The following is an extract from a letter just received from R. J. C. Kitchins, esq., an old and very influential citizen of Jamaica, who was present at the time of my interview with the executive committee, which I give for your information:

"The general feeling of all classes in this island coincides with that of these gentlemen, [executive committee,] and all are most anxious to encourage the immigration of colored persons from the United States here; and so great has been the anxiety, that offers have been made of free leases of large tracts of land, while others have been offered at nominal rates of rent, with a right of pre-emption, &c."

As before mentioned, the island parliament will be convened early in November, and will rise late in December. I have good reason to believe that the executive committee will delay bringing forward their bill to promote immigration from America with a hope to receive the views of the United States government on the subject, in answer to this communication, as a bill hostile in its provisions to the views of our government would probably be inoperative as regards the "contrabands.”

JOHN T. NEAL, Vice-Consul.

NOVEMBER 25, 1862.

SIR: I have the honor to state that my annual report has been delayed to this date on account of the difficulty in obtaining reliable information of the commerce of this island; and I regret that I am not now able to report as fully as I would desire.

I have to report the arrival at this port of forty-two American vessels during the year ending 30th September, 1862, having an aggregate tonnage of eight thousand three hundred and fifty-five tons, as shown by returns herewith, being a decrease in the aggregate tonnage of ten thousand five hundred and forty-six tons below that of the year ending at the same date, 1861.

This decrease has been caused by the real or supposed presence of "southern privateers" in these waters, rendering rates of insurance against shipments in American bottoms higher, and inducing American ship-owners to place their vessels under some foreign flag for greater security and profit.

Instances have fallen under my observation of American-built vessels sailing under the English flag, commanded and navigated entirely by American citizens. American vessels coming here are almost wholly engaged in the direct carrying trade between the United States and this island, and are for the most part chartered in the United States for the "round trip," delivering outward cargoes, and generally loading for return voyage at some outport, of which there are about twenty-nine available for that purpose. Flour and provisions imported into the island come almost entirely from the United States, and comprise the chief articles of import from thence. The woods, with some coffee and pimento, are the principal exports to the United States. The greater portion of sugar, rum, and coffee, the products of Jamaica, are thrown upon the English market. The agriculture of this island has scarcely ceased to decline yet as regards the great staples-sugar, rum, and coffee. Planters complain that their operations are embarrassed, their profits often curtailed, and always rendered uncertain, from a lack of sufficient constant labor. They aver that the indentured Africans and coolies supply all the labor that can be depended on, and that this supply is wholly inadequate to meet their necessities. It is urged by other parties, whose opinions are entitled to the highest consideration, that more punctuality and justice in the payment of wages on the part of many of the planters would secure for the estates much larger numbers of regular operatives from the native population. That there is a basis of truth in this latter allegation I do not doubt.

The production of such articles of commerce as do not involve any considerable outlay of capital, and are not trammelled by certain fixed charges on their production, are grown by the peasantry with success and profit, and is on the increase.

A plan of operations characterized by industry, energy, and economy, which has ever produced such beneficial results both to proprietors and operatives in other countries, has never been imitated by the proprietary of Jamaica. The advantages of a prolific soil, of forced labor, and of protected staples in English markets, had induced the Jamaica proprietors to regard such a system in the direction of their efforts as no part of the necessities of West India cultivation. They were the encouragers of the slave trade and the advocates for the perpetuation of slavery in the colony, and to them, in a peculiar manner, has fallen the legacy of the many evils of that institution.

The employment of the commonest and most ill-advised implements of industry, of labor unskilled, and of efforts ill directed, incident to a slave system, was their necessity when the slaves were emancipated, but without the ability to force labor as before, which alone could compensate for the disadvantages of their system. From this necessity they have never relieved themselves.

I may be allowed to particularize one evil fostered by slavery, and which still prevails here, to the prejudice not only of the agricultural but of every other interest of the country, that is, the idea that labor is dishonorable, to avoid which, in any possible contingency, a large retinue of servants and other subordinates are employed, and this, too, by people who are ill justified in paying reasonable wages to such employés either by their income or the services rendered. Such an arrangement tempts employers to suppress wages, and employés to dishonesty. On the estates we find that processes which should be conducted under the immediate eye of the proprietor, committed to the supervision of subordinates, whose interest in their employer's business is not generally secured either by adequate compensation or liberal treatment.

After differential duties on West India produce had been abolished in England, when, in lien of slaves, free laborers had to be employed, who, for any sufficient cause, could retire from estate labor to the uncultivated districts of the interior, with every prospect of bettering their condition, it would seem that the exercise of ordinary discretion would have prompted a change in their industrial system corresponding to their changed circumstances; that labor-saving machinery and better adapted implements generally would have been introduced to compensate for the loss of operatives; and that more rigid economy would have succeeded their loss of monopoly. But, strange as it may appear, the Jamaica proprietary have inaugurated no such change. They have sought a remedy in the substitution of low wages for forced labor, while they still cling to an industrial system which can yield nothing but loss and bankruptcy in any country commanding voluntary labor only. To this end they endeavored first to retain the emancipated people in a condition dependent upon the proprietary interest; failing in this, the importation under indenture of Africans and coolies was resorted to. Disappointed again, they now clamor for immigrants from America. The anxiety expressed both by the government and people of Jamaica to secure the immigration to this island of a large number of the black and colored people of the United States has been already communicated to you by Mr. John N. Camp, vice-consul for Kingston, in his despatch of the 4th ultimo. It is thought that the country would be benefited in various ways by the introduction of these people; that by their example they would excite a laudable emulation, and infuse new energy among the native population; that large tracts of still virgin soil would be brought under profitable cultivation; that the now abandoned estates would shortly be bought up by them for homesteads at prices far in advance of their present market value; that a large number of the contrabands, by reason of their recent emancipation, would not be sufficiently self

reliant to plan and execute in their own behalf, and would necessarily become estate laborers at once; that, from a largely increased population, the estates would always command labor at very moderate wages.

The salubrity of the climate, the fertility of the soil, the mineral wealth, and the almost unbounded resources of this still undeveloped island, combine to make it an inviting home for our colored countrymen. The terms proposed by the colonial government for their introduction, were indicated in the despatch referred to above. In case these people should be sent to Jamaica under the auspices of the United States government, I think justice demands that it guard them as far as possible against a position of too great dependence upon others. this end, I would beg leave to recommend that the government of the United States avail itself of the offer of the colonial government to establish a “mixed commission" for the guardianship of the interests of the immigrants, as I do not consider that we have a sufficient guarantee for their fair treatment in the history of the dealings of the proprietary of Jamaica with the emancipated people, or in the course still pursued by that class toward their dependents.

I have good reason to apprehend that, on the introduction of considerable any number of our countrymen, large sums will be demanded for lands now of little market value, and that the many advantages of intelligence as against ignorance will be used to the prejudice of the immigrants, if left without guardianship.

Efforts at internal improvements on the island are being put forth commensurate with the diminished resources of the country. The public highways, which have never received the attention their importance everywhere demands, are being by degrees put in order. A "people's railway" to Stony Hill, in the parish of the St. Andrews, is now projected, shares in which are fixed at £5 each, and are readily taken by the peasantry as well as the capitalists. This railroad will give the small proprietors of the region beyond the terminus greatly increased facilities for transporting their produce to the Kingston market, which has now to be conveyed in small carts, in panniers, and on the heads of the producers. A train road, connecting with the Jamaica railway at Spanish Town, is now in process of construction. The line of this road lies through a very fertile district for a distance of thirty-eight miles, and will enable the planters of that region to reach the seaboard with their heavy staples at a moderate cost compared with the present very expensive mode of transporting by trains. The proposition of the imperial government to make Kingston the headquarters of the steamers conveying the royal mail to the Leeward Islands, the adjacent South American ports, Havana, and Vera Cruz, is hailed with great joy here, as giving promise of very material advantages to the country generally, and to this city especially.

The colonial expenditure for each ensuing year, as calculated from the budget of the minister of finance at each session of the legislature, and the duties on exports and imports, as well as tonnage, are fixed accordingly. The present rates will be found in Henderson's Almanac, already sent to the department. The budget for 1863 will be opened in a few days, and the changes, if any, will be communicated.

For the prices of the principal articles of export to the United States, see prices current that are forwarded monthly to the Treasury Department.

PRINCE EDWARD'S ISLAND.-J. H. SHERMAN, Consul.

NOVEMBER 14, 1862.

I have the honor to submit the enclosed report, with the accompanying doc uments, which has been delayed in consequence of illness.

Pursuant to consular instructions, (section 153,) I have the honor to submit the following report:

The commercial affairs of this colony have been materially depressed during the past two years, as will appear by a comparison of the returns herewith transmitted with those of the previous year.

The following is a brief synopsis of the returns of the trade of the last two years, ending December 31 of each year:

Total amount of imports from all countries:

There will probably be a corresponding decrease in the imports and exports in the year ending December 31, 1862.

Of the total amount of imports from the United States in 1860, which was £56,429, duties were levied on £37,933, to the amount of £4,776 19s. 4d. The amount admitted free was £18,496.

Of the total amount of imports from the United States in 1861, which was £43,009, duties were levied on £30,264 to the amount of £4,019 15s. 1d. The amount admitted free of duty was £12,745.

It will be perceived that, notwithstanding the reciprocity treaty, duties were levied on more than two-thirds of the amount of the exportations from the United States to this colony.

The high rates of freight that have prevailed in the United States during the past year have given very lucrative employment to a great number of vessels (in the carrying trade between the United States and Great Britain) built and owned by British subjects here.

Ship-building has, therefore, not shared in the depression that has attended other branches of business. There were launched and registered during the year ending December 31, 1860, and the year ending December 31, 1861, as follows, viz:

Vessels launched and registered in 1860: Number of vessels, 62; aggregate tonnage, 11,706. 1861: Number of vessels, 63; aggregate tonnage, 11,752.

The number of our vessels engaged in the fisheries on these coasts is believed to be about the average of the number so employed during the last two or three years. The "catch" this year has been much better than usual.

There have been no vessels wrecked on the coasts of this island during the past year, and therefore no expenses have been incurred in sending home sick or disabled seamen.

There has been no change in the tariff of port, light, and tonnage duties since the date of the last annual report from this consulate.

The crops on this island have been unusually large this year; but, in consequence of the backwardness of the season, the harvesting has been so late that a large proportion of the grain will be held over until next spring. The prices of grain will therefore rule low during the winter. Navigation closes about the 1st of December and opens about the 1st of May.

As our government may require a large supply of oats in the spring, a great saving might probably be effected by employing an agent, or authorizing the consul here to purchase cargoes during the spring.

The principal articles of export to the United States are now selling as follows: Oats, per standard bushel of 36 pounds, 36 cents; barley, per standard bushel of 48 pounds, 67 cents; potatoes, per bushel, 20 cents.

Freights rule as follows, viz: Oats-to Boston, Scents; to New York, 101 cents; to Baltimore, 12 cents.

As all the banks in the British North American possessions continue to pay specie, the rate of exchange has risen to an unprecedented height between the provinces and the United States. On the first of February last, drafts on Boston and New York were sold here at 96 cents on the dollar; they are now selling at 75 cents on the dollar. The notes of our United States banks are selling at 30 per cent. discount. The bank here has given notice that it will cease to purchase drafts on the United States altogether after the 10th proximo.

Demerara, (British Guiana.)-T. D. EDWARDS, Consul.

JANUARY 24, 1862.

This city contains thirty thousand inhabitants, and is dependent almost entirely upon the loyal United States for provisions, building materials, &c., &c. The trade between this place and the United States is extensive, concerning which I will endeavor to give a full account in my quarterly report. With American enterprise and spirit, this colony would become one of the richest and most productive portions of the world. Sugar and cotton grow here to perfection, but the former is cultivated much more extensively than the latter. Two shiploads of coolies and "rescued Africans have been brought here lately and distributed among the plantations on the apprentice system.

APRIL 9, 1862.

Enclosed you will please find ordinance No. 7. of 1854, and Nos. 1 and 9, of 1860, which seem to cover the entire subject of immigration. With regard to the rule of apportionment, see section 14, ordinance No. 3. You will please to observe the rate of compensation is regulated by the same. proportionate quantity of work as may from time to time be paid to unindentured laborers working on the estate on which they shall be employed. Every planter is bound by his contract to furnish the immigrant, free of charge, suitable lodging, and, when sick, suitable and sufficient medicines and nourishment, medical attendance, and hospital accommodation.