The Express.
London, England, 1851-06-25 00:00:00

GERMANY.

FRANFORT-ON-THE-MAINE, Itrzis 24.
The Engere-Rath of the Diet met on Saturday
forenoon. The object of the sitting is not yet known. In
the evening, Count Thun, the president, entertained all the
members at a grand banquet.
The report that the Austrian and Bavarian troops
quartered in Hesse are to quit that country in
the beginning of the ensuing month is premature.
No resolution of the kind has yet been taken by the
Diet (unless in the sitting a11ud.74 to above), and I am
assured that the. question has not b.•en touched upon in an
official manner since the reinstatement of the federal govern-
ment. The proceedings of the Diet are proverbial for their
slowness, and it is not to be expected that they will be
quickened at a time when the whole internal ar-
rangements of the institution require to be restored
to something like order and harmony. Questions
ofjosties or mercy to the people of any portion of the con-
federation must of course be deferred until those Internal
errearemate have resumed their former shape and motion.
To these alone has the attention of the Engere-Rath been
directed; my former letters have contained the details of the
re-appointment of the several committees which existed in
the Diet previous to 1848.
Prussia and Hanover are making strenuous exertions in
the committee on the affairs of the federal marine, to im-
press upon the other states the advantage of establishing tho
German fleet on a permanent and gradually increasing',
foundation. The Austrian government entertains very
similar opinions, but from the manner in which they have
been manifested it would seem that it desired the control of the
Beet to be placed in the hands of one particular state, point-
ing out at the same time the advantages of the Austrian ports
in the Mediterranean during the four or live months of the
year in which the parts of the northern states are inacces-
sible. Prussia and Hanover have caused their views to be
developed in the commdttee. They are in this point de-
cidedly opposed to these of Austria. They claim that the
command of the German marine shall be placed in the
bands of the failed military commieionera in the same
manner as the management of the Oedema army.

SOUTH AUSTRALIAN BANKING COMPANY.—Yea-
tcrdav the tenth annual meeting of this company was held
at the bank, in Old Broad-street. Edward Divctt, Esq.,
M.P., presided. The report, which was highly satisfactory,
stated infer aha that the colony of South Australia con-
tinued to rise in population and prosperity, and that the
business of the bank, as well as its profit, had thereby con-
siderably increased ; much however of the year's income I
was made up from the recovery of various debts, hitherto
looked upon as written off. The nett profits of the year
were 22,2311. The reserve fund was now 7721. 131. 4d. A
dividend of 6 per cent. for the ensuing year was recom-
mended, with a bones of cis. per share, payable in July and
La= The report, after some consideration, was
. sad tie nazis,: directors and auditors Were
elected.

CALIFORNIA.

The D4ats publishes the following letter from its
correspondent at San Francisco, May 1 :
_ .

A deplorable conflict took place last week at the Placer
of the Mokelamtnes, between the French and the miners of
other nations. The rich plateau had been for some time '
occupied by the French, who had discovered it; one, two,
and sometimes three pounds of gold were found in a day.
The report of the riches of this spot soon reached the neigh-
bouring encampments, and some of the miners came from
them and established themselves near the French station,
but not beie,g successful in finding the precious metal, they
detennfraed to come and take possession of the part belong-
the French. A desperate struggle took i:iace, when
one of the Frenchmen in a rage took up gun and slot one
of his ass;,iiants dead on the spot. The body was
takon up and carried by his comrades to their camp,
where cries of vengeance were immediately raised.
A general rising among them took place and they crone
well armed, to the number of between 500 and 600, to at•
tack and drive out the French from their rich holding.
The latter, who were only 60 in number, made a vigorous
defence, but were at length overpowered by numbers and
compelled to abandon the ground, and retire into a sort of
enclosure, where they entrenched themselves. When there
they opened negotiations. Their assailants had during
this time pillaged the French tents and burnt them. In-
toxicated by their success, they then offered the most dis-
graceful terms to the French, who refused them, and re-
solved to evacuate the place, which they did, fighting,
however, every inch of the way, until they reached the
Placer Saint Andre. News of the affair having reached
San Francisco, Mr. Dillon, the French consul, immediately
sent an express to the government of San Jose, begging it
to use its efforts to put an end to the conflict. The prompt
intervention of our consul, his moderation, and the esteem
in which he is held by all classes in San Francisco, had its
effect. He was about to start himself for the rubies, when
, a courier reached him with an account of the quarrel
having been brought to a close, in consequence of his com-
munication to the government. During the retreat, the
French lost none of their party, one only received a wound
, in the leg. This conflict has not originated with Ameri-
cans, but with a band of vagabonds of all nations who sup-
, port themselves by pillage. Mr. Dillon has left San Fran-
cisco the mines, accompanied by some superior officers
of the American army, in order to restore perfect harmony
among the miners of different nations, and to adopt mea-
-1 suns fur the punishment of the band of brigands.