The Sun. — London, England, 1824-03-18 00:00:00

tessaey that effectual means should be adopted for pt nishing such offences, as may hereafter be committed by female slaves,. within the said island, be it therefore, and it is hereby ordered, that any female slave who shall or may commit any offence within the said island, which, by the laws in foece there, was heretofore punished by fltvging, shall for raich her offence be subject and liable to imprisonment, or to be confined in the stocks, or to such ether punishment or correction, as may be necessary for the effectual suppression of such offence*, and as may be specially sanctioned in, and by any proclamation to be hereafter issued by the authority, and in the name of his. Ma jesty, is the said island. And the Governor or acting Gover nor of the said island shall, anti is hereby authorised to make, and ordain such rules and regulations as may be necessary for preventing any excess in such punishments, or any abuse in the mode of Inflicting the same. Provided that such rules and re gulations he not in any wise repugnant to this present order. And provided also that the same be forthwith transmitted by such Governor nr acting Governor, as aforesaid, for his Ma jesty's approbation ; and that all such rules or regulations shall cease to be binding or in force within the said island, unless his Majesty's allowance thereof shall be signified to such Go vernor or acting Governor within two years next after the date of such rules and regulations. 14. And it is hereby further ordered, That there shall be kept upon every plantation and estate throughout the said Island, a book to be called the Plantation Record Book, and that it shall be the duty of the owner, proprietor, manager, or other person having the direction of, and the chief authority in, the said plantation, to enter and record in the said book, at or imme diately after the time of the infliction of any punishment what soever, on any female slave, or on any male slave, who may be punished with any number of stripes exceeding three, a state ment of the nature and particulars of the offence for, or in re spect of which such punishment may be inflicted ; and of the time at which, and the place where such offence was commit ted ; and of the time at which, and the place where such pun ishment was inflicted ; and of the nature, extent, and particu lars of the punishment, and, in the cases of male slaves, of the number of stripes actually inflicted upon the offender, together with the names of the persons by whom, and by the authority of whom, the punishment was i n fli c t e d ; a nd of the persons or person of free condition present and attending at the infliction of every such punishment. 15. And it is hereby further ordered, That if any person -being the owner, proprietor, or manager of any plantation or estate within the said island, or having the mangement thereof, or the chief authority therein, shall neglect or omit to make in the said Plantation Record Book, any entry which according to the provisions of this present order ought to be made therein, or shall not make such entry within two days next after the infliction of each and every punishment, to which the same may -refer the person so offending shall incur anti become subject and fiable to a penalty not exceeding 1001., nor less than 51., sterling, British money ; to be recovered and applied in man ner hereinafter mentioned. And if any person or persons shall wilfully or fraudulently make, or cause or procure to be made, any false entry or fraudulent erasure in any such Plantation Record Book, or shall wilfully or fraudulently bum, destroy, cancel, or obliterate the same, or any parts or part thereof, the person or persons so offending shall be, and be deemed and taken to be, guilty of a misdemeanour, and being thereof con victed, shall suffer such punishment as is hereinafter provided. IC. And it hereby further ordered, That every owner, pro prietor, or manager, or other person, having the chief authority within each and every plantation or estate within the said island, shall, on the first Monday which shall happen next after the fifth day of April, the twenty.fourth day of June, the twenty ninth day of September, anti the twenty-fifth day . of December in each year, repair to the commandant for the time being of the quarter in which such plantation or estate may be situate, and then and there produce before him a precise and exact tran script of every entry, which during the quarter of a year next preceding, may have been made in the Plantation Record Book, of his of her plantation or estate ; and shall also take and sub scribe an oath, to he annexed to the said transcript, in the fol lowing words (this is to say) : I, A. 8., the owner, or manager [as the case may bel of the plantation called in the quarter of in the island of Trinidad, do make oath and say, that the paper writing hereunto annexed, contains a true and exact copy of every entry, which since the day of last hath been made in the Plantation Record Book of the before-mentioned Plantation. And Ido further swear, that the said Plantation Record Book bath been punctually and accurately kept, since the said day of in the manner by law required, and that no fraudulent erasure or false entry bath been made therein by me, or by any person by my procurement, or with my know ledge or consent. So help me Gcd. And in case any such owner or manager es aforesaid, shall not, since the time of making his last preceding return to the Commandant of the quarter, have inflicted, or caused to be in flicted ; any punishment en any female slave, on his plantation •or estate, or any punishment on any male slave , exceening three lashes, ien, and in every such case, in lieu of the oath afore said, such owner or manager shall, at the several times afore said, take anti subscribe before the commandant of the quarter in which such plantation may be situate, on oath, in ine follow ing words (that is to say), I, A. B. do swear, that since the day of now last past, no punishment bath been inflicted by me, or by my order, or w i t h my k now l e d ge, upon any f ema l e s l a ve belonging, or attached to the plantation called situate in the quar ter of whereof I am manager. And that no punish. anent bath sinc e th e sa id day of been ited upon any male slave, belonging or attached to theVaidlrantation, exceeding three lashes. And I further swear, that no entry of any such punishments, bath since the said day of been made in the Plantation Record Book of the said planta tion. So help me God. 17. Provided always, and it is further ordered, That the Com mandant of each and every quarter, within the said island, shall, fourteen days at the least before the time of making the re turns, transmit to the owner or manager of every plantation situate within his quarter, a printed blank forni of the before. mentioned affidavits, together with a notice of the time and place, at which lie will attend for the purpose of receiving the _returns, and at inistering the oaths aforesaid, and the said commandant sh , and is hereby required to attend, from day to day, for thre uccessive days, and no more, for the pur poses aforesaid ; in case it shall be made to appear to such • commandant, b certificate of any medical practitioner, that any person sons liable to make such return is or are, by reason of sickn "ncapable of attending for that purpose, at the time and pl oto be appointed as aforesaid, then, and in every such case, said commandant shall, and he is hereby eqeired to, attend the person or persons so incapacitated, at her, or their place or places of abode, for the purpose of ving the said returns, and taking such affidavits as afore- 18. And it is hereby ordered, That if any person or persons shall refuse or neglect to make any return, or to take and sub scribe the oaths required by this present Order, the person or persons so offending, shall incur, and become liable to the pay ment of a fine, not exceeding one hundred pounds nor less than ten pounds sterling British money ; to be recovered and applied in manner after-mentioned. O. And it is hereby further ordered, That the Commandant of each and every quarter in the said island shall, and be is hereby required to transmit to the protector and guardian of slaves of the said island, at his office in the town of Port of Spain the whole of the returns so to be made to him as afore said, together with the original affidavits thereunto annexed, within fourteen days next after such quarterly returns shall be complete. And in case any such Commandant shall him self be the owner or manager of any plantation, he shall, to gether with the said returns, deliver to the said protector and guardian of slaves, a transcript of the entries in his own plan tation book, for the last preceding quarter of a year, together with an affidavit to be by him sworn before the Chief Judge, or some one of the Alcaldes in ordinary of the said island, in the manner and form herein-before described, under such and the like penalty, as is herein-before mentioned in the case of other persons refusing or neglecting to make their returns, or to take the before-mentioned oaths. 20. And it is hereby further ordered, That the said protector of staves shall record and enrol in books, to be by him kept for that purpose, the whole of the returns so to be made to him, and shall keep and preserve in his office the originals of the said returns and affidavits ; and for ate better and more conve nient keeping of the said records, it is further ordered, that the said protector and guardian of slaves shall keep a distinct book Or each quarter of the said island, and shall therein transcribe each of the said returns in alphabetical order, according to the name by which each plantation is described in every such return, and shall also make and keep full and exact indexes of such books. '2l. And it is hereby ordered, That upon the prosecution of any person being the owner, proprietor, or manager of any plan tation, for inflicting or causing or procuring to be inflicted on any slave or slaves, any punishment hereby declared illegal, if the slave so alleged to have been illegally punished shall be pro duced in open Court, and if the marks or traces of recent flog gin, or laceration shall appear on the person of such slave, and if such slave shall in open Court declare such traces to be the consequences of any such unlawful punishment or correc tion, and being duly examined by the said Court, shall make a particular, consistent, and probable statement of all the circum stances attendant on such unlawful punishment, then and in every such case, although such slave should not be a compe tent witness within the provisions of this present order, the owner, proprietor, manager or other per s on, having th e charge of such slave, shall be bound to prove, either that the punish.. rnent, of which the marks or traces may be so apparent, was not inflicted by him or by his procurement, or with his knowledge or consent, or that such punishment was a lawful punishment, within the meaning of this order, and was inflicted in the pre_ (Knee of one such witness of free condition as is required by this present order, and in default of such proof; such owner, pro prietor, manager, or other person, as aforesaid, shall be convict ed, and adjudged to be guilty of the offence imputed to him ; • and it is further ordered, that every such prosecution as afore said, shall be conducted by the protector and guardian of slaves, and that it shall not be lawful for him to discontinue any such prosecution, except by virtue of an order in writing, to be for that purpose issued under his hand and seal by the Governor or Acting Governor for the time being of the said island. 22. And be it further ordered, Th. any person being in a state of slavery who may be desirous to intermarry, shall, at their election„ apply either to the protector and guardian of slaves, or to the Commandant of the quarter in which the wo man may reside, for a marriage license, and as an authority to him to grant the same, shall produce the consent, in writing, • of their owner or owners, manager, or managers; o the.cele bration thereof but in case the owner or manager of both, or either of the said slaves, shall refuse to consent tO any such marriage, or to give such written permission for the celebration thereof as aforesaid, then and in every such case the said pro tector and guardian of slaves or commandant, as the case may be, shall thereupon issue a summons, under his hand and seal, requiring the owner or manager of such slaves, or the persons or person under whose direction such slaves may be, to appear before him, by themselves or their agents, at some convenient time and prace, to be for that purpose appointed, such time be ing not more than 14 clays distant from the time when such ap plication as aforesaid, shall be received by such protector and guardian of slaves or commandant as aforesaid. And if such owner or manager, or other person as aforesaid, being duly cited, shell fail to appear before the said protector of slaves, or commandant, or appearing, shall fail to lay before him good and sufficient proof that' such proposed marriage would be injurious to the well-being of the said slaves, then and in every such case the said protector and guardian of slaves, or com mandant shall, without fee or reward, issue a license under his hand and seal, thereby authorizing any Clergyman of the Church of England and Ireland, or any Minister of the Kirk of Scotland, or any Priest or Curate profess. ing the- Roman Catholic Religion, or any Public 'reacher of religion within the said island, carrying on there no other p:ofession, business, or occupation of profit,, to sol e mnize the marriage of the said slaves. And it shall and may be lawful for any such Clergyman, Minister, Priest, Curate, or Religious Teacher, upon receiving any such license, to so lemnize any such marriage as aforesaid, and the same, when so solemnised, s hall, to all intents and purposes be binding, valid, and effectual in the law ; and any person by whom 'any such marriage may be so solemnized, by virtue of any such license, shall, within fourteen days next after the solemnisation . thereof under a penalty of not more than twenty poitrids, and not less than five pounds sterling, transmit. to .the said protector of slaves, a certificate of the solemnization of such marriage ; and the said protector and guardian of slaves shall register in a book to be by him kept for that purpose, every marriage which may be so solemnized, with the date thereof, and the names, descrip tions, and places of abode of the parties contracting, and of the person solemnizing every such marriage. Provided nevertheless that nothing herein contained shall extend, or be construed to extend, to render any marriage between persons in a state of slavery valid or effectual, whtch would be illegal or void, if such persons were of free condition. 23. And it is further ordered, That it shall not be lawful in the execution of any judgment sentence, decree, or order of any tribunal, of any Court of Justice within the said island, to seize or sell in satisfaction thereof, any slave having a husband or wife, or a child under the age of sixteen years, or a reputed husband, or wife , or child under the age aforesaid, who may he the property of same persons or person, unless such hus band, and wife, and child, or reputed husband, wife, or child, shall be sold together, and in one and the same lot, and to the same person or persons : And if in the execution of any such judgment, sentence, decree, or order, any slave or slaves shall be sold separate or apart from any such husband, or wife, or child, or reputed husband, or wife, or child as aforesaid, then and in every such case, such sale and execution shall be, and the same is hereby declared to be, absolutely null in the law, to all in tents and purposes whatsoever. 24. And whereas, by the usage of the said Island of Trini. dad, persons in a state of slavery have hitherto been reputed competent to the law, and have, in fact, been permitted to ac quire, hold, and enjoy property free from the controul or in terference of their owners. And it is expedient that the said laudable:custom should •be recognized and established by law, and that such provision should be made for enabling such slaves to invest such their property on good security. Be it therefore, and it is hereby ordered and declared, That no person in the said island of Trinidad, being in a state of slavery, shall be, or be deemed, or taken to be, by reason or on account of such his condition, incompetent to purchase, acquire possess, hold or enjoy, alienate or dispo se of property ; but every such slave, shall and is hereby declared to be competent to purchase, ac quire, possess hold, enjoy, alienate , and dispose of lands si tuate in the said island, or money, cattle, implements of uten. sils of husbandry or household furniture, or other effects of such or the like nature, of what value or amount soever, and to bring, maintain, prosecute, and defend any suit or action in any Court of Justice, for or in respect of any such property, as fully and amply to all intents a nd p ur p oses , as if he or she were of free condition. 25. And it is hereby further ordered, that Savings Banks shall be established within the said island, for the better pre serving the property of any such slaves, and that interest, at and after the rate of Si. per centum per annum, shall be allowed upon the amount of every sum of money which may be depo sited in any such savings banks, which interest shall be a charge upon the general revenues of the said island. And any slave making any deposit of money in any such savings bank shall be at liberty to make a declaration of the manner in which, and the names of the person or persons to whom, in the event of his or her death, the amount of his contributions to the said savings banks shall be paid, applied, and dis. posed of; and such declaration shall be recorded in a book to be kept for that purpose at the savings banks, where such deposit may be made, and upon the death of the slave making such de claration, the same shall be deemed, and taken to be the last will and testament of such slave, in the absence of any other last will ; and in case any such slave shall marry after having made any such declaration, such marriage shall be, and be deemed and taken to be, a revocation in the law of such decla ration ! and it is further ordered, that in case any slaves or slave in the said island shall die intestate, and without having made any such declaration as aforesaid, which may remain un revoked at the time of his death, then, and in every s uc h case , the property of such slave shall go , an d be disposed, to and in favour of such persons or person as by virtue of the several Acts of Parliament for the distribution of intestates' estates, would according to the law of England, be entitled to any such pro. pertv. 26. And it hereby further ordered, that the Savings Banks throughout the said island shall be under and subject to the controul and inspection of the protector of slaves; and that the Governor or Acting Governor for the time being, for the said island, shall and is hereby authorised to appoint such proper and necessary officers, and to make such rules and regulations as may be best adapted for managing the business of the said banks, and for insuring order and punctuality therein, and for preventing any misapplication of the monies therein to be depo sited;—provided that such rules and regulations be not repug. nant to this present order, and that the same be forthwith trans mitted for his Majesty's approbation, through one of his Ma jesty's principal Secretaries of State. 27. And it is hereby further ordered, that no deposit of money shall at any one time, or within any one week, be received at any of the said Savings Banks, from any slave, exceeding the sum of 20 dollars in the whole, unless such slave, at the time of tender ing any such deposit, shall produce the, consent in writing of his owner or manager to such deposit being made; and in case any slave shall be desirous at any one time, or in any one week, to make any such deposit of money, exceeding the sum of twenty dollars, and the owner or manager of such slave shall refuse his consent so such deposit being made, then, and in every such case, the protector and guardian of slaves, upon application to him for that purpose made, shall issue a summons under his hand seal, requiring the owner or manager of such slave; or the persons under whose direction such slave may be, to appear before him, by themselves or their agents, at some convenient time and place to be for that purpose appointed ; and if such owner or manager, or other person as aforesaid, being duly cited, shall fail to appear before the said Protector of slaves, or appearing, shall fail to lay before him good and sufficient cause why such deposit ought not to be made, then and in every such case the said protector anti guardian of slaves shall issue an order under his hand and seal, requiring the manager of the savings bank to receive the amount of such deposit,- and the same shall be received by him accordingly. 28. And it is hereby further ordered, That no duty, tax, or impost of any nature or kind whatsoever, and that no fee of office shall be hereafter paid or payable within the said island, upon, for, or on account, or in respect of the manumission of any slave, or the enrolment or registration of any deed of ma numission, saving and excepting a fee not exceeding twenty shillings sterling British money, which shall by the said pro tector and guardian of slaves be paid to the registrar of desds of the said island, for enrolling and registering every such deed of manumission, and which fee shall be repaid to such protector and guardian of slaves out of the public revenue cf the said co,:ony. And if any person within the said island shall hereafter take, demand, or receive any such tax, duty, impost, or fee of office, save as aforesaid, the person so offending shall incur and become liable to the isaymant of a fine not exceed ing pounds, and not less than pounds sterling British money. 29. And it is hereby further ordered, that in case any s l ave within the said island shall he desirous to purchase the freedom of himself or of Isis or her wife, or husband, or child, or brother, or sister, or reputed wife, or husband,; or child, or brother or sister, it shall anti may be lawful to and for any such slav e so to purchase the freedom of himself, oz any such other person as aforesaid ; and if the owner or proprietor of any such slave shall ne unwilling to effect his or her manumission, or shall, by rea son of any mortgage, settlement, lease, or other charge upon or interest in such slave being vested in any other person or persons, be unable to execute a valid and effectual manumis sion of any such slave, or if the owner or proprietor, or any other person having an interest in any such slave, shall be a minor, or a married woman, or idiot, or lunatic, or if the real and true owner of any such slave shall be absent from the said island, or shall not be known, or if any suit or action shell be depending in any court of justice in the said Island, wherein the title to the said slave, or the right to his services shall or may be in controversy, or if die owner of any such slave shall demand as the price of his or her freedom a greater sum of money than may be the fair and just value'thereof, then and in each and every of the cases aforesaid, the Chief Judge of the said island, on application to him for that purpose made by the protector and guardian of slaves, shall issue a summons under his hand and seal, requiring the owner or manager of such slave, or the persons or pevson under whose direction such slave may be, to appear before him, by themselves or their agents, at some convenient time and place to be for that purpose appointed, and notice shall also be published by the said p ro t ec tor a nd guardian of slaves, in th e Public Gazette of the said island, on three se e veral days, of the time and place appointed for the purpose aforesaid, and in such notice all persons having or claiming to have any title or interest in or to the slave proposed to be manu mitted, either in their own right, or as theguardians, attorneys, trustees, or executors of any other person, shall be required to attend, and prefer such claims. 30. And it is hereby farther ordered, That at the time appoint ed for any such meeting as aforesaid, the Chief Judge of the said island, in the presence of the protector and guardian of slaves, and also in the presence of the owner or manager of the slaves or slave, proposed to be manumitted, or (upon proof being made to him, u p on oat h, of the due service and publication of such notice as aforesaid then, if necessary), in the absence of such owner or manager, shall proceed to hear in a summary way, what may be alleged by the said protector and guardian of slaves, and by the owner or manager, or other persons claim ing any interest in the slave proposed to be manumitted ; and in case the parties or any of them shall refuse to effect any such manumission, or if it shall appear to the said Chief Jddge that a valid and effectual manumission of any s uch slave cannot le gally be effected by private contra c t, or it , it shall he made to appear to the said Chief Judge that the owner Or proprietor of any such slave, or that any person having any charge upon or interest in him or her, is a minor or a married woman, or idiot, or lunatic, or that the real and true owner of any such slave, or that any person having any charge upon or int eres t i n him orlher, is absent from the said island, or is unknown, or cannot be found, or that any suit or action is depending in any court of justice, in the said island, wherein the tide to the said slave, or the right to his services, is in controversy, or if it shall appear to the said Chief Judge, that any difference of opinion exists between the protector and guardian of slaves of die said island, and the owner and proprietor of any such slave, respecting his or her price or value, then, and in every such case, the said Chief Judge shall require the protector of slaves, and the owner, manager, or person having the direction of any such slave, each to nominate an appraiser of his or her value ; and the said Chief Judge shall himself nominate an umpire between such appraisers. And the said appraisers, being first duly sworn• before the said Judge, .to make a fair and impartial appraise., meat, shall, within 7 days next after such their appointment, make a joint valuation of the slave proposed to be manumitted ; and shall certify such their valuation to the Chief Judge under their hands and seals ; and in case such joint certificate shall not be delivered to the said Chief Judge within the said term of 7 daysohen she said umpire, being duly sworn in manner aforesaid, shall, within the next 7 days, certify his valuation, under his hand and seal, to the said Chief Judge, and the va luation to be made in manner aforesaid, either by the said joint appraisers, or in their default, by the said umpire, shall be binding and conclusive, and shall be entered and inrolled in the office or registry innhe said island. 31. And it is hereby further ordered, That upon payment to the Treasurer of the said island of the appraised value of any such slave as aforesaid, after deducting therefrom the ex pence of the appraisernent to be allowed by the said Chief Judge, the said' Treasurer shall grant to the protector slaves a receipt for the money to be received by him. And such receipt shall be duly enrolled in the offic a e n o d f_ h reg d i e s e t ni ry e i d n , ha purposes,be the said island, together . with a declaration under the band and seal of the said Chief Judge, that the proceedings re quired by law for the manumission of the slave by or on be :l..le of whom such money was paid, had been an d a uly s o li t a./ t l he an c d hi m efa fore him, and thereupon such slave shall be, taken, and reputed to be free to all intents whatsoever. 32. And it is further ordered, That the money to arise from the manumission of any slave by virtue of the proceedings out the application invested of be under re the -in e n t authority before-mentioned, ed J y u b 4e, la o id n any person or persons interested therein in the purchase of 1 any other slave or slaves; or if no such application shall be made, then such money shall remain in the hands of the pub lic Treasurer of the said island, at interest at and after the rate of 5/. per centum per • er annum, such interests to be borne by, and defrayed out of th e revenues of the said Colony, and the slave or slaves 8 ° to he purchased with the said money as aforesaid : or, in case of no such purchase being made, then the said money in the hands of the said public treasurer, and the interest from dine to time accruing due thereupon, shall be the property of the Persons who were the proprietors of such manumitted slave or slav es" , and shall be held upon, under and subject to all such and the 'same uses, trusts, limitations, con ditions, mortgagee , &time, and demands of what nature or kind soever as such s lave or slaves was or were held upon, under or subject unto, at such the time of his, her, or their manumission ; and the said treasurer shall hold the said money, and the interest accruing thereupon, subject to such order as the Chief Judge of the said colony may, upon a summary ap plication of any person i nterested therein, see fit to make, and such principal money and interest shall by the said treasurer be paid, applied, and disposed of in pursuance of and obedience to any such order. 33. And it is hereby further ordered, That before the menu. mission of any slave by virtue , vi -ete oie any private contract for that purpose between such slave and his owner, notice of such in tended manumission shall, by y the owner of such slave, be given in writing to the protector and guardian of slaves, who, on be half of the said slave, shall be bound to ascertain that such owner has good right and title in the law, and is cOmpetent to effect such manumission ; and the said protector and guardian of slaves shall also, without fee or reward, prepare the proper deed of manumission, and the same shall in all cases be exe cuted in the presence of the said protector and guardian of slaves, or of some proper witners, to be by hint appointed for that purpose, and being so executed, shall by such protector and guardian of slaves be enrolled in the office of registry in the said island, within one calendar month, next after the date and execution thereof: And i lease any such deed shall not be left for enrolment at the sa id office of registry within the said period of one calendar month, the said protector of slaves shall incur and be liable to the payment of a fine not exceeding pounds, nor less than pounds sterling English money. 34. And it is hereby ordered, That in case any such deed or manumission as aforesaid shall be executed voluntarily and without any valuable consideration passing to the owner or other person affecting such manumission, the slave or slaves so to be manumitted shall before the actual execution of any such deed, appeal before the said protector and guardian of slaves, or before the commandant of the quarter in which such slave may happen to be resident ; and if it shall appear to the said protector anti guardian of slaves, or to such commandant, as the case may be, that the slave about to be so gratuitously manumitted, is under the age of six years, or above the age of fifty years, or is labouring under any habitual disease or in firmity of mind or body, the owner or other person about to effect such manumission, shall, at the time of the execution of the deed of manumission, execute and deliver under his hand and seal a bond to his Majesty in the penal sum of 200 pounds, with a condition thereunder written, for the defeezance thereof, if the said slave shall be properly fed, clothed, and maintained until the age of fourteen years in the case of infants, or during the term of his or her natural life, in the case of adults of the age of fifty years, or labouring under any such sickness, disease, or infirmity as aforesaid ; and no such manumissions shall be va lid and effectual in the law, or shall be received for enrolment at the office of registry, until such bond as aforesaid be duly executed and registered anti deposited at the said office. 35. Anti it is hereby furthered, That every clergyman of the Established Church of England, and every Minister of the Kirk of Scotland, and every Priest or Minister professing the Roman Catholic religion in the said island, and every other person, being a public teacher of reli g ion within th e s a id island, shall, and is • hereby authorized to transmit or de liver under his hand to the commandant, of the number to which he may be resident, to certificates setting forth the names or name and places or place of abode of any slave o r slaves, who, in the judgment and belief of the party so certify. ing, may he sufficiently instructed in the principles of religion to understand the nature anti obligation of an oath. And the. commandants of the several quarters in the said island shall, And are hereby required to, transmit such certificates as afore said to the protector and guardian of slaves, who shall, and is hereby required to register the same in a book to be kept by him for that purpose, therein stating the date of every such certificate, and the name and place of abode of the person by whom the same may he granted, and of every slave Men tioned 'and included therein; provided,. nevertheless, that no priest, minister, or public teacher of religion, not being a clergyman of the Church of England, or a minister ce' the Kirk of Scotland, shall be competent to grant any such"certifi cate as aforesaid, unless his Majesty's Principal Secretary of State, having the departawat of the colonies, or the Governor or acting Governor for the time being of the said Island of Trinidad, shall have granted to such priest, minister, or pub lic teacher, a license in writing to act as an instructor of slaves in the said island ; and, unless such license shall be in force, and have been first registered at the office of the said protector of slaves. • X And it isfarther ordered, that no person shall henceforth be rejected as a witness, or considered as incompetent, to give evidence in - any court of civil or criminal justice in the said island, by reason of his or her being in a state of slavery, if the person or persons producing atethierin g him or her as a wit ness, shall produce and exhibit to the Court a certificate under the hand of the said protector and guardian of slaves, that such proposed witness is registered in the before-mentioned book ; ' and the said protector of slaves shall, and he is hereby required to grant without fee or reward, to any person making applica. tion for the same, a certificate of the fact, whether any such proposed witness is or is not: - registered in the said book ; pro vided nevertheless, that no person being in a state of slavery shall be admitted to give evidence in any civil suit or action in which his or her owner is directly concerned, or in any case where any white person may be charged with or prosecuted for any offence punishable with death; provided also, that nothing. herein contained shall extend or be construed to extend, to render any slave a competent witness in any case in which such slave would be incompetent to give evidence if he or she were of free dis Position. 37. And it is hereby further ordered, That the salary of the protector and guardian of slaves shall by him be taken and re ceived in lieu and in full satisfaction of all fees, perquisites of office, advantages and emoluments whatsoever; and that if the said protector and guardian of slaves shall take or receive di rectly or indirectly any fee, perquisite of office, advantage or emolument, other than besides his said salary, for or in re spect of any act, matter, or thing, done or performed by him in the execution of such his office, he shall incur and become liable to the payment of a fine equal to twice the amount of what he may so receive, and shall moreover become disquali. fled from holding s uc h his office, • 38. And it is hereby further ordered, that the said protector and guardian of slaves shall on the first Monday next after the 25th day of December, and on the first Monday next after the 24th day of June in each year, deliver to the Governor or Acting Governor for the time being of the said island, a report in writ ing, exhibiting an account of the manner in which the duties 1 of such his office have been performed during the half year next preceding the date of such his report, and especially stating the number of the actions, suits, and prosecutions in which he may have acted as the protector of any slave or slaves, with the dates and effect of all the proceedings therein, and the particulars of all the returns which by virtue of this order may have been made to him by the commandants of the several quarters within the said island ; and the names of the persons, if any, against whom he may have instituted any criminal proses cations, under and virtue of this order, together ' with a statement of the names of all slaves who may have been cer tified to him as being competent to give evidence in any Court of Justice, together with the number of licences which may by him have been granted for the marriag6-of any slaves, with the number of marriages appearing to have been solemnized in pursuance thereof, together with the amount of the sums of money deposited in any Saving Banks in the said Island, to gether with a statement of the names of all the slaves manu mitted under the authority of this present order.; and the Go vernor or Acting Governor for the time being of the said colony shall thereupon administer to the said protector of slaves an oath that such report contains a true and accurate statement of the several matters and things therein referred to; and when and so soon as the said protector of slaves shall have maths such his half-yearly report, and shall in manner aforesaid have been sworn to the truth thereof, then and not. before, the said Governor or acting Governor shall issue to the said protector and guardian of slaves, a warrant upon the treasurer of the said island for the amount of his salary for the half year next preceding the date 'of such report ; and the said. Governor shall, and he is hereby required, by the first convenient opportunity, to transmit such report as aforesaid to his Majesty's Principal Secretary of State having the department of the colonies. 39. And it is further ordered, That .if the protector and guardian of slaves, or any commandant of any quarter in the said island, or any other person, shall wilfully and fraudulently make, or cause or procure to be made, any erasure or interlinea tion in any of the books, records, or returns hereinbefore re required t o b e made, or shall wilfully falsefy any such books, records, or returns, or shall wilfully make or cause, or procure to be mad e , any f a l se entry in any such book, recor d, or return , tlypabrutrn the person or per. burn, thereof,cancel, or obliterate the soar ma, shall o \v sons so offending shall be, and be deemed, adjudged, and taken to be guilty of a misdemeanor; and being thereof con v i c t e d, shall suffer such punishm ent as is hereinafter directed. or either lY o a f n t d he ft m a , Id or alen any 40. And it is further ordered, That any of the people called` Quakers, who may be resident in the said island, being required to take any of the oaths prescribed by this pre sent order, may, and they are hereby authorized, to make their, his, or her solemn affirmation in lieu of such oaths ; and that any person taking any oath, of being a Quaker, making his solemn affirmation, under or in pursuance of this order, who shall be convicted of swearing or affirming falsely, shall incur and suffer such punishment as by the law of the said island may be inflicted on any, persons guilty of wilful and corrupt perjury. 41. And it is hereby further ordered, That any person who may be convicted of any act hereby declared to be a mistle. meanor, shall, if of free condition, be and become liable to a fine not exceeding 5001. and not less than 501. sterling English money, or to imprisonment for any time not exceeding f.; months, nor less than one month, or both to fine and imprisonment, at the discretion of the Court, by which any such person may be convicted ; and in case any person shall be so convicted of any cruelty to any slave, the said Court shall, and is hereby au thorized, at their discretion, to declare the right and interest of the person so convicted in and to any such slave to be abso. lutely forfeited to his. Majesty; and all such offences as afore said shall be heard, tried, and inquired of by and before the Court for criminal prosecutions in the said island, and all such pecuniary fines as aforesaid, and all other pecuniary fines imposed by this order, shall be recovered in the said Court, and s h a ll b e p a id ' and payable in equal moities, one half to his Majesty, and the remaining half to any person or persons who may commence any suit or prosecution fot the same. . 42. And be it further ordered, that if any person shall be twice convicted before any tribunal in the said island, of in flicting upon any slave any . cruel or unlawful punishment, the person so convicted shall, in addition to the penalties herein before mentioned, be declared by the Court, before which such second conviction may take place, absolutely incapable in the l a w to be the owner or proprietor, or to act as the manager, over seer, or superintendent of any slaves or slave within the said island ; and all and every the slaves or slave . of which, at the time of such second conviction, any such person may be the owner or proprietor, shall thenceforth become, and be absolutely forfeited to, and vested in his Majesty, his heirs and successors. 43. And it is further ordered, That the Governor, or Acting Governor of the said island, shall, within one month next after the present order shall be received by him, make known the same by proclamation throughout the said island : and that the said order shall be in force in one calendar month next after the date of such proclamation, and not before. And the Right Honourable Henry Earl Bathurst, one of his Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State, having the department of the Colonies, is to give any necessary directions herein. , BY THE KING-A PROCLAMATION. GEORGE R. Whereas it has been represented to us, that the Slaves in some of our West India Colonies, and of our possessions on the Continent of South America, have been erroneously led to be lieve, that orders had been sent out by us for their emancipa tion : And whereas such belief has produced acts of insubordi nation, which have excited our highest displeasure: We have thought tit, by and with the advice of our Privy Council, to issue this our Royal Proclamation. And we do hereby declare and make known, that the slave population in our said Colonies and possessions will be undeserving of our protection if they shall fail to render entire submission to the laws, as well as dutiful obedience to their masters. And we hereby charge and command all our Governors of our said West India Colonies and possessions, to give the fullest publicity to this our Procla mation, and to enforce, by all the legal means in their power, the punishment of those who may disturb the tranquillity and peace of our said Colonies and Possessions. Given at our C . ourt at Carlton-House, this Tenth day of ' March, one thousand eight hundred 'and twenty-four, and in the Fifth year of our Reign. GOD SAVE THE KING! FORTUNE'S FROLICIC ON ST. PATRICK'S DAY. —The Ticket No. 5299, which had been drawn a Blank on the First Day of the present Lottery, was re-drawn Yesterday, and became a Prize of R 20,200. .We believe there are few of our Readers who would grumble at such Irish Blanks as these. The Ticket was Shared by Bisti, and we hope, in honour of the day and the circum stances attending its drawing, that some of the Shares have been sent to the Sister Kingdom. Mr. ANGERSTEIN has purchased the elegant house in St. James's-square, which was the resi dence of the late Earl St. GERMANS, The pur chase money is said to be 0,0001, Ivo4 ' J' tom's* ra I'T MASONIC NOTICES FOR NEXT WEEK. ENGLAND. Monday, March 22, LONDON. Nos. 4, 46, 71, 104, 3 05 % 321, 407. COUNTRY. Nos. 326, 3110, 490, 54, 570. - 23, Lorin° N. Nos. 86, 3-19. (COUNTRY. Nos. 38,_67, 145, 4 - 4 '- Wednesday, - 24, LONDON.COUNTRY. 4, L 2 t (1V 1 3. 5 5 : 314. 414, 440, 142, 478, 548, 66 :: - 25, LONDON. Nos. 7, 39, 82, 142, la 216, 327, 481. 6612 ' Corn. Fem. Sch. at 12. COUNTRY. Nos. 153, 178, 243, 269{ • COUNTRY. No. 283. - 27, LONDON. COUNTRY. No. 412. • * Tuesday, .Thursday, Friday, Saturday, IRELAND. Saturday, March 27, 'Colts, No.- 27- PARLIAMENTARY PROCEEDINGS. HOUSE OF COMMONS.• ~Elercuria, 17° die Martii, 1824. IsrcLosußEs—Camerton (Cumberland)--Bill read a third time, and passed. Abbotside (York)—Report on Petition for Bill re-committed to former Committee. ROADS—Brighton and INlew4aren, Bridport,-end Kin,gshridP —Bills read 4 first time. Canterbury, Porthdinllaen an° Pwllheli, Bideford, and Great Torrington-43i11s ordeied to. be brought in. Dunchurch—Petition of ,Cfolitors and Trio tees of the Rugby and Warwich Road, tigairist, referred to the Committee on the Bill. Glasgow Straguithti Pawing' ton—Petitions for Bills reported ; Reports to lie on the ti.ble- CHArEL—Brighton (East), PILOTs RE LAT I 0 N—LiVerpool COAL TRADE—Sunderland Bill 3 . ordered to be brought in. HAIIIIOUR AND POLlCE—Dingwall HARR° u —Brenogue ( Ireland) CUuacli—Harwic Pools_Stow Hundred—Bill read a third time, and passed. Gas LlGHT—Kennington—Petitions of the South London 6 35 Light and Coke Company, against, referred to the Commit" tee on the Bill. • HIDES AND SKINS REGULATION-BILL—Petitions of Tan" ners, &c. of Beverley, and Ellesmere, against, to lie on the table. SlLKS—Petitions from Stockport, and Norwich, for a dray(' back on the stock'in hand; to lie on the table. P unt.l CAN s—Petitions of Licensed Innkeepers and Victuallers of Ipswich, for the repeal of the increased Duties ,on- Li cences ; to lie on the table. COMBINATION OF WORKMEN LAWS—Petitions of Journey' men Shoemakers; &c. of Leeds, Southwark, and Westmin ster, against ; referred to. the Select Committee on ArtizaDe and Machinery. ILL-TREATMENT OF CATTLE BlLL—Petition from Saint George's Hanover-square,. in favour, to lie 9n.the table. Co trlrri COURTS BlLL—Petition from 'Liverpool, against* to lie on the table. . - • TAY FtsuEniEs—Petitions f r om D un d ee , and 'St. Andrew , sr against, to lie on the table. LOCAL TAxATiox—Dublin—Bill ordered to. brought in. LZATUEB TAX—Petitions of Tanners of Dublin, for the re• peal thereof; to lie on the table. HOUSE AND WINDOW TAX—Petition from Reading, for the repeal thereof; to lie on the .MESSAGE FitQM TEE LoßDS—That they have agreed to Stow-on-the-Wold, Carlisle and Cockermouth, and Wetber" by and Knaresborough Roads Bills, without amendment. GOLD AND SILVER LACE—Petition of Gold and Silver Re finers &c. of London and Westmin s t er , com pl a i n i ng of the introduction of Foreign Embroidery ; to lie, on the table.- ,; SILK DUTIES ACTS—The followin g R eso l u ti on re p or ted and agreed to : Instruction t o C omm itt ee on Silk Trade 13111 to make provision accordingly " That the following Allowances shall be granted on all imported and warehoused within limited periods, in lieu of Allowances now authorized to be granted thereon, via. On Raw Silk I,.,'mported front any part except the British Territories. in the East Indies, and upon Silk thrown from Raw Silk so imported, the lb. £ 0 ' On Raw Silk imported from the British Territories in the East Indies, and upon Silk thrown from Raw Silk so imported, the lb. - 0 g On Foreign Thrown Silk imported, not dyed, the lb. 0 7 - On Waste Silk, the produce of Silk thrown in Great' I / Britain and Ireland, the lb. - 0 3 NOTICES OP MOTIONS FOR THIS D.Y. 1. Lord John Russell—Motion on Papers containing assu" antes of the evacuation of Spain by the French Troops. 2. Mr. Secretary Peel—Select Committee on Prison Discipline . 3. Mr. Bankes—Select Committee to consider of the Plan for Building Courts of Justice. ORDERS OF THE DAY FOR THIS DAY. r 1. Bankrupt Laws Amendment Bill—Further consideration 0 4 Report. 2. Constables Act Amendment (Ireland) Bill—Sccond Read' ing. 3. Silk Trade Bill—Committee. 4. Union Duties Act—Committee thereupon. 5. County Courts Bill—Committee. 6. Officers in Courts of Justice (Compensation for losses consequence of County Courts Bill)—Committee there" upon. 7. Burials in Ireland [9 Will. 3. c. 1] (Irish)—Report there upon. 8. Slave Trade Piracy Bill—Second Reading. 9. Penitentiary Convicts Bill—Second Reading. 10. Recovery of Penalties Bill—Report. H. Insolvent Debtors Bill—Committee. 12. Weights and Measures Bill—Third Reading. 13. Supply—Re_port. 14. Bo ar d o f Works (Ireland), (Compensation to Commit sioners)—Committee thereupon. 15. Customs Acts—Committee thereupon. PRIVATE BILL—SECOND READING for Tins DAY. Southwark cSt. John's) Vestry. PRICE 0 F STOCKS TWO O'CLOCK. India Stock India 80nd5...., 7Bs. South Sea Stock Old Annuities Ex. Bills 46 Ditto Small Bank for Act. India for Con. Acct. ...... Cons. for Act. THIS DAY AT Bank Stock shut 3 per Cent. Red. shut 3 per Cent. Cons. 94i 36 per Cent 4 per Cent. f Old shut ( New IO6 a per Cents. 1797 .. Bank Lon g Ann shut Imp. 3 per Cents. PRICE or FOREIGN STOCKS I N LONDON, MARCO Oa AT ONE O'C!.OOJ. j . Five per Cents. 100. 1, Scrip, 13 pm. i Six per Cents. 00. Russian 1' Five per Cents. (Metallic) 00, , (Ditto New 94. Five per Cent. Bonds, 89. Scrip, 12 prem. Five per Cent. Bonds, 1820, 00. 1 Ditto . • 1821, 20. Ditto 1 Prussian ( Five-per Cent. Bonds, 91813, 17. . I Ditto New, 98i. • i Bonds, • 91. -' Portuguese) { Scrip, 34. ' , Danish Five per Cent. Bonds, 99i. . .. Peruvian • Scrip, 00. . . . Chili • 81. • Colombian Six per Cent. Bonds, 60. • .p.-- - Mexican Scrip, 6i prem. Poyais _lOO. . I. New, 24. Mexican /wi les ( Hulletes, 1 prem. Anglo, 5S pron. Greek li prem. • Rothschild's Shares-15i. "Bank Shares £24 Os. Od. Seven per Cent. 95. Six per Ccnt. 94-102. Five.per Cent. 100-102. Three per Cent. 77. French Neapolitan Austrian Spapiali A merican HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE TO-MORROW . 31orningi 46 munno after 4. Evenin4, 6 minu4.4 - . After 5•