The Express. — London, England, 1852-04-09 00:00:00

Bile entrefil6. • res.h4 Miss poldidrei every Turley sari rrideg .414 Is tlier frir pit •ftecromair longed for The Upris.. Lades Zemin pager, owart be et Os Oft% SO. Mn +M4 Tee cerieek Um. pelliellimb Ili AT= LONDOS 8R1D4311 r . D isasos a= M. IL Us.....—...thereree. K NIL LONDON, FRIDAY, APRIL 9. Bennie the nation at large is called upon fur its verdict on the question of parliamentary reform, it is right that the actual position of the question should be distinctly and clearly understood. The advocates of an extended suffrage rest their cue upon the as sumption that the House of Commons, as at present constituted, does not possess the confidence of the people; and they appeal to the recorded votes of parliamenkto show that this is the national convic tion. They point to the division lists in proof of this assertion ; and they boldly claim for the nominal minority who support reform, that they should be regarded as the true exponents of the general wish and will, rather than the nominal majority of mem bers, who are neither elected by popular constitm codes nor affect to be subject to popular control. Let any one glance at the list of towns which con tain great populations and substantial constituencies, and he cannot fail to be struck with the fact that, with few exceptions, all of them have pronounced in favour of representative responsibility, as contrasted with, and opposed to, the present unreal and ilTe• spantible system. In the late division on Mr. lit n's motion, the representatives of Birmingham, Manchester, Salford, Sheffield, Edinburgh, Glasgow Cheltenham, Hull, Dundee, Leicester, Oldham, Co: . . ventry, Derby. Stockport, Norwich, Blackburn, Bradford, Stroud, Preston, Macclesfield, and South ampton, arc all to be found arrayed on the side of extended suffrage and independent voting. And when to these are added the members for Middlesex, Westminster, Marylebone, Southwark, Lambeth, Finsbury. and Tower Hamlets, with many towns of third and fourth rate importance, we have an amount of population concurring in the momentous claim, falling little short of Tee MILLIONS In this calculation we exclude altogether the consti tuencies who. hating committed the folly of returning two men of different opinions at the last election, are in a certain sense neutralised on great questions like that which we are now adverting to. Among these may be enumerated Bristol, - Dublin, Bel fast, Brighton, the West Riding, North Lancashire, Leeds, Chester, and others, the population of which amounts, in the aggregate, to a million. In precise figures, if we add the latter 979,087 to the former, which is 9,898,338, we have a total of 1110477,143. It is true, indeed, as we have said, that the efficacy of the voting power of the 'Attr clam is annihilated in the lobbies of the House of Commons by the balance which their mem bers form, and that the tellers might in general agree to let the cities and counties we have men tioned be omitted from their computation on moat questions. But in • moral point of view the case is far otherwise. Who doubts that the inhabitants of the West Hiding, for example, hold strong opinions as a community in favour of popular right, although they have consented to allow Mr. Beetarr Destson to go to parliament along with Mr. COBDEN ? lk this, however, as it may, the broad and unmis takable fact stands out beyond all controversy or dispute, that the representatives of well nigh eleven millions of people, possessing among them an amount of property, inte:hgeoce, and worth scarcely to be equalled in the civilised world, have deliberately declared that the present system of representation is fundamentally unsound, insufficient, and unde serving of natiuual confidence. This is • very serious matter, and calls for the grave consideration of every man who fears to lose, or hopes to gain, anything worth having as a citizen of the empire. ()pinion seldom—perhaps it were more accurate to say never—goes back. A packed parliament, a west•end club, or a subservient press, may applaud such flimsy and t t efforts at mystification of the truth as those oe Mr. DISRAELI the other night, when he stole • cheer by . picking Mr. Hrue's political pocket of certain important figures, and then with • face of assurance asking him —how much base von got these ? But in the homes of the,. eleven minions of thoughtful and earnest men, these pranks and gambols, to call them by no harsher name, go for no more than they are worth. These are in the main the men whose resolution to pay no longer • tax on bread, converted a powerful ministry to the theory of free-trade, and compelled an unconverted parliament to enact that theory in form of law. And these are they who now have it manifestly in their power to decide the suffrage question and the ballot. Were the oligarchs in pos session of three times as many dwindled boroughs and sirf-tilled counties as they are, the result would be the same. In 1841 the some party that are now in office obtained by lavish outlay and the reckless use of every engine of bigotry and intimidation, a majority which was at the time called overwhelming. They had piled together all the rottenness and intole rance of church and state, and they sat down in its shadow to divide the prey. But the great towns and the intelligent counties remained unshaken in their faith, and unwavering in their resolution to carry their object—and we know the result. So, likewise, it will be now. But, inasmuch as we must all deprecate delay, and wish that the death strug gle of corruption may be shortened, it behoves every man who values the cause of reform, to apply himself diligently to the increase and strengthening of the compact phalanx in the new House of Commons, whose especial mission shall be to enforce, constitu tionally, what the mare of the community desire. For, let it never be forgotten, that if there are already near eleven millions who are innovated by men that support • rate-paying franchise, there are still a far greater number whose sym prides are the same, and whose voice, were it legally capable of making itself heard, would be an echo of that of their more fortunate brethren. It is true that the very circumstance of their disfranchisement' hinders them, to a great extent, from doing ea they otherwise would. But it cannot, on the other hand, be denied that, were a common effort made at the coming elections by electors who have hitherto re mained passive, and by non-electors, who collectively have much in their power, the band of thorough re formers in the next House of Common. might be raised to double its present number. Within twenty four hours after the first striking vote of such a body of real representatives, " rate-paying franchise and ballot" would be discerned in gold letters elegantly embroidered on the whig flag; and, whatever party might hold office, the demands of the people would be promptly and fully conceded. I►t'LINO the last year the principal railvrays lead ing to the metropolis have brought to London great quantities of coals from the midland, western, and even from the northern counties, and some of the companies have established at their chief stations in London depots for the sale of cools, and have, in fact, become coal merchants themselves. We hope and believe he experiment has proved as advantageous to the companies as it has certainly been to the I public. The pies: of this great mammary of life has , been much reduced, fluctuation in price has been in a j great degree prevented, whilet the possibility of raising the price of the article at periods when fuel is most needed has 'acen prevented by the active competition of the various railway companies We take it for granted the experiment is found to be sufficiently suc cessful, and in that e.ua we would ilirect the atten tion of the various companies to an extension of the principle. Bricks for the purposes of building are in great and constant demand in and near to London. The bricks which are made in the immediate neighbour hood of London are of inferior quality. The London clay is of a nature too strong for the purposes of brick-making, except when combined with chalk or other substance% nut readily procurable. The beat bricks are made in the neighbourhood of Cowley and Drayton, and are brought to London by canal ; but these bricks are interior to those made in Cambridge shire, in Suffolk, and in many other counties at no very great distance front London. In fact there are inexhaustible supplies of brick earth neer to the lines of most of the principal railwaya, and in much closer proximity to the me tropolis than the nearest coal field. The pries of brieke et the present moment is ex f tricce l ar r d t . nie 14 nd h. or the • a nearly azhamoted. t' the suburbs of to 40 shillings cent. higher than was taken off, am cent higher than in I..ny parts of enough to Few Pandisa it pdoe sufficient margin would be left to )SS Se sinfige to London of bricks a safe and Cl=Sysinliation to railway companies, and we piths' the opening of depots for the sale itlifiligerivell as eoals, at the principal metro- Ohms madam would dmelop a considerable in grain, ef revenue to the companies, and be at the sow else • very great culvantage both to the pro ducer and the consumer. BERNE. Apia. 3. The executive council has convoked the electoral assemblies for the 18th, to pronounce by " Yes" and " No" upon the question of the revocation. D. SPAIN. A telegraphic dispatch from Madrid, of the sth, says: " A decree has been published by the govern ment, regulating in a sweeping manner the press. The fundamental bases are—a guarantee of 2,000 reels of contribution imposed on journals; preven tive censorship for articles concerning religion, foreign countries, and news; a jury composed of tbe largest tax-payers for the principal preps offences ; Supreme Court of Justice for offences against the Queen; and the ordinary tribunals for other of fences. The government can suspend and suppress journals." r ir ,-, Ez!et144aekz i ...017.7172. , ar , the. charter, pfil!Orb, the • wzt a ttl e Gaihirili iad Engliah, and publiiligi km panel ia Gina teen the Palen of St. Michael and St. George. By seasonal et his ezesdleoey the Lord High Commissioner, J. Fauns, See. to the Lord High Commissioner. Oak 17th March, 1862. PROCLAMATION. O CANI)IANO ROMA. By his Highness the Cavalier Candiano, Canal Roma, Pro• ardent of the Mort Illustrious the Senate, and the Moat luatzions the Boasters of the United States of the lonian Islands. The Lairslairs Assembly of the teeth parliament, eketiod sok, the most avowable auspices, is prorogued. TIM prows& of ant reform', announced in the name of bar Greslsms lbjasity, see Exclusive Sovereign Protrectrese ; sod of dist nen eateaded liberty which she was pleased to sat to na, amidst the almost 'sacral wroth of the liberties of Radom aimi dolma% bat, as ossrignanoe, been deferred. Thie Beasti, prospect of &happy future, manifested, fro m,its analogs desire to to operate in impstriaks, as far as risible our political system sad kgislation, by malntainkag that pirfeet harmony with the other powers of the Rate on which must depend the gradual &Mope moat lathe try priociplos of constitutional t. levensalan Swim, on being appoiaMsl4 at once made known the Use of conduct which it inod to penal, and entered Leto communioationlrith the leighdative Assembly, the Simita mil,* is On eitoottinna - flis high sad important inaly to arimasis i thiorpos which k had given, la mks that lin new= redoes their ltgitmasto allseis, Woe ler Majesty, the protect ing sonssiga. hag se premiss. To obtain a win& m Important it was aecomary that the assata Whoeld maim the bank, loyal, and disin terested so-opossdan se year vagessenistives, and it had the pastor dirge to *ped tkis, looms It had mad* every effort to attain am sad so desirable, and bemuse them existed no motive for alienation. Thu proposals of our gracious sovereign protectress—the frank and cordial offers of her representative to assist in advancing and ameliorating our condition—the sincerity with which the Senate accepted this offer, and promised its co-operation—and the exultation of the lonian people, who awaited their realisation, was not met by all your re presents fives in such a spirit as it ought to have been. A minority of the Amenoly, which at every step showed a disposition to impede the course of legislation in the Chamber, finished by an attempt, unique in representative government, to impose its opinions upon a majority, guided by the dictates of patriotism and honour • and, by absenting itself from the Assembly to which it ha d been sent to fulfill important duties, readered a constitutional silting of the house impossible. Matters having arrived at this point, it cannot be con cealed that a prorogation of the Home of Representatives was an inevitable consequence, as well as the sole remaining means of saving the country from greater evils, and of pre serving a prospect of a happier future. The responeibility of the consequences rests with those who provoked this step. lonians—The time fur fallacies anddelusions ought to have passed. The infirmities of o people, if not speedily cured, are fatal. Experience must have su fficiently proved to you the daugers to which the violence of reckless demagogues, rapacious desires, unreasonable and ill-placed ambition may lead, and what ig have already occasioned. Until they boxisse irreparable, the remedy is still mire. It rests with us not to lose the best and most favourable opportunity of securing an improved future by accepting, In a fitting spirit, which is • condition, the benefits offered to us. Your Senate will continue firmly to pursue the course it has taken, nor fail to give every attention in order Lusatia, your desires. lint, aline, it cannot assume the responsi bility of those measures which should emanate from the concurrecce of all the powers of the state, end which are called fur by the present urgent necessities of the country. If you are desirous of your own welfare, if you do not wish to peril your future condition, give evidence, on this occasion, of that good sense which has generally distin guished you. The electoral bodies feel the importance of their missioo, and in the approaching elections, and by the instructious which they must give to their representatives, will prove to all, that the lonian people is worthy of amelioration, if they would nut lose allhope of attaining it, and assume the deepest responsibility the country and to posterity. Given from the Palace of St. Michael and St. George. By order of the Senate, T. J. aIIBUYSZ, See. to the Senate for the Ueu. Depart. Corfu, 20th March, lti62. AUSTRIAN OUTRAGE UPON AN ENGLISHMAN. The Court of Tuscany, emboldened by the advent of a tory cabinet, has peremptorily refused to admit the claim preferred by Lord Granville for apology and compen sation in the ease of Mr. Erskine Mather. A gross outrage has been committed on an Englishman, and now, doubtless at the instigation of "our oldest ally," Austria, end relying probably upon the presumed indifference of Lord Gran ville's successor, the Tuscan government refuses to redress one of the foulest wrongs. On the 29th of January, Mr. Erskine Mather, walking arm-in-arm with his brother in one of the narrow streets of Florence, encumbered at the moment by a crowd following • military band, felt himself struck from behind with the flat edge of a Brion,. Turning round to remonstrate, he re ceived a blow in the face with a fist from • person in the dress of an Austrian officer. Mechanical', raising his arm to protect himself, he was at once cut down by the officer in command of the detachment by which the band was accompanied. The sword of the officer pasaed through a thick felt hat, I and inflicted a deep wound, two inches in length, on the apper part of the forehead. „Mr. Mather, covered with blood, was assisted by the passengers to a neighbouring hospital, where he was confined for three weeks, and where, after the first few days, no ono but his brother was permitted to see him without an order from the police. The bone having been seriously injured, the wound, after Dealing rapidly on the surface, had to be re-opened to ad mit of suppuration from within. Inflammation ensuing, thirty leeches were applied to the forehead, and he war, De rides three times bled in the arm, and thee in the hand. I At length—the shadow of his former self, and with • con stitution irreparably weakened for life—tie recovered suffi ciently to be period to his lodgings. For this outrage Lord Granville wrote, with becoming spirit, to demand redrew, and en inept; was promised The compensation claimed for Mr. Mather war 1,0001.—a modest sum, if we compare it with the far larger amount exacted but the other day from Grimm for the broken fur niture of Don Pacifico, on the ground that the honour of England was involved in the adequate protection of British subjects. In England, for instance, were an officer of the Guards to cut down even a crossing sweeper, a British jury would not hesitate to give much heavier damages than 1,0001., as an emphatic protest against military license. But, whether much or little, the Tuscan government now flatly refuses to entertain the question of its liability in any shape. The British minister la referred to the Austrian Waster. Mr. Searlett is expected to humiliate himself by a second application to Prince Lichtenstein, who, in his letter written the day following the outrage, justified the assault on Mr. Ma th er as an act of necessary discipline, and only lamented Mr. Mather's imprudence in wearing • Ty rolean hat. THE AMAZON AND BIRKENHEAD.—It is a some what remarkable circumstance that the Amason and the equally ill-fated Bitkenhead commenced their voyages on the same day; the Amason having left Southampton and the Birkenhead Portsmouth on Friday, the 2nd of January. Friday is generally regarded by sailors r an unlucky day on which to begin a voyage. SUICIDE AT AN HOTEL—Yesterday morning a de termined act of suicide was committed by Mr. James Car rell, printer and stationer, of No. 282, Strand, at Miller's, the Surrey, Sussex, and Commercial Hotel, Blackfriars road. The deceased had been involved in considerable pecuniary difficulties, so much so as to reduce him to a low and desponding state, notwithstanding which his im mediate friends never apprehended that he would be Guilty of the crime of terminating his own existence, although he had frequently expressed a fear of fairing the difficulties that surrounded him. It appears that about twelve o'clock on the night of Wednesday In celled at the hotel, and, having entered the coffee-room, called for a glass of brandy and water, and expressed his intention of sleeping there that night, arid engaged a bed, at the same time making a special request that the " boots," or porter, should call him at half-past eight in the morning, ash* had an appointment to attend. He was shown to his room by the chamber maid, who delivered to him his candle, and left him appa ready calm. In the morning, as requested, the porter knocked at his door, which was found to he fastened, several times without receiving any answer. The fact was communicated to Mr. Miller, who at once forced open the door, when, to the horror of the inmates, they sew the deceased suspended by a rope from the fuot-rail or cornice of the bedstead, dead. Mr. Miller at once despatched one of his servants to Mr. Tebbitt's surgery, a few doors from the hotel. Mr. Tebbitt arrived immediately; find ing the deceased still suspended, he at once cut him down, but all attempts at restoring animation were hope- ICPP, Mr. Tebbitt being satisfied that the deceased had been dead several hours. 'f he Iced had not been slept in ;on the counterpane was a piece of new cord, evidently cut from that with which deceased had banged himself, the cord being an ordinary bed-cord, and but little doubt could be enter tained that the deceased on closing the door of his room had at ones proceeded to cony his deadly intention into e ff ec t, he being entirely dresse d when found suspended. Infor mation was given to the police, arid on the hotly being searched several bill-heads with his name and business. as 61/14) several letters and memorandums, were found in his pocket., with a gold pencil-ease, tooth-pick, and about 9 or 10 shillings in silver. Information has been forwarded to Mr. Carter, the coroner, and the body now awaits the in quest, which will be held on Saturday. N GOLD MINES. Letters ~.e been received from Syd flay dews to diii2oth of December. The following ip en extract from a letter received by this arrival: The precious metal arrives in daily increasing nantities, the estimated export has risen from 1 . to XX per annum. The,. is no antt to the gold •, sod, ss tar ax I have been able to aseartala bent pe rso nal issamunication with diggers of valises dopes, the labour by no means so tremendous as sodas would Rake it ant tawroaretal affairs are going on easily. The harvest is airidlkwat. Wages are not extravagantly high, sod Ido Imo any prospect of famine for some time to come. Ido -.vs venture to prognosticate the probable state of the mar kets. We are comphtely in the dark. 1 have it, however, lkilmed authority, that in the early part of the year thii heavy shipments of goods on speculation will have Elreffect of creating a glut ; and it would be well if a large degree of caution were exercised in making consignments. The Sydney Morning Herald, of December 18th "V have received by the Emma Melbourne papers to the illth inst. The Melbourne Morning Herald of that date op :—" Letters were received in town yesevday from the pa' niertral• at Gipps Land, stating that del whole di , libig ramp bennean Sydney and Victoria, e nown as Ibe mem Illiereatatas, for 2M miles in extent, is one vast pli eta Tim was upwards of a ton and a half of gold ia M. omaimhaser Powlett's tent, waiting for the escort, ime en Ilsosolay last, and it is expected that today's escort Ilene alte Swat will ant be able to bring down one half lan quash offered. It is intended to increase the mili tary farm Mrs to 100 men." Our gold arrivals (says the Empire) arc increasing, the quantity during the last week amounting in all to upwards of 12,000 ounces; this large amount is, however, considerably exceeded at Victoria, accord ing to latest advises; prices have slightly advanced. The following quantities of gold arrived by the mails on Dec. 6th: ox. dwt. From Melbourne From Goulburn From Braidwood ox. 362 0 The following are extracts from the letter of a cor respondent, who writes from Launceston, Van Dio man's Land. Raving described the hardship, uncer tainty, and manifolddieeouragements incidental to the gold digger's life, he says : So far from these discouragementa disparaging the value of the gold discoveries, they enhance it immeasurably to the community, because they so far lower the amount of temptation to individuals, as to reader the presence of boundless treasure in the earth, compatible with the steady prosecution of other industrial pursuits essential to the best interests of a people. No amount of military or police force could guard :he treasures of the Australian bush, nor could the most stringent regulations coerce the men required to take the deem from the sheep or the har vest from the field were they inclined to dig fur gold instead. The operation of natural causes on their minds effects every thing that is required, however, and men vi+o have a week ago been pickles up gold, return to their every day work with minds as settled as if they had never left it. Indeed many of them confess that they never knew the comforts of good housing, regular and whole seine meals, and steady work, until they tried gold dig ging. When men return to former employments at mo derato wages, it is evident that the pursuit of gold digging yields to the whole body of persons engaged in it little more than the average wages of ordinary avocations, or at least not a return so much exceeding ordinary wages, as to induce them to encounter the attendant hardships and privations in separable from the occupation. Having been in Melbourne lately, and had ninny opportunities of seeing what was doing, lam satisfied that such is the fact. The body of men employed in Victoria should have produced 4,000 to 4,600 ounces of gold per week to have made their work, after deducting the enhanced price of provisions, equal to the wages they would have earned at their ordinary labour. 1,200 to 1,500 ounces of gold occasionally arrives by the escort, but there are no indications of such a quantity as abovenamed being produced weekly. The failure of the water in summer will probably lead to the accumulation of aurife rous soil in the summer by diggers and quarrymen, which will be wa , bed in winter when the creeks flow. This mode of proceeding involves the steady pursuit of gold digging us an occupation, and I have no doubt but that in this way it will rank as one of the regular pursuits of the colonies, and that the capon will become as regular as that of wool or tallow. There is occupation for thousands of labourers in this new field for industry ; all the soil now turned over and washed will stand washing again, and it is believed that by the rude processes employed there is as much gold left in the washed soil as is taken out of it. Experience and in dustry will be richly rewarded when brought to bear upon the pursuit, and the prospect as a whole is truly splendid for the colonies. Of the persons now at the mines a large body arc non producers ; an immense number of Jews and sharpers of all dcserivtions resorted to the mines when gold woo selling at Ma. per ounce, to be afterwards re•sold in Melbourne for 60s or f32s. - The gains of the non-producers being made out of the labours of the productive class, there is to be an allowance made on the calculation of average return from the actual workers, but the result is wonderful when it is considered that it is attained without experience or training. Mr. Westgarth, of Melbourne, who wu at the mines during my visit to M., stated that the yield of gold was 10,0001. per diem. This statement being backed by Mr. Westgarth's reputation as a statist, the local papers have been repeating it as a very good puff to the diggins, but from what I have stated it will be seen that the reality is quite wonderful enough without exaggeration. I can state with perfect confidence, ea information de rived from the meet trustworthy correspilndence, that the weekly yield of gold in New South Wales and Victoria is of the value of 40,0001. sterling, and has for some weeks been at this average. This sum represents the earnings of some 30,000 people; the rains in winter and the want of water in summer produce constant changes in the amount realised, however ; and any calculation of annual proilac• Lion based on this estimate would be wide of the truth. Gold has been found in various quarters of this island, but not in abundance. The presence of the convict popu lation represses any active exertions for its discovery. The Melbourne Aqua of Dec. 20 furnishes the following resume of recent events : Several vessels are likely to sail for England within these few days, and the crack qualities of one of them ren der it probable that she may be the first ship that reaches home with a portion of the golden harvest that is at present I I pouring in upon us. Late advice, from England have shown the eagerness ' with which authentic intelligcsco with respect to the new discovery is seised upon, and made to furnish the topic of the day; and its the astonishing yield of onr own gold fields as calculated nearly to eclipse all other discoveries of • similar nature in other parts of the world, we think it an act of duty, just prior to the sailing of the vessels we Lave spoken of, to throw together such few facts as are calcu lated to enable the good folks at home to form a more accu rate impression of the real state of matters here, than they would be likely to arrive at by more scattered or desultory notices. On the 19th of last month we published a statement of the estimated amount of gold, which had then seen the light of day, derived from the various diggings of this to lony. That statement was as foll)ws : In the banks in Melbourne, 81,000/. ; in the banks in Geelong, 4.5,0001. ; in erivate hands in Melbourne, 15,0001. ; in private hands in Geelong, 9,0001. • in the hands of the diggers at the gold fields, or on the road, 51,0001. ; total, 201,000!. This esti mate was as carefully compiled as circumstances would ad mit of The amouut held by the banks was exact to a few ounces. The quantity estimated to remain in the hands of private parties in the towns, on the gold fields, and on the roads towards town, was stated to rest solely on conjecture, but as carefully estimated as reference to very well informed and disintetested parties could make it. The increasing arrivals, weekly, by the government escort soon showed ns, however, that our desire tobe rather below than above the mark had led us to estimate the letter quantities far too low ; and the rush of gold which has since been poured upon the market quite baffles all ordinary rules of calculation. On Wednesday, 19th November, the very day the above calculation was published, the weekly escort brought down from Mount Alexander 6,488 ounces ; from Ballarat, 2,117 ounces, 819 ounces for Geelong, and 916 ounces for govern ment ; making a total of 10,138 ounces. On the following Wednesday, 10,428 ounces arrived from Mount Alexander, 1,500 ounces from Ballarat, and 178 1 ounces were left at Geelong; making • total of 12,106 ounces : 1,008 lbs., or rather more than half a ton. The next Wednesday brought 13,783 ounces from Mount Alexander, 2,550 ounces from Ballarat, and 336 ounces for Geelong ; a total of 18,669 ounces or 1,38914 s weight. But still this astonishing yield went on increasing, and on the following Wedne sd ay the cart conveying: the enor mous treasure fairly broke down with its load, and the escort did not arrive till the day after its time. That week's yield was, from Mount Alexander, 23,750 ounces; from Ballarat, 2,224 ounces; for Geelong, 682 ' • making the astounding sent of 26,656 ounces, or 1 ton 2201b5. 4 oz. This was the largest return for any one week by escort, as this week the diggers are flocking down to town, to enjoy their Christmas, and are bringing their gold with them in preference to entrusting it to the escort conveyance. The amount conveyed by that mean., therefore, is, from Mount Alexander, 18,191 ounces ; from Ballarat, 1,018 ounces ; 2/43 ounces for Geelong ; total, 19,492 ounces, 1,624 lbs., or a trifle over three-quarters of a ton. Thus far we speak of facts unchallenged and unchal lengable. These quantities have all passed through the hands of the government escort, and a regular register has, of course , , been kept of every ounce received and delivered. But if these reports of tons upon tons of the root of all evil be still ineutticient for the insatiate maw of any of our English Mammon worshippers, we beg to tell them that we have now to quit the beaten path of ascertained fact, and, in endeavouring to orrice at the whole truth, we must again resort, in some degree, to conjecture. There is no means of ascertaining the precise proportion of the gold found, which is sent to the markets of Mel bourne and Geelong by the government escort. That mode of conveyance is unpopular. The charge is exces u iso. The safety of the gold is not guaranteed. The dis tance travelled to only 75 miles, and the diggers think rightly that a demand of one per cent. for such a service, and without absolute certainty of safety, is an extravagant charge. There is a constant and very extensive traffic be tween the towns and the mince; the road, in fact, being almost like an ordinary street, wit h respect to the number of ris and vehicles passing backwards and f or . wards accounts agree in stating that very large mums come down thus by private hands ; but as to the proportion which such sums b e a r to those which pass through the authorised channel, opinions dal most widely. Many: persons hold, that the escort does nut con. vey one half, or even one-quarter, of the actual yield. There Is no want of those who believe that the difference is still_ greater. Whilst dealing in matters of conjecture, we wish to err upon the moderato side, if we err at all; and having corn. rrrnotes with many gentlemen likely to be well in tended, we will venture to put down the sums which hare arrived by private hand in the course of the few weeks,, cer which our remarks extend, at one-third of that which has arrived by the escort.; Many of our friends will laugh tit the moderation of our estimate, but we have been laughed at before fur our moderation, and shall doubtless surviv e it now. This calculation would give us 28,343 OWICLI arrived by private band within the last five weeks. And now for a glance at the quantity probably upon the ground at this moment, dug up, and ready, as couvenience offers, to be transmitted to the market. And once again we would repeat, that any estimate is purely conjectural, and only so far valuable as careful inquiry, combined with perfect disinterestedness in the matter, can make it. We believe that the number of difgers now aaw•mLlcd at Mount Alexander and Ballarat is not short of 211.000 to 30,000. We will take it at the smaller number. Scarcely a tent upon the ground is without gold in some qualitity. In very many it is well known that there are many pounds. . A respectable man, better calculated than any one we know to form an opinion, u having been amoinist the diggers fur several week*, and being upon confidential terms with very many of them, estimates the quantity now held by them at nut less than five ounces per head for every man, woman, and child; and our last estimate fur a trifle less than two ounces per head proved to be so much la low the mark, that we think that we are justified in at least doubling it, and making our calculations at (our ounces per head to the 20,000 people on the ground, or a total of 80,000 ounces. We will now throw these various items together, in a general summary, again begging oar readers carefully to mark which portions are founded upon strict fact, awl which only upon careful conjecture.. The price upon which our calculations are founded is al. per ounce. In the banks in Melbourne and Geelong on the 19th Nov., 42,000 ounces £125,000 In private hands in Melbourne and Geelong atthe same date, 8,000 ounces 24,000 Amount by Escort, 19th Nov., 10,13ri ounces 26th Nov., 12,106 ounces IP 3rd Dec., 16,669 ounces 50,007 OS 1 , 9 10th Dee., 26,693 ounces • 79,968 17th Dec.,19,492 ounces Amount estimated to have een brought in by private conveyance, 28,3-33 ounces Amount estimated in the hinds of diggers, on the gold-field, 80,000 ounces Total, 243,411 ounces-20,282 10.12 lbs.-202 cwt 82 lbs. 10 oz.-10 tons 2 cwt. 1121bs. 10 oz 730,242 These astonishing results have all been arrived at in less than three short months. On the 29th September, the an nouncement of the first large yield in Victoria was made known, and since then wonders have daily thickened around us, and where it is to end Lu human being can guess. The field is reported to be illimitable, the indications of gold ex tending over scores of miles, and each last found diggings apparently eclipsing all before it. All accounts agree that the auriferous grounds, which can be profitably worked, will never be dug over for years to come, by any number of people that can by possibility reach them. To the good people of Great Britain we commit the con sideration of these statements. We beg to remind them, that even before this discovery burnt upon us, this was one of the finest and most prosperous of British colonies. Let the gold fields cease their yield to-morrow, and we still retain all the elements of natimal wealth and national greatness. Those who venture to share our wealth may venture boldly for boundless plenty smiles side by side with countless wealth. Our splendid harvests are now whitening for the sickle, but with nu men to reap them. The same land which is thus pouring forth its mineral treasures, is still feeding the finest sheep and cattle that ever were fat tened upon natural grasses. Their fate has hitherto been that shameful waste, the melting pot. It is a land literally flowing with milk and honey. ft wants but population to give it a degree of progress un equalled in the history of the world. But we regret to add that it has been trifled with by their shuffling and insincere Earl Grey, that through his agency its energies are de pressed, its very prosperity rendered dangerous, by a government faithless and incapable to a proverb. Let the overcrowded of the mother country come freely and fear lessly. We can mike room for them by thousands or toss of thousands ; hut let them bring with them sonic of the modern, reforming spirit of their Humes, and 13rights, and Cobden, and come prepared to help us to sweep elf the cobwebs which at present darken the fair surface of this splendid country. COLLISION WITH THE PROPONTIS (CAPE) SCREW STEAM SHIP. OILATEAESD, THURSDAY. The General Steam Screw ship Propontis, Capt. Glover, commander, which brought the disastrous news from the Cape of Good Hope of the loss of the Birkenhead, steam vessel, has just reached here on her way up the river, and reports being in a serious collision with a Dutch merchantman, while coming up Channel from Plymouth, which ended in the foundering of the vessel and the somewhat narrow escape of the crew. It appears that, after the Propontis had landed her mails on Tuesday, and had made the usual stoppage at the above port, she resumed her voyage up Channel for the Thames. The Start Point was made between 6 and 7 o'clock, and it would appear that the steamer hoisted the usual coloured lights, in con formity with the Admiralty regulations. About half-put 1 9 o'clock, when some 21 miles from the Start light, the look-out men reported a vessel ahead on the port bow. At that time the Propontis could scarcely he going more titan seven miles an hour, having to contend against a strong tide and easterly wind. Her helm was forted—the proper course when two vessels are approaching— and her speed reduced, and it was anticipated that the sail in view would have also put her helm a-port, which would have directed both vessels far away from each other. From some misunderstanding or other, however, it was put a-starboard, which brut Ott her to wards and under the steamer'e how. A collision appearing probable, as the vessel was coming down with the tide and wind, the Propontis was stopped, her screw reversed, and helm put hard a-port, in the hope of averting the accident. All failed, however, and they came in fearful contact, al most bows on. It was then ascertained that she was the Ann Rebecca, of Amsterdam, and was bound for some po r t in Syria, with a cargo of sugar, and other merchandise. The force of the collision drove in het bows and spars, and on getting clear of the Propontis, the crew speulily ascertained that she was fast filling. Their cries brought to their aid a boat from the steamer, and the chief officer, Mr. Hunter, perceiving the condition of the vessel, at once took off the master and crew, (8 in all). They had scarcely left her, however, be fore she took a tremendous lurch on one aide, and went down in deep water. The crew were put on hoard the steamer and she resumed the voyage. The disaster does not appear to be attributable to any neglect en the part of the officers of the Propontis. Indeed it would seem that her lights were mistaken for those at the Start by thew on the look oat on the Dutch ship. How that could happen, however, does not very clearly appear, as the steamer's red light must have been fully exposed at the moment. The latter does not appear to have sustained the least injury, which may in a great measure be attributed to her construction of iron. The shipwrecked crew were taken on to the East India Docks, at Blackwell, white they will be landed, and forwarded to their re spective homes. Doubtless the loss of the Dutchman will prove her heavy, and she is stated to be insured. as BURFORD'S PANORAMA—SALZEIURG.—The Father of panoramas, as Mr. Burford may justly he called. trvats his friends this Easter to a trip to the old arehi. tow op ii city of Salzburg. Undismayed by the floods that lit'Yllgo , d that part of Germany last autumn, and despising Aii..tr,ati surrrillance, our veteran artist contrived to perch t u o pon g, o t ne the g ~of seriesrim of tian dra ion wi s nte of the drawings, i i ehh ilate e ;l c o,: i . v . t i l: „„ a n d n ; y matured into the striking and effective pieta, now under consideration. The visitor, beginning at the tame point of view, will find the old-fashioned city, huddled up into small 'quires, and narrow, dismal looking streets, under his feet, and may meditate on the blight which the leaden rule of Austria liav cast over the once smiling and wealthy territorof the Prince Archbishop of Salzburg. The domestic arc hitecture, unlike many of the old German cities, is mostly in the Italian style, with staring white fronts to the houses, and flat roofs, while the cathedral, professedly a copy of St. Peter's, bears not the remotest resemblance to its original. These eccentricities. however, servo to make the work all the easier fur the 311.4. mid consequently it only want the roll of the Austrian drum to make the visitor of the l'anoratna imagine hims. It iin tar banks of the Salzach, or the crest of the " Mouchshoir. picking out in detail the historic places in the old isithr rind town. Ile will, of course, not forget the house M which Mozart was born, and a recent melancholy event will make him inquire with more than ordinary curiosity for the beautiful chateau and village of Aigen, at the foot of the Gainsbtrg, the favourite country residence of the Schwarzenbergs. The magnificent mountain mumery Jt beautifully painted, and there are many little "bits " In the architecture which will arrest the eye of the counol.-. sour. We would particularly mention a little mailv of three arches on the cattle& al side of " Capital S q uir, la which the shadow is so admirably managed as t. , aive all the depth and reality of a real structure. The w hole is a carefully painted picture, and forming a curious esiare4 with the Nimroud in the adjoining roont, to w the over hich th spectator may travel without any of the perils of 0 land route. -,- • _.+4l , -. ... , ...• THE EXPRESS, FRIDAY EVENING, APRIL 9, 185 . 2. oi, high, owing to ' t • • ' • delllk 'WO , lPgrania dribs lONIAN ISLAM*. aid the list y - - lei. I • 3, 4 1/. in fort ► , i 4,0,. of erlOw lt ......_............ .THR • • • the of ' MI. , iire . have rasing the following by duo Least i ;ed, ths best st • li . London are no g at • At the .. ns th e. ger-11 1 1 • e per Cened fell mail: P o lr r Y GC H S: A n ft r fk o t .org i e s W N w At d D. K ht o per thmt, bon. liait• 15e.v.. .at 101. ;, the . • * B 4, w ith a y ia l l liars the of b bare the ',hangs at 71.60. Sank of France sharst race 6. The B his Eseellesei llEN , T 1 and these pricer are about 100 per railway market was very anim a te. but did not Br of the Most D' tanguish Order 'o f St. Bic hsel rall4 aad um the price of bricks of better quilt' maintain the opening prces. Most of the lines, sa d St. G i mp, her h a .j oiy . • L or d High c osinos „ 100 lof England. Surely we have said however, closed with a nee. 1101041 gained 12 . 60 i itt , and .air , the Unisuil States of the lonian Islands, I : d ', w that even after a very considerable Marseilles, 7.60; Havre, 621 a Natal, 7.60 ;North- Ferp,er• As. • doe sufficient margin would be left to eras, Loos, Strasbourg, and Tunes and Nantes, th :ett_........__. t hiain the I . 9 l tastlele ist4 o h l igh the co tOillli is j o r e r r of I C is o lg riage to London of bricks a safe and 2.50 each. Moutereau lost 20, owing to the rumour 5imed ""7,•••••'.......... a _ elation to railway companies, and we which caused the rise of yesterday being contra - p si g nmen e.gjarpe lw a r lel a t i lledie sset. as o i r t, di N e . timent tenth : t ag , that the (=nine of depots for the sale dieted. I _ The atasmaehaft . Its pllntegl fii Greek and English, and Lt. ' TO I • TRH AUBTRAT 4 I ttirs and papers lam FRANCE. PARIS, TevsanAT EVINING. Politics to-day are at a stand-still. The greater part of the deputies have taken advantage of the re cess to revisit their country homes, where they will no doubt display to admiring provincial eyes the smart liveries corresponding to their new dignities. The heads of ministerial departments have inter rupted their audiences. One-half of Paris is in the churches, and the other half in the Champs Elysees and Buis de Boulogne, enjoying the promenade of Longchamps. Notwithstanding the brilliant cloud less weather, I believe that this festive procession of equipages never made &shabbier show. Equipages of splendour or style are rarer than in former years, and the long monotonous line of vehicles consists mostly of hackney coaches and cabs. As in the carnival, several vans rigged out with para phernalia, intended to serve the purposes of advertisements, are seen passing, laden with people fantastically attired. One of these is covered with enormous umbrellas and parasols of all hues; another car, drawn by four gaily .caparisoned horses, is adorned with leaves and flowers, with • gigantic eagle of gilt wood in the midst. The Presi dent must hare met in his drive down the middle road this imperial symbol, so frequently cited in hie decrees, and which has been taken down from the front of a confectioner's shop to do him honour. He was in plain clothes, and drove his own phaeton and pair between the double file of carriages, with an aide-de-camp sitting beside him, and without escort. The national guards of Paris have received orders to be completely equipped in their new costumes by the 25th inst. This is of course preparatory to the grand review already announced for May 5. Numerous pardons are spoken of as likely to be granted on the occasion of this anniversary of the Emperor's death, particularly to banished ex-representatives. Mean while the President has strenuous) y resisted all applications in favour of M. Theirs. Upon this point he is inexorable. On the other hand, I hear that M. li Thiers has been no less emphatic in disavowing all solicitations of the kind; and he says, in one of his letters to • friend, that even were the doors of his country thrown open to him, he would disdain to return to it so long as the French permit themselves to be governed like the Monjiks of Russia. I have already spoken of the gossip which prevails about projects of matrimony for the President. A fresh match is spoken of to-&y as not the least pro bable. A young lady, nearly related to the Prince de Beauvau, has just inherited a fortune of 18 millions of francs, and although this sum is only equivalent to a single year of the President's present income, the dowry is considered handsome enough to tempt the Prince to solicit this alliance with ono of the noblest families in France. The new copper coinage bill will probably present ' an occasion for testing some of the most salient ano malice of the mechanism of the present legislature. It is said that M. de Montalembert will move 1 an amendment to the bill. If this amendment ; should be adopted by the committee it will ' be referred without to the council of state; bat if rejected =latter body the amendment can neither be aor voted upon ' by . the Legislative Body. HON dill only action per mitted to the Chamber of Deputise is of a purely negative character, for it cannot eves vote upon an amendment unless p= iim edispled by the sonnet' et MIL The only esea to select the dams of the goverment% W* is eb the amend- ' Met le intended ma te modify. If dieropose rejection should le mein' _ dlipity yp a fresh asolhana Wilk la referred to the armittes; If Sts aomaittas decide upon remodelling the thane, a fresh application is made to the emelt of state. If the latter body persist in re• jesting the modifications of the committee the only ' Illource of opposition remaining to the Corps Legialatif is to throw out the bill in the ate on the amenable. It is scarcely sur prising that the members of so impotent a body should be treated by ministers, who are themselves little better than valets, with con temptuous arrogance. Thus I understand that M. Binesu, the Minister of Finance , when invited by M. Gouin, president of the committee on the Coinage Bill, to furnish some explanations of which the coin- ' mittee stood in need, refusedii : arear in prim to answer the inquiries of the • tors. They were not, he said, to expect under . preient ripest the same condescension which the midden had shown in the time of the National Assembly. He added that if an official demand were addressed to him by the president of the commission he would refer to the President of the Republic for instructions. The meager, of the President will be presented to the Legislative Body on Easter Tuesday, when the sittings re-opeu. It will contain a statement of the situation of each ministry, and of the administrative affairs of the republic, together with some passages referring to the general policy of the government. The Pays contains the following paragraph relating to project. of law about to be submitted by the government to the Legislative Body : The government is working with persevering activity at the accomplishment of the task of social organisation which it has undertaken. It is not enough to save society in lr sit ; but by wise institutions and useful ameliorations all pretext for revolutions ought to be removed. The best government is that which gives to people, the greatest poe sibk sum of material and moral improvements. Under the induence of this thought, the government is preparing, upon all the great economical questions which have long absorbed mindi, projects of law of the highest interest. It appears that a series of bills of this nature will be submitted to the Legislative Body after the Easter holidays. The success of the converson of the Five per Cents. has filled M. Bineau with triumph ; and he announces in the Mendes,. of to-day the inexorable determination of the government not to reimburse those fundholders who have applied for the repay ment of their capital, but now repent that step, and would fain accept the Four-and a-lialf bonds instead. The annual fat cattle show took place at Poissy yesterday. It wu considered to be better than last year. There were 162 oxen. Seven of them, belmr tog to the Marquis de Torcy, were particularly admired. Tho two principal prises, a rill worth 2,500 fr., made by Froment Meunce, and a gold medal, of 1,5410 k., were gained by M. de Nhague of Chi teau 1 himpierre (Loint). These were for two oxen, 40 months old, of the " Durham Charolais " breed, and a light roan colour. The second medal, of 1,200 fr., was gained by the Marquis de 'Percy. There were 525 sheep, in 2.i lots, a good many pigs , and, for the first time, some calves. This being an innovation not giuerally expected, only 30 wore show, and of i these 12 were put amide as not worthy to compete. A good many senators and members of the Corps Legie latif, taking advantage of the vacation, were present. , M. Persigny, the minister of the interior, agricul ture add commerce, presided at the distribution of the prises, and made a speech, whichcontains nothing reinat kublc. A new project for • railway from Lyons to Bor deaux has been submitted to the minister of the interior. This proposed line would traverse the de partments garments of the Rhone, Haute Loire, Ceuta!, Lot, Dordogne, and Gironde, and would touch at Lyons, Bt. Etienne, Lo Puy, St. Flour, Souillar, Bergerac. ' Libournc, and Bordeaux. The cost is estimated at 47 millions of francs. ; A scheme is on foot for disposing of the mineral ;waters and the Lake of Enghiva, with the gardens ' appertaining to it, by a lottery of 6,000,000 fr., at lfr. ' per ticket. The Corsaire says that M. Turgot has paid a visit to the Pope's nuncio, and expressed his regret at the conflict which had arisen respecting the Prince de Canino. Ile lidded, that he had sent off an attach(".ir of his cabinet with a peremptory order to M. de Ca- I nino to return to Paris. By a decree of the President of tho Republic an GERMANY. BBRLIN, Arm 5. The southern states are concerting their plan of Wsidtt "oration at the Zollverein's Conference, is convened here for the 14th inst., but will tot be opened till the 16th, when it will be inaugu rated by M. von Manteuffel in person, assisted by the Minister of Trade and of Finance. The late ormbeence at Bamberg was, it seems, only a first preli minary for the formation of the southern leaps*. To drys more numerous conference takes place at Darms tadthet ween the mi o iaters of Bavaria, Wurtemberg, the Grand Duchy and the Electorate of Hesse, Nassau, and Saxony. If the southern states, seduced by the wastot principle hitherto shown by Prussia in the sintems' union affair, endeavour, by • sort of con splay, to force Prussia by restraint to the adoption of minsures which may appear to he dictated by the adSiof Austria's plans, then perhaps the as troitakesere willo the critical a i nd rouse it t i h n e to ca w lit It b letting itself be drawn by renewing for twelve years the reign of protectionism. The split between the north and south of Germany, and the formation or a Prussian free.trade Zollverein with Hanover and the Hanse Towns, may, to the great joy of the free-trade party, be brought about by the southern protectionists, after all agitation here in its favour had failed. The Baltic provinces will, however, as a last effort, send up an energetic address when the conference here opens. The Kreuz Zeitung has played a sorry part in Zollverein matted; has merely opened its columns to ministerial under lings and bought articles, blindly lauding the wisdom of the government and railing at Austria, without seeing that the Prussian government is runniad o irectly into Austria's snares. To-day it hintsgovernments the preparing for the case, that y and the southern states secede from the Zollverein, when it will remove the great fair, and the seat of the book-trade from Leipzig, and abolish all customs duties in the little principality of Hohen zollern, thereby erecting • smugglers' depot in the very centre of those states. This is, of course, a mere bugbear; and the Krell: Zeitung ought best to know how little the Prussian government has hitherto been capable of contemplating any energetic measures whatever as regards the Zollverein. The great German protectionist union, under the direction of Prince Hoheniehe-Oehringen, has con vened a meeting of ironmasters, which was opened at Frankfort on the 3rd inst. The leading Prussian members have published a circular, implor ing their colleagues to support the Prussian plan of renewing the Zollverein on the protectionist prin *le but without a formal customs' union with Ambia. They urge that any opposition in this re =ight render the Prussian government less e to protectionist interests and de mise than it has hitherto been. Neverthe km, there is • strong party inclined to push resolutely for an Austrian union; and there is also a seance of a conflict between the producers of pig hen and the possessors of works which make only bar iron. The former wish the duty on pig iron to be sabed, the latter demand its abolishment. I Ns no contradiction anywhere given to the nodm ea the proposed tax on railway dividends; so I yippee that the plan, preposterous as it is, has miff been hatched by our sagacious minister of trade. If this be the case, it can be accounted for only by supposing that it is a mere trial, in order to scare the railway companies into selling cheaply to the government. The Prussian marine, including the late acquisi tions, now amounts to one frigate of 46 guns, one corvette of 12, and ono transport ship of 4 guns; five war steamers of respectively 440, 350, 180, 180, and 350 horse-power; and 42 gun-boats--on the whole 177 guns. The number of hands in time of pears is fixed at 1,500. The constitutional charter guarantees to all Prus sian subjects the right of petitioning the chambersin their own mass, while petitions in the name of a collective body ma only be resented by co and official sessealika The government r rassort declared that =WNW Napes esaecile having _as executive functions, Imam& dime devolve wholly on the magistracy, cannot ad eusaaidese et the townships, and may ad , arts peddle Oa chambers, on pain of suspension. The props= of reaction waxes amain! The health of the Grand Duke of Baden is still very precarious, even hopeless. His lineal heir being incaps . citated by bodily and mental infirmities from assanung the government, the question of the suc cession -in Baden is being earnestly discussed at Frankfort. At Bremen the people are wondering that no more decrees have as yet followed those first noticed. The cultivation of Indian corn is very rapidly in creasing in Germany. The house of Poppe and Cu., which imports the seed from America, has this year received so extensive orders, that it has difficulty in effectuating them. EGYPT. A correspondence from Oenoa announces that Col. Roses secretary of the English embassy at. Constan tinople, has been instructed by Sir Straford Canning to accompany Mr. Murray, the British consul at Alexandria, on his return to Egypt, in order if pos sible to put the differences between Abbas Pasha and the Porte in train for an amicable settlement. The ability displayed by Colonel Rose, when consul-ge neral at Beyront, in conducting the negotiations on the Syrian question, is an auspicious pledge for his success upon the present occasion. Private correspondence of April sth, from Genoa, states that considerable surprise is expressed at the weakness of the English naval force in the Mediter ranean, at a moment when the Egyptian question more than ever excites general interes►. Abbas Pacha is arming the fortifications built by M. Gallic., the French engineer, who was sent to Mehemet Ali in 1840 by M. Thiers. These fortifications extend from Alexandria and Aboukir, as far as the Da mietta. This correspondence speaks of the concili atory manner which Fuad Effendi has exhibited since his arrival in Egypt. But this is inconsistent with the accounts by the Levant mail, which state that Faad Effendi had not left Constantinople on the 24th. This mistake probably "rime from the notoriety of the courtesy which Fuad Effendi has shown upon other missions. However, it is positively stated that Fuad Effendi, who was to leave Constantinople in a few days, has orders to command immediate execu tion of the tanzimetat, and, in case of refusal, to declare war. A LARGE PAINTING, executed from Annibal Car , racche's eLlebrated cabinet picture of " The Three Marys near the dead body of Christ," has, by the kind perruimion ' of the Earl of Carlisle, been executed by Mr. C. 11. Stanley, jun., and presented by him to the Rev. W. W. Elli s as an altarpiece or Bt. Oeorge's Chapel, AThemartestrect. -all