The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-02-06 00:00:00

IMPORTANT TO THE RIBAND TRADE.

(From the Cornatry
The Board of Trade have at length replied to a memo-
rial, transmitted to them by the gentlemen deputed by the
riband-manufacturers of Coventry.. The reply was ver-
bally given to Mr. Ellice, one of our Members, to be for-
warded by him to the deputation. It will be seen by the
letter of Mr. Ellice, that the President of the Board has
resolved to persevere in the line of policy to which he had
pledged Parliament and himself; but, at the same time,
he distinctly states that he will most willingly adopt what-
ever measures can be devised to protect the trade.
We cannot suppose that Ministers would wantonly sa-
crifice the interest of five hundred thousand persons, who
are dependent for support upon the silk manufacture of
England ; and we are therefore constrained to think that
they possess some information which induces them to be-
lieve that a perseverance with the proposed measures will
not operate to its injury :

MR. ELLICE'S LETTER.
" London, Jan. 31. 1826.
" Dear Sir—l had a long conversation last night with Mr. Hue-
kisson, and I am grieved and disappointed in conveying his final
answer to the application from Coventry—thas Government has de-
cided to persevere in the principle of the Bill for the admission of
foreign wrought silks of all descriptions, in July. I pressed your
peculiar case, the particular difficulty of the times, and every other
circumstance that occurred to me, for a postponement of the
measure, even for the stated period ; although that he admitted, in
some respects. you had made a stronger case than any other branch
of the trade, he said you had failed in convincing him there was
sufficient ground to justify any exception in your favour: and I am
sctistied all further application to the Board of Trade would only
he a waste of their time and our own. The Legislature may think
differently when they see the effect', which I dread to think nay be
the consequences of their determination. 11r. Iluskiason added,
that the principle of renewal of absolute prohibition being ad-
mfited, be was willing and most desirous to consider and discuss
with you any further means of precaution or protection to the trade
you could suggest, and that he was ready to limit the number of
ports of importation, or to concur in any reasonable regulation to
insurea foil valuation of the goods imported, and the addition of
the full duty of 30 per cent. which he had no doubt could be fairly
levied, although he did not participate in our apprehension as to
the quantity of goods the foreign manufactures would fir.t it his
interest to subject to this impost. He hail framed a letter move in
detail, in answer to your Memorial, which it had been his inten-
tion to transmit to you ; but at • consultation with other members
of the trade here, it contained suggestions in which they were not
disposed to concut, and he was anxious nt.: to raise unnecessary
points for discussion. He wished I would convey his verbal
answer, which I have endeavoured to do, :e nearly as I could
understand him, in the terms of this I,•tter. which pray have the
goodness to communicate to the trade. Yours since:ely
(Signed) " EDWARD lILICE.
" To Messrs. Adams, Cope, and Merry, Coventry."

The opinion that the Ministers intend to forward the
business of the Session, so as to finish it by the end of
May, preparatory to a dissolution, acquires support from
the public accounts having Already been ordered, and from
fixing the last day for reports on private bills for May 1.
Last Session it was May 30.
Messrs. Lord, Robinson' and Co. woollen cloth mer-
chants of Leeds, have issued a statement, denying that
they have stopped payment, and adding, that" nothing but
time is necessary to secure the payment of every demand in
Cull." _ _

The Manehester papers are filled with accounts of rob-
beries in that town and neighbourhood.—During the last
and the preceding week nearly one hundred and ninety
prisoners, who have been confined for various terms for
felony, have been discharged from the New Bailey prison.
Perhaps this circumstance has some connexion with the
great increase of crime.
PBOPOILBD PUBLIC PARIS IN LITEUTOOL.—A memo-
rial to the Common Council, praying for the establishment
of Boulevards similar to those in Paris; and in many of the
large towns on the Continent, for the public amusements
and recreation, is now lying for signatures at the News-
paver Offices in Liverpool.
Naw Nolan DUCTS, LivEnecor..—The Liverpool
Dock Committee, at their meeting on Tuestlav last, came
to a final determination as to the plan for the intended
Docks at the north end of the town. They are to be
erected with a temporary entrance, for the convenience of
~cam vessels, opposite the proposed (;raving Docks, until
those vessels are provided with permanent accommodation.
A COVET.--A Comet, hitherto unnoticed by. Astrono-
mers, was discovered by a gentleman of Sandwich, on
Sunday evening last. Tb following direction's will enable
our readers to find the place of this brilliant stranger,
which is unattended by the luminous appendage usuality
denominated a tail ;but it is surrounded by a nebulous haze,
constituting the appearance of a comma. If an imaginary
line be drawn, commencing from the Polar Star, and car-
rift! on to the left hand (passing through a portion of via
lac, ea), it will be found to terminate in two other stars of
the first usoptitude, very near to each other, and which
are placed on the niche of the minor constellation, Laceta
Sicilia. A little below, and a little to the right hand of
the last-mentioned stars, the Comet will be found situated.
—Kent Herald.
Mr. Chapman was tried on the 24th silt. before the
Royal Court of Guernsey, for the murder of a man named
Brown, in whose house he resided. The particulars of
the murder have already been fully detailed in the papers.
The Court found him guilty of the murder, but admitted a
plea of insanity—the consequence of which is, that he
will remain in confinement at Guernsey until the pleasure
of the King as to the future disposal of him shall be
known.
SHOCIIING ACCIDENT BY MACIIINERY.—We have
never had occasion, says the Boirrat Cheetah*, to record a mote
dreadful accident than that which occurred on Monday last, at the
factory of Messrs. Edward and William Bolling, in Bridge-street,
Little Bolton, to Elizabeth Kenworthy, a child only eight years
and eight months old, who had her head entirely cut (ghoul iter
body, by. the machinery. The deceased was one of six children
belonging tr. an industrious man, a tailor by trade, living in Tay-
lor-brow, and who has another child in the same concern. The
girl had been engaged rather more than a weak in the factory ;
1,.,d on Monday morning last, about eleten o'clock, ehe was put-
ting some ravings into the creel. when her clothes were cnught by
the shaft, (which was not boxed off, or protected, as it ought to have
been) am' she was instantly twisted up to the creel, with such
amazing velocity that her bead was entirely separated from her
body. When the accident was discovered, the headless and bleed-
ing trunk was seen revolving, at a most frightful speed, with the
shaft and the engine was obliged to be stopped before it could be
extricated.,

MELIORATION OF SLAVERY IN THE WEST

IIVDIFS.

We have already stibmitted tht, onlinsine promulgated
in Demerara and tssequibo, with regard to the meliora-
tion of the condition of the slaves` in those settlements—
the heads of the Jainaiea Melioration Bill may not he un-
interesting; as a recapitulation of them will hest contra-
dict the unqualified assertions of both writers and speakers,
that the Colonial Legialatures have neglected to further
did benevolent intentions of the GovernMent at home.

After the preatnble the Hill enacts—That all proprietors
shall, as much as in them lies, endeavour to promote the
instruction of their negroes in the principles of the Chris-
tian religion, whereby to -facilitate their conversion,' and
shall use their utmost endeaveurs to fit them for baptism.
3. No shop. to be open duriag divine service. ,
4. Allowed cow day is tree y fallaight,l.Exides Suirdays.
b. No mills to he worked between seven o'clock Saturday ern-
log and five o'clock Monday morning.
6. When no lands to be allowed three shillings and fourpence
per week.
7 and 8. Proper clothing every year, to be approutd by du:lira
and Vestry.
9 and 10. Regular Registers of Births and Deaths to be kept.
11. 31. to be.dirided between the mother and nurse for every
child horn. and then living.
1.2. ;►Mothers of six children alive, to be exempted from work,
and the owner from taxes.

13. Nut to be turned away for infirmity. but supported.
11 to 19. For support of todigenl nciimt or hte
211. Ilalf an hour ter breakfast, lu•u hours for (Winer, not to
work before five or after seven, escept during crop.
21. Cool rnis the usual holyd4s.
24. Justices and Vestry appointed in Council of Protection.
27. No slave to have more than ten lashes at o, le time, or for one
offence, unless the owner, attorney, or agent shall be present, not
more thitn•thirty-nine upon any account, and for one offence.
2e. Complaints of slaves to be inquired into by two Magis...
crates.
From these heads the public will learn that the Colonial
Legislatures are unjustly accused of indisposition to agree
in the measures propused by Ministers for the improvement
of the slaves. Whenever and upon all points on which it
can be done without positively endangering the peace of
society andl the possession of property, the Colonists h►ve
most readily co-operated.—John 8011.