The Express.
London, England, 1855-01-24 00:00:00

WEST INDIA MAILS.

The Royal West India mail packet Parana, Capt.
Haste, Lieut. Charles Bolton, R.N., Admiralty
agent, arrived at Southampton yesterday, with the
West India mails. Dates of sailing: Grey town,
Dec. 21 ; Panama,22; Honduras, 18 • Carthagena,
28; Jamaica, 28; Demerara, 26 ; Trinidad. 25 ; St.
Kitt's, 30; Barbadoes, 27 ; St. Lucia, 27; Antigua,
28; Martiniqie, 28; Guadeloupe, 29; Jacmel, 29;
Porto Rico, 31 ; Domioics, 28 ; St. Thomas, Jan. 6.
The Parana brings 16 passengers ; among whom
are Dra. Clark and Peacock, staff surgeons; Lieut.
Dennison, 90th Regiment; five distressed British
seamen, and seven other passengers.
The Parana's intelligence from South America has
been anticipated rio New York.
The amount in specie on board is thus composed
From South Pacific, 222,038 dots. ; North Pacific,
180,701 dole.; Panama, 10,098 dole. ; Santa Martha,
12,193 dolt.; Carthagena, 163,577 dole.; other
islands, 23,803 dole.: total, 812,408 dole.
' At haltpast 700 the evening of Sunday, the 21st
inst., from some mistake in the distance and position
of a sailing vessel, she ran stem on to the Parana,
just abaft the port paddle-box, causing a fearful
crash, smashing one of the Parana's boats, and
carrying away her own stern and bowsprit. The
engines were immediately stopped and a boat
lowered and sent to ascertain the amount of
damage she had received, and the carpenter,
and the captain, after a careful examination of
her, found that the bowsprit and cutwater were en-
' tirely gone, and some of the bolts of the stem planking
by the wrench drawn through the wood, above the
water, but her timber ends were not started, nor did
there appear to be any injury under water; and, all
circumstances considered, it was thought best that
she should proceed to Falmouth (for which the wind
was fair) for repairs. The sailing vessel was the
Chrysolite, a new three-masted schooner, from Glas.
gow to Pernambuco; general cargo • four days out.
Admiral Faoshawe and moat of thel ships of war
on the station were at Jamaica, Bnscawen, Colossus,
&c. Daring, at Greytown. Mariner, at Antigua.
The Jamaica market is reported easier than at last
dates. Flour barley holds its ground at 50s. Rice
looks up, and is in fair demand, especially best kinds.
New fish in tierces has ranged as high as 20s. In
wines and brandies the business has been limited by
the heavy inertise of duty, and the same cause has
produced similar blighting effects on other branchesl
of trade. The lair promise of the crop now in course
of elaboration appears to have drawn to the island a
fair supply of &hippie,/ for it. conveyance to Euro-
pean markets, and it ui thought freights will be a
shade easier. Exchanges continue at former quota-
tions ; and there is no perceptible change to report in
the produce market.
In Demerara the crop on most estates is finished.
The rains that have fallen have been general over
the country, but timeous and most advantageous to
the new crop. Young canes look beautiful ; their
growth apparently unchecked by the severe drought
to which they were so recently subjected. Trade is
not so prospering. Everything is scarce and dear.
'!he short crop in America begins to tell upon us in
the advanced price of every article of consumption—
especially breadrituffe. Notwithstanding the rise in
colony produce at home, sugar and ram may be said
to be unsaleable at prices at all equivalent to the
English market price. Freights to Undo* still rule
at 3s. To the out ports 2s. 9d. The colony is very
healthy. The inhabitants hare subscribed 3,335
dollars to the Patriotic Fund.