A meeting of planters, merchants, and others interested in Jamaica,
was held at Willis's Rooms yesterday, to make a declaration of opinion respecting the necessity for extended immigration of labour into that colony. The Earl of Hare- wood presided; the attendance was numerous and influential. A series of reso- lutions, asserting the deficiency of labour, the disastrous consequences, the suc- cess of free immigration from Africa and the East Indies so far as it has gone, and the necessity for extending it, wound up with a declaration signed by the gentlemen present, expressing regret that the Legislature of Jamaica had hitherto done so little to farther that important obj ect, and willingness to contribute to the expense of such a measure by a tax on the export of produce. Mr. Edward Thompson bore personal testimony to the success attending the importation of Hill Coolies, 260 of whom have been located on his estates: they are slow, but neat; the Negro labourers receive them with pleasure and kindness; and the woduce of sugar on his estates has increased from less than 100 hogsheada in 1840 to 400 hogsheads at present. In the course of the proceedings, Mr. George Thompson, the professional orator for the Anti-Corn-raw League, the Anti- Slavery Society, some Indian interest or other, &c., attempted to make a speech, ',resumed to be of the Anti-Slavery pattern. He was requested to abstain, as the meeting was confined to persons having a pecuniary interest in Jamaica: but he persisted, in spite of repeated threats that he should be removed. To avoid Jim, the meeting adjourned to another Mom; he followed, with Mr. Scoble, who accompanied him, and there was a scuffle in the passage; but the meeting sue- .ceeded in excluding the two from the second room. The proceedings closed with- exit further interruption.
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