The National Register. — London, England, 1818-05-24 00:00:00

MA? 9:4. verity. They were charged with receiving stolen goods; namely, some stockings stolen by a slave from a black woman. This crime ilest.t.e.t puniss ; but they were pueislied with excessive seselity,one receiving 100, and the other 8J lushes. During the pouishinesit, two female slaves, one the sister, the other the half sistcP, of the young men,-werts pre sent. and overcome by their feelings, they shed tears. For this exprestiinn of feeling they were punished by their mas ter, one 25, the other with 20 lashes, with a cart whip. ror this cruelty the twister, by W!tOFC order the punishment was inflicted, was indicted ; when, though all these farts were proved by evidence, yet, upon a bare allegation nfhia COllll - that the women bad nut Wept from grief, but that they had sl;(.13 . 11 symptoms of riot, and further, that they were at negro dance in two days afterwards, he, was acquitted ; and that in the face of evidence which went to prove that the men and women were both treated with so much s e verity t h at th e Wood streamed from them. Now papers relative to this transaction, and notes of the trial of Mr. Huggins, the master of the sieves alluded to, haul been sent to this country, and these were some of the papers lie wanted ; but he also wanted the minutes of the proceedings of the Assembly in which this matter had been discuseed. The Assembly of the island con sisted of 12 persons, where Mr. noggins attended as one of ti'e Assembly, and made a speech, which the Assembly so tench approved of, that they ordered it to be mum ed on their Journals : hut of whom did the Assembly consist who took this impartial review of Mr. Huggios's conduct? 'Why, the Siueaker, sae of Mr. fsluggins's bail for this offence, Mr. Hug himself', two of Mr. lloggins's own sans; his other bail, t- physician of the island, who was also Mr. Huggins% phy sician, and. several other individuals, his friends. Yet the o; Miura of this Assembly was that on which this govern ment were desired to form an estimate of Mr. Huggins% Lemanity, which was described as most extraordinary. This paper hO also wished to have, that the House might also have' na opportunity of inquiring into, and judging ..f that docn mutt. The Hon. Gentleman observed, that it' Mt. Hoggins's l umanity was so great, it would be fur his honour to have his conduct fully investigated. lie could not perceive any dan ger which could occur from such an interference as this be tween master and slaves. Of Mr. Huggins' humanity, he knew nothing but by report; but it had been stated, that after the punishment of the men was complete ; he said, " Now bring out the ladies ;" and whilst they were under punishment he exclaimed several timer, in tt taenfing tone, " Now cry !" The Hon. Gentleman concluded by moving for the appoint ment of a Select Committee, to inquire' into the treatment of slaves in the island of Nevis •' and that the papers transmitted to the Secretary ofState,and to which he bad alluded, should be submitted to that Committee. Mr. G01.80134:1 could not consent to the production of the papers, but on one condition. Mr, Huggins had already been tried by a competent tribunal, and acquitted. He had no objection to the papers alleded to being referred to a Com mittee, as a eubjeet around for general enquiry, if the Hon. tient. weeld so shape his enquiry as not to revise end retry, Isnot: inane:feet printed evidence, a case decided by a com petenyribunal, on viral-ace evidence. Mr. VV11.131:11FORcli contended, that the House had the power, Red it was the duty of Parliament, to watch over the administration of ,ittstiee, built in the colonies and elsewbei e. The Hon. Gentletaaii commented in strong terms, on the Imo ceetting which had taken place in the case now under con sideration, end contended, that it was a case which called imperimeily for inquiry. He was ready to allow the neces aity there was for the mother country watching over the colonies; but lie highly deprecated these sorts of discussions --these exaggerated details and statements, which were pro doctive of the greatest mischief in the colonies. Slavery was not a new system iu the colonies ; it was old, and founded on opinion ; and if Parliament wished to put an end to it, let them do as they did in other eases, indemnify the planters for their vested interests, which might be done by renewing the Income Tax fur In or 12 years, and put an end to sKtvery altogether. The best system of putting an end to it had, how. ever, been adopted already, namely, stopping the siopplies.— Vilder all the uircuinstances of the ease, be did not see any new light which could be thrown upon it by the appointment of a Committee, and therefore lie should oppose the Mu. tics. Mr. BAR 'vim conskiered it as a great evil, that there were so many separate legislatures in the West India Islands. He thought it would he most desirable to have Nevis and some other of the sn:all islands consolidated. He was convinced the ends of justiee would be greatly forwarded by such a measare. In tl•e larger islands, the state of the slaves was not inferior in any respect to that of the peasantry of this tuantrv. Mr. i.:outrescii thought if justice was not to he olitained e;scwhere, it ought to be found in the British House ot*Coni. ••:ons. lie thought an enquiry ought to be held, to see how , ; .iiitice was ndministoreii in the colonies. Mr. IVAR E alliillatlVer^d in strong terms, on the charac ter and conduct uf Mr. Huggins, and gave the Motion his tapport. W. SwiTir d:11 not believe any mischief could ever nrise from such discussions taking place in the House. For his part, he dill not consider the House could be more legi timately or more beneficially employed than in this enquiry. lie gave the Metion his roiliest support. Mr. BAUHAM explained. In soying that the slave in sonic 'situations was better cif than the English peasant. he only Limit that he was better fed, bettor clothed, better lodged, and that in many instance+ crimes were pniiiMed with less severity ; but he Het' vr for a moment intended to place him on an rituality with a free horn man. Sir S. KOMILLY replied. In the coarse of which he corn. rnented in strong terms on the conduct of Huggins in order ing the nagging of the poor females for shedding tears at wit nessing the punishment of their male relatives. He denied that any thing hal been shewn to justify the cry of insubordi riation. The Motion was then agreed to. Adjourned. 'f)!CPSDA V. The Oreer made in February last fur the production of the Acconidi of the City of London wax distAtarged, on tiv,e Bill to vsliicli it referred being withdrawn. Sl!Ot' WIN tum TAX. Lon! Litscyr.t.rs stated, that before he left the emintry, hr had received counnimica thins of considerable inimortanee from different persons. relative to the tax on Shop Windows, and that upon application at the Tax Office, the Commission. ers expressed their inability to afford satisfaction on the sub r ct. He moved thou a Select Committee be appointed to take this matter into consideratimi, as well as the manner of ssessment by the Officers, and also facts, of which several instances occurrod, where children, who carried pal eels for their parents or fraids, wore charged as servants. and to re. port their observatowis thereon. Committee appointed to meet to.morro%v. Titr, NATIONAL REGISTER. USURIOUS BILLS..- !fir S. ROMILLY said, th t as two nowt excellent laws, re 'atilt:. to Umiry, hail been tro 'girl forward by an Honourable Nleinber, he.l►4ll waited in hopes or a Bill, fur rendering valid bills of exchange and proini.sory notes, in the hands of per • sonsnotimplicatediuthe usurious transactions would he brought in fur the sanction of the House. But as this Bill was not placed under the consideration of tie nous", he thought it his duty to delay no longer, and tberefore moved for leave to bring in a Bill. to assist persons, who wer e brow fide holder s, unconnected with the usurious transactions, by rendering valid bills of exchange, or pronti.siory notes, in their haiids. Leave granted, and lit. Bill, after having been brought in, - was read a first time. IMPRISONMENT FOR LL F 1; fluelvnaer said, that to the ease to Whie:l he wished to call the attention of U..' I ionsedie bad given usecii considera tion by instituting nu inquiry into it. it had miens:Heil from ciree.Lu letter of the :tilde Secretary of the Home Depart silent, whose memory would nut soon be forgotten. This let ter was sent in February Ibl7, and in the CAIRO mouth, two persons; Jonathan Mellor, amid S Yellieg. of Warrington, were apprehended and their houses searched, lender pretence of their having vended libellous publications, of which infamous productions none entertained more horror than he did. They were brought before the Magistrates, and were ordered to find hail by giving personal se curity in the sum-of 1001. Ind two others is: the stun of SOL each, in default of which they were transmitted to gaol, confined among felon:, and conderrined to hard labour. If these men had been the manners of thew publications, they could. not merle= more severe treatment, for evert the Court of kin g '. Bench could Lot inflict more severe punishment. The plea a lleged was, that tha gaol was crowded, hut the crowded gaol did tat oblige their mingling soicly with felons, their being allow al but feler.s' tare: For these farts, he had the gaoler's statement, to whem'mo blame could be attributed. Bat the two Magistrates were not equally blameless. Had the individuals been tried, the result might have been the same as in the nee of Mr. Hone. After ace:elm:mere of four I..ontlis, they had been rerneved in an open car, along with felons, ar.d ire Seateriter, were discluvrgetl, upon pe.sonal eecutity, as a change of 4 system had taken place. lie should next advert to the ease of It. Swindells of MaceclesSeld. On the 10th of March, t 817, at 1e o'clock at night, several people came to she dcor of his house ar.d demanded admittance. The door being opened, they rushed in, and asked fur certain persons, who were not there. They then broke some trunks, and otherwise did considerable mischief. His wife was then advanced in her pregnancy ; she was delivered of a child :man the 26th of April, and died upon the 28tli of the same month. The child also died a short time afterwards.— Swindells himself had been committed tr. custody for want of hail, and in the course of five weeks had been liberated witl.out trial. The man had served for 11 year?: on board the fled, and had always borne a good character. Ile trusted the House would not allow such proceedings to pass over without inquiry. The Honourable Member concluded by snoring, that a Scleat Committee be appointed to inquire into the Petitions old. B. Mellor and S. Pilling of Warrington, and It. Swindells, of Macclesfield; the two termer of whom had been taken into custody on the ad and the last on the 10th of March 1817. Mr. DAVENPORT observed, that the statement as to the case of Swindells, was in many respects erroneous. The Hon. Member then teed a letter ; which he had received on the subject, from a Magistrate of Macclesfield. The letter stated, that on the night in question, a large party bed set out front Manchester, and had arrived at Maccles field, in consequence of which the town was in a state of great con fusion and alarm, and the cavalry had been ordered to parade the streets. Inhumation had been given, that a party was asaenibled at Swindells, and four of the Magistrates repaired to the piece. No person had been found there, nor was he himself taken into custody. His wife went the next day to work as usual, at a manutlictory where • she was employed, and continued to do so for many weeks. Mr. BLACKBURN E stated, that no cruelty had bean exercised in the case of Mellor and Pilling: they had been sent to the workhouse in an open cart, and secured by a amallthaln. and there was number way of doing so: The ATTORNEV•GENERAL contended, that the prosetutions of the individuals alluded to had been conducted with the greatest possible lenity, and the men had been discharged on their own re. cognizance. They had published libels, and had been committed at the Quarter Sessions. The bill was found, and had the men been at large, they would have been liable to have been apprehended. But lie thought it better that a case of that description should be deter mined by the Judges, and he accordingly removed it by a writ of certiorari into the Court of King's Bench. He had not, as lie had a right to do, kept the individuals in custody, but gave orders that they should be discharged upon entering into rccognizances, to appear and plead on the first day of next Term in the Court of King's Bench. They made their appearance and . were did 'elitarged, the came recognizancea being taken for their type:a ttic when called upon. If any proseentMn at all was to be com menced, could lie have done less? As to their commitment, she Magistrates had a right, by two Statutes, to commit to the House of Corrective' persons charged with offimcca, and it was usual so to commit, rand not to the common gaols; and by two other Statutes the Magistrates he.d been empowered to eoinmit, not only to the nearest plotter of Correction, but to the House of Correction fur the County. Sir S. H 4: Si ILLY said the Ho.nouralde and Learned Gentleman who hut jast sat down, was mistaken in supposing that this was a question ret.elchno , his einnhict particularly. It was such thing; for he believed tiler the malt (Swindells) had bees impri soned, the treatment he received could not be imputed in any man ner as a fault to the Attorney :;cneral. As fa-, thereMre. as related to him he gave him credit fits his hunhtMty ; but he should observe by the way, th , lt he sow no ntr:essity for one proceeding—the re moval of the trial by :erti9rar;; though even upon that subjea he had no doubt that the Honourable and Learned Gentleman would he tide to give c satisfactory explanation. But what he bad to oh ,iecttoo, and which made .nra think this etvoition nrost important was, the Irett!hog of men with irons who hafbeen charged only with a political libel. 'Chia cows a thing so atrocious in itseh, LILA he tea:: eertaio, if me•dioavl a few years back, it would not have been be- , lieved. unit were not indicted for a felony, they were only charged with a pelitissi libel, and though he did not go the length id' some Members in saying that thesel.hets were blasphemous, yet he still highly disapromved of them and their tendency. He ten sur prised that his I and I,e,..med Friend (the Attorney General), who had in his earl/ days held such liberal opinions of the liberty of the press--opinions which, he had no doubt, he still held, he sail lie was surprised that he could for a moment tjoink it justifiable to have men sent in irons not only to prison, bra to le cxamiued before the itflgistrate, and from thence sent back to a prison in an open cart still filtered. This was what he complained of. that men, for such a chlrge, should be treated es the comniorest felrns. But besides the injuries already nLard, there was another, upon which lawyers (however moth they might differ at different sides of the }louse t p hit other snniects) would he fully agreed, namely, the usurpation of the right of searching for papers, in the house of a person only charged with libel. The Honourable and Learned Gentleman then went on. contending that, necordiag to the received principles of the law. no man's house might to have bean searched under such eir cumstancas as those of the petitioners. It was also, in his opaion. contrary to legal practice, to oblige any person committed for trial, to any noose of Correction, to endure hard labour. Mr. It. Ilaertuits - r comentled, that the statement of the Peti tioners was highly exaggerated. lie would not say, that the search for papers was justifiable, but did it follow that becouse that was wrong, that therethre the whole of the proceedings respecting them was unjust? The Right. 'lmmu t able Gentleman then proceeded to slew. that from the whole of what had amicarcd, th r e was nothing proved which could require a Parliamentary investigation]. Mr. LOCKHART observed, that he was fully satisfied with the ex o. planation of the Attorney General, as far as he was concerned, but 4 • It at she tante time he thought, that the eircurnstaace of persons . put in irons merely on a suspicion of a crime, required wise iutau :Mr. Brx:err replied It sortie length, observing, that this w•a.a the last tqpurttinity they would have of giving their opinions, or of offering a check to such conduct as that which hod been detailed to the The House then divided—For the MotioA 17—Against 73—Ma . mit) , Sti—Ntijuut ma. Enimty. DUTIES ON flocK S %LT. Mr. CALCRAFT rose to move fur leave to bring in a NH, to lower the duties on Rook Salt, as applied to agricultural pilepw.ege H e stated, that he believed the Commute , ' had no objection to this Bill, although the Members of it had taken other points of great inon:ent into consideration, which the late period of the Session would, he feared, prevent them from bringing benne the Honk. By the prvFalt Bill it was inttuded to lower the Unties on Rock Solt from tel. prr ton, which had last year been arranged as the duty, 31. Ile tl-.e?e fore moved that the !louse should go into a Committer., to take into consideration the Act of toe 57th of his present Majesty. Mr. Wat.f.tcr. fully concurred with the Motion of the llono.:r -able Member. The House went into a Committee,. and lee f• 14:411 granted to bring in the Bill. PRl7g_ MONEY. ... . Mr.ExttEr. was desirous of inquiring from the Noble Lori, wham he sew M his place, by what regulations the Medical 41&;era. who were in attendance upon 500(1 wounded sAiliers inßru•sds wire deprived of their right in sharing with their other officers the prate money appointed to be distributed among them, while some ofii:tra who were notat any of the battles, hut who join el the army upea their approach to Paris, were allowed to participate in the hernfit ? Lord Par.stEstsrow obierved„ that Medical Officers genera:lf share with other officers in the pr:ze money, but they WCIC w:l3 were in immediate atcendaacc. If the Medical Officer , at Bmrsi:i were entitled, by the same rule those in England had a right to :hare. With regard to the officers who had joined the army be,iiro it reached l'aris, although they had escaped the dangers of a battle, they had been prepared to encounter danger, and were ignorant of what event might occur before they gained Paris. To deprive them of their ',bare of the prize money would not be consistent. hut the distribution of it among Medical Officers, was regulated upon fixed principks, from which it was not proper to deviate. The Alien Bill was read a third time and passed. Mr. (7 O , !RTENAY gave notice,. that on Tuesday next he th 1131.1 move for leave to bring in a. Bill to establish Parochial litrif!it Societies. The other Orders of the Day were then disposed of, and the house adjourned. From the LONDON GAZE - ITE, Tuesday, May 13. BANKRUPTS. Lama J. and Von rr.1:11 J. Crescent, Minories, merchants, June '2, 6, 30, at Guildhall. Aft. Mr. Smith, Finshirry-square. LONDON .1. C.Lloyd*s Coffee-house, nnirchant,May 23,26, June at Guildhall. Au. Mr. Abraham, Great Marlborough-street. Beoww J. London, merchant, May 26, June 2, 30. at Guildhall. Atts. Clarke and Co. Chancery-lane. WEBB R. Rromyard. Hereford, farmer, June 11, 12, 30, at Wor cester. Att. Mr. Robinson, Tentarry. WHITE S. Calver,Derby, grocer, May 26, 7, June 30, at Works. - r . Att. Mr. Ellen,. Carlisle-street. Asst .T. S. Liverpool, merchant, June 12, 29, 30, at Liverpocl. Atts. Taylor and Co • Temple. HALF 'l'. Reading, tailor, June 1,3, IT, at Reading. Atte. Jenki.is and Co. New Inn. Nrctrot.t.sW. Huntingdon, sack•rnaker, June 15, 16, 30, at Hun tingdon. Atta. Lear and Co. Southampton-buildings. WISITEHOUsE J. Stratford-upon-Avon, mercer, 31ay 30, June 1, 30, at Stratford. Atts. Price and Co. Lincoln's Inn. TREWHITT F. late of Northallerton, linen-manufacturerVune < 6 25,30, at Wakefield. Aft, Mr. Wells, (;11 1-51 ree'• • LTNE E. late of Fivniouth, mcreilant, Junt. 13,15, SO, at Plymoutn, Atts. Anstice and Co. Temple. • J ,:r.c 9• DT VU) ENDS. H. and J. G. Stevenson, Milbank, H. Bayley, St. Albans, corn-chandler, June 9. D. Fowler, Lime-street, merchant, June 9. A Mants and G. Schmid, Wapping Wall. merchants. June 9. J.lSewell and D. M'Aturdo, Hounslow, flan-mill-spinners, Jane :0. J. Sisson, Lombard-street, hanker, June 16.. __ _. P. and NV. Pidgeon, Stock Li.ctiasige Coffee-homy, tavern-keuperb, Jane 3. R. Beckett, Westbury, innholtler, .Tune 10. A. Cowper, Barton Bthilit.h. miller, JUNCO. IV. 1. smith, Birmingham, victualler, July 1. T. BenddiShuland, Nottingham. molester, .lune 18. CERTIFICATES.-JuNE Y. T. Fawell, Old-street, surgeon—J. and .f. hiller. rirl::wf-11-,..r ,, 1, —sitoemakers—T. West. (:raeeehurch.street. perfume:—.;. S- , ", Friday-street, wine-merchant—H. I )annah, W t G. Todd, Newcastle-t!pon.Tyne. spirit-mercl ant—l. vonsidre-stinare, broker—N. I.useombe, Kingsbridge, se:iet T. Hopps. Winky, ieatherseller. DREADFUL DVPRAVITV.—Ou Thursday week, a girl, azu d 12 years, named Kinglet', daughter of a widow in Itatlestret t, Mile-end, accompanied two other girls to liow-Fair, but Lot returning, her mother went to enquile of her companions., w::() stated that she had been taken frnin tkem by au (Welly who promised to treat her with nice things. The poor won.:.:, half mad with apprehension, proceeded, late as it was, to ;!:". fair ; when unable to rain any intelligence, she walked over the greater part of the metropolis, and was returning to htr home in despair, late the next evening., w lien, at the corner a Catharine-street, in the Strand, she is;ls petrilkd at behold'ag her daughter walking with two common prnstitutes. She .ai inediately Sci:•.eil her by the arm, and the poor at t!te sight of her 'wither, burst into tears, left her companions,:c:J went home with her parent. The tale she told was horrifying. When at the fair she Was accosted by an elderly woman, who by promises of treating her with sweetmeats, induced her •o leave her compauions. She .continued to amuse her nntil was so late that she was afraid to rt turn home, and having hinted so, the old wretch said she would take her to her house for that night and bring her to her mother in themornlng. They accordingly got into a coach, and were set down is a court (supposed Whiteflart-yard) near to where she had been found by her mother. They were shown to a room whi yr. a few minutes, another old woman made her appearance, t• whom the first addressing ei rm il l thin reserve, ' s s t a i t t l i !e " I have brought pm nice p age ." Thu proeuress then received a sum of money from tae woman, and departed. The gill was then put to bed, and tie following morning treated with much kindness, and induct cl to remain there. Towards night, however, site begged to co Wine, but this was not li,tcncd to, and.she was dressed up and sent out with the two girls with whom she was met los her nr abet , Rut for this Criminate meeting the ruin of the poor girl would in a few hours have been accomplished. Measures roc pursuing for the detection of the old Wretch, and we earnestly hops the strong arm of justice will speedily over.. take her.. J.l3lllmp, a ehilil, ,on of Mr. R. of Poplar. climbing up a wail, by the Aker the City Canal oil Monday, fell into the water, and drowned. ~,