The Express.
London, England, 1852-04-05 00:00:00

ARRIVAL OF THE ORINOCO.

The Royal West India Mail packet Orinoco, Capt.
Chapman, from the West Indies, &c., arrived at
Southampton this morning, and landed her mails
under the charge of Lieut. Oeo. Heatheote, R.N., Ad-
miralty agent. Her dates are :—Vera Cruz. March
8 ; Tampico, 6; Chagres, 11 ; Carthagvna, 12 ; Ja-
maica, 16; Demerara, 14; Trinidad, It ; Barhuloes,
16 ; Antigua, 17; Martinique, 17; Grenada, 15;
Porto Rico, 19 ; St. Thomas, 21; La (luava% 20;
Fayal (in sight), 30. The Orinoco brings 61 pas-
sengers.
Amongst her cargo is specie to the value of
756,399 dollars, of which 146,420 are on account of
Mexican dividends. The Orinoco has also brought
two packages, containing Mexican bonds addressed
to Colonel I,7acio; a portion of the specie is in golds
value 363,827 dollars.
About forty dollars was subscribed
by the
officers of the Orinoco, at St. Thomas, for the benefit
of the sufferers by the burning of the town of St.
Bartholomew.
The railway across the Isthmus of Panama is now
completed as far as Miller's-station, a distance about
fifteen miles from Navy Bay. The passengers from
New York, Ohio, and Cherokee, numbering 1,100,
passed over to that point on the 9th March.
There are at present 1,500 men at work upon the
line, and it is expected to be completed to Gorgon
by the Ist July.
The Royal Mail Steam Packet Company have purl
chased land, and are about erecting a Loafing wharf
at Navy Ilay, for the use of their own steamers.
Navy Bay possesses the advantages of a more healthy
climate and better shelter for shipping than Chagrcs.
The latter place will very shortly be deserted.
The Californian steamer Isthmus arrived at Pa-
nama from San Francisco on Feb. 15, the day before
the departure of the Orinoco front Cliagres, but no
mails or remittances had arrived, and her news is
therefore unknown.
The agents for the Ave Maria Mining Company
failed to convey the machinery they had for Cali-
fornia on board the Orinoco across the lake of
Nicaragua, or rather presumed the attempt would
be impracticable, and therefore did not land it, but
reconsigned it for England by some vessel to he sent
round the Horn, as the directors may determine..
Colonel Fremont had passed over to the rated
States by the previous mail.
Mr. Lewis, her Majesty's vice-consul at Fallow,

sea partner in the firm of Smith and Lewis there,
gad shortly before the departure of the Orinoco.
The Thames. outward steamer of 2nd March, had
rotaeriied at St Thomas.
file St. Ihoiurui and New York screw steamer
ain ran on shore just outside the harbour, on
the 19th March, lost her screw, and was rapidly drift.
ao.r. to become a %reek on Crab Island, when the
fre man-otwar steamer Crocodile appeared in
su ht : went after her and towed her into St. Thomas.
rM. soil probably be repaired with the Royal Mail
l'aclect Company a lane screw. The Merlin
Pr ao shore on the came place on her former voyage,
slant the :tinh of February,
Ikr Majecty's brig Sapho. and United States ship
Pc,ator. were at Grey Town on the 7th of March.
the 'bitch war sloop Prince of Orange, sailed
,
~ru the on the tith of .Ilareh for Ilavannah, and
11. r Nta wteam'a steamer Express left Carthagena for
Lanais on the 13th March.
magnitude and noble appearance of the
ori„„„,,, bac excipd a lively interest wherever she
h, been. and the New York packets at ('haters,
boa pJ t.. of 3,0011 tons burden, are evidently
wadi r than the Orinoco, when rimpared by
her side.
Van Derbiles steamer, the Daniel
Wchctcr. reciated the payment of the port dues till
the I Mimi Slaw.. mailt-war Decatur compelled her
to ply on the tith March.
tchaelicof 311 carthituake had been felt at Jamaica
teal 5... Thome.. but it was believed bad done no

tborde.
The (4,syr rotirN Royal l;a:elle nays:
The weather during the fo rtnigh of thn showery and
(o,,urahli tor the pl inters.
htd Since the l.t of January to the
not, at owid..r.H.• quantity of sugar has been OZ.
pried Rot less than I I hogsheads, being.i2h
is ewes* it the corresponding exportation of
Th. isiather. however, though fine for agricultural pur-
rs, las hion very sickly and many hare been the sic-
LOIA of I rrr in its various fatal forms since the eolinnenoe.
Brat of the year.
Th.- six oinint• who effected their rseape from the penal
ortfirmrat alvur a fortnight since have bees recaptured.
Thee are no !I:111 as yet of the overtire mail.

COMMERCIAL.
You: n. e re, 310,faibrik lonfellipmeor.)
KINGSTON, JAMAICA, Mani 12.
Gars tt. lieu t —1 he market has worn a uniformly
ji,u appearance wiring the past fortnight, and no apes
eulat.re tranwtokus ul any material importance have
trfeet,il. The demand for Hour especially, and
„a descriptions of breadstuff., has been very slack,
sup; lit. are increasing in importers' bands.
t.dtisb. Also. notwithstauding the limited stock at
writ, t. has been in only moderate inquiry. A
Nth r r business might have been done in pickled fish
lit the stork et herrinifs u small, and mackerel, with which
t‘.. nutlet o plentitully supplied, is held fur a higher rate
thin the trail" appear inclined to accede to: holders of the
lane article are thi refute storing their supplies.
ft. so ire some evidences of the spring rains having par-
la.
file produce market is generally quiet.
arc tcsacli taking freight for London
364 laverpeol at 'Os. for entree, and 60s. to 60s. for sugar,
p r too. Tonnage is plentiful, and vessels have been char-
soot at 40s. to 41s. per register ton, to London and Liver-

Ls,..ussoss ors Los Dox.—Colonial Bank, 90 days,
pr cult. pry's. ; 60 days, 1 par teat. prem.; 30 days, 111
pr nut. P. Jammu' bask; IS liar, par.

THE AUSTRALIAN GOLD MINES.

Lettera and papers have been received from Syd-
sCT down to the lsth of December. The following
u an extract from a letter received by this snivel :

The precious metal arrives in daily increasing quantities,
awl the estimated export has risen from 1,000,0001. to
3,,50,041/. per annum. There is no end to the gold;
sad. as tar as I have been able to ascertain from personal
cuanmeicatisin with diggers of various degree, the labour
W by no means so tremendous as some would make it out
foginiereial affairs are going on easily. The harvest is
suesdicent. Wages are not extravagantly high, and Ido
as we any prospect of famine for some time to tome. Ido
▪ Dture to prognosticate the probable state of the mar-
ketn. We are completely in the dark. I have it, however,
from gaud antboi.ty, that in the early part of the year the
probable heavy shipments of goods on speculation will have
,he effect of errating a glut ; end it would be well if • large
decree of c..ution were exercised in making consigmments.
ta The Viole brought us the first 0 return wave of the
gold news from you ; and we are looking out with intense
turimity for the first Times leader on the subject of our
✓at discovery.
The Sydney 11firrming Herald, of December 18th,
flys:
We have received by the Emma Melbourne papers to the
10th inst. The Melbourne 3/orning Herald of that date
mys,—" Letters were received in town yestorday frees the
petite 'magistrate at Gips Land, stating that the whole di-
viding range between Sydney and Victoria, and known as
the Snowy Mountains, for 200 miles in extent, is one vast
gold field. There was upwards of a ton and a half of gold
is Mr. Commission, r Powlett's tent, waiting for the escort,
till Saturday law, and it is expected that today's escort
from the Mount will not be able to bring down owe half
the quanti:y offered. It is intended to increase the
tares here to 100 men."

Tim BOMBAY CONMAND.—Lientenant-Ciffiteral
dubiosity, C. 8., will, we %dim, be appointed Commander
of the Yam ea the rdirrabent of Sir Jobs Gray, _sad
Medi he pawn laismst at Mama may PlaccmY
he sorduard Cammaaim*i•Cliaf by tb• Hans Gamic
Gracral Asehnisty was tboscsibast wgrader part d tbe
l',nunolar war on the liar is do Aijammatleareare
department, and to have bra ffil slat mph" sailor W• -
lingua i. • sufficient tad d Calmat. Cambiseiar the dr-
vitt he has wen, he is bar Am babe la eM sod
is curliest health and visa r. Mb mai
depatsest. and ability is lb ',Anis% bit=
auk kin • favourite Ammer be bus
The unary is Oseedi eacrimci by Ow yetis.-
aid of the Coommboria4bici ices aot.

be Sled op at elt—the loosen mit eloodso=l;rwithost
a slam member : with alma Wm. of the
Teem ea the retirement of Ss Thome lielfaites, it rt-
naiad vomit until the arrival el lie W. Coen. A Casa-
mearder4a.Chief may or may sat le sob • member of
Council. 'Mr first 'gamey is Causal, barrios seeklesta,
will take place oa Mr. Blaas'antireatent in 113bi.—Bornbay
lows
THE NISW BRIDGE AT WMT)IINeTEL.—TheLoIIow-

art are the reselatisas whisk conclude the report of the
Weetaisster Slides Coamaissise :-1. That the paw*
bridge elisabl be tried as a Weaponry bridge wadi a new
bridge shall berm been rimierweted. S. That a new b
should he constructed seas nogg putible t=
Minna bridge. en the aseth that her 1e &OM the
river. 3. That the new lake net be law Own SO
bet is width, imiagiog the footways. 4. That it be sea-
strutted of Ina, with seem piers. 6. That M meld of no
awe than hie web* & That the height if ha ederm of
the COMM emit above Trinity datum he at lew Nee 16-fast
'ft 7. That it is desirable that ae the. shwa be hit in
nicking prepandies for the eemesearlerralwa of the work.
We beg, in esedasies, with Warms* to the 7* weelation
',omitted by as, to ewe that the ilthindiend *eft of the
preest bridge, the uncertain espouses ef melainieing it even
as a temporary strestnre, and the Imiewswiswit ef this
budge both to the Mod end river trait, wader 16 highly
d'..irable that the pernswent brittle ion* he egetemeed
sad dallied with am IMO delay as pueblo ; awl we have
it in evident• that if the work were sommeased early in
the maim per, the bridge might be epee so the pidgin in
low than two year. hems the period of IN ISSIMOINNIMIest.
The eamitlese of INS gad 1860 be* reammeaded that a
hit rheas* be brought late parliament lee liewelerdeg the
*awe end property of the brides eamideseal to the
Commission's of her Majesty's Weeds, Ike., due ameldera-
ties Wag bad to the claims of the Wheel of the tai
swain is the event of their servises being illegoatianed.t
einem is the views of the perlisassatery awawilless as en-
venomed in these reports.
IMPOITANT To STOCKHROKLIIB, AND DZALZIte
FOIL Tins BAStasixo.—At the Liverpool astissa, on Satur-
day, an action was tried beton Mr. Justice Cromwell, in
which the plaintiff, Mr. Falkner, • stoekbroker of Liver-
pool, night to newer the sum of 3,635 L from the de-
(rodent. a Mr. Steele, who had been Induced to speculate
in Mares; and the unmet claimed was the aggregate
balance due upon settlements extending over a Period of
nearly three years. It was stated that the defendant had
verbally acknowledged the eirmusey of the aeon* safflied
by the plaintiff, but had ',feed to give • written areisow-
-li-dement of the debt. The various traaseetions whist' had
been entered into by direction of Mr. Steele were proved by
a clerk of the plaintiff, the counniso' ion charged being 6s.
per Ina (1 per cent) Mr. Hugh Hill, Q.C., he the
&knee, contended that the contract, if any bad aver been
made. was void, by reason of the nature of the transactions
le ins of a gambling character. Mr. Justice enamel), in
potting the case before the jury, said that although debts
contracted by gaming were what were called "debts of
honour," and probably not one of the jau7 or say respect-
able punnet would refuse to pay • liability so contracted,
y.,t they had in the present cam to deal with a strict Baer
taut of law. If they were of elision that the transactions
so which the plaintiff had engaged for the defendant were
for bon., fide delivery, he was entitled to recover the amount
elaimed ; but if it was a mere accumulation of differences,
that well gaming, and the verdict must be for the defendant.
The jury accordingly found for the defendant.

IhONITioN TO GUERNSEY COLLEGE— We have
mush pleasure in announcing that John Miller, Esq., of
London, formerly the head of one of the principal mercan-
tile home in Rio de Janeiro, has endowed Elisabeth College
with VOX) milreis r annum, to establish ezhibitions for
the pupils of that institution. Mr. Miller, during his mi-
d, nee at Itio de Jam ire, had large commercial transactions
with the merchants and others of Guernsey, and we believe
he has made the above mentioned girt to the college for the
purpose of marking hie regard for Um people of this island.
Grammy Star.