Star.
London, England, 1822-11-06 00:00:00

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"RACISS4II 'SITU' INDIES.
, •
..lAMatc.a, SEPTEMBER is.
•
Public 16eting...Was held at the Court House,
-.4:ton. on the 9th of Sr tember, and several leso-
huions entered in. The first and third of those Re-
-so464lofts,•being the principal cues, we extract :
" lietolvt•d, That the depredations new so daringly com-
,mitte.l on our commerce can no longer be viewed with indif-
_

fereslce apd dot the expedielley of extirpating the band of
pirates irfe.ting these seas calls loudly for meastives the mot
prompt And rdlcacimis."
•ird , That at no period of war were convoys so indls-
rensable in those seas ; and that the Squadron en the station is
totally inadequate to the protection of Its trade."
The following is an outline of the proceedings, as
• they are reported in the Kingston Chronicle:
" A numerous and highly respectable Meeting of
the Merchants of this City was held at the Court
House on Monday forenoon, to take into consider-
• otinuthe existing state of the trade, generally, of the
Island, The Requisition to the Mayon, and the Ad-
vertisement calling the Meeting, having been read,
Mr. Banwts was called to the Chair. Mr. Hymaor
observed that it was fully understand by the Gentle-
men present what was the nature of the object for
which they were convened, but the difficulty was how
•to attain it. He thought the most effectual mode
would be for the Meeting to draw up a Memorial,
to be signed by the Chairman on behalf of the Meet-
kg, and transmit the same to the Colonial 'Office,
setting forth the unprotected state of the trade of the
island, and soliciting additional force to the Onion.
Ile did not think any blame could be attached to the
Commander-in-Chief, for the squadron was quite
inadequate to the service of the wide range of the
station. If the fault was anywhere it was with the
Admiralty, who should have attended to such out-
rages long ago. It was suggested by Mr. GREEN-
FIELD, that Government should be requested to
apply to the Spanish Government to desire the Pub.
lie Authorities of Cuba to exert themselves to sup-
press the hordes of pirates infesting its coasts.—
This, Mr. ilTsure said, had already been done through
a Memorial of the Merchants of Glasgow, but he wasi
sane it would prove useless, for he declared publicly
ard fearlessly, that strong suspicions earisted of their
being concerned in those most atrocious piracies.—
He then submitted the Resolutions, which were read
and agreed to. He submitted to the Meeting the
draft of a letter to Lord Bathurst, which was read,
setting forth that the navigation round Cape Antonio
had of late been completely interrupted by a lawless
band of pirates infesting that coast, who had in some
instances committed the most cruel and wanton mur-
ders on the defenceless crews of vessels from this
island; and in a recent case had carried off a ship
with a valuable cargo, bound from this island to Lon-
don—that those freebooters had not confined their
atrocities to the western extremity of Cuba, but had
• become dating, in proportion to the impunity with
which they found they could carry on the predatory
warfare, in the existing insufficiency of our naval
force ; the scene of it had extended to our own coast,
almost blockading Port Royal, and exhibiting within
these few weeks the mortifying sight of a vessel, which
had sailed only that morning, chased back and to-
tally wrecked on the Palisadoes, to the severe loss of
the merchants and underwriters of this city ; it pre-
su.).• that detailed accounts of these atrocities have
already been forwarded by the Commander-in-
Chief, but conceives the present application neces-
sary, as the evil is increasing with rapid strides.—
The letter then glances at the description of the force
now on the station, as not being adequate to the pro-
tection of British interests against this enemy in
peace,' and suggests the propriety of substituting ten
schooners in loom of two of the 20-gun ships. Upon
this last subject some short discussion arose, it being
stated that this reduction could not be acceded to, as
there would not be a sufficient number of Captains to
form a Court Martial. Mr. GREENFIELD said, that
the Admiral had already urgently requested the Ad-
miralty to send out six schooners to the station ; and
he stsbmitted whether, therefore, it would not be bet-
ter to memorialize the Board, thos backing and
strengthening the Admiral's application, than to ad-
dress Lord Bathurst on the subject? This proposal,
however, was not agreed to; and, on the suggestion
of Mr. NILLEAN and others, fta solicit the additional
protection sought for by the Admiral, the same was
adopted, and the letter ordered to be transmitted by
the Chairman, along with the resolutions."
The Mouse of Assembly met on the Ist of October,
for the purpose of enabling the Legislature to equalize
the American. duties under the riew Act.
FROM THE KINGSTON GAZETTE OF AUGUST 17.

Extract of a letter from Captain Lumsden, to a
Gentleman in this City, dated Ilavannak July 12:
It is with much regret I infOrm you of the mis-
fortune which has happened to me. On Saturday the
6th, about five o'clock, Cape Antonio then nine miles,
and two ships a-head, I was btearded by a pirate
schooner, with two long guns and small arms, with
55 men, all armed with large knives. They robbed
me, the passengers (seven of whom were children),
and the seamen, of all our clothes, watches, and every
thing they could lay their hands on—even the very
combs in the children's heads. After witch they
commenced discharging the Zephyr's cargo, m search
of money, but, not finding where it was, they threat-
ened to hang me. They then loaded the schooner
with such articles as they thought proper. The chil-
dren and crew of the Zephyr were ordered on board
the pirate, leaving Captain Camper, the carpenter,
and myself behind. We were then lashed to the
pumps and main-mast, and a tire being made around
us, we were threatened to be burnt, with the vessel,,
if I did not immediately shew them where the money
was. I was then compelled to confess, and give up
all the money that was on board, which I think was
about £l5OO sterling. After they had got the money,
they put out the fire and untied us.
You may picture to yourself the situation I was
in—the thoughts of what my family would suffer
from, my being burnt alive—the children, previous
to being removed to the schooner, crying and run-
ning'to me for protection—but what assistance could
I render them? None. I am, however, happy to say,
that all the children are in good health. The pirate
detained my mate, Mr. AARON SMITH, to pilot
ieir vessel. I hope they will send some of the men
war in search of her. Besides robbing part of the
.go, &c. &c.• they took away my two top-gallant
Is and royal ditto. The Zephyr was riding at
lior for 26 hoars,.and the pirate schooner alongside,