The Sun.
London, England, 1848-10-27 00:00:00

J AMAIC A:

A correspondent in this island writes as follows,
under date the 21st of September:—"There is an
almost utter impossibility of realising produce of
any kind. The whole island is downright beg-
gared, and I see no prospect of improvement.
The planters are becoming poorer every day,
and consequently there is little or no money cir-
culating among the labourers. Numbers of estates
are out of cultivation. The Commissioners of Public
Accounts have been signing and issuing the New
Island cheques as fast as they can, and I suppose the
whole 50,0001. will soon be afloat. I should not be at
all suprised ere long to see silver at a premium in
consequence. The Planters' Bank Relief Bill has been
lost in the House of Assembly, and I understand that
the shareholders, at their meeting, a few days past,
determined on winding up the affairs of the Bank.
There can be very little doubt of their being ulti-
mately great losers, for a large amount of the assets
consist of sums due by planters ; few of whom I fear
will be able to pay up. Any one walking along
Port Royal-street now would almost fancy it was
deserted, particularly at the west-end, where in three
squares nearly two out of every three stores are
closed. Last week another of the large foreign dry
goods houses closed its business. The foreign trade
is again very slack, but I think there will be another
spirt of it towards the close of the year.
"During the past fortnight we have had some fine
heavy showers in Kingston and the neighbouring
parishes, and from present appearances I think we
shall get our October seasons.
"His Excellency Sir Charles Grey has almost en-
tirely recovered from his late accident, and has
allowed the House of Assembly to adjourn till the
24th of October next.
"In Hayti all is perfectly tranquil, and business
improving. The President, Soulougue, appears to
have adopted a different policy, which has restored
confidence and security among the population, a happy
termination of the worst fears which the latter had
entertained on the approach of the President to Port-
au-Prince."
REVIEW OF MARKETS.
(From De Cordova's Mercantile Intelligencer.)
Another fortnight has passed since oar last issue, and
we regret extremely to state that instead of being able
to report even a trifling improvement in the state of
trade, we are compelled to note increasing dulness in
every branch of commerce. Matters are daily growing
worse and worse. We have made it a point of duty, on
this occasion especially, to gather the statements of all
classes of persons—merchants, storekeepers, trades-
people, mechanics, and labourers—and the result of our
inquiries has been one universal tale of gloom and dis-
aster. We do not believe that there is any person in
England who has ever considered the subject who is not
conscious that the most deplorable state of affairs is
consequent upon the manner in which this island, in
common with the other colonies of Great Britain has
been treated by the mother country. There is no
doubt whatever that bad as the principle of Free
Trade has proved itself, so far as these islands are
concerned, its partial application has been worse a
hundredfold. And there is but one remedy for our
distress in the absence of that protection which has
been denied us. There is but one means by
which England can remove at least some portion of the
evil she has inflicted. We allude to the unrestricted ad-
mission of colonial sugar into the home markets. The
colonists make this demand in the shape of a claim upon
England, and while they clamour for it as the only
means of their salvation, of their redemption from utter
ruin, they base their arguments on the most solid and
secure foundation on which it is posbible to build up a
case for compensation—the basis of justice. Slavery is
unknown in Jamaica ; it was abolished by the mighty
will of England. Free labour, as has been proved be-
fore a Committee of the House of Commons, and as is
obviously evident, is dearer by far than slave labour ;
notwitLtanding which, the British Government' has
determined to admit foreign slave-grown sugar at the
same rate of duty as is charged on British free-labour
sugar, by which act England not oily drives the produce
of her own sons' industry out of her markets, after tak-
ing from them the means of competition, but actaally
offers a high bonus for the continuance of a traffic
which she has abolished in her own soil, and which she
declares to be inhuman and ilkgal. Her ostensible
object in this measure is purely and entirely the

comfort of the English labourer, who must have cheap
sugar, at least so we understand it, fur we uutatui, bup-
pose that a nation like the English could have been
swayed by the consideration of commerce with the slave-
trading countries, at the expense of her colonies, and in
opposition to the interests of humanity. Now, the ad-
mission of colonial sugar into the home markets duty
free will be of material advantage to the English labourer,
and will do no harm to any interest except the revenue;
and England must make up the deficiency which this
must cause from some other source, if she wishes to pre-
vent an abandonment of these islands; and for this simple
reason—if we do not export, we cannot pay either for
our clothing and other necessaries, or for the mainte-
nance of our institutions. We are already in an awful
state of poverty, and unless something be done, and that
speedily, for the benefit of the colony, the result will be
that every one who can leave the British colonies to seek
a home in the land of the stranger will do so. Heaven
help those who cannot! If, on the other hand, our sugar
be admitted duty free, there will still be a glimmering of
hope for us. We may then be permitted, post tenebras
lucem sperare, to look forward to the blessing of a calm
after a storm under which we are now being wrecked
shall have passed away.
The business of the past fortnight has been marked
by increasing dulness. It is found impossible to effect
anything like large sales of any article, and a cloud
seems to hang over any attempt at business. If some-
thing be not speedily done for the colonies it is im-
possible to say what will be the result of the present
stagnation.

Flour—ln our last we noticed that prices were tending
downwards; as low as 30s. had been accepted for New
Orleans, and 325. for Baltimore, while Alexandria and
Georgetown had been disposed of in lots at 355., and for
a lot of 350 barrels to arrive in the Glamorgan from
Baltimore 31s. was accepted. After the sailing of the
last steamer the prices ranged as follows:—New Or-
leans, 30s. to 315.; Baltimore, 325. to 335.; Georgetown,
355. On the arrival of the home packet, which brought
the news of the potato disease having again broken out
in Ireland, some little excitement occurred in the flour
market, and holders of Baltimore and New Orleans are
now asking from 2s. to 4s. advance on the above prices.
We have not, however, heard of any sales at these rates.
Meal-200 barrels Georgetown have been sold at 18s.
The stock is light.

Rice—The 5.00 bags E. 1., reported in our last as sold
to arrive at 16. 6d. per 1001bs., proved in landing to be
of mixed qualities, and a reduction was made to 16s. for
broken Bengal, and 15s. for best Madras. E. I. may
now be quoted at 16s. 6d., with a light stock. Caro-
lina, of which the supply is heavy, is dull at 19s per
100Ibs.

Bread—The stock is enormous, and it is extremely
difficult to effect sales, owing principally to the inability
of the labourers to purchase, the want of employment
compelling them to subsist on the:produce of their
grounds. 375 barrels New Orleans navy and pilot have
been sold at 13s. per barrel. The article may be quoted
excessively dull at 12s. to 14s. for pilot, and 13s. for
navy.

Butter—The stock of United States and of Nova Sco-
tian is heavy. Irish is moved at llid. per lb., but only
in very small quantities. Bd. to Bd. and 9d. have been
obtained for United States in small lot.. Nova Scotian
may be quoted at Bd. The last mentioned description
is much complained of as having been put up with too
much salt.

Lard—A small parcel of very superior quality brought
7d. per lb. There is not any now at market but what is
soft and inferior. Prime is wanted and would command
lid, per lb.

Poik—American prime '(rumps) has been placed at
603. per barrel, prime mess at 665, and mess 70s. per bar-
rel. There is nothing to report in Irish.
Hams—American, of superior quality, have been sold
in small lots at 71d. per lb.
Cheese—D. G. is worth 11d. and American 63.
Brandy—Martell's dark commands ss. 6d. in bond.
Tobacco—Cavendish is very scarce, and much wanted.
Rum—Proof 21 has been taken at 33. 9d., equal to
3d. for exportation. We quote 3s. Gd. to 33. 9;'. for
consumption.
Sugar—Ranges from 15s. Gd. for dark, to 19s. to 203.
for fair.

Corn—Carthagena yellow sells in small lots at 3s. per
bushel.

Peas—Carthagena black-eyed change hands in trifling
quantities at 6s. per bushel.
Pimento is freely offered at 2d. per lb.
EXCHANGES ON LONDON.—Commissariat bills, 30
days, not under 11 per cent. premium ; Colonial Bank,
90 days, 1 per cent. premium ; Jamaica Bank, 90 days,
1 per cent premium.