The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-11-29

AMOSTON, J2mAaca, Sept. 30, 1867.
Ls'cnd Seen1y-Jameica Under the Free LsSo~
System-7ne Planters Again 7Ariving-7smpo-
rayy Causes 70 Which they Osos their Prosperisv
-Dilapidated appearance Of Kingston- Trode
Bet,oeen Jamaica and The United Stotes-Yezo
tious Regulations to schsch American Vessels sys
Subjected Extensive Ordination Of Niger Ma
listers by the Bishop Of Kingston-Intense Disxuse
of the White Chokers-Ns,o Definition Of Ne
Odor Of Sanctity.
have just returned from trip through the inAs- 4
rior of this island, and now, with the incurabls
propensity of an old newspaper hand, sit down 70
give the HERALD the result Of my observations.
have never seen finer country, for its size,
and yet have seen many which are usually con-
sidered among the finest in the world in point Of
fertility and natural beauty. This is emphatically
mountain land A piece of paper crumpled in tho
hand and thrown table, gives the best possible
idea of its confguration. The Blue Mountains
raverse it from east TO west throughout its entire
length of lG0 miles rising at the east end in peaks
Of 5000 feet high, where the widest and bodest
features Of mountain scenery are clothed with win
ming soitness, by the exuberaace of the foliage and
flowers which spring from prolific soil fresh and
delicious temperature prevails throughout the year in
these elevated regions; the fevers which frequently
attack strangers in the owlands are here unknown.
and the white inhabitants have the fair and rosy
complexion Of Europeans This is the scene of cof-
fee cultivation, and the groves of coffee trees with
their leaves of vivid and shining green their milky
blossoms and crimson berries, their hedges OF log.
wood and dog roses form no tritling ingredients of
the pleasure which traveller from the cold North
experiences in this beautiful southern land
need not tell you how the island has suffered oco-
nomically by the abolition Of slavery in 1888. It's
exports Of coffee have dwndled from twenty million
pounds (Which the result Of the most prosperous
year under slavery to ten million; the export for
the year ending September l 1857, according to Off
iol afiafir \ md ifa nj
have suffered dimnution in about the same ra-
to-. At tho present time, although fully one-third
of the sugar estates either lying abandoned with
their works rottng to the ground, or else are d.
yided into small patches owned and cultivated By
the free negroes as provision grounds, ii. G., PLAN
tain and yam felds,) agriculture may be said to
enjoy prosperity unknown here for years The
planters iourishing for the under the nfu-
ence Of high prices and bc neicia effects Of the
late reduction of the sugar duty in America:
they are extending the area Of cultivation on their
estates, while capitalists advance money freely for
the purpose d buying in and rc-estabshing aban-
doned estates: in short, for a slow place like
Jamaica, quite a strong breeze OF speculation has
sprung up, which | am afraid will finally watt
such of the planters as are still solvent into the
same condition their brethren. | observe that tho
Colonial Sfa,Mdrd--the organ OF the planting in
terest-is beginning to discourage the speculators
by prcsaging speedy glut of the markets and the
return Of prosperity among the Louisiana planters
In this, however, is is only carrying out the views OF
its patrons, who naturally anxious to keep COM
than il could wish in its representations.
great inducement to speculation exists in tho
low prices for which fertile lands, which have for
merly been cultivated as sugar estates, may now be
purchased from their impoverished owners.
Kingston is u most dilapidated old place It's
streets are unpaved and unlghted, and at the
present season are mere water courses deeply fur
rowed by the rains in some places, and filled up in
others with drift stones and gravel brought down i
the torrents which sweep through them whenever il
rains. Four-ftths of the dwelling houses are falling
down for want of repair, and onehalf of the ware
houses and stores to let, without the remoesi
chance OF being ever again tcnanted. There is
neither business nor amusement. The theatre has
not been opened for two or three years by any
regular actors and there is no society, because
visiting involves the Of carriages. which
very few people can afford TO keep hire
when they are kept by other people. Walking about
such streets have described is work of Difficult
" in the day time, besides being dangerous in
warm climate; and at night 1t is quite mpraetics-
ble for females Consequently nine o'clock rs the
bed time of most of the Kingston people.
Most of the import trade OF the island is done with
the United States, and il seems to be chiefly in the
hands Of natives, Generally Jews and not as former
ly English merchants There is no American house in
Kingston except Hutchins Co., who are agents for
California steamers, which usually stop here to
coal.
At present there are only two American vessels i'm
portone poor little schooner, the master Of which
has been obliged to submit to the expense OF surveys
on his matches marine protests and other legal acts.
in order to obtain the freight money due his
/ cargo, which, III II pretended, II damaged, because q
few barrels happen TO be stained. Stains of this
Kind in question are contracted on the dock in New
York. and would not deterorate from the value o(
the commodity anywhere but here. Masters Of ves-
sells bound 10 Kingston ought to be cautious there
fore, how they receipt for goods which have any
stains on the package Property is condemned here,
ruld Al auction. bought in established system
which am confident is not the most honorable in
the world. Nobody suffers, of course, except our
underwriters and shipowners, who are perhaps bet
ter able to afford little loss than the poor people
here; but whether they willing to do so or not
is matter for their own consideration.
A Governor Mr. Charles Darling, recently
arrived here. Congestive fevers prevalent in
Kingston at this time but yellow fever There il
no news at present beyond what have given above
Of any interest 10 your readers.
Such Of the readers Of the HERALD as are fortu-
nate enough 10 he of the Episcopal fold may be inte
rested to know that this branch OF the church militant
il in a than ordinarily militant state, through
kies. He has ordained number Of them to tho
great disgust Of the white aity and most OF the
clergy. The former by their organ, the Colonial
Standard warn his lordship that the old law establish
ing the English church la this island and providing
for its maintenance, may he repealed by the Colony,
and some Of the clergy, headed by one Of the arch
deacons have prepared petition on the credit Of
their bishop to be presented to the Archbishop Of
Canterbury The complaint ", not that the bishop
ordsins negroes, but persons unqualified by life and
attainments for the office Of priests-but the real
Of complaint j. the color and smell Of the new
ministers.
The Bishop of Kingston, Jthe Hon. and Reverend
Or. Reginald Courenay) Is sufiragcn to DIR. Spencer
Bishop Of Jamaica. who Is old and nflrm and lives
in England.
Army IpteII1Uepcc.