculative buyers were in the
market, but the trade and dealers required all that
was likely to arrive of marketable brands. Sugar;
with small stocks and anticipated short supply in
Manilla, were expected to advance considerably for
both raw and refined. In groceries little doing,
buyers withholding purchases until the weather was
sufficiently settled to admit of a better supply of
carriage to the interior. The quantity of wool sold
for the week, 93 bales, was larger than that offered
during the few previous weeks, and some of the lots
excited much competition, prices being decidedly
firmer. Eighteen bales of superior scoured lamb
had realised. 2s. 6d. per lb ; fleece, ls. 101 to 2s. ;
handwashed, 211 d. to 227 d. Few sales of sheep-
skins, but prices well maintained. 1,794 sold at
from 84d. to 10d. per lb. Tallow in small supply ;
.station realised 495. to 50s. 61 ; beef, 475. to 48s.
Hides steady, and prices ranging from 15s. to 28s.
We have Adelaide journals to the Bth inst. The
Register thus represents the present position of the
goVernment "It is now perfectly clear that the
government can by no possibility carry the pre-
gramme with which they came before the country
at the opening of the present session of parliament.
Their most important measures are either negatived
or kept back, and the policy of the opposition is
triumphant in the house."
Commercial readers will be interested to know
that the gold coin of Sydney was to be proclaimed
a legal tender in South Australia as soon as notifi-
cation arrived of a similar step having been taken
in Victoria. The only other topic worth special
notice is the departure of a party under Captain
Freeling to make further explorations into the new
Lake Torrens Paraiise discovered by Mr. Goyder.
We take the following from the Melbourne Herald
of the 12th of August :
"Our last summary of local events was prepared kr
despatch by the Columbian, which left with the colonial
mails on the 23d ult. Tee uncertainty under which we
labour as to the departure of the next regular mail
duces us to avail ourselves of the opportunity affords .1
by the sailing of the Royal Charter to publish a brief
resume of the events which have occurred during the
interval:—

" GOLD,
"The gold escort returns for the last three weeks show
an increase upon the quantities brought down during
the corresponding peeiod of last year amounting to
40,087 ounces, the quantities being respectively-
-1856. Ozs. Dwts.
Week ending July 26
PO Aug. 2
Aug. 9

124,233 0
,
1857. Ozs, Dwts.
Week ending July 25
„ Aug. 1
~ Aug• 8 , 58,124 0

164,320 0
"The quantity shipped since our last summary has
been—

Ounces.
Week ending July 25 79,393
IP Aug. 1 8,637
II Aug. 8 70,181

Total ounces shipped 158,211

"Mount Ararat has, up to the present time, exceeded
the expectations which were entertained of its proving
an extensive and rich gold field. The population is
variously stated at between 50,000 and 60,000, and, as
the rep Arts of its richness continue to be most favour.
able, there is no immediate likelihood of any material
decrease in the number. The auriferous deposits are
seid to extend over a very large area of country, and
the mining is not difficult. At present we are in no
position to live an estiwate of the weekly yield of the
Ararat diggings, as the quantities of gold thence are
included in the escort returns of Ballarat and ethers of
the older mining localities.
"Tile winter has been unusually dry, and the miners
have accordingly laboured under great disadvantages in
consequence of au insufficient quantity of water. Ac-
counts from the various mining districts are, on the
whole, favourable.

"AGRICULTURAL.
"In our last summaries we gave an abstract of the
agricultural returns of 15 of the 21 districts into which
the colony is divided. Since then two more counties
have been finished, and the remaining four are so n ar
completion that their contents 'nay be given approxi-
mately.
"In Mornington there were 156 cultivators, 3,433
acres, 2,057 sown with wheat, 827 with oats, and 420
with potatoes. Yield-39,988 bushels of wheat, 19,616
of oats, and 1,181 tons of potatoes. •
"In Dalhousie-588 cultivators, 12,590 acres, 4 276
of wheat, 2,303 of oats, 1,975 of potatoes, and 3,540 of
hay. Yiell-82,494 bushels of wheat, 72,510 oats,
3,525 tong of potatoes, and 4,678 of hay.
" In Hampden the returns are in, but there were about
25,000 bushels of wheat.
"In Polwarth it is estimated that there are 60 culti-
vators, and that the produce is 30,000 bushels of wheat,
and 20,000 of oats. - '
In Grant it is computed that there were 1,200 cultiva-
tors, who had 40,000 acres under crop, of which 22,000
were sown with wheat, 6,500 with oats, and 7,660 I,r
hay; the yield being 490,000 bushels of wheat, 172,780
bushels of oats, and 10,800 tons of hay.
"In Burke the follqwing figures are, a 3 nearly as
possible, correct :-1,800 cultivators 55,000 acres, 20,000
acres of wheat, 6,000 ditto of oats, 20,000 ditto of hay ;
yield 400 000 bushel.; of wheat, 120,000 ditto of oai
and 20,000 tons of hay.
"The grand total of the whole of the colony is
therefore in round numbers, as forows :-6,258 cultiva-
tors, farming 163,000 nerve of land, of which 76,700 wti e
sown with wheat, 21,000 with oats, and 45,750, wttt.
oats for lay, the remainder of the ground bsit g c ceupie.l
with potatoes, barley, meiz., gardens, vines, and
tobacco; the yield was 1,700,000 bushels of wheat, 4,r
22 bushels to the acre ; 530,000 bushels of oats, or 25
to the acre ; and 58,000 tons of hay, or about a too
and a quarter to the acre.
" This result is most gratifying ; in 1855.6 there were
only 1,151,000 acres in cultivation, and in the previous
year only 54,715. In South Australia last year there
were 203,423 acres under crop, so that we nearly eqaal
our great agricultural neighbours, and next year we shall
have passed them, as from the vigour with which farm-
ing operations are now being pursued, we may safely
calculate that there will be 220,000 acres under cr,,p
next year.
"Land still maintains a very high price. At a Go-
vernment sale recently held at Crewiclr, near Ballarat,
fair agricultural land, rather badly situated as regards a
market, sold at from 3/. to 4/. per acre. Crown land
eight miles from Melbourne, of very inferior quality,
sold two days ago at an average of 301. per acre.
"TRADB AND COMAIRRCR.

"The unsatisfactory character of the latest commer-
cial advisee from England has had an extremely prsju
dicial eff,et ors the operations of trade since the artirai
of the mad steamer, inasmuch as renewed indications
presented ecernselves that hcine shippers, uninfluenced
by former expel ience and deaf to the ninon,trances of
colonial correlcondents, were) preparing to send furwa d
exc,isive s of those descriptions of miro',andi ,
with which the market in this ,ction is air 3ady ove
e :ed. As a natural o msequeno ) of this threatece
gl t of consignments capitalists are wholly disinclined to
enter upon large transactions in imports, and prefer io
invest their money in the various joint-stock undertak-
ings, which offer more tangible inducements than are t,,
ue found in the speculative business of buying, to hold
for a rise. It would be impossible to lay too much strzs,
on the vital impartanco of impressing the necessity upon
merchants in the mother country of withholding furtncr
outward shipments to this colony until large pox,
tions of the stocks now on hand are absorjed. The
business of regulating suplies by a reference to our re-
quirements is unquestionably a task of cousiderab'e
(faculty, and can only be effected by houies whose
acquaintance with the fluctuating condiro ry which
govern the Australian trade is at least sufficient to pro-
tect them agamst the grave errors corm.nittid by out-
side' shippers. Fortunately for the mern.wile interest of
Victoria this latter race ic,. well tizh extinct, and be-,
yielded to a class of traders who will doubtless, in pro-
case of time, permit their proceedings to be governe.l b
principles of caution, and their ventures to be oc.ta
sionaPy arrested by the dictates of prudence. Pending
such a desirable consummation, however, there is neets-
arily an absence of that confidence which obtains
other and more settled markets.
" Tre irrularity
which unfortunately marked th,
initiation of the postal enterprise undertateen by the E
'"d A. C'arepany has aided it, itoreasing the prevailing
dulness.

`'in Presence of the c.ppoAng influences to v.h.ch we
have referre), s in the import market is iintited
to purcha,e4 for immediate tonsumption ; and, alt,t,, ugh
demand for the interior is steadily inapro .g t
anioir.tion caused by it does not extend beyohd secohd
hands. Tnere is a slight tendency towards advancing
rates in the market .for bottled ales and beer, hut thr
price of bulk goods stiff rules low. The rates obtaine:i
for prime samples of butter have again recd led, and
sales at 121(1. and 13d. are reported. Some i-pculative
dealing in Belmont sperm candles has been going
forward ; an impression having gained currency
to the effect that the present value of the;

article (about 14M will range higher subsequent to the
arrival of the June mail. I❑ the flour and grain market
the prevailing inactivity bas made itselt felt, and quota-
tions have accordingly been wavering. Fino Adelaide
flour may be bought at from 241. to 251. 10s. Scotch
olta are selling at 9s. 9d. to 10r. per bushel ; colonial,
at 9d. to 12s. ; Irish, 10s. 6d. to 10s. 91. Maize is
held for 10s. ; and wheat realises from 9,-. 3d. to 9,8. Od.
Notwithstanding the firmness iu the price of Easter*
produce, transactions in sugars and tea, arc not heavy,
while Patras ricaissupplied at 191. to 191. 10s. For wines
(port and sherries) the inquiry has not been so well
su-tained as was anticipated at the date of oar last
,ummary, and quotations therefore remain unchanged.
The reovement in first-class brandies has likewise been
temporarily checked, and sellers have submitted to a
modification of the demand, Martell's being in the
manist at 19s. 6d. Geneva (JDKS brand) may be
pl,ced at 235., and W.I. rum, 20 to 30 0.p., commands
a sale at from Gs. 6d. to 6s. 9d.

" The money and share market presents an aspect of
firmness. Colonial Bank sharps have risen in the esti-
mation of investment seekers, and have changed hands
at 25 per cent, premium. Bank of Victoria are worth
51/. ; Melbourne and Hobson's Bay Railway Company's
shares are coming forward at 801. to 82/, ; and Geelong
and Melbourne Railway stand at 201., and interest.
Victorian Government debentures have recently been
much inquired after, and have been done at 1021, 10s.
(due 1859.)

Melbourne is now lighted by gas. We take the
following from the Argus of the 11th of August .--
"The streets of this city were lighted with gas for
the first time last night, and the event was convivially
celebrated by the Mayor of Melbourne and his friends
at the Criterion. Owing to the extreme width of the
streets and the great interval which separates the stan-
dards from each other, the general effect was not BO
brilliant as had been generally anticipated ; at the same
time the light given is immeasurably superior to that of
the oil lamps which have been superseded by this mode
of illumination. The event, however, constitutes an
epoch in our civic history.
"GOLD Slurs.
"The following vessels have sailed with gold freights
since the departure of the Columbian, July 22 :
Oz. wt
July 22—The Columbian, for Suez 46,171d 0„
July 23—The Jason, for Calcutta 2,307 16
July 26—The King Philip, for London 30,831 17
July 30—The Scotia, for Calcutta
Aug. 6—The Avon, for London
Aug. B—The Ocean Chief, for Calcutta 4,088 0
Aug. —The Daniel Ross, for Hongkong 10,472 0
Aug. 10—The Heather Bell, for London 19,647 15

-----
Total
Amount shipped from Ist Jan. to 16tb.
July, 1857 1,262,604 9

Total amount 1,429,376 17
" Woor, SHIPS.
" The following vessels have railed with wool freights
rifled the departure of the CJlumbian, July 22 :
Bales.
332
872
50

July 26—The Ring Philip, for London
Aug. 6—The Avon, for London
Aug. 10—The Heathor Bell, for London

Total
1254
Number of bales shipped from Oct. 15,
1856, to July 19, 1857 43,630

Total bales

44,884

FUNERAL OF EARL FITZETARDINGE.

BERKELEY, Oct, 17.
The remains of this lamented nobleman *ere
this day interred in the family vault in Berkeley
church, and although it is market-day the occasion
has been observed with great solemnity, the homes
and places of business throughout the town being
almost universally closed. The coffin was made of
British oak grown on the estate, covered with rich
Genoa crimson velvet. On the breast plate was
engraved the coronet and armorial bearings and the
following inscription :—" William Fitzhardinge
Earl Fitzhardinge, of Berkeley Castle, in the
county of Gloucester, claiming as of right to be Earl
of Berkeley by descent, and Baron de Berkeley by
tenure, born December, 1786 ; died October 10,
1857."

The coffin was borne from Berkeley Castle to the
church without pall or covering upon a funeral
car drawn by his lordship's favourite four greys.
The car was driven by the earl's favourite coach.-
man, the horses being led by the chief huntsman,
the stud groom, and two of the hunt whips. The
cortege was attended by upwards of a hundred of
the tenantry, by the Rev. Dr. Morton Brown, of
Cheltenham, by his lordships medical attendants,
his three stewards, and domestics. The coronet
was borne by the chiefsteward, 11. M. Boodle, Esq.,
on a cushion of black velvet. The mourners were
Admiral the Right Hon. Sir Maurice F. F. Berke-
ley, K. C. 8., the Hon. Augustus Berkeley, Hon.
F. H. Berkeley, M.P., the Hon. Moreton Berkeley,
Captain F. W. F. Berkeley, M.P., Charles Paget
Berkeley, Esq., James Maxse, Esq., Major Capel,
and Colonel Kingseot3. The absence of the Hon.
Grautley Berkeley from the procession formed a
subject of general observation. The hon. gentle-
man was known to have come to the castle on
Friday with the expressed intention of following
his deceased brother's remains to their final resting
place, and his name and place were duly printed in
the undertaker's programme. This morning he
breakfasted with the mourners, but about a quarter
of an hour before the procession left the castle Mr.
Grautley Berkeley suddenly quitted it.
The mournful cortege moved from the castle soon
after 11 o'clock, and proceeded through the tows
to the church, at the entrance to which it was met
by the Vicar,.tho Rev. Seton Carr, by whom the
funeral service was most impressively read. At
the proper point the body was removed to the
family vault and deposited with those of the 01a
Earls and Barons of Berkeley. The streets were
densely thronged, but the presence of a strong body
of police preserved a passage for the funeral pro-
cession.

CLOSE OF THA ART TREASURES'
EXHIBITION.

Tl:
e Exhibition of Art Treasures at Manchester
was finally closed to the public on Saturday. It
was not, as had been originally intended, made a
reserved day for season-ticket holders, nor was it
marked by any ceremony worthy of the occasion.
The state of the exchequer, it may be. presumed,
rend: red it desirable that as much money should
be taken as possible, whilst all intention of a grand
ceremonial was abandoned so soon as it was ascer-
tained that her Majesty was indispo.ied to grace the
proceedings with her presence. The admissions
were fewer than might have been expected, how-
ever, under the circumstances. About 8,600 per-
sons had eutered at four o'clock, on payment of
half- a-crown each, and nearly as many more entered
with season tickets, making a • total of between
16,000 and 17,000 persons.. There were fewer ad-
missions on the closing day, therefore, by 10,000,
than on each of the two first days in the week. 44.
trophy of flags had been erected in front of the
organ, and the orchestra had been strengthened--•
the bands of the 4th Dragoon Guard 3 and of the
34th Infantry having been engaged for the occa-
sion. The music included selections from Rossini,
Verdi, Vanzona, Meyerbeer, Mercadante,Donizettio
Gong'', Webr, Lindpaiuter, Beethoven, Spontinit
Auber, Spohr, and Wagner. When the united
bands struck up "God save the Queen," as the
finale, there was an attempt among the audience to
(;et up a voice accompaniment, but it was only par-
tial, and consequently failed in effect. At the•con-
elusion the executive committee took up a pesition
in the transept, and
Mr. T. FAIRBAIRN, chairman, spoke as follows :
—Ladies and gentlemen,—lt is my duty now to
pronounce oyuo words of
leftfarewell,
building nd to
thein
lwhenastfeywo
17.
nueetliiialte
Exhibition of Art-Treasures is closed. I hope that
you will never forget the liberality which has enabled
that Exhibition to be formed, and that hereafter all
of you will be enabled to realise, in reflecting upon
this building and its contents, the truth of the
is a joy forever."
Loud of beauty
poet's
Loud cheers followed this address, and the pro-
ceedings closed. One little incident' only occurred
to mar the harmony and appropriateness of this
closing scene, and it was caused by some eno, im-
mediately after the cheering had subsided, in a
spirit of vindictive feeling towards a few waiters in
the refreshinentrroonas who had created a disturb-
ance on the Thursday, proposing three groans for
that establishment, and in an instant all thought of
art treasures and their elevating tendencies seemed
to have vanished, and that gay and fashionable as-
semblage seemed forthe moment to have been trans-
formed into a Chartist meeting.
Great numbers of people continued to linger
about the building after the bell 'had sounded the
usual warning to depart, and the building was not
entirely ued until a later hour than usual.
The admissions since the Opening in May have
been as follows (as nearly as the returns can be oh.,
t

By season tickets ............ 254,119
At a payment of ls .......... 865,811
At 2'l. Gd. per head ......... 122,393
At Gd. each
.................. 60,261

To' ................. 1,302,584
The financial teitilt; will not be known for some
time to come. Thi‘re bre people who anticipate a
chiticit of 10,0001., but the more sanguine think that
should the buitimg fetch a good price the receipts
from all sonices will nearly, if not quite, cover the
entire outtiy.
During the proccedin4s of the day, Mr. Sey-
mour, on behalf of the orchestra, presented a hand-
some silver cup and an adds CS3 to Mr. Cha°.
the conductor, as a token of their high appreciation
of his services and conduct,