The Sun.
London, England, 1863-11-23 00:00:00

land for the possession of some of the islands on the
Caribbean Sea. They were subsequently reduced
to three regiments ; but some idea of the value of
their services even now may be formed, from the
fact that within the last year two more of these
corps have been raised, and there are now five West
India regiments of infantry, and. an artillery corps,
stationed on the Gold Coast, in the army of tiae,
Queen of England. Originally these corps were
enlisted while the slave-trade flourished; and they
were recruited, it is to be feared, pretty much in the
same way as the plantations were supplied with la-
bourers; but in later times they have been enlisted
in the same manner as the rest of our army, and.
their service is voluntary. The men were and aro
all Africans, and were formerly generally known
among white soldiers and colonists under the gene-
ric name of " Congoes." The officers are now drawn
from the same eource as those of the rest of the
army, although at one time a considerable number
of them were gentlemen connected with the colonies
who were in those stormy times desirous of adopt-
ing the military profession. Many if not all of the,
non-commissioned officers are blacks, of the same
race as the men, and it may be said, in brief, that is
good discipline these troops are excelled by no white
corps ; their attachment to their officers is remarka-
ble, while their docility causes them to be easily
managed; and, when the difficulties interposed
by a want of community of language are got
over, they are singularly tractable, and ate
readily trained into good soldiers. Those who have'
seen a West India regiment reviewed in company
with whiteregiments of the line know that in march-
ing, and all the ordinary manoeuvres of a field. day, it
holds its own with something more than credit. The
band are composed of musicians who are all blacks,and
there is a tradition in Jamaica that the band of one of
these regiments was so good a one as to be in greater
request for festive occasions than those of the white
regiments stationed in the island. It is worth man-
tioning, as a matter of detail, that one of the chief
difficulties in the making of an African a British-
soldier arose from the conventional dress of our
troops. The close buttoned coat was tryiog ; the
stock was an abomination ; but the military boot
was the worst infliction of all, from the p 9
structure structure of the African foot. This is changed now,
for the West India regiments are clothed in the
Zonave costume; and any one who is curious to see
specimens of negro soldiers, has only to repair to
Chatham, where a small depot of these colonial
corps is stationed, with a view to their instruction
in musketry, which is an essential of our army drill.
He may there see what they are like. These black
corps have in their time seen service, and have always
done their duty well and soldierly. At the capture of
the islands of Dominica, Martinique, and Guadeloupe
in the war with France, they formed part of the ex-
peditionary forces. They have been constantly en-
gaged in the expeditions which have been sent from
our settlements in Africa against the natives; where
we hear of their storming stockades and entrencLied
works, or serving guns as artillerymen with e.t-
cellent effect, and this so lately as last year ; and al. I
reports speak of them as acting in such a manner as;
to entitle them to take rank practically, as well as
theoretically, with good British soldiers. The ex-
periment which is about to be tried in America hes
therefore been already made ; and notwithstanding
that the body-guard of the King of Dahomey con-
sists of Amazons—a fact which by implication casts
a slur on the warlike capabilities of the male African
—experience has shown that, when well-trained,
well-treated, and well-led, the black is a good, a
brave, and, above all. a most faithful soldier.

COUNTRY MARKETS.

- -- ---- li,

NORWICH—SATURDAY.
There was a good supply of wheat to-day, and there
being a better feeling in the trade, the sales made were
effected at 6d to is advance upon last week's rates for all
samples. A good show of barley, and late prices wore fell,
maintained. Flour as before. In other articles Mt; e busr-
ness doing.
White wheat. 44s to 453 Red wheat 40s to 435
Malting barley ...36s to 388 Chevalier barley 34s to 35°
Distilling do 33s to 35s Oats..
264
Flour, 31s Od to —s Od per sack from the miller.

NOTTINGHAM—SATURDAY,
White wheat, from 44s to 45s ; red wheat, 388 to 42g•
Barley—malting, 33s to 40s ; grinding, 28s to 31s. Oats
old, at 24s to 31s Od; new, 22s to 265. Beaus hold at 354
to 435 per qr, ; new, 38s to 425.

LE I CE STEIt--SATITRDAY.
There was a good show of wheat to-day, with a fair sale,
but no advance upon last week's prices. Barley in tolerable
show at fully late rates. Oats held at about late prices.
--New white wheat, 41s to 44s ; red, 39s to 41s per 36
stone. Old red, 39s to 41s per 36 stone. Barley, malting,
new, 33s to 38s per qr.; grinding, 29s to 32e, ; old oats,
25s to 30s • new oats, 228 to 258 per 24 stotie. 13eanot
old, 38s to '42s per 38 stone ; flour, 30s to 35s per 20 stone.

GRANTHAM—SATURDAY.
Old white:wheat, 42s to 4Es ; red, 40s to 43s:per 365 t.;
new white, 42s to 455; red, 37s to 41s. Malting barley,
34s to 38s per qr ; ;grinding, 23s to 30s ; oats, old, 24s t 3
28s; new, 20s to24s ; beans, 40s to 425; peas, 34s to 40s.

NORTHAMPTON—SATURDAY.
There was about an average show of wheat to-(1437'
—White wheat, 40s to 44s ; red, 35s to 42s ; tine, :74
to —s per qr. Barley, 35s to 39s—grinding, 28s to 307
5P
Oats, 28s to 32s per 24 stone. Beans, 38s to 42e. rea
318 to 40s per qr.

YORK—S.
We were supplied with a I
fair attendance of buyers, and
ported.
Wheat, red 36s to 40s Oats.... .... 18s to 204
White do .40s to 45s Beans 40, to
--,,
Barley .30s to 33s i'eas ....--s to ---'
Malt, 62s to 64s per qr.; rye, 30s per qr.; flour, 31::°
to 32s per sack.

A.TURDAY.
Fair quantity of wheat, with
former rates were fully sur