The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-01-28
gardens, allsd With flowers and shrub

II the Americans were here, which trust may
soon be, they would make Kingston an elegant CITY,
- she has all the elements Of Il within herself the
Town. IL miles, would be continued the whole length
Of The island, and line OF telegraph would be estab
lished In all the principal towns.
There "a small theatre here which will hold
about 700 people / attended q concert by the mill
tary bands and amateurs for the benefit of the wido
and orphans Of the soldiers who have fallen in the
war In the East. The instrumental performers were
al blacks, amounting to about 80, and they per
formed the most difficult music In q manner that
surprised me. Governor and Lady skly, with Major
General Sir Richd Dougherty, and many officers,
were In attendance. Sir Henry is q good looking
man. apparently about 40 years of age, and reseni.
bles In appearance the newly elected Mayor Of your
CITY, He was In his earlier career large West Iudia
merchant in London, and getting into the House Of
Commons, he showed 80 much ability there that
he was appointed Governor of Demarara, and
subsequently he published some clever letters on
the affairs OF Jamaica, which proved 80 trouble.
that in order to get rid Of him he was appointed
Governor of Jamaica; but he was only pls ain Henry
Barkly, and 1t would not do to send nim out WITH
out . title, 80 he was knighted by his Queen, and
Is now Knight Commander Of the Honorable Order
OF the Bath; ard when he appears on pubic occa.
sions he wears his order, which, as near as can
make out, II red silk kerchief doubled under his
vest to protect his lungs and liver He may be the
able man he is represented, but think his last
speech or message to the Assembly, was very
wishy-washy namby.pamby affair. In II he chiefly
dwels on the Importance Of the copper mines, and
advances the idest ii they properly worked,
they would resuscitate the sinking fortunes of ia
aica, and In time take the place Of sugar planting.
Now, it Is difficult for me to understand how Sir
Henry, as practical merchant, perpetrate such
absuidities 1t is well known fact that mining at
best 10 but an uncertainty, while the cultivation Of
sugar has been carried on for almost centuries and
Is thoroughly understood; and although it has lost
money for the last few years, the rum is now pay
ing the planters han6s0mely-and 30 encoursg.
Ing has this been, that know m self seve-
raj Of them who are this crop farming all their
sugar into rum-therefore il the present nigh value
In Europe continues for year or two, the planters
will In that event not only gain ba what they have
lost on their late sugar crops, bat make handsome
fortunes In the bargain. A small estate making
three hundred puncheons should net nov, over and
above all expenses, twelve to fifteen thousand dol
lars Now, should like to be informed what better
business than this the planter can have. Would ne
better bis prospects by diving into wild mining
speculati0ns This important matter Sir Henry |
makes no mention of Whatever. 1t would be, per-
haps, uncharitabe to attribute the omission to any
want Of knowledge on his part of the subject, 90
WILL therefore, suppose that he may possibly be an
advocate Of the Maine Liquor law, and avoided il
from conscientious scrupes.
The great event ESQ Considered herel has been the
races, which were attended by the Governor and
lady, and the first ladies in Kingston They lasted
for three days, and were well attended by all classes
The horses were In fine order, and the most or them
of great symmetry and beauty. Tney do not, how
Il was curious TO see well dressed ladies' up In the
hustings looking on the scene before them with the
greatest admiration. Now and then could hear
fair creature softly betting with some gentleman
friend. ! must say that, take the affair on the
whole, 1t did not come up to my standard |
Of refinement, nor add to my ideas Of elegau 70.
To see Lady Barkly seated on q bench on the
stand so rudely constructed Of rough boards as to
hardly compare with the commences political hus.-
inRs Ia the States, and black men, and coored men,
and all sorts Of men miogling in the crowd, while
beneath was rude bar at which liquors were served
n in nnto all
eyes, made me hesitate for moment a. to whether
the LADY sitting before was in reality Lady Bark
~, the wife OF an English knight. But am told
ste Ia very masculine Ia her HABITS. and takes de-
light in pitching quoits and shooting with the bow
and arrow, and such innocent amusements.
There is q very respectable Italian Opera Compa-
ire They have produced thus far Lu H. "iau POS
carl, Don Pasquale, "and several more promised
shortly ! went one evening, more for the purpose
Of seeing the style Of the audience than 70 near the
up, which 1t needed very badly; the ladies were
well dressed but could not help observing that the
audience was pretty thickly spnukled with dark
ebony Venuses; the singing was pretty fair, but
there was no Ghoruses, and the orchestra was bad,
and the prima DONNA Madame VIII, caused me much
pain, by constantly opening and closing her eye
LIDS 30 energeticaily, "a though she was
using them for lemon squeezers; and her eyeballs
constantly rolled like wax doll whose eyes are
made 70 undergo the same operation by pulling
small wire that runs through its body. do not of
be persuaded, that the working Of Msdame's eyes
was caused by q like process.
| had heard good deal of Christmas day, and
the manner In viii it is kept, 80 sailed out on
morning there was exhibited in the market, (not so
large as the Franklin, in Old sip,) what they called
fine beef, and any day is 70 be seen much finer in
any OF our markets, and who would you think we're
There The first people in the city, who came down
in their private carriages to look at and gloat
q mess OF raw beef; but was told IL was fash
ionabe.
At night all I could distinguish were the discor-
dant sounds PROD need by the blacks humping their
Wild music on their old kett % and tambournes, and
thus ended Christmas, as | thought; bat the next
MOI ming, much to my establishment, read long
editorial in the principal paper ABOUT the glor:
Gus way In which the day was celebrated. /
looked for details, but ali could dnd was
some indistiacs reference made to the marry
who drove as many cattle through the street,)
cracked their whips and laughed; verify "'ts
distance lends enchantment to toe view" more
yapidly stupid day than New Years never passed.
longed to be in New York, that might join 10 the
time .honored ft stivites. So. enough OF Ktngston
and its stupicities; and procsed with my journey
through the island.
We made up Q party and drove from Kingston
along the side of the eastern end Of the island,
coming TO the Yallsh's river, and stopping over
night at the house OF planter having beautiful
estate near Port Morant. There is most magaif.
cent vie from this bouse ofthe for hundreds Of
miles. Journeying on the next morning, we reach.
ed Bath at mid day, aud stopped to refresh our
horses The ride, for miles before you come to this
place, abounds in the most romantic scenery. On
every side are sparkling streams dashiug from the
noun tains and meandering through smiling Valleys
AS you wind up the mountain, at a sudden turn,
the scene bursts upon you in al its magnfcence.
For miles around-and beneath your feet are many
fine sugar estates, such - Golden Grove, Herd!ey,
and others-the rays Of the sun gliding the sugar
cane, while the breeze sweeps over the vas. fields
like the surgiDg Of the sea, forms one
of the finest panoramic views ! ever baheid.
Here IL that Monk lie Wis owned es.ates, and in
his journal OF West India Proprietor" his fas-
cnst.pg descriptions are not at all exaggerated He
was the friend Of Byron, who Wrote OF MIN when he
died
I would give many n sugar cane