The Express.
London, England, 1853-05-17 00:00:00

CANADA.

QUEBEC, APRIL VI
An important bill was read a second time during
the past week in the Canadian House of Assembly,
to incorporate the Canadian Steam Navigation Com-
pany. With some different names, this company is
in effect the same as that which was recently refused
a charter by the imperial parliament. The object is
to run a line of steamers between Liverpool and two
of the principal Canadian ports, Quebec and Mon-
treaL From the expression of opinion in the house,
there is no doubt of a charter being glinted to this
company. Their capital is to be a million and a
quarter sterling, and they are to be allowed the pri-
vilege of insuring the goods they carry.
This line of steamboats, in connexion with our
trunk railways about to be constructed, we look upon
as an important undertaking, and one that will tend
much ;to the development of Canadian improvement.
There has been at different times much opposition
manifested in our parliament to the principle of
companies with limited liability, and this charter
would not have been granted had it not been con-
tended that the proposed undertaking was entirely
beyond private enterprise.
A bill to reform the seignorial tenure in Lower
Canada has been passed through committee, after
being discussed for about three weeks. The object
of this bill is to pave the way for the conversion of
this tenure into that of free and common soccage.

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A bill has also been passed through committee to
introduce a decimal currency into Canada. This
reform will be a very useful one.
Some of the reformers are very angry with Lord
John Russell for the manner in which he has allowed
the Clergy Reserves Bill to pass through parliament.
They declare that the restrictions placed in the bill
are in the last degree insulting to them.
The following is an abstract of the expenditure of
tho province of Canada during the past year, taken
from official returns just laid before parliament:
Interest on public debt
Civil government 39,019 12 6
Administration of Justice 86.785 16 11
Provincial Penitentiary 6,000 0 0
Legislature
Education 63,898 13 0
Agriculture
Hospitals and other charities
Provincial geological survey 1,965 11 2
Militia
Maintenance of lightiressm
Emigratles
Pensions
Indian annuities
Census
Sinking fund
Miscellaneous

641,123 2 4
To balance at credit of consolidated fund 401,001 0 01

Total currency £1,053,026 2 41
And the following is a statement of the revenue
during the name period :
By balance at credit of Consolidated Fund,
31st Jan., 1852
Less paid on account Sink-
ing Fund, 1850 and 1851 149,650 0 0
Amount of statement No
39, per public accounts,
1851
Arrears of former years,
per statement No. 34 of
1852 6,876 11 1
Rebellion and invasion
claims, Canada East 66,868 10 2
234,905 15 10
172,494 16 01
Net customs 706,617 16 10
Netexcise 22,445 11 11
Net territorial 32,248 12 7
Bank impost
Revenue from Public Works
Militia Fines, &c. 4l 4 2
Fines and Forfeitures, including Seizures 2,785 611
Casual Revenue 22.431 7 10
Law Fes Fund, 12 Vic., caps. 63 and 64 4,648 0 5

Total Currency 1 053,026 2 41

By Balance brought down £401,901 0 0}
The increase of the Revenue in 1852 over 1851, is about
40,0001. The enlargement is derived more from the smaller
sources of revenue than from the customs. The public
works produced about 6,5001. more in 1852 than in 1951;
the Bank imposts, 3,000/. ; the territorial , 14,0001. ;
the casual , 11,0001. ; the Excise, 2,0001. ; while
the difference in the Customs returns of the two years,
was only about 2,0001. The expenditure is increased some
17,0001. on account of the census, which oast 18,3491. 13s. 3d.
There is a reduction of some 7,0001. on the interest of the
debt, and but a slight increase of expenditure on other
items.
The following is a statement of exports and
imports :
Exports. 1852. Imports, 1852.
Great Britain £1,689,214 .... £2,667,793
N. A. Colonies 203,034 .... 120,238
British West Indies
U. S. America 1,571,130 .... 2,119,423
Other foreign countries

Total £3,513,993 £3,071,623
Ships are beginning to arrive, and the navigation
is fully open. The weather has been very fine all
sp fcrin.
It is expected the Legislature will remain in session
until the end of May.
Yours, &c., LAMBDA.