The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1844-08-27 00:00:00

FOREIGN AND COLONIAL.

WEST INDIES

The Dee royal mail steamer has arrived, bringing files
of papers from the various islands, the dates of which are
Jamaica, the 24th ; Demerara, the 20th ; Trinidad, the
21st ; Barbadees, the 24th ; Grenada, the 25th ; and St.
Thomas's, the 31st of July. In most of the places, the
Sugar Duties Bill was a topic of bitter complaint. The
Jamaica papers, however, say that one cheering feature
in the aspect of colonial affairs was the zeal and energy
with which the resident planters had been pushing for-
ward improvements in agriculture. The preparation and
manuring of the land, the planting and clearing of canes,
and a variety of other matters, were now performed much
more economically and effectually on the most extensive
plantations. Nor were these improvements confined to
the sugar estates. On the coffee properties guano manure
was being tried, and, as far as the appearance of the trees
enabled one to judge, with every chance of success. The
advices from the country generally were to the effect that
the rains have been abundant. In some districts near
the coast a want of rain has been experienced, but ap-
pearances led to the conclusion that there would soon be
a fall of water in those places, for it was close and cloudy
weather, with little or no wind. A fire had occurred on
St. Toolie's estate, in Clarendon. The estate had just
finished crop, and the sugar on the premises was de-
stroyed. The reduction of postage throughout the island
bad taken place, and the working of the altered plan gave
considerable satisfaction. The [louse of Assembly had
been further prorogued to the 20th of August next. The
yellow fever, accompanied by the black vomit, had made
its appearance in the island, and the cases already occur.
ring were fatal.

With respect to the state of affairs in Hayti and Cuba,
the Jamaica Morring Journal of the 24th of July has the
following:—

" From Hayti the intelligence is that Guerrier, the new Pre-
sident, had directed two of his Generals t) proceed to Aux Cayes
to see Acaou, and induce him to lay down his arms. These
bad so far succeeded as to induce the latter to proceed to Port-
au-Prince with them, where he had an audience with the Presi-
dent. Subsequently, however, he was arrested arid imprisoned.
What steps his friends and adherents would take upon receipt
of this intelligence was not known. Information from Aux
Cayes and its neighbourhood is therefore anxiously looked for,
especially by those who, if matters were settled, might return
to that place to ascertain if any portion of the property they left
behind remains and is available to them in their time of need.
" In Cuba, we are told, the system of terror, thoroughly esta-
blished and kept up by the tyrant who rules the destinies of that
island, with his orders for the departure of all free people of
colour, keeps all in a ferment. By the last steamer to Vera
Cruz upwards of no departed. The Captain-General appears
to pay no attention to the remonstrances of the British Consul,
who, some parties think, i; not as determined as he ought to he.
We hope Government will pay particular attention to what is
transpiring in this island, and will be especially careful of the
rights of her subjects, which the Don has been trampling under
foot without any compunction or hesitancy whatever."

Sugar was scarce at Jamaica, and commanded better
prices in consequence of the near approach of the Ist of
August, the time of departure for the homeward-bound
vessels. The transactions between the Bth and 18th of
the month had been at prices varying from 235. 3d. to
265. per 1001 b.

In the Trinidad Legislative Assembly the estimates of
revenue and expenditure showed a deficiency of £43,109,
the latter being reckoned at £82,236, and the former at
£39,126. To meet the difficulty it had bee❑ determined
to increase the import duty on specified and unspecified
articles to such an extent as to leave no greater sum than
£1,064 to be provided for, which it was considered would
be amply made up by increased exportation, the present
estimates being based on the returns of 1843. The new
tariff would not come into operation before the beginning
of October next, and it is stated that, notwithstanding
the increase alluded to, the scale of duties at Trinidad is
much lower than those of the other colonies. The an-
nouncement of the consent of her Majesty's government
to the immediate introduction of English criminal law
and trial by jury had been received with much satisfaction
by the colonists.
The weather in Demerara, Barbadoes, and the other
principal islands, is described as favourable for the crops.

PERILOUS ENTERPRISE.—Four mechanics, three of
them English, and the other Irish, arrived at Lewiston
last Saturday in an open boat, after fourteen days of peril
and suffering. They went to Bermuda in search of em-
ployment, but being disappointed, left there in a boat for
want of means to obtain a passage in any other manner.
—New York Paper.

SUPPOSED PIRACY AND NlURDER.—lntelligence has
been received from Dundee respecting the brig Hannah,
bound for Quebec, belonging to the former port, from
which strong suspicions are apprehended that the captain,
Mr. Lowther, was murdered by the crew, fur the purpose
of possessing themselves of the vessel and cargo, but af-
terwards their plans were frustrated by the ship becoming
leaky.

DEATH OF THE GRAND DUCHESS ALEXANDRA.—We
are sorry to have to announce that the long-expected death
of the Grand Duchess Alexandra of Russia, third daughter
of the Emperor of Russia, and consort of Prince Frederick
of Hesse, has at last taken place. Intelligence of this
mournful event reached the Russian Embassy on Wednes-
day afternoon by special courier. The deceased duchess
was born June 24, 1825, and was married on the 22d of
January in the present year.
NEW TRICK IN THE NEW WORLD.—The latest novelty
amongst the sharp blades of America was practised as
follows :—" The adept prepared a genuine quarter of a
dollar by rubbing it over with quicksilver, so as to give
it the blue tinge and slippery feel of a counterfeit.
Goinginto a store he would purchase some trifling arti-
cle and tender this quarter dollar in payment, when it
would at once be refused. The sharper, knowing the
passion for betting amongst all classes, would then offer
to bet five dollars that the piece was good, and would
stand any test that could be applied, and, as he took
care to have the stakes lodged, in nine cases out of ten
he was successful in pocketing the proceeds.
TANGlERS.—Tangiers is situated near the western en-
trance of the Straits of Gibraltar, built at the entrance of
a bay, on the side of a hill overlooking the sea, and about
fourteen miles west of Cape Spartel. It has a population
of nine thousand souls ; and, in conjunction with Tetuan,
supplies Gibraltar, Cadiz, Lisbon, and other parts of the
coasts of Spain and Portugal, with fowls, beef, mutton and
fruit. During the memorable siege of Gibraltar, 1779-82,
Tangiers was of considerable importance to the English ;
as from thence much valuable information respecting the
movements of the French and Spaniards was constantly
transmitted. Tangiers was formerly in the possession of
the English ; having been ceded by Portugal, in 1662, to
King Charles the Second, on the occasion of his marriage
to Donna Catherina, Infanta of Portugal, as part of her
dowry. In the spring of 1680, Tangiers was beseiged by
an army from Morocco ; and Charles recommended the
parliament to take measures for its prevention. The
maintenance of a sufficient garrison was, however, found to
be too expensive ; and the nation refusing to grant sup-
plies, the fortifications and mole were blown up. On the
retirement of the English, the Moors quickly occupied
the place, and it has ever since continued in their pos-
session. Whilst the English were masters of Tangiers,
the works on the land side of Tangiers were considered
almost impregnable. In April, 1634, the troops returned
to England.