Star.
London, England, 1818-12-12 00:00:00

mwdwowpiry`L°ll'l39ms—
•OF ADWRALTY, DEC. 11.

SEIZURE OT THE HERCULES.
This was a ship owned by British merchants, in t
the service •of the Independents of South America,
`wkilih, with a cargo of India goods of great value,
stated at 010,000, was seized by his Majesty's ship
Brazier, Captain Stirling, on the ground that she
hid contemplated a breach of the Navigation Laws;
and the question for the High Court of Admiralty now
is, whether sentence or condemnation, passed by the
Vince-Admiralty Court of Antigua, was justified on
these grounds ?
The KING'S Anvocara, on a former day, opened
the case for the captors.
Dr. Avail argued this day on the same side, con-
tending that the approach and detention of the Her-
cules by Captain Stirling, was justified under all the
circumstances of the case.
In the first instance it appeared that Brown, the
owner and master of the Hercules, had approached
Barbadoes, where he made application to the Go-
vernor to permit the ship to come into port, for the
ptirpose, he stated, of disposing of her cargo, and of
obtaining a supply of weter and provisions, of which
she was in want. The Governor refused his permis-
sion to her coming• in, or disposing of her cargo;
but allowed her to be supplied with provisions, pro-
vided she went on to some other port of destination.
Hiving obtained supplies there accordingly, she was
proceeding to Pernambuco, when she waa brought
to, and boarded by. Captain Stirling, con the high
seas. • By the instructions Captain Stirling received
froth the Admiral, he did net like to make a seizure
of.the vessel theti, but persuaded the• Captain of the
Hercules to go with bim to Barbadoes. Brown, the
Captain and part owner, consented; this, Captain
Stirling stated, was for the purpose of receiving fur-
ther instructions from the Admiral. 'Having been
'brought into Barbadoes for the purpose of investiga-
tion, and her papers being there examined, she was
discharged, and permitted to pursue her voyage. No
sooner had she left Barbadoes, than Capt. Stirling again
made a more formal seizure of her, as she was pro-
ceeding upon the high seas, because her papers ap-
pearedTto him rather mysterious.
Other circumstances of suspicion were excited lest
her intentions were those of piracy, from her being
aressei as a ship of war, and her assuming the dis-
guise of a merchantman, by altering her rigging,
and stowing away her guns on the lower deck. (in
hairs approach to Barbadoes, the suppressing ber
real flag, and hoisting a false one, namely, Portu-
viand, besides putting on fresh painting to disguise
her as a merchant vessel, instead of a privateer ;
and, as• appeared by her own log-book, her having
actually given chase to, and boarded several British
Teasels—the Alert and the Fanny. • The Government
of Barbadoes, it appeared, had declined acting, but
left it to Captain Stirling to take such course, as he
pleased, and he accordingly determined to take for-
mal possession, which he did; taking greater part of
hes crew on hoard the Brazier, he proceeded to An-,
tigua, where she was condemned. The Learned Ad-
vocate contended that'Captain Stirling was not only
jusulfred in detaining this vessel under the circum-
stances at suspicion before mentioned, but that the
sentence of condemnation passed at Antigua was
waltapted by a breach of the Navigation Laws. the
Captain of this_ vessel having declare:. his intention
to dispose of his cargo of India produce at Barbadoes,
in violation of a.British Act of Parliament prohibiting,
inch trade.

DuaxAay was heard on the other side, against
tho seizure. He denied the jurisdiction of the. 'Vice-
Admiralty Coils: of Antigua; and also that there
wei.any violation of the Navigation LAM. The mere
intention of goiog to Barbadoes, without any posi-
tive act in furtherance of that object, .wonld not
amount to a breach of those laws so as to justify sei-
zure, especially as the Hercules had actually left,
and was then going away directly from Barbadpes to
her original part of deAination ; but as driven there
to obtain supplies, for which she was in distress.—
The sentence of the Vice-Admiralty Court of An-
tigna, he contended,could not be sustained, inasmuch
its it contained no specification of any particular of-
fence, but " for a breach of one or other of the Na-
viption Laws."
The case stands over for further argument.

Yesterday .an Inquest was hold at the King's Head,
.Tames-street, Westminster, before Mr. Gait., the
Cokoner, on view of the body of Eutzasern Lawns,
aged V, whose death was occasioned by her diesel
having caught fire. The deceased and a femalefriend
were in her room, at N 0.17, Bennet•street, on the
morning of Thursday se'nnight, when she stood with
her back to the fire—her dress caught, and she was
instantly enveloped in flames !—her friend, in endea-
vouring to assist her, was much burnt about the arms.
deceased-, with great presence of mind, then ran
down stairs, and roiled herself in an old quilt which
was in the kitchen,. bet her stays being on fire, and
fly alI life test of her garments burnt Gal she could
not endure the torture, and ran into the street, issuing
the most heart-tending.shrieks. The fire was speedily
extingnished bythe neighbours, and the unfortunate
sufferer taken to' the Westminster Infirmary, where
she lingered in agonizing pain till Tueschty, andthen
eipiredl—Verdict, " Accidental Death."
An lesqviddan was taken yesterday at the Board Room ise
ecrkenwell Workhouse, on the body of a nun unknown. who
we found dying in the street. —The Superintendent of the
Watch at St. John's Wattisantue. elcrkenwell, stated, that he
foUnd the deceased lying in St. John:s4ane, in a dying
.state II he
hid hhn rep:nivel! into the watch-hose, and sent fot a surgeon,
wain came and said be wesilfbir. Moe wine was precarsifee
the deceased, but he appeased too tartan woke innenanse,
when it war pot iniViif month ha could not rstaltqw It I be was
rnnovoid to die worktionse, where tie died immediately. He'
ire* in a most bithy condition, was a complete skeliton, appeared
Abele suffered mach front posertyounito have-died bend it
of• that nratrishonest and -attention lda nalbstunatosituntbon ro,
tit/SM.—One of the Jury expeesaadlSl 001400, that. ImAiedior
,want.—'llse Ccrooer said, It was almost impossible he could di*
ref want, as there was bread ((mad la his pockets sad l id.—
Vaics—Died by the Visitation of ben.
Tuesday night last, after drinking together at a
public-house, Mr. W. Busby and 'l. 'llms, both of
Bletchington,.in Oxfordshire, quarrelled in their way
borne, and from words psoceeded to blows. Busby,
in.consequence of the bruises he received, died at mei
o'clock on Weaned .—k CororresAi, Jury
.brossghti
'cr a Wet trains in genii...—
the County Jail.

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