The Sun.
London, England, 1828-07-25 00:00:00

SYDNEY, NEW SOUTH WALES.

Sydney Gazettes to the Bth March, and Hobart Town
Couriers to the 17th February, have been received by the
Gallo, Captain Hudson, at the North and South Ame-
rican Coffee-house, from which we lament to observe,
that nothing but disasters attend our new settlements, and
no news is ever brought from any one of them which does
not convince us of the folly of persevering in those mad
schemes. Some of the miseries, and only some which have
lately been experienced at Melville Island, have been made
known ; the waste of money which those settlements cause
is bad enough, but when it comes to the loss of lives, it is
wickedness to persevere in the vain attempt ; the hardships
sustained by the unfortunate people who have been selected
to assist in founding these Colonies may, or may not, be
attributed to the climate, hut with the energies of even
Englishmen, it is asked, would Van Dieman's Land, had it
depended only on New South Wales, in a quarter of a cen-
tury been what it is? The local Government, it is observed,
cannot make exertions beyond their power, but they may
describe the insufficiency of their means, and delay
proceeding with them until they are better pro-
vided, and until the parent Administration choose to
put in requisition their own resources. The brig
Governor Phillips was to he despatched to Melville Island
immediately, to convey medical men and comforts to that
settlement and Raffles Bay. Dr. Nesbit and Dr. Moran,
late of the Colonial Staff, are the two candidates to fill
up the vacant situations of the two gentlemen who
lately held those offices. The health of Mr. Justice
Stephens, we regret to state, is considered as very preca-
rious. The Lady of the Judge Advocate, Sir M. Wylde,
and the Misses .Bannister, take the opportunity of visiting
the Cape in the Woodlark. The Roogly, Capt. Reeves,
is arrived with convicts ; and the Cape Packet, from
London. The Greenock was hourly expected,' having
reached HObart Town. James Dowling, Esq., appointed
as Assistant-Judge, is arrived in the former vessel; he was
saluted with five guns, on his landing to take the oath.,
from Davis's Battery, which seems to have astonished the
inhabitants of Sydney, who ran in crowds to get a peep at
his Honour. He has taken his seat on the Bench, and
commenced acting. We are concerned to announce the
premature death of Colonel Mills, Registrar of the Supreme
Court. Ile shot himself with a pistol. He seems to have
been much respected and regretted. Mr. John Stephens,
son of Mr. Justice Stephens, has been appointed his
successor, but some difficulties seem to base intervened,
when the Court met to have the commission recorded.—
Brother Jonathan may also learn we are more independent
of his exertions in supplying the article of tobacco. This
herb is now in extensive cultivation in the Colony, and
much benefit is likely to accrue from it; the favourable
samples already produced shew the clinoate of New South
Wales to be particularly favourable to its growth. The
Bank of Australia, for the last half year, had declared a
dividend of nine per cent., while that on the Bank of
New South Wales only amounted to six per cent. This
seems rather extraordinary, when it is stated the real capi-
tal of the former does not amount to half that of the Bank
of New South Wales. In allusion to the disaster at Mel-
ville Island, we learn that the colonial schooner Mermaid
had brought distressing accounts of the hardships and mor-
tality suffered at that settlement (Port Ebrington). Among
the deaths are those of Dr. Wood, Staff-surgeon of
Rallies Bay; the surgeon of Melville Island (Mr. Green),
had also been murdered by the natives. This vessel brings
a considerable number of persons who are afflicted with
scurvy and agues. There was therefore no medical man, and
that duty was performed by a Lieutenant of the navy.
The demand for lodgings was so great at Sydney, that hars!ly
a house of anylcind. could be procured.
SYDNEY MAlMETS.—A'verage price of wheat 9s. 3d.
per bushel, Maize Bs. 6d. ditto, Oats 4s. 6d. ditto, tine
Flour 20s. sterling per cwt., Seconds 18s. per cwt.,
Pollard 2e. per bushel, Bran Is. 6d., Butter 2s. 3(1.
per lb., Salt ditto, 2s. per lb., Potatoes 20s. per cwt., Assize
Bread .sd. per loaf; Beef 2s. 3d., to 2s. 10d. per stone.
•Mutton 3s. 6d. to 4s..ditto, Pork 4i, 6d. to 4s. 11d.
ditto ;
.M 1111,1444, Prandy, 20a., Hollands 12s. per gallon.

A gentleman who arrived, in the Hosyly has informed
the Editor of the „Sydney Gazette, that the Principal
Secretary of State for .the Colonies had given notice
that, unless the Papers of the, colony are conducted in a
more temperate and less violent mattner, a censorship
would be imposed forthwith.. .This caution is stated to
have come theyfear too late, op the part of the Right Hon,
Secretary of state.
Fron► Hobart Town we learn, a manufactory for coarse
woollens is succeeding well, and an• article is manufactured
fit for coarse jackets and trousers. It is recommended to
subscribe sums for the purpose of usi►►g the coarse wools
in the colony. Wheat hail fallen to Ss. per bushel, and in
some instances from 6s. 6d. to is. 9d. per bushel.

EXTRAORDINARY CRUELTY.--A Lltort
time since we recorded an act of atrocious cruelty com-
mitted by aswonaan upon a rat. In that case, however,
something like a motive was furnished, although supersti-
tion was the cause ; in the one we are about to relate, how-
ever—even this excuse is wanting. We have been in-
formed_that on Wednesday evening last, a journeyman me-
chanic of this town, after fastening n cord round the neck
of a cat, actually threw the poor animal into a vessel of
boiling lead, from whence her tortures caused her to im-
mediately jump out ; but the inhuman brute, not content
with thus qualifying his savage propensities, actually re-
peated the operation five or six times, until the suffering
animal was quite deprived of life. Such a barbarous deed
requires no continent, —Rolm Gazelle,