The Express.
London, England, 1865-03-15 00:00:00

ARCH 15,

opium, and
Nvisions,
‘UaiMillvdare.ll.l7in'Tsmtruilhallel

opposed, "but here
is no reason to doubt," says the Melbourne Herald,
" its being carried with, perhaps, certain modifica-
tions."
The Confederate war steamer Shenandoah, late
Sea King, was at anchor in Hobson's Bay. She
carries eight guns, and was the vessel which
burned the ships lately seen by the Coleroon and
others off Tristan D'Aeuhua. She passed Cape
Otway early in the morning without reporting her
name, and was mistaken for the Royal Standard,
and reported as such. The captain was thought
to be too late to do much mischief. There vrah
scarcely an American ship trading there. St
vowels were due in the course of the next few
weeks from New York and Boston, but America
merehante say they are all likely to come under the
English or Dateh flag.
The month jhet concluded showed, as compared
with its predecessor, a great improvement in the
tone of business, credit hAving to a great extent
recovered from the shock of the recent heavy
failures. This position was strengthened when
upon the arrival of the mail it was found that
the crisis in England was over, that the mosey
market was easier, and that no failures bad oc-
curred to embarrass any Melbourne house.

The money market was in a healthy condition,
and capital abundant. The rates of discount
charged by the banks continued at 9 per cent, for
65 days and under, ani 10 per cent. for four
months' paper. The rates of exchange for the out-
going mail were about par to a quarter per cent.
discount for drafts on London at 60 days' sight.
Government debentures bad been taken more
freely lately at 1051. 10e.
The position of mining affairs was satisfac-
tory, although operations during the month had
been somewhat interrupted in consequence of the
holidays. The excitement noticeable a few months
ago bad subsided into steady enterprise, and mining
throughout the country had experienced &thorough
revival.
The clearances of gold for the month amounted
to 149,54805. 17dwt. Of this, 77,0570 z.
were shipped by the Northam to Point de Galls;
13,8770 z. 3dwt., by the Kosciusko for London ;
8,5040 z. 13dwk, by the Anglesey for London ;
14,4450 z. 14dwt., by the Great Victoria for London;
2,0010 z. 171 wt., by the Mediator for London ;
8,3840 z. 10dwt., by the Yorkshire for London ;
the remainder being shipped to Sydney.

A large oomet had been observable several even-
ings in the south-west horizon. Its position was
nearly vertical, and its long tail bad almost rigid
straightness, "at once distinguishing its aspect to
the common observer from the curved scimitar-like
shape of our two or three last visitants of this
kind." .

The Melbourne papers publish a very remark-
able escape at sea. The new clipper steamship
London, belonging to Messrs. Money Wigram and
Sons, arrived iu Hobson's Bay on the 2nd of Janu-
ary, after a passage of sixty-four days from Eng-
;Ltd, and reported that when off the Island of
Trinidada a man fell overboard, that a rescue was
attempted, resulting in the loss of a boat and a
crew, consisting of Mr. Harris, the chief officer,
and five men, who could not be found. But on
the 10th the ship John Bunyan arrived in Hob-
son's Bay, bringing the whole of the " lost" crew
and their boat, but not the man who fell over-
board. They bad been picked up off the island
next day. A more remarkable escape from the
perils of the deep has seldom been recorded. The
public excitement on the news being published was
great, and Mr. Harris and the boat's crew were
" lionised."
The salmon appear to be progressing favourably.
With regard to the Victorian contingent, Mr. Sel-
wyn, the government geologist, has recently re-
turned from a trip to the Upper Yana, in the
course of which he visited the Badger, and saw the
salmon fry, whioh appeared in the beet of health,
and rapidly increasing in size. A report equally
favourable has been received as to the salmon in
Tasmania.

I B'ad i, e M.
ire •
. , . a • sugar, op
ose pt . daiw.i.pon . . proviu
•, doors,„ Xlow jewell
r. I , boot, and 1, musical
J. .
Kure, • '.'a•' earthenwar
rial plroposition hasbeen loudly oppo