The Statesman.
London, England, 1821-10-23 00:00:00

&MOD

LONDON:

TVESDAY EYENL:YG, OCTOSIR 23, 1821.

Jamaica papers arrived this morning to the Sth of
September, from wllich we extract the following
[rcost THE ROYAL GAZICTTZ OF AUG. 24.]
The most melancholy accou:ita have been
received
this week froui all parts of the island, of the deplora-
ble effects of the long continued dry weather. The
crups of pains expected about this season will be al-
most entirely lost, as well as every kind of provi-
sions, and it is feared that many properties will
soon be called upon to purchase provisions for the
oegroes. !Slimy cattle have perisLed for the want
of water and food, and the next crops of sugar will

be I,,st throughout several districts, the cane being
irrecoverably withered. With such a miserable pros-
pect before us, the reduction of the Poll Tax last
year, in consequence of the loan of 80,000/., may
be considered a moat fortunate circumstance, and we
fear that other and large loans must be resorted to, to
defray the public contingencies, unless some immediate
steps are taken by tiove►nment for the relief of the
ruined planters, whose produce at the present price
and duties, even under favourable circumstances, do
not offer a sufficient profit to defray the necessary con-
tingencies of their estates.
BRIDGETOWN. BAIIHAD3ES, JULY 31.—This day
bis Excellency Lieut.-General Sir Henry Warde, our
(antor, opened the Assembly with the folluwirkg

speech :
Mr. President and Gentlemen of the Council—l feel
truly sensible of the high honour which his Majesty
has been graciously pleased to confer on me, by placing
me as Governor over such a must particularly respect-
able and enlightened body of people as those of this old
established colony. And I can cost conscientiously
affirm, lift I do, and, I hope, ever shall, entertain an
earnest desire to carry on the arduous duties of my si-
tuation (as far as the frailties of human nature will
adroit of) aided by the very able advice of the Presi-
dent and Council, with justice, integrity, and impar-
tiality, according to the best of my abilities.
I could have wished to have informed myself on
many points connected n ith my Government, but
fearing the being biassed in my opinion, by learning
too much, 1 have preferred remaining in ignorance,
hoping that I might gradually inform myself without
any serious detriment to your interest. I understood,
however, that some material defects have been dis-
covered in the laws relating to the prosecution of
slaves fur criminal offences, which cannot too soon be
remedied. I therefore submit this subject to your
immediate cousideration.
PANAMA, ACG. B.—On the 7th inst. the Chinon ship
Alexander, of 22 guas and 90 men, from Guayaquil,
arrived here.—She was brought in by the crew in a
state of mutiny and delivered over to the Governor.—
She is completely loaded with muskets, pistols, gun-
powder, Lc. which are now landing. She parted com-
pany a few days ago with several gun boats, whois
crews also meant to give themselves up to the Spanish
Commandant, Gonzales.
Two American brigs, chartered at the Havannah by
the Spanish government, to carry supplies to Porto
Cabello, for the service of the Spanish troops, bad ar-
rived at Santa Martha, and delivered themselves over
with their cargoes to the Independent Government re-
cieving payment for their freight.
the

Paris papers to the 21st instant arrived this morn-
ing. They contain various articles relative to his
Britannic Majesty'.6 movements, but no intelligence of
much importance of a political kind. From Venice,
it is stated, that the Turkish fleet which entered the
port of Zante on the 13th of September last, left it
on the 15th, and that its appearance and disappear-
ance bad given rise to the must contradictory reports.
A hattleis said to have taken place in the Morea in
favour of the Greeks, but where it was fought is not
mentioned. In an article from Petersburg, It is said,
that the absence of the Emperor from that city,'
to review the regiments of his guard at Witepsk,
troold not emceed a fortnight. Letters from Vi-
sass. of October 8, anoosase that fragment interviews