The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1842-08-19 00:00:00

THE WEST INDIAN COLONIES.

The select committee appointed to inquire into the state of
the West India colonies has just made its report. It is ex-
tremely brief, owing to the netar approach of the parliamentary
recess, and the anxiety of the committee not to allow so im-
portant an inquiry to remain altogether undecided until ano-
ther session. The following resolutions comprise the result
at which the committee have arrived :

l.—That the great act of emancipating the slaves in the
West Indian colonies has been productive, as regards the
character and condition of the negro population, of the most
favorable and gratifying results.
2.—That the improvement is the character of the negroes
in esery colony in the state of which this committee has had
time to extend inquiry, is proved by abundant testimony of
an increased and increasing desire for religious and general
instruction, a growing disposition to take upon themselves
the obligations of marriage, and to fulfil the duties of do-
mestic life, improved morals, rapid advance in civilization,
and increased sense of the value of property and independent
station.

3.—That, unhappily, there has occurred, simultaneously
with this amendment in the condition of the negroes, a very
great diminution in the staple productions of the West In-
dies, to such an extent as to have caused serious, anti, in
some cases, ruinous injuries to the proprietors of estates in
those colonies.

4.—That while this distress has been felt to a much less
extent in some of the smaller and more populous islands, it
has been so great in the larger colonies of Jamaica, British
Guinana, and Trinadad, as to have caused many estates, hi-
therto prosperous and productive, to be cultivated for the
last two or three years at considerable loss, and others to be
abandoned.

s.—That the principal causes of this diminished production
and consequent distress, are the great difficulty which has
been experienced by the planters in obtaining steady and
continuous labour, and the high rate of remuneration which
they give for the broken and indifferent work which they are
able to procure.

G.—That the diminished supply of labour is caused partly
by the fact that some of the former slaves have betaken
themselves to other occupations more profitable than field
labour ; but the more general cause is, that the labOurers
are ,enabled to live in comfort and acquire wealth without,
for the most part, labouring on the estates of the planters for
more than three or four days in a week, and from five to
seven hours in a day ; so that they have no sufficient stimulus
to perform an adequate amount of work.
7.—That this state of things arises partly from the high
wages which the insufficiency of the supply of labour, and
their competition with each other, naturally compel the
planters to pay; but is principally to be attributed to the
easy terms upon which the use of land lias been obtainable
by negroes.
B.—That many of the former slaves have been enabled to
purchase land, and the labourers generally are allowed to
occupy provision grounds subject to no rent, or to a very low
one; and in these fertile countries, the land they thus hold
as owners or occupiers not only yields them an ample supply
of food, but in many cases a considerable overplus in money,
altogether independent of, and in addition to, the high money
wanes which they receive.

9.—That the 'cheapness of land has thus been the main
cause of the difficulties which have been experienced ; and
that this cheapness is the natural result of the excess of fertile
land beyond the wants of the existing population.
10.—That in considering the anxious question of what
practical remedies are best calculated to check the increas-
ing depreciation of West Indian property, it therefore appears
that much might be effected by judicious arrangements on
the part of the planters themselves, for their own general
advantage, and by moderate and prudent changes in the
system which they have hitherto adopted.
11.—That one most obvious and desirable mode of endea-
vouring to compensate for this diminished supply of labour
is to promote the immigration of a fresh labouring popula-
tion, to such an extent as to create competition for employ-
ment.
_ _

I2.—That for the better attainment of that object, as well
as to'securethe full rights and comforts of the immigrants as
freemen, it is desirable that such immigration should be con-
ducted under the authority, inspection, and control of res-
ponsible public officers.
13.—That it is also a serious question, whether it is not
required by a due regard for the just rights and interests of
the West Indian proprietors, and the ultimate welfare of the
negroes themselves, more especially in consideration of the
large addition to the labouring population which it is hoped
may soon he effected by immigration, that the laws which
regulate the relations between employers and labourers in
the different colonies should undergo early and careful revi-
sion by their respective legislatures.

IPSWICH ELECTION.—On Monday the nomination of
candidates for this borough took place, and on the following
day was the polling, when at the close the numbers were as
follow :
Gladstone, C
Fox, C
Thornbury, R 548
Vincent, Chartist
The reason why Vincent, the chartist, obtained so many
votes was because he was backed by his radical colleague,
Mr. Thornbury, who is a man of considerable influence in
the borough, and employs a great quantity of men.

We state with regret that the discharge of the 200 men
from Mr. Smith's quarries, which took place a short time
since, has been followed by a reduction in the wages of the
labourers to the extent of 3d. a day. from their already very
low diurnal wages of 20d. and 2s. We further learn that 10
per cent. has been deducted from the amount of wages earned
by his quarrymen and by his workmen on the quay. We are
assured by parties thoroughly conversant with the trade, that
several hundreds more, both of quarrymen and of labourers,
will have of necessity to be discharged before next winter,
both from the works of Mr. Pennant and Mr. Srnitle—
Carnarvon Herald.

EMIGRATION TO THE CANA DAS.—The government agent
for emigration has caused a copy of the following notice to
be posted at the Dublin Custom-house, as a caution to per-
sons about to emigrate :
" Government Emigration-office,
Custom-house, Dublin, Aug. 11, 1842.
" The latest advices from New Brutiswicl continue to de-
scribe the redundancy of labour which still exists; and that,
consequently, great distress prevails there.
" Persons intending to proceed to that colony are hereby
warned, that too many emigrants have arrived there already
this season. " J. E. HoDnEn, Government Agent."
MARSHALL'S FLAX MILL AT LEEDS.—The following
particulars respecting this stupendous building have been
furnished by an eye-witness, who was permitted to inspect it
a few weeks ago:—The building is 132 yards long, and 72
yards wide (inside measure)—one story, or 20 fact high.
The roof consists of 72 brick arches, supported 72 iron pillars
of the Corinthian order, and secured together by strong iron-
work. The brick roof has a thick coating of composition, to
prevent the water from coining through, and is covered with
hearth, from which has sprung up a beatiful grass close.
There are 66 glass domes, 48 feet round, 11 feet 6 inches high,
containing 10 tons of glass, all iron window frames. Total
weight of roof, 4,000 tons. Cost with the machinery, upwards
of £200,000. There are four steam-engines, 100 horse-power
each, and two 80 or 85 horse-power each, land one engine
7 horse-power, which does nothing but blow either hot or
cold hair into the room. The building covers more than two
acres of ground. It is supposed that 80,000 persons might
stand in the room, 60,000 upon the roof, and 50,000 in the
cellar.—Nottingham Review.
ANECDOTE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SIR ROBERT SALE.—
This gallant and distinguished officer very nearly lost his life
at the storming of Ghuznie, or Ghizni, a redoubtable fortress
in Affghanistan, as strongly garrisoned as it was fortified.
Ghuznie, in short, was a place of great strength and import-
ance ; and its occupation was considered indispensable to
the success of the Affghan war. A force of 12,000 men had
already reached it, but was wholly inadequate to batter or
invest a fortress of such magnitude, more especially as the
artillery-train contained only forty guns, eighteen of which
belonged to the horse artillery, and were of very small cali-
bre. Lord Keane, however, determined that an attempt
should be made to storm the place. Accordingly, Sir Robt.
Sale was appointed to command the storming brigade, con-
sisting of four regiments; whilst the gallant and lamented
Col. Dennie volunteered to lead the forlorn hope, consist-
ing of four companies of light infantry. The engineers,
under the command of Captain Thompson, a very distin-
guished officer, having in the silence of night, and without
being perceived by the enemy, crossed the causeway, de-
fended by loopholes, which lead across the wet ditch, suc-
ceeded in reaching the massive portal of Ghuznie, and piling
against it bags of gunpowder, to which was attached a long
hose. The garrison, however, bearing a bustle without, and
anxious to ascertain, though not suspecting its nature, dis-
played a large and brilliant blue light upon the rampart im-
mediately over the gate; but ere they had time to distinguish
objects, the hose was fired, the powder exploded, the heavy
barrier was shivered to atoms, and the gaping chasm which,
its disappearance displayed, was partially tilled with frac-
tured beams and rafters, and masses of detached masonry.
As soon as the bugle sounded, Colonel Dennie and his men
rushed into the dark opening, where they found themselves
opposed, hand to hand, by the Affghan garrison, who had
t ei Still
their
already recovered from their surprise. They were, however,
fighting in the dark, the bayonets of our men being opposed
to the Affghan sabres. Colonel Dennie 's little band had to
grope their way between the still standing walls ; and the
glimmer of the fading blue light, instead of assisting them,
served only to render their situation more perplexing.
their
St
they groped and fought bravely on. Each section in turn
gave its volley at half-pistol-range, then madeawlaeyfwan athe
a
for.
next to advance beyond it. Thus, the forlorn hope gra-
dually gained ground, until at length their first files and h
leaders beheld the blue starry sky over the headsclos of
closing
retreating opponents. A moment after the British soldiers
were in the place. Meanwhile, Sir Robert s
vancing to support the forlorn hope, in the event
en-
trance being forced. While the bugles of the o
skir-
mishers sounded, he had steadily pushed forward. As his
columns moved rapidly on, he met an entgieneer officer who
explosion
officerOlosion and
had been thrown down and stunned by
h
had not yet perfectly recovered his senses.
in-
formed him that, though the gate had beets blown open, the
forlorn hope, from the obstruction of the passage had been
foiled in their attempt to effect an entrance,
ordered the retreat to be sounded, aware that
, Saleunder t hee ri
re
eu
op
mo n.
stances such as he supposed to exist, h
ad-
vance further, only be leading his men to rtualidd ddid he o
scheeestruction.
Soon after, however, another
aengineer officer came up, and
acquainted him that Dennie h
order was now given to advance forced an entrance. The
obeyed. The delay arising from the manisdtakmeoosft
tchreorfuffielerly
caused • a considerable of
mischief'
of engineers was productive it bad
party and the forlorn hope.
y Colonel Dennie's because
space to exist between the storming
the gateway of Ghuznie, a large Just as Sale's columrTvreenacl d
from
the ramparts b
energy the leading columnslnim rusheddown to
make their escape. They • body of Atighans,ulr
. force,
e.with despe-
rateand
force,
edeiaftetlleastttearcmyeg
the tnel6e was terrific. uarter was neither given nor taken,
and the struggle was for( life. One of the Affghan chiefs, a
fine-looking, athletic man, leaping over the fallen timbers,
came unawares upon Sir Robert Sale, whom he cut down
with a blow of his shum.theer, an Asiatic sword with an edgo
like a razor. As Sale was falling, the Affghan repeated his
blow ; but the hilt only of his S 1 In msheer took effect, as the
English general stumbled forward. This blow was, ho .
tte Aff w-
ever, of stunning violence; but in delivermdg i
where Affghan
to the g
Sale rolled over each other.roun , he and
over-reached himself, and fell
English
The general, though
the loss of blood, eneavoured
stunned and already faint fromAiT
han, and for this
to master the weapon of the g
' of . purpose
in his band, cutting one his fingers
to the sharp blade i
the
keen blade. he placed hihand
to the bone. Releasing the . ~.g
en,
13 and thus preventeds
firmly upon that of the An
Sir Robert Sale, though any
further use of his weapon. not tall,
ld oati.sjlou ered, and possessed
is firmly built, broad-shouldered, . , of great
But he mos fast losin •
gits strength
muscular power.
ii
osverful, taller, and Thad Th
• e
Affghan was equa
P Sale being, therefore, the advantage
of being unscathed.ore, over-matched
11 for
Ned wca assistance. Captain Kershaw, of
was compelled . •
happening, in the melee, to ershaw, of
the 13th, hapP . . , approach the 1 of
and perceiving the p ace
general's d
this struggle,
h the body ancrer passed
his sword through of the
Affghan, e , -
hint incapable, passed on. But the desperate and supposing
to struggle with frantic energy, and the • man continued
might still have been doubtful,' had lssue of the conflict
grapple with his foe, succeeded in not Sale, in the fierce
this position, and still holding th getting uppermost. In
nent, Sale, with his sabre, which e sword-band of his oppo-
gie, dealt the Aflghan a blow he had not lost in thestrug-
top of the head to the eyebrowsrelaxed
!;
• The grasp of the Mussul-
Ur. ULLAII (Oh, God ty an almost superhuman effort,
he moved no more. Sir •) His eyes closed in death, and
the scar engraved u Robert Sale will carry to his grave
Affghan
chie,....._ upon his cheek with the sumsheer of the
1 con'eltPondest qf the Gloucester Journal.