The Sun. — London, England, 1824-02-11 00:00:00

%VLSI' INDIA PROPRIETORS. - Yesterday a General Meeting of West India Plantlts, erchants, Annuitants, and others interested in the British West India Colonies, was held at the City of London Taverrr, 03 important business connected with then. affairs. The meeting was very numerously and respectably attended. Atlialf-pAt one o'clock, the chair was taken by C. It. Er.trs, Esq., M.P., sopportesl by Mr. Keith Douglas, M.P.; Mr. Cray Grant, M.P.; Mr. Manning, M.P.; Mr. Pares, M.P. ; Mr. Watson Taylor, M.P.; Mr. Birch, M.P.; . I .llr. John Fidler, and a large `eody of the merchants and proprietors in tareated in. Welt:lndia prcperly. 4')V! CZIA IR ICIA4 'said, that before they proceeded to the re oetar business of the day, it, would be a m well to dispose of a :;se on on whitth there could not possibly arise any difference Of Opinion—he meant the addition :of names called for to in cialae the nullifiers of the Standing Committee. The tollowing names were then added to that Committee na- The Earl of Harwood ; 'the Hon. W. Lascelles, M: 'P. ; • Lent St. Vincent ;'LordStiltotine Right flon.SieGeorgeßose, M. P. Joseph iiirch, •Esq., M. P. ;.W. R. Keith Douglas - , • Eeq., N. P. ; W. 11. Irving, Esq; ; John Irving, Esq., M. P.; ' Eneaa Barakty, Esq. ; :Samuel Hibbert e Esq.; John Gladstone, Eio:, M. P. ; Spence Mackay, Esq. ' • Henry ShirleyaESq. ; .• Ruben Robertson, Esq.; George Hibbert, jun., Esq. ; Alexander Kitson; Esq. ; James Lawson, Esq. ; Josiah Mar. tin, Esq.; Philip john Miles, Esq.,M.P; James Johnstone, Ese..; Neil Malcolm, Esq. ; 'W. Wilson, Esq. ; J. P. Pares, • Esq. ; Rev.. , John Broome ; Edward. Sharpe; Esq. e Simon • Tayler ' Ee,q:e James Wooller East,' Esq.; Joseph Alarryatt, ; Edwat'll. Ellice, Esq., M.P.; George Sheddcn, Esq. ; Edward Clarke, Esq.- ; John Simpson, Esq.; IL Pearce, Esq. John Stewart, Esq.; J. H. Daley, Esq.; John Hankey; Esq.; Henry Davison, Eaq.; and James Laing, Esq. • The CHAIR :AN said, that in consequence of the very general opinion which appeared to prevail, that the • pre sent - alarming and critical state ot a the West India Islands called for a full meeting of those interested in colonial - property, he had felt it his duty, in the exercise of the dis cretion which they had vested in him when they did him the honour of placing him in the Chair of their Committee, to or -der the insertion of the advertisements for convening this meet ing : in the exercise of the same discretion, he had called toge ther the Standing Committee, for the purpose of. making .the • necessary preliminary arrangements •to prepare • the measure which it should be deemed expedient to submit : M. the Meeting this day..- It was the just complaint Of the proprietors of West India property,. ; that attacks had been incessantly made upon ahem by misrepresenting the condition of the Negroes, and ca leinniating sae character of their masters, to inflame the public mind, and by such a course of proceeding to urge both Parlia meat and .the Government to . adopt measures which - involved an utter Violation of the sacred rights of property.—(Hear !) Of what nature 'was the' property, of the attacks-upon whiCh . they had a right to complain, and .against-which they.nOW raised their sole= -and :public protest ?. For the purpose of showing by a full add distinct exposition the-various rights of tenure by which the property was held, they were entitled to proclaim to the Government and the country, that they held is by virtue of the repeated 'recognition of the ColOnial latures, expressed * . in - numerous acts which .subsequently re ceived the approval of the CroWn, and thereby obtained the ' validity of. law.-(llear, hear!)—That property• had besides been treated :by' the lawitf all the various details of legislative -provision and protection Ao which all property,, of whatever , description . had become subject. It was recognised also by various acts Of British: Parliament, by virtue of which, it became 'liable to all . the usages of mortgage, and et posed to- al' the requisite facilities for • recovering and en forcing the payment- of -debta legally incurred. The law.had also treated it as subject-to different kinds of taxation. So that, from a review of the nature of that cOlonial property, it would. be found, in its .'acquisition, possession, :and transfer, as so lemnly recognized, and formally sanctioned; as tiny other pro perty had ever been in any country in the world r protected by the wholesome dominion of law.—( Hear, • hear !)--It appeared to,. the Standing Committee, that if it should be thought by the Government proper, that property thus solemnly recognized by • law, from any view which they might be disposed to take of ins' character interfered with the promotion of any great national object, then the country had:a clear course to take, analogdus to the practice often exercised upon similar occasions, which was to offer to the owners of the property sought to be affected, a fair comperiiatiort for the surrender of their undoubted owaer ship.—(llear, hear !)—lf an alteration and reduction of that property were required by the furtherance of what some might aeeni a high moral obligation, it Would be no less a duty to do jastice to the possessors ; for - ' the higher the moral obligation • which required the sacrifice of that property, the more impera tive it became, and necessary to seek its accomplishment only by fair, and just, and moral means.—(Applause.)—Did not jus tice, then, require a full and fair compensation for the transfer • of this property ? It appeared to the Committee, from a variety of considerations, that their reasons could not be embodied or submitted in any titter &tip than an address to the Crown. The King was that authority in the state to which the colonies were especially booed to, look up for protection, as holding their lands directly from 'the throne under Crown , erants—Las • bolding all their rights and privileges under the royal proclama tion • for the colonial acts derived the validity of law through the iCing's,approval.—c Hear, hear !)—They thought, also that. in the present disturbed state'of the West India possessions, it was peculiarly proper to appeal to the King, as the authority to which all looked up in the colonies with united deference and respect, 'unmixed with distrust or dissatisfaction.—(Hear To the King, that if his Majesty were graciously pleased to exert his voice, he might adopt the necessary steps to compose the-jarring elements, and restore tranquillity to such important • interests, to remove exaggeration from the minds of the negroes, to obviate the apprehensionis'of their masters, restore the'value of property to the legitimate owners, and reinstate general con • fi4ar t ee._—( Hear, heat I )—Such was the sum and substance of ' the petition Which the. Committee thought proper to recommend • to ;Ste consideratimi. of this meeting. The Committee, after the most mature and deliberate consideration, were of opinion, that at this critical and perilous moment, two objects alone ought - to occupy =their fixed attention : the first was, the de facee of their right of property ; and the second, the asset tien of their claim for compensation should that property be interfered with and deteriorated by law. 'These points they deemed paramount to all other considerations at the present moment. They had therefore carefully abstained frOm all ex traneoies matters of discussion ; not that they were unwilling, or unable, to meet all other. points connected with the details of their whole system, and - which they would be found ready to debate on more proper 'occasions ; but the two great points to which he had already adverted, ought at this juncture to super sede every other consideration : they were of vital importance, they were paramount, and ought to be submitted to the royal consideration unmixed with any other topic, so that the royal mad should be enabled at once to make a clear and comprehen sloe view of what was deemed by them the main and prominent • points of their case, to which all others were subservient. The petition about to be proposed embodied these sentiments and views of their claims, and would, he hoped, be received with unanimous approbation .—(Applause.)—The Chairman conclu ded Ly reading the following petition : - • " TO THE XING'S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY. The Humble Petition of the Planters and Merchants and others, interested in the British West India: Colonies. " We, your Majesty's most loyal subjects, Planters, Mer chant,. anti others, interested in your Majesty's West India. Colonies, humbly approdch your Majesty with the expression of our loyalty and devotion to your Majesty's person and go y ern m en t. " We appeal to your Majesty' s paternal feelings, which ensure, the extension of your . Majesty' s grac i ous protection equally to all your subjects, as well to the weak as to the powerful—to those in the most remote parts of your empire, as to those nearest your Majesty's. person. " We - humbly beg to lay our case at your Majesty's feet, in the confidence that it is only necessary to place it .under your. .:11*jesty7s view, in order to obtain protection for our just rights, and security for our property. ". We beg leave humbly to `state to your Majesty, that w e hold our plantations, in your Majesty's Colonies by grants, or purchase crom the Crown. • " That those grants and purchases were made in some cases under the stipulation, in all upon the understanding, that the lands so acquired were to be cultivated by Negro slaves. • " That Negro slaves were brought by your Majesty's British subjects from Africa to your Majesty's West' India Colonies, and sold by them to the planters, under the sanction of acts of the British Parliament, giving to British subjects the exclusive privilege'of carrying on 'that trade, confining it to British ships, and prohibiting the planters from trading with the merchants of any other country. " That in the Acts of Parliament relating to that trade, it is described as beneficial both to the .Conn 2rce of Great Britain and to your Majesty's Parliament .1' and it has been stated to- be a trade so very adtraitageobs' 'that. it ought to be left free and open to all your Majesty's saijects.? • " That the attempts which have: been made, on more than one occasion, by the legislaturet of your Majesty's Colonies, to restrict and limit that trade, haft.beeti ebeeired by. the British! Government. • . " That the Royal assent. beer' Tefttited'to.Bills passed with that view by the legislatures in the_Colenies, and that it has been declared by Ministers of the Crown, that it would not be sJ]owedlo the Colonies to check, or diseourrige 41 . 0.4 y-degree; a traffic so benefiCiel*nd necessary 6 ; tlic - mothercountry.' • " Thal r, s t Cti halt - been r faAsed-141he legislatures-of 'the colonies, Whil, have received the -Royal approval, regulating ID the most iiinute details the treanneinof tate slaves. by their masters, affording protection to the one, and recognizing the rights of the other. That other Acts have been passed by the same Legisla tures, and have received the Royal approval, treating the slaves in those colonies as the.property of theirmasters, ad subject ing. such slaves and their issue to all the restrictions and con ditions which attach upon any other property ; for some pur poses considering them as freehold, for others as personal property. " We beg leave further to state, that various Acts of the English, and subsequently of the British Parliament, have passed into law, treating the Negroes and their issue in the colonies, in various modes as property, for securing the rights of British cierchants and other persons who have lent money, taking such Negroes as their. security, and affording facilities against the owners of them for the recovery of their debts. " That the several Courts of Law in this kingdom have, by' repeated decisions, regarded ' and decided upon the property in N e groes and their issue, according to the laws and customs of this kingdom arid the Colonies, which relftte s to inheritance, de vise, settlement, conveyance, and securities for money, recogniz ing in the. proprietors a vested interest in the slaves, their future issue and increase. _ _ " That the property in slaves has been made an object of taxation. The acquisition of it by devise has been subjected, in some cases, to the legacy duty, the possession of it to the pro perty-tax, and the transfer of it to the stamp duties ; amongst which is that imposed upon slaves and their issue by the re gistry act, passed so recently as in the year 130. - " In a word, the title of the master to his slaves and their issue, has been as completely and as solemnly recognized by the law as the title of any of your Majesty's subjects to any other species of property. • " We humbly conceive that in a case in which the parties are the State on the one hand, and any class of your Majesty's subjects on -the other, it cannot be necessary to prove any other tide to property, than that it has been recognized by the State itself ; and we humbly conceive that as against the right of the State to annihilate or to injure in any degree that property, -such proof is conclusive. • It has been urged, with a viewof shaking the title to such property, that in its origin it will be found to have been vitiated by acts ofe injustice or - violence. 'We might ask, how much of the property of your Majesty's ,subjects—property held the most sacred—could show a title in its origin free from injustice - or violence? Whether your Majesty'S title to those very colo nies, though sanctioned by treaties and recognized by the law of nations, could stand that test ! Whether it could be shown that. the original occupation of those countries by.the nations of Europe was unstained by acts of cruelty or violence towards the native inhabitants ? or how much of the landed property • of Great Britain or Ireland could be retained by the present possessors, if such a title were required to be shown ? The general admission of this principle would -shake property of all descriptions throughout your Majesty's dominion ; and against a partial application of it to the proper. ty of your Majesty's subjects in the , colonies, we appeal in confidence to your Majesty, as the dispenser of equal justice ' to all your subjects. "ill* the State considers that the property of the West India 'Planters in their slaves interferes with a great national object, it has a clear course, as in all cases where the property of indie viduals interferes with a public object, by offering them a fair Compensation for the surrender of their property. . • " If that object is one which is required by a high moral ;duty, the same sense of duty commands that it should be ac complished by the fair purchase of that property rather than by a forcible violation of it. . If the right to compensation be admitted in case of injury, but if it be maintained that the ob ject can be accomplished without injury to the planters, the State has also a clear course, by offering a distinct pledge, and making provision for a contingent compensation. If no loss should be incurred, this will cost the State nothing. If the injury should be inflicted, it will be only the satisfaction of a claim previously admitted to be just. " On the other hand, a refusal to abide the issue of the test will be considered by the planters as a practical proof that their fears are felt to be well-founded, libweyer they may be asserted to be groundless. " We beg leave further humbly to re:present to your Majesty, that the- tranquillity of all your Majesty's colonies has been disturbed, and the lives and properties of the inhabitants of those countries brought into iminent danger. 4 "l'hat the insurrection of the Negro slaves in your Majesty's colony of Demerara has not been suppressed without a sacri fice of lives and valuable property. " That an impression had, as it appears, been created in the minds of the Negro slaves in that colony, that your Majesty anti the British Parliament had granted their enfranchisement, but that their masters withheld it from them; and that they had thus been stimulated to assert their freedom by violence. In other colonies, plans of insurrection have also been dis covered, and a very disturbed spirit has become apparent among the Negro population: " The confidence in the security of property in those coun tries has consequently been so much shaken, that the power of transfer has been nearly annihilated, and the value of the se curities, on which many millions of money have been lent by your Majesty's subjects in Great Britain, has been equally diminished, and the credit of the planters, who had already been struggling under the pressure of long continued distress, has been so much impaired, th a t i t ' h as become almost impos sible to obtain a loan upon Colonial security. " Under these circumstances we lay ourselves at your Ala jesty's feet, and humbly pray that your Majesty will not; by the exercise of your Majesty's roy a l prerogative, in any manner sanction or authoriZe any acts which may impair the value of property in your Majesty ' s colonies, so repeatedly and so so lemnly recognized by your Majesty, your Royal. predecessors, and the Parliament of Great Britain, unless a fund should be previously provided for fair and sufficient compensation. " We farther humbly pray your Majesty to he graciously pleased to adopt such measures as to your Majesty may appear hest calculated to remove the exaggerated expectations of the Negroes, and to allay the well-founded fears of the white inha bitants in the colonies, so as to restore a tranquil and contented spirit in those countries, and to re-establish the just value 'of colonial property : and confidence in it s se curity. • • And your petitioners will ever pray, &c." Mr. C. N. PALMER rose to second the petition, which lie hoped would be unanimously adopted. Although it would be in vain for him to expect to be able to add any thing to the arguments used in the petition, and more particularly after the able and powerful exposition which it had previously received from their Hon. Chairman,—(Hear, hear !)—yet he could not refrain from expressing his pleasure at perceiving the nature of the petition which they were called upon to support ; he had re ceived the greatest gratification from the clear and close deduc tion from the facts and reasoning in the petition, and which defied all contradiction. Besides, their petition was 'not cal culated to produce any of those angry feelings which were cal • ciliated to interfere with the restoration of harmony ; and the language in which it was enforced, he was proud to contrast with the intemperate allusions of those who called themselves the friends of abolition, but whorri he must calf' the friends of superficial hunianity.—(Hear I)—With pleasure it was he saw nothing in the document under consideration which was cal culated to interrupt that awful' Silence which the present situ ation of the colonies seemed to have imposed on Parliament and the country. The petition also left untouched and also uncompromised—(Hear !)—all other points connected with ' their colonial rights and interests, and there was a judicious abstinence from all topics which were calculated to create an irritating difference of opinion in any quarter. It was most' proper to confine their present object to the assertion, and he trusted to the establishment, of their claim for compensation, ' and to do so by an appeal to the King, from whose gracious and just view of the case they would doubtless receive fit awl proper Hear, hear!)—He hoped the example and forbearance which they set would not be lost unon their oppo nents; and while they held it out to them, he trusted also they would take a lesson in return, and- imitate the union and perseverance with which they had always to straggle on the side of their enemies —not, indeed, imitating them in any thing else, but rather shewing those requisites of forbearance and emoderation which were always sure to obtain legitimate ends by a shorter course, than perseverance in opposite quail ties.—(Hear, hear!)—He had never despaired of the colonial interests: overwhelmed as they were with distress, and sur rounded by perils, yet he had never despaired. He now saw a ray of relief for them in the increasing prosperity of the country. He saw a protection against future danger in the', prospect of the better acquaintance of the country with the true state. of colonial affairs". They ought never to despair while true to themselves ; nor should they be diverted by any strata - gem from persevering with energy and unanimity, in the pur suit of those measures which their intirests and duty alike pre , scribed for their adoption. Mr. WATSON TAYLOR expressed his entire concurrence in what hadbeen said as to the necessity of unanimity on the pre sent occasion. He had the utmott reliance on the effect of the recommendation to Parliament in the Speech from the Throne, and he trusted that the subject of the West India interest would be considered with that calmness and caution which its impor tance and a mense of justice to those concerned demanded. After the just and wise recommendation of his Majesty, he hoped that those who took an active, part in the question would , temper their zeal with caution. Under all the circumstances of the case, he thought the preient the most favourable oppor- I tunity for approaching the Throne with their petition. The petition which the meeting had just heard was couched in such just and moderate terms,hat he felt great pleasure in second ing the motion forite adoption. ' • Mr. Cattu'neGToN said, he was so fully impressed with the I•liiiPtirtance of this subject, and of die awful crisis to which the affairs of the Colonies were brought, that he could not suffer [the present opportunity to escape without offering a few re marks. Ile fully concurred in the justice of the remark, that this question, viewed in what way it might, ought to be ' Cussed with Moderation. It was not his wish to depart from the general subject, or to occupy the attention of the Meeting for any length of time; but from the circumstances in which he was placed (Mr. Carrington is agent to one of the West India Colonies), he did not think he should discharge his duty, did he not take a short view of the circumstances which had brought the affairs of the colonies to their present crisis. , He wished not to inflame any party-feeling at either side, but to , point out the difference of the situation of the colonists from what it was some few years back. Upon the assumption that a clandestine importation of slaves had taken place, had arisen thole Measures of interference which had been so unfortunately applied to our colonieS of - late.-. He maintained that no fair ground for such an assumption had existed, and that.the ! - ference resting upien it was therefore without any necessity. 'At - 1 the time the measures of interference were pending in the Bri tish Parliament, its effects were not only dreaded by those who knew the real condition of the colonies, but were clearly pre dicted. Unhappily those prediotions were altogether disre garded, and the consequence was, that a flourishing, beautiful, and once happy colony ,was in one night exposed to all the horrors of insurrection, conflagration, and bloodshed. This, he asserted without fear of contradiction, was produced because the warnings of those whose situation rendered them most ca pable of judging of the real condition of the colonies had been altogether disregarded. It was a melancholy reflection, and one would think that it was caused by some dreadful fatality, that the real cause, as w ell as the authentic history of those transac tions (we believe thelate disturbances in Barbadoes), should con tinue to be unknown in this country. The calumnies which had been poured forth against the conduct of the resident West India planters in the course of thelast Session clearly showed, that there were, not a few in this country, who were willing to attribute the disasters to which lie had alluded, to any thing rather than their real cause, and who still affected to disbelieve that they were the result of the late measures of interference. He, hove ever, ,confidently asserted that they were produced by those , measures : and there was a gallant Officer, to whose bravery and presence of mind on that occasion the country were in debted.for the preservation of the colony, who could tell the meting, on the authority of the gallant Governor of the island— a man not less distinguished for his high military talents than for his integrity and urbanity in private life—that the whole of thesemelancholy occurrences had proceeded from the inter ference of this country in the internal affairs of the colony. The gallant' Governor,.as the result of a most minute inquiry into the subject, had put it upon record that the disturbances had proceeded from the interference of this coun try. Every circum- , stance which had transpired, capable of explaining their nature and origin, had assigned this as the cause. The declarations at the place of execution, of the unhappy persons who had suffered for their connection with the disturbance, was a further evidence of the fact. In no one instance had they varied in their statement, that they had been contented and happy under their piasters, against whom. they made no complaints, anti) they had been led away by visionary hopes founded -upon the .interference of this country.—(Hear, hear When the West Indian planters were charged with hav ing made exaggerated statements of the nature of the dis turbances:a-when it was publicly stated that they had not arises from the interference of this country, it was not a little ' surprising that no one member of his Majesty's Government had thought worth while to refute the calumny, which they might easily have done by referring to the dispatches they had received on the subject. by few words might have set forth the real state of the case. Such an act on the part of Ministers would have,heen kind and generous, as it would have been use ful in checking the zeal for interference which had already ex isted. Unfortunately, however, no such explanation had been given. Neither had there been any attempt made to support the principle, that for the property violated the parties were en titled_ to compensation.—(Hear !)—it was, however, `but too true, that whole families h a d been reduced to ruin from th a t oc currence, from which they could not hope to recover., In these transactions, he would repeat, it was a striking coincidence, that not one of the unhappy sufferers, either in Barbadoes or Demerara: a had ever. complained of the conduct of his master..--(Hear, hear !)—These facts showed in a strong light the hardships. of the colonists, from the exaggerated statements and misrepresentations which had been circula ted respecting them. Mr. Carrington then went on to contend, that it was the duty of the meeting, if they meant to act upon the excellent advice which had been given them by the mover of the petition (Mr. Palmer), to. co-operate with their friends in Barbadoes and Demerara in. procuring compensation for the injury they had sustained. That compensation they had claim ed, nor more for their own individual interest, than as members of the general body, whose interests were equally involved in the decision on that claim. After again alluding to the, sudden ness with which the late disturbances had come upon the Co lonists, and again asserting that they had been produced by the interference of this country, Mr. Carrington went on to shew, that.from the recent investigations which had taken place, the falsehobd of the charge, that before the interference no step had been taken by the Colonists for the improvement of the mo ral condition of the slaves, had been fully manifested. Ile knew of his own 'knowledge, that in the island which he had the honour to represent, such steps had been taken ; and he had reason to believe that the sam e m i g h t b e s a id o f J ama ica and other colonies : and though th e i m pr o vement m i g ht not have been as rapid as some desired, yet its effects were such as were calculated to g ive security to the colonies, which, he asserted, the principle of interference by . this country went directly to remove. 'What farther effect the more rapid march of inter ference might have, he would not now predict, except by saying, that it was to be dreaded by all those who knew the real situation. of the colonies and the characterof their inhabi tants. Much was still to be dreaded, if some of the steps were not retraced, and that in a proper spirit of conciliation. After some other remarks, in which he went on to enforce the necessity of union and perseverance in their object, and in up holding the principles of compensation, he concluded by ex pressing a hope that their petiti on wou l t f . be received with every bias in their favour, and that they might not be kept in that saspense as to the result, which was worse than an immediate certainty of being defeated in their hopes. Mr. .1. P. Al AYERS claimed the indulgence of the meeting while he offered a few remark s on the subject before them, as a West India proprietor, to whom .circumstances had given a personal knowledge of what had lately passed in one of our colonies. Considering the great value of public meetings on questions of importance, where the i nterests of many were con cerned, and where, in the various o pi n i ons d e li vere d, there was the best chance ~ehaving the whole truth elicited, he was sur prised that one had not been called earlier on this most import ant esubject. He, however, did not mean to throw any blame on this account on their excellent chairman and those gentlemen who supported him on this occasion, for whose active exertions in behalf of the colonists, he, as a West India proprietor felt truly grateful. If he had before felt regretthat the meeting had not been called sooner, he n ew felt great pleasure at the very happy auspices under which the present was called together. Not long back, he had been struck almost dumb with dismay, at the alarming state of the affairs of the colonies; but now ha felt inspired with confidence and hope of the future, and instead, therefore, of saying any thing which would interrupt the harmony lie saw prevailing, he would do every thing in his power to promote it. The occurrences of the last week, the gracious recom mendation from the Throne, and the speeches in the House of Lords, as given in the newspapers, were, as far as they related to West Indian affairs most cheering. They held out a hope that at length a calm and dispassionate consideration was likely to be given to a question which involved not only the most valuable interests of the colonists, but he might al most say the existence of the colonies themselves. Let not, however, this happy change in the prospect of their affairs pre vent them from. continuing their active exertions, for the serpent which had sent forth its venom against them might renew that venom if not effectually resisted.. The occurrences of .the last few years, as connected with our West India colonies; had no parallel in the history of this country. The most unheard of calumnies had been c irculated against the colonists, and these, too, in places which should not have lent an ear to statements not proved. The great principle of hearing all sides fairly before judgment was pronounced, had been out raged in the case of the colonists. Though there'was the best and most conclusive evidence to spew the propriety of the con duct pursued by the resident planters, still, without waiting to have that produced, strong opinions had been given against them. He would not, however, dwell farther upon this part, but come at once to the late insurrection at Barbadoes. It was his duty, as it was the duty of all concerned, not to be de terred from , fairly stating what they knew, by any apprehen sion of being thought interested on the matter. When, re. cently, Mr. Wilberfore, acting on the groundless suspicion that there had .been a clandestine importation of slaves, and, in open violation of that principle, that taxation and repre sentation should be coequal and coextensive, had introduced the Slave Registry Bill, many persons who were better ac quainted with the negroes and their character, believed that insubordination and insurrection would follow. All the decla rations to this effect were disregarded at the time; but at length they turned out to. be true. Before the interference, the island presented a scene of perfect prosperity ; but soon after, it be came one of desolation and misery. Mr. Mayers here proceed ed amidst frequent expressions of the impatience of the meet ing to detail the nature of the disturbances, and to show that they had been produced by the interference of this country._ This, he contended, would be most satisfactorily proved, if the dispatches, from the Governor of the island were produced. Mr. H I DBE RT said, that most certainly at no time could he I pretend to have any thing to address to so respectable a meet ing as that before him, which could command attention, and still less could he hope to command it when he only. rose for the purpose of explaining why he should go no farther into the sub ject before them at present. He attended in the standing com . mittee, where it had been very wisely decided, that they should enter into no other matters connected with the West India ques tion than those which had been referred to in the petition, anti into those no farther than the petition had gone ; not that the other matters connected with their interests were unimportant, but because their %Weirs were at such a crisis, that the more cautiously they. proceeded the better. He acquiesced in this de cision of the majority of the committee, and, feeling its proprie ty, he now warmly recommended it to the adoption of the meet ing. The petition proposed he fully approved of, and he hoped it would be 'signed as soon as possible. It was a petition to the King ; and though it did not go at length into the mediate or immediate causes of the dangers which threatened the colo nies, yet it touched upon them xi such a way as that the peti tioners should not commit them Selves at any side. As agent of the island of Jamaica, he might go somewhat farther, and in his official capacity offer some further observations ; but in the last general Meeting, and in the present he had not gone fur ther, or said any thing more than as a merchant and a Jamaica planter might do. :His constituents had stated that they heard that his Majesty's Ministers had expressly denied the principle of compensation. He had looked over his correspondence, and fie saw what it was from which his constituents had drawn that inference: indeed, he should be extremely sorry to find that Mi nisters had come to any such determination. The inference of his constituents had arisen from one communications. In that he stated, that at a conference (with Ministers, we presume), at which he was not present, but the particulars of which had been reported to him from very respectable authority, it was stated (by Ministers) that a distinction would be made between the cases where direct emancipation had taken place, and those in which measures preparatory to that event had been taken. He knew not whether he reported this rightly; he gave it as he got it ; but if the meaning of it was, that " you shall have compensation if you emancipate, but you shall have none if you only take measures to prepare for that which will be your own undoing"—if this determination of Ministers was fairly reported, he would say that it was a most unfair de cision, and his constituents had good reason to be angry at such a result. It was that impression which had given rise to the different meetings and to the resolutions which had been entered into so many parishes in the island. Those meet ings and resolutions had one good effect, for they went to show what might be expected as the consequences of such a 'de cision given as a final one. He would say that these should be a change—that some of the steps taken should be retraced; and if he had not seen that something of the kind were intended, he would not have stopped here ; but in the hope that some thing would be speedily done for ameliorating the state of the colonies, he would at present go no farther than express his entire concurrence in the petition.—(Hear, hear !) .Mr. GOSSETT, N. P., said, that he entirely concurred in what had fallen from his Hon. Friend who had just sat down. Imitating his example, he also would abstain from going into the details of this important question.. He thought the subject now rested on the responsibility of MiniSters, and he trusted it would be taken by them with that firmness and moderation which would _ensure the tranquillity of the minds of sill. Major D'ALorac next addressed the meeting; but from the distance at which he stood from where we sat, and the very fre quent interruptions he encountered from the disapprobation of his hearers, we could collect only an occasional sentence.— We understood him to say, tlfarhe:possessed a small ro e petty in the West Indies, which, however, small as it might be, lie would not willingly expose to unnecessary risk. The question of the present state of the colonies was a most int, portant one, and ought to be approached with caution ; but whatever were the decisions, they ought to be acted upon with firmness ; but every measure which might now be adopted ought to have in view the ultimate abolition of slave ry, for he felt convinced that the West India interests would never rest upon a firm basis, until the great object was aeconi plished.—(Disapprobation.)He would not then enter upon the details of that important topic, for he was aware that there were many persons who looked upon the question of emanci pation, however remote , with h orror and dismay. He, for .-one, could not enter into sticiffeelings. He could anticipate no such horrible conseq uences. He thought the diffusion of Albiac knowledge among the N e g roes a neces sary preparative for final emanci cation—(Hisses, short time p u blic meeting was, that all sh ou ld h e h ear d, and. that from the diffe rence of o p inions on both sides of the ques tion, truth m ight be best elicited.—(Here the interruptions were so frequent, t h at we could only distinguish the gentleman's voice, without being able to collect what h e sa id , until some one cried out " A saint r!) Major D'A LBLac.—" I am no saint, I have more of the cha racter of a sinner ; but sinner as I am, I will not be put down by clamour ; I will .continue to assert my right to be heard." He then proceeded, and read his first resolution (as given be low.) During the reading of this and the two that followed it, the interruptions were so loud that we could hear nothing distinctly. At the fourth resolution Major D'Albiac said, Gentlemen, I shall wait until you have done hissing, and then I shall go on ; for lam determined to read them all. [Here he was assailed with such loud vociferations, intermingled with hisses, and the occasional allusion of " You come from Wilber force"—" You are from the African Institution," and similar remarki, that lie was quite unable to proceed, and obliged to appeal to the Chair for protection.l The CHATRMAN rose and said—" Gentlemen, I ask you, is your cause such that yowl - teed be afraid to bear any opponent ? 1 ask you whether it would not be more beconeing to hear this gentleman without interruption, subject, of course, to whatever a nimadversions he may afterwards receive from those who may follow him." . _ . V Major D'AttitAc then concluded reading his resolutions, and expressed the- regret he felt at detaining the meeting while he obtruded himself upon their attention. He assured them he was too conscious of his own inferiority , to dispute too per tinaciously . the opinions of other men, who might think they had better information on the subject: —The following are the Resolutions : " 1. It is the opinion of 'this meeting that rational and de fined liberty . is a blessing to which the whole race of mankind have an original title. " 2. That in accordance with this principle, and being fully aware that a state of slavery is incompatible with those moral ties, those social feelings of gratitude which in free countries bind the servant to the master, this meeting anxiously looks forward to that desirable period when the black population of the West Indian Colonies shall be deemed by the Legislature of the mother country to be,so far advanced in moral attain ments to be worthy of being admitted to the condition of free labourers, and 'capable of prnperly appreciating the blessings of rational freedom: " 3. Fearlessly as this meeting proclaims to the world the feelings by which they are actuated in common with their fellow-men ; anxious as they ever 'will be to give those feelings effect by a cordial co-operation with the British Parliament ; they still feel it a duty incumbent upon them to declare, that all unworthy or base appeals to the passions of the yet uneducated Negroes can only retard, instead of promoting the benificent views :of the Legislature, and that it is necessary that the Negroes should be taught How very short-lived is that liberty which comes hurried along by the hurricane of com motion, and which enthrones itself upon moral ruin.' " 4. That it is the opinion of this meeting that the owners and occupiers of the soil of the British West Indian colonies are so much entitled to legislative protection as the owners and occu piers of the soil of (ireat Britain. " 5. That this meeting relies upon the justice of Parliament, trusting that in every measure which Mayherenfter be brought forward in furtherance of ultimate emancipation, a due regard will be had to vested and acknowledged rights ; and a convic tion of the justice and of the necessity of equitable indemnifi cation." The CHAIRMAN.—Is this amendment seconded ? If it is, 1 shall, in the discharge of my duty, put it to the meeting : if not, the same duty forbids me to put it. There being no seconder, the amendment was not put. Mr. J. TAYLOR thought the question of Negro emancipa tion alluded to by the mover of the amenditient did not regu larly come within the business of the day. He thought all those details ought to be considered in the first instance by the Colo nial Legislature. -Mr. CAMPBELL regretted the interruption which the mover of the amendment had received ; and with respect to his allu sion to the final extinction of coercive labour among the Ne groes, he could assure him, that slavery had of late years be come stripped of its terrors, and, was passing gradually away towards its conclusion when, 'he was sorry to say, the intempe rate friends of abolition, had, by their unwise and impolitic conduct, arrested its'progress. He gave his cordial support to the petition, and thanked the Gentlemen who had drawn it up. Mr. JOHN FULLER said, that they had a pretty good ex ample of what was called " free labour" in St. Domingo, where the Blacks had it famously, for there they could only grow coffee and sugar enough for their own consumption : a pretty thing that would be for the owners of British property in the West India Colonies. He hoped the King would at once ameliorate their interests by issuing a proclamation, stating that it was not intended by, the Legislature to manumit the slaves. . The question upon the petition was then put,- and carried with one dissentient negative. Mr. MANNING entirely concurred in the object of the peti tion, in the awful crisis of West India afrairs, and moved that the petition be presented to his Majesty by the Chairman, ac companied by such Members of both Houses of Parliament as wished to attend on the occasion ; and by the agents of the West India Colonies. . _ Sonic conversation arose upon this naode of presenting the petition, as tending to delay, if a levee were not speedily held ; and it was ultimately agreed, that the mode of presentation should be left to the Chairman. Thanks were then voted to the Chairman, and the Meeting dispersed. LAW PROCEEDINGS. COURT OF KING'S BENCH, TrESDAY, FEU. 10. THE KING V. THE STEWARD OF THE COURT LEET OF PET EnSFI ELD. Mr. GasELEE—My Lords, I am instructed to move your Lordships for a rule calling upon Mr. Currie, the Steward of the Court Leet of the Borough of Petersfield, to shew cause way a Criminal .Information should not be filed against bird for having misconducted himself at the Court holden in January last. I was in hopes that I should not have had occasion ta trouble your Lordships again on the subject of this Borough. Your Lordships will be surpiesed to hear that notwithstanding what fell from your Lordships on. the application against the late Steward, the same course has been pursued, by selecting for the Jury the greater part of the same persons se lected on the former occasion, and all of whom were stated to be either the tenants or the dependents, or persons connecter with the family of Mr. Jolliffe. Your Lordships were pleased to enquire on that application, whether or no it was sworo that there were other person's 'in the town who were eligible whether the affidavits went quite far enough in respect of sheav ing that the persons present at the Court Leet, and who were not nominated by the Steward, were at least in as good si tuation in life and as eligible as those who were selected...-. My Lords, in the present affidavits are stated the names of A great many gentlemen—the value of the estates they .respec• tively possess, their situation in life, the length of time during which they have been inhabitants of the Borougtt, and that thought they have been for so many years resi dent in the Borough, they have never been, during all that time, selected to serve upon the Jury; and in the course or the last seven years the whole number of persons selected to serve upon the Jury has amounted only to about forty. many of whom have served four, five, and even six times during that period. Mr. Justice BAYLEY.—I believe they have duties beyond the ordinary duties of beet Jurymen. Mr. GAsEr.EE._They have the duties of Leet Jurytnere and also the duty of returning the iylayor, w:to is the Returning Officer for the Borough. I am afraid, my Lord, it is necessary to call your Lordship's attentioir to the Constitution of the Borough.—The Borough re turns 'Members to Parliament, and has done so as long ago as we have been able to trace back. Lord Chief Justice A nnovr.—Do your affidavits state that you believe the selection to have been made for the purpose of influencing the election of the Members to Parliament? Mr. GAsE LE E.—Our affidavits state. that the persons mak ing them believe the selection to have been made for the pur -pose of influencing the election of the Mayor, who is the Re turning Officer for the Borough, for the purpose of thus sup porting the interest of Mr. Millie, who has been one of the Members for many years past, and has nominated the other Member ; it is stated, that only on ,two occasions, I think. for 30 or 40 y ears t h e T own h as h ad the pleasure of seeing the second Member. Perhaps I need hardly trouble your Lord ships with that which your Lordships have scarcely forgotten, as to the constitution of this Borough. Lord Chief Justice ABBOTT.—Oh, we arc aware of that. Mr. GASELEE.—At a Court Leet, which was held on the 19th of January last, a Jury was sworn, and they, among other business, returned the Mayor: I do not complain that the nomination of the Jury was made by the Steward—that ha* been ruled to be the practice ; hut I do complain of the selec tion made by the Steward. I will read to your Lordships, from the affidavits, what passed upon the occasion-,this, IPY Lords, although not the s ame S tew a rd, i s a Gentleman who has been for years a clerk in the office of the persons who are the Attornies for Mr. Jolliffe., who was present, taking great pains in managing all .the proceedings that have hitherto takeP - place in this Court and at the Assiies, who has had the man agement of all the concerns of Mr. Jolliffe in that Borough for a considerable time, and who is therefore perfectly acquainted With every thing that has taken place upon former occasions. Its was present on the discussion of the rule, which your Lordships will recollect was granted against the former Steward, and whiCh was discharged after the trial which took place on the quo evarranto. 1 fix therefore upon 1.1:.11 a knowledge of what has passed, and of our objections to the persons who are so constantly put on the Jury. , My Lords, these affidavits state, that the last Conrt was held on the lgth of January, when the following persons (naming them), having been previously warned by the Bailiff o f the Court to appear by name, there were three persons in the list who did not appear, in the room of whom the Steward named four others, who appeared, and thereupon, together with the persons who had been previously called and 01 2- peered, were sworn in, and they elected a Mr. Blunt to 4: 4 e the Mayor. Now, my Lord, an objection was made at than time to the persons who were so selected and about .to be sworn in. It is sworn that there were at that time a considerable number of persons in the Court; that th e Court was very full, but that notwithstanding the obla tion, the Steward swore in the persons who answered t ° their names when called ; that after they had been sworn th e Steward ordered the tythingmen to deliver in' their list of re: slants which was called over, and the Steward then delivered a charge to the Jury, and immediately adjourned the Court by Proclamation for a quarter of an hour; that the Steward re mained with the Jury in the room during the whole time the Court was cleared: that when the Court was re-opened, an d the usual Proclamation made, and the Jury re-sworn, the Fore man of the Jury delivered in to the Steward a written-pre nen tmen t. Lord Chief Justice ABB 0 T T.—We need not go through the formal proceedings. Mr. GASE r.EE—" That the presentment was then read, bY which it appeared, that Mr. William Blunt had been elected Mayor of the Borough for the year ensuing. The deponents then say, that they are well ac q ua inted with the abovernentionea M.Tni. Blunt ; that they have known him for many years ; that he formerly carried on the business of a miller, baker, and meal man in the Borough ; that he hath frequently served on the J ury of the Court Leet. and particularly that he served on the Juries impanelled in the Court Leet, in January 1019, July 1819, January 1820, January 1821, January 1822, and J a nuary 18`23;" therefore, my Lords, this Gentleman, who is now Mayor, has been on the Jury'for the.last six years ; there was only one Court holden in each year, except in .1819 when there was a second court, on account of a. new election of a Mayor becoming necessary, and then he was upon that a lso that Mr. Blunt is a tenant under Mr. Hylton Jolliffe, o f pro perty in the Borough of Petersfield, from the possession of which he derives considerable profits; that Mr. Blunt , at the election of members to serve in Parliament for the 'Bo rough of Petersfield, in 1620, represented himself to be a free holder in the Borough, and accordingly tendered his v ote for Mr. Jolliffe, and the candidate supported by him, upon a freehold, which, it turned out afterwards, was a property be longing to Mr. Jolliffe, made over to him merely for the,. purpose of enabling him to vote—that he attended during the polling at the election in 1820, and assi s t e d Mr,. Jolliffe's party, and afterwards appeared as a witness for Mr. Jolliffe before the Election Committee at the House of Commons ; that a few years ago he became a bankrupt, and was indebted to various persons in the Borough, in sums of money that had never been paid, and that no dividend had ever been declared on the account of his estate. • • My Lords, they then go on to state, that they are• well a , quainted with the various other persons mentioned. The first, person named on the Jury is a person well known in this C o urt, Mr. Meeres; he is the first person against whom the Court grant ed an information in the nature of a quo tharranto, and who, on the Rule being made abeolute. against him, disclaimed `he i 5 now made foreman of the Jury, to secure the election of ill r• Blunt the present Mayor. It isttated that Mr. Meeres is a fref - holder of the Borough, and at the elections in 1818, and 182 0, voted for 111 r. Jolliffe, and the candidate who stood in his intere-'r , and that he has on all occasions taken a most decided and a ctive part in the contests for the Borough in favour of Mr. JollifP• and that at the election in March 1820, he provided 3.1 r. .I°l - party with ribbons or colours, which were worn by them during the election ; and also, that tiering the elec tion] lie attended the poll and assisted in objecting to the votes tendered for the Candidates who stood on the other side ; that they verily believe that the said John Meeres Was selected and nominated by the Steward of the Court Leet to serve in the last Jury, and was appointed Foreman of the same, because he well knew that Meeres would propose to the Jury, or would use his influence with them to present such person only to be the Mayor of the Borough, as was as a decided stir" porter of the interest and influence of •Mr. Jolliffe, and who, Would be subservient to his purposes in the Borough, and that the said John Meeres would oppose the election of any other person to the office. My Lords, it appears in another affidavit, that Mr. Meeres has been connected with the family of Mr. Jolliffe for a con siderable number of years : that there is a charitable establish ment in that town, called Churcher's College, of which Me' Jolliffe has been for many years the Treasurer, and managing Trustee ; that his father had been in that situation before hirl'• Your Lordships therefore find Mr. Jolliffe's father in the san e situation with the present Mr. Jolliffe, of Treasurer and Ins" naging Trustee; and it is stated, that all the clothing for the objects of that Establishment has been supplied by 11 1 1 i* Meeres, proving therefore a long connection on his part wd the Jolliffe family. There is an objection also to several of the persons on this Jury, that they have bad their sons put to this College under the auspices of Mr. Jolliffe. It is stated , that " Thomas Shoell, William Hall, and William Mundy , have, and each of them bath had one or more child or children educated in this endowed school." Mr. Hylton Jolliffe is the Treasurer, and your Lordship will see who the rear th the I ar e z IL'por sett° fru Joh hffe the so t