The Sun.
London, England, 1854-10-05 00:00:00

THE WEST INDIA MAILS.
SOUTHAMPTON, WEDNESDAY, OCT. 4.
The Royal Mail steam-ship Magdalena, Captain
Abbott, has arrived at this port with the West
India, Pacific, and Mexican mails, in charge of
Lieutenant Fuge, R.N., Admiralty agent.
Her dates are :
Vera Cruz Sept. 4 'Port of Spain (Tri-
Tampico Aug. 29 nidad) Sept. 10
Havannah Sept. 9 Grenada
Santa Martha Aug. 25 Carriacou — 11
Greytown Sept. 5 St. Vincent —• 11
Chagres - 9 St. Lucia — 13
Carthagena — 10 Martinique -13
Kingston (Jamaica) 12 Guadaloupe — 13
Jacmel (Hayti) ... 13 Dominica — 13
San Juan (Porto Antigua
Rico)
Georgetown (De- Nevis
merara)
Tobago... — 10 Tortola — 15
Barbadoes
The Magdalena brings 140 passengers, and on
freight specie value 900,434 dols., of which 27,000
dols. is for account of the Mexican dividends, also
precious stones value 500 dole., 687 serons cochi-
neal, 5 serons jalap, 68 cases cigars, 391 bales to-
bacco, 4 bales sarsaparilla, 47 packages pimento,
and 140 packages sundries.
From Jamaica there is no news of importance.
A private letter from this island says :
"We have recent accounts from San Domingo to the
effect,that the United States frigate Columbia, bearing a
commodore's flag, accompanied by a corvette and
steamer, had arrived at the port of Samana„ and de-
manded the cession of that place as well as certain adja-
cent territory. A general officer and some engineer
officers are stated to be on board the Columbia. Mes-
sengers have been despatched to Port-au-Prince for the
purpose of informing the authorities about the matter,
and it is expected that the Emperor Soulouque will be
on his march to that part of the island, in order to re-
pulse, if possible, these daring invaders.
" We have it on good authority that an American fleet
has sailed from New York to Grey-town, for what object
we are at a loss to conceive, The fleet, it is said, con-
sists of two frigates, three corvetteQ, and two steamers,
in fighting order, and commanded by a commodore, they
boast, of consummate bravery.
"The island notes are now at par, and pass without
any difficulty whatever.
"The Assembly was dissolved on Friday by his Ex-
cellency the Governor. It is mentioned, in accordance
with instructions from home, Sir Henry held a Privy
Council on that day, and at the termination of its busi-
ness issued his proclamation dissolving the House of
Assembly, contrary to everybody's expectation. It
came like a thunderclap upon every one, and has placed
many of the members in a complete fix, as Jonathan
would say, for it is confidently assorted on the best au-
thority that two-thirds of the late members will not be
re-elected to the next house, but will be visited with the
punishment which their past &Induct so justly merits,
and make way for more enlightened men than the late
popular branch consisted of. The late Assembly is ge-
nerally regarded as the greatest evil Jamaica endured
for a long time past, and persons appear to rejoice at its
dissolution.
"There are a few cases of cholera and scarlet fever
now in the city, and the days have been extremely hot,
with a great deal of thunder and lightning ; also repeated
indications of rain, but we have had none."
Dates from Jacmel (Hayti), are to the 13th ult.
Business very dull, and would remain so till the
new coffee crop came to market. Politically, all
was quiet, and the Emperor had made some defi-
nite arrangements with the French Charge d'Af-
faires respecting the indemnity. It was also the
anxious desire of the Haytian Government to make
a pacific arrangement with the Dominicans, and
negotiations were being entered into for this effect.
The cholera had not entirely disappeared from
Barbadoes, but existed in the parishes of St. John
and St. Philip. Her Majesty's troopship Resist-
ance, 33 days from Woolwich, arrived out on the
2d of September.
From British Guiana we have accounts to the
9th ult. The Court of Policy and the Combined
Courts had both been in session. The speech of
the Governor on the opening of the courts was most
conciliatory in reference to the matters of finance
in dispute between the colony and the home Go-
vernment. The health of the colony was good.
Dysentery prevailed in the country districts, but
it was not of a fatal character. The Royal Gazette,
in reference to commercial affairs, says
" We have had extraordinary weather for the time of
the year. We are now in the midst of what is called
the dry season ; yet we are almost daily visited by rain,
and occasionally with violent storms of thunder and
lightning—on one occasion accompanied by the loss of
human life. Rain and thunder and lightning, however,
have done little to retard sugar making. The year's crop
progresses most, favourably, and will be a large one.
Whether this is matter for congratulation or not remains
to be seen ; grumblers connected with estates assure us
that the more that is made the greater the loss. There
is this to be taken into the account, however, that,
although price At home is at its very minimum, GI Are