The National Register. — London, England, 1811-12-01 00:00:00

7 . '2 the purpo-es of national justice. It would there fore be rejecting the evidence of our reason, to lay a charge of hat sinless on a Government that dis played such a readiness to prevent the commission of offence, in order to have fewer offenders to punish. The next point for our consideration is by whom the illegality of the act of Delegation was to be es tablished. Was it. by the decision of the Jul yor the Judges ?---The nature of the question on which the Jury gave their verdict will yield a clear reply. Proofs were adduced by the Cotqnsel for the Crown to demonstrate that Dr. SHERIDAN had been elected a Delegate and Lad not refused to fulfil that office ; and the Jury were left to decide whether the proofs brought forward were sufficient to convict him or not. On this question they re turned a verdict of not guilty, applying solely to the insufaiency of the evidence. This very verdict shows evidently that had not the evidence been de fet tive, they would have found the 1 1 raverser guilty. The mei its of the Act, were therefore, left entirely to the Judges, whose opinion, delivered seriatim, was unanimous as to its illegality. The result of this trial has, therefore, disappointed the hopes of the Catholics; and the temperate conduct of the Government cannot be better exemplified than by the following declaration made by the ATTORNEY GENERAL : He said, that though « there has been a verdict of acquittal in the case of Dr. SIIpIuDAN, the law ofl the case has been clearly, unequivocally, and unani- Inottsly declared by the Gaol ; and therefore I consi. der it now as settled law that the Committee or Con- , vention proposed to be convened by the resolutions of the Gentlemen on the 9th of July last, would he, if it should meet, an unlawful assembly. That be ing so, I cannot suffer myself to believe that the Ro man Catholics of Ireland will persevere in the mea sure, because I cannot suffer myself to believe that it ever was, or is, their meaning to violate the law of the land. Under this impression I feel that it would be hardly consistent with the object of these prose cutions, which never was to persecute or to punish the individual, but to prevent a public mischief, to press for the trial of any other of the Travel sers at present ; and I will go farther, and say that it is my confident expectation, as it is my sincere wish, that it may not be rendered necessary for me, at any time hereafter, to call for the trial of the other Tra verser•." The Lonn CHANcn.Lott's indisposition has pro ceeded from symptoms of the gout rwmifesting themselves in his loot ; he continues to hear bank rupt petitions, in his private room behind the Court of Chancery. On ‘Vednesday, he commences his Sittings at Lincoln's lun. , . • m oradliii • • THE NATIONAL REGISTER. URRECTION AT :MARTINIQUE. We have been favoured with the following highly interest ine particulars of a most alarming revolt in the Island of Mar tinique. Happily the insurgent s were soon subdued, and several of them have already sneered the exemplary punishment due to their crimes. Their leader was a fellow of the name of Moliere, who as.umed the title of Vissount. The following are the details of the Insurrection : • " On the 17th of October last, information was given to the Prornrcur du Roi (the King's Attorney), that on the ensuing evening, at eleven o'clock, an iasurrection of the free people O f colour and the negroes was to take place; whenit was intended to set fire to th.. populous town of St. Pierre in several places, giving the alarm of fire, to force open the stores where there were cutlasses and bill-hooks, and then make a general massacre of the white men as they made their appearance in the streets, but the women were to he spared for min r purposes. In case they did not succeed to the utmost of their wielies, then they were to storm St. i\lartlia's battery, on the left of the town, and turn the guns upon it. By the fortunate discovery of the plot, nit the eve of its execution, neasures were immediately taken for its prevention. Some of the chief of the banditti were seized by the police in the course of the day; and tattlers of them withdrew from the town. At seven o'clock , Tn. several people were seen on the heights which immediately overlook the town, and also an inhabitant caine in with the intelligence that from 70 to 80 of these miscreants had assembled at his house, with swords, pistols, Fee. and that they were fast in creasing. I dent.-Celonel Mackie of the 3d Battalion of the 60th Regine nt, and Commandant of St. Pi erre, sent immedi ately a detachment to surround them ; at their approach the banditti fired at them, and took to their heels : after a fat lining ptumuit the whole night for 19 hours, the detachment could not succeed in taking more than three ur tour of them. During the whole of the night strong patroles of the Goth paraded the streets, assisted by most of the white male inhabitants, uncertain when the fatal moment might arrive, or the dismal cry of " Fire," beard. On the following morning several of thu ringleaders were taken up, and lodged in the gaol ; a strong detachment fro;n the garrison, and parties of Militia, were sent to scour the country to re•,tore tranquillity. On the 'elst, the town was again thrown into a state of alarm: from 4 to 500 :laves, headed by live of their chiefs, endeavoured to enter the town, expecting there to he joined by a considerable number of the domestic slaves. A' the mob was seen collecting from all parts of the country, the houses were again shut up, and despair reigned Once more throughout the plate. By the active exertions of Lieut. Col. Mackie, assisted by his men, three of their Chi" fs were taken, the negroes dispersed , and order ag ain restored.— The head of the insurgents, thus baffled in all his attempts, pri vately entered the town at night , and endelivoured to niehe his escape on board a 'mall vessel, but not succeeding, he blew out his brains. His name was Moliere, a free coloured man, and a native of this island ; he had been for sonic time at St. 1), mingo, and returned with the title of Viscount. About 130 of the in surgents had been apprehended, and at their trial, fifteen were found guilty, and hung on the 10th of October. " The distinguished and meritorious part acted by the British garrison to quell this dangerous le volt was publicly noticed by Major-General Wale, Commander of his Majesty's force in the island, as well as by the inlial'itants, who testified their grateful acknowledgments in a letter transmitted by the Procureur du Roi. These testimonies reflect much honour upon the vigi lance and conduct of Lieutenant Colonel Mackie, upon the Officers under his cononand, as well as the general discipline of the corps, and are a just tribute to their good conduct, to which we owe the preservation of this valuable Colony." ~' ~., M . _.. ._ __ LEEWARD ISLANDS MAIL. The following are extracts from letters by the Duke of Man chester packet, arrived at Falmouth with mails and passengers front surinam and Martinique, after a voyage of 35 days from the latter : " PM( l' ROYAL, Sr.P . r. 25.—Tt is supposed that General Ri gaud, who died of fever a few days ago, at Aux Cayes, was taken oil by unfair means. It has been strongly suspected that he was an emisary of linonaparte, and s3.nt out purposely to pave the way for the introduction of a French force, whenever a favourable time might offer. He had been a lung while in France, and was brought out to the island with General i.e Clerc's army, that he might influence its inhabitants ; but find ing that he was not likely to get a command, and kept at the Cape tar from his relatives and property, which were in the South, he be,;an at last to correspond with them on his release. This information being couvaye4 to Le Clerc, lie placed him