The Sun.
London, England, 1852-08-18 00:00:00

THE WEST INDIES.

The news from Jamaica is to the 26th ultimo, but
there is little of interest. Our files of journals give a
gloomy picture of the agricultural prospects and dis-
tress of the colony, aggravated by the disease preva-
lent in various parts. The island had been visited
with some severe shocks of an earthquake, which
greatly alarmed the inhabitants. The emigration
movement to Australia had somewhat subsided. St.
Lucia was healthy, and seasonable rains had fallen.
The small-pox was raging more than ever in Port
Royal. It has also appeared amongst the peasantry
in the up-lands of St. Andrew's, and several cases
have terminated fatally on Airy Castle, and among
the surrounding settlers (at St. Christopher's and St.
James's districts, and Newry Mount). It is dis-
tressing also to learn that no medical attendance can
be had in the districts we have named. Up to the
30th June no fewer than 7,781 cases bad occurred.
The weather has been unsettled and showery.
From the provinces we learn that the scarcity of na-
tive vegetables is increasing to a large extent. The
peasantry in some districts have been driven to con-
sume unripe yams; and in all parts of the island
fruits—mangoes especially, .which are very abundant
—form a not inconsiderable part of the food of the
poorer classes.
Her Majesty's ships Imaurn, Commodore M'Quhae;
Calypso, Captain Forbes : Rosamond, Commander
Crawford; and Alban, Lieutenant Meynel, were at
Port Royal.
Her Majesty's brig Persian, Commander Mitchell,
left Kingston on the 17th ult., for Rattan.
Accounts from Barbadoes state that the sugar
crop of 1852 is entirely closed. The young canes
for the next crop continued to wear a healthy ap-
pearance. A fearful accident had occurred in Trini-
dad. The boilers of the steamer Victoria burst on
the passage from Port of Spain to San Fernando,
killing and wounding several persons.
Some rich specimens of gold, found at the Upata
diggings, in Venezuela, had been exhibited in Trini-
dad, and sold, for 2241. sterling.

JAMAICA MARKETS, JULY 26.
(From Cordova's Mercantile Inteiligencer.)
We have no improvement to report in the state of
trade, since our issue of the 12th. Supplies are, for the
most part, light, especially with reference to bread stuffs,
but the spread of small-pox in the city, and indeed in
most of the agricultural districts, has communicated a
more than ordinary degree of languor to every branch
of trade.
Produce is looking up. Sugar is firm at a small ad-
vance for the better qualities, and rum has been moved
rather freely at improved rates. Of coffee and pimento
we have to report a bare market. Occasionally, a few
bags—the gleanings of the field—are brought in, and
are sold at irregular prices.
Exchange on London 90 days, par.

" SILHOUETTES" OF STATESMEN.—A writer in the
Morning Chronicle speaks to-day of Lord John Russell's
wizened but earnest face, of Sir James Graham's ample
form, of Lord Derby's keen and defiant gaze, of Mr. Dis-
raeli's look of ennui (a portraiture in which Mr. Leech has
been of late greatly more successful than heretofore), of Mr.
Bright's pugnacious presence, and of the Judicious Bottle-
holder's matchless ease.
MELANCHOLI" DEATH OF AN OLD STAGE FAVOURITE.
—An accident occurred between four and five o'clock oe
Monday afternoon, by which Mr. Frank Hartland, who was
for many years a great favourite on the London Stage as a
pantomimist, having been associated with the celebrated
Grimaldi, lost his life. It appears that Mr. Kelk, the emi-
nent builder of Pimlico, had entered into a contract for tile
restoration of eight or ten houses in Mount-street, Westmin-
ster-road, commencing at the corner of Hercules-buildings,
On Monday afternoon Mr. Hartland happened to be passing,
when his attention was attracted by a four-in-hand, driven
by a nobleman, and which drew up at Cox's liWhilevery-stables,
immediately facing the works in question. in this
position, what is technically called a "jigger" by builders
happening to give way, propelled a plank from the scaffold-
in, and in its descent struck loco Hartland wit great vio-
lengce on the side of the head, mpletely crushing in the
skull. The unfortunate gentleman was taken in a state of
insensibility to the surgery of Mr. Brooks, a few doors off;
but that gentleman at once pronounced his case hopeless,
and ordered him to be taken to St. Thomas's Hospital, on the
way to which place he died. Mr. Hartland has left a large
family, hitherto entirely dependent upon him, to deplore
their untimely loss.
THE STORM.—Last night a young girl, of 16
years of age, and very prepossessing appearance, named
Morgan, residing at 20, Charles-street, Blackfriars-road,
was mom-ntarily deprived of sight by a flash of lightning.
Mr. Brady, surgeon, was quickly in attendance, and ren.
dered the unhappy girl every assistance.
We are requested to state that the intended visit of
Mr. Thomas Baring to the United States has no connexion
with any diplomatic question, nor has there been any com-
munication between the Government of this country and him
on the subject in dispute respecting the fisheries.—Morning
Paper.
'The La Plata left Southampton yesterday with the
West India and Pad& mails. She had on board 1,380 tons
o
13-Compaansyt"umseedr.aitt homei s estimated
and
fotrheai
foreign
the t
stations
af
averagest h e W Indiaest3os.
a
foacrodals, the largest quantity of fuel perhaps ever taken on
ton. Some idea may be formed fromb this of the enormous
expense of working a monsterstefaramer,Aias the cost of fuel of
rt,orewr, the
the La Plata on her voyage
maker of the engines of the La Plata, h.
Thomas will scarcely be less than 2m
austlirmreyedaon.and St.
e e n sufficient
Southampton
to t ke
andher
ianndtenthdaatyal.ierThenegidniestapnonweebretiws
5,C00/. that she will make the voyage to St. Thomas inagle2r
dthaeyrs;
St. Thomas is near 3,700 miles, which is 700 Miles farther
than the distance between Liverpool and New York. Tha
engines of the La Plata register the revolutions of the paddle-
wheels on a disc similar to that on a gas meter. Opposite
to the disc a timepiece is placed to show the celerity of the
revolutions. The ladies' saloon is, perhaps, the most superb
apartment afloat. The gigantic mast passes through the
centre of the apartment, and is beautifully carved and
painted, and forms a splendid ornament. The panels are
formed of slate, And on them are painted exquisite land-
scapes. The ornamental paintings on board first-rate
steamers are of a more subdued character than formerly was
the case. Passengers, particularly ladies, have complained
that staring pictures looking down on them aggravates the
horrors of sea sickness.
THE ROYAL JOURNEY TO BALMORAL.—It is lin-
derstood that her Majesty and the Royal Family will again
spend
a night at Holyrood Palace, en route to Balmoral, and
for her
preparations are accordingly being made there recep.
tion. Intimation has been received at Balmoral that the
Court will arrive there on Wednesday, the Ist of September,
so that the illustrious party will probably reach Holyrood on
the evening of Tuesday, the 31st of August, departing next
morning en their northward journey.—North British Daily
Mail.
PEMBROKE AND MILFORD HAVEN. —On the 14th
inst. Lord Hardinge and Sir John Burgoyne inspected the
works of the intended fortification on Thorn Island, Milford
Haven, and expressed themselves satisfied with the rapid
progress making towards completion. Thence they pro-
ceeded to the fortification on the Stack Rock in company
with Colonel Victor, the commanding engineer, together
with Mr. Clark, the clerk of the works. Lord Hardinge
and Sir John Burgoyne carefully exa d mine every portio Victor
on its successful and satisfactory completion. They then
went to Pembroke and inspected the towers, and afterwards
left for London.
BLACK HARVESTBRS.—A great many colliers in
the counties of Stirling and Linlithgow have, we understand,
left their work this week, and betaken themselves to shear-
ing, at which they are earning 3s. per day. To so great an
extent has this taken p ace that m the case of one colliery,
78 men have left, and
the result is already beginning to tell
in the traffic receipts cf the•Monkla nds Mineral Railway.
should
It is some consolation that, even
all the Irish go off
to the gold
diggings, we shall
have our black-diamondmen
to fall back upon, in order to get in our golden grain.—North
British Mail.
STEAM-BOAT ACCIDENTS. The New York Herald
gives a list of the steam-beat accidents from January 9to July
28, from which it appears that 20 accidents occurred, by
which 465 people were killed and 100
injured.