The New York Herald Newspaper, January 29, 1854, Page 8

Our Australian Correspondence. Mexsovens, Sept. 20, 1853. Tyavel of a Party of Miners from Melbourne to Bendigo—The Sights by the Way—The Br- vowac—Encampment of Bosyesmans—The Black Forest—Encounter with an Irish Conviet— What the Government Does and Does Not Do, §c. Once more I have come back into the precinsts of civilized life. Bendigo, and its thousand tents and exsiting scenes, are left behind; but my memory will ever bear daguerreotyped upon it impressions of what I have seen, done or suffered during my shor’ Dut not unpleasant sojourn in that strange place. As I kept a faithful record of my adventures en route to the diggings, and as I venture to believe that a transcript of my diary may not be uninteresting to your readers, I will, without further preface, present it to you as penned while the occurrences it de- scribes were yet but a few hours old:— Monday.—We left Melbourne about 4 P. Mf, with our faces turned northwards to the Bendigo diggings, We mustered in our own particular party eight per- sons, fellow passengers on the Scargo, being com- posed of five Canadians, an Englishman from the States, a county Tipperary man and myzelf. A little before starting there had been @ thunier storm, during which some refreshing showers of rain had fallen, which cooled the parched earth, aud mide mild and refreshing the before oppressively heated air; our spirits were light aod buoyant, and our hopes in the untried future sanguine as we left the crowded streeta of the city behind. On arriving at the top of the hill which overlooks the city .on the north, I turned to take & view of those spots which bad become familiar to my eye, of those scenes of tented plain and wooded hill, tLe temporary home, or rather refuge, of thou- sands who are now daily flocking to these chores, ig- norantof how far and sad'y short of their imagiaings w'll be the realities of experience. Upon these shores are no wise and philanthropic associations formed, to give advice and counsel to the bewildered emi- grant. In the city of Melbourne, the Ithi ‘ity of these colonies, no hamane society iuterests itself for the relief of the unfortunate emigrants arriving in their buy, by providing emigrant boarding hot where they could be accommodatrd at a reasonable cbarge, and thus be protected from the inclemency of the approaching season. But Thave strayed away from the hill, to which I must return, a8 my coad lies !o Bendigo. From this hill the view of the city aod surrounding coustry is | mnch more pleasing than it appesred to me viewed from any other point. This nortiera emivence is much higher than the eastern and western elev tions, and the city appears from it as it entirely built in a deep valley. From its eastern side stretches away Collingwood, as fi eye can carry, wooded hill and da'e. Here. ue anda half miles offis situated the rapidly towa of the same name, (Colliugwood,) which owes is im- ce and-ita rapidly i ing extent to the Meuse cost of building » Meibourue, and the dearness of rex 1 in general. It is now quite a Jarge 5 are very much scattered. Likewise on my left, ia the valivy below, can be seen the Yarra Yarra, whose course westward may be traced for about a mile, and whose waters, shining beneath a vow bright oat not hot sun, reflect the dark and umbragevus shadows of the trees which grow upon its nortuern baaks. On the west cf the city spreads a large, rich acd tile plain, through which the Yarra stow! conree to the rea, flowicg calmly and ceptibly between its flowery borders, as if wishful to allow its waters to rest in the ples its lovg journey from its source, Monnt and to enter with becomiog gravity and solemnity the great ocean, nature’s unfsthomable reservoir for all great rivers which have run their course upon | the earth.. In iront lies the plui as it is commonly called, across whi r the last time I had walked in the morning from Sandridge, | stadded with many a tent-encempment, which shone in the bright light of the evening sun, and pleasingly relieved the otherwise barren aspect of the plain. | From the beach at Sandridge spread away the dark | waters ofthe deep and spacious bay to the varrow | outlet which connects them with the illicitable ocean | beyond; and on the right of the bay lies moored the shipping, whose tall, tapering masts, with all their ia- | finity of ropes aud rigging, completed a picture | ZS which I gazed on with admiration, and with relug- | “tance tuned away feom contemplstiug. Upon tris bill stands the residence of the Lieat. Gov., La Trobe, 8 plain, square stone house, the residence aud offices gt the Surveyor Gen., the office of pu works, the treasury, the stockades where criminals are coulined that work on the roads, &c. Afler crussiag the hill, our road Jed downward ov beautiful slope, at tbe foot of #bich laya small plain, surrounded by gentle | ascents, whose sides aad crests, covered with t of green and thick foliace presented a beautif i) pis ture; whi’e the soft and verdsnt green sward under foot made this part of the journey to us la'e scdfsrers pleasant and deligvtful. Three miles from Mol benrne we arrived at Flemiagton, across a rude wooden bridge, which, a3 far as water was concern ed at the time, vas altogether uanecessary, nothir g but a track of slime and 1aud indicating that vater ever flowed bercath. This dried up gully marks the boundary line between Melbourne aud the adja cent country. A white square stone, abvat three feet in height, on the Melbourve side of the bridge, further denotes the line ofdemarcation. On the lefvol tue niily | and only street lios the race course, which on the morro ¥ and the two succeeding days would be crowd. ed by the lovers of this sport, and be the scene of many a wild aud drunken feast, where the suddenly d wealth of the reckless digger will be filched from him by the cunning sharper, and meit before the maddening iniluence of ictoxicating d-inks; where many an indefatigable wiler after gold will Joore in a few hours that which be had labored for for many toilsome months, under the burning sun and alovg the mountain ranges of the interior, and for which be will again be forced to recommence the arduous and uncertain life of a miner, far from the scenes and influences of home ani kindred. We wa'ked a couple of miles over a bare elevated plaii the limit of which the country agaia became woo: and the thick foliage of the trees protected us from the beat of the san. The thunder storm, which bad ceased before leaving Melbourne, agaia broke forth, and peal after peal followed quickly, their echoes re- pe a Pelt wooded glen and gully and over the forrest hil-tops. We were forced to scatter our- relves, each making for some particular tree, under whose branches we would be sheltered from the rain, which began to fall in large drops. The show- er lasted but a moment or two, and the setting gun once more proraded his =, beams through the trees of the plain, whose shadows cast along the ground, were in beautiful eontrast wita the sparkling dewy grass. A little farther on tho-e of the party in advance of thedray which carried our “swag” (bundles), came to @ well foot-trodden, open glade called Mooney Ponds. The improved appear- ance of this place on my return struck me very muc’ I noticed, going up, but one place of entertainment, kept by Sarah Dunbar, ard a few cottagers’ teats; when lise it again it had the appearance of « bus: tling, thriving little village. At the northern ex- of it there is at present, (on my return.) a brick house in ccurse of erection, intended I should think fora hotel, and which will outrival its opposite neighbor, the Lincolnshire Arms. The site Mooney Ponds is as beautifal a ove ea can well be imagined. There is herealarge blacksmith’s, cartwright’s, and general repairing and fitting estab- Ti bment for the vast teams of oxen and horses, with drays, which continually travel along the road to and from Mount Alexander, Forest Creek, and the Bendigo Diggings. After a few minutes rest we again started to perform our ten miles—the distance from Melbourne to our destined encampment—bat Jong before we reached it, night with ber sable man tle had covered the earth, and all the objests of the surrounding landscape were buried in gloom. The thunder bad oe ceased to peal, but, a3 night fell, finsh after flash of vivid lightning lighted up b#h far and near the darkuess of the soerery. From east, west, and south of the heavens it flastied forth anin- terruptedly long after we had sought repose, and were no more conscious of the elomertary strife above our heads. We encamped near the marin of a little creek, at a place called Keilor, the murmur of whose clear running waters was sweet music to our ears. Here all the party slaked their thirst, our kettles were filled, a fire was soon prepared, and in a little time after our arrival we were enjoying hot coffee end toast. While some were preparing these comforts for the inner man, ers were fixing our tent, and having ‘thus prepared for the bt, we satued and a og the hey very gaily or very long, for it was late, aud many of the = tere Sisy much fatigued. Besides ourparty of eight, there were eight other ‘Two of this party were married men, old miners, who had come down to Melbourne for their wives and families, ana were now retarsing with them. Toesday—Started from our encampment after an early and hasty breakfast; we ssoended the Mill over our bivpene.on which is situated the villags of Keilor, composed of a roadside inn, a neatly built te a ance hotel, and numerous tents. "At thie plese feet ‘among whom are i on the govern- the line of traf. The road from nafulstate; and it is 4 pital state; le < dhe marae Oren and hermes whipped goaded, w! are unable to drag their < throng! the execrable miry fine, aad fa It was one of thore cvol, s re, but the houses and streets | I aut valey afier | whaw, | c'ouds continually obscuring its rays as they floated hurriedly past. We were likewise exempt from dust, for our journey a, over an immense elevated plain, extending from Keilor to tbe Gap lao—a distance of fourteen miles—to travel which no macadamiged road was necessary; the soil being extremely and the draymen ‘e!dom taking the one line, 80 th: the road or plain is very little cutup, At the farther end of the p'ain—and just where it begins to slope with s gentle descent to the Gap Inn—I was tempted by the hope of eojoying a beaatifal prospect, to ascend @ high hill which arose on the right, a lite off the road. It was a high conical-shaped hill, treeless and shrabless, but the view from whose summit I felt certain would compensate me for the fatigue of ascending it. Ka- couraging myself (fori had at this time walked mentally expressed opinions on the subject, [ con- tinued to ascend, marking stages ef the ascent as 1 proceeded, till at last I reached the top, where, as Lexpected, 1 was well rewarded for my trouble. An immence landscape lay before me—a vast plain, over whore surface nothing of life was to be seen; not a tree or @ shrub waved to the breeze; it seemed a valley of silence, without motion, without life; the shatows cast upon the earth by the clouds passing over the sun appeared to giide more spectrally and solemnly than wont, as they pursued each other across the desclate plain. Ou the right, however, the scene was changed; bere appeared ranges of wooded ravines, guiches and hills rising one above another in lofty rivalry, beight behind heights, re tiring fur back till they seemed to be the props of towering to the heavens, frowned upon the pigmy works at its base. As ny eyes wandered over the scene, | beheld rome twenty miles distant, Port. Phillip and the shipping at avchor in the waters of Hobson's Bay, and the course of the Yarra Yarra to the ocean waa traceable for miles, while bebind me, stretching awey in & northeast direction, was the chain of beautifully wooded hills which terminate in Mount Macedon, the grandest object of forest hill scenery that it is possible to conceive. At the foot of the hill on which I stood, on a green fertile spot, was a |) entot travellers like ourselves: dof Ophir, They had encanp- reparations of which I could aged as ‘hey meved around the r avd anon went and returned wita some esseptial. ‘The smoke F oto the bright, clear fantastic wreaths which, seen from od, gave a sort of fancy charm to the loosened from the dray, 5 in search of pasture, apt tinkling of their eellsstole ia soft as some of my party were | that part of the p'ain, | flock of bi v resembling the plover or these similitudes of a aces take a favorite of short distances in il lcame up again; nine, advance of provided with a gun, would have been au easy matter. We were forced to continue our wea arch beyond the encampment, the first “party having used up all the water that id be found in the | neighborhcod, or heving, by driv in the | bullocks, made it unfit for use. A little farther on was the Gap Iop,where the whole party refreshed themselves with nobblers of brandy, and made pur- chases of bread and meat. ere 13 ne vill here; | it is a roadside inn op the outskirts of the b: and distant about twenty-five mites from Melbou found here a party of Deargvites who had pi ue, and had resched this place in the morning | their horses had given up, and they were force. | excamp for the day and night. We resumed our nt half a mile further,when, we halted for dinner. One ed itself, Some went for » for firewood, while others spread red the essentials. Not long was our rse Of preparation, nor long were we io é it. A good deal re‘reshed, ve s Tetched ours ng the green hill side, avd in the fall- ness of our enjoyment, patronizingly intimated to | ovr wagoners, Patty and Pat, that they might mot be in the least burry harnessiog. Patsy seemed con siderably struck with cur words acd air, aud ex- claimed, “ Musha thin, wha! do you take me for at all,” and regardless of our cov fort, immediately commenced harnessing, Io less than an hour we were again in motion; we were now proceeding throngh the bush, where travelling is much more pleasant ana agreeable than on the plains we bad left behind. Abst six miles from the Gap, we eacamped for the night, When Patsy decided on stopping, we turned off the tine of road a short dis- tance and selected the greenest aud nicest spot for an encampment. Thé evening #05 delightful, the cool breezes which bad blown all forenoon and afer noon bad died away, aud there was a calmness acd fulness resting on the perfumed air, which was cious, While every object sround glowed ia the golden beams of the setting sun. But there was litle tume for the enjoyment of external objects, water Was to be procured, but how or where was the question. We inquired of a Nook who had just rested tlemeelves, and were absut renewing their journey, Melbourne-wards. After some directions myself and Sharpe, the Evglishman, volunteered to expecting to meet with the described hole or pond a mile off I gave directions to have a large fire bluzing to direct us on our return, 93 it was al- rendy getting Gerk. After about an hour's straying ond stumbling about (there was no moon to guide us,) we at last succeeded in getting come water, and having filled our cans. turned our faces in the direc- | tion et the bivouac; but at this time, im the neigh- borbood of the encamp nert, there were twenty fires burning on every side, which quite bewildered 2s, and we knew not vhere to turn. We got as closs to the range of fires as it was possible for us to do, without being heard or seen, and then, as @ dersier ont aud pre dinner in about fourteen miles, and yet had not dined) with | one more mighty than the rest, whose dark crest, | e, and to have shot | hand she kept them lifted in front, the bounds a uae: while st k qliouating with the others, and uttering, with idity, words in her unkno id not appear to belong buts which I passed, for she footeteps to a similar but ‘8 little distance from the villages. to see this ignorant victim maddened ous poison which civilized man has éeadly ¢flect than the sword in enslaving and sweeo- ing away from before bis path, the bold and free Sxed his covetous cesires. Tt was yet erly in the morning when we reached Bush Inn, avd Patsy determined to get over the high | bil! which led northward out of the village before he rected, At a little spring on the banks of the Patsy. The beams of sun were exceeding! fierce, and we were all pretty well fatigued, end rather bungry for our ‘breakfast, when we came to a halt on the top of a hill; but the scoundrel Patay had brought us to a spot on which. not a tree stood to shelter us from the scorching heat ‘There was no help for it, and we hastily set about preparing something to assuage our hunger. After an tour's rest we resomed our journey, and soon eu- | tered the black forest. The forest is not, as its name | wooded, and there are many hills and dales aud wooded gullies to diversify the same. It is, however, always considered a fatiguing road to travel; many portions of the road we been siezed upon by the government to experiment upon, cr, as they would say, improve, and wherever they take a fancy to nprares wo to that road and to | the public who travel along it. The day was getting | amore sultry as we advanced into the forest; the num- ber of down teams and drays niore numerous, and the clouds of dust that raised slong the road were al- | most blinding and suffocating. A couple of miles walk brought us to the Black Forest Inn, a house of public entertainment. Close to this spot there is a smal piece tosed by a neat and paivted p rave of one who was mur dered at this plice his mate, as they were both returning in company frem tbe diggings. A neat hevdstone informs the pesser by of the murder, and Lears the feliowing epitaph: — , Mop Dera, nor ceare ty menra eve wovimely tern Froxt ci! ov earre heb vad 40 dear Aw eurdchilé, Oh, aida t Fee Near this epot, by (rien! b teeyed, Hiv mnrdexec boay here is inid. His iife cut of ia maphoo.’s prime. Ths: efore prepare for death in tins We rested bere only afew moments and agsia started, having filled our water cave and some small bottles that were picked up on the road from the water barre) belonging to the inn. We were now, every one covered with dust, and the features of some of the party were hardly disceroable. Those that were fat aud perspired much bad the dust fastened upon their faces in streaks; and I often enjoyed a hearty laugh at the sight of their dust ¢ ured | countenarces. The party suffered # good deal from | thirst, as it was impossible to procnre water aloag the roud—every creek and gulley for miles were dried up, and dead horses and oxen lying iu scores along the route testitied how terribly these poor animals had suffered from this creadiul drought. The water got at the » | Forest Inn was soon ewallowed, and there was yet a {kong wey to travel before we could hope to find asy more. We passed the bulf-way house in this forest, } hot a public house, but ope where provisions are sold; we paid eight shillings here for a cake called a damper; it was execrable staff, not half baked, which of course made it.weigh the heavier, and we were charged 9 shiliivg s pound for it. The dampers made st the mines by the diggers ure excellent eat- ing, preferable to bread; they are composed of flour wet with hot water, among which is mixed upa little suet, salt, and sometimes soda, t> make it well; after being properly worke¢e with the hands, the dough is flattened into tye shape of a cake; the erobers of the wood fire are then sbovellcd from the centre to one side, aud in the hollow the damper is placed; # little flour is then shaken over it, and the | hot ashes again shovelied over that. The only one that I saw made, was inthe way described; it was left in the fire about three-quarters of an hour, and then left standing befe it to soak. The Black Forest is twelve miles in length; long dreary miles they are, and it was with feelings of pleasure that we at last emerged from it and entered the rich level pastare Jacd in the neighborhood of Five Mile Creek. We filled our small water casks here and went a mile or two farther, in search of a pleasant place t> encamp for the right. Having collected our vision bags from the drays and lightea a large fire, we were scon in a confortable mood, and having regaled the iover man and gathered a large quantity of fire wood, which is very eatily done, we sat round the fire and enjosed our- selves smoking and ringing. We did not trouble ourselves putting up our tent, being e-ntented to bave the starry firmament for our canopy. It wasa clear, cloudless and brilliant night, myriads of glit tering stars studded the heavens, whose bright crus catiors added to the beauty of the forest scenery around. We stretched ourselves in froat of the fire for the night, and svon “tired nature’s sweet re- storer, balmy sleep, weighed our eye id: down, and steeped our Fenees in forgetfalness.’” Before morui giimmesed in the rosy east at least an hour, I | was stertled trom my sleep by a terrible | noise, scmething resembling a short aud sudden crash of thunder. On starting up and lool | rourd, I was greatly surprised to see a shower \ fiery matter falling through the air to the 5 while the quiet night still echoed wita vhe loud re- port. It was a Jarge tree that had jast fallen, Fen which the draymen end some others had lighted rescat, I gave the old fanoliar wheop, which to our delight was answered trem the nearest watcnfire. As we came near I was struck with the strange and bandit looking appearance of the group around the fire. A party of twelve, wearing whiskers and mous- taches, were stting in front of an immense fire, some with their backs against a fallen tree, others listlessly stretcbed in verious attitudes on the graes, all with the red or blue outside shirt, the Califoraian white or the broad-Jeafed straw bat, ornamented with & green veil, broad black belts round their waists, in which hung prepared the never-failiog Colt’s revolver, and behind the knife and sheath, a la matelot, and as they smeked and joked amongst each other in the red givre of the blexing fire, they were the very im- personetion of a brigand band in their forrest retreat. We enjoyed ourzelves after supper, smoking and singing until a late hour. We did not put up our tent, the night was delightful and our Californian blankets wrapped well around us, we committed our- selves to the good genius of the bush, and fell into a profound sleep, butbefore we did ao, we discharged our revolvers. This ceremony was performed by all the different parties in the surrounding encampments, and revolvers, rifles and blunderbuses were dis- charged in all directions, giving notice that all where prepared to repel the attack of tie midnight ma- renders. Wednesdéay—Started from our bivouac at sunrise. As it wae too far to go for water for breakfast, Patsy started off atonce, [he morning was beautifal in the extreme, the tinking ofthe bells upon the necks of the bullocks, and the loud reports of the drovers thongs as they cracked them, and with many a whoop and yell collected them together, broke the silence ot the early morning, and mingling with the shrill chat‘er of the magpie, and the more discordant scream of the laughing jackass, echoed far and near through tbe silent forest bush, and but ill accorded with the beauty of the surroundiug scerery. After travelling sbeut an hour, we arrived at the Bush Inn—now growing ip acd promising to become a large village. On my goleg up it contained only afew wooden shan- Ves besides the inn, and some tenta; but it has siace considerably improved, and there are now macy large wooden houses ia course of erection. There are numerous tents along the plain, where live the laborers, a great number of whom are here employed on the road. We here purchased some bread and meat for breakfast. While passing through the vil- Isge woe saw a native encampment and a namber of the natives themaelves. This was the first opportn- nity | bad of reeing any of them since L landed inthe country. They had three tents, which were formed of a few upright poles covered with the leaves and branch- es of trees, slanting a little over head, but entiroly open in front. One of the aborigines stood ontside, having et least twenty dogs eround him, all of the kangareo breed, something like the Scotch stag- hound. There was but one of the party with me when I came upon the strange soere, the others having strayed away in search of water. Tae native, anexceeding!y erect and well formed fellow, aboutfive feet eight et a in height, advanced a little towards us, ard by werds, and by pointing with his hand, di- rec*ed us where to fir d our compan’ons. I did not hear him distinctly enough to know whether he addressed us in English or not. While passing those shed buts I looked in and saw females and children in each. The women, as much 1 could ses of them, for they were sitting, were entirely naked, their black bair iying loosely on their s20uldors. Oae was combing her hair, and seemed to be bestow- ing as much pains on this interesting part of a fe- male's toilet, as avy young lady could. They ap peared to be extremely slender in their form, bit well shaped. Anotber male, dressed amy to the first, (as any English laborer,) came out of one of the huts; he too wasa well-shaped, erect A They wore bold — \ oe in hw hg Bee their heads ve: as they w in was y black, their features rhort, and their brows verv much contracted. The aborigines arri at matority at an earlier age than 5 but are not ro long lited; they attain to fall height and strength at about When leaving the village, we aw @ female native ia o state of extreme crnchenness: she was dreseed in seme erdin " east Cf eet. bat thes deus cf ineios fr with ove their fire the previous erecta eat during the night the fire had burned through trunk, and is fell. It was fortunate for the n_and the others who slept near them that it did not fall in their direction, for it would have inevitably killed some of them if it had. The draymen, as it afterwards appeared, were | acquainted with many fatal accidents arising from this cause, and they were greatly to blame for light- ing a fire against a btarding tree, let it burn through the night, and al'ow vieinage of it. While at Bendigo | had a-very nar- row escape from a eimilar occurrence meet Quite close to where I was working a slow tire had been against a tree, where for a couple of gays burnin, in the habit of lighting the dggers around were their pipes. One day as nejghborhoed of the tree, and wanted to light segar, I thought of it; 1 went to the tree, lighted | my cepar, and before I had got a hundred away the tree fell prostrate te the earth, w! dreadful crash, while its broken brarches bounded again from the ground and shot off in every dires- tion. Thursday—Our night encampment was withia three miles of Carlshrue, a smaM village, the intended site of a fature- town. It is a beautifully selected spot in the centre of an exceedingly rich and fertile plain, thioly wocded. On wy return the Oarlehrue creek, or river, was in foll flow; and even on my going up of the ponds were full. The morning was exceedingly warm, ard the deep water wasa welcome sight. Patsy, after watering bis horse, determined to make afew miles more before breakfast; but here we were determined to rest awhile. The pond was large and deep, and in a few minutes seven or eight of our party were swimaing through it with a full- ness of enjoyment that a swim never before imparted to apy ot us. Patey was a great way ahead when we resumed our journey, and we did not again come up with the party until they had encamped for breskisst, a cyuple of miles beyond Kyse- ton. Kyreton is quite a Jarge village, ity. four miies from Melbourne. Is bas been rapid- of we ly increasing in size since the discovery gold fie'ds. As one of its inhabitants informed me, * Tt was sown i 1851, and is a wonderfal place al- together.” There are three excellent hotels here: the Royal Oak, the Robert Burcs, ani Royal Hotels. Away through Kyneton held Patsy, and, wenried and exdansted, we followed after. We did not, however, wish bim to stop in or near Kyneton, fer it presented no pleasant spot on which to en- o.mp for breakfest, veither was the air atout re dolent of that perfume which we rend of as belong: ing the Australian climate. The effinvia arisi from dead bullocks, horses and sheep, filled the insteed, and we were glad to hurry on and leave be- hind the vile streets and viler purlieus of Kyneon. ‘The spot on which our ty in advance ensamped was slong @ little creek ia which was plenty of water; bat not a tree or bush was around to protect us from the excessive beat. Around and about were hundreds of drays, the drivers and parties resting here for breakfast, as water was plenty. In from spread the large plain over which our course lay, ané across which rolled right towards us c.ouds of dust, which at times surrounded us, aod almost hid us ‘rom each other, and entirely destroyed our cooking. The tiakling of the bells sounded differ- ently on this burning pats to what it did through forest; there the sound harmonized with the seene, bat here they ly aud dis eordaatly on the ear, a8 if reminding us of a weary march acroes desert We reached Colombine, another village, about two o'clock. This is likewise arieing place, containing a couple of inns and se- veral sage on grocery stores. We rested st Colombine river a short time, and again procseded onward. Between this piece aud Back creek we met the “Victoria Gold Esoort.” As they ee they seemed more like Italian brigands ar ra | rying off with their booty after a des; coutre than the proteotors of ‘prope . Chey were covered with dust and sweat, Reet? jaded orees, ¢d to toeir utmost speed, seemed ready t drop seventeen years old | with fatigue. Their uniform was scarcely to be re- cognized; they wore the military blue cloth cap, with preen vest, sky bine jackets with white facings, and bine trowrers; they carried dragoon carbives, ard: wore a: 6 pitols io their holster, and lighted aborigines of those countries upon which he has | | creek, we filled our oe ‘and cans, sad followed | 6 wonld imply, a dark gloomy one; it is but thialy | sons to sleep in the dangerous | cure Iwas passing in the | ae he their months. : Onward ! segars in they came in race, about sixteen men, perly deposed | fore, on the sides, and bebind light | carts, driver @/a tancem. And as at foll gallop I thonght them the ha looking | setlever caw. One of the party was = good way ery emer, pro magerse the others, bu ho drank | that I expecte: every moment be would full off. The company towhom the escor’ has since broken, apd bas been succeeded by the * Mel- bourne Gold Escort Conpapy.” This evening ' I entered into conversation with a bullock driver, whose team unanimously rested on the road, and not tostira i, further. | Being a party I stopped, feeling pity poor brutes, a8 they were cut ard oaded by the drivers, who at Jast were feign to rest fom theirs inhuman treatment through sheer exhaus me, and his | first address to me was: ‘‘What part of the ould sod | gre you from?” I immedia enlightened him on the subject, and he commenced asking me questions about every town in the country, all of whion he had ugh. When I had a question I asked bim where We had walked on in front of the team, of which he was. driver, but a part owner of three teams; He told me he was from the of Waterford, from near the “ big heuse,” (Cur: ore); he had the bonor, he said, of being sent to Van Dieman’s Lavd at the government expense, in company with his two brothers and three feliow-culprite, for bei engaged in an attack and attempt to barn Lor Adair’s place, outside of Limerick, im 1841. Five of the same party, he told me, were hung, and himself and the others had esca; with transportation. Poor fellow! He spoke feelisgly of his , and deplored the madness of the act which consigned five of bis companions to an ignominious fate—bad sent himself and brothers and two others into a terri- ble exile, and hurried to an untimely grave his father apd mother, As related this latter consequence of his acts his gs overpowered him, | and he went into the bush to give vent to a flood of | tears, woich i noted him vainly endeavoring to check. When he came out again he caught me by the hand, whish he shook gr hurried away. He wid me his uame—t believe it was James Kent. Uur bivouac for this night was similar in appearauce and pleesantuess of sitaation to our former one. We batted early aod enjoyed a beautiful evening's rest. The night passed over as usnal, without apy- tuing occuring to disturb our slumbers. Friday we were up and away at suorise, Daring y journey thuy far I have not seen the orchards and gardens surrounding the homesteads of the wealthy squatters, with their light green foliage, magnificent taopica) flowers and deticious fruits; nor have I seen those flights of birds of the most bri'liant plumage; ucr bes my sense of smell been regaled with sweet odoriferous air, nor have I snuffed the gale redolent with perfume. I cannot deseribe such scenes as these, tor I have not seen or felt them; nor do they exi-t, I believe, except in the imagination of in- terested writers. I have not experienced the delight- fui emotions which arise wl looking around on nuiure as thus described; but I have felt other emotions in travelling through this land, where wen are allowed to faint for want of water, and beasts of burthen to die and rot in hundreds and fill the air with poisonous efluvia. Government em- | ploys @housands upon the roads to destroy them, | and to the detriment of traffic; but in the towns which lie between Melbourne and Bendigo, and at their police stations, they siak no wells where wearied men. could cool their parched lips, and wheie the peor beasts, like man, sensible of the sufferings which arise from heat, and thirst, and | fatigue, could drink and assuage their dreaiful agovies. ‘These are matters which writers overlook, end uote them not, though, above all othera, they need comment. Even at Bendigo, where there are at this moment close upon » handred thousand people, there is not a well sunk, avd the water is Fo searce, and the little that is is £0 impuze, that dysentery exists to a feariul extent; while the gov- erpment, regardless of these things, continued for a long time to filch, month after month, from every mon in that community a monthly lence fee of thirty sbillimgs. An immense revenue. We reached Porcupine about 2 P. M., and oor en- campment at Gibson’s station, seven miles from Bea- digo, about 64 P.M., passing by Sawpit Gulley, from whenee we brought water forthe night. The next morning we breakfasted in our en A and after about three hoars travel we fixed our tent in Bendigo, in the midst of the diggers, having thus ve ee within the week our toilsome journey of one hundred and ten wiles trom cael 4n Infh mary for the Surg leal Dis s of Females. Poxtanp, Ct., Jan. 9, 1854. TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD. New York is proverbial for her charity and for her charit es. Freely she receives and freely she gives. Her benevolent inst tutions are without a parallel. Her hospitals, her dispensaries, and other public charities, are on the most magnificent scale. There ja not a human suffering that her philanthro- pista have not been called upon to ameliorate, and it is not often that these calls are made in vain. Amongst a bo:tof private charities you have your lying-in asylams, where the poor woman who has not the com/orts of a home, can be furaished with every neces-a7y attention during her confinement. ‘This is jussas it should be. Now, as an institution akin to this, I wish to suggest the importance, the ressing necessity for o1 zing an infirmary for the surgical treaument of tLe diseases of females, and be Ny those accidents that result from child- All tedical men know that prolonged and difficult, Jabcrs often produce ivjaries of a i deplorable character, dooming the unfortunate im to a life ot wretchednees and suffering. These generally been regarded as incurable, till Te- cently. As 1am now thoroughly satisfied of their rect curability and fuily com of the urgent Femuand for an idetitution of this sort, I have ~ ‘his was a seal- fit to pripg. oe subject before the branch of the surgical diseases of fer €6 book to the profession till the publication of the magnificent cperation of Dr. J. Marion Sims, for the of injuries of the bladder and affec- | tions. His operation has received the highest com- mendations, not only in this but in Europe, and is by many as one of the great surgical acheivments of the nineteenth ceatary. I am glad to see that Dr. Sims has removed from Heatzomery, Ala., to your city, and o; an institution at 79 Madison avenue, for the better class of patients, such as are able t> pay well forthe comforts of a home. This move will doub‘less be hailed with pleasure b; medical brethren throughout the length breadth of our whole country, and I shall be greatly disappointed if they do not render him a hearty co- Beores of poor women in and around your city have sustained injuries dcring parturition, and are Gregeing out a miserable existence, loathsome to themselves and disgusting to ere, could now be easily and perfextly cured by Dr. Sims’ operation, if only hada be taken csre of. During @ recent visit to New York Dr. 8S. inform- ed me of some interesting cases of this sort, that | only needed a little help to relieve them of one of the moet terrible calamities that poseibly can befal) poor human nature. Will not the charitable in your city take this mat ter in hand, aud organize at once an institation for | the treatment of the injuries incident to parturition? | | know that Dr. 8. would gladly give it nis valuable tervices, and covet no higher distinction. Perhazs some of the ladies who are always fore- most in works of benevolence will take hold of this, and lend a helping hand to some of their sex, whove cor dition is too deplorabis to be noticed in the eol- umpes of @ ne otherqire then ia general terme. Some persons might say that there cases could be provided for ia your public hospitals. Bat yeu ray rest assured thatas tvey never have been treated success‘ully in a hospital, they never will be, and for the best reason in the world. | Afte: formance of tke operation they require ¢) ‘ision of the surgeon, dewanding at least two visits every day,and sometimes many more, which it is imporeibdle for any hospital surgeon to give, Be rides, are of such a delicate cl ‘er, that it is ht an wr that they should have a separate in- etitation for their treatment. Being a medical man, I speak kaowingly on this subject. Goto your profeescts of surgery, to your hospital surgeons, to your sbstetri: professors and practitiovere—go to he in the profession any where, who knows anything at all of theee dreadful affections, and he will tell Pate Tam right. Shall this aj , then, in bel of suffering woman, ‘be made in vain? For the honor of humanity, I hope net. Would any ben be convinced ad hap o cessity and importance ef my snggestion, im call ~ Dr. Gime, and my word for it, he will be thorougbly satictied. Feeling as Ido, Mr. Editor, the deepest interest in this subject, I commend it to your notice, hoping that something will be done | premptly for so noble @ charity. Respectfully yours, Gro. O. Jarvis, M. D. Caevartives or Cayuga Lare—On Saturday ‘Mus bing tv brot pons of Mr. Brock, of Spriagport, ats tedcy a duok shooting expedition, takirg with them eg ebift » hich they put upee a couple of siete, and made tberr way over tie snow and ice o the open iske. Toey then, ar je aa ppoeed, ercrped the lske. as they were ren | wear the sesterm sbcre, and om the beach o fire ned Deen ballt. The wied rove in the afternoon and tlew @ rendering it precarious to be ont on the beat wae fuunc nex: morning on the eastera with ite chaia ina coll, indicating that it he! pret. A fine dog. who hed been with the boys, 4 to Mr Brock’s hours at midnight, aad exhibited ‘moet dixtrern. be ch A Ary od nee je Bec con’ Lt qi might in me- Me ees ip the morsivg, he went et rushed repeatedly to the ead of the pix-. Tbe avs of tie bast were gore s- wen the gaa which ‘he D yr bad ane i— -iany K yitler, Jan x8. . Sem!-Annual ze matnation @f the Cadets at) FINANCIAL ANO COMMERCIAL: / Wast Pornt, NX.) Tan, 10, 1354. Automn, glorious sutamn, lingered tong, but it ie now past, and every remnant of its gorgeous beau- ties bas pasced with it. Ite bright and gldwing tints have been scattered from the forest upon the four winds of heaven; and even the gorgeous sunseta which so shortly since daily glowed in the west, have given place to the cold, gray skies of winter. In fact, winter is upon us, and gives most feeling eridence of his presence. No cadet who has within the last few weeks stood at parade, shivering under the rude blasts which come howling down past old Cro’ nest, will deny that it is, at all events, cold enough for win" ter, and in his opinion a good deal too cold for parades under arms; though, were it not that the snow-covered hills and piercing winds of the last week of December most forcibly reminded him that January, 1854, was close at hand, he would fain have persuaded himself that it was farther off, and have hugged the sweet delusion that there were still a few days of grace tor him before the bugle should call him before that awful tribunal, the Aca- demic Board. Just now the attention of the cadets and their of- ficers is occupied with the examination. The exa- minations of the cadets take place semi-annually in Janvary and June. They are very similar, both ing very strict and thorough, and differ only in this, that in June the examination is made in the presence of a board of visiters appointed by the aident, and in January only before the Academic Board and such other persons,as may choose toattend. Few of apy class except the fourth, feel any interest in tbis beyond any other examination. The fourth class, “however, being the youngest in the insutution, are about to pass an to them as yet untried; and the knowledge hat may be the result creates an anxiety little felt and less shown by tke older classes, wno have all more than once a ready pasted through its fires and come off un- ecathed. The terrible amount of vacant @ few weeks after the examination, makes, with cause, the “Plebe January” the bugbear of all fourth clasemen who have any ambition to put rectangles upon their shoulders and U.8. A. to their names. To the unprepared the examination is a furnace heated seven times hotter than its wont; and he of them who comes off without the smell of fire on him must be in Jeague wita the devil to biindfold the keen perceptions of the Board, and lead them astray as to bis knowledge of his course. In fact, such a thing o3 ® maa who is deficient passing the examination is imposible. Not only the knowledge he shews at the examination, but his daily reci'a- tions for the previous term are taken into tae ac- count, and this puts out of the question such a thing | as cramming or ponying the course of studies for examivation, Whatever is part of the prescribed | courre. mutt be learned thoroughly, and whenever there is any merely superfisial kuowledge, it will in- evitably appear, under the severe tests to which every oae is subject. Betore the exammation commenced, I spent a few dsys in_ visiting several objects of interest at the Point. A visit of some iaterest was made to the ground where some experiments on the strepgth of materials for gun embrasures were made dwing the past few months by General Totten, the Chief Engineer of the army, assisted by sev other officers. There were five embrasures of as many different materials, and the firing was done at a distance of about three hundred yards, so as fully to test their strength, and at the same time to show which would best stand the shock of the balls. The battered sppearance of the wall told that the | 200 | had been very accurate, and all the materials suffere evough apparentiy to give them a full test. Stone | faced with a thick covering ot lead, eeemed to stand | the firing better than any of the others. I presume the material bere found strongest w!! hereafter be | acoyen in building all fortifications made by govern- ment. | No little interest has been excited bere, andI | resume elsewhere alvo, by the report of the | Secretary of War. The urgent necessity for the | improvements called for bas one been ery to | any oe man acquainted with the facts of the care—and it is most earnestly desired by the whole army that the recommesdations should re- ceive frum Congress the attention they Benton’s attacks upon the academy and its alumni receive the contempt they merit from those they were intended to wound. The in: on has now gained such a reputation that his arrows fall harm- less, and Benton had far better cease his fanatical opposition to it aud its interests, and show his good me oe ghich by he way be mani stock— vy rising su, ir to , and ing unt» nee the things swuith ‘are Cresar's. or cannot expunge from our history the part the West Point juates played im the war with Mexico, the | firet tent of their worth; and until he can succeed im | oe obliterating from the memory of a grateful coua’ ar boca they then spilled, “A is but gnawing are The proposivion to make Scott a Lieutenant Gene- ral is also most favorably received by all here. No- where is the old warscatred hero more idolized than among the cadets, and nothing that would add one leaf to the Inmels he bas already won, would meet ka anyibivg but the warmest spprobation from alt Te. Another exciting topic now ts the court martial, | which convened on the dth for the trial of several { hen pet] eed TG eee ve geen a are are very serious, being miseal in every case, if they showld be fuck eastty by the court. Though they are here serious be 57 pti cs eavapades, the di. over a8 ae pinata will disappear with maturer years. it is a case which fairly illustrates the severity of the discipline which is kept up here. I was much interested in a visit of a few hours to the hall in which the cadets ride. The first and claases rode in succession. D: of the cadets in ip. remarkably well, and all rode with more ttan ordi- nary grace and akilL Oadets Lee and Pegram, from | Virginia, and Lee from South Carolina, of the first | claas, and Benxett of New York, ‘and Childs, Merrill, | ard Gregg, of Pennsylrauia, were, I theught, the | best among those I saw. It struck me as | being remerkab'e that uo safer place has been ided for the cavalry exercises of the ca- lets, The hall which is now used extends the | length of the Cg ae of the academy, and is | entirely tco emall for the use which is made ot it. Iu , it is wonderful how it is that so few accidents occur, and can only be on account of the saperior horsemanship and training of the cadets. Some of the horses were very fice and some of them just the reverse. I understood that a new set of horses had lately been brought here, and, jud; from the per formances of s couple of wicked sorrels in the hall, the new ones have not yet learned the drill aint Sackett, of orece de la incipal instructor in cavalry there eould be no better, it one may judge of his ability to teach from hsown practice. A finer lookin, is seldom seen, and it would take a Thad plenty of oppertuniti of judglen ot tana o en stentorian voice, which latter, by the way, has won ya = ng eampe gg my ". among the cade One of the rooms of the academy is fitted up as a fae ode bein tion of specimens of the fog I todnd such a apiay of lent. The palutings ing i+, to find such ad'splay nt » Scales are a!l done in water colors, and many of m would put to shame nota few of the daubs which bave more than once been found on the walls of ‘the Art-Union and Academy of Design. Weira’ os “ork ¥Y MARE BY. Sarvepar, Jan, 18—6 P, M, The steck market opexed more buoyaotly this morning, and the transactions were unucuslly large, Cumberland Coal wasin active demsad, snd: closed firm; Erle Rail road improved from the opeuing, the closing prices show. ing am advanoe of half per cent. Rallzoad bonds were sotire, particularly New York Central and [linols Cen- val, which are well sustained. The grand movremeng ®ppeare to have beem in Cumberland, and the bulls so far have the best of it. Parker Vein touched six per cont, and then rallied. There are buyers in the strest oo time, New York Central Railroad still feels the effect Of the efforts of bears to depress it; but it appears to ue they will make great mistake in following it dowm much further, Railroad stotks generally are depressed, and the movement in them continues Limited, The steamship Washington, from thie Port for South. "oe and Bremem, today, carried out 9157,000 in rpecie. * At the secon’ board to-day, @ slight improvement im prices was realized. Reading Rallrosd advanced 3 per oent; Erie Railroad, >; ; New York Osnrtal Railroad, \ i Hudeon River Railroad, %{; Florence and Keyport, 34 Now Jersey Zino, \. ‘The receipts at the office of the Assistant Treaserer of this port to-day amounted to $230,623 14; payment, $198,820 43 ; balanee, $4,469,667 16, , ‘The Great Falls Manufacturing Company have declared ® dividend of $12 per share, payable February 1. The receipts of the Medison and Indianapolis Railread Compary for the year 1858, were $441,159 78; expendi- tures, $141,608 87; dividend, July, five per cent, $82,885—. total, $69,116 87 ‘There iss falling off in receipts, as com- pared with last year, of $72,153 09, nearly all of which ie on freight. The rosd owes » fandea Cebt of $641,300, Om the Ist inet. the Madison and Indianapolis and the Peru and Indianapolis roais became consolidatel, unter the style of the Madisop, Indianapolis and Peru Railroad, Company Tne Indiaoapolis and Peru road is Bearly som- pleted, axd in February the connection between the Ohio: river and Peru, on the Wabash canal, wi'l be made. This- connection is considered to be a very valuable one for the Madison road. The Madisoa road was put into the conrolidation at $1,647,700. The stock of the Pern read {s $1,C09,000, and the debt $600,000, making a contolida- tion stock of $2 647,700, and # funded debt of $1,241,399, with » road 159 miles in length, Tae floating debt, Liability to State, needed to complete new terminus, &e., in $800,000, aginst which the Peru road has $500,000 of nueed arsets, Stock Bixc! . 107% - 106% 1 a 97% 100 Erie Coa 38°71 91M 2000 a a1 $28C0 Ohio 6's 60 . 101 BCLOLICepRRBy at 80 8334 1060 a . 88% 8600 260 %o 108% 18 108% 00 10434 a) 136 SECOND $1500 NY Coo RR Bés 9134 10 nba Atlantic Sank 89 16 Ocean Bant . seslacsiessss CIfY TRADE REPORT. Sarvnpay, Jan. 38—6 P. M. Arr —Some 40 bbls purchased, at $625 for pearls, and $6 75 a $5 81 for pots, per 100 Ibs. Baxapercrrs —Flour was dull and lower, The day’s trarssctions amounted to 14,000 bbls. ordinary to eholoe Btate, a: $9 a $0 18%; mixed to Western, at $0 10% 090.37%;; fancy Ohio, at 69 87 3¢a 4060; taney at $9 50 a $9 623;; extra Indiana and Michigan, st $9 : extra Ukio, at $9 6234 a $10 60; and extra Gen- 0, at $9 75 Sli. in Canadian eaves was held at per bbl. Cora aad $5, jatet and rye or barley. at blo. beavy at easier The tienda vy at ee. (J 3F 40,000 bushews, at $1.08 for Now me far chat 07 fordo &uthers whi ind yellow, with We and $18 for low. Cori22.— About bags Laguayra changed hands, at. 11X60. per Ib. in priee. The ales reached only 667 bales, as follows:—For home use, 580, acd on speculation, 127. #4; 200" ones Gry bunch do, at 88 20) and” 600 bags ‘ ez Gr, In, at 5 Riutben peaputr, ot 611334" 4 FRIGHTS.—] were straty but act active. To Liver- pool 600 ¢r 700 bales of eokon were part com- jo oh sk ER in volkand bare ot 33 1id. Floar waa at de, ee, " paval stores were b 2,600 bsle, flvur were 800 bb's. flour were che nge in rates for slit BaY.—Jobbers wore buying river at 97340. SL ims Lates — Easterm were rare, acd per thousand. Lxap—Was beld at $6 8. 3; « $7 for Gslepa, and $6 12, res Wie ise Vnere were 60 tons bast 8 sold. at $6 NAVAL + 10km3 —There were sales reported to-day of 2,099 isbors bere certainly are “ot fruitless, judgiog from what is shown in this gallery. I was particalarly pleased with a copy of the picture of Michael Angelo ard Rapboel, et the Vatican. It ie by Mr. Morton, of Ptoladelpbia. 9 son of the cele>rated physician who ded there a few years since. Noone should leave the Puint withouthaving made a visit (o this admira- ble exhibition of cadet skill and talent. Cbrirtmas ond Year's days passed off very oyster supper at tre catete’ d@ an extra good dinner on the » With the days tin recrea- tion, made up the sum total of the Chrirtanas holydays. The ¢x»mivation was anounced in orders on the evening of the Slst,and commencedoa the to the ement ly made, and examination will rebably, oor the Board until the coming 20th. The examination of the the first in order, ap eg of the fourth class in English occupied the board until! Monday afveruvon, ard this cloved the examinasion of that class. The board is now occupied with che third clasa ia mathe. matics. a bbis ae uabearth at $5 8736 per 280 'bs., 18) bbis, spirits do , at Téa, a Tie. Uebel No. 2 Rosia, ine ‘ilmieg.on common do., at # 6 Cris —Grnde whale waa Inactive, at 6lo. » 623. per est- on. Crue sperm and olive remained as last coticed.. ae talea of ed embraced 4,000 gallons, at 159. por lon Provisions —Pork was agsin freely dealt in at still: fetter prices. The dey’s opsrations com sriael 1 000 byis ,. »{ $16 60 for new mess; $14 50 a $14 6256 for be end $13 1232 @ $18 26 for pew prime; and $12 25 for e per bol. Cut meats were usebanged me 900 dbis, 8 d to prime lard brought 10%¢. @ 10346 Ib.—en- Fevacer, ‘The transactions in peat renshed bole, at fort a. beef hams found a ee Lene Jan. Soa leg oxen, cows colves, 26 wine’ ‘Beet Cattle, the Uke ar ality, ee { a : s $553 3 ; 2 3° E Ree Rs?