The Express.
London, England, 1847-12-29 00:00:00

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(iffixtSS

N0.416.} LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, DEC. 29,18 f 7 [3d.

SWITZERLAND.—BERNE, Dec. 24.—1 n the
sitting of the Swiss Diet on the 23d the seats of the deputies
of Unterwalden and Friburg were amidst ceusiderahle curi-
osity occupied f r the first time since the retirement of the
Sunderbund deputies, M. Wursrh and M. Michel appearing
for the former minion, and M. Bossard and M. Page f.-r the
latter. Alter the writs of the election of the new deputies
had been reed, M. Calame, deputy of Neufchatel, said that
without having any objection to make to the admission of
the new delegates of the states of the separate alliance, he
must refrain from giving Ma vote, in consequence of the state
of Neufchitel not having yet declared its Opinion on t.. 0
changes which had taken place in the cantons of Cater-
walden and Frinurg. This declaration drew forth marks of
surprise and dbapprobation. Are port riom the committee
to which wan referred the demand of the federal Colonel
Breiti, of Rapper,wyl, canton of Saint Gall, to the efr et
that he shoal,' be allowed to resign his position in the
army was then read. The committee recommended that
the colonel, wh after being a violent radical, became a ex-
travagant Ultramontane, should not be allowed to resign,
but that his name oho ild be struck out of the list of the fede-
ral army. This was agreed to after • brief discussion, sixteen
states voting for it. M. bussard, in the name of Friburg,
after having stated that the narrow majority by which the
accession of that canton to the Send. rhund was carried, could
not, considering the immense influence of the aristocracy and
the Jesuit*, be taken to represent the opinion of the Fnburg
people, whoseattachmeot to the Confederation was -trong steel
Lively, announced that he had to remmunicate t., the Diet
that the canton had submitted to the decrees of the high fe-
deral authority—that it had adopted a decree for the exdnl-
aion of the Jesuits—that the grand council had sanctioned that
decree—and that the grand council was disposed to adhere to
tba revision of the lederal pact, as a measure calculated to

which he wound up by a declaration that the Swiss nation
had a right to give itself each a constitution as It phased,
and that the canton of Friburg was disposed to prevent any
foreign intervention in its interior affairs. These assertions
received marks of sympathy from the Diet.—The stare of
Upper Unterwalden not having been able to pay the whole
of its portion of the cents of the war, had offer. d securiti,s.
After a debate, in which a disposition was shown to act with I
indulgence towards the canton. the matter was referent to a
Colllolll,loft. The deputy of Friburg stated that the new
government of that canton had fmind an empty treasury,
with a deficiency of 2,000,000 francs, and yet its portion of
the expenses of the war amounted to 300,000 francs. He,
therefore, solicited indulg.nce for the canton, declaring that
his governmeat would take all powible measures to obtain
money to effect the payment. Oa the proposition of the
dennty of Zurich it was resolved that with respect to the
different payments full powers „should be given to th►
directory.

ITALY.—FLonEscz, DEC. IB.—The negotiations
for the purpose of engaging the Duke of Modena to convent
to the union of the Filian cost me, are postponed fir the
present. It appears, however, that the duke has not poll-
tirely refused to enter into this league, bat that he merely
desires to examine the project more maturely. In the mean
time Modena hue declared, that as far se the duebies of
Mama and Carrara were concerned the customs union should
meet with no obstacle.

WEST INDIES.—GUIANA.—The state of affairs in
this colony at the time the lam mail was deepatched will be
best shown by the following extracts from the " Review for
Hems Readers" of the Royal Gazelle :

The gloomy accounts brought by the mail of continued
disaster in the commercial world of Great Britain have
added to the depression previously existing in this colony.
We had hoped for some improvement in the produce mar-
kets. But no one, after the intelligence received by the
packet, is now sanguine enough to fu in his own mind the
date at which, under the existing free-trade system, a revival
is to be looked for in the demand for our staples. At peer nt,
we believe, not a dozen estates are pat ing in the colony ; and
as no product can lona continue to be raised at a loo—for
there is no magic in the word sugar—the consequence must
be, that unler a change for the better take* place is a few
months many properties will be abandoned, and the colony
retrograde in ea:Ovation and civilisation. Institution after
institution, and luxury after luxury, must be laid aside, till
we reach the simplest wants of government and nature.
Those can and will be supplied ; and as • contented
mind can, with these, bo happy anyhow or anywhere, we
trust that the colony, toiler its altered circumstances it the
went is to come to the worst, will not be so wretched as
many fancy. That we shall have to erne down not one,
but many pegs, seems the universal impression amongst the
enlightened portion of the community, that is to say, unless
some abrupt or unexpected change—some convulsion in the
"fit-and-start" style of England's commercial policy—occur.
But the future belongs to destiny; the present being our
owe, we proceed to report briefly, as in duty bound, on our
present movements.

Foremost is the St. Thomas Convention. What is doing
to forward that great colonial confederacy? Everything
that can be dons; nothing, we believe, hastily, but all with
judgment and moderation, the usual accompaniments of
firmness and perseverance. The committee appointed by
the general meeting of the inhabitants to select delegates to
represent the colony in the convention have, it is under-
stood, at length choice made choi of two gentlemen of high
standing and intelligence for that purpose, Mr. Labalmon•
there and Dr. Itanken. They are both landed proprist
and both, therefore, puictic.ally acquainted with the distress
at this moment overwhelming landed property in the
colony. Mr. Lsbalmondiere ices recently arrived from
Europe on • visit to his esiates, and may, therefore,
be set down as quite free from what is often called
at home " old colnni.d prejudices." Show him how he can
work his estates so as to compete with the Cuban and the
Brazilian, sod no one, no doubt, will be more ready and
happy to act on the hint; it is not to be supposed that inve-
terate ideas and habits of plantership can bare any place in
one so circumstanced. Liberals, therefore, cannot object to
the selection of Mr. Labalmondieve. Dr. tanken is equally

competent as his colleague. He has sat as a member , the
Court of Policy, and is one of our leading as well as most
enlightened colonists. Though he has written a work to
prom that the colony is ruined, and is, conseiriently, looked
upon by the over-cautions as a kind of mischief-maker, We
brother delegates from the islands will find him a very
Messing, unaffected, sensible, refined person—the very
opposite of the empty, noisy agitator. The commit-
tee, it la understood, have instructed the doctor and
Mr. Labalmoodiere to hold themoelvee in readiness to
to f London in January next. Hence it mop be in-
' erred it is the intention of the colonies to co-operate, in
the dot instance, in London, instead of St. Thomas. A cor-
respondence as to that ptnt is, it is rumoured, now going on
between the different colonies, and the result very probably
will be the pestponement of the oonfedfthey at St. Thomas.
Its Looks the delegates will have a favourable opportunity
of mak*/ the wants of the colonies felt and understood in
et and in parliament, atm time when the official
letrOsta taly business of the year assumes its most im-
H
thts in di a! changeable phesea. If that opportunity
Cpiairlodnetive of no good fruit, the delegates may, and no
doubt will, adjourn to St. Thomas, for the purpose of taking
the some of their respective colonies as to the ulterior nee-
ores for which confederation may be necessary.
Ito one is more sen.ible than the planter of this colony
list the time has arrived whe immense changes mur be
abated in the method of agriculture pursued here, or role
be the consequeuce. What these changes are may be
efemaied up in two or three words : the land must be
thorough drained, and cattle labour supply in great measure
that of man. At present our land is open drained, and,
I therefore, cannot be ploughed. Cover up the drains by the
we or subsoil tiles, and the plough can be molly used. The
Mashy with the planter is not to understand this, Not to
lad the capital or the credit which will enable them to do
M. Ten unremunerative years, during which he has been
vainly struggling with an immense 'social revolution, have
adtausted him of both. His own capital has been sunk in
I the round to little or no purpose. His credit has gone 11
the same way that all credit goes : he has been unfortunate.
flue, 'sties the right course, the ill-starred proprietor is
Individually as unable to pursue it as a paralytic patient b
use his limbo. In this state of things the proposal of a con.
pany to buy some estate and conduct it on the improved
principles of apiculture above indicated has been started,
and has met with general approval. Already a preliminary
meeting has been held In the rooms of the devil Agricul-
tural Society for the porpoise of adopting the preparatory
steps for the formation of a company of this kind. By the
time the next packet tails we trust to be able to inform OW
readers that the company has been formed. At the melded
we advert to the chair was taken by Mr. Kennedy, the A&
soinistrator-General, who, to his great credit, has entered
very earnestly into this grand and interesting experiment,on
the issue of which, we do not hesitate to say, that, is qtr
opinion, the destiny of the colony is in a great measure at
stake.

THE Potion PHISONERS.—A correspondent in
the Weser Zeitung of the above date says seven of the
eight Polls, who were condemned to death, and who made
an appeal to the King. have had their petition granted ; and
.loubtless the commutation to imprisonment for life will,
after the lapse of • few years, be also on some favourable
occasion mitigated into a pardon. Mieraslawaki alone re-
fused either to petition or make en appeal, aid his counsel
therefore did it for him.

PORT OP CHRETER.—Last night's Gazette contains
the official notice appointing Chester to be a port, and de-
scribing its limits to be as follows " The Paid port shall
oommmee et the eastern end of the old bridge strop the
river Pee. in the ci y of Cheater, then eonf.nned along the
eastern side of the river Dee to the Rod Stones at Hoylake,
and from thence, in a direct line, to the river Voryd or
Clwyd river, and so continuing along the sea shore and the
west side of the river Dee, in the county of Flint, to the
western end of the said old bridge, and including the whole
of the rivers Dee and Voryd or Clwyd, and the mouths of all
rivers, brook', and water-courses falling therein." The fol-
lowing place, within the port of Chester, is appointed
to be a legal quay for the lading and unlading
of goods, the bounds and cutest of such quay to
be as follows—that is to my, all that open place ex-
tending from the new railway bridge over the river Dee, in
the city of Cheater, along the east side of the said river down-
wards to the sluice or run of water on the nine aide of the
river running into the said river Dee, near the Cheese Stage,
and extending in length eight hundred and eighty yards,
little more or lees. All former lititite of the said port of
Chester, and all former legal quays already set out and ap-
pointed within the same, are annulled.

COMMERCIAL er MARKETS.

MONEY MARKET & CITY INTELLIGENCE.
Two o'Clock.—The speech of Louis Philippe on open-
ing the French Chambers would seem not quite to
have answered expectations on the Stock Exchange,
although in what particular respect it is considered
to fall short does not appear to be exactly defined, if
understood. Consols are k worse, at 853 to a for the
opening, than the closing rates yesterday. We have,
however, a quiet market, and with little tendency to.
speculation. Reduced Threes, 85,-; to t. Three-and-
a-Quarter per Cents., 88! to a. Exchequer Bills,
9s. to 12s. premium. Bank Stock rather lower, at
1861 to 81.1 A
In foreign stocks we are without movement, and
almost without the slightest change of prices. Mexi-
can, 18 to a. Spanish Fives, 18 to 3 ; the Threes, 30
to Portuguese, 22 to 3. Dutch Twc-snd-a-Half
per Cents., 38 to I ; the Fours lower, at 85; to I.
Danish, 82 to 4. Russian, 107 to 8. From Frank-
fort, on the 23rd inst., we have a weak market in
public securities and railway shares, with prices in
decline.

The dulness of the home and foreign stock markets,
and railway shares as well, is the usual accompani-
ment of the holiday season.
. .

Rusk Stork, Ifln 8* I 3 per . for Ae., 834 I
pa 3 Ct. Red. Anns., 31 per Cent^. $6l I
3 per Ct. Cons. Anne., abut Lee:hover IMlie. PA to IN. P.

FOBICION FUNDS.
I per Ct. Anitdin Bonds, 94 6 I 1 per Cent. Grenada 1161.,'18 18
4* per Ct. Bele.Boude, 88 91 ()min& Deferred BAR, 3 4
21 per Cent. ditto, 6 per Ct Malian, 1846, 13
6 per Ct. Brazilian Bd.. 711 11 4 per et Peruvian lide., 21 31
Ditto Nee. 76 8 Partugueee Con.. Ms, 11 3
6 Ct Duetted Arm 191.9., 26 30 9 per et Humian Bd., 1K 8
Vito CbilL. 8d.., 88 92 Ditto Spanith Ma., 18*
Dim Columb. Def. ildr., 3 per Ct. lipanisb Ma., 30 *
Columbian Equador Ms.. 21 f Sroulab Deferred Bd., 11 12
3 par Ct. Daman 13.1 a., 62 4 Nesmith Pamirs 11411 a., If 44
24 per Ct. Dutcb Bde., 54 * I per Ct. VenesueLa Dda., 3t 4
4 per Ct. Carta Dutch, 65f 6f I Venni-nein Deferred Bds., I) 11

RAILWAYS.—The market for shares is dull, and
quotations much the same. Northern of France are
lower than yesterday, the price being 2 pm.

BALES Er ffECTED 111. TO TWO THIS DAY IN LONDON.
(Yesterday's prices will be found In last me.)
Aberdeen, 27 London and Greenwich, 94
Brist"l & Exeter, 63 London and S. Western Tenths
Bnikinahnewdiire, 21 3 d (Como/ ), 464
Cakdonda, 361 4 Manatee, Bus., & Matlock, 1
IL Coundes, 184 4 Midland, 1064
Do. EaL 5 per Ct., No. 2, 44 d Do. 401. ah., 421
Eastern Chloe, 43 N. British, 234 41
E. Lancashire. 214 Do. Thirds. 11
Gt. Westirn Halves, 561 N. Staffordshire. 24 4
Do. Qll., 164 i South Devon, 22
Do. Fifth., 23 24 B. E. & Dover. 304 291
Hall & Selby, 99 Do. No. 9, 94
ips & Surf et Edmonds, l i Do. Thirdr, No. 4, 31 1

Do. Pam & SI
Do. Halves (A), 13
Do. (B), 14
Loodca & Blackwa/1, 4j
Do. New, No. 1, 4
lam, 8040 ,tB. .W

DO. het &avert..
(1M8), 47
Lon. and N. Western, 140
Do. Fifths, 11l 11
Do. 401. ob., Y. & 8., BO
LIVE.RPOOL
Meter. end Eastern Jo., SI
Eut Lanceshire New, f d
London & N. Western New, Sip
Man., nbeff., and Lin. Qrs., No.
1 (guar. y per et.), 1 d
Midland, 110 9j
De. Sans, j d
sl A NCII EATER Al
There was a greatly hoproi
of business and pried. For
were offered for shares.

South Wales, 6+
York. Neva, a Der.
Do. Original Now: rike..
Do. Ext., No.l (York& Hawn)
13
Do. No. 2 (Nroro. k Der.), 12
135.. E. Pur 91
' 73

pir °Cent.

York & N. Midland, .
Do. Pref., 15
Do. E. & W. Riding Ex., 1$
N. of Prance, 12
Putt & Lyons, 61
EA, Damossea 2s.
N. Ptaidad•hlre, d
North Union (A). &Nie
E. k Dover, so;
Do. No. 4, If d
York, Newc., & Her. (O.N.E. per.
goer. 6 per Cent.), 11 p

'LES, Orson SS.
,ed market, both as to amount
ext account still higher figures

Bo- I:b..—ciiilTere:e, St W. Leloneter and Bedford. 40. 6d. d
York. Pre(. 1.3.). I d Lon. and N. W. Man. It Bk., 39
Hod. & Man. & C., 11d Do. Q8:146i,k VI p
Lan. Se Tort., W.R.U., 21 d Do. Qrs. C , p
Do. Pres. & Wyre Halves (B), Man., Un. Prof., 1-16 p
5-16 p Do., [theft., t Um., 4 13-16 d
B. F. & Dover (tee. at 101.), N 0.4, North Staßordahlre, par I d
1 13-16 i Wharfdale, 1 1-16 d
BIRMINGHAM PALER, Deems= 26.
The ExcheaFre re-opened to-day after the holidays. The bu-
siness transacted was limited, bat prices had a tendency up-
wards. _ . .

Lon. and N. W., 149 I Bbrewa. and Air. A, Si d
N. 9taffuni.l:dre, 41.191. d Bbropqdre d
Orr., Wort, WoL, d
- •

LEEDS BALER, Drennan 26.
Thera was no improvement in the amount of business trans-
acted, and, although it was the first day for the new amount,
there was no advance in price*.
W. FL Uniim, 60e. 620. 6d. d N. Rtetrordiddre, 7. Ad. Ca d
Lee'. and Think, 161 d N. Western, 46. 116. 3d. d
N. Britleh Third. Se. 4. d Neese. & Bee. New, S p
Do. Qrs., 10e. d

BRISTOL SALES, Docnnma 28.
The market manifested a more buoyantspirit, although,
from the closeness upon the holiday., the business done was
limited.

YORK SALES, Oterenten 28.
Great Northern, 4L 7s. York. Newt , end Berw. Ex., No.
North Britiek Thirds, IL 171. Ik. I 2, (late New Berwick),
Do. Extension, Ils. Do. G. N. R. Par., 9
GLASGOW SALE& Deessessa 27.
Caledrnien New, 22,. 6d. 23a. I Wench. & South., 6..
Gt. S. of Madras, 61

COALS.—HaIt past 71ro.—The following are the
quotations : Cares Hartley, Ms. ; Walla End Braddyll'a
Henan, 235. ; Wall. End Haswell, 2.65. ; Walla End Berton,
2.55. ; Walls End Lan:Lbw's, 255.; Walla End Stewart's, 2.6 a;
Walls End Tees, 255.-Bhips at market, 68.

PRODUCK—MiNCING-LANE, half--past Two.—
The market closed. —Sugar ; In ordinary time the position
of the market at theelom of the year (reported in the Express
of yesterday) would furnish matethls from which fair infe-
rences might be drawn as to the probable progress of the
market for the next three months, but under the existing
circumstances it would be very has/admix to give
an opinion. The first impression is, that the very
large surplus stock on bend, coupled with the
knowledge that the Mauritius new crop, now in course of
arrival, cannot as heretofore be held by the importers to sus-
tain the market when under temporary depression, will pre-
vent any material advance ; but it should be borne in mind
that the stock in dealers' hands is understood to be much
smaller than usual at this period of the year, and that a
steady and good demand may be calculated upon.
Teat the present low prices can long prevail, is scarcely to
be conceived. 'They have already entailed ruin on several
British planters, and, if they continua during another sea-
son, few will be able to bear the louts. The complaints of
the planters Dave been strongly forced upon the attention of
government, and it is understood that ministers are de-
sirous to grant them relief, and that we shall very
shortly be put In possession of the answer of the minis-
ter, and up in this answer future prices will much depend.
A proposi;ion has been made that government should imme-
diately augment the differential duty between British and
foreign, and make it permanent. This of course would be
effective, bat to accomplish it government must retrace its
steps in the march of free trade, and incur no small degree of
unpopularity, with the certainty of numerous fresh applica-
tions
from previous protected interests. The second propo-
sition is oae that is most likely to be granted, namely, to take
off all burdens from the planters that affect the "cost of pro-
duction," and to give them a bonus by &reduction in the rum 1
duties. The latter involves a revenue question to some extant,
but there is a common-sense fairness in the argument that,
" having decided that we are to run a race with the world in
the cultivation of Surer, and be relieved from all fetters that
impede ear course," which leads to a very general opinion that
something will be done in this shape ; this, however, will be
II slow ' prattle, and will not Immediately affeet prices.
With these prospects, oommercial and political, the
Sugar market will open next week for the year
1848. Depressed as it is, a inaction may possibly tab
place in favour of the importers earlier than as now andel-
lotted. A decree may be issued from government some early
day, that would affect prices, torn the current of opinion in
favour of the article, bring confidence and capital into the
market, and restore prioes to a remunerative point for im-
porters, both of plantation and foreign, and would secure
permanently a steady supply to the United Kingdom, which

I Some changes have taken place within the fortnight in
our judicial department, owing to the departure of Chief.
Justice Arrindell from the colony, for the purpose of assist-
ing at the Bt. Lazia Commission appointed by Earl Grey to
inquire into the conduct of Chief-Justice Beddie of that
Wand. Mr. Arrindell has been succeeded for the time in
the chiefjusticevhip of this colony by Mr. Downie, the first
poises judge: Mr. Downie's piece has been filled by the
elevation of Mr. Firebraoe (who, by the way, has just re-
turned to the colony from Europe), fist= the office of second
to that of first puiine, while Mr. Firebrace's scat as second
puisne judge is occupied by Mr. Beets, who, though new to
the judicial office, fills the bench very creditably. Curious
enough, all our gee official men of law are at this moment
" acting." Never was there such • colony erectors. There
is the " acting" chief justice, the " acting " first paisne
justice, the " sating " second palms justice, the " acting"
attorney-general, the "acting " solicitor.general, the" acting"
secretary to the "acting" chief justice, the "acting head" of
the absent head of the judicial department of the registry,
&c., &c. With so much ' meting' there ought at least to be
plenty,of play, if there is little work.
" The Court of Policy has had no meeting during the fort-
night. The court has recently sustained the lois of an ex-
ceedingly aide member, by the voluntary retirement of Mr.
Cum], from a seat which he had bald, with occasional brief
intermissions, to, a number of years put. The causes of the
lion. member's sadden withdrawal from public !item. under-
stood to be certain raisuadusleadings relative to the affairs
of the central board of roads and bnlges, from which Mr.
Croel has also mind, and of which, since its institution, he
has constituted decidedly the most efficient member, and the
guiding spirit.

Ulj