The Express.
London, England, 1846-10-20 00:00:00

The Royal Gazette of the lith Sept. informs us of
the breaking out of some riots in Leguan, an island
of some considerable extent, and containing a num-
ber of valuable sugar plantations, situated at the
mouth of the Essequibo river, about twenty miles
westward of Georgetown, Demerara. It would ap-
pear that on receipt of accounts from England,
announcing the adoption of the new Sugar Duties
Bill, the planters considered the propriety of reducing
agricultural wages, in order that they might be en-
abled to meet the race of competition which they
consider they will have to contend with the slave-
owning producer. One gentleman, Mr. Jones, in carry-
ing these reductions into effect, became embroiled with
his labourers. A riotous multitude assmilted him, his
house was surrounded, and the police force ava;lable
having been found insufficient to maintain tranquillity
it was considered necessary to have recourse to mili-
tary aid. Detachments of the 19th and 3rd West
India Regiments were forwarded from Georgetown,
and on arrival of the troops order was restored. The
persons charged with wounding the police, in an
attempt to rescue some pr:sone;+, have been trans-
' mitted to Georgetown for trial before the Supreme
( Court.

All the attempts which have b2en made to float the
Great lhitain having failed, the general conclusion
seems to be that the total loss of this splendid vessel
is now inevitable. Lieut. Gabriel, of the Royal Navy,
is, however, differently impressed. lle thinks she
may be released from her present position. Hav-
ing taken an active part in the rescue of her Majesty's
steamer Gorgon, the opinion of this officer is en-
titled to respect. Lieut. Gabriel has thus addressed
the Northern Whig

the bundessee-
and open-handed manner in which you have espoused my
proffered voluntary assistance towards the relief of the Great
Britain, I feel bound to comply with }rout request, in ex-
pressing -„my opinions relative to her pre-ent position.
There can be no doubt in the minds of any scientific men
but that she may be saved, and that without trusting to the
treacherous spring tides. Every per on who has visited her
has expressed his doubts as to her ultimate fate ; and the
general opinion appearing to prevail is, that she may be
given up as a total loss. From the first moment I was
made acquainted with the exact position of the Great Bri-
tain, I stated that she could be got off; since which, my
opinion has not been altered one iota; and the more I see,
the more I am convinced, that if it is the general wish of
the parties concerned in her fate, she may be again adoat.
"My plan of proceeding with respect t.; this ship is founded
on purely ecientific principles. We well know that we have
a large body to contend with, the dead weight of which is ,
upwards of fifteen hundred tons. To move this ponderous
mar, by any other means than those of many adjuncts is
quite impossible. No power of traction could be applied to
any one point, and even if applied to different points, would
be as useless and futile as were the attempts at the last spring
tides. The ship's position is as favourable as it can well be
for any proceedings that may be taken towards her rescue.
The means applied to her Majesty's steam-frigate Gorgon
are, from their results, sufficicut of themselves to recommend
them ; and upon the same principles would I proceed in the
case of this ship. She has from seven to nine feet water
alongside, at high water, quite sufficient to float her. Upon
the whole I do not consider her position so precarious as is
generally supposed. She is we'l secured by the head and
stern ; but, as to how she may weather the ensuing six
months' gales and seas I should be sorry to venture an
opinion.
" I have been actuated to offer my services upon this ones-
sion merely from the fact of having the advantage of prac-
tical and successful experience in similar Cases, and from
which I form my opinions with respect to the Great Britain.
Many nautical and scientific gentle= a have consulted with
me, to whom I have explained my plans ; and I am happy
to state they are all of one opinion as to my success, if em-
PloYed-
" Many and various rumours have got abroad, and are
daily gaining ground, not only in this neighbourhood, but
all over the country, and questions, some of no slight diffi-
culty to answer, are constantly being put as to the ultimate
intentions with respeft to this ship.
" I intend remaining in this neighbourhood for a few
days longer, in order to give the directors due time to reply
to my offers relative to the Great Britain, and must con-
clude by quoting the old adage of ' Where there's a will
there's always a way.'—Your most obedient servant,
"THOMAS S. S. GABRIEL, u.:su,

The accounts from Ireland are in every respect en-
favourable. The distressed condition of the lower
classes continues unabated ; and, to add to the'prevail-
ing misery, some disturbances have taken place in the
counties of Limerick and Clare. One of the outrages
committed is thus noticed in the Limerick Chronicle:

Arraca o e FEKLOE Hot:ea.—Oa Thursday evening, im-
mediately after dinner, a numerous band of armed ruffians,
with blackened faces, burglariowdy entered Fenloe House,
Newmarket-on-Fergus, the residence of Hugh Palliser
Hickman, Esq., D.L., late High-Sheriff of Clare, and son-
in-law of the Lord Bishop of Meath. Having first placed
sentinels on the domestles of. the house, they enteral the
dining-room, and calling for lire-arms, commenced a seat
furious attack on Mr. Hickman, who stoutly refused to
deliver up his arms, until completely overpowered by se-
veral blows on the head, when Mrs. Hickman, fearful of the
results, pointed out where the arms were, with which the
ruffians decamped, but not before they renewed their brutal
attack on Mr. Hickman, inflicting two very deep wounds on
his head, and breaking one of his fingers. Mr. Hickman
has ever been foremost in his district, as a magistrate and
country gentleman, by his personal example, to promote
the comfort of the labouring classes, and to relieve their
sufferings. Our columns fur the last two years testify to
the anxiety and liberality displayed by this gentleman to pro-
vide for every crisis of distress, at public meetings, and as an
active member of the local relief committees. It is to be
feared that this outrage upon the person of a country gyn.
llama, in the midst of his own family circle, is but the first
of a series in the coming winter, and which the general
avidity to possess fire-arms will embolden thaw parties to
follow up. This outrage is the move to be lamented, seeing
that the object of it is always resident in the country, and
not less conspicuous for his humane attentions to the wants
of the poor, than for the extensive employment he gives.
We are happy to learn this morning that Dr. Evans, of
Newmarket, reports nothing very merlons is to apprehended
from the effects of lie. Hickman's injuries.—Limerick
Chrosiek.

The latest impression of the Neen York Herald
contains a letter written off Mazatlan, Aug. 10, which
gives an account of the American occupation of Cali-
fornia. The writer says :
On the 6th or July all wry bustle in Ste cabin of the
1 Savannah ; some four or five Men were busily employed
writing letters, proclamations, Ac., premorattwanto
etatn: g
Cr of mitightifornia.
ere wasletaalral to caiong :lri a short sad
troubled topcoe, as all was So be prepared by six o'clock ,