The Express.
London, England, 1855-09-07 00:00:00

WEST INDIES.

The Jamaica Standard, of August 10, says :
" There has been a oonsiderable change in the '
weather since the departure of the last maiL In St.
Mary and the neighbouring parishes, in which the
rain was almost incessant from the month of October
in last year to the end of June in the present, the
weather has been exceedingly dry and hot, with
strong parching winds, and the youag canes are
already beginning to exhibit the effects of drought.
We have no means of ascertaining the quantity of
produce exported to the let August, no returns of im-
port or export lacing made public in this island, except
through the annual returns made to the legislature.
We are very mach afraid, however, that the sugar
crop will be found considerably below that of last year,
not only in consequence of the reduction in cultiva-
tion consequent on the ruinous prices of the last and
present year, but of the adverse seasons which have
damaged to some extent the ripe canes on the
ground, and prevented the crops being taken off in
many parts of the island at the proper season. We
do not know what may have been the amount et
import duties collected during the month of July,
but if we are to judge from the state of the shipping
list, it must have fallen infinitely below the ge
monthly product necessary to realise the amount
estimated from that source of revenue. Nor is there
any prospect of the returns of the present month
being more propitious. The heavy prices in the
American markets of flour, and of almost every
other article of food, have considerably restricted
orders for shipment in that direction, whilst the
twelve-and-a-lialf per cent. duty on dry goods
has had the natural effect of materially limiting the
import of such articles as are rated ad valorem. When
importers have to pay in ready money to the Cus-
toms revenue one-eighth of the total value of their
invoices before they can land them or offer them for
sale, their imaginations may well receive a whole-
some check, that may react with some force on the
calculations of the Finance Minister. A public meet-
ing of the inhabitants of Kingston was held at the
Court-house, on Monday, July 30, when a compli-
mentary address was unanimously voted to Major-
General Sir Richard Doherty, the commander of the
forces in this island, on the occasion of his resigning
the command from ill-health and approaching depar-
ture from the island. The address will be presented
by a deputation from the meeting on Monday, the
13th inst.'

De Cordeva's Intellegencer contains the following
on commercial affairs:
Our market generally is bare of provisions, but it is just
as well that it should be so, for the demand is small, and
there is little inclination on the pert of sellers to parcel out
their goods. If stocks are kept down, and business con-
fined to its legitimate channels, there is some hope that
thins may turn out eatisfactorily ; but if our market is
again to be inundated with cargo after cargo, as has hereto-
fore been the case, the result to all parties must be ruinous.
Alewives are likely to come into active demand for the
country, as the spring herrings will not bear carriage. New
butte► has opened at led. Another time 18d. would
readily have been given for this article, but in the present
state of affairs 15d. is a top price. Smith's beef is worth
565. per half barrel. Brandy is worth 18s. Bread :
We can quote no price for this article. Cornmeal:
The lot, in the market must be sold according to
quality. Candles: Tallow, 70. to 93.; composition,
150. to 163. Coffee: The little offering brief's 360.
Corn is no demand ; country is abundant. Cod-

fish: A small cargo from Ragged Island realised for
tierces 186., for bozos 20.. Could we receive one such
cargo a week, the result would be satisfactory both for
shippers and purchasers. The cargo realised a fair price,
and has been resold at a remunerative profit. Could this
state of things continue, business would regime a much
more healthy appearance. There is not much old fish re-
'seining. At the numerous auctions prices range front
12s. to 40s. per tierce. Coffee: D. G. is worth le. per lb.
Flour bee bean parcelled out at 61s. 61., but holders are
firm at 645. to b6r. We may shortly expect supplies of the
new whist. Herrings: Lot., some time in the island, are
being forced off at from is. to 13s. per buret. Haw: Very
few prime at market. Log wood is worth 441., at which
price we report sales of 100 tons. Lard: Stock light.
Halt : Supply far beyond demand. Sales Saracen strong at
12a. 61. for quarts and pinta. Oil: Plentiful, without
demand. Rice : Seth slowly; supply abundant. Rum is
worth 3.. 4d. to 3s. 6d. Salmon: None of prime quality,
and not any No. 1. Salt: The quantity on hand is far
above our wants, and bolder. fail to move even at the low
rates they are ready to submit to. Soap: Importers, whole •
sale dealer., and retailers, are all possessed of superabundant
stocks. Sugar (foreign prohibited) : 166. to 19s. per 1001bs.
Tobacco : The supply both of leaf and cavendish is far
beyond the demand. Toogues : None. Exchange. on
London : 90 days, 1 per cent. pram ; 60 days, 1} per cent.
prem. ; 30 days, 2 per cent. prem.

Oa affairs in Demerara, the Georgetown Royal
Gazette, of August 9, says :
The weather has been close end sultry during the past
fortnight, varied with occasional showers. Last night we
had • terrific thunderstorm, and the rain poured down in
torrents ; but we have not heard of any damage having
been done by it. We have now arrived at the point of teen-
shims from the wet to the dry season; and, as it Is customary
at this time of the year, we may look forward to some amount
of sickness becoming prevalent in the colony. For some time
put the colony has been unusually healthy, and we
have enjoyed • degree of immunity from sickness
which can hardly be expected to continue. From
the neighbouring island of Barbsdos, we learn that
yellow fever is prevalent there ; and it has also
broken out violently at Surinam. The weather has
upon the whole been favourable for the growth of the canes
during the last fortnight. The time for the ingathering of
the crop is now cemmencing, but little progress will be
made, and the cutting will not be general for several weeks
to some. Although the canes look very luxuriant in their
growth, we are informed by well experienced planters that
the yield will not be equal to the gis of former years.

Trade is still very dull, and until ite cutting season is
fully set in, little improvement Is expected. There is a large
number of vessels lying in the harbour waiting for cargoes.
Daring the past week our exports amounted to 996 hogs-
heads, 95 demos, and 209 barrels of sage►, and to 798 pun
chaos's, l2i hogsheads, and 87 barreled nos.