The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-04-30
THE DANISH WEST INDIES.


Of Nicholas-O~ Spanish RelaiOns-The Ben Frank.
lin and Cdtharine Augusta-Strange Rumors-Te
United States Consul and the Local thorhes-Men or
Wdr-The Allies and NiggTs-An Election-Ihe Fire
Department. -Healh-Shipping Neos, de-
After residence Of about two months in these parts
at length feel myself equal to the task of keeping you
advised Of matters they in the Danish West In
dies In fact have pretty well digested all things Tex
cept the food) in tie three sever althful islands Of
st. Thomas st. John and Santa Cruz and with the keen
olfactories Of dyspeptic. you may be assured what
Of rotten Is in this part Of the States Of Denmark
win be faithfully nosed out. 1t is my intention for
the present TO speak, however, more Of local news than
Of things political.
As this is the point at which the English West India
steamers assemble twice month to interchange passen
gers, mails and freight to and from Southampton Mex
leo, the Spanish Main, &C. are regularly advised Of
things they transpre in the great world There Is
also another effort being made to establish regular
steam communication with the United States, which we
hope will prove successful The pioneer in this enter
prise the Osprey, leaves to day for Philadelphia via
Bermuda, and has the honor to bear this important
despatch.
We have lately had some slight shocks of earthquake
but nothing serious apprehended In past years. the
great to st. Thomas has been the most devastating
Ares.
Thanks, however, to the energy and public spirit Of
the then Counsellor of State and Judge the Hon. Il. a.
Berg-the actual Governor different style of building
was adopted and it is long since there dsstruc
tive confagration happened that which destroyed
the warehouses of the worthy American firm Of Whit
more Co.. . few weeks since.
We have lately bad Salvi and Norentini to charm us
for couple of evenings only. They their way
from Havana to Southampton, and easily induced
to reman few dayseaving, hope, with light hearts
and heavy pocketfor they had not been successful
during their late in Mexico and Cuba. Old Savi
was in 6ne voice. and the Sgnorina looked charm
ing than everbeng withal in interesting condition.
heightened by slight lameness the result of acci.
dent while riding the hills of this island few days
after her arrival Bottesin her husband and Belett
the instrumentast, were of the troupe.
The death of Nicholas has been received with deep re-
gret here by all except the allies and their todes-the
Spaniards On receipt Of the most of the shipping
showed fsgs at half mast 1t is truly loss America
Nicholas was our friend and the munfssnt patron of
our citizens. May Alexander follow his footsteps in ali
things.
Tho threatening aspect Of Spanish relations coca
stoned some little sensation here. Long, low sharp
schoorers are already enhanced In value and would
just recommend Uncle Sam to look well to this famous
free port IN time-or will have Spanish privatesrs
slipping out Of it by the The facilities for fitting
out and getting simon pure Spanish very great
Porto Rico in sight any clear day By the way hoss
nous vessels the Ben Franklin and Catharine Augusta
are st here and there yet much curiosity expressed
as to their final destination 1t is perhaps of sucent
significance to be entitled to special remark that Mr.
John N. Olcott who out from New York as agent
of those ships, returns in the Osprey and his place Is
supplied by Mr. Pickett, who has arrived from New
Orleans VIA Havana, and who Is said to be confidential
friend of General Quitman. What does this meanY Do
these vessss after all constitute the left wing ths
great exIedten Or are they designed simply to ope-
rate against Porto RcoS Tae United States Consul here
all nquirsrs that nothing the kind is In the
mYStertOusIy,
ted,) that s'kr Pickett is United states officer and
thai the sss
preparing for the wrath to Gomez and having purchased
.a al aR and
OF the difficulty has its adyocate and whilst party
possession Of the two vessels the opposition declares it
daily looking for two or three shipoads Of fierce M
By the way you will recollect the extraordinary out
rage Of tie firing into the Ben Franklin by Of the
forts of this place. ssme months ago. as she was peace
ably leaving the harbor under charter from the British
mail agent The espo,dence had on the occasion
between faithful and visilant C,nsul Major Helm
Of Kentucky and the local Governor was given to the
But there was sub -eq1ent interchange of notes
which have not yet in print As they cred
table alike to the consul and the Governor, have
procured copies fsom The agent Of the Ben Franklin,
approval Of the conduct Of the officer who ordered the
firing the home government has removed him from the
command here and promoted him downwsrds to q less
who cooly fred thrse 24b. shot into American
with IL G Ss S d
his Majesty the King Of Denmark" What the duties
Of that trust may be- plain republican can
Laisly we had Danish and an English man of war in
port but az present the haroor is bare of armed vessels
Captain Forbes of H ship Calypso, and Commo
dore Dicl son. cullud pussunp belonging to the navy
we hugsng is mere matter Of tastc-als,s ro,ss ar,
sweet And, by the way, until lately had observed
NEST wonderful intimacy between Monsieur de Chede-
Courier des Etats Unis- Of which paper he late
subedtOr and his kDotty p,ted eScellenoy Bssnaysn
tura Rasz ex- President of the Dominican Republic.
They were sernay arm in arm, and evidently sept in
the same bed" Now a-days they are never seen TO-
gether There has evidently been breach of tbs entente
cordalewhich is great pity; Baes, you snow, sopsd
from sarto Domingo year or two since, with treasury
in his pocket He has lately been visit TO his great
patron Louis Napoleon He has invested his "funs,"
the elder Mr. Weller would say, to great advantage
here
Lately there was election held for the Eve members
of the Legislative Council for the DaniAh West indies
island is entitled To manifest the interest po
tics by the people, will inform you that out Of 1000
trouble 10 attend the polls II that la not ndisaton
of rottenness In the State should like TO know what R
They practice number Ct good old customs here. For
inetnce when there is alarm OF fire. the members OF
Ss
the rol ia called and any member Is absent they walt
for him. After going through with all this the door
Of action with all due deberaon. Think Of that
oh, ye fremen Of Gothaml
The health of the place is good, with the exception OF
afew cases Of yellow fever among the shipPing Bust
ness IL rather dull, DASNEBSOG.
TIE CORRESPONDENCE.
!.
COMMERCIAL AGENCY or THE UNITED STATEs,
ISLAND ST. THOMAS, Jan. 9, 1856. I !
SIR have the honor to ackno Wedge the receipt OF
your Communication OF the 23d ultimo In reply to my
letter Of that date informing that you had ordered
Military Court Of Inquiry to investigate the facts rela
tive to the firing the American steamer Benjamin
franklin and have delayed replying to your letter thus
long, awaiting the return Of the ste amer.
Ihave to inform you that upon the return of the