, 1857-10-23
Letter from Austr ALA

By the arrival OF the SebastopoI ".
have files of newspapers. from all parts =,
the Australian Colonies. They contoin NJ
news of importance. The Sydney Morn
ing Herald has an article on the prono.aa
federation Of the Australian Color;.S
This measure looks towards the future n
dependence of the country, aud possess.,
peculiar interest to the people Of the Uni.
ted States. The Herald says:
We are gratiied to see gentlemen of ..
rous parties and opinions so far abovs
mere national prejudice on the one Ia
willing TO learn from the experience ot
America and to copy those portions of bSr
constitutions which may be engrafted unon
Others which are essentially British, Tbssa
are dictated, not by political theories bnt
by parallel requirements arising from tbo
condition Of both countries We are f,r
from inclined TO precipitate those ulterior
changes which are sometimes predicted in
spite, and sometimes foretold in the sr;r;,
and tone of philosophy. The recent course
of the English Government in colonial
matters has not only neutralized the anti
British spirit but almost destroyed it. A
generous concession Of freedom on the one
side and profound reliance upon the I'm.
manity, moderation and intelligence upon
the other side Of the globe, will leave little
disposition to debate abstract theories Of
political dependence, much less to hazard
present advantages in order 10 test them
Whether there should be any public action
on the subject or not, at present, may be
doubtful, considering the great measures
which will require the attention of the col.
onies for some time to come. The Cooui.
al Association will be justified, however.
in interpreting silence as consent-as to the
preliminary steps which they have recon-
mended to Her Majesty'S government, and
which will still leave to each its own free
choice whether it will or not accept the
boon.
The Sydney Empire says, on the same
subject ~
The only remaining one is that Of local
federation. On this point the feeling
throughout Australia will soon be unaui
mons. Experience has forced it into exist
ence. 1t is satisfactory to find that the
same Wow is entertained in London among
the gentlemen interested in Australian al.
fairs. They are also moving, aud that in
this direction. Mr. Wentworth is giving
the powers Of his energetic mind 10 the
subject. The application is for an act Of
parliament 10 frame and authorize such
scheme of union among those colonies ss
shall provide for the settlement of all mat
ters in which they have mutual concern.
The general purpose is right, whatever may
be the details, of which we must not pre-
maturely form q decided conjecture. We
have so often enforced the thing now 50 Sc
riously contemplated, that we cannot help
congratulating ourselves, ns well as our
fellow colonists, on the prospect that is
opening before u.s. As all these colonies
are bound together by an identity Of pO-
ltical principles, and by the closest inter
course Of trade, as well as by general
similarity of physical advantages, nothing
can be more unfortunate than that every
one Of them should be legisating apart on
those topics which cannot fail to affect the
interests of all.
Mr.. Williams, American Consul al sgd
ney, has resigned his appointment, after
holding the same in this colony for the pc.
riod Of eighteen years; and only holds Of
fee until the arrival of his successor
Floods had taken place in the provinces
of New South Wales, occasioning consid-
cradle damage to the crops and other prop
erty.
The Melbourne public attention is al
most exclusively devoted to the struggle IN
the Legislative. Assembly, where the new
administration is attempting to pass law
for the benefit Of the squatters 1t is said
it is now pretty evident why the 0'Shan-
nassy Ministry were so promptly expelled
from Office, and what the influences were
which wrought that desirable event, preyi-
GUS TO the settlement Of the Land Ques-
ton. A perfect rage against the govern
ment measures has been prevalent amongst
the people of the interior; and monster
meetings at the several centres Of popula-,
ton have uttered unanimous reprobatIon
of the administrators.