The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-02-14 00:00:00

COURT OF CHANCERY.

The LORD CHANCELLOR assured the House that he had
not been unmindful of its recommendation relative to the practice

......... -
of his Court; but those who were best lammed on the subject
ware not saniruine as to the result.
Their Lordships adjourned to Mooday.

110 USE OF COMMONS, Fiumr, Fss.l2.

COAL DUTY.

Sit W. LEMON presented a petition from the inhabitants of
radstow. in Cornwall, for a repeal of the duty on Sea-borne Coal.
Mr. TREMA YNE presented a similar petition from the inha-
bLaats of St. Amide. in the same county.
Lewd VOLKSTONE presnted a petition from the innkeepers
of New Sarum. for a reduction of the Licence Duty.
On the motion of Mr. /11131 E, the following gentlemen were
appointed on the Select Committee, relative to the emigration of
artisans : Mr. Lambe, Mr. 31aberty, 31r. Baring, Sir G. Clarke ;
and they were appointed accordingly.
Mr. HUME gave notice that when the Bills relative to the Post-
office were brought forward, he should move that newspapers be
aliawed to pass to the Colonies free, as they arc through Lnglivad
and 1 relat.d.
31r. BERRIES moved the second reading of the Bill respect-
ing the eel •al of the Post-oCier from Lombard-street.
Ordered to be committed on Monday next.
!I r. Dill:3lsloND presented a Bill for the improvement of the
ishcries in the River Thames.
The House then resolved itself rata a Committee.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER thcn moved for a
continuation of the duty of Is. per lb. on tobacco and snuff ban
being Mali) imported into Great liritain.
lie further moved for the continuation of the annual sugar duties.
Mr. HUME observed it was quite clear that if the duties on
si:gar were lessened, the consumption would be considerably in-
creased, and thus render ir.finite service to the West India Islands;
cad he saw no reason why they should trot be at the same rate
which they were before the war, because they were laid on in con-
sequence of it ; and he was quite satisfied it would be wore ask:rt.
tagoous to the country in every sense of the word.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER paid that the
duties to which the Hon. Member referred, were annual duties,
and it would require considerable caution before they sacrificed a
sum of three millions and a half. As they only continued from
Year to year, he thought any such motion as the lion. Gentleman
(Mr. Home) suggested would be premature.
Mr.H(111116 instimil Yaw atus:a, by the three Acts, was the duty
per hundred weight.
The CHANG LIAR of the EXCHEQUER replied, that by,
the Geo. 111. the whole of the duties had been consolidated
sat- Obe. • .
Mr. HUME wished to move, as an amendment, that the duty
of lbs. per cwt. should stand, instead of the present rate. He oh-
served, that up to the year 1791 the duty had been only 12a.
and that it continued increasing until it was raised to 245. per
cwt., and frinn that to MM.. at which rate it bad been ter some
time since. He said that it had been expressly declared, and el-
ways considered a war duty. He wait therefore uider the neces-
sity of taking the opinion of the Mouse on the subject, and Minn-
posing that the duty temuld be las. per cwt., the rate at which it
was before the war. Ile felt perfectly wished that the Chancellor,
by taking off a million and a half, would not lose half a million,
because of the greater consumption which would be the conse-
quence of it. He (3lr. Hume) was sure that the public voice
would go with him, and that it was certain that the revenue could
affo-d to do what would be of so much utility. lle would there.
fore move that lb& per cwt. and no more, be the duty in future
imposed on sugar.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he had no
ilea that the lion. Gentleman (Mr. Hume) or any other person
intended to oppose his motion ; in consequence of which he lthe
liancellor of the I..;• .chequer) was totally unprepared on the sub-
ject, and should feel considerable dilSculty in discussing it. Ile
would therefore withdraw it, until a better opportunity fur bringing
it forward presented itself.
The motion was withdrawn.
lie then moved a continuation of the duty of Excise on foreign
spirits and sweets.
And also that la millions of Exchequer Bills be granted for the
services cf
Ile further moved that the sum of two millions, being part of
the sum granted for the services of 1323, be applied to the services
ti 11121.
Ile then moved that the sum of 4,11M01101. be granted fur the
payment of the naval and military pensions.
Teat 1i0.41001. be paid into the Treasury by the East India Com.
trt'y, being the idlowauces tootle to his Majesty's officers and
.Itiirra %trying in Iran".
for a vote to authorise the issue of Exchequer
whs. and also for the fisheries.
ied that the balance remaining in the Bank of

The flames Puns consurineed publishing yesterday
muting at five o'clock.

LONDON, SATURDAY, FtuuuAny 11, 1821.

We regret to know that the mischievous spirit of fanati-
cism, as regards the negro slaves, is yet afloat in tl.is
country, and the abolition missionaries are again getting
together meetings, to try still further to endanger the lives
and properties of the IVest India residents and proprietors.
What these men have to do with this question it would to
hard to discover; but their disinterested zeal knows no
bounds, and they are reckless of all consequences. They
may meet and agree to petitions, but such documents will
now meet very little attention from Parliament. The
King's sentiments and recommendation will have some-
what more weight than the opinions of either Mr.lVilber-
force and Mr. Buxton, or any of their missionaries, how-
ever pious and disinterested. Ministers have already
shown a disposition to do every thing for the amelio-
ration of the condition of the ncgroes, consistent with
common prudence or safety : they have gone even be-
yond the feelings of the planters and West India
residents. Alarming dangers have already arisen from
the discussions of last Session, and yet the subject, in
the present terrifying crisis, is to be renewed. What pos-
sible benefit can be expected to arise from these petitions?
Ministers will not concede the ruin of the West Ir.diei to

them—Parliament will not slight the recommendation of prisoners then working at it being thrown on their backs
the Crown, and the suggestions of common prudence, and from that height, with the chance of extreme injury ;
yield, to the visionary plans of a few uninterested huh- that the labour and posture of the body on this machine
viduals, the destruction of the most valuable colonies of !are so exhausting to the strength as not to be capable
Great Britain. We were in hopes that no discussions lof endurance for more than a quarter of an hour at
would have been prcssed fot ward on this measure during a time, and at Edinburgh and other places only seven
the present Session—that the feelings that now agitate the I minutes and half were risked ; that strains in the
negroes and proprietors would be suffered to subside, before muscles and organs immediately called into exercise, have
the dangerous question was again renewed, and the whole on various occasions taken place ; that in consequence
business left in the hands of Ministers, to whose die- !of these united causes, female prisoners have been obliged
cretion it might be sally trusted. But the missionaries to descend front the Tread-mill under most painful cir-
engaged in the pious warfare against life and proptTty, I cumstances, and have, in consequence, in atveral prisons,
under the pretence of the salvation of souls, have no idea been exempted from this species of labour; that in this
of any respite : they have sounded their trumpet before the I mode of punishment there is only one degree, as well
walls of Jericho again, and their fanatic adherents have as kind—so that the tried and the untried, and criminals
I rallied at the blast. Parliament will once more be beset with lof all descriptions, have been mixed and confounded toge-
their petitions, and the preachers of the sable crusade, I ther, and subjected to the same degree of punishment.
Messrs. ‘Vilberforce and Buxton, appear in front of the ; From all these statements it has been deduced, as a neces-
I crowd of visionaries. The report of the discussions will ; nary consequence, that it is expedient, as well for the pur-
again visit the Hirst Indies, and new discontents and insur- poses of justice, as the just and salutary application of
rections he the probable consequences. It is melancholy prison labour that an instrument of discipline very differ-
'to reflect how much michief may flow from perverted zeal. ; ent from the Tread-mill should be resorted to. But should
; No man can look to the renewed consequences of these ! this mode of punishment still be preserved, the visitation
measures without the deepest alarm. We might hope the I should only be inflicted on those capable of bearing it, and
threatening mischief might possibly rass away, but that it I who have been legally sentenced. To doom the untried to
is conceived by men who never yet paused in their selfish I a punishment of this severe and degrading description, is
and infatuated career, from any regard to the consequences.' most unjust, and wholly inconsistent with the spirit of
But the visitation cannot fall on Mem; Meli have nothing ! our laws. We hope to see the practice done away with
to lose ; insurrection n:ay rage through the IVcst Indies altogether.
without involving to them the loss of a shilling. Mr. Bux-
ton, when his own interests and monopoly were threatened,

resisted the innovation most determinedly ; but he does not
care how deeply his experiments affect the property and
safety of his neighbours. This he and his followers call
benevolence and philanthropy F How •cheaply both vir-
tues can be exercised when it costs only a speech and a few

tears and groans to do so ! The negroes drink no beer, or
Mr. Buxton would probably be very quiet and silent. He

does not deal in rum or sugar, and therefore the holy work
of regeneration proceeds vigorously. If any of these peti-
tions shall be presented and a discussion arise, we trust that

any propositions founded upon them, in the existing state
of things, will be met by Parliament with a decided ne-
gative ; no other decision can preserve the West Indies

from certain destruction.

The Greeks are proceeding, with unabated vigour, in
their career of emancipation, and everywhere pressing their
ferocious oppressors. Accounts from Syra, to the 2d of
January, state that an expedition had been armed by the
gallant Christians against their enemies in ruined Scio.
The Greek troops, to the number of four thousand, had
landed near the fortress that commands the island, and had
routed the Turkish bands who opposed them, and driven
them into the castle, where they were besieged. A squa-
dron of twelve Hydriote and Ipsariot vessels, with three
fire-ships, cruised before the island, so as to cutoff all suc-
cour from the barbarians, who were inclosed within the
fortress, and hopelessly beleaguered by the Greek troops.
Several of the principal Sciotes, who escaped the horrible
massacre of 1822, distinguished by their character and
wealth, were at the head of this expedition ; and it is re-
markable (the account from Syra states) that the great
number of the present advisers and heads of the armament
now directed against Scio, are among those who were
warmly opposed to the first ill-combined attempt of the
Samians in 1822: but the time and circumstances are
altogether different. They also bear the principal ex-
nses

of the present expedition. A batwing train, suf..
ficient to reduce the fortress in the island, was embarked
at Napoli de Romania, and had arrived at Scio. Several
vessels, freighted with ammunition and provisions, bad also
sailed from Syra for the same destination. Thus Selo is
likely again to be in the hands of the Greeks, and they
will probably execute a dreadful vengeance and a just re-
taliation on a portion of the sanguinary barbarians, who
spread murder and destruction through that lovely island.
Ruins are all round them, and call up the memory of the
dreadful past. Can they, in the hour of victory, be calm
and self-possessed amid such recollections? Should they
exterminate the Turkish garrison, will it be any thing but
an act of justice, and sanctioned by every principle of even
civilized war? These barbarians, in 1522, spared neither
age nor sex. Can they now hope for mercy themselves?
And, should the Greeks retaliate, can it be termed wanton
and sanguinary atrocity, when we recollect the unparalleled
horrors of hapless Scio, and what its peaceful inhabitants
endured ?

The Marquis of Lansdown, last night, alluded to the
gross injustice of extending the punishment of the tread-
mill to unconvicted prisoners. He reprobated strongly
such an arbitrary discipline within our prisons, and stated
that if this mode of labour was to continue, it should only
be visited on those who were legally sentenced to the in-
fliction. Lord Liverpool, in reply, repeated, in substance,
the sentiments of Mr. Pcel in the House of Commons the
night before. In his opinion (the first Minister said),
such an infliction, on unsentenced prisoners, was a viola-
tion of the letter, it was certainly a violation of the spirit,
of the Act. Of the injustice and illegality of such ar-
bitrary measures, there can, we imagine, he now no doubt.
Ministers themselves think so ; and the oppression will, in
consequence, be done away with. In fact, the current of po-
pular feeling, which at first flowed strongly, almost without
opposition, in favour of this instrument of severe punish-
ment, has now taken a contrary course. The application of
this mode of discipline is practically proscribed in so many
cases, as already to render it any thing bat a general in-
strument of punishment; and if women, the ruptured,
the scrofulous, and those afflicted with varices to any ex-
tent, are considered unfit objects for the trying exercise of
the wheel, it is clear a great proportion of the inmates of
a prison will be exempted from it; and either left idle, or
some other mode of labour and punishment must be de-
vised for them. To Mr. Cubitt, of Ipswich, is generally
I assigned the introduction of the use of the tread-wheel
into prisons: but the invention, we believe, is not
due to him. An instrument, of nearly the same de-
scription, was some years since made use of in this
country, at the warehouses of the East India Com-
pany, having been introduced by a Mr. Hardie, Ivlto
I obtained a patent for the construction. A wheel of almost
the same description was also early known to the Chinese,
who used it for the purposes of irrigation. Sir John C.
Ilippisley, while investigating the consequences of the
tread-mill, and de-irous of ascertaining the state of the
crane machinery in the East India Company's warehouses,
procured a report to he drawn up by the principal officers
of the warehouse department, from which it appears that
serious accidents bad occurred in the use of these cranes ;
that they were considered more dangerous than the cap-
stan ; that in two particular instances laboums were so
severely injured as to be pensioned by the Company ; and
that the cranes were at length discontinued and taken
down. Several detailed objections have been made to the
Tread-mill : first, that from its extreme height and compli-
cation, there is always peat 'dangcr of its breaking, and the

BRIGHTON, FEB. 12.

DEPARTURE Of THE KING FOR WINDSOI.—The King
has left us, and, it Is feared, fur an absence of several
months.

His Majesty, accompsotei in his travelling carriage by
the Marquis Conyngham, and Sir William Knighton, left
the Pavilion precisely at half-past twelve o'clock, r. x.
.not for Carlton l'alace, but to proceed direct to Windsor.
The military, the 58th infantry, and the 7th royal hus-
sars, were drawn up, extending from the north gate of the
Palace, with the colours, bands, drums, trumpets, and
bugles, of the several corps, together with a loyal and
crowded a.vemblage of :own 's peeple. The National An-
them was played as the SJvereign passed, with the usual
ceremony of lowering the colours, and presenting arms.
The King was attended by au escort of the 7th hussars.
In the midst of our regrets we have the consolation to
know that his Majesty left us in perfectly re-established
health.

The whole of the royal establishment, excepting those
who are usually entrusted with the care of the Palace,
will have left us by the end of the week.
l'rior to the departure of the King for Windsor, his
Majesty, with the Marquis Conyngham and Sir Wm.
Knighton, proceeded in his travelling carriage, at noon, to
the Marine Parade, to survey the chain pia, and from
which his 34:kit sty returned to the Palace in about half an
hour, and, without alighting, departed, as above stated.

The Duke and Duchess of Clarence, by appointment,
went to the House of Lords on Thursday, to view the new
Royal Gallery, &c. Their Royal Highnesses were accom-
panied by two of the Misses Fttzclarence, &c. The Peers'
door was opened, and the Officers of the House were in at-
tendance to wait on their Royal Highnesses; as were Mr.
`Doane, the Architect ; Sir Thomas Tyrwhitt, Usher of the
Black Rod; and Mr. Wright, Deputy Housekeeper of the
house of Lords. The Royal and distinguished party
having examined the New Gallery, with which they were
much delighted, then passed through the House of Lords,
viewed the Throne, &c., went to the House of Commons;
and after that, severally examined the new Law Courts in
Westminster Hall. The party expressed high admiration
of the improvements, and of the rapidity with which they
have been executed.

Mr. Mackenziearrived yesterday morning at the Colonial
()dice,. in Downinkstrets, with despatches from Van
Dieman's Lang i• _

Hobart Town Gazelles of the Ist September were re-
ceived at the New England Coffee-house yesterday. They
mention the arrival, from England, of the ship Commodore
Hayes, Captain Moncrief, with '216 male convicts. She
had on board the head-quarters and staff of the 3d regi-
ment of infantry (or Built.) There had been a General
Meeting at Hobart Town of the merchants, landholders,
and respectable inhabitants, when an abstract of a regula-
tion for the Bank was agreed to, and a large portion of the
shares subscrib:Al for. The Chairman of the Meeting,
with a deputation of twelve gentlemen, had afterwards an
interview with the Lieutenant-Governor, for the purpose
of requesting him to obtain a charter from his Excellency
the Governor-in-Chief, which his honour promised imme-
diately to solicit.
It is determined to separate the Governments of Malta
and of the lonian Islands, which were conjointly held by
the late Sir Thomas ]Maitland. The former is to be given
to the Marquis of Hastings, with a salary of 60001. a-
year •, the latter to Sir Frederick Adam, with one of 40001.
per annum.—The command of the forms in the Mediter-
ranean will not be included, as heretofore, in the Govern-
ment of Malta.—Courier.

The appointment of the Marquis of Hastings to the
Governorship of Malta, to which is added the Command-
in-Chief of the Forces in the Mediterranean; and of Sir
Frederick Main, to be Lord High Commissioner in the
lonian Islands, %%id appear in the Gualle of this evening

I We are glad to Perceive by the Irish papers that an Ith-
plessont affair, likely to lead to a duel, has been amicably
adjusted. The',parties, Mr. S. Rice, M.P., and Mr. O'Gra-
dy (second son of the Chief Baron), arc highly respectable
and valuable members of society, and it w therefore
be the more to be regretted, should any act of fatal ho-
stility take place to the injury or loss of either of them.
The amicable adjustment has been arranged, we under-
stand, principally through the judicious interference of
Colonel Talbot, the patriotic member of the county of
Dublin, who acted as the friend of Mr. Rice, and through
(/' .Taal interposition Mr. rady was induced to retract
the objectionable expressions he had uttered towards the
Earl of Limerick, the father-in-law of Mr. Rice. This
is not the only occasion on which the interference of Col.
I Talbot has been eminently useful in matters of this kind.
I When Mr. 11. Grattan denominated the late Lord Clare the
" Irish Jefferies," he acted as the friend of Mr. Grattan
in his duel with the present Lord Claw., and prevented, by
his judicious suggestions, the bloodsiwil that otherwise in ight
have followed. Whilst paying this tribute to the private
I diameter of Camel 'l'alboS, wa are.alaa ready to hear tes-
tiinony to the integrity of his public conduct, and the eon-
, sistency with which he has always adhered to the political
principles on which he first professed to act in public life.
A remarkable proof of this consistency and firm attach-
ment to principle was given in the Irish Parliament when
he gave a casting vote in favour of a Speaker of the Ilouse
(Mr. Ponsonby) although the Government was opposed to
his nomination, and Mr. 'l'ul'oot was at that time Aid-de-
camp to the Lord Lieutenant.
REV. El/WARD IRVING.—The Eilinlotres Slur, after)
quoting the story in the Fiji. Herald, of the offer of the
living of Leslie to this Gentleman, says, " iVe have good
reasons for questioning the truth of the above report."
The eighth anniversary of the Royal Universal Dispen-
sary fcr Children was celebrated on Thursday by a public
dinner, at the City of London Tavern, Bishopsgate-street.
At six o'clock his Royal Highness the Duke of York
enured the room, accompanied by Lord Bolton, Sir C.
Flower, Bart , Alderman Thompson, Alderman
Garratt, R. Bernal, ALP.' Alderman Key, C. Barclay,
Esq.. the lion. and Rev. E. J. Tartour, Dr. J. B. Davis,
H. Read, Esq., ll'. lionbury, Esq., George Durant, Esq.,
and several other Gentlemen. _ _ _

On Friday last the Nlagistrates of Reading heard infor-
mations preferred against Mr. Adams and Mr. Tilley, re-
tail brewers in that town, under 35 lien. 111. c. 113, for
selling beer by retail, not !wing duty licrnsed so to do. After
the use hail been argued by the Counsel on both sides, the
Alayor postponed judgment till iVednesday next, in the
hope that the speclal case in the King's Bench may be in
the mean time decided. That case differs from this, how-
ever, inasmuch cs there the defendants had no licence to
retail from the Excise, whereas at Reading they had such
licence. •

lie then mo7t -I 1
it:lls foe public
fie thin propos'