The Sun.
London, England, 1853-08-18 00:00:00

S W ITZERLAND.

A letter from Berne, the 15th inst., states that
the Government of Tessin having declared that it
would not make any concessions to Austria, the
Federal Council does not intend to assume the
initiative in renewing negotiations with the ASS"
tl inn Government.

WEST INDIA MAILS.

SOUTHAMPTO
The Royal Mail stea;
Abbot, has arrived off
India and Pacific mails,
Greytown July 2 Grenada
Carthagena June 24 St. Vincent.
Chagres July 24 St. Lucia..
Jamaica — 27 Martinique ..
Hayti — 28 Guadaloupe..
Porto Rico — 31 Dominique ..
Berbice
Demerara .. ...... 25 Montserrat
Tobago — 26 St. Kitts
Trinidad — 26 Tortola ..
Barbadoes - 25 St. Thomas
The Parana brings 76 passengers, and on freight
specie value 767,576 dollars, of which 157,818 are
in specie, 306,172 in gold dust and in bars, 303,585
in silver, in bars • also 265 serons cochineal, 142
serons indigo, 64 bales sarsaparilla, 5 cases sue-
cades, 152 serons bark, 15 packages copper ore, and
130 packages sundries.
The Parana received pratique immediately on
arrival in the river. Her sick list contains 37 names
belonging to the ship, and 15 from other of the
company's ships. Of the 37 cases 13 were bilious
remittent fever, 11 of which occurred the day the
ship left St. Thomas. The cases in few instances
lasted more than four days. A few cases have like-
wise occurred during the passage home.
At St. Thomas the fever had nearly disappeared
during the fortnight the Parana lay there. Not a
single case of yellow fever took place on board.
Every precaution was taken, and the whole of the
crew, by Captain Abbott's orders, were encamped
on deck under waterproof canvas awnings. The
reception and spread of the malady were thus, it is
supposed, prevented. Sir William Burnett's fluid
was freely used throughout the ship.
By the Dutch schooner Isabel, arrived at St.
Thomas, news had been received of a most destruc-
tive earthquake in the city of Cumana, which took
place on the 15th of July. The full particulars of
the loss of life and property had not been ascer-
tained, but 800 people are estimated to have
perished, and a great part of the city is in ruins.
Colonel Paez and a company of artillery perished
in their quarters. The disaster is said to have
put a stop for the present to the civil war raging
in Venezuela. The Kingston, (Jamaica) Daily
Advertiser gives the following subjoined account of
the catastrophe
" By the arrival last night of the schooner General
Paez from Curagao we have the distressing intelligence
that the city of Cumana, in the republic of Venezuela,
was totally destroyed by an earthquake, which took place
on the 15th. It is estimated the loss of life exceeds
1,000 souls, and those who have taken refuge at Curagao
state that there was not a house standing in the whole
city. Cumana is one of the revolting provinces of Vene-
zuela, having declared against the Government of Presi-
dent Monagas."
From Honduras we learn that the reports of the
failure of the cochineal crop are confirmed. No
more than 1,200 or 1,500 serons will go to market
this season in place of as, many thousand as an-
ticipated.
Hostilities had commenced between the Republic
of Guatemala and the province of Honduras, and
fighting vas going on near Chiquimula.
In consequence of the heavy rains throughout
the whole of the Bay of Honduras, it was feared
that the mahogany merchants will not get out
more than one-third of their cutting this season.
When the packet left, business at Belize was quite
at a standstill. The heat of the last two or three
months had been excessive, and much sickness pre-
vailed.
The Honduras troops were still in possession of
the town of Zacapa, which they entered about
the same time as they took Chiquimula, between
the sth and 10th of July. Fears were entertained
of their proceeding to the seaport town of Yzabal
to seize any goods which might have lately been
imported. Preparations were being made for such
a contingency.
The Isthmus was healthy when the packet left.
The railway from Navy Bay to Babacoa was in good
order. Her Majesty's ships Portland, Dido, and
Virago (steamer), were lying at Colham when the
steamer left. They were preparing to start for.
Vancouver's Island; the Portland had returned
from Pitcairn's Island, having taken there the
Rev. Mr. Nobbs, the missionary.
The advices from Jamaica are to the 27th ult.
The intelligence conveyed by the Parana, which
left this country on the 2d of July, was most fa-,
vourably received by the inhabitants generally.
The speech of the Duke of Newcastle was published
in extenso in all the Kingston journals. The
Colonial Standard and the Daily Advertiser, two
papers opposed to the Government, were loud in
their congratulations on the event of Sir Charles
Grey's recal being decided upon. Articles from
the London journals, justly condemnatory as
they were of the conduct of the Council and Go-
vernors, were given at length in most of the jour-
nals. The arrival of the new Governor, Mr-
Barkly, was anxiously looked for, and the public
anticipated that an end would be put to existing
difficulties when he arrived. According to a cal-
culation made by the Morning Journal, the organ
of Sir Charles Grey, 160 prisoners had up to the
latest date been liberated without the slightest
cause, inasmuch as the contractors generally were
willing, nay anxious, to continue their supplies en
credit. Stronger language than that employed in
condemnation of the conduct on the part of the
Government has never, perhaps, been used by the
island press, and but one paper in the whole count
try attempts to defend the course pursued. There
is no general news from the island. The all-en:
grossing topic was the dead-lock, and nothing
respect to it had transpired. The heat was verY
great, and rain much wanted; but the yellow fever
was fast subsiding. De Cordova's Mercantile 1.0"
telligencer has the subjoined review of the Jamaica'
markets :
" Oar market has been rather quiet than otherwise
during the fortnight, very little speculative inquiry
having been manifested ; indeed, with the exception nt
the operations in flour and pork, trade had been
entirely confined within the ordinary limit. The intelli-
gence brought by the packet on Saturday, and the pr°7_
pect which it holds out of an early resumption of
ness by the Legislature, is, however, likely soon to Save
an impetus to business, inasmuch as speculators, looki Si
to the probable reimposition of import duties within 1"
few weeks, will come forward more confidently. Sup-
plies were generally very ample. In the produce Ina
ket we notice a considerable rise in the value of sugar,particularly of the lower qualities, consequent on
th
small stock in factors' hands. Holders of rum, of 'mine
h
there is a large quantity of the duty- onfree article in tut,
ql
market, evince no desire to press their supplies I
_r,
trade. It is yet too early to expect any coffee
to
pimento at market, or to offer any positive opinion gape
the extent of the coming crops. Some rumours have
reached us of the Ainsatisfactory appearance of the
pimento trees in the principal districts, but we do n°
vouch for its correctness. The first shipment of (.I.anit
importance of copper ore from Jamaica was made 1 s
week. The schooner Liley has taken away 80 ton,
b
from the Metcalfe (Job's-hill) mines. The Demers
papers contain no news of importance. The we'l,tilheor
had been magnificent for agricultural operations. e...„
canes everywhere looked luxuriant. The planters
ren`"
plained that the yield of the present crop was indiffteo
so that the bulk of the crop would remain over the
e
latest period of the year. Trade was very dull. Ships
Barbadoes was generally very healthy.
were loading for England with the last of the crop:
Her Majesty's ship Espiegle sailed from ~(1,
town on the 16th of July. The Medea 1att..1.).4
maica on the 23d, and the Megvera on the
June. The Buzzard was at Jamaica. The Er
ench
ships of war Grondeur and Jouvencelle wer The,
Guadaloupe, and the Oreste at) Trinidad.
Royal mail steamer Avon was in the Spanish
Mai
all well. The Clyde left St. Thomas for the
of of Mexico, quite healthy. The Dee at New
_Ys.
The Derwent at St. Thomas all well. Thebßa
Jamaica, all well. The Medway at Bar b 1
healthy. The Trent was at St. Thornas
steamerspanish lost
Main,s
and ixbuptewrsaosnsheoanithhyerlas
left. Two midshipmen, Messrs. Harris
Simp-
son, were among the deaths. whent ttihlep ptl° til±

NT, WEDNESDAY NIGHT.
n-ship Parana, Captain
this port with the West
Lnd dates from—

July 26
27
28
28
29
- 29
29
29
30

Aug.