The Express.
London, England, 1861-12-27 00:00:00

TO TIM EDITOR OF THII RIMLESS.

Sir,—ln Comutodore Afaury'is speciotu! letter Co
Admiral Fitzroy, published in the Aar ?MUM last week, is
vindication of the Confederate States, the commodore c"m•
plains that the South has Leen over-ridden and oppressed
by the North by protective bounties and tariffs, and by the
expenditure of public monies in favour of Northern inte-
rests to the prejudice and neglect of the intonate of the
slave states ; but the commodore does cot explain how it
hes happened that, with the overpowering interests of the
South in congress and the cabinet, ever since the indepes-
deuce of the United States, the slave state' could have bees
so put upon end injured. Mr. Bright, in one of ho
speeches, declared that Southern men voted for protective
tariffs as well as Northern men. 1 ant, d.c.,
Dec. 26. INQUIRER.

THE LOSS OF THE ROYAL MAIL STEAMER
NORTH BRITON.

Captain Grange, of the Royal Mail steamer
North Briton, which was meetly lost is the Gulf of SL
Lawrence, yesterday waited upon Hr. Rattles, the Liver-
pool stipendiary magistrate, to hear the decision of the
Privy Council of Trade upon the report of the lose of the
vessel drawn up by Hr. Raffles, and Captain Harris, nauti-
cal assessor to the Baud of Trade. The substance of the
following letter was communicated to Captain Grange

. - - -
" Offices of the Privy Council of Trade,
Whitehall, Dec. lb, Wel.
" Sir,—l am directed by the Lords of the Privy Council of
Trade to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the ith lost,
transmitting the report of the proceedings iu the natter of the
inveatigatiou held by you touching the loss of the stearnshik
North Briton. lam to convey to you their lordships
thanks fur the care you have taken in investigating this
case, and to aequaint you that my lords agree with you 'DJ
Captain Hams that great blame attaches to Mr. Grange,
Had Mr. Orange continued fur a short time looser to haw
used that care and attention in the navigation of the North
Briton which he appeared to have used up to the time of
his soles below on the night of the 4th November, his ‘ll,f
would have probed the most dangerous portion of the Clue•
net, and her toes might not probably have metaled. Mr.
Orange also appears to have greatly erre I iu stims.iug
he last took soundings that the depth moved that
the ship was in mid.charinel, so by a reference
to his chart he would have seen that the depth of water is
tbat part of the channel extends to witl.in a short distance
of the north shore. As, however the court have re.:ocr
metaled that a lenient view would be token of the mster!
default, my lords, acting under their recommendation, eri3
not suspeed his certificate as master, us they might other.
wise have done. 1 am therefore to return the maateif
certificate with a request that in delivering it to Mr. timer
you will communicate to him the substauce of the shoed
remarks, and admonish him as to the necessity of ere.
claims due visitation in the navigation of his ship, especallf
when danger may be apprehended—l am. he.
" T. S. Rallies, Esq." " S. H. Finns

Sourasurrosi, Dut. 96.—The Peninsula sod
Orisota coal lisay's steamer Tagus, whieb put into Plymouth
yesterday nawnieg, to land her mails end take In Nei.
arrived here this weeping. She *ill take out the retell;
snails fur Lisbon, to-morrow at 2 p.m.