The Express.
London, England, 1859-12-20 00:00:00

THE UNITED STATES.

LIVERPOOL, MOM/A4.

The Royal Mail steamship Africa, Capt. Shannon,
which sailed from New York on the 7th inst., has
arrived at this port, bringing 73 passengers and
672,787 dole. in specie.

On the 7th the Africa spoke the Edinburgh (e.s.)
hence, going into New York, and on the 13th passed
the Vanderbilt, bound to the same place.
The screw steamer City of Manchester, from
Glasgow via Queenstown, arrived out at New York
on the 4th inst.

Both houses of Congress assembled at Wuhiog-
ton on the dth instant, but as the House of Repre-
sentatives had not succeeded in organising when the
Africa sailed, the President's Message had not bees
sent in.

The Senate was opened with the usual formalities,
and at the first opportunity Mr. Mason, of Virginia,
offered a resolution providing for the appointment of
a select committee to make a full and searching in-
vestigation into all the circumstances connected with
the Harper's Ferry outbreak, and also to report
what legislation is necessary for the future preserva-
tion of the peace of the country and the safety of the
public property.
Mr. Trumbull said that he should move to extend
the Inquiry so as to include an investigation of the
circumstances connected with the seizure of the
arsenal at Franklin, Missouri, during the Kansas
"border ruffian" war. Mr. ()win gave notice of a
bill for the construction of a railroad to the Pacific.
11 On the following day Mr. Mason's resolution was
debated, but without result.

In tie House of Representatives, immediately
after the roll was called, an attempt wit, made to
elect a Speaker. A ballot was taken, and the result
showed that sixteen candidates, embracing all the
various shades of party politics, had been voted for
without effecting a choice, which requires • clear
majority of the votes cut. Mr. Booock, the nominee
of the democrats, received 86 votes; Mr. Sherman,
republican, 643; Mr. Grow, republican, 48; Mr.
Boteler, an "American" (know-nothing) democrat,
14; and others smaller votes. After the ballot,
Mr. Grow withdrew his name, but no se-
cond effort had taken place. Mr. Clark, of
Missouri, offered a resolution declaring in effect that
no member of Congress who has given his approval
of • work called " Helpers Impending Crisis"
(which bears upon the Harper's Ferry affair), or who
his recommended it, is fit to be Speaker. The
New York Herold says that " three-fourths of the
republican members have recommended this hand-
book of insurrection." On the Bth inst. the action of
the House was confined to a debate upon this propo-
sition.

The municipal election in New York took plate
on the 6th inst., and resulted in the choice of Fer-
nando Wood, emocrat, for mayor. The election
was a most exciting one, there being three candi-
dates:in the field, but the day nevertheless passed off
quietly.
The execution of John Brown continued to be a
prominent topic, and in some of the New York
churches the preachers had held him up as a martyr.
Very stormy weather had prevailed, and in some
sections there had been a heavy fall of snow.
The Washington correspondent of the New York
Herald says, "A movement is in contemplation at
Wsshington to have the reciprocity treaty with
Great Britain abrogated, because recent changes in
the Canadian revenue laws render its operation one-
sided and oppressive."
THE LATEST, PER AFRICA.
The Liverpool agent of the New York Associated
Press has received the following later intelligence
Irom British Columbia:

New YORK, Dec. 7.—By telegraph from St.
Louis we learn that the California overland mail
Gas arrived at that place, with dates from San
Francisoo to the 14th Nov., and from Vanoonver's
Island to the 10th Nov.

The California news is meagre and unimportant.
The United States revenue cutter Jefferson Davis
arrived at Victoria on the 2nd of November, with
despatches from General Scott to Governor
Douglas.
General Scott arrived at Victoria on the 7th, and
left again a day or two thereafter for Fort Towns-
end, where he would take the steamer for San
Francisco, and there await further instructions from
Washington. The papers to hand make no mention
of any interview having taken place between Gene-
ral Scott and Governor Douglas.
The Victoria Gazette of Nov. 11 says that the
United States troops, with the exception of Captain
Riekett's company, had withdrawn from the island
of San Juan, by orders of General Scott.
Capt. Provost and the officers of the British ship
Satellite visited General Scott on board the steamer
Massachusetts while she was in the harbour of San
Juan.

- --The accounts from the Fruer River mines are fa-
vourabk. 105,000 dol.. in gold was exported from
Victoria during the month of October.

All through last week at the Italian Opera, Paris,
the lrooatore was played to good houses, Giuglini being the
great attraction. At the Opera Comique a new work wee
given on Saturday night, entitled Den Oregorio, by Count
Gabrielli, known as the composer of eriveral succeerful
The carnival season commenced with one of the usual
masked balls at the Grand Opera: Strauss, with 150
musicians, many 'honored lights, and mar.), hundred
markers, eery much like what one has sees many times
Wen., with the same notice—" Ladies most appear in
domino& ur fancy dresses, and gentlemen in evening attire."
The winter season fns Late, ouiria, dieters, and receptions
bra fairly commenced, although, says a Paris letter in the
Toot, "we do not expert a very brilliant time of it this
year, as Ills feared Prime Jerome will not rev weer. Pan,daa
tradespeople complain of the number of families who are
spending the winter at Nice."
The remains of the late John Brown were con-
veyed through Philadelphia on the 3rd, en route to Boston.

Letters from Egypt announce the arrival at
Alexandria of the Count de Paris and the Duke de Chartres.
The princes Wile to remain a, Alexandria until the ith, and
at Cairo until the 11th, and then t•, continue their journey
into Upper Egypt. They are accompanied by the Marquis
de Datumis, Captain Maria, Vieoount de Segur, and M. de

GREAT METROPOLITAN SEWER AT STRAT-
rotto.—The works of thia sewer, which it WAS adocipated
wouid have Wen eouirocnced in this district several wreaths
ego, halm he.. drifted, pertly from the strike in the build-
ing trade, and partly to enable the commissioners to apply
to parliament for additional powers not embodied in their
present act. A great number of homes on the .ite of which
the proposed .ewer would pass were perchance?, and the
occup-ots long +mos gave up poseessicia, but width' the
last low wed. they have been occupied, awl will con-
tinue to be so during the temporary delay of the works.
Tbo ostensive premises of Messrs. Otero sod Sou. timber
mere-haute, on the north aide of the high road, have been
purchased of them by the commiselosera, and the occupiers
sad owners of all property in that ue rehbourbood tam
for the purpoeen of the nearer have received the mould ef
their competwatioe. We (Law Road) may add that the
enropereetion awarded la ►boost every inatespe has hers
extremely literal on the part of the aonntimiosere—weekly
...WWII receiving from 101. to 181.; small shopkeepers from
601. to 1001., aed so on Is proportion to the amount of busi-
men and length o feheascy