The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-01-24 00:00:00

JAMAICA PAPERS.

vatecaas ce received Jamaica Papers to the 23d No-
„Ater ; the following are extracts :
KINGSTON, Nov. 22.
la the honnitthble House of Auembly, on Tuesday, %lr. Grist.
oe tom, for the purpose of moving for the appointment of a Wm-
_ace for considering of some measure, which should show what
;rieslings of that house were in respect to the conduct of Paths-
hothe towards this country. Ile apologized for having tan.
d"ent at
e7toksh this tusk ; he had waited in hopes that some more able
iticather would have taken the subject in hand, and he would
trot willingly resign it, if any Member more competent would
undertake it. Ile was afraid that what might be done by the dif-
foot Committees that had been appointed would not answer the
purpom of fully showing the grievances of which the country had
to tv„piain. Ile was afraid that in the state of the Legislature of
this island such measure,' as might be proposed would not be
unanimously carried. The House should not lose sight of its
timid place, when, under similar circumstances, in 1782, a Com.
mime of the House met the Council, and passed a joint Memorial
the ging. This course, he thought, should now be adopted.
The Hon. 3lember admired the prudence and wisdom with which
the Esenitive had introduced the subject to the House. Ile was
desirous that the House should inquire seriously into the pier-
aces under which the country laboured—to inquire what had been
done—and to repel the unblushing attacks upon our character and
laws. Ile was rot far blinking the question, but to meet it fairly
sad fully, and to inquire what was necessary to be done. He
should have refrained limn stepping forward on the occasion, had
ace there competent moud in the question, and he would
vitliagip.mbign it ; but he conceived it necessary to bring the
matter to issue; and for that purpose moved, " That a t'ommittee
se appointed to inquire into, and report to the House, what steps
Ire necessary to be taken, in consequence of information received
from the writ of this island, of the tiroceedings adopted by the
Houscof tominoes and his Majesty s Ministers, in respect to
blowy in the British Colonies in the M'est Indies."
Mr. Mien seconded the motion, and thought the House
skald always proceed by precedent ; and in 1789, when the lin-
tish Paeliainest were endeavouring to legislate for us, the House
asked the Council to join in a remonstrance to the liaise of Com-
mons. Such was the case then, and he hoped the House would not
depart from it. The Honourable Gentleman cited the following
manage from the remonstrance:—`• it is with surprise, equalled
only by tau effliction, we learn that certain innovations are pro.
jeering in Parliament, which not only threaten injury to all pro-
poly throughout the British West Indies, bat, in the eau of many
Wividaals, strike altogether at its existence." If then it am
thought aeoessary to adopt such proceedings when the abolition of
the slave trade was meditated, how much more necessary was it
now, when oat: very existence was at stake. The power of legis-
lating for ourselves was interwoven in the constitution.
The motion was carried: and Mr. Iliggin, Mr. Barrett, Mr.
Hodgson, Mr. 3lais, Mr. Plummer, and Mr. Robertson, were ap-
pointed a committee.
• • • -•

•
The Consolidated Slave Bill was read a second time in the
House of Assembly yesterday, and ordered to be committed. It
intains, us far as we could heir, but few additional provisions in
regard to the slave population. It protects the slaves on Mondays
from being levied on by the Mersin'', and directs all shops to be
shut, and prohibits the erection of booths on Sundays, under a
penal:). of fifty pounds for the first offence, and imprisonment for
tie wend. There is a clause to punish the crime of which Simp-
son say found guilty, but escaped punishment from the inefficiency
e: the law. Supervisors of workhouses are restricted from giving
more than ten lashes to negroes, except with the authority of a
3lagistrate. Penalties are to be inflicted on persons purchasing
clothing (rem negroes. These, we believe, arc the principal ad-
ditions. It was stated, in several of the newspapers, that Mr.
Barrett proposed, In the Committee, to admit the evidence of
nigoes in the Courts ot Justice, which is erroneous—the only pro-
position of the kind was submitted by Mr. Cox ; but not meeting
situ the approval of the other Members, he immediately withdrew
h. In consequence, however, of the motion of 3lr. Urignon, on
Thursday, that the papers, which were submitted to the inspection
of the Committee, be laid on the table of the House, much more
Ma matter, it is probable, will be introduced into this Dill. Mr.
Barrett stated, that the instructions to his Urace the Governor from
Lehi Bathurst were put into his hands as Chairman of the Com-
mittee, to whom they were read, in order to ascertain whether they
could adopt any measures upon the suggestions contained therein,
when it was determined that no notice should be taken of them.
lie had no objection to the production of the papers, but thought
that tome substantial reason should be given by the lion. Member
why the papers should be laid on the table of the House. Mr.
brig:inn did not doubt but th t the Committee, after having heard,
these instructions read, had acted wisely and properly in coming to
the detamination mentioned by the lion. Chairman ; but as those
instructions had thus influenced the Committee, surely it was
proper that the Haute should be made acquainted with thew, and,
as the Hon. Member had-candidly said that he had no objection
to their production, he hoped his motion would be acceded to. It
was seconded by Mr. Mais, and carried.
Thus these instructions, which the executive gave so much satis-
faction to the country by withholding, are now fairly before the
House, and we sunpect will occasion much discussion, considerably
ridonging the Session.
the Memorial to the King was being read by the Clerk in
the House of Assembly, on Thursday evening, there was a deep
silence, both in and outside the bar. It would be indecorous, we
presume, at peesent, to give even an outline of its contents.—

A nista; Chrwricit..
The House at yesterday, until Monday next.
On Monday a meeting of the merchants and other respectable
inhabc.ants of this city, took place at the Court-house, to express
their opinion of the public character of Commodote Sir E. W. C.
It. ()wen' K.C.B. Th• requisition to the 3layor, and the adver-
tisement calling the 'peeling haring been read by Mr. Williams,
Honour, who was called to the chair, requested, that if any
Gentleman had prepared resolutions, he would produce them,
when Mr. Maar handed a act, with a letter to the Commodore,
winch were 'OW.
Mr. Cbrystie propored an amendment, which was adopted, and
31r. Biggar, Mr. Chrystie, Mr. Campbell, Alr. Woodburn, Mr.
White, and Mr. Atkinson, were appointed a Committee to present
the Address, as also to prepare a suitable inscription far a piece of
plate, which was voted to the gallant Commodore.
A subscriptioh list was then opened for that purpose, when nearly
WI. were inutitvliately subacnbal. We understand that it now
exceeds We.

In thei)upplemenf to this day's Gazdie we have given an ac-
count of the alarm which had been excited among the planters of
Trinidad. by the promulgation of Earl Bathurst 's instructions to'
Sir R. Woodford, the Governor of that island. These refer to
those which had been transmitted to Major-General 31urray, the
Governor of Demerara (inserted in the first column of this post-
script) and which, we have learnt from the speech of Mr. Ilam-
den is the Council of Barbadues, were the primary caused of the
recent iMIIIITeCOMIII in that colony. We have printed that part of
this despatch in italic, in which this plow Minister speaks of the
sense of shame, that ornament And protection of the black female
sex ! What a wonderful refinement hes taken place in the ideas of
this Noble Lord and of his associates, since the framing of that
(Ingesting clause, which was introduced into Mr. Stephene's Re-
gistry Bill, ',hereby every owner of slaves would have been com-
pelled to invert in hie return the marks upon the bodies of every
dare, male or female, in whatever part they might have been
found, end to which examination we are confident that not one of
them would have submitted !

Mut:avow. Nov. 22.
The Gloucester, 74, Captain Lill:crap sailed on Tuesday morn•
inefie Curie:ma, haring under her charge the Dutch schooner Re-
vile, which was lately detained sad sent into Port Royal by the
Union schooner, 4, -bout. ilenderson, for having a cargo of slaves
So board. We understand that Commodore Sir Edward Over
110%, with great consideration and humanity, directed the male
dues to he kept on•hoatti the Gloucester, - and that one deck has
kern appropriated entirely to their use. Mr. Wilberforce's sable
sitters still remain on boanl•the schooner, an that their nice mo-
rtis and feeliags will, we feel confident, not be much endangered
►y the contsuntnation of our boncat Jack Tan.

, ...
Remain in Port ltoyal Harbour the following semi, of war,
2(1, Uaptain E. R. Sibley ; Carnation brig, 111,
elpt. E. fibmtlard ; Union schooner, 4, Liebe. H. B. Henderson,
ord 4erapis (broad pendant and convalescent ship), Lieut. U. V.
Jackson.

Commodore Sir P. Owen has been pleased to direct that the
Non sefiooller, 4, Lieut. Henderson, shall sail on the 23.1
for Manrinello dc Cuba, when she will give convoy to welds
bound thither.

ommodore has also been pleased to direct that the sailing
M .he Niemen, 2t, Captain Sibley. shall be postponed till the Bth'
rtaximo, when she will proceed from Port Royal through the
Gulf of Florida.

The following official letters from Lord Bathurst will be
read with interest :

Colonial Office, Downing-street, May 28, ULM
Sul—l enclose • copy of a letter, which I have this day ail-
•lresse.l to the Governor of Demerara, and you will not fail to
tyll,is Cie direations therein contained, as far as mar be applicable
" the Colony under your government, where no public body u-
i.ts with similar functions to those of the ('oort of Policy.
You sill, therefore, prepare the Slave ProprietoN in the Colony
uNceyour government to expect, that an Order in Council will be
foe the same objects, that the Cour: of Policy are invited in
' instance spontaneously to enforce t and I trust that they
111/ disposed, individually and in concert, to anticipate
his 31ajoaty's Government.
honour to be. Sir, your most obedient servant.
(Signed) BATHURST.
Woodford, Ban. &c. &c.
(ENCLOSURE. REFERRED TO.)
Colonial Office, Downing-street, May 24, 11123.
the earliest opportunity of communicating to you
which were unanimously agreed to by the 'louse
the Itith inst. . • and in order that you may better
t only the general impression of the House in coming
it,oos, but more particularly the principles, which
31ajesty's Oonnininent in proposing them. and
inue to guide them in the measures robe adopt NI for
of the important objects to which they relate,
I the best report that I can procure, although it
'together a correct one, of the:speeeh of Mr. time-

ronose, in this despatch, to call your immediate atten-
"'"Otiects to which that speech refers ; but to confine
ne of !hose points, on which I have not found that any
opinion exists, and which, being simple in its nature.
'adopted, rix.—An absolute prohibition to inflict the
logging, under any circumstances, upon female

slaves. The system of meliorating the condition of slaves, to
which his 3lajesty's Government stand pledged by these Hesolu-
titms, cannot better commence than by the adoption of a principle
which, by making a distinction of treatment between male and fe-
male slaves, carrion fail to raise this anybrtimate class generellp
above their present degraded keel, and to restore to the female
slaves Mat sense of shame, which is at once the ornament and
I protection of their see, and which their present mode of .
Mahn:net has tended n tinfortnnately to weaken, if use to ob-
literate.

I should therefore have communicated to you his Majesty's
commands, that the punishment of flogging should for the future
cease with respect to female slaves, had I not been desirous that the
prohibition should proceed from the Court of Policy, as I am un-
willing to deprive them of the satisfaction, which I am sure they
will feel in originating and supporting a measure which has been
approved of by all classes.
With respect to the practice of driving the slaves to their work
by the sound of the whip, and to the arbitrary infliction of it by
the driver, as a stimulus to labour, I am equally disposed to trust
to the Court of Policy to originate measures for the cessation of
this practice, which I need not state must be repugnant to the feel.
ings of every individual in this country. I ant aware that a neces-
sity
may exist, for retaining the punishment of flogging, with re.
spec; to malts, though, at the same time, it should be subject to
defined regulations and restrictions ; but as an immediate men.
sure, I cannot too strongly recommend that the whip should no
longer be carried into the field, and there displayed by the driver
as the emblem of his authority, or employed as the ready instru-
ment of his displeasure.
I have the honour to be. Sir,
Your most obedient servant.
(Signed) BATHURST.
To Major-General Murray, &c., &e.

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