The Express.
London, England, 1846-10-15 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, THURSDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 15, 1-846.. N.

to thli-inAtalf& ass Hated Adis, oe whitever he
may h\itataft• ?epee, on the terms proposed by
the gabinet of Washington, is evidently not to the
taste of the men, who succeseildly pronounced in
Mexico on the 4th of August, and who summoned
SANT t ANNA to assume the Presidency, " because his
unquestionable influence with the army was the best
guarantee for the union of that meritorious class with
the people." 'fhe proclamations of General SALAS
breathe a very earnest intention of prosecuting the
war, and the acts of the provisional government seem
to correspond with those intentions. The troops
have been despatched to Monterey, and General
AMPEDIA is said to have the command there of a con-
siderable force. General MORALES, too, who joined
in the late revolution, has gone as commander to
California. All bespeaks a determination to strike
another blow for the honour and independence of the
empire.
Much as we fear the result, it is impossible
not to admire the spirit and patriotism which
seem to actuate the new ministers. We say seem,
for the instances are too frequent of such manifesta-
tions of Spanish spirit being but preludes to the most
prepense baseness. Public report, moreover, is very
unfavourable to the characters of the men who have
assumed this bold attitude. With the exception of
ALMONTE, they obtain small credit for either courage
or honesty. Their purpose to resist the Americans
seems, however, sincere ; and, moreover, appears too
strenuous and too well-supported by public opinion
for SANTA ANNA to brave it. The dictator, therefore,
for such he is in name, lies under assumed illness at his
country scat; resolved to await the result of the trial
of arms, which cannot fail to have already taken
place.
It must be premised that the Mexicans by no
means admit the late actions on the Rio Grande to be
decisive ; and much blame is attached to General
ARISTA for his management. He is a brave cavalry
officer ; but his want of vigilance in not preventing
the night-march of the Americans, and his engaging
within reach of their camp and their batteries, have
destroyed his character with his countrymen ; who
attribute, to his want of generalship on their side, the
success of General TAYLOR.
It now appears that the Mexicans are determined
to act on the defensive. General AMPUDIA is the
best artillery officer in their service, as General
ARISTA was the most fumed cavalry leader. The
appointment of MUMMA shows that their reliance
is to defend Monterey, trusting to their cannon, and to
their obsenacy behind the walls, instead of venturing
forth to encounter the American guns with wild Mexican
horsemen. General Tay Loa's force and that of Am et; ma
are represented as about equal; and although the
American is a far more formidable soldier than the
Mexican, the latter behind fortifications may be a
match for him. So at least more than One of our
informants imagine.
The fate of Monterey will have been decided
towards the middle of September, and if General
TAYLOR succeed, SANTA ANNA may then rise up,
declare the war hopeless, and overrule his more san-
guine and unlucky ministers or colleagues. But will
Mr. POLE be then satisfied with the demands just
made, and which SANTA ANNA has shelved by re-
ferring them to the Congress that meets on the 4th
December. We may now count on Mr. I'oue's
desire of peace; but with three American divisions in
possession of the enemy's country, one at Santa Fe,
one at Monterey, and the division which is marching
from Texas into Chihuahua, can he restrain the spirit
of his people, or again offer the Rio Grande as a
boundary ? This becomes doubtful. Meantime the
American government is making every exertion fur
pushing the war. General GAINES, with all the
troops under his command, has been ordered to the
seat of war. Tampico will no doubt be attacked, and
perhaps Don Juan D'Uhloa. The American press
calls loudly for active measures, and na,'rely declares,
that, if they be delayed, the volunteers will soon find
their way home, and leave the war to take care of
itself.

sent, and in Lord Cathcart, as Oeverone-General and also
Commander of the Forces, one would Imagine the patronage
exclusively resided. tforeoeer, Lord Cathcart, in consulta-
tion with the Adjutant-General, Sir Allan M' Nab, had agreed
to appoint a particular individual deputy to Sir Allan. Thus,
by his plighted word, or if that be too strong, by kis
personal preference for one person,—by his military right as
Commander of the Forces, and by his prerogative right as
Governor-General, he ought to bare been allowed to gazette
Colonel Cameron instead of Colonel Macdonald ; but his
council, the very council that had sustained Lord Metcalfe,
and fought a stout battle for him, deemed otherwise.
They insisted upon his recalling his promise, or abandoning
his preference, whichever it was, and they appointed a
deputy of their 'own ! For what, then, did Lonl Metcalf-
struggle ? what did he settle as to the rights of Governors in
the matter of patronage?
It will be said that Lord Metcalfe did not resist the claim of
his council to be consulted upon appointments, but their de-
mnnd, that for the future, he should not appoint siaiont
consulting them, which his Lordship called, demanding a
"stipulation." I was not in the province at the precise time
when this transaction occurred; but Lord Metcalfe pleaded
his own cause, submitted papers under his own signature
to Parliament and the country, and I have read these, and
I cannot but regard the plea as an attempt to set up a dis-
tinction without a difference.
I cannot but say that I think Lord Cathcart has not been
treated very handsomely by the home Government. If be
is a Tory, he is a very mild one, and Lord Elgin belongs to
that school of politics. He has shown no party predilections.
and offended no political party since he has been at the head
of the Government. It is as yet unknown whether Lord
Cathcart will remain in the country as Commander of Fortes
under a new Governor-General, or go home ; but it is under-
stood he has been strongly solicited in high quarters at home
to remain.
The Montreal Gazette says," Lord Metcalfe did not expect
to succeed. He was resigned, noble old man as he was,
to recoil back in his old age, after a life of successful ad-
ministration, defeated but not dishelnoured, grieved but not
ashamed." This is singular praise to offer to a practical
statesman; for, in practical matters to anticipate defeat,
comes very near ensuring it. If Lord Metcalfe could not
see his way through the difficulties of the mission offered to
him, ought the imperial government to have assigned to
him the task, or have sent out some mind cf adequate re-
sources, and at the least self-sustained by the conviction of
success? It is bad morality for one man to undertake what
he feels he cannot perform, to the prevention of another, is
whose hands the work might be easily and securely lICCOUI.
plished ; and if it be not high treason, it is a high crime and
misdemeanour, an impeachable offence, in the ministers of
the Crown, by such selection, to misgovern the colonies.
As a wholesome caution in this respect, let us see to what •
state these various experiments have brought the
colony. I quote from the Montreal Gazette, than
which it would be difficult to find a more re-
spectable authority : " That the present state of Canada
is full of difficulties, and its future troubled in pros-
pect, it would be idle to deny. No reflecting man can con-
sider the province in anything but a transition state at
present, and in what form it is finally to settle is a question
which the gift of prophecy could alone solve. In our opinion,
there will be an entire reconstruction of the political condition
of this continent before long, and the fate of Canada will bs
much influenced by that of its neighbours and geographical
kindred."

Will the gentlemen in Downing-street, whose privilege it
is to rule or misrule, as the case may be, the transmarine
possessions of the British crown, take heed of the solemn
warning conveyed in this picture, drawn by the competent
hand of one of their own friends? There is " trouble in pros.
pest"—breakers a-head and a lee shore, requiring a skilful
and a bold hand at the helm—this, I suppose, is what is
meant. _ _

Speculations are of course rife as to Lord Elgin and the
course he will steer in the present condition of parties in
the country. No sensible man thinks he will pursue an ex •
elusive or extreme course; and if a government can be
honourably composed of parties who have heretofore been
in opposition to each other, it will be generally satisfactory.
Party spirit does not now run so high as it has done. Over-
tures have been made, as I formerly explained, for a junc-
tion, and if this can be effected by a new• governor without
a compromise of principle, it will for a time reconcile the
differences and heal the wounds of political warfare. But
the country is in a state of " transition," or rather in a
growing state, passing from infancy to mature age, and no
narrow rules of government will suit its condition. The
restlessness that has been, and will continue to be, observable
for some time yet in the condition of society in this country,
may only be truly traced to the natural effects of the process
of expansion that is going on in all the interests of the
community. In short, the country is getting bigger,—
the boy is shooting up to manhood, and can no
longer be confined by his schoolboy habits, kept
in order by his nurse, or made to yield the same ready obe-
dience as heretofore, even to the voice of his mamma. You
must lengthen his tow-line a bit, and give him more verge
and space, and freedom of action, or you war not against
him, but against nature.
An improve:in nt in the prices of timber and flour has
given activity speculation and business. We have two
railroads in actual progress, and public works arc undertaken
that give an aapeta and promise of prosperity to the country,
which, under all discouragemcnts, is cheering.

BELGII3I.—It is asserted that the negotiations
set on foot at Berlin to give greater extension to the treaty of
commerce and navigation concluded between the Zollverein
and Belgium on the Ist September, 1844, have been
adjourned. The steps taken by the Belgian minister at the
Prussian Court have failed. _ _ _

MONTREAL, SEPT. 2S, 1816.
The interval that has passed since 1 last addressed
you has not been distinguished by any colonial event that
could much interest your readers. The vessel of State
having been tempest-tossed, now lies, as it were, water-
logged, unalile to advance, to recede, or move indeed in any
direction. The news from England has indeed brought food
for thought to the colonial mind, but the day-for action
stands off yet in the distance. All watt to see the practical
tendency of the free trade measures of the mother country
upon the general prosperity of Canada. If this prosperity
should be endangered, the discontent will of course become
general and serious. Great Britain opening her ports to all '
comers with grain will be expected not to put her
own subjects in her dependencies upon a worse
footing as to the supply of that article than
are their immediate neighbours on the same territory.
Thus, the farmer and merchant of Canada, if by any impe-
rial regulations for imperial interests they should be unable
to compete with the American in the carriage of grain or
flour to the ports of Great Britain, whereby they lose that
country as a customer far the important article of bread
stuffs altogether, the American farmer and merchant gaining
what they lose, I think it will hardly be contested that dis-
content would be the lot of the losers, and discontent bearing
rather awkwardly upon the very delicate question of the
" connexion." The difference of freight upon a barrel of
flour between New York and Montreal is more than two
shillings in favour of the former ; that is to say, it is so much
lower at New York. The Canadian merchant cannot ex-
port by the St. Lawrence at this rate, and all the industrious
climes employed in grinding, barrelling, and manufacturing
barrels, and shipping American wheat, drawn from the
western wheat-growing states of the Union, lose all the
profit of that business. British-built or owned vessels come
across the Atlantic, and up the St. Lawrence in a
great measure in ballast or for low freights. Hence they are
compelled to charge heavily for home freights, and the en-
tire colonial community are the losers, because British
bottoms only can be permitted to carry colonial goods. If
New York or New Hampshire vessels were allowed to sail
up the St. Lawrence, the trade in bread stuffs would be
secured. These vessels—l cannot exactly tell you why—are
navigated with fewer men, carry larger cargoes from their
peculiar and superior build, sail quicker, and have generally
a shrewder race of captains, men who unite the qualities of
merchant and mariner more conspicuously than ours do.
Hence, low freights. In such speculations, however, we are
met by the navigation laws, the chorea naaritima of Great
Britain. I would not weaken this bulwark of our maritime
supremacy ; but what will you do if, under the new doctrines
of the day, it prove a real stumbling-block in the way of
your colonial prosperity ? rule is no longer limited to
the superficies of a mere sea-girt island. Its boundless em-
pire covers new continents and islands beyond seas, and,
henceforth you must legislate for England and her colonies,
as old Spain used to do for " Spain and the Indies," or pre-
pare for the day when you will no longer own dependencies.
Without, however, entering upon the larger debateable
ground of the navigation laws, we may, in the present case,
narrow the question to the British shipping interest, for
whose protection these laws are maintained. If the Montreal
or Quebec merchant cannot transmit the flour grown in the
Western States to British ports at a price that will compete
with that grown in the same region but sent rid New York,
then Canada will lose utterly that branch of trade—the mighty
waters of the St. Lawrence become useless to the country,
and what interest will be the gainer ? Not the British ship-
ping interest certainly ; for the carrying trade will he gone ,•
but American shipping and American commerce. It would
be difficult to show in what manner the charta maritime of
England would be served by throwing this trade into the
hands of the American shipowners.
Your editorial remarks upon the state of Canadian politics
and reference to the letters of your correspondent, have at-
tracted the notice of the journals here. The Montreal
Gazette thinks you are not warranted in casting blame upon
Lord Metcalfe. That Lord Metcalfe meant well will be
denied by no fair thinking person. But he settled ao con-
stitutional principle,—certainly not the principle upon which
he broke ground with his council. He would not act " by
and with the advice and consent" of his council in the
matter of patronage. He chose to make and offer appoint-
ments to office without consulting and without even inform-
ing his council. This he claimed as a governor's prerogative,
cr rathcs ks the Frarkaeatira kf which he sits swan
to defend ; and although the House of Assembly, decided so-
lemnly on a division in the proportion of exactly two to one
against his doctrins, he maintained his ground, dissolved the
parliament, and for two years manfully struggled for victory
over his adversaries, and was rewarded by a parliamentary
majority, which enabled him to retain in high office a few
gentlemen belonging to no party, and who, like a general
hospital, were supported rather by the " voluntary contribu-
tions of the charitable of all parties " than by any native
vigour of their own. It was after having accomplished this,
and this only, that Lord Metcalfe departed ,• not, however,
in truth be it spoken, because he thought he bad finished
his task or was tired of politics, but because the hand of
death was upon him, and he was no longer fit so be a com-
batant in mundane affairs.
But how did he leave the question of appointments to
office ? Did he settle permanently, or even draw the line
i distinctly for the moment between the rights of the council
and the rights of the governor in the matter of patronage?
What is Lord Cathcart's position with reference to the
appointment of a deputy Adjutant-General ? Has he been
allowed to make that appointment without the consent of
Ida council ? It is military and staictly prerogative appoint-

HOLLAND.—AMSTERDAM, OCT. 11.—We learn
that the post of Ambassador of the Netherlands at the British
Court hasbcen offered to Baron Van Der Capallea Van Ber-
kenmonde, but that the Baron has declined accepting that
post.
I)EN3IARK.—SCITLEsWIG-HOLSTEIN. A LTONA,
OCT. 6.—The King of Denmark made the following address
to the united troops of Schleswig-Holstein: "I am highly
satisfied at being thus in the midst of the troops of the
Duchies. lam greatly satisfied with your discipline and
appeal anise. I thank you for your loyalty ; it is not new to
me, you have always given proofs of it, and I always felt it;
but it is not the less a pleasure for me to have only to address
words of praise and thanks to my faithful troops." After
this speech the troops gave loud cheers. The king deigned
to reply, by " Long live the brave troops of the Duchies." At
the banquet, the king, having given the health of the troops,
proposing the following toast said : " I have another toast
to propose, that of the sovereigns of the Confederation, who
appointed the brave generals .seated at my side to review
the troops. It is a proof of their concurrence towards the
good discipline of the army of the German Confederacy, of
which the contingent of the Duchy of Ilolstein-Lauenburg
forms, and will always form, an honourable portion. My con-
stant object will be the perfect discipline of the troops.: Join me,
gentlemen, in drinking the health of their Majesties the
King of Prussia, the King of Wurtemberg, and his Royal
Highness the Duke of Nassau:.
11UNGAIRY.—PEST11, SEPT. 29.—For some time
past, the Hungarian., particularly the younger portion, have
been animated by an ultra national spirit, which has been
manifested chiefly towards the Germans, and even the Hun-
garians of German origin, who are very numerous in that
country. Two evenings ago this hatred was displaced in a
deplorable manner at the German theatre in this capital.
The performance was the "Mysteries of l'aris," a German
drama founded on the French novel. As soon as the ma-
nager, M. Forst, who played one of the characters, !appeared
on the stage, he was received with loud hisses and cries of
" Off, off! we will no longer tolerate your German theatre."
M. Fore, who is an actor of great merit, and who had hitherto
been a favourite, advanced towards the foot-lights, and
wished to address the public, but the hissing and hooting in-
creased, and he was not permitted to speak. About a hun-
dred young men then jumped over the orchestra upon the
stage, shouting "Malediction to the German Theatre"
( Barzom d nemet szinlay)! and, seizing M. Forst, kicked
him off the stage; they then led him home to his own house
through the streets, hissing him, striking him with sticks,
and throwing potatoes and eggs in his face. The police only
arrived at the moment when M. Forst was entering his
house, but they succeeded in arresting several of his assail-
ants. M. Forst is very ill, in consequence of the treatment
that he received.

AMERICA.
THE GREAT WESTERN IN A HURRICANE.
The following is the account of the Great Western's out-
ward voyage. The details arc drawn tip by a passenger :
He commences by stating that the Great Western sailed front
e, pool on the 12th ult., with 126 pamencers and a crew of fin, in
all 211 souls. The storm commenoed on the evening of Saturday, the
9th. On Sunday, the sea rose frightfully, the mails were split, and the
vessel was running under bare poles. At eleven o'clock that forenoon
a heavy sea broke over the fore part of the larboard wheel-house, or
paddle-box, which started the ice-house and large iron lifeboat from
their fastenings, and washed them to leeward, and with mucbdifficulty
they were temporarily secured. The ice-house contained some seven
or eight tons of ice, and was faatened by cleft; and Hautschions. Let
the reader imagine the force of the sea and the height of the wave
which, rising over the paddle-box, struck the ice-house and the large
iron life-twat above it, twisted them from their fastenings,
breaking the ice-house into two parte, ripping off the planks, crushing
the starboard companionway, and only prevented from making a clear
breach in the sides of the ship by a sudden lurch to port. Meantime
the wind howled most frightfully through the rigging. At half-past
eleven the square mile blew away from the yards. The lee quarter
boats were torn from the davits by a heavy lee lurch of the ship, bead-
ing the davits, tearing cut the ringbolts from their stems and sterns.
At noon, storm and sea raging in all their fury, sea sti I braking over
the ship ; a heavy sea struck the Larboard pail:lie-lox and smashed it
to atoms; sprung the epring beam, breaking the under half ; shattered
the parts of the ship attached thereto. A splinter struck the captain
on the head while standing on the poop, and th • rove, of the blow,
together with the sea, carried him over the lee quarter, and he was
only saved by the nettings.
After this sea had paaacd over, the water gained on the pumps
the *gal ..ppitated to little aat: the ship a licav sailer, ho igaL
blowing a storm. All the hatches, except those made use of for pass-
ing into the engine-room. were battered down, and the skylights par-
tially covered. The weather continued the same until midnight, at
which time It lulled for half an hour. Again the storm rose. The
wind bowled, roared, and bellowed, like the constant mutterings of
the thunder cloud. Huge waves of tremendous height and volume
rose in mad display around the ship, threatening every moment to
break over her amidships and crush the vessel. bra after sea striking
her with terrific noise, rimmed the gallant ship to stop for an
instant, tremble and shake in every timber from her stem to
her atsrnposit, reeling and lurching, tossed to and tm, again
would she gather fresh strength, and with her wheels half hid
in the wild waters, again and again receive the thundering
blows of an element that seemed armed for destruction. The ails on
the yards, strongly secured by ropes and gadieta, were blown from
their torte and streamed out to leeward in ribbons. nut all this was
as nothing. About one p.m., whilst moist of the parrngers were
seated sg .rising 'appease in the lower cabin, holding fast to the
tab:es and settees, a sea struck the rowel, and • tremendous crash
was beard on deck. Inatantly the cabin was darkened, and torrents
of wake came Pouring through the skylights. Scarcely had the
waters reached the floor, when all in thecabins andstate.rommi sprang
to their feet, and simultaneously, as if by concert, the ladies uttered a
scream of agony, so painful, so fearful, and so despairing, the wound
of it will never be forgotten. Several fainted—others clamed their
band. is mate whilst many called aloud upon their Creator.
The mall co which the writer alludes was caused by the tearing up