The Express.
London, England, 1866-01-19 00:00:00

MISCELLANEOUS TOPICS.

The Times accepts the figures of Messrs. E"ison and
Heywood, of Liverpool, as trustworthy estimates of the
cotton trade for the entreat year. Very nearly 70,0)0,0001.
is calculated by the Times to have ben lost through the
cotton famine by a single provlnce of the nation ; but the
evils of our former situation have been permanently
cured. We are going t 3 other markets than ineet:ca
for oar raw material ; and of the thousand mil-
lion pounds of cotton which it is estimated we shall
import in the coming year it is not ►nticipated that the
American contribution will be more than 27 per cent. of
the whole, instead of 80 per cent., as it was befo.e the war.
The question of our future supplies is entirely a question
of price. The power of production of the Southern States
has been so reduced by the disorganisation of society, as to
render it probable that the average price will vary little
from that of the past year ; and in that case the supply
from the Eist, from the Mediterranean, and from Brazil
will increase rather than diminish. Nevertheless the
quantity of the American supply cannot be determined
with anything like precision ; it is the comparatively un-
known element io the problem.
The Daily /ff co has good reason to believe that, in
answer to an express inquiry made by an impartial power,
the Austrian government has ye./ recently stated that it
persists in regarding the Duke of Augustenburg va the
rightful heir to the crown of Sleewig-Holstein. Were it to
act upon this, sad declare that the jolt wishes of the
German nation shall not be disappointed, much worhl be
done to restore the morale of the German people, and to
show that Germany still has princes and statesmen capable of
postponing dynastic advantage to n►tional objects. Austria
would by the act restore that nolo° with the great body of
the German people which was destroyed when it unwisely,
as we conceive, abandoned the secondary and minor states
of Germany, end placed itself by the side of Prussia.
The Herald cannot believe that the idea of withdrawing
his troops from Mexico has ever entered into the serious
consideration of the Emperor Napoleon. To abandon the
country would be to give up all hope of obtaining payment
of the 8,000,000/. due to France from Mexico, to say nothing
of the loss to the French through the hat two Mexican
loans ; while the dangers of continuing in the coontry are
►ll pretended ones. Until the Emperor of Mexico can be
left with some other reliable European force the Emperor
Napoleon will not retire.
The Star interprets the recent despatch of Mr. Dronyn
de Lime on the subject of Mexico to mean that whenever
the United States recognise the empire of Mexico, Louis
Napoleon willwithdraw hie troops, and it would like to know
whether anyone can suggest a better solution of the diffi-
culty.

The report of the Consolidated Bank (formerly
the Bank of Manchester, Heywood, Kennard., and Co., and
Hankeys) to be presented on the 25th inst., state% the
available total, including a previous balance of 6,812/., to
be 67,9511., and recommends a dividend at the rate of 10
per cent. per annum, and a bonus of 3s. per share (being
►n additional 7i per cent. per annum), which will
absorb 52,5001. The sum of 10,0001. is to be added to re-
serve, which will thus be raised to 81,8081.. and 5,4511. will
remain to be carried forward. The liabilities of the bank
on current accounts are 3,037,4351., and on acceptances,
780,563/.

The manager of the Italian Opera at Paris has
foiled it necessary to raise the price of admission on the
Patti nights, as that popular artiste demands no less than
3,000 fr., or 1201., for each representation. It seems to be
the policy of the manager to pay the most extravagant
prices to a few of the more raze singing birds, whilst the
utmost economy is pre:tised in the general production of
an opera as regards subordinate singers, chorus, and mise
en let ne. This mode of conducting the Itali►n Opera at
Paris is a subject of some discussion in society and the
Parisian press.

A letter from Brest says :—" The few cases of
cholera which have taken place here, particularly amongst
the garrison of the Mittman, which is being evacuated,
have not increased ; even a alight diminution has been re-
marked. Moreover the character of the epidemic appears
comparatively mild, and there is every reason to believe
that the malady will only have just made its appearance in
the town without any power to spread to such an extent
as to wise uneeeinesa.*