Star.
London, England, 1828-01-21 00:00:00

:. .

not been thought sufficient to compensate' for the irre-
parable injury whicKthe _best interests of the Colony
might sustain from some of the enactments, to which
I have [macula* referred. Even were the law ono's•
jectionebte on every other ground, it would be impos-
sible to surmount,.the.difficalty presented by the clauses
for restraining religious liberty. • 1 have the honour to
be, Sir, your most obedient humble Servant
Mimed) HUSKISSON.
Lieut. Governor Sir John Keane, !Leaf, &c. &c.
After the letter had been read in the House of As•
sembly, at their Meetiug, by Proclamation, on the 13th
of November.
Mr. ATKINSON rose and said. that he congratulated
the House—he congratulated the country—on this Mes•
sage having been sent down to the House. He hoped
the House would coalesce, and be unanimous in ob-
jecting to the whole of the suggestions now submitted
to them, and form a determination in carrying through
the provisions,of the law, which they had so laboriously
and zealously framed last year, purposely to meet the
views of the British Government, as it was now evident
nothing they could do would satisfy our enemies. There
was not a single passage in Mr. Huskisson's letter which
was not objectionable; and he therefore trusted the
House would have but one view of it, that it should be
printed, and that a call of the House should take place
to have it fully discussed.
Mr. HYSLOP said, that it was the duty of the Lieut.-
Governor to send down to the House any instructions
he may have received from his Msjesty's Government,
and that it would only be the usual courtesy to allow
the Message to lie on the table.
Mr. ATKINSON said, he did nit refer to the Lieut.-
Governor, but to the Message itself, which was objec-
tionable.
Mr. Cox moved that 500 copies of Mr. Haskisson's
letter should he panted, to be disseminated throughout
the island. that the general sense of the inhabitants re-
specting it might be obtained, which was agreed to.
Mr. ATKINSON was repeatedly cheered during his
speech ; and his proposition was agreed to with accla-

tnations.
The following are the clauses contained in the law
which refers to the Sectarians--
83. And whereas it has been found that the practice of ignorant,
superstitious, or designing slaves, of attempting to instruct others,
has been attended with the most pernicious consequences, and even
with (helms of life:—De it enacted, that any slave or slaves, found
guilty of preaching or teaching as Anabaptists, or otherwise, without
a permission from their owner and the Quarter SeWns for the
parish in which such preaching or teaching takes place,, ,for
be
punished in such manner as any three Magistrates may deem proper,
by whipping er imprisonment in the workhouse to hard labour.
84. And whereas the mumbling of slaves and other persons,
after dark, at places of meeting belonging to dissenters from the
established religion, and other persons professing to be teachers of
religion, has bees found extremely dangerous, and great 'facilities
are thereby given to the Mitsui= of plots and conspiracies, and
the health of the slaves and other persons has been injured in travel-
ling to and from such places of meting at late hours in the night
Be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, that from and after
the commencement of this act all such meetings between sunset and
sunrise shall be held and deemed unlawful, and any Sectarian, Dis-
senting Minister, or other pawn professing to be &teacher of ref&
gigs, who shall, contrary to this act, keep open any such places of
meeting between sunset and sunrise fur purpose aforesaid, of per-
mit or suffer any such nightly asiembly of slaves therein, or be
present thereat, shall forfeit and pay a sum not less than twenty
pessnds, or exceeding fifty pounds, for each uffesce, to beeecovered
in a summary manner before any three Justices, by,warrant of
distress and sale, one moiety thereof to be paid to the informer,
who is hereby declared a competent witness, and the other moiety
to the poor of the parish in which such offence stall be committed,
and in default of payment thereof, the said Justices are hereby
empowered and required to commit such offender or offenders to
the common gaol for any space of time not exceeding one calendar
month. Provided always, that nothing herein contained shall be
deemed or taken to prevent any minister of the Presbyterian kirk,
or licensed minister, from performing Divine worship at any time
before the hour of eight o'clock in the evening at any licensed place
of worship, or to interfere with the celebration of Divine Worship
according to the rites and ceremonies of the Jewish and Roman
Catholic religions.
85. And whereas, under pretence of offerings and contributions,
large sums of money and other chattels have -been extorted by
designing men, professing to be teachers of religion, practising one
the ignorance and super • 'on of the negroes in this island, to their
great loss and impoverishment—And whereas an ample provision is
already made by the public and by private persons for the religious
instruction of the slaves—Be it enacted by the authority aforesaid,
that front and after the commencement of this Act it shall not be
lewful tor any dissenting Minister, religious teacher, or other person
whatsoever, to demand or receive any money or other chattel what-
soever from any slave or slaves within this island, for affording
such slave or slaves religious instruction, by way of offering cootri•
bastions, or under any other pretence whatsoever; and if any person or
persons shall, contrary to the true intent and meaning of this Act,
offend herein, such person or persons shall, upon conviction, berme
any three Justices, forfeit and pay the sum of 2bi. for each offence,
to be recovered in a summary manner, by warrant of distress and
seleosndet the hands‘ind seals of the said Justices, one moiety
thereof to be paid to the informer, who is hereby declared a com-
petent witness, and the other moiety to the poor of the parish in
which such offence shall be committed; and, in default of payment,
the said Justices are hereby empowered and required to commit
such offender or offenders to the common gaol for any space of tittles
sot exceeding one calendar mouth.

r‘A •

LISBON PAPERS.

' LISBON, Jar. 7.
The Gazette contains an extract from the diipatches
Of the Portuguese Minister at Vienna, enclosing an
article from the Vienna Gazette, which announces the
departure of Don Miguel, and speaks in high terms cf
the esteem which his Rnyal Highness has acquired
during Ilk three yeas' ' evidence in that capital.'
;Ir. Io.—The Gazette' announces the 'departure of
' -Miguel from Cal4ll on the 27th of December.
. ' •
. SWIIINGS OF THE CDAMBERS.—CHAMBER OF
DEPUTIES, Jaw. tS. '
The order of the day was the pi ojfct of law for the
ittPression of abuses of the liberty of the press, of which
fen articles were discussed. At the close of this sitting,
Senhor Chapuzet addressed the Chamber and said, that
having arrived at Lisbon on the 27th of linriary last
year, he ought to have appeared to take his seat in the
Chat)aber, but that he was prevented by an accusation
Os* against him, and that every 'means which despo-
tism AM vengeance could suggest bad been put in
force against him, but in vain. The crime imputed to
him at as his having sent a deputation to Rio, to corn,
pliaient Don Pedro, as Ring of Purtugal, while the
Goveintn:nt of the kingdom was carried on .in his
Majevty's nacre, and though he had on previous occa•
sioos sent two deputations to King John VI., which
were rely well received. He stated that he had drawn
tip a memoir ea this subject, which he could no: pubs.
lish: Ott account of the ethical state of Portugal and
'Vim 'cehrishio he 'bereft)! i requested it might be depov
'test in the archives of the Chamber, and begged the
erotica to read it. tie expressed a hope that the
. ty Oftheptess would allow of its being published.
At leas ordered to be deposited in the archives.
• ts„ . Pi lig• T.—Realtor Guerreiro introduced a prefect of
lay for the provisional reforniation of the modes of
siting persons for crimes committed,
.The debate on the law respecting the press %velum-
. 'fired as far as the fOth Article.
t .
'' JAN. B.—The divcusion was continued as far as
4rc tide 24. A Committee was appointed to examine
answer to the speech from the throne: •
Jas. 10..—The debate on the law of the press was
rissued
at ued to article 27. Several 'members spoke at
kat length. The debate was continued in the follow-
sag sitting.

~.

FREINCH PAI PRS. .
•
PROM Tag' INOINTZUIL
New Miaistert have been called to the Ggvernment
by the con6deaee of the King.. A general disposition
is shown to believe in their purity of intentions, their
devotedness to the Prince, and their respeci for the
Charter. People without difficulty, acknowledge in
them some capacity for affairs; but it is asked.if, taken
as a whole, they correspond with the state of the coon-
try ? and in looking on one side at their names, and
on the other at the lists of the Legislative Chambers,
some doubts are raised regarding an agreement, without
which all the rest is nothing.
The opinions which have reached us respecting the
composition of the elective chamber, are too incomplete
to admit a possibility of forming with regard to it a
definitive judgment. Nevertheless, we must acknow-
ledge that this thamber is divided into several fractions
which differ among themselves both in number and
opinions.
In such a state of things, the formation of the Coun-
cil must have created serious embarrassments. It was
necessary to inquire what body of men could offer the
certainty of a parliamentary majority, the first necessity
of a Constitutional Government.
Some persons had conceived the idea of a mixed
Ministry, the members of which should be chosen not
only in parties of different opinions, but even in parties
of contrary opinions. This project, examined with
attention, offered no reasonable hope of success ; other
plans were• successively produced, but all were sue.
rounded with difficulties of different natures.
What was to be done in such a case ? To set aside
both names and figures and all calculations of this kind,
and to look for success in things themselves. It became
necessary to ask from the majorityof the country, the
majority in the Chambers.
The desire of the majority of the country does not
attach itself to combinations of proper names more or
less dexterously conceived. What it asks before all
things, and above all things, is a firm and moderate
Ministry, prudent in its plans of conduct, and sincere
iss their.execution. What is of importance to it is, that
the Ministry should know how on the one hand to se-
cure respect for the dignity of the Crown and the Royal
authority, without which there is neither protection nor
safety ; and on the other, to maintain the loyal and
frank execution of the charter. A Ministry which shall
march io this path with a firm step—which will ac-
knowledge no power but legal power—which shall busy
itself with our institutions only for the common interest
of the throne and the citizens—which shall seek salutary
advice and repel nothing but dangerous principles and
pretensions, unjust or exaggerated—such a Ministry
need Dot trouble itself in making calculations to obtain
a Parliamentary majority. That majority will come to it.
The Administration newly formed will address itself
to honest men—to the sincere friends of the King and
the Charter. It will show them with frankness and
freedom the road in which it desires to march, and will-
propose to them to follow it, at the same time enlight-
ening it. It will ask no favour for itself—it will demand
justice for its acts; and in the two French Chambers,
whose meeting approaches, it will be sure to find it.
There if no doubt it will still have adversaries, and
even enemies. The second day after its formation it
was subjected to a tax at least premature. It must not
be alarmed at them. In France we are clear sighted,
and the country cannot long be abused. Oppositions
which should have other motives than the general in-
terest would soon be judged and condemned.
tram Till GAZUTTE DIC /RANCE, JAN. 19.
BERLIN, Jas. 10.
The State Gazette of this slate contains the following
article :
" In order to remove all doubts that may arise re-
spectiog the manner in which Prussia has acted in the
negotiations which have taken place at Constantinople
in consequence of the Treaty of London of July 6, we
are authorized to publish the following translation of
the instructions given on the 17th of August to the first
'atm preter of the Prussian Legation for the declaration
which he was ordered to make to the Reis Effendi,
adding, for the information of our readers, that the
Prussian Minister at Constantinople has not ceased, np
to the end. of the negotiations, to act in the spirit of
those instructions, and with the same zeal.
" Translation of the Ishtrections given to one of the Dragomans of
the Prussian negation, dated August 17:
Tra will 'go to morrow to the Reit Effendi, and
will make to him from me the following communication:
64 In a memorial delivered to the Sublime Porte on
the 12th March this year, at the moment when the re-
presentatives of France, England. and Russia had just
cemmunicated to it the Protocol of The 4th of April,
1826, I develord with frankness, and without the least
reseree, the considerations which ought to determine
the Sultan to accept the means offered to him for the
pacification of Greece. I have represented these means
as the only possible source for preventing the crisis
which its friends endeavoured to spare it, and the con-
'sequences of which might be incalculable. Lastly,
having exhausted all the arguments which were in fa•
your of the adoption of the proposals of the All:ed
Courts, I have net dissembled to his Excellency the
Reis Effendi my sincere conviction, that even an abso-
lute refusal on the part of the Divan would make no
change whatever in the protocol signed by the Powers;
and that in the end, imperious necessity would impose
upon Europe the obligation to cut the knot which
friendship and good .vill had endeavoured to unloose.
"Instead of profiting by these salutary proposals,
which the Porte received at the same time train its
real friends, the Divan exaggerating to itself its own
resources, has thought fit to reject the counsels of friend-
ship. It has not considered either the desires, the alarms,
or even the real wants, which have been laid before it;
and by opposing to a long series of action!, dictated by
kindness and regard, a series of refusals, they have
forced three great Powers to seek for means to provide,
in another manner, for the tranquillity of Europe.
Thus the protocol of the 4th of April 'last year has
been followed by the treaty of thelth July this year.—
Thus new refusals and new events will lead to new
combinations, new dispositions, and new measures, till
the Porte shall acquire the conviction that the pacifica-
tion of Greece, which is absolutely necessary to Europe,
is so in a still higher degree to 'the Ottoman Empire in
particular. Thus the Porte, by persisting in rejecting the
just ond conciliatory propositions which have hitherto
been mark to it by the three Courts, will force the latter
their interest, their power, and their dig-
to consult only
nity. Then the affair will take another turn ; conditions
Mill succeed to offers, necessity 'will put an end to re-
gard, and fc rte will triumph over a resistance which

reason and friends,4in have in vain endeavoured to sub-
due. This future/urn is as gear and inevitable as it is
gloomfand alarming, if tit% Porte persists in disdaining
the counsels which its friends give to it for the last time.
It is still time to avert the imminent dangers which
have been drawn upon the Ottoman empire, by reiterated
refusals to yield to the necessity which every day be.
comes more urgent. Yet time presses, events proceed,
and it would not be the first time that the rapidity with
which they succeed would have led to combination*
which the most upright policy of the Cabinets coo'.d
neither foresee nor prevent. May the Divan then accept
the proposals which the representatives of the Courts of
France, England, and Russia made to it in their joint
note which they yesterday presented to it I May it take
the helping hand which its friends hold out to it, meet
their overtures with confidence, and be at length con-
vinced that the only means of securing its rights, its
interests, and its dignitydrom every violation, would be
to receive with good will and cordiality.proposalsv.hich
have no other object than to put an end-to a state of
things which becomes absolutely incompatible, with the
true interests of the Porte, the security of commerce,
arkd the perfect tranquillity of Europe.
" His Excellency the Reis Effendi is not ignorant
that Prussia has not signed the treaty concluded at Lon-
don on the 6th of July this year. This circumstance
ought to be an additional guarantee to it of the impar-
tirdity'and disinterestedness which characterize the ad.
*ice that, by the express orders of the King our august
Sovereign, I lay before him on this important occasion.
Prussia has not changed in any respect its dispositions
towards the Divan, nor will it change them; but it de-
sires what its
.allies desire—it desires the object which
France, Great Britain, and Russia have proposed, by
seeking to secure peace both within and without the
Ottoman empire, that of stopping a deplorable effusion
of bli;od, of preserving Christian people from destruc-
tion, and of removing the elements of disorder and di-
vision which have already too lung threatened the re-
pose of Europe. 1 therefore, for the last time, beg the
Turkish Ministry no longer to deceive itself respecting
the position of the parties. It must now know the de
sires of the three Powers who have signed the treaty.
It cannot be ign .rant that these Powers possess all the
means necessary to realize them ; but it ought to under-
stand at the same time what fate the Porte prepares for
itself, if it obstinately persists in rejecting the warnings,
the counsels, and even the entreaties of its friends.
" Yon will deliver to his Excellency the Reis Effendi
an authentic copy of these in,tructions."

Iftiob