The Express.
London, England, 1851-06-10 00:00:00

CANADA.

TORONTO, MAY 24.
The session of the Canadian parliament was opened
on Tuesday last by the Governor-General, Lord Elgin,
after the ceremony used in England upon such occasions.
His excellency delivered the speech from the throne in
the English and French languages. It was general and
guarded, and the address in answer to it excited very little
debating in the house, and was carried without discussion.
It commenced by alluding to the general prosperity of
the province, and expressing congratulation for this and
the high rate provincial securities commanded abroad. It
expressed satisfaction at the recent changes in the im-
perial navigation laws, which it stated would en-
able the provincial government to provide increased
facilities for emigrants, and thereby cruse the ex-
' pending of capital in the completing and rendering more
perfect our internal communication. Satisfaction is ex-
pressed at the spirit that exists in favour of railway enter-
prise, and. it is stated the credit of the province will be
pledged to aid the construction of railways, with proper
regard to its protection. I may state with regard to this,
that there is as strong feeling existing which will pre-
vent the government, even if it felt so disposed, from
entering into any rash enterprises. Congratulation is ex-
pressed for the new postal law. On the subject
of the proposed Quebec and Halifax raiiroad, th, re is no-
thing definite stated, but the despatch of Earl Grey is
promised consideration. The Canada and New Brunswick
boundary question is stated to be in train for final adjust-
meat, and in a satisfactory manner. The Great Exhibition
is alluded to, and the house is glad that reports have reached
his Excellency that Canada will not be unworthily repre-
sented. On the clergy reserves nothing is said further than
that the house is grateful to her Majesty for having so gra-
ciously received its address, and also for the communication
of her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State upon the sub-
ject. A measure for the increase of the representation in
parliament is again recommended, and the address closes
with the following paragraph :
This house feels deeply sensible that as the province ad-
vances in wealth and population, and the authority of the
local parliament is extended and confirmed, the responsi-
bilities which attach to members of this legislature become
necessarily more onerous, and they rejoice with your Ex-
cellency in the assurance that the people of Canada, while
they justly appreciate the requirements of an age of pro.
geese, are attached to their institutions and faithful to their
early traditions, and assure your Excellency that they will
earnestly endeavuur, in humble reliance on the divine
blessing, to promote in this spirit their best interests.
There is one thing very remarkable about this address:
it is that, after the resolutions had been passed upon which
it was founded, Sir Allan M'Nab seconded the various
motions of Mr. Attorney-General Baldwin fur its final
adoption and engrossing. After the violence and bitter-
ness of the strife of 1849, such a thing as this sounds
strangely in Canadian ears. Sir Allan, you will likely
remember, was then one of the most violent, nay even
frenzied opponents of the Rebellion Indemnity Bill, and
denounced in no measured terms Mr. Baldwin and Lord
Elgin ' • yet now, before this same ministry has gone out of
office, Sir Allan seconds a motion for an address to Lord
Elgin. What the object of this action of Sir Allan is, I
cannot say ; but I should hardly think that either he or
the ministry could entertain the idea of a coalition. Sir
Allan has been already condemned very strongly by the
leading conservative press of this city.
The Hon. W. H. Merritt gave his reasons for re-
signing his place in the ministry, in the debate on the ad-
dress. The principal of these were that he disapproved
of the Minute of Council forwarded to Earl Grey on the I
subject of retrenchment. Mr. Merritt held that a far
greater retrenchment of the governmental expentes should
he made than the government was disposed to concur in.
He also believes our constitution to be radically bad, and
intimated that it was his intention of proposing, during the
present session, some measures of constitutional reform.
His proposals will fall dead in the present house ; but he
will make a speech, and it will go to the country, and may
likely produce some effect there. This, I suppose, is his
calculation.
As to the state of Canadian partial, they are all broken
up; and it is impossible to perceive a glimmer of light
through them. During this session the ministry will, no
doubt, bold on their way, and Puffer very little decrease
from their usual majorities. While the action of Sir Allan
M'Nab and Mr. Merritt would seem to indicate that the
struggle will ultimately come between real independents,
but nominal, eounexionists, and those desirous of maintain-
ing, or rather holding, to ancient " traditions," to use the
phraseology of his excellency. The former will be at first
the more powerful, but the probabilities are in favourof the
latter going on increasing.
Since the above was written Sir Allan M'Nab has made
an explanation of his vote, stating that he did not act from
political motives, but only oat of courtesy to Mr. Baldwin.
This is RO reason. And, also, since the above was written
the ministry have sustained a slight defeat by a majority of
one. But the house was not full. Several of their eau&
supporters did however go against them.
, Commorcial—The spring ships continue rapidly to arrive
at Qaebee sad Montreal, and some have begun to clear out-
wards again. Business is increasing in activity. Ashes of
' both pots and pearls have changed hands at 295. 6d. Flour
—This market is rather flat. There have been some sales
of " fancy " at from 20e. 3d. to 20,. 6d. per Dural.

• The quintal may be taken RS equal to I cwt. Kneads, m4d the
ard,b, divided Into 24 kites, as equal to 5 English bushels. Th.
.stre Is divvied into 44 perm; 97, or in the ordinary course of
account 100 piastres, are equal to LI sterling.

THE BRAZILIAN MAIL SERVICE.—Since the com-
mencement of the Brazilian mail contract, four packets
have arrived from the Brazils, and two of them hare hap-
pened to touch at St. Vincent on their homeward passage
at the same time u the Cape of Good Hope screw marl
steamers, and have arrived in England before the latter.
In both instances the officers on board the screw steamers
have refused to communicate to the officers of the Brazilian
steamers the news from the Cape, although it has been of
the utmost importance both to the government and the
country. The publication in the Express of yes
terday of the fact that the officers of the Sir Robert
Peel, Cape mail steamer, had refused to communicate

at St. Vincent to the officers of the Brazilian
mail steamer Teviot, which arrived at Southampton on
Sunday, and also the publication in the Express elf the
few items of important intell.gence from the Cape which
was obtained secretly from the passengers of the Sir Robert
Peel, have excited the attention of the government, and a
telegraphic instruction was sent to Southampton yesterday
from the government, which it was expected would reach
before the departure of the outward Brazilian steamer,
ordering the Admiralty agent of the Brazilian packets, if they
arrived in future at St. Vincent at the same time as the
serew steamers, to demand. in the name of the government,
from the Admiralty agents of the screws, the full particular",
of the Cape news. Instructions will also be sent to Ply-
mouth to order the Admiralty agents of the Cape packets
to furnish in future such information, and any refusal to
do so will cause the persons so refusing to be dismissed
from her Majesty's service.
THE NICARAGUA NOUTF.—Thc Nero York Tribune
states : " We learn that the Prometheus will leave this city
on the 13th of July, direct for San Juan de Nicaragua,
taking the Brat company of passengers for California by the
Central American route. The steamer Pacific will' leave
San Francisco the same day fur San Juan del Sur, and corn.
plate the connection. The two iron steamboats intended to
ran on the San Juan Riyer will ho sent out in a few days.
Mr. Vanderbilt leaves on the 13th of Juno to complete the
eirsegements to the opening of the route."