—The inquiry into the catastrophe at Benares has proved
unsatisfactory, the cause of explosion still remaining a
mystery. The lowest estimate of the number of persons
killed is 400.

The accounts from Canton state the export of last
seasons tea is 54 millions of pounds. The export of the
previous year was 47 millions; there being thus an
increase of 7 millions. The import trade at Canton was
in a most depressed state.

Several cases of cholera had occurred both at Alexandria
and Cairo; and another visitation of the disease
was apprehended. The Viceroy fled from Cairo as soon
as the cholera appeared: he proceeded down the Nile to
Damietta and thence embarked for Rhodes on the 5th
inst. The Nile was rising more slowly than usual.
Cotton had risen to 14 dollars per. cantar, but there was
little business doing, many people were leaving the
country from fear of the cholera.

The accounts from the West Indies reach the end of
July. In Jamaica there had been heavy rains, but the
effects of a previous drought had shown themselves.
In Trelawny, a great agricultural parish, fears were
entertained for the crop on the ground. In other
districts they looked more cheerful.—In Demerara the
weather had been rather dry and auspicious for the
planters. The question of Coolie immigration chiefly
occupied public attention, and three bills had been
introduced by the Attorney General into the Court of
Policy to regulate immigration.—A disastrous hurricane
had visited Barbadoes, St. Kitt's, St. Martin's, Dominica,
Antigua, and Martinique. A vast deal of property was
destroyed, and many vessels with valuable cargoes
totally lost.

Accounts of recent dates have been received from the
Australian Colonies. At Sydney there was much
dissatisfaction with the home government for its neglect
to carry into operation a system of steam communication.

From Port Philip the most prominent article of news
is the discovery of an extensive field of coal at Western
Port. It appears from a survey just completed that the
coal measures present a continuous section for ten miles,
to the river Bourne, and re-appear six miles along the
coast, at Cape Patterson, where the coal rises to the
surface.—About the middle of March a great meeting
was held at Melbourne for the promotion of German
immigration, at which Prince Frederick of Augustenburg
was present; his highness had been visiting the
surrounding country, and the formation of a large
German settlement was expected.—From Van Dieman's
Land it is stated that the convicts from the Cape of
Good Hope had been landed at Hobart Town, to the
great disgust of the inhabitants, who were preparing to
make a strong demonstration against convict importation.
Mr. Smith O'Brien was to be removed from Maria
Island to Port Arthur, where preparations were making
for his reception. He was to continue under the strictest
surveillance.—In South Australia considerable sickness
had prevailed, especially at Adelaide; it is ascribed to
the impurity of the water. The great government sales
at the Emu Plains had taken place, and a large sum
was realised. The financial accounts are very favourable.
From an official return of the revenue for the quarter
ending 31st March last, it appears that the receipts were
£52,828; and that, although the expenditure is charged
with £11,500 remitted to England for payment of interest
and in reduction of principal of the bonded debts, still
there was a surplus of £10,000 of revenue over expenditure
during the quarter. Coal has been discovered at
Kangaroo Island.—In West Australia there had been
considerable discussion as to the justice of inflicting the
punishment of death on natives for crimes committed
among themselves. Three natives (brothers) of a tribe
distant forty miles from York were convicted and
sentenced to be hanged. The execution was fixed for
April 12th. On the evening of the 11th, in consequence
of a memorial addressed to the governor on the inconsistency
of executing men for crimes to which, among
themselves, no turpitude attached, and suggesting that
the execution of one would satisfy the ends of justice, his
excellency assured the memorialists that he fully
concurred in their suggestion and accordingly reprieved two
of the culprits. On the following day the elder native
was executed in the presence of his two brothers, and
shortly after the hangman proceeded to place the rope
on the necks of these men; they resisted violently, but
being overpowered by the sheriff''s assistants, the fatal
cord was adjusted and the bolt about to be withdrawn,
when the governor's secretary rode up hastily to the
sheriff, and presented him with a letter commanding a
reprieve. The wretched culprits were wholly at a loss
to understand the procedure. The effect of this
melodramatic scene on the natives is described as by no
means favourable; it being calculated to impress them
with the notion that fear more than humanity dictated
the reprieve.

There are advices from Toronto to the 10th. On that
day the provincial parliament was prorogued by Lord
Elgin, to the 19th of September. His excellency
complimented the members on their zeal and diligence,
and congratulated them on the improvement in the
revenue and the promise of an abundant harvest.

PROGRESS OF EMIGRATION AND COLONISATION.

The Canterbury Association gave a farewell breakfast
on the 30th of July to the first body of colonists
now about to emigrate to New Zealand, on board the
ship "Randolph," lying in the East India Docks.
More than three hundred guests were elegantly
entertained, among whom were Lord Lyttelton (who did the
honours as host), the Bishop of Norwich, Lord and
Lady Wharncliffe, Lord Nelson and Lady Susan Nelson,
the Countess Grey, the Marchioness of Drogheda, Miss
Burdett Coutts, Lady Shelley, Lady Caroline Sterling,
and other persons of distinction. Several interesting
speeches were made, and the tone of the meeting was
animated and hopeful.

The Female Emigration Society, who have during
the present year sent out six parties of young women to
Sidney and Port Philip, dispatched their first party for
Canada, on the 3rd inst., by the barque "Elspeth."

NARRATIVE OF FOREIGN EVENTS.

TlME was when the death of Louis Philippe would have agitated the Continent from one end to the other,
but his importance passed away with his power; and the only interest now awakened is that which
attends the disappearance of a man who has played by far the most memorable part on the theatre of the
modern world, and has supplied its most sorrowful and most instructive lesson of human vicissitude.

Louis Napoleon has been travelling in search of a throne, and appears to have failed in obtaining any reasonable
prospect of the object of his quest. He started in great spirits, and in the first city he visited, which was
Dijon, told the people very frankly that they knew what he wanted; but in the second, which was Lyons, he saw
the expediency of so far altering his tone as to say that what he wanted he was also quite ready to surrender
if the people did not want it; in the third, which was Besançon, he found it necessary to make his escape
from a popular ball pretty nearly as soon as he had entered it; and in the fourth, which was Strasburgh,
even the Moniteur is forced to confess that there was no "enthusiasm." In short, it is quite clear that the
prince's chances of the Empire are become infinitesimally small, however reasonable even yet may be his
chances (in the poverty of other competitors) for one more term of the Presidency.