The Express.
London, England, 1853-12-20 00:00:00

CUBA AND THE SLAVE TRADE.

HAY ANNAU, Nov. 30.

Since my last advice we have an accession to our
coloured population of seven hundred and fifty ;
three hundred at the Ensenado de Cochitios, near
Cienfuego. The vigilant officials of that vicinity
gave due notice to the Captain-General of Cuba, who
conveyed the same for the first time directly to the
British Consul-General at the Havannah ; but,
although ao express was despatched, the negroes were
not captured. Twelve old negroes, however, were
seized under suspicion that they belonged
to the shipment, but they were soon proved
to be inouceot of recent iutrusluction, and
as customary, in transit from one estate to
another, belonging to the same proprietor. It is
most singular that the officers who gave the notice,
should not have made the capture when they kne w
how important it was for the establishment of a clean
reputation to go home upon on the part of their chief,
or was it not his deeper game to make the proof of
integrity while sacking " twenty " pieces more of
the blood-money, which his cupidity could not resist.
The other introduction took place east of Lague,
on the north side • the vessel was afterwards de.
strayed by fire. These negroes were taken charge of
by Antonio Santos, and divided among the parties
interested in the speculation.
Our community was thrown into a state of great
excitement on the morning of the 23rd inst. by the
announcement that the celebrated actress Matilda
Dominguez had been brutally murdered by her hus-
band, Jose Francisco Valdez, under pretence of being
wronged by her in violation of nuptial obligations.
It is said that the lady supped with General Canedo
the previous evening at his country residence, for
which Cause on her return io the early morning to
her own house, she was killed, her husband having
requested her to returu home on conclusion of her
evening duties at the theatre. But these allegations
are unjust, as it is a matter of notoriety that the hus-
band was the vendor of the wife's shame, and lived
upon the infamous proceeds, he having originally
compelled her to this course of immoral life for
his own selfish and vicious necessities. The lady
was much admired both upon and off the stage,
for her elegance, classic grace, and artistic talents.
Valdez attempted his own life, but was too much a
coward for the consummation. The mother of "La
Dominguez," the familiar title by which she was
here known, was murdered by her husband some 11
years since, and the father immediately followed the
victim in the use of the same weapon with which he
killed her.

Thousands followed thousands to look upon the
model of their dramatic taste as she lay in her shroud
at her late residence, and from thence, on the 24th,
on foot, which is not customary here, they waited on
her remains to the vault where they will rest.
We are in expectation of the arrival of General
Piguela, who is now due here by ono of the Spanish
mail steamers. That he comes with vice-regal
powers adds very much to public curiosity, with
something of dread mingling therewith—not to say
fear—from the absorption of all administrative power
by one person.
The orders have been published, uniting the
powers formerly distributed—military and civil go-
vernment, treasury, naval, and judiciary, within the
discretion of the Captain-General of Cuba.
Over the courts he will have the power of suspen-
sion, unless they are subservient to his personal
wishes and policy by their findings ; and the cheeks
which existed under the distributive powers for the
safety of the people, as well as the advancement of
the public interests, are demolished.
A royal order for the immediate withdrawal from
the estates of all the " Emancipados" that may be
entitled to their freedom from expiration of service
(7 yearaj has not been published by General Canedo,
laying over for the action of his successor, fur the
apprehension that political excitement, dangerous to
the present peace and prosperity of the island, might
be the consequence; and, at the same time, the
order is so vague in its specifications, that it may
be construed to mean to embrace the whole class,
with or without completion of the term of years.

EXTRAORDINARY NEWS FROM AUSTRALIA.
The following extraordinary intelligence, says the
Bristol J 01114144 is contained in• letter received by Joseph
Abraham, Esq., of Bristol, from a relative in Hobart-town,
and kiodly.handed to us by the latter gentleman :
" Hobart-town, Sept. 8, 1853.
" Knowing how deeply interesting any news respecting
Australia must be to you, I write to Inform you of a great
discovery that has again been made oa the Geelong side,
about 56 miles from the town. They have bees digging very
deep, sod have come on a table of gold shout 100 feet from the
surface, apparently inexhaustible. All I can tell you respect-
ing it is that the people's minds are partly turned, from the
immense discovery. Every tub-full of earth they raise from
these boles contains pounds weight of gold. The more
they dig, the more inexhaustible it appears. At Geelong,
a tumult has broken out among the diggers. The govern-
ment has sent up all the military to quell the disturbances,
and the marines of her Majesty's ship Electra are =ousting
guard at the Treasury, and the sailors of the above steamer
of war mount sentry at the banks. The military from Van
Diemen's Land are about to be despatched to Melbourne to
' aid the military already there. Goodness only knows how
all this will end.—(Hobart Town, Sept. 5.) By the steamer
from Geelong this day, I find that a gold quarry has been
discovered near Geelong, 100 to 130 feet from the surface of
the earth, putting all other diggings in the shade. 18,000
ounces have been taken out is three days by a few person.,
and one person has got a lump whing 190 lb. in one solid
piece. This is no exaggeration, and the greatest excitement
prevails."

SIXTY Henrr GUNS are to be mounted at the
battery now erecting at Sconce Point, on the Isle of Wight,
to guard the entrance of the Solent sea. • Thirty guns are
mounted at Hurst Castle battery, opposite the Isle of Wight,
on the Hampshire lout. There is also to be another battery
erected about a mile and a half distant from Sconce Point,
at a place called Cliff-end. This battery will be directly
opposite that of Hurst Castle. Them fortifications, when
completed, will render the passage of the Solent by a hos-
tile Beet impossible.
ROBBERY OF £l,OOO WORTH OF JEWELLERY IN
Tun STRAND.—Yesterday evening, between .5 and 6 o'clock,
a glazed leather bag. containing a thousand pounds worth
of jewellery, was stolen from a cab standing at the door of
a tradesman in the Strand. Not the slightest clue to the
detection of the thief has been yet discovered.
SHOCK OF AN EARTHQUAKE IN VAN DIEMEN'S
LAND.—The Hobart Town Advertiser, of Sept. 21, says—
" We have received the following from a correspondent :
At ten minutes before sir last evening we had a
shock of en earthquake; the house, which is built of stone,
shook severely. The tea•thinip WM on the table at the
time ; the furniture, cups, &c., all danced ; Mrs.
Hobbs was sitting tLe side of the fireplace,
my son William emelegZste=seig on the mantlepiece his
heal resting on Ms baud. The dunk wra so severe to them
both, they felt it long after. One of my daughters was
stooping at the time, and fell on her head. I can only
compare it to the rolling of heavy waggons under an arch-
way. All passed away to the north-oast."
COMMITTAL OF FIFTY-THREE PERSONS FOR TRIAL.
—lt appears that a dispute has been long continued as to
the right of the Menai fishermen to take oysters out of cer-
tain beds in the Straits. A legal opinion having been
obtained in favour of the fishermen, they went last week to
dredge as usual in the river. Warrants were therefore
procured against the whole body, 63 in number, at the in-
stance of lir. Jonathan Rowell, to wh,,m the Bishop of
Bangor had I,nsed the fishery, and on Tuesday they were
all committed for trial at the anises for larceny under the
act of the 6th and 7th Geo. IV., c. 29. They were, however,
liberated on their own recognisances.—Corearvon Herald.

THE HUMBOLDT steamer, which, u our casualty
list shows, is ashore near Halifax, in British North Ame-
rica, left Cowes for New York on the 23rd ult. with a beery
English mail. She was one of the finest of the American
mail steamers which run between the United States and
the British Channel. She used to touch at Cowes and
Havre. Some time since the Russian government was
anxious to purchase her. It was the Humboldt which con-
veyed Kossuth from England to America. The Humboldt
took out all letters that reached London the 19th and
23rd ult.

SOL:TII WALES EXTENSION RAILWAY.—The open-
ing of the South Wides liatension from Carmarthen to
Haverfordwest has been tined for the first week io January.
The extension will, for the present, until the traffic is more
developed, be worked upon a single line of rails. The per-
manent line has been thoroughly laid, the distance being
33 miles. The stations are five in number, being situated
at Haverfordwest, Cross Inn, Narberth, Whitland and St.
Clears. The posts and fittings for the electric telegraph
have been carried on as far u Whitland, and will soon be
&ken on to Haverfordwest.