The Sun.
London, England, 1848-09-26 00:00:00

SOUTH. AMERICA

LwEnrooL, SEPT. 25.-13 y the arrival of the
splendid packet-ship Swordfish, Captain R. Green,
we are this day placed in possession of later news
from all the leading ports in South America.
That relating to political affairs is unimportant.
On the 18th of June the blockade was raised from
the ports and coasts of Buenos Ayres, so that ccm-
merce between that port and all nations had again
been set free, with the proviso that no vessel entering
Buenos Ayres should, on any account, touch at
Monte Video.

The raising of the blockade bad caused no excite-
ment-produced no rejoicings. For months it had
been virtually off, and the vessels loading discharged
at Enseneda without let or hinderance. At Buenos
Ayres there was no accumulation of produce to be
shipped, nor any scarcity of foreign goods. The
`question between England, France, and the
Buenos Ayrean Government, and the matter in rela-
tion to the legal government of the Oriental Repub-
lic, continued unsettled. France still retained pos-
session of the island of Martin Garcia, wrested from
the Buenos Ayrean Government, and which com-
mands the mouths of the rivers Parana and Uruguay.
The squadron of the Buenos Ayrean Govornment,
captured by, and divided between, France and Eng-
land, was still kept by them, and used in blockading
the ports of General Roses. The war between Pre-
sident Oribe, aided by Governor Rosas, and the au-
thorities of Monte Video, was still continued.
The commercial advices from Pernambuco inform
us that business was not active. Exchange on London,
in consequence of the scarcity of money, had ad-
vanced to 25d. and 241., in some few instances 25d.
had been paid, but after arrivals from the South
money was obtainable at 24d. Sugars were in much
request at the following rates :--Cases, whites, 800
to 850 r., or about 16s. 3d. to 16s. 9d. per cwt.;
Muscovados, 10s. 7d. to 10s. 11d. Barrels and bags
of Whites, which were scarce, brought 18s. to 19s.
Bd. ; ditto common assortments, 16s. 5d.; low whites,
14s. Id. ; barrels and bags of Muscovado, average
quality, 13s. 2d. to 13s. 7d. ; ditto ordinary, 12s. 9d.
to 18s. 2d. per cwt. on board, including 5 per cent.
commission, ex fit. and exchange 24d.
Cotton was in good supply, and prices had been
ruling from 4 dolls. to 4 dolls. 500 per arr. ; but on
the 15th ult. no prime lots were to be had under the
latter rate ; in fact, first quality was quoted at 4
dolls. 600 per arr., or about 4d. to qd. per lb. Dry
salted hides continued neglected, the price current
was 90 r. or 2,id. per lb.
With respect to freights, we are informed that
numerous arrivals having taken place, a decline had
occurred in the rate demanded. The last charter re-
ported for the channel and a market was 555. and 6
per cent. for sugar, in bags, and to Gibraltar and a
market in the 'Mediterranean, or the United King-
dom, 60s. and 5 per cent. for sugar, in cases. Cotton
to Liverpool, id. and 5 per cent. Sugar ballast, 40s.
and 5 per cent., cases ; but when the Swordfish sailed,
those rates would not be obtainable, in consequence
of the scarcity of produce, and the discouraging ac-
counts from the Southern ports for shipping.
With respect to imported goods, we are informed
that Irish butter had been sold as high as 1 dollar per
lb. ; but as large arrivals had reached out, it gradually
declined to 850 and 750 rs.; and the sales last reported
were 750 rs. per ton. Coals were in limited \ demand
at 7 dollars to 8 dollars per ton. Candles were
wanted. No arrivals of sperm reported. Composi-
tions were retailing at 750 rs. per lb.

JAMAICA.
In the sitting of the Jamaica Legislature of the 9th
ult., the address of the Assembly to the Governor of
Jamaica, in reply to his speech at the opening of the
session, was read. It is as follows :
" May it please your Excellency,—We, her Ma-
jesty's dutiful and loyal subjects, the Assembly of
Jamaica, thank your Excellency for your speech at
the opening of the session.
" Whilst we appreciate the motives which have in-
duced your Excellency to call us together at this
unusual period, we regret the circumstance ; because
we fear the opportunity so anxiously sought by the
inhabitants at their many public meetings, for devis-
ing measures to avert the abandonment of properties,
now too far gone for beneficial support, has passed by;
and because we cannot see the propriety of issuing
Treasury certificates at present to meet the deficiency
in the ways and means of the year.
"It may not be wise legislation to vote a certain
amount of expenditure without the means of defray-
ing it; but relying on relief and assistance from the
Imperial Parliament—a reliance encouraged by your
Excellency's assurances contained in your opening
speech to us last session—we did not disturb the ex-
isting institutions of the country at that period,
though we then felt assured of the utter impossibility
of raising sufficient means to uphold the present out -
lay, unless the system of British legislation which
has brought frightful misery and desolation to the
door of every inhabitant of the colony, was materially
and beneficially altered.
" Seeing now no chance of the fulfilment of those
hopes on which we were induced to rely, we feel that
it were better to suffer the imputation of unwise than
oppressive legislation. With every desire, therefore,
to support institutions so necessary to our social exist-
ence, we deem it our bounden duty to abstain from
increasing taxation on a people no longer able to
endure it.

"We agree with your Excellency, that under
usual circumstances it would be a pity, having bad
the trouble of assembling, to separate even by ad-
journment for any considerable period without doing
something for the general and permanent benefit of
the colony ; but, under existing circumstances, wholly
destitute as we are of the means, we feel our power-
less position and our utter inability to enter upon
improvement of any kind. It were needless, there-
fore, to dwell at any length on the various sugges-
tions which your Excellency has made to us, doubt-
less with a sincere desire for our ultimate advantage.
" Your Excellency has informed us that it is your
sincere conviction that the destinies of Jamaica, for
many years to come, may be said to be in our hands,
and that there is nothing likely to be done by the
mother country that need prevent us, with God's
blessing, and our united exertions, from making the
inhabitants of this island one of the happiest of the
communities of men, and an example to the western
world of all that is good in the various conditions of
human society. We should, indeed, be happy if we
could join your Excellency in this delightful antici-
pation ; but our present gloomy position presents far
different prospects, which are not brightened by the
assurance of your Excellency, that we are standing
in dangerous and critical circumstances, which, by wil-
ful and desperate courses, and the erroneous manage-
ment of public affairs, may lead to a great and signal
calamity.
" We feel bound to express how deeply we deplore
that your Excellency should have found it necessary,
in drawing our attention to these circumstances, and
the proximity of neighbouring countries, to infer that
there is one man in this island, or a British subject
anywhere, so insane, or so divested of just and moral
feeling, as to wish to retrace those steps which have
led to the banishment of slavery for ever from British
soil. We, one and all, repudiate even the thought ;
and, on behalf of our constituents, declare unequi-
vocally our belief that no such sentiment, even by
stealth, has penetrated the heart of any single inha-
bitant of Jamaica.
His Excellency replied as follows :
" Mr. Speaker, and Gentlemen of the Assembly,—
I am happy in knowing that I have never given you
any assurances which I was not justified in giving,
or on which any reliance on your part would have
been misplaced.
" I observe with great, if not with unqualified sa-
tisfaction, that you characterise the idea of any return
towards slavery by the names of immorality, injus.
tice, and insanity; and I hope that there is no indi-
vidual amongst you who will not himself carefully
abstain from any language which might create an
impression of his entertaining such ideas, and that
you will inculcate a like caution on those who may
be in your employment, or over whom you may have
any influence."

IMPORTATION OF FOREIGN WHEAT.—During this
week six vessels from Holland, laden with upwards lof
:33,400 bushels of wheat, have arrived at this port. One
vessel has also arrived from Denmark, with 8,120 bushels
Qf barley,—,Bristol