The Statesman.
London, England, 1824-02-06 00:00:00

DEMERARA.

Letters and papers from Detnerara to the. 25th of De-
cember were received yesterday. The events of the Christ-
mas holidays (the negro..s being allowed eight days of
feasting and idleness) were so much dreaded, that the
Governor had prohibited the negroes on the east coast
from engaging in their usual sports. and had recom-
mended the vlanters to refrain from their allowances of
tom. &C.
The Cato transport. with 200 men of the 934 regiment,
arrived there on the 18th; bat, contrary to expectation
generally entertained in consequence of the assurances
made by Lord Bathurst, were only to remain there until
the expiration Christmas holidays, when they were to pro-
reed to Barbadeea. The militia continue to do duty in
George Town. and the red flag was still dying. on which
aremint the greeter part of the warehouses were closed;
but business was beginning to revive, and the whole of the
colony nag tranqnilosith the exception of the eastern part,
the spot where the insurrection first broke our, and the
cause of which is explained in an extract from a letter
quoted belew. Sahjoined will also be found extracts from
the Guiana Chronicle of the 17th Dec., among which is a
letter from Lord Bathurst to the Governor of Demerara, on
the snlject of the insurrection.
STTRACT OP A LETTER. DATED DEMERARA, DEC. 25.
" It wei fully expected here that the late revolt of the Ne•
groes would have made a serious sensation in Europe, and
materiel!), bhecked the conidence and credit of the merchants
in England. The looked-for proclamation in the name of the
King has at length appeared in print, but it is coached in such
indecisive, nay, ambiguous terms, that we are all convinced it
Mill not hue the least beaeficial effect oil the minds of the
Negroes.
- The promised assistance of military force by Government
has ended in disappointment, as we have now to petition for a
dettchment of those which, though anchored before the river,
were immedately ordered to Barbadoes, and the merchants,
consequently. who have all through the progress of the Tate
Inset's/Mien performed military duty, will be compelled, to
their great inconvenience, to continue to do so.
At the publication of the Governor's proclamation, by
which the Negroes on the east coast (where the insurrection
commeneed)are forbidden to dance during the Christmas holy-
days. they have behaved in a very disorderly manner, and de-
clared that they would dance in spite of the Governor's order.
At plantation Nahaelia, SO have been confined in the stocks
and that riotous spirit is so prevalent on that coast, that regu-
lar troves have been detached there to keep the Negroes in awe
lid the holidays are over."
Extract of another Letter, dated Demerara, Dec.23.—Mar-
tial law is expected to be discontinued after the Slat instant.
If the present storming and agitated state of this Colony
wild allow of a jest, the following is one very current in
Geortte Town. The negroes being on the wharfs, seeing
detachments of the Scotch regiments landing, stated, " their
friend King George must have been in a great hurry in sending
out the soldiers, as they had been sent off in such haste that
they had not time to put on their breeches."
,(From the Guiana Chronicle of Dec. 17.)
PROCLAMATION
DS HIS EXCELLENCY MAJOR-GENERAL JOHN MURRAY,
LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR AND COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF IN
AND OVER THE UNITED COLONY OF DEMERARA AND ES-
SEQLFRO, &C. &C. &C.

- -
Ills Majesty having been pleased to convey to me, through
the Right Honourable the Earl Bathurst, K.G., Principal
Secretary of State for War and Colonies, his royal approval
of the measures adopted in consequence of the late unfortu-
nate occurrences among the slaves on the east coast of this
colony, and his satisfaction at the zealous and praiseworthy
conduct of the officers, both civil and military, by whose exer-
tions the rebellion has been happily put a stop to, and order
rt miitablisited in this colony, as well as his Majesty's deep
regret at the daring and highly criminal conduct of those
slates who have participated in the late revolt, has commanded
veto make known to the slave population of these settlements
as expressly from his Majesty, and in his name, that it is on
the peaceable temperate, and industrious behaviour of the
slave population, and on their anxiety to avail themselves of
all means calculated to improve their moral and religlotra eon• '
dithstl,that the success of those measures intended for their
anankliabenelit necessarily depends; and that c.O opposite line
Of radar/A will forfeit all their claims on the liberality of the
British. Parliament. and deprive his Majesty's Government of
ti,e means of carrying into effect the resolutions which have
been unanimously adopted by the House of Commons.
I have therefore thi ught fit. in this name of his Most Gracious
Vojesty the King, to cause this my proclamation to be printed
o• ii made public ; commanding all persons having charge of
any slaves in this colony, to make known to them he contents
ut, immediately, fur their guidance.
Given under my hand and seal of office, at the King's house,
in tit urge Town, this 18th day of December, IS2S, and in the
hunt year of his Majesty's reign.
God save the King !
By command, JOHN Munnar, Gov. Sees

(copy.)
Downing Street. London, Oct. 23, 1823.

_ .
Su —On the 28th of May last, I transmitted to yon, by
f.'s wand of his Majesty, certain resolutions respecting the
io-lioration of the condition of the slave population in his
111,ijesty's colonies, which hail been unanimously agreed to
I y the Home of Commons, on the 15th of that mouth.

In the despatch which accompanied those resolutions,
vim were instructed to call the immediate attention of the
authorities in the colony under your own government
to the best means of gradually accomplishing their object,
end of commencing the proposed system of melioration'
in the manner pointed out in that despatch. But at the
1..111, time, in order to prevent these intentions in favour of
14e slaw poi ulation from being frustrated by any proceed-
iLzs on their part, into which they might be unwarily led
by hjaellievous and unfounded representations, you were
orim4l, in case of any appearance of insurrectionary
put hely to notify for their information
"1 hat the various measures contemplated by his Majesty's
I:over:4llpm for the melioration of their rendition, and
f..r 'tip object of progressively qualifying them for an ex-
tension ut privileges. would he rendered utterly abortive
ir any general misconduct or acts of insubordination on
ll;tir part."
The late accounts from the colony under your govern-
ment, bare been receiveo by the King with the deepest re-
gret, and his Majesty has commanded nip to instruct you to
Proclaim, n the receipt of this, in the most public manner,
as by the express command of his Majesty, conveyed to you
by the Secretary of State—,‘ That it is on the peaceable,
temperate, and industrious behaviour of the slave popnla-
lion, and on their anxiety to arail themselves of all means
elculated to improve their moral and religious condition,
!hat the success of those measures intended for their special
b nelit teccssarily depends : and that an opposite line of
e•nduct will forfeit all their claims on the liberality of the
.
iilish Parliament, and deprive his Majesty'. Government
st, 'Le means of carrying into effect the resolutions
have been unanimously adopted by the House of
Cult:none."
At.d you will take every means of circulating this
.pro-
collation, and of making Its tenour completely and (solver-
Lily known.
I have the honour to be, Sir, your most obedient
iumble servant,
(Signed) BATHURST.
To Major-General Mnrray,