Star.
London, England, 1818-06-06 00:00:00

'ARY PAPERS.

SLAVE TRADE.

Further Papers relating to the Treatment of Slaves
in the Colonies.

attract of a Letter tram Goveroor Probri to Earl Bathurst,
dated Bt. Kitt's, October 17, 11117.
-- '

! .
" A report being dratlated that a Slave on an estate on this
Island, belooging to Mr. Henry Rawlins, of Nevis, had died in
camiequenco of cruel treatment and severity, the Magistrates
sou! *eery step to Worm themselves of the same • and after
having thoroughly investigated the setter, found sufficient proof
against the manager of the mate, and be was tried for murder:
but after a hog trial, the Jon brought in'thair vtrdict guilty cf
mansieughter s and be was seutenced—three timuths' imprison-
ment, and fined 800/. but acquitted him of the murder.
" Dare acquainted the Bishop of London of the same ; and
here, with every deference and submission to your Lordship, I
cannot but express to your Lordship my opinion, that cicrgymez
should not be allowed to act as managers on any estates. I have
also thought it proper to give your Lordship the result of the
trial, lest any incorrect account might be taken to England."
Extract of a Letter from Earl Bathurst to Governor Probyn,
dated Downing-street, January 10, 1818.
" My dispatch of this date will convey to you my desire that
the minute. of Mr. Rawlines trial should be sent home; and I
think it desirable that you should know, by a separate communi-
cation, what is reported concerning that basinsss ; as your dis-
patch seems not to consider the transaction in so very serious a
light, as it must be considered, if the accounts which have been
by private channels given of it are true. It is stated that there
was a previous trial, in which it appeared that Mr. Rawlins had
endeavoured to cast the crime upon the Driver; that he had in-
duced some slaves to swear against the driver, whose life would
have been forfeited, had be been found guilty; and that he was
acquitted by some of their testimony being contradicted, and
the rest acknowledged by the slaves themselves to have been
false. It is further stated, that the body of the unfortunate
victim was buried without any Coroner's Inquest, in direct vio-
lation of the law of the Nand, in cases (as this was) where a
Slave dies without having been attended, previous to his death,
by a medical person ;—on the whole, it is stated to have been
proved, that the most horrid cruelties had been inflicted on this
unfortunate individual The Jury found Mr. Rawlins guilty of
manslaughter. If this statement be true, or in any way ap-
proaching to truth, Mr. Rawlins could not have been guilty of
manslaughter; it must have been murder, or an AcquittaL"
- - -

" Mr Lola, " St. Christopher's, March 21, ISIS.
" I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your
Lordship's letter of the 10th January, No. 23, desiring to be fur-
nished with Minutes of the Evidence delivered on the trial of the
Reverend Mr. Rawlins.

" Upon this subject, I beg leave to state, for your Lordship's
information, that in the month of September last, information
having been given to a gentleman of the island, by a slave be-
longing to Hutchinson's estate, that a negro man had died there
in the field, after having been recently severely punished, and
that he had been buried without any inquest being taken • that
gentleman thought it his duty to communicate the intelligence
he bad received to one of the Judges of the Court of King's
Bench and Common Pleas of the Island.

" A meeting of the Judges took place in consequence; at
which the Attorney and Solicitor-General were desired to at-
tend, when it was determined that the Justices of Peace should
go to the estate with a coroner and medical gentlemen,withdirec-
Lions to have the body taken up and examined, and to cause .an
inquest to be taken on view of it. This was done accordingly ;
and the inquest, with the depositions of the medical men as to
the appearance of the body, was returned to the proper office.
" The Crown Officers not being satisfied with the verdict of
the coroner's jury, obtained a warrant for the apprehending of
the manager and overseer of the estate, in order that they might
be examined touching the death of the slave.

" Their examinations were taken, anTseveral of the negroes
belonging to the estate were also examined before the Justices of
the Peace. From the examination of a slave called Tom Tilley;
who bad been chained to the deceased, the Magistrates thought
there was ground for prosecuting Creole Jack, the driver, for the
murder of the deceased. The prosecution was conducted by the
Attorney and Solicitor-General; and the prisoner was acquitted.
Minutes of the vial of Creole Jack are sent herewith.
" The Attorney and Solicitor-General also thought it proper to
present a Bill to the Grand Jury, against the Rev. William Henry
Raufins, the manager of the estate, for murder of the slave. The
Grand Jury found the Bill for murder.

" Mr. Rawlins was arraigned, and tried for murder. The Jury
acquitted him of the murder, but found him guilty of Manslaugh-
ter. The prisoner prayed the benefit of the statute ; and was
sentenced to three months imprisonment in the common jail, and
to pay a line of two hundred pounds current money.
The Minntes of Evidence given on this trial are also sent
herewith...-1 haw'', fire. " Two.. Paean., ('apt. (}ea.
Te the Right Iles. the Eat rather:4;4kt. Sec. /cc.

MOUSE OF LORDS, JUNE &
ke At bleb of Carsick.% Plaistow Tripod, their
Loriehips gam jimt for Traipsed, arming the Dectet of
hleilieVy'tai High Court of daadisy he Leland.
The Amsee wee *Milled byTtelP• waggon to the Regency
Bniendreent BM Ind other 11111.-- Commissioners were the
Lam Cummins" Radef Ihnsammons, nod Lord RIESSIDALIR
The Camera' Bleadis 818 was read a third time, and passed
lOth Amendimessa, sod soot look to the House of Commons.—
ether
71be twas sbeedrillberwanh returned by Mr. Locroaar and
wills the Amendments agreed to.
The Idremims of the Noe BM and the Bath Gas Light Bill
were returned by Er. Boomems, Colonel PALXii, and other
Members, with the Amendments agreed to.
The Nave Trade Abolitioo Asa Amendment Mil, lend other
Rik were read a third time and passed.
Tko Earl of LAUDERDALE suggested, respecting the Scots
Churches Building BSI, the Ty of postponing the measure
till the next Semite ; it nal pordrie, at this late period of
the presets' Session, to Amin the ormation which was required
to legislate u th*
Tim ;ad of ponLiTietrOL agreed to postpone the measure
t* the next Senior, in cotteequemotif then being several objec-
to the details of the ail, whisti there was not now time to
Dttt l ifßr.Q It to be diednelly lap arum', Mat he
should not lose sight of the object, and this be intended agate to
bring it forward.
The commitsamt of the BIG was is postponed.
On the modes of theNeri of Lavanamus, 's Inven-
tion SW was en the groin' of be being contrary to a
Law which tabs adhered to, directing the Sped-
Scations of Patents to be regeleaty enrolled.
Lord HOLLAND preemted a Petition from Don Diego
Carrel, similar to that preented to the House of Commas on
Monday, (stated in our Paper of Tuesday). His Lordship ob-
served, that, at this late period of the Session, no step could be
adopted with regard to the subject matter of the Petition, but
he trusted the Ministers would pay some attention to the griev-
ances of which the Petitioner complained.
Lord KENYON stated, that the Committee to whom the
Cotten Factories Ell had been referred had very diligently exa-
mimed witnesses; but had not yet been able to get through the
evidence brought forward by the petitioners against the Bill; and
as justice required they should pay an equal attention to the evi-
dence in favour of the Esli„ he proposed to defer the further con-
skieration of the Nall till the next Session, giving notice that he
intended then to move the reappointment of the Committee for
the_purposo of concluding the examination of evidence.
The Earl of LAUDERDALE observed, that the Noble
Lord had became a convert to the opinions of those who thought
further evidence requisite, though the Noble Lord seemed him-
self, at a former period, to think further evidence altogether un-
necessary. He (Lord Lauderdale) thought their Lordships
would be of opinion that evidence of considerable importance
had been adduced, and that particularly with regard to the ma-
nufactories at Manchester, it would be found that they were
conducted on the moot humane system.
Lord KENYON said, be had merely intimated that the evi-
donee hitherto examined, being altogether on the part of the Pe-
titioners against the Bill, common justice required that the evi-
dence in favour of the Bill should also be heard; and therefore
he had given notice of his intention to move next Session for the
=nspointment of the Committee, with regard to the nature or
of the evidence. Under such circumstances, he thought
it would be improper to give an ejdnion.—His Lordship subse-
quently reported the evidence, so far as taken by the Committee,
whisk was ordered to be printed.
°Wets IN REVINSION AND SINICURIA.

?be Earl of OROSVENOirose, in pu;;;;;;;1 notice, to
make hit motion respecting the Grants of Offices in Reversion
'end ffineenres. Ilia Lordship. moue *early tke same argis.
menttrthat he has so often used apse thra topic, and contended,
' that what bad teen done by Ministers in abolishing various use-
' lees Offices was not enough. There were still several Sinecures
which it was necessary there should be a determination expressed
ought to be abolished on the terra/union of the existing interests;
and it was also expedient that the House should declare its opi-
nion that no Office should in future be panted in reversion, in
order to prevent Offices now efficient from becoming Sinecures,
or being rated by incompetent persons. His Lordshif concluded
by moving Resolutions to this effect.
The Motions were put, and negatived.
Adjourned till to-morrow (this day.
ROUSE OF COMMONS.
- - - - - -

TheNegociabbs Securities Bill was read 'tine and paced.
General FERGUSON presented a FeticiOn from -Forfar,
praying for a Reform in the Constitution of that Borgh.—Oss
dered to lie on the table.
Mr. W. SMITH presented the Report of the British Society
relative to the extension of Fisheries.
Mr. BENNET asked, whether any improvement bad been
made in the mode of contracting for the Clothing of Convicts
sent from Ireland?

Mr. PEEL stated, that the attention of Government had been
directed to that subject, and it was found, upon Inquiry, that a
considerable saving could be made by contracting for the Cloth-
ing in Dublin, and sending it from thence to Cork, where it was
formerly the custom to purchase it. A plan was therefore adop-
ted consistently with this disr.nvery, which had in the course of
the last year effected a saving of 10001.
On the motion of Mr. B. &Tunas; the Report of the Com-
mittee for remunerating tie person concerned in preparing the
General Index to the Journals of the House was agreed to, and
an Address adopted accordingly.

POLICE.
Mr. BENNET, on bringing up the Report of the
Police Committee, drew the attention of the House
to the great evils that were experienced in conse•
quence of the want of a classification of prisoners in
the different gaols of the country. The House
would probably be surprised to hear that this evil
was not confined to the metropolis. It was not
merely in this city that these places of confinement,
which went by the nafne of Houses of Industry and
Correction, were in reality nurseries of idleness and
vice—( Hear, hear.)—The system of labour, which
even their appellations seemed to imply, and to which
in principle they ought to be directed, was altoge-
ther overlooked. Even in Cold Bath-fields prison,
the average of the produce of the labour imposed
upon each individual, did not amount to so much as
one farthing per day—(Hear, hear.)--The great e•.il
arising from this neglect of classification was, that
persons who had committee crime for the first time,
were thrown amongst those who, by the frequent
commission of enormities, were more hardened in
the course of guilt, and consequently were disposed
to encourage and increase the enormities of less ex-
perienced and hardened offenders. The House would
also be surprised to hear, that it was proved on the
evidence of the Governor of Cold Bath-fields prison,
a person who supported the most respectable cha-
racter in his situation, that he had conducted the
affairs of the prison without a single rule or order
from the Magistrates for the space of seven years.—
(Hear, hear.)—He trusted that the extraordinary
increase of prisoners, a circumstance disgraceful in
itself, would be regarded from the evidence of this
Report., as a misfortune, growing partly out of the
poverty of the times, and partly out of the extreme
neglect which was manifested in the want of profcr
regulation iu tbese establishments. That it was in a

great measure a disease arising out of povcity and
wretchedness, could not be denied by those who ob-
served the condition of society for the L:st few years
--(l{ear, hear.)—No one could look abroad without
witnessing cases of extreme calarnit:, no one could •
exercise his observation without seeing numbers of
unfortunate people wanting a home, and stretched
upon the grass in a state of wretchedness, which
could only be compared to that of the Lazaroni of
Naples.—The most afflicting reflection upon this
survey of extensive misery in this rcuntrr, was,
that it arose not from the want of a disposition to
be industrious, but from a want of emptcyment,
from a want of the means of exercising that industry
which they were disposed to undertake. Another
melancholy fact was to be derived fvini a reference
to the condition in which many persons were dis-
missed from the prisons—(Hear, hear.)—No one
could have attended to this subject without knowing
that dozens upon dozens had been dismissed, raA:,7
of than after the commission of a first offence, with-
out avitilliag in their pockets, or without any other
means of priocuring subsistence than by a return to
the practice of those vices for which they were ori-
ginally committed—( Hear, hear.)—lt was true that
some asylum was afforded by the charitable in-
stitution of the Refuge for the Destitute ; it was true
that hundreds had been saved by that humane esta-
blishment ; but it was lamentable to reflect upon the
small proportion on which its benefits could opera:e,
when compared with the whole amount of the inl-
viduals thrown without provision upon society. The
number of transportations and capital convictions
which had grown up under this system was immense.
The House was probably not aware that, from the
year 1816 to 1818, no less than 3,600 had been seat
to Botany Bay, and that from the year 1798, it had
cost the country no less than four millions to defray
the expenses of transportation alone --(hear, hear.)--
It was extraordinary to think, yet not less extraor-
dinar), than true, that the more every part of the
system of Government was inquired into upon thL:e
subjects, the more it would be found to be defective
land rotten. But the most surprising consideration
of all was, upon what principle of life a machine so
defective in itself could have been so long kept to-
gether—(hear, hear.)—lt was extraordinary that the
first step in the Police department should be exe-
cuted by deputy—he alluded to the office of Con-
stable; but still he was disposed to attribute the want
of a good Police not to the neglect of those in the
higher situations, but to the conduct of those in
the inferior.—He next alluded to the plan adopted
in the Licensing of Public Houses, according so
which, acting upon the vulgar prejudice that por-
ter was the natural beverage of the people of &Is
country, they were obliged to keep tap-rooms, in
order to avoid the refusal of their licenses as gin-
shops. These ale-houses were k..rwn to be the haunts
of profligacy ; yet they would not oily exist in nn
undiminished number, but go on pro:'re:sively in-
Icreasing until the law was altered on that subject—
(hear, hear.)—He concluded w:th expressing a hope
that the result of this inquiry would be to alter the
present system in the management of gaols, which,
instead of contributing to the refOrmation of °lite-
ders, operated to their further corruption and deva-
dation, by compelling the association of new oaen-
ders with the oldest and most hardened in crir e
He then moved that the Report should be print..d.
General THORNTON complimented the floe.
Gendeman on his attention to this subject, and ex-
pressed his opinion in favour of the itztended inves-
tigation of the Police of the Metropolis.
Alr. BtNNer's motion was then agreed to.

INSOLVENTS.
Sir S. ROMILLY presented a Petition from a per-
son of the name of Robert Cole, who was confined for
debt, complaining of having been improperly delayed
from the benefit of the Insolvent Debtors' Act. lie
expressed a high respect for the Learned Gentleman
who 'presided in that Court, but conceived, if the al-
legation of the Petition were correct, that he had
acted on a misconception of the law in this case. Ac-
cording to the law, as it stood, an insolvent was,
after the period prescribed, intitled to his discharge,
unless he was proved guilty of any fraudulent trans-
action towards his creditors. The charge against
this individual was, that he had paid a certain pro-
portion of debt to all his creditors but one, and from
that one he had withheld it on a conviction that his
claim was not just. Upon this ground he was re-
manded, and without any prospect of release, as far
as he could see. The Act of Parliament also reouised
that notice should be given to the prisoner of
grounds upon which his enlargement was refu'.'cl.
No such notice was given to hint, and the inference
from the whole case was, that the Learned Gentle-
man at the head of that Court had acted c:roneouely,
though he was persuaded he had done so without the
slightest disposition to oppress an individual, cr to
conduct himself otherwise than the law, in his opi-
nion, rendered imperative upon him.
The Petition was ordered to lie cn the table.
. Mr. BROUGHAM presented a Pe:ition from a
person of the name of John Dodd, praying for a rc-
peal of the Insolvent Debtors' Act upon the gronnd
of several injurious enactments contained in the Bail.
The ATTORNEY-GENLRAL observed, that it
would be necessary to continue the piincip:e of 's.:
Act, though it would probably require some alte:-:.-
tica in its details.

CASS CP MR. O'HANLAN.
Mr. BROUGHAM presented a Petition from
O'Hanlan, of Newry, in Ireland, complairAng of ::.e
undue exercise of the discretionary power vested
the Lord Chancellor and Attorney-General of he-
land, for the appointment and removal of Jostices of
the Peace. He said that he had promised, in t:.e
course of last Session, to bring this subject under the
consideration of the House, but was prev.mted from
doing so by the interference of other duties. For the
present he should consent himself with moving that
the Petition should be printe.i, with a view to grono.