Star.
London, England, 1807-11-19 00:00:00

NUMBER XIV.

Sir—When the word otientation is applied to the
noble fubje& of thefe letters, it brings forward the
delicate, but intercliing quellion ; the capacity in
which the &Arentor General of Britith India. was
formerly, and I ught to be confidered at prefent.
On reference to the Records at the India Hoofs,
previous to the acquilLion r:f territorial p,.tfellions,
an order wil! be found for the Govern,,r io be always
prcfent, when the prices ase fired with Me native
merchants on famples of piece goods to he ftibte•
quently delivered If the Governor General of Bri•
tifn India is looked upon fulely as a c Immercial
agent for a Company of Merchants, ti.e b toy guard
is, without any doubt, tioneceffary, aid pollibly
(mall laving might be effected in dilcharging a few
letvants, atiAc'icd at prellot to the Ucr,etriment
Houle at Calcutta.

When the liaft India C.mpany were folely mer-
chants, as in China at preterit, a retinue or running
footmen, ftcc. might be dilpetifed .A 4 and we accor-
dingly find on the bornbay record., that Lieutenant
M.Pherfun was put under ailed for not turning out
the guard on ihe vitt:thee of the Governor into the
fort ; and lubfrquently another order, that Lieute•
nant M.Phegfon is releafed from his arrell, having
made an apology to the Governor, that he unfortu-
nately miftuok him for the Cook's Mate of the Nancy
grab (hip.
That orders have oceationally been fent by the
Court of Director., in their mercantile capacity, to
the different Prefidencies in Lelia, totally repugnant
to the general (fruit which thould guide their orders
as Sovereigns, mutt be admitted. For inflance,
within the lad Five years, of prohibiting the weavers
in the Northern Circars, from working for indivi-
duals, thereby nut only prohibiling the importation
of bullion from the Arabian and Prifian Gulphs, lout
throwing many hundred families, both merchants
and weavers, into the greatct p •ffible diarels. The
reafons which induced the Noble Marquis to inter-
fere in the commeicial arrangements of another
Prefil:ncy, and directing the prohibition to be
withdrawn, are of count explained in the official do.
cuments ; apparently they proceeded partly from
motives of humanity, as, the ALMIGHTY knows, no
injured pylon ever app red t., him in vain, and
partly from the eitablilhed principle, that encourage
ing the importation of bultium, and the export of
manufaaured produce, teas mole confonat t to the
duty of the C, rnp.oly a. Sovereigns, thiin any little
advantage they might derive as merchants, even ad-
mitting that the:. paid an additional farthing per yard
on the cloths required for their own inveltment.

It mu!t, however, be admitted, that in no part of
the world, is greater fectuity afforded by the State
to, the fecurity of property of even the meaneft indi-
vidual, than througLriut Britifh India ; and the
eff:Els of good Government are visible wiltin the
lsli ten years, in the improved appearance of the
lower chafes of natives, increafing in popularivn, as
well as in their habitations, culinary meads, drds,
and the magnificence difplayed in their religioias and
marriage ceremonies. •

A Gentleman palling through 'a village in the
province of Cuttack, and r,bierving every Lace fmiL
ing with gladnefs, inquirrd into the caufe of the re-
joicing ; and on being informed it was in enure-
queuce of the village being transferred from the Mar-
hal tab to the Br itilh Government, he afked the prin.
cipal native the advantages they would derive by the
change i—" We can marry, name our children, go
64 from our own cf uotry, and return with the fruits
" of our indultry, without paying a tax ; and
66 when we die, we can bequeath mu property to
84 our children ; whereas, under the Marhaitah Go-
-64 vernmens, it would devolve to the State."

The prefent is not the proper pet iud for innovation,
even it the grand machine of Aliatic Government
required it, which is far from being the cafe ; or, it
might be obferved, that as long as the Latt India
Company, in their mercantile capacity, confider
that the grand objea in Britifh India is to obtain
piece goods at the loweft pothole (mice, fo long will
this nation be deprived of thole incalculaWe advan-
tages which might be derived therefrom, when the
true principles c:t Sovereignty became the &It, in-
Read of the fecondaty objea for conlideration at the
India Hoirfe. FLAN FACTS.

Assauxr.—Tuefday the Hon. Mr. BUTLER DAN•
vans was charged before the Maginrares in Marlbo-
rough greet, with an afrault on Mr. HUGHES, the
Bookreller, of Wigmore•Areet. Mr. D. was charged
with having, on Monday lag, accnmpanied by Mr.
JOHN Kura, called on Mr. H. to demand the Author
of a publication, in which Mr. B.'s name is difrefpea.
fully mentioned. Not ►eceiving the information he ex
peited, he attacked Mr. H. with violence, beat
him feverely. He was held in bail, Martell in root.
and two furetics for Sol. each, to appear at the next
Qprter Seffions at Hicks's Hall.

On Saturday morning lad Mr. Mors, an Excite-
man, was difcnve►ed fuffocated in the foil in Billingf-
gate dock, fuppofed to have fallen over the fide of a
falt veffel, which he boarded the preceding night ;
the body was taken to a public hoult for a Coroner's
Inqueik.
At Highgate, a few mornings Since, two Ladies
were dreadfully alarmed by the appearance of a
black figure in their bed room. The youngeft of
them immediately ran down (lairs and alarmed the
family ; when, to their afloniffsment, on returning to
the room it was found to be a chimney•fw•eeper, who
had defcended from the wrong chimney, to the no
fmall confufion of the Ladies and the whole tinnily.
Betwixt the night of Friday and the morning of
Saturday lad, a moll barbarous and deliberate mur-
der was committed in the town of Kilmarnock, on
Jean Alexander and Chridian Peacock, in the dwel.
ling honk of the former. It appears that they were
ftrangled, the one with a cord and the other with a
handkerchief. The perpetrators robbed the honfe Of
tsi. in lilver, bank notes to the amount of sol two
(liver watches, and three plain gold rings. From a
precognition taken, there is reafon to furpea that
William Burnfide, jmuneyman fhne maker, in Kit•
marnock, and Thomas Taggart, alto a journeyman
fhoe.maker, are the perfons guilty of this fh :eking
murder and robbery ; both of whom have been ap.
?reloaded, and art now in Kilmarnock Gaul.

[: ..~

LAW MTALLIGENCL

CONSISTORY COURT, DOCTORS' COMMONS, Nov. 17.

WEEFTIIILD O. MACKAY, OTHERWISE WAKEFIELD.
This day Sir Wye. Scorr gave judgment in the
above cafe, it having been .argued by the Learned
Ci~llia is lail Term. It appeared from the libel and
' evidence produced that the material fires were, that
Mr. Wakefield, a Student in one of the 'lnns, had
mars ied Nit s. Wakefield by banns, pnblithed under the
name of Ifabella Jackfon ; that the had given herfelf
out to be a woman related to families of confequence
in the LA and Well Indies, and alfo to a Nobleman
of hi 7,11 lank in Ireland : but it Was afterwards found
out that the was the illegitimate daughter of John
and Anil Mackay, in a low fituation of life. That in
the year iBco the went by the name of ',micelles, and
•;itterwards by the name of Sharp. It further ap-
peared, that the Lady in creflinn had been baptifed
by the 'name of Ifabella Jackfon, which ceremony
was performed by a Catholic Priefi, her parents
being Roman Catholics. It was contended by Mr.
Wakefield's Counfel, that the tnarriage was null and
void, inafmuch as the banns wc:e publifhed in a
wrong name; and further it was contended, that
Mrs. Wakefield having proved to be an illegimate
child was not entitled to any *ante, except what the
acquired by reputation. On the part of M. Wake-
field, it was contended, that fhe was, from the evi
deuce produced in the caufe. clearly entitled to the
name of Jackfon, and that the banns were properly
publifhed.
The Conti, after minutely Rating the evidence on
both fides' and making feveral judicious obfervations,
concluded by confirming the validity of the marriage.

COURT OF RING'S BENCH, NOV. T 7.
THE RING V. AN/111 WITHY.

This was an information againft the Defendant,
which was tried before Sid Ames MANSFIELD at Maid-
Ilone, charging her with having in her pofieffion, on
the 17th of November, 18c6, a quantity of naval
floret, diftinguithed by the King's mark, to the value
of 181. It appeared from the 'report of the Learned
Judge, that a hawfer of the value of 631. had been
ltolen from one of the Dock yards at Chatham, and
that the Defendant had received from another wo-
men, of the name of Turner, the (totes found in her
peffeffion, which were a part of that hawfer. The
defendant prefented a petition to 'the Court, Rating,
that at the time the received the fibres in queltion,
her hufband was in London, and the prayed their
Lordfhip's clemency. The fentence was. tranfpor.
tation to Such place or places as his Majefty Shall
think fit, for the term of 14 years.
THE RING V. JAMES COLEMAN, GEORGE STEPHENS,
JOHN BRASIEEI, AND EDWARD TESTER.
At the 'aft affixes for Suffix, before Sir Jams
MANSFIELD, the defendants were convieed of a con-
(piracy, to prevent Peter Fenner from appearing as
a witrefs before Conflable and Limb, Efqrs.
Juflices of the Peace, upon a complaint againft one
Farley, for felling by retail fpirituous liquors at
Mayfi,:ld Fair, without a licence. Mr. Justice LE
BLANC lead the report of the Learned Judge, which
diklofed, that on the 18th of February, Peter Fen•
nor was fummoned to attend to tupport the charge
againft Farley, but not appearing, he was acquitted.
The reafon of hit ahfence was, however, explained ;
for the defendant Coleman, who is a Conftable, had
takenFenner upon die pretence of . being a deferrer,
and confi, ed him, by the allitlanceof the other defen-
dant, until the father of Fenner applied to Lord
Shcffi-ld, and obtained his tele-ale.
Affidavits were read from feveral refraable per-
fonc, giving the eeicndacts gone; charade:ca.
The defendant; were mdeieil to h:t committed to
Newgate, and to be brougra Ni..Jst(iity neat to
receive judgment.

THE KING V. EDWARD Tiro arson,
The defendant is a botcher at Hull, and had been
found guilty of obaruaing Lieutenant Hunt and a
prafs-gang, and retcuing a feaman whom they had '
taken, on the 9th of September, tBu6. The report
!laced the commiffion of the Lieutenant, and that the
defendant, who was in a neighbouring public houfe
when the feaman was taken, upon the cry of murder,
ran into the ilreet, railed a mob, and attempted a
refcue. Lieutenant Hunt remonftrated ; but the
Defendant exclaimed, " It may be fo, but I will
have him ;*5 and, with the affiflance of the crowd,
Succeeded in obtaining the relcafe of the man whom
the gang had in cutlody.
The Defendant was ordered to be brought -up to
receive judgment on Monday next.
THE KING V. THOMAS WHEELIE.
This was a conviCtion againft the Defendant for
having naval (hires in his poffeffion with the King's
mark. There was nothing peculiar in the faits, ex-
cepting that the defendant held a warehoufe at Chat.
ham, projeCting over the river, by which means boats
could unload unobferved, any commodities they
might bring.
When the prifoner was called upon, he laid, that
he had nn Cnunfel ; that he WAS a poor labouring
man, and had a large, helplefs family. He entreated
the Court to refkft on the mifery a fevere Judgment
would cm:lion, and begged for mercy.
The ATTORNEY GENERAL was heard on behalf of
the Crown.
While Mr. Juflice Grose was pronouncing the fen-
tence of the law, the unhappy man was in extreme
agitation ; and when the learned Judge informed
him that he was to be tranfported tor 14 years, he
clalped his hands in agony, and throwing himftli
won his knees in the centre of the Court, in a fup-
plicatir.g voice he implored the compaflion of their
Lordfirips.—" Have mercy, my Lords 5" laid hr.—
" Pity, for Heaven's lake, my wife and family." In
this podure the unfortunate man continued for Come
minutes. At length he railed himfellfrom the ground,
and in filence followed the officer who was to con.
dull him to his prifon.
THE KING V. t. CONWAY AND J. SHARTLESS.
Thefe defendants had been convieted at the laft
Lancafter Aflizes of obiltuCting an Excife Officer in
the execution of his duty, while he was fuperiatend•
ing the landing of a cargo of rum at Liverpool. It
appeared that Sharpie& was a porter, and that Con-
way was a clerk to the confignees of the Turn, Meffrs.
Benfon and Co. of Liverpool; after the Excife Officer
bad ganged the canes of rum, the potter, under the
faalton Gf the clef It, drew a bottle or two of rum, in
order to entertain thole who were al:fling in the
landing of the rum.

Mr. Scsat.rr, on the patt of the defendants, raid
that a bottle or two of rum were ninally bellowed on
fuch occafions, as a (ample.
The Court fentenced Sharplefs to pay a fine of sot.
(he being the moil ignorant of the acme be had
committed) and to be committed to the cuflody of
the Martha! till he lhoulcfpay the fine.—Conway was
fentenced to a month's confinement in the cuttody of
the Marthal. •