A very serious rising of the Negroes in Jamaica, attended

with great destruction of property, has taken place. The Jamaica pa- pers received early in the week had stated the fact, and many of the details : the authentic particulars as far as known appeared in.- the shape of copies of a despatch from the Governor, Earl BELMoRE, and of various letters addressed to him in his official capacity, published on 'Wednesday as a supplement to the Gazette of the previous day. From these documents, which are very numerous- (besides the lo ig despatch, there are thirty-three enclosures), it appears that a very general opinion prevailed among the slaves, that they were to be free at the New Year, and that this opinion was familiarly known to the attornies of the several estates. It had been expressly stated in a despatch of Lord GonEaten's, that his Majesty's Government contemplated no departure from the spirit or letter of Mr. CANNING-8 resolutions of 1823; and this was communicated by Earl BELMORE to the parochial authorities as far back as the 29th July last, with a request that they would give it every degree of publicity. His Lordship accompanied the communication with a private circular, in which he requested that the Custodes would make him acquainted with the state of the Negro population, and particularly touching any false impressions they might have received of the intentions of the Government at home. But the Custodes and the planters were too busy with holding meetings and making angry speeches, and blustering about separating the colonies from the mother country, to listen to Lord BELMORE s judicious queries : it was not until the 22nd De- eember that he received any distinct intelligence of a design which had been fostered,. and which was known by the parties most in- terested in its suppression to have been fostered, by the slaves for Six months.

"The planters," says his Lordship, "complained of poverty and distress; the delegates- sent -forth an ambiguous declaration, deprecating (as they expressed themselves) the insidious attempts to undermine and render valueless what little remains of their property :' but the brink of danger on which they stood formed no part of their deliberations."

On the 22nd December, Lord BELMORE received information that the slaves on .Salt Spring estate St. James's parish, had behaved With great insolence to Mr. estate, the manager, and had assaulted and disarmed a couple of constables that were sent to ar- rest the ringleaders. A detachment of the St. James's Militia was sent to the estate, to restore order; but before the detachment reached the spot, the whole of the saves had taken to the bush. They returned, however, with the exception of six ringleaders, the next day. The next disturbances broke out in Portlandpiiish ; to assist in repressing which, a ship of war was immediately..despatched to Port Antonio. Symptoms of impending danger had in the mean while exhibited themselves _ in Treiawney parish; pia af4r davits to that effect reached Earl BELMORE while at Kingoftnui the 28th. Sir WiLLountunt.COrrox was immediately * - with two companies of the 84th. for Montego Bay; wheOie, not, it seems, arrive an hour too soon; though, by hbi,

activity, he was speedily able to effect every thing that the mere application of force can effect,—a suppression, for the time, of the 'devastations which the Negroes were engaged in spreading, as -well as to insure the punishment of their leaders in the acts of -revolt and incendiarism. The remoter causes of both lie of course too deep for bullets or bayonets to penetrate. On the 29th, letters were received from Colonels GRIGNON, LAWSON, CAMPBELL, TYLER, and others, all of them confirming the rising round Montego Bay, and also the burnings that had ac- companied it; many of which, at the date of these letters (27th De- cember), were described as reddening the horizon. In Trelawney, the insurgents were so numerous, according to the testimony of the Custos, that without aid from the regular troops, the Militia 'were wholly incapable of making head against them; and he strongly advised the instant proclamation of martial law, as the only means of enabling the Governor to avail himself effectually of the military resources of the island. On the 30th, accordingly, :sanctioned by the opinion of the Council in terms of the act, the Governor declared the island under martial law.

On the 31st, letters were received from Portland parish, stating that the insurrection had broken out there also, and that the Ne- groes of three estates had taken to the bush. Lord BELMORE ob- serves on these letters— •

" It is somewhat retnarkable, that this same gentleman (Maurice Jones, Esq. Custos) a few days previous, on learning that a man-of-war had sailed for Port Antonio, appeared to consider the application of the magistrates had proceeded from ill-founded apprehension of the hostile disposition of the Negroes in that quarter; and although he was not ignorant that some excitement remained in the minds of the Negroes about their being made free, expressed his regret that such a precantion had been adopted, stating, that he never considered theNegroes in that neighbourhood to be more peaceable and contented."

Our readers would not feel much gratified were we to pursue minutely the remaining history of these excesses. We shall con- tent ourselves with an extract or two from the other voluminous enclosures. Mr. ANNAND, overseer of Ginger Hill estate, in St. Elizabeth parish, thus &scribes the rising there- " On Wednesday morning the 28th December, when they were ordered to turn out to work, seeing several slaves about the house, I asked what they -wanted. A slave belonging to Ginger Hill, named William Buchannau, said they had come to beg Busha for to-day, as Sunday was Christmas- day. I said I had already given orders to the driver to that effect ; all that I wanted was to see them turn out, and see they were all there, and they should have the remain- der of the day. With that they seemed dissatisfied, and no thanks were re- turned. I went into the house, and was followed immediately by the said slave, tWilliam Buchannan ; who laid hold of me, saying, Busha, you now my pri- soner,' and called for his accomplices,—namely, William Arnold, Charles Long- more, George Barrett, Alexander, Thomas Hedley, and Johnny, all slaves be- longing to Ginger Hill. On inquiring what was the matter, they said they had worked long enough as slaves, and intended now to fight for their freedom, wilich had been long promised them ; that all they wanted of me was to deliver tip my arms, and whatever powder I had, then I might remain undisturbed on the property as long as I chose, provided I did not interfere against them. I en- deavoured to reason with them on the impropriety of such conduct ; but to no effect. They said that I knew as well as themselves that Jamaica was now free, and half the estates from there to Montego Bay, were burnt down the night be- fore ; that they were obliged to assist their brethren in this work of the Lord ; that this was not the work of man alone, but they had assistance from God."

Mr. ANNAND was afterwards conveyed by the slaves to the hut ea free black man in the neighbourhood, where he had another interview with the rebels. SHARP, or THARP as he is afterwards 'lamed, seems to have studied the Bible to some purpose— "About seven or eight o'clock, a party of them came to the house of Craw- ford, where I was, forced his arms from him, and brandishing their cutlasses over may head, and pointing their muskets at me, made me swear that I would never stand between them and their rights. The active person in this scene, and who seemed to have the command of them, was a slave named Samuel Sharp, belonging, I was told, to T. G. Grey, Esq. of Croydon, in St. James's, and +'ho, 1 understand, is a ruler (so called) of tbe sect of the Baptists. He said, be did not wish to take away the life of any person who did not stand between lint and his rights ; that it was but lately that he had begun to know much of religion, but that now he knew, and I knew as well, that freedom was their right, and freedom they would have ; that letters had long ago been sent out from England to that effect, but that the people of Jamaica kept them as slaves, without any authority for doing so."

In a subsequent interview with their overseer, the slaves told bim that "one of their profession" (a Baptist) had. been killed, and that in consequence they were less disposed to scruple about the means of vindicating their freedom than they had been at first. Mr. ANNAND was rescued from confinement by the advance- of the St. Elizabeth's regiment of Militia. While giving a specimen of what the Negroes call religion, it is but fair to add a specimen of what the Whites of Jamaica call evidence. Mr. ANNAND says, in his affidavit-

" During the time of these disturbances, I was told by a slave, named Susan- nah Crawford, belonging to Ginger Hill, that she heard from Anne Laye, a free person of colour, living near Ginger Hill, and a member of the Baptist persuasion, that a Mr. Burchell, a Baptist Missionary, who had gone off the +country last year, had arrived at the foot of Montego Bay, on Wednesday or 'Thursday sennight ; that he had shown himself to none, but remained con- cealed on board a Spanish vessel or some vessel of war. That he did not in- tend landing until this affair was settled ; but had written to his deputies, that bss dearly beloved children must not regret his absence, for that he would be to them a pillar of iron, and would always be their support. That they must shed no blood, for life was sweet, easy to be taken away, but very hard to give*."

From a despatch of Colonel GRIGNON, it appears that the rebels

Mr. Dyer, Secretary to the Baptist Society, in a letter to the runes of this morning, says—" Mr. Burchell did return to England last year for the benefit of his health, and Sailed, again, with his family, by the Garland Grove, Captain Pengilly, in November last, They were detained near a month in the Channel by adverse winds, so that the vessel had not reached Montego Bay at the time of the disturbances; nor hasher ar- -"rival been reported up to the present (late. So much for the ridiculous story of Mr.

were by no means destitute of courage. In one case, his forces were attacked by four divisions of the rebels. One of these pene- trated to the huts which he was engaged in defending, and set fire to them ; the other three divisions attacked the troops which were drawn up in hollow square. The Negroes were driven back, with a loss of ten men killed ; but they killed one man and wounded four of their opponents. It has very seldom happened that any body of insurgent slaves, however numerous, has ventured to stand an attack of troops, much less to attack them.

Sir WILLOUGHBY COTTON, in a despatch of the 2nd January, mentions the execution of two Negro men, by sentence of a court- martial ; and on the 3rd, of two men and a woman by a similar tribunal. The charge against the woman is thus alluded to-

" Combustibles were found in a house here belonging to the wife of one of the men shot yesterday, and na doubt exists she intended to fire it."

He afterwards adds-

" The General Court-martial have condemned two other Negroes and the wo- man to be hung. The evidence is so direct, I have thought it my duty to con- firm the sentences. I received every assistance froth the.Custos."

We have no doubt of it : if there had been three hundred to be hanged, instead of three, no Custos would have refused either rope or ladder. Still we would hope that there was something more than intent proved before the Court-martial. Martial law substi- tutes a different form of trial and more summary punishment than are provided by civil law ; but we are not aware that it alters the nature of offences, not ordinarily cognizable under the Mutiny Act. Now an intent to commit a capital felony, by the laws of England is only a misdemeanour; and we do not hang or shoot for misdemeanours.

Of the stuff that Custodes are made of, we have a sample in the Honourable JAMES IVIAcnostALD, of Falmouth parish. Mr. MACDONALD, in a letter to Lord BELmoax's secretary, observes-

" We have here now about 150 prisoners. Sir W. Cotton has sent up order to form a court-martial, which is just now sitting ; and I hope they will be able to bring acts of rebellion home to them, to enable us to make such an example as will intimidate the others."

The same gentleman, after severely blaming three Magistrates for not ordering out the Militia on the first appearance of distur- bance at Ginger Hill, says-

" I must beg leave to state, that I highly disapprove of the conduct of Mr. Moulton Barret. It has been stated to me that he was seen riding out of town with a Mr. Box, who I had ordered to be taken into custody as one of the in.

cendiary preachers. Under sense pretence, he was rermitted to quit the Court-house, and by that means made his escape, supposed to Kingston ; where I hope he will he taken into custody."

Lord BELMORE also alludes to the arrest of Mr. Box, against whom, notwithstanding, at the date of the despatches no specific charge had been made. Lord BELMORE says— "I should hardly think it necessary to transmit a copy of this letter (Mr. "Macdonald's), did it not refer to a person of the name of Box, who I am informed is a Missionary from the Baptist Society, and who has since been reported in custody in this town. I have caused his removal to Falmouth tube delayed. I am as yet unacquainted with the charge on which orders were issued for his apprehension at Fahnouth ; but the information received from the Custos renders it at all events necessary that he should be for the present detained : motives, however, of prudence and humanity caused me to interpose a delay in hurrying him to trial at a moment when so great excitement must necessarily prevail."

The most lamentable part of the insurrection, next to the deaths of the deluded creatures who were engaged in it, is the extensive destruction of property it has led to. The Jamaica papers enume- rate fifty pens and wharfs which have been burnt, and Lord BEL- MORE'S despatch estimates the whole at one hundred. The alarm at Kingston seems to have been extreme : the whole of the ves- sels in the harbour were crowded with white females, who had sought refuge in them from the impending danger. By the latest accounts, however, which are dated 6th January, this panic seems to have gone by ; the Negroes were returning to their labours, and the ladies had once more ventured on terra firma.

In addition to WILLIAM Box, one of the Jamaica papers men- tions the names of three others, also Baptist Missionaries, who have been arrested. The Government despatches do not notice these arrests. The editor adds, with most considerate humanity; that shooting is too honourable a death for such persons, but that there are fine hanging woods round Montego Bay, and that three preachers will diversify the scene ! Another editorial notice de- scribes the manner in which the Negroes have been incited by the sermons of the Baptists : the latter, it seems, were in the habit of preaching that the time was come when the Negroes were to be free, "pronouncing these words with emphasis, and adding, in a soft tone—from sin." The Times cautions its readers against re- ceiving this statement implicitly—the caution was hardly necessary.

The number of Negroes killed is not easily ascertained. There is an account of ten having fallen in one instance; another report speaks of eighty-nine dead bodies. The commandant in the second affair was a Mr. GEORGE GORDON; the writer gives a curious but satisfactory reason for his courageous activity—" This gen- tleman, having lost his property, has been indefatigable in his command."

The value of the property destroyed is nowhere estimated. It must be very great; and from the depressed state of West India estates, the loss will fall with exceeding severity upon the owners.

In another part of our Western Colonies, symptoms of commo- tion, greater than the immediate occasion might have been ex- pected to call forth, occurred lately. Two editors, Mr.-DuvxxxAY and Dr. TRACY, the one of the Minerve, the other of the Vindica- tor, were on the lith.January committed to prison by the Council

of Lower Canada. Their offences were two libels against the Ho- nourable Council Dr. TRACY avowed himself the author as well as publisher of the libel laid to his charge; Mr. DUVERNAV was merely the publisher, the obnoxious article being supplied by a correspondent. The Canadians seem to have taken this affair in high dudgeon. A meeting was held at Quebec on the evening of the commitment, which was attended by upwards of four hundred persons.

" As • soon as the meeting broke up," says a letter of the 18th January, "a party from the hotel, of about 200 or 200 persons, went towards he gaol, cry- ing out to take that direction. Arrived there in front of the building, they re- peatedly cheered SA/essrs. Tracy and Davernity, and called for fin m to appear. Cries of Vive Ia liberte de la preset,' A lms le Conseil,' tke., were also heard. " It appear; tlwt a couple of sentries had been placed on the steps of the gaol, that the guard wa,; turned out and drawn up in the passage, and ome precau- tionary st,ps had been taken. From the gaol the party proceeded to Mr. Chief 311St:,:C SiCWCIPS house, where they repeated the same cries, and song part of a ;:;:itarently written for the occasion, and adapted to the Mar, eillaise ; the spohen or From thence they proceeded down St. Louis

St:4 ,! Mr. Smith's, Clerk of the Council, who had signed the war ir, awl shouting. At the Chateau gate, cries Vive Lord Aylmer,' :a Chatubre," Down with 'the Council,' were repeated."