The Sun.
London, England, 1844-04-25 00:00:00

THE WEST INDIES.

We have received a file of \Veit India journals, containing
intelligence from Jamaica to tho 24th ult. Barbadoes,
March 20, and Guiana, March 19, brought by the Treut
mail packet, which arrived at Southampton this morning at
half-past 12, A.M. She brings forty-seven passengers, and
has had a tolerable passage. The Trent also brings 539 dol-
lars, 318 ounces of silver, 2 ounces of geld-dust, and 1,186
doubloons. We subjoin extracts :
(From the Jamaica Morning Journal of March 14.)
" There is little news from Barbadoes, but the little is good.
The weather has changed. Rain had fallen, and the hopes
of the planters had brightened.
" A vessel has arrived at Falmouth with ice, and that ar-
ticle is on sale at that place at 3d. per lb."
(Froin the Jamaica Morning Journal of March 23.)
" We, have little to communicate to our distant readers by
the present mail that will be interesting or gratifying. Those
Concerned in estates in this island will be sorry to hear that
the weather in several parts continues ruinously dry, with
little, if any, chalice of a favourable change for some weeks
to come. Rainfell in this city and its environs on Thursday,
but the showers have not been followed by others, as was
anticipated.
" The island is remarkably and universally quiet, and it is
equally healthy.
" In consequence of the severe and long-continued drought
the inhabitants of seine districts have suffered from want
of food and water. From Manchester we learn from a letter
now before us, that what was scarcity in the month of
January has become a degree of want approaching to famine.
Fortunately, flour, meal, and other descriptions of American
produce have been plentiful and cheap in the principal
towns, and have rendered their inhabitants independent of
the supply of indigenous articles of food. For water persons
in some parts of the island have had to travel miles, and
stock to be driven considerable distances.
" The transport Glen Huntley has arrived from Sierra
Leorte. She brought 118 immigrants, and 24 Africans, who
proceeded to that place some short time ago in her, but have
returned, preferring this island to their native country. The
immigrants were landed at Annotto Bay on the north side
of the island, and were most greedily taken up by persons
in want of labourers. Ten times as many, we are informed,
would have found employment in the neighbourhood of that
place. The occasional arrivals from Sierra Leone tend to
keep up the hope that the stream of immigration from Africa
will yet flow as freely and continuously as is desired by a
great many in this island. Some persons think immigration
unnecessary. These, we apprehend, mean that it is unne-
cessary for the cultivation of the present estates. No one
can entertain the opinion that population is not required who
looks around and observes the thousands of acres of land
which remain uncultivated, and no one can doubt that the
island and the mother country will be benefited by immi-
gration, and especially from Africa.
" The Planters' Bank of this island has declared a dividend
of 5 per cent. upon the half-year's transactions to the 31st of
December last, and carried 2,093/. 15s. Id. to the reserved
fund. This establishment has been returning 10 per cent.
per annum to its shareholders for some time past.
" Several fires have occurred—one at Garbrand Hall estate
in St. Thomas-in-the-East,which destroyed the Great House,
or Proprietor's residence when Proprietors used to reside in
the island, and two in St. Andrew's, by which a cane piece
and eight negro houses and 120 acres of grass were destroyed
These fires were accidental.

"We are sorry we cannot announce any improvement in
trade, which still remains dull.
" Money is also scarce, and very difficult to be procured
" We can hardly expect any change for the better, whilst
agriculture languishes, and the soil yields no return to the
cvltivators of it."

At the Drawing-room on Thursday, the duties of
the late State pages to her Majesty were performed by
Messrs. Sheppard and Beckham, pages of the presence. By
tins new arrangement two old and faithful servants of the
Royal household, Messrs. Dobell and liaise, are placed on the
retired list.
THE MURDER OE MR. GATCHELL.—The order for
the execution of Downing, who was convicted at the last
assizes of Tullamore for the murder of Mr. Gateliell, and
whose sentence had been subsequently respited, has_been for-
warded to the proper authorities; and the unfortunate man,
of whose guilt there is not entertained a shadow of doubt
will suffer the extreme penalty of the law.