The Express.
London, England, 1851-02-19 00:00:00

ROMAN STATES.

The news :rem Rome indicates the prevalence of
a good deal of alarm as to revolutionary plots. The
l'apal army is not trusted be the govertmwnt, and
there are thoughts of dissilving it. The French
troops exercise continually,. and it is expected that
in the case of any outbreak they will be allowed to
occupy the Castle of St. Angelo, where the apart-
ment once occupied by Clement VII. duringthe siege
by the Constable Bourbon, and still called "The
'lope's room," is being furnished for the reception of
his holiness in case of digurbuneed.

COLONIAL.

CEYLON.

KAN DY, JAN. 15.
The continuance of fine weather during the pad
month has been favourable for the operations on coffee
estates, and a very considerable portion of the crop has been
picked; hut in consequence of a kind of murrain now pre-
valeta, of which many of tire cattle base died, but little
coffee has reached Colombo fur sFipmeut. This delay, to-
gether with the high price of cart hire, has called attention
to the necessity of haring a ratilnsad. It will he recolleckod
that a company fur this purpose was formed and is in existence
at the present moment; that the proposed line has been sur.
veyed and found to possess but few engineering difficulties ;
that the traffic tables show enough goods traffic on the line
to make it pay a fair rate of interest, irresmetive of passen-
gers ; and it is therefore to be hoped that steps will be
taken immediately to revive the Ceylon Railway Company
(rum its present dormant state. It has beim suggested that
the government should guarantee . per cent. on the sub-
scribed capital; but with the large amount paid every Tear
into the military chest by this colony, it is innxissible. I' he
payment of 2400/. per annum into the military chest is a
great grievance. The colony pays the island allowance for
all the troops here ; pays all for the Ceylon Ritle Regiment,
though threw companies are employed in China, and until
lately six; and besides all this, 24,000/. a year into the
military chest —to pay for what 1 for the support
of troops, that it is convenient to keep here, ready to be
marched to India if occasion require; and this the colony
has to pay fur, and will have to do so, until our legislative
council is made elective. May that day soon arrive.
The papers here have been discussing a prooosed change
for the scat of government from Colombo to this place
(Kandy), and, of course, attacking the place. Among the
argumeuts used is the unhealthiness of Kandy. 'this is pure
fable. Kandy is very healthy fur a tropical country-quite
much so us Colombo. _ .

—.—
Them has been an inquiry into the account,, &e. of the
commissariat, resulting in the suspension of Captain Price,
the commissary-general. It is said that circumstances of a
very unfavourable nature have come to light with regard to
the officer who lately tilled that office and has just retired
from the army. Captain Price was his assistant, and it is
feared that SOMC of the lessons he taught Captain Price has

been practising.
Great complaints are made with regard to the
dation, table, and speed of the Peninsular and Oriental
Company's steamers generally. A letter specially com-
plaining of the Haddington his just appeared. We want a
good opposition on this line, and every man in India would
support it. If the Australian line should get into the hands
of this company, the monopoly will be complete, and we
shall obtain no redress. If any company would undertake
an opposition, they would be well supported. Let Cunard's
line, or the Austrian Lloyd's, or some American company,
look to this; they would do good to themselves and good
to us.
Among our exports this month I must notice 15 elephants.
Some Americans brought a ressel here fur the especial
purpose of getting a supply for the zoological societies in
the States. The natives, in whose hands the elephant+ are,
aware that they could not remain lung, ran up the prices at
once from about N. to 741.
The Governor and family and suite and the colonial se-
cretary (Mr. McCarthy) and family, are up here for the hot
season, and I believe will remain till the middle of May.
It has been proposed by. the bemire committee that
Mr. Thwaites, the superintendent of the Botanical
Gardens at Perndinia, shall try the cultivation of
cotton Thi+ will probably !call to its introduction
so an article of commerce here. Two gentlemen
skilled in the cultivation of this plant, one from the
United States of America, and the other from Bengal, have
reported most favourably of the climate and soil of the
northern part of the island for this purpose. The growth
of indigo lias just been established there, and it appears that
at last the wonderful resources of this island will be deve-
loped. The country will owe a debt of gratitude to him
under whose auspices these improvements arc introduced
into it.
Next month. Fehruary, the changes in the troops take
place. The 14th Regiment goes to Colombo, and the 37th
comes up to Kandy. also the head-quarters of the Ceylon
Bilks. thus giving the command of the central province to
Lieutenant-Col fuel Bravbrooke, of that regiment—a very
good officer, of great loCal experience, who was exposed to
the machinations of Sir Emerson Torment and the late
governor, for his honest disapproval of their acts during the
disturbances in 1848. It is a source of great gratification
that Lieutenant-Colonel Drought will no longer bold this
command. He earned an unenviable notoriety by his
sanguinary correspondence with Captain Watson. It is ua-
' d..ystood that this officer is coming out by next mail to take
his trial before a court-martial, on charges connected with
; the late diatarbascea.

TUE WESTMINSTER IMMOVEMENTS.—PROPOSED
ROMAN CATHOLIC CATHEDRAL IN VICTORIA-4THFET.-
I'COWTILAY tWeIIDPICTeII houjet .ituated to Palmer's-a illage,
Westminster, were disposed of by auction, in pursuance of
an order from the Westminster ImpmvementCommiseioner..
for the purpose of being removed to form a ode entrance
into Tictonaostr,et, which is to extend from Westminster
Abbey to Vauxhall-bridge-road. The commissioner. have
entered into arrangements for the completion of the street,
which will be an feet wide, and on either side of which
tir.t-ela.. houses will be erected. It is 'toted that sonic
inftu ntial person. connected with the Roman catholic
buds. have m..le overtures for a large area in which to erect
a eithcdral. but the application has been reverted. The
connuiesionen have entered into contract. for layi-er down
th • foot pavement.. the granite for the road. &e.. the
sewers and cellar. for the houses being already eonstructed.
It is expected that the new street will be opened in the
month of XI aut.