The Express.
London, England, 1867-02-01 00:00:00

MEXICO.

Intelligence from Mexico announces that the impe-
rialists under Mejia were marching against Dapple°. It
was reported that a French column, 1,000 strong, had
been surprised by an ambuscade near San Juan, losing its
arms and 230 prisoners. Corona, with 3,000 men, was
marching to intercept a French column bound for San
Blas.

General Basaine had lamed a circular announcing to
the French troops their intended withdrawal, but inform-
ing them that they had the option of enlisting in the
service of the Emperor Maximilian.

ARRIVAL OF LIEUTENANT BRAND.—Lieutenant
Brand was among the passengers by the West India mail
steamer Seine, which arrived at Southampton yesterday.
THE FIRE ON BOARD THE SHIP KNIGHT COM-
PANION.—Tbe ship Knight Companion, Watt, from Cal-
cutta, which arrived off Blackwell on Wednesday, was
hint found to be on fire off the Bill of Portland. The
hatches were at once secured, ►nd on the ship reaching
the Downs throe steamtugs were hailed to tow her up to
Gravesend. Off Deal Captain Watt sent information of
the outbreak to the owners by telegraph, and on her
arrival at Gravesend they hoarded her, in company with
Captain P. Bennett. Two of the ste.tintugs were then
made fast alongside, and from their boilers pipes were in-
troduced through the ship's deck, and volumes of steam
were ejected in and among the burning cargo, which
evidently was close under the maindeck midships, portions
of which were almost burnt through. This was continued
till 9 o'clock on Tuesday night, when the hatches were
opened to ascertain the effect of the steam on the burning
cargo, when, to all appearance, the fire was extinguished.
The hatchways were then replaced, and the ship was
towed to Purfleet, where she anchored for the night, and
everything appeared safe below. Oa Wednesday morning
the ship was got underweigh, and was towed to Black-
well, but soon afterwards the cargo again burst out in
flame. The smoke being observed on shore, Captain
Hussey, dockumeter of the East India Dock, and Lieu-
tenant Sheppy, superintendent of the Dock Fire Police,
hastened off to the ship with • steam floating engine. A
telegram was also sent to London for further aid, and
shortly Captain Shaw, the chief of the Metropolitan Fire
Brigade, arrived with • floating engine and a strong corps
of firemen. Fortunately the fire was again soon suppressed.
Immediate steps were then taken to pump the water out
of her. There was five to seven feet of water in her, and
the ship was drawing 24 feet of water at her moorings.
Gangs of men were also employed to discharge the ship,
and by yesterday morning all the burnt debris of the cargo
had been got out of her, and the damage proved not so
great as was at first expected. The ship will go into Vic-
toria Dock to-day to discharge the remainder of her cargo.

The revival of the " tribune " is in itself a mat- I
to of small importance, bnt, as M. E. de Girardin
says, it is very significant as a symptom of a radical
change in the Emperor's views. Some years ago
the Duke de Morny, making himself the organ of
several deputies, pressed his Majesty to restore
the tribune, but met with a flat refusal.
There was then in the imperial mind a stab-1
stantial connexion between the tribune and
that parliamentary government which he had
hoped to have for ever put down. It is, as
things stand, a question of acoustics more than
anything else. The building in which the deputies
assemble was constructed with a view to the tribune,
and many members, however oratorically gifted,
cannot make themselves well heard from their seats.
It appears to have been lost sight of that while more
important reforms may beyond doubt be made by
imperial decree, a Seuatui tionsultum will be ne-
cessary to establish this. It is one of the
organic coup (filet laws that no member can speak
except from his place. In any other point of view
than the acoustic one the revival of the tribune is
a concession to a very absurd prejudice. Roman
consuls spoke from tribunes because they addressed
multitudes in the open air, but it is much more
rational in a deliberative assembly that members
should speak from their seats as they do in England,
instead of getting up into a pulpit. How-
ever, the tribune is a sign of the times—and, as
things go, a good one.
The French Post-office has refused to pay a sum
of 3,000 fr. contained in a declared "letter," on
. whom an ad valorem premium was paid, which was
lost in the shipwreck of the Borysthbne, bound for
, Algiers in December, 1863. The tribunal of First
Instance has given a verdict for the Post-office on
the ground that its contract with the public in such
cases does not extend to losses by via major. The
public fancied that when the Post-office took its
premiums of assurance all risks were covered.
A letter from Rome in the Etendard attributes
the following speech to the Pope concerning four
English statesmen :

I like and I understand Lord Clarendon—l also lilts
but I do not understand Mr. Gladstono—l always under-
stood but never liked the Duke of Argyll—but I neither
like nor understand Lord Russell.

Mr. Gladstone, before leaving Paris, passed an
evening with Prince Czartoryski, at the Hotel
Lambert.

It was rumoured at the Bourse that M. Duchey-
lard, the commissary of police of the Rue de
Vivienne, had arrested five or six individuals,
among whom were a merchant and a financier,
hitherto considered respectable, on a charge of
having forged notes of the Bank of Hayti.
The Bonne was rather firmer. Rente rose
15c. for cash and fic. for account, closing at
69fr. 20c. and 69fr. 10c. In other securities there
was little change, except Credit Foncier, which
fell 32fr. 50c.

DEATH OP MR. BA RR Y, N. P. —The Cork
JEcossiner of yesterday announces the death of Mr. C. R.
Barry, M.P. for county Cork.

PARK-LANE.—The following communication in
reference to a proposal for saving the metropolitan rate-
payers from 90,010. to 130.000/. in the improvement of
the southern end of Perk-lane has been addressed to some
of the principal inhabitants of the locality concerned :
" Gentlemen,-You are probably aware that plans have
been deposited at the House of Commons by the Metro-
politan Board of Works fur the improvement of the road-
way at the southern end of l'ark -lane, at an estimated
cost of 100,0001., but which their architect thinks may
cost 150,0001., and that the ' declaration' states tho ex-
penile is to be borne by the various metropolitan parishes.
Having matured • plan for the formation of this road-
way, which I feel confident can be executed for nearly
one-tenth the cost of that proposed by the Metropolitan
Board of Works, at the nine time that • much more satis-
factory improvement will be effected, I have forwarded
a letter and plans to that body explanatory of my views.
It has occurred to me that, as your district is so materi-
ally interested in this improvement, you may feel desir-
ous of expressing an opinion as to the advisability or non-
advisability of carrying out my suggestion, and I conse-
quently take the liberty of forwarding you herewith a
lithograph of the two plans, and a copy of my letter to
the board in explanation thereof. I shall be happy to
forward you any further copies that may be desired.— I
have the honour to be, gentlemen, your obedient servant,
H. SAxON SNELL.-3G, Chancery-lane, W.C., Jan., 1867."
_ _

_ .
EAST LONDON RAILWAY COMPANY. —The third
report of the directors of this company states that the pro-
gress of the works on the south side of the river has been
satisfactory ; but that on the north side delays have arisen
in obtaining possession of the property required for the line
which have prevented their bring proceeded with so
rapidly as they expected. The directors, however, believe
that these delays will not be ultimately prejudicial to this
company. An application has this year bftn made to
parliament by an independent company for an wet to
authorise the construction of a line lg mile in length, by
which a junction will be effected between the East Lon-
don, and the South London and Crystal Palace High
Level lines, and to give to the East London Railway Com-
pany running powers over the South London and Crystal
Palace line.

THE OPENING OF THE PARIS EXHIBITION. —The
exhibitors at the building in the Champ-de-Mani are
beginning to arrive in Paris, and are flocking to the offices
to claim the spaoe allotted to them ; the distribution of
surface is not, however, yet terminated. An opinion
is consequently prevalent that the date for opening, fixed
for the let April, will have to be postponed ; but the con-
trary affirmation is firmly made by the Imperial Commis-
sion.—Oalionani.

THE AERIAL STEAM NAVIGATION COMPANY.—This
oompany appear to be going a-head in the completion of
their air carnage, the first exhibition of which, according
to the San Francisco papers, waa to be made from the
Shell-park race-course, towards the end of the last month,
so that the next steamer from San Francisco will probably
bring us • report of the result of the expenment.—
Pa•amw Star. Jan. li.

AN AUSTRALIAN Corwramr.—On Saturday, Oc-
tober 27, • boson' damsel of some twenty-three summers,
was • passenger to Maldon, her maternal home, by one of
the Maldon coaches, and a stalwart miner, hailing from
Cornwall (" near England"), took • seat by her side. They
were total strangers to each other, the man being from
Rendigo, on the look-out for his brother, and never having
been in Maldon before. However, on the journey they en-
joyed a pleasant chat, and it is to be presumed became mu-
tually enamoured of each other. At all events, it is a fact
that on reaching Malden • whispered conversation
took place, and the damsel, instead of going home, took
the arm of the swain, and proceeded at once to the resi-
dence of • minister, who, upon satisfying himself that both
were sane and of.miture age, agreed to tie them up. When
called upon for their names for the " marriage lines " the
question had to be mutually asked and replied to. The
lady then went for the ring, while her lover of an hour
gave the necessary information. The ring was got ; and
in something less than four hours after meeting for the
first time the two were "no longer twain, but of one
flesh." The happy pair then departed for Bandigo. —dos-
tratian paper.

Tux PLACE TOR SPORTSMEN. —Wild game has
always been found in abundance in the vicinity of Napa,
but the present season surpasses any that has gone before
since the flood—the flood of 1862 Geese:hi-ants, and
honkers are seen in untold numbers on the foothills in the
neighbourhood of Carlene, covering hundreds and hundreds
of acres, and their gabbling can be beard for miles and
miles around. Ducks are so numerous that in their flight
overhead during the night they entirely obscure the moon
and stars, and the noise produced by their wings sounds
like " the rushing of mighty winds." Hundreds are killed
by night hunters, and leaving the hen-roosts in disgust,
the fox and the own alike lick their chops in the anticipa-
tion of their night's feast, and proceeding to the tule
swamps, "lay low for blank ducks." Quail now fro in
flocks on account of their numbers, and will no doubt con-
tinue to do so until spring. Hares are many, and their
ears are longer than usual. All other small game in like
proportion.—San Francisco paper.

TILE PANAMA AND WEST INDIA MAILS
The Royal Mail Company's steamship Seine,
Captain Revett, with the West India, Mexican,
Pacific, Australian, and New Zealand mails, arrived
at Southampton yesterday with 81 passengers,
986,597 dollars in specie, and 3,154 packages of
cargo. She experienced strong westerly winds and
heavy seas.
The Seine, on her outward passage, only remained
at St. Thomas six hours, and she then proceeded
to Jamaica. On her homeward voyage she stayed
at St. Thomas 24 hours, and sailed on the 16th.
She had 14 cases of fever on board, but only one
death, which occurred on the 9th instant.

Thit Seine has beeii sent to quarantine,and the
pas engers were to be admitted to pratique in 48
hours

The Panama Star and Herald of the Bth January
publishes the following news from Chili :

:CHILI.

The rumour that Chill bas refused the mediation of
England and France in the Spanish question is confirmed.
The A lemma of Valparaiso is disposed to accuse the
cabinets of Paris and London of connivance with Spain, in
trying to bring about a settlement favourable to the latter
country.
The re-union of the Congress of the South American
Republics was attracting attention. The Congress is to
meet at Lima, and those republics which have not yet
given in their adhesion to the new policy of the league
are to be invited.

A supplement to the Panama Star and Herald of
January 8 gives the following news from Australia
and New Zealand :

VICTOILIA.

The Intercolonial Exhibition has proved a great suc-
cess, and attracts visitors from all parts of Australia.
The wheat harvest has already begun in the northern
districts and promises to be unusually large. Sir J.
Manners Sutton is steadily winning the good opinions of
all classes of colonists. The bulk of the new wool clip
has been shipped for England. The White Star, which
sailed on Dee. 1, took 6,000 bales—the largest shipment
of the season.