New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-11-07

LANDS TO THE CROWN BLACK CLERGY
MAN IN ENGLAND.
From our Special Correspondent,
KINGSTON jamaica, Oct. Is, 1867.
Now that, after having been i'll session for
twelve months the Legislative Council has just been pro-
rogued by His Excellency the Governor the period has
arrived for taking hasty survey Of the position OF affairs
In tins country, compared with how matters stood
when our present Governor assumed office last year. Sir
John Grant, his arrival here found things in dcpor-
able state. The finances Of the country were in the
greatest disorder the revenues, though sweled 10 an
greatly dispTopOIonae 10 the resources OF the
colony, inadequate 10 meet the ordinary e1pend-
ture were required lot only to make up the de
hcency, but to dcfray the large expenses which had
arisen the disturbances o the previous year and the
Commission Of Inquiry; in addition 10 which, provision
demanded for. improving the administration OF
justice. recognizing the police force, giving aid
to popular education and carrying cut various reforms
IN the interests Of social order and good government
IL was impossible that all this could be done
without Increasing taxation. even after retrenehng the
expenditure ~ the Colony 10 the OF something like
$4,000 per annum The new taxes an increased ex
else land tax increased from Id TO I'd per acre.
a house tax graduated from half dollar upward and
yearly license trades and professions ranging from SIS
10 s25 or course there was great cutlery IN some quar-
tiers against the new nposs hut IL worthy that
the black people Of the Colony regarding the recall OF
Gov Eyre and the appointment OF Sir John Grant az vir
ua ypedge that they should henceort he protected In
their rights by the Government have paid the taxes de
mandsd Of them most promptly aud cheeIfuily.
After having provided the means of restoring the
finances OF the country TO something like order and Of
saving its credit Sir John Grant Immediately turned his
seiion Was nerntiyeiy demanded lie first completely
remodeed the police force which formerly disgrace to
efficient Of superior diligence aud respectable char
actcr lie abolished the old corrupt local boards called
Nesires, aud placodihe management oflOca aars me
hands Of few men, selected the ground OF respectable
rsrsanie d" tbs machinery If hs
Ia promote ts greater efficiency and extend It's bene
Ia the greatest possible number Of children But his
greatest achievement Is the reform hch he has effected
in the administration Of justice stripping the ola
exercised 80 unjusty, and establishing District Courts
similar To the English County Courts, having power for
that " dsposng Of minor criminal eases without the
Intervention Ola Jury. This ~ pretty fair amount OF
his Council have not been slack IN their exerions TO re-
pair the mischief resulting from previous ms
tho Governor, tn which alluded In my last letter, shows
no signs Of abaicnen aud the planters newspaper hero
but hc Is made ~ stern stun. aud does his duty without
themsevos by their results Perhaps the most pleas pg
bounded confidence repord i'm him bv lie black popula-
ton who applying Themselves with remarkable vigor
10 the cultivation OF the so, now that they feel they viii
raised PRINCIPALLY by the negruet j. expected will be
very large aud every year the people planting
out fresh fields All over the mountain regions to the ex
tent OF several thousands of acres annually
Tho scheme OF promoting the immigration OF southern
planters TO this island hangs ire told you from the
first that it not likely TO meet with encouragement
from the Government Sir john Grant or course received
the populations that waited upon MN cOurieousy ana
courteous replies 10 the memorials that were Tor
warded Ia Government House; but whcn came to the
finish the Committee ~ the Legislative Council. To whom
the matter referred Ia examine AMI report upon H.
declined TO recommend the subsidy that was asked for
steamer To run between Kingston aud NcwOrleans Ana
80 the matter stands at present the promoters OF ihe
movement are. Of course, dreadfuly chagrned at the
disappointment. and talk about holding meeting to ex
press their Indignation ut The conduct OF the Government
hut may venture tO predict that the whole thing VIII
end In smoke. Sir John Grant is have 10 be-
lcNe, favorable Ia the subsidy Tor steamer 10 run ne
tween Kingston and New-York; but even had he been
from the FIRST disposed 10 tax the blacks OF this country
IN order 10 assist old Southern Shareholders 10 ind
home in jamaica with the fate OF Gov Austen beforchs
eyes he would hesitate think. he took another step
time has been suspended in British Honduras for having
allowed his partshIy 10 the southern enhgrants 10 lead
hun into course OF action contrary Ia law III dlhpOsihg
Of the crown lands 10 them
The new law regulating the land here is Of strn
gent character that under ITS operation II IS expected
that la short time nearly million of acres npon which
there heavy arrears viii he forfeited W me crown Tor
worthless but there large tracts of fertile and good
land such southern slopes al the Blue Mountain range
IN ST. Thomas Ia the East ana tie northern slope III Tort
land all possessing cool slnbllOns, delicious climate
with soil capable Of producing the best coffee ana the
fruits and vegetables Of the temperate regions
negro clergyman, the Rev. Ro"rt Gardner, VINO lcH
tins island three months since for England, has
met with most hatterlng reception there Immediately
becoming known to Sir Henry sloks our late Gov
ernOr that Mr. Gordon had arrived IN England, Sir Henry
warmly interested himself In his behalf and wrote to the
Duke of Buckingham recommending MI. Gordon 10 MS
attention. The Duke, therefore communicated win Mr.;
Gordon, inviting him TO an interview at the Colonial
Office at which lie promised 10 do all in his power to
forward his interest The Archbishop Canterbury has
licensed Mr. Gordon to preach IN the United Church OF
England and Ireland, under the broad seal Of the Pm
Iaae the Bishop Of London had written him M aiiec-
tomato letter and severa cergymon had invited him to
don is of pure African blood and black as coal In adj
dtion 10 attainmens In tho classics he IN wen
both Italian and French Yet this prosecuted
by the negotiating party here that he LETT Jamaica IN
despair. on that spirit OF Slavery! What curse it
leaves behind