The Express.
London, England, 1852-09-14 00:00:00

PORTUGAL.

Count do Thomar, in anticipation of the approach.
ing elections, has addressed a manilcsto to his poli-
tical friends, in which he advises them to abstain
from voting at the next elections.

CANADA.

QUEBEC, Auo. S.B.

The Canadian parliament has now been in session
for upwards of a week, but the debate on the address
is not yet over. This is the first session of the fourth
parliament since the union of the provinces, and the
new members seem to be all desirous of making
known their sentiments.

The speech of the Governor-General from the
throne sets forth that the country is in a state of
prosperity; and that it has rapidly advanced in po-
pulation and wealth; and that provincial securities
have risen in value. This is true, as you have seen
from statistics that I have in previous letters
furnished you. I may, however, state that it was
attempted to be shown by gentlemen in favour of
annexation that the progress of Canada had not been
so rapid as that of the United States; but the attempt
broke down, and well merited the charge which was
I made against it of being unpatriotic.
Some important reforms are promised, and promi-
nent among these are an increase of the represents-Hon and a mode for registering votes. A decimal
system of currency is proposed, as well as the esta-
blishment of agricultural bureaux. Reform of the
seignorial tenure is
.promised. To all of these pro-
posed reforms no serious exception has been taken on
the part of the opposition.
With respect to the clergy reserves there is a good
deal of irritation existing on the part of the re-
formers, in consequence of the decision of Sir J. S.
Pakington against the repeal of the Imperial Clergy
Reserve Act of 1840; while the conservatives, on
the other hand, are of course very glad at Sir John's
decision. The Imperial Act I have alluded to, takes
away front the Canadian legislature the power
to legislate upon the clergy reserves, and this
power the reformers now -demand. The Cana-
dian ministry have expressed themselves strongly
upon this point, and some of them have even gone to
the length of declaring that they would insist upon
the right to legislate upon the reserves, even although
that should bnng them into collision with England.
The following passage occurs in the resolutions in
answer to the address ; it is nut yet voted by the
house, though it will be, by a large majority :
That while this Douse deeply regrets to learn that her
Majesty'a znioisten have refrained from introducing a mea-
sure into the imperial parliament daring its last session, for
the repeal of the imperial statute on the subject of the clergy

I will give you further details upon the reforms I
have above alluded to, u they come up. There were
several matters of great local party interest brought
out during the lad week's debate, but I suppose it
will not be needful that I narrate them to you.
Quebec is, at present, very much crowded with
visitors from different parts of the states, who have
come to breathe the fresh northern air and admire
the magnificent scenery that everywhere surrounds
this city.

NEW YORK CRYSTAL PALACE.
_ (Tim the New roe* likessitv Poet.) _

• - •
We are happy to be able to state that the sasocui-
tioa for the EdithNes of the Landry of all Nations has
decided on a plan tzar their budding, sad that its erection is
immediately to be begun. The esesessfal competitors are
Meters. Courtesies sea Offikemeister. Mr. Oildemeister is
an architect of dedieff mudedes, who has been some con-
siderable time miallisise romp as. Mr. Carstensen is the
arahltast of the Thali and Oaring of Copenhagen, which is
tholohnipal both et the remands= of the good people
of Mat MM. Tim MIL and tests of these gentlemen, with
dm mew and WWI of Mr. C. L. Debould, the engineer,
and the varied Mil approved accomplishments of our
well-known fellow-eldest', Horatio Allen. together with
those of Mr. Hurry, the consulting architect, seem to
furnish sufficient guarantees that the affair will be one
in the success of which we shall all take • just pride.
The general plan of the building is a Greek or equal cross,
with a dome over the centre, or intermit's. If this idea
be skilfully carried out, there can be no doubt that bth
the interior effect and exterior view of the building will be
very beautiful. The idea is not a new one by any means.
It is the original design of St. Peter's at Rome, of which
I the sketch is still preserved In the Vatican Library, and the
Creak cross is also the principal feature is the exquisite
church ed Santa Maria digit Angeli, built by Michel An-
gelo, en the foundation of the baths of Diociesian. The
present plan is, however, very ingeniously modified by
filling up the angles with a structure iu height inferior to
the main building, so that the ground plan presents an
octagonal hem. Bash diameter of the cross, from side to
side, is 386 feet long and 149 feet broad, and the
dome is 130 feet high. The building will be entirely
of iron and glass, and is to cost about 200,000 dollars. The
mason's contract is now being given out, and it is expected
that the work will be actually begun certainly by the first
of September. There is now considerably more time to the
first of May, 1853, when it is to be open, than was had (or
the emotion of the London Exhibition building, much
=else, and there seems no pod mason to doubt
earn and skill of our people veal easily surmount
whatever ties there may be is the way. In tact, the
greatest eidedee are already amosawm the requisite capi-
tal is ashoodbod, a baustihl and appropriate design (or the
buddies h ada=tthe fassign interest secured by the ap-
pointment Si awl it now only remains for
oar mu pas* to crown the walk by adding their abun-
dant NOMINIMI to the vast display that the association will
undoubtedly exhibit. Many of the unsuccessful plans will
probably be soon given to the public. They exhibit, we
are told, great and rare merit, remarkable mechanical inge-
nuity, and striking beauty of design ; but we are confi-
dently assured that a careful comparison of their relative
merits will only confirm tho judicious character of the se-
lection which the directors have made.

ATTEMPTED MURDER OP A SOLDIER.—On Wed-
nesday • private soldier of the 62nd Regt. was stabbed by a
boatman from the county of Clare under the following cir-
cumstances. The boatman, with two companions, had been
drinking in a public-house kept by a Mr. Murphy, in the
I Main-street, where some observations in reference to the
Bix-mile bridge riot raised a dispute between the parties
the soldier unfortunately entering et the tints was assailed
by the boatman, who, without provocation, and declaring
that ho hated the sluht of • soldier, stabbed the unfortunate
man in the breast with • knife. Fortunately the blade
struck the ribs of the man, and although he lies in a dan-
gerous state in the military infirmary, hopes are enter-
tained of his recovery. The boatman made off immediately
and hes not been arrested; his two companions, honorer,
are in custody.— Wrangel(/' Guardian.