The Express.
London, England, 1847-09-25 00:00:00

CEITRAL CRIMINAL COURT—Tins D tY.

_
Before Mr. Baron Platt.
MURDER.—Thomas Ma intosh Davidson, aged 53, a gen-
tleman of fortune, was indicted for the wilful murder of
Louis Montford, on the 20th Mat., in the parish of Edmon-
ton. Mr. Boiktei said he bad been instructed. on the part of
the crown, to prosecute in this cue. The unhappy gentle-
man at the bar wai of unsound mind, and, consequently, was
not answerable for the offence on which he was arraigned.
There could be no no doubt of his insanity ; and, as such,
they would be called upon to return a verdict of not guilty.
on the ground of insanity. The first thing which they would
hove to do would be to ascertain whether he was of unsound
mind or not.—The jury was then sworn es to whether
the prisoner was of unsound mind or not. Mr.
Bodkin then proceeded to state that the prisoner was
a gentleman of property, but owing to his state of mind his
property was placed under trustee, by order of the Court of
Chancery, and there was no doubt he was totally unconscious
of what he was doing. Mr. Outfield, surgeon, of Tottenham,
deposed that he had attended the prisoner for the last two
years; his mind wan completely imbecile, and he was totally
unconscious of what he did. He (witness) was satisfied the
unfortunate gentleman was not aware of what he had done.
—Mr. id'otfurdo, surgeon of Newgate, and Mr. Olding, the
assistant-surgeon, gave similar evidence.—The jury found
that the prisoner was insane.—Mr. Baron Platt directed the
prisoner to remain in the present custody until her majesty's
pleasure he known.
THE MARYLERONE BILTHDEIL.—Mary Ann Hunt, who
was tried and convicted last motions for the wilful murder
of Mary Stowell. was again placed at the bar.—Mr. Baton
Platt inquired of the prisoner if the had anything to say
why the sentence which had been passed on her should
not be carried into effect.—The prisoner said she had every
reason to believe she was pregnant.—Mr. Baron Platt : Let
• jury of matrons be empannelled to ascertain whether the
prisoner is in a state of pregnancy.—Mr. Cope: When is
the jury to be summoned.—Mr. Baron Platt : As early as
possible.—The prisoner was then removed.

SUPPRESSION OF THE SLAVE TRADE.
The following appeared in a portion only of oar
yesterday's impression.
A communication, of which the following ie a por-
tion, has been made by the committee of the British and
Foreign Anti-slavery Society to the First Lord of the
Treasury
After twenty-one yearn of active and laborious efforts the
African Institution left it on record, as the fruit of its expe-
rience, that " it.is in slavery that the slave-trade has its origin;
it is the market provided by the slave-holder which furnishes
the direct incentive to all the crime!, of a trade in slaves, to
the murders and conflagrations which attend their capture,
to the condensed horrors of the middle pusage which follow
it, and to the misery and desolation of a continent l" The
fact, thus enunciated, indicates the rue point of attack—
slavery must be abolished before the slave-trade can be sup-
pressed.
In conformity with this view of the subject, the constitu
Bon of the British and Foreign Anti-slavery Society lays it
down as a fundamental principle, " That so long as slavery
exists, there is no reasonable prospect of the annihilation of
the slave-trade; and of extinguishing the sale and barter of
human beings ;" and, " that the extinction of slavery and
the slave-trade will be attained most effectually by the em-
ployment of those means which are of a moral, religious, and
pacific character." To the peaceful extinction of slavery
the efforts of its executive committee have bee* exclusively
confined; and they now repeat their conviction, so often
stated in memorials laid before government, that the attempt
to suppress the slave Arade by an armed force is not ouly vain
in itself, hut mischievous in its results.
In making this remark, the committee would not be under-
stood to reflect, in the slightest degree, on the present or any
preceding government. Strongly as many of them are opposed!
to the expediency, nad others of them to the principle, of the
system of armed cruisers, they believe that the government
have been actuated, in all the measures they have adopted
for the suppression of the slave trade, by the most how meads)
intentions, and by a sincere desire to terminate an evil which
has so long desolated Africa, and brought disgrace on the
civilised world. They merely assert a melancholy truth,
which the documents laid before parliament for many years
past incontestably prove.
With respect to the extent of the save trade, it appears
that from the year 1816 to 1813. both inclusive, the number
of African negroes landed, for the purpose's of slavery, on
the islands and on the continent of America, so far as the
same could be made up from the official reports, was
657,187 ; of these, 18,042 were captured, and brought
to, or driven on shore on the islands or ousts of Amend,
and there liberated. But it is clear, from the documents on
which this statement is founded, that a much larger
number of slaves was landed than is here given. The
number of vessels reported to have landed their slaves
during the period stated, was 2,313, of which the number of
slaves on board live hundred and forty-five could not be
ascertained. These slavers probably carried about 208,000
slave, which, added to 657,000, will Rive a total of 863,000
victims for the twenty-seven years. Yet this estimate, fear-
ful as it is in the aggregate, does not approach the actual
number of wretched Africans who were torn from their
homes and securely landed in the transatlantic slave-
markets. It is highly probable, that treble the number
would scarcely approach the truth. At the present time,
it is believed on good. authority that the number of Africans
annually imported into the Spanish colonies and Brasil,
amounts to from 80,000 to 100,000.
The greet secrecy with which the slavotrade is now car-
ried on, end the facilities which the extensive coasts of Cuba
and Brazil offer for the landing of slaves, together with the
connivance and venality of the authorities, render it impos-
sible to obtain a correct estimate of the negroes imported,
or the places at which they are landed. This is admitted by
her "elejesty's capsular agents and commissioners reseliog in
those countries. But all agree that the number is immense.
The latest official reports indicate an increased activity in
the slave-trade. The commissioners at Sierra Leone, in their
report for 1814, say that, notwithstanding the augmentation
of the cruisers the addition of steue-vessels, and the in-
teemed vigilance of the squadron, " We believe that the
slave-trade is increasing, and that it is conducted perhaps
more *cally than it ever has been hitherto ;" and
they d," Nearly all the former noted slave-haunts appear
to be still frequented, and in spite of the stringent measures
adopted by the British commodore with the powerful force
ander his command, there can be no question but
that there his been a very large number of slaves
transported both to Cuba and Brasil." Her Ida-
iesty's commissary judge at the Havana, in his
report for the same year, gives it as his opinion that 10,000

Africans had been brought into slavery daring that period,
and adds, " that the fears expressed in the report of the lot
of January, 1844, respecting an active continuance of the
trade, have been confirmed." This gentleman further
states, that if the average of the importations of slaves does
not equal at the present time the number annually intro-
duced previously to the administration of General Valdes,
" the cause must be ascribed to the smaller demaud for
Mares, rather than to the diminished activity of the dealers,
or prohibitory measures of the government ;" and he
gives it as his opinion that " if it suited their interest,
to send vessels," whether from Havannah or other parts of
Cuba, he" doubts whether they would be deterred by the fear
of the blockading squadron." Her Majesty's Commisaioners
at Rio de Janeiro, in their r‘ port, rem irk that " the im-
portation of African slaves during the yepr 1844 Ins not
diminished;" that the slave-dealers have r. imams:dm ob-
tain the cover of different flags, undtr whits pleats in
Africa, without risk, the indispensable messed wring
their nefarious trade ;"—that enjoying " the certain protec-
tion of their own government on the adores and in the terri-
torial waters of the empire, they cannot but augment their
infamous tram:ethane, stimulated by the profits they leave,
and regardless of the horrors they occasion." These profits
must be immense ; for we are told, on the seine authority,
" that the capture of four vessels would not subject them to
1083, provided the fifth was successful in landing the slaves
in Brazil." Among the instances given of the successful
prosecution of this detestable traffic, is that of Menoel Pinto
da Fonseca, who, the commisaioners state, " has publicly
declared that his profits in the African trade stone, during
the you 1814, were 1,300 roes, or about 150,0001. ! "
With respect to the i • of an armed force to
suppress the slave-trade, '4"` .ing facts might be deemed
sufficient, bet the papers laid ke ore parliament still further
demonstrate this point. It appears from official returns,
that from the year 1829 to 1541, both intim:live the number
of slaves captured and adjudicated In the Mixed Commission
Courts at Sierra Leone, the Havana, Rie de Janeiro, end
other places, was four hundred and seven, and the number
of slaves liberated, 57,639. About one hundred and fifty of
the slavers were captured under the equipment article. In
two cases the prosecution was abandoned V the captors,
and in twenty cases no adjudication took place; so that the
actual number of slavers condemned amounted to three
hundred and eighty-five. But these captures were but few
compared to the great number of cases which escaped the
vigilance and activity of the British cruisers The fact is,
the skilful arrangements, the daring energy, and the per-
sona] impunity enjoyed by all parties engaged in the slave-
trade, are found to be more than a match for the prevent, or
indeed, for any squadron of cruisers that can be employed on
the c mat of Africa in that service.
It is evident to the committee, that whilst vessele of all de-
scriptions and sizes are employed in the slave-trade, few,
comparatively, of the larger size are csptorcd; and.from
facts which an analysis of the returns has brought to light,
it would appear that many of the slavers taken are used as
decoys; and that the principal business of the British
cruisers now is to recapture old slavers. This fact is strikingly
exhibited in the return made by Commodore Jones, of the
slave-vessels detained by the souadron under his command
from April 1, 1844, to Aug. 1845. The c iptures were
seventy-fire, Of these, only twenty were detained for the first
time; the others had pawed the courts frequently, viz. : fourteen
had been condemned twice; twelve thrice; nine four times;
five five times; four six times; three seven times; one eight
times; one nine times; one ten times; and one eleven times.
Of these eventy-five slavers, fifteen only were captured with
slaves on board; the rut were detained under the equipment
article. These facts prove two things; first that the looses
of the slave traffickers are not very heavy, especially, as
through their agents at Sierra Leone and elsewhere, they
have the power of repurchasing the detained vessels and
their stores at extremely low rates, end of sending them
forth again and again on their detestable voyages; and
secondly, that this country is put to heavy charges, in the
shape of prize-money, on vessels which are frequently cap-
tured under circumstances which scarcely admit of a doubt
of their haring bean used es decoys.
(To be continued.)

FRANCE.—PARIS, SEPT. 23.—MDLLE. DE L1:122t.
—Mdlle. de Luzzi a short time since forwarded to the Chan.
cellor a justificatory memorial, which has been transmitted
to the Juge d'lnstruction entrusted with the affair in which
she is concerned. It was rumoured at the Palais within the
last few days that certain speculators had proposed to Ildlle.
de Luzzi a considerable sum to allow the whole of her cone-
spoadence with the late Duke de Preslin to be published.
Mdlle. de Lutz', it is said, at first absolutely rejected etch an
offer, which, if accepted, would have the effect of rendering
public letters of an entirely confidential channel. ; but, on
the ether hand, as the desire to explain her conduct
ought to be exceedingly strong in her mind, perhaps she bas
not as yet definitively rejected the idea of publishing these
letters. It may, in fact, be remembered that, some time
after the process of Rhode; which for several weeks occu-
pied the attention of France, and indeed of all Europe,
lime. Manson, the heroine of that can, came to Paris, to
carry out a speculation of a similar character. A shop was
opened at the Hotel de Nantes, near the Carrousel, and in it
Mane. Manson herself sold a little pamphlet, containing what
she called the unpublished letters of the Fualdes case.
It is also rumoured at the Palais that two persons have sent
in offers of marriage to Mdlle. de Lursi ; and that the head
of a lady's boarding school at London hod made several pro
positions; to her to come and join her establishment.
ITALY.—FLORENCE, SEPT. 16.—The Gazzetta di
Firenze, of the 16th, contains au official letter of the Secre-
tary of Finance to tbo Gonfaloniere of the Magistracy of
Florence, in which we remark the following passages' in
allusion to the great national festivity that took place on the
12th :—" It is the will of his Imperial and Royal Highness,
that his sentiments of paternal consolation and sneers ac-
knowledgment of the popular manifestation of attachment to
his person, be this day formally renewed to you, and it is
alsohis special desire that you communicate the same to the
other members of the magistracy of Florence, and to the
members of the committee, who, together with 'the ma-
gistracy, took a part in directing so successfully a national
festival, so remarkable for exemplary order and tranquil-
lity, observed throughout during the movement of so great
a mass of population, unanimously bent upon expressing its
fervent desire of uniting snore strenuously than ever with
their prince and father, by whose assistance, seconded by the
efforts of all, they justly hope to see everything promoted,
that it conducive to the honour and advantage of the nation,
that has giren new proofs of the noble loyalty and generous
intelligence which ilstioguighes it. His highness has at the
game time directed that the various municipal banners
which the municipality of Florence offered in homage to his
highness on that evening be conspicuously placed in the
church of Santa Croce, of 'this capital, in grateful memory of
the event."

ANCONA, SEPT. 11.—Letters from Athens state that
the cabinet of St. Petersburg has proposed establishing, at
Athens, a conference of the representatives of the three pro-
tecting powers, to concert on the financial situation of the
country, and on the means to betaken to pay off the national
debt. A letter from London stye, M. do Broglie and M.
Brunow have bad several conferences with Lord Palmerston,
in the interest of Greece, but that those conferences have
been without result. The affair of tbo lonian ships and the
torture inflicted on a British subject by order of the Greek
government form a grievance for which Lord Palmerston
requests satisfaction. It is even reported Admiral Parker
will arrive in Pincus. At the present moment Chivas and
Kslergis have cast their eye on the I'eloponnesaua. They
seem to think this province will be more favourable to them

than Aistrnania.
TURKEY. TREBIZOND, SEPT. 4. All inter-
course is interrupted with Persia. The commissary of the
Porte in Kurdistan has just arrived. though with difficulty.
Raghb-Agha has organised, well or ill, the administration at
Diezireh, Musch,
Bayezid, and Diarbekir, but the insurgent
Kurds often placed hint in danger in his peregrinations;
toey occupy all the defiles and passages, and levy contribu-
, tiros on everything that plasm caravans amongst the rest.
In Persia, if report is to he believed, a revolution is immi-
'tent:Already the palace of the Schah, at Teheran, was regu.
I hilly ileged. As a fire of musketry had commenced, and
as the life of the sovereign was in peril, it was necessary to
come to some arrangement with the rebels, who demanded
their arrears of pay, for the revolution is &military one. It re-
quired all the tact of Hadji-Mirea, the prime minister, to free
the Schah from the difficulty ; he promised the complete pay-
ment of what they asked for, and for the moment he per-
I milted the insurgeats to pillage the shops. At the end cf
the month he will have no more money than at present, but
before that period has elapsed some expedient or other will
turn up, as, for instance, to declare war on Turkey. Already
be has broken the treaty elaborated with such solemn slow-
ness during six years in our walls, between Nourri-Effendi
and Abdalla.
EGYPT.—ALEXANDRIA, SEPT. 9.—We are here
occupied with the arrival of a Turkish vessel, which came
in list evening. She brought to his highness the ultima-
tum which the Porte has sent to the Greek csbinet. It
is said that an order has arrived to Mehemet Ali to hold
a certain number of vessels, as well as troops, ready to
act against Greece on the first intimation from the Porte. 1
cannot say to what point we ought to place faith in all these
versions and rumours. We are inclined to believe that the
requirements of the Porte are much exaggerated ; and the
mystery which is here thrown round the arrival of the
Turkish vessel and her mission contribute, to give birth to
conjectures which ought not to be admitted but with great
circumspection. The Viceroy has decided upon having in
future two steamers running regularly up to the estaracts
of the Nile, an arrangement which will be extremely ac-
commodating to tourists, as it will enable them mi visit these
great objects of curiosity in less time and at Ism expense
than hitherto. The writer adds, that the Turkish govern-
ment is forming a cordon +antiglare freak El Arisi to Sues,
and when this la completed, themmobtodidd lam Syria will
be admitted freely into Turkey,esi dome We Zaps.
BRAZIL.—BAIIIA.—By ties Alecto, arrived it
Cork, advice, have been received Bow Bt. Balmier ts the
9th August. There is no uews of interest to ermaisenforie.
Kubane ruled at 271 d.

NEWBVENDIIte BENEVOLENT INSVTOTIOII.--Th•
committee of this institution, establiehed in 1839, formed-
iog temporary relief and permanent pensions to manes mai
careen ts engaged is the side of newapapen, who, tram sips,
infirmity, or &oboe, may require assistance, hare jut ma-

, nouneed that their funds have reached a sum which will
enable the aselety to pant pensions to males of 161., and to
females of 101. per annum, the first of such pensioners to be
elected in November next. The funded capital of the insti-
tution is new 9601. The report congratulates the members
on the hamming interest felt by the trade in the prosperity
of the society, evidenced by the tact that the past year's in-
come had nearly quadrupled that of tLe preceding year.
WESTEINEITER COURT OF SEWERS.—DRAINAGE
or Loco-ACKE.—Yesterday, a special meeting of the Com-
missiman of Sewers for Westminster and part of Middlesex,
we. held at the office. Greek-street, Soho; Captain Begun,
R.N., in the chair, Pursuant to a resolution passed at a
previous meeting, Mr. Phillip., the surveyor, presented a re-
port upon elm state of the drainage in Long.acre, with plans
sled estimates for Ito improvement. Thd report proposed the
laying down of a sewer in Long-acre, the brickwork of which
was to be Ante and a half inches thick, and the estimated
expense 7e. ed. per foot —Mr. Le Breton having moved, and
Mr. Wood seconded, the adoption of the report, several cam •
missionen objected to it, on the ground that the brickwork,
to be salad and strong, should not be less than nine inches in
thickness, and that the report should have included a plan
forimproring the drainage of Langley-court, Mercer-street,
and other plains in the immediate vicinity,
_where postgame.
was eastissially d seg.—Mr. Phillips re time breakers*
of four sad a half Leh.. thickaese bad been Sawed to maws'
well, and that before the courts and alleys were drained it
would be neeemary to make a sewer in Lorig-acre.—After
long elfsemelon, the motion was carried by a large majority.
—Mr. Le Boston then moved, and Mr. Alderman Johnson
seentiled, • resolution to the effect that the act 10 and 11
Victoria should be put in operation, making the owners of
the property ithe Mercers' Company) responsible for the ex-
pense of conetriseting the sewer.—Tne resolution was carried,
after mural aunts *ere voted for sewers, and the
•
B ND THREATENED isretrait.--yater-
day informatlen was received that shortly after midnight on
Mesday lest the premises of Mr. J. Mouseley, a farmer, at
Weston, were entered by two men, who proceeded to Mr.
Mouseley's bedroom, armed with a pitchfork and a heavy
stick. As soon as the proprietor saw them they told him
that they intended to murder him if he offered resistance or
riieed any alarm. They then took from his pockets four
pounds in gold. After which they broke into a lower apart-
ment and carried off a valuable silver cup, two large table
spoons, a dozen tea spoons, a pair of silver sugar tongs, and
sundry other articles of value.