The Sun.
London, England, 1841-04-08 00:00:00

THE AMISTAD.

The decree of the Supreme Court of the United
States, terminating the case, f the Arthistad, is con-
tamed at length in the list file of the New York pepers.
The tacts of the case, it writ be remembered, were, that
in June, 1839, the schooner Atnistad, being the pro-
perty of Spanish subjects, cle red out from the port of
Havannah for Puerto Prin,lpe. On board the schooner
were the c iptain, Rathol Ferrer, Jose Ruiz, Pedro Mon-
tez, and a certain number of negroes claimed by the former
individuals, and stated in certain documents, signed by
the Governor-General of Cuba, to be their property.
On the voyage, and before the arrival of the vessel at
her festinas ion, the negroes rose, killed the Captain, and
took possession of her. On the 26th of August the
vessel was discovered by Lieutenant Gedney, of the
United States brig Washington, at anchor at t;e
distance of half a mile from the shore of Lcrig Is-
land. A part of the negroes were then on shore, who
were seized by Lieutenant Gedney and brought on
board. The vessel with the negroes and other persons
on board was brought by Lieutenant Geduey into the
district of Connecticut, and there libelled for salvage in
the District Court of the United States. Subse-
quently claims were put in by Ruiz and Montez to the
negroes ea their slaves, and cert 'in parts of the cargo ;
and the Attorney of the United States for the district
of Clunreticut filed an information, stating that the
Spanish Minister had officially pres-ntod a claim for the
restorati,o of the vessel, cargo, and slaves, according to
the tre between the United States and Spam,
and pity rig that if this claim should appear
well founded, such order should be made for the
disposal of the vessel, cargo, and slaves, as would
best agree with the terms of the treaty. On the
7th of January, IS4O, the negroes filed an answer
denying that they were slaves, or the property of Ruiz
and Mcutez, but asserting that they were nat:ve Afri-
cans, boon free, that they were unlawfully kidnapped
and conveyed by a vessel engaged in the slave trade to
Cuba, where a pretended sale of them was made to
Ruiz and Mcntez, who were aware of the premises, and
confederated with Ferrer to cause them to be trans-
ported to some place unknown, there to be enslaved
for life ; that on the voyage they rose on the master
and seized the vessel, intending to return there-
with to their native country, or to seek an asylum
in some free State. On the 23d the District Court
made a decree, allowing Lieutenant Gedney salvage
on the vessel and cargo, rejecting the claims of
Ruiz and Montez for the delivery of the negroes,
but admitting them for the cargo, and rejecting the
claim of the attorney of the United States in behalf of
the Spanish Minister, for the restoration of the ne-
groes under treaty, rho were to be delivered to the
President of the United States, to be transported to
Africa. From this decree the district attorney ap-
pealed to, the Circuit Court, which, by a mere pro
forma decree, affirmed the decree of the District Court,
and from that decree an - appeal was brought to the
Supreme Court of the United States, where it was de-
cided in a final decree that there was an error in that
part of the decree of the Circuit Court which oriered
the said negroes to be delivered to the Presidont of the
United States to be transported to Africa ; and, in lieu
of that part of the decree, the said negroes were de-
clared free, and to he dismissed from custody, and dis-
charged from the suit.—Times.

SCOTCEI DEGREES.—Wifen the University of
St. Andrew's sold her honours—a proceeding which pro.
yoked Dr. Johnson to trll the beags of the college that
they would get rich by degrees, and which has now been
long abandoned—a certain minister, who deemed that his
ministrations would be more acceptable and more useful if
he possessed what the Germans call the doctor-hat, put
151. in his purse and went to St. Andrew's " to purchase
fur himself a good degree." His man-servant accom-
panied him, and was present when his master was formally
admitted to the long desired honour. Oa his return " the
doctor" sent for his servant, and addressed him somewhat
RS follows :—" Noo, Saunders, ye'ii aye be sure to ca' me
the doctor, and gin onybody Tiers at you aboot me, yell
be aye sure to say the doctor's in his study, er th.. doctor's
engaged, or the doctor will see ye in a crack." " That a'
depends (was the reply) upon whether yell ca' me doctor
too. (The revs rend doctor stared). Aye, its ju,t so
(continued the other) ; for when I land that it cost sae
Tittle, I e'en got a diploma myself; sae ye it just he good
enough to say—doctor, put on some coals, or, doctor,
bring me the whiskey and hot water; and gin onybody
:piers at ye aboot me, ye'll Ire aye sure to say the doctor's
in the stable, or the doctor's in the pantry, or the doctor's
digginu potatoes, as the case may be.”--Church of E ng.
land Review.

OXFORD AND CAMBRIDGE.,..—The grand con-
test which is to take place next Tuesday, from Westminster
to Putney, between the Cambridge and Oxford crews, is at
present. the all-engrossing subject with the gentlemen of the
two Universities, lovers of rowing. Both of the crews have
been in active training for some time vast. Every day both
Searle's upper and lower premises are oeewded by the nobility
and gentry to witness the departure of the two crews to take
their daily practice from Westminster to Putney and back.
It will be recollected that last year the Oxonians kept the lead
to Battenca, where the Cambridge coxswain managed to get
his boat ahead, and arrived at Putney first, the bows of the
Oxford eight being upon the, oar of the Cambridge strokes-
man. The betting is at present in favour of the Cantabs, but
not at odds. Every eight-oared boat that could be got has
been hired to witness this match, which no doubt will prove a
splendid one. Several steam-boats have a:so hen hired to go
up with the match, but it is to be hoped that they will ',rep
well away from the rowers, in order for them to row on as
smooth water as possible.