The Express.
London, England, 1863-01-10 00:00:00

REDUCTION OF THE NAVY.

An examination of the Nary List would seem to
justify the conclusion that the Admiralty intend to make a
considerable diminution in the estimate of expenses for sea.
going ships. No leas than sixteen vessels have been paid
out of commission during the past quarter, including five
line-of-battle ships.
This is au unusual number to be dismantled in one quarter;
but in addition to those already enumerated, there are no
less than 17 under orders to return to England, allot which
will in all probability, be paid out of commission on their
arrival, their term of service having expired.
To supply the vacancies of the 33 ships paid off or under
orders to return home, there have been only seven commis-
sioned during the past quarter.
Of these, two are merely store and receiving ships, and
cannot, therefore, be accounted effective men-of-war. It is
very clear, also, that daring the ensuing quarter no material
addition will be made to the numerical strength of the navy.
At Portsmouth there are at present only three ships under
orders to be brought forward for speedy commission, namely,
the Frederick William, 82, the Curacco, 31, and the Eak,
21, although the harbour is crowded with ships to reserve,
the majority of them being in the second, third, and fourth
classes. It wall be observed that most of the homeward
bound ships are from the East India and China Station.—
, Fran the Hampshire Telegraph of to-day.

THE AMERICAN MINISTER AND THE MAN-
CHESTER ADDRESS TO PRESIDENT LIN•
COLN. _ _

The working men's address to President Lincoln
was beautifully isegromed on vellum, and placed in • neat
morocco case, gilt lettered. On New Year's night • special
messenger, Mr. T. H. Barker, proceeded to Laden, and on
Friday morning placed the documents in the hands of the
United States minister, the Hon. Charles Frame's Adams,
to be forwarded by Saturday's steamer to President Lincoln.
Mr. Adams received the messenger very coltrteously, and
kindly said that nothing could give him greater pleasure
than to have such an address to forward to the President
under present circumstance', coming as it did from the
heart of the manufacturing districts, and when the people
were now suffering so much through the sad state of
matters in America. He was sure that Mr. Lincoln would
very highly estimate such an expression; and that its
influence would tend very much to soften any bard feelings
that might have been engendered during the conflict,
through misconception on either side of the Atlantic. Mr.
Adams, in reply to • direct question from Mr. Barker, said
that he did not think that the President, whatever the
pressure brought to bear upon him by adverse parties and
interests, would shrink from upholding his proclamation ot
emancipation of the slaves of the rebellious states. Hs
could not see how the President could recede from the pcsi.
tion he had taken up, and he sincerely hoped and believed
that he would remain lira. With the address a note from
the chairman of the Free-trade Hall meeting was handed to
Mr. Adams, and we append the reply of the United Stales
minister

" London, Jan. 2.

"Dear Sir,—l have the honour to acknowledge the re.
caption of your note, dated yesterday. together with the
address to the President of the United States, of a publio
meeting held in Manchester, over which you presided.
Both of these papers were put into my hands this morning
by Mr. Barker, the gentleman who had them in charge. I
shall take the greatest pleasure in forwarding at once the
address to the President. Permit me to add the expres-
sion of my own conviction that nothing will be more cheer.
cog to him in the severe trials through which he is now
passing, than the sympathy and encouragement of inch,.
pendent and disinterested witnesses all over the world.
and most especially such • manifestation as this, coming as
it does from the very heart of the population of this king-
dom, and that the most deeply affected in its interests by
the unfortunate strife in America, must not only move him
strongly to persevere in the policy to which be has pledged
himself, but cannot fail to rouse the generous enthusiasm of
all true friends of freedom in the United States. I bail the
occasion as one likely to do much to cement the friendly
relations between the two countries, which • common in.
Greet in the great principles of civil and political liberty
should always keep united.—l have the honour to be your
obedient servant, "Cuaacre FRANCIS ADAMS.
" Abel Heywood, Fag., Chairman, Manchester."

The Era remarks :—" The visit, on Monday
evening, of the Prince of Wales to the Haymarket Theatre
will be, we hope, but the precnreor of many such extensions
of royal patronage through the approaching sesmon. The
Lord Chamberlain has officially granted permission for the
curtains, that have hitherto been closed over the royal bons
to be oboe more drawn aside, and it in now rarely vacant."

Mr. Balfe's new opera is said to be in active pre-
paration at Covent Garden Theatre. Pause is also in re-
hearsal there, with Miss Pampa, and Mears. Perron and
Weise in the principal parts.

The rumour that Mr. Sims Reeves will sing in
English opera for Mr. Maploom gains ground.. . .

Signor Costa is understood to be closely occupied
in the completioe of his new oratorio.
Mr. H. Leslie's choir will give its first concert of
the ammo on Widmer:lay Dent. . . .

The Philharmonic Concerts, this year eight in
number, are to begat oa the 9th at March.

The next Sacred Hanuouiu Iwrfornianoe will con-
Wet of Maudelaaolues dtAalie music aud Mozart's Requiem.

Among the numerous changes contemplated in
e►r-changing Paris is the transformation of the large enclo-
sure of the Palais-Royal into a winter-garden, in which con-
certs will be given.
We (A thenauni) hear that Mr. R. 11. Knowles is
prepack's a memoir of his father, the late Sheridan
Knowles, for publication. The work could not well be in
better hands. Mr. Knowles acted for a long time as his
father's amanuensis, and was perfectly well acquainted
with his ideas on all subjects, especially the drama and
literature.

The Austrians, it is stated, have now 112,500
men in their Italian provinces—in Verona, 38,000; Peeshierk
5,000; Mantua, 7,000; Vicenza, 5,000; Yemen, 21,000;
Treviso, 5,000 ; Trieste, 10.000 ; F null, 12,000 ; and Tyrol.
7,500.