The Express.
London, England, 1853-05-24 00:00:00

AUSTRALIA.

The ship Atrevida, Captain Shere, which left Port
Phillip on the 23rd of February, arrived off Ply-
mouth on Sunday, and landed 26 passengers, retain-
ing 28 on board. She has 27,000 ounces of gold
dust, and proceeded on to London. Her passengers
estimate the quantity of gold brought into Melbourne
weekly, by escort and otherwise, at 80,000 ounces,
and this was increasing. The market price, 31. 17a.
per ounce, was also on the rise, and the ex-
change on London was at par. Flour, 21/. to 22!.
per ton; the 41b. loaf, Is. 4d.; beef and mutton,
4d. to 6d. per lb.; cabbages, 2s. each; eggs, 6s. per
dozen. The colony was 3ourishing. The Mel-
bourne steamer left Port Phillip on the 6th of Feb-
ruary with 17,269 ounces. The Sarah Sands
steamer left on the 11th of February, with 40,002
ounces, and the famous nugget, 134 pounds 8 ounces.
The following sailing vessels bad departed: The
Admiral, February 2, with 13,211 ounces ; the
Northumberland, on the 6th, with 17,034 ounces •
the John Taylor, with 11,084 ounces; and the Ho-
bert Sale, with 18,836 ounces.

WEST END OF LONDON AND CRYSTAL
PALACE RAILWAY.

Yesterday the committee appointed to inquire into
this proposed undertaking met for the first time. The
members are Mr. Moody, Mr. Baring, Mr. Davies, Mr.
Repton, and Mr. Seymour. The committee-room was
much crowded. _ _ _

Mr. Ati sander, Q.C.. opened the case for the promoters,
and stated the object was to nuke a railway to the Crystal
Palace, now constructing, with branches to the London,
Brighton, and SauthCoast Railway, and to the London and
South Western, so as to furnish an additional and expedi-
tious means of communica,ion between the west-end of
London and the Crystal Palace at Norwood, at a proposed
cost of 360,000/. The line was opposed by the South-
Eastern Railway Company, and by Mr. Clarkson, the bar-
rister, whose residence at Tooting it was proposed to pus
by an embankment of 10 feet, but at 103 yoras distance.
There would be two tunnels, one 726 yards long, and run-
ning under the Palace itself, and the other 340 yards, at
Streatham.

Sir J. Paxton ixamined—Stated be was of opinion the
public would require the proposed accommodation from the
wiPt-end, In the direction of Norwood and Croydon, in
additin n to the communication already existing by means
of the London and Brighton Railway to these points. The
greatest number of passengers the Landon and Brighton
could accommodate in one day was 30,000, while the Crystal

Palace Railway promoters anticipated that 100,000 passen-
gen wouli go to see the building by railway in n day, &oil
be at its fetes, and see its fountain; and he believed
would be found he was borate tont in this estimate, when he
stated that the numbers that travail, d by the Versailles
Railway, to see feles and fountains there, Paris having
only about half the population of Landon, aas 100,000 un
fete days. At Sydenham everything would be far more
attractive than at. Versailles, it would be a plaee of agreeable
p pular recreation, and as a commercial speculation he be.
bayed it would pay.
Mr. Gesell, M P., one of the directors of the Crystal
Palace Company, was bring examined when the com-
mittee adjourned to this day.

ELECTION EXPOSURES.
HULL BRIBERY COMMISSION.

This morning the commß
ist7,LioLi,leMrsonapnpcayinEttl.d.rxtionnin_
quire into corrupt practices at parliamentary elections for
the borouga of Hull commeaced their sittings at the Town-
hall, the commissioners being Mr. F. Sally Flood (chid),
Mr. John Horde', and Mr. W. B. Brett.
The royal commissina having bean formally read,
Mr. Flood stated the course which the commissionen In-
tended to pursue, viz ,to commence with the recent elec-
tion, and go backwards, so far as meant practices might
appear to extend, at their discretion.
After some further furmal proceedings,the examination of
witnesses was procceisd with.
John Reßet, solicitor—l took an active part in the last
election fur Hull. The whiga were tho "Graeae" and the
turies the "Blue" party. I was interested for the Blue
party about a week before the electien. The Orenge party
were successful. I was employed to make {equities as to
corrupt practices by that party, shortly after the election,
in conjunction with Mr. Stampe, Wit) also is a solicitor.
We took a special office fur the purpose. Some of our in-
formation came by anonymous letters, which I will produce
hereafter if 1 have theta. I have also minutes upon which
the brief fur the p titian was founded, fuel I now head
them in, in defirence to your authority. •Fite brief we/
drawn up by Mr. Drown, parliamentary agent, in London,
from these minutes. and shall also be turthcoming. I com-
municated with John Walker, with regard to the petitioe,
in consequence of an anonymous courauuicatiuu from Man-
oust. r, where he heed, a card, with his address, being in
the letter, which said that Walker could give information
about the election. I saw Walker at Manchester, where he
mode a statement, which I hand in. There is a stamped
receint for T,01., connected with Walker's statement, which
I wish to explain.
Mr. Flood raid the commission would real the statement,
and recall the witness to explaiu the 50t. payment.
Mr. Charles Hubert Robinson--I live in the borough of
Hull, end am a bloektnaker. lam a freeman. At the last
election I voted fur Clay ani Goderich too °aur can-
didates were Moore and Butler. I was convened by
bath parties—first by the "Blued'—but I doer know
their names. They were strangers to me. I tad
them I had not made up my mind, and I did not
WO the same parties again. Others called upon me,
and I gave them the same answer. I promised Mr.
Irving to vote fur Clay and Godcriclt about a week bc-
, fore the election. Mr. Irving took my nem: down in a
bosh. I went to a committee-roots, 24. Saville-street,
where my name was again put down, but I do not know
what fur. I expected to be employed as s colourmin, or
something of the sort, but I did not know exactly. I was
not employed in any way, but °tithe morning of the elec-
tion Mr. Walker paid me 30s. I did not know till then how
much I woo to have. I did not ask. Ile gave it to me,
and I took it, but nut against my will. (Laughter.)
Smithson had told us we should be paid if wo put oar
money down. I thought it odd when I got the money, bat
I was not surprised. (Laughter.)
By Mr. Deedes.—The two Demeans showed me 101.,
but did not tell me where they got it. They told
me I should get the same if I went to the poll, as they had
that given After I had polled, I bad SUMO drink,
at the Golden Cup, Humber-street, where Welker
took me after pulling. He paid for it. Ile also gas: me
some drink at the Crown and Cushioe, Salthouse-lane, as
we were going to the poll.
John Duncan, a freeman and blockmaker, living in Ilull
—I have 'feted at all the elections within the last a 0 years,
and for the "orange," except the first time, when I voted
for O'Neill (crimson) and N'illiers (blue). Trevor wan a
committeeman, but sometimes a runner. Was et down tar
a runner et the last election, when I got 3)5., and lest four
and a half day's time attending various placer, to wait on
any body who wanted me. My name was set down et a
house in Chapel.lane; not a public-house, nor a coremittee-
room, that I know of. No one took me there ; 1 %sent of
my own accord, tied found a man at a desk setting names
down for the Orange party. Two others went with me,
whose names were put down as well as mine. A mart
whom I met in the market told me they were putting dawn
names there, and if I went I should be set on as a ruuner.
Ile was a shipwright, but Ido sot know his name. I had
been paid for being a runner at the previous election si. a
day, bet I do not know how much in the whale; perhaps
10, ,or about 155., or 20a. I will swear it was under 30s.
re.eived 30s. at the last election. Walker paid me it as
we were going to the poll.
The day's proceedings had not concluded when our
--tier left.