The Statesman.
London, England, 1822-07-31 00:00:00

'lumber of vessels taker, that be thought the importance'
of the question consitted. It was the injury done to
commerce in raising the rate of insurance on commodi-
ties sent to those quarters of the globe. Besides these
eoeiiderations. there was some inducement to speedy
and vigorous action in the circumstances of barbarity'
awl horror whilst' accompanied the depredations that
had been committed. He hoped therefore, that these
thiogs considered, the most effectual means would be
taken to enforce the execution of the orders which bad
been given.
Mr. tams said, that orders had already bees
'sent to thetitt. Another letter had boas received
from the ' h Government. expressing in strong
terms, thole disapprobation of the acts in question;
bet previously to that an order had been sent to the Ad-
miral to look to the execution of the orders.
Dr. PHILLIMORB sincerely hoped that the right of
search. a sight which we bad been so long contending
for. and which actually formed the foundation of the
rights of nations at the present day. would not be re-
lased in the slightest degree. He rather deprecated the
language of the petitioning merchants, on the subject of
a war in which Chit country was not engaged. A new
War had arisen for the first time in twelve years, in
which we were not ingsged,and oar right of search un-
der such circumstances did mot extend quite so far as is
other cases. We had acknowledged these countries as
ficiketo States, and therefore the Belligerents bad a
right to declare blockades, and carry vessels into port
lender adverse colours, to abide the decisionsof law. It
appeared to him an extravagant proposition to call is
other flags to protect the vessels of this nation being
amoral. Them English Wends that navigated Weigel
sets under the Speen!' Msg. did so at their owo risk.—
Pirates were the enemies of all nations. and for any de-
predations committed by them they were amenable to
the parent States.
After a few words from Mr. Foists the Petition was
brought up.
Mr. MARRYATT said, that it was not the Under-
writers bat the Ship-owners that sent this petition. The
Underwriters had a means of protection always within
their power. by raising their premiums.
Sir G. COCKBURN explained, and the Petition was
then read, and ordered to be printed.
A Message from the Lords announced their Lordships'
Assent to the Alien Bill and other Bills.
Mr. WETHERELL gave notice of a motion, for early
sett Session, to render it competent (as we understood)
to Members to move for a Committee to consider of
amendments made in the Lords to Bills sent to them
from lb,: Commons.

PIIISONIIII3 IN !VDU.
HLJME rose to move for a return of the number
of persons at present imprisoned in Bombay, distinguish-.
ins those conined ender the sowers of a military or
civil tribunal. He desired to have this return with re-
ference to some unfortuoste captives is prison at this
place under eircomatances of great hardship. He al-
luded to a body of natives takes out of a place called
Ben {loo Alli,in Arabia, last rear. They were the cap-
ves of a military expedition under Oes. Smith, who
proceeded agaisst them as a body of pirates, by the
l'ervian tiulf. He landed sixty miles from the place,
and, after attacking it. obliged the inhabitants to stir-
render at discretion. The consequence of this was that
they were all taken out of the town u prisoners, and
after a day's march or so from the place, the women
were sent adrift to shift for themselves, the men and
bays above five years of age oily being detained. A
number of them were delivered up to a native loan, and
herr lie thought be might fairly challenge the conduct
of the otieer who gave them op. since they had surren-
dered themselves only to the Bntisli. The rest were car-
ried to Bombay, where they were all imprisoned—many
had died of disease, and there was every appearance of
its being the intention of their victors to keep them I.
perpetual confinement. Now they might hang them up
as pirates if they chose, but be did not think they were
entitled, by the laws of nations, to give them such a
punishment a► this. If the information he had received
was correct, it was a vary hard cue.

Mr. WYNN said that this was one of the cases
cg out of the operations of was. The origin of the
persecutions of these persons was their bar* nltle.,
dared the bearer of a flag of truce. la consequence of
this, an expedition against them basing failed, another
was sent under the command of fi I Smith, by whom
it was condneted in a manner the most skilful and ere.
datable. They were ready to surrender the forvess,
and give up the individuals concerned in the murder,
tot they could not agree also to deliver op their arms,
which in fact in tbat barbarious country would be tan.
tatnount to laying down their lives. In all that °enema
Smith had done, he was actuated by the most humane
motives. There were a great number of them carried
mamma to Bombay ; but by the last accounts steps had
twee taken to release them from confinement and restore
them to their possessions. The Court of Directors upon
receiving the stemma exp d their disapprobation of
sa hat had been done, and desired that every means should
he taken to restore what had been takeo away. He
feared it would not now be possible to restore their pos-
sessions to those people, but they might be amalgamated
in some other tribe. He was indeed sorry that more
effectual justice could not be done.
Mr. MONEY was sorry that this time of the Session
bad bees chosen to bring forward a subject of this kind,
when representations might get into the public prints on
the gallant. which there would he no means of answers
inc. The Hon. Member had made a distorted and
ex-
at:gerated statement in saying that the persons in clues.
Eon were to he confined for life. There never was any
lea of the kind respecting them. He was glad, how-
ever, he had not gone on to inculpate General Smith
who was a most distinguished officer. The tribe be
bail pet down carried on • piracy marked by every atro-
city that could be conceived towards tho British flag,
without regard to rank, age, or sex, and the power of
these inhuman monsters had been long a disgrace to the
British forces in that quarter.
Mr. BENNET said, that kis lion. Friend bad made
no accusation against General Smith. There were anauy
tirenntetances he wished to bear explained.
Ur. Pill LLI MORE rose to deprecate any discussion
on this subject.
Mr. FORBES thought it wonld have been more ap-
propriate if the llononrahle Member bad merely moved
for tbe papers, without making any ob ions of the
stature he had indulged in. lie thought it was neither
fair nor just that charges should be hung up to the
world against O I Smith during a period of six
months, without the means of answering them. No
man was more lenient, or more incapable of a cruel ac-
tion, than this officer. He bad done all lie could So
prevent the Hon. Member from bringing forward this
subject in the present Session, and from what passed be.
twist lain, and the Hot.. Member last night, he thought
he had succeeded.

The motion was then agreed to.
Mr. HUME said, he had pat the information he had
vcceiteif into the hands of the Honourable Gentleman
opposite two months ago. The last accounts he had re-
ceived confirmed the view he had then taken; lint, as
he had promised. in bringing it forward, be had not
entered into discussion. Nor bailie, in any way, made
hostile obseivatious against any individuals. He wished
to move for a copy of the Memorial of the Chief, but if
there were any objection he would refrain.
Mr. WYNN certainly objected' to ez porte statements,
such as this document must contain, lying on the table
daring the reeess.
Mr. HUME then mowed for • Return of all Persons
conford in ladle by order of the Governor its Council,