The Express.
London, England, 1849-08-07 00:00:00

MOIL WA? AT LO!fIOUN I♦RIDOe.

—adt-4,-;;Thrala
ta -144451 at. so ma. pan . . ion 4.
T.ltssastr -Itctuitg. 42 Ws. pot Altemeon. 61 alt. pew, 4.

LOYDON,:TUESDAY, AUGUST 7.

Tut news rieteived by the West Indian mail affords
ao prospect of a speedy termination to the embroil-
ment of Jamaica affairs. The governor has dis-olved
the Hone of Assembly. As the house desired him to
do so he could not well refuse to comply with their
request. If they were bent upon being dissolved they
had it in their power to oblige him to dissolve them
by persisting in their rdusal to transact business. But
it is pretty c'ear that, when the majority of the house
asked to be sent beck to their constituents, they saw
their way, or believed they saw their way, to
strengthen thenthely.s by an election. On the other
baud, the supporters of the government declare that
the country is not prepared for an election, which may
fairly hs interpreted to mean that their own party is
not prepared. Between the declarations of both
parties, it seems pretty clear that government has not
sought the dissolution, and that it is likely to lose
orrength in the legislature by the new election.
But, though there can be little doubt that the go-
vernmer t will be weaieened in the House of Assem-
bly, it is not so easy to see what will be the practical
consequences of its loss of strength. The truth is,
that both of the parties in the house are in a false po-
eition. The ostensible question at issue is the pro-
priety of reducing the public expenditure of the
colony. And the extraordinary spectacle is presented
to us of retrenchments zealously, and, we may even
say, fiercely urged, by a party not previously charac-
terised by any remarkable love of economy, and of
government supported in its resistance to these re-
trenchments by the party who have hitherto been the
unflinching advocates of &reduced expenditure.
To understand this anomalous position of affairs
it will be necesary to look into the composition and
relation, of the parties. The advocates of reduced
expenditure are the representatives of the planters ;
the supporters of government are the representatives
of the lately emancipated class, and their few friends
aming the whites in the time of slavery, principally
missionary agents. The planters we believe to be per-
fectly sincere iutheirezpree.ed desire tor retrenchment ;
the embarrassment' under which they have for years
been labouring are a guarantee for their good faith.
But they are animated by a strong vindictive feeling
towards the home government, to whose measures
they impute all their sufferirg, and, with tree West
Indian pride and impetuosity, they rather take a
pleasure in displeving this feeling. The party opposed
to them have hitherto taken a more impartial and just
view of the economical condition of the island ; they see
that for much of their &streets government is in na
way responsible; they see that the suffering parties
have, in not a few instances, contributed to bring it
down upon themselves. They are therefore disposed
to promote economy by other arguments and incen-
tives. Personal feelings also come into play. A
lively sense of old antagonism still prevails on bath
sides. The triumph of the planter party would be a
triumph over government, and consequently would
weaken it. Their opponents have been accustomed
to rely upon government as their protector from
these men, and cannot help entertaining fears as to
what might be the consequences of their getting the
upper hand. The contest is, in fact, not purely a
finaceal struggle; it is a trial of strength between
government and its el-decant client., now freemen, on
the one hand, and the planters on the other. And, as
is uniformly the case when party becomes personal
each side strains its principles and professions a little
I to accommodate them to it. present position.
This has always been the case hitherto, aid will pro-
trebly, as long as men are men, cantinue to be the
case hereafter in political controversies. Men must
aim at what they conceive to be right and just, with-
out scanning too curiously the sentiments and mo-
tives of their allies. But there is this further difficulty
in Jamaica, that while the old liberals are, in order
to strengthen the hands of government, playing fast
and loose with their convictions, the planters do not
appear to nee very distinctly what they would them-
selves he at. And what with the embarrassment of
a party obstructing its own wishes, and the aimless
efforts of a party which has no definite purpose, it is
difficult to conceive what issue their strife can
come to.

There is much more of plosion and excitement in
the contest than of practical aim. The financial
question is fast merging into a constitutional question.
The planter party call for responsible government,
but have never satisfactorily explained what they
mean by the phrase, or by what means they seek its
attainment. They complain of the constitution of
the legislative council, bat have never shown how it
can be improved. Their antagonists, on the other
band, naturally reluctant to present themselves in the
light of opp 'cents to economical government
and free institution', seek to shift the
field of battle. They have got up an
agitation against slavery by which they hope to di-
vide their antagonists, or at least divert them from
their present pursuit. They have raised an outcry
against what they call the encouragement of slavery by
the home government and legislature, and are getting
up public meetings and petitions for the more strict
enforcement of the Spanish and Brazilian treaties.
They are asking in other words for renewed and
perpetuated protection to the sugars and other pro-
duce of the British tropical colonies, at least
against the same articles when the growth of count-
ries in which slavery still exists. They have
certainly succeeded in obtaining the countenance
and concurrence of the planter party in this new agi-
tation; whether they will thereby succeed in divert-
ing them from the course they have lately been
pursuing, and in modifying the results of the im-
pending elections, remains to be seen. The elections
will not be completed before the end of this month.
Meanwhile hints, by no means obscure, are thrown
out that government sanctions the so-called anti-
slavery movement.
This new strategy has removed the contest of par-
ties in Jamaica out of the sphere of those purely local
questions which, according to all pound principles
of colonial government, ought to be left exclu-
sively to the local residents. The question of
restrictions span trade, whether on commercial, finan-
cial, or purely political pretexts, is a question for the
decision of the imperial government. • The anti-
s/every agitation now in progress in Jamaica is meant
to influence the determination of government on the
relations to be maintained between this country sad
the Brasile, and on the continuance or abandonment
of the attempt to suppress the slave trade by force.
Without attributing too much weight to the hints',
thrown out that government countenances the move-
ment, it will be well to keep them in mind, and
to be prepared to meet any arguments that may
be based on the Jamaica petitions when the questions
wrerlg the African squadron and our intercourse
) nrazil are raised again in the House of Commons
next session._ _

The unsatisfactory state of public opinion and party
relations indicated by the local disputes in Jamaica
are incident to all countries which have institutions
more or less popular, and are inevitable in a country
where ea great a social revolution as the emancipation
of fall one-half of the population from slavery has re-
cently occurred. It would present no difficulties to a
government which had a plan of administration and
sufficient energy of character to insist upon carrying
it out. But the whole conduct of our colonial govern-
ment shows that it has neither.

CATHIDRAL cities are popularly believed to be the
hallowed seats of learning and of piety. The grosser
and more exciting incidents of life are not supposed
to disturb their tranquillity. Their inhabitants re-
We, acoorditg to the theory, quietlyand calmly under
the shade of their cathedral ; disturbed by no more
exciting causes of emotion than the burst or the music
from the choir or the chiming of the vesper-bell; apart
from worldly strifes and cares; free from private and
political animosities ; in youth instructed, in man-

hood guided. in old age comforted, consoled, and
blessed by the wise and liarned men who are richly
paid in hew places to promote the cause of reigion
and the church. _ _

And yet we do hear sometimes of maters con-
nected with cathedral cities that give us eta-e to
doubt how far this popular idea is consonant with
the reality. Even the quietest if these places is
occasionally brought under public observation by
some incident that seems to militate against
the general notion that they ere the ma's
of learned repose and of political and private
virtue. Peterborough and Ely, two of the
most classical cathedral retirements in the kingdom,
have each furnished of lase years their tale of scandal
'to the public gossip. The records of eosin intelli-
gence for the present circuit give us reason to suppose
that Lichfield and Rochester, two other snug resorts'
of deans and chapters, afford about as remarkable
examples as can any where be found of the height to,
which party spirit can be carried, and of the malevo-
lence and private hatred which it is possible for it to
engender.
At Lichfield, it seems, a late town clerk and a late
Mayor were on adverse sides io politica. The Mayor's
party turned the town clerk to the right about. In
return for this compliment, the town-clerk brings an
action assitst the Mayor to recover penalties for
bribing a voter at oae of the municipal elections.
THOMAS BAILEY was a labourer at Lichfield, with
a wife end homily. "He had been in gaol several
times. He was found guilty once of steeling bacon.
got six months, and was well contented that ho did
not get more. In 1840 he was committed for six
months, not, as he believed for deserting his wife and
family, but for being drunk. In 1841, he was again
committed for a month for an indecent exposure of
his person. Lei 1843, he was tried and acquitted on
a charge of stealing stockings. He had been in the
union several times, and so had his family." This
was his owe aecoant of himself: the ace mat of a
eit;zen of the cathedral city.
Tne Mayor of Lichfield, in October, 1847, was
sitting on the bench administering justice and punish-
ing offenders. THOMAS BAILEY was brought before
him—not for the first time nor the second. He
was charged "against the peace of oar Sovereign
lady, the QUEEN, her crown and dignity," with being
drunk in the public streets—for aught we know in
the cathedral close itself. The Mayor fined Thomas
BAILEY sixpence, and ordered him to pay the fine, I
together with nine shillings costs, before the expire-1
Lion of a fortnight. Ere the fortnight had expired
there occurred a great contest fir the election of
common councilmen for the city of Lichfield. All the
e:ty was excited. The very vergers, to say
nothing of the dean and canons, were enlisted
on one side or the other. In the midst of
the contest the Mayor of Lichfield met " TOM
BAILEY," whom he has fined for drunkenness,
in the public market-place. No doubt he shook
hands with him, as every " worthy candidate" does
with his constituents on such occasions. " Tom
BAILEY,' scratching his head, suggested to the mayor
that he was in a little trouble • about that 'ere nine
and sixpenee,• " and inquired of him, as he solemnly
deposes, "if I goes and votes for your party, how
will it be ? " To this, as " TOM BAILEY further
swears, Mr. MAYOR replied, " Oh, yes, go direct, and
I will see it all right." Oa this, Tom BAILEY went
up and personated another voter of the same name,
answering all the three questions as to identity and
Qualification, and thereby going pretty far towards
committing an act of perjury. At a later hour of the
day, Mr. MAYOR met Tom BAILEY again, and fa-
miliarly inquired, " Tom, have you voted ?" to which
Tom replied in the affirmative, and was assured that
"that was right."
A month or so afterwards, a warrant in doe course
was issued against "TOM BAILEY," to arrest him for
the 9e. O. The officer about to execute the process
meets the MAYOR, and tells him what he is about.
The MAYOR says that as BAILEY is now in work, it
would be a pity to throw his family on the union by
putting him in prison, and he charitably instructs
the officer to tell Betimes wife to call on
Mrs. MAYOR in the evening, and SOO what
she can do for her. In the evening, Mrs.
BAILEY accordingly goes to Mrs. MAYOR, and
Mrs. MAYOR gives Mrs. BAILEY 10e. to keep her hus-
band out of gaol. Thereupon Mr. BAILEY repairs to
Mr. Town Cl rk and informs him that the money was
given as a bribe; and Mr. Town Clerk sues Mr.
Mevon at Stafford for all the penalties thereby in-
curred.

The jury believe that the money was given as an
act of charity, and they instantly find a verdict for
the defendant. The judge characterises the action as
"most scandalous," and the jurors all say they
quite concur in the opinion. Scandalous or nut,
what, let us ask, are we to think of the private
morality and public virtue of the city in which such
scenes as this are permitted to be enacted? What a
state of society is here represented; what a depth of
social degradation does not the entire case uofo!ci !
We scarcely kuow which to admire most, " Tom," the
thrice-convicted "citizen,"—the worthy mayor who is
upon Each familiar terms with him, or the public-
minded town-clerk who brings the action to recover
penalties. Delightful specimens they all are of cathe-
dral society.

Fm thePrlaidivstone,wefacssliti of a case triedonldconcludeß Saturdayohenster
tobeai
event
worse than Lichfield. An action was brought against
a Mr. WINCH, the mayor, to recover a penalty of
100!., for wilfuly neglecting and refusing to revise
the list of burgesses entitled to vote at municipal
elections. The city of Rochester, it seems, is divided
between " Blues" and "Pinks." Party feeling runs
so high that everything else is considered secondary
to it. Public improvements are of no avail. Public
baths and wash-houses, fur instance, would be of not
the sligh•est use, for no Pink will bathe in the same
bath with a Blue, nor wash his face in the same
basin. Each party has his own side of the street, his
own ooffee-hrmse and his own barber. S.rjeant Saes
declares that no Blue would allow himself to be cored
of cholera by a Pink doctor, and that no Pick would
on any account consent to be purged by a Blue pill.
Such being the state of parties, it appears that in
1847 flora was what was called a "Pink burgess
roll," and of course the Pink burgesses elected a Pink
=pr. The year following, however, there were
expected to be a great many changes in the roll. Toe
Blues had made numerous objections, and a vast num-
ber of new chime, and more than all they had brought
down from London "the great revising agent, Mr.
Stem," to set the register to rights and secure them
a great victory. The Pink mayor was the presiding
officer. It seems that most of the objections which
were taken on both sides were frivolous, and it was
proposed to withdraw them, in order to get
at the real business which was comprehended in the
list of claims. When the time came, however, for
considering the Blue objections, the Pinks refused to
permit them to be withdrawn. One Pink declared
that " he would never receive a courtesy from a
Blue.' Another contends 4 that his credit was
impugned, and that it was due to him that his dis-
puted qualification should 'be thoroughly examined.
" The celebrated Mr. SMITS protested against all
this. He said it was only done to avoid going into the
real merits. He made several long speeches,
" though," says one of the witnesses, ' not so
long as those upon the other side;" and after
his speeches he adjourned to the tavern over
the way to wet his whistle, and also to
concoct " a solemn protest against the course the
court was pursuing," which protest he banded in
yr have itobtadenyt:tteistihttiE:ceoedn:ni:hareqednekvaueeoin.nnf‘tecePp odti ulh
was i
theket
with due formality, but which the Pink Mayor
refused altogether to receive. The Pink Mayor,
indeed, seems to have been as thoroughly pink as his
friends could wish. "He seemed," said one witness,
" quite to enjoy it. He frequently burst out laugh-
ing, and seemed quite in hie glory all the time."
" The whole affair,' deposed another witness, " was
a continual scene of squabbling and wrangling in the
court ; and I consider the Mayor on one or two coca-
haieonsdoesactednovet ryseermadetol
•
ll'ooir
onbesnaidjet.;.eraßUtiylotniemareaoftethtilnyegcltiablieesemeP,deinanlak
that the lists not being properly revised within the
time specified by the Act, it became necessary to fall
back upon the lists of the preceding year, which was
all the party wanted.
The Pink Mayor was acquitted by the jury of
" wilfully and negligently rearing" to revise the
IRAs. But we must say, that this trial gives us no
very high opinion of the working of the Municipal
Reform Act as regards the revision of the lists of
voters. The defendant's counsel talked of "the
Temple of Justice being desecrated by actions brought
solely to gratify apolitical animosity." We suppose
a Court of Revision can scarcely be called a "Temple

of Juttice otherw.se we might fairly sek
the scenes which were sworn tube emoted there Lhlt
not have beers regardtd u a " desecration" 816,:14

THE UNITED STATES.
As announced in oar yesterday's impression
Niagara, arrivei in the Mereey about 11 Au. of tit
day.
The news between the sailing of the %mufti
and the Niagara is contained in the lollowieg
j
of oar New York correspondent:
NEW YORK. her 2.1 It is understood here that the president el
shortly issue his proclamation by which the recipestil
effect of your navigation bill will he admitted, 461
correspondence on our part acknowledged, Tbi„il
give a wondrous stimulus to business tele, and
persons are already preparing to take 040401
it. The great desideratum with us at present is
line of steamers to Havre, and if we cannot get 4;
of our own, we will take one second handed frct
your own cap*talists. The American house
Livingston, Wills, and Co., in London, has drew,
made some efforts to purchase or charter sdroilt
your largest steamers.
There is nothing new at Wa'hington except Am.
moor, of rather recant date, that General Lyle, he
had some differences with hie cabinet. There is matt
doubt but that he tau been overruled by its webs,
on many occasions, even where he presaid a feissi
for an office. I can hardly conceive of any hiag min
absurd, nay, ludicrous, than tlis. It it be trie4
shows that he let la himself unable to decide& quesix
for himself, or that the cabinet presume on his mode"
and forbearance. Certain it is, thus fir, his firstpolisy
with regard to appointments has not been adeptel,
and that neither " the glory of Cesar, nor tke good ot
Rome," has been consulted. The rumour I refer
seems to be well-founded, and the probabilities sis,
remote though they be, that he will sick at the erbois
concern before be is through his presidential term, For
it is a fart, that all his orginal friends are proee.ritel
by the cabinet, and all his enemies are takes iai
favour. This would not be attempted except ts,
some sin'ster purpose. It is impossible to view it k
any other light, and although I have accorded totbe
cabinet high qualities as statesmen, and augured issa
fur their career, it was in the assurszoe that they
would lay aside the tricks of politicians, and sum
the lofty position of patriots. Power, however, is
corrupting, and the beat of men seem to change imsle
its fascinations and reeponsibilities.
Oar domestic news in g.neral is of but little in.
portance to an ordinary English reader. The sildres
of Mr. Calhoun to the southern states, in reply told:.
Beaten'a speeches, attracts mach attention, and it is
supposed it will have the effect to units them against
the north on the questions which have so long divided
them.

For my part, however, I do not see how a tan-
gible opportunity for an outbreak cm occur. The
question of slavery in the new territory is disposed of
in all human probability by the people there. It is
of no kind of c metquence whether the Wilmot proviso
pass or not. Slavery cannot exist in California.
We have another death to record among our note•
bility, that of our late minister to !feinted, Hermann'
Bleccker, at a ripe old age. He was a descendant of
the founder of the Bleecker family in this state, and
preserved many of its finest qualities. He was en
educated, well read, gentlemanly man, of the legal
profession, and a classical scholar.
The one prevailing interest of the day is that which
attaches to the progress of the cholera. However we
may disguise the get, yet it is not to be denied that
it makes a wide difference in our feelings. Although
our official reports would at this moment induce us to
believe that the epidemic was on the decline, those of
the sextons tell a different stoey. Two huodnd
people have been buried every day last week, at the
rate of 73,000 a year, or of not quite one out of eves,
seven inhabitants. This is worse than dec'mattoo.
Four to one, however, among the deaths, occur amq
the Irish and Germans, the most ignerans, dirty, aid
reckless of our population. The Americans nee
least, and this is to be attributed to their more cleanly
habits, their easier circumstances. The Americus,
who are the earliest victims are very apt
to belong to a class of dare devils, careles
and dissipated men, who undertake to enjuyths
"largest liberty," and who neither fear "God not
man." We have many such in all our large towns,
and they have the air and wear the dress of mend
fortune. Nothing, however, can penetrate the skalla
of the Irish. A few days since a friend of mine,
while visiting the outskirts of the city where these
lowest of the Irish labourers congregate, asked
woman near one of those cabins I have already de-
scribed to you, if there had been any cholera nem
her. She replied in the affirmative, at the same time
preparing a mess of uncooked cabbages and of other
materials squally prohibited, for her husband's dinner.
The gentleman remonstrated with her on her impru-
dence, but she replied her husband could not do with•
out them. The meal was prepared and eaten, an
the next day the men was dead. It is of no kind of
use to talk to these people.
At Valparaiso it was found that the emigrants
to Califurnia had been excessive. All the tam
of enterprise had emigrated. The government of
Chili was ectually alarmed at the desertion of its
youngest and meat promising citizens. Tae impree.
sione made on the Americans at Valparaiso were
these—that the few good and patriotic men were
powerless against long-seated despotism, though
wearing a republican garb ; that tho masses are too
ignorant to read and appreciate what is said to them
through books or newspapers; and that, finally, the
native races will recover their supremacy under the
influence of their unbearable wrongs. The l'resident
of Chili is in favour of schools, and occasionally ap-
propriates by a decree a few hundred dollars per
annum to their support in districts where there are
none. Tnere are many at this moment in Chili, with
a population of 12,000 inhabitants, where there is not
one "schoolmaster abroad." No doubt, however,
the presence of these American emigrants will have
a powerful effect on the South American countries
which they visit. This influence is, however, at first
indirect. For example, the people of Valparano
were areounded to see so many strangers in their
city, one throng succeeding another. Who an
these? "Hijcs del Norte." The moment them
Hijcs landed, the whole town changed its aspect.
The public walks, the hotels, the squires, the streets,
and the theatre were filled with well-dressed young
men (for the California garb is laid aside on these cc-
caaions), wearing the fashionable costume of the day.
The police was charged not to meddle with them if it
could be avoided. The consequence was, that so much
mirth and hilarity were never before witnessed by
the Chilians. In this spirit these gay Amercaas
would form choruses and proceed at night to serenade
the Senoritas. One set styled themselves the "
pheene," and for sport (possibly to make a little
money) appeared on the stage with dress coats, nets,
white kid glove., pantaloons, and glazed boots, and
sang glees, trier, quintetta, &c, to the delight of
the Chilling. Yet these very men, most of them, ex-
pected to dig at the mines! The officers of the Asia
man-of-war would not believe that these merry, well-
behaved, well-dressed men were American me•
ehaMes, but such they were.
The sudden irruption of these gay North Ameri-
cans has everywhere had its effect ou prices, which
have in fact doubled in every port where they hare
touched.
The affairs of the United States in Chili have, how-
ever, been somewhat complicated by a curious clime-
stance in the private history of Col. Barton, oar
minister to Chili. It appears that gentleman fell in
love with a beautiful lady, named Isabella Astaber•
saga, a member of the Homan catholic church ; the
archbishop refused to sane'ion their marriage, be-
cause the minister would not renounce the protestant
faith. The lady consented to be married by the
American chaplain of the flagship Independence. The
wedding was attended by all the diplomatic corps.
by Commodore Shubriek and suite, and the wealth,'
and fashionable residents of the capital. The arch-
bishop immediately addressed Mrs. Barton a letter,
charging her with becoming the concubine of a disso-
lute foreigner, threatening her with the anathemas of
the church. Col. Barton then appealed to the Minister
of Foreign Affairs for the protection of the govern-
ment, but was informed that it could not be granted,
because the archbishop was a member of the govern-
ment. He then immediately struck his flag and has
retired from the country, leaving the difficulty to be
settled hereafter as it may. Thus we seo that still--

" Love rules the conk the camp, the grove."
We have dates from Buenos Ayres to the 20a of
Jane. The armistice was immediately followed by
the raising of the blockade by the French Admiral,
Row ordered the Queen's birth-day to be honoured