The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — 1844-07-09 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

WEST INDIES.  The Thames steamer, with the West India and Mexican mails, reached Southampton on SLiturday morning, and has on board one of the richest freights ever known from that quarter of the world. In additicn to 81 passengers, she brings 1,412,203 dollars, £317 10s. British coin, 883 ounces of gold dust, 2.228 ounces of silver, 2,404 ounces of plata benta, pearls valued at 20,000 dollars, 203 serous of cochineal, 9 boxes of vanilla, and 91 serons of indigo. Her dates of sailing are—Tampico, May 24 ; Vera Crux, June 1 ; Havannah, June 9 ; Jamaica, June 8' • Barbadoes, June 8 ; Trinidad June 7 ; and Demerara, June 4. The whole of the papers are filled with articles against the Government measure for the reduction of the duty on foreign coffee and free-labour sugar ; and in all the islands meetings were being held to memorialise the Queen on the subject. Upon the calculation that the alteration in the duty of sugar will cause a reduction of ss. per cwt. on the produce of the West Indies, the planters of Demerara alone, it is said, will annually lose £140,000. The Jamaica Morning Journal suggests that the several parishes should join in an application to Lord Elgin to call the Legislature together for the purpose of remonstrating with the Government upon the subject. We quote from the same journal the following article on the state of general affairs in Jamaica : .  " The-Grand Court is sitting, but there is nothing in its proceedings which demand any particular notice at our hand. The rains have been pretty general, but there are some localities which still require more moisture, and where they have not been as heavy as could be wished. The weather in and out of doors is exceedingly close and oppressive, and June promises to be remarkable for scorching sun and strong sea-breezes. A serious riot recently occurred at Taylor's Caymanas Estate, in St. Catherine's, between the Creole or native negroes and some African emigrants located here. The cause of dispute is the circumstance of the Africans labouring ata lower rate of hire than the Creoles have been in the habit of receiving or are disposed to receive. One of the Africans had his arm broken, and others received cuts and were severely beaten. The ringleaders have been arrested, and will be brought to justice. The Creoles have not succeeded in their object. which was to drive the Africans off their property, and the result will be that the former will have to leave or consent to accept the same rates as the latter are doing. Dry weather continues in the parish of St. Dorothy. In Hanover delightful rains have fallen, and the face of the country presents a molt cheering appearance. Westmoreland has concluded with large crops, and a promise (if the seasons continue favorable) of a rich and abundant harvest next year. The exPresident Herard of Hayti has arrived in this city, having been compelled to leave that island to avoid the danger which threatened him. Our island remains healthy, but trade is dull. Money has never been known to be more scarce or difficult of collection than it is at the present moment. The movements in the mother country, it IS apprehended, will make things worse than they are."  A reprieve in the case of Dalmas the murderer has been granted, solely on the ground of insanity. The Liverpool Fire Prevention Bill, and the Chester and Holyhead Railway Bill, received the royal assent oo Thursday.  The Countess of Sefton gave a magnificent ball, on Friday night, at the family mansion, in Belgrave-square. The elite of the nobility were present. The ladies of the Haymarket Theatre have presented to Mr. Webster a beautiful yaw, as a token of their regard and cordial appreciation of his merits.