The New York Herald Newspaper, November 20, 1853, Page 2

AUSTRALIA. One of the Wonders of the Mine- th Century. The Golden Prospects of the New Empire. Its Social, Political, and Commercial Condition, &e., ke, &o. ¢ Argus, August 18 } THK GOLD. arked improvement in the yield ane again. hegn..S0 mabe ey pearance. 1 spots have bees discovel ba give indie»tions of extraordinary productive- ness, and eveu te whole ground has beea eo much mere prolific ax (oy eid for the jast week, as well as the one preceding, » than bas hitherto made its ce for any one week of the last six months. we have, thereiuve, cod grounds for congratula- tion, uch a: we heve attained already s steady yield of a large sount from mines of ascertained character, worked in a regular aud systematic man- ner, by @ class of diggers who have now settled down in a business !ike way, to their ocoupation as a work of labor, enscring certain returas; and not a8 ® mere venture dependent upon the chance caprice of fortune; while, in addition to this, have fresh discoveries, promising brilliant to those who luck patient perseverance, who can be only tempted by 8 great prize a eines eet’ risk. There is no doubt for-the last seven months the yield hag not (From the ‘le aang has dechned tli last month, whea it seems to reached its jowest point ; but every present in- @eation from which we ean judge | Us to con- clude that we are now entering upon a season of ac- tivity, and that we have reasonable prospects of 17 satisfactory resulta. To show what the fields have beer doing, we shall be excused, we hope, if we submit the com parative statement of the quan- received by escort, and shipped, which wa; given im the Chusan summary, particularly as the quantity for July is now complete, which it was not in our f.rmer statement -— Gold received per Escort. Gold Shipped. 1852. 1853. 1852. 1853 January....... 53,594 185,615 160,477 266.863 February. 56.142 172,329 152,560 189,675 Mareh.. 62.026 169,454 107,406 166,423 April. 68041 170,227 92,512 101.683 May. 77,247 116,812 94,075 213,319 June. - 116,009 122.695 152,242 153,865 daly... 320,218 198,907 179,412 202,126 Since the close of the month of July the remit tances per escort have been very Shape The first ‘week of the agit of ee she an amount su- perior to apy this year; and though the following or second week of this month is not so productive, it alse presents a satisfactory result. The amount re- ceived from the différent mines for the portion ot the Toath now expired is as fullows :— igo Week & ‘vi. ending. Alexander. Balarat. Ovens. M'lver. Tot u. August 7..55,617 4,740 5,205 5,137 70,700 Aug. 13.. 33,506 5,302 5,687 44,495 Should the next two weeks average as much as the last two, the month of August will then show a regult superior to any month of this year, and 80 confirmation to the belief that the mines are ving promise of again becoming very rich and pro- ive. ‘The only diggings in operatinn at this time last were those of Mount Alexander and Balarat, Ovens and M’[vor having been since discovered. compare the yield of those two fields We last wintér with that of this year:— Yusup or Movnt ALEXANDER AND Bararar. For 1853. 156,856 For 1852, ».. 53,608 «+» 55,882 - 61 389 67,556 ~ 69,453 108,650 p Jaly,. 1282/546 165,779 From these statements it will be observed that the amount ef July received per escort exceeds any other month this year; aud that the amount shipped for that month aiso bears a favorable average as compared with any of the others. A feeling pre- vails in some quarters that these returns do not indi- cate precisely the quantities received from the gold | fields, or the quautilies shipped; but though tney certainly do not and cannot represent either of these uantities with positive accuracy, still we believe that for the purpose of exhibiticg the progress of the mines, their yield and results, they contain what may be relied on as a pretty certain index of our mineral wealth. The escort is now the chief source welicd om for bringing dewn the gold, although a ge deal still comes by private hands; aud heace yy these means we may form a tolerably accu- rate impression of what is doisg at the gold fields. By this test we arrive pretty nearly at the amount discovered ; but we cunnot ascertain 0 easily or so accurately what has been snipped; for much certainly leaves the country both for home and colo- nial ports, by private hands, which is never entered at the custems; though it may be assumed that the p wean ee leaving the colony ina manner which | cannot recorded, bears a pretty regular average to the amount which is recorded. Iu both cases, there- fore, whether as regards the yield of the mines or the shipments from the colony, we venture to say that the returns now given are eseatiaily accurate, and may be relied on; and from our experience of the mines, the present state of the weather, the period of the year, and the numbers now flocking to the dig- gings, we may also venture to add that there is a prospect of a growing increase to tie yield of this i | manbere’ branch of our colonial wealth. Very flatter- accounts sti]! continve to pour in, from a new | field discovered within the last week or two, and situated upon the banks of the Goulburn, at a dis- | tance of about eighty miles from Melbourne. OUR SHIPPING AND COMMERGE. The position of our shippivg formed a prominent polnt in jour last summary, exhibiting as it does in all that could have been wished—in fact, the ® very marked mavner the real progress aud im- | portance of the port. The most casual observer can- not overlook our extraordinary position im this re- | He cannot fail to observe the magnitude of our daily arrivals, or, if be does, he has ouly to cast his eye towards Honaon’s Bay, when the magnificent fleet there riding at anchor must at once convince him of the value and vast extent of that trade which can attract ard employ such a noble commercial marine. The numbers here assembled, from evel country and climate, are so great as almost to chal- lenge belief. For the last siz months no less than 968 vessels, representing 265,000 tons, were entered inwards; and 830 vessels, representing 254,000 tons and upwards, were cleared throug, Howse outwards. the Custom Presuming this to continue, we sholl have an aggregate tonnage trading with | this port during the year ,of 1,038,682tons—an amoant which is actually almost equal to the tonnage of Lon- don in 1817. Even in the year 1850, London only exceeded us th-eefold, Liverpool being ahead nearly in the same amount; while Newcastle ig the only other port in the British dominions which has a tonnage than we Cag fe and that only to a very inconsiderable. extent. Melbourne is thus, so far as the amount of tonnage forms any criterion, the fourth port in Her Majesty's dominions; and it is an- other remarkable circumstance that per present ton- nage is more than double what the Clyde shipping represented in 1550. Such are curious facta; preg: nant with great results, and well calculated to strike the thoughtfal inquirer with astonishment, when he | and fidelity, in an appointment o’ Mr. La Trove, keeps in view that we are compatatively an infant | colony of only eighteen years’ standing, com 1d of & mere handfvl of inhabitants, not exceeding 250,000, who have hitherto been compelled to struggle against an obstructive executive, in the absence of a regular constitational government, and under the necessarily loose administration of somewhat unsettled laws, in s wa more unsettled and distracted state of society. We have referred elsewhere to the particulars of our commercial position, which is one of pecaliar in- terest at the present moment, and therefore requires great caution and discrimination in judging of its real state, and still more in advising commercial men at a distance as to how the market is likely to rule when the spring trade opens. The elasticity which the market has already exbibited in receiving and disposing of such a vast quantity of goods as have been thrown upon it, is really wonderful ; but it spears to us that as it realiy is, very little is ly known of the quantity and value of the which have poured in upon us. For the pur- pose of ne this at a glance, we have prepared s short statement of the various articles of im: which have been entered through the Custom House =e the quarter endirg Sth July last; and we the following list ofa few of the chief items, the extent of the imports of which will, we doubt hot, startle even those who are accustomed to watch narrowly the operations of the trade of this port: — Quantity. 5,088 . 360 84,831 Value. £116,236 12,747 51,036 5,308 159,115 119,968 87,479 15,306 28,066 21,110 38,988 19,908 108,023 130,366 ing Hence, 11,987 | are crowded with numbers | difficult of belief altogether. 70,076 Glassware, do....... Haberdashery & hosiery. . Iron and steel, tons... . Oats, busbels..........+ Oilmen’s stores, pkges. . . Salted provisions, tous... . Ship chandlery, pkges. . Specie, boxes. . . 797,490 | Spirits, galls 233,587 | Sugar, tons. 54,270 Tea, Ibe ‘ 14,062 | Tobacco, Ibs. 72,303 | Wine, galls, 214,800 96,819 | As a sequel to the above list of inaporta, we also | publish the following statement, showing the va'ue | of the whole imports during the quarter above re- | ferred to, as well as the different ports and vessels from and iu which these imports have been brought. ‘The list is interesting asa reference, but it is besides instructive as indicating to the British merchant | that the coloay, though sradially, becoming peopled | rom every nation in the world, is yet, to all intents and purposes, a British colony, drawing its ohief sup- | pe from British industry and capital, and employ- | ing, inthe transmission of these supplies, a largo majority of British vessels :— The value of imports at the port of Melbourne, from various parts of the world, for the quarter ended 5th of July, 1853, was as follows; Imported in Br. ships. For. ships. Totals Great Britain. .....£1,909,162 £270,832 £2,179,994 Gottenberg. mr — ~ 9,720 9,720 21,648 anaes | Oporto, .. es * 9,681 Cape of Good Ho} — Menritius je Der eee - 6,366 Van Diemens Land — New South Wales.. Adelaide.......... Weatern Australia. New Zealand....... Bombay. . Calcutta. Cochin. o tyastaia gy ae wh $2 19,758 Boston Salem.. San Francisco. . New York.. Rio de Janeiro. — Val; 80 17,173 26,500 Geelong 820 Port Fairy....... 60 Portland ........ 6 23,207,819 £907,914 £4,115,233 OUR SOCIAL CONDITION. It is with considerable pleasure that we amnounce that there is a decided current of improvement in the social condition of the colony. On anes ocoasions, when depicting the aspect of the community for dis- tant readers, we were constrained to represent crime as rampavt—life and property insecure even im the streets of the metropolis, and the diggers oftem hover- ing on the verge of Lynch law. But this state of | things is passing away, and a far more healthy moral tone is beginning to pervade society. There are still, it must be confessed, occasional outbreaks of crime of an atrocious character, of which the mur derous attack on the gold escort (detailed in our summary for the Churau, a fortnight since,) affords | 8 painful example; but they are almost wholly due | to the importations of Vau Diemens Land convict- | ism which still mingle amongst our population. As, however, the final effort of that unprincipled atates- | man, Lord Grey, to procure a little longer existence | | for the accnrsed transportation system been sig- | Bally defeated by the wisdom and firmness of the present miristry, we have strong hopes that in a | Comparatively brief period the last vestiges of con- | Victism will be eradicated from the colony of Vic- | toria, and the vigor infused into our body politic by | the tardy concession of responsible government, will | enable us better and better to keep our ruffians ia | order. The large and continuous infusion of fresh and healthy elements into our population—the absorbing nature of the individual wating for wealth—the | facility with which every man who is willing to work | can secure a comfortable maintenance and something over—and a marked improvement in the police sys- tem—have combined to check the tendency to law- les-uess, avd to promote order and motality. We mevtion tbe improvement iu the police system with | | 5,125 8p 1 gratiicaticn, because notzing conld be more iv: ficient than it was sometime since, and it was uot possible for us to speak of it in avy terms except those of emphatic condemnation. The main features iu this desirable result are the addition to the local | fore of & draft of the London poiice, the emplay- met ot many of the military stationed here in police | duties, and ‘be introduction of better discipliae int» the ‘orce generally. The system is still very far from | perfect; Lut there exists no reason why it should not | | overdone. | Sure is achieved, they expect to be enjoying them- | 1he population of this country are too unsettled and very pret , and it is already But the disposition at last evinced by the govervment to throw large quantities of land into t the fine field which there is for ag- horticultural ‘its, will induce to betake themselves to occupa- tions which will afford them s far more certain and i | Profitable subsistence thap small ae in the oty. Besides, the experience acquired by a jour ney to the diggings, and even a short stay there, dis sipates the too general repugnince to a life in the bush; and men soon find that the health, freedom, and independence attending on that mode of life, rex der it vastly preferable te the strugglivg existence of the crowded, unbealthy, and keenly competing city. And the period has fully arrived when tie co- lony offers a sure and wide field for tha’ class of emi- grants who are fitted for every description of raral pursuits, and who have not acquired that physical enervation which city life so frequently induces. To this we may add that the prospect for females of every class is decidedly improving. The unfixed habits ‘of the population, and the absence of the means of domestic eomfort, have hitherto tended to prevent men from tbinki of undertaking new responsibilities; but these things are also passing away, and witha more stable condition of sosiety, and the increase of domestic appliances, will natural- ly come the desire for domestic comfort and for the amevities of gocial life. The prospect before eligible womer, in a department which (we state it with all reverence) we believe sometimes to ocoupy their thoughts, may be inferred from the single fact that in thia, the richest colony in the world, the males outnumber tae females to the enormous extent of about fifty-seven thousand. Think of that, fair la- dies! A husband to be chosen from amongst a deso- late surplus of fifty-seven thousand! OUR POLITICAL CONDITION. Tt is a remarkable fact, that while the inhabitants of the neighboring colonies are holding public meet- ings in their various districts, and are eagerly and with great intelligence the new constita- tion proposed for their acceptance by the British government, the people of colony have not yet publicly paid much attention to the subject. From anything that has publicly transpired, it might al- most be supposed the colonists did not regard with apy cot degree of interest tae boon proposed to be conferred upon them; or that not one ina thousand bad formed an opinion on the details. This is, doubtless, ve! mentable, but it is at the e time not unna! ; and the wiser plan is, n shut our eyes to it, but to investigate its causes, for in this way only can we arrive at and discover the true remedy. The people of thie colony are composed of two clasees, the old colonists, and the population thrown in among them in consequence of the gold dis- coveries. A very large proportion of the old colon- ista, bave, according to a well-known expression used by one of them, become “‘ disgustingly rich”— in many instances from no merit or skill or exer- tion of their own, but simply by the rise in tre value of Property. Others, who were jogging through life quietly in the routine of the counting-house, or shop, or station, have suddenly become engro3sed in the whirl of an enormously lucrative business. But both of these classes are unsettled. To the former the colopy has become disagreeable, on account of the crowds of strangers, the breaking up of old so- cial habits, the vast increase in expenses, the recent wary great insecurity of life and property, and the multitudes of other disigreeables caused by the in- undation of wealth and people. The same feeling pervades the families of men in business, and the latter only endure the discom forte of our transition state for the sake of making a fortune, sufficient to enable them to enjoy themselves in their native or some more propitious ‘and. Then as regards the new comers, for we canno’ yet call them colonists, we believe that a large propor- tion come here with the intention, after making a fortane, to return to their native village or town. This bas been already proved by the proceedings of | the people from the neighboring colonies, who, like locuets, have come and fed upon our land; or rather, | like bees, bave arrived,gathered their spoil, snd car- | ried it away.. Can we doubt that the same feeling | pervades the German, the Frenchman, the American, | the Canadian, the Italian, the Chinaman, aye, and | the Englishman almost as much as any’ These men | come as strapgers,—they have no colonizing spirit, | they teke no interest in our form of government, or | | our colonial politics; months elapse before they com- | prehend the nature of cur constitution, or the char- | acter of our men in power, and months more before they can understand their mode of aetion. As to feeling interest in ae beyond what concerns them individually, it is ho, to expect it. Theresult of ali this is, that with a large proportion | of both old colonists and new comers, there is a | paivful apathy end indifference to everything except what relates to their own immediate interests. Speak to these men upon questions which for years beuce must determine the liberty or the boudage, the pros- pesity or the adversity of this country, they cannot tee] the slightest interest; but speak of wharves, or rates of lighterage, or heavy rents, or bigp licease- fees, their eye kindles, their ear opens, and they are al animation. The immediate grievance baulks their purpose; but, by the time a great political nea- felves at the antipodes. We hold it theretore to be a fact, anda prea natusal fect, that, in the first years of our golden era, too migrstory iu their disposition toexhibit any large degree of patriotic or political feeling; that conse- be raised into a concition of the highest effic ency. At all events, we may now venture to assert that life | acd property are very much more secure than they | have lately been, and the tendency is towards still farther improvement. | In a previous tunmmary we notized the improve- | ment in this particular, without venturing to assign a cause; bat we believe that we now do no more thap justice in attributing much of the reform to a gentleman who has latey been entrusted with the | bead of this important branch of tue public service. Several things have happened Jately, besides the | general tendency to improvement itself, to lead us to | believe Mr. Mitchell to be an able, zealous, and faithful officer. We make no apology for avy tardi- bess we may have exhibited in resoguising such qualities ina government official under tbe old re- gvme, tor thanks to that system of vassalage in which we bave existed, and to the irresponsible influence of a very unworthy ruler, merit has so seldom work- | ed ils way to ocffice,that we may excused for not very readily recognising it when we see it. Ability | have been so infrequent, as to bave besome almost fabulous; and, when such a case does occur, it caa- not be wovdered if the colonists first greet it with an unbelieving stare. The habitual encouragement of flippant negligence and of sycophactic incom- petency, 80 accustoms the Australian to official worthleseness, that honesty and ability become It is the natural consequence of your faulty English system of colonial goverument. And as your savans are puzzled with our marsupials and amphibious animals, simply be- cause they sre not accustomed to them, so do we doubt a really effective government officer for the | fame cause. You turn over and examine our platy- | pus incredulously, simply because it happens t> have a beak; we turn over and examine, equally incredu- lously,@ government official produced under yoar | PE rele en be startles us with an indication of rain. We have always repeated our warnings to intend: | ing emigrants of the diffigulties which would meet them at their entrance into the colony; but it is | creditable to the colonists to «tate that their benevo- lent efforts to mitigate those evils are very successful. | Two societies are in active operation tor the purpose | of pffording temporary shelter to new comers, and | relief in casual cases of destitution. The private | voluntary subscriptions for ove of these associations — the Immigrants Aid Seciety— amount already to the handsome sum of £7,931 7s. 10d., and an application to the Executive to put upon the estimates a grant of £40.000 in furtherance of the benevolent op- jects of the society, hus been favorably received. A sick ward and dispensary have been established, where medicine and advice are gratuit sly bestowed on persone needing them, and a though only recentl, brought into active operation, the s ciety bas distri- buted £320 in donations te persons requiring assist auce, and lent £242 in small sums to applicants. It has engaged an agent to seek out cases of des itu- tion, in order to their being relieved,; and it is taking measures to erect a temporary lodzing-house and hospital. The Houseless Immigrants’ Home, has afforded temporary shelter to 3.454 persons during | the last eight months ata very low rate, and the | total amount of funds collected by private subscrip- tion and government grant amounts to nearly £13,000. | There facts attest the wiliinguess of the colonists to hold out a helping hand to new comers, aad prove that the too general thirst for gold has not en! y shut up the fountains of human sympathy. ft should be remembered that the cases of destitution are generally temporary, arising from those inevita- | ble casualties that occur in such a condition of things as ours. The greatest grievance, the want of house ascommedation, ix quite remediable, and there is no doubt that building will speedily go forward to an extent commensurate with the increasing popula tion. On the whole, the amount of hardstips en dared by newly arrived immigrants is diminishing, notwithstanding the numbers arriving ; aod there ie reason to hope that these hacdshiys will disappear in time. But still the fact cannot be two strongly impressed on the mind of every intending emigrant, that the principal difficulties will meet bim at the threshold; and it will require all his self seliance? fortitude, and perseverance to overcome them There is a strong disposition on the part of emi- grants from large towns in Britain to cast themselves wholly on those means of subsistence which the larger towns here afford them. They dread the bash; and they are not adapted to country pursuits. Such of them ae have trades find litle difficulty in procar- ing employment, at very high wages ; but there isa imi ge as who sevia filtea for puting except deal- | in a emall way. , the vity and suburbs | of small shops, beyond | say that ever | Lista of this country are, we firmly believe, as a body, | quently. the legitimate political aztion of the people is paralysed, and there is great danger that a faith- less government, or an ambitions faction, may seize the opportunity and encroach upon tie liberties and rights of the people, in order to gain undue pewety orto matstain unjust and prejudicial nono- es. sii most striking illustration of this is given in the | report ofa select committee of the Legislature of New South Wales, appointed to consider the new constitution, which committee, after a protracted discusrion, actually progres the establishment of an hereditary peerage for that colony. The shout of de- risive laughter with which the idea of a “Botany Bay Peerage” has been universally received, has now, we believe, induced these ambitious gentlemen to re- nounce their scheme; but its mere production affords a fine example or the shape which selfish plots of | tmall minorities amougst us are likely to take, to | conjare power and position for themselves out of the too prevalent apathy around. | As for that notable scheme, if it ever should take | a more tangible form, we can do nothing better than courign it to the care of the aristocracy of England, whore virtues, real of imaginary, tbe colonial nobi- | lity are to emulate. If brought to its most improba- | ble fruition, it will strike even English lord worsbip- | ers as a rather infelicitous feature in the scheme, that | its obvious result, considering the origin of New South Wales, will be that every third man amongst | the:r colonial lords will probetly have to trace his | pedigree to a burglar grandiather. Such at present ia the anomalous and critical posi- tion of this young nation. We have given the only explar ation thet can be given for the devlorable po: litical apathy that prevails, and it is right that the pene of England should know this fact. But un- favorable as our position is, sball we at the same time say that we in the least ¢egree despair of the fature prospects of our commonwealth? We say emphati- cally,no! On the Meena? we have the strongest hope, pay, the corey of @ coming regeneration; and we sbell here briefiy state a few of the grounds of our faith. ¢ first is, that, independent of the precious weta), the natural resources of this country sre boundless and magnificent. If we had nothing else but gold, even now the tide of population out- wards would be as strong as that inwards; for a very Jarge proportion of the gold seekers are altogether unfitted for such a life, and even those best fitted for it are frequently uneuccessfal in their search. But an intendiag gold-digger eannot pass through this country in any drection, without becoming aware that, prodigal as nature has been in pre. cious metals and valuable ores, she has been equally bountifu! in all the permavent resources which bave most surely contributed to the wealth of the oldest and richest countries in the sorthern hemi- sphere. Numbers, therefore, who came t) 18 to gether and take away gold, have determined to re- main, and to use their newly acquired wealth asa means ef creating a comfortable howe ia this glorious virgin land. They have determined to remain among us, end aesist in founding a nation. [+ is needless to man in whom this feeling 1s created immediately mes interested iw our politics, an is anxious to aseist in establistiing our liberties, as the only free basis of physical developement and pro+ perity. Ar another strong ground of hope, we should | not omit the powerfa) ly of staunch old colonists | fee of who bave made this their home. The original colo- surpatsed by nove in the world for industry, activity, | and intelligence, a character of which no better proof is required than the noble stand they made in favor of | law and order, when nearly overwhelmed, at the time of the gold discoveries, by an inundation of the double distilled felonry of the British empire from its hnge jail of Van Dicmen’s Land; at a time when a reckless and treacherous Governcr, in spite ef the remonstances of bis principal Ts, allowed the police to be dis banded, aud placed the life and property of the colo- nists in the hands of the xeum of a coavict constab- ulary. In this reepect we most cordially endorse the opinions expressed by your own great Times, as to the style in which this peo le haa passed through @ most trying ordeal. Neither that journal nor Bfy Che ata distance can tell how sorely they have been tempted, how grossly they have been neg- lected. Their calm, temperate, and orderly proceed. ings under euch trying on Wibstances are, however, patent to the world, We bave great faith. then, in the staunch and true, old colonists. Many. too many, we confess, have Jeft, carrying wilh them tens, and fifties, and han- Greds of thoveands of pounds; and we fear many more will follow. Bot it is a remarkable thet ld reswenve in Vivtutin Wer teLder vd G. the canser previonsly enumerated, scarcoly one man | ever left it to reside permanenthy eeweere ; ‘and when good government and social progress have again rendered it nafo and agreeable, every old colo- , whore departure we now deplore, will inevitably be found returming among us. Under any circumstances, however, faithful thou- sands wi!l remain to lead and to guide the new ar- rivals, not only in the paths of industry, but in the glorious career of free institutions and legislative in- dependence ; an unswerving contest for which by i people of Australia is now most assuredly at id. Im the developement of an Australian political spirit, we are quite aware that one great drawback is the ignorance of colonial iustitutions, and ef the just rights of colonists, which prevails among all ew comers. We know that it is too much the prac- tice of the colonial press to take for ited the pos- session of a large amount of political knowledge by its readers; and in too many instances, in conse- wence, their arguments, and statements, and ailu- sions are not understood, and they fall fruitless to the ground. This drawback and barrier it will be our duty to endeavor to remove by familiar and sys- tematic expositions of the principles and history of colonial policy. Our last hope is in the government—not, we con- fess, as it has been hitherto administered, but as we trust to see it applied by the successor to Mr. La Trobe. A more glorious field was never opened toa really just, intelligent, and energetic Governor. In an old country like England, where the whole frame- ‘work of government is so well defined and regulated, it matters litde cone PERLE: who is the head. Whether the supreme ruler be king or queen—whe- ther the minister be liberal or copservative—the great ship of state proceeds in her eee career in regu- lar course; but it is different with a young count ry such as this, The Governor has everything in hi bands, The Legislature (in our ease hitherto a ‘ked body of his own creation) can indeed make ws, and they may be dictated by the inspiration of a perfect iom; butitis the duty of the Governor to select the instruments by whom the laws are oar- ried into effect; and if he chooses worthless and in- competent mep, and leaves them to act unre- strained, not only are the intentions of the Legislature frustrated and set at defiance, but systems and prac- tices of the most opposite nature are enforced, and esery porgjble iniquity, oppression, and disaster pre- yail. Again. the Queen, as lady of our Manor, may, out of regard for the interests of her subjects, make orders for its beneficial occupation and settlement, in which orders the rights of every class may be care- fully guarded, and every possible contingency provid- ed for; and yet by groes ete low favoritism, and disregard of every principle of justice, and of the ruin, and soul, of thousands, the mo:t vitally mportan' edgmed of the order may be allowed to remain a dead letter, and the others enforced ina way the most prejudicial possible to the general in- terests. It is very remarkable that in the recent ad- dreases by candidates for seats in Council, both the squatters and anti squatters, representatives of the pareaed few and of the pluadered many, allege at to the letter this has been done by Lieutenant- Governor La Trote. It will be the duty of his suc- ceseor to remedy all these short-comings, all these failures, all these wrongs. He may aay men ot capacity and of honesty around him; he may remodel the various departments, and introduce efficiency and ju:tice where the gross est laxity, injustice, and jobbery now prevail; he may prosecute public works; cl out roads and streets of robbers; create a feeling of security, and enable timid women and feeble children, along with their vigorous husbands and fathers, to settle in the land. To them he may effectually open up the country. In a word, he may do more than the strength of 100,000 men to advance the peaceful and fruitful settlement of this splendid territory. When he comes, if he has the reputation of an honest man, he will be well received; avd if he does his duty, no man can picture a more glorious or a more delightfal career than will be bis. He will not come an hour too soon; for even now, while these lines are being prepared, there are threut- en ngs of a coming siorm. The diggers have come toa resolution no longer to pay the monthly license- thirty shillings; and having hitherto been lected and provoked by the government, although ded to when they assumed a posture of defiance, their tone is now threatening and delermuned in the extreme. A deputation has lately waited upon the ne, wi Lieutenant-Governor, which being met in a more | than usually injudicious manner, even for Mr. La Trobe, has led to great exasperation oa the part of the miners. Letters fr:m Bendigo, just received, report a very large armed meeting, should be tendered to the commissioners on the 27th instavt, by a volunteer party of thirty; and if that be refused, the party should give themselves into custody; that no licenses at all shall be taken out, and that every tent on the gold fields should an- nounce the fact in large letters. The Lieutenant Governor distinctly told the delegates that he was prepared to carry out the law; and as these resolu- tcns are tantamount to a determination to resist it, a collision is quite probable—untess, indeed, the counsels of the more calm and moderate amongst the diggers prevail, and that large section of the community be thereby induced to leave the question cf the license fee to be decided by the Legislatare, a body ia which the digger is not represented, and to which therefore he looks with no hope. For months past we have constantly reiterated the fact that two antagoni-tic forces were gradually aj proacbing each other in this colony, the contact ot which must produce disturbance—the strong popular tendencies on the one side, and the utterly responsible nature of the government on the other. That time is coming nearer and nearer. How far the present advirers of his Excellency may prove themselves imbued with the liberal principles of the present ministry, and of the coming constitution, and bow far apy such manifestations ‘upon their pert may act in soothing the angry feelings of a class which, although wrong in their present s'ep, have mavy grievances to complain of, it is impossi- ble to foretell. We hope for the best; but we have been so long accnstomed to stolid indifference on the one hard, and we know so well the irritating effects which it has produced upon the other, tnat we look forward with some anxiety for the events of the next few weeks, Tx reference to the subject of the new constitution for these colonies, we cannot close our remarks with- out directing attention to the fatal mistakes which | will be wade in Englaxd, if reliance be placed upon the decisions of the local io elie asin any way | representing the opinions of the people. b our own case several circumstances have com. bined to produce this unfortunate result. The elec- torai act for Victoria was framed by the Legislative Council of New South Wales—a body comparatively ignorant ‘of the circumstances, the wants, aud the interes.s cf the province; a body, too, in which the squatter clement has always largely predominated, and which, therefore, did not hesitate greatly to favor that Vakelies class. In consequence of this feeling, the elestoral districts of Victoria were arranged more with the view o! representing property in sheep aud cattle, than men. In towns, again, the privileges conferred by the act have been rendered to a great extent abortive, by a clause requiring six months’ occupation of the particular premises which confer the chige. The co uence of this is, that the citizen wo by successful industry in these golden times hasrisen from a hovel to the wession of & respectable residence, has been dis‘ranchised ; while the druken sot, who gould not rise from the hovel state, has been enabled to vote at our elections. The recent developement of extraordinary wealth has caused an unusual migration of the pone of the kind we bave described, and the result has been the disfranchisement of all the best classes of the various constituencies. The ridiculous dispro- portion of electors to the population will be under- stor d by our English readers when we inform them that at a late election of sixteen members of Coun- cil, by all the chief electoral districts of the pro- vince, nearly the whole of which were contested, out of 250,000 inbabitants, only 2,800 recorded their votes; sn that the Legialative Cownci really repre: ents little more than one per cent of the population, And even this preposterously inadequate represen- ation is vitiaied by the upfair arrangement of elec- eral districts, and finally quashed by the large pro- portion of the nominee members. Lately, it is true, there has been a fresh registration, but the six months’ clause still prevents the enfranchisement of the bulk of the inhabitanta; for not only the great mass of the digging population are entirety unrepre rented, but many tf the oldest colonists are sim'lar| excluded by want of residence in their present dwell- ings, continuously, during the legal period. This frequent change of residence is chiefly confined to towns; and the forfeiture does not extend to the equatting districta, where the possession of a depas- turing license at the time of registration, tho only acquired a moment before, is sufficient to confer the franchise. Thus this interest is continuously re; resented in full farce, whatever may be the individa- al Mt bad Out of fifty-four members, of whom the present Legisiatore 8 compored, no le than eighteen are nominees of government—a class which almost in- variably votes in a compact body, according to orders from headquarters, and which certain'y does not in any Way represent the people. aking into account, therefore, the unjust pre- dominance given by the Electeral Act to the grazing interest, the wholesa'e disfsanchisement of the citi- zen electors and of the digging population, now the most numercus and important class in the colony, we think our English readers wil agree with us, that the “legislative representation” of this colony is a perfect abortion; a1 d that in ih important measure it would Le a most dangerous delusion to look upon our legis. latures as emboe ying. or in any degree representing, te ae the opinions, or the interests of the people Fant in THR Price or Burter.—The Schoharie Kemitinan rayne The recent fall in the price of butter, Jogether with’ present indications of a greater reduction, bat frightened the dealers thereatouts, who ing on for bet er vrices, and, conse us yee wow Unni ue Luror Wo imihob ius di or hfieen tons of Lee ff that office on 1th instant, rupning toward Albany.” at which resolutions were | passed, to the effect that a ten shillings license fee | ‘The New Diplomatic Costume of the United States Envoys. [From the Londen ‘bronicie, Nov. 3 } If the boy is father to the man, the latter unques- tlonably carries with him to the grave abundant traces of his parentage. One of the most oharacter- istic of there is the difficulty—a difficulty which is felt evem by the strongest intellecta—of steadily pro- feesing an abstract principle without the aasi-tance of some visible and ma\ symbol. The followers of the houses of York and Lancaster needed while avd red roses to represent the causes they reepect- ively served. The beggar’s wallet was ouce the badge of liberty in the Netherlands, ‘as in our own | days, the pointed hat and the still more poiuted | beard betokexed ‘the republican of the Boulevards. | The Ghibelines and Guelphs could only feel sure of | their fidelity to the Emperors of Germany or the | Popes of Rome, when they found themselves arrayed under the columns and bears of the Colonna and Orsini. The Puritans and Royalists never so com- pletely realized the difference besween their political and religious creeds as when the bairdresser’s art cropped the one party into roundheads, and curled the other into ringleted cavaliers. AU the colors of the rainbow have at various times borrowed for emblematical purposes. Pistoia and Florence had their black and white factions. The Circusof Rome, and afterwards of Constantinople, had its white, red, n, and blue parties; and the followers of the Erophet consecrated green, white, and black to their different theological schools. Even in this sober- minded sousiey and reasonable age, it was but the other day that aw attempt to restore the ancient practice of preaching in a white instead of a black own aroused a violent excitement in our Church. Vith all our Laiepryiad and learning we can still find matter for rejoicing or heart! ig in the cut of the hair, the shape of a hat, or the color of coat, Such, at least, is the weakness of monarchical na- tiona. Western republic, however, is superior to enfantilages like these. Tha President of the States receives at his table, with equal uncon- cern and equal politeness, the glittering splendors of the deapct-ridden European, the universal black satin waistcoat of American citizens and British trades- men, the fustian jacket of the artizan, and the blanket of the Choctaw; and he would admit evea the s:riped cotton sbirt of the African, if the hue of the man’s face could be as easily forgiven as that of his dress. Naturally enough, our enlightened Trans- atlentio brethren, instead of selfishly keeping, their hilosophical superiority to themselves, feel that the; have a mission to illumine the Sian this be- nighted Old World; and they have accordingly—not, it seems, without some remoree for pene shortcomings — undertaken to convert mankind from the errors of old lace and plumes to the pure ssthetics of the Brack coat. It appears from the Cincinnati Gazette —an extract from which we publish elsewhere—that, from the days of Benjamin Franklin down to the present time, the diplomatic repre'cntatives of the ‘pion in Paria have gone to the Tuilleries on State occasions “in some kind of uniform.” Mr. Rives, the late Minister, pushed compliance with received usages eo far as to visit even the President of the French republic in that guise. But Mr. Rives is one, and Tir. Sandford, the Secretary of Legation, as, under the instructions of General Pierce's go verpment, inaugurated a ‘new era; and the mighty revolution which he has commenced tbreatens to change—if not the face of the world—at least the appearance of its back. But we must give the history of this perererent reformation. M. Drouynde Lhuys had, it seems, the politeness, some time since, to invite Mr. Santord to dinner on the anniversary of Bt. Napoleon; and a;it was mseerelly ener that a blaze of uniform would be a delicate attention to the memory of a saint whoce name is so suggestive of military ideas and reminiscences, an intimation to that effect was ap- pended to the card of invitation. But here the For- eign Minister had touched the susceptibilities of the great republic. An American statesman iaust not stoop to the tomfoolery of the fancy ball. Mr. Sanford accordingly explained that a great principle was con- cealed under an apparently significant point of form; and the French statesman politely begged that the di- plomatist would favor bim with his company in what- ever costume republican propriety would permit.— Mr. Sanford, therefore, figured at the table “in the humble drees ofa plain citizen ;” that is (to follow the Cincinnatti journalist into details), in a “black Gress coat, white vest and cravat, and black panta- loons, without a sign of decoration or embroidery.” This noble self-devotion has, it appears not, been lost on his countrymen, ‘To take the initiative in the matter in the most brilliant Court in Europe, and in the midst of old men of it abilities and great reputation, who adhere relig’ ly and consci- extiously, perhaps, to the forms recogn zed in all times past, was a bold, a courageous, and a patriotic act, for which he cannot receive too much praiee.”’ No great cause, however, has ever been won without aed as r Mr. Sandford was made to feel. The Duke de Guiche took him by the arm after din- ner, and made ‘“‘some severe remarks touc! his personal appearance, which were answered in an equally severe tone; aud the world may feel thankfal that a casus bell: did not grow out of the discussion. Then came the Turkish Ambassador, and, as if his ovestment had notenough on its hands on the fake of the Danube, he must needs comment on the queer appearance of a black crow amoeng golden birds. The Secretary, however, was forbearing. He patiently expounded to the petulant Mabometan the great principles upon which the color of the obnox- ious vestment depended; and we only wonder that he did not win over to his cause an empire which cou tributed Bloomerism to the fashions of the West. Flated with his first success, the transatlantic statesman called a cab and drove to the Tuilleries, determined to try the effect of his sable rig on their imperial majesties. Here, howe¥er, his course was not quite smooth. The lacqueys ‘‘ who pave the way” tothe Emperor, scanned his drole de figure, and evidently regarded him asan interloper. Es- caping with some difficulty from their hands, the ruffled secretary succeeded at last in reaching the Salle des Marechaux, where he found more goldea birds, with sutspread talons and open beak, ready to peck and tear at the modest eagle who clothed his glories in the sober hues of the rook. The Princess Matilda, it appears, and the Prussian Minister, either simultaneously or successively, re- monstrated against the unseemly “ pants’ and the indecorour coat, But the triumph of freedom and enlightenment was at hand. The Emperor's eye fell onthe humble citizen, who had le himself the observed of all observers, aud immediately his Ma- jesty strode across the room, seized the diplomatist by the hand, “ talked to him for a few minates, but said nothing about his breeches, and requested him to remember bim to a mutual friend in America—thus signifying,” moralises the writer, ‘‘in the most deli- ca‘e, unmistakable, and frank manner, that the re- presentative of the government of the United States was welcome at his court in whatever dress his gov- ernment indicated%to him.” This is as it should be; and the histery of Mr. Sand- ford’s trials will be read with deep interest by all who have been tong and silently chafing under the grind. ing tyranny of court dress, The Secretary of the Amerizan Legation is undoubtedly entitled to great credit for his zeal in carrying out Messrs. Doudney’s and Moses’ great behest, “reform your tailur's bills;”” yet we must not commit the injustice of attributing exclusively to Sandford a merit which partially be- longs to Pierce. It was the latter illustrious geceral who Issued the celebrated order to the diplomaticand consnlar agents of the States, ‘requiring them not to strip themeelves of their Americanism in the pre- sence of the European Courts, and to make them un derstand by their attitude, as by their costume, that they had the honor of belongiog to a republican country.” As to the “attitude,” we do not at this moment recollect any ae uliar to our kins- men, except the graceful one of placing their heels on the obimney piece, while the rest of the body swings artistically ontwo legs of a chair. But the costume. Great is the cause of the black coat, andit will prevail. Some captious persons might object, in- dved, that a free people ought to be permitted the choice of their own dress, and that a grave diploma- tist might be suffered, in sma!{ matters, to do at Rome as Rome ¢oes. But this is “Liberty Hall,” says Gen, Pierce of his country, ‘‘ where everybody does as I nly ;” and the sons of freedom must, of course, »ow to superior orders in the matter of clothing. It is, doubtless, out of sheer humility that the eagle pre- fers decking himself in the crow’s, rather than the joy’s feathers, though it is just ible that there may beas much vanity and folly under a black as under a white, red, or blue coat. The same modest temperament is displayed in the notion of naturalizing Gen. Pierce's fashions in all the Courts of Europe; but, to carry out consistently the gallant President’s idea, not an dress, but court visiting, ought to be proscribed. This, however, would be rather a severe test of“ democratic patriotism,’ for it would involve the utter forfeiture of the mach prized honor of “a delicate, unmistakeable, and frank” imoerial notice. Poor buman nature!’ Here are the beam and the mote once more. While in the very act of reproving asin, the good Western republicans are Se committing it themselves; for their pro- fession of simplicity assumes the form of a love of distinction. The Minister of the French Emperor taught them a lesson of true liberty, as well asof courtesy, when he expressed his indifference about the cclor or the out of his guest's b; and if the republican diplomatist had na agent in the matter, he would bave shown better taste by comply- ing with the usages of the society which received him into its circle. Fa. From A Bripos anp Drownrnas.—Yester. day evening a man samed James Kdwards was ta- ken to the Commercial Hospital on a dray; his back was broken, and he had received other severe bruises in falling from a bridge on the Obio and Micsiesippi railway, near Aurora, on Tuesday after- noon. After the accident he was removed to the steamer Emme Dean on a litter, for tie purpoee of being brovght to his friends 1 this city, While the bands were carrying him on board the boat, the waves of another boat, passing up, drw the Brana Dean from the shove, eu the planks slipping of, all were precipitated into the river. Two of the crew were fromned, while the clerk, three of the row and the injured man were saved —Cincinnati Gazate, Nov. 17. ‘Truth as Strange as Fiction. ACCOUNT OF THE DESERTION OF THE SLAVE I8A1, AT PHILADELPHIA, AND HIS RETURN TO HIS {From the Savannah News, Nov. 16 } The slave Isaiah was purchased by Mr. Padelf some years since from a gentleman who was al to leave the State. His master gave him the u Privilege in such cases of choosing purchaser. made choice of Mr. Padelford, who was induced his earnest entreaties to purchase him, his fora Pf 08 ene lems velco for his slave than en offered for him, in order to him ia telection of a future master, ey Under the protection of a kind and too indulg| master, free from the cares and anxieties that m li‘ea burthen to so many of his ocolorin the Btates, he had Baer gg never dreamed of exchan; his cond tion for the miserable existence of yi negro at the North. His health becoming bad, his master took } with bim to Philadelphia, with a view to have W treated fora disease of the nervous system. Pj and elsewhere at the North, he spent the most of sun mer, during which time the interesting inv: was, uo doubt, tampered with by the abolitioni who rererved the grand scene of hi: ration uw) near the eve of his master's departure for Geor, A few days before the sailing of the steamer for vapnah, absented himself from his home, Mr. Padelford was shortly after served with a habeas corpus, commanding him to show cause, for the detention of the said Isaiah Shelley. ye his preparations for de, , Mr. elford bad barely time to appear answer te writ, when he instructed the return to be made he ba the said Isaiah at his urgent — he had brought him to Philadelphis s: lor the benefit of his health, that since he had ed bimeeléhe had not ht torecover him—th did not desire to recover him, and that he would receive him should he voluntarily return to him. Such an answer of course put an end to the proceedings, and sadly disappointed the sbolitio who had assembled to enjoy the eapipeinent w they expected would grow out of the 4 leeting Isaiah near the court room, accompa| by several of his colored friends, Mr. Padelford to him that he had put himself to a great deal o neces trouble, and his friends to expense, in matter; ming him at the same time that hed made known his wish to remain he would interposed no objection. If he preferred to req with the abolitionists he was free to do so—not £0, but that he mast abide by his choice, a3 he bave nothing further to do with him, His friends were evidently disappointed, and it difficult to_say which were the most chopfallen. abolition advisers or their victim. The steamer was to sail ina few days. The before her sailing, while Mr. Padelford was aj hotel, be was informed that Jsaiah desired tq him. He at first refused to have any inte: with him, but finally consented to see him. F contrition and deep repentance for the part ha acted, the fellow begged and implored to be bck by is master, and to be permitted to rd wit to Georgia. Mr. Padelferd would hoe none of his entreaties—he had been deceived bis confidence abused—he wanted no one abou! who preferred the entens of the abolition his confidence and good will. The negro burs| tears, and with all the eloquence he possessed be to be ee promising to atone by future conduct for the wrong he had committed. He: he had been urged an iste—that he scarcely knew what he had done: that he could not think of remaining with the Df who had deluded and betrayed him by theig tended friendship. Mr. Padelford felt the fo his appeal, but reminded him that he had ss would not take him back. z He, however, consented that Isaiah might s mistress, and if he could obtain ber consent he y return with the family to Georgia. Isaiah hi lost no time in laying his case before his mi and haying obtained her consent, was instruct go back and remain wish bis abolition friend was tld that the steamer sailed the next morni 10 o'clock, that if he was there he could go, but no rae wous pe eken to look hin Up Bee th was fectly at to go or y. He the ‘cme time cautioned that if he made kno them his intention to return, it was possible th would find means to prevent him from doing so Isaiah kept his intentions a profound secret the abolitionists, whose interest in him had g abated since the scene at the Court room, ag next morning as Mr. Padelford, with his famil, going on board the Keystone State, among th pa who met them at the wharf was the lsaiah, his ebon countenance beaming with his mere from the abolitionists, and at the cf sree of being borne back to Georgia ery. To eeoape the abolitionists and the ‘“‘underg railroad,” it is said he obtained a close hack e: the morning to convey him to the steamer. How many a poor “Uncle Tom” is now shit in the cold atmosphere of Canada, the victin mawkieh Cadarpeae t who mi, ae ey en good fortune of the self-reclaimed I: \. The Vanderbilt Steamboat Case. At the Ulster circuit, on Friday, November interesting case of Fisher agt. Vanderbilt cau The action was brought by the plaintiff, a pas: by the Vanderbilt line of steamers, to recovg mages sustained by him by reason of detent the Isthmus of Nicaragua, and loss of health, on bis journey to San Fransisco. It ap; evidence that the plaintiff, before he purcha: ticket, was shown an advertisement of the V} bilt line, in which it was stated that it was “ th through line via Nicaragua, a number of days than any otber route.” That from San Juan caragua to San Juan del Sud, passengers wo conveyed over the new transit route of the Ni Compavy, baving but twelve miles of land tra’ that the ‘‘ great saving of distance by this rou! any other heretofore established, and a speed comfortable transit between the two oceans, tH a beautiful and healthy country, offered induo to the travelling public equalled by no other lij On the representations contained in this ad\ ment, the plaintiff, who is a resident of Mic) purchased a ticket, and embarked on the Prom on the 5th March, 1852, for Greytown. He that place in safety, but from thence to San Ju Sud he found anything but a speedy and coq ble transit. After waiting a number of days at San Nicaragua for the river steamers, he cros Isthmus in rine days. He then arrived at 8 del Sud, where he was detained for a long After waiting in vain for a steamer to convey San Francisco, for a period of fifty-four days; turned, and brought suit against the defendan’ On the defence it was proved that the No rica, for which steamer the plaintiff held ticke wrecked and lost, and it was contended that by the act ot God, furn(shed a complete defen It was also proved, that the delsys on the [| were attributable chiefly to the low stage o in San Juan river at the time the plaintiff there. The plaintiff insisted, that whether the lo North America was or was not the sole cau delay, yet the plaintiff was entitled to reco cause he was entitled to a passage in some ot sel, if the North America were shown to bj for navigation. The court charged the jury that the plain not entitled to recover exemplary damages, he was entitled to recover back the pric ticket, the expenses of his journey, and a for the loss of health as the jury should deem able. The verdict for the plaintiff was $1,250. Ayxvat Loss sy Fire 1s Bostor.—Tha of the Boston Fre Department for the year Sept. 1, 1853, has been published. It’ stat during the year the department has been ore hundred and seventy-two times to fi times to false alarms, ten times to burning neys, five times from alarms originating ou city, and eight times to the rekindling of total of two hundred and five alarms, and an of thirty-six alarms over the aba et The total loss,’ as far as ascertained, is $5 insurance $295,056. The force of the dep consista of 12 engines, manned by 529 me: total number of hydrants is 1,137. The grea| was the destruction of the Chickering estate jolning buildings in December last. The td yy that fire is set down at $187,840, and surance at only $86,685. The loss at the fi store of Henshaw, Edwards & Co. was which was fy Board Twenty-nine of are believed: to have been the work of inceq — Boston Travel Turortanr TO Unitep Srares Dissursi oers.—An Cfficer of the Treasury Departa recently had occasion to address a Bai C Pension Agent as follows, viz :— “The transfer of funds in your hands for ment of pensioners mentioned in your letter; to be transfers made by yourself in your pey counta, Such transfers never have been, ang ognized by the accounting office: overnment. All tranafers must be made reasury. All transfers of money t> cover q ments under an appropriation of which you money in your hends, and, consequently, the disbursed must have been withdrawn fro other appropriation, it will be made in thi ment of your accounts at the treasury. Yq in keeping and rendering your account for is very plain. That is, to credit the Unite with all the m you receive from the gov ions from which it wasd: , (the money i« always so charge 8 of the treasury,and must be so in the nettlement of your accounts,) and your disburremests under the apvpropria’ which they properly belong. Should any er in your accounta, it wili be the duty of the ing efficera to ores em, BA) call fe tranefers that may be neceesary e ( | ment of your acoounta at the fan