The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-03-11 00:00:00

EDUCATION OF NEGROEn

We extract the following from the " Report of the In-
corporated Society for the Conversion and Religious In-
struction and Education of the Negro Slaves in the British'
West India Islands, from July to December, 1823 :"
Few sentences will be sufficient to notice all that has occurred
since the publication of the •• Account of the Society" in June :
and no further arrangement of the matter can be necessary, than the
simple division of it into Domestic and Colonial.
Upon the subject of the Society's Affairs at Home the Governors
have to state, that early in the month ofJuly last they announced by
an Advertisement in the public papers, the very satisfactory progress
which the Society had made in the prosecution of its truly important
objects, and the grounds on which it was authorised to resume its
applications for the subscriptions and donations which it had here-
tofore suspended. They availed themselves of the opportunity of
this Advertisement to express the satisfaction with which they wit.
nesaed the liberal contributions already offered to the Society by
rsons of the highest rank both in Church and State, as well
'eas
by several of the most considerable of the Net India Proprietors.
1 he month had not elapsed, before this Appeal was laid before the
Standing Committee of the Nest India Planters and Merchants of
the City of London, by C. R. Ellis, Esq. M.P. their Chairman; and
the Society had the pleasure of receiving through that gentleman
the testimony of the approbation and concurrence of that Body, as
given in the following unanimous Resolutions:—
" Resolved Unanimously—That this Committee are of opinion,
that the extension of the means of Religious Instruction, is the lest
and surest foundation for the improvement of the civil as well as
the moral condition of the Negroes in the West India Colonies.
" That • The Society fur the Conversion and Religious Instruc-
tion and Education of the Negro Slaves in the British West India
Islands,' are entitled to the gratitude of the Colonies, for their ex.
ertions in engaging Clergymen of the Established Church, to co-
operate with the Clergy of the Colonies in promoting the object of
their Institution.
. . . . . . . .

" That this Committee, desirous of evincing the sense which fiey
entertain of the value and importance of those exertions. and of
that object, gladly avail themselves of the opportunity now afforded
of expressing their cordial approbation, and of offering a contribu-
tion to the funds of the Society.
" That the Treasurer of the West India Planters and Merchants
be authorised to pay over to the Treasurer of • the Society for the
Conversion and Religious Instruction and Education of the Negro
Slaves in the British West India Islands,' the Sum of One Thou-
sand Pounds, from the General Fund of the West India Planters
and Merchants of the City of London.
" That the Secretary be directed to send a copy of the' Account,
of the Constitution, Objects, aid Progress of that Society, and the
accompanying Advertisement, lately published by them, to the
several Members of the West India Body in London, and to the
West India Associations In the Outports, requesting their Sub-
scription.
• That the Chairman be requested to communicate the preced-
ing Resolutions to the Bishop of London."
In consequence of this communication to the Associations in
the Outports, those of Liverpool and Glasgow have been contri-
butors to the Society of 1001. each: and the Committee of the
West India Planters and Merchants who were present at the pass-
ing of the above Resolutions having given their names as Annual
Subscribers, their example has been highly favourable to the So-
ciety's funds.
In the Advertisement which was put forth within a short
period of this Meeting, the Subscriptions and Donations appeared
as follows :
Subscriptions . - .0220 0 0
•

- - - .
Donations - . • . 1,13:1 12 0
And though the increase has been leas rapid than the Governors
had expected from so promising a beginning, yet the funds of the
Society have beat gradually improving, as its cittumstances and
operations have been more generally known.
To secure an immediate application of the contributions, no
time was lost in circulating the information, that the Society in-
tended to increase the number of its Clergy ; and that the Secretary
had been authorised to communicate with those gentlemen who
might feel a disposition to enter into its service. An invitation was
also made to the West India Proprietors to aid the Society's de-
signs, by the support of its Ministers upon their particular proper.
ties ; or otherwise to co-operate with the Society's endeavours to
form as complete a system for the gradual Conversion and Religious
Instruction and Education of the Negro Slaves, as circumstances
may permit.
In answer to the former part of this Advertisement, it is gra.
tifying to state that such applications have been made by Clergy.
men and others of the highest respectability ; accompanied by re.
ferencea which have stood the test of the most strict investigation,
and by testimonials to those important qualifications, which are in-
dispensable is the condition of the Christian Minister as leave no
doubt in the minds of the Governors, of their being able to obtain
a supply of efficient Chaplains who may be safely entrusted with
these important interests.

The chief police-office will be shortly removed from
Bow-street to Pall-mall East, near its intended termi-
nation, opposite &. Martin's church.
The friends of a gentleman residing at Battersea, have
within the last two or three days, been thrown into great alarm by
his sudden disappearance. He had been for some time, owing to
ill-health. in a very dejected state of mind. On Monday last, he
dined with a friend at Battersea, when he appeared more depressed
than usual, and left him between five and six o'clock, with the in.
tendon of spending the evening with a ritually at Brompton. He
was seen going along Battenieu-bride immediately afterwards, but
beyond it he cannot be traced. Lpon inquiry of his friends at
Brompton, it was ascertained lie had not been there. Every poani-
ble step has been taken In order to gain intelligence of Min, and
hand-bills, containing a description of his person and dress, hare
been circulated in the neighbourhood, but hitherto without success.
He is described to be between forty and fift► yenta of age, stout
made, five feet ten inches high, with black hair and eyes, anti pro.
minent features ; and was dressed in an olive dreas-coat, white
neckcloth, striped fancy waistcoat, dark trowsers, and boots.

HOME CIRCUIT.
ESSEX ASSlZER—CusiaaaroaD, 11Latis 10.
Before Mr. AVON GRAHAME.
GAILTHIER WtDD •ND OTHER,.
This was an action of assault and battery, sod false imprison-
ment. Plea, the general issue.
Mr. Atmi.ritus and Mr. CHITTY conducted the plaintiff's
case; ar.l Mr. MARRYATT, Mr. Sergeant Tmarir, a d Mr.
BRODERICK the defence.

The plaintiff is parish clerk of Great Wakening, post-muter of
the place, and had been collector of tithes for the Rev. Mr. Pritchard,
the Vicar. The defendants are parishioners of Great Wakering.
On the 3d of November there had been 'Parish Meeting at the Red
Lion Inn, for the purpose of settling some parish accounts, and
also paying arrears to the clergyman for tithes. The Vicar gave a
dinner on the occasion, and the wine sou pushed about very plenti-
fully. The plaintiff was required to attend after dinner to explain
some of his accounts as to the tithe collection. He was accused of
not having brought money to account which he had received, and
also of extorting more money than was fairly due for tithes. Offen-
sive toasts were given. Some of the party
re jwoposed •` D—n
to the parson," and the plaintiff was requi to drink it, which he
refused to do. They then pmposod •• 10—n to the clerk."
The plaintiff, addressing one of the defendants, named Phillips,
said, •• 11l tell you something if you won't be angry ; you owe
me eight-pence for the postage of a letter, and have done so for
these some months." Mr. Phillips said he bad never been asked
for the money, and it was an insult to mention such a thing in
company. This reproach produced some irritation towards the
plaintiff, and it was immediately proposed to turn him out of the
room. This motion sou carried ; and the plaintiff, who bad sat
down to partake of the conviviality, was forthwith carried by the
defendants in his chair, and pushed out of the room.
This was the cause of action.
The case was left for the Jury, who found their verdict for the
plaintiff Damages—One Farthing.
CROWN SIDE.
Wen. Calls was convicted of stealing, at Brentwood, a horse,
the property of a Mr. Thorn, and sentence of Death was re-
corded.

Thomas ToMuni war indicted fur feloniously killing and
slaying William Davis, at Uray's Thurrock, on the 17th of No-
vember.

Mr. BRODERICK and Mr. Dow xmo conducted the prosecu.
lion, and Mr. ADOtrit tts the defence.
An immense number of wiroesse‘ gave the prisoner an excellent
character for inoffensiveness and humanity.
The LORD CHIEF' BARON summed up for a conviction in
point of law, if the Jury believed that the prisoner had struck the
fatal blow. _ _

The Jury deliberated a considerable length of time, and found
the prisoner Not Guilty.
Daniel Taylor was indicted for a burglary and robbery in the
dwelling. house of George Ralph, at Great Burstead. on the 28th
July last. The property alleged to have been been stolen amounted
to nearly 1004
Mr. noontime and MT. Dow! IMO conducted the prosecution.
The prisoner was undefended by Counsel.
The prosecutor is an auctioneer, shopkeeper, and banker, at
Billericay. In the night of the 27th July last his warehouse was
broken open, and robbed' of linen-drapery and other goods to a
considerable amount. The principal witness against the prisoner
was a man named Charles Clarke, who had formerly been in the
prosecutor's service, and having robbed him, he had been pro-
secuted and sentenced to seven years' transportation. After serving
about four years on board the hulks, the rest of his punishment
was remitted, and he was again admitted into the prosecutor's ser-
vice. In July last the prisoner and another man, named Lindsell,
proposed to him to rob his master's shop. This he declined doing,
from fear he should be suspected, but he gave no information to his
master of the intended robbery. Another witness, who was a re.
turned transport, proved that a few days after the robbery the pri-
soner confessed that he and Lindsell had done the job. Both these
witnesses were mainly confirmed in collateral particulars. At the
last Assizes for this County, Liodsell was tried and acquitted as a
porlieeps criminis in the robbery, but the evidence was much
weaker in that than the present case.
The Jury, under the Learned Judge's directions, found the pri-
soner Guilty. and sentence of death was recorded.
William Rovers was indicted for robbing John Ilan of 31. 10s.
on the King's highway, at Wanstead, on the 18th January.
The prisoner said nothing in his defence, and the Jury found
him. Guilty. Sentence of death was recorded.

OXFORD CIRCUIT.

WORCESTERSHIRE ASSIZES.—WoRcrsTr a, SI aecu 9.

Before Mr. Boron GARIOW.
CROWN SIDE.—MANSLAUGIIT R

for manslaughter, in killing Richard
Beard. The prisoner was a very respectable-looking countryman.
IS'illiam Jordan—l worked in the same field with the prisoner
and the deceased. The wife of the deceased was gleaning in the
same field. As soon as the harvest-work was done for the day,
about half-past six o'clock, the deceased said, that if the prisoner
could not do his work better than he did he might as well sit down
and do nothing. To this the prisoner replied, that he had drank
too much, and could not work so well as if he was sober. Some
further abuse ensued : all the men had been drinking too mud .
Mr. Boughton, our master, came into the field, and the deceased
told him of the bad work done ; and when accused by the prisoner
of telling of him, the deceased gave the prisoner the lie, and a
fight of several rounds ensued, in which the deceased once struck
the prisoner when down. Beard's wife came up., and said, with an
oath, " If you come near my husband I will kill you !" They then
left off fighting, hecau'e the other men told the prisoner to leave off;
and he put his clothes on again, and said he would shake hands
with the deceased, and went up to him for that purpose; when Mrs.
Beard said again, with an oath, that she would kill the prisoner if
he came near her husband. In try judgment the prisoner was
really going to shake hands and make an end of it, but, on hearing
Mrs. Beard say that, the prisoner pushed her aside with his left
hand, and struck the deceased on the temple with his right. The
deceased fell ; I picked him up. and he never spoke afterwards.
Llizabeth Beard, the widow of the deceased, proved his death.
Mr. William Hebb, a surgeon-1 saw the deceased after death.
The cause of his death was extravasation of blood on the brain. It
was, in my judgment, caused by external violence, as the injuries
on the brain corresponded with external bruises.
The prisoner left his case to the mercy of the Court.
The prisoner received a good character.
Mr. Baron GARR° w summed up the evidence.—Verdict—Not
Guilty.
James flodgkis, William Bowater. and John Gilts:. were in-
dicted f'er manslaughter, in killing George Grove, I, furiously
driving a cart.
. . . . . . . .

Mr.e.CUILIVOOD stated that he was instructed to defend the pri-
soner Hodgkis only.
fr. GODSOW stated that he was retained by Gittus.
For the prosecution, John Blower said—l am a chaise-driver,
belonging to the Cross Inn, at Bromesgrove. On the 22d of Sep-
tember I was driving a gentleman's carriage from Bromesgrove to
Stourbridge. I saw the deceased walking along the road, at about
two o'clock on that day. After passing him I met the prisoners
Hodgkis and Bowater. Each of them was driving a cart. I met
them a quarter of a mile from where I.met Grove. Their carts
were loaded with coals, and they were gang in a direction to over-
take the deceased ; they were driving their carts at the rate of six
miles an hour, and nearly abreast. I stepped the carriage I was
driving to let them pass. They had two horses in each cart.
Hodgkin's cart broke my splinter bar.
Cross-examined by. 31 r. CUISWOOD—This was on a broad turn-
pike road ; three carriages might go abreast. I often meet carriages
going at the rate of six miles an hour. It is not much of racing to
go at six miles an hour. The deceased was deaf, and therefore if
he was hallooed to to get out of the way he might not hear it.
Examined by the Learned JUDGE—A cart going at six miles
an hour is likely to do mischief, because there is not the same com-
mand over the homes as with a carriage.
John Riddle—l know the place called the Hundred-house Hill.
I knew the deceased, and saw him go down that hill just before he
was killed. Ile was walking.. I SAW the prisoners driving their
carts loaded with coal. The prisoners' carts went over the deceased.
The carts were going at a pace between a walk and a trot. I called
out to Ale. Grove, the horses being then within two feet of him.
He turned sound to look towards me—but if leetwail of that he had
turned the other side, and seen his danger, he would not have been
hurt. The deceased was knocked down by the shafts of Bowater's
cart, and the wheel went over him, and Gittus was also knocked
down in trying to stop the horses. The carts were heavily laden,
and from the load it was not possible to stop the horses. When I
picked up the deceased he was quite dead.
The Learned JUDGE directed the Jury to acquit Ohms, and
called on the other prisoners for their defence.
Bowater said that he was very sorry for what had happened.
liodgkis said that they could not stop their horses.
The Learned Junow, after observing that at the time of the
death of the deceased the carts were not going at the rapid rate
spoken of by the chaise driver, but at a much more moderate pace,
left it to the Jury to say whether the death arose from mere acci-
dent, or (rem the misconduct of the prisoners.
Verdict—Not Gaiky
BIGAMY.

COprlifid, a very ill-favoured old man with one eye,
was Labeled for feloniously marrying Maria Depper, his former
wife, Lucy Burrow, being still alive.
Mr. Jour: Evaate stated the case.
Thomas Smith-1 produce an examined copy of the marriage
register of the parish of Llaines; it is of the prisoner and his first
wife, in 1783. I also produce an extract from the register of
Bromesgrore parish, of his i.rarriage with his second wife.
Elizabeth Smith—l was at the prisoner's marriage with Lucy
Burrow. I am sure the prisoner is the man ; she is now living.
The prisoner left her twenty years ago, and she has seen nothing of
him since. I myself had not seen the prisoner for three and
twenty years till the day on which he was committed.
Sarah Giles—l was present at the second marriage, on the
11 tit of March, 1814. The second wife was a servant in a farm-
house.
Maria Depper, the second wife—l was married to the prisoner
eleven years ago ; he hu lived with me ever since, and provided,
as well as he could, for our family.
The prisoner said, in his defence, that the first wife had run
away with another man, and that he being employed at the con-
struction
of the Illartello Towers on the south coast, had heard
nothing of his first wife till 1813, when she told him that if he did
not get away, and never let her see him again, she would crack his
skull with a poker.
The first wife now stood up, who seemed a bit of a virago, in the

witness box, and hoped his Lordship would hear her. She mid
the prisoner was a vile fellow, and that as she did not want kiln,
and if the second wife had any fancy for him, she might have hies
and welcome.
The Learned Junce summed up the evidence, and remarked to
the Jury that this did not appear to be one of those aggravated
cases of which they unfortunately saw too many.
Verdict—Geifty.
The first wife now stood up again, and complained that the pri-
mmer would never make tea for her.
The Learned Junoe-1 am surprised, seeing what a sweet da-
, position you possess, that any man could think of leaving your so-
; mety so long as he had en opportunity of enjoying it. (A lime.)
The Learned JtIDOZ then said, that he thought he should beet
consult the interests of society by making the amount of the punish-
, ment in this case depend on the prisoner's future conduct : the pet-
loner must therefore enter into recognisance to appear again when
rolled upon, which the prisoner did, and was discharged.
The present Assizes at Worcester are the heaviest ever remem-
bered.