The Express.
London, England, 1858-01-01 00:00:00

THE WEST INDIA MAILS.

The Royal West India Mail Packet La Plata,
Captain Weller (Admiralty agent, Lieut. W. Sea-
ward, R.N.), arrived at Southampton yesterday
with the West India mails. The following are the
dates of the advices by this arrival : Vera Crux,
Dec. sth ; Tampico, 3rd; Havannah, 9th; Grey-
town, 2nd ; Carthsgena, 11th ; Jamaica, 11th ; Deme-
rara, 10th ; Trinidad, 9th ; Barbadoes 12th ; An-
tigua, 13th; Dominica, 14th; St. Timms., 17th;
St. Lucia, 13th; St. Vincent, 11th.
The freight on board consists of specie to the
amount of 1,119,583 dole., of which 12,000 dols. are
on acootmt of Mexican dividends. The specie con-
sists of 151,122 dole. value in silver, and 55,623 dols.
value in gold.
In Jamaica the public health had much improved,
although there was still considerable tendency to
febrile indisposition in the intermittent form, and
many fatal cases had occurred. The legislature had
been engaged in a plan brought forward by Mr.
Hoeack for completely revolutionising the finan-
cial system of the island by abolishing the
hereditament; tax on the assumed value of
landed property, and substituting new taxes,
chiefly on exports. The mode in which it is pro-
posed hereafter to levy 23,7001., which is the sum
found equal to the net parochial wants of the island,
is variously distributed. It is proposed to levy in
the first place a tax of 3.. per hogshead on sugar,
which, on 30,000 hhds., is calculated to yield an
annual revenue of 4,5001. ; on 18,000 puns. of ram,
at 2s. Bd., 2,0001. ; 6d. per head on 100,000 breeding
stock of all kinds, horned stock, mares and followers,
to be paid by way of licence, 2,5001.; 9d. per beg
on 60,833 bags of pimento, 2,9101.; on 6,888 tierces
of coffee, at is. 6d., 2,1661. ; on minor articles of ex-
port
not enumerated, 8001.; by a registration tax on
houses, rateably according to annual value, if and
above the value of 201. per annum, 3,7761. ;
by additional duties on soap, say Is. per
box on 30,000 boxes, 1,5001.; on tobacco, 2,5161. ;
by an additional 3d. per gallon on ram consumed in
the island, 3,0001.; total, 24,6681. Amount required,
23,7101.; surplus, 9581. The resolutions, affirming
the principles, as well as most of the details, of this
scheme, were successfully carried in committee of
supply on the evening of the Ist December.
In British Guiana the public health was good, and
the weather all that could be desired ; vegetation
was most luxuriant, and the cane crop in a most
satisfactory condition. The following are the exports
for the last fortnight:—Sugar, 2.084 hhda. 128 tree.
185 brim. 1,235 bags; ram, 1,047 puns. 294 hhda.
205 brls.

The legislature was convoked in extraordinary
session on the 26th of November, when the proposed
introduction of sepoy mutineers into the colony, and
the affairs of the Demerara Railway were prominent
topics in the speech of the Lieutenant-Governor.
Subsequently, after a long discussion on the former
subject, the house passed the following resolutions:
1. That looking to the great resources of the colony and to
its capabilities of employing a.n unHmited amount of labour,
and to the need which exists of an additional number of
people to umintain oven the existing cultivation, and also to
the expressed general desire that large numbers of three en-
raged in the Rest India rebellion should be transportedirom
the country, this court anticipates that when the present un-
happy struggle shall have terminated, and British supre-
macy once more firmly established, there will be found at
the mercy of the government a very large number of muti-
neers who have been led or forced into the revolt by others,
but who, nevertheless, have not been actively concerned.
2. That in the event of the But India government being
disposed to transport at its own expense, such persons for
life to the West Indies, this Court is of opinion that many
ouch persons, exclusive of their wives and families, might be
',del), and advantageously received into this colony, with
their wives and families, in such number., and upon such
terms and conditions, as her Majesty's government and the
Governor and Court of Policy of this colony may hereafter
frame with that view.

3. That on ascertaining the views of her Majesty's govern-
ment and that of the East India Company, this Court
pledges itself to make the neceseary financial provision for
carrying out the foregoing resolution.
4. That his Excellency the Lfoutenant-Governor be re-
quested to communicate these resolutions to the Right Ho-
nourable the Secretary of State for the Colonies, Co the in-
formation of her Majesty's and the East India governments.

Mr. Harrison, of Newcastle, lately transmitted to
the Earl of Clarendon and Lord P.ilmcrston the newspaper
narrative of the indignities committed upon the English pri-
soners at Naples, soliciting their lordships to use the best
means for obtaining a fair and early trial. The following
replies were returned :—"Foreign-offlce, Dec. 26, 1657.-
81r,—Lord Clarendon desires me to acknowledge the re-
ceipt of your letter of the 21st, and to thank
you for the extracts from the Daily Express whisk
it enclosed. His lordship desires me at the same time to
assure you that no effort on the part of her Majesty's govern-
ment has been or shall be wanting to obtain's speedy and
just trial for our unfortunate countrymen now imprisoned at
Salerno.—l am, sir, your obedient servant, J. T. LISTICIL—
J. F. Harrison, Esq., Newcastle-on-Tyne."—" Downing-
street, 26th Dec., 1867.—Sir —ln reply to your latter of the
21st inst., I am desired by Lord Palmerston to acquaint you
that her Majesty's government are giving due attention to
the subject thereof.—l am, sir, your obedient servant,
GAZIALD PON6ONBT.—J. F. Harrison, Esq."
A Vienna letter states that Lord Stratford ie
Radcliff§ was entertained by Count de Bud at • grand
dinner on the 26th ult., by Sir H. Seymour en the 27th, and
by Prince Callimaki on the 28th. His lordship had also
dined on enteric= day at the Imperial table, and was seated
text the Empress, who conversed with him fur a length of
time in English. At one of these entertainments his lord-
ship announced that he hoped to be back in Constantinople
bytthe 16th of March.