The Express.
London, England, 1858-02-02 00:00:00

THE INDIAN MAILS.

SOUTHAMPTON, HONDA!, EVENING.
The Colombo has arrived with the heavy portion
of the India and China mails.

She left Alexandria on the 18th January, Malta
on the 23rd, and Gibraltar on the 28th.

She brings 80 passengers, amongst whom are
Lieut.-Colonel and Mrs. Gabbett and family Rev.
infant,
and Gibson, Lieut. Christie ; Mrs. Eaton and
and Mrs. Holt, from Madras; Mrs. Lumsden, Mrs.
Boswell, Mr. Gill, Mr.. Block and infant, Mrs. Bond
and infant, Mrs. Kitson, Mrs. Henry and child, Dr.
and Mrs. Fish, Mrs. Saunders and infant, Captain
Tait, Messrs. Gaynor, Menton , Jones, Shave, Thursby,
Nesse% and Macpherson, from Calcutta ; Major
Lewis, her Majesty's 37th Regiment, Dr. and Mrs.
Bradford and family, Mrs. Yard, and Miss Rickett,
from Point de Galls.

Her cargo consists of 31 packages of specie, 1,108
packages of silk, 12 cases of &hawk', 226 cases of
oranges, and 38 bales of flax and wool.
The British screw steamer Victor Emanuel was
lying at Gibraltar with damaged rudder.
The Colombo experienced severe weather in the
Mediterranean, encountering head gales, both when
outward and homeward bound, accompanied in the
latter case with torrents of hail and sleet. The Afri-
can coast, when seen, was partially covered with
snow. On January the 28th, the wind shifted at
Gibraltar to the west, enabling a large number of
wind-bound ships to proceed up the Mediterranean.
At Alexandria was her Majesty's ship Vulture,
disembarking her Majesty's 71st Regiment, who had
been conveyed across front Malta by the Princess
Royal, which latter Teasel was passed at sea on the
20th January half-way to Malta.
Her Majesty's ships Royal Albert, Hibernia, Con-
queror, Centurion, Centaur, Medina, Tartarus, Cam-
den. Harpy, Wanderer, Coquette, and Vigilant, were
at Malta.

The Indus, which took out the Indian mail of the
20th ult.,had arrived out at Gibraltar on the 25th tilt.
The Nemesis called at Gibraltar on the 25th ult.,
and after taking in 600 tons of coals left for India.
The British felucca, Sarah, was run down on the
night of the 26th, by an unknown brig. She was
laden with birdseed, honey, &a The master and
crew escaped.

CANADA.

(FION OVA OWN 001,331170ND1NT4

MONTIMAL, he. 18.
A general election in this province has just been
brought to a close, and the result presents many
points of interest to all those whom the welfare of
Canada affects. The dissolution of parliament arose
from it having been thought desirable to appeal to
the country for its verdict on a new administration
which had been formed under the Hon. J. A. Mao-
donald. Mr. Macdonald did belong to the old con-
servative party, but he formed a connexion with the
liberals sonic three or four years ago, and has now
become the leader of the moderate liberal party.
This party in Lower Canada has gained at the polls
a crashing victory, and the party which went by the
name of " Rouges" has become nearly extinct. In
Upper Canada both sides claim the victory ; and the
precise 'strength of parties cannot be accurately
known till the vote on the address oomes. In Upper
Canada sectional and religions issues were unfortu-
nately introduced into the struggle by the op-
position, and materially. affected the result.
They caused three ministers—Messrs. Cayley,
Spence, and Morrison—to lose their seats, which is
• very unfortunate circumstance for the premier,
who will, however, have a large majority of the
whole house. I fancy he will find a partial recon-
struction of his cabinet necessary.
In Upper Canada there is a strong detosaTorr
tation based on population, which is resisted
resel
Lower Canada. At resent, the representation
o both sections of the province is equal. Hitherto
Lower Canada has had the greatest population; now
Upper Canada has the greatest, and it shouts lustily
for a greater proportionate representation. This is
one of the most troublesome questions in Canadian
politics, and possibly it may endanger the union
before it is 'settled.

We have have had an unusually mild winter, bat
we have at length an ioe-bridge across the St. Law-
rence. This is of very great importance to us, pend-
ing the constriction of the Victoria-bridge.
The imports at the port of Montreal for the past
two years are aa follows :
1807.

Total imports
„ duty 461,690
1856

Total imports
„ duty
Notwithstanding the year of crisis, the importer
tionsof 1857 show au increase overthe previousyear ;
but this is not the case in other Canadian ports. Tits
apparent decrease of duty collected in 1868 is owing
to the greater than usual value of goods remaining
in warehouse. The value of goods remaining in
warehouse at the end of last quarter was 386,2691. ;
corresponding quarter of 1856, 128,3541.; increase,
257,9151.
Oa the whole, Montreal has bravely weathered the
crisis which has caused such devastation over the
continent. We have no failures of any account, and
our banks never dreamed of suspending specie
payments.

A magnificent service of plate is in course or
manufacture for the Duo de Brabant, at Rildagton and
Mama's, Birtaingbam. The Daily Pat Mates that, though
only a very miner part of this serrice will be of elverr ft
will coat &early 20,0004