American Telegraph

JAMAICA IN 1850.—This is the title of an interesting work published in New York, by John Bigelow, and displays the growth of the island under the system of emancipation in a highly favorable light. Some of the statistics are worthy of the special attention of the colored population of the large cities. The last census of the island was taken in 1844, when the population consisted of 377,438:—whites, 15,776; browns, 68,529; blacks, 293,128; the whites forming but one-twenty-fifth part of the population, and diminishing in numbers, wealth and influence. The possession of four or five acres of land confers the right to vote in the selection of members of assembly. The blacks are ambitious to possess and exercise the privilege. They are daily becoming better acquainted with the advantages which the elective franchise confers. The recent election of several of their order to the assembly has greatly inflamed this ambition. There are now three negroes in the assembly, and the blacks and browns hold the balance of power. Mr. Bigelow predicts that before twenty years Jamaica will be one of the United States of America!—that New York is the natural commercial capital of Jamaica, and not London or Liverpool. There is some force in this observation, but it does not appear to be an event likely to happen within so brief a period. The voyage from New York to Jamaica is never performed in steamers in six days, and four steamers now run. The voyage between Jamaica and England is thrice as long. New York has four steamers in play—England has but two. Jamaica receives nearly all her supplies of provisions from New York. What an inducement to the colored population of our cities to emigrate to Jamaica, there to become "lords of the soil," members of assembly, governors, free citizens of the island.—Phil. Ledg.