A SHORT experience of the evils of protection in. this colony has sufficed to produce a feeling of dissatis faction in the minds of numbers of ita former ad* herents, and to bring about a reaction, which would have been much more rapid and complete if a short harvest or a drought had rendered food dear, while employment is so soarce and business of all kinds in such a languid condition. The reaction we hare spoken of is not of a very demonstratire character. A sentiment of pride not; unnaturally deters people from openly acknowledging that former opinions have proved to be erroneous, and that experience has convinced them of the unsoundness of principles to which they were once zealously attached. It is not every man who is capable, like Earl Russell, _of standing up in a public meeting and avowing, wibh I equal courage and candour, that he had taken a wrong view of a great question of public jpolioy. But those who are in the habit of mixing a good deal i with working men in this city and suburbs, and who are familiar with the sentiments of the operative classes, will bear us out in the assertion that a .marked change has taken place in public opinion I upon the subject of protection, and that they are disappointed at the non-fulfilment of the promises ifc held out, and suffering from the positive injuries it has inflicted on the commerce of the colony and the prosperity «f its prinoipal port. Now and-then, in df«d, a feeble bleat is hearqjin favour of protection

Amateur MtrsraAi. Societies. — The proceedings of amateur musical societies do not, generally speak ing, come within the range of public notice or cri ticism. They are entitled, however, to be regarded with approbation as an elegant and refined social pastime, and the extent to which they are now carried among the educated classes is a favourable sign of the timei in which we lire when compared with the days of our grandfathers. 