The Express.
London, England, 1851-12-09 00:00:00

WEST INDIA MAIL.

The mail brought to Southampton yesterday by
the Dee, contains little intelligence of much import.
At Grey Town, as we are informed by a letter
dated Nov. 5, a number of Americans (about 600)
had arrived from San Francisco] with no: convey-
ance to take them to the States. The small steamer
that runs on the Lake Nicaragua, on coming down
the river to the rapids, approached too near before
turning, and came down stern first over the rapids ;
ten or .twelve persons are reported to have been
droned, having in their fright jumped overboard.
Pliaragua and all posts of the interior are tranquil.
The route from California by the Lake Nicaragua has
been adopted by moat of the Americans returning.
The report of their privations and difficulties, how-
ever, is sufficient to deter others from following the
route. There is little doubt, when the railroad from
Navy Bay is completed, that the Nicaraguan route
will ho abandoned. 150 Americans embarked on
board the Dee for Chafrres, hoping to 'find some con-
' veyanee thence to the States. Provisions are scarcely
be be had, these sodden influxes of adventurers
Baking great havoc on the small supplies sent t
Grey Town.
From Chagres"we learn, by a letter dated Nov.
10, that the late disturbance at that place between
the boatmen of the old town, or Indian aide of the
rime, and the American boatmen, the latter wishing
to monopolise the whole traffic, has caused great ex-
citement, and though hostilities have ceased on
either side, it is feared this is but a temporary lull.
The Governor of Panama has been down, and par-
poles garrisoning Fort Lorenzo, so that, should a
disturbance again break out, there is but little
doubt, from the superior and formidable position of
this port, that the newly-erected town of the
Americans will be completely destroyed, and emay
inhabitant killed or banished. The natives, It is
said, will stop at nothing when once blood is ebaL
The difficulty in quelling the disturbance wu great.
The natives will listen to none but the British, and it
is here stated that, but for the timely interposition of
the commander of one of the royal mail steamers,
the matter would have ended only in the exter-
mination of one side of the belligerents, or,
at least, in considerable bloodshed. The Panama
railroad is now rapidly. progressing ; it is now half a
mile beyond &teen, nine miles from the terminus in
the bay of Simon ; seven miles are made, but not
continuously, leaving thirtcn miles to be finished to
Bartmesess, where the Chagres river is to be bridged;
bat until that can be accomplished the river will be
ferried by boats from the point of Corsito to Barba-
cases, and on to Gorgona to Panama is twenty miles.
The most difficult and expensive part of the line is
done. It will be completed to Barbacases about next
August, and to Gorgona by about the following May,
and Panama by about July, in two dry seasons from
the time they break the ground. The line will be
wog and substantial, according to the system of rail
Item structure, in the opinion of several eminent en-
gineers who have visited it. The fillings are of red
day; it is well drained, and the heavy rains of the
present season have not in the least damaged it.