The Express.
London, England, 1852-09-20 00:00:00

CEYLON.

(Wealth* Colombo Monthly Eraminer of Aug. 14.)
The event of the month has been the opening of
the council on the 4th instant by his Excellency Sir
George Anderson. His Excellency's speech indicates
a healthy state of the public finances. On the finan-
cial year 1851 there was a surplus of 20,0001. of
revenue over expenditure; in the first quarter of the
present year a surplus appears of 11,00 W., from
which, by almost invariable rule, we expect the
year's finuoe will meet all requirements without an
overflowing treasury. The balances in the hands of
public departments were in favour of government on
the Ist July 00,0001. more than on the lat
January, a statement, however correct, we
,consider most fallacious if supposed to indi-
este our financial position. On the strength
of the surplus revenue, the cinnamon duties are
about to be abolished under the usual ten months'
notice. We hope it may achieve for the interests
concerned in the production of the seice all that those
who have agitated for the abolition expect. His
Excellency gave the programme of a very extensive
law reform ; a new Custom's Ordinance greatly
needed, and a Bankruptcy Ordinance yet moro re-
quired, our last legislation in bankruptcy bearing
date in 1836.

His Excellency intimated the intention of substi-
tuting a moderate wharfage rate in lieu of port dues,
which latter were to be abolished in order to en-
courage the resort of shipping to the port. The rates
of wharfage which are published with the New
Custom Ordinance aro found to be very immoderate,
and will not only replace the port dues, but yield
probably an income of 10,0001. The whole proceed-
ing is calculated to stir up the remonstrances of the
trading community. Time before the departure of
the mail will not permit of any demonstration, but
there is no doubt the resistance to this new, and,
when the facts are examined, injudicious tax, will
be determined.

A vote of 2,0001. will be asked for to complete the
Gampolla and Yattiantotte Road not yet finished.
The quarantine ordinance emaculated of the chief
ruomatradatious of tho committee of investigation
Ms bees brought forward. The supply ordinances
are pee sued, and the usual hopes and wishes ex-
gruresd for the good effect of the deliberations of the
couneil. _ _

The quarterly returns for the port of Colombo (says
the Observer) enable us to predict with certainty that
the crop of coffee, plantation and native, for the
year ending 10th October next, will be the largest
ever shipped from Ceylon, fully reaching, if it does
not exceed, a total of 400,000 cwt.
The brig Hebe was lost in a plc about the middle
of the month. Ono life was lost, that of a seaman
who volunteered to swim ashore with a rope. Tho
cargo, chiefly cocoa-nut cil, was saved almost unin-
jured, and subsequently tho hull and tackling of the
wrecked vessel were odd at good prices.

Th ELECTORAL REVISION AT MANCHESTIIL-..
The business of the court of revision fee this borough was
brought to a conclusion on Friday. As might have been
anticipated the course adopted by the overseers of Chorlton-
upon-Medleek, by not transferring to the register the names
of these composed householders who had not claimed to be
rated was the cause of nearly all the claims for that town-
ship being struck off, very few of the claimants being in
attendance. The number of claims for this township was
2,000, bat for the reason we have stated not more than
'sixty or seventy were substantiated. The total number of
claims substantiated for the entire borough on the part of
the Registration Amociation is 122 ; and on the part of the
Independent Committee, the organ of the party which put
forward Messrs. Loch and Denman so candidate- at the
late election, 40; making the liberals gain 82. But it must
be borne in mind that about 3,000 names have been added
to the register by the overseers of Manchester, Hulme, and
Ardwick, under the Compound Householders' Act,
of whose polities there is no indication. The objections,
amounting in all to 76, were made entirely on the part of
the Registration Association, end the number sustained
was 66

RINDSBIIRG AND 'DENNING RAILWAY.—The offi-
cial journal of Copenhagen publishes • royal decree, by
which an English company is authorised to form a railway
from ltendsburg, in Holstein, to Ensum, in Schleswig, and
from Boum to 'Droning. The works ere to be concluded
in two years. The concession is made for 100 years, but is
to be confirmed in every new reign.
REMARKABLE PROCEEDING IN JERSEY. The
I Lieutenant-Governor of Jersey has issued circulars to the
island constables to furnish a census of all foreigners end
refugees in the island. This census must contain the names,
residences, professions, and social +Wu' of such persons,
whether they are married or single ; whether they hold
passports, and if so, the date of them, and whether they
are from their own countries; whether the foreigners are
in the employ of any family, and whether such families are
British subjects ; awl also whether the foreigners or re-
fugees are in lodgings or occupy houses. These circular
have caused a great sensation and disapprobation, both in
Jersey and Guernsey. The vice-consuls for Franco in the
islands, who have always been natives or Englishmen, have
been turned out, and Frenchmen have been appointed to
emoted them.

THE GOLD FIELDS OF AUSTRALIA,

Port Phillip (Melbourne and Geelong) papers to
the end of May notice with elation, the rapid strides
the colony is making. The extensive properties of
Messrs. Callan and Edols, at Geelong, were sold by
public auction, and brought remarkably high prices,
as a few items will show. A lot of 48 feet on Yarra-
street, depth 99 feet along Little Fyan's-street,
21. 2s. per foot; 65 feet on Maylop-street, nearly
opposite the theatre, by depths of 78 and 90 feet,
111. per foot; 17 acres, 2 roods, 19 perches, fenced,
with house, slaughter house, &c., adjoining the
estate and mansion of J. F. Strechan, 3,2001. ; busi-
ness premises in Corio-etreet, 4,1001. In Melbourne
property). valued at about 13 per cent. higher,
eo that intending colonists may gather from the
above, that good plots of ground are not a whit
less valuable than English soil. The Govern-
ment Gazette of May 26th contains a notice, mating
that it is intended to apply to the Legislative Council
for an act to incorporate a company to be known as
the Melbourne and Mount Alexander Railway Com-
pany, the association to be invested with lull powers
to borrow money, and acquire and hold 'awls, and
compulsorily purchase the same for the purpo,e of
eoostructing the railroad. The anti-transisa tation
movement is not overlooked: the agitation, indeed,
is stronger than ever, and there appears to be but
ono feeling in the colony on the subject. The Legis-
lative Council of Victoria has reiterated the desire of
the colonists that convict importation shall cease.
The petition agreed to at a monster meeting held at
Melbourne on April 2nd was couched in the most
determined language, going so far as to declare that
should the imperial government persist in forcing con-
victs on the new colony through Vin Diernen's Land
it must inevitably drive them to seek refuge Iran
such heartless tyranny and oppression in nattunal in-
dependence.
VAN DIEMEN'S LAND.

.....
Accounts received to the end of May notice the
unabated feeling of the free colonists against the
continuance of the transportation system. It is
noticed in the Launceston Chronicle that the quantity
of land in preparation this year fur cultivation is
considerably less than that of former years. The
gold fields have attracted so many of the lahouting
classes from their ordinary occupations that !he
farmers have, in numerous instances, followed their
uncertain and hazardous track. In the interior
desertions are daily taking place. All who can
seem bent on making the experiment to get rich.
The remaining population will reap a reward more
certainly by following the plough and scattering, the
seed. Larger demands will be made up 'II this
colony than were ever before known. The Le,gis:a-
turn was further prorogued to the lsth