The Express.
London, England, 1847-02-09 00:00:00

WEST INDIA AND MEXICAN MAILS.

The dates from the West India Islands, brought by
the Dee, are as follows : Honduras, 20th Dec.; De-
merara, iSth ; Trinidad, 7th; Barbadoes, 9th; Grenada,
11th; Jamaica, 13th; St. Thomas, 18th; and Ber-
muda, 24th January. She has brought the following
passengers:
Captain FranUand, R.N., hte of her Majesty's ship
Alarm, from the Gulf of Mexics“ Captain Broadhead,
R.N., and Captain Hankey, R.N., from the Pacific, late of
her Majerty's ship Colltngwood ; Captain Gardner, from
Panama; Captain Monday, lt.A , and Captain Cratton,
R.A., from Jrntaica; Captain Bristow, West India
and Captain Downs, R.A ifrom Barludoes ; Sir William
Codrington, Bart.; Tollemsche, E q., M.P.. and son,
from Antigua; M. Moyer. Russian consul at Ilavannah
Ilrut Womyra and lad••, Int West India Itegt., from Saint
Kitts; Captain kitager.dd and lady, West India Itegt., from
Nassau.

_
FILEIGHTS.
From Tampico on merchants recount 37,992 dole.
Vera Cruz —ln bar silver 77,976
lu dollars
104,573 ~
Belize-- Silver and gold
Plata Buto

—12,05 G
Pacific and Spanish Main, in gold dust and gold 112,240 „

Total

21 grrona of cochineal, 97 bake of tobacco, 161 chests of
cigars, 2 barrels of c,garetaa, 20 live turtle.
JAMAICA.—The Severn sailed with the mails on
the Bth; but ou leaving Jactnel on her way to Porto
Rico, her surbisarsl engine gave way, and she returned to
Kingston (Jamaica) for repairs. wluch she reached on the
12th. The agents of the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company,
immediately after the vessel's arrival, issued a notice ta the
effect that the Teviot would proceed on the 17th, at 10 a.m.,
with the mails for England; that the Thames would proceed at
lb. usual time to St. Jago de Cuba, and on the 23rd take
the mails for England from Kingstm ; that 11.81.'s steamer
Hermes would proceed to the Spanish Main instead of the
Thermal (taking no freight but small parcels) ; and that the
Severn would depart on the 14th or loth fur England direct,
making use of her sails and one engine.
Politics were in abeyance during the recem of the legisla-
ture. The accounts of the weather and crop arc on the
whole favourable. On the 14th of December a copious
shower of hailstones, of half en hour's duration, fell at
Cocoa-walk est.te, in the wish of St. Dorothy's—a meteor-
ological rarity in a tropical country. The stones are de-
scribed as rounded, but flattened on one side. The following
report from St. Thamesindbe-Eist, dated Port Morent, sth
Jan., and published in the Despatch, is a fair average sample
of the coudition and views of the planters throughout the
bland: _ .

All the militia the Vale of Plantain Garden have been at wort. since
Monday. The appearance of the estates is equal to anything I have
*rem for the last 17 years, and I think there will be as much sugar
made in that Markt this crop as there used to be in times of
slavery. mi. fact is entirely attributable to African immigration.
Were it not fur that, the Vale of Plantain Garden River would have
been thrown up long ago, to my knowledge. We have delightful
rains, and if we have a good spring, we shall have excellent Crops
twit year. The labourers in the Port Morant district have not yet
resumed labour. We hope they will have concluded their Christnuoi
dimipationa this week, and that they will be in at: field on Monday
next. In this quarter the people have all left the estates, and a,
living on the Imds they have purchased, on that they are altogether
independent of the egad., which, on the other hand, are thus kft
entirely at their mercy. We need a large addition of African labourers.
A meeting of gentlemen was held in Kingston, on the
4th of January, to take into consideration an extensive
scheme of irrigation, set forth lat.ly in a pamphlet by Mr.
M'Grachy. On the motion of W. %V. Anderson, Esq. (a
proprietor in the island, and attorney for the Earl of Airlie),
secondid by Dr. Spalding, a committee was appointed to
confer with Mr. M'Oeschy on irrigation and other import-
ant objects connected therewith. Jam tics, with its moun-
tain-ridges, and interspersed districts liable to drought, is
eminently tilted to he the scene of such an enterprise. The
districts to which Mr. M'Oeachy's attention has hitherto
been directed are, Liguanea, the Caymans, in St. Catherine,
the plains of St. Dorothy, Veer, Clarendon, and St. Thomas
in the Vale, and Luidas Vale, in St. John. The present pro.
duce, according to Mr. M'Cleachy's estimate, of these districts
amounts to 14,150 tone; but, by a combined system of ma-
nuring and irrigation he conceives that thin produce would
be increased by no less an amount than 33,97.5 tons. It is said
that the Caynonsas alone, if properly and sufficiently irri-
gated, are capable of yielding 1,000 tons of sugar per
annum. On the 12th of January the comm'ttee reported to
another and more numerous meeting, recommending the
adoption of Mr. M•Geachy's scheme, and stating that sources
fir the supply of water and sites for the proposed cultivation
could be obtained. After the report had been read,
it was resolved, en the motion of John Vincent Furrier,
Fail., seconded by W. Wernyas Anderson, Esq. " That
the report be referred back to the same com-
mittee to examine the sites referred to, confer ,
with the proprietors, and report on the terms on which the I
came can be acquired by the proposed company ' • that it be
referred to the same committee to inquire into the cost of
preparing such site for carrying out the objects of the com-
pany, particularly the coat of making the supply of water
available, and the probable returns to be derived therefrom
by the company, and report thereon ; and that the com-
mittee be enlarged by the addition of those gentlemen
present at this, but absent at the last meeting, five to be a
quorum."
INLAND CH•RITIES.—The commissioners appointed to
examine into the state of the inland charities have
published a fifth report. The mismanagement appears to
have been great. For example : On arriving at the Vera
Free Grammar School the commiasioners found the head
master absent at a sugar estate he had recently parchamd.
Of the two deputies he had left to officiate in his aence one
was entirely illiterate, and the other nearly so. The boys
had a ragged, dirty, and squalid appearance. Examinations
of the parents of lays ftom Kingston belonging to the school
are appended to the report, and disclose a shameless want of
attention to the comfort of the children.

GUlANA.—Betweeu the despatch of the mail just
received and that which preceded it 150 coolies had landed
from the Martin Luther. Emery's Journal is scandalised
at an idolatrous procession of the Coolies in Berbice during
the holidays. Is the reverend editor surprised that a sea
voyage should not hare made them Christians at once?
and sorry that they have been brought to live among
Christians and where they may learn better? There had
been a good deal of rain, but not in such quantities as to
impede the finishing of the crop. The Guiana Times
Rates:

have it on unquestionable authority, that the draft of a bill
has been forwarded by Lord Grey to the governor by last mail,
assimilating the condition of the Coolie here to his condition In the
Mauritius, wherein provisions are already to operation. Prom all ae-
counts, it is bowel upon the principle., that with the Coolie, mammal from
the famine and misery of his own country, guaranteed, on the faith of
the British government, continuous work at • certain rate of pv,
and curried to the colonies in which it cosy be obtained free of oast,
ragrancy and idlentes am crimes. It prop.. to make it compulsory
on every Coolie immigrant to enter into indentures for one year. He
may refuse; but the penalty for refusal is to be a monthly
payment equal to live shillings sterling, to obtain which, will,
at all eveut, compel him to work the law cm, of mime,
only be made applicable to those to arrive, to whom the
teemnof the contract have been explained by the agents In
Calcutta and Madre.. It will be better for themselves. Employment
must be seemed to them at the guaranteed rate of remuneration —a
iodide, for a tariff task. And how much better for the colony'
Tarim months steady labour on one place would remove all tendency
to vagrancy. This boon to the planters, however, is not to be con-
ferred, unalloyed, and for nothing. The estate which get, appren-
tices, is to pay a bonus for them in aid of the immigration fund of two
pounds sterling for Mlle adonis, and in proportion for females and
children."

TIIINIDAD.—Tne GOVERNOR AND LEGISLATIVE
COVNCIL.—On the 29th of December Lord Herri• men

iwtallrl Ci.ovrrnor and.

in and over the

island of Trinidad sal Ms obssadeneies having been pre.
Measly only Lieutenant-Owee—sr. At the same meeting of
Council, the new S." ' wal (for the time being,t

Acting Attorney-General), the Hon. Herbert Bowen,
the oaths of office. A despatch relating to immigration
wee then read from Earl Grey, in which he stated that most
cone usively nothing could be done until the restrictions were
removed, and that there wa a doubt as to whether, under the
Usury Law, they could raise money at a higher rate than 5
per eon,. He then went on to state that it was neces•
miry that the expenses incurred by the Land and Immigra.
tion Boxed, forthe purposes of immigration, (about 35,00 W.)
sh mild he trausrnitted. Upon this Mr. Losh moved, se.
vended by the Hon. A. White, that the governor should be
authorised to pay the amount from the general or other funds
of the colony ; but as it was the opinion of the chief judge
that it would be better to pass an ordinance for the purpose,
the attorn,y general gave notice that he would bring toreros.
one at ,he next meeting of the board. After which the
board adjourned
WINDWARD ISLANDS. BARBA DOES. —Go-
vernor Reid returned from Tobago on the morning of the
2nd of January. On the sth he attended the first meeting
of the 13,rbadoes Legislature, after its brief prorogation, in
persn. In his speech he congratulated the members of the
council and assembly on the general progress visible
throughout the West Indies
"It will he • mums of *armee to me," be said, "to lend
the aid of which I am capable, towards accomplishing
this great end. Logislativo measures may, doubtless, say
abt.ti yet it is my pasuasion that It is to public opinion,
tiering Indelikal 'Wok that we must trust, nither than
Is dr apunilis ligilimage assolimila It trill be, gentlemen,
M my via sal Fig delle Is oldie le maintain. .ninterroptedly,
that =lns by sill Om ignegment ef Barbados has for a long
Vasbeti been lirimmay. I *WI ever study to in-
Milaila se rigid • sum d Ihs /di swim. as is consistent with the
alishway at thole Ingllnlinna pea ay think proper to I.llltain ;
end I eel no daunt of Lew mil lathe public intereus rendering the
danberatioas In wthll Ind yen drody engaged very useful to this
tiessin
TOunißA oty..
0.--Oovernorßeid's prompt visitand judicious
conduct while oat the island gave general satisfaction. It is
to he hoped that this will encourage him to visit all the
islands under his charge, and see iut t their affairs with his
own eyes. In his address to the legislature, be observed ,
"I have no doubt that many of your laws requite reeimen and

ainerriment. There "Muhl, I think. be • law far limiting the duration
of roue parliamenoi. I re-wmosend that an act he pawed for the nine-
twt-mot voters-The feee to public linkers should all Le fixed by or, but
in nettling them, existing interest" should be resprmed, or equitably
commuted. But Ido not deice you to enter immediately upon thole
important subject. They require deliberate connderatin, and there-
fore should net be hastily enacted. My recrionnaendation vi jou is.,
that matters of prepping necessity only, earn as the payment of the
public creditor. should now be provided for; as my ono Poignant
leads me to th nk that those other matters which require more time
for wawideration. had better not be entered upon, until after I afford
the Wand en opportunity ol rreurring to • general election."
We regret to learn th it since the governor's departure
very stormy debates hare arisen, whether on the. old ground
of dispute or some fresh one in hot raid.
BERMUDA.—The new governor and the civic
authorities of Hamilton hare been inter hanging new year's
amenities. On the lot of Janunry a new weights and mea-
sures Act came into operation, by which the imperial atm-
dards were, fur the first time, introduced into the colony u
the only legal once. But the most important intelligence
from the "still-vexed B. Tmoothis," is the following, which
affords inereawd prirpects of security to our West Indian
draftier' :

The introduction of the floral Man Wert India Mown-packet,. into
the ware and commoili•us har‘our of It. George'. (from which they
have hitherto been excluded by dangerous sho.ll, in mid-channel:, io
an event moat likely to take place a, no great dirt -our of time. Ity
the sumer... Jul submarine operation. eef SergL limb with the galvanic
battery, under the :ible and kindly-awarded soneni-ion of Cokmel
Barry, }LE., thaw obstacles have almeat magically divappeamd ; and
the entrance to St. Georytea harbour will noon become anglciently wife
trot SIXICiMmr fur venal, of the 'argent sue. The ehantre of station
from Ireland Wand (whence the olthai at prevent resort) to St.
Georg, 's, to a CinUlllStatilee particularly dc..nible in regard to trade.
heal intereourse, and the general oreoperity of the century. Elpedi-
tim. no is the denoutcb which the rte to pocket. receive here, it can-
not but be facilitated by the .ontemplated alteration of depot ; for the
nude twer•khilit) of the Wort of Cs.”rge is sul well known, and Ito
great; natural advantage., for the 'inflame we have named are too pal-
ledge. th d we owed not travel into the region of argument for a sup-
ply of evidence.