The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser. — London, England, 1826-01-10 00:00:00

DEMERARA AND ESSEQUIBO. We have received a copy of a most interesting docu ment, a colonial law for the instruction and improvement o f the condition of the slaves of the important colonies of Demerara and Essequibo. This law establishes a set of rules for the management of the slaves in those colonies, in accordance with the wishes and instructions of the Go vernment at home, limiting the hours of labour and the except and mode of infliction of punishments, providing f or the abolition of the flogging of females, establishing the right of the slave to possess property, and providing an official guardian of his newly acquired rights. It will be seen by this sketch, that the provisions of this law are similar to those introduced by royal authority into Tri nidad, and which seems to be unpopular in that island, and stoutly resisted in the old colooies. As Demerara and F.ssequibo, though not actually the most populous of our W est India possessions, are, f rom their extent and the nature of their soil, most susceptible of increase, the ad vantaws granted to tl e slaves arc of still greater pro spective than present importance, and will, if fairly exe cuted, produce many beneficial results—the greatest of which will be the paving of the way for the abolition of the evil which it now mitigates. The difficulty in all these laws is to get evidence of their transgression, where the whole of the powerful part of the population have a corrnnon feeling in screening one another. The document occupies no less than nine columns of the official Colonial Gazette. The following is a akecth of its details:— AN ORIMN.INCE FOR IBC RELIGIOUS INSTIII CIION OF SLAVES IN NIS MAJESTY'S COLONIES OF DEMERARA AND ESsEill:1110, AND FOR THE IMPROVEMENT. OF TIIEIR CONDITION. This law was enacted and passed at an extranedinary and ad orned assembly. held at the Colony-house, G e orgetown, signed be his Excellency the Governor, B. D. Urban., and by command, ( harks Wilday, and W. J. Armstrong, Joint Deputy Secretary. It is to be put in force on the lit of January, 1226, and appears In the Royal Gazdie of the colony. The preamble &clam that— It is necessary that further provisions should be made for the religious instruction of the slaves in his Alsjesty's colonies of Demerara and Essequibo, and fur the impitivenieut of their cup dition. Section 1 enacts that the First Fistsl of the Colony should be appointed protector of slaves, with a gaiety of 14,000 guilders per annum—one hen° be paid by Government, the other half out of the colonial chest. The second to the seventh sections define the duties of the office as to the regulation of Courts, writings, .records of punishments, &c., and provide that the protector of stases shall not be proprietor of estates or slaves. & Refers in the prosecution of slaves by the Fiscal for offences. V and 10. No slave shall he obliged to work between sun-set on Saturday and suit-rise on the Monday. 11. The market held on Sunday shall be discontinued after half mut ten It Declares it illegal to tarry • whip, or any instrument of punishment, in the Held or elsewhere, as a badge of authority .r 'thawing to labour. 13. lf it is necessary to punish a slave, the punishment must not exceed 25 laslua, and not be inflicted till atter sunrise the next day after the offence, Id persenee of at least one free person, or six slaves, and at or near the buildings of the estate. 14. N.' flogging at female slaves stowed. Here follows a long list of punishments that may be inflicted--continenient, stocks, tic. &c. dlaves may be punished stall more severely by applying in writing to, and obtaining the sanction of, the Fiscal. 15 to IS. That • Punishment Record Rook must be kept on every estate, and by owner. of slaves, where every punishment shove three stripes must be registered and sent to the office of the promo/ d Slaves, and the nature of the offence arid punishment stated. Hite follow lengthened details. 19 and 2Os If the owners of slaves refuse sanction to marriages, they are to apply to the l'rotcetor tf Slaves, who may issue his nundatele the dergyosn if he deeme it proper. !I. Every female slave who preserves her fidelity in marriage, ~hall. sir weeks after the birth of a child, receive from her owner or his attorney, 12 guilders for the first, and 15 guilders for every sicceieding child. Sections 22 to 33 inclusive, fix the hours of working from six In the morning till six in the evening, with two hours for meals, &c. ; provide for the careful treatment of such slaves; and enact that due am shall be taken of them, medical men, medicines, &c , pro. 'hied, and that no slave who dies suddehly shall be interred with. out an inquest. That if the sale of slaves becomes necessary, they shall be sold in families, and no separation of husband, wife, and children, shall be allowed. That a slave may possess property, and be protected in it. That the fee for manumission or freedom is to be paid out of the Colony chest ; but that no slave shall receive his freed en it he is likely to become a bur th en to the Colony, ace. The punishments for infraction of this law ate heavy fines end im prisonment. Doves, Jaw. B.—lt has blown so strong from tbe east ward for nearly a week, that no vessel has been able to get from hence to Calais since Tuesday ; the communication between the two countries has, therefore, been carried on by the way of Boulogne. The Sovereign steam vessel ar rived this afternoon front Boulogne with thtee tons of money on account of Messrs. Rothschild, which was im mediately forwarded to London. The Po despatch boat, belonging to those gentlemen, sailed this morning for Bou logne, shipping a tremendous sea in launching. • Arrived his Majesty s packet the Spitfire, and the Medusa steam vessel from Boulogne, with passengers, amongst whom were the Hon. Stuart IPortley, and the Hon. Col. and Lady Caroline Cape!. This morning as some of our boat men were launching a boat from the beach, to go off to a vessel in the mole, a tremedous sea struck her with such violence as to upset and dash her against one of the jetties, by which one of the boatmen, of the name of Reader, was caught between the boat and the jetty, and had one of his thighs broken, and the other much bruised : he has a wife and large family, who am, for a time, deprived of his sup pmt. Early this morning the steward of the Henri IV, French steam-packet, who had the watch on deck, was missing, and, up to the present time, nothing has been heard of him • and it being conjectured chat he had been blown overbo ard in the gale, drags have been employed in the harbour without success. Owing to the late prevalence of strong easterly winds, no vessels have been able t, effect a passage across the channel from Ireland. Tht re are, in consequence, no less than four mils due in London from Dublin, three from Waterford, and four from Dmagbadee • and, from the same cause, there are five packets detained at Harwich with foreign mails on board. COISBINATION.—The fruits of this'accursed system are now beginning to show themselves. ll'hat they here term out-weavers are men who ea up a loom in their own cottage, and borrow from their employers mounting—that is, reeds, gears, &c. During the strike, which has now continued ten weeks, these looms stood idle, while these who ought to have been at, work upon them were loitering about, plotting mischief for their own ruin. As the men refused to work, the masters naturally wished to have their property returned; but the watchword was—" We will neither work nor return our masters their property." As the great majority of the weavers live on the Fell Side, it was considered no easy task for the masters to recover their own property. On Wednesday last Thomas Wilson and Sons sent their man to bring away their property, and Dent and Senior went in person, but the alarum bell was rung, and the whole of the Fell Side forces showed them selves prepared for action. A volley of stones was fired, we may almost say a shower fell, and the parties were compelled to retreat before such an overwhelming force. The following day the same parties went up to the fight again, accompanied by M. ors. 'I homes and henry son. The same disposition was again manifested, but more determined courage .Irown by the approaching party. The attack was furious, but the defence steady, and the mu ter' succeeded in a great measure in recovering their pro perty. One outrageous virago, Mary Feron, was captured and lodged in the black hole, and the same day sent to the (louse of Correction for trial at the next Sessions. When will these misguided men see their error ?-IVestmoreland Gazette. Tilt FAIL Or F 0,1711111. ARTIF.Y TOWER.-Mr. Far quhar has felt a great deal of satisfaction at the recent fall of his tower at Fonthill Abbey. He had, it is known, predicted the event in opposition to the opinions of the nubility and gentry who had visited the magnificent build trig, and who had said it would last for ever. So strong wu his conviction of the infirm nature of the edifice that he removed the pictures, and every thing else that was rtluablo, front it. The pinnacles were bound together With iron rods, which gave to the tower the character of feebleness, which Mr. Farquhar justly attributed to it when the public voice was so loud in praise of every stick and stone on the estate. The expense at which the tower was raised was very great, but Mr. Farquhar always had an apprehension of danger to human life; and that which was considered by many u a calamity to the estate has themes' , proved a source, u we said before, of nub ratifietion. PROVINCIAL ,BANKS. PLYMOUTH BANK. The first meetirifi;fti4cridi7(;;; of the estate of the late firm of Sir Win. Elford and Co., bankers, took place, pursuant to advertisement, at the Royal Hotel in this town, yesterday (Friday). The great room at the hotel was much crowded. Shortly after eleven o'clock the business of the day commenced, by Mr. Jago drawing the attention of the Commissioner. to the situation that Mr. Clarke bore in the late partnership, and saying that it would be neces sary for them to determine whether his property was avail able to pay the debts due by the tine, prior to his becom ing a partner ; or whether it was only to be applied to the lit - initiation of that portion of the dekam actually occurring since he became a partner. The Learned Gentleman con cluded his remarks by recommending that the accounts of the estate should be kept in a peculiar way, arising from I the circumstances be had before named. _ _ _ Mr. 'Fink replied to this, saving that he considered that there could be no question but that Mr. Clarke's pro perty was available for the paying of all the debts owing by the firm, without regard to what period the debts had bum contracted. A discussion'of a desultory nature now ensued, and which occupied nearly an hour. The deter mination of the Commisaionets on the subject we could not learn, from the noise in the room, or whether they decided on the question at all. Creditors then commenced proving their debts ; in preparing the necessary documents for this purpose, several clerks of the bank were in attendance. We understand that the assignees will be elected this morn ing (Saturday), and that only creditors who have proved debts will be eligible to vote. It appears to us, from the various opinions given by many of the creditors at the meeting yesterday, that there is no doubt but that the as signees will be elected from those gentlemen who were no minated at the public meeting held at the Guildhall. The amount of debts proved yesterday, we have been informed, exceeded twenty thousand pounds. The meeting ad journed at four o'clock till six, when the business again was resumed ; and at the time of our paper going to press, the Commissioners were still employed in hearing and de• termining cases of debt.—Plymouth Herald. HEREFORD BANK. _ MESSRS. GARRETT AND SON.—On Friday a numerous meeting of the creditors of this firm took place at the Black Swan, in.llereford. Mr. John James addressed the meet ing in favour of an assignment, for the benefit of the cre ditors, which Messrs. Garrett and Son bail expressed their willingness to execute, if the majority of the creditors at the meeting should require it. A gentleman assured the meeting that he had seen the books and accounts of Messrs. Garrett and Co. which were perfectly regular and satisfactory ; and he gave It decidedly as his opinion, that the steps proposed by Messrs. Garrett and Co. and which were contained in the resolutions, should be adopted. F. Price, Esq. also expressed himself favourable to the reso lutions, and strongly deprecated a commission of bank rupt. Mr. William Bennet, jun. and Mr. Thomas Winter, spoke to the same effect. The resolutions were ,then put seriatim, and were carried by a large majority. Notice was given, that a letter of license would be imme diately ready, at the office of Mr. John Bullock, solicitor, for the signature of the creditors ; and it is said that about four hundred have, in the, meantime, signed the resolu tions. After thanks had been voted, by acclamation, to the Chairman, for his conduct in the chair, the meeting broke up.—Herefiard Independent. The Charleston Courier of the 2d instant contains the following humane anti interesting advertisement : " NEGRO TRADESMEM FOR SALE.—The subscriber, in con sequence of not being able to procure oak bark in quantities au& cient, has determined to discontinue the tanning and manufactur ing of leather, and offers for sale the following negroes, via. tour tanners, one currier, and seven shoemakers; also one east-iron bark mill." _ _ But that worthy son of freedom, Mr. Toomer (an ardent Hi-publican, no doubt!), deals on a more large and liberal scale. He offers to the public— " Eighty-nix negroes, as prime as ever were offered foe sale— among them six or eight complete carpenters, coopers, &c. For terms, which will be liberal to approved purchasers, apply to H. B. Toomer, No.lo. Stale-street." We are glad to find that the Mayor is determined to put a stop to the abominable system of forestalling and regrat ing, which has been long too prevalent in our market, to the manifest injury of the inhabitants ; and that a vigilant inspection will be adopted to prevent the practice, but too commonly in use, of selling three pecks of fruit or ve getables for a bushel. While on this subject, we must re gret that the authorities have been somewhat remiss in not procuring the altered measures according to the new Act, which came into force on Sunday last.—llantingzlon Gaz. Most of the hosiers have reduced their workmen from 2s. to 4s. per dozen under the statement price of 1819. Thia is so exceedingly low, that the hest of their bands cannot earn more than nine or ten shillings per week. The average of the whole trade is not more than 6s. per week. In consequence of this reduction, it is supposed that the stocking-makers of the three counties of Nottingham, Leicester, and I)erby, are receiving a weekly sum of 2.500/. less than they received three months since.—Nottingham Journal. New YEAtt ' S D•Y IN SCOTLAND.—FTOTII the provin cial papers we learn that, in all the principal towns in Scotland the people generally manifested their respect for the Sabbath, by abstaining from the noise and revelry with which the morning of the new year is generally welcomed in this country. Many, however, who had refrained on the first morning of the year, wade themselves ample amends on the Monday morning, by giving full vent to their propensities to tippling and noisy congratulation ; but in no place that we have heard of was the least,dis position to break the peace manifested.—Caledonias Ater- SNEI LINO AND TASTING.-If a person be hood-winked effectually, he will, with difficulty, if at all, recognise the difference between rum, gin, and brandy ; but if, besides having his eyes bound up, the nostrils are closed by pres sure of the fingers, all distinction in flavour between these very dissimilar spirits will be confounded. To ex hibit this phenomenon in a more effectual manner, the three glasses of spirits ought to be presented successively to the person upon whom the experiment is to be made, who ought to sip of each before he is called upon to decide upon them singly ; then put him to the proof by giving him the glasses over again, and he will be fouou so entirely at fault, that if he make the experiment a dozen times, he will, in all proliability, not pronounce correctly above three or four times, and that will be purely accidental. On the 22d ult. a boy named Charles Collis, aged 15, in the employ of Stephen Whitehouse, brickmaker, was sent to the mouth of a pit at Oldbury, with a shovel to fetch some fire. It being dark, he mistook his way and fell down the shaft, 161 yards deep, without receiving any ma terial injury. The boy recollects his having turned over twice during the descent, and the skip being down, his arm encircled the rope, which brought him upon his feet to the bottom of the pit unhurt. The boy had on a round frock; but as the shaft was that which conveys the de scending air, it makes the occurrence the more remarkable. Shreurbury Chronicle. On Monday, the 2d inst. Mr. Watts, silk throwster, of Biddulpb, near Congleton, put a period to his existence, by shooting himself, owing, it is said, to the present depressed state of the silk trade; and in consequence of the distress of mind occasioned by this melancholy event on the family of the deceased, his daughter, a young lady of about 25 years of age, suspended herself from a beam in her late father's mill. Mr. Wild, also a respectable throwster in the same neighbourhood, came to the like lamentable end by cutting his own throat with a razor, from a similar cause. GLUTTONY EITRAOHDINARY.—A miner of the name of Walton, residing near Middleton-in-Teesdale, under took, a few dayt . ago, for a wager of a guinea, to eat twenty red herrings, weighing 511b5., and a sixpenny loaf, with a quarter of a pound of butter, and a gill of vinegar, within forty minutes, at a public house in that place, and accom plished the feat within the given time. Ile devoured part of the herrings in their raw state, some were boiled, and the rest broiled, and drank six quarts of water, three pints of small beer, and a quart of ale! At the conclusion of his repast he cast his longing eye on a bunch of sausages (2S in number) that were banging in the room, and offered to eat the whole, if a person present would buy them for hint. This was promised, but the landlady refused to part with them, and he was disappointed of his expected addi tional treat.—DurAum Chronicle. A/4....•••; THE BRITISH PRESS. MESSRS. WENTTVORTH AND CO.'S BANK. (From the York Herold A numerous and respectable Meeting of the creditors of this firm was held at the White Horse Inn, Coppergate, in this city, on Thursday last, to receive the report of the committee which bad been appointed at a meeting of creditors, held at that place on Illnnday„ illy. H. GRAHAM read the proceedings of a respectable meeting of:' e creditors held on Monday. ft was then resolved, "that we view, with considerable alarm, the absence of all satisfactory infor mstiou as to the real state of the straits of the bank of Mesas. Wentworth and Co. of York, and that we consider it highly expe dient that a public meeting of the creditors of that firm shall be held at this house on Thursday next, at two o'clock in the after noon, in order to adopt such measures as the nature of the case may require." Five gentlemen were then appointed as a consmittee, to mike such inquiries into the state of the affairs of the bank as they should think proper, and report the result thereof to this Meeting. The committee had drawn up a short report of the proceedings, which would be read to the Meeting, and they trusted that the measures they had adopted, and the suggestions they had therein submitted to the creditors, would be approved of. Mr. R. H. ANDEnsoN read the fulloalug report of the commit. tee appointed on Monday:— " In put seance of the direction!' of the above Meeting, we beg to report, that on Tuesday last we waited on Mr. Barnes, the provi sioaal assignee, resident in York, for the purpose of ascertaining whether the partners In the bank had any intention of superseding the commission, or otherwise putting a stop to the proceedings under the same, and also for the purpose of requesting such other information as to the state of the affairs of the bank as he might consider himself at liberty to give. But Mr. Barnes declared that he did not consider himself at liberty to give any information as to the ellitira of the bank, as in his opinion it was inconsistent with his duty as provisional assignee so to do. Your committee, there. fore, addressed a letter to John Lee, Doe one of the solicitors under the commission, for the desired information, which they had in vain attempted to obtain from Mr. Wood and others in York, In ' answer to which Mr. bee returned the following letter:— (The letter states that there was no intention of superseding the I commission untill all the creditors were paid their full demands, and that there was a great probability of their being paid fts. fn the pound.) The Report proceeded— " Anxima to obtain the best infonaut's! is en Wait of ere cut importance, our Chairman, Mr. Mason, in his individual capacity, addressed a letter to Mr. Chaloner, a partner in the firm, and to answer thereto Mr. Nation has received the following letter:—" (Mr. Chaloner's letter states that the commission met with his perfect approbation, and expresses a belief that If the winding up of the affairs falls into good hands, there will be ample effects to meet every demand.) Mr. ANDERSON then proceeded with the Report:— "Judging from the statements contained In the letters of Mr. Chaloner and Mr. Lee, and from various other circumstances which have come to our knowledge, that the affairs of the bank must be finally wound up under the management of assignees under a com mission of bankrupt, your Committee directed their attention to that subject, being strongly impressed with the opinion that the chief reliance of the creditors for a astiefectoey termination must finally depend upon the choice of fit and highly respectable gentle. men to fill the office of assignees. With that view your Commit tee waited upon Mews. Swann and CO. and Messrs. Wilson and Co., the bankers in York. to ascertain if any gentleman in either of their establishments would consent to accept the office of assignee if he were elected, and your Committee are happy to report that they have reason to hope that the application will be successful. In conclusion, your Committee beg leave to recommend that a per manent Committee of twenty-one creditors be appointed by this Meeting, with full powers to act on behalf of the creditors, and with particular directions to watch the proceedings under the com mission ; and that this Meeting be adjourned to the 18th of Janu ary instant." Mr. CASTOR' proposed that the Report of the Committee be approved and adopted, which was seconded by Mr. Reyson, jun., and passed unanimously. Mr. MASON informed the Meeting that Mr. Rishworth end Mr. Hartley were both in York, and were ready to attend if de sired. After a few observations from Mr. Sheriff Gill, Ale. Cation, and the Chairman, Mr. SCAWIN rove, and said that a week or two ago Mr. Rish-1 worth attended at the bank, and then stated that in time 20a. in the pound would be paid, but he was not believed. Mr. Chaltmer now strie' the same. What more could be done? If time were given to them. he was convinced that they would satisfy every cre ditor. This Sleeting he conceived to be of no use whatever, as be knew that it was the intention of the firm to submit a statement of pounds, shillings, and pence, on the 25th inst. Mr. W. HARGROVE moved that Messrs. Rishworth and Hart. ley be requested to attend the Meeting. This motion being seconded and carried, Mr. Wood was deputed to wait upon them. Mr. T. TERRY moved that a committee of twenty-one gentle men (whose names were afterwards added) be formed, with dime tions to watch the proceedings under the commission, and to use all their endeavours to prevail upon the York bankers, or other proper persons, to undertake the office of assignees. This motion being seconded, it was alto carried. Mr. RISHWORTH having just entered the room stood forward, and said that having received one of the band.bills, calling this' meeting, and not being aware that any thing unpleasant was going on at York, he deemed it his duty, as well as that of Mr. Hartley, to come over, in order to show that he (Ai r. Itishworth) had not run away to America, as had been reported. Had they had the entire management of their own affairs, they would not have been placed in the situation they then were. He had a statement in his pocket, drawn out by 31asterman and Co. themselves, from which it appeared that at the time they refused their acceptances, they had 95,000/. of Wentworth anti Co.'s securities in their hands. 1H ere Mr. Rishworth presented the statement to the Chairman, who handed it to any Gentleman desirous of seeing it.] There was no necessity for them to be in the situation they were; all the partners of the firm were men of property, which property was the creditors', and should be theirs until they received 20s. in the pound. lie (Mr. Rishworth) had been a slave for six and thirty years, and had brought up a large family with much credit. He had accumulated, by his industry, a fortune, or at least he thought be had. He believed he was now worth 100,000 L, and had but 1001. to begin with. His property was in land,—he had not spent it, he had securities for the whole, and every yard he had purchased was worth nearly double the money he had given for it. As long as he had a shilling it should be given to the creditors, until they were all paid in full. Although they had deemed it requisite to pursue the line of conduct they had, it was not their intention (if possible) to go on with the bankruptcy. It had been done to prevent their being arrested, as they were determined not to pay one creditor in preference to another. Ile doubted not but there would be a very handsome surplus, after every creditor had revived 20s. in the pound, provided they would give them time to wind up their affairs . If any Gentleman was appointed to super intend the winding up of the 11 , e00ete, he would lend every assist ance, but he would. not act with a blackguard. A banker's ac count was not like a common tradesman's, as bankers' accounts bore interest. Ile hoped the creditors would not let the money be spent amongst attorneys—they should not spend a guinea, if lie could help it. There was a great deal of fishing to get into the an seen, tecaue they knew there were plenty of fish in the net. 'lithe parties were allowed to wind up their own Anita, there would be a very hanthonne surplus, but if the lawyers wound them up, be could not tell what would be left. :Mr. Wit t TEHEAD said that the meeting was greatly obliged to Mr. Rishworth for the honest open statement which he had made; but as time was to many of vast importance, Mr. it. would further oblige if he could mention any time when they were likely to make a payment. Mr. Resnwoard replied. certainly before this month was out something would be done. There never was any occasion for their stopping payment at all. The night preceding the day on which Masterman and Co. refused their acceptances, they (3luterman and Co.) wrote to them to say that unless their remittance the next day was in cash they should refuse their acceptances. What was to be done? The renintauce was at the very time on its road to London. Masterman and Co. sent to every banker and to every bill-broker in the city to tell them what they had done, but never sent to Wentworth and Co.'s clerk, who could in six hours have raised one hundred thousand pounds. The statement of Masterman and Co., to which he had before alluded, said that they held 95,0001. of Wentworth and Co.'s securities, and that Wentworth and Co. owed them a cash balance of 10,0001. It also said, that the statement hewing been drawn out in a hurry, they (Masterman and Co.) would most readily rectify any errors. The fact was, that Wentworth and Co. only owed them a balance of 4,0001., consequently there was a mistake in the onset of 12,000/. One fault there had been in his (Mr. Risliworth's) conduct, which he most readily admitted, and that was, he had accommodated persons too much. Mr. T. Room e was about to move an adjournment, when Air. W. HARGROVE again addressed the Chair. lie had heard with pleasure the statement of Mr. Rishworth—it had been made before many witnesses, and he sincerely wished that they might live to see his flattering assertions verified. Mr. W. HARGROVE, in reference to the alleged favourable statement of Masterman and Co. in as delicate a manner as possi ble, inquired if the very different statement in a Leeds paper, also alleged to be from Alasterman and Co. was correct in the represen tation that lie (Mr. Hartley) and Mr. Chaloner called upnrs them a very short time before the unfortunate a ff air, and made certain arrangements. To this Mr. Hartley declined giving any answer, Mr. Rishworth having called out, " Don't answer that question." The Chairman therefore said it was considered as irrelevant to the business of the meeting. Mr. W. Helouove then laid, he would only propose one more question, and if that was thought an improper one, he would most readily withdraw it, and decline further inquiry. That question was—Did not Masterman and Co. advance, on security, 33,0001. thr Wentworth and Co. stuns days after, to prevent the conse quences of an extent ? Mr. RISHWORTH again said. " Don't answer that question;" and Mr. Hartley acted accordingly. Mr. ANDERSON again rose and said, that although the business of the meeting was finished, he felt it right to state (anti he did it with the consent of Mr. Rishworth), that Mr. Rishworth heti that moment declared in his hearing that he (Mr. Rishworth) would never consent to the affairs being submitted to the inspection of any banker. Mr. A. stated this to the meeting, because the grand ob ject of the labours of the committee would be to prevail, if possi ble, upon some of the bankers to undertake the office of assignees. Mr. W. PEARSON—If bankrupts are themselves to choose as signees, then there is an end of the matter. The meeting then dispersed. • THE A Oeseral Statement of the Yea COTTON TRADE. Imports, Exports, and Stock of Cotton for rs 1810 to 1826. inclusive. 1810. 'lBll. 1812. 1 1813. 1814. 1813. , From - -- - - - America - . 244.980 128,200 95.830, 37.350 47.9 30 201 000 Brasil - 143.842 118,310 98.810'137,54 1 1 151,840 91.244 IVe,.t Indies - 92,791 63,180 04,5341' 73,1501 73,750 54.833 Egypt East Indics , 79,580 15,450 2,5141 1.4961 13.898 24,280 - I -- To:al Import 561,172 326.340 261,204:249,63/1' 287.438 371,357 Stock 3lst Dec 1 each . . 350,000 359,000 296,000;141,000 8 7, 000 813 • 6 e 0 • ______ ____ -1- -- --,--- Export - 43.930 6,334 8.70 9 31,400 26,400 33.900 Taken from all the Ports for Home Con. gumption - 310,200 311,000 315. 373,100 315,000 338,400 From 1816. 1817. 1818. 1819. 1820. -- - -- - America - - - 164.488 197.0211 205 309 204.831 301,428 Brasil . - - 1 9 1.566 114.816 161.566 124.230 179 WA West Indies - - 0.922 49,803 51,878 30,803 32,221 ' Egypt - - - - - - - - East Indies . - 32,880 117,454 253,4511185,121 57,909 Total Import . - 370,856 479,095, 672,3961345.785 571.73 1 -- 1- Stock 31st Dec. each - 79,000 114,2001302,300 353 407,0 00 1 Export - • - - 28,000 32,600 00,000 66,000 27,552 Taken from all the - - Ports for Home Con sumption - - 349,800 411,300 424,300 428,186 491,079 1821, , 1L 9 2, 1823. 1824. 1825. From ' - America . - - 301.793 329,163 449135,282.34 423.195 Brasil - - - 121,085 144,1411W/1,475i 142.559 1911.084 West Indies - . 38,296 41,637 31,634: 32,705 33.879 El4lO/ - - - - 9431 33.227 103.069 East Indies - - 30,471 18.658 38,4171 49,937 59,089 Total Import - 491,647 533,596 648,6/14 ; 340.973 821.266 1- Stock Illst Dec. each - 356,340 285,420 1 382,822 235,3501415,950 1- Export - - - 52,579 63,009 35,382 52. 76,150 Taken from all the - -- Ports for Home Con , sumption - - 4119,728 544,357 53,591' 635,64 564,518 -. -.ft..... • .....e.....•1•••••• BREED OF HORSES IN GERMANY. The following information on the promotion of the breed of horses in Germany appears in the Spurting Magazine of this month : Races have been established at the celebrated baths of Dobberan since the year 11122; and sums to a large amount are annually sub 'writhed by the noblemen and gentlemen of this part of Germany, for the encouragement of the breed of thorough-bred horses, and for the improvement of the breed of the country horses. Count Plessen, the father of the Prussian Ambassador in London, has the largest private stud in civilised Europe. possessing one hun dred and thirty brood mares. His stud merits the attention of all travellers visiting Mecklenburgh. A peck of hounds has also been kept by this nobleman upwards of fifty years. The Barons de Bid. of Zierow, and Weitendorf, have an extensive stud, which promises in a few years to rival some of the best in England. These noblemen have been at a considerable expense in procuring the best thorough. bred mares and ►tallions : their stabes, paddocks, sheds. boxes for blood mares and foals, paddocks for their young stock, are is every respect perfect. Every thing relative to the care and attention of these superior aniimils is most strictly attended to. An excellent private training ground has been made this year at Zisrow. Their valuable flock of 5,000 Saxon sheep, under the management an/ care of Mr. Bipnen. a very intelligent man, from Mr. Feller b institution at Hoffwyl, in Switzerland ; their superior breed of horned cattle, plea, &c. are worthy the notice of all travellers visit ing this part of Germany. The stud of the Grand Duke of Mecklenburgh-Schwerin, at I !Wolin, is a mzeniticent establishment, and cost upwards of 3110,1000 dollars. There are a hundred stallions kept for the service of this duchy, and are sent in the spring to the different districts, where they cover gratis ; there are several fine mares, and two thorough-bred English opinions : viz. Oracle, by Sorcerer, out of Emily, by Worthy (bought of Baron Biel, of Zisrow), and Wild fire, by Waxy, out of Penelope, by Trumpator. Count Bassewitz, of Preherede, has lately fitted up his stables, made paddocks, sheds, and boxes, for the reception of thorough bred mares, &c. at a great expense. and intends breeding for the turf. He possesses *brown colt, by Robin Hood, out of Streamlet, by Rubens, of great promise. His brother lately purchased two Yorkshire mares for 1,500 dollars. Count Bernstorf, of Weden dorf, and Mr. herezow, of Moskow, have considerable studs. Most of the noblemen and gentlemen in this country reside on their estates a great part of the year. and have turned their atten tion to the improvement of their breed of horses, and their flocks, in consequence of the low price of corn, and the high import duties in England. Four thousand horses were sold in Mecklenburgh last year. The Old Bailey Sessions commence on Thursday. The number of prisoners for trial is considerable ; it is ex pected that there will be above 200, although it is only a month since the last Sessions were concluded. The capital cases, it is understood, are not numerous. Although nearly 2,000 are annually sentenced to transportation, and many thousands receive lighter punishments, it is la mentably astonishing to observe what a succession of cul prits continue to make their appearance at the bar of our Criminal Courts. -- - An alarming conflict took place one day last week at Rockliff, on the Eden, between two Custom-house officers and some smugglers. Germain, a tide surveyor, and Rich ard Lawson, surveyor of the Customs, seized upon a boat, containing eight or nine individuals, of whom three were' females, who were guarding a small cargo of whisky. A severe scuffle ensued between the parties, and upwards of twenty shots were fired, the smugglers showing great re sistance, by which one man was severely wounded. and a woman had two shots passed through her hat. We have not been able to obtain any intelligence further than that two or three of them were ultimately taken.—Carlisle Journal. Last week as Mr. G. Crocker, ship-builder, of Bideford, and his apprentice, were standing on the upper stage of a large brie, now nearly finished in his building yard, ad joining Potters Pill, an altercation took place between them respecting some work, which was not to the satisfac tion of Mr. Crocker, who became irritated at the insolence of his apprentice, and said he had a great mind to throw him off the stage. He had no sooner u•e3 the expression than the apprentice clasped him round the waist, and ex claimed, " Will you?• then we will go together ;" and immediately jumped down with him a depth of 30 feet, up to their shoulders in mud. By ropes and tackle they were, with considerable difficulty, released from their pe rilous situation. MELANCHOLY ACCIDENT.—On Thursday morning last, at a very early hour, Robert Wood, a young man. ser vant to Mr. John Hogarth, Trows, when attending at the coal-pit at Gatherick, near Etal, for a supply of coals, fell into the pit and was killed. It is supposed that his eyes had been dazzled by the fire, which, as usual, was burning near the mouth of the shaft, and that passing for ward in the darkness which prevailed at a little distance, he had missed his way, and in a moment met his untimely fate. To add to the distress of the scene his brother was present.—Caledonian Mercury. FATAL ACCIDENT.—The following statement has been sent to our office by an anonymous correspondent :—On Friday night, about twelve o'clock, a gentleman passing over Battersea-bridge in a gig, was surprised by his horse making a sudden stop. On alighting to ascertain the cause, he perceived the body of a man lying across the road, just before the feet of the horse. He immediately called for the assistance of two watchmen who were near the spot, and they immediately recognised the unfortunate sufferer (who hail passed the watchmen on his way home but a short time before) to be a Mr. Vowel, living at Bat tersea, and a member of the Fishmongers' Company. He presented a dreadful spectacle: the lower and upper jaws were both fractured, occasioned, it is supposed, by a car riage-wheel going over his face. As they hastened to re move him to the Adam and Eve public house in Chelsea he uttered several groans. The landlord however would not open the door, and the unfortunate man was obliged to be conveyed to the White Hart, near the archway. where every assistance was immediately given, and Mr. Raphael Smith, surgeon, arrived, but the injuries had been too severe ; the vital spark had fled. • „ -w.../'” THE MAGISTRATES v. Tal uNtorsaarr • Eiiiinteaie:ll: Ebrirtsthote, JAW.?. The Magistrates have at knoll brought an action of declarator against the Prufes,sots of the University. The" summons states, that the object of the action is, to have it found and declared by the Court of Session, (Nat " tire sole and exclusive right of prescribing rules, awl making' statutes for the studies, and the course of studies for ob taining degrees, belong to the Magistrates. That the Prd fesiors, independently of the Magistrates, do rtot mutt the power of enacting riations for the discipline of the College, or regulations to be observed forbbtaining degree!. That the Professors have no power, as a dlistfiact body, to frame any by-laws applicable te the general conmins of the College, which can be imperative a.t , the Magistrates, at patrons. That no such ruin made, or to be made, by the Professors, can be of any foree or A*. And that the Professors be ordained to desirit from interfering or acting in these matters in time to come, n &c. The summons it dated 88th December last, angi narratet, at length, the grants, charters, and acts, in favour of the Magistrate'. and their pr o ceedings downward.. erlingsrespecting the College, from the time of Que e n DARING OUTRAGE. A single ruffian, okthe tfith of last month, spread weed and trouble through half Marseilles. Ihe following AN the facts:— " A man named Laurent Lelong, nicknamed Marlon, about 39 years of age, a scavenger and a liberated galley. slave, was dismissed, by the contractor fir keeping the cit./ clean, on account of discontent at some part of his con. duct. On Wednesday last, at about half-past four in the evening, he went to his former roaster's office, in the ride des Recolettes, where he met a man named Christ, also a scavenger, who had taken his place, sod whom he accused of having been the cause of hit dismissal. A 'quarrel arose between them. and two clerks in the office interfered, but too late, for, at the instant Christ received a mortal blow, the two clerks were also struck with the same weapon, but not serlintale. hurt. The assaesin made his escape, and Christ expiresi upon the threshold. All was in commotion, the populace assembled, and with the judicial authority in the person of the Procureur du Roi, the Commissioners of the Police, and the gendarmerie, went in pursuit of the criminal. AS be lived near the Minims, M. Marry, Commissioner of the Police for the arondissement, accompanied the public force and his own agents towards the quartet of la Plaine. When arrived at the rue du Pew*, M. Magy perceived the assassin, and pointed him out to a gendarme named Errant, who was by his side ; and, although fore. warned by the Commissioner of the villain's ferocity, he attempted to seize him by the collar, but bad hardly got within his reach when he fell under I mortal blow frotu the monster. He was then pursued into the rue de Cypres, and opposite /a rue Nau turned and defended himself against the attack of an agent of police, named Driest, and notwithstanding a wound inflicted by the latter, he struck him a blow in the groin with the same knife with which he had killed and wounded his former victims. A gendarme then rushed upon him, d struggle ensued, and he was ultimately secured and given into the hands of justice. Three men have been killed and three wounded ; the latter are Messrs. Gayet and Jeannin, clerks in the office, and Brion the police agent. Fortunately their wounds are not in the, esst dangerous." We copy the relation of this affair as we find it in tke Journal de la Mediterranee, although it appears to us that no more than two have been killed.—Courier Francais. BRUTAL. TREATMENT OF A CHILD BY ITI trOTHItt. —Yesterday afternoon the crowd on aerken well-green were at tained to one spot, where a number of women keep fruit-stalls, by the screams of a little girl about seven years of age, who it if. peered had been left by her mottle r to take care of the fruit-stall; while she retired to guard herself against the severity of the weathe: by taking some cordial in one of the adjacent houses. The poor girl, from the intensity of the cold, and the raggedness of her raiment, dropped off into a kind of stupid sleep, and while sht remained in this state some of the fruit was stolen from the stall. but the greater part was accidentally shoved upon the ground by coastal passengers. When the mother returned from the gin-shop, and saw the state of the stall, she seised the child by the hair, and struck her two violent blows on the head and on the mouth ! and When the child fell, quite senseless, she kicked her In the moutb and stomach ! ! ! Several human,: persons interfered, and pre vented probably a fatal result. The child bled so profusely from the mouth that she waft taken to an adjacent surgeon's shop, who on examining her was of opinion that she sustained no vital injury. The inAuman mother took her station at the stall in the most un concerned manner, notwithstanding the execrations pf the crowd. swearing that she would always beat her child as she thought proper. SUSPECTED Mu ftnrit.—Considerable consternation was spread in this town and neighbourhood on Wednesday last, from the report of another barbarous murder having been committed in this county. Like the murdered Weare, the victim was reported to have been concealed in a pond, where his mutilated remains had been dragged by the merciless assassins. Robbery was also attached to the crime of murder. The detention of 2. men of suspicious cha racter stied not a little to give credence to the general report. We are happy to have It in our power to Lie before our readers the whole facts of the case, the authenticity of which may be relied on. It is so far true that the body of a man was found in a moat of water, within a few hundred yards of the linens public house, at Bull's green. The deceased, whose name is Thomas Chalkier. and who was a ploughman in the employ of Mr. Hudson, of Frogmore, in this county, went to gee his daughter on Sunday, and on his return - home in the evening called at the Horns, where he took a plot of beer, and left the house about seven o'clock, perfectly sober. This was the last time he was seen alive. The family ot the deceased entertained no fears for his safety until Tues day, concluding he might have remained with his daughter, when their alarm was excited, and diligent search and in-.. quiry was made, without effect. On the following morning the body was found in the pond before mentioned with some slight • wounds upon the face and right ear. It was immediately con veyed to the Horns, at Bull's-green, to await the Coroner's is. quest. The last person the deceased was known to have been iu company with was a man named Solomon Shadbolt, from whose idle habits of life a supposition arose that his detention might be necessary. He was accordingly apprehended, as well as his bro ther, Joseph Shadbolt. In the investigation we are happy to state that nothing transpired to attach the least criminality to either, and they were ordered to be discharged. The deceased, it is supposed, owing to the darkness of the night, had missed the footpath, and bye failing into the moat had met his untimely end. The wounds ow his face were accounted for by the deceased having fallen over some brambles before he reached the water. A strong proof of his not having met his death by unfair means is. that the money he was known to have had about him, seven shillings, was found in his pockets : and the Jury found a verdict acceethogly.--fiertz Mercury. SHOCKING OUTRAGE. — The Invest which was held on Tuesday last on the body of Sarah Malone. an Iriahwomac, resident in Mill-bank, before the Coroner, Mr. liTigieswonh, and smolt respectable Jury, has disclosed one of the molt brutal trans actions which it has yet becn our business to record. The circum stance,' which led to the inquest, and which were elicited chiefly by the evidence of the son and husband of the deceased, (Ate as follow. On the night of Tuesday week, about clevan o'clock, Valentire Malone, a youth of about twenty, the son of the deceased, went out after sapper to draw water; immediately upon leaving his door, he was set upon by six or seven ruffians, who shouted " hurrah, hurrah, Pat," seized and threw him down, and maltreated him. His father, hearing the noise, opened the door, came oat, and ago. ceeded in dragging in his son ; before the door could be got closed, three or tour of the ruffians rushed forward, and two large .tortes were thrown in ; the deceased wall then employed in removing the dishes, and one of the stones hit her on the forehead. end frairturad the skull, of which she died last Sunday. smorning. Mr. Sherwin. surgeon, of this town, who had been sent Co., about a quarter of an hour after the occurrence happened. and who, on perceiving the nature of the accident, very properly immediately despatched a messenger for the constable, opened the skull on Monday, anti tnitng that a portion of that part of the bone which forms the visor ot the orbit of the eye, had beets driven up into the brain, which had actually oocasioned her death. The conduct of these salvo brutal villains did not MSC with the perpetration of this deed ; they im mediately afterwards went to the adjoining house, broke in the. doors off the hinges, and felled the mistress, If onoria White. to tins ground. Her daughter, a girl about fourteen years old, ttulv also seized, tore her shift off her, and most savagely and basher ously maltreated her, until she took refuge in a neighbour's house. Upon the evidence laid before the Jury, a verdict was returned of Manslaughter against seven persons ; of these, three have been sent to Yok ; but those who appear to havo been implicated the deepen have absconded; they :were also apprehended, but tie a•cond night of their apprehension, between Thursday night sod Friday morning, they succeeded in cutting their irons, and escaped. out of the window. The Fames of those committed to, York. Cattle,. are Abraham Brunifit, William [lodgings, and Thome* Spurns. The names of those who have absconded, me Matthew Spurra, William Briggs, and James Hardacre the seventh, Ro bert llowgate. who has been committed as a rogue and'vagetnmei to Wakefield House of Correction, is also supposed to be implis , cated ; and it is believed that those who have absconded, are can.. cerned in some former murderous transaction committed in claihr neighbourhood of Colne.—Bradfbrd Costricr.