VICTORIA.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2654, 19 August 1871, Page 2

VICTORIA.

We take the following items from our Melbourne files : The proposal made by Mr Burstall to the Victorian Government for a line of mail steamers via the Capo of Good Hope varies but slightly from propositions of a similar nature that have been placed before successive ministries since 18i52. The Victorian Government is asked for a guarantee of LIO,OOO per trip, which would cover the whole service to bo performed, the Government being left to carry out any arrangement with the other Colonies that might be cleem< d desirable. The average passage each way would be forty days, subject to penalties for breach of agreement, and providing also for onuses for making the passage within the time specified. The contract would be for ten years, subject 1 to revision after three years if the company’s profits were found to exceed 8 per cent. A first-class passage is estimated at LSO, a second-class at L2B, and a third-class (outwards) LlO. The recent extraordinary marriage between an heiress and a betting man is not to bo allowed to pass altogether away from our remembrances. A young Hebe who had been employed to dispense glasses of wine and nobblers of brandy in a hostelry much frequented by the “talent,” considers that her young affections have been trifled with by the happy bridegr. om, and had accordingly instructed her solicitor to bring au action for breach of promise of marriage. The abseuce of the defendant in Sydney, on business not unconnected with the itandwick Spring meeting, will prevent the matter being proceeded with at once, but rumor has it that a strong bar is already retained, and that the whole of the circumstances connected with the case will be investigated in a court of law. The fecundity of Mr Anthony Trollope is something extraordinary. It was said of Alexandre Dumas that he could keep three amanuenses coustantly employed, and could dictate a different story to each of them, but the author of “ Monte Christo ” never tried to write a novel on board ship. Few men, while at sea, ever do more than eat, sleep, and play cards, occasionally doze over a novel, get up a discussion as to the length

of the' past twenty-four hours’ run, or, at the very tftmostr indulge in amateur theatricals. To have w*ifceu a complete story on board the Great Britain is the most wonderful feat hitherto’yi&onnected with that gallant old craft; Trollope comes Mr C. H. Pearson, of' Oriel, the historian of the early and middle ages of England. The Austra'ian tour is becoming fashionable amongst British litterateurs. The last act of the Duffy Administration, in appointing MrW. A’Beckett as its representative in the Legislative Council, has occasioned a good deal of surprise. A good story is told of the Hon. Willie, who, in his young days was celebrated for his laziness. On one occasion being bullied by his father the late Chief Justice of Victoria, for not studying harder, ho replied : —“ Well, fathe r , it’s all very Well to call me the fool of the family, but 1 have had'wit enough to marry a rich wife, and it does not take much learning to spend L2OOO a-year. A correspondent of the Argus writes You are lively people in Melbourne. You are going to have such an organ—one which fer beauty and power is not often surpassed. I was at Messrs. Hills the other day, on a tour of inspection, and was greatly pleased. Everything about it was first rate, and the tones of the solo and swell organ in particular were very charming. But I think that it will be necessary to have a water-power engine to fill it with wind, for it takes five men to blow.