JAMAICA.

New Zealander, Volume 5, Issue 389, 5 January 1850, Page 2

JAMAICA.

The state of Jamaica is scarcely — if at allless critical than that of Canada. In addition to other causes which have operated injuriously there, the admission to the English maiket of the slave-grown sugars of Cuba and Brazil — that is, the virtual extension of fieetrade principles to free- trade in the blood and sinews of our negro fellow-men — has gone far to effect the irretrievable ruin of that once

flourishing colony. Our intelligence from Jamaica is to the Bth of July, and is veryimportant. At the opening of the Legislature on the 26th of June, the Governo?, Sir Charles Grey, made a speech i i which he recommended the Assembly to receive the loan proffered by the Imperial Parliament for the promotion of immigration, and suggested various measures for restoring prosperity to the colony, the condition of which he spoke of in desponding terms. From the first, however, it seemed plain that the differences existing between the Government and the popular branch, of the Legislature were not likely to be reconciled; and a motion that the House should proceed with the unfinished business of the several proiogued Sessions, was successfully met by the following amendment :—: — " That as there seems to be no disposition on the part of her Majesty's Government to afford the redress so urgently prayed for and demanded by this House and the people, as set forth in various memorials and petitions, but, on the contrary, every desire bai been evinced to continue the present extravagant expenditure, woich the impoveiished condition of the inhabitants renders it impossible longer to lustftin, the House considers that it will best consult the rights and interests of their constituency by abstaining from any attempt at the further exercise of legislative functions until the people shall have expressed their decision on the course which has bdeo hitherto pursued by the House." This resolution, having been carried by a majority of 19 to I], was sent over to the Governor, by a committee, on the 7th of July; whereupon his Excellency commanded the attendance of the House in the Council Chamber, and forthwith dissolved the Assembly. This course was what the " country party " anxiously desired, as they confidently anticipated that in the next Assembly the majority against the officials would be consider ably increased. Popular agitation progressed actively. Another large public meeting had been held for the purpose of protesting against the violation, by the -panish and Brazilian governments, of the treaties for the suppression of the slave trade, into which they had entered with Great Britain. It was agreed to forward petitions fiom the people to the Home Government, urging the adoption of measures to compel the fulfilment of these treaties. It was asserted that the slave trade was canied on still as extensively as before the passing of the Act for its suppression. It was also stated that since 1833, one hundred and forty sugar estates and four hundred and sixty-five coffee plantations had been abandoned, and that, on the works thus broken up, nearly fifty thousand persons had been previously employed. Referring to this general condition of affairs, and the probable effects, the Spectator remarks, — " Our principal West Indian eolonias exhibit a decidedly waning allegiance. Jamaica does so, and not the less because her hostile beating becomes more measured, and more specifically directed against theweak points in thd Downiug-street pol'cy * * * No step is taken to retrieve the affections of the co'onists. Even in this coumry, politicians baro coolly discussed the probability that Jamaic i should become an English San Dominjjo ; ai if the whites of the island would not most assuredly take refuse from such a fhte in ' annexation.' * * * Nor will Lord Grey's offer to place Jamaica on the foo'ing of Canada in affairs of government do much. * * * It it the letter of responsible government rather than its spirit which has been realized under the nuspices oF D wning-street. According to 'he oifical view, it means that the Governor must place nim-elf in the hands of the most active local agitators. But a true re-ponsible govern* ment would involve a persevering effort on the ptrtof the Governor to reconcile Imperial connexion with the distinct nationality that must necessarily be impressed on every important colony." If there be truth in the adage that " when matters are at the worst, they begin 10 mend," we may anticipate that the present disturbed condition of some of the most important colonies—the Cape, Canada, and Jamaica for example, — and the prevalence of more or less-, dissatisfaction in all, will now at length stimulate the Imperial Legislature to take up Colonial questions on a more comprehensive scale, and with some vigour of purpose. The first step to this however, must be the acquisition of knowledge on the subject ; for the ignorance of most of our Parliamentary rulers upon it would be scarcely credible if it were not so notorious. Truly may it be said — See with, not only how little ivisdom, but with how little of the most elementary infwmution the British Government governs its Colonial dependencies !

Recent Deaths of Notable Persons. — Near Tunis, ;ifter a long and painful illness, Sir Thomas Reade, for twenty-eight years British Consul General at Tunis ; his funeral was celebrated with extraordinary solemnity and pomp, the Bey having determined that the greatest honours should be paid to him as the representative of England : — at Montreal, of cholera, Colonel Holmes, of the 23rd regiment ;■ — at Berth ier, in the district of Montreal, aged 80, the Hon. James Cuthbkrt, member of the Legislative Council, formerly Speaker of the Special Council, and Lieulenant-Colonel of the Berthier Militia ; he is succeeded in his rich estate by his eldest surviving son, Charles Alfreh Cuthbert, Esq., Lieutenant in the 65th Foot, (now in New Zealand);— the Earl of Airlik, aged 64 ; he had been restored in 1826 to his titles, which had been forfeited by his ancestors ; — Mr Astqn Key, the celebrated surgeon :— Signor de Begnis, the well remembered singer : — Sir Nicholas Fitzsimon, Inspector-General of Prisons in Ireland :— at

' Fakenham, Norfolk, killed by a stroke of lightning, Mr. Martin William Fjolkes, aged 31, eldest son of Sir W. Fjolkes, of Hillington :•— in London, of cholera, the Rev. C. B. St. George, Chaplain of the Tower ; he had, on the day before his death, preached, in apparently good health, to a large congregation.

Wesleyan Sabbath School Anniversary. —The usual Sermons and Meetings connected with the Anniversary of this Institution took place during the present week, and proved very interesting and satisfactory. On Sunday, sermons were preached in the New Chapel in High-street, — in the morning by the Rev. Alexander Reid, of the Native Training Institution at the Three Kings — and in the evening by the Rev. J. H. Fletcher ; — and collections were made in aid of the Funds, which exceeded the amount contributed last year. In the afternoon, the children were publicly questioned and lectured, and suitable addresses to them and their parents were delivered. On Tuesday (New Year's Day) the different classes were conducted by their Teachers to the paddock adjoining the Rev. T. Buddles residence, weie they were abandantly supplied with buns, &c, and passed some hours happily, and, it is hoped profitably. In the evening, the Teachers and a number of friends took tea together in the large school-room connected with the Chapel. The Rev. T. Budi>le, the Rev. Mr. Moore (who is here on his voyage by the John Wesley to the Feejee Mission) and the Rev. J Buller, were present, and together with several lay-gentlemen, appropriate ly addressed the company. The result of the whole, we are led to anticipate revived earnestness and effort on the part of all concerned in the£ progress and prosperity of a work so disinterestedly carried forward by those who are immediately engaged in it, and so directly conducive to the moral welfare of the rising generation. Sunday schools — inestimably valuable wherever they are conducted efficiently and on right principles — are calculated to prove especially important and beneficial in a social state like ours : and all who desire the moral welfare of our young colony must cordially wish them success 1 .

Caution to Bathers. — It is known that sharks have been occasionally seen about our harbour, but much apprehension has not been generally produced by the fact. We are informed however, that a gentleman who was bathing, within the last few days at Brickfield Bay, was pursued by one, and barely succeeded in escaping to shore. The Sydney papers which have recently arrived contain a melancholy account of a man having lost his life, being seized by a shark at " The Fig Tree," a favourite resort of bathers in that city, — which has since, in consequence, been almost entirely deserted. As Brickfield Bay has been much frequented by young bathers, we deem it right that their parents should have the warning given by the circumstance above stated.