The Express.
London, England, 1853-11-02 00:00:00

THE WEST INDIA MAIL

The Royal West India Mail Packet Magdalena,
Captain Geo. Abbott, arrived at Southampton yes-
terday, and landed her mails under the charge of
Lieut. Tickell, R.N., Admiralty agent. Her dates
of sailing are :—Vera Cruz, Oct. 5 ; Tampico, Sept.
30 ; Havannah, Oct. 11; Chagres, 9 ; Carthagena,
11; Jamaica, 12; Demerara, 10 ; Trinidad, 12; Bar-
badoes, 8; Antigua, 15; Martinique, 14; Grenada,
13; Porto Rico, 15; St. Thomas, 16; St. Kitts, 15;
Jacmel, 14; Santa Martha, Sept. 23. The Magda-
lena left St. Thomas exactly to her time, on Oct. IG,
at 4 p.m. The English packet bad not arrived.
The Magdalena brings 43 passengers.
The freight on board includes 482,192 dollars from
Tampico; 7,5671. in gold dust and British coin.
Amongst the specie is about 28,000 dollars on ac-
count of Mexican dividends.

Oct. 11, H.M.S. Meyer& arrived at St. Thomas
from Tortola, and proceeded next day for Barbadoes;
all well on board. Oct. 12, on Teviot's departure
from Jamaica left lying there her Majesty a ships
Imams, Vestal, Buzzard, Daring, Brisk ; squadron
healthy.
After the Royal Mail steamer Magdalena's arrival
at St. Thomas from England on Oct. 2, the intercolo-
nisi packets Teviot and Conway proceeded together
the next morning out of harbour, each on their
re-
apective routes—the former for Jamaica, the latter
kw the islands, comprising the whole of the Wind-
ward group, carrying mails and passengers. The
Conway had on board 37 passengers, including his
Excellency the Governor-General and Lieutenant-
Governor of Leeward Islands, returning from Tortola
to the seat of government at Antigua. The Conway
ed no further than St. Kitts, there unfor-
tely taking the ground at the south-western
extremity of the island, on the Belle Tete Reef, at
a quarter past three on the morning of the 4th.
Bang to leeward the water was smooth, and after
experiencing some heavy shocks the vessel lay
quiet, but refused to go off. The passengers, sud-
denly aroused, behaved well, as scarcely any con-
fusion seemed to ensue. The ladies and others who
wished to leave the ship were soon landed in the
ship's boats, without much personal inconvenience,
the village of Sandy Bay affording an asylum,
conveniently situated about two miles and a
half distant. Nothing could exceed the kind-
ness of Mr. Harper, the proprietor of a
sugar estate in the vicinity, to the numerous
guests who paid him and his family so unexpected
a visit. Those who remained on board found
the vessel gaiety slip off into deep water, with a
disabled rudder, and leaking much, but not more
than the engines could keep under eventually. The
rudder was replaced by an excellent
.jury ono, ob-
tained at Bane Terre (the roadstead originally bound
for), from whence she steamed back to St. Thomas
(speaking Magdalena en route), and after obtaining
a temporary refit proceeded to Savannah for repairs.
Early on the 7th the Magdalena, Captain Abbott,
came to the rescue, as the Admiralty agent, Lieut.
rickell, R.N. (after seeing. the mails secure)
lost no time in procuring. assistance, by finding his
way back to St. Thomas in a hired sloop, enabling
the very efficient superintendent of the company,
'Mr. Cameron, to exert his promptness and tact in
meeting the complicated duties of a company,
involving more actual obligation by reason of the
number of ports their ships visit, than almost all
others united. By continuing her cruise amongst
the islands the Atlantic vessel created some interest,
not lessened either by her performance, averaging,
as she did, 13 knots between some ports.
Sir Henry Barkly had arrived at Kingstown, and
esetuned the reins of government on the 7th, with
great éclat. It was stated that his Excellency had
subsequently suffered, but not seriously, from ea
attack of fever. The legislature, which had con-
tinued in session, although no meetings of either
branch had taken place for some time, was pro
to meet on the 18th of October, to proceed torinuat
ass. Sir Charles Grey left Government House on
the 6th of October, and was staying at his private
saidence in Monk-street, Spanish Town. Ho would
amain in Jamaica for about a month, and then pro-
ceed to England. Before retiring, Sir Charles Grey
published his despatch to the Duke of Newcastle,
dated May 26, in the colonial papers.
In most of the islands, continued intense, almost
stupifying heat, with occasional heavy rains, accom-
panied here and there with thunder and lightning,
was complained of.
In Demerara, the weather, after being very un-
settled for nearly a fortnight, had settled down op-
preseively hot and dry. The planters, notwithstand-
ing, were sanguine of a good crop. Yellow fever
was still haunting the shipping; cr,wding the hospi-
tal with seamen, and the hotels with the captains
and officers, many of whom have already fallen vic-
tims to this fearful scourge.
In Trinidad the yellow fever has ceased its ravages.
Deaths are very rare, but intermittent and other
fevers of a less severe type are remarkably prevalent.
The weather is reported fine.
The Tobago legislature was opened on the 13th
inst. The weather there continued favourable for
vegetation, and next year's crop promises to be a
good one.
Among the deaths reported by the mail are those
of the Hon. John Mars, of Richmond Park, St. An-
drew, Jamaica ; Dr. Stennet, member of the House of
Representatives; the lady of Captain Booth, R.N.
The St. Thomas' Times states, that another attempt
has been made to set fire to Road Town, Tortola. The
offender has not been traced. It is also stated that
the Governor-General was about issuing a commission

to institute a special court for the purpose of trying
the rebels.

COMMERCIAL.

Sir Henry BarkfilTail, arrived, and the legislature
was to meet on the 18th. This has had some effect
on commercial affairs, as a speedy reimposition of the
tariff was expected. Holders of breadstuffs and
articles subject to heavy duties are therefore firmer.
The governor has ordered the fees on vessels paid to
the Island Secretary to be continued. Alewives
with other articles are placed at 20s. Irish butter,

151. per lb. American, 131 d. Brandy is improving
in value. Bread: there is not any foreign at mar.
ket. Coffee: receipts from interior limited. cant
scarce. Codfish : the market was literally bare.
Flours, 2ss. and 295.; finer, 30s. l'imento, 335. to.
365. per 100!bs. Ruin, 3s. 6d. per gallon ; for export.
2s. 9d. Sugar inactive; tobacco, no sales. Exchange.
90 days, 1 per cent. prem.; ditto 60, 1; ; ditto 30,2.

The Pacific Mail Company's steamer, John L.
Stephens, arrived at Panama on the '29th of Septeru.
her, with 1,300,000 dollars specie, having left San
Francisco on the 16th of the same month.
Intelligence of an interesting character has been
received from Sonora, Mexico, announcing the die-
covery of mines of extraordinary richness. In con-
sequence a decided spirit of filibustering has been
revived in this State, and several gentlemen are
engaged in the preliminary arrangements fur organ.
icing expeditions.
The intelligence from the Sandwich Islands is of
an important character. A number of American anti
other foreign residents are striving, ostensibly, to
procure the dismissal of two members of the Xing's
cabinet, but their real object is the subversion of the
government, and the transfer of the Islands to the
United States. These movements, howeet r, ar, inju-
rious to the cause of annexation, in the mean
time, is progressing under ditkitnt and higher
auspices.
The news from all the mining districts continue
most favourable. New placers are being daily dia.
covered, and both companies and single miners are
doing well.
. . .

Bu—siness is steady and prices generally good,
Flour is rather lower. It is estimated that quite
three-fourths of the daily consumption of the State
is tow :being produced by domestic manufacture.
Chile flour is not in demand.

From Chile the mining operations are reported as
in the most flourishing condition, and the yield of the
ores not under 50 per cent. The construction of
canal, for the purpose of irrigating the barren lands
in the neighbourhood of Coquimbo, is in eontempla.
tion. The benefits of such a work would be immense,
and the expense estimated at only 40,000 dole.
A moat important project for the purpose of esta-
blishing a steam communication with England
through the Straits of Magellan, has been laid before
Congress by an English company ; it was mast
favourably and unanimously received.
Bueinese has been fair during the past fortnight.
Freights are a little lower, owing to the limited
demand for vessels for Europe.
The Puno correspondent of the Conerrio, under
date of Sept. Ist, says, that the city of Santa Cruz
has been abandoned by the revolutionists, who have
retired to the Indian territory. Ten thousand dol.
lays have been offered for the head of General
Agrada.
Private letters from Quito to the 20th of Septem-
ber state that on the 19th Congress was installed.
The settlement of the claims of the liritish bond-
holders is progressing favourably. Mr. Mocatta,
their agent, is at present in Quito, for the purpose
of arranging the question with the Congress. The
Ecuadorian journals still talk of another Flores ex-
pedition, and it is evident that he has still many
friends in the country.

Vbe Court.

WINDSOR, Nov. 1.

_ .
The Duke and Duchess of Brabant, the Count of
Flanders, and Princess Charlotte of Belgium, left Windsor
Castle for London shortly before nine o'clock this morning,
attended by Count and Countess Gustave de Lannoy.
The Queen and Prince Albert, accompanied by the King
of the Belgians, and attended by the Countess of Desart
and the Gentlemen in Waiting, left the Carle at half-past
ten, and proceeded by a special train on the South Western
Railway to the private station at nine Elms, where car-
riages were in readiness to convey the royal party to the
Crystal Palace at Sydenbam. The Duke and Duchess of
Brabant, the Count of Flanders, and the Princess Char-
lotte, arrived there nearly at the same time, and joined her
Majesty, who was received at the entrance of the building
by Mr. Laing, M.P., ra
Chairman of the Crystal Palace Co.
pany ; Mr. (leach, 111. P.; Messrs. Farquhar, Anderson,
Calvert, and Phillips, directors. The Queen and Prince,
she King of the Belgians, and the royal visitors,
were then conducted over the building and gardens by
Mr. Fuller, the managing director Mr. Ferguson, Sir
Joseph Paxton, Mr. Owen Jones, sir. Digby Wyatt, Pro-
fessor Anstead, and Mr. Belshaw, and minutely inspected
the progress of the works. After remaining till past
three o'clock the royal party returned to Nine Elms station
is four carriages, and proceeded to Windsor in a special
train, which arrived at 20 minutes before 5, p.m.
The dinner party yesterday included the King of the
Belgians, the Duchess of Brabant, the Duke of Brabant,
the Count of Flanders, the French Ambassador sad Conn-
test Walewski, the Belgian Minister sad Madame Van do
Weyer, the Marquis of Lansdowne, the Earl of Elgin, the
Lady in Waiting to the Duchess of Brabant, Lord Elphin-
stone, Lord Raglan, Major-General the Hun. Sir E. Cast,
Sir James Graham, Count Gustave de Lannoy, Colonel de
Moerkerke, Baron Penne, and Monsieur Hicken.
The band of the Ist Life Guards attended in the Castle
during dinner, and played the following pieces:-
- - -

"Funs Joseph"
Overture, "Sophia
Selection, Opera "Zayre" 1 H. IL H. the Duke
I of Saxe
Waiver, "Sylvan" Coburg.
Fantasia Spaeth.
Oak, Leutner.
Her Majesty's Private Band afterwards performed in the
evening the following compositions :
Overture, " Lestocq"
Selection, "Silvana'
Coro, "NelSilenzlo" (11 Crociato)
Lieutenant-Colonel the Hon. A. Gordon, Equerry, has
relieved Colonel Wylde in his attendance on the Prince, and
Lord Charles Fitzroy has succeeded Colonel the Hon. C.
Grey as Equerry in Waiting to the Queen.
The Duke of Brabant and the Count of Flanders returned
from Woolwich at di o'clock last evening.

The Commissioners for Inquiring into the State of the
Corporation of the City of London, held a meeting yesterday
at the official residence of the First Lord of the Treasury in
Downing-street. The Commissioners present were the
Right Hon. H. Lebouchere, the Right Hon. Sir John
Patteson, and G. Cornewall Lewis, Esq.
Despatches from Admiral Dundas, commander of the
Mediterranean fleet, were brought to the Admiralty by an
officer on Monday night, and were forwarded to Sir James
Graham at Windsor Castle.

Sir Edmund Lyons had an interview with the Earl of
Aberdeen yesterday at his official residence in Downing-
street.

Despatches were sent from the Colonial. office yesterday
to the Governors of the West India Islands.