experience, gives a most lamentable and
strictly true account of his present position.
He and Mrs. S. are paying four guineas a week
for a hut little better than a pig-sty. He has
not been able to find out any suitable
occupation. He has lost a Wellington boot
in the mud on each of the two occasions
that he has been down to look after
his baggage. The quartern loaf costs two
shillings and sixpence; and, the night
before writing, a party of gold diggers on
the spree insisted on treating him, poured
first a bottle of Champagne down his throat,
and then, by mistake, a bottle of blacking. The
letter of little Dick Rafleigh, who ran away
from school, is not more encouraging, although
he writes in the highest spirits, having
succeeded, in consequence of the death of his
master, to a half share in a dray which, with
a partner, he drives to and from the
Diggings. Dick describes the state of society
as "most jolly—something like a fair and an
election at the same time." The more we
read, the more we grow confounded. One
husband sends money for his wife, his father,
his stepmother, and all his brothers and
sisters. Another writes his better half that
he is starving, so she must not think of
coming to this dreadful place.

As a relief, we turn from manuscripts to
newspapers, pass by leaders and communications
from our own correspondent, do not
linger on the Police Courts, scarce look
at the debates of the Colonial Parliament,
but dive into the advertisements, certain
there to learn how the people live, how they
pass their time in work and amusement.
Our attention is first attracted by a cross-head,
such as has never yet, we think,
startled the readers of the double supplements
of the Times.

TO BURGLARS.—We shall feel obliged to the
artists who favoured us with a professional visit
last night to our stores in Flinder's Lane, and
abstracted some cash and a timepiece from our safe, if
they would be so good as to return us the key of the
said safe, which can be of no use to them. For
their information, we further beg to state that, in
future, we shall leave no negotiable valuables on the
premises; in this instance, we thank them for having
left our books and papers, although in some disorder,
uninjured. Signed, HEAP and GRICE.

In England advertisements for heirs of
Thompson and Smith, or for a young lady, or
wife, or husband, earnestly implored to return,
are comparatively rare; but, in the Port
Philip papers, which do not pay
advertisement duty, whole columns are devoted
to missing friends. For instance,

ELLEN O'GRADY, A FREE EMIGRANT,
per Rob Roy, which sailed from Plymouth on
the 15th of February, and whose mother's name is
O'Malley, and who formerly lived at Eden Quay,
Dublin, is hereby requested to leave her address
at the Office of this paper for Mrs. O'Malley.

IF THIS SHOULD MEET THE EYE OF
Sarah Migg, she will hear of her brother Thomas
by applying to Mr. Lazarus, Flinder's Street West.

MRS. STREAKY IS INFORMED THAT A
letter from her husband is lying for her at
two hundred and twenty-two, Elizabeth Street.

Irish advertisements all seem to have a
curious character of their own.

JAMES, OR TIMOTHY BANAHAN, WHO
arrived about two years ago, is requested to
communicate with Martha Banahan, mother of the
former, now in the service of C. K., Esq.

IF MRS. SUTHER AND HER DAUGHTER
will call at thirty-one, Stephen Street, she will
hear of her husband.

It is not specified whether it is to be the
mother's or the daughter's husband who will
be heard of.

IF THIS SHOULD MEET THE EYE OF
my husband, Andrew Cullum, he will be pleased
to communicate, and let her know where he can be
found.

The following is both obscure and colloquial.

MISSING FRIENDS.—BENDIGO CREEK,
October 4th, 1852.—To the last advertisement
in the paper of the 25th of September, I, George
Wilsor, again publish the same, as the 25th paper
did not come to the Diggings, that if Mrs. Wilsor
and son George wish to find their husband and
father they will apply to Cook and Mark's store,
opposite the Argus Office, Bendigo Creek—or, if any
person see her and son safe to the said store, shall
receive the sum of five pounds, beside other expenses.

WILLIAM ROUSSELL IS REQUESTED TO
come to Melbourne as soon as possible to see
his sister, now lying under severe illness.

ARRIVALS.—In the Argus of yesterday twenty-
three vessels are reported to have arrived from
England with two thousand, nine hundred and two
souls. A strong fact for the Houseless Committee!

Innumerable advertisements proclaim the
wish of new-comers to find old friends; for,
from the scarcity of house-room in South
Australia, a distinct address is a very difficult
thing to possess. All that is known of many
of the older emigrants is, that they are
supposed to be somewhere in the Colony.

Even before looking for friends, people
want to eat; they must be startled by seeing
in a public announcement that the four
pound loaf has been raised to two shillings and
sixpence! Compositors will not mind this
so much, as the same paper offers employment
at two shillings and sixpence for composing
and arranging every thousand metal types;
about four times the price paid in England.
The lists of servants and labourers wanted
occupy columns, headed with capitals and
notes of exclamation, thus: BAKERS!
BAKERS!! WANTED JOURNEYMEN
BAKERS!!! LIBERAL WAGES!!!!
Carpenters and bricklayers seem much in