The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-01-11
lug from the West Indies


JAMAICA.
KINGSTON, (JA.) Dec. 81, 1850. J
The Rapages of the Cholera-Ihe HeartLessnes
ofMe People-I The Lsgislature--Ihe Steame
Gorgona, dc, &c.
NV regular correspondence has been inter
rupted, at time, too, when there has been tn.
most important intelligence to communicate
This is owing principally to the uncertainty O
the steamers calling here during the prevalence,
of the epidemic : but now that it has subsidec
in King.ton--I may say disappeared--I trust tt
be enabled to write fully and frequently, ms here
tofore, as have no doubt that the steamers will
call here without interruption. a af
Although Kingston, Port Royal and Spanish
Town, have to be thankful for the disappearance
OF the scourge, still the enemy has left behind
such bitter wounds that time alone can heal
Out Of small population, say 10000, We have
lost at least 1000. But in Port Royal, the NOR.
tality has been more fearful; out of about 900
of the inhabitants of Port Royal, 400 at least
have fallen victims to the fell destroyer
On the north side of the isand--Montego Bay
and Falmouth--the scourge is still raging in all
its malignty; and the mortality in Montego Bay,
amongst the children, is greater than it has been
in any other part Of the island. One estate in
ST. James, about nine miles from the town
have named, ("Latium Estate" think lost all
hands on the property, except the bOokkeeper
and Overseer, who fled in terror, leaving unin-
TERED about thirtycorpses.
The ordeal through which we have passed has
disclosed to us scenes that the greatest enemies
of the island could not have supposed TO exist
We have witnessed degree of immortality, on
the part Of our people, that makes one shudder
to contemplate. The greatest heartessness has
been exhibited by hundreds. A man refused to
assist in placing the corpse of his wife within
its coffin, unless he was paid to do SO, and he is
only one of many who are equally barbarous.-
One shoulders at the thou ht.
The greatest misery and restitution prevails,
and those who can afford it have their charitable
feelings taxed to the utmost extent. A project
is on foot to establish an orphan asylum for the
reception of the poor children who have become
deprived Of parental care. The matter is set OH
foot by William Smith, Esq, member of Assem-
bly, for Trelawny, a man whose business habits
and comprehensive mind induce the belief that
his project will be successful
Our Island Legislature stands adjourned
until the 14th January. What measures are
likely to engage their attention first, / do not
know; but imagine that emigration will be
foremost We have now fine crops whitening
on the ground, without the labor necessary to
take them off for manufacture, and no chance
exists ofprocuring the labor except by extensive
emigration. Happy indeed, would be- could
see an inaux-a steady, flowing tide Of emigra-
ton from some country; then might We hope
for better days. What the British government
will do for us, if they do anything at all, can
not say. Memorials will be sent home from
the Council and the Assembly on the state Of
the country.
There are no other items of news worth COM
municating.
The Gorgona steamer called in here, on her
way to Charges, a day or two ago, for supply
of coal. She had to bnrn everything on board
TO bring her thus far, but she did we'll, never
theless, for the run was performed within ten
days. She has gone on to Charges.
BARBADOS.
Barbados papers do not contain much of in
terest The Globe is advocating thelpropriety Of
abolishing the present mode of supplying the
inhabitants with water-by the bucket and
alludes to the EMBELLISHMENTS of hard water
for drinking and culinary purposes, particularly
ut moment like the present. when there is
fear of the Island being visited by the dreadful
scourge which is decimating jamaica
The court of grand sessions had commenced
its sitting the criminal business was rather
heavy. The Chief Justice commenced his charge
The calendar of business for this session of
the court, though not very large, contains ] re-
greet to inform you, some grave offences, there
being no less than three charges of murder, and
one Of manslaughier; in addition to which, there
are eleven cases of cutting and wounding with
n feonous intention, fifteen of larcencies of va
rious grades, and one Of aggravated assault
making total Of thirty-one cases for your pre-
liminary Investigation, TO which Others may pro-
badly be added.
The weather in the island is thus spoken of
by the Globe of the I'd inst:
Since six o'clock on Thursday evening, a very
large quantity of rain had fallen, accompanied
with more lightning and thunder than is usual
mt this season; and up to the hour at which we
write, Gone o'clock Monday afternoon,) the
weather still continues wet, and with very little
Appearance of an immediate change. Asyet, the
canes have sustained no injury, and may even
derive considerable benefit from the drenching
they have received, should the present humidity
be followed by few of our customary sunshny
days.
The sanitary commissioners appointed by the
Governor were most industriousy engaged
in causing every part Of the sland to be properly
purified the "hard labor prisoners" from the
jails were employed on the work.
BRITISH GUIANA.
Complaints were rife at this place ms to the ir-
regularity in the arrival of the steamers with the
European mails. On the 9th instant, the mails
were closed at Georgetown for Great Britain, in
the absence Of the mails from there. "The mer-
chants and Others" says our contemporary,
"grumble terribly Mt these continued delays
II is thought formal complaint will be forwarded
to the proper authorities at home.
The most important local event. says the pa
per before us, is serious disturbance that took
place in Berbice, on the evening Of the 18th in.
stance, between the black soldiers of the 30
West India Regiment stationed there and the
police. 1t appears that the disturbance arose
out of the arrest by the police of one Of the non
commissioned officers of the Sd West India
while standing, on Saturday evening. in the mar
ket of New Amsterdam, blocking up the way
and that on the arrest being made, body of tn
black soldiers, armed to the teeth, proceeded
down to the police station, and rescued their OF
ficer, az indictments say, M Ell armis. The mat
ter was, we believe, undergoing jndcinl investl