The Express.
London, England, 1847-01-26 00:00:00

I "Our government has just issued a decree by which Lom-
bardy Maine will now be subject to a heavy escort duty
which is about equal to a probibition.•'
NAPLES.—We learn from a pi ivate letter, dated
lath Jan., that the axtitomtat amooppt the populace, at the
high price of bread and ntaccaroni, is immense. The King
has been stopped more than once these last few days. It is
'unity p uib a to keep the exportation open much longer.
The day before yesterday it was said that a decree to close it
would appear in the evening, but no such decree has ap-
peared up to this date. We hope," add. the writer, "we
shall be allowed to lord a vessel without molestation. Using
to the belief that the exportation will be prohibited, we
could purchase much cheaper to-day ; but, under actual cir-
cumstances, it would be madness to buy."
Great misery is prevalent in the Romagna. It is
hoped that the construction of railways w ill provide work
for the inhabitants. The 7th Feb. is the dsy appointed for
the different companies to present their plans to the Secre-
tary of State.

HOLLANI).—AMSTERDAM, JAN. 22.—The Jour-
nal de la Ilaye of this day, alter stating that the Daily
NM, was the first London journal to publish the diploneine
communications respecting Cracow, which wus laid before
the French Chambers, proceeds to point out that theme ding
article of the Daily !tetta on the Montpensier marriage,
which it quotes, contains many details not generally known,
relating to the negotiations.
GEItNIANY.—It is generally supposed that Arch-
Duke Stephen of Austria, son of the deceased Palatine, will
he elected to the dignity meant by his father's death,
although two other candidates will be proposed, Count
Szechougi and Count Tricky, the latter • protestant. A
new commercial code and bourse regulations were expected
to be issued at Vienna. The construction of si enspeasion-
bridge over the Danube has been decided upon. The crisis
at the Vienna b ',Arse has greatly subsided.
The state of the principalities of the I)arnibe will
soon attract public attention. The ir.eonmeatiim of ftraenw
is • prelude to the annexation of Poland. Under the pre-
text of more easily procuring provisions • considerable body
of Russian troops is advancing toward* the frontiers of
Galicia. The views of Rani& on Turkey are no longer a.
secret, and the principalities of the Danube are not prepared
to resist an attack of the Russians. Moldavia and Wallachia
would fall an easy prey. Berrie alone is capable of making
some resistance. la this country the throne is bereslitary,
which is not the ease in the other principalities, and the
dynastic interests would endeavour to di fend themselves
against the grasping power of Russia. Prince Alexander
does all in his power toward. the welfueof his subjects.
A Vienna letter of the 15th, in the Swabian Mer-
cury, says—" It is announced that the Princess Elisabeth,
daughter or• the late Archduke Palatine of Hungary, is to
he married to the younger brother of the reigning Duke of
Modena, which marriage has already received the sweet os
the Emperor of Austria. In the next spring the Arch-
duchess Maria will go to Naples on • visit to the Queen of
the Two Sicilies, her sister, • joune y said to be connected
with a projected marriage between this princess and the
Count de Trapani."
There exists an excellent institution in Leipsic for
procuring employers for the working clam,. During the
year 1846 there were, on the part of tne former, .5,023 appli-
cations, and 4,965 persons were provided with soltable work.
The entire expense of the establishment was 5,978 dollars.
KONIGSBERG, List. 14.—The agent of a London
assurance company, who was sent over to this place to inquire
into the shipwreck of the Danzig vessel, the Adolph Ottomar,
in the autumn of 1845 (the cargo of which was insured to
the amount of 80,000 thalers), has discovered that the said
vessel shipped in this place and in Palau an immense quan-
tity of large stones as ballast. Further inquiry led to the
arrest of ono of the sailors of the Ottoman, who th dared that
the captain had been promised a large eons if they would
scuttle and sink the ship. Subrequently the Lament ad-
mitted his guilt. The London agent has now satisfactorily
proved that the cargo on hoard the vessel was of no value.
—Deutsche Ally. Zeitung, Jan. 20.
RUSSIA.— ST. PETERSBURGH, JAN. 12. The
health of the Empress continues good. The apprehension
that the climate of Russia would prove injurious to her, after
her return from Italy, has proved to be untbunded. Prin. is
Wolkomki, who has recovered from • long Meet., has re-
ceived his portefeuiUe again from the Emperor's hands.—
Ltessfache Alig. Zeitung, Jan. 20.
GREECF..--ATu ENS, JAN. 10.—The discussion on
the hill for the organisation of consulates, shieh began three
weeks since, is now terminated.
The country is perfectly tranquil, and the general
welfare is progressing. At Patras more than 150 new houses
were built during the year.
At Hydra, Galaxidi, at Spexxia, and in the isles,
the lumber of vessels increases daily. The con-truct ion of
docks and maritime arsenals at Ira, Speeria, and Amalie-
is going on rapidly, Great activity prevails in the
Pi. tens.
RARATONGA (HARVEY'S ARCHI I'EL AGO). --
DR/MI(0(7111M iit/KRICANFA.—Extract of a letter dated
Papeiti (Tahiti), 26th April, 1846:—0n our panage from the
Navigator's Islands to this port we had to call at one of the
interm, diate islands for water, and consequently made Rims-
t ngs, one of Harvey's islet. The very day after we arrived
the island was visited by a hurricane, which caused out
wesel to part four chains and two hawsers by which we were
moored, and drove us on • reef. The schooner being con-
siderably damaged it was impossible to continue the voyage
in her, and I th, refore awaited fur sonic time an oppor!uoity
to proceed. A few days afterwards we were suited with a
second hurricane, which blew down the bowie in which I
was residing (a substantial well-built house), destroying
cocoa-not trees, and the other trope on which thenatisres
depend for fool. On the 16th alt we were again visited
with a hurricane,which absolutely destroyed the whole island.
On the morning of the 16th March it wee blowing a very
heavy gale, with rain which fell in ouch large drops, ea
acquired such force from the wind, at to render it painful to
be exposed to it. During the afternoon the gale continued
to increase, destroying many house, and tearing the trees
out of the ground. Leery precaution was taken by lashing
the roofs on the houses with strong ropes, and nailing up
doors and windows. I went se usual to drink tea with the
missiovaries, from whom I rectived every kindness and at-
tention. At ten o'clock, the k sir at which I was in the
habit of leaving, the gale was still increasing, and I therefore
proposed to remain until some change took place, as I
feared every instant that their house would come down,
and I knew, under such citcumstanees, that nay ser-
vices would be acceptable. At about midnight the
missionaries' house began to totter, and Noon became a
mass of ruins. On the following day the island presented,
• most melancholy picture of desolation. tot a house re-
mained standing. The trees and vegetables on which the
natives depended fee food were destroyed, and everything
belonging to me, as to others on the Island, carried away by
the sea, which bad risen to the enormous height of eighteen
I feet. I had nothing remaining but a shirt and a por of'
trowsers, having thrown off my other clothes in order to
escape more speedily to the mountains, out of the retch of
the advancing waters, which 1 accomplished by swimming
and scrambling over the fallen tree., bring careful the while
to avoid those that were still falling to all sides. I Was
obliged to beg a pair of shoes from an American whaling
captain, who called at the island a few days afterwards, ha.- •
ing no means left wherewith to purchase them, and by
degrees was enabled to clothe myself decently, with
odd things picked up from the sea. The natives,
4000 in number are left houseless and without any material
for rebuilding their settlements ; nor will they be able to
erect any places affording reelect shelter from the weather
for years to come, no completely haetlie inland been swept.
They have also to contend in this friihtful state against •
fan. me, which must last at bust six months, as all their
plantations are destroyed, and that time will be required to
ripen any crops they may now plant. At the time of my -
leasing they were beginning to suffer much from the effects
of this latter evil.—l was taken off Rstratooga by the Lon-
don Missionary Society's barque, John Williams, and arrived
here on Tuesday evening last after a very favourable voy age.