The Sun.
London, England, 1862-01-30 00:00:00

THE WEST INDIA AND PACIFIC

MAILS.

SOUTHAMPTON, JAN. 29.

The Royal Mail Company's steamer La Plata,
Copt. Waller, arrived this morning with the above
mails and 75 passengers, including Messrs. Mason
and Slidell, the Confederate Commissioners to Eng-
land and France, and their secretaries, Messrs.
M(Farland and Eustis. •

Dates by the arrival of the La Plata are from
Vera Cruz to the Ist Jan.; Havannah, 6th ; Santa
Martha, Dec. 7 ; Carthagena, Jan. 2 ; Colon, 7 ;
Jamaica, 9; Porto Rico, 12 ; Jacmel, 11; Demerara,
8; Tobago, 7; Trinidad, 8; Barbadoes, 10; Grenada,
8 ; St. Vincent, 8 ; St. Lucia, 10 ; Martinique, 11 ;
Guadaloupe, 11; Antigua, 11; St. Kitts, 12; and
St. Thomas, 14.

The total amount of specie brought is 910,909
dols., which amount consists of 400,470 dols. gold
bullion, 263,303 dols. silver bullion, 25,303 dols.
gold coin, 210,483 dols. silver coin, 9,350 dOls.
pearls, and 2,000 dols. jewellery. The cargo of the
La Plata comprises 154:serons cochineal, 96 serons
indigo, 19 serons jalap, 105 cases cigars, 542 bales
tobacco, 8 tierces coffee, 27 packages ditto, 63 bales
sarsaparilla,B7 bales bark, 687 bags cocoa, b 9 pack-
ages indiarubber, and 236 packages sundries.
Her Majt :03 ships Cadmus and Rinaldo, and
the
_United4 States sloop Iroquois, were at St.
ho thiffr tl444Arialitsouts,about leaving Havannah
for Vera Crumto
rate and Jasc.tn.

The English squadron under the command of
Commodore Dunlop, on its way to Vera Cruz, con-
sisted of the Challenger, Mersey, St. George, Bar-
racouta, Sanspareil, and one or two others. Ad-
miral Milne, with the remainder of the fleet, was at
Bermuda.
The French line-of-battle ship Dugay Trouin
was at Callao. Her Majesty's ship Tartar and
United States frigate Lancaster were at Panama.
The St. Monza Tidente, quoting from the St.
Croix Avis, states that his Majesty the King of
Denmark has been pleased to confer the Order of
Dannebrog on J. B. Cameron, Esq , general super-
intendent of the Royal Mail Packet Company of
St. Thomas. St. Thomas being the head-quarters
of the Royal Mail Company in the West Indies,
there are at times centered at that port as many as
ten large steamers, with at least 1,000 men and
officers, besides a large number of coal vessels. The
station is therefore of much importance, and much
intercourse takes place with the Danish authori-
ties. In case of a war with America, St. Thomas
would be a place of great importance to the British
Government. At such a time as this, it is satisfac-
tory to observe the good understanding which
exists between the Danish Government and the
Royal Mail Company, as evidenced by the confer-
ring upon the superintendent a knigbtship of Den-
mark, an order very seldom conferred by Denmark
on a foreigner.
The intelligence of the death of the Prince Con-
sort had produced quite a gloom throughout the
British West Indies, and everywhere were heard
expressions of loyal sympathy with our bereaved
sovereign.
The Barbadoes Legislature met on the 31st ult.;
the business done was unimportant.
IGovernor Hincks took his departure for British
Guiana in the steamer Trent.

James Walker, Esq., C. 8., the new Governor o
Barbadoes, arrived there on the 9th.
Trade continued dull. Breadstuffs and provi
sions had declined in price. The cane crop pro
mised to be an average one.
Exchange on London-30 days, 490 dole.; 60
days, 4871 dole.; 90 days, 485 dols. Private bills,
90 days, 480 dols. Bank bills on New York, at
10 days, 4 per cent. prem. American gold, 3 per
cent. prem.
At Demerara the weather had been wet, and un-
cm. ti,lp vmar.cr fiirtOg_ Trade continued
dull, and prices nominal. The price of American
provisions had advanced, caused by the probability
of war. Produce was plentiful. Tonnage scarce,
and freights advancing. The exports of colonial
produce for the fortnight had been—Sugar,
2,265 hhds. 861 tierces 557 barrels and 579 bags ;
rum, 728 puns. 97 hhds. and 18 barrels ; molasses,
121 casks; timber, 11,260 feet; charcoal, 400 bar-
rels ; cocoa-nuts, 14,0)0 ; shingles, 408,000. Ex-
change on London per £lOO drawing at 90 days,
480 dole. ; 60 days, 483 dole. ; 30 days, 486 dolts. ;
3 days, 489 dole.; sight, 500 dole.; purchasing, 90
days, 472 dols.
At Jamaica there had been a marked revival in
business, and with the continuance of peace a year
of great prosperity was expected. On most planta-
tions the sugar crop was being taken off. The
yield was excellent, both in quality and quantity,
and the prospects of the planters for the
next year cheering. Three arrivals of immigrants
during the fortnight had reached Jamaica, the
Gertrude, with 309 coolies from Calcutta ; the
Patterson, with 390 Africans from Sierra Leone;
and the Clarendon from St. Helena, with 219 Afri-
cans. In the market butter had sold, French, ls.;
Cork, is. 11d. Coffee, 48s. paid ; demand increas-
ing ; none to be purchased for immediate delivery.
Codfish, 16s. in tierces ; boxes wanted. Hams,
American, 81d. Logwood much inquired for.
Lard sales, Bd. Pimento, 2d. being paid ; very
little offering. Rum, 2s. 6d. for proof 18 in bond.
Sugar, little at market, 15s. to 16s. dark ; 18s. to
20s. for fair. Exchange on London, 90 days, per
cent. prem. ; 60 days, 1 per cent. prem.; 30 days,
per cent. prem.