The Sun. — London, England, 1825-06-24 00:00:00

-that of the Governor. It commenced as proclamations usually I do, with " Whereas:" and to the end of it was appended the words " God save the King and the people." The terms of this pzoclamation were as follows: " Bridgetown, Burbadoes, Oct. 23, 1523. " Whereas a Proclamation having appeared , &c . &c. public Lotice is hereby given to such person or persons who may feel inclined, -either from pecuniary temptation or vindictive feeling, Oat should they attempt to come forward to injure in any shape any individual, they shall receive that punishment which their crimes will justly deserve. They are to understand that to impeach is not to convict, and that - 6e reward offered will only or given upon conviction, which =onto he effected whilst the people are firm to themselves. And whereas" it may appear to those persons who are unacquainted with the -circumstances which occasioned the said prodamatien, that the'demolition of t*.e chapel was effected by the rabble of this community, in order to create anarchy, riot, and insubordination, to trample upon the laws of the country, and to subvert good order ; it is mlusidered an imperative duty to repel the charge, and to state, firstly, That.the majority of the persons assembled were of the •tirst-respectability, and were supported by the concurrence of nme-tenths of the community ; 2dly, That their motives were :patricide and loyal—namely., to eradicate from this soil the germ of Methddism, which was spreading its baneful influence over a 'certain class, and which ultimately would have injured both (church and State:l: . With this view the chapel was demolished, and the . villainous preacher ' who headed it, and belied us -was compelled ,by. a speedy flight to remove himself from the • " With a fixed determination therefore to put an end to MethOdism in this island, ail Methodist Preachers are warned not to-approach our shores, as, if they do, it will be at their own " God save the King and the People." This mock proclamation was an open defiance of the laws; it I . warned all persons against giving any information as to who -were engaged in the late outrages, and threatened whoever dis. -obeyed that mandate, should meet the punishment which their etime deserved. This punishment was menaced against who ever should come forward to commit the- crime—what crime? the crime pf aiding and assisting the Government in the due anti efficient administration of the laws. It forbade all Me- AtiOdista from approaching their shores—or at least, if they came there, they should be aware that they came at their peril. This was a manifest defiance of the authority of the Government of -the island. Mr. Shrewsbury had been recommended mean while to leave the island, on the assurance being given him tha t his enemies were in pursuit of him, and that if they succeeded in apprehending. him, they were resolved upon hanging him. lie was therefore advised to leave the house of his relation, and -to proceed to the sea-side ; where a small vessel was provided for his flight, and he eluded the pursuit of his assailants by being -conveyed to the island of St. Vincent. As an aggravation of his hardships, immediately on his arrival in St. Vincent, his .wife was taken ill in her confinement, and he found himself 'thus situated in this island, unaided, and surrounded by stran 'lets. Yet his conduct upon this occasion was worthy the mi nistry of which he formed a part. Persecuted as lie had been— ,oestroyed as his house and property had been—demolished as - had been hie chapel—torn from his flock, and compelled to seek his safety by flight—not an expression or sentiment of anger or resentment escaped him ; and in the letters by which he com municated with his flock--instead of hostility, he inculcated peace, tranquillity, obedience, and a cheerful 'forgiveness of injuries. The Hon. Gentleman then - read Mr. Shrewsbury's letter from -St. Vincent : " Be patient towards all men. Never speak disrespectfully of any in authority, nor revilingly of any one-who injures you. 'Whatever you are called to suffer, I beseech you take it patiently. In general it will be best for you to be wholly • silent. From the affection you bear towards me you will perhaps find it difficult to retrain when you hear me spoken against; but your wisest plan will be to hold your peace, for you would be in great danger, in speaking with undue warmth, were you to undertake to defend my character. You that are -slaves will, 1 hope be exceedingly careful to adorn the -doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.' Let no slave who is a Methodist be dishonest or lazy, or impertinent, either in speech or in behaviour; but let every one be sober, honest, industrious, and useful to his owner, even as we have -taught you, both in public and in private, from day to day. And as to political matters, whether ye be bond or free, never meddle with them ; but mind higher and better things, the things relating to God and eternity. Never speak slightingly of the regular clergy; in this respect imitate the example I set you while- I dwelt among you."—As soon as Mr. Shrewsbury -arrived at St: Vincent, he applied to' the Governor, who said, that . a he catne into the island under suspicious circumstances, lie must consider himself suspended front the exercise of his clerical duties. Under these circumstances another this. eionary, a Mr. Rainer, came-to the island, and a new sys . ewer of persecution commenced. A person to whom he be . fore alluded (Mr. Walton, jun. a Magistrate) went on board the ship, and told the Captain he must be gone before twenty-four hours. This Walton, who was then a Magi ..steate, but has since been removed, was caught -in company well a lawyer in the act of breaking the windows of a Metho eUst's hsuse, and for this he was deprivectof his commission as a .nlagistrate. The Captain of the vessel became alarmed at the :feelings of displeasure which were manifested against him for bringing a missionary to the island ; and lie had good reason to - feel alarm, for he (Mr. Buxton) stated it on authority upon which he could depend, that persons were watching on shore to *hoot those who attempted to land. If any thing was wanted to prove the innocence of Mr. Shrewsbury, it was-found in the testimonials of character which he received from persons of the highe -t respectability. They all agreed •in declaring, that in she exercise of his Ministry they had never heard a word from loin exciting the slaves to insubordination, and that he was zisoet particular, in his intercourse with tire slaves, to inculcate -tlie duty of obedience to their masters. He should remark, that -exertioes were made to extend the system of violence which he tied described at Barbadoes to the other islands, nor was the aptint of persecution at an end. A year after the destruction of the 3/edloctist house, it was agreed to celebrate the anniversary -of that di , graceful outrage, and to pull down the house of an old Methodist woman. A proclamation was published to this effect: it stated that use concerned in the demolition of the Metho iSiet Chapel bed resolved themselves into a" Committee of Public eetalety."This -phrase was borrowed from the French, and the proclamation was signed " Rock," which was taken from the Isn't. This Committee entitled themselves the " Worthy," and they called-upon all other worthies to meet upon the 19th Oct., to celebrate the an nieersary, to pull down the old woman's house, and every where to make Methodism hide its hideous head.--- The proclamation ended with a prayer, expressive of the inten stion of the worthies to exterminate the Methodists with fire and . sword, so help them God.—(Hear, hear :)—Fortunately the iiovtwrior was informed of these sanguinary preparations. Ile tonic the precaution of calling out the - military, and the day .passed without any of those glorious efforts which were pro peeed. But the sprit of r ersetutiol was yet wakeful. In April last, hen certain- Methodists were sent over from this country to a'sist in re-building the Methodist Chapel, another Procla mation was issued, in which Lord Bathurst was stigmatized as an enemy to religion, and a traitor to his country. The spirit Of Puritanism, st said, had shed its influence on almost every 11curber - of the British Cabinet. This fact showed that the persecuting spirit still existed ; and there was a still more im portant fact, which was, that the Legislative Assembly had or dared the Attorney-General to prosecute an old Methodist wo man, who was wicked enough to spend her time in educating - tee }too: slaves. • Thus the Legigative Assembly were prose cuting •Methodists, whilst the Governor, under the sanc tion of Lord Bathurst, was affording every protection .and encouragement to Methodists and their Missionaries. -In short, --there was nothing less than a reign of terror •in the West India, • a system of persecution and tyranny, and a triumph over the feelings of the House and the country. lie was at a - less to knOw what the .Right Honourable Gentleniau.(Mr. Canning) would say to this statement. Would lee consider that the West India planters were guilty of contu macy ? The Right Pon. Gentleman said on a former occa sion, that if the West India planters resisted he should come down and require assistance from this House, to enable Govern. ment to pun them down. Did not the Right Hon. Gentleman consider the acts stated as acts of resistance? The Governor declared these acts to be gross violationibf all law and order, --destructive to the pence of tile island and to the intercourse of social life. Now he ( Mr. Buxton) did not desire vengeance or revenge, but he required three things; that law should be para mount, that those who pulled down the Methodist chapel should be obliged to rebuild it, and that a repetitionsof such outrages should he prevented. He (Mr. Buxton-) now wished to draw a parallel between the crimes and punishment of the Magistrates of Barbadoes, and of Mr. Smith, the missionary of Demerara. The Magistrates of Barbadoes were distinctly aware of the insurrection in that island, and yet they had neglected td inform the Governor. Mr. Smith, it was said, and he was willing to allow it for argument, was acquainted with the rising at Demerara, half an hour before it took place, and because he did not inform the Governor with the haste of a telegraph, he was ordered to be hanged by i.'the neck until he was dead. Now, the Magistrates of Bar leadoes were only ordered to be reprimanded by the Council. Such was the punishment inflicted on the poor Missionary, and the rich Magistrates. He had adverted to this incidentally, but the question now was, -whether a British-born subject, charged with no crime, a man of acknowledged respectability, should be cruelly, for such was Mr. Shrewsbury, persecUted.— This was what the House 'had to determine, and it remained with the House to provide that law and justice should be sub stituted in the West Indies for the system which he had de scribed. The Hon. Gentleman concluded by moving the fol lowing Resolution :—" That. this House having taken into their s most serious consideration the papers laid before them; relating to the demolition of the Methodist chapel in Barbadoes, and the proceedings to which the a t tent i on o f t h e H ou se had been drawn ll weeks after the debates upon the case of Mr. Smith, and in expulsion of Mr. Shrewsbury, a licensed teacher of religion, first, the unknown persons in Barbadoes who had committed tended to be a law of a melioration. lie then adverted to the deem it their duty to declare that they view with the utmost the outrage — secondly,-the magistrates, who it was impossible to conduct of the Houses of Assembly of Barbadoes and Jamaica, amazement and detestation that scandalous and daring viola- say had done their-glut) , , or even.seerned sensible of the extent and said that he could have little hope for the future by looking tion of law ; and that they beseech his Majesty to take such of it—thirdly, the Governor of the island--and f our thly, the at what they had already done. The Duke of Manchester in one steps as shall secure the reconstruction , - of the chapel at the ex- Home Government. He was disposed to view the conduct-41f off-his dispatches stated, that he •expeeted much good from a pence of the - colony of Barbadoes, and to assure his Majesty the Governor with great rnd u i gen ce. H e thought he ought not Hill which had b e en b roug ht into the (louse of Assensnly of that this House will afford him every akisistilitiol which ma y b e to be blamed for not having called out the military force, when Jamaica, and which, from the respectability of the parties required in order to prevent the recurrence rlsoch outrages ; his legal advisees were of opinion thathe had not authority th old introducing at, _he expected to pass. What was the result ! and in order to.sevie ample protection and religious toleration so. The Go vernor d id not seem to have b e e n aware o f the ex- the hill was read a first time, .bu t when it came to the second to all his Majesty's subjects in that part of his dominions." . tent of his authority, but being a dvi s ed from home that the liMits 'reading a division took place, - arid: the numbers were thirty- Mr. WI LmoT HORTON would confine himself to such of his authority were wider than he supposed, he had subse- six against the motion, and one, being the Hon. Mover, for it. a statement as might possess the _House with a knowledge of quently she.wnoehery disposition to exercise - that authority to.-It was true. that other_lhille had been passed, but they were of the real condition of the island to which the motion of the Hon. its utmost extent, and which he had done so effectually as to little or no good to the slave; certainly they were of as much Gentleman referred, at the time the facts in question occurred, prevent any repetition of the outrage. With respect to the home advantage to the master as to the s lave. The masters had done in order that the House might be the better judge of the on- Government, it was impossible to charge it-with remissriess. 7 , nothing and would do nothing. They had made promises, ginal causes which had led to such unhappy results.—(Hear!)— Cord Bathurst had dope everything in his power to prevent which promises they had broken. They had received warnings In doing so, however, he hoped, to induce them to conspire a repetition of the scenes vAiicli had occured, by calling on from that House and at their own doors, but those warnings with him the attempt to deduce some measure of a preventive the Governor to_ exercise extended - authority, to pronounce they•had neglected. Now he would make a promise which he and conciliatory nature, and calculated, therefore, to produce animadversions on the Magistracy, and to require a more cc- would not break. He promised that very e a rly in the next Ses good understanding and harmony in the colony hereafter, and curate investigation of the manner in which that body dis- sion, unless something substantial should he done between this to obviate the future recurrence of such evils, rather than at- changed its duty. The Hono ura ble Mover said, that the Na. anti then, he would bring in a Bill which should be directed tempt to follow step by step the minute and generally accnra-e gistrates had been punished in no way except by being repri- to these objects : the admission of negro evidence—the abolition statement of f a cts which the Hon. Gentleman had' made.— mended by the Governor. Looking on the face of the papers, of the labour of women in the field—the discontinuance of the (Hear!)—He deprecated any proposition that was calculated to it certainly did appear to him that many of those Magistrates I use of the whip in the held, the removal of the adstriction of awaken a feeling of mutual animosity between parties who had should be r emoved from their of f ices to make way for others. , slaves from the glebe—the prevention of a ll persons having mort already proceeded to such extremities. The Hon. Gentleman —(Hear, bear, in hear !)—But he did not know enough of the ' gages upon West India property from holding offices in any of had endeavoured to establish an analogy between the cases of state of society Barbadoes to authorize him to believe, that the islands—and, lastly, to consider the course which may be Mr. Smith and the Barbadoes Magistrates ; but on his own if the present 'Alagistrate tt were displaced, other persons most fit to take for slowly, gr a dually, a nd s afely preparing for showing it must have appeared to Hon. Gentlemen that no such could be procured who would discharge the duties of their the final emancipation of the Negro Slaves, lie pledged him_ analogy could be sustained. And it was moreover to be observed, offices better. lie - thought the Honourable Member asked self, that if he. should not be present, this would be done by that in the case of Demerara a Particular state of slavery exist- I a little. too much for the Wesleyan Missionaries. He was others. If he did it, it would be with the support of the coun ed, and a particular law applicable wit, that had received our I not inclined to disparage the efforts of those persons ; they had try, and with the concurrence of his Hon. Friends who were sanction fo r . many year~past. The bearing of that system and I certainly effected much good ; . but he would not confine the interested in this most important question. that law on Mr. Smith's case could not be analogous to the pro- education of the slave children to them alone.—( Hear !)—The Mr. BE RNA I. complained heavily, that after the general ceedings of the Barbadoes Magistrates, or the proceedings of - Hon. Mover had referred to some sentiments which he had ex - temper with which , on all other hands , the subject had been li the council in respect of them. If it could he shown that the pressed on a fa nner occasion, a n d in f er re d that the y a pp lied to discussed, the on. Member for NVinchelsea should have made si irritation which had.been so evinced in Barbadoes ag.tinst Mr. the present case: that he must deny. Ile had always said that such a speech as he had clone upon the present occasion.— Shrewsbury and those-of his profession generally, was a feeling a case of contumacy or resistance on the part of the West India When so much effort was used to cast odium in the public eye mixed up with that sort of anxiety about the fate of property Colonies might arise, which would induce Ministers to call upon West India proprietors, certainly the least that they could which was so natural to all men, that again would go to make upon Parliament to exercise its authority; but he must main- expect was to have some notice when, and how often, they the present case one that was to he considered on its own Pe- thin that the present case was not one of that description. It were to be put upon their trial. But no man alive, from the culiar grounds. Now with respect to Mr. Shrewsbury himself, was merely-a Case Of misconduct, arising out of misadvice.— motion before the House, could have anticipated such a debate he did not for one moment mean to raise any argument against The fault was to he found in the. Governor not having used the as had taken place ; and if the Hon. Member for Winchelsea the respectability of that individual. He felt no doubt on the powers which be possessed ; and. his apology was, that he did thought the course which he was taking was a course favourable subject.—!Hear, hear i)—The testimonials to which the lion. not know he possessed them. Was he (Mr Canning), however, to the interests of humanity, he (Mr. Bernal) would tell him Gentleman alluded came from individuals of high character, and disposed to pass over the outrage which had been committed that he was entirely mistaken. The Hon. Member sat down were therefore entitled to every consideration anti all possible without obServation a No such thing. Though lie did not by declaring that, for the labours of the missionaries in the weight. At the same time it was tolerably evident that the think the case was one which called for the exercise of such West Indies, looked at collectively, no one had a greater respect people of Barbadoes might have considered themselves likely to authority as the resolution of the Hon. Mover indicated, he than he had. be prejudiced by the conduct of Mr. Shrewsbury; for one thought it was one on which it was fit that the Hotise of Corn- Mr. 31 k NNING defended the character of the inhabitants month only after that gentleman's arrival in the island lie mons should express its opinion—not in censure of the Governor, of Barbadoes,' and drew some parallel between-the riot which wrote - a home a • letter to the Wesleyan Missionary So- for the Hon. Mover did not mean to blame him, nor the home had occurred there, and those which had taken place in London ciety, containing some severe strictures on the state of re- Government, for that confessedly had clone every thing in its in the time of Lord George Gordon ; but the Hon. Gentleman ligious and moral instruction as then existing there. These power, but—in ail of that Government, and to prove to the Co- spoke in so low a tone of voice that scarce any of his observe remarks, which reflected on sonic of those who were con- lonics that the House of Commons approved of what the Gover n- ti on s reached the gallery. He believed the real cause of the netted with that prevailing system, did accordingly expose Mr. ment had done, and were r e ady to give it their support, if neces- disturbance in' Barhadoes to have been that which had been Shrewsbury to a good deal of observation in isarbadoes. He sary, in what any future exigencies might require to be done.— described by the Right Hon. Secretary (Mr. Canning.) himself put up a copy of his letter in the public commercial (Hear !) He had prepared an amendment to that : effect, which he Mr. CANNING said , that at the time referred to by the room there ; a step which some were not backward to consider would read to the House. " Resolved, that this House, having lion. Member (the riots in 1780) the law for a time had been almost as a step of defiance. As to the chapel itself which had taken into its most serious consideration the papers laid before dified ; but every exertion had afterwards been made by the been destroyed, he (Mr. XV. Horton) would just mention, by them relating to the demolition of a Methodist chapel at Bar- community to bring the offenders, and many of them had been the way, that three-fourths of the cost of its re-edification, and badoes, deem it their duty to declare, that they view with the so brought, to justice. The case of Barbadoes was extremely of the minister's stipend and support, had been subscribed in utmost indignation, that scandalous and daring violation of the different: a great outrage had been perpetrated ; and although Barbadoes alone. The Hon. Gentleman then adverted to the law ; and having stet with great satisfaction the instructions it must have been done within the knowledge of half the intim difference observable between that resolution of the Wesleyan which were sent out by the Secretary of State to the Governor lotion, not one individual had been brought to account. Now Society of Jamaica which declared that the Society did not con- of Harhadoes. to Prevent the recurrence of aimilar outrages, do he was hound to say that the state of society in which such a Sider it incumbent - upon them, in a slave country, to interpose most humbly assure his Majesty of their readiness to concur in result could appear was not a sound one. in the laws, .&c., respecting slaves; and the resofution of a every measure which his Majesty shall deem it necessary to re- Dr. LUSH INGTON thought that the llon. Member for very opposite tendency, of the Home Wesleyan Soci ty. These quire for securing ample protection and religious toleration to Lymington (Mr. Manning) had made but a poor defence for differences wer. calculated to excite a degree of alarm in the all of his Majesty's subjects in that part of the empire.."— the people of Barbadoes, whose supineness under what had -oc minds of the West Indian colonists, lest the proceedings of the (Cheers.)- 1 Hon. Mover would see that the principal digs curred placed them in a very little better situation than that of missionaries should some day involve the property of the ference between the amendment and the original resolution (ex- accessories after the fact. The short truth, however, was this, pheaters and whites in irretrievable ruin. The only practical cepting in what related to the rebuilding of the chapel) was the he did hop e to see au amended conduct about the Barbadoes question to be considered, in respect of that part of the subject, substitution in the former of " indignation" for " amazement Assembly sonic manifestation- of repentance, anti of a feeling was - this—Were Gentlemen prvparcd at once to do away anti detestation."—(A latigh.)—lie believed the substituted of the duties they owed to justice and humanity ; but the truth with a certain mitigated system of slavery, which they had phrase was the more parliamentary, and at all events it was on was, that the fault lay essentially in the condition of the parties sanctioned for so many years ? Be could- inform the lion. the present occasion the most correct ; for it was somewhat ex -Gentleman that it was not the intention of the Attorney- traordinary that the Hon. Gentleman would declare his amaze- governing, and the parties governed. Whoever attempted to legislate upon a system of slavery, built upon a foundation which General at Barbadoes no take any steps until the opinion nient at an event, than which he had stated, both at the outset Gen of the Government should be received by him. ' e repeated and the conclusion of his speech , that he had never expected wits sure to give way under hint. The Hon. anal Learned H tleman further observed, that the confidence which he could that he would not hesitate to assert .that a scandalous outrage any thing else.—(A laugh.)—The part of the original resolu had been committed (hear); and much as he deprecated it, he 1 lion which pledged the House to take steps to procure the rccon- have been inclined to place in the conduct of the Bishop o f Ja notice was much lessened by that reverend person having given could not but see that its imniecliate cause was in the strong 1 struction of the chapel at the expense of the colony, involved a an official appointment to Mr. Brydges, who was known to the prejudice which existed on the part of some of the proprietors t principle which ought not to be approached but with the greatest world'in no other character than as the libeller of Mr. Wilber- of the estates against the' interference of the Wesleyan missio- I caution and deliberation. There were not many instances in the force. naries. The reason of this prejudice was, that they found them 1 history of this country of penal inflictions on large anti distinct opposed to the erection of churches and to the education and re- parts; of the . empire. In out internal history, the proceedings • said that the Right lion. Se- Air. Vt:IL , 3_19 T . NORTON said . a few words in explanation. Mr. I. LUX I ON, to.reply, ... ligious instruction of the negroes in the manner proposed by l which grew out of the POrtetta riot at Edinburgh was, he bc the establishment, although they were themselves engaged in ; lieved, almost the only instance of the kind ; and in our eater- I had acted cretary threw a heavy imputation upon the population of Bar betides when he objected to removing . Magistrates v . v „. o l exactly similar pursuits. The proprietors preferred theinstruc- I, pal history the nos on Import Bill was the only one which oc- find tion of the .Ministers of the Establislinrent to those of the Wes- I curred to hirn, and 'Alai. could not be considered a very auspicious others who would not perhaps do worse. obviously ill, upon the ground ;hat It might be. drfocu t to leyan Methodists, because the former inculcated the doe- , indication ,ti precipitate legislation. It would not become tnnes of peace and civil -obedience on the part of the. slaves; I Parliament ti set such a question afloat, unless they were pre- The Address was then put, and agreed to without a division. CRUELTY TO ANIhIALS. and the latter preached to them principles which, perhaps, r pared with every feeling of their hearts, and every nerve from being imperfectly understood by the slaves, led Ire- of their frame, for the utmost consequences. The principle Mr. MARTIN, in rising to withdraw his motion for a Corn quently to discontent and sometimes to disorder. The Hon. ought to remain passive in the omnipotent bosom of Parliament, mission of Inquiry into the effects of bear-baiting, took occasion Gentleman then quoted - the statement, on oath, of Mr. Hines, and never be brought into action till the legislature was pre- to observe that bull-baiting was prohibited by an existing law; of Trinity College, Cambridge, who had been in the West paired at all-risk to push it to the utmost extreme. There at least the Right lion. the Attorney-General had told him so. Indies, and who said that he had applied frequently to pro- was another reason why the amendment was preferable to the That Right lion.. Gentleman had his (Mr. hi.'e) two guineas prietors for permission to: instruct their slaves in the prin. original resolution—namely, because it approved of the con- in his p ocket for his opinion.--(Laughter.)—The . guinea s were ciples of religion, and that he had upon almost all occasions duct of the home Government. The effect of passing any reso- certainly good ; he was not sure that the opinion was equally i so . . been .favourably . received. He had seen great zeal displayed lution-which did not contain an approval of the conduct of the —( Laughter.)—lf the Right Hon. Gentleman should in heits speech contradict his written opinion, he might rest sure by the proprietors in furthering his intentions, and knew that I Government, would be to impeach that conduct n oral he was many of them read prayers and explained the Scriptures to their' sure that it was not the 'intention of the Hon. Mover to do any should be sliewn up in every newspaper in London to-morrow. slaves. He added, that he believed the general sense of the such tiling. Believing, therefore, that the amendment was in —( Laughter.)—Bulls were defended ; they were a privileged class; why not beers ? Ile hoped the Right Hon. Secretary planters was much in favour of their slaves being instructed in every respect More fit for the purpose which the lion. Gentle for the Horne religion, if it were performed by a Member of the Establish. man bad in view than his own r es elution, he would, conclude Department, who ought by his office to be the sloes regent of sin t t r l ot ie l p u e c o in pe g a 's yr n ,e m a r s a u l r s e , ovnsotuhled subject. t i o ec prse him next ment. This, the lion. Gentleman observed, was in direct con- by moving that it be adopted.—(llear ! Ses tradiction to the statement in the Missionary Report. He could Mr. BUTTER WORTH expressed ilis surprise, as was un on the ground that there- was no question before the House, offer no apology for the conduct which had been pursued in derstood, that the flight lion. G e ntleman - s hould imagine that The a PEA K Elt having called the Hon. Member to order, Barbadoes, tout which had given rise to this motion.. He be- the conflagration of the chapel was occasioned by the publica liened, however, that the actors in that outrage, although they tion of Mr. Shrewsbury's letter. • .111 r. 111 ART IN moved for leave to withdraw his motion. might have been under the influence of sonic moral dementa. Mr. CAN NINO slid that the Hon. Member had misunder- A seconder having been found after some minutes, Lion, had not been actuated by any want of respect for religion. stood him. When be spoke of a" firebrand," lie did not mean Mr. Secretar y PEE L w ould n ot p r o m i se his ' su pp ort to his He hoped that the proof which it afforded of en angry and dan- that th e letter had actuall y set fire to the chapel.—(Great lion. Friend's motion, nor would he declare his intention to gerohs spirit would have the effect of inspiring the religious laughter.)—The lion. hienaber appeared to have got that idea oppose it. All he could say was, that he would attend in his missionary societies with s ome caution, and induce them to into his head ; for he fo unded his argument on the supposition place at the discussion, and give all his attention to his Hon. Friend's arguments. endeavour to disarm that spirit by Measures of conciliation.— that the chapel had been burnt down by a letter which Was (Hear !) writtet three years before that event took place.—(A laugh.)—' OFFICERS ON HALF-PAY OF THE ARMY. Mr. W. SftITII said, that, not for the sake of the Wesleyan The way in which the (Mr. Canning) had intended to show that Mr. H U3I El moved that there be laid before the House, a :Missionaries, but for the honour of the country, he thought it the letter had operated was, th a t i t ma d e Mr. Shrewsbury the return of the number of officers of the army on half-pay, in the necessary that a lesson should be read on this occasion to the object of persecution. months of March, 1822, and 1825, distinguishing those on the inhabitants of Barbadoes, who had displayed so d a ngerous and Mr. IWO [hi HA Al said, that he preferred the Amendment old and the new rates of half-pay, thereto of each class, and the outrageous a spirit. The letter of Mr. ShrewSbury, which had of the Right Hon. Gentlem an to t h e Add res s proposed by his amount of the pay of the whole for one year; also for an ac been the pretext of their attack on his chapel, contained some Hon. Friend, because it abstained from recommending that the count of the number of officers on full pay at the same period ; allusion to the white population of the colony, who were spoken pasties should be compelled to r e build the ch a pel, which might alsO for an account of the number of commissions in the army of in terms of censure, it was true, but a censure which was involve a very important and dangerous principle. He ridiculed 'vacant %chitin the same periods, distinguishing those whictahad repeated in touch stronger terms by every writer who had the idea of resistance on the part of t he West India Colonies, been filled up from the half-pay list. described them. lie did not believe, although this letter but deprecated any adoption of a principle from which such - Lord PA LMERSTON said he had no objection to the too was used as a pretext, that it was really the inducement to disastrous results had arisen. The Honourable and Learned tion.—lt was then put, and agreed to commit the outrage. He believed ratter it was spite and Gentleman then proceeded to remark upon the difference in the COMBINATIONS AMONG SHIPWRIGHTS AND ill-nature against me sect to which Mr. Shrewsbury belong- tone of the speeches of the Hon. Secretary for the Colonial lie- • SEAMEN. ed, and which wanted only an occasion for breaking out. He partment, and the Right lion. hecao a ry o f . State for Foreign Mr. HUSKISSON moved the third reading of the Ships' repteinbered that in Jamaica an attempt had been some years Affairs. lie supposed tile difference arose f ro m the latter Right Registry Bill. ago made to put down the Methodists by refusing licences to lion. Gent. having to brave the H o ly Alliance, whilst the lion. The bill having been read a third time, the Right Hon. Gent. their preachers. He, with others, waited upon the Minister Colonial Secretary was only in the habit of bowing to these said he had two clauses to propose by way of riders. It was of that day, to complain of so unjustifiable an infringement agents or Governors of the a ff a i rs o f t h e w es t India I s lands. well known that by the navigation laws, as they now stood, of the principle of religious liberty, and in consequence of The consequence of this was, t h at t h e Ri g ht Hon. Gentleknan British ships were not allowed to repair in foreign ports, unless that application, orders were immediately sent out to rescind had gallantly denounced the p art i es concerne d in this outrage, the master or owners declared that such repairs were abso the measures which had been taken, and from that time to the or in permitting it to take pl ace w i t h i mpun ity, w hile th h Hon. lutely necessary for the safe performance of the voyage ; and present, no attempt had been made to interfere with the chapels Secretary only found it t o ar i se out o f som e little amiable then the -repairs were limited to barely what were necessary for in Jamaica. There was a striking difference between this pro- excess of feeling, some slight indiscretion, springing from a the voyage. It was also a part of the navigation law, that no ceeding, unjustifiable as it was, and that which had been adopt- strong sense of the sacr e dn ess o f t h e r i g ht o f property. But British- ship should proceed on a voyage, out or home, ed at ksarbatioes. He was as desirous as any person could be, in their high-wrought se n s ibili t y f or t h e p re servation of this unless three-fourths of her crew consisted of British seamen. that conciliation should be in all cases-first resorted to; but it right, the y must destroy, and pull down and exterminate the —These were regulations which lie did not wish to destroy, had now been tried more titan 12 months, and had produced no property:of Mr. Shrewsbury. So that according to the Hon. as their tendency was for the general benefit of the coun. good result. Those decided measures were necessary in order Secretary's dOctrilie, if one man were no t con t e nted a s to the try ; but circumstances might arise, and some were now in to prevent worse consequences, and he saw no objection which safety of, his own- purse without going and taking that of aim- actual operation, which would render the strict enforcement of Friend respects of great injury to the commerce could reasonably be made to the motion of his Hon. (Mr. the'' , he woultbe guilty of a t r ifling indiscretion, a little excess the law in those two resp Buxton.) . the merchant of feeling, in his zeal for protecting the right of Property. Thus of the country. At this very moment London, wereput great ' Mr. BUTTERWORTH bore testimony to die good char to protect their own prop er ty, t h ese p eo pl e took the p reca ution particularly in the port of ratter of Mr. Shrewsbury, and defended the general conduct of to lay hold of and d es troy t h a t o f th e m et hodists, an d t hi s , too , nience, indeed were likely to be severely injured (unless aortic the Wesleyan Missionaries in the West Indies. was said to be done for the triumph of the true religion. Un- timely remedy was devised,) by the coinbinationsamong the ship- Mr. CANNING said that die lion. Member who spoke last doubtedly many excesses were sometimes committed under the wrights. These combinations did not arise from any alleged had referred to the speech of his Ilon. Friend behind him (Mr. name of liberty ; and, as it appeared, the still "more sacred deficiency of wages, (for with what was now paid the men were W. Horton), as an intended justification of the proceedings name of religion was also a b use d f or t he s a me p ur p oses . B u t satisfied), but from an objection taken by them to particular which had ta k en p l ace at Barbadoes. The u m. m e mber he believed that the name of religion was never so prostituted- regulations in the several yards. The consequence was, that for I must have given the speech of his Hon. Friend that designa- as in this particul a r instance. Th e Hon. m em b e r h a d sa id t h a t sonic months Past no ships were repaired in the river. It h a d don by a m e r e s lip o f t h e tong ue, for lie was con v i nced that it, was i the duty, of the House to protect the Church . S o it was. occurred to hunt in the Committee on the Combination Laws, r upon a little reflecti o n h e w o uld perceive that it was by - 10 1.u., he ' , egged to sa y th a t it was their duty to giVe protection that some immediate and decisive step should be taken to cure means applicable. With respect to the acts which were de- to the Sects also. The Church might be very well suited so great an evil. e w the last ma to ropose any measure Glared in the papers. befo r e th e House, it was impossible that to this country at home, but the misfortune was,that it was which mig there could be but one opinion. They were unjusti ht be a n inas fringement on o n ur N p avigation L a t i n ni „ n d n o t at a ll a d apted to the state of our C o l on i es, and the negro those laws would be injurious, if allowed to prevent the remedy indefensible—a violation oh law—a defiance of authority—a fly slaves could not be taught by the Church. The very refine- of so.great an evil as that to which he alluded. The combinations, lag in the face of Parliament and of the country.—( II ear !) ments which its Members acquired at Oxford and Cam- as he had stated, were not for a rise of wages, but the men were He did not hesitate so to characterise those acts; and if he dn . - bridge disqualified them from being fit tools with which prevented from going- to work by the authority exercised over fered with the Hon. Member opposite, as to the mode in which to work out the religious instruction of a bady of black slaves them by certain clubs, and unions, committees of which were the House ought to proceed, that difference was founded on in Jamaica. The question, therefore, was not whether the t daily sitting. Now, it was the duty of the Legislature to show practical considerations, and not upon a wrong estimate of the slaves should be instructed by the Church or the Sects, but to those parties who thought that they must succeed, as they acts themselves. H e a d m i tte d that it was the d uty of Par_ whether they should receive any instruction at all. It was, had the power of refusing to work, that they were not without 'lament to guard against the recurrence of the causes which consequently, of t h e highest importance that the Sectarian hlis- ; the means of applying a remedy to this evil, by allowing ships might produce similar acts. The case of Mr. Shrewsbury had sionaries should.be protected in the performance of that duty.— 1 which were prevented by the combinations from being repaired been likened to that of Mr. Smith, but there was this striking The Hon. and Learned Gentleman then read passages from a, in the -river, to proceed to some foreign port. This was a difference between th e two nases _ withhot wish i ng to say an y Report made by the Bishop of Jamaica, and commented upon ineasnre which the shipwrights did not contemplate. They. thing harsh of Mr. Smith—that in the con d uct o f ai r . shrews- them in a strain of ridicule. To effect the purpose of religious in n Temed, that, as the law now stood, they must succeed, bury it was impossible to find any cause for blame whatever.— instruction among the slaves, he would rather have the labours a l indeed h lie had heard of its being declared amonst them, (Hear I)—Allusion had been made to the letter written by Mr. of Mr. Shrewsbury, or Mr. Smith, if he had not met so unfortu- ti at t e present struggle should be a trial bet s s een capital Shrewsbury. tie admitted—it was impossible to deny—that lie nate an end, for one veer, thanhhose of the whole Hierarchy, and Physical strength. He would, therefore, propose a was perfectly at liberty to write such a letter ; but he could not if they were all like the new Bishop of Jamaica, for fifty.— clause, that, for a limited time (for he hoped that in a help declaring, that in his opinion nothing was more likely to The Methodists were the only persons capable of perform- short period these men would be induced to see sink error,_ and paralyze the efihrts of Mr. Shrewsbury than time publishing and ing a dutye which- was a dmitted on all hands to be desirable. the ruinous consequences it entailed upon themselves)—lie sending of it out to Barbadoes. The object of Mr. S hrewsbur y For thes e reasons he should j oin in reprobating the indecent w ould say for two ye ars —th e King in council should si havethe in going to Barbadoes was to stern the pr e j udices which pre- and abomin able persecuti on of which Mr. Shrewsbury had been power, when a su ffi c i ent represen t a tion was made of the na . - veiled against the sectarians, an d before he had been in - the . the victim. The Hon. and L ea rned Member then spoke of the b il ity to procure repairs in a British port , owin g to any combs _ : island long enough to effect . that object his letter was sent out severity oldie existing laws, which rendered a negro punishable nations among shipwrights, to allow British shiph o to u. be n old and circulated there ; it was like throwing a firebrand among iby death as a felon f or w hat in England would be a common for repairs to a forei g n p or t. This, • hehhd no d bt, w_ the Barbadians . There were several patios connected with the I assault . This, he said, was a law ofpassed within six teach the • injuring 1h24, only themselves by their conduct, and that no conduct of their's could deprive the merchant service of the protection which was due to it from the country. Another species of combination equally injurious to our commerce was that which sometimes prevailed among merchant-seamen, particularly in the northern ports, in Shields, Newcastle, and other places, by which vessels were prevented from going to sea from want a sufficient number of British seamen. To remedy this, he would move another clause, giv ing a power to the King in Council, upon a proper representation of the necessity of the cause, to allow British ships to clear out from our ports with a larger portion of their crews consisting of foreigners than was at pr es ent allowed by the Navigation Laws. On the clause being brought up, 11. Ir. ELLICE said, he entirely concurred in the proposition of the Right lion. Gentleman, and he only regretted that he did not carry th e p r i nc i p l e farther; tbr he could not see on what fair ground British merchants should be prevented from taking their ships to that foreign port where they, might get them repaired at the cheapest rate. The present state of things in the port of London was a good deal the fault of shipowners, who might if they pleased have a considerable number of ship wrights from Norway. As to the combinations among the merchant-seamen, he thought in the course of time it would prove a benefit to the country; for at present many ships were principally worked by apprentices, which in the course of a few years would give a vast addition to the number of able seamen. Mr. ROBERTSON opposed the clause, and contended that this mode of acting was unbecoming the firmness and dignity of the Legislature. They themselves had caused the evil to which they were now about to apply so inadequate a remedy. They drove the working classes to discontent and desperation by the system (which had been proposed on the Opposition side, and sanctioned by Ministers) of allowing all the artisans of the Continent to come into competition with them. It was impos sible that a course of policy having a . tendency so injurious could have any other eject than that of producing great dis content amongst the people. The course now proposed would have the effect of driving our shipwrights to America from whence we should not be able to recal them in time of need. in the same manner, the measure now proposed would affect the seamen. It was now intended to allow competition with our seamen, by permitting the employment of a greater number of foreign sailors to form part of the crews' of British ships than was authorized by the Navigation Laws. Was not this gross injustice to our seamen, when at the same time the policy we were pursuing in other respects prevented our mer chants from giving them that fair remuneration for their labour* which they had a right to expect? By some recent measures, the ships of all nations were permitted, in a great degree, to come into competition with our own; and these, which would have the effect of preventing the merchant from paying the sailor the wages to which he was accustomed, were now to lie followed up by an enactment which would drive him out of the service altogether. How was it possible to expect the gratitude of these men after such treatment ? ' He would will ingly enforce the Combination Laws, and put - down all attempts to procure higher wages by such illegal means ; but he could not shut his eyes to the fact,' that the working classes, the mechanics and artisans, were badly treated by the legislature. There seemed a disposition in the House to grind and oppress those people.—(Cries of " No, no.")-- - He repeated the assertion, and took the actions of the House 2 1 demonstrations of its sentiments. The recent measures by which the trades of the Continent were allowed to enter into competition with our own, had, lie maintained, no other ten dency. The effect of these impolitic regulations had already been felt in the diminution of the carrying trade. The tonnage of the British vessels which sailed from our ports had been considerably reduced. It was less this year by some hundred thousand tons than what it had been some few years back. Mr. HUME said that the Honourable Member wil° spoke last had quite mistaken the principle of the proposed clauses. He could not have understood them, if he stir posed their object was to oppress the people, or any por tion of them. He would be as unwilling as any man to c 00" • sent to any measure which would .have the effect of oppress ing the people. In the Committee on the Combination La` 4 and elsewhere, he gave it as his opinion, that the workinett should have the power of getting from the masters the high!.:st price for their labour, but lie would not sanction their assess , '" dons to force men from their employment who were willing t° work at a lower rate. It was hut fair that all parties should be protected alike. The object of the proposed clauses was to pi , ' down those pernicious combinations which tended so directly t°, injure the commerce of th e country . S o f ar h e f u ll y concurred in them, and w a s only sorr y t h at t h ey did not go farther, on,ft allow merchants to resort to foreign ports to build ships as we", as to repair them. This would effectually teach those "clubs and " unions" that their associations would in the result he highly injurious!?thertselves. showeditlnh disastrous 1 er70e3212.c Ili; CHANCELLOR of -the EXCHEQUER said, that A few facts would tend more to elucidate this subject than all the wrath of the Hon. Member for Grampound (Mr. Robertson.> The Hon. Member had stated, that in consequence of the , l h e o li a l w r ia e hi ndleidlnt tannage mea sures which he deprecated, there had lately been a considerable decrease in the number of-British ships which cleared out frau our ports. Now he had a statement belbre him which clearly o ur 1 3- . 1 in destructive Irueo e oc2ion i t3if l v : tiettn:heo,telloi British rn, Honourable t i rri e itistsnhi A shs i lot e :fe m i2po4( b s e wra r eale, t it v resc a hei s ßl; er i a n i fanttarid: error in i p:cil: was this subject. From this it appeared that in the year 18% British ships; in 1819,11,071 ; in 1820,10,222; in 10`.1 , ; ',„ 7- ille year 1825, that year which the Hon. Mern'aer 9,251; etV4sli shipping, the number of British ships which left our par ts ~r t s in 1818 was 1,500,200 tons and that of the vessels this Ye'c was 1,797,000=-( H ear o—being an increase in the last ye"' °„ 296,800 tons.—(H ear, hear !)—Then as to the number a l iw a "; chant vessels built within the last three years. In the yea ending 1823, there were built and registered in our porta 7 . _ merchant ships, burden in the whole 67,144 tons ; in 1824, tnt; number built and registered was 847, burden 86,028 tong ;- ' in ' commerce—there were built and registered 1,011 ships , ex ceed - gin the whole 100,000 t ons . If this was the ruin and de struction of our comm erce to w hi c h t h e Hon. M em ber alluded, he would say, may such kind of destruction go on.—(Hear !p ut Mr. ROBERTSON, in explanation, read a short statem-03 of the amount of British shipping in the last few years, ,Year'fra which, he said, it appeared that our shipping had, last decreased by nearly 400,000 tons. ere' Mr. BRIGHT opposed the clauses, which, he said, ''',.,,,.. not at all intelligible, and which, if necessary, ought, he 7 0 1 tended, to be made the subject of a separate measure, .. 4 1 not thus introduced in a bill with which they had no nal° connection. ea Sir M. 11". RIDLEY supported the clauses, and maintliie that, when known, every man in the country would admit " propriety of their enactment. t e ' Mr. HUSKISSON said, that if the clauses were allowed on, be read, every man would see their plain import. He that sidered the circumstances in which they applied so urg ent ' e ot if no other means of affording a remedy existed, Governtl; 0 would be wanting in its duty to the public if it did not app,l to similar one on its own responsibility, and trust after ward the legislature for an act of indemnity. icl' Mr. ROBERTSON would be very unwilling to gra nt st cv, a power to Ministers, except in some extraordinary envrge n ' which he did not believe now existed. Mr. ELLICE expressed a hope that, as a general meal' he the Right Hon. Gentleman would, at no distant day, a dilli t hel principle of allowing merchants to repair their ships where_ opy could get them done cheapest and best. There were new c _. o f binations of workmen, but there were also cornbinationLlso master shipwrights ; and these were as bad for the r nere" tbe service as those of the workmen. The prices charged bi t he masters for repairs were enormous, • and enough to d rive shipping trade away from the port of London. eth Tice clause allowing British ships to repair in foreign Pl o t, under the circumstance above stated, was then read a roe second, and third time, and agreed to, as was also the., e l t hus respecting the employment of foreign seamen. The bil amended was passed, and ordered to the Lords. SPRING GUNS BILL. 03 0 The House then went into a Committee on the Sri n g -, Bill. Lord BINNING moved as an amendment, that in the ch fa l:: prohibiting spring-guns from being set in and plantatioo9Zace den, or any place whatever, the words "garden, or an,,L; e teel i whatever" be omitted; but after some conversation 00, Mr. Alonck, the Chancellor of th e E xc h e quer, Mr. 0 ,• "(100' and others, consented to withdraw it, as the sense of t" e mitte appeared to be agdnst it. on ler The clause allowing any man to enter an enclosure, t° r f t er spring-guns and steel-traps harmless, was thrown out , l ho rP , discussion in which Mr. Peel, Mr. F. Lewis, Mr. Ci° u " - Mr. Tennyson, and M. G. Lamb took a part'.t On the clause for giving treble costs to the plaintiffs in a he!' for injuries accruing from spring-guns, the House wa s ci ose cleared for a division ; b u t no di v i s i on t oo k pl ac e. The s va s was then negatived. The House resumed ; the rel , ° r :, o nsi' brought up, and was ordered to be taken into further derati on to-morrow. a the The other Ordeis of the D a y were then disposed of, 3 1 ' House adjourned at a QUARTER PAST Two. • On Tuesday morning last, a fish is eighi n ggilii ounces, was seized in the river Calder, opposite the ing Dewsbury, by a crow, w hi c h l an d e d it sa fely on the Th°oter side of the river. T. G reenwoo d, c lothi er , crossed th, e t botig! and obtained the fish ;it was a li ve when he got CO it, OW its enemy had made a considerable hole in one of ' t "' behind the head,