The Sun.
London, England, 1866-02-01 00:00:00

PORTUGAL.

LISBON; JAN. 30.
General Prim has arrived here, and is the guest
of the Marquis of Niza.
The Cortes have approved the new Press Laws.

CALCUT.TA AND CHINA MAIL.
MALTA, JAN. 31.

The Syria, from Marseilles on the 28th inst., ar-
rived here yesterday at 6 p.m., and left to-day at
noon for Alexandria.

The Ripon, from Southampton on the 20th inst.,
arrived to-day at noon, and will leave at 6 p.m. for
Alexandria.

JAMAICA.

We have been favoured with the following
extracts from letters from gentlemen in high posi-
tion in the island. One gentleman of great influence,
writing from Kingston on the 9th January, thus
states :

" You will have learned with surprise the course
which events have taken with respect to Jamaica in
consequence of the pressure brought to bear on the
Government by the Baptist and other bodies in
England. The effect of Mr. Eyre's temporary sus-
pension has been very bad indeed upon the black
people of the lower classes. They have taken it for
granted that the suppression of riot by military
force is illegal, and they are congratulating them-
selves that Mr. Eyre, and all who acted under him,
will meet with speedy punishment for what they
have done. The Governor has very recently been
furnished with very strong evidence, obtained in
St. Thomas-in-the-East, to prove the complicity of
Gordon in the acts of Paul Bogle and the other
rebel leaders. Gordon's character does not cer-
tainly stand very high in the estimation of the black
people of St. Thomas-in-the-East, although he was
very popular on account of his arrogating to him-
self the office of redressing their grievances."
Another gentleman, filling a public appointment,
also thus writes from Kingston :
" You must have been astonished at the aspect].
Jamaica affairs have assumed in England. Al
parties think that Mr. Eyre has been badly used.

" The negroes think they have already got a great
triumph, and are talking very largely, but on the
whole everything is quiet."
Another gentleman, one of the highest function-
aries in the island, alluding to the story of Marshall,
gives the following version. of it :
" Gordon Ramsay was placed with three men to
guard the prisoners brought in to Morant Bay.
These were all the men who could be spared, and
they had charge of near 100 prisoners under tents.
There was the greatest difficulty, and it required
the greatest difficulty to prevent mutiny. An at-
tempt was made by the prisoners to escape, and one
was shot in the attempt. Marshall, who was to be
tried for murder, was flogged (12 lashes) for in-
subordination and rebellious threats and conduct,
and on being let down he shook his fist at Ramsay,
and threatened to do for him. He knew that the
evidence against him would hang him, and he cared
not what he did. Allowing him to go among the
other prisoners would have caused immediate in-
surrection and slaughter of all within reach. It
then depended on Ramsay to prevent this ; and
under the circumstances, and where the escape of
these murderers—for some exertion would have set
them free—would have led to such consequences,
Ramsay did right, and but his duty, by ordering
him then and there to be hung."