The Express.
London, England, 1854-01-03 00:00:00

FRANCE.

PAItIB, MONDAT EVINING.

The Eastern news in the English journals of Sa-
to:day, which did not arrivs here till too late to be
generally known on that day, have now produced a
very serious effect on the Bourse. The truth of the
report that the Czar had positively refused to treat
with the Four Powers was not doubted. The re-
verses said to have been suffered by the Turks in
Asia were used as an argument that the warlike in-
tervention of Prance and England must be immedi-
ate and serious. There is no confirmation of the intelli-
Fence that the difference between England and Persia
is arranged. Under these influences the downward
movement assumed the proportions of a panic. The
rente fell lfr. 20c., closing at 72f. 10e. Credit
Mobilier declined 33fr. 75c., and several railways fell
as much as 30fr.
In comparing the state of the Bourse at the end of
1853 with the end of last year, it will be found that
while the funds have greatly declined railways have
improved. Orleans, Strasbourg, St. Germain, sod
Rouen are all 100 fr. and upwards higher than they
were a year ago, and among the other lines there is
scarcely one materially lower. The Three per Cents.,
on the other hand, have fallen from 81-82 to 73-74
(on this day, Jan. 2, they are down to nearly 72). The
railways have been kept up by continually-increasing
receipts, while the fundholder, whose income remains
fixed, has borne the brunt of e rumours of war, the
bad harvestoindthe premature winter.
A private letter from Malta, of Dec. 28th,
states that the contractors for the supply of coal to
the English fleet at several points in the Black
Sea have received notice that they will be required
to execute their orders within a very short delay.
The depots for the coal contracted for are at Sinope,
Trebizonde, and Varna.
The Petrie says that letters from Erzeroum of
Dec. sth, announce that a serious misunderstanding
had arisen between the governor of Tauritz and the
English consul of that town, in which there is a
considerable English population. This difficulty
was considered to result from what had passed at
Teheran between the British minister and the Shah
of Persia's government.

THE PENINSULAR MAILS.

SOUTHAMPTON, MONDAY NIGHT,

The Sultan has arrived with the Peninsular Mails.
Her dates are—Lisbon, 29th; Gibraltar, 25th De.
cember. On the 24th ult., the Briti,h squadron in
the Tagus weighed anchor by two's, with a W.N.W.
breeze and a strong ebb tide.
The St. Jean I.YAcre was ordered by. the admire
to shift from the centre of the river, to give a clearer
space for the squadron to work out. Close to the
south side the Desperate lost the wind and missed
stays, fell athwart the hawse of the St. Jean d'Acre,
going through the water at the rats of five knots,
Both vessels got their steam up, and succeeded in
clearing in about three hours, with a loss of jib and
flying boom to the St. Jean d'Acre and mainmast to
Desperate. A court of inquiry acquitted the captain
of all blame.
At Lisbon there has been an extraordinary session
of the Cortes, at which the King Regent's speech
was delivered. Slave ships are now fitting out at
Oporto in the most open and barefaced manner.
Exchange 54; discount of banknotes, 2j.

THE C t PE AND MAURITIUS.

The Bosphorus, Captain Maynar I, arrived at Ply-
mouth on Sunday night with mails from India and
the Cape. She left Calcutta, Oct. 15 ; Madras, Oct.
20 ; Point de Galle, Oct. 24 ; Mauritius, Nov. 6 ;
arrived at Cape of Good Hope, Nov.lB, and left 21st;
St. Helena, Nov. 29 ; Ascension, Dec. 3 ; St. Vincent,
Dec. 12; Corunna, Dec. 27. Her mails are in
charge of Lieut. Griffiths. She has a cargo of silk
and indigo, and addressed packages, and many pas-

'engem.
On the Ist November the Bosphorus broke her
main shaft, and has not since been able to work her
steam at full power ; notwithstanding this, she was
in time up to her departure from St. Vincent.
On the 18th of December she was only six days
from Plymouth, but since that date she has encoun-
tered a succession of strong northerly winds and two
gales. On the 26th she was obliged to run for Co-
runa' for coals.
The Nerbudda had gone for a month's cruise in the
Mozambique. The Barracouta arrived at the Cape.
Nov. 18, on which day the Simoom left with the
Rifle Brigade for England. Troop vessels are at
Simon's Bay waiting to convey the 43rd, 74th, and
12th Lancer,, to Madras.
o:neral Cathcart speaks hopefully of the future
state of the border. The new state of things is
accepted by the Kaffirs. The colonists are not
pleased at the prospect of the withdrawal of the
troops. Preparations for the withdrawal of British
authority from Orange Ricer are in progress. There
is still much disease amongst horned cattle in Cape
Colony.
From Mauritius we learn that the crops are good,
and that • French steamer had been put on to carry
mails and passengers between that place and
Bourbon. _ . -

.„,..—.
The Propontis arrived at Calcutta Oct. 28. Her
captain has been dismissed, and the chief officer of
the Bosphorus has taken the command.

THE PRESTON STRIKE.

PRESTON, Mosvity.

The predictions of the delegates have been fully
realised by the largely increased contributions received from
the various distric's at the meeting of the central committee
held yesterday at the Temperance Hall, in this town. It
had been intimated that the income of the weavers' com-
mittee would this week reach 3,0001. ; the fund placed at
their disposal to-day actually race, ds 3.2001. This aug-
mented income enables the committee to advance the pay of
the unemployed weavers from es. to 61. 64. per head, and
to reserve a balance in hand. The other chests of opera-
tives are to receive a proportionate addition to their week's
pay. All the districts sent in enlarged subscriptions, but
the chief contributors were the people of Blackburn, who
furnished 1,0001. The "New Yeas's Gift " (as the increase
of pay is designated) afforded matter for congratulation to
the speakers at an open air meeting held in the °muted at
noon to-day. After some encouraging remarks upon the
subject by the chairman, Mr. L•ato,
MI. Hansen said he observed that the statement he had
made on a former occasion with respect to the Earl of
Wilton had called forth a letter in contradiction. All he
(the speaker) had to say in reply wait, that he received his
information upon good authority, and et present he sow no
reason to retract his statement. Referring to the week's
income, Mr. Brown remarked that it bad been shown to the
millowners of Preston that the delegates spoke the truth,
and that Gee. Cowell was a true prophet. Souse time ago
Mr. Cowell promised that 9,000/. would be forthcoming for
the relief of the operatives of Preston, and this week ihey
had more than that sum. He (the speaker) anticipated
that before three weeks more were over the committee
would be able to raise the wages of the hands permanently.
Mr. Gao. Cowntr. commenced his address by wishing
those present a happy new year. He hoped that before
another year had rolled away this question would be settled,
and their (the delegates') occupation would be gone. If
any of their leaders were desirous that the present state of
attain should continue those were men who ought not to
be trusted. Fur his own part, he longed to see the time
when the multitude now without employment should re-
same work, providing they could do so on terms honourable
to themselves and honourable to their employers. He did
not wish to gain a victory over the employers. All be
desired was, that justice should be done to the operatives
and that was, that they *holed receive a fair day's wage ler
• fair day's work. Inquiries had been made respecting the
promised comparison between the Preston prices and those
of Blackburn and other towns. In reply, he begged to say
that the document was in course of preparation, and would
be issued as soon as possible.
Mr. CitiaTRAIL (of Oldham) advistd his bearers net to
purchase those newspapers which were adverse to the
factory workers' interests.
The meeting was also addressed by Mr. STEVENSON, of
Huntley, and Mr. 011.11011 kW, of Great Harwood.
A. resolution was unanimously passed, pledging the
meeting to persevere in this straggle.
As usual, the proceedings terminated with cheers for the
ten per cent.

PROPOSED NEW RAILWAY DOCKS.—AII extensive
wet dock, of 23 acres, in connexion with the various lines
convergin bark g at Newcastle, is proposed to be constructed on
the north bor of the Tyne, with a deep water entrance of
23 feeL A. similar wet dock is also proposed to be este-
bibbed in oonnezion with the midways et ktaryport.