The Express.
London, England, 1852-10-15 00:00:00

COLONIAL.

CEYLON.
The Colombo Observer of Sept. 15, in its monthly
summary, says :
The past month has only afforded a week of tolerable
weather amongst the high estates, the other three having
been continually wet; this circumstance tends to keep
back:the crop, and in place of being earlier than that of
tart year, as it at one time promised, it will be consider-
ably later. Lower down the weather has been more mode-
rate, but they have experienced generally a good deal of
rain.
As the season of realisation approaches the expecte-
time of the coming crop seem to moderate considerably, and
we hear of so many estates that will not " give
so much as last year," that we fully expect that the coming
' crop will not equal the last. A good deal of native and low
Made coffee is already gathered.
This supply of labour has continued to be ample, and
though coolies have been olitaineil readily sod/ all the put
month, there is every probability that all offering will find
employment. Extensive damage by buffaloes is now again
complained of. At this season the natives have no employ.
ment for them and turn them nut to live as they can; when
the addiction of the animal for the plantations is only
equalled by its sagacity in avoiding capture by strangers.
You may bear of fences or ditches made sad proving suffi-
cient, but we have it from an eye witness that one in newt-
betty of great extent, which was quoted as a sample, is an
utter failure. The fact being that any fence is gout whilst
the animals are kept at work by their owners, but the im-
pregnable one is yet to be found when they are turned loose
for months together.
A planter dare not turn his bullocks which never tres-
pass on cultivation out to price on the Patinas without a
herdsman ; would it he any hardship on a village commu-
nity to be forced to use the same precaution ?
There is nothing new to report of the old pest, the bag,
except thee in some places where the soil is very poor it is
said the trees can hardly recover, or look as if they would
die out. It dose not appear to he spreading. Planters
or other proprietors are in better spirits, expecting
that prices will be better for this crop, hut of
course this will depend much on the rate of exchangembich
causes a depreciatioli in value of from 2.. lid. to is. per
cwt. ; and though Blot India Company's Bills are at par,
there appears no better prospect for this year here as to ex-
change than there bar been the two Mat.

TILE AUSTRALIAN MAIL PACKET
RELBOu RN E.

Misfortune still clings to the Australian Steam
Navigation Company's steamer Melhouine, Capt. Arthur
Cut. Having completed her repairs on Wednesday, the
was moved from alongside the hulk where she had been
lying (or repair by the dockyard authorities, when by some
mismanagement she came in contact with toe Pallas coal
hulk, and the Pike government steam tug, which was lying
alongside the Pallas. The farce with which the send, came
into collision was very great, and the shock carried away
the jib-boom of the Meloourne, several planks from her
bow, beside her port cathcad, and altogether inflicted such
damage on this beautiful vessel that it is feared some ,lays
must yet elapse before she cam proceed on her voyage. Her
passengers, of which a large number were on board, were
thrown into • state of confusion which can be better ima-
gined than described. Irrespective of the damage sustained
by the Melbourne, the Pike strainer had her figure head
carried away and several injuries about her haw. The
Pallas coal hulk had also her bows stove in. The vessels
are now lying together, and it is believed that artificen
from the dockyard will be at once set to work in order to
repair the damages sustained by the PC !bourne. It is said
that the captain was advised not to attempt to move the
versa until the turn of the tide, by Mr. Brew u, the assistant
master attendant at the dockysra, but persisted in doing
so, and the collision was the result. The pilot engaged to
take the vessel out, who is not in the government employ,
is said to have thought the delay suggested by Mr. Brown
quite unnecessary. This misfortune will probably delay
the Melbourne's departure to Friday morc.ing.

GOVERNMENT EMIGRATION TO ALSTRALTA.—Not-
withstanding the great number of emigrants who have beta
sent out by her Majesty's Colonial Lanu and Emigration
Commissioners to our Australian colonies during the pre-
sent year, the applications at the office in Park-s.reet, West-
minster, from persons soliciting to be sent out under the
government regulations, are more numerous than can pos-
sibly be complied with. The persons applying ore chiefly
agriculturists, mechanics, and women (neeillewomen, ser-
vants, &c.). The commixdoners have, however, derided
upon sending out a few more this year (exceeding 2,000) of
the above classes, the most required in our colonies; and
the next ship appointed to sail is the Hope, of GOO tont, to
be followed by others that have been contracted for, for that
purpose, by government. With respect to "fortune
seekers" to the "gold diggings," although now in the
middle of October, there are no less than 40 ships getting
ready in the St. Katherine's, London, West and East India
Docks, ranging tram 400, 500, GOO, 800, to 1,500 tons each,
appointed to soil during the present month to l'ort Phillip,
Geelong, Melbourne. Western Australia, Adelaide, Sydney,
New South Wale', &c. ; and from Liverpool 10 tint class
shiipz, with adventurers to the "golden regions."
KOVAL MAIL STEAM-PACKET COMPANT.—At the
general meeting of the shareholders in this company, held
yesterday, at the London T , the report of the directors
was adopted, and a dividend declared for the first half of
the current year, at the usual rate of two pounds per share,
free of income-tax. The report states that, notwithstanding
an increased expenditure caused by the augmentation of
the company's fleet, the result of the working account shows
in the six months an increase in receipts of 35,4361. 9s. 4d.,
whilst the additional expenditure is only 35,9751. ss. Id., a
portion of which has been caused by an increase in the
amount placed to the credit of the insurance fund. In
reference to the irregularities in Vie arrivals of the
West India packets, of which the public have had so
much reason to complain, the directors state that it
questionable if they can be altogether avoided.
where the combinations are so intricate and so dependent
upon each other. On the West India mail service the
company's ships touch at no less than twenty-eight different
ports, and at all hours of the day and night, involving con-
siderable risk, and frequent unavoidable delays; whereas
on the Breed and other direct routes, comprehending sin-
gle voyages across the ocean, there is little or no risk of de-
tention from circumstances beyond the possibility of con-
trol, and hence it may be observed that the service between
England and the Brazils has been performed throughout
with most perfect regularity. Respecting the West India
line, however, the directors confidently anticipate
that when the proposed arrangements are completed,
whereby the largest class ships will be employed exclu-
sively between Southampton and St. Thomas, greater des-
pitch and punctuality will be attained, and the general
comfort of passenger, materially promoted. With the
view of accelerating the inter-c dosial service between St.
Thomas, the Pacific Ocean, and Mexico, two ships, especially
suited for those particular branches, are now iu progress of
construction. We hope, both for the interests of their
shareholders and the public, that their anticipations
may be speedily realised. Such acceleration as that
promised is loudly called for, and unless it is
promptly carried out, the directors may feel as-
' need that passengers will not fail to avail themselves of
the opportunity afforded ,by the Cunard and American
lines, of reaching their destination in the West Indies.
Mexico, or the shores of the Pacific in much shorter time
than has hitherto been accomplished by the steamers of the
Welt India Mail Company. The list of their fleet, which
they have now published, certainly shows a formidable
amount of tban•ge and horse power, but all this is of no
avail unless each vessel is competent to perform her several
voyages at the same speed and with the same punctuality as
the vessels of competing companies.
EXTENSINE SLIP ON THE GREAT NORTHERN
RAILWAY.—On Wednesday morning the traflic on the
main line of the Great Northern Railway was suddenly
interrupted by an extensive " slip " of earth on the Spiltal-
gate cutting, about a mile south of Grantham. It appears
that the stratum through which the cutting is formed con-
sists of marl and clay, and alluvial soil, and that the late
heavy rains having penetrated into the necks and fissures
at the top of the cutting, and expanded the soil at the
bottom, the west side suddenly gave way about four o'clock
on Wednesday morning, under the vibration of a heavy
goods train which was proceeding northward. Some thou-
sands of tons of earth fell upon both lines of rails, burying
the engine and foremost trucks of the train, which of course
was brought to a stand-still. The engine driver and stoker
both escaped unhurt, and they at once proceeded to the
°northern station to give the alarm. On examination it
was found that the down rails had been completely forced
from their beds, and with the engine and tender deposited
on the other line of rails. The slip extended about 100
pude ; and it is not the first that has occurred here. The
obstruction was so great that it was feared some days at
least must elapse before the traffic could be resumed. Mr.
Denison, the chairman of the Great Northern Compeer,
visited the scene of the accident in the course of the morn-
ing, and a large force of men was employed to clear the
line. The through passenger trains were forwarded from
Peterborough to ltetford by wiry of the loop. By dint of
extraordinary exertions day and night the up line was
cleared yesterday morning in time to allow of the morning
express, which conveyed the Duchess of Kent and her suite,
being forwarded to town from Doncaster by the main hoe.
FATAL CONFLICT AT A BALL. —The locksmiths
Of Copenhagen assembled with their wives and female
friends ten days ago in a public-house to have a dance. Six
soldiers presented themselves and demanded admission.
They were at first refund, but the +teemed. at length Con-
sented to allow them to enter provided they weal.) lay nodv
their swords. The soldiers declared they would not do so.
and went away in anger. Presently they returned with
several of their comeides ; each had a drawn sword in his
hand. The door was closed ; they broke it open ; but the
workmen being the more numerous typelled them.
Irritated at their defeat, the soldiers began to at-
tack everybody who passed. A police patrol sr-
. rived and ordered them to disperee. They refused.
a conflict ensued ; and three of the policemen were !nor-
tally wounded. Shortly after between 101) and tot) soldiers
from the barracks in Silver-street rushed about the streets
armed with swords, and struck every one they met. shout-
ing as they did so, "')own with the citizens: Hurrah for
the eolliiers Some of them even attempted to force their
way into this houses. After a while detachments of cavalry
and artillery arrived, and the ringleaders were arirted.
The next day the soldiers and tion•commi,sioned officers
wire confined to their barracks, and an order was I-0"
that henceforth soldiers and nun.couiraissioned officer. shall
•Ike Du not appear in arms except when on duty. • lcba Of
persons wounded in the outbreak was ;Si, and of killed, 6,
one of the latter being a woman.