The Express.
London, England, 1850-05-16 00:00:00

LITMUS= OP THE WEST INDIA
COLONIES.

It is pepsin, be slaw what has mainly prevented
the exteneiveassi pearinwous cultivation of the British
Won Indies ceitraiee, and in what manner they may
be seeds perks' and E .urishing.
Tbe Arm hiedrance to their prosperity hem un-
doubtedly been the slavery which the Spaniards in-
trodund and the British government abetted sad
teetered nail 1834. The neetreary conetqaenee of
slavery I. tyranny. Without ignorance and ty-
ranny slavery mold not have been perpetuated
ar rendered productive of gain. But sow
slavery has ceased, its effects on the masters of the
former slaves, en the new fretting, and the inter-
mediate rase of the Creole population, cannot be re-
moved speedily. Hetes arbitrary government, &Li
mote et lees of cowardice and craft, ass still predomi-
nant.

Where tyranny sad slavery are allowed to exist
they ponies the moral atmosphere, and the most
geserons, noble, and energetic spirits cannot
breathe in it. Without their Waseca there
can be no tree hoodoos, or perfectly
just and equitable government. He•es the
delfieulty experienced by such governors as Lord
Noreseatey, Lied Sligo, and Sir Lintel Smith in
governing Jamaica. Men of more arbitrary dispen-
noes have ruled; for the Emma wit► more
Insien; Id the effects of their immanent are Mi le
BOUM of our colonies to this day. That enlightened
public opinion which guides, restrains, and also kw
pels governments In England, has little if any force
in the West Indies. There is hardly any ioduential
and ewitaining middle class upon whom a liberal and
jut governor can depend for support, in opposition
to the head, of factions, who seek only their prr.onal
or family aggrandisement. The press can scarcely
be termed tree. Every faction has its organ, which
expresses the opinion., feelings, and views of three
who are in reality its master,. Ami?et the strife of
contending fictions, the voice of reason, moderation,
and impartial justice is rarely heard. And to • ve►y
great extent the same remark applies to the legisla-
tire bodies. These are not wanting in them men of
great sense, ability, and energy, but persons who can
take a calm and unprejuaiced view of the general
interest., and introduce and carry out such manores
as are calculated to promote them, are very rare.
In the next place, the towns to which most
Europeans resort for the sake of society, and in order
to carry on mercantile pursuits, are hot and compara-
tively unhealthy, and hence the West Indies hare
acquired a character for unhealthiness which they do
not deserve. Those who have resided in the moun_
tains speak highly of their salubrity. These several
causes have operated to deter the best men from settling
permanently in the West Indies. So long as monopoly
secured a high price for sugar and coffee, capital
found its way, where it produced • certain and
extraordinary return ; bat now that has been de-
stroyed, capital and credit are as suddenly w i'hdrawn,
and those who borrowed money to purchase and cul-
tivate their estates hsve been in too many instances
ruined by that general want of ceaSdence, panic,',
and pressure, which hare been too notorious, and of
long continuance. Bat the land, the labourers, and
the demand for produce remain. Let us we whether
there countries may not still be rendered prodective,
and whether our West India colonies may not yet be
made sources of profit to capitalists, and to our mer-
ehae•s, shipowners, and manufacturers is England,
and the abodes of free, skilful, industrious, and there-
fore prosperous families. _ _ _

The mountains of Jamaica are proverbially healthy,
and they will produce the mcet luxuriant crops ot
corn, vegetables, fruits, coca, coffee, aad cottoo. The
eager race grows no w! ere better then on some of
these mcuntains • ar.d guinea-grass, mangoes, bread-
fruit, and other food f.r cattle, cheep, goats and pigs,
may be grown to any extent regain d to provide ani-
mal food for settlers.

Several colonies of European families might be
planted here with the greatest advantage to them-
selves and others. Fertile land is obtainable at a very
low price in fee simple, and coffee, occoa, cotton. and
provisions are planted, cultivated, and fitted for
market with an amount of labour small, when com-
a pared with that required in colder countries. There
are numerous houses and pltn•ations already esta-
biAA, and there would be no difficulty to kind and
considerate employers in finding labourers experienced
in the work necessary to support and extend such
ecabliahments. The mountains ex.end from o➢e
end of the island to the other, varying in e:evatio➢
from 300 to 6,000 feet above the level of the see, and
seldom more than from 12 to 20 mike distant from
the ma coast. In these mountains the thermometer
is rarely lower than 86, or higher than 86, and either
the sea or land breezes constantly temper the heat, so
that it is never ➢npleasant for European constitutions.
Without the cold- of winter it is by no means
so hot as in the hottest lemons of this country. At
least 600 such settlements, each co➢taining 30 or 40
herniae*, might be established to the greatest advan-
tage in Jamaica, and they would serve to give a new
and improved character to the condition, pursuits,
and prospects of the country. If one such colony
were to be formed and prove successful, a tide of emi-
gration of the proper kind would est in to the regene-
ration of this mo,t beautiful and fertile island.

It is by the influerce and example of such small
colonies that the emancipated negroes would be most
rapidly improved. The time occupied in the voyage
to Jamaica would, by steam, be less than a month,
wheress, to New Zealand and Australia it takes four
monthe, a long and most disheartening confinement
to those who are about to quit all their associations in
their native land.

To re nder the sea coast of British Guiana heslthy
for European farmers and labourer', it is necessary—
let, that a deep and wide canal should be cut from the
terminus of the railroad at Mahaica to the Courantyne;
2nd, that the besachee in the front sea dams should
be made up ; and 3rd, that the trees on the sea coast
by which the breeze from the Atlantic is intercepted,
should be cut down and the lard cleared. It would
then be easy so to drain the land for at least 100 miles
of sea coast as to render it available for the growth of
sea-island cotton. The whole expellee of these various
operations would not, it is believed, exceed one hun-
dred thousand pounds. Cotton of the very finest
quill to a very large extent has been grown
on this and, and, perhaps, there is no spot in
the world better adapted for the cultivation
of cotton to supply the English manufacturers.

NATIONAL EXHIBITION.-BAINOLZT, MAT
This sithseriplosis of Ws lows towards the objsots of this
astiocol usidertskiog, amounts to about 2004 At a Nutt-
ing bell a few days alas*, by the linen anantilactarers. It was
agreed that they should not compete spinal sash °tom, but
fur each to exhibit ditheult articles of linen ntaaufaeture. A
meeting was hold in the Court-house on Tuesday, for the
Cof argreoing spout the articles that sack would menu
ar, hat malt was the Jealousy which prevailed amongst
thou, they scull eons tone defolte terns, and tho mesh sit
separated, leasing each to esbibit what he thinks proper.

- - - -
ELECTORAL RFTOIII.—At a public meeting held
on the .semis of the 13th, at the Corn Exchange, Peter-
borough, Mr. R. J. Head I. the chair, • lecture wee
&sheered by Thomas Deo I, Rag , ea the composition of
the premiss House of C Amami, and the ebetseles *Riedel'
to prevent any effettual reduction of lb. public expeditors
or revision of the system of taxation. The lerstrer dwelt on
the Weak* ef excluding the induesrioua deism from their
fair saws in electing members of parliament, and the
iniquity of 26 Wrongly with constituents numbering
9,163, ramming m many members as 25 larger towns,
having eellamively 229,366 electors. This address °coo-
pied two hours, end wee listened to with the greatest
attention by • numerous audieues. Alter the lecture a con-
siderable ember of members wee added toile Peterboroagh
essaclatims.
Tux BRWG-VILADIS ROCKING STONE.—On Ban-
day the 26th alt., a number of " air vies," who are sow
employed on the Vets of ?froth Railway, was•only O'er-
turned, by means of livers, the well-known Ie pre or rocking
▪ one, which was situate war Beta. Wladia waterfal!. The
stone, which is anpossed to weigh about 39 tom, was
balanced so slimly that the merest touch unly was required
to shake it. This huge at Woe a ammonia a v•-• Tasty
and "as old as the hills," was highly prized, nay, almost
'contrived, 7 the Isidro of this Oceanic's* portion of tlis
country, sad was alto • 'gnat attraction to vision —Cam-
brian.