The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-01-13 00:00:00

SCOTCH WH I YKY.

Some of the English country papers have been chuckling
over the circumstance, that, owing to some informalities
which ball occurred relative to the importation of Scotch
whisky, that article would not come into the English mar-
ket at the time expected, and that, independently of the
loss the Scotch distillers would suffer, the English distillers
would be tame time without competitors. They have,
however, been a little out in their calculations; for the
mistakes which arose were promptly rectified, and the Eng-
lish market is now open for Scotch whisky. It is true that
doubts were entertained that common spirits, made under
particular circumstances, could not be legally sent from
Scotland to England ; but, on a representation to the pro-
per authorities, the restriction was immediately removed,
anti the trade is now in active operation. It is merely jus-
tice to the Board of Excise to say, that every facility has
been given, and indeed the greatest liberality exercised, to-
wards the Scotch distiller, as far as concerned the shipping
of spirits, and their inland conveyance to England.—Edin-
bitrieh'Cortrant.
On Friday, Jan. 6, when it was expected the borders of
this country would be literally inundated with Scottish
whisky, to the surprise of all not a naggin could be publicly
procured either for love or money. Every one, even this
spirit-dealer himself, was kept in the dark about it, and it
was reported that a clause in the Act prevented its direct
importation by land ; by many, too, it was believed that
an order from Government had arrived to suspend the in-
tentions of the Act from being put in force ; by others, that
the alterations in the weights and measures prevented its
importation: and various other rumours, equally absurd
and groundless, found their way
.into every one's mouth.
Now the pistil fact of the case is this—Although it was
probably the intention of the Act to limit the importation
of Scottish whisky into this country, only by means of yes-
stls travelling by sea, yet such intention is not expressed,
and therefore whisky may enter this country by land. l'his
clause will most likely be altered next session; but for the
present, we congratulate the admirers of " mountain dew,"
that if the tali of January bring not with it the wished-for
spirit, the day after abundance of it will be bought and
sold (and drank to boot) publicly in England.—t'arlisk
Juairmul.

AURICULAR CONFLASION.—When the Spanish Inquisi-
tion was overturned a few years ago, and its books were
siwl upon and submitted to inspection, it was found that
In the small province of Murcia, one of the least extensive
and populous in Spain, the provincial tribunal of the In-
quisition bad actually instituted no less than seven thousand
prosecutions against priests for attempting the seduction of
their female penitents. If the cases of accusation and trial
amounted to such a frightful number, how numerous must
have been those in which the charge was not made—because
the vicious attempt succeeded !
He Ls FOUND to iVoot..—Mr.A. Storey, foreman to Mr.
Poun, of Keswick, while taking up stool a short time ago,
at H!ackhail, in Ulphai found a swarm of b:es that had
made a domicile in the wool, and accumulated upwards of
ten pounds of honey. What renders this fact most aingu-
hir is, that wool, generally speaking, is a thing bees very
much dislike.--einberlond Packet.

Friday last a fatal accident occurred at Knockkenny
beetling-mills, in the neighbourhood of Glaminis, Perth-
shire. While the overseer of the work was Intent at
diviner the machinery had been put in motion ; and he, on
his return, being ignorant of the fact, unconsciously ap-
pmsched within the operation of the beetles, when he was
struck by one of them on the bead with deadly violence.
His brains were litemlly dashed out, and he was instantly
deprived of life. •
TMO children at Bridgewater, one aged five years, and
the other not two years old, being left in a room en Friday
by their grandmother, on her going out, and the door
I.piced, thy youngest got into a barrel containing shavings,
and the other it is supposed put some coals from the fire
the shavings, for the nerthbours, being alarmed by
the child's cries, broke open the door, and found the poor
little creature so dreadfully burnt that it died in about three
Lours.

THE SLAVE TRADE.

(From the Glasgow Courier.'
Extracts hem Letters received in Glasgow from a gen-
Ileman on board his Majcs!y's ship Maidstone, on the coast
_ .

of Afriia, dated at sea 3d Augtipt, and Prince's Island
12th September :

The small schooner, under Dutch colour., mentioned in
my last, has been condemned. After taking her, we came
along the coast and boarded twenty vessels, only two of
them, to the best of my recollection, in a fair way of trade,

•
the others evidently for slaves, and most of them under

French colours. On the '9th July, while cruising at sea,
a brig was reported from the mast-head, and all sail made
after her. We came up with her at 8 r. •t. when she hoisted
the Dutch flag. On hoarding, she was found well manned,
armed, and fitted for a slave cargo; and, from circum-
stances, it was evident she intended making the land. Ac-

cording to our treaty with the Dutch Government, we can-
not seize any vessel fitted for slaves under their flag, unless
within a geographic degree of the lam? • and this vessel
was not in the proper place for us ; anti, after being de-
tained for the night on suspicion, she was allowed to go,
and set sail in the morning in perfect security. We fol-
lowed, and being the fastest sailing vessel, kept sight of
her till the 31st, when we hoisted colours and fired a mus-
ket. She shortened sail. We sent a boat on board, and

finding that the man at the mast-bead had reported land,
and that it was marked in lter log-book, her crew were
brought on board the Maidstone, and the vessel captured.
She is a fine large brig, with a valuable cargo, and is sup-
posed.to be worth 4,0001. Being manned from our ship,
she Failed- in company with us to N. W. Bay, Prince s
Island ; and after watering, she sailed for Sierta Leone
for condemnation, and, it is thought, will meet the fate of
the other.
When at Prince's Island, a Kroomen was sent over the
island, and on return, reported there were armed vessels in
Port Antonio harbour. Immediately on our watering
being finished, we hoisted anchor, and in the afternoon
made Port Antonio, where we found two brigs ; one of them
a large vessel pierced for 2' guns— the other called the
Conquestadore, is an old stager on the coast. Both of them
were fitted. up for slaves, but had none on board, and being
under the Spanish flag, we had no authority over them in
their present state. The two will take at least one thou-
sand slaves
Leaving this on the 6th, we came to anchor off the river
Bonny; and the boats were prepared for a cruise ep the
river, and a cutting out, if any thing offered. These 1 was
appointed to accompany. I% e passed the bar of the river
without the slightest danger, though it was here my un-
fortunate friend Mr.
vessel we boarded was a schooner. She did not seem willing
to show her colours; but the firing of a musket ball
brought her to, anti her colours were, as usual, French.
Next was a Palm Oil ship, which showed her flag long
before we came near ber. We boarded no less than sixteen
vessels—all of them fitted for slaves—twelve of then-
French, and four Spanish. One Spanish brig was manned
with eighty hands when she came on the coast, but had
lost a number of them by death. She was mounted with
fourteen guns, and, by accounts, very well disciplined for
action. One of the French vessels had her slaves on board
when we entered the river, and not knowing whether we
were French or English, commenced landing them, and
had them landed before we boarded.
While here, some of our party went ashore and visited
King Pepple. Their reception was hospitable, though not
elegant. The King lives in a very poor style, but is very
powerful and rich. He was unable to procure slaves to
supply the demand of the different ships, but expected 200
next day from the inland : he looks on them with far less
interest than a farmer would on as many head of cattle.
On the Sth June he made a human sacrifice. The victim
was a fine young lad. When a sacrifice is to be made the
victim is dressed in a superb style, and painted ; he is put
into a canoe and carried to the bar of the river, just as the
tide begins to ebb: here he is shoved overboard, and the
sharks swallow him. The victims are young persons, who
are purchased and kept on purpose. A woman or man is
alternately sacrificed • the first is made lb believe that she
is going home, and that the way is below the sea—the
second is made to believe that he is going to his own
country, and following the woman who has gone before
him. The inhabitants of the place believe that these
sacrifices bring trade to the river.
There are several kinds of punishment made use of here
among the natives, the most horrific of which is that of
the ant tree. If a felon commits any great offence, he is
made fast by the arms and legs to a tree infested with ants,
which soon cover his whole body, and pierce him with
holes; and in this dreadful state he continues, the vermin
working their way deeper and deeper, till death puts an end
to his sufferings.
In the Callabar, about nine miles distant from Bonny,
we boarded only 'wo vessels, one French, the other Spanisb,
which carried five guns, one a twenty-four set on a carriage
which wrought on a long slide, which again was set on a
wooden circle, the diameter of which was equal to the
breadth of the deck. On this circle the slide could be
moved round, carrying the gun-carriage with it, so as to
point fore and aft, or on either side. Notwithstanding'
this parade of force, these poor wretches had no antidote
to the poison of African effluvia, and were dying, as the
phrase goes, like rotten sheep. They had no slaves in ;
but there were 14 miserable beings in their slave-room in
the last horrid stage of African fever ; and the smell coin- i
ing he hatches assailed me with such force that I was
glad ake the best of my way to the boat and get a cigar
" under weigh."
On the 4th of this month, when at sea, we chased and
came up with a ship, found to be of 370 tons, under French
colours, and having on board no less than 698 slaves ; 700
had been her complement, but she had lost two at sea by
death. Several of them were labouring under fever and a
species of itch, and the ship's company were sickly. Being
under the French flag, we had no power over her, and left
her to make the best of her way to the slave market.
Prince's Island, 12th Sept.—The Esk arrived last night,
and brought intelligence of the capture of a Brazilian slave
vessel, with 362 slaves by her, in company with the Red-
wing and Athol, and that the last-mentioned vessel had
captured a brig, under the Dutch treaty, being fitted for
slaves, and taken on shore.

On Wednesday afternoon, a quarrel tonic place on the
Foreign Stock Exchange, between two Hebrew brokers,
of extensive business, one an Italian and the other a Por-
tuguese, when the latter put the nose of the former in a
cegiiianthr to
learn someis.Theltslc of on
ii, who has
toascluivstlmels appearedongenoug o
enough in
'Change yesterday, armed with a horse-whip, which he
retorted on the Portuguese.
An affair of a serious nature occurred on Thursday.
' Several smugglers endeavouring to run some tubs of spirits
were intercepted by a party of the Coast Blockade, under
the command of Lieutenant Westbrook, near Dy mchurch ;
but some resistance to the seizure being made, it became
necessary for the blockade party to use their fire-arms, by
the discharge of which a pt.rson named Charles Reeley, of
Hythc, was killed, having at the time four tubs in his pos-
session.—Brighten Gazette.

SUICIDG.—A gentlemanly dressed man, with a port-
manteau in his band, called a coach from the stand below
Middle-row, Holborn, yesterday morning, and desired to
be driven to the top of Oxford-street. The coachman
stopped in Oxford-street to inquire how far further he was
to go, but receiving no answer, he left his box and found
his fare dead, he having completely eevered his windpipe
with a carving-knife. It appeared from the address on the
portmanteau that the deceased was going by one of the
coaches to Tring, "passenger" being written on a card at-
tached to it. •

On iSrednesday eVening a gentleman named Burk ar-
rived from London, by the coach, at the Packet Boat Inn, 1
Dover, intending to proceed next morning to the conti-
nent, for the purpose of bringing his family from Dun-
kirk. On his alighting from the coach he complained of
being cold, ordered a cup of coffee, and a warm bed to be
prepared ; in the morning he said he was very ill, but de-
clined receiving medical assistance, as recommended, ex-
pressing a confident hope that a little more rest would
recover him ; in the early part of the afternoon, however,
a servant entering the room to look after the fire. and other
arrangements that had been made for his comfort, found
be had ceased to exist.

THE LATE MB. BELL, OF GLASGOW.

The death of Mr. Bell was mentioned in our last. Although Mr.
Bell's bodily frame was neither vigorous nor robust, yet he enjoyed.
with the exception of slight stomach's ailments, the consequence of
intense application to literary pursuits, a tolerable share of health.
and its concomitant blessings. About a year and a half ago, how-
ever. after a slight liver complaint, which yielded to the usual me-
dical inning, the first symptoms of that organic disease of the sm.
mach was obscurely manifested, which has since, uncontrolled by
every variety of medical treatment, gradually and progressively
advanced to a fatal termination. In consequence of extensive and
irremediable ulceration of the stomach, he was for several months
before death unable to retain any solid, and very little even of li-
quid nourishment ; thus inducing extreme emaciation, and expos-
ing him to many painful deprivations, all of which he sustained
with his characteristic fortitude.
Mr. Bell was a young gentleman of extraordinary literary and
scientific attainments, endowed with a mind which was not less
active than vigorous; he discovered, early in life, an ardent desire
for the pursuit of methematical studies, which he prosecuted with
very considerable success, not only in the ordinary branchee, with
which students of theology generally rest satisfied, but even in the
loftier departments of algebra, of fluxion', and of geometry.
The study of natural history next became the object of his pur.
suit, and was prosecuted with a similar spirit of enthusiasm for
upwards of two years ; and as mineralogy was more especially the
object of his emcee!), he submitted to considerable labour in tea.
yelling to different parts of Scotland, and extracting from its hills
and rocks a collection of curious specimens, illustrative of that in. '
teresting, and now fashionable department of science.
In the study of botany also he made considerable progress.
While in Paris he lived in habits of intimacy with a celebtated
lecturer in a Botanic Garden in the vicinity of that city, of whose
valuable instructions he availed himself ; and even dining his long
protracted confinement he often amused himself by revising the
principles of that delightful science.
Nor was the study of medicine overlooked by him. With •
view to extend his general knowledge. he attended several of
the medical elnees, and few who have not professionally engaged
in these branches could converse on them with greater propriety.
Here anatomy, however, as illustrative of the wisdom and good-
ness of God, in the structure of the human body, attracted his
particular attention, and here his progress was very respectable.
Philosophy however was the grand subject on which his caps.
cious mind took its most ample tange. Acre his genius dis-
covered a field of investigation for which it was peculiarly adapted.
After prosecuting his studies for some time in the University of
Glasgow, he travelled to the continent, and resided for several
years In Paris, Geneva, Naples, and Home. During his residence
abroad he acquired the greater part of the modern languages of
Europe ; several of them he could speak and write with the utmost
facility. The facility with which he acquired the fashionable
languages of France, of Italy, of Germany, of Spain, and of
modern Greece, suggested the idea of cultivating an acquaintance
with the languages of the Kant. Accordingly, on his return he
sot only resumed afresh his theological studies, which had been
necessarily interrupted by his absence from College, but lie bent
the principal force of his vigorous mind upon the acquisition of
Hebrew, Arabic. Penie, and other Oriental languages ; and the
proficiency which he made during his short but illustrious career
was almost incredible. Latterly he had been adding to his lite.
rary treasures a knowledge :of the Sanscrita. Hindustani, and Ben.
gall. His controversy with the celebrated Dr. Lee, of Cambridge,
affords abundant evidence not only of his minute and accurate
knowledge of the Arabic and Persian languages, but of the great
principles upon which all languages are constructed.
After his return from the continent he was the principal agent
in stirring up his fellow-citizens to the erection of a foreign library,
and for some time afterwards took an active management in all Its
concerns. He bad lately digested a plan and issued a prospectus
of an improved edition of Taylor's Hebrew Concordance, embo-
dying the various readings of Kennkot, and also the words which
are employed to translate the original Hebrew in the Septuagent,
in the Syriac and Vulgate versions of the Scriptures ; and had he
lived to accomplish this herculean undertaking, according to
the specimen presented to the public, it promised fair to be a
work of great utility to the Biblical student. Ile had likewise pro-
jected the plans of • series of Grammars, accompanied by select
lessons of the following languages, viz :—the French, Spanish, Ita-
lian, German, }tontine or modern Greek and Persic, on a principle
of arrangement almost entirely new, and, as he was convinced,
better calculated than any he had seen, for tl e easy acquisition
of these language'. For printing the Spanish Grammar and lessons
he had actually contracted a few days before his death, with the
full hope of having it published in the course of three months.
He had also engaged to write a comparative view of the ancient
and modern sciences for a work 1101111 about to be published.
During last winter, his friends beheld with deep regret his
constitution giving way by the pressure of unremitting study,
augmented, in all probability, in its wasting influence, by dis-
appointment in not being able, front the expensive nature of
the undertaking, to give to the world his great favourite work,
the new Edition of the Hebrew Concordance. ilis literary
friends have also to regret, that by his early removal all his
projected works, which promised to be so useful, must remain
unaccomplishetl.
His comprehensive mind, rich in learning, was thus busily
planning bow to give out its collected stores. Though he had the ,
power in a very uncommon degree of expressing himself strnegly
and tersely, he was most candid and forbearing in passing a judg-
ment on the productions of others. Ile could blame, but he was
more accustomed to praise.
With all his attainments, he made no pretentions to learning.
He was modest in the extreme. As an evidence of this. it may be
only necessary to mention that as his utterance was naturally rather
indistinct than otherwise, he was aware that he was not likely to
become an acceptable
,preacher of the Gospel ; and, therefore, it
was that although he Intended to take license (for he had some
time ago completed his theological course), yet he had, after ma-
ture deliberation on the subject, adopted the resolution of devoting
his talents more especially to the pursuits of literature.
A most becoming respect for religion gave a softening and en-
dearing loveliness to his character. The last effort ho made to
leave his sick room, was to commemorate with the church of God
the dying love of his Redeemer. After this he was seen rapidly to
wane—yet he was calm, cheerful and resigned to the last. Life
went out like the student's expiring midnight taper. His memory
is steeped in the affections of his widowed mother, and other
afflicted relatives—in his death, a numerous circle of literary
friends have to lament the loss of a man who war dear to learn-
ing—end his native city, the departure of one of her brightest
and most promising ornaments. All flesh is grass, and all the
goodness thereof is as the flower of the field—the grass withereth ;
the flower fadeth. because the spirit of the Lord bloweth upon it—
surely the people is grass."—Glusgow Chronicle.

The public ought to be put on their guard respecting
the immense quantities of counterfeit coin, of all descrip-
tions now in circulation—the anxiety of the timid to get
possession of specie, or any thing resembling it, having
afforded ample facilities to those engaged in such nefarious
speculations.
A very unfortunate accident occurred on Monday even-
ing last. As the London and Manchester Association Van
was coming through the London toll-gate, by some mis-
management of the driver the wheel came in contact with
one of the posts, by which the coachman (John Hudson)
WAS precipitated several yards from his seat, falling with
his head on the hard frozen ground. He was taken up in
an insensible state, and immediately carried to our in-
firmary, where every exertion was made for the preserva-
tion of his life, but in vain ; the poor man expired about
twelve o'clock on the following night.—Derby Mercury.

ATROCIOUS CRCELTI.—A poor man of North Pether.
ton, named Wright, who gains a livelihood by driving
coal, on Thursday evening left his horse and cart standing
at his door, whilst he went into the house for a short time.
On returning, he observed the horse shiver a great deal ;
and on procuring a candle, discovered that whilst he was
absent, some brutal villain had cut the cords, skin, and
flesh of the fore leg, below the fetlock joint, completely off,
and the bone alone remained, holding the hoof and the
other part of the leg together. A person has been taken
up on suspicion, and committed to Wilton gaol.—Taunton

Courier.
A To IFF CAUOTIT TN A RAT-TRAP: In the vicinity of
Congleton, an old woman, who gained a subsistence by
making and vending meat pies, found that every morning,
and whenever she went from home, her pies had left the
pantry by means of an agency which she could not account
for. In vain she added a lock to the pantry door, and
placed iron bars to the casement—still the pies decamped
and the thief remained undiscovered. The old dame was
not one of those, however, who attributed the circum-
stance to supernatural causes, but was convinced that the
•thief was one of earthly race, nor was she wrong in her
conjectures, for, upon narrowly inspecting the wall of her
depot, she found that a brick had been removed, and so
neatly refitted to its place, that a person might at any tinge
pass through his hand and rob her shelf. Without more
ado she procured a formidable rat-trap, and placed it close
by the moveable brick. She then proceeded on her usual
morning round, and upon her return found a lad roaring
most vociferously—his hand fastened by the trap in the
pantry, without any visible means of extricating it. She
took the opportunity of lecturing the culprit on the vice
of thieving, and after having undergone due penance,
the urchin was dismissed, but not till he had made a firm
resolve not to do the like again.—Manchester 21feretay.

A machine has lately been constructed in Germany, " of
surh astonishing properties, that if raw flax be put in at one end.
ruffled shirts are turned out at the other." however extraordinary
(bin may appear, the power of conversion is much exceeded in our
new multiplying wheel. by which any person may turn Nineteen
Guineas into one of the Six Twenty Thousands that must be all
decided on the Ist March ; the eloping scene of the Wheel of For-
tune is at hand, for tiovernment will have no mute Lotteries after
the two next Drawing".