The Express.
London, England, 1849-03-14 00:00:00

WEST INDIA MAIL.

The Avon, Capt. Heide, arrived yesterday at
ihnsthampton (as was announced in our yester-
day's impression); the mails were lauded under
the charge of Lieat. South, R.N., Admiralty agent.
The Avon brings no mails from Maxie* or Haven-
nah. Her dates are :—Chagres, Jan. 29; Cutht-
gssa. Feb. 1; La Ousyra, Feb. 6; St. Jago de Cuba,
Feb. 6; Jamaica, Feb. 7; Demerara, Feb. 4; Trini-
dad. Feb. 6; Grenada, Feb. 7; Bar ;adore. Feb. 9 ;
Alleges, Feb. 11; Porto Rico, Feb. 11; St. Thomas,
Feb. 14.

This Avon brings about 26 passengers, among whom
are Lord William Douglas, Sir Harry S. Wilmot,
Hon. J. W. Portman., M P., Captain 'Goodenough,
R.A., Mr. J. T. Robertion, from the Pacific', several
Preneh and Spanish geollemen, four invalids from
her Majesty's ships, and three distressed English
seamen.

Tim fr iglit on board con•iets of 1,029.124 dollars
from Panama on amount of niereltsats in London, 35
florets of mare from Jamie*, 4 threes of wasp-
-61 box., of saccades, 88 bales of indigo, and
4 bales of deer-skios.

The Avon did not stop at Fogel, on account of bad
weather. On her outward voyage, from the 3d to the
26th of December, she ene mastered heavy gales from
the S.W. •, she had fine weather in the West Indies ;
from the 21st of Feb:nary to the Ist of March, she
experienced heavy gal. s from the N.E.. and from the
E. In five days, while these gales lasted, the ship
only ran 313 mike. The detention of the mails mast
be attributed to the strong N.E. gales near the
Western Islands, and the strong easterly wind for
Three days near the Channel.
In consequence of the loss of the Furth, and the
breaking down of the paddle-gearing of two of the
company's steamers at ma, more than the usual in-
terest attaches at present to the position and pro-
gnus of its vessels The Avon left the Trent at St.
Thomas. A oorreapon lent informs us, that a malig-
nant fever broke out amend the crew ow board the
Trent while she was at Chagree. A schooner was
obliged to be hired to convey her passengers from
that place to St. Thomu. Ten of the crew bad died
of the fever. One pcor fellow is supposed to
have jumped overboard in a fit of delirium.
The sick persons will be obliged to be put on
shore. The Great Western sailed from S. Thomas
for Jamaica on the 12th of February. The Great
Western had brought down the mails from Barba-
does in consequente of the Reindeer requiring re-
p ks which she remained at that island to complete.
The Conway left Barb Woes for Demerara on the 9th
of February. The Severn was at New York, and the
Clyde gone to the Spanish main.
There are complaints of a failure of the sugar crops
in Guadeloupe. This is exceptional—in all the other
northern islands the crops were remarkably fine, and
a geeeral feeling seemed to prevail that things were
looking better. The fa:lure at Goadeloupe arises
from the fact that for three months after the emanci-
pation of the slaver, at a time when the canes re-
quired unintermitting are and attention, no labour
could be obtained. Since that time the blacks have
returned to the cane griunds and now do their work
cheerfully. The average of wages for negroes in
Guadeloupe is 6d. a day. The prospects for next
season are favourable. An insurrection broke out
among the blacks in the Danish island of
Santa Crux on the 10th of February. They refused
to work, assembled in crowds, and wou'd not disperse
when ordered. The troops Mod upon them, and
killed or wounded three or four. The authorities
mid that tranquility was restored, but there was still
a great deal of irritat'oo. Everything was done ender
martial law; government fixed the hours of labour
and the rates of pay—the latter at a very low
figure.
A slight re-action in commercial matters had taken
place in the English islands, owing to the favoursblel
prospects of the crops, and the small rise in the prim
II
of sugars.
JAMAICA.—The House of Assembly met, per-I
anent to adjournment, on the 23rd of January. The
members went into committee of the whole on
the drat report of the committee of retrenchments,
presented on the 9th of December last, and resolved
to recommend to the house to mgr. e to the re-
port. On the 24th, the legislative council
sent a message to the house requesting a oonferenn
on privileges; the request was granted and a com-
mittee appointed. At this sittting it was agreed in
committee of the whole to recommend the adoption of
the se cud and third reports of the retrenchment
committee. At the conference, the council demanded
reparation for a breach of their privileges which a
member of the house had oomartted by publishing
a letter in a newspaper. Oe the part of the house it
was denied that they could control the c induct of
their members when they were not in session, or be
held liable for it. The council contented itself with
passing tosolutione to the effect that the house was in
session on the day the letter was published (which is
true so far, but the house had adjourned for
a long day with consent of the governor
before the letter was written); but that
to prevent interruption of the public business
they could only register their regret at the Assam-
. bly's want of courtesy. The resolutions were inti-
mated to the Assembly, which with reference to them
pained the following by a majority of 15 to 6:
• •

- Resolved—That whilattbit ho-use I; gratified to learn that
no suppceed infraction of the privileges of the eonacil will
be permitted to interrupt the progress of the puillic bushing
at this mince' perio4, the house, in rapprrt of its own dig-
nity, cannot permit the fifth ;isolation conveyed by the
mauve of the council of yeeterday te remain on its mutates
without a contemporaneous vindication of the trutcm
viouily asserted by the house, end now broadly pa
by the council.
Resolved—That the hones adhere to their sessistiou 01
the 28th January, 1849: " Tint the mew Wyk% lo their
notice by the committee of semenenos of sonnolf on Thurs.
day the 25th instant, did not onus while the hare was
in swim insamook as the Mho of by the
council appeared and was pahlkhed esity es the morning of
the 26th day of Deonalsor loM, sod the mien of the legit-
Ware was not in fact opened by the execanive until 3 o'clock
• of that day."

The object of the council in insisting upon this
matter was generally understood to be to get up a
quarrel with the Assembly upon it, and have the
legislature prorogued, on account of the impossibility
of transacting besmear, instead of the question of re-
trenchment. The tame and impotent conclusion to
which they allowed the affair to come would seem
to indicate that there is a temper in the Hoare of As-
sembly which neither the governor nor his nominees
in the legislative oouroil deem it expedient to trifle
with. In the meantime, the Assembly is proceeding
steadily and firmly, and at the same time with a de-
gree et caution complained of by some of the more
Isry islanders, but which is a guarantee for per-
severance. The approval of the retrentl-
mint reports was followed up by the intro-
duction of a "bill to reduce the expenditure in
certain parts of the public service," which was read •
first and second time and ordered to be committed on
the Ist of February. This bill was read a third time,
as was also a " bill respecting the collection of public
and parochial tame," on the 2nd. On the same day
a committee was appointed to draft an application to
the home government for a remission of the 4s. on
coals exported from the island in foreign steamers.
It is also in agitation to petition for • reduction or
abolition of the duties on colonial produce imported
into Great Britain.
The committee on the remission of the 4s. duty on
coals exported from the island in foreign steamers, is
connected with a bill to encourage steam navigation

to the island, which was read a aimed time en the
6th of February. Thin bill bed its origin in a peti-
fon relative to recent visits of American steamers. The
inhabitants of Junkies are obvionaly alive to the pros-
pect et their island becoming the great efehvp6t of
steam navigation to the Spanish main, both
from Liverpool and New York. The last steamer
from Magni brought to Jamaica, aloe; with a mil-
lion of dollen for Londe' merchants, 12,000,'which
were forwarded to New York by the Severn. The
settlement of California, the development of the
resources of the countries on and in the Pacific, and
lon the Spanish main, cannot bet open new mallets
for an island which is naturally the most eligible
intermediate station both for the steamers of Fog-
' land and the United States. It is to this zew and
extended trade, to tie reduction and gradual abolition
of all customs dative, and to economy in their
island government, that the men of Jamaica mast
look for the return of prosperity, not to the
dream of a return of the age of protee-
tile. And in the facts we have now recorded
thus
are symptoms of their looking in the right
direction.

The Mbar topics that were engaging attention in
the island were the penal laws and disposal of con-
victs, and a new elation law. The Imam markets
will be found in our last page.
GUlANA.—Business waits for the arrival of Mr.
Barkly. Earl Grey flattered himself that the mere
announcement of that gentleman's appointment would
mike the combined court do the bidding of govern-
ment. Thess gentlemen are not quite eo silly : they
wait to see what instructions Mr. Briskly brings.
The combined court was senamoned on the 2nd of
February. and on their meeting the Lieutenant-
Governor addressed them as follows :

Hamrala Gentlemen of the Cart of Policy. Gentle-
man of the Colicp of Fiaanciel Reaseentatives.—ln abe-
am to the iniWltloa of the right honourable the there-
tary of State for the Main I hen the honour to lay
bane you en timpanist despatch, which I has received
has his lordship. I beg to offer to you the assumes of
my earnest desire to so coasts with you I. any memane
which you may think it desirable to adopt. with the view of
giving effect to the suggestion of the Secretary of State for
proceeding with the public basin.., in anticipation of the
arrival of his Excellency Governor Bukly.
The following deTitch wee then read by the
colonial secretary:
Colonial-oatev, Nov. 29, 1848.—Sir,—I lan rossind your
dmoatahsa, No. 126, of Oct. 19, and private ad eaddential
of the same date, a the subject of slos seepage ciao ap-
plies and the ehanges which it might beam ournesey to
effect in the system of goverment be Brlfish Guiana.
Gristly as I regret the course aide bus bat pu- sued by
the combined eourt—l fear to the very Mons injury of the
colooy—l shoal be very unwilling M bete mommores nada
the pressure of the difficulties thus grata to effect any of
the proposed amigos, the time being, so I em very in-
opportmie. I have thought it better to endeavour to effect
an amicable arrangement of the unfortunate differences
which had arisen, and with that view I have recom-
mended to her Majtsiy for the vacant office of governor
Mr. Barkly, the member for Leominster, a gentleman
who, frogs the stake he has in the Imlay, end Eros the
put he has taken in parliament on all aubjeas relating
to the West Indies, will, I trust, be regarded with con-
fidence by the colonists ; and whose appointment I hops will
be accepted by them as a proof of the sarong desire of her
Majesty's government to adopt a conciliatory course towards
than, and to omit nothing which, contistently with our pub-
lic duty, it is In our power to do, in order, if possible, to out
an end to the present differences. I have therefore to desire,
that en the receipt of this despatch you will all t lather the I
combined court, and hying it before them, you will apply to
them to pass the neimary laws for imposing the taus re-
quired for the t alio service, for so much of the financial
year 55 remains UntitOd. If they should consent to do so,
time will thus be aborted for a deliberate ennsideratiou of
the measures it may be proper to adopt, to effect a r ore per-
manent settlement of the affairs of the colony, after the
arrival of Mr. Berkly, who will leave this country, ms
I hope, in the beginning of January. Whoa you recently
applied to me to relieve you in the administration
of the government, by sending out your successor',
as eta as possible I was not prepared to meet your wishes
at the moment, aid I assured you of my disposition to place
full confidence in your judgment and ability. Your sabre-
cant course of proceeding has only tended to confirm that
confilence, and although it hes now appeared that the *P.
vintment of • gentleman having a peculiar contagion with
the colony, is expedient with a view to the settlement of its
affain, I cannot announce that appointment to you without
at the ems rime conveying to you the expression of her Ma-
isel's approbation of your conduct in the administration of
the government of British Gains, under the very difficult
circumstances in which you were called upon to assume it.—
I have the honour to be, sir, your obedient servant, (signed)
01.11T.—Lieieft1111:4-00MTOT Walker, &C &C., &c.
When the readiog of this document ended Mr.
Rose was the Bret to break silence. He said :

I have listened with the utmost attention to the despatch
from Earl Grey which ham just been read, and I regret to Say
that I kind that there is nothing in it which can justify this
court in altering the decision which it dune to in Jely last.
We were then inked to pan a to ordinance for the r mata-
dor of the financial year ; and after giving the subject our
m rat deliberate consideration, we dt clined to do so salsa the
reductions which were proposed in the estimates were
adopted. The question whether these redactions should
be mode was put to the vote, and it was carried in
the affirmative, when your Excellency thought it
proper to adjourn the court sine die. There is no-
thing in the state of the colony at the present moment,
compared with its condition at that time that can
justify us in altering our decision. On the contrary, we
have additional noon. for refusing to pass the tax ordinance
before the admits has been settled. The grounds of our
opposition to that moon have been streagthened. All
the evils wigs\ we foresaw Ir.ve actually resulted. Surely
Earl Grey meet be aware—he has been too loon in the
Colonial-offiee set to know—that the estimate must be con-
pleted—atut be entirely gore through—before we sea enter
upon the tax affirms. What ! are we to levy taxes in the
dark ?—withont bawd, bow they are to be appropriated
—without booming add ram will be absolutely required ?
It is im that a man owering a mind like
Earl tw
oOn dd middy p
oppose that we ere
such children ae he aide now that which we did
but a short time age alter the most deliberate con.
sideratios. We did net oppose your excellency in this court
hesa eery hastens metioe. We saw the difficulty of your
edellesells polities and if, on the 15th July, we could
have voted a tax ordinance for the remainder
of the year we woaassekettlesoly d haw done so then. Bet to ask as now
to do it ! Surely there fa not • mass in the coloey who would
not cry *use if we did so. The members of this wart hoe
greet satisfaction in stating that, in all private and public
intercourse with year excellency, they have met with eon-
ciliation ; but we have a duty to perform, sad, as far as I em
concerned (and I think I as speak for the other members),
no consideration will induce us to shrink hem its perform-
ance. When Mr. Bukly arrive., if he poetess full powers to
deal with the question, he will And the members of daemon
willing to meet him with the greatest cordiality, sad to
enter with a proper spirit upon the discharge of the duty
which they owe to the okay. But unless he coma with
such powers as will enable him to trot with us upon lair
and just principles, we must be content to 'bide by the deci-
sion of parliament, which will meet on the first of next
month, and before which our cue will be laid, I hope, at an
early period of the session. I trust, however, if Mr. Darkly
has not yet received full powers, that Earl Grey will see the
necessity of giving him, before he takes his departure, such
powers as are required to settle the differences which exist
between this court and the government esi the subject of the
estimate. I smoothies in what has been laid before m that
can alter or remove oar opposition. I know not what in-
structions year excellency may have received, or what it may
be intruded to entrust the new governor with; but untrue
something more is done than what we have already heard,
we mast abide the decision of odium,.

Mr. Davison followed to the .me effect. The At-
torney-General then attempted to cajoic the court
into some concession, bat refused to submit any pro-
position as eismoting hem the executive. After
some fencing oo both ides Mr. Davison said :
As there is nearing before the court, I beg to more the
following rearbdies: "That it is the opinion of the court
that them It nerbing in the &meta just read that could jos-
-I=enint IN IMIPSIMPAIE le pass a tax ordinance until the
is prieeL"—Mr. Conyers mended the resolution.—
Kr. Creel: I think the resolution should stop at the words
"ordiesses," and thereat be omitted. We donot know what
Mr. Issidyinsibrkgent.-31r.Davison : Bat we cannot pass
entesentinnees until the estimate is fixed.—Yr. Creel : It
hasihn blew done.—Mr. Davison: It may bee*, but not
unite wnerneees Ike the present.—Yr. Stuart : I think
the reesintisa Is weeded exactly amoral to my friend's
(Kr. °feel's) view of the matter. When Yr. Darkly Milli,
if he Wags with Ida lootnsetions which will enable us to go
on we ma do so; bat et proem titers is nothing before la to
incluse me to do eo.—Theveles were this %ken on the yew-
Intim. Tor it: Keen. Dig dowers. Band, Croal, Davison,
G3riai. Phut. Isms, end less. Agelast it : The Collector
of Onstoolks. The Chief Junin and the Attorney General
&And te vote. The seeded= we issiond to be carried.
eseinier s Seth beinethe deities of members, It devolves
upon let is en the Samar sesseiss. to etUrawn the court. I
easiest nom any day, me the governor is expected shortly. I
therefese adjourn this court sine *ie. The financial repre-
sentatives thou retired.

TRINIDAD.—On the Ist of Feb. Mr. Rennie (the
new member of the council of government) moved
five resolutions at the board, which are in effect as
follows :

1. That the present stab of the law regulating the trade of
the British possessions in the West Indies is prejudicial to
Trinidad, by diverting to the neighbouring foreign islands
the trade of the Spanish Main. 2. That the construction put
by the colonial ministers and law cabers of the crown in
England upon the order is mancil of Jane, 1828,
which admits all foreign pals paying a duty of
not anon than 78 per cent. esi malarima, b enomsello,
and not borne oat by the wording ciao whim 8. That the
order in council which prohibits the direst importation of
govds from Spain in Spanish balm; prevents Trim Mad
becoming the entrepot of a trade between aria ma the
Spanish Main. 4. That those ratiabdama are woad to
that policy of free trade wkisb On Drllich Watt Lib WO.
ales tam been taught to leek le so moo ossepoaloloa Oar
the loss of a protecting duty faille markets of tits maw

THE EXPRESS, WEDNESDAY EVENING, MARCH 14, 1849.

erestff. _EL That setwkireepthe the represeasaske by
Lard Karns et the Warhol ernes of nem inetrieiess, the
ficseesey se Mate teethe stinks hes dedisee to iaterpote,
sad thie. it pas therdee Weems is sera directly
teaser Wilsey Ms her !thy Osumi. _ maim for the re.
pal e the siteesieskarese in coed& sorra te.
Thelntalden with whisk the hon. member
pfd bin resaiyf. went at great length into the
2of the restrict'ons upon the trade of the
of the
nt-
edtive injury done to its cOMMeree, and
the cruel in st:ce effected towards it u a oo
inanity sing under sash distress, that the
Britian government was under the necessity
of aiding it by a direct grant of money.
Bspporting his views by a large men of statistical
data, gathered nearly wholly from official names. Mr.
Rennie fully substantiated that a foreign trade
amounting td madly one million sterling per annum
was driven past within sight of their very harbours
to the &tent islands of St. Thomas, Mortlake*. and
Congos, merely bemuse the island is exeled from
the benefit of the British navigation laws as they now
stand by exceptional orders in council. Mr. Rennie
was listened to with greet attendee. The rnolutions
were adopted unanimously. The Port of Spots Moats
ably supports Mr. Beanie'. views.
BARBADOBB.—The island was considered as
healthy at the time the mail was despatched. During
the three months that the visitation of yellow fewer
lasted, the garrison had lost ten officers end eighty
men. The Princess Royal sailed on the Bth of Feb.,
with detachments of the 84th end 88th regiments for
Trinidad. There were between twenty and thirty
ships in Carlisle Bay, loading with sugar, and the
crop was maid to be very fine.