The Express.
London, England, 1853-10-19 00:00:00

THE AUSTRALIAN MAILS.

The last 'West India packet brought a Sydney
mail, dated the 20th of July last. This is the first Eng-
lish mail, properly so termed, that ever crossed the Pacific.
It was 92 days in coming. By that mail word was brought
that the Argo, screw-steamer, which left Southampton on
the Bth of May last, reached Sydney on the 14th of July,
aid that the Overland Australian Mail via Marseilles and
India, which left London on the 9th of May, and was due at
Sydney on the 13th of July, had not arrived. The Argo
reached Sydney in 67days, and but for the scandalous coaling
arrangements at the Cape de Verde she would have reached
New South Wales in 63 days. It deserves to be noticed,
however, that the Argo only stopped at two places on her
way to Sydney, vie., at St. Vincent and Melbourne, while
the overland mail is detained at eleven places. Still, the
Cape of Good Hope route has been greatly improved by the
owners of the Argo, and that chiefly by the superiority of
their steamers, and by not touching at Algos Bay
and various other stations, and the owners' intention of let-
ting their steamers return by Cape Horn will give the
route of the two Capes a fair trial. The overland route, by
way of India, has not been fairly tried. The steamers run-
ning between Singapore and Australia are confessedly too
small for their work. When larger steamers are on the
liae, and the homeward ones go direct from Swan River to
Ceylon, then will be the time to say if the overland route
is a (*Bute. A contemporary has alleged that the Cape
service route, pursued at present by the Peninsular and
Oriental Company, has been a mistake, and that the packets
will In future go through,Torres Straits. This contemporary
is evidently about to advocate the Sydney interest in opposi-
tion to Southern Australia and Victoria. The passage through
Tones SUVA' will prove 1111 stormy as that round Cape
Lewin. And it is impossible likewise in any eastern route
to ignore Southern Australia and Victoria. New South
Wales is no longer the most important colony ; its papule.
tion is inferior in numbers to that of Victoria. If the Ori-
ental Company's ships 'pass through Tones Straits, Mel-
bourne and Adelaide must rely on the Cape of Good Hope
route. Wb a new Australian mail contract is entered
into, whether with a company going westward, or with one

going eastward, the consideration must be how can the
three important provinces of South Australia, Victoria, and
New South Wales be furnished with postal accommodation
with the mother country. It is of no use talking about the
route by which Sydney or Adelaide can be reached fest.
Melbourne is 000 miles, and Adelaide 1,000 miles to the
westward of Sydney, and it certainly will be an extraordi-
nary circumstance if it should turn out best for the Oriental
Mail Company's steamer leaving Adelaide on her home_
ward trip to go to the eastward of New Holland and pats
through Torres Straits.

TEE CRYSTAL PALACE AT SYDENHAM.--The works
of the gigantic building at Seenham appear to progress
rapidly, and the shell of the building is so far advanced
towards comple.ion that the contractor', Messrs. Fox and
Henderson, have undertaken to surrender it to the cem-
pan, in a finished state at Christmsui. If they can effect
this—and thine is no reason to doubt the powers or
resources of men who have already accomplished so much—
, a whole army of decorators and embellishers will be thrown
into the interior, and the varied and comprehensive de-
-1 signs of the undertakers will be rapidly carried out during
th. early months of the next year. Lnder these circum-
stances there can be little doubt that the building will be
so far advanced as to warrant its being thrown open to
the public, as has been already announced, on the Ist of
May next.
WORDS OF PEACE.—" That miserable miscreant!"
These were the dulcet breathings of the " oaten stop" of
the member for Edinburgh at the Peace gathering. " That
miserable miscreant," said pacific Mr. Cowan, " the Duke
of Tweany." Well, we thought peace proffered olives;
hu• here are offerings like very bad eggs.— Pumh.
CIII.7RCII RATES AT MINSTER SIIEPPY.—On Tues-
day week a rate of a penny in the pound was refused in this
pariah by a majority of 152 to 24.
110 P INTELLIGENCE.—Hop-picking in the Maid-
stone district concluded yesterday. The produce through-
out is stated to average less than 5 cwt. per acre. Prices,
however, are generally good, with a prospect of an advance
upon the preseat quotations, if the planter. maintain a good
understanding with each other. At lirenchley, picking,
with few exceptions, is now finished there. We are very
fortunate in crop and quantity this year, and our hops are
inquired after at an advanced rate from last week. Daty
at our market is quoted 11.5,0001. In Bevenoaks hopping
is nearly finished, and although abort in quantity, the price
will make up the deficiency.—South Eastern Gazette.