The Express.
London, England, 1860-01-06 00:00:00

UNITED STATES AND CANADA.

A Wiabington despatch of the 23rd of December
says "It Lrespected that the President will net
send his manage to Congress until the 3rd of Ja-
nuary. Copes of the message have been forwarded
to New York, and other chief towns, where they will
be detained by the postmasters of the respective
localities until the reading in Congress is announced."
The House of Representatives was still engrossed
with the discussion of the slavery gantlet)' and some
veg exciting speeches haa been delivered.
The vote for speaker on the 23rd showed that Mr.
Sherman, republioan still wanted four votes to secure
his election. Fifty-three voters were scattered among
24 gentlemen, some of whom received no more than
eight votes, and 14 of them only one each. The
following is the latest ballot :—Necessary to a choice,
107; Sherman, 103; Scat, 83; Million, 27 ; Gilmer,
19; Booock, 10.
California advicss are to the 2nd December. Only
a light trade was doing, and no large operations
were ventured upon. Pig iron sells at about
82 dole. 50c. from the ship.
Judge Terry, indicted for killing Senator Brode-
rick in • duel, was arraigned ea the 28th to plead
in the Court of Sessions at San Francisco. The
hearing was postponed until the 20th December.
Over three tons of silver ore had arrived at San
Francisco.

Encouraging news from Canon Valley continues
to be received. New discoveries of gold and silver,
and latterly of lead, were frequently reported.
The month of November had been one of almost
continued storms and reins.
Victoria advice, are to the 23rd November. On
the 22nd, a steamer arrived at Victoria, from New
Westminster, with about 100,000 dole. in gold. The
pamengers give a flattering account of the Upper
Fraser River diggings, but the proepeets of &severe
winter were causing the entire abandonment of that
region till next spring. The Lower Fraserßiver was
free from ice and the miners were disposed to stay
during the winter. About 1,500 miners were at
the Vancouver diggings. The general impression
was that there would be an immigration of 10,000
into British Columbia by the close of March.
Major Downie was on his way down from the
Upper Fraser River region. There were reports of
his having made some valuable geographical discove-
rise on his journey from the ooast to Fort Alexander,
among which were a chain of lakes extending along
the route 150 miles. These reports are looked upon
at Victoria as important, ea, if true, the upper mining
districts will be much more accessible than hereto-
fore, being brought almost within water communi-
cation of Victoria. Numerous buildings of wood and
brick were being erected at Victoria, and real estate
was said to be rising.
The papers contain not a word bearing on the late
San Juan difficulty.
The act requiring banks in South Carolina to have
• certain amount of specie in their vaults, as a basis
of circulation, had been suspended until June, 1861.
A postal convention had been executed between
the Postmaster-General of the United States and
the Belgian Minister, establishing a regular corre-
spondence in closed mails between the United States
and Belgium, to be conveyed via England once a
week or oftener. _

A St. Louis telegram says " The steamer Dili-
gent is aground on the chain, ten miles above this
city. Sixty to eighty persons are on board her
without provisions, and the ice prevents any com-
munication being made with the shore. Strong
efforts are making to keep them from starving."
Utah advice, are to the Ist December, but there is
no news of general interest.