The Statesman.
London, England, 1824-01-27 00:00:00

WEST INDIES.

A Leeward islands ronil arrived yesterday with letters o
the 15th of December fro•a St. Thomas's, the last port touched
at. and corresponding dates front the other islands. Nothing
had occurred on the colotahian Main subsequently to the fall
of Puerto Cavell° ; but it is stated, that ninny commercial ad-
venturers were repairing to that place, invited by the apps•
rently tranquil situation of the republic, to conduct mercantile
operations in that country•. In Trinidad some symptoms of
insurrection had been evinced in the plantations Immediately
adjoining Pnrt Spain, but they had been promptly suppressed.
In the rest of th- island all was perfectly tranquil. Tne islands
of Ilarbailoes, Tobago, and Antigua, also appear to be in a
slate of tranquillity.
We have received Kingston papers (Jamaica), to the 4th ult.
The following are extracts :
KisnsroN, Docember 2.—Several important matters came
before the house this day. First, the committal of the shoot•
nable gsgging hill, which must hate been framed from some
draft of his Catholic Majesty of Spain. We beg to call the
attention of our Legislators to the Consolidated sin veLaw,and
they will see that to speak seditiously, among slaves is punish•
able with death. The law is quite strong enough. If this
infamous law ram the Attorney General and Mr. Bullock are
absolute. Then we wilt not hear the Inhabitants of Trinidad
and all the other Colonies say, " you who live in a land of li•
herty." We understand some most noxious and unnecessary
clauses of the Alien Act will be repealed on its re-committal
this day. The law is nearly useless.
The report of Mr. Grignon. as to the most effectual means
to be adopted to resist the innovations of the Mother Country,
and Mr. Barrett's draft of a Me.norlal to the King will also
be taken up.
We do not advorat• the proceedings of the Barbadians.
who tumultuous/y polled down the Mrthedist chapel ; but
it were much to be wished that our Legislature would put
an end to the cant of hypocrisy in this Island. 'rile spirit
of Methodism is so prevalent in this city, that we have Me.
tliodist prayer meeting's. love meetings. political meetings
at all times (cLiedy midnight) anti in all places. We ran
prove the fact that at a metholistical meting which took
place in the chapel at Spanish Town, abaut three years
since, a Methodist parson (a very enlightened one too),
commenced a tirade of abuse against the Exterutive. afro
,eencluded by " hoping- that a certain exalted individual"
(roaring out his name and " might at length mire
himself from his filthy lusts before he went into the pit of
eternal damnation." The E iitor of this paper, heard this
said in the presence of, at.d addressed to, nearly WU
slaves.
The Attorney-General on Saturday issued his warrant
against Mr. Richard Facey (a person of colour) for sedi-
tion. lie is said to have declared that he would be the
first who would "plant the tree of Liberty in the centre of
Kingston Parade ' This expression was certainly very'
foolish and pueiile.
Mr, Facey has given securities for his appearance to an-
ewer the charge.
Warrants (under the Alien Act) have been issued against
other persons. The warrants not having been executed we
suppress their nan es.
Messrs. Lecense and Escofferry, who were, by the 'lodg-
ment of the Supreme Court, declared British suhjeres,wpro
on Saturday taken up and sent on board the Serap!s for the
purpose of being sent out of the Island.
The above-named individuals were yesterday morning
transferred from the Seraph to the Helicon, which sailed
immediately. It is understood that they are to be landed
at St. Domingo.
We are rather timid in giving our opinion on a pa--
ticular subject ; but we hope .no fears, well or ill-found:
ed, will in Ince the Assembly to render the Executive ab•
solute.

11:ESDAY LVENING, JANUARY 27, 1524.

SrecK EXCIIANtit, 12 O'CLOCK.—Consols opened this
morning at 901, to 91, but soon after lowered to 9(L for
the acconnt, and to 9011 for money.
Up to the present huur we do not hear of any Exprews
from Patil, nor are any expected, unless some political
event of importance has occurred.

All the reports concerning the financial system to be
a,lopted by Ministers at the opening of Parliament, are
still vague and uncertain.

Foaxics FUNDS.—Tits opening of the above Market,
was again in Mexican Bonds, at 32; they remain to th•
present hour at the above price, with little fluctuation•
Spanish Bonds opened at 24Th 5, with little doing.
Old Spanish 24j to j--Colombian 65 --New Aus-
trian Sto 4--Chili 77 to 4--Itoosian 901 to --New
Prussian S9l to I—French Scrip 61 to 7—. Mexican Loan
31—Povais

In the approaching meeting of PaLament, whatever
difference of opinion may prevail among its members, par-
ticularly as to our foreign relations, measures of as great
importance to the interests of Great Britain mast be derma-
ed, as ever yet engaged the attention of onr Legislature
The late Mr. Bathe, on a memorable occasion, when Bout'•
bon politics were on the wane, could not tind France in
the Map of Europe. Were that distingnished man now
alive, lie would find that France was in possession of larger
dominion in Europe, than ever fell to the share of Louis the
14th in the most successful peri.4l of his military
career, and that Bourbon maxima of Government,
were the favourite creed of all the great continental powers.
He might, with his natural enthusiastic rapture, hail the maw
ben of the Holy Alliance as the Restorers of the Bourbons,
and their Protectors on the Throne of France. But whether
lie might be equally pleased, with the neutrality of England.
while Europe has been parcelled out and new cast, is sorne•
what doubtful. Without glancing at present at any other mat•
tern, one question mast be answered, and that is—in what relit'
tion does England now stand, or intend to stand, with respect to
the new and independent States of South America? It is now
I pretty well known, that neither France nor Russia will ever
be content without attempting the subjugation of these
countries, by fraud or force. 't his is well known to the
English Cabinet, who have nevertheless taken no deci-
sive steps to prevent the prosecution of such schemes
here England bas adopted a policy, that neither Leh rag
to war nor neutrality ; for though Consuls have been sent
out to the South Ameilcan States to ',slurs o a r commer-
cial interests, no public recognition has yet acknowledged
their independence. This is the dilemma in which we are
placed. On the one band France, Spain, and Russia
call upon us to join them in their frantic projects
of restoring to Ferdinand his revolted colonies; while
another and a greater power than them all, the United
States of NorthAmeries, declare in forcible language, that
they shall consider any attack on the independence of
South America by any European Power, as an act of hostile
aggression committed en themselves. Some decisive course
of measures must therefore be speedily adopted, to put
this vital question at rest. We believe Mr. Canning, on his
appointment of Commercial Consuls, went as far as he
could with any hopes of success, though not
so far as he might be inclioed. What he did then, was
a pledge, however, of better things to come ; and it is believed,
that redeced, as be now is, to make his election, between the
Holy Anilines and the United States, be intends to take the
same stand, as the President of the latter, in his late excellent
Message. This will not only be a popular, but one of the
most beneficial measares for the trade and commerce of this
Country, that was ever sanctioned by an English Parliament.