The Express.
London, England, 1851-04-30 00:00:00

AMERICA.

Our correspondent writes :
NEW YORK, Aram 16.
Mr. Seward's party in this state, having at present the
control of the legislature, have there a majority ready to
sustain the policy of their leader nut only in abolition but
iu finance. And there is something at hand which is likely
to affect British pockets, and lower our own character more
than anything which has ever before happened in this state.
The Erie Canal some years ago having been towed too small
for the trade upon it, was, by former acts of the legislature,
to be enlarged. A considerable portion of the work was
done, but much remained to du. In consequence, how-
ever, of a decline in the credit of American Stocks
abroad, and a cuusequent want of means at home, the
debts of the States lissome a subject of alarm,
Our own state was temporarily embarrassed, and the comp-
troller was on several occasions forced to borrow money to
meet even the ordinary indebtedness of the state. it be-
came necessary at once to curtail our public expenditure,
and it was provided in the new constitution that the legis-
latures should not create any new debts except in a parti-
cular way—limiting them in amount, furnishing adequate
security for each loan, and requiring the sanction of the
people at the ballot-boxes if a sum was at any time
requisite above one million of dollars. Now it turned out
that as new and onerous debts could not be created consti-
tutionally our state soon recovered from its embarrass-
ments, its credit rose, its stuck bore a high price, and its
recent prosperity has been unexampled. But Mr. Seward
has other views. Ile is for enlarging the Erie Canal at
once, and not for waiting the delay of a few years and the
application of moderate annual appropriations. Ile is de-
sirous of having 9,000,000 dull. to expend fur the enlargement
of the canal immediately. The distribution of that money
will be in the hands of his own friends, and hit own politi-
cal power will be supreme by the indirect influence of that
money through the favoured contractors, previous to and
influencing the nextelection.
If this law passes, an immense amount of state certifl-
catsis of indebtedness will soul' be afloat, and the holders of
American stock abroad may consider their investments re-
duced 50 per cent. in value. Daniel Webster, however, has
given an opinion in favour of this new violation of our state
stitutiun, while our own Attorney-General most vette-
_

mently and ably argues against it.
The New York and Erie Railway, between New York
and Dunkirk on Lake Erie, is finished, and in a few days
we shall have the trains in full operation. All the light
fregihts of the upper lakes will come over this road to
New York, and a saving of ten days in time will be ef-
fected in their transit. So fur as this kind of freight is
concerned, the lower lakes and the Welland Canal will
be sufferers. It is the finest railway in some respects
ever constructed in this country, and its revenue will be
enormous. It not only opens a new route fora vast trade
from the interior, hut it develops the industrial resources
of, at least, one-third of the area of the state of New
York, hitherto cut off from any economical connection

with 'the Atlantic ports.
We arc looking anxiously to the world's fair. Many
fears are entertained here of thu efficiency of the building,
but we hope all will be well.
Our circle of amusements continues to enlarge. We
have two French :mulles, both detachments from Fnumones,
of which Caroline Loyo and Madlle. 'l'ournaire dispute the
palm. Never before have we seen such graceful and ele-
gant riding. These women are perfectly fascinating in
the ring, and draw immense crowds. Loyo is next to
appear in London.
Our theatres arc crowded every night, and the English
artists, such as Julia Bennett, have no reason to complain.
The Humboldt, steamer, has been tried and found to
work well. She will leave for Havre next month.
As you will perceive from the list of the passengers by the
Baltic, a large number are on their way to your country for
the " World's Fair." The Brother Jonathan was expected
to be chartered for the purpose of taking passengers to
Southampton during the fair, but on her first trip s.,uth-
ward, she was disabled, had to put into Baltimore for
repairs, and has now lost her good name. She will not
probably be " entered for that heat."
As I close this letter, I find there is intelligence from the
city of Mexico to the 22nd of March (one day later than
that given in yesterday's Rxeress).. It is important in one
particular. The Treasury is again empty. The Ameri-
can indemnity is spent, and there was a deficiency on the
let of the month of two-and .11. half millions of dollars,
Credits of the house of Drusina, which has recently failed,
were selling at from 40 to 70 cents. per dollar.
Payno is on his way to England by the West India
route, and is understood to have art arrangement of the
Mexican debt in contemplation, and some projects of a
national and commercial character in view. Arista's ad-
ministration promises to be a good one. Almost all the
men who are now prominent in active public life in the
capital appear to have great private merit and political
honesty.
Within the last two days upwards of 4,000 emigrants
have arrived at this port, and chiefly Irish. I should like
to know how many more of the Hiliendan race are left.
The public are beginning to get alarmed at the excessive
increase to the numbers of the paupers and beggars which
is occurring. All our humane institutions are overflowing,
and the taxation in this city for the support of the poor is
enormous. If these emigrants would go into the country,
where wages ale high and labour wanted, it would not be
so bad, but too many of them prefer an idle life in the city
and a residence where they can be fed without work.

THE ROBBERY AT THE. GOVERNMENT GUN-
POWDER WORILII AT WALTHAM Alsll¢V.—Yesterday the
prisoners, George ltowe, John Cornish, Charles Eve, and
Jestsy Oriffiths, were brought up for final examina-
tion, before the magistrates at Waltham Abbey. Mr.
Bodkin appeared on the part of the Board of Ord-
nance, and said it was not intended to examine more wit-
nesses for the prosecution, but he would call on the monis-
trates to commit the prisoners for trial at once on the
en-
deuce already produced. The evidence was then read over,
and counsel having addressed the bench for each of the
prisoners, the magistrates, after retiring a short time, said
they would discharge Eve on his entering into his own re-
cognisances to appear to any charge that might ho preferred
I against him; the other prisoners, Rowe, Cornish, and
Griffiths, were then fully committed to take their trial at
the next autumn BASiZCS. Application was then made for
the money found in the possession of Rowe and Cornish to
be given up to them, which was peremptorily refused. The
prisoners were then conveyed hack to Ilford gaol.