The Express.
London, England, 1846-09-22 00:00:00

COLONIAL

WEST INDIES.-JAMAICA.-PUBLTC BUSINE6B.
The House of Assembly has been further prorogued to the
6th of October by the Lieutenant-Governor. From the
Despatch of 22nd August wo learn that a movement had
commenced with ii view to put in nomination a successor to
Mr. Burge, the present colonial agent. Mr. Burge, it is
true, has not resigned, but as the Despatch observes, ever
since Mr. Burge was appointed Commissioner of Bank-
ruptcy for the Leeds district, his attention to the business of
the island has been remitted. The Despatch notes that
he does not appear to have attended one of the numerous
meetings held by the West India Committee while the sugar
duties were under discussion in parliament. We could have
told the Despatch when Mr. Burge accepted the
appointment of Recorder of Winchester he announced
himself as a candidate for professional advancement,
at the hands of the then government, and from that
moment his constituents could not expect that he would
fight their battles against ministers. No man can serve two
masters. "We would have been better pleased," says the
Despatch," had M. Burge himself felt the inconsistency, and
feeling it, resigned into the hands of the House of Assembly
that office which, &c." But seeing that Mr. Burge has not
the delicacy to take this very proper step, the Despatch
urges. that a new agent should be appointed. Against the
propriety of dispLicing Mr. Burge, not a word can be mid.
As to the expediency of appointing • successor, that
may be questioned. Permanent salaried colonial agents
are, in fact, gentlemen, drawing annually some hundreds
of pounds friim the colonies ; in return for which they once
a month call at the Colonial-office ; that for a quarter of an
hour with the Minister, if he has leisure to see them; take
care that the Court Circular intimates that they " transacted
business" at the office; and write to their constituents a long
letter about opinions and sayings of the Minister. lf, how-
ever, the Assembly of Jamaica are determined to be at the ex-
pcnse of this appendage, neither useful nor ornamental, that
is their concern. The DespatcAstates that several candidates
are already in the field, and warmly recommends Mr.
Thompson :

Among these we know of none who hi such sterling claims on
the members of the legishiture as Mr. Thompson, the present Custom
and Member for Clarendon. There arc few persons connected with
the island who hare a larger and deeper stake in the country than
Mr. Thompson, and he has that deesded interest in the summit of
politic tl negotiations wuh the British government, which must ren-
der him at all times a zealous and devoted s rvarit to the 0111.15 of
West Indian prosperity. Mr. Thompson's whole worldly prosperity
is centred in the success of the sugar cultivation of these islautbt.
Ile must feel every nerve that be strains in the colonial cause, as
employed for hi:, individual benefit. It is such a nun that we need
In our present emergency, and we have little doubt that a large
majority of our levist sure will be of this opinion. We understand
that Mr. Thompson will be in the iaLvel by the meeting of the Legis-
lature."

Tux Jews IN Jamarea.---Our Jewish fellow countrymen
are placed on a more equitable footing in Jamaica than in
any other part of the British dominions. By an act of the
legislature, passed during the government of Sir Charles
Metcalfe, they ale admitted to the full rights of citizenship
in every respect. The consequence is that no section of the
community is mom distinguished for its efforts to promote
education and charities. There is a Jewish and General
Literary and Scientific Institution at Kingston, which ap-
pears to display more activity and general talent than any
similar society in the island. By our last files we observe
that Mr. Joseph Aaron, a young gentleman of abilities 1
and acquirements, had delivered the second of a
course of lectures on the " Poetry and Fine Arts of the
ancient Greek," Mr. Vendryes had announced a lecture
Capital Punishments." The Despatch, of 13th August,
mentions that at a Ladies' Bazaar 7001. had been produced
towards the support of two Jewish schools. From the same
paper we learn that at a meeting of the vestry of the Spanish
and Portuguese Synagogue, held on Wednesday last, the
Rev. A. Mendes was elected assistant minister and English
preacher to that congregation.
THE COOLIES IS JAMAICA.—A hot controversy has been
waged on the subject of the Coolies between the Morning
Journal and Despatch. The Journal has designated a party
of Coolies " vagrants," because they came up (" sleek and
fat," as that paper observes by way of disparagement) to
Kingston to complain to the agent-general of the conduct of
their Sirdar. The Despatch fairly enough reminds the
Journal, which 's (or was) the organ of the coloured people,
that in the early stages of the apprenticeship it was not un-
common for an entire estate's gang, consisting sometimes of
from eighty to a hundred individuals, to present themselves
in a body at the King's house in Spanish Town. in order
to lodge complaints of what they conceived to be ill-treat-
ment. The Devpatch adds:—

" fir from the class of Coolie labourers being Judged of by one or
two ill-condi:cu... ineoilwrs of it, they ought rather to be budged of by
the maw of those now resideet among us. In Vere we find the hill-
side people labouring industriously, happy, and contented, and we
find them investing their savings, to the amount of some eiOty
pounds at one time, in C:e Kingston Savings' Bank. We dad them
Also in Vere and Clarendon supplying on such estates as have been
afforded the benefit of their labour, the blank in cultivation which the
Aufpua ft.:divans have ereataL In St- Mary's, er-Artely a Creole
labourer has yet appeared in the field ; but on those estates on which
Coolies are settled, the work of the properties have gone on without
interruption. Arc these, then, the people who are to he run down
day after day to suit party purposes So far from it, that we
deem it the first duty of every friend to the country to support thew
people against the clamour which has been raised for party purposes
against them, and we trust the time is not far distant when we shall
And their ntunbers trebled in our island."

THE WEATN Ng AND CHOPS.—The season continues aus-
picious to the planters in St. Mary's. The young canes are
=preying wonderfully, while all the plants put in in July
are sprouting up beautifully. Grass, as a natural cone
quence, is abundant. The negro labourers are still enjoying
their August festivities, while the weeds are keeping pace
with the growth of the young canes. Wherever the Coolies
are located, the estates find more work than they can per-
form, but their example does not seem to produce the dewed
effect OR the indolent natives. The change of weather has
caused a great deal of sickness in the pariah. There are a
great many respectable persona laid up with colds, sore
throat and slysentery. We learn also that the like disorders
prevail among the Coolies from the same causes. The rains
nave been attended with heavy squalls during the past week,
but fortunately these latter have not been of long duration.—
Dap= h.
GENERAL PROS P F.CII.—ACCOIIIIDI from Jamaica represent
commercial affairs to be embarramed, or rather much im-
peded, by the continued scarcity of money and want of con-
Notre. There dues not, however, appear to be any de-
spondency. A muting called at Kingston, to receive the
report of a committee respecting the distressed state of trade,
was dissolved h.cause not more than three or four persons
attended. The Jamaicans are wisely putting their shoulders
to the wheel instead of chattering about difficulties.

tax erettrt.
Her Majesty and Prince Albert will, it is expected,
leave Oghorne-houce this morning for Windsor Castle.
11,11 H. the Princess of Prussia arrived at the
Eraon-square terminus yesterday morning from Cuhio-
bury-park. The Princess was received by his Excellency
the Chevalier Bunsen, the Earl of Denbigh, and Baron
itzleben. H.R.H. visited and inspected Guildhall, the
Mansion Hare, the East India House, and the General
Past Wee. The Princess then proceeded to Marlborough
..0!,5v, Pall-mall, and subsequently left to pay a visit to
their Boys! Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge,
at their residence at Kew. A dejeUner was served soon
her Royal Highness's arrival. The Princess of Prussia
rezatiaed to dinner with the Duke and Duchess of Cam-

bridge, and the Hereditary Grand Duchess of Mecklen-
burgh-Strelits. The Chevalier Bunsen, Prussian Minister,.
and a select party, had the honour of joining the circle at
dinner. bathe evening the Princess of Prussia, accompanied
by Prince Edward of Saxe Weimar, returned to Marl-
borough House.
H.R.H. the Hereditary Grand Duke of Heckles-
btruh-Stratr left lawn Oft Saturday for Tante-kip Walla.
It has heretofore been the rule, when the Court is
at the Castle, for the state apartments to be elated to the
public on Tuesdays and Fridays. Such as arrangement, we
are authorised to state, will not be earned into effect for the
Attire. The state (coma will be opened, during the visit of
her Majesty, on Tuesdays, Thure&ys, and Fridays, in con-
formity with the tickets of admission issued by the Lord
Chamberlain, under the regulations which first came into
operation in January bat. The Round Tower will also be
opened to the public on the same days.

Sir Stratford Canning transacted bushing at the
Foreign OW" yesterday.
Despatches were received on Sunday at the Colonial
Odic* from the Governors of the West India Colonies.
THE LATE Loan YARBOROUGIL—The Kestrel
yacht, having on board the remains of the lately deceased
Lord Yarborough, put into Falmouth on Saturday. His
lordship's butler landed on the yacht's arrival, and pro-
ceeded for Landon.