The Sun.
London, England, 1858-01-01 00:00:00

THE WEST INDIA MAILS.

The Royal West India Mail packet La Plata,
Capt. Weller (Admiralty agent, Lieut. W. Seaward,
R.N.), arrived at Southampton yesterday with the
West India mails. The following are the dates of
the advices by this arrival :—Vera Cruz, Dec. sth ;
Tampico, 3d ; Havannah, 9th ; Greytown, 2d ;
Carthagena, 11th ; Jamaica, 11th ; Demarara,
10th; Trinidad, 9th ; Barbadoes, 12th ; Antigua,
13th ; Dominica, 14th ; St. Thomas, 17th ; St.
Lucia, 13th ; St. Vincent, 11th.
The freight on board consists of specie to the
amount of $1,119,583., of which $12,000 are on
account of Mexican dividends. The specie consists
of $151,122 value in silver, and $55,621 value in
gold.
In Jamaica the public health had much improved,
although there was still considerable tendency to
febrile indisposition in the intermittent form, and
many fatal cases had occurred. The legislature
had been engaged in a plan brought forward by
Mr. Hosack for completely revolutionising the
financial system of the island by abolishing the
he redttaments tax on the assumed value of
landed property, and substituting new taxes, chiefly
on exports. The mode in which it is proposed
hereafter to levy 23,7001., which is the sum found
equal to the net parochial wants of the island, is
variously distributed. It is proposed to levy in the
first place a tax of 3s. per hogshead on sugar,which,
on 30,000 hhds., is calculated to yield an annual
revenue of 4,5001.; on 16,000 puns. of rum, at 2s.
6d., 2,0001. ; 6d. per head on 100,000 breeding
stock of all knds, horned stock, mares and followers
to be paid by way of licence, 2,5001. ; 9d. per bag
on 50,833 bags of pimento, 2,910/; on 6,666 tierces
of coffee, at 6s. 6d., 2,1661.; on minor articles of ex-
port not enumerated, 8001. ; by a registration tax
on houses, rateably according to annual value, if
and above the value of 201. per annum, 3,7761. ;
by additional duties on soap, say ls. per box on
30,000 boxes, 1,5001. ; on tobacco, 2,5161. ; by an
additional 3d. per gallon on rum consumed in the
island, 3,0001. ; total, 24,6681. Amount required
23,7101.; surpus, 9581. The resolutions, affirming
the principles, as well as most of the details, of this
scheme, were successfully carried in committee of
supply on the evening of Dec. 1.
In British Guiana the public health was good, and
the weather all that could bo desired ; vegetation
was most luxuriant, and the cane crop in a most
satisfactory condition. The following are the ex-
ports for the last fortnight:—Sugar, 2,084 hhds.
128 tres. 185 brls. 1,235 bags ; rum, 1,047 puns.
294 hhds. 205 brls.

The Legislature was convoked in extraordinary
session on Nov. 26, when the proposed introduction
of sepoy mutineers into the colony, and the affairs
of the Demerara Railway were prominent topics in
the speech of the Lieutenant-Governor. Subse-
quently, after a long discussion on the former sub-
ject, the house passed the following resolutions :-
1. That looking to the great resources of the colony
and to its capabilities of employing an unlimited amount
of labour, and to the need which exists of an additional
number of people to maintain even the existing cultiva-
tion, and also to the expressed general desire that large
numbers of those engaged in the East India rebellion
should be transported from the country, this court an-
ticipates that when the present unhappy struggle shall
have terminated, and British supremacy once more
firmly established, there will be found at the mercy of
the government a very large number of mutineers who
have been led or forced into the revolt by others, but
who, nevertheless, have not been actively concerned.
2. That in the event of the East India government
being disposed to transport, at its own expense, such
persons for life to the West Indies, this Court is of opi-
nion that many such persons, exclusive of their wives
and families, might be safely and advantageously received
into this colony, with their wives and families, in such
numbers, and upon such terms and conditions, as her
Majesty's government and the Governor and Court of
Policy of this colony may hereafter frame with that
view.

3. That on ascertaining the views of her Majesty's
government and that of the East India Company, this
Court pledges itself to make the necessary financial pro-
visio❑ for carrying out the foregoing resolution.
4. That his Excellency the Lieut.-Governor be re-
quested to communicate these resolutions to the Right
Hon. the Secretary of State for the Colonies, for the
information of her Majesty's and the East India govern-
ments.

These resolutions were not adopted without-a
strenuous opposition by a small minority.
The subject of the Demerara Railway Company
was discussed on Dtc. 1. All were agreed that it
was "an undertaking advantageous to the interests
of the colony, and consequently deserving of sup-
port."
In the beginning of November the sea broke
through the eastern wall that protects Demerara,
and the adjacent estates. The lighthouse and the
district of Kingstown are in great danger of being
submerged. The King's House is already gone ;
the barracks must go next.
At Porto Rico they are fitting out slavers with
the most sanguine expectations. A company has
been formed, and pledges itself to supply the island
with 8,000 slaves immediately.

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.
KINGSTON, DEC. 11.

During the fortnight the prices of all American stuffs
had considerably declined. The market, which for many
weeks had been almost bare i❑ consequence of the cessa-
tion of shipments from the States, became supplied by
the cargoes of several vessels, the greater number of
which arrived in one day ; and this fact naturally caused
a heavy fall in the market value. Great activity had
prevailed, however, and the bulk of the cargoes had
ohanged bands. Heavy rains had prevented the bringing
down of produce to market, and there had been very
little done in consequence in this branch of trade. Sales
of Irish butter at Iqcl. Sales also reported of 25 firks.
and 50 firks. at 17d. Sales of beef, 50 half-barrels at
68s. pe- hatf-barrel. Sales of 600 bones of candles,
Smith and Curlett's at 100. per lb. Coffee is quoted at
36-,. to 40s. per 1001bs. In freights the only transaction
reported is for New York at 4 dols. for wood. Sales of
J and R. Tennent's double strong ale at lie. 6d. per
doz. quarts ; pale ale and brown stout at Bs. to Bs. 6d. ;
pints inquired for. 30 bagels porter at 7s. 6d., and 30
barrels pale ale at is. Soap—No sales. Sugar sells at
from 18s. to 225. according to quality.
Exchanges—On London : Jamaica Bank, 90 days,
per cent. preen. ; merohauts' bills, 4 per cent. dia. to
par.

CHILI.
Advices from Valparaiso are to Nov. 15. The
steamer Constitution (insured in England) was lost
on the bar of the river Maule, passengers and crew
saved ; the cargo, which consisted of provisions for
the destitute inhabitants of the district, was lost.
Congress is still in extraordinary session, and
progresses slowly with its labours. A law autho-
rising the raising of a loan of 7,000,000 dols, to
compete the Valparaiso and Southern Railroads
has been passed, large grants have been made to-
wards the erection of custom-houses, wharves, and
other public works.
The works of the electric telegraph between
Santiago and Talca are progressing, and will be
completed in a short time.
The Chilian war steamer Esmeralda sailed with
secret orders for Cobija, for the purpose, it was
surmised, of claiming an American vessel seized by
the Bolivian authorities in the port of Santa Maria
—the right of sovereignty over which is in dispute
between Bolivia and Chili.

The affair of the seizure of the Sportsman is not
yet settled by the American minister.
Mr. Philip E. Barnes has been recognised as
consul of Denmark in Coquimbo.
The German residents in Valparaiso have re-
solved to establish a church and school—the Eng-
lish and American residents have already done so.
An interesting report on an exploring expedition
to the Lake of Nahueluapi, has been published by
order of the government.