The Sun.
London, England, 1853-11-19 00:00:00

funds for the support of the poor or the repair of the
roads.
" I fear, however, that your wisdom may be tasked to
the utmost to find the means of restoring the revenue
to its former productiveness, owing to the large stocks
of imported goods, which must affect the yielding of the
Customs' duties for a long time after their reimposition,
while the excise on rum can hardly for years be expected
to recover.
"This is the more to be regretted, because there can
be no question of the desirableness of reducing, at as
early a period as possible, the very heavy rates imposed
by the late tariffs upon the chief necessaries of life, as
of abolishing, as you have already had in contemplation,
the excessive charges heretofore levied upon shipping
frequenting your ports.
" I earnestly trust that your local knowledge and ex-
perience may enable you to discover some method of
providing for the expenditure indispensably requisite,
without postponing such reductions indefinitely ; and I
can assure you, for my own part, in perfect sincerity and
truth, that not only shall I always be disposed to con-
cur in any arrangement consistent with justice and effi-
ciency for lightening the public burdens, but that it is my
anxious desire to secure the adoption of that systematic
and searching economy which the distressed circum-
stances of the colony imperatively demand.
"Gentlemen of the Council, Mr. Speaker, and Gen-
tlemen of the Assembly,—Gloomy as is the actual posi-
tion of affairs, I see nothing to justify despondency in
the minds of those to whom the future destinies of
Jamaica are at this moment intrusted. Much, un-
doubtedly, there is to afford ground for grave reflection,
and to enjoin extreme caution and forbearance on the
part of all of us. May He, by whom the whole world is
governed and preserved, inspire our deliberations with
prudence and concord, and bless our humble endeavours
to promote civilisation and industry, and restore happi-
ness and prosperity to this distracted country."
This speech, which was delivered on the 18th of
October, was not replied to until the 21st. The
Assembly's address is headed,
"To his Excellency Sir Henry Barkly —the Humble
Address of the Assembly."
The subjoined are the principal paragraphs
" We, her Majesty's dutiful and loyal subjects, the
Assembly of Jamaica, beg respectfully to offer to your
Excellency our _sincere congratulations upon your Ex-
cellency's appointment to the government of this im-
portant and once wealthy colony. We tender to your
Excellency our best thanks for your speech at the open-
ing of this session.
"It will be a source of sincere gratification to us,
should the communications which your Excellency has
been authorised by her Majesty's Government to lay
before us lead to the termination of those unhappy dif-
ferences which have resulted in so much general disor-
ganisation and embarrassment, in consequence of the
rejection of the bills making provision for the collection
of the ordinary revenues.
" We gladly refrain from entering on the present oc-
casion into detailed explanation of the principles and
motives by which we have been influenced throughout
the whole period of this painful contest. Those motives
and those principles have been greatly misstated in the
official documents laid before Parliament ; but they need
no personal justification so long as we are assured that
they are duly estimated by your Excellency, and that
our sincere and honest desire to reduce the cost of este-
blishmentsenerally into nearer proportion with the di-
minished resources of the inhabitants is sympathised in
by yout Excel Kacy; We..can assure your Excellency,
in perfect sincerity, that we desire to effect no reduction
which the extent of actual emergency does not render
necessary, or which, under the circumstances, can be
fairly considered to be at variance with those principles
of good faith to which the state, no less than individuals,
is considered bound to adhere.
" We are gratified to learn that the proposals of
Government, which your Excellency informs us have
now met with the unanimous sanction of the leading
statesmen in both houses of Parliament, are founded
upon no design of fettering in the slightest degree that
legislative independence which for nearly two centuries
th people of Jamaica have so proudly cherished, are
coupled with no condition derogatory to the freeest re-
presentative constitution that ever yet existed, and
emanate solely from the sincere sympathy felt by the
British nation at large for the misfortunes of one of its
most ancient and important colonies.
" Our deliberate and early consideration shall be
devoted to those recommendations which your Excel-
lency has been instructed to offer to us on the subject of
I constitutional reform. We believe, with your Excel-
lency, that there is no human institution so perfect as
that it may not, with advantage, become the object of
improvement.
"We are sincerely desirous of discharging that duty
which, as loyal subjects, we owe to the Crown, of grant-
ing such supplies as may be necessary to uphold the
public establishments during the ensuing year, and we
sincerely trust that nothing may interpose to prevent
the free and spontaneous discharge of this duty. Your
Excellency, however, is aware of the painful distress
under which every branch of industry is at present suf-
fering in this colony. Were this a merely temporary
and transitory moment of depression, we should not
deem the emergency sufficient to justify an adherence to
a principle which has already excited so much ill-will,
but our daily experience proves to us that the distress
which has forced upon us this unwelcome measure is
universal, and we fear without present hope of allevia-
tion. While, therefore, we are prepared to assure your
Excellency of our willingness to grant a supply for the
support of our public institutions, we feel bound to state
that the amount of supply must, of necessity, be re-
stricted within the most moderate bounds compatible
with the effective discharge of the public service."
These documents had been read by the public
with much satisfaction, and had base spoken well
of by the press. A finance committee was about to
be appointed, and the house had instructed that
the committee should introduce various bills, among
them the " Import Duty Bill, with appropriations."
Whether the general business of the country would
be proceeded with harmoniously or not was a ques-
tion wrapt in uncertainty.
The weather was excessively warm. Such wea-
ther was seldom experienced at this period of the
year. The public health generally was pretty satis-
factory. Sir Henry Barkly, immediately on his
arrival in the island, began to show his views on the
necessity of retrenchment by calling all the servants
of the late Governor together, and telling them that
as there had been a reduction in the value of the
appointment of Governor, a corresponding reduc-
tion must be made in their wages ; and it was
hoped that the example thus set, not only in this
respect, but also in other public departments,
would bring about a salutary change both in the
habits of private individuals and in the manage-
ment of the public institutions. Sir Charles
Grey, the ex-Governor, was still residing in
Spanish Town, and was not expected to leave
the colony for some time. Sir Joshua and
Lady Rowe had arrived from New York.
Exchange on London, 90 days, 1 per cent. ; 60
days, 1i per cent. ; 30 days, 2 per cent. premium.
Merchants' bills on New York, 60 days, Di to 3 per
cent.

The fall season in Jamaica bad set in at an un-
usually early period, and planting operations
were proceeding favourably for the coming crop.
Great hopes are entertained about an early arrival
of Chinese and other immigrants, nearly 2,000 being
expected in the fall of the year ; but this supply
would fall short of the demand, the applications
having far exceeded the anticipated number.
number of Coolies had left the island ; some, how-
ever, remained, and took the bounty money.
Shipping was very scarce, and the freights ruled
high—viz., 4/. per ton to England.
From British Guiana we have dates to the 26th
ult. Rain had fallen, and the weather was more
cool and pleasant. The younogstcanes in the plan-
tations everywhere looked m
large crop was anticipated. promising, and a
Trade was improving,
and the Legislature was to meet on the 26th
bill
when the Educationwould be proceeded
with. Fever in its most
malignant form had again
commenced its ravages
the colony, confining
itself, however, chiefly to arrivals, the ship-
ping, and persons indifferently seasoned to the cli-
mate. As a specimen of the lu
Royal
rm ness of the
Georgetown municipality, the
in-
stances the fact of the Town Council having. met
on the 24th ult., and agreed to have a display of
fireworks, but rejected the proposed adoption of a
Sewerage and Drainage Bill. Commander Du-
pony, of the French war steamer Marceau, had
fallen a victim to the pestilence, greatly regretted.
At St. Vincent's the crops were backward, ow-
ing chiefly to constant rains during the past three
months. Legislation was going on harmoniously.
A good deal of fever still prevailed on the island.
A feeling of much dissatisfaction had arisen in
consequence of the order for withdrawing the white
troops from several of the islands, and leaving only
a handful of half-savage black soldiers for their
protection. Some respectable families had de-
clared their intention of quitting the islands on this

account.
Santa Cruz was in a healthy state, yellev; fever
having entirely left it. The Colonial Assembly was
on the eve of resuming its annual session. The
new Colonial Secretary had arrived from Copen_
hagen. He was the bearer of regulations for
changes in several departments of the Government.
Additional taxes were looked for to improve the
revenue, while retrenchments in the public expen-
diture were to take place.
In Grenada some excitement existed among 41,
coloured people owing to the remission b.. the
Colebrook of a portion of a fine imposed. ' Sir W.
per-
sons concerned in a squabble which upon
took place a
little time since between some military
the civilians. The last crop ' officers and
i
fallen off considerably, the n this island had
wet a
taken several estates. The season having over-
he next season we prospects of the planters
couraging. re, however,
far more en-

St Lucia letters of the 27th ult. state that the
weather had been exceedingly wet and boisterous,
and calculated to do much injury to the growing
crops. Governor Power and family had left Cas-
tries for Souffriere, some few cases of malignant
fever having appeared, occasioned by. the poisonous
exhalations from some portions of the town where
sanitary arrangements had not been carried out by
the Town-council. The troops were quite healthy.
The Royal mail dem-shire Aleding, Elk: Der"