Star.
London, England, 1816-01-02 00:00:00

INMj?.CAN TREATMENT OF SLAVES•

NOVEMBER 13, 1815. ,
($ You will no doubt have heard of the departure
'from. England of Lord Selkirk, to visit his colony
in this part of the world, and we were not more sur-
prised at his arrival here this week, than he must
have been on his first setting his foot on the shores
of America, to hear of the disappointment of all
his hopes and expectations, by the empire disper-
sion of his colonists, and the destruction of all
the establishments they had formed on the Red
*River. This result to his wild and visionary un-
dertaking had long been predicted by every one
Vl° bad any knowledge of the character of the na-
• tives, the jealousy of rival traders, and mere particu-
larly of the situation and climate of the remote and in-
hospitable region he undertook to colonize. We have
of :en heard of his Lordship's scheme, but till the arri-
val of the north-west canoes this season with the Go-
vernor and Sheriff of the new colony in custody of the
civil power uoen a chute of grand larceny, we had
no accurate knowledge of the circumstances under
white the present undertaking originated, and it does
• *appear strange that the Government at home should
not have interfered to prevent the emigration at first,
when they might easily have ascertained the sad fate
the poor deluded people must have been subjected to.
Tire whole scheme is now the topic of general con-
versation here, and it appears his Lordship, on some
occasions, sees his interest with as keen eyes as his
neighbours. In looking to various objects connected
with smerica, his attention, it is said, was drawn by a
Canadian Knight to the affairs of the Hudson's Bay
Company, and finding these in a decayed state, no
dividends having been made for several years, and
the value of stocks: dined from 250 to 50, or 60
per cent. they thought some benefit might accrue from
speculation in this stock, the whole amount of which
is under 4100,000, and continued their purchases till
they had acquired a very considerable sum. So far
the partners went on quietly together, till finding their
views and interests disagree, his Lordship aiming at a
much greater speculation than the Knight, actually
prosecuted his purchases until he had acquired such
a prepondsrating amount as placed the nomination of
Directors nearly in his own hands, when the specula-
tien which has now so completely failed, begin to
develope itself.
" The Charter of the Hudson's Bay Company is a
most singular document, and had long escaped the no-
lice of those not directly interested in it, as the prise.
leges and pewees it purp*ts to confer had never till his
Lordsllip's interference in the affairs of the Company,
been ninth resorted to, otherwise than to regulate and
carry on a confined trade in peltries between Great
Britain and the Establishments in the 114 y. The fee-
simple of all countries washed by waters emptying
themselves into the Bay, the power of making war or
peace, with the natives, and of est iblishing Courts for
the trial and punishment of all offences, except mur-
der, under the statute of Henry VIII. and others
equally extensive, are granted to this Company, or to
ropeetors tf stock to the value of 50 or £60,000, a
trifling sum in these times, not without the. reach of
bring monopolized, as h has now nearly been by one
iedividual, who might in that case exercise all these
rights, Sec. at his sde discretion. °
" Lord Selkirk having acquired so great an influence
.in this strangely .constituted concern, came fotkard
whit Iris propoetion for a grant to himself and his heirs
of about 7.5,000 superficial miles of territory, and the
Directors, notf.i4 doubting their power, and in the
face of a protest of the other stockholders, who could
see no reason for giving away their property -(if this
land real& war so) without consideration, actually
granted him the fee-simple of this enormous track, by
deed under the seal of the Company. • It was neces-
sary next to peop;e it, and this was done to the num-
ber of about 300 eeedies of emigrants from -J.-eland,
and Scotland, to wi.om in public advertisements, all
she inducements of freedom from rents, tythes, and
taxes ; a fine and salubrious climate, and a soil parti-
cuLtrly adapted to the growth of -hemp and wool,
were liberally held out ; his Lordship forgetting that
the esteblishatent was situated upwards of 1500 miles
from the sea, and the only •communication by rivers,
admit impassable by the smallest boats, so that the.,
first ankle could not be exported to a market, and
that this district had supplied the fur traders with an
annual export of many thousand wolfeskins, which
'soul.: rather interfere with the flocks of his settlers.
" The poor people, however, reached their destine.
tion, and were maintained by the seizure of provisions
from theCanadians,when the supply obtained from the
Hudson's Bay Company was insufficient, during two
winters : their sufferings were severe beyond descrip-
tion, and seeing no prospect of relief but in the aban-
donment of their patron's schemes, it is said they ac-
tually assisted the Indians, who had become jealous
of their estabiishment,, in the destruction of all the.
buildings erected, and readily embraced the offer made
to dein by the Candian traders of means of transport
to Upper Canada, where they arrived and have been
&tiled by the Provincial Government this autumn.
You know the merchants of this country associated
under the name of the Nor th-west Company, had been
always the successlul rivals of the Hudson's Bay
Company, in trade with the Indians, notwithstanding ,
the difficulties opposed to them, and annually • col-:
lected five or six times the amount of ill returns of
Limit opponents. Ot course they naturally became
ealous of the new vigour which seemed to be int used
into the proceedings of the Hudson's Iley Directors,
Sind. they heti been benefited by the advice of Lord
Selkirk, and direct attempts to injure their trade by
an outfit mein this country last year, did not tend to
al. ty that je iltessy. It may be fairly, I should
L'aeik, be doubted whether the Hudson's Bay Com-
more Matt the Last 'Loa Company. have

advantages
, gur
Andiv Idual merchants; 4ct inter;
ference by fitting out and dispatching a brigade of
saver to
canoes by the Grand River to the interior,*as neither
proper, or, I presume, legal; but ik an
this is. how can you asperta:n whether the expedi-
tion was dispatched by the Hudson's Bay
Co
or Lord Selkirk ? and' you will not deny to the
latter. his right of becoming an :Indian trader,
although it may not quite accost! with his dig-
nity as an Earl. However, the question is not very
material, as the interests of his Lordship and the
Company are so blended : the expedition took place,
and increased the animosity which our Canadians al-,
ready felt towards his Lordship's projects as con-
nected with their rivals, and they are now openly
accused of having instigated the :Milers and the In-
dians to destroy the colony.
" We are so Much accustomed here to hear of the
/violence of North West Partizans, that nothing an.
pears more probable, although they of course stoutly
deny it, but still tilt), bring forwar.d strong documents
in the shape of his Lordship's autograph instructiema,
and his Governor's proclamations, which prove that
his Lordship has acquired, with his knowledge of the
Indian trade, an intimate one, of the violent and fits
dolls means, by which, unfortunately, it is too often
prosecuted.
" The Governor of this hew kingdom, for it may
be fairly so called in point of extent, issues a procla-
mation, that all wild aniaials killed by the Canadians,
(who had heretofore quietly and uninterruptedly en-
oyed their right of occupancy with other traders),
for their maintenance. are his Lordship's property,
and should be delivered tip. for the sustenance of. his
colonists. This, though a violent measure, was possi-
bly, in the difficult and extreme situation in which
the Governor and the colonists were placed, absolutel,
necessary, and the seizure took place ; the traders
obtained warrants from Canadian Magistrates against I,
the Governor and his Officers for grand larceny, and
brought them down for trial in the Courts here : the
Grand Jury return a true bill upon the indictment,
but then a-new difficulty arises. The prisoners plead
the Hudson's Bay Charm, in bar to the jurisdiction
of our Courts, and this question is to be argued.when
'the necessary documents and information can be .pro-
, cured from home.
61 We understands that beyond the protection of
their own servants, the Hudson's Bay Company now
further claim a jurisdiction over all other persons re-
sident in what they call their territory, and have gone
the length this year of appointing Judges, and the
subordinate officers of Courts to administer justice in
their dames. It is impossible, however, to Conceive
that the Government will ever permit such a juris-
diction : what a fine chance of justice the Canadians
will have with their rivals in trade (for you will ob-
serve the judges and officers ate all traders), accusers,
' judges and jories. As the Charter says, the law of
England is to be administered by the Company,
Lord Selkirk will no doubt strictly enforce the game
laws in his territories, and the poor Canadian, who
must either in that case poach or starve, would meet
with little mercy. He has, however, rather a better
security than his Lordship's discretion, in his own
strength ; and, as he utterly disclaims the right of
territory, or the slightest acknowledgment of the ju-
risdiction, he will resist it without much fear of pro-
cess for contempt.
46 It is much deplored by Al uninterested persons
' in this country, that his Majesty's Government should
have in the first instance either directly encouraged
Lord Selkirk's schemes, or at least acquiesced in
" them ; and it is said that the Governor of the Pro-
; vince received orders to hold at his Lordship's dis-
posal a body of troops for the protection of the
colony. These facts would be scarcely credible were
they not sufficiently substantiated, as had the least
inquiry been made into the merits of the undertaking
it would have been found as hopeless as it was cruel
to the poor victims who were embarked in it. Where
the troops were to halo been quartered or maintained
in the wilderness, I suppose was never considered,
and indeed that was not necessary, till the means ref
transporting them had been arranged. They could
not have been conveyed to the Settlement in one year.
66 The conseqoences of the newly assumed juris-
diction are likely to be very serious ; already some
instances of quarrels ending in bloodshed have oc-
curred, and they will be more frequent, as attempts
are made to commit violence under pretence of au-
thority. It would be very difficult even to restrain
the lawlesstatures of some of the persons engaged
on both sides, under' an acknowledged jurisdiction,
for our Canadian traders, and their servants, are not
notorious for the regularity of their conduct, and
there are, independent of them, a race of people be-
tween the Canadians and Indians, who are always
ready to take advantage of any disturbance which
may arise, and to pillage and plunder both parties."

COVENT GARDEN TAZATREIII consequence of
the indisposition of Miss 041%1mt., last night; the cha-
racter of Julia was sustained. by Miss Boma.
The Emigrant:, a tragedy, from the pen of Coun-
sellor SHEIL, of Dublin, and which was brought out
at the Theatre of -that city, is in preparation at Co.
vent Garden Theatre. Adelaide, the principal cha-
racter, was written expressly for Miss O'Netu., and
will again receive the support of her splendid talents.
HONEY MOON.—It was the custom of the higher
order of leutonee, an ancient people who inhabited the
northern parts of Germany, and from whose language
the English is chiefly derived, to drink Mead, or Me-'
theglin, a beverage made with honey, for thirty days
alter every wedding. From this custom comes the
expression to spend the Honey Moon." ATTILA.
King of Hungary, drank so freely of this liquor on
his wedding day, that he was found suffocated at
night, and with him expired the inspire of the Huns.
We are requested to state, for the information oil
the London, Bistol, Hull, and Liverpool merchants'
and shippers, who may be disposed to export to,
America, France, Holland, Sm. Moult) Tummies'
Real Japan Blacking, now become the most popular
and inestimable composition, for boots, shoes, har-
ness, &c. sold in the Metropolis, and by shop-keepers
in all the great towns in the United Kingdom, from
sixpence to
.eighteen pence each, may have packed
up in casks, tierces, and hogsheads, trom one gross
to one hundred thousand bottles, withoot leakage or
the least fault, by addressing their commands ao his
Exportativi WatS44ollxes Al4Ol Lvaikopproad• 40(0;
wark.

GRENADA, OCTOBER Is.
During the last sitting of the *upreme Court of
Judicature, an action was tried, which was as re.
markable In its nature, as it was singular as
brought to the
circumstances which attended it. t WAS
at the suit of George Whitfield, Barrister at Law,
against David MGEwen. his Majesty's Receiver of
Foliated Estates. This action occupied the time
of the Court "from Thursday morning (sth instant)
until eleien o'clock at night on the succeeding
Saturday. This case was, that five-elevenths
coffee estate, with about 150 negroes, were vested
in the Crown; five-elevenths were sold at Max-
sitars sale, and purchased by Mr. Whitfield at the
very time be was rigorously officiating the powers
of his Majesty'i Attorney General of this Colony.
After this purchase he procured a Decree of Chan.
cery from the late Mr. Adye,a fellow Barrister,
and Chancellor, to oust the Crown from the estate
in 1810. In 1812, Vice Governor Ainslie reversed
this Decree, and replaced the estate into the hands
of Mr. M'Ewen, as Receiver of the Forfeited
Estates. The plantation remained about ten months
in the bands of the Receiver, when the Crown's
rights had been purchased by Mr. Whitfield, and
then it was delivered to his Attorney in the Colony.
During these ten months of the Receiver's possession,
eighteen of the negroes died, from mal d'utotnac,
hooping cough, old age, &c. and this action was
brought by the plaidtiff to recover compensation in da-
mages for these slaves, from the defendant, grounded
upon the 'reason, that the defendant did not clothe
the negroes during that period of tee months. Mr.
Whitfield opened his case by lameating his necessity
of pleading his own cause, instead of more able and
experienced counsel, which he had endeavoured to
procure. After this exordium, he, in a very abrupt
manner, and without any preparation for the im-
portance of the question, asked the Chief Justice
upon the Bench, if his Honour intended to sit
upon the trial ? to which his Honour replied, by
asking him what he meant, and ordered the Clerk
of the Crown to note down his words. Mr. Whit-
field then repeated his question, adding. that his ob-
jection was addressed to the delizacy of a member of
the British Bar, and not to the competency of a Bri-
tish Jddge, and that he had two reasons for it. His
Honour answered, that if he was only to be guided
by his own feelings and the necessity of supporting
the dignity of his situation, he would immediately
inflict the punishment of fine and imprisonment upon
Mr. Whitfield; but for the present he would take the
opinion of-the Assistant Justices on the Bench : these
gentlemen were of opinion, that the question put to,
his Honour was qualified by the subsequent tea.'
sons. After this escape, Mr. Whitfield was again
animadverted upon by the Bench, for the internpe.
rance of his language in the course of the trial.—
The first day was wholly consumed in the statement
and arguments of the case : six hours and a half of
the second day were consumed in the examination of
the first witness of the plaintiff. The leading facts
stated by him, were, that Mr. Whitfield emplc)yed
him as manager in 1810, upon discharging lsfr.
Webster, the former manager ; that he at the same
time discharged. the doctor from the medical attend-
ance of the slaves; that great exertions of negro la-
bour were required ; that there were very large build-
ings to be erected ; that the estate being three miles
distant from the sea-side, the carriage ot the lumber
upon the heads of the negroes was a great additional
labour, as they made dine turns per day up a steep
hill ; that they became sickly from the excess of the
work ; and that clothing was but sparingly given to
them by Mr. Whitfield. Upon being cross-examined
by the defendant's Counsel, he admitted that the ne-
groes were sickly, and numbers were affected with{
the vial d'emmac at the time the defendant got pos-
session ; that the defendant immediately on seeing,
the diseased state of the negroes, ordered the doctors
to he called in, for their medical advice ; thitt not-
withstanding this, many of the negroes with the teal
d'estomae died during the ten months of the deten.
dant's possession ; that he frequently applied to the
defendant for clothing without effect; that he be-
lieved that the want of this comfort increased the
sickness of the negroes, and the mortality ; that as
soon as the attorney of the plaintiff found that he
was to be dispossessed, he carried off every. article of,
produce from the estate, - together with the stock ;11
'that nothing was left upon the estate for the defen-
dant to purchase, either provisions or clothes for the
negroes; that the annual clothing was due to the
negroes for two months before the detendant vas put
in possession; that it was demanded by the negroes
from Mr. Whitfield, their master, before he went to
England, who answered the negroes, that he would
send it out to them ' • that finding the mil d'oteniac
becoming very prevalent among the gang, before the
possession by the defendant, he had ordered these.
afflicted with the seal d'ertossae to carry round their
necks what he called a neck-table, which was de-
scribed to be a circular machine made of board,
broad enough, and so placed round the neck as to
prevent their hands from approaching their mouths,
and thus prevent them from filling their stomachs
with dirt or earth ; that Mr. Whitfield, as theii mas-
ter, knew and approved of the use of this machine;
that he had no authority from the Magistrates ot the
quarter to inflict the punishment of it upon the ne-
groes; that these machines were discontinued as not
answering the purpose ; and that the estate and slaves
were appraised by the defendant's orders, about four
weeks after he got possession through Governor
Ainslie's decree from Chancery.
Not*ithstanding.the unexampled length of time
which this trial took. up, yet it is only the leading
evidences and leading facts of the case which may be
supposed to be most worthy of public attention.
A Gentleman Was called in as evidence for the de-
fendant, who proved that he was one of the four ap-
praisers requested for that purpose by the defendant ;
that this appraisement took place some weeks after
the defendant's possession ; that he had known this
gang some years before that period,. and he never
knew a more stout, healthy, or better-conditioned
ng at that time ; that there was a very great di&
hence in their appearance at this appraisement ;
that the general appearance of the negroes was shock-
ing to the sight—that they were to the last degree
sickly, dissatisfied, and desponding ; that they seemed
igentrally to be afflicted with the 'sal "atomic ; that
be saw ten or twelve far ire in it—that they com.
leanest witch of the seeersty used upon them—that

Thursday evening, about ten o'clock, a
daring attempt at murder was committed on
son of Mr. George Col,lharn Keight, of Leiser.letki
Farm, near Farnham, who, on his return teen 'i41.1
ham market, was fired at by three nu n, 4.livtvd
white round frocks, but fortunately their de
intentions proved abortive.
From what appeared on the examination 0.,
thieves, committed to gaol at Hull, in Yorksriite.
getker with a woman of the name, I Robins., a pot
terer there, it appeared, that it was the metro
these receivers to leave their shops at niy,lit spar
which the thieves left all the ducks, geese, •
and game they could steal, and after wards the
seeded upon honour ! •
Bow•rrtterr.—Yesterday John War, a lee
vier belonging to the Post at Woolwich, was
with feloniously stealing a letter enttusted to his
to be delivered to Mrs. Morbrey, in High
Woolwich, containing several Bank ire'
1.
notes. The prisoner wale committed for further
mination.
Massiow•House.--Yesterday Stroh Sele an
woman, was brought before the LORD MAY 62,
underwent an examination, charged by the
officers of Bishopsgate, with !hieing stolen, st,
and afterwards deserted, a female child of about
years and a half old. The prisoner hod at
about a month, but a description of her
having been even to the Officers, she was tat&
custody on Saturday afternoon.—Mary Jacobs
posed, that she resided at No. 5, Aaigilalliy,
shopsgate. About a month since, the prisoner/
from her a small room upon the gronnd flar,,
she took possession of on a Monday. :9:e
in the apartment until the following Friday,
she left the house, having locked her door, sot
returned. witness was not aware that the
had brought a child with her into the
Greet:low stated, that he worked
ith win a room
the apartment of the prisoner, whom he
cl:ild. He remembered her gcing out on the
ing of Friday, and in about an hour afterwaids
the cries of the infant issue from the room, •
advanced to the window, and saw it lying
floor in the most deptirable condition. Is
qiience of this the rcom door was broken in,
child was foiled totally naked, its whole form
crated, the extremities contracted, and mel
mortification on its feet, and several parts u! flfr
There was a baton containing a hole
some raspings of bread upon the floor, and
fent kept crying for bread. The child was i
conveyed to the Workhouse of Bishopsgate,
prisoner never returned to her lodgings.—The
ter of the Workhouse stated, that the child kale
put under his care, and that during the time it
iii the Workhouse, it had conveyed the info
that its real home was in the neighbourhood
Curtain-road. It was now in a fair way of .
The prisoner, in her defence, said that she'
the,• grandmother of the child, who wu
under her care by hr. parents, to revent other
differences.—The LORD. MAYOR said he had
slightest doubt of the child beieg steles, and'
the Parish -Officers to have it breught to the CI
road, where it might possibly point out the
of its parents. The prisi nor was then
a final examination.

1)11:1).
•
Thursday sennight, apddenly, at Torpoint,
Thomas Deas, Surgeon, R. N.
Ai Grenada, Major-General Sir C. Shipley, La.,
that liand.
Friday last, at his heuse Baker-strert, ins. the 674
his age, Phineas Bond, lirtj. late hisC
for the Middle and Southern States of Anie

tiEWSIALk, AiLAU 4.4-ttlit.Nti-Vi.t• • MS.ll4ll.it
(by the Carcass.)
Bed, ter Stale Od to 4s 4,4, Veil Os 0110'
Mutton - 3s of to 4s 2LI 1 Pork 3s 4.1 to

PRICES OF HAY ikAW
ST. Is.sasst. viutTscuerl.
Hay 3i os to 51 oo• Oti Hay 41 Oi 10 SI
roll
Straw 11 7. 6d to 0 16s Od Straw 0 8;

Kest
%Hes •
Essex

Pao fIICEITI.
New SAOI.
51 56 to 01 Os Kett 6l 66 so
co
41 10a to 71 101 Swazi 61 Os
81 10s to 111 oos Farnham, 1% Qs tO

ET, JANUARY 1.
Mgr at Market. (Wipe Sold. Price.
P
963/4 Never:sada 143/4 • 1194. d ISM A
U &media 4 64 to
48s 04 to
11 Stone Cog al OP.

MORROW AT 1-------,OI4DONb '
.
44 minuto
II minutes eter

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