Star. — London, England, 1824-09-28 00:00:00

WKST INDIA. SLAVgItY. LETTER IL TO THE EDITOR OF THE STAR. Srft—an my last letter, I offered to the Public a brief analysis of the criticisms of ANOLUS upon the Trinidad Order in Council, and I. think conclusively demon strated that ANGLUS had very little accurate informa tion with respect to the facts of the case upon which he is giving a judgment. -Leaving, however, to ANGLUS the task of reconciling to himself this errdeavour to in fluence public opinion upon a question, concerning the real nature of which he was himself ignorant, I now propose to-redeem the pledge which I had given of ad i,erting to those other points which Asows appears to have stated or reasoned upon erroneously. • The article in the Quarterly Review has the appear ance of being a defence of the measures which Govern- Ment have adopted upon this most delicate subject of West India Slavery, and containing a commentary upon the Order in Council and the ptobable effect of its ope iation ; the article also examines, at some length, the - question Of the relative value of free and slave labour in the West Indies, and enforces the necessity of that part of the subject being completely understood before any additional or more decisive measures than those already adopted should be carried into effect by the Govern ment. A writer in the British and Colonial Weekly Re gister, adopting the same line of argument as ANGLus, observes—" We agree with the Reviewer in considering that the question, whetherfree labour is more profitable than that of Slave, ? is the true debateable ground upon which the arguments of both parties. if we must so speak, the Abolitionists and the Planters, " should encriunter;" and ANGLUS does not appear ma terially to dissent from this proposition, though it is not Perhaps stated with equal distinctness. This material point, then, being established, I must beg to refer my Readers to the remarksin that part of the article in the Quarterly Review, which relate to this compara tively new and untried question, and it will be time enough to eater upon the consideration of the remarks of ANOLUS upon the free labour question, in subse quent letters; but, in the meanwhile, it is important to observe, that the reasoners upon West India Slavery questions may be divided into three classes—the Ultra Abolitionists, who complain that Government have done little or nothing—The Ultra Colonists, who accuse Government of having done infinitely too much—and a third party, which may be said to comprise both the Go vernment and the House of Commons, who have steered a middle course. The Government having acted iu obe dience to the unanimous resolutions of the House of Commons, and the House of Commons, in passing those zesolutions, having acted in obedience to the declared wishes of the country. ANGLUS takes the field as an Ultra-Abolitionist; and having thus detailed the nature of the parties, and of the contest betweenthem, I now proceed in the examination of the reasonings and ob servations of ANGLUS. ANGLUS states, that the Reviewer has " given the sanction of his authority to the delusive statement that the Island of St.' Vincent had discontinued the practice of flogging *omen, and driving the negroes in the eld. It is singular enough, that -ANGLUS should have quarrelled at once with an argument on his own side. The Review states, that in some Colonies, the discon tinuance of the stimulus of the whip in the field, and of the punishment of thefemale Slaves under any circum stances, by flogging, were protested against, as mea sures incompatible with a state of slavery, and the necessary authority of the masters over their Slaves —that in other Colonies those innovations did not appear to create any alarm, and then adds, that "in the Address of the Island of St. Vincent it is ob served that those practices had been virtually disconti trued, and the Government are reproached with their ignorance of the fact." Where, then, is the sanction given by the Reviewer of this statement, whether de lusive or not delusive? With respect to the fact itself, not one word of confirmation is stated. It was evidently introduced in the Review, to shew that there were per sons in the West Indies possessing Slaves, in whose opi nion the abandonment of the practices referred to was compatible with a state of slavery, and with the autho rity of the masters. ANGLUS does not perceive that the argument was againit those who protested against the measures of Government, which measures had directed the omission of those practices; and ANGLUS does .00t perceive that whether the fact of the discontinuance of the whip in St. Vincent be confirmed or not, the argu ment of those who advanced it, was valid as to their own opinion, that the whip was not necessary. ANGLUs, in his Second Letter, says " lie agrees with the Rc-oietver, that the resistance of many of the IVest Admits to the measures now pursuing for the mitigation and extinction of Skivvy, is produced more by a d,cad of their loss of property, than by their abstract love of Slavery." Soon afterwards, however, he asks, "But is this borne out byfacts ?" If so," continues A NGLUS, "how happens it, that, as far as we know, all the great West India Proprietors resident in this country, pos sessing, probably, seven-eighths of the Stigar Estates, should have concurred in Mr. Canning's Resolutions.' The obvious answer to this question is to be fottnd in'' the 3d Resolution, proposed by Mr. Cannitig; and passed by the House of Commons, which promises and guaran tees I , a fair and equitable consideration of the Interests of all Parties concerned therein." Does it afford any reasonable ground of surprise that the Colonists.resid ing in England, whatever may be their proportion as Proprietors of Sugar Estates, should rely on the good faith of the House of Commons, to afford them a fair and equitable compensation, should they really sustain loss by the measures taken to improve the condition of, the Slaves ? But, continues ANotars, " the clamour raised against them (the Resolutions) has proceeded chiefly from men of little or no property, many of whom are the salaried servants of those very proprietors ;" and he concludes by observing, "it is evident, therefore, that in attributing the resistance to reform to a dread of the loss of pro perty as its cause, the Reviewer takes but a very partial and inadequate view of the subject," dec. • If ANGLUS means by men of no property persons who have no inteie.t in the question, then it may be admitted that the interference of such persons is mis placed. But what is meant by the clamours of persons of small property ? If these are clamor ous, it is bet ause • It is particu►atly swore,. .0 refer the reader to the view taken of this branch of the subject, by the Author of the article in the a•itieth Numb e r of the flea► trig &view. tey*aeinjery; and is the extent - of a'mas's ptiaptrty to constitute the measure of his claims to justice or pro . tection ? and if not,.why isahe small proprietor lessen titled than those more largely endowed, to state. fairly and temperately his claims? But let me ask, are these clamorous individuals, who are Slave Proprietors, really of such low relative importance, when compared with the proprietors of-Abe soil resident in England The question is, do they or do they not possess slaves to. any considerable amount? We should infer, cer tainly not, from the manner in which AxoLus treats their clamours. Let us then examine, as an instance, the proportions in one of the principal West India Islands. In a Report of a Committee of the Council of Bar badoes, dated the 22d of July, 1823, it is stated, on the credit of an Official Return from the freasurer's Office, where every slave and every acre of land are annually given in, for the purpose of being taxed, that there are 5206 Owners of Slaves in that Island; that of this num ber 1535 are Owners of land, as well as of Slaves, that the remaining 3671 Owners of Slaves have no land at all! Is ANGI us surprised that this latter class, these Owners of Slaves only, should feel l something like an interest in a question which concerns their light of property in Slaves being abridged ? Does he not think it possible that if those persons could be satisfied that the value of their property should not be in any degree deteriorated, or, if such deterioration did take place, that they should receive full compensation, that they might not be so clamorous as they have been, or have shewn their fears and apprehension s i n so infam ous an d unjustifiable a manner as the demolition of the Metho dist Chapel in that Col soy. lam not to be understood as arguing that the consideration of this peculiar class of persons should interfere with those general measures which affect the Proprietors of land as well as the Slaves—the case of that peculiar class may be made a special one; but I am endeavouring to sheer, in contra. diction to ANGLUS, that the dread of the loss of property may be considered as the most active cause of their re sistance, and their insubordination. Neither did the Reviewer ever assign this alarm as the sole cause of the resistance of the West Indians; he merely stated that which must be obvious to the most superficial observer, that it is not the love of slavery, replete as it is with dangers to themselves, which cha racterizes the proceedings or the sentiments of the West Indian Colonists; but that it is the dread of the loss of property—an instinctive anxiety for the preservation of life—the fear of an experiment involving a radical change, which may lead to results not contemplated by its promoters, whose habitual modes of thinking, and means of information, however benevolent their inten tions, may not have rendered them competent to antici pate. The Colonists do not deny that Slavery is an evil.—No; but they assert that it is an evil, created not by themselves nor for their separate interests, but by the mother country, and for national purposes ; and therefore before they co-operate with this country in re tracing its steps, they would stipulate that they should not be made to pay the penalty of tuin for errors in which they had no participation, and for which they ought not to he held responsible. This is the tone of, feeling which the Reviewer has pourtrayed : and can it be doubted but that feelings of this description must act as a powerfully exciting cause of resistance on the part of the planters to those reforms which are the objects of their alarm ? Let not this, how ever, be interpreted as any attempt at apology for their misconduct. I am disposed to regret, not less than A rictus, that acts of violence have been committed, f which there can be no apology ; and above all, it is to be deplored, that in the Colony to which I have particu larly referred, so unanimous a sentiment has prevailed, that a highly flagrant act of unlicensed outrage has been committed with impunity, instead of entailing upon the offenders most condign and summary punishment. ANOLU3 has thought proper to refer incidentally to what he considers the dangers of the course which Parlia ment and Government have followed, in trusting to the Colonial Legislatures to effect the necessary reforms; and, of course, by implication, he would also censure the Government and Parliament for not setting aside the powers of the Colonial Assemblies, and imposing at once, by legislative interference, the provisions of the Order in Council, or rather it is to be supposed, provi sions of much gi e rter extent—for he bittterly inveighs against the moderation of the Order in Council. This part of the subject is fully discussed in the Review ;' and I am induced to notice the observations of Azonvs more for the purpose of keeping in view his principles, than with any intention of here entering upon the merits of a question which he only ventures to deal with, by insinuation, and cal which Parliament have hitherto tacitly, though unanimously, come to so wise a conclusion. The Parliament of this country will never have the insanity to look merely at the end, without any consideration of the means or con sequences; and I feel a most satisfactory confidence, that however deliberately, firmly, and permanently, Parliament may contemplate the ultimate extinction of Slavery as their end, they will only do so with a cau tious reference to its accomplishment, " with a fair and equitable consideration of the interests of all parties concerned therein."— I am, Sir, your obedient and humble servant, VINDEX. The new bnilding for St. Paul's School, the walls and elevation of which are nearly completed, is a very handsome struc ture, and will be a considerable addition to the public bui:dings of the City. Although Mr. Eu.trrota does not intend to produce Der Frei&huts at Drury-Lane Theatre; he is preparing for repre sentation another Opera, by Wilma, upon a scale of great expense. • Miss Simms, Blum**, and Sam, are to sustain the principal characters. SAD OCCURRENCE.—It is Often the practice of the Margate visitors to sail from thence to the little village of Herne Bay, distant a few miles, to perambulate the extensive and pleasant hills which abound in that neigh bourhood. During one of these excursions, on Thurs day last, when a large party was making the Bay, and I the vessel cleaving the " liquid way" at a rapid pace, suddenly an elderly Gentleman, :son of the celebrated Dr. BUCH AN, author of a Treatise on Domestic :'Medicine, fell from the stern of the boat into the briny element.' No sooner was the accident perceived than the helms man, with considerable skill, made an almost instant tack, and gained the object of his anxiety just in time to save him. It appeared the venerable Gentleman could swim a little; and fortunately, • having a great coat of an impervious testure, it assisted in preserving him buoyant. He was immediately taken to the Ship Inn,' where, with the usual restoratives, his life was with dif• ficulty preserved. The fright, however, produced by the catastrophe had the effect of depriving him of his reason; and, after remaining two days in a sfateof uuer aberration, he was conveyed to his friends at Margate , la a hopeless state. MR. OWEN, OF LAWARK. Ur. Owen sets off to-day for Derby, on his way to Liverpcol, to embark for the United States, He goes for the express purpose of treating for the purchase of Rapp's celebrated settlement of Harmony, including all the landed property and buildings upon it. The pro perty contains more than 20,000 acres, 3000 of which arc already under cultivation. About 1000 acres more are rich meadow land, on the banks of the Wabash.— His object is to erect communities upon it, similar to the plan to be put in execution at Motherwell. The colony is situated upon the southern extremity of the State of New Indiana. The site for Mr. Owen's new establish ment at Motherwell is fixed. It is to be a square, each wing of which will be one thousand feet long, and the whole covers about 23 English acres. The quantity of ground bought from Mr. Hamilton, of balzell, is five hundred and twenty-six Scots acres, and cost from 27,0001. to 30,0004 A part of the land is inferior, froni want of cultivation, butit is all highly improvable. —The delay in commencing building is owing to some important improvements having taken place on the original plans. As soon as the plans are fixed on, the preparatory steps of quarrying, making sewers, digging the foundation, &c. will begin. It is calculated that the grand square or parallelogram, with all the cook ing -apparatus, will cost above 100,0001. Each side of the square will contain about 500 people, making about 2,000 altogether. The principal improvement in the new plan is, that each side of the square, as it is com pleted, will be ready for the inhabitants, and no delay take place in putting the new scheme of society into full operation, while the other wings are in progress. • Each side of the square is to have a public kitchen, two din ing rooms, and a public-room. In the inside of the square there will be two octagonal buildings, with two hot and two cold baths on each side, for the use of both sexes. Those tradesmen that enter the community are to have the same rate of wages as are general in the country. A managing committee is to fix the rate of wages, and the proportion that the members shall have it in their power to draw, which includes the value of their food and clothing. A certain proportion of the wages of every individual is to be retained and placed to their credit as community stock in the books of the corn. munity. This surplus will be applied to .repay the purchase money and the cost of the buildings. The agricultural operations meantime are going briskly for ward, and a considerable quantity of land has been im proved. The improvements will be greatly extended in the spring by the trenching and laying out of the gt ound. The brick-making was commenced this year principally for the purpose of ascertaining the quality of the soil; and about 3)0,000 bricVs have been sold, as they were not required for the establishment. A good moulder will make 4000 bricks a-day ; or from 400,0000 to 500,00 daring the working season. Hence we may calculate the enormous quantity of bricks made around this city in the year. LONDON SESSIONS, SEPT. 27. Ann Jetsam, a very decent looking young woman, stood indicted for having deserted her infant child, in the parish of St. Bride, on the - 15th of July. The prisoner wept continually, and wished to plead guilty, but was persuaded to withdraw her plea. Ann cooper deposed that she found the child in Fleet -street, at ten at night, wrapped up in a cloak ; it was warmly clothed, and in no danger from the cold air. The prisoner being asked whether she wished to speak in her defence ?burst into tears, but uttered not a word. The Jury found her G uilty. Sentence, two months imprisonment in Giltspur-street Compter. Arms,: ro Rascos.—Benjetsin Barnes was put on his trial for an assault committed with intent to rescue a person named Beacon, then in custody of a watchman, Blow, on a charge of robbery, and since convicted for the same at the Old Bailey. The judgment of the Court was. " That the prisoner be imprisoned in the House of Correction and kept to hard labour for eighteen months." Christ. iewrai stood indicted for an assault on a neighbour's wife. It having appeared, from the evidence of the prosecatrix, that the affair originated from quarrels of their children, and was attended with mutual interchanges of offence and irritation, The fixesianaa told the parties that it was altOgether a very silly business, and advised them to shake hands and be good neighbours in future. The parties expressed their with for reconciliation and shaking of hands. The RECORDZIL—Then the sooner you do it the better.—Shake bands this moment, where you are—(A laugh). The prosecutrix and prisoner shoot bands most cordially. The Rxeoaoss.---That's right, now; and to avoid any chance of irritation proceeding from your visit to Guildhall, we'll give neither of you a triumph. Let a Juror be withdrawn : a Juror was ac cordingly withdrawn and the parties retired apparently contented with the result of their litigation. The usual preparations have been made at the House of Commons for the Meeting of Parliament, in the event of its being thought expedient that it should meet for the dispatch of business in November. A Commission has been for some time employed in examining the accounts connected with the Admiralty Department, in Doctors' Commons, and the condemna tion of prizes, and the receipts and disbursements of prize-money at the Bank, during the late war. Yesterday, George Deuffield, who was taken into cus tody soon after the robbery at Earl COWPER'S, at Hert ford, was removed from Newgate to florsemonger-lane, The French Papers contain a private letter from M. Duperre, Lieutenant de Vaisseau, Commander of the Royal corvette La Coquette, now on a voyage of cir ,cumnavigation, which states, that after having visited the Island of Otaheite, in the South Seas, he had quitted it on the 22d of May, 1823. After further navigating in the spirit of his instructions, the corvette was moored in safety at Amboyna, on the 27th September following. At the latest date of the dispatches, namely, the 14th October last, Commodore Duperre was making arrange ments to visit Port Jackson, in New Holland. Saturday evening an Inquest was held in the Board room of the Middlesex Hospital, on the body of Mrs. Margaret Wallace, a Lady of 78 years of age. The de ceased occupied some apartments in the upper part of the house, and from her great age she had become ex cessively feeble and helpless. On Friday last she was, left sitting near her bed-room fire, and it is "opposed must have dropped asleep, as no alarm was given for some time. Her shrieks alarmed other inmates of the house, and on entering the room, they found her enve loped in flames; every assistance was rendered her, and by the use'of a carpet the flames were extinguished. A surgeon applied the usual remedies; she was then taken to the Middlesex Hospital, where she expired on Satur day morning. Verdict—" Accidentally burnt to death." A law student calling one day on a painter, found him engaged in copying a Raphael. " Upon my soul," .says Quitam, " but I like you amazingly, as far as goo have gone." " Do you, indeed, my boy,' replied the as tist ; " well, you're a young lawyer, and may be a Judge!" Lately, as five miners were working in n pit at Grove land Colliery, in the parish of 11-Arley Ref* upwards of thirty tons weight of coal suddenly gave way, and in its fairktperl Aree of them, and• ieverely injured the other two.:-, •••• -SPORTING INTELLIGBNCE. . BETTING-ROOM, TATTERSATA:S, SEPT. ST. The attendance to-day was not by any means so strong, nor was the business so brisk as we anticipated. The engagements on the St. Leger were chiefly settled at Doncaster, the conversation un that Stakes brink chiefly coufined to the many unusual circumstances which attended it. It is true that a Gentleman of some notori, ty on the Turf has been black-balled by the Doncaster Club; but in consequence of the daily and other Papers having stated the ii d.vi dual to be a man of rank, and thereby cane several persons to affix the odium upon those who do not merit it, we think it pru dent to state, that the Gentleman whose equivocal conduct has been thus unequivocally alluded to, is not a Man of Rank, but an M.P. well known on the Turf. Mr. B. whose winnings on the S:. Leger have been stated at a heavy sum, is supposed, in fact, to have very little more than cleared himself; had Canteen won, he would have pocketed Xtl,ooo. The few bets made were as under ; NEWMARKET NEST VIM. Grand Duke Michael Stakes-.-9. to 1 asst Cedric. Newmarket St. Leger Even betting Rebecca apt the SAL Doncaster St. Leger, Derby and' Oak', 1821—Nothing done. 100 to 5 agat Burn, Hudson, and naming the winner of the St. Leger 1825, was twice betted, and taken by the same parties. MATCII !ROM LONDON To DONCASTER AND BACK. Mr. G. West, whose equestrian feats are recorded, started on Thursday night, at twelve o'clock, to go from the llampstead•road Chapel to and from Doncaster (324 miles) in four days and sir hours. The wager was, that the pedestrian should be at Doncaster (162 miles) in two days, for 100 sovereigns ; and the second engagement, for another 100 sovereigns, was, that he did not accomplish the un dertaking. The match Is rather more than three miles an hour, stoppages included. The pedestrian reached Wandsford the first day, and took not more than a quarter of an hour's rest. This spot is half the distance, and he won the first hundred by beating time 20 minutes, and was returnable to ltossington-bridge, four miles back, before he skpt. FIGHT BETWEEN JEII FORD A THE BLACK, FOIL PUTT 1110VCRSIGNS. This was a good fight yesterday, until the Black tied it up. It has been a match long in agitation. The combat took place at Dude hurch. Round 1. The Black took the lead with much spirit, and wapped his adversary's head about till the seconds got well sprinkled with claret. and he floored Ford with a throttling hit. 2. Ford, who is a known brave man, began to think for himself, and ejaculated to Cooper, his second, with a staring glance," Where am I?"—" Why, contending with a Black fellow, and you'll be with him directly." Every inch of the ground was contested ; but Blackee put in a" begplo-faster," and floored his adversary again. 3. Ford bled like a stuck pig, but having recovered kimseir, he commenced operations, and physicked his adversary, first in the head, then the body, the head again, until the Black became as groggy as a ward beadle on a Common Council election day. When on his second's knee, he looked at his adversary with a pitiful groan, as much as meant, " divide with you." In the fourth round, and in twelve minutes, Ford hit his adver sary to all parts of the ring, and won the light. Gaynor, who so gallantly fought Neale, the Streatham Youth, challenged any man in the world of his weight, llst. 41b4. from $Ol. to 1001. and a Gentleman p resent said—" Here is no boasting; I'm ready to stake the money. Reuben blartin is the object of Gay nor's friends. LITERAR Y CRITICISM. A Review has recently been commenced, which, from its plan alone, independently of the ability with which it is executed, cannot fail to enjoy a long and very pr o scerous career. It has heretofore been the vice of these literary intelli gencers and dictators of public taste, that, instead of presenting prompt notices of all new books as they apt . pear, they affect to make selections, and being generally the property of booksellers, they contrive to select their own publications for the purpose of praising them ; and those of rivals in trade, for the purpose of varying their criticisms, by abusing them. Ta this capital fault they add another, that of noticing few works till many months after their appearance, by which the temporary objects of the readers are balled, avid the utility of reviews, as guardians against imposture, is defeated. These defects of the old Reviews are as notorious as the sun at noon day, and their several plans, or rather their utter want of all plan, permit no efficient remedy or improvement. The universal passion for literary inquiry which cha racterizes the age, hAs therefore determined a junta of men of letters to address a new and improved Rtview to public curiosity, of which the plan is to analyze every book rftsblished, without any exception and within a month after its appearance. Four numbers have now appeared, under the title of The Monthly C, Weal Gazdte • and so great has been the industry of the Editors, that they have, with sufficient fulness of: informar ion, noticed. nearly 900 new books and pamphlets which have been published within the past four mouths. Such a work is of course a genuine register of all new facts and opinions, and it puts its readers, without equi vocation, in full postession of the current literature in. every branch. of knowledge and inquiry. Of the fair ness, learning, and ability, with which this Review has thus far been conducted, no question has been raised, while it has received the cheerful sanction of all p.irties for its moderation, and has been generally engrafted on public libraries, and eagerly adopted in all kinds °flue- . rary establishments. Its ready introduction is at the same time facilitated by the economy of its price, being but 2s. per month, though Reviews of far less pretension are sold at half-a crown, and others at treble its price. It was the policy of its projectors, in fixing it at so low a price, to remove every obstacle to its general reception, as a convenient and even necessary adjunct of the Essays, Reviews, the Edinburgh, the Quarterly, the Westmin ster, &c. In this respect, they are not likely to be tic. appointed, for its circulation acrd also its authority bid fair, as might have been anticipated, to rival either, or even all of them. As a complete register and faithful analysis of con temporary British Literature, this Critical Gaze:te w ill present to all nations, and to Englishmen residing abroad, a panorama of the literary novelties of•thd day ; and the present mature state of our genius, taste, and knowledge, renders it in this respect as rood a display abroad as in utility it is gratifying and desirable at home By Act of Parliament, all pledges of 10s. and tip wards must he sold by public auction, and the pawn broker is bound to shew the accounts of the sale, and pay over any balance to the owner, if there be an over plus. Several changes in the names of places aie contem plated in the vicinity of Finsbury-scriate. Old Bethlecn is already transformed into Liverpool -street, to the no small inconvenience of many of its inhabitants, tOio have connections at a distance, not apprised of the change. Broker's-row, on the East side of what was Moollields, where the nuisance from what are termed the• ll barkers" _dragging pa;sengers into the Ito niture shops continues unabated, is altered to Bloomfield- . street : this change the latter gentry ale displeased with—they declare the new title is in no degree ' tive of their business—and very inappropriate, since ' Moorfields disappeare.l. The new square ruid build 7 ings surrounding the London Institution will, it is ru. moored, be named after certain distinguished per sonages, and London Wall and several adjacent ancient stieeii s be newly christened with courtly appellations. a e • t la. • My wife's so very tad," says. Will, ttuJ . , , . . " r feet she neer eat, 'bold it : • •so Imps her bed Mine's Worse 111161.14 ' 1 ":- 01- Tbrivie bas jut 9ow sold it I" . , ".7:!„ 3A 7,-1 EMI a ~"?~ IM W all '