The Sun.
London, England, 1856-03-20 00:00:00

LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING.. MARCH 20, 1856.

WEST INDIA ra.Ams.

SOUTHAMPTON, MARCH 19.

By the Royal Mail Company's steam-ship Tyne,
Captain Valler, with the West India and Pacific
mails, we have dates from—
Nassau (Bahamas) Feb. 18 IBarbadoes Feb. 28

,
Belize
Santa Martha.._ — 6
Greytown
Carthagena — 25
Chagres

Grenada
St. Vincent ... 28
St. Lucia — 29
Martinique — 28
Guadaloupe — 29

Jamaica
Jacmel — 28
Porto Rico Mar. 2
Berbice... Feb. 26
Demerara •— 26
Tobago — 24
Trioichd

DominicA
Antigua
Montserlat — 27
Nevin 29
St. Kitt's Mar. 1
St. Thomas's — 3

The Tyne brings 47 passengers, and on freight
specie valued at $717,318, and a cargo consisting
of 178 serons of cochineal, 5 serons of indigo, 32
bales of sarsaparilla, 2 packages of vanilla, and a
general cargo.
The Plata arrived out at St. Thomas's on the
2d inst.

This steamer brings news of serious disturbances
in Briti,h Guiana. The. following is a synopsis of
the intelligence published by the Demerara Royal
Gazette :

"We regret to say that serious disturbances have
taken place during the past week throughout the colony,
and the shops of the Portuguese traders have been pil-
laged and destroyed by the negro population. There has
been for a long time existing among the creole negroes a
latent feeling against the Portuguese immigrants, who
are a thrifty and industrious race of people, and this
feeling is also prevalent among the African immigrants
and negroes froze the islands who have come to reside
here. This feeling of jealousy would not have broken
out into active hostility but for other circumstances.
"About the end of the past year a man named John
Sayers Orr, batter known in England and in America by
the cognomen of the 'Angel Gabriel,' returned to this
colony, of which he is a creole, and took up his abode
with his mother in this city. Having discovered that
there was a considerable degree of smothered jealousy
and ill-feeling existing between the negro population and
the Portuguese, he seized upon it and mixed it up with
his attacks on the Roman Catholics. In this he was only
too successful ; like a spark dropped upon tinder, hos-
tility against the Portuguese spread rapidly throughout
the city, and was soon communicated to the country
districts. In Georgetown the P,rtuguese Were assailed
by men, women, and children with cries of Down with
the Portuguese !" Down with the Pope !' The Portu-
guese exhibited very considerable forbearance, and, how-
ever much they may have been annoyed, they did not
commit any breach of the peace in resenting the insults
offered to them.

"Thus matters went on until Sunday, the 10th of
Feb., when Orr mounted the tovvu pump, in front of the
Stabroek-market, armed with a dagger and life-preserver,
aad addressed a large crowd of persons in a most in-
flammatory manner. For the seditious language used by
him on that occasion, and for convening an unlawful as-
sembly, be has since been arrested and committed to
take his tr:al before the supreme Criminal Court in April
next. On the 17th, Orr was prevented from preaching
in the streets ; and be then proceeded to his mother's
yard, and there he addressed the crowd who assembled
to hear him. After this meeting, on Sunday evening
the disturbances commenced by the negroes attacking
one or two Portuguese shops-and pelting several Portu-
guese who had assembled in the neighbourhood. This
row was suppressed by the police, and the night passed
off without further disturbance.

"On Monday morning, Feb. 18, the disturbances re-
commenced. Orr's examination before the police magis-
trate was appointed to take dace at 12 o'clock ; but
long before that hour a large crowd assemble,' on the
Brick-dam, on which the head Lidice station and the po-
lice magistrate's-office are situate 1. Between 10 and 11
o'clock the crowd became excited, and a Portuguese was
pursued on the charge of having stabbed a creole. The
man was immediately apprehended by the police, but
not before he had sustained personal injury. The police
turned out in force under the command of Inspector
Horne. The horse police speedily dispersed the mob,
and the examination of Mr. Orr was conducted aed con-
clu led with perfect tranquillity. The people, however,
almost immediately commenced their attacks upon the
Portu;uese shops in the outlying parts of the town, and
by midnight there was nut one in those districts which
had not been completely gutted of its contents. A large
body of special c instables had been sworn in to aid the
police. Between 7 and 8 o'clock a formidable riot oc-
curred in the Charlestown district, and the military
were called out. A guard of the 0.. d West India Regi-
ment, consisting of 2 serjeants, 2 corporals, 1 drummer,
and 40 well, was sent to the police-st.ition, under the
command of Lieut. Drewit ; and another of 1 serjeant
and 20 men was stationed at the gad, where Mr. Orr,
wbo bad been unable to find bail, was confined. These
guards have been continued up to the present moment.
At 1 o'clock p.m. the light company of this regiment,
under the command of Lieut. St. Aubyn and Ensign
Corvill, were out on picket till 5 p.m., and at 8 p.m.
the whole regiment turned out to patrol the streets, un-
der the c nninand of Lieut.-Colonel Whitfield.

"From what has since transpired, it is unquesticn-
able that emissaries must have started at the same time
from Georgetown to the various run' districts, exciting
the peop!e to follow the example of their brethren in
Georgc-town, and, what is more extraordinary still,
asserting that they were carrying out the orders of the
Governor in doing so.
"A special meeting of the Court of Policy was sum-
moned by the Governor on Monday, the 18th, at 12
o'clock, and an ordiManee was passed to make provi-
sion for more effectually repressing disturbances
and attempts to commit breaches of the peace. The or-
dinance at first was confined to Georgetown, but the
disturbances spreading, a proe!etuation was issued by
the Governor the same evening, extending its provisions
to Albert Town ; and subsequently to the east bank of
the River Demerara, as far as, and inclusive of the,
Craig village. The east coast, west coast, and river dis-
tricts were reported in rapid succession to be in a state
of disturbance; and as fast as aid could be organised and
despatched to the places attacked fresh demands came
pouring in. from all quarters.
" On Tuesday, the 19th, the Governor issued another
proclamation extending the provisions of the ordinance
to all parts of the colony. On the same day the two per-
sons first sentenced to be flogged under the new ordi-
nance were taken front the gaol to the market-place, in
custody of a strong detachment of special constables and
police, and there underwent their sentences in the pre-
sence of an immense crowd, who were perfectly quiet,
and made not the slightest attempt to interfere.
" Mr. A. F. Gore, acting stipendiary magistrate, ac-
comparied by a detachment of the 2d West India Regi-
ment, consisting of 2 serjeants, 1 drummer, and 40 men,
under the command of Major Gibbing and the first adju-
tant, proceeded up the river in the steamer Rattlesnake
as far as plantation Great Diamond. The detachment
returned by land in the evening, bringing with them 30
prisoners.

" An immense number of persons of all classes having
volunteered as special constables, both mounted and on
foot, selections were made, and they were armed from
the Government stores and despatched as quickly as pos-
sible in various directions. The streets of Georgetown
are protected by the special constables every night.
" On Wednesday the Tyne steamer took up a detach-
ment of the 2d West India Regiment, consisting of 2
serjeants, 1 drummer, and 50 men, under the command
of Captain Reece and Ensign Macnamara, and proceeded
to Berbice. The troops took with them three days' salt
provisions, and they still remain at Fort Canje, to aid
the civil power. As long as they remain there is no fear
of the peace of New Amsterdam being disturbed.
" Detachments were also sent up the east coast to
'Victoria, and to strengthen the post at Mahaica. They
were stationed at the gaol, where they now are. These
troops were placed under the orders of the Hon. J. E.
Roney and Mr. S. H. Goodman, acting stipendiary ma-
gistrates.

" On Tuesday night firearms were used by a Portu-
guese in defending his shop, at the front of plantation
Supply. An African negro was shot ; and his country-
men became greatly exasperated and vowed revenge.
The stipendiary magistrate, Mr. S. Bean, found it neces-
sary to call in the aid of the military at the Mahaica
post, but as this force, consisting of only eight men, was
so small, it made no impression, and the rural constables
acted with suspicious forbearance. Twenty prisoners
had been sent up from Victoria, and were locked up in
Mahaica gaol, but as there were only four policemen to
guard them, Mr. Bean thought it prudent to let the pri-
soners out on bail, being alarmed at the threats used by
the mob of rescuing the prisoners.
" The destruction of property belonging to Portuguese
at plantations Greenfield, Beehive, Clonbroek, Ann's
Grove, and the Two Friends was fearful ; and the peo-
ple exhibited a feeling anything but friendly towards the
white population. At plantation Good Hope the Portu-
guese shop was plundered and completely gutted of its
contents. At Mahaicony also very serious disturbances
took place ; but they were suppressed by the active ex-
ertions of the Hon. J. E. Roney, aided by a party of
soldiers, special constables, and police. The destruction
of property was very great, and several houses were
partly pulled down. The constant cry of the disturbers
has been—` If the Governor thought we were doing
wrong my destroying the Portuguese shops he would
have sent up soldiers.' When the soldiers were sent up
the insurgents were completely surprised, having been
led to believe by some cunning, designing emissaries that
the Governor approved their attack on the Portuguese
shops. This impression among the ignorant negro popu-
lation was so generally diffused in the country districts
that the Government felt it advisable to publish a cau-
tionary notice to remove such an erroneous impression.
" The whole of the 2d West India Regiment has been
under arms ready to turn out at a moment's notice since
one o'clock p.m. on Sunday, the 17th inst. In conse-
quence of the severe duties impqsed upon the troops, the
facers and men have had only one night in bed during
the week ; and some have been up several nights in suc-
cession. The conduct of the troops has been admirable.
lip to the present time there has not been a single man
confined for being drunk, or for any other misconduct.
Nothing coild exceed the cheerful ninnner in which all

the officers, non-commissioned officers, and privates of
the garrison have performed their different duties. The
steady, temperate manner in which they have carried
out their orders has been remarked by all who have seen
them.

" The latest news from all parts which the authorities
have been able to reach reports everything quiet ; but
an evidently bad feeling still exists in the minds of the
people, who have been worked up to their present mad
outrages by emissaries from Georgetown, of many of
whom traces have already been obtained. Rewards have
been off-red, and a free pardon promised to any minor
offender who will assist in the conviction of a principal.
" From Berbice the iatest reports are that New Am-
sterdam is quiet ; but the usual disturbances and pillage
were goinn, on in the less accessible districts. _

" Whenever the authorities and the mob have been
in collision the success of the former has been decisive
and immediate ; but time will be required ere the ex-
isting precautions can be dispensed with.
"A French war schooner the Pourvoyeuse, Captain
Marc, arrived here on Tuesday.

" the Franck steamer of war Voyageur, Captain
Regreny, arrived in the river yesterday, and the com-
mander immediately placed his vessel at the disposal of
the Government.

" The Portuguese immigrants were brought over to
this colony as lab lurers to work on the sugar estates,
but being very thrifty, industr,ous, and hard-working
men, they have contrived to save enough in a few years
to start in business as shopkeepers and merchants on
their own account, :sad generally they have been very
successful. Their shops, which are scattered all over
the colony, have been a great boon to the labouring
population, and have been the means of cheapening all
the necessaries of life. And now that they are closed in
all the country districts, and their contents pillaged, the
rural population, which depended entirely upon them
for all their supplies, will be reduced to the greatest dis-
tress, and, in many cases, to absolute starvation. By
their lawless outrages the negroes have prepared a. rod
for their own backs, and they themselves will new most
keenly feel the punishment of their misdoinge,
"An ordinance has been passed authorising the Go-
vernor to enrol and call out the militia.

" The steamer Tyne has been despatched to Barba-
does for additional troops, and is expected to return in a
day or two.
" Serious disturbances have taken place at Queens.
town and the other parts of Essequibo, the Arabian
Coast, and on the islands of Leguan and Wakonaatn."

Regarding the commercial state of the colony
the Gazette says
:
"The weather during the past fortnight has continued
very dry, with only an occasional passing shower. The
estates are greatly iu want of water, and the growth of
the sug r cane is retarded by th. long-continued drought.
The work on the estates is 'almost entirely suspended,
in cousequeuce of the disturbances which have taken
place throughout the colony.
"The exports from this colony during the past fort-
night have been very small. Sugar 603 hogsheads, 58
tierces, 179 barrels ; rum 278 puncheon., 71 hogsheads,
46 barrels ; molasses, 214 puncheons, 7 barrels ; rice,
600 bags ; charcoal, 100 barrels ; Greenheart timber,
225 logs.
"There is a complete stagcation of trade among the
merchants in Water.street, owing in part to the usual
dullness at this time of the year, but chiefly in conse-
quence of the disturbed state of the community."
Intelligence from Jacmel has been received to
the 28th ult. The Emperor Soulouque had re-
turned to Port-au-Prince with his army, after
having passed a few days at Cape Haytian to review
his troops, after the ineffectual attempt to unite
the two portions of the island under one flag. One
of the Jacmel regiments returned to Jacmel on the
28th. All was quiet in Port-au-Pprince, and it
was hoped that business would soon recover from
the stagnation into which it had been thrown by
the late events. It was reported that the French
and British consuls would take immediate steps to
bring about, if possible, some amicable arrangement
between the Haytians and Spanish side of the
island. The refusal of the Haytian soldiers to fight
against the Dominicans proves clearly that the
people wish for a peaceful solution of the question.
Coffee was scarce, at 133 per 100 lb. ; cotton, 116
per 100 lb. ; logwood, 80 per I,ooolb. ; doubloons,
-.270 each.
Our dates from Jamaica are to the 27th ult.
Our correspondent says :
" The steamer with the Jamaica mails was four days
beyond her time ; the Tyne with the outward mails to
St. Thomas's having encountered very severe weather
during the voyage.
" The House of Assembly was still in session doing
very little business, and was expected to be prorogued
in a few days. The Executive Committee appear to have
rendered themselves really obnoxious. This is attributed
to the unpopular measures whisi they introduced at the
commencement of the present session of the Legislature,
whereby they were obliged to submit to several defeats.
They virtually broke dlwn in introducing their budget.
It was designated a complete failure, upon which they
should have immediately tendered their re,igeation.
"The island is very healthy, and we have had strong
indiCations every day of rain without the benefit of any.
The weather was sultry, as is usual at this season of the
y ear.

" Much sympathy is felt fur Sir J. Rowe, for
many years chief justice of the island, consequent on his
retirement from office under the new judicial bill which
has recently passed the Legislature. Subscriptions are
being got up through the country for ;the purpose of
presenting him with a testimonial previously to his de-
parture, and valedictory addresses have also been pre-
sented to him from the bar, as well as other public
bodies, expressive of the estimation is which the worthy
chief is Feld by every section of the counn•rnity. In the
Jamaica markets alewives were very scarce. Butter dull.
The stuck of cornmeal was very light, and there were no
sales to report in bread. A large sab of Baltimore filur
had been effected at 445. Other articles without change.
Exchange for bills on London at 90 days was quoted at
1 per cent. pm. ; 60 days, 11 ; 30 days, 2 per cent. pm.
The following vessels of war were at Port Royal :—The
Termagant, Malacca, Argus, Espiegle, Hermes, and
Irnauni."

From Barbadoes wo learn that the Legislature
was in session. Beyond this nothing to roport.
At Trinidad the weather was favourable to the
crops, and there were no complaints of a scarcity
of labour.

From Grenada Ttil2 receive intelligence of the
opening of the House of Assembly for the first time
under the New Reform Act. The question of
altering the constitution of the island was again
suggested by the local executive, but had not gained
much popularity. A message from the Governor-
in-Chief to the House of Assembly at Barbadoes
invited the Legislatures of St. Vincent and Grenada
to appoint delegates to confer with him upon the
best measures for improving the political and finan-
cial condition of thole islands. The Legislature
stood adjourned to the 11th► March, when the
Money Bill for the current year would be intro-
duced, and it was proposed to raise the sum of
18,0001. Fine weather prevailed, but trade was
dull. The manufacture of sugar was being pro-
ceeded with vigorously. Want of rain had dose
serious injury to many large fields of plants.
Her Majesty's ship Vestal had arrived at St.
Lucia with Governor Hincks's commission.

AUSTRALIA.

SOUTHAMPTON, MARCH 19.

By the Royal mail steam-ship Tyne we have re-
ceived, by way of Callao and Panama, dates from
Sydney to the 15th of December. Our files of
papers-are very imperfect, and the news is meagre.
Flour was falling in price, being now down to
251. per ton, with very heavy stocks on hand.
In Melbourne no less than 8,000 tons of flour and
wheat had been stored for want of sale, and several
cargoes were on the way, so that there is no pros-
pect of famine there.

The clipper Star King harl sailed from Sydney
for Melbourne with 1,700 tons of flour.
The clipper Prince of the Seas has been towed
from the Waterview dry dock in Sydney, and was
lying alongside the east end of the Circular wharf,
taking in hardwood logs and dead weight, previous
to filling up for London.
The Sydney Shipping Register of Dec. 1, says :

•' As we take a great interest in the success of the
Waterview dry decks and all undertakings for the pro-
motion of the commerce of the colony, we have extracted
the following letter from the Sydney Morning Ilerald:—
' Sir,—Your nautical and mercantile readers will remem-
ber that a abort time since the fine clipper ship Prince of
the Seas, which was sold at Melbourne, on the impor-
tant ground that there were no facilities of any kind at
Hobson's Bay for executing the necessary repairs which
she required, was accordingly brought up to Sydney and
placed in the Waterview dry dock, her entire refitment
being confided to Lloyd's surveyors. This ship is of
2,500 tons, her length 220 feet, breadth 40, depth 23
feet ; and, classing, as she does, A 1 at Lloyd's, the
hying up of such a ship as a hulk in the port of Mel-
bourne would really have been a serious loss to the
tish merchant navy. In Waterview dry dock she, how-
ever, was thoroughly overhauled, and every necessary
work of refitting was effectually completed in 15 days
from the day of her entering the dock.' "
The following are the totals of the imports and
exports from 1842 to the present date, taken from
the Sydney Mercantile Journal :
Imports. Exports.
1842
1843
1844
1845

1846
1847
1848
1849
1850
1851
1852
1853
1854
1855
EXPORT OF GOLD.

oz. dwt. gr.
Per ship Mystery
Previous export

Total exported 1,920,589 17 21

At 755. per oz., equal t) £7,202,212 Os. 21
SYDNEY MARKET REPORT.

" From the Sydney Mercantile Journal and Shipping
Register we take the following market review :
" "fhe improved tope of business which we noticed
in our last issue we are happy to say is being sustained,
and greater confidence is manifested in commercial
circles, as it is presumed that those parties who have
stood during the past crisis are carrying on legitimate
business and worthy of the confidence placed in them.
Although insolvencies are even yet pretty numerous,
they are not generally composed of the class carrying on
extensive business, and likely to injure others to any
serious amount.

" During the past fortnight a good deal of business has
been transacted, principally in liquids for the Melbourne
market, and we have reason to believe that a good trade
is again springing up with that port, which will help to
work off a large amount of stocks which must hare
accumulated in merchants' hands during the past stag.
nation in commercial affairs. In town trade at present
there is not so much doing as we might expect at the
present season ; but we are confident that ere long
an impetus will be given to business which will in a
great measure help us to forget the ordeal through
which the country has lately passed. The large arrivals
of wheat and flour from abroad during the last few days,
with the prospect of .an abuadant harvest (the whole
of which is nearly ready for the sickle), cannot fail to
have a depressing influence on these articles, and we ex-
pect, befors our next issue, the staff of life will be con-
siderably lower in price, as we are convinced that the
present price of bread is adding no small quota to the
present depressed state of things.'
" Vessels sold in Sydney. —Lallah Rookb, 157 tons,
62 64ths, G. Thornton, 8251. ; Storm King. 118 tons,
43 G4the, .T. Walker, 41St. ; Whale, 32.64th5. H.
Wa'ker, 551. ; Whale, 32-64ths, J. B. Stomp, 551."
From Melbourne and other points of the Austra-
lian colonies the news is no later than has previ-
ously been received.