The Express.
London, England, 1848-02-14 00:00:00

COLONIAL.

—— - -
BRITISH NORTH AMERICA.
CANADA.—The result of the general election has
been the return of an overwhelming majority hostile to the
present (by the time we write it may be the late) ministers.
There are said to be only 19 ministerial, against 52 opposi-
tion and 7 doubtful. Of course nu action could be taken, in
this state of affairs, till the House of Assembly met ; but it
was understood on all hands that ministers would resign as
soon as the legislature met. Lists of new ministry were
being handed about ; some were more, when less complete ;
some presented variations of the general theme; but themain
features of all were the s.sme.tAll concur in representing that
Mr. Sullivan is to be president of the council, M. Lafontaine
provincial secretary, and Mr. Baldwin attorney-general for
Canada West. Mr. Caron is named in all as president of
the legislative council; M. Morin. in one or two, as speaker
of the House of Assembly, Mr. Aylwin is mentioned in some
lists as Attorney General for Canada East. Some put in
Mr. nineties, some Mr. Ho'nies, and one M. Morin, as
Inspector-General. These are cabinet offices. Mr. Blake
is announced as Solieitor•General for Canada Wsst ; .M.
Duman, by some, and Mr. Balaton, by others, for Canada
East.
M. Lafontaine was returned without opposition fur Terre-
bonne, and, along with his colleague, Mr. Holmes, by an
unexpected large majority, for Montreal. The excitement
in that city had been tremendous. The bulk of both parties
appar to have provided themselves with fire-arms.
The Quebec CArokide states. " It is generally believed
that th, first and most important act of the ministry will be
the establishment of a paper currency by bank issue, to the
credit of the province, suitable to present emergencies."
Another journal states that they have a Registration Act

in petto.
Some snow had fallen at Montreal at the time of the latest
despatches, and the routs were in consequence more prat.

ticable.
NOVA SCOTIA.—The new House of Assembly
met on Saturday, the 22nd of January, and proceeded to the
election of a speaker. Mr. How moved that Mr. W. Young
be elected to the chair. This was opposed by. the attorney
and solicitor-general, by the former especially, in a speech of
great bitterness. Mr. How called upon those gentlemea to
name their candidates which, however, they declined doing.
The solicitor-general said he opposed Mr. Young " because
he was not politically honest.' He believed that if a ques-
tion were put before the house to-morrow between the two
parties, the speaker would not give an honest decision. He
(the solicitor-general) would not trust him." 'I be learned
orator immediately added.—"ThislVASnot•personal attack."
We should like to know what the solicitorgeneral of Nova
Scotia considers a personal attack. A vote was taken, when
there appeared for Mr. Young, 28; against, 22. He was
accordingly declared elected, and this having been an-
nounced to the governor, the opening speech was delivered.
It touched upon the railroad to Cliietsec, projected post-offLe
reforms, and pauper emigration, but was guarded and gene•
sal. On Monday, the 24th, the address, in answer to the
speech moved by ministers, was met by Mr. Uniacke with an
amendment which contained a direct declaration of want of
confidence in minister.. The debate wan adjourned and re-
sumed on the 28th, and again on the 26th, when a vote was
taken, and there appeared for the amendment 28 ; against,
21. The amendment was then added to the other para-
graphs of the address. The address was presented on the
27th, when the governor simply said that he " would take
such measures to restore confis.ence as he should deem expe-
dient." The majority carried a motion that only one chap-
lain should be chosen, and be from any religious body the
house might see fit, by a vote of 28 to 22. On the 28th
ministers announced that their resignations had been ten-
dered and accepted. The town was full of rumours about
ministerial negotiations, but nothing trustworthy bad tran-
spired when the packet sailed.
NEW BRUNSWICK.—The provincial legis-
lature met on Wednesday, the 19th of January. The
speech of the governor intimated that the revenue had been
amply sustained last year, but that a deficit might be anti-
cipated in the present, in consequence of the repeal of the
imperial duties last session. The speech referred in general
terms to the late extraordinary influx of pauper immigrants.
Measures for the support of comm,rce, sericulture, and the
fisheries were recommended, as also. aAitional measures to
promote education. The Canadian boundary, the railroad,
the post-office, and the late orange riots, were touched upon.
The address was an echo of the speech.

THE AVENGER. COVRT-MARTIAL ON LIEUT.
ROOKS.—A court-martial assembled on the 31st
January on board the Trafalgar, to try Lieut. Rooke '
andp
the survivors of the Avenger for the loss of that
shion the Sorelle rocks, off Galita, on the night of
20th December, IS-17. The court lasted two days.
The prisoners were honourably acquitted, and Lieut.
Rooke was highly complimented by the court, for his
skill and gallantry in reaching the shore in a small I
boat, and saving even four lives. A question was put
to Lieut. Rooke, "Whether the Avenger had any
I Mediterranean charts on board." He replied, "He
I did not know It is a well known fact, that,
although the .harts are public pperty, and intended
ro
for the use of all the officers of the ships of war, yet
in many vessels no persons but the captain and master
ever see them ; thus the vessel is left to the infalli-
bility of two individuals, and meets with some catas-
trophe, which, had the charts been open for the use
of the lieutenants. mates, and second masters, would
probably ha.c been avoided.

---
TUE BRITANNIA, Capt. Lott, sailed from Liverpool
on Saturday for Halifax and Boston.

MASONICBALL.—A grand masonic ball was given on
Friday evening. at the Freemasons' Hall, the object being to
collect a sufficient !UM to complete a building fund for the
asylum for aged and decayed freemasons. We believe the
fund already amounts to a considerable sum, and it is to be
hoped that the assistance afforded by the entertainment will
be sufficient for the carrying out of the benevolent purpose
in view. The hall is very well adapted for an occasion of the
kind, and last evening presented a very, brilliant appearance,
being filled by a numerous assemblage of the "brethren"
and their friends. The former wore their collars and jewels
of their respective orders, which contributed in no small de-
gree to the effect of the scene. The quadrille band of Mr.
Adams was in attendance.
CONTINENTAL INTEBCOVICSE.—The returns of
pse-
senger traffic in the Channel ports for the week ending
Jan, .5, show the number to have been through Boulogne
623, through Calais 110. The numbers for
17
the correspondog
period last year were 641 through Boulogne, and 8 through
Calais. The 623 passengers through Boulogne may be rub-
divided as follows ..—From Folkestone, 183 ; from Dover, 61
for
;
and from London, 47 : total, '291. For Folkestone, 230
Dover, 11; for London. 62 : total, 332.