Star.
London, England, 1824-09-17 00:00:00

SPONGE.

The following extract of a letter from a Gentlerhan
in Nassau, New Providence, gives a curious description
of the manner in which the attention of the inhabitants
of the 13aliama Islands has been turned to a new branch
of commerce, in the collection of sponge for exporta-
tion, of which article it appears those island; produce
great quantities. The letter in question is dated Nas-
sail, April 18:
" A most unexpected revolution has lately taken place with re-
spect to the exports of this colony. Sponge--spongesporige—is
now the only word which is heard or listened to along the bay, and
that refuse of the ocean, which, for centuries untold, had remained
contemned and unheeded beneath our waters, at present gives em-
ployment to the whole force of our marine. The silk-worm could
never have done more for Its than the sponge-worm. Not a fish to
be purchased at our market, except at a most unconscionable price,
for the smacks are all sponging; not a wholesome piece of beef or
mutton for an Israelite's dinner, for the droghers have all become
spongers! and not a cedar to be seen along the abutment of the
bay, for cedars pay not half so well as sponges. They are now said
to he in very high demand as an article of manufacture in England,
and more so in France. Considerable shipments have been already
made, not only to the mother country, but America ;and if the
prices of the European market are quo►ed with anything like truth
(from 7s. to 17s. and 275. sterling per lb.), many here will make
their fortunes; and whilst our seas phoduce sponge, the Bahamas
must flourish. The harbour Islanders, Abacomans, and Eleathe-
Aso, are now the weakliest men (the only ready money ones) in
the, colony."

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

ltl A NSION- HOUSK

A man named It4sert Williams, was brought before the Loan
%volt, charged with having convened to his own use eleven coats,
the property of a person named Clark.
John Connolly stated, that he was security to lir Clark for the
Wiriest dealing of the prisoner, in whose house a fire afterwards toot
place. The prisoner pleaded to his employer, that -the coats had
been all burnt in the fire, and as property-was certainly lost, it
was supposed that the account was true. However, soon after-
wards it was ascertained that some of the coats were pledged at a
pawnbroker'si and the prisoner admitted that four of them bad
been saved and pawned.
Mr. Connolly said, the prisoner had positively pkdged some of
the property before the fire, and therefore had no ground of excuse
for the absence of that which had been entrusted to him to finish.

There was no evidence to that effect, and his Lot dship remanded
the CAS!.

.Agulter, who was charged by the Solicitor fur the Post office
with having forged the name of one of his bail, was brought up.
11!r. Dowling, the solicitor, said, the Governors of the Post-office
had determined, upon an examination of the evidence against the
prismer, nut to proceed in the prosecution. The practice of forg-
ing bail, of which two Instances had recently occurred, would be
effectually checked by the mode suggested by the Lord Mayor, of
sending the solicitor's clerk to see the signature of each security
placed to the several instruments.—The prisoner was discharged.
A fellow named Smith was charged with having indecently as-
saulted two females in the street at night.
This was one of many charges which have been within the last
week brought before the LORD Mara*, in which the defendants
have been described as guilty of the most vile conduct to women
who appeared to be unprotected. The ruffian observed the elder
complainant's husband walking before her, but not knowing that
he was related to her, assaulted her in the manner described, and
caught hold of her female companion in the same manner imme-
diately afterwards. Before the tuflian had proceeded to this in-
decent extremity, the married complainant told him that her bus.
band was walking on befora her, and she certainly would call out if
site and her friend were not ullowed to pass without being molested.
—The defendant Laughed at this threat, which was not immediately
put into execution, in consequence of the fear entertained by the
Ladies that something desperate might occur. An officer, however,
was just passing, and the married Lady, without making any noise
about the matter, put her assailant into his custody, so that there was
no longer any danger of a contest between the latter and ber husband.
The Loan Moron lamented that he was daily called upon to com-
mit men fur such atrocious assaults as had been just described. The
character of the people, it would appear, was undergoing a compkte
revolution. It proved the necessity that existed for men to stick to
their wives and families. In every case of this kind he was deter-
mined to commit in default of ball, and to compel prosecutions.
The defendant and two others, fot similar assaults, were com-
mitted fur trial.