The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-07-06 00:00:00

SLAVE ()EALING.

Mr. 7'. lamer, late Captain of the mrchant ship Malta, of
Liverpool, employed in the African trade, has undergone an ex-
amination at Deptford, anti is now in the (louse of Correction,
Coldbatbsfields, under Sir R. Birnie'a warrant of commitment, on
a charge of having sold fur slave*, four girls, natives of Africa, who
had been placed with him as homages, en security for the perform-
ance of certain contracts entered into berreen him and two of the
native Chiefs. The witnesses against the accused were the mate
and tome of the crew of the Malta, and from their statement the
following facto ',mewed ;--I't is well known that it is the prac-
tice in trading with the Africans, to barter goads of European
manufacture for gold dust, and other merchandize . • but such
is the feeling of distrust which the natives entertain of Europeans,
that they seldom bring their goods on board of a ship, until they
have first got securely on shore the commodities which they are to
purchase, *so that it becomes necessary that the Captain should
have some pledge for the fulfilment of the contract on the part of
the African, or it is more than probable that lie would never see
his goods or his customer again. The security almost tinifbmi'y
given, la the leaving on board the European vessel. as hostages,
some of the members of the African's family, amongst ivhom are
generally some of his numerous wives. When the Malta, on her
last voyage, was lying on that part of the coast of Africa. near the
Island of St. John, Captain Young bartered, amongst other things
with a Chief, called Antonio Jo, who possessed himself of a great
quantity of beads, knives, bars of iron, and other things equally
valuable, toe which he was to send on board, by a certain day, a
quantity of gold dust, Ivory, and paint oil, and, by way of se-
curity. he left four of his wives, the eldest of whom was about 16
years of age, and the youngest not more than thirteen. In the
regular course of time Antodia Jo performed his contract, and de-
manded his wives ; but Captain Young refused at that time to give
them up, alleging that another Chief, with whom he had dealt, had
not performed his contract. This matter was proceeding some
days, during which (so the witnesses swear) Captain Young made
each of the Chief's wives, in her turn, his bedfellow, and chewed
particular partiality for one, a fine young creature, called Noorah.
He still persisted in refusing to give up the hostages, and at length
a Spanish schooner, having all the external appearance of a slave.
vessel, ran into the bay, where the Malta was lying, and soon after-
wards a boat from her, having on board her Captain, boarded the
Malta, and some conversation took place between him and Captain
Yotutg, in the course of which the latter ordered Antonio Jo's
wives upon deck. acid they were minutely examined by the Spa-
niard, and Captain Young also pointed out the fineness of their
limbs and proportions. The result was, that they were put into
the boat, and conveyed on board the Spanish vessel. They all
evinced the strongest reluctance to gait the Malta, and cried bit-
terly when Captain Young communicated to them that they must
go. Some hours after the Spaniard's boat came again on board
the Malta, with the Mate of the schooner, a man who mold speak
English fluently, and he brought with hint two bags filled with
dollars, which were counted, and the crew gathered from the con-
versation, and from what they saw, that there were two or three
dollars too many, which were given back to the Mate. The fol-
lowing day the Spanish Captain sent a present to Captain Young,
who returned the compliment during the day by despatching his
own boat to the schooner, with a present fur the Spaniard. Some
of the Malta's boat's crew, when they got on board the schooner,
said they had never overhauled a slave ship, and should like to
look at her. The Mate took them below, and they there saw
eighty male blacks sitting chained between decks, which were so
close to each other, that the poor creatures had not room to sit up-
right. Upon thedetk were crouched a great many women, and among
the rest, the four wives of Antonio Ju. They were not chained, but
a man stood over them with a whip. Very soon after the Malta's
boat left the schooner, the latter made all sail, and stood out of
the bay, and Capt. Young was not long in following the example
of the Spaniard, for he ordered the anchor to be weighed and stood
to sea. In a few days the Malta was boarded at sea by his Ma-
jesty's sloop of war Raven, stationed to look after slave.tradera, and
the mate of the Malta related to the officer what had occurred near
St. John's; in consequence of which the Malta was detained and
taken to Sierra Leone, where site wish the cargo was condemned ;
and subsequently Capt. Young, after being examined before the
Judge Advocate of the Colony, was put on board a transport, and
arut to England a prisoner, the crew being also sent as witnesses.
On the arrival of the transport in the River, James John Smith,
one of the principal' officers of Bow-street, was sent dawn to take
Capt. Young into his custody. The officer took the Captain us the
Victualling-office at Deptford, where lie nnderwent an examina-
tion of great lengths before Sir R. Riniie, who went down expressly
to hear the case, and the circumstances detailed above wete stated
in evidence.
In his defence. Captain Youniggiguled the charge, which he de.
dared was fabricated sonnet Ilftrby the crew, from feelings of
malice, because they had quarrelled with him.
Sir R. BinNIE said it was his duty, upon the evidence which
had been adduced, to commit Capt. Young to prison, to sweet his
trial, and he was accordingly committed to the House of Correction
for Middlesex. He will be tried at the Admiralty Sessiona. '
The owners of the Malta, who are merchants of the firm respec-
tability at Liverpool, inteml to appeal to the High Court of Admi-
ralty here, against the confiscation of the ship and cargo.

MIDDLESEX HOSPITAL, Jei. 4—Monthly Return of
Patients, from the Ist to the 30th of June:—
In-patients, admitted by letters
Ditto - accidents

112
33
- 113
16f1
171
- 3311

Out-patients, admitted by letters -
Ditto - accidents

Total 485
In-patients discharged 1341 Remaining in Hospital IN
A miscreant, whose name we will not mention at pre-
sent, because we hope soon to have the pleasure of an-
nouncing to the public that he has received a punishment
somewhat proportioned to his brutality, committed, a few
days ago, an act of barbarity which we imagine has seldom
had El likeness here or elsewhere. Having to drive home.
wards a post-chaise, one of the horses of which was re-
fractory, the usual struggle took place between stubborn-
newt and ferocity. The two-legged one of the brutes, find-
ing that the ordinary methods of producing obedience were
unavailing, fastened a quantity of straw between the hind
legs of his more respectable antagonist, and set it in a
blaze. The driven beast reached home in a dreadful state,
the whole of the inside of the thighs, the lower part of the
and high up the flanks, being soorchisl into one j
horrible sore ; the driving one awaits the punishment which
ihe law, or public indignation, will, we doubt not, hurt
upon him-4.1i. llered.