The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-05-11 00:00:00

little could be hoped from their co-operation to improve
either the moral or the physical condition of the slave po-
pulation. The proposed Bill (Mr. Huskisson added) did
Not give the Company exclusive privileges, or a monopoly,
or even exempt them from the Bankrupt Laws : its pro.
visions merely conferred on them such advantages as a
large body of persons engaged in a pursuit of public utility
were fairly entitled to possess. The Right Honourable
Gentleman dwelt on the importance of relieving the press-
ing distresses of the West India Proprietors ; by such a
policy they would be induced more readily to co-operate
in the great measures of amelioration of the negro race, in
place of opposing themselves to its progress. Mr. Wilmot
Horton also supported the Bill. The measure, he said,
was one quite distinct from any affecting the manumission
of slaves, and could not interfere with it in any way. The
' Bill was opposed by Dr. Lushington and Mr. Buxton, on
the ground that the intended Company would, by al.
vancing large sums to the West India proprietors, to clear
off incumbrances, become mortgagees of the estates, acd
the manumission of the Slaves be impeded by a Mon-resi-
dent Corporation, who would, under these contemplated
mortgages, become possessed of almost the entire property
in the West Indies, and could not feel an equal interest
with resident proprietors for the amelioration of the slaves.
i we must beg to say, was a very weak argument
indeed, in opposition to this Bill. Some of the largest
proprietors iu the West Indies—Mr. Beckford, Mr. Watson
Taylor, Mr. Ilibbert, and many others, have resided in
England for years. That residence, far from injuring the
condition of their slaves, must, we think, have had a con-
trary effect: while here the proprietors are removed from
all local prejudice; they live in a free country, where
the question of negro improvement and emancipation is
continually canvassed, and where they arc subject to the
influence and control of public discussion and public opi-
nion. It may be said that abuses of power will be corn-
, ',lintel on the plantations in the absence of the proprietors,
I which their residence would restrain ; but all apprehen-
sion of this may be checked by appointing proper overseen
from this country ; and we know that the condi i ion of the
negroes attached to those plantations, the proprietors of
which reside altogether in this country, is just as
well attended to as where the planters were res:dent
amongst them. But this proposition only came at second-
hand from the Hon. Members who adopted it. Such an
argument funned one of the five-and-twenty meagre queries
spun out in succession in a Morning Paper of yesterday,
distinguished by its marked hostility to the {Vest India in-
terests. On the second reading of the Bill being proposed,
Mr. Sykes thought proper to move an amendment, that it
should be read that say six months, on which the Rain
divided, 30 Members voting for this strange amendment,
and 102 for the second reading of the sill, which was thus
carried by a majority of 72. The Morales,- Chronicle, in its
concluding 25th query yesterday, "Dcusgasidel intrari ne-
mere," asks, " Is the support of such a scheme by Parliament
consistent with its professed desire to ameliorate the condi-
tion of the slaves ?" And we answer, Certainly : the planters,
relieved from the distress that now presses on them, will
be enabled to attend to the condition and the comforts of
their slaves; they will be relieved from the load of menial
anxiety that has long lain so heavy upon them, and they
will he free to devote themselves to the moral and physical
improvement of the condition of the negroes. Embarrass-
ment and distress in the proprietors could do nothing for
the slave, except to increase his labour, as a means of ad-
ditional production. But prejudice never rcasor ; it deals
in nothing but assertion. The West India Company, of
the numerous stock associations that have latterly been in-
' corporated, is at once the most restectable, and founded
lon principles the most beneficial and unexceptionable. On
'these very grounds it has its enemies—in interested projec-
tors, possessing other views, and who wish British capital
to be differently directed, and scattered in wild and visionary
foreign loans—the bubble of the day, and full of ultimate
ruin to those engaging in them.

His Majesty's health, we ire.haPpi to say, continues to
improve. On Saturday afternoon he rode out for the first
time since his illr.css, yid drove himself in his pony
phaeton through the Little Park and Frog tore, to the
Royal Lodge. On Sunday his Majesty and suite attended
Divine Service at the private Chapel. The postponement
of the Drawing-room, which we mentioned on ...aturday,
was officially notified in the Gar..rite from the Lord
Chamberlain's Offiee. The delay has been deemed proper,
solely in consequence of some remaining weakness in his
Majesty's legs, which would obviously render the fatigue
of a lhawing-room, where etiquette imposes the necessity
of standing for several hours, peculiarly painful and oppres-
sive. The most sanguine hopes, however, are entertained
that this alight debility will be entirely removed before the
20th.—('wirier. _ _ _

The Earl of Liverpool left town on Saturday for
Coombe Wood. .

Earl Bathurst was better yesterday.
A correspondent says, " The inhabitantsof St. Geerge'i-
fields were yesterday gratified by a sight of the Duke of
Wellington, who, after riding about fur some time, doubt-
ful of his int,•nded destination, at I..ngth inquired for the
rtsidence of Mr. Bryant, with which Gent.eman he re-
mained in close conference for upwards of an hour, and
then took his leave. Mr. Bryant was formerly in the Law.
and report at one time stated, in the confidence of the late
Mr. l'itt. The appearance of the illustrious Duke in the
rules of the King's Bench, and this mysterious visitto the
humble Mr. Bryant. gave rise to a variety of conjectures."
Ma. Bt.ska.—THE CHIEF• REMEMBRANCE:I:A
Dublin l'ap.•r of Friday observes, " We feel great plea-
sure in stating, that Mr. Blake, the Catholic Barrister and
Chief ILanembrancer of the Court of Etehequer, has been
elected a Bendier of the Honourable Society of the King's
Inns. This is the first instance of this high professional
distinction being conferred on a Catholic. It is therefore
matter for congratulation on public grounds. It marks an
improved state of feeling, and an increasing spirit of
liberality in quarters which, perhaps, but a short time ago,
would have been the last to obtain credit for any sentiments
of the kind. To Mr. Blake personally, and to his numer-
ous friends, the manner in which the favour was bestowed,
must greatly enhance its value. The Learned Gentleman
was elected t• NANIMOeSLV."

The Lord Bishop of London held a conlirmaeon yett:r-
day morning at St. Paul's Cathedral, which was very nu-
merously attended. . .

Two vessels from Sie.-ra Leone arrived at Liverpool on
Thursday evening; but n. is wr of them bring any confir-
mation of the disastrous intillignwc of the affair at Accra.
One of the vessels arrived is the British Tar, Capt. Newby;
sailtd on the lYth March, and had not heard a word
lative to the battle: the other the Britannia, ('apt. Ful-
hester, sailed on the 13th of March, and had heard nothing.
('apt. Fulbtster is of opinion that the story is altogether
strange, as, from what he had beard, the Ashantees hail
been for sometime wishing to cultivate friendly commercial
relations with the English, and they only objected to the
mediation of the Fantets.

EASTBOURNE, Mav tl.--On Monday last, Lady George
Cavendish, with her amiable daughters, arrived at Compton-
place, front Burlington House. We are concerned to state.
that their stay was but :,port, as they left us again this morn-
ing. The indisposition of Lord George (who was exptctt
to arrive at C pton-place to-day) we hear was the cause
of the sudden departure of her Ladyship.
The Wu...4m. Herald of Friday says, " The disastrous
intelligence from the coast of Africa is unhappily contirmr:
by a letter which appears in an Edinburgh paper of this
morning."
The long-talked-of canal betwixt Arbroath and Forfar is
again in agitation. Meetings of the Town Councils of both
towns have been held within these few days, the results
of whirls arc iu favour of the osmium—Glasgow Herald.