The Express.
London, England, 1860-12-14 00:00:00

AUSTRALIA.

Our latest advises from Melbourne are to Oct. 25.
The Melbourne Herald, of that date, says :
There are no political events of importanoe to report this
month. The meeting of the legislature has been postponed
till the 20th November. Ministers are busily engaged in
preparing their estimates for next year, and are, of course,
very reticent respecting their intended scheme of policy for
the next session.

The yield of the precious metal shows a falling off u
compared with previous years. The quantity of gold
brought down by escort since the date of our last sum-
mary was 150,072 ounces, as compared with 160,531 ounces
iu the corresponding period of the previous year ; while
during the same periods of 1800 and 1859 shipments were
respectively 167,386 and 196,031 ounces. This latter defi-
ciency, is, however, more apparent than real, as the Great
Britain, which sailed yesterday, took 118,560 ounces.
The commercial incidents of the past month have not been
of an unusual or striking character. Business has main-
tained a steady course, being neither remarkably depressed
nor the reverse. We have not suffered from a general
" crisis," nor have we been quickened into speculative ex-
citement. This quiet unvarying tenor is of course nautili-
factory to many whose commercial existeuce almost depends
upon frequent and violent fluctuations, but to houses of
established reputation and extensive connexions it is the
surest guarantee of prosperity.
That very dangerous species of fanaticism, known u re-
vivalism, is spreading on some of our goldfields ; several
poor women at Tarrengower having already beco.ne insane
under its effect'. Prayer meetings are reportel to have
been held iu various districts, and the chapel bells have
been kept constantly ringing. Although there is reason to
believe the reports on the subject are exaggeratel there is
nu doubt some truth in them, and it is said that the Yarn
Bend has already received accessions to its unhappy in-
mates from this cause.

The volunteer movements still progressing, tho colony
beicg able to boast now of 5,000 volunteers, the most of
whom are well trained, and lit for active service.

SYDNEY, Oct'. 24.
Business generally quiet. Ale mad porter much inquired
for ; prices firmer.

In the Assembly this evening the Land Bill is under dir•
cussion. In the Council the debato ou the Upper House
Constitution Bill is progrem.ing.

News from Taranaki (Sew Zealand) to the 13th instant,
confirms the previous intelligence. General Pmtt returned
to Taranaki to protect that plane from the anticipated
attack by the Waikato.. The Waika.oe were not tiles
B:peeled for a week. Captain Paden. was reported
wounded in the leg ►t Kaihihi on the 11th.

CALCUTTA, CHINA, AND AUSTRALIAN

MAILS.

The following telegram has been received at Mr.
Reuter'a office from the Peninsular and Oriental
Steam Navigation Company, Dec. 14 :

The Pera:with the heavy portion of the Calcutta,
China, and Australian mails, left Malta at 7 p.m.
on the 7th, and may therefore be expected at
Southampton in the course of the 16th.
The Ellora (from Southampton on the 27th Nor.)
reached Malta ou the 6th instant at 6 a.m., and
sailed fur Alexandria at noon.

The Bombay left Suez for Bombay, and the
Singapore (with extra mails, &c., of 12tn.io ISth
Nov.) for Calcutta on the 9th ult.

FRANCE.
RETURN OF THE EMPRESS.

Tla 3fot. deo r to-clay announces the Mum of the
Ewpn•ss to Paris, 4 haa-440sis sestautley even-
u„ and that her Majesty's health is more
atisfactory.

PARIS, FRIDAY X 01.130.

The 3t.miteur publishes the usual monthly re-
tura of the Bank t•f France, which shows the
MI-wing results as compared with the November
mum : _