The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser. — London, England, 1805-04-08 00:00:00

A iis -sr, CUNCEKIN. t , The first Ladies' Concert was held at Lady r I ne s's. Hill-street, Berkeley-square. on Fri..l,ay v~pt lest, under the diredtion of DI &GONETT I. the Grand ball room was the scene of anion. It o f an elliptic form, and will accommodate 100 co uples of dancers. The ceiling Is most superbly , ar eed. In the center is a medallion representing p i stil() and the Muses, with greupes of Cupids, ex ecuted is a masterly style. The hangings and fur niture ate orange satin, embroidered and gold frames. Six very large glasses with lustres on either side complete the coup d'art. The Concert com menced with a favourite Symphony from HA VON, and concluded with a Su/trots% by STOR ACE. DUNA VIGANCIPII, and toasts.,, who acquitted t hemselves in their several sole:, dem., s &c. in the most masterly style, and received great applause from a tiumerous and elegant circle. Amongst the company were, His Royal Highness the Doke o f Cambridge. The Mardnottes. of Winchetter. Conntesses-,—Derby, Bridgewater, Stanhope, Albemarle, Carlumpren, Clanhrassil, Asliburnhem, Druid. Bortngrlon, tel.lelmay A. Cumberland, De Cl4Prid, 'fished, G. Bucley, Hollaws, Stnah, Burgess, cles a , Wolehouse , E Hut k tn, and Archer. Slarelissee—Staff rd and Wolchester. The Portuguese Ambassador. E 411—Derby, Bridgewater, Stanhope, Cassilie Ceuta Stahremberg, and Count G Stahremberg. Lords-11..ningion end Wodehouse. Sto—John Leicester, J Brddeh, and N. Holland. The Managers of the Vocal Concert gave their Subscribers a Concert of much novelty on Friday evening. A scene from the celebrated !locum( of GI ACM, translated by Dr. CALcoTT, was performed for the first time. It is a very fine composition, but. we think, rather too heavy for these Concerts, and • more calculated for a Church. A sequel to 0 Lady jfar, composed by ANACREON MOORE, for five voices, and double choir, had a most delightful ef feet, and was deservedly encored. It was supported by the whole vocal strength of the Concert. Mrs. MOUNT • IN'S COOCCIE closed on Friday. THE COUNTESS OF KINGSTTLY'r ROUT. This Lady gave A grand Rout at her house in Port'awl-I/ace, on Thursday eveni:ig The com pany were numerous and elegant ; we observed the fellowing: The Marquis and Marehinnevi of Hsi Void Coontro.a—CAnntesi, C.Lin brood, Limerick, Leitrim, hluuntnorri., and /Mem.' rle. Lwbri—.Milierore. Ann, ti• 0 ff..rd, Shee, Long horn, Drohien , xl, Almeria and Susan Carpenter, Hawley, and ft, , on•-• Crofton. friturt-4 , -I'hfmn: yea, Burrow, Cooke, Paget, 'Vaughan, Maani..r, Kell', C.lver , , 4 Nior t;;Amery o, Mottr. Gerson, Grant, and Hem. Ear . -I. , itrim and Mmintinere. Str...Winians Lanehanr, Aldred Clarke, Henry Dashwand, Wilt •u kirdr, and Robert Gagnon. G. n ral Miller and Calomel Browne. Lord o.a.64ertain's Office. •Ip• 1105. KWm %leeway . % consinaewi that ail Nei &lights el tile With, and f'atock, who shall be pirent It the In. ;stailatiots of the Knitlite of the Mott Noble (hetet of the Go- Ow, ion the 23n1 lista.% at Wirid , or Gale, d t appear in the Collars of their retpettive (Meta Her Majesty will havr a 'Scarring Room at Right °Vim+ in the Evening, when, a, timing the c•-ressony in the morose', the Lashes arc to be in fail dresa, without hoops, and the Gen. tietnen in full derv., or in naval or militant unshirrii. N B. The Court will aouear out of Nonrorluß on the occa sion and nu persons wit be adinitted to St George's Chapel, or 11411, in ~owning Yesterday Lord and Lady ELLtor gave a grand dinner to a large party of Nobility, at their huuse in Downing-street. On Saturday was married at St. George's, Han over-square. Lady est•ai.orra TOWNSHLT4O, the daughter of the Earl of LLICZSTIIt, to the eldest sun of Sir CECIL BISHOP. The Earl of DERRY gave a grand dinner on Saturday to the Marqu;s of DOUGLAS, F...arls Cow- PIA and A L SEM ARL L, Vi COYnrO6ICLSTONE, Lord Kota, Lird H. Parry, Lord A. HAMILTON, Mr. Fox, Mr. Cosy, Mr. KING, and Mr. ORD. Countess MACARTNET gave a Grand Musical Partys Oa Friday evening, at her house in Curzon street. The Earl and Countess of Eit ev will leave town so-morrnw, for their seat at the Oaks. The Earl of Rnstl'itY will leave town this morning for his seat in Kent, where his Lordship intends to remain for a fortnight. The Welsh Club held their second meeting at the Thatched House, St. Jassies's•street, on Friday. lagrd and La ty Ls DESPENCER will leave town is a few days. Her Ladyship will not return until after her arriairhemeai The Earl and Countess of CASSIUS give a grand inner to-morrow. The Orera of I.a arinenze di Stipieue was per formed to a crowded house, on Saturday night. The liengal Club gave a most sumptuou s di nner at the Thatched House, St. Jansm's-street, on Thursday, consisting of 170 covers. The Marquis CORNWALLIS WAS present, and took leave of the company previons to his departure for India. WAR.. UN I lasru4as. Esq. presided. The Cupids, so justly admired, on the ceilings of the Premier Baron Lord I.c DE Se errecit, we under stand, were invented and painted by that inim.table and favourite artist, Mr. ANT. Co a r avz, of lii , per Bet kley-street, Portman-square. The Bombay Club had a superb dinner on Thurs day last, at the St. Alban's Tavern. It was served in the very best style. STOR• CL has been discharged from Covent- Garden, upon the ground that she of no use with ant BRAMAN. Surely it is not the poor woman's fault, if the Manager cannot find another man for her. The Honourable Mr. and Mrs Kw,: arrived on Saturday at their 'souse in Uppri Grussenor-strect. from Cambridg,e, and entert aine d at di nner the Earls of Lismisart.La e r , and O'Nats, Lord nod Lady MINT°, Lord And Lady G. SEYMOUR, Lord Rascal. Saymoua, Mr. and Mrs. CALVART, and MI. IC ILIINIIDY. • _ L4IV INTELLIGENCE. 1 / 4 -Y)uar Ok CHANCERY, Sktuitis., Amt. 6. • This the ..of Ex parte HIGGINS. , was an application by the petitioning creditor of Bankrupt, praying that certain parties should he compelled to, go before the Commissioners, and _give evidence with respect to the an of bankruptcy {committed. The petitioning sr editor'sdebt amounted to upwards of 11,0001; the commission issued ; and the an to be proved was, the execution of deed by the Bankrupt, conveying the whole of his property ; and the parties, witnesses thereto, re tused to give evidence of the execution thereof. Mr. Rion A Ds, for the Bankrupt, contended, that, as nothitik had been done under the commis sion, which had not been even opened, the great seal had no authority to compel these parties to sive evi dence of a deed to the injury of any pariy. The Loan CuaaceLLos rallied, why, then, in all times heretofore, Chancellors had committed parties to gaol for this offence? The lase had given .authority to the Great Seal, to issue Commissions of Bankruptcy, and therefore he had the power to compel persons to gn before the Commissioners and hive evidence. Having said this, his Lordship op e d the parties would go before the Commission ers, without further hesitation, and not drive the Petitioner to the necessity of taking nut the order. E.I mirk SH Et 1.1 E This was a petition in the matter of Cavell and Powell, Bankrupts, praying that the Petitioner might be permitted to set c,ff a delft doe by the Bankrupts to her, against a joint adi.i.l by the Assig..ees against her and her brother. .11.e.Ber:rupts had advanced 10001. to the Petitioner's brother, and had taken his security, jointly with his sister's, for the repayment of that sum. At the time of !!;is tran:;aaion, the Bankrupts had Exchequer Bill. to th , amount of 30001. belonging to the Lady, in :heir hands, a part 4 which she now sought to be set of against the 'joint anion. The CH A Ist; LI.O ^. was ot opinion, that the sister's demand could not 1 )..- set off AV.ti; , s! the Ualtirl of the A isignee*, which his Lortlhhap much tegietted; hut, as there appeared to be something. worth fur ther consideration in the question* he would look In to the affidavits, and deliver his opinii..a on Monday. Private letters wore received in town en Saturday from Canton, dated in November, brought by An American snip, arrived at Por , moutb, which ,fate, that the homeward bo:ii,sl Ciana fleet were nearly loaded, and were erpe,..ted to sail the begin ing of January last, consisting of the undermen tioned snips, viz.—The filritun, DaustlAOStD; Cam re.ter, ROBEILTSOW; Wrachriarei, ea 41•11 ILL ; Warner Castle. Bunn; TiOnirs, SROTIOWE ; Brunctuzck, GRANT ; .11e,gfus of Ely, HANNAY ; Cant4fl, LUSH iscsros ; with a Botany flay ship. Government received, by the Neely schooner, dispatches fs um Lord LA VINGTON and General MCYLKS, the Governor-General and Commander in Chief of the' Leeward Islands, which induce much confidence as to the safety of our possessions in that quarter. General Mvir zas, in particular, states, that the troops under his command are fully adequate to the defence of the islands, although, from the wsperior force of the enemy's marine, they may be subjeeted to partial injury. The following is a List of er.emi's ships, in Pa est Le Vie • cur . . 110 L'Ul , we . . 74 Le He wacain . . 110 Le T ilk . . . 4 LI n..n,ible . . 110 VFW, . . L'Ale. indre . . $0 iA Rtealutinn . Le Yondrovant . . PO Le 0 a A o . t . L'ltn; ettaeue . . 74 La Coustaut:on IA Brutus . . . 74 L'A lliance . Le Castor . . . 74 La Itatave IA Veteran . . 74 Le Pitnnte . Le i',iage . . 74 IA Gaulaore . Le Con.itterant . . 74 The fleet which arrived at Martinique corn p..iFcl— . 74 . 71 , . . 71 . 74 • . 74 Le tstajestuelpt . . . 120 Lr Jemappe . • . 74 Le S.T :attaniaic . . . $0 L'lndefAtigAble . . . 24 Le Suffrein . . . 74 L'Arruule Le belt The names of the other two frigates are not mentioned ; part of the troops which they Carl ied out were sickly, and were landed ; and the troops previously on the Island were embarked for the ex pedition Against Dominica. The following is the House List for Governors and Dire.tors of the Bank of England, for the year ensuing : TOR COMMONS. Benjamin W intherp, Esq. Governor. Beeston Long, Esq. Deputy Governor. Vol WA SC TONS Alexander Baring. Esq. Sir RichaolNeave Bart. Samuel BotAliquet, Esq. Jeremiah Olive, Esq. Alexander Champion, Esq. Jelin Pesi.e, Durrien, Esq. John Puget, Esq. Nath. Blight French. Esq. Thomas Raikes, Esq. Jeremiah Harman, Esq John Baker RirhArils, Esq. John Josiah Holford, Esq. Edward Simeon, Esq. Thomas Langley, Esq. Henry Smith, Esq. Thomas Loris, EM Peter Isaac Thellusson, Esq. William Maiming, Esq. SAMSUN! Thornton, E4l Ebenezer Maitland, Esq. Si. Bro Watusti,Bt And Aid. William Mellish, Esq John Wl•irmont, Esq. The Eleaion for Governor and Deputy Governor will be held on Tuesday, the 9th, and of Direaon, on Wednesday, the 10th inst. from 10 in the fore noon, till four in the afternoon. Saturday an affair of a curious nature took place at the Police Office, Marlborough-street :—Mr. Brooks, the owner of the Menagerie, at the top of the Haymarket, was charged with having privily in his possession a pug dog, the property of Colonel Mackenzie. The Defendant sold the dog in ques tion to the Colonel six months ago, tier three gui neas, and the animal was stolen from him in Fe bruary. Mrs. Mackenzie soon afterwards call ed on the Defendant, and requested him to adver tise her dog, with a reward of too guineas for its recovery, or to detain it if discovered. The dog, however, was not restored ; but General Hall hav ing called a few days since in the Defendant's shop, to look at some pugs, recognised the one in ques tion. A search-warrant was in consequence pro cured, and the dog ss as found chained up, amongst other:, in a back room. Colonel Mackenzie de clared, in the most positive manner, that the dog was hi:. firiiperty, and identified it by several Mal ks; on the ..;:ier hand, the Defendant swore that the deg been siz months in his possession, and during • time publicly exposed to sale. The Magis: , • .wever, were of opinion that he wss in posse •r of a stolen dog, and fined him 201. with c 05. ... StilvE TR,IDF. TO TILE EDITOR OF nu. Aims!' PRESS. ' F" The advocates for the continuance of the African Slave Trade, in the dearth of sound argument for the support of their cause, have frequently had the effrontery to make their appeal to the Holy Scrip tures. The Scriptures undoattedly record the exist ence of slavery ih ancient times ; hut surely it would be a very unfair inference from this admission, that the Scriptures, therefore, sanction that traffic in men which is carried on by British subjeets from the Coast of Africa, for the supply of labourers in the West Indian Islands if such a principle of inter pretation were admitted, to what absurd 'conse quences would it not lead ! The Scriptures record the fratricide of Cain, the drunkenness of Noah, and the polygamy of David ; but would it be just reasoning to infer, that either murder, or sensuality and profligacy, were sanltioned by the word of God? As just, at least, as that deduced by the modern Man Merchant tram the sale of Joseph to the Midianites, or from the existence of bondage is the Patriarchal ages, in favour of his horrid traffic. But let it be granted, for the sake of argument, that the Slavery ni. ntioned in Scripture was sanc tioned by Divine Authority. Will this concession affect the question at issue, or establish the lawful ness of the African Slaite Trade? By no means. But, before I enter upon the discussion of this sub jet, it will be proper to premise, that the cause for which I plead hat suffered materially from the am biguity of the term Slavery. This vague, and un defined term is applied to conditions of Society dif fering very widely in.alurist every essential parti cular. We speak of our becoming Slimes if a mi nister do but suspend the Habeas Corpus ACt. The French are called Slaver because they do not enjoy the same degree of political liberty with which Pro vidence has blessed. this Island. The domestic ler vititde of Africa (which probably bears a close re semblance to Patriarchal bdndage) is termed Storer, and the subjeas of it Slaves. Some other name, therefore, ought to be invented to express West laf dio, bondage; for, by means of the association o f ideas, which is produced by this infercommunity e. appellation, especially in the minds of persons who have had no opportunity of fully investigating the subjeit, the African Slave Trade, together with that syterri which it feeds and perpetuates in the West Indies, is confounded with states of servitude so very mitigated as to excite no horror ; and is thus relieved atom a great part of its shade. The system of slavery which prevails in our West Indian colonies, we believe to stand alone in the history of the world. It is not only (as Mr-Pitt affirmed in 1'791) the greatest praftical evil which has ever allieted the human race ; but it is an evil sui zenerss, so radically and essentially different from every other which happens to have the same name attached to it, as scarcely to form a fair ground of analogical reasoning. But let us consider this point more attentively. The mir,eries entailed on Africa by the Slave Trade arc already sufficiently known to the public. I need not, therefore, dwell at present ern that pair of the subje6t. Let us follow the Slaves in the middle passage. Them, it we may credit the Man- Merchant, the utmost exertions of his humanity and beneficence are employed to Fromute the ease and comfort pf hi. Afric,sn patbrugers, Use ems there we %ball he constrained to conies., that his tender mei c ie.. are cruel. In the year 1701 (three years after the passing of the Slaw sisrvioz Ac!, which. is admitted by the Man-Merchant, them:elves to have very greatly lessened the mortality on board of slave ships), of 113,754 slaves carried from the coax of Africa, 1,3;d died during the middle passage, the average length of which was fifty-one days ; making a mortality of SI per cent. in that time, or of 614 per cent. per annum : a rate of mortality which would depeople the earth in a year and seven months. • The amount of the mortality in 1793 WAS, h"W -; ever, still more enormous. Of 31,554 slaves car ried from Africa, no fewer than 5,413 died on the passage, making somewhat more than 17 per cent. in fifty-one days. Had the voyage been prolonged, and the slaves continued to die in the same propor tion, the whole ntimber would have been complete ly swept away in about ten months*. I would now ask, whether it be fair, whether it be allowable, to dignify a practice so pregnant with misery and murder, with the name of commerce Surely this cannot long be endured by a British Parliament. If it is to be tolerated, let us at least have some specious pretext for the indulgence: let there be, at least, one praetice pointed out, either in ancient or modern story, which will bear to be compared for one moment with this abominable traffic: otherwise we ought no longer to be imposed upon by the hardy assumption of its antomity and nrii eeteftiy. But the horrors of the middle passage are at length terminated. The slaves are lanittil in the West Indies ; exposed like tattle in a fair; spanned and gauged with as little ceremony as is observed by a carcase-butcher in Smith:it:ld ; and, having been purchased by some planter. are led to his estate. What is then the situation of such of them as sur vive the seasoning ? '[hey are the absolute property of their purchaser, vendible by him precisely in the same manner as the horse which turns his sag ir mill, and if dived privation of life and limb be ex cepted, equally subject to his discretion as to the quantity of labour to be ex the proportion of food to he allowed, and the discipline or punishment to be isilliaed. Dori% the hours of labour, they are driven like a tram or oxen or horses by the cart-whip ; and Mis cm/In/von •f Wins?, /y tie p4i/sical impulse, or present terror q . l4s whop, is sinioersal with recpai to such staves es ere rsigegcd oa millers:in: sue Wand/. As to civil rights, or any political existence, they stand on a level with the brute. Its - moderate cruelty to a slave is punishable as a nuisance in the same way as immoderate cruelty to cattle ; but then, it is al ways difficult and generally impossible to obtain proof of the fact ; for (let it not be forgotten) the evidence of a slave, or of a thousand slaves, did they all testify the same thing, would not be avail able in the smallest degree to the convict;on of one who is free. This, then, is the state of bondage to which not on the imported Africans themselves, bet their chil dren, and their children's children, for • tiers aerosols laid on the table of t h e Ilques at Levis iu 19!l ever and fur ever, are inevitably consigned : and defy any one to shew, not only that a single ciLcens stance in this picture is exaggerated, but that it is not a matter of as universal notoriety in the West Indies, whatever it may be ia k;urope, as the exist ence of slavery at all. Ido not mean, indeed. to affirm, that this system is not as humanely admi nistered by some West Indian planters, as its nature will admit. But still suet) is the system which they 1 have to administer. Let it be remarked, however, that there is one circumstance in the lot of West Indian Slaves 4 which renders it even worse than that of brutes They A , 190 . not only feel the present pain, hut they can remem ber the past, they can anticipate the future, they can discourse, they can contrive. they can execute, they can distinguish between right and wrong; they 'have had the insolence, at times, co exercise this fa- s .culty ; nay, they have even dared to prefer a claim ,so the possession of humanity, by expressing a sense •of injury and injustice, and by stewing that they can resent it. Hence it is, that, while in this country. we see men take pleasure in raising their horses and dogs to a participation of their own enjoyments, and tog place, as it weie, in their friendship and society; the slave in the West Indies is degraded and thrust down to the very earth, lest, looking upwards, some untoward accident should discover to him that he is .a man, possessed of t.‘e same common mature with his master, and equally entitled with him to feel, And to repel insult, and isijiiry, and torte e. Now, I do is it hesitate to challenge all the ad. Tecate' of the Slave Trade to point out, in extern, times. any state or condition of life, is i.ich bears the most remote resemblance to the West Indian system ; viewed is all its parts, from its commence ment in Africa, to its completion in the West In dies. Nay, so far is it from having any claim to seta / Jody, that I take it upon myself to aver that this system, as now constituted, is entirely a modern invention. It took its rise in the Antilles, about 220 years ago ; and from that time it has been gra dually augmenting, until, by the accumulating waste of the British capi•al arid African blood, it has acquired its present hideous form and gigantic di mensions. Still, however, it may be pertinaciously argued that slavery is slicer,', and that no doubt can be enter tained of the existence of such a state of society among the Israelites. The bondage, however, which prevailed among the Israelites will not be said, by the most hardy vMdicator of the modern seals-a sa- CIS A ICT, to have been worse than that to which the children of Israel themselves had been subjected Egypt. Of that state they always spoke as a state of the most intolerable oppression. Its comparison of it, every other servitude we; light. Their deli verance from it, as typical of another and greater deliverance, was called, by way of eminence, their redemption. So powerful was their impression of the horrors of this state, that the ;eon fiaramr, the tiolu.re of afitodrui,, and similar expressions, seem in adequate to express their conceptions of it ; and Egypt, the land of their captivity, is emphatically termed the i;ouse of bondage; and it is by the recollec tion of ;heir suffering in that country. that the Al mighty inforcel upon them the injunßion to be kind to the strangers that dwelt among them. Yet what, atter .sll, was the nature of this Egyp tian bondage? WAS its dreadful severity such as to dimsoish the lumber of slaves, and to require fresh importations to fill up the void which was caussi,bey excessive labour, hatch treatment, and seamy feed? By no means. They multiplied so rapidly as to pecnnie an objet of terror to their oppressors frona their very inertias.% Had their labour no known pseastne sir limit, or, was it forced from them at the caprtee of an overseer or driver by the compelling power or thewcart-whip ? No such thing. It. was the subjea% of specific and uniform regulation : tasks ' were appointed : the tale of bricks was previously I named. And. as to food, the flesh-pots of Eel t had be:ome pioverbial among them, Having now, as I conceive, incontrovertibly es tablished the sadocal Milerence between any slavery which could have existed among the Israelites, and that which now exists in the West Indies. I have at least demolished every thing like argument in fa vour of the Seeimara/sattasals of the Are IcAN Stara 'leant. I would, therefiire, entreat those well meaning men in this country, who, from inacquaint :ince with the real state of things in the West Indies, have too readily conceded that the system of Wear INDIAN Botatiaor has aay countenance in scripture, to tetra& that concession; and to he no longer impos ed upon by the mere similarity of a name, when the things are in their nature so essentially distinct. And let not the Man-sseacuastas, nor their advo cates, any longer insult the common sense, to say nothing of the religion of their country, by argu ments so absurd and impious. It will scarcely be expeded, that, after this confu tation of the argument deduced from scripture in tavour of the Slave Trade, I should think it neces sary to prove the contrariety of those priglices to which this trade gives birth, as well as of the prin ciples on which it is founded, to the whole tenor and scope both of the Old and of the New Testa ment. That the spirit of the Christian religion stands opposed to the Slave Trade, is too obvious to require proof; I shall, therefore, content myself with having teaitied the misconcertions which have arisen on this subject horn the anibigious use of the term slavery. and with quoting two or three pas. Saes of sea ipture, which seem to have a pretty de cisive beating on the question. Therelore all ihings whatsoever ye would that mess should do to you, do se even so to them : for this is the law Att.; the Prophets." The law is rnade for the lawless and disobe dient ; for men -stealers." " And he that STRAW.* a man and utterer him, or if he be found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death" You's, &c. Aa ABOLITIONIST. The Pallas frigate is arrived at Plymouth, from a cruise. She was chased on the 2.5 th ult. by two French line of battle ships, but esca,ted by running thirteen and a halt knots an hour. The 68th Regiment, under command of Colonel FAIILKY. arrived At St. Vincent's on the Ist of February, in the Agitator of 28 guns, and two transports, to relieve the 2.1 battalion of the 60th Regiment, ordered to Grenada.—lirigadier-Ceneral DALIV mrts likewise arrived in the Alugebv. to assume the coniutamtof dor trtropsut that island.