Star.
London, England, 1825-06-17 00:00:00

rPItiCE SEVEN PENCE. •

the evil of two rates of.exchange. He bad never heard
of any Man named Mier, and the story of the horse
was as ridiculous as the charge of corrupt interference
against Lord Charles Somerset was eatrairagan.. But
this was one of the facts which the Commissioners were.
.to inquire into. He cautioned the House against too
easily crediting such heinous accusations against Lord
Chatits Somerset. He believed there was a conspiracy spinet-
him. If half the accusations advanced were tree, then the Noble
Lord ought to be Impeached. and he would 'Support the motion.
Ile did not believe them, and be called upon the accusers for their
proofs. 'There was no disinclination on the part of the Govern-
ment to listen to complaints of aggrieved persons, and he really
thought that Government did not deserve any of the imputations
made against it.

Mr. itROUGHA .explained.--41e said be would second a
motion for a Committee of Inquiry to ascertain the truth of the
charges against Lord Charles Somerset, and he wished to have the
correspondence of Sir Rufane Deakin, which swatted those
'
charges, laid before the Douse.
Mr. WILNIOT-HORTON explained, and denied that Sir R.
Deakin had made any charges against Lord Charles Somerset,
though he would not deny but that some acrimonious feeling might
exist between those two individuals.
Mr. BROUGHAM said, that what bad fallen from the Hon.
Gentleman, bore out all be had heard, which was that Sir R.
Dwain was very WWI* to the proceed!ngs of Lord Somerset.
Mr. I3ARI NO reprobated the principle on which the Govern-
'Meat established Its new Colonies.. It was a Spanish and not in
English principle; they gave a despotic power to the Governors of
the new Colonies, and did nor establish them after the old example
of the Colonlea in North America. There was a constant recus-
Vence of abuse, and the House was continually harassed by listeu•
ing to complaints.
Mr. HUME dwelt on the abuses of the Gnvernment
at the Capp, and said they were universally known.
He had within a few hours seen a person • from the
Cape, who bore out all the charges against Lord Chas.
Somerset. Would the Colonial Office 'furnish the
House with a copy of the Memorial presented by Mr.
Burnett to Lord C. Somerset, and on account of which
that individual bid been banished ? The Hon. Member
complained of the .delay which had taken place with
respect to the Commisiioners' Report. He was afraid
that the public would have to wait a great while longer.
He wished the Colonial' Office would lurnish.hint- with
certain papers he could name, on which he tuight
ground.a motion. For seven yeari he had been con-
stantly censuring our colonial system, and some change
was imperatively called for. At present, it was in
ivory respect faulty, injurious, and unjust. •At the Cape neither
person nor property was safes Merchants would be obliged to quit
the Colony unless Government interfered. The great agent oriel! at
the Cape was the notorious spy Oliver, who now relied himself
Jones., He held an trace of great Power which power be abused
to the great injury of the Colony. On this subjilet be (Mr. Home)
ind lodisputabia evidence to submit: he entreated the Hours to.
betides* at once, and correct the system.
Mr. M A MLR LY said, the facts wereaoo serious' not to be en•
golfed into, and it was • idle tikeseit- any longer fbr the Report.
The House would not do its duty if it did not institute an,enqiiry.
Justice to all parties, and particularly to the. Noble Lord himself,
requited it..
Mr. WILMOT-HORTON said, he had no power to interfere.
He was ready to admit, that if Mr. Burnett bad bike punished as
he stated by the Dutch laws, those. taws ought to be changed.
Bet the facts were not yet ?roved. and. it was neceirary to wait
for the Report.: • •
-Mr. E. ELIA CE aid, the.whole system was bad, not only at
the Qpe, but likewise in the other colonies. The Hon. Member
put a qoestion.ur the Hun. Secretary with respect to St. Lucia.
Mr. WILMOT-HORTON was about to reply. when
Mr. BROUGHAM said, that the Petition ought to tie disposed
of before any sew subject was started. •
Mr. E. ELLICE explained. .
Mr. BROUGHAM, after bringing up the Petition;
said, that he should depart from the usual modi cf
proceeding, and should move that the Petition be re-
•ferted to a Select Committee of Inquiry. The Route
ought not to be made, day after day, the sport .of in-
dividuals, who “ ventilated" their charges against high
public officers, without calling on such individuals for •
their proofs. It was equally important that the func-
tionaries accused should have an opportunity of freeing
themselves from the imputations levelled anthem. If any objection
were made to his motion as being unusual, he wan ready to yield,
and change it into a notice of a motion. Lord Charles Somerset
was a very IU-used man. and ought to have an enquiry granted to
bins. As to walling until Mr. Bilge Might recover, and for the
Commissioners' Report, It was perfectly idle.
Mr. WILMOT.HORTON said, he would support any enquiry
likely to be indsfusery.
Mr. BROUGHAM then moved that the Petition be printed.
Mr. HUMS wished to ask if anything had been done by. ,
Governesestmikh respect to Mr. Edwards, from whom he hat&
few days ago presented a Petition ?
lir. WI L MOT-HORTON said, that a letter had been Written .
to the Governor of New South Wales, to inquire bite *elute
and to liberate him. But be ought to say that there was a suspi- .
don that. Edwards was a runaway convict, and. the Government
instructions would be regulated by the truth er falsehood of that
suspicion.—The Petition was ordered to fie printed.
Mr. BROUGHAMgave notice that he shisold on Tuesday move .
to refer the- Petition to a Select Committee.
Mr. S. WORTLEY presented a Petition from Mr. R. Cowley,
on the subject of the Poor Laws—Ordered to be-printed.
Mr. N. CA LVERT promoted a -Petition from Ware, relating
to the slaughtering of bones.—Ordered to lie on the table. •
Mr. T. WILSON grewsted a Petition from the Journeymen
Carriers of the City of London_and Borough of Southwark, pray-
ink 'that they might be beard by Counsel, before the Committee,
against the enactment of the Combination Law's—Ordered to be
printed. • • .

2?. LUCIIIL.

Mr. ELLICE wished to know from the Honourable Gentle-
man, the Secretary for the Colonies, whether the Report of the
Comminisoen appointed to enquire into the Affaitiof the IsLod
. •
of St. Ludemras yet reedy •
• Mr. WILMOT-HORTON add, that one of the Cominisslooers
'died while in the mend= of ,his duty. Another had been ap-
pointed. and was new on his way. , He bad no doubt that'before
the close of the Session, be should hi able to liy upon the table o.
very voluminous upset.
Mn HUM gpolossissdit Petition from theiournermse Coopers
of the city of Dishily praying that they might beksereby Counsel
against the tmestuient of the Combined= Laws. He • feared it
was now too lase to comply with the prayer of the Petition, as the
Committee had Sokhed their labours. The Petitioners declared'
donoselves ready-to prove that all the evils that occurred in Debit,
went acceding* by the deduct of the masters.
Alf. WALLACE said, that the necessity of some mama • .
was considered by the Committee to have arisen out of the general .
state of the country. Their opinion was not grounded co the con-
duct of say particular diem of men, or on the circuits' teems that
might have occersod at any particular piss.--The Padden was
ordered to he printed. • • •
Mr. HUME presented a Petidew bow certain gummy ins-
die House to adopt measures kw Smiting the service lo dot
'treilabil for the pretest's* of posishniont, velem thrbogh 'the
interventio• of a Coon, Martial. The Pedtiewatilise pnyodget •
doe regard might be had to melee in the aopeiminsm of Oftedi, • •
mid that a different priodple might be Meg* in the discetaidipi •
of prise money. The Honourable Owsdemill doer* that even' •
person with whom be bad conversed on the stibieet, was' asses
aims, that if the plan be suggested were adopted, it would reet'
the of Laving recoune•to impressment to manebe Navy.
Mr. STYES hoped the Government wool's'. take the abject
Into their coosideratien. 'Me system of Impressment wu shocking
to hamenity.—The Petition was ordered to be.
Air.. S YYILS prewuted i Petition from the Lies of lIIImg.

-731!“,,gg'

er: svir:frer

- -
stor.epor-Ilt.:1. praying th,t no 'alteration might be made in the
theirs or. woollen goods.—Ordered to he printed.
Nal ITN! ENTS.
Mr. WESTERN moved for returns for the purpose
of .hewinz the difference of numbers between those
committed hr. criminal charges within certain di.triets, against
whom no lolls were found mid no verdict ohtained, and these who
;erre convicted. lie ptopoeed to ground a citation upon it here-
after.= the disproportion was suiting 'ind on all accounts
objectionable.
Mi. Secretary PEEL admitted that this was a circum-
stance which was not cteditable.to the judicial powers of
the country. He was almost in despair of finding a proper
remedy fof it. lie thought that much would be done
by increasing the lists of the County Juliet. lie could not
help thinking that in the increJse of wealth and power
too much of the business of justice fell upon 11. A body
of Gentlemen who formed the Grand Jury, who had to find Amon
all the bilis, and who, be it observed had in most instances their du-
tins as Members of Parliament to attend to heath". Ile thought
that to increase the nu-stier of Judges might be an advisable experi-
ment, with a view to the more speedy clearing of the gaols. No
reason could he advatned for holding to the particular number'of
twelve, if the interests of the country could be benelitted by
itt-
cresring it.
Alt. DENMAN thought that by redecing the business of the
Q.,arter Sessions, and letting the Ellig's Commissioners go into
places where the jails were unusually full, they might put off, for
the present. the formidable expenses of new Judges and an addi-
tional. Circuit. • •
Mr.SecretaryPEELObserved,that an arrangement had
been made to enable theChie I Janstice of theCommonP.eas ,
to' give his assistance cut the Home Circuit. Allusion
bad been made to one subject which appeared to him
to be of great importance; and he was glad thatjt had
been noticed, a; it gave him an opi.ortunity for stating
his opinion. Re adverted to the heavy expenses which devolved
upon High Sheriffs. and the great emoluments which were derived
by Sub Sheriffs--(Ilear). These two points, together with the re-
lation in Which the I fish Sheriff was placed with reference to the
SubElteriff, were well worthy of coosicleration--(111ear).
An' lion. Slatsen. who spoke from under the gallery, observed.
that the appointment of another atsistant to the High Sheriewould
boa advantageous.
After a few words from Mr. PEEL the motion was agreed to. 1
ismex 'To 9H6 JoURNALti.
Mr. MINXES moved, that a Select Committee be appointed to I
examine the progress made in the formation of a general index to
the Jaunt/le of the House, from the period of the Union to the
death of his law Majesty; and also into the progress of a similar
index from the latter period to the press it time ; and to report
their opinion to the blouse.—Agreed to.

CONDINATION LAWS.
Mr.-WALLACE, in bringing by the Report of the
Committee upon. the Combinati is Laws, expressed his
most anxious desire that the Report should be printed
and in the hands of Members. with a view oficarry-
ing into effect the recommendations of the Committee
during the present Session. He intended to present a
litll, up'n which it would be advisable that the discus.
don should take place as soon after the printing and distribution as
possible. Ile would here take the opportunity of stating. and be
was the more desirous to do so early, because be understood an
founded reports had got abroad upon the subject, and been very
widely diffused,. that there was no intention whatever to reenact
the penal statutes repealed by the nations of the Hoe. Member
for Montrose. and that no such maculae was contained in the
Report of the Committee.
Mr. MA NSFIELD said, he could not consent to the reception
of a report which proceeded Wholly on the information of the
masters, without any examination of the men.
. Mr. WALLACE defended the Report, and assured the House
that every one who thought his evidence of importance had been
esaniioed by the Carmine,.
Mr. HUME deprecated as much -as any person, the
outrages that bad been-tomMitted in Dab!in and Glas-
gn.e ; at the sametime he had to complain. that in the
ct-tnutittee the operrives were not ex mined. It was
not sufficient alone to ascertain that combination
lived. The:eitent of it, the causes of it, 'and whether
twas the fault of the Misters or the, men should also
he inquired into—(Year, hcer).—There bad certainly been strikes
for wageoin several- parts of the country, but these strikes bad not
been. as forstetivaccompanied by threats or iutimidation, or vio.
knee. As the House had repealed the former law, it ought not,
in his opinion to alter it bastily—lt ought to wait lOW the pro.
p: key of the alteration bad been fairly tried by test.
Mr. Secretary PEEL highly disapproved of any dis-
cusiion at present as to the propriety. of the Bill which
his Right. Hon. Friend moved for leave to-introduce—
(Hem ). - Before such discussion volt place. Le wished
the Hotta*, to be in possession of the evidence given be-
fotethe Committee. Far the present he would not-say
• a word 'in favour of the Dill: but .he would protest
against the statement made by the Hon. Member. He.
wits prepared to deny that the COMniiitin bad refused
to hear may evidence consistent With the objects which
it "was instituted to attain..(fieett,Ater). ,* Let:the merit
of the Hill of his Right Hest..Friend be eltinuthd by the evidence
before the. Committee. *std by the justice andpoctsaity of its provi.
dons, end not by the state:toots o( the Hoo..Cientkonan—(.lkar).
'Sir M. W. RI PLEYotimitutst that Flory lion. Weedier had a
right to express his own:opinion, However. the Heise would
judge of the Committee by tkdr catmints and not by what he mist
cell the unfair gatemen ot their proceeding by the Right Honour.
able Gentkmar. '
. The Report w:4 then brought up. and leave was granted to
bring in a bill to repeal the Act of Patients= of last Session. re•
*pectin Combinations. and to substitute sink nodulous as might
be deemed expedient to remedy evib arising therefrom. •
~ ,_
Tits ISLAND OP .TASIAtCA:
Mr. *I 1110T-flglt TON Wished to hC informed of the course
intended to' be pursued upon the subject of the affairs of this:Wand,
and the conduct of the Duke of Manchester?
• 1)i . LUSIIINGTON.wai at s hits to know how that
lion. Geutleman could . be ignorant of the course be
ir • ended to pitting, as, from the ditcu.sions Which-had
already taken - place Upon the subject, the Hon.' Gen-
tleman might have petcejved "it was his intention to
niove that the Petition, and 'thepapers connected with
it, should be referred to a Select Committee. Any
o-ittr course, he was apptehentive, would tall short of
doing that jus,tice .tri.the Petitioners 'which he. was de-
sirous to obtain-tor. itlein. . Th:l' motion' Was one which
he thought was intimately connected.wi lithe.happirress,
and even the safety-of owe West India Colonies—more
particularly with that of the Island of Jamaica, The
case to which he
.was desirous.Of calling the attention 1
.• .. , • •
of the MAIN was,oneof theigreatesx.entrages that had,
• been, or could betporpetrated. As the Haase, was out
familiar with the •discnssiotti on this subject, lie *could-
takettie liberty Of 'itatingla the House' the einount ul
the poltettleVbsi in'theAlillatgl'ef 3ainaita. P 'There were
flirt* :t Pipils2: ;Of iblialsktantsi‘the ,fi I li: and the'ltiost
• numerous Pai.t.'44llkPgiulatif4t- hi: $. ,the.
poptilatipu,'• consisting; of ',260,000,. slaves, .: aesides
trese *eve! were Sfr,ooo men of yelper, and 25000
*hltei,- gib ;he 'wicigict 'etas!' he w,ii.ritiletes a at,ll the
atiiiitilon.irafe ,Hisisit: .1(s Am ii,i7si,bes's4vlOst..c.lo. he.
had 'that night.to bring forward,bilongeti..to it. I ''ass
class forinft. it,tpillteWpabet,of thelaiiiiitants of that
: ilikia • I'veviutirAo" the fest:lolW tint Masi suffered
alder.: 'N et iv: Veyeie,.` tiiiilo!liteir sittigVilla,`Winif.' n
white 'peensit Could..iner -make .0. Wilt ibeillleilitilkir4Tr9'.'
perty,,ofsa .lalgeef, "mount ;than 210001...t0 :arty {restore
of 'enivut‘. thveltkAlut • ,persoti '.iwits -VI; 'enk w•seoe4
ncillter•erSitt'Ain e'. WI 4tltigs; riot! live eivioiiee
IC
sekilut S Wlitt. . 11:—.4fh ~0.-.4 ,obtivii to oont4tiiiii
- letsprnportiohy ~ tie Anntrittute also his propor-
. tton•to the fifnO•kt•eduintion, wii?lst he wit shut. out
(torn all places °Luisa, am! deprived ofthe advantages

. .

•
'of ho-e i ditto iors which he orinly ailed to maintain.
Ile was also debarred fitimeae, &icing the elective fran-
chise, and fr..rn v;* trio:m(ll;LT privileges. Such was his•
condition in 1813, when some of the disabilities under
which he 'poured were • unmoved, but ma •y of them,:
were permitted to c naieue. lit In 2, they resolved on
a Peition to the Legisl dive Assembly orJamaica for
a removal of the reatiaaiing disabilities under. which
alley labouled. It wool t be right to rate that there
were four orders or degrees of persons in Jamaica; who
were recognized by a particular shade of colour; first
there was the Black, next to him wat the Mulatto, third.
the Mustic, and fourthly the Nhistapiie-. The Petition
to which be had before adverted, was in the first in-
stance innuited to slr. Hector Mitchell, a Magistrate,
and a Member of theLegislativeAssembly of Jamaica.
But it was subsequehtly placed in the hands of Mr.
Barret. The • Bill was introai.ced, and on a second
reading was rejected. For promoting this measure, and
for being a Member of the Committee that prepared
the application to the Legislative Assembly, these two
persons, Laciue and Escoffery, were torn from their
families, and .1 rcibly deported from the Island of J.-
maim The pretence of expelling them from the Is-
land, was under the Alien Act. They- we:e then aged,
one twenty-eight and, the otter thirty•five, and they
were called upon instantly to prove that they were not
aliens, a proof which, from die distance of time, it was
not easy-on the occasion to supply. Although these in-
' dividuals were not found to be aliens, and although they
were Serjeants in the Local Mil'tia, which was a
recognition of their not being aliens, yet were they,
upon the order of the Duke of-Manchester, forcibly de-
ported from the Island, and taken to Saint Domingo.
The Honourable Member then complained of the
harshne,s with which they had been treated by Mr.
Barnes, the Mayor of Kingston, whose conduct towards
them was rather that of a prosecutor than that of an
impartial administrator of public justice. A motive
fur his conduct was to be found in a verdict which (as
we understood) was obtained for the payment of 4,000/.
to one of them. The decision had been made in the
first instance in favour of the blayor, but was subse-
quently reversed by the Council. Immediately upon
their committal the accused had a Petition 'presented
to the Legislative Assembly. This Petition was signed
by thirty persons. Five Magistrates signed the Peti-
tion, and one MeMber of the House of Assembly.
Would it be believed, that amongst others the Provost
Marshal of Jamaica had signed the Petition which the
Duke of Manchester was inclined to treat as nothing,?
The Petitioners took means to bring their case before the
SuprerneCourt, then moved for a writ of Habeas Corpus,
and were•ultimately discharged. In the House of As.
sentbly, Mr. Hector Mitchell moved for a S. cret Com-
mittee. This Committee was to inquire into the guilt or
innocence of the patties, and decide thereupon. Now,
would it be ,believed, than they had decided without
examining a single witness for the accused ? The ge.•
cret Committee made a Report, in which they stated
that they had taken the evidence of certain individuals,
inhabitants of Kingston, who had sated that seditious
meetings were held amongst the people of colour, that
the Petitioners were natives of St. Domingo, and- were
persons of dangerous character. Well, upon that
statements the Select Committee ordered the unfortu-
nate men to be deported to St. Domingo, .and the order
was exectred with a severity proportionate to its injus.
tice. This sentence was passed by the Committee after
the Petitioners 'had been discharged by thetourt of
King's Bench. Not a moment was allowed them after
the order had passed, though they had offered bail _to
meet the charge. There was do pretence to prevent
them from being tried. The law of.) imaica was, that
a person of colour may be convicted upon slave testi-
many, although a white man could not. They were
in a state of destitution at St. Domingo until Capt. Daw-
kins took them to the English merchants, amongst
whom a subscription was made for them. Captain
Chalmers, who brought them over, was under the ne•
ctssity of supplying them with clothes on the voyage.
The Petitioners had- no sooner left St. Domingo, than
Mi. Hector Mitchell arrested two slaves who were in the
employment of Erime. He offered them 300, and
lafterwards 600 dollars—he even promised them their
freedom--aif they would give evidence against their
master. Upon their refusal so to do, he confined one
of these slaves f ir nine months, and another for rx
months, in the condemned cells. When the Slave Court
was held there the slaves were discharged by proclama-
tion, as nu charge was made against them. One of
these men had arrived in England—he was ready to be
produced. There was also a poor Irish boy, a servant
of one of. the Petitioners, with whom an attempt was
made to tamper. It was painful, but it was his bounden
duty to state, that in these proceedings much blame
devolved upon the Duke of Manchester. If abuses such
as he had detailed were persevered in, the minds uf the
free people of colour would be alienated, and the situa-
tion of the English in the island souls' be endangered,
as well as the stability of the British power. Under those circum-
stances, no objection could dila to the appointment of a Select
eqnsmittee to inquire into those proceedings.
Mr. WILMOT-HORTON rose for the purpose of
offering to the House some explanations, as from the
office he held he would be expected to do, on this sub-
ject. Ile had in the first place, however, to observe
that he thought his Hon. and Learned Friend bad not
stated this case with his usual candour, because he had
omitted to inform the House of a material fact—
(Meers).—ln a conversation with his Hon. and Learned
;Friend,,he had informed him that it was not upon the
papers before the House that the ease rested in any de-1
gree whatever. There was other evidence which it was
tuit.considered consistent with the duty of the Secretary
of State to give out for general publication. Surely
,his Hon. and .liarried Friend ought to have stated this as
welhas the. further one, that he (61r. Wilmot-Horton)e
so far from, objecting to the institution of proceedings
!which should be likely to obtain substantial justice, bad
told his Hon. ind Learned Friend that he would consent
tp the appitintnient of a Secret Committee, before which
all the papers might be laid. His Hon. and Leirtied
;Ft lend had said, that he (Mr. Wilmot-Horton) was there
these
defend the Ooceedings which had been taken against
these petitioners; but he begged to disclaim any such
intention.. Be was there only' to defend the Dake of
Manchester for the course which be had adopted=
Ithar.)—Tharcourse had been founded mainly ow the
fact klie'petitioners being aliens; which the evidence
hebad alloiled to would estabash beyttind all dosabt.
He Yt4saecrlay the topics which his Ilan. and *Learned
Friend had.introduced into the I egosoin'g of :,his speech,reepeethirthe con-claim' of tie fr,e coloured people of
Jarnake.'. Itswattnoogh for hint to. take thins ail be
esittrit them. • The free eel tit 0,1 people of that island
'disvaliticznions, but that
nc circion-
stae did not them tram their allegiance •to:ibe
Government: le important question upon which tfitit

case tunic.] was, whether a conspiracy against the (In-
ternment actually existed; and-whether the Petitioners
were parties to that conspixaci?; This qnestion could
only be decided by the prastetion of the evidence he
had alluded to befole a secret Committee, because
.it was imp, ssible for the How, or for any Com-
mittee of the House, to decide upon the conflict-
•
nig..testimony now upon the table. At the poi iod
to which the transactions referred, a strong feeling
of alarm prevailed at Jamaica. If anybody doubted
the reasonable grounds of that alarm, .he could
refer them to a letter written by Mr. Sampson .and Mr.
Scaler, the chairman and secretary of a committee of
tree coloured' people, to Mr. Wilson, in London, in which
they spoke of their long endurance under an oppres-
sive tyranny, which one energetic effort of their own
would suffice to overthrow or destroy —(Hefr, hear,
from the Opposition Benches). Was it unreasonable to
.usPect people avowing these sentiments of being en•
gaged in a treasonable conspiracy ?—(Near). The
grounds, however, upon which the Duke of Manchester
took the step of transporting the petitioners proved to be
.liens, were thole of an overpowering public necessity.
The House of Assembly and the Council had reported,
without one dissentient voice, that the petitioners were
engaged in a treasonable conspiracy. What ought the
Duke of Manchester then' to have done with persons so
dangerous—and how great would have been the re-
sponsibility he must have incurred, if he :Ines! otherwise?
This course was sanctioned also by the advice of all the
Officers of the Government in the Islind ; and although
his Honourable and Learned Friend had not scrupled
to apply to them terms of reproach, he was wholly at a
kiss to know upon what the charges his Honourable and
Learned Friend had brought against them were founded.
The Attorney-General, whom his Hon. and Learned
Friend had charged, together with others, with having
put into action that monstrous scene of iniquity
he had detailed to the House, had always hitherto been
acknowledged to be a person of ability and character.
He strongly recommended the course which the Duke
of Manchester had adopted, and his opinion had been
borne out by that of every other person on the spot who
had means of forming a correct judgment upon the
subject. If the petitioners were innocent of the charges
against them, there could be no doubt that they had
be n very hardly used, and that they were entitled to
redress. But he must remind the House and his Hon.
and Learned Friend, that the opportunity for obtaining
this redress had been offered to him, and although not
in the exact manner he wished, yet it was in a way cal-
culated to do full justice—(Hear, hear). Until this was
done, the opinion of the House must of necessity be
saspended, and its judgment in abeyance, because the
fActs of the case were not before it. If Mr. Hector
Mitchell had been guilty of the atrocities laid to his
charge, GOD forbid that he (Mr.Wilmoo Horton) should
say one word in his justihcation but to believe that he
had done so, would be to beliese that all the persons
whose duty it was towatch over the administration Ofjas.
tice inJamaica had neglected their duty in a most extraor-
dinary manner. But whilst the charie of falsehood was
thus .capiously made against otheri; was all that the
petitioners had stated true ? They bad said that they
were never engaged in any illicit traffic with St. Do-
ming?, and that they had never carried on treasonable
corrApondence—statementsahemter falsehood of which
the evidence he had alluded to would establish and
prove, on the contrary, beyond a doubt, their traitorous
intentions. His Hon and Learned Friend laid great stress
upon the Petitioners having obtained their privilege-
papers, and had inferred that they could not have done
so unless the fact of their birth in the island had been
satisfactorily proved. He held, however, in his hand
a paper, in which it was distinctly stated that the cer-
tificates in question had been granted without any in-
quiry into that fact. This was upon the. authority of
the Attorney-Getteral—(Hear, from the Opposition
Benches). If the House were prepared to believe th it
the House of Assembly and the Council bad conspired
to falsify the evidence on the case of the Petitioners,
and that tie Duke of Manchester had lent himself to
aid their deportation out of the country, then something,
like a case might be made out r - until then, and he
thought there was no present probability of any such
event, the House .t suspend its opinion. The evi-
dence of which be was in possession was so satisfactory
ro his mind, and his knowledge of the private character
and amiability of the Duke of Manchester was such,
that he would not concur inany censure, implied or
otherwise, which, upon grounds like those before the
House, it might be attempted to pass upon him. He
would never advocate (in the present instance he had
dose directly the contrary) the keeping back any evidence which
was necessary for the ends of justice. He left it to the louse,
without bccitatkin, to decide whether the statement of ill. Hoe.
and Learned Friend had estiblished• anything like climinality
against tlie*Duke of Manchester?—(Cheers). _ _

Mr. SCARLETT wished it to be understood, that
this was a motion for inquiry, nest necessarily implying
a censure upon the Duke of Manchester. From all
that he could understand, the coniuct of other persons
Was more inculpated by this motion, than that of the
Duke of Manchester. His Grace could not be sup-
posed to be influenced by any other desire than that
jlstice should be done. Ile would not emu: e to say what
the ultimate result of the inquiry would be; but if the
Duke of Manchester derived his information from the
same sources as those which had been produced before,
it was exposed in his (Mr. S.'s) mind to great suspicion.
Having a deep interest in this question, as the Chief
Justice of Jamaica was his near relation (brother), he
had taken the pains to read through the voluminous
affidavits . produced in this matter. This evidence,
though contradictory, he' had no hesitation in saying,
was very strong for the plaintiff—( Hear). The Hon.
and Learned Gentleman then went through certain
particulars in the affidavits, :hewing that the witnesses
'had been tampered with, and contending that the Court
of King's Bench, at Jamaica,- was 'ern/ranted, by_ the
documents which were produced before it, in the course,
which it pursued. if this motion convoje.d 3 vote of
censure on the Duke of Mnqekesterj dried UBl vote
for it ; but as it sought 'only for 'f 'fait inquiry; he
should give it his support. Every ode mutt reel that
the gm popalsdaa comatose expect thsosnorimputiality in the
Colonial L lame that thm aright expect troaa this Noose, sod
therefoie this was the most proper tribunal to be appestedo.

Mr. Secretary CANNING said, lie had veenveit
some satisfaction from the -course of proceeding which
had been adopted. and.be had alsoderived some satis-
faction trom staterpept of hibllon. Fs iend, that he
had evidence of a diffeieeitt kind to produce, thit would
make it mote 'soitablito th'e feelings of justice in the,
House to.conseat to the iitstitution of an inquiry. So'
fir as-ha was individually concerned, be would con.,
sent to the inquiry, but he must be allowed to say, that
he.thought,the proposal made
„by his 1,19 n. Friend at
he commeacement, was one.svh:ch the Hon. and
;tannedloratleman ought to have • accepted; So fa.

` ~.

.

as the buke of Manchestzr N as enrcerned, t e
made against his Grace was. that he had ifeAteJ f 3 i.
tish subjects as aliens under the law, and ill's was a
specific point capabie of proof, but it. *a. anti her
proved nor disproved by the papers alseasly on 11:4
table. When his Hon: Friend. stated that the Dike
Manchester, Waiing his privilege Cif absence, WAS pre-
pared to meet the accusation, he (Mr. C.) thonght that
the• Duke had dofie evetything that a ma could do td
clear his character from any imputed .n, and had en-
titled himself to' the suspensi7in of ant jaitfg-
meat: It was a strong presumption not only that lie
had conducted himself with propria tv, but that it was
his own strong and consciyntious belie( that. his coo-
duct Wotild bear investigation, and ha 1 been ;pa tecdy
correct. Had' he made this proposal at the .cnna it.- e-
Meat of the business, it would have entitled 1 :ts
this favotirable construction; and he was
entitled to it- when he made this proposal, aftei
ing the impress on which had been made; the eia.-zge:4••
c tions which had gone abroad, respecting the .a-e of
these individusls in this country, and after be h id re-
viewed, in consequence, all his own proceedinp, and
bad closely examined the conduct of every Aker 6ari.,
cerned in the transaction. After such an frta•iinadoii,
when he came forward to submit to an inquire,,hCiias •
surprised that the Honourable and Learned Grit'enwit
had not acceded. to the proposal of his Hon. l'aie;.d.
He had cho.en to adopt a different course, and had
taken an advantage—he would not call it an 'unfair
one—Of demanding a lurther inquiry but it gave him
'(Mr, Canning)* also an oppOrtunity of taking an ad-
vantage, and not an unfair one, of stating, th tlle•
Duke of Manchester had acted wrong, he shrill liven
misled. He had taken advice, and had acted accord-
ingly ; his judgment might have been deluded, hilt his
motives could not have been improper. LULA:I.46Fri!
that other persons must be implicated in- this in.aniay,
and the Commission already sent out to the West bo-
dies, had received orders to make a legal- ihvestigaaon
of the case, and to transmit borne a report. " Under
these* circumstances he was certainly not disp?sed so.
maintain a proposition that no further inquiry arcs
called for. He adniiited that it was, and that it should.
be hasi. When he considered the distance of the place,
the voluminous mass of evidence collected in the pr. -
gress of the inquiry, he thOught the Hon. and Le lined
Gentleman must admit, that to go into an inquiry at
that period, could not lead to any beneficial results.
He would recommend that advantage should be taken
of the interval between the close of this Session and the
begining of the next, to obtain the Report of the Com-
missioners, to procure further evidence ; and he shotilti
have no sort of objection to enter iwo the inquiry ea: ry
next Session, and ellnw
.that inquiry to be as ample
and complete as the Honourable and Lena ned Gentle•
man wished. Enough had already transpired to excite
a public feeling against the Duke of Manchester, and
he thought- it was not fair to aggrevatelhilprejudiae
by entering into an inquiry wSich•coUla not be brought
to a satisfactory conclusion. Oft the one hand, the tio-
vernment had more evidence to procure, and, on ete
other, the Honourable and Learned Gsntleman. who
had already obtained s much evidence, and wilt>
chewed no want of a szalOus disposition to obtain inure.
would have an opportnnky of maids* his ease mare compfeie,
that both ddeOwoold Come to the discussion at the beginning, of
the atm Session better prepared to fully elucidate the matter. It
the inquiry were now gone Into, it would be very inconvenient; it
would be in a high degree e*redonsble, on the score of justice,
and iii the vaunt degree ur to these who were absent. If the
fair and just proposal which bad bun made•were accede/ In the
debate would be at an and, and the House might agree to atildhrti
It till the winder:me came completely and -fairly before them. .
Mr. BROUGHAM said, that he cote for the purpose
of requesting his Honourable and Learned Friend (Dr.
Lushington) to accede to the offers of the Right Hon.
Gentleman opposite (Mr. Secretary Canning), for tl:e
House and the country then had a distinct and positive
promise that the matter was not to rest there, but was
to come under their immediate consideration early fat
the ensuing Session. First, he would recommend his
Honourable and Learned Friend to agree to that rte.
postal, because they were then es near the end of the
Session, that the evidence could not arrive from the
West Indies befcre the 'sitting of Parliament she aid
have closed; and fidly, he would recommend him to
adcyt the propched arrangement, conceiving it, to be
perfectly consistent with the opinion which he (Dr.
Lusldngton) had ezpressed uptus the subject. Besides there MA,
nothing to fear; thy were, by the explicit pledge of the Hight /lot.
Gentlenran opposite, to have a Committee at alai events.
Mr. DICKENSON complained of the terms in which the pro.
medias bad beet brio& forward.
fitter a few weeds from lir F. 01AWIIIRT,

Mr. SYKES observed, that the Merchants who-were
in London, as witnesses, would have to stay-here a year
longer, and the other witnesses in Jamaica would bit
exposed to all the tamperiogs and negociations of the
agents of interested persons in the Colony, and thew
considerations, be ttiOught, milldam ground for she Hops: to go at
once him the inquiry.
Dr. LUSHINGTON, in reply, said, with regard to
the proposal which had been made by the Right lion.
Gentleman opposite, he would freely accede to it ; but
bethought the House were bound to consider the deA•i.
lute Condition of tbe, wimessen who came over to this country G 4
belt of the prosecution, and stake provision for them. • •
Mr. Secretary CANNING could not agree to.settiog
such an example as bearing the expenses of these men
would prove. If they turned Out to be.the guilty ac.
COWS of an innocent man, what a precedent it would be to have
'them supported by the Government .
The Petition was then witbdravra.-..Wiseu the impeding sconott,
sation terminated.
Mr. C. 11. HUTCHINSON rose to make BOW request about
tberpreseinent of the third reading otsbe EllstilkeY 11tH. •
CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER agreed, to po.t.
pone k until Monday.
The Assinsiktlon of the Currency BM was •resd a,third UT*
and
On tube manor( that the House' should rooter itself into a Cont.
mince of the whole Noose on the Olken' Pension Itn,
Mr. HOBIIOUSE expressed bissoppoeitiost to the principle of
the measure.
Mr. Secretary CANNING defended the 1101. •. .
The mosion was then agreed to-4lse Bill passed through tbe
Committee—the House resumed—the Report was• received, and
use Rik ordered to be read a third time to-mdrinerl4;:. •
'BUCSlltaitAlit HOUSZ. DILL.
On the motion that it be read asecond .• • • .• •
Mr. BA NKES expressed his regret that a mere proper.
site than the present had not been chosen. -.ft wouid
have been better to have built one splendid ilalace titan.
to expend so much money in .patching -and repairitrt
so many middling ones. Hyde Park would have been'
a better situation than the site of Buckingham House.
The CHANCELLOR of the. EXCHEQUER ad.
mitted the want of proper mansions for Royalty. but
contended, th it it was very difficult 'to find a proper
site for a-palace in London. Hyde Park was. a very,
great accommodition to the public. and a palaces With
t-s sorrounsliug grounds, would take up much of it. If
the site were chosen on that part of it inwards R.eii:iii
t GirdenS, it Wtn.lJ not have'aiii tiers Or itiatt .ter
dbe titzt twenty years. Tlic gardetr,

NIUMNN•i