The Express.
London, England, 1862-01-02 00:00:00

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TR. uar—lillsealeft la. albasaso. fifth.
TO-MILSOW EX Ma.— Alum s% to.

LONDON, TRUJIADAY, JAN. 2.

Tits New Year has begun wel, sines its first
gift is a promise of peace. The intelligence
brought by the mail steamship Africa, which
left New York on the 20th ult., the Friday
before Christmas-day, corresponds to the hopes
which bad been formed by those true friends of
both countries who were best acquainted with
America. In reading it we must bear in mind
that although we have known for nearly five weeks
that the surrender of Messrs. SLIDELL and Mason.
would be required by our Government, and I
throughout that period have regarded it ae the
only possible solution of the difficulty provoked
by Captain Wflaza, it was only when the
Europa arrived out with the official despatches
for Lord Lross that the matter put on the same
serious aspect in the eyes of the public of the
United States. Up to the dates of the advice@
brought by the Africa the dissertations of the
American press were speculative and unpracticaL
The articles of the New York journals, on which
we on this side have been commenting with all
the gravity inspired by • knowledge of the serious
issues of the case, were addressed not to • set of
definite facts, but to contingencies which were
the object of conjecture and dispute. Hitherto,
as students of American opinion, we have been
dealing with the unreal: we have been attaching,
almost from the necessityof our position, a factitious
and enormously exaggerated value to words spoken
as it were to the air. With the arrival of the news
by the Africa all is changed, and as soon as it is
before us with the distinctness of detail we may
fairly judge of the attitude of the Americans in'
presence of • demand proposed in the name of
international law. SO far as it is already before
the public it is eminently satisfactory.
The mails of the Europa were delivered at New
York on the 18th ult., the Qcxge's messenger
delivered his despatches to Lord MONK at
Washington on the 19th, and the Africa left New
York on the 20th. These dates speak for them-
selves, and forewarn us what to expect to find in the
Africa's news. The demand which Lord Lvorra
wee to make would not be delivered until abont the
22nd, although Mr. LiNeour would doubtless
be apprised of its tenor at the earliest moment.
The view of things, then, which the American public
was contemplating, and upon which it► disposition
as now reported was formed, is that pre-
sented by the English newspapers taken out
by the Jura and the City of Washington,
the dates of which extended from the 28th of
November, the day on which intelligence of Cap-
tain WILIIE)4' outrage was published in England, to
December fith. By their means our friends
beyond the ocean would receive information tole-
rably correct respecting the nature of the diplo-
matic requirements of the British Government ;
the state of public opinion in this country ; the
quickened activity in our arsenals and dockyards;
the chartering of ships for large reinforcements for
Canada ; and the Qezze's proclamation against
the export of saltpetre.
It is not surprising that the news is said tohave
enormously increased the popular excitement ;
but it is satisfactory to notice that, toge-
ther with this heightened susceptibility, better
vices of the requirements of the British Govern-
ment were prevailing. The tone of the New
York press is said to be more moderate. The
popular feeling against giving up the Confederate
Commissioners was abating ; we are told that
an impression very generally prevails that the
Federal Government will not go to war on their
account ; and the Americana are familiarizing
themselves with the opinion that, if the demand
of the British Government for the surrender of
Messrs. MI/lON and SLIDELL is framed with mode-
ration, it may be compl►ed with. This is very
good news ; for in America, as in all countries
endowed with free and popular institutions, the
action of the government must be governed by the
sentiment and judgment of the nation. We are
not careful to analyse the elements and discrimi-
nate the causes of this improved tone 6T American
opinion. If we assumed that it was exclusively
due to the new light thrown upon the character of
Captain Waszs's act by the discussions of the Eng-
lish press, we should ascribe a height of virtue to
the citizens of the United States such as no nation
ancient or modern ever attained to. On the other
band, we shall not assume that the American
people are inaccessible only to the arguments of
gunboats and red hot shot. The news of our warlike
preparations must have had a sobering influence
upon their minds. Absorbed in • contest which
taxes their powers to the utmost, and presuming
somewhat upon the consideration which foreign
nations are disposed to show for their domestic
troubles, they have hitherto treated too lightly the
act by which their relations with this country
have been compromised. But they know that we are
a peace-loving people, and in spite of a disposition
to chastise their extravagances, well disposed to
them in heart. When, therefore, they saw that
we were united in the conviction that not even the
strong interests and stronger sentiments which
bind us to America could avail to preserve peace
between the two countries if the act of Captain
WILKIE were not disavowed, it was only natural
that they should re-examine that transaction with
closer attention and with more regard for the
point of view of Europeans and neutrals than was
likely while the course of England was uncertain.
What influence the published letter of General
Starr, which was known in New York when the
Africa left, had upon public opinion we are not
told ; but we cannot doubt that it would be con-
siderable.

When we turn from the spontaneous mani-
festations of irresponsible opinion to the acts of
the government or its members, we find them still
more satisfactory. We find Mr. CHASE, the
Secretary of the Treasury, at a meeting of bankers,
expressing the opinion that the questions pending