The Sun.
London, England, 1863-03-17 00:00:00

WEST INDIA AND PACIFIC MAILS,

(REUTER'S TELEGRAM.)
SOUTHAMPTON, MARCH 17.
The Royal Mail Company's steamship La Plata,
Capt. Weller, with the above mails, arrived this
morning, She brings 88 passengers; specie,
1,708,535 dols. ; and 2,390 packages general cargo
on freight.
T;1, La Plata brings dates from Jamaica to the
26Th ; Barbadoes, 26 ; Trinidad, 24; Granada, 25 ;
Demerara, 24; and St. Thomas, the 2d inst. She
experienced strong head winds throughout her pas-

•
sage.
The British residents at Valparaiso have sent by
the present mail a first instalment of three thousand
dollars in aid of the unfortunate sufferers by the
cotton famine in Lancashire.
The Pacific Navigation Company's steamer Peru,
from the Pacific coast, arrived at Panama on the
21y' February-, with dates trona Valparaiso to the
2d ; Coquimbo, 3 ; Caldero, 4 ; Arica, 7 ; Chinchas,
10; Callao, 13; Paita, 16; Guayaquil, 17.
Business in Chile continued quiet. the imports had
been unimportant, and the demand for stocks in the
ports did not come in so freely as to create any stir ;
cotton goods were scarce, and at famine prices.
The harvest was expected to turn out satisfac-
tory, and prices low; last year's wheat had fallen to
2 dols. the fanega, and 3 dols. was the highest
offer for the new season's wheat.
The Customs returns for the port of Valparaiso,
for the year ending 1862, showed an excess of
240,000 dols. over the receipts of 1861.
It has been proposed to construct telegraphic
communication from Valparaiso to Panama, the
scheme had been agitated in Santiago with some
prospect of success.
Railways in Chile were rapidly progressing—it
was expected that trains would shortly be running
uninterruptedly between Valparaiso and Santiago.
Mining prospects were considered favourable.
Valparaiso Exchange on London, 442 to 45 pence
per dollar; Paris, 4.65 to 4.70; Hamburg, 40 to
411. Bar silver per mare, fine, 10 dols. 3110. ; bar
copper per ggl. 1001bs., 16 dole. 50c.; nitrate per
do., 1 dol. 80c., nominal.
On the 30th January the Peruvian Congress
arose, having terminated a session marked for many
wise and useful enactments. At the close of the
message delivered by the President, Mr. Santellan,
Congress was convoked in session extraordinary for
the sth February, to receive the ministerial budget
and to vote supplies.
The navigation of the Amazon was becoming
more complicated.
No British vessels had arrived at Callao since the
last mail.
Order and satisfaction prevailed throughout the
Republic.
Intelligence from Guatemala to the 6th February
says war has already commenced. Carrera left this
city on the 4th for the purpose of invading Salva-
dor. His intention is to march directly for the
capital. Carrera has already 5,000 men at his com-
mand.
tsalvador intelligence to the 10th February says
the misunderstanding which has existed between
Carrera and Barrios is coming to a crisis. Carrera
left Guatemala on the sth with the avowed inten-
tion of invading Salvador with 5,000 men. Gen.
Barrios has not been idle. In a few days 6,000
men, mostly armed, came in from the different de-
partments. The bulk of the Salvadorean forces will
be at Cojutepeque, a position by nature almost im-
pregnable.
La Union dates of the 14th February Lays—" It
is reported here that Carrera has intercepted the
despatches of Mr. Mathews, British Minister, on
the road to Mr. Partride, United States Minister,
Salvador.

LA UNION, FEB. 15.

General Carrera has reached the Bio Sa Paz, and
will cross on the 16th or 17th, having been rein-
forced with 1,300 more troops, under command of
General Gavala. He will immediately march to-
wards Santa Anna. It is evident a conflict must
tcke place in a day or two.
At Kealego the Nicaraguans have erected tem-
porary forts at the entrance of the harbour.
The English brig Gordon, from Liverpool, arrived
at Colon on the 7th ult., and the English steamer
Askalon from Liverpool on the 13th.

The news from the West Indian Islands is un-
important. At Jamaica the elections commenced
on the 9th ult., and were still progressing up to
the 24th, the date of the sailing of the mail. There
had been but very few changes in the representation•
The elections were to terminate on the Bth inst.,
and the Lieut.-Governor had issued his proclama-
tion, summoning the new House to meet for the
dispatch of business on the following Tuesday. The
weather continued dry, and the public health goal
but business still dull.

At Demerara trade was excessively dull, businEsS
thraughout the colony being at a stand still. The
market was amply supplied with all kinds of ill'
ports. The last year's crop was gathered in, and
the produce arriving at market very limited'
Tonnage was abundant, but freights scarce. The
total exports for the year to date were ;—Sugarf
12,423 hhds., 522 tierces, 3,133 brls., 3,249 bags;
rum, 5,984 puns., 851 t hda,, 553 brie.; molosEest
789 casks ; timber, 47,266; charcoal, 4,704 brls4
cocoanuts, 64,227; shingles, 1,433,000. The
Colonist, on the cotton question, says
"We are glad to perceive that same partial
efforts are being made to re-introduce the eultivs"
Lion of cotton. In times gone by the coastlandi °f
this colony teemed with the most luxuriant cotton
cultivation, but for many years past the cultivation
of that staple has been abandoned, and many fine
estates which formerly bloomed as a garden is now
i
overgrown with bush, as deso'ate and abandotio,
as though it had never been cultivated at all.
these estates were again put into cultivation, coda
enough, of the fineat long and medium staPles'
might be produced to meet all the demands of the;
English market without importing a single bale 0'
Sea Island cotton from the Southern States of Arse'
rim All this could be done within one year and °
half from the present time, and the manufacturers
of England would no longer be dependent upoll any
certain sources for their supplies of the l'Or
material."

The weather at Barbadoes was fine and favour'
able to the growth of the sugar crop, the mills Were
every where at work, and from the yield of the
canes it was confidently anticipated that the croP
would be an average one. The young canes Were
looking well, and the island healthy.
The Confederate screw steamer Florida (late
Oreto) arrived in the Bay of Barbadoes on the 24th-
Capt. Maffit, her commander, reported leavi"
Mobile on the 15th January, having run the gaul't•
let of several Federal ships of war stationed off tb°
harbour to prevent her escape. Capt. Maffit Die°
reported the capturing and burning, a few dale
before his arrival at Barbadoes, the ship John B(11;
1,396 tons, from a Northern port, with a cargo (;i
tea and silks, estimated to be worth three million °f
dollars, from Foochow.
In the Barbadoes market provisions continued
dull, with the exception of butter, which was scarce
and wanted, Trade generally remained about 00
same as reported last mail. Exchange on London'
Bank Bills, 90 days, 4871 dols. ; 60 days, 490 clols.!
30 days, 492 i dols. ; private bills, 90 days, 4821
&As. ; 60 days, 4831 dols. ; 30 days, 4841. dols.

ll
The gold ships announced by the present Ina
to be on their way from Australia are the Result'
with 41,846 ounces, the Accrington, with 34,000 outlet
and the Nelson, with 12,364 ounces, all on the 6th of Jalit.t.
ary ; the Calliance, with 17,900 ounces on the 6th of Jaill
ary, and the Suffolk with 18,732 ounces on the 20th °
January, making a total of £500,000. The whole of ther
with the exception. of the Suffolk, may be considered nearly
'1
due. The first wool ship which was to sail from ()Lao"
New Zealand, for London, on the 26th of January,
also to take £86,600 in gold, and the Bombay, from SY
ney, will bring 133,000 sovereigns.
The Sultan has paid two visits to the Interua
tional Exhibition now open at ConstantiooPe'
Arms of every kind and size. from rifled cannon to sWora
bayonets and revolvers—military saddlery, tools, jewelle
0 ri :
silks, untanned skins, woollen fabrics, unginned. cott.fi°
carpets, "fine arts," gold and silver plate—and a thouo"it
other varieties of raw and manufactured produce lillestiod
eye. It has been finally settled that on WednesdaYs.4,o
Saturdays the building shall be open exclusively to Tur'
_ .