The Express.
London, England, 1848-05-10 00:00:00

BLOCKADE OF VENICE.—The Gaulle of last night
publishes an of11,;ial despatch from Count Figuelmont is
which the blockade of Venice is made known.
BLOCKADE OF GERMAN PORTS BY THE DANES.—
The same Gaulle contains the official despatch from the
Danish minister, Knuth, announcing the blockade of
Stettin, Stralsund, Rnstock, Wismar, Pillau, and Danteic—
the foor Ant from the 2nd of May and the lut from the 3rd,
I the blockade of t►e Elbe being filed fur the 10th.

COLON lAL.
CAPE OF 000 D HOPE.
We are in receipt of papers from Cape Town to
the 12th, end from Graham's Town to the sth of March.
Sir Harry Smith appears to be setting to work " with a
will," and his proceedings have given general satisfaction.
The Government Gazette of Thunday, oth March, contained
a notice that the sesaions of the legislative council are helm,-
forth to be two annually. The Commercial Advertiser of
the 11th of March thus comments upon it:
1 hia is en obvious an Improvement, that it wens odd It was not so
arranged from the lint. It bas long been epaken about ; successive
governments haa it under conelderation ; and It was generally be-
lieved that something would be dine in it scene time or other, but as
there might he a " diversity of opinion" (a favourite phrase at the
Cape), it was deemed rust and beat not to pooh it prematurely. Mr
Marry Smith seems to have dipped his pen in the ink, and settled it
in about the thinl putt of live mconde, writing the words, 'l'wo
meesione, May and October."
The same gazette contains a number of ordinances, pro-
clamation., and notices, connected with the public service
and the general improvement of the colony, every one of
which may be considered a step in the right direction. With
the ordinance for reducing the postage on religious publics-
tions—for improving the gaols of this colony—tor improving
the police of this colony—to provide for the performance of
certain duties now performed by the clerks of the peace—
and for improving the port of 'fable Bay. These were not
new ; the drafts. and the disaussions in the council respecting
them, had appeared many months before. But the procla-
mations are new, and have a double interest, the subject of
the first being the organisation of a government for the
safety of the emigrant briers and native tribes beyond the
Orange River, and the whole being amongst the first acts of
the new government, from which a notion may bo formed
of the general character of the policy about to be pursued,'
and the importance of S'r Harry's arrangement, warrant
our giving them in his own words:
The Britieb resident, Major Warden, in the armee of the 1110
Commissioner, is paramount, and is the provident-inehief of all
boards or cornintesions„ which may be (tamed for all and whiten?
purpose'. 'the poet of elajor Warden, as Britieh resident and minds.
trate, will he Bloemfontein. A civil commissioner and resident
magiatnde, combated in one person, will be stationed at Weisberg,
and one in the most eligible and populous neighbourhood of the
Caledon river. These civil commersionere and magistrates will
have • clerk and two conetablee attached to each, to Issue
and serve summonses, sad to conduct criminals to Colesberg.
No person of colour is ever to be employed in convey-
lag summonses, or in the execution of any point of lAD,
nor are any or the military at precept etutiened at Bloem-
fontein to be employed in matters of a civil nature. The civil com-
missioners and magistrates will collect the quit rents of their respect-
ive districts, receive the =muffle to be derived front 'teeniest° traders,
and moneys which may arise, as the revenue of her Majesty's
eubjecte beyond the Orange Myer, and will transmit to the high com-
missioner quarterly accountant' such rceipte end the dispoeal thereof,
lot publication in the English and Dutch languagee, that all may be
sequaintri with the 'tare of the funds. The magistrates will keep a
daily record of their proceedings, cane and di cations, and every three ,
months a summary of the whole will be transmitted by the British re-
eident and other magidnitesdirect to the high commiseioner, who will
eubmtt them to the chief junk:* or one of the mime
judges for examination and comment, in order to insure a
serrect and uniform administretion of justioe. The civil commie-
nonce, and magistrates for Wenburg and the Celedon river will pro-
ceed to their destination era Bloemfontein with the least possible
delay, taking with them their clerks and constable' ; the letter they
meet endtaveur tat eogage. A land commie...ion will be formed, con-
sisting of the Britich resident, se president-in-ehief ; the civil tem-
interne:ter and nuerlatrate of the district in which the beard is held,
who will preside in the absence of the British resident ; two land
surveyors, and one burgher of the district elected by the people as
members ; and the clerk to the magi-trace of the district In which
the commission are employed will act as clerk to the land commis-
sion. The first duty of this Commission is to divide the territory under
the revere gnty of her Majegy between the Great Orange mil Veal
rivers into three districts; the end to be deeignefed via of
Bloemfontiee, the neeirid that of the Celedon river, the third that of
Wenharg. Each of them districts to be divided into geld cowman-
dantehipm and rind corneteice, the selection of persona for these duties
to he mule by the majority of the people over whom they are to curt-
er, authority. The commimion edit then winder each farm, take the
census of the population, retard the Pine of the farm, and, according
to the value of the laed, fix the amount of qua-rent from two to eight
pounds per annum, which are to be regard, d as the minimum end
maximum rates. Mi. done, the commies:on will have in their pce-
session printed forms to the following purport:—" The farm of
, now mewed by , is granted tar
,at a quit-rent of per annum; and this shall be
his titlerderl and right of occupation until a survey be made, and a
more formal document be turniebed to him." (Signed) . ('ro
be signed by the President of the Commerion.)
Sir Henry adds the following advice to the burghers and
magistrates:
The burghers are reminded that they now hold their lands, owing
to the arrangements which with much difficulty were entered into by
her Majesty's high oomintvoirmer with the native chiefs, from her
Majesty in perpetuity, anti not on • knee of forty years, us formerly,
upon the eagers condition of paying a quit-rent to be establielied by
the board, " and that every able-horned man turns out in ,
the defence of her Majesty and her allies, either with arms or
u special constebles, as may be required by the hieitt.k
resident Nail magistrates." The British resident, magietraten. I
and land commie.. wiill clearly undergand they are placed
in this territoty under the paramount authority of her Majmity, for
DO other purpose than that of sinelionging the condition of the
people, native as well as Christiana ; they will, through the medium
of the native chide, redress all grievances, after a mild and patient
bearing. All must be equally protected, then all will derive that
mutual benefit which a sto's of harmony, unanimity, and peooe alone
leads to and win stain. Consistency, plain &Mine, and honesty of
purpose on the part of the magistratoi, and guiding their conduct by
the great fact that their poeition Is one requiring benevolence and
exisideration, aa well so promptitude and determination in their de.
clams, which must b unequivocal and clearly comprehensible, Is
the line of conduct which, if energetically pursued, will ensure
respect, confidence, and good faith in all clashes uf the community
within their respective district.. Whatever their intercourse with
the people induces them to consider would be benencial to the commit.
nity tthey are to treat no man'e opinion with contempt) they will pro-
I pose, through the Brinell resident, to the high commiesioner, upon
whose exertions for the welfare of all they may depend, as the repre-
sentative of our gracious eovereign. These are the outlines of • sys-
tem which will work itself into maturity, its wants being supplied as
they show therneelves ; but the less it is shackled with legal techni-
• cantle% and eubtletit, the more simple it is. Hence the more compre-
hensible, and better calculated for an infant society.
As the system progresses, markets are to be estab'ished
at Bloem Fontein, Winherg, and on the Caledon river ; a
weekly post is being orgainised from Coleaberg, via Bloem
Fontein and Winberg, with a branch across the Drakenberg
to Pietermaitzberg and Port Natal—the magistrates' clerks
to act as post masters. Nursery gardens are to be established
in each district, but once established they must support
themselves. Sir Henry anticipates a revenue of from 5,0001.
to 10,0001. a year from quit-rents and licenses to traders. The
total annual expense of government he estimates at 4,3441.
The surplus revenue, if any, is to be devoted to the erection
of churches and schools and payment of ministers and school-
masters. Whatever the revenue may be, the greatest eco
nemy in its expenditure is promised, and the strict appro-
priation of the surplus for the exclusive benefit of those who
contribute to it he rind the Orange River.
Saturday, the 24th of March, had been appointed a day of
general thlnksgiving for the restoration of peace.
The latest intelligence from the frontier was satisfactory.
A letter from Rat river said: " There has been no stealing
heard of fee some time."
The following painful intimation is from the Commercial
Advertiser, of 11th March:
The following will be read with profound sympathy, not only ft two
the melancholy fate of two exceeent young offtcern of great promise,
but from the high respect universally entertained here for Admiral
Decree, en whose handy this Irreparable calamity ham fallen. Ills
excellency, Sir Harry Smith, happened to be at Simon'm Bay,
on Wolnerelay, when this afflicting Intelligence renched the ad-
egret, end the generous feelings of the one, with the noble
'lemons of the bereaved father, are mentioned as being the matt
affecting sight ever witnessed:—" We have jest received oho follow-
ing nest painful intelligence. Admiral triage' only son. Commander
James Richard Imert a, of her Majesty's sloop Nimrod, and I.lcuE
George J. Loch, of We same vowel, went lately on shore atQuiiimane,
in the Mozambique, where they unfortunately remained during the
night, sleeping with the windows of their bedroom open. The fol-
lowing morning they returned on board, apparently quite well, but
12 hours afterwards were both wised with that dangerous malady, the
' coast fever,' which, in the course of a few days, terminated fatally
thus depriving the service of two most amiable, excellent, promising
e young ofileers, and plunging their Meanies into the deemed affliction.
The Nimrod may be daily expected in -imon's Bay.—Lieut. Moss M.
iy Etateu, acting commander. 10th March, ISO."
of . .

be Court.
The Queen Dowager, the Duke Bernhard, and the
Duchess Ida of Saxe Weimer, Prince Edward and the Prin-
cess of Saxe Weimar, arrived at Buckingham Palace at
two oclock lesterdsy afternoon to pay a visit to the Queen.
The illustrious party remained and partook of a dje4ner
with her Majesty and Prince Albert.
Mr. Curteis, M.P. for Rye, the Mayor, and the
Town Clerk, had an interview with Lord J. Russell yester-
day, to present addresses of congratulation for the Queen
and Prince Albert, and also an addreu to the noble lord.
The Hon. J. L. Martin, Chargé d'Affaires of the
United States of America to the I'ope, has arrived in Lon-
don on his way to Rome.
The Bishop of Loudon had au interview with Sir
G. Grey yesterday at the Home•office.
Mr. Fitz-Stephen French and Lord Dc Freyno had
an interview yesterday with Lord J. Russell.
Mr. Errington and Lord Strafford had interviews
yesterday with Sir G. Grey.
The Queen and Prince Albert afterwards took a
drive in a carriage and four, accompanied by the Prince of
Wales and the Princess Royal, and attended by Lady Caro
line Cocks ; the Equerries in Waiting, Colonel the Hon.
Charles Grey, and Captain the Hon. Alexander Gordon, at-
tended on horseback.
Prince Alfred and the Princess Alice took walking
and pony exercise yesterday, and the Prince's Helena was
taken an airing in the royal gardens.
The Queen Dowager, the Duke Bernhard, and the
Duchess Ida of Saxe Weimar, Prince Edward and the Prin-
cess of Saxe Weimar, honoured the performance at Drury
Lane Theatre on Monday evening with their presence.
The Duchess of Kent, attended by Baroness de
Speth and Sir George Couper, honoured the performance of
the Royal Italian Opera yesterday evening with her presence.
A deputation, including Mr. Thomas Harkey, lion.
Arthur Kinnaird, Mr. John Dean Paul, Mr. Henry
Pownall, Rev. E. Holland, Rev. D. Wilson, Rev. M. Pres-
ton, Rev. J. Harding, Mr. Joseph Wilson, Major-General
Inner, Mr. R. B. Leeds, Rev. Mr. Rogers, Mr. John Labou-
chere, Rev. J. Wyk], and the Rev. Mr. Smalley, with 86
memoria's, praying for the suspension of all Post-offices be-
ing open throughout the kingdom on the Lord's day, and
deprecating the transmission of country letters through
London on that day, had an interview with Lord John
Russell on Monday.
The Viscount and Viscountess Hardinge, the Duke
and Duchess of Cleveland and Lady Augusta Paulett, the
Marquis and Marchioness of Blandford, Lord and
L Lady
Mahon, Mr. Nowdegate, M.P., the Right Hon. isut.-