The Express.
London, England, 1862-12-29 00:00:00

W. CINTILU.

B.W. to N.W., • gale, B.W.llaonais.
rainy.
&&W. to W.N.W., &I. EasuaD.
a ale, with rain.
&W. to N.W.„ and to & nO•gt. W.N.W. to &X. E.,
N. 8., • gale, with strong, some mow.
rain or mow.

South cone on Saturday and Sunday In North and West Coasts.
Drum early on Monday morning all round.

TEE GREAT Zin=c.—The following is published
in the New York papers of the 17th :—" We, the undersigned,
having carefully =mined the steamer Great Eastern—in.
eluding her repairs, which have been done in a scientific end
workmanlike manner—ere of opinion that she is in every
way seaworthy, and in condition to wry passengers with
'laity and comfort, and a full cargo of any description to
any part of the world. The accident and subsequent oc-
currences have fully demonstrated the great value and
safety of a double bottom. We further certify that, having
examined into the circumstances connected with the acci-
, dent to the steamer off Montauk Point, we are of opinion
that no blame can be attached to Captain Paton, who, from
the cross bearings of the different lights, knew the exact
position of the vessel when she struck a aebmerged rook,
not laid down in any chart, though in tho fair-way channel.—
Robert Mackie, Lloyd's Agent; Wm. H. Borleigh, Presi-
dent Board of Port Wardens ; E. B. Seaman, Port Warden ;
Wm. C. Thompson, Vice-president Neptune Insurauce Coen.
pany ; Erastus W. Smith, Engineer ; Benjamin Hitchman,
Port Warden ; John M. Marks, United States Inspector of
Hulls ; Charles H. Haswell, Surteyiag Officer, Board of
Underwriters."

General Bayard, who was killed in the battle of
Fredericksburg, was to have been married on the 18th to a
daughter of Colonel Bowman, of West Point. The match
bad already been postponed twice on account of the exi-
gencies of the service.

The reported wounding of General Meagher is a
mistake. His horse fell upon him, but he was only slightly
injured, mid is still in command of wh►t remains of his
brigade. . _

The New York Tribune of the I.7th says :
"Although the recently published volume of diplomatic
eorreepondeuos makes nearly 1,000 pages, we learn that
Secretary Seward has enough more in manuscript of this
year's despatches to 811 another volume of equal aim"

Cotton growing has commenced in earnest in the
province of Corrientes, in the Argentine republic. On two
estates 23,000 plota have already been sown with the seeds
of that staple. An immigration company, composed of the
landholders of Banta Fe, has been formed. The fertile
land' along the banks of the Salado are to be divided into
small farms for ootton growing. Immigranta are to be in-
troduced to assist in its culture.

A conflict has arisen in the Duchy of Baden
between the government and the enclesisatical authorities,
relative to the keeping of the civil registers. The erehi-
episcopal jurisdiction Las forbidden the ecclesiastical func-
tionaries to inscribe on the registers merely civil marriages,
which Sr. only a ithorised by law in extreme cases. The
church, not recognising the validity of such unions, cannot
according to its rites insert them in records reser►ed men-
elvely to the registration of marriages which l .oonekiees
legitimate. . . . . .

The opening of a new protestant church at Havre
has given great satisfaction to the friends of liberty of con-
science, not only in that town, but throughout France. The
ceremony was the mere remarkable from the character of
the congregation, which was composed of various sects of
Christians. All the authorities of the town and of the ar.
roodissement were present. A sermon was preached by
each of the two pastors of the community, of which the
subject was liberty of conscience. Respect for the holy
place of meeting alone prevented a burst of applause at the
conclusion. A collection was then made for the unemployed
operatives of the tows, which produced 1,800(r.
At Naples Ristori has published her programme
of amusement provided at the Teiltro Fontlo. During the
carnival, beginning on the 25th, there were to be 40 repro-
sentationain 32 of which the distingutshed actress would take
a pert. Tan of these, new to Naples, were written or trans.
fated expressly for her.
A letter from Rome in the Meleager din Sitii
says :—"King Frsocie IL, through his legal representati►e,
Baron de Treuseendo, has presented to the Civil Tribunal at
Rome a protest, in which, as heir to the property of the
house of Farness of Parma, he claims the possession and
reversion of the old fief of Cestel•Madame, situated 30 miles
from Rome. The protest ie directed against the Marquis
Pallavicino, of Perms. sad Count Rossolli, residing at Nise.
The value of the fief .is about 50,000 Roman crowu (Mr.
*soh). According to the protest, the Pallavirinos sold the
property without being the legitimate pomesson of is."
DISPATCH or rug AMERICAN AND USITID STAFIS
HAILS.—Os Saturday the Cunard Royal MaU steamer
Africa was despatched from Liverpool for Boston with
mails far the Baited States and British North America, tsi.
thee with • large number of pmesagere,
Li l The
lonia steamer City of lialiitiora kale Liverpool for
New York on Wednesday next with arils for as United
States. Letters will be received at the Liverpool Post-
coital until 1.30 p.m. Late deepstebes via Cork will he re-
mired until 8.30 p.m.