Star.
London, England, 1824-01-28 00:00:00

TRIAL OF MR. SMITH.

(From the Colonist, Demerara Journal.)
GEORGETOWN, DEC. 1,1823.—1 n what we arc about
to observe, we are not unconscious of the tender and
slippery ground upon which we stand ; but it is due to
the character of this Colony to give some distant idea
of the impression produced in the public mind at the
issue of the Missionary Smith's trial for a high State
offence. We shall, however, be as guarded and deco-
rous in expression as the great delicacy of the subject,
in its present state of suspended existence, necessarily
seems to require.
The grave crimes with which this man stood charged,
and for which he has been tried by a General Court-
Martial, were published in this Paper, from a copy of
the official document on the 16th October last. His
uial had been commenced three days previous, the
Court having been composed of the following Members :
Lieutenant-Colonel S. A. GOUDXAN. H. P. 48th Rev. President.
Lieutenant-Coloorl Charles Wray, Militia Stall.
Captain W. ltillekelly, Military Stall.
Captain T. Stewart, let West India Regiment.
Captain C. Campbell, Royal North British Fusileers.
Captain Richard Daniel, ditto.
Captain L, C. Appelius, ditto.
Captain Thomas Wairweather, ditto.
Lieutenant R. Gregg, 4th, King's Own.
Lieutenant T. C. Hanunill, Royal North British Fusileers.
Lieutenant W. H. Hennis, Royal Artillery.
Lieutenant J. C. Peddle, Royal North British Fusileers.
2d Lieutenant A. Gordon, Royal Engineers.
2d Lieutenant C. O. 11. Booth, Royal North British Fusileers.
id Lieutenant IL Anstruther.

The intense feeling of anxiety created i►► the public
mind, on occasion of the trial in question, was fully
evinced throughout its progress, by the numbers that
continually attended the Court as spectators. Of course
the evidence adduced both against, and in favour of the
prisoner, was fully heard by all present, and doubtless it
was cansbsed, day after day, at private tables in many
parties. 'the substance and general tendency of that
evidence we are restrained from publishing, for obvious
reasons; neither shall we take upon ourselves to state
what were the expectations, after the evidence was
closed, as to the result. It is only permitted us at pre-
sent to observe, as a proof of the extreme patience and
indulgence towards the prisoner, which was manifested
by the Court Martial, that opening the case on the 13th
of October, it continued by adjournment, to Monday
the 24th of November, before coining to a close. On
the latter day its proceedings were transmitted to the
Commander-in-Chief. On 'Thursday morning last the
prisoner was escorted by the military from the Colony
House, where he had been previously kept in custody,
to the New Jail, the guard there being committed to
the 21st Fusileers, in place of the militia, as formerly.
The rumours arising from this circumstance (the find-
ing of the Court not having transpired) were various
and contradictory.
In venturing to make a few remarks upon the nature
of the late order, it cannot be expected that the Public
Press is at liberty to impugn the motives of Govern-
me:a, animadverting on a measure, the cause of
which it has no possible means of ascertaining. We
shall not he precluded, however, from adverting to the
oriversal feeling of distrust and dismay it has produced,
with reference to its possible tendency. It is scarcely
to be conceived that the Commander-in-Chief himself
r: not aware of the evils arising from the delays of jus-
tice ; and we are inclined to conclude, therefore, that
mot!ing hat a sense of the most imperative duty, founded
upon capital and weighty public reasons, yet unknown,
could have determined his Excellency to remit the pro-
ceedings of the Court to his Majesty, for ultimate de-
cision. This is no doubt a matter of deep regret to us
all. Delaying the ends of justice, where the necessity is
not obvious to all, is liable to dangerous misconstruc-
tion ; yet, we trust and hope, that the public apprehen-
sion will gradually subside—confiding in that watchfal
PROVIDENCE which makes even the wickedness of the
worst of traitors subservient to the ultimate purposes
of as justice.

Kingstr.ii (Jamaica) Papers, to the 4th ultimo, have
been receiee.J. Many extracts might be selected both from
the journals and the proceedings of the House of As- I
stalbly, of an intemperate and hostile tone towards this
country; but they are evidently anything but formi•
dable, and are not worthy of notice. The following is
an extract of a private letter:
" KINCSTON, Nov. 22.—The Assembly have passed an Act, an-
nulling the Registry Bill; it is of course anticipated that the Go-
vernors of the Island will not sanction this Bill, and of course it
will remain a dead letter. In the meantime comes the question of
the payment of the expenses of the Registry Bill, which every three
amounts to 5,000/. Depend upon it, this supply will be re-
tt,,d by the Assembly, in which ease there will be au open war be-
tween the Governor and the Legislative Authority oh the island."
A burglarious attempt to enter Mr. Kean's the trage-
(limas house, No. 12, Clarges-street, May-fair, between
two and dime o'clock yesterday morning, by three men,
was fortunately discovered just as one of them was in the
act of entering a room at the back pint on the ground
floor. The servant, who gave an alarm in the street,
and two patrols who were on duty in ;he neighbour-
hood, ran towards the spot, but the thieves ran off, and
Jumping over the railing into the Green Palk, escaped.
llum—An order has been sent from the Home De-
partment to Hertford Jail, for the removal of Runt
forthwith to the Justitia hulk, at Woolwich, prepara•
tory to his transportation for life, to New South Wales,
on board a comet ship, which will sail, about six weeks
hence, from the rivet for that destination.
Saturday, at two o'clock, Thoinas Ward was executed
a (he drop of Xllossinham, rear Dublin, pursuant to his sentence
21 he late Comsoipsion, for a Wichway robbery committed by him
Sqliird.