Star. — 1824-04-15 (London, England)

SMITH., We are far from impugning the conduct of the Officers of the Court Martial, or doubting that they were men of honour and acted conscientiously ; but we do not think there is that evidence of Mr. SMlllt'S knowledge of the revolt, much less his abetting it, that would have obtained from a Jury a verdict of Guilt) ; and yet we do think, that a Court Martial is much less likely to be influenced either by fears or by prejudices, than any Court that could be formed in a Colony, consisting of only two other classes of society ; slave owners and slaves. The Cpurt Martial recommended Mr. SArtur to mercy, and no sooner was the Government at home put in piassession of the facts of the case than mercy was promptly extended by his MAJESTY'S gracious pardon. Unhappily, however, the unfortunate individual did not live to recei►e the benefit of it, and he died under sentence of death. All that can be done for his memory is done in the publication of the whole of the evidence, and it will perhaps be the best vindication of his character that could be given to the Public.  Lisbon Papers to the 27th ult. reached us this morning. They contain a long decree issued by the King of PORTUGAL, 'evoking scme former regulations made by the Constitutional Government; but as they are entirely of a local nature, they possess no interest to the English reader. These papers contain no intelligence from Brazil.  We are happy to find the Ministers continuing to relieve the Statute Book of some absurd laws, which in a less enlightened age were enacted. Last night, in the House of Conim(ins, Mr. Luenitioron obtained leave to bring in a Bill to repeal the ridiculous and vexatious laws relating to Hides and Skins, by which, if a butcher in flaying the skin made a hole in it, he was not only punished by the depreciation of the value of the hide, but by a heavy fine for his carelessness or want of skill. The Statute Book wants an epuiation of this sort, and w e are glad to see Ministers persevering in it.  We were never among those who thought the French crusade against Spain calculated to restore permanent tranquillity to that benighted country. In vain have the French journalists cried out peace when there was no peace, and they are now compelled to acknowledge that party rancour is -as violent as ever, and that the presence of the invading force is necessary to preserve quiet even in the capital. The accounts from Spain in the latest French journals give a melancholy picture of the state of party feeling in that unhappy country. At Seville and Cordova, a number of persons, known for their attachment to the Constitutional cattle, have been barbarously massacred by the fanatical party. At the latter place a project was formed for a general massacre of the Constitutionalists ; and the 19th of March, being the day of the feast of Sr. Joseph, was appointed for the perpetration of this horrible deed. The plot, however, was happily, in a great degree, unsuccessful, as the Papers inform us that ten persons only fell vie• rims to the steel of the murderers. At Seville, twenty persons imprisoned for political offences have been murdered. By the accounts from Valencia, it does not appear that any assassinations have been perpetrated there; but the Exaltados (the Church and Royalist party) had thrown into dungeons a great number of individuals, distinguished for their wealth and station in society. These most horrid accounts are given in the Madrid Papers, which are reluctantly compelled to take notice of the alarming state of the three abovementioned cities. The decree of amnesty is again spoken of—as being delayed. On the 31st of last month, the French ttoops garrisoning Madrid were relieved by a corps of Spaniards ; but the former resumed their duty on the next day, it not being considered safe tp trust the garrison to the care of the national troops. It is expected that FERDINAKD will reside at Aranjuez for several months.  The intelligence from Spain via Bayonne, to the 6th instant, is of the same character as that in the French Papers. An affray has taken place at Puycerda, between a party of Spanish Royalists and a corps of French troops,who came to take possession of the place. The S,panlards forcibly resisted this measure, and the result was an action, in which some blood was spilt.— The French troops whose departure from Madrid bas been often alluded to, are, it seems, still to remain there, it nut being thought advisable to lose the protection v.-.::h they afford both to the Government and people.