The Express.
London, England, 1860-12-25 00:00:00

TRAFFIC RETURNS.

Miles Pam- Total, Total,
RAILWAYS open imagers ehandlas 1000 1040
Week ending Dee. S
Detroit andWilwaukee .. 186 fiat 1,566 2,002 1,140

Week ending Dec. 7. — .
Great Western of Christla 345 6,415 4,006 4136 6,674
Buffalo and leke Huron 161 1,114 WI
Week siding Dec. 16.
Cornwall
Week ending Dec. 11.
London, Brighton, aid 8
Coast 5241 11,606 3.774 16,660 14,200

THE BIRXENCIHAM CHAMBER OP COMMERCE AND
THE COLONISATION OF AFRICA—Oa Thursday text, the
Birmingham Chamber of Commerce will meet to twinkler a
question which, though primarily commercial, is essentially
philanthropical- The chamber will only deal with it in its
mercantile aspect, but the public will take more interest in
its ultimate tendency. The question is that of promoting
the colonisation of Africa by free amines, who are now
living in Canada and the States of North America, and of
assisting generally in the development of industrial re-
sources among the native inhabitants of Africa. Thee is
in Loudon an emaciation devoted to the furtherance of these
objects. At the heed is Lord Alfred Churchill, M.P., while
among its members are Lord Ca' Ithorpe, Edward Bullock,
Esq., of Handsworth ; the Rev. C. B. Snapp, of Perry Barr;
It. W. Winfield, Esq., of Birmingham ; and many gentle.
men of greater eminence in the world's public businese„
Lord Alfred Churchill will attend the meeting of next
Thursday for the purpose of explaining the views this
society advocates and of persuading our Chamber of Com-
merce to co-operate with it in advancing the cause it has
undertaken.—Bireringhsei Daily Post.
THE BELFAST LINEN TRADE AND THE TREATY
Of COMNBECIL—On Friday last a meeting of the Associa-
tion of Bleachers, Finisher', and Linen Merchants a Ire-
land, was held at Belfast, to record a vote of thanks
to Mr. Richardson, M.P., and Mr. W. Ewart, ILP.,
who had acted with other gentlemen in carrying out
the arrangements connected with the new French
tariff. Mr. Ricluirdeon, in returning thanks, said that the
conduct of Mr. Cobden, in connexion with the treaty, was
beyond all praise. His patient attention to the representa-
tions made to him by the deputation from Belfast, tbe care-
ful consideration which he bestowed upon the statistics re-
lative to yarns, tcc., with which they furniabed him, and
1 the effects which be made to bring the negotiations to a
satisfactory termination, were deserving of their gratitude.
In fact, he believed that none but Mr. Cobden could have
brought the subject to so successful an issue. As for him-
self, he would be happy at all times to aid the assexiation
in promoting the welfare of the Irish linen trade. It was
resolved that a sub-committee be appointed to watch foreign
tariffs, and to urge on government the necessity of having
such remodelled on a liberal basis, and that a memorial re-
specting the Spanish tariff be at once prepared and brought
under the notice of the government.
THE INQUIRY INTO THE LOSS OF THE RUBY.—
The inquiry into the loss of •this vessel, after lasting some
days, terminated at Glasgow on Saturday. The court
decided as follows s—After having maturely considered the
evidence before us we deem it necessary to send the certifi-
cate of Mr. Forrest and the rustler of the Ruby to the
Board of Trade. The ground of our opinion will be stated
in the report which we shall have the hoeour of making to
the Lends of the Committee of Privy Council for Trade.
With regard to the misunderstanding between the coast
guard stationed at the scene of the wreck of the Ruby sod
the agents for Lloyd's within the district, we are of opinion
that the officer of the coast guard and his men in no respect
acted otherwise than consistently with their duty as pre-
scribed by the Merchant Shipping Act and the instructions
therein furnished by the Board of Trade.
A fire occurred, on Friday, in the woollen ware-
houses of Messrs. Jobe Ireland and Co.. at Kendal. The
stock dertroyed is c ..imated at 3,000 f., sod of the build.
*Lady the blackened walls remain.
THE ORNAMENTATION of WATCHES WITH FMB
AZT DuSIONIL—.'it Is singular that our &With miumfacturen
of watches have overlooked the Importance of superior art-
stalk= for their productions. The fart Is the costliness of ma-
terial and perfection of mei:lantern in the smallest compass germ
heretofore to have been looked upon an the exclusive standards
by which a watch could be judged, the ornamentation being
considered of no Importance. idgnilicatit signs of Improvement
are, however. Indicated by at least see manufacturer. Au ob.
servers of progress In all departments of art and manufactures,
we feel much pleasure in adding our testimony to the fine taste
which has been displayed In the selection of artistic designs for
ornamenting watches by Mr J. W. Remain, of to and 34. Lad.
catch 11. the manufacturer referred tn. Mr. Benson, as a long.
established City manufacturer. has gained a reputation for the
quality of his productions which stands second to none in the
City."—Son. Benson's Illustrated Pamphlet. post tree for two
stamps, is descriptive of every construct I.la of watch now made.
Watches safe by poet Wall parts et the glubc.—[Ailvertti,meut.]

1A710!!„

It—Daresneter corrected and nialted—to ft deg. at mean we
level : each 10 feet, of vertical rise, eandng about ono-hundredth
el an Inch diminution; and each 10 deg., above id dug., cisme
nearly thrershruidrolths Increase. IL—Exposed thermometer
is died& M.—Moistened bulb (for evaporation and dew
potht). D.—Direction of wind (tree—not magnetic;. F.—fens
a to 11—milmated . C.—Cloud (1 to 9). : b, blur sky,
e, clouds;detached); f, fog; h, hall; 1, lightning; Tr, misty
•a, OVIIIIIII (chin); r, ; s, mow t. thunder.
iwpowled avoinnte—ass, rr. much rain.

SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.