Star.
London, England, 1823-06-28 00:00:00

INQUEST IN THE PENITENTIARY.

Last night an Inquest was held at the Penitentiary,
Millbank, on the body of Charles Thompson, aged
28, who had been convicted on the sth of January,
1822, of stealing in a dwelling-house, but whose sen-
tence had been commuted to five years' imprisonment
in this jail. The deceased, it appeared, was in the
Infirmary from the Ist to the sth of March, from the
10th to the 24th, and again from the 3d ultimb to
the 26th instant. His complaint was diarrhea, but
he died in a fit of apoplexy. He was a tailor, but
was set to winding pipes by the task-master, who,
conceiving him to be sometimes indolent, stopped his
dinner, or put him in solitary confinement, on an al-
lowance of twelve ounces of bread, and water. The
Governor being called on by a Juror, said the deaths
in 1822 were twenty-two—in the last half-year thirty..
three. The deceased's brother said he visited him in
November, when the deceased saying he was abso-
lutely pining from want, he was dragged away, and
secluded from his friends till the following February.
His mother said that she saw him on Tuesday, when
he declared that his death would be attributable to
nine days' solitary confinement on bread and water,
the last three of which he could take nothing. Great
interest having been used to get him removed, Mr.l
Secretary PEEL visited the unfortunate man on the
day before he died, preparatory thereto.—Mr. Pratt,
the Surgeon of the Prison, was asked if a man could
live on twelve ounces of bread a-day? and said, Yes.
Juryman—You ought to be exposed. Could you live on that?
Mr. Pratt—l shall not answer that question.
Juryman—l demand an answer in the name of the Comper,
and upon your oath, Sir.
Mr. Pratt—l will not answer.

The Jury then visited the place of solitary confine-
ment, and after unsparing censures that any one man
should have the power to shut up another in such a
place, gave a verdict of—Died from Starvation and
Solitaq Confinement!

Yesterday afternoon the Metropolis was visited
with a very heavy storm of rain and hail, accompa-
nied by loud peals of thunder, and the " lightning's
livid glare." During the storm the house of Mr.
GODVIN, No. 12, Mulberry-street, Commercial-road,
was struck by the lightning, which forced the sashes
out, broke the furniture, and shattered the walls of
that and the adjacent houses. Fortunately no per-
son was injured, though the occupants were thrown
from their seats by the shock.
Covstir-Gastom—The Benefit of that deserving
Gentleman Mr. BRANDON, on Thursday night, we are
happy to announce, was attended by a crowded and
elegant audience. No inconsiderable degree of in-
terest was excited by the appearance in the Concert
of his two amiable and accomplished daughters, nor
was any expectation disappointed on the occasion.
They sung with great taste, sweet delicacy, and ample
science ; and their simply elegant and modest de-
meanor, combined with their vocal talents, made a
strong and just impression in their favour. They were
warmly and deservedly applauded in every instance.
VausuaLL-Gammas.—Although the weather has
not been very propitious for displaying the 'attractive
novelties of these Gardens, yet they have been very
fashionably attended during the week. The perform-
ances, which are now arranged so as to follow cub
other without intermission, were most favourably re-
ceived, particularly the Ere-works, which exceed in
splendour thoie of torcner seasons.

COLOMBIAN

After the Public, or at least such portion of it as
hold shares in the Colombian Loan, have been agi-
tated for several months by vague conjectures and
statements of various kinds in the Neu spapers on the
subject, some authentic if not decisive intelligence has
been received from the Colombian Government by
the Contractors, which is certainly favourable, and
had the effect yesterday of raising Colombian Bonds
about two per cent. when the news was made known
on 'Change.
The intelligence is contained in the Message of the
Executive Power of Colombia, on the opening of the
First Constitutional Congress of the Republic by the
President, SANTANDER, on the 17th of April. The
President certainly does not give a very flattering
account of the affairs of the Republic ; but he states
the difficulties fairly, and holds out a hope that they
will be readily surmounted. He commences with a
retrospect of the labours of the Congress, and the
efforts made by the Colombian Government to ter-
minate the struggle with the mother country, on
terms honourable to both, but hethis the Colombial
Government had failed.

The new Revolution in Meiico appears not to have
been known by the President, as he speaks of hint-
nines being on the Imperial Throne of that portion
of the New World. The attempt to form treaties of
alliance with the European Powers is next noticed.
" With
.the European Powers," says the President,
.1 we have succeeded in entering upon some diplo-
matic relations, which are at present reduced to the
obtainment of an explicit recognition of our national
sovereignty. Our cause appears to have attained
ccnsidcrable popularity among some of the most
powerful nations ; and although their .Uov.ernmtnts
have not. decided on making the required declai ation,
they have not given us any cause for complaint.—
Their Acts, relative to commerce and neutrality, have
arisen out of the principle of recognising us as Go-
vernments el: facto."
On the subject of education and the consequent
diffusion of knowledge, the Message is highly grati-
fyiug. But the most important part of the Message
is that which relates to the financial affairs of Co-
lombia, and it, perhaps, is the only real difficulty the
Government has to encounter.

" Respecting the National Revenue," says the Pre-
sident, " I did not desire to disturb the pleasure the
Congress must have experienced on hearing the com-
munications I have just made to it. 'lke public trea-
sury is impoverished ; the revenue system requires al-
teration, and the, necessities which it is urgent to pro-
vide for are such as not to admit of delay or procras-
tination. The Government has undergone afflicting
struggles in the course of its administration, and the
Congress cannot but approve the manner in which it
has been able to overcome the struggle between
urgent public necessities and the calamities with which
the fortunes of the citizens have been visited."

This acknowledgement is as candid as the follow-
ing declaration, respecting the Loan negociated in
this country, is honourable :
" One of the objects to which I must direct the
particular attention of the Congress is our foreign
debt. You, Gentlemen, are aware that the generosity
of several foreigners, during the calamitous periods,
reanimated the spirit of the Colombians, and sup-
plied them with the means of maintaining gloriously
the war of independence; whatever may have been
the views and specnlations of onr auxiliaries, the Re-
public is their debtor, and we are bound to pay with
fidelity. The complicated situation in which this
business is placed at present by the proceedings of
our agents in Enrope, and more so by the difficult
circumstances with which the Republic was sur-
rounded until last year, has presented the Govern-
ment with serious difficulties, in adopting a concilia-
tory and decorous line of conduct. The Congress
will be informed of all the details, and will be con-
vinced of the prudence with which I baize conducted
an affair of so much delicacy. I must, however, de-
clare that our national honour should rise above all
other considerations, by sacrificing to it that regu-
larity and economy which, in other circumstances,
we should zealously and rigorously enforce. We are
debtors, and we must pay at any sacrifice. The execu-
tive power expects that the Congress will pass a law
by which it will be enabled to provide for the pay-
ment of the interest and the gradual liquidation of
the principal."
Here, then, rests the question of the validity of the
Colombian Loan. The Government acknowledges
that the Republic owes the money, and that it is
bound to pay the interest with fidelity, and to pro-
vide for the gradutd liquidation of 'the principal.
That the Congress will second the wishes of the Go-
vernment on this subject, can scarcely be doubted ;
and as, notwithstanding the protracted contest, there
is no doubt of the independence of Colombia being
fully established, it may be expected that the Re-
public will soon be in a condition to discharge those
pecuniary obligations which the Government so un-
hesitatingly acknowledges.

Yesterday Prince LEOPOLD had a numerous dial r •
party to meet their Royal Highnesses the Duke of
CumnEnt.AND and the Duchess of KENT.

The son of LuctEN BONAPARTI anal his ynong
wife (daughter of JOSEPH BONAPARTE), have 'left
Brussels for Antwerp, where they will embark for
the Unitect§tates of America, where they intend to
remain two or three years.

The Literary Gazette, No. 336, published this day,
and concluding the Second Quarter for the Year
18237 contains the i clowing inteiesting and miscel-
laneous Articles:—
Review of Lieutenant Marshall's Naval History, with to: ty
original Naval Anecdotes; the Duke of Mantua, so anonymous
Drama, ascribed by several Journals to Lord Byron; Memoir,
of Hayley ; Tooke on High Prices; Mde. de Thou (a French
Lady) on Female Education in England ; Mrs. Unmans' New
Poems; French Classics. In Scienet—An important Epitome
of the Progress of the Mathematical Sciences, drawn vp fir the
French Institute; African Expedition; Mustium Iq
Fine Arts—Concluding Remarks on the Royal Academy; Wit-
ter Colour (New) Exhibition; New Publications of Art; 'Hay_
don't Case, and Historical Paintings; Poetry, by L. E. L
Biography of Ismael Fitzadam (Author of the Harp of the' De.
sent, the Battle of Algiers, Am) with a Poetical Tribute to Eis
lavatory. Letters from Paris, with the Chit-chat and News of
Capital The Old Sailor's Burlesque of LP:agierated yta.
wets. A 'Wonderful Voyage! Varieda, Dramatic Criticisms,
tkotartlttalis. 3m 84c-
-Publislkoildif Weekly Numbers, by W. A. Scorns, um, nu._
,Zee 'gum* Shand, London; and to be had of all Booksellers,
Aw,aken. apot Postmasters, throughout the Kingdoms; price sid,
or is: atampod,l'or country circulation, by post.