The Sun.
London, England, 1835-01-26 00:00:00

JAMAICA.

The following are the reasons assigned by Mr. Abbott, the
Baptist Missionary, for refusing to be examined, on oath, be-
fore a committee of the House of Assembly, at Jamaica :
" Ist. I decline taking the oath, as I do not conceive the
Committee to be a judicial authority—it would therefore be
unscriptural for me to do so. I question the right of the Hon.
House of Assembly to examine witnesses upon oath, and I be-
lieve I am correct in stating, that it is a power never assumed
by the British House of Commons, except in cases of con-
tested elections.
" 2d. I conceive it to be absurd and impious to take an oath
on a mere matter of opinion.
" 3d. Information has reached me that charges have been
preferred against me before the Committees. Ido not con-
sider, therefore, that I am bound to answer any questions upon
oath that may have a tendency to criminate me.
" To these I take the liberty of adding one which had con-
siderable weight in leading me to determine upon the line of
conduct I am now pursuing.
" When some of my brother missionaries were examined
before similar Committees in 1828 and 1832, they experienced
treatment which nothing but respect for the public authorities
could have induced them to submit to. On their refusing to
take an unconditional oath, they were most positively assured
that no questions of an irrelevant nature would be proposed ;
but when, confiding in the veracity of Honourable Members
composing such Committees, they had taken this oath, ques-
tions of the most offensive nature were put, involving a disclo-
sure of their domestic affairs; and that they were compelled
to answer them, many Honourable Members now present are
aware.
" Holding no sentiments which I am ashamed to avow, and
being most earnestly desirous of promoting the public weal, I
am not willing that my refusal to take the oath required should
be construed into any reluctance on my part to give evidence.
I therefore repeat what I expressed before the Honourable
Committee yesterday, which the Honourable Chairman will do
me the justice to acknowledge, that I feel the utmost readiness
to furnish the Committee with all the information I possess
touching the matter of their investigation, provided the oath
be not insisted upon.
" In conclusion, I beg most distinctly and respectfully to
observe, that I too highly respect the powers that be, to aim in
the most remote degree to invade the privileges of this House.
I am conscious of the purity of my motives, and in maintain-
ing my rights before this Honourable House, I only claim that
to which, as a Briton, living under the British Constitution, I
firmly believe I am entitled."
On the 25th of November Mr. Abbott obtained a writ of
Habeas Corpus, in virtue of which he was brought up before
the Chief Justice, who, on hearing the case, decided against
him ; so that he remained in prison at the date of the last ac-
counts.

STATE OF CRIME IN THE HUNDRED OF SAL-
FORD.—The annual statement published by tke governor of
the New Bailey prison, exhibits an increase in the number of
prisoners tried and convicted, as compared with the previous
year. During the year jnst closed, 1,112 prisoners were
tried at the sessions, being an increase of 177 on the year
ending 1833. Of these 952 were convicted, showing an in-
crease of 182 in the year ; 644 were male felons, and 171 fe-
male felons; and 137 prisoners were convicted of misde-
meanours, but the governor's report does not give the relative
proportion of males and females in the latter class. During
the year, 150 males and 22 females have been sentenced to
transportation, making the total number transported since the
year 1794, 3,084, of which 2,724 were males and 360 females.
The total number of persons put upon their trial since 1794
has been 23,445; and the total number committed to prison
for various offences since the same year is 75,408.—Manchester
Courier.

AMUSING ANECDOTE.—The author of " Three
Years in the Pacific," an American naval officer, speaking of
Conuimbo, says :—" Immediately after our arrival, as is Cus-
tomary, the captain of the port paid his visit ; and declined
the compliment of a salute, on the score that the guns of the
forts had been thrown down in the revolution of 1829, and had
not been restored. In fact,' said he, we are without defence;
the smallest force would take the place ; there is not even a
bayonet, much less a soldier, in the garrison.' Some years
since, the commander of one of our ships of war offered to
salute the town, on the usual conditions that it should be re-
turned gun for gun. The authorities replied, they would be
extremely nappy t 9 go so, blit were entirely without powder.
The commander sent on *op a present of n barrel of car-
tridges, The ship saluted. The fort commenced firing, ari4
continued till sunset ; then message vas i
sent on board tg
say, as it was late, they would fire the remainder n the morn
ing "