The National Register. — London, England, 1816-03-25 00:00:00

2ARCYT 9-5. the vniree of much useful Information to the public ; not, howe'eer, by blindly and ignorantly recommending a me thud, f:)und to be once successful, as the very beg Ming t/u• ►rvrld in all similar complaints, and under all cit.- tnmstances, but by a candid examination of flicts, by the lights of philosophy and science, to ascertain on what teal grounds its future utility may be adjudged to rest. G. INSOLVRNT DEBTORS ACT. As this important and avowedly experimental measure is bilinit to undergo revision, nil appearing, from the numerous :positions presented to Parliament, to contend that some Altera. •tiosi is necessary to avoid the destrnetion of private credit,' it caning but be us onl to lay before the pnblic itimenutim, col leeted with immense pains, in the form of an abstract, as the reader may imagine, when he perceives, that it is the result of seven liousand five hundred and nine petitions and schedules— the in, tuber of petition+ presented down to the present time is upwards of eight thousand three linndred! When the number of petitions is compared with the small number of +1006E3, to whose -effects assignees hove been appointed, and the still smaller cumber +X returns made by those assignees, sixty-five ! may it not he slid that this act, hitherto Muttons in its effects, has nut lid a fair trhil, and that according to all appeara nces , there is too notch ground for the complaint made by Mr. Aber crombie in the llonse of Commons on Wednesday eight, that there has been great negligence on • the part of the creditors. Be that as it may, we shall give no opinion at present, the whole case being very properly sent to n select Cmunittee of the House of C.,inntoov. The following is the promised ab et, act, the accuracy of which to.) be retied tti . There were 73179 petitions presented to the late and present Commis sioner by debtors to the Ist Feb. 1616. Of these were withdrawn, in consequence of the passing of the Act 6401 Goo. 111. 1419 petitions. So that 6090 petitions remained. Of that number 3311 have been heard and determined, and dis charges ontensl. There were 166 petitions remandtsi ; and Petitions not flintily detemiined 593, making up the 6090 petitions. The total rams.. amount of debts stated in schedules in all the petitions ------- Total grn , s amount of debts stated in the schetitileA of petitions withdrawn - . I )itto of petitions renianded . - On the other sick of the statement, we find Sen debtors ut whooe effects assignees have been appointed ; and The number of returns made by the assignees only 6.3. The gross amount of property stated to have been got in by such as siguees is 1,4991.45. 1,17Y,171. ttli.C99 Front this statement the amount of debts from which indis duals base been almost wholly released appears to be enormous, J. :09 8 ,57v. ; but we are persuaded suck amount will be found to be most fallacious. Where there are partners, for instance, each partner ellilliterateN the debts of the firm, hills of exchange, i‘c. besides separately noticing such bilk or debts upon which the arrest took place, and opornie gross amounts are made of the snme debts. Thus the general return is decep tive, no doubt une-fourth ur one fink Time Committee sat on Thursday last, Sir C. Nortek in the Chair ; but no examinations took place. Mr. ('lark, Clerk of the Insolvent Debtor's Court, and Mr. Waal/mon were in at tendance to be examined ; but after asking Mr. C. some pro/ar r.! questions, the Co iiiii 'Rice adjutant. d till Monday (to-mor row). We lament that the orders of the House of Commons pee s cnt its from floating the progress of the Committee, the exa minations they take, the documents and information they enter upon the Minutes, and the opi n ions that may 611 from the Nienthers constituting such Conintitte e, because the .%et is of great importance; and should its principle be rightly put into action, it doubtless may be of great and general use, although of certain partial evil. . TRADE, MANUFACTURES, & COMMERCE. The Litclafirld Herein, says—•• Wc regret that we have this we dk to ottiimmee the stv,peo,ion of payment, in the old and establi.slied banking-house of Gibbons and Co. of Wolver hampton. The severe and unexpected shock produced lov this occur rence, canoed a temporary run upon the flank of Slessrs. Ma der', Mollncux, and Co. ; but it has subsided. We regret the tat ale of another batik ingliolusr, that Messrs. Itriektfale and Co. of Taunton, Somerst•tshi rr. Ike letters received on Saturday front Liverpool, mention that the Committee nominated to inspect the 170111 C l. rug ofMessrs. Roscoe and Co. had proposed that the v% hole of the demand shottid be paid Da in six years by instalments, of 3s. td. itt the pound in each year. Two great Russian Images failed lately in St. Petershurgh one of them for five minimal; of rubles. Their misfortunes are intribnted to on extensive monopoly of colonial produce, par ticularly sugar, for the disposal of which, they have been enabled to find no advatatagetatas market. Friday, accounts reached town from Denbigh, that the bank. ing.house of Messrs. Clough and Co. had stopped payment. The house of Messrs. Scot, Burn, and Co. we regret to state, stopped imminent on Wednesday last; also, the house of Messrs. Hood and Co. Crosby-square. The Moister of the Interior has addressed to the Chamber of Commerce of 'Sautes the following letter:— •• Gra: believe I ought to all your attention to thaw! pasts of the Sca Which offer matter for useful spconlations. A regular orgarizatioc—a perfect security and European institutions---vamot foil to recall to our navigators the cumous and ninnies of trading with 01 . 401‘1111Vret. arairutly frequent: 41. Tl7cy tan establish the surest av f'or prodawts.where they tied a hospitable reception in tnc ports or the Baltic, anal there they iin!ot with i‘eculiar advantages. The corn motGtos and naval I,rovi.ions. which they seek in Russia, and are not found in the Northern marks,., but at the charge of a long conveyance, are the products of conntries in the neighbourhood of the Mu:: Sea. %Isere in oonsequence of the course of that area, they hare established in Crimea a ;mach better market. Our wines ' our liquors, the same pmduets which we furniht to If ussia by the North Sea, and which are proper Mr the consumption of the more Eastern countries, form the means of advantagtou, exchange. It will be desircable to increase commerce of France, end to place a within the ru of enjoying those othaunages which the benevolence of the Emperor Alexander appears to hotel out in the relations between the two counttiei, and the Govern t t Collamuitts all tllose laudable ants of the merchants that purpose, and will record their cfliwts with all their influence. It will be &onside that your vessels should make a trial of Coat track.and ohs:•r , e, Vicif is (be a flat by a crowd ofaainsiderations, to the acs of the North, aril to the ineonveniencies of the Stains of the Baltic. •• I sliAlll:Aan with ;Ms - faction of those expeditions in the Crinwar %Melt have made Liuerprizei at your request, and I shall receive a ith pleasure any einomunications you nur te...ke to on the ft:Elides which they may expect firm Governm.iit, and on t 11.2 obstacles which Government may he enabled to re:nov.2. (Sig: etl) VaI:IOLA:4 V, Ow A:U . lliter Scaetary of State. NATIONAL RZ( EXPEDITION TO AIR/CA. The expedition nnder Captain Tnekey's directions in the Cen2o sloop, accompanied by the Deruthy transport, for ex plotiog the smtree of the river Zaire, or, us it is commonly termed, the Congo, has sailed on that important discovery. The steam-engine which had been fitted on board the Congo has been removed, together with the whole of its vast machinery, as its use was found impracticable, and it prevented the sailing of the vessel with the eelerity that was requisite.—While this expedition is proceeding, another is to be affected across the continent of Africa, to the point whet , Atiego Park ter, )) ill ated his laborious career, anti thence en tin• Niger, in the expecta tion of meeting with Captain Turkey, anti, in that event, es tablishing the hypothesis which has long been indulged, that the Zaire or Congo, anti the Niger, are one and the same river. The source of the former, as also the teratination of the latter, have hitherto caused a large chasm in the internal geography of Africa ; and until now nu measures so extended, or similar with regard to the employment of vessels, have been attempted. The terre,trial mission is placed under the direction of Major John Peddle, assisted by Captain Thomas Campbell, anti the number of persons to be attached are not fewer than those under ' , ark, whose line of march is to be adhered to. The fob 10.. t Mg important document, of which sonic numbers have been printed in the Enlli•lt and Arabic langnages, still be distri buted for the purpose of the natives rentteing such service as the travellers may stand in need of; and partimnially in the conveyance of dispatches from them to any of our sett!ements on the coast. The following is represented as a true copy, to which the seal of the African Company is affixed. "(LS.) Free trade to Africa by Act of Parlistrint, 1750, - - " This is to make known, that Major John Peddie, Captain Thomas Campbell, and Surgeon William Cowdry, have been employed by the British Government to proceed from Senegal into the intrnor of Africa, to trace the source of the river Niger, and to obtain such information respecting the countries throurrit which they pass, at may be use ful in the extension and improvement of commerce, which is the obj4ct of the British Government m sending those peroms to Africa; and that any person who may happen to meet with those gentlemen, anti shall he the hearer of a letter to the Governor of this or any other British Settlement on the Gold Coast, from either of them, shall reeeive use ounces of gold, tied be liberally rewarded for any service or arts of kindness which it may appear by such letter may have been rendered to either of them.—Witness my hand at The cumber of ounces of gold being fixed nt fire, has been objected to by persons %% Ito has c been at Morocco, as an ex pression which is avoided by the Arabians and the Western Moors in their numerals. When they wish to express that number, it is generally done by saying four and one, or two and three ; and the reason assigned for this singular custom arises from their idea of the being connected with the epithets of malediction, reprobation, &e. and also being the mar! of the the lingers on the hand, in the manual rejection of any person to *bow they baveun aversion. INTERESTING ACCOUNT OF THE cllunal AIIS- VOA'S I.V INDIA, AFRICA, CALCUTTA—A Society has been established, to which 1,1001. per annum is allowed from the Society in London. The European midents have patronised it so much as to add about 400. to he applied. besides the salaries allowed to the Missionaries; to the pin pme of reader% of the Scripturva3 and CatedMsts, and the main tenance of native sdast!s. A 31eissee. a converted Musselman, with Talib Messee and several Christian natives are readers of the Scriptures and Cate chists under the Society, with encreasing success among the inhabitants of that large and populous city; more than forty of whom, many of them hitherto, proud mahometans, have been baptised in less than a twelvemonth past. The Rev. Wm. Greenwood, an English Clergy man, and the Rev. Christian Frederick Cotthalt Schroeter, a Lutheran clergyman, have embarked for India to assist in carrying on this great work round Agra. Mermes.—A society is formed, to which 5001. per annum is also allowed for the same purpose. Two Lutheran Chrgpuen, .1. C. Selmarre. and C. T. E. Rhenins, have proceeded to Madras under a licence from the Court of Directors, to enter into the labours of the Dr. John, and extend his tulyisable plans, cs opportunitits may open before them. About son children in the schools of the late Dr. John, are under the care of the society. And the Rev, T. Norton. an English Clergyman, with his wife and child, have embarked for Al.tdms. Cov sotv.—P. H. Gerardus Philips, and J. G. P. Appohaney, two native Cingalcse of high respectability. and dependents of Christian Mi nisters, educated in Holland by the Dutch Government, are now on their voyage to England. having been selected and recommended by Sir Alex. Johnston, Chief Justice of the Island, for education for the Christian Ministry among their countrymen. Settlements in Western Africa have also been formed at Rashia on the Rio l'ongas, Canoffee on the Ballom shore, Gambier, and another wasforming when the last letters were written. each conducted by two clergymen and tlwir wives, who take an active and essential part in these important concerns. In thew settlements about two hundred native children, many of them the sons of the neighbouring chiefs, are con stantly under Christian instruction, and most of them wholly main tained by the society. Churches have been erected at Bashia and Ca nudist.. The New Testament is in a course of translation into the Estero and I; ullorn languages. and elementary books have been printed in those tunr.fies to teach the natives to read. Sinned the missionaries have sup plied the place of chaplain at Sierra Leone. and a great number of native children have received instruction front them. The Rev. Leopold But s‘her is now chaplain to the colony, which has become a place of great importance, containing about t nos Mi iMibitants, of which not much leas than ti fro are native ebildren of different African tribes. li:west:xi tiom smuggling vessels. A large event of land has limn) made to the society, on which is erecting buildings for the reception and education of all there destitute children, who will he instruct eel in agr:eulture and other useful uertmations, to civilize their minds, and render them fit for Christian instruction. Tire maintenance and tloatlurn. of each child costs the society &strut five pounds a year, and they are baptised into *kWh names as their liocrator may desire; more than one Montreal of the had hero thins tiosernoient have granted their ready support to these pnwedings in Africa, and n onimodions chinch is to be criwtoil in the colony, agree ably to a memorial, in cthi j oaction with tioventor Maxwell, and the liberated children will he placed under the sixicty's care: and a regttlar iistircourso will be henceforth maintained by a ship to be nanted the Wil!wrforce. _ . _ 'l•ue same twuve step are also in process under the direction of the lire. Sam. Aar*len. and an inctiliarr society to be flintiest in New South Watioi. principally in New Zealand, where there is ample en couragement. Mr. Midalen has purchased the brig Active, of 110 ton.;, and several New Zealand chiefs have been carried in her to New South Wales; and after they had received instnwtion, lie to return with them on a visit to New Zealand, accompanied by till the settlers. Antigua, Malta, and the Levant c•:ttrnl the long line of these efliwts. Two young Arabians, nine English :tridents, four Cennan students, two I Ater:Tan rlerp't.'en. three schoolmasters, are prey arirg to under take these crchtims ard ht, fable lahours. The ttlil Tietatiaut is now translating into Persian, to accompany that of s:le New Testament by the lies. 11. Murton. The New Testa ment is proceeding in SUS/30 and Bulletin, two African tongues of great extent. The Liturgy is in preparation in Ptrsisn, Arabic, and lain. dostanee ; anti in these and various other languages of .ittlloitietans and Heathens, entwines arc taking to print and circulate widely scriptural and religious racers. ITEX. ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE. TRIAL OF THE MARGATE MAGISTRITE. MAl:is - I'one, Mattel' 21.—This case excited su uncommon degree of interest, from its haring originated in the circum stance of a worthy Gehtleinan having been temporarily impri soned for placing I self in the laudable situation of soliciting charitable euntributiens in aid of a bemuse Institution. The case was tried by a Special Juiry, of which only two at tended. It was an action by George li. Rubies, the aurtineer, of London, against Mr. Iloys, a Alagisti ate of this county, for take imprisonment, on the Ist of October last, at Margate. Mr. Scrjeant Rcat, for the plaintiff, stated, it was not unknown to the Jury, that at Margate, In this county, there existed a Most eNeellent Cliarit, the Scl Bathing Infirmary ; and it bad often happened that learned tool pa3ll3Cler4;yinen had lout the aid of their eloquence fur the support of its fluids, 1):, grAtal tons Charity Sermons; and it had been es:mm(ll that the Hey. Vicar of Margate would bane granted it the sfznie mipport. Why that stipple t was refused, it woold he for that Itevetend Gentleinan to explain; but certain it was, that he raused the use of his pulpit for a Charity Sermon to aid the funds of the Charity. The plaintiff, a Governor oldie Infirmary, with other Goveraors, thought, and jtistiy thonzlit, that they were well warrants il in supplying the deficiency, though in this they were thwarted by the some malignant influence. They determined that they would make a collection near the Clinrcli.yard gates ; mid that, though they were refused the alit of a Charity ser mon, they stolid apply to the Christian charity of those who came from Divine Service. 'mr iljenslant, a Magistrate of the county, Immediately caused placardu to be stuck up in the town, that persons so artiorr, would be taken up ;is vagabonds; and that it they repeated the offence, they would be liable to transportation from this coma, y for the space of seven years. They were not, however, deterred horn this work of charity by the threats of the Magistrate; lint, on Smithy, the Ist of October last, took their stations near the t:tittreh.gates, and collected from the congregation comitig out of Church, for the benefit of tit- Infirmary. Soon after, the defendant came flout ithin the Chat ch, and Went up to 31r. Robins ; he asked him what he was doing, and said he was a vagrant. Ile forthwith Called two eon:tat/ICS, who took hint into custody; and for this offence he held him in custody until he gave security to appear at the nest Dover Sessions to answer a charge of vagrancy. The notice of Fe:ion was then put in proved. Mr. Shipden, an attorney at Dover, produced the recogni zance returned to the Dover Sessions. Thomas John Taylor, a gentleman of fortune resident at Margate stated. that, on the Ist of October last year, himself and other Governors of the Sea Bathing, Infirmary, resolved to solicit the usual charitable donations at the Curch-gates. Ac cordingly, on that day, four gentlemen, Mr. Robins, Mr. Wood thorpe, Mr. Dyson, and another, held the plates at the Church yard gates: he saw Mr. Boys come up to Mr. Robins, and order him to be taken into custody. He was taken to Mr. Boys's, the attorney, in Hawley-square: but what was done there he could not say, as he was not admitted. There WAS nothing like noise or tumult : but the people p a s.., , d along ; and the plates were not presented in tic o.mal way, but people were rather forced to torn out of their nay to give their donations. Air. Edw. Wright, a gentleman residing in Verularn•build ingr, Gray's tin, proved there nits not the least noise or dis turbance. Some witnesses were then called to show that there was n• clistiirbance. Mr. Justice Bayley skid, what Mr. Robins had done was a legal art ; and if other persons had made a disturbanee, thee, and not he, were to be punished for it, unless they could spew he was a party to it. This produced a short conference hetwcen the , counsel in the cause; wheu Mr. Gurney made a short apology to the Jury fur his client, stating that he was mistaken in what ho had done, and that it was agreed that they should find a verdict for the plaintiff. with 501. damage's. Mr. Serjeaut Best, s aid, he consented to this; and Mr. Ro bins, who was in court, decl.•sred it was not his intention to pocket the damages, but that he would give the wineic to the Infirmary. TRI4L OF A CUSTOM-110USF. OFFICER. Thomas Thumial was indicted fur the wiitid murder of Tho mas Moore, on the 9th of Auvist last. This case was one of cousiderahle importance, it being that which our readers may recollect was, during the last Michaelmas Tenn, removed by ertiorari, from within the liberties of the city of Rochester, where the utlence was committed, to the Court of King's Bench. _ John Bridge, the first witness on the part of the prosecution, deposed that he was a eustom-house officer. The mil of Aug. last he was stationed on the larboard-side atilt. quarter deck of the Achille, then off Chatham. The prisoner was in the main chains aft. lie saw hint present his piece, met lire it int, when he inquired if the man %AS dead? Some person replied, ye-. Witness nem up to the prisoner, and sa;d,"yon villain, are you nut ashamed to have shot the man, perhaps he has left a s its and family r" To which the prisoner replied," chat's his family to me—it'hc bad been my own father, I should have shot him.'"f he boat of the deceased wits about twenty yards from the ship—witness had N aked on deck fur nearly twenty mi nutes before the prisoner tit - ed. Did not hem• him receive elders to fire—did not hear the prisoner speak to the deceased, nor was there any not or bustle in the ship at the time. During the eruss•ecumination of this witness by Mr. Scricant Best, he received the acterest rebukes Item the court and counsel, for the obstinacy, ley ity, and incousisteacy he frequently • betrayed. Wi!liani Naylor deposed, that hi' was a waterman at Chatham. On the oth ofAutitist last, he seas, in 11:s boat, near the .ld, ll'o man of war, when hue saw the prisoner stationed in the main chains of the ship. Witness also saw the deceased, Thomas kloore, in his boat. Saw the prisoner level his mn.ket, and tire it off. lie had previously heard the prisoner say . lie would John Cooke corroborated the above. Several sy iniesses were examined, whose testimonies went Sr) prove that no orders were riven to lire by the proper officer ; and that it wa4 etintrar:. to the established citation to tire with hall, except for the purpose of brin g ing ve-sels to. The evideiree for the innovation being cloned, the prisoner was called upon for his defence, when be stated, that lie 11,4 !wen eleven years on hoard the Achiile, in the SCl's ire or his king and country ; that he had fought iii the nirmoraide battle ofTraralgar, and ever s• tidied to obey his ott:cers, and to I..rin his duty. lie was a total stranger at liatliatit, ano not be supposed to entertain malice towards the deceased, thiltint, with others, he had frequently warned ta keep oti intuit the ship, hot to lie purpose. !laving ball, he etmeeived that case • emergency he was to have used them, and in the pre sent instance had been thus itilluent•ed. Under all the cut emit stances of the case, he threw hint/telt upon the mercy of the • Cunt t, and the well-known justice of Lis count.).