Star.
London, England, 1830-08-25 00:00:00

MEETING OF WEST-INDIA PLANTERS.

Yesterday, at the City of London Tenni, the Annual General Meet.
ing of the West-India Planters took place. The Marquis of Chandos
took the Chair precisely at two o'clock.
The Secretary read the Minutes of the Special General Meeting, held
in the month of July, at the Thatched House Tavern, to congratulate
the present King on his accession.
The names of the Committee appointed to fill the places of those
who retired by rotation, were then read.—R. B. Athel, Esquire,
Robert D. Thomson, 11. J. Ross, Andrew Humphries, James
Trecothick, C. J. Swanston, J. B. Hibbcrt, George Cunningham, Jas.
Cunningham, Alexander George Mill, John Cunningham, Samuel
Cunningham, Augustus B. Beaumont, Alex. Woodburne, John Dick,
B. Bailey, D. Bazalgette, William Barcliff, Rev. Sir W. -ooper, Bart.
William Neilson' G. Campbell, Wm. Norris, Bethel Waldron, Hon.
Arch. Macdonald, H. Seymour, John Hamilton, Sir J. Ogleby, H.
Delabashe Charles Cave, Hugh Hindman, Isaac Constable, William
Payne Galway, Thomas eddcr.
After the votes on these names had been taken, the Secretary read the
Report from the Standing Committee, stating, among other things, that
between the last and the present annual Meeting, the Committee had
ditected their attention to the most effectual means of procuring a re-
duction of the duties on sugar and rum, and had in that interval ob-
tained considerable information on the subject. In the month of July,
1g29, there had been a conference held with his Majesty's Ministers on
the general state of the West India interest ; and another in December
last, respecting the duties already referred to. A third conference took
place in January last; but notwithstanding every effort on the part
of the Chairman and the Committee, the Government could not be in.
ductal to hold out the promise of any measure of relief. They therefore
thought it expedient to petition the House of Commons, praying the
reductions they had in vain requested at the hands of the Government.
This petition was followed by others to the same effect from Glasgow,
Bristol, and Liverpool. Petitions acre also presented, praying for a
reduction of duty on coffee. They further thought themselves en-
titled to a reduction of the duty on rum. The changes which had
been effected with regard to the manufacture and sale of beer
were such, that the consumption of every kind of spirits would
in all probability be materially lessened. Of the advantage of procur.
ing a cheap and wholesome beer beverage, there was no wish on the part
of the West India body to deprive the people ; but as the difficulties now
imposed on the West India were likely to be increased in consequence of
the diminution of the demand for spirits of' all kinds, they submitted
that the duty on rum ought to be lessened, as the interests of the bar-
ley growers were already materially benefitted, and could not be
much affected by lessening the formidable competition against
which the spirits produced in the West Indies had now to
contend. The Committee expressed a strong approval of the
measures adopted by the Colonial Legislatures for ameliora.
ring the condition of the slaves, declaring their convic-
tion that compulsory manumission would be inexpedient and unjust,
and alike injurious to the negro and the planter. After compla.ning of
the amount of stomp duties afficting she West Indies, and adverting
to other topics of less interest connected with the affairs of the body, it
was stated that a Memorial had been presented to the Prince Lieven,
requesting the Russian Government would be pleased to discontinue
the preference now given by Russia to Foreign over British Colonial
Sugar. Some measures had also been taken to procure the favourable
admission of the sugar of the British Colonies in Austria.
The Report was received and confirmed, and a resolution passed, di-
recting that copies of it should be sent to the agents of the several co-
lonial legislatures.
The CHAIR MAN took that opportunity of stating that he had presented
the Address of Congratulation voted at the Thatched-house Tavern to
his Majesty. which was not only most graciously received, but the re.l
ception of it was accompanied with an assurance that he felt the most
anxious wishes for the welfare and prosperity of the West India body,
adding that the sentiments he had expressed in their favour when Duke
of Clarence remained unchanged—(Hear, hear, hear !)
Mr. BURGE then moved the thanks of the Meeting to the Chair-
man, not only for his conduct in the Chair to.day, but also for the obi-
lity, assiduity, and zeal, he had always manifested in presiding over the
West India body.
Mr. Alarmism seconded the motion with the greatest satisfacti.m,
and observed, that it was a most pleasing duty to have to second a mo.
lion in which it was certain every one pr ent would concur.
The motion was carried unanimously.
The Marquis of CHANDOS wished to convey to the meeting, indivi.
dually and collectively, his must grateful acknowledgments for the
honour they had conferred on him In taking on himself the office of,
their chairman, he had but one obj..et, and one wish—namely, an
anxious desire to render what service he could to the important in-
'crest represented by that body which had conferred on him the
honour of appointing him their Chairman. He assured them that
he should be at all times at their service, and ready to attend to
chit wishes ' • and that he should always feel the greatest pleasure in
doing what he could to promote their interests, which were, in fact, the
interests of the country at large. He hoped they would soon see brighter
days (hear, hear.) He had done what he could for their advantage dur-
ing the last session, and he sincerely trusted that the West India Body
would, at no:distant time, be in a much better condition than when he
took office among them.—The meeting theo adjourned.

As a waggon laden witl) hampers, containing blacking
bottles was passing near the end of St. Martin's-lane, it suddenly upset.
in consequence of an excavation in the middle of the street. It came
down with a moat tremendous shock, and the waggoner unfortunately
fell into the hole, but providentially escaped. lie was for some time in
a very dangerous position, and threatened to be crushed every moment.
The shaft-horse only was a little hurt.
Thursday, as three colliers, John Higson, John Crompton,
and David Crompton, were going down in a bucket, In a coal-pit, at
Middle Hulton, near Manchester, another bucket which was coming up
accidentally caught that in which the men were, and upset it. They
were, consequently, precipitated to the bottom of the pit, a depth of
more than 40 yards, and killed upon the spot.
Monday, as Mr. George Turner, of Fletching, was driving
his mother in a four-wheel chaise down Clayton-bill, on her return from
Arundel, where she had been on a visit, the horse took fright and started
at full speed, when the vehicle was shortly. after overturned, by which
accident the unfortunate lady was so severely injured, that she lingered
until the following day, when the expired. Mrs. Tunics was the wi.'ow
of the late Rev. R. Turner.