Melbourne is perhaps the most surprising place in her Majesty's dominions. Nothing, in the history of colonization, approaches her as regards the rapidity of advancement and extent. Six years ago there were not twenty British subjects on the spot, and at the present hour, Melbourne and its suburbs boast of a population of ten thousand souls. There are already built four splendid edifices for public worship--Episcopalians, Presbyterians, Wesleyans, and Independents, are provided for--and there is in addition a very large Roman Catholic chapel in the course of erection. There are three banks all doing excellently well--"The Australasian," "The Union Bank of Australia," and "Port Philip's Bank"--and there is yet a good field for another, under prudent management. The rate of discount is L10 per cent; and the interest given on deposit accounts L7 per cent. The common rate of interest, given with good mortgage security, is L20 per cent; and in some instances, where a little risk is taken, L25 and L30. Bills past due at the bank, are charged L12 per cent. A court of law (by act of Council) allows L8 per cent on all bills sued upon, with a discretionary power of extending the rate to L12 per cent, to cover any damage or loss sustained. There are two Club houses, a Royal Exchange, and some very large buildings for stores. A spacious new jail is building in a most commodious situation, and a public court house will soon follow; the one existing being but small and temporary. The new customhouse, which has been completed since my arrival is a fine building, and forms one side of the Market Square. In front of this, and about four hundred yards distant, stands the wharf. Melbourne rejoices likewise in its theatre, or, as it is called, "_pavilion_," which place of amusement, however, the governor does not think proper to license. His refusal is, I believe, very properly founded upon the questionable condition of the morals of the great body of the population. Two hours at the police-office any morning, afford a stranger a tolerably clear insight into this subject generally, and acquaint him particularly with the over-night deportment of the Melbournese. The police magistrate holds any thing but a sinecure. We have three newspapers in Melbourne, namely, _The Patriot_, _The Herald_, and _Gazette_, each published twice a-week; the first on Monday and Thursday, the second on Tuesday and Friday, the third on Wednesday and Saturday; so that we have a newspaper every day. The advertisements are numerous and varied in matter. I have heard upon good authority that the proprietor of any one of these journals draws at least L4000 to L5000 per annum from the profits of them. It is not difficult to account for these enormous gains. Every thing here is sold by auction, and the advertisements are in consequence more numerous than they would otherwise be. An auctioneer alone, in good business, will pay each of the papers about L1000 per annum