The Sun.
London, England, 1842-01-17 00:00:00

SHIPOWNERS AND SEAMEN.

On. Saturday, at the Greenwich Police-office, Mr. IT.
(loftley; master of the barque Harbinger, of Quebec, 3941
tons, appeared to answer a summons given him by 11
seamen, for wages due to them on a voyage between that
pOrt and London.

Mr. Pelham appeared for the claimants, and Mr. Cart-
. tar, the Coroner, on behalf of the Captain and Owners.
The first ease called was that of Henry James Dons-
ley, for wages anainoting to 7/. los., which decided that
of the remainder. Dousley, on being sworn, said that he
signed the articles of agreement to make the voyage as
able seaman on board the Harbinger, at 51. per month, in
the Shipping Master's Office, Quebec, On the 12th Nov.
last. The ship sailed on the 14th, and reached the port
of London on the 28th of December. The artioles were
not read over- to him, nor was the Captain present.
Mr. Grove—Then he is liable to a penalty of 51.
On the passage from Quebec down the St. Lawrence
they discovered that the ship was very leaky and in au
unseaworthy state. All hands knocked off, and refuse 41
to proceed, as they considered their lives in danger ; di
not know her state previous to leaving Quebec; e made
a great deal of IV ti ter afterwards. The Captain came- down
the forecastle on the \Wednesday morning after' sailing
and offered them all 21. each in addition to their wages ;
said the vessel was new, and leaky in consequence ; he
also offered grog, both of which they refused,' saying
that they would not go for 20/. at the risk of their
lives. 7.l'he vessel was becoming water-logged. It
• was blow ing fresh at the time, and she vas lying
on her beam ; he afterwards promised them eotii.e
through the (lid f. it being very eohl. Thee were
u i all night, and got frost-bitter► fr in the severity of the
,weather. The Hater-rusks „ere frown. A signsl of
distress was hoisted. but he did not know by whom. It
was rwin ne.rning till night. 'Chore was no symptom of
marbly ; they had not even an angry word with the Cap-
tain. otrered to go to prison rather than risk their
lives. It was for the purpose of saving their lives that
they struck. (Mr, Carttar here said there had been it
mutiny and conspiracy among the amen. The Magistrate
said there was no legal evidence of that.) Dousley pro-
ceeded to say that the note promising 31. extra was signed
voluntarily by the Captain, first and second mate, and
carpenter, without consulting the crew ; they would not
go to sea without such note to ensure their wages ; the
captain went to the forecastle and de red his portmanteau
and two sovereigns to the men, but they refused his
offer. The men then said that they did not want them.
They pumped the whole passage home, night and day,
every two hours, and frequently hourly. Mr. Carttar
said that the character of the ship was at stake, being
registered at Lloyd's as a first-class ship, and they would
therefore appeal to the Quarter Sessions if the decision
should be again t. them. The Magistrate said, if appealed
against, the ease would not be heard before April. The
men would get nothing at all. The whole would be swal-
lowed up in law and tees. An offer was•made,to which
Mr. Grove said it would lie wise in the :men to accede
to, namely, to deduct IL from each claimant's pay, and
two day's double pay, for disobeying orders when in the
St. Lawrence, making together :335. 4d. to be deducted
from the amount sought by each of the claimants as
wages. The men consulted together a few minutes, and
agreed to thole terms.

LORD ASHBURTON AND THE SLAVE QUES-
TION.—It is said that Lord Ashburton is a great holder
of land in New Orleans and Texas, which is cultivated
by slaves. It is quite possible, if this be true, that his
Lordship may have a direct and immediate interest in
the transport of slaves to New Orleans. He or his
agents may have been the purchasers of some of the
slaves in the Creole, and the possibility of such a circum-
stance occurring, much more the probability, and the sus-
picion that it has occurred, with the known infirmity of
the Noble Lord cif basing his judgment on his breeches
pocket; his ssensorium, as we have before staled, lying
in his right thigh, must make the Noble Lord a totally
unlit man to manage the delicate negotiations -nowt:::
inn between the, two countries, Froin his negotiations--
a int
i 011::
te;
tio:f:taheeooseirfire-asns servants'
founded on the mercantile principle of making money,
which, though allowable in commerce, is contrary
tional intercourse—it is impossible, that either at vantage
or honour to England can arise.
FIRE AT WOBURN ABBE'.—On the evening
the extinction of
ro,f)otmhes la3ttllti,,a,bliurrcldi,a\at.iiis,abtgecti.ys.oc..
much burnt,
notvlrleihled to
but within half an hour thc.,liiire was subdued without
athney
the fire, Or the injury
seeornvsaiitlltesr::,lsiske'
might have been much greater.
A rumour was afloat in Paris thatthe
Duke
tidally c
d'A.npult.'We NO tlead,