The Sun.
London, England, 1841-10-25 00:00:00

DIESCEI.X.A.NEOUS.

TO-day is the anniversary of the execution, in the
year 303, of the brothers Crispin and Crispean, the
patron saints of the shoemakers. Chaucer also. the
" Father of English poetry," died on this day in 1400.
It was estimated by Dupin that the British steam-
engines, when in full operatic); could raise from their
quarries, and place all the stones in the Great Pyramid
of. Ghizch, in eighteen hours.
The Great Western sailed at one o'clock on Saturday
from Bristol, on her last voyage this season, with 128
passengers.

A 14forning Contemporary says—" A lecture will be
delivered this evening at the Philanthropic institution,
Holborn, on the subject of " Death by Starvation." The
'ramworth Quack should lecture on this subject, for it is
one with which he is perfectly familiar, as the starved
Paisley operatives know to their cost.

A l'ory Morning Journal calls Bernard Cavanagh,
the fasting man, "an extraordinary natural phenomenon."
This is not the case.; for so far from being extraordinary,
Bernard Cavanaghs—thanks to Ministers-abound in
the manufacturing districts.
We regret to state that incendiary fires have taken
place on the premises of Mr. Ralph Smith, at Stratford-
upon-Avon ; in the county of Bedford, near Ampthitl ;
at Wrexham, Denbighshire ; and at Kirkly Hardwick,
Derbyshire.
In the year 1809 the frost was so intense in Scotland
that frozen ale, was sold by weight. The same curious
circumstance occurred also in the reign of James the First.

CUBA.

FRWE 5d

IMPORTANT INFORMATION RELATING TO

SLAVERY AND THE SLAVE TRADE,

Copy of a Letter addressed to J. H. Tredgold, Esq.,
Secretary to the British and Foreign Anti-Slavery
Society.
Oar valued correspondent in this island has sent us
some highly important information in the following
letter to the Secretary of the Anti-Slavery Commit‘e.%
Havannah, September 1, 1841.
Sir—ln speaking of public opinion iu a country
where the iron hand of censers.bip restrains every form
of expression to which the press can give utterance, will
seem to an English reader to savour of absurdity. It
is, nevertheless, an undoubted fact, that within the last
few months, under the administration of a Captain-
General, wit. is far from being distinguished for the
lenity with which he administers his all but absolute
authority, opinions abd sentiments, which have long
been srumbering, in the bosoms. of our native population,
Nava gradually assumed a palpable form ; and thanks to
your kind assistance in giving publicity to my
former letters, and to the important documents which
some of them contained, a great many of those who dis-
trusted their neighbours and hesitate' to avow their
sentiments, have gradually acquired that degree of con-
fidence, or courage, which makes ' a man ashamed to
dissemble his convictions.

It was just about the time when our memorials came
back from London in a printed form that intelligence
arrived also from Madrid, which has since leaked out
through some friends to the cause in the public offices,
that a demand had been made by the British Govern-
ment on that of Spain, for the immediate emancipation
of all such slaves as had been introduced into this island
since the date of the first of the existing treaties be-
tween the two Crowns. The Government of Madrid
have so far evinced a disposition to yield to this new
demand of the British Government, as to have re-
quired the Captain-General to procure and transmit to
Madrid the necessary statistical information from the
various corporations of the islaud, from the Magis-
trates and local functionaries, and even, it appears,
from private individuals. This concession has been
made at a moment peculiarly favourable for leading to
important results. In the meantime, at least, it serves
to strike the 'Jading slave-dealers with dread, and to
encourage the hearts of the friends of humanity. I
do not mean to say that all those who hail the approach
of the supprossion of the African slave-trade are ani-
mated exclusively by sentiments of humanity. A large
proportion of them, on the contrary,, would be glad to
maintain the practice of simple slavery, as they call it,
for at least another generation. But there are very
few of the leading Creole proprietors of slaves who
would not willingly, and even gladly, accede to a com-
promise, which a few months ago would in London
have excited a smile of incredulity. This com-
promise would embrace the instant and effectual sup-
pression of all future importations of slaves, and cer-
tainly would not ask for more than a lifehold possession
of what they now call their property.
A new feature has recently presented itself in the
practice of the slave-trade in this part of the world.
There being no longer any consul or agent of Portugal
in the Spanish West Indies, the traders to the coast
of Africa are unable to clear out their vessels under
the Portuguese flag, and as the assumption of that of
Spain is attended with several inconveniences, a con-
siderable number of these vessels, not less than seven
or eight, have left this harbour within the last three
months completely equipped for-their criminal destina-
tion, without assuming any nationality, or being pro-
vided with a certificate of registry, or other papers to
prove it. .

For several years the slave-traders had been accus-
tomed to rely more on the superior sailing qualities •01
their ships than on the means of forcible resistance tu the
attempts of our cruisers to capture them. Of i.ate, how-
ever, they appear to be returning to thei( system of
numerous crews and powerful armatner.is. Before this
letter reaches you, the English tniblie will, doubtless,
have heard of the destruction, bf the boats of one of our
cruisers, in the attempt to cut out the brig Irene, a
notorious slaver belonging to this port ; near the mouth
of the river Gallinas, on the coast of Africa ; and it is
not improbable that this instance of successful resist.
ance will encourage these desperados in returning to the
pugnacious system which they formerly pursued.
One thing appears to be clear, however, that whetter
we are to persevere in our fruitless endeavours to put
down the slave-trade by force of arms, or to trust for
its extinction to mere moral means, the system at pre-
sent pursued is eminently unworthy of the power of our
nation on the one hand, and of the philanthropy of the
age on the other. If the plan of physical force is to be
persevered io, it ought surely to be made more effective
than it now is. In the course of the present year the
visits of her Majesty's ships to the coast have, indeed,
been few and far between. If they do occasionally
touch at the Havannah, it is merely in passing from one
British settlement to another to obtain supplies of water
and other necessaries. In fact, the responsibility which
is thrown on a naval commander, in the event of the
ultimate acquittal of his prize, has a strong tendency to
damp his zeal in the discharge of this branch, bi his
duties.

If the Courts of Mixed Commission are to be main-
tained at the various stations where they 'now exist, and
are even to be extender% as appears be the intention
of Government, jurl_ging from the rece:A treaty with
Buenos Ayres, yo'd must pardon we for suggesting, that
it is peculiarly your duty to watch over the selection of
the indivithur ,s of which these tribunals are to consist.
The Pirdiaraentary papers make it clear that one at
least of the British Judges at Rio de Janeiro has been
seleet_ed without any reference to his opinions or his
Practice on the, subject of slave-holding ; and in some
of my former letters, which I rejoice to find have met
your apprabation, it has become my painful duty to
call ).(.sr attention to the pro-slavery habits of more
thira one of the members or dependents of the Court at

idavennah.
But it is not enough that a man appointed to such a
station should simply abstain from the commission of
the crime be has been appointed to suppress. The true
ground of his selection ought to be his eminent fitness
for the post to which he has been named, for it certainly
does not require any great powers of mind to perform
the duties of a Commissary or Judge, or a Commissioner
of arbitration. if the person appointed is firmly re-
solved to devote himself to the suppression of the traffic,
that resolution should go far to supply the want of other
qualifications.
Unhappily for the cause of humanity, these nomina-
tions have hitherto been the mere result of political

convenience. The present crisis, however, appears to
present an opportunity peculiarly favourable for the
abatement of such abuses. Two great parties in the
state are bidding against each other for the favour of
the people of England. It is no part of my business to
question the sincerity of either, in their professions of
zeal for the suppression of the slave-trade. Had the
Whigs remained in power, they would have been com-
pelled, in defence of the position in which they had placed
themselves with reference to the sugar duties, to have
made some great effort for the effectual suppressiou of the

slave-trade which the introduction of slave grown sugar
was so directly calculated to promote. On the other

hand, as the advent of the Conservatives to power ap-
pear to be the immediate result of the defeat of the late
Whig Government on this branch of the free-trade
question, the times appear to the Cuba abolitionists to
be singularly favourable for spurring the existing admi-
nistration, whether Whig or Tory, toprosmaoyt,eabtyeaasltl
possible means, the accomplishment of the object we
have all so nearly at heart. Give us, they
good men and true in the Court of Mixed Commission, if
for no other reason, at least to prove that the English
people, and the English Government, are heartily sin-
cere in their desire to carry out the avowed principles
of the existing treaties. A fat sinecure like that of
the Commissary Judge, in one of the most luxurious
capitals in the world, may prove as convenient a sop
for some Conservative scat holder in the new Parlia-
ment, as it was a few years ago to the Radical
Member for Tiverton. The political opinion of the
Judges, are in my mind, of no importance at all, but it
is of the very last importance, that they should not even
be suspected of apathy or indifference on the
very subject as to which they are naturally supposed,
by the people among whom they reside, to represent not
merely, the views of the British Government, but tbo
opinions and sentiments of British abolitionists. If the
Judges are suspected of indifference, you may rest as-
sured, that the people and the Government who sent
them will share in the same opinion, and that is a state
of things which is exceedingly unfavourable to the pr?-
motion of that movement in favour of freedom which, to
former letters, I have had the satisfaction to be able o
announce to you.
s
neotwhnattahneziparliamentarY
that
tAmonghe Romney,
oour n
enya,val
receiving
ship, find i
sit
abouteu r r.etnotvl
byi
will
el
prove to
to Jamaica ; but I sincerely hop
be a mistake, arising from the
expressed by the Commissioners. reported,
nioyed
papers, to bring about an object, in which,
iware
of it, be
successful, they would withofu
nw anxiety
they repeatedly
were
not only to the Romney, eCo which
rt
itself, of
going far to efface that sort of
m_tp
to
verye
which they are members. respectfully, Sir,
your most obedient servant,
J. H. Tredgold, Esq.

C. R. T.

Administration to the effects of the late Mr.
13urdon, "Wile. was murdered by Blahesley, in Eastcheap,
~as just be-on granted to the widow, from the Preroga-
tive Court of the-Archbishop of Canterbury, in Doctori
Commons. The personal effects arc sworn under 2,0001

~~

EVENING SUN.

DUTCH AND GERMAN PAPERS.

A n essage from the King announced that lie had
a:aned M. Van Dam Van Isselt, the first candidate on
he h. t, President during the present session.
Backer, President during the preceding session,
g thanked the Chamber for the kind feeling which
tt 11, d manifested towards him, and for its cu-operation
in the long and remarkable session which had just
closed, resigned the chair to M. Van Dam Van Isselt,
who addressed the assembly in an appropriate speech.
Ho slid that having been for 12 years a Member of the
Chamber, and taken part in the most important delibe-
rations, he could not but feel gratified at his nomination,
since ho must consider it as a proof of approbation
which would encourage him to persevere in the course
he had hitherto followed,
" We had to pass," said he, " through years of trouble
and care, which have undermined the prosperity of the
country ; a new era has:commenced which will he an era
of reparation and restoration."
BERLIN, OCT. 11.---The King will set out on the 16th
fur Tegernsee. It is not certain how long his Majesty
will Le absent, but it is supposed not beyond the begin-
ning of' the next month. Count Maltzan, the Minister
for Foreign Affairs, entered on his office yesterday, and
removed to the hotel of that department. Baron Brock-
hausen, Minister at the Court of Stockholm, is recalled
at his own request, and is expected here in a few days,
and will be appointed to another diplomatic mission in a
milder climate. It is thought that Count Seckendorf,
our Charge d'Affaires at Brussels, will be his successor
at Etockhohn.
COPENHAGEN, OCT. 12.—The new armed iron steam-
boat,'which the English Admiralty has had built, ar-
rived yesterday in our roads under the command of Lieut.
Donner. It encountered a violent storm in the North
Sea, and proved to be an excellent boat. Persons not
acquainted with such matters are quite surprised at
seeing how the sides of the vessel were beaten in and
indented by the violence of the waves. All our Journals
declare very decidedly, and sonic of them very violently,
against any closer connection with the German Confede-
ration and the Customs Union. The Faderland con-
tains a very detailed discussion of this matter, in which,
instead of a union with Germany, it recommends
an alliance with the Scandinavian kingdom.
BERLIN, Om 16.—Our cotton manufacturers have been
complaining for some time past that business is slack ;
sales cannot he eftected. In coarse articles our manu-
facturer* can compete with the English and French, but
in fine articles we are behind them, and the ordinary
goods scarcely afford any profit. There are instances
where the manufacturers gain no more than 2d. or 4d.
on one piece of cotton. Attempts hare been made to
send manufacturers to North and South America, but
the English and French have the advantage in those
countries and speculations there failed. The parties
interested now think that the evil lies in the want of pro-
tecting duties in favour of our own manufactures against
foreigners, and ask for relief, but the system of reciprocity
is in the way. Well informed persons are of opinion
that too much is manufactured for the consumption,
Lord Aberdeen said, of England.
HAMBURG BWISENHAIZZ, 0cx.19.
Bills,
Austrian 5 per Cents,
Bank Shares 6666...»....».»,. 1540
Anglo.ttussian Loan
Russian 5 per Cent. lst sorica,Cr.rtificate «»n '024„,
Inscription, Ist Setin ........ .........
Russian 5 per Cent. Hops and Co. 341saut
Series ...........«.».......«6
Ditto in Ccrtiticates
New 4 per Cent. (1840)..... ...... .....
Dutch Actual Debt, 2y per Cent -
Ditto b per Cent
Polish Bonds .. 150 -
New ticket
Anglo- Danish Loan,n per ..... 7511( 71,%
Norwegian Loan, 1834, 4 per It 2s 1u
Spanish, New 5 per Cents. 11'.(24
EXCHANGES; UK LONDON,
HAMBURG, OCT. 19.-13 7.- two months, Pt 5%.
RIGA, Ocr. 11. -Three Months, 39 7-16.
CURISTIANIA, OCT, 8.-:flirec montht„ 4 53.
Ocr, 1(1.-;thee months, C. 18 k.
ritUniAN FUNDS.-11Eaug, oc7'. 16.
Bills. Money.
St. &hull Sch., 41 per cent. lO4 10:;14Prusid•.‘i English aan, 1830, 4 per cent 104 101 N
lize..,Lnge on London, three months 6 18% 613
-Prussian State Gazette. Oct. 17.
AUSTIII4I.4 FUNDS.-VIENNA., Oar. 13
five per C,R(B. Metaliiques •........ 106
Few r pbr Cents. ..... .....
Three pvr Cents. 7•1:1's
Bank Shares ... Hai
....,Allgernesne"ZeiarAg, Oct. 19.
DUTCh. 1.7 UNDS.-Arangnoan, Oar. V.
Aji?..ttttoi t. X 56 Mones.
t 254 per Cent
per cent. .............. 995,i, 100
4,:.V26'..5yndic,4; per cent...... ........... 91 i;il
e ditto; 3,' per cent 7534 76
commercial Company, 4N, per cent l5ll, 155
Ditto (1835 and 1837) 5 per cent. .....»6 I(L
Loan 1`137, 5 per cent. 97 9734
Exchange on London, One month.....- l2 10
Two months l2 -
Hamburgh, One month 35 75
Two months 3.5 50
Dutch Papers, Oct. 23.