The Express.
London, England, 1846-12-18 00:00:00

','Filreoo.

MAILS.

Tb, overlAnd malls for Glb sitar. Malta, Greece, the lonian IsLinda,
Egypt, Aden, Ceylon, India, Hong-Kong, and China, vin Soutnamptea,
will be made up on the evening of the 18th December.
The overland closed mails, via Manville*, to the Mediterranean,
Egypt, Aden, Ceylon, India, Hong Kong, ex., will be made up oa the
evening of the 21th December.
The mails for Vigo, (Marto, Lisbon, Madeira, Cadiz, and Gibraltar,
*ill be made up on the montane of the 2Ath December.
The mad. for New South Wales. Van Diemen's Land, and New
lisalsad will he made up on the evening of the 3lst December.
The Wart India tombs, including ,hose for Meade, Honduras, and
tys tlssannah, will ha made up on the morning of the 2nd January,
The mails fur Ih iti-K North America, ikrrnada, and the United
Mates, will he made up on the evening of the 4th January.
The mails for the Brazils, the Kiser Plate, Monte Video, Pernam-
halo! thihis. 4a tetra. and Bums Ayres, will be despatched on the
evening of the 4th January.

TO CORRESPONDENTS.
Adeortirmenta intended for The Kepress, London evening paper,
must be at the Ofac..: by Two o'doek on the day of publication.

HIGH WATER. AT LONDON-BRIDGF..
TIM DAT. —Honing, 22 61i11. ;Ma I ; Afternoon, 43 min. put 1.
To-Olonnow—lierning, 4 mm. put 2; Afternou, 26 min. put 2.

LONDON, FRIDAY, DEC. 18.
Ir the despatches now so frequently transmitted
from India to Great Britain by reason of the existing
system of Overland communication shall be found,
at no distant period, to " wane" in what is falsely
termed their political, but is, in truth, their military,
interest only, it will be a sign of the times highly
auspicious for the welfare of our mighty dominions
in that part of Asia. When the " pomp and circum-
stance of glorious war" shall become less exclusively
the staple stuff if our Governor-General's reports to the
government of her Majesty, and the direction of the
East India Company, we may be sure that the true
mission in India is resumed : we may be sure that
the dcrelopmi nt of the commercial resources and the
improvement of the social and domestic institutions
of India have been recommenced. For the long inter-
ruption of that sacred and majestic mission—of our
discharge of that solemn responsibility—not all the
military triumphs we have realised during nearly
an entire century, can either compensate or atone.
We have drawn from the Gangetic peninsula mil-
lions upon millions of treasure, produce and mer-
chandise, wherewith we have incalculably extended
the aggregate of our territorial possessions there, and
laid the founditions of colossal private fortunes at
home. Yet, if any enormous revolution or other
stupendous accident were to induce us to abandon
India to-morrow, what vestiges should we leave of a
beneficial, humane, and enlightened administration of
its government ? In the seat of the supreme govern-
ment at Calcutta, in the capitals of the two other pre-
sidencies, we shall certainly bequeath to our Indian
subjects a few admirable collegiate and othcr educa-
tional establishments for native youth ; a few public
buildings for their pleasure, health, or convenience ;
and a few institutes consecrated to the diffusion of
knowledge and the maintenance of charity. But
what shall we have done for the sterling comfort and
happiness of a hundred millions of people seattereri
over an aria that extends from the southern moun-
tains of Neixiul to Cape Comorin in the Indian
Ocean—from the Bay of Bengal and the Acres of
Siam to the banks of the Sutlej ? Have we given to
the swarming provinces to whom nature has denied
the most precious of her condiments, salt, open and
cheap markets for its purchase from those other pro-
vinces which produce it in the most prodigal abun-
dance ? Do we dispense to the peasants and fishermen
inhabiting the jungle districts in the vicinity of the
coasts, to whom antiseptics are primary necessaries of
life, the peppers and aromatics which are grown in
neighbouring territories more favoured by climate,
soil, or locality? We have not been at the
trouble to open a dozen high-roads through the
jungle to the table-lands to which it extends—be-
tween the scattered village and concentrated city.
At Madras the unresisted surf is permitted daily,
hourly, to peril, more or less, the life of every
one whom business or pleasure induces to ven-
ture through it. We really doubt whether any other
nation of civilised Europe would have remained, for
one-half of the time that we have occupied it, in un-
disputed possession of the whole Coromandel coast,
without constructing some jetty or breakwater on a
scale of grandeur and stability' commensurate with
the character of our flag and the importance of that
station and presidency. On the same extensive and
inhospitable line of coast, where nature having done
so little, it is the more incumbent mon human art to
supplement the i'eficiency, no effective steps have yet
been token to deepen the lake of Pullicat and cut
through its narrow " brend " of sand and rock, a
channel to the sea, by which vessels of moderate ton-
nage mfiffit find a shelter, which, at present, they
must ruu hundreds of miles in that direction, without
finding. To improve the bed and confine the inun-
dations ofthe Ganges, that great artery of India, neither
'latish nor Indian capital has yet been brought
forward. But we all know that the damage
occasioned by the floodings of the sacred stream
in its progress towards the sea, if esti-
mated by the fee simple merely of the cultivated
lands either covered with sand and debris, and
stifled, as it were, for all purposes of future agri-
cultural production, or actually engulphed in the
stream and swept away into the devouring abyss of
its estuary, would, in a single year, far exceed the
amount of any sums that could be expended on the
works necessary to confine and improve the mighty
river. A duty of so simply protective a nature, whose
immediate consequences, if faithfully performed,
would have been so much more immediately beneficial
to the native Zemindar or the laborious Ryot, than to
the coffers of our government, seems never to have
occupied the sustained attention of Anglo-Indian
rulers. These officials, hitherto, have been much too
unmindful of their first duty to the native population,
Hindoo and Mussulman. We have left both without
bridges to cross the impetuous streams of the country,
whilst we have erected fortresses in every direction.
We have left them without any established lines of
communication between the sa-red, the commercial,
and the imperial capitals of India; but if natives
cannot get from Calcutta to Benares, or from Benares
to Delhi, without any of the facilities to be found be-
tween stations of equal importance in any other
country of the world, we have provided them pretty
amply with the protection of one class of our
European establishments,—we have built large gaols!
This neglect of the most ordinary appliances, and
means, and comforts which the governed have every-
where aright to expect at the hands of the governors,
is the more extraordinary if we are to attribute it to
the fact, that to have provided them would require a
large outlay of money. For in no state, probably,
has more money been thrown away upon visionary or
futile projects than in India, and even in these our
latter times. In sound, clear, and commodious lines
of communication between seats of trade or manufac-

tares and rural producing districts, all men connected
therewith have so direct an interest, that it is impos-
sible to suppose the wealthy and intelligent natives
of British India can have overlooked them. They
must have been withheld, or even deterred, by the
supineness of the British government in relation to
such undertakings.
Now, what we desire to est iblish at present is,
that there is no mode of employing capital that
would be mere beneficial to the whole of this vast
country. None more eligible conk!, at this moment
be encouraged. It is a scheme that, in its rffeeks,
would be uhiversally and equally beneficial to the
government, the native, and the Anglo-Indian popu-
lation. It would confer on all posterity advantages
still greater than those which the present generation
could realise from it. And yet, to the present genera-
tion it would solve at once, in a practical affirmative,
the great problem whether the foreign commerce and
the home trade of British India can be indefinitely
multiplied beyond theirpresent extent? To the capi-
talistseeking for profitable investments in India this
mode offers a channel for returns more lucrative than
those Which, at the present moment, even banking
itself, at the current excessive rates fir the use of
money there, can realise. But it would have a fur-
ther advantage over banking. We know that the
greater the apparent ratio of profit accruing to the
lender, under such enhanced value of money. the

I

Man b 7 War death. of Captain Pippo, soil
141ar a.... shis gendeesaa hed get lest his papers :
as. ...awls wistatar Ora Liestenant Hembree., R.E, bas
_3114^-- sutie Faisseggiad es Rh way to the epper at. lobs,
gems Mt tat
mew It ffesisit before *arias .tho
sable
.cod bi Est
lb astkady Me. Tbe statersaustbat
ie
punka bla Ifs la anwagslag so owe his paw=
_,,,,,wwierres, re tangles Ys seta by Lieutenant
10 7" ye! unable, Ida* dates teat Caotain P. went IMO
02
1100.:8 OK, his boy, who was slinging to the canoe, iwil tau-a& ,
~.."- ii.
swan The &Wulf Qisitau Pipou will not retool '
11,..."-- it tie 'away, ws the pester put of the next
100wasand in tbe prelinius7 exploti rations, under any dr.
___,,mani sad tao most energetic exer 'one art being made to
on—upago wart..iggilrFORNDLAND.--TLIE RELIEF G RANT. -
lasoring statement and suggestions ate Irons the Times
d) of Nov. 18:
ertiosatuad that 16,000 sovereigns (the rem tinder of the grant
Aljaai, riven ny bee Bassty's govern goverment) were revived by the
riejOacid4 that tae/,
w„. or at .r. abf::ertsin.,,Ltiltem, bare since
lit the are, who
Leamw, previously relieved. g cansiderable aunt. 10,0obl. or
we lain. been very judiciously reserved, by in -true.
biz Ajettys auvertuned, to be appropriated towards
'gni ban
.... lautatlein oft various public buildings which have liven de.
Kt he court- house, Cuidoin-boitse, &e.—it very proper
wiret, as haul not such reserve been made( the colony would
~,io be lau base, o nler to make provision for these
.2...... W e se however, heard it suggested by
iw,we Judgment and opinions are entitled to rea. et, that if
sum were ,et apart as a fund front which loans might, on
L....comity, be advanced (on the principles of the proposed loan
ccilif estseacien• to aulustrions tradesmen show circumstances
km boatels:li reduced and their Me.Us much straitened, to usist
dog la re-building their brows, an I thus , liable them to resume
theio,dimry ~,,,,awns, a vast deal of service wouhl have been ren-
ewed to • dePerring FlAs. of people, who, under the pint .ollowail out
bobs Bebe( Com uheionerv, could nut expect any adogowe a.,„4"...
iNc„ if we remember rightly, ttere is a clause in the instructions
Pees tO these Cominissioners by our late Governor, permittuig, if nut
...welling, them to extend loans" fur the abuse purpose i And we
pip tainsing, that in many eases such a mode of affording
Tani 'mold be by tar the preferable one.
Agertnini CALAMItir or N es WrOUDLAND.—The French
woccnent of St. Pster, or St. Pierre gait is more generally
called, has now tri ea visited with an exilosion whics has
lad a great part of the settlement in ruins. Newo o• the
calamity had lust reached St. John's, Newiiiteidlaiid, and
Hagar, N S., at the starting of the last maii-stevmer. 'The
'riefoundfart,ier's version of the story ts : " An arrival from
fortune Bay bring. the intelligence of the exploi.iou of the
poiler-nuitturue at St. Peter's, on Saturday, tits 6th of
November. One house in severaled neighbourhood
wan totally dertroyed, and others unroofol. Fortu-
nately, however, there was no loss of life on the ecea.ion.
The shock is de-erihed as terrific, and such was the concus-
ion that it w is sensibly felt at Catoctin, a distance of about
17 miles. The eauw of the accide t has not been ascer-
tained." The Ila:traz Recorder says: " The master of the
French sehoJner US:mole, arrir ed yesterday, reports that,
this day week, from 30 to 40 houses were laid in ruins, and
10 persons wounded, at St. Pierre, N.F., by toe explosion
of a powder mer zinc, which Was occasioned by ati incen-
diary who tle,ittutAl to blow up the wuole town: the wretch
,din the attempt."

Obi 4.r
The Queen and Prince Albert walked both ti
theed Dewlap afteinoon and yederday morning early in plea-
sure Found.: of Osborne House.
A‘INDOR, THURSDAY EVENING.—Those of her
Majesty's ministers who are in town, and the great officers
of state, will leave Pad lingten on Saturday, by the half-past
one o'clock train, for Sieu,rh, for the purpose of attending a
PrirICOURCiI to be hold by her Majesty that afternom, at
the Castle, at half-past two o'clock.
HER MAJESTY TILE QUEEN DOWAGER.—CAsIIIO-
- PARK, TiU USDA Y.-11.R.H. Prince George of Cara-
linage arrived on a to her Majesty ye,terday morning.
The Prince, accompanied by his Serene Highness Prince
Edward of S.ixe Weimar, went out shooting, the result of
the sport being nearly sixty hares and pheasants. The royal
Prince remained to dinner, and left by the last train for

H.R.H. Prince George had an interview with Sir
G. Grey yest, relay at the Home-office.
A deputation on the subject of the Australian
mines, consiati.,E of Mr. Ma.sterman, ?LP., Mr. J. Capper,
chairman, Mr. deputy-chairman, Mr. ?std. Cope-
G.., Mr. de Castro, Mr. T. ii. refl.., and Mr.
liodgkinson, had an interview with Earl Grey yesterday
at the Colonial-ottiee.
Major-Gen. Sir J. Reynett had an interview yester-
day with Sir G. Grey.
Mr. C. Wllliams, of Liverpool, and Mr. Morgan,
Secretary of the General Asmciation of Steam Shipowners,
had an interview with the Earl of Clarendon yesterday, at
the office of the Board of Trade, in reference to the Steam
Navigation Act.
Mr. J. Allen had an interview yesterday with

Earl Grey.
Mr. Charles Grenfell had an interview with Sir G.
Grey yesterday.
Despatches were received yesterday at the Colonial-
office from the governors of the North American provinces.
THE DEATH OF THE HIGHT HON. THOF. GRENVILLE
took place, at a late hour last evening, in Hamilton-place.
This venerehle and amiable perm has depsrted full of
years, and of the hest h. ro ;—those confernd by the gene-
& respect of the country, the affection of all who had the
privilege of his acquaintance, and the sincere regret of all to
whom he has been known, personally or historically, through
his long, benevolent, and useful life. He wee eldest son of the
late Right Hon. G. Grenville and Dubs Wyndham, daughter
of Sir W. Wyndham, Bert. He wee born December,
1755, and would cmeequently have attained his 91st year on
the last day of this month. The deceased was never married.
Be represented Buckingham in several sessions up to 1790,
when he was elected for Aldborough, and in the next parlia-
ment was again returned to the House of Commons for
Buckingham, which he continued to represent for many
years. At a comparatively e irly age, nem ly, in 1782, he
went to Paris on a diplomatic mission, and in 1794 was
selected by Pi,t to proceed to Vienna as Minister Extra-
ordinary, and in 1799 was accredited to succeed the then
diplomatic representative at the Court of Berlin. In 1806,
the Earl Grey having resiened, he was appointed successor
to that nobleman as First L Hill of the Admiralty, but on the
Duke of Portland succeeding Lord Grenville as head of the
administrati in. he retired with his noble relative. The
deceased was a trustee of the British Museum, and had held
since 1800 the office of Chief Justice of Eyre, south of the
Trent, *tin which he derived the annual income of 2,1301.
The office by a recent act of parliament was ordered to be
abolished on the find vacancy.

COURT OF COMMON COUNCIL.
ExruAouotsAßY & P...NE. —Yesterday a court was
held, the principal part of the business of which wee to take
into consideration the third reading of " a bill for declaring
the qualification of freemen of London to be elected mem-
bers of the Common C•suncil."
The Luau Nlxvoa : Before any further proceeding with
this bill I cell upon the Recorder to read to the court u corn-
municatim which he has been ordered to make by myself

and my brother aldermen.
Much dissatisfaction was expressed by Mr. Wing and
several other members of the court, at what they considered to
bean unfair interruption to the usual course t f proczecling in
matters of corp •rate legislation. The Recorder proceeded to
read the comnuilication referred to by the Lard .)layor, amidst
frequent cries of No, no," and other evidence of dissent
from the great majority of the members. The learned gen-
tlemen stated that the paper related to the bill which had
been just named, trid the court at length became tranquil
and listened to him. The following is a c.py of the
communication :
Carroll, Iltayor.—An especial clan was held on Wednesday, the
HQ day of December, 1016, and in the tenth year of the reign of
Victoria of the United Kingdom of Limit Britain and Ireland, Queen,
Re -RemilYed. that a ter mature consideration of all the
of circum-
stances of the bill entitled •• A bill to declare the qualification free-
men of London to be elected members of the Court of Common
Wadi," the laird Mayor and Alilrrmen arc of opinion that such
bill is contrary to the customs, charters, ant laws of this city ; and
they do hereby declare tneir &meat from the bill and from any fur-
ther proceedings therein.—Resolyed, that the Recorder be ordered to
communicate the above resolution to the Court of Common Council.—
Rerewethet.
Here there was a7ciud and general call fur Mr. Wood, antl
several members oiled out, " Proceed with the bill."
Mr. Wools rose with the bill in his band, but
The RECORDER stepped forward and said—The Lord
Mayor directs me to say that he cannot put the motion for
the third reading of the bill, and he cannot allow any fur-
ther proceedi..g with the measure, as he has already con-
cured with his brother aldermen in declaring that it is
Malan the customs, charters, and laws the city.
Sir Prreit Launte : beg to say that of Ido not agree with
the Lord Mayor and my brother aldermen in their view of
this question. (Laud 011een)
The Lotto MAYOR: Sir Peter Laurie was not present
when the subject was discussed. All the aldermen who
attended agreed in the propriety of the resolutions just
'
Mr. JOHN WOOD: My Lord Mayor, I move that the bill
be read a third time. (Loud cheers.)
Sir Pavan LACKIS: I second the motion. (Imam

hernng. )
The Ll/ lAD MAYOR: I cannot put the question.
Some of the nit inters attributed tothe Recorder the course
of opposition which it was obvious the Lord Mayor en-
tended to persevere in, and said that the court could proceed
without the assistance of the learned gentleman.
Deputy Costs EY submitted that the dissent of the Court
of Aldermen possibly proceeded from some technicality
which a communication between the two courts might have
e
the effect of r. ving, and that by a kindly co-operation th
bill might he passed in a somewhat altered form to which no
objection could be reasonably started. (A few cries of
" liear, hear;" and overwhelming shouts in the negative.)
In the absence of the reasoning of the aldermen upon the
subject, &deputation to that body might set the question at
rest. (Loud cries of "No," and lauahter.) What was the
use of a bill which, when passed, might prove a nullity
(General murmurs, and cries of " Move, move.")
Depuy COHNEY hen moved that a deputation should be
appointed to centert with the Court of Aldermen upon the
subject.
The amendment having been seconded,
The 'tee titnete, having risen to put the amendment,
Mr. RNA IIiST started up and charged the learned gentile.
man with ha viug alwa)sshown a readiness to advise the Court
of Aldermen in matters opposed to the views of the other
branch of the corporation. lie knew that the opposition of
the aldermen to the present hill arose from their Reprehen-
sion of another hill which they knew would f •llow, and
which would prevent them from dipping their hands into
the pockets .f their fellow-citizens. (Loud cheers.) Ile
knew that the add. rmen had employed a private solicitor to
aid them io their o jest of retaining a power over the public
"T hes ie.. din their eederivonr to influence the