The Express.
London, England, 1863-12-25 00:00:00

AMERICA.

(arrraa's Tsunamis.)
QUEENSTOWN, Dec. 24.

The goyal Mail Steamship Scotia, from New
York on the 16th inst.,arrived here at 9.15 p.m. to-
jay, after an unprecedented passage of eight daps
She bring% 135 passengers, and 441,671 doll,. in
specie. She landed all the mails and 9 passengers,
end proceeded for Liverpool immediately. All well.
Per Ins Secotia.)
NEW YORK, Dom 15, Evening.
comas has proposed legislation to check specu-
lation in gold.
The military situation is unchanged.

The report of the Confederate Secretary of the
Treasury represent& the finances to be in a very
unfavourable condition.
Money easy. Gold, 49 per cent. prem. Stocks
higher.
Both armies in Virginia are going into winter
quarters.
On the 30th November the Federal& occupied
Fort &permit', Matagorda Bay, capturing ten
gun The Confederate garrison, numbering 1,000,
esaped. The command of Matagorda Bay is said
to give the Federals the control of Central and
Western Texas, and all the important points on the
east coast except Galveston.
General Banks is sick with fever at New Orleans.
RelVillaialllDColl have been made by the Federal"
from Chattanooga to Lafayette. No large body of
Confederates was met with.
Longstreet is reported to be at Rutledge, 30 miles
north-west of Knoxville, in a comparatively sate
position.
General Price is crossing the Red River into
Texas, pursued by • large Federal force. Manna-
duke is endeavouring to join Price.
It is reported that Meade has demanded • court
of inquiry into the late campaign.
The representatives of the Loyal Leagues have
bad an interview with President Lincoln, to urge a
mote radical policy in Miernri, and the removal of
General Schofield.

The report of the Confederate Secretary of the
Treasury recommends an immediate reduction in
the currency from 700 to 200 millions, by the com-
pulsory funding of 500 millions into twenty years
Sit per Cent. Bonds. For this and other purposes
he proposes a loan of 1,000 millions, with interest,
payable in coin. Currency not funded be-
fore April will not be received at the Treasury,
but will be paid after the declaration of pesos.
Guarantee will be given that the issue of ear-
rency will be confined to 200 million dollars left
in circulation. The Secretary proposes to levy a
tax payable in coin, and to tax all property 5
per cent. on its value. Those measures must be
adopted, or the country must succumb, as a de-
preciation of the currency renders taxes oasis's
for carrying on the government.
In the Confederate Congress Senator Foote,
tamer political opponent of President Davis, de-
nounced the latter as being responsible for the
defeat at Chattanooga, by keeping General Bragg in
command against the wishes of the people and the
army. He said that President Davis had almost
rained the country by his action in military
affairs, and he hoped that President Davis would
never visit the army again.
In the Fetteral Congress, Fernando Wood intro-
duced a resolution proposing to send commissioners
to Richmond to arrange for securing peace under
the constitution upon terms of justice and equality.
The proposal was defeated by a vote of 98 to
59. The large vote favouring the proposition has
excited some surprise.
A resolution. to the effect that war ought not to
be waged for conquest or subjugation, but that as
sooa as the rebellion was crushed the States should
be restored to the Union with their dignity and
equality of rights unimpaired, was likewise nega-
tived by 82 to 74 votes-
Resolutions have been introduced fora new reci-
procity treaty with Canada ; also to inquire
into the expediency of putting coloured soldiers on
the same footing NI white men as regards pay, and
of abolishing the 900-dollar draft commutation.

The Nero York Herald suede that Mr. M'Dougal
will introduce a resolution in the Senate declaring
the invasion of Mexico to be an unfriendly act to-
wards the United States, and inquiring if it is not
the duty of the United Stake to declare war against
France in consequence.
A banquet to both Houma' of Congress took
place on Saturday last oa board the Russian fleet
at Washington. The Russian Minister and the
Speaker of the House of Representatives made
speeches.

The Confederates have refused to reoeive any
more stores for the Federal prisoners, in oonsequence
of imputations of the Northern press and govern-
ment authorities that the stores are not honour-
ably delivered.

The Gottenor of Virginia, in his message to the
Legislature, takes strong grounds that re-union is
utterly impossible, everything showing the neces-
sity for eternal separation.
The Confederate Senate has passed a bill pro-
hibiting the employment of substitutes in the
army.

The steamer Minna has been captured near Wil-
mington•

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.
NEW TORE, Dia 15, Erzauro.
Money easy Gold opened on Monday at 519,1,
but declined yesterday to 49, on account of the
repotted legislation concerning speculation in gold.
Gold is now quoted 49. Exchange on London,
163; exchange onj Paris, 3.421 to 3.45.
Sines Monday there has been considerable specu-
lative activity in stocks at higher prices. New
York Centrals, 132 ; Illinois, 118 ;
1061 ; Six per Cent. United States Bonds, 104.
Cotton in good inquiry. Middling Upland, 82e.
Flour very 6rm. Wheat and core advancing.
Provisions steady. Coffee quiet. Sugar in good
iuquirY ; Molasses dulL Petroleum dull ;
crude, 30 to 31 ; refined, 45 to 46.
NEW YORK. Dec. 16, Moturoto.
All is quiet at Knoxville. General Foster
assurned the command on the 14th inst. General
Burnside has left for Cincinnati.
The Federals are reported to have captured
touch of Longstreet's artillery and baggage. It is
else repotted that Longatreet's rear guard had re-
Pulsed General Sheridan, who was pursuing him
'Mt heavy lose, Sheridan being badly wounded.
Both tittle reports, however, require confirmation.
Guerillas continue active in raids upon Meade's
outpost,
General Butler bas despatched a negro regiment,
!Inch lin occupied Flivtbeth City, North Caro-
'Jul, sod will make it the base for future
operations.
,1 Federal expedition from Yorktown has occu-
cd "Arias City Court House on the James
Purer, capturing a small force there.
...Ccetress has called for reports of General
2Velellses cam •
The New York Herald has nominated General
(,raut as a candidate for the next presidency, and
urges Public meetings to confirm the nomination.
Thu Chesapeake is reported to be near Chester,
Nure Scotia.

ebt Coum

OSBORNE. D. 24.
The Queen walked in the grounds yesterday
acoomputiod by Moms Louis and Primus Boatrios.
The Primus of Woo sad Priam@ Rohm drove out.

A deputation from the Fulham Unice, consisting of Mr
John Blackford (chairman), Mr. John Cromwell (vice-chair-
man), soil Mr. Thomas Alley Jones (guardian), bad as in.
terries, with the Right Hon. C. P. Villiers yesterday at the
office of the Poor-law Baird, WhitehalL
Oe Friday and Saturday la the past week ber Mad
Gracious Majeety's Bounty and Gate Alms, to aged and de-
genies poor, many of whoa were blind and paralysed,
who had been reerommeaded by the clergy in the various
perishes sad districts in and round London, were distributed
at the Almonry -office. in Sootiandiard, Whitehall; and no
Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday in the anneal week,
these distributions were resumed in anticipation of the fes-
tival of Christmas.

Time dietributiona were nude under the directing acre
el the Lord Bishop of Oxford, Lord High Almoner, and
the Rev. Dr. Jell, D.D., Sub-Almoner, by Joseph Hanby
Fan-, the Secretary and Yeoman of her Majesty's Alromari
in Ordinary.
Deepatchee were received yesterday at the Colonial-office
from the Governor of Heligoland. Despatches were sent
to the Governor of Canada.

PM:NCI ARTHIIE. —His Royal Highness' Prince
Arthur arrived at Portsmouth yesterday morning from
Gruenwich-perk, &Waded by Major Elphiastone, and hay.
int eraterked on board the royal yeast Fairy, Captain the
Prince of Lelniugen, pracordel to Osborne.
Tat ROOTOROItIr or !HZ A2EADIIOI
—ABCODIZII, THOBBOAY.—The election of Lord Iteetcrof
Aberdeen Uaivervity took plow to-day, with the following
result:—Earl Russell, 231 virtu ; Yr. E. Grant Duff, 31. P.,
133 votes. Fart Russell had a majority in the several
nations as well as by vote. Him lordship baa intimated
his intention of corms'` down at the close of the session in
April to be installed into office.

Mr. layard, IL P., left town on Wednesday on
a viit to the Earl and Countess &men, at &steer Gude,
near Ledbary.

The Earl and Counteea of Lincoln, Lord and
Lady Itoicaby sad Um Hon. Kim Montagu, and lin. Milner
Gilman are among the English viaitom at present staying at
Nies.