The Express.
London, England, 1848-05-05 00:00:00

COLONIAL.

WEST INDIES.-By the North American mail
we have intelligence from Jamaica and tho Bahamas
of a more recent date than we had previously
received :

JAMAICA.—KINGSTON, APRIL 1, 1848.—The
British steamer Tweed arrived here on the 28th ult.
from England, via Havana. By this arrival the Chancellor
of the Exchequer has sienified his intention to the governor
m regards the importation of labourer,. A grant of M,OOOl.
has been made towards the relief of the colonists. To this
extent, and no further, will relief be afforded to the West
India proprietors, which will go but a short way to arrest the
inlay already inflicted. The importation of additional free
labourers will confer no adequate advantage to compensate for
the exPelre, or place our colonies in a condition to compete
with the United States. The Chancellor of the Exchequer
strong) y recommends the planters to commence immediately
internal improvements by increasing their machinery,
constructing railroads, and to adopt more scientific modes of
agriculture, &c., Which is very good and sound advice, if it
were prs.cticable. In the West Indies this cannot be done,

as there is neither trade, money, nor confidence, and his
counsel is an insult to an injured peoplee—a mere mockery,
where ruin is gradually and rapidly doing its work. On the
reception of this intelligence, the Chamber of Commerce
called a meeting yesterday, and resolved to petition the
governor to call tbe assembly together, with the lout pos-
sible delay. The planters have lost all confidence in legis-
lative deliberations.
The tone of our market is extremely dull, both for home
and American produce. Money is scarce, and those who
poetess that recuisite to some extent are extremely cautious
in their operations. Flour his arrived rather freely from
Richmond and Baltimore, together with 4,000 barrels from
New Orleans, which with difficulty moves off at 36e. to
365. Gd., and the former at 41s. to 445. per barrel; meal,
16s. Gd. to 21s. Gd.: rice, 200. to 21s. Bread: no sales worthy
of notice ; firkin and keg butter, 54d. to 64d. per lb. ; lord,
61d. to GfiL ; mackerel, '26s. to 28s. ; codfish, 13.. per cask,
and in boxes 17s. Gil. ; pork, 665. to 575. 6d. ; hams, 104 d.
to Ild. ; tongues, 60s. per half barrel ; oil, 'ie. 3d. per gall.
Lumber : Halifax white pine sells at 100 s. per 400 feet ; to-
bacco, 6d. per lb. Exchange.—Colonial Bank Bilis, 90
days, j per cent. prem.; Planter's Bank, 90 days, par ; and
Commissary General's Bills on the Lords of the Treasury,
at 30 days, If per cart. prem. Exports.—The crop of sugar
is notlarge, and does not bring more than 15s. to 19s. per
100 lbe.
BAHAMAS.—NAssAr (N. P.), 'MARcIi 29.—This
day the residence of the housekeeper of the public buildings
was destroyed by fire. The Rouse of Assembly was occu-
pied principally with the Bill for the Payment of Pensions
to certain officers of the customs department.
From the Gonne of Mich 26, we learn loom the post.
muter that by the packet which has just arrived, be has re-
ceived information this a more extensive communication
between the United States and the West lilies is about to
take place by means of the steam-packet company easels.
The route to commence on the 7th of May next between
New York and Bermuda, and from the latter to St. Thomas,
returning to New York via Bermuda, so as to arrive at the
former city on the llth, and to leave again on the 12th, so
es to be back on the 18th of every month at Bermuda.
The extension of the steam route to New York
will no doubt greatly facilitate intercourse and be
convenient to pi...wagers who may be desirous of visit-
ing the United States, aid Bermuda, leaving this place on the
30th of each month. They will arrive at Bermuda on the
4th of the following month, and leave Bermuda again on the
7th, and arrive at New York on the 11th. The table of a
new route his also been received, to be substituted in place of
one of previous date ,• this table which takes in the arrange-
ment between New 'York and Bermuda states—" That the
steamers are to leave Bermuda on the 7th of every month at
G p.m., arrive at New York on the Ilth at 6 p.m„ leave
again on the 12th, be back to Bermuda on the 18th, and
leave on the same day for St. Thomas." An arrival from
the Turks Islands furnishes us with three late numbers of
the I'. I. Gazette, to 11th last., we notice that they have had
a first raking of salt for Out season, and that two or three
vessels riding there would be enabled to take cargoes. From
some of the other Salt Islands we learn that their
prospects are good, inasmuch as they are in expectation ot
being very soon enabled, unless prevented by rain, to coin.
mence raking.

'be Court.
The Queen held yesterday afternoon, at Backing-
ham ['Awe, &Chapter of the Order of the Garter, which was
the fullest that has been held for a number of year,. The
Knights Compsnions of this meet noble order were robed by
Mr. Hunter and Mr. Ede in their rich mantles of purple
velvet, with crimson velvet hoods, and also wore the splendid
collars of the order. By command of the Queen the Knights
were called over by Garter, when there appeared—Pnnce
Albert, the Duke of Wellington, the Menials of Anglesey,
the Marquis of Exeter, the Duke of Buccleueh, the Marquis
of Lansdowne, Duke of Beaufort, Duke of Cleveland, filar-
quis of Salisbury, Marquis of Abercorn, Earl Dc Grey, Earl
Talbot, Marquis Camden, Marquis of Hertford, and the
Duke of Bedford. 'the officers of the order present were the
Prelate, the Bishop of Winchester; the Chancellor, the
Bishop of Oxford ; the Registrar, the Dean of Windsor;
Garter Principal King at Arms, Sir C. Young; and the
Usher of the Black Rod, Sir A. (Alford, Bart. The Knights
Companions and otficersentered the presence of the Sovereign
in the Throne or Chapter Room. The Sovereign and
Knights Companions having taken their seats, the
Chancellor siguitied to the Chapter her Majesty's royal will
and pleasure that the vacant stall in the royal chapel
of St. George's, at Windsor, be,, tilled; and as by the
statutes none but • knight can be elected, the most noble
Henry Cheeks Duke of Norfolk was introduced by Garter
and Black Rod. The sword of state, home by Sir William
Martins, gentleman usher, having been presented to the
Queen by the Lord Chamberlain, her klale,ty was gra-
ciously pleased to cooler the honour upon the noble duke
therewith; his grace, rising, kissed the Sovereign's hand, and
retired. The Knights Companions proceeded to the eke-
ties, and the suffrages having been collected by the Chan-
cellor, were by him prevented to her Majesty, who com-
manded him to declare that the most uobie Henry Charles
Duke of Norfolk had been duly elected a Knight alba most
noble order of the Garter. By the Sovereign's command his
grace was received at the door of the Chapter-room by the
Marquis of Hertford and the Duke of Bedford, the two
junior Knights Companions present, and was conducted
between them to her Majesty, preceded by Garter ( bearing the
ensigns at the order upon a crimson velvet cushion) and by
Black Rod. The Duke of Norfolk knelt near the sovereign,
and Garter on his knee presenting the garter, her Majesty,
assisted by Prince Albert and the Duke of Wellington,
the two senior Knights Companions present, buckled it
on his grace's left leg, the Chancellor pronouncing the usual
admonition. Garter presented in like manner the Riband
and George, and her Majesty, assisted as before, put the
same over the noble duke's left shoulder, the Chancellor
pronouncing the admonition. The duke again kissed her
Majesty's hand, and afterwards received the congratulations
of each of the Knights Companions. His grace then re-
tired. The chapter being ended, Garter, by her Ma-
jesty's command, again called over the Knights Companions,
who, with the officers of the order, retired from the
presence of the soverei As with the usual reverence,
Tile Queen wore the mantle and hood, and also the collar of
the order. The court was attended by the Mietress of the
Robes; the Duchess of Norfolk and the Marchioness of
Douro, ladies in waiting ; the Lord Steward, the Lord '
Chamberlin, the Captain of the Yeomen Guard, Lord
Byron, lord in waiting, and Viscount Clifden, lord in
waiting to Prince Albert; the Treasurer of the Household,
the Vice• Chamberlain, Sir G. I'. Lee, lieutenant of the
Yeomen Guard; Mr. R. 0. Gore, groom in waiting; Col.
Williams, Silver Stick in waiting ; Col. B. Drummond,
field other in brigade waiting; the Groom of the Robes;
Col. Hon. C. Grey, equerry in waiting; Captain lion. A.
Gordon, equerry in waiting to Prince Albert; and Messrs
Gordon and Crofton, pales of honour in waiting. The Yeo-
men Guard were on duty in the grand ball and atairwe,
' and the Queen's guard of the Foot Guards, with the band
of their regiment, was stationed on the palace lawn.
Her Majesty and Prince Albert, attended by the
Marchioness of Douro, Lord Byron, Colonel the HOn. C.
Grey, an I Capt.'the Hon. A. Gordon, honoured the per-
formance at her Majesty's Theatre with their presence last
evening. The Queen Dowager, the Duchess of Kent, and
the Duke and Duchess Bernhard of Saxe-Weimar also
honoured the performance with their presence.
The Queen Dowager, the Duch. as Ida, and the two
Princesses of Saxe-Weimar visited the Duchess of Kent yes-
terday at Clarence House, St. James's. Her Majesty and
her illustrious relatives also took an airing yesterday in an
open carriage and four.
The Duchess of Kent visited the Duchess of
Houcester see(erday at Gloucester House.

The lion. and Rev. li. Montagu VlMere, and the
Rev. J. End,ll Tyler had an interview with Sir 0. Grey
yesterday, at the Home-office, on presenting • loyal
address to her Majesty from the I.pccial constables and other
inhabitants of St. Oiles-in-the-Fields, and St. George's,

A BALL AT COURT.—The Lord Chamberlain caused
invitations to be issued from his office yesterday, fur full-dress
balls, at Buckingham Palace on the 19tb lost. and on the
16th proximo and an exening party (music), on the 31st
inst. at balf•past nine o'clock.

MUNIFICENT BENEFACTION TO TUE CITY OF
LONDON Scitoot.—At the Court of Common Council, yes-
terday, it was announced, that in addition to the two annual
scholarships, value 501. each, already presented to the City
London School by Mr. Beaufoy, that gentleman has
munificently caused the sum of 1,716/. 13s. 4d., to bo in-
vested in the names of trustees, the interest of which to be
applied to a third scholarship, also of 501. per annum.
LONDON UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL—The annual fes-
tival of the friends of this benevolent institution was held
last evening at the Loudon Tavern. Earl Forteseue presided.
The usual preliminary toasts having been disposed of the
chairman propnied prosperity to the London University
Hospital, which was drunk with acclamation. Lord Brougham
then proposed the chairman's health. In so doing he took
occasion to remark upon the recent political disturbances in
the metropolis. Instead of supporting charities similar to
that of which they had met to celebrate the anniversary, he
<Amerced that many persons bestowed their favours, under
the impression that they were doing well, upon such objects
as the organisation of labour, or some such trash, which
did mischief instead of doing good. Ile observed
that benevolence was a very different quality 'from
beneficence—a fact which was particularly shown by the en-
couragement given to the Foundling Hospital of France—an
institution which was productive of a great deal of immo-
rality, because any person could deposit a child there with-
out giving an account of it. His lordship said be had an-
other instance of the manner in which persons could be
benevolent without beinglbeneticient. Ile proceeded to
allude to a congratulatory address which had been presented
to her Majesty upon the suppression of the outbreak of the
10th of April, maintaining such congratulation to have been
unnecessary, inasmuch as there was no danger in the case,
except to the parties causing the disturbance. lie
was glad that there had been no occasion to use
the force which was at hand on that occasion
but if it had been necessary, the suppression of '
the proceediags of the mob would not have been an hour's
work. Returning to the subject of the boepital, his lord-
ship expressed his hope that there would not be any ad-
ditional rivals to it in the field—for it was a melancholy fact,
that every hospital in London, which was supported by volun-
tary contributions, was in difficulties and he considered that
the public would do better if they enabled the established
hospitals to fill their empty weirdo, rather than support any
new ones, which might rise into existence. The chairman's
health was drunk with due hunours ; and the usual variety
of toasts, together with some excellent vocal and instru-
mental music, contributed to bring the evening to a close.
THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF LITERATURE held their
anniversary meeting yesterday, at the office in St. Martin'E.