The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1820-05-18 00:00:00

AFRICAN INSTITUTION.

--m-
Y. Venial the Annual NI ; of
Friends of the A Instittstiotithe ptookreic.lt.°slrr•e
•t the Freemasons' 11411. his 11°3-41 flightless the
Duke of Gt.nucEstk[t in the Cll4ir, tosimorted
by Lord Cs'lllorp.., Lord Coon lit 00, Mr. Willwr.
force, Mr. Bootle Wiibrolutm, Mr. Minion Curlier,
and indisv other distinguished friends of Om ad-
mirable Instil ui inn.

Mr. lisantSoN, the Hon. Secretary, thee' read
the Report of the Directors fur the I slit year. The
Report, which was aide red volinnition-, alluded
to the efforts of the Directors to have the wholesale
system of blood and carnage carried on by the
Slave Trade declared by tl►e law of nations ■
piratical crime, and regretted that such a course
had not been adopted by the Allied Powers at the
Congress of Aix la Chapelle. Still, however, they
thought that it ought to he se declared towards
British subjects found engaged in the treffic. The
Report then narrated a versety of se-tent:es iu which
it was clear thin this detestable iv:rifle was still car-
red on under the Spaniels, ['t•rtuguese, and Dutch
flags, as well as by French subjects; Hod under
circumstances of the most resulting cruelty. It
also referred to the variety of legal enactments
made to put down the crime, and stated many
cogeut reasons chewing the necessity of their revi-
sion in many parts, to give then► the necessary tfiect
in the colonies. The Report made an Immersible
mention of the conduct of many British Naval
Officer', who used the means intrusted to them
with great efficacy to seize contraband vessel.—
amoug them was Sir George Collier, who had the
naval command on the coast of Africa. The
Directors, in touching upon the mode of trial re-
sorted to for the punishment of utleuders, expressed
a hope that some merits could he devised to secure
a fair and impartial trial on the spot, without brilig-
ing the offenders before a Specie! Commission in
this country. It also gave an elaborate description
of the promising state of the settlement of Sierra
Leone, and reviewed the meusures taken by the
Coded States of America to abolish the Slave
Trade. The Report, in conclusion, earnestly en-
treated them to augment the funds, which were
now lower than they were on any former occasion.
Mr. PANToN Cotto6T moved the thanks of the
Meeting to the Directors, whose praise was, he
said, above all eulogy.
Lord CALTHOSPE, in moving that Lords Comp-
ton, Jocelyn, rod Mr. Huskisson, be added to the
list of Vice-Presidents, said that their well-known
character for active benevolence and the posse►sion
of sterling: worth, ensured to the Insritutruis that
they would not roily be ornamental but useful
additions to it* official prOMOttl
Lord COSIPToN, in returning thanks for this
compliment, assured the Society of his most active
co-operation. England. his Lordship observed,
owed a heavy debt to Africa, which he trusted the
benevolent exertions of this Institution would yet
repay.—(Hear, hear.)
Mr. WleiteaFoace., in moving that Sir George
Collier be elected an Honorary Life Governor,
took occasion to praise its the highest terms the
services of that ;salient Officer, wisose conduct on
the coast of Africa, during two successive M 11501114
had been most useful and exemplary.—(l-lear,
hear.)—The least that they could do in return was
to manifest to Sir George not only their high sense
of his excelleut conduct, but also their sympathy
for the painful situetion which lie held, for that
situ:own must indeed he 'willful to his feeling
mint , which so incessantly reproved lien to sights
so repugnant ►o humanity, and bier, under circum-
stances often entailing upon him great bodily suf-
fering. Their Royal Chairman web fully acquitted-
, ed with the able assistance the Institution received
from Sir G. Collier, whose election as an Honorary
Life Governor, would, he trusted, how pass Imam-
mously.—(llear, hear.)
This being done, the lion. Gentleman proceeded
to state that he had another pleasing duty to per-
fo►tm, which was to move their !batiks to their Royal
Chairman, the illusirious Presideet of the Institu-
tion—Meer, hear)—lar his eminent services, and
the labour wad assiduity he so incessantly displayed
to promote their best interests.—(Hear, hear.)—
Ile knew. indeed, full well, that their sense of his
Royal Ilighrieses lelsoura was recorded in their
meniory, and engraren on their hearts.—(Hear,
hear.)—Never upon any former occasion were they
more in need of the able services of eminent men
than at present. Never did they more went men
of activity and prudence to conduct their great
Cause in the situation in which it was placed. His
Royal !Nimes', lie was persuaded, would continue
to exercise all his means in promoting their object
to put down that guilty comuierce. which still un-
happily subsided in a considerable degree. His
Noble Friend had well said that Eughsod owed
this to Africa. They ought never forget, that as
she had so long set the godly example. and been
foremost in pursuing this detestable traffic. so she
ought to be the first in presenting the example of
active repentauce to those States which lied follow-
ed her in en heavy a career of aggravated crime.—
(Hears hear./—The countenance and protection
of so distinguished a 'smote...af the Royal Family,
would have the best effect upon the character of the
Inslitution..—(Hear.)
Fli. Royal Highitees. in returning thanks, hoped
it would be umiecessary for his► to renew his assur-
ance of the warm interest be continued to feel iii
this great and glorious cause. lie fully agreed that
there never was a tune no witch it was inure neces-
sary to strain► every nerve to promote the iutere►ts
of the Institution.
The thinks of the Meeting were then given to
Mr. Harrison. the Hon. Secretary, to whose inertia
both Mr. Wilberforce and the Royal Chairing')
successively bore the most liendsome testimony.
Mr. HAftll.llnt4, in remising thanks, referred to
two communications which he lied itctived since
the Report read that day had been framed ; one
contained a long and uselatiersoly account of ti.e
progress of the slave trade ti► the island of Guade-
loupe, notwithstanding the French prohibitory
laws ; sod the other was a letter from Mr. Prince
Hoare. stating, that there, weft every rea►on to be-
lieve that 5001. would be realized for the liistitn-
lion, by the publication of the life of the late Mi.
Granville Sharp, which Mr. Hove had nearly
completed for the press.
Mr. Hoare was abets elected en Honorary Life
Governor ; mud after the usual °thesis fur Inc en-
suing yet►r were elected, the Meeting adjourned.

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LAW !NIEUWE:NM

COUftT OF KING'S BENCH, OviLonat.t.,
WECINVID/11, MAY 17.

The CHUM JUSTICII having to attend the Levee.
Mr. Justice BEST presided in hie stead.
The morning *4O occupied in hearing rases of no
impirtance. Among them was one which evinced
an extraurdinary disposition to litigation. It was
an action to recover GM. Hs. 84. the amount of a
bill of exchange. A tender had been made, but
there was a dispute at the time between the parties
about ►he eight-pence. and the hi!l w4ll tint taken up.
The Defendant pleaded a lull tender, as his mes-
senger had (kit. to pay the bill. On the coher
hand, it was contended that the messenger ',ever
took the mousy not of his pocket to offer it, sod
upon this very nice point was the cause to have
SW nue.
Justice BEST strongly reprehended the spirit
which could have led to Pleb an issue. and upon
Lis suggestion to the Counsel a juror waswitlldrawn,
and the cause dismissed.

TUESDAY, EAT 16.

TONPIOW o DEVIIRBUIL, KM.
This was an action brought by a ship•brubrr of Liverpool,
arainst the Defendant, General Dr a, to WOW!, com-
mission and hrultage for prnewriag freight, in order to catty
oat to Venezuela troops under the Defendaat's cutuataud, iu
nut of the Spanish Liberates of South Aintrics, at the rate
of 31. a head per map.
On the poi of the Plaintiff general evidence was given,
that he was employed by the Defendant al his agent, fur
the purpose of hiring ships to carry out troops to assist
Bolivar, Captain General and Supreme Chief of the Vene.
2.leialll forces in South America, in the month of June, 1619.
The rase priacipally rested on the evidence of a charter
party of the ship Hannah, and it appeared shit a Mr. Mac-
Damara was also one of the Defendant% agent• at Liverpola

On the part of the Defendant, it was suhmftted by Mr.
SCARLITT. that the Plaintiff could not mmutain his action
at law, for by the 9th Geo. 2. c. 35 ,and the 29th Geu.2. e. 27.,
it was declared to be felony fir any subject of this country
to enlist any of hie Majesty's subjects in aid of any foreign
Potentate, and therefore it was unlawful to hire any •essel
fur the purpose of carrying into effect such unlawful pur-
pose. He admitted that the late Foreign Eii:istment Act did
nut comprehend the present case, inasmuch as it was ante-
rior to the passing of that law.
The emir JUSTICE ruled that the objection was well
taken, sod therefore directed the Plaintiff to be nonsuited.