The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1807-12-31 00:00:00

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4 dated, and by the Herterli4if a Committee of the bet- treasury, there can remain in that country few ob-
pet 44 Patlia aunt, made the last Ses,ioa, after very jeas of legitimate taxation.
full inquiry. k has been proved beyond the possibi:ity of being
As these publications, and that Report, are ac- controverted, that the cultivators of cigar in this
cornpanied bye and grounded on, official docu menu, ieland,comprehending berth landholders and farmers,
and the most remedable •evidence, the Committee are, with a very few exceptions, in the unfortunate
consider it uneeiessary to enter on an investigation state supposed, even it they were exempt from the
of fads now not controverted, and thrult they are burden of debts.
justified in repowns that the tolluwing appear the The greatest proportion of the taxes of this country
principal causes which have produced the extreme is raised on this body of proprietors diredly, and a
depreciation of our principal staple, sugar : Ist. considerable share of the remainder indiredly,
The departure from what has been usually caked through various classes of the inhabitants, whose
the rule of the war of IW, but which, en fait, was chief means of support are drawn from the sugar
established long before that period, end decided, plantations. .
is That a neutra/ had no right to deliver rbelligerent It were vain to search for means of levying part
from the praware of his else:rues' hostilities, by of a revenue that sloes not exist. And it is painful
tradi g with his co/antes in time of war, in any to the Committee to state, that it will be imprac-
manner which was prohibited in. time of peace." I ticable to continue to raise, within this island, those
Id. The peculiar relaxations of this rule, by the contributions which were cheerfully paid in happier
orders issued to the prise Courts, in the years l7tl times, unless the sugar planters shall he enabled to
aid 179$ rerpedively, which, with very trilling support their share of the public burdens, by some
essidliceins, amino, to regulate the decrees of radical, effectual, and permanent measures, which
these important tribuivals. Id. The geographical shall restore and insure to them an income, bearing
position of the ports of the United States of North assist proportion to their large capitals, on which
America, the neutral power chiefly engaged in carry- our local taxes have been heretof 're chiefly assessed.
leg the produce of the enemies' West India Colonies, That. from the unexpected sums which have been,
which renders the few restre&ions yet retuned by and may be, colleded, from the extraordinary im-
am last mentioned orders to be hazily an incon- portatson of Africans, as before stated, and the un-
minium. as they are go: over by systematic expelled ranee; in cf debts due to the public, it may
fraud aid perjury. 4th The easy expense and se- be practicatee, with rigid economy in all other
curity with wheal, by means of this fraudulent sys. branches et the public expenditure, to continue suds
tem of neutrality, t' a sugars of the enemies' cold- subsistence another year. And the Committee re-
Dies are transported to the European mat ket, it hay- commend to the House to vote sums necessary for
ing been proved that, for freight and irisurance giving the said additional suesistence to the Slit day
alone, the British planter payi, for every hundred of December, 1508. The Committee humbly
weight of smear conveyed through the patent state hope, that, on a familial representation to our most
to the ports of Holland, or t' e north of Europe, gracious Sovereign. of the calamitous situation to
Ss. I sel sterlina, and to the Mediterranean les. 6d. which his loyal subjects of this island are reduced,
more than attaches on the goods of the French or His Majesty, with his accustomed benevolence, will
Spaanh cultivator, carried in neutral bottoms to the recognize the uniform zeal with which the volun-
same mks. Sth. The restrictions on imports- tary contributions towards the comfort of His Ma
tion into tlipteleetinental ports, from the power and jesty's troops in this island have been made, whilst
influence oTFrench domination, whilst the tempts- the inhabitants bad the means : and, considering the
Won to resist or evade it is taken away by the abun- state to which proprietors, once opulent, are re-
dant supply brought under the neutral flag. 6th. duced, that His Majesty will be pleased to direct
A rigid enforcement of the navigation system, his Ministers to adopt such measures as shall be nee
against the Ninth Colonies. at the time when it cessary for protecting this yet important colony,
was thought expedient to grant rellusatioas in fa- from the general funds of the empire, to which it
your of nenoals and enemies. The agriculture of contributes so large and disproportionate a share.
the colonies of the latter has been encouraged by a And the Committee recommend to the House to ap-
monopoly of the demand from the United States of point a Committee to prepare a most humble Ad-
Amerism, and by having their produce transported dress to His Majesty, setting forth these our griev-
under the safe and cheap protection of-the neutral antes and oppressions, earnestly beseeching His
flag. to every market where it was in request. Majesty's commands on his Ministers to adopt pro-
The British planter. without funds or credit in the per measures for our relief and redress.
mother country. where his staple was of no value, Ordered. that Mr. Stevenson, Mr. Grant, Mr.
bas been restrained from bartering any part Whitehorne, Mr. Sims. and Mr. Fialayson, be a
of Ms sugar, in exchange for the lumber and Committee fur that purpose.
fish which could not be dispensed with, which hie 2. Resolved, That this House, for itself, and on
rum was unequal to satisfy. and for which, often, it the part of its constituents, and of all other persons
would not be received. whilst it has been shown. in any manner con .erned in the welfare of this
that rio other resources were lett. He has been island, do, in the most solemn and decided manner,
protest against the Aft of the Imperial Parliament,
called upon to send to the American market such
produce as he wished to sell or barter there in Bri- Passed no the 25th day of March last, entitled,
Web bottoms, but no convoys have bees appointed, "An A@ for the Abolition of the Slave Trade," not
no facilities given to an intercourse which would oaly as a breath, on the part of Government, of
have required the moat decided and regular protec- the conditions under which His Majesty's sobjefis
doe. Ile is required to sacrifice his all to the pre- embarked in the seteement of this island, 'but as a
serration of waist is called the Navigation System. novel. unjust, and unconstitutional interference with
of
that
tratein be admit, the wisdom and owes its internal govertune nt and affairs; calculated to
utility ; bat Ise humbly submits that it should Ise tiefteg ate to subvert our laws, to deprive us of our
eupperted at the common expense or the empire; dearest birth-right, the trial by jary, to raise envy
end mast be permitted, to doubt the justice of re- and jealousy in the breasts of the settled negroes ;
laitiofit for temporary purposes, in favour of other subversive of an ancient and admitted principle of
classes, and rigidly entosscing it against huts alone, the British Constitution, that no laws can be bind-
when not merely occasioning expense and ismanve. ing en those who are not represented in the Parlia-
nience, but overwhelming him with ruin. Sat& anent which enacts them, placing not only our
The inadequacy of the demand for the use of Great rights and properties, but also oar lives in the most
Britain and Ireland, compared with the prododion imminent danger, and tending to promote disaf-
of the colonies, which must, under the existing fedion in the minds of His Majesty's most loyal
lame he carried aid deposited there, whether there subjects.
shall /1, slaa/eurat be a presoak of exportation The 3. Resolved, That the Legislature of this island
excess of impoillatioo, above the consumption of has,• and ever had, the exclusive and absolute right
the UAW Kingdom, is mealy twoefiftha of tee •' to goad its own laws, and to regulate entirely its in-
whehe quantity, or above 100,000 , hogsheads of tented government and affairs ; that the Imperial
sugar; but the loss of two-fifilss of the pots pro- Parliament bath not, nor nath any other power upon
dace cf bus estate will be far from the measure of earth, the most distant right to interfere therein,
(except only His Majesty, in the instance of dim'.
the planter's damage—the remainder can never bear
I lowing the laws here made), and that in support of
a fair prier, whilst the quantity in the market so far
exceeds what the consumer requires. Which ex- (the dearest rights and liberties oh our fellow-subjects,
cess and depression are increased by encouraging a 1 it is our duty, by all constitutional means in our
I
licensed iotrereourse with the island of St. Domingo power, to resist the attempt that has been, and
or Hayti. Bth. The excessive duties which coo- every attempt that may be, made, to destroy or to
tinuse to be levied on this staple, now bearing no abridge that right.
proportion to the price, falling nearly, it not 4. Resolved, That this Home, in more fortu-
wholly, on the grower, and not as has been nate days, when the situation of the inhabitants of
at all times iatended or professed, ost the son_ this island was different, and when the burdens and
ii user. restridioos imposed by Great Britain were infinitely
l'o these may be added, the discouragement to less oppressive than they now are, has never PAled
in 'hewing the strongest disposition to render the
the planters, by the consumption, iu the navy and
otherwise, of foreign . :andies and spirits, the use situation of His Majesty's troops in this island most
of which might be in a great measure superseded by comfortable; and that this house is still influenced
runs. A policy infringing the system of reciprocal by the same disposition ; but is totally deprived of
•nonopoly, and aggravating distress, which more the tame meant*
1 seral condisd teetaade the colonies might have al. 5. Resolved, That the usual pay and subsistence
leviated, granted to His Majesty's Write troops, stationed in
Construing upon coffee a duty, amounting to a this island, to the extent of 3000 men, be continued
prohibition, in place of endeavouring to bring this to them until the 3la day of December, 18011: in
wholesome beverage into general use, must be a just the first place, by exhausting the funds to arise
subjed of complaint to the inhabitants of this island. from the duties on new negroes, under the aft com-
mit' must by the Committee be adverted to. as at- manly called' The Additional Duty Bill,' and as to
fading the price of an important staple, which may the deficiency, out of the monies to arise from some
soon be excluded from the continental market, one or other of the money bills to be passed this
through the only channel open to the grower. session.
But theoverwhelming distress of the sugar planter, 6. Resolved, That the abolition ad, by its totally
swallows up all inferior and less pressing evils.— destroying, for the future, the customary revenue,
What has been long known and felt here, has been under the negro duty bill, by its baneful 'Ends on
lately fully proved before a Committee of the oar ordinary resources, and its general tendency to
Rouse of Commons, that, from the operation of overwhelm the unfortunate settlers and inhabitants
the causes winch we bare only briefly adverted to, of this island, in combination with the excessive du-
the great staple of the British %eu Indies, sugar, ties and charges on our produce, and the well known
does n,t sell its the markets of the mother country general distress of the colony, renders us totally una•
. .
ble to make any provision for His Majesty's troops,
' the period above mentioned, nor can we
contemplate a renewal of such grants until, by a
the minds of our come-
clonal rights, shall be
. the means shill again
a burden.
. pressure of a heavy
lure's, now actually
and from the pros.
must be the inevitable
I ad, it is absolutely net
by moderating the taxes,
- expenditure io every
sof acknowledged

public benefit and advantage. That the /Hite of the
House, refusing the annual grant of 1.1,0001. for
loads at a distance from the sea, by which internal
settlers, who so much augment our strength, are
discouraged, should be followed up by a reiolution
to suspend for the present all grants for public build-
ings and barracks, except in a limited degree,
under very apparent necessity.
S. Resolved, 'Plat the further prosecution of the
measures about to be adopted is the Imperial Par-
liament for the relief of the sugar colonies ; the re-
peal, in toto, of the Abolition At ; or, if that cannot
be elicited, the absolute repeal, at least of all the ob-
noxious and unconstitutional enaelments thereof,
coupled with a full compensation to the island for
its losses, sufferings, and disappointments, in conse-
sitienee of the abolition of the trade ; the adoption
by the British Government of the means of afford-
ing general protection to this colony, at the general
expense of the empire; and, above all, an aban-
donment by the Imperial Parliament, of every pre-
tension to an interference with our internal govern-
ment or affairs, are objeCts of the highest import-
ance to this island, and call for the immediate, seri-
ous, and most energetic attention of the i4lani agent.

LAW INTELLIGENCE.

SHERIFF', COURT, TUESDAY, Drc.29.

SEDUCTION.—MACKREATH to. WARDELL.
This was an affirm brought by a Father to reeo.
ter a conspensatirps in damages for the loss he had
sustained in consequence of the ttefenclant having
debauched his daughter, and thereby deprived
him of her services and comfort. The Defendant,
who is the son of a wealthy farmer in Kenr, suffered
judgment by default, and this day the Jury met to
assess the damages. It appeared in evidence, that
she Plaintiff, wits) is a tradesman in Whitechapel,
sent his daughter, in the summer of 1806, to pass a
month with her grandmother, who resides at Ro-
chester. Amongst other persons, the Defendant
visited at the house, -nd a mutual affedion took
place between the parties. The Defendant, about
the time of Miss Macreath's intended return to Lon-
don, broke his mind to the grandmother, and asked
her, if she thought the Plaintiff would consent to
his visiting his daughter in London ? The old lady
replied, if his intentions were honourable, neithershe
nor thePlaintiffsvould offer any obstruttion to hishap-
piness ; at the same time, she represented that the
Plaintiff had a large family, and could give his
daughter no fortune. The Defendant said, his
views were not mercenary ; that he was aduated by
an honourable love for Miss Mackreath, and he had
no doubt, with the assistance his father could afford
him, and his own industry, that they should over-
come the frowns of fortune. The Plaintiff was in-
formed of this conversation, and relying on the
grandmother's prudence, conserred that the Defend-
ant should visit his daughter. After Miss M. re-
turned to town, the Defendant visited her at her fa-
thet's house, they frequented the theatre together,
and the Defendant was received as the destined hus-
band of the young lady. Miss M. was at this time
ittle more than sixteen years old, and her mother
wished her to attain her seventeenth year before she
married. This was considered as no great hardship
by the young people, and early in the spring of
' the present year, Miss Mackreath again visited
her grandmother, and the Defendant was sel-
dom absent from her three days at a time.—
They strolled into the fields together, loitered in the
coolness of the shade, and frequently returned to
the grandmother's after the day had closed in. In
these seclusion, love got the better of prudence, and
the young Lady expressed her eagerness to have the
marriage solemnized. The Defendant was less at-
tentive and less frequent in his visits. The young
Lady grew pensive and lost her natural .Sow of spi-
rits. The family were concerned at her apparent
anxiety, and suspeded that something more than
the Defendant's absence was the cause. She re-
turned to her father's house, where her real situation
could not be long a secret from a mother's investi-
gation, and it was discovered, to the inexpressible
grief of the family. that their daughter was preg-
nant. An explanation soon took place, the Plain-
tiff instantly sought the seducer of his child, and
insisted on his immediately marrying her. The
Defendant at first affeded great concern for the
discovery. and said the world should never re-
proach him with being the betrayer of innocence.—
The Plaintiff's apprehensions were hushed. and he
returned to his house, fully satisfied that his daugh-
ter would soon be made the wife of the man to
whom she had so incautiously concluded herself.
The sequel, however, proved that he was mistaken,
and from that day neither the unhappy father, or
the abused daughter. had seen the seducer. What
aggravated the Defendant's condud still more was,
that in a letter he had sent the Plaintiff, he insiau-
ated doabts as to the chastity of his daughter before
he became acquainted with her, observing, that he
should pause before he formed an alliance with a
person whose conduit was so extremely equivocal.
This also proved the principal feature in the de.
fence; and evidence was adduced, of Miss M.'s
general levity of manners, and that she had been
seen in company with other young men, in the ab-
sence of the Defendant. It appeared, however,
that there were no solid grounds for suspeding that
she had been frail with any other incrie dual, or that
her miscondud was at all the result of a vicious
habit ; on the contrary, her condufl had, at all
times, been chaste and virtuous.

The Jury found a Verdiet for the Plaintiff. with
rare Hundred Poaads Dasmageo.

......... ~. .. ~ ...ws.j. ~,,,,,,y s.••-•a• ••••.•MII V. LUC cutony, miners
for LI• duties, with the expenses and charges of ble to make any provision for His MA
send ag it there. And that, with the exception of a beyond the period above mentioned
few plantations, on 1 vcry large s:ale, or under cir- contemplate a renewal of such grans
cuasstances peeul;arly fortunate. nu revenue what- redress of our grievanoss, the minds
/ e• ris left to the planter, for ti:e scpport of his menu, respeßing ow constitutional ri
Lmily, or the satistaaion of his creditors.
quieted, and the possession of the men
/ The Committee need hardly represent that the enable us to bear SO heavy a burden.
only manse= source of taxation must be the 7. Resolved, That, under the press%
clear retinae or IL, ia.liviiiiaals compciieg the so- public debt, and of individual distress,
ciety, Who give op a proportion of it to the geeeral felt and become insupportable; and I
use, and for t'e cumaann safety, in whatever man- Prd of the calamities which must be 1
nor that proportion may be raised. If It commu- consequence of the abolition aft, it is
pity shall ever he reduced to that calamitous *hie- ceuary to relieve all ranks, by modera
;ion, when the whole clear income of the proprietors and by retrenching the public expenc
r .1,- —a .t,sii 1,.., h.pn nut iu resuisition for the , possible manner, even 14 Mile "6" 4)1 1