Star.
London, England, 1807-12-30 00:00:00

NAUTICAL INTELLIGENCE.

CORK, DECEMBER sa.
The harbour at Cove exhibits a molt magnificent
fpeaacle at prefent. The flips colleaed exceed in
number what have been at any one time obferved
there for many years. ''They are' co-mpofed of the
ling. of battle Mips, frigates, and tranfports, from
Monte Video, under the orders of Admiral MURRAY.
The Wall.lndia outward bound fleet, vp suds of go
fail, ready to proceed under convoy of the Hunan
frigate, and a flanp of wars and a Newfoundland
homeward bound fleet, which arrived on Saturday
laft under convoy of the Ngstll6ll frigate, Theroarre
betides thofe three fleets two Eaft tudiatnen, feferal
frigates and (loops of war, and a number of traders,
unconaeaed with the convoy.

(

PLYMOUTH, DECEMBER at.
Came in the Ocean, BAUER, from France to New
York, with fah, detained by the Narciffus, of 3z
guns ; Vrida Vriendfcab, with wool, detained by the
Conteft gun brig ; Portuguefe chip Elogrife, from the
Brazili, with hides, &c. fent in bylSir Stars>< Swim's
fquadron; Meridian, Captain Haan, of .ind from
Bolton, with fugar, coffee, and cotton ; Pamelia,
CaptainTAYLOß, from France, with brandy, detained
by the Tribune, of 4.0 guns ; Sampfon, Capt. Roc ea s,
from New York, with &gar, cotton, and logwood
Portuguefe Chip Conde de Pinuke, Captaii, V-. T.
Faure', from St. Guira for Lifb.m, with indigo and
cocoa, detained by a privateer belonging to Gizern-
fey, retaken, by a French privateer, and fince recip-
L tured by the Scorpion, of IR guns, which vette' ,is
arrived with her; Powhatan, Capt. Mimes:4, front
Baltimore, with fugar, &c. detained by the Crefcent
privateer; and Confiance, of 30. guns, from the
Eatlward. It blows a tremendous gale, and we are
apprehenfive much damage will be done to'the (hip-
ping in Catwater.

P. S. Half pat five.—A fignal gun of diltrets is
jell fired from Plymouth ficonnd. •
PORTSMOUTH, DECEMBER sa:
Arrived the Musa and Ucvssas with a convoy
from the Straits; Msacuav frigate from Newfound.
land ; LINNET and Resscrancs from a cruize. The
wind has blown a gale all day from the fouthward ;
feveral (hips have come into harbour, among them
the Malta, ELLIOTT, with lofs of anchors, cables,
Sec ; the American Chip Mary Ann is drove on chore
on South Sea Beach, alfn the Sarah and Ann.
DEAL, DECEMBER 29.
Arrived the PANDORA !loop, from a cruize off the
coaft of France. The French lugger privateer which
came in the Downs yefterdry morning, was captured
by the LION, of 6+ guns. The whole of this day it
has blown very hard front the S.S.W. ; a number of •
merchant veffels have parted from their anchors and
cables, Tome of which have been taken to Ramfgate
pier by the boatmen of this place. Three of the Eaft
India fhips which came in yefterday under convoy
the ',tom, viz.—Albion, Royal Charlotte, and Earl
Spencer, parted from their anchors, and have pro-
ceeded through the Gulls for the River. One of the
large boats, in attempting to get off to the affifiance
of fuch vac's as were in dittrefs, unfortunately filled
with the Turf and funk ; the crew would have certainly
been drowned, had it not been for the very great
alliduity of thofe that were prefent at the time, who
hove ropes to the boat, and hauled the men on chore;
one man, wafhed out of the boat, was with difficulty
laved from a watery grave—the boats being feveral
times fwamped before they were able to get off to his
allittance. The boat, with all the materials, is en-
tirely loft, the colt of which is eftimated at 3001.
which will be a confiderable lofs to thole poor men,
fome having large families.
SHEERNESS, DECEMBER 59.
Arrived the Mercator, Faxisa, laden with fugar,
coffee, indigo, &c. ; the Elizabeth, GIRDING, laden
with coffee, fugar, &c. ; and the Circulation, Bitows,
with fait all bound to Gottenburgh. Alfo the
Pru(Ean (hip Uranus, RI EC Ka, with matt:and timber,
from Riga for Portfmouth Yard.—Sailed the RYA.
CHITH man of war to the Nore, and to-morrow will
proceed to Portfmouth.—All the Danifh fhips that
are detained here, are now unloaded ; and it is ex-
peaed they will very loon be condemned and
On Chriftmas day a !hocking accident happened in •
the Harbour, by a boat overfetting : four poor men
loft their lives, and three others.that were in the boat
were miraculcufly raved.
5 P. M.—As the wind now blows a very heavy
gale, at S.W. we fear much damage will be done.
P. S. Another convoy is collating at. the Nore for
Gottenburgh, and is expated to fail in a few day&

GRAVESEND, DECEMBER 29.
Arrived Induary, KIRBY, from Qtybe: ; and thc •
New Galen, HINCKLEY, from Botion.

BRIGHTON, DEC.
A moll daring attempt was made by a French
privateer, to capture two loaded collier', lying to of
Seaford, on Saturday laa. One having been soar.
ded, taken poffeffion of, and fent off, the enemy we;
proceeding to take a fimilar liberty with the fecondt
which fortunately carried two or three fwivels, and
was bravely commanded. Ac the privateer atteinp•
ted to run alongfdeohe fwivels, well direfted, were
difcharged, doing, it is fuppoled, confiderable execu-
tion, and canting tome conln lion among the afl'ailants.
The Captain of the collier raking advantage of their
contlernation, brought his veffel round, and literally
ran the enemy under water, who look, never again
to rifts. The privateer carried too men, sof whom
only could be laved, notwithilanding-Britith huma-
nity was exercifed for their prefervation. the name
of the privateer, the Captain of the collittv;',and the
weird he commanded, I hope to be enabled to fend
you in a day or two.

V

tr.

WEST INDIES.

FROM THE POSTIICRIPT TO THE ST. /AGO DE lA.II
VEGA GAZETTE.

HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY, OCTOBER se..
The Houfe, according to order, refolved itfelf
into a Committee of the whole out', to inquire
into and take into confideration the flan of the
Mr. SPtaxßa left the Chair.
MoRPHr took the Chair of the Committee.
Ur. StIAKIII. returned the Chair.
Mr. Moe PH Y 9 from the Committee, reported, that,
purfuant to the order of the Houfe, the Committee
had proceeded to take into confideration the remain.
ing part of the Report on the effete of the Aft for
abolifhing the Slave Traie, and had come to eight
Refolutions on the fubjeft of the laid Report, which
he read in his place, and delivered it at the table,
where being again leverally read were agreed unto
by the Houle, nem. eon, and are as follows :
Refol7ed, That the Aft of the Imperial Parlia-
ment for abolithing the nave trade is pregnant with
evils to this ifland, militating not only againtt its
general welfare and intereß,butthreatenicg its total
deßrueion as a Britifh Welt India 'Colony.
That depriving this extenfive and yet unfettled
Hind of the means of a fupply of labourers from
Africa, to cultivate the mutt be eventually
ruinous to the proprietors and others interelted in it :
ntanrinduftrious and enterprifing tattlers, who have
braved theidifficulties and hardships, always attendant
on infant eltablifltments in the interior and moun-
tainous fiinations, will, with their families, be reduced
to poverty and wretchednefs ; and, when thefe fet-
tlements are abandoned by their prefent inhabitants,
they. will again become the haunts and faltneffes of
difaffeeed and rebellious negroes.
That properties in poileffion of mortgagees, re-
ceivers, guardians, and others, mull &wily fall a
Verifice to this Parliamentary regulation ; becaufe,
From their peculiar circurratances, they cannot be
fupplied with labourers, the refult of which will be,
to deprive a numerous defcription of perfons, from
the culla date of infancy, to the moil advanced
and helplefs ages, of the common means of educa-
tion and fupporr.
The Committee forbear, at prefent, to animadvert
further on the injuttice and impolicy of that part of
the Aft which relates to the Abolition of the Slave
Trade.—The Britith Parliament have fo enatied it !
ut the Aft contains claufes, foreign to the avowed
punpoles of the law, which are calculated to ellablifh
aneafures of internal regulation, tobverfive of the
local rights and legidative authority of this Wand,
repugnant to its colonial laws long ex-
Ming, and founded upon wife policy, and molt hu•
mane confideratipfts. t And that the Aft of this
Wand of the 15 Qeo. 111. cap. 18, for regulating the
manumiffion of negroes. is (tiredly connterafted by
the operation of the claufes alluded to.
That the Aft blends two dilline °kWh, the one
having an external operation upon our commerce
and trade, which was the objeft fir ft profeffed by the
partifans of the meafure ; the other, from the vari
pus alterations which the nil has undergone, and in
which the original principtes were departed from,
having an internal and unjult operation, by interfer.
ing with, and being fubverfive of laws which are to
regulate the internal government or the 'colony I—
the muffing of which has long and uniformly been
afferted by this ifland, and recognized by the parent
Rate.

Vat, as the original faders of this illan I were
free 13:itilb lubjeCts' many of whom allied in the
Conquet of it from Spain, it is manifeft that they
brought with them all the rights and privileges of
Britons : That the native (pita of freedom, which
dillinguithes Britifh fubjeas, is alto the charalteriftic
of his Majefty's loyal inhabitants of Jamaica ; and
that every attempt to abridge, or interfere with, the
colonial rights of this ifland, have been contlantly
'reified. The arbitrary meafures; in the reign of
Charles 11. to impofe the Irith .form of legiflation
upon this country ; the many fubfequent endea-
vours to fahnitufe the King's infiruttions for laws of
the itland ; to raife money without the concurrence
of the people's Repreferratives ; have ever been re-
ified, and; we trill}, will never be fubmitted to by
this colony. .
That perfons in this itland, charged with offence's
againtt the Abolition Al, are not, as in Great DO-
min, liable to be tried only in CoOrts of Record,but
thofe offences are made alto tognitable in the CoOrts
el Vice Admiralty, although committed in the inte-
rior 'of the country, which enactment is an abfolute
disfranchifement of the colonifl, by depriving him of
his birth right, the Trial by Jury.
That, in regard to the retources of the itland, it
appears that, from the lad ireat efforts which have
been made by the African merchant and factors in
England, the importation of flares in the current
year has been fo confiderable, as to have produced,
on account of the negro duties, a furplus of near
32,0001. after dedu6ing the ellimate for the year,
and that it is probable, that the duties which will
=We from the negroes recently imported, and thofe
which are expected to arrive before the day limited
for the termination of the trade, will amount to a
farther (urn of 20,0001. making about 50,0001. ap-
propriable to the capence of the ellablithment of the
ifiand, or towards redeeming the itland papers, which
are outflandiug, and which amount to 260,0001. a
confiderable part bearing interell at eight per cent. ;
but, immediately after the tint day of March next,
that refouree will be entirely cut off. That another
productive branch of the Auld revenue, the land
tax, introduced to meet the heavy debt occafioned
by the Maroon war, and other martial laws, cannot
be relied upon to ecme in aid of our exigencies to the
nfital extent, fence the uncnltivated lands are now
rendered of no value to the proprietors ; the Ilamp
duties will alto, neceffarily, be diminifired ; and the
operation of the deficiency law will he unav ailing,
with terpeet to the objeZts either of policy or revenue,
ince the temptation which induced fettlers to come
to, or to continue in, the itland, will no longer exill,
the natural confequence of which will be, that the
white Militia mutt inevitably be contiderably di.
minifhed.
That, in purfuing the inquiry into the caufeswhich
have occafioned the reduction of the value of the
fkaple commodities of this itland in the Britith mar-
kets, the Committee find that much light has been

•• .
tbreiviit en the ruble& by -femur ;publications, *lstch
have been widely eireulatekh Old by the report of a
Committee of the Imperial Parliament, made the laft
fethons, after very full inquiry. r
• As there publications, and that teport, are accorn•
panted by, and grounded on, official doctiruents, and
the melt re(peftable evidence, the Committee-coati •
der it onneceffary to enter on an inveftigation °fleas
now not controverted, and think they are juaified in.
reporting that the following appear the principal'
caufes which have produced theextreme depreciation
of our principal Retries fugar : ill, The departure
from what has been ufually called the rule of the war
of 1756, but which, in fadt, was eflabliffied long be-
fore that period, and decided, r 6 That a neutral had
no right to deliver a belligerent from the preffore of
his enemies' by trading with his colonies
in time of war, in An y. manner which was prohibited
in time of peace." zd. The peculiar relaxations of
this rule, by the orders iffued to the prize courts, in
the years 1794. and 1798 refute-lively, whic', with
very trifling modifications, continue to regulate the
decrees of thole important tribunals. 3d. The gen.
graphical pofition of the ports of the United States
of North America, the neutral power chiefly engaged
in carrying the produce of the enemies' Weft India
Colonies, which renders the few rellrillions yet re
tained by the salt mentioned orders to be hardly an
inconvenience, as they are got over by fyfternatic
fraud and perjury. 4th. The eafy expence and fe
corky with which, by means of this fraudulent fyltem
of neutrality, the fugars of the enemies' colonies are
tranfported to the European markets, it having been
proved that, for freight and infurance alone, the
Britifh planter pays for every hundred weight of fu-
gal, conveyed through the parent (late to the ports
of Holland, or the north of Europe, Bs. rtd. tier.
ling, and to the Mediterranean I as. 6J more than
attaches on the goods of the French or Spanith cul-
tivator, carried in neutral bottoms to the fame mar-
kets. gth. The reftridlions on importation into the
continental ports, from the power and influence of
French domination, whilft the temptation to refill or
evade it, is taken away by the abundant fupply
brought under the neutral flag. 6th. A rigid en•
forcement of the navigation fyltem againfl the Brit&
Colonies, at the time when it was thought expedient
to grant relaxations in favour of neutrals and ene-
mies. The agriculture of the colonies of the latter
has been encouraged by a monopoly of the demand
from the United States of America, and by having
their produce tranfported under the fate and cheap
protatian of the neutral flag, to every market where
it was in requeft. The Britilh planter, without funds
or credit in the mother country, where his Raple was
of no value, has been refirained from harming any
part of his fugar, in exchange for the lumber and
fifh which could not be difpenfed with, which his rum
was unequal to fatisfy, and for which, often, it would
not be received, whilfl it has been 'hewn that no other
refources were left. He has been called upon to fend
to the American market fuch produce as he wiffied
to fell or barter there in &lab bottoms, but no con-
voys have been appointed, no facilities given to an
intercourfe which would have required the molt de-
cided and regular prated:lion. He is required to
fact ifice his all to the prefervation of what is called
the navigation fyflem. Of that fyllem he admits the
wifdom and general utility ; but he humbly fubmits
that it Ihould be fupported at the common expence of
the empire ; and mull be permitted to doubt the
j office of relaxing it for temporary purpofes, in favour
of other claffes, and rigidly enforcing it againft him
alone, when not merely occafioning expence and
inconvenience, but overwhelming him with ruin.-
7th. The inadequacy of the demand for the ufe of
Great Britain and Ireland, compared with the pro-
dation of the colonies, which mull, under the eiiffing
laws, be carried arid &poked there, whether there
(tall or (ball not be a profpeit of exportation. The
excels of importation, above the confumption of
the United Kingdom, is nearly two-fifths of the whole
quantity, or above too,oco hoglbeads of fugar ; but
the lofs of two fifths of the gro(s produce of his ethic
will be far from the meafure of the Planter's damage
--the remainder can never bear a fair price, whilft
the quantity in the market fo far exceeds what the
confumer reqoires. Which excels and depreffion are
inereafed by encouraging a licenfed intercourfe with
the ifland of St. Domingo or Hayti. Bth. The ex
CeStre duties which) continue to be levied on this
(bele now bearing no proporti as to the ;sr ice, falling
nearly, if nut wholly, on the grower, and not as has
been at all times intended or profeffed, on the con-
fumer.

To thefe may be added the diTcouragemcnt to the
planters by the confumption, in the navy and other-
wife, of foreign brandies and fpirits, the ufe of
which might be ii a great mealure fuperfeded by
rum. A policy infringing the fy Hem of reciprocal
monopoly, and aggravating d'illrefs, which more
liberal endue towards the Colonies might have al-
ley i afed.

Continuint Om coffee a duty, amounting to a
prohibition, in place of endeavouring to bring this
wholefome beverage into general ufe, mull be a MI
fubjed of complaint to the inhabitants of this ifland,
and mull by the Committee be adverted to, as affec-
ting the price of an important Raple, which may
foon be excluded from the Continental market,
tbrough the only channel open to the grown.
But the ovet whelming dittrefs of the fugar planter,
fwallows up all inferior and lefs preffing evils. What
has been long known and felt here, has been lately
fully proved before a Committee of the Houle of Com-
mons, that, from the operation ot the caufes which
we have only briefly adverted to, the great Raple of
the Biitifh Well Indies, fugar, does not fell in the
markets of the mother country for the duties, with
the expences and charges of (ending it there. And
that, with the exception of a few plantations on a
very large fcale, or under circurnfiances peculiarly
fortunate, no revenue whatever is left to the planter,
for the fupport ot his family, or the fatisfadlioA of his
creditors.

The Committee need hardly reprefent that the
only permanent fourca_ of taxation muft be the
clear revenue of the individuals cumpofing the fo•
ciety, who give up a proportion of it to the general
ufe, and for the common fafety, in whatever manner
that proportion may be railed. If a community Stall
ever be reduced to that calamitous &nation, when
the whole clear income of the proprietors of the foil
thall have been put in regniiition for the ttaafury,
there can remain inethat country fcw objcas of legi-
t timate taxation.

• •
it,haX'been proved beyond the polEbility of befog!
Controverted, tbat.the cultivators of roger in this
Mod, comprehending both landholders and farmers,
are, with very few exceptions, in the udfortunare
date fuppofea, even if they were exempt from the
burthen of debts.

• The greateft proportion of the taxes of this coml.
'try is raifed on this body of proptietors direBly, and
a •conliderable (hare of the remainder indiratly,
through various claffes of the inhabitants, whole chief,
means of fupport are drawn from the roger planta-'
tinny. • - '
It were pain to fearch for means of levying iihrt of]
a revenue that does not exit!. And it is painful to
the Committee to Rate, that it will be impraticable
to continue to raife within this ifland, thofe contri-
butions which were cheerfully paid iri happier times,
unlefs the fugar planters than be enabled to rapport
their !hare of the public burthens, by Tome radical,
e tetanal, and permanent meafures, which lkall reftore
and enfure to them an income, bearing a jell pro
portion to their large capitals, on which our local
taxes have been heretofore chiefly affeffed.
That, from the unexpelted rums which have been,
And may be, collated, from the extraordinary im-
portation of Africans, as before Rated, and the un-
expated falling in of debts due to the public, it may
be praticable, with rigid economy in all 'other
branches of the public expenditure, to continue loch
fubfillence another year. And the Committee re-
commend to the Houle to vote rums neceirary for
giving the raid additional fubfiftence to the 31f1 day
of December, zBoS. The Committee humbly hope,
that, on a faithful reprefentation to our moil gracious
Sovereign, of the calamitous fituation to which his
loyal fubjela of this ifland are reduced, his blajefty,
with his accuftomed benevolence, will recognize the
uniform zeal with which the voluntary contributions'
towards the comfort of his Majefty's troops in this
ifland have been made, whilft the inhabitants had the
means : and, confidering the Rate to which proprie-
tors, once opulent, are reduced, that, his Majefty will
be pleafed to direa his Minifters to adopt fuch mea-
Cures as (ball be neceflary for-protating this yet im-
portant colony from the general funds of the empire,
to which it contributes fo large and difproportionate
a fhare. And the Committee recommend to the
Houle to appoint a Committee to prepare a moll
humble Addrefs to his Majelty, fatting forth thefe
our grievances and oppreifions, earneftly !screeching'
his Majefty's commands on his Miniflers to adopt
proper meafures for our relief' and redrefs.
Ordered, that Mr Stevenlon, Mr. Grant, Mr.White-
borne, Mr. Sims, and Mr. Finlayfon, be a Committee
for that pnrpofe.
2. Refolved, That this Houfe, for itfelf, and on the
part of its conaituents' and of all other perfons in any
manner concerned in the welfare of this ifland, do, in
the molt folemn and decided manner, proteft againft
the at of the Imperial Parliament, palled on the 2sth
day of March left, entitled, sr An All for the Abo-
lition of the Slave Trade," not only as a breach, on
the part of government, of the conditions under
which his Majefty's fubjefts embarked in the fettle•
ment of this Wand, but as a novel, unjuft, and uncon-
Ilitutional interference with its internal government
and affairs ; calculated to defeat and to fubvert our
laws, to deprive us of our deareß birthrights, the
trial by jury, to raife envy and jealoufy in the !smelts
of the fettlednegroes ; fubverlive of an ancient and
admitted principle of the Britifts Conflitution, that
no laws can be binding on thofe who are not repre.
rented in the Parliament which enacts them, placing
not only our rights and properties, but alfo our liver,
in the molt imminent]danger, and tending to promote
dilatation in the ands of his Majelty's molt loyal
fubjeas.
3. Refolved, That the Legiflattire of this ifland
has, and ever had, the excluffve and abfolute right
to enact its own laws, and to regulate entirely its in-
ternal government and affairs : That the Imperial
Parliament lath not, nor bath any other power upon
earth, the moll dillant right to interfere therein,
(except only his Majelly, in the inftance of difallow-
ing the laws here made), and that in fupport of the
deareft rights and liberties of our fellow fubjeas, it
is our duty, by all conflitutional means in our power,
to refill the attempt that has been, and every attempt
that may be, made, to deftroy or to abridge that
right.
4. Refolved, That this Houfe, in more fortnnate
days, when the lituation of the inhabitants of this
ifland was different, and when the burthens and re-
ark:Hats impofed by Great Britain were infinitely
lets oppreffive than they now are, has never failed in
fhewing the Rrongeft difpofition to render the fitua-
tion of Ids Majefty's troops in this ifland molt com-
fortable ; and that this houfe is Mil influenced by
the fame difpofition ; but is totally deprived of the
, fame means.

5. Refolved, 'l'hat the nfual pay and fubfiflence
granted to his Majeßy's white troops, Rationed in
this ;Rand, to the extent of Soon men, be continued
to them until the 3t ft day of December, 18a ; in
the firn place, by exhaulling the funds to arife from
the duties on new negroes, under the aft commonly
called the additional duty bill, and, as to the deficiency,
out of the monies to arife from Come or one of the
other money bills to be paired this feffion.
6. Refolved, That the abolition ad, by its totally
denroying, for the future, the cußomary revenue
under the negro duty bill, by its baneful creels on
nor ordinary tefoorces, and its general tendency to
overwhelm the unfortunate fettlers and inhabitants
of this ifland, in combination with the endive duties
and charges on our produce, and the well•known
general dtarefs of the colony, tender us totally una-
ble to make any provifion for his Majefty's troops,
beyond the period above mentioned, nor can we
contemplate a renewal of fuch grants, until, by a
redrefs of DOT grievances, the minds of our confti.
tuents refpeCling our conflitutional rights mall be
quieted, and the poireffion of the. means fhall again
enable us to bear fa heavy a burthen.
7. Refolved, That, under the preffirre of a heavy
public debt, and of individual dillrefs, now adtually
telt and become infupportable ; and from the pro.
fpee of the calamities which mutt be the inevitable
conferprence of the abolition ad, it is abfolutely ne-
cefary to relieve all ranks, by moderating the taxer,
and by retrenching the public expenditure in every
poffible manner, even in Come cafes of acknowledged
public benefit and advantage. That the vote of the
Houfe, refuting the annual grant of ts,oool. for
roads at a diftence from the fest, by which internal
fouler:; who Co mach augment our arength, are