The Express.
London, England, 1853-12-20 00:00:00

COMMERCIAL AND MARKET&

MINCING-LANE.—THIS DAY.
SUGAR.—The large public sales are progressing steadily
at last week's prices. The refined market is firm ; brown
lumps, 435. 6d. • grocery, 445. to 48s.
Cur/stn.—The public sales are going off at last week's
prices, but they are large, and will not conclude till • late
hour. Native Ceylon quoted 48s. 6d. to 495.
TEA.—The market is quiet ; common Coogan sold at
Is. 2d.

Rtes.-3,700 bags Madras were offered ; 700 only sold at
13s. 6d., the remainder bought in.
CLowp.s.-550 bags Bourbon sold freely in public sale at
full prices, 60. to sia. per lb.
PEPPSH.-100 bags B/w/is sold at 411. per lb.
Curros.-700 bsies sold yesterday on 'Change.
In other articles no materi4l alteration.

TALLOW MARKET.-THIS DAY.
The tallow market is steady at yesterday's prices. The
delivery is improving, being 343 casks for yesterday.
Town tallow is quoted 565. 6d. ; Petersburg Y.C. on the
spot, 675. ; Dec., 365. 9d.; Jan. to March, 575. 6cl.

SMITHFIELD HAY MARKET.—THIS DAY.
Mr. E. J. Davis reports a heavy trade. Prime meadow
hay, 84s. to 105 s. ; inferior, 508. to 70s. ; Rowen, 4.5 e. to
65a. ; clover, 75, to 115.. ; second cut, 70s. to 100 s.; straw,
360. to 425.

•
COTTON.—LtrzurooL. lac. 19.—The market clued
with firmness—the accounts from the United B:ates per
Canada being considered encourating. No change of
moment took place in prices. The which amounted
to 7,000 to 8,000 hales, comprised 800 Peristalsis and
Maranhams, 6,d. t 37; 1. (300 for t sport), 200 Eoptian,
6d. to • and 2,000 Surat, 2FI. to 4:d. (1,00 on spec:e-
lation) and.2o Sea Wands, lid. to 18d.

MARRIAGE OF A YOUNO WOMAN TO lIRR
Stierta.—The Befitst Northern IVhiq indulges its readers
with the following story :—ln the small village of J—b,
on the borders of this county, there lives a young man, Mr.
B—, who has, for the last four or five years, been courting
a young woman, Miss F—, who teaches a school for Miss
C— in that neighbourhood. The two young people had
agreed to get married, but the young woman's lather and
the groom expectant differed as to the amount of dowry
she was to receive, and the match was broken off. Previous
to this, however, au improper intimacy had been carried on
between the parties. Miss F— was, a few days since,
delivered of a child, and from shame, or fear of being ex-
pelled the school, she and her friends set their wits to work,
and with what effect you may imagine, when I tell you
, that, a few weeks yr...violas to her confinement, an elder
sister, disguised as a young man, and having flannel round
I her jaws, with the heroine of the tale, started off to the re-
gistrar's office—where the elder sister personified the absent
lover—sad the indissoluble knot was tied ! Subsequently,
I W. 5 having heard it rumoured through the country,
I that at such a time and place he had been united in the
bonds of matrimony, with the object of his early affection,
proceeded to make inquiry at the registrar'e office, and
found that a couple of the same name had been married at
the time stated. Miss F-- has since confessed the decep-
tion played off upon the registrar.
ROT IN THE OLD CHURCH Or ST. PANCRAS.—
One way and the other, the church was rendered unfit for
use, and application was made to the church trustees of St.
Pancras for improvement. Thew gentlemen directed an
attempt to be made to render the building comfortable for
the winter. In carrying this into effect the flooring in parts
has been taken up, and found to be wonderfully rotten, con-
sidering the short time the wood-work had been in its place.
The beams supporting the floor bad become like touchwood
and on looking below the parts which it is determined for
the present to spare' masses of the blueish white matter
which we have described as squeezing through the crevices
could be seen extending in all directions. In the neigh-
bourhood of the font and altar concrete has been laid down
and a drain opened from the east end of the church through
the centre aisle, passing to the screen. Is searching for
this drain it was necessary to dig to some depth at the hick
of the altar, and the flow of water into the twig filled
several Het in the course of a few hours. A.Tayer of con-
crete has also been put round the exterior of the church,
which has been limewashed: this, hoqever, is but a paiitt-
iog of the sepulchre, and will but servo more effectually to
show the damp; even before the men have completed their
work the stains are coming through, sod no doubt tho " dry
rot," or, as it should in the present instance be called, the
" wet rot," will continue to destroy the woodwork. The
oak portions have not yet perished moth, but all the fir
timber seems tainted; the only way, in feet, to save the
church would be to dig a deep drain rand: the building.
improve the ventilation, and provide roam. fot AsSipif
water to a proper destination.—The Builder.

Zit, erprtisis.

TO CORRESPONDENTS.
• PlllllllOll Madan al "Tad Lagwer." caaaaaataa Übe saw esteasi's
oaaatto." M publambed every Tardy sad Vnday sip. al -ara
tor post.
- - -

deeri seuaeale Weeded M" Tie V amis." Lender tame, paper,
mot be at tbe lace, le. Ileueerverereet, by TIM lidos& oa ts.e
•l el plabliestles.

HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.
Tun Ihr—Mormag, 4b. 46.• Owns." b.
14.14obenr—Illaralse. St. Us. -Atterfoos, 43e.

LONDON, TUESDAY. DECEMBER :NI.

Tut: American EitzslDENT's Message, brought by
the steam-ship Canada, reports the prosperity which
is the normal condition of that favoured country. Its ,
fruitful soil being still underpeopled, while its inha•
bitsnts have the qualifications of the old European
nations, with others of their own, the lot of its citi-
zens is in their own hands : and they have only to
be wise to enjoy every attainable good. •The vast
increase of their numbers, by immigration as well as
b:7 birth, is a pure advantage in a material sense ;
and in a moral view it can be nothing but a good,
while the institutions of the country afford a sot&
cient bond to constitute the various social elements
a true community. 'lhe heterogeneous quality of
society which is taken for granted to be the main
cause of the supposed weakness of Turkey, is the
chief ground of strength in the Western Republic. All
nations and races contribute their powers and charac-
teristics to consolidate a nationality which there is
no political despotism to repress. Under all
changes of circumstance, there is always somebody
ready to improve or mitigate the existing phase; and
nowhere, therefore, is life made the best of with so
persevering an economy. Some of the people like
winter best, and some summer; some prefer the
granite and barberry bushes of the north, and others
the alluvious and tropical climbers of the south.
Some live most prosperously on the prairie, and
others on the riven; aid others again on the moun-
tain aides. In the whole prodigious extent and
variety of the national territory, there is hardly a
nook of soil or society which does not suit some resi-
dent of one constitution and character or another.
This being the ease, the resourees of the whole coun-
try are sure to be made available ; and the conse.
quince is a continuous prosperity such as the PRE•
lIIDENT.B speeches always report, and as is reported in
no other department of human history. Men of all
nations being assembled or scattered there, with score
which calls forth the ready and willing activity of
all (except the negro) in their own way, every kiudof
industry is sure to ILA nab, as season and circumstance
permit; and it can be no wonder to any of the
statesmen of the world that the surplus in the Trea-
sury is thirty-two millions of dollars. Thirteen of
the thirty-two millions are devoted to the diminu-
tion of the debt, which is now only fifty-six millions,
or eleven millions of pounds. The message recom-
mends a further liquidation with more of the Bur
-
plus; and that thete should not be so much surplus
another year. To reduce it he advises that the tariff
should be lowered—a proceeding for which there are
other and yet better grounds. The functions of the
general government of the United States are so few,
the uses for money so restricted, and the popular
jealousy of the power of wealth in the hands of the
Executive so strong, that all parties are agreed in
desiring that, while there should be little debt, there
should also be little surplus. So taxation, in the
only form in which it is imposed by the general
government, is likely to be reduced; and the already
lowered tariff will, no doubt, be lowered again. This
will please the South, which has always been the
Fres-trade interest in the United States—desiring u
it does to have the manufactures of the world
competing for its cotton : and it ought not
now to displease the North, whose manufactures

must be well established by this time, if they are
ever to be so. If their " domestics" have found
their way, ria Cabool, to clothe the Thibetiaos, and
by sea and river to keep people cool or warm in the
Malayan Archipelago and the neighbourhood of Lake
Tchad, they cannot pretend to want protection any
longer ; and they will presently find how much better
they are without it. The favour in which one or
both of the Pacific railroads are held follows of course.
If the national industry is to sustain itself, its field
must be laid open to the utmost ; and the PAESIDENT
recommends that this great highway to that world
which we call the East should be prepared by the aid
of all the means that the constitution affords. Co-
IA sr PUS did not disoorer the longed-for Cathay, nor kias
the feet of Paurraa JOHN. It was not given him to do
the at first hand ; but the country that he discovered
is going to complete his project. In the geographical
regions already laid down in our maps, the Ameri.
cans are going to find the mercantile Cathay; and if
Pnawraft JOHN is still to be found anywhere in China
or Japan, they will get at him. Through savages,
through buffalo, through Mormons, through gold
regions, and dashing surf, and pacific seas, and coral
islands, and spice islands, the Yankees and their
bales of products will rush where Coixmaus
dreamed of going, and will find a substantial market
where he looked for a realm of the genii, or of
outlandish men as well off in point of wealth. The
Passioxxt does not say much of China and Japan,
to which expeditions have, as all the world knows,
been sent. Perhaps, like another sagacious oracle,
"he thinks the more." There is no doubt that that
matter fills a large space in the Ameri-
can mind at present; and others than Ame-
ricans see what important consequences may
arise either from the opening of Japan, at
last, or from collision with Russia in regard to any
of the countries in that region of the globe. The
one point in which the United States and Russia
agree is in stealing a march upon the rest of the
world; but in the one case it is for purposes of com-
merce, and in the other of conquest. If there is to
be collision in those stolen marches, it will be in that
region. It is known that some Russian ships are
out watching the American squadron. Let us hope
that they may not pick a quarrel with our cousins, but
take a lesson from them in the virtuous arts of peace.
There is, however, a sufficient conception of the
possibility of war to induce a recommendation in

the Message that both the navy and the army of the
United State' should be looked to and improved.
While new railroads and reductions in the tariff and
debt are proposed at the same time, there can be
no objection to this. The increase of troops is referred
to the needs of the frontier. The American frontier
is always extending; and the constitutional army is
much too small to excite any apprehension in the
most suspicious mind of any aggressive purposes on
the part of the Government. The Cuban cue is
expressly treated in the Message. The PRZSIDENT
points out that no aggressive action has taken place
since the last Congress, and pledges himself that if
any unauthorised expedition should be set about, the
whole power of the Executive will be employed to
put it down. What the world has to watch, then,
is, that no expedition against the Spanish colonies
should be authorised. As to the Navy, it is evideotly
desirably, for the interests of freedom, in the present
critical age of the world, that American ships
should be everywhere, within the beat of despotism,
and always in an efficient state. The sympa-
thies of all Liberals were with the American com-
mander in the KOSSTA cue at Smyrna, and now the
formal sanction of his Government is given to his
conduct, and the complaints of Austria are rejected.
The Americans cannot, as some people are wishing,
march armies into the heart of Europe in the coming

caused much embarrassment. While waiting to
know what the proposed solution la, we ought to re-
member the service rendered by Lord ABERDEEN in
1842 in settling the boundary question, when wrath
was high on both sides, and a war seemed almost
inevitable. That question was a more serious one
in itself than the present, and the international dis-
position far less favourable. Through Lord ASH-
BURTON'S mission the Americans gained rather the
larger share of the disputed land, and we a
better military frontier; and both an escape
from a war which would have been a scan-
dal to civilisation. We hope that equal wisdom
will preside on both sides in the present case, obviat-
ing all quarrel between the two nations which are the
hope and stay of constitutional liberty.
The PRESIDENT recommends the tracing and esta-
blishment of the boundary-line between the north-
western territory of the United States and our
colonial lands. If this is properly done we should
join in the recommendation ; for the former boundary
quarrels, both in regard to the Oregon and the Maine
line, originated in geographical ignorance, and were
dangerously left unsettled, for want of knowledge,
from one period of unsuccessful negotiation to an-
other. In CANNIXO'S time, the irritation was such
that Lord CASTLEREAGH told Mr. RUSH, the Ameri-
can Minister, that war could be produced by holding
up • finger. The art of surveying has improved
since then ; and also, we hope, that of keeping
temper under deficient knowledge. Let the line be
traced; and if the neighbouring powers should
I find themselves differing, let them consider
betimes how such • castes belli looks beside
some that are now under discussion in the world ;
and quarrel if they can.
The Message must be a satisfactory one to the
American'. Let us heartily congratulate them on
their general prosperous condition. Aware that the

Southern States do not fully share in the prosperity,
we can only wish that they did—which is the

same thing u wishing that they would re.
here themselves from the curse which blights

struggle for political liberty ; bet they can do excel- the people. The interest of the recipients of the na-
lent service in the ports by watching over rights and tioual revenue is by such a tax brought directly into
resisting wrong, and bearing a constant testimony conflict with the interest of the people. They might
on behalf of freedom. Conquest may be and is too cheerfully give from abundance, but they may be ex-
prominent a desire of the American mind; but it is' pected to remonstrate against ever so small a piece
the cor quest of neighbouring territories only, and for being taken from a small loaf. One of the
the single object (however disguised) of sortsining alleged pretexts for the demand for higher
the institution of slavery. Conquest elsewhere, and wages, and for the strikes that have ensued,
colonisation, are wholly incompatible with the is the high price of bread ; and the law which both
national constitution and policy; and, this being the , narrows the market for our manufactures and for the
cue, the proposed improvement of the American supply of corn cannot be innocent of that evil. Until
navy may be a welcome promise to everybody, but very lately, when the discoveries of gold introduced a
the despots who may find it inconvenient. We do new element into trade, and widened three or four-
not imagine that Austria will go on with the dispute fold the margin of profit, when money was worth
about KOS'TA. She will, probably, take the C 2 ileS only 11 or 2 per cent., people were constrained to do
reported advice, and let the Republicans alone ;—for business at very small profits, and then a difference of
they have things to say which she will hardly like 6d. per quarter, in the price of wheat might send it
her subjects to hear. to very different markets. The profits formed under
As for the relations of the United States to such careful trade are not extinct ; and the ls. duty
England, the PRZAIDENT says the Fisheries ques- must have checked many operations, have prevented
tion is likely to be settled to the satisfaction the import of food from various quarters, and have
of his constituents, and that our Government very much contributed to make masters and men
has proposed an amicable arrangement, now contend who shall have moot of the limited supply
the subject of negotiation in London, on which the law allows both to get.
the Central American questions which have lately One shilling appears a small sum, but, extended to

all grain consumed in the country, it amounts to a
very large one. The total quantity of grain and
flour as grain imported in 1853, to within three
weeks of the close of the year, was 9,487,893
quarters, and the duty en that amounts to 474,3941.
We may assume to complete the year that 450,000
quarters will be imported in the last three weeks,
which will give for the whole year 9,987,693
quarters, and 496,8941. revenue. Half a million
of money taken by the State from the bread-eaters
might suffice to give peace and industry in the
manufacturing districts. But in truth this repre-
sents only a very small portion of the sum abstracted
from them by the shilling tax. Of it the agricul-
turists and the landowners pay nopart. It is more than
made up to them by the increased price of their pro-
duce and the enhanced rent of land. If we assume that
the whole cereal crops of the empire amount to
70,000,000 qrs., the rise in the price of ls. per quar-
ter on them amounts to 3,500,0001. What proportion
of this slim, in addition to the tax directly levied
the corn imported, falls to be paid exclusively by the
manufacturing and commercial classes cannot be cor-
rectly estimated, but assuming it to be less than one-
third, or only 1,000,0001., the ls. duty imposes on
them the loss of 500,000/. When to that sum we
add the limitation to their industry which the duty
occasions, it seems very probable that this apparently
paltry duty may be one of the immediate causes, if
not the chief one, of the uneasiness and disturbance
in the manufacturing districts. A country that pro-
teases to be guided by the principles of Free Trade
should not tolerate for a day any tax whatever
upon that vital necessary of life—Corn. The shilling
duty must be abolished.

WALTER SAVAGE LANDOR ON ENGLAND,
TURKEY, AND RUSSIA.