The Express.
London, England, 1861-03-11 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, MONDAY EVENING, MARCH 11, 1861.

The annexed figures refer to the twelve months
of 1860 as compared with 1859.

t K wheat we imported 216,594,063 at 27,610151 more
Hour .. 4,320,M6 „ 1,927,916 ~
barley „
oats

maize „ 3, . .
„„
165,804 1,281,7M ::
cotton „
flax 9 •
indigo „
ad all , . 2,r•43,211 „ 5147,6604 „
maw „
4,014,060 „ 1,041,214 „
tea „
timber „ 9,24.18,012 „ 1,013,110 „
wine „
wad „ ....

It is apparent from this enumeration of the
principal items of import that we have been pro-
viding ourselves to an unusually large extent with
foreign commodities, either for consumption or to
be used in manufactures. The aggregate of the
above mentioned fifteen articles is 121,600,377!.,
and the increase compared with 1839 amounts to
the serious sum of 21,348,376/. The only large
articles of import that present any decrease of
importance compared with 1859, are brandy, hemp,
and jute. If we carry the examination further we

shallfind that the increase in the five articles first
mentioned—namely, wheat, various other kinds '
of grain, and flour—amounted to 13,017,0451.
Now, this represents simply the increase in the
sum which we have been obliged to pay to the
foreigner for food, in consequence of the failure
of our last harvest. We could not do without
this supply, and no doubt we have eaten it up
almost as fast as it came in. It is not as if we
had invested the money in cotton or timber, which
we can work up into some manufactured form,
and sell again to the foreigner, with a
due profit upon our industry. The deficiency
in the yield of our crops has entailed upon us a
severe and sudden drain, which has told swiftly
upon the exchanges and upon the money market.
The effect has been the more rapid and violent
because, as above shown, at the very time when
we wanted breadstuff,. from abroad to so unusual
an amount, we increased our absorption of such
comforts and luxuries as tea, coffee, and wines.
Moreover, we increased our investments in the raw
materials of manufacture, such as cotton, indigo,
tallow, timber, and wool. There is even reason
to apprehend from • review of these figures that
we have been somewhat improvident, and have
availed ourselves too freely of the luxuries pro-
curable from abroad.
The Board of Trade returns also enable us to

ascertain the imports of various additional articles of
minor importance, and if we extend the compa-
rison to them we shall find the results to be
similar. Of the whole of the articles enumerated
in the official returns, the imports were:._

1860
1839 ...

. -
£169,131,063
..- ........... -... 143,064,968

Being an two= d £16,076,105

Now we could only redress this adverse balance
by paying in specie or by paying in exports. The
total exports for the twelve months, according to
the official returns published three weeks ago, were :
2135,842,817
1859 130,411,529

Being an i•eew at . . £5,431,288
Consequently, on • comparison of 1860
with 1850

The increase in imperils was
The increase in exports was
Lsavingabsisnee to be provickwi of 00,644,817

Perfect accuracy cannot, of course, be claimed
for these results, or for the figures upon which they
are founded, but it is easy to understand from
them why our specie reserves have been so heavily
trenched upon during the last few months.

LATESV:INTELLIOENCE.

AMERICA.

QUEENSTOWN, SusoAy.

The Royal Mail steamship. Atria', Captain
Shannon, from New York on the 27th ult., arrived
here at 4.15 a.m.; landed all mails, except those
for Liverpool, and proceeded at 4.30 a.m. All well.
The steamer America, from Liverpool, had ar-
rived out.

The committee of thirty-four leading democrats
from Pennsylvania, headed by Judge Lewis and
General Foster, appointed by the Democratic Con-
vention to convey a copy of the resolutions to Pre-
sident Buchanan and the President of the Senate,
had arrived at Washington, and had an interview
with the President on the 23rd of February. The
President informed them that he had read the re-
solutions, and that he endorsed every sentiment
therein contained.
The New York Herald says :

Private deices received at !Washington on • ' a 25th ult.
from Montgomery lay that very soon a commissioner will
be appointed by the Southern Confederacy, and be accre-
dited to the new administration ; and that, in the mean-
time, oo measures will be taken with a view to dislodge the
federal fortes in possession of Southern Porte.
The same paper says :

The secretary had received a despatch from the
Oommineary of Subsisten, dated New Orleans, informing
him that General Twigp had surrendered the military
property to the revolutionists in TOW. The commiasary
adds that, as a loan, no use of the government means of
transportation was allowed to take the federal troops to the
seaboard, and they were permitted to take with them three
or four cannon and their side arms.

On the 25th the Rouse of Representatives pro-
ceeded to the consideration of the Senate's amend-

manta to the Tariff Bill. Mr. Sherman, of Ohio,
urged the necessity of concurring in all the amend-
ments, to many of which be was opposed, and
under other circumstances would vote against them.
But be believed the very existence of the govern-
ment depended on the prompt passage of the
bill, which is substantially the act of 1847.
When the present administration came into power
the public debt was 29 millions, with nearly 18
millions in the treasury. But now the public debt
is over 96 millions. The smallest possible amount
the government can get along with the next fiscal
year is 68 millions. It was a necessity to pass this
bilL

The amendment imposing a duty of one cent.
and a half per pound on coffee, and on tea four
cents., with the addition of ten per cent. ad valorem,
was rejected by a vote of 32 against 147. All the
Senate's amendments were concurred in except the
tax on tea and coffee. The bill therefore goes back
to the Senate.

The New York Herald says :—" The feeling is
very general among the friends of adjustment that
all hope of the peace conference coming to a settle-
ment is ended."

The property of the United States in Texas had
been quietly surrendered by General Twigg to the
state authorities. The federal troops were allowed
to leave the state, all facilities being afforded them
for so doing. The value of the seized property was
estimated at 1,300,000 dole.
The North Carolina Legislature adjourned on the
25th ult. There was some talk of an extra
session, if the events of the next few weeks are un-
favourable to compromise.
The Washington correspondent of the New York
Herald says :

I ins able to state positively that a complete skeleton of
the inaugural was prepared in Springfield and brought on
to this place by the President elect. In the portion relating
to national affairs, the obligation of the new adminie.
tnition to execute all the federal laws in all parts
of the Union as one of its constitutional duties
is firmly amerted. In reference to the compro-
mise question none of the propositions now pending be-
fore Congress and the peace conference was directly en-
dorsed ; but the calling of a national convention for the
adjustment of the present differences between the two sec-
tions of the country was recommended, and a readinem ex-
pressed to abide by whatever pleasure it would agree upon.
It is, however, more than probable that the observations
of the President elect on the journey from Springfield,
and since his arrival here, will induce him to modify this
original draft. But, whatever these modifications may be,
I but indicate the firm conviction of his most intimate
friends in saving that he will not embody • reeosonsodatien

of any suggested compromise or concision in his weenie.
The mine correspondent of the above paper says

There appears to be a growing conviction among many
prominent republicans that an impression, auguring well
for a conciliatory and conceding policy of the incoming ad'
ministration, was made upon the President elect at the
deljeu my given by Moses H. Grinnel in his honour during
his stay in your city.
The cabinet of Mr. Lincoln will take something of the
following shape :
Secretory of State Mr. SEWARD, of New York.
Seeteberyettbe Treassry Mr. CAMERON,of Pennsylvauis.
Secretary of War Mr. 0. M. CLAYT, of Kentucky.
or, Mr. M. BLAIR, of Ind.
Secretary of the Navy Hr. WELLS, of Connuticnt.
Secretary of the Interim am nit, of Indiana.
Pestmaster.Gensel Mr. ETHERIDGE, of Tenn.
Attorney-General Hr. BATES, of Missouri.
Asother report es to the oonstruction of Mr. Lincoln's
cabinet in u follows :
Secretary of State Mr. SEWARD.
Atteeseytieneral Mr. BATES
Seentiery et the Navy Mr. GILMER, of N. 0.
Secretary of the Interior Mr. C. B. SMITH, of Ind.
PostamsterGeneral ... Mr. WELLS.

ikaretary of theTressury...Mr. CAMERON.
QUEENSTOWN, Soirmir.
The Royal Mail steamship Canada arrived here
at 3 p.m. to-day, embarked mails, and proceeded
for Halifax and Boston at 4 p.m. All well.

prosperity of tie country by the development of the consti-
tutional institutions, by the improvement of the different
branches of the public service, and especisay by the regula-
tion of our financial position, Kr as to strengthen public
credit and to enable it to meet all the wants and

obligations of the state. Fes this purpose various
hills of great importance will be laid before you.
As the budget was not discussed by the Senate last
year, you will this session have to occupy yourselves with
the iumniu" sties and vote of financial measures for two con-
secutive years. We shall thus resume our regular way,
while, on the other hand, my government, conforming to the
decisions of the Chamber, has provided, as far as was pos-
sible, for the security of the public interest and for the
maintenance of order. I doubt not, gentlemen, that your
wisdom and patriotism will inspire you with sentiments equal
to actual circumstances. lam sure that you will sincerely
assist my government in advancing in the path pointed
out to us by the national interests in the point of view of a
good administration at home and of consideration abroad.

It is thus that we shall be able to look forward with con-
fidence to the future, and to invoke without fear the bless-
Logs of Him who shields nations end brings pure intentions
to a good end.