Star.
London, England, 1817-04-09 00:00:00

WEST INDIES.

T!:e heads of the Colonial Department have been
occupied for some days in the investigation of a se-
rious misunderstanding which has taken place between
t''e Governor of one of our West India Settlements
w,l the Legislative. Assembly. It appears that the
Corernor, in consequence of instructions from this
(miry, in his opening speech to the House of As-
sembly, had recommended the passing of the Law,
wt,ich has been now adopted in most of our West
India Islands, to give effect more rigidly to the Abo-
lition of the Slave Trade. The measure which the
House of Assembly in the present instance evinced
an inclination to adopt, appeared to the Cover-
nor to be completely at, variance with the instruc•
tions which he bad received, and calculated to evade
the humane intentions of the Legislature at home.
The Attorney-General of the colony was the organ
of the Governor on the occasion t and by the way in
which he communicated the wishes of his Sovereign
and of the Governor on the subject._ the House of
Assembly thOughs theinselves insulted—they ascot-
dingly, by their Speaker, issued a warrant t_cmalte.
into cuitodrtre" Xtioine-Y.General, for what `they
termed a breach of privilege. The Glider of the
House, and all the Constables who could be collected,
were vent to. execute this warrant at the Ataorney-Ge-
aerars country seat or plimtation. Aware of what
was in agitation, the Learned Gentleman intrenched
himself within his own camp, and armed his negroes
to defend it. We need scarcely add, that the Offi-
cers of the House of Assembly were put to flight.
and the mace captured and retained as a trophy by
the besieged.

While the enemy was advancing to the siege, how-
ever, the Attorney-General contrived to apprise the
Governor of what Was intended ; the latter instantly,
and with the most spirited promptitude, resorted to
the extreme powers a ith which his Sovereign had en-.
trusted him, by issuing a Proclamation to dissolve
the House of Assembly, and enforced -its execution
at the head of his regiment. The warrant against the
Attorney-General thus fell to the ground, and She
Members quietly dispersed..
Remonstrances have of course been sent home, by
both parties : the Governor and Attorney General
take the highest possible ground of defence, by ap.
pealiag to their instructions from the Mother Countryt
the Colonial Legislature, on the other hand, com-
plain loudly of what they call an infringement of
their rights, as British subjects, in being compelled
'to enact as a local and.colonial law, what has been
framed in London, by persons whom they do not
ample to call is fanciful theorists." They also charge
the Attorney-General with no slighter crimes than
treason and rebellion, in resisting their warrant.
We are not at liberty at present to mention the
name of the Settleintat where these disagreeable cir-
cumstances occurred. It mai' be guessed at,hew-
ever, when we inform oar Readers that it is of a
minor rank among oar colonial acquisitions, and com-
prises a group of islands.
It is not our wish to'create the slightest bias in fa-
vour of either party, in the dispute to which we have-
just alluded ; but it ii a duty which we owe to huma
city, to remind our Readers, that the Slave Trade has
been revived, and slaves are introduced into the West
India Islands, under a system still more horrible and
re"el than existed during the era of the toleration of
this most infamous tram:. We appeal to the records
°J the last Admiralty Sessions at the Old Bailey, in
the case of the convicted. slave-monger, fer the truth
of our assertion. The high price now givenfor a
smuggled slave in the West India Islands, is an
&cement which human cupidity cannot withstand,
and consequently vessels of very small tonnage are em-
ployed, in which the slaves are packed so closely as
to be subjected to more miseries than ever.. Indeed,
if one in ten survives, the savage owners boast that their
trip will pay its expenses. The heart-rending scenes de-
scribed at the Admiralty Sessions must be still fresh
in the recollection of our Readers; but we regret to
547 that we have now before us an official confirma-
tion of them from the pen of the Surgeon of one of
our cruiztra on the coast of Africa. Speaking of the
ti-ceri.t capture: of slave schooners ou the coast of

Alike; he tays.•;:ii condition id which *e fits
qnently found tkeso unhappy wretches, was often de-
plorable, and degrading to humanity t On taking
possession of a vessel, most of the male negroes were
' observed to be in irons between decks. In the morn:
ing, indeed, the women and children were dragged
upon deck from their human, or rather inhuman,
stew-holes. These poor creatures would huddle
'themselves together, like a parcel of monkies or
frightened fowls, and remain squatted in the same
position till orderedback again totheir dismal abode.
AMong such desponding wretches, scurvy made ra;
pid.atrides I indeed, we frequently found them a,
overrun with this kiashsome diseise, that the whole
of their teetkthight lie picked from their gums witk:
•
out causing the -smallest degree of pain."

We hale devoted a large portion of our columns
this day to Mr. Owxa's Plan for the Permanent Re-
lief ot the Poor. It comes before the Public in the.
shape of a Riport to the- Committee of the Associa-
tion for the Relief of the Manufacturing and Labour-
ing Poor. The. Plan appeared to this Committee so
important as to deserve. every exertion to procure at
least a thorough investigation of its merits ; and with
this view it baby them been respectfully submitted
to the Committee of the House of Commons on this
,Poor Laws. .

The details speak for themselves, and will be read..
with considerable interest by every person who has
at all thougbrupon the evils which attach to our
'present system. The first objection, and indeed the
most formidable, that presents itself, is the expense ;
but when duly' considered we are inclined to think
that this should form no objection, for the money
now expended yearly amounts to a much larger sum
than would be required to pay the interest of the
capital after deducting what would accrue from the
labour of the new establishments: and we must add,
whin may sorprise some people, that never was the
country, in point of unemployed capital, in circuins
stances so favourable for embarking in such establish-
menu. No security better than that of Parish secu-
rity can be offered to money holders t no interest is
more regularly paid. The money could be all raised
without difficulty, and some. of the benefits of the
plan would be instantaneous—in giving employment
to a great number of labourers; but the ultimate
improvement *Of the condition and morals of the
people. would give a.tenfold rerouneraiion to the
public in annihilating the principal source of pau-
perism- ..

The Parma RaozsT has been pleased to confer
upon Sir WILLIAM HAMILTON* the Royal Guelphic
' Order of Knighthood, for the prompt, zealous, and
judicious assistance. which, whilst entrusted with the
command of the Island of Heligoland, he afforded,
in the year IBM to those of his Majesty's Hanove-
rian subjects.wha had risen against the French.
Thee-two Peers who are wbe advanced to Duke:
doms• are, aecnrding to rep itt, the Marquisses of
STAFFORD and.BETKINONAM. The elevation of the
latter does not imply a changed. politics pr party, It
will be in pursuance of an intention formerly expressed
'by his MAJESTY* and a parting request of Lows
XVIIL when taking leave ot the POINCZ Itrostir, on
his Munrres departure for France.
Her MAJESTY has commanded that the exotic gar-
den at Kew may be submitted to the daily inspection
of the pubitc after the httlidays.
• The Duke of Susses presides to-morrow at the
Anniversary Dinner of the Charitable Institution of
the New Musical Fund, at Freemasons' Hall.

Lord Viscount HINTON is among the latest depar-
tures from town for Paris.

The. Duke and Duchess of ORLEANS left Twicken-
ham yesterday afternoon to proceed on their way to
France. There were ten carriages; one of them is
larger than a stage coach, which the Duke had had
built some time since for the convenience of travel-,
ling, and to accommodate a number of servants at
the same time. It carries eight in the'inside and 16'
out. The Deity travels in a curricle, driven by him-
self, and is accompanied by his principal Steward.
The Duchess travels in a landau, in company with
Mademoiselle. There are. twelve out-riders, one to
each carriage, and two as couriers, it being the in-
tention of the "Duke to enter Paris in the same style
as his late father was is the habit of doing. Some of
the luggage, belonging to their Serene Highnesses,
was put on board a barge yesterday, and moved down
the river to, be put on board one of the ships
has been engaged to convey it to France.
Sir FRANCIS Btranarr has left town on a tour.

Yesterday the Archbishop of CANTERBURY gave a
grand entertainment to thi Archhi.hOp of Yogic and
,a.namerous party, at Lambeth Palace. le wit the
first party his Grace has had this season. '
Countess Divot entertained it select party of
fashionable: on Monday evening, at her residence in
Harley-streets among whom were—
Prince Cateekleala, the Bavarian Minister Count Cafaman,
Lord and Lady Morley, Lord and Lady Oranville,i the Countess
of Harrovrby and Lady S. Ryder, Lord Burgherab, Mr. and
Madame de Bourke, Miss M. Elphinstone, Etc.
The Official Report dates the costs.of the Civic En-
tertainment given to the PRiNCE RROENT, Emperor
of RUSSIA, King of PRUSSIA, and Duke of Wawrio-
you, by the Corporation of the City of London, to be
upwards of 4241000.
MANSION•HOUSL —The Bridewell and Christ Church
Hospital boys proceeded yesterday to the Mansion
House, where they were admitted to see the Egyptian
Hall, with the ornaments and decorations, as fitted
up for the grand entertainment, the preceding day.
They walked with their masters,_ preceded by the
beadles, round the tables ; then through the Grand
Saloon, where the LORD MAYOR, RESPORDER, Sheriffs,
and several Aldermen, were 'fate, with the LADY
MAYORESS and several other Ladies. Each of the
boys, according to ancient custom, received a shil-
ling or sixpeoce from the LORD MAYOR, according to
their respective merits, with bun and a gliss of wine.
Atter this eereniony, the LORD MAYOR, RECORDRN;
Sheriffs, &c. Went in sate to Christ Church, where
the Spital Sermon was preached.