The National Register. — London, England, 1815-01-15 00:00:00

"7,1 r and " discredit brought -on the country," he " rejoices" because Ministers " have humbled themselves to.the dna." With the principles which we have uniformly maintained .--with a zealous affection for. the interests of the country, and for that which is its best interest, its honour--each of .tlose modes of considering this important...subject is alike inconsistent. It is inconsistent with common sense to deny that our naval reputation has been injured in this short but disastrous war. It is inconsistent with the spirit and feelings of English:nen not to regret that the means of retrieving that reputation are cut off by a pre mature and inglorious peace. Is this a " personal bate and revenge against Mr. Madison ?" Is it a wish to " make war in the spirit of personal malice and *en. geance ?" Oh ! no. It is a far different, a far higher sentiment, a feeling innate in English bosoms, which teaches us that far the loss of honour there is no reparation. CAPE OF GOOD HOPE AND irs ADMINISTRATION UNDER SIR JOHN GRADOCK, K. B. Is it not, we would.ask, a most singular and extraordinary circumstance, that long as the colony of the Cape of Good Hope his been in our hands, the Dutch laws still continue in full force and vigour in that settlement. This we have from a pamphlet lately published by Mr. Fisher, brother to the Bishop of Salisbury, a gentleman who with much legit education has the peculiar advantage of great local knowledge on the subject, having resided neatly two years in the colony. He has not confined himself to this object merely, but has afforded Much useful information on the general value and importance of the colony to this country. The picture he draws of the state of the jurisprudence and the mode of administration of the laws, is really a most distressing one. Under former governors. it must have been truly dread ful; but the late worthy governor, Sir John Cradock. with that true spirit of British liberty, and that noble mindedittess so eminently conspicuous in him, did every thing in his power, she( kled ar be was, to curb the daring spirit of the Africans, and kept a watchful eye over the proceedings of those courts, he could not altogether overturn. Most of the facts, stated by Mr. Fisher, occurred, as we understand, during the Government of Lord Caledon. Under the more • wise and prudent administration of Sir John Cradock, such occurrences would not and could not have happened. At one period, Mr. Fisher tell us, the Courts of the Cape assumed the province of an English Jury, to decide be tween Englishmen, in a case of libel,, and even where the libel we; in English poetry. Could any thing he so monstrous. And yet these, impudent and hardened Dutchmen chose, in a moment, to understand the English language.and were sup posed to possess sufficient acuteness in explaining ittuendos, becoming only the suhtility.of an Etigtisheausidicus. The defendent 'vas - kind guilty. Imprisoned in the, Common gaol with the vilest of malefactors, and actually banished the co luny. Another instance is mentioned where an English merchant, at this time residing in Cape Town, became ac quainted with an Englisletady. and solicited her in marriage, and, probably through ignorance of what is called Colonial Law, in this rimpect, married without the consent of the Ma trimonial Court. For this great supposed offence. Mr. Fisher (whe well knew the parties) Informs us. that the lady Weft the . Court, and had not . rye, was condemned for contu inacy. sentenced to banishment. and the sentence was ac tually carried into execution. The poor woman was violently torn from her husband, and _confined with the common malefactors in the gaol called the Trunk, until she was for c.bly put on board ship as a convict, and sent to England. The whole account of the jurisprudence at the Cape is highly unfavourable, and points out the absolute necessity of a total and immediate change. Mr. Fisher adds, " that the great countenance and indul gence shewn by former governors to the Africans, have - given them an air of consequence and importance, and tl:ey have been secretly endeavouring to extend their own laws. , not only over British subjects resident in the colony, but even over the British army and navy." flow truly difficult, therefore, must have been the situation of Sir John Cradock when he assumed the government of such a colony, under such circumstances. As a civil governor perhaps his, power was too confined, to do much more than watch over and curb the spirit of the Africans. Yet in ens instance, and that a very ma terial one, he effected. as we arc informed from another quarter, a most important change, which was no less, than that of throwing open the Courts. which had always before been close shut. In person, he actually visited and thoroughly examined the gaols and prisons, and abolished the practice. mentioned by Mr. Fisher. of imprisoning witnesses. in order that they might be forthcoming at a trial, on which it was sup posed they might be capable of grinding evidence. From the same quarter we learn, that a his own autho rity, and, at his own expellee, he established grammar and other-schools. And without interfering at all with the ex isting laws of the colony, he has laid the ground work -at least of raising the revenues of the colony. to a most respect able state and considerable amount. In this instance, he has certainly displayed a very great share of political economy. Deep designs were laid to entrap and ensnare him to expence, *Melt it was hoped,. would make him leave his go vernment, with a wasted treasury ;hut although much was ' done .ty him in repairing the fortifications, in erecting a fort, now known by his name, and which, by all enquirers, is supposed, from its judicious situation, to be the most im portant of all, and several other public. works. He has, after all, left the treasury much richer than he received it from predecessor. The establishment of a public market at Cape Town, with a due regulation of tolls and duties, which are not only cheer fully paid, but which amount to a very considerable sum. was likewise effected by Sir John. And lastly, in order to make himself complete master of the subject. he has actu ally made a tour of the whole colony, visited every port and station, made the most minute enquiries at each, and, as far as be could. removed every inconvenien c e. With all the difficulties of his situation, to have carried such important points as Sir John Cradock has done, and ap parently without giving the lest offence to the proud suld surly Africans, is really wonderfel ; but that he did it is eery strident from the may in which he left the colony, univer sally beloved and respected. On this subject the testinionie,3 of all the public bodies and constituted authorities (as thew appeared in the Morning Chronicle) veil! afford the most am -arid convincing testimony. Asa military man, the character of General Sir Je;rn Cradock is too well known, to require any eulogium. Du ring his residence at the Cape as a military governor, every officer and soldier submitted to his commands with the utmost alacrity and cheerfulness, and at the same tirnelooked to hitn as to an afleetionate father and a kind protector. hsd been summoned a • . 4 the cl -K.. , •• ` • • 4 pi, ,, 1 11 • 7 .$ .faCl 4 • 4 ; .‘ Oa. .P 47 -71 . 2 THE NATIONAi. ttEMS;rEiI.