The Sun. — London, England, 1832-04-05 00:00:00

f 't. WEST INDIA TRADE. ME.ETING.-(TEIIS DAY.) In pursuance of an invitation, signed by s great number of individuals connected with the West India Colonies, in cluding several of the nobility, and nearly all the principal merchants, ship-owners, &c., interested in the preservation of the trade to the West Indies, a public meeting was held this day at the City of London Tavern. The following is a list of the signatures to the requesition Sligo, Chandos, Harevrood, St. Vincent, Saltoun, Reay, Pitt Rivers, E . a East, Bart. William Fraser, W . H. Cooper, Bart. Shaw Stewart, Bart. M.P. Alexander Cray Grant, Bart. W. Windham Dalling, Bart. It W. Martin, Bart. John Irving, M.P, G. Watson Taylor, M.P. R. Gordon, M.P. P. M. Stewart, M.P. W. Burge, M.P. Duncan Davidson, M.P. J. P. Mayers, A. Browne, J. Colquhoun, N. Malcolm, George Ilibbert, A. Colvile, Henry Bright, W. and J. Barton, James Urquhart I'. Urquhart, Vardon and Sons, Ward, Brettle, and Ward, John Dixon. Shepherd and Smith. William Morrice, James Thompson, Thomas Hall and Co. Francis Henry Mitchell, John and Thomas Dawson Judah Cohen, John Shedden, l)omett, Young, and England, Thomas Benson, George Miller, A. Stewart and Westmoreland Alves and Steele, John Bannatyne, John A. Meaburn, Thomas Fowles, A. G. Milne, Henry Cheape, Alexander Seton, Henry Davidson, W. Maxwell Alexaider, Samuel Hibbert, Robert Young, John Piric and Co, David Harvie, Joseph H. Ritchie, Brown, Danson, and Co. Charles Edward Long, Francis Rivaz, Oswald Smith, Thompson and Forman, Alexander Grant, George Shedden, Hyde G. Williams, Hugh Hyndman, Henry Powell, G. A. Browne, John Saunders, jun. Thomas Elliot, George Robertson, Bond, Nicholson, and Co, Borradaile and Co. Brandrams and Co. W. and J. Barker, Brown and Lenox, W. and J. Brownings, R. and W. Bond, Thomas Todd, J. Chippendale and Sons, James Davidson, jun. Hoggart and Fulbrook, W. S. Ilale, Thomas and John Letts, Mortimer and Co. John Mackenzie and Co. Pontifex, Sons, and Wood, John Robertson, John Saunders, W. and J. Sharpe, Turnley Brothers, The meeting was exceedingly crowded by gentlemen of the first respectability, who took a great interest in the re sult of the day's proceedings. Indeed we never witnessed a more crowded or more respectable assemblage. More gentlemen went away for want of accommodation that the room contained. The stairs presented two streams of people continually going up and going down. The Earl of HAREWOOD was unanimously called to the Chair, and after the confusion created by the e•rovveled state of the room had in some degree subsided, the Noble Earl addressed the Meeting as follows :—Gentlemen, be fare I proceed to the business of the day, I must beg in the first place, to mention that a Noble Lord (the Marquis of Chandos), who has been in the habit of representing here the interests of the West India body, is unavoidably prevented from attending to-day, which alone is the cause of my having the honour of being appointed to the chair. That Noble Lord his been unremittingly attentive to the interests of the West India planters, and I would much rather have seen him in the chair upon this occasion than myself. I, therefore, beg leave to offer on his b.-half his apology for not attend. ing, being pree•sed by other matter. I feel that standing before so numerous and respectable a body as that now present, that a most arduous and melancholy duty is im posed upon me in endeavouring to draw your attention, which I not do by any thing from myse.f, to the situation in which all the West India pro prietors are involved. I do not desire to attribute that distress to any particular circumstances connected with party or political persons, but I desire that that dis tress may be considered, as it operates not only on indivi dual, but on the national interest of this country. I am the more anxious now than upon ordinary occasions to present myself before you, the West India pro prietors, and in the heart of this metropolis, be cause I feel that there are aspersions gone forth concerning West India property which deserve to be met fairly and honestly, which we can do before our n ountey.—(Cheers.) I, among otbere, am a sufferer ; but I am not a sufferer equal to those who may have nothing but their West India property,—(Hear, hear.) It is on • their behalf that lam anxious to plead their cause, if I can, indifferent, I may say, as to the fate of my own.— (Hear, hear.) There have been strong feelings cre ated in this country of prejudice against all proprietors of West India property, as possessors of a slave popula tion. Nut only has that been made a topic of charge against us, as it we were thereby wickedly and improperly deriving profits from the labour of those individuals. I will speak not only for myself, but for all other proprie tors of West India property, that we would anxiously, if We could, do without that description of labour.—(Hear.) But w e may say that being proprietors, we are not justly dealt with ; and I am appealing to a part of my country men who are endeavouring to sink that interest by misre presentations, which, when coricJeted, were known by those who concoctel them to be false, or to possess a colour which they could not bear. Will it be said that in a slave population, where some acts may be done, which always will be done, arising out of the wickedness of human nature, where a solitary instance, or even more than a solitary instance, might occur, that it was to be magnified so as to sink the proprietors of that property in public estimation, and to hold them up to odium ? How does the matter stand ? We are unfortunately circumstanced. If our returns are bad—it they amount to nothing, or if they amount to little more than nothing, what course are we to adopt? Why to hold on and support those persons from whose labour we derive nothing.—(Hear, hear, hear.) Is that the case with any other description of property ? It persons are engaged in manufacture; if public works are erected, the moment those works cease to be pro fitable, that moment the hands employed on them are dismissed. Can we do that ? I mention that to shew that it is not the wish of the proprietors to hold a population in that state of society if they could do otherwise. But let all those who are finding fault with us show us the way out of it. It will not do to say that because an indivi vidual holds property in the West Indies that he is a loser, and that he is not to have a due consideration for his own interests as well as for the peace, the happiness (notwithstanding the slavery), the safety and security of those islands.—(Chetra.) In that state of society are we now living in. I mention these things to remove that unwarrantable blame which has been cast on us as pertops who were wilfully and wilingly resisting an eman cipation, The charge is not true; anti when I consider more closely some , if the circumsances of distress, under which we are now suffering, I beg to declare that I am not dispeee,i to say that every description of distress suffered by the proprietors, was occasioned solely by a mismanagement of the slaves, or by our interference with the slave pop u l a ti on ; t h ere are other c i rcumstan ces ope rating on the property of the old colonies. The ceded colonies prod uce d a great quant i ty of sugar to t hi s king detro,.."(ii That certainly h as it s e ff ect , b ut b ec ause it had its colonies, it the polic y of this countr y to leave our own carried on by British enterprise and British ca pital, to rui n . t Since that policy has crept in, the this hrzsreil ) s tate of cir cu m s t a n ces ha s e xist e d.—(Hear, whichl ' would wish to mention a subject SW (it, "OW to b e o f rat h er a d e li ca t e na t ure ; and as I I"ed in this meeting, both with respect to the parties assembled d thi ng be. qr. , . from my own feelings, to ex, lode any ( 1; 4 ., . ar ing a compl ez i oo o f political or party views, I ' airn it I would not appear here to• day if I were to . entertain the subject in that point of view. But I c to an th n e ot (.l)l s .m, 1 p adverting to th ,t act of Government, relating . In ads., refers Council of November last.—( Hear, hear.) a resol ut i on g ttieee Ord ers in Council, I sin led to "t 1 of Pirliatrient in the year 1823, and I must say that tho,e w 1 the decision of t lO were p ar ti es to tha• resolution, and to the alive m ana g e r. Hous e Coinnions in 1823 respecting he in Council of 1831 en t ought not to be parties to the Order colonial distress,_we We were living in times of great lonial agitation was :ere living in times when great co policy and wisd n foot_when it would hive been out to . € conciliated rather than to have in -11 flamed. But what has been the effect of the Order in Conn -61011831 ? bearing on the face of it irritation towards the D. and A. Wilkinson, Thomas Wilson, Alexander Grant Dando and Co. John George and John Lindsay A. T. Nash and Co. Barclay and Daniell, W. H. and J. Oakey. George Frederick Young, James Innes, Fraser, Hullah, and Co. W. R. Rennalls, A. R. Dottin, John Baillie, Henry G. FranckVll, Charles M'Garel, James Cavan, Alexander Hill, George Carrington, Rowland Mitchell, A. B. Cumberbatch, John Henry Deffell, Robert Hawthorn, Warner Ottley, Samuel Cunningham, Spencer Mackay, Q. Shiell, T. I). Hall, J. H. Massy Dawson, Henry Shirley. colonies and injustice to the proprietors, interfering by sayiu t so long as you permit the colonies to have colonial legisla tures, and to decide questions regarding those islands, it is unjust and illegal to interfere by those Orders in Council. (Hear, hear.)—To dictate to those assemblies, not from Parliament, but from the Council, and to state what ap pears to me very extraordinary, to say the least of it, that they shall say,— to those legislatures, " we have certain benefits to confer on those islands. and if you do not agree to what we dictate, you shall not receive the benefits even in the dis trussed and sinking condition of your interests. But to sty on one side, this is the reward of your non obedience, and we will sink the colonies if you will nut do so, but can you siuk the coloni s without sinking also the interests of the mother country? It Was saying if you don't follow this advice, we will punish the mother country through the medium of ay colonies. Is there reason or justice in this, and look at the state of the case, that duties alone, with the amount of seven millions are produced from the imports,— and upwards of five millions from the exports. Is that to be sacrificed bee-lose the Orders in Coun cil are not obeyed ? How is it that the duties on colonial produce :amounted to that sum 9 It would at first appear to every person that any property on which seven millions duty could be charged, must leave an enor mous profit to the proprietors. Is it so ? So far front it, the duties levied on West India property is in some cases so touch property confiscated.—(Hear, hear.) Can a country go on in that state of things ? Is that, or is it not, leaning towards the popular feeling in this country ? It is important to me that I should state what Was the impression in my mind on finding very recently that certain resolutions had been passed upon the subject. They left an impression on the public mind that nothing had been done, and that all was yet to do regarding the amelioration of the condition of the slaves. That was not fair towards the West India body to keep out of sight any amelioration that had been made in the condition of the slaves. I ask, what has occurred since the year 1823 ? Has there been a stoppage of improvement in the slave population? Has there been any turning back from the course of amelioration? No ; a progressive state of improvement carried on. Then where is the wisdom or the propriety of issuing orders in council which seem to denote an utter disregard of the population ? It is unfair, and it is strengthening the prejudice against the proprietor of the slaves, and it is not just towards th, efforts already cheerfully exercised --(Cheers.) I beg to say again that in any observations I make upon the Order in Council, I ant actuated by no political feelings. I remark on those orders as in my conscience _ I believe they will work, that is, injuriously, to the peace of the Colonies. But as to the distresses, there is an accumulation of hardshio, particularly as regard ing the colonies, one of which, flarbadoes, had suffered from the visitation of God, which we can only lament and not complain ef. The other was fsom another cause, which has not only thrown back the interests of the proprietors, many of whose property was destroyed, but thrown back the course of civiliza tion. Those most anxious to promote the welfare of that population were doing thus unwisely towards these people and the proprietors, to allow any irritation or file conceptions going forth to those colonies, as they can only be injurious to the master, and throw back the civi lization of the slave. We are in such a situation that we are complainants on the one hand and beggars on the other.—(Hear, hear.) I therefore wish to deal as leniently as I can, and come in fbrina pauperis before the Government to give us relief. I can say no more as to the mismanagement of colonial affairs, but I could not resist stating what I have stated respecting the orders in Council. I will therefore conclude by say. ing, we are all thankful for any assistance we may obtain in support of ourselves and property, under the tnisfor tunes both at Barbadoes and Jamaica ; I say we are not only thankful for what ha, been done, but state that we shall be thankful for what we have a right to expect to be done—a right which, as British subjects, we state strongly, and we claim at the hands of Government that protection which is due to every British su►eject who lives under its dominion. Lord SELKIRK rose to move the first resolution ; he said the country bad prospered with thecolonies, and if the pro sperity of these colonies was to be overthrown and crushed, it would bring ruin upon the commerce and con dition of England. He would not further occupy the in valuable time of the meeting, for it was not necessary for him to say more after the able explanation which the Noble Chairman had given of the objects for which this meeting had been convened. He should merely move the first resolution, which was declaratory of the objects which they had in view. Mr. WATSON TAYLOR rose and said that he h.id great ple.isure in seconding the first resolution proposed by the Noble Lord. tie must confess that he had not fre quently presented himself at public meetings upon this übject, woen he felt that the interests of the colonies would be best taker. care of by those who presided over them, but at the present alarming crisis, when the interests of the colonies, and those of many other countriea were at stake, when one of the deepest and most deadly blows which could ever overtake a great and flourishing nation was about to be inflicted, he had no hesitation in confessing that he felt it his duty to come forward. It was too much the fashion to depre ciate in one way the interests of the colonies, and this might be traced to the fanatical, fantastical, hypocritical speeches of a party to which the country had been unfortunately too prone to listen. He hoped to see the day when not only those who were Immediately interested in the colonies—not only those who lived in another country, and lived upon their colonial incomes, but when every person who understood a national question would be convinced, that England in every branch of its interest, was as deeply interested in this question as ttie colonists themselves.—(Applause.) He was happy to second this resolution, conscious as he was of the importance that the connexion between the colonies and the mother country should be as intimate and uninterrupted as possible. If the colonies were injured, every interest in the mother country, the glory of the nation, and every re source and branch of commerce would sympathisa in that injury. If the West India connections were despised, the arts, manufactures, and industry of England would be injured, for they were vivified and invigorated by the capital which flowed into the mother country from the colonies. Sorry was he to see that such invaluable in terests were likely to be sacrificed to the fan itical by poet ites who had forced their notions on Government and when they had ruined the country, those whom thy had im posed on, would turn round and say, how could we have been so blind to a calamity, the importance of which we ought to have foreseen. They would sacrifice that which contributed to their resources in war, and which tended to support every department which gave stability to the country, which supported tt.e arts, and which ren dered society the greatest blessing. It might be invidi ous, or at least indelicate, if lie were to speak of himself ; still he thought he could not do better than to advert to conversation which lie had recently held with a great Anti- Slave politician in his own country. This partisan had expressed his regret that an approaching meeting might injure his interests. He (Mr. Watson Taylor) had answered that he would attend the meeting and explain his views, and that his interests could not be so much injured, fcr Mr. Simon Taylor, whose property he inherited, had put his family beyond the reach of any such destruction. Nevertheless, he felt it his duty to act as if his only hope depended on the colonies. As far as his interest was concerned, the ques tion was only one of degree, but whether lie had kept twenty horses or two; whether he employed a hundred labourers or less, did not concern the ques tion of the activity and support which he could give to the industry of his neighbourhood. Not upon him, but on the town in which he resided would the injury fall, of separating the colonies from the mother country. From a small individual scale they mi g ht argue to the great scale of the nation. The wealth from the col nies was dispersed in this country, and the arts and industry which dignified society, would suffer, if the colonial interests were depressed. He saw before him a venerable personage by whose taste for letters and patron age of the fine arts much had been contributed to his na tive country. He attempted to produce the same results, though at an humble distance ; but when he reflected that even by the next packet he might learn that his West Indian property hail vanished, he felt it his duty to can. tract his expenditure, but he lamented that the loss would fall on artisans, and persons employed in various branches of industry, i❑ the aggregate of which consist••d the happiness of nations. He could not trust himself to do more than advert to recent phti•al mis anagement, e x rcpt to lament tt.e weakness of iir giving way in such a p„reat national question to that p irty Wl,O, pro_ c , edinga he had witnessed in the House of Coisan. w s, which he could not but confess lie had witne•sed with in dignation and and disgust. Toe roil lotion was then put and carried unanimously. The E irl of ST. VINCENT then rose to Iv ive the second r e solution. He telt ii. would not be necessary to preface the resolutionw Inch he had the honour of itilimitting to the meeting by ail , ohs , rva•ions of his own, particu larly after the ample address of the No►,le Cli•airman on th e general state of the West India Colonies, acid on the merits of the question they had now to decide. He should be brief, for he felt he 'night impair the force of what the Noble Chairmain had said, and he was conscious lie not add weight to it. He would intreat those who had any interest in the West India colonies, to consider one in went, the general calamity that would ensue, if any pro perty of any description whatever which bad been coo., crated by the laws, should be invaded and broken down.—(Hear, hear.) If colonial property were thu• to he sacrificed, what property would be safe?—(Applau , e) If one species of property were to be invaded, on account of some peculiar shade or distinction, who could say where su th invasion would stop.—(Hear.) He remem bored a case in which a man had been extremely trouble. some, and was desired to move off. The fellow replied, he had as much right to be there as any body, for the land was made for mankind, whether an individual was de signited the proprietor or not. If, upon the doctrine of original rights, of abstract principles, West India property consecrated by law was to be invaded, every man might approach them with the same argument. He bad had the advantage of the Noble Chair. man, by a residence in the West Indies, and be mixed in every thing relative to the general busi ness carried on in that country. He did not wish to make any observations on what had fallen under his own notice, as so many of those whom lie addressed resided there; but he would state, that when be lived in Jamaica, no prudent man would venture to become the proprietor of slaves without consulting their feelings. If a gang of negroes were to be purchased by a person with whom they were unacquainted, they would send a depu tation to see the ground and houses which were to allotted them, and if they declared a repugn ince to be purchased, no prudent man would become their proprietor. Facts like these ought to be known, for they could not he stated except in pamphlets, in which the reader could not understand them from want of local knowledge. The people of this country ought to know what the real sys tem was. And unless a proprietor of an estate were determined to risk every thing on an abstract principle, the country might be brought to understand the impolicy and inhumanity of their intended proceedings. He would now beg leave to move the second resolution. Mr. GEORGE PALMER felt extremely incompetent to follow the Noble Lord who had just sat down. Little remained for him to say but to second the re-olution which had been put into his hand. There was, however, one subject on which he might ask for the indulgence of a few moments of the meeting, which was, with respect to the large amount of the shipping engaged in the West In dia trade. As a ship-owner, and conversant with shipping business from his earliest yeas s, he was probably able to say as much upon the importance of that subject as any other mm. He meant to draw the attention of the meeting particularly to the comparative importance of the West India shipping with that of the shipping of the country to every other part. Upon this lie would refer to the returns which bad been made lately to the House of Lords—returns in themselves requiring a great deal of ex planation to render them at all intelligible to the community at large. By those returns it appeared that the whole amount of tonnage which had entered the various ports in the United Kingdom in the course of last year was 2,367,3 . 22 tons ; of which that from the British West India ports was 24,979—in this way appearing to be little more than a tenth pin of the tonnage engaged in the foreign trade. This was not accurate; because the two millions and a fraction of a tonnage included the entry of every vessel from what ever port in the world she might have arrived. To the East Indies a ship could scarcely snake one voyage within the twelve months, whilst from ports in Belgium she was able to make no ha than from six to eight in the course of the year. In the latter case the vessel was en tered as many times as she made voyages notwithstanding in this way 700 voyages to Belgium ought only to have been entered in the return as 100 and not as 700—the ship employing no more than six or seven seamen, where as, a ship voyaging to the \Vest Indies, of 700 tons, ought to have been entered as of 700 tons, and occupying 50 seamen. Upon this principle he had dissected the whole of the returns made to 1 3 ,,rliatosnt, and the result was, as regarded the West India trade, that instead of there tieing 2,367,322 tons of British shipping employed in the foreign trade, the whole did not exceed 1.324,780 tons, of which the West India trade composed one-sixth pa: t, and which undoubtedly was most important consideration. Whatever political conotnists might say, no one attending this meeting would deny that such a MIT rence in inewitig the re turns was of importance to this country. In the time of war it was to the foreign trade the country bad to look for sea men. It was the foreign trade and lone voyages which alone made perfect seamen. The meeting could not but also recollect the extraordin iry attempt that was made last year about this time by his Majesty's Ministers to destroy, with respect to the timber duties, one half of the shipping engaged in the North American trade. This was according to their own statement, and he (Mr. P.) mentioned it for the prpose of showing t•iat it way of the greatest possible importance to retain the West India trade. Besides the importation from the West Indies, there was an exportation amounting to about 5 000,000 annually ; and with the whole of duties the aggregate to the county w.is about 7,000,0001. sterling. Perhaps gen tlemen might say that take away 7,000,0001. and there was but 7,000,0001. lost ; but viewing this in another way, and considering how the 7,000,000 L changed hands, it might not be worth less than in the result 100,000 0001. to the country. He had great pleasure in seconding the resolution. The resolution was then put from the chair and carried unanimously. Mr. RontNsorr, in rising to propose the next resolution, could not forbear uttering fan axpression of gratification at what lie heard respecting the comparative value and im portance of the shipping trade with the West Indies, and that of all other parts of the globe. And as to the danger and absolute ruin that migh result to the colonists them selves, as well as to the another country by any dismem berment of these colonies, or by any depreciation in the value of colonial trade it struch him with astonish ment. But be said again that he was highly gratified at seeing such a meeting collected together at so short a notice, and he hoped and believed that the impression that would he made throughout the country by the result of that meeting, and upon his Majes ty's Government, of whom lie would speak with the high est respect. would have the effect of dissipating much of that delusion, as to the colonies, which had so long pre vailed in this country, and produce a conviction that their interests, and those of the mother country, were so idesitifi,d thar it was impossible to separate them, or to affect the one without materially injuring the other.— (Heor, hear.) When he observed that there were nine otter resolutions to follow his, he would compress the ob servations he should snake within as limited a space as possible. This he regretted the less, as the proposi tion which he had been called upon to support was so self evident that it neither needed the aid of illus. tration or argument. The proposition was—" That in addition to the direct intercourse of Great Britain with her West IndialCailonies, an extensive cross trade is main tained between those colonies and the British posessions in North Hmerica, which afford employment to upwards of 100,000 ton British shipping and by furnishing a market for the fisb, corn, salted provisions, and lumber of British America contributes essentially to the prosperity of that other vast branch of colonial dominion, on which, jointly with the West India trade, Great Britain depends for the employment of at least one-third of her whole mercantile marine, and consequently for her station amongst the nations of the world." Now he found that on looking to the Parliamentary returns, alluded to by the Honourable Gentleman who spooks lost, that the "shipping trade connected with the North America❑ possessions and the West India colonies embraced a tonnage of 730,000. This was, independently of colonial trade between those colonies, and of coasting trade, which they also enjoyed, all which, though not al luded to in Parliamentary Returns, yet contributed in no small degree to that maritime ascendancy and power which he was sure no person in that room would desire to see impaired in the slightest degree. The exports to North America amounted to two millions, three hundred and ten thou s Ind, and to the West Indies, four million, four hundred, and forty-seven thousand. The exports of manufactured goods was greater in tact to the North American colonies alone, than to Russia, Sweeden Denmark, Norway, and France If t ere was any gentleman present iner.ly cennected with manufactures, and not immediately with the coionies, be would say to him that it was impossible that any of the great colonial interests could be materially affected without bringing with it a corresponding degree of distresss on all the manufacturers, and when the country was considered in respect to labour, was it not a sell-evident proposition, that those colonies which ai -1 forded the bent and surest market in war and in peace, not svlrjectto fluctuation by the accidents of tsar, or the policy ef foreign Governments, was necessary to the preser vation of the prompt-6i.) of the mother country, whose in terest were so much connected and identified with those of the colonies. The imports from North America amounted to one milli n one hundred and six thousand ; and from the We-t I , die- mime millions anti ninety-live thousand. Independent of tie argument addres.ed to the meeting as forming a great port of the shipping trade Of the country, the entire colonial shipping trad- was much greater than could possibly be conceived. Toe shipping was estimated at upwards of a hundred thousand rills, but be heli,v,l it did not fall far short of 737,000. He would say one word as to the value of the colioni.l trade, with reference to the ►alue of our foreign trade ge nerally, oe was one of those who was not disposed to un dertake, in the slightest degree, the natural anxiety felt by Government to cultivate friendly relations with every trading country in the world, but as a matter of opinion, he must state that any attempt to sacrifice advantages actually possessed in colonial trade for any speculative profit of ether foreign trade was the most mistaken policy. The exports of manufactured goods were greater to the North American colonies than to Roy si a , Prusssia, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, and France. The Hon. Gentlemen concluded by again reading the resolution. Mr. N. GOULD, Chairman of the North American Colonial Association, in seconding the resolution, addressed the meeting as as follows :—Sir, the resolution just pro posed by th intelligent gentleman, the indefatigable Mem ber of the Hou•e, has been well placed in his hands, ex tendedly connected and well acquainted as he is with the (LEFT SPEAXING.) The following are the resolutions : I. That, considering the awful crisis to which the British West India colonies have been brought, by the pressure of pe cuniary distress, as well as by alarming excitement amongst the Negro population, this meeting is desirous of expressing its opinion on the value of those colonies to the mother-country, on the policy which she has lately pursued with regard to them, and on the measures best calculated to avert the impending calamity of their total loss as useful possessions of the British Crown. 2. That the value of the West India colonies to the revenue, manufacturing industry, and mercantile marine of Great Bri tain, may be at once ascertained by reference to parliamentary documents, whereby it will appear that the duties annually col lected from West India produce amount to seven millions ster ling ; that the annual official value of British manufactures ex ported to the colonies is about 5,500,000/. ; and the amount of shipping employed in the direct trade about 250,000 tons; alto gether exhibiting a branch of commerce almost unequalled in point of extent, and peculiarly important on account of its na tional character; the whole emanating from British capital, be ing conducted by British subjects in British vessels, and finally returning the whole value of cultivation in the colonies into the general resources of the mother-country, while the cultivator is suffering the extremity of distress. 3. That, in addition to the direct intercourse of Great Britain with her West India colonies, an extensive cross trade is maintained between those colonies and the British possessions in North America, which affords employment to upwards of 100,000 tons of British shipping; and, by furnishing a market for the fish, corn, salted provisions, and lumber of British America, contributes essentially to the prosperity of that other vast branch of colonial dominion, on which, jointly with the West India trade, Great Britain depends for the employment of at least one_third of her whole mercantile, marine, and conse. quently, for her station amongst the nations of the world. 4. That the loss of the colonies, or the abandonment of in terests, thus powerfully contributing to the resources of the soother country, would inflict upon numerous branches of ma nufacturing industry, as well as upon the revenue, an injury of incalculable magnitude, which would never be compensated by foreign trade. So great a destruction of commerce, essentially domestic in all its relations, must not only entail ruin upon numberless private families, but would withdraw from the ma. nufacturers of copper, iron, mill-work, hardware, woollen and cotton goods, the fisheries, the collieries, the salt provision trade of Ireland, and all the various trades connected with shipping, a source of employment on which these industrious classes base been accustomed to rely in war as well as in peace. A great commercial convulsion insist follow this loss of employ. ment, while, at the same time, the revenue would be seriously affected bya great diminution of consumption, arising out of the diminished ability of the people to purchase taxable commo. dities, and the enormous advance of prices of all colonial ar ticles, which must attend the abstraction of the produce of the British West Indies from the general market of Europe. 5. That the loss or abandonment of the British West India Colonies would be no less injurious to the real interests of hu manity than to the commerce of this country. The negroes, if unsupported by the presence, the intelligence, and capital of Europeans, would speedily sink into a state of anarchy and moral debasement ; and, while a deplorable cessation of in. dustry, in raising articles for European consumption, would thus ensue in the British Colonies, an irresistible inducement would be given to Foreign Colonies to increase their cultivation, and for that purpose to extend the African Slave Trade, which this country, by great exertions and expenditure of money, has long and ineffectually endeavoured to suppress. 6. That the conduct of Great Britain towards her West India colonies has neither been consistent with the principle laid down in the Parliamentry Resolutions of 183, nor with that spirit of justice and conciliation which is so necessary to the at tainment of any national object. It should never be forgotten that the systent of cultivation by slave labour was established by Great Britain for her own benefit ; that the Colonists are Englishmen, lawfully possessing property under the direct sanc_ tion and encouragement of the mother-country, and are entitled to the protection which the law and the Constitution provide for the security and integrity of that property ; they are na turally jealous of their character and rights; on them must depend the execution of all colonial laws wherever originating, and not only are they most competent to frame regulations for the real comfort of the slave, but they have a direct interest in his welfare; so that to discredit and endanger their property by perpetual interference. and to stigmatize them as a class of per, sons destitute of the common feelings of humanity, can neither tend to forward the purposes of justice, of sound policy, or of real improvement in the condition of the slave. 7. That popular clamour, arising from mistaken impressions as to the real condition of the negroes, and extended to the colo_ nies, has already produced the most disastrous effects, by alien. ating the affection of the slave from his master, of the master from the mother-country, destroying the credit of colonial pro.. perty, causing constant agitation, and thus seriously retarding those measures of gradual improvement in the condition of the negro population, which it was the object of the British legisla ture to accomplish. S. That this Meeting has observed with great regret, that at a moment when relief is avowedly necessary, even to the pre. servatien of the West India Colonies, his Majesty's Minis ters have declared their intention to make that relief contin gent on the unqualified adoption of an order of the King in Council, dated November 2, 1831 ; a line of policy, which being virtually designed to coerce the legislative colonies, by means of fiscal or penal regulations on their produce, is most objectionable, and calculated to widen the misunderstanding between the mother-country and the colonists, to increase the excitement among the negro population, and thus to precipi- tate the ruin of the colonies. 9. That this meeting is anxious for the adoption of such further measures of amelioration as may, on due enquiry, be found necessary to the real welfare of the negro, and consistent with the Parliamentary resolutions of 1823, a feeling in which it is convinced that all the resident planters fully participate ; but this meeting must protest against the harsh and ungenerous policy which would proffer relief to the acknowledged distress of the colonist only on condition of abandoning his constitu tional rights. 10. That, in order to avert, if possible, the dreadful calamity of the destruction of the British West India colonies, this meeting is of opinion that immediate relief should be given to the colonists, divested of the conditions imposed by his Ma jesty's Ministers, and sufficient at least to maintain the colonies in cultivation. 11. That, as an act of justice to the colonists, and with a view of preventing the fatal effects of that continual excite. ment which has already brought the colonies to the brink of destruction, and of removing from the public mind erroneous impressions in regard to the state of slavery in the British colonies, this meeting is of opinion that a full and impartial Parliamentary inquiry, on oath, should be immediately insti tuted for the purpose of ascertaining the laws and usages of the colonies, the actual condition and treatment of the slaves, their habits and dispositions, and the degree of their progres sive improvement and civilization. The information obtained from such authority would not only remove erroneous impres sions, but lead to the consideration of such further measures of amelioration as, in the words of the Parliamentary resolu tion of 15'23, " shall be compatible with the well-being of the slaves themselves, with the safety of the colonies, and with a fair and equitable consideration of the interests of private pro perty." 12. That petitions founded upon these resolutions be present ed to his Majesty, and to both Houses of Parliament. (We shall give the Conclusion in a Second Edition.) THE FLOOD AT CINCINNATI.--Up to the `.. - !2d ult. the river had subsided several feet. The Cincinnati Gazette says—" It is ascertained that there has been plundering to a considerable extent in the deserted houses. Some wretches detected in attempts of this character, or in their actual per petration, have been committed to prison. Other doings little less dishonourable are tolerated. There is a prospect of a scar city of provisions, especially the article of flour. The holders have advanced the prices. Before the rise, flour in store was 5 dollars to 5 dollars 25 cents per barrel. It is now 6 dollars 50 cents to 7 dollars, and on the rise. This is individual specu lation upon a common public calamity, a visitation of Provi dence upon a whole country." A letter from Cincinnati of February 21, to the Editor of the Journal of Commerce, says— " An infant alive in its cradle was taken up opposite Cincinnati, and a few days after, its mother, hearing of one being picked up, came and claimed her child. Three children were taken out of a house that was going down the current, and a large house, with several men and women in the garret, went past the city. Whether they have been saved or not, I have not heard. The cold has come back to-day, and the river in the streets and houses is frozen. Coals have been three-quarters of a dollar per bushel ; wood, ten dollars a cord. Such cold I never felt, except the cold Tuesday in New York about five years ago. What the Lord intends to do with us I know not. His hand is evi d ently at work among the nations of the earth. May he give us grace to look to him continually for direction, and make us satisfied to be wherever he has any thing for us to do or to suffer."— cu, York Paper. ALHAKEM THE CRUEL.—From this mo ment Alhakem, who acquired the surname of the Cruel, was torn by incessant remorse. His imagination was continually haunted by the spectres of his murdered people. Solitude was intolerable, and sleep almost impossible. In the dead of the night he called his singers and dancers, and sometimes even his Ministers and Judges, as if some public affair of the utmost urgency were to b e exam i ne d. After making the gaping Mi nisters listen to the music, or witness the dancing of his female slaves, he coolly baste them go home. In 821 this whimsical tyrant breathed his last.—Lardner's Cyclopedia. THE TRADE WITH RUSSIA. The following regulations have been promulgated it addition to those previously noticed, respecting flat mode of conducting the commercial operations bs , ween Russia and other Staffs, during the press year. The orders have been issued to all the cu - !omhouses of the Russian empire, agreeably to decision of the Minister of Finance of that countr . " First—ln conformity with the 41st section of t' customhouse regulations, no difficulty will be made in s-• ceiving the declarations of captains of merchantmen, the subject of packages in dispute. Under such circus - stances it will be sufficient to observe that the bill of ladin:! mentions that, at the moment the goods were put on board, a discussion had been raised on the number of package. , specified ; or, that the captain must adduce clear and ere diole proof that the deficient package has not been put on board, nor been landed afterwards. If the bill of lading does not men'ion the above, or if such proofs are not given, or if they are deemed insufficient, the captain will be sen tenced to pay the fines fixed by sections 101 and 102 of the custom-house regulations for the packages in dispute which may be found deficient in the cargo, according to the declarations. However, this rule will not apply to ood= imported in bulk, or such as are declared by number, and which are not liable to be minutely detailed in the bull of lading. " Second—The detailed specification of the goods men- tinned in bills of lading, or bills for land carriage, may be given in separate lists, prorided the total of each kind of goods be clearly specified in the text, in conformity with th.i regulations prescribed on the subject on the 12th Fe•. bruary,lB24. In the contrary case, the fine (accidensia) fixed by the 47th section of the Custom Regulations will be levied. " Third—As the present regulations relating to the two above-specified objects were not sufficiently explicit, and as the Custom-house officers themselves were not always acting according to their spirit, the above regulations will only begin to be put in practice at the opening of the sea son, and from the inland custom-houses from the month of March, 1832." THE FUNDS -(THIS DAY.) CITY, TWELVE O'CLOCK. Madras Papers to the 20th October, Canton to the 16th March, and Mexican to the 14th Feb. have been received at the North and South American Coffee-house. (From the Madras Pap e rs.) The weather for these last two or three days has been unusually hot, for which we augur that a plentiful supply of rain is in store for us. We believe it is in contemplation to relieve his Highness the Rajah of Mysore from the cares and anxiety of hi. Government. Commissioners will be appointed by the Supreme Government to settle the Mysore country, the Rajah and various members of his family will be pro vided for. (From the Canton Price Current, Nov. 15.) COMMERCIAL REMARKS. Corrox.—Our market remains steady at the late ad ♦ance in price. Orrust —The arrival of some junks has led to the clearance of several time-bargains in Patna and Benares ; and an improvement in the last few days has occurred in he prices for small purchases, the Patna being sold at 940 per chest, Malwa so low as 670, but the principal holders wi I not sell under 700 per chest. No improve ment in British piece goods, the stock on hand being ♦ery considerable. Woollens have declined in value; saltpetre has expe rienced an advance. Our last advices from Manila men tion that price+ were very low for foreign goods, but the consumption much increased. We have hitherto omitted to notice an important redue- tion which has taken place this season in the duty on opium at Maccoa. It is now ten dollars and a small frac tion lower per chest. By the French mail this morning a report prevailed at the Hague thar the French and English Ambassadors were to leave, if the King of Holland did not ratify the treaty on the Ist of April. ThFy write from Madrid (March 23) that the King of Spain had passed in review several corps, after which they proceeded on their march to the frontiers of Portugal. A combat is said to have taken place between the cuiras sier* and volunteer royalists, at Saragossa. The cui rassiers were obliged to leave the town. The Vera Cruz Papers contain a proclamation of Ge neral Santa Anna, published on the 2gl of February, and addressed to the inhabitants of Vera Cruz, stating, that at their call he had put himself at their head in the character of a mediator, but it was in vain ; lie therefore calla them to arms, and their companies in Jilireo, and in other places, will second their effwts. THE FUNDS. The estafette this morning from Paris, has brought an account of a " dirty" row having taken place there with the tic tvengers. The Brutes are lower, about per cent. The choler•, it appears, is gaining ground, and is spread ing to the interior. Great fear is entertained that it will cause immense ravages in the country. The accounts from Belgium and Holland are Loth of a warlike tendency ; each party is preparing for the worst, and pretend to show fight; but we are well persuaded that no real blow will be given. Consols opened this morning at the same price they left off yesterday, S3i for the Account, with nothing doing as yet. The creation of fifteen new Peers seems now to give hopes to the Reformers, that Etrl Grey and his Majesty , are determined to stand their ground ; and that the Re form Bill will be carried, although not expected, with a great majority. In the Foreign Funds there is scarcely any thing doing. Dutch Stock 42. We do not hear as yet that the Dutch steamer has brought any political news of importance. HALF-PAST ONE. We have received a Canton paper cd the 15th Novem ber, which states that Governor Le has been sent front Pekin, with directions to take the more speedy and direct route to this province, that he may be in time to superin tend the reviews in the northern districts. At P. kin hi. Majesty is dispensing pardon to the members of the hope. rial House, on account of his having reached his fiftieth year. Accounts have been received at the Havannah, from Jamaica, of the 15th Feb., but they do not communicate any news of importance. --Letters from Vera Cruz state that General Santa Anna has b, en trying to bribe the Governor of the fort, in which he has not succeeded. We hear the M.-zit:an packet has brought over 40.000 dollars for the dividend, and 44,000 for the Botany Mining Company; in the whole, it is said she has brought 600 000 dollars. Up to the present hour we have no political news to be depended upon ; lnt our funds have rather improved since the e.irly part of the morning, when they were BSI e, at present they are 83 and for next account 834 y. In other foreign eecurites nothing doing. 7 EKES O' CL 0 CK. Consols for Account 83k FOUR O'CLOCK CLOSING PRICES Congols Ditto for Account 83 1/ Brazilian Bonds Buenos Ayres... Danian Greek, 1825 Mexican, 1825 3l Peruviln Chilian Ditto.... Columbian 1824 Russian 9 7 14 Spanish NAPOLEON AND THE DECLARATION OF VIENNA.—The declaration of Vienna was, in every sense, a trial of life or death. Napoleon assumed the task of replying to it with his own pen. The answer drawn up by him was made public as an act of the Council of State; but Count Boulay, the President, only moulded it into an official form, and softened some expressions which appeared too plain and energetic. It was rumoured in the drawing rooms of Paris at the time, that the chief erasure was a personal challenge to the Emperor of Russia. " Individual quarrels," said Napoleon, " are decided only by single combat among brave and honour able men." This idea took such hold of his imagination, that it was conveyed indirectly, through the Moniteur, in a pretended letter from Vienna. " The Princess Bagration," says the letter, " who permits herself to say any thing, and who was formerly the greatest enemy of Napoleon, said to the Emperor Alexander, at a Court ball, If this be a personal quarrel between your Majesty and Napoleon, why don't you send him a eartel instead of all this noise and bustle of armies P "'—Dr. Lardner's Cabinet Library, Mr. Moore, and his publisher, Mr. Murray, little imagined that they subjected themselves to a call from the Usher of the Black Rod, and a visit to Newgate, for printing a memoir of Lord Byron. That they and others may know better in future, however, we pray them to peruse the 113th standing order, made so lately as the 31st of January, 1721 : Notice being taken that the works, lives, and last wills of divers Lords of this House, have been frequently printed im. perfectly, and published after their deaths, without the direction or consent of the heirs, executors, administrators, or trustees of such Lords, it is, therefore, resolved and declared, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, in Parliament assembled, that if after the death of any Lord of this House, any person presume to publish in print his works, or any part of them, not published in his lifetime, or his life, or last will, without consent of his heirs,. executors, administrators, or trustees, the same is a breach of the privilege of this House."—Brigiskox Gazette. gIIIPPING INTELLIGENCI ,;THIS DAY.) 7 . .. m FROM LLOYD'S , --...., %-.4 .t :,; /:7"-- j , , ta DEAL, Ara 4.—Wiud S. E.—Arriv,4l :iiiii: ‘ , -,/ ..iv and sailed, the Alexander, 11‘Laeblikl iai. - t 'pe of Good Hope ; the El zabeth, Carrie, atitePlifetitina, Delorke, for New South Wales. Pi.rxiount, Aram 3.—Wind E.—Passed by, the YoLli, Leary, and Frances Charlotte, from Madris ; the Industry, Newton, from Cape Cout, and the Orwell, from Lisbon. ArItIL to S. E.—Arrived, the Sphynx packet, from Mexico, with 670.000 dollarm, in freight ; sailed from Tampico Feb. 1, Vera Crux Feb. 14, and Havannah Feb. 27. Off the port, the Columbia, Brown, from Odessa---sailed. BRISTOL, Aran, 4.—Arrived, the Paragon, Wilson, from Mauritius. LIVERPOOL, APRIL 3 —Arrived, the Cordelia, Wea rer, from Bengal ; sailed Nov. 24, and, from the Sa ui Heads, Nov. 28 ; St. Helena, F; b. 4, and A.cen is I, 14th. Also arrived, the Jamaica, Patterson, from Pe' ; am . buco ; Mercator, from Wilmington ; Laowini, o,h roe. from Lisbon. Off the port, Casseope, from the Mauti•ius; Cybele, from Paraiba; Swift.ure, from Africa; R; bert PuMord, from . N-Nv Orleans; Mary, from Savannah ; and Bainbridge, from CF art ,f ton . GRP:II:NOCK, A rr.u. 2. —Sailed, Ore‘aa, Tod.l, for Benzal. PORTLAND, APRIL 4.—Arrived off port, the F.:quhar son. Cruik-hand, from China. DARTMOUTH. APRIL S.—Arrived off port, the GPneral Kyd, Nairne, fisan China ; sailed Nov. 27, ant , S. He lena, Feb. 12. The Calcutta, Watson, from Liverpool to Calcutta, put into Col inga, dismasted. The Bolivar, of Liverpool, which pnt back to Calcutta„ has been condemned. Arrived at Beneal, La Belle Alliance, from the Downs; James Patterson, Grote, from London. OLD BAILEY.-(THIS DAY.) OLD COURT. This morning these Sessions coinm.ared before the Right Hon. the Loin MAYOR, Lord TENrEanis, Mr. Baron VAUGYAN, and Mr. Justice Ar.nirasoNr. William Crofts, a respectable-looking reau, aged 29, was capitally indicted for stealing in the siwelling-l-ouse of Robert Owen, 20 shawls, value 302., a silver waiter, value 81., a fish-slice, value 305., a quantity of silver tea and tabl , spoons, dressing-box, a silver tankard, value 5/., a ring, spectacles, and a large qu.ntity of wearing apparel. The whole of the property stolen was estimated at up wards of 70/. value. Luke Harrison, a tailor of No. 10, Blenheim-street, Bond-street, stated that the prisoner occupied hits front garret, and had done so for nine months. On the 20th February the priLner was at home before tight o'clock in the evening ; he went out the next slay, and after he w gene the officers came, when the wittiest showed +hem to the prisoner's rosin. Witness could not tell whether t-e prisoner was .t home that evening or not. He toll witness that he was a gentlitnin's servant out of employ, but got occasional jobs at ss. a-day. Benjamin Schofield, an officer of Marlborough-street, took the prisoner into custody on Wednesday, the 22 , 1 of Feb., at nine o'clock in the evening, in the Green Man public-house, Bond-street, a few doors from Mr. Owen's. Witness was sitting in a room, and overheard a conversa tion between the prisoner rind another MAO, and irom what he heard, be suspected the prisoner to be the thief, and he came out and charyd him with the robbery. The prisoner was talking about having some ducks for sup per, and having heard before that he was spending a good deal of money, the witness suspicions were raised. The prisoner and the other man were quarrelling in the pas sage. Witness took them both into custody and carried th , nr to Marlborough-street. On searching the prisoner he found a silk handkerchief marked with Mr. Owen's name, and a key, a trunk in his lodging, which he said wa , at No. 10, Blenheim-street. The key was found to open his trunk. The witness also produced a silver tankard which he received from Mr. Turingo, of Goodman's fields, and which the prisoner admitted having sold. lie also produced a ring and a coat which had been given up by the parties to whom the prisoner had disposed of them. John Martin, who keeps a clothessale-eoop, on the 21st Ju'y purchased two coats, two pair of trousers, and some waistcoats of the prisoner. He now produced them: Owea was recalled, and identified moat of the articles produced as his property. He added that some spoons were not forthcoming. Lord TENTERDIC.N.—YOU may think yourself well off that so many articles are forthcoming. The Jury found the prisoner Guilty—Death. Alexander Hamilton, aged 19, was indicted for steal , ing a horse, value 201., a chaise, value 201., and a set of harness, the property of Wm. Henry Reetz and another. Guilty—Death. _ _ Jane Mills, aged 34, was indicted for stealing several sove reigns and half sovereigns, the property of Peter Bennett. The prisoner had been employed as a nurse in the ser vice of the prosecutor, who was a harkney-coach master. in St. Pancras. On the 9th of February tke prosecutor gave his cousin, Sarah Bennett. a purse wi.h 18/ !0. , . to take care of, and she locked it in a drawer ; that evening the prisoner wished for something that was in the drawer, and Sarah Bennett unlocked it for her. Soe then left the house, and the following morning the money was missed. It was ascertained tbat the prisoner had gone to Gravesend, where she was apprelisndell a few Jays after w.rds, and upon being charged with the robbery, she con fessed she stole the money, and deliveret up 41. I la. GLI., which she said was all she bad lett. The Jury found her Guilty—Death. NEW COURT. (Before the Cosiatou SICKGEANT Considerable time was occupied in swearing in the Grand and Petit Juries, and the regu'ar busines. of the Court did not einnmence till near eleven o'clock. Forty pi loners, chiefly' boys, sere arraigntsl upon their several indictments—the crimes with which they are chareeil are robberies of so trivial a nature, that it wks reuisrked tl at tt wa. a great pity that the country should, by their pro secwions, be burdened with tilt• eximus , s. A chimney-sweep, named llijor, pleaded guil y of -tcaling 2.., the property of his master. He was sentenced .0 three to.inths' imprisonment and hard labour in she House of Correction. Daniel Coleman, alai 15 years of age, was convicted of stealing a silk Landkerchtef from the person of f),, i ,nis Edward Junes, Eq., in Parliament-street.—The Court aoiteneed him to he sent on board tho Boys Skip." The Commort SERCKANT explained io tor, Jtity, that on 1)o-oil this ship boys are tang! ta ti :de ; aril if they behave themselves after they are made ptofictcto, they -re provided with situations and are again restored ti society. To show the paltry nature of som.: of the prosecutions, a girl stands indicted for stealing a quantity of kitchen sniff. William Blanched was put to the bar charged wiih stealing a quantity of silver, the property of James Rayne, a silversmith, in Cierktow..ll. It ap i ie.tred that the prisoner had been in the employ of the pr• sectitor tor about twelve months, and en the 20th of Fehr odry Isst Ime ounce and four pennyweights of silver-rutting• was found behind the pr,sa at which he worked. When charged with the robbery, he was told by the prosecutor at it would i t i h erthatther better gt he ft p i u n h i i s o h t e t d o ; cfioinr,fes if s t a l ; l e l , r t ‘ t y t e i rre ebcee receiver m touch no receivers, there would be fewer thieves. Upon this the prisoner confessed that he had before stolen upwards of thirty-nine ounces, and by his direction an officer found seven ounces of silver in his lodgings, with five sovereigni. The stealing of the one since odd was clearly proved. Tue Judge decided that so evi,!ence could be taken of any thing that took pltce after the threat and promise made by the prosecutor. For the prisoner, a baker, with whom he had dealt upwards of 12 years, appeared, and gave him a good character up to this transaction. William Rowe was indicted for stealing from the house of Sir Robert Stnirke, a silver cup, two silver dees it spoons, 12 silver tea spoons, a silver wine fuonet, 12 plate. , knives and forks, 24 table knives and torks, a tea tr,:y, and a pail of shots. The Jury returned a verdict of Guilty, with a recom mendation to mercy, on account of good character. The Charles-street Lords and Gentlemen hay ing, after many painful and reluctant throes, produced the needful for discharging the expenses of Lord Ashley's Dorset setshire election, advertisements have been inserted in the County papers, calling upon the Creditors to send in their ac counts. In consequence of the prosperity of trade in Paris, a company is forming to build several new bazars. There is already great competition for stalls among the mar. chands.—Qutitidienne. PROGRESS OF CRIME IN IRELAND.-Dur ing the past year the highest rate of crime in Ireland was iu Dublin, where the proportion was one commitment to every 90 inhabitants. In the city of Waterford the proportion was one to 118 ; in Kilkenny, one to 150 ; in Limerick, one to ISO; in Cork, one to 200 ; and in Galway, one to ;220. Of the coon ties, Sligo had the highest proportion of criminals, there be;ng one to every 240 inhabitants. In the other counties the pro portions are as follow :—ln Longford, one to 250 inhabitants ; in Queen's county, one to 310; in Dublin county, one to 356 ; in Downshire, only one to 9.20 ; and in Cork, which is the most populous county, one to 700. The total number of persons con. victed of criminal offences was 9,902, about five-eighths of the number of commitments: • Of that only Xi 2 were senteuvi,d oath, and of that number id oily Wirt noculet, ;t