Star.
London, England, 1828-01-19 00:00:00

mistakes, obtained a copy, and the same being read, was
ordered to be entered, and is as follows :
•
" Gentlemen of the Council,- • •
" Mr. Speaker, and Gentlemen of the Assembly,
" I should have availed myself of an earlier opportunity of grati.
tying my desire to meet this General Assembly, bed i not been
restrained by considerations which induced neir-to postpone calling
ybu together until your attendance couldliolonger be dispensed with.
" This delay has fortunately enabled me to convey to you the
intelligence, that on the subject of the collection and appropria-
tion of the Revenue of the Customs, no objections are entertained
by his Majesty's Government to the restoration of the law to the
condition in which it was left by the British Statute passed in
the third year of his present Majesty's reign, whereby Duties
imposed on imports into this island by British Acts tray he trans-
ferred into Colonial Acts; and, when so transferred, the operation
of the British Act thenceforth ceases. With respect to that small
portion of Revenue, which never has been imposed by Jamaica
Acts, having been imposed by British Acts since any Jamaica Act
has passed on the subject, instructions will be given to the Custom
House officers, who must, of necessity, levy that portion, to pay it
over at once and in gross into the hands of the Receiver General.
" In regard to the salaries of the officers of the Customs, I am
instructed distinctly to apprise you, that his Majesty's overn-
ment are desirous of obtaining from the Legislature a detailed
statement of the Duties accruing to each Custom House situa-
tion, and a recommendation as to the amount of salary, which, in
each individual instance, may be fairly considered as an adequate
compensation for the duties performed by each Officer. Such a
statement, compared with other sources of information upon the
same subject, will be extremely useful in enablieg his Majesty's Go-
vernment to come to a final and just decision.
" Since your last meeting his Majesty and the nation have sus.
tained a loss, the magnitude of which it is impossible to estimate
by the death of his late Royal Highness the Duke of York. As the
life of this illustrious Prince was, from his earliest years. devoted
to his country, so will his memory be long cherished, and held in
grateful remembrance, by all who are capable of appreciating the
worth and excellence of his character, and the importance of hi
public services.
" When the administration of this Government devolved on me
by the departure of his Grace the Duke of Manchester, I consi-
dered it to be my first duty to make a careful and minute inspec-
tion of the several corps of militia, for the purpose of ascertaining
their real efficiency, their general equipment, and more especially
the condition of their arms. Although from local circumstances
some regimenteappeared to greater advautage than others, all were
animated with a laudable spirit of emulation; and 1 have great
reason to be satisfied with them, as a body to which, with a little
improvement, the Colony may look with confidence as its powerful
and natural defence.
" Mr. Speaker, and Gentlemen of the Assembly,
" I am not aware of any unnecessary expenses having been in-
curred; and I am persuaded you will provide for the public service
with your usual liberality."
islouse of Assembly, Nov. 16,1827.
Four messages from his Honour the Lieutenant-
Governor, by Mr. Pickering, were delivered ; the first,
shish we subjoin, includes a long letter from M.
liuskisson, making a review of our slave law as past
last Sessiet., objecting to newtons chuses therein, and
suggesting improvements (as lie calls them), and re-
quirng the adoption of alterations so totally incompati-
ble to the interest of the welfare of the slave population
themselve', that frequent bursts of indignation escaped
from the Members during their Inling-
The Mesage was read as follows:
" Mr. Speakeri
" 1 am commanded by the Lieutenant Governor to bring down
Ito the House the copy of a dispatch from his Majesty's Principal
Secretary of State for the Colonial Departmentt, stating, in detail,
the reasons which have inaced the Lords of the Committee of
Privy Council for Trade and Foreign Plantations to report to his
Majesty in Council their opinion, that an Act of this island, entitled
An Act to alter and amend the Slave Law,' should be disallowed.
" This measure has not been adopted without mature considera.
tient, and with the deepest regret.—His Majesty fully appreciates
the many valuable improvements contained in the new Slave
Code ; but it has been found impossible to overcome the objections
to which some of its enactments are liable.
" The Lieutenant Governor is convinced that the House will
proceed to a temperate reconsideration of a subject of such vital'
importance to the peace and tranquillity of the colony, with a sincere
disposition to meat, as far as may be practicable, the views of his
Majesty's Government. particularly by avoiding to introduce into
a new Bill any provisions which have a tendency to impose re-
straints on the religious liberties to which all his Majesty's subjects,
whatever may he their civil condition, are alike entitled. •
" The Lieutenant Governor is particularly instructed to assure
the HoUse, that his Majesty's Government will view in the most
favourable light any measure of real and substantive improvenient,
trusting that, in whatever degree it may still fall short of those con-
templated by Parliament and Government, the time is net distant
at which a further approximation will be found consistent with the
safety and interests of the island."
Ordered—That the above Message be published once in every
newspaper of this island. By the House,
JOHN G. VIDAL, Clerk to the Assembly.
This Dispatch will appear on Monday.

THE EVENING STAR.