The Sun.
London, England, 1850-08-01 00:00:00

AUSTRALIAN COLONIES.

Mr. F. SCUT wi►hed to know from the Under-Se-
cretary cf State for the Colonial Department, whether
the Colonial-office had received a memorial upon the
subj..et of the Australian Colonies Constitution Bill, ex-
pressing opinions favourable to a double chamber, and
also the land question?
Mr. HAWES said that no such memorial as had been
alluded to by the Hon. Member had been received at the
Colonial-office. When it was, it would be laid on the
table of the House.
SITTING ON SATURDAY.

Lord J. RUSSELL said that it might be convenien
to Hon. Members to know that it bad been though
necessary that the Houso should sit on Saturday, not
for the purpose of proceeding with any measures tbai
were calculated to create discussion, but merely to for.
ward measures which pressed,
AUSTRALIAN COLONIES GOVERNMENT
BILL.

On the motion for the consideration of the Lords'
amendments to the Australian Colonies Government Bill,
Mr. F. SCOTT wished to know whether it was the
intention of the Government to agree with all the
amendments made by the Lords to this Bill, because
if they did, he believed they would agree to a measure
which was never intended to become law, and one that
would be very different from that which had passed the
House of Commous. The Bill as amended was not the
Bill that had been introduced into Parliament, and it
was not a measure that had received the concurrence of
the Australian colonies. He wished to know whether it
was the intention of the Government to persevere in the
passing of this Bill during the present session. Here
they were, at almost the last week of the
session, and yet the measure that had been
adverted to in her Majesty's Speech at the com-
mencement of the session had not yet become law.
They had decided upon giving the Australian colonies
that which they did not ask fur, and to refuse them that
which they did require. It was not fair to the colo-
nists to bring in this Bill at tbe fag end of the session,
and ask the House to pass it, when it might have been
taken into consideration at a much earlier period. The
Federative Assembly was to have no power over the
land, though it was well known that the wishes of the
colonists were in favour of such power being given to it.
In consequence of the Government arrangements with
respect to the sale of land, our surplus population, in-
stead of going to the Australian colonies. were induced
to emigrate to North America and to the United States,
where they found the terms more advantageous. The
land was so badly regulated in Australasia, that emi-
grants were driven from the neighbourhood of towns
and settlements to far distant portions of the country,
where they were beyond the control of tbe Government,
and were bound by no moral, civil, or religious obliga-
tions. This accounted for the existence of states of society
in which the male population greatly predominated, and
which was characterised by the most immoral and depraved
habits. Another objection which he entertained to the
Bill was that it gave power to the Governor to alter the
various salaries contained in the schedule, and as he
might of his own accord diminish them in amount, the
consequence would be that if the judge of any colony
should do any act which was adverse to his wishes, he
might be mulcted of a considerable portion of his income.
Now, this would enable the Governor to compel a judge
to give a decision adverse to his honest opinions and
convictions, if it should be required for any particular
purpose or end. The Honourable Gentleman stated, in
conclusion, that he could not give his assent to a
Bill which gave to Australia a form of government
that was not in accordance with the wishes of the co-
lonists, and was not calculated to cement that bond of
friendship and attachment to the mother country which
ought to exist.
Sir DE LACY EVANS rose, and was
(LEFT SPEAKING.)

VAUXHALL GARDENS.
BALLOON ASCENT OF MR. GREEN ON
HORSEBACK.

Abandoned by science as a hopeless speculation, the
balloon has become the legitimate property of the ca-
terers for the amusement of the public. It now forma
one cf the most attractive of the ♦aried entertainments
got up for the delectation of the holiday folk and sight-
seers in our public gardens, while the rage for novelty,
and the depraved taste, as it may be termed, for scenes
of excitement and peril, have set ingenuity at work to
produce a new sensation or create new pleasure. Our
Parisian neighbours have had the questionable honour
of striking out the lateFt novelty, and setting the
newest fashion in v.erostation; and the interest and cu-
riosity excited by M. Poitevin's recent ascent on horse-
back have induced the proprietor of the royal property
at Vauxhall to get up a similar exhibition for the en-
tertainment of his numerous patrons.
Mr. Green, of whom it may be said that
his home is the air,
_ _

And he only par complaisance touches the ground,"
having ♦olunteered to play the Den Quixote in what
many will consider a needless exhibition of foolhardi-
ness, the ascent took place yesterday afternoon under
the most favourable atmospheric auspices, and in the
presence of vast crowds assembled within and without
the grounds. The aeronaut was evidently so perfectly
" master of the situation" that the sympathies of the
philanthropists were enlisted only on behalf of the horse
—an application having actually been made on Tuesday
to place him under the protection of the Society for the
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. The magistrate,
however, refused to grant the injunction, and man and
horse (it the diminutive quadruped which went up last
night can by any stretch of imagination be termed such)
made their appearance in the enclosure at the appointed
hour. The process of inflation was completed about
half-past six, and the next hour was occupied in making
the necessary arrangements for the ascent. The great
Nassau balloon having been placed hors de combat by
its immersion in the Thames some time since, when,
our readers may remember, it was found necessary
to fire several shots into it to allow the gas to escape,
the Royal Victoria balloon—one of much smaller
dimensions—was called into requisition. It was
this, we were given to understand, which ren-
dered it necessary to substitute a little pony,
weighing just 2001b5., for the horse. A light wicker
platform was suspended by cords from the hoop of the
balloon, and in this sockets were fitted to receive the
hoofs, which were then firmly strapped down, so as to
render all kicking and plunging out of the question.
The animal, richly caparisoned in crimson and gold, hav-
ing been secured on the platform, was then blindfolded,
and Mr. Green, who appeared perfectly cool and col-
lected, went through the form of mounting his diminu-
tive steed, his feet resting on the sandbags on either side
of the platform, and at ten minutes to eight o'clock the
balloon and its novel freight shot up with treat rapidity
amidst the cheers of some and the laughter of others,
and, after soaring to a considerable altitude, took a
south-easterly direction, and was soon lost in the clouds.
The pony made some desperate plunges just as the bal-
loon rose. and, from the violent oscillations which the
little platform exhibited while it remained in sight, we
would inter that the animal was by no means satisfied
wish his position. In the enclosure were a large num-
ber of scientific and literary gentlemen, and several to-
reigners and friends of the aeronaut.