The Express.
London, England, 1865-01-12 00:00:00

JAPAN.

Affairs in Japan (says the China Mail) appear to
hang in the balance. It would puzzle a conjuror
to tell the next move that the Japanese authorities
will make with regard to foreign relations. The
virtue of patience, it would seem must be exer-
cised in regard to our relations with that strange
people. Every new experience that we acquire
with respect to them only stimulates further
inquiry, and it appears very plainly that Japan
cannot be any longer a closed country to
foreigners. In one important respect it differs from
China—viz., in its strict internal organisation,
which utterly prevents that species of cans belli
that brought matters to a cries in the latter coun-
try. The affairs of the country seem to be con-
ducted with the utmost strictness and vigour.
There is nothing to tempt the pirate, the smug-
gler, or the rowdy ; and the consequence is that
none of that class have as yet molested Japan, or
brought us into hostile terms with the authorities
there. We can only repeat what we have already
urged, that the removal of Sir R. Alcock was a mis-
take on the part of her Majesty's ministers. He has
spent very many years in J span and the adjacent em-
pire
of China, studying, no doubt, the peculiar idio-
syncrasies of both races ;he was at e
anpotelare. prepared
to advise in cases of difficulty ; his has proved
to a very great extent correct ; and be to
have been allowed a chance of following it up.
People here say that the recall of Sir R. Alcock is
merely a device of the English cabinet to meet the
objections of the peace party at home, and to stave
off attacks similar to those which were based upon
the affair at Eagosima. If this be so, we should
decidedly say that Sir Rutherford was in luck. The
operations at Shimonoseki were of an unusually
mild sort, and proved as thoroughly effective as
could have been expected by the peace party itself.
In the meantime all continues to go well in Japan.

AUSTRALIA.
VICTORIA.

The general election terminated in the first week
of November, having caused but little excitement
save in the district of Kilmore, where a disturbance
took place, but happily without serious cons.-
quencee.
The results of the elections are a surprise to
everybody. Public Tenn of unblemished reputation,
high standing, and approved ability, have been re-1
jaded for men comparatively unknown, and pew'
seeming no legislative experience whatever. Mr.
W. C. Haines, who has been twice premier, and
who also bad charge of the department of finance
during the existence of the coalition !ministry,
which held cane from 1861 to 1863, has been de-
feated by a gentleman utterly strange to public life;
and the same thing has occurred in many other
instances.

The new parliament was to meet on the 28th
November, but it was not expected that much work
would be done until the new year. The Argus
thinks that ministers should do something for
colonial defence, "particularly as the weakness of
our position has been forcibly brought home to us
by the intelligence received this month from Europe
of the attack which Russia contemplated on the
Australian colonies in the event of any war with
bland."
he anti-transportation movement is still prose- I
cuted with unabated zeal and energy. Numerous
petitions to the Queen and the I m perW Legislature—
the result of public meetings in all parts of the
colony—havebeen despatched toEnglsind by the pre-
sent mail. A great metropolitan demonstration on
the subject took place at St. George's Ball, Mel-
bourne, on Nov. 18, when the Anglican Bishop of
Melbourne, a dean of the Roman catholic church,
and ministers of other denominations, united in
protesting against the continuance of the evil.
The Arra contains the following information
respecting the gold fields :—" A want of water is
beginning to be already felt on those of oar gold
fields which are worst supplied, and if dry weather
should continue, the yield of gold must be seriously
affected thereby ere long. It is some years since
we have had a really dry summer, and the effect of
such a season would now be rather serious on the
diggings, as many of the worst provided of the
miners have not the means to support them long

without getting gold, and will not know where to
betake themealves, any peat extent of poor mgn's
ground being maroely ever available durinOhe
slimmer. Many of those with means will find their
way to the mountains, but even the richest of
new reefs will support only a few men until crushing
mills are erected ; and it will be long yet before
machinery enough has been taken to the reefs in
this region, which have been opened for some time,
and are known to be rich, even though the tracks
through the mountains have been sufficiently cleared
and opened already to allow of loaded drays being
taken as far as the Crooked River. As a resof
the late speculation in shares, a number of new
companies have been formed, principally for deep
sinking, and these will Mord employment to a
large number of men on wages ; but even this re-
source will scarcely suffice for the many miners who
will be thrown out of work if the summer should
prove dry. In the mean time, there is of
activity on many of the old spots, and we vet bad
a new rush or two of some little promise within the
last few weeks.