The Express.
London, England, 1849-10-31 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, WEDNESDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 31, 1849.

I hod the pleasure of an interview a few days since
1 with my friend Mr. Zechrisson, of the house of
Zachriason and Nelson, at Panama. He bu just
arrived, and he assume ate that the Nicaraguan rout.
is impracticable on one mount. Hpasses through a
volcanic) region, and there is no surety, that soy works
can be made penunsuent. It most not, however, be
forgotten that hti has a personal interest at Panama.
My own itoprevalon is that the capital required to
make a ship navigation between the Atlantic and
PaCifi3 by the Nicaragua route will be so large that
it never can be raised. The railway across the
Isthmus, at Panama, is a work that will be
completei in a very short time. Mr. Sidon,
the engineer-in-chief, informed me on Satur-
day, that the con'racta hod been taken,
and that the corps of engineers would
depart for the scene of operations in the coarse of six
wake. Hat, affairs will soon be so well settled in 1
that direction as to prevent all competition. Great 1
improvements are projected to make Panama more
convenient fur steamers, and several small yowls of
this descri_ption are now building in this city as tend-
ers to the Pacific line. You thus perceive that Ame-
can enterprise is by to meats mere talk. Other
nations have had these opportunities, but they never
embraced them.

At the last dates the people of California had assem-
bled at Monterey (August 2), and in convewion, for
the purpose of framing such a constituti n, and mak-
ing such arrangements as will enable than to carry
the territory into the union as a state. Many of the
delegates I personally know, and I am quite stir-
prixed to find so many distinguished men all at once
active in this distant land to secure to California the
advantages of a rate government. Nothing can pre-
vent them from thus coming into the union; it is the
general wish that they should come in, and probably
the next congress will give the requisite assent. It is
with us the eeriest thing in the world to get up a'
state. Legislation is familiar to us, and without tie.
tion, without estrangements, without bloodshed, we
compose ourselves into a constitutional quiet which
nothing can disturb. We may contend for power, but
we always agree as to our laws.
It is worthy of particular remark that many Mexi-
cans of wealth and high reputation are active mem-
bers of the Convention, end at least two of them are
already spoken of se likely to represent California in
the senate of the United States.

Yesterday the steamers Ohio and Empire City left
this port for the isthmus, with a very large number
of passengers, at least 800. The spirit of emigration
seems in no way abated. It is, in fact, scarcely
awake. This is the first time that Americans have
had to cross the seas, to "each their own territory.
There is an excitement about it which suits the cha-
racter of our people, but it is accompanied by a new
set of ideas. In England, India represents to your
adventurers, perhaps, what California does to us
yet with this difference—we have inexhaustible mines
of gold, and India has yielded ap most of its treasures.
I presume that the difficulties now endured by
our miners will vanish, so far as personal comfort is
concerned. At all the placers good dwellings will
shortly be found, steamers will ply on the Sacra-
mento and Joachim, the cost of living will be reduced,
and the operations of mining be more regular and
scientific. Ido not believe, from what I can gather,
that one-half of the gold territory has yet been ex-
plored. In Lower California there is probably as
much ore as in Upper California. The Mormons are
gatherir g large amounts at their settlements.
Let me now conclude this letter with some domes-
tic items. Miss Bremer has arrived here, and is much
caressed. I hope to have the pleasure of seeirg her
in a few days, and I shall probably have something'
to say about her.
I fell into a very curious mistake not long since in
mentioning the rumour that Mrs. Fanny Kt able Butler
was about to marry a gentleman of the name of
Sedgwick. As Mr. Sedgwick's wife, as Engllah
lady, is still living, the rumour is ridiculously untrue.
Mrs. Butler has a pretty residence of her own in
Berkshire, Massachusetts, and recently gave a fete
chanspetre which astonished the natives.
I regret to inform yon that our poet novelist, Mr.
Hoffman, is again seriously indisposed with a return
of his malady, and fears are entertained that he will
not recover.

Mr. Bancroft, who has purchased an elegant resi-
dence in this city, has been and is still seriously
indisposed. The symptoms, however, are not yet of
the worst form. Mrs 'Bancroft is also unwell.
Charlotte Cushman has been playing to crowded
houses, and wish eminent success, but some of her
popularity has been jeoparded by her bringing out
with her an English actor, to support her in her prin-
cipal characters. This is truly American like, to find
fault with any act which appears to indicate a doubt of
our superiority.
Oar shop. are filled with beautiful French goeds
which are preferred to all others. The only competi-
tion I have lately seen on the part of your English
artists for the market here, is in that of porcelain
mantelpieces of very elegant workmanahtp. They
are very likely to be adopted.

FINANCE OP THE COUNTY OP MIDDLERHX.—The
usual accounts of the receipts and expenditure of the sweaty
of Middlesex treasurer, Mr. Charles Pettit Allen, have just
been issued, being made up from July to October. It ap
pears that the total receipta under the ordinary county rate
(including( 3691. Is. the produce of prison labour) amounted
to 25,7841. ls. Id., and the total expenditure in respect
thereof to 28,3741. 14s. 104., leaving a balance of 2,4091.8 r. 3d.
Of this expenditure, 7,6801. was in respect of the Cold-
beth-fields Prison (including tootle* annuities, Be.) ;
5,7361. 10s. 7d. (including payment of interest and portions
of principal of mortgages) was in respect of the Tothill
Fields Prison, and 2,0011. fis. Id. (including ditto), in Te-
epee of the New House of Detention at Clerkenwell. The
Conners' foes were 2,3021 61. 2d.; expenses of removals of
Scotch and Irish pnupers,2,62ll. 4e, Sri. ; prosecutions at the
Central Criminal Court and Middlesex Einsione,
2,1871. 16s. 10d. The sum received under the 8& 9 Vie,.
c. 28, for the purposes of the lunatic asylum at Hanwell was
8,9741. fie. 10d. • expenditure, 3,2801. lls. 10d.; balance,
3,6931. 161. Received under the act for building en addi-
tional lunatic whim at Colney Hitch, 88,4941. 3s. 10d. ;
expenditure, 87,77111. Os. 6d. ; balance, 7211. 3s. 4d.
HEALTH OF LONDON DURING THB WEEK.—The
Registrar-General reports that the total number of deaths
registered io London in the week ending lair Saturday was
902 ; the weekly average of five autumns is 1,162 ; the pre-
sent return, therefore, shows • decrease of 280 deaths on the
estimated mortality of the season. The numbers in the
last three weeks, during which the mortality has continued
to fall below the average, have been successively 1,076,
1,028, and 902. In last week only 26 deaths from cholera
were registered ; the numbers retuned is the first three
weeks of October were respectively 288,110, end 41. Of the 26
deaths of the week, 1 occurred is the sub-district of Long.
erre, 2in the distrist of Pancras, lin Islington, lin the
workhouse at Lowe Mossootes, 1 (after puerperal Perito-
nitis) in Cock.eourt, Bisiggegate. 3 in the district of Shore-
ditch, 3 in Bethnal-green, 7i. Whitechapel, 4 in St. George-
in-the-East, 1 in Stepney, 2 in Poplar, and 1 in
each of the following district' :—Bermondsey, St.
George (Southwark), lambeth, and Camberwell. The
deaths from Wareham and dysentery In the last week, were
61; the average is 27 ; their continuous decline is shown by
the Ivanhoe returned in the first three weeks of October,
which were 146, 105, and 83. Typhus was fatal in 62 caws;
the weekly average is 68. From small pox there were 7
deaths (about a third of the average) ; whilst those from
measles, scarlatina, and hoer ieg•cough were respectively 20,
33, and 16, the three epidemics exhibiting at present only •
half of the usual mortality. The mortality from phthisie is
also much leas than the nasal amount. B•sidee • case of
cholera, already referred to, the deaths of 13 women, after
childbirth, were registered in the week. The reading of the
barometer was 30 fa. on Wednesday; the mean reading of
the week was 2987. The mean temperature has been
throughout the week higher than the average of t"e same
wish of 7 years; on the last five days it was from 9 to 12,
degrees higher than the average of corresponding days. The
mesa of the week was 55 dives.
ALARMING FIRE IN HOLBORN.—Last evening_ *
fire occurred upon the premier in the occupancy of Mr.
Alfred Hill, a dentist, carrying on business at No. 19, King-
strait, Holborn. The flames sonthessod in the workshop,
at the rear of the private residence, from, it was stated, the
upsetting of a Depths lamp. The persons in the building, •
gentleman and a lad, in their anxiety to get the fire sub-
dued, were severely burned, more modally the youth, who
wee removed to the hospital. Several engines were soon at
the spot, and the flume were extinguish* I, but not until
the premises in which the onthreek commenced were en-
tirely
destroyed. Mr. Hill was set fumed.
FATAL ACCIDENT.—A melancholy accident, at-
tended with a fatal result, occurred at the house of Mr.
William Harris, St. John's-green, Writtle, during the
hours of divine service is the .ernoc.n of Sunday last. It
appears that Mr. and Mrs. Harris left home in the afternoon
to visit friends at Broomfield, leaving • younger ion and
another lad 18 yeas of age to take we of the house. Soca
after they had leaf Richard Saelt, aged 15, and Jame Bush,
son of a blacksmith, called is to sit with young Harris, with
whom they were &repainted, and whilst the letter went out
to get sense water, Bush, serrieg a patent walking-stick gun
bangle,/ up about six feet from the flew, took it down from
the e. Ding to examine it. Whilst so doing the contents ex-
ploded, and the charge was lodged in the right side of Sash.
Mr Barlow, surg on, promptly attended, but life was found
to he extinct. The lamentable occurrence, which was purely
the malt of accident, adds another proof to the too frequent
evidence of the imprudence of suffering fire-arms to remain
loaded in • dwelling-horse thoeseible to those who are thee-
primped in handling them.—Ewa Herold.

CD' Court.

WINDSOR, OCT. 30.—Their Royal Highttesaze the
Princes. Aloe dad Prince Alfred toik walking and pony
reise this morning in the Siopes and Windsor-park. Tee
Pliant/0 Helena and Pilsen& Loui.e took their usual air-
ing.. His Royal I:licitness Prices Albert, with the Priam
of W.lis and the Princess Royal, arrived at tie Castle at
firs o'clock front town, attended by the Dowager Lady Lyt-
relton, the Marquis of Ormond*, Colonel the lion. C. B.
Phipps, Sir F. Stoehr, General Wemyss, Lient..Colonel
&lemur, and Mr. Birch. There was ne addition to the
royal dinner party this evening. The Marquis of Ormond*
acd Sir Frederic Sums have relieved Lord Watsrpark and
Col. the LI .n. A. N. Wood in their duties as L'ard and
Groom in Waiting to her Majesty.

TEE QUEEN DOWAGER had some refreshing sleep
on Kw day night, and lilt better yesterday musing. Str
David Devise remains in attendance on her !deputy In the
Priory.

Colonel Perceval had an interview with Sir George
Gt. v at the Home-office yesterday.
D swams were received yesterday at the Colo-
nial (thee from the governors of Van Dieman'a Lead, South
and Weat Australia, and C ylon.

(Prom last sight's Gazelle.)
WINDSOR CASTLE, OCT. 10.—The Queen has been
pleased to appoint Lieutenant-Colonel the Han. Charles
Beaumont Phipps to be Keeper of her Majesty's Privy Purse,
in the roc= of George Edward Anson, Esq., deceased ; eso,
Lientenant-Colenel the Hon. Charles Beaumont Phipps to
be Treasurer and Cofferer to Lis R yal Highness the
Prices of Wales, in the room of George Edward Anson,
Esq , deceased.
WINDSOR CASTLE, OCT. 10.—His Royal Hiflhness
Prince Albert has been pleased to mike the followtog ap-
pointmenta:—Lient:Col. the Hon. Charles Beaumont Phipps
to be treasurer to his Royal Highness, in the room of George
Edward Anson, deceased ; Col. the lion. Charles Grey, ,
riperry to the Queen, to be private secretary to his',
Royal Hignesa, in the room of Lienc-Col. the lion. Charles
Beaumont Phipps, resigued.
MASTER OP THE HORSE'S-OPTICS., OCT. 29.—The
Queen has been Fraeionsly plitssed to appoint Llrd Augus-
tus Charles L•nnox Fitt -oy, Lieutenant and Captain of Her
Majesty's Coldstream Guards, to be Equerry in Ordinary to
Her Majesty, inthe room of Lieutenant-Ceonel the Honour-
able Charles Beaumont Phipps, r igned.
DOWNING-STREET, OCT. 30.—The Queen has been
rimed to appoint George Bit, E,q., Lieutenant in the
Royal Navy, to be superintendent of the penal settlement of
the colony of British Guiana.
WHITEHALL, Ocr. 29. The Queen has been
pleased to present the Rev. Andrew Redman Boner to be
First Minister of the Church and Parish of Canonate' in
the presbytery and county of /I iinburgh, vacant by the
death of the Rev. Dr John Gilchrist, late Minister thereof.

COMIIIBB BY THE LOIiD LIEUTENANT OF
WARWICKSHIRE. Lieutenant Rudolph William Bail
Viscount Fielding to be Captain ; Henry James Sheldon,
Gent tad William Henry Wilson, Gent., tu be Cornets in
the Warwickshire Yeomanry Cavalry.
COMMISSIONS BY THE LORD LIEUTENANT OF
Yosientan.—Abraham Jubb, to be Surgeon in the 2nd
Rerimeat of West Riding Yeomanry Cavalry. Lieutenant
the Hon. Henry Thynne Lvscelles, commonly called
Viscount Ltecelles, to be Captain ; the Hon. Ci.orrie Elwin
Lawn's to be Lieutenant in the Yorkshire Harm Regi-
ment of West Riding Yeosnanri Cavalry.

FREEMBN OCCDPIENS IN TUE CITY OP LONDON.
—To-mortow (Thursday), and tor • fortsight afterwards,
there will be kept for public inspection, without payment of
any fee, a list of all freemen oocupirre at each ward in the
qty of London, entitled to vote in the forthcoming elections
of aldermen, eommcn councilmen, end other ward officers.
Before the let August last only householders could vote, but
now joint occupiers to 101. taco are privileged by virtue of
the New Act 12 & 13 Vitt., cap. 91, local.

DEATII OF TILE EARL OF ALDBOROUGII.—We
Wave to announce the demise of the Earl of Aldborough, in-
telligence of whose cheeses at Leghorn, has been received by
his friends in this country. The Earl, who had been resi-
dent for a long series of years In Italy, died on Monday fort-
night. The deceased Meson Gerrard Stretford, Earl of
Aldborough, Viscount Aldborough of Belau, Viscount
Amiens, and Baron Baltlnglass, in the peerage of Ireland,
was only son of Benjamin O'Nesle, fourth earl by Martin,
only child of Mr. John Burton, and niece an 4 heiress of Mr.
Meson Gerrard. He was born July 8, 1784, and married
Afar. 2, 1804, Cornelia Jane, eldest daught.v of Mr. Chaska
Henry Tandy, by whom, who au rr i eee l urdehip, he leaves
issue an only son, Viscount Amiens. The late Earl suc-
ceeded to the family honours on the death of his father in
July, 1833, and is row succeeded in the title and ancestral
estates in Ireland by Benjamin O'Neale Stratford, Viscount
Amiens (now Earl of Aldbornughl, late of the let Dragoon
Guards, and the 15th Light Dragcous.

ROYAL VISIT TO THE CITY.