The Express.
London, England, 1855-01-23 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS,
.-**EKING;. JAM:TART'

AUSTRALIA.

ARRIVAL OF THE GREAT BRITAIN.
LIVILAPOOL, MONDAT.

The Cheat Britain screw stsaro-ship, Capt. Gray,
whose arrival in the Mersey has been expected daily
for the last few weeks, made her appearance at
Queenstown lut night, for coals, after a passage of
84 days from Melbourne, having left that port on the
29th of October.

She brought 299 passengers, all of which were in
good health, and 180,000 manors of gold, valued at
720,0001.

Her passage was much protracted by easterly gales,
especially the latter portion, when she had to trust
to her steaming powers alone.
She reports the arrival at Melbourne of the Black
Ball clipper Marco Polo on the 25th of October,
which wu to leave on her return on the 2nd of De-
cember.

The cargo of the Great Britain consists of 642
bales of woof, 120 casks of tallow, three bales of
warm, and 108 packages of merchandise.

The news yet received (by telegraph) is very
meagre; nor until her arrival at this port will the
mails be delivered.

An outbreak at the Ballarat diggings hu been
reported, but the particulars or result is not yet
known.

No improvement had taken place in the commerce
of the colony, the markets being all overstocked, and
prices vety low.
The Great .Britain will leave Queenstown (after
coaling) this evening for Liverpool, and is expected
to arrive in the course of to-morrow.
It is believed she will be at once taken up for the
conveyance of troops for the Crimea, by either the
English or French governments.

THE PARIS UNIVERSAL. EXBIBITION.

PARIS, JAx. 19.

The artists are in great commotion here. They
fully believed that the time for the reception of their
works would be extended beyond the 15th of March
next, bet now the belief is general that the 15th will
absolutely be the last day of reception. This belief
has given a vigour to the artistic world here—
all artists are too busy to give much time to the
amenities of social life, and then they are naturally
very anxious. The report runs from mouth to mouth
that no less than twenty-five thousand pictures will
be prevented for exhibition, and that there is room
for only five thousand. Thus, only one picture for
every five painted eau be received. This gives to the
competition all the excitement of a lottery. To the
list of known artists who are at work for the Exhibi-
tion I may add the name of M. Jeauron, who is en-
gaged upon two views of the sandy coast of Amble-
ten*, as at present enlivened by the Camp. Some of
the studies upon which these paintings are based—
are masterly sketches, wherein a few careless strokes
directed by the true artist's eye accomplish
marvellous effects. The pencil hardly touches the
paper before the effect is complete. This power
is the charm which attracts us to sketches,
and which makes them often more agreeable
than the finished productions to which they are
subservient.

The first act of the eocsraitrio' we whose report we I
are sow reviewing was to summon the directors of
the Eastern, and the Paris and Havre Railways, to
alba*. two things froai them. The first, the modifi-
cation or abolition of a certain obnoxious treaty or
arrangement made with an agency at Nancy; the
second, a general reduction of their fares.
The treaty has not been renewed, bat the
fares have not been lowered to the public; oily to the
emigrant who can fairly prove his title. This is an
undoubted amelioration, so far as it goes ; and the
commissioners still hope to carry their point of a
general reduction, which they maintain, and justly,
will be sdvantageons to the shareholders themselves,
now that Belgium and Germany have lowered their
railroad fares, for traffic naturally flows where
' there is the cheapest means of traaspoet. The tariff
of the sea voyage. the commissioners wisely leave
untouched. This is a thing which will always
muslin itself according to the varying conditions of
commons which no laws can regulate. Also the
subject of provision—whether the emigrants shall
provide for themselves or the captains provide for
them, is left open ; partly in the fear of clashing with
the rules which the American Congress has laid down
for the transport and weil-being of the emigrants on
board ship ; and se the greatest number of emigrant
ships from French ports are American, it is good
policy to make such laws as ellen square and not
interfere with theirs.

Bat, on the other hand, stringent laws are pro-
posed for the guidance and government of emigration
companies and agencies, and powers are to be vested
in the special commissiouers of emigration which
shall include all the normal powers of the police and
gendarmerie. No emigration company or agency
shalL be established without first obtaining the au-
thorisation of government, and depositing se security
such a sun as will constitute a serious responsibility.
And the powers of the special commissioners are to
culminate is their ability to refuse the permit of em-
barkation to whoever shall not have fulfilled certain
conditions.

No foreign emigrant shall be received in France
who does not possess, as the minimum, either 200
francs if he arrive by land, or 150 francs if
he comes by sea, or one a contract which
nearer his transit through France and his passage
by sea. When this contract bears the description
(sgealemetst) of the emigrant, and his identity is
established, it may hold the place of passport.
Economy of time and money, will be the
result of this liberal measure. " The question is
raised whether the commissioners shall demand more
than his passport from the emigrant—as for example,
proof that he has fulfilled the obligations imposed on
I him by his own laws, such as that of military service,
&e. Bet the difficulties rending in the way of one
nation making itself the polio, agent of another
answer this question, and negative it. The report
then goes into the subject
of the authorisation to be
obtained from government before an emigration
society or company can be started. It says that it
will give this new "industries a character of honour
and morality which it has never had before • that
the required security of from 13,000 f. to 40000 f.
will also give it a character of stability and respon-
sibility ; and it defends this possible iofraction:of the
liberty of oommeroe by the precedents of the bakers,
butchers, pork butchers, wine merchants, coffee-
house keepers, and hawkers, all of whom require
governmental or municipal authorisation before they
begin busini
The proposed project gives two distinct offices to
the Minister of the Interior and to the Minister of
Commerce. To the first belongs all that concerns the
organisation, surveillance, and management of the
Commissioners of Emigration, as also the initiative of
all those general measures of police which the emi-
gration movement might necessitate for the
guardianship both of public and private inte-
rests. The second delivers the authorisation
—that is to say, a eort of patent or license,
for the exercise of a special trade, fixes the amount
of security required, and modifies when necessary
the time specified for the passage, according to the
conditions and progress of navigation. Thus these
two ministerial departments do not trench on each
other ; they neither cross nor embarrass one another.
The first-section ends by a rule "the full liberality of
which will be appreciated by the emigrant." The
luggage of emigrants, " submitted to certain pre-
ventive measures easy to be observed," will be exempt
from all custom-house tax or annoying search.
This, then, is the recapitulation of the principal
points of the first sectioe of the decree.
In Paris, Strasbourg, Forbach, Havre, and Saint
Louie, and wherever else the Minister of the Interior
shalt judge necessary, special commissioner shall be
appointed to superintend the whole emigration move-
went, both French and foreign; an office shall be
established in each of these cities, where emigrants
may obtain gratuitous information on all the points
connected with emigration, and where they may
obtain their contracts or permits for embarkation.
No foreign emigrant shall be admitted into France
who does not possess, on arriving at the frontier, at
least 200 f. for each adult, and 80f. for each child
between six and fifteen years of age; if he arrive
by sea 130 t. for each adult, and 801. for each child.
The visa of his passport or contract shall be
gratuitous. All emigration companies or so-
cieties must give a security of from 13,000 f. to,
40,000 f., bearing interest at 3 per cent. per annum.
They may employ agents both in France and abroad,
for whose acts they are responsible. They are bound
to furnish each emigrant with a copy of his contract,
or in default of that, with a paper stating his nation-
ality, the place of his destination, and the stipulated'
conditions of his transport. Within twenry.four
hours of his arrival at the port of embarkation the
emigration company shall send in to the Commis-
biome of Emigration a paper bearing the name of
the emigrant, and verifying the preceding conditions.
The luggage and provision stores of the emigrants
arriving in France by railroad shall be exempt from
all tax and search, except in cases of suspicion
of fraud, and also when put on board the emigrant

ship.
This ends the first section of the decree. In
another article we will give the remaining two
sections concerning emigrant ships. But before
closing this abstract we would draw attention to one
point specially suggestive. It is the evident desire
of the Emperor to encourage emigration. The habit
of colonisation once established in France, would
effect a powerful revolution of the whole national
character. There woald be a more rapid increase of
population, and a corresponding increase of energy
and enterprise. In many cases, the family lands,
now subdivided into mere garden plots, would accu-
mulate—the younger brothers glad to sell their
pitiful share for the chance of large possessions
abroad ; and though we are heart and soul opposed
to the system which gathers all the land into a few
monopolising hands, yet the infinite subdivi.ion
of French property does not •%ork well; it begets
poverty, not independence; idleness, not energy--ss
mast be the case where universally divided into such
small pitrimonies as cannot support their owners.
For the large landowners are the exceptions in
France, as the small landowners are the exceptions
with us. This decree marks also the Emperor's
anxiety to keep pace, in object, with free and ener-
getic countries. His means are widely different. Bat
it is a great thing to publish and establish the fact
that the material well-being of his subjects is care-
fully watched over, even if somewhat despotically
ordained; and that under certain conditions some of
the many rigorous police rules may be abolished, even
though new ones are set up on another aide. In fact
the whole decree is a mass of despotic liberalism, of
wisdom, foresight, and benevolence, dealt out with an
autocrat's hand. of a moral dragooning of men to
their own profit and advantage. This is the point
which to us seems the most important and sugges-
tive, both positively and relatively. We neither
condemn nor praise it; we simply wish to draw
attention to it as a fact pregnant with historical
meaning, and as evidence of a mode of government
diametrically opposed to our own.—Doily News.

Thi Mans= or Comp= A` Rows has Uinta
a aofie•• ago that seeds distinctions are hence-
forth to be gtasliil be* to ibisiewners and to captains of
vemele baleaging to the Pentilleal Matas, who have deserved
w.ll of the state. Any Pepsi soblict who shall embark
more than 1,009 tens m vessels built in the Pontifical States
shill thereby have acquired a right to an houourable da-
nt:tonal. Any captain who eau prove his heving made
voyages to the ports et the Slack Sea, the Baltic, the
Athlone, or the Panda, and his having taken out hoar
grown, and brought back fore iga werehaadise insturn
Asa la Minna to hoist parnsoW first OWN or elaw
gig%

Zbe Court.

WINDSOR, JAN. 22.
The Queen and Prince, with the Prince of IVales
and Prima Alfred, walked in the Home Park this
morning.

Sir Alezender Spearman had aa interview with the
Miasmal/or of the Exchequer yesterday at his official resi-
dence in Downing•strset.
Viscount Palmerston arrived in town last evening from
hie east, Broad Lads, Hants.

Dons, JArr. 22.—The Belgian Government Com-
misalosers appointed to inspect and report on the English
system of railways, consisting of the following gentlemen :
Baron de Mae ; Le General Nerenherger, Mcmbre du Con
mil dm Chemins de For; Le General Delaunoy,
Umtata ; F. de Brouwer do Hogendorp, Melaka de la
Climb,. dee Reprmantanta ; M. Masai, and M. Belpairm
arrived at Rakes' Lord Warden Hotel, from Calais yester-
day, and left this morning by the South-Basler Railway
for Ashford; they wen accompanied by Mr. Cook, Secretary
to the General Manager of the South-Rasters Railway, who
would condaat them over the company's immeme setablish-
meat at that place.

Tug WOUNDED REACHING HOME.- WREXHAM,
JAN. 19.—Gar little out•o(-thrwq town bas been the
scene of as much eathusisins as many a larger one this day.
Captain Walter Meredith, of Pentribachen, wounded in
the Crimea, arrived from London by railway this afternoon.
The town had been ornamented with evergreens, arches
bad been erected, digs suspended, and !ascriptions of wel-
come attached on every conspicuous place. A proceesion of
townsmen on horse and in carriages went to most the
gallant captain at the station, together with many hundreds
of the poorer part of the population, who heartily cheered
him on his passage through the town. Guns sere dis-
charged, and the church bells pealed forth a hearty wideness
to the wounded soldier, who mast have been as gratified at
the sympathy shown as the Wrexham people were pleased
with the opportunity of demonstrating it.

SuirEtrtar.D.—We understand that a proposition
is under the consideration of the Protestant Albano, for
'realist, by public subscription, a memorial to the reartyn
who suffered in Smithfield. The first of these, John
Rogers,' prebend of St. Paul's, was burned opposite Bt.
Hartholoraew Hospital on the 4th of February, 1555.

The sward of the greet prizes—one of 1,8001. and
another of 600 L—to the authors of the two best treatises on
" The Being and Attributes of God," has just been an
pounced at Aberdeen. The successful competitors were
found to be—for the first prise, the lien. Robert Anchor
Thompson, A.M., Louth, Lincolnshire; and for the second,
the Bev. John Tullocb, manse of Kettins, Cuper Angus,
principal of St. Mary's College, fit. Andrew's, Scotland.'There were 208 treatises lodged.-
Mr. Thome S. Duncombe, M.P., has so far re-
cruited his health during his stay at Brighton that he ban
espressed his intention of attending parliament at the re-
assembling of the house.

On Sunday last appeals were made at St. Peter's
Suitkwark, on behalf of the District Visiting Society. In
the morning by the Rev. Alfred Povab, the head master
of St. Saviour a Grammar School, and in the evening by
the Itev.Canon Chempneys, both of which were responded
to most liberally.

_ .
The Res. Franca; Tate, M.A., curate of St. Luke's,
Norwood, has been appointed to the Vicarage of Axminster,
with the chapelries of Kilmington and blembary. Patron
the Very Key. the Dean of Llandaff.

NAVAL AND MILITARY.

THE WOUNDED SOLDIERS BY THE CAMBRIA

LIVERPOOL, MONDAY.
The wounded and sick soldiers, which arrived here
oa Monday last by the Royal Mail steam-ship Cembris,
have all, with tie exception of thirty-four, proceeded to
their various depots. This latter number included the
most serious °sees of sickness and wounds, sod it was
deemed advisable, for the safety of the men thus situated, to
permit their occupation of the temporary quarters pre-
pared by the local authorities for them at Brownlow-kill.

Every care and attention are lavishly bestowed by the
attendants and inmates of the adjoining wards, but we
regret to say that last evening two deaths took place. The
nature of the diseases which led to this melancholy result,
however, preclu:ed the indulgezme of a hope, on the part of
the 'assess', of recovery—one case being deep consump-
tion, end the other dysentery. The number is now re-
duced to 32 sick and wounded.

ADMIRALTY, SAL 22.--ArrorrinirENTs.—Acting
Assistant Burgeons A. Itattray, to the Nankin, 60, at
Chatham; and A.. 8. Pratt, to the Waterloo, 120, flag ship,
at Sheerness.

The following steamers have been engaged by the
Admiralty as regular transports, vie., the Chester (No. 182),
the Gibraltar (No. 183), and the Telegraph (No. 184).
The Admiralty have given notice that they are
ready to treat for the hire of steamers above 400 tons, for the
transport of troops and stores ; also for the hire of •
steamer of about 600 tons, to convey medical stores to
Scutari.

The Swifteure, a sailing ship, laden with huts for
the French troop, in the Crimea, left the port of &nth-
asepton yesterday. She has been delayed for want of
bands.

The Oriental Company's screw steamer Rajah
eaves Southampton this day, with fifty-three hats fur the
British troops in the Crimea. She proceeds to Portsmouth
to take in 200 tens of warm clothing, for the British troops
is the Crimes.

Her Majesty's ship Retribution was at Gibraltar
on the 16th instant, bound for England, with invalids from
the Crimea.

The Rev. J. A Crozier has been appointed an
officiating chaplain to the army in the East, and is to em-
bark in the Bahian, from Liverpool. The Rev. A. Fraser
and the Rev. W. Fergueson have been appointed assistant
Presbyterian chaplains at Scutari, and are under orders for
immediate embarkation. In order to mark their seine of
the seal and fidelity of the chaplains attached to the army
in the Eaat, the government contemplate conferring com.
missions upon such of tha number as are especially recom-
mended for that distinction.

SHEERNESS, JAN. 22.

The crew of the screw steamship Cressy shifted
over yesterday from the barracks for seamen to their ship,
and she will be pet out .1' the basin to-day, if the weather
and tide permit. The Russell, 60 gene, screw steamship,
is ordered to be put out of dry dock on the 25th inst.
Captain Sir Thomas Maitland, C. 8., from the Excellent,
arrived here on Sunday last, for the purpose of superin-
tending a Distilsr trial sabot of the sea service mortar, as
fitted on Captain Julius Roberta's design, with some altera-
tions suggested by Mr. Nasymtb. The Drake, lighter,
will be ready to leave here to-day for trial of the same at
the Great Note. The fitting of this mortar is creating con-
siderable interest, as it has recently come to the knowledge
of the Admiralty that during Captain Roberta's fitting the
mortar at Portsmouth, a certain Russian Admiral (who has
paid the debt of nature within the harbour of Sebastopol)
was then at Portsmouth, and shortly after his return home,
the Russian line of bsttle ship The Twelve Apostles was
fitted by him In the same muter.

WOOLWICH, J. 22.

The Widgeon, steam-vessel, accompanied by two
lighters, brought down a great number of casks this morn-
ing to aid in attempting to raise the Perseverance, iron
screw steam troop-ship, still lying on her beam-ends in the
But Dock at Woolwich. Powerful anchors, to which the
strongest cables were attached, and every kind of available
powers were also used, but not the slightest movement
could be (Soto& Captain Sir Baldwin Walker, Surveyor
of the Navy, urived at the Dockyard yesterday to witness
her position. Every time the tide rises she fills with water
on her port ►ide, so al smithy to touch the funnel in the
centre of the ship.

DUBLIN, JAN. 22.

A number of the county of Limerick militia have
volunteered into the 89th depot, sow in the Limerick gar-
rison.

The depot of the 39th Rtgiment left Cork on Saturday
morning for Limerick. The depot consista of 243 rank and
file, 4 dreamers, 8 corporals, and 8 sergeants, with 8
vomit and 16 children, and is accompanied by Captains
Baker, Warner, Greenhorn, and Dalrymple, and Ensign
Young, who has obtained tare of absence.

CRYSTAL PALACE, JAW. 22.-BHILLINO DAL--
Admission at tbs doors, 587; adadadoo by moon Wok"
71; total, 473.