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ANNUAL REGISTER

I
orn A VIEW or THE [4

mot 8.1 OR: Y,
POLLTd G5,

AND
LITERATURE
For the YEAR 1816.

LONDON:

PRINTED FOR BALDWIN, CRADOCK, AND JOY;

OTRIDGE; J. CUTHELL; LONGMAN, HURST, REES, ORME, AND BROWN;
B. JEFFERY ; LACKINGTON, ALLEN, AND CO.}; J. BELL}; J. ASPERNE}
AND SHERWOOD, NEELY, AND JONES,

1817.

a eS

<m he

A.

Machine, —

aud Son’s Patent

Bensley
Bolt Court, Fleet Street,

~ Printed by

P. RE By Aq Gris

— prevalence throughout Europe of a state
of general peace, to which universal exhaustion
promises a long and secure continuance, limits the his-
tory of the year 1816, with one brilliant exception, to
a relation of occurrences domestic and political.

One of the most remarkable features of the parlia-
mentary year, was a defeat of the minister of finance
in his motion for a renewal of the property tax. After
much had-been said in disparagement of the numerous
petitions against the tax, which were flowing in from
the different towns and counties, the whole was brought
to a close by a petition presented by Sir William Cer-
tis, and bearing the signatures of 22,000 merchants,
bankers, and traders of the city of London, united in
opposition to the measure, and the Chancellor of the
Exchequer, after a renewed attempt, seconded by the
ministerial influence in the house, for its support, was
obliged to submit to a counter-majority of 238 to 201.

A further advance towards a complete blending of
the interests of England and Ireland, was made by the
consolidation of the exchequers of the two countries,
carried by the ministry on the motion of Mr. Vesey
Fitzgerald, chancellor of the Irish exchequer.

Another important change was the introduction of a
new silver coinage into the kingdom, in which the de-
nomination of the coin was raised by the exaction of
a small seignorage ; sixty-six instead of sixty-two shil-
lings being now allowed to the pound troy.

From these and other points of permanent regula-

AQ tion

iv PREFACE.

lation, the attention of the two houses was forcibly
withdrawn by the urgent, and apparently unforeseen,
symptoms of suffering which broke out over the whole
face of the country, and in almost all classes of the
community.

During the earlier part of the year, the distress had
appeared particularly confined to the agricultural la-
bourers, at least the evils pressing upon them were
those which had almost exclusively engaged the atten-
tion of the parliamentary speakers. But as the season
advanced, and an unusual inclemency of weather
brought with it the prospect of a general failure in the
harvests of Europe, and a rapid rise in the corn market,
much more serious distress burst forth among the ma-
nufacturing poor, who began to murmur that their re-
duced wages would no longer satisfy them with bread.

By the sudden failure of the war-demand for a vast
variety of articles, which was not compensated as yet
by the recovery of any peace-market, foreign or domes-
tic, thousands of artisans were thrown out of employ-
ment, and reduced to a state of extreme want and pe-
nury. <A detestable spirit of conspiracy which mani-
fested itself in the early part of the year in the counties
of Norfolk, Suffolk, Huntingdon, and Cambridge, di-
rected against houses, barns, and rick-yards, which
were devoted to the flames, was probably the result of
a want of agricultural employment, joined to the love
of plunder. But the distressing scenes which after-
wards took place amongst the colliers of Staffordshire,
and the attempts made by the assembled workmen of
the iron manufacturing districts of South Wales, to
stop by force the working of the forges, arose from the
causes above referred to. In general, however, the
workmen conducted themselves without violence, and
received with gratitude the contributions made for
their relief,

The general sense of suffering found vent through-
out the country in meetings called for the purpose of
| discussing

PREFACE. Vv

discussing the causes and remedies of tliese evils, and
petitions for redress of grievances, for economy and
for parliamentary reform, poured in on all sides.

A meeting in Spa Fields, summaned for the avowed
object of petitioning the Prmce Regent, produced a dar-
ing insurrectionary attempt, by which the city was for
some hours thrown into a state of violent alarm, but it
was immediately checked by the spirited conduct of
the magistrates, and ended without difficulty by the
appearance of the military.

The expedition of Lord Exmouth to Algiers, added
fresh laurels to the triumphs of the British navy, and
animated for a moment the general gloom which was
fast gathering round our domestic prospects. It af-
forded to humanity the gratifying result of the aboli-
tion cf Christian slavery in all the piratical states of
Barbary ; and demonstrated that the present possessors
of Malta, with equal good-will, possess far more eflica-
cious means than the Order to which they have suc-
ceeded, of protecting the weaker European States on
the shore of the Mediterranean.

In France the undisguised violence and bigotry of
the emigrant party, more royalist than even the king
himself, and attaching itself almost exclusively to the
presumptive heir to the throne, appears very naturally
to have excited the jealousy of the sovereign. The re-
sult has been the dismission of the wtra ministry, and
the admission of the more liberal party toa share in the
administration ; an event which has added to the per-
sonal independence of the king, and has calmed in a
considerable degree the apprehensions, entertained by
the purchasers of national domains and_ ecclesiastical
property, of violent resumptions. |

The pirates of Greece, of Albania, and of other parts
of the Mediterranean, who during the war hoisted the
flag of one or other of the belligerent parties, and were
allowed to carry on their depredations under the ap-
pellation of privateers, have, as might be expected,

been

vi PREFACE.

been in no haste to suspend their profitable warfare;
hence the reports of insults and outrages committed on
the flags and territory of some of the smaller Italian
States; but which no doubt will speedily be repressed
by the interference of the superior powers.

The general and successful appeal which had been
made by the Sovereigns of the German States to the
great body of the people in throwing off the yoke which
had been imposed by the French armies, had been ac-
companied by the promise of a liberal reform in their
politicai institutions. Popular writers had been encou-
raged to arouse and create patriotic feelings by the
contrast between slavish submission to a detestable
foreign tyranny, and the acquiescence of freemen in a
constitution (conceded by the sovereign and ratified by
the several orders of the state) which, by adopting with
greater or less modifications, the principles of a repre-
sentative government, might, as far as human infirmi-
ties will permit, secure alike the legitimate rights both
of the rulers and of the people.

In the triumph that succeeded their military labours,
in the partitions and repartitions, in the intrigues and
squabbles consequent on the division of the spoil, or,
to use a diplomatic phrase, the adjustment of the in-
demnities, so much time was occupied as very naturally
to excite suspicions on the part of the Public, with
regard to the good faith of the Sovereigns. The im-
patience of the people increased in proportion to the
delay ; and according as the projected reforms were
supported in each state by the Military, the Nobility,
and the Clergy, the respective Sovereigns withstood
or yielded to the popular voice. Even under the most
favourable circumstances, however, the practical diffi-
culties of adjusting ancient and chartered privileges,
and conciliating them with the extended exercise of
equal lawand proportioned taxation, have been so great,
that the progress of reform has been, and must ne-
cessarily be, very slow. In Prussia and Wirtemburg,

and

PREFACE. Vil

and in some of the smaller States, the civil struggle has
commenced: what will be the final result it is impos-
sible to foresee: probably by no party, and in no state,
will the question be set at rest by the rude and open
interference of the sword ; and there seenis reason to
hope, that the changes which may result, will upon the
whole be for the general benefit of the community in
which they take place.

The prodigious exertions, during the late war, which
this country was enabled to make in proportion to its
population, are attributed pretty generally on the con-
tinent, to the enterprize of our merchants, and the
activity and diligence of our manufacturers and capi-
talists ; overlooking the liberality of our political in-
stitutions, the cause and consequence of that public
spirit, and private integrity, on which the prosperity of
the British ‘Empire essentially depends. Hence great
pains have been taken, particularly by Russia, to obtain
copies of our machinery, and to seduce our artisans.
The times have been favourable to these attempts,
which have been prosecuted with an openness and
success, that has excited the jealousy and alarm of our
manufacturers, though not of the Government. Pro-
bably most of these projects, like other similar ones,
will prove abortive: those who would raise oaks must
be content to plant acorns in the soil adapted to their
growth, and to wait in hope, in faith, and in patience,
for their late and robust maturity.

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GENERAL HISTORY.

CHAPTER I.

Parliamentary proceedings.—Speech of the Prince Regent.—Debate on the
address in the House of Commons.—Motion for naval monument.—Mr.
Brougham’s motion relative to the Christian treaty, and the treaty of
Vienna, Jan. 1815.—Financial exposition of the Chancellor of the Exche-
quer, and debates——Mr. Grenfell’s motion concerning transactions between
the public and the Bank of England.—Lord Grenville’s motion on the
peace establishment of the army.—Delbates on the same in the House of
Commons.—Navy estimates and debates. - - - = = {1

CH AP. . It,

Mr. Brougham’s motion for interposition with the Spanish court in favour of
the iene patriots.—Discussion in the House of Lords on motion for an
address on the treaties with foreign powers.—The same in the House of
Commons.—Petitions against the continuance of the Property Tax, and
debates.—Motion by the Chancellor of the Exchequer for its renewal, and
its defeat.—-Relinguishment of the war malt-duties—Mr. Western's mo-
tion for taking into consideration the distressed stute of the agriculture.—
Bill for the effectual detention of Buonaparte—Message of the Prince
Regent respecting the marriage of the Princess Charlotte with the Prince
of Cobourg, and consequent provision.— Motion respecting the augmentation
of the salaries of the Secretaries io the Admiralty.—Motion for abolishing
the office of one of the Secretaries of State. - a the - - {17

CHAP it:

Bank Loan Bill.—Bill for renewing the Bank Restrictions of Payment.—
Complaint on employing the Military on Court Days.- = - —~ {38

CHAP, Ty.

Motion concerning the State of Ireland.—Petitions from Irish and English
Roman Catholics, and Proceedings respecting them.—New Alien ok kG
AP.

x CONTENTS.
CHAP, V.

Bill for Regulation of the Civil List——Motion on Salaries and Emoluments
in Public Offices. —Consolidation of English and Irish Exchequers.—Bill
foranew Siluer Coinage - = = = © =e ws [56

CH A Pall,

The Bude se ee ate
CRAP. Vik

Revision of the Statute Book.—Motion on Extents in Aid.—Debates on the
Slave Registry Bill—Prince Regent's Speech on proroguing Parlia-
ment. - - = 25 he = = ~ = : = 84

CILAP. Vill.

Domestic Events —Calamitous state of Europe in general, and tts Cuuse—
Distresses of Great Britain.—Agricultural Distress, changing into that
proceeding from a lad Harvest.—Discontents among the infertor Classes.
Bee ities in the Eastern Counties, particularly Cambridgeshire.—
Sufferings among the Manufacturers.—Iron Manufactories.—Staffordshire.
—South Wales.—Spitalfields—Meetings for Petitioning—Daring Riot
in London.—Condition of Ireland.— Marriages in the Royal Family [91

C_H,A sR. ix,
British Expedition to Algiers - - = a = [97

CHUAN PE exe

Affairs of France.—Position of the Army of Occupation—State of Things
at Nismes.—Law of Amnesty —Obsequies of Louis XVI. and his Queen.—
Insurrectionary Movements at Lyons.—Disturbances at Tarrascon.—Plan
of National Education.—Parties in the Legislature-—Declaration of the
Majority in the Chamber of Deputies.—E£stablishment of the Duke of
Berri—lInsurrection at Grenoble.—Malcontents at Paris.—Tumult at Nis-
mes.—Affair of the Abbe Vinson—Dissolution of the Chamber of Deputies
and Convocation of a new one.— Suppression of Chateauhriand’s Work.—
Ministerial Influence in the Election—Anniversary in Memory of Marie
Antionette.—Opening of the Chambers, and King’s Speech.—Conclusion of
the Year. ees rari ie - - Nant SIO [106

GH A.R: Xe.

Affairs of the Netherlands.—Finances.—Debates in the States on Printing
Speeches.—System of Weights and Measures.—Sacred Alliance.—Ecclesi-
astical Affairs.—Restriction on the Press.—Treaty with Algiers —Discus-
sions respecting Commerce and Manufactures.—King’s Speech at Brussels
on the Finances.—Treaty lLetween the Netherlands and. Hanover.—Fortifi-
eras on the Frontiers—Delate on Exportation of Corn, and A ety

Lait). - - - - - - = - - - - 119

CHAP

CONTENTS. Xi
CHAP. XII.

Spain.— Weakness and Fluctuations of the Government—Character of the
King.—Change of Ministry.— Matrimonial Connections between the Courts
of Spain and Portugal—Conspiracy at Madrid.— Decree respecting Reli-
gious Orders.—Property of Jesuits restored.—Prisoners at Ceuta removed.
—Royal Nuptials —General Pardon, with great Exceptions.—Portugal :
its Commerce flourishing.—Brazil declared a Kingdom.—Naples.—Treaty
with the Piratical States.—Sicilian Papers excluded from Naples.—Trans-
actions with the United States of America.—Decree respecting the Political
Relations between the Kingdoms of Naples and Sicily.—Rome insulted by
Pirates and Banditti.—Torture forbidden in the Inquisitions—Security de-
clared to Purchasers of National Property.—Confiscation no longer per-
mitted to the Profit of the Inquisition —Negociations of the Church of Rome

with France.—Venice. - - - - [129

CHAP. XIII.

Germany.—Slow Progress in political Alteration.—Hanover, Annexation of
East Friseland, and Cession of Lauenterg—Order of Guelph— Assembly
of States.—Prussia.—Discussions relative to Representative Government.—
Restrictions on the Press.—Electorate of Hesse.—Continuance of Differ-
ences between the King and States of Wurtemberg.—Death of the former,
and Acts of his Successor.—Austria, financial Plan —Death of the Em-
press, and Marriage of another.—Germanic Diet.—Constitution of Wet-
mar.—Switzerland.—Diet.—Law in Friburg, - - = [136

Gat AcP. ExT:

Sweden and Norway.—Denmark.—Russia.—Ionian Islands. —Turkey. [145
CBA Po SN.

United States of America.—Opposition to the Commercial Bill with England.
—Treaties with the Indians.—Disputes with the Spanish Government.—
Decline of Manufactures.—Measures for restoring Payment in legal Cur-
rency.—Hostility on the Gulph of Mexico—President’s Message. [152

Cit AP. SEV TI:

Spanish America.—-Carthagena—Caracca.—lIsle of Margarita.—Buenos
Ayres-—Its Army defeated in Peru. —Its Fleet under Brown in the Pacific.
—Its Declaration of Tndependence.—Bolivar.—Army from Brazil takes
possession of Montevideo.—Mexico.—Venezuela—British West India Is-
lands.—Jamaica.—Insurrection in Barbadoes—Alarm in the other Colonies.
—Proceedings in St. Vincent, Demarara, Barbadoes’ General Assemlly,
Dominica, Tubaiee a ead ge Sr a en a, ee [157

CHAP. XVII.
East Indies.x—Renewal of Hostilities with the Nepaulese.—Actions, and
final “Lag, Seyi 4 in Cutch.—Insurrection at Bareilly.—Irrup-
tion from Mahratta.—China. - = = - = = = [166

CHRONICLE,

Xii CONTENTS.

CHRONICLE.

Births = 2 2 = is 2 & r x
Marriages - = = = 2 L 2 = &
Promotions = 2 = 2 < = = -
Deaths 2 2 a tes ® if e ve 2 y
Sheriffs - = < = = 5 : 2 3

Page 1

- 201
204
x 207

226

APPENDIX TO CHRONICLE.
ARTICLES FROM THE LONDON GAZETTE.

Dispatch from India.—Taking of Hurryherpore — -
— from Lord Exmouth—Bombardment of Algiers

—

REMARKABLE TRIALS any LAW

Slack vy. Slack.—Validity of a Will = ¥ = 2
Johnson v. Johnson.—Ditto - = s z =
Sturges v. Paterson.—A Legacy - - =

Ryan v. Iyan.— Concerning ; Lelters of Administr ation
Earl of Fife v. The Trustees of the deceased Earl of Fife
Glencross and Little, vy. Underhill. oe of a Will

Harrower. —Bigamy § 2 =
Blackmore and Thorpe v. Brida Mindles £ 2 x
Brisco v. Brisco.—Alimony - = & & e
Princess of Aremberg —(Paris) Mitnicnancé = °
Giblerson v. Ghitlion. —Seduction = =
The King v. Tinckler and Mountford—Nuisance - =
Thompson v. Harris.—Nuisance - -

The King v. Macknamara and others. Obstructing a Road
Hume v. Oldacre.—Trespass < = u =
Hance v. Stone and others.—Trespass - =
Dyster v. Moline.— Question concerning a ‘Broker

Gladstone v. Trustecs of the Liverpool Docks -*
The King v. Ridge.—Lvtent = es
Heathcott v. Lacy. — Patent =

Hill vy. Grey, Esq.—Breach of Contrack:
Wyatt vy. Gore. —Lilel - - -
Carter vy. Thomas.—Defamation -
Suitony. Barksworth and others.—Salv age

Bennet, v. Prevost.—Tithe Cause = -

Rivers v. King and others.—Boundaries o Cranborn ne Chase
Rex v. Hall—Evtent . -
King vy. Creswell_—Smuggting on board India Ships -
King v. Goode. —For fraud i in collecting taxes = -

Marginson v. Howard.—Game Laws - -

Newstead y. Peyton and Orton.—Field pr eaching =
King v. Houghton.—Mis demeanour - - - -
King v. Fowle.— Assault - -
Mayhew v. Lock.— Assault and false Taprisonmene -
Vaughan, Mackay and Brown.—Conspiracy - -

- - 228
= - 230

CASES:

244

tS St ee te et ae ag Ce Oe eee 8 ote ee eS se eens
to
oO
©

CONTENTS.

King v. Fentons.—Duel - = = = =
Holroyd.— Murder - a at <3
Barnett.—Shooting Maria Kelly - é 2 e
Court Martial on Augustus Stanhope - é, -
Trial of Sir Robert Wilson, Bruce and Hutchinson

PUBLIC GENERAL ACTS.

Passed in the Fourth Session of the Fifth Parliament of the United
Kingdoms of Great Britain and Ireland, 56 George PEE.
Lie 5 a6 5 acl aii aa es gas gn

Patents = - -

Bill of Mortality -

Price of Stocks - -

Table of Bankruptcies -

Average Price of Corn - - -

Statement of the quantity of Porter brewed in London

List of the Prince Regent's Ministers - - — =

Meteorological Register Se Psy nee

' ' ' ' 1 1 6

STATE PAPERS.

Convention between Great Britain and Portugal, signed at Vienna
21st Jan. 1815 - - - = - -
Treaty between Great Britain and Portugal, signed 22 Jan.
Convention between Great Britain and France = =
Treaty Letween Great Britain, Russia and the Netherlands
a —_——— and Surdinia - - =
— — and the Netherlands -
Convention between Great Britain and Austria - -

Treaty between Great Britain and Samony - =
Treaties of Accession and Subsidy - - .
Dispatch from the Duke of Wellington to Lord Bathurst -
Convention hetween the Emperor of Russia, the Emperor of Austria
and the King of Prussia - - -_ = -
Decree of the Prince Regent of Portugal respecting Brazil — - -
Convention to regulate the Commerce of the United States of Amertca
with Great Britain 2 - - - - - - -
Prince Regent's Speech at opening the Session of Parliament -
Treaty of Marriage between the Princess Charlotie and Prince Leopold
Proclamation of Maria Louisa as Duchess of Parma - - -
Tonian Isles.—Proclamation of Sir Thomas Maitland -_ - -
Speech of the Prince Regent at the close of the Sessions . - -
Treaty between the King of Spain and the King of the Netherlands
Proclamations from the Brazilian Government - - - -

Declaration of the King of the Two Sicilies - - = = =
Dispatch from the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland on the Disturbances
there - - - - ~ - ~ ~ = - =
Address of the Corporation of London to the Prince Regent, and
Asaierte C, te ne ere ye ea ORS esa, eet bede
Tables, Public Income, Expenditure, @c. - - - = =

Xiil

318
322
323
328
329

337 -
347
350
351
352
353
353
354
355

356
357
359
362
363
365
369
370
371
379

381
382

383
387.
389
393
393
394
395
398
400

402
417

420
PAR-

Xiv CONTENTS.

PARLIAMENTARY REPORTS.

On the Laws of Foreign States respecting the regulation of their

Roman Catholic Subjects in Ecclesiastical Matters - - 436
On the State of the = - - - - - - = 439
On Tithes - = - = - = = 3 < 2 441
On the Game Laws” - = = - p | = = = 443
On the Earl of Elgin’s Marbles - s 2 = fe - 446
On the Agricultural State of the Kingilom ieiiet ae api: Spur) 1!)

CHARACTERS.

Dr. Benjamin Rush - = Sea ay ty, eee at oa aL
The King of the Sandwich Tatars. - - wag Tes - mo en AZO
Major Claude Martine - = - - = es 3 z 481

MANNERS, CUSTOMS, &c. OF NATIONS AND
CLASSES OF PEOPLE.

The Shoshonee Indtans - - Tit s “ a> BREE
Nations on the Coast - - = - = Sat aR : 497
Flaiting the Head - 3 z ‘ S S t uy 498
Killamucks and other Fdions,. ah ES St SO SY eae es
The Belooches - . - = - = “ Z # as "506
The Nharooes - = Z si ~ a E z = ce 507
The Brahooe - 2 = = 2 = 514
People of the hic 8 gar ‘Mountaias® a n 2 - ~ 516
Bali - - a, - - ba - 518
Ancient Population of the Islands = - - - - - 523
Japan = 3 * ty a e 3 = 529
NATURAL HISTORY
White Beur - 4 ' 2 a = = - < = 534
Brown Bear z i = A 4 = “4 a zg = 535
Buffalo Hunting ~ = = 2 2 = - = = 535
The Missouri = 4 = = 536

Description of the Object of Natural Histor y j ober ved by Lewis and Clark.

Vegetables - - 536
Fruits - - : z - is . : = = E 539
Trees - ; a = - 541
An Essay on the Oopas or Pouce Tree y, pce - = = 577
Volcanic Eruptions of Mud and Salt in the island of Java 7h ne eee?
Visit to the Salt Mines of Cardona a ~ - Fy 587
Visit to the Mummy Pits. - ) =. + = oe ot 598
The Spots inthe Sun - x - - x = 598
Account of a Soda Lake in South Weercn - = =) ir - 600

MI8-

CONTENTS.

MISCELLANIRBS.

Musty Wheat £ = = - - = -
The Country Poor - - .
Parody of a Cambridge Examination Paper See
District of Columbia - =/ee B=
Journey across the Desert i 5 - :

The City of Herat - :

o toy

XV

An Account of the Seychelle Talons qed. Bank, and Admiralty Islands 622

Prince of Wales's Island =
US LEU EET AOE EN ose DUA a cis ed

POETRY.

Waterloo - - - S 2 - 2
Lines writtenin a Choultry - - - : >
Address of Winter, to Timour -

To Britain, from Montgomery’s “‘ Thoughts on | Wheels”

637

640
641

THE

THE

ANNUAL REGISTER,

For the Year 1816.

GENERAL

BisToRY.

CHAPTER I.

Pariiamentary proceedings—Speech of the Prince Regent.—Debate on
the address in the House of Commons.—Motion for naval monument.—
Mr. Brougham’s motion relative to the Christian treaty, and the treaty
of Vienna, Jan. 1815.—Financial exposition of the Chancellor of the
Exchequer, and debates ——Mr. Greenfell’s motion concerning transac-
tions between the public and the Bank of England.—Lord Grenville’s
motion on the peace establishment of the army.—Debates on the same in
the House of Commons.— Navy estimates, and debates.

N Feb. 1 the speech of the
Prince Regent on opening

the session of parliament was de-

livered by commission. It began
with adverting to the re-establish-
ment of his Most Christian Ma-
jJesty’s authority in the capital of
his dominions, in consequence of
the successes of the allied arms,
and the subsequent arrangements
to provide for the lasting repose
and security of Europe ; express-
ing his Royal Highness’s conyic-
tion that Parliament will be sen-
sible of the great importance of
Vor. LVIII,

maintaining that alliance between
the confederate powers from
which so many advantages had
been derived. It was then men-
tioned that copies of the treaties
and conventions concluded, had
been ordered to be laid before
both houses—that the extraordi-
nary situation in which the powers
of Europe had been placed by the
circumstances of the French revo-
lution, had induced the allies to
adopt precautionary measures, in
which his Reyal Highness had
concurred, and that he relied on

[B] their

tna

2]

their co-operation for carrying
them into effect. The House of
Conimons was next congratulated
on the flourishing condition of the
manufactures, commerce, and re-
venue of the kingdom, and assur-
ed that they might rely upon every
disposition on the part of his
Royal Highness to concur in such
measures of economy as would be
found consistent with the seeurity
of the country, and the station
which it occupies in Europe. No-
tice was then taken of the com-
mercial treaty with America; of
the termination of hostilities in
Ceylon, and the subsequent ar-
rangement with respect to that
island ; and of the armistice pre-
paratory to a negociation for peace
in India: and the speech con-
cluded with expressing the Prince
Regent’s determination, by the
justice and moderation of his con-
duct, to endeavour to maintain
the high character which this
country has acquired with the
world, and his hope that the same
union among ourselves, which
has brought this eventful strug-
gle to so happy an issue, will con-
tinue to promote the public pros-
perity.

The usual address on the speech
was agreed to without opposition
in the House of Lords, In the
House of Commons, after the ad-
dress had been moyed and se-
conded, Mr. Brand rose to move
an amendment, the substance of
which was to censure the minis-
ters for not having, without un-
necessary delay, convened parlia-
ment for the purpose of commu-
cating those important treaties
which were now to be laid before
them, after having been acted
upon for several months ; and to

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

assure his Royal Highness that
the House would speedily under-
take a revisal of our civil and
military establishments, and also
would at an early period take into
serious consideration the present
state of the country.

The amendment having been
seconded by Lord John Russel, the
Chancellor of the Exchequer in re-
ply began with refuting the charge
of delay respecting the treaties, by
the assertion that the treaty of
peace was only signed on Novem-
ber 20th, and that the exchange
of the ratifications did not take
place till the 20th of January, so
that only ten days had elapsed be-
fore the communication was made
to parliament, from which period
was to be deducted the time of
its transmission from Paris, and
of printing the papers. With re-
spect to the other topics of the
amendment, he maintained that
the speech contained every pledge
which the House could reasonably
desire. After a few financial ob-
servations, he then took eccasion
to avow the intefttion of ministers
to continue the income tax at the
rate of five per cent.

In the debate on this occasion
several members on each side
took a part; but as it was no
more than a kind of preludial
contest, in which a variety of to-
pics were touched upon in the way
of conversation, there is no ne-
cessity for entering into parti-
culars. When the division en the
amendment took place, the House
was so much thinned, that the
members were no more than For
the Amendment 23, Agamst it 90:
Majority 67. Neither the mover
nor seconder appeared in the

division.
When

GENERAL HISTORY. [3

When the report of the Address
was brought up on the following
day, some conversation occurred
respecting the burthens and dis-
tresses of the people; and Mr.
Buing, from his knowledge of
commerce, made soine observa-
tions calling in question the fa-
vourable view of public pros-
perity held forth in the speech :
the address, however, passed with-
out opposition.

The several treaties and con-
ventions of the past year were
then laid before parliaiwent. They
formed a very yeluminous collec-
tion, of which a summary will be
found under the head of State
Papers. !

On Feb. 5th, Lord Castlereagh
rose in pursuance of notice to
call the attention of the House of
Commons to the propriety of
adopting some signal mode of
expressing the national gratitude
to the navy for the great services
performed by it during the late
war; and he concluded a pre-
liminary speech by moving an ad-
dress to the Prince Regent, re-
questing that he would be pleased
to give directions that a national
monument be erected in honour
of the ever-memorable victory of
Trafalgar, and to commemorate
the fame of Lord Nelson and the
other officers, seamen, &c. who
died gloriously in their country’s
cause on that occasion.

This motion, obviously supple-
mentary to that which had con-
ferred so much honour on the
army by a resolution for a mag-
nificent monument to record the
battle of Waterloo, brought on a
conversation in which, with a ge-
neral concurrence in the inten-
tion, it appeared that opinions

7

were by no means uniform as to
the best mode of bringing it to
effect. The motion, however,
was carried unanimously.

Of several preparatory motions
for future proceedings it is not
necessary to take notice; but a
motion by Mr. Brougham on Feb.
9th, referred to so singular an
occurrence in general politics,
that although it had no public re-
sult, the record of it will be in-
teresting as a matter of history.
The hon. member rose to move
for the production of a copy of
the treaty concluded at Paris on
Sept. 26th, between Austria, Rus-
sia, and Prussia. By the tenor of
this treaty, expressed in the most
devout and solemn language, the
three potentates, members of
three different Christian churches,
declared in the face of the world
their resolution both in the ad-
ministration of their own states,
and in their political relations
with other governments, to take
for their sole guide the precepts
of the holy religion taught by our
Saviour, In consequence, they
signed an agreement to three
articles, the first of which bound
them to a fraternity of mutual
friendship and assistance, and the
common protection of religion,
peace, and justice; which in the
second was explained in a kind of
mystical strain, to notify that they
regarded themselves as delegated
by Providence to govern three
branches of one and the same
Christian nation, ef which the Di-
vine Being under his three cha-
racters was the sole real sove-
reign; and the third declared a
readiness to receive into this ho-
ly alliance all the powers who
should solemnly avow. the sacred

[B 2] principles

4]

principles which had dietated
it.

Politicians were much at a loss
to conceive the occasion and pur-
pose of a treaty, at the same time
so serious and so indefinite, which
appeared to bind the subscribers

to nothing more than to act upon

those general principles which, as
Christian princes, they had always
held forth as the rule ef their con-
duct. It was understood that
its immediate cause was an im-
pression made upon the mind of
the emperor Alexander, whose pe-
culiar zeal in the project was dis-
played by a manifesto issued on
Christmas day, and signed by his
own hand, in which he made
public the engagement which the
three powers had entered into,
and which he interpreted to be a
reciprocal league of peace and
amity upon Christian principles
for the general good.

Mr. Brougham prefaced his mo-
tion with reasons why he thought
it material that inquiry should be
made respecting the above treaty ;
instancing the circumstances of
its having been contracted by
three powers, our allies, without
our participation ; of its having

received the signatures of the .

sovereigns themselves, whereas
all other treaties had been ratifi-
ed by the medium of diplomatic
agents ; of being apparently un-
called for, since the attachment of
the contracting powers to the
Christian religion had never been
questioned. He adverted to the
union of the same powers for the
partition of Poland, on which oc-
casion the empress Catharine had
employed in her proclamations
language stmilar to that of the
treaty. He concluded by moving

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816,

au address to the Prince Regent,
that he would be pleased to give
directions that 2 copy of the treaty
should be laid before the House.

Lord Castlereagh, who had pre-
viously admitted the authenticity
of the document moved for, after
adducing, from the result of the
preceding union of these sove-
reigns, arguments against regard-
ing them with suspicion, inform-
ed the hon. gentleman, that in-
stead of any secrecy in their pro-
ceedings on the present occasion,
the emperor of Russia had com-
municated to him a draft of the
purposed treaty, he believed, be-
fore it had been communicated to
the other sovereigns ; and that
after its signature, a joint letter
had been addressed by them to
the Prince Regent, stating the
grounds on which it had been
concluded, and anxiously desiring
his accession to it :—that his
Royal Highness in reply had ex-
pressed his satisfaction at the na-
ture of the treaty, and his assur-
ance that the British government
would not be the one least dis-
posed to act up to its principles.
His lordship then went into a
panegyrie of the emperor of Rus-
sia; and finally characterised the
motion as wholly unnecessary,
and of dangerous tendency if the
confeileracy could be shaken by
attempts to degrade the sovereigns
of Europe by unfounded imputa-
tions. ;

On a division of the House, the
niotion was rejected by a majority
of 104 to 30.

The public opinion concerning
this extraordinary treaty, seems to
have corresponded with that ex-
pressed by the bon. Mr. Bennet
in his speech; ‘ that the only

motive

GENERAL

motive which the noble lord could
have for refusing its production
was, that he was ashamed of it
and of our allies.”’

Mr. Brougham next moved for
an address to the Prince Regent,
requesting a copy of a treaty be-
tween Austria, France, and Great
Britain, signed at Vienna in Ja-
nuary 1815.

Lord Castlereagh, in stating his
objections to the production of
this treaty, alluded to it as one
which, being intended to be car-
ried into execution only in cer-
tain conjunctures which never
happened, and parliament never
having been called upon to sup-
port the executive power in mak-
ing good its engagements, it
might be considered in the nature
of an unfinished transaction, a
mere historical fact, which could
have no influence on our actual
affairs.

It appearing on the further dis-
cussion of the question, that this
was a treaty from which Russia,
represented as our most faithful
ally, was excluded, Lord Castle-
reagh endeavoured to divert fur-
ther inquiry by saying, that not
three months afterwards, there
was evinced the most cordial con-
cert and co-operation among the
allies; and that if, as the gentle-
men in opposition maintained,
there existed dis-union at one
time, reciprocal confidence had
subsequently been restored.

In answer to this observation,
Mr. Tierney said, that the allied
powers did certainly unite against
their common enemy, Buona-
parte; but what he wanted to
know was, how they were affected
to each other, when this common
enemy was supposed to be no

HISTORY. [5

more. The noble lord had not
denied that a treaty was actually
signed with France and Austria,
without the participation of Rus-
sia, and, he believed, of Prussia,
and to which he was himself a
contracting party. The House
ought to be put in possession of
the document. If the noble lord
could show that the causes which,
gave birth to the treaty of Ja-
nuary 1815 no longer existed, it
would be well ; otherwise it would
be impossible for him to believe,
that there was a cordial commu-
nity of feeling among the allies.

This transaction, however, was
still kept a state secret, for the
motion was negatived by 92 votes
against 25.

On Feb. 12th, the House of
Commons sitting in a committee
of supply, the Chancellor of the
Exchequer introduced that import-
ant subject, his Financial Exposi-
tion. He began with a brief ex-
pianation of the vote with which
he intended to conclude, the pur-
pose of which was to provide for
the payment of different out-
standing exchequer bills, the
amount of which he stated, for
the year 1814 and 1815, at
35,600,000L. He then proceeded
to make some. general observa-
tions as to the probable extent of
the supply, and the ways and
means to meet that supply. Be-
ginning with a statement of the
different branches of revenue, he
gave an amount of 66,443,8021.
for the year 1815, exceeding by
more than a million that of 1814,
which itself was greater than that
of any former year. In the ap-
plication of this sum, 24 millions
had been employed in the pay-
ment of arrears, by which the

whole

6|

whole unfunded debt had been
brought down from upwards of
644 millions to 47,700,000. He
then took into consideration the
commercial state of the country,
respecting which he said he could
only give a statement of our ex-
portation for the three quarters
ending October 10th, 1815, the
latest period to which the ac-
counts had been made up. Of
these the amount was 42,425,357,
an inerease of about 54 millions
beyond the parallel period of
1814. This prosperous situation
did not prevent our labouring
under temporary embarrassments,
_which he attributed chiefly to the
depreciation of agricultural pro-
duce ; and he then preceeded to
the remedies which he had to
propose, of which there were two
classes ; a diminution of taxa-
tion, and a system of measures
for the support of public credit.
The tendency of the Chancellor's
reasoning upon this subject in
general went to show, that the
publie distresses would be niuch
more effectually relieved by ab-
staining from borrowing money
in the present year, and, on the
contrary, relieving the stocks by
the operation of the sinking fund,
than by a great diminution of
taxation. Government did not,
however, propose to omit the
latter relief toa certain extent;
and a reduction of the property-
tax to five per cent. would imme-
diately take off seven millions of
taxes, of which sum the share of
four millions would fall to the
agricultural interest, which he
also hoped further to relieve by
the remission of other taxes to
the amount of one million.

The right hon, gentleman next

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

proceeded to a summary of the
principal heads of the public ex-
penditure for the present year.
He began with remarking, that
he wished not to be understood
as laying down the outlines of a
permanent peace establishment,
as he was confident that he could
point out in future years reduc-
tions to the amount of several
millions; and no one could be
surprised, that in the first year
after so long and extensive a war,
it was impossible to carry all
those retrenchments into imme-
diate effect. There would be on
that Wight a vote proposed for
33,000 seamen, which was 10,000
more than were contemplated for
a peace establishment; and the
whole expense for that depart-
ment was stated at seven millions.
With respeet to the army, he did
not intend to propose a vote for
that service at present, but he
would give a general view of the
subject. ‘The following were the
principal heads : forces for home
service, including Guernsey and
Jersey, 25,000; for Ireland, am
equal number ; and for the relief
of garrisons abroad3,000: for the
garrisons of Gibraltar, Malta, and
the Jlonian isles, 11,000: for
America 10,000: for the West
Indies, 13,000: for the Cape of
Good Hope, the Mauritius, Cey-
lon, St. Helena, &c. 12,000: on
the whole, upon the British and
Irish establishments, 99,000. The
force serving in France for a
limited time was stated at 30,000,
the expense of which, however,
was to be defrayed Gut of the
contributions of the French go-
vernment, which had_ hitherto
been punctually paid. He be-
lieved, that in point of law, these

con-

GENERAL HISTORY.

contributions were of the same
nature with the droits of the
crown, and became the personal
property of the sovereign; but
the Prince Regent had deter-
mined, that it should be applied
solely to the public service, with
the exception of a donation to the
army of the Duke of Wellington
as prize-money, estimated at one
million. For the 20,000 forces
in India, the Company was to
provide. ‘The whole amount of
the military eharges for the year,
including ordnance and miseella-
neous service, was stated at
29,398,0001. from which was to
be deducted the Irish proportion
of 24 millions.

The ways and means by which ~

it was proposed to meet this ex-
penditure were the concluding
subject of the Chancellor's speech ;
and he began with a ‘ very novel
and satisfactory item,’ namely a
surplus of three millions remain-
ing of the unapplied grants of
the preceding year, applicable to
the service of the present year.
The next was of the consolidated
fund, which he estimated at 23
millions. The ordinary annual
-taxes he took at 3 millions, and
said that he intended to propose
the prolongation of some of the
war taxes on customs and ex-
cise. The next items were a 5
per cent. property tax estimated
at 6 millions, and a lottery at
200,0001. The last article was
an advance of 6 millions from the
Bank, at the interest of 4 per
eent., of which, however, 14 mil-
lion was to be deducted for the
re-payment of a former advance.
The total amount of ways and
means he therefore stated at
26,700,0001.

[7

Having concluded his general
exposition, the Chancellor of the
Exchequer moved, that the sum
of 16,024,1001. be granted for
the discharge of outstanding ex-
chequer bills.

In the discussions which en-
sued, and in which many mem-
bers on both sides took a part, a
variety of topics was entered
upon, particularly those of the
income tax, and the peace esta-
blishment of the army ; but these
being afterwards directly made
the subject of debate, the notice
of them will be reseryed to the
proper occasion. The resolutions
now moved, were put from the
chair and agreed to.

The alarm excited by announc-
ing a proposed continuance of
the property tax was now begin-
ning to operate ; and the city of
London commenced an opposition
by presenting to+ parliament, on
Feb. 13th, two petitions against
the tax, one from the Lord Mayor,
Aldermen,and Commons, the other
from the Lord Mayor and Livery-
men, both expressed in strong
language respecting the odious
and inquisitorial nature of the tax.

On the resumption of the com-
mittee of supply, the financial
plan of the Chancellor of the
Exchequer underwent attack, and
the subjects of the property-
tax, and the military establish-
ment, were again, brought into
debate; the second resolutions
were however passed. On a mo-
tion from Mr. Horner, acquieseed
in by the minister, an address
was ordered to be presented to
the Prince Regent, praying, that
he would order to be laid before
the House, a copy of any agree-
ment entered into by the allied

powers,

8]

powers, respecting the propor-
tion and nature of the force to
form the army of occupation of
France.

Mr. Grenfell on Feb. 135th, rose
in pursuance of the notice he had
given of a motion respecting cer-
tain transactions between the pub-
lic and the Bank of England. In
his introductory discussion, he di-
vided the subject into two branches
of the public service; the first,
as the Bank acted the part of
bankers of the public by receiving
the deposits of its moneys; the
second as_ charging commission
for the management of the public
debt. With these, as a matter
incidentally connected, he took
into consideration the immense
profits made by the Bank, from
the restriction of their payments
in cash, since which period their
notes in circulation had advanced
from the sum of 11 or 12 mil-
lions, to an average of 27 or 28
millions. In reasoning on this
circumstance, he held, that from
the time of passing the restric-
tion act, the public acquired an
equitable claim to participation
with the Bank, in the profits
which that act had created. ‘The
subsequent train of the hon. mem-
ber’s argumentation was founded
upon a statement of facts which
cannot be given in an abridged
form. Their general tenor was
to afford a proof, that the Bank,
as depositaries of the public mo-
ney, had much understated their
profits, and that they had over-
charged the rate of commission
upon which they transacted the
public business. In conclusion
he submitted the following mo-
tion: “‘ That a select committee
be appointed to inquire into the

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

engagements now subsisting be-
tween the public and the Bank of
England, and to consider the ad-
vantages derived by the Bank
from its transactions’ with the
public, with a view to the adop-
tion of such future arrangements
as may be consistent with those
principles of equity and good
faith, which ought to prevail in
all transactions between the pub-
lic and the Bank of England, and
to report their opinions thereon
to the House.”

The motion was opposed by the
ministers as unnecessary and dan-
gerous to the public credit ; and
some members interested in the
Bank represented the mover’s
statements as exaggerated, and in
part unfounded. On the other
hand it was supported by some
members of opposition, as likely
to lead to valuable results. On
the division there appeared for
the motion 44; against it 81:
majority in rejection, 37.

The House of Lords ‘having
been summoned for Feb. 14th,
Lord Grenville rose to submit a
motion relative to the peace esta-
blishment of the army. He began
with referring to two periods, in
which precisely similar motions
had been made; the years 1742
and 1756; and he then adduced
particular reasons for the motion
which he now proposed to make.
Their lordships, he said, were
now to consider, whether, after
a struggle of 25 years, maintained
at such vast expense, they were
to obtain the blessings of a real
peace, or their situation was to
be exactly the reverse: whether
they were still to be charged with
an immense military establish-
ment; to be called upon to take

their

GENERAL

their rank among the military
states of the continent ; to aban-
don the wise policy of their fore-
fathers, and turn servile imi-
tators of the system which had
brought so much calamity on
those nations who had adopted
them? He pledged himself to
their lordships and the country,
that he would never fail to give
the most strenuous opposition in
his power, to any attempts to en-
tail such a monstrous burthen on
the nation, and to lay the foun-
dation of such ruin to the consti-
tution as must result from it.
His lordship then called the at-
tention of the House to the pe-
riod between 1783 and 1792, dur-
ing which the subject of the ex-
pense of the military establishment
had been much discussed, and in
the last year of which it had been
reduced to 1,800,000; and he

. Made some remarks on the as-

sertion, that Mr. Pitt (with whom
he then acted) had blamed him-
self after the war with the French
reyolutionists had comienced,
for having promoted so low an
establishment. Lord G. con-
cluded with moving, ‘ That an
humble address be presented to
the Prince Regent, praying that
his R. Highness would be pleased
to give directions for laying be-
fore the House the estimates for
the military service of the pre-
sent year.”

The Earl of Liverpool said,
that he should be so far from op-
posing the motion, that he was
ready and anxious to supply all
the information required ; and he
was willing that the question
should be put upon this issue,
whether a public necessity, or at
least a public urgency, had not

MISTORWHi 4. YD

existed for every measure adopted
in the formation of the peace es-
tablishment. After some preli-
minary observations, in which he
endeavoured to confirm the opi-
nion, that Mr. Pitt thought, that
in 1792, he had too far reduced
the peace establishment, he pro-
ceeded to form a contrast be-
tween the circumstanees of the
two periods, which he divided
into the three heads of the esta-
blishment for the colonies, for
Ireland, and for Great Britain.
His Lordship then went through
the items under each head, as
first stated by the Chancellor of
the Exchequer, and advanced rea-
sons in justification of the new or
increased establishment in each.

The Marquis of Lansdowne rose
to controvert several of the ar-
guments of the last speaker, es-
pecially those in which he made
increased population a reason for
an increased military establish-
ment. He was followed by Lord
King, who asserted his belief, that
the proposal of an establishment
of such magnitude, was neither
more nor less than an attempt to
place this country on a level with
the great military powers of the
continent.

The question being at length
put, the motion was agreed to.
It will now be advisable to carry
this subject to its termination, .
rather than break the thread of
narrative by interposing another
topic.

An abstract of the estimates of
army services having been pre-
sented to the House of Commons
on Feb. 19th, ‘* the Chancellor
of the Exchequer op the 26th, after
the order of the day was read for
a committee of the whole house

to

10]

to consider further of the supply
to be granted to his Majesty,
moved that the above estimates
be referred to the said committee.

Lord John Russell rose to op-
pose the motion, his prior pur-
pose of doing which was rendered
an imperative duty by the peti-
tions on that day laid on the table,
proving that the people were in
all parts congregating to compel
ministers to listen to their sighs
and groans under the heavy bur-
thens imposed upon thein. The
bare proposal, that a standing
army of 150,000 should be sup-
ported, must alarm every friend
to the country and constitution ;
not that he was impressed with
the ridiculous fear, that a stand-
ing army unaided could ever ef-
fectuate what had been accom-
plished in some of the continental
states ; but the danger consisted
in the influence of the crown, the
daily increase of which threatened
to erase even the remaining ves-
tiges of liberty. Ministers (said
his Lordship) have for the last
twelve years been soothing the
country, by asserting, that the
war was continued to prevent the
necessity of an armed peace ; and
yet an afmed peace was all we
had now acquired. At the peace
of Amiens, the power of France
was infinitely more dangerous
than at present, yet the establish-
ment proposed at that time was
much more economical than that
now offered. His Lordship then
touched, in a cursory manner,
upon other reasons why he should
resist the estimates about to be
brought forward.

This was the commencement of
a debate continued through three
adjournments; in which every ar-

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

gument on the subject was ex-
hausted. The general discussions
concerning the necessity, and the
mischiefs, of standing armies,
could possess no interesting no-
velty, and the only really import-
ant matter was’ derived from the
particulars of the estimate. To
many of these, powerful objec-
tions were raised by the mem-
bers in opposition, whilst they
were defended by all the skilland
knowledge of the ministers; and
in fact it was but too clear, that
the fruits of conquest accruing to
this country, necessarily saddled
it with new expenses for their
security ; and that all which had
been added to the grandeur and
relative consequence of the na-
tion, must be regarded as impos-
ing upon it additional burdens
and obligations.

The division of the House upon
the motion for referring the army
estimates to a general committee
took place on Feb. 28th, when it
was carried by 241 to 121, the
majority being: 120.

On March 4th, the order for
going into the committee on the
army estimates being read, Mr.
Wynn moved an _ instruction,
«That the committee make pro-
vision for the charge of the army
now serving in France.’ Hesaid,
that if there was one principle
more important than another for
the Commons of England to ad-
here to, it was, that they should
have complete control of all the
armed forces kept on foot by the
crown. The only means by which
they could effect it, was by con-
trolling the supplies for main-
taining it, which would be lost if
the crown were allowed to draw
supplies frem foreign countries

without

GENERAL

without the consent of parlia-
ment, and to supply them with-
out its interference. Further, if
France should fail in the payment
of its contribution, how could
the British army be supported
without a manifest violation of
the constitution ?

The motion for this instruction
was agreed to, and the House re-
solved itself into a committee.

Lord Palmerston (Secretary at
War) then laid before the com-
mittee a statement of the particu-
lars of the reductions and savings
made in the military department,
the total of which amounted to a
reduction of 74,000 men, pro-
ducing a diminution of charge to
the public of five millions, to
which another million would be
added in the next year. He con-
cluded his statements and obser-
vations with moving, “ That it

_ is the opinion of this committee,
- that a number of land forces not

exceeding 176,615 men (includ-
ing the forces stationed in France,

_ and also 30,480 proposed to be

disbanded, but exclusive of the
men belonging to the regiments
employed in the territorial pos-

sessions of the East India Com-

_ pany, the foreign corps in Eng-

lish pay, and the embodied mi-
litia) commissioned and uncom-
missioned officers included, be
maintained for the service of
Great Britain and Jreland, from

the 25th of December, 1815, to

if

the 24th of December, 1816, both
inclusive.”

In the subsequent debate Mr.
Bankes began with an examina-
tion of the articles of the esti-
mate, from which he inferred
such a necessity of retrenchment,
that he thought the committee

HisTOR Y: [11

ought to begin with negativing
the proposition before them.

Lord Castlereagh, who had been
prevented by illness from attend-
ing at the previous discnssions,
then rose in defence of the pro-
posed establishment ; and, after
some preliminary observations,
he went over all the particulars
objected to, endeavouring to
shew that no reductions could
be made consistently with true
policy.

The debate, having been ad-
journed, was resumed on March
6th, when Mr. Calcraft com-
menced the attack upon the esti-
mates. Various speakers followed
on both sides; and the debate
took exactly the character con-
formable to Mr. Wilberforce’s ob-
servation, that, ‘‘This country
was at present in the situation of
a man who wished to reduce a
large and expensive establishment,
but who, in exemining the differ-
ent items of his expense, thought
that each separittely did not admit
of much reduction.” Not, im-
deed, that all the objections were
answered with -equal strength ;
and in particular, the home esta-
blishment seemed justly charge-
able with excess for purposes of
parade andi military splendor. In
conclusion, Mr. Stuart Wortley
having nioved as an amendment,
that frona the proposed establish-
ment of 99,000 men there should
be deducted 10,000, the House
divided, For the amendment 130 ;
Against, it 262: Majority for re-
jection 72.

The original resolution was then
agreed to.

The: army estimates continued
to be a topic of interesting debate
as long as they were passing

through

12]

through the discussion of parlia-
ment; and although it produced
little novelty of argument, the
progress of the business to its final
determination must be regarded
as an important incident in the
parliamentary record of the year.

On Mareh Sth the report of the
estimates was brought to the bar
of the House, when, on the ques-
tion that the said report be brought
up. a debate ensued in which a
considerable number of members
joined. The subjects were those
which had already been opened
in the committee, including the
number, kind, and disposition of
the troops to be provided for,
under which heads scope was
given for maintaining the different
opinions held by the opposite
parties. ‘The report having been
read, on the question for reading
the resolution a second time, Mr.
Wynn moved as an amendment
the substitution of words for re-
committing the resolution. The
House dividing, there appeared
For the amendment 122, Against
it 190: Majority for the negative
68. The resolution was then
agreed to.

The order of the day on March
11th for going into a committee
of supply being read, Mr. Wynn
rose to offer a motion for dividing
the general vote proposed for the
estimates into separate (uestions
according to the differem! services
to which the gross amount of
force was to be applied. He
stated the heads under vyhich he
proposed that the charge of de-
fraying the expense of the! troops
should be divided, and which were
nine in number. Some min isterial
opposition was made to this mo-
tion, and {Lord Palmerston sug-

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

gested an arrangement into three
heads as preferable. The motion,
however, was agreed to without
a division; and the House’ form-
ing itself into a committee, the
first resolution was moved, ‘‘‘That
a sum not exceeding 385,27 91. be
voted for the household troops for
366 days.”

Mr. Calcraft, regarding this
species of troops as chiefly kept
for the purpose of parade, and as
the fittest objects for retrench-
ment, moved as an amendment a
grant of half the sum for their
maintenance.

As this was a particularly try-
ing question relative to the army
establishment, it was strongly
argued on both sides, and termi-
nated by a division, in which the
amendment was defeated by a
majority of 82, the numbers being
210 against 128.

On March 13th Lord Palmerston
moved for the sum of 332,691.
for defraying the charges of the
dragoon guards and the waggon
train, ‘This resolution was agreed
to.

The subject being resumed on
the 15th, Mr. Tierney said, that
he saw no necessity for continuin
the discussion farther. He, an
the gentlemen on his side the
house, had taken all the pains in
their power to prevent the esti-
mates from passing, without
having been able to diminish a
farthing in their amount; and
the ministers had succeeded, in
defiance of the sense of the house
and the country, in imposing upon
the people a military establish-
ment of 111,000 men in time of
peace.

Lord Castlereagh contended, that
no example had occurred in this

country

GENERAL,

country of a military establish-
ment having undergone so loug a
discussion, the effect of which
was a general conviction that the
establishment was wise, fit, and
becoming.

The subsequent motion was for
the grant of 1,234,596]. for the
charge of the forces stationed in
France; the resolution on which
was agreed to.

In the progress of discussion it
appears, that notwithstanding the
predominant influence of the mi-
nisters in parliament, it was
thought advisable to offer to the
public some gratuitous deductions
from the estimates as first pre-
sented; and on April 5th the
order of the day stood for going
into a committee for taking into
consideration the reduced army
estimates. On the question that
the Speaker leave the chair, Mr.
Warre rose to make some obser-
vations on these estimates, and
the first to which he called the
attention of the House was the
charge for staff and hospital offi-
cers on foreign stations. This
article had been stated in the
original estimates at 163,000).
and the proposed reduction left it
at 123,000]. ; and the hon. gen-
tleman having stated from docu-
ments that it was still six times
more than had been demanded
for the same service at the peace
of Amiens, argued that there
were no justifiable reasons for
such a great augmentation. As
we do not undertake to give the
particulars of these debates, which
for the most part turned upon
numerical questions, we have
noticed the circumstance chiefly
to shew the effect which further
consideration of the subject pro-

HISTORY.

duced on the determinations of
the ministry.

When the House was resolved
into a committee, Lord Palmer-
stonmoved for a grant ef 277.8851.
for defraying the charge of gene-
ral and staff officers, and oflicers
of the hospitals, and the charge
of the garrisons, for 366 days
from December 25th, 1815. This
motion, though it produced vari-
ous remarks, was agreed to. Sub-
sequent motions for grants for
defraying the charges of the vo-
lunteer corps of Great Britain and
Ireland in 1810, and the expenses
of the local militia were generally
concurred in.

When on April 10th the report
of the committee of supply on the
army staff was to be taken into
further consideration, Lord Folke-
stone declared himself anxious in
this last stage to protest against
the adoption of the army esti-
mates in their present form. In
the staff alone, he said, had any
diminution been effected; and
although the saving was only
40,0001. it was sufficient to shew
that the estimates in general had
been made out in a very careless
manner. He repeated his strong
objections to the employment of
soldiers for civil purposes, and
affirmed, that during the last 25
years, the number of the guards
doing duty in London had been
augmented from between 6 and
700, to 8 and 900 men.

The report was agreed to with-
out farther comment.

‘The navy estimates were laid
before the cominittee of supply
by Sir George Warrender on Feb-
ruary 14th. He began with men-
tioning the stations of the squa-
drons now employed, and those

changes

[13

14]

changes which had caused a con-
siderable increase on the last
peace establishment of the navy.
‘To the force in the East Indies no
addition had been made; but the
Cape of Good Hope was a new
station, which was also rendered
of peculiar importance by its prox~
imity to, St. Helena. To the
Mauritius likewise a very con-
siderable squadron had besn ap
pointed, amounting to 11 skips
of the line, In the Mediterranean
it had been thought proper to
substitute 74 gun ships to those
of 50. A small squadron had
been stationed off South America
in compliance with applications
for the protection of our trade in
that quarter; on which account
the force stationed at Jamaica
and the Leeward Islands had been
somewhat diminished. One frigate
had been added to the force in
North America: that on the coast
of Africa would be equal to the
same during the last peace ; and
the squadron on the home station
of the same strength with that in
1792. Even had there been no
new stations to oceupy, an in-
crease of men for the peace estab-
lishment would have become ne-
cessary from other circumstances.
One df these was the general em-
ployment of larger frigates than
formerly. It was also thought
important that a fourth corps of
marines should be kept up, as
being more useful to the navy
than troops of the line. On the
whole, the total number of men
yequired for the peace establish-
ment would be 23,000; but in
the present year, for reasons al-
ready explained, 33,000 would be
moved for. The hon. baronet
concluded with moying five reso-

ANNUAL ‘REGISTER,

1816.

lutions, of which the first was,
*« That 33,000 men be employed
for the sea service for the year
1816, including 9000 royal ma-
rines,”’

Mr. Ponsonby expressed himself
reluctant to say any thing which
might seem to reflect on the
services of the navy; yet he could
not abstain from entering his pro®™
test against the proposed supply, |
since it would require much
stronger reasons than he had
heard, to convince him of the ne-
cessity of such a peace establish-
ment. At the close of the Ame-
rican war, in which the fleets of
France and Spain had rode tri-
umphant in the channel, 18,000
seamen had been thought sufli-
cient for our safety; at this time
the fleets of those nations had
been so much reduced as to render
them no object of apprehension,
nov had any other power in Europe
a formidable navy. The mere cir-
cumstance of having new stations
for our ships was not sufficient to
prove the necessity of an augmen-
tation, unless it were shewn that
a diminution on the old stations
was inexpedient. Were the House
to consent to vote such an in-
it would be idle to talk of

crease,
economy.
Mr. Law, on the other hand,

spoke of the necessity of keeping
up a respectable naval establish-
ment, and blamed the secretary
of the navy for the precipitancy
with which he paid off so great a
portion of the navy inthe last year.
Sir Geo. Warrender made replies
to both the last speakers; and
after some further debate, which
if is not material to particularize,
the .several resolutions were a-

greed to.
The

GENERAL HISTORY.

The subject of the navy esti-
mates was resumed before the
committee of supply on March
25th. The discussion was begun
by Mr, Tierney, who introduced
his observations by saying, that
an examination of those estimates
would furnish a clear exposition
of the noble lord’s economy; and
if he did not make out against his
Majesty’s ministers one of the
strongest cases that had ever been
established against any govern-
ment, he was utterly mistaken in
his anticipations. The estimates

* had no reference to the naval

service as connected with the de-
fence of the country by naval offi-
cers; they related only to the civil
administration of the navy. They
were divided into several heads ;
such as the admiralty, the navy-
office, the navy-pay-office, the
victualling-office, the home-dock-
yards, the out-ports, the foreign
yards, &c. The right hon. gen-
tleman then went through the
particulars of these several heads ;
and his conclusion was, that the
ministers had made their esti-
mates in these departments for
the first year of peace exceed those
of the last year of war by 21,6041.;
and giving them credit for the
saving of 1200}. in the admiralty
and victualling departments, there
remained an excess of more than
20,0001. beyond the expenditure
of 1814. This was a sufficient
ground for puting a negative
upon the estimates, and sending
them back for revision.

Sir G. Warrender, in his speech
in reply, assured the House that
it was the disposition of the ad-
miralty to carry into effect every

Tetrenchment consistent with the
_ Security of the country, Inquiries

_ ber.

[15

were in progress into every de-
partment, and considerable re-
ductions might be expected to
take place.

Mr. Croker chiefly bent his ar-
gument in the present stage of
the discussion against the right
hon. gentleman’s prima facie
ground for sending back the esti-
mates, by proving, that in the
first year of every peace upon re-
cord, the ordinary estimates of
the navy had exceeded those of

‘the last year of war preceding ;

the reason of which, he said, was
plain; because the ordinary esti-
mates comprised the civil depart-
ment of the navy, and as the
scattered materials were in time
of peace brought back to the offi-
ces anil dock-yards, the expense
of those establishments was con-
sequently increased.

In the conclusion of this day’s
debate, a motion for adjournment
was negatived, and that for the
committee was carried.

When the committee was re-
sumed on the 27th, Sir G. War-
render moved a resolution for the
grant of a sum not exceeding 13
million, for defraying the expenses
of navy articles eighteen in num-
Mr. Baring and other mem-
bers having objected to collecting
them under one head, it was at
length agreed that they should be
taken separatcly ; and the first
resolution proposed was for a sum
not exceeding 59,7231. for defray-
ing the salavies and contingent
expences of the admiralty office
for the year 1816.

Mr. Tierney, after refuting the
imputation of mistake brought
against him by Mr. Croker, by
asserting that his meaning had
been, that in the particular offices

which

16]

which he had specified there had
invariably been a diminution of
expense in the first year of peace,
proceeded to the subject of the
clerks in the several naval de-
partments. He stated, that in
1814 the number of these clerks
was 449; at present it was 425,
making a diminution of 24; yet
there was an augmentation of
salaries amounting to 10,0001.
On this circumstance he made
several pointed observations, and

coneluded by moving, that only

six months’ expenditure should
be voted, and the House should in
the meantime appoint a committec
for sifting the matter to the bot-
tom.

Mr. Croker then entered into a
minute explanation and defence
of the motives for this alteration,
both with respect to the reduction
of the number, and the increase
of the salaries.

A long and warm debate suc-
ceeded, during which Mr. Bankes
moved ‘‘ that the chairman should
report progress, and ask leave to
sit again,’’—in other words, that
the decision should be postponed.
Mr. Tierney withdrawing his own
amendment, a division took place
on this motion, when it was ne-
gatived by 163 to 85; majority
FS

Mr. Baring then argued against
the allowance proposed for the

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

paymaster of the marines, the
paymaster of widows’ pensions,
and the inspector of telegraphs,
contending that they were useless
offices ; and he moved a propor-
tional deduction from the sum to
be voted for. This motion was
rejected by a division of 124 to
38; and the original resolution
was agreed to.

The navy estimates continued
to be a subject of debate at suc-
cessive sittings of the committee
of supply; but as it would be im-
possible to reduce within mode-
rate limits the particulars brought
into discussion, we must confine
ourselves to a short notice of the
results. On March 29th Sir G.
Warrender moved a vote for a sum
to defray the expenses of the navy
board, which was carried without
a division. A similar motion for
the expenses of the navy-pay-
office was made by him on April
Ist, which produced an amend- _
ment proposed by Mr. Bennet for
reducing the salary of the trea-
surer of the navy from 40001. to
20001. This was rejected by a
majority of 66 to 21; and the re-
solution was agreed to, after dis-
posing of another amendment by
Mr. Martin, for deducting 70001.
from the sum proposed. In con-
clusion, all the other resolutions
were put and carried without op-
position.

CHAPTER

GENERAL HISTORY. [17

CHAPTER II.

Mr. Brougham’s motion for interposition with the Spanish court in fa-~
vour of the suffering patriots —Discussion in the House of Lords on
motion for an address on the treaties with foreign powers.—The same in
the House of Commons.—Petitions against the continuance of the Pro-
perty Fax, and debates.—Motion by the Chancellor of the Exchequer for
its renewal, and its defeat.—Relinquishment of the war malt-duties.—
Mr, Western’s motion for taking into consideration the distressed state of
the agriculture.—Bill for the effectual detention of Buonaparte.—Mes-
sage of the Prince Regent respecting the marriage of the Princess
Charlotte with the Prince of Cobourg, and consequent provision.—Mo-
tion respecting the augmentation of the salaries of the secretaries to the
admiralty.— Motion for abolishing the office of one of the Secretaries of

State.

¥N Feb. 15th, a motion was
' introduced into the House
of Commons by Mr. Brougham,
which, though it had no political
results, was rendered remarkable
by the historical matter occurring
in the debate subsequent upon it.

The hon. gentleman, after some
general and particular remarks
on the interference of one state in
the domestic affairs of another,

proceeded to the consideration of

the transactions of this govern-
ment with respect to the Spanish
mation, under the changes it had
been subjected to from the French
usurpation. In 1809 this go-
vernment concluded a treaty with
Admiral Apodaca, the minister
commissioned by the Junta of
Spain, though nominally the am-
bassador of Ferdinand, by which
‘this country bound itself never to
make peace with France to the
surrender of the royal rights of
Ferdinand, or whatever prince the
Spanish nation might choose as
Vor. LVI.

his successor; and on the other
hand, the existing government
of Spain agreed that hostilities
with France should never be ter-
minated but with the consent of
the allies, and without separating
the interests of Spain and Eng-
land. The Marquis Wellesley was
then appointed minister to the
Junta, and urgently recommend-
ed the assembling of a Cortes.
This was effected, and a regency
was appointed, composed of five
members, all chosen by the inter-
position of England. On this
footing of imtimate eonnection

- and conjoined interests, (said Mr.

B.) affairs went on till the begin-
ning of 1814, when Buenaparte
opened a negociation with Ferdi-
nand, then in confinement at
Valency, which was conducted by
the Duke of San Carlos, now high
in office at the court of Spain ;
and a treaty was concluded by
which Ferdinand abandoned the
cause of this country, and upon

[C] Buonaparte’s

18]

Buonaparte's stipulation to with-
draw his armies from Spain, un-
dertook to give his assistance in
expelling the English troops from
the Spanish territory. Ferdinand
was set at liberty, and returning
to his own country, withdrew to
Valencia, keeping from him all
good men and patriots. He re-
fused to sign the constitution
framed by authorities legally con-
stituted ; and without doing any
thing to revoke the treaty of Va-
lency, employed himself in pro-
jects to get rid of the Cortes and
the Regency. Troops in British
pay, and commanded by a British
offcer in the Spanish service,
were sent against the Cortes, and
that body, with the Regency,
were obliged to surrender their
authority, while lists were put
into the hands of the sovereign of
those who had taken the most ac-
tive part for their country. It
was unnecessary to enter into de-
tails of the succeeding measures
of the King of Spain, all directed
against the policy and interests of
Great Britain ; or of the cruel pu-
nishments inflicted on those who
had contended for his crown; since
it was well known that twenty-
_ seven members of the Cortes, and
~ two of the Regency, had become
victims to the animosity of Ferdi-
mand. After dwelling some time
longer on these topics, and allud-
ing to the British interference in
the internal affairs of France, the
hon. member concluded
moving ‘“ That an huinble ad-
alress be presented to his Royal
Highness the Prince Regent, en-
treating his Koyal. Highness to
take into his gracious conside-
ration the sufferings of the mem-

ers of the late Spanish Regency

ANNUAL REGISTER,

with >

1816.

and Cortes, and representing that
the alliance at present subsisting
between his Royal Highness and
his Catholic Majesty affords the
most favourable opportunity for
interposing the good offices of
Great Britain in their behalf with
the weight that belongs to her,
and to the sentiments of this
House, and of the people.”

Lord Castlereagh rose, and after
expressing his surprise at the ex-
traordinary and novel nature of
the motion which had just been
read, he said, he regarded the po-
licy now proposed to the House
as extremely unwise, and calcu-
lated to do much mischief, with-
out a chance of producing any
substantial benefit to the persons
whose cause it professed to es-
pouse. He then remarked upon
the tendency of the hon. gentle-
man’s speech to excite jealousy
and animosity, and to involve the
two countries in mutual hostility ;
and was next led in the train of
argument, to make observations
on the proper kind of interference
which might be exerted with re-
spect to foreign countries. Di-
gressing to facts relative to France
at different periods, he took occa-
sion to censure the manner in
which individuals of this country
had thought proper to interpose
in the late religious differences of
that country, affirming that the
charges brought against the
French sovereign and govern-
ment as encouraging persecution
were entirely groundless, and had
been received with displeasure by
both parties.

Coming to the direct point, his
Lordship complained that the
hon. gentleman had proceeded to
allegations against the govern-

ment

GENERAL

ment for neglect of attempting to
appease the violences in Spain,
without enguiring into their truth.
His Majesty’s ministers had never
ceased to attend to the interest
and fate of the individuals whom
the motion concerned; and he
might claim belief when he de-
elared, upon his honour, that he
was convinced that our govern-
ment had rather gone beyond,
than fallen short of its duty, in its
zeal to serve the bedy of men al-
luded to. At the same time he
must disclaim all the necessity
which the hon. gentleman wished
to impose upon it so to act. It
was a mistake to suppose that the
Cortes had been guided by us,
and that we were bound to rescue
its members because all that they
had done was by our direction.
The party called Liberales was
undoubtedly an Anti-French par-
ty, but in no other sense a British
party, and the term employed by
the hon. gentleman of English
Cortes was entirely inapplicable.
Of this a better proof could not
be given than their refusal to ad-
mit Lord Wellington into Cadiz,
when he was desirous of obtain-
ing a point within the Spanish
territory previously to entrench-
ing his army behind the lines of
Torres Vedras. Lord C. then pro-
ceeded to a kind of comment on
the principles and conduct of the
Cortes, and a defence of the part
taken by the court of Spain. He
said, the Cortes thought they
could best effect their purpose by
‘entirely overturning the ancient
system of the kingdom, and es-
pecially by merging the whole
class of nobility and clergy in the
third estate, after the example
of the French jacobins, whence

HISTORY. [19

most of the calamities of the
country had arisen. This was prin-
cipally owing to the party called
Liberales, who declared that they
would not admit Ferdinand’s right
to the throne, unless he should
put his seal to the principles
which they laid down, and among
the rest, that of the sovereignty
of the people. Their extremes
naturally produced a violent re-
action, and the swing taken in
the direction of Jacobinism had
now taken as violent a direction
towards despotism. When the
constitution of the Cortes had
been destroyed by Ferdinand,
there was not a murmur in Spain;
in fact, the people were more at-
tached to some of those particu-
lars in their ancient constitution
which we thought defects, than
the people of this country were to
the most perfect part of our free
constitution. He then charged
the Cortes with having shewn a
determined disposition in many
of the members to withdraw from
the Duke of Wellington the com-
mand of the national troops,
which had been conferred upon
him by a solemn act of the state,
so that he retained it by the ma-
jority only of six votes; and the
minority were all Liberales,
Many of their acts had been of
the most cruel kind, such as their
prosecutions and punishments of
the generals Palafox and Abisbal,
and their proceedings against the
Bishop of Orense ; so that, were
their authority to be restored, he
feared that Spain would not be
purged from all enormities.
When, however, a minister of
the crown stated to parliament
that the British government had
interfered, and that the four great

(C 2] powers

20]

powers of Europe had instructed
their ministers at the court of
' Spain to interfere, to as great ex-
tent as was consistent with pro-
priety. in behalf of the unfortunate
individuals, were the House now
to lend itself to such a purpose as
that intended by the hon. gentle-
man, it would only prevent a
chance of success.

- Such was the substance of a
speech, curious as displaying the
feelings of the ministry with re-
spect to the present political state
of Spain; to which may be added,
as matter of observation, some re-
marks from that side reprobating
the language which was here so
freely employed in degradation
and abuse of King Ferdinand.
The hon. mover in his reply was
ready to admit that ‘he was taken
by surprise by the noble lord’s
declaration of the government’s
interference in favour of the per-
sons in question ; but as no effects
had appeared, he might be ex-
cused in supposing that nothing
had been done, The conclusion
of the debate was a division, in
which the Ayes were 42; Noes
123: Majority against the motion
Sl.

On the 19th of February the
Earl of Liverpool moved the House
of Lords on the subject of an ad-
dress upon the treaties with fo-
reign powers which had been
laid before parliament. The cha-
racter of the debate on this occa-
sien being essentially a political
discussion relative to the merits
of measures already brought into
effect, a very concise summary of
the arguments employed is all
that our report of parliamentary

. transactions can require.
The noble mover, after a. pre-

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

liminary view of the state of things
which terminated in the victory of
Waterloo, and its consequences,
remarked, that there having been
no specific engagement with the
King of France, upon his being
restored by the arms of the-allies,
they were ‘bound, by their duty to
their own subjects, to accompany
that restoration with such condi-
tions as would afford sufficient
security for the peace of Europe.
The arrangement adopted for this
purpose was founded on three
principles : 1. the military occu-
pation of part of France by the
allied troops for a limited num-
ber of years: 2. the pecuniary
compensation which the allies
‘were entitled to exact from the
French government : 3. a terri-
torial arrangement. Of the par-
ticulars under these three heads
his lordship then gave a general
view, with the reasons for each,
accompanied by arguments to
justify that interference in the in-
ternal affairs of France which they
implied. He then took into con-
sideration another arrangement
to which the papers on the table
related, that respecting the Jonian
islands ; and said that it was in
compliance with the general views
of the allies and of Europe, that the
British government had taken
these islands under its protection.
He concluded with moving an
address to the Prince Regent, the
tenor of which was expressing an
entire satisfaction with the poliey
adopted by his Royal Highness
and his allies in the recent. peace,
and approbation of the principles
of justice and moderation dis-
played in the councils of his
Royal Highness, with an assur-
ance of the support of the House
m

GENERAL

in giving effect to the engage-
ments entered into.

Lord Grenville expressed his
entire concurrence with the noble
earl on many points connected
with thetreaties before the House,
but said, that there were others
on which his difference of opi-
nion had remained unaltered.
On our right, in concurrence
with our allies, to interfere in
the affairs of France for the pur-
pose of securing the repose of
Europe, he spoke in the most de-
termined manner; following up
his argument with a comprehen-
sive view of the reasons which
should have urged the allies ma-
terially to abridge the territory of

France upon the conclusion of

the peace. The security against
French power ought to have been
sought in depriving her of those
territories on her northern fron-
tier, which had been gained by
the unjust aggressions of Louis
XIV. As things now stood, the.
king of the Netherlands was left
in so unprotected a state, that. his
very capital could be taken by a
French army. in a few days. In
answer to the objection, that to
exact such cessions would inflict
an injury that would never be
forgotten by the French people,
his lordship argued, that quar-
tering foreign troops in the heart
of their country for five years, to
be maintained at their expence,

was a condition. equally humi-.

liating, and at the same time more
burthensome. This, policy led
him to the consideration of the
great evil now prevailing in Eu-
_ Yope. of keeping up vast standing
“gg which deprived the. people

the. benefits. to be expected

from the restoration of peace, in.

HISTORY.

which evil we were now involv-
ing ourselves to a dangerous and
ruinous degree. The conclusion
of his.speech was a motion for an
amendment to. the proposed ad-
dress, in which, at considerable
length, a strong sense of disap-
probation, was expressed at. the
vast military, establishment with
which it was intended that this
country should be burthened,
The original address was sup-

(21

ported by the Earl of Harrowby,

who argued against the policy of
demanding from France the ces-
sion of all French Flanders,
which the army of the Nether-
lands would be in no capacity, of
occupying.

Several other speakers joined
in the debate, which was at
length terminated by a division,
in which the amendment was. re-
jected by 104 votes against 40.
The original address was then
agreed to, Lord Holland entering
his protest of disapproval.

The same subject was taken
up in the House of Commons on
Feb. 19th; when the: order of
the day being read, Lord Castle-
reagh rose, and after a long poli-
tical narrative, moved. an,address
to the Prince Regent in. appro-
bation of the treaties, of exactly
the same import with that moved
in the House. of Lords. It was
met by a similar motion for an
amendment, introduced by Lord
Milton; and. the sequel was a
debate. continued to the second
day. In. the speeches, all. the
eloquence and ingenuity of the
House in political discussion was.
employed, and the final result was
a.rejection of the amendment, and
adoption of the address, by a not
less. decisive majority than. that

in

22]

in the other House, the numbers
beings 240 to 77.

"he public opposition to the
continuance of the property-tax,
already mentioned as having com-
menced in the metropolis, spread
with so much rapidity through
the nation, that the delivering of
petitions against it to the House
of Commons, and the consequent
debates and discussions, occupied
a large share of the attention of
the House during some succes-
sive weeks. The topic was re-
sumed on Feb. 22d, by a nu-
merously-signed petition from the
inhabitants of Clerkenwell, pre-
sented by Mr. Brougham. On this
occasion, Mr. Baring expressed
his hope, that as petitions were
preparing on the subject in every
part of the island, the ministers
would not hurry on the vote of a
large peace establishment.

On Feb. 26th, a great number
of petitions were presented, some
of them by members who de-
clared, that their own Opinions
did not agree with those of their
constituents.
the Exchequer took this opportu-
nity of giving notice, that he
meant to propose this tax in the
committee of ways and means
on the 28th, and hoped that those
members who had notices of mo-
tions on the book would give way
to him. Mr. Baring thereupon
strongly censured the indecency
of such precipitation, and de-
clared, that he would oppose the
measure in every stage, and keep
it before the House as long as
he was able.

On the next discussion of the
subject, Sir F. Burdett, in an
energetic speech against the con-
tinuance of the tax, introduced

ANNUAL REGISTER,

The Chancellor of

1816.

that opinion respecting the sub-
serviency of the House of Com-
mons to the ministers, which he
never hesitated to express in the
face of the House. He said,
«« The right hon. gentleman (the
Chancellor of the Exchequer) had
told them that they had all la-
boured under a mistake, when
they supposed that the property-
tax was not to be renewed after
the termination of the war. He,
for one, was never mistaken on
the subject ; for he never did be-
lieve that ministers intended to
let the tax die away. He was
quite convinced, that the majori-
ties which supported the right
hon, gentleman would not aban-
don him in consequence of any
expression of the public voice.
He despaired of making the ma-
jority of that house, constituted
as at present it was, feel for the
distresses of the country: but he
hoped that the sentiments of the
people would be so expressed as
to compel ministers, and through
them, their adherents, to aban-
don the measure.” After the
hon. baronet had finished his
speech, Lord Milton rose, and, de-
claring that he agreed in many
of the sentiments of the last
speaker, said, that there was one
point in it, which, as he conceived,
called for observation. This was,
that the hon. baronet had ex-
pressed a hope, that such a cla-
mour and tumult would be made,
as should prevent the Chancellor
of the Exchequer from renewing
the tax. He himself was per-
suaded, that if he abandoned it, he
would do so, not from fear of
clamour out of doors, but for fear
of losing a majority of that house.
Sir Francis B. appealed to the re-

collection

GENERAL

collection of the House, whether
he had uttered any such words
as those ascribed to him. ‘‘ The
noble lord (said he) affirms, that
the representations made by the
people will operate on the House.
I say they will operate on the
ministers. This is the difference
between us.”’

Petitions against the property-
tax continuing day after day to
be presented to the House,
speeches, rather than debates, on
the subject were multiplied in
corresponding proportion, which
were, with very few exceptions,
adverse to the tax. The argu-
ments against it were necessarily
soon deprived of novelty. In fact,
they ran almost entirely in two
divisions ; those of the distresses
of the nation, rendering it inca-
pable of bearing such an impost ;
and of the violation of public
faith in renewing, at a time of
peace, a tax which was generally
understood as having been laid

_ by parliament only as a war tax.

Respecting the latter suggestion,
the Chancellor of the Exehequer in
a debate on March 4th, gave the
following explanation. The pe-
titioners, he said, were completely
misinformed as to the supposed
pledge which had been given.
On the first introduction of the
income-tax by Mr. Pitt, instead
of a pledge being given, that it
should cease at the conclusion of
the war, its produce was actually
mortgaged for 56 millions, asum
which it would have taken eight
years to pay off. When, on the
renewal of the war, a tax on in-
come was again thought neces-

sary, it was no longer had re-

course to as. a fund on which
money might be borrowed, but

HISTORY.

as a means for meeting the ne-
cessary supplies of the year.
When granted during the conti-
nuance of the war, ‘‘ and no
longer,’? no pledge was given
that ministers should be pre-
cluded from availing themselves
of such an impost on the return
of peace: they were only bound
by those words again to submit
the policy of such a measure to
the consideration of the House.
In 1806, when the tax was raised
in its amount, the ministers of
that day gave no pledge, that
they would never, on any subse-
quent occasion, but in time of
war, have recourse to such a
measure. With regard to the
course which he had himself pur-
sued, in the last year, on the
20th of February, he had laid be-
fore the House a statement of the
ways and means, by which he
proposed to provide for the ser-
vice of the year, and among these
the property-tax was not included.
He had done this, not because he
thought that its renewal would
be a breach of good faith, but
because it appeared to him ob-
jectionable in point of policy at that
period. ‘The circumstances of the
present day were widely different :
among the means then proposed,
was a large addition to the as-
sessed taxes, and he had certainly
heard it questioned, whether that
would not be more burthensome
than the property-tax, whilst it
would not produce half the same
amount. On these considerations
he had determined upon sub-
mitting the renewal of the pro-

[23

‘perty-tax to the House.

Mr. Ponsonby, in reply, affirmed
that the understanding of the
House and the country on the

subject

24]

subject was directly opposite to
that of the minister. If any thing
could be more clearly understood
than another, it was the wording
of the act of parliament, which
said that the tax would expire on
the 5th of April in this year, if a
definitive treaty of peace should
have been signed before then.
Did the right hon. gentleman
mean to say, that no pledge ex-
isted, because a clause had not
been inserted in the act, to de-
clare that no such pledge had
been given? Such a clause would
have been unnecessary, because
the act had been too clear on the
subject.

In a subsequent debate, the
Chancellor of the Exchequer ad-
mitted, that it had been the opi-
nion of Mr. Pitt, and of those
who composed the government,
that the property-tax should not
be rendered permanent. ‘This
opinion was expressed in the act
itself: but the House was aware,
that in the bill which he intro-
duced last year, it was said, that
the property-tax should be con-
tinued during the war; but the
words, ‘‘ and no longer” were
omitted. Had they been inserted
as usual, it could not be fairly
argued, that parliament was con-
clusively bound by them. He
was willing to admit, that the tax
was originaily intended as a war
tax, and as a war tax it was now
proposed. It was to defray a part
of the expenditure of the war ;
and if parliament should think
fit to pledge it for a specific pur-
pose, such as the payment of
twelve millions of the unfunded
debt, during the two years it was
to last, his majesty’s ministers
would have no objection to take
if upon those terms,

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

It would neither be compatible
with the limits assigned to this
part of our work, nor of any his-
torical utility, to record the par-
ticulars of the numerous debates
which recurred as long as the
House was open for the delivery
of petitions respecting the pro-
perty-tax. Of these debates, the
principal matter often consisted
of accusations and recriminations
concerning the manner in which
the petitions had been obtained ;
and as the time for decision ap-
proached, the ministers and their
adherents increased their efforts
to make it appear, that the eppo-
sition to the tax was fostered by
popular clamour and party ma-
neeuvres, and was by no means
an indication of the sentiments
entertained by the most respec-
table part of the nation. This
attempt received a final defeat by
a petition presented on March
18th, by Sir William Curtis, from
the merchants, bankers, and trad-
ers of the city of, London, con-
vened by public advertisement in
the Mansion-house. The number
of signatures was 22,000, among
whom were many persons of the
first property and charactér in
the city, a considerable propor-
tion of whom were the original
promoters of the property-tax,
but who now heartily joined their
fellow-citizens in an unqualified
reprobation of its continuance.
The general unanimity on the
subject was clearly shewn by the
concurrence of all the city mem-
bers in support of the petition ;
whilst an attempted counter-pe-
tition, being signed only by 27
names, was prudently suppressed.

This was the day on which the
Chancellor of the Exchequer was
to perform the task, doubtless

now

GENERAL

now become peculiarly unplea-
sant to him, of proposing the
continuance of the obnoxious tax.
In a committee of ways and
means, the right hon. gentleman
rose to submit this proposition to
the House. He said, that as the
House had already sanctioned the

estimates for a considerable mi-
litary and naval establishment,
it was an obvious consequence,
that the necessary means must be
afforded for their support. Ad-
verting to the number of petitions
presented against the tax in ques-
tion, he represented it as the re-
sult of hasty and partial judg-
ment, and said that the petition-
ers had only attended to the pres-
sure on themselves, which they
were naturally anxious to remove.
He then went into an_ historical
view of the origin and purpose of
the tax; in which he dwelt with
complacency on an assertion he
had before made, and which had
been a topic of party debate——
that the plan brought forward by
Lord Henry Petty, when in the
ministry, was so constructed as to
render it necessary, in certain
events, that the tax should not
cease with the war; and quoted
that noble lord’s assertion, ‘‘ that
he made no pledge of his own
opinion, respecting the perma-
nency of the property-tax in time
of peace.” He next considered
the four alternatives for this tax,
proposed by an hon. baronet (Sir
- James Shaw), all founded upon
the principle of borrowing instead
of raising money, and stated his
objections to that principle. Pro-
ceeding to the supposition that
the House would entertain the bill
in the first instance, he touched
upon the means which might be

HISTORY. [a5

devised to remove the greater
part of the objections against it.
Of those it would be superfluous
to mention the particulars, as the
scheme never took place; but
they proved the anxiety of the
right hon. gentleman to render
the measure palatable by con-
cession and conciliation. He con-
cluded by moving a resolution for
the continuance of the tax on
landed property, at the rate of 5
per cent., being the first of a
string of resolutions intended to
be proposed for carrying into
effect the different modifications
which he had explained to the
committee.

In the debate which followed,
and which was very impatiently
listened to by the House, quite
wearied by the long discussion on
the subject, some facts adduced
by Mr. William Smith in opposi-
tion to the tax appear worthy of
recording. He said, that the dis-
quiet experienced by commercial
men, at having their concerns
laid open to the world, would be
very little alleviated’by any of the
expedients or modifications now
suggested by the right hon. gen-
tleman. It was probable that a
large proportion of the commer-
cial interest must now be liable
to heavy losses ; and it followed,
that many traders must either pay
5 per cent. on a supposed profit,
or go to the commissioner and
confess his loss: rather than do
this, numbers would pay the tax,
which would be a tax not on in-
come, but on loss. It appeared,
that 11,000 surcharges had been
made in the city of London alone,
during the last year: of these,
3,000 had been set aside on ap-
peal, after a critical examination

into

26]

into the appellants’ circumstances.
Seven thousand out of the whole
number did not appeal ; probably
thinking it a less evil to submit
to the imposition, than to expose
the situation of their affairs: but
supposing them to have been
charged justly, what a pestilential
influence must the tax have pro-
duced on the morals of the coun-
try, when such a body had re-
course to the most guilty evasions
to avoid the assessment !

Several other speakers follow-
ed on each side, of whom Lord
Castlereagh was the most diffuse
in recapitulating all which had
been argued in favour of the
measure. At length every other
voice was drowned in the cry of
Question, and the House divided,
when the numbers were, For the
continuance of the Property-Tax
201, Against it 238: Majority 37.
When the result was announced,
a long and loud cheering arose in
the House, which was re-echoed
by the crowd that filled the lobby
and avenues; and the event was
felt in general throughout the
nation as a relief from an oppres-
sive burden, not perhaps so gal-
ling from its mere weight (for
heavy burdens must be borne), as
from its manner of imposition.

After this great deduction from
the expected resources of the
Chancellor of the Exchequer, the
House was probably surprised by
his notice, on March 0th, that
on the next Monday, in the com-
mittee of ways and means, he
intended to propose the continu-
ance of certain of the assessed
taxes, but not of the war duties
upon malt. ‘The House, he said,
would be aware that after he had
been deprived of one of the great-

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

est resources on which he had
calculated, he could not be ex-
pected to dispense with any of
the means which remained : but
as, in consequence of that deci-
sion, it would be necessary for
him to have recourse to the money
market, it was of little conse-
quence that to the amount of the
loan should be added the calcu-
lated produce of the malt duty.
From the information derived
from persons who were best ac-
quainted with the state of the
agricultural interest, he was con-
vinced that the most effectual re-
lief would be afforded to this part
of the community by the relin-
quishment of this tax; and he
was therefore willing to rely upon
the wisdom of parliament to sup-
ply the means which would be re-
quired in consequence of such an
arrangement.

This announcement by the mi-
nister of finance was received
with much satisfaction by the
House in general, especially by
the members particularly attached
to the landed interest. Observa-
tions were however made upon
the supposed motives which had
induced the minister to abandon
a tax raising two millions, imme-
diatelyafter he had been deprived
of five or six millions ; and it was
suggested that the purpose had
been that of regaining a popu-
larity which had been lost by per-
sisting in the attempt to enforce
a tax generally odious.

No domestic subject during the
present year has more forcibly
acted upon the public feelings
than that of the state of agricul-
ture, a matter highly important
to the general welfare, and in
which every part of the united

kingdom

GENERAL

kingdom has a private concern.
It had long been a topic incident-
ally touched uponin parliamentary
discussions, when, on March 7th,
Mr. Western, member for Essex,
rose, pursuant to notice, to move
that the House resolve itself into
a committee of the whole House
to take into consideration the dis-
tressed state of the Agriculture
of the United Kingdom. In his
intreductory speech the hon.
member said, ‘‘ Between two and
three years ago agriculture was
in a flourishing and prosperous
state, and yet, within the short
period which has since elapsed,
thousands have been already ruin-
ed, and destruction seems to im-
pend over the property of all those
whose capital is engaged in the
cultivation of the soil. From
what causes have such events
arisen? Are they effects of ex-
cessive taxation, of the enormous
amount of the national debt? Are
they the consequences of our ex-
tensive paper circulation, which
now appears to have been in a
great measure withdrawn? Are
they occasioned by the pressure of
the tithe, or the severe burthen
of the poorrate? I have no hesi-
tation in saying that it is not to
one or two, but to a combination
of all these causes, that we are to
attribute our distresses.’’ ‘The
hon. gentleman then entered into
a detailed consideration of cir-
cumstances connected with the
heads above enumerated, which
is not capable of abridgment, but
which led the way to the follow-
ing set of resolutions read by him
téethe House, and which it will
be useful to transcribe, as afford-
ing a distinct view of the leading
ideas entertained by the landed
interest in this critical emergenty.

HISTORY. [27

1. That the portion of the com-
munity whose capitals are en~
gaged in agriculture, as well as
those numerous classes whose
employment depends thereon, are
at present suffering under unex-
ampled distress.

2. That the continuance of such
distress is fraught with extreme
danger to the most important in-
terests of the country.

3. That the demand for the ex-
tended produce of our agriculture
is, at this time, insufficient to
produce that price which is ne-
cessary to cover the heavy charges
and burthens upon it.

4. That the demand for barley
has been very materially reduced
by the excessive duties to which it
is subjected in the course of the
various Operations which adapt it
to the use of the consumer.

5. That the continuance of
those duties during peace, when
the facility of smuggling is so
much increased, cannot fail to
injure the home manufacture of
spirits, which must still farther
diminish the demand for bar-
ley.

6. That it is therefore neces-
sary to reduce the duties on malt,
beer, and spirits.

7. That in order to equalize
the supply of grain, and promote
its cultivation, it is desirable that
an appropriation should be made
from the extra produce of abun-
dant harvests to supply the defi-
ciency of seasons less favourable.

8. That the admission of fo-
reign corn tobe warehoused, pre-
vents such application of our own
occasional abundance, and as-
signs to foreign agriculture the
formation of those stores, which
might otherwise be created from
the produce of our own.

9. That

28]

- 9. That it is therefore expedi-
ent to repeal so much of an act
of last session for the regulation
of the corn trade, as permits the
warehousing of foreign corn at
all times, duty free.

10. That in order further to
promote the appropriation of part
of our present abundance, and
reserve it for future consumption,
it is expedient to aid the means of
those individuals who may be dis-
posed so to employ their capitals,
by an advance of exchequer bills
toa limited amount.

11. That excessive taxation
renders it necessary to give pro-
tection to all articles, the produce
of our own soil, against similar
articles, the growth of foreign
countries, not subject to the same
burthens, and in conformity with
that policy which has been uni-
formly observed, of protecting by
duties, and encouraging by boun-
ties or drawbacks, all our other
manufactures.

12. That it is therefore expe-
dient to impose additional duties
and restvictions on the importa-
tion of all articles, the produce of
foreign agriculture.

13. That it is expedient, under
due limitation, to encourage, by
bounty or drawback, the expor-
tation of the redundant produce
of the agriculture of the united
kingdom.

14. That the tithe and the peor
rates, to the payment of which
those whose capitals are engaged
in agriculture are almost exclu-
sively subjected, have recently
been felt to press with increasing
and unexampled severity, and
that it is therefore necessary to
relieve them, as far as possible,
from the operation of other bur-
thens.

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

After the reading of these re- °
solutions, the hon. member made
the motion for the committee of
which he had given notice.

Mr. Frankland Lewis seconded
the motion in a speech which be-
gan with a refutation of the sum-
mary opinion respecting the cause
of the present distress—that. it
was entirely owing to the peace,
If (said he) the present discussion
did nothing more than dispel this
dangerous illusion, he should be
content, as a conviction of the
benefits resulting from peace was
a better guarantee for its conti-
nuance than treaties. It was to
the continuance of peace alone
that we could look for relief
under our present afflictions.
The war, glorious and successful
as it had been beyond all former
example, had left us forty millions
a year to pay as interest of debt,
and also, what we were told was
necessary, an establishment of at
least twenty millions more. ‘The
hon. member then proceeded to
state his reasons for thinking that
we had arrived nearly to the point
beyond which the borrowing sys-
tem could not, be extended; and
he adduced a number of facts re-
lative to the present situation of
the country, which would afford
matter for future discussion.

Other members spoke on the
occasion; but the conclusion was
an unanimous agreement to the
object of the motion, and the
committee was fixed for the 19th.
The resolutions were ordered to
be printed.

Various petitions for relief from
the agricultural distresses were
presented to the House of Com-
mons. previously to the 28th of
March, when the order of the day
was moved by Mr, Western for

going

r

GENERAL HISTORY.

going into a committee of the
whole House on that subject.

The discussion which succeeded
took so wide a range of enquiry
into the nature of the distress,
and its causes and remedies, that
after a variety of discordant opini-
ons had been started by the differ-
ent speakers, the House at a late
hour adjourned the debate.

The resumption of this import-
ant topic did not take place till
April 9th, when Mr. Western
moved the order of the day for
the farther consideration of the
agvicultural distresses of the
country ; at the same time, on
account of the thin attendance, he
said he did not feel himself dis-
posed to urge that the House
should go into the committee on
that evening. He had hoped that
the most persevering attention
would have been given to this sub-
ject, but whether from the pres-
sure of business, or from what-
ever other cause, the House had
not attended to it as he could have
wished.

A debate then ensued concern-
ing the postponement of the sub-
ject till after the holidays ; which
was terminated by a motion of
Sir Egerton Brydges for the pre-
sent resumption of the adjourned

debate, which being carried, the

House resolved itself into a com-

mittee.

Mr. Brougham then rose, and
delivered a speech, in which at
considerable Jength he entered
into an historical view of the origin
and progress of the difficulties
into which the nation had unhap-
pily fallen. In this luminous ex-
posure, which was heard with
much attention, the circumstance
which he stated as lying at the

[29

_root of the matter was the pro-

gress of agriculture during the
period of the last war, or from
the year 1792 downwards. This
he traced through the operation
of its several causes; antl con-
cluded, that by their united action,
a start had been made in the pro-
ductive powers of this island,
quite unexampled in any equal
period of its former history. ‘On
the other hand (said he) when I
reflect on the nature of the causes
which I have enumerated, and
find that most of them are of sud-
den occurrence, and that their
combination in the space of ten
years was accidental; when,
moreover, I perceive that the
most material of them were of a
temporary duration, and could
not remain long to support the
great cultivation which they had
occasioned, I am disposed to think
that I have got hold of a principle
upon which something like an
overtrading in agriculture, and a
consequent redundance of pro-
duce, may be inferred to have
happened.’ He then took imto
consideration .the circumstances
which began and continued to
operate to the disadvantage of
agriculture; and finally discussed
the probable effects of the pro-
posed remedies. Butas the matter
of this speech has been given ina
separate publication, it would be
useless to attempt to bring a sum-
mary of its argumentation within
our compass.

Lord Castlereagh, after compli-
menting the hon. and learned
gentleman on the ability and
temperance with which he had
treated the subject, entered into
a discussion of several topics on
which he differed from him in

opinion,

30]
opinion. The debate concluded
with the chairman’s reporting

progress, and with leave being
given by the House for the com-
mittee to sit again on the 29th
instant.

No account of the further pro-
ceedings of the committee is re-
ported till May 25th, when Afr.
Frankland Lewis rose, and advert-
mg to the continued indisposition

Mr. Western, with whom the
ee had originated, said he
should move for the postpone-
ment of that gentleman's resolu-
tion till his recovery. The mo-
tion for this postponement being
put and carried, Mr. Lewis rose
again to state his opinions on the
subject of wool-regulation, which
had been referred-to the com-
mittee of which he had been chair-
man. He entered into a train of
argument to prove the impolicy
and unreasonableness of the exist-
ing restrictions on the exporta-
tion of wool. The general tend-
ency of the faets adduced by him
was to shew that the prosperity
of a manufacture did not depend
upon advantages in possessing
the raw material, since our manu-
factures of silk and cotton were
flourishing, though the raw mate-
rials were imported and_ paid
duty, whereas we were losing
ground in those of wool, not-
withstanding our attempts to
prevent the exportof the material,
to the detriment of the agricul-
turist. The hon. member con-
cluded with moving the following
resolution: ‘‘That it is expedient
to permit the exportation of wool
from all parts of the united
kingdom, under such regulations
as may afford protection to the
manufacturer,”

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

The resolution was opposed by
some speakers, and defended by
others; and Lord Castlereagh,
who, with the other ministers,
appears to have given little at-
tention to the proceedings of the
commnittee, suggested the expe-
dience of postponing the consi-
deration of the subject.

Mr. Baring complained that the
course now pursued in the com-
mittee had no other tendency
than to keep the country in total
uncertainty. It was high time
to put an end to these questions ;
for, while they were agitated,
the prices of all kinds of subsist-
ence were undergoing perpetual
fluctuation : corn was raised one
day, and fell the next; and the
House, by prolonging this kind
of mock discussion which must
end in nothing, were only favour-.
ing speculation of every kind.
The best way was to set the pre-
sent question once at rest, and
let the people carry on their ope-
rations in peace and quiet.

Sir J. Newport observed, that
the report of the agricultural
committee relative to this subject
had been fourteen days upon the
table, and yet ministers appeared
totally unacquainted with it.

The question being put, the re-
solution was negatived without a
division.

A bill for a purpose entirely
novel, but of indisputable neces-
sity, that for the effectual deten-
tion of Napoleon Buonaparte,
was introduced to the House of
Commons on March 12th, by
Lord Castlereagh. It consisted of
two parts; one that of detaining
the person in question in safe
custody; the other, for regula-
ting the intercourse with the is-

land

GENERAL

land of St. Helena, during his
detention there. His lordship
said, that doubts had been en-
tertained of the competence of
the crown to detain Buonaparte a
prisoner after the termination of
the war, and the bill proposed
was deemed necessary to remove
those doubts. With respect to
the justice of this detention, it
was wafranted on two grounds.
If he was regarded as a sovereign
prince, he might justly be detain-
ed in consequence of his breach
of treaty, and his incapacity of
affording a guaranty for the ob-
servance of any treaty: if as a pri-
soner of war, being a native of
Corsica, he was a subject of
France, which power had declined
to claim his restoration. As to
the policy of this measure, it was
imperiously called for by a due
consideration for public safety
and general peace. With regard
to the treatment of Buonaparte,
it was proposed to extend to him
every indulgence consistent with
his safe custody.

Leave was given to bring in
the two bills ; and it does not ap-
pear that they underwent any op-
position in their passage through
the House of Commons.

On AprilSth, on Earl Bathurst's
motion for the second reading in
the House of Lords of the bill for
the more effectual detaining of
Buonaparte in custody, Lord Hol-
land rose, not, he said, to oppose
the bill, as whatever his own
opinion might be, he was aware
that a majority both in parliament
and out ef doors were of opinion
that some such proceeding was
necessary ; but to call attention
to a circumstance connected with
the bill. Soon after Buonaparte

HISTORY. [31

had delivered himself up, a treaty
appeared, by which Great Britain
had gratuitously offered to guard
and keephim. His lordship ask-
ed, why the ministers had volun-
tarily shackled the councils of
this country by such a treaty?
Because, if we were authorized
by the taw of nations, and the
municipal law of the country, to
detain Napoleon, then we had
full power to do so without this
treaty. If the other powers called
upon them for a treaty to effect
that object, why did not the mi-
nisters insist in return upon some
benefit for their own country
especially when it was so over-
burthened by the immense mi-
litary establishment, which they
had resolved to keep on foot ? His
lordship went on to argue, that be-
fore passing an act, it was neces-
sary to know what we were to le-
gislate for ——was Buonaparte a
prisoner of war by the law as it
now stood, or was he not? And
for the decision of this point, it
was necessary to desire the at-
tendance of the judges. He then
mentioned five questions relative
to this subject, which he would
propose to submit to the judges ;
and in cvunclusion, he moved,
that the bill should be read a
second time after the recess, and
for that purpose the word now
should be left out of the motion
for the immediate reading.

Earl Bathurst said, that Buona-
parte’s surrender of himself did
not make him the less a prisoner
of war ; but there might be some
question whether, after a treaty
of peace, he could be detained as
such; and this bill had been
brought in to clear all doubt on
that question, and to regulate the

' mode

32]

mode of his detention. We had
been acting in strict concert with
other potentates ; and when Na-
poleon was in the power of one,
it followed that he must be re-
garded as in the power of all. As
to our undertaking to keep him,
it was an advantage to this coun-
try to be allowed to do it, since
we should be better satisfied that
it would be properly done, than
if it had been committed to ano-
ther. As the bill would place
him in the character of a prisoner
of war, which was well known
in our statute book, it did not ap-
pear material to have it ascer-
tained how the law stood at pre-
sent in that point.

After some farther debate on
the subject, Lord Holland’s mo-
tion was negatived, and the bill
was read a second time. Flis
lordship entered a dissentient pro-
test on the Journals.

On April 9th, the House of
Lords being in a committee on
the bill, Lord Holland vose to pro-
test against the doctrine main-
tained by the noble earl (Bat-
hurst)—that when there was an
alliance between several powers,
if an enemy surrendered himself
to one of the powers, he was pri-
soner of war, not only to that
power, but to all the rest, and
was to be treated not only accord-
ing to the pleasure of the country
to which he had surrendered, but
of the whole allied powers. This,
he contended, was subversive of
the principles of public law, and
of the independence of nations.

Earl Bathurst said, that he did
not mean to hold such a doctrine
as that imputed to him, gene-
rally; but to argue, that the alli-
ance in question being directed

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

against Buonaparte personally,
not only to dispossess him of his
power, but to prevent his return
to power, the other potentates
had a right to receive some secu-
rity, that the object would be car-
ried into effect. It was not there-
fore a question of general law,
but the consequence of this par-
ticular treaty.

The Earl of Lauderdale main-
tained, that the doctrine of gene-
ral law connected with this sub-

ject was of more importance than

the bill, or even than the safe
custody of Buonaparte ; and de-
fied the noble Earl to point out
any passage in a writer on the
law of nations to show that,
whatever were the nature of the
alliance, a prisoner of war made
by one power, was to be consi-
dered as much at the disposal of
the other powers as of that to
which he had surrendered.

The Earl of Harrowby replied,
that they were now legislating
respecting a transaction of an
alliance which had no parallel in
the history of the world; and
therefore there could be no pre-
cedent applicable to the ease.

In the course of the debate,
amendments and clauses were
preposed by Lords Holland and
Lauderdale, which were rejected,
except that an objection made by
the latter to the preamble, was
admitted. The bill then passed
the committee.

On March 14th, a message was
sent from the Prince Regent to
each House of Parliament an-
nouncing the marriage, with his
consent, of his daughter the Prin-
cess Charlotte Augusta, with his
Serene Highness Leopold George
Frederick, Prince of Cobourg of

Saalfeld,

GENERAL

Saalfeld, and expressing his per-
suasion of the concurrence and
assistance of Parliament, in ena-
bling him to make such a_ provi-
sion, with a view to the said mar-
riage, as may be suitable to the
honour and dignity of the coun-
try. A correspondent address was
unanimously agreed to in both
Houses.

On the following day, the sub-
ject of a provision being taken
into consideration in the House
of Commons, the Chancellor of
the Exchequer stated his intention,
first to propose for the illustrious
pair the annual sum of 60,0001,
of which 10,0001. was to form a
sort of privy purse for her Royal
Highness, and the remainder
would defray the domestic ex-
penses of the Prince of Cobourg:
this sum to be granted to them
during their joint lives. If the
Prince of Cobourg should die
first, the whole sum to be conti-
nued to her Royal Highness: if

he should be the survivor, the.

sum of 50,0001. to be continued
a niny, \ It injended, that
the allowance from the civil list
to the Princess should cease,
which would be a saving to the
public of 30,0GO0l. a year. With
respect to the sum for outfit,
which would hereafter be sub-
‘titted, he should propose a vote
equal to one year’s expenditure,
‘of which it was calculated that
40,0001. would defray the pur-
‘chase of furniture, plate, equi-
pages, &c. 10,0001. for the Prin-
cess’s dress, and 10,0001. for ad-
dition to her jewels. He had
‘another point to offer for the at-
tention of the House. I[itherto
‘it had not been possible to fix on
a residence for the illustrious per-
Vou. LVI.

ret.

for further aid.

HISTORY. [33

sonages ; when that was deter-
mined upon, it might possibly be
necessary to apply to the House
The right hon.
gentleman concluded with mov-
ing a resolution for a grant of
the annual sum of 60,0001. for
the establishment of the Princess
Charlotte and the Prince of Co-
bourg, on the conditions above-
mentioned, to commence from
the day of their marriage.

Tn the conversation which fol-
lowed, various suggestions were
made by different members, but
without the least opposition to
the resolution, which passed una-
nimously.

A subsequent motion relative
to the 60,0001. by way of outfit
passed with the same unaniinity.

Another proceeding of parlia-
ment, consequent upon this im-
portant matrimonial union, was
that of passing a bill for the na-
turalization of the Prince of Co-
bourg, which went through all
its stages in both houses on
March 28th.

It was naturally to be sup-
posed, that the heavy burdens
under which the nation was la-
houring, at a time of much do-
imestic distress, would render the
independent members of parlia-
nent, as well as the habitual op-
posers of the ministry, vigilant
in marking every deviation from
that spirit of economy, which had
been promised in the Regent's
speech at the opening of the
session, and was generally looked
for as the only effectual reme-
dy for the public difficulties.
A subject relative to this point,
important in its character, though
inconsiderable in the amount at
issue, was brought before the

[D] House

34]

House of Commons on March
20th, by Mr. Methuen, a gentle-
man, who was habitually a sup-
porter of the measures of govern-
ment when he thought they de-
served support. After having read
some extracts from papers laid

before the House, to prove the.

little attention paid to retrench-
ment, displayed by the augmen-
tation of the salaries in various
offices, he proceeded to a docu-
ment consisting of the copy of an
order in council, dated June 2ist,
1815, and relating to the salaries
of the secretaries of the Admi-
ralty. It stated, that an order of
council made in January 1800,
having directed, that there should
be a difference in the salaries of
the secretaries and clerks in times
of warand of peace, namely,an in-
crease in time of war of one-fourth
in these of the secretaries, and
one-fifth in those of the clerks ;
and a subsequent order of coun-
cil in 1807, having sanctioned a
principle laid down by the com-
missioners of naval revisicn,
*« That it is unjust that persons
whose whole time either in war
or peace, is required to' be de-
voted to the public service, and
who consequently cannot, even
in peace, apply to any other oc-
cupation, should suffer a material
diminution of their incomes when
the war ceases; the council,
agreeing in this principle, humbly
submitted to the Regent, that he
would please to direct, that the
salaries established as war sala-
ries by the said orders of council,
should be the permanent salaries
both in war and peace of the per-
sons therein named. The hon.
gentleman then asked, if there
was ever such a moment chosen

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

for augmenting the expenses of
the country in the wildest infa-
tuation of ministerial indiscre-
tion? Instead of increasing sa-
laries, they ought to be reduced,
not only on account of the unex-
ampled difficulties in which we
were placed, but on account of
the diminution in price of the ar-
ticles of life. He concluded with
moving, ‘‘ That this House does
approve of the order in council
of the 5th of June 1800, fixing
the salaries of the secretaries of
the Admiralty at a lower rate in|)
time of peace than in time of war,
and does consider the departure})
from this order, in the order of
council of the 21st of June 1815,
by which an increase of the sa-
lary is conferred on the secreta-

ries, as highly unwarrantable.”
Lord Castlereagh began his re-
ply with stating the retrench-
ments actually made, and about
to be made, in various depart-
ments of government, as a proof
that the ministers were not inat-
tentive to the point of economy ;
and these he stated at a total, of
650,0001. On coming to the par-
ticular subject in question, he first
observed, that the proposed resolu-
tion sanctioned the principle laid
down in 1800, in contradistinction
to that acted upon in 1815;
but the former included the clerks
as well as the secretaries: the
resolution, therefore, if adopted,
would modify a measure which it
professed unqualifiedly to recom-
mend. Proceeding to explain the
reasons, which had induced the
Board of Admiralty to recom-
mend to the treasury the rise of
salary for which the order of
council had been obtained, he
said that he owed it to his hon.
friend,

GENERAL

friend, the first secretary of the
Admiralty (Mr. Croker) to state,
that he had used no influence,
nor made a suggestion of a wish,
to obtain an increase of salary,
and that the subject had been
brought before government, by
circumstances over which he ex-
ercised no control. The fact was,
that the regulation which fixed
the reduction of the salaries of
the secretaries in time of peace
at one-fourth, struck off from
that of the clerks one-fifth. When
the peace with America was con-
eluded, the period of reduction
was supposed to have arrived ;
but the re-appearance of Buona-
parte almost immediately fol-
lowed, on which, without de-
clared war, there were vigorous
preparations for hostilities. Were
then the Admiralty clerks to have
adeduction from their remunera-
tion, when there was no diminu-
tion of their labour? Govern-
ment taking the case into consi-
deration, thought it would be
better to continue the war salary
in time of peace, than to increase
the peace salary to the necessary
extent, and to adhere to the prin-
ciple of the two rates. The only
_ thing next to be considered was,
whether the hon. secretary should
participate in the rise, or remain
the only exception; and of this,
for reasons stated by the noble
Jord, there could, he said, be
searcely any difference of opinion.
The whole question would be
open for discussion, when the
estimates came before the House.
Convinced that this was not the

' proper time, he should move, -

that the House proceed to the
other orders of the day.
It could not be expected, that

HISTORY. [35
this explanation of the noble lord
would prove generally satisfac-
tory; and the speeches of several
members expressed a conviction,
that the resolution first moved for
was Well founded. Mr. Brougham
distinguished himself by the se-
verity of his censures upon the
noble lord and his coadjutors.
In adverting te the statement of
great reductions which had been
made by the ministers, he said,
that above 400,000]. of the sum
saved, arose merely from the dis-
charge of workmen for whom
there was now _no employment ;
and that many offices abolished,
those particularly of the commis-
sariat, were such as there was
no pretext for retaining. On the
whole, he did not seruple to de-
nominate the affair in question a
scandalous job, of which the ob-
ject was to put money in the
pocket of the secretary of the
Admiralty. Mr. Tierney, in an
entertaining speech, compounded
of irony and sarcasm, represented
the matter as part of a deliberate
system in the administration, of
resisting every thing that looked
like economy, or the diminution
of the salaries of persons who
had now few or no duties to per-
form.

Much of the debate turned upon
personal attacks and recrimina-
tions which may be passed over.
The principal argument against
the original motion was, that the
proper time for discussing the
subject would be subsequent to
laying the estimates before the .
House ; and this was coneurred
in by Mr. Bankes, though he de-
clared it to be his decided opi-
nion, that the increase of these
salaries in time of peace was an

[D 2] improper

36]

improper act. In the division on
Lord Castlereagh’s amendment
for proceeding to the orders of
the day, it was carried by a ma-
jority of 29, the numbers being
For the amendment, 159, Against
it, 130.

The effect of this discussion
was made apparent shortly after,
when Sir G. Warrender informed
the House that he did not intend
to move, that the salaries of the
two secretaries of the Admiralty
should be voted upen the war
establishment.

An attempt for the onduéitul
of the public expenses, by abo-
lishing a considerable state office,
was made on April 3d, in a mo-
tion by Mr. Tierney, relative to
the departments of the secretaries
of state. The history of this
matter was thus stated by the

right hon. member. Up to the
year 1768, there were only two
secretaries of state; but on ac-
count of the situation of the
country, during the war with
America,a third was afterwards
added. This appointment con-
tinued till 176%, when by Mr.
Burke's bill the office of third se-
eretary was abolished ; and from
* that time to 1794, the business
was conducted by two secretaries
of state, under the name of se-
cretary for the foreign, and for the
home department. In 1794, Mo.
Dundas, then home secretary,
also carricd on the business of
what was then for the first time
called the war department ; but
this business so much aecumu-
lated, that it was thought neces-
sary to separate the two, and on
that occasion, the office of secre-
tary of state for the war depart-
ment was created. For about

ANNUAL REGISTER;

1816.

seven years longer, all business
connected with the colonies was
transacted by the secretary for
the home department, but in
1801, it was transferred to the
office of the secretary of war. It
appeared, however, from ene of
the papers on the table, that Mr.
King, one of the home secreta-
vies, had stated the business of
his office to be the carrying on of
all correspondence relative to
every part of the British empire,
with the exception of the East
Indies, and also every domestic
matter, with the exception of the
revenue, and those afiairs which
were under the management of
the Lord Chancellor. Jt thus
appearing (said Mr. T.) that the
third secretaryship was created
in 1794, solely to transact the
business of the war, his conclu-
sion was, that as the war was at
an end, that office ought to he
abolished. Ife then preceeded to
the particulars of the charge at-
tending it, and calculated, that
the plan he proposed as a sub-
stitute, would make a saving of
12 or 14,0001. After recapitu-
lating and ealarging upon his
statements, he concluded with
moving, ‘* that an address be pre-
sented to the Prince Regent,
humbly praying, that he would
be pleased to give directions,
that the division cf the state
offices in 1794, by which, in ad-
dition to the secretaries of state
for the home and foreign depart-
ments, a secretary of state was
constituted for the war depart-
ment, be revived, and that the
departments of the secretaries of
state be, now that peace is hap-
pilv restored, again placed, with
all convenient dispatch, upon the

footing

.

GENERAL HISTORY.

footing on which they stood in
1793.”

Mr. Goulburn, in opposing the
motion, chiefly argued upon the
great importance of our colonial
possessions, which rendered it ne-
cessary to have a responsible 1ni-
nister of the crown to superintend
them. It would not be sufficient
to give to them half, or one-third
of the attention of a minister, nor
would the suggested increase of
clerks answer the purpose. Ifa
comparison was made between the
manner in which the colonial bu-
siness was transacted by the home
department, and that when it wa:
committed to a separate establish-
ment, it would be found, that the
latter was much more efficient. °

Mr. Wynn, who had been ap-
pealed to, respecting the business
of the home department, said; that
when he was in that office, he
found that the superintendence of
the volunteers ani militia was en-
trusted to one under-secretary,
and the superintendence of police
and aliens to another. ‘The whole
of the labour of the velunteers
Was now taken away, and that
of the militia nearly so ; aud there
was also a great diminution in the
business of superintending aliens.
On the whele, the business of the
alien office was now very much
diminished, and inight admit of
considerable reductions ; and he

*was confident, that in consolidat-

ing it with the business of the
colonies, neither of them would
be neglected.

Mr. Addington, in his observa-
tions on the last speaker, said,
that the business of the home de-
partment was so great, that his
noble relation (Lord Sidmouth)
had not been absent from his office

[37

ten days in the course of any one
year, and that the duties of it
were quite sufficient to occupy
his time.

Mr. Bathurst gave his opinion,
that the business of the colonies
was enough for the management
of one person.

Mr. J. H. Smyth said, that hav-
ing had an opportunity of being
acquainted with the business in
the offices of secretary of state,
he did not wish to give a silent
vote onthis eccasion. He believed,
that the business which the third
secretary had lost by the peace,
was more than equal to the whole
business of the home department
at the present time; and if he
were asked, if he thought one se-
cretary enough for both offices, his
answer would be, that in his con-
science he thought it was.

The remainder of the debate,
in which several members took
part, was chiefly occupied in the
recapitulation of arguments for
and against the capability of two
secretaries of state, for transact-
ing at this time of peace the pub-
lic business which had devolved
upon. three in time of war; in
which the principal ground taken
by the ministers, and their sup-
porters, was the present state of
our colonial possessions, which
had augmeated the superintend-
ing control of the colonial se-
cretary of state, toa degree wholly
unprecedented. After Mr. Tier-
ney’s concluding speech, in which
he said, that the opposition made
by the noble lord (Castlereagh)
and his colleagues to this motion,
would hold them up in their true
colours to the country, the House
divided, For the motion. 100,
Against it 182.

CHAPTER

38]

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816,

CHAPTER III,

Bank Loan vill.— Bill for renewing the Bank Restrictions of Payment.—
Complaint on employing the Military on Court Days.

T has been mentioned that Mr.
Grenfell offered to the House
of Commons a motion for the ap-
pointment of a select committee
for inquiring into the engage-
ments subsisting between the
public and the Bank of England
for the purpose of adopting a new
arrangement, which was rejected.
The hon. gentleman, on March
14th, after a preliminary address
to the House, in which he declar-
ed himself satisfied that without
any thing like an infraction of the
public faith towards the Bank,
they ought, particularly at this
time of distress, to look to it as a
resource for many millions which
were now productive to them, not
by way of loan, but as a matter of
right; and being also convinced
.that the public ought to demand
a considerable reduction of the
sum charged for the management
of the national debt ; moved eight
several resolutions. Of these, the
seven first were merely affirmation
of certain accounts relative to the
Bank: the eighth bound the
House forthwith to take into con-
sideration the advantages derived
by the Bank from the manage-
ment ‘of the national debt, and
from the balances remaining in
their hands, with a view to a new
arrangement.
The first resolution being put,
the Chancellor of the Exchequer ob-
served that these points might be

brought under the consideration
of the House when the Bank Loan
bill was before a committee of the
whole House ; and in consequence
he moved, as an amendment,
‘«« That the other orders of the day
be now read.” ;

After some debate, this motion
was agreed to; when the House
having resolved itself into a com-
mittee on the Bank Loan bill, the
Chancellor of the Exchequer pro-
posed to fill up the blank in the
second clause, relative to the in-
terest on the loan, by the words
** four per cent.” Mr. Grenfell
then moved, as an amendment,
the substitution of ‘‘ free of all in-

terest.” This motion being given —

up, Mr. Bankes proposed filling up
the blank with three per cent.
which was negatived without a
division. Mr. Grenfell then pro-
posed his resolutions, for the pur-
pose of puttiag them upon the
Journals of the House, upon each
of which, excepting the last, which
was withdrawn, the previous
question was carried.

Mr. Mellish then moved a num-
ber of rescluticns, consisting of
statements of accounts relative to
the concerns between the Bank
and the public, on which the pre-
vious question was put and car-
vied.

On March 29th, the order of
the day being for the third read-
ing of the bill, empowering the

Bank

i

GENERAL

Bank of England to advance the
sum of six millions towards the
supply of the year 1816, Mr.
Grenfell rose to declare his per-
manent opinion on the subject.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer
(he said) bad culpably acquiesced
in the extravagant demands of the
Bank, and had sacrificed from 2 to
300,0001. a year for no other pur-

. pose than to swell the enormous

treasures of this opulent corpo-
ration. The ingenuity of the de-
fenders of this measure could not
controvert the position that the
state of the question was this—
“You, the public, have for the
last eight years, and now have,
deposited in the Bank a stationary
and permanent sum of eight mil-
lions and a half, out of which you
have received, free of interest, an
advance of three millions and a
half.” Was it not absurd to talk

- of an advance under such a state
- of account between the Bank and

re :

‘ae

the public? And now, when six
millions were wanted, an interest

_of 240,000]. was required for the
- advance ; and this was, by a mis-
_ application of terms, called a

loan! Parliamentary interference

had already done much, and would

do more on similar occasions.
In the present bill a saving of
60,0001. a year had been effected,
by borrowing at 4 instead of 5 per
cent.; but why had not the pub-
lic the benefit of this regulation in
1806, 1813, and 1814, when the
Bank held the same public funds
as now? At some future period
the country might derive con-
siderable advantage from the un-
claimed dividends, to which the
attention of parliament had been
directed by an hon. friend of his
(Mr. Bankes). Notwithstanding

HISTORY. [29
the way in which the proposition
had been received by the Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer, he should
again press on that right hon.
gentleman, should he extend to
the Bank the term of restriction
on their cash payments, the ex-
pediency of stipulating, on the
part of the public, for a participa-
tion in the enormous profits aris-
ing to the Bank from the exclu-
sive circulation of their paper as
the currency of the country.

In the debate which followed
the former, differences of opinion
between the favourers and the
opponents of the interests of the
Bank were displayed. At length,
the bill having been read a third
time, the Chancellor of the Exche-
quer rose to move an amendment
to the preamble of the bill, which
preamble ran thus: ‘*‘ Whereas
the Bank of England are possess-
ed of divers sums of the public
money, arising from balances of
several public accounts, and are
willing to advance,” &c. The
proposed amendment was to leave
out all the words from ‘‘ Bank of
England,” to ‘‘are willing”. In
the discussion of this matter it
appeared that the clause in ques-
tion had been proposed by Mr.
Grenfell, and at his suggestion
had been incorporated in the pre-
amble : that Mr, G, had been de-
sired by the Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer to consult the governor
of the Bank on the subject, from
whom he received an equivocal
answer, and that this being re-
garded as an acquiescence, the
clause was inserted.

Mr. Mellish (the governor of
the Bank,) stated that when the
hon. gentleman had given him a
copy of the clause, he had ex-

pressed

40]

pressed a strong objection to it,
but he had alee an it home, not
thinking that the bill would come
on that night; and that he was
afterwards surprised at its intro-
duction in the preamble. He said,
he complained of the words be-
cause they gave an ex parte view
of the question. If the advan-
tage which the Bank derived from
the public were to be inserted in
the preamble of the bill, it was
but fair also to insert the advan-
tages which the public derived
from the Bank.

Mr. Ponsonby called upon every
member in the House who was of
no party, to observe whether he
was not right in his assertion, that
the Chancellor of the Exchequer

was not a match for the Bank of

England?) When, after having
agreed to a preamble of his own
bill, he consulted with the gover-
nor and directors, and proposed
to expunge a part of it at their
pleasure, must it not be admitted
that they governed and directed
the Chancellor, and endeavoured
to extend their authority to par-
liament itself? He hoped the
House of Commons would not
degrade itself by agreeing to an
amendment under such dictation.
_ Mr. Baring, in defence of the
amendment, said that the inten-
tion of the words proposed by the
hon. gentleman, (Mr. Grenfell)
was to insert in the bill the sub-
stance of the opinions entertained
by him, who, in his extreme zeal
on the subject, had made so ex-
aggerated a statement of the ac-
counts between the public and the
Bank.

After other members had ar-
gued for and against the insertion
of the clause, and the Chancellor

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

had acknowledged that he had
agreed to it cnly on the under-
standing that it was not dis-
agreeable to the governor of the
Bank of England, the House di-
vided, when the numbers were,
For the amendment 116, Against
t 56: Majority 60.

The words were then erased,
and the bill passed.

On April 5th, the motion for
the second reading of the Bank
Lean bill being made in the
House of Lords, Lord Grenville
rose, and in an eloquent speech
expressed his entire dissatisfaction
with the bargain which the mi-
nisters had conchided with the
Bank. He referred with high en-
comium to Mr. Grenfell’s speech
lately published on the subject,
and entered into a detail of cir-
cumstances connected with his
own negociation with the Bank.

His lordship was replied to by
the Earl of Liverpool, who was
followed on the other side by the
Marquis of Lansdown and the Earl
of Lauderdale.

The bill was then read a second
time. It appears to have passed
the House without further dis-:
cussion.

The subject of the restriction
of the Bank from making pay-
ments in money, had been brought
before parliament almost yearly
since the act had passed for that
purpose ; and the public expecta-
tion of areturn to the former sys-
tem had been disappointed as often
as circumstances had excited it.
The general peace had rendered
this hope more sanguine; and it
could not but occasion surprize as
well as disappointment, to learn
that the ministers had determined
upon a new and considerable pro-

traction

GENERAL

traction of a measure, during
the continuance of which the fi-
nancial state of the country could
not be said to have recovered a
sound and healthful condition.
This avowed intention induced
Mr, Horner, on May Ist, to rise
in order to make a motion for the
appointment of a select committee

to inquire into the expediency of ,

restoring the cash payments of the
Bank of England, and the safest
and most advantageous means of
effecting it. In a_ preliminary
speech, displaying a very exact
and comprehensive knowledge of
the subject, the hon. member
took a view of the reasons, which
had been adduced for the renew-
als ef the Bank restriction, and
the evils which they had occasion-
ed; and expressed his conviction
that neither the directors nor the
ministers could be trusted as sin-
cere in their professions of de-
siring that cash payments should
be resumed at any period, till
measures had been prepared for
effecting the resumption. He
suggested some arrangements for
entering upon a gradual payment
which would guard the Bank
from the danger of a sudden
change, and cencluded with the
motion above-mentioned.

The Chancellor of the Hachequer
positively denied that, by prolong-
ing the restriction for two years,
there was any intention of render-
ing it perpetual. He said that
an act passed long ago had em-
powered the Bank to prepare the
Way for a gene:al payment, by
enabling it to issue cash for notes
under the value of 5]. giving
notice thereof to the Speaker, on
which it had acted to a great ex-
tent; and he concluded his argu-

HISTORY. [41

ments in favour of a further de-
lay of two years, by declaring
that he had no doubt whatever of
an absolute resumption of pay-
ment at the end of that period.
After several speakers on both
sides had delivered their opinions
on the subject, and the mover
had concluded with a general re-
ply to the arguments of the op-
posers of his motion, the House
divided, when there appeared,

For it, 735 Against it, 146: ne-
gative majority 7 Bs

On May 3d the House reselved
itself into a committee on a bill,
for further continuing an act of
the 44th year of his Majesty, to
continue the restrictions on pay-
ments of cash by the Bank of
England; when the first clause
having been read, for continuing
the restriction till the 5th of July,
1S1s,

Mr. Horner declared himself
unwilling tc oppose the measure
of allowing two years for the
Bank to return to cash payments,
because it appeared to concur with
the general sense of the House ;
but it seemed to be as generally
the sense of the House that such
protection to the Bank ought not
to beextended beyond that period ;
and as there was no clause ex-
pressive of this expectation, he
heped the bill would not pass
the committee without receiving
such an amendment. He then
put the question to the Chancellor
of the Exchequer, whether he
would agree to the introduction
of such clause; and expressed
his resolution of opposing the bill
in every stage in case of non-com-
pliance.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer
said, that it being in the preamble

expressed

49]

expressed how desirable it was
that cash payments should be re-
sumed, and the bill having allot-
ted aterm sufficient for the neces-
sary preparations, on the expiring
of which the Bank would no
longer be protected or restricted,
he did not conceive that any other
clause was requisite.

Mr. Horner argued on the differ-
ence between such security, and
a parliamentary assurance that
no farther renewal of the restric-
tion could be hoped for; and he
said he would move a clause, that
after July 5th, 1818, the Bank
should be able to pay in specie,
and that no renewal of the re-
striction could be expected.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer
then proposed adding a clause to
the preamble, which, however,
avoided any positive declaration
on the subject.

Other members expressed their
dissatisfaction at leaving the matter
in this ambiguous state, and some
proposed the insertion of the
words ‘‘and no longer.” At
length the committee divided on
Mr. Horner's proposed amend-
ment, which was negatived by
133 votes against 57.

The further consideration of
the report of the committee on
the Bank Restriction Bill being
the order of the day on May
Sth, Lord Folkstone, in conse-
quence of the want of a clause to
compel the directors to resume
cash payments at the end of two
years, moved that the report be
taken into consideration on that
day six months.

The question upon this motion
being put, it was negatived with-
out a division.

Mr. Horner then proposed a

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

clause to provide that the Dire>-
tors of the Bank should take
measures immediately in order
that cash payments might be re-
sumed at as early a period after
the passing of that act, as ap-
peared to them to be expedient.

On a division the clause was
rejected by 135 to 32.

The bill being introduced into
the House of Lords on May 17th,
the Earl of Liverpool moved the
order of the day for going into a
committee upon it. After ob-
serving, that no difference of
opinion could exist as to the im-
policy of removing the restriction
on the Bank without the inter-
vention of some further time for
preparation, and stating that he
proposed to keep in view that the
Bank should resume its payments
at the earliest period consistent
with the public interest, he gave
an account of the object and pur-
pose of the bill, to the same effect
as had been done in the other
House. In fine, he said, the se-
curity was in the parliament’s
own hands: if it did not think fit
to continue the restrictions, the
Bank was bound to resume its
payments as a matter of course.

The Earl of Lauderdale entered
into a train of argument to prove
that the time was unnecessarily
and hurtfully proionged ; and he
moved as an amendment that
July 5th, 1817, should be inserted
instead of July 5th, 1818.

The amendment being put, and
negatived without a division, the
earl next moved the insertion,
after the time, the words “‘ and
no longer.” This was also ne-
gatived, and the bill having gone
through the committee, was re-
ported without any amendment.

A cir-

GENERAL

A circumstance apparently of
no great moment of itself, but
important as connected with the

jealousy of military authority in-|

herent in the British constitution,
and now rendered peculiarly vigi-
lant by the rank assumed by this
country among military powers,
was brought before both houses
of parliament in the early part
of the session.

On Spril 4th Lord Milton rose
in the House of Commons, and
stated that he was passing through
the streets on that day with a
noble friend in an open carriage,
when, at the corner of a street,
in the neighbourhood of St.
James’s, he was stopped by one
of the horse-guards, and pre-
vented from proceeding. On re-
monstrating with the man on his
conduct, and requiring his name
and authority, he refused to give
them, struck the horses with his
naked sword, and said to his
friend, “‘ I will strike you too, if
you attempt to go on.” This
was in Pall Mall, at which time
there were not above ten carriages
inthestreet. Hislordship thought
that the introduction of such
means of preserving the peace of
the metropolis was well worthy
of the attention of the House:
he could view the practice in no
other light than a desire to ac-
custom the people to see soldiers
employed in situations where, ac-
cording to the principles of the
constitution, peace officers had
hitherto been deemed sufficient.

_ Lord Castlereagh absolutely dis-
avowed such an intention, and
said it was by no means unusual
on court days to employ the
“horse-guards to clear the avenues
to the court.

HISTORY. [43

Mr. Tierney expressed his con-
viction that these frequent mili-
tary parades were contrived by
the ministers for the purpose of
making some excuse to the House
for the increase in the household
troops.

Mr, Wynn affirmed that the
present system was totally new.
He himself had on that day seen
soldiers waving their swords,
galloping this way and that, stop-
ping and endangering passengers,
without the least constitutional
authority for such alarming con-
duct.

Several other members ex-
claimed against this intervention
of the military, and contended
that the practice, as now follow-
ed, was an innovation, and not
justified by any necessity, but a
mere imitation of the continental
courts.

Lord Nugent, remarking that
it was important both for the
soldier and the public, that the
question concerning their inter-
ference should be settled, madea
motion, ‘‘That there be laid be-
fore this House a copy of the in-
structions issued to such of the
life-ruards as were on duty this
day in the city of Westminster.”

Lord Castlereagh opposed the
motion, on the ground that
enough had been done to cause
an inquiry to be made into the
circumstance of the case, and to
prevent a recurrence of the incon-
venience complained of.

The House dividing, there ap-
peared, For the motion31; Against
it 48.

On April 5th the subject was
introduced in the House of Lords
by the Earl of Essex, who had
been Lord Milton's companion in

the

44]

the outrage received. The earl
gave a narrative of the occurrence
to the same effect as that of the
other neble lerd, but somewhat
more at large. He said that the
soldier told him, that unless he
turned back, he would not only
cut ‘his horse down, but cut him
down too; and that some gentle-
men who happened to be near,
gave their names, and offered to
testify as to the insolent behaviour
of the man; but he did not think
proper to take any legal steps,
conceiving that it would be more
for the public henetit to iay th

case before their lordships.

The Earl of Liverpeol acknow-
jedged the candid manner in which
the noble earl had made his state-
ment, and said, that he by no
means intended to affirm that a
military force ought to be allowed
to act, except in aid of the civil
power, But with regard to the
present occasions, as far as he
could recollect, the military had
always been stationed as now de-
scribed, only with this difference,
that formerly, from the frequency
of drawing-rcoms and levees, it
only became necessary to resort
to these precantiens on the birth-
days; whilst their rarity at this
time rendered the same precau-
tions necessary at each of them.

Lord Grenville affirmed that the
noble earl was certainly mistaken,
for the whole practice was of
comparatively modern date ; and
he forcibly dwelt upon the viola-
tion of, the Jaw and constitution
in such an employment of the
military as that complained of.

The Marquis of Buckingham
wished to know of the secretary
of state for the home department
(Viscount Sidmouth) whom he

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

saw in his place, whether he was
prepared to give any assurance to
the House that in future the
practice should he discontinued of
employing the military power to
perform the duty of peace officers.
If he would give such assurances,
he should think it unnecessary to
go further; if not, he should
think it his duty to move an ad-
dress to the Prince Regent.

Fiscount Sidmouth said, that no
orders were issued from the Secre-
tary 6f State's office on such oc-
casions, nor had he any thing to
do with it. In consequence, how-
ever, of what had been stated in
another place, he had thought it
his duty to interfere ; and he as-
sured the House that upon future
occasions of a like nature peace-
officers should he stationed, in
order that the military might only
act in aid of the civil power.

The Marquis of Buckingham re-
garded this assurance as perfectly
satisfactory ; but cbserved, that
the case was aggravated by the
circumstance of the military being
employed without the concurrence:
of the Secretary of State.

The same subject was again
brought before the notice of the
House of Lords, on May 13th,
when the Earl of Essex made a
complaint of another improper
interference of the military, ex-
perienced on that day by himself.
As his lordship was attempting to
enter Pall Mail, he was stopped
by the soldiery, who insisted that
he skould not go along that
street; and on his calling for a
constable, he was answered by
one of the military, ‘‘We have
nothing to do with constables
here.” He then inquired for the
officer of the guard, and was told

that

-an adequate number of
‘officers should be in attendance,

GENERAL HISTORY.

that he was at Carlton-house.
He had since learned that the oc-
easion of this military parade was,
that the Lord Mayor and Corpo-
ration of London had been to the
Prince Regent with an address ;
but was this a reason for blocking
up the streets and interrupting
peaceable citizens ? He was ex-
tremely surprised at this occur-
rence after the pledge which had
given bythe Secretary of State ;
and he thought it his duty to
move for a copy of the order un-
der which the military were au-
thorised to act this day in Pail
Mall and its vicinity.

Lord Sidmouth, in opposing the
mofion, stated that the military
were not called out under the
order of the secretary of state;
but that whenever they were called
out for the purpose of individual
accommodation or public conve-
nience, he thought it right that
peace

and that accordingly positive di-
rections had been issued from his
office to the magistrates of West-
minster to have peace officers at-
tending upon all such occasions.

There appeared, however, to be

a want of the communication ne-
cessary for informing the. civil
power in these cases ; and in the

“present instance no such had been

made.

Earl Fitzwilliam: contended that

; what had been advanced by the

noble secretary went directly in
favour of the motion; since from
his own statement it was clear

_ that he had known nothing of the

military being called out on this
‘day, and it therefore was the
more incumbent on the House to

[45

enquire after the authority under
which this had been done.

Inthe course of the debate, Lord
Sidmouth having held, that when
it was necessary to call out the mi-
litary for the preservation of the
publie peace, it ought to be done
only in subordination to the civil
power; but that in cases where
they were merely called out for
purposes of state, or public con-
venience, this obligation did not
apply: some of the lords in op-
position regarded this doctrine as
a serious matter, tending to a
violation of the constitution, and
partaking of a military despotism.
After the debate had proceeded to
some length, a division took place,
in which there appeared, For the
motion 16; Against it 33.

The Marquis of Buckingham
then gave notice, that he would
on an ensuing day move an ad-
dress to the Prince Regent on the
subject.

On the same day Lerd Milton
rose in the House ef Commons ;
and after stating the cireumstance
which had occurred to his friend
the Earl of Essex, and dwelt upon
the recurrence of such a subject
of complaint, he meved, ‘*That
there be Jaid before the House a
copy of the orders issued to such
of his Majesty’s life-guards as
were on duty this day within the
city and liberties of Westminster

As the arguments in the debate
on this eccazicn necessarily took
the same turn with those employ-
ed in the other House, it would be
useless to advert to particulars.
Lord Casilereagh, who, it m: vy be
remarked, chiefly aimed at repre-
senting the question as trifling
and frivolous » moved upon it the

previous

46]

previous question, which was car-
ried against the motion by 112
votes against 58.

On the 17th the Marquis of
Buckingham rose in the House of
Lords to submit his proposition
respecting military obstructions
in the streets; and after stating
the case in question, declared his
intended motion tobe, ‘‘ That an
humble address be presented to
his Royal Highness the Prince
Regent, praying that he would
inform the House by whose or-
ders the military had been called
out on the 13th of this month,
and what was the nature of the
orders under which they acted.”
The marquis then said, he thought
it right to state that hehad watch-
ed the conduct of the military
yesterday, and was liappy to say
that it was highly exemplary, and
that the police officers had been in
attendance, If, therefore, the
noble viscount (Sidmouth) would
assure the House that the power
and control over the military on
these occasions would be placed
in the hands of ministers and the
civil power, he should be ready
to withdraw the motion.

Lord Sidmouth, in reply, en-
' tered into a statement of his con-
duct on this and the former oc-
currence of a similar kind. He
said, he tuok no blame to himself
for not having sooner made the
proper arrangement in this mat-
ter. He had examined the journ-

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

als of parliament and the records
of his office, and had found no
instance of communication on
these occasions. Such had been
the practice; whether legal or
not he had not stated. He ac-
knowledged, however, that the
paramount authority was the
civil, and that the military ought
only to be used in cases of neces-
sity, or as auxiliary to the civil
power in these matters of police.
He admitted that there ought
to be a public responsible person,
and that the Secretary of State
cught to be consulted, though it
had never been so. Now when
the subject had been brought be-
fore their lordships, he did say
that some effectual arrangement
ought to be made. The Marquis
would use his discretion whether
or not to withdraw his motion.
The Marquis of Buckingham was
extremely happy to hear the de-
claration of the Viscount, and
thought himself not only justified
in withdrawing his motion, but
called upon to do so. fi
Lord Sidmouth being asked by
the Earl of Essex as to the man-
ner in which the duty of the sole
management and control upon
these occasions was assigned to
the home department, answered,
that he had received the Prince
Regent’s commands to take this
duty upon himself as secretary of
state for the home department.
The motion was withdrawn.

CHAPTER |

ENERAL HISTORY.

[47

CHAPTER IV.

Motion concerning the State of Ireland.—Petitions from Irish and
English Roman Catholics, and Proceedings respecting them.—New

Alien Bill.

N the 26th of April Sir J.
Newport rose in the House
of Commons to submit a motion
concerning the state of Ireland.
He commenced his preliminary
speech with a historical view of
those errors of government which
had brought it to its present con-
dition, and began with the period
of James I. in which the luminous
work of Sir John Davis affords an
excellent guide. From this work
he quoted the following passage,
which may be considered as the
basis of the right hon. baronet’s
idea of meliorating the state of
the country. ‘‘There is no na-
tion under the sun that doth love
equal and impartial justice better
than the Irish, or will rest bet-
ter satisfied with the execution
thereof, although it be against
themselves, so as they may have
the protection and benefit of the
law, when upon just cause they
do desire it.”

He then passed through all the
systems and principal measures
of Irish government from that
age down to the present time,
with a rapidity which precludes
abridgment: and after touching
upon the existing evils of the
country,-he said, ‘‘We are now

arrived at a season of profound

tranquillity; «and if the House
shall decide that no attempt shall

be made to trace to their source
those evils which afilict Ireland
and endanger the empire, it will
be my duty to bow to their deci-
sion, but I shall then deeply de-
plore the day which connected
Ireland to this country by legis-
lative union.’ The right hon.
member concluded with a motion
which we copy at length.

“That an humble address be
presented to his Royal Highness
the Prince Regent, humbly to
represent, that the necessity of
providing an army of 25,000 men
in time of profound peace, to se-
cure the internal tranquillity of
Ireland, obliges us to consider
the state of that great, valuable,
and interesting portion of the
united kingdom, as most distress-
ing and afflicting to the legisla-
ture, and dangerous in an ex-
treme degree to the well-being of
the empire: That we feel our-
selves imperiously called upon by
a sense of public duty to direct
to the consideration of this im-
portant subject our earnest and
undivided attention: That we
therefore pray his Royal High-
ness may be pleased to order,
that there be laid before us, with
convenient speed, such docu-
ments as may put us fully in pos-
session of the extent and nature
of the evils which demand _ the

temporary

48]
temporary application of this great
military force, and may enable
us to proceed with active and un-
ceasing energy to their complete
investigation: That we have arm-
ed the “executive government with
all the means requisite to sup-
press tumult and punish outrage ;
and we would now apply all our
powers to a deliberate examina-
tion of the existing evils, and the
causes from whence they origi-
nate, as the surest foundation for
affording to his Royal Highness
the cordial and active concurrence
of this House in such measures as
shall be proposed for their effec-
tual removal, and for adopting
such other wholesome and eflica-
cious remedies, formed in the
spirit of British constitutional
legislation, P appear to our
dispassion ate judgment inost ade-
quate to effect the extirpation of
those evils with which Ireland is
afilicted, and to rescue that fair
portion of the empire froin: its
present depressio and disorgan-
ization.”

Mr. Peel, on rising to explain
and defend the measures pursued
by the government with which he
was connected, began with an

a5 Tay

acknow! edement of the tone of

moderation which the right lion

baronet had in general disp inyed’
With certain parts of the address
which he had proposed it was his
intention to concur, but he
thought it precipitate to pledge
the House to‘a general inquiry
without explaining the kind of
inquiry which it was desired to

institute, and how it was to be
conducted. Before following the

details into which he had entered,
the right hon, gentleman sup-
posed a statement of the pre-

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

sent condition of Ireland would
be expected from him. Gene-
rally speaking (he said) the
north of Ireland was tranquil,
no disturbance prevailing there
except what arose from. illicit
distillation, and the consequent
opposition to the revenue laws in
certain districts. The extreme
west, and the counties of Mayo,
Galway, and Carlow were com-
paratively “tranquil; and the
same might be said of the south,
of Cork, Wexford, &c. The east
was likewise so far tranquil, that
no applications to government
for extraordinary police had been
made from these counties. The
counties in which disturbances
actually prevailed were Tipperary,
King’s County, W estineath, and
Limerick. The magistrates of
King’s County had requested the
application of the insurrection
act, but had since petitioned for
its removal, asserting that tran-
quillity was perfectly restored.
In Westmeath and Limerick
considerable improvement had
taken place, but the insurrection
act was still in force. ‘The ma-
gistvates of Louth and Cavan had
petitioned the government for
the application, net of the insur-
rection act, but of the extraordi-
nary police act. This was the
general state of the country; but
nothing was more difficult than
to give a character of the precise
nature of the disturbances now
agitating it. Formerly tumults
and outrages might be traced to
particular causes; but those
which now prevailed seemed to
be the effect of a general con-
federacy in crime—a systematic
opposition to all laws and muni-
cipal institutions. The right hon.
gentleman

GENERAL HISTORY.

gentleman adduced facts in proof
of this position, and then proceed-
‘ed to an examination of the state-
‘ments made by the right hon. ba-
ronet, and to a discussion of the
alleged causes of the evils for
which remedies might be adopted.

As we cannot give a concise
view of his speech, we must con-
tent ourselves with transcribing
the amendment to the former
speaker’s motion, with which he
concluded.

“That an humble address be
presented to his Royal Highness
the Prince Regent, expressing
our deep regret that the internal
state of Ireland in time of peace,
renders it necessary to maintain
a large military force in that
country for the present year, for
the purpose of assisting in the
execution of the law, and in the
preservation of publictranquillity ;
and entreating that his Royal
Highness will be graciouslypleased
to direet that there be laid before
this House a statement of the na-
ture and extent of the disturb-
ances which have recently pre-
-vailed in Ireland, and the mea-
sures which have been adopted by
‘the government of that country
in consequence thereof.”

The competition between the
two addresses necessarily called
‘forth the exertions of the most
‘considerable speakers on topics
relative fo Ireland, on both sides
of the House; among those of
the opposition being numbered
Mr. Plunkett, Mr. Grattan, and
Mr. Ponsonby ; among the sup-
“porters of government, Mr. Vesey
Fitzgerald, and Lord Castlereagh.
The debate was at length termi-
nated by a division, in which the

Vor. LVI,

[49

votes for the amendment were
187, those against it, 103: Ma-
jority in its favour $4¢

On the same day, April 26th,
on which this debate took place,
a petition was presented to the
House of Commons by Sir Henry
Parnell, which, as making a com-
mencement of the parliamentary
transactions of the year relative
to the Roman Catholics, may
here be properly introduced, and
carried on without interruption
to the close of the session.

The hon. member said that he
rose to present a petition from
certain Roman Catholics of Ire-
Jand, which had been agreed to
at a general meeting held at
Dublin, and the proceedings of
which were entirely regular.
There was another petition from
another description of persons of
the same persuasion which was
to be presented in a few days,
and which had been considered
as a proof of difference of opinion
which might defeat the applica-
tion of the petitioners to parlia-
ment in the present session; but
he thought that the difference,
upon examination, would not be
found one of a solid character.
The present petition abstained
entirely from the mention of alli
ceclesiastical arrangement; the
other stated that the petitioners
were ready to submit to any re-
gulations not incompatible with
the principlesand diseipline of their
religion. It had hence been infer-
red that there was a great degree
of difference between the parties ;
but it could not correetly be sup-
posed that the persons whose pe-
tition he now presented were so
unreasonable as to reject all mea-

[E] sures

50]

sures of temperate and proper
regulation.

‘The petition was then read,
the tenor of which was, That
the petitioners are excluded from
the enjoyment of the free consti-
tution of these realms; and that
they are subject to such ex-
clusion not on account of any
imputed deficiency of disposition
or inability to the service of the
crown or the support of the state,
but solely on account of their
conscientious adherence to that
religion which was professed by
those princes and patriots of
Great Britain who had originated
her justly boasted constitution :
and they again implored the House
to grant them redress of the op-
pressive grievances of which they
complained, and to restore them
to the full and unrestricted en-
joyment of the rank of free sub-
jects of the empire.

The petition was ordered to lie
on the table.

On May 15th the other petition
from the Irish Catholics was pre-
sented to the House of Commons
by Mr. Grattan. Its general pur-
port, though expressed in more
diffuse language, was similar to
that of the former petition : its
diversity consisted in the follow-
ing points. The petitioners stated
their readiness to conform to any
regulations not incompatible with
the principles of their religion as
they respect their faith and disci-
pline,and not threatening danger
to the purity and permanence of
its exercise: that they seek no
alteration in the principles of
the British constitution as now
settled ; for the principles of
their religion interpose no eb-

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

stacle either to the succession of
the crown, as limited by par-
liament to his Majesty’s family,
being protestants, or to the tem-
poral rights of the protestant es-
tablishment as fixed by law : and
that in the prosecution of their
object they earnestly desire, nei-
ther in act nor expression, to
leave room for jealousy on the
part of their protestant fellow-
subjects. They conclude with
humbly soliciting the House to
take into its consideration the
state of the laws affecting the
Roman Catholics, with a view to
the repeal of all of them which
do not relate to the succession to
the crown, or to the continuance
of the Protestant church estab-
lishment.

On May 2lst, the Rt. Hon.
William Elliot rose to present to
the House a petition from the
English Roman-catholics, which
he introduced by an energetic
speech that drew loud cheers from
all parts of the House. The sub-
stance of the petition, which was
expressed with all the temper and
decorum which had characterized
every application to the legisla-
ture from that respectable body,
was to represent that although by
two acts of the present reign
many penal laws to which they
were subject have been repealed,
yet that many are still in force,
which have a very distressing ope-
ration upon them, to which they
are exposed merely on account of
their refusal of certain religious
tests ; that their objection to these
is solely of a conscientious nature,
and not in the least degree con-
flicting with any moral, civil, or
political duty ; that they have at

different

:

GENERAL

different times presented petitions
to the House for relief from the
laws remaining in force against
them, and are truly grateful for
the full and benign discussion
their petitions have received ; and
that they again approach the
House; with perfect reliance on
its wisdom and humanity, hum-
bly praying that their case may
again be taken into consideration,
and that there may be extended
to them the enjoyment, in common

with their fellow-subjects, of the

blessings of the constitution.
After this petition had been
read, Mr. Grattan rose to make
his announced motion relative to
the petition from Ireland, which
he had presented. He said, his
hon. friend who had just address-
ed the House had argued the
question so justly and wisely, that
he had left him little to add on
the subject. He confined himself
chiefly to the particular matter of
the petition, which was signed by
above 900 persons, among whom
was a large portion of the Irish
nobility. The petitioners had
made those declarations on the
part of the catholics which the
House had desired to have, and
had complied with the terms
which had been exacted from
them. He had a letter in his
hand, for the authenticity of
which he could vouch, directed
by the Pope to be written by
Cardinal Litta to Dr. Poynter,
touching the conditions with
which the legislature wished that
any concessions to the catholics
should be accompanied ; and the
forms of oaths which it permitted
were little different from those at
present taken by the catholics of
Ireland, to which was added his
Holiness's permission that a list,

HISTORY. [51

made out by those to whom it ap-
pertained, of the candidates for a
bishopric, should be presented to
the King’s ministers in order that
they might expunge the name of
any one whom they disliked or
suspected. He (Mr. Grattan) had
often been asked what plan he
brought for the granting of eman-
cipation ; where are your securi-
ties? He would now say, Here
are my terms ; they are the terms
on which you formerly wished to
grant it, and will you now refuse
what you so anxiously sought for ?
The hon. gentleman pursued to
some length his reasoning upon
this topic; and concluded with
moving “That this House will,
early in the next session of par-
liament, take into its most serious
consideration the state of the laws
affecting his Majesty’s Roman-ca-
tholic subjects in Great Britain
and Ireland, with a view to such
a final and conciliatory adjustment
as may be conducive to the peace
and strength of the United King-
dom, to the stability of the Protes-
tant establishment, andto the ge-
neral satisfaction and concord of all
classes of his Majesty’s subjects.”
Sir Henry Parnell then rose to
speak in the capacity of the pre-
senter of the other catholic peti-
tion, and said, that although when
first informed of the intended mo-
tion he was disposed to think it
not that which the circumstances
of the case required, yet upon
consulting several members on
the subject, and considering the
late period of the session, he was
induced to change his opinion,
and willingly second the motion.
He then entered into considera-
tions of the policy of the repeal of
the penal code, which he consi-
dered as the principal cause of the
[E 2) discon.

52]

discontents with which Ireland
was now agitated.

As all that could be farther said
on the topic of catholic emancipa-
tion must be no more than reca-
pitulation of arguments produced
at former repeated discussions,
we shall only remark in this de-
‘bate, that while the motion was
supported by Lord Castlereagh, it
was opposed by the secretary for
‘Treland, Mr. Peel.
‘being loudly called for, there ap-
peared For the motion 141; a-
gainst it, 172: majority in the
negative, 31.

On the $0th of May, Sir Henry
Parnell rose in the House to pre-
sent a petition from the bishops
and clergy professing the Roman-
catholic religion in Ireland, which,
he said, was signed by twenty-
‘three prelates, and1052 priests. He
‘expatiated upon the character and
merits of the catholic clergy in
Ireland, asserting that whatever
there was of moral principle
among the catholic people of that
country, was wholly to be attri-
buted to their unabated zeal. The
petition which they had placed in
his hands contained their unani-
mous opinion on those ecclesias-

‘tical arrangements which some
‘persons had thought necessary to
be connected with the measure of
‘eatholic emancipation, and it com-
prized a very able argument to
shew that no alteration was ne-
cessary in the present mode of

‘appointing bishops. He con-
cluded his speech with saying, he

‘should give notice that evening,
of a motion for that day se’nnight
for the House to resolve itself into
a committee to take the petitions
into consideration.

A doubt was subsequently start-
ed whether the House could re-

ANNUAL REGISTER,

The question-

1816.

ceive the petition, inasmuch as it
professed to be from persons who
called themselves the bishops, and
not the titular bishops, of Ireland,
which was contrary to an Irish
act, prohibiting all Popish eccle-
siastics from assuming any eccle-
siastical title within the realm.
It was affirmed in reply, that this
act had been virtually repealed by
a later statute; and a speech of
Bishop Horsley was quoted, who,
in referring to the Roman-catho-
lic prelacy of Ireland said, ‘‘ My
lords, they are as much bishops as
any of my reverend friends who
now sit on this bench.’ Further
it was observed, that the petition-
ers in their signatures had not
distinguished themselves by any
particular see, but merely by their
christian and surnames. In con-
clusion, the petition was read,
and ordered to lie on the table.

On June 6th, Sir H. Parnell,
pursuant to notice, called the at-
tention of the House to the peti-
tions which he had presented, and
which, he said, contained the
prayer of nine-tenths of the Irish
Roman-catholics, including all
the clergy. After attempting to
shew that the time was now ar-
rived in which some farther con-
cessions ought to be made to that
elass of subjects, he said he should
propose certain resolutions which,
if agreed to, would form the sub-
ject matter of a bill for granting —
those concessions. He then stated
the resolutions, the first of which
went to the laying open to the
catholics various offices in the
law, the army, revenue, and
corporations, and this he pro-
posed.

Mr. Peel desired that the stand-
ing order might be read, by which
it was declared that no bill which

went

GENERAL

went to make an alteration in the
religion of the country, should be
discussed in that House until the
proposition had been first con-
sidered by a committee, or agreed
to by the House.

This being done, the Speaker
said that in matters of this nature
it was the practice to begin with a
committee of the whole House,
but at the same time he did not
know that any member was pre-
cluded from moving abstract re-
solutions. After some further
conversation on the subject, Lord
Castlereagh spoke warmly respect-
ing the injury the hon. baronet
was doing to the cause by the
course he was taking; and put it
to himself if many friends to the
question had not withdrawn them-
selves on this account. He him-
self could not give it his support,
and he hoped the hon. baronet
would not persevere in his mo-
tion.

Sir H. Parnell, after defending
his conduct on the ground of pub-

lic duty, consented to withdraw

his resolutions.

In the House of Lords, on June
11th, the petitions of the catholics
of Ireland were presented by the
Earl of Donoughmore, and read ;
and his motion for taking them
into consideration on the 2Qlst,
was agreed to. At the same time
Earl Grey presented the petition
of the catholics of England, which
was also read and laid upon the
table.

The catholic question was taken
into consideration on the 2lst,
when the Earl of Donoughmore,
in calling the attention of their
lordships to the petitions before
them, stated a resolution which he
intended to propose to the House.
Its substance was a declaration

HISTORY. [53

of the duty of parliament to endea-
vour by a conciliatory policy to
bind together our fellow-subjects
of whatever religious persuasion,
and that this House will accord-
ingly, in the next session of parlia-
ment, takeinto its early considera-
tion those disabling statutes which
still press upon the Roman-ca-
tholics of Great Britain and Ire-
land. In the subsequent debate,
the resolution was opposed on the
ground of the impropriety of fet-
tering the discretion of the House
by such an engagement ; and also
by the arguments so often before
urged relative to the dangers of
the constitution in church and
state, from the catholic claims,
especially as the clergy of that
persuasion in Ireland had expli-
citly declared a determination of
standing independent of the Bri-
tish crown. The supporters of
the resolution, on the other hand,
argued in its favour from those
principles of the equality of civil
rights amidst all differences of
religion not hostile to civil govern-
ment, which they had always
maintained. These discussions
could afford no novelty requiring
notice; but the liberal opinion
declared by the Bishop of Norwich
respecting the church of which he
is a dignitary, appears to us too
interesting to be passed over.
‘<It had been asked (said his
lordship) as a triumphant objec-
tion, would we pull down the
bulwarks of our faith? would we
remove the defensive guard of
our religion? would we shake
the pillars of our church? Im-
pressed with those feelings that
became his situation, he would
give a short answer. The only
way to secure permanently the
existence of any establishment,

civil

54]

civil or ecclesiastical, was to
evince liberal and conciliatory
conduct to those who differed
from us, and to lay its foundation
in the love, affection, and esteem
of all within its influence. This
was the true bulwark of our
church: with this it was secure
against all danger: without this
every other security was futile
and fallacious.”

The division on the resolution
gave, Contents 69 ; Non-contents
73: Majority against it 4.

On April 25th Lord Castlereagh
rose in the House of Commons
to move the repeal of the present
Alien Bill, for the purpose of in-
troducing a measure more calcu-
lated for the circumstances of the
country, and similar to that adopt-
ed after the peace of Paris. He
said, that although tranquillity
in Europe had been restored, the
situation of Great Britain was still
such as to require precautions
against the possibility of the dis-
turbance of internal security. The
noble lord then moved for leave
to bring in a bill to repeal the act
of the last session respecting
aliens, and to substitute other
provisions for a time to be limited.

Some conversation ensued con-
cerning the necessity of such a
bill, which terminated in the re-
quested leave being obtained,

Complaint being made of preci-
pitation in carrying on the bill, for
which haste the reason given was,
that the existing bill would expire
on May 12th, a postponement of
the second reading to May Ist
was agreed to. On that day Sir
Samuel Romilly moved, ‘That
there be laid before the House an
account of the number of aliens
sent out of the country under
any of the acts relating to aliens,

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

upon the application of any
foreign minister ;’’ which was ne-
gatived by 82 against 31.

The second reading of the
Alien Bill was moved for by Lord
Castlereagh on May 10th, when
Tord Archibald Hamilton began
the attack upon it by arguing that
its enactments were at this time
totally unnecessary, and that its
powers were oppressive and dan-
gerous ; and he moved as an
amendment, that the bill be read
a second time on that day three
months.

There is less occasion to enter
into the particulars of the sub-
sequent debate, as the bill was
stuted to be a precise counterpart
of that which passed two years
before. The ground for its re-
newal was distinctly declared by
Lord Castlereagh. ‘‘ He would
ask, (said he) the learned and
hon. gentleman who had opposed
it, if he would recommend go-
vernment and parliament to throw
open the country to all those
violent and troubled spirits who
assembledabout Buonaparte when
he made his last and desperate
effort to disturb the peace of the
world ?” As it was not obvious
that any peculiar danger accrued
to this country from the presence
of such emigrants, the speakers
in opposition regarded the mea-
sure as rather subservient to the
policy of the French court, than
called for by the circumstances
of England; and the debate in-
volved much discussion, both
legal and political. The House
dividing upon the question, the. —
secund reading was carried by
141 votes against 47.

The bill having gone into a
committee, the order of the day
for receiving its report stood for

May

GENERAL HISTORY.

May 20th. The debate having
been resumed, the question was
called for with some impatience,

‘when, upon a division, it was

determined for admitting the re-
port by a majority of 148 to 48.

Sir S. Romilly then moved that
the bill should be renewed for one
year only, instead of two years as
proposed. This amendment was
rejected by 124 votes to 44.

Sir James Mackintosh then pro-
posed a new clause for the pur-
pose of giving effect to that right
of appeal to the privy-council,
which the bill held out to aliens
as a security, but which a certain
decision had rendered perfectly
nugatory. The resolution on the
clause being moved and seconded,
an adjournment was moved by
the opposition to give an oppor-
tunity for its full discussion.
Lord Castlereagh, on the other
hand, moved that the bill should
be engrossed, which would be pre-
cluding all farther amendments in
this stage; but at length he yield-
ed to the adjournment.

When the motion was read on

May 28th for the third reading

of the bill, Lord Althorp said,
that seeing no prospect of its re-
jection, he wished to do all the
practical good in his power by
guarding against its abusive exer-
cise; he therefore proposed a
clause to exempt from the opera-
tion of the bill any aliens who
were resident in this country be-
fore January Ist, 1816, intima-
ting that he would be willing to
adopt any other date the House
shoull think proper, his object
being only to protect those aliens
who had been long resident in
this ountry.

Th: question having been put,

[55

Lord Castlereagh objected to it
as too much narrowing the ope-
ration of the bill. After a debate
on the subject, Lord Althorp
having amended his clause by
substituting the lst of January,
1813, it was put to the vote,
when the numbers for the clause
were 33; against it 76.

The debate on the third read-
ing being resumed on the 31st,
Lord Milton observed, that by
its provisions as they now stood,
an alien woman married to a
natural-born subject, might be
sent out of the kingdom. He
wished to guard against such an
abuse by a clause for the purpose.

Lord Castlereagh thought that a
discretion upon that point might
safely be left in the hands of go-
vernment, and that the insertion
of the clause would only be em-
barrassing the operations of the
bill. This being his lordship’s
only argument against it, he was
charged with opposing it solely
because he wished to have the
entire direction and control over
the bill. The clause was rejected
by 91 votes to 31.

It would be. useless to men-
tion other amendments which
were proposed for the mitigation
of the rigour of the bill: all
which were negatived. The bill
then passed.

The alien bill being introduced
into the House of Lords, the de-
bates upon it took the same turn as
those in the other House, and the
fate of proposed clauses of amend-
ment was exactly similar. The
reading of the bill a third time was
carried on June 18th, after a di-
vision of Contents, 108; Non-con-
tents, 48: Majority 60.

CHAPTER

56]

CHAP

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

ER V.

Bill for Regulation of the Civil List-—Motion on Salaries and Emolu-
ments in Public Offices.—Consolidation of English and Irish Exche-
quers.—Bill for anew Silver Coinage.

NE of the most important of

the parliamentary transac-

tions of the present year, was
the passing of a bill for the regu-
lation of the Civil List. On May
3d, the order of the day being for
taking into consideration the re-
port made in June 1815, by the
select committee appointed to

consider the account presented to_

the House, by command of the
Prince Regent, relative to the
civil list, Lord Castlereagh rose,
pursuant to notice, for leave to
bring in a bill for the purpose
above-stated.

The noble lord, after an intro-
duction, stating the delicacy of
the subject, and the mistaken no-
tions which had prevailed con-
cerning it, divided the topic,
which it was his intention to
treat of, into the following heads :
1. a retrospective view of the
civil list expenditure for a series
of years, compared with its re-
venues: 2. a prospective view of
the probable future expenditure
of the civil list, with a considera-
tion of the adequacy of the funds
appropriated to it, and the most
economical mode of augmenting
them: 3. the prospective regu-
lations which would be necessary
for upholding the proper splendor
of the crown, paying at the same
time all due regard to economy.

It is obvious, that these heads
could only be treated of by means
of minute statements of accounts,
which do not admit of abridg-
ment. Under that of regulations,
however, the appointment of a
new officer, on whom the control
of the expenditure is ina great
measure vested, affords an inter-
esting object of information. The
noble lord said, that for the pur-
pose of bringing the expenditure
under some direct control, it was
necessary to create a new officer,
who should act as the represen-
tative of the treasury in the su-
perintendance of this expendi-
ture. He was to have all facili-
ties of communicating with the
different departments, and of call- -
ing the officers before him, and
inspecting the accounts. Thus
he would be able to observe any
expenditure as it was going on,
and make representations to the
treasury on any thing which should
appear like extravagance, The
salary annexed to this office was
15001. a year.

His lordship closed the sub-
ject, with saying, that ‘‘ The
crown had been most unfairly,
unjustly, and unfortunately, ac-
cused of profusion and estra-
vagance; from which charge it
was his duty to rescue the Sove-
reign, and he hoped he had suc-

ceeckd.””

GENERAL

ceeded.” He informed the mem-
bers, that there would be placed
in their hands the documents ne-
cessary for a just understanding
of the question, and he concluded
by moving for leave to bring in
the proposed bill, which was
granted.

On May 6th, Mr. Tierney rose,
according to notice, for the pur-
pose of calling the attention of
the House to the subject of the
civil list. Going through at length
the details of the accounts which
had been laid before the House,
he deduced from them very dif-
ferent results from those which
had been stated by the noble lord,
and which were far from justi-
fying his encomiums on the eco-
nomy displayed by the crown, or
inspiring confidence in the effect
of his prospective arrangements.
He concluded an able speech, but
of which no summary can be
given, by moving, ‘‘ That a se-
lect committee be appointed, to
take into consideration the several
accounts and papers which have
been presented to this House, re-
lating to his Majesty's civil list,
with power to send for persons
papers, and records.’ If this
motion were carried, he declared
his intention to move, ‘* That it
be wn instruction to the said
committee, to report on the ques-
tion of the droits of Admiralty.”

Lord Castlereagh, in answer,
went into an examination of some
of the statements of the right
hon. gentleman, premising, that
he had never heard a speech less
conciliatory, or more calculated
‘to inflame a Jealousy of the royal
expenditure. Several other gen-
tlemen joined in the debate on
each side, whose arguments being

”

HISTORY. [57

founded on the particulars of the
accounts, cannot be understood
in a detached form. The House
at length divided, when the num-
bers were, For Mr. Tierney’s
motion 122; Against it 213:
Majority 91.

The report of the civil list
bill being brought up on May
24th, M. Tierney rose again to
call the attention of the House
to it. He said, the present bill
professed to afford a remedy for
the constantly recurring excesses
of the civil list, which consisted
in separating the. ordinary ex-
penses from those which were
less immediately connected with
the splendor of the crown, and
throwing the latter, partly on the
consolidated fund, and partly :
leaving them to be provided for
by the votes of the House. The
whole of the annual charge for
these purposes would amount
to 1,338,0001., cf which parlia-
ment must make good 255,0G01. ;
this was therefore a most im-
portant bill, and it would well
become the House, before they
assented to it, to consider, whe-
ther means might not be found
of paring down the civil list, be-
fore they resorted to other re-
sources. ‘On this point, he had
nothing to say: having repeat-
edly directed the attention of the
House to it, they had always re-
fused to appoint a committee.
The right hon. gentleman then
preceeded to consider the esti-
mate as it had been laid on the
table; and made a number of
observations, to show that parlia-
ment ought not to be called upon
to make good any deficiency in
the civil list, till proof had been
given, that all the resources of

the

58]

the crown had been exhausted.
He concluded with moving as an
amendment to the preamble of
the bill, that instead of the words,
«¢ And whereas it is highly ex-
pedient, that the ordinary reve-
nues of his Majesty’s civil list
should be made adequate to the
ordinary charges thereon; and
that several of the charges which
have heretofore been borne upon
the civil list revenues, should in
future be made a charge upon,
and be defrayed out of the
consolidated fund of Great Bri-
tain, or otherwise provided for,”
there should be inserted, the
words, ‘* And whereas it is highly
expedient, that the expenditure
of the civil list should not ex-
ceed the revenues of the same,
and that the several remaining
charges which have heretofore
been borne upon the civil list ex-
penditure, or have been made
good by applications of the drvits
of the crown, should in future be
made a charge on the consoli-
dated fund of Great Britain ; or
that the amount of such expen-
diture not provided for by par-
liament, if a sum exceeding the
revenue arising from the droits
of thé crown, or other resources,
should every year be submitted
to parliament.”

The debate consequent upon
this motion, in which several
speakers on both sides took part,
was terminated by a division, in
which there appeared, For the
amendment 116, Against it 230 ;
Majority 114.

. The civil list bill received its
second reading in the House of
Lords on. June 6th, after a short
discussion, the Marquis of Lans-
down remarking, that after the

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

refusal of the other House to
institute an inquiry on the sub-
ject, he had no hope of persuad-
ing their lordships to such a mea-
sure.

On the motion for the third
reading, June 13, Earl Grosvenor
made an attempt to obtain an in-
quiry by moving a postponement
of the reading, which was nega-
tived, and the bill was read and
passed.

The closest contest between
the ministry and oppesition, on a
subject connected with finance,
took place at a debate in the
House of Commons, on May 7th.
Lord Althorp rose, pursuant to
notice, to submit to the House a
motion on the subject of the in-
crease or diminution in the num-
ber or amount of the salaries and
emoluments of different public
offices. He said, that being con-
vinced that retrenchment was
practicable, and finding that no-
thing had been done, he had
thought proper to bring the ques-
tion before the House, that he
might not be supposed to have
made his former remarks on this
topic unadvisedly ; and the ob-
ject of his intended motion was,
for a committee to examine and
consider the increase or diminu-
tion of salaries of office since the
year 1798, and to report what
measures might be adopted for
further reductions, without detri-
ment to the public service. His
reasons for urging this motion
were, that frequent inquiries into
the public expenditure had been
productive of great advantage by
repressing abuses; of which he
gave some instances. In 1806a
committee had been appointed,
which had almost exhausted thet

subjec

GENERAL

subject of sinecures and rever-
sions, but had not inquired into
the state of many offices, which
had therefore been unexamined
for nearly twenty years. Not-
withstanding the pledge which
had been given on the subject of
‘economy, no one step had been
taken to put it -into practice.
The only argument which he an-
ticipated against his motion was,
that a commission of inquiry had
been appointed by the treasury,
consisting of his noble friend,
Lord Binning, and two right hon.
gentlemen ; but for various rea-
sons, which he stated, he thought
it not entitled to the confidence
of the House. He concluded with
moving, ‘‘ That a select com-
inittee be appointed, to examine
and consider what increase or di-
minution has taken place, since
the year 1798, in the number or
the amount of the salaries and
emoluments of different public
offices; and from time to time,
with all convenient dispatch, to
report what further measures can
* be adopted for diminishing the
amount of such salaries and emo-
luments, without detriment to
the public service.”

The Chancellor of the Exchequer
entered into a train of argument,
to prove that the business was
already placed in better hands ;
and stated facts to controvert the
charge against the ministers, of
having done nothing to redeem
their pledge respecting economy.

‘Lord Milton, in reply to the
last speaker, who had referred to
a reduction of 400,000l. in the
naval department, said, it should
be recollected, that all this re-
duction applied to underlings in
office; for the salary of no one

HISTORY. [59

in the higher departments had
been touched—no, not one branch
of any high family, nor any mem-
ber of that House, had had his
emoluments in the slightest de-
gree reduced.

In the rest of the debate, which
was much too copious to admit
of an abstract, the leading topics
were those above touched upon,
namely, the disposition shewn,
and the progress made, towards
economical measures by the mi-
nistry, and the grounds for ex-
pecting such future results, under
that management, as the public
might have reason to be’ satisfied
with. Several of the speeches
were marked with personality and
recrimination ; and the keen sar-
casms of Mr. ‘Tierney against
Lord Castlereagh, terminated with
a warning, that if he should per-
sist in following the system which
he declared a resolution to pur-
sue, he would raise a storm of
resentment which he would find
it impossible to allay.

After Lord Althorp had ended
his reply by saying, that the ques-
tion appeared to him to lie in a
very narrow compass—whether
the inquiry should be conducted
by the treasury, or by a com-
mittee of the whole House, a di-
vision took place, which gave the
numbers, For the motion 126 ;
Against it 169; Majority 43.

An important financial measure
which took place in this session
of parliament, was the consoli-
dation of the English and Irish
exchequers.

On May 20th, Mr. Vezey Fitz-
gerald, Chancellor of the Exche-
quer in Ireland, having moved,
that the House should resolve
itself into a committee of the

whole

60]

whole House, on the seventh ar-
ticle of the Act of Union, and
that the accounts which had been
presented relative to the revenues
of Ireland, together with the re-
port of the committee of finance,
should be referred to it, entered
into an explanation of the matter
in question.

Hesaid, that when the contribu-
tion of Great Britain and Ireland
towards the expenditure of the
United Kingdom, was fixed in
the proportion of fifteen parts for
the former, and two for the latter,
the arrangement was made for
twenty years from the time of
the union, at the end of which,
the joint charges were to be de-
frayed in such a proportion as
theunited parliament should deem
reasonable, upon a comparison of
the average value of the exports
and imports of the respective
countries, or of the principal ar-
ticles of consumption in both.
Another scale of estimate was
contemplated in the act, namely
a general tax, if such should
have been imposed, on the same
descriptions of income in both
countries. At the end of such
period, and proceeding on these
data, parliament was empowered
to revise the scale of contribu-
tion, unless it should in the
intermediate time have declar-
ed, what under certain con-
tingencies only it could declare,
that, with certain exemptions,
the expenditure of the empire
should be defrayed indiscriminate-
ly by equal taxes imposed on the
like articles in both parts of the
united kingdom. Whether that
contingency has arisen, and whe-
ther the necessity for exercising
the power conferred has arisen
also, he was now to show.

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

The right hon, gentleman then
began a luminous detail of parti-
culars relative to the revenues of
Ireland, and its comparison of
those of Great Britain, which
cannot be abridged ; and he con-
cluded, amidst those cheers from
both sides of the House, which,
he had on other occasions expe-
rienced, with moving the three
following resolutions :

«© 1. That it is the opinion of
this committee, that the values
of the respective debts of Great,
Britain and Iveland, estimated ac-
cording to the provisions of the
acts of union, have been, at a
period subsequent to those acts,
in the same proportion to each
other (within one-hundredth part
of the said value) with the respec-
tive contributions of each country
respectively, towards the annual
expenditure of the united king-
dom ; and that the respective cir-
cumstances of the two countries
will henceforth admit of their
contributing indiscriminately, by
equal taxes imposed upon the
same articles upon each, to the
future expenditure of the united
kingdom ; subject only to such
particular exemptions or abate-
ments in Ireland and in Scotland,
as circumstances may appear from
time to time to demand ; and that
it was no longer necessary to re-
gulate the contribution of the two
countries, according to any spe-
cific proportion, or according to
the rules prescribed by the acts
of union, with respect to such
proportions.

‘©, Thatitis theopinion of this
committee, that it is expedient,
that all expenses henceforth to be
incurred, together with the in-
terest and charges of all debts
hitherto contracted, shall be so

; defrayed,

GENERAL

defrayed indiscriminately by equal
‘taxes, to be imposed on the same
-articles in each country; and that
from time to time, as circum-
‘stances may require, such taxes
‘should be imposed and applied
‘accordingly, subject only to such
exemptions and abatements in
Ireland and Scotland, as circum-
stances may appear to demand.
-*° 3. That it is the opinion of
this committee, that such legisla-
tive measures should be adopted,
“as may be necessary to carry into
further effect the purposes of the
said acts of union, by consoli-
dating the public revenues of
Great Britain and Ireland into
one fund, and applying the same
to the general services of the
united kingdom.”
_. Mr. Bankes said, that he could
not be very friendly to a proposi-
tion, the ultimate effect of which
must be to throw almost the
whole burden of the late war on
Great Britain; and alluded to
the various predictions he had
made of the inevitable defalca-
tions which would arise in the
Irish revenue. The remedy pro-
posed was most extraordinary,
‘and perhaps the only one that
-eould be resorted to; but let it
‘be understood, that for some
“year's to come, Ireland must de-
pend solely on loans for the whole
expenses of the peace establish-
“ment,

Several other members entered
‘into the discussion ; and upon the
whole, a very unfavourable view
was given of the financial state of
Treland, in which taxation was
‘said to have been carried to its
ne plus ultra. In conclusion, the
resolutions were agreed to.

A bill for the consolidation of

HISTORY. (61
the public revenue having been
brought into the House of Com-
mons on June 10th, the House
went into a committee upon it.

Sir H. Parnell objected to the
provision which created two new
lords of the treasury, whose
places were mere sinecures. Ano-
ther officer was to be appointed
by the name of the vice-treasurer,
who was to be allowed to sit in
parliament, though the object of
his appointment was, that there
should always be a treasury officer
residing in Ireland, authorized to
issue money.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer
defended these appointments, and
spoke of the salary to be allotted
to the vice-treasurer, which he
thought could not be less than
3,501. a year.

After some observations on this
and other appointments of the
bill, it passed through the com-
mittee.

The committee having been re-
sumed on the 14th, Sir John New-
port asked, if the ministers per-
sisted in the intention of creating,
in addition to the place of Irish
vice-treasurer, that of a deputy
vice-treasurer. Being answered
in the affirmative, he said, this
was creating a sinecure of 3,5001.
a year; and declared it one of the
most shameless jobs. that ever
came before parliament.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer
reminded the hon. baronet, that
in consequence of the present
measure, out of six parliament
offices, three only were retained.

Mr. Ponsonby spoke with great
severity against the appointments,
and moved, that the sum of 2,0G0l1.
be substituted instead of 3,500].
as the salary of the vice-treasurer.

After

62]

After a warm debate on the
subject, the House divided, when
the amendment was negatived by
108 against 66.

Mr. Ponsonby next moved, that
the clause rendering the vice-
treasurer eligible to parliament
should be left out. This amend-
ment was also rejected by 107
votes against 57.

The report of the bill being
brought up on the 17th, on the
question, that the blank for the
vice-treasurer’s salary be filled up
with the words 3,5001. Mr. Pon-
sonby said, that he should not
depart from what he had before
moved ; and repeated his motion,
that 2,000]. be inserted. The
division gave a remarkable proof
of the effect of persisting to bring
before the public eye, a measure
against which there are objec-
tions which it is difficult to ob-
viate; for Mr. Ponsonby's amend-
ment was carried by 100 to 98.
The majority, though so incon-
siderable, was received with loud
and long cheering.

On the motion, June 20th, that
the bill be read a third time, Mr.
Bankes objected to the creation of
a new sinecure office, by which
the public were to pay the charge
of both principal and deputy ;
and he moved the insertion of
the words, ‘‘ other than the de-
puty aforesaid,’ the effect of
which would be to throw the
payment of the deputy upon the
principal. It was remarked on
the other side, that this affected
the question of the vice-trea-
surer’s sitting in parliament, since
now that his salary was reduced
to 2,0001., it was not to be sup-
posed, that any one would pay a
deputy out of it, and do his duty
in parliament.

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

~ The House dividing, the amend-

ment was rejected by 149 against
111. The bill was then read and
passed,

The passage of this bill through
the House of Lords afforded no-
thing that it is material to
record.

The subject of the silver cur-
rency of this kingdom was brought
before parliament on May 3d, by
a petition presented to the House
of Commons, by Mr. Grenfell,
from certain traders in the pa-
rishes of Shoreditch, Spital-fields,
and the vicinity, praying for a
new coinage. Its substance was
to state the great inconvenience
and embarrassment which they
had long been suffering from the
imperfect state of the silver cur-
rency, especially the shillings and
sixpences, of which very few ap-
peared to have been the legal
coin of the realm, but bore the
mark of counterfeits; to which
had lately been added a vast in-
flux of French coin, the value of
which was more than 20 per
cent. below that of the coins for
which they passed, yet of more
intrinsic value than that of the
counterfeits above-mentioned; the
consequence of which substitution
must eventually be highly inju-
rious to mechanics and_trades-
men residing in manufacturing
districts.

The hon. gentleman in offering
this petition, made some obser-
vations on the present silver cur-
rency; in reply to which, Mr.
Wellesley Pole acknowledged their
force, and that the petitioners
had just cause of complaint, and
said, that the subject was now
under consideration by his Ma-
jesty’s ministers.

On May 28th, a message from

the

GENERAL

the Prince Regent was delivered
to both houses of parliament, the
purport of which was, that his
Royal Highness, having taken
into consideration the present
defective state and inadequate
amount of the silver coinage, had
given the necessary directions for
proyiding a new and extensive
issue of silver coins ; and that he
relies on the assistance of parlia-
ment, in enabling him to carry
these directions into effect, and
upon their co-operation in any
further requisite measures.

This message having in the
House of Lords been referred, on
the 30th, to a committee of the
whole House, the Earl of Liver-
pool rose, to propose an address
in answer; previously to which,
he said, it might not be improper
to state the general outline of
the measures which government
had in contemplation on the sub-
ject. After alluding to the ela-
borate work of his father on the
coinage, he remarked, that it
was impossible for him to state
his views as to the silver coinage,
without saying something on the
gold coin; and he laid down as
the foundation of the measures
in contemplation, that gold was,
in fact, the standard or measure
of property in this country. This
being the case, it was intended
to-eave the gold coin in its pre-
sent state; and it was a happi-
ness, that we had now arrived at
a period, when gold might be
again allowed to operate as a
measure of value on the old prin-
ciple. With respect to silver, it
was only necessary to take care,
that there should be enough of it
for the purposes of change, and
should not be liable to be melted

HISTORY. [63

down. ‘They were therefore to
consider, 1. what was the present
actual price of silver; 2. what it
was likely to be; 3. at what price
it should be taken in the new
coinage. The present price was
5s. lid. per ounce; at the rate
of 62 shillings for the pound of
silver, as calculated upon in 1773,
the price would be 5s. 2d.; so
that it was now below the mint
price, and therefore might be
coined on the old principle. But
as the market price might rise, it
would be proper to prevent the
melting down of the coin, by ren-
dering it an operation of no profit,
which would be effected by fixing
upon the coin a small seignorage,
or raising its value above bullion.
This security he thought would
be obtained, by raising its coined
value to 5s. 9d.; in which case
the difference between the mint
price of 62 shillings for the
pound, and 68 or 70 shillings,
would pay for the re-coinage.
The Earl then came to the dis-
cussion of the most important
part of the present measure,
which was, the arrangements to
be adopted in calling in the de-
teriorated silver coin, and substi-
tuting the new. This process
should be simultaneous; for if
the base silver should be suffered
to circulate with the good, the
latter would disappear, since the
temptation of melting it down,
to be converted into the counter-
feit, would be irresistible. He
thought that 2,500,000l. of new
eoinage would be sufficient to
supply the place of the shillings
and sixpences called in, or driven
from circulation, which, from the
improved machinery of the mint,
might be prepared in six or seven

months.

64]

months. With regard to the in-
demnity to be granted to the
holders of the old coin, he was
disposed to adopt the inost liberal
principles; and he would pro-
pose, that all the silver which
could be considered as legal ten-
der, by having the proper marks,
should be received, when called
in, at the current value. Mere
counterfeits could not be received
for more than their value, as de-
termined by weight and fineness.

Te concluded, by moving an ad-
dress to the Prince Regent, thank-
ing him for his message, and
assuring him of the desire of the
House, to concur in its objects.

The Earl of Lauderdale de-
elared his dissent from the doc-
trines maintained by the noble
earl, and reasoned -against the
principle, that gold was the best
standard for the coin of the king-
dom. Ue stated the great ex-
pense which would accrue to the
public, by calling in the current
silver and issuing a new silver
-coinage; and expressed his ap-
prehension, that the fluctuations
in the price of silver would oc-
casion the new coin to be melted
down. Onthese grounds he pro-

. posed an amendment to the ad-
dress, consisting of a detail of
objections to the plan of a new
coinage, and an humble request,
that it might be suspended.

* ‘Phe amendment was negatived,
and the original address was
_agreed to without a division.

In the House of Commons, the
subject of the Prince Regent's
message was taken into consi-
deration on May 30th.

Mr. Wellesley Pole (master of
the mint) rose to explain the
grounds on which a new coinage

.

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

of silver had been directed, and
the principles upon which it was
proposed to carry this measure
into effect. In his speech, he en- —
tered more minutely into the sub-
ject than was done by the mi-
nister in the upper house, parti-
cularly with respect to the ques-
tion, whether gold or silver was
the fittest metal for a standard of
coin. With regard to the mode
of withdrawing the old, and sub-
stituting the new coin, he said
he should propose, that no altera-
tion should take place in the coin,
till two millions and a half of the
new coin should be ready to issue
from the Mint ; but while it was
in progress, proper steps would
be taken to lodge it for circula-
tion. When all was prepared, a
proclamation would be issued,
calling upon all persons to bring
in their old coin to be exchanged
within a limited time, and he did
not doubt, that the transfer might
be effected within a very few
days. When the new coin got
into circulation, it would of
course supersede the bank tokens,
which would be brought to the
Mint to be re-coined. It had at
first been intended to send half a
million of the new coin to IJre-
land, but upon consideration, this
plan had been abandoned. In
that country, the bank tokens in
cireulation were coined by go- —
vernment, and by act of parlia-
ment had been made a legal ten-
der till the expiration of the
Bank restriction, when they were ~
to be received by the tellers of
the Exchequer, and coins of the ~
realm exchanged. The right hon.
gentleman concluded, by moving
the following resolutions :
** That it is expedient, that all
silver

= *

GENERAL

silver coin, plate, or bullion, of
silver, in mass, molten, or alloyed,
or any manufacture of silver, be
permitted to be brought to the
Mint, in pursuance to any pro-
clamation, to be issued by his
Majesty, and melted and coined
into current silver coin of this
kingdom, of a standard, in fine-
ness, of eleven ounces two penny
weights of fine silver, and eigh-
teen penny weights of alloy, in
the pound troy, and in weight,
after the rate of sixty-six shillings,
to every pound troy; and that
there be delivered a sum in silver
coins, after the rate of sixty-two
shillings of the standard fineness
and weight aforesaid, for every
pound of silver so bought ; and
that, for the defalcation or dimi-
nution, and for the charge for
assaying coinage, and waste in
coinage, there be retained at the
Mint, the sum of four shillings
for every pound troy of such
silver, which shall be brought as

_ aforesaid.

«« That it is expedient, that the
silver coin of the realm, hereto-
fore coined and now current, be
permitted to be brought to the

‘Mint, and exchanged for new

silver coin, according to the de-

_ Nomination for which such old

Vor. LVIII.

HISTORY. [65

silver coin shall have heretofore
passed,

** That provision be made for
defraying the loss arising from
the deficiency and re-coinage of
the silver coin of the realm, and
also the charges and expenses of
melting down, casting, and as-
saying, and re-coining the same,
an all other expenses incident
thereto.

“That it is expedient, that
provision be made for regulating
the currency of the gold and silver
coins of this realm.”’

After some observations from
different members, the resolu-
tions were agreed to.

The silver coinage bill was
brought in, and read a second
time in the House of Commons
on June 7th. It is not necessary
to enter into the debate on this
occasion, as it appears to have
passed the House without oppo-
sition.

The Earl of Lauderdale moved
in the House of Lords for a com-
mittee on the state of the cur-
rency, which was negatived.

The coinage bill being read a
third time on June Qlst, the
noble lord entered a long protest
against it,

(F) CHAPTER

66]

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

CHAPTER VI.

The Budget.

HE House of Commons hav-
ing on May 27th, resolved
itself into a committee of Ways
and Means, the Chancellor of the
Exchequer said, that in rising to
submit to the committee the ge-
neral provisions which he had
thought it necessary to make for
the service of the year, he found
it impossible to disguise the fuct,
that the proposition with which
he should conclude, grew out of
the-cireumstance of the House
having judged it wise to take a
course different from that which
he had thought it his duty to re-
commend. The nature of the
arrangements for the service of
the year were necessarily much
altered by the rejection of the
property tax ; ‘but whatever pain
he might feel that the House had
determined. against that line of
conduct which in his opinion
would have been most beneficial
to the country, it was neverthe-
less his duty to bow to their de-
cision, and to submit to them the
ways and means which remained,
for meeting the supplies neces-
sarily demanded for the service
of the year. He should do this
with the most sincere desire that
the result might be such as to

leave the House nothing to re-.

gret. He should explain the
reasons which had influenced him
in making those arrangements,
which, under existing circum-

stances, he thought most advisa-
ble, and furnish that general
view of the subject, which, in-
deed, without a dereliction of his
duty he could not omit, and
which, from the situation he had
the honour to hold, he might,
perhaps, be thought more com-
petent to supply than any other
person. In doing this, he had
the satisfaction to know, that the
statement he should have to sub-
mit to the committee would be
upon the whole consolatory, as
he should not-be under the neces-
sity of presenting to them any
discouraging view of the state of
public credit, and as the country
was amply possessed of the means
of meeting thatexpenditure which

the public service demanded,
Before he proceeded to take a
general view of the supplies and
ways and means of the year, it
would be proper for him to call
the attention of the committee to
the more immediate object of the
resolutions which he should have
the honour to submit to them,
which arose out of a proposition
communicated to him in a letter
which he had received from the
Bank of England, and which had
been laid before the House. For
the course pursued in this in-
stance two precedents had oc-
curred within no great distance
of time from each other. One
was the proposition made by the
Bank,

GENERAL

Bank, June 13, 1781, concerning
the renewal of their charter,
which had been referred to a
committee uf ways and means ;
and the other was a conmmunica-
tion, dated Feb. 19, 1800, res-
pecting the advance of a sum for
the public service, connected with
a similar proposition for the ex-
tension of the eharter for a fur-
ther term of years, which had
been disposed of in a similar way.
The first resolution which he
should have to move was, that
the committee should approve and
accept the proposition of the bank
of England, for granting an ad-
vance of 3,000,0001. at three per
cent. interest, accompanied with
a condition, that the corporation
should be permitted to extend
their capital by an addition of
one-fourth, or 25 per cent., with
a further proposition that their
promissory notes should continue
to be received in all payments
made on aecount of the public
revenue. The permission which
it was in contemplation to grant
them, allowing them to augment
their capital, which was at pre-
sent fixed at about eleven millions
and a half, to between 14 and
15,000,0001., was, in truth, only
allowing them to divide some-
thing less than 3,000,0001. of
their own moncy among their
proprietors, on condition that
they should advance the sum of
$,000,0001. for the public service,
at an interest of three per cent.
This was an advantage of consi-
derable importance to the public.
When it was necessary that money
should be borrowed for the na-
tion, it was not to be doubted
that it was no inconsiderable be-
Refit to be enabled to obtain so

HISTORY. [67
large a sum as 3,000,0001. pay-
ing only three per cent. interest.
It was only necessary te consider
whether this proposition was ac-
companied with any condition
that could be viewed as objec-
tionable. The principal subject
for consideration was the pro-
posed augmentation of the ca-
pital. To him, this appeared not
only free from objection, but that
which was in itself very desirable.
Since the capital of the Bank was
fixed at eleven millions and a
half, a great increase of bank
paper had taken place; it was
therefore proper that their ca-
pital should be inereased, to give
the holders of their notes addi-
tional security. Such an aug-
mentation of their capital as they
now of themselves proposed, he
was of opinion, if not necessary,
was at least as desirable for the
public as for the Bank. If this
was, as he considered it to be,
advantageous fer.the public, he
did not see that any objection
could be made to the mode in
which the Bank proposed te em-
ploy that sum. If the corpora-
tion had (as it had been said they
had) a large sum of undivided
profits in their hands, he did not
know that they could do better
than divide it among their pro-
prietors on equitable terms, and
add it to their capital.

The second condition which ac-
companied their proposition, was,
that the Bank promissory notes
should continue to be received in
payment at the Exchequer. It
was well known that for many
years their notes had been re-
ceived in payment, and he doubted
not they would have continued
to be so taken, if this arrange-

[F 2] ment

68)

ment had never been proposed.
‘But it appeared to him it would
be an advantage in the event of
the resumption of cash payments,
as well to the publicas the Bank,
to guard against any thing like a
run upon the latter immediately
on its opening. Feeling this, he
should certainly in any case have
proposed that their notes' should
be received for a certain time
after the resumption of cash pay-
ments. Such a measure he should
have held to be necessary, to
guard against any traffic on the
part of the minor agents of the
treasury (though perhaps this was
little to be feared) being carried
on of an improper nature, who,
without such an enactment, might
possibly have demanded payment
in gold, for the purpose of mak-
ing a profit, by turning it into
paper whenever the exchanges
might again become unfavoura-
‘ble. He did not know that any
inconvenience would be likely to
arise from receiving bank notes
at the Exchequer, till the present
charter of the Company should
expire. If, however, it should be
‘desirable that they should cease
to enjoy that privilege, we could
put an end to it at any time, by
the repayment of the advance.
He himself thought there could
be no objection to its continu-
ance for the remaining sixteen
years of the charter; but if any
should, contrary to his expecta-
tion, arise, the mode by repay-
ment would, he believed, be found
easy. If government, at some
time, should deem it expedient no
longer to assist the circulation of
the bank paper, it would be equi-
table that the security should
exist till the Bank was able to

‘the present seemed in fact as

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

bring itself back to its former si-
tuation by the recovery of their
loan. To him then, the circum-
stances which he had stated fair-
ly considered, the arrangement
seemed to be as free from objec-
tion as any that could be sub-
mitted to parliament, or that
could be devised by any minister
of finance. It was to govern-
ment an important consideration
to obtain a loan of 3,000,0001.,
without resorting to the general
money market at a time when it
was most desirable to avoid all
pressure upon it, and in the re-
duced rate of interest to be paid
on the money so advanced, the
public gained at least 60,0001. a
year, exclusive of the still more
important one of saving: all addi-
tion to the capital of the debt
beyond the money actually ad-
vanced. It offered to the Bank
security, and sanctioned an_ho-
nourable extension of their ca-
pital, and this was highly bene-
ficial to the proprietors. He
thought it might further be ob-
served, that what it was now
proposed to sanction, .was no
more than that which the Bank
proprietors had a right to claim
at some time or other: the only
question therefore was as to the |
time, circumstances, and mode in:

which this should take place. On

any of these grounds he did not

think any fair objection could be

urged to the arrangement, and —

favourable a moment as could be

chosen for granting that which at —

some future period they were en- ©

titled to claim. %
He should now proceed to the

more general statements of the

supplies granted for the present
year,

GENERAL

year, and of those which would
be still required. ‘The first head
was that of the army: 9,665,000l.
was the amount for military ser-
vice already sanctioned by the
votes of parliament, from which
was to be deducted 1,234,0001.
for the troops in France, leaving
$,431,0001., including the ex-
pense for Ireland. ‘The accounts
of the extraordinary expenses of
the army for the preceding year
had been some time before the
House, and a vote to provide for
those of 1816 to the extent of
about 1,500,0001. would be spee-
dily proposed. The estimates of
the commissariat, &c. were about
480,0001., from which 75,0001.
for the army in France were to
be deducted. Taking the charges
of the barracks at 178,0001., and
the storekeepef-general’s depart-
ment at 50,000l., the’ whole
amount of extraordinary services
would be 2,133,000]., and the
total expense for the military ser-
vice 10,564,0001. For the navy
there had been voted altogether
10,114,0001., from which there
was a deduction to be made of
the proceeds from the sales of
old stores, which amounted to
680,0001., leaving the charge at
- 9,434,0001. Deducting about
186,000]. for the ordnance ser-
vice in France, the expense of the
ordnance department would be,
1,696,1851. The total original
vote was 1,882,0001—The pres-
sure of public business in the
House during the course of the
‘present session, had prevented
him from producing an account
of the miscellaneous services. He
could not just then state their

HAS T/O' RY? [69
amount precisely. He had on a
former occasion supposed them at
2,000,0001. From what he had
learned, he thought they would
come to 2,500,0001. or near it.
He should therefore assume it at
two millions five hundred thou-
sand pounds. ‘To meet the India
debt, and expenses incurred in
India, a vote of 945,0001. would
be proposed. This was necessary,
as the East India Company had
made pressing representations for
repayment of the sums they had
advanced. The advances in ques-
tion had been made to forward
those valuable services lately per-
formed by our army in India in
the conquest of the French and
Dutch possessions. The total
amount of the claim of the East
India Company, including the es-
timate of the present year, had
been 2,300,0001. Considerable
payments had, however, been
made by the government to the
East India Company, which were
to be set against the sum he had
mentioned. This done, there ap-
peared to remain due to the Com-
pany in January last, about a
million and a half. A provision
had been made for the sum of
500,000. in the vote of credit for
the last year, and this deducted
from the debt due in January re-
duced the sum to be provided for
in the present year to 945,000l.,
which it would be his duty on a
future occasion, to bring more
particularly under the considera-
tion of the House. The -general
statement of the supply for the
present year, compared with that
for the preceding, was as fol-
lows :—

SUPPLY.

70]

1815. SUPPLY.
18,876,759 . 2.65. ATIRP RESIS 2 oe eee s 956655666
Deduct troops in France . . 1,234,596
8,431,070
23,983,476 ..... Extraordinaries ........ 1,500,000
1j099 }961 ..... 4. Commissariat . . . 480,000
Deduct troops in
Biwance 6. 25% 753,000
405 ,000
99,000 ..... Battacks-).ai. in aeeeee 178,000
91,600 Storekeeper-gen. to be re-
duced about 10,000 .. . 50,000
2,133,000
os
10,564,070
18;644,200 ..... Mavy 7.26: i. eet 10,114,345
Deduct Naval Stores, to
he wold <ul). oi Foal, 679,905 :
9,434,440
4543 VjGAS ©. ses dinate sists. . SURES 1,882,188
Deduet France .....-. 186,003
- 1,696,185
3,000;000 ...... Mitelinnesus . 6) ef. OR 2,500,660
hidiah Dekt:. «eto Pee 945,491

Having recapitulated the above
items of supply, the right hon.
gentleman next proceeded to state
the separate charges of ‘Great
Britain. ‘The first was for the
payment of the part which had
been demanded of the loyalty loan,
which had been raised in 1797,
amounting to 217,000]. A dif-
ference, he stated, might occur
in these items, as wellas in the
miscellaneous services, between
his present statement and the
accounts previously laid before
the House, owing to the same
charges being placed under dif-
ferent heads, or to different dates
being included in the papers.
After the loyalty loan, and the
debentures, and their interest,

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

1816.

#£ 25,140,186

amounting to 807,0001., which
were the two first items in the
separate charges, he came to
ene not immediately under the
consideration of the House, re-
specting which notice had been
given of a motion by his right
hon. friend (Mi. Wellesley Pole).
He meant the motion for the
evant of asum of money on ac-
count of the new silver coinage.
He did not propose to anticipate
the able illustrations which the
right hen. gentleman would be
prepared to furnish on this sub-
ject, in what he might offer on
this occasion. ‘It would easily be
seen that there was no small
difficulty in determining what
sum it would be proper to grant

for

GENERAL

for this service. He (the Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer) had for
atime been very doubtful whe-.
ther this was a charge which
ought to be borne equally by
England and Ireland, or whether
it was one which ought to fall on
Great Britain only. Ultimately
he had, however, considered, that
as the whole of the silver now in
circulation had been issued long
before the Union, the greater
part of it indeed at least a cen-
tury, it was just that it should
fall on Great Britain, and on no
other part of the empire. It was
not easy fo say how much would
be sufficient to meet the charge
for the new coinage ; but he pro-
posed to take the sum of 500,000I.
which he apprehended would suf-
fice for so much at least of the
charge as was likely to be incur-
red within the present year.

_ None of that silver which was at

present in circulation was intend-
ed to be received in exchange for

HISTORY. [71

that to be hereafter issued, which
did not bear some appearance of
having come from the mint; and
this, as it would not include a
very large proportion of the pre-
sent currency, could not create a
great expense, and at all events,
a considerable time must elapse
‘before the arrangements in con-
templation could be carried into
effect. The next charge was on
account of a sum of 1,500,000l.
in exchequer bills held by the
Bank. These had been originally
issued for an advance made by
the Bank in 1800. The sum then
advanced amouwzited to 3,000,0001.
of which one half had been repaid
during the peace of Amiens, and
the remainder, amounting toa
million and a half, which had
ever since been annually renewed
in exchequer bills, still remained
to be made good. The separate
charges .were altogether as fol-
lows :—

SEPARATE CHARGES.

Loyalty 5 per Cents.
Debentures and Interest
thereon
Comase. y. gees .
Exchequer Bills held by
Bank... s.r
Interest and Sinking Fund
on Exchequer Bills .. .

ee te shee re altel toe

Deduct Irish proportion of
Joint Charge
Ditto, Civil List and Con-
solidated Fund

a Fe torte tee te

. £217,680
‘807,085
500,000
1,500,000
2,260,000

—— 5,284,765

2,957,656 30,424,951
188 ,000

= 3,145,656

£27 279,295

To

72]

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

To meet these charges, he should propose the following

WAYS AND MEANS.

TuancyanesWlaley sca ition: © ee vitae £.3,000,000
Surplus, Consolidated Fund....... 3,000,000
Excise Duties continued for Five

Wearssi: sytitgetibsiedel sje say.0.' Vee 3,500,000
Bank Advance on Bills.......... 6,000,000
BeQtleryys. (elsrsis <geieleitiniwnr's «(Die lela 200,000
Surplus Grants, 1815........... 5,663,755
Bank Advance on Account of in-

creased Capitals... 0.00). esudie cies 3,000,000
Unclaimed Dividends........... 301,316
Unapplied Money in the Exchequer . 140,000
Exchequer Billa). cote 4te . eteeles 2,500,000

As, however, a considerable por-
tion of the supplies for the ser-
vice of the year yet remained to
be voted, he proposed to leave a
proportion of the ways and means,
to the amount of 4,000,000l. to
be also voted on a future day.
He could wish to show how the
surplus of the consolidated fund
(which however he meant to re-
serve for future consideration)
was made up. Whether in the

£ 27,305,771

present situation of the country,
the taxes carried to it were likely
to increase or diminish, it was for
gentlemen to determine for them-
selves. By the latest accounts
made out of the produce of the
customs up to the 5th of April
last, that part of them which
was carried to the consolidated
fund, amounted to very nearly
5,000,0001. their, produce being
4,998,0001.

The produce of that part of the Cus-
toms given to the War Taxes,
which by a late Act of Parliament
were to become permanent, amount-

ed to in the last year...

The Excise gave within the same

PONG $2 bs = <caaicon etter

The Assessed Taxes....

STATIS pissing. ike % )- elicrchetass «
Poste@iicesncisoc wd oe el

Land Tax

oi a et ae a

rte 0! whe Lew a ae

Small branches of Revenue

ui dele wee epi.

Me eer lee

And sundry other Ways and Means,
including a variety of items,
brought the grand total of the In-
come of the Consolidated Fund, to 42,965,000

The

|
|

}

GENERAL

HIS TORY. [73

The annual charges paid out of the
Consolidated Fund, amounted to

Hex Sum iGE, sce. css sev sh

39,172,000 ©

eleva ol ae)s

This year there was to be added the

Russian Loan
Making together

Deducting this sum from the in-
come he had stated to be that of
the consolidated fund, it would
beseen there remained 3,652,0001.
On this there was an arrear on
the 5th of April, of 665,0001., so
the total produce of the last year
was about 2,998,000l.; but the
diminution here to be observed
would be covered by the produce
of the taxes laid on in the course
of the present year; and, under
all circumstances, he thought he
might with reason estimate its
amount at 3,000,0001. The ex-
cise duty, late a war duty, but
which had during the present
Session been voted for five years,
had produced 3,688,000]. He
estimated its produce in the pre-
sent year at three millions and a
half. He did not see why its pro-
duce might not be equal in the
present year to what it had been
in the last: but the allowances
granted on account of the malt
duty, made this a matter of
doubtful calculation. The pay-
ments, however, not yet made

| good, would prevent any great

falling off, and he should, there-
fore, take it at 3,500,0001., sub-
ject, however, to some degree of
uncertainty, on account of those
repayments, the amount of which
must be considerable, and could
not yet be ascertained. The
next item was, the first advance
from the bank of 6,000,000).
The ordinary feature in the ways
end means, the Jottery, he took

oer ee ee

‘ thereabouts.

130,000
chptetiabedete 39,302,000

at 200,0001. This was somewhat
uncertain, but he calculated. its
produce would be somewhere
The next would be
a most, satisfactory item to the
House ; it was the surplus grants
of the year 1815, which amount-
ed to no less than 5,663,000l.
An account was on the table
showing in what way this sum
was made up. Some grants were
commonly {left unapplied at the
end of a year; but it was gene-
rally found that against these,
some services left unpaid were
to be set, which frequently came
nearly to the same amount, and
left little or nothing to be carried
to the ways and means of the
next year: if indeed they did not
leave a deficiency to be made
good, which was much more fre-
quently the case. The sum re-
maining in hand on the 5th of
January last, had, however, so
greatly surpassed any thing left
unapplied before, there was ne
reason to suppose the whole
would be calied for in any way.
The grants unissued at the period
he had mentioned, amounted to
no less than 11,120,000]. It then
became a question, how much of
this sum it was necessary to re-
serve for payments due on ac-
count of services of the last year,
and how much could be appropri-
ated to the service of 1816. In
the first instance, when the House
met, he had stated the surplus
grants were supposed to amount
to

74] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.
to about, 3,000,000]. From the sum which he had stated to have
originally remained in hand of 11,120,0001. there had been paid

On account of treasury bills..... . £1,550,000
WOr MMS GAMIDY ooo oi ns 6 ehegeitins sens 1,050,000
For the Commissariat in Spain and

Portugal due since 1814, provided

inaeas: . Lau. yt? tak ss a 1,000,000
SpaMRe KS iL Nw tat. se AME 126,000
Ordnande Suni... Kuo. Jie é 876,000
Making a total sum for Military Ser-

MABSTOR Pay Ha See Ih keke £4,602,000
But against this, there was to be ba-

lanced the cash then contained in

the Military Chests ; this amounted

BOQ, SRN alls MRO, gee 1,865,000
Which deducted from........... 4,602 ,000

Left for the arrear of last year. .

To this was to be added of the
subsidies granted in the year,
and remaining wundischarged,
1,720,000]. The navy debt in
January last had amounted to

For Military Services
Wor ‘Suilbsidies 00.005 2.
For Navy Debt......

Total. .

Which sum he should propose to
vote as a provision for the service
of the present year.

The next item was the advance
of three millions which he had
had the satisfaction to negociate
with the Bank of England, and
the circumstances attendant on
which he had already particula-
rized. He had then to-state that
he had fermed a plan for making a
new arrangement with respect to

o ele ta) ete

S-cate eye! 0 ie)" e* ehentenere

——s

. « » 6237375000

3,600,000]. Of this it was
thought desirable to allow the
sum of 1,000,000]. to be paid out
of the surplus grants. There had
thus been paid—

£ 2,737,000
1,720,000
1,000,000
5,457,000

11,120,000
5,663,000

efarw ete "os

the unclaimed dividends of the
Bank. From these he proposed
to take the sum of 301,0001.
This, however, was not the only
advantage which the public would
derive from this scheme. It ap-
peared to him that the arrange-
ments hitherto made, both by
Mr. Pitt and Mr. Perceval, were
im some respects imperfect. They
had not contemplated the possible
increase of the unclaimed divi-

dends

GENERAL HISTORY.

dends beyond a certain sum, and
all above that sum they had been
eontent should remain in the
hands of the Bank. It appeared
to him better that a mere exten-
sive arrangement ought to be
made, adapted to any probable
variation of circumstances, that
the Bank should retain in its
hands a certain sum, and all the
balances above that sum _ be
made applicable to the public
service. On this principle he had
taken 301,0001., which had re-
mained in their hands up to the
Sth of April, in addition to the
advances made under the acts
proposed by Mr. Pitt and Mr.
Perceval. This 301,0001. how-
ever was not the only advantage
which the nation would derive
from his plan. It was not right
that the Bank should retain in
their hands sums which it was
not likely would be called for,
and which, from the accidents of
nature, or from the course of law,
the owners might never be able
to reclaim. He therefore thought
such monies might be well paid
over to the commissioners for the
redemption of the national debt,
to be by them applied to the li-
quidation of the public debt,
subject to the future claims of
the owners for restitution. He
proposed that it should be ar-
ranged on this principle—that
all stock on which no dividend
was claimed for 106 years succes-
‘sively, should be paid over to the
commissioners of the national
debt, to'be by them applied in the
manner he had already described.
A register of all such payments
he proposed should be kept both
im the Bank and at the office of

commissioners for the reduc-

(75

tion of the national debt, and
this he thought would be better
for the owners than even the pre-
sent system, proverbially accurate
as the Bank was inall its transac-
tions. The next item was rather
of an extraordinary nature. It
was one of 140,000]. made up of
small balances remaining in the
exchequer, the result of unap-
plied parliamentary grants of
former years, and now amount-
ing altowether to a sum not to
be despised. There yet remain-
el supplies to the amount of
2,500,000], to be provided for,
and this he proposed to do by
means of an issue of exchequer
bills to replace an equal amount
of unfunded debt which would be
paid off; and which in his original
plan for the budget of the year
he had proposed not to replace,
but entirely toextinguish. These
sums he had already stated as
part of the separate charges of
Great Britain, and they consisted
of the remaining part of the bank
advance ofthe year 1800, amount-
ing toa million anda half, and
of the debentures and loyalty
loan paid off and amounting to a
million and twenty-four thousand
pounds.

He then recapitulated the whole
ef the supplies, and the ways
and means by which they were.to
be met as above-stated. He did
not mean to move for exchequer
bills to meet the 2,500,0001. of
which he ‘had spoken, by them-
selves; he should include them in
a larger vote. In February, a
grant of 4,500,000l. in exchequer
bills had been voted by the House
to meet other bills to the same
amount. To thismight be added
bills to the amount of 1,500,000].

issued

76]

issued on account of the Bank—
6,000,000]. to replace those on
tiie vote of credit—and 1,000,0001.
on accountof debentures, making
in the whole 13,000,0001. to re-
place which, he should propose
an equal grant of 13,000,0001. in
exchequer bills, the whole being,
with the exception of the last
1,000,C00l. intended to exchange
against bills of the same descrip-
tion, and even the last were to
meet securities of a similar na-
ture. He had had to meet a large
defalcation to the amount of
§,500,0001. in the ways and means
of the year, owing to the rejection
of the property-tax, and the relin-
quishment of the malt duties, and
he should perhaps be asked in what
way he proposed to meet this defici-
ency. He would therefore now ex-
plain in what way he had made good
these eight millions and a half.
In the first instance he had pro-
posed. to re-issue 2,500,0001. of
exchequer bills, which other-
wise would not have been neces-
sary. The next means by which
the deficiency was to be met, was
furnished by the extra supply
offered by the surplus grants.
These, it would be remembered,
when he proposed the renewal of
the property-tax, he had taken
but at three millions. Since, it
had fortunately been discovered,
their amount had exceeded five
millions [Hear, hear !]. The pro-

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

posed advance from the Bank,
which was the subject of the mo-
tion which he should make to
day, furnished another portion of
the sum to -be made good,
and to this might be added four
hundred and forty thousand
pounds unclaimed dividends, and
monies in the exchequer, and
thus the 8,500,0001. would be
covered. He certainly thought
it would be desirable to avoid,
if possible, any increase of
the unfunded as well as funded
debt. Had the system he recom-
mended been adopted by the
House, a great and rapid im-
provement of public credit would,
in his conviction, have been the
consequence. He still most sin-
cerely hoped this would take
place, though with less rapidity,
and he reflected with much satis-
faction, that of all the sums called
for, there was only the 2,500,0001.
in exchequer bills, that could be
said to press on the money market
or on the exchanges. He wished
to state the whole amount of the
sum borrowed, against that por-
tion of the public debt which —
would be paid off in the present
year, without distinguishing, for
the present, the funded and the
unfunded debt, especially as it
might be questionable in which
of those classes the advances from
the Bank, and particularly the ©
first, ought to be placed.

The first advance from the Bank amounted to 6,000,000

The second advance, to...,

AS Beni i hk

ee eee

In Exchequer Bills.....+.+..

icpe. ld OGG
.« 2,500,000

_—_—_——_

11,500,000

He next proceeded to show the debt which would be paid off. The ©

Sinking Fund had on the Ist of Feb. amounted to 11,130,000l.

It

exclusive of what had been repaid
within the last year. It would
thus be seen that there was an
exceeding of about 3,500,000l.
over the sums borrowed for the
service of the year. But it might
be supposed, that when [reland
was taken into the ways and
means, we should find our pro-
spects much changed. For a few
moments, however, he would take
the liberty to trespass on the de-
partment of his right hon. friend,
and to anticipate some few obser-
vations which he (Mr. Fitzgerald)
would otherwise have had to bring
forward in the able and satisfac-
_ tory manner in which he always
made such statements. For Ire-
land, his right hon. friend in-
tended, this evening, to propose a
grant of 1,700,000l. in treasury
bills, in addition to which he far-
ther intended to move for a
grant of 1,200,000]. Irish, or
1,118,000]. English, making a
“total of 2,818,0001., and adding
the sum which he had stated was
to be borrowed for England of
-11,500,0001., would make a grand
total of 14,318,000]. But against
this was to be set in addition to
‘the sums he had _ before-mention-
_ ed, the Irish sinking fund, which
dhe believed amounted to about
_ 2,300,0001., and finally, the re-
‘duction he showed would be after
all little less than 3,000,000]. of
the united debt of the two king-
doms.—This, he trusted, would

~~

lq

Total..

GENERAL HISTORY. (77

It was therefore probable that in the course of the year, there
would be paid off by the Sinking Fund. ...... 11,500,000
In Exchequer Bills....-......-.. nee ee 1,500,000
In Debentures and Loyalty Loan........ -- 4$,024,000
Ota MCDB sto. PI ie. es Cede HR Se, 045 j088

Ae eres a88 /BU4 9695000
be found a most satisfactory view.
He believed it had very seldom
occurred that it had been found
practicable to reduce the public
debt immediately after the close
of a long war, before the nation
had properly got to its peace esta-
blishment. Instead of being” able
to do this, it had commonly been
necessary to call for large loans
in the first year of peace. Under
such circumstances, though the
state of the country was not every
thing he could wish, he was so
far from feeling apprehension,
that he could see nothing to fear,
if proper measures were pursued,
and every thing to hope, from the
wisdom, firmness, and moderation
of parliament. He had now to
explain the manner in which he
proposed to pay the interest of
the money borrowed for the ser-
vice of the year. The charge in-
curred by the first advance of the
bank was for interest 240,000l. a
year, and for sinking fund 60,0001.
making together 300,0001., the
second would require for interest
90,0001., and for sinking fund
30,0001. together 120,0001., total
420,0001., of this only 120,000).
would be charged on the consoli-
dated fund. ‘The soap tax would
produce about 200,0001., and the
new duties on butter and cheese
about 100,0001., if the trade con-
tinued as at present, or allowing
for its falling off about 50 or
60,0001. He further had it in
contemplation

78] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

contemplation to submit to the
consideration of the House, a new
arrangement with respect to the
draw-backs on sugar, the produce
of which, added to the 250 or
260,000]1., which he calculated
on deriving from the sources al-
ready mentioned, would be more
than enough to provide for the
charge created by the interest on
money borrowed. The right hon.
gentleman concluded with moving
the first of the following Resolu-
tions :

1. “ That the proposal of the
governor and company of the
Bank of England, ‘ That, in con-
sideration of the advance of three
millions sterling for the public
service, in the manner, and upon
the terms and conditions herein-
after mentioned, the said go-
vernor and company be autho-
rized and empowered by parlia-
ment to increase their capital
stock, which now consists of
11,642,400]. to 14,553,0001. ;
and that the proposed inercase
of 2,910,6001. be appropriated
amongst the proprietors of bank
stock at the rate of 251. for every
1001. of bank stock which they
respectively held on the 23d day
of May 1916; and that, until re-
payment to the said governor and
company of the said sum of three
millions, the promissory notes of
the said governor and company
expressed to be payable to bearer
on demand, shall be received in
payment of all sums of mioney
which now are or shall become
payable for any part of the public
revenue, and shall be accepted by
the collectors, receivers, and other
officers of the revenue authorized
to receive the same if offered to
be so paid, fractional parts of

twenty shillings enly excepted :—
That, in consideration of the
above proposed inerease of the
capital ef bank stock, and of the
notes of the said governor and
company being received in pay-
ment of every branch of the pub-
lic revenue. as aforesaid, the said
governor and company are willing
to advance the sum of three mil-
lions sterling for the public ser-
viee, to be paid on such days
during the present year, and in
such manner, as parliament shall
direct and appoint ; the repayment
thereof to be seeured, with in-
terest at the rate of 3 per cent.
per annum, payable annually, and
to be repaid at such period as par-
liament. shall direet and appoint,
not beyond the Ist day of August
1833, and to be charged and
chargeable upon, and to be repaid
out of the consolidated fund, un-
less otherwise provided for by
parliament,’ be accepted.

2. ‘ That towards raising the
supply granted to his majesty,
there be issued and applied the
sum of three millions, to be ad-
vanced by the governor and com-
pany of the Bank of England, in
pursuance of the said proposal.

3. ‘© That, towards raising the
supply granted to his majesty,
there be issued and applied the
sum of 5,663,7551., being the
surplus of the grants for the year
1SL5.

4. “* That towards raising the
supply granted to his majesty,
there be applied the sum of
599,9161. 3s. 6d., being fifteen
seventeenth parts of the sum of
679,905]. arisen from the sale of
old naval and vietualling stores.

5. “ That, towards raising the
supply granted to his majesty,

such:

GENERAL

such part of the balance remain-
ing in the hands of the governor
and company of the Bank of Eng-
land, for the payment of. divi-
dends on the public debt, be ad-
vanced, from time to time, for
the service of the public, provided
that if, at any time, the said ba-
lance shall be reduced to a less
sum than 100,0001., thenso much
of the monies advanced by the
said governor and company shall
be repaid to them as shall be equal
to the sum by which the said ba-
lance shall be less than the sum
of 100,0001.

6. ‘That towards making zood
the supply granted to his majesty,
there be issued and applied the
sum of 43,2471. 3s. 114d., which
have been issued to sundry per-
sons at the receipt of his majesty’s
exchequer, prior to the 5th day
of January 1810, and which, not
having been paid, remain as out-
cash in the chests of the four
tellers of the said exchequer.

7. ‘© That, towards making

ood the supply granted to his ma-
jesty, there be issued and applied
the sum of 13,2051. 5s. 33d. re-
maining in the receipt of his ma-
jesty’s exchequer on the 5th of
January 1816, for payment of cer-
tain annuities for terms of years
which expired annis 1792, 1805,
1806, and 1807.
8. “ That, towards making
good the supply granted to his
majesty, there be issued and ap-
| plied the sum of 6,3261. Os. 94d.
| Temaining in the receipt of his
eg exchequer on the 5th of

uly 1815, and charged upon the
consolidated fund for services
which cannot now be claimed.

9. “© That towards making
good the supply granted to his

HISTORY. (79

majesty, there be issued and ap-
plied the sum of 72,9731. 15s. 3d.
remaining in the receipt of his
majesty’s exchequer on the 5th
of January 1816, on'the funds for
payment of annuities on lives
granted annis 1745, 1746, 1757,
1778 and 1779, on which the
lives have expired since the 5th
ef January 1802.

lo. ‘* That, towards raising
the supply granted to his majesty,
there be issued and applied the
sum of 6,545]. 5s. 4d., being the
amount of money paid by the re~
ceivers general of the land-tax to
the governor and company of the
Bank of England on account of
the pay-master general of his ma-
jesty’s forces, in pursuance of an
act of the 37th year of the reign
of his present majesty, for raising
men for the army and navy.

11. ‘ That towards raising the
supply granted to his majesty the
sum of thirteen millions be raised
by exchequer bills for the service
of Great Britain.

12. ‘* That towards raising the
supply granted to his majesty, the
sum of 1,200,0001. Irish currency,
be raised by treasury bills for the
service of Ireland for the year
1816.

13. <‘That towards raising the
supply granted to his majesty
there be applied for the service
of Ireland the sum of 79,985].
16s. Gd., arisen from the sale
of old naval and_ victualling
stores.”

The first Resolution being put,

Mr. Vesey Fitzgerald rose to
state the supply and ways and
means for the service of Ireland.
He said, he felt it to be unneces-
sary to trespass on the committee
at any length. The cireumstances

of

80]

of the finances of Ireland had heen
gone into -o recently, and he had
himself received so patient a hear-
ing, and so much indulgence when
he submitted the late rcsolutions
to the House, that he should not
now be justified in going over the
same ground. He should briefly
state the amount of the supply
which was required for the year
1816, and the ways and means by
which he should propose to par-
liament to make provision for it.
It would be necessary only to ad-
vert shortly to those principles
which he had endeavoured to il-
lustrate on a preceding evening,
and though the ‘measures which
he had declared it to be his inten-
tion to recur to as a source of
present supply had not yet re-
ceived the express approbation of
the House, yet the liberal view
which had been taken of the
whole of our financial situation,
and of the proceedings consequent
upon it, would justify him, he
trusted, in not proposing any new
taxes in aid of the services of the
present year. The estimated quota
of contribution for the year 1816
was 3,145,656]. British, as had
just been stated by his right hon.

friend, making in Jrish currency ,

the sum of 3,407,7941. ; the charge
for interest and sinking fund on
the present debt is 6,826,7301. in-
cluding management, making the
total supplies 10,234,5241. The
state of the consolidated fund was
as follows: the surplus balance
in the exchequer on the 5th Ja-
nuary, was 1,448,0861., and there
was remaining of loan, raised in
Great Britain for the service of the
last year, 2,622,6411. British, be-
ing in Irish currency 2,841,1941. :
a total sum of 4,289,2801. From

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

this he was to deduct arrears due
on that day. The arrear of con-
tribution for 1815, 2,942,280l.
British, being 3,187,470l. Irish :
the outstanding treasury bills and
lottery prizes, 28,876]., and for
inland navigations, and the ex-
penses of the office for the public
records, 81,3641, the total of the
arrears was 3,297,7101., which,
deducted from 4,289,280. leaves —
a balance of 991,570l.

Having recapitulated the sup- |
ply, he had to state the ways and
means. The surplus of the con-
solidated fund as appeared above,
991,5701, : the produce of the re-
venue he should only estimate at
6,000,0001.; one-third of the pro-
fit on lotteries which Ireland was
entitled to receive, 100,000l1. ; re-
payment of sums paid by Ireland
for naval and military services
being advanced out of the revenue
of the last year, 111,960]. His
right hon. friend had before stated
the loan on treasury bills for which
an act has passed both houses
of parliament, of 1,700,0001. Bri-
tish, making 1,841,6661. Irish,
and that a further loan on treasury
bills would be required to be is-
sued in the present year for the
sum of 1,200,000], being a
total of ways and means of
10,245,1961. to meet the sup-
ply of 10,234,524].

The committee were aware of
the reduction of the revenue in
consequence of the repeal of that
portion of the malt duty in Ire-
land which corresponded with the
late war duty in Great Britain :
it was only what the act of union
had prescribed : but as a measure
of relief, sensibly as it might be
felt in this country, it would not
be less felt in that where the ex-

ample

:

GENERAL

ample had been followed. He
had always regretted the neces-
sity of augmenting the malt duty ;
but it was to be remembered, that
he had never had _ but a choice of
difficulties. The deduction from
the revenue, including the repay-
ment of duty on stock, in the
hands both of distillers and
maltsters would be, he feared,
300,000]. ; other small duties re-
pealed would make a total diminu-
tion in the revenue of 350,0001.,
and when the committee recol-
lected that the whole of the nett
payments into the exchequer
in the last year amounted to
5,845,8451., he was sure he
should not be charged with esti-
mating the annual produce of the
revenue too loosely when he took
it at 6,000,000L., he feared rather
that he should be accused of an
excessive estimate. He thought
himself grounded, however, in
hoping for what must be the in-
crease of more than half a million
from that improved system of col-
lection which was visible in every
department, and for which the
chiefs of departments deserved the
greatest praise—[Hear, hear! }.
He could not better excite that
industry, or stimulate that exer-
tion than by showing to the dif-
ferent boards that parliament
looked to them to prevent, by their
exertions, the necessity of fresh
taxation, and he knew that he did
not reckon on their exertions in
vain. There was no principle
more important to be kept in
view, particularly in Ireland,
than that it was better to collect
your old taxes well, than to de-
lude the public by suggesting
new and unproductive iniposts.
He did not found his estimate of
Vor. LVIIL.

HISTORY. [81

revenue solely on a vague expec-
tation of its produce; the assess-
ments principally of the inland
taxes had been formed upon a
more correct system, and in no
branch of our revenue had a col-
lection been more improved. He
expected in the present year a
great increase from those duties,
and without referring to the ex-
cise revenue, or to those disputed
questions connected with the dis-
tillery, which he purposely avoid-
ed, because they were likely to
become the topics of discussion at
another and a more convenient
time ; it must be obvious to every
man that if the practice of illicit
distillation should be ehecked in
some degree (he was not sanguine
enough to hope for its immediate
extinction) the excise revenue
would become the main source of
our contribution. He did not
fear either, that the internal diffi-
culties of Ireland would press so
heavy as in the last year, a year
of sudden and unexampled dis-
tress. That distress was easily to
be traced in the diminished con-
sumption of some of the most
productive articles, not only in
our excise but in our customs
also. He hoped that our horizon
was brightening a little, and that
he might be justified in the esti-
mate of six millions which he had
assumed. The produce, besides,
of the quarter to the 5th April
last had considerably exceeded the
corresponding period in the pre-
ceding year—He had omitted to
refer to stamps ; which he ought
not, as the increase had been con-
siderable in that branch of the
revenue.

The right hon. gentleman pro-
ceeded to state the charge on the

[G] treasury

82]

treasury bills to be issued. ‘Two
acts had already passed, authoriz-
ing different issues ; the one was,
however, to supply 2,470,000l. in
bills payable within this year, and
the charge for which is included
in the annual charge of the Irish
debt; that sum indeed made al-
most the whole amount of the un-
funded debt of Ireland; of course,
he was not required to make any
further provision for that issue.
By the other act there was a
grant ef 1,700,0001., and he
should to-night submit a reso-
lution for 1,200,0001. besides,
the whole making in Irish cur-
rency, 3,041,6661., the interest
of which, at 5 per cent., with a
sinking fund of 1 per cent., would
create a charge of 182,500]. an-
nually. When the committee re-
collected that Ireland had abstain-
ed from encroaching on her sink-
ing fund, and called to mind also
the relative proportions of the
sinking funds of Great Britain
and of Ireland, as well as those
which they bore to the respective
capital of their common debts,
they would, he trusted, approve
of provision being made for the
above charge, by cancelling a
certain portion of stock, now
standing in the names of the
conimissioners in Ireland for the
redemption of the national debt.
In England the principle had been
acted on. If it should meet the
approbation of the committee, he
should have the honour to state
the details more particularly on a
future day. The amount of ca-
pital redeemed in Tveland was, in
5 per cents., 1,852,0721., in 4
per cents., 294,500]. In 3} per
vents., 3,745,9581]., making in all,
7,892,3301 The whole of the 5

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

and 4 per cent. stock he should
propose to cancel, and a portion
of that in the 34 per cents.,
amounting to 2,231,9141, The di-
vidends upon these stocks he had
calculated as yielding 182,5001.,
sufficient to cover the whole
charge of interest and sinking
fund created by the loans of the
present year, which he had stated.
It would be right that this should
be made applicable to the same
charge whenever the stock thus
created became a part of the fund-
ed debt. He might be permitted
to observe, that the capital thus
cancelled was much less than that
existing in Ireland when the
sinking fund was first established
there, the amount of debt then in
Ireland (in the year 1797) being
5,825,0001. The annual income
of the sinking fund applicable in
Ireland will still remain more
than sufficient for the debt it has
to act upon there, the whole in-
come of it being at present
736,4301. He had directed eal-
culations to be made of the pro-
portion which the sinking fund
of Ireland would bear to the debt
of Treland after this deduction
had been made. He had on a
former night ventured to promise
that we should still bring to the
consolidated revenues, a sinking
fund, richer than that of Great
Britain in proportion to our re-
spective debts. He believed he
had stated that it would remain
as 1 to 54; he was more than
borne out by the calculation since
made. He trusted that parlia-
ment would concur with him in
this view of the measure to be
taken: indeed, he saw no alter-
native. They would recollect how
little proportion it bore to the de-

mands

GENERAL

mands made by England on her
sinking fund in the last three
years, and that during that pe-
riod, though in the year 1811
England had acquiesced in the
declared inability of Ireiand to
contribute by fresh taxes to the
public exigency, and that every
effort has since been made by Ire-
land to meet her difficulties, and
that she now applies to this re-
source only when the resources
_of taxation are exhausted. If Eng-
land has cancelled 250,000,0001.,
he would not say that she had not
purchased a right to do it by the
sacrifices she had continued to
make, and if he now recurred to
the same means of relief, it was
known to those with whom he
had acted, and indeed he hoped
that the financial efforts which
had been made would prove that
he had not been eager to recur to
it. He felt that it was unneces-
sary to dwell longer upon this or
any other points, when he recol-
lected the ample discussion which
most of the topics received on a
former night, and which many of
them probably would still receive
while the bills for consolidating
the debts and revenues of both
countries were in progress through
parliament.

After various observations from
different members, in which the

HISTORY.

[83

statements of the Chancellor of
the Exchequer were represented
as flattering and fallacious, the re-
solutions were put and agreed to.

The unexampled financial diffi-
culties under which the nation
laboured in the present year, ne-
cessarily rendered the plan for
raising the supplies rather a pro-
vision against urgent and imme-
diate events, than a satisfactory
liquidation of the demands upon
the public revenue; and the
Chancellor of the Exchequer him-
self admitted that the expenditure
of the year would much exceed
the income. This gloomy situa-
tion of affairs was placed in its
strongest light by Mr. J. P. Grant,
who, on the Slst, rose to address
the House on the subject. After
a variety cf observations on. the
expenditure, as stated in the reso-
lutions offered by the Chancellor
of the Exchequer, the hon. gen-
tleman moved a number of reso-
lutions of his own, coneluding
with one, which stated the
deficiency of the present year
at 17,877,065]. As we do not
mean to protraet this chapter by
matter of debute which produced
no result, it is enough to raen-
tion that the previous question
being put and carried upon each
of these resolutions, they wer or~
dered to be printec.

[G 2] CHAPTER

84]

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

CHAPTER VII.

Revision of the Statute Book.—Motion on Extents in Aid.—Debates
on the Slave Registry Bill,—Prince Regent's Speech on proroguing

Parliament.

N this year a course was be-
gun for effecting avery useful
reform in legal proceedings, by
a revision of the statute book.
On May 8th, Earl Stanhope
rose in the House of Lords to
submit a promised motion on the
subject of the statute book. There
were, he said, two precedents
which involved his principle :
one, the proposition of Lord
Grenville in 1809, for forming
into one act all those acts which
imposed the punishment of death
in revenue cases, which had been
adopted: the other, a proposition
made by himself for referring to
the judges, a bill to reduce into
one act all those imposing the
punishment of the pillory, which
bill now ley upoa the table. At
the end of this bill of the judges,
some observations were annexed,
stating, that the pillory was made
the punishment for some offences,
not merely by statute, but by
common law; and that they
could not say, but that some sta-
tutes on the subject might have
escaped them. In fact, he him-
self had pointed out two statutes
of George II., to which they had
not adverted—a proof of the dis-
ordered state of the statute book.
The earl then enumerated a con-
siderable number of instances,
some of them very curious, of

the contraricty and inconsistency
of statutes; and affirmed, that_
at present the statute book was a
perfect hotchpot, a chaos of dark-
ness, disorder, and confusion.
He cencluded by moving, “‘ That
the House do resolve itself into a
committee of the whole House,
1o consider of the best means of
arranging the statute law of this
country under distinct and proper
heads.”

The Lord Chancellor declared
himself willing that the matter
should be referred to a committee,
to see to what extent the noble
Karl’s idea could be acted upon,
though he had no hope that it could
be carried to the extent which he
seemed to suppose. Some good,
however, might be done.

After some further conversa-
tion on the topic, the Lord Chan-
cellor moved an amendment, that
the matter should be referred to
a select committee ; which was
adopted.

On the 10th, Earl Stanhope re-
ported from the select committee
two resolutions, declaring the ex-
pediency, in their opinion, of ar-
ranging the enactments in the
statute book under distinct heads,
and that a person learned in the
law should be appointed for that
purpose, with a number of clerks
under him. These resolutions

were

GENERAL

were agreed to by the House ;
anda message was sent to the
Commons, communicating these
resolutions.

The resolutions being read in
the House of Commons, June
10th, the question was put on an
amendment, proposed for extend-
ing the classification of the sta-
tutes to Scotland and Ireland.
Mr. Bankes having moved upon
it, that the debate be adjourned
to that day three months, the
motion was rejected by 60 votes
to 26.

The foltowing resolution was
then agreed to: ‘* That this
House doth agree with the Lords
in the said resolution so amended,
That from the present state of
the statute law of this realm, it
is highly expedient, that effectual
measures should be taken to ar-
range the matters contained in
the statutes of the united king-
dom of Great Britain and Ire-
land, and inthe statutes passed in
the separate parliaments of Eng-
land, Scotland, and Ireland, re-
spectively, under distinct and
proper heads."’

A legal topic of considerable
interest was brought into public
discussion on May 30th, by Mr.
William Smith, on a motion re-
specting extents in aid. The hon.
gentleman, in his introductory ex-
planation, stated, that the extents
issued by the Court of Exche-
quer had gradually risen in num-
ber, from nine in 1801, to a hun-
dred in 1815. Of these processes
there are two kinds, in chief, or
in aid ; the former are on imme-+
diate crown debtors; the latter,
on the petition of a crowndebtor,
in order to satisfy the crown de-
mands, when the party is unable

HISTORY. [85
to pay, his means being withheld.
The power of extents is such, that
they take place ofall other debts,
and may be levied, not only on
the goods belonging to the debtor,
but even on the cattle of others
on his lands. In an extent in aid,
the party suing it out, applies to
the crown office for a writ against
himself as a debtor of the crown.
The writ is directed to the sheriff,
requiring him to swmmon a jury
to take an inquisition on the suit :
an aflidavit is exhibited in his
court, upon which the jury find
the debt. The verdict being thus
obtained by the party, he goes
before one of the barons of the
Exchequer, and asks for a fiat.
In the reign of Charles H., the
Court of Exchequer declared, that
this fiat should be granted only
upon debts originally due to
the crown, upon debts of spe-
cialty, and after motion in open
court. These guards had of late
years become of no practical
effect, and many cases occurred
in which simple contract debts,
with which the crown had no
connection, had been assigned to
the crown, and this without any
motion in court. By this prac-
tice of issuing out extents in aid,
it was scarcely necessary to show,
that any debt was due to the
crown: the party taking out pro-
cess had only to swear, that he
was debtor to a certain amount,
and obtain an extent for a sum
of any magnitude.

The hon. gentleman proceeded
to state individual cases of abuse,
in every one of which, he said,
the party applying for the process
was much more than able to dis-
charge his own debt to the crown,
but chose fraudulently to employ

this

86] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

this fiction for his own private
ends. ‘The first of these cases we
shall quote, as a specimen of the
nature of these transactions. <A
corn-dealer had given a large bill
of exchange ‘to a country corre-
spondent, subsequent to which,
and before the bill became due, a
docket was struck against him.
The holder of the bill repaired to
an acquaintance of his, a farmer
of the post-horse duty, saying,
““such a man is in bad creilit,
therefore discount me this bill,
and you have the power of issu-
ing an extent against him.” This
was done; and the farmer of
the duty having made affidavit,
that this was an original debt,
the extent issued; and though
the whole transaction was a tissue
of fraud, it was with diticulty set
aside ‘by the assignees at the ex-
pense of 5001. After reciting a
number of imstances of abuse
equally flagrant, Mr. S. moved,
*« That a.committee be appointed
to take into consideration the
practice of granting, out of the
Court of Exchequer, extents in
aid of the debtors of the crown,
with the abuses which have taken
place therein, and to report there-
upon to the House.”

The Solicitor General said, that
the hon. gentleman might rely
upon his exertions, and those of
the Attorney-general, to correct
those abuses as they arose in the
courts of law. There was a
power in the Court of Exchequer
to set aside extents which had
been, abusively employed, though
it could not prevent the improper
use of the process, if a man would
venture to make a false affidavit.
The judges could not be expected
to have every affidavit read before

them, but they would ultimately
do justice to the parties. It did
not therefore appear to him, that
a ease had been made out, which
called for the interference of the
legislature. There might be abuses
in issuing the process, but he did
not believe there was any in ‘the
law itself; for which reason he
should move the previous ques-
tion.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer
said, that he had been informed,
that extents in aid had been very
improperly issued, in consequence
of the distress which had pre-
vailed during the last summer,
and that he had made further in-
quiry into the subject. The Lords
of the Treasury had since directed
the judges to consider what re-
galations ought to be adopted,
and to make their report. He
also mentioned, that the Treasury
had given directions, that no
persons, either directly or indi-
rectly concerned in country banks,
should be allowed to act m the
collection of the revenue.

After several members had
spoken on the subject, in which
debate it appeared, that the speak-
ers in general were in favour of
a committee of inquiry, but that
the lawyers were against it, a
division took place on Mr. Smith's
motion, which was lost by a ma-
jority of 65 to 56.

Mr. Ponsonby then moved,
««' That there be laid before ‘this .
House, copies cf all rules in the
Court of Exchequer, touching the
issuing of extents in aid.” This
was opposed by the Attorney-
general, and on a division was
negatived by 70 to 55.

Though the issue of these at-
tempts to exterminate a gross

abuse,

GENERAL

dbuse, was not such as might
have been expected, it cannot be
doubted, that salutary effects will
result from the manner in which
it has been brought into public
notice.

In the historical matter of the
last year, notice was taken of the
alarm excited in Jamaica, by a
bill relative to the registry and
regulation of slaves, introduced
to parliament at the close of the
last session by Mr. Wilberforce.
The subjectoccasioned some warm
and copious debate in the present
parliament, the acrimony of which
was aggvavated by the calami-
tous insurrection which took
place in Barbadoes.

The topic first engaged the atten-
tion of parliament by a petition
presented to the House of Com-
mons, May 22d, by Mr. Hart
Davis, from the West India plan-
ters, and merchants residing at
Bristol. The petitioners set forth,
that they had heard with great
alarm of the notice given of a bill
about to be introduced to that
‘House, for enforcing throughout
the British colonies in the West
Indies, a general registry of slaves,
disclosing in its details a spirit
- of interference with the local le-
gislation of the colonies, which,
from considerations of justice and
policy, could not be too anxiously
deprecated —that endeavours have
long been made to inculcate the
belief, that the statutes for the
abolition of the Slave Trade had
been rendered non-effective, by the
bad faith and illicit conduct of the
colonists, but that their legisla-
tures expressly denied the imputa-
tion, and challenged the assertors
to the proof. ‘The petition con-
eluded with praying, that the bill

HISTORY. [87
in question might not pass into a
law, and that the petitioners
might be heard against it by
their counsel or agent.

It was affirmed by Mr, Prothe-
roe, that several of the petition-
ers were, to his knowledge, de-
cided advocates for the abolition
of the Slave Trade; and that the
merchants of Bristol were well
known to have voluntarily aban-
doned that trade before it was
abolished by the legislature.

Lord Castlereagh rose, to ask
Mr. Wilberforce, whether he pro-
posed to bring forward any mea-
sure with respect to the registry
of Slaves during the present ses-
sion; because, if such was his
intention, he would urge certain
considerations, which, he hoped,
would induce him to waive his
purpose. He then alluded to the
negociations pending with cer-
tain foreign powers relative to
the Slave Trade; and he also
suggested to his hon. friend,
whether his system was not much
more likely to be effective, if
aided by the co-operation of the
lo¢al legislatures. Touching on
the right of parliament to legis-
late for the celonies, he said, that
nothing short of absolute neces-
sity should urge the assertion of
that right, especially on a mea-
sure proposing to subject them
to taxation without their will.

Mr. Wilberforce, though he en-
tertained no sanguine hopes from
the assistance of the colonial au-
thorities, would, however, make
one concession to the advice of
his noble friend. But he still
felt the propriety of some dis-
cussion on the merits of the mea-
sure he had in contemplation,
and for that purpose should

shortly

88]

shortly move for some papers.
He also declared, that he would
undvuubtedly bring forward his
promised measure early in the
next session.

The petition was ordered to lie
on the table.

Lord Grenville, who had moved
for certain papers connected with
the registry of slaves in the colo-
nies, which, he understood, were
soon to be laid on the table of
the House of Lords, gave notice
on May 30th, of his intention,
early in the next session, to sub-
mit to their lordships some pro-
position on this head.

The papers moved for having
been laid before both Houses of
Parliament, Mr. Wilberforce, on
June 19th, rose, and began his
speech by saying, that although
he had yielded to the noble lord's
recommendation of deferring the
question of negro slavery, yet,
that the subject appearing to him
now to stand upon different
grounds, he thought it of the
greatest importance, that there
should be every possible degree
of information, and felt it his
duty to state some of the princi-
ples, which the House having
adopted, it seemed necessary to
carry into effeet. In proceeding
to this consideration, he would

show what was the condition of

a gre at part of the slaves in the
West Indies ; and that this was
not as it ought to be was evident,
from the circumstance of their
not increasing in number. The
latest accounts from Jamaica,
where they were in general the
best treated, admitted that great
numbers were lost every year,
from the circumstances of their
being under-fed and over-worked.

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

The hon. member then adverted
to some of the plans that had for-
merly been suggested for melior-
ating their condition; but, said
he, the friends of the abolition
had been satisfied with that ge-
neral measure. The only thing
he regretted was, that it was not
immediately followed by a re-
gistry bill. It had been objected,
that they had changed their
ground, and were now aiming at
emancipation, a ery which had
been raised from the first exer-
tions in favour of the negroes ;
but it could be proved, that they
had always regarded the slaves as
incapable of liberty at present,
and hoped that a change might
take place by degrees, as the na-
tural result of the abolition.

Mr. W. then took notice of a
charge made against the registry
bill, that it had been the cause of
the late insurrection; and he
gave reasons for attributing it to
the irritation excited among the
negroes by the violent language
of the planters, when speaking
on the measure of registering.
He proceeded to state the proba-
bility of the smuggling of slaves
into the islands, in opposition to
the present declarations of the
colonists; and made some re-
marks on the Jamaica report of
the state of negro population for
a number of years, to justify this
suspicion. In fine, he concluded
by meving, ‘‘ That an humble
address be presented to the Prince
Regent, that he will be pleased
to give directions, that there be
laid before this House the titles
and dates of any acts of the as-
sembly of Jamaica, transmitted
for his Majesty's approbation, by
which any poll-tax on slaves was

imposed,

GENERAL HISTORY.

imposed, for the years 1808, 9,
10, 11, and 12, or any of those
years, or by which any returns
of slaves were required to be
made in the said years, for the
purpose of such taxation, or
otherwise; specifying at what
time or times such returns were
directed to be made.”

Mr. C. N. Palmer, rising: as
the advocate of the planters, said,
that if he had entertained any
doubt, whether the House should
prefer, to an address for infor-
mation, the duty of removing an
existing agitation, the speech
which had just been heard, and
which appeared to him only cal--
culated to increase an irritation,
which all persons, he should have
hoped, would have wished to
allay, would have removed that
doubt. He then entered into a
general narrative of the situation
of the colonies, followed by a
particular account of the insur-
rection, in which he brought facts
to prove, that it arose from the
expectations among the slaves of
entire emancipation, fostered by
the proposed registry bill. He
quoted several passages from the
Report of the African institution,
and other publications, to confirm
this opinion, and solemnly as-
sured the House, that the colo-
nies were at present in a state of
great danger ; and he concluded
with moving an amendment of
the hon. gentleman's proposed
address, which was leaving out
the whole, and substituting the
following :

** That an humble address be
presented to the Prince Regent,
praying, that he will be pleased to
cause communications to be made
to the governors of the several

[89

islands in the West Indies, signify-
ing his Royal Highness’s pleasure,
that they do take immediate mea-
sures to proclaim throughout the
colonies, which they respectively
govern, his R. Highness’s highest
displeasure at the daring insur-
rection which has lately taken
place in the island of Barbadoes ;
to declare in the most public
manner his R. Highness’s con-
cern and surprize at the false and
mischievous opinion, which ap-
pears to have prevailed in some
of the British colonies, that ei-
ther his R. Highness or the Bri-
tish parliament had sent out or-
ders for the emancipation of the
negroes ; and humbly to request
his R. Highness, that while his
R. Highness directs the most ef-
fectual measures to be adopted,for
discountenancing these unfound-
ed and dangerous impressions,
his R. Highness would also gra-
ciously be pleased to recommend,
in the strongest manner, to the
local authorities in the respective
colonies, to carry into effect every

“measure which may tend to pro-

mote the moral and religious im-
provement, as well as the com-
fort and happiness, of the ne-
groes.”’

Mr. Barham said, that although
it was his intention to vote for
the amendment, yet in his opi-
nion it fell short of what was
called for by the occasion, and
what the mover would have been
supported in proposing, by the
present feeling of the House. The
honourable gentleman then went
into alarge and severe censure
of the charges which had lately
been brought against the colo-
nists, to which he chiefly at-
tributed the late calamitous

events,

90} ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

events, and which, he said, had
thrown parties to an irreconcila-
ble distance, whereby ali the good
that might have been obtained by
co-operation was lost for ever.

It would occupy too much
space in our work to attempt
giving a summary of a debate
continued to a great length by
different speakers ; but the matter
of which was little more than repe-
tition of the topics opened in the
motions and observations con-
tained in the above extracts. The
conclusion was that Mr. Palmer’s
address was agreed to, nem. con. ;
‘that Mr. Wilberforce having pro-
duced again the motion he had
withdrawn, it was agreed to; as
was likewise a motion by Mr.
Canning, for a copy of the report
of the assembly of Jamaica.

In the House of Lords, Lord
Holland, on June 27th, made a
motion for an address, nearly in
the same words as that adopted
by the House of Commons, but
with a brief addition relative to
the negroes. The words were,
“* to make every necessary provi-
sion against any violation of the
abolition acts, under the facilities
which may be afforded by the re-
storation of peace.” ‘The address
was unanimously agreed to.

itmay be mentioned, that there
appeared a pretty general opinion,
that it would be best to leave the
measure of registry to the colo-
nial authorities, without the in-
terference of the British legisla-
ture, unless they should fail in
their co-operation.

On July 2d, the session of par-
liament was ternrinated by a

~

speech delivered by the Prince
Regentin person. After referring
to the marriage of the Princess
Charlotte with the Prince of Saxe
Cobourg, and the Royal consent
given to an union between his
Majesty’s daughter, the Princess
Mary, and the Duke of Glouces-
ter, his Royal Highness men-
tioned the assurances he had re-
ceived from all the powers en-
gaged in the late war of their
pacific and friendly dispositions,
and their resolution to execute
inviolably the terms-of the trea-
ties entered into. Touching upon
the arrangements adopted for dis-
charging the incumbrances of the
civil list, the greatest satisfaction
was expressed with them, and an
assurance given that, on the part
of his Royal Highness, nothing
should be wanting to bring them
to full effect. The consolidation
of the revenues of Great Britain
was then mentioned with appro-
bation. ‘The measures to which
his R. Highness had been under
the necessity of resorting, for
suppressing the tumults which
had unfortunately occurred in
some parts of the kingdom, were
said to have been productive of
the most salutary effects; and
whilst deep regret was expressed
at the distresses which circum-
stances, at the close of a long
war, had unavoidably entailed on
many classes of his Majesty's sub-
jects, a confident reliance was de-
clared on their public spirit and
fortitude in sustaining difficulties,
which, it was hoped, would be
found to have arisen from causes
of a temporary nature.

CHAPTER

GENERAL HISTORY.

[91

CHAPTER VIII.

7

Domestic Events. —Calamitous state of Europe in general, and its Cause.
—Distresses of Great Britain — Agricultural Distress, changing imto
that proceeding from a bad Hurvest.—Discontents among the inferior
Classes.— Disturbances in the Eastern Counties, particularly Cam-
bridzeshire.—Sufferings among the Manufacturers.—Iron Manufac-
tories. —Staffordshire.—South “Wales, —Spitaljields— Meetings for Pe-
titioning.— Daring Riot in London.—Condition of Ireland, —Mar-

_riages in the Royal Family.

HAT the first year after the

_ restoration of general peace
should have been characterised in
this country, as that of a mere
widely-extended distress than its
annals can for a long period ex-
hibit, must doubtless have occa-
sioned as much surprize as dis-
appointment, in the greater part
of the nation. ‘This calamitous
state of things must have been
wholly unforeseen by those who
direct its councils, if an infer-
ence may be drawn from that
clause in the speech with which
the Prince Regent opened the
session of parliament, in which
that ussembly is informed, that
“the manufactures, commerce,

and revenue of the United King-

dom are in a flourishing condi-
tion ;"’ for it cannot be supposed
that deception, in so important a
concern, would have been at-
tempted for the purpose of ob-
taining a complimentary address.
Yet the impending evils. took
their ovigin from sources so ob-
vious to the view of every states-
man, that we may wonder at any
self-Aattery, which could spread
over them a mementary veil. In

fact, the distresses of Great Bri-
tain have been contemporaneous
with at least equal distresses in
every part of Europe; and as
sueh general consequences must
have proceeded from a cause
operating alike on all, it is im-
possible not to recognize as that
universal cause a war of twenty-
five years, in the baneful effects
of which every European state
has participated. Its operation
was indee:| somewhat different in
different countries; but all were
plunged in the same misfortunes
of ruinous expenses, ‘wasted
finances, heavy public debts, and
immoderate imposts. ‘The condi-
tion of England was so far pecu-
liar that, by nveans of her insular
situation, she enjoyed a happy
exemption from war upon her
own territories; whilst, by her
triumphant fleets, she was ena-
bled to carry on an intercourse
with vevery part of the world,
whence she was not excluded by
force of arms. By means of this
commercial monoyoly, and amuch
increased demand for many arti-
cles required by the wants of
war itself, she long felt little other

pressure

\

92]

pressure than that of augmented
taxation, which seemed counter-
balanced by the increase of the
public revenues.

But when these advantages
were cut off by the peace, and
Great Britain hoped to retrieve
herself, by resorting to ber usual
customers on the Continent, she
found them immersed in general
poverty, and all eager to supply
their wants by the exertions of
their own industry. British ma-
nufactures, therefore, which, by
the improvements of mechanical
ingenuity, had been accumulated
toa vast amount in the merchants’
warehouses, found no regular de-
mand, but were forced by specu-
lation into foreign markets, where
they could obtain a sale only at
prices much below the prime
cost. In consequence, the manu-
facturers found it necessary, ei-
ther entirely tosuspend, or greatly
to reduce, the fabrication of their
goods; whence a number of
workmen in almost every branch
became destitute of employment,
and were plunged into severe dis-
tress.

Such is the deep-rooted cause
of a calamity, too widely dif-
fused to admit of effectual relief
from partial measures, and which
demands a remedy applicable to
the circumstances, not of one
country only, but of all which
have formed a part of the same
system of policy. Europe re-
quired a breathing time, of a
continuance proportioned to her
past toils and sufferings. What
her future condition will be, is
matter of conjecture ; but it is
obvious, that the spirit of internal
improvement, and productive in-
dustry, is become so general in

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

its states, that no one nation must
hereafter expect exclusive com-
mercial advantages ; and.if Eng-
land may still hope to maintain
her superiority as a manufactur
ing country, it must be by sup-
porting a relative superiority in
skill, knowledge, and enterprize.
After these general observa-
tions, we proceed to the particu-
lars belonging to this chapter.
The domestic distress which
principally engaged the public
attention in the early part of this
year, was that of the agricultural
portion of the community. The
subject had occupied a large share
of the deliberations of the pre-
ceding: session of parliament ; and
it continued to employ the cares
of a sitting committee in the
House of Commons, which re-
ceived voluminous reports of facts
and opinions from every part of
the kingdom. In our narrative
of parliamentary transactions will
be found notices of the principal
discussions relative to this matter,
together with a set of resolutions
offered for legislative considera-
tion, by the county member who
appears to have taken the lead as
the patron of the agricultural in-
terest. From their tenor it will
be perceived that, the fact being
assumed, that the present state of
agriculture in the kingdom was
such as to afford the expectation
of a superfluity in the regular
supply of the necessaries of life
from our own growth, the object
was to prevent their depreciation
by the importation of foreign
supplies. It was therefore pro-
posed to repeal that clause in the
corn bill of the last year, which
permitted the warehousing of fo-
reign grain, duty free. Fortu-
nately,

—

GENERAL

nately, the mass of discordant
matter communicated to the com-
mittee in the progress of inquiry,
so much retarded any parliamen-
tary determination respecting the
resolutions, that no alteration in
the law had taken place, when a
change of circumstances had given
a very different idea of the state
of the country. An uncommon
inclemency of the seasons as the
year advanced, presented such
gloomy prospects for the approach-
ing harvest, that the price of
corn began to rise; and instead
of apprehensions, that the stores
in the farmers’ granaries would
rot unconsumed, or become mere
drugs in the markets, the alarm
of scarcity now took its turn.
This fear was too well verified by
the event ; for the year’s produce
of grain proved so deficient in
quantity, and inferior in quality,
that, after harvest, the price ra-
pidly ascended beyond the point
at which the ports were open for
importation ; and the dearth ex-
tending through most of the
countries of Europe, anxious looks
were cast towards those quarters
whence foreign supplies might
be procured in aid of our boasted
home resources. Distress now
appeared among the cultivators
of the land, in a different shape ;
and the complaints were of scanty
and ruined crops, and the poor in
danger of starving. Before the
year closed, riots broke out in
some parts, occasioned by the
sudden rise of the markets, but
they were no more than transient
disturbances. It may, however,
be hoped, that the remainder of
the former harvest, together with
such importations as may always
be commanded by superior capi-

HISTORY. [93

tal, will ward off any extremity of
want ; yeta high price of the ne-
cessaries of life will continue to
aggravate the general calamity
till a return of plenty.

The discontents among the in-
ferior ranks of people, occasioned
by the want of regular employ-
nent, and by reduced wages, first
began to assume a menacing ap-
pearance in the counties of Nor-
folk, Suffolk, Huntingdon, and
Cambridge ; where nightly as-
semblages were held, threatening
letters were sent, and houses,
barns, and rick-yards were set on
fire, displaying melancholy proofs
of the degradation of national
character produced by long dis-
tress, and an interruption of the
usual habits of industry. Many
articles will be found in our
Chronicle, relative to these un-
happy incidents; of which the
most remarkable was a kind of
organized insurrection in the Isle
of Ely, which was not suppressed
without a strong hand, and which
terminated in the trial of a large
number of criminals by a special
commission, several of whom paid
with their lives their daring at-
tacks upon the peace of society.

The distresses arising from the
stagnation of manufactures were
no where more severely felt than
in those districts which had been
rendered populous and flourish-
ing by the numerous branches of
the iron trade, several of which
derived a large share of their de-
mand from the consumption of
war. Many great works of this
class were suddenly put to a stop,
with the effect of throwing en-
tirely out of employment the la-
bourers of different kinds, who
had been engaged in them. The

southern

. 94]

southern part of Staffordshire
was particularly affected by this
melancholy change ; and the most
lamentable accounts were trans-
mitted of the state to which the
working people of the populous
village of Bilston were reduced,
being rendered totally dependent
on parochial relief, the funds of
which were inadequate ‘to pre-
serve them from absolute famine.
A body of men intimately con-
nected with the iron factories,
were the colliers, whose labours
were nearly suspended from the
same cause. Some of these re-
sorted to a mode of obtaining re-
lief from the public, oceasionally
practised in hard times—that of
drawing loaded wageons of coals
to distant towns, for the purpose
of exciting commiseration. A di-
vision of these wandering peti-
tioners approached the metrope-
lis; but their advance was pro-
perly intercepted by the police,
through the apprehension. that
their appearance might be at-
tended with tumults, and they
were sent back with admonition,
and a gratuity. ‘The same re-
ception was given them on their
march to other capitals ; for al-
though they preserved due deco-
rum of behaviour, theiz mendi-
city came within the notice of
the vagrant laws.

For the most part, the sufferers
in the iron manufaetories bore
their hardships with due resigna-
tion, and were grateful for the
charitable exertions made for their
relief. In the great works of
South Wales, however, especially
those in the vicinity of that new
creation of ‘art and industry,
Merthyr Tydvil, large bodies of
disearded workmen assembled in

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816. ~

a tumultuous manner ; and were
not restored to order without mi-
litary interference, joined with
such conciliatory measures as pre-
vented any considerable mischief.
In the other districts of the king- _
dom which partook, some of them ~
largely, of the declension of ma-
nufactures, the public tranquillity
was_rarely disturbed. ‘The hand
of charity was liberally extended
to the relief of distress; and
plans were adopted in many places,
for supplying the want of usual
employment by new undertakings
of public utility. In the metro-
polis, large subscriptions were
entered into for relieving the nu-
merous poor, who were reduced
to the most urgent necessity’ by:
the failure of demand for the silk
manufacvures in Spitalfields, as
wellas bythe loss of various other
sources of employment ; and in
almost every parish contributions
were raised for enlarging dona-
tions without additional burthens
upon the poor-rates. _

In a state of society so preg~
nant with calamity, it is not sur-
prising that the public mind was
disposed to complaint and dis-
content ; and that, in meditating -
upon the source of the existing
evils, every defect in the system
of government, how remotely
soever connected with the mass
of present misfortune, was studi-
ously brought to view. We have
seen, that in the great council of
the state, the immeuse load of
debt and expense entailed on the
nation roused an active spirit of
economy, which subjected to a
rigorous scrutiny every demand
upon the public purse not justi-
fied by utility, however sanctioned
by the laxity of former times ;

and

GENERAL HISTORY.

and the resistance made by minis-
ters to some proposed retrench-
ments, was by no means calculated
to inspire general confidence in
their government. A spirit of pe-
titioning for a redress of obvious
* grievances was therefore diffused
through the country, andin many
places produced public meetings,
at which the, waste and corrup-
tion arising from pensions, sine-
cures, and extravagant charges
of every kiad, were exposed with
great freedomand severity. When,
however, the lower classes, irri-
tated by their distresses, and at
alk times readily acted upon by
bold declamation, began to take
_a conspicucus part in such assem-
blies, the superior orders, alarmed
with the dread of popular com-
motion, found it expedient in ge-
neral to stand aside, and await
the result of the lessons already
given, of the necessity of coneili-

ating the people at large, by far-_

ther sacrifices of personal inter-
ests. This quiescence was doubt-
less promoted by the introduc-
tion at meetings for petition,
among other topics, of that of
parliamentary reform, so often a
subject of unavailing discussion,
and almost. discarded as an im-
practicability, by the party con-
sidered as taking the lead in po-
litical improvement. Whether
such an emergrence as the present
is a seasonable time for exciting
awarm interest in the commu-
nity, respecting a matter so im-
portant and difiicult, we shall not
enquire ; but as a fact it may be
stated, that the most guarded ad-
dresses for the abolition of abuses,
carefully avoided that topic. On
the other hand, it formed a con-
Spicuous object in some remon-

[95

strances, especially in the address
presented in December, to the
Prince Regent, from the Corpo-
ration of London, which, with
the answer of his Royal High-
ness, will be found among the
State Papers, as a political docu-
ment worthy of preservation.
Although assemblies in popu-
lous towns were convened for
political purposes, which included
the lowest and most uninstructed
members ef the community, yet
either from their orderly dispo-
sition, or from the precautions
employed by the government and
magistracy, the public peace was
little disturbed ; and even in the
metropolis, where popular meet-
ings are peculiarly dangerous,
they might have harmlessly passed
over in listening to field orators,
had not, on one occasion, a few
desperate enthusiasts taken the
advantage of collecting a mob,
for the purpose of putting in exe-
cution a daring, though absurd,
insurrectionary attempt, which,
for a short time, threw the whole
city into alarm, and threatened
serious mischief. It was, how-
ever, without any difficulty, quelled
by military assistance, and the
principal agents were taken into
custody. (See Chronicle for De-
cember, for the particulars.) The
year closed with general tran-
quillity through this island.
Ireland during the present year
has suffered under a continuance
of these diserders and atrocities,
which so much prevailed in the
last year, and which have rendered
neeessary the inaintenance of an
additional number of troops in
that unfortunate country. The
parts particularly infested with
these disturbances, and the state

of

96]

of the island in general, will be
found in Mr. Peel’s report, in-
serted in our Parliamentary His-
tory. Atthe same time the peo-
ple of Ireland have partaken even
more than their share of the ca-
lamities' proceeding from unfa-
vourable seasons, and a deficient
product of the necessaries of life,
combined with commercial dis-
tresses. The situation of the
country is indeed extremely me-
lancholy, and little prospect is yet
afforded of its melioration. With
respect to the admittance of the
Roman Catholics of Ireland to
the full rights of subjects, sulong
and anxiously expected by them,
no progress towards that event
has been made in this year; nor
have the different opinions among
themselves, relative to the terms
to be proposed for obtaining the
desired concession, been brought
to am agreement. Jn the mean-
time it has been resolved by both
parties, not to intermit the an-
nual practice of petitioning for
the redress of their particular
grievances.

In the midst of the gloom
which was spread over the na-
tion, in consequence of so many
spectacles of distress, the public
feelings were cheered by the dis-
posal in marriage, to the general
satisfaction, of that Princess who
appears destined, at a future pe-
riod, to wear the British Crown.
In the choice of a partner, poli-
tical alliance was wisely made no
part of the consideration, and the
personal merit of the individual
was the deciding point. Leopold
George Frederick, younger bro-
ther of the reigning Duke of Saxe

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

Cobourg of Saalfeld, a Prince of
the Protestant branchof the House
of Saxony, obtained high reputa-
tion in the war against Buona-
parte, where he had a command
of cavalry in the allied army ; and
after the surrender of Paris, in
1814, he accompanied the sove-
reigns on their visit to England,
where he became advantageously
known to the Prince Regent.
The propriety of his conduct, and
the solidity of his understanding,
made a favourable impression on
the court, which terminated in
his being honoured with the hand
of the daughter of the Regent.
The nuptials between the Princess
Charlotte and the Prince Leopold
took place on the 2d of May, (See
Chronicle.) The parliament with
perfect unanimity made a liberal
provision for the illustrious pair ;
and numerous public bodies
throughout the kingdom _ pre-
sented addresses of cordial congra-
tulation on the auspicious event.

Another matrimonial union in
the Royal Family, though rather
a domestic than a political occur-
rence, was greeted by the public,
as affording the well-founded pro-
mise of an addition of happiness
in that august House. The Prin-
cess Mary, fourth daughter of his
Majesty, married in July her
cousin, the Duke of Gloucester ;
a couple regarded, by their man-
ners and principles, as eminently
suited to the duties of domestic
life. Their establishment was
framed upon a scale of modera-
tion, which rendered unnecessary
any application to the public
purse.

CHAPTER

GENERAL

HIS TORY. [97

CHAPTER IX.

British Expedition to Algiers.

HE general peace on the Eu-
ropean continent has hap-
pily, during the present year, left
no other employment to the Bri-
tish land forces in this part of the
world, than that of assisting in
the preservation of the external
tranquillity so dearly purchased ;
buat an unexpected circumstance
has procured to the British navy
the opportunity of acquiring fresh
laurels of no common splendor.
It has long been a topic of re-
proach, which foreigners have
brought against the boasted ma-
ritime supremacy of England,
that the piratical states of Bar-
bary have been suffered to exer-
cise their ferocious ravages upon
all the inferior powers navigating
the Mediterranean sea, without
‘any attempt on the part of the
‘mistress of the ocean to control
them, and reduce them within the
limits prescribed by the laws of
civilized nations. The spirited

“exertions of the United States of

America in the last year, to en-

“force vedress of the injuries they

had sustained from these pirates,
were calculated to excite invidious

“comparisons with respect to this
‘country ; and eithera feeling of
“national glory, or some other un-

explained motives, at length in-

spired a resolution in the British

government, to engage in earnest

“in that task, which the general

expectation seemed to assign it.
Vou. LVIII.

Of the original plan of opera-
tions, and the first proceedings
towards putting it into execution,
we are furnished with no docu-
ments from authority ; but the
following concise narrative is re-
garded as in some degree official.

Early in this spring, Lord Ex-
mouth, the naval commander-in-
chief in the Mediterranean, re-
ceived instructions to negociate
with the Barbary powers, for
treating the Ionian isles as Bri-
tish possessions ; and also to me-
diate a peace between these powers
and the kingdoms of Sardinia
and Naples ; and further, if pos-
sible, to procure a general aboli-
tion of Christian slavery in Bar-
bary. The Dey of Algiers was
first applied to, and he readily
consented to consider the Ionian
isles as entitled to the privileges
of the British flag, and to make
peace with Naples and Sardinia ;
but declined any overtures for
the abolition of the slavery of
captives. Lord Exmouth then
proceeded to Tunis and Tripoly,
with the Beys of which he con-
cluded an arrangement similar to
that made with Algiers, rela-
tive to the two first objects ; but
with the addition of a declaration
on their part, promising in future
not to make slaves of prisoners
of war, but to conform to the
practice of civilized Kuropean
nations. Lord Exmouth then re-

[H] turned

98]

turned to Algiers, with a view of
inducing the Dey to sign a simi-
lar declaration; but after much
altercation, he persisted in de-
clining it, on the ground that,
being a subject of the Ottoman
Porte, he could not consent to
such a condition without the per-
mission of the Sultan; but that
he would send a minister to Con-
stantinople to request it: and, in
fact, an Algerine ambassador was
conveyed on board the 'Tagus_ fri-
gate to Constantinople for that
purpose.

To this summary relation, va-
rious particulars may he added
from the extract of a letter, which
has been printed in a_ public
paper.

It is there asserted, that upon
the refusal of the Dey of Algiers
to agree to the abolition of the
slavery of captives, Lord Ex-
mouth departed from the inter-
view with a determination to com-
mence hostilities, and that the
Dey in consequence ordered the
British consul (Mr. M‘Donald)
to be placed under confinement,
and the English vessels at Oran
to be seized. On the next day,
the ships got under way; but a
violent gale continuing till the af-
ternoon, it was too late to take a
favourable position alongside the
batteries, and the ships anchored
again. His lordship then dis-
patched a letter to the Dey, de-
manding the release of the con-
sul, which he refused, without
the payment of a large sum of
money, which he said was due to
him. On the next day, the Dey
sent a proposal, stating his wil-
lingness to conclude a perpetual
peace; but requiring a delay of
six months, respecting the abo-

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

lition of slavery, in order that
the Grand Seignior might be con-
sulted on the subject. Lord Ex-
mouth agreed to a suspension of
three months; the frigate, as
above-mentioned, was then sent
with the Ambassador to Constan-
tinople ; and the British Admiral,
after an interchange of the usual
civilities with the Dey, set sail for
England.

In the French papers has been
published a letter from Lord Ex-
mouth to the King of Naples,
dated Algiers, April 6. In this
communication, Lord E. congra-
tulates his Majesty on the re-
storation of peace with the re-
gency of Algiers affirms that
he has made the Dey perfectly
understand, that upon his good
faith and moderation would de-
pend the existence of his political
power, and that, by departing
from these principles, he would
excite the resentment of all Eu-
rope, which is ready to unite to
oppose the proceedings of the
Barbary powers informs the
King, that he did not consider
himself as authorised to compel
the Dey to accept a less sum for
the release of slaves, after his re-
fusal to grant the Dey the enor-
mous sum demanded by him for
the peace, and to furnish him
with naval and military stores in
lieu of the annual tribute——and
requests his Majesty to urge upon
the Marquis: of Circello the ne-
cessity of making with punctu-
ality the first payment, for which
he has given his word.

There is subjoineda letter from
his Lordship to the above Mar-
quis, dated April 19th, congratu-
lating him upon the hope of

- seeing a speedy end put to Chris-:

tian

|

GENERAL

tian slavery ; andimpressing him

_ with the importance of remitting

as soon as possible, the money to
be paid for the release of the
slaves.

Before Lord Exmouth had
quitted the Barbary coast, a tra-
gical incident occurred, (which,
however, did not come to his
knowledge) resulting from the

.savage and perfidious disposition

of a people trained to piracy, and
rendered furious by the appre-
hension of being compelled to
renounce their most profitable
branch of traffic. At Bona, on
the coast of Algiers, is an establish-
ment for carrying on a _ coral
fishery, under the protection of
the British flag, which, at the
proper season, is frequented by a
great number of boats from the
Corsican, Neapolitan, and other
Ttalian ports. On the 23d of May,
the festival of Ascension, at one
in the morning, as the crews of
all the boats were preparing to
hear mass, a gun was fired from
the Castle, and at the same time
appeared about 2000 infantry and
cavalry, consisting of Turks, Le-
vanters, and Moors. A part of
these troops proceed2d towards
the country, whilst another band
advanced towards the river, where
the fishing boats were lying at
different distances from the sea;
and firing, as did also the forts,
upon the unfortunate fishers, who
were partly on board and partly
on land, massacred almost the

whole of them. They seized the

English flags, tore them in pieces,
and trampling them under foot,
dragged them on the ground in
triumph. The men who hap-
pened to be in the country, saved

themselves by flight, and declared

HISTORY. [99

that they saw the soldiers pillage
the house of the British vice-
consul, the magazines containing
the provisions, and the coral
which had been fished up. By
the boats which escaped, intelli-
gence was brought, that on the
arrival of a courier, hostilities
were suspended ; that the Vice-
consul was set at liberty, but not
suffered to quit the town; and
that several masters of boats, and
seamen, who had taken refuge in
a magazine during the massacre,
were also liberated, and were ad-
vised by the Vice-consul to put to
sea, with the boats which were
destitute of crews. A Turk, who
was asked the reason of this vio-
lence, replied, that the Dey had
declared war against the Eng-
lish, hecause the Admiral had de-
manded the burning of the Alge-
rine fleet. On the whole, it ap-
pears probable, that this horrid
act was perpetrated, rather in
consequence of the blind and un-
governable rage of a licentious
soldiery, than of orders from the
Dey and his Divan; for although
the firing from the forts might be
construed as an authorised hosti-
lity, there is no reason to suppose,
that it would have been com-
manded by a regular government
for the mere purpose of useless
destruction.

Whatever was the direct cause
of this atrocity, it cannot be
doubted, that the intelligence in-
vigorated the determination of
the British cabinet to employ ef-
fectual measures for obtaining by
force from these barbarians, that
security for their future peaceful
conduct which would be in vain
expected from their regard to
justice or humanity. Immedi-

[H 2] ately,

100]

ately, therefore, upon the arrival
of Lord Exmouth, the most active
preparations were made for plac-
ing under his command a naval
power, which would be capable
of overthrowing every defence
that the piratical states could
oppose to it. Some delay occurred
in manning the additional ships
destined for the expedition, the
British sailors not readily enter-
ing into the King’s service, when
they can obtain more lucrative
employment in the trading ma-
rine. At length, however, the
Admiral set sail with a fleet,
*“ complete in all its points,”’
consisting of his own ship, the
Queen Charlotte, of 110 guns,
the Impregnable of 98 guns, three
of 70 guns, the Leander of 50
guns, four more frigates, and
several smaller armed vessels ;
and having rendezvoused at Gib-
raltar, and received there five
gunboats, he departed from that
port on the 14th of August.
Much had been said in foreign
papers of an intended junction of
the maritime force of other pow-
ers, especially of such as were
particularly interested in abolish-
ing the piratical system; but
Great Britain, perhaps from choice,
undertook the glory and the
hazard alone, with the exception
of a Dutch squadron of five fri-
gates and a sloop, which proved
itself worthy of the honourable
participation.

Before Lord Exmouth left Gib-
raltar, he had received informa-
tion which prepared him to ex-
pect a determined resistance in
the quarter to which his expedi-
tion was directed. At Algiers
very considerable works were con-
tinually throwing up, not only

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

on both flanks of the city, but
immediately about the entrance
of the mole, and a large army
had been assembled for its de-
fence. A corvette whieh the Ad-
miral had sent to endeavour to
get away the British consul,
joined the fleet off Cape de Gatte ;
and Captain Dashwood, its com-
mander, reported, that he had suc-
ceeded in bringing off under dis-
guise the Consul’s wife and daugh-
ter, leaving a boat to convey his
infant child; but that the child,
who was put in a basket, crying
in the gate-way, all the crew at-
tending, 18 in number, were
seized and confined in dungeons:
the Dey gave a solitary proof of
humane feelings, by sending off
the poor child on the next morn-
ing. The Captain further said,
that about 40,000 men had been
called in from the interior, as
well as all the Janissaries from
distant garrisons, and that they
were indefatigably employed in
strengthening the sea defences,
and manning batteries. The ships
were all in port, and between 40
and 50 mortar and gun-boats
were made ready, and others were
refitting. The Dey was fully ap-
prized, that the armament was
destined against Algiers ; and he
had closely confined the Consul,
refusing either to give him up,
or to promise his personal safety.
In consequence of calms and
adverse winds, the fleet did not
arrive before the bay of Algiers
till the 27th. Lord Exmouth on
the same day dispatched a boat
with a flag of truce, bearing the
demands he was enjoined to
make on the part of the Prince
Regent. These were, the imme-
diate delivery of all Christian
slaves

GENERAL HISTORY.

slaves without ransom: the resti-
tution of the money which had
been already received for the Sar-
dinian and Neapolitan captives :
a solemn declaration from the
Dey, that he bound himself, as
those of Tunis and Tripoly had
done, in future wars to treat pri-
soners according to the usage of
European nations : and peace with
the king of the Netherlands on
the like terms as those with the
Prince Regent of England. The
officer who bore these demands,
was directed to wait two or three
hours for the Dey’s answer, and
then, if none was sent, to return
to the flag-ship. He was met by
the Captain of the port, whom he
informed of the time allowed for
a reply to the requisitions ; and
after a delay of more than three
hours, he returned with a signal
flying, that no answer had been
received.

The Admiral, who in the mean-
time had directed every prepara-
tion to be made for an attack, now
instantly gave the signal to know
_ if all the ships were ready;
which being answered in the affir-
mative, he bore up in the Queen
Charlotte, followed by the fleet,
for their appointed stations. The
flag-ship was anchored at the
entrance of the mole, at the dis-
tance of about fifty yards ; and
at this moment not a gun had
been fired from the town; “‘ so
that, (says his lordship) I began
to suspect a full compliance with
the terms which had been so
many hours in their hands."’ The
grand scene of action has been
thus described. Algiers, contain-
ing a population of 80,000 souls,
rises with an awful abruptness
from the water's edge, to a great

[101

height. The batteries are one
above another, strongly construct-
ed and fortified. Sweeping from
the western extremity is a tongue
of land, which defends the en-
trance to the inner part of the
harbour, and also the approach
to it. Along the whole of this
tongue was a range of strong
batteries, which ships must pass
to take their station near the
town, in order to bombard it.

A profound silence was pre-
vailing, when a shot was fired at
the Admiral's ship, which was
then being lashed to the main-
mast of an Algerine brig close to
the shore at the mouth of the
mole; and two more shots at the
ships following. The position of
the Queen Charlotte was at the
extreme point of the tongue above
described, by which she enfiladed
the whole line of batteries along
it; and she was so near, that
every part of the mole, and what
is called the Marine, was visible
from the quarter-deck. Both
these places were crowded with
spectators, who seemed as if they
expected no firing; which cir-
cumstance gave occasion to a dis-
play of Lord Exmouth’s humanity,
mentioned in a private narration.
Before he began the dreadful as-
sault, standing upon the poop, he
waved his hat as a warning for
these people to retire; but the
signal was not attended to, and
the first broadside swept off some
hundreds of them. The other
ships took their stations with ad-
mirable coolness and precision ;
and a fire more tremendous than
was perhaps ever before witnessed,
immediately commenced on both
sides, and was maintained from a
quarter before three, until nine

without

102]

without intermission, and con-
tinued partially for more than two
_hours longer. At the beginning
of the action, the Dutch Vice-
admiral Van Capellen took his
assigned station, and was fol-
lowed by the remainder of his
frigates, keeping a well-supported
fire on the flanking batteries.
About sun-set the Admiral re-
ceived a message from rear-ad-
miral Milne commanding the Im-
pregnable, mentioning the severe
loss he had _ sustained, then
amounting to 150 men killed and
wounded, and requesting that a
frigate might be sent to take off
some of the enemy’s fire: the
Glasgow accordingly weighed, but
the wind having been laid by the
cannonade, she was only able to
obtain a more favourable position.
At this time orders were sent for
the explosion vessel to be carried
within the mole, but the Rear-
admiral thinking that he should
receive more benefit by exploding
it under the battery in his front,
this was directed and executed.
The flotilla of mortar, gun, and
rocket boats was ably conducted,
and it was by its fire that all the
ships in.the port, with the excep-
tion of the outer frigate, were
involved in flames, which spread
rapidly over the whole arsenal,
store-house, and gun boats, af-
fording a spectacle of awful gran-
deur beyond the power of descrip-
tion. The shells were directed
with so much precision, that
though thrown across and over
the men of war, not an accident
occurred in them. The burning
of the enemy’s ships so near the
British, produced several anxious
moments to the assailants ; and
it was long that the Admiral re-

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

sisted the eager entreaties of his
officers, to make an attempt upon
the outer frigate, lying about the
distance of 100 yards: at length
he yielded to the request of major
Gossett, who was impatient to
land his corps of miners, and per-
mitted him to accompany Lieute-
nant Richards to the attack, in
the Queen Charlotte's barge. The
frigate was instantly boarded, and
within ten minutes was in a per-
fect blaze. The enterprise of a
gallant young midshipman is men-
tioned, who although forbidden,
followed ,the barge in a rocket-
boat, but was desperately wound-
ed, and lost many of the crew, in
his rash attempt.

The enemy’s batteries around
the Admiral’s division were si-
lenced about ten o'clock, and re-
duced to a state of perfect ruin ;
but a fort on the upper angle of
the city, on which the guns of the
fleet could not be brought to bear,
continued to annoy the ships with
shot and shells during the whole
combat. Indeed, there appeared
no want of steadiness and reso-
lution on the part of the mussul-
man defenders, who fought where-
ever they could mount a gun.
The usual land-wind from the
bay at length gave a desired op-
portunity of withdrawing the
ships from their still painful si-
tuation, and all hands were em-
ployed in warping and towing off,
till, about two in the morning,
the whole fleet came to anchor,
out of the reach of shells.

The behaviour of the noble Ad-
miral, and of all the officers and
men acting under his command,
on this trying day, deserved every
praise which has crowned the
exertions of the British navy.

‘* The

|

GENERAL

«©The whole, (says Lord Ex-
mouth in his dispatch) was con-
ducted in perfect silence, and
such a thing as a cheer I never
heard in any part of the line;
and that the guns were well
worked and directed, will be seen
for many years to come, and re-
membered by these barbarians
for ever.” ‘* Not an officer nor
man confined his exertions within
the precise limits of his own
duty: all were eager to attempt
services, which I found more diffi-
cult to restrain than excite.’’ The
modesty of the commander has
left his own actions to be related
by others; and they have met
with a truly liberal encomiast in
his brother-admiral of the Dutch
squadron. ‘‘ Tiilnineo’clock (says
Van Capellen) Lord Exmouth re-
mained with the Queen Char-
lotte in the same position, in the
hottest of the fire, thereby encou-
raging every one not to give up
the begun work until the whole
was completed, and thus display-
ing such perseverance, that all
were animated with the same
spirit. Shortly afterwards, the
Queen Charlotte, by the loosen-
ing of the burning wreck, being
in the greatest danger, we were,
under the heaviest fire, only anx-
ious for the fate of our noble
leader; but, upon offering him
the assistance of all the boats of
the squadron, his reply was—
That having calculated every
thing, it behoved us by no means
to be alarmed for his safety, but
only to continue our fire with
redoubled zeal.”

The loss sustained in such an
action, could not but be very con-
siderable compared to the magni-
tude of the armament. It amount-

HISTORY. [103

ed, in the English fleet, to 128
killed, and 690 wounded. Among
these was a full proportion of
officers, but none of high rank
were in the list of killed. The
Dutch numbered 13 killed, and
52 wounded: Grand total 883.
A summary of the destruction in-
curred by the enemy, enumerates
four large frigates of 44 guns;
five large corvettes, from 24 to 30
guns; all the gun and mortar
boats, except seven ; several mer-
chant brigsand schooners ; a great
number of small vessels of various
descriptions; all the pontoons,
lighters, &c.; the store-houses
and arsenal, and a large quantity
of different marine articles. Their
loss in killed and wounded is com-
puted at between 6 and 7000;
but this was probably much be-
yond the reality.

Although the close of the com-
bat seemed to display a deter-
mined spirit of resistance on the
part of the Algerines, its events
were so decisive, that they fully
justified the British commander
in assuming the tone of.a con-
queror. Accordingly, on the fol-
lowing day, Lord Exmouth dis-
patched a letter to the Dey, the
tenor of which was, to represent
the atrocities committed at Bona,
and the disregard with which
the demands made in the name
of the Prince Regent had been
treated, as the motives for that
signal chastisement which had
been inflicted upon him to
offer him the same terms of
peace as before; but with the
proviso, that neither the British
consul, nor the detained naval
-officers and men, should have
been treated with cruelty, and
that they should be sent off to the

fleet-—

104]

fleet—and to require a signal for
his acceding to these conditions,
without which his lordship would
renew his operations at his con-
venience. After a consideration
of three hours, the token of ac-
ceptance, the firing of three guns,
was heard; anda conference was
held on board the flag-ship, with
two persons empowered by the
Dey, in the presence of the Dutch
Admiral, and Admiral Milne and
Captain Brisbane. On the 30th,
Lord Exmouth announced to his
fleet the signature of peace, under
a salute of 21 guns, on the fol-
lowing conditions : The abolition,
for ever, of Christian slavery :
the delivery, to his Lordship’s
flag, of all slaves in the domi-
nions of the Dey, to whatever
nation they may belong, at noon
to-morrow: to deliver also, to
the same flag, all money received
by him for the redemption of
slaves since the commencement of
this year, at noon also to-morrow:
reparation to be made to the Bri-
tish Consul for all losses he may
have sustained in consequence of
his confinement: a public ac-
knowledgment to be made by the
Dey, in presence of his ministers
and officers, and pardon begged
of the Consul, in terms dictated
by the Captain of the Queen
Charlotte. On Sept. 1st, his Lord-
ship had the satisfaction of in-
forming the secretary of the Ad-
miralty, that all the slaves in the
city of Algiers and its immediate
vicinity were embarked ; as also
357,900 dollars for’ Naples, and
25,000 for Sardinia.

After the treaties had been ne-
gociated, it came to the know-
ledge of Lord Exmouth, that two
Spaniards, one a merchant, the

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

other, the Vice-consul of that
nation, were still held by the Dey
in rigid custody, on pretence that
they were prisoners for debt.
His Lordship’s inquiries satis-
fied him, that the confinement of
the Vice-consul was without just
grounds; and that the merchant
was confined for an alleged debt,
on account of a contract with the
Algerine government, which had
been forced upon him, and caused
him to be used with great seve-
rity. He therefore thought him-
self authorised to demand the re-
lease of these persons, on the ar-
ticle in the treaty for the libera-
tion of all Christian prisoners ;
and on requesting it from the
Dey, he offered himself as gua-
rantee for any sum which the
merchant should be found in-
debted to his Highness. This ap-
plication being rejected, his Lord-
ship proposed, that they should
be freed from irons, and suffered
to quit their dungeons, and be
placed in the custody of the
Spanish consul. ‘The peremptory
refusal of this request likewise,
was considered by Lord Exmouth
as bringing to issue the question
of the continuance, or the total
abolition, of Christian slavery,
and he determined to decide it
without delay. Demanding a po-
sitive answer, yes or no, respect-
ing the release of the two Spa-
niards, with the assurance of im-
mediately commencing hostilities
in case of a negative, his firm-
ness produced the desired effect, |
and the sufferers were discharged
from their long and severe cap-
tivity. The noble Admiral, at his
departure with his whole fleet on
Sept. 3d, was gratified with the
heart-felt triumph, that he had

not

GENERAL

not left a single Christian prisoner
in Algiers.

Such was the termination of an
enterprise, than which, perhaps,
no one more truly honourable to
the British navy and nation is
recorded in the kingdom's an-
nals. Withan exertion of valour
scarcely surpassed, it has exhi-
bited an example of the rare
moral merit, of national supe-
riority employed for no interested
purpose ; but purely for the ge-

HISTORY. [105

neral benefit of mankind, in
putting down with a strong hand
a system of rapacity and cruelty.
With the generosity characteristic
of Great Britain, she has per-
formed this great public service
entirely at her own expense ;
abandoning even the restitutions
which her arms compelled to the
sufferers ; bargaining for no sal-
vage or indemnity, but freely
imparting what she gloriously
gained.

CHAPTER

106]

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

CHAPTER X.

Affairs of France.—Position of the Army of Occupation.—State of
Things at Nismes.—Law of Amnesty.— Obsequies of Louis XVI. and
his Queen.—Insurrectionary Movements at Lyons.—Disturbances at
Tarrascon.—Plan of National Education.—Parties in the Legislature.
—Declaration of the Majority in the Chamber of Deputies.—Establish-
ment of the Duke of Berri—Insurrection at Grenoble-—Malcontents
at Paris—Twamult at Nismes.—Affair of the Abbe Vinson.—Dissolu-
tion of the Chamber of Deputies, and Convocation of a new one.—
Suppression of Chateaubriand’s Work.—Ministerial Influence in the
Election.—Anniversary in Memory of Marie Antoinette-—Opening of
the Chambers, and King’s Speech.—Conclusion of the Year.

N the beginning of this year,
"| the right wing of the army of
occupation in France began to
extend its line further than the
limits marked out by the treaty
of Paris, from Charlemont to
Amiens, in which last town an
allied garrison was placed. This
wing is stated as being composed
of 25,000 English troops, 16,000
Russians, 5,000 Hanoverians, and
5,000 Belgians, all on a complete
war establishment, with a pro-
portionate reserve of artillery,
always ready to march on a sum-
mons. These measures were
thought to be adopted in concert
with the French government, for
the maintenance of order and
tranquillity ; and it could not be
doubted, that in many parts of
France, the minds of the people
were inflamed by distresses and
party divisions, threatening to
break out into dangerous commo-
tions. A royal ordinance, dated
January 10th, gave, however, a
favourable report of the state of

things at Nismes. In that town,
it was said, the ordinance of No--
vember 21st had been received
with respect and submission, and
although the assassin of General
Lagarde had not yet been appre-
hended, he had neither asylum
nor protection there. The church
of the Protestants was open, and
they enjoyed all the security
which was guaranteed to them by
the laws. After so marked a re-
turn to order, the King would no
longer postpone the revocation of
the rigorous measures which had
been drawn from him by neces-
sity; he therefore by the present
ordinance enjoined, that the troops
in garrison, or quartered on the
inhabitants of Nismes,should with-
out delay be withdrawn, and dis-
tributed in the barracks, and in
such parts of the department of the
Gard as the Commander might
judge necessary; and that the
prefect should declare to the in-
habitants of Nismes, that the

‘King is satisfied with the zeal

with

GENERAL

with which they have concurred
in the re-establishment of tran-
quillity and good order.

The long debated law of am-
nesty was at length passed, and
was sanctioned by the royal as-
sent on Jan. 12th. Its articles
are stated in the following terms,
in the Gazette Officielle.

Art. 1. A full and an entire
Amnesty is accorded to all those
who directly or indirectly took
part in the rebellion and usur-
pation of Napoleon Buonaparte,
saving the exceptions hereinafter
named.

2. The ordinance of the 26th
of July will continue to be exe-
cuted with respect to the indivi-
duals named in the first article of
that Ordinance.

3. The King can, in the space
of two months from the promul-
gation of the present law, exile
from France such of the indivi-
duals comprised in the 2d article
of the said ordinance as he shall
keep on it, and as shall not have
been previously brought before
the Tribunals; and in that case
such parties shall quit France
within the time fixed for them,
and shall not return without the
express permission of his Majesty,
under pain of transportation.

The King may, in like manner,
deprive them of all property and
all pensions granted to them on
grounds of favour.

-4. The relatives of Napoleon
Buonaparte, in ascending and de-
scending line—his uncles, aunts,
nephews, nieces; his brothers,
their wives, and their issue; his
sisters and their husbands, are
excluded for ever from the king-
dom. All are bound to depart
therefrom in the space of one

HISTORY. [107

month, under the penalties spe-
cified in the 91st article of the
Penal Code. They cannot enjoy
any civil right in France, nor
possess any property whatsoever,
any title or pension granted to
them of favour; and they shall
be bound to sell, within six
months, all the property that they
hold in France by purchase.

5. The present Amnesty is not
applicable to those persons against
whom prosecutions have been di-
rected, or against whom judg-
ments have been pronounced,
prior to the promulgation of the
present law; such prosecutions
shall be continued, and such judg-
ments executed conformably to
the laws.

6. Are not comprised in the
present Amnesty crimes or of-
fences against individuals, at what-
ever period they may have been
committed. The persons charged
with such crimes may be always
prosecuted according to the laws.

7. Those of the regicides, who,
in contempt of a clemency almost
boundless, voted for the Addi-
tional Act, or accepted offices or
employments from the Usurper,
and who, by so doing, declared
themselves irreconcileable enemies
of France, and of the lawful Go-
vernment, are for ever excluded
the realm, and are bound to quit
it in the space of one month,
under pain of the punishment en-
acted by the 33d article of the
Penal Code. They cannot possess
any civil right in France, nor any
property, title or pension granted
to them of favour.

On Jan. 20th, the anniversary
service of the obsequies of Louis
XVI, and his consort was cele-
brated at the Abbey church of St.

Denis

108]

Denis in great solemnity, the
princes of the blood attending,
with deputations of the two cham-
bers, and of other public bodies.
The same solemnization was also
observed in the capital at the me-
tropolitan and the other churches,
and the temples ef the Protes-
tants; and it is affirmed, that on
the whole day, the most impres-
sive tokens were given of the
public sorrow.

About this time, however, in-
surrectionary movements were
taking place at and near Lyons.
The following details appeared in
the Paris papers. The command-
ant-general of the department
sent to the police for examination
on Jan. 20th, a subaltern officer,
who made several discoveries ; in
consequence of which, three sus-
pected persons were arrested at
Lyons, and one of their adherents
at Roanne. On the night be-
tween the 23d and 24th, fifty of
the national guard mounted were
conducted to Condrieux, whence
they brought 140 muskets. Lyons
remained afterwards in a state of
tranquillity, though arrests fre-
quently occurred. With respect
to the cause and origin of this
commotion, it is affirmed, that a
party hostile to the existing go-
vernment arose at the time of
Buonaparte’s landing from Elba,
of which the professed object was
the preservation of the country
from the incursions of a foreign
enemy. For this purpose, five
thousand of the citizens of Lyons
met in the hall of St. Clare, and
entered into certain resolutions
for bringing it to effect. Their
association was termed La Federa-
tion; and all the persons com-
posing it have been regarded

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

with much suspicion since the
restoration of the Bourbons, and
many of them have been ar-
rested.

At Tarascon on the Rhone, dis-
turbances broke out in the early
part of February, which are af-
firmed to have had no connection
with any plan of revolt, but to
have originated in popular effer-
vescence. ‘They were, however,
of sufficient consequence to oc-
casion a royal ordinance, dated
Feb. 22d. In this it is declared,
that the laws have been violated
at Tarascon; seditious persons
have rendered necessary the in-
fliction of a legal punishment by
the magistrates: prisoners le-
gally apprehended have — been
wrested from the hands of jus-
tice: the national guard, when
called upon to preserve order,
have stood motionless ; and the
sub-prefect himself was obliged
to withdraw, in order to escape
the violence with which he was
threatened. By way of punish-
ment for these criminal disorders,
the ordinance decrees, that the
seat of the sub-prefecture and
tribunal of Tarascon be trans-
ferred to the city of Arles, and
the prisoners, forcibly released on
the 13th, be conducted to the
prisons of Arles, to be proceeded
against according to the laws ;
and that proceedings be immedi-
ately instituted against the au-
thors of the outrages committed
at Tarascon. These vigorous mea-
sures appear to have entirely
suppressed the commotions in
that quarter.

In the beginning of March a
royal ordinance was published on
the important subject of national
education. The plan adopted was

the

GENERAL HISTORY.

the establishment of cantonal
schools under the superintend-
ence of local gratuitous commit-
tees, and subject to the visitation
of the superior clergy and ma-
gistrates. The children of the
poor are tobe taught gratuitously.
The system of instruction is to
proceed in gradation from the
first elements of reading, writ-
ing, and arithmetic, to those at-
tainments which may be useful
in ordinary life, such as mensura-
tion, surveying, &c. Masters are
to be employed at salaries propor-
tioned to their abilities in three
distinct classes. Moral and reli-
gious principles are particularly
to be attended to; and provision
is made for the instruction of
Protestant children, under the
_ superintendence of their own
clergy, or conjointly with those
in the general schools where there
are no separate establishments for
them. Lesides the public funds
destined to the support of this
system, private donations and be-
quests are encouraged, This plan,
if duly carried into effect, seems
well calculated to remedy that
ignorance which has long been
the reproach of the lower orders
of people in France.

Of the party differences pre-
vailing in the French legislature,
some notice was taken in the his-
tory of the last year. They were
such as might with certainty be
expected from the political state
of the country, and the rapid and
extraordinary changes it had un-
dergone in the system of public
authority; and independently of
peculiar circumstances, they might
in great part be referred to those
diversities of opinion, which are
always foynd in constitutions the

[109

basis of which is partly monar-
chical, partly popular. As the
Whigs and Tories of England
have always divided on the prin-
ciple of regal authority, one de-
riving its origin from national
choice, the other from indefeasi-
ble hereditary right, so, after the
restoration of the Bourbon dy-
nasty, there was a party in France
which chose to regard Louis
XVIII. as reigning by the autho-
rization of the people, and on
conditions settled by a national
constitution ; and another, which
considered him as the heir of le-
gitimacy, as the term is applied,
and regarded as null every claim
which was the product of the re-
volution. The latter were ac-
cordingly eminently monarchical
in their principles, and were in-
vidiously branded with the title of
ultra-royalists; whilst the former,
under the name of constitution-
alists, were charged with a lean-
ing to republicanism. A zealous
attachment to the established re-
ligion, as in other countries, was
a feature of the votaries of mo-
narchy; while the greater part of
those who embraced revolution
politics, were supposed to be
more than indifferent to the in-
terests of religion.

The contests of these opposite
parties afford a leading topic for
the domestic history of France in
the present year. An important
document connected with it, ap-
peared in an English paper, with
the title of ‘‘ Declaration of the
principles of the majority of the
Chamber of Deputies, Jan. 20th,
1816.’ Considering itasa real ex-
position of the views and principles
avowed by the royalist party, we
shall give it without abridgment.

ce We,

110]

«© We, the members composing
the majority of the Chamber of
Deputies, are united on principles,
of which we here make a formal
declaration.

1. We are invariably attached
to the monarchical government,
and to the legitimate succession
in the reigning house.

2. We fully adopt the princi-
ples of the constitutional charter,
and the division of powers which
it establishes. We will maintain
the spirit, and follow up the con-
sequences of that system, as the
most rational substitution of our
ancient institutions, liberties, and
franchises.

3. We look back to the past
only for the purpose of drawing
therefrom lessons for the future,
and between which we wish to
erect a wall of brass. It is ac-
cordingly our opinion, that all
the interests created by the revo-
lution, and which are completed,
shall be irrevocably assured ; we
will maintain the abolition of pri-
vileges and privileged orders as
political bodies, the equality of
rights and admission to all em-
ployments, the liberty of worship,
the alienation of the property
sold during the revolution, what-
ever may be its origin; but we
will not hereafter admit the ap-
plication of the principles which
created these interests, and we
regard them as destructive of all
government.

4, We are of opinion that the
new institutions ought to be
placed on the ancient and im-
mutable bases of religion and mo-
rality. It is therefore our wish
to give to the clergy an honoura-
ble independence, the administra-
tion of property or revenues

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

which may secure that independ-
ence, and finally a civil establish-
ment, associating them at the
same time with the dearest in-
terests of the state, by making
them participate in public educa-
tion, and in the management of
institutions consecrated to the
solace and the welfare of man-
kind.

5. In pursuance of the same
principles, we are desirous of
placing the Jaws under a higher
woral influence—of effacing what-
ever is contrary to religion or op- |
posed to public morality; and,
in fine, whatever does not accord
with the spirit of the monarchy.
On these grounds we demand the
revision of the civil and criminal
laws, and wish at the same time
to see the magistracy invested
with a greater degree of consi-
deration.

6. We believe that the police
ought neither to be an odious in-
quisition nor an agent of despo-
tism, but a guarantee for the
throne, and a magistracy serving
to make known to the govern-
ment public opinion, and through
that opinion its true interests—
that the press ought to be free,
but that its offences should be
repressed by severe laws.

7. We wish France to recover
the complete independence of her
territory, and the first means for
attaining that object is, we con-
ceive, the full and entire execu-
tion of the engagements con-
tracted with the allied powers ;
we are equally desirous of pre-
serving honourable alliances, and
we regard the prosperity of the
nations which surround us as the
best pledge of that of France.

8. Free from all spirit of con-

quest,

GENERAL

quest, we wish for a national
army, which, notwithstanding its
narrow frame in time of peace,
may be capable, in the case of
war, of opening its ranks to nu-
merous soldiers: and we do not
regard as lost to France the war-
riors, who, being led away by ex-
traordinary circumstances, were
obliged to be disbanded, but who
will, by their talents and their
bravery, contribute to the secu-
rity of the country, as they have
contributed to its glory.

9. We are of opinion, that the
interests of the people ought, in
a great measure, to be contided to
- local administrations, either mu-
nicipal, departmental, or provin-
cial ; that the centralisation of all
affairs and all decisions in the
ministry is an abuse, and that it
ought to cease by confiding powers
more extensive to the superior
agents delegated by the ininisters.
On these principles we demand
the revision of the administrative
laws.

10. We place within our pros-
pect the hope of diminishing the
land-tax, and regulating its re-
partition—of imposing the indi-
rect taxes in a manner less uni-
form, but better adapted to the
interests and habitudes of the
different parts of the territory,
aud so asto make them fall more
upon the consumption of the rich
than on that of the poor—finally,
of establishing a good, system of
public credit.

11. We shall neglect no op-
portunity for promoting the in-
terests of commerce, of develop-
ing all the branches of industry
and every kind of production,
and of diffusing all the knowledge
capable of perfecting them; and

HISTORY. [111

it is our wish that there should
be formed in the different classes
of arts and manufactures, free
associations for securing their in-
terests, and maintaining a useful
discipline among the members,
but so that these establishments
may not restrain the independ-
ence of industry.

12. We define what we mean
by purification. It is the remov-
ing from public employment,
men who, since the restoration,
have established themselves in a
state of war with the legitimacy
of the throne, and the principles
of morality; to this we add cer-
tain restrictions: We demand
that offices of the first order, such
as those of ministers, governors,
directors- general, and counsellors
of state, should not be filled, ex-
cept by those who, since the re-
storation, and particularly during
the three months of usurpation,
have given to the King and the
country positive pledges of their
attachment—that offices of the
second order, such as those of the
prefects, commandants, head ma-
gistrates, and chiefs of boards of
administration, and receivers-ge-
neral, should be confided to those
only who at least cannot be re-
proached with any act against the
royal authority since the restora-
tion in 1814—finally, that in in-
ferior offices all persons should be
removed whose conduct is con-
trary to morality and probity.

13. In stating these principles,
and these wishes, the majority of
the Chamber of Deputies does not
lose sight of the bounds within
which the part which it might
take in their fulfilment is con-
fined; they desire, therefore, that
the King’s ministry, united in the

same

112]

same principles, should propose
to them, as times and circum-
stances may permit, the means of
their application. In that case
they will find in the majority of
the Chamber a perfectly frank
and disinterested concurrence, but
also a firm and constant opposi-
tion to the application of any
principles of a contrary nature.”

_ The devotion of the chan:ber to
the Royal Family was manifested
at the sitting of March 27th,
when the order of the day was
the discussion on the plan rela-
tive to the Duke of Berri’s esta-
blishment at his approaching mar-
riage. The resolutions of the
committee nominated for this pur-
pose were unanimously adopted,
and thereby the reduction of
500,000 francs for the first five
years from his annual dotation,
proposed by the ministers, was
not accepted: the marriaye ex-
penses also, fixed in their pro-
posal at one million, were raised
by the chamber to 1,500,000
francs. The Duke of Richelieu
then addressing the assembly said,
that his Majesty, who anticipated
their sentiments, ordered him,
when he expressed his sense of
them, to add to his acceptance of
the offer, that, resolved to main-
tain the principles of strict eco-
nomy, and to strip the happy
event which was about to con-
sole France of all useless pomp
and superfluous ostentation, he
destined the 500,000 francs which
they had voted, to the immiediate
relief of the departments which
had suffered most by the two in-
vasions. The Duke of Berri,
also, by the same channel de-
clared his intention of devoting
annually the 500,000 francs with

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

which they had augmented his
establishment, to mitigating the
calamities that pressed upon many
parts of France.

The session of the chambers
was adjourned on April 29th.

At the time when nothing but
mutual kindness between Prince
and people appeared in the inter-
course between the court and the
legislative body, an insurrection
was secretly forming, which too
plainly proved, that a dangerous
mass of disaffection to the go-
vernment was still existing in
the nation at large. It had for
some time been observed at Gre-
noble and its environs, that cer-
tain persons known for their re-
volution principles, and for the
active part they had taken on late
occasions, made excursions around
that town, for a circuit of several
leagues, assembled, and wandered
about the streets of Grenoble,
with an air of leisure which at-
tracted the attention of the ma-
gistracy. They also circulated
incendiary writings, and by letters
without signatures, invited sol-
diers on half-pay to repair to
Grenoble on Sundays. In the
morning of May 4th, the prefect
was informed, that there were
assemblages of people at Vizille,
and Mure, communes near Gre-
noble. The peasantry had been
instigated to rise, by telling them,
that all Languedoc was in a state
of insurrection, that Paris was in
full revolt, and that the garrison
of Grenoble had marched to ec-
cupy the line through which the
Duchess of Berri and her retinue
was to pass. General Donadieu,
commandant of the department,
informed of these proceedings,
immediately took measures for

dispersing

GENERAL HISTORY.

dispersing the seditious. He dis-
tributed cartridges to the regular
troops, and the national guard
requested leave to fight in the
same ranks. In the meantime
the prefect, Count de Montlivant,
dispatched a courier to Lyons,
who was for some time detained
near the town by a group of the
disaffected. At nine in the even-

_ ing, about 600 men, under the

command of one Giallet, a half-
pay lieutenant of artillery, ap-
peared before the gates of Gre-
noble, with the intention of at-
tempting a coup de main upon the
town. A patrole of 80 men of
the legion of the Isere, who had
been sent out by Gen. Donadieu,
were fired upon from various
quarters, while signal fires were
seen lighted up at different dis-
tances. The General now, having
ordered the inhabitants to place
lights in their windows, and keep
within their houses, marched out
with his troops aud a piece of
cannon, and meeting the ad-
vanced guard of the insurgents,
by some discharges of grape shot
drove them back, and a general
action ensued. ‘The insurgents,
reckoned in one account at 1500,
Were soon put to flight, leaving
on the field a number of killed
and wounded. In the pursuit,
many prisoners were taken, who
were brought to Grenoble on the
next morning, and thrown into
prison; and thus was entirely
quelled an incipient rebellion,
which appears to have been not
less rash and inconsiderate than
daring.

About this period, but proBably
without any participation in the
same design, a body of malcon-

tents in Paris was brooding over
Vor. LVIII.

[113

plots, the object of which is said,
in the account published in the
Moniteur, to have been ‘‘ the re-
newal of the execrable system of
the year 1793.” According to
this narrative, they had circulated
among their brothers and friends
a printed proclamation, and a
certain number of stamped cards,
to serve for rallying tokens. In
order to excite confidence in their
projects, they availed themselves
of the most absurd and extraor-
dinary reports, which obtained
belief among the credulous, and
were beginning to act upon the
public mind, when the police,
which always kept these move~
ments under its eye, thought
proper to interfere. The printer
of the proclamation, the engraver
of the cards, and those who un-
dertook the work of distribution,
were simultaneously arrested, and
were delivered into the hands of
justice; and the Moniteur af-
firmed, that it was an obscure
plot, the ramifications of which
had constantly been under the
power of the police, and had
never been of a nature to give
the slightest serious alarm to go-
vernment. That, however, the
machinations of disaffection had
extended more widely, and under
a more alarming aspect, than this
writer chooses to acknowledge,
may be inferred from a royal or-
dinance published on May 5th.
Its words are, ‘‘ On the account
rendered to us, that a political
and secret society has assembled
for three months at Amiens, with-
out any obstacle having been in-
terposed thereto by the authori-
ties; that our Attorney-general
before the Royal Court had even
consented to become a member

(0 of

114]

of it; that the prefect, though in-
formed from the first of the ex-
istence of this society, made no
report thereon to our ministers,
but tacitly authorised it; and that
Colonel Clouet, the Colonel of
the departmental legion, was one
of the chiefs and founders of
this society: our ministers being
heard, we order, That the Sieur
Morgan, our Attorney-general,
before the Royal Court of Amiens,
and Sieur Seguier, prefect of the
Somme, are recalled; and that
the Sieur Clouet is dismissed
from active service.”

It was, doubtless, in conse-
quence of suspicions occasioned
by these political manceuvres, that
the allied troops were drawn in
the beginning of the year to
Amiens and its vicinity, beyond
the line first marked for their
occupation.

That the inetropolis was. still
considered as not free from in-
ternal danger, appeared from an
article in the Paris papers, May
12th, which mentioned, that for
some days past, several 24 pound-
ers had been removing from the
castle of Vincennes, to the royal
hotel of the Invalids, to be placed
on the platform.

Party rancour had proceeded to
such an extreme at Nismes, that
it was not to be expected, that an
outward reconciliation, produced
by the intervention of authority,
would suppress every outrage of
a bigotted and infuriated popu-
lace, when the power of imme-
diate coercion was withdrawn. A
letter from that town made public
in Paris, relates, that on May
14th, a marriage having been ce-
lebrated among the Protestants,
a mob, which had threatened

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

some persons who were going to
the solemnity, assembled at the
spot after it was dark, and began
to perpetrate violences. The per-
sons within, finding their lives in
danger, left the house, which
was broken open, as was like-
wise one in the neighbourhood,
The prefect, in sending an ac-
count of this incident to the mi-
nister of the interior, represented
it as if the mob had gone to a
house in which were some ad-
herents of Buonaparte, where
they had committed some ex-
cesses —an example of the prac-
tice of the Catholics, to conceal

their religious persecutions under

the mask of political zeal. The
minister, M. Lainé, however,
causing the affair to be more
closely examined, obtained from
the ministerof justice the punish-
ment of the rioters, and the Pro-

testants expected in him a future
protector. Inthe meantime, most —

of the Protestants of distinction
and property thought it prudent
to leave Nismes.

On June 17th, was solemnized
the marriage of the Duke of
Berri, younger nephew of the
King, to Maria Carolina, the
daughter of the king of Naples.

During the recess of the cham-
bers, the two parties of consti-
tutionalists and high royalists
were actively employed in sup-
porting their several principles ;
and the ecclesiastics were endea-
vouring to diffuse those maxims of
church authority, which, though
frequently in France at variance
with the regal prerogative, were
habitually the firm auxiliaries of
the monarchy. An Abbé Vinson
distinguished himself as the au-_
thor of a work, entitled “ Con-—

cordat

my he Raw

an ~

yal apes Z

GENERAL

cordat expliqué au Roi,” for
which he was legally proceeded
against by the Correctional Po-
lice. The judgment of the Court
was given on September 3d, to
the following effect: ‘‘ Consi-
dering that the Abbé Vinson is,
according to his own avowal, the
author of the publication in ques-
tion: that, throngh the whole
course of that work, disregarding
article 9 of the Charter, and ar-
ticle 13 of the Concordat, he has
characterised as pillage and ma-
nifest robbery, the sale of the
national domains, and their pur-
chasers and possessors, even those
of the present day, as sacrilegious
robbers ; that he has endeavoured
to alarm the consciences of the
said holders, by menacing them
with the vengeance of heaven,
and by maintaining, that the pope
, and the bishops could not legalize
| the seizure of the domains of the
church: Considering that in ano-
ther passage, he strongly cen-
sures the conduct of our Holy
| Father the Pope, and the body of
' the Gallican church, which he
designates under the name of
| Concordaire, and denominates
| schismatic ; that in so doing, the
| Abbé Vinson, whatever may have
been his intentions, has instigated
the French people to violate a
law of the realm, maintained, at
least provisionally, by the Char-
: ter, and has failed in respect to
the King, and has even encou-
| vaged disobedience to his autho-
| rity,” the tribunal therefore
|
:
.

suppresses the work, sentences
the Abbé Vinson to three months
imprisonment, to a fine of 50
franes, and to remain two years
under the surveillance of the high
police, under a bail of 300 francs.

:

HISTORY. [115

The principles of the royalist
party were apparently so favour-
able to the crown, that it was

‘long regarded as certain, that

when the time came for re-
assembling the legislative cham-
bers, they would exist in their
former state, and possess the
same majorities to controul the
ministers, and give an impulse
towards measures for the gra-
dual renovation of the character
of the ancient monarchy. But
from causes not perfectly ex-
plained, probably, however, re-
sulting from alarms excited in
the King’s mind of the spread of
public disaffection, in consequence
of danger to constitutional liberty
and private property, the nation
was surprised on September 6th,
by a royal ordinance, by which
the chamber of deputies was dis-
solved, and anew one was con-
stituted with great alterations.
This document commenced with
the following preamble: ‘‘ Since
our return to our states, every
day has demonstrated to us, that
truth which we proclaimed on a
solemn occasion—that the advan-
tage of ameliorating is closely
accompanied with the danger of
innovating. We are convinced,
that the wants and the wishes of
our subjects united in preserving
untouched, that constitutional
charter which is the basis of
public law in France, and the
guaranty of general tranquillity.
We have therefore judged it ne-
cessary, to reduce the Chamber
of Deputies to the number deter-
mined by the Charter, and to
summon thereto only men of the
age of forty: but to carry into
effect this reduction in a legal
manner, it is become indispensa-

[I 2] ble

116]

ble to convoke anew the electoral
colleges, in order to proceed to
the election of a chamber of de-
puties.”” Then followed a set of
articles for the regulation of the
impending general election of de-
puties, the first of which was,
“None of the articles of the
Constitutional Charter shall be
revised.”’ The number of depu-
ties now to be returned for the
86 departments of the kingdom
was 258.

This sudden and unexpected
change is said to have been urged
upon the King, principally by the
four cabinet ministers, the Duke
of Richelieu, Corvetto, Lainé,
and De Cazes, and at length car-
ried against the opposition of the
other ministers. The princes and
princesses of the blood were not
apprised of the intention, till the
publication of the Moniteur con-
taining the royal ordinance ; and
their principles being highly mo-
narchical, they were thrown into
zreat consternation at the intel-
ligence. The courtiers in general
participated in the affliction ; but
the first effect on the public was
a rise in the stocks. The dis-
solved deputies hastened down to
the places where their interest
lay, and the usual bustle of a ge-
neral election began to pervade
the country.

The influence of the ministe-
rial majority was displayed in a
signal manner, by the treatment
of Viscount Chateaubriand, a dis-
tinguished character in the royal-
ist party. He had published a
work against the dissolution of
the Chamber of’ Deputies, and
the changes adopted for its reno-
vation, the announcement of
which excited an extraordinary

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

curiosity in the public. A very
few copies had been sold, when
the police took possession of the
whole impression ; and on Sep-
tember 21st, a royal ordinance
was issued, directed against the —
author. It was in the following —
terms: ‘* Viscount Chateaubriand
having, in a printed work, raised
doubts respecting our personal
will, manifested by our ordinance
of the 5th of the present month,
we have ordered and do order
what follows:—Viscount Cha-
teaubriand shall, from this day —
forth, cease to be reckoned among
the number of our ministers of —
state.”

The measures, taken for secur-
ing the elections to the new cham-
ber as much as possible in favour
of the ministry, are worthy of
observation. The secretary of
state for the interior informs the —
prefects of the departments, that
whatever vacancies may have hap-
pened in the electoral colleges
since 1815, the ordinance of the
5th does not authorise their being
filled up; and that if the presi-
dent of the departmental college
be not arrived by the 4th of Oc-
tober, the King confers upon
them the power of choosing who
shall preside among the members
of the college. He further inti-
mates, that the electoral colleges,
according to the existing regula-
tions, are precluded from any
business, except that for which
they are convoked, and are there-
fore prohibited from drawing up
addresses, and appointing parti-
cular deputations.

The following circular was ad-
dressed by the minister of the
interior, to the several presidents |
of the electoral colleges of de-

partments.

GENERAL

partments. ‘‘ The King, by his
ordinance of the 5th of September,
has appointed you to preside at
the electoral college of —— This
choice is highly honourable to
you, so that you cannot but be
penetrated with the importance
of the duty you will have to
fulfil. It consists in regulating
and directing the assembly, which
will have to elect the Deputies
which his Majesty has convoked
for the 4th of November. In
leaving to the Electors all that
freedom which appertains to them,
you will bear in mind that his
Majesty has delegated to you his
right of maintaining order in the
Electoral Assembly. ‘he influ-
ence which your important mis-
sion gives, should not be exer-
cised without your constantly im-
pressing, at the same time, that
the King expects of his faithful
subjects, that they will make
choice of no others than men re-
commended by their principles in
favour of legitimacy, by their mo-
deration, by their love for their
Sovereign, and for France, of
which his Majesty is most of all
desirous of ensuring the tranquil-
lity and happiness.”

The check given to ultra-royal-
ism did not prevent the conse-
cration of an additional religious
solemnity, to commemorate the
sufferings of the late unfortunate
possessors of the throne. On
October 9th, a circular letter was
addressed by the King, counter-
signed by the minister, to the
archbishops and bishops of the
kingdom, directing, that the an-
niversary of the i6th of that
month should be observed by a
solemn service in all the churches,
in memory of the late Queen

HISTORY. [117

Marie-Antoniette; at which, how-
ever, no discourse or funeral ora-
tion should be pronounced, but
there should be read from the
pulpit a letter from that prin-
cess, ‘‘ recovered as it were by
miracle,’ written some hours be-
fore her death, in which she ex-
pressed all the sentiments with
which religion could inspire a
most Christian Queen, and the
most tender of mothers.

On the 3d of November, the
King, who had communicated to
the Vicars-general of Paris his
pleasure, that on the eve of the
opening of the Chambers, a so-
lemn mass of the Holy Ghost
should be celebrated, repair-
ed in grand procession to the
cathedral of Notre Dame, accom-
panied by all the members of the
Royal Family.

On the following day, proceed-
ing in state to the chamber of
deputies, and attended by the
peers, his Majesty delivered ‘a
speech from the throne, which
began with giving a gratifying
representation of the general state
of France. ‘ Tranquillity (said
he) reigns throughout the king-
dom: the amicable dispositions
of the foreign Sovereigns, and
the exact observaiice of treaties,
guarantee to us peace without ;
and if a senseless enterprise for
an instant caused alarm relative
to our interior tranquillity, it has
only served to elicit a further
proof of the attachment of the
nation, and of the fidelity of our
army.’ As a cloud over this
exhilarating prospect, he then
touched upon the intemperature
of the seasons, which had delayed
the harvest, and caused suffer-
ings among the people ; and upon

the

118]

the great charges unhappily still
necessary, the first of all the
means for meeting which is eco-
nomy, which it has been his study
to render operative in all parts of
the administration. Speaking of
his negociations with the Holy
See, and the state of the church
of France, he said, ‘‘ You have no
doubt been of opinion with me,
that we ought—not to restore to
divine worship that which the piety
of our fathers had bestowed upon
it, (that unfortunately would be
impossible) but—to ensure to the
ministers of our holy religion an
independent income.’’ A resolu-
tion is then declared of the King’s
firm adherence to that fundamental
law of the Charter, which secures
to the faith of their ancestors the
pre-eminence due, but guarantees
to all a rational liberty, and to
each the peaceable enjoyment of
his rights, condition, and pro-

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

perty. As speeches from the
throne may probably, in France
as well as in England, be regarded
as the language of the existing
ministers, the substance of the
preceding address will indicate
the principles of government
adopted by the persons now at
the helm.

Several important topics were
brought into discussion at the
meetings of the chambers before
the close of the year; but as we
do not profess to include the de-
bates of foreign deliberating as-
semblies in our historical sketch,
and the results of those in ques-
tion will afford matter for the
ensuing year, we here terminate
our summary of French affairs,
now, happily, interesting rather
as the domestic concerns of a
particular nation, than as exert-
ing an influence on the politics of
Europe.

CHAPTER

GENERAL

HISTORY. [119

CHAPTER XI.

Affairs of the Netherlunds.—Finances —— Debate in the States on Print-

ing Speeches.—System of Weights
Ecclesiastical Affairs.—Restriction

and Measures.—Sacred Alliance.—
on the Press.—Treaty with Algiers.

Discussions respecting Commerce and Manufactures—King’s Speech
at Brussels on the Finances.—Treaty between the Netherlands and
Hanover.—Fortifications on the Frontiers.—Debate on Exportation of

Corn, and proposed Law.

ONE of the European go-

vernments burdened by the
enormous expenses of the late
general war, appear to have ap-
plied with more steadiness and
wisdom the principles of order and
economy, for extricating them-
selves from financial difficulties,
than the new kingdom of the
Netherlands; in the practice of
which laudable policy, the cha-
racter of the Sovereign happily
concurred with that of the nation.
As in the present state of things,

no political considerations can be
more important than those which
relate to the means of remedy-
ing the evils every where pressing
upon the public finances, we trust
we shall not be charged with
filling a page uselessly by tran-
scribing a part of the budget
presented on the 29th of Decem-
ber last to the second chamber
of the States-general of the Ne-
therlands, by Mr. Six Van Otter-
leck, minister of finance.

The amount of the expenditure for 1816, he estimated as
follows :—

Royal Household

High Colleges—(expenses oe the Chesubens; &c.)
Department of the Secretary of State

Department for Foreign Affairs = -
Home Department
Department of Justice

Department of the Reformed and

- 2,600,000 florins
1,220,000
330,000
$90,000
2,300,000
4,000,000

other Religious

Worship, that of the Roman Catholics excepted 1,010,000

Department of the Roman Catholic

Department of Education, Arts, and Sciences

Department of Finance
Naval Service
War Department

Sea and River Dykes and Gther Byblic Works
Department of Commerce and Colonies

Unforeseen Expenses

(N. B.—A Florin

Worship 1,600,000
1,000,000
23,500,000
6,150,000
29,000,000
5,000,000
2,550,000
650,000

Total 80,000,000
is equal to 20d.)
The

120]

The Minister of Finance stated,
that the above would be the max-
imum of the expenditure for the
ensuing year, unless in the case
of the occurrence of new and
unexpected events.

He had also to state, that under
the head of 23,500,000 florins
for the department of finance,
were included two new items.
One of these was the sum of
1,500,000 florins, as the share of
the Netherlands for the payment
of the interest and the extinction
of the Russian debt, in confor-
mity to the Convention concluded
at London, on the 19th of May
last. The other was a sum of
475,000 fl. for payment of in-
terest on the Austro-Belgian debt,
which the kingdom of the Ne-
therlands had taken upon itself
by the Convention of the 11th of
October.

The Minister next proceeded
to state the Ways and Means for
meeting this expenditure. Among
these were the Land ax for all
the provinces of the kingdom,
which is fixed at 16,132,540 fl. ;
the tax on persons and movea-
bles, fixed at 2,735,570fl.; and
the tax on doors and windows, at
1,578,330.

Then follows an enumeration
of a variety of other taxes, direct
and indirect, the produce of which
is not stated in the speech of the
Minister, though subjoined in
schedules annexed to the plan of
law.

The total produce of the Ways
and Means is estimated by the
Minister at 754 millions of florins.
The amount of the expenditure is
estimated at 82 millions, thus
creating a difference of 6} mil-
lions. On the subject of this

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

difference, the Minister observes,
“that however improvident it
might appear, in ordinary times,
to fix the expenditure of a year
without providing the means for
meeting the whole of it, yet it
appeared inexpedient to his Ma-
jJesty, in the present situation of
things, to propose to the Cham-
ber any increase of the taxes or
other burdens on the country, so
long as there was a_ possibility
that the difference would of itself
decrease either in whole or in
part.” He expressed his hope,
that the restoration of general
peace would leave a surplus, even
after all the necessary expenses
of the State were defrayed. It
was impossible at present to state
how far experience would justify
this hope; but the question would
be decided long before this differ-
ence of 63 millions could be felt
as a burthen upon the finances of
the country. If, however, the
hope of some considerable dimi-
nution of the expenditure in va-
rious branches, which had been
fixed at the maximum, should be
disappointed, together with the
hope of the improvement of the
revenue from the restoration of
general peace, then it would be
for the States General, at their
next sitting, to consider of the
means of covering this ‘unlooked-
for deficit.”

As few particulars of the as-
sembly of the states have been
brought before the public, there
is reason to suppose, that it
passed with general tranquillity :
we find however in a Dutch
paper the report of a’ discussion,
which, as relating to the forms
of a representative body, may be
regarded with interest. At the

sitting

GENERAL

sitting of the second chamber on
Jan. 4th, the report of the cen-
tral section was read, relative to
the mode in which the minutes
should in future be drawn up,
and whether the opinions deli-
vered by the members should be
inserted at length, or in analysis.
The report recommended, on the
ground of an article in the stand-
ing orders, that no speech should
be inserted in the minutes, with
the exception of leading or inci-
dental expositions. ‘This occa-
sioned 2 warm debate, and Mr.
Pycke, a member from Kast Flan-
ders, delivered a long speech
against the recommendation. Ar-
guing from an article in the Con-
stitutional Code, enacting the
publicity of the discussions in
the second chamber, he contend-
ed, that the intention of the le-
gislature could hardly have been
that this publicity should be con-
fined to the few auditors who
daily attended in the galleries at
Hague and Brussels; and that it
was important that the public,
as well as the deputies, should be
acquainted with the persons who
most promoted the interests of
their country, in order to direct
them in their future elections of
representatives. He replied to
the objections urged in the com-
mittee, of the slowness such a
practice would occasion in their
proceedings, and the time it would
cost to the secretary and mem-
bers, by remarking, that their
time could not be better expended
than by promoting the good of
the kingdom.

Mr. Gondebieu, from Hai-
nault, in opposition, said, that
the meetings of the chamber be-
ing public, every one who chose

HISTORY. [ial

it might hear and report their
discussions, and that for this rea-
son it was unnecessary that the
minutes should contain the deli-
berations. The question being
put to the vote, Mr. Pycke’s mo-
tion was negatived by 64 to 23.

Another member from West
Flanders having put the question,
whether the minutes might not
at least contain an abstract of the
opinions of each member, it was
negatived by 52 to 35.

The great improvement in do-
mestic policy, of establishing an
uniform system of weights and
measures founded on stable prin-
ciples, which has occupied many
states in Europe, and it is to be
hoped, will in time become uni-
versal, has in this year been taken
up by the government of the Ne-
therlands, and his Majesty on
June 4th submitted a plan tor
the purpose to the States-general.
In the royal message preceding,
it is observed, that the plan ap-
proved, called the metrical or de-
cimal, has already been introduced
by law into many provinces of
the kingdom, (those, apparently,
which had longest been under
the dominion of France,) and had
been employed in all the transac-
tions in which public authority
takes a part. As it cannot but
be of advantage to place under
general consideration every well-
weighed proposal for bringing
into practice a scheme of great
national utility, we shall copy the
articles of the law here offered for
enactment.

Art. 1. As soon as circum-
stances shall permit, and at
furthest by the Ist of January
1820, the same weights and mea-
sures shall be introduced through-

out

122]

out the whole interest of the
kingdom.

2. After their introduction, no
one shall be permitted to make
use of other weights and mea-
sures.

3. Commencing from the Ist
January after the year of intro-
duction, no claims whatever which
become the subject of legal dis-
pute shall be pronounced lawful ;
unless in the deeds, books, and
documents on which they are
founded, and which shall be
brought to prove their legitimacy,
the new system shall be used, and
form the groundwork of the cal-
culation.

4. From the enactment in the
preceding articles are excepted
traisactions entered into abroad
with the subjects of other powers.

5. Moreover, after the Ist of
January, 1817, in all the schools
of this kingdom, without excep-
tion, where arithmetic is taught,
elementary instruction must be
communicated according to this
established system of weights and
measures ; and after that time no
one shall be admitted into them
as teacher, who is not sufficiently
acquainted with the same to be
able to give instruction to others.

6. The new system of weights
and measures for this kingdom,
shall have for foundation a length
which is the forty-millionth part
of a meridian-circle of the earth,
which passes through Paris.

7. All measures and weights
shall stand in connexion with this
length, and all its multiples and
aliquot parts shall be decimal.

S. To them shall be given none
other but the usual Dutch names ;
and such, by preference, shall be
employed of the present weights

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

and measures as come nearest to
them.

9. The length mentioned in
art. 6, is the foundation or ele-
ment of all length-measure, and
shall bear the name of ell,

10. The unity of all measures
of distance shall be the ell multi-
plied a thousand times.

11. The foundation of all su-
perficial measure is the square of
the ell, or the ell square.

12. Forlandmeasure the square
of a multiple of the ell by ten
shall form the unity of measure.

13. The foundation of all mea-
sures of contents in the great

’ shall be the cube of the ell.

14. The cube of the tenth of
the ell shall be the unity of the
measure of contents for retail
articles.

15. The foundation of weights
shall be the weight of a quantity
of purely distilled water reduced
to its greatest solidity, contained
in the cube of the tenth part of
the ell, and shall bear the name
of pound.

16. The cube of the ten-thous-
andth part of the pound shall be
the unity for the weight of va-
luable wares.

17. The direction and form of
the new weights and measures,
together with their multiples and
aliquot parts, as also the names
of every measure and weight, to-
gether with their multiples and
aliquot parts, in conformity to
what is contained in art. 8, shall
afterwards be fixed by us.

The so-termed Sacred Alliance
entered into by the three con-
federate potentates was acceded
to on June 2lst by the king of
the Netherlands, which act was
notified by a message to the States-

general

GENERAL

general on July Ist. His Ma-
jesty declares it to have been in
compliance with the invitation of
his powerful ally, the emperor
Alexander.

From a royal decree dated July
17th, it appears, that the bigotted
attachment of the clergy in the
Belgian states to the See of Rome
has not deterred the King from
that assertion of the rights of the
crown in ecclesiastical affairs,
which even many Catholic Sove-
reigns now openly maintain. He
orders the full and entire execu-
tion in his states of the law which
prohibits resorting to the papal
see for dispensations, briefs, and
rescripts in spiritual and ecclesias-
tical matters, without having pre-
viously obtained the permission
of the Sovereign ; matters of con-
science being alone excepted.
Further, all such dispensations,
&e. granted even after permis-
~ sion to solicit them has been given
by the king, are to remain null
and void, without the Royal exr-
equatur.

The delicate subject of the
freedom of the press, at this time
a topic of particular interest in
every government partaking of
political liberty, was brought be-
fore the legislature of the Nether-
lands in September, by a message
from the King, accompanying the
plan of a law, for restraining the
licentiousness of the press in re-
spect to foreign powers. His
Majesty, in his introduction, ob-
serves, that the constitution of
the country makes all persons re-
sponsible for what they publish,
the limits of which responsibility
are to be found in the penal code :
that some have thought the regu-
lations under this head insuffi-

HISTORY. [123
cient to protect from the insolence
of the ill-disposed the govern-
ment of a country, in which the
censorship, arbitrary arrests, and
other coercive measures are, and
must be, illegal; but as long as
calmness and probity are the na-
tional characteristics, his Majesty
sees no reason to fear the conflict
between truth and error, or to
restrain the expression of opi-
nions relative to the internal go-
vernment: that, however, the
case is different with respect to
insults offered through the me-
dium of the press to neighbour-
ing governments and sovereigns,
whick abuse has lately increased
toa great degree ; and the nu-
merous complaints made on that
head, show that it is high time
to put a stop to it. The law is
then proposed under the follow-
ing articles :

Art. 1. Those who, in their
writings, shall have abused or
outraged the personal character
of foreign sovereigns or princes
with whom we live in peace and
good understanding, shall have
denied or called in question the
legitimacy of their dynasty and
their government, or shall have
represented the acts of their ad-
ministration in an odious light,
shall be, for the first offence,
punished by a fine of 500 florins ;
or, if they are incapable of paying
it, with 6 months’ imprisonment ;
and in case of a repetition of the
offence, with from 1 to 3 years’
imprisonment.

2. The same penalties shall be
applicable to printers, publishers,
and booksellers, who shall have
printed or published, or caused
to be printed or distributed, the
aforesaid writings, provided they

shall

194]

shall be incapable of giving up
the author, so that he may not
only be prosecuted, but also con-
victed of the offence, and punished
accordingly ; and the penalty thus
inflicted on printers, editors, and
booksellers, shall be accompanied
with the suppression of their pa-
tent, and the prohibition to print
or publish any work for three
years, for the first offence, and
for six years for the second of-
fence, with confiscation, in both
cases, of the copies of the work
printed or published, notwith-
standing such prohibition.

3. Neither authors, editors, nor
printers, publishers, nor booksell-
ers, shall be admitted to allege
as ground of excuse, that the
writings, or articles, which give
occasion to their prosecution, are
copied, extracted, or translated
from foreign papers or other
printed writings.

4, livery official complaint and
reclamation of a foreign govern-
iment, grounded on writings of
the rd mentioned in art. 1,
shall be directly transmitted by
our Minister for Foreign Affairs
to our Minister of Justice, in
order that the author, editor,
printer, or bookseller whom. it
concerns, may be, if there is
ground, for it, prosecuted before
a court of justice, at the instance
of the Attorney-general or other
public judicial officer in the place
where he is domiciliated.

{is obvious whenee the com-
plaints proceeded, which sug-
gesteil this restriction of the free
publication of political opinions
relative to foreign courts and go-
vernments; it was indeed well
known, that in the Belgian pro-
vinees the cause of Buonaparte

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

still possesses zealous votaries.
The restraint, however, appears
to have been quietly acquiesced
in by the body of the nation; for
when the plan of the law was
discussed in the second chamber,
on September 25th, it passed by
a majority of 64 to 4.

The share taken by the govern-
ment of the Netherlands in the
3ritish expedition against Al-
giers, has been recorded in our
relation of that glorious enter-
prise. Its success produced a
treaty of peace between the two
states, concluded by the Dey, and
Vice-admiral Capellen, at Al-
giers, on August 28th, the con-
ditions of which were laid before
the States-general on October Ist.
Their substance is a declaration
of peace and friendship between
the two countries, and a renewal
and confirmation of all the arti-
cles of the treaty of amity con-
cluded between them in the year
1757; together with an agree-
ment for the reception at, Algiers
of « Dutch consul, upon precisely
the same footing, and with the
same privileges, with the British
consul,

Previously to the Algerine ex-
pedition, there had been con-
cluded between the kingdoms of
the Netherlands and Spain, a de-
fensive treaty, the object of which
was to protect from piracy the
commerce of the powers who
were parties to it.

The union of the Dutch and
Flemish provinces under one go-
vernment, occasioned a difficulty
respecting commercial regulation,
arising from their different inter-
ests and policy in that respect.
Krom the era of the independence
Jf the Seven provinces, the foun-

dation

GENERAL

dation of their prosperity was laid
in extensive foreign commerce ;
and in order to render their un-
productive country the receptacle
and mart of commodities from
all parts of the world, the great-
est facilities were given to impor-
tation, while domestic products
were no further regarded than
as they supplied the immediate
wants of a trading and maritime
population. The Belgian pro-
vinces, on the other hand, had
long attained to great wealth and
distinction by their manufactures,
which they exported largely to all
the neighbouring countries ; and
when the mercantile superiority
of Holland had reduced to insig-
nificance the foreign traflic of the
Flemings, they still exercised to
advantage their industry and in-
genuity in the fabrics of their
looms, and other products of art.
In process of time they encoun-
tered rivalry in these branches,
which greatly reduced them in
the scale of general wealth and
population; yet manufactures
were still subsisting in their prin-
cipal towns, which, if encouraged,
might find employment for a pro-
portion of their remaining inha-
bitants. They were, however,
unable to support a competition
with British goods of a similar
kind; and when the inundation
from the warehouses of England
began to overflow the continent,
the shops and factories of the
Low-countries were shut up or
deserted. Loud complaints of
the ruinous consequences echoed
through the Belgic provinces, and
produced various petitions for re-
dress to the legislative body. The
English name and character even
suffered under the irritation ex-

HISTORY. [125

cited by severe losses: its com-
mercial spirit was pronounced
exclusive and insatiable; and at
Ghent the popular indignation
was vented in a public bonfire of
British manufactures.

The government took these ca-
lamities and discontents under its
serious consideration; and on
September 3d, Mr. Wickers, di-
rector-general of convoys and li-
censes, presented to the second
chamber of the states, on the
part of the King, the plan of a
law and tariff, by which the levy-
ing of duties on the import, ex-
port, and transit of all wares and
merchandize in the kingdom,
might in future be regulated on
an equitable and uniform foot-
ing. After an introductory speech
by the director, respecting trade
in general, and the modes in
which it may be favoured by the
interference of government, the
principles and grounds of the
proposed law were laid before the
assembly; and as the matter of
this exposure appears to us, both
on account of its reasonings,
and the future commercial pros-
pects it affords, well worthy the
attention of our readers, we shail
insert it at length.

On these principles it is pro-
posed :

Ist. That all the objects of
great branches of commerce be
very moderately charged, on im-
port, export, and transit.

2. That very small duties be
laid on the import of all raw ma-
terials used in our native manu-
factures,

3. That upon the import of all
foreign manufactured goods which
can come into competition with
home fabrics, such high duties

should

126]

should be levied as may be suffi-
cient to favour the sale of our
own productions; but so as that
foreign commerce may be as little
as possible obstructed.

4, That the export of all arti-
cles of internal industry should,
as much as is practicable, be fa-
voured and free.

Articles of foreign manufac-
ture must in this way of course
become dearer to the consumer.
But it should be recollected, that
a revenue will thus be raised,
which must otherwise have been
levied in some more oppressive
mode; and that the destruction
of our internal manufacturing
establishments would, too pro-
bably, be the result of a free and
unimpeded import of foreign
goods. The foreign manufac-
turer would then be able to dic-
tate his own prices, and render
the domestic merchant and con-
sumer wholly dependent upon
him. Besides, would not the
value of our domestic raw mate-
rials be in great part lost by the
fall of our manufactures ; or, if
the foreign manufacturer pur-
chased them of us, would it not
be with a view to send them back
to us in thé wrought state; thus
compelling us to pay the price of
the manufacture ?

In fine, what would be the re-
sult, after the fall of our internal
fabrics, when wars arising should
render our foreign supply of
goods difficult or impossible ?

In fact, if we take counsel from
the experience of other nations
on this head; if we look into the
recent laws and tariffs of com-
mercial and manufacturing na-
tions in Europe, and even in
America, we may thence derive

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

the lesson, that they, in order to
favour internal industry, tax hea-
vily foreign, and, therefore, our
manufactures, on import, or in
some cases prohibit them ; that
they in all possible ways favour
the export of their own manufac-
tures, in order to furnish the fo-
reign consumer with them.

It thus, Gentlemen, requires
no further proof that our internal
manufactures, which have reached
such a measure of perfection,
cannot remain in that state, un-
less care be taken that foreign
manufactures be charged with
such « duty as may proportion
their price to the consumer, to
that of our own products,—a price
which, in consequence of the bur-
dens and taxes here bearing on
the manufacturer and workman,
cannot be diminished.

Our hatters, our glass-makers,
our tanners, our flax, cotton, and
wool-spinners and weavers, our
manufacturers of arms and iron-
smelters, with many others, must
thus be supported by laws, and
maintained in their present state.
And this, the rather, because no
choice remains for us to act on
certain theoretic principles, but
in conformity to the actual sub-
sistence of so many valuable esta-
blishments, whose permanence
can be exposed to no one moment
of interruption, to not one day of
discontinued protection, without
endangering their fall, the dis-
charge of industrious workmen,
and establishing the triumph of
our enterprising neighbours.

It is not, however, meant that
the protection and favour afforded
to our domestic productions,
should cramp and circumscribe
our extensive and beneficial com-

merce.

GENERAL

merce. To protect this, the pro-
posed law permits the transit of
all goods and merchandise free
of import and export duties, with
the payment alone of a moderate
duty for such transit over our
territory. With this view it is
proposed, that in every town
where any extensive commerce is
carried on, an entrepot should be
established, where, for a very mo-
derate duty, goods should be
placed under the inspection and
care of the administration of con-
voys and licenses.”

The session of the States-ge-
neral, held in turn at Brussels,
opened on October 21st, with a
speechfrom thethrone. It touched
upon various topics relative to
the state of the country, one of
which was a meditated exchange
of small portions of territory on
the Prussian frontier, with equi-
valent portions belonging to that
power, for mutual convenience.
The most interesting topic was
that of the finances, concerning
which his Majesty spoke in the
following terms: ‘‘ When the
view of the receipts and the ex-
penses of the public treasury shall
be communicated to the States-
general, your High Mightinesses
will see, I hope, with satisfaction,
the considerable reduction which,
conformably to your wish and
mine, has been effected in the
charges of the general adminis-
tration. In consequence, no aug-
mentation of the existing means,
no creation of extraordinary re-
sources, will be necessary to
cover them. At the same time,
the regularity and the facility of
the collection of the revenues
in almost all the provinces, de-
monstrate the salutary influence

HISTORY. [197

which the liberty of commerce’
and of every species of industry,
has already had on the situation
of the inhabitants. But neither
this circumstance, nor any of the
facts from which it is permitted
to presume the still increasing
solidity of the public credit, will
make me forget the necessity of
further economy, and the duty
imposed on me, not to require
from my subjects any sacrifices,
but such as are strictly indispen-
sable to maintain the honour and
safety of the state.”

On rising, after the delivery of
his speech, the King was saluted
by the repeated acclamations of
the whole assembly; and there is
reason to suppose, that no sove-
reign in Europe has better suc-
ceeded in acquiring the general

‘confidence of his people in the

sincerity of his declarations of
regarding their interests as ex-
clusively his own.

A treaty was laid before the
States concluded between the
King of the Netherlands and the
Prince Regent of Great Britain and
Hanover, the purpose of which
was to abolish the tax called the
Droit d’Aubaine, and the imposts
named Gabelle d’Heredité and
Redevance d’Emigration, when
an inheritance passes from the
States of the King of the Nether-
lands to the dominions of Hano-
ver, and reciprocally ; which ar-
rangement is extended, not only
to the duties and imposts which
come into the public treasury,
but to those levied on account of
provinces, towns, corporations,
and other public bodies.

The defence of the Netherlands
against any future attack from a
powerful neighbour, could not

but

128]

but be a momentous concern ; and
the king sanctioned the measures
proposed by the war-department
for completing the fortifications
commenced on several points of
the frontiers, in which labour
from 10 to 12,000 workmen were
to be employed during the winter
season. At the saine time a perfect
coalescence between the northern
and southern provinces of the
kingdom was effected by the abo-
lition of the whole line of custom-
houses between them.

The failure of the harvest, and
consequent scarcity of the neces-
saries of life, prevalent in the
Netherlands as in so many other
parts of Europe, occasioned a
clashing of interests in different
portions of the kingdom, which
was the cause of warm debate in
the assembly of the states. Hol-
land, which had been accustomed
to derive its chief subsistence
from foreign commerce, and had
thereby become a great mart of
corn as an article of free impor-
tation and exportation, was un-
willing to acquiesce in those re-
strictions on the corn trade which
some of the Belgic provinces, re-
duced to great necessity, repre-
sented as essential to preserve
them from famine. After much
consideration, his Majesty, on
December 20th, proposed to the
legislative body a law on the
subject in the following terms:

** Having taken into consi-
deration that the absolute prohi-
bition of the exportation of corn
must be considered in this king-

ANNUAL RE

GISTER, 1816.

dom as a measure liable to very
great inconveniences, as it might
have the effect of interrupting the
ordinary course of the trade in
corn, and suspend or lessen the
importation :

*< That, however, a partial pro-
hibition may be attended with sa-
lutary consequences for the inha-
bitants of some provinces, and
particularly of those which, by
their situation, and by the pro-
hibitory laws of the neighbouring
states, have not to expect any
direct supply of foreign corn:
For these reasons, by the advice
of our Council of State, and in
conjunction with the States-Ge-
neral, we have ordained, as we or-
dain by these presents :

“« Art. 1. It is forbidden to ex-
port wheat, rye, barley, oats, or
meal of any kind whatsoever, by
the land frontier of the kingdom,
to countries whence it is not per-
mitted to export those articles to
the Netherlands.

** Art. 2. We reserve it to our-
self to extend the said prohibi-
tion to other articles of food, and
to revoke it entirely, or in part,
as circumstances shall require.

*« Art. 3. The corn, and other
articles of food, included in the
above prohibition, or in that of
the 20th of Nov. 1816, the ex-
portation of which shall notwith-
standing be attempted directly or
indirectly, shall be confiscated,
and the trespassers condemned,
besides, to pay a fine of one thou-
sand florins.

CHAPTER

GENERAL HISTORY. [129

CHAPTER XII.

Spain.— Weakness and Fluctuations of the Government.—Character of
the King.—Change of Ministry.—Matrimonial Connections between
the Courts of Spain and Portugal.—Conspiracy at Madrid.—Decree
respecting Religious Orders. — Property of Jesuits restored.—Prisoners
at Ceuta removed.—Royal Nuptials—General Pardon, with great
Exceptions —Portugal: its Commerce flourishing.—Brazil declared
a Kingdom.—Naples.—Treaty with the Piratical States.—Sicilian
Papers excluded from Naples.—Transactions with the United States
of America.—Decree respecting the Political Relations between the
Kingdoms of Naples and Sicily—Rome insulted by Pirates and
Banditti—Torture forbidden in the Inquisition.—Security declared to
Purchasers of National Property.—Confiscation no longer permitted

to the Profit of the Inquisition. Negociations of the Church of Rome
with France.—Venice.

HE beginning of the year
atforded a melancholy view

of the state of the kingdom of
Spain, which seems tg have been
freed from internal war and the
shackles of foreign dominion, only
to be re-delivered to that system
of weak and arbitrary govern-
ment, under which it has sv long
been declining in the scale of
Europe. In the capital and the
principal cities, the spirit of free-
dom was at this time so far sub-
jugated, thatthediscontents which
subsisted, were buried in secrecy :
but in the northern and frontier
provinces, parties of guerillas were
roaming uncontrolled, many of
them composed of the dispersed
insurgents under Porlier, and of
soldiers become deserters for want
of pay. The public finances were
in a wretched situation ; and the
measures of administration were
perpetually changing. This fluctu-
ation may in great part be ascribed

Vor. LVILI.

to the personal character of the
monarch, distinguished by rest-
less activity, and impatience of all
opposition to his will. It is said
of him, that ‘‘ He sees every
thing, decides every thing, and
watches over all the parts of the
administration. Supreme master,
his dispositions experience no
delay; his wishes are instantly
executed. This explains the ra-
pidity of events at court.’ One
of these, which excited much sur-
prize at Madrid on the 21st of
January, was a total change in
the ministry. The principal mi-
nister, Cevallos, was, however,
announced in a Gazette extraor-
dinary of the 26th, as restored to
all his functions, his Majesty
signing with his own hand the
following declaration: ‘* Consi-
dering as unfounded, the motives
which induced me to order your
discharge from the office of my
first secretary of state, and of the

{K] cabinet ;

130]

cabinet; and being highly satis-
fied with the zeal, exactitude, and
affection, with which in the cruel-
est times you have served myself
and the state, I re-instate you in
the use and exercise of your
offices, of which you will imme-
diately take charge.” From the
same royal decree, it may be
learned, that the King had been
alarmed by reports of public dis-
contents; for the extraordinary
commissions for the trial of state
offenders are abolished, and they
are remitted to the ordinary tri-
bunals ; and the use of the party
appellations of liberales and ser-
viles is forbidden. The other dis-
missed ministers were not re-
stored, but other emoluments and
honours were conferred upon
them. Such, however, was the
mutability of the royal counsels,
that the abolition of the com-
missions was soon after revoked.

In February a royal decree was
made public, informing the royal
council, that the King, in order
to strengthen the bonds of rela-
tionship between the families of
Spain and Portugal, had treated
with the Prince of Brazil, for an
union between himself and the
second daughter of the Prince, his
own niece, the Infanta Maria
Isabel Francisca; and another
union between the Infant of Spain
Don Carlos, and the third daugh-
ter of the same Prince, the In-
fanta Maria Francisca de Asis ;
and that full powers had been
given for concluding these ma-
trimonial contracts. The Duke
of Infantado, president of the
council of Castile, was nominated
to go in state to Cadiz, for the
purpose of receiving these Prin-
cesses on their landing from Bra-

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

zil. Meanwhile, there being a
great deficiency of money, expe-
dients were resorted to for re-
plenishing the treasury, one of
which was, that it should be open
for receipt, but shut for pay-
ment.

About this time a conspiracy
was detected at Madrid, the ob-
ject of which is reported to have
been the destruction of the king
and his brothers. It had for
some time been remarked, that
an unusual number of discharged
guerilla officers without pay had
resorted to the capital, and sus-
picions were thence excited, which
at length produced the discovery
of a plot. Many persons were
in consequence arrested, among
whom were names well known in
the history of the late war; and
they were examined by torture.
General O'Donoghue, who was
one of the apprehended, was af-
terwards discharged. The con-
spiracy, of which nothing was
made known by authority, appears
to have been suppressed without
any public commotion.

In July the King issued a long
decree, in which, after lament-
ing the corruption of morals and
doctrine effected in Spain by the |

late war, he announced his in- |

tention of employing in future |
the religious orders in the educa- |
tion of youth, and mentioned, |
that he had obtained permission |
from the Pope, that some of the |

nuns should be abstracted from |
their devotional exercises in con- | —

vents, and engaged in the edu-
cation of females. That the re- |
establishment of the company of
Jesus might be effected as spee-
dily as possible, he declared his /
sovereign will, that all the houses,

colleges,

:

GENERAL HISTORY.

colleges, funds and rents, of which
it had been deprived at the sup-
pression, and which still exist,
should be restored to it.

The rigors of despotic police
were in the meantime exercising
throughout the kingdom, seizures
being made, it is said, in every
town, and even every village, of
all persons meeting in the street
at a certain hour. A measure
put in practice with respect to
the patriots of the late Cortes
confined at Ceuta, struck terror
among all the friends of freedom.
On the 19th of July, they were
taken out of their beds at. the
dead of night, carried on board a
xehec under a strong escort of
soldiers, loaded with irons, and
conveyed no one knew whither.

On Sept. 28th, the new Queen
arrived in Madrid, when the
royal nuptials were consummated,
with those of the King’s brother
and the Queen's sister. On this
occasion his Majesty ‘ wishing

_ to signalize the happy day by a
mark of his royal mercy,’ pub-
lished a ‘‘ general pardon to all
delinquents capable of receiving
it,’ which description excluded
the following crimes: lese-ma-
jesty ; divine and human treason ;
homicide of priests ; blasphemy ;
fabricating false money ; export-
ing prohibited articles ; resist-
ance to justice, and malversation

of the royal powers; with some
others. Hence it appears, that a
large scope was still left for the
indulgence of royal vengeance
against the class of patriots and
reformers. It must, however, be
admitted, that an established go-
vernment cannot be blamed for
taking precautionary measures
for protecting itself, and pre-
Serving the general tranquillity

[131

The important and still wholly
unsettled affairs of Spanish Ame-
rica, will be brought under con-
sideraticn when the events of
that quarter of the world claim
our attention.

Portugal, governed by a re-
gency during the residence of its
sovereign in Brazil, is reported to
be flourishing in commerce, partly
at the expense of the rest of the
peninsula. Several rich mercan-
tile houses from Malaga and
Cadiz have established themselves
in this kingdom, the more liberal
spirit of which has favoured the
settlement of foreigners. It is
even affirmed, that religious to-
leration has extended so far as to
have allowed the German mer-
chants to open a Protestant place

_of worship in Lisbon, notwith-

standing the opposition of the
clergy. The trade with both In-
dies was so much extended, that
in the year 1815, 490 vessels
laden with European produce,
sailed for South America alone,
bringing back a very valuable
importation.

_ The additional importance at-
tached to the Transatlantic colo-
nies since they were personally
known to the sovereign was ma-
nifested by a decree published
at Rio-de-Janeiro, in December
1815. The Prince Regent of
Portugal (as was then his title)
after alluding ta the vast extent
of his dominions in America, and
the abundance and variety of the
elements of riches which they
contain, remarks the advantages
which would result to his sub-

jects from a perfect union of in-

terests between his territories in
Europe and in Brazil. He there-
fore declares from the present
time, the State of Brazil raised to

[K 2] the

132]

the dignity and denomination of
a kingdom; and orders, that in
future the kingdoms of Portugal,
the two Algarves, and Brazil,
shall form one sole kingdom,
under the title. of United King-
dom of Portugal, Brazil, and the
Two Algarves. The transactions
in that part of the world will
hereafter be mentioned.

The kingdom of Naples was
visited at the beginning of the
year with a pestilential disease,
(apparently the true plague) which
broke out at Noia, on its eastern
coast, said to have been brought
by infection from a Turkish ship.
As soon as it was discovered, a
strict cordon was drawn round
the place by the Austrian troops,
which appear to have this weak
monarchy still under guard,
whereby it was prevented from
spreading; and after committing
considerable ravages, it was finally
extinguished.

The situation and the weak-
ness of this kingdom, having ex-
posed it to the depredations of the
piratical states of Barbary, Lord
Exmouth, as the British naval
commander in the Mediterranean,
undertook in the spring to medi-
ate a peace for the King with the
Dey of Algiers, which at that
time could not be effected with-
out an agreement for paying a
large sum for the liberation of
the Neapolitan slaves, the dis-
charge of which the Admiral was
obliged to urge with some impor-
tunity. When, however, the no-
ble commander had reduced the
barbarian to his own terms, he
made the restoration of all the
ransom paid by Naples one of the
conditions of peace.

Although the kingdoms of Na-

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

ples and Sicily were now reunited
under the same crown, their
constitutions remained different,
and the limited government of
the latter, in which a degree of
freedom of the press was esta-
blished, could not but be regarded
with jealousy by a Neapolitan
court. The King therefore pro-
hibited the introduction of the
Sicilian journals into his conti-
nental territories,

A signal proof of the little
respect inspired by the govern-
ment of Naples was exhibited by
the arrival, in the beginning of
August, of an American squa-
dron under Commodore Chaun-
cey, off the city of Naples, having
on board Mr. Pinckney, whose
purpose was to demand a large
sum of money, being the amount
of American property confiscated
in the reign of Murat. This mea-
sure, which had the appearance
of intimidation, excited great
alarm in Naples, almost all the
ships of the Royal Navy having
been disarmed: the other means
for the defence of the port, how-
ever, were not neglected; and
the Austrian general Nugent ac-
cepted the command of the Nea-
politan army. The marquis Cir-
cello, minister for foreign affairs,
delivered a note to each of the
foreign ministers relative to the
American claims, and couriers
were sent to engage the protec-
tion of different courts. The ne-
gociation of Mr. Pinckney was
protracted, and took a more mo-
derate tone; and part of the
American squadron left the bay
of Naples for Messina.

In the month of October, it is
announced from Naples, that Mr.
Pinckney had taken his leave of

the

GENERAL HISTORY.

the King, and that it was be-
lieved all differences with the
United States were terminated.
It was thought that a treaty had
been proposed between the two
countries, and advantages had
been guaranteed to the Americans
in the ports of Sicily.

On December 12th, was pup-
lished by the king of Naples, a
decree for the purpose of con-
firming the privileges granted to
the Sicilians, and reconciling their
inviolability with the unity of
the political institutions of the
United Kingdom. By its arti-
cles, all civil and ecclesiastical
employments in Sicily are to be
conferred exclusively on the Sici-
lians, as, on the other hand, they
can form no claim to the same
employments in the other domi-
nions of the crown. The great
dignities of the United Kingdom
are to be shared by them, in pro-
portion to the population of the
island, which is reckoned at a
quarter of that of all the subjects.
Offices in the army, navy, and
household, are to be conferred
without any distinction of the
part of which the persons are
natives. The government of the
whole kingdom is always to re-
side with the person of the King;
a governor of the royal family,
or some other person of distinc-
tion, being appointed to preside
over the porti»n lying on that
side of the straits opposite to the
royal residence. The lawsuits in
each part are to be determined in
the last resort by their own tri-
bunals. Fendal rights are to be
abolished on each side of the
straits. The permanent expences
of the state are to be regulated
every year by a partition, but

[133

in Sicily, they can never exceed
the sum fixed by its parlia-
ment in 1803, without the con-
sent of the parliament. From
the quota is to be deducted not
less than a particular sum men-
tioned, for the payment of the
debt bearing no interest, and of
the arrears of interest, till the
entire extinction of both, after
which, the same sum is to bea
sinking fund for paying the Sici-
lian debt. Until the general sys-
tem of civil and judicial admi-
nistration of the kingdom of the
Two Sicilies is promulgated, all
its branches are to remain on
their present footing.

Italy. The general weakness of
the Italian governments at the
present period, would necessarily
become conspicuous in a state so
ill constituted as the secular do-
minion of the Roman See; and
its incapacity to preserve itself
from piratical insults, and from
the outrages of banditti, is among
the first intelligence transmitted
from the ancient capital of Eu-
rope. In February, whilst a con-
voy of vessels was proceeding
down tie Tiber to Civita Vec-
chia, and another was about to
sail from this port up the river,
a large Tunisian xebeck made
its appearance, which, putting out
two boats, gave a general chace.
The vessels all dispersed, and
some of them sought protection
under the guns of a small tower
on the coast. The pirates boldly
approached, notwithstanding the
fire, and took possession of two
vessels, which, however, they af-
terward found it expedient to re-
linquish. On the 13th, two pi-
ratical vessels appeared off Fiu-
mara, and made captures; and

it

134]

it is asserted from Civita Vecchia,
that pirates are daily in sight, by
whom the navigation is wholly
intercepted. In fact, the finances
of the Pope are so much disor-
dered, that he cannot maintain a
sufficient force on the coast, or in
the interior, to protect his sub-
jects. At Rome itself, daring
robberies are said to be committed
in the most frequented streets ;
and the military tribunal at Fru-
sinone being dissolved, and the
moveable columns of soldiers
called in, the banditti are again
making their appearance, though
their expulsion had been pro-

claimed by the distribution of

honorary crosses, with the in-
scription ‘* Latronibus fugatis,
securitas restituta.”’

As an ecclesiastic, his Holiness
did himself honour by a decree
relative to the form in inquisito-
rial proceedings, in which the ap-
plication of torture is forbidden.
This determination was commu-
nicated by the Cardinal secretary
of state to the ministers of Spain
and Portugal.

The same Cardinal on May
4th, published a declaration in
the name of the Pope, that hav-
ing been informed, that some ec-
clesiastical courts had presumed
to print regulations in opposi-
tion to those which he directed in
his edict of July 1812, relative to
the acquisitions made under the
late government, of property
termed national, whereby alarms
were spread among the purchas-
ers, and fears as to the security
of the purchases themselves, his
Holiness orders it to be made
known, that the said papers have
been printed without his know-
ledge, that he highly disapproves
of them, that the above edict

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

is still in full force, and that he
guarantees peaceable possession
to the purchasers. This is a cir-
cumstance worthy of observation,
as indicating the unwearied efforts
of the Roman Catholic clergy,
to recover all! of which they had
been deprived in the late changes
of the time, and the timidity of
the head of their church, relative
to any measure which might in-
volve him in contests with the
secular authority.

An additional proof of the more
humanized spirit of the religion
of Rome was given, in the be-
ginning of August, by an edict
of the Pope, ordaining, that con-
fiscation shail no longer take
place to the profit of the Holy
Office of the Inquisition in matters
concerning the faith. This pro-
cess had been already abolished
in the papal territories, and the
present determination was the
result of the liberal ideas of
Count Funchal, the minister of
Portugal, who was desirous of
introducing the same reform into
that kingdom and Spain.

The following article of intel-
ligence from Rome, dated at the
close of September, if it may be
depended upon, affords an inter-
esting view of the present state
of the papal authority in some of
the countries, acknowledging the
supremacy of the Roman church.

““The news from Germany is
very afflicting. It appears now
exceedingly difficult, to say no-
thing worse, to enter into nego-
tiations with several governments.
We have temporized tuo much.
The Princes, seeing their sub-
jects without first pastors, have
established them by their own
authority, and in fact the church
of oe appears to be com-

pletely

GENERAL

pletely abandoned. It is only
with +ime, patience, and great
circumspection, that we can re-
cover what we have lost. If any
thing could console us, it is the
conclusion of the negotiations
with France. That business is
no longer a mystery. His Holi-
ness made known in the Con-
sistory of the 23d, the happy re-
sults of the policy of the church
of Rome in that delicate and im-
portant affair. This much is said
to be certain—The Concordat
concluded under the Government
of the Usurper is annulled, and
things are replaced on the foot-
ing of the statu quo established by
the Concordat between Leo X.
and Francis I. with some modi-
fications. The affair has been
discussed directly between the
two sovereigns, by autograph
letters. Secrecy has prevailed
throughout the progress of the
negotiation, and nothing was al-

HISTORY.

lowed to transpire to the public
until all was finished.”

In the other parts of Italy, no
public events have occurred dur-
ing the present year, which re-
quire historical notice. States
formerly independent, having in
the late general settlement of Ku-
rope been portioned off among
greater powers, of whose domi-
nions they are rendered mere ap-
pendages, have lost all political
existence, and can only partici-
pate in the movements of greater
machines. Complaints of con-
scious debility have been occa-
sionally heard; and an account
transmitted from Venice, of the
depredations practised in the Adri-
atic by Albanian pirates, was ac-
companied with an indignant re-
flection on the powerlessness of
Italy to guard her own seas, which
office was delegated to the marine
of England, by which it was im-
perfectly executed.

[135

CHAPTER

136]

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

CHAPTER XIII.

Germany.—Slow Progress in political Alteration Hanover, Annexalion
of East Friseland, and Cession of Lauenberg.—Order of Guelph.—
Assembly of States.—Prussia.—Discussions relative to Representative
Government.—Restrictions on the Press.—Electorate of Hesse —Con-
tinuance of Differences between the King and the States of Wurtem-
berg.—Death of the former, and Acts of his Successor.— Austria,
financial Plan.— Death of the Empress, and Marriage of another.—
Germanic Diet.—Constitution of Weimar.—Switzerland.—Diet.—

Law in Friburg.

“YN the great and enlightened
country of Germany, the pro-
gress towards settling the politi-
cal constitution of its different
states during the present year,
has been much less than was ge-
nerally expected. Whether this
tardiness was owing to the va-
riety of opinions, prevalentamong
a people habituated to discussion,
and prone to theorize, or to a re-
luctance in the governing powers
to admit the governed to a share
in their authority, is a matter of
conjecture rather than of proof;
but there is reason to suppose,
that both these circumstances
have co-operated in throwing
difficulties in the way of bringing
to a termination the process of
forming new constitutions. Mean-
time the public tranquillity seems
not to have suffered from this in-
determinate condition of things ;
such disputes as have arisen, hav-~
ing been chiefly conducted in the
quiet mode of lettered argumen-
tation.
Of the occurrences in the dif-
ferent states, those in the new

kingdom of Hanover take the
precedence in point of time.

In December 1815, were pub-
lished by the authority of the
Prince Regent, the letters patent
on taking possession for the
crown of Hanover of East Frise-
land and the land of Harlingen.
This appropriation is declared to
be in consequence of a cession
from the King of Prussia con-
firmed by the powers at the con-
gress of Vienna; and the states
of the country are required to
transfer their allegiance to their
new sovereign, with assurance of
constant attention to their wel-
fare, and protection in their
rights.

As a kind of indemnity for this
accession, that portion of the
Duchy of Saxe Lauenburg which
lies on the right side of the Elbe
was ceded by Hanover, in July,
to the king of Prussia, to be af-
terwards conveyed to the king of
Denmark, as part of the compen-
sation adjudged to that Sovereign
for his cession of Pomerania to
Prussia.

The

GENERAL

The Prince Regent decorated
the kingdom of Hanover with an
order of knighthood, entitled, that
of The Guelphs, with the same
gradations of honour as those of
the Bath. The insignia of Grand
Cross of the Order were sent to
the Brunswick princes, and to the
reigning prince of Lippe Bucke-
burg.

In January, the assembly of
the States recommenced its sit-
tings, and employed itself in pre-
paring a new system of taxation.
In the same month was announced
the dissolution by the Prince Re-
gent of the special commission,
created in the preceding April,
for superintending the internal
security of the kingdom against
all suspicious persons, whether
natives or foreigners.

A second meeting of the States
took place in autumn. In the
beginning of November, was offi-
cially declared the appointment
of the Duke of Cambridge to the
office of Lieutenant-Governor of
Hanover.

Nothing further of consequence
is reported from this kingdom,
which seems to be enjoying the
blessings of a well-administered
' government.

No state in Germany appears
so much to have excited the in-
terest of politicians as that of
Prussia. At the very commence-
‘ment of the year, general atten-
tion was fixed upon the progress
in forming that representative con-
stitution which was announced in
the royal ordinance of May 22d,
1815. The question first stand-
ing for discussion related to the
establishment of a chamber of
peers, which encountered many
difficulties, in consequence of the

HISTORY. _ [137
comparative indigence into which
the order of noblesse had fallen,
especially within the last ten years.
The public canvassing of this and
the other important topics con-
nected with the business under
consideration, could scarcely be
agreeable to a government habi-
tuated to treat political measures
as state secrets; and we accord-
ingly find, that on the 3d of Ja-
nuary, his Prussian Majesty issued
a cabinet order for the suppres-
sion of a paper much read as a
political journal, the ‘“‘ Rhenish
Mercury.’”’ Counsellor Sack, pre-
sident of the Prussian provinces
on the Rhine, wrote to the supe-
rior officers of his government,
acquainting them with this order ;
and also mentioning, that the
King was occupied with framing
a law concerning the freedom of
the press, which, for the future,
would reconcile the jarring claims
of public opinion and the welfare
of the state. In the meantime,
the president desires, that the
censors in their respective districts
would redouble their vigilance in
examining all gazettes and_poli-
tical journals ; so that no passages
might appear in which injurious
attacks were made upon any fo-
reign government,.or incompe-
tent criticisms on the transactions
of theirown. As there is no
test more certain of the disposi-
tion of governments to favour
public liberty, than the degree of
their indulgence to the freedom
of the press, an inference may be
drawn from the fact above re-
cited, of the ideas entertained by
the Prussian court of those rights
of the people which may be ad-

mitted under a monarchy.
Nothing more of a public na-
ture

138]

ture has been communicated from
Berlin ; we only learn, that the
new constitution remained an-
settled at the end of the year, but
that a promise has been given by
his Majesty, that it shall make its
appearance early in the ensuing
year.

A remarkable example of that
spirit of sound sense and_ plain
dealing, which is probably now
making asteady pr ogress thr ough
Germany, appeared in March, in
a memorial presented to the as-
sembled States of the Electorate
of Hesse, from the districts on
the river Diemel, and signed by a
hundred of their chief magis-
trates. Its translation runs thus :

‘As our gracious Sovereign
has again called the States toge-
ther, to deliberate on the dis-
tresses of the country, and, if
possible, to relieve them, we take
the liberty urgently to lay before
our Deputies chosen for the pre-
sent Assembly, the following de-
sire :—The taxes which we have
to pay are intolerably heavy. The
French times were bad; but the
present, if all the money paid is
reckoned together, are still worse ;
and were it not for our own dear
Elector, who is a Hessian as well
as ourselves, the country would
not have been silent so long: for
the money is demanded without
intermission, and yet there is no
trade, no business; and when
the money is once out of our
hands, it never comes back any
more. We know that we are
bound to give what is necessary
for the support of the State, and
we will do it with pleasure as
Jong as it is possible; but the
misfortune is,’ that we do not
know how much the country pro-

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

perly requires, However, as our
most gracious Prince has called
his States together, to consult
with them on the economy (the
German word means the house-
keeping) of the country, it is to
be hoped, that every body will
learn what is necessary, and what
is too much. We hoped that this
would be done last year; but as
it was not, and as our burthens
have since become still greater,
we beg our Deputies, ist, To as-
certain what part of the large
outstanding sums of money, which
they say the country of Hesse
demands, belong’s to the country,
and what part of the public pro-
perty which we already have, be-
longs to the country, and what
to the Prince. When this is as-
certained, we beg them to exa-
mine, 2d, Whither (that is, into
what coffers) the large sums of
money flow, which we have to
pay annually, and for what pur-
poses it is employed. And then,
3dly, To seek for ways and means
by which the existing taxes may
be diminished, and placed on a
more moderate footing. And that
this mild, reasonable rate of taxa-
tion may not be altered arbitra-
rily, we beg our deputies, 4thly,
To provide that an established
constitution may be given to the
country, so that, without the con-
sent of the States, nothing may
be demanded or imposed, because
it is just and reasonable, that he
who is to give, be asked how
much he can give. These are
our wishes, our necessary desire.
We should not have spoken, if it
had been to be borne; but it is
too bad, and it grieves us that
our good Prince loses the love of
the people in the country, be-

cause

GENERAL

cause he does not forbid evil
counsellors to approach him ;
therefore we beg our deputies to
‘speak the truth openly, and not
to dissemble: for we Hessians
mean it honestly both with our
Prince and our country, and wish
that the ancient order in the
country, and the ancient love to

the Prince, may return. Then
we shall all be helped !”
The differences between the

King and the States of Wurtem-
berg, which occupied a consi-
derable place in the political
transactions of Germany in the
last year, were renewed early in
the present, with unabated con-
tention. In April was published
a rescript of the King’s ministry
to the Assembly of the States, on
an address of the latter in Ja-
nuary, relative to the tax-execu-
tions (as they are named) issued
with his Majesty’s approbation.
It consists of detailed reasonings
concerning the obligations of pay-
ing the taxes imposed, in which
a statement is given of the re-
ductions made in the expences of
the state, a large proportion of
which is in the military establish-
ment. The paper concludes with
an admonition, that as long as
the present provisional state of
things contiaues, the assembly

can only be regarded as a body ,

convoked to deliberate upon a
constitution, and that it has no
claim to co-operate as states of
the kingdom, which can only be
conferred by a future constitu-
tion.

On April 20th there was pub-
lished at Stuttgard, a royal mo-
nition, which is an important do-
cument respecting the liberties
of Germany. The King, it is

HISTORY. [139
affirmed, has received clear proofs,
that several of the Princes and
Counts, formerly states of the
empire, and now his subjects,
have not only entered into an
union among themselves, and
with other formerly immediate
states of the empire, but have
applied to foreign courts, and at-
tempted to procure their inter-
ference in determining their po-
litical relations to the state ; they
are therefore reminded that such
conduct can be regarded in no
other light than as acrime against
the state, to be punished with the
utmost severity of the law; and
besides the legal proceedings to
which they will expose them-
selves by future criminality, they
are threatened with the imme-
diate sequestration of all estates
belonging to them in his Majesty’s
dominions. This notification ap-
pears to have been sent indivi-
dually by the minister of the
home department to the persons
concerned.

The States of Wurtemberg, per-
sisting in their resolution of re-
garding themselves as partakers
of the national authority, pre-
sented to the King, on June 12th,
a protest against the levying of
taxes by the Crown, without the
joint consent of the States. This
measure produced on the part of
the King a rescript, in which he
declared, that he should be justi-
fied in dissolving an assembly
which indulged itself in language
contrary to all principles of order ;
but that not to disappoint the ex-
pectations of his people respect-
ing a constitution, he refrains
from taking such a step. He
however positively assures the
states, that he will in future at-

tend

140]

tend to no representation which
shall not relate to the business of
the constitution.

The small effect produced by
this declaration, appeared by three
addresses . successively presented
to the King, one of which was a
remonstrance against an extraor-
dinary levy of 900 men, ordered
without any plausible reason, and
of which no official notice had
been given to the States.

This dissention hetween prince
‘ and people was continued with-
out the prospect of an amicable
termination, when it was con-
cluded by the death of the King
of Wurtemberg on the 30th of
October. This Sovereign was
born in 1754, and married for
his first wife, a Princess of Wol-
fenbuttle, by whom he has left
three children. His second wife
was a daughter of the king of
England, who had no issue. He
was raised to the regal dignity by
Buonaparte in the beginning of
1806, which honour he purchased
by large contingents for his pa-
tron’s expeditions, and by the
marriage of his daughter to Je-
rome Buonaparte, and of his
eldest son to a princess of Ba-
varia, which last nuptials how-
ever were not consummated. His
disorder is said to have been an
apoplectic seizure, resulting from
a very gross habit of body. In
character he was impetuous and
arbitrary; but a lover of justice,
and versed in several branches of
knowledge. His successor, now
of the age of 35, greatly distin-
guished himself in the two last
campaigns against the French,
and has been generally regarded
as liberal in his political senti-
ments. He has married the

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

Duchess of Oldenburg, sister to
the Emperor Alexander.

Shortly after his accession, his
Majesty received an address from
the assembly of the States, ex-
pressed in terms of profound re-
spect and attachment. Alluding
to the expectation entertained by
his subjects of future happiness
under his sceptre, they say, “‘ To
your Majesty the country owes
the first step towards a return to
its rights, namely, the recognition
of the fundamental laws of the
country, which his late Majesty,
according to his own declaration,
made after having previously con-
sulted with your Majesty.’ In
his answer the King speaks of
his conviction, that the object on
which his people and _ himself
place their highest happiness, can
only be obtained by a representa-
tive constitution, adapted to all
their various relations. The States
were prorogued to the following
January.

The first accounts of the new
reign relate to the system of
reform in the expenditure, which
the King is bringing to effect in
every part of the administration.
The reductions in the army com-
prize those corps which are par-
ticularly devoted to the purposes
of regal state, the Royal Horse-
guards, and the Hulan_body-
guards. A number of saddle and
carriage horses in the King’s
stables were also brought to sale ;
and all the employments at court
were newly organized, with great.
savings. Another indication of a
favourable change in the sove-
reign authority was given by the
liberation of state prisoners con-
fined in the castle of Asperg. It
may be hoped, that the succeed-

ing

GENERAL

ing year will afford in Wurtem-
berg the example of a king and
people co-operating with har-
mony in establishing a form of
government equally conducive to
the maintenance of private liberty
and public security.

The court of Vienna was thrown
into mourning in April by the
death, at Verona, of the second
wife of the Emperor Francis,
after a lingering illness. She was
born at Milan, and was the
daughter of the late Archduke
Ferdinand, and the Archduchess
Beatrice of Este. She bore a high
character for the performance of
her public and private duties.

The finances of Austria having
long been in a very embarrassed
state, there were issued at Vienna
in the beginning of June, four
imperial patents, by which a new
system for supporting the public
credit was established. By the
first of these enactments it is
declared, that in future no paper
money having a forced value and
circulation shall be created, nor
shall any increase take place in
the amount of what is already in
circulation ; and if extraordinary
circumstances should require ex-
penses beyond the ordinary re-
sources of the State, measures
should be taken to cover them by
new expedients, without having
recourse to forced paper money.
The second related to the erection
of a national bank, which was
the principal engine for convert-
ing the existing paper money
into a security of a different kind.
By the third, certain revenues of
the State are indicated, which are
to be paid exclusively in bank
notes, or, for smaller sums, in
what is termed convention money ;

;

HISTORY. [141

and the fourth provides for main-
taining the value of the small
copper coin received as conven-
tion money.

The idea of the Austrian finan-
ces afforded by this scheme, is
by no means encouraging; and
before the end of the year, go-
vernment found it necessary to
publish, that it was impossible,
in the present distressing circum-
stances of the State, torepeal, for
1817, the imposts which were
laid in the preceding year.

It was not long before the Em-
peror made a proposal for sup-
plying the vacancy in the imperial
bed from the royal family of
Bavaria, which was accepted, and
the Princess (the same who had
before been contracted to a Prince
of Wurtemberg) was conducted to
Vienna in November. At the re-
quest of the bride, it is said, the
festivities ordered on occasion of
the nuptials, were countermanded
in consequence of the distresses
of the people. This new alliance
may contribute to strengthen the
amity between two sovereign
houses which have been habitually
hostile to each other.

At the opening of the Ger-
manic Diet at Frankfort in this
year, a speech was delivered by
the Austrian minister as its pre-
sident, which contains matter
worthy of observation. After
dwelling some time upon a ge-
neral character of the German
nation, and a historical sketch of
its principal political epochs from
the time of Rodolph of Hapsburg,
to the recovery of its independ-
ence in the year 1815, and its
new union in the league consti-
tuting the Diet of Frankfort, he
said, ‘* Germany is not destined

to

149]

to form one dominant power ;
but as little is it wished, that its
union should be a mere political
league of defence. Germany is
summoned. to form a league of
states, securing the nationality of
the whole. It will be our duty
to hold sacred this twofold object ;
respect for the various races of
people, and various governments
of Germany, and equal respect
for the great uniting league which
excites and supports our nation-
ality.”’. The president, in conclu-
sion, took notice of the relation
to the Diet, of that court, the head
of which once wore the imperial
crown. It is solemnly declared,
(he said) by the express order of
the Emperor, my master, that
his Majesty considers himself as
in all respects an equal member
of the league; that he recognizes
in the conferred presidency of the
Diet no real political privilege,
but merely respects in it the ho-
nourable distinction of being a
conductor of its transactions.”
Such is the principle of equality
fundamental to the new Germanic
Diet. What will be its real in-
fluence on the internal affairs of
the nation, time must prove.

An appeal to its authority on
one important occasion has been
made public, by an application to
the Diet from the envoy of Saxe
Weimar, submitting to it the new
constitution of that state, and de-
manding for it the guaranty of
the Germanic confederation. This
occurrence was rendered inter-
esting in Germany, as being cal-
culated to sound the disposition
of the several powers with re-
spect to representative forms of
government. The envoy stated
in a memoir, that the object of

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

the proposed guaranty was to
secure to the different branches
of the constitution the peaceable
enjoyment of their stipulated
rights; and he concluded with
proposing, that the Weimar con-
stitutional act should be depo-
sited in the archives of the Diet.
The envoys of Austria and Prus-
sia complimented the Duke of
Saxe Weimar on this proof of
his patriotic sentiments ; but said,
that they must apply for instruc-
tions to their respective courts.

The Netherland envoy for the
Grand Duchy of Luxemburg held
a different opinion. He said, the
event was satisfactory, as serving
for an examp'e of the establish-
ment of sucha constitution, with-
out angry discussions or metaphy-
sical parade, and on the simple
principle of suwm cuique; and he
wished it might prove an addi-
tional motive with other princes
and states to perform a similar
duty. Though he might see with
pleasure. a. great state exercise
long deliberation on such a topic,
he could wish that states of less
extent should act with more ce-
lerity. He concluded a speech of
some length with proposing a
vote of thanks to the Duke of
Saxe Weimar, and a resolution
assuring his* states and country
of the guaranty of the German
federation.

The conclusion was, that the
Diet resolved, that the funda-
mental law of the constitution of
Weimar should be deposited in
its archives; but that before de-
ciding on the question of gua-
ranty,.they must wait for the
votes of Brunswick and Nassau.

The Diet paid a due respect to
their national language by an

unanimous

GENERAL

unanimous resolution, that in
future all communications and
petitions addressed to it should
be in German. The immediate
cause of this determination was
the presenting to them a recla-
mation in French, from M. La-
tour Auvergne, on the subject of
the Duchy of Bouillon.

Switzerland. Ata sitting of the
general Diet of the confederation,
on July 15th, heavy complaints
were made of the ruin brought
upon the Swiss manufactures by
_the severity of the French go-
vernment; which had imposed
duties upon their entrance into
France amounting to a prohibi-
tion, and had executed its ordi-
nances with the utmost rigour.
This treatment was considered as
particularly hard, as practised to-
wards a nation devoted to France,
and which lately, in its capitula-
tions respecting troops for its
service, had given unequivocal
proofs of its attachment to the
House of Bourbon. After several
discussions on the subject, the
whole was referred to the exa-
mination of a committee.

On the following day a brief
from the Pope was read before
the Diet, addressed to the go-
vernments of Switzerland, in
which his Holiness claimed their
intervention for the re-establish-
ment of the Abbey of St. Gall.
The deputies of that canton, and
those of Lucerne, Basle, Appen-
zel, Zurich, and Geneva, spoke
with great energy against this
pretension, as being contrary to
that act of the congress which
assures an indemnity and honour-
able rank in life to the late Abbot
of St. Gall, and to the constitu-
tion of the canton, guaranteed by

_public peace.

HISTORY. [143

the confederation. Eleven depu-
ties rejected the Pope’s demand;
nine voted for the referendum ;
and two deputies reserved their
votes; so that the decision was
temporarily adjourned. ‘The re-
sult is of importance, as affording
a test of the influence of the Ro-
man pontiff in the Catholic part
of Switzerland.

The multifarious local consti-
tutions in the Helvetic confe-
deracy have offered an example
of political contrivance which in
modern times is probably unique.
It is thus stated in a communi-
cation from Lausanne.

The Government of Friburg
has published a collection of the
organic laws of its Constitution in
German and French. The most
important part of its contents is
that which relates to the Tribunal
of Censorship. This tribunal is
composed of seven members, who
have the singular title of Secrets.
They must be of different fami-
lies, and each must have com-
pleted 40 years ofage. This tri-
bunal is to assemble as often as
business may require, but regu-
larly each year on the anniver-
sary of the Battle of Morat. The
duties of the Secrets are performed
gratuitously. Their persons are
inviolable, and those who offend
against them are to be prosecuted
criminally as disturbers of the
Their functions
embrace two principal objects—
the maintenance of the laws, and
the superintendence of morals.
With respect to the first, the tri-
bunal watches the administration
of the Government. It takes
care that the officers who com-
pose the Government, do not
overstep the bounds of their au-

thority,

144]

thority, that neither public nor
individual liberty be compromised,
and that no ordinance in oppo-
sition with the law be put in exe-
cution. For this purpose the
tribunal possesses the right of
veto, to the exercise of which
every authority is obliged to yield.
With regard to morals, the tri-
bunal watches the public and pri-
vate conduct of the members of
Government. It is also compe-

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

tent to call upon the members of
the grand council to give an ac-
count of their conduct, to address
suitable exhortations to them, to
suspend them, and even to dis-
miss them, according to the na-
ture of the offence. Finally, this
tribunal examines and determines
whether the members of the grand
council, newly elected, have ful-
filled the conditions of eligibility
required of them by law.

CHAPTER

GENERAL HISTORY.

[145

CHAPTER XIV.

Sweden and Norway.—Denmark.—Russia.—lIonian Islands.—Turkey.

T the end of June, the Prince
Royal of Sweden, with his
son the Duke of Sudermania, ar-
rived at Christiania to attend the
close of the Norwegian Diet, or
Storthing, which had been assem-
bled a year before. The Prince
Royal delivered a speech on the
occasion in French, which was
repeated in the Norwegian lan-
guage by his son. It began with
announcing general peace, and
confirmed amity with the nearest
powers, those of Russia, Prussia,
and England. Satisfaction was
then expressed with the friendly
confidence displayed by the Nor-
Wegians towards the Swedes, and
the harmony subsisting between
the King and the Diet, notwith-
standing unfavourable predictions.
“You have recently (he said)
acquired the faculty of speaking
your rights: you have discussed
your interests and social prero-
gatives; and we must hope, that
happy results will in future be
the fruit of your labours.”” The
Prince then touched upon the
difficulties and bardships under
which nature had destined Nor-
way to labour, and the necessity
of encountering them by industry
and frugality ; and hinted at some
provisions against the sufferings
of the indigent which remained
to be put in practice.
In the reply of the Diet it is
Vou. LVI.

said, ‘‘ The constitution which
guarantees to us a legal liberty ;
the union of the Scandinavian
peninsula under a wise govern-
ment, which secures our political
condition; the bases. which we
have endeavoured to lay of a part
of our internal arrangements, and
the measures which we may ex-
pect in future, when the national
assemblies shall have acquired
more experience; make us hope
for the future happiness of Nor-
way.

Prince Oscar, son of the Prince
Royal, has been appointed Vice-
roy of Norway.

A new survey of the frontier
between Sweden and Norway has
been determined on for the en-
suing year, to be divided into
three divisions, each to be visited
by a Norwegian and a Swedish
officer. The whole line is esti-
mated at between 7 and 800 Eng-
lish miles, a great partin moun-
tainous and steril regions.

Active measures have been taken
for meliorating the condition of
Sweden, which, like every other
kingdom in Europe, has been re-
duced to financial difficulties in
consequence of the war. Its fo-
reign debt has been partly paid
and partly liquidated by the money
received for Pomerania and Gua-
daloupe. Provincial committees
have been employed in framing

[L) plans

146]

plans for restricting luxury, by
which the use of foreign articles
will be much circumscribed.
Their importation of late years
has risen to the amount of 20
millions of rix dollars, whilst the
exports have little exceeded nine
roillions ; a drain absolutely ruin-
ous to so poor a nation. Plans
are also in agitation for enabling
the national bank to pay off the
paper money in specie, which,
however, cannot be brought to
effect without the sanction of the
States, whence u new meeting of
the Diet is expected. Of the mii-
litary conscription, divided into
tive classes, the first class, amount-
ing to 70,000 men, is to be called
out, armed and exercised for an-
nual service. In this number is
not included the ‘standing army
of nearly 42,000 men, part of
which are provincial regiments
raised and maintained hy the
landed proprietors,

A national bank for Norway
has been established at Christi-
ania.

Near the conclusion of the year,
reports were spread of great dis-
turbances prevailing among the
peasantry of Norway, who were

reduced-to extreme distress by a”

dearth, which could not fail of
pressing ate this period with ex-
traordinary severity, in a country
almost always labouring under a

degree of scarcity. The inhabi-
tants of the interior are said to

have been particularly exasperated
against the mercantile population
of the sea-ports, to whose inter-
ests they supposed themselves sa-
crificed.

Denmark. Respecting this king-
dom, the most memorable circum-
stance of the year relates to the

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

transactions between the united
duchy of Sleswick and Holstein,
and the crown. ‘The permanent
Assembiy of Prelates and Knights
of this duchy, published a collec-
tion of their most important acts,
two of which are said to have
produced an extraordinary sensa-
tion on the continent. In the
first of these, a writ from the
roval chancery of the duchy to
the permanent committee of pre-
lates, &e. mentions, that their
petition of March 7th, and like-
wise their remonstrances con-
cerning the future condition of
the duchies, had been submitted
to his Majesty by the chancery,
which had thereupon been com-
wissioned by his Majesty to make
known to the committee, that the
internal nanagement of the duchy
must continue, as it had been re-
gulated by the royal resolution
of the 6th of September in the
last year, and that the King
would hereafter determine more
precisely the time for carrying
into effect any other resolutions,
touching the matter in question.
This document was dated May 7th.
The committee reply, That the
permanent committee had re-
ceived with gratitude the assur-
ances of a new constitution to be
given them: but that they per-
ceive with deep concern, that the
period for the accomplishment of
<o desirable an abject was left in-
definite, and to depend upon the
future will and decision and. wiil
of his Majesty. They feel the
more regret on this account, as
they have daily opportunities of
witnessing the painful anxiety of
all ranks on the subject. They
also could not forbear to con-’
fess that, fully relying on the
royal

GENERAL

royal word, they had been greatly
disappointed at having to wait till
a protracted period for the con-
firmation of their privileges. They
found themselves grievously frus-
trated in their hopes by the inde-
finite line of his Majesty's con-

duct, which could not, as in other.

times, have been governed
pending political events.

This is another example of that
reluctance in crowned heads, to
admit any diminution of their
own authority, which has so much
retarded the expected progress in
the formation of free constitutions
for the European states.

Russia. An imperial Ukase was
published on January 2d, at St.
Petersburgh, which remarkably
illustrates the system of reli-
gious toleration in the Russian
empire, and at the same time ex-
hibits the indelible character of
the order of Jesuits. This so-
ciety, after having been abolished
by a papal bull, and expelled from
all the Roman Catholic states,
obtained an asylum in Russia,
under the Empress Catharine II.,

-and was permitted to engage in
the education of youth, a task
for which its members were re-
garded as peculiarly qualified.
Proselytism being held as the
highest of all duties by the church
of Rome, it has always been pur-
sued with peculiar zeal by the
Jesuits, its most devoted satel-
lites; and the emigrants of that
order in Russia could not refrain
from exercising the influence they
had acquired in that country, in
making converts, though the laws
of Russia strictly prohibit every
native, born and brought up in
‘the estublished Greek religion,
from changing it for any other.
i a

by

HISTORY. [147

In the words of the ukase, “They
have turned aside from our wor-
ship young people who had been
intrusted to them, and some wo-
men of weak and inconsiderate
minds, and have drawn them to
their church.’ His Majesty’s
ideas of this conduct are thus ex-
pressed: “ To induce a man to
abjure his faith, the faith of his
ancestors—to extinguish in him
the love of those who profess the
same worship—to render him a
stranger to his country—to sow
discord and animosity in families
—to detach the brother from the
brother, the son from the father,
and the daughter from the mother
—to excite divisions among the
children of the same church—is
that the will of God, and of his
divine Son Jesus Christ our Sa-
viour?’’ The result of his deli-
berations are contained in the fol-
lowing articles: That the Ca-
tholic church in Russia be again
established as it was in the reign
of the Empress Catharine IT., and
till the year 1500: that all monks
of the order of Jesuits be imme-
diately banished from Peters-
burgh: that they be forbid to
enter the two capitals. At the
same time, that there might be
no interruption in the Roman
Catholic worship, the metropo-
litan of that church was ordered
to replace the Jesuits by other
priests then present, until the ar-
rival of other Catholic monks
who had been sent for, for that
purpose.

A note of the Russian chargé
(affaires at Hamburg to the
Senate of that city, stating the
circumstances of the misconduct
of the Jesuits, and the measures
taken by the Emperor in conse-

[L 2) quepze.

148]

quence, mentions that they were
sent back to Poloczk, where they
were settled till the reign of the
Emperor Paul.

A private account of this trans-
action communicated from Pe-
tersburgh, refers its origin to the
influence of Prince Galitzin, the
minister of public worship, who
was greatly exasperated at the
conversion to the Romish faith of
his nephew, a youth educated at
the Jesuit’s academy. The ge-
neral of the Jesuits was sent for
by the minister on the occasion,
and severely reprehended; and
although the society employed all
their caution to avoid giving far-
ther umbrage to government, and
determined to admit none but

Catholics in future into their in-*

stitution, they could not recon-
cile the Prince, who continually
urged their expulsion from the
capital. The restoration of their
order by the Pope augmented the
suspicions against them ; the con-
version of some ladies more in-
flamed the public mind; and on
the return of the Emperor from
his long absence he was_ pre-
vailed upon to issue the ee
above cited.

Alexander is generally _ re-
garded as the principal promoter
of that remarkable convention
or treaty between the sove-
reigns of Austria, Russia, and
Prussia, signed first at Paris on
September 26th, 1815, and pub-
lished at Petersburgh in the be-
ginning of 1816, which has borne
the name of the Sacred or Chris-
tian league. by its articles (see
State Papers) the parties recipro-
cally bind themselves to consider
each other as brethren united in
the principles of Christianity, and

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

resolved to act towards one ano-
ther, and towards their subjects,
according to the precepts of that
holy religion. They promise, in-
deed, ‘‘ on all occasions, and in
all places, to lend each other aid
and assistance ;’’ but lest this ob-
ligation should give umbrage to
other sovereigns, they declare
their readiness to admit into their
alliance all other powers who
shall avow the same principles ;
and it will appear in the parlia-
mentary history, that the Em-
peror of Russia communicated to
Lord Castlereagh the substance
of the treaty before it was signed,
in order to be transmitted to the
Prince Regent of England, with
the hope of his concurrence. As
politicians could scarcely con-
ceive of a convention between
powerful princes, the sole pur-
pose of which should be to put
into practice those maxims of
universal justice, charity, and
good-will, which have always
been held forth in the declara-
tions of sovereigns, but never
acted upon, a variety of conjec-
tures were on float respeeting its
real and secret object; but the
tenor of its language, and the
total want of all diplomatic eti-
quette, seem to denote it the pro-
duct of feeling rather than of
design. The manifesto issued by

the Emperor Alexander on Christ-

mas day, accompanying a copy
of the alliance, and ordered to
be read in all the churches,
bears every mark of sincere in-
tention.

The vast empire of Russia has
afforded few memorable incidents
during the present year. The
Emperor, with his habitual acti- ©
vity, undertook in the summer

a progress

GENERAL

a progress through those parts of
his dominion which had been the

_ principal sufferers in the war, for

the purpose of affording every
practical relief. Moscow, the an-
cient capital of the empire, was
the first object of his survey, and
he found it rising fast from its
ruins, and putting on the appear-
ance of a splendid and populous
city. He was received with all
due honours at the Kremlin,
whence he issued a manifesto
highly laudatory of the inhabi-
tants cf Moscow, which was de-
posited in its archives. In Sep-
tember, from the quarters of the
regiment of Iletzki, he issued an
ordinance, directing, that on ac-
count of the general peace in
Europe, the annual recruiting
through the empire should cease,
and the sixth corps of the army,
which was to be broken up, should
be employed for completing the
land and naval forces.

That his Majesty, however, has
no intention to diminish the mi-
litary force of his territories ca-
pable of being called into action
when occasion requires, is appa-
rent from the following article of
intelligence published at Warsaw
on November 21st.

By a decree of his Majesty the
Emperor our King, of the 17th
of last month, relative to the mi-
litary conscription, which was
published the day before yester-
day in 60 articles, every person
in the kingdom of Poland, with-
out distinction of rank, origin,
or religion, is for ten years a
soldier, viz. from his 20th to his
30th year. Twocorps of reserve
are to be tormed ; the conscripts

of the first are destined to com-

plete the troops of the line, and

HISTORY. [149

those of the second come into
their places.

From the Conscription are ex-
empt.—Foreigners and their sons
born abroad, only sons, one son
out of each family, brothers as
guardians of their minor brothers,
widowers who have children, the
officers of state, those married
before this decree was published,
or who shall be married in future
before the age of 20, the clergy,
professors, lawyers, physicians,
surgeons, manufacturers, artists,
with their journeymen; and
among the Jews, a rabbi in every
commune. Substitutes are al-
lowed. The conscripts of the first
reserve must appear at their depot
every year on the 15th of April,
and exercise till the 5th of June.

It is acircumstance well worthy
of notice, though its final conse-
quences cannot be foreseen, that
an official journal, published at
Petersburgh in the Russian lan-
guage, contains an article expa-
tiating in the warmest terms on
the benefits resulting to states
from a free press, to which the
noble energy and patriotical en-
thusiasm by which England has
been so much distinguished, are
ascribed. The Emperor's visit to
thisisland, we may therefore hope,
has made a durable impression.

The Republic of the Ionian Is-
lands, rendered on various ac-
counts interesting to Great Bri-
tain, appears destined to attain
prosperity under her protection.
One evil to which it is exposed
by its situation will probably
continue its occasional ravages ,
and while the government of
Turkey neglects: every effectual
precaution against the contagion
of the plague, its immediate

neighbours

150]

neighbours will always be liable
to share in that dreadful calamity.
The isle of Corfu, the centre of
the insular administration, was
visited by a pestilential infection
at the beginning of the present
year, which was not extirpated
during some months, though its
devastations were confined w vithin
a narrow limit.

An eloquent oration, highly
laudatory of the English, and pre-
dicting the happiest results from
the connection entered into be-
tween the republic and this na-
tion, was pronounced at Corfu on
the 23d of April, before a great
concourse in the church of the
patron saint, by the Baron Theo-
loky, President of the senate of
Corfu. Sir Thomas Maitland,
his Britannic Majesty's Commis-
sioner, is mentioned with sin-
gular eulogy for his liberal con-
duct towards the islanders, in
respect to their religion, com-
merce, and other objects tending
to improve their condition. Sir
Thomas, who soon after returned
from a voyage to the other islands,
was received with every demon-
stration of respect.

One of the measures which
doubtless particularly ingratiated
him with the Greek natives, was
a proclamation issued by him re-
lative to the rights and privileges
of the dominant church. After
affirming it to be a fixed maxim
of the policy of Great Britain
with respect to all foreign coun-
tries. under her sovereignty or
protection, to guarantee their re-
ligious establishments, he, said,
he had observed that the French
had forcibly taken away many
of the piaces of worship in the
city of Corfu, and convert-

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

ed them to military and other
uses. He had further under-
stood, from a report lately made
to him by the high police, that
some officers of that department
had entered a church in pursuit
of a person suspected of a hein-
ous offence. In consequence, his
Excellency directed, Ist, That
every place of public worship
shall be evacuated and given up
to the head of the religion to
which it belonged: 2. That no
soldier, officer of police, or other

‘person, shall pursue any sus-

pected offender into the sanc-
tuary or interior of any church,
but shall confine himself to plac-
ing sentinels round it to prevent
his escape, at the same time giv-
ing an account of the circum-
stance to the governor.

Sir Thomas Maitland afterwards
issued a proclamation to the in-
habitants of the Ionian isles, in-
forming them, that he was going
to Kngland for the purpose of
receiving’ instructions respecting
the definitive formation of a con-
stitution for the island: desiring
that no innovation might be made
during his absence ; and express-
ing his hope, that nothing would
prevent his calling together the re-
presentative body on his return.

Turkey. The Porte, after its
long and sanguinary contests with
the Servians, concluded a treaty,
of which the following were the
vrincipal articles :

Ist. Serviarecognises theGrand
Signior as Sovereign.

Qd. It retains the liberty of
exercising its religion.

3d. Ev ery chief of a family
pays annually a ducat, and, be-
sides that, a piastre per head.

4th. No. Servian, can settle in |

Turkey,

GENERAL

Turkey, but he is allowed to be
there on commercial business.

5th. The fortress of Belgrade
remains occupied by WValipy
Pasha.

6th. Intime of peace the Grand
Signior has the free disposal of a
corps of 12,000 Servian troops.

7th. Servia is always to have
an accredited agent to the Divan,
at Constantinople.

A French ambassador was re-
ceived with distinction at Con-
stantinople, and the most ami-
cable sentiments were expressed
towards Louis XVIII.

In August the Porte exercised
its usual mode of calling to ac-
count one of the great officers of
the Empire. On the 25th, the
fleet of the Captain Pashaw or
Grand Admiral, 44 sail in num-
ber, cast anchor in the road of
Smyrna. On the second visit

HISTORY. [151
paid to him on board the fleet by
the Governor of the city, Hadgi
Mahomet Kialep Oglou, the latter
vas arrested by his order, deca-
pitated on the same evening, and
his head sent by a ‘Tartar to Con-
stantinople. The event threw all
the Europeans in Smyrna into
ereat consternation, the governor
having: protected them by a very
rigorous police; but the Captain
Pashaw, being informed of their
alarm, sent word to the consuls
that he would strictly maintain
the general tranquillity. Among
the crimes imputed to Ozlou was
his enriching himself by illicit
trade ; but it is supposed, that
the favour shewn by him to the
government of Algiers. and the
violences which he exercised in
dispatching recruits to the Dey,
were the real causes of his punish-
ment.

CHAPTER

152]

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

CHAPTER XV.

United States of America.—Opposition to the Commercial Bill with
England.—Treaties with the Indians.—Disputes with the Spanish Go-
vernment.—Decline of Manufactures.—Measures for restoring Pay-
ment in legal Currency.—Hostility on the Gulf of Mexico.—President’s

Message.

HE bill for carrying into
effect the commercial treaty
with Great Britain, which had
passed the House of Representa-
tives, was rejected in the Senate
on January 19th, by a majority
of 21 t0 10. The objections made
to it had no reference to the
merits of the treaty, but took the
ground Ist, that it was unneces-
sary, since the sanction the treaty
had received by the President and
two thirds of the Senate gave it
the full force of alaw: @dly, that
to re-enact it by way of bill
tended to confer on the House of
Representatives a concurrence in
the ratification of treaties which
the constitution had denied to it,
and in effect gave it a power of
cancelling arrangements with fo-
reign states constitutionally con-
cluded and ratified.

The treaties of peace with the
Indian tribes on the north-west
frontier were ratified ; and orders
were issued, that such subjects of
the United States as, without con-
sent, had settled within the Indian
territories, should immediately
withdraw from them on pain of
military compulsion.

In the same month the Presi-
dent communicated to the House

of Representatives three docu-
ments, consisting of two letters
from the Spanish minister to the
American secretary of state, and
the secretary’s reply. In the first
of these, a demand is made of the
restitution to Spain of the terri-
tory in Florida, west of the Per-
dido which was taken possession
of by the United States in con-
sequence of the Louisiana treaty,
intimating, however, th t after
it has been given up, the two go-
vernments may discuss the right
to it. Complaint is also made
of the armaments fitted out in
Louisiana against the Spanish
possessions; and it is required,
that the revolutionary flag of
South America shall not be ad-
mitted into the ports of the
United States. The second letter
complains, that two bodies of
troops of 1000 men each, raised
in Kentucky and commanded by
American citizens, were to join
the expedition fitting out at New
Orleans by the traitor Toledo.
The American secretary in his
answer, speaks of injuries re-
ceived by them from the Spanish
government, which the latter
ought to redress rather than make
demands upon the American go-

‘ vernment ;

GENERAL

vernment ; proposes to submit
the question of territory to nego-
ciation; and denies any know-
jedge of the existence of such
troopsas those stated, in Ken tucky.
With respect to the exclusion of
the revolutionary flag, he affirms,
that the government of the United
States has by a general rule au-
thorized the admission into its
ports of all flags except those of
pirates, and therefore is not dis-
posed to prohibit the reception of
the flag of the colonies, which
have established independent
- States.

The Spanish minister had af-
terwards an interview with the
President, the result of which is
said to have been so little satis-
factory, that he left Washington,
declaring a resolution not to
return.

The decline of the American
manufactures since the peace had
restored the commercial commu-
nication with Great Britain, caused
memorials to be presen'ed to the
House of Representatives from

the persons concerned in the
cotton fabrics, which were re-
ferred to a committee. In Feb-

ruary they gave in their report,
which was prolix and rhetorical,
but contained some facts and ob-
servations deserving of notice.
The increase of the cotton ma-
nufactory of the United States
within a few years is very strik-
ing. The number of bales ma-
nufactured in 1800 is stated at
no more than 500: in 1810 it
had risen to 10,000; and in 1815
to 90,000. ‘This rapid advance
was obviously occasioned by the
want of competition; for the
goods here fabricated covld not
contend at an open market in

/

MISTORY: [153

cheapness with those imported
from Europe or India. “‘ The
American manufacturers (says the
report) expect to meet with all the
embarrassments which a jealous
and monopolizing policy can sug-
gest—and they have good reason
for their apprehensions. The
foreign manufacturers and mer-
chants will employ all the powers
of ingenuity and art to prevent
the American establishments from
taking root, and by the allowance
of bounties and drawbacks they
will be furnished with additional
means for carrying on the con-
test.” t is further stated, that
the balance due for British ma-
nufactures is more than 17 mil-
lions of dollars, a sum greater
than the value of all the exports
from the United States to foreign
countries.

Tn conclusion, the committee
propose the following resolution :
“That from and after the 30th
of June next, in lieu of the
duties now authorised by law,
there be levied on cotton goods
imported into the United States
from any foreign country what-
ever —-- — percentum valorem, be-
ing not less than —-— cents per
square yard.”’

In the summer, the American
government issued an official
notice, that no private bank paper
would be taken after Feb. 20th
1817, in payment for duties,
taxes, &c. due to government,
unless such bank was prepared to
pay its notes in cash when re-
quired, and unless it took the
treasury notes at par. Mr. Dallas,
secretary of the treasury, in a
circular document of office dated
July 22d, addressed the state
banks for the purpose of facili-

tating

154]

tating the execution of the reso-
lution passed to resume cash pay-
ments, the objection to which
payments, he says, rest chiefly
with the banks of the middle
states. A notice is then given by
the treasury, for the consideration
of the state banks, recommend-
ing as a preliminary measure,
that all small notes under five
dollars should not be taken after
October Ist, unless the bank is-
suing it should pay the amount
when required. Several banks
sent deputies to Philadelphia, in
order to consult on the present
state of the currency ; and it is
said in the New York paper, that
the delegates from the banks of
New York, Philadelphia, Balti-
more, and Virginia, agreed on
resuming payments in specie, da
July List, 1847.

A notice issued from the Trea-
sury department on Sept. 12th,
mentions, that the payment of
arnall sums in coin on October Ist.
has been yvenerally declined by
the state banks; and as an ar-
rangement for supplying the peo-
ple with a requisite medium to
pay their duties and taxes inde-
pendently of those banks caunot
conveniently be made until the
bank of the United States shall
be in operation, no further mea-
sures will be taken with a view
to the collection of the revenue in
eoin on the above day. In pur-
suinee, however, of a resolution
of Congress on April 29th, notice
given, that from the 27th of
February 1817, all debts or sums
of money becoming due to the
United States must be paid in the
legal currency, or treasury notes,
or notes of the bank of the United
States, or in notes of banks paya-

s

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

ble on demand in the Jéegal cur-
rency, and not otherwise,

Some of the earlier American
papers speak of bickerings on the
Canadian lakes between the ves-
sels of the two powers ; which
will be very liable to arise in
tracts of divided sovereignty, and
which have so lately been the
theatre of severe contest. There
does not, however, appear any
present danger of serious differ-
ences from this source, At the
other extremity of the territory
of the United States, where they
come in contact by land and sea
with the Transallantie dominion
of Spain, the hazard of national
quarrel is much more urgent,
especially on the undetermined
limits of maritime possession ;
and an act of hostility in the
Gulf of Mexico practised by a
Spanish sqradrén upon an Ame-
rican vessel, excited much indig-
nation in the United States to-
wards the close of the year. But
instead of entering upon the du-
bious details of this and other
circumstances related in the public
papers, we shall have recourse to
the President’s speech for a con-
cluding view of the general state
of this republic.

On December 3d, the President
transmitted a message to both
Houses of Congress, of ‘which
the following were the most im-~-
portant particulars. It began
with adverting to the peculiarity
of the seasons, which had threat-
ened some districts with scarcity;
but upon the whole, the aggre-
wate resources were said to be
more than sufficient for the ag-
gregate wants. It was then re-—
gretted that a depression had
been experienced by particular

branches —

GENERAL

branches of manufacture, and by
a portion of the navigation of the
country. ‘The first was imputed
to an excess of imported mer-
chandize, and it was hinted, that
the native manufacturing esta-
blishments ought not to be suf-
fered to sink too low. ‘he de-
cline in navigation was as-
cribed to the vperation of the
British navigation laws. ‘The
late convention of London had
equalized the laws of the two
countries with regard to the in-
tercourse between the American
ports and the British ports in
_ Europe; but the British govern-
ment had enforced its regulations,
prohibiting a trade between its
colonies and the United States in
American vessels, whilst it per-
mitted a trade carried on in -Bri-
tish vessels, thus favouring its
own navigation at the expense of
the American. ‘The reasonable-
ness of the rule of reciprocity in
-one branch of commercial inter-
course, as well as in the other,
had been urged upon the British
eabinet, but it had declined en-
tering into any negociation on
the subject.
The president then stated, in
general, that the United States
remained in amity with foreign
powers. An occurrence, how-
ever, had lately taken place in
the Gulf of Mexico, which, if
sanctioned by the Spanish go-
vernment, might make an excep-
tion as to that power. A public
armed vessel had been attacked
by an overpowering force under
a Spanish commander; and the
American flag, with the oflicers
and crew, had been insulted in a
manner calling for prompt repa-
ration. This had been demanded ;
and the Spanish minister in the

HIST ORY:

United States had given tlic
strongest assurances that no hos-
tile order could have emanated
from his government. Difler-
ences existing between the Dey
of Algiers and the government of
the United States were then no-
ticed, the result of which was as
yet unknown; but reliance was
expressed upon their fleet in the
Mediterranean, to protect their
commerce if treated with hostility
by the Algerines.

The Indian tribes within the
limits of the United States were
said to be disposed to remain in
peace. From several of them
purchases of land had been made,
favourable to the security of the
frontier settlements ; and in some
instances, where the titles of the
pative tribes were dubious, their
claims had been extinguished by
double purchase, rather than en-
tering into contests, and employ-
ing force against a feeble people.

Among the objects of national
improvement recommended to the
consideration of Congress were
the re-organization of the militia
upon a more effectual plan, the
establishing of an uniformity of
weights and measures, the found-
ing of an university within the
government territory, and a re-
visal of the criminal code.

With respect to the finances of
the state, it was mentioned as a
subject of great gratification to
find that even in the short peried
since the return of peace, the re-
venue had far exceeded all thie
current demands upon the trea-
sury, and that it will afford an
wuple fund for the early extin-
guishment of the public debt.
Some particulars were entered
into relative to this topic; and the
ordinary annual expenses of go-

veroment

[155

156]

vernment in every department
were estimated at less than 20
millions of dollars, while the per-
manent revenue arising from the
existing sources was stated at
about 25 millions. The mea-
sures taken for regulating the
currency were alluded to, in
which the Bank of the United
States would be an important
auxiliary.

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

The President concluded his
message with self-congratulation
on the condition of that country,
his public services in which he
was soon to quit; and certainly,
at the present period, it would
not be easy to name the ruler of
anyother considerable state, who
could offer a prospect so cheer-
ing, of difficulties overcome, and
the means of future prosperity.

CHAPTER

GENERAL HISTORY.

[157

CHAPTER XVI.

Spanish America.—Carthagena.—Caracca.—Isle of Margarita.— Buenos

- Ayres.—Iis Army defeated in Peru.—lIts Fleet under Brown in the
Pacific —Its Declaration of Independence.—Bolivar—Army from
Brazil takes possession of Montevideo. Mexico.—Venezuela.—British
West India Islands—Jamaica.—Insurrection in Barbadoes.—-Alarm in
the other Colonies.—Proceedings in St. Vincent, Demarara, Barbadoes’
General Assembly, Dominica, Jamaica.

_ rica is still as unsettled as
ever; and whilst the weakness
of the mother country prevents
any vigorous efforts for recover-
ing its authority over its revolted
colonies, their intestine divisions
and want of concert have disabled
them from adopting measures
which could establish their inde-
pendence upon a firm footing. In

en condition of Spanish Ame-

‘the meantime the war, preserving

itS character of ferocity, has
dwindled into petty and desultory
actions, the relations of which
are obscured by all the contradic-
tions and exaggerations of narra-
tives appearing through the me-
dium of party. A few facts, how-
ever, may be collected, which
will afford an idea of the general
state of affairs in this part of the
world.

Carthagena, which had long
been under sieges by the royalist
General Moriilo, was at length
reduced to such distress by famine,
that it was evacuated on Decem-
ber Gth, 1815, by the garrison,
who, after spiking the guns, em-
barked in thirteen vessels, and
forcing their way through the

enemy's gun-boats, made for Aux
Cayes. Several British subjects
were arrested on the entrance of
the Spaniards, and marched into
the interior. Morillo afterwards
undertook an expedition against
Santa Fe, the capital of New
Granada, which was evacuated by
the insurgents without resistance,
and all that part of the province
was restored to the royal autho-
rity. ‘That General then declared
in a state of blockade, all the
ports from Santa Martha to the
river Atrato, except the two ports
of Santa Martha and Portobeilo. A
proclamation published at the
Caraceas by the captain-general
Moxo relative to the blockade of
the island of Margarita, affords
a striking instance of the fero-
cious spirit with which this war
was waged. Livery Spanish vessel
encountered in carrying men,
arms, ammunition, and naval
stores, to the insurgents in Mar-
garita shall be confiscated, the
master and other principals hung
up at the yard arm, and of the
sailors, if not found so culpable
as the others, one out of five to
undergo the same fate: the same

also

158]

also to be observed with respect
to foreign vessels and crews.

Bolivar, the independent ge-
neral, after quitting Carthagena,
went to tle part of St. Domingo
under the authority of Petion,
and there collected a force stated
at 21 armed vessels, having on
board 3,500 troops, of whom
were 1500 coloured soldiers of the
line from Petion’s army, which
sailed for Margarita. On May
9th, they discovered a large brig
and schooner coming from the
land, which Eowdel sail to es-
cape. A general chace was or-
dered, and the brig, after a severe
action and great loss, was taken.
She was a king’s ship of 14 guns
and 140 men. ‘The schooner was
also captured. One
Polivar’s fleet was attacked close
to Margarita by seven large
schooners s, but the assailants were
obliged to strike; and the inde-
pendent fieet by these successes
was augmented to 35 sail, chiefly
schooners from % to 16 guns.
Bolivar soon after his arrival at
Margarita summoned the Spanish
fortress of Pampatur ; and upon
the Commander's refusal, carried
the place by storm, putting the

_whole garrison to death. Such
is the account of these transac-
tions received through the parti-
zans of independence.

The first intelligence concerning
Buenos Ayres relates a defeat of its
army in Peru under Gen. Ron-
deau, who, not infermed of an ae-
cession to the royal troops com-
manded by Pezuela, the Lima ge-
neral, advanced a part of his own
force too far, which was met by
superior numbers, and routed. In
consequence, Rondeau abandoned
Potosi; he however remained in

ANNUAL REGISTER,

division of

1816.

the province waiting for rein-
forcements.

Commodore Brown, the admi-
ral of the Buenos Ayres fleet
which had defeated the squadron
of Montevideo, after his success
undertook an expedition to the
eastern coast of South America,
and on Feb. 9th, appeared off
Guayaquil, in the Viceroyalty of
New Granada. He commenced
an attack upon a battery defend-
ing the shore, when, bringing his
own vessel us near as possible in
order to bear upon the guns, she
was left aground on the ebb of
the tide, troops being sent to
board her, was obliged to sur-
render. The rest of his squadron,
consisting of two large corvettes,
two schooners, and some prize
vessels, among which was the
Consequencia of Cadiz, having
on board more than 800,000 dol-
lars, remained at anchor in the
roads of La Puna. The second
in command of the squadron
applied. to the Spanish go-
vernor for an exchange of Brown
aguinst the prisoners he had on
board; which preposal was re-
jected, unless the whole of the
squadron should also be given up,
except one vessel for them to re-
turn home in, and a large sum
he paid in dollars. The Com-
mander thereupon on the next
day fired on the town. In con-
clusion, Brown was sent on board,
on the condition of releasing his
prisoners, and restoring four cap-
tured vessels, and paying some
money besides. It appears, that
hefore this occurrence the buenos
Ayres squadron had obtained con-
siderable success, and struck a
great alarm on that coast.

Of the further operations of

Bolivar

GENERAL HISTORY.

Bolivar, the most discordant ac-
counts have been given by the
opposite parties. About the end
of May he sailed with his squa-
dron to the eastern coast of
Cumana; where he landed and
gained possession of a defensible
post. He was there surprized by

_ the governor of Cumana, and it is

said, lost a great part of his forces.
He afterwards withdrew to Mar-
garita ; and finding that a royal-
ist squadron was approaching to
attack Pampatur, he ordered the
embarkation of the women and
children who had fallen into his
hands, and sailing away, landed
60 miles from La Guira. Here
his forces occupied a cragg¢y moun-
tain considered as impregnable ;
but being surrounded by the
royal troops, they were all put to
the sword except those who es-
eaped to the fleet, which isnnme-
diately took its departure. Such
is the royalist account ; to whieh
it is added, that Bolivar, attempt-
ing to penetrate into the interior,
was completely routed by tie
“king's troops, and after further
actions, the slaughter among the
imsurgents is represented as so
great, that their cause would ap-
pear entirely ruined in that quar-
ter. Bolivar was afterwards heard
of at the West Indian island of
St. Thomas.

On July 19th, was published
at Buenos Ayres a Declaration of
Independence, by the ‘‘ Repre-

sentatives of the United Pro-
Yinces in South Americ# assem-
bled in General Congress." In-
voking the Supreme Being, and
protesting to all the nations and
men of the globe the justice of
their intentions, they declare their
Unanimous purpose to break the

fais

©

[159

galling bands which united them
to the Kings of Spain, and as-
sume the character of a nation,
free and independent of Ferdinand

VJI., his suecessors, and their
mother country.
The situation of these pro-

vinces was at this time critical.
Artigas, who had quitted Buenos
Ayres, apparently to set up for
hinsself, and hai placed his troops
on the left bank of the Rio de la
Plata, gave a pretext to the Por-
tugues:e government in Brazil,
for interfering in the affairs of
the Spanish colonies ; and it was
known for a considerable time
past, that an armament was pre-
paring, the purpose of which was
matter of conjecture. At length
the Brasilian army entered the
territory of Montevideo. and two
proclamations were addressed to
its inhabitants, one by the Mar-
quis de Allegrete, Governor and
Captain-general of the Captain-
ship of St. Pedro of the Rio
Grande; the other by Gen. Lecor,
Lieut.-gen. in the army of Por-
tugal, and commiander-in-chief
of the troops destined for the
participation of the left bank of
the Rio de la Plata. The Jan-
guage of these proclamations was
very vague and indeterminate ;
but the second gave as the reason
for the entrance of the Portugnese
troops, the ‘* repeated insults
given by the tyrant Artigas to the
inhabitants of Mentevideo, and
the Rio Grande,” and the proof
that there could be no stable go-
vernment among themselves, nor
security in the Portuguese domi-
nions, whilst they remained sub-

ject to his oppression. Two other

proclamations from the same au-
thorities appeared in the Cadiz
papers.

160]

papers. The first is apparently
the same with the former; but
that of Lecor is entirely different.
It begins, ‘‘ Without prejudicing
individual interests, we proceed
to take possession, in the name
of his Most Faithful Majesty our
Lord, of the territory to the east
of the river Plate.—It has been
a necessary measure adopted be-
tween the cabinets of our mo-
narch and his Catholic Majesty
who subjects you to the dominion
of aking, great, beneficent, and
generous.” If this be authentic,
it removes any doubt of the con-
cert of the two crowns in this
extraordinary expedition, and of
the intention of a transfer of
American territory from the Spa-
nish to the Portuguese dominion,
doubtless for a purpose of mu-
tual advantage. ‘The general fact
of this invasion has alone yet
been made known in Wurope,
but much curiosity has been ex-
cited as to the further results.

In the extensive province of
Mexico, as far as can be deduced
from the extraordinary accounts
of the opposite parties, the greater
part of the districts north of the
city of Mexico were in the power
of the independents, while the
royalists retained the possession
of the south, especially of the
chief towns. Morello, the in-
dependent general, having been
taken prisoner in an action, was
brought to the prison of the inqui-
sition at Mexico, and was con-
demned and executed in that city.
The patriotic cause is represented
as having obtained an accession of
strength by the following circum-
stance. One of the commanders
who, with the officers under him,
quitted Carthagena on its reduc-
tion by the royalists, fitted out a

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

squadron, with which he took
possession of the posts of Mata-
gorda and Galveston in the north-
ern part of the bay of Mexico. A
decree was afterwards published
by ‘‘ Citizen Joseph Manuel de
Herrera, Deputy of the Mexican
Republic,” in which, by virtue of
the powers and instructions given
him by the Mexican Congress, he
enacts certain articles relative to
the establishment of Matagorda
and Galveston, until an improved
form of government shall be
sanctioned for the province of
Texas, in which they are situated.
Later accounts from Mexico speak
of the affairs of the republicans
in that quarter as wearing a pros-
perous aspect; but there is rea-
son to suspect that the intelli-
gence is adapted to the effect it
may produce on the favourers of
their cause in the United States.
The latest advices from Spanish
America agree in reporting suc-
cesses of the patriots in different
parts. A general in their ser-
vice, under the name of Sir
Gregor M‘Gregor, who had been
returned as killed in the royalist
accounts, was at the head of a
considerable force in Venezuela,
where he was making a rapid
progress, and after having taken
possession of Cumana, was pro-
ceeding against Caraccas. ‘This
place, however, was occupied by
the royalists on October 16th,
when a gazette was published
there, announcing a victory ob-
tained by their party at sea, over »
a small force of the independents.
In such a perplexed and indeci-
sive state of things, it cannot be
desirable to lengthen this article
by minute and uninteresting de-
tails, to which little authority can

be annexed.
British

GENERAL: HISTORY.

British West India Islands. No-
tice was taken in the history of
the last year, of the unfavourable
reception which the Slave Regis-
try Bill, introduced into Parlia-
ment by Mr. Wilberforce, met
with in the Island of Jamaica.
The feeling respecting it was
participated, as might be supposed,

» by all the other British Islands in
the West Indies. The Houses of
Assembly in each appointed com-
mittees to report on the tendency
of the proposed bill, which ex-
pressed their’ opinions in strong
language, generally contending
against the right of Parliament
to legislate internally for the co-
lonies, and attributing the agita-
tion of the measure to fanatics,
unacquainted with the matter on
which they undertook to legis-
late.

In this state of affairs an alarm-
ing insurrection broke out among
the negro slaves in Barbadoes.
On the night of April 14th, the
Slaves of some estates on the
-windwar d part of the island rose
in open revolt, and began to exe-
cute a plan of destruction which
appears to have been general.
They began with demolishing the
houses of the overseers, and pro-
ceeded to destroy the sugar pans
and all the implements belonging
‘to the works, and to spread con-
flagration over the fields of sugar
canes. ‘The alarm soon reached
Bridgetown, and martial law be-

proclaimed, the militia and
troops from the garrison marched
Bers the insurgents, who were
persed through the interior in

Wpetrating their ravages. Hav-

apparently formed no con-

t project of resistance, they
ated in all directions at the

“Vor, LVI.

(161

sight of the military, and were
fired upon with so much effect
that eight cr 900 were killed or
wounded, and a great number
made prisoners. On the follow-
ing morning tranquillity was per-
ectly restored, but not fewer
than twenty estates in a single
parish had been entirely laid
waste by fire. Of the white in-
habitants very few suffered in
their persons; and the negroes
in many estates stood to the de-
fence of their’ masters. Notice
of these occurrences was trans-
miited to Gen. Sir James Leith
at Guadaloupe, who immediately
embarked in a French vessel, and
reached Barbadoes on the 24th. A
considerabie number of the in-
surgents were executed ; and Sir
James issued an address to the
whole slave population, for the
purpose of correcting their mis-
taken notions, and reconciling
them to the lot in life which had
befallen them. The event was
studiously connected with the
consequences of the propesed re-
gistry bill by all the enemies of
that measure; and it was affirmed,
that the negroes had heen led to
consider it as a law of general
emancipation, the delay of which
had roused their fury. Some ar-
gumentation on this subject will
be found in cur parliamentary
history.

An alarm could not fail to
spread throughout the West India
islands on the intelligence of such
an insurrection; and as early as
April 24th, Sir Charles Bris-
bane, Governor of St. Vincent,
and the other islands bearing the
name of the Grenadines, thought
it advisable to issue a proclama-
tion relative to the subject. He

[2d] spoke

162]

spoke of it as the result of a de-
lusion practised by some design-
ing men upon the most ignorant
of the slave population in the
islands, to make them believe
that the British Government had
interfered in their behalf, by di-
recting the colonial authorities to
make such a change in their con-
dition as would almost: extend to
total emancipation. He said that
his Majesty's government had
been always disposed to second
the views of the colonial legisla-
tures in promoting the cemforts
and happiness of the siaves, for
which purpose many salutary re-
gulations had been made; but
that beyond this, no interference
on its part was to be expected.

Of the notions prevalent in this
island respecting the origin of
discontents in the slave popula-
tion, an extract from the Minutes
of the House of Assembly on May
83d, affords a remarkable exem-
plification.

* The following message came
from the Council :

« This board farther reeom-
mends, that an act.of the legis-
lature should be immediately
framed, for the better regulation
of the Methodist. mission in this
government; and that dissenting
preachers of every denomination
should in, future not be allowed
to preach within it, until they
have entered into securities, them-
selves in 400]. currency, and two
freeholders in the like sum. each ;
that no doctrine or opinion shall
be inculcated or circulated by
them unfriendly to the system of
goyernment established in this
colony, or inconsistent with the
duty. slaves owe to their: masters ;
and that every.such preacher shall

ANNUAL RECISTFER,

1816.

aso take a solemn oath, binding
himself in the observance of this
obligation ; and further deposing
he has no, connexion, and holds,
nor. will hold, any correspond-
ence, directly or indirectly, with
any. self-created society, or any
ether unauthorised set. of men in
England, who, either directly or
indirectly, have or shall attempt
to interfere in the relations be-
tween master and slave in these
colonies. AnprREw Rose,
Clerk of the Council.”

To which was-returned the fol-
lowing answer :—

«The recommendation sug-
gested by your Hon. Board, for
obviating as much as_ possible
the baneful and pestilent doctrines
of certain Methodist missionaries
within this government, has long
been a subject of a most serious
reflection in, this house; and it
pledges itself to lend. its hearty
aid an«l co-operation to carry into
full force and efficiency any law
or laws which may be framed by
your Hon. Board, for remedying
the evil complained of.

Avex. CruixsHank, Speaker.”

Further intelligence from Bar-
badoes, dated May 16th, related
that; martial law still) was. in
force, and that the militia were
much harassed by their constant
guard, and their marches through
the island in search of the insur-
gents, or in. conveying them for,
execution to, their owner’s plan-
tations. More than a thousand
of these unhappy wretches are
said already to have lost. their
lives, and many remained to un-
derge capital punishment ; nor is
it to be wondered at, that the
slaves who continued: quietly: at,
their labour, displayed a sulky

demeanour

GENERAL

demeanour. All the neighbour-
ing islands were placed under
martial law, as it was discovered
that their negroes had been se-
cretly apprised of the conspiracy
in Barbadoes, and were only wait-
ing to hear of its success till they
should join in a similar attempt.
At the colony of Demarara on the
continent symptoms of restless-
ness appeared among the slaves
on hearing of the insurrection,
which occasicned the governor to
put forth a proclamation ad-
dressed to the united settlements
of Demarara and Essequibo, by
which, and his precautionary
measures, all disorders were ob-
viated.

In the General Assembly. of
Buarbadoes several messages were
delivered from the Governor, in
August, containing copies of the
Addresses from both Houses of
Parliament to the Prince Regent,
relative to the insurrection in that
island, and also a dispatch from
Lord Bathurst, recommending to
the Legislative council and the
Assembly, that they should meet
the views of the sovereign and
the parent state by passing such
acts as might prove beneficial to
the trne interests of Barbadoes.
Mr. Mayers congratulated the
House on having, in a bill under
consideration, anticipated the
views of the British Government
by the adoption of measures for
ascertaining more accurately the
slave population. The House
theu went into a committee on
the bill, and the Speaker gave his
support to it. Its clauses being
read, were agreed to unanimously.
On a further consideration of the
bill, Mr. Mayes moved as an
‘amendment, that the appointment

HISTORY. [163
of the persons to receive and
transmit lists of slaves should be
left to the Commander-in-chief,
instead of to the Representatives,
which was carried; and a clause
was unanimously passed for fix-
ing the penalty for each slave
omitted to be given in at 100).

In Dominica a correspondence
took place between the House of
Assembly and Governor Maxwell
onthe subject of the policy adopted
by the British ministry since the
peace with America, as to the
mode of providing the West In-
dia islands with provisions. The
House represented, that in con-
sequence of the hurricane in Do-
minica of the 15th and 16th of -
September, without the importa-
tion of supplies, particularly from
the United States of America, a
great proportion of tne slave po-
pulation must perish with hunger
before his Majesty's Government
could be consulted, and an an-
swer returned. They therefore
earnestly urged, that the ports of
the island ought to be immedi-
ately opened to the vessels of the
United States for the importation
of provisions and lumber in barter
for the produce of the island.
The Governor in answer stated,
that he had submitted their re-
quest to his privy council, who
were of opinion that the injunc-
tions of the royal order were so
imperative, that they could not
advise compliance: at the same
time he sent to the Assembly
a copy of Lord Bathurst's instruc-
tions on the subject. This com-
munication did not satisfy the As-
sembly, which passed resolutions,
that the distress contemplated by
the'instructions, as requiring the
opening of the ports, had occurred 5.

[M 2] that

164

that famine would be felt in its
most frightful form if this mea-
sure were not speedily put in
practice; that experience had con-
vinced them, that all expectations
of substantial relief from the
British North American colonies
in British bottoms were altogether
visionary ; and that partial sup-
plies from the neighbouring
islands, doubled in their price as
they must be, would be above
the planter’s means of payment.
The Council again advised the
Governor not to adopt the mea-
sure requested, as not called for
by such a necessity as would
justify it; as, on the contrary,
they hoped that the means al-
ready employed would prove suffi-
cient to avert that necessity.

The session of the House of

ssembly of Jamaica was opened
at the close of October with a
speech from the Duke of Man-
chester, Governor, in which, after
adverting to the calamitous event
at Barbadoes, he recommended to
the consideration of the Assem-
bly, whether some further legis-
lative regulations might not be
necessary to promote the moral
and religious instruction of the
negroes, as well as to improve
their general comfort and happi-
ness. ‘The House, in reply, after
aflirming, that the delusion among
the negroes which produced such
fatal effects at Barbadoes ‘* had
been insidiously spread by the
practices of certain associations
in the mother country,”’ and prais-
ing the peaceable and orderly
condact of the slaves in their
own island, mention their pur-
pose of attending to the recom-
mendation of his Grace, and en-
tering into the considerations

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

pointed out, ‘* pursuant to the
resolutions of the late House of
Assembly at the ‘close of the last
session.”” he Governor's mes-
sage in consequence, having been
referred to a committee of the
House, a resolution was reported
on Nov. 6th, in the following
words :

‘* That it be recommended to
the House to send a Message to
his Grace the Governor, thanking
him for the communication con-
tained in his message to the House
of the lst instant; to assure his
Grace that the House properly
appreciates the care with which
his Majesty's Ministers have
guarded against the interference
of Parliament on a question, the
consideration of which exclusively
belongs to the Legislature of this
island; an interference which
must ever provoke the utmost
irritation and alarm in the minds
of his Majesty's loyal subjects of
Jamaica, as a direct invasion of
their most sacred and important
rights ; that although the House
will never suffer its proceedings
to.be influenced by an apprehen-
sion that the wisdom and justice
of the British Parliament will
allow the malignant and unfound-
ed aspersions which have been
cast upon the inhabitants of
this island to operate to their
disadvantage, and although it
has been distinctly proved that
no clandestine or illicit importa-
tion of slaves has taken place
here, the House is still willing to
satisfy, if possible, even the pre-
judices of those who may have
been deceived into a belief that
a change of circumstances may
afford new facilities to a violation
of the Abolition Laws, and will,

m

GENERAL

and killed two of his horsemen.
Sending for a party of the pro-
yincial battalion for his protec-
tion, several of the assailants

were killed and wounded, among,

the latter of whom was the mufti.
Some of the leading mussulmans,
with a number of the lower class,
then quitted their houses, and as-
sembled at the Musjid in the old
town, thus giving the quarrel the
appearance of a religious dispute.
Capt. Boscawen with two com-
panies and two six-pounders was
sent to disperse them, and at
night took his station close to the
insurgents ; in the morning, how-
ever, he found his force so infe-
rior, that he did not venture to
move from his position, and it
was thought advisable to send
an express for a detachment of
Capt. Cunningham's horse sta-
tioned at Mooradabad. The num-
bers of the insurgents continued
to augment, and on the 18th
they were joined by several thou-
sands of matchlock and sword-
men from Rampoor, Pillibeet,
and the Nawab’s provinces. Other
expresses were therefore dis-
patched for a battalion of the 13th
regiment, and for mere troops
from Futtighur. The rioters had
now planted four green standards
(the mussulman colour) and
posted strong picquets close to
Capt. Boscawen’s party, which
they threatened to attack. Capt.
Cunningham, who had arrived
with about 450 men of his corps,
had been obliged to take a_posi-
tion about half a mile in front of
Capt. Boscawen’s right flank, the
wide plain between them being
entirely occupied by the insur-
gents. On the morning of the
Zist, the latter apprised of the

Hid STORY: [169
approach of more troops, com-
menced hostilities, by killing
young Mr Leycester, who was
walking unarmed between their
outposts and Capt. Cunningham’s

station. A general engagement
ensued, in which Gast Bos-
cawen’s small party drawn up in

a square was surrounded by a
whole army; and a desperate
charge being made by a body of
Puthans sword in hand, they
broke in, and were near carrying
one of the guns, but were at

length driven off with great
slaughter. A severe conflict was

maintained in other quarters for
a considerable time, which finally
concluded in expelling the insur-
gents from their posts in the old
town, who gave ground in all
directions, and retreated to the
new city. The loss was severe
on both sides, but much the
greatest on that of the aggressors.
A force was afterwards assembled
in the district vf Bareilly suffi-
cient to keep it in awe; and
tranquillity, if not good-will, was
restored.

No further intelligence of im-
portance respecting the affairs of
British India has been transmitted,
at least by authority, in the pre-
sent year; and it may be pre-
sumed that the dominion of the
Company over its vast territories
is at this time so firmly established,
that it has no cause of apprehen-
sion from the machinations of its
open or secret enemies. - The
native powers appear to be too
much at variance with one ano-
ther to join in any dangerous
league aga‘nst strangers. The
city of Jypoor in Agra has long
been subjected to the assaults of
the Nawab Umcer Khan, which

it

170]

it had resisted as far as the latest
accounts, in the close of June;
but it was still threatened, and
the Rajah had made application
to the British Government for as-
sistance. ‘This circumstance may
in the event involve the Company
in fresh hostilities.

It may not be improper to add,
though only from private infor-
motion received fron Maras,
that an irruption of Pindaree
horse from the Mahratta terri-
tory burst, in the spring, upon
the Guntoor Circar, one of the
most prosperous of the Company’s
possessions on the coast of Uoro-
mandel, and after desolating it in
the most savage manner, carried
off a prodigious booty, without
being brought to action by any
British force, in the whole of
their rapid career from one side
of the peninsula to the other and
back again.

In our eastern narrative of the
last year we inserted an article
from Rome, reporting a great
progress made by the Catholic
Missionaries in China, in propa-
gating the Christian religion
through that empire ; at the sume
time expressing our doubt of the
permanency of such conversions
under a despotic government.
This apprehension has been too
well verified by the intelligence
conveyed in the following extract
of a letter dated Canton Jan. 1,
1816.

“In June last there was a
persecution carried on against
the Roman Catholics of Sze-
chuen. The Viceroy of that pro-
vince begins his report by saying,
that the religion of the West, de-
nominated the religion of the
Lori of Heaven, is a depraved or

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

irregular religion, particularly in-
jurious to the manners and hearts
of men. He says, that in the
15th year (five years ago) 2,000
families recanted, and since up-
wards of 200 families. He re-
cently apprehended 72 persons,
and seized 53 books. It is, how-
ever, distinctly stated, that in the
books seized there were not found
any expressions that could be —
construed into an apposition to
government. He closes his re-
port by saying, that he suspects
there is some European among
the mountains of Sze chuen,
though he has not been able to
apprehend him.

His Majesty begins his reply,
by noticing the blind obstinacy of
men; that though their persons
be involved ia the net of the law,
when once a notion of ascending
to Heaven takes possession of
the mind, they are regardless of
death.

The two leaders who would
not recant, Chooyung and Tung-
gaen, are ordered to be strangled
immediately : 38 others, who also
refused to recant, are ordered to
be sent to Tartary as slaves;
among these are several women,
and an old man of 80. Women
and ol] men are in many cases
allowed to redeem themselves by
peying a fine; but in this case it
is directed that they shall not be
allowed to do so. Further, the
obstinate old man and a few
others, who seemed more culpa-
ble than the rest, are to be con-
demned to wear, for ever, a heavy
wooden collar.”

This information is confirme
by an article in the ‘* Austria
Observer,’’ which states, fron
the Inst accounts of the Missiona=

rie

GENERAL, HISTOR Y,.

ries at Pekin, that the persecu-
tion of the Christian converts is
continuing with great fury And
at Rome itself has been published
more particular intellixence to
the same purpose in the following
extract of a letter from the pro-
vince of Su Tcheu, in China,
dated the 25th Sept. 1815 : —

** Religion is preached in China
by Missionaries of different corps
and different nations; the Chief
of the French Missions in the
province of Su Tcheu, where I
am at present, has made, within
some months, thirty native priests
and four European. Not long
ago persecution deprived us of
the Vicar Apostolic, sacrificed to
the rage of the Governor of this
province, an enemy equally to

[171

the European and Christian name.
The Bishop Coadjutor has been
compelled to fly, and JI believe
has taken refuge in Tonquin.
Three native priests, and a num-
ber of the faithful of both sexes,
have finished their mortal career
by a glorious martyrdom. There
is still, in almost all the prisons,
a numerous body of generous con-
fessors, who suffer for the cause ;
and I, who have not yet merited the
grace of shedding my blood, am
charged with the spiritual and
temporal cares of this Mission,
which beforethe persecution num-
bered 60,000 Christians.
(Signed)
J. E. Escopeca Borssonave,
Missionary Bishop.

CHRONICLE,

—~— >

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CHRONICLE.

JANUARY.

Puerto Orotava (Teneriffe), Dec.
12, 1815.

E had a dreadful fire here

a few days ago, which con-

_ sumed a large convent for women ;

| quainted with their danger.

-and I am sorry to relate, seven

unhappy victims felt the fury Of
‘the unrelenting flames. The scene
for some hours was dreadful. It
was first discovered about ten
oclock at night: all the nuns
were in bed, and it was some time
before they could be made ac-
The
‘few that escaped were obliged to
leave the convent naked, as they
never sleep in their clothes. Those
that were burnt were seen at the

| windows, till the flames consumed

them. ‘There were no means of
‘saving them, as the windows were

, Strongly grated with iron, and
, only one door that they could

get out of, which was entirely
enveloped in flames. The fire was
occasioned by a nun making
sweetmeats: she had placed her
fire on a table, in a small earthen
Stove, and left it unextinguished ;
the heat of the stove made the
Tosin in the wood to fry out : it is
supposed a cinder had fallen, and
the convent being built of the
Same kind of wood as the table,
-itwas soon in ablaze. The next
night we had a tremendous fall
of rain; the water courses were
eVo.. LVI.

filled, and ran a different way ; in
consequence of which, fourteen
persons were drowned in their
houses.

There is now, or was very re-
cently, living in Constantinople,
a very extraordinary man, up-
wards of 100 years of age, gene-
rally known under the name of
“* Soliman, the eater of subli-
mate.’ This man, when young,
was accustomed, as the Turks do, to
swallow opium ; but having taken
by degrees a large quantity, with-
out producing the desired effect,
he adopted the use of sublimate,
and, for upwards of thirty years,
has taken a draehm, or sixty
grains, a day. He would some-
times go to the shop of a Turkish
Jew and eall for a drachm of sub-
limate, which he mixed in a glass
of water, and drank it up imme-
diately. The first time the apo-
thecary was very much alarmed,
for fear he should be charged
with poisoning the Turk ; but he
was struck with amazement when
he saw the same man again on the
next day, who called for another
dose. Lord Elgin, Myr. Smith,
and several gentlemen now in
England, have met this extraor-
dinary man, and have heard him
say, that the sensation he expe-
rienced after having drank that
extremely active poison, was the
most delicious he ever enjoyed.
Such is the force of habit! It is

B generally

2 ANNUAL REGISTER,

generally thought, that since the
days of Mithridates, no one had
ever made ¢gonstant use of such a
substance.

1. State of the King.—The public
Bulletins which have been issued
for some months past, have all
stated that his Majesty’s disorder
remains undiminished. At times,
however, it appears that he is to-
lerably composed. The number
of persons specially appointed to
attend him by the physicians, are
reduced from six to two, and his
principal pages are admitted, and
have been for some time, to at-
tend him, as when he enjoyed
good health. His Majesty dines
at half-past one o'clock, and he
in general orders his dinner; he
invariably has roast beef upon his
table on Sundays. He dresses for
dinner, wears his orders, &c.
His Majesty, together with his
attendants, occupy a suit of 13
rooms, which are situated on the
north side of Windsor Castle, wn-
der the state rooms. Five of the
13 rooms are wholly devoted to
the personal use of the King.
Dr. John Willis sleeps in the sixth
room, adjoining the five rooms,
to be in readiness to attend his
Majesty: every morning after
breakfast, about half past ten
o'clock, he waits on the Queen,
to report to her the state of the
King’s health ; he afterwards pro-
ceeds to the Princesses and other
branches of the Royal Family who
happen to be at Windsor, and
makes a similar report to them.
In general her Majesty returns
with Dr. Willis down a private
staircase leading into the King’s
suit of rooms, and converses with
her royal husband. The Queen
is the only person who is ad-

1816.

mitted to discourse with the
King, except the medical gentle-
men and his Majesty’s personal
attendants. In Dr. John Willis’s
absence, Dr. Robert Willis, his
brother, takes his place. The
other medical gentlemen take it
in rotation to be in close atten-
dance upon the King. The suit
of rooms which his Majesty and
his attendants occupy have the
advantage of very pure and ex-:
cellent air; andhis Majesty would
not be prevented from occasionally
walking on the terrace, but he
declines it, owing to the bad state
of his eyes, which do not enable
him to enjoy the views. The
lords and grooms of the King’s
hed-chamber, his equerries, and
other attendants, are occasionally
in attendance at Windsor Castle
the same as if the King enjoyed
good health. Two King’s mes-
sengers go from the secretary of
state's office daily to Windsor and
return to London, as they have
been accustomed to do for a num-
ber of years past. The messenger
who arrives at noon brings a daily
account of the state of the King’s
health to the Prince Regent and
the members of the Queen’s coun-
cil. His Majesty has never been
left, since his malady, without one
of the royal family being in the
castle, and a member of the
Queen's council, appointed under
the Regency Act.
Copenhagen.—In the last year
the following number of ships
paid the Sound duties :—2,398
English, 2,270 Swedish, 497 Nor-
wegian, 676 Danish, 455 Dutch,
1,827 Prussian, American, and
Portugueze ; 699 Russian, Spa-
nish, French, Hamburgh, &c. ;
in all, 8,815 ships.
@, An

CHRONICLE 3

g. An inquest was taken at
the Guildhall, Newport, Isle of
Wight, before Thomas Sewell,
esq. coroner of the island, and a
respectable jury, on the body of
Charles Cavendish, serjeantof the
75th regiment. It appeared in
evidence, that the soldiers of the
7th, quarteredin Newport,agreed
to dine together with their wives
and families at the Castle-inn, on
New-year’s day : they made a sub-
seription for the purpose, and
engaged a room to themselves,
where they all, to the number of
25, assembled at dinner at four
o'clock: about half-past nine, a
man of the 36th, named James
M‘Kean, opened the door and in-
truded himself into the room,
and said he wanted beer; he was
civilly told, that if he wanted beer
he must go to the tap-room, and
serjeant Grant put him. gently
into the passage, saying he would
show him to the tap-room.—
M‘Kean immediately drew his
bayonet, stabbed serjeant Grant,
and then ran away. Serjeant
Cavendish was coming out of the
kitchen as M‘Kean ran by; he
caught at him, but instantly fell
back, erying ‘‘ I] am murdered.”
—M‘Kean had at this instant his
bayonet uplifted, as if in the act
of stabbing. Cavendish expired
ina few minutes. M*‘Kean was
pursued and taken about a quarter
of a mile from Newport, on the
Carisbrooke road, with his bayonet
drawn, with which he attempted
to stab his pursuers. The jury re-
turned a verdict of Wilful Murder
against M‘Kean, who was imme-
diately committed to take his trial
at the ensuing assizes. M*‘Kean
is further detained, under Lord
Kilenborough’s Act, on a charge

. officers,

of maliciously stabbing serjeant
Donald Grant, who, it-is hopedt
will recover.

3. The Venus de Medicis has
made its solemn re-entry: into
Florence ; it arrived on this day,
preceded by a brilliant suite; the
principal pictures of the Italian
school, the chef d’auvres of Ra-
phael, Michael Angelo, Guido,
Salvator Rosa, Andrea:del Sarto,
and Julio Romano, served for the
escort. All the population went
out to meet it.

Mr. Dumbreck, supervisor of
excise, accompanied by’ several
discovered near Tum-
bowis, in the parish of New Kil-
patrick, Scotland, an illicit dis-
tillery of great extent. The house
was of rude construction, censist-
ing of branches of trees. inter-
woven with: leaves and straw,
supported partly by a steep bank
and partly by some fine elm trees
which formed its walls. The
working utensils, however, were
of a superior kind. They con-
sisted of a still and boiler, placed
upon. convenient furnaces capable
of containing the one 70, and the
other 300 gallons, a new wooden
mash tun and cooler, ten fer-
menting tuns, and various other
smaller utensils, amounting in all
to more than twenty vessels. At
the time of the discovery, the
smugglers were actively employ-
ed; one mash of malt had. been
finished during the night and a
second was in operation, eight of
the fermenting tuns were filled
with worts, and a hogshead with
some smaller casks were filled
with low wines newlys distilled.
An establishment suchas this, on
a moderate calculation, would
prepare more than fifty gallons

B 2 of

4A ANNUAL REGISTER,

of spirits a-day. Mr. Dumbreck
having caused the utensils to be
overturned and emptied, lodged
the most valuable in a neighbour-
ing malt barn. It is certain that
the landlord on whose property
this work was discovered knew
nothing of its existence. He pos-
sesses great influence in the coun-
try, which he lately strenuously
exerted for the suppressicn of il-
licit distillation.

Paris, Jan. 5. On the 29th
ult. a deputation from the High-
land Society of London, consist-
ing of the Right Hon. Lord Sal-

toun, lieutenant colonel of the.

Grenadier Guards, C.B.K. M. T.
and St. G.; lieutenant colonel
James Macdonnel, of the Cold-
stream Guards, C.B. K.M.T. and
St. W.; lieutenant colonel Daniel
Mackinnon of the Coldstream
Guards; and James Hamilton,
esq. the secretary, had the honour
of presenting, at the palace of the
Tuilleries, to his majesty Louis
XVIII., a copy of the Poems of
Ossian, in the original Gaelic.

The preliminary arrangements
having been made by the British
Ambassador, his Excellency the
Right Hon. Sir Charles Stuart,
G. C. B., the deputation, after
passing through the hall of the
Marshals, and the superb suit of
apartments on that side, were in-
troduced by the Duke de Duras,
First Gentleman of the Chamber,
and received in the private closet
by his Majesty, in the most gra-
cious manner, Lord Saltoun, one
of the Presidents of the Society,
addressed the King in French as
follows :-—

«« Sire,—Pursuant to a resclu-
tion of the Highland Society of
London, we have the honour to

1816.

present to your Majesty a copy of
the Poems of the immortal Ossian,
in the original Gaelic. We con-
sider it hardly necessary to recall
to your Majesty’s remembrance
the ancient friendship which ex-
isted for so many ages betwixt
Scotland and your Majesty’s illus-
trious ancestors; but, in the name
of the Society, we beg to offer to
your Majesty our sincere congra-
tulations on the happy termination
of the late contest, which, in re-
storing to France her legitimate
Sovereign, will, we doubt not,
unite her to Great Britain in the
strongest bonds of amity.

«‘ In presenting, Sire, to your
Majesty the Poems of our illus-
trious bard, we request your Ma-
jesty’s acceptance of a work,
every sentiment of which is found-
ed on the exalted principles of the
most fervent patriotism and of the
most devoted loyalty to the So-
vereign: principles which, we are
proud to say, have ever been pre-
dominant in the breast of the
Highlander.”

To this Address, his Majesty
was pleased to reply in the fol-
lowing terms :— p

** My Lord and Gentlemen,—
It is with infinite pleasure I ac-
cept from the Highland Society
of London a copy of the poems of
the immortal Celtic bard, not
more interesting to me from the
sublime sentiments expressed in
every page, than from their being
in the original tongue, the ancient
language of my native land.

**]T have ever entertained the
highest esteem and respect for the
Scottish character, from the nu-
merous memorable feats achieved
by the natives of that country,
and the many important services

rendered

CHRONICLE. 5

rendered by them to my ancestors
on the most trying occasions ; but
however great those sentiments
of esteem and respect are, they
are not exceeded by those of gra-
titude for the kind and hospitable
reception given in Caledonia to
my family in the day of distress.
I request that my thanks may be
conveyed to your illustrious Pre-
sident, his Royal Highness the
Duke of York, and to the other
members of the Highland So-
ciety.”

It being a grand court day, the
palace was crowded with persons
of distinction, and the deputation
created no small interest. The
noble Vice President, and the
Lieutenant Colonels, wore the
uniforms of their respective regi-
ments, with the insignia of the
different orders conferred on them
for their distinguished services.
The Secretary of the Society ap-
peared in the full Highland garb.

The Deputation had it also in
charge to present a copy of Ossian
in the original Gaelic language to
Marshal Macdonald, Duc de Ta-
rente, amember of the Highland
~Society; but his grace having
been detained at Bourges by the
important mission entrusted to
him by his Sovereign, it was
at his request delivered to his
daughter, the Duchess of Massa,
who gave a grand rout on the
oceasion to all the beauty and
fashion of Paris.

5. The governor of the pro-
vince of Antwerp has addressed a
circular letter to the mayors, on
the subject of the donation made
by the King to the city of Ant-
werp of the magnificent basins
constructed there by the French
government—a present which will

be of the highest advantage to the
whole province. These basins
were begun in 1805, and the plan
being successively extended, con-
tained, in 1813, 21 ships of the
line, 7 frigates, three brigs, and
five corvettes, carrying 1,994
cannon.

His Majesty, adds the go-
vernor, might have doubtless
made use of these basins for the
advantage of the public treasury ;
but, says he, the city and province
of Antwerp are dear to the heart
of the King, and he has not hesi-
tated to make a present to the
subjects of a superb establish-
ment which cost nine years of the
most astonishing labour, and 13
or 14 millions of money (francs)
to the state.

6. The Carlisle Patriot con-
tains long details of the damage
done by floods over the whole of
the North of England and South
of Scotland. The rivers Caldew,
Eden, Peterill, Line, Irthing, &c.
&c. have oyerflown or burst their
banks. Two or three benighted
travellers have lost their lives,
some cattle have been swept away
and drowned, whole districts
inundated, and in many places
the inhabitants of houses near
the waters were compelled to save
themselves by taking refuge in
the upper apartments, while
those below were completely
flooded.

8. Five men, members of a
committee of cloth-dressers in
Leeds, were convicted last week
of combining illegally to prevent
a fellow workman from following
his trade, until he had paid 51. to
them for permission to work, as
a punishment for having been
employed in Ireland on a species

of

G ANNUAL REGISTER,

of machinery, called gig-mills, to
the use of which the committee
objects. The persecuted man
having given information to the
magistrates, all the members of
the committee, with their books
and papers, were taken into cus-
tody, and an extensive correspon-
denee and combination have been
discovered.

As the servant of Mrs. Shuttle-
worth was driving a gig with his
mistress in it, down Parliament-
street, Nottingham, the drums in
attendance near the mess-house
began to roll, which so alarmed
the horse that he ‘flew with great
rapidity, and the man turning the
horse from his course to prevent
his running over a woman, ren-
dered him more furious ; the ve-
hicle was overturned, and the
lady and man dashed with great
violence against a newly built
house: the man was slightly in-
jured, but Mrs. S. died on the Wed-
nesday following, at her house in
Lenton-terrace.

Cork, Jan. 8.—We regret much
that we are obliged to state the
luss of the government packet
Greyhound, captain Rich, on her
passage from this city to Britoi,
with passengers. She was lost on
the Culver Sands on the 29th ult.
and -all on board have perished.
Amongst the passengers, we re-
gret to say, were many of our
fellow-citizens, and their con-
nexions.

10. The recent success that
attended discharging guns with-
out ‘the application of fire, has
proved how important the method
might be on service, either at sea
or in the field. When the Leipsic
brig was wrecked on the bar at
‘Yarmouth, the force of the wind

1816.

was so extreme, and the sea break-
ing so furiously over the pier
head, that a match could not be
kept lighted to explode the mortar
with ; “for tunately lieut. Woodger
had with him tubes primed with
a mixture of hyperoxymuriate of
potass and sugar-candy; also, a
bottle of sulphuric acid, which,
on his applying a small quantity
of the latter to the former ingre-
dients, produced the instanta-
neous ignition consequent on
their coming in contact, other-
wise, it is probable the mortar
eould not have been fired, and
the crew would therefore have
been lost.

A German Gazette contains the
following article :—‘‘ We are in-
formed, that the Jesuits are leav-
ing Rome by dozens, and by hun-
dreds, to repair to ‘the different
colleges re-opened for them in
Spain, Naples, Sicily, Parma, &c.
There have lately departed 300
for the first of these dominions.
As this order has been suppressed
about fifty years, viz. in Portugal
ia 1759; in Spain, 1767 ; in Na-
ples and Parma, in 1768, the
members of this order must either
be endowed with an extraordinary
longevity, or they must have re-
cruited in secret, in order for us
to be able to comprehend how, on
a sudden, so great a number of
Jesuits appear.

11. Mr. Macdonald, younger,
of Rhue, and three servants, hav-
ing set out from Arisaig, for
Knoydart, by sea, their boat sud-
denly struck on a hidden rock, in
a hard gale, and was placed on
her beam-ends. In this perilous
situation, Mr. Macdonald and his
men clung to the gun-wale, but
perceiving that they could not all,

without

CHRONICLE. 7

without imminent danger, remain
in this situation, he left the wreck,
and getting hold of the boat's
oars, by which he supported him-
self, he swam ashore, after being
two hours in the water. Scarcely
had he left it, when the boat was
seen by persons on shore to sink,
and the three servants were un-
fortunately lost.

12. Owing to the melting of
the snow on the surrounding
mountains, Strabane (Ireland)
was visited by the greatest and
most destructive flood which has
been witnessed there for nearly
twenty years. Fortunately it took
place in the day time, otherwise
hundreds of lives must have been
lost in the lower part of the town.
As it was, numbers were rescued
with difficulty by boats brought
from Lifford, there being none at
the time on the canal. The wa-
ters approached nearly to the
market-house in the centre of the
town, completely inundating the
entire space between that and
Lifford ; some houses and cattle
were carried away, and the goods
of the poorer classes, by whom
the lower parts of the town were
chiefly occupied, were much in-
jured.

13. For some time past the
bridge over the Petterill at Bot-
cherby, a village in the near vici-
nity of Carlisle, had been in a
very insufficient state; and this
condition of the bridge was ren-
dered still more insecure by the
late flood, the effects of which
were extremely visible, as it ap-
peared almost to have separated
oi aomeerang into two parts, the
w and arches on each side
considerably declining from the
perpendicular, so that it was
deemed impossible for the bridge

to hang togetherduring any length
of time. On Wednesday, as Pe-
ter Dixon, Esq. was proceeding
from Carlisle, with two of his
sons and the female branches of
the family, to Warwick, to visit
the extensive manufacturing con-
cern carried on in that place, un-
der the firm of Peter Dixon and
Sons; the carriage, in which
were seated Mr. Dixon, sen. and
the young ladies, had only passed
the erection in question a few
minutes, and one of the young
gentlemen, who was following
on horseback, had scarcely clear-
ed the extremity of the bridge,
when -one half of the structure
suddenly tumbled into a mass of
ruins, leaving, on the opposite
bank, the other young gentle-
man, on the very instant of his
getting upon it! Indeed, so very
instantaneous was its ruin, that
the two Messrs. Dixons had no
other notice of the peril they al-
most miraculously escaped, than
the tremendous crash by which
it was accompanied, — (Carlisle
Journal.)

18. This being the day ap-
pointed for General Thanksgiving
to Divine Providence on the re-
establishment of Peace in Europe,
a particular form of Prayer, pre-
peared, as usual, by the highest
ecclesiastical authority, was read
in all the churches throughout
the kingdom. The day was se-
lected likewise in London, very
appropriately, for the ceremony
of lodging the eagles taken from
the enemy at the battle of Water-
loo, in the Chapel Royal, White-
hall. Wndoubtedly it accorded
well with the solemnity of the
occasion, and added, not a little,
to the interest of the scene, to
behold the spectaele of depositing

in

8 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

ina Christian Temple the tokens
of victory, and dedicating to the
God of Battles, the memorials of
a triumph, the splendour of
which throws into shade every
former example of military re-
nown. ‘The ceremony was con-
ducted with perfect order; and
associated us it was with the du-
ties of religious worship, the
memory of the contest in which
the trophies were won, and the
sight of the brave veterans who
had survived its carnage, the in-
fluence it produced was not of an
ordinary nature, but rather ap-
proached to a sentiment of sub-
limity. A brigade of the Guards
formed on the Parade in St.
James's Park at nine o’clock, of
“which one company, consisting
of a captain, three subalterns,
two serjeants, and 84 privates,
all of whom were at Waterloo,
were appointed an escort to the
eagles, and took post opposite
to Melbourn House. A detach-
ment of - Royal Artillery was
also on the ground, and the
two bands attended in their state
clothing. Soon after ten the Duke
of York arrived at the Horse
Guards in his private chariot, and
proceeded on to the parade, ac-
companied by Sir Harry Galvert,
the Adjutant General, Sir Henry
Torrens, Secretary to his Royal
Highness, and a very large as-
semblage of distinguished officers,
decorated with the several insig-
nia they have been invested with.
The usual duty of the day pro-
ceeded, and after the trooping of
the colours had taken place, the
detachment that had been selected
were escorted to the Tilt Yard by
the two bands, and received the
Eagles ; the detachment then ad-
vanced arms, the bands playing

the ‘‘Grenadiers’ March,” and
proceeded round the square in
ordinary time. The several ranks
were opened three deep, and they
were received by the guard of the
day with ordered arms, and
standing at ease. The trophies
were carried by serjeants of the
first and third regiments, and on
reaching the colours of the grena-
dier regiment, were lowered to
the ground, while the former,
with ‘‘ Lincelles, Coruna, Barossa,
and Waterloo,’’ emblazoned in
gold, majestically waved; and
the troops, with the spectators,
instantaneously gave three loud
huzzas with the most enthusiastic
feeling. The detachment. still
continued to proceed with the
trophies, and on reaching the
centre of the parade, facing the
Horse Guards, wheeled on their
right, and marched to Whitehall
Chapel. The remainder of the
troops were wheeled backwards
on their left, and marched in re-
view order before the Duke of
York, the relief to their several
duties, and the remainder to
chapel, with the form of prayer
to be used in their hands.

The men were dressed in new
clothing, with caps on a new
principle, and, as we are inform-
ed, far superior in comfort to the
wearers.

The serjeants with the eagles
entered the body of the chapel as
soon as the first lesson was read
by Archdeacon Owen, the Chap-
lain General. Their Royal High-
nesses the Dukes of York and
Gloucester were in the royal pew,
and the chapel was extremely
crowded. The escort entered by
the two doors, in equal divisions,
the band playing, and marching
up to the steps of the communion

table,

CHRONICLE. ff

table, when they filed off to the
right and left. As soon as the
band had ceased, the two ser-
jeants bearing the eagles, ap-
proached the altar, and fixed upon
it their consecrated banners. After
the Litany a voluntary was played
by the band ; and at the conclu-
sion of the Communion Service,
which was read by the chaplains
of the chapel, the Rev. Mr. Jones
and the Rev. Mr. Howlett, the
100th Psalm was sung by the
whole congregation. An excel-
lent Sermon was then preached
by the Bishop of London, from
the following text:—Psalm 20,
verses 7, 8:—

“Some trust in chariots and some in
horses: but we will remember the name of
the Lord our God.

“They are brought down and fallen:
but we are risen and stand upright.”

And after the customary bless-
ing, the band played ‘‘ God save
the King,”’ the whole congrega-
tion standing. ‘There was pre-
sent a considerable number of
persons of fashion and of dis-
tinction in public life; among
others, the Royal Dukes, the
Earl of Liverpool, Admiral Sir
Alexander Cochrane, and several
other naval and military officers,
with many elegant and distin-
guished females.— Times.

A most artful act of robbery
was committed on the premises
of the Misses Radnidge, two very
young respectable females, who
have lately commenced business
in Argyle-street, Bath. Their
servant girl brought them some
beer for supper on the above
evening, which they both observ-
ed was not so palatable as they
had been accustomed 10 have,

little suspecting that some opiate.
had been infused in it. They
partook of it, and shortly after
retired to bed, where they slept
soundly till half past ten on the
following morning, when their
younger sister, who lived in a
neighbouring house, went and
awakened. them. They were
much surprised on knowing the
time to which they had slept;
and still more so, on coming
down stairs and finding that their
shop till had been robbed of
money to the amount of 71., and
a variety of articles, in ribbons,
wearing apparel, &c. stolen, to
the value, together, of nearly 30l.
The vile perpetrator had abscond-
ed at an early hour, leaving the
doors partly opened, and no traces
of her have yet been discovered.
She is a native of Exeter.

20. An inquest was held be-
fore William Joyner, Esq. Coro-
ner, at New Park Farm, Berkeley,
on the body of William Ingram,
who was killed by some poachers,
in a wood belonging to Colonel
Berkeley, on the morning of the
9th inst. From the evidence of
Mark Cullimore, game-keeper,
and Thomas Clark, park-keeper,
it appeared, that the manors of
Lords Ducie, Miss Langley, and
Colonel Berkeley, having of late
been very much infested by poach-
ers, the respective proprietors Had
employed a number of persons
to perambulate the estates, in
order to preserve the game, but
always without fire-arms. On
Thursday night last, these persons
met to the number of 30, and
afterwards divided themselves in-
to three parties; the first con-
sisting of eleven men, were those

employe |

10

employed by Miss Langley ; the
second party consisting of ten,
and the third containing nine
men, were in the service of
Lord Ducie and Colonel Berkeley.
Some time after they had separat-
ed, the attention of the last-men-
tioned body was attracted by the
report of two guns, when they
immediately made for the spot
whence the sound seemed to pro~
ceed. As they approached it, a
shot was fired at them, without
any previous notice, but did no
injury: but on coming nearer,
another discharge took place,
which unfortunately killed the
deceased on the instant, a portion
of the charge having penetrated
the heart. Immediately after-
wards, a succession of shots were
fired, which severely wounded
the following persons: —Barge
and — Davies in the head and
eyes ; Raymond Hensburgh, John
King, and Berry, in the
legs ; and another, whose name,
we believe, is Pinnell, in ‘the
thigh. The noise of the firing
soon brought up the second party,
or perhaps more murder might
have been committed, and, ina
little time, Miss Langley’s men
likewise arrived, when they com-
menced a pursuit, but although
they gota sight of the villains,
‘who were sixteen or eighteen in
number, they could not get suffi-
ciently near to secure any one of
them. The deceased had ‘been in
the service of Colonel Berkeley
upwards of five years. The Jury
returned a verdict of — Wilful
murder against some persons -un-
known. Vickery, from \Bow-
street, arrived at Colonel Berke-
ley’s on Monday night, to assist in

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

discovering the villains and bring-
ing them to justice. The wound-
ed men are all considered out of
danger.

Further particulars—On Feb.
Ist were committed to Gloucester
gaol, John Penny, late of the
parish of Hill, in Gloucestershire,
charged on the oaths of John
King and others, with the wilful
murder of one Wm. Ingram, in
the night of the 18th ult. within
a certain close situate in the said
parish of Hill; and John Allen,
Wm. Penny, Thomas Collins,
Daniel Long, John Reeves, John
Burley, James Jenkins, Thomas
Morgan, James Roach, and Wm.
Greenaway, all late of the said
parish of Hill, severally charged
with having feloniously been pre-
sent at the said murder. Green-
away and, Burley were afterwards
admitted King’s evidence. ‘The
whole of the prisoners are young
men of decent appearance.

The crimes imputed to the
above prisoners are substantiated
by the confession of two of their
associates, who have been admit-
ted evidence for the crown. It
appeared that these desperate ma-
rauders assembled at the house of
John Allen, one of the prisoners,
on the evening of the 18th ult.
with the avowed intention of de-
stroying game on the adjoining
manors, but prepared for a more
diabolical purpose; in proof of
which it need only be stated, that
the whole gang, amounting in
number to sixteen, had their faces
blacked at his house, and were
separately sworn not to betray
each other before they allied
forth, about -eleven o’clock at
night, eight of them armed with

loaded

CHRONICLE. 11

loaded guns, and the remainder
earrying clubs and other offensive
weapons. About twelve they fell
in with a party of nine of the
game-keepers, who at first re-
treated from the formidable force
opposed to them, but almost im-
mediately returned with increased
numbers. ‘They were, however,
very inadequately armed, Colonel
Berkeley, from motives of human-
ity, not permitting one of them
to carry fire-arms when they went
upon the watch, in order to avert
the danger of such an awful ex-
tremity as that which followed.
The two parties advanced within
about ten yards of each other ;
when, one of the gamekeepers
calling out, “we have found you
at last,’’ a shot was fired by the
poachers, and immediately after-
wards a second, which struck
the unfortunate man, Ingram,
who instantly fell, and died after
a momentary struggle. ‘The
gamekeepers, seeing they were
so unequal a match, then gave
way, and fled, several other shots
being fired at them in their re-
treat, to the number of six or
seven discharges in the whole, by
which six of them were severely
wounded ; the poachers, during
the firing, frequently exclaiming,
**Glory! glory!’ The whole of
the desperadoes then left the scene
of murder in a body, and pro-
ceeded to a field near the village
of Moreton, where they separated ;
prior to which, one of them, re-

marking that, if discovered, they

would all be hanged, proposed
that they should again swear
fidelity to each other, which was
done by every man kissing his
own hand !

Colonel Berkeley was upon the

alert night and day, and ‘led the
party wherever there was the ap-
pearance of resistance or danger ;
and he entreated that no one
would follow him who felt the
smallest dislike to the service,
offering, at the same time, to
provide for such as might meet
with any accident on so necessary
an enterprise. The neighbouring
magistrates and gentlemen se-
conded the Colonel's efforts,
which have thus happily been
crowned with success, the whole
of the gang being in custody ex-
cept five, and these, it is ex-
pected, willsoon be apprehended.

The prisoners were tried at the
Gloucester Spring assizes, when,
after a trial of two days, they
were all found guilty, but were
recommended by the jury to
mercy, with the exception of J.
Penny and Allen, who were left
for execution.

20. As the gamekeeper of Ben-

jamin Stead, Esq. of Crowfield,

Suffolk, was out, about two in
the morning, he heard persons
walking in a small covert, near
the hall. He immediately called
upon another man, who lived
near, with whom he went inta
the grove, where he found seven
men, and three or four dogs
with them. Four of the party
secured the gamekeeper and his
assistant, leading them about
the plantation, whilst the others
shot till three or four o'clock.
As the depredators were supplied
with air guns, no alarm was
excited, and the execution which
they did among the pheasants was
very extensive. They repeatedly
expressed their determination not
to be taken; and, when they had
finished their sport, they tied the

keeper

122 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

keeper and his friend to two
trees, about a rod apart. After
considerable efforts, the keeper
succeeded in obtaining a knife
from his pocket, with which he
effected the liberation cf himself
and his companion. One of the
men, who recently kept a public
house in Ipswich, has been taken
up, and committed, on suspicion
of being a party concerned, a re-
markable dog, which the poach-
ers had with them, having been
recognised as belonging to him.
On the Friday morning (Decem-
ber 29), a party of ten or twelve
poachers, supposed to be of the
same gang, conunitted a violent
assault upon the keepers in the
grounds of Sir Philip Broke, at
Nacton.

21. Plymouth Dock.—This
morning arrived at Sole’s Foun-
tain Hotel, the Austrian Arch-
dukes John and Lewis, with their
several suites. A salute was fired
on the occasion, and every pos-
sible honour shewn to them.
Orders were issued in the dock-
yard on the 23d, directing the
officers to be ready to give all
possible facility to the royal visi-
tants in their inspection of the
arsenal. Great part of the Bri-
tish navy lie there, in three divi-
sions, extended about five miles in
length. Thirteen of these ships
are first rates, and the names of
nearly the whole of them are as-
sociated with some of the proud-
est recollections of England. In
the afternoon their Royal High-
nessess crossed the water to Mount
Edgecumbe, to pay their respects
to its noble owner.

This morning, about seven
o'clock, seven Custom-house offi-
cers, at Worthing, proceeded to

sea in a boat, for the purpose of
looking out for a smuggling ves-
sel. The violence of the breakers
unfortunately upset the boat, and
five of the party were drowned ;
the remaining two saved them-
selves with great difficulty by
clinging to the boat.

22. The first trial by Jury in
Civil Causes, in Scotland, took
place at Edinburgh. The Right
Hon. William Adam presided as
Chief Commissioner, and Lord
Meadowbank and Lord Pitmilly
as assistant Judges. The Lord
Chief Commissioner, before pro-
ceeding in the business before the
court, made a suitable address,
in which he expatiated on the ad-

vantages of the trial by jury.

The first cause related to a steam
engine erected for grinding flour
at Stockbridge, near Edinburgh,
which the neighbours complained
of as a nuisance. The jury re-
turned a verdict, however, ‘‘That
the engine was useful, and not
offensive.”

Windsor.—This morning agrand
military spectacle was exhibited
in this town. It being known
that a part of the victors from the
battle of Waterloo were expected
at the foot barracks, great num-
bers of the inhabitants left the
town to meet them on the road ;
on foot, on horseback, and in
carriages ; the Guards amounting
to upwards of five hundred, with
laurels in their caps, and with
their band, were then headed by
his Royal Highness the Duke of
York, on horseback, as Colonel
of the Virst Regiment of Foot
Guards. The Queen, and Prin-
cesses Augusta, Elizabeth and
Mary, took their stations at the
windows of her Majesty’s house

' in

CHRONICLE. 13

in Park-street. The military
halted when they came opposite
to the house, and gave three
cheers. The Duke of York con-
ducted the military to the bar-
racks, and went afterwards on
foot to the castle; they left Paris
six weeks yesterday.

Several hundred colliers assem-
bled at Tipton, in Staffordshire,
on Monday week, determined to
resist a further drop of sixpence
per day in their wages by their
charter-masters. On the appear-
ance, however, of a military force,
they peaceably dispersed, and
their masters have since made a
satisfactory arrangement with
them. On Friday week a mob of
colliers assembled in the vicinity.
of Dudley, and seizing a Mr.
Zephaniah Parker, put a rope
round his neck, and threatened
to hang him, unless he acceded
to their demands. A liberal re-
ward has been offered for the ap-
prehension of the offenders. Se-
veral districts in Cardiganshire
have also been disturbed by riots.
Two or three of the ring-leaders
have been apprehended without
the effusion of blood.

25. Burns the Poet.—The an-
niversary of the birth of this dis-
tinguished ornament of his coun-
try was celebrated at Edinburgh.
Upwards of one hundred admirers
of the bard were present. The
chair was filled by Alex. Boswell,
Esq. of Auchinleck, supported by
the Hon. Wm. Maule, M. P.
Among the persons of rank who
were present, were the Earl of
Leven, the Hon. Captain Gordon,
the Hon. Captain Napier, Mr.
Forbes, M. P. &c. &c. Andamong
those of literary eminence were
Walter Scott, Esq. Mr. Jeffrey,

&e. Many appropriate toasts were
given in the course of the even-
ing, aud the entertainment went
off with the utmost hilarity and
eclat. It was resolved that the
meeting should be in future érien-
nial.

Dublin. —The Enniskillen coach
which left town yesterday evening,
was stopped, by three carts being
placed across the road, at half-
past eleven, by an armed banditti,
consisting of 14 persons, about
three miles beyond Dunshaughlin.
The party, stationed behind the
hedges on each side of the road,
commenced a brisk fire upon the
coach, and weunded both the
guards, one of them severely in
the head. The guards, with great
spirit, returned the fire, and dis-
charged about six or seven shots
each, which, it is supposed, had
some effect. The banditti in the
end, however, having bya sudden
rush upon the coach, prevented
eny further resistance, effected
their purpose, and the greater
part of the mails fell into their
hands. Four passengers who
were in the coach, were rubbed
of about 501. but did not receive
any other injury.

29. A few days since, the over-
seers of Horncastle summoned
Daniel Collwood, farrier, better
known by the name of Dr. Can-
dlebags, for refusing to support
his wife, who had been chargea-
ble to the parish of Horncastle
for several years. The doctor, on
being taken before the magistrate,
expressed a suspicion that his
wife had concealed a considerable
hoard ; and on Monday the 29th,
he, accompanied by the consta-
bles and overseers, proceeded to
search his house ; on their enter-

ing

14

ing which, the doctor's wife plead-
ed extreme poverty, and declared
she had not a single halfpenny in
her possession; but, on a minute
‘search of two boxes, 133]. 9s. in
specie were found, carefully de-
posited in several small tin boxes,
wrapped up in rags and paper,
and consisting of one moidore,
68 guineas, 31 half-guineas, one
Spanish dollar, 110 half-crowns,
537 shillings, and 144 sixpences.
From the habits and miserable
appearance of this woman, it does
not appear that she has ever con-
verted any part of the wealth to
her own comfort !

Miss Smith, daughter of Mr.
George Smith, of Toppestield,
Essex, about 19 years of age,
being on a visit to Mr. Thomp-
son, of Fryerning, a gun having
attracted her attention, she took
it up, and presented it at the
maid servant, not supposing it to
be loaded, but on pulling the
trigger, it did not go eff. In a
short time after, the maid ser-
vant got possession of the gun,
and in her turn pointed the gun
at Miss Smith, when the contents,
a full charge, entered her side,
and she survived but a few hours.

A man. detected in poaching
was lately shot near Melton Mow-
bray. The following are the par-
ticulars of that cireumstance :—
Richard Norman, esq. of Melton,
having reason to suspect, from
the numerous gang's of poachers
in the neighbourhood, and from
the decrease of his game, parti-
eularly pheasants, that they had
been paying him some nocturnal
visits, caused the wood in the
neighbourhood of his farm at
Freby to be watched for several
nights, and. about two o'clock
on Thursday morning the 13th

ANNUAL REGISTER, 18106.

inst. four men were discovered
at their depredations; three,
however, fortunately for them,
made their escape ; but the fourth,
in the attempt, failing to stop
when ordered so to do, was
dangerously wounded by two of
the servants, and now lies at a
public-house at Melton Mowbray,
with very little hopes of recovery,
as the shot, which were large,
have entered so deep into his
back and arm, that the surgeon
has not as yet been enabled to
extract them.

30. The county of Norfolk,
particularly the neighbourhood of
Downham, has for a long time
been the haunt of an immense
body of poachers, whose num-
bers, and daring proceedings, so
terrified the people around, that
the civil authorities were not very
forward to act against such des-
peradoes. They acted with im-
punity for many months past, and
got so bold as apparently to defy
the constables, gamekeepers, &c.
{In this state of things, T. P.
Bage,, Esq. T. Dearing, Esq. and
T. Hare, Esq. of Stow Hall, whose
estates were particularly infested,
wrote to the Police office, Queen-
square, for assistance to take the
depredators into custody. Pace
and another officer were in con-
sequence sent down about a fort-
night since; and he successfully
organized his plan, getting a man
to become one of a party at their
suppers, poachings, &e. After
they had been poaching tolerably
extensively, which was followed
by a hearty feast, Pace set to
work, and before the morning he
had secured ten of them, most of
whon: were found in their beds.
Seeing that resistance was vain,
although they had been exceed-

ingly

CHRONICLE. 15

ingly desperate on preceding oc-
casions, and were never without
plenty of weapons near them,
they quietly surrendered, and the
whole ten were committed for
trial.

Calcutta, Jan. 31.—On Sunday
accounts reached town stating the
loss of the Duchess of Wellington,
which was totally destroyed by
fire on Saturday evening in San-
ger-roads.

The origin of this sad accident
is only a matter of suspicion.
The fire burst forth about ten
o'clock at night, and burnt with
such rapidity, that the saltpetre
cargo exploded in about ten mi-
nutes, and the ship, being shat-
tered and divided, sunk immedi-
ately. It is painful to relate,
that the pilot, two officers, two
passengers, and many of the crew
perished in consequence of the
rapid conflagration, which de-
prived them of the ordinary
chances of escape. ‘The pilot,
Mr. Turner, and the first and
third mates, were engaged in tak-
ing off the hatches, in the hope
of extinguishing the fire, when
the flames burst forth with such
dreadful violence, they were com-
pelled to desist, and instantly fled.
Mr. Heron, the 2d mate, ran to-
wards the head of the ship, and
the pilot with the others towards
the poop, on which the pilot was
seen standing, when the saltpetre
in the after-part of the vessel
exploded, and destroyed all within
the vortex of its fiery gulph. The
fate of Mr. William Anderson,
and the distress of his brother,
Mr. David Anderson, both pas-
sengers, proceeding to Java, it is
afflicting to contemplate. Mr.
David Anderson saw his brother

after the fire had burst forth, and
shook hands with him while he
was standing in the shrouds,
whence in a few moments he was
precipitated into the deep—never
to rise again !

The following is a list of the
officers and passengers, which we
have reason to believe is quite
correct :

David Kydd, commander, not
on board ; Car Nimrod, Ist offi-
cer, lost ; John Heron, 2d officer,
saved; H. Wolstudt, 3d officer,
lost; David Anderson, passenger,
saved; William Anderson, ditto,
lost; J. B. Macdonald, ditto, not
on board; John Kydd, a child,
the nephew of the captain, lost ;
T. Hodges, surgeon, saved.

Some of the crew belonging to
the Duchess of Wellington have
been apprehended, and are de-
tained on suspicion of having set
the vessel on fire. In most cases
where ships are burnt in this
river, there has been reason to
believe that the Lascars (who re-
ceive impress money in advance
for several months) have been in-
strumental in their destruction.

FEBRUARY.

LOSS OF TRANSPORTS.

(From the Waterford Chronicle of
the \st of Feb.)

““ We have now to state the
particulars of a melancholy and
afflicting event. The transport
Seahorse, No. 2, Thomas Scott
master, sailed from a port in
England a few days ago for Ire-
land, (for Waterford or Cork,)
with a large detachment of the
59th regiment on board, consist-

ing

16

ing of about 16 officers, 287 men,
33 women, and 34 children. On
the morning of the 30th ult. the
vessel was driven into Tramore
Bay by a desperate gale from the
south. The severity of the wea-
ther had compelled her to cut her
mizen-mast before she came with-
in the Bay. On the forenoon of
the day mentioned, she continued
bearing off, with a view to get
round Brownstown-head, and
thus ta reach the harbour in
safety, but totally without effect.
The foretop-mast fell, killed the
mate, and broke the leg of one of
the seamen. ‘Two anchors were
then thrown out, but these were
dragged by the violence of the
storm, and rendered totally una-
vailing. The vessel was then
driven forward to within half a
mile of the shore, in presence of
hundreds of people, who could
give the unhappy persons on board
no aid. It was low water at the
time, we believe, about the hour
of one P.M. which, on sucha
beach, rendered every chance of
escape almost utterly hopeless.
Most of them on board then re-
tired below, and resigned them-
selves to their impending and
awful fate! ‘he vessel struck
upon the sands, about mid-day,
between Tramore and the furthest
end of the Rabbit-burrow, and
in the course of a few minutes
went entirely topieces. The num-
ber of those on board, as stated
by one account, which we regard
as accurate, amounted to 394.
Of these 363 were drowned, and
31 only saved! Fifteen of the
crew perished, the captain and
two sailors only having escaped ;
and such is their distracted situa-
tion, that they can hardly describe

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

the means by which they were
preserved. One of the officers
who clung to something belong-
ing to the vessel, but what he
does not recollect, had nearly
abandoned himself to his fate,
when a countryman rushed into
the sea at the peril of his life,
and rescued the stranger from
death. ‘This was a noble trait of
benevolence ; and greatly would
we have rejoiced, if we had not
been compelled to throw a cloud
upon it, by instances of very dif-
ferent conduct. Several boxes
and chests were thrown on shore,
and robbed with a most criminal
ferocity. In this case the officers
have been the chief sufferers, and
the present forlorn condition of
the survivors amongst them is
almost beyond description, Mr.
Walsh, Coast Surveyor, with his
accustomed humanity, the other
coast officers, and Mr. Kennedy,
&c. used every effort to give as-
sistance; but it was not within
the compass of human power to
prevent the sad catastrophe. One
serjeant, one drummer, and 25
rank and file, have been saved.
Thirty-three persons, and among
them 14 children and some wo-
men, have been buried at Drum-
cannen church. No other bodies
had been seen on the beach when
the last accounts left Tramore
yesterday. The distance from
this city is about six miles.

The following account was ves-
terday morning received from an
officer at Waterford, representing
the sufferings and wreck of the
Seahorse transport :—

Jan. 26.—Sailed
Downs.

28.—-Off the Lizard in the
evening —Wind S,

from the

29.—-

CHRONICLE.

29.—Blowing fresh from S. W.
—Made Bally-cotton Islands,
about five p. m. The mate, going
aloft to look at the land, fell from
the rigging, and was_ killed.
Hauled up for Kinsale light, but
the weather coming on thick and
hazy, and blowing very hard, haul-
ed our wind on the larboard-tack.

The ship falling off, wore her
round on the starboard tack. At
day-light, drifting fast upon Mine-
head, set the mainsails; shook
out a reef of the topsails. At 10
a. m. off Newton-head, the fore-
top-mast went, and afterwards
the main-sail split ; finding the
ship drifting very fast on a lee-
shore, that I could not weather
the land, about Brown’s Town-
head, furled sails, and brought
up with both anchors, and two
and a half eables on end; but the
sea making a fair breach over us,
and the anchors coming home,
we drifted on shore, and in an
hour and a half went to pieces.
At the time of the wreck there
were on board—

Soldiers Lost.—9th regiment,
12 officers, 267 men.

Soldiers Saved. —59thregiment,
four officers, 20 men.

Seamen Lost —Fourteen sea-
men.

Seamen Saved—Mr, James
Gibb (Master) ; two seamen.

Women and Children Lost.-—-
Thirty soldiers’ wives, 40 chil-
dren; one Officer’s wife and two
children.

Women and Children Saved.—
None.

_ Passengers Lost.—Mr. Henry
Allen of Deal, going to his Ma-
jesty’s ship Tonnant.

Passengers Saved.—None.

Total Lost.—Officers 59th regi-
ment, 12; soldiers 59th regt,

Vou, LVIII,

17
262; seamen, 14; passengers,
1; Officers’ wives, 1; soldiers

wives, 30; Officers’ children, 2 ;
soldiers’ children, 40—Total 365.
Total Saved.—Officers 59th regt.
4; soldiers, 59th regt. 25; sea-
men, 3.—Total 32.

Tramore, Jan. 31, 1816—
Yesterday presented a melan-
choly sight near this. A trans-
port had been seen for a consi-
derable time approaching the har-
bour, and at length having crossed
it to anchor near the shore within
the opposite land, her distressed
and dangerous situation being
evident, crowds gathered from
Tramore, and the adjoining coun-
try,on thebeach. After ashort pe-
riod, heranchors having dragged,
she drifted to the beach, and
having struck in a tremendous
surf, unspeakable horror soon
followed! ‘The ship being soon
broken by the dreadful waves that
assailed her, the shore became
scattered with dead bodies, a few
struggling survivors, planks, cord-
age, and every species of wreck.
Much exertion was made by severai
spirited individuals, but particu-
larly by Mr. Hunt of Tramore,
who was instrumental in saving
many.

The severity of the day, and
the disadvantage of an ebb in-
stead of fluod tide, added greatly
to the calamity. Benumbed with
cold, and overwhelmed by con-
tinual waves, the poor sufferers
fell speedy victims to their de-
plorable fate; a great number of
women and children were on
board—not one escaped! About
half the 59th regiment had em-
barked in this transport at Deal,
their number three hundred and
upwards, and of these sixteen
were officers. About twenty-five

; (including

18

(including four officers) have
been saved. The regiment was
coming from France, and had
shared in the glories of Waterloo.
Brave men, companions in arms,
and dear friends, stood on the
deck—each looked to the other—
each expected his own fate, and
hoped for his friend’s safety—
wave after wave thundered. Maj.
Douglas, Captains, Lieutenants,
whose names I have not yet
learned, were swept away, never
to meet their friends and social
home !—never to humble another
time the vain spirit of France !
Women embraced their husbands,

bade them farewell, and died”

calmly—their heroism softened
the pangs of men who saw—
whose hearts bled, and could not
relieve them! Children took leave
of their parents, and, rising above
the weakness of thei age, wept
not. The Quarter-master’s lady
behaved with great firmness—re-
mained with her children in the
cabin—said to an Officer, ‘‘ It is
the will of Heaven,” and was
seen no more. The wife of a
private said, ‘“‘ Will you die with
meand your child? But you may
escape, and this may be of use,’
giving him her pocket with a sum
of money; she even took out her
ear-rings, and put them in it.
Herself and child were lost ! The
survivor, more wretched than
they, lives to tell the tale, as tears
mark his manly face. The Cap-
tain of the transport was saved ;
the mate fell from the mast early
in the day, and was nearly killed,
and quite disabled. This proba-
bly oceasioned the deplorable loss,
as he was well acquainted with
the coast. Lieutenant Allen, a
young officer of the navy, and of
great merit, (coming to Ireland,)

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

directed the ship for some time
with boldness and skill; he too
was swept away. Above 350 per-
sons have perished. <A _ great
quantity of valuable things is lost,
and the vessel shattered into a
thousand fragments, strews two
or three miles of the coast.
Lieutenants Macpherson, Hart.
ford, and Cowper, and Ensign
Seward, survive of the Officers,
all much bruised and ill, but
Mr. Cowper most severely ; he
now lies extremely ill at Tramore.
The night of the calamity, a cot-
tager and his wife, near the fatal
spot, showed every tenderness to
the miserable victims. But for
their humble and loiely dwelling,
so many had not now lived to tell
this tale! They gave their only
bed to two wounded and _ be-
numbed Officers, and lodged and
comforted all the» privates that
were too ill to move during the

night. Dead bodies are now

hourly throwing in.

LOSS OF THE LORD MELVILLE
TRANSPORT AND BOADICEA

BRIG.
. Kinsale, Feb. 1, 1815.

My Lord,—I have the honour
of availing myself of the earliest
opportunity that has been allowed
me since the disaster of our un-
fortunate ship, the Lord Melville,
to report to your Lordship the
arrival of his Majesty's troops that
were embarked on board of her
under my command, accounting
for the casualties that occurred by
the wreck, and a brief statement
of the misfortune. Upon making
the land, about 11 o’clock a. m.
on the 3lst ult. (haying lain to
the previous night) it blowing
nearly a gale of wind, a heavy sea
running, and the atmosphere so

thick

CHRONICLE.

thick and hazy, that, upon dis-
cerning the land, we found our-
selves nearly embayed. ‘The mas-
ter bore up to weather what was
universally supposed the entrance
into Cove, but which proved to
be the Old Head of Kinsale;
and after every exertion to wea-
ther that point, and run the ship
into Kinsale harbour, he was
compelled to bear away for some
friendly looking strand, upon
which he might run up the vessel,
and await the going out of the
tide, in the hope of saving the lives
of so many persons, very justly
not holding in competition the
ultimate security of the ship. In
endeavouring most ardently to
effect this object, the vessel was
irrecoverably driven upon a bed
of rocks by the violence of the
gale, distance between three and
four hundred yards of the shore,
the tide then making in. No

‘time was lost in passing a rope

from. the ship to the shore, and
cutting away the fore and main
masts, to ease the tremendous
shocks of the ship against the
rocks, by which her bottom was
almost iminediately stove in, and
several feet of water in her cabin.
At this time it was about three
o'clock p. m.: our situation be-
coming most critical by the vio-
lence of the sea breaking into
the cabin, and over the stern, to-
gether with her continual dash-
ing against the rocks, a boat was

manned for the ladies on board to *

endeavour making the shore:—
two officers’ wives, with their ser-
vants, soldiers of the 59th regi-
ment, a serjeant’s wife and child
of the 59th regiment, six of the
crew, together with Capt. Rad-
ford of the 62d regiment (who

19

was in a weak state of health),
got into the boat, and made for
the shore; but, distressing to add,
they had not reached half-way,
when the boat was swamped, and,
with the exception of one sailor,
all perished !

Nothing possibly remained for
those on board but to await, with
hope of preservation, the falling
of the tide, when, should the
vessel keep together, it was de-
termined to lash a long spar from
the bow to the nearest dry rock,
and pass every person over it, to
make good their way along the
range of roeks that extended te
the shore. Between ten and eleven
o'clock the attempt appeared prac-
ticable, and, to my greatest satis~
faction, succeeded beyond our ut-
most hopes. After the lapse of
some time, every individual hav-
ing happily descended from the
ship without. any accident, Lieu-
tenant Harty, of the neighbour-
ing signal-station, with a party
of inen, after the mest praise-
worthy exertions, had arranged
those men along the rocks with
lighted sticks, affording the most
essential assistance, and thereby
preventing the loss of the lives of
several, who would otherwise have
certainly fallen into. the many
large recesses of deep water that
encompassed and obstructed, our
progress to the main land, and
over which the breakers occasi-
onally washed. Every person hav-
ing at last safely reached the
shore, Lieut. Harty, with equal
promptitude, had arranged for
their being distributed amongst
the neighbouring cabins, and they
were marched off accordingly, to
return early next morning for
the purpose of endeavouring to

C2 get

‘

20

get out the arms and accoutre-
ments: nothing, however, could
possibly be effected towards that
end by the early return of the
tide, and consequent impossibility
of access to the ship. The few
men and some officers who were
enabled to return on board, re-
ported to me the nearly total de-
struction of all the baggage from
the sea it was swimming in, and
the pillaging that took place after

the troops were got on shore. —

Finding the men much in need of
repose, and the day advancing, I
directed their proceeding to Kin-
sale, leaving two oificers’ parties
from the 59th and 52d regiments
to remain in protection of the
ship, conjointly with a party from
the Limerick militia, end with
instructions to commence early
next morning (the Ist of Febru-
ary) in getting from on board
the arms and accoutrements. 1
have since dispatched a stronger
relief to those parties, and shall
continue using every exertion
until I shall succeed in securing,
I hope, as many stand of arms,
&c. as it is possible, which I shall
have the honour of reporting for
your Lordship’s information.

I beg leave to express to your
Lordship the very great support
and active assistance that have
been afforded byGovernor Browne,
Collector Meade, and the Magis-
trates and Gentlemen of Kinsale.
IT am happy in concluding this,
my Lord, by a report this mo-
ment received, that all the arms
and accoutrements have been
safely landed, and will arrive here
this evening. ‘he troops have
undergone much fatigue, and are
without necessaries. I therefore
hope time may be given to re-

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

cover themselves, and get into
some order.

From the brig that has been
wrecked (Boadicea), with part of
the S2d regiment on board, I ua-
derstand that out of 280 only 60
have been saved, and two officers.
I have the honcur to be, &c. &c.

Epwarp Darcey, Lieut.-
Colonel and Major 62d
Regiment.

Lieut.-General Lord Forbes,
&e. &c. &e.

Embarked on board the Lord
Melville Transport, of the 2d Bat-
talion, 62d Regiment :—One Co-
lonel, 1 Captain, 2 Lieutenants,
2 Ensigns, 75 rank and file, 1
servant, 6 women, and two chil-
dren.—Total 90.

Names of Officers —Lieutenant
Colonel Darley, Captain Radford
Lieutenant Mahon, Lieutenant
Whittield, Ensigns Whitney and
Sweney.—Lost, Captain Radford.
—Total 1.

Embarked on board ditto of the
Qd Battalion of the 59th. Regi-
ment :—Three Captains, 8 Lieu-
tenants, 3 Ensigns, 260 rank and
file, 2 servants, 83 women, and
30 children.—Total 389.

Officers’ Numes.—Captain Fuller,
Captain Mancor, Captain Fawsen,
Lieutenants Duncan, Pitman Hill,
O’Hara, Edwards, Robertson,
Carmichael, Assistant Surgeon
Colvin; Ensigns Stewart, Ward,
and Proctor.—Lost, Mrs. Man-
cor, wife of Captain Mancor ;
Mrs. Fawson, wife of Captain
Fawson ; Mrs. Weld, wife of Ser-
jeant Weld; Mary Weld, her
daughter ; Privates John Wheat-
leyand Richard Mooney—Total 6.

Custom-house, Kinsale, Feb. 1.

My Lord—As an opportunity

offers

| CHRONICLE. | 21

offers going to Cork, I write to
acquaint you, that on my return
from the wreck last night, I had
the honour to receive your letter
of yesterday ; and as you may
be anxious to know particulars, I
beg to acquaint you, that every
person on board the Lord Mel-
ville transport, of the 59th and
62d regiments, got safe on shore,
at low water, except the eleven I
mentioned to you, that were
upset in a boat coming from her,
and were drowned.

The other vessel was the brig
Boadicea, No. 561, J. Gibson,
master, having on board the fol-
lowing of the 82d regiment, viz.
—6 Officers, 1 Surgeon and his
Wife, 265 Non-commissioned
Officers and Privates, 15 Women,
and 18 Children. Out of her are
saved—(Officers) —Captain Mon-
tague, Lieutenant Starkey, En-
signs Green and Field; and, I
should suppose, near 80 privates ;
but it is impossible as yet to be
exact as to the numbers, as seve-
ral of them that were bruised
and hurt are in the cabins about
the place.

The Officers of the 82d drowned
are, I understand, Lieutenant Da-
yenport, Lieutenant Harding, and
Assistant Surgeon Scott. The
wife of the last also perished.

The brig Boadicea lies in pieces
on the rocks, covering: almost all
the dead bodies, and we were able
yesterday to get out of her about
140 stand of urms, which I have
got safe to the Custom-house,
and this day they are endeavour-
ing to get out the remainder, and
bury the dead; in short, every
exertion is making use of to save
every thing, and to afford relief
to the unfortunate sufferers,

The detachments of the 59th
and 62d, that were on board,
have not as yet been able to get
either their arms or any of their
baggage; but as the vessel re-
mains entire on the strand, I
should hope, if the weather mo-
derates, in a day or two they will
be able to save a good deal.

On our return from the wreck
yesterday, we brought with us all
the 59th and 62d, and those of
the 82d that were saved, and
could move; and the gentlemen
of the town instantly took in all
the officers, and gave them dry
clothes and beds, and every com-
fort they could; and the Sove-
reign supplied all the privates
with billets on the town; and, I
am happy to say, every one here
is most anxious to afford every
comfort in their power to the un-
fortunate sufferers,

Governor Browne is gone again
this day to the wreck, to give
what directions he may think ne-
cessary ; and 50 of the privates of
the 59th and the 62d regiments
are gone back again also, to en-
deavour to get their arms out of
the vessel.

I brought over Captain Faw-
son of the 59th, whose wife was
drowned, and have him at my
house, where I will afford him
every comfort in my power.

1 have the honour to be, with
very great respect, my Lord, your
most obedient humble servant, |

Jonuw Megane, Collector.
Right Hon, Lieut.-Gen.
Lord Forbes, &e.

Cork Advertiser office, 5 o' Clock.
—‘ We have just been put in
possession of the official return of
the loss of lives in the late ship-
wreck of the Boadicea, which

completes

22

completes the statements relative
to this melancholy event.

«* Officialreturn of the men, &c,
belonging to the S2d regiment of
foot, lost by the wreck of the Boa-
dicea transport, off Kinsale, on
the 30th of January, (S16 :-—-2
Lieutenants, | Assistant Surgeon,
8 Serjeants, 158° rank «and file,
13 women, and 16. children.
Total lost, 196. Names of Offi-
cers lost ;—Lientenant Davenport,
Lieutenant Harding, Assistant
Surgeon Scott ; also Mrs, Scott,
his wife. ‘

« Totalembarked, 283 men, in-
cluding non-commissioned offi-
cers, and § men of the 35th regi-
ment, two of whom were saved—
7 Officers, including 1 Assistant
Surgeon, 14 women, and 17 chil-
dren.”

The following « particulars of
corps safely disembarked, &c. may
relieve some anxious friends :—

«« Detachments of the 82d, 16th,
35th, 62d. regiments, were dis-
embarked yesterday morning at
Monkstown, marched into this
city in the course of the day, and
are to proceed to Kinsale.

*« Detachments of the 2d Gar-
rison Battalion were disembarked
this morning at Monkstown ; on
their arrival in town, they were
billetted on the inhabitants, and
are to march to Fermoy to-
morrow,

“« The depot of the 41st regi-
ment will also be disembarked
to-day.

“« The 2d battalion of the 30th
regiment was disembarked at
Monkstown on Tuesday, and

marched into this city under the

command of Major Howard ; the
left wing proceeded from this, city
yesterday morning for Mallow,

ANNUAL. REGISTER,

1816.

on their route for Buttevant,
where they are to remain till far-
ther orders.

“The right wing marched
this morning for the same desti-
nation.”

3. Advices from Lisbon to the
3d inst. state, that on the 2d, the
inhabitants of that capital were
most seriously alarmed by two
smart shocks of an earthquake,
which were felt throughout the
town. No real injury, however,
ensued, and when the last accounts
came away, all further apprehen-
sions on the subject had ceased.

Letler received by a Gentleman
of Hull, ** Lisbon, Feb. 2, 1816,
Friday Morning. — My Dear Fa-
ther—I should not have so soon
dispatched this, had it not been
for the dreadful shock we felt
last night, or rather this morn-
ing—At about five minutes be-
fore one, I felt my bed move, as
it were, up and down, for about
2. minute, or a minute and a half :
the shaking increased after this,
and changed its direction from
side to side, and very severe;
when, on a sudden, it ceased. I
cannot describe the horror I felt,
when the thought of the real
cause of this disturbance came
across my mind. The very word
earthquake (in Portuguese, Tre-
nior de Terra, or Terra Mota),
put me in a perfect fever —Every
one in the house, as by instinct,
met on the stairs, calling for
light ; and the scene of confusion
that ensued is past description. I
opened my window, which, . by
the bye, is the safest place: the
atmosphere was dense; a thick
fog covered the whole city ; yet I
could see the lamps of the further
end. On a sudden, ‘every thing

became

CHRONICLE 23

became light ; and a meteor was
seen, which approached the earth,
and of itself dissipated—and all
was again in darkness. . My ther-
mometer in the room was at 60
or G2 degrees: every thing then
became quiet, until seven in the
morning, when another (the more
trifling) shock was felt. For two
days past we have all been no-
ticing the oddity of the weather ;
all the morning dull, close, and
very cloudy—no sun (wind N.)
nor rain; ataboutoneo’clock wind
changed to South, blowing a hur-
ricane, and dreadful rains. Last
night, the rain cleared off; and
although the wind did not change,
a thorough calm followed. The
ships in the Tagus all seemed to
point different ways, and every
one supposed that the weather
was about to alter for the better.
Not being certain as to the length
of time it lasted, I spoke to the
police centinel who parades in
front of our house, and his an-
swer was, ‘‘ about three . mi-
nutes ;’’ the general opinion is
two minutes and a half. The
olilest men in Lisbon say it is the
longest shock that has been felt
in their memory in this city; and
that the very great earthquake of
1755, was only for about eight se-
conds. No damage has been_re-
ceived that I have as yet heard of,
except that some of the high
houses have received several se-

yere cracks: no falls.

“ The Portuguese were so ter-
rified, that all the streets were
full of the inhabitants, who dread-
ed the fall of the houses, and of
being buried in the ruins. The
rain, since the morning shock of
7 o'clock, has been incessant, and
particularly heavy. Another ex-

traordinary circumstance that oc-
curred, was the swarm of birds,
of all descriptions, that filled the
air, uttering most hideous notes.
Captain Parker, of the navy, who
lives in the same house with me,
said he had felt a great number
of shocks in Palermo, but nothing
equal to the one of last night.

“© Many respectable families
have gone already on board of
ship.

‘Tt is extraordinary that the
grand earthquake was on All
Saints, this on Candlemas day,
(Purification of the Virgin Mary)
a very strict heliday amongst the
Portuguese.

“TI have just learnt that the
shock was felt on the other side
of the Tagus. If you have ever
been to sea, when a wave has
struck the keel of the ship, that
resembles exactly the feel of a
shock.

‘“T forgot to mention, that
during the latter and more severe
part of the great shock, we all
heard a loud rumbling noise, like
a carriage driven past at immense
speed.

*« Thelargesquare of the Rocio,
where the great earthquake of
1755 was most felt, presented a
most curious appearance ; all the
inhabitants occupying the centre,
toavoid any crash from the houses,
some naked, some with one boot,
&c.; one poor fellow died of fear
in Gold-street.”’

7. Yesterday, a gentleman, the
head in a firm of a first-rate con-
cern in the City, put a period to
his existence by blowing out his
brains. He had gone to the mas-
querade at the Argyll-rooms a
few nights since, and accompa-
nied a female home in a coach,

with

24

with two men, friends of the
woman. When they got to her
resitlence, the two men proposed
te the gentleman to play for a
dozen of champaigne to treat the
lady with, which the gentleman
declined. They, however, after
a great deal of persuasion, pre-
vailed on him to play for small
sums, and, according to the usual
trick of gamblers, allowed him to
win at first, till they began to
play for double, when there is no
doubt that the fellows produced
loaded dice, and the gentleman
lost to the amount of 1,S800l.
which brought him to his reflec-
tion and senses. He then in-
vented an excuse for not paying
that sum, by saying he was under
an agreement with his partner
not to draw for a larger amount
than 3001. for his private account,
and gave them a draft for that
amount, promising the remainder
at a future day. This promise,
however, he did not attend to,
not feeling himself bound by such
a villainous transaction. But the
robbers found out who he was,
and his residence, and had the
audacity to go yesterday morning,
armed with bludgeons, and attack
him publicly on his own premises,
in the presence of those employed
there, demanding payment of their
nefarious debt of honour, and
threatening him, if he did not
pay, that he should fight. This
exposure had such an effect on his
feelings, that he made an excuse
to retire, when he destroyed him-
self by blowing out his brains
with a pistol. ‘This rash act is
additionally to be lamented, as it
prevents the bringing to condign
punishment the plundering vil-
Jains who were the cause of it,

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

there being no evidence to con-
vict them.

8. Extract of a Letter from
Madeira.—‘‘ There happened a
dreadful earthquake here early on
the 2d inst. it was very violent,
and continued from three to five
minutes, according to different
opinions: it has thrown down the .
cross from one of the parish
churches, rent its walls, and other
churches and houses are damaged
throughout the island ; but what
I think is more alarming, an
American ship arrived here on
the 5th inst.: the master of her
reports, that on the 2d inst. be-
tween the hours of twelve and
one in the morning, then being
about 300 miles from the Azores
and 700 from hence, his ship got
almost on end, and appeared as
if run aground; the crew were
dreadfully alarmed, and sounded,
but could find no bottom, They
could not account for so extraor-
dinary a circumstance until their
arrival here; therefore there is
cause to believe some accident has
happened to the Azore islands, or
somewhere.”

The Alceste, captain Murray
Maxwell; Lyra, captain Basil
Hall; and the Hon. Company’s
ship General Hewett, captain
Campbell, sailed with a fair wind
for China, from Portsmouth, with
the ambassador, Lord Amherst,
and suite. The magnificent pre-
sents, which are intended to give
weight to the assurances of con-
sideration and esteem for the Em-
peror, consist wholly of British
manufactures : elegantly cut glass
vases, dishes, and bottles, have
been selected as likely to be the
articles he would most acceptably
receive. The ships will proceed

to

CHRONICLE. 25

to Canton, and from thence im-
mediately to the Yellow Sea, and
there land the embassy. ‘The
persons gone in the suite of his
Excellency Lord Amherst, are—
The Hon. Mr. Amherst, Mr.
Ellis, Public Sectretary; Mr.
Haynes, Private Secretary; Rev.
Mr. Griffiths, Chaplain; Mr.
Abell, Naturalist; Dr. Lynn,
Physician; Mr. Murriage, Mine-
ralogist and Assistant Naturalist ;
Mr. Pole, Draftsman : Sir George
Staunton will join the Embassy
at Canton.

Some Laplanders, who were on
their way to London some days
since, arrived with their game,
which is selling by different poul-
terers in the city. These poor
fellows expected, when they left
Gottenburg, that the packet would
land them in London, and that
they would have no duties to pay ;
whereas they have been obliged
to pay upwards of 501. for duties,
besides 10. guineas for freight
from Harwich to London. ‘The
state of preservation in which these
birds are is really surprising, after
travelling upwards of 1000 miles.
They are preserved by being hung
up to freeze as soon as killed, and
afterwards being packed in cases,
lined with skins to keep out the
air. ‘This process so effectually
preserves them, that when the
packages are opened, the birds
are found frozen quite hard ; and
those packages which are not
opened, will continue in this
state for some weeks. The mode
in which the small birds are
dressed in Sweden, is by stewing
them in cream with a little butter
in it, after being larded, which, it
is said, vives them a very exqui-
site flavow: the large ones are

roasted, and basted with cream,
which is afterwards served up as
sauce. These Laplanders wear a
kind of great coat, made of rein-
deer skin, with caps.and gloves
of the same, which gives them a
very grotesque appearance: they
are very shy of appearing in the
streets in this attire, on account
of their attracting so many people
round them.

Heidelberg, Feb. 10.—News is
just arrived here, that his Holi-
ness the Pope, on the application
of the Imperial Austrian court,
has consented to restore to the
university of Heidelberg all the
MSS. and works taken from the
Palatine library, and hitherto pre-
served in the Vatican, consisting
of 847 volumes.

Count ‘Trautmannsdorff, the
Austrian ambassador at Carls-
ruhe, officially communicated this
news, so highly desirable for us
and all Germany, to Baron von
Hake, Baden minister for foreign
affairs, in the following letter :—

‘« The undersigned has received
from his court the advice, taken
from a letter of the Imperial am-
bassador at Rome, that his Holi-
ness has consented to restore to
the university of Heidelberg not
only the 47 (38) volumes found
at Paris, belonging to the former
Palatine library, but also 847 vo-
humes, likewise belonging to that
collection, which are still in the
Vatican library—a resolution to
which his Holiness has been in-
duced by the wish of giving plea-
sure to his Majesty the Emperor,
and out of special regard for his
intervention, and which acquires
the more value from the circum-
stance that his Holiness thinks he
may consider as his legal pro-

perty

.

26

perty this collection, which has
now been incorporated for near
two centuries with the Vatican
library.

(The minister then requests
to be informed of the measures
intended to be taken to remove
the works, as the Austrian court
will readily contribute to facilitate
this object.)

«© Dated
1816.”

The Counsellor and Professor
Welkens will set out in eight or
ten days for Rome to receive
this treasure.

The revelations and prophecies
of a person named Catherine
Healy, alias the Holy Woman, are
the subject of an address from
the Rev. Dr. Touhy, Catholic Bi-
shop of Limerick, which was read
on Sunday in all the chapels
throughout that diocese. ‘* This
woman,”’ says the address, ‘‘ has
presumed to assert, on the autho-
rity of a pretended revelation
made to her, ‘ that infants, who
die immediately after baptism, are
condemned to a punishment of 24
hours duration.” She has also
presumed to utter certain pre-
dictions, calculated, under the
present gloomy aspect of affairs,
to terrify and mislead the weak
and ignorant, and disturb the
peace and good order of the coun-
try.”-- (Dublin, Freeman’s Journal.)

A new and unexpected difficulty
has been raised in Ireland against
the abolition of the great sinecure
of the Clerkship of the Pleas in
the Court of Exchequer, in that
country, held by the late Earl of
Buckinghamshire. The Dublin
Evening Post, of the 10th instant,
states, that the Chief Baron, Sir
Standish O'Grady, claims the right

Carlsruhe, Feb. 7,

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

of patronage in the appointment,
being an office in his court; and
he has in consequence actually
named his son to the clerkship,
az held by the Earl of Bucking-
hamshire ; and his brother to the
place of deputy, now and for a
long time held by Mr. John Pol-
lock.

The widow of General Wash-
ington has consented to the re-
moval of her husband’s remains
to a spot on which it is proposed
to erect a national monument to
his memory, In her answer to
the President of the United States
on the subject, she says—‘‘ Taught
by the great example which I have
so long had before me, never to
oppose my private wishes to the
public will, ] must consent to the
request made by Congress, which
you have had the goodness to
transmit to me; and in doing
this, 1 need not, i cannot. say,
what a sacrifice of individual feel-
ing I make to a sense of public
duty.”

11. A dreadful fire broke out
about a quarter before 4 o'clock
in the morning, at the house of
Charles Boone, Esq. in Berkeley-
square, which m a short time
consumed it, with its valuable
furniture, library, &c. Fortu-
nately no lives were lost. The
house of Lord Langford, adjoin-
ing, was Just caught; but by the
timely arrival of the engines, the
flames were extinguished without
further damage. The house of
Mr. Thornhill, M. P. on the other
side, received no injury. Mr. and
Mrs. Thornhill and family only
arrived in town on Saturday. Mr.
Boone is in the 90th year of his

age, and was taken out of the

house through the stables; he
ake had

CHRONICLE.

had hardly reached them before
the floor of the room where he
had been fell in.

12. Mitchelstoun.—‘*‘ A most
melancholy event teok place yes-
terday morning near this town. A
farmer of some respectability in the
neighbourhood, whose. daughter
was inarried the previous nivht,
invited a number of his friends,
&c. to the wedding. After supper
all the young ‘retired to a large
barn to dance. There was a fire
in the barn, as the night was
cold; and, after they had been
dancing for some time, they wish-
ed to have the fire extinguished,
when one of the young men went
into the dwelling-house for some
water, and seeing a large Jug full
of water, as he supposed (but it
preved to be spirits), brought it
into the barn, and threw it on the
fire. The barn immediately took
fire, as it had no chimney ; before
the door, which was locked, could
be opened, dreadful to relate, a
number of them were burned to
ashes! and such as found their
way out were miserably scorched.
Sixteen have been already in-
terred, and about twice that num-
ber are despaired of ; among the
latter number is the bride—the
bridegroom is severely scorched,
but he will recover. A young
gentleman, who has just come
from the melancholy scene, says
he never saw so dreadful a sight,
—men and women lying on the
outside of the ruins, so disfigured
that their parents even could not
recognise them! The uncle of the
young man who was married, and
i daughter, are among the dead.

ey have not got out all the bo-
dies from under the ruins yet,
but from every account it is sup-

27

posed that about twenty persons
were burned to death !’’—Cork
Advertiser.
FURTHER PARTICULARS.

14. Milchelstown.—‘ I omitted
to inform you that the name of
the farmer was Chamberlame ;
his young son, a man of the name
of Bronogue, his eldest son and
daughter, with two more of that
name; a young man of the name
of Winan, an only son, a young:
woman of the name of Cavennah,
two young sisters of the name of
Clancy, and two more females of
the name of Mahoney, one of
whom was to be married on the
Sunday following, were burnt
to ashes. Several beggars, who
generally attend country wed-
dings, were also burnt. I have

just heard that four persons who

were injured by the fire have died
in consequence, IJ understand
that there are no hopes of the re-
covery of four more. A poor fe-
male fiddler, who was blind, lost
her life; her little daughter, who
was an atiendant on her, made
her escape, but was very much
injured. From the appearance of
the ruins, and the bones found,
it is generally conjectured that
from 25 to 30 have perished, be-
sides those who have died since.
It is impossible to describe the
state of distraction of the parents
and relatives, in endeavouring to
discover some part of the remains
of the unfortunate sufferers.”’—

(Cork Advertiser, Feb. 17)
Naples—The royal theatre of
S. Carlo is no more. That glo-
rious monument of the arts, and
of the magnificence of Charles III.
—that immense edifice, which
exhibited to this nation and to
strangers the taste of Athens
united

28. ANNUAL PR Ee Tot £.R,° eG.

united to the power of Rome, has
been in a short time entirely de-
stroyed by the flames. There was
last night a general concert, of
which the representation was to
follow in a few days. The work-
men employed in the illumination
having prepared in a magazine
the lamps necessary for the spec-
tacle of this day, had left there a
lamp lighted, by which the grand
saloon was in general illuminated :
the windows were open, and the
wind blew strong from the north-
east: hence it happened that a
spark carried by the current of
air fell into a prodigious quantity
of combustible matter. In an
instant the whole saloon was in
combustion: the beams from
which the lamps of the stage
were suspended, serving as con-
ductors to the flame, had already
conveyed it to the roof, whence
from the smoke which burst out
in a torrent from every part, the
danger of those was discovered
who were present at the concert.
The utmost consternation was
created : every one took to flight ;
but all were not yet safe when
the flames reached the, ample
architrave of that vast theatre.
Vesuvius, in its grandest erup-
tions, never presented a more
terrible spectacle; and, in spite
of the splendour of the moon, the
flames diffused themselves in the
most lively manner over the whole
horizon, as is the case in the most
splendid Anrora Borealis. The
roof fell: the royal palace, the
neighbouring edifices, and the
piazzas, were in a moment eover-
ed with burning ashes. So great
a calamity was the work of a few
minutes. Had the progress been
a little slower, the theatre might

have been saved, such was the
enthusiasm, the anxiety, the in-
telligence, the activity, with which
people flocked from all parts for
the preservation of that edifice,
and of the contiguous palace of
the king. But if the national love
could not be gratified by the pre-
servation of the first theatre of
the world, that loyalty which is so
lively in the heart of every Nea-
politan received a grateful recom-
pense in stopping the course of
the flames, and putting the king’s
palace in security. The troops of
his Imperial Majesty of Austria
have acquired a fresh title to the
gratitude of the Neapolitans. Ge-
neral Nugent has covered himself
with glory, and all the other Aus-
trian generals, officers, and sol-
diers, have shared in the zeal of
their chief. The troops of his
Neapolitan Majesty also have
given the strongest proofs of cou-
rage, of devotion to the King,
and of patriotism. In the midst
of the danger, his Majesty and the
ministers attended to afford their
assistance in extinguishing the
conflagration ; and his royal high-
ness Prince de Leopold was in the
midst of the flames, giving the
most. brilliant example of courage.
At four in the morning all was
safe, and the ruins glowing in the
centre of the theatre presented a
lively image of the crater of a
voleano during the explosion.

16. In the contemplation of an
important marriage, the following
pedigree of the House of Saxony
was published :

Albertine Branch, Catholic.

Frederick Augustus, King of
Saxony.

Ernestine Branch, Lutheran.

Saxe-Weimar Risenach—Duke.

Saxe-

CHRONICLE.

Saxe-Gotha and Altenburgh—
Duke.

Saxe Meinungen—Duke.

Saxe-Hilburghausen—Duke.

Saxe-Cobourg Saalfeld—Hrnest
Frederick Anthony—Duke ; born
the 2d January, 1784, aged 32
years.

Brothers and Sisters.

1. Sophia Frederica Carolina
Louisa, born the 10th August,
1778; married to Emanuel Count
of Mansdorff and Poully.

2. Antoinette Ernestina Ame-
lia, born the 28th August, 1779 ;
married to Alexander Duke of
Wurtemberg.

3. Johanna Henrietta Ulrica,
born 23d Sept. 1781; married
to Constantine Grand Duke of
Russia.

4, Ferdinand George Augustus,
born the 28th March, 1785, aged
31 years.

5. Maria Louisa Victoria, born
the 17th August, 1756; married
to E. Charles Louis, Hereditary
Prince of Linange.

6. Leopold George Christian
Frederick, born the 16th Decem-
ber, 1790, aged 26 years.

17. At Drury-lane Theatre, at
the opening scene of the farce
called Modern Antiques, or The
Merry Mourners, in which Miss
Kelly appeared in the character
of Nan, a country girl; and Mr.
Knight, as Joey, a country lad;
while these two performers were,
according to their parts, embrac-
ing, a pistol was discharged from
about the centre of the pit. Great
consternation was excited on the
stage and among the audience ;
and it was not ascertained whe-
ther any person was shot, or what
mischief was done. It was not
known then whether the deadly

29

attack was intended to be against
Miss Kelly or Mr. Knight ; but
a subsequent investigation proved
that it was aimed at Miss Kelly.
Baker and Dickons, the consta-
bles belonging to the theatre,
were upon the alert, and soon
had the assagsin in custody: he
at first denied that he was the
man who had discharged the
pistol, but the officers, being
supported by a cloud of witnesses,
continued their hold of the man
originally pointed out, and hand-
cuffed him.

Mr. Rae, the manager, then
came forward on the stage, and
informed the audience that the
man who had fired the pistol was
in custody, and he would inform
them of the result of the investi-
gation at the close of the per-
formance ; which intimation gave
general satisfaction.

The prisoner was conveyed to
the above office, and underwent a
long examination before Mr. Bir-
nie, at which Mr. Rae and Mr.
Dibdin, the managers of the
theatre, attended.

The prisoner appeared to be
about 21 years of age. He was
decently and plainly dressed, like
a tradesman, but with no ap-
pearance of gentility. He gave
the name of George Barnett ; said
he was a law stationer by busi-
ness, and lived at No. 22, Prin-
cess-street,

Nathan Harris, a jeweller, of
No. 136; Drury-lane, said, he was
in the pit of Drury-lane theatre,
sat near the prisoner during the
time Miss Keily and Mr. Knight
were on the stage together, at
the commencement of the enter-
tainment; he observed the pri-
soner in the act of presenting a

pistol

30

pistol towards the stage, and it
appeared to be aimed at the per-
formers; immediately after the
prisoner fired off the pistol, the
witness lost no time in collaring
him, and he assisted in securing
him. The prisoner denied that
he was the man. He was con-
veyed into the avenue of the pit,
and a case of gunpowder was
found upon him.

Mr. John Taylor, a gentleman
from Scotland, but at present
lodging at Osborn’s hotel in the
Adelphi, stated, that he was in
the pit of Drury-lane theatre at
the time the outrage was com-
mitted, and sat on the same seat
as the prisoner, was within one
person of him, and saw him pre-
sent and fire off a pistol towards
the stage at the time Miss Kelly
and Mr. Knight were on it; the
pistol appeared to be directed to-
wards the performers. He as-
sisted in searching the prisoner,
and took out of his right-hand
coat-pocket a pistol, which, he
had no doubt, had recently been
fired off. He followed up his
statement by observing, that the
pistol was neither loaded with
shot nor ball. Dlr. Birnie, the
magistrate, requested that he
would not give a hasty opinion
upon so serious and important a
question. He then confessed that
all the knowledge he had upon
the subject was from the report
of the pistol; but his opinion
was completely contradicted by
several gentlemen in the office,
who stated that. they distinctly
heard shots rattle against tin, or
something of a hard substance.
One gentleman was positive that
shot had passed his head ; which
statement was strongly correbo-

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

rated by Mr. Rauer, a geitleman
belonging to the box-office of the
theatre, -who produced a num-
ber of shots, a pen-case filled with
gunpowder, and a second pistol,
which were found upon the pri-
soner.

The prisoner was then called
upon to give an account of him-
self. He said his mother and
father-in-law live in Brown’s
buildings, Stanhope-street, Clare-
market.

He was asked if he had any
personal knowledge of Miss Kelly.
He at first denied that he had any
knowledge of her, but afterwards
said he had, and that she could
explain it.

On his being questioned as to
his motive for the daring outrage,
he declined answering it, but said
he wauld. say more at ‘a future
time. He hesitated in answering
all the questions put to him, and
gave very contradictory accounts.
He was then conveyed to Tothill-
fields Bridewell by the constables
who apprehended hii.

Tt was with some difliculty that
Miss Kelly finished acting her
character in the faree. On her
being informed of the young
man’s name, she recollected that
if was the same nanie ‘Wliich she
had received, signed to several
love-letters, some of which con-
tained threats, if she did not ac-
cept of his offer, &c.—She, not
knowing the person, treated the
whole as a matter of indifference ;
she had, however, menitionéd the
circumstance to Mr. Lamb, one
of the gentlemen of the committee
for managing the affairs of the
theatre; also to her dresser, and
several other persons about the
theatre. The fright lad such an

effect

CHRONICLE.

effect upon her that she has been
much indisposed since, and was
confined yesterday.

At the conclusion of the farce,
several voices called for Mr. Rae,
when that gentleman appeared,
and said—‘‘ Ladies and Gentle-
men, the young man who fired
the pistol has been taken to the
public office, Bow-street, and in-
terrogated by Mr. Birnie, the
magistrate; and, from the wild
and incoherent manner in which
he conducted himself, there is
very little doubt of his insanity.”’

The scenes that were on at the
time the pistol was fired were
then put up again and examined,
when it was ascertained that se-
veral shots had perforated through
the left back scene, “&c. and also
had struck the back of the orches-
tra; but it not being a musical
faree, fortunately none of the
performers were in their places,
or probably they would have been
struck.

19. The Sufferers in the Heaton
Coal-Pit.—About twelve months
ago, between 70 and 80 men and

boys lost their lives in the Heaton”

coal-pit, near Newcastle-upon-
Tyne, by what is called a blast of
the pit, and its filling in conse-
quence with water. It was not
until the 19th instant, that the
bodies of the greater part of the
sufferers were come at, when 55
of them were found in what is
called the far workings of the pit.
It has been clearly ascertained
that these unfortunate men and
boys all perished by starvation.
They had got into a part of the
pit where the water did not reach
them, and had been many weeks
employed in endeavouring to work
their way into an old pit, by which

31

they might have escaped. They
are supposed to have failed in their
attempt by the want of food to
support them, as every horse in
the pit was eaten to the bone.
The unfortunate men had a water-
mark fixed up, that they might
observe if it fell. One man, who
is supposed to have been set to
watch it, was found dead at his
post.

20. The Directors of the Ame-
rican Company at St. Petersburgh
have recently communicated to
the Imperial Academy of Sciences
the subjoined extract from the
journal of the Lieutenant of Ma-
rine Lasarew, relating to the dis-
covery of the Suwarrow Islands :
—‘* The Suwarrow, a ship of the
Russian American Company, com-
manded by Lieut. Lasarew, sailed
on the 20th Oct. 1813, from Cren-
stadt. After having touched. at
England, the Brazils, and New’
Holland, he sailed from Port
Jackson for the Russian settle-
ments in America. On the 27th
of September 1814, his ship was
surrounded by a great number of
birds, which increased towards
sunset. These birds were so tame,
that they began to siispect they
were approaching an Island. The
Suwarrow, having slackened sail,
steered to the N.N.E., and about
11 at night a low island was per-
ceived to the south and east: al-
though the breakers were heard
at a distance, the ship continued
driving on, as at the depth of 100
fathoms no ground could be found.
On the approach of daylight, four
other low islands were discovered.
At the distance of three miles from
the shore, the sea was more than
100 fathoms deep: when they
reached the beach, they found

these

32

these islands inhabited only by
birds, crabs, and rats; there
were here and there shrubs and
cocoa trees, but no trace of in-
habitants. Lieutenant Lasarew
named them the Suwarrow Islands,
after his ship. He fixed their
south latitude at 13 deg. 13 min.
15 sec. and their longitude at
163 deg. 31 min. 4 sec. west of the
meridian of Greenwich. Thus these
newly-discovered islands lie at an
almost equal distance trom Navi-
gators’ and the Society Islands.”

Lord Viscount Fitzwilliam,
lately deceased, has, by will, be-
queathed a splendid donation to
the University of Cambridge, viz.
his extensive collection of proof
prints, to the amount of 10,000
in number, selected by his lord-
ship in a long course of years
with the greatest taste and atten-
tion, and estimated at the value
of 40,0001. He has also given to
the same University his extensive
collection of highly-esteemed pic-
tures; and, to complete the
magnificence of his bequest, he is
said to have left 100,000]. in
South Sea Stock, to erect a build-
ing in the said University, appro-
priate to the reception of these
valuable collections, and probably
for an endowment also of a pro-
fessorship in this branch of the
fine arts. His lordship has be-
queathed the rest of his disposable
property, (amounting to 10,0001.
a year) to Lord Pembroke: he
has left only 3001. a year to the
heir at law.

21. Galway.—Yesterday even-
ing a meeting took place near
Merlin Park, between P. Dillon,
Esq. of this town, and B. Kane,
Esq. of , When the former

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

received his adversary’s ball under
the right breast, and instantly ex-
pired. These two gentlemen
were close friends for many years.
Mr. Dillon fought several duels,
in all of which Mr. Kane acted
as his’ second; and it is remark-
able that Mr. Dillon's father lost
his lifein an affair of honour with
the late Malachy Fallon, Esq. at
the same age, and nearly on the
same spot where his son fell.

22. Yesterday morning the
Prince of Saxe Cobourg arrived
at the Clarendon Hotel, Bond-
street, from Dover. Lord Cas-
tlereagh, as Secretary of State for
Foreign Affairs, waited upon the
Prince to congratulate him on his
arrival, and know his pleasure as
to his future arrangements. Lord
Castlereagh, as soon as he had
taken his leave of the Prince, dis-
patched a messenger with the re-
suit of the interview to the Prince
Regent at Brighton.

23. At three in the afternoon,
Prince Leopold Saxe Cobourg,
accompanied by Lord Castlereagh,
arrived at the Pavilion at Brigh-
ton: he was received by the
Duke of Clarence, Sir B. Bloom-
field, Count Hardenberg, and the
nobility residing at the Pavilion.
Immediately after the Prince
alighted, he was introduced to
the Prince Regent.

24. St. John’s, Newfoundland.
—A very alarming fire broke out
here about a fortnight since, and
the flames at one time laid us
under serious apprehensions for
the safety of our own and our
friends’ property in our care ;
but happily the fury of the con-
flagration was checked just in
time to prevent the fire commu-

nicating

CHRONICLE.

nicating with the stores that ad-
join our premises.

About 130 houses were con-
sumed by the fire, thereby 1500
persons deprived of habitations at
this wretched cold season of the
year: the distress in this town is
consequently very great indeed.

Another Letter, same date.—

“The custom-house and other
public buildings have been saved
by the greatest exertions. A
more dreadful sight was never
witnessed. During the awful
conflagration, a hurricane, ac-
companied with a hail-storm, took
place, which saved the wreck of
the town. Huts are now erected
for the miserable sufferers. <A
subscription has been raised, and
the inhabitants cannet be too
highly praised for the exertions
they have made, taking in as
many of the houseless poor as
their houses would hold, and
clothing them with their gar-
ments. This dreadful fire broke
out at midnight of the 11th.”

Another Account.—The fire
broke out on the 12th, about
eight o'clock in the evening, and
consumed between a hundred and
thirty, and a hundred and forty
houses. Whatincreased the dan-
ger, and added to the extent of
this calamity, was the way in
which the town of St. John is
built. The houses are entirely of
wood, not a brick being used, ex-
cept in the chimneys. They are
also irregularly built and huddled
together as suited the convenience
of their various owners, and
without regard to safety or order.
A tremendous gale from the
south-east was blowing when the
fire commenced, and threatened
the total destruction of the place.

Vou, LVIII.

33

Towards morning, however, a
heavy snow which had _ been
falling up to this period chang-
ed into rain, and materially
checked the rapidity of the pro-
gress of the devouring element.
The extraordinary exertions of
the navy, army, and public de-
partments, are represented as be-

yond praise. Several houses were

pulled down before the flames
reached them, and thus the com-
munication being cut off, the in-
jury was limited to the number
of habitations specified. We are
sorry to say that the lower order
of the populace gave themselves
up to plunder, instead of assist-
ing their wretched fellow crea-
tures, of whom 1,500 have been
rendered destitute, during a ri-
gorous and inclement season, by
this awful visitation. Their houses
and provisions are destroyed, and
what augments their distress is
the impossibility of vessels enter-
ing the port with supplies, in
consequence of the ice. The other
inhabitants share their store with
these unfortunates, but so heavy
aloss must be felt by all. A li-
beral subscription was entered
upon, which afforded temporary
relief ; and we have no doubt but
it will be benevolently aided by a -
similar measure in this country.

The rapidity with which the
houses were consumed is describ-
ed as almost inconceivable: many
of their inmates had barely time
to escape naked, or merely cover-
ed with blankets, and stood shi-
vering in the storm and snow,
while all that they had in the
world perished before their eyes.

Report speaks of only one
life lost on this melancholy oc-
casion.

Limerick

34

Limerick.—Last Satarday night,
about the hour of ten o'clock, a
party of ruffians, twelve in nwn-
ber, and all strangers, attacked
the house of a respectable farmer,
named Hogan, living not far from
Jessefield, which they broke into,
and after beating “Hogan, his
wife, their sons, and brother-in-
law, in.a savage manner, forcibly
carried off this industrious man’s
only daughter, for whose provi-
sion he was known to have laid
by a fortune of 100 guineas. In
carrying her away, the direction
they took led them to a Mr, Fitz-
gerald’s, of Jessefield, whose
daughter hearing and instantly
recognising the screams of Ho-
gan’s daughter, who was her in-
timate friend, rallied all the men
of the family, her brother, and
the servants; and they, getting
fresh succour from Mr. Fitzge-
rald’s tenants, pursued the party,
whom they soon came up with,
and, after a very sharp conflict,
routed completely, recovering the
girl from them, and bringing her
back in safety to Fitzgerald's
house. When we consider that
these brave and loyal fellows had
no fire-arms, nor any weapon
better than the cudgel, we cannot
too highly applaud their conduct ;
nor can we dismiss the subject
without congratulating the coun-
try, from this and several pro-
minent recent examples, on the
improvement which is gradually
and manifestly working in the
conduct of the farmers, since
they have experienced the efficacy
of that assistance which the go-
vernment affords them, in shaking
off their terrors, under the pre-
valence of a profligate banditti,
and throwing themselves on the

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

protection of the law and the go-
vernment.— (Clonmel Herald.)

The death of Kotzebue is con-
firmed by the foreign papers. He
was in the 55th year of his age,
and had, since the expulsion of
the French from Germany, re-
sided at Koningsberg as Russian
consul. Perhaps, since the days
of Lopez de Vega, no author has
been more remarkable for the
number of his dramatic produc-
tions. It has been usual for a
volume of new plays from his pen
to appear annually at Leipsic;
besides which, he published every
year a collection of pieces intend-
ed to be adapted to music, in one
volume, under the title of the
Opera Almanack. The last work
which has appeared under his
name, is one to which he has
performed only the office of edi-
tor. It is a curious narrative,
written by one of his sons, named
Moritz, who was taken prisoner
by the French during Buonaparte’s
campaign in Russia. Though a
German born, (he was a native
of the city of Weimar), Kotzebue
had become a Russian by natura-
lization, and his children are
Russians by birth.

Yesterday, in a scuffle between
a Mr. Brookes and Mr. Thomp-
son, in which a pistol was used,
the latter was shot in the head,
and little or no hopes are enter-
tained of his recovery. The affair
having taken place in the city,
Mr. Brookes was brought before
the Lord Mayor at the Mansion-
house to explain the transaction.
Several witnesses also attended,
who were present on the melan-
choly occasion. ‘The following
particulars transpired before his
Lordship :—

Mr,

CHRONICLE.

Mr. Brookes was proprietor of
a menagerie. He had been ac-
quainted with Sarah Tookey for
six years, during which period
they had lived together as man
and wife, but were not married.
Having business in Scotland, he
left the female under protection of
his friends, residing at Westmor-
land-place, with a suitable pro-
vision for her maintenance until
his return. His friends being in
the habit of visiting an acquaint-
ance with whom Mr. Thompson
lodged, the latter, in consequence,
became acquainted with Sarah
Tookey; andtwodays prior to Mr.
Brookes’s return from Scotland,
prevailed upon her to quit West-
morland-place, and to reside with
him at his Jodgings in the City-
road. Mr. Brookes was much
grieved at the loss of the lady,
and consulted with Tookey, a
hair-dresser, &c. in Ball-alley,
George-yard, the brother of the
fugitive, as to the best means of
vecoyering her. They both pro-
ceeded together to Thompson’s
lodgings, and during his absence
induced Sarah Tookey to return
with them, but not without con-
siderable reluctance. ‘Three days
had elapsed, when Mr. Thompson
had endeavoured in vain to trace
the woman ; and if was not until
yesterday that they met. In the
forenoon, Mr. Thompson called
at the brother's, in Ball-alley,
and left word that he was desirous
of an opportunity of speaking
with Mr. Brookes on business,
telative to the possession of Savah
Tookey, and that in the hope of
meeting him there in the evening,
he should look in. In less than
an hour and a half, however, he
called again, and in the interval

35

Mr. Brookes and Sarah Tookey
had seen the brother, and been
toll of Thompson’s intention.
Thompson, finding Mr. Brookes
and the object of his search toge-
ther in Ball-alley, desired to
come to an explanation with the
former. On the parties meeting,
a quarrel ensued, and Thompson
not being able to cope with
Brookes, in point of strength,
had prepared himself with a pis-
tol, which he drew from his poc-
ket in his defence. The scream-
ing and fears of the women, how-
ever, induced Thompson to re-
place it again in his pocket.
Brookes, thus threatened to be
shot, ran up stairs and armed
himself with a poker, and, on
coming down again, a fresh
seufileensued. Brookes had given
Thompson a violent blow on the
hegd with the poker, who finding
himself again overmatched, had
recourse to the pistol. Brookes,
on perceiving his danger, got rid
of the poker, and closed with
Thompson, in order to wrest
from his hands the deadly weapon :
but Brookes states that in this he
did not succeed, and finding that
Thompson was endeavonring to
discharge the pistol, he turned
it aside, when the contents enter-~
ed the head of the unfortunate
man, and he instantly fell, and
bled profusely. Mr. Ambrose,
of the post-office, hearing the
shrieks of the women, entered
the house, and was endeavouring
fo separate the parties when the
pistol went off close to his ear,
and his face and neckerchief were
bespattered all over with blood,
but he fortunately escaped with-
out injury. The poor wretch
was assisted into a chair, and en-

D2 deavoured,

36

deavoured, but in an incoherent
manner, to articulate an answer
to some questions. It wasthought
that he was desirous to defend
himself from the charge of sui-
cide, for he was understood to
repeat—‘‘ It was taken from me,
it was taken from me,” meaning
the pistol. He was immediately
conveyed to St. Thomas’s hospital,
but, as we before stated, with
little or no hopes of recovery, as
it appeared impossible to extract
the ball, or to give him relief.
The young weman attended
Thompson to the hospital, whilst
Brookes was conveyed to the
Mansion-house.

The Lord Mayor, on_ hearing
all the evidenee brought forward,
and learning that more could be
produced, ordered the prisoner
Brookes to be remanded until
Monday next. Brookes narrated
the circumstances with a consci-
ous innocence, and without the
smallest appearance of fear or
alarm for the consequences.

The final result was, that
Thompson died, and that Mr.
Brookes being tried, was found
guilty of manslaughter.

25. On Sunday evening, Mr.
John Holman, a farmer of Per-
ran, Cornwall, was returning
from a place of worship, across a
common, to his own house.. A
heavy mist falling, he mistook his
way, and fell into an exposed
shaft of a mine, 96 feet deep, be-
sides 9 feet of water in the bot-
tom; and, almost miraculously,
he reached the water without re-
ceiving any serious injury. Being
an expert swimmer, he kept him-
self afloat during the night, oc-
casionally relieving himself by
clinging to the projecting points

ANNUAL REGISTER,

‘the attention of

1816.

of rock in the sides of the shaft’
The return of daylight, on Mon-
day, enabled him to see a kind
of ledge, on which he contrived
to get, and on which he lay the
whole of Monday, calling for as-
sistance; but no person ap-
proached the place, and Monday
night came on whilst he con-
tinued in his perilous situation,
where, overcome by fatigue, he
fell asleep, and again fell into
the water. The darkness of the
night prevented his regaining his
resting place, and he had to sup-
port himself as before until Tues-
day morning, when he regained
the spot from which he fell. He
had now become quite hoarse
from cold, and almost incessant
calling for help; so that the only
resource he had for drawing the
attention of those whom he sup-
posed would be sent to seek for
him, was by throwing stones in-
to the water. Tuesday night
came without affording him any
relief ; but the terror of again
falling into the water effectually
prevented his sleeping. On Wed-
nesday, however, the noise made
by the stones which he continued
to throw into the water, attracted
some persons
whom his distressed family had
dispatched in search of his re-
mains, and he wasextricated from
the dreadful abyss, without sus-

taining any serious contusion.
On Sunday, the Rev. James
Power, sub-deacon of the church
of Rome, and late a monk of the
order of La Trappe, and resident
in the monastery of Lulworth,
abjured the errors of the church
of Rome, and was publicly ad-
mitted into the communion of
the established church of England
and

CHRONICLE.

and Ireland, in Blandford church,
after morning service. The form
regularly appointed for the pur-
pose was used on the occasion,
under the direction of the Bishop
of Bristol.

28. Mansion-house. — Several
journeymen sugar-bakers, in the
employment of Messrs. Danvers,
and others of that trade, were
charged with a criminal combina-
tion. It appeared from the state-
ment of the complainants, that a
few years since, during a time of
great scarcity of provisions, the
wages of the journeymen (inde-
pendently of being provided with
apartments, fire, &c. &c.) were
raised from 10s. to 12s. per week.
A short time back, however, the
masters were of opinion, that in
consequence of the decreased price
of provisions, the allowance
should be reduced to its original
standard. Notice to this effect
was accordingly given to the re-
sident journeymen, but the latter
refused to continue their services
upon such terms; and a general
combination being entered into
between them, what is termed a
round robin was signed by about
500 persons. The business of the
sugar-houses was thus wholly at
astand, the journeymen having
suddenly struck, without giving
the slightest notice, and in one
or two instances having actually
left their employment at a time
when the sugar was in such a
state of preparation in the vats as
to occasion its totalloss. A num-
ber of the defendants (being Ger-
mans) pleaded ignorance of the
law; while others contended,
that the advanced wages were
barely suflicient to supply their
wants. ‘They were reminded,

37

however, that the advance was
clearly stated, at the time, to be
given during the continuance of
the then existing dearth of pro-
visions, and by no means as a
permanent one. The Lord Mayor
inquired if any of the parties had
given the requisite notice (14
days) of an intention to quit their
employment ; and being answer-
ed in the negative, his lordship
proceeded to hear evidence of
identity, when he ordered four
of them to be committed to the
house of correction forone month
each—hoping this punishment
would operate as a warning to
the rest, and induce them to re-
turn to their employment.

MARCH.

2. Belfast—On the morning
of Wednesday last, about four
o'clock, a band of armed ruffians
attacked the dwelling house of
Mr. Francis Johnson, muslin
manufacturer, near the head of
North-street, while the family
were all asleep: this family con-
sisted of Mr. and Mrs. Jchnson,
eight children, two maid servants,
and one servant man. The ban-
ditti began their operations by
forcibly breaking off the shutters
of the parlour window, which
were sheathed with iron; having
effected this, theyraised the lower
sash, and, horrible to relate, they
then introduced a large box filled
with pitch, tar, hemp, and other
inflammable materials, and, to
render their diabolical design still
more serious and direfully de-
structive, they had attached to
these inflammable substances a
large ball or bomb shell filled with

gunpowder

38

gunpowder and other combusti-
bles, connnunicating with which
was a fuse, to which they set fire.
A servant man, however, fortu-
nately awoke, and seizing a pitch-
fork, being the first weapon he
could find, “he ran to the parlour,
at the same time calling to alarm
the family. When he entered the
room, he perceivel the ball and
flaming fuse, and in the momen-
tary confusion, not knowing what
it was, he dashed at it with the
pitchfork ; and the prongs having
stuck into it, he dyvew it towards
him, and retreated imto the
kitchen. In the midst of the agi-
tation which this unaccountable
cireumstanee produced, he for
a moment abandoned the pitch-
fork and the flaming ball, to call
to his master up stairs. In two se-
conds the combustibles exploded
like a clap of thunder, and rent
the house from top to bottom.
Not a wall but was shattered;
the windows were blown to
pieces, and the back door of the
kitchen fortunately burst epen,

which gave vent to the fury of

the explosion. When Mr. John-
son was first alarmed by the ser-
vant, he immediately started out
of bed, and laying hold of a blun-
derbuss, which was ready loaded,
he went to a front window, which
he opened, and perceiving eight
ox ten of the ruffians at some dis-
tance, he fired among them: but
he had scarcely done so when the
explosion took place in thekitchen,
aad threw his family into the ut-
most state of consternation. The
assailants, on hearing the report,
returned again to the front of the
house, and commenced an attack
with fire-arms, upon which Mr.
Johnson having one loaded pistol,

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

fired it at them. By this time
the neighbouring families being
alarmed by the explosion and
firing, were coming inte the
street, upon which the banditti
ran off in different directions,
and owing to the darkness of the
night, effected their escape. Hap-
pily net one of Mr. Johnson's fa-
mily received the smallest injury.
The inhabitants of Belfast have
offered a reward of 20001. for a
discovery of the offenders.

4. a Hamburgh paper states,
that some years ago several Swiss
families formed settlements on
the river Ohio, which have flou-
rished surprisingly. The district
which they have planted has re-
ceived the name of New Swit-
zerland, and their chief town,
which contains about 400 houses,
is called Vevay. - They have culti-
vated the grape so successfully,
that last autumn some of the
colonists casked 200 gallons of
wine, which they sold for two
dollars a gallon. ‘The other fruits
of Europe have been cultivated
with eqnal success. The Canton,
New Switzerland, expects soon
to have a representative in Con-
gress.

5. The Swift, belonging to
Montrose, Captain Crawl, was
run down off Flamborough Head
by a Newcastle collier, and, me-
lancholy to relate, the captain,
mate, nine seamen, and eight
passengers, were lost ; only one
person saved.

6. Last week a melancholy
affair oecurred in the George’s
Dock Basin, Liverpool :—A brig,
the Albion, Captain Proctor,
whick had parted from her cable
in the river, in endeavouring to en-
ter the basin, with a strong breeze

from

CHRONICLE.

from the north-west, ran downa
flat which was lying within it, on
board of which there were three
men, a woman, and her two
children: the men fortunately
escaped ; but the woman and the
children were drowned. On the
approach of the brig, the mother,
who was on the deck, flew to the
cabin to bring up her children ;
she succeeded in bringing them to
the top of the ladder, and, just at
that juncture, the shock of the
vessels took place, when the un-
happy mother and her children
were overwhelmed by the water :
her body was taken up after
being in the water a short time,
and every exertion was in vain
used to restore animation; those
of the children were found at
low water.

9. Newry.—Some time ago a
trunk of clothes was imported
into Belfast from some port in
the Mediterranean. Several, in
the house in which it was opened,
became very soon infected with
a malignant disease, and died.
A relation of those persons, who
was present at the opening of
it, and exposed to the effluvia
issuing from it, returned to his
residence, near Hall’s Mill, be-
tween Banbridge and Tandragee,
where, after ten days’ sickness, he
also died. The disease was marked
with excessive swelling of the legs
and arms, copious expectoration
of putrid blood, yellowness of the
body, and extreme putrescence
of the whole system. The great-
est attention was paid by the me-
dical attendant to this patient,
and the country people having
been duly cautioned, and warned
of the infectious nature of the
disease, did not approach the

39

place. The clothes which the de-
ceased wore were boiled, and the
apartment in which he had lain
fumigated with sulphuric acid and
nitre. We hope that the further
progress of the disease is arrested,
—(Newry Telegraph.)

The following letter from Dront-
heim (in Norway), dated March
10, gives the most particular ac-
count of the dreadful effects of
the removal of an immense tract
of land at that place;—‘‘ A sin-
gular occurrence took place here
on the 7th instant: a portion of
land, amounting to 120 English
acres, and 60 feet deep, slid, with
a tremendous crash, into the river
Nid, about a quarter of a mile
from Store Foss. This happened
during a hard frost (13° Reau-
mur), without giving any pre-
vious notice; and, from the quali-
ty of the ground being clayey,
with a moderate ascent from the
river, appears quite unaccounta-
ble. Of Tiller church, dwelling-
house, and bridge, which stood
on this spot, not a vestige is now
to be seen—the ruins are either
buried or dispersed. You may
form some idea of the force with
which this mass of earth fell,
when I tell you, that a consi-
derable portion of it was thrown
several hundred yards distant from
the river on the opposite bank,
where it destroyed two houses
with some of the unfortunate
inhabitants. The owner of Tiller
farm perished by returning to the
house to look: after one of his
children. It is not yet ascer-
tained how many lives are lost:
eighteen are known to have been
buried or drowned, and 40 horses,
besides cows, &c. A very fine
lad of 17, who was to have

worked

40

worked in our work, lost his life.
One man saved himself in a re-
markable manner: he was the
foremost of 14 or 15 peasants,
who were returning home to Sel-
boe, from bringing timber for
the buildings attached to our
work, and was so near the spot,
that he heard the owner of Tiller
cry for help—he immediately
resolved to retrace his steps:
the other poor wretches endea-
voured to reach the shore through
a deep snow, and perished with
their horses ; most of them had
two. This man who saved him-
self had a very good horse, and
by keeping himself on full speed,
he escaped on shore by Store
Foss, the river pursuing him close
with the rapidity of lightning:
his feelings may be better con-
ceived than described during this
remarkable race. Our work has
luckily escaped uninjured, al-
though threatened with ruin. V.
Krough has otherwise suffered
considerably, yet mostly at Store
Foss, where a flour-mill has quite
disappeared, the saw-mills alinost
destroyed, and dams carried away
to the amount of 2,0001. A sum-
mer-house, which stood between
Great and Little Foss, a short
distance from the river, was car-
ried in an upright position, as it
stood on the shore, with two
boats chained to it, and in that
manner was precipitated down
Little Foss. It is impossible for
me to describe the singular ap-
pearance all this had, and still
has. The Fiord is discoloured
with muddy water to a great ex-
tent, and will probably continue
so for months. We are willing
to think the danger is now over ;
though this is uncertain, until

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

the stream cuts itself a proper
passage.”

13. A most barbarous murder
was committed at a lone house
near Shabbington Wood, Bucks,
a few miles from Thame. Thos.
Reason, who was committed in
December last to Oxford gaol for
sheep-stealing, but discharged at
the assizes for want of evidence,
called at Mrs. Yorke’s, an elderly
widow lady, who was attended by
a female about twenty-three years
of age, a distant relation, about
seven o'clock in the evening. He
entered into conversation with
Mrs. Yorke on various subjects,
and at length said, that he wanted
money, and hoped she would fur-
nish him with some. She said
she could not give him any. He
then drew a large clasped knife,
and immediately attacked her, and
cut her throat at first slightly, in
consequence of her resistance.
The girl did every thing she pos-
sibly could to prevent his nefa-
rious design, and at length suc-
ceeded in taking his knife from
him ; but unfortunately he espied
a large knife in the room, which
was used for killing pigs; this
he seized, and with it almost se-
parated Mrs. Yorke’s head from
her body, in consequence of which
she instantly died. The villain
also struck Mrs. Yorke several
times over the head with a wooden
bar during the contest, so that
her skull was fractured. He then
attacked the young woman, and
cut her throat in two places, and
wounded her in the head severely
with the bar. Each cut in her
throat was more than five inches
in length, but fortunately did not
sever the windpipe. Her skull
was bare in many places by the

violence

CHRONICLE.

violence of the blows from the
bar, and she was left, as Reason
supposed, completely dead. He
then went up stairs to rifie the
rooms, well knowing where the
property was kept. In the mean
time the girl recovered her senses,
and escaped from the house to
Mr. Griffin’s, on Oakley-common,
where she made known the busi-
ness. She fainted several times
on the way, and with great diffi-
culty arrived there by an unfre-
quented path, in order to avoid
the possibility of Reason’s over-
taking her. As soon as she got
into the house she again fainted,
and was recovered with much
difficulty; on her recovering her
senses she related the horrid tale,
and several persons were got to-
gether. They proceeded to the
house, where they found Mrs.
Yorke in the situation we have
described. In consequence of the
_ information of the girl, they then
went to the house of Reason’s
father, which is about half a mile
from Mrs. Yorke’s, and inquired
for him. The father said he did
not know where he was; but
they made strict search for him,
and at length found him up the
chimney. They immediately took
him into custody, and he was
confined at Oakley, until the Co-
roner’s Inquest was taken on Mrs.
Yorke’s body. Mr. King, sur-
geon, of Brill, was sent for to at-
tend the gir] (Elizabeth Hawes),
who immediately sent for Mr.
Hitchings of Oxford, who did
every thing that could be done
for her. She remained in a very
dangerous state, although hopes
were entertained of her recovery.

16. On the evening abouteleven
o'clock, three young men belong-

‘

.

4}

ing to East Wemyss, Scotland, in
attempting to cross the water at
Leven in a boat without oars,
were carried away by the rapidity
of the current. When nearly out
to sea, one of them leapea into
the water, and swam ashore ; the
other two, not having courage to
follow his example, remained in
the boat, and were carried out to
sea. In this perilous situation
they remained till next forenoon,
when they were picked up by a
sloop between the Bas and Elie
Ness, and carried into Largo.
They had been in the greatest
danger, as the boat was leaky,
and they had nothing to cast out
the water with but their shoes,
three of which they had lost, and
both their hats: they were, be-
sides, almost dead with cold.

18. The following melancholy
catastrophe occurred at Battle ;—
As Captain James Watson Har-
vey, of his Majesty’s royal navy,
with his youngest brother and
sister (two children of five and
six years of age) was sailing in a
boat on the large mill-pond, at
the powder-works, near the dwell-
ing-house of their father, a strong
gust of wind upset the boat in a
great depth of water, when the
captain, who was an excellent
swimmer, succeeded in getting
both his little companions into his
arms, with whom he struggled
for some time, as if determined
to save or perish with them ; and
although within twenty yards of
the pond bay, and in the sight of
many of the workmen at the
mills, at last sunk, with the chil-
dren in his arms, never to rise
again! It was upwards of three
quarters of an hour before their
bodies could be recovered, when

every

42

every exertion and skill that could
be used were applied in vain
to reanimate them—the vital
spark had fled, to the poignant
and inconsolable grief of their
parents, relatives, and friends.
Captain Harvey was 23 years of
age. Had he even left one of
the children to perish, he might
have saved himself and the other.

19. A dreadful and destructive
fire took place at Beverlee, in the
parish of Greasley, near Noiting-
ham. It was occasioned by the
very dangerous practice of firing:
a chimney, in order to clear it of
soot. By this act of imprudence
no less than 14 houses, besides
several barns, corn stacks, &c.
were set on fire and consumed,
The wind blowing strong at the
time, every exertion to stop the
progress of the flames proved in-
effectual.

20. Expeditions to explore Afri-
ca.—The expedition under Cap-
tain Tuckey’s directions, in the
Congo sloop, accompanied by the
Dorothy transport, for exploring
the source of the river Zaire, or, as
itis commonly termed, the Congo,
has sailed on that important dis-
covery. The steam-engine which
had been fitted on board the
Congo has been removed, toge-
ther with the whole of its vast
machinery, as its use was found
impracticable, and it prevented
the sailing of the vessel with the
celerity that was requisite.

While this expedition is pro-
ceeding, another is to be effected
across the continent of Africa, to
the point where Mungo Park ter-
minated his laborious career, and
thence on the Niger, in the ex-
pectation of meeting with Cap-
tain Tuckey, and, in that event,

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

establishing the hypothesis which
has long been indulged, that the
Zaire or Congo, and the Niger,
are one and the same river. The
source of the former, as also the
termination of the latter, have
hitherto caused a large chasm in
the internal geography of Africa ;
and until now no measures so
extended, or similar with regard
to the employment of vessels,
have been attempted. :

The terrestrial mission is placed
under the direction of Major John
Peddie, assisted by Captain Tho-
mas Campbell, and the number
of persons to be attached are not
fewer than those under Park,
whose line of march is to be ad-
hered to. ‘The following import-
ant document, of which some
numbers have been printed in
the English and Arabic languages,
will be distributed for the purpose
of the natives rendering such ser-
vice as the travellers may stand
in need of; and particularly in
the conveyance of dispatches from
them to any of cur settlements
on the coast. The following is
represented as a true copy, to
which the seal of the African
Company is affixed :-—

e (L. S.) Free trade to Africa
by act of Parliament, 1750.

“ This is to make known, that
Major John Peddie, Captain Tho-
mas Campbell, and Surgeon Wil-
liam Cowdry, have been employed
by the British Government to
proceed from Senegal into the
interior of Africa, to trace the
source of the river Niger, and to
obtain such information respect-
ing the countries through which
they pass, as may be useful in
the extension and improvement
of commerce, which is the object

of

CHRONICLE.

of the British Government in
sending those persons to Africa ;
and that any person who may
happen to meet with those gen-
. tlemen, and shall be the bearer
of a letter to the Governor cf
this or any other British settle-
ment on the gold coast, from
either of them, shall receive five
ounces of gold, and be liberally
rewarded for any service or acts
of kindness which it may appear
by such letter, may have been
rendered fo either of them.’’

A letter from Rome, of the
20th of March, says—< Within
these few days Cardinal Maury
has been released from the Castle
of St. Angelo. He is now in a
religious house to perform his
spiritual exercises. When he
leaves this retreat, which is purely
religious, he will be relieved by
the Grand Penitentiary from the
censures which he has incurred
—he will be restored to the good
graces of his Holiness, and will
proceed to his Bishopric of Mon-
tefiascone.

Paris, March 2\.—Yesterday
took place the exhumation of the
Yemains of the Duke D’ Enghien,
from the fosse on the south side
of the eastle of Vincennes. An
authentic tradition indicated the
spot where his executioners had
thrown his body ; but, for greater
Tegularity, an express investiga-
tion took place on Monday last,
conducted by the Counsellor of
State Laporte Lalane. An artil-
lerist and a peasant of the village
of Vincennes gave the most cor-
rect information. The peasant
whose name is Grison, aged 80,
had himself dug the grave; it
was ascertained from him that
the grave was dug two hours after

AS

the arrival of the Prince, and by
order of Harel, who then com-
manded the castle of Vincennes.
The searches were made in pre-
sence of a king’s commissioner,
and several other persons, among
whom we remarked the Count de
Reuilly, Peer of France, M. de
Bethisy, of the Chamber of De-
puties, the -Vidame de Vassé, the
Chevalier de Conty, the Chevalier
Jaques, the faithful friend and
companion of the illustrious vie-
tim, the Marquis de Puyvert, now
governor of Vincennes, who had
spent ten years of his life shut up
in it, Count Armand de Beau-
mont, commandant, and many
others, almost all of whom had
been sufferers from Buonaparte’s
tyranny. Several surgeons were
present to ascertain the bones
that might be thrown up. The
first object which caught attention
was a boot in tolerable preserva-
tion, in which were found the
bones of the leg and foot; the
skull was then found; the face
was downwards, one leg had re-
mained in an almost vertical po-
sition, and the arms were bent
towards the back, a rather large
stone appeared to have been de-
signedly thrown upon the head,
the bones of which were frac-
tured. Some of the hair was still
in preservation: The various frag
ments of the body thus collected
were placed in a sheet. There
were also found some German
ducats; a leathern purse, in
which there were a louis and
some pieces of silver, a ring, and
gold chain which the prince was
in the habit of wearing round his
neck. The Chevalier Jaques had
stated previously that these arti-
cles would be fownd, unless the

Duke

44

Duke had been stripped of them
before his death. There was re-
marked the perforation made by
a ball in the shoulder-blade, and
in the sinall casque which the
prince wore at the time of execu-
tion. His hussar boots were in
tolerably good preservation. The
sheet containing the fragments
was placed in a leaden coffin, and
in this state conveyed to the cham-
ber prepared by order of the Mar-
quis de Puyvert.

23. The following accounts of
an earthquake, felt in different
parts of England, are extracted
from the country papers.

On Sunday 17th, about half
past twelve o'clock, a violent con-
cussion of the earth was sensibly
felt at this place, and at Bawtry,
Blyth, Carlton, Worksop, Shef-
field, Chesterfield, Mansfield, Not-
tingham, Lincoln, Gainsborough,
&c. In some of those places it
caused great consternation and
alarm among the inhabitants, by
the shaking of buildings, pictures,
and other articles hanging on the
walls; but we do not hear of
any damage being dune. (Dor-
caster Paper.)

On Sunday 17th a smart shock
of an earthquake was perceptibly
felt in Iincoln, at about ten mi-
nutes before one o'clock in the
day. The undulation appeared to
be from west to east, and lasted
from a minute and a half to two
minutes. The wind was at the
time south-east, cold, and with
every appearance of rain. Pic-
tures and other articles hanging
on the walls were set in a swing-
ing motion. Many persons were
so affected by it as to think they
were taken with a sudden illness.
A peron who was dressing at the
Spread Eagle Inn, at the upper

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

part of the house, was so much
alarmed as to run down stairs.
At Newark, also, and the neigh-
bouring villages, the shock was
distinctly felt, as well as at Leices-
ter and Loughborough. At Gains-
borough it occasioned great con-
sternation.—(Stamford Paper.)
On Sunday the 17th, 23° mi-
nutes before one o'clock (true
time) a slight shock of an earth-
quake was felt in Derby and
neighbourhood. ‘The shock was
of very short duration, but suffi-
ciently long to leave no doubt
on the mind as to the reality
of the phenomenon, Jt was ac-
companied by a noise similar to
that of a rismg tempest, and
caused the windows to shake vio-

-lently and the doors that were
‘ajar to rhove.

A glass lustre,
which hung in a _ gentleman's
breakfast-room in that town, was
put in motion; and the chairs
and tables were very perceptibly
shaken, At Shipley-hall it caused
the bells to ring; and the body
of a mangle, in one of the upper
rooms, moved on its rollers se-
veral feet. It was also perceived
in the Churches of All Saints and
St. Peter, in Derby, and caused
in the latter place a piece of plas-
ter to fall from the roof into the
body of the church. The shock
extended abot twenty miles east
and west of Derby, and appeared
to proceed in a direct line from
north to south.

23. In the night, the house of
the widow Keoghan, of Tinilinton,
county of Kilkenny, was attacked
by several armed men. The only
persons in the house were, her-
self, her son Walter, her daugh-
ter, and daughter-in-law (on a
visit), and a niece. The villains
attempted to push in the door,
upon

CHRONICLE.

uipon which Walter sent all the
females into one apartment, and,
seizing a pitchfork, bade them
pray to God for grace to strengthen
them. He then inquired who
were outside, informing them, if
they attempted to break in, he
would kill them if he could. They
answered by firing a shot through
the door, and immediately forcing
it, it fell inwards. One of them
then stepped in, whom Keoghan
stabbed with his pitchfork in
the breast. The misguided wretch
fell on the door, exclaiming,
«Oh, Jemmy, I'm murdered!”
Two shots were instantly fired
into the house without effect. A
struggle now ensued about se-
curing or withdrawing the body
of the wounded man, in which
Keoghan get a blow from the
butt-end cf a gun, and lost
the prong of his pitchfork, but
secured a hat and black mask.
They then carried the wounded
man into the garden, and firing
in at the window, slightly wound-
ed the brave Keoghan; and about
fifteen minutes afterwards, when
he looked out, another shot was
fired, fortunately without taking
any effect. A great quantity of
blood was found on the door and
floor, and traced next morning to
different spots, at short distances,
where it is supposed the wounded
man had rested. Keoghan’shorse,
which they took from the stable,
returned at seven o'clock that
morning, with blood on both
sides. It appeared that Walter
had a brother lately married, and
that the robbers thought he had
come home to his mother’s house,
as they repeatedly demanded his
fortune.

25. Last night a dreadful fire

45

broke out between 11 and 12
o'clock, in the house of Mr. Ma-
coa, at the west side of St. Ste-
phen’s-green, which raged with
unabated fury until the entire of
the building was destroyed: the
most prompt exertions were made
to stop the progress of the de-
structive element, but unfortu-
nately there happened to be a
scarcity of water, and, notwith-
standing all the efforts made to
obtain it from the adjacent houses,
they could not possibly supply the
engines. Serious fears were for
a long time entertained of its ex-
tension, as the rafters and a con-
siderable portion of the adjoining
house, were on fire. It was an
awfully grand and terrific scene,
an overwhelming chaos of fire
from the top to the bottom of
the house. It is with the most
peignant feelings of regret we
have to mention, that there is
much reason to apprehend some
lives have been lost. An old gen-
tlewoman, of the name of O'Neill
(a relative, we understand of
Earl O’Neill,) who was deprived
of sight, is, among others, miss-
ing. It is said the fire broke out
in her apartments. A Mrs. Hare,
who also lodged in the house, is
missing; and the proprietor of
the house, Mr. Macoa, we learn,
is not to be found. Mrs. Macoa
was dreadfully scorched, but ef-
fected her escape by jumping out
of the two pair of stairs window.
A servant woman, who was far
advanced in a state of pregnancy,
also jumped out of the window,
and is seriously injured.. The
Lord Mayor and Sheriffs repaired
to the spot on the first alarm, and
remained there the entire night.
Doctor Turner, one of the police

magistrates,

46

magistrates, also attended. At
twelve o'clock this day, the en-
gines continued playing on the
ruins, which presented a column
of smoke, and the fire was not
then effectually subdued.—(Dub-
lin Correspondent.)

An inquest was taken by James
Mander, Esq., one of the coroners
for Derbyshire, at Ladyshaw-
bottom, in the parish of Glossops,
on the bodies of Mary, Daniel,
Elizabeth, and Rachel Bradbury ;
the eldest aged 15, Daniel and
Elizabeth (twins) 14, and Rachel
11, the children of Peter Brad-
bury, of Ladyshaw-bottom, la-
bourer, who, at eight o'clock on
the 24th ult. gave fo each of his
children a strong dose of white
arsenic, thinking’ it was cream of
tartar; the three youngest died
about noon on the same day, and
the eldest at midnight following,
after every exertion had been
used, but in vain, to counteract
the fatal effects of the poison,
when the discovery was made:
the father had also taken a quan-
tity of the poison \himself along
with his children, but is expected
to recover. ’

A letter from Pillau, dated the
27th of March, says—‘*‘ When
the Vistula river broke up on the
2lst inst. the ice cut the bulwarks
and dams, and forced its way on
the main land, in Marienberg
Werder, and overflowed about
100 English miles in circumfer-
ence. ‘The misery occasioned by
it is dreadful, and many of the
poor inhabitants lost all their
cattle, sheep, horses,” &c,

30. Inspruck.—There is yet no
sign of spring in this country ; the
mountains of middling height are
still covered with snow. A cold

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

east wind, aecompanied with frost,
prevails in our valleys, and checks
vegetation, The standing waters
are every morning covered with
ice ; the winter corn has suffered
severely, and in many parts it has
been necessary to sow it anew.

The following particulars of
the Woolwich smuggling have
been published in a morning
paper :—On the voyage home, a
carpenter employed in securing
the packages discovered the se-
cret. Immediately on arrival he
gave information at the Custom-
house, but it was ten days more
hefore the ship was inspected ;
in the mean time much of the
smuggled goods for certain per-
sons were got away, and only
those were left for men of less
note. There were to the value
of 7,000]. for one man, packed up
as—‘‘ Return Congreve rockets.”
There were many rare things
which were got out of the way.
In the mortars were laces, gloves,
cambries, &e. and in the tumbrils
were claret, champagne, &c.
Many people have long supplied
themselves and friends with wine
in this way, and their wives with
finery. ‘This is the only vessel
which has been detected, but the
trade has long and successfully
been carried on to a great extent.
The man who informed got about
1,0001.

APRIL.

1. At night, about 9 o'clock,
three men broke open the dwell-
ing-house of Mr. Samuel Ward,
a small farmer, of 70 years of
age, at Charley, near Loughbo-
rough, one of whom, with a

double-

CHRONICLE.

double-barrelled pistol in his
hand, stood as. a kind of sentry
over an old man of the name of
Baker, that was sitting up with
Mr. Ward, who happened to be
confined to his bed in a dying
state, whilst the two others ran-
sacked the house : in the doing of
which, such was their audacity,
that they even pulled the dying
man’s clothes from under his pil-
low, and rifled his pockets, the
sentry in the mean while threat-
ening death to Baker if he was
not still, and saying, they were
come for money, and money they
would have. They took away a
promissory note of 1Ool., 28 gui-
‘neas in gold, twenty-four shil-
lings in silver, besides two crown-
pieces, threepence in copper, and
_ three pair of shoes. Mr. Ward

expired the next morning about
eight o'clock.

2. Harly on this morning, be-
tween twenty and thirty persons
assembled round a_ wind-mill
standing on a piece of open ground
on the side of the New-cut, Lam-
beth-marsh, the lease of which
having expired, it remains at
present unoccupied ; and, com-
tiencing a general attack upon
the building, proceeded to de-
molish it at a very rapid rate:
the mob continued to increase,
and® by ten o'clock, more than
300 persons had assembled. The
scene of devastation and plunder
which was now presented to the
Spectators, was truly serious.
Some of these misguided people,
who bad taken up the erroneous
Opinion, that because the lease
had expired the materials of the
building had become common
property, had obtained possession
of the upper part of the mill, and

A7

were throwing down beams,
planks, &c. to those below, who,
regardless of the danger to which
they were exposed from the fall-
ing timber, were maintaining a
brisk combat—men, women, and
children—amongst themselves, to
secure their plunder. Mr. Sel-
lon, the: magistrate, having re-
ceived information of what was
going forward, proceeded to the
spot with several officers, and,
though at the risk of considerable
personal danger, succeeded in se-
curing several of the most active
of the mob, and dispersing the
rest. On inguiry, it appeared
that Mr. Lee, an attorney in the
Borough, is the ground landlord
of the mill, and had placed a man
on the premises to take care of
the property ; but this man was
overpowered, and driven from his
post by the mob. Scarcely any
part of the mill, except the brick-
work and main beams, is left
standing. Six of the men taken
into custody were ordered to find
bail to answer the complaint pre-
ferred against them at the ses-
sions, and to keep the peace in
the interim.

Extraordinary Instance of the
Sagacity ef «a Dog.—Mr. T. Ru-
therford, ef Lung Framlington,
was, about a fortnight ago, over-
come in a snow storm, near Aln-
wick, and fell. In this state he
was exposed to all the horrors of
the night, till seven o'clock in
the morning. His faithful dog
at this time observing a shepherd
at a small distance, used every
exertion to attract his attention,
such as howling, going from and
returning to the spot where his
master lay. This induced the
shepherd to follow the dog’s mo-

tions,

48

tions. Mr. Rutherford was found,
(then covered by the snow,) car-
ried to a neighbouring public-
house, and, after five hours’ ex-
ertion, life was restored, and he
is now quite well.

3. Thomas Thompson, a gun-
ner in the East India Company's
service, and living at No. 4, Iron-
monger-row, St. Luke’s, appeared
to a summons, on an informa-
tion laid against him by John
Oliver Bow, an officer of the
Customs, for having unlawfully
and knowingly in his possession
one Bandana silk, and five China
silk handkerchiefs, fourteen ells
of valuable silk, a pieee of rich
velvet, and one pound of sewing
silk, being all foreign and prohi-
bited goods, with intent to de-
fraud the revenue. The object
of the board, it was stated, was
not so much to recover the pe-
nalty as to make an example, and
to put a stop, if possible, to this
growing evil, as the depression in
our own silk trade was very
great at present, because this
traffic was now carried on with
much ease, and to such an extent,
that there are at present upwards
of 6,000 silk weavers starving for
want of employ. He then pro-
ceeded to state, that®having re-
ceived information ‘that the de-
fendant had some prohibited silks
in his possession, he went on the
14th of February last, and searched
his lodgings at 4, Ivonmonger-
row, St. Luke’s; and in a box,
in the back-room on the first
floor, he found the articles men-
tioned in the information, and
now produced, which were valued
at 6]. 10s. The penalty by act
of parliament was the forfeiture
of the goods, and three times

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

their value; but on account of
the defendant being a servant in
the Company’s service, and hav-
ing a wife and family, he did not
press for the whole of the penalty,
but the board were determined to
make examples. Daniel Mac-
pherson, another officer of the
customs, proved that the above
goods were foreign and prohi-
bited: the defendant admitted
their being foreign, but he had no
intention of defrauding the reve-
nue, as the articles were not in-
tended for sale, but solely for
his uwn use. This plea not being
admitted, he was convicted in the
mitigated penalty and costs, in
the sum of ten guineas, and the
forfeiture of the goods, which he
paid down, and was discharged.

Extract of a Letter from Mons,
April 5.—A_ tragical scene has
just thrown our town into terror
and consternation. The day be-
fore yesterday, about eight o’clock
in theevening, Mrs. Papillon, the
mother of a family enjoying a de-
cent competence, comiitied an
act of despair or madness, to
which the annals of the human
mind scarcely furnish a parallel.
Being followed by her three chil-
dren, a boy of two years of age,
and two girls, one eight and the
other five years old, she dragged
them to the well; then seizing
the two youngest, she threw them
in: the eldest girl struggled a
long time in her mother’s arms,
uttering agonizing but fruitless
cries; the barbarous mother, vio-
lently seizing her, threw her into
the well; into which she at last
threw herself.

These four, herself also, un-
happy victims, have been taken
out dead, and all the assistance

of

‘CHRONICLE

of art was lavished on them in
vain. Yesterday evening, at nine
o'clock, they were buried. It
seems that this woman, whose
mind was doubtless deranged,
had meditated this great crime
during the whole of the 3d. On
that day she performed her devo-
tional exercises, and distributed
abundant alms.

Madame Papillon had formed
the project to destroy all her fa-
mily; besides the three children
who were the victims of it, she
had two others; her eldest son
was at a boarding-school at St.
Ghislain, and the youngest at
nurse in the country. This mo-
ther, whom one does not know
by what name to call, had sent an
order to the nurse to bring her
the infant on the day destined for
the accomplishment of the tra-
gedy, which the woman refused
to do. At the same time she
charged the St. Ghislain carrier
to carry to her son a flan (a kind
of eake, which was poisoned, with
a letter, desiring him to eat it
alone, without giving any part to
his schoolfellows.) On the road
this flan was spoiled, and the car-
rier, fearing he should damage
the other goods which he had with
him, threw it away. If we add,
that this wretched woman was
five months advanced in her preg-
nancy, we shall have an idea of

‘the destruction which she had

calmly meditated. While the
dreadful scene was passing, her
husband was at the coffee-house :
she had had the cruel precaution
to leave a note on the table,
pointing out the well as the grave
of herself and children.

6. The beautiful church of the
Augustines at Brussels, which

Vou. LVIII,

49

has been abandoned since the de-
parture of the English army, and
which was used as a place of wor-
ship for the English soldiers, has
been put in order again, that the
professors of the reformed reli-
gion may have divine service per-
formed in it. The first sermon
was preached in it last Monday.
A letter from Jersey gives the
particulars of the shipwreck, upon
that island, of the Balance, a large
French transport, captain Le Sage,
having a crew of 24+ men and 84
passengers, mostly women and
children, bound from Havre de
Grace to St. Malo, to be embarked
ona frigate for eonveyance to St.
Pierre and Miquelon, where they
were to settle. They had turned
their whole property in France
into ready money, and brought
all their effects with them. It
was very dark when the vessel
struck on the rocks, in which her
head was fixed, with her stern
only above water. The tide was
then nearly out, and the weather
moderating, many of the passen-
gers got upon deck; but the
water rising, took off all hope of
escape. ‘The women clung to the
rigging, held their children in
their arms, and their shrieks and
lamentations were distinctly heard.
Some boats from Rozel reached
them by break of day, but 36 per-
sons were previously drowned. As
soon as the last boat left the vessel
she instantly went to pieces. The
poor people were brought into
the barracks at Rozel, where all
hastened to their assistance ; and
nothing could be more affecting
than the expressions, partly of
gratitude, partly of anguish, of
the unhappy sufferers. Mrs.
M‘Kenzie, wife of captain M. of
E the

50

the royal veterans, was indefati-
gable in her care of the women
and children.

9. About 300 emigrants, na-
‘tives of the canton of Basle, and
100 frem Argovie, left Switser-
land on the 9th, and proceeded
down the Rhine to Holland, where
they intend to embark for Ame-
rica. They carry with them eon-
siderable property, and suffieient
for establishing themselves.

10. Of thealarming extent of
illegal distillation in Ireland, and
its ruinous effects, the following
statement may afford an idea :—
At Omagh assizes seventy-seven
men were sentenced to imprison-
ment for illegal stills; at Lifford
assizes sixty for the like offence,
besides fines on the county to the
amount of 12,0001. At Derry
assizes the trials for illegai distil-
lation were numerous beyond all
former experience. Ninety per-
sons were convicted and impri-
soned; and a great many were

‘liberated for the present on bail,
as the gaol was unable to contain
them.

ll. Konigsberg.—According to
the last accounts from Marien-
burg, fifty-three villages in the
great Werder, with 9,930 inha-
bitants, and in the districts of
Tiegenhoff, forty-nine villages,
with 10,902 inhabitants, were
under water. To these are to be
added the Elbing villages, 17 in
number, with 4,000 inhabitants.

15. The Academy of Mines,
established at. Freyberg, in the
Erzgebirg, under the direction of
the celebrated Werner, and which
had experienced dilapidations for
some years past, is again in a
state of prosperity. A great num-
ber of pupils from foreign parts

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

have arrived there, and some
Englishmen were besides ex-
pected. Werner was about to
publish a very important minera-
logical work. He is at present
engaged in making researches for
several salt mines, which are ex-
pected to be discovered in the
kingdom of Saxony, and particu-
larly in the Vogtland, in the en-
virons of Plauen.

16. The Aquillon, arrived at
Spithead from the Mediterranean,
has brought some particulars of
the loss of the Ister frigate, cap-
tain Forrest, which was wrecked
on a reef of rocks to the westward
of Cape de Gat. The Ister sailed
from Portsmouth on the 21st of
February, fitted up on the peace
establishment, and was proceed-
ing up the Mediterranean, from
Malaga, to join Lord Exmonth,
when the accident happened ; she
struck at two o'clock in the morn-
ing of the 7th ult. when running
at the rate of nine knots. Hopes
were entertained that, by great
exertions, she might be got off,
and, by theassistance of a zebeck,
which came out of Malaga, 24 of
her guns were taken out, and
sent to Gibraltar ; but it proved,
on making fresh exertions, that
the rocks had beat through her,
and she was fast filling with sand.
All the crew were safely taken ou
and landed at Malaga, excepti
Mr. Sitwell, midshipman, an
eight men, who were drowned b
the upsetting of the gig-boat
Captain Heywood, of the Mon
tague, who has for some time ha
the command at Gibraltar, o
hearing of the misfortune, imme
diately proceeded in that ship t
the spot, in the hope of being abl
to save the stores.

17. Bey

CHRONICLE.

17. Bermondsey and its neigh-
bourhced were thrown into the
utmost confusion on Monday
evening by the assembling of a
cousiderable number of journey-
men tanners and others, who,
after parading the streets for
gome time, proceeded to the tan-
yard of Messrs. Timbrell, in the

Grange-road, whére they were

guilty of several acts of outrage.
Jt appears that it has long been
the custom with the master tan-
ners to allow their men two days
holyday at Easter: on the present
occasion, however, several of the
masters, out of. consideration for
their men, offered, if they would
work the two days instead of play-
ing, to give them a sum of money
at the end of the week. Several
of the men gladly embraced this
offer; but others, of a less indus-
trious disposition, assembled, to
the number of 300, and with
drums and fifes playing, and their
aprons affixed to long poles, by
way of flags, proceeded to dif-
ferent tan-yards where the men
were at work, and endeavoured
to prevail on them to strike:
where persuasion did not prevail
they used force; and thus they
proceeded till they arrived at Mr.
Timbrell’s yard: here they made
several attacks upon the premises,
and at length succeeded in forcing
the outward gate, and made good

| their entrance into the yard. Mr.

‘Timbrell came forward to oppose
them, when they knocked him

| down, and were proceeding to

serve his son in the same manner,
who, however, having provided
himself with fire-arms loaded with
small shot, as they pressed upon
him, fired over their heads ; this
by no means intimidated the mob,

51

who returned his fire with a
shower of stones and other mis-
siles, and pressed so hard upon
him, that iw his own defence he
was obliged to fire upon them,
and several persons among the
mob were wounded. After a
short pause they retreated, but
went to Mr. Timbrell’s house in
the Grange-road, whieh they
threatened to demolish. Infor-
mation of these outrageous pro-
ceedings having reached Colling-
bourn and Clark, they proceeded
to the spot, and succeeded in se-
curing six ef the most active of
the mob, namely, Daniel Turner,
Thomas Goldsmith, Thomas Fau-
cit, John Winch, James Perry,
and Thomas Foulke, and dis-
persed the rest. These six were
taken before Mr. Serjeant Sellon
at Union-hall; and a charge hav-
ing been exhibited against Mr.
Timbrell, jun. for firing amongst
the mob, the officers took him
also.

When before the magistrates,
Elizabeth Fisher stated, that she
saw Mr. Timbrell fire and wound
Mary the wife of Daniel Turner,
one of the men in custody.

Mr. Timbrell stated the cireum-
stances above narrated, and proved
by the evidence of Mr. Crage, a
gentleman who lives opposite his
house, and by that of his father,
Me. Timbrell, sen. and his fore-
man, Joseph Rolfe, that the mob
had forced an entrance into his
premises, and that he was in
danger fromthe mob. It further
appeared, that none of the per-
sons wounded were seriously
hurt; and the magistrate dis-
missed the charge against Mr.
Timbrell, and ordered the other
six defendants to find bail to an-

E 2 * swer

52

swer the charge of riot at the
sessions.

On Tuesday afternoon, the mob
of journeymen tanners again as-
sembled in the same manner, and
in still greater numbers than on
Monday, and proceeded, with
drums and fifes playing, and flags
flying, to Messrs. Timbrell’s yard,
where they uttered violent threats
against Mr. Timbrell and his son,
saying they would have their lives,
and swearing in the most despe-
rate terms that the men who were
at work should come out. Se-
veral of Mr. Timbrell’s men re-
quested permission to go out to
them, as perhaps their persuasions
might induce them to disperse
quietly : accordingly several went
into the street; but they had no
sooner quitted the premises than
they were seized by the mob, and
used in the roughest manner ;
one of them, named James May,
was dragged to a pump in the
neighbourhood to be pumped
upon, and otherwise so ill-treated,
that he was nearly killed before
his companions could rescue him.
The rioters also caught hold of a
poor woman who was passing at
the time, whom they mistook for
the wife of one of Mr. Timbrell’s
men, and treated the poor crea-
ture, who was far advanced in a
state of pregnancy, in a most in-
human manner. Information of
these proceedings was given at
Union-hall, and several of the
men being identified, namely
James Banks, and three others,
they were apprehended by Col-
lingbourn and Clark, and ordered
to find bail, themselves in 5001.
and two sureties in 501, each, and
to stand committed till such bail
should be entered into.

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

18. Toulouse. — This city has
just suffered a frightful calamity.
Tuesday, the 16th of April, the
powder-mills and magazines situ-
ated in the Isle d’'Angouleme ex-
ploded, at five minutes past four,
with a dreadful noise. Three ex-
plosions succeeded with the rapi-
dity of lightning, and threw the
city into alarm and confusion.
Frightened by the violence of the
explosion, the shaking of the
buildings, the falling of the in-
ternal partitions, the fall of stones
and pantiles, and the breaking of
glass which fell in the streets,
the inhabitants at first thought
that this disaster was produced
by an earthquake or a meteor. It
was soon known that the powder-
mills had exploded ; and that the
first explosion was that of the
graining-house ; the second of
the grand magazine ; and the
third of the little magazine. Soon
afterwards, an immense number
of fragments of clothing and of
human bodies were found scat-
tered in various parts of the town.
The body of a lady, and that of
the son of the director of the
establishment, were found. This
lady's case was very unfortunate :
she had long wished to gratify
her curiosity with a sight of the
Isle d'Angouleme, and was ac-
companied by a beautiful girl,
ber daughter, and a young man
who was betrothed to her: all
these perished ! Several mutilated
bedies have been found so far off
as the opposite bank of the Ga-
ronne. All yesterday workmen
were employed in digging, but
very few whole bodies were dis-
covered : some were found, how-
ever, which had neither mark of
wound nor contusion, Of fourteen

workmen

CHRONICLE.

workmen employed in the manu-
factory, only three were saved.
About sixteen persons in all are
supposed to have been killed, and
about four are dreadfully wound-
ed. All the buildings on the spot
where the accident happened are
completely destroyed. ‘The site of
the powder-magazine presents an
extensive excavation of about 20
feet deep and 200 broad, The
trees along the banks of the river
were torn up by the roots, and
thrown into the stream. Enor-
mous masses of stone were car-
ried to a considerable distance ;
and several houses in the city
were damaged by the stones fall-
ing on the roofs. The mills blown
up contained about 1220 quintals
of powder.

20. The Rev. Thomas Read
Kemp (late Thomas Read Kemp,
Esq.a distinguished member of the
House of Commons, and a gentle-
man of very considerable property)
now a preacher in the connexion of
the Rev. G. Baring, preached his
first sermon at Taunton, on Good
Friday, from Isaiah, liii. 6. ‘* All
we, like sheep, have gone astray ;
we have turned every one to his
own way; andthe Lord hath laid
on him the iniquities of us all.”—
(Taunton Paper.)

22. In carrying on the works
for the improvement of the river
Witham, many sub-marine arti-
cles have been thrown up. Late-
ly, near Washingborough, about
four miles from Lincoln, a com-
plete canoe was found, of the
length of 30 feet 8 inches, 2 feet
high at the sides, and about 2 feet
6 inches wide, made out of a sin-
gle tree. After being exposed to
the air, it was found impractica~
ble to remove this curiosity, the

53

least movement causing it to
break. A great number of trees
several yards under ground, deers’
horns, some of them very large,
and hnman sculls, &c. have been
found ; but the object of greatest
value is a beautiful silver cup or
basin, richly ornamented with
wild animals, &c. and having in
the centre a small statue. This
is now in the possession of a gen-
tleman in the neighbourhood.

23. This morning, between
two and three o'clock, a fire was
discovered to have broken out in
a bed-room of the coffee-house
that has for many years carried
on a great trade over the Stock
Exchange, which is situate at the
corner of Swithin’s-alley, close
to the north-east corner of the
Royal Exchange. The fire raged
with great fury, and scon com-
municated to every part of this
very extensive building, in which,
at the bottom, were an auction-
mart and a large wine company,
and above stairs the coffee-honse
and several counting-houses, all
of which are entirely consumed.
The fire then took a direction to-
wards Grigsby's coffee-house, and
consumed the house that stood be-
tween it and the Old Stock Ex-
change, but Grigsby’s was saved
by the exertions of the firemen.
The roofs of two houses in Swi-
thin's-alley are also burnt entirely
off, but the lower part, which are
shops, are saved. he property
lost is supposed to be very con-
siderable. It was got under soon
after day-light. By the falling of
the rubbish, one man belonging
to the Imperial Fire-office was
killed on the spot. Another fire-
man was dangerously bruised, and
taken to the hospital.

24, Nothing

54

24. Nothing can more clearly
or forcibly show the great want
of money which prevails at the
present moment among even the
higher classes in this country,
than the extraordinary low prices
at which the works of several of
the most eminent painters of the
old and new schsol have lately
sold, on being brought to the
hammer. The week before last,
two real Claudes, for which 1000
guineas each had been paid in the
same room not three years past,
were at Phillips's, in Bond-street,
‘knocked down at SO guineas the
one, and 70 the other; and last
week, at Mr. Squibb’s, the cele-
brated full-length picture, painted
by Hamilton, of Mrs. Siddons in
the part of the Grecian Daughter,
and for which the Earl of Gains-
boreugh paid Mr. Hamilton 300
guineas, was knocked down at 32
guineas, though in a state of the
highest preservation, and taken
when she was in the prime of life,
and in the zenith of her fame.
25. <A fire broke out in the
village of Fontaine-notredame,
near Cambray, which consumed
twenty houses. The loss is esti-
mated at 80,000 franes. This la-
mentable disaster was caused by
a field-forge of a corps of English
artillery quartered in that com-
mune. They were at work with
the forge in the wing of a farm-
house, when some sparks, carried
by the wind, set fire to the straw
with which it was thatehed, and
in ashort time this and the other
houses in the direction of the wind
were totally consumed. The Eng-
lish officers quartered there sub-
seribed a sum of money for the
relief of the unfortunate peasants
who were burnt out by this cala-
mity.

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

This aftemoon, a most de-
structive fire happened at Manu-
den, Essex, near Bishop Stort-
ford. About two o’clock on that
day, the malt upon the kiln be-
longing to some extensive build-
ings occupied by Mr. Nash caught
fire, which, it is said, might have
heen easily put out, had the ex-
tinguisher provided fer that pur-
pose been immediately used ; in-
stead of which, the man who had
the care of the fire went up to the
kiln, where, after vainly using
every effort, he was obliged to
descend most rapidly to save him-
self from the then increasing ele-
ment, which by this time had not
only communicated to the adjoin-
ing offices, but a fire had also been
kindled below, having caught the >
wood which lay contiguous to the
furnace. The most prompt as-
sistance was given, but we are
sorry to say that the fire did not
end on Mr. Nash’s premises,
which were totally déstroyed, to-
gether with a very large stock of
perfect malt, and a considerable
quantity in its various — stages.
Manuden-hall, occupied by Mr.
Patmore, is but a short distance ;
the wind carried the fire to those
extensive premises, which, with
the stacks of corn, hay, and straw,
next fell victims to the devouring
element. The hall alone is stand-
ing, but all the out buildings,
with their contents, are levelled
to the ground. One fat beast
only was destroyed, but three
others very narrowly escaped.
The damage done is estimated at
15,0001., whilst the insurance is
reported to be not more than half
that sum.

25. The markets in most parts
of the kingdom, according to the

provincial

CHRONICLE.

provincial papers, are on the rise.
At Wakefield market, on Friday,
wheat sold briskly at an advance
of 6s. per quarter. Oats, beans,
and malt, went off at higher
prices. One purchase ef 200
quarters of wheat was made on
Tuesday, and sold again on Fri-
day at a profit of 60l. At Leeds
there was also a rise. Nearer the
capital, at Canterbury, the high-
est price of wheat on Saturday
last was 80s. a quarter, and the
lowest 64s.

The rapid rise in grain has al-
ready occasioned many applica-
tions in home counties to take
farms which had been abandoned
by the occupiers.

30. Negro Insurrection; from
the Barbadoes Mercury, Bridge-
Town.—It is unnecessary to state
to our readers in this community
the occasion of that suspension
of our labours which has taken
place since the 13th of this month :
it will be long and painfully im-
pressed on their minds ; but those
of our subscribers who reside in
the neighbouring settlements, will
no doubt be desirous of knowing
the cause of it. We shall there-
fore endeavour to perform this
unpleasant duty, although we feel
considerable difficulty in the at-
tempt.

At so early an hour as two in
the morning of Easter Monday,
this island was placed under mar-
tial law, in order to quell a per-
fidious league of slaves in the
parishes of St. Philip, Christ-
church, St. John, and St. George ;
who, in their mad career, were
setting fire to fields of cane, as
well as pillaging and destroying
the buildings on many estates,
and otherwise pursuing a system

55

of devastation which has seldom
been equalled.

The inhabitants of this town
were apprized of these nefarious
proceedings through the personal
exertions of Colonel J. P. Mayers,
of the royal regiment of militia,
who, upon receiving the intelli-
gence, instantly proceeded from
his plantation ; and having on his
way acquainted Colonel Codd, in
command of the garrison of St.
Ann, the troops were immediately
called to arms, and put in readi-
ness to march in the route of these
ineendiaries.

This promptitude on the part
of the commandant was followed
by his kindness in supplying the
St. Michael’s militia with some

_arms that were required, and like-

wise with ammunition, so that by
day-break they were ready for
service; upon which the flank
and some other companies, headed
by Colonel Mayers, were soon
afterwards dispatched, and on
their march they joined a large
body of regulars, commanded by
Col. Codd, with which they pro-
ceeded to the scene of desolation.

The life-guards, too, were sent
in that direction, and, being di-
vided into squadrons, they fre-.
quently fell in with parties of the
insurgents, some of whom they
killed, and dispersed the rest ;
and, froin the facility with which
this body conveyed intelligence to
the troops, it was found to be a
most essential corps on this cala-
mitous occasion.

The enterprising spirit of Co-
lorel Best was conspicuous in this
affair ; for, with the Christ-church
battalion, he was on duty in the
very midst of the rebellious, and
contributed in a great degree to

their

56

their dispersion in that neighbour-
hood soon after their commence-
ment, but in effecting which se-
veral of the insurgents were
shot.

Those troops from the garrison,
as well as the militia, were, upon
approaching the thicket (one of
the estates principally concerned
in this outrage), sent in divisions
in different directions, with the
hope of discovering, before night,
those places to which the rebel-
lious had retreated upon perceiv-
ing them advance. In the per-
formance of this duty, the troops
surprised many parties of them,
and some of whom lost their lives
in attempting to escape.

Besides those that were killed
on the following day, many were
taken prisoners, and upwards of
400 have been sent on board of
thevessels in the bay, to await the
result of their trial, agreeably to
a proclamation issued by Presi-
dent Spooner.

Many have been condemned in
the parishes that revolted, upon
full evidence of their guilt, before
a court martial; and a court of
inquiry is sitting in town, before
whom several have been con-
victed, and their sentence of death
has been carried into effect on
those plantations to which the
offenders belonged.

It having been deemed advisa-
ble to acquaint his excellency,
Governor Sir James Leith, G.C.B.
of the state of the country, an ex-
press was sent to Guadaloupe on
the 16th inst., and his excellency
lost no time in proceeding hi-
ther, having arrived on the 24th
in a French schooner of war that
happened to be at that island.
The Governor has since thought

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

fit to circulate an address to the

slave population.

30. The Swiss Chronicle for the
month of April gives the follow-
ing details respecting Madame
Krudener, a new female religion-
ist :—‘‘ Early in the year she was
with Mr. Empeytas, a Genevese
ecclesiastic, at an inn at Basle,
where she set on foot daily reli-
gious exercises, for a circle chiefly
composed of persons who had a
reputation for piety. These exer-
cises at first took place in her
chamber; but the number of
her audience increasing, Madame
Krudener was obliged to receive
them in the largest room of the
inn. The sittings commenced
with mental prayer. Mr. Em-
peytas then repeated a prayer
aloud, and pronounced a well-
arranged discourse, which closed
with prayer, in which all present
joined on their knees. After this
act of worship, some select per-
sons obtained a private audience
of Madame Krudener: she was
seen frequently on her knees in
the innermost part of a dark
chamber, in manner resembling a
priestess. During these exercises
she remained in silence and me-
ditation ; but she was employed
in distinguishing the persons who
appeared to her most touched, or
to have the greatest need of change
in their conduct or dispositions.
It was to such that she addressed
private instructions in her cham-
ber with so much unction, that she
produced the most striking change
in the conduct of some young la-
dies of the first families, who
placed at her disposal their pocket-
money, which she distributed
among the poor. But the fathers
of these young women did not all

of

CHRONICLE.

of them share in the enthusiasm
of their daughters: some of them
pretended that they neglected
household affairs, in proportion
as their spiritual exercises multi-
plied. At last, some persons hav-
ing turned into ridicule and dis-
turbed these exercises by scan-
dalous scenes, the government
prohibited them, offering never-
theless to Mr. Empeytas, if he
chose to take out a license as an
ecclesiastic, permission to preach
in the French church: but he
quitted Basle, together with Ma-
dame Krudener, and endeavoured
to re-establish their worship in
the vicinity. In the course of
time, the fervour of novelty hav-
ing cooled, they repaired to Arau,
where they resumed their exer-
cises with success: the inhabi-
tants of the country flocked in
crowds to attend them. Madame
Krudener says prayers in the
morning, and harangues the au-
ditors in German; in the after-
noon Mr. Empeytas preaches in
French before a more cultivated
class of hearers.”

MAY.

1. Williams, the famous Eng-
lish deserter, who for years had
found refuge with the Sieur Bar-
bazan in the Isle Jourdain, has,
according to accounts from Auch,
at length been arrested. The
prodigious strength and_ violent
character of this maa had ren-
dered him the terror of all the
peasants and servants in the can-
ton. M. Barbazan was the only
person who could control him.
His terrible strength was parti-
cularly displayed when he was

57

intoxicated. Nothing could re-
sist his efforts. He then twisted
bars of iron as if they were frail
twigs ; with a blow of his fist he
broke through partitions ; and,
with no other help than his fin-
gers, tore out the largest nails.
In one of his fits, he one day
took up a servant by the middle
of the body, ran with him to the
distance of 50 paces, and threw
him over a wall 20 feet high, on
the other side of which a small
river flowed. Happily some trees
broke his fall, and he got off with
no other harm than a good fright.
The prefect has, on the applica-
tion of the mayor, ordered him to
be conducted from brigade to bri-
gade, until he be lodged in Tou-
lon.— Paris.

2. The nuptials of the Princess
Charlotte of Waies and the Prince
of Saxe-Cobourg.

The preparations for the august
ceremonial of this important day
were select dinner-parties given
by the Prince of Saxe-Cobourg,
the Prince Regent, and the Queen,
at the latter of which were the
Royal Princesses and the Bride.
At the appointed hour, a guard of
honour of the grenadiers of the
foot guards, with the band of the
Coldstream regiment in full dress,
marched from the parade into
Pall-mall, and the court-yard of
Carlton-kouse, accompanied by
Sir N. Conant and Mr. Birnie,
the police magistrates, and about
50. police-officers and constables,
to keep order in the public streets.
The entrance hall of Buckingham-
house was filled with ladies and
gentlemen, who were permitted
to station themselves there, to see
the royal personages as they came
out to their carriages. The Prin-

cess

58

cess Sophia of Gloucester arrived
at the Queen's palace about half-
past seven, to accompany the rest
of the Royal Family to the Prince
Regent’s. The Princess Char-
lotte' of Wales descended the
grand stair-case, being conducted
by the Princess Augusta on her
right hand, and by Colonel Ste-
phenson on her left. On her ad-
vancing to the entrance-hall, her
Royal Highness was met by her
Majesty; and, on their getting
into the carriage, the Queen and
the young Princess sat on the
back seat. The Princesses Eliza-
beth and Augusta accompanied
them, sitting on the front seat.

The Princesses Mary and Sophia of »

Gloucester followed in another
royal carriage. A party of life-
guards formed the royal escort.
There was every possible degree

of decorum among’ the immense
numbers assembled in the Park ;

but their cheers and greetings in
honour of the Princess Charlotte
were loud and incessant. The
royal ladies entered Carlton-house
through the garden-gate, where
they were most affectionately re-
ceived by his Royal Highness the
Prince Regent at eight o'clock in
the evening. The Prince of Saxe-
Cobeurg quitted the Duke of Cla-
rence’s about half-past eight, with
two royal carriages. In the first
was Lord James Murray (lord in
waiting to his Serene Highness),
Baron Hardenbroke (his Serene
Highness’s secretary), and Sir Ro-
bert Gardiner (his Serene High-
negs’s equerry). In the other car-
riage were Prince Leopold, ac-
companied by Baron Just, the
Saxon minister at this court, and
Mr. Chester, the assistant Master
of the Ceremonies, His Serene

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

Highness received abundant proofs
of public regard on his way to
Carlton-house, in continual cheer-
ings and gratulations ; and when
he passed within the colonade, the
band played “God save the King.”
A similar mark of attention was
paid to the Duke and Duchess of
York, the Duke of Kent, and other
royal personages, on their arrival.
The attendants at Carlton-house
belonging to the royal household
(guards, yeomen, footmen, &c.)
appeared in state costumes, and
the great hall was brilliantly light-
edup. With respect to the cere-
monial within Carlton-house, the
Queen and Royal Family, their
Highnesses the Duke and Duchess
of Orleans, and the Prince of
Saxe-Cobowrg, were introduced
to the Prince Regent, on their
arrival, in his Royal Highness’s
private closet. The royal ser-
vants, &c. lined the apartments
from the closet to the grand crim-
son saloon, where the marriage-
service was afterwards celebrated.
This saloon had been prepared
and fitted up for this occasion
with an elegant temporary altar
suitable to the august ceremony,
The altar was covered with crim-
son velvet. The crimson velvet
cushions, and the splendidly bound
prayer-books, &e. were brought
from the chapel royal, St. James’s;
as well as the massive candle-
sticks, and other church plate,
from the military chapel at White-
hall. The Serjeant of the chapel
royal attended also in his office of
Verger. The Prince Regent and
all the Royal Family, with all his
particular attendants, entered the
three grand rooms next to the
throne room. Her Majesty, with
the female branches of the Royal

Family,

CHRONICLE.

Family, and their attendants,
were conducted to the west ante-
room. Amongst the attendants
were Lady John Murray, and
Lady Emily Murray: the Cabinet
Ministers, the foreign Ambassa-
dors and Envoys, and their ladies,
also attended by particular invi-
tation, and proceeded to the grand
crimson reom. When the Queen
left her epartment, her Ma-
sesty’s attendants were conducted
through the great hall. The
Prince of Saxe-Cobourg and the
Princess Charlotte remained in
the closet till after the procession
had advanced threugh the suit of
apartments towards the altar,
which was attended by the Lords
of the Privy Council.

The altar for the celebration of
the ceremony was placed near one
of the fire-places in the crimson
state-room. When every thing
was ready, the Lord Chamberlain
gave notice to Prince Leopold,
who took his station in front cf
the altar. The Lord Chamber-
lain then gave notice to the Prin-
cess Charlotte, who was led to
the altar by the Duke cf Clarence.
The Prince Regent took his piace
by the side of the illustrious pair.
Behind the Royal Dukes stood
the Lord Chancellcr, Lords Cas-
tlereagh, Sidmouth, and Melville ;
the Earls of Westmoreland, Har-
rowby, Mulgrave, and Bathurst ;
Mr, Vansittart, Mr. B atherst; and
Mr. Pole, the cabinet ministers.
On the other side of the altar was
the Queen, for whom a chair of
state was placed. On her right
hand were the Princesses Au-
gusta, Elizabeth, and Mary, the
Duchess of York, and her High-
ness Princess Sophia of Glou-
eester: behind her Majesty were

59

her Lord and Vice-Chamberlains,
and the Ladies of the Household.
On the left of the altar stood the
the Royal Dukes of York, Cla-
rence, and Kent (the Dukes of
Cumberland and Sussex, and his
Highness the Duke of Gloucester,
were not present). The Arch-
bishop of Canterbury was close
to the altar, and behind him the
Archbishop of York. The Bishop
of London was on the right of
the altar, the Bishop of Exeter,
as clerk of the closet, and the
Bishop of Salisbury, the Preceptor
of the Princess Charlotte.

The Dukes of Orleans and
Bourbon, the Foreign Ambassa-
dors, and the great Officers of the
Household, stood in front of the
altar at some distance.

Two crimson velvet stools were
placed in front of the altar, which
was covered with crimson velvet.
There was some ancient royal
communion-plate on the altar,
with two superb candlesticks six
feet high.

The illustrious personages had
all taken their stations by a little
after nine o'clock, when the ser-
vice began. ‘The ceremony was
performed by the Archbishop of
Canterbury, assisted bythe Bishop
of London. !t concluded at half-
past nine, when the happy event
was announced to the public by
the Park and Tower guns.

Her Royal Highness the Prin-
cess Charlotte advanced to the
altar with much steadiness, and
went through the ceremony, giv-
ing the responses with great clear-
ness, so as to be heard distinctly
by every persen present. Prince
Leopold was not heard so dis-
tinctly. The Regent gave away
the bride.

As

60

As soon as the ceremony was
concluded, the Princess Charlotte
embraced her father, and went up
to the Queen, whose hand she
kissed with respectful affection.
Each of the Princesses her Royal
Highness kissed, and then shook
hands with her dnaivi ious uncles.
The bride and bridegroom retired

arm in arm, and soon after set off

for Oatlands, which they reached
at ten minutes before twelve.

The Prince of Saxe-Cobourg
wore at the wedding a full British
uniform, decorated with the in-
signia of the new Hanoverian
order of the Guelphs, and other
emblems of knighthood of Saxony,
and of Austria, Russia, the Ne-
therlands, Prussia, Bavaria, Wur-:
temberg, and Denmark. His Se-
rene Highness wore a magnificent
sword and belt, ornamented with
diamonds, aided studded with va-
rious gems.

3. Whitehall —His Royal High-
ness the Prince Regent has been
pleased, in the name and on the
behalf of his Majesty, to declare
and ordain, that his Serene High-
ness Leopold George Frederick
Duke of Saxe, Margrave of Meis-
sen, Landgrave of Thuringuen,
Prince of Cobourg of Saalfield,
consort of her Royal Highness
the Princess Charlotte Augusta,
shall take, hold, and enjoy, during
the term ef his natural life, in all
assemblies or meetings whatso-
ever, the precedence and rank fol-
lowing :—that is to say, before the
Lord Archbishop of Canterbury,
the Lord Chancellor, and all other
great officers ; and before the
Dukes (other than and except the
Dukes of the blood-reyal), and
all other Peers of the realm.

An English horse-race lately

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

took place near Vienna. The par-
ties were Prince Lichtenstein and
arvich Englishman. The wager
was 1000 ducats, and the latter
gained them. The novelty of the
scene attracted upwards of 20,000
spectators.

5. At the Pontefract sessions,
the annual return of the woollen
manufacture was made, by which
it appears that there was an in-
crease of 604,387 yards in narrow
cloths milled, and a decrease of
262,025 yards in broad cloths
milled. The whole manufac-
ture produced this year in yards
17,044,325,

6. in the morning, in conse-
quence of the advance in the price
of bread, several groups of the
manufacturing poor assembled at
different parts, of Bridport, com-
plaining of the grievance, added
to their want of employ from the
present stagnation of trade. Their
numbers increasing, one of the
most active bore a quartern loaf
through the streets on a pole.
This drew together.a great num-
ber of men, women, and children,
who soon proceeded to acts of vio-
lence, demolishing the windows of
the principal millers and bakers,
and taking from the brewery of
Messrs. Gundry three hogsheads
of beer, which they drew in
triumph to the centre of the
town. The riot act was then
read ; but several hundred more
havi ing joined the mob, it was
evident that nothing but the most
prompt measures could prevent the
dangerous consequences likely to
follow, and which were happily
prevented by the exertions of
some of the principal inhabitants,
who rushed among the mob de-
stroyed the beer, seized the ring-

leaders,

CHRONICLE.

leaders, and in a very short time
dispersed upwards of 2000, com-
mitting the former to prison.—
(Bath Journal.)

The following article appeared
in the New York papers :—

8. Catskill—During the last
week, the Catskill Mountains,
and the intervening woods, have
been constantly on fire. It is
said it extended as far south as
Ulster and Sullivan counties, de-
stroying in its course property to
a very large amount. In many
instances the inhabitants of neigh-
bouring settlements have been
compelled to sally out to save
their dwellings from destruction.
The smoke and cinders from the
fire, together with a thick and
hazy atmosphere, fora great part
of the time obscured the sun. A
friendly rain on Sunday stopped
the progress of the fire, and re-
stored the wonted clearness of
the atmosphere.

Another fire broke out in the
back part of Massachusetts on the
24th of April, which, aided by
the wind and drought, destroyed
more than 1,000 acres of wood,
and materially damaged a number
of the adjacent farms.

9. Fires in Suffolk.—About ten
o'clock on Wednesday night,
some sheds, in which eight bul-
locks were fattening, on the pre-
mises of Mr. Gray, of Hadleigh,
were discovered to be in flames,
and, from the rapid progress
they assumed, soon became a heap
of rubbish. Fortunately the bul-
locks were preserved; and by
great exertion a barn to which
the fire communicated did not re-
ceive much injury; but an out-
house belonging to Mr. Ling,
gardener, in which were a num-

61

ber of fowls, &c. was totally de-
stroyed. There is every reason for
suspecting this was not the effect
ofaccident. Aboutone in the morn-
ing of Wednesday, a barn, &c.
belonging to Mr. Glandfield, of
Martlesham-hall, near Wood-
bridge, was set on fire. Joseph
Bugg has been taken up on suspi-
cion, examined, and committed.
(Colchester, May 4.)

On Monday last, Benjamin
Buxton and James Button were
committed to Bury gaol, for
riotously assembling with other
persons at Rattlesden, and de-
stroying a machine, the property
of Mr. Morgan.

Yesterday se’night a small cot-
tage at Groton, in this county,
caught fire, and was entirely con-
sumed. Same day a haulm-stack,
on the premises of Mr. Harrison,
of ‘Timworth, was destroyed’ by
fire. On Friday night, a barn at.
Drinkston, the property of Joshua
Grigby, Esq. was wilfully set on
fire, and consumed. On Satur-
day night, a large barn, belong-
ing to Mr. Rollinson, of Stan-
ningfield, was destroyed by fire.
Same night a fire was discovered
on the premises of Mr. John
Pryke, of Wickham-brook, when
a barn and other out-buildings,
with a stack of wheat, and one of
beans, fell a prey to the devour-
ing element. Two large malting-
offices were lately discovered on
fire at Haverhill, which was ex-
tinguished by the inhabitants.
On. Wednesday morning, a fire
breke out at the office of Mr.
Royal, in St. Michael’s Coslany,
Norwich, which was got under,
after burning one bag of cotton.
(Bury Post, May 7.)

During the night of Wednes-

day

62 ANNOAL RE EGHSTE R, 1816.

day se’‘nnight, a fire was discover-
ed on the premises of Mr. Hust-
ler, of Gedding, Suffolk, which
raged so furiously, that ina short
time a barn, neat-house and cart-
lodge, together with 45 coombs
of wheat, a quantity of straw,
some live stock, &c. were con-
sumed. ‘There is strong reason
for thinking the above were wil-
fully set on fire. On Saturday
se‘nnight, a thrashing machine
belonging tou Mr. John Fenton,
of Whelnetham, was set on fire
on the premises of Mr. Sarjeant,
of Cockfield, Suffolk, and entirely
consumed. (Essex Herald.)
Friday se‘night, a fire broke
out in the premises of Mr. Long,
Chandler, of Ilminster, which
threatened destruction to the body
of the town, but through the ac-
tivity of the inhabitants was got
under, after destroying the pre-
mises in which it commenced,
and the workshops of a cooperagse
adjoining, containing property to
a large amount, a part of which
only was insured. (Bury paper.)
About two o'clock inthe morn-
ing of yesterday se’nnight, an
alarming fire broke out in the
premises of Mr. Kingsbury, of
Bungay, which, from the quan-
tity of tallow, tar, oil, &c. there-
in, threatened total destruction to
the adjoining buildings, but was
got under bythe prompt exertions
of the inhabitants, though not un-
til the offices were destroyed.
Same day a fire was discovered
in two barns occupied by Mr.
Scott, of Kettlebaston, during
the time the men who had been
thrashing therein were gone to
breakfast, which circumstance
leads to a strong suspicion they
were wilfully set on fire. The

flames raged so furiously that
the whole were destroyed in a
short time, together with a stable,
cow-house, and a stack of clover.

10. ‘The following is the de-
termination of the Prince Re-
gent respecting, Sir Robert Wil-
son and Captain Hutchinson :—

GENERAL ORDERS.

Horse-guards, May 10, 1816.

So long as Major-General Sir
Robert Wilson and Captain J. H.
Hutchinson, of the Ist or grena-
dier regiment of foot guards,
were under trial, the Commander-
in-chief abstained from making
any observation on their conduct.

The proceedings having now
terminated, the Commander-in-
chief has received the Prince Re-
gent’s commands to declare his
Royal Highness’s sentiments on
the transactions which have led
to the trial and conviction of those
officers.

In the instance of Major-Gene-
ral Sir R. Wilson, the Prince Re-
gent thinks it necessary to ex-
press his high displeasure, that
an officer of his standing in his
Majesty's service, holding the
commission and receiving the pay
of a Major-General, should have
been so unmindful of what was
due to his profession, as well as
to the government under whose
protection he had voluntarily
placed himself, as to have en-
gaged in a measure, the declared
object of which was to counter-
act the laws and defeat the public
justice of that country. Nor does
his Royal Highness consider the
means by which this measure was
accomplished as jess reprehensible
than the act itself: for his Royal
Highness cannot admit that any
circumstance could justify a Bri-

tish

CHRONICLE

tish officer in having obtained,
under false pretences, passports
in feigned names from the repre-
sentative of his own sovereign,
and in having made use of such
passports for himself and a sub-
jectof his most Christian Majesty,
under sentence fur high treason,
disguised in a British uniform,
not only to elude the vigilance of
the French government, but to
carryhim in such disguise through
the British lines. While the
Prince Regent cannot but con-
sider it as a material aggrava-
vation of Sir R. Wilson’s offence,
that, holding so high a rank in
the army, he should have coun-
tenanced and encouraged an in-
ferior officer to commit a decided
and serious breach of military
duty, his Royal Highness never-
theless thinks it equally necessary
to express his high displeasure at
the conduct of Captain J. Hut-
chinson for having been himself
an active instrument in a transac-
tion of so culpable a nature, more
especially in a country in amity
with his Majesty, where the
regiment, with which he was
serving in the course of his mili-
tary duty, formed part of an
army which had been placed by
the Allied Sovereigns under the
command of the Duke of Wel-
lington, under circumstances
which made it peculiarly incum-
bent upon every officer of that
army to abstain from any conduct
which might obstruct the execu-
tion of the laws.

His Royal Highness the Prince
Regent being unwilling to visit
these officers with the full weight
of his displeasure, which the
complexion of their offence might
have warranted ; and also taking

63

into consideration the degree of
punishment to which they have
subjected themselves, by violat-
ing the laws of the country in
which this transaction took place ;
has signified to the Commander-
in-chief these his sentiments, that
they should be published to the
army at large, in order to record
in the most public manner the
strong sense which his Royal
Highness entertains of the fla-
grantmisconduct of these officers,
and of the danger which would)
accrue to the reputation and dis-
cipline of the British army, if
such an offence were to pags with-
out a decided expression of his
Royal Highness's most severe re-
prehension.
By order of his Royal Highness,
Tue CoMMANDER-IN CHIEF.
10. The Lady Campbell out-
ward bound Indiaman, lying at
Gravesend, was completely ready
for sea, except that she had to
take on board twenty chests of
dollars for India. These were
put on board the Company's hoy,
and, with a view to better security,
two young men from the house
which shipped the dollars were
put on board, and the hoy sailed
on Wednesday with the night
tide. When off Greenwich, a
small craft came alongside, and
begged for some water, for
which they were in great distress.
The crew appearing to consist of
only two persons, no alarm was
excited, and the strangers fasten-
ed their cutter to the hoy. No
sooner, however, was the object
secured, than the two men hauled
to one side a large tarpaulin,
which discovered five or six more
men, who, jumping on board the
hoy, secured under hatches the
persons

64

persons on board, and then pro-
ceeded to rummage the vessel.
Their alarm, it seems, however,
was so great, that they hurried
on board the cutter only seven
chests of the dollars out of the
twenty, and hastily rowed off.
The dollars carried off on the oc-
casion are estimated to be worth
70001.

ll. Farther Account.—The
house of Messrs. Fairly and Co.
having occasion to send to their
establishment at Calcutta 13
chests of dollars by the Lady
Campbell, lying off Greenwich,
they were put on board the Com-
pany’s hey Coromandel, for the
purpose of conveying them to
that ship. As the trust was valu-
able, the usual caution on such
occasions was observed, and the
crew on board was increased, and
supplied with additional arms. It
was between two and three
o'clock on Thursday morning, the
9th, when the hoy reached Bug-
by’s-hole. A small craft came
along side on pretext of asking
questions. As only two men ap-
peared in view in the boat, no
serious alarm was excited, until a
tarpaulin was hauled on one side,
and discovered about the number
of 20 more. The hoy was now
on the alert, but it was too late ;
the pirates were soon on board,
and placing a pistol to the head
of Mr. Abbot the master, de-
manded his submission. Mr.
Abbot, with Mr. Champion, the
Company's officer, and the crew,
were driven into the cabin, froin
whence they discharged several
blunderbusses at the banditti on
deck. The fire was returned ;
and an exclamation was made as
if a person was wounded ; it was

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

succeeded bya voice saying, “We
will murder them all;’’ which
led the crew to the resolution of
fighting for their lives, if the ves-
sel was attempted to be scuttled,
as they apprehended. In the
mean time the villains broke open
the hatches with a crow-bar, and
preceeded to rummage the hold.
Their alarm, however, was so
great, that they hurried into their
craft only 7 chests of the dollars
out of the 13 on board. In each
chest were contained four bags,
with 1,000 dollars in each, so that
the whole amount of the booty
obtained would amount to about
7,0001. The robbery being thus
completed, the pirates ran the
hey on shore, to prevent any im-
mediate pursuit. The same day,
Thursday, a vigilant search was
set on foot by the police after the
robbers, but without success.
A deposition to the above effect
was given at the Thames police-
office on Friday by the master and
crew of the hoy. On following
up the inquiry, it appears, that
nine bag's of the dollars have been
recovered; but we have reason to
believe that none of the actual de-
predators are yet in custody. It
would seem that, from the speedy
approach of day-light, and the
slackness of the tide immediately
after the robbery was committed,
the villains were afraid to venture
on shore with their stolen pro-
perty, and had therefore deemed
it expedient to sink the whole or
part of the chests, as they sup-
posed, within low water mark, in
Gallion-reach ; for about seven
o'clock, at low water, three of
the chests were observed un-
covered on the shore, where they
had been just left by the tide.

The

CHRONICLE.

The commander of an ordnance
transport, two Greenwich water-
men, and the master of a peter-
boat, being on the spot when the
chests were first discovered,
claimed an equal right to their
contents. A mallet and chisel
were brought from the transport,
and the chests were opened, Up-
on ascertaining the contents, the
Greenwich watermen, more pru-
dent or more honest than their
colleagues, proposed that the
whole of the bags should be taken
to the water bailiff for the benefit
of the owners. This was object-
ed to, and the property was di-
vided ; but, unfortunately for the
master of the transport, whilst
his boys were carrying a part of
his share to his house, they were
seized by an officer, who had been
all day on the look-out. The
boys, being interrogated, con-
fessed where the remainder of
their master’s booty was hid, and
the dollars were immediately re-
moved from their hiding-place in
the sand. The next step was to
take the master into custody, and
to look after his colleagues;
but, to the credit of the Green-
wich watermen, they came for-
ward the next morning with the
whole of their share of the spoil,
and with an offer of their evidence
as to that part of the transaction
in which they had been engaged.
On Friday the master of the
transport and the watermen un-
derwent an examination before
several magistrates, at a public-
house near Shooter’s-hill.

14. Bury. Saturday se’nnight
the out-buildings upon a farm in
the parish of Henham, Essex, oc-
cupied by Mr. Thomas Nottidge,
were discovered to be on fire;

Vor. LVIII.

65

and, notwithstanding the most
prompt exertions, all the build-
ings, with other property to a
considerable amount, were totally
destroyed. Monday se’nnight a
haulm-stack, belonging to Mr.
Harvey, Hartest, was consumed
by fire. Thursday last a thrash-
ing-machine was taken into the
market-place at Clare, and burnt
by the populace. On Friday
night two very large stacks of
hay, and one of wheat, the pro-
perty of Mr. Turner, of Brock
ford, were destroyed by fire. On
Sunday afternoon, about three
o'clock, whilst the inhabitants of
Lawshall were attending divine
service, an alarming fire broke
out in a barn, containing 50
coombs of wheat, belonging to
Mr. Bradley, of that place, which
in a short time consumed the
same, together with a granary
(in which were some barley and
oats), two stables, a cow-house,
piggeries, four horses, six calves,
and a sow and nine pigs. Yester-
day se’nnight, a riotous assem-
blage of men, women, and chil-
dren, 100 in number, broke the
windows of Mr. Hayward’s flour-
mill at Needham-market, and
then dispersed, without attempt-
ing any further mischief.

15. Shane’s Castle, the ancient
residence of the noble family of
O'Neil, in the county of Antrim,
Ireland, has been destroyed. In
the evening of this day, when
Earl O'Neil and some friends
were at dinner, one of the chim-
neys was discovered to be on
fire, which burned until it ap-
proached near to the top, when
the chimney burst, and the fire
communicated with the timbers
of the roof, and spread with such

dreadful

66

dreadful rapidity, that the upper
story was soon involved in one
general conflagration. No exer-
tions could stop the flames, and
the venerable pile was reduced to
a melancholy ruin, Nothing was
saved but the title-deeds and
valuable papers of his lordship’s
family, and his plate; every thing
else was destroyed.

16. A coroner’s inquest was
held at the Marquis of Cornwal-
lis, Warren-street, Fitzroy-square,
before J. Stirling, Esq. coroner,
on a view of the body of M. Henry
Paliere, a French gentleman. It
appeared by the testimony of Mr.
Tippet, a chemist and druggist,
in Warren-street, that the de-
ceased was recommended to him
about five weeks ago by a French
gentleman, who now resides with
him, and who is a lieutenant-
general; that during the short
time he had lived with him he
had at intervals shown symptoms
of great dread, and had yesterday
morning, between six and seven
o'clock, put a period to his ex-
istence, by nearly severing his
head from his body with a razor ;
that on gaining an entrance by
forced means into his apartments,
he was found quite dead, with a
bloody razor lying on the floor
near him, and likewise two pistols
not loaded. Mr. Tippet, on being
interrogated if he could assign
any reason for this unfortunate
circuistance, said, that the de-
ceased had at times expressed a
dread of his being apprehended,
and clandestinely taken off to
France, but for what cause he
did not know; that he had for-
merly held the situation of a
commissioner—a place of confi-
dence in the police, under Buo-

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

naparte, and that he had nowa
wife and two children living in
Paris, as he had been informed.
After the above deposition was
taken, the gentlemen of the jury
retired to the deceased’s apart-
ments to view the body, when,
on examining it, there appeared
several wounds which the de-
ceased had received in battle. On
their return again to the Mar-
quis Cornwallis, Mr. Johnson and
another gentleman, along with
the deceased's friend who had re-
commended him to Mr. Tippet,
were sent for, who stated that
the deceased had lately exhibited
symptoms of insanity, and had
daily expressed the dread of being
apprehended and carried off pri-
vately to France; and further
that he had received a letter from
Paris about three weeks ago,
cautioning him byno means again
to return, since which, whenever
they were walking together in the
street, if any person was coming
hastily towards them, he dreaded
their approach, fearing that they
were then coming to apprehend
him. After this being related by
them, the jury gave in their ver-
dict— Insanity.

18. Fron the Maine.—Accord-
ing to letters from Switzerland,
another colony of 800 persons
is ready to emigrate to America :
among them are many ingenious
mechanics. In Germany also the
spirit of emigration increases
anew. From the neighbourhood
of Frankfort several families have
recently departed for America.

19. The Sheriff of Suffolk, and
Mr. Willet, the banker, of Bran-
don, near Bury, arrived in town
at the Secretary of State’s office,
express, with an account of the

alarming

CHRONICLE. 67

alarming state of the county, and
to request the assistance of go-
vernment to restore tranquillity.
The public have been for some
time apprised of various outrages
committed in that county, in the
breaking of thrashing machines,
and the destruction of barns,
corn-stacks, &c. by fire, suspect-
ed to be wilful and malicious, the
agents in which are presumed to
be agricultural labourers, discon-
tented because employment and
advance of wages did not imme-
diately follow the recent rise in
the price of corn. These out-
rages were, however, only secret
and isolated cases. It was not
until the end of the week that the
discontent of the lower orders
broke out into open and general
disturbance.

A reduction in the price of
bread and meat was the avowed
object of the rioters, They had
fixed a maximum for the price of
both. They insisted that the low-
est price of wheat must be half-
a-crown a bushel, and that of
prime joints of beef fourpence
per pound. Mr. Willet, a but-
cher, at Brandon, was a marked
object of their ill-will, in which
Mr. Willet, the banker, was,
from the similarity of his name,
in danger of sharing. This cir-
cumstance, and a laudable anxiety
to preserve the public peace, in-
duced him to take an active part,
and exert all his influence for
that purpose. On Friday he re-
monstrated with them on the
dangerous consequences of their
proceedings, and promised that
their demands should be com-
plied with for a fortnight, which
would afford time for the con-
sideration of their grievances, and

of the means of redress. ‘The
malcontents appeared _ satisfied
with this assurance, gave Mr.
Wilet three cheers, and parted,
after expressing a wish to chair
him, which he declined. The
tranquillity thus restored was,
however, of short duration.

The disturbance broke out
again on Saturday with increased
violence, and the malcontents
shewed themselves in eonsiderable
force. Their whole number
amounted to 1500, divided into
several parties, marching in se-
veral directions, for the purpose
of attacking the houses of those
persons who were obnoxious to
them. At Brandon they destroyed
several houses, including Mr.
Willet’s the butcher ; which they
completely levelled to the ground.
Another party of them proceeded
to the village of Halesworth, it
is supposed for a like purpose ;
and the Sheriff of Suffolk, and
Mr. Willet, the banker, saw on
their way to London, about ten
o'clock on Saturday night, a fire
near Ely, which they apprehend
was the mischievous work of
another party of the rioters.
They were armed with long heavy
sticks, the ends of which, to the
extent of several inches, were
studded with short iron spikes,
sharp at the sides and points.
Their flag was inscribed, ‘‘ Bread
or Blood!’ and they threatened
to march to London. ‘The Sheriff
of Suffolk and Mr. Willet having
laid this representation before the
Secretary of State, received from
him a promise of every possible
protection, and with this assur-
ance they left town on Sunday
night on their return home. It
appears, from the following ex-

tract

68

tract from a Norwich paper, that
a similar spirit has displayed itself
in that city :—

Late on Thursday evening, 16th,
a inischievous and riotous dispo-
sition manifested itself here
amongst some of the lowest class
(chiefly youths), who, about nine
o’clock, assembled in the market-
place, and first began to throw
fire-balls about, which seemed to
have been prepared for the pur-
pose. They afterwards broke the
hall windows, and those of seve-
ral respectable individuals; and
then proceeded to the new mills,
breaking all the city lamps in
their way. The people at the
silk-manufactory being at work,
they attacked the windows; and
on the lights being extinguished,
some of the more audacious broke
into thenew mills (the windows of
which they had first broken), and
took thereout a quantity of flour,
some of which they threw into
the river, and some they carried
away in the sacks. On their re-
turn from the mills, they broke
the lamps and windows of several
gentlemen’s houses in St. An-
drew’s, Bank-street, Tombland,
Magdalen-street, and other places,
and proceed to Dr. Alderson’s
house, who, on coming out to
remonstrate with them on their
highly improper conduct, was
knocked down.

In consequence of these out-
rages, the mayor and magistrates
immediately assembled at the hall,
where they continued until a late
hour, and the constables and se-
veral respectable persons, with
staves and torches, proceeded to
the mills, but the mob had dis-
persed. A piquet of the West
Norfolk militia was stationed be-

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

fore the hall, and a party of the
first royal dragoons, commanded
by Captain Phipps, and headed
by a magistrate, went down to
Trowse-mills, whither it had been
reported a party had proceeded,
but that happily was not the case ;
they then returned and patrolled
the streets till morning.

20. Inconsequence of a cargo
vf potatoes being about to be
shipped at the quay of Biddeford,
a great number of people collect-
ed, armed with bludgeons and
other weapons, to prevent the ex-
portation taking place. The po-
lice of the town apprehended
three of the ringleaders, and
confined them in the town prison.
Immediately on the event being
known, an immense number of
shipwrights and others beat off
the police, broke down the prison
doors, and released the prisoners.
An express was then sent off to
the North Devon yeomanry, who
promptly assembled: the mob
was immediately dispersed. The
cavalry remained under arms,
and patroled the town during
the night. On Saturday morning
several of the rioters were appre-
hended, and four of them sent off
to Exeter, under an escort of the
North Devon yeomanry cavalry.
They are now in the county pri-
son. On information being given
that a great number of disorderly
people were collecting at Apple-
dore and Clewhouses, the cavalry
proceeded to the latter, in order
to secure about 30 or 40, who
were arming themselves with va-
rious weapons. Immediately on
the troops appearing, the offend-
ers went on board a ship, which
was surrounded with the tide,
lowering down the boats, and

went

CHRONICLE.

went off to the Braunton side of
the water, and made their escape.
Too much praise cannot be be-
stowed on the North Devon yeo-
manry, for their exertions and
behaviour in quelling the progress
of the mob in its infancy. On
Saturday night every thing was
perfectly tranquil; soon after
which 40 of the Enniskillen dra-
goons arrived, and relieved the
yeomanry, who had been on duty
during two nights.

21. Lady Hester Stanhope,
who belongs to one of the first
families in England, merits a
place among the most celebrated
and intrepid travellers of the pre-
sent age. This lady, the niece,
the friend, and intimate com-
panion of the great Pitt, was not
less attached to him by conformi-
ty of mind than by the ties of
blood. She enjoys a pension from
her country. Pitt, who, as is
known, died without fortune, left
to his nieces, poor like himself,
a few lines, in which he recom-
mended them to the generosity
of the people of England. After
the death of her uncle, Lady
Hester formed the project of
travelling in the Levant. She
first repaired to Malta, and from
thence proceeded to Constanti-
nople. Wishing afterwards to
make a pilgrimage to Palestine,
she sailed for the Holy Land, but
had the misfortune to be ship-
wrecked off the Isle of Rhodes.
Cast on a barrenrock, she seemed
to be destined to perish of hunger ;
but an English ship which ap-
peared on the following day took
her on board, and conveyed her
to Syria. There she travelled in
all directions, accompanied by
Mr. Bruce, who has just been

69

tried for the part he took in the
escape of Lavalette. She spent
several years wandering among
the ruins of Palmyra and Hiero-
polis, and exploring the valleys
of Mount Lebanon. Living for
whole months on rice and water,
and accustomed to the frugality
of oriental habits, from being
feeble and debilitated, she be-
came a strong and vigorous Ama-
zon. According to letters which
she has addressed to her family
in England, she is now at the head
of three tribes of Bedouin Arabs,
who regard her as a being of a
superior order. She has directed
several children, whom she was
fond of, to be brought to her from
England ; and she declares, that
she will never forsake that land
of the sun, to breathe the humid
and cloudy atmosphere of Great
Britain.—French paper.

22. Norwich—A Court of
Mayoralty was held on Friday
morning, when strong measures
to preserve the peace were deter-
mined on: at sunset a captain’s
guard of the West Norfolk mili-
tia was marched into the hall;
the Norwich yeomanry cavalry,
under Captain Hudson, assem-
bled at the Swan inn; a detach-
ment of the Ist royal dragoons
was under arms at the horse
barracks; and the magistrates,
constables, and a number of the
respectable inhabitants, at the
same time were assembled at the
hall. These demonstrations had,
to a considerable degree, the de-
sired effect: nevertheless, a large
mob collected, who showed a bad
disposition, by breaking a num-
ber of lamps, windows, &c. The
magistrates and their assistants,
therefore, proceeded in a body to

the

70

the market-place, and the riot
act was read ; several of the mob
having surrounded them, and be-
having in a disorderly manner,
three were taken into custody,
and the rest refusing to disperse,
after proper time had been allow-
ed them to do so, the military
were called in, but were on their
appearance received with vollies
of stones, and their horses alarm-
ed by throwing a large fire-ball ;
they soon, however, succeeded
in driving their assailants out of
the market, and dispersing them
in every direction ; several who
resisted were committed to the
gaol, and before 11 o'clock every
thing was quiet. We are sorry
to add, that several of the yeo-
manry cavalry received cuts and
bruises from the stones, and one
gentleman was thrown from his
horse, and the animal falling up-
on him, he was severely injured,
but is now ina convalescent state.
On Saturday the magistrates is-
sued a proclamation, and having
the same forces ready for preserv-
ing the peace, the market and
streets were cleared at an early
hour, without any danger being
sustained. On Monday morning
the persons who had been taken
into custody were brought up for
examination, when two were
committed to gaol, and several
bound over to take their trials at
the sessions and assizes.
_ Bury. —On Wednesday evening
a number of persons assembled
in a riotous manner before the
house of Mr. Wales, hosier, in
the butter-market of this town,
demanding that he should give up
a machine called a spinning-jenny
(by the use of which they imagin-
ed themselves aggrieved), and

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

threatening destruction to his pre-
mises in case of refusal; but by
the firmness of Charles Bloom-
field, Esq. assisted by the other
borough magistrates, and many
respectable inhabitants, the in-
tentions of the mob were happily
frustrated, and they at length
dispersed, although it was found
necessary to keep the staff estab-
lishment of the West Suffolk mi-
litia (whose aid, with that of the
different recruting parties here,
had been called in) upon duty all
night. In consequence of these
tumultuous proceedings, a meet-
ing was next day convened by the
alderman (T. Foster, Esq.) at the
Guildhall, which was very nu-
merously attended (notwithstand-
ing the shortness of the notice),
and every one came forward with
the utmost alacrity to support the
civil power; upwards of 200 spe-
cial constables being sworn in, a
party of whom have nightly pa-
troled the streets; and we have
the satisfaction to state, that no
further attempt has been made to
disturb the peace of the town.

On Sunday and Monday de-
tachments of the 1st royal dra-
goons marched in here from Ips-
wich, part of whom will remain
till further orders, and the others
proceeded on their route to Bran-
don.

24. Cambridge—Great alarm
has been excited here by the ap-
pearance of numerous knots of
strange countrymen, coming in
with large sticks, for two or three
days past. Our mayor, Colonel
Mortlock, apprehensive that this
might have been preparatory to
an intended entry of the Fen
rioters, convened the magistracy
in the town-hall this afternoon,

who

li

CHRONICLE. 71

who swore in three hundred of
the principal inhabitants as spe-
cial constables. ‘The Vice-chan-
cellor and heads of houses also
assembled, and resolved to put
arms into the hands of the stu-
dents of their respective colleges,
if found necessary.

27. Riots at Littleport and Ely.
—On Wednesday last 22d, a most
desperate body of insurgent fen-
men assembled at Littleport in
the Isle of Ely, where they at-
tacked on the same night the
house of the Rev. Mr. Vachel, a
magistrate, who for some time
stood at his door armed with a
pistol, threatening to shoot any
one who should attempt to enter,
when three men rushed upon and
disarmed him. He immediately
ran up stairs to relieve his wife
and two daughters, who, with
very slight covering, made their
escape with him, running nearly
all the way towards Ely, where
they arrived safe after midnight.
The rioters then broke all the
windows, and nearly demolished
every thing in the house, burning
all Mr. Vachel’s papers and writ-
ings, and stamping his plate un-
der their feet: after which they
extorted considerable sums of
money from the inhabitants, and
broke into two shops, helping
themselves, witlfout any one dar-
ing to oppose them. The pub-
licans’ cellars were their next ob-
ject, where, after having drank
what they liked, they got a wag-
gon and team of horses, and pro-
ceeded for Ely, taking with them
every gun and other deadly wea-
pon they could find. On their
arrival at that city they were join-
ed by some of its refractory inha-
bitants before eight o’clock on

Thursday morning, when they
demanded contributions from the
houses and shops of the brewers,
bakers, butchers, grocers, and
millers, which were unavoidably
assented to, and a dreadful scene
of drunkenness and riotous con-
duct ensued. They then pro-
ceeded to the house of Mr. Rick-
wood, a miller, where they began
to break his windows, &c.; but
on his wife consenting to go with
a party of them to the bank, for
the purpose of giving them 50].
they, on obtaining that sum, left
his house without committing
any further depredations ; but on
their return broke the windows
and doors of the house of a per-
son who sold flour, together with
great part of the furniture. The
mischief was chiefly committed by
the Littleport rioters, who, after
separating themselves from those
of Ely, extorted money from se-
veral persons of that city, which
they spent in drink, and departed
homeward, to complete their
lawless depredations, having first
obtained the release of two of
their confederates who had been
imprisoned by the Ely magis-
trates. Happily there was no
further disturbance in that place
after the departure of the Little-

port banditti. ;
These riots have at length ter-
minated by the exertions of the
magistrates, aided by a number
of the gentlemen and inhabitants
of Ely, and the Royston troop of
volunteer cavalry, together with
a small detachment of the Ist
royal dragoons, consisting of 18,
who had in the first instance been
sent for from Bury. These pro-
ceeded in a body on Friday after-
noon to Littleport, and a very
severe

72

severe struggle ensued between
them and the rioters, who had
secreted themselves in different
houses, and were armed with
guns, with which they fired many
shots at the military and civil
power, and severely wounded one
of the soldiers, but not danger-
ously. The military then received
orders to fire, and the man who
had wounded the soldier was in-
stantly shot dead, and another
fell, who, having lost the lower
part of his face, and part of his
tongue, is since dead, When
this took place the rioters were
completely disconcerted, and fled
in every direction; but by the
perseverance and activity of the
military and civil power no less
than 73 of the rioters were taken
prisoners, and are now lodged in
Ely gaol. Many more were also
taken, who, appearing to have
been forced to join the mob, have
been liberated. Amongst those
taken, and now under confine-
nent, are several persons of some
pioperty, and apparent respecta-
bility of life ; and it is very evi-
dent that rapine (not want) was
the principal instigation of this
unprecedented disturbance, as
the parish of Littleport on Wed-
nesday night, and again on Thurs-
day night, resembled in every re-
spect a town sacked by a besieg-
ing army, the principal inhabit-
ants having been compelled to
abandon their homes for the pro-
tection of their lives, and leave
their properties to the mercy of
this daring banditti of robbers.
At least 50 guns and 9 or 10
large fowling-pieces, such as are
used by gunners for the destruc-
tion of wild fowl, each carrying
at least 4 or 5 pipes of powder,

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

and as many of shot, were taken
from the rioters, and plate and
other articles to the value of 3 or
4001. have been recovered.

A detachment of the 69th regi-
ment arrived at Ely on Sunday
morning, where they will be sta-
tioned for some time to come, al-
though the inhabitants of Ely and
its environs are now easy, and
have abandoned all alarm.

Another Letter —On Wednes-
day evening last, about nine
o'clock, a most alarming disturb-
ance broke out at Littleport; a
furious attack was made on the
premises of the Rev. Mr. Vachel,
magistrate for the isle, which
began by breaking his windows ;
the rioters soon entered the pre-
mises, completely gutted the
same, broke every article of fur-
niture, (except one table) with
which they pelted the green-
house, scarcely leaving a whole
square of glass, carried off all
the family plate and trinkets of
Mrs. Vachel, ripped up the fea-
ther-beds, scattered the feathers
in the street, and, in short, on
those premises their aim was total
destruction: the damage is esti-
mated at 2,0001. Mrs. Wadde-
low, a general shopkeeper, ex-
perienced treatment nearly simi-
lar, and also lost a great part of
her stock in trade. From the
premises of Mr. Stephen Wiles,
shopkeeper, after extorting from
him 101. they took all his gun-
powder and shot, to the value ou.
111. and totally destroyed his new
shop-windows ; they also broke
open the bureau of Mr. Dewie,
farmer, from whence they took
100 guineas.

27. Suffolk.—At a meeting of
the lord-lieutenant and the ma-

gistrates

CC

CHRONICLE.

gistrates of the said county, held
at the Shire-hall in Bury St. Ed-
mund’s, on Monday, the 27th
day of May, 1816, for the pur-
pose of taking into consideration
the late outrages and disturb-
ances which have taken - place
within this county; the Duke of
Grafton, lord-lieutenant, in the
chair :

«Resolved, That it is the opi-
nion of the meeting that the most
patient and careful attention
should be given, with a view of
tracing the causes of these dis-
orders, and of relieving, as far
as circumstances will permit, the
present distresses of the labour-
ing poor; but that it is the de-
cided opinion of this meeting,
that no concessions should be
made, nor any agreement entered
into with bodies of people assem-
bled in a riotous or threatening
manner; and that the utmost
exertions will be used to put
down all tumults, and to bring
to punishment all persons who
may be concerned in such riotous
proceedings.”

28. Newcasile-upon- Tyne.—We
are concerned to state, that serious
disturbances have broken out
amongst the pitmen and other
workmen connected with the col-
lieries upon the Wear. Several
hundreds of them are off work,
upon the ostensible ground of
their present wages being inade-
quate to their support, while the
price of bread-corn continues so
very much higher than it has
been.

The pitmen and other mis-
guided workmen upon the Wear,
however, have, through the
prompt and vigorous exertions
of the magistrates, aided by two

73

troops of cavalry from Newcastle,
been indueed to return to their
work. We understand eight of
the ringleaders were taken into
custody on Saturday, and com-
mitted to Durham gaol. No dis-
position of joining them was at
any time evinced by the pitmen
upon the Tyne.—( Tyne Mercury.)
29. About three o'clock in the
morning, a fire broke out at the
Plough Inn, Clapham, which
spread itself from the tap-room
upwards with such rapidity, as
scarcely to give time for the es-
cape of the inmates. Two or
three gentlemen, who had taken
up their abode at the‘inn for the
night, narrowly escaped. One
of them in bed, up two pair of
stairs, finding his retreat cut off
by the staircase being on fire,
called for assistance from his bed-
room window, and fortunately a
ladder was brought him, and he
was saved from destruction. A
Mr. I. was placed in a still more
perilous situation; he slept in
the one pair, and in the confusion
which took place the people of
the house forgot to awake him.
At length he was roused by the
crackling noise of the fire under-
neath his bed, which he at first
supposed to be rain violently
driven against the windows ; but
immediately being annoyed by
the smoke, he rushed out of the
room with part of his clothes in
his hand, and was just in time to
save his life. The family about
the same time were apprised of
their danger, and as the landlord
had eight or nine children, it re-
quired great exertion and con-
siderable risk to preserve the lives
of all, in which, however, he
fortunately succeeded. The fire,
being

74

being aided by the spirits, raged
with such fury as to resist every
effort to get it under, until the
whole premises were consumed.

Norwich.—On Friday afternoon
last the Upwell troop of yeomanry
were again sent for, the magis-
trates and inhabitants expecting
another visit from the insurgents
of Southery and its neighbour-
hood, in consequence of their de-
mands not being complied with ;
they insisted on 2s. per day for
their labour, and to be paid for
Monday and Tuesday (the days
they were rioting at Downham) ;
also fixing their price for bread,
flour, &c. When the troop ar-
rived (about seven in the evening)
the special constables were on the
alert, and several were immedi-
ately taken into custody.

On Saturday morning seven
persons were fully committed for
trial; and on Sunday and Mon-
day last many more prisoners
were brought in, who have not
been examined.

The Upwell troop were ordered
to Wisbech on Saturday morning
to meet the. March and Whittle-
sey troops, the magistrates and
inhabitants being fearful of out-
rages ; but all is at present quiet
there. om

30. The inhabitants of York
were gratified with the celebra-
tion of high mass at the Catholic
chapel in Blake-street—a specta-
cle which has net been exhibited
in York with so great a degree of
splendour during the last 300
years. — York Courant.

31. A tumuituous and riotous
mob of nearly 200 persons, armed
with axes, saws, spades, &c. en-
tered the village of Great Bard-
field, in the county of Essex, with

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

the avowed intention to destroy
thrashing machines, moleploughs,
&c. ‘They made their attack on
the premises of Mr. Philip Spicer,
who, fortunately for the place
where he lived, as also for the
villages and towns on that side of
the country, had spirit and reso-
lution to defend his property, and
being assisted by about twenty of
his neighbours, who were entirely
unarmed, they determined to re-
sist the attack of the rioters, and
got between the mob and the
barn where the machine was de-
posited, and dared them to ad-
vance ; when perceiving the de-
termined manner of their oppo-
nents, they wisely resolved to
make a precipitate retreat.

JUNE.

1. A Dutch paper states, that
the late Easter fair at Leipsic was
by no means a successful one, the
buyers not bearing any due pro-
portion to the sellers. The Eng-
lish cotton-manufacturers attend-
ed the fair in great numbers, and
sold their goods so low as to defy
all profitable competition. The
consequence would be a necessity
on the part of the German manu-
facturers to dismiss their work-
men. There was little demand
for fine cloths, but the commoner
sorts sold well. Leather was in
great request. The booksellers
attending the fair could not boast
of much success. It was observ-
able that, besides the standard
writings of Goethe and Schiller,
the principal books in demand
were those on statistics, politics,
and recent historical events. The
falling off in the Leipsie fairs of

late

CHRONICLE.

late years is ascribed to merchants
sending their riders throngh every
nook and corner of Germany to
obtain customers.

The late fair was attended by
several Greeks from the Seven
Islands and the Morea, who pur-
chased a considerable part of an
elegant impression of the prin-
cipal Greek and Roman classics,
edited by Schaifer, Herman, Beck,
&e.

About one o'clock on Saturday
morning the extensive premises
of Mr. Irvine, Nos. 49 and 50,
Great Marylebone-street, Oxford-
street, were discovered to be on
fire. It was two o'clock before
any water could be procured, nor
could a sufficient supply be then
obtained. The premises were to-
tally destroyed, with all their con-
tents. Eight new carriages were
destroyed, finished, as also 18
which were building. The tur-
pentine, varnish, and other in-
flammable materials on the pre-
mises, added greatly to the con-
flagration, and made the blaze
visible for several miles around.
A few carriages, and a small part
of the household furniture, were
saved. Several persons were se-
verely hurt by the falling in of
some of the timbers, and one man
is since dead.

3. Edinburgh.-—About 5 o'clock
on Friday afternoon, a most dis-
tressing accident occurred within
a quarter of a mile of Bathgate,
on the road leading to Linlithgow,
and nearly opposite Balbairdie-
house, the seat of Mr. Majori-
banks. Robert Meikle, a servant
of Mr. George Simpson, farmer,
Easton, and a tacksman of exten-
sive lime and coal works in the
neighbourhood, had been directed

75

by his master to carry with a
horse and cart a considerable
number of barrels of gunpowder,
for the use of his lime-quarries,
to the place which he occupies as
a depot for that article. Meikle,
at the place above described, was
sitting on one of the shafts of the
cart. From causes yet unknown,
the gunpowder took fire, and
shocking to relate, exploded with
a tremendous noise, so much so
that some of the people in Bath-
gate declare it shook their houses.
The unfortunate man who drove
the cart was thrown into a clump
of planting in Mr. Marjoribank’s
lawn; the body of the cart was
driven from the wheels, and the
horse ran furiously to Bathgate
with the body of the cart, where
it soon alarmed the inhabitants,
who ran to the spot, and disco-
vered Meikle literally burnt to a
cinder, scarcely a vestige of his
clothes having escaped from the
fire. When found, he was alive,
but insensible, and was imme-
diately carried to Mr. White’s,
Glenmavis, an adjoining farm-
house. Medical assistance from
Bathgate was soon procured, but,
notwithstanding ‘every effort, the
poor man died in about an hour
and a half after the accident,
leaving a wife to lament his loss.
The horse was also much scorch-
ed. It is understood there were
about nine barrels of gunpowder
on the cart at the time of the ex-
plosion.

5. At a meeting of magis-
trates at Chippenham, Wilts, five
weavers were convicted, and sen-
tenced to one month’s imprison-
ment and hard labour, for unlaw-
fully combining to control the
clothiers there in the management

of

76

of their trade, and for persuading
another weaver to leave his em-
ployment without his master’s
consent. A numerous and illegal
assemblage of weavers in the
clothing trade took place on the
3d inst. at Bradford, Wilts, who
combined to prevent the use of a
particular kind of loom; and on
Saturday se’nnight six of the
principal ringleaders were com-
mitted to Devizes Bridewell, to
be kept to hard labour for two
calendar months, by a bench of
magistrates of the Bradford and
adjoining districts.

6. Chelmsford.—A riot com-
menced at Halsted, in Essex, in
the evening of the 28th ult. by
the mob liberating four prisoners,
who were about being lodged in
Halsted house of correction, for
destroying some machinery at
Sible-Hedingham. One of the
constables who was conducting
them to prison, having taken
shelter in the house of a trades-
man, it was furiously attacked,
and the windows of the shop, &e.
broken, and otherwise damaged.
The mob then continued their
outrages during the remainder of
the evening, by an almost indis-
criminate attack upon the. win-
dows of the principal inhabi-
tants. The next evening they
collected in greater numbers,
many parties having been ob-
served to join them from the
neighbouring villages, armed with
bludgeons, &c. In order to pre-
vent a recurrence of the excesses
of the preceding. evening, the
Halsted cavalry were under arms ;
who, after the riot act had been
read, made several charges on the
mob, but without effect, as the
insurgents retreated into the

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

church-yard, which rendered
their efforts to disperse them
fruitless ; and having been vio-
lently assailed by stones, &c. they
found it necessary to retreat ;
upon which the same scene of
breaking windows ensued, to the
great annoyance of the inhabi-
tants. Early the next day a party
of the 20th dragoons arrived
from Colchester. The respectable
tradesmen and inhabitants, to the
amount of 60 or 70, came for-
ward, and offered themselves in
aid of the civil power, by being
sworn in as additional constables ;
and in the evening divided them-
selves into companies, in order to
guard the avenues of the town,
and prevent any suspicious per-
sons from entering it; by which
judicious measure no assemblage
took place—all was quiet and
tranquil, and from that time
there has not been the slightest
appearance of tumult or disorder.
In justice to the inhabitants of
Halsted, says the Chelmsford
paper, it ought to be observed,
that very few of them, and those
of the very lowest order, and con-
sisting chiefly of women and chil-
dren, were at all concerned in
these disgraceful excesses, the
mischief having principally arisen
from some misguided persons col-

lected from the neighbourhood.
9. Spalatro.—There has just
been discovered in the environs of
this place (the ancient Salona), a
magnificent bas-relief, represent-
ing Dioclesian at the moment
when he receives in his garden
the Military Tribune, who came
to acquaint him with the virtue
of the army, and invite him
to resume the Imperial dignity.
The head of the Emperor has a
fine

CHRONICLE.

fine expression of composure and
dignity, and one may read in his
look the answer he has made.
The ‘Tribune is near a well,
whence he is doubtless preparing
to draw water at the desire of
the old gardener. This fine bas-
relief is placed in the cathedral.—
From a Brussels Paper.

10. SBristol.—A letter from a
gentleman in Barbadoes, received
here, states that, in the pursuit of
the negroes, a flag was found,
divided into three compartments ;
in the first of which was painted
a white man hanging by the neck ;
in the second a black chief, with
a white woman kneeling at his
feet, with clasped hands, implor-
ing mercy: in the third a black
chief crowned, with a white wo-
man at his side. It states, that
the insurrection was a regular
concerted plan, but that it burst
forth a week before it was in-
tended by some of the chiefs,
who, having become infuriate by
drink, commenced the work of
desolation.

A very tragical circumstance
took place at Port Royal, Ja-
maica, on the 10th. It appears
that some offence had been given
by one of the boat’s crew to a
party of blacks, who in conse-
quence, on the following evening,
went in a body to the landing
place, determined to revenge the
insult upon the first British offi-
cer they should meet with. Lieut.
the Hon. J. Calthorpe, of the
Junon, was unfortunately landing
from that ship at the moment,
and he instantly fell a victim to
their brutal revenge. He wasa
brother to Lord Calthorpe, and
was highly esteemed: his body
will be sent to England in the
Junon.

77

The Hampshire Courier and
Chronicle adds the following par-
ticulars tu the above :—

*« Tt appears that about eight
o'clock on Thursday night, the
11th ult. some young gentlemen
and seamen belonging to one or
more of the men of war, and
some black and coloured people
of the town of Port Royal, had
a misunderstanding, near the
wherry wharf, which came to
blows, and throwing of bricks,
&c.; this dispute continued till
about ten, when the Hon. John
Calthorp, second lieutenant of
his Majesty’s ship Junon, who
was on shore from his ship, pass-
ing that way, noticed the distur-
bance, and immediately endea-
voured to persuade the men of
war’s people to go on board their
vessels; but, while in the per-
formance of this laudable endea-
vour, he received a dreadful blow
on the back part of the head from
a brick, thrown by one of the op-
posite party, which felled him
senseless to the ground; he was
raised up by some seamen, and
taken on board his ship, but the
wound was found to be mortal ;
and he was afterwards conveyed
to the hospital at Port Royal,
where he languished until about
eight o'clock the next morning.
From the very moment he re-
ceived the shocking wound till
his death, he never uttered a word.
A coroner’s inquest was held on
Thursday, when the jury, after a
a minute deliberation on the evi-
dence, returned the following
verdict :—‘* That the said Lieu-
tenant the Hon. John Calthorpe
came to his death by a mortal
wound inflicted by John Baptiste,
Isaac Benjamin, and others, of
which wound he died.”” Baptis

a

78

and Benjamin have been com-
mitted to the gaol, and four other
men have been taken up on
suspicion of being concerned in
the murder. The Coroner has
offered a reward of 1001. to any
free person that will give evi-
dence tending to convict any per-
petrator or perpetrators of the
horrid deed; and to any slave
giving information to the same
effect, a promise to use every en-
deavour to procure his ov her
freedom. The deceased was bro-
ther of the Right Hon. Lord Cal-
thorpe, and first cousin to Mr.
Wilberforce.

A shower of hail destroyed, on
the 10th of June, on the left bank
of the Danube, near Munich, in
Bavaria, all the hopes of the agri-
culturists within a circle of 10
leagues. In the night between
the 15th and 16th, ~there was in
the environs of Bamberg so ter-
rible a fall of rain, that the fields
belonging to 17 villages were en-
tirely laid waste. Hundreds of
cattle perished, several houses
were carried away by the torrents
from the mountains, and 15 in-
dividuals lost their lives.

11. Honiton This town is
now tranquil. The last attempt
made was on Sunday morning,
when a large farm-house, about
a milé from the town, on the
Exeter road, occupied by Mrs.
Hutchins, was entirely destroyed
by fire. The engines were not
permitted to leave the town, as
the committee, who were ap-
pointed to investigate the late
calamities, had come to a resolu-
tion on the previous evening to
that effect, considering that an
alarm of fire might be made by
the incendiaries, the better to

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

effect their purpose in their ab-
sence. ‘The watch still continues
to patrole the town from nine at
night till four in the morning ;
and large vessels are constantly
kept filled with water, at short
intervals, throughout the streets.
One hundred guineas have been
offered by the Royal Exchange
and Sun Fire Insurance-offices,
in addition to a like sum by the
inhabitants, for the discovery of
the offenders.

By letters of the 11th of June
from Constantinople, we learn,
that her Royal Highness the Prin-
cess of Wales arrived in that city
on the 6th of that month. She
took up her abode at the British
palace till a house at Buyukdere
was fitted up for her reception.
On the 9th were presented to the
Princess all the foreign ministers,
and the same evening the British
factory. Shortly another presen-
tation was to take place to give
those an opportunity to be pre-
sented who were disappointed on
the former occasion. Her Royal
Highness, say the letters, con-
ducted herself at all times with
the greatest affability ; yet in other
respects she failed to afford satis-
faction to the British merchants,
inasmuch as she gave a decided
preference in all her dealings to
foreigners. She had credit on a
Greek house for 40,000 Spanish
dollars, when a British house
could have accommodated her
Royai Highness as well. Being
in want of jewellery, the Princess
applied toa Frenchman: and she
is accompanied by a Neapolitan
Count and two Ladies. At Genoa
and Sicily her Royal Highness
was well received; but at Malta
it is said the Governor made the

vessel

CHRONICLE. 79

vessel on board of which her Royal
Highness was, to perform quaran-
tine in the strictest manner.

A letter from Cologne, of the
12th of June, says: ‘‘ To-day we
had the entirely novel spectacle of
a steam boat entering our port:
it is to ascend the Rhine and the
Maine as far as Frankfort. Should
Bavaria execute the project of
uniting the Rhine and the Da-
nube by a canal, the navigation
by steam boats might then be
continued to Vienna.”

15. Extract of a private letter
from Bordeaux :—‘‘ We really do
not know here where weare. We
sit with our doors and windows
closed, and with fire burning on
the hearth, as in the middle of
winter. It is as cold as in Octo-
ber, and the sky is dark and
rainy. Violent winds, accompa-
nied with heavy rains and hail,
rage round our country houses ;
the low grounds are under water ;
if we have one tolerably warm
day, several cold and rainy ones
are sure to follow. The oldest
people in the country do not re-
collect such a summer.”’

16. At Lucerne emigration for
America finds several partisans.
About 100 of this canton went off
with the last set; but in the
canton of Glaris it is felt more
strongly. Within a few weeks
30 persons left a single commune
of this canton for Russia; and
between the Ist of March and 6th
of June 400 passports had been
delivered. Still greater emigra-
tion is apprehended. Misery aug-
ments daily. The multiplica-
tion of English machinery in the
thread-manufactories diminishes
the resources ; and even weaving,
the only resource of the poor, is
threatened with a like fate.

SpeciaL Commission AT Exy.
Monday, June 17.

This day, at ten o'clock, the
Hon. Mr. Justice Abbot, Mr. Jus-
tice Burrough, and Ed. Christian,
Esq. Chief Justice of the Isle of
Ely, arrived in this town, pre-

eded by a cavalcade consisting of
the principal inbabitants, and im-
mediately repaired to the court-
house, where they opened a spe-
cial commission for the trial of
the persons charged with having
riotously assembled, and com-
mitted various felonies at Little-
port and Ely. The commission
having been read, the Judges pro-
ceeded to the cathedral, where
divine service was performed, and
a sermon preached by the Rev.
Sir H. B. Dudley.

The Court reassembled at one
o'clock, and the preliminary busi-
ness being concluded, and the
grand jury sworn, Mr, Justice
Abbot made an address to them;
after which, the Court adjourned.

The trials commenced on the
18th, and were continued daily to
the 22d, when they terminated
with the capital conviction of 34
persons on charges of burglary
and rebbery. Mr. Justice Abbot
then made an impressive address
to the criminals, and having pro-
nounced sentence upon each se-
verally, he left five of them with-
out hopes of mercy. They were
all deeply affected durimg this
awful scene, and were taken from
the bar in an agony of grief. The
remainder of the prisoners being
put to the bar, Mr. Gurney said
he was instructed, on the part of
the crown, not to prefer any pro-
secution against them, upon which
they were discharged by procla-
mation, and the commission was
dissolved.

Warsaw.

80

Warsaw.—Three days ago there
flew over this city an extremely
large swarm of inland locusts (in
Polish called koniki). They re-
sembled a thick cloud, and some
of them fell on the roofs of the
houses. ‘They bear much resem-
blance to the Asiatic and African
locusts, but are by no means so
destructive to the fruits of the
earth.

18. His Royal Highness the
Commander-in-Chief left town for
Windsor, in order to be present
at the grand entertainment given
by the inhabitants of Windsor to
the Royal Blues, together with
the other troops on duty there, in
commemoration of the battle of
Waterloo. The banqueting-tables
were laid in the grand avenue in
Windsor-park. ‘The troops were
regaled with plenty of roast-beef,
plum-pudding, strong beer, and
other liquors; the officers, with
the greater part of the nobility
and gentry in the town and its
vicinity, partook of a grand din-
ner in the Town-hall, at which his
Royal Highness the Commander-
in-Chief was present.

The Officers of the three regi-
ments of Foot Guards, who were
at the battle of Waterloo, gave a
dinner at the Thatched-house
tavern, in commemoration of that
day.

Spots in the Sun.—The Journal
de Rennes of the 18th of June con-
tains the following communica-
tion: ‘‘ On the 10th of June, at
6h. 54 min. 25 sec. I observed
on the sun’s disk five spots in-
clined to the equator, in the di-
rection of the terrestrial ecliptic :
that in the centre appeared to be
of the size of the earth’s diameter.
On the 12th, at 7h. 52min. 10

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

sec., I observed six spots. On
the 16th, at 7h. 25min. 30sec.,
I observed eight. These obser-
vations were made in the morn-
ing, with a telescope of Dollond,
and one of the best of them in
France.

68D -AsmT,
Astronomer.”’

19. An erroneous report of an
intended review at Wimbledon
yesterday drew an immense con-
course of people. Booths were
erected on the heath, and more
than 20,000 persons were col-
lected. Every precaution was
taken to prevent this assemblage ;
for when it was known. that
booths were erected on the heath,
and that crowds were hastening
from every quarter towards Wim-
bledon in the expectation of wit-
nessing the grand military spec-
tacle, persons were posted at va-
rious stations on the several roads
leading to the heath, to give no-
tice of the error ; but their infor-
mation was not attended with the
desired effect: the vehicles, horse-
men, and pedestrians, equally re-
solved, pushed on to their desti-
nation. About eleven o'clock,
when it was found that the report
of a review was altogether un-
founded, symptoms of disappro-
bation were manifested, which
broke out in acts of violence, and
the heath was set fire to. An ex-
press was sent to London, and a
small detachment of the guards
Was sent in consequence to re-
store tranquillity. A female was
thrown out of a chaise on the
road to Wimbledon, and taken to
an adjoining house in an insen-
sible state.

The statue of the late Mr. Fox
was placed upon its pedestal in

Bloomsbury-

(Signed)

CHRONICLE.

Bloomsbury-square. Westmacott
is the artist, and it is in his best
style. The work consists simply
of a statue of Mr. Fox, of co-
lossal dimensions, beng to a scale
of nine feet in height, executed
in brunze, and elevated upon a
pedestal of granite, surmounting
a spacieus base formed of several
steps or gradations. The whole
is about 17 feet in height. Dig-
nity and repose appear to have
been the leading objects of the
artist's ideas: he has adopted a
sitting position, and habited the
statue in the consular robe, the
ample folds of which passing over
the body, and falling from the
seat, give breadth and effect to
the whole: the right arm is ex-
tended, the hand supporting
Magna Charta; the left is in re-
pose: the head is inclined rather
forward, expressive of attention,
firmness, and complacency: the
likeness of Mr. Fox is perfect
and striking. The inscription,
which is in letters of bronze, is,
“Charles James Fox, erected
MDCCCXVI.” This statue, and
the statue of the late Duke of
Bedford, by the same artist, at
the other extremity of Bedford-
place, form two grand and beau-
tiful ornaments of the metro-
polis.

In Glasgow, one of the curio-
sities shown to strangers, and
one of the greatest curiosities in
Britain, is a cow-house, set up
on his own plan by a Mr. Bu-
channan, an old but a very skil-
ful and successful master weaver.
In this cow-house are kept con-
stantly about 300 cows in the
neatest, most clean, and healthy
order. The house (one room) is
a square building, the roof sup-

Vou. LVIII.

81

ported in the centre by iron pil-
lars. The floor is boarded, washed
clean and sanded. Small long
stages, about a foot above the
floor, are erected, each contain-
ing perhaps twenty cows. These
stages are just as wide as the cow
is long, and behind the cow is a
trough to carry away what falls
from it. They are kept two and
two together, are fed regularly
with grass of some kind, and
watered ; women attend upon
them and groom them as men do
horses, but during thenine months
they are in milk they never
change their situation. They live
upon about six square feet each :
yet their skins are always sleek
and silky, they are fat and beau-
tiful. The moment they become
dry they are sold to the butcher,
for whom they are highly fit. The
owner has a man or two travell-
ing about the country purchasing
new ones, coming into milk ; the
owner, too, keeps a farm, which
the cows’ manure enables him to
dress well. Inthis way the busi-
ness goes on like clock-work, it
being but secondary to his weav-
ing trade, and has gone on for
eight years,—no bustle, no con-
fusion; and he sells his grass
milk for half the price the Lon-
doners sell their nauseous mix-
ture, though land is dearer around

Glasgow than around London.
22. A barbarous murder with
robbery was perpetrated on this
night, near Vauxhall-bridge, in
the vicinity of Liverpool. A per-
son who was returning home
from the country saw the flash,
and heard the report of a pistol ;
but imagining it to proceed from
some person amusing himself, it
did not greatly arrest his atten-
tion,

82

tion, and he continued walking
down the side of the canal, but
he had not walked far before he
perceived two men bending over
the body of a third, which was
stretched on the earth. On nearer
approach, he inquired what they
were about : instantly one of them,
apparently an athletic man, started
up, seized him by his legs, and
precipitated him into the canal.
He struggled some moments in
the water ; and when he had just
regained the bank, the villain beat
him on the head with what he
supposed the butt end of a pistol.
Concluding him to be entirely
disabled, he returned to his asso-
ciate, and, it is supposed, com-
pleted the robbery. In the pre-
cipitation of retreat, they left. a
pistol, which was found lying
near the body. Mean time the
man got out of the canal, and
with all celerity proceeded to the
nearest house to give the alarm.
A party of men immediately pro-
ceeded to the scene of the mur-
der. They found the man still
extended on the ground, insen-
sible, and weltering in his blood.
* They conveyed him to the infir-
mary, but just as they reached it
the unfortunate man _ expired.
Two men have been taken into
custody upon suspicion, and have
been remanded for examination.
The murdered man is unknown ;
but is supposed to have come
fram the country to proceed to
America.— Liverpool’ Courier.

A destructive fire broke out at
Thorverton, near Exeter, at four
o'clock in the morning, in the
stable of Mr. James, and spread
so rapidly, that it could not be
arrested until seventeen cottages
were demolished, whereby a great

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

number of poor industrious fa-
milies were reduced to great dis-
tress. In the Exeter papers the
circumstance has been attributed
to accident, through the care-
lessness of a boy ; but gentlemen
of Thoverton state, that not any
doubt remains in-the minds of
the respectable inhabitants but
that it was wilfully set on fire, as
not the least satisfactory proof
can be made of any light being
used in the stable during the
whole night: and, as it was de-
tached from any dwelling-house,
fire must have been carried into
it for incendiary purposes. Threats
have been made use of for a
month past, that the town should
be burnt ; and evidence has been
substantiated before Mr. Fursdon
and Mr. Carew, magistrates,
against one man who said he
would burn the town. A subscrip-
tion has been opened for the re-
lief of the poor sufferers.

23. The following melancholy
accident occurred on Sunday even-
ing, on the river Swale, near Fa-
vershan, Kent. <A party of per-
sons, chiefly females, had spent
the day in a water excursion to
Whitstable, and had arrived at Fa-
versham-creek’s-mouth, on their
return home, when it was pro-
posed to proceed te Harty-ferry-
house to take ter. After staying
there until nine o'clock, they all
(being ten’ in number) re-em-
barked in a small boat, and were
in the act of going off to their
vessel, which lay at anchor near
to the opposite shore, and to
which they had almost arrived,
when the boat turned over. The
ferryman crossing the river inhis
boat at the same time with eight
passengers, went to, the assist-

ance

—_—

CHRONICLE.

ance of the unfortunate sufferers,
and succeeded in rescuing two
men from their dangerous situa-
tion. They also dragged into their
boat the lifeless body of one of
the women. Proceeding in their
humaneendeavcurs to save others,
their own boat, being under a
pressure of sail, and keeling still
more from their reaching over
the side, was almost filled with
water. Another party of young
men immediately pushed off from
the ferry way in a third boat, and
happily succeeded in saving the
ferryman and the whole of his
passengers, and also the two
young men who were in the first
boat. The remainder, viz. one
man, six females, and an infant,
met a watery grave !

On Sunday evening a boat, with
10 persons in it, 6 men and 4
women, which had been out all
day on an excursion of plea-
sure, attempted to shoot London+
bridge : the women were alarmed,
and at their cwn urgent request
were landed : the men, however,
persisted in their attempt: the
consequence was, that the boat
was upset: four persons were
drowned, and the remaining two
were with great difficulty brought
to shore alive.

24. Halle—In cousequence of
the almost incessant rains for
weeks past, and the bursting of
the mountain clouds, the Saale
swelied so much, that in the night
of the 21st, we heard from many
of the lower villages signals of
distress, by the firing of guns and
ringing of bells; but we were
unable to send assistance, because
the whole surrounding country
was under water, and the only
object visible above water was

83

our lofty bridge. Many cattle
have been drowned. The price
of bread and other articles of sub-
sistence is rising among us in the
same proportion as the number
of poor is on the increase. In
the neighbourhood of Aschersle-
ben, swarms of locusts have made
their appearance.

25. The following lamentable
event occurred lately at Knelston,
near Swansea, and ought to ope-
rate as a caution to those who
are in the habit of using poison
to destroy rats or other vermin.
Two youths, brothers, of the
name of Hoskins, the one 17, the
other 19 years of age, being in a
progressive state of recovery from
a fever, requested their mother
to give them, instead of a medi-
cine prepared for them, some
brimstone and treacle. A basin,

containing a preparation of arse-

nic for destroying rats, being
placed on a shelf, and the unfor-
tunate youths supposing it to be
brimstone and treacle prepared
for them by their mother, took
each a portion of this deadly poi-
son, and shortly after expired in
the most excruciating torture.
On being opened, the cause of
this calamity was instantly disco-
vered. Verdict of the coroner’s
jury—Accidental Death.

26. Extract of a Letter from
Baroda.—“ A report was brought
by a cultivator about eight o'clock
yesterday morning, of two large
tigers having taken up their abode
the preceding night in a garden,
within a mile of the west extre-
mity of the town. ‘The gentle-
men of the residency, after a
hasty breakfast, anxiously pre-
pared rifles, fusees, and muskets,
and attended by 10 sepoys of the

G2 resident's

84

resident’s escort, went forth in
search of the animals. The place
in which they were said to have
taken shelter, was covered by
bushes of the mogree flower plant
extremely thick, and standing
about four feet high, with narrow
pathways, occasionally intersected
by hedges of the prickly milk
bush, and low and thick ramifi-
cations of the aloe tree.

“<The party beat about the
jungle (for it had this appearance,
rather than that of a garden),
when by great good fortune it
had a glimpse of one of the ani-
mals making off with some rapi-
dity. It was first taken for a
large grown calf, a misconception
very natural, as the sequel will
show, and as by the report of the
morning, the party expected to
meet with tigers. The appear-
ance of the animal, however,
gave a stimulus to the exertions
of the gentlemen, who moved
forward in the low jungle, sur-
veying every bush, and expect-
ing each instant to hear a tre-
mendous roar, or perhaps to en-
counter the savage attacks of the
animals. Little more search
brought the two beasts in full
view, when one of them started
off, receiving a ball from a gen-
tleman in the side. It went ra-
pidly past two others of the party,
and was wounded by a single shot
in the flank. These wounds ap-
peared to have produced no de-
cided effect, and a quarter of an
hour had elapsed before it was
again discovered crouching in a
thick plantation of aloe trees. It
was here that a few sepoys and
one of the gentlemen, advancing
within 8 paces, brought the beast
prostrate on the ground; when,

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

for the first time, considering
the indistinct view obtained in
the low jungle during the pur-
suit, it was found that, instead of
tigers, the objects of the chase
were lions of considerable size !
Some danger attended the death
of this animal (which was a li-
oness), as the other party were
diametrically opposite to the aloe
plantation when the volley was
fired into it. The balls whistled
over their heads and around them,
but happily without bad conse-
quences to any body.

‘© The success which attended
the first hunt redoubled exertion,
and with great management the
party scoured the bushes in search
of the lioness’s companion. Some
time passed, and a great deal of
laborious exertion, before the ani-
mal was traced by his footsteps
to one of the high hedges which
intersected the garden. The party
approached within eight yards,
when, by previous concert, two
gentlemen and two sepoys fired,
independently, with effect. The
animal moved off immediately on
the other side of the hedge, and
in ten minutes more, he was dis-
covered lying under another hedge
groaning with rage and pain.
Some pieces were instantly fired,
which exasperating him, he ran
out, and nobly charged his as-
sailants, his tail being curled over
his back. In his advance he was
saluted, with great coolness, with
several balls from all the gentle-
men and a few sepoys cf the
party who had come up; and
though within a few yards of the
objects of his attack, he suddenly
turned off (it is supposed, on ac-
count of being severely wounded),
and sprung upon a sepoy detached

to

CHRONICLE.

to the right, with whom he
grappled, and afterwards, by the
violence of the exertion, fell to
the ground beyond him.

«Tt was at this moment that
the party gallantly, and for the
humane purpose of saving a fel-
low creature, rushed forward, and
with the bayonet and swords put
an end to the monster. The
sepoy was wounded in the left
shoulder, but it is hoped that
there is no danger of his losing his
life.

«© The complete success of the
day was justly calculated to ex-
cite many pleasing reflections ;
but after all was concluded,
it appeared that a countryman
who attended at a distance un-
armed, and for his own curiosity,
was wounded in the thigh by a
ball. This accident has of course
damped the pleasure of the sport ;
though it is but just to remark,
that before the party entered into
the garden, entreaties were used
to the curious by-standers to in-
duce them to keep away from the
scene of action, and many were
sent off by main force, who after-
wards returned in defiance of
every remonstrance.

«©The animal last killed was
a lion, not quite full grown, but
strong and powerful in his make ;
the lioness was in the same pro-
portion.

“ On being brought to the re-
sidency and inspected, these ani-
mals were sent to his Highness
Puttah Sing at his own request.

«‘ The appearance of tigers in
the immediate vicinity of Baroda
is not common, two only having
strayed from the ravines of the
river Myhie to the enclosures
round the town within the last

85

15 years, but lions have never
been seen. Indeed the existence
of this species in India has been
questioned, though since satis-
factorily established. It is con-
jectured, that the lions killed yes-
terday had wandered out of the
deep defiles of the Myhie, about
12 miles from Baroda, in the
night, which was unusually dark,
and attended throughout, in the
neighbourhood of that river, with
torrents of rain. It was fortu-
nate that their retreat was imme-
diately discovered, or from the
number of people now employed
in cultivation around this popu-
lous town, some would in all
probability have fallen victims to
their voracity.”

The improved semaphore has
been erected on the top of the
Admiralty. It consists of a hol-
low mast of 30 feet, in which two
arms are suspended when not
making signals. There is also
one erected in West-square, Lam-
beth, and in a few days the expe-
periment of communicating to
Sheerness will be made.

The quadrangle of the Peni-
tentiary-house on Millbank is
completed. The governor, with
the task-masters and mistresses,
&c. have taken possession of their
apartments ; and this week the
prisoners from the different gaols
will be removed thither. The
rooms in which the convicts will
reside, are very comfortable for
individuals who have forfeited
their claim to remain at large ;
they are about 12 feet by 6, lofty,
with an arch, and glazed window,
iron bedstead, table, and stool.
The whole of them are warmed
by means of flues placed in the
passages, and proper measures

are

86 ANNUAL REGISTER,

are adopted to ensure regular ven-
tilation. The rooms all look to-
wards the centre of a circle (which
is divided by brick walls into
court-yards for exercise), where
the principal task-master resides,
and commands a eomplete view
of all that is doing. A chapel is
also erecting, which, when the
whole is completed, will form the
centre of the building. Women
are to act as turnkeys to the fe-
male prisouers, and all commu-
nication with the male convicts
will be entirely prevented.
Wexford (Ireland).—A very for-
midable banditti have made their
appearance in the county of Wex-
ford. They entered and robbed
two farm-houses in the neigh-
bourhood of Enniscorthy, and dis-
played that regular preparation
and determined resolution which
seemed to mark considerable ex-
perience in their lawless profes-
sion. They were, we understand,
nineteen in number; their leader
armed with a case of pistols and
a blunderbuss, and wholly undis-
guised; and his adherents pro-
vided with belts, and with arms
in good condition. The alarm
was speedily given, and several
gentlemen, supported by military
parties, set out with the laudable
determination of seizing or put-
ting to death these eneimies of the
common safety. They had taken
refuge in the wood of Killogh-
ram, and however difficult and
perilous the search was, their
pursuers were resolved to dis-
charge their duty at every hazard.
Some of thein were at last dis-
covered, but they refused to sur-
render. A kind of action then
took place, and about 30 shots
were fired on both sides; a sol-

1816.

dier of the 35th regiment was
wounded, and a blunderbuss aim-
ed directly at the officer who com-
manded the military missed fire.
Three of the banditti were taken,
and atterwards committed to pri-
son in Wexford. Various articles
were found upon them, and par-
ticularly a seal bearing the im-
pression of W.S. The rest of
the daring body unfortunately
escaped. ‘This, it is generally be-
lieved, was Captain Grant's corps,
headed by himself ; and the im-
pression on the seal may be re-
garded as designating the pro-
perty of Mr. Stubber, of the
Queen's county, who was robbed
some time ago. It is material to
remark, that this transaction has
nothing to do with the domestic
peace of the county of Wexford,
and that the line of conduct pur-
sued by the magistrates and gen-
tlemen of that county will speedily
subdue these wandering Arabians,
or compel them to change their
quarters.

27. Mansion-House.-—T. Con-
nelly and T. Dixon were charged
on suspicion of having set fire
to the premises of Mr. Dunkin,
tallow-chandler, in Aldersgate-
street, on Wednesday night, when
the whole of the dweiling, furni-
ture, &c. were destroyed, together
with the upper part of the house
of Cockerton and Son, oilmen,
adjoining. These two houses,
with another on the north side of
Mr. Dunkin’s, it may be remem-
bered, were also destroyed last
year by fire, and had just been
rebuilt. —

Mr Dunkin deposed, that on
Wednesday night, 26th, about
half-past 12 o'clock, two men en-
tered his bed-room, and having

drawn

CHRONICLE.

drawn aside his curtain, one of
them seized hold of him, and,
showing a knife, threatened to
“««do for him,’’ if he made the
slightest noise. ‘Theother placed
a pillow upon his face, and. pre-
vented his erying out. They then
asked him for the keys of his
desk, money chest, &¢. He said
he did he did not remember
where he had placed them; and
finding that he was not willing to
satisfy them, they dragged him

’ from bed, and brought him to the

landing place of the stairs. Here
one of them proceeded to tie his
neck, hands, and arms, to the
banisters, while the other fastened
two handkerchiefs about his eyes.
One of them then proceeded to
search for ‘the keys, and soon
after called out to his companion,
who had remained with witness,
that he had got them. The par-
ties then informed him, that they
would soon leave the house, but
that if he attempted to call out
previous to their closing the street-
door after them, they would have
his life. They then left him,
when, after remaining a short
time, he heard the door shut, and
instantly called for help. One or
two persons, who slept at the top
of the house, immediately came
to his assistance, and he was re-
leased from his situation. During
the whole of the outrage, he never
distinguished the faces of either
of the persons, not even in his
room, where he usually burnt a
rushlight. He thought, how-
ever, from their voices, that the
one was an !rishman, and the other
an Englishman. Connelly was an
Irishman, and one of his day
porters, who had lived in his ser-
vice some years. Suspicion fell

87

upon him; and Harrison, the
officer, having gone to his lodg-
ings, in Cow-cross, he found
Dixon (an Englishman). Con-
nelly was apprehended at the fire,
but nothing of a suspicious na-
ture was found either at their
lodgings or on their persons.

A porter and two of the ser-
vants of Mr. Dunkin deposed to
the alarm given by the latter, and
the state in which they found him.
After releasing him from _ his
situation, they opened the win-
dows which looked into the street,
and discovered a smoke, as if
from a fire, issuing from the
cellar. They instantly gave an
alarm ; but the night being wet,
it was some tiine before assistance
was procured: and notwithstand-
ing every subsequent exertion of
the engines and inhabitants, the
fire continued to burn until the
whole of the interior was destroy-
ed, including every article of fur-
niture, &c. and leaving merely
the walls standing. The iron
chest in which were deposited the
books, money, &c. was fou nd to
have been opened, and a quantity
of bank-notes, and 400 gold Na-
poleons, were stolen therefrom,
A bag, containing a considerable
sum in silver, was left behind ; as
were also the account-books, five
of which were saved. During the
fire, about three o'clock in the
morning, the flames having com-
municated to the house of Cocker-
ton and Son, next door, where
some combustibles were deposited,
an explosion took piace, and the
top rooms and roof were blown
into the air. Nearly the whole of
the furniture in the latter, how-
ever, was saved. The fire was not
completely subdued till 5 o’clock,

After

86

After thoroughly investigating
the case, the Lord Mayor was of
opinion that there was not the
slightest evidence of suspicion at-
tached to the prisoners, and or~-
dered them to be discharged.

Mr. Dunkin was but lately re-
turned from Paris, and about a
week since had stocked his cellar
with a quantity of new tallow.
During the last fortnight he had
also laid in several articles of new
furniture. He was ensured to
the amount of above 5,000l.

27. The barge the Industry,
belonging to Mr. G. Poolly, of
this town, sailed on the 21st from
Maidstone, with a cargo of rag-
stone and piles. After having de-
livered the piles in the hundred of
Hoo, she proceeded on her way
for Sheerness, where she was to
deliver the stones, and on Wed-
nesday night came to anchor just
below Gillingham. A boy on
board another vessel near the
same place, when he turned out
on Shursday morning, saw the
Industry, and she then appeared
flush to the water’s edge. He
lighted a fire and put on the ket-
tle, immediately after which he
looked out again, and then could
see nothing of the vessel but the
top of her mast head :_ her sinking
must therefore have been very
sudden. On board at the time of
her going down, were Benjamin
Jarret, one of Mr. Poolly’s men,
and his wife, who, we understand,
had rather reluctantly accompa-
nied her husband on the voyage,
and a lad of the name of Down,
an apprentice to Mr. Poolly.
Dreadful to relate, it is supposed
that these three poor creatures
were wrapped in sleep at the mo-
ment of the vessel going down, and

ANNU ALT RPYGUSTE R,

1816.

only waked when escape was im-
possible. They were all young,
and Jarret and his wife had been
married but a few months. The
unfortunate accident is attributed
to the heavy rain of Wednesday
night, which, she being an open
vessel, was absorbed by the stone,
and added so materially to the
weight of her lading as to bring
her so low, that the river flowed
into her, and sent her instantly
to the bottom. A great many
hands have been ever since em-
ployed in trying to- raise her,
but had not succeeded yesterday
morning, owing to the giving
way of some of the tackling.—
Chelmsford Paper.

His Majesty’s ship Abundance,
Captain Oake, was ordered to
convey some works of art from
Antwerp to Italy, in order that
they might be restored to their
lawful owners. An officer be-
longing to that ship has commu-
nicated a few particulars of this
event :—

«© His Majesty’s Ship Abundance,
Cwita Vecchia —We sailed from
Antwerp the middle of May, with
the valuable statues and_paint-
ings stolen from Italy by Buona-
parte and his mirmidons. On
our arrival at this place we were
saluted, and every other mark of
friendship shown us. Two days
after we got pratique, when the
Governor and principal Officers
of the place, with his Eminence
Cardinal Gonsalvi, Prime Mi-
nister of State, paid us a visit.
The Cardinal came on purpose
from Rome, in the Pope's name,
to thank us and our country for
the valuable cargo we had brought
them. He appeared highly gra-
tified at looking about the ship.

The

CHRONICLE.

The same day the captain and two
of our officers dined at the Go-
yernor’s with the Cardinal, who
had the captain placed to his right
at the head of the table, and the
British Consul at the left. All
the foreign Consuls were of the
party. About 45 persons sat down
to dinner. His Eminence was
marked in his attention to the
British officers, and by the Pope’s
special desire invited the captain
and as many officers and men as
could be spared from the ship to
go to Rome for a few days. After
dinner the Cardinal returned to
Rome, where he told the captain
apartments should be prepared
for himself and officers, and every
expense defrayed by his Holiness.
Previous to the Cardinal’s de-
parture, the following presents
were sent on board :—2 oxen,
2 calves, 6 sheep, 4 pipes of wine,
many loaves of bread, 20 hams,
with a considerable quantity of
vegetables, fruit, eggs, &e. The
statues and paintings were all
delivered without the least da-
mage. The largest statue weighs

* 17,600lb. and represents the Nile.

The harvest is begun round Civita-
Vecchia, and promises to turn out
well. The Abundance, on her re-
turn, will take in some statues
for England. On ‘Tuesday last
we went to Rome, accompanied
by the British Consul, in the
Pope’s own carriage, escorted by
dragoons. We were immediately
introduced to his Holiness, and had
a most gracious reception. The
captain was permitted to kiss his
hand three times. Persons have
been appointed to show us his
palace, and every other object
worth seeing in this great city.”
A meeting was convened at the

89

New London Tavern, Cheapside,
to take into consideration the pro-
priety of opening a subscription
for the purpose of rebuilding the
German Protestant church of St.
Peter at Copenhagen, the parso-
nages, the school, and alms-
houses, which were all destroyed
during the bombardment in 1807,
of the Danish capital by the Bri-
tish fleet.

Mr. Wilberforce, in the chair,
having stated the object of the
meeting, read a letter which he
had received from Lord Gambier,
expressing his deep concern at
his inability to attend the meet-
ing. His lordship could not find
language to express the grief he
felt in having been compelled, in
the discharge of his duty to his
country, to act at the bombard-
ment of Copenhagen ; but he was
now most ready to come forward
to discharge a more pleasant task,
by relieving the distresses of those
who had been thus. injured;
and, under these peculiar circum-
stances, he left it in the hands of
the meeting to subscribe, in his
own name, such a sum as they
might think proper.

‘The expense of erecting the
church and the buildings con-
nected with it, according to a
statement made by a gentleman
from the Danish capital, would
be about 6,500l. of which 2,5001.
had already been raised in Den-
mark, and more than 3,000l.
therefore remained to be collected
in this country. It was recom-
mended by Mr. Babington and Mr.
Butterworth, that as the people of
Englana were themselves in much
distress, the contributions should
be small Resolutions were sub-
sequently agreed to form a com-

mittee

90

mittee to receive subscriptions ;
books accordingly were opened,
and the name of Lord Gambier
was put down for the sum of ten
guineas.

28. Ely, Friday noen.—At nine
o'clock this morning the Ordi-
nary performed his last religious
offices in the gaol with the pri-
soners under sentence of death ;
and about half an hour after,
John Dennis, George Crow, Wil-
liam Beamis the elder, Thomas
South the younger, and Isaac
Harley, were brought out in a
eart covered with black cloth, to
be conveyed to the usual place of
execution.

The procession reached the
fatal spot about eleven o'clock.
When the malefactors reached the
platform, they knelt down seve-
raily, and prayed fervently with
the ordinary for a considerable
time; after this, John Dennis
addressed the spectators, and de-
clared that they had all confesse<
the crimes for which they were
about to suffer; he then, with a
loud voice, said, ‘‘ he hoped all
who heard him would take ex-
ample by their fate, and particu-
larly exhorted them to shun
drunkenness, whoredom, and sab-
bath-breaking, whieh had brought
them all to that untimely end.”
The whole then prayed again for
some time, when, on a signal
given, the drop fell, and they
were launched into eternity al-
most without a struggle. After
hanging the usual time, the bo-
dies were put into coffins, and
given to their friends for inter-
ment. Harley, before he left the
gaol, discovered a wound in his
side, which he had received in the
affair at Littleport, and lamented

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

that his having three waistcoats on
prevented his death on that day.
He said, he died the death he ex-
pected. South confessed that his
case could not have been pardon-
ed; Crow denied any intention
of murdering Mr. Martin, but was
checked by Dennis, who said—
Yes, yes—he would have been
murdered, had he been found’ —
meaning by this that he saw the
temper of the mob, which he de-
clared he endeavoured to restrain ;
and he added, that he gave Mr.
Martin warning to keep out of
the way. Beamiss acknowledged
his general guilt ; but denied the
words imputed to him by Tans- -
ley ; and at the gallows he called
out, ‘‘ I forgive Mr. Tansley that
he swore falsely against me.”” The
drop fell as he was pronouncing
these words. Dennis and he were
the most awakened; South was
the most violent in his gesticula-
tions, but all were resigned.

The bodies of the five unhappy
sufferers were committed to the
care of the chief constable, who,
at the express wish of their rela-
tions, provided a house to de-
posit them in, where they were
decently and respectfully laid in
their coffins, attended by four
constables, until the funeral took
place on Saturday evening, when
they were carried to church in the
following order :-—A company of
singers from Littleport walked
before, singing the 104th Psalm
through the street to the church :
next the Chief Constable and Mr.
Barlow, keeper of the prison,
with their staves of office, covered
with black, and themselves also
dressed in black; then followed
the corpse of Beamiss, being the
elder ; next his relations ; the other

four

CHRONICLE.

four were carried two abreast,
with their respective relations fol-
lowing each corpse. From the
great concourse of spectators, it
was thought necessary to have
the attendance of several con-
stables. The bodies were all de-
posited in one grave, by the side
of each other, in the church-yard
of Ely St. Mary’s. The reports
circulated of disturbances on this
occasion, and of further mischief
committed in the Isle, are all un-
founded.

Lausanne.—The devastations of
wnich the Frickthal was the thea-
tre on the 14th of this month
have left dreadful recollections.
The waters descended from the
Jura with frightful impetuosity,
and in so great abundance, that
the streams, unexpectedly burst-
ing from their channels, carried
devastation through the vales of
Schupsart and Mumpf. The whole
population of this latter village
had assembled in the church, but
the torrents of water soon pene-
trated this sanctuary, and left
these unfortunate creatures hardly
time to gain the roof and the
steeple. Inthe mean time a great
number of houses were destroyed,
walls beaten down, barns over-
thrown, solid bridges carried off,
and large meadows, covered w:th
sand and stones, rendered unfit
for cultivation. The Rhine at the
Same moment presented a dis-
tressing sight, announcing that
many others had suffered a similar
misfortune: it bore along trees,
carriages, movables, and drowned
cattle. The valley of Wegen-
stetten has equally suffered ; and
in the Sulzthal every hope of the
labourer is annihilated—gardens,
meadows, and vineyards ruined—

91

houses, fountains, aqueducts, and
roads destroyed. ‘

Arau.—The following ordinance
was published here on the 18th
of June :—

«* We, the Burgomaster and
the Canton of Argovia, ordain:

** Art. 1. The censorship which
has hitherto existed upon the pub-
lic newspapers is suppressed.

‘© 2. Each public newspaper
shall bear, as well as all printed
works, the names of the author
or editor, and printer.

«© 3. These three persons shall
be responsible before a court of

justice for what each newspaper

may contain contrary to religion,
good morals, public order, re-
spect due to constitutions or ex-
isting governments, or the ho-
nour of private persons or cor-
porations.”’

29. A fire broke out in the pre-
mises of Mr. Gooch, son of the
member of parliament of that
name, at Milford, near Godal-
ming, in Surrey, which was con-
fidently attributed to some incen-
diaries. About half-past twelve
o'clock at noon the fire was dis-
covered to proceed from the out-
houses and barns of Mr. Gooch,
and post-horses were instantly
put in requisition to convey en-
gines from Guildford and the sur-
rounding neighbourhood. In con-
sequence, however, of the neces-
sary delay, and the scanty supply
of water, the fire spread furiously,
and the whole of the out-houses,
barns, stables, with the whole of
the corn, hay, straw, &c. &c.
were consumed in the space of
about two hours and an_ half.
There was a thrashing machine
upon the premises, and this, it
was supposed, might have induced

some

92

some misguided persons to com-
mit the outrage in question. A
reward of 5001. was offered for
the apprehension of the offen-
dersae :

30. Frankfort—On the 28th,
a dreadful hurricane caused hor-
rible ravages near Vibbel, three
leagues from this city: the roofs
in some places were torn from
the houses, some buildings en-
tirely destroyed, and above 400
fruit-trees torn up by the roots.
The hail lay two feet deep in the
streets and fields. It was so dark
that it was necessary to light can-
dles. The continued rain in this
neighbourhood does vast damage.
The new mown hay is rotting on
the ground, and, unless we soon
have dry weather, the standing
corn is likely to share the same
fate. ‘The vines look well, but
cannot blossom for want of
warmth. All the rivers and
streams are so swelled, that many
mills cannot work. The oldest
people do not remember the
Maine so high for such a long
continuance at this season. ‘The
consequence of all this is the in-
creasing dearness of provisions.
The prospect is not promising for
the winter.

Another letter from Frankfort
of the 2d of July, says, that after
two days of fine weather the rains
had recommenced anew; and
should they continue, there was
reason to fear an entire loss of
the harvest.

A most dreadful crime was re-
cently committed in the commune
of Biron, in France. On the 30th
of June, in the afternoon, three
young girls, two of whom were
sisters, one aged 10 and the other
16, walked into the forest of Biron

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

to gather strawberries. Suddenly
an individual presented himself,
who, without uttering a word,
commanded them by signs to fall
upon their knees and pray to God,
which they did in their fright:
he then drew a cutlass from un-
der his coat, and plunged it into
the breast of the youngest of the
sisters. The third girl then ran
off, but she was pursued by the
assassin, who gave her three stabs
with the cutlass, and thinking her
dead, returned to the two sisters.
The younger was then struggling
in the agonies of death in the
arms of her sister; the monster
then stabbed the latter, and dis-
appeared. The young girl above-
mentioned, who was so despe-
rately wounded, succeeded in get-
ting home, and raised the hue and
cry. The police flew to the spot
where the two dead bodies lay,
and from thence to the residence
of a deaf and dumb man named
Monteil, a most villaious cha-
racter ; they did not find him, but
his father said, with a sorrowful
air, that he had not seen his son
since ten o'clock in the morning.
Their suspicions are almost con-
firmed by the circumstance of the
wretch not having been seen at
home since.

Died at Darlington, aged 53,
Adam Yarker, better known by
the name of Blind Adam, having
been blind from his birth. He
possessed a strong memory, which
he particularly applied to regis-
tering the number of deaths, &c.
which occurred for upwards of
the last forty years in Darlington.
Without hesitating a moment, he
could tell how many deaths had
been in any given year or month,
the exact day when the individual

died,

CHRONICLE.

died, to whom they were related,
&e. He was noted for keeping
of poultry, in which he greatly
excelled ; his hens, owing to his
superior management, laid their
eggs in the winter : he knew them
from each other, and could tell
the name, colour, &c. as soon as
he got them in his hand. Al-
though he descended from poor
parents, and had but a small pit-
tance, called the blind’s bounty,
the benevolence of a few charita-
ble individuals, the profits arisiag
from his poultry, &c. enabled
him to realize 2001.

A letter from Naples, dated
June 30, says—‘‘ We feel plea-
sure in reporting to you the offi-
cial intellgence of the plague be-
ing considered at an end: the
total mortality amounts to 771
persons.”

JULY.

1. Diving Bell.—The beneficial
effects of this curious machine
begin to display themselves in a
prominent manner, as was strik-
ingly evinced in Plymouth Sound
on Thursday se’nnight, and on
Tuesday last. On the former day
Fisher, the diver, brought up
with him, after 15 minutes ab-
sence, a stone weighing 200lb.,
though nearly buried in shelly
sand. On the latter day, the an-
chorage of the Sound having been
swept for a mass of rock lost from
one of the Breakwater vessels in

May 1813, and the same being.

found, the hell-vessel was placed
over the spot, and the bell lower-
ed, with Fisher and two other
men, and proper implements for
boring, in 33 feet of water, who

93

succeeded in boring the stone,
securing a lewiss, and making
fast a purchase for heaving it up;
all which was safely effected in
about two hours and a half from
the time of descending. ‘The rock,
thus recovered, weighs four tons,
and an entire summer had been
spent in trying to get it up, but
ineffectually, owing to its peculiar
form, which evaded sweeping.
The rock has been landed at the
King’s-quarry, Oreston, for fu-
ture conveyance to the Break-
water.—Plymouth Paper.

2. This being the day appointed
for closing the session of parlia-
ment, the Prince Regent went in
state to the House of Lords with
the usual ceremonies. Four state-
carriages and six, in which were
the attendants and chief officers of
the Prince Regent's household,
preceded his Royal Highness’s
state-coach, which was drawn by
eight cream-coloured horses, and
followed by a numerous detach-
ment of horse-guards. Parties of
the same corps lined Parliament-
street for the purpose of preserv-
ing order; and it was remarked
that they seemed entirely under
the direction of the police of West-
minster. ‘The day being extremely
fine, a large concourse of spec-
tators was attracted on the ecca-
sion. The Duke of Wellington,
while proceeding to the House of
Lords in his carriage, was recog-
nized by the people, and received
with hearty shouts of congratu-
lation.

3. The following melancholy
event occurred at Bethersden in
Kent :—About six in the morn-
ing, as Mr. Richard Else, of Frid-
farm, late landiord of the Bull-
inn at that place, was tying up a

bull

94

bull in a lodge on his farm, the
animal, which had _ previously
evinced a vicious disposition, broke
the halter by which he was con-
fined, and ran furiously at Mr.
Else, knocked him down, and
then gored him in the abdomen,
so that the bowels obtruded ; in
which state he was carried into
his house, but died in a few mi-
nutes afterwards. He has left a
wife and six children.

5. Dublin.—At the examina-
tions for Sizers’ entrance into
Trinity-college last June, a young
man from Kerry, not sufficiently
master of the English tongue, re-
quested permissiun of the Exa-
miner to translate into Irish. His
wish was consented to by the
Examiner, who, luckily for the
candidate, was an accomplished
Trish scholar, and the young man
gained a distinguished place. This
fact is curious, and highly credi-
table to the gentleman who exa-
mined, who is a Fellow of the
College.

Inunpations tn Hocuanp.

Thiel, July 5.—The water is
already risen to 16 feet 6 inches,
and increases hourly; it stands
in many places upon a level with
the lowest dikes; measures have
been instantiy adopted to raise
them by means of clay and wicker-
work: the lower lands are in
most places under water ; farmers
who had cut their hay eight days
ago have lost the whole; it is all
washed away; the grass which is
yet standing is now rotting in the
ground.

_ July 7—The water continues
to rise without intermission ; it
stands at present at 17 feet 6 in-
ches. All our waste canals are
run over, and the high state of

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

the water, in the rivers, not only
confines the inundation, but the
continual rains increase it; there
is no egress for it: the river is
now completely on a level with
the dikes: at this season such a
lamentable state of the waters has
never been witnessed.

Arnheim, July 5.——The torrents
of rain which have fallen, accom-
panied by waterspouts and storms,
in Germany and Switzerland, to-
gether with the continued rain we
have had in this district, have
produced such an effect upon the
Rhine, that the water has risen
in the river at this city to the al-
most, at this season, unparalleled
height of 15 feet 7 inches. But
the most lamentable prospect is
before us: it rose last night 14
inches, and is increasing hourly.
In every part of the neighbouring
country, where the lands are ra-
ther low, they are in a state of
inundation. Cattle are removed
into the stalis, and as a great
scarcity of fodder exists, the con-
sequences are not to be foreseen.
At Velye a dam has been con-
structed, which will require all
the spare hands to preserve. At
Nimuegen, the water stood yes-
terday already at 16 feet 1 inch,
and ran over the quay. At
Oosterhout, every exertion was
employed to resist the body of ©
water which had already produced
so much injury in that neighbour-
heod. The districts of the Maas
and Waal are nearly all under
water ; the height of the water in
the rivers having, during the last
two months, prevented any being
let off. Ié is the same with the
land near the Waal. At Rosande
and Oosterbeck it is upon the
point of running over; and if

the

CHRONICLE.

the water continues to rise 24
hours longer, as the appearance
of things would lead one to ex-
pect, the summer dikes must
give way, and the dikes of the
most elevated interior canals only
will remain dry.

The accounts from Pannerden,
Herwen, and Aard, are most
alarming; the river Yssel pre-
sents a lamentable spectacle. The
grass which was cut on Tuesday
last the farmers have been obliged
to pick up with boats on the fol-
lowing day, to give their cattle
food : in many places they have
been obliged to cut the corn for
that purpose; and as there is no
fodder, such corn as can be got
at must be cut, or the cattle will
have nothing to subsist on.

Zutphen—The dreadful inun-
dation which we have already partly
experienced, and the lamentable
prospect before us, have disap-
pointed our farmers of deriving any
benefit from the harvest. Ourrich
grass lands are already under
water, and the grass which is not
yet spoiled can only be got at by
mowing in boats, for the imme-
diate use of the cattle, which we
have been obliged to stall. In
many places they have been under
the necessity of cutting the fine
winter seed corn for fodder.
Should no immediate relief or
change of weather take place,
the injury the agriculturists will
sustain is incalculable. ‘The ac-
counts from the provinces of
Overyssel and Friesland are all
very alarming: even if the wea-
ther were to take a favourable
turn, the injuryalready sustained,
and the calamitous consequences
of a summer inundation, cannot
be repaired. In the year 1756, a

95

similar calamity visited this coun-
try. This appears certain—that
an unusnal scarcity and high price
of all provision must be the con-
sequence.

The colliers and labourers in
the iron-works from Bilston, who
were advancing towards London,
were stopped by messengers from
Government, advising them to
wait at some distance from town
until the result of their petitien
shall be known. In all that is
stated about these unfortunate
men, it does not appear that they
had any wish to encourage riot or
disorder. They foolishly enter-
tained the opinion that the Prince
Regent could order them employ-
ment, and they prided themselves
upon being willing to work for
an honest livelihood. Such was
the curiosity excited to see these
extraordinary petitioners, that
many persons actually left town
in the expectation of meeting
them.

Extract of a Letter from Maiden-
head, 6 o'clock —Yesterday morn-
ing (Thursday), Mr. Birnie, from
Bow-street, accompanied by two
officers, arrived at the Sun inn
here, and after consulting with
Sir Wm. Hearn, and cther Magis-
trates of this place, swore in seve-
ral extra constables; and as a
matter of precaution ordered a
party of military to be under arms.
This done, they sent forward the
officers from Bow-street fo meet
the waggon that was approaching
from Henley: it was met on
Maidenhead thicket, about two
miles from hence, and the crowd
attending it, on being informed
that they would not be permitted
to proceed, instantly stopped, and
conducted themselves with the

greatest

96

greatest propriety. The waggon,
which was 2 ton, 6 ewt. and
12lb., was drawn by 41 men;
and a leader or overseer rode on
horseback, and directed the whole.
As soon as it was understood by
the magistrates that the party
wished to act in the way most
agreeable to the lawful authori-
ties, a negotiation was entered
into, and the coals were permitted
to be brought in here by four of
the party and their leader, and
were deposited with Wm. Pyne,
Esq. who will distribute them
amongst the poor of Maidenhead.
The coals were drawn to this
place by horses sent out on pur-
pose: the men refused to sell the
coals, but gave them up, as re-
quested, to Mr. Pyne, and re-
ceived a very handsome present
instead. Mr. Birnie, Sir Wm.
Hearn, Mr. Pyne, &c. went out
and negotiated. The poor fellows
were perfectly satisfied, but re-
fused to go until the magistrates
signed a paper that they had con-
ducted themselves properly. At
Henley, the day before yesterday,
they behaved so well that the
Mayor permitted them to go
wherever they pleased in the
town, and they had upwards of
401. given to them at that place.
They left Bilston with three wag-
gous in company, and parted at
Oxford. One waggon was to be
at Beaconsfield last night, and the
other at St. Alban’s, where they
would, it is supposed, be met in
the same way those were met
with here, at about one mile
from this place, for it appears
they came this side Maidenhead-
thicket. They were twenty mi-
nutes in drawing the waggon up
Henley-hill.

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816

It is supposed that Mr. Birnie
was empowered to satisfy them.
The extraordinary nature of these
occurrences occasioned much
bustle here yesterday, but no dis-
turbance.

Further information from an
evening paper :—It was stated in
our yesterday’s paper, that one
body of the colliers, with the
waggon of coals from Stafford-
shire, had reached Nettlebed,
near Henley. Report had men-
tioned two other bodies, each
with a waggon: one of them
proceeded by the road that leads
to London through St. Alban’s.
They reached that place on Tues-
day evening. ‘The home depart-
ment had sent down magistrates
to each of the three roads by
which the colliers might approach
the capital. Sir N. Conant was
dispatched to the St. Alban’s
road. The men were found re-
posing on and about their wag-
gon. The magistrate stated to
them the impropriety of the step
they had either taken of their own
accord or by the advice of others
—that this was not the mode to
obtain relief—that it rather tend-
ed to prevent the accomplishment
of their object, because it might
lead to a breach of the peace.
The colliers listened, it is said,
with much interest and attention
to the remonstrances of the ma-
gistrate. It had not struck them
in the light in which he had placed
it. They confessed that they had
been ill advised, and evinced a
readiness to return immediately
to their homes. In consequence
of this declaration, the magis-
trate purchased the coals of them,
which were left to be distri-
buted to the poor, and gave each

man

CHRONICLE.

man as much money as would
carry him back to his home.
Another waggon with a party of
colliers, the one which had come
by the way of Henley, was met
by the magistrate at Maidenhead:
the same representations were
made to the men, and with the
same success as at St. Alban’s:
the coals were bought, and the
men, agreeing to return home,
received sufficient to carry them
thither. The magistrate who had
been sent on the Uxbridge road
has not been able to find any party
on that road, and therefore it is
believed that the only ones were
the party that came by St. Al-
ban’s, and the party that came by
the Oxford road.

6. Naples.—Accounts from the
Calabrias state tranquillity to be
daily re-establishing there. The

civic guards are every where on

foot, and display indefatigable
zeal in pursuing the brigands.
The most terrible of these mon-
sters, who had hitherto found an
asylum in the mountains, has just
been arrested in the neighbour-
hood of Monteleone. He is called
Becamorto. ‘The force of his
body is prodigious ; and the peo-
ple regard him as an Anthropo-
phagus. The fact is, that he al-
ways has with him some human
bones, inthe form of St. Andrew’s
cross. It is said he drinks the
blood of the animals he kills.
This wretch began his career in
Sicily. He was afterwards taken
by Barbary pirates, and engaged
to serve them in their expeditions.
He had been for eight months
since his return in the island of
Lipari, where he laid all the
country under contribution with-
out having even been arrested.
Vor. LVIII.

97

His very name causes terror.
Five of his accomplices were taken
with him; and the law will soon
deliver society from these mon-
sters.

8. Beauvais—A remarkable
transaction, and of which there
certainly exists no example, has
just occurred in the commune of
Choisy, arrondissement of Cler-
mont. A brother and two sisters,
united by a similarity of habits,
lived in a solitary house, sur-
rounded by a considerable piece
of ground, which they cultivated
in common. They were of a
respectable family, and their pa-
rents had given them a good edu-
cation. One of the sisters had
lived for some time in Paris,
where she had acquired such a
taste for the toilette as to eclipse
the richest farmers’ wives of her
neighbourhood. On returning,
however, to live under the pa-
ternal roof, she speedily renounced
her elegant dress; and clothed
herself in the same garments as
her brother and sister. The bro-
ther wore neither stockings nor
breeches, and was usually dress-
ed in a long tunic of coarse cloth,
fastened round the waist by a belt
of straw. In winter he added to
this habiliment some skins of ani-
mals. The costume of the sisters
was much the same, except that
instead of straw they used pieces
of cord for their girdles. In-
ternally their house exhibited the
appearance of the most extreme
wretchedness: there was neither
bed, table, nor chair, nor any
article of furniture whatever.
The only things to be seen were a
large wooden crucifix and an old
pail filled with muddy water,
which served them for drink.

H They

98

They slept together on the floor,
and in cold weather laid their
heads so close to the embers in
the fire-place, that the linen
which served to cover them in
lieu of night-caps was frequently
burnt. In the month ef Decem-
ber the brother died, and as the
entrance to the house was gene-
rally interdicted, it was long be-
fore his decease was known. The
collector of the taxes, however,
now findisg when he called only
the two sisters, began to enter-
tain some suspicions, which he
communicated to the Mayor of
the Commune, who on his part
transmitted the information to
the superior authorities. Accord-
ingly, on the 24th of June, M.
Havey, the substitute of the King’s
attorney, visited the commune.
On asking one of the women what
was become of her brother, she
coolly replied, pointing to a corner
of the apartment—he is _ there.
Some straw, which covered the
place pointed out, being carefully
removed, there appeared the dead
body of the man in a state of pu-
trefaction, and which had been
lying in the same spot for about
6 months. The two sisters de-
clared that their brother died of
old age and hunger, and that
they lay down every night close
to his corpse, in the hope, by
prayer and fasting, to obtain from
Heaven his resurrection, which
they confidently expected. The
result of the investigation showed
that the two sisters tenderly loved
their brother, and that it was as
much from a desire of not sepa-
rating from him, as from the
hope of seeing him return to life,
that they had so long preserved
the dead body, without dreading

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

the danger which might have
been the consequence of such a
proceeding. ‘Besides the super-
stitions practised by these strange
beings, they had the most singu-
lar habits and notions: for ex-
ample, they had laid it down as a
principle, that whatever God sent
them ought to be preserved with
care. On that account they kept
numerous generations of dogs,
pigs, bullocks, asses, &c. because
they believed they should offend
Heaven if they killed one of these
animals. ‘Their garden exhibited
the effects of the same system:
all the young shoots of trees were
preserved, and also every thing
produced by seed. These facts
are authenticated by regular exa-
minations, and it was necessary
they should have been thus proved
before credit could be given to the
existence of so extraordinary a
family so near us and in a civilized
country.—French paper.

The example set by the Bilston-
moor colliers, in dragging their
Wwaggons and petitions through
the country, has had many imi-
tators. On Saturday week a
waggon load of coals, drawn by
80 men, with ropes, arrived in
Leicester. A strong sensation of
compunction for their sufferings
was excited, and they collected a
considerable sum of money. A
second load arrived on Monday,
but the collection was of course
to a smaller amount. The men
behaved remarkably well. They
had a certificate of their necessi-
ties, signed by the minister of
the parish. Another team of col-
liers passed through Leicester on
Thursday last, begging their way
northwards.

The coals which the colliers

were

\
|
|

CHRONICLE.

were drawing were given them
bythe manager ofa great colliery,
for the purpose of their being
drawn to London. They had a
painted board, too, containing a
magistrate’s certificate in their
favour. Thecolliers contradicted
the rumour that they had begged
money on their way, which they
declared was false. This, they
said, was contradicted by their
placard, which was_ inscribed,
** Willing to work, but none of
us will beg.’ They admitted,
however, that they had received
601. on their way, but this they
said was the amount of voluntary
donations, totally unsolicited by
them.

About fifty colliers arrived at
Chester, from the neighbourhood
of Wolverhampton, drawing a
waggon loaded with coal, with
the professed intention of obtain-
ing relief from the benevolent in-
habitants of the towns and _ vil-
lages through which they passed
on their way to Liverpool. Infor-
mation having been given to the
Magistrates of that city of their
approach, Aldermen Evans, Bow-
ers, and Bedward, attended by
Mr. Finchett, the deputy town
clerk, met them in the suburbs
of the city: on being informed
who they were, the men imme-
diately pulled off their hats, and
paid great and respectful atten-
tion, while the magistrates ad-
dressed them on the illegality and
dangerous tendency of their pro-
ceedings: they told them, that
though they well knew and la-
mented the temporary distresses
of the country, and of their
business and district particularly,

) they would not permit this mode
|

99

of relief, whilst it might legally
and more effectually be had in
their own parish, where their
situation and: circumstances were
known; they therefore earnestly
entreated them to return peace-
ably to their respective homes,
and they would take the coals,
and give them money to defray
their expenses on the road; but
if they attempted to go into the
city, they should be opposed, and
punished to the utmost severity
of the law. This firm though
conciliating conduct had the de-
sired effect; the men consented
to return. The magistrates or-
dered 201. to be given to the .nen,
and horses to be brought to draw
the waggon-load of coals to the
infirmary, which was done ac-
cordingly.

9. This morning 36 colliers
passed through Leicester, drag-
ging an empty waggon, and pro-
fessing to be on their way home
into Staffordshire: three of them
waited upon the Magistrates, re-
questing relief, and stated that
they had been as far as Upping-
ham, with a load of coals, where
they sold them, and had been
prevailed on by some gentle-
men of that place to return, after
having collected upwards of 51.
to defray their expenses. The
Magistrates told them they were
truly sorry for their distressed si-
tuation, but that the means they
were pursuing to obtain relief, by
going about the country in bodies
and begging, were highly im-
proper, and could notbetolerated ;
that they were, in fact, in a state
of vagrancy, and could only be
relieved in that character; they
were also told, that while the

H2 Magistrates

10¢

Magistrates felt it a duty, which
they most cheerfully performed,
to attend to the just claims of the
very numerous inhabitants of
their own town, who were now
out of employ, it was equally
their duty to repress the illegal
proceedings of those men who
had an equal right to relief from
their own parishes: they were
desired to proceed through the
town without begging.

Since the outrage at Lough-
borough, the greatest activity has
been used in tracing out the par-
ticulars, and in endeavouring to
discover the authors. After the
Luddites had completed the work
of frame-breaking, the chief of
them said, ‘‘ Now, men, if you
can tell us of any machines that
are working under price, if it be
one or two hundred miles off, we
will go and break them.” Re-
ceiving a negative to this question,
they directly quitted the factory,
enjoining the men belonging to
it, with terrible threats, not to
stir for the space of ten minutes.
They not only destroyed the
machines, but even the lace that
happened to be on the respective
rollers was mostly hacked to
pieces. It seemed a particular
maxim with them, to deter as
much as possible any one from
having a glimpse of their pro-
ceedings. Independently of the
supposed number of nearly thirty,
who were actively concerned in
committing these excesses in the
interior of the factory, it is con-
fidently believed that there were
not less then 50 or 60 others
stationea on the outside in the
manner of sentinels or patroles,
in every direction, and even along

e Mill-street, to within a very

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

few yards of the market-place of
Loughborough. Some of these
patroles called aloud, warning
the inhabitants to keep in their
beds, and not to exhibit any
lights ; in disobedience of which,
one person who endeavoured to
go out amongst them, had eight
panes directly broken in one of
his windows, and was threatened
with death if he did not keep
within. About a dozen panes
were also broken in the windows
of the factory. The magistrates
of the division have since been
almost incessantly occupied in
investigating the affair. The
town crier even went round with
his bell on Sunday week, warn-
ing the innkeepers against keep-
ing their houses open later than
nine o'clock in the evening. Six
men have at different intervals
been taken up on suspicion, one
of whom has since been set at
liberty ; three remain in custody
at Loughborough, and the other
two were sent under an escort from
that town to Leicester. Some
implements, supposed to have
been used in destroying the ma-
chines, have been seized, and are
in the possession of the constables
employed by the magistrates in
this business. The magistrates
and public officers in Nottingham
have also been very active, and
many houses in that town have

been searched on the occasion.
10. The Royal Almanack of
Hayti, for 1816, has been pub-
lished. It contains 127 pages.
Its Court Lists may vie with those
of any empire, of whatever stand-
ing or complexion. The King,
who has attained the 6th year of
his reign, will be 49 years of age
on the 6th October next. The
Queen

CHRONICLE.

Queen is in her 39th year. The
Prince Royal, James Victor Henry,
entered his teens on the 3d March.
He has two sisters, Princesses.
There are five Princes of the
Blood. The ministers and grand
officers of the crown amount to
20. In the peerage are 8 dukes,
19 counts, 34 barons, and 9
knights. The King’s household
consists of about 140 chamber-
lains, pages, professors, almoners,
secretaries, &c. The Queen has
14 ladies of the bedchamber, be-
sides her male attendants. There

are six regiments of guards. The .

order of Henry boasts upwards of
130 members. In the army we
find six marshals, nine lieutenants-
general, and 21 generals: of ar-
tillery, 2 regiments ; of engineers,
1 corps; of infantry, 24 regi-
ments filled up, and 8 others
named ; of cavalry, 2 regiments;
of naval officers, including the
grand admiral, 29, besides cadets.
Long lists are also given of the
Fiscal and Judicial Departments.
The Queen holds her Court on
Thursdays at five o'clock. The
King receives petitions at ten
o'clock on the court-days, and
returns an answer onthe Thursday
following. Such is the progress
of this interesting settlement.
The Code Henry, which has been
published, is a thick volume. The
laws are of course on the French
model.

11. Sawony.—For these five
weeks past the Elster and the
Pleisse have overflowed their
banks near Leipsic, and have
done immense damage to the
fields and meadows. In many
‘places the extent of the land
inundated is three quarters of a
league broad. A large number

101

of sea-mews, and other water-
fowl, have made their appearance :
hares and deer were seen swim-
ming on the flood. ‘The Elbe, the
Mulda, and the Saale, have also
done much damage in Saxony.
12. At the Royal Portuguese
Chapel, South-street, Grosvenor-
square, was a solemn dirge for
her most faithful Majesty the late
Queen of Portugal. The sanc-~
tuary and walls of the chapel were
hung with black cloth, and deco-
rated in the following manner ;
—Over the altar and sanctuary
were large festoons of drapery ;
on each side of the altar were
affixed two large oval pieces of
heraldry, with the arms of Por-
tugal ; in the centre of the chapel
was erected a large caterfalk ;
on the same was placed a repre-
sentation, covered with a rich
velvet pall, with four majesty
escutcheons, with the arms and
supporters ; on the top was the
crown, cushion, and veil; on the
steps were placed eighteen large
candlesticks, with wax candles,
and ten plumes of ostrich fea-
thers. From the centre of the
chapel ceiling was suspended a
large circular dome, with drapery,
plumes of feathers, coronets, and
ciphers. The pulpit was covered
with black cloth, and on the same
was affixed a majesty escutcheon. *
The tribune was hung with black
cloth, and in the same was affixed
a majesty escutcheon, coronets,
ciphers, and plated refiectors for
wax lights. All the seats and
railing in the bottom of the cha-
pel and the pillars supporting the
galleries were covered with black
cloth, and a continued festoon of
drapery round the same; on the
pillars were affixed coronets, ci-
phers,

102

phers, and plated reflectors. All
the seats, railing, and pillars in
the galleries were covered with
black cloth, a continuation of
stone drapery under the cornice,
and coronets, ciphers, and plated
reflectors on the pillars. On the
walls were affixed eight large
pieces of square heraldry, coro-
nets, ciphers, and plated reflectors
alternately. Under the cornice
of the organ were affixed four
large festoon draperies, with cur-
tains from the same.

Such a dreadful storm fell upon
the town of Worschetz, in the
county of Temeswar, that of the
2,600 buildings of which the
town consists, none have escaped
without damage: the steeple is
totally destroyed. The storm was
accompanied by lightning, hail,
and torrents of rain. The da-
mage is estimated at four millions
and a half of florins. The storm
lasted an hour.

Mr. Sueripan’s FuneRAL.

On the 13th, the remains of
this eminent person were con-
signed to the grave. ‘The body
was removed on Friday evening
from his house in Saville-row to
Mr. P. Moore's, in Great George-
street, Westminster, from whence
the funeral procession moved on
foot to Westminster-abbey, which
it entered by the great western
gate, where it was received with
the usual ceremonies by the clergy
of the abbey. The place of inter-
ment was in Poets’ corner, be-
tween the monuments of Shak-
speare and Addison. In this spot
room was found for only one
grave, and that is close to the
grave of Garrick. The attendants
on this mournful occasion were
numerous and distinguished, and

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

a large concourse of spectators
were assembled. The service was
performed by the Rev. Dr. Fynes.
The pall was supported by the
Dukes of Bedford and Argyle,
the Earl of Lauderdale, Lord
Mulgrave, Lord Holland, and the
Bishop of London. Mr. Charles
Sheridan, son of the deceased by
the present Mrs. Sheridan, ap-
peared as chief mourner, accom-
panied by three intimate con-
nexions in scarves. The rest of
the followers of Mr. Sheridan to
his grave were habited plainly in
black. The Dukes of York and
Sussex led the train of accompa-
nying mourners, and appeared
deeply affected during the solemn
service, and after its close, on
looking at the grave. Among
others who followed were, the
Marquis of Anglesea, the Earls of
Rosslyn, Harrington, Besbo-
rough, Rivers, Gower, Yar-
mouth; Lords Sidmouth, Gren-
ville, Lynedoch, and Erskine ;
Lord George Cavendish, the Lord
Mayor of London, Sir Benjamin
Bloomfield, Mr, Canning, Mr. P.
Moore, Mr. M.A. Taylor, Mr. W.
W. Pole, Generals Fergusson and
Phipps, Sir Samuel Romilly, Sir
Arthur Pigott, Sir C. Asgill, the
Hon. Mr. Bouverie, and many
members of the House of Com-
mons, and private friends of the
deceased.

16. Lausanne.—In the environs
of Nidauthe inundatious continue.
The total amount of the pastures
destroyed is estimated at about
17,000 fr. ; the loss in potatoes
and other produce at 6,000 fr.
The streets of the town of Nidau
are filled with water by the rise
of the Aar, and many families
have been obliged to quit their

* houses.

CHRONICLE,

houses. In the Oberland, near
Frutigen, the country was covered
with snow in the early part of
July. Numbers of cattle have
been brought down from the
mountains into the vallies, where
great want of forage prevails,
and in consequence some of
them have perished. All the dis-
tricts bordering on the lakes of
Bienne, Morat, and Neuchatel,
have suffered equal losses. The
low grounds are under water,
and the course of the rivers is
scarcely perceived. The village
of Landeron alone estimates its
losses at 24,000fr. The earth-
fall which took place on the 3d
inst. in the commune of Kappel,
canton of St. Gall, overwhelmed
three houses and three barns; the
earth giving way, the precipice
above was extended over a space
of almost a quarter of a mile, and
stopped a river in its course,
which soon formed a small lake,
covering the banks. Eighteen
persons were either killed or se-
verely hurt, and forty cattle pe-
rished.

16. Amost savage robbery was
committed at Limehouse, on the
person of a poor industrious la-
bourer of the name of John Mil-
lard. From the statement of the
poor man, given to the Rey. James
Rudge, the minister of the parish,
the following are the particulars
of this atrocious case :—About
half past eleven at night, as Mil-
lard was lying down on a sack in
a lime-shed, by the side of the
New-cut, he was attacked by five
men ina yard in which he is ac-
customed to work night and day.
On asking them what they wanted
there, one of them answered with
an oath, ‘ I'll soon let you know:

103

where is your money ?"’ The vil-
lain had scarcely uttered these
words before he violently seized
the poor man by the throat, and
with the assistance of the others,
having first bound his feet toge-
ther, cut off his breeches pockets,
and took from thence one hundred
and fifty-one Bank of England
notes, together with two pounds,
which were in a small tobacco-
box, the whole of which were the
savings of fifteen years of hard
servitude, and which he had al-
ways carried about him! He had
often imprudently mentioned this
to his fellow-labourers, and to
others ; and it is more than pro-
bable that the perpetrators of this
brutal act were persons in whose
hearing the circumstance had been
related. After rifling his pockets,
and robbing him of nearly all of
his property, with the exception
of two dollars that had escaped
them, one of the villains strongly
urged that they should finish the
business by cutting the poor man’s
throat. ‘To this proposal there
was a good deal of objection, ano-
ther insisting that they had got
all they came for, and that he
could not now pursue them. Not,
however, content with this, Day,
and two others, whose names and
persons are well known to the
poor sufferer, began, in the most
savage manner, to kick’ him on
the head, and beat him with sticks
on different parts of the body.
Neither his groans nor entreaties
were of any avail, and it is pro-
bable that in a few minutes they
would have murdered him, had
not a providential noise which
was heard compelled them to de-
sist from their barbarous work.
They then jumped over the wall

into

104

into a road which passes by, and
instantly made off.

17. A fatal accident happened
by the upsetting of the York
mail, which passes through this
place to Liverpool. The driver of
that coach from Warrington was
racing with a horseman upon the
road, when the coach, coming to
a sharp turn, at the entrance into
Prescot, was thrown over, and
the passengers, of whom there
were four outside, thrown to the
ground. Mr. D. Bancroft, of Man-
chester, a member of the Society
of Friends, who was sitting on
the coach-box, received so dread-
ful a hurt from the fall, that after
languishing in extreme torture
till Saturday last, he expired,
leaving a widow and six young
children to lament his untimely
fate! Another of the outside pas-
sengers, of the name of Master-
man, of Runcorn, had his shoulder
dislocated ; and Mr. John Ritchie,
a merchant at Liverpool, an in-
side passenger, though he had no
bones broken, received several
violent contusions, which disabled
him from pursuing his journey.
The day after Mr. Bancroft’s
death, a coroner’s inquest was
summoned, who returned a ver-
dict of Manslaughter, and the
coachman is committed to Lan-
caster castle to take his trial at
the ensuing assizes.—Leeds Mer-
cury.

18. The Gipsies—Of late years
some attempts have been made to
reduce the numbers, or at any rate
to civilize the habits, of that vaga-
bond and useless race, the gipsies.
In pursuance of such purpose, a
society of gentlemen have been
making all the preliminary inqui-
ries requisite to a proper under-

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816. .

standing of the subject. A series
of questions have been proposed to
competent persons in the different
counties in England and Scot-
land.

Reports in answer to these
questions have been received, and
their contents are thus _ briefly
stated :

«© 1, All Gipsies suppose the
first of them came from Egypt.

«* 2. They cannot form any
idea of the number in England.

«« 3. The Gipsies of Bedford-
shire, Hertfordshire, parts of
Buckinghamshire, Cambridge,
and Huntingdonshire, are con-
nually making revolutions with-
in the range of those counties.

«« 4, They are either ignorant
of the number of Gipsies in the
counties through which they tra-
vel, or unwilling to disclose their
knowledge.

<< 5. The most common names
are Smith, Cooper, Draper, Tay-
lor, Bosswel, Lee, Lovell, Lover-
sedge, Allen, Mansfield, Glover,
Williams, Carew, Martin, Stan-
ley, Buckley, Plunkett, and
Corrie.

“* 6 and 7.. The gangs in dif-
ferent towns have not any regular
connexion or organization; but
those who take up their winter-
quarters in the same city or town
appear to have some knowledge
of the different routes each horde
will pursue ; probably with a de-
sign to prevent interference.

“« 8. In the county of Herts it
is computed there may be sixty
families, having many children.
Whether they are quite so nu-
merous in Buckinghamshire, Bed-
fordshire, and Northamptonshire,
the answers are not sufficiently
definite to determine. In Cam-

bridgeshire,

CHRONICLE.

bridgeshire, Oxfordshire, War-
wickshire, Wiltshire, and Dorset-
shire, greater numbers are cal-
culated upon. In various coun-
ties, the attention has not been
competent to the procuring data
for any estimate of families or in-
dividuals.

*° 9, More than half their num-
ber follow no business: others
are dealers in horses and asses ;
farriers, smiths, tinkers, braziers,
grinders of cutlery, basket-makers,
chair-bottomers, and musicians.

** 10. Children are brought up
in the habits of their parents,
particularly to music and dancing,
and are of dissolute conduct.

*© 11. The women mostly carry
baskets with trinkets and small
wares ; and tell fortunes.

** 12. Too ignorant to have
acquired accounts of genealogy,
and perhaps indisposed to it by
the irregularity of their habits.

** 13. In most counties there
are particular situations to which
they are partial. In Berkshire is
a marsh, near Newbury, much
frequented by them; and Dr.
Clarke states, that in Cambridge-
shire their principal rendezvous
is near the western villages.

** 14. It cannot be ascertained,
whether, from their first coming
into the nation, attachment to
particular places has prevailed.

*“ 15, 16,and17. When among
strangers, they elude inquiries re-
specting their peculiar language,
calling it gibberish. Don’t know
of any person that can write it, or
of any written specimen of it.

** 18. Their habits and customs
in all places are peculiar.

“19. Those who profess any
religion represent it to be that

105

of the country in which they re-
side: but their description of it
seldom goes beyond repeating the
Lord’s prayer; and only few of
them are capable of that. In-
stances of their attending any
place for worship are very rare.

** 20. They marry for the most
part by pledging to each other,
without any ceremony. A few
exceptions have occurred when
money was plentiful.

‘© 21. They do not teach their
children religion.

** 22 and 23. Not one in a
thousand can read.

““ 24 and 25. Some go into
lodgings in London, Cambridge,
&c. during the winter; but it is
calculated three-fourths of them
live out of doors in winter as in
summer.”

19. The Journal de Paris says,
that on the 19th there was a new
fall of stones, or aérolites as they
are called, in a garden at Ster-
nenburg, near onn, on the
Lower Rhine. One of them, it
is said, weighed 100lb.; others
from 20 to 40. Their fall, which
took place in a cherry-garden,
caused a horrible noise and deep
trenches in the earth. The gar-
dener, and several labourers who
were at work, both saw and heard
them fall; the proprietor, who
was in his house with a friend,
heard the noise of their fall. The
colour of these stones is stated to
be green, verging to black ; their
weight like that of marble; and
they resemble the residunm or
scori@ from the iron forge.

Wologda, July 19 (0. 8S.) We
have received the sad news, thaton
the 5thinstant,duringagreat thun-
der-storm, the cold and the warm

church

106

church of the parish of Arch-
angel, on the Kubenza, in the
circle of Kadnikow, was struck
by lightning and burnt to the
ground. The lightning struck
the roof over the door of the cold
church, which was immediately
in flames ; all the church utensils,
garments, books, &c. were con-
sumed, not the least thing being
saved. From the cold church the
flames caught the warm church,
from which, indeed, what was in
it was saved; but as all the uten-
sils, books, &c. were in the cold
church, the other is thereby de-
prived of every thing necessary
for the performance of divine
service.—St. Petersburgh Gazette.

20. The Duke and Duchess of
Orleans gave a grand entertain-
ment at their house, at Twicken-
ham, in honour of the christening
of their infant Princess, at which
there was a most splendid assem-
blage of dignified personages :
among them were, their Royal
Highnesses the Prince Regent,
the Dukes of Clarence, Kent,
Cambridge, Gloucester, the Du-
chess of York, the Princess So-
phia of Gloucester, the Prince
Paul and Prince Nicholas Ester-
hazy, the Princess Esterhazy, the
Spanish Ambassador, the French
Ambassador, the Marchioness
D’Osmond and their two rela-
tives, who were presented to the
Prince Regent at Carlton-house
a few days since, the Duke De
Bourbon, the Duke De Coigny,
and the Duke of Fitzjames. The
Rector of Twickenham was pre-
sent to register the christening of
the infant in the church book.
Prince Esterhazy, the Austrian
Ambassador, stood sponsor for the
Emperor of Austria, who is uncle

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

to the Duchess of Orleans. Vis-
count Sidmouth and Earl Bath-

urst were also of the party.
Stafford.—We had in this town
on Sunday afternoon, 20th, one
of the heaviest showers of rain
ever known: the consequences
have been most serious, and the
loss, we fear, almost remediless.
The quantity of hay carried off by
the torrent is not to be calculated,
and much more has been entirely
spoiled, A labourer of Mr, Ly-
cets, of Shallowford, lost his life
in endeavouring to save some
hay. This storm has done even
greater damages in the town of
Stone and the neighbourhood. A
horse belonging to Mr. Styles was
washed down a brook, and was
drowned. Messrs. Brett and
Holah, Mr. Tharme, and Mr.
Butler, whose premises adjoin the
brook which runs through the
town, have sustained considerable
loss. The streets were in many
parts four feet deep in water, and
the cellars of many of the mha-
bitants were entirely filled, and
their ale and other drinkables
lost. A small house was washed
away by the flood, but fortunately
its inmates escaped unhurt. Many
travellers to Stone were obliged
to stop at Walton, and get beds
where they could. Several mills
on the Moddershall stream were
much damaged. The quantities
of hay destroyed and carried off
by the torrent are incalculable ;
and, at a moderate calculation, it
will take 5,0001. to make good
the damages sustained in the
parish of Stone. On Tuesday
and Wednesday last, an immense
fall of rain was experienced at
Brown-hills, Norton, and Long-
don, near Lichfield. In the former
place,

CHRONICLE.

place, the heath was forced up by
the roots on the waste lands and
elevations, and carried by torrents
in different directions. The thun-
der was heavy, accompanied by
gusts of wind, and partial spouts
of rain, as though poured from
solid masses of water. At Nor-
ton, the thunder was the heaviest
and most alarming ever known.
At Longdon, the deluge had all
the appearance of a water-spout,
which cut up the roads and moved
masses of earth in heaps; and at
a recently built house, where a
new turf had been laid, the whole
site of a grass plat was laid bare
as before the work was begun:
and the most frightful vestiges of
its effects are traced through the
whole neighbourhood. On Tues-
day afternoon, about six o'clock,
the whole hemisphere, as viewed
from an elevation near Lichfield,
presented one unbroken curtain
of cloud and rain, but without
being accompanied with remark-
able darkness. A correspondent
says, that previous to this gene-
ral aspect of rain, he never saw
the clouds so low. A servant of
John Atkinson, Esq. of Maple
Hays, near Lichfield, was killed
by the lightning on Thursday
evening at Lemonsley. The thun-
der was tremendously heavy, and
the lightning extremely vivid. |
On Sunday 21st a riot took
place at Ballyvourney, to the west
of Macroom, between two parties,
the Lynches and Twomeys, living
in that neighbourhood, who, it
appears, have been for several
years hostile and unfriendly to
each other; in consequence of
which Sir Nicholas Colthurst di-
rected his under agent to desire
that they should not go to the

107
same chapel on Sundays —that
the Twomeys should attend the
Western chapel, and the Lynches
the Ballynkeeny chapel: the
Lynches, notwithstanding, — re-
fused to go to the chapel appoint-
ed for them; the Twomeys, how-
ever, went away from the chapel ;
the Lynches said, they would go
too, left it, and proceeded to-
wards home. The Lynches party,
which consisted of about 100, or
upwards, armed with guns,
swords, scythes, pistols, and
various kinds of weapons, re-
mained about an hour and a half
while mass was saying, and kept
shouting out for the Twomeys :
as soon as they saw them going
away from the chapel, they follow-
ed, and surreunded them about a
quarter of a mile from it, attack-
ed them, and, in the course of the
conflict, a man of the name of
John Hagarty, of the Twomys
party, received a cut of ascythe on
the right side of the neck, under
the jaw, which nearly severed his
head from his body, besides seve-
ral other wounds, which instantly
caused his death. A man of the
name of Cornelius Casey also
received a blow on the head from
a stick, which knocked him down,
and had four of his fingers cut
off, besides receiving several other
wounds, from which he lies in a
very dangerous state. An inquest
was held on the body of the man
who had been killed; and the
jury found a verdict that the de-
ceased, John Hagarty, came by
his death in consequence of a
blow received with a scythe on
the right side of the neck under
the ear and jaw, of which he in-
stantly died—Cork paper.

22. This was the day appointed
for

108

for the marriage of the Princess
Mary with the Duke of Glocester :
and perhaps there never was an
union among the Royal Family
more ¢alculated to produce hap-
piness to the parties, and satis-
faction to the nation. The Duke,
in his public character, is well
known as the liberal patron of
almost everyuseful and charitable
establishment in the empire ; and
if report be true, his private be-
nevolence does. not fall short of
his public liberality. The Prin-
cess, as is most fitting to her sex,
is hardly known out of her do-
mestic circle; but to the utmost
of her means she has for a long
time past been the constant and
active benefactress of the poor,
relieving the wants of the dis-
tressed, and superintending the
education of the ignorant.

The marriage of this highly
respectable pair has been delayed
chiefly on account of the absence
of the Duke of Cambridge. The
day was not finally fixed till last
Wednesday, and on Friday the
cards of invitation were issued
from the office of the Lord Cham-
berlain.

The persons invited were the
same-aswere present at the mar-
riage of the Princess Charlotte,
with a very few exceptions. They
consisted, in addition to the
Royal Family, of the Duke and
Duchess of Orleans, the Duchess’s
sister, the Duke de Bourbon,
with other foreigners of distinc-
tion, the Foreign Ambassadors
and Ministers with their Ladies,
the Lord Chancellor, with the
Cabinet Ministers and their Ladies,
the Deputy Earl Marshal of Eng-
land, the Great officers of Stateand
of the Household, the ChiefJustice
of the King’s Bench, the Master of

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

the Rolls, and other Law Officers ;
the Duke of York’s Staff; the
King’s, Queen's, and Windsor
Establishments, together with the
different suites of the different
branches of the Royal Family.
These were invited to the solem-
nization of the marriage.

The grand saloon of the
Queen’s palace was the place
titted up for the performance of
the nuptial ceremony: a tempo-
rary altar was erected close to the
temporary throne lately placed
there; and the crimson velvet
and gold lace of the hangings,
together with a costly display of
massy communion plate, present-
ed a very magnificent spectacle.

At 12 o'clock the Duke of
Gloucester paid a morning visit
to his ittended bride, who was at
the Queen’s-palace with her Royal
Mother and her sisters the Prin-
cesses Augusta and Elizabeth.
The Dukereturned to Gloucester-
house, where he dined privately
at five o'clock. At seven o'clock
in the evening a guard of honour
marched. into the court-yard of
the Queen’s palace, and a party
of Life and Foot Guards were
stationed in the Park, under the
proper authority of a numerous
police. The company began to
arrive soon afterwards: the pa-
lace was brilliantly illuminated,
and the grand staircase had all
the state arrangements usual on
drawing-room days. The grand
hall was lined witha party of the
yeomen of the guards. The Royal
Family, on their entrance, were

received with the usual military —

honours, the band playing “‘ God
Save the King.’ The Princess
Sophia of Gloucester went in state,
with her servants in new liveries.
At twenty minutes past eight

o'clock,

CHRONICLE.

o'clock, the Duke of Gloucester
arrived in state with his suite in
two carriages. He was dressed
in the uniform of a Field-Mar-
shal, and wore the order of the
Garter. At the entrance of the
palace, the officers of the Prince
Regent’s household waited to re-
ceive him, and the Royal Duke
bowed his acknowledgments for
this mark of attention. The
Duke and Duchess of York fol-
lowed immediately. At half-past
eight the Prince Regent arrived,
not without his usual train of
Life Guards: he was accompa-
nied by the Duke of Clarence and
his attendants. At a quarter be-
fore nine Prince Leopold arrived
with his suite; and soon after-
wards the marriage- ceremony be-
gan.

The Foreign Ambassadors with
their Ladies entered the saloon
first, then followed the Cabinet
Ministers and their Ladies, and
proceeded to the right. The
Great officers of State, and those
of the Royal Households, went
to the left. The Queen took her
station to the left side of the altar,
where was astate chair placed for
her; the Princesses Augusta and
Elizabeth, the Duchess of York,
Princess Sophia of Gloucester,
were on her left, and their fe-
male attendants after them ;
while the Prince Regent was on
the right side of the altar, and his
royal brothers near him. Every
thing being arranged and ready,
the Lord Chamberlain retired,
and introduced the Duke of Glo-
cester, and presented him to the
altar. He then retired again,
and with the Duke of Cambridge
introduced the Princess Mary ;
and the Royal Duke presented her

109

Royal Highness to the Prince Re-
gent, who gave her away in mar-
riage to the Duke of Gloucester.
Her Royal Highness was dressed
with her usual beautiful simplicity :
she wore no feathers, but a ban-
deau of white roses fastened to-
gether by light sprigs of pearls.
Her neck was ornamented with a
brilliant fringe necklace: her
arms with bracelets of brilliants
formed into flowers, and her waist
with a girdle to correspond with
her bandeau. Her whole appear-
ance was very lovely. The ladies
present were also most splendidly
dressed: the prevailing colour
was blue. The formal document
of the royal assent, signed with
the great seal, being shown to
the Archbishop of Canterbury,
that prelate, assisted by the Bishop
of London, proceeded to perform
the solemn ceremony.

Mr. Provis, the Verger of
Whitehall, who had formerly
been present at the christening
of her Royal Highness, now as-
sisted at her marriage. At about
a quarter past nine the guns fired
a signal that the marriage was
concluded; and the Princess
Mary, after giving her hand to
be kissed by the female attend-
ants of the Queen and Princesses,
retired with her husband and the
rest of the Royal Family to the
private apartments of the Queen.
In the mean time a profusion of
choice refreshments was served
to the vompany, among whom
the Queen soon re-appeared, with
most of her family, to receive their
congratulations. At a quarter be-
fore ten o'clock, the bride having
taken off her wedding robes, and
put on for her travelling dress a
white satin pelisse and bonnet,

came

1100 ANNUAL REGISTER,

came leaning on the arm of the
Prince Regent, and followed by
the Duke of Cambridge, who
both saluted their royal sister,
and handed her into the travel-
ling chaise at the side-door of the
Palace: the Royal Brothers then
embraced the Duke of Gloucester,
who stepped into the carriage.
After receiving an affectionate
good-night from the two bro-
thers, the new-married pair then
drove off to Bagshot amidst the
huzzas of an immense multitude ;
the band meanwhile playing
“* God save the King.”

The application of the Nobles
of Pomerania to the King of
Prussia, to re-introduce the feudal
system, has been rejected by a
royal cabinet order, which the
Chancellor, Prince Hardenberg,
has accompanied by a severe re-
primand.

24. Ghent.—The political and
commercial Journal of this city
has the following article to-day —

“«The day before yesterday, the
workmen employed in our manu-
factories made on the corn market
an auto-da-fé of English mer-
chandise. It seems that the arti-
cles burnt, consisting of shawls
and handkefchiefs, were furnish-
ed voluntarily. It is, however,
added, that most of these were
demanded from those passing by,
who were paid for them. While
we praise the motive, we cannot
but blame tl@smanner by which
individual liberty is violated. The
moral force of opinion ought to
proscribe the Anglomania, and
come to the aid of our industry
with all the energy of the national
sentiments. The proscription
ought to be made by all, because
all are interested in it: but mea-

1816.

sures which infringe the liberty
of the consumer are blameable;
He should be convinced, not
compelled. The scene, however,
caused no tumult; there was
order amidst this disorder.”’
Distresses of the Iron Manufac-
turers in Staffordshire, described
in a Letter written by a Resident
at Coseley, near Bilston.

«© When some of our prinei-
pal iron-works first failed, the
whole extent of the consequent
distress was not immediately ap-
parent. The poor manufacturers
had many of them made a little
money: this, with the greatest
frugality, did not last long : when
expended, they ran in debt where-
ever they could gain credit ; and
when they could not be trusted
any longer, they pawned or sold
their furniture, article after ar-
ticle, till they had none to sell.
When their goods were gone,
they were obliged to have re-
course to their parishes and to
begging. The parishes were over-
whelmed by the numbers apply-
ing for their aid, and could afford
but little comparative support.
The community in general (for
commercial districts are usually
generous) made great efforts to
relieve their necessities. For my
own part, I determined that I
would fare harder, and that my
children and household should do
so likewise, in order to adminis-
ter to their wants; and it was
my desire that none worthy of
relief should go away from my
house unrelieved. It is true the
succour was but small; and they
asked for nothing but a piece of
bread, and bread for some time
great numbers of them received :
but I soon found that my very

limited

CHRONICLE.

limited income, arising chiefly
from uncertain sources, would
not even furnish this scanty sup-
ply ; and I was reduced to the
necessity—to me a most painful
one—of confining my charity
within much smaller boundaries.
Companies of 5, or 8, or 12
poor manufacturers, able and
willing to work, have been many
times in the course of a day at
my door, soliciting bread, and
what has often cut me to the
heart, necessarily soliciting in
vain.

** Multitudes went through the
country, offering to work at any
thing merely for a little food, not
even expecting wages, and thus
gained a little temporary employ-
ment and subsistence; but still
their wives and children were at
home in the greatest possible dis-
tress.

«« Within a smalldistance of my
house is a large iron-work; the
machinery of which extends for
nearly half a mile. It was a
noble manufactory. I passed by
it one morning after its opera-
tions were suspended, and was
exceedingly affected with the
sight: a little before, it was all
animation and industry, affording
the honourable means of liveli-
hood to many thousands of my
fellow-creatures : the silence that
now pervades it spoke more elo-
quently and impressively to my
heart than any language could
possibly do; it was the silence of
unmingled desolation: I visited
a row of houses occupied by the
‘workmen: the doors. were used
to be open, inviting the eye of
the stranger to glance as he went
along at their neatness, cleanli-
‘ness, and felicity ; little groups

11}1

of healthful children were accus-
tomed to appear about the cot-
tages, full of merriment and joy,
and the inhabitants, strong and
healthy, saluted you as you went
by. But the scene was lamentably
changed: it produced a melan-
choly on my spirits that I did not
lose for a considerable period :
the cottages were closed—the in-
habitants could not bear to have
it known that they were stripped
of their little ornaments—no
children played around the doors
—the very plants trained up in
their windows had pined and died
—one man only appeared, emaci-
ated and ghastly, a living spectre,
as if the peaceful sepulchre had
sent forth its inhabitants to fill
with terror the abodes of the
living.

‘When I have told these poor -
creatures that the parish must
find them food or labour, they
have replied, *‘ Sir, they cannot
do either;’ and some who have
fared the best when our manu-
factories were flourishing around
us, have said, ‘ We would rather
die, Sir, than be dependent on
the parish.’

«‘ It is an unanswerable proof
of the excellent disposition of
these poor manufacturers, that
although there are many thou-
sands of them in the most dis-
tressed condition imaginable,
there is very little depredation in
the country.

‘© Tf it will aid you in your
benevolent designs, I will go
through any part of our neigh-
bourhood from house to house,
and give you a particular state-
ment of the circumstances of
each family: the labour will be
to me a delightful remuneration ;

doing

1192

doing good I have long found to
be its own reward. I would de-
vote any portion of my time to
procure you information.

«Some, I believe, have really
died of starvation; and in many
cases, if not the immediate it was
the primary cause. An insuffici-
ency of wholesome nourishment
where they had been accustomed
to great abundance, produced
diseases which terminated in dis-
solution.

«« Even charity, Sir, has left
some of our districts. She has
given all she had to give; the
stream of her benevolence is dried
up, and nothing remains but the
grateful recollection of the chan-
nel through which it flowed, or
emotions of despair lest it should
never again be replenished.

**T could send you many in-
dividual cases that come under
my own personal knowledge.
Not far from my house, a respec-
table individual, possessed of ex-
tensive information in the iron-
trade, who had been a confiden-
tial foreman in a large concern,
and lived in much credit, has
been for some time, with a wife
and eight children, destitute of a
sufficiency of bread. Many poor
families distinguished for their
sobriety and industry, with 5, 6,
7, or 8 children, are in the same
disastrous circumstances: I have
myself repeatedly saved a man,
his wife, and six children, from
absolute starvation, who were
reduced to eat the cabbage-stalks,
and the refuse of their little cot-
tage-garden, as the only food
they could obtain.”

28. About three o'clock in the
afternoon was experienced at
Longpark, the most tremendous

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

visitation of nature ever felt in
that neighbourhood. After a con-
siderable deal of thunder and
lightning, a dense whitish cloud
was observable, apparently about
Barrock, which advanced with
great rapidity, and, on its nearer
approach, presented the appear-
ance of the waves of the sea tu-
multuously rolling over each other.
This phenomenon was doubtlessly
occasioned by the hail composing
the body of the cloud, and whirl-
ed along by the hurricane which
enveloped it. On reaching Long- |
park, a scene of desolation com-
menced: within ten minutes a
most tremendous volley of pieces
of ice, some of them an inch in
diameter, and impelled with the
violence of a hurricane, shattered
the windows of the houses, tore
up the turf, beat down the vege-
table products of the earth, and
did great and extensive damage.
Mr. James, of that place, had the
whole of his crop of barley, oats,
&c. completely cut down as with
a scythe; it is calculated that
more than one half the produce
of the inhabitants of the village
is lost. Mr. James’s loss alone is
estimated at 2001. The like de-
struction occurred in the neigh-
bourhood, and a few houses were
unroofed. At Whaldub about 14
acres of barley, belonging to one
person, were entirely destroyed,
besides other injuries. At Park-
broom the garden vegetables were
nearly all destroyed, and we have
the same account from Walby,
&c. The same afternoon the
hurricane visited Longtown and
the neighbourhood. At Nether-
by upwards of 700 panes of glass
were broken in the hot-houses of
Sir James Graham, Bart. ; and

60 squares

CHRONICLE.

60 squares in the house were
driven in with great violence by
large hailstones, resembling pieces
of ice. A particularly large tree
at Kirkandrews-upon-Esk, and
others in the immediate neigh-
bourhood, were completely torn
up by the roots. The country
about Scaleby and Kirklinton
also experienced the severity of
the storm to a violent degree.
Foldtown began to pray in earn-
est, thinking the Italian astrono-
mer’s predictions were about to
be fulfilled. The storm was so
violent as to break their windows,
doors, and unroof their houses.—
Carlisle Journal.

30. Extract of a Letter from
Dresden :—‘‘ M. Fouché, Duke
of Otranto, with his family, quit-
ted this city some days ago: the
day before yesterday he reached
Toeplitz, on his way to Prague,
where he has taken a house.
During his stay here M. Fouche
led a very retired life. His pri-
vate Secretary, and M. Desmar-
teaux, the tutor of his three sons,
drew up, under his direction, a
Notice on his political life, which
is to appear early in September,
in German, at Altenberg, and in
French, at Brussels. Twelve
oficial documents, unmutilated,
will be annexed to this work.
The letter of M. Fouché to the
Duke of Wellington, of the Ist
August, 1816, will also be pub-
lished from an authentic copy.
It will be followed by three vo-
lumes of Memoirs, with a great
number of justificatory docu-
ments, in part unknown to the
public. The period of this latter
publication would appear, how-
ever, still to depend on circum-
stances.”

Vor. LVIII.

113

Information was brought to
the Head Police Office early on
Saturday morning, that the post-
boy, carrying the mail from Dub-
lin to Mullingar, escorted by a
single dragoon of the i6th regi-
ment, was assailed by a banditti
of ten or eleven, between Mayan
and Nobber, county of Meath.
The most daring of the ruffians,
after the usual cry of “ stand”
was given by the whole party,
walked boldly up towards the
post-boy, when the dragoon in-
stantly shot him dead with his
carbine. The whole of his ac-
complices, terrified at this in-
stance of bravery, and the fate
of their comrade, fled with pre-
cipitation, and suffered the mail
to proceed without further moles-
tation.— Dublin Post.

31. About one o’clock in the
afternoon, the remains of Miss
Burrowes, of Red Lion-street,
Clerkenwell, were taken to St.
James’s Church, Clerkenwell
green, fur interment. The grave
was ordered to be dug 20 feet
deep: when the body came to
be lowered, the undertaker found
some fault with the depth, and
the grave-digger and his assistant
went down to throw up a few
more shovels of earth, when, un-
fortunately, owing to the great
pressure of the people and the
ground being composed of loose
earth, the sides gave way, and
the earth fell in and buried them
under its weight; several men
were immediately set about sho-
velling away the earth, which
kept constantly falling in ; but in
about an hour after, the body of
one of them of the name of But-
cher, apparently dead, was found,
immediately carried home, oa

y

, 114

by the means prescribed for re-
storing persons apparently suffo-
cated he was restored to life; he
is now out of danger, but very ill
from the bruises he received. The
body of Ruby, the other work-
man, was not discovered until
near ten o’clock at night; it now
lies in the vaults under the church
for the inspection of the coroner’s
inquest, which will be held at the
Crown tavern this day, Ruby was
in very indigent circumstances,
and has left a wife in a pregnant
state, and three young children,
to deplore his loss. A subscrip-
tion is opened for the relief of the
widow and orphans. The body
of Miss Burrowes was deposited
in a vault under the church.

AUGUST.

1. It is a circumstance desery-
js of notice, that while there

as been so-much rain in the
south of Europe, there has been
a long series of dry weather in
the north-east. <A letter from
St. Petersburgh, dated July 10,
says, “For these four weeks past
we have had a continued drought.
It is long since we have had in
the north such an uninterrupted
series of dry weather. At Riga
and Dantzic public prayers were
put up imploring rain."

The annual competition for
prizes by the Highland Society of
London to the five best performers
on the Great Highland bag-pipe,
was held in the Theatre Royal,
Edinburgh.—Twenty-three com-
petitors appeared, besides several
superior performers who had ob-
tained prize-pipes at previous
competitions. Although from

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

there being no races at Leith this
year, the company in town is less
numerous than usual, yet the
ancient martial music of Scotland
continued to be supported by all
ranks. The audience was highly

-respectable and numerous, among

them not a few of the fairest
daughters of Caledonia, cheering
the performers. The sale of tic-
kets produced above 1251. sterl-
ing. The following gentlemen
of the Highland Society of Scot-
land were the judges on the oc-
casion, viz :—

Sir John Macgregor Murray of
Lanrick, Bart. preses, Sir George
S. Mackenzie of Coul, Bart. Ad-
miral Fraser, Duncan Campbell,
Esq. of Barcaldine, Hugh M’Lean,
Esq. Younger of Coll. John L.
Campbell, Esq. of Achallader,
Colin Mackenzie, Esq. of Kil-
cowie, Lieutenant-colonel M<Al-
ister of Loup, Lieutenant-colonel
M‘Quarrie, late 42d regiment,
John Graham Dalyell, Esq. ad-
vocate, Coll. Macdonald, Esq. of
Dalness, James Grant, Esq. Ro-
bert Graham, Esq. John Archi-
bald Campbell, Esq.

The plan of competition having
been arranged at a previous re-
hearsal, the same, with a list of
the names of the ancient pipe
tunes or pibrachds to be perform-
ed, given in Gaelic and English,
was printed by desire of the judges
for the information of the com-
pany who patronise the exhibi-
tion.

From the excellence of many
of the performers, the judges felt
considerable difficulty in deciding
some of the prizes, which were
awarded as follows :—

ist Prize—Being a handsome
pipe of superior tone and work-

manship,

CHRONICLE.

manship, properly mounted and
adorned with a silver plate, on
which there has since been en-
graved the proper inscription,
with 48 merks in money, to Don-
ald Mackay, piper to the High-
land Society of Glasgow, and to
the Highland regiment of local
militia of that city.

2d Prize—60 merks, to Wil-
liam Mackay, late pipe-major to
the Invernesshire militia.

3d Prize—50 merks, to John
Campbell, from Nether Lorne,
Argyllshire.

4th Prize—45 merks, to John
Gordon, from Glen of Fincastle,
Perthshire.

5th Prize—40 merks, to James
Kennedy, from Strathsay.

Sir John Macgregor Mur-
ray, in delivering the prizes, as
preses of the committee, to the
preferred competitors, address-
ed them severally, in their na-
tive language, the pure Gaelic,
which appeared to gratify them
highly. Sir John remarked to
the andience, that the profes-
sion of these men had been al-
ways justly held in estimation by
our ancestors ; for what could be
more gallant and heroic than a
man unarmed advancing intre-:
pidly in the face of an enemy, en-
couraging his comrades to deeds
of hardihood and glory, by those
martial strains so congenial and
animating to the feelings of every
Highlander ?

A few nights ago, the house of
a farmer, situated between An-
trim and Laughanmore, was _ be-
set by a banditti having their
faces blackened. They soon forced
an entrance, and demanded his
money, which they said they
‘knew he possessed. He assured

'

115

them he had none, for that he
had, on the previous day, paid his
rent with it. They reiterated
their demand with dreadful threat-
enings, to which the poor man
could only reply byagain assuring
them he had paid his rent with
it. The barbarians would not
believe him, and, imputing his
denial to obstinacy, then pro-
ceeded to break the tables and
chairs in his house, and with
these they kindled a large fire on
the hearth. They then seized
him, and stretched the wretched
victim on the blazing wood,
where they held him, regardless
of his screams and writhings,
until he was severely scorched in
different parts of the body; and
one of his sides is so dreadfully
burnt, that it is not thought he
can recover. When the unhappy
sufferer was seemingly expiring
in the midst of the flames, the
wretches drew him out on the
tioor, where they left him and
retreated from the house, not
supposing that any eye had wit-
nessed this tragic scene. But
Providence had ordered it other-
wise: for a young woman who
was in the house, and who had
hid herself when they first enter-
ed, saw the whole transaction,
and distinctly knew two of the
party, who resided in the neigh-
bourhood. Next day she lodged
examinations against them before
a magistrate, and they have both
been apprehended and committed
to the gaol of Carrickfergus to
abide their trial at the ensuing
assizes.— Belfast News-Letter.

3. Glasgow.—On Thursday
afternoon, and yesterday, there
was a considerable disposition to
rioting among the lower ranks in

12 the

116

the Calton, one of our populous
suburbs, which has happily ter-
minated without any serious mis-
chief. In the city the greatest
good order prevailed, and not the
shadow of a disturbance. ‘wo
troops of the 6th Dragoon Guards
arrived in the town yesterday
about mid-day, in aid of the very
small military force stationed in
this garrison. The excellent arti-
cle in yesterday's Herald contains
a correct statement of all the lead-
ing facts connected with this un-
pleasant occurrence. The boy
who was carried to the Infirmary
on Thursday, as noticed in The
Herald, was in life this morning.
—Glasgow Courier.

On Thursday, about noon,
some disturbance commenced at
Calton, at the east end of M’ Kech-
nie-street. The heritors and
gentlemen connected with Calton
and Bridgton had opened sub-
scriptions for relieving the dis-
tresses of the labourers out of
work, and had considered soup-
kitchens as the most effectual aid.
The unfortunate people them-
selves are, however, said to have
been of an opposite opinion ; and
a gibing expression used by some
person in the soup-kitchen is said
to have inflamed them to outrage.
A crowd very soon collected in
front of the building in which the
cooking apparatus was placed,
and shattered the windows and
culinary utensils; and did other
damage. The afiray had con-
tinued from about noon until feur
o'clock, when a party of the 78th
Highlanders were taken from the
barracks to the spot, accompanied
by Patrick Playfair, Esq. and
Robert Struther, Esq. justices of
the peace, and Adjutant Deans of

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

the recruiting service. The mili-
tary were armed, posted in front
of ‘Toshach’s house, and the usual
means were adopted to induce the
mob to disperse, the military
loading their muskets, &c. The
crowd was composed principally
of women and young men: and
at this time a stone or two were
thrown at the soldiers, but there
was no spirit of opposition gene-
rally shown. Before five o'clock
another detachment of the 78th
arrived, as did also about a dozen
privates, along with a sergeant of
the 6th Dragoon Guards.

Several gentlemen joined the
justices, and aided them to dis-
perse the crowd. About 7 o’clock
some stones were thrown at the
soldiers. A young man was
seized, and under military escort
was sent to gaol. Another lad
who had interfered with the party
was also taken. A second party
was dispatched on the same service
with two lads. In their course
they were very much harassed by
some of the mob hooting and
throwing stones at them. Some
of them brought their pieces to
the charge; and at the end of the
bridge over the Burn, at the
herd’s house, affairs appeared to
assume an alarming aspect. Two
or three of the soldiers, for the
party consisted of only seven or
eight, endeavoured to stop the
further progress of the mob.
They levelled their muskets, and
when the word ‘fire’ was given
by some of the soldiers, the mob
precipitately retreated. They
reached the gaol with their pri-
soners, having on their way fired
a shot opposite to the Episcopal
Chapel. On their return they
were able to proceed a little more

speedily

CHRONICLE.

speedily, as they had no prisoners
to embarrass them. At Craig-
nestock they faced about, and se-
veral shots were fired. One man
who lives in Gorbals was wound-
ea with a ball in the leg, a little
above the knee, and a lad resid-
ing in Galton in the arm: the
former was taken into the Museum
tavern, Mr. Gibson’s, Great Ha-
milton-street, where a surgeon
was called, and he was removed
in a cart to his own home about
an hour afterwards.

Another young man in the
course of the evening was
also slightly injured by some
bayonet wounds. Two more
prisoners were escorted to gaol
by a party of horse and foot,
who went by Gallowgate and
Salt-market, and returned by the
Green-dyke. A shot was fired by
one of them from a pistol when
in the Salt-market. Two pri-
soners were also lodged in the
garrison. The military left Cal-
ton between 10 and 1] o’clock.
Of the 7Sth a man or two re-
ceived, during the affray, some
contusions from stones, as did
two of the Dragoons. The win-
dows -of the workshop of a Mr.
John Oswald were also broken.
The number of military amounted
to little more than 100.

There is the case of a boy,
ahout eleven years of age, who
had been among the mob when it
raged in front of Toshach’s house,
and most ‘unfortunately received
such a blow as fractured his
scull. He was carried to a sur-
geon’s shop in Main-street, Cal-
ton, and afterwards to the Royal
Infirmary, where the operation
ef trepanning was performed on

117

him. He was still alive this
morning. .

Yesterday a continuation of the
disturbance was apprehended,
and a small detachment of the
soldiers was marched to Toshach’s
house. Robert Hamilton, Esq.
Sheriff-Depute, leaving that place
in a chaise, was pursued through
Calton by a large body of young
men, who threw many stones
at the carriage. He reached the
barracks, and procured about a
company of the 78th, with whom
he returned to M’Kechnie-street.
About one o'clock a portion of
the rioters collected in Tureen-
street, and proceeded to break
the windows of a steam-loom
manufactory ; but the military
repairing to the spot, they imme-
diately dispersed.

In the afternoon, as an escort
were taking some prisoners to
the barracks, stones were thrown
at them, when they were ordered
to fire. Several muskets were
discharged, but no person was
hurt. In the evening a reinforce-
ment of cavalry arrived from
Hamilton, and the special con-
stables were also ordered on duty.
They appeared to be a more
effectual means of suppressing
the riot than the soldiers; for
not being distinguished by their
dress, imagination naturally aug-
mented their number, and the
circumstance of their knowing
many of the crowd personally
must have had much influence in
keeping order. Between seven
and eight o'clock some of the ca-
valry rode down the Gallowgate
a considerable distance; but, at
the suggestion of some of the
constables, they stopped and re-

turned

118

turned towards the barracks.
Nothing remarkable happened in
this street, although it was very
crowded, except the taking of
two men, one of whom was
immediately rescued. A_ few
windows were broken in Calton.
Several individuals besides those
above stated have been taken into
custody.— Glasgow Chron.

Glasgow is well known to be
one of the best recruiting stations
in the kingdom; and so many
spirited young lads enter the
service, that there is scarcely a
person in the operative classes in
the town or neighbourhood who
has not relations in the army.
But in no place we believe are
the military exposed to more in-
sult, when called out in the ful-
filment of their duty, than in this
very city. It is generally alleged,
that the Scotch claim fully their
own share of the merit in all
the battles in which their country-
men have been engaged, and that
the Highlanders are particularly
the theme of their praise; but
no person would suppose this
to be the case, who witnessed
the manner in which the officers
and soldiers of the 78th regiment
were used yesterday in the sub-
urbs and streets of Glasgow.—
Glasgow Herald.

9. Copy of a letter addressed
by the French Minister of the In-
terior to the Marquis of Ville-
neuve, Prefect of the Cher :—

«© Monsieur le Prefect, — After
a Jong dispersion, the remains of
the ancient Monks of la Trappe
have assembled, from all parts of
the world, amidst the ruins of
their old abbey. Their property
has been sold, and the greater

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

part of the buildings have been
alienated or demolished. Bene-
volence alone has supplied M. De-
lestranges, their respectable Abbé,
with the means of repurchasing
some buildings, where these good
fathers have re-found a roof under
which their old age is but badly
covered. Their virtue has at-
tracted to them men of various
classes, even warriors, who come
to share their voluntary rigours.
The Order of La Trappe has still
about thirty members.

** Hard as is their life, con-
sisting wholly in privation, they
are about to want wherewith to
sustain it: the roof which shelters
them must fall, if charity do not
come to their succour; and it is
to avoid applying again to foreign
hospitality that M. Delestranges
solicits the permission of making
a collection in France.

** I have thought it my duty
M. le Prefect, to authorise the
request of M. Delestranges. It
cannot but be interesting to the
bishops; and I beg of you to
afford him all the facility that
may depend on your administra-
tion. (Signed) Laine.”

10. The assassination of Mr.
Lyell, the King’s Messenger, at
Madrid, is fully confirmed by offi-
cial accounts from Mr. Vaughan,
British Envoy at the Spanish
capital, to the Government at
home, and also by letters from
an English gentleman at Ma-
drid to Mr. Lyell’s family at Pim-
lico.

Mr. Lyell, it appears, was in
the daily habit of walking in the
Retiro from 10 o'clock in the
morning till two o'clock in the
afternoon, at which hour he ge-

nerally

CHRONICLE.

nerally dined in company with a
countryman, with whom he had
contracted an intimacy of friend-
ship. On the 21st of July, Mr.
Lyell failed to return to dinner at
the usual hour, and his friend
waited in vain his coming home
during the whole of that night.
Next morning he communicated
the absence of Mr. L. to Mr.
Vaughan, who caused diligent in-
quiry to be made for him. In
the course of the inquiry it trans-
spired that an Englishman found
murdered in the Retiro had been
taken to the hospital to be owned :
at this place he was recognized
by his friend, who, on examining
the body, found on it seven dis-
tinct stabs, given by some trian-
gular instrument such as a bayo-
net or a tuck which is generally
carried in a cane or stick. On
application of Mr. Vaughan, the
Spanish government made every
endeavour through the means of
the police to trace the assassins,
and the cause of the murder, but as
far as is yet known without effect.
Mr. Lyell, when found, had on
him Spanish money to the amount
of about 301., which he had -re-
ceived from Mr. Vaughan on the
day previous. One account says,
that he is supposed to have igno-
rantly entered a walk frequented
by bad characters, and was, per-
haps, suspected to have been a
spy among them. He is said to
have been a man of singularly
mild and quiet manners, the last
man to plunge into a riot or dis-
turbance. He was formerly in
the family of Lord Cathcart.

12. Naples —On the 7th inst.
at four o’clock in the afternoon,
a violent shock, which made all

119

the environs of Vesuvius tremble,
announced a new eruption of that
terrible volcano. Some moments
after, torrents of flames began to
descend from the summit of the
mountain, one of which flowed
towards le Mauro, and the other
towards les Camaldules, following
the traces of former currents of
lava. Happily the eruption ceased
on the approach of night, without
having done any damage.

13. Kilkenny. After having
had so frequently to express our
satisfaction on account of the
tranquil state of this county, it
is with great concern we have to
state, that a band or bands of
ruffians disturbed its peace on
different sides of the city, while
Baron M‘Clelland, one of the
judges of assize, was yet within
its walls. On Friday night last,
at eleven o'clock, a number of
fellows broke into the houses of
John Doran and James Murphy,
of Bonnetarath, in the south li-
berties of the city of Kilkenny,
tenants to Mr. William Jacob,
and having violently assaulted
them, swore them to give up the
farms they occupied, which they
lately took from that gentleman,
immediately. Unless there were
different gangs, and we are un-
willing to suppose it, this party
must have crossed the river at
one of the city bridges, as about
12 o'clock, a party of armed men
demanded arms at the house of
the late Mr. Fennelly, at Hig-
ginstown, about two miles to the
northward of this city. The Rev.
Mr. Forrestal, P. P. of Callan,
who happened to be in the house,
got out of bed, and remonstrated
with them from a window. Some

of

120

of the party wished him to swear
that he was a priest, but one of
them declaring that he knew him,
they departed. A great number
of men on horseback were seen
outside of the yard. They then,
after breaking the barn and stable
doors, broke into the house of J.
Dwyer, at Rathardmore, equally
near the town, dragged him out
of his house, ordered him on his

knees, and declared they would.

come back and murder him, if he
took any of the lands of Bawn-
more, for which he had made
some proposal. They next broke
into the cabin of a person named
Patrick Power, whom Mr. Cor-
mick had left in charge of the
lands of Bawnmore, dragged him
out, placed him on his knees, and
swore him to abandon his charge,
and not to impound any cattle he
might find in the corn-fields or
meadows. The wife of this poor
man, who was near being con-
fined, has since miscarried, and
now lies dangerously ill. They
then proceeded to the house of
Delany, and swore him not
to take any of the lands of Bawn-
more. They were anxious to dis-
cover his son, who was sleeping
on a hurdle. One of them, by
the advice of a companion, stuck
a pike through the hurdle, which
obliged the young man to get up,
when they seized and beat him,
and would have murdered him,
but for the interference of one of
the party. Here, besides 9 or 10
pedestrians, who entered the
house, about 50 equestrians were
seen outside. They next broke
into the house of John Byrne,
at Conniger, searched for arms,
and drank a jar of whisky. They

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

then broke into the house of a
labouring man at Clara, from
Munster, but who had resided
there for two years, and has a
high charactcr as a sober and in-
dustrious man, whom they dragged
out of his cabin. His wife, on
their threatening her husband,
entreated them rather to kill her,
that he might live to protect her
children. The barbarians knock-
ed her down, and shot him through
the mouth. He was brought into
the county hospital on Saturday
morning, where he languishes,
under the care of Surgeon Pack,
whose skill is the only stay of
hope to his distressed family.
Here, also, a large body of in-
surgent cavalry were seen. These
are the simple facts—an afflicting
narration of offences committed
round this city. Time and space
forbid enlargement ; but the Ma-
gistracy of the county require no
inducement to the adoption of
the measures necessary to check
this daring attempt to minister,
by midnight legislation, the de-
struction of. all law and all secu-
rity.—(Kilkenny Moderator.)

The Mortar in St. James’s Park.
—During the war in the Penin-
sula, the city of Cadiz was bom-
barded from a distance previously
supposed to be beyond the range
of projectiles—a circumstance
which attached so much conse-
quence to the ordnance employed
and left by Marshal Soult on his
retreat, as to induce the Spanish
Regency to send one of the mortars
to his Royal Highness the Prince
Regent, intrusting it to the care
of the Hon. Rear-Admiral Legge,
who was instructed by the Pre-
sident, the Duke del Infantado,

to

CHRONICLE.

to request it might be placed in
one of the royal parks.

His Royal Highness was pleased
to accede to this request, and di-
rected the mortar to be suitably
placed on the parade of the Horse-
guards, to record the glorious
victory gained at Salamanca, the
consequent liberation of the South
of Spain; and in honour of the
Duke of Wellington, to whom
both countries were indebted
for it.

His Royal Highness command-
ed the Earl of Mulgrave to direct
a carriage to be prepared for the
purpose, which has been made in
the royal carriage department at
Woolwich.

Description of the Carriage—
An emblem has been selected (in
allegorical allusion to the means
by which the siege of Cadiz was
terminated) from the labours
of Hercules, who destroyed the
monster Geryon, the tyrant of
the Isle of Gades, thus figuratively
describing the raising of the siege,
and to illustrate the fame of the
hero who had broken the enchant-
ment of the modern Geryon.

Some liberties have been taken
with the principal figure in sub-
stituting wings for the heads;
the tails twist round to the vent,
in order to convey the scorpion
fire.

The heads of the tyrant’s guar-
dian dog are represented in the
alternate state of activity and re-
pose, to denote eternal watchful-
ness.

The mortar is left as it was
found, being mounted on its car-
riage at an elevation of 45 de-
grees, upon a bed of brass, re-
presenting a rock on which the
monster has alighted.

121

Earthquake in Scotland.—On
the night of the 13th inst. about
15 or 20 minutes before eleven
o'clock, the inhabitants of the
greater part of the north of Scot-
land were alarmed with a small
shock of an earthquake, which
has done considerable damage to
many buildings; but there are no
accounts of any lives being lost.
The Caledonian Mercury states,
that the shock was also felt, in a
slight degree, by several persons
in Edinburgh and the neighbour-
hood. Some of the letters more
to the northward mention a se-
cond slight shock a few minutes
after the one generally felt.

14. Aberdeen‘ It is with
feelings of the deepest awe we
have to state, that last night,
about eleven o'clock, a shock of
an earthquake was distinctly felt
in the various quarters of this
city. It took place at four mi-
nutes before eleven o'clock, and
continued, as nearly as we could
estimate, about six seconds. The
undulation appeared to come from
SSE. and was simultaneously felt
at the distance of some miles, in
the direction of NNW. From the
late hour at which it happened,
we have been unable to collect,
for this day’s paper, the parti-
culars of those varied appearances
which it may have exhibited in
different quarters of the city.
Where we sat, the house was
shaken to its foundation, the
heaviest articles of furniture were
moved, and arumbling noise was
heard, such as if some heavy bedy
was rolling along the roof; in
many houses the bells were set
ringing, and the agitation of the
wires continued visible for some

time

322

time after the cessation of the
shock. It has been described to
us, by one who was in Lisbon at
that period, as exactly resembling
the commencement of the earth-
quake in that city on the 6th of
June 1807. A second, but more
partial shock, was felt at half-
past eleven; since which time
we have had no return of this
awful and unusual visitation of
Providence. The air, during the
night, was mild and calm, with
clear moon-light ; and the only
appearance after the shock was,

that of a thin whitish vapour
settling on the surrounding
hills.”

15. Perth—< Tuesday night,
about a quarter before 11 o'clock,
two smart shocks of an earth-
quake, the second of which suc-
ceeded the first at an interval of
half a iwinute, were felt in this
city, and over the greater part of
the neighbourhood, particularly
in the low grounds. The effects
of the shocks were perceptible for
several seconds, and in some
places were so violent as to shake
the windows, and cause a rattling
noise among the slates. Persons
in bed felt a sensible agitation, or
rather concussion, in an upward
direction ; and if the bed hap-
pened to be in contact with the
wall, a lateral shock was also felt.
In some houses the chairs and
tables were moved backwards and
forwards, and even the bells set
ringing. Birds in cages were
thrown down from the sticks on
which they were perched, and ex-
hibited evident signs of fear. A
hollow rumbling noise was heard
by different individuals, which
seemed to die away in the west.
The air at the time was clear and

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

serene. Similar effects were per-

ceived about the same time at

Dunkeld, in the Carse of Gowrie,

and Strathearn.’’—Perth Courier.
Private Letters.

14, “ Montrose.—Last night, a
few minutes before 11 o’clock, a
shock of an earthquake was most
distinctly felt here, which had
the effect of seriously alarming
many families: and many who
were in bed were awakened by
the concussion. Those who had
newly retired to rest were most
sensible of the shock, as they felt
their beds move, first in a hori-
zontal direction, and then return
to their former situation ; after
which a tremulous motion was
felt, as when a thing settles on
its basis, after being in commo-
tion. Others describe the effect
as similar to that which is ex-
perienced by the slight rolling of
a ship at sea. The chairs and
tables in many houses were put
in motion; and, in some cases,
the leaves of folding tables were
heard to rattle; the fire-irons in
many instances rang against the
fenders ; and bells in rooms and
passages were set ringing; in
many kitchens the cooking uten-
sils and dishes made a noise, and
next morning many of the doors
were found difficult to open. One
gentleman observed his book-case
move from the wall, and fall back
again upon it. It is impossible
to describe the state of alarm
which most people were thrown
into by this unusual occurrence.
Many leaped from bed, imagining
their houses were falling; while
others ran down stairs in great
anxiety, supposing that some ac-
cident had happened in the lower
part of their house ; as it did not

"readily

CHRONICLE

readily occur to many what was
the real cause of the motion they
felt. Nor was the terror confined
alone to the human species: a bird
in a cage was so alarmed that
it burst through it, and flew to-
wards the light.

«« The shock lasted for about
three or four seconds, and I un-
derstand was felt for a consider-
able distance round, as far as
John's-haven. In this neigh-
bourhood, two excise-men, who
were on the watch for smugglers,
whom they expected in a certain
direction, had lain down on the
ground, and, when the shock took
place, one of them leaped up call-
ing to his companion, ‘ There
they are! for I feel the ground
shaking under their horses feet.’
Fortunately, we have heard of no
serious injury having been occa-
sioned by the event. ‘The wea-
ther here had been cold and rainy
for about six weeks, but cleared
about mid-day on Sunday, when
we had a fine dry westerly breeze.
The two following days warm,
and last night was quiet and
moonlight. Jt continued clear
till late this morning, when it
became dull, and we have had
some rain. It is now one o'clock,

rather sultry, with no sun-
shine, and some drops of rain
falling.”’

“« Dornoch.—The arches of the
Mound fell yesterday, about three
o'clock, by the shock of an earth-
quake; which never happened in
this country before.” (TheMound
above alluded to, was lately thrown
across the Little Ferry the bound-
ary betwixt the parishes of Dor-
noch and Golspie, in the county
of Sutherland, about three miles
from the mouth of the Frith.

123

This Mound consisted of three
arches at the north end, and was
rather more than half a mile in
length.)

Similar accounts have been re-
ceived from Perth, Dunkeld, the
Carse of Gowrie, Strathearn, and
Dingwall—Persons in bed felt
the concussion, in an upward di-
rection, and if the bed happened
to be in contact with the wall, a
lateral shock was felt; chairs and
tables were moved backwards and
forwards, bells set ringing, the
windows shaken, the dogs howled,
birds in cages were thrown down
from the sticks on which they
perched, and shewed evident
marks of fear. A hellow rum-
bling noise was heard, which
seemed to die away in the west.

“© Forres.—A most extraordi-
nary thing happened to us in this
quarter about ten minutes before
eleven o'clock last night ; nothing
more nor less than a shock of an
earthquake, which might have
lasted about the third of a minute.
The houses shook, and the inha-
bitants were dreadfully alarmed,
as nothing of that kind ever hap-
pened before. No damage was
done, farther than a great fright.
We had happened not to be in
bed, and we had an opportunity
of perceiving the whole effects of
the shock. The glasses on the
table shook, as well as the tables
and chairs; the doors also made
a noise, and a few things in the
garret rattled about. I believe
in one house the shock was so
great that the hells in it were set
ringing. In short, to-day there
is no other conversation in town
but the earthquake.”

“© Inverness—About a quarter
of an hour before eleven o'clock

last

124,

last night we experienced a vio-
lent concussion of the earth. Our
principal steeple is a good deal
injured, and a great many chim-
ney-tops thrown to the middle of
the street: bells were rung by it,
and bell-wires broken to pieces.
Women fainted, and many were
seen in the streets almost naked,
calling out that their children had
been killed in their arms. I have
not, however, heard of real in-
jury, except that done to pro-
perty: many houses are damaged,
and almost the whole were for-
saken by the inhabitants, who
fled from town, under an impres-
sion that, from the calmness and
closeness of the night, a second
shock might oceur. I had gone
to bed here, and begun to sleep.
After the crashing noise, which
lasted for a full minute, I never
was so tossed on board of ship as
I was in bed, before I could rise,
for full five minutes. At last I
rose, and went to my family, about
two miles out of town, and found
that two female servants had gone
to bed with their mistress, but a
lad rose to search the house in
case of fire. On my way I met
two gentlemen who left Seabank-
house. They said they believed
it was drove down the Moray
Frith. I think the shock came
in a south-west direction, from
Lochness, &c. ; and I understand,
by the guard of the mail-coach,
that it was equally felt at Nairn,
&e.”

Another Letter from Inverness,
same date.—‘* At 17 minutes be-
fore eleven o'clock, p.m. of the
13th instant, there was expe-
rienced here, and for many miles
round, a most severe shock of an
earthquake: it is very difficult to

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

describe its immediate effects.
The first shock seemed to remove
the bed in which I lay, and for 15
or 20 seconds the walls of the
room appeared falling. It was
accompanied with great noise
from stones falling down the
chimney, and fragments rolling
on the slates; the chimney, though
very solidly built of hewn stone,
having been rent from top to bot-
tom, and several of the largest
stones thrown down on the roof.
The walls of many houses are rent
from top to bottom, and chimnies
demolished. The steeple of the
gaol is very materially injured.
How far the shock reached is not
yet ascertained; but the mail-
coach guard says it was felt at
Elgin, 40 miles to the east. The
night was most serene and beau-
tiful at the time, and till morning
not a breath of wind stirring. I
think the shock proceeded from
south-west to north-east, as the
stones fell in that direction; and
the soot, which came in vast quan-
tities from every chimney, instead
of falling forward into the rooms,
fell along the wash-boards to the
north of the fire-places, and alto-
gether within a foot of the walls.
Many persons who have lived
long in the West-Indies say they
never felt nearly so severe a shock.
At six o'clock next merning a
slight shock was felt, but it did
no harm. I hear this earthquake
extended far to the north and
west. Many people in Inverness
left their homes, and passed the
night in the fields. There was a
noise at the time like a distant
and long peal of thunder.”

13. Dunkeld. — This night,
about eleven o’clock, the shock of
an earthquake was felt here. My

house

CHRONICLE.

house felt as if it moved from its
base; my family were much
alarmed; and my son, in stepping
into bed, was nearly thrown on
the floor. I have felt several,
but none more sensibly than this
night. Stepping into a neigh-
bour’s house soon after, I found
his family in great terror, the
shock having had the effect of
nearly spilling the liquor on the
table, as they were sitting toge-
ther after supper. About this
time, a small meteor was seen to
pass from east to west, though
the shock seemed to come from
the west.’’

Coroner's Inquest.—John Dra-
per, one of the beadles of the
Court of Requests for the district
of Enfield, was found dead on the
morning of the 9th, in a well, a
small distance from the Baldfaced
Stag public-house, between En-
field and Barnet. The case had
excited a great deal of interest,
and the inn yard was thronged
during the whole day. On the
inquest being summoned, the
jury, after viewing the body of
the deceased, inspected the well,
which is situated about twenty
yards from the house, is un-
covered at the top, and partially
surrounded with a rail, but there
is an opening of about a yard and
a half towards the yard, where
the stables stand, and carriages,
&e. are placed. The Coroner
called a great number of wit-
nesses, and the following is the
substance of their testimony :—
The deceased, in his office of
beadle, had made some distresses
in the morning, and had received
a considerable sum of money. At
six o'clock in the evening he was
seen at a public-house in Barnet.

125

While there he produced a small
pocket-book, saying, ‘‘ here is
enough 1o buy you all:’ he was
then in liquor. A young man of
the name of Smith accompanied
him in his cart from Barnet on
the road to Enfield. They arrived
together at the Bald-faced Stag.
At this house they fell into
company with several persons,
amongst whom were certain pu-
gilists, who were then in training.
The deceased began to talk about
fighting, and to propose some
bets ; and, taking out the same
pocket-book he had produced at
Barnet, offered to bet ten’ or
twenty pounds. Some altercation
took place between the deceased
and a black pugilist, who very
prudently said he should not
strike him, but should take the
law. About ten o’clock Smith
left the deceased in the public-
house, and walked towards En-
field. Going along the road the
deceased’s horse and cart followed
him, without any driver; upon
which Smith got into the cart,
and drove back to the public-.
house; he there found the de-
ceased in the same company, and
pressed him to go home, which
he assented to when he had taken
another glass or two, The wit-
ness staid about half an hour,
when the deceased, increasingly
intoxicated, went into the yard,
and had a scufile with the hostler,
and afterwards with a haymaker.
He did not appear to be hurt by
these encounters, and was the
aggressor in both. Smith then
set off home, when, to his sur-
prise, the horse and cart followed
him a second time without any
driver. He got into the cart and
drove on, till the horse stopped of

’ his

12206 6ANNUAL

his own accord at his master’s
door, when Smith informed the
deceased’s family where he had
left him.

Charles Johnson, a carman in
the employ of Mr, Paris, of En-
field, was passing the Baldfaced
Stag about twelve o'clock. It
was moonlight. He saw Mr.
Tuck, thelandlord of the Baldfaced
Stag, with two or three others,
come out at the front door. They
went round the corner towards
the yard. He heard the landlord
say, ‘‘ D—n his old eyes, he’s
gone this way, I know.” One of
the other men said, ‘* We'll give
him a good hiding.’ Witness
passed on, and heard no more.
Is well acquainted with the person
of the landlord, but could not
identify the others.

Mr. Tuck, the landlord, being
cautioned, was then called, and
confirmed part of the evidence of
Smith, and stated that the de-
ceased left his house about half
past ten o'clock: that being told
his dog was still in the yard, he
‘went out to search for him, think-
ing he might have fallen asleep :
that Crouch, one of his lodgers,
was with him, but denied that he
had used the expressions men-
tioned by Johnson. Crouch, on
being called in, said, that he had
been at the Baldfaced Stag about
a fortnight ; saw the deceased in
the parlour; was in and out of
the room, but did not hear any
betting, nor did he see the de-
ceased produce any money ; went
to the door with Tuck, but no
further ; and denied either hear-
ing or using the expressions
mentioned by Johnson: said that
Chureh and Robinson, the two
men in training, had been in bed
an hour before.

REGISTER,

1816.

Mary Holborn, the servant
maid, at seven o’clock on Friday
morning went to the well to fill
a pail of water: she there saw a
hat, and immediately informed
her master. Mr. Tuck went to
the well, and, as he stated, found
the deceased floating. He came
in and alarmed the inmates of his
house, and with their assistance
brought the body into an out-
house. The relatives were sent
for, and on searching the pockets
of the deceased, two large pocket-
books were found, and a purse
with some silver in it, but not the
pocket-book which several wit-
nesses had identified as the book
in which he kept his bank-notes,
and which he produced at Barnet,
and afterwards at the Baldfaced
Stag.

Mr. Thomas, a school-master,
Was in company with the deceased
on Thursday ; knew the deceased
had received several sums of mo-
ney, and at seven o’clock in the
evening of Thursday knew that
he had a large bundle of notes in
his pocket-book.

Mr. Clarke, a surgeon at En-
field, examined the body of the
deceased, and did not discover
any marks of violence which
could have occasioned his death.

The Coroner, in substance, ob-
served, that although a great sus-
p:cion had arisen that the de-
ceased had been robbed of pro-
perty to a large amount, and had
afterwards come to a violent
death to screen that robbery, yet,
however just might be the grounds
for the first of these imputations,
the second was not so clear. The
deceased was excessively intoxi-
cated, and in his way to the yard,
where his cart had been left, must
necessarily have passed near to

this

CHRONICLE.

this well, which was uninclosed
in the front, and into which he
might have fallen by accident ;
and there was a difficulty in con-
ceiving that he could have been
forced into this well, unless he
had been first violently deprived
of all sensation, in which case
some external marks of injury
would have been visible. Look-
ing at the situation of the place,
and the dimensions of the well,
there are difficulties either way ;
but the jury would decide on the
superior probability. Verdict—
Accidental Death.

Tuek was afterwards tried at
the Old Bailey for the murder of
Draper ; the principal suspicion
against whom arose from the cir-
cumstance of two notes having
been found in his possession
which were among those collected
by the deceased. The evidence
against him, however, appearing
insufficient, the jury gave a ver-
dict of Not Guilty, He was next
tried for robbery of the notes, but
was also acquitted.

There was no doubt that Dra-
per had been murdered.

17. Riot at Preston—‘* We are
sorry to state, that in consequence
of the manufacturers being ne-
cessitated to reduce the wages on
some descriptions of cotton goods,
a disposition to break, the peace
was manifested, by a party of
weavers parading the streets of
this town on Tuesday last, and,
in some cases, destroying the
shuttles of such as were inclined
to continue at their work. To-
wards evening they had accumu-
lated to a considerable body, and
after consulting together, they
proceeded to the house of Mr.
Horrocks: not finding him at

127

home, some of the party, chiefly
boys and women, commenced an
attack, by breaking the windows
of the house and tearing up the
shrubs in the grounds ; but these
outrages, not being seconded by
the main body, were of but short
duration.

«« Next morning they assem-
bled in still greater numbers at
the outskirt of the town. They
were met bya great posse of ser-
geants and corporals of the Lan-
cashire militia, stationed in the
town, who in a few hours dis-
persed the mob, after taking
some of the most active into cus-
tody. The precautionary views
of the Magistrates induced them,
on the first indication of riot, to
send for a party of military to
Liverpool, but order was com-
pletely restored before they ar-
rived ; and the weavers have now
settled themselves quietly to work
again.”’—Preston Chronicle.

18. Alexander Simpson, Esq.
of Collyhill, left Pannanich-lodge
in the morning for the purpose
of grouse shooting, on Mr. Far-
quharson of Monaltrie’s grounds,
south of the Dee, attended by an
experienced gamekeeper, who
found it necessary to caution him
several times with regard to the
use of his double-barrelled gun,
as it was the first time Mr. Simp-
son had tried the amusement in
the moors. He had killed several
birds in succession, and was highly
pleased with the sport. About half-
past two he wounded a bird, that
dropped down on the ground of
a neighbouring proprietor ; when
he sat down on a stone, resting
the butt end of his gun on the
ground, and desired the game-
keeper to hunt the dogs in search

of

128.

of the wounded bird. Within a
minute or two the gamekeeper
heard a shot, and imagining that
“a chance had occurred to Mr.
Simpson, turned round and saw
him falling from the stone. He
immediately ran up, and found
that a dreadful and fatal accident
had taken place. It would ap-
pear that, in going up to the last
point, Mr. S. had cocked both
barrels; one he discharged, but
the other being still cocked, and
some of the strong heath probably
touching the trigger, while the
muzzle by some fatality was di-
rected towards him, the charge
went off, entering the left side of
the head under the ear, and occa-
sioning instant death.

On Sunday the 18th inst. Dr.
Alexander Paterson, lately ap-
pointed coadjutor Roman Catholic
Bishop of the Lower District of
Scotland, was consecrated in his
own chapel at Paisley, by Dr.
Cameron, from Edinburgh, pre-
siding Bishop of the district, as-
sisted by Dr. Eneas Chisholme,
the Catholic Bishop of the High-
lands, and attended by several
clergymen of both districts. There
was also present, as Patron of the
Bishop elect, Don Francisco An-
tonio Bringas, a Spanish gentle-
man, and Captain in the royal
armies of Spain, who had accom-
panied Drs. Cameron and Pater-
son from Spain, and whose father
had been instrumental in saving
much British property there du-
ring the late revolution. The
consecration took place before a
numerous congregation of Catho-
lies and Protestants, according
to the rites usually observed on
such occasions in the church of
Rome. Such order and decorum

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

was observed by all present as to
call for the warmest acknowledg-
ments of Dr. Cameron to the Pro-
testant part of his audience—ac-
knowledgments which he repeat-
ed in an afternoon instruction
which he delivered, united with
appropriate and liberal remarks
to the Catholics, on the gratitude
which they owed their fellow-
subjects, and their duty, in con-
sequence, to vie with them in
order, submission to the laws,
and loyalty to the government of
their country. —(Edinburgh Cou-
rant.)

A most daring robbery took
place about half-past nine o’clock
on Friday evening, the 16th, at
Mr. Ashton Yates'’s cottage, at
the Park, near Liverpool. Mrs.
Joseph Yates was residing there,
expecting in a few weeks her ac-
couchement, when six men (sup-
posed to be all Irish) entered the
house, two of whom stood senti-
nels at the kitchen, and two at
the parlour doors, while the
other two entered the parlour
where Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Yates
were sitting: after robbing Mr.
Yates, one stood over him with a
pistol, and the other robbed Mrs.
Yates, turned out her pockets,
took the rings from her fingers,
and the brooch from her bosom:
he then made her go into another
room where her children were in
bed; she said, ‘‘ You see my
situation, take what you can find,
but do not hurt me or my child-
ren.” At this time Mr. Ashton
Yates rang the bell, and would
have entered the house, but the
two sentinels at the parlour door
prevented him, dragged him into
the park, and emptied his pockets
for him; he, however, unobserved

by

CHRONICLE.

by them, had dropped his watch,
worth 50 guineas, and by that
means saved it; the ruffians in
their hurry dropped 41. and their
whole booty did not exceed 12l.
Mrs. Yates preserved great com-
posure and command of herself
during the robbers’ stay in the
house, but has since been seri-
ously ill.

21. A young man, about 18
years of age, a native of Davis’
Straits, has been brought to this
country by the Thomas and Anne
of Leith. He has brought a
canoe of his native country with
him, and yesterday he performed
some dexterous feats in the wet
dock, before a numerous com-
pany of spectators. He is a most
expert swimmer; he dives with
his boat above him, and rises
again at a great distance sitting in
it. He is dressed in the costume
of his country.—Edinburgh Cour-
ant. ;

22. A number of porpoises,
from the Channel, came over
Exmouth-bar, and pursued the
smaller fish from the sea up the
river Exe; the tide was nearly
out before they all returned:
three of enormous size came
within a few yards of the bathing
machines, and the water being
very low, their leaping and plung-
ing made a great noise, the effect
of which was very diverting to
the spectators on the beach. It
has been observed, that dry and
warm weather occurs when these
creatures come into the river,
which has been demonstrated in
the present instance.

24. Constantinople—This city
has been again visited bya dread-
ful conflagration; it broke out
in the night of the 15th, in the

Vor. LVIII.

129

finest quarter of the city, and
laid 1200 houses, and 3000 shops
and magazines, in ashes. The
Sultan was present and active the
whole night, and till nine in the
morning, but did not find in the
Janissaries the requisite alacrity
in extinguishing the flames. The
palace of their former favourite,
Jussuf-Aga, has remained alone
undamaged, in the quarter which
is destroyed.

That stupendous undertaking
the Tunnel of the Tavistock
Canal, was, after thirteen years’
incessant labour, holed on the
21st with great accuracy. A line
of communication has been thus
opened between the Tavy and the
Tamar. The whole length of
driving through the hill is above
a mile and a half, and, in some
parts of it, more than 400 feet
below the surface.

25. This afternoon, a serious
riot broke out among the convicts
in Newgate, originating in the
following manner :—A_ person,
who was visiting the prison, had
his pocket picked of his watch ;
upon which an order was issued
by the Keeper for searching the
convicts, as well as those of their
friends who were then with them,
and that no other visitors should
be admitted until the watch was
recovered. The convicts in this
part of the prison, who amounted
to the number of 140, chose to
consider this order as an en-
croachment on their privileges,
and, emboldened by their num-
bers, not only resisted all search,
but proceeded to acts of violence
and outrage. They took posses-
sion of the common yard, where
they are allowed to exercise, and
see their friends, as well as of the

K four

m0 ANNUAL’ REGISTER,

four wards wherein they are con-
fined, expelling by force the offi-
cers and turnkeys of the prison
from that quarter of the building.
Here they endeavoured to main-
tain themselves, and considerable
alarm for some time prevailed
lest they should force the passages
of the prison, and make their
escape: but Mr. Newman, the
keeper, having assembled all his
officers, several shots were fired
over their heads, and inte differ-
ent parts of the yard, rather with
a view to create alarm among
them than to inflict any real in-
jury, which the Keeper was hu-
manely anxious to avoid; and at
Jength they were driven out of
the yard into the upyer part of
their wards, of which they re-
mained in possession, having torn
down the iron railing of the stair-
case, with the fragments of which,
and all that they could lay their
hands upon, they barricaded the
entrance to their wards at the top
of the stairs. The keepers having
regained possession of the yards,
several shots were again fired up
the stairs, to intimidate and re-
duce the rioters to reason, but
with no effect; and Mr. New-
man thought that it would he only
risking the lives of his own ser-
vants if he sent any of them up
stairs to attack the convicts in
their retreats, barricaded as they
were and provided with iron bars.
One convict who ventured to
come down from the upper wards,
in order to lay hold of an iron bar,
was seized by the legs, anddragged
into the yard by the turnkeys.
Mr. Newman, soon after the riot
broke out, procured the assist-
ance of the city marshalmen and
a number of constables, whom he
so placed as to prevent the rioters

1816.

from breaking prison, or escaping
in any way by the roof. He also
sent to the Lord Mayor and
Sheriffs for instructions how to
act; but these gentlemen happen-
ed to be out of town. The watch,
the robbery of which had created
all this disturbance, was not dis-
covered; and the convicts en-
deavoured to capitulate, by pro-
posing that they should be at all
times allowed to see their friends :
but the keeper declared that they
must implicitly submit to the re-
gulations on this head appointed
by the Magistrates and Judges.
At one o'clock in the morning
matters remained precisely in this
situation. In two of the wards
all was silent; but in the other
two there were lights, and the
convicts were seen pacing about.
About an hour before, a noise
was heard, as if they were en-
deavouring to break through the
wall towards the College of Phy-
sicians in Warwick-lane, but in
a short time the noise ceased.
Constables and officers were post-
ed in all parts where escape ap-
peared possible ; and it seemed
likely that the refractory would
soon be compelled to surrender
at discretion, as they had nothing
but water wherewith to support
their obstinacy; while, if they
attempted to set fire to the pri-
son, they must feel that they
themselves would be the first vic-
tims.

26. The convicts under sen-
tence of transportation, to the
number of 140, continued in the
state of insurrection in which
our account left them, until six
o'clock on Monday morning.
The Lord Mayor, who had been
sent for express, arrived at two
in the morning; and after ex-

pressing

CHRONICLE.

pressing his approbation of the
care and humanity of the keeper,
Waited in the prison until six
o'clock to see the result. Mr.
Newman, being satisfied that
none of the prisoners could escape,
determined not to risk either the
lives of the constables or of the
prisoners by an attack on the
latter. He therefore waited un-
til the usual time of calling them
to breakfast, when they were
summoned to surrender, and in-
formed that, if they refused, no
food would be supplied to them
that day: hereupon one prisoner
came down, and brought infor-
mation that the rest would suffer
themselves to be taken. The
peace-officers then approached
the staircase, and in less than an
hour secured them all. Thirty
of the ringleaders were picked
out, and locked up in cells; and
it will be a matter of future con-
sideration how many of this num-
ber will be selected and tried
under the Act of Parliament
which makes it a capital offence
to destroy or break down any
part of aprison. It appears that,
while they were in possession of
their wards, they had attempted
to break their way through in
various directions, but in every
quarter found the walls too strong
for them.

A small French vessel, laden
with fruit, has been seized at
Looe, in consequence of contra-
band goods being found on board
her. It appears that her ingeni-
ous owners had constructed twelve
small horses, which had the ap-
pearance of a set of elegant play-
things. On examining these cu-
riosities attentively, it was found
that the animals were teeming—

131

not, indeed, with armed Greeks,
but with silk shawls and stockings
of a superior quality! This sin-
gular discovery, of course, was
followed by the detention of the
vessel.

27. One of the most singular
suicides ever heard of occurred
lately at a boarding-school near
Birmingham. <A young lady, it
appears, had been set a task, and
felt indignant at being obliged to
learn it out of an old book, while
some of the other scholars were
indulged with new ones. She
went next day to an old woman
in the neighbourhood, and told
her ‘‘ that she had had a singular
dream, viz. that she was dead,
and had been carried to her grave
by such and such young ladies,
naming some of her companions
and young friends,”” and asked
the old woman what she thought
of it? whoreplied, ‘‘that she put
no faith in dreams.” A few days
after, when going a walk with
the other scholars, she loitered
behind, and making her’ escape
from the party, drowned herself
in a pool near the school. She
left her hat (or bonnet) on the
edge of the pool, wherein was
pinned a letter for her parents,
entreating their forgiveness for
such a rash act: she therein re-
quested to have for bearers the
very young ladies who she had
said she dreamed had carried
her to her grave, and enclosed
some locks of her hair as memen-
tos of friendship. She was only
about 11 years of age, and the
daughter of very respectable pa-
rents in the neighbourhood.

28. By a recent statement it
appears, that in Shropshire at this
moment there are 24 iron fur-

K2 naces

132

naces out of blast, and only 10 in
blast. It also appears that the
works of Mr. Reynolds (the old-
est family in the trade in the
Shropshire district) have totally
ceased ; and that out of 34 fur-
naces (each casting 50 tons of
pig iron per week, and each em-
ploying about 300 men), only 10
are at present in work; and of
these the Colebrookdale company
has given orders for the disconti-
nuance of two: and others must

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

inevitably do the same, for it is
estimated that the company at
Lilleshall has 5000 tons of iron
on hand, and the one at Made-
ley-wood not less than 3000.
These extinguished works con-
sumed not less than S000 tons of
coal per week, so that a corres-
ponding number of colliers are
also destitute.

29. The dimensions of the
different bridges in London are as

follow :—
Feet.

Length of the Waterloo bridge within the abutments] ,240

Width of ditto, including the footway ...... ate aid

120

It consists of nine arches of equal span, leaving a
clear water way under all the arches, measuring. . 1,080

The width of each pier......
Length of Vauxhall bridge ..
TW SEDO INSEED 0m 5, 050 inte o!sig, ©

30. Fisheries—The herring
fishery at Wick, and along that
coast, has been very abundant
this season; so much so, that on
some days it was computed that
about 1000 barrels of fish were
delivered at Wick and Pulteney
town, which, at the prices paid
to the fishers for the cran, would
amount to 5001.; a cran being
little more than a barrel of cured
fish. The quantities of fish have
been so great, that the curers
are now buying the cran for 6s.
and some as low as 5s. The
prospect of a market is unfortu-
nately very discouraging, and
great fears are entertained of loss
to the curerseven at 5s. per cran,
for at that low price the barrel of
cured fish should bring 18s. to
pay the curer.

Coldingham.—The herring fish-
ery on this coast commenced
about the Ist inst.; since which

Pearse een ers cee

ee ee

eee te eee wee

each boat has brought in from 5
to 20,000 per day, and prices to
the country people are from 1s. 5d.
to ls. 8d. per hundred. Last
evening the whole of the boats,
70 in number, were perfectly
loaded with fiom 40 to 70 barrels
in each. Prices this day as low
as 5s. per cran, and most of the
merchants have completed their
quantity for curing during this
season.

An extraordinary quantity of
herrings has been caught off the
north coast of Northumberland
for some days, so that they were
sold at Berwick, Tweedmouth,
&c. on the 26th and 27th inst. at
ls. per hundred, and on the 28th
inst.at 8d. per hundred, whichis a
lower price than they ever sold at
there before. Several herring-
boats have ventured along the
coast, some as far as Shields, for
a better market. The shoal of her-

rings

CHR ONTC LE.

rings extends from Dunbar to
Holy Island.

Wehear from the Isle of Mann,
that great quantities of herrings
have been lately taken there, and
that there is a prospect of a fu-
ture good fishing this season.
On the nights of Tuesday and
Wednesday se'nnight, the boats
on the Peele-town side were un-
usually successful. The fleet is
said to have consisted of nearly
300 boats, each of which took
from 12 to 50 maze!

Perth.—In the midst of much
distress, under which the labour-
ing classes of the community
struggle with a degree of patience
in every view both wise and laud-
able, we have pleasure in stating,
that the rivers which intersect
our country, andthe ocean whieh
surrounds it, never poured forth
their bounty more abundantly.
Fish of all kinds is cheap. Sal-
mon, in particular, has been
selling here for some time past
from three-pence halfpenny to
four-pence halfpenny per pound,
or less than half the price which
the same article has cost, in the
cheapest time of the season, for
the last 30 years.

Dundee.—All our whalers have
now returned from the Northern
Seas: and, in the aggregate, the
season has been propitious to
their toil. The individual success
of each vessel having been no-
ticed in the announcements of
arrival, we shall here state the
general result of the whole—76
fish, estimated at about 979 tons
of oil; which, supposing the
average price to be 25]. per ton,
would amount to 24,4751. The
success of our whale-fisheries is
at all times an interesting con-

133

sideration: it is remarkably so at
present, when the manufactures
and trade of the town are re-
duced to so low an ebb.

How much soever the regular
commerce of the country is im-
paired by the present pressure,
there is no question that the
smuggling trade continues in ex-
treme vivacity. ‘This extraordi-
nary traffic appears to be con-
ducted with a publicity that could
scarcely be credited but on the
testimony of one’s own sight.
The smugglers, or, as they are
styled from the manner of con-
veying the whisky, Flaskers,
go in large bands on the high
roads in open day, and laugh at
the traveller who, in his looks,
expresses wonder at contraven-
tions of the law so undisguised,
and yet so undetected. On Mon-
day night, for instance, a gang
of 24, with the order of so many
soldiers, and under the directions
of a leader who frequently called
on those lagging behind ‘* to
keep up," marched through
Springbank and the neighbour-
ing hamlets to Cowcaddens, (in
the suburbs of Glasgow), where,
in the face of numbers of persons,
some of whom bawled out “‘suc-
cess to smuggling,”’ they entered
a house and deposited their laden
flasks, until the shades of night
would enable them to penetrate
in safety to their resetters in
Glasgow. Weare informed, that
the places of distillation are nearly
as notorious to the inhabitants in
their vicinity as the methods of
conveyance; and whoever of the
neighbours choose to make a visit
to the popular distillers are re-
galed with undiluted _ spirit,
wherewith to drink confusion to
the Excise. Smuggled whisky,

it

134

it is said, has fallen recently 4s.
or 5s. a gallon.— Glasgow paper.

A vessel riding at anchor in the
harbour of Lochmaddy, North
Uist, was struck with lightning
on Sunday the 21st ult. and im-
mediately sunk. All the crew
were lost. On the same day, a
young woman, who was visiting
her friends at a small farm called
Poolcharre, South Uist, was kill-
ed by lightning, just as she had
come to the house on the farm.
She had no external appearance
of receiving any injury.

The town of Preston, in Lan-
cashire, has lately been partially
lighted with gas. The length of
main pipes already laid is 1,000
yards ; and in this space it is esti-
mated that more than 900 lights,
emitting flame equal to 4,000
mould candles of six in the pound,
will be attached to the main pipes
in the ensuing winter. The plan
of lighting a considerable space
by means of a single burner,
placed at an elevated situation,
has been carried into effect at
Preston. In the centre of the
market-place, which is of con-
siderable area, there happens to
be a handsome Gothic column,
36 feet in height; on the top of
this is placed a vase, in which is
the burner; and it thus becomes
the substitute of 25 common oil
lamps, but with an effect which
could not be equalled by double
that number, placed in the most
advantageous situations.

SEPTEMBER.

EFFECTS OF THE GALE ON THE
NIGHT OF AUG. 31.
1. Mundsley.—‘‘ I am sorry to

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

acquaint you, that yesterday, about
nine o'clock, the wind came round
from the northward to the south-
ward, and about eleven o'clock a
large fleet of coasting vessels
passed to the northward, and se-
veral laden ships standing to the
southward. About three o’clock
in the afternoon the wind backed
round to the east, and blew a
heavy gale, with rain; and last
night, about eleven o’clock, it
blew a hurricane from the N. E.
This morning our shore presented
a melancholy sight. The ship
Ranger, of London, from New-
castle to London, with coals,
was scattered in various pieces
along the shore for two or three
miles, and, I am sorry to say, all
hands perished, excepting the car-
penter. A foreign ketch was
seen to go down this morning,
about three miles from this place,
and all hands perished; some
part of the wreck is on shore.
She appears to have been in the
English service; and by some
papers that have come on shore,
she belongs to Great Yarmouth.
A fishing smack is on shore about
three miles to the northward of
this place; hands saved. I am
fearful of much damage being
done further northward, as not
less than 300 sail of ships passed
yesterday.”

Margate.—Yesterday it rained
the whole day, and blew a strong
gale from N. E.; in the evening
the wind increased, and at night
it blew a hurricane. The slum-
ber of the peaceful inhabitants
was disturbed by the awful howl-
ing of the wind, the roaring of
the waves, and reports of guns
of distress from the ocean. ‘This
morning a most awful spectacle

presented

CHRONICLE.

presented itself. Several vessels
were driven on shore near the
Reculvers, but I have not as yet
heard their names. The brig
Thais, of Penzance, was driven
near our pier, with the loss of
her bowsprit and foremast ; sbe
-lies within a few yards of the
shore ; the sailors are of opinion
that she will be got off by next
tide. A French brig (name un-
known) ran on shore on the
rocks near the Infirmary; the
waves dashed over her ina dread-
ful manner. Our seamen at-
tempted several times to go to her
assistance, but were often re-
pulsed by the merciless waves.
They succeeded at last, and
brought all the passengers and
crew safe on shore, among whom
were several female passengers
for France. It is feared she will
not hold out next tide, as she
lies quite fast in the rock. Great
praise is duc to the Margate
sailors for their exertions in
saving so many lives.

2. Yarmouth—The Maria, of
this port, from Newcastle, with
coals, was wrecked on Hippi:-
burg-rock during the gale on
Sunday morning; she went to
pieces, and, melancholy to relate,
all on board perished.

Harwich.—Arrived the Harton,
with coals from Sunderland, with
loss of two anchors and cables ;
and the Naylor, from Shields,
with loss of one anchor and cable :
and a vessel from Rotterdam
(the Drie Vrienden) with the loss
of two anchors and cables, and one
man overboard. Also arrived the
Lord Nelson packet with a mail
and passengers from Cuxhaven.

The number of students at
Gottingen was, at Easter this

135

year, 1005; that is more than
have been there in one year since
the establishinent of the academy.
In 1808 there were only 453 stu-
dents ; in 1811 and 1813, 800
students left Gottingen, mostly
to join the army.

The Esquimaux, lately men-
tioned as brought by the Thomas
and Ann from Davis’ Straits, con-
tinues to give daily exhibitions of
his dexterity, and on Thursday
next intends rowing against a
well-manned whale-boat. His
canoe is esteemed a very great
curiosity, weighing only 16lb.
He rows it by one oar or paddle ;
and is so very dexterousin manag-
ing it, that he far outsails any boat
with six oars—as this experiment
was tried from the pier-end to
TInchkeith, and the American was
the winner by a considerable dis-
tance. He is very expert in diving,
and alsoin throwing his darts. He
is so fastened into his seat, that he
cannot fall out—as a drawer, like
the mouth of a purse, girds him
about the loins, so that, in an in-
stant, he may be seen to dive un-
der the water, head down and
keel uppermost: again, in the
twinkling of an eye, he raises
himself erect out of the water,
and scuds along as if nothing had
happened. He can strike a ship-
biscuit floating in the water, and
split it, at the distance of thirty
yards, so well does he manage
his dart: and we are told this is
the manner by which the seals
are killed by his countrymen.
He is a fine young lad, about 19
years of age, five feet six inches
high, stout made, round visage,
sallow complexion, and can speak
no English.—Caledonian Mercury.

At night there was a consider-

able

136 ANNUAL REGISTER,

able fall of snow in the lower
parts of Cambridge and Hun-
tingdonshires, where the frost
was so severe as to destroy all
the crops of cucumbers and
French beans in the extensive
market-gardens round the city of
Ely.

3. Ramsgate —Along the north-
eastern coast, the wind during
the night of Saturday and Sunday
blew a perfect hurricane from
the N. and N. N. W. and caused
the heaviest and highest sea, al-
though a dead neap tide on Sun-
day morning, that has been
known for some years; and sink-
ing and beating to pieces several
large boats at Hearn-bay, and
dashing with violence against the
terrace in front of the buildings
at the east end of the Bay: so
high a tide, with the exception
of one spring tide, is not within
the recollection of the oldest in-
habitant of that part of the coast.
—About noon on the same day,
a fine outwardbound ship of 500
tons (the Henry, of London), for
New Brunswick and Jamaica,
which, after parting from one an-
chor, had rode out the gale during
the night off the entrance of the
Narrows, at the ebbing of the
tide drove from a second anchor ;
and after beating about for some
time with a signal of distress fly-
ing, grounded on the main in
Hearn-bay, where, the wind mo-
derating, she lay in safety, while
a lugger from Whitstable, which
had proceeded to her aid, obtain-
ed another anchor and_ cable
from Margate. <A brig, which it
is supposed was foreign, from
her having a Danish ensign hoist-
ed in the shrouds, was also ob-
served early in the morning in

1816.

distress, but drove before the
wind to the eastward before any
assistance could reach her.

5. The Lord Mayor, in his en-
deavours to check the abuses of
Bartholomew fair, spent the
greater part of Tuesday and last
night himself, aided by the mar-
shals, city officers, &c. and suc-
ceeded in establishing a cessation
of every species of disorder by 12
o’clock. Not a public-house or
show was found open after that
hour.

9. An account has been re-
ceived from the mate of the Creole
schooner, arrived off Dover from
Smyrna, that on his passage two
of the crew nailed him up in his
cabin, while they murdered Cap-
tain Johnson, and threw him
overboard, wrapped up in a
square-sail. After a considerable
confinement he got to speak to
the boy, and learned that the two
men, of the names of Turner and
Smith, had possession of the ship,
and were about to murder him
(the Mate), whom they had de-
termined to hang; but the boy
told him, that himself and a man
of the name of Masson were de-
termined to stand by him, if he
(the Mate) would attempt to re-
cover the ship. Soon afterwards
the Mate was taken upon deck,
and had his hands tied, and was
made fast to a staunchion. The
two mutineers had then possession
of about 600 doubloons, which
they had taken from the Captain’s
drawers. In the evening they
began to quarrel about what
should be done with the ship, and
the Mate, contriving to get loose,
suddenly seized a musket, which
he knew to be loaded, and put it
to Smith's ear, while Masson at }

tacked

CHRONICLE.

tacked the other, and thus re-
gained possession of the ship,
which has passed Dover, on her
way to Standgate-creek, whence
the murderers will be brought in
custody to London.

At Devonton colliery, in con-
sequence of the rope being by ac-
cident thrown off the pully of the
fly-jack, as the tub was descend-
ing, its contents, consisting of
four persons, a husband and wife,
a father and daughter, were
thrown to a great distance. ‘The
young woman was killed on the
spot, the two men died a few
hours after the accident, and the
wife was so severely injured that
her life is still despaired of.

10. Munich.—The Atheneum
which has been founded here by
Professor Thiersch, for the edu-
cation of young Greeks, goes on
successfully. ‘There are already
young men there from Greece
Proper, from the Islands, Asia,
Moldavia, and Wallachia; among
them are the sons of the first fa-
milies; for example, a nephew
of Archbishop Ignatio, a grand-
son of the late Prince of Molda-
via, three brothers of the illus-
trious name of Comneni, whose
family have retired within these
few years frem the Archipelago
to Taganrok, on the Don.

11. Dover.—Yesterday morn-
ing the wind blew uncommonly

hard from the westward, with a’

very heavy sea running in the off-
ing, in which a boat called the
Po, belonging to the south-end
of Deal, was lying to, waiting
for ships coming up Channel,
when, about 10 o'clock, a heavy
sea took her on her broadside, and
the ballast rolling forward, she
went down stern-foremost, with

137

six men on board. The moment
the accident was observed from
hence, several intrepid boatmen
lost no time in putting off to their
assistance, and happily succeeded,
although the accident took place
at the distance of more than two
miles from the shore, in rescuing
four persons from a watery grave,
whose names are Geo. Jarman,
Solomon Walker, James Tomlin,
and James Agar, who had clung
to the oars and spars: the two
other persons who composed the
crew, viz. John Lambert and
Matson Terry, being so exhausted
with wet and* cold, could not
keep their hold till the boat reach-*
ed them, were unfortunately
drowned, oue leaving a wife and
child. Too much praise cannot
be given to our boatmen for the
alacrity with which they went off
to rescue their fellow-creatures
from death. A liberal subscrip-
tion has been opened for the un-
fortunate sufferers, which we
hope will be extended to the boat-
men who were so zealous in risk-
ing their own lives.

13. In the evening about seven
o’clock, as a party of 14 persons
were returning in a boat through |
Rochester-bridge, it was unfor-
tunately upset, and every soul
perished.

The persons composing’ this
truly distressing scene had been,
early in the afternoon, to Would-
ham, a little village between this
place and Maidstone, to take
tea, and on their return were to
have partaken of a little treat in
commemoration of the birth-day
of a Mr. Gilbert, who then com-
pleted his 21st year. They were
accompanied by one of the most
skilful and sober watermen on

the

1338

the river, and his apprentice ;
but, by some accident or neglect,
a piece of timber was lying across
the sterlings of one of the arches,
upon which the boat’s head rose,
and from the violence of the cur-

rent she filled astern, and in-
stantly disappeared.
Further Account—The whole

of the party were dissenters, of
the independent persuasion ; and
in their passage down the river
were singing a hymn in the most
melodious style, which attracted
the attention of some person who
was then on the bridge; but be-
fore he could obtain a view of
the boat, a heart-rending shriek
announced some dreadful catas-
trophe: the alarm was instantly
given, and many boats with great
promptitude put off to the bridge,
but not a soul was to be seen.
The boat had struck with such
violence against a spar (which,
by the most shameful neglect,
had been left completely across
the passage of the arch, without
any notice being given to warn
boats or vessels of their danger)
that the whole party were preci-
pitated into the tide, which was
then running down with great
rapidity, and sunk to rise no
more. ‘The boat was found at
some distance from the bridge,
bottom upwards, and partly stove
in. After some time, the par-
ticulars of the event transpired,
anid the following persons proved
to be the sufferers :—Mr. Mills ;
Mrs. Mills; their child, liza,
about 24 years; Mr. T. Gilbert,
21; Miss E. Gilbert (as before
mentioned) ; Miss Brock, 11, of
Chatham; Miss Morson, 9,
daughter of Mr. Morson, attor-
ney ; Miss South, 12; and Miss

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

Machet, Wp Sheerness ; Miss
Desbois, 10; Miss Reynolds, 6 ;
and Miss Obery, 7, London;
Miss Gouge, 12, of Sittingbourn;
Miss Matthews, 11, Chelmsford ;
and Thomas Lear, the waterman.
The agonies of the surviving re-
latives is indescribable, and the
event has spread a gloom not
merely in their families, but in
the whole neighbourhood: they
have, however, this great con-
solation, that from the general
tenour of their lives, they were
not unprepared to appear before
their Maker. The whole of the
bodies, except those of Miss Mat-
thews and Miss Desbois, have
been found by the unremitting
exertions of the watermen. Most
of the bodies were much bruised
about the head, which makes it
more than probable that the major
part of them received a severe
blow from the murderous spar
previous to their being thrown in
the water. The time the accident
happened was 25 minutes past
seven o’clock in the evening.

' Lear was a skilful waterman,
and much respected: the inha-
bitants have opened a subscrip-
tion for his family at the bank of
D. H. Day. Esq. Rochester.

An inquisition was held at a
public-house in Bull-court, Brick-
lane, Whitechapel, before Mr.
Unwin, one of the coroners, on

‘view of the body of John Hadley,

a journeyman gunsmith, whose
death was occasioned by his own
act in blowing his brains out. It
appeared, on examination, that
the deceased was a widower, left
with three small children, in ob-
scure lodgings in that court, and
since peace his trade fell off, and
for the maintenance of his family

he

CHRONICLE.

he took to selling oysters in the
streets and neighbouring public-
houses; that on the preceding
evening he was prevented from
following this business by the
street-keeper, who threatened to
throw his oysters about the street,
and take him to the watch-house.
The unfortunate man, who had
previously shown several symp-
toms of mental derangement,
went home ina fit of desperation,
and taking his oyster tub, dashed
it and its contents up against the
ceiling ; then taking an old rusty
gun-barrel, he loaded it, and
placing the muzzle cf it to his
head, he put the breech end into
the fire, on which it exploded
and blew his head to atoms. The
report brought the inmates to the
room, who found him a corpse.
Verdict— Lunacy.

14. On this evening, about
seveno’clock, as Mr. James Sharp,
of Great Winchester-street, was
proceeding to Wrotham, Kent,
in company with his brother, in
a one-horse chaise, they were
stopped near the 23-mile stone by
seven men, who presented pistols,
and took from them a Russia
leather pocket-book, containing
memorandums, a green morocco
pocket-book, a steel purse, a 5l.
Bank of England note, three 11.
notes, two dollars, two watches,
with chains, seals, &c. On
Messrs. Sharp’s arrival at Wro-
tham, they gave intelligence of
the robbery to the Rev. Mr.
Moore, amagistrate of the county,
who immediately dispatched a
large party in quest of the rob-
bers. The men divided them-

139

selves into two bodies, and agreed
to meet at Grinsted-green, near
Dartford, at six o'clock on Sun-
day morning. ‘The first party of
constables who got to Grinsted-
green overtook five of the foot-
pads, and at first succeeded in
taking them, but they soon be-
gan to show symptoms of resist-
ance, and a severe scuflle took
place. After fighting a long
while,the footpads got the best of
it, andall escaped. One of the
thieves received a charge from a
gun in the back ; and one of the
constables was severely cut in the
arm. The two guns belonging
to the constables were broken to
pieces during the contest; and
there was found on the spot the
Russia leather pocket-book be-
longing to Mr. Sharp, containing
one 51. and one 11. note, a bag
containing three loaded pisicls, a
powder-flask, and sundry articles
of wearing apparel, all which
were thrown down by the robbers
in the midst of the affray. The
other party of constables were
still in pursuit, and it is hoped
will secure this daring gang.
There is a great deal of weed in
the part where the constables
overtook them, which materially
assisted them in their escape.

16. Monument to the late Right
Fion. W. Windham.—At Felbrigge
Church, in Norfolk, on his own
estate, a monument has been put
up in memory of that celebrated
man, executed by Nollekins,
which is decorated with his bust,
and has, on the cenotaph, the
following inscription :-—

Sacred to the Memory of the
Right Honourable WILLIAM WINDHAM, Esq.
of Felbrigge, in this county ;

Born

1440 ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

Born the 14th of May, O. 8. 1750,
Died the 4th of June, N. 8. 1810.
He was the only son of William Windham, Esq.
by Sarah, relict of Robert Lukin, Esq.
He married, in 1798, Cecitra, third daughter of the
late Commodore Forest,
who erects this Monument in grateful and
tender remembrance of him.
During a period of twenty-six years,
He distinguished himself in Parliament by his
eloquence and talents,
And was repeatedly called to the highest Offices of
the State.
His views and councils
were directed more to raising the glory than in-
creasing the wealth of his country.

He was, above all things, anxious to
preserve, untainted, the National Character,
and even those National Manners
which long habit had associated with that character.
As a Statesman,

He laboured to exalt the courage,
to improve the comforts,
and ennoble the profession of a Soldier.

As an individual,

He exhibited a model of those qualities which denote
the most accomplished and enlightened mind.
Frank, generous, unassuming,
intrepid, compassionate, and pious,

He was so highly respected, even by those from
whom he most differed in opinion,
that though
much of his life had passed in political contention,
He was accompanied to the grave
by the sincere and unqualified regret of his
Sovereign and his Country.

At noon, one of the large old
nouses, situate in Clerkenwell-
close, formerly constituting part
of the royal palace of the Stuarts,
fell down with a tremendous
crash. ‘The house was some time
since condemned by the district
surveyor as unsafe, notwithstand-
ing which every room was occu-
pied by separate families : fortu-
nately, however, at the time the
accident occurred, there were only

two women in the house; one of
whom, alarmed by the rocking of
the tottering fabric, escaped be-
fore it fell; the other was buried
in the ruins, but fortunately was
extricated from her perilous situa-
tion without receiving any serious
injury. The furniture belonging
to the poor people was all broken

and destroyed.
17. From the Charleston City
Gazette——--On Sunday evening
last,

CHRONICLE.

last, about six o'clock, just after
the steam-boat Enterprize had
left the landing at Sullivan's
Island for town, with 50 or 60
passengers on board, in a severe
thunder-squall she was struck by
lightning, which descended the
chimney, and occasioned the
bursting of one of the boilers.
Ten persons, who were below at
the time, drying themselves at
the fire, were most dreadfully
scalded. They had previously
been drenched in a severe shower.
Two of them, Messrs. D. Tortes
and J. Roberts, were so severely
scalded, that they died in a few
hours after. Two others, Messrs.
John Dobbs, of this city, and
John Gribbens, of Savannah, were
very materially injured ; six blacks
were also more or less injured by
this unfortunate accident, some
of them very badly.

Since the above was in type,
we learn that Mr, Dobbs died
about six o’clock last evening.

When the explosion took place,
the boat was about 200 yards
from the shore; and several of the
passengers, supposing that she
would be immediately enveloped
in flames, jumped overboard, and
attempted to gain the shore by
swimming ; some of them unable
to effect that object, got into the
yawl boat, towing astern, and
others were taken up by boats
which put off from the shore.

18. Roseau (Dominica).—Be-
tween one and two o'clock of the
morning of Monday, the 15th,
the inhabitants throughout this
ill-starred and devoted colony
were awakened by the violence
of the wind, the falling showers
of heavy rain, and the most vivid
flashes of lightning, without thun-

141

der: indeed the atmosphere ap-
peared to be charged with electric
fluid pouring in streams from the
clouds: the darkness was hereby
made more horrid, by being ren-
dered more visible.

The wind came first from the
eastward, but afterwards changed
to N.W. and W. then S. and con-
tinued to blow with increased vio-
lence. Between four and five
o'clock it was tremendous from
the N.W. and most of the mis-
chief that has occurred was owing
to the dreadful blasts from that
quarter: towards day-light it
changed again to the east, and for
a quarter of an hour blew with
accumulated rage: it then be-
eame a little more moderate, but
at intervals continued blowing
and raining until late in the even-
ing, when it seemed to have ex-
hausted its powers.

In the town and environs some
houses and outhouses have been
blown down and some damaged,
fences in general laid low, and
many trees, if not down altoge-
ther, much torn up by the force
of the storm.

It is not yet understood to what
extent the injuries are done in the
distant part of the colony. By
some reports that have come from
along the coast, we learn that the
canes and coffee-trees are greatly
destroyed, and the devastation of
provisions and vegetables of all
kinds cruel and melancholy ; and
if there should be by this calamity
a universal privation of these in-
ternal resources for the supply
and nourishment of the inhabi-
tants of all classes and descrip-
tions, we may envisage the ter-
rific prospect of famine, a visita-
tion nearly experienced in the

year

142

year 1813, after that hurricane,
and which was only averted by the
general opening of the ports ; and
let us gratefully remember also,
by the kind relief of our sister
colonies, particularly the generous
succour of the inhabitants of St.
Vincent.

Every vessel in the bay endea-
voured to get to sea, the surf
having risen to a great height:
the sloop Retrieve, belonging to
Messrs. Cunningham and Vings,
did not succeed, but was unfor-
tunately driven on shore below
Point Michel, and rendered a com-
plete wreck ; her cargo, consist-
ing of near 50 puncheons of rum,
bound to Roseau from the wind-
ward estates, hath nearly been all
lost to the proprietors ; the plun-
dering by some people in the
neighbourhood, after a great part
of it got on shore, was scanda-
lously great—wretches of the
vilest description, who, instead
of assisting the sufferers, were
actively employed in robbing them
of what the angry elements had
spared. We sincerely hope that
such base villainy will be detect-
ed, and the perpetrators brought
to condign punishment. Four of
the Retrieve’s sailors lost their
lives ; two bodies have been driven
lifeless on shore.

A small French schooner from
Guadaloupe, with a cargo of as-
sorted provisions, only arrived the
evening before, was also driven
on shore near the market: most
of her cargo floated to the beach,
where some plunderage took place
by the negroes. The Halifax
schooner Acadian, Captain Welch,
also left the bay, but has weathered
the storm, and returned to her
anchorage. The sloop Mary, Cap-

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

tain Watson, also from Halifax,
with a cargo of fish, and the Lune,
belong to Captain Cunningham,
have not yet been heard of: the
former is supposed to be lost off
Scott’s-head.

The barracks at Morne Bruce
are not materially injured, but both
officers and men were inundated
by the rain, and many of the doors
and window-shutters blown away.
But this convulsion of nature was
stronger felt at Prince Rupert's
than in Roseau, and the conse-
quences most distressing; the
barrack in the inner cabrit ren-
dered totally uninhabitable, and
the men’s barracks in Fort Shirly
with one side of the roof off; the
large officer's barrack is also
partly unroofed, and the Hospital
entirely blown away, and the ord-
nance sheds in the yard prostrat-
ed; the officers’ stables and out-
offices of the quarters in the outer
cabrit are all down, together with
the flag-staff at Fort Shirly ; the
surf in the Bay was so heavy as
to carry away the guard-house on
the beach, and the garrison boat
there also totally lost. The officers
and men in this place are without
shelter, and their situation from
want of quarters most awkward
and lamentable. A sick man was
severely wounded, and another
slightly hurt. Lieut. M‘Iver, who
lay dangerously ill, died after the
storm. We believe these to be
the only casualties among the
troops when the dispatch came
away.

18. A new sort of road-way
was laid down at the foot of
Blackfriar’s-bridge, on the Surrey
side. It consists of cast-iron
squares, in the form of paving
stones ; astratum of gravel is laid

upon

CHRONICLE.

upon the iron-work, which is in-
tended to form a hard foundation.
A vast number of spectators as-
sembled round this novelty.

19. A most daring outrage took
place at Desart, near Bandon, at-
tended with fatal consequences.
A farmer, whose daughter was to
have been married, had, it was
supposed, a quantity of money in
his house, which induced some
fellows to make an attack on it,
during which they attempted to
carry off the young woman, an]
in resisting them, the father was
run through, died almost imme-
diately, and the mother was se-
verely injured. We are happy to
learn, that the principal person
concerned in this outrage, a man
of the name of Slattery, has been
apprehended ; and we trust that
the rest of the party, for the detec-
tion of whom active exertions are
making, will not long elude the
vigilance of the magistracy.—Cork
Paper.

Antigua papers to the 20th of
September, state, that the yellow
fever had raged there with great
violence for several weeks, and
had caused a dreadful mortality
among those not seasoned to the
climate: among the natives and
those imured to it the effect of the
disease was but slight. ‘The con-
tagion was brought to Antigua in
a vessel from Guadaloupe, where
it is said to have swept off nearly
one-third of the inhabitants.

19. “ St. John’s, Antigua.—The
storm of Monday last disposed us
to hope that the violence of the
fever, that has now so long pre-
vailed here, would have been abat-
ed. In this, however, we have
been painfully disappointed, as

ach succeeding day has added one

143

or more names to the list. With
some few exceptions the fever has
been confined to persons resident
here but a short time.”’

20. Some spots on the sun’s
disc have re-appeared. They are
more considerable, and in greater
numbers, than were remarked
during the month of July. They
form two irregular chaplets, of
which the first is very apparent,
and covers, longitudinally, the 7th
part of the sun’s diameter. Re-
ferring to the disc, considered in
its apparent extent of three feet
in circumference, the two prin-
cipal spots of the first chaplet are
equal in size to two large cherries,
which they also resemble in shape.
The space which separates them
is covered with 12 or 15 other
spots, more or less visible, some
as large as a pea, others as a
lentil. The second chaplet is com-
posed of seven or eight small
spots, of which the two most ap-
parent approach in size those
which appeared previously, So
says the Gazette de France; and
to illustrate the subject, it gives
a print of the sun, with its cheeks
all covered with spots, like the
patches on a fashionable English
lady one hundred years ago.

About one o’clock in the morn-
ing the inhabitants of Holborn
were thrown into the greatest
alarm and confusion by a fire
which broke out in the premises
of Mr. Norris, carpet, bedding,
and upholstery warehouse. The
flames were first perceived to
issue from the upper story, and
burnt with the utmost impetuo-
sity. The premises are very ex-
tensive, and were undergoing a
complete repair, in consequence
of a similar occurrence about ten

months

144

months since. ‘They are situated
in the middle of Holborn, oppo-
site Great Turn-stile. ‘The whole
of the interior is destroyed: no-
thing but the walls are left stand-
ing. The upper stories of the ad-
joining house, occupied by Mr.
Smith as wine-vaults, which
narrowly escaped before, are
greatly damaged. By the timely
arrival of the engines, and a plen-
tiful supply of water, the dwell-
ing-house was saved. It was not
ascertained how this calamity took

place. The premises were unin-
habited.
21. Rome.—One hundred and

seventy-three subjects of the Papal
States, delivered from slavery at
Algiers by the arms of his Bri-
tannic Majesty, have arrived in
the capital. Messrs. Hely, a Cap-
tain, and Aylmer, Captain of the
Severn frigate, have had the ho-
nour to be presented to his Holi-
ness, who received them with the
greatest affability, and testified to
them his gratitude for the signal
service done te his States by the
English forces in the Mediter-
ranean.

Extract of a Letter from
Cawnpore, East Indies :—‘*‘ We
next visited a favorite residence
of the present Vizier, called Moo-
barrick-Munzul, asmall house on
the bank of the Goomty. An
officer having expressed a desire
to see an elephant and crocodile
fight, which had been previously
talked of by the Vizier and his
courtiers, his Excellency had the
goodness to send to the river Go-
grat, and ordered several to be
caught and brought on hackeries
to the Goomty. We walked from
Moobarrick-Munzul over a new
bridge of boats with wooden

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

rowers, battlements, and embra-
zures for cannon upon it, to the
opposite side, and there was an
immense alligator and middle-
sized crocodile alive, with several
of the latter lying dead. The ele-
phants were brought up to the
crocodile, and one of them trod
upon it with his foot, so as almost
to crush it; although the croco-
dile screamed with pain, it reco-
vered. The elephants could not
be made to attack the large alli-
gator, than which a more hideous
monster cannot be imagined, with
a prodigious long head and sharp
teeth ; the elephants approaching
near to it, carefully rolled up the
proboscis into the smallest pos-
sible eircumference, and when-
ever one came near, the alligator
made a snap at the proboscis, or
one of the legs of the elephant ;
the jaws meeting without seizing
any part of the animal, gave a
smart sound, that might have
been heard at some distance. A
country dog was then brought
and tied near the alligator, who
got it completely in his mouth,
the dog at times escaping out, at-
tacking and biting the monster’s
nose, or substance at the extremity
of the upper jaw, making it bleed
freely, although at one time the
dog's hind foot was in its mouth :
however, the alligator at last got
the dog again in his mouth, and
gave it so severe a crush between
its long and formidable teeth, that
the dog appeared dead: water
was then thrown by bheestees
upon the alligator and dog, and
the latter liberated from the
mouth of the monster ; when, to
our very great surprise and plea-
sure, up rose the dog, and ran
off; this occurred with two coun-

try

CHRONICLE.

try dogs, and both got off safe.
It was not a very gratifying spec-
tacle, but certainly a very curious
one.

A most unfortunate occurrence
took place on the evening of Sa-
turday se’nnight, near Hoylake,
Cheshire. A coachman of the
name of Richard Fern, for many
years in the employment of Mr.
Jackson, of the Royal Hotel,
Chester, proceeded on the above
day, accompanied by another of
Mr. Jackson’s coachmen, with
some company from the hotel,
for Hoylake. About eight o'clock
the same evening, the two coach-
men left the latter place with the
intention of returning home, each
having a pair of horses under his
care, but no chaise. They in-
tended to return home on the
regular road, but on crossing the
green, a short distance from the
hotel at Hoylake, Fern, who took
the lead, missed the path, and
directed his steps, under a mis-
taken notion that he was going
right, towards the Sands; his
companion, aware of the danger
Fern was exposing himself to,
entreated him to retrace his steps,
but all in vain: he pursued his
way until, it is supposed, he
- reached the river’s edge, and be-
ing there overwhelmed with the
tide, was drowned. One of the
horses has since been found dead
on the beach. A Coroner's In-
quest was held on the body, which
was found on Sunday in the river
Dee, between West Kirby and
the former place, on Monday, be-
fore Mr. Thomas Francis, one of
the City Coroners. Verdict—
Accidentally drowned.

23. Silver Currency—As the
period for the issue of the new

Vor. LVIII.

145

coin approached, the fears of the
retail dealers became general, lest
the plain English shillings and
sixpences should be confounded
with the French ones, and the
whole refused. It was at Hull,
the week before last, where the
tradespeople first refused to re-
ceive at their nominal value all
plain shillings, or, in other words,
all not appearing to be clearly
of our own legal currency. In
the metropolis, it was at Billings-
gate-market, on Friday morning
last, where plain shillings and
sixpences were first indiscrimi-
nately refused; from thence the
refusal of them spread through
the Borough, and in the evening
became general throughout the
metropolis. A great stagnation
in all retail trades suddenly and
naturally ensued, and the lower
orders were disposed to commit
disturbances in almost every
market. This embarrassing and
dangerous state of things being
made known to the Lord Mayor,
his lordship took immediate mea-
sures to preserve the peace of the
city, not by means of force, but
by promptly communicating to
the public, from the Mansion-
house, a notice, of which the fol-
lowing is a copy:— —

Silver Coin. — Take notice.—
The Bank of England do not re-
fuse any shillings or sixpences on
account of their being plain, pro-
vided they are English.

By order of the Lord Mayor,

Francis Hosier.
Saturday Morning.

In consequence of the above no
tice, people assembled in crowds
to take their silver to the Bank,
for which they received Bank of
England notes and tokens. The

L Bank

146

Bank took every thing not clearly
ascertained to be foreign cur-
rency. The day passed over in
the city without the least tendency
to tumult, although the Bank was
beset by crowds. In the after-
noon, the following fresh notice
was posted at the Bank and Man-
sion-house :— ;

Silver Coin.—Take notice—All
shillings and sixpences of the coin
of the realm, whether plain or
not, will continue to be exchanged
at the Bank of England as here-
tofore, till the issue of the new
silver coinage, which will not
take place before the month of
February next.—N.B. Those who
refuse to take the current coin of
the realm are liable to be prose-
cuted.—Bank of England, Sept.
21, 1816.

Afterwards a third Notice was
issued :

Second Notice.—Woop, Mayor.

Silver Coin.—By authority of
his Majesty's Secretary of State
for the Home Department. No-
tice is hereby given, that all shil-
lings and sixpences that can be
considered as of the Established
Standard in fineness will be ex-
changed for new silver coin when
it is issued ; and it appears that
large proportions of the plain
shillings and sixpences now in
circulation are of this description.

By order of the Lord Mayor,

Mansion-house, EF. Hopcer.
Saturday, Sept. 21, 1816.

In the mean time, the rumour
that the Bank would not receive
plain shillings and sixpences oc-
casioned a general cessation of
retail dealing in Westminster ;
and the Police-office in Queen-
square was thronged with trades-
men almost of every description,

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

inquiring of the Magistrates how
they must proceed. One person
said he had taken 501. in plain
silver that morning, and he could
net yet one other tradesman to
take any of it from him in busi-
ness. Several pawnbrokers said,
that persons who had _ small
pledges could not release them,
in consequence of their not taking
the silver; and they could not
receive a pledge, as none would
take their money: persons offer-
ing the pledges said they could
not get food with it. The bustle
so increased, that the magistrates
began to fear some serious re-
sult, if something were not spee-
dily done. They sent an officer
to the Bank, and being informed
by Mr. Hase that he should not
refuse taking plain silver, if not
French or counterfeit, they, in
the course of an hour, issued 500
bills, to appease the public mind,
which, in a great measure, had
the desired effect, and business
was restored as usual. The fol-
lowing is a copy of the bills issued
from the Queen-square Police-
office :—

Silver —Public Office, Queen-
square, Westminster, Sept. 21,
1816.—The magistrates of the
above office inform the public,
that all kind of shillings, now or
lately in circulation, are taken at
the Bank of England, with the
exception of French or base me-
tal; they therefore recommend to
all shop-keepers, dealers, and
others, in order to prevent any
breach of the public peace, to
take such silver above-named, as
usual. Signed by order,

W. Miter, Clerk.

The attention of the magistrates
at the other police offices was oc-

cupied

CHRONICLE.

cupied during the whole day with
similar cumplaints, and similar
measures were resorted to in
order to tranquillize the populace.

23. An inquisition was teken
at the Bedford-arms public-house,
Camden-town, before Mr. Stirl-
ing, coroner, upon the body of
Richard Ayton, a child only nine
weeks old, who died in conse-
quence of being suffocated unin-
tentially by its mother.

Elizabeth Brown, of No. 12,
Grove-place, Camden-town, de-
posed, that Mrs. Ayton and her-
self went to town on Saturday
last, with the deceased ; as they
were returning home, Mrs. Ayton
suckled the child ; when they got
home she received the child from
Mrs. Ayton to hold, while she
took off her clothes ; she thought
the child was asleep, but found it
was dead, and she immediately
informed Mrs. Ayton what she
thought of the child, who was
very much distressed. She and
her husband had lived for four
years in her house; they were
very fond of the child.

Nathaniel Poynter, 9, Warren-
place, Camden-town, surgeon,
sworn, said, that on Saturday
evening he was called in to at-
tend the deceased ; he found him
quite dead, but warm; he used
different methods to recover the
child, by inflating its lungs, &c.
and he was clearly of opinion that
the child died in consequence of
being pressed too close to its mo-
ther’s breast, which produced suf-
focation.

After examining the beady of the
infant, the jury returned the fol-
lowing verdict—Died by suffoca-
tion, from the anxious care of the
mother, by pressing it too close to
her breast.

147

24. A few weeks since, as a
man was digging among the ruins
of Burgh-castle (the Garianonum
of the Romans), he turned up a
small vessel of pure gold; it 1s
in the form of a porringer or
small salt-cellar, on three feet,
and is supposed to have been used
as a censer for burning frankin-
cense. He was offered, but re-
fused, ten guineas for it.

24. To the Editor of the Glasgow
Courier. —Sir,—About 7h. 40m.
on the evening of the 24th, a
stream of light arose from the
east, whichat first sent off branches
in several directions; but very
soon extended itself to the oppo-
site point of the horizon, in the
form of a bow; at that instant
passed nearly through the zenith
of Glasgow. The phenomenor
was immediately observed to
move towards the south, but the
motion of its extremities was
much less perceptible than that
of the part which occupied the
middle of the heavens. At 8h. 8m.
it passed through the largest stars
in the Lyraand Swan; at 8h. 29m.
through 60 Ophiuchi and 75 of
the Swan; at 8h. 53m. through
the largest of Andromeda and 50
of the Eagle; at 9h. 47m. it
passed by the preceding foot of
Antinous and Markab ; and 10h.
it became imperceptible. Its ge-
neral breadth was 4 or 5 degrees.
During the time of its appearance
it varied considerably both in
brightness and in form. Some-
times after it could scarcely be
perceived, it shone forthagain with
renewed splendour ; and at times
the meteor seemed to consist of
several disjoined and irregular
portions.

The north-west quarter of the

L@ sky

1448 ANNUAL REGISTER,

sky was during the whole time
strongly illumimated by the Au-
rora Borealis, which did not,
however, discnarge any vigorous
streams, until 109. 40m. when,
for a short time, a few beautiful
ones were observed.

The resemblance betwixt this
meteor and the one of the 11th
of September, 1814, is sufficient
to show that toey originated from
the same cause. Both were first
observed near tne Zenith ; they
were both perpendicular to the
magnetic meridan; both had a
motion towards the south, and
they were both accompanied and
followed by an Aurora Borealis.
There are, however, some points
of difference: the one of the 11th
of September, 1814, never suffer-
ed the smallest alteration, either
in continuity or curvature; the
time of its appearance was only
about half an hour, and it was
followed by an Aurora, unequalled
for many years citner in brilliancy
or duration. Whether the me-
teor of yesterday will be found to
have been more local, which the
time it remained visible leads me
to suspect, will soon be known.
But among all the points of dif-
ference, the one which has been
the most vexatious to me is, that
the latter does not seem to have
had so regular a motion as the
former. Of the one of 1814 I
was enabled to
height and velocity, so as to agree
with observations taken here and
in distant places ; but of the late
one | have not been able to assign
any constant height or uniform
motion, which will account for
its appearances; and I am in-
duced to conclude, that in one or
both of these particulars it had
altered considerably during the

calculate the:

1816.

1 an, &c.—
Joun Cross.
Glasgow Observatory, Sept. 25.

25. Belfast.—Last night, from
eight to ten o'clock, a phenomenon
of singular beauty appeared to
the inhabitants of this town; it
was in the form of a very regular
arch, of white faint light, of about
five degrees breadth in the mid-
die, and terminating at a point at
each end. At 20 minutes past
eight its east end seemed to ori-
ginate in the Pleiades, which was
then rising, passed through the
constellation of Cassiopea’s Chair,
and through the zenith of Belfast,
and terminated in the horizon to
the west. Before ten o’clock the
top of the arch had regularly de-
clined from the zenith about 20
degrees towards the south, while
the ends remained nearly station-
ary: it soon after disappeared.
The stars were easily seen through
it, but appeared somewhat fainter.
Between the north and north-
west, the sky near the horizon ap-
peared very bright, having the
saine appearance as is usual on a
fine evening soon after sun-set.
It seems most probable that this
beautiful phenomenon is to be
ascribed to the agency of electric
matter in the higher regions of
the atmosphere.

The news from Constantinople,
26th of September, give afflicting
details of the conflagration in the
seraglio. The fire spread with
such rapidity, that the women had
only time to save themselves in
the surrounding gardens. The
Grand Seignor, informed of the
danger, ordered all the avenues
to be shut ; and it was only after
three hours of ravage, and after
the women were conveyed to the
apartments of the Sultan Mother,
that

time I observed it.

CHRONICLE,

that the firemen were permitted
to approach. All the damage
done by the flames, and the total
want of arrangement, could not
be estimated on the day following.
-The interior of the principal wing
is absolutely destroyed. The loss
in rich furniture, clothing, &c. is
immense.

28. St. Croix (Teneriffe) —Se-
veral corsairs, who are thought to
be independent Americans, deso-
late our seas, and seize on all
Spanish vessels they meet. Their
object is principally to procure
arms and ammunition ; they some-
times respect merchandise, but
ships charged for the government
never escape them, and after
plundering, they generally sink
them. The galliot the St. Anne
experienced this misfortune five
days since in our seas. The Spa-
nish government displays great
energy in repressing these rob-
bers, who are the scourge of all
nations; but their audacity de-
ranges the wisest measures. ‘The
forces that we expect will put an
end to their excesses. Some gun-
vessels have been equipped to pro-
tect the coasting trade. We have
also established watch-towers and
new batteries.

This being the day appointed
for opening the navigation of the
«Wey and Arun Junction Canal,”
the Earl of Egremont, with a nu-
merous company of friends and
shareholders, attended by the
Mayor and Aldermen of Guild-
ford, assembled at Alford, where,
after having provided a plentiful
entertainment for the navigators,
consisting of a roasted ox and 200
gallons of ale, they embarked on
the canal in four barges, enliven-

149

ed by two bands of music. The
weather in the early part of the
morning was rather inauspicious,
but towards noon it cleared up,
and the precession, a little after
three, was discerned from ‘St.
Catherine’s-hill near Guildford.
The sunshine which now broke
out, combined with the unrivalled
scenery of the favourite spot, the
music, and numerous assemblage
of spectators, and the merry peal
of the bells of Guildford, Shal-
ford, and Godalming, all heard
at this time, gave an effect to the
scene which could not be con-
templated but with the most lively
and pleasing emotions. About
four o'clock the interesting spec-
taele reached Guildford bridge,
when the Mayor and Aldermen
landed, and having assumed the
regalia of the corporation, and
being joined by the other branches
of it, accompanied by one of the
town Members, — neighbouring
gentry, and magistrates, and at-
tended by a band of music and
colours, they welcomed the arrival
of Lord Egremont and his friends.
‘The whole then went in procession
to the White Hart inn, where one
hundred and thirty persons par-
took of a sumptuous dinner. The
Canal, from its leaving the Arun
at Newbridge, to its junction with
the Wey, near Bramly, is a cut of
18 miles, and has been three
years in completing, having been
commenced in July, 1813. One
of its leading advantages will be
a great reduction in the price of
fuel, as coals, which, within a
month, sold at Guildford at 31. 3s.
per chaldron, are now offered at
50s. It will also afford a facility
to the agriculturist for the disg

y posal

150

posal of his produce by the easy
communication thus opened with
the market of Guildford.

Mr. Sadler's account of his as-
cent at Cork :—‘‘ 1 ascended at
20 minutes before five o'clock,
with the wind moderately from
the N.W.N. The balloon on first
rising had an unpleasant mot'on ;
but soon became steady, being
now nearly perpendicular over
Cork. I detached a parachute,
and being too far distant to be
observed waving my hat, I took
my banner and waved a last fare-
well to the shouting crowds. At
ten minutes before five, the bal-
loon entered a thick cloud, when
the city and the adjacent country
became obscured from me. The
balloon now was completely in-
flated ; and the gas rushing out
through the safety tube, plainly
shewed to me my continued rapid
ascent. From my wish that the
many friends whom I had so few
minutes before left should be fur-
ther gratified, I deterinined to de-
scend, and having opened the
valve and allowed sufficient gas
to escape, the balloon rapidly de-
scended, when the city and coast
extending towards Bantry to the
West, and that of Waterford to
the East, I distinctly perceived,
whilst the harbour of Cork and
the in:terior country, with its va-
rious mountains, was a view sub-
lime in the extreme. In order
further to gratify the spectators
and show the power of the ma-
chine, I re-ascended and entered
a second cloud at five minutes
past five o'clock. I had previ-
ously determined not to remain
Jong, but to effect my landing
about Ringabella; I now there-

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

fore began to make preparations
for my descent, by placing my
various things in secure places to
prevent their being thrown out
by the concussion of the car, and
at twelve minutes past five I
opened the valve, and began gra-
dually to descend. The car first
struck in a grass enclosure, and
rebounded into the adjoining field ;
the wind being mild, and the
grappling irons having well se-
cured themselves in the hedge,
the balloon soon became secured.
The first person who appeared
was, | believe, the owner of the
farm, who was not a little alarm-
ed; for, although he had run in
a direction towards it, he made a
full stop at some distance, in-
quiring whence I came from, and
it was not without a great deal
of exertiun on my part in calling
that he was induced to come near.
A servant of Mr. Hodder’s came
up next, folloxed by numbers
of other persons, made himself
known to me, and said, that if
the apparatus was taken to his
master’s house, it should be taken
care of. I was kindly invited to
Mr. Foote’s, where I partook of
refreshment, and was_ provided
with a horse to Mr. Hodder’s,
where a bed was prepared and
every accommodation rendered
that I could require.”’

OCTOBER.

1. The New Custom-house for
the port of London, erected upon
the site of the old building, de-
stroyed by fire, now assumes the
appearance of a public edifice of
considerable importance. It isa

quadrangular

CHRONICLE.

quadrangular building of fine
brick and stone, extending from
Billingsgate Dock to the Old
Custom-house stairs. The front
towards the river is adorned with
architecture, which affords a no-
ble appearance. The wings, east
and west, are distinguished by
beautiful columns, pilastres, and
entablature of the Ionic order,
surmounted by a stone balustrade.
The space nearest the river forms
a spacious quay for landing goods.
The numerous apartments intend-
ed for offices are large and com-
modious, and the building alto-
gether is constructed to suit the
multifarious duties relating to
the exports and imports. It is
roofed with lead and slate, and is
expected to be completed in the
course of a few months.
New Law relative to Parish Ap-
| prentices—From and after the lst
of October, 1816, before any
child be bound apprentice by the
overseers of the poor of any pa-
rish, such child shall be carried
before two Justices of the Peace
in the county, who shall inquire
into the propriety of binding such
child to the person or persons to
whom it shall be proposed by
such Overseers to bind such
child; and if such Justices shall,
upon examination, think it proper
that such child should be bound
to such person or persons, such
Justices shall make an _ order,
which order shall be delivered to
such Overseer. No settlement
shall be gained by any child by
reason of such apprenticeship,
unless such order shall have been
made. In case any Overseer shall
bind any parish apprentice with-
out such order having been first
obtained, the said Overseer and

151

the said person shall each respec-
tively forfeit the sum of 101. No
child shall be bound a parish ap-
prentice until such child shall
have obtained the age of nine
years.

The following dreadful acci-
dent happened at Inverary :—A
shopkeeper, after selling a girl
some gunpowder, had just put it
into a flask, while he most impru-
dently smoked a pipe of tobacco,
when a spark from it communi-
cated with the powder, which in-
stantly exploded, carrying up two
of the juists from the floor above,
where a barrel of powder was
placed, which also blew up, car-
rying off the roof of the house.
The poor man and the girl are
both so much injured, that they
are not expected to recover.

2. A fire broke out about half-
past eight o’clock, at the shop
of Mr. Falconer, carpenter and

joiner, Turk’s Head-yard, Ox-

ford-market : it communicated,
it is supposed, from a chimney
to a quantity of timber, which
spread with great rapidity ; and
in a short time it had also com-
municated to the back part of the
following premises: Mr. Lewis,
linen-draper, corner of Market-
street, Oxford-road ; Mr. Stewart,
grocer, next door; Mr. Shank-
ster, poulterer, next door to Stew-
art’s ; and Mr. Hawkins, an un-
dertaker. In about a quarter of
an hour after the commencement
of the fire several engines arrived,
and but for the very prompt exer-
tions of the firemen the whole
premises would have been de-
stroyed: about half-past nine the
flames were happily subdued. The
back part of the premises of Mr.
Wm. Marshall, wine and spirit

t,

152

merchant, also caught fire, and
were considerably damaged.

5. Lisbon. — Yesterday the
beautiful church of St. Julian, in
this city, in which was perform-
ing the funeral ceremony of the
old Queen, by -some accident
caught fire, and in the course of
two hours was completely de-
stroyed. You may easily judge
of the dreadful confusion that
ensued, in consequence of there
being a numerous congregation
present, but I am happy to say
no lives were lost.

A most melancholy accident
took place on this morning, be-
tween 12 and 1 o'clock, at the
works for the intended Southwark
Bridge. The men had been working
late in the foundation for the Mid-
dlesex pier, and had just left off,
whena party, about 15 in number,
who were returning to the op-
posite shore, hailed one of the
boats in attendance ; a boat came,
with two watermen in it, along-
side the dam: the whole party,
in spite of the watermen’s en-
deavours to prevent them, im-
mediately entered it and pushed
off; but the tide, which was
running up very strong, carried
it against a barge, when, in the
act of clearing themselves from
the barge, the boat upset, and
precipitated the whole into the
stream. <A police boat, which
was at hand, hastened quickly to
their assistance,’ and succeeded
in rescuing two of them from
destruction: the two watermen
with difficulty escaped by swim-
ing. The remainder, including
13, were drowned. Watermen
were immediately employed to
drag for the dead bodies. The
only ones found, as far as we

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

.

have heard, were those of Cum-
mins, Baker, and Armstrong.

Mr. Rennie, the engineer, sent
to an evening paper the follow-
ing letter on the subject of the
accident :—

Sir,—I beg leave to acquaint
you, for the information of the
public, with the details of a
most melancholy accident which
took place this morning, between
twelve and one o’clock, at the
works for the intended South-
wark-bridge:—The men _ had
been working late in the founda-
tion for the Middlesex pier, and
had just left off, when a party,
about 15 in number, who were
returning to the opposite shore,
hailed one of the boats in at-
tendance: a boat came, with
two watermen in it, alongside
the dam: the whole party, in

spite of the watermen’s endea- ~

vours to prevent them, immedi-
ately entered it and pushed off;
but the tide, which was running
up very strong, carried it against
a barge; when, in the act of
clearing themselves from the
barge, the boat upset, and precipi-
tated the whole into the stream.
A police-boat, which was at
hand, hastened quickly to their
assistance, and succeeded in res-
cuing two of them from destruc-
tion. The two watermen with
difficulty escaped by swimming.
The remainder, including 13,
notwithstanding every endeavour
was made to save them, con-
sidering the lateness of the hour
and the deficiency of means at
hand, have not yet been found.
The men have been repeatedly
cautioned before about rushing
into the boats, but to no purpose.
—I am, &e.
Stamford-street, Oct. 5.

CHRONICLE.

R. Lyster, Esq. M. P. of Row-
ton-castle, Shropshire, who with
his family has resided some time
on the continent, very narrowly
escaped assassination lately. In
crossing the Simplon, part of the
Alps, with his family, on their
way to Genoa, the carriage was
attacked by a gang of banditti,
who plundered them of almost
every article, even the seats of
the carriage. While the robbers
were engaged in their plunder,
Mr; Lyster, seeing another car-
riage at a distance behind, direct-
ed the courier which accompanied
him to gallop off and forewarn
the party ; but no sooner had the
man departed than he was fired
at, and wounded by 10 or 12
bullets. The Marchioness of
Waterford had been plundered
by the same gang just before Mr.
Lyster’s family arrived at the
spot.

7. Notice has been given offi-
cially of an intention to apply to
Parliament next Session for the
accomplishment of the following
projects in the neighbourhood of
the metropolis :—A new Tontine
Patent Iron Bridge across the
Thames, from New Gravel-lane,
Ratcliffe, to Hanover-street, Ro-
therhithe; the bridge to be of
sufficient height for shipping to
pass beneath it. A new Fish-
market on the bank of the
Thames, Billingsgate having be-
come insufficient; the new market
to be at or near Old Hungerford
Market. A new road along the
left bank of the Thames, from
Westminster Abbey to the end of
Vauxhall Bridge.

8. Orders have been issued
from the War-Office, that in fu-
ture all insane officers and men

153

shall undergo a year of proba-
tionary medical treatment in their
own regimental hospital, instead
of being sent, as heretofore, to
Bethlem Hospital, on the first ap-
pearance of such malady.

Yarmouth.—A very melancholy
accident happened at Gorleston
on Tuesday last, by the upsetting
of a salvage boat, in coming for
the harbour, by which six out of
eight persons were drowned.
The boat had gone into the roads
for the purpose of looking out
for ships: the wind was east,
blowing a fresh gale, which oc-
casioned a great surf on the bar
and beach: they went alongside a
brig, Capt. Slipper, who was
lying wind-bound in the roads,
and who agreed to come on shore
with them, and tcok a boy with
him. On their approaching the
bar, a man on the pier, consider-
ing it dangerous for them to run
for the harbour at that time,
owing to the surf, waved them
off: they then got the boat’s
head to sea, and were endeavour-
ing to get clear of the surf, when
a sea struck them and upset the
boat. One man was saved near
the north pier by a gentleman
who happened to be near the spot,
who ran into the sea and caught
him; another was saved by a
pilot, who got down the steps
near the pier-end and threw a
rope over him. The following
were drowned :—Captain Slipper,
and a boy belonging to the vessel,
Robert King, Stephen King,
Charles Legett, jun., and Rich-
ard Gurwood, jun. pilots, be
longing to the boat.

9. The following narrative of the
recent sufferings of our country-
men at Algiers is stated in an

evening

154 ANNUAL REGISTER,

evening paper to be derived from
a source which entitles it to im-
plicit credit :—

** Captain Dashwood, and Mr.
M’Manus, the surgeon of the
Prometheus, and some more
Englishmen who assisted in ef-
fecting the escape of the English
Consul'’s family at Algiers, and
who were unfortunately detected
in consequence of the child's ery-
ing, were in great danger of
losing their heads, and would
certainly have suffered if it had
not been for the interposition of
the American Consul. They were
put into a large vault filled with
vermin and filth, where they re-
mained all night. They had mats
to rest on, upon a damp flour,
and had nothing to refresh them-
selves but bad bread and. water.
They were tantalized with a pro-
mise that they should be permit-
ted to go on board ship, but were
marched from one prison to an-
other. They were well treated
by some Sicilian slaves. The
Minister refused them when they
applied for more bread; but the
Captain of the port showed some
compassion, and ordered refresh-
ments for them, directing the
guards to treat them well. The
slaves then gave them fruit, &c.
They were afterwards moved to
what is called the King’s Prison,
under an escort of soldiers, and
marched through the town, in-
sulted on the way by Moors,
Jews, and Turks, who even spat
in their faces. The Dey thought
proper to send the Consul’s child
on board. The American Consul
continued his kindness, and the
Swedish Consul also was very at-
tentive, and supplied them with
books, pens, and paper. The

1816.

Iunglish were soon after put into
irons, and in that state were
marched about 12 miles across
the country ; and halting a short
time in a place where cattle were
confined, were obliged to resume
their journey. Their refreshment
was boiled corn and water. They
were then placed in another pri-
son, but soon heard that they
were to be marched back to Al-
giers,to which place, after having
encamped on the bank of a river
which had recently been over-
flown, they were afterwards
brought. Then they were con-
fined in a large building on the
south side of the town, where
they remained in doubt, anxiety,
and apprehension as to what
would be their future fate. At
length the English were relieved
from their irons and marched
down to the Marina, and put into
possession of their own boats.
Their situation would have been
deplorable indeed, if it had not
been for the persevering kind
offices of the American Consul.
The country over which these un-
fortunate travellers were passed
appeared to be in a desolate con-
dition, covered chiefly with un-
derwood. They crossed an ex-
tensive plain, stated to be, ac-
cording to report, about 2000
miles in length, and 50 in breadth.
The soil seemed to be fertile in
many parts, and with good pas-
turage. It may easily be con-
ceived that our poor countrymen
were in a melancholy condition,
with the prospect of death before
them, as they were often by signs
threatened that their heads would
be cut off, or had reason to fear
that they should be punished as
the slaves in general are—a pu-

nishment

CHRONICLE.

nishment which they had the
misery of witnessing, and, which
is in the following manner :—
They are placed on the ground
with their backs uppermost, a
stick is put across their legs
which is held by two men, an-
other man kneels at the head of
the victim and stretches his hand
across the back, and two Turks
then strike him alternately on the
fleshy part below with large sticks,
often to the number of three or
four hundred blows, and after-
wards make them return to work
even in that lamentable state of
suffering. The poor wretches
are allowed nothing but bread
and water, and are provided with
a new suit of miserable attire
every year by the munificence of
the Dey” :

The Moniteur mentions the
following incident which took
place at Aubusson, in the depart-
ment of the Creuse:—On the
9th of October, about 5 in the
afternoon, the wife of Pierre
Martineau, a labourer, was dig-
ing potatoes in a field at a very
short distance from the suburb
of St. Jean, having beside her her
son about six years old. Two
wolves made their appearance,
and attacked the boy; but the
courage of a mother knew no
danger, and she defended him
with so much presence of mind
as to succeed in felling to the
ground one of these terrible ani-
mals with a stone which she threw
at him, the other took to flight
at the sight of the husband who
came to her assistance, and who
with a mattock, which he held in
his hand, gave the finishing blow
to the one which was still strug-
gling. Almost the moment after

155

the courageous mother was de-
livered from the fear of having
her chil! devoured, she paid the
debt of nature, falling into a kind
of deliriun:, which was not of
long duration, and during which
she spoke incessantly of her son,
and of the danger which he had
run.

10. At a late meeting in the
manufacturing and populous vil-
lage of Airdrie, called in conse-
quence of a long list of petition-
ers for relief, it was found that
many names had been officiously
if not mischievously inserted
withont the knowledge or con-
sent of the parties, and that num-
bers had been induced to put
down their names by conceiving
that they were soliciting employ-
ment, not charity. One old sol-
dier wished to withdraw his, as
he had now obtained work ; and
two brothers attended to express
their indignation at having been
included in such a list, and to de-
clare that so far from requiring
aid, they were able to lend it.
Of 50 names in the original peti-
tion, scarcely five remained con-
cerning whose situation it was
deemed requisite to make inquiry.
Every one who considers inde-
pendence of spirit as one of the
finest traits of national character
will rejoice that so much of it
remains amongst us: that it
struggles with, and is likely to
survive, our present difficulties.
—Greenock Advertiser. |

Brazil_— (From « German pa-
per.)—As every thing that relates
to the other hemisphere of our
globe is now of the greatest in-
terest, we therefore commuuni-
cate to our readers the following
extract of a letter from Rio Ja-

beiro,

156

neiro, which has been received
at Paris :---‘ The French colony
which in the beginning of spring
left France has safely landed here.
It consists of about 40 persons,
chiefly artists and mechanics. At
their head is M. Lebreton, late a
Member of the Institute, and per-
petual secretary of the class of
fine arts. How little confidence,
in this world, is to be placed in
the duration even of what are
called perpetual things, may be
seen from his example: he lost
the perpetual secretaryship on
the new organization of the In-
stitute. The inhabitants of this
city call him the captain of the
Seavans. In the list of the new
comers is also the family of a
Monsieur Tonney, who is pos-
sessed of distinguished merit as a
landscape- painter. The govern-
ment has given a favourable re-
ception to these emigrants, and
expects to promote the benefit of
the country by their acquirements
and industry. It has put them
into three houses, which it has
furnished for their reception. It
must here be remarked, that
though Rio Janeiro is very ex-
tensive, it has not yet houses
sufficient to receive natives and
foreigners ; a part of them have
therefore been under the necessity
of living in tents, which, how-
ever, in the warm climate of this
country, is not at all injurious to
health. When the government
chooses to favour a family and
assign it a habitation, it selects
for it a house, and places thisin-
scription above the door—A?t the
disposal of government. The ac-
cupier is then under the necessity
of evacuating it! !—a law which
cannot long subsist, because it is

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

incompatible with the European
Portuguese laws, which secure
to every citizen the undisturbed
possession of his property. The
government has hitherto provided
for the maintenance of these
emigrant Frenchmen. It has

given them a daily allowance of

fish, flesh, vegetables, Madeira
and port wine, and beer. It has
given them some Negroes to wait
upon them. M. Lebreton has a
carriage and horses at his disposal.
Men of business, who have mat-
ters to transact at different places,
cannot dispense with them, be-
cause the great and rich resort to
the shades of the country, and only
come into the town when urgent
business calls them. Every planter
receives a Portuguese square mile
for his settlement. The Tonney
family has eight of these at a dis-
tance of 50 miles from the city.
The cultivation of the land is ex-
ceedingly difficult, and therefore
very expensive. | Wildernesses
must be brought into cultivation,
deep rooted thickets and trees
must be burnt or eradicated, be-
fore the earth is prepared for the
reception of the seeds of useful
plants ; and there is a great want
of hands and tools. They are
busyin erecting an academy here,
whose first object will be to cir-
culate the necessary information
respecting agriculture. The town
is also desirous of the establish-
ment of an university.”

Letters from Hamburgh of the
llth state, that the negotiation
with the French Government, re-
lative to the restitution of the pro-
perty of the Bank, has been
brought to a close. The amount

of the money and bullion seized

by Davoust was 16,000,000 f.
The

CHRONICLE.

The French Government would
not consent to refund more than
10,000,000f. ‘This offer has been
accepted, and the deputies, sena-
tors Sillem and Pehmaller, were
expected to return immediately
_ from Paris. Mr. Chapeaurouge
was to remain there, to urge the
claims of his fellow-citizens for
payment of the requisitions made
upon them by the French.

12. The scarcity of honey this
year is almost unprecedented.
The circumstance is not to be
wondered at, for over-year hives,
as well as standard swarms, have
been prevented by the wetness of
the late summer from pursuing
their labours abroad, in conse-
quence of which many of them
are too poor to subsist through
winter, unless they are fed at
present, and in the spring, by
the owners.

Saffron-Walden.—'The scene
that took place here this day
would have been too painful to
relate, were there not means and
hopes of relief, as well as pre-
venting a recurrence of the evil.
A gang of robbers, more than 12
in number, has been lately dis-
covered, and a great part brought
here this morning. The robbe-
ries in the neighbourhood have
been carried on toa great extent :
one person was shot at in his own
house, having prevented the vil-
lains from breaking in; several
shots entered his face, but for-
tunately the contents of the gun
were weakened by the glass win-
dow through which one of the
ruffians fired. he magistrates
were nearly the whole day in ex-
amining the different charges.
The depredators, strongly ironed
and hand-cuffed two and _ two,

157

were sent off to different prisons :
it is distressing to state, that a
man, his wife, and their three
sons, are among the number ;
the young men were so hardened
that they went off to gaol laugh-
ing and whistling. Great distress
prevails through the county of
Essex, which is one of the most
fertile. Distress in a great de-
gree leads to depredation: many
poor men are compelled to work
hard at 8d. a day, and strong
able-bodied men hereabouts can
often get but 6d. a day.

Darmstadt.—Our Gazette con-
tains the following notice :—

“His Royal Highness the
Grand Duke of Hesse, taking in-
to consideration the great mis-
chiefs to the morals and welfare
of his subjects, particularly the
lower classes, which result from
lotteries, has ordered that the
lotteries which have hitherto ex-
isted at Offenbach and Redelheim
do cease and be entirely suppress-
ed at the close of the current year.
The public are also hereby in-
formed, that whoever shall at-
tempt to circulate in the Grand
Duchy plans and subscriptions of
foreign lotteries shall incur, with-
out any exception or indulgence,
in conformity to the ordinance of
the 12th June, 1805, a fine of
100 crowns ; with confiscation of
the shares.”

Leipsic—Within the last week,
our fair has been worse than it
was at first; there is a want of
buyers. The number of sellers
has, besides, not been so great as
usual. For cloths there is little
sale. Linens are very dear, al-
though little is sold. The num-
ber of English dealers, and quan-
tity of English merchandise, are

prodigious,

158

prodigious, and the latter at a
moderate price. The English
carry off much gold from this
fair. The louis-d’ors have risen
in price, and are at present at
more than 9 per cent. premium.
-It is generally remarked, that the
English at present draw much
ready money from the Continent.
There are at the fair a great many
Jews, who have a great deal of
money; but hitherto they have
purchased little, and are waiting
for a still more favourable mo-
ment. Many traders will not
clear their personal expenses.
The causes to which the badness
of the fair is as.ribed are the
great number of large sales by
auction, which have taken place
in different parts, the increasing
dearth of provisions, the scarcity
of ready n:oney, and the reduc-
tion of a great number of for-
tunes.

Colonial produce is in little de-
mand, though at a moderate
price. The pound of good coffee
costs about 7 Saxon grosschen (2
shillings) ; sugar is from 9 to 10
grosschen. The labours of the
harvest are not yet finished in our
neighbourhood, which also tends
to diminish the number of retail
purcharers who usually come
from the country.

13. Kingsgate, (near Margate):
—‘* An extraordinary and awful
incursion of the sea has produced
a eomplete revolution in that part
where stood a house, from time
immemorial, called the Admiral
Digby's Head. During the preva-
lence of one of those hurricanes
which at times beset our coast,
an eastern gale carried away the
whule of the house, except a part
of one wing, wherein a servant

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

boy slept. This tremendous visi-
tation happened in the night.
The boy awoke with the rumbling
noise of the premises giving way,
but whether it was owing to being
overcome with terror, which be-
numbed all his faculties, or that
he preserved more than stoical
firmness, it is certain that he did
not attempt to escape the impend-
ing danger. From the details
given by a resident in the vicinity
(for the family were all providen-
tially absent at Margate), it ap-
pears that the surf rose consider-
ably above a hundred feet from
the sea, and broke with such force
over the cliff as to inundate every
object around. As a temporary
dwelling, the innkeeper has fitted
up that whimsical Gothic pile
which was long used for accom-
modating horses and carriages.
The sea is approaching with gi-
gantic strides to the edifice called
the Castle, which, though it stand
on an eminence, towering over
all the other dwellings, yet is by
no means safe from the dreadful
hollow-Lroken seas which are pe-
culiar to this quarter, and during
the equinox particularly violent.”
Brighton—About nine o'clock
last night a serious accident was
eccasioned by two rival coaches
endeavouring to a priority of en-
tering into Brighton. Without
any observations on the frequent
repetition of these imprudent ri-
valships, we shall confine our de-
tail of the particulars to a state-
ment of the affair. The Phoenix
and Dart coaches, on leaving
London, passed each other on the
road, and the former kept the ad-
vantage within a mile cf this
town, when, making the rising
turn of the road, the Dart en-
deavoured

ae .

CHRONICLE. 159

deavoured to run by, and by
some crossing mManceuvre the
leaders got entangled. In the
exertion to extricate them, the
pole of the Phenix was broke,
and it upset. Very fortunately
the horses got disentangled, and
ran away, otherwise the conse-
quences must have been dreadful.
Mr.Taylor,of the Golden Cross inn
in this town, had a thigh broken;
Mr. Cawthorn, a wine merchunt
of London, had his arm dislocat-
ed, and several passengers and
the coachman were much bruised.
In consequence of the horses of
the Dart taking fright, they ran
away with the carriage, which
had the dicky knocked off, and
threw two of the passengers into
the road, which entirely prevent-
ed the coachman rendering any
assistance to the other party.

14. Como.—We have now had
for some days the happiness of
having again in our neighbour-
hood her Royal Highness the
Princess of Wales, who is return-
ed to her villa of Esle, after having
spent four months in Sicily, after
visiting the ruins of Carthage and
Utica, near Tunis, and having
made a journey to the Bosphorus,
Greece, and Palestine. In all
places which this august traveller
honoured with her presence she
was received by the Governments
with the most distinguished re-
spect, and every where she en-
joyed the tribute of general es-
teem.

Every where the Princess view-
ed and collected valuable articles
of the fine arts and antiquity,
which, added to what she already
possessed, will form an extremely
rich museum, and add new splend-
our to her already celebrated villa.

She was particularly generous to
the learned Academy at Athens,
and assigned a large sum for the
Monks of the Holy Sepulchre, in
order to relieve their extraordi-
nary indigence.

She also resolved to mark her
happy return by new acts of be-
neficence, giving titles of honour
to the persons who accompanied
her on her dangerous pilgrimage.
Lastly, she charged the neigh-
bouring Priest of Cenobio with
the distribution of large sums for
the relief of his poor parishioners,
and instituted popular games,
with prizes for the conquerors.

The first English stage-coach
seen in France was launched at
Dieppe, with all its paraphernalia.
The horses being put to, Mr.
Plant, of London, a coachman of
aLout eighteen stone weight, and
a real John Bull, mounted the
box, and astonished the inhabi-
tants, as much by the dexterity
of cracking his whip, as the bulk
of his person for the burden of
his horses. Away he started for
St. Denis amidst the various gri-
maces of the populace.
pany of London proprietors have
obtained the permission of run-
ning English stage-coaches be-
tween St. Denis and Paris. Three
more of these vehicles are on their
route for the same destination,
with English coachmen, harness,
&ce.— Brighton Paper.

Madame Blanquemont De La
Force made an agreement with a
voiturier, named Gosselet, to con-
duct her from Strasburg to Mar-
seilles, for which she paid a con-
siderable sum. A few leagues
from Besancon, and near the
river Doubs, this monster stun-
ned. her with an iron bar, after-

wards

A com--

160

wards strangled her, and then
driving his vehicle towards the
river, threw the body of his vic-
tim in, after after having strip-
ped her of all her jewels and
money, of which she had 300 du-
cats in gold, besides other money.
It appears that there was also a
~ young girl of his acquaintance in
the carriage, who was an accom-
plice, and whom the unfortunate
lady had treated with great kind-
ness, and had promised to take
into her service on her arriving
at Marseilles. Divine justice has
not permitted this horrible crime
to remain undiscovered, for, ha-
ving perpetrated it, the wretch
directed his course to Paris,
where he arrived a few days since.
On arriving at the metropolis,
he drove to the house of a wheel-
wright in the rue Montholon, to
make some slight repairs to his
vehicle, at the same time desiring
him to keep two trunks until he
called for them, and particularly
requested him to send the coach
home on the following Sunday.
‘The police had obtained informa-
tion of this murder, and proper
measures were taken to secure
the villain, who lived in the rue
St. Martin, at the Petit St. Martin.
Last Sunday, when Martin, the
wheelwright, went to deliver the
carriage, he found a commissary
of police there, who informed
him of the arrest of Gosselet. On
this Martin made a declaration of
the trunks which had been left in
his charge. Gosselet, on being
taken to the prefecture of police,
cut his throat with a razor: the
wound is thought mortal. The
girl who was in the carriage is al-
so in the hands of justice.
Gottingen.—It is long since we

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

have had duels here so frequent
and so obstinate as those that have
occurred during the last six
months : they have cost the lives
of four students. This strange
abuse has revived with more fury
than ever, and there is no doubt
that.it originates in political opi-
nions. Of the four students who
fell in these duels, two natives of
Old Russia, that is, of the in-
terior of that empire, fought
against two Russians of the pro-
vinces situate on the Baltic. In
general, there is remarked a vio-
lent exasperation between the
students of those two parts of the
empire, but it is not known whe-
ther it has arisen here only, or
exists also in their native country.
15. Two new~spots appeared
on the left side of the disk of the
Sun. They were of less magni-
tude than the preceding, of which
no trace remained. On the 16th,
about one o’clock, they had reach-
ed the centre of the Sun. They
are close to each other; the one
to the left, a little Jower than the
other, which is a little larger,
and considerably darker. They
are travelling with astonishing
rapidity to the right, and will
probably soon disappear. No
others have yet shown themselves.
Lately the inhabitants of a
commune in the department of
the Moselle, in which a violent
storm had broken out, having
threatened the schoolmaster be-
cause he refused to ring the bells,
the latter, frightened at the ap-
proach of a new storm, thought
in order to reconcile himself to
the inhabitants, that he must
comply with their request; but
he was pear paying with his life
for his imprudence. The stroke
of

C BRO W:C UB.

of the bell brought the thunder
cloud upon the tower, and the
spire was much damaged. The
poor schoolmaster was struck by
the lightning, and received such
a contusion in the arm that he
will be lame for life. The pre-
fect of the Moselle, in making
known this circumstance to his
coadjutors, has renewed his pro-
hibition to ring the bells at the
approach of a storm.

16. Extract of a Letter.—< I
am sorry to inform you, that
during the night of Saturday last,
the village of Lumley, about 6
miles from this place, was visited
by a large number of persons,
armed and disguised, under the
command of the invisible General
Ludd, who addressed his forces
in a short speech, on the nature
of the service they were then em-
ployed upon, and then dividing
them into small parties, ordered
them to their respective posts.
They immediately commenced the
work of demolishing a number of
lace and 2-needle frames, in dif-
ferent parts of the village, belong-
ing to various hesiers in this place.
In some of the houses they broke
and destroyed every article of fur-
niture, taking away with them
knives and forks, and provisions
of every description. These night-
ly depredators went to the house
of a person named Needham, who
was the prosecutor of Simpson,
executed for highway robbery last
Lent Assizes, and they told him
“they had come to punish him
for swearing against Simpson !”’
The number of frames broken is
not exactly ascertained, but cer-
tainly they amount to more than
30; and the reason assigned for
this outrage is, that the lace-

Vou. LVI.

161

frames were making what is call-
ed in the trade, two-course hole ;
a lace of the worst quality ; alike
injurious to the workmen, the
honest manufacturer, and the
public.”” — Nottingham Review,
Oct. 18.

In the latest Memoirs of the
Academy of Petersburgh, there
appears an analysis of a statistical
work, in which are the following
statements :—The revenues of the
Russian state amounted in 1811
to 215,000,000 of roubles, and
the expenses to 274,000,000.
The land forces in 1810 were
621,155 men; the marine in 1813
was 289 sail, with 4,348 pieces
of cannon. The dominant Greek
church includes 4 metropolitan
churches, 11 archbishoprics, 19
bishoprics, 26,747 churches, and
a great number of convents. To-
lerance being general, there were
in 1811, 3,500,000 Catholics,
1,400,000 Lutherans, 3,800 Re-
formed, 9,000 Hernhutters,
60,000 Armenians, 3,000,000
Mahometans, 300,000 followers
of the Dalai-Lama, and 600,000
adorers of fetishes. There are in
Petersburgh 14 printing-offices,
13 foreign bookshops, and 30
Russian. In 1815 the manufac
tories of the Russian empire
amounted to 3,253.

17. A new coach was started
by some Jews in the Spring to
run to Brighton, a distance of
52 miles, in six hours, with a
pledge that if they did not ac-
complish the journey in that time
they would carry the passengers
gratis ; to accomplish which the
horses were kept upon a gallop
all the way; and notwithstand-
ing this great risk, the coach was
always filled with passengers. In

M one

162

one of the journies the coachman
broke three whips. In one week
15 horses died ! The coach, how-
ever, has never been overturned,
and no material accident happen-
ed, except overturning a fish-
cart near Kennington-common,
whereby the driver was in-
jured, but not seriously. This
was continued for about three
months, and excited attention
and curiosity all the way on the
road: a crowd of persons was
daily collected at the Elephant
and Castle, to see it start and
come in, and it always kept its
time within a few minutes. This,
however, became alarming, par-
ticularly in the populous neigh-
bourheod of Newington, through
which it passed; and the parish
officers there caused informations
to be laid against the drivers for
driving furiously on the public
road, so as to endanger the lives
of his Majesty’s subjects, under
the Act of Parliament for regulat-
ing stage-coaches, &c. This be-
ing followed up, the speed was
reduced, and the coach is now
about three quarters of an hour
or an hour longer on the road.
18. This evening, about eleven
o'clock, a barn, cow-house, stable,
five corn-stacks, and a pea-stack,
were discovered to be on fire, at
Stour-hall, Ramsey, the property
of Anthony Cox, Esq, of Har-
wich; the whole of which were
completely destroyed. ‘The barn
contained one hundred coombs of
wheat, ready to be delivered the
next day, besides a quantity of
other grain. There being no
doubt as to the premises, &c. be-
ing wilfully set on fire, suspicion
fell on ———, a farmer at Ram-
sey, who had been heard to de-

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

clare he would be revenged on
Mr. Cox, for having hired a farm
which he could no longer hold
himself. He was accordingly
taken into custody, as were also
his two sons ; and, after a long
and strict investigation before the
magistrates at Harwich, sufficient
evidence was made out to commit
, the elder (who is 70 years
of age), to our gaol, to take his
trial at the ensuing assizes. The
loss is estimated at 2000].—Chelms-
ford paper.

19. The following law-suit, or
rather succession of law-suits, as
detailed in a French paper, fur-
nishes a curious specimen of the
glorious uncertainty, complexity,
and expense of French law: in
this respect at least, if not in their
liberty, they resemble ourselves :
—‘ The Criminal Section of the
Court of Appeal was occupied the
day before yesterday with a very
serious case, although originating
only in a trifling wager of four
bottles of wine; but the parties
(two Normans) have contrived
by their obstinacy, to involve in
this law-suit their fortune, their
liberty, and their honour. Quetel,
one of the parties, passing through
Troarn, in Calvados, stopped at
the Inn of Valdempierre, the other
party, where he slept. After sup-+
per he made a bet of four bottles
of wine with the servant of the
inn; he lust the bet, and refused
to pay it. Valdempierre detained
as a pledge the horse of Quetel.
The latter sets out for Caen, and
summonses Waldempierre to re-
store his horse and his portman-
teau, containing a bag of 1,220
francs in gold. Valdempierre
offers to give up the horse, but
not the bag and portmanteau.

The

CHRONICLE.

The Civil Tribunal decrees that
Quetel should have his horse on
giving security for the expense.

“* Quetel accuses Valdempierre
in public of having robbed him of
a bag, containing 1,220 francs ;
and the latter institutes a suit
against him in the Criminal Court
for defamation. On the other
hand, Quetel charges him with
robbery. This latter charge is
rejected, and the Criminal Court
declares Quetel guilty of defama-
tion, and sentences him toa year’s
imprisonment, a fine of 3,000
frances, interdiction from the ex-
ercise of civil rights for ten years,
and to 15,000 frances damages and
costs.

** From this sentence Quetel
appeals, and demands that the
cause should be sent back to the
Civil Tribunal before which it
was brought at first. Double
proceedings take place, in which
two decrees of the Royal Court
are obtained against Quetel. Then
follows an appeal from eachof these
decrees, both of which the Su-
preme Court has confirmed. Peo-
ple acquainted with such proceed-
ings may calculate the enormous
expenses which this singular affair
has cost the obstinate Quetel. His
fortune, which is considerable, it
is said, is scarcely able to sustain
it. Eighteen witnesses have been
heard, voluminous memoirs have
been printed, the most able ad-
vocates retained, and paid, and
all this about four bottles of
wine!”

On this afternoon @ remarkable
accident happened in the Hay-
market. There were only two
houses which were to be pulled
down to form the new street left
standing. Both adjoined the

163

Opera House. ‘The one nearest
the ruins suddenly fell, about a
quarter past four o'clock, with a
tremendous crash, carrying with
it the party-wall. The house be-
ing very old, the dust which arose
from the ruins filled the lower
part of the Haymarket and Cock-
spur-street, and entering the shops
and houses, proved for some time
very annoying to the inhabitants.
Two gentlemen, who were walk-
ing on the foot-path, very nar-
rowly escaped being buried in the
ruins. The house, which had
been unoccupied some time, was
formerly tenanted by a perfumer
and hair-dresser, and the cellar
by a basket-maker. A poor aged
woman, who got her living by
erafting silk steckings, had been
permitted to live in the house till
it suifed the workmen to com-
mence pulling it down. Shortly
after the accident, it occurred to
some of the neighbours, that the
poor woman was buried in the
ruins. This suggestion being
quickly cirenlated, the workmen
at the new buildings hastened to
the spot, and began to dig’ their
way through the ruins to the par-
lour, or room behind the shop,
where they not only found the
eld woman, but two other women,
and a girl of about five years of
age, buried in the rubbish. Most
providentially, the wainscot of the
room under which they were
found, falling on a slant, and
lodging on the opposite side of
the room, they were preserved
alive, but wounded and bruised,
and in terrible alarm: they were
all extricated, though not with-
out much difficulty. It is thought,
that had not they been rescued so
quickly, they must have been suf-

M 2 focated,

1644 ANNUAL REGISTER,

focated. No sooner was the old
woman safe, than she became ex-
tremely anxious to recover her
silk stockings, and some guinea-
pigs, which, to her great joy, the
workmen likewise got out. At
the time of the accident, it ap-
peared that the old woman was
drinking tea with two female
acquaintances ; and the third suf-
ferer, accompanied by the little
girl, had come to inquire after
some stockings which had been
left to be grafted.

20. The Exeter mail-coach, on
its way to London, was attacked
on Sunday night at Winterslow-
hut, seven miles on this side of
Salisbury, in a most extraordinary
manner. At the moment when
the coachman pulled up to deliver
his bags, one of the leaders was
suddenly seized by a ferocious
animal. This produced great con-
fusion and alarm ; two passengers
who were inside the mail got out,
ran into the house, and locked
themselves up in a room above
stairs ; the horses kicked and
plunged violently, and it was with
difficulty the coachmar could pre-
vent the carriage from being
overturned. It was soon per-
ceived by the coachman and guard,
by the light of the lamps, shat
the animal which had seized the
horse was a huge lioness. A large
mastiff dog came up, and attacked
her fiercely, on which she quitted
the horse, and turned upon him.
The dog fled, but was pursued
and killed by the lioness within
about 40 yards of the place. It
appears that the beast had escaped
from a caravan that was standing
on the road side, be’onging to the
proprietors of a menagerie, on
their way to Salisbury fair. An

1816.

alarm being given, the keepers
pursued and hunted the lioness
into an hovel, under a granary,
which served for keeping agri-
cultural implements. About half
past eight they had secured her so
effectually, by barricading the
place, as to prevent her escape.
The horse, when first attacked,
fought with great spirit, and if at
liberty, would probably have
beaten down his antagonist with
his fore feet, but in plunging he
embarrassed himself in the har-
ness. ‘The lioness, it appears,
had attacked him in front, and
springing at his throat, had
fastened the talons of her fore
feet on each side of his neck, close
to the head, while the talons of
her hind feet were forced into his
chest. In this situation she hung,
while the blood was seen flying,
as if a vein had been opened by
a lancet. The ferocious animal
missed the throat and the jugular
vein, but the horse is so dread-
fully torn, he is not expected to
survive. He was a capital horse,
the best in the set. The expres-
sion of agony in his tears and
moans was most piteous and af-
fecting. A fresh horse having
been procured, the mail drove on
after having been detained three
quarters of an hour by this ex-
traordinary obstruction, The
horse attacked was the off leader,
and as the mail drew up stood
exactly abreast of the caravan
from which the lioness made the
assault. Had the carriage been
a little more advanced, she would
probably have darted upon the
coachman or guard, who in that
case would have been more im-
mediately within her eye. The
coachman at first proposed to

alight

CHRONICLE.

alight and stab the lioness with
a knife, bunt was prevented by
the remonstrance of the guard,
who observed, that he would ex-
pose himself to certain destruc-
tion, as the animal, feeling her-
self attacked, would turn upon
him, and tear him to pieces. ‘The
prudence of the advice has been
clearly proved in the fate of the
poor deg. It was the engage-
ment between him and the lioness
that offered time for the keepers
to rally. Had it not been for that
interference the mischief at the
mail would have been more con-
siderable.

The lioness, which attacked the
horses in the Salisbury mail coach,
did not kill the dog, as stated in
the former relation of the affair.
The Salisbury Gazette says—‘‘ The
lioness, on finding herself attack-
ed, quitted the horse, and turned
upen the dog, which it was ex-
pected would very soon become the
victim of her fury; but the ani-
mal, with more reproach than
viciousness, inflicted a slight pu-
nishment on it, and on hearing
the voice of the keeper, retired
underneath a staddle granary!
where, soon after, the keeper very
deliberately got in, put his arms
around her neck, and secured her
without any further injury.”” The
owner of the lioness has published
a letter saying she broke loose
in consequence of some person
breaking open the caravan, in
expectation of stealing goods go-
ing to Salisbury fair.

21. The new Silver Coinage

goes on with great rapidity: each |

press produces per minute sixty
pieces, that is, 3,600 per hour.
The hours of work are ten daily,
making the whole number of

165

pieces from each press 36,000 -
there are eight presses at work:
and of course the whole number
daily finished is 288,000. The
amount to be issued is to the value
of 2,500,000]. in shillings and
sixpences, in the proportion of
seven of the former to five of the
latter.

22. Newport.—In consequence
of the depressed state of the iron
trade,.the proprietors of the Tre-
degar iron-works gave notice to
the workmen on Monday se’n-
night, that a further reduction in
the price of their work must take
place. The workmen, who a few
months ago could have subsisted
on what they had, in consequence
of the rapid advance in the price
of the chief article of their provi-
sion, were driven almost to de-
spair by this intelligence. They
concluded that nothing but misery
awaited them, and came to the
desperate resolution that it was
better to seek redress by tumul-
tuously assembling than to work.
Under this delusion they left the
works, and proceeded in a body
towards Merthyr, with a view of
learning the inclination of the
men there: the proprietors at
Dowlas works, knowing of their
coming, instantly swore in anum-
ber of men as special constables,
armed them with pikes, and placed
them in the pass, adjoining the
works, near the dwelling of Mr.
Guest, who with others, being
armed, posted themselves at the
window. When the men from
Tredegar and Sirhowy came to
the place, finding themselves op-
posed by an armed force, they
seized some of the pikes from the
men, and broke them in pieces :
the constables fled, but during this,

some

166

some persons in the house fired
and wounded several, some se-
verely, one of whom has since
died. ‘The men, however, pro-
ceeded to the works, stopped the
blast at the furnaces, and being
joined by many others, went to
Pendaran and Merthyr, where
they did the same, and remained
there all night (Thursday). On
Friday, they returned by Tre-
degar and Sirhowy, and inquir-
ed minutely at the houses for all
the workmen, and for bread and
eheese, which was served out to
them from the shops of the pro-
prietors. Their numbers being
increased to several thousands,
they proceeded over the hills to
Beaufort works, where they asked
the men if they were satisfied with
their wages and employers, to
which the men replied in the affir-
mative. Their wages were low,
they said, but their masters kind,
and used them well in the shops.
On this the others gave them
three cheers, and departed for
Ebbw vale, the works of Messrs.
Harfords ; here a few joined
them: the blast going to the fur-
naces was, however, stopped, but
no violence offered to the pro-
prietors.. From thence they pro-
ceeded to Blanavon (Messrs. Hill
and Co.). Mr. Hill endeavoured
to prevent them from doing any
mischief to the works, by reason-
ing with them, and offering tem-
porary relief: their reply was,
they wanted food; that wages
were not sufficient to support
them and their families, and they
wished to be sent home to their
parishes. Here they were sup-
plied with bread and cheese, and
Mr. Hill commiserating their
wants ordered them some beer,

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

but they refused to partake of it,
saying, while they were sober
they knew what they were doing ;
but if they should get intoxicated
they might be guilty of what they
might afterwards be sorry for.
They remained there till night,
and did no further injury than
stopping the blast furnace. On
Saturday morning they proceeded
to Llanelly, and acted there in the
same manner, ‘They now came
across the mountains towards the
coal-works in the neighbourhood
of Crundin, Newbridge, and Aber-
carne, with a view to learn the
state of the men’s minds there.
Their numbers were increased
now from 10 to 12,000; but as
night came on they separated ;
the military that came into New-
port on Friday night were for-
warded towards Merthyr on wag-
gons and other vehicles, and ar-
rived there on Saturday evening,
but no violence has yet been of-
fered on either side. ‘The cavalry
which went from Cardiff have
been recalled, and such troops as
have arrived since have been sent
up to the works, and a detach-
ment to Pontypool; but at a late
hour last night the men were still
assembled in different places, from
300 to 500 and more together.
Accounts have come from Ponty-
pool to-day, that the military were
called up early this morning to
proceed to Blanavon, where the
men employed had shown symp-
toms of acting in concert with
those who had been there on Fri-
day evening.

This evening the accounts are,
that they are chiefly among’ tlie
collieries, that a troop of cavalry
from Swansea is among them, but
no violence offered on either side.

Mr.

CHRONICLE.

Mr. Moggridge, and other gen-
tlemen, have been among them
since Saturday until this after-
noon. Two or three from each
colliery accompanied them down
to Bassere village to a meeting of
the Magistrates—what the result
has been J have not learned. The
Duke of Beaufort, as Lord Lieu-
tenant of the County, and Lord
C. Granville Somerset, are here,
and a meeting is convened to take
place to-morrow, at the King’s
Head Inn, in this town, of all the
Magistrates in the neighbourhood,
when some plan it is hoped will
be devised to persuade the men
quietly to resume their labour.

Another Relation —The latest
accounts received on Saturday
from Merthyr-Tydvil, in Glamor-
ganshire, mention the continu-
ance of restored tranquillity. Ac-
cording to private letters, the dis-
contented are only kept in awe
by the presence of the military.
During the disturbances on the
19th instant, some of these mis-
guided men were touched by the
bayonet, which excited among
them a salutary alarm, and has
caused them to refrain from the
repetition of their violence. It is
also stated, that there is no im-
mediate prospect of an effectual
cure of the existing evils, unless
cireumstances change materially,
as the men can scarcely find the
means of subsistence at the pre-
sent low rate of wages, which
the masters cannot afford to in-
crease.

It appears by letters from New-
port, that a party of the Merthyr
rioters had gone into Monmouth-
shire, with the intention of put-
ting out the blast at the furnace
at Blaenwen, and getting the work-

167

men there to join them. The
men belonging to the iron-works,
who refused to work on account
of wages, endeavoured to seduce
the workmen at the collieries,
and other great places of em-
ployment. The colliers hesitated,
but, according to one account,
they have returned to their duty,
and the collieries are again at
work. Mr. Meyrick, solicitor to
the Bench of Magistrates at Mer-
thyr, has written to contradict
the statement that the workmen
had been reduced to the wages of
Is. per day. None had less, he
states, than 10s. per week; and
the miners and colliers, who form
the great body of workmen, had
at least 15s. per week. The wages
of the firemen, who also form a
considerable body, average from
Qls. to 25s. per week. The High
Sheriff, Sir H. Protheroe, im-
mediately circulated an address
among the latter, urging them to
return peaceably to their employ-
ment, and at the same time warn-
ing them against the fatal conse-
quence of acting otherwise. This
address is stated to have produced
the most salutary effect. Being
informed that the colliers had ap-
peinted a meeting on the 23d, be-
fore they could assemble in any
great number, he arrived at the
Rock, their place of rendezvous,
with a detachmentof the 55thregi-
ment, and the Swansea yeomanry
cavalry. The Deputy Sheriff im-
mediately seized the ringleader,
who was sent off to Monmouth.
The High Sheriff and the Duke of
Beaufort then addressed the mob,
who, after a short time, quietly

dispersed.
On Sunday, the 22d, as some
young men were nutting in th
woods

168

woods near the Old Upper Blue
Bell, on the old road to Maid-
stone, they observed a female
lying under a tree, apparently
asleep, and passed on without
disturbing her. On the succeed-
ing Friday the young men again
went nutting to the same place,
when, to their extreme surprise,
they saw the female lying in the
precise place and attitude in which
they had seen her before: one of
them went to her, and took her
by the hand; she was alive, but
in such a situation, as excited the
mest shuddering sensations of
horror and disgust, mixed with
surprise, that a human _ being
could retain any portion of ani-
mation under such complicated
sufferings of want and wretched-
ness. She was almost in a state
of putrefaction, large maggots
were feeding on every part of her
frame exposed to the aitack of
flies; her nostrils, and even her
mouth, were infested by them ;
behind her ears, between her fin-
gers, and between her toes, they
were crawling in sickening quan-
tities; and her clothes were lite-
rally rotten from long exposure
to the varying and humid atmos-
phere. With a laudable alacrity
they applied for assistance to the
Blue Bell, and with the assistance
of two men the unfortunate suf-
ferer was placed upon a hurdle,
and conveyed to an outhouse,
where such necessaries and com-
forts as could be procured were
immediately prepared for her. Mr.
Browne, surgeon of Rochester,
was sent for, and immediately
came to visit her, and through his
humane, kind, and constant at-
tention, this unfortunate woman
has been rescued from the jaws of

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

death, and is now in a fair way
of recovery. The account she
gives of herself is, that her name
is Ann Martin; she came from
Lewes some time back with an
artillery soldier to Chatham bar-
racks, but that she had left him,
and had determined on returning
home to Lewes; that being des-
titute of money, and oppressed
by fatigue, she, in a fit of despair,
laid herself down to die; that
she had lain where she was dis-
covered ever since the Sunday
preceding that on which she
was first seen, and consequently
had been eleven days and nights
without any kind of food.—Kent-
ish Gazette.

22. Conspiracy for Crimes.—A
Jew, named Solomons, who has,
on account of a deformity in one
of his feet, been nicknamed Bub-
blefoot, forms one of the leading
characters in this plot. This man
was employed by several officers
of the police to search for objects:
he did not fix wpon characters
notoriously bad, because his own
personal exertions and appear-
ance were necessary, and as he
had been more than once tried at
the Old Bailey, those who have
been under similar circumstances
might have recognized an old ac-
quaintance in him, and shunned
or implicated him. He looked
amongst the most wretched, but
not the most abandoned, and se-
lected his victims from amongst
the Russians, the Maltese, the
Germans, the Irish, as well as
the English. His plan was to
station himself somewhere in the
neighbourhood of the Tower, and,
when he saw a sailor who had
spent all his money, or been rob-
bed of it, he would, with pre-

tended

CHRONICLE.

tended humanity, give him a shil-
ling, or in cases of extreme ne-
cessity a 3s. token. The first
place to which his necessities
would lead the wretch to whom
this bounty was extended would
be the baker’s shop, or the eating-
house, or the public-house; but
as soon as the supposed value was
tendered, a police officer started
into his presence, seized the
money, marked it, and handcuffed
the poor creature that offered it.
Upon being brought before a
magistrate, the story was just
such as is usually told, and no
suspicion excited. In other in-
stances this ingenious Jew, with-
out pretending to be influenced
by any compassionate motives,
would merely propose to poor tat-
tered sailors to purchase certain
articles at a slop-shop, or marine
stores warehouse, with a promise
to give them a drink for their
trouble. Upon proceeding to exe-
cute their commission, they were
scented by the officer, who was
sure to let them go just as far as
Was necessary to make them guilty
in the eye of the law upon his tes-
timony.

The Lord Mayor, who has had
for some time intelligence upon
this subject, went, accompanied
by Mr. Hobler, to Newgate on
Sunday morning, and remained
there till six o’clock in the after-
noon, and took the depositions
of eighteen persons, all of whom
were fixed in their present situa-
tions through the instrumentality
of the Jew.

‘They were convicted of uttering
bad money at the Old Bailey, some
of them at the last April Session,
others at the October Session of
last year.

169

The Bank presented the officers
with the sum of 10]. for each
conviction.

23. An alarming fire broke out
abont half-past five o’clock at a
warehouse in Bow Church-yard,
occupied by Mr. Henderson, a job
warehouse, which communicated
to the upper part occupied by
Messrs. Bell and Broderick, solici-
tors, which shortly consumed the
same; as also the adjoining back
warehouse, and damaged the house
occupied by Mr. Meyrick, com-
municating to-a large stack of
warehouses of Mr. Harkness, an
Irish factor, which consumed the
same, and the whole of the im-
mense stock of Irish linens. The
spacious premises of Messrs. Stirl-
ing, Brothers, and Co. for a time,
were threatened with inevitable
destruction ; but through the most
prompt and persevering assistance
of the firemen, and friends of
Messrs. Stirling, at the risk of
their lives, the premises have only
sustained a partial damage, and
the very extensive stock of not
less than 200,000]. saved from
the devouring element. The Lord
Mayor attended in person, and
was very active and useful. The
several houses on the west side of
Bow-lane, in the occupation of
Messrs. Sadler, Sutton, Gore,
Everingham, have sustained con-
siderable damage, as also one of
the windows of Bow-churech, and
the fire-ladders were consumed.
The loss cannot be estimated at
less than 40,000I1., which is in-
sured in the various offices.

23. Cambray.—The review and
grand manoeuvres took place yes-
terday in the plain of Denain.
The ground was so soaked with
the torrents of rain which fell

during

170

during the two preceding days,
that it was thought scarcely pos-
sible to defile the army. The
Dukes of Kent and Cambridge
were received by the Duke of
Wellington at the head of the
troops, who continued to ma-
neeuvre until five in the evening.
After a grand dinner given by
the Duke of Wellington, there
was a ball, at which the two
English Princes, remarkable for
their affability, were seen sur-
rounded by the principal officers
of the armies of occupation, and
the most distinguished ladies of
their nation.

In the plain of Denain there is
a monument erected in memory
of the victory that Marshal Vil-
lars gained over the Allies in 1712.
The Duke of Wellington, says
the Jowrnal de la Belgique, has
ordered that this monument be
scrupulously respected at the time
of the review.

24. A wild boar, hunted in the
forest of Limanton, department
of Nievre, after having run six
leagues from the place of attack,
pressed by the hunters and dogs,
and finding himself stopped by a
garden fence, dashed into a house
which was kept by an inn-keeper,
and took shelter in a room where
a traveller was quietly changing
his shirt. The fright into which
such a visit must have thrown him
may easily be conceived ; the house
and the whole village were raised
by the cries of the unfortunate
traveller. The hunters, armed
with guns, learning the retreat of
the animal, came to the relief of
the stranger, and, after an obsti-
nate combat, the boar was killed,
without any accident to the hu-
man. party. j

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

25. An inquest was taken at
the Red Lion inn, Hampton, be-
fore Mr. Stirling, Coroner for
Middlesex, upon the view of the
body of John Curtis (a groom),
who died on Tuesday evening, the
22d inst. at the Red Lion, in con-
sequence of receiving some violent
blows on the same day in a pitched
battle with Edward Turner, a
leather-cleaner by trade. After
examining witnesses, the Coroner
addressed the jury at considerable
length, and pointed out to them
that it was their duty by their
verdict to prevent, as much as
possible, a recurrence of such an
unlawful and disgraceful practice.
Verdict—Manslaughter against Ed-
ward Turner.

The Hon. Charles Noel, of Bar-
ham-court, in Kent, was lately
convicted, on the information of
the Earl of Romney, of the sin-
gular offence of having admitted
persons in the neighbourhood, to
the number of more than twenty,
to attend divine service in his
house with his family and do-
mestics.. The Act of Parliament
for this offence is imperative, and
Mr. Noel immediately paid the
penalty, one half of which, after
discharging the expenses of the
prosecution, goes to the poor of
the parish, and the other moiety
to the informer !—Evening paper.

26. Edinburgh.—A very great’
number of people assembled on
Sunday last at the parish church
of Dysart, to hear the farewel
sermon of the Rev. George Muir-
head, now removed to Cramond.
Long before the hour of service
in the afternoon, the church was
crowded, and a number. of pa-
vishioners found it impossible to
get into their seats. In the strug-

gle

CHRONICLE.

ele that ensued, an alarm was
raised that the gallery was falling.
The Earl of Rosslyn and other
gentlemen exerted themselves to
quiet the- apprehensions of the
people, but in vain. In the con-
fusion that was created, some
were thrown down and trampled
on by the crowd pressing towards
the door ; others, impatient to get
out, burst open the windows, and
threw themselves out. Happily
no lives were lost, although se-
veral were conveyed home seri-
ously injured, and a number re-
ceived bruises and lost part of
their clothes in the crowd.

28. Belvoir-castle, the princely
residence of the Duke of Rutland,
and on which, for the last seven-
teen years, his present Grace has
devoted immense revenues, was
visited by a most destructive fire
on the morning of Saturday, the
26th of October, which first broke
out about half-past three. The
whole of what was termed the
old building, comprising three-
fourths of the entire edifice, is
completely destroyed ; nothing but
the walls are left standing. The
new struciure, except the grand
entrance, staircase, and new pic-
ture gallery, is preserved. This
last-named apartment was not
completed, and a workshop had
been established in an adjoining
reom, where it is supposed sufh-
cient care had not been taken to
extinguish the embers in the
grate, a spark from which com-
municating with a barrel of in-
flammable materials, quickly en-
veloped the room in flames, which
proceeded with frightful rapidity
to the staircase, entrance-hall, and
gallery, which were speedily laid
in ruins; it next extended to the

171

part occupied by the domestics,
who had the greatest difficulty in
escaping from the devouring ele-
ment.

Their Graces of Rutland were
at their seat, Cheveley-park ; but
the infant Marquis of Granby,
with the four Ladies Manners,
were in the castle. These persons
were removed to a place of safety
immediately on the alarm being
given, through the exertions of
Sir J. Thoroton.

Unfortunately no engines were
at hand, and it was a very consi-
derable time before any arrived.
That from Belton, the seat of
Lord Brownlow, who personally
attended, and directed its applica-
tion; and the Melton Mowbray
engine, under the superintendance
of Mr. Bright, the agent for the
County Fire-office, who heard of
the fire accidentally ; together with
the Grantham engines, were of the
most essential service, and, by
their unwearied exertions, pre-
served the new edifice, which con-
tains the state apartments, from
destruction. So near an approach
had the fire once made to this part
of the castle, that the flames burst
into the Regent's gallery, which
is 170 feet long, and is filled
with the choicest productions of
art.

Great was the eagerness of the
tenantry to preserve the furniture,
and all attention as to its safe re-
moval was disregarded ; pictures,
cabinets, statues, velvet hangings,
and tapestry, with every descrip.
tion of costly and magnificent de-
corations, were thrown out of the
windows, and scattered on the
lawn. By eleven o'clock the fire
was got under, but the engineers
will be long employed in extin-

guishing

172

guishing the fire still remaining
in the smoking ruins.

The whole of the plate is saved ;
we wish the same could be ob-
served of the pictures—many in-
estimable ones are destroyed.
Amateurs will learn with regret
that the celebrated picture of The
Nativity, by Sir J. Reynolds (for
which his Grace lately refused ten
thousand guineas), is consumed.
From the few historical or scrip-
tural pieces this great master exe-
cuted, the loss is irreparable. The
insurances on the castle amount
to 35,0001.; but the loss, at a
moderate computation, cannot be
less than 120,0001.; as nothing
was saved in the part which is
destroyed. ‘The cavalry, com-
manded by Sir R. Heron, were in
attendance the wholeof Sunday, to
prevent the admission of improper
persons. His Grace arrived at the
Castle about eleven o'clock on Sa-
turday evening, and displayed a
degree of firmness and greatness
of mind on this trying occasion
truly astonishing. Happily no
lives were lost.

Further Particulars.—The fire,
we understand, was first perceived
by Mr. Turner (superintendant of
the works executing under Mr.
Wyatt, the architect), who, hav-
ing got out of bed, found the
apartment used by the carpenters
as a work-shop just bursting into
flames. Mr. Turner immediately
alarmed the Rev. Sir J. Thoroton
(domestic chaplain) and the fa-
mily, and speedily the servants
and numerous workpeople were
assembled ; but the fire had got
such hold of the combustible ma-
terials in the carpenters’ and pain-
ters’ shops, that the hope of ex-
tinguishing it there was soon dis-

ANNUAL REGISTER,

13816.

pelled ; and from the rapid spread-
ing of the conflagration, and the
great want of water, reasonable
fear was entertained that the
whole of the magnificent mansion
would fall a prey to the devouring
element. The young Marquis of
Granby and his four sisters were
at the castle, and were happily re-
moved in safety to the Belvoir-
inn, a short distance from the fire.
Horsemen were sent in all direc-
tions for help, and every exertion
was made on so trying an occa-
sion that the exigency allowed.
The Loveden Yeomanry arrived
in the afternoon, and rendered
great service in preserving the
valuable property removed from
the castle. By twelve o’clock in
the day the flames were subdued,
after destroying the whole of the
old part of the castle, the roof of
which fell in about six in the
morning. The new part of the
extensive pile of building has not
suffered much from the fire; but
great injury has necessarily been
done in the precipitation and
alarm with which in many in-
stances the costly furniture and
pictures were thrown out of the
windows or otherwise removed.
In the part of the castle destroyed
were comprised all the sleeping
rooms of the servants, as well as
the new gallery and some splen-
didly furnished apartments. The
chapel also has been greatly in-
jured by the fire, and is com-
pletely stripped. he amount of
the damage is variously estimated :
by some persons it is carried as
high as 200,0001. A messenger
having been dispatched about six
o'clock to Cheveley, delivered the
afflicting intelligence of the fire to
his Grace on the race-course at

Newmarket.

CHRONICLE.

Newmarket. At ten at night the
Duke reached Belvoir. At that
time all apprehensions of the ca-
lamity spreading further had sub-
sided, but the ruins still burned
intensely. On Sunday his Grace,
in a most feeling manner, return-
ed thanks to all those who had
exerted themselves in extinguish-
ing the fire, or in protecting his
property. More powerful proofs
of reciprocal attachment and gra-
titude were never afforded than
were elicited on this interesting
occasion. - Almost incredible ex-
ertions had been made by indivi-
duals in arresting the fire.

- Edinburgh.—There has” been
some tumult among the colliers
at Calder Ironworks, near Glas-
gow, caused by some of the men’s
wages being withheld for a fort-
night, in consequence of arrests
for debt. Saturday se’ nnight they
assembled at the counting-house,
and having, by striking the clerk,
evinced their determination to
obtain their wages, they ultimately
accomplished payment, and re-
tired from the scene in triumph.
On the Wednesday they attacked
and much damaged the house of
the underground foreman. The
same day a warrant was granted
by the Sheriff, on the petition of
the Procurator Fiscal at Hamilton,
to apprehend certain of the riot-
ers, and to employ military force
in aid of the civil authority. Early
on Thursday morning the warrant
was executed by a party from Ha-
milton, and a troop of the 6th
dragoons guards; and George
Love, David Love, Hugh Wat-
son, and Robert Sharp, suspected
of being particularly active in the
affray, were taken into custody.
They were at first carried to Ha-

173

milton, but it was afterwards
found necessary to remove them
to Glasgow, escorted by dragoons.
About 150 people, it is said, col-
lected at Bothwell-bridge, for the
purpose of rescuing the prisoners;
but as they were brought by blan-
tyre, which is a different route,
the soldiers reached Glasgow un-
molested. ‘The men had not re-
turned to their work on Friday.
A party of the dragoons are still
stationed at the works.

29. Munich.—This evening, at
half-past six o'clock, the mar-
riage of her Royal Highness the
Princess Charlotte of Bavaria with
his Imperial Majesty Francis 1.
Emperor of Austria, King of
Hungary and Bohemia, &c. was
solemnized in the chapel of
the Royal Palace, according to
the rites of the Roman Catholic
church.

The procession to the church
was extremely splendid.

The King and Queen, and all
the Members of the Royal Family,
with their numerous suites, at-
tended the ceremony. After it
was over Te Deum was chanted. A
salute of 300 cannon, the ringing
of all the bells, and three vollies
fired by the garrison and land-
wehr of this capital, drawn up in
the square of Maximilian, an-
nounced the happy event which
binds in the most intimate union
the sovereign and the people of
Austria and Bavaria.

The Bishop afterwards gave to
all present the benedictien, and
the precession returned from the
church to the saloon of Hercules,
where her Majesty the Empress
Queen, theiy Royal Majesties,
the Princes and Princesses, were
pleased to receive the congratula-

tions

174

tions of the Court. In the even-
ing, the city was illuminated.

On Sunday evening, 27th, about
six o’clock, six felons, who had
been cast for death, but reprieved,
and were, in the course of the
night, to have been removed from
Newgate for transportation to
Botany Bay, found means to
break prison, by cutting through
the roof of their cells, situate, at
the top of the gaol, and, tying
their blankets together, so formed
a rope as to let themselves down
in safety, in the space between
the walls of Newgate and the
Physicians’-college. From thence
they made their way over the
yards of two houses to the back
of the County Chronicle pvinting-
office; here the breaking of a
sky-light, over which they were
clambering, caused them to be
discovered by a man on the pre-
mises, who ran down stairs to
give the alarm, but before his re-
turn five of them had jumped into
the adjoining yard of Mr. Letter-
man, and rattling at the door, the
female servant opened it, when
they rushed by her, passed out at
the front of the house, and got
clear off. The sixth, not being
sufficiently alert, was taken in the
printing-office, and conveyed to
Giltspur-street Compter. The
Lord Mayor, who was taking his
rounds, was there almost as secon
as the recaptured prisoner; he
immediately sent information of
the escape to the different police
offices, surveyed every part of
Newgate, externally and inter-
nally, and gave various directions
to prevent a repetition of the cir-
cumstance. The fellow re-taken
was sent off to the hulks yester-
day morning, with a number of
other transports.

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

30. From a Staffordshire Paper.
—In the evening a mob assembled
in the town of Walsall, which,
after breaking the windows of se-
veral bakers, &c. proceeded to the
new mills, about a mile distant
from the town, where they com-
menced the work of demolition
with great fury. Mr. Jones (the
eceupier of the mills) had just
time to escape before their ar-
rival, with a part of his cash and
writings. The rioters either car-
ried away or destroyed every thing
that remained in the house, which
they completely gutted. In the
mean time the magistrates of
Walsall assembled and dispatched
messengers in all directions for
military assistance, and in a short
time a detachment of the 15th
Hussars, under the command of
Lieut. O'Donnell, arrived from
Wolverhampton ; also the Hands-
worth cavalry, commanded by
Capt. Clarke, and a troop of the
Warwickshire yeomany, from Bir-
mingham. By this time, how-
ever, the rioters had nearly dis-
persed, most of them being oc-
cupied with the stowage of their
plunder; and previously to the
arrival of the military, several had
been taken into custody by the
civil power. We are happy to
add, that since Tuesday there
have been no symptoms of dis-
turbance. We cannot dismiss the
subject without noticing, that on
the morning of the day on which
the riot took place, a hawker was
busily employed in circulating
throughout Walsall, copies of the
Nottingham petition (as it is call-
ed) to the Prince Regent.

A Lausanne paper states as fol-
lows :—‘* We have been informed
that some Swiss slaves at Algiers
have obtained their liberty, and

returned

rial Ambassador.

CHRONICLE.

returned to their own country,
under circumstances which create
a lively interest. At first soldiers
in the second Swiss regiment, in
the service of France, made pri-
soners by the Spaniards in 1809,
thrown into Tarragona, trans-
ported to Melille, a Spanish fort
on the coast of Africa, where they
languished three ycars; they
thence deserted to the Moors,
who sold them several times, and,
in fine, they were conducted as
slaves to Algiers, where they
groaned three years and a half in
the severest captivity. Such was
the condition of these unfortunate
creatures, when, about the end of
May last, the Dey sent one of his
polacres to Constantinople, charg-
ed with different presents for
the Grand Seignor, and among
others, with 12 lions and 2 tigers.
The Swiss slaves were charged,
during the voyage, with the care
of these animals. They embarked
them at the risk of their lives, but
arrived at their destination. When
at Constantinople, they were im-
mediately reclaimed by the Impe-
His interven-
tion succeeded; the Swiss ob-
tained their liberty, and were sent
to Trieste, where the Swiss Con-
sul provided them with passports,
and the means necessary for their
return to their country.

31. About eleven o'clock at
night, the Gravesend luggage-
boat, called the Hope, lying at

anchor off Erith, was boarded by

some persons, who fastened the
master and his mate below, and
afterwards broke open the hold,
and stole therefrom 12 quarter
chests of tea and two quarter
chests of coffee, the whole of
which they carried off, and have
hot since been heard of.

175

NOVEMBER.

1. Ireland.—One of those atro-
cious acts of vengeance, the fre-
quency of which brings shame upon
the country, has been again com-
mitted, and under such tremendous
circumstances as beggar all the
power of words to describe them
in their full enormity.

A man named Lynchy, and who
lived at a place within three miles
of Andee, in the county of Louth,
had prosecuted, at the last Assizes
for that county, three men who
kad broken into his house at
night. Upon the testimony of
Lynchy, and of his son-in-law,
Rooney, those malefactors, whose
names were, Tiernan, Shanley,
and Conlan, were convicted, and
suffered death accordingly. Lynchy
was aware of the danger to whieh
his own life was exposed, by hav-
ing brought those house-breakers
to justice; but being a man of a
firm and intrepid character, he
resolved not to change his resi-
dence, and to defend himself
against any violence.

On Tuesday night last, at the
hour of midnight, Lynchy was
deomed to atone, by his death,
for having sought redress from
the public justice of his country.
A bedy of men, supposed to
amount to forty, and well mount-
ed, rode up to his dwelling, which
they surrounded ; and, without a
single compunction at the indis-
criminate destruction in which
they were about to involve so
many, they set fire to this unfor-
tunate man’s house, and destroy-
ed, in this diabolical deed, not
only Lynchy and his son-iu-law,
Rooney, but his wife, two chil-

dren,

176

dren, two servant maids, and two
young men!! Human _ nature
sickens at the contemplation of
such an act of horror, and lan-
guage sinks under the task of
expressing the emotions which it
raises.—Dublin Correspondent.

Mr. Fisher, of Waune, near
Hull, lately went into his harvest-
field, and lay down, and thrusting
his hands under a sheaf of wheat,
felt one of them pricked, but
took no notice of it. {n the
course of a day or two a swelling
ensued with great pain; and not-
withstanding all medical assist-
ance, he died in about four days.
It is supposed he was bit by a
viper.—County paper.

An inquisition was held before
Mr. Hill, Coroner for Worcester-
shire, at the ‘lalbot, Kempsey, on
the body uf Cassia Mace, spinster,
when it appeared from the evi-
dence of Sarah Hoare, a servant
to the deceased’s mother, that on
Monday evening, the deceased
proposed to take some salts, and
desired her to reach them from a
cupboard, where they were in
blue paper, which she did, and
the mother measured three tea-
spoons full, which were dissolved
in water, and when cold, deceased
swallowed them. After swallow-
ing them, she stamped about the
house in the greatest agony, ex-
claiming, ‘‘ Good God, mother,
what have I taken! I have been
taking poison—the boot-top stuff
instead of the salts ;’’ and so it
turned out, for the salts were in
the cupboard in a similar paper,
and of equal quantity; she had
taken oxalic acid. The unfortu-
nate young woman languished in
the greatest agony till the follow-
ing day. Verdict—Casually pot-
soned.

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

2. State of the Navy.—The fol-
lowing is the state and disposition
of the British navy, made up to
the present day:—At sea, of the
line, 12; from 50 to 44 guns,
2; frigates 32; sloops and yachts,
14; brigs, 46; cutters,3; schoon-
ers, &c. 3: total, 112.—In port
and fitting, of the line, 11; from
50 tu 44 guns, 3; frigates, 7;
sloops, &c. 6; brigs, 17 ; cutters,
1; schooners, &c. 4: total 49.—
Guard ships, of the line, 2; hos-
pital ships, prison ships, &c. of
the line, 4; frigates, 1: total,
5.—In commission, of the line,
29; from 50 to 44 guns, 5; fri-
gates, 40; sloops, &c. 20; brigs,
63; cutters, 4; schooners, &c.
7: total, 168.—Ordinary and re-
pairing for service, of the line,
130; from 50 to 44 guns, 19;
frigates 88 ; sloops, &c.24; bombs,
&c. 6; brigs, 117; cutters, 2;
schooners, &c. 5: total, 391.—
Building, of the line, 18; frigates,
9; sloops, &c. 1; brigs, 5: total,
33.—Grand total, 592. Decrease
in the grand total, 26.

About 30 British emigrants,
returned disappointed and cheer-
less, were landed at Greenock,
from the Cheerful, arrived from
New York. There are several
weavers amongst them, who, of
course, could not obtain a liveli-
hood by their trade there, while
British manufactures were selling
so far below the original cost.
‘The sea-ports are full of British
emigrants, seeking some oppor-
tunity or means of returning
home. Captain Beveridge says,
that if he could have taken them,
and carried them gratuitously,
he might have got a thousand
passengers of this description at
New York.

4, In the afternoon, as a Mr.

Cromwel]

CHRONICLE.

Cromwell of Hammersmith, a
malster, a brewer, a coal-mer-
chant, and engaged in other bu-
siness, was returning from the
corn-market in Mark-lane, on
horseback, he was taken unwell.
It is supposed, that his object was
to call upon a customer in Tot-
tenham-court-road. As he was
passing through the neighbour-
hood of Bedford-square, he was
observed by several persons to sit
with difficulty on his horse. On
his arriving in ‘Tottenham-court-
road, he reeled so much, that two
men seized the reins of his horse
and got him off. He had strength
and articulation sufficient to utter
€* corn-chandler’s,”’ which he re-
peated, and nothing else ; which,
together with signs, the people
assisting hin: understood to be to
take him there, which they ac-
cordingly did. ‘The master of the
shop, who knew him, was from
home and in the country: his
wite did not know him, and he
therefore was treated with no
more attention from her than
humanity dictated. He remained
in the shop, and a crowd was col-
lected in consequence, his dress
not bespesking him a man of
wealth or respectability, till he
could be removed to the parish
workhouse. However, some gen-
tlemen passing by chance recog-
nized him, and knowing him to be
wealthy, thought it right to search
his person in the presence of se-
veral witnesses, when they found
bank-notes to the amount of
13001. which they deposited at a
banker’s. A surgeon was sent
for, who attended and examined
him, and declared, that in his
opinion he had been dying during
the last two hours, in consequence
Vou. LVIII.

177

of the breaking of a blood-vessel,
supposed to be near his heart.
On making inquiry to account for
the accident and sudden death, as
he appeared in the morning to be
enjoying his usual good health,
and also when he went to the
corn-market, it appeared, that
some time since, he sold a man
1000 quarters of malt; 300 of
them had been delivered ; some
of the sacks had been objected to
by the man, and Mr. C. in an-
swer said, as he made objections,
he should not have any more. In
the mean time malt rose consi-
derably in price; the man in-
sisted upon having the whole of
the quantity of malt delivered to
him he had agreed for, and Mr.
C. refused. The man in conse-
quence took counsel’s opinion how
to act in the business, who ad-
vised the man to tender the pur-
chase-money, and demand the re-
maining 700 quarters of malt at
the original price agreed upon
before a witness, which the man
did on Monday at the corn-murket,
which put Mr. C. into a vielent
passion, and it was observed, that
he never was heard to utter so
many oaths. It was during this
violent paroxysm of passion, that
he is supposed to have broken the
blood-vessel. There is no doubt
but he has died immensely rich.
He was 75 years old, and has
been accumulating property for a
great number of years, living
himself at the most trifling ex-
pense. He frequently bought his
clothes in Monmouth-street, and
wore them as long as they would
hang together; his breeches were
very greasy and ragged; his
stockings usually contained many
holes; in fact, he could not be

N distinguished

178

distinguished by his dress from
his men. In the summer season
he was frequently up at. three
o'clock, attending to and assist-
ing in loading the brick-carts,
&e. His wealth did not improve
or alter him in his conduet,
manners, or mode of living. He
provided plenty of food for the
house, but it was in a very rough
style—fat pork, fat bacon, &c.
sometimes poultry. His hog-
-feeders and other men sat at
table with him in their working
dress; if a friend happened to
dine with him, his men _ were
made company for them, and he
did not deviate from his daily
plan, although he had company,
. of helping his men first. Although
-large sums were constantly pass-
ving through his hands, he did not
-keep cash at a banker's. He
-made up small bank-notes in par-
-cels amounting to LOOl., and tied
them up with common pieces of
string: he carried large sums
about him. He delighted in tell-
ing his origin and _ progress ;
which was, when he first went
to Hammersmith, he was employed
as a labouring man at a malt-
house. He commenced brewer
. inva very small way, and used to
take the beer out himself in a bar-
row. The Creek brewhouse be-
.came his property, and the sur-
rounding premises. Mr. Crom-
well had been married, and had
one son. His wife had been dead
a number of years: his son died
about three years ago. Although
Mr. C, did not allow himself the
comforts of life, or even in some
instances the common necessaries ,
_yet he was by no means void of
feeling or natural affection to-
wards others. A younger brother

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

died a few years since, leaving
four children unproyided for ; he
sent them to a boarding-school,
and provided for them in other
respects. His two surviving bro-
thers, who live the one at Houns-
low, and the other at Feltham,
are heirs to his immense pro-
perty.

7. Itis determined, that the new
street shall not be proceeded in
further, for the present, than Pic-
cadilly. It will be continued so
far with facades of Ionic columns,
on plaster, corresponding with
those in the square opposite Carl-
ton-house; then two lodges will
be erected on the east and west
of the Regent's palace. The
screening colonnade will be taken
down, and some light kind of
railing or balustrade will be sub-
stituted.

A very heavy gale of wind oc-
curred at Lisbon, in which 33
fishing-boats foundered, and above
100 poor fellows were drowned.
The rapidity with which the gale
came on is remarkable : not more
than 10 minutes before the fatal
catastrophe it was a calm!

The Hamburgh Correspondenten
gives the following account of
the decease of the late Duke of
Mecklenburg Strelitz.

Sirelitz, Nov. 7.—Ourrespected
grand Duke was in good health
during the whole of his tour last
summer, to Rebburg, Schwal-
bach, and Hildburghausen, and
returned amongst us in the sgme
state. Some days after his return
he was attacked by an inflamma-
tion of the lungs, from which,
however, he seemed to have re-
covered in three days, and was
quite well on the 5th of Novem-
ber. But on the 6th, about 5 in

the

CHRONICLE.

the morning, he was attacked by
a fit of apoplexy so severe, that
he lost his faculties ; and in that
state remained till 4 in the after-
noon, when he expired. Of his
children, the2dson, Duke Charles,
was alone present, as the heredi-
tary prince had not returned from
a journey which he set out upon
inautumn. To his subjects this
prince was a true father, who en-
deavoured to mitigate the dis-
tresses of the times with prudence,
fidelity, and affection, and by the
sacrifice of his own personal in-
terests. Germany also will not
forget that he was amongst the
first of the minor powers to de-
clare against the oppressor, and
support the common cause with
all his vigour: The Prussians
will respect in him the father
of their late venerated Queen,
and the English, the brother ot
their excellent Queen. Charles
Louis Frederick was born the 10th
of October, 1741, lived long in
the Hanoverian service, and in
1794 sueceeded his brother in the
government of Mecklenburgh-
Strelitz. The sovereignty, whieh
the extorted Rhenish Confedera-
tion guaranteed to him, he did
not exercise to the oppression of
his own subjects ; and upon the
liberation of Germany he re-
‘eeived an extension of territory
and the dignity of Grand Duke.
He was twice married, and to
two sisters of the House of Darin-
stadt. By the first marriage he
left four children ;—the present
Grand Duke George Frederick
Charles, born in 1779, and _ the
wives of the Duke of Hildburg-
hausen, the Prince of Tour and
Taxis, and the Duke of Cumber-
land. By the second marriege he

179

has left Duke Charles Frederick
Augustus. ;

A short time ago, as Mr. Bras-
sey, of Churton-heath, in Cheshire,
was riding on horseback, in a
field near his house, one of his
own bulls suddenly attacked him,
and ripped open the bowels of
the horse. He then attempted to
toss the horse and its rider, and,
incredible us it may appear, ac-
tually raised them both from the
ground. The horse then fell, and,
by falling upon him, severely
bruised Mr. Brassey. The horse,
however, had sufficient strength
to reach the stable, where it im-
mediately expired. ‘The bull had
been long considered dangerous.
He had been secured by a ring
and chains from the horns; but
one of the chains having got
loose, it is supposed to have been
the reason of his sueceeding in
the attack. The remaining chain
and ring must have caused great
pain, as he did not attempt to
molest Mr. B. after his fall from
the horse.

John Skelton, of Skinburness,
has been ferryman between that
place and Annan Water Foot for
30 years past. On his return
from Annan on Sunday evening
last, about six o'clock, with two
inen and a young woman in the
boat besides himself, the evening
being eXtremely dark, he mis-
toek the course, and ran down
the Scotch instead of the English
channel, and got ashore upon the
sands which part the two chan-
nels, where he cast anchor, and
the passengers took out their lug-
gage, it is supposed, thinking
they were near Skinburness.
Having wandered about in the
dark. between the two channels

N2 nearly

180

nearly seven hours, they could
_ not find their boat again, the tide
came up, and they all perished.
The bodies of John Skelton and
the two men have since been
found upon the sands, and on
Tuesday last an inquest was taken
in view of them before Mr. R.
Mullenden, Coroner.—Verdict dAc-
cidentally drowned. The body of
the young woman has not yet
been discovered. Skelton was 68
years of age ; hc has left a widow
to lament his loss. The other
persons drowned are—Andrew
Neavy, of Annan Water Foot,
labourer ; he has left a wife and
five children. The name of the
other man is unknown. The
young woman is about 20 ycars
of age.

S. A swarm of bees took up
their lodging 8 yeurs ago, be-
twixt the roof and ceiling of a
summer-house, in the garden of
Thomas Holme Maude, Esq. of
Kendal, Jlere the colony has
remained unmolested ever since,
nor has it been known to send
off a swarm. On Wednesday
se’nnight, G. Bellasis, Wsq. had
‘the curiosity to remove part of
the hive, when he found 60lb. of
comb filled with honey, part of
which was become granulated in
the cells from age. Jt appears
from this fact, that the casting
of bees, and the wortality to
which these provident animals are
exposed in unfavourable seasons,
are effects arising from the nar-
row apartments to which they
are confined under the care of
man.

9. The annual solemnity of the
Lord Mayor of London's assum-
ing the insignia of his office was
rendered remarkable by the cir-

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

cumstance of the person chosen,
(Alderman Matthew Wood) being
the same who occupied that im-
portant station in the last year ;
which re-election was owing to
the high opinion entertained by
his fellow citizens of the vigour
and attention with which he had
discharged its duties, and the pe-
culiar necessity of such exertions
at the present critical period.
Another novelty was the conduct-
ing of the procession from West-
minster-hall by land, instead of
the usual return to Black-friars-
bridge by water.

A letter from Weymouth, of
the Sth instant, says-——‘‘ It is with
extreme concern, that I have to
communicate the loss of the ship
Barbadves, Captain Parry, be-
longing to Liverpool, on the 10th
of last month, on the Rocks of
Scilly: she was from Smyrna,
bound to London, witha valuable
cargo. ‘The captain and 15 men
took to two of the ship’s boats,
but soon after leaving the ship
the boats upset, and they all
perished. The chief mate, Mr.
C. Gruuily, the only personsaved,
who is now with me, gives me
the above account: he says he
was the only man that remained
on board; that, after the loss of
the captain and crew, he con-
structed a sinall raft, on which he
was driven to sea; that on the
second day (say the 12th ult.) he
was taken up by a small French
vessel, and landed in France. He
came over to this port yesterday
by the Countess of Liverpool
packet, from Guernsey.”

1]. On the evening of -Satur-
day, about $ or 9 o'clock, a body
of poachers, 7 in number, as-
sembled by mutual agreement on

the

CHRONICLE.

the estate of the Hon. John Dutton,
at Sherborne, Gloucestershire, for
the purpose of taking hares and
other game. With the assistance
of two dogs, and some nets and
snares which they brought with
them, they had succeeded in catch-
ing nine hares, and were carrying
them away, when they were dis-
covered by the gamekeeper, and
seven others who were engaged
with him in patroling the differ-
ent covers, in order to protect
the game from nightly depreda-
tors. Iminediately on perceiving
the poachers, the keeper sum-
moned them in a civil and peace-
able manner to give up their
names, the dogs, implements, &c.
they had with them, and the
gune they had taken; at the
same time assuring them that his
party had fire-arms (which were
produced for the purpose of con-
vincing and alarming them), and
representing to them the folly of
resistance, as, in the event of an
affray, they must inevitably be
overpowered by superior num-
bers, even without fire-arms,
which they were determined not
to resort to, unless compelled in
self-defence. Notwithstanding this
remonstrance of the keeper, the
men unanimously refused to give
up on any terms, declaring, that
if they were followed, they would
give them a ‘‘ brush,”’ and would
repel force by force. The poachers
then directly took off their great
coats, threw them down with the
game, &c. behind them, and ap-
proached the keepers in an atti-
tude of attack. A smart contest
instantly ensued, both parties
using only the sticks or bludgeons
they carried: and such was the
confusion during the battle, that

181

some of the keepers were occa-
sionally struck by their own com-
rades in mistake for their oppo-
nents. After they had fought in
this manner about 8 or 10 mi-
nutes, one of the poachers, named
Robert Simmons, received a vio-
lent blow upon his left temple,
which felled him to the ground,
where he lay, crying out murder,
and asking for mercy. The
keepers immediately very hu-
manely desired, that all violence
might cease on both sides : upon
which three of the poachers took
to flight and escaped, and the re-
maining three, together with Sim-
mons, were secured by the keepers.
Simmons, by the assistance of the
other men, walked to the keeper's
house, where he was placed in a
chair: but he soon after died.
His death was no doubt caused
by the pressure of blood upon the
brain, occasioned by the rupture
of a vessel from the blow he had
received. The three poachers who
had been taken were committed
to Northleach prison. The in-
quest upon the body of Simmons
was taken on Monday, before W.
Trigge, gent. Curoner; and the
above account is extracted from
the evidence given upon that oc-
casion. The poachers were all
armed with bludgeons, except the
deceased, who had provided him-
self with the thick part of a flail,
made of firm knotted crab-tree,
and pointed at the extremity, in
order to thrust with, if occasion
required. The deceased was an
athletic muscular man, very ace
tive, and about 28 years of age.
He resided at Bowle, in Oxford-
shire, and has left a wife, but no
child. The three prisoners were
heard in evidence, and all con-

curred

182

curred in stating, that the keepers
were in no way blameable, and
attributed their disaster to their
own indiscretion and imprudence.
Several of the keeper’s party
were so much beat as to be now
confined to their beds. The two
parties are said to be total stran-
gers to each other, consequently
no malice prepense could have
existed ‘between them; and as it
appeared to the jury, after a most
minute and deliberate investiga-
tion, that the confusion during
the affray was so great, that the
deceased was as likely to be struck
by some one of his own party as
by. the keeper's, they returned a
verdict of — Manslaughter against
some person or persons unknown.
15. The principal bell of the
church of Notre Dame, at Ver-
sailles, was baptized according to
ancient usage; it received the
names of the Duke and Duchess
of Angouleme, who were repre-
sented by the Prince de Foix,
Governor of the Palace of Ver-
Sag and the Duchess de Damas.
. Inverness. The winter has

Rea cn with. a severity al-
most beyond example : frost, rain,
and snow, have been incessant
during the last week; and the
greater proportion ef corn still
uncut, or in stooks, has suffered
material injury. We regret to
say, that several lives have been
lost, Two days ago the bodies
of two women and a child were
found buried in the snow, about
two hundred yards from the great
road near Dalmagavry ; the bo-
dies of two men have been found
in the hills of Aberarder, and two
more are missing. A post-boy
of Bennet’s, coming from the
South, was obliged to leave his

ANNUAL REGISTER,

hard,

1816.

chaise on the road, and would
have been lost, but for the lights
shown from the windows of Moy-
hall, which he reached nearly in
a frozen state. The obvious ad-
vantage of keeping lights, in
stormy nights, in the windows of
houses in the country, has thus
been illustrated in the salvation
of a life, by the provident care of
Sir Mneas and Lady Mackintosh ;
the circumstance sufficiently in-
structs the imitation. The seve-
rity of the present weather was
the less expected, because, al-
though our spring and the latter
part of cur winter are more
stormy, the early part of it to
Christmas is considered much
milder in this country than in the
south.—Inverness Journal.

18. A young man named Po-
cock, apprentice to Mr. Gundry,
grocer, of Devizes, going in the
evening into a wareroom above
the shop, with a candle in his
hand, without the necessary pre~
caution of putting it into a lan-
tern, a spark communicated to
two tubs of gunpowder deposited
there, weighing about 15lbs. each,
andthe explosion was tremendous :
it carried away the front of the
upper part of the house, and
nearly the whole of the roof.
The poor youth was precipitated
down two pair of stairs into the
shop, his face and the upper part
of his body scorched to a cinder.
He died on the following ‘Uhurs-
day.—

Murder of Colonel Newman.—
On Tuesday and Wednesday, the
19th and 20th inst. D. Tuckey,
Esq. coroner for this county, with
the assistance of the Rev. J. Lom-
the Rev. J, Chester and
Richard Tooker, Esq. magistrates

, of

CHRONICLE.

of the neighbourhood of Mallow,
was engaged in the investigation
of this horrid transaction. The
result has been the complete dis-
covery of the whole plan and ac-
complishment of the robbery and
murder, with the apprehension of

the entireparty concerned. Three .

men and one woman have been
fully committed for trial, all of
whom (except one of the men)
were in Colonel Newman's own
employment. It appeared that
the house had been entered from
the lobby-window looking into
the yard, by the help of a ladder,
the sash and glass of which were
found broken in pieces ; but, as
is supposed, were so broken by
design on the party's entering, to
give a colour to the story first
circulated by the servants, that
the house had been broken into
by strangers. On entering the
house, the party went immedi-
ately to the Colonel’s room, the
door of which was not locked,
and strangled him with their
hands as he lay in his bed. He
was found in the morning with
evident marks of violence, his
throat being blackened, and hav-
ing marks of scratches, as if
imprinted by the nails of their
bands) in the struggle, and his
shirt was a little bloody from
the effect of the scratches. The
property taken consisted of a few
bank notes in a small leather
note case, the Colonel’s gold
watch and seals, his pistols, and
the clothes he wore the day be-
fore. Themanner in which New-
berry-house was thronged during
the investigation, fully marked
the abhorrence of the crime. felt
by the whale: neighbourhood, as
well as, the great interest taken
im the melancholy fate of this

185

respected gentleman. The Co-.
lonel commanded the 8th dra-
goons in the campaign in Flan-
ders, and was a man of a most
intrepid character, and of amiable
and inoffensive manners. He was
in his 73d year —Cork paper.
The Royal Gazette of the 19th
of November, published at St.
John’s, Newfoundland, announces,
the melancholy loss on that coast
of the transport ship Harpooner,
Joseph Briant, Master, with more
than half of the unfortunate peo-
ple with whom she was freighted.
The Harpooner left Quebec on
the 27th of October, bound for
London, with invalids, and de-
tachments from the 4th Royal
Veteran Battalion, and other corps
stationed in Canada, and a num-
ber- of women and children, in
all 380. The ship struck on a
reef of rocks off Cape Pine, on
the 10th ult. and shortly filled
with water, when a number of
people between decks were
drowned. The vessel kept toge-
ther. until three. o'clock of. the
morning of the 11th, when the
wreck was hailed by the mate
and four others who had ventured
on shore in a boat, at the hazard
of their lives, aad informed the
sufferers of their situation. For
the boat to return was impossi-
ble; a line was therefore fast-
ened round a dog, which fortu-
nately happened to be on board,
and, being thrown over, he swam
with it on shore, which was the
means of saving the lIlves of the
master, crew, and about 160 pas-
sengers, When the vessel some
time afterwards went to pieces,
upwards of 100 persons were
precipitated. into the. ocean and
perished, —
Cabin passengers og Ne
tain

184

tain Prime, 4th Royal Veteran
battalion, and Lady; Lieut. Mil-
rea, ditto, eldest daughter and
son; Paymaster Scott, ditto;
Mrs. Wilson, “and eldest daugh-
ter; Miss Armstrong, Captain
Willock, 103d regiment: Ensign
Gleeson, ditto.

Cabin passengers lost.—Sur-
geon Armstrong, 4th veteran bat-
talion, his lady, son, and two
youngest daughters ; Lieutenant
Wilson, ditto, son and two daugh-
ters; Mrs. Milrea, and two young-
est daughters ; Miss Pilmore, and
three sons of Captain Prime.

The following affecting narra-
tive of the melancholy disaster
has been sent by one of the sur-
vivors :—

** On the 26th October, detach-
ments of the 4th Royal Veteran
Battalion and their families, with
a few belonging to other corps in
Canada, in all 380, embarked on
board the ship Harpooner, Joseph
Bryant, master, and sailed from
Quebec on the afternoon of the
27th, bound to Deptford; in
charge of Captain Prime. On the
passage to the Gulph of St. Law-
rence, moderate weather and fa-
vourable winds prevailed ; but on
arriving in the Gulph, the weather
proved boisterous, and the wind
contrary; not a sight of land,
nor an observation of the sun,
could be depended upon for se-
veral days. On Sunday evening,
November 10, afew minutes after
nine o'clock, the second Mate, on
watch, called out ‘The ship's
a-ground ;’ at which time she
lightly struck on the outermost
rock of St. Shotts, in the island of
Newfoundland. She beat over,
and proceeded a short distance,
when she struck again and filled;
encircled among rocks, and the

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

wind blowing strong, the night
dark, and a very heavy sea, she
soon fell over on her larboard
beam ends ; and, to heighten the
terror and alarm, it was perceived
a lighted candle had communi-
cated fire to some spirits in the
master’s cabin, which, in the con-
fusion, was with difficulty extin-
guished. ‘The ship still driving
over the rocks, her masts were
cut away, by which some men
were carried overboard. ‘The
vessel drifted over near the high
rocks towards the main. In this
situation every one became ter
rified ; the suddenness of the sea
Fushing in, carried away the births
and staunchions between decks,
when men, women, and children
were drowned, and many were
killed by the force with which
they were driven against the loose
haggage, casks and staves, which
floated below. All that possibly
could, got upon deck, but, from
the crowd and confusion that pre-
vailed, the orders of the officers
and master to the soldiers and
seamen were unavailing—death
staring every one in the face—
the ship striking on the recks as
though she would instantly upset !
The screeching and pressing of
the people to the starboard side
was so violent, that several were
much hurt. About eleven o'clock
the boats on the deck were washed
overboard by a heavy sea: but
even from the commencement of
the disaster, the hopes of any in-
dividual being saved were but
very slight, and, from this cir-
cumstance combined with it ap-
pearing, that the bottom of the
ship was separating from the
upper deck, while the surf beat
over her most violently, it was
considered as impossible. From

this

CHRONICLE.

this time until four o'clock the
next morning, all the wreck were
anxiously praying for the light of
day to break upon them; the
boat from the stern was lowered
down, when the first mate and
four seamen, at the risk of their
lives, pushed off to the shore:
they. with difficulty effected a
landing upon the main land, be-
hind a high rock, nearest to
where the stern of the vessel
had been driven. They were
soon out of sight, and it was
feared they were lost ; but it was
so ordained by Providence, these
deserving men, in scrambling up
the rocks, made their appearance !
they hailed us from the top, and
reported their situation, saying
to return was impossible, as the
boat was staved: the log-line
was thrown from the wreck, with
a hope that they might lay hold
of it, but darkness, and the tre-
mendous surf that beat, rendered
it impracticable. During this
awful time of suspense, it oc-
curred to the master, the possi-
bility of sending a line to them
bya dog : the animal was brought
aft, and thrown into the sea with
a line tied round his middle, and
with it he swam towards the
rock, upon which the mate and
seamen were standing. It is im-
possible to. describe the sensa-
tions which were excited at see-
ing this faithful dog struggling
with the waves, and, reaching
the summit of the rock, dashed
back again by the surf into the
sea, until, at length, by his ex-
ertions, he arrived with the line ;
_ one end of which being on board,
a stronger rope was hauled and
fastened to the rock, and by this
rope the seamen were cnabled to

185

drag on shore from the wreck @
number of souls. At about six
o'clock in the morning of the
Lith, the first person was landed
by this means, and, afterwards,
by an improvement in rigging
the rope and placing each indi-
vidual in slings, they were with
greater facility extricated from
the wreck ; but during the pas-
sage thither, it was with the ut-
most difficulty that the unfortu-
nate sufferers could maintain their
hold, as the sea beat over them ;
some were dragged to the shore
in a state of insensibility —Lieu-
tenant Wilson was lost, being
unable to hold on the rope with his
hands ; he was twice struck by
the sea, fell backwards out of the
slings, and after swimming for a
considerable time amongst the
floating wreck, by which he was
struck on the head, he perished.
Many who threw themselves over-
board, trusting to their safety by
swimming, were lost: they were
dashed to pieces by the surf on
the rocks, or by the floating of
the wreck.

“© About half-past one o’clock,
on the afternoon of the 11th,
about 30 lives were saved by the
rope, several of whom were hurt
and maimed. At this period the
sea beat incessantly over the
wreck, and it being evident the
deck was separating, the only
means of saving the distressed
sufferers failed ; for the rope, by
constant work, and by swinging
across the sharp rock, was cut in
two. From that hour, there being
no means of replacing the rope,
the spectacle was more than ever
terrific; the sea beating over
the wreck with greater violence,
washed numbers overboard : their

heart-

186

heart-rending cries and lamenta-
tions were such as cannot be ex-
pressed—families, fathers, mo-
thers, and children clinging to-
gether! The wreck breaking up,
stern from midships and fore-
castle, precipitated all on it into
one common destruction. Under
these melancholy circumstances
206 souls perished, and the sur-
vivors have to lament the loss of
dear relatives and friends.

“© The officers and men of the
Royal Veteran Battalion, who
were returning home after a long
and arduous service in Canada,
and other remote climates, have
now lost their all—the savings of
many years, what they had looked
upon with a pleasing hope of
making themselves and their fa-
mnilies comfortable with, on re-
tiring from the service of their
king and country. By this un-
fortunate event, the orphan daugh-
ter of Surgeon Armstrong lost her
father, mother, brother, and two
sisters; and the wife and sur-
viving daughter of Lieut. Wilson
are left wholly destitute. The
disaster was so sudden and un-
looked for, that not an article of
baggage was saved; not even
money, of which some had cen-
siderable sums, the produce of
their effects sold at Quebec, which
were paid for in guineas, on ac-
count of bills uf exchange being
attended with a loss of seven and
a half per cent. : for immediately
after the ship struck she bilged
and filled, drowning some who,
from motives of humanity, at-
tempted to secure articles of dress
for the distressed females, who
were hurried on deck in an un-
dressed state.

“ The rock which the surviv-

=

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

ors were landed upon was about
100 feet above the water, sur-
rounded at the flowing of the
tide: it being high water soon
after the latter of them was
saved, it was found impossible for
these distressed objects to be got
over to the main land watil: the
next morning: on the top of this
rock they were obliged to remain
during the whole of the night
without shelter, food, or nowrish-
ment, exposed to wind and rain,
and many without shoes : the only
comfort that presented itself was
a fire, which was made from
pieces of the wreck that had been
washed ashore.

“ At day-light on the morning
of the 12th, at low water, their
removal to the opposite land was
effected, some being let down by
a rope, others slipping down a
ladder to the bottom. After they
crossed over, they directed their
course to a house or fisherman's
shed, distant about a mile and a
half from the wreek, where they
remained until the next day: the
proprietor of this tmiserable shed
not having the means of supplying
relief to so considerable a number
as took refuge, a party went over
land to Trepassy, about 14 miles
distant, through a marshy coun-
try, not inhabited by any human
creature,and the foot- path through
amorass. This party arrived at
Trepassy, and reported the event
to Messrs. Jaekson, Burke, Sims,
and the Rev. Mr. Brown, who
immediately took measures for
alleviating the distress, by dis-
patching men in their employ
with provisions and spirits, to
assist in bringing all those for-
ward to ‘Trepassy who could
walk. Necessity prompted many

, to

CHRONICLE.

to undertake this journey bare-
footed; the hardships and priva-
tions which they were enduring
were so excessively great: On

the 13th, in the evening, the ma--

jor part of the survivors (assisted
by the inhabitants, who during
the journey carried the weak and
feeble upon their backs), arrived
at Trepassy, where they were
billeted by order of the Magis-
trate, proportionably upon each
house.

«There still remained at St.
Shotts, the wife of a sergeant of
the Veteran Battalion, who was
delivered cn the top of the rocks
shortly after she was saved; the
child and herself are doing well.
A private whose leg was broke,
and a woman severely bruised by
the wreck, were also necessarily
left there.

«Immediately after the arrival
at Trepassy, measures were adopt-
ed for the comfort and refresh-
ment of the detachments. Boats
were provided for their removal
to St. John’s. This being effect-
ed, his Excellency, Admiral Pick-
more, the Governor, Major King,
commanding the troops, the mer-
chants, and gentlemen of St.
John’s, most promptly and gene-
rously came forward in the most
handsome manner to the relief of
the surviving sufferers. After
remaining ten days at St. John’s,
refitting the distressed with clo-
thing and necessaries, his Excel-
lency the Admiral chartered the
Mercury, of Poole, to bring them
to Portsmouth. On this melan-
choly circumstance it is but jus-
tice to mention, that Mr. Joseph
Bryant, master, Mr. Atkin:on,
mate; and the seamen of the Far-
pooner, deserve great credit for

187

their unceasing exertions: to their’
labour those that came on shore
by the rope in a great measure
owe their safety."

20. The Archduke Nicholas,
brother of the Emperor of Russia,
arrived in Londen at St. Albans-
house, with his suite in eight
carriages. They had landed at
Deal, whence the Archduke pro-
ceeded to Dover, where he visited
the castle with all the fortitica-
tions. His arrival was formally
announced to the Prince Regent,
who commanded that every at-
tention should be paid him during
his residence in England. He is
said in countenance much to re-
seinble the emperor.

A second instance of death oc-
casioned by taking through mis-
take a quantity of the oxalic acid,
appeared at an inquest upon the
body of the wife of Thomas Fage
on Tower-hill, a man of unex-
ceptionable character, under the
following extraordinary circum-
stances. The account given by
her husband was, that he was
walking with his wife on Satur-
day evening in the Borough-road,
when he kicked before him, on
the foot pavement, a small packet
wrapped in plain blue paper, and
tied round with string, which he
picked up; but, supposing it
dropped as a trick, he was about
throwing it down again, when
his wife took it out of his
hand, and urged him to look at
the contents: on opening the
paper, his wife said it was fine
Epsom salts, and just what she
wanted, and she tock it home.
She communicated what her hus-

‘band had found to a fellow-lodger,

but ‘neither she nor the husband
remonstrated against her using
the

188

the article so found, supposing
her to have sufficient knowledge
of it, she having lived in an apo-
thecary's service before her mar-
riage. On the following morning,
she complained of a pain in her
bowels while dressing, and said
she would take the supposed salts ;
she then dissolved them in warm
water, and after some hesitation
between her husband and herseif
as to which of them should take
the mixture (they both occasion-
ally being in need of purgative
medicine), she drank the fatal
dose. The singularity of the c:r-
cumstances produced a strong sen-
sation of suspicion in the neigh-
bourhood as to the conduct of the
husband, but his evidence was
corroborated in all the material
parts, and particularly by two
young men residing in the Kent-
road, who came forward in con-
sequence of a hand-bill which
Fage had caused to be distributed,
by whose evidence it appeared,
that the one had, on Saturday
evening, purchased an_ article
(wrapped in the manner above
narrated), under the name of acid
of sugar, at the shop of Mr. Irish,
druggist, in Blackman-street, for
the purpose of making a solution
to clean boot-tops, which he de-
livered to his companion, who
lost it out of his pocket in his
way home, they pursuing the
course which Fage and his wife
afterwards took ; and in conse-
quence of losing the packet, after-
wards returned, and purchased
another quantity of the same
article at the same shop, and
which they both stated to have a
similar appearance to L:psom salts.

21. A French paper states, that
the use of vitiated rye has pro-

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

duced a singular disease, causing
cruel ravages in the commune of
Beaurepaire, department of the
Isere. The effects of this poison
are described as frightful. It acts
with great rapidity even on the
strongest men, producing gan-
grene in all the limbs, which it
detaches from the joints ina man-
ner so horrible, that unfortunate
creatures have been seen to live
for some weeks in the greatest
agonies with only the trunk re-
maining. In this disease emetics
have been prescribed, followed
by antispasmodics, and especially
strong doses of opium, the seda-
tive virtues of which have been
very useful. The parts threaten-
ed ure sometimes recovered by the
application of cloths dipped in a
decoction of Jesuit’s bark. Ad-
ministered internally, this latter
remedy produced no_ sensible
effect.

22. Madrid.—The King has
granted to the Community of the
Dominican Monks of our Lady
of Atocha, the privilege of sell-
ing for their own profit four Cas-
tilian titles (of marquis or count),
two of which shall be free in per-
petuity from the taxes of lance
and demi-annate; the produce
of this sale is to be employed in
the restoration of the chapel of
the Virgin. This pious conces-
sion is not new in Spain, titles
having been granted the same
way on various occasions since
the reign of Philip V. The Ex-
chequer being exhausted of ready
money, the King permits the re-
ligious fraternity which he wishes
to aid, to sell a privilege the pro-
duce of which would have other-
wise found its way directly into
the Iixchequer.

20. Bedford

CHRONICLE.

26. Bedford (Pennsylvania).—
On Saturday, the 23d inst. as
Mr. Peter Sinith, of Greenfield-
township, in this county, was
kindling a fire near where he in-
tended to hew sled runners, five
miles distant from any house, in
the Alleghany-mountain, he was
mortally wounded withtwo bullets,
fired at him by George Dively
and John Lingenfelter, they mis-
taking him for a bear. One ot
the said bullets penetrated his
body a little above the hip on the
left side, and went out at his
right shoulder ; the other entered
his back, and lodged in his body.
On the following day an inquest
was held, which, after ecxamim-
ing witnesses, &c. gave it as their
opinion, ‘ that said persons had
no intention whatever of injuring
or killing said deceased." —New
York Puper.

31. At the fuir of Falkirk, an
exhibition of wild beasts was
made in a caravan, in the market-
place, when a girl of about 3
years of age, in the charge of her
sister, who is about 17 years of
age, while witnessing it, was
seized by a leopard, which (though
every means that the circum-
stances of the case afforded were
used to save the child) lacerated
the right arm to that degree that
amputation from the -shoulder
was found necessary. It is ex-

‘pected, however, that the child
will live. As the animal was pro-
perly secured by a close iron grat-
ing, it appears that the accident
happened wholly from what may
be considered an inattention on
the part of the girl, fur the pur-
pose of gratifying the curiosity of
her little sister, by suffering her
to put her hand forth unubserved,

189
DECEMBER.

1. In the case of the King
versus the Chief Baron of the
Cowt of Exchequer, recently
tried in the Court of King’s
Bench, Dublin,, and in which the
verdict was in favour of the
Crown, Judges Day and Daly
delivered their opinions to the
Jury in favour of the Crown, and
Mr. Justice Osborne in favour of
the Chief Baron. The office of
Clerk of the Pleas, the appoint-
ment to which formed the subject
of the issue, now estimated at
20,0001. a year, had an annual
salary of five marks attached to it,
3l. 16s. 8d. and was actually sold
in reversion, in the year 1596,
by the then occupant, a Richard
Rowe, to a gentleman of the
name of Carroll, a citizen of
Doblin, for sol.

On Sunday evening between
six and seven o'clock, the house
of Mr. Howard, a farmer, 90
years of age, at Yewsley, near
Drayton, inthe parish of Hilling-
don, Middlesex, was entered by a
gang of robbers, supposed to be
four, in a disguised state, and
robbed of considerable property,
1501. in cash and notes at least.
A man and boy, who lived in the
house, went out about six o'clock,
when they left the aged man and
his housekeeper, 73 years of age,
in the kitchen. On their return
to the house they found that it
had been robbed of the valuable
property, and the aged people
lay on the floor, presenting a
most horrid spectacle from the
wounds and bruises which they
had received. Their heads were
cut in several places: they were
insensible, It was discovered

fron

190

from the bleody state of part of a
flail used for thrashing corn, that
the wounds had been inflicted by
that instrument. A surgeon,was
procured, but his assistance was
of no avail. The poor old man
died of his wounds on Monday,
about four o'clock. His house-
keeper remained in an insensible
state, and was living yesterday
morning, but very little hopes
were entertained of her recovery.

Chippenham, (Wilts). —- Early
this morning, about three o'clock,
the corn and flour- mill (the larg-
est and most extensive for many
surrounding miles) belonging to
Messrs. Dowling and. Gaby, of
this town, was discovered to be
on fire, and, together with its
stock of wheat and flour, was in
a few hours totally destroyed.
The damage is estimated at
10,0001. and upwards, ‘The im-~-
mediate consequence of this is,
that on our next market wheat
will of course rise considerably.
There can be no doubt of its
having been purposely set on fire.
Upon the first alarm, the flames
were discovered issuing from
three different places at the sane
time—from the right, from the
left, and centre of the building.
Besides, the proprietors only last
Thursday received an incendiary
letter, containing .a threat that,
unless the price of flour was
lowered (that is to say, unless
they consented to give up the
profits of their trade), their mill
and house would be burnt. The
house, which stands on the other
side of the road, is untouched,
and the proprietors are insured.
It is remarkable, that fhere as
few unemployed poor at Chippen-

ham at this moment as have been

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

remembered there for these many
years past.

2. On this day a riot took place
in the metropolis, which for a
time put on a very alarming ap-
pearance. About a fortnight pre-
ceding, a popular meeting had
been held in Spafields, chiefly at
the instigation of Mr. Henry
Hunt, once a candidate for re-
presenting the city of Bristol, for
the purpose of presenting a peti-
tion to the Prince Regent from
the distressed manufacturers and
mechanics. By means of hand-
bills dispersed over London, the
people were invited to attend at
the same place on this day in order
to hear the answer to their peti-
tion. A considerable crowd was
assembled, which was waiting
the appearance of Mr. Hunt about
the Merlin’s Cave public-house,
when, about twelve o’elock, an-
other crowd, with tri-coloured
flags and a banner, entered an-
other part of the field, in the
midst of which a waggon was
stationed. This was ascended by
three or four persons, one of
whom, by name Watson, an in-
digent person of the medical pro-
fession, made a very inflammatory
harangue to the surrounding po-
pulace, in which-he was succeed-
ed by his son. They then descend-
ed from the waggon, and attend-
ed by a number of followers,
among whom were many sailors,
proceeded to Clerkenwell. Pass-
ing thence through Smithfield,
they went to Snow-hill, and a
cry for arms being raised, they
attacked the shop of Mr. Beck-
with, a gunsmith. Here a young
man, the first who entered, de-
manding arms, was told to go
about his business by a Mr. Platt

who

ele GERRONACLE,

who was casually present, when
he drew a pocket-pistol, and dis-
charged its contents into Mr. P's.
body.
The leading rioters, seizing all
the fire-arms in the shop, march-
_ed on into the city, and as they
proceeded through © Cheapside,
loaded and discharged their pieces.
They were not very numerous,
but appeared desperate, and bent
upon mischief. On arriving at
the Royal Exchange, they entered
it in marching order, and were
there met by the Lord Mayor,
Alderman Sir James Shaw, and
a strong party of police. When
the greatest part of the rioters
had passed through the opposite
gate of the Exchange, all the
gates were closed, by which
means three persons possessed of
plundered arms were seized and
taken into custody. Their com-
rades on the outside in a rage at-
tempted to burst open the gates,
‘and not able to effect this, they
fired over the top of the gates at
the Lord Mayor and his party.
A fresh force arriving to his Lord-
ship’s assistance, they moved off
towards the Minories, with the
dangerous purpose of obtaining a
large supply of fire-arms at the
pererithe shops in that strect.
wo of these they broke open
and pillaged of a number of arti-
cles, among which there were
two small brass field-pieces. It
appears that through some want
of intelligence or co-operation in
the regular authority, the rioters
were suffered to keep possession
of this part of the town for a
considerable time; but the parties
of soldiers, and the civil power,
were collecting around, and were
placed for the defence of all those

191

places where serious hazard might
be apprehended ; so that, in fact,
the tumult, daring and alarming
as it might seem, was wholly in-
adequate to endanger the safety
of the capital. The rioters, find-
ing themselves incapable of any
important operation, began to
disperse in detached bands, which
employed themselves in petty mis-
chief in different quarters; but
the evening and the night were
rendered tranquil by numerous
patroles of horse, and all disorder
subsided with the day.

It appears certain that this in-
surrection, as it may be termed,
had no connection with the politi-
cal meeting at Spafields, though
it took advantage of the occasion
to collect its numbers. Whilst
the outrages were beginning, Mr.
Hunt and his associates were
exercising their oratorical powers
upon the assembly which staid to
hear them, and inveighing upon
topics calculated, indeed; to in-
flame the public discontents, but
not passing the usual limits of
popular declamation.

5. A few days ago a servant in
the occupation of Mr, Chamber-
lin, of Kempston, Norfolk, ad-
ministered a large portion of hel-
lebore to three horses, under an
idea of making their coats look
fine. The animals soon evinced
the most alarming symptoms, such
as violent foaming at their mouths,
ebullitions in the throats and sto-
machs, shaking and trembling,
&c. No antidote could be found
to such a destructive medicine,
and they died in great agony. On
Sunday last, the same circum-
stance occurred to three beautiful
horses belonging to Mr. Stanford,
of Litcham, in the same county

but

192

but they not having taken it to
so great an extent, are considered
out of danger. Jt is hoped that
this will serve us a caution to
servants, not to endanger their
masters’ property by giving horses
a medicine of such a poisonous
nature.

7. Caledonian Mercury.—‘* On
Wednesday night, about eight
o'clock, in consequence of con-
siderable shipments of grain,
and a sudden rise in the price
of meal, a mob, to the number
of about 2000 persons, assem~
bled in the streets of Dundee and
proceeded in a riotous manner
to attack every house which con-
tained articles of food. Having
plundered upwards of 100 shops
of various descriptions, they pro-
ceeded tu the house of Mr. Lind-
say, an extensive corn-dealer,
and after stripping it of every
thing valuable, set it on fire.
appears, however, that this daring
and outrageous act was not cuin-
mitted without some degrec of
remorse, as the house was twice
set on fire and as often extinguish-
ed by their own hands. For a
considerable time the streets pre-
sented nothing but a luwless and
disorderly mob of people running
in all directions, with cheeses,
sugar, hams, &c.; of course, the
grocers must have suffered con-
siderably.”

6. Dundee Courier—‘ The Ma-
gistrates called a meeting of the
inhabitants at eleven o'clock yes-
terday forenoon, which was nu-
merously and respectably attend-
ed. The object of the meeting
was, of course, to provide against
the recurrence of such disgraceful
scenes in future. The town was
divided into eleven districts, and a

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

great number of individuals were
appointed to protect the peaceable
inhabitants: so that there is now,
while this system is acted upon,
no danger of any disturbance.
The meal-market was re-opened,
and quantities of meal were car-
ried there and sold.”

A wire bridge for foot passen-
gers, after the model of those
constructed in America, which
are so serviceable in crossing ra-
vines, small lakes, &e. in that
country, has just been erected
across the Gala at Galashiels,
N. B. and is found to answer the
purpose extremely well, and to
every appearance may last for a
number of years at little or no ex-
peuse. The span, which is 111
fect, and the breadth three feet,
makes it very neat and light in
appearance, though, with safety,
20 or 30 people may be upon it
atatime. The whole expense of
this useful little bridge is only
201.

10. A large mass of the bones
of that extraordinary, but now
extinct, animal which has re-
ceived the name of the mammoth,
as well as of other quadrupeds,
has been discovered at Cronstadt,
in Wurtemberg. When the late
King of Wurtemberg was inform-
ed that the teeth of the mammoth
and elephant, found at Cronstadt,
merited the attention of natural-
ists, he gave orders for the most
accurate researches. They at first
found a great quantity of the teeth
of mammoths, elephants, rhino-
ceroses, horses, and stags; and
on the second day they discovered
a great mass of these teeth, which
were justly an object of general
astonishment, Thirteen were
twisted together, like enormous

serpents,

CHRONICLE.

serpents, at a depth of near 7
feet. The largest of these teeth,
although it was but a fragment,
was 3 feet in circumference, and
8 feet in length. These bones
have, by the King’s order, been
transported to the Cabinet of Na-
tural History.

11. His Royal Highness the
Duke of Glocester repeated, last
week, his annual visit to Mr.
Coke, at Holkham, and partook
of the sports of the field. Two
hundred and fifty-four head of
game were killed in one day,
though the rabbits have been lat-
terly chiefly destroyed, on account
of their depredations ; and though
the breed both of partridges and
pheasants has been worse than
was ever known. On Friday, the
shooting party repaired to War-
ham, and were followed during
the greater part of the day by a
bird of prey, which constantly
attended their motions, and was
repeatedly fired at while hovering
over their heads, without betray-
ing the smallest symptoms of ap-
prehensionand alarm, even though
the shot was heard to rattle on its
feathers. In the afternoon it de-
scended from its a€rial flight, and
settled on a tree, where it allowed
Mr. Coke, attended by a boy hold-
ing a dead pheasant dangling in
his hand, to approach sufficiently
near to get a shot at it, which
brought it to the ground. It
proved to be a most beautiful fe-
male specimen of that rare bird
the Falco Lagopus, or rough-leg-
ged falcon, measuring very nearly
5 feet across the wings, and 2
feet 1 inch in length. The male
bird had attended the chase at
Wighton justin the same manner
two days before, and had boldly
carried off from a heap of game

Voy LVIU.

193

two partridges. He was next day
caught, also, in a trap, by the
keepers, and both of them were
presented by Mr. Coke to the
Rev. G. Glover, as a most valu-
able accession to his collection of
British birds.

12. A fire, most destructive in
its consequences, broke out at
Marsh Farm, Herts, adjoining
Marsh-cottage, the residence of
Major Skeene, which consumed
the whole range of buildings, to-
gether with part of the dwelling-
house, situated to the eastward
of the farm. Sixty head of cattle
were destroyed or ruined. The
fire was occasioned by two boys
being intrusted with a candle in
the stable, to get a team ready to
go out at four in the morning,
one of whom received much in-
jury. That part of the house de-
stroyed had lately been fitted up
with new furniture,.and no in-
surance had been effected.

14. The valuable and extensive
manufactory called the Albion
Mills, at Manchester, were com-
pletely burnt down. The fire is
said to have arisen from a boy
having accidentally dropped a
candle on some loose cotton. The
damage is estimated at 25,0001.

15. New South Wales.—The
Zebra sloop of war, which ar-
rived at Portsmouth from New
South Wales, brings intelligence
from that colony to March last,
and also a series of Sydney Ga-
zettes. These papers contain a
nairative of a tour made by Mr.
Evans, under the direction of the
Governor, in the late'y explered
country to the westward of the
Blue Mountams. Mr. Evans
proceeded from Bathurst with
instructions to pursue the dis-
coveries as much further west-

ward

194 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

ward as the unforeseen occur-
rences to which a traveller, in an
unexplored country, might be ex-
posed, would permit. On the
13th of May, 1815, he com-
menced his tour, and on the 2d
of June, finding his provisions
would not enable him to proceed
further, he began to retrace his
course back to Bathurst, where
he arrived on the 12th of June,
having been absent 31 days. In
the course of this tour, he tra-
velled over a vast number of rich
and fertile vallies, with succes-
sions of hills well covered with
- good and useful timber, chiefly
the stringy bark and the pine, and
the whole country abounding
with ponds and gullies of fine
water ; he also feilin with a large
river, which, he conceives, would
become navigable for boats at the
distance of a few days’ travelling
along its banks. From its course,
he conjectures that it must join
its waters with those of the Mac-
quarie river; and little doubt can
be entertained that their streams
must form a navigable river of
very considerable size.

At a distance of about sixty
miles from Bathurst, Mr. Evans
discovered a number of hills, the
points of which end in perpendi-
eular heads, from 30 to 40 feet
high, of pure lime-stone of a
misty gray colour. At this place,
and also throughout the gencral
course of the jourrey, kangaroos,
enues, ducks, &c. were seen in
great numbers; and the new
river, to which Mr. Evans gave
the name of the Lachlan, abounds
with fish. The natives appeared
more numerous thay at Bathurst;
but so very wild, and apparently
so much alarmed at the sight of
white men, that he could not in-

duce them to come near, or to
hold any intercourse whatever
with him. At the termination of
the tour Mr. Evans saw a good
level country, of a most interest-
ing appearance, and a very rich
soil: and he conceives that there
is no barrier to prevent the tra-
velling further westward to al-
most any extent that could be
desired. The distance travelled
by him on this occasion was 142
measured miles out ; which, with
digressions to the southward,
made the total distance 155 miles
from Bathurst. He adds at the
same time, that having taken a
more direct line back to Bathurst
than that by which he left it, he
made the distance then only 115
miles; and he observes, that -a
good road may be made all that
length without any considerable
difficulty, there not being more
than three hills which may not be
avoided.

The Governor has made several
excursions into various parts of
the interior to observe the general
progress of the agricultural and
grazing concerns of the colony,
and has published the result of
his observations. It was with
much regret his Excellency had
frequently to remark, that among
the lower order of the settlers
great slovenliness and neglect of
the most obvious and necessary
duties of farmers were but too
frequent and evident in their per-
sonal appearance, and the state
of their farms, in regard to cul-
tivation and improvement. This
remark is meant to apply more
particularly to the settlers in those
fertile and luxuriant tracks on the
banks ef the Nepean and Hawkes-
bury, where nature has been most
bountiful; as there the settlers

seem

a

CHRONICLE.

seem to have done least to im-
prove their own condition, or to
render their farms productive in
any degree equal to what might
be reasonably expected.

16. A fire broke out near Wap-
ping Docks, which was not en-
tirely subdued at a late hour last
night. The fire commenced in
the warehouses of Messrs. Viner
and Co., and was occasioned by
the drying of grain in the kiln,
These premises were consumed
in a very short time after the fire
was discovered, as were those of
Mr. Waldie, a vintner. The ex-
tensive workshops and premises
of Messrs. Oliver, which were
situated on the other side, soon
caught fire, and burnt with great
fury, when the utmost apprehen-
sion was entertained for the ad-
joining houses, and some ship-
ping on the stocks. Fortunately,
however, the flames did not ex-
tend beyond these buildings,
which were completely destroyed ;
but ach alarm prevailed on ac-
count of Messrs. Oliver having
about 60 chaldrons of coals in their
cellars, to which it was feared the
fire would communicate. These
gentlemen were insured to a large
amount, though not equal to the
loss they must sustain. The
powerful body of water from the
engine of the Dock Company was
exceedingly instrumental in pre-
venting the flames from spreading.

18. Vienna.—Alarming ae-
counts ave received from various
parts of the Austrian Monarchy
respecting the daily increasing
dearness of provisions. In some
parts of the Tyrol, the Salzburg
mountains, Upper Carinthia,! and
the greatest part of Illyria, there
is such a searcity, that the people

195

have recourse to. bread made of
bran and powdered bark of trees.
In the environs of Agram the
country people farm the woods,
in order that they may catch the
rats in them, which are smoked,
and considered as a delicacy. The
accounts from Bohemia are also
far from consolatory, and it is
feaved that the mountainous parts
may be distressed by famine in
spring, which will have the most
fatal consequences for the nu-
merous. manutactories in those
parts, The capital itself, as the
tables of importation show, must
be better provided than last year.

20. College of Edinburgh.—The
Parliamentary Commissioners, ap-
peinted to manage the yearly
grant of 10,0001. voted by Par-
liament to be laid out in finishing
the College of Edinburgh, met on
the 7th inst. in order to receive
plans and specifications for the
completion of the building. The
plan of Mr, Wm. Playfair being
adopted, the prize of 100 guineas
was adjudged to that gentleman.
The second prize of 80 guineas
was awarded to Mr. Burn. <Ac-
cording to Mr. Playfair's plan we
understand that the exterior of
the building, as oviginally plan-
ned by Adams, is to be retained
with very little alteration; but
there will be a total departure
from the internal arrangements.
The southern side of the quad
rangle is to be occupied. almost
entirely by the library, which will
be 190 feet long, and one of the
most elegant rooms in the king-
dom. The western side is. to be
appropriated to the Museum; and
the other two sides are to be oc-
cupied chiefly as class-rooms. The
original proposal of aecommodat-

ing

196

ing the professors with houses in
the college is entirely abandoned.

A burglary, attended with cir-
cumstances of peculiar atrocity,
occurred at Gretna-hall, near
Springfield, the residence of P.
Gibbs, &c. The following are the
particulars :—About one o'clock
in the morning, the servant man,
hearing @ noise in an apartment
adjoining that in which he lay
resembling the crackling of fire,
proceeded to the spot, when he
found this room and three others
in flames. The family was im-
mediately alarmed, and it was
presently discovered, notwith-
standing the confusion of the
scene, that 63 guineas had been
taken from a desk, This cireum-
stance, coupled with the fact of a
ladder having been left against
the window of one of the blazing
rooms, left no room for doubting
that the robbery had been effected
by some villains well acquainted
with the premises, and who, after
effecting the robbery, had set fire
to the mansion in different parts,
for the purpose of escaping de-
tection. The Rev. Mr. Morgan,
minister of the parish, with laud-
able alacrity, alarmed the neigh-
bourhood, by ordering the church
bell to be rung. Though great
numbers had by this time assem-
bled to render assistance, the
flames continued to rage furiously
until about five o’clock, when
they were at length subdued, after
very considerable damage had
been sustained to the building,
and a quantity of furniture and
some very valuable pictures con-
sumed. A precognition is now
going on.——Dumfries Weekly
Journal.

21. Waterford.—Some time be-
fore five o'clock on Wednesday

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

morning, Thomas Cosker, farmer
of Cullenstown, between Ross
and Tagmon, in the county of
Wexford, left home with a load
of corn for Ross. His only ser-
vant, James Kavanagh, went a
short way with him, and then re-
turned. It appears, that imme-
diately upon his return, he dread-
fully beat his master’s wife, who
lay in bed, and left her for dead ;
a very small infant, who lay with
her, was killed, as is supposed,
by the first blow. He had pre-
viously locked up three other child-
ren, and terrified them with hor-
rible threats and imprecations.
The monster finished by robbing
the house of about sixty pounds
in bank-notes and cash. The vil-
lainy was not discovered until far
in the morning, when some of the
neighbouring women chanced to
call. The little prisoners were re-
leased, and from them alone could
any account be gathered of these
complicated horrors. The poor
woman could barely ‘be said to be
alive, but was utterly speechless,
and quite incapable of comnruni-
cation. Late on Wednesday even-
ing she still lived, but afforded
no expectation of recovery. After
the herrid deed Kavanagh ab-

“sconded.

24. It appears by letters re-
cently received from our ships of
war in the West Indies, that a
fever has prevailed on board some
of them, peculiarly fatal in its
nature to those attacked by it.
Among other vessels the Sca-
mander, it is said, has lost six
officers, including the surgeon,
four midshipmen, and two clerks.
The Childers, in the short period
of a month, has been deprived of
several officers by the same un-
fortunate cause, besides five pur-

gers

CHRONICLE.

sers successively appointed to
her, and upwards of 30 men.
28. Calamity at Chirk, in Wales.
—([Extract of a letter.]—* It is
not without strong feelings of re-
gret, that I communicate an ac-
count of the destruction of the
extensive collieries at Chirk, in
Denvighshire. On Saturday even-
ing, the 28th ult. owing, as it is
supposed, to inattention in the
servants of the Ellesmere Canal
Company, the stop-gates, plugs,
&e. for regulating the quantity of
water on that part of the canal
which is embanked up to Chirk
aqueduct, were neglected: the
fatal consequence was, that the
embankment being overpowered
by the great weight of super-
fluous water, gave way, and fall-
ing down a precipice, completely
dammed up the river Ceriog,
which flows below it, and over
which the canal is continued by
an aquedurt. The water being
thus impeded, quickly found its
way in another direction, and in
half an hour every pit belonging
to the colliery was filled with
water, earth, gravel, &c. The
machinery was torn in pieces by
the tremendous force of the cur-
rent, and very considerable dam-
age done tothe surrounding coun-
try. Had it not been for the ju-
dicious and timely interference of
Mr. Ed. Davies, engineer to the
Chirk colliery, in stopping the
wickets or stop-gates of the canal,
the whole of its water, increased
by the overflowing of the Dee
river, which is received by a
feeder into the canal, must have
swept away Chirk mills, and
every thing in the valley, into
one general destruction. Most
providentially this was the only
night in which, for several years

197

past, the workmen were absen?
from the pits! They had been
allowed a little time to collect
Christmas bounties, &c. and thus
this dreadful calamity is not ag-
gravated by the loss of so many
valuable lives as must have been
otherwise inevitably — sacrificed.
All the horses employed in the
works were instantly drowned.
The immediate loss to the pro-
prietors of the works is immense,
and the destruction of so valuable
a colliery, which has for a long
series of years produced fuel for
the country and employment for
its poor, is, asa public calamity,
irretrievable.”

29. An Inquest was held at Bols-
over, Derbyshire, before George
Gosling, gent. Coroner for the
Hundred of Scarsdale, on the body
of Sarah Wild the elder, who fe-
loniously poisoned herself, and
William Wild, George Wild, and
Sarah Wild, three of her infant
children.

Thomas Whitehead, of Bolsover
aforesaid, being examined upon
oath, stated, that about the latter
end of November last, the de-
ceased, Sarah Wild the elder,
came to his shop, and asked to
purchase two-penny worth of cor-
rosive sublimate, and he sold to
her a quarter of an ounce; and
after he had delivered the same to
her, the deceased then went into
his house and held a conversation
with him and his wife, and stayed
for at least an hour, and then
went ‘away. Witness said that
the deceased came again in about
a week after, and purchased from
him another quarter of an ounce
of the same sublimate, which he
sold to her. Witness said, that
at the time he sold the deceased
the aforesaid sublimate, and from

the

198

the long knowledge he had of her,
the deceased was of sound mind
and understanding.

William M‘Leen, minister of
the Independent persuasion, stated
upon his oath, that he had several
times attended upon the deceased
during her illness, when he ask-
ed the deceased if it was the
temptation of the moment that
Jed her to commit the horrid
erime which she had committed,
when the deceased replied it was
not through the temptation of the
moment or of the hour, but that
she had long intended it. Wit-
ness again asked the deceased
what it was that induced her to
do it, when she returned no direct
answer. Witness said, that at
the time this conversation passed,
the deceased was perfectly sensi-
ble in her mind.

James William Valentine and
John Frith} both of Bolsover
aforesaid, surgeons, upon their
oaths stated, that they had at-
tended upon the deceased, and
that she did, upon the 27th day
of December, confess to them that
she had given to each of her chil-
dren a tea-spoonful of the same
powder (which the deceased had
informed them she then had in
her pocket) mixed in treacle, and
likewise that she had taken the
same powder herself in a larger
quantity.

These two witnesses further
stated, that they had opened the
four bodies, and found the ap-
pearances to correspond with the
deceased’s assertions to them, and
were jointly of opinion that the said
Sarah Wild the elder, William
Wild, George Wild, and Sarah
Wild the younger, came to their
deaths in consequence of their hay-
ing taken the same mineral poison.

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

Several witnesses were called
in to prove the said deceased
Sarah Wild the elder to be in-
sane.

The Coroner having read over
the whole of the evidence, and
having charged the jury to give
their verdict according to the
same, the jury upon a deliberate
consideration stated to the Co-
roner, that not having any proof
to their satisfaction of the insanity
of the deceased Sarah Wild the
elder, they gave their verdict upon
the three children of Wilful Murder
against the said Sarah Wild the
elder ; and a verdict of Felo de se
against the said Sarah Wild the
elder was given accordingly.

30. A fire broke out in the
house of an old maid, named Mary
Cock, living next door to the
Ship public-house, in High-street,
Poplar, which, for a time, threat-
ened destruction to the neigh-
bourhood. The watchman, see-
ing the flames burst forth from
the bottom part of the house,
gave an alarm to the inhabitants,
many of whom rushed naked into
the street. ‘Thomas Milend, one
of the watchmen, on ascertaining
that Mrs. Cock, who was nearly
80 years of age, had not escaped,
obtained a step-ladder, and got
up to the window of the room on
the first floor, where she slept.
The old lady now made her ap-
pearance, and opening the win-
dow, called for assistance. The
watchman seized her by the hand,
and endeavoured to persuade her
to come out on the window stone,
in order that he might lift her
out: this she refused to do in the
state in which she was, being at-
tired only in her night-gown ;
and, turning round, retired to get
some other articles of dress. At

that

CHRONICLE

that instant the floor gave way,
and she was precipitated into the
burning gulph beneath. Milend
then withdrew, and in a few se-
conds the house was level with
the ground. The flames rapidly
increased, and communicated with
the adjoining houses, nine of
which, including the Ship public
house, were consumed. Very lit-
tle of the property was saved.
The Sun fire-engine was first on
the ground, and was soon suc-
ceeded by others, which prevented
the devouring element from ex-
tending its ravages further. No
other life was lost, or personal
injury sustained, except the me-
lancholy catastrophe which befel
Mrs. Cock. The next day, on
digging in the ruins of the house,
a part of the poor old creature's
bones were discovered almost cal-
emed to a powder. Search was
made during the week for the re-
mainder, but in vain. On Friday
evening a Coroner’s Jury sat on
her ashes, and, after hearing evi-
dence, none of which threw any
light on the origin of the fire, re-
turned a verdict of—Accidental
Death. Most of the houses were
insured.

31. The detailed accounts of the
_ expedition to explore the river
Congo, or Zaire, have reached the
Admiralty. Melancholy as the re-
sult has been, from the great mor-
tality of the officers and men, ow-
ing to excessive fatigue, rather
than to the effects of climate, the
journals of Captain Tuckey and
the gentlemen in the scientific
departments are, it is said, highly
interesting and satisfactory, as far
as they go; and probably they
extend considerably beyond the
first Rapids or Cataract. It
would seem, indeed, from the

199

extract of a letter from the Sur-
geon of the Congo, inserted be-
low, that the mortality was en-
tirely owing to the land journey
beyond these rapids, and that
Captain Tuckey died of complete
exhaustion, after leaving _the
river, and not from fever. The
climate, we understand, was re-
markably fine ; scarcely a shower
of rain, or any humidity in the
atmosphere, and the sun seldom
shining out but for a few hours
in the middle of the day; Fahren-
heit’s thermometer seldom ex-
ceeding 76 degrees by day, and
never descending below 60 de-
grees at night—such a climate, in
fact, as one would wish to live
in; but an anxious zeal and over-
eagerness to accomplish the ob-
jects of the expedition, and to ac-
quire all the information that
could possibly be obtained, seem
to have actuated every one, from
the lamented Commander ta the
common seaman and private ma-
rine, and led them to attempt
more than the human constitution
was able to bear. The total num-
ber of deaths amounts to 18, of
which 14 were on the land expe- —
dition. They consist of—

Capt. Tuckey, Commander of
the Expedition; Lieut. Hawkey,
Lieutenant of the Congo; Mr.
Professor Smith, Botanist; Mr.
Tudor, Comparative Anatomist ;
Mr. Cranch, Collector of objects
of Natural History ; Mr, Galwey,
a friend of Captain Tuckey, who
volunteered from pure love of
Science ; Mr. Eyre, the Purser.

The names of the remainder
have not been returned.

The Dorothy transport that ac-
companied the Congo into the
river lost but one man, and he
fell overboard and was drowned.

Extract

200 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

Extract of a Letter from Mr.
Mackerrow, Surgeon of the Congo.
—‘* Of the eighteen who died in
the river, fourteen had been on
shore, marching for some time,
and were far advanced before
reaching the ship.

** Professor Smith, who saw
many of them when taken ill,
gave to some a dose of calomel,
but to others nothing had been
administered.

** The fever appeared in some
degree contagious, as all the at-
tendants upon the sick were at-
tacked, and before we left the
river it pervaded nearly the whole
crew, also some of the transports :
but as for myself, although con-
stantly among them, I did not
feel the slightest indisposition un-
til we left the coast, when I was
attacked ; however, I considered
mental anxiety and disturbed rest
as the sole causes.

«© Captain Tuckey had been
afflicted many years with chronic
hepatitis ; and on returning from
travelling, five weeks on shore, he
was so excessively reduced, that
all attempts to restore the energy
of his system proved ineffectual.

«© Mr. Tudor was in the last
stage of fever before I saw him,
as were Messrs. Cranch and Gal-
wey.

** Professor Smith died in two
days after he came under my care,
during which time he refused
every thing, whether as nutri-
ment or medicine.

“© Lieut. Hawkey was taken ill
after leaving the river, and died
on the fourth day; his case was
rather singular ; symptoms were
irritability of stomach, with ex-
treme languor and debility, but
he had neither pain nor fever.

*« Mr. Eyre had a violent fever,

and on the third day breathed his
last: before death a yellow suffu-
sion had taken place, with vomit-
ing of matter like coffee ground.”’

By official documents received
from Ceylon, it appears that the
planters of that island, Dutch and
others, have adopted, at the sug-
gestion of the Chief Justice, Sir
Alex. Johnston, some judicious
regulations for the gradual abo-
lition of slavery. All children
born of slaves after the 12th of
August last are to be considered
free, but to remain in their mas-
ter’s house, and serve him for
their board, lodging, and clothing,
the males till the age of 14, and
the females till that of 12, after
which they are to be wholly eman-
cipated.

During the greatest part of this
month, the magistracy and police
of the metropolis were principally
occupied with examinations re-
specting the persons concerned
in the late riots, several of whom
were committed to custody. The
public interest was particularly
drawn to those persons who had
harangued the populace from the
waggon, of whom the elder Wat-
son was apprehended at Highgate
after attempting to stab with a
dirk the men who took him. His
son absconded ; and the papers
were long filled with reports from
every quarter of the island, and
even from the continent, of his
supposed discovery, and with ac-
counts of the examination of per-
sons brought up on a mistaken
supposition of their being the ob-
ject sought for. The uncommon
anxiety for his apprehension was
occasioned by the strong suspicion
of his being the assassin of Mr.
Platt. No tidings were obtained
of him to the close of the year.

BIRTHS.

CHRONICLE.

BIRTHS.
January.

The Marchioness of Lansdown,
a son and heir.

The Countess of IIchester, a
son.

The lady of Sir J. F. Boughey,
Bart. M. P. a son.

The Countess of Wemyss, a
daughter.

The lady of Hon. Charles Law,
a daughter.

The wife of Lieut. Gen. Loft,
of a son.

The lady of Rear-Adm. Sir G.
Cockburn, a daughter.

The Countess of Ashburnham,
a daughter.

The wife of Major-gen. Beat-
son, a daughter.

The wife of T. Tyrwhitt Drake,
Esq. M. P. a son and heir.

The wife of Major-gen. Carey,
a daughter.

Lady Edmonstone, a son.

Rt. Hon. Lady Edward O'Brien,
a daughter.

Hon. Mrs. Henry Butler, a son
and heir. :

February.

Lady S. Lyttleton, a daughter.

Lady Ponsonby, widow of Maj.
Gen. Sir W. Ponsonby, a son.

The Countess of Waldegrave, a
son.

The lady of Hon. Henry St.
John, a son.

Lady Harriet Paget, a son.

Hon. Mrs. Thomas, a son.

The lady of Sir W. Wiseman,
Bart. a son.

The Duchess of Bedford, a
son.

Lady Graves, a son,

201

Viscountess Jocelyn, a son and
heir.

Viscountess Pollington, a son.

The wife of Hon. and Rev. Geo.

Herbert, a daughter.

The Lady of Sir John Chandos
Reade, Bart. a son.

Lady Louisa Forester, a daugh-
ter.
Lady of Sir A. O. Molesworth,
a daughter.

The wife of the Hon. Edward
Stourton, a daughter.

The lady of the Knight of Glin,
a son.

Viscountess Monck, a son and
heir.

Lady Burgersh, a son.

March.

The wife of the Hon. Thomas
Orde Powlett, a son and heir.

Lady Georg. Quin, a daughter.

The wife of Albany Saville,
esq. M. P. a son and heir.

The Duchess of Orleans, a
daughter.
‘ Lady Eliz. Smith, a son.

The lady of Sir G. Anson, M. P.
a daughter.

Lady Brooke, a son.

The wife of Jahn Smith, Esq.
M. P. a son.

The lady of Adm. Wilson, a
daughter.

The lady of Sir Charles De
Vaux, Bart. a daughter.

The wife of H. Willoughby,
M. P. a daughter.

The Hon, Mrs. Bland, a daugh-
ter.

The lady of Sir Thomas Tan-
cred, a son.

The lady of Sir James Ander-
son, a daughter.

The Hon. Mrs. St. Ledger, a
son.

April.

202
April.

The Hon. Mrs. Harris, a son.

Lady Bagot, a son.

Viscountess Massarene, a
daughter.

Lady Eliz. Cole, a daughter.

The wife of Davies Giddy, esq.
M. P. a daughter.

Lady Kensington, a daughter.

The lady of Sir G. Clerk, M. P.
a son,

Lady Blantyre, a daughter

The wife of Rear-adm. Patter-
son, a son.

Lady Petre, a daughter.

Lady Fitzroy Somerset, a son.

Lady Katherine Halkett, a son.

The wife of S. R. Lushington,
Esq. M. P. a daughter.

The wife of J. Round, esq.
M. P. a son.

The wife of R. Rickards, esq.
M. P. a daughter.

The lady of Major-gen. Sir H.
Torrens, a son.

The lady of Sir W. Geary, bart.
M. P. ason.

Lady Theod. Hale, a daughter.

The wife of the Hon. Mr. Legge,
a daughter.

The wife of the Hon. Captain
Pellew, M. P. a daughter.

Hon. Mrs. Mason, a dawghter.

Lady Eliz. Hope Vere, twin
daughters.

The wife of the Hon. A. Hely
Hutchinson, a son.

The lady of Alex. Don, M. P. a
son.

Lady Charlotte Crofton, a
daughter.

The lady of Sir E. O’Brien,
M. P. a daughter.

\

May.

The lady of Sir Alex. Macken-
zie, a daughter.

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

The Marchioness of Ely, a son.

The lady of Earl Compton, a
son and heir.

The lady of Sir E. Knatchbull,
a daughter.

The lady of Sir John Louis, a
daughter.

The lady of Sir J. C. Honey-
wood, a son.

The wife of Major-gen. Haw-
ker, a son.

Lady Fran. Riddel, a daughter.

Lady Thurlow, a son.

June.

Hon. Mrs. Bedford, a daughter.

The wife of H. Goulburn, esq,
M. P. a son,

Lady Emily James, a son.

The lady of Gen. Sir Lowry
Cole, a daughter.

Hon. Mrs. Butler, a son.

Hon. Mrs. Winn, a son.

TheCountess Cowper, ason.

The Lady of Sir Fred. Baker, a
son and heir.

Hon. Mrs. Harbord, a daughter.

Countess of Bristol, a son. }

Hon. Lady Forbes, a daughter.

Hon. Lady Mary Long, a son
and heir.

The lady of Sir J. H. Thorold,
bart. a son and heir.

The lady of Adm. Sir J. Beres-
ford, bart. a daughter.

Rt. Hon. Lady Caroline Woed,
a son,

Lady Knightly, a daughter.

Marchioness of Angleséa, a son.

Hon. Mrs. Waldegrave, a son,

Lady of Sir Fred. G. Fowke,
bart. a son and heir.

The lady of Sir W Pole, a son.

Hon. Mrs. Pell, a daughter.

Right Hon. Lady Georgiana
Char]. Finch Hatton, a daughter.

Rt. Hon. Lady Wm. Somerset,
a son.

The

CHRONICLE.

The wife of Major-gen. Bos-
ville, a daughter.

Lady French, a daughter.
Countess of Hopetoun, a son.

Hon. Mrs. Dundas, a daughter.

The Duchess of Roxburgh, a
son,

The lady of Sir J. Smythe, bart.
a daughter.

July.

Marchioness of Downshire, a
son.

The lady of Rear-adm. Otway,
a son.

The lady of Sir Hen. Vavasour,
a daughter.

The wife of Charles Barclay,
esq. M. P. a daughter.

Lady A. Trimleston, a daughter.

Lady Frances Leg, a son.

Lady H. Bagot, a daughter.

The wife of Charles Hulse, esq.
M.P. a son.

Hon. Mrs. Fred. Noel, a son.

Lady Hawkins, a son.

The Lady of Sir Charles Cham-
bers, bart. ason and heir.

The wife of Wilbraham Eger-
ton, esq. M. P. a son.

The lady of Hon. Isaac Butler,
a son.

August.

» The wife of Lieut. gen. Burr,
a son.

The lady of the Rt. Hon. Ed-
ward Thornton, Envoy Extr. at
Stockholm, a son. ’

The lady of Major-general Sir
Charles Wale, a daughter.

Lady Charles Hentinck, a
daughter.

The wife of Paul Methuen, esq.
M.P. a daughter.

The lady of Gen. Onslow, a
daughter.

203

The wife of R. W. Newman,
esq. M. P. a daughter.
Lady Kennedy, a son.

September.

The lady of Sir Henry Bridges,
a son.

Lady John Keane, a son.

Lady Emily Drummond, a son.

Lady Pringle, a son.

Lady Hope, a son.

TheCountessof Verulam, a son.

The lady of Sir Godfrey Web-
ster, bart. a son.

The wife of Robert Wigram,
esq. M. P. a daughter.

Lady Cloncurry, a son.

Lady Mary Trotter, a son and
heir.

The lady of Sir Alex. Hood,
bart. a son and heir.

The Countess of Abercorn, a
son.

The wife of J. Archer Houblon,
esq. M. P. a son and heir.

Lady Fergusson, a son.

Viscountess Templetown,a son.

Lady Helena Robinson, a son
and heir.

The lady of the Hon. Col. G.
H. Harris, a son.

Viscountess Granville, a son.

The wife of W. R. Cartwright,
esq. M. P. a daughter.

Lady Sarah Robinson, a son.

The wife of Major-gen. Hope,
a son.

The lady of Sir Amyr. Dancer,
bart. a son.

The lady of the Rt. Hon. the
Knight of Kerry, M. P. a son.

The lady of Sir H. Coote, a son.

October.
The Marchioness of Waterford,

a son,
Lady

204

Lady Grantham, a daughter.

The wife of G.R. Dawson, esq.
M. P. a son and heir.

The lady of Sir Willoughby
Wolston Dixie, bart. a son and
heir.

The wife of Geo. Dashwood,
esq. M. P. ason.

Lady Nightingale, a son.

Lady Fitzherbert, a daughter.

Lady Ogilby, a son.

The wife of Hon. Col: Onslow,
a daughter,

The wife of Col. Hughes, M. P.
a daughter.

The wife of T. Knox, esq. M.P.
a son.

Lady Montgomerie, a son.

Lady Lowe, ason.

November.

Right Hon. Lady Somerset, a
daughter.

The lady of Sir Oswald Mose-
ley, bart. a daughter.

The lady of Sir Alex. Croke,
a son.

Lady Lindsey, a son.

Lady isab. Douglas, a daughter.

Viscountess Torrington, a son.

The Countess of Mansfield, a
daughter.

The lady of Major-general Sir
Charles Grant, a daughter.

December.

The lady of the Hon. Warwick
Lake, a son.

The Marchioness of Sligo, a
daughter.

The wife of Hon. Capt. Elliot,
R.N. a daughter.

The Marchioness of Lothian,
a son.

The wife of Lieut. gen. Rey-
nolds, a son.

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

Lady Lucy Stephenson, a son.

The lady of Sir T. Ackland,
bart. a daughter.

The lady of Major-gen. Sir W.
Anson, a son.

The lady of Hon. Gerrard Van-
neck, a daughter.

The lady of Sir J. Langham, a
daughter.

The lady of Sir J. Gordon Sin-
clair, a daughter.

The wife of Major-gen. Bal-
four, a son.

MARRIAGES,
January.

H. M. Ogle, Esq. M. P. to Isa-
bella, only daughter of the Rev.
R. Fisher.

James, only son of Sir C,
Flower, bart. to Mary Jane,
daughter of Sir W. Stirling, bart.
M. P.

. Rev. Richard Watson, son of
the Bishop of Llandaff, to Miss
Knight.

Walter Fawkes, esq. of Farn-
ley Hall, to the Hon. Mrs. Butler.

G. R. Dawson, esq. M. P. to
the daughter of Sir Robert Peel,
M. P.

Fred. . Stuart French,
Hon. Helena Perceval,
daughter of Lord Arden.

Capt. W. Glendoure, to Mar-
garet lady Johnstone, relict of
Sir Richard Bamfylde Johnstone,
bart.

Major-gen. Sir Wm. W. She-
ridan, to Louisa Mary, daughter
of J. Addison, esq.

Rev. J. C. Churchill, to Right
Hon. lady Dorothea Wallop.

The Hereditary Prince of Wur-

temburgh,

esq. to
second

CHRONICLE.

temburgh, to her Imperial High-

ness the Duchess of Oldenburg.
Hon. Captain Irby, to Frances,

daughter of 1. Wright, esq.

February.

Wm. Wells, esq. Capt. R.N.
to lady Jane E. Proby, daughter
of the Earl of Carysfort.

Hon. Thomas Stapleton, eldest
son of lord Despencer, to Maria
Wynne, daughter of H. Bankes,
esq. M. P.

Sir Charles Stuart, to Lady
Eliz. Yorke.

Viscount Clonmore, to Lady
Cecil Fr. Hamilton, daughter of
the Marquis of Abercorn.

Sir Hen. Wellesley, to Lady
Georgiana Cecil, eldest daughter
of the Marquis of Salisbury.

Viscount Mount Earl, to Mrs.
Blennerhasset.

The Marquis of Sligo, to lady
Esther Cath. De Bourg.
> Lieut. Col. Sir A. Leith, to the
daughter of Dr. Thorpe.

M arch.

Charles Douglas, esq. to lady
Isabella Gore.

Sir James Fellows, to Eliza-
beth, daughter of Jos. Janes, esq.

William Cuffe, esq. to lady
Anna Morice Sherrard.

C. Stephenson, esq. to lady
Lucy Pery, daughter of the Earl
of Limerick.

E. B. Portman, esq. M. P. to
Mary, daughter of Sir E. Hulse,
bart.

Lord Rendlesham, to Anna
Sophia, daughter of W. Tatnall,
esq.

The Marquis of Tweedale, to

205

Lady Susan Montague, daughter
of the Duke of Manchester.

Hon. W. J. Napier, to Miss
Cochrane Johnston.

April,

Sir Thomas Osborne, bart. to
Miss Smith, daughter of the late
Major Smith.

May.

Vise. Bury, eldest son of the
E. of Albemarle, to Miss Frances
Steer.

Hon. and Rev. G. Neville, son
of Lord Braybrooke, to the Right
Hon. Charlotte Legge, daughter
of the late Earl of Dartmouth.

The Hon. Capt. B.'T. Capel, to
Harriet Catherine, daughter of
F. G. Smyth, esq.

Sir James Montgomery, bart.
M.P.to Helen, daughter of T.
Graham, esq.

Lieut.-gen. Robertson, to Mar-
garet,* daughter of the late J.
Menzies, esq.

Hon. R. Grey Bennet, 2d son
of the Earl of Tankerville, to the
daughter of Lord W. Russell.

The Earl of Normanton, to
Lady Diana Herbert, daughter of
the Earl of Pembroke.

June.

Hon. and Rev. H. Cockayne
Cust, to Anna Maria, daughter of
Hon. Gen. Needham.

Hon. Hayes St. Leger, son of
Vise. Donervaille, to Lady Char-
lotte Esther Bernard, daughter of
the Earl of Bandon.

Sir Thomas G. Carmichael,
bart. to the Hon. Anne Napier,
daughter of Lord Napier.

July.

206
July.

The Earl of Kenmare, to Au-
gusta Anne, daughter of Sir Rob.
Wilmot, bart.

Rear-admiral Hon. Sir Henry
Hotham, to Frances Anne Juliana,
daughter of Lord Rous.

Count Jules de Polignac, to
Miss Campbell.

Major-Gen. Sir Dennis Pack,
to Lady Eliz. Beresford, dau. of
the late Marquis of Waterford.

Sir Andrew Agnew, bart. to
Madelene, daughter of the late
Sir David Carnegie, bart.

Right Hon. Karl Paulet, to
Lady Smith Burges.

Lord Charles Bentinck, to Lady
Abdy.

W. Rashleigh, esq. M. P. to
Caroline, daughter, of Henry
Hinxman, esq.

Hon. and Key. I. Dundas, to
Mary Jane, dau. of Rev. James
Bousquet

Major-gen. Hewett, to Louisa
Majendie, daughter of the Bishop
of Bangor.

Hon. Mr. Campbell, son of
Lord Cawdor, to Lady Elizabeth
Thynne, dau.of the Marq. of Bath.

Sir Alex. Campbell, bart. to
Margaret, daughter of the late
Mr. A. Coldstream.

August.

Major Fane, M.P. to Marianne,
dau. of J. Mills Jackson, esq.

Hon. J. Perceval, eldest son of
Lord Arden, to Lady Eliz. Anne
Brudenell, daughter of the Earl
of Cardigan.

Lord W. Fitzroy, Capt. RK. N,
son of the late D. of Grafton, to
Georgiana, daughter of the late
T. Raikes, Esq.

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

Sir John J. Fitzgerald, to Mrs.
Moore.
September.

Rt. Hon. J. U. Frere, to Lady
Errol.

Lieut.-General the Hon. John
Leslie, to the daughter of the
late T. Cuming, esq.

Lord Sinclair, to Isabella, dau.
of A. Chatto, esq.

Lieut.-Gen. Hon. C, Fitzroy,
to Mrs. Clavering Savage.

Lieut.-col. Sir Hew Dalrymple
Ross, to Miss Graham, of Stone-
house.

October.

Hon, col. J. Meade, M. P. to
Uriana Caroline, daughter of
Hon. Edw. Ward.

Earl Brooke and Warwick, to
Lady Monson.

Francis Pym, esq. M. P. to
Lady James Leslie Melville, dau,
of the Earl of Leven and Melville.

Lieut.-col. Sir Robert W. Gar-
diner, to Caroline Mary, daughter
of Lieut.-gen. Macleod.

The Earl of Errol, to Harriet,
3d sister of Lord Somerville.

Major-gen. Sir J. Lambert, to
Jane, dau. of the late J. Marant,
esq.

Baron Frederick Will. Drissen,
general in the Russian service,
to Miss Aiken,’ Hampstead.

Hon. George Lysaght, to Eliz.
Anne, daughter of the late J. D.
Foulkes, esq. ‘

Robert Abercrombie, jun. esq.
M. P. to Eliz. daughter of Sam.
Douglas, esq.

November,
Hon. T.Vanneck, to Miss Mary-

Anne Palmer, |
Robert

CHRONICLE. 207

Robert Shapland Carew, jun.
esq. M. P. to Jane Catherine,
daughter of the late A. Cliffe,
esq.

December.

— Lambton, esq. to Lady
Louisa Grey, dau. of Earl Grey.

T.J. Featherstone, esq. to Lady
Eliz. Howard, dau. of the Earl of
Wicklow.

J. Carter, esq. M. P. to Joanna
Maria, daughter of W. Smith,
esq. M. P.

F. Taylor, esq. to the Hon.
Juliana Cavendish, dau. of Lord
Waterpark.

=

PROMOTIONS.

January.

Rear-admiral Penrose; Col.
Sir R. Le Poer French; Lieut.-
col. Sir Jos. Cairneross, Knights-
Commanders of the Bath.

‘A. St. John Baker, Consul-gen.
in the United States.

Lieut.-gen. Sir Robert Brown-
rigg, a Baronet.

Col. James Bathurst, Governor
of the Virgin islands.

J.R. Mathews, esq. Consul at
Cadiz.

Hon. and Rev. Mr. Hobart,
Dean of Windsor.

Walter, Earl of Ormonde and
Ossory, Marquess of Ormonde.

Robert, Earl of Londonderry,
Marquess of Londonderry.

Henry Benton, Earl Conyng-
ham, Marquess Conyngham.

Charles John, Vise. Mountjoy,
Earl of Blessington.
~ Richard, Vise. peng: Earl of
Bantry.

Richard Baron Cahir, Earl of
Glengall.

John Baker Holroyd, Baron
Sheffield, Earl of Sheffield.

Lodge Evans, Baron Frank-
fort, Viscount Frankfort.

Richard Baron Adare, Visc.
Mount Earl.

William Baron Ennismore,
Visc. Ennismore and Listowel.

John Prendergast, Baron Kil-
tarton, Viscount Gort.

Sir Chaloner Ogle, admiral ;
Banastre Tarleton, general; John
Floyd, general; Baronets.

Major-gen. Sir Hudson Lewe,
a Knight-Commander of the
Fath.

James Alan Park, esq.a Jusbice
of the Common Pleas.

Lieut.-gen. Sir Coape Sher-
brooke, Governor of the provinces
of Upper and Lower Canada,
New Brunswick, Nova-Scotia,
and the islands of Prince Ed-
ward and Cape Breton.

Duke of Richmond, Lord Lieu-
tenant of Sussex.

Admiral Sir Richard King,
Commander-in-chief in the East
Indies.

Sir J. Colpoys, Governor of
Greenwich Hospital.

George Snowley Holroyd, esq.
a Judge of the King’s Bench.

February.

J. Buchanan, esq. Brit. Consul
at New York.

W. Dawson, esq. Brit. Consul
in Maryland.

Major-gen. Sir Fred. Phillips
Robinson, Governor of Tobago.

Major gen. Sir Geo. William
Ramsay, Governor of Antigua
and Montserrat.

Thomas Probyn, esq. IGoiler nor

of

208 ANNUAL REGISTER,

of St. Christopher, Nevis, and the
Virgin Islands.

Major-gen. Phineas Riall, Go-
vernor of Grenada.

P. Savage, esq. Brit. Consul in
Virginia.

Marquess of Salisbury, and Earl
of Chichester, Joint Postmasters.

March.

Right Hon. Baron Exmouth,
a Knight Grand Cross of the
Bath.

Lieut.-col. Gough, a Knight.

John Davidson, Esq. Consul at
New Orleans.

Jasp. Waring, esq. Consul at
Valencia.

Admiral Pickmore, Governor
of Newfoundland.

April.

Major-gen. H. Mackey Gor-
don, Lieut.-Governor of Jersey.
Major-general Henry Bayley,
Lieut.-Governor of Guernsey.
Hon. and Rev. Hen. Lewis
~Hobart, D. D. Dean of Windsor,
and Register of the Order of the
Garter.

Lord Napier, Commissioner to
the General Assembly of the
Church of Seotland.

Admiral Sir C. Tyler, Knight-
Commander to the Order of the
Bath.

May.

Leopold Prince of Saxe-Co-
bourg, a General in the Army.

Sir Graham Moore, a Lord of
the Admiralty.

Sir Philip Ch. Durham, and
Sir E. W. C, Richard Owen,

1816.

Knights-Commanders of the Or-
der of the Bath.

Lord F. Somerset, Secretary
of Embassy to the court of France.

The Duke of Gloucester and
the Prince of Saxe-Cobourg,
Field-Marshals.

The Duke of Saxe-Cobourg
and Sir J. Abercrombie, Knights
Grand Crosses of the Bath.

The Earl of Clancarty, Ambas-
sador Extraordinary to the Ne-
therlands.

June.

Right Hon. G. Canning, Vis-
count Castlereagh, Earl Bathurst,
Vise. Sidmouth, Earl of Liver-
pool, Right Hon. N. Vansittart,
Baron Teigmouth, Vise. Low-
ther, Right Hon. John Sullivan,
Lord Apsley, Lord Binning, Rt:
Hon. W. Sturges Bourne, Com-
missioners for the affairs of India.

Rev. Dr. Stanser, Bishop of
Nova-Scotia.

Gibbs Crawford Antrobus, esq.
Secretary of Legation to the
United States of America.

General R. A. Seymour, Go-
vernor and Commander of St.
Lucia,

Sir H. Russel, Member of the
Privy Council.

Marquis of Hertford, Lord
Lieut. of Warwickshire.

July.

General Sir G. Drummond,
Admiral Sir. S. Pellew, and Major
gen. Sir S. Beckwith, Knights
Commanders of the Bath

Admiral Lord Exmouth and
Admiral Gambier, Knights Grand
Crosses of the Bath.

Earl

CHRONICLE.

Earl of Hopetown, Lieutenant
of Linlithgowshire.

Right Hon. J. M‘Mahon, Re-
ceiver-gen. of the Duchy of Corn-
wall.

Major-gen. Bloomfield, Secre-
tary to the same.

Archib. Gordon, esq. Consul
at Havre.

Rev. Herbert Marsh, D. D.

Bishop of Landaff,

Karl of Dalhousie, Lieut.-Go-
vernor of the Province of Nova-
Scotia.

August.

Hon. John Meade, Consul-gen.
in Spain.

Gilbert Robertson, Hed: Consul
at Philadelphia.

Lieut.-col. Sir James Bontein,
a Gentleman of the Privy Cham-
ber.

Lord Algern.
Baron Prudhoe.

Percy, created

September.

Thomas Turner, esq. Consul
at Ragusa and Cattaro.

Thomas W. Richards, esq. Con-
sul at Nantes.

A. Gibson, esq. Consul at
Dantzic.

Baroness Lucas, created Coun-
tess de Grey.

Right Rev. Bishop Gleig, Pri-
mate of the Episcopal church in
Scotland.

Lord Exmouth created a Vis-
count.

Vor. LVIII. P

209

Rear-admiral Milne, Knight
Commander of the Bath.

T. Fonblanque, esq. Consul at
Dunkirk.

F. Lascelles, esq. Consul at
L’Orient.

S. L. Jenkins, esq. Consul at
Bayonne.

Baron von de Capellen, Vice-
admiral under the King of the
Netherlands, Honorary Knight
Com. of the Bath.

Right Hon. Robert Liston,
Knight Grand Cross of the Bath.

October.

W. Edward Powell, esq. Lord
Lieutenant of Cardiganshire.

Fred. Lindeman, esq. Consul-
gen. in Sicily.

Adolphus Palucedo, esq. Consul
in Corsica,

November.

Rev. Dr. Kaye, Divinity Pro-
fessor in the University of Cam-
bridge.

J. Parke, esq. Consul in the
Roman States.

December.

Earl of Moira, created Marquis
of Hastings.

Major-gen. Sir David Ochter-
lony, bart. Knight Grand Cross
of the Bath.

Lord Combermere, Captain-
general and Commander-in-chief
of Barbadoes.

DEATHS.

210

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

DEATHS im the Year 1816.

January.

Having in the Chronicle of the
last year inserted from the Irish
papers a relation of the death of
the Duke of Dorset, which is in
some respect erroneous, we here
transcribe an authentic account
of that melancholy event from a
memoir of that lamented and
promising young nobleman, pub-
lished in the Gentleman's Maga-
zine for Sept. 1816.

He had resided in Ireland about
a year and a half, when he met
with the fatal catastrophe that
put an end to his existence. On
the 13th of Feb. 1815, he went
to pay a visit to his friend and
schoolfellow, Lord Powerscoutt,
meaning to stay from the Mon-
day till the Thursday, on which
day he was to return to the Castle
for a drawing-room. On_ the
14th he went out with Lord
Powerscourt’s harriers, mounted
on a well-trained active Irish
mare, and aecompanied by his
Lordship and Mr. Wingfield.
Having been out for several hours
without finding any thing, they
were actually on the point of re-
turning home, when unfortu-
nately a hare sprang up, and the
chase commenced. The hare
made for the imclosures on Kil-
liney Hill. They had gone but a
short distance, when the Duke,
who was an excellent and forward
horseman, rode at a wall, which
Was in fact a more dangerous ob-

stacle than it appeared to be.
The wall stands on the slope, and
from the lower ground what is
immediately on the other side can -
not be discerned. The wall itself
is perhaps no more than three
feet and a half in height, and
two in breadth; but on the other
side there lay a range of large
and ponderous stones, which had
been rolled there from off the sur-
face of the adjacent barley-field,
that they might not impede the
growth of the corn. It would
have been safer to scramble over
such a fence, than to take it in
the stroke. The Duke’s mare,
however, attempted to cover all
at one spring, and cleared the
wall; but lighting among the
stones on the other side, threw
herself headlong, and turning in
the air, came with great violence
upon her rider, who had not lost
his seat; he undermost, with his
back on one of the large stones,
and she crushing him with all her
weight on his chest, and strug-
gling with all her power to re-
cover her legs. Let the reader
but contemplate this situation,
and he will not wonder that the
accident was fatal, or that the
Duke survived it only an hour
and half. The mare disentangled
herself, and galloped away. The
Duke sprang upon his feet, and
attempted to follow her, but soon
found himself unable to stand, and
fell into the arms of Mr. Farrel,
who had run to his succour, and

to

:
:

CHRONICLE,

to whose house he was conveyed.
He was laid on a rnattress sup-
ported by chairs. Lord Powers-
court, in the utmost anxiety and
alarm, rode full speed for medi-
cal assistance, leaving his bro-
ther Mr. Wingfield to pay every
attention possible, «*® he most
kindly did, to the Duke. Medical
aid, even if it could have been ap-
plied. immediately, would have
been of no use. The injury was
too severe to be counteracted by
human skill. Life was extinct
before any surgeon arrived.

Tt has been said, that the Duke
in his dying moments made use of
the expression “ Ff am off :”—he
did so; but not, as has been very
erroneously supposed, by way of
heroic bravado, or in a temper of
unseasonable levity ; but simply
to signify to his attendants, who,
in pulling off his boots, had drawn
him too forward on the mattress,
and jogged one of the chairs out
of its place, that he was slipping
off, and wanted their aid to help
him up into his former position.
He was the last person in the
world to be guilty of any «hing
like levity upon any solemn oc-
easion, much less in his dying
moments. The fact was, when
he used the expression ‘‘I am
off,’ he had become very faint
and weak, and was glad to save
himself the trouble of further ut-
terance. Those words were not
the last which he pronounced, but
he said nothing at all that could
be thought allusive to death. One
of his young friends, his most
constant companion, has often
said of him, that he was the most
intrepid man he ever knew, and
there is no doubt that he met his
fate with firmness; but Mr.

All

Wingfield, who was present and
vigilant during the whole melan-
choly scene, never heard him say
a syllable from which it could be
inferred that he was conscious of
his approaching end. His prin-
cipal wish was to be left quiet.
He died so easy, that the precise
moment when he breathed his
last could not be ascertained,

The Countess of Bandon, who
died on July 7th, 1815, in the
48th year of her age, was dis-
tinguished forthe excellence of her
heart and understanding, and the
cultivation of her mind. Her
conversation was of a superior
cast, and her letters were models
of epistolary composition. She dis-
played her taste and love of know-
ledge by the formation of a valu-
able library, by her attachment
to botanical and agricultural pur-
suits, and by the promotion of
every laudable undertaking. She
lent her aid to many of the most
useful establishments of Dublin,
as well as to the Cork Institution
and the Farming Society of the
neighbourhood ; whilst the im-
provements at Castle Bernard,
from which she was seldom long
absent, and which were directed
by her own judgment, were suf-
ficient evidences of its correctness.

The more peculiar distinction
of this lady was the Christian
grace of charity, in which she
truly abounded. By her sole
bounty she for many years sup-
ported a school for twenty-four
young women, now united to the
General Female School of Ban-
don, of which she was the patro-
ness and foundress, and which is
conducted on a scale of enlarged
liberality that would do credit to
any similar institution in the

P2 United

212

United Kingdom. From these
unceasing exertions of benevo-
lence, she had established such a
character that her decease was
lamented as a public calamity by
rich and poor in the district of her
residence, and in which she has
left a memory that is likely to be
as long and as beneficially remem-
bered, as the good she has done
will be durable.

_ The susceptibility of her mind
was too keen for the bodily frame
in which it was enclosed, and her
death was accelerated by her feel-
ings for the fate of a much-loved
son. One of her sons, the Hon.
Francis Bernard, Lieut. of the
9th Dragoons, died in Portugal
in the service of his country, on
January 24th, 1813, in the 24th
year of his age. Another son,
the Hon. Henry Boyle Bernard,
Cornet of the King’s Dragoon
Guards, fell gloriously in the bat-
tle of Waterloo, in his 18th year.

1. The Right Hon. Lady Pen-
rhyn, widow of Richard Pennant,
Lord Penrhyn, and daughter and
heiress of General Warburton, of
Winnington, Cheshire.

5. Lieut.-gen. Sir Geo. Prevost,
late Governor-in-chief and com-
mander of the forces in the British
colonies in North America, in his
49th year. He was the son of
Major-gen. Prevost, who served
under General Wolfe at Quebec.
Sir George began his service in
the West Indies, where he dis-
tinguished himself at St. Vincent,
at’ Dominica, of which he was
appointed governor, and at St.
Lucia. Jn 1808 he obtained the
post of Licut.-governor and com-
mander in Nova Scotia, and in the
same year acted as second in com-
mandatthe capture of Martinique.

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

He afterwards succeeded General
Sir James Craig in the chief com-
mand, civiland military, in North
America, which he held till his
return to England in 1814.

6. The Hon. Sir Edw. Crofton,
bart. in is 38th year, at Mote
Park, co. Roscommon.

At Warsaw, F. Narodsky, a
Polish gentleman, at the age of
125. He married a second wife
at 92, by whom he had a daugh-
ter now living.

8. At Weilburg, the Prince of
Nassau Weilburg.

10. The Lady of Gen. Sir Cor-
nelius Cuyler, bart.

10. At an advanced age, Liz.
Dowager Marchioness of Waterford,
relict of George De la Poer Be-
resford, Marquis of Waterford,
who died in 1800.

In his S9th year, Henry Haring-
ton, M. D. alderman of Bath,
eminent asa classical scholar, a
inan of wit, and a musical com-
poser.

17. John Heath, esq. one of the
Judges of the Court of Common
Pleas.

19. Sir Thomas Windsor Hun-
loke, bart. of Wingerworth, Der-
byshire.

20. The Princess of Mecklenburg
Schwerin, of the house of Saxe
Weimar.

21. The Princess of Nassau
Weilburg.

22. Sir Drummond Smith, bart.
of Tring Park, Herts.

24. The Hon. Apsley Bathurst,
D.C. L. son of the late Earl B.

Dame Eliz. Twisden, relict of
Sir John Papillon Twisden, bart.

97. Samuel Viscount Hood, Ad-
iniral of the Red, and Governor
of Greenwich Hospital, in his 92d
vear. He was raised to the peer-

age

CHRONICLE.

age in 17 "82 for his distinguished
service in the action with De
Grasse, where he acted as Rear-
admiral in the Barfleur. His
latest services at sea were in the
Mediterranean in 1793, where he
took the naval command at Cor-
sica and Toulon ; after which he
returned on account of ill health.
His lordship was next in seniority
to Earl St. Vincent on the list of
admirals.

28. In Prussia, Field-marshal
Mollendorff, aged 92, supposed to
be the oldest general in Europe.

29. Elizabeth Laura, Countess
of Waldegrave, in her 56th year.

John Baring, esq. aged 85. He
had been M. P. for Exeter for 35
years.

31. Lady Graves, widow of Ad-
miral Sir Thomas Graves.

February.

1. Joshua Viscount Allen, a peer
of Ireland, in his 8Sth year.

Lady Stanley, widow of Sir J.
T. Stanley, bart. of Alderley.

3. Sir Hen. Dampier, knt. one
of the Justices of the King’s
Bench, in his 58th year.

Eleanor Viscountess of Wilton, in
her 67th year. She was daughter
and co-heiress of Sir Ralph Ashe-
ton, bart. of Middleton, Lancash.

4. Richard, Viscount Fitzwilliam,
of the kingdom of Ireland, in his
7ist year. He bequeathed to the
University of Cambridge, in
which he was educated, a sum of
money to build a museum as a
repository for all his pictures,
prints, books, statues and busts,
gems, bronzes, &c.

Robert Hobart, Earl of Bucking-
hamshire, President of tue India

213

board of Commissioners, and
Clerk of the Common Pleas in
Ireland. His Lordship’s death,
in his 56th year, was in conse-
quence of a fall from his horse
some time since in St. James’s
Park.

8. The Countess of St. Vincent,
aged 75.

14. Hon. Mrs. Townshend,
widow of the Dean of Norwich,
in her 85th year.

15. John Peyto Verney, Lord
Willoughby de Broke, x» Lord of
the Bedchamber.

Henry Fawcett, esq. M. P. for
Carlisle.

Sir W. Forbes, bart. in his 68th
year.

J. Fownes Luttrell, esq. of Dun-
ster Castle, upwards of 40 years
M. P. for Minehead, in his 64th
year.

Adm. R. M‘Douall, in his 87th
year.

17. Lady Slingsby, aged 81, ree
lict of Sir T. Turner Slingsby,
bart.

19. Louisa Grace, Duchess of St.
Albans, with her infant male son.

21. Lady Charlotte, wife of
Rear-adm. P. C. Durham. She
was daughter of the late Earl of
Elgin and Kincardine.

22. Adam Fergusson, esq. L.L.D.
inhis 93d year ; formerly Professor
of Moral Philosophy in the Uni-
versity of Edinburgh, and author
of several esteemed works.

In his 90th year, Hon. Henry
Nairne, son of Lord Nairne, and
a zealous adherent of the house of
Stuart.

23. Rev. Sir J. T. Cholmondeley
Edwardes, bart. rector of Frodes-
ley, Salop, aged 52.

Hon. Lieut. Charles Turner,
drowned

214

drowned from a pilot boat land-
ing passengersfrom Indiaat Ports-
mouth, h

24, Sir John Lubbock, bart. a
banker,

-25,. At Dublin, in his 67th
year, Chichester Sheffington, Vis-
count Massereene.

28. Lady Eliz. Burnaby, widow
of Sir W. C, B. bart. in her 55th
year.

29. Gustavus Hamilton, Viscount
Boyne, in Ireland.

March.

7. Vice-adm. Sir Wm. Mitchel,
in his 71st year.

8. Grace, Countess-dowager of
Farnham, in her 82d year.

11. Dowager Lady Hamilton,
widow of Gen. Sir. R. Hamilton,
bart. aged 90.

Albinia, Countess Dowager of
Buckinghamshire, andeldest daugh-
ter of Lord Vere Bertie, in her
78th year.

12. Lady Longford, mother of
the Duchess of Wellington.

14. Mr. W. Walker, aged 49,
astronomical lecturer, and in-
ventor of the Eidouranion and
Celestina.

19. Wm. Tighe, esq. M. P. for
Wicklow.

22. Lady Catherine Poulett, 4th
dau. of Earl Poulett, in her 21st
year. :

24. John Courtenay, esq..a na-
tive of Ireland, descended from a
branch of the noble family of that
name. He was a member of se-
veral successive parliaments, first
for ‘Tamworth, and afterwards
for Appleby, and distinguished
himself by the brillianey of his
wit and poignancy of his satire.
He continued a steadfast adherent

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

to the old opposition, and during
their short ministries occupied
places in the ordnance and trea-
sury. He was author of some
works in poetry and prose, writ-
ten in a lively style and with libe-
ral sentiments.

29. Mrs. Warren, widow of Dr.
W. bishop of Bangor, in her 93d
year.

Lately, Hon. James Willoughby,
aged 86.

Col. Latouche, M.P.for Carlow.

Lord Charles Beauchamp Kerr,
son of the late Marq. of Lothian.

Sir Simeon Stuart, bart.

Sir John Odingsells Leeke, aged
69.

M. Guyton Morveau, the cele-
brated French chemist, member
of the Institute, and ex-member
of the Convention, at an advanced

age.
April,

1. Eliz Baroness Say and Sele,
relict of Lord S. and 8S. and dau.
of the late Sir Edward Turner,
bart.

2. Rear-adm. Peyton, in his
66th year.

3. Adm. Sam. Cornish, in his
76th year.

Lady Emily Latouche, wife of
Robert L. esq. M. P. and dau,
of the first Earl of Clancarty.

4. At Leghorn, J. Pollexfen
Bastard, esq. M. P. for Devon.

At the Cape of Good Hope,
Major-gen. Joseph Baird, aged 58.

7. At Verona, The Enmipress of
Ausiria, in her 28th year.

1. The Right Hon. Patrick
Duigenan, a Privy Counsellor in
Treland, and M. P. for the city of
Armagh, aged 81. He was

brought

CHRONICLE.

brought up to the Irish bar, and
became professor of the civil law
in the University of Dublin; but
entering into parliament, he chiefly
engaged in political life, and,
though descended from a Roman
Catholic family, distinguished
himself by his violent opposition
to the Catholic claims. He pub-
lished various tracts on Irish po-
litics, and from the places which
he obtained, appears to have been
regarded as an useful auxiliary in
the government of that island.

14. Richard Malone, Lord Sun-
derlin, of Ireland. After sitting in
parliament for two Irish counties,
he was raised to the peerage in
1785. The title became extinct
at his death.

15. Sir Simon Le Blanc, a
Judge of the Court of King’s
Bench, in his 68th year. He was
of high reputation in his legal
and judicial capacity.

17. East Apthorp, D. D. Pre-
bendary of Finsbury, in his 84th
year. This learned divine was a
native of Boston, in New Eng-
land, whence he was sent foredu-
cation to Jesus college Cambridge.
He returned to America as a mis-
sionary, and founded an episco-
palian church at Cambridge N. E.
He published there several ser-
mons, and having at length quit-
ted his church and returned to
England, he engaged, under the
sanction of Archb. Secker, in a
controversy with Dr. Mayhew of
Boston, on the mission of bishops
to North America, and on the
conduct of the society for propa-
gating the gospel in foreign parts.
He was collated by the primate
to the vicarage of Croydon, where
he diligently performed the duties
of a parish priest, and published

215

a variety of works, among which
were ‘‘ Letters on the prevalence
of Christianity before its civil es-
tablishment, with Observations on
Mr. Gibbon’s History of the De-
cline of the Roman empire.”
This work is respectably men-
tioned by the historian, who,
however, speaks of it as only pre-
paratory to a notice of himself.
Another of his publications was,
“«« Discourses on the Prophecies,”
preached at Dr. Warburton’s
Lecture.

18. Lord Arthur J. Hen. Somer-
set, M. P. for Monmouth, and
brother to the Duke of Beaufort,
in his 37th year.

23. Thomas Johnes, esq. of
Hafod, M. P. for Cardigan, and
Lord-lieut. of the county, aged
67. This gentleman rendered him-
self well known by his creations
of picturesque beauty, and his ex-
tensive improvements around his
mansion, and by the treasures of
art and literature which hecollect-
ed in it, and which induced him
to give to the public translations
of Froissart’s and Monstrelet’s
Chronicles, and the travels of
Brocquiere and Joinville, illus-
trated by many curious appen-
dages.

26. Geo. Hardinge, esq. Justice
for the counties of Glamorgan,
Brecknock, and Radnor, F. R. 8.
and F.S.A. in his 72d year. He
was distinguished for his wit
and learning, which last he ac-
quired at Eton and Trinity col-
lege, Cambridge; and was much
admired both at the bar and from
the bench. He largely contri-
buted to the ‘* Literary Anecdotes
of the Eighteenth Century,” with
many of the subjects of which he
was intimately acquainted. He

also

216 ANNUAL REGISTER,

ulso published separately some
miscellaneous pieces.

27. At Paris, where he had
long resided, the Rev. Sir Herbert
Croft, bart.inhis 66th year. He was
the author of a great variety of
publications, some of which were
amusing and popular; as well as
of schemes for others of a more
solid kind, which were not brought
to effect. He will probably be
most remembered by his Life of
Dr. Young, adopted by Dr. John-
son in his Lives of the English
Poets. Sir H. C. succeeded to the
baronetage by collateral descent.

29. Charles Philip, Lord Stourton,
a Roman Catholic Peer.

Sir John Stuart, bart. of Allan-
bank.

May.

1. Mrs. Cleaver, wife of the
archbishop of Dublin.

2. George Greville, Earl of War-
wick and Brooke, aged 70.

4. Lieut. Gen. Sontag, in his
69th year.

5. Dowager Lady Bellhaven and
Stenton.

11. Sir T. Lighton, bart.

12. The Lady of Major-Gen.
Sir Edward Butler.

14. Barrington Pope Blachford,
esq. M. P.

17. Dorothy Eliz. wife of Sir
Brook W. Bridges, bart.

Q1. Rt. Hon. Lady Ribblesdale,
in her 44th year.

28. At the age of 116, in Cold-
Bath-square, Mrs. Jane Lewson,
the widow of a wealthy person,
owner of the house she lived in,
and as singular in her dress and
manner of living, as remarkable
for the length of her years.

29. James Hope Johnston, Earl
of Hopetoun, aged 75,

1816.

Lately, .4nn Viscountess Bar-
rington.

General John Dixon, aged 76.

The lady of Sir Henry Harvey
Bruce, bart.

June.

4. At Naples, Sign. Paesiello,
celebrated for his writings in
music and history, in his 84th
year.

6. At Petersburg, Field-marshal
Prince Nicholas Sollikoff, aged 83.

Dowager Lady Asgill.

8. Lord Frederick Campbell,
aged 87, brother of the late Duke
of Argyle.

12. Lady Eliz. Tynte, aged 86.

14. Hon. Allan Maconochie, of
Meadow-bank, Lord Commis-
sioner of Justiciary, Edinburgh.

15. Ellen, Countess Conyngham,
widow of Henry E. Conyngham,
aged 97.

16. Ludy Pearson, relict of Sir
Rich.Pearson, aged 72.

17. Charles Pierrepont, Earl
Manvers, in his 69th year.

18. Right Hon. Lady Mary
Parker.

In his 62d year, Mr. Thomas
Henry, long a much _ esteemed
practitioner of medicine at Man-
chester. He also obtained great
reputation for his scientific ac-
quirements, especially in practi-
cal chemistry. He was the first
who treated philosophically on
a subject highly important to
the improvement of the cotton
manufacture, the employment of
mordants in dyeing, and was like-
wise an early promoter of the
new method of bleaching. His
character as a man of science,
maintained by various writings,
obtained for him admission to the

Royal

CHRO Ne. LE,

Royal Society, and to several
other learned bodies ; and he was
among the first founders of the
Literary and Philosophical So-
ciety of Manchester, of which he
became president. This truly re-
spectable person was not less dis-
tinguished by qualities of the
heart and mind, which warmly
attached to him all his acquaint-
ance, and rendered him in ad-
vanced age an object of equal
affection and veneration. He re-
tained the capacity of enjoying
the best pleasures of life to its
very extremity, and sunk without
a struggle under the inevitable
decay of nature.

22. General Cunningham, aged
60.
Lady Wray, relict of Sir W. U.
Wray, bart.

Sir Alex. Mackdonald Lockhart,
aged 40.

<4. Sir Rob. Staples, bart. Tre-
land, in his 76th year.

27. John Peachey, Lord Selsey,
in his 68th year.

Lately. Lady Diana Fleming,
widow of Sir M. le Fleming, bart.

Vice-Adm. James Alms.

July.

2. Sir John Dyer, Lieut. Col.
of Artillery, whose death was oc-
casioned, whilst on field duty,
by endeavouring to stop the car-
riage of a brother officer whose
horses had taken fright in the ab-
sence of the coachman. He was
struck on the breast by the pole,
and the carriage ran over him.

Mary Baroness Nolken, the wi-
dow of Baron Nolken, the Swedish
plenipotentiary, in her 75th year.

Q17

3. Hon. Wm. Augustus Towns-
hend, M. P. for Whitchurch.

Lieut. Gen. the Hon. Sir Brydges
Trecothick Henniker, bart. son of
the late Lord Henniker.

4, At Paris, of an apoplectic
attack, Arthur Annesley Earl of
Mountnorris, aged 72.

Richard Watson, D. D. Bishop
of Llandaff, aged 79. This emi-
nent prelate was born at Hever-
sham near Kendal, in Westmore-
land, where his father, a clergy-
man, was master of the free
grammar school. After domestic
instruction, he was entered at
Trinity college, Cambridge, where
he distinguished himself by assi-
duous application to his studies.
He was elected a fellow in 1760,
took the degree of M. A. in 1762,
and was elected professor of che-
mistry in 1764. He became one
of the head tutors of the college,
and in 1771 obtained the pro-
fessorship of divinity, to which
the valuable rectory of Somer-
sham is annexed. This acade-
mical elevation was entirely the
result of his industry and talents,
and during his residence in the
university, no member of it con-
ferred more reputation on that
seat of learning than himself. As
moderator at academical exercises,
he equally displayed his urba-
nity, and his acuteness, and ele-
gant use of the Latin language.
He rendered his chemical lec-
tures highly interesting by clear
explanations of the principles
of the science as then received,
and by ingenious and useful ex-
periments. In the divinity chair
he exhibited great extent of re-
search, with a candid and liberal
spirit. OF these qualities he gave

a signal

918

a signal proof in his “ Apology
for Christianity ;"’ being a series of
letters addressed to Mr. Gibbon
asareply to his attacks on that
religion in his Decline and Fall,
which the historian himself de-
clared to be the most polite and
liberal of all those by which he was
encountered, and a perfect con-
trast to the polemical exertions of
some of his antagonists. His
‘« Collection of Theological Tracts
selected from various Authors for
the use of the younger Students
in the University,’’ likewise dis-
played the enlargement of his
sentiments with respect to con-
troverted points of Christian doc-
trine.

Dr. Watson, who published
a sermon entitled ‘“‘ The Princi-
ples of the Revolution Vindicated,”
had openly taken his part in the
state as well as in the church;
and when the Rockingham admi-
nistration was formed in 1782, he
was raised through the recom-
mendation of the Duke of Rut-
land, to whom he had been tutor
at college, to the episcopal bench
in the see of Landaff. With this
bishopric, the poorest in the king-
dom, he was allowed to hold his
other preferments, among which
was a valuable rectory presented
by the Duke of Rutland; and
upon the whole, his chur ch emo-
luments were considerable. He
now entirely renounced his che-
mical pursuits, as a sacrifice to
his prelatic dignity; but he col-
lected in five small volumes all
his essays and experiments rela-
tive to the subject, some of which
were papers in the Philosophical
Transactions communicated by
him as a member of the Royal

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

Society. These volumes were
very favourably received, and are
yet perused with advantage, not-
withstanding the great change in
the theory of the science.

His open and zealous attach-
ment to the political principles of
the whigs was probably the cause
why, during a long possession of
the prelacy, he was never trans-
lated from Landaff when the in-
fluence of that party had declin--
ed. His episcopal functions could
scarcely be exercised in a see
where there was no place of resi-
dence for a bishop, yet he deli-
vered and published oceasional
charges to his clergy. He also
continued to give to the world
tracts on important subjects, af.
fording matter for literary and
political memoirs which would fill
an interesting volume. The high
regard with which he inspired his
academic pupils, was evinced by
a considerable accession to his
fortune from a bequest of Mr.
Luther, of Essex, to whom he
had been tutor. He passed the
evening of his life chiefly at his
seat of Calgarth in Westmorland,
where he actively employed him-
self in rural decorations and agri-
cultural improvements. His man-
ners were simple, with much
equality of temper. He left a
numerous family.

5. At St. Cloud, near Paris, Mrs.
Jordan, a celebrated actress, con-
sidered as unrivalled on the Eng-
lish stage for perfect nature with
arch simplicity in comic charac-
ters. With foibles in her conduct,
she possessed a generous and be-
nevolent heart.

7. Richard Brinsley Sheridan,
whose character and talents have

for

CHRONICLE.

for a long course of years kept
him in the eye of the public as
one of the most remarkable per-
sons of his time. He was born
in 1751, at or near Dublin, and
was the fourth son of Thomas
Sheridan, known for his powers
of declamation as an actor, and as
a successful instructor in elocu-
tion. Richard passed the early
years of education at Dublin,
whence he was removed to Har-
row. He appears to have ob-
tained no particular distinction at
school, being naturally disposed
to indolence, and trusting more
to the impulse of genius than the
habit of application. His con-
nections naturally familiarized him
with the theatre; and the attrac-
tions of Miss Linley operated with
so much force upon him, that
after having won her by a duel,
from a rival, he was rewarded
with her hand. She quitted the
stage on this union; and it does
not appear what was Sheridan’s
plan for maintaining a family, till
in 1775 he brought out his plea-
sant comedy of ‘‘ The Rivals,”’ at
Covent-Garden. Its first recep-
tion was like a failure; but by
judicious alterations it gained the
public favour, and gave the au-
thor precedence above the ordi-
nary play-wrights of the time.
The ‘‘ Duenna,’’ which soon fol-
lowed, obtained a popularity even
beyond that of the Beggar's Opera,
being performed 75 nights during
the season. He now pushed his
connexions in fashionable life ;
and the brilliancy of his wit, with
the charms of Mrs. Sheridan's
conversation, brought ready visi-
tors to their convivial table. To
support this expence, he joined in
the purchase of Garrick's share

219

in the Drury-Tane patent, and
brought on the stage an altered
play of Vanburgh’s. In 1777 his
dramatic powers were exhibited
in their full lustre by the compo-
sition of ‘‘ The School for Scan-
dal,’ a comedy which, perhaps
more than any other of the mo-
dern drama, revived the witty age
of the English theatre. It was
performed with the most com-
plete success, and still commands
crowded audiences in its turn of
representation as a_ stock play.
The ‘‘ Critic,’ written upon the
model of The Rehearsal, exhi-
bited a very amusing specimen of
his talent in humorous satire.
Although he derived considerable
profit from his productions, and
from his share in the theatre, his
stile of living always went be-
yond his resources, his expenses
being entirely unrestrained by
economy, or by any delicacy in
contracting debts which he had
no means of discharging. By
friends who thought highly of his
abilities, he was therefore advised
to exercise them in the more fer-
tile and extensive field of politics.
By his efforts he obtained a seat
in parliament for the borough of
Stafford, and he closely attached
himself to the opposition against
the ministry of Lord North. When
that was overthrown in 1782, and
was succeeded by the Rockingham
administration, Sheridan was gra-
tified with the post of under-
secretary to Mr. Fox. His friends
being shortly unseated by the
death of their leader, he lost his
place ; but when the Shelburne
party was defeated by the Ccali-
tion, he re-entered the official
corps as secretary to the treasury.
As a parliamentary orator he had

hitherto

2200 ANNUAL REGISTER,

hitherto been chiefly regarded as
. filling a subsidiary post by his
polished raillery and entertaining
sarcasm; but in his defence of
Mr. Fox’s India bill he exhibited
powers of argument, and masterly
comprehension of an_ intricate
subject, which convinced the
hearers that a steady application
only was wanting to place him in
the first rank of political speakers.
This, in the universal opinion of
the nation, was attained by him,
when, as one of the managers of
the prosecution instituted by the
House of Commons against Mr.
Hastings, he exhibited a copious-
ness, force, and lustre of eloquence
which both parties pronounced as
absolutely unequalled within the
remembrance of the auditors. At
this time, being again a member
of opposition, he is supposed to
have exerted a great influence
over the councils at Carlton-
house ; and he obtained a place
in the collection of the revenue
of the duchy of Cornwall, which
was the only permanent fruit of
his political career. He was a
firm and consistent opposer of Mr.
Pitt’s measures ; and did not he-
sitate to encounter all the impu-
tations thrown upon the decreas-
ing band of reformists and advo-
cates of freedom, during the war
of the French revolution.

Deeply involved in his circum-
stances, and suffering in his pri-
vate character in consequence of
his necessities, with a constitution
broken by his habits of life, and a
debilitated mind, he sunk, the
melancholy example of brilliant
talents deprived of almost all their
value by moral defects.

12. Vice-adm. Sir Wm. Essing-
ton, in his 63d year.

13. Lieut.-general Cliffe.

1816.

Rt. Rev. John Skinner, Primate
of the Episcopal church in Scot-
land.

23. Mrs. Elizabeth Hamilton,
a lady well known to the public
by various works devoted to the
moral and religious instruction of
different ages and classes, and
displaying a solid understanding
and cultivated taste. She died at
Harrowgate after long and pa-
tient suffering under sickness,
and was greatly regretted by
many attached friends.

August.

10. Elizabeth Countess of Bal-
carras,

12. Louisa Lady Bagot.

Sir Andrew Bayntun, bart.

15. Joshua Vanneck Lord Hunt-
ingfield, in his 71st year. He was
created an Irish peer in 1796, and
was member of parliament for
oe

7. Lady Susan Clinton, wife of
Lieut. -general Sir Henry Clinton,
and sister of the Earl of Wemyss.

Lady Rawlinson, relict of Sir
Walter R. aged 73.

Ls Joseph Huddart, esq. F.R. S.
and an elder brother of the Trinity-
house, in his 76th year. This
very able and useful person, dis-
tinguished as a geographer and
mechanist, was born of humble
parentage at Allonby, a sea-coast
village in Cumberland. His fa-
ther having a share in a fshery
established in that place, Joseph
was much employed in the small
vessels by which it was carried
on, and at length he obtained the
command of a brig, in which he
made frequent trips to different
ports. Having a strong turn to

mechanics,

CHRON

mechanics, he employed his lei-
sure in the study of ship-building
and astronomy, and without any
instruction he built a vessel of
which every timber was moulded
by his own hands. ‘This he navi-
gated from 1760 to 1773 chiefly
in St. George’s Channel, making
surveys of the ports and road-
steds, the accuracy of which ob-
tained the notice of nautical men,
and induced Sir Richard Hotham
to recommend his entering into
the East India service. He ac-
cordingly made a voyage as fourth
mate of the York, during which
he took valuable surveys on the
western coast of Sumatra. After
his return he resumed the com-
mand of his own vessel, in which
he made an annual voyage to
America ; and at the request of a
chart-seller, he completed his sur-
yey of St. George’s Channel. In
1778 he again sailed to the East
Indies as chief mate, and made
four voyages in a period of ten
years, during which time he com-
pleted a survey of the penin-
sula from Bombay to Coringo.
After quitting that service he exe-
cuted surveys of the Western
islands of Scotland; and he was
employed by the Trinity-house in
1790, in a survey of that intricate
navigation Hasbro’ Gatt for the
purpose of placing lights. By his
labours above-mentioned, he ren-
dered essential service to marine
geography, and obtained high re-
putation in that branch of science.
Not less valuable to mariners was
his capital improvement in the
mannfacture of cordage, by means
of which an equal distribution is
made of the strains on the yarns,
thus obviating the former danger
of a cable giting way in conse-

ICLE.

quence of the unequal stress upon
different component parts. His
most ingenious piece of mechanism
for this purpose was invented by
him with such exactness of con-
ception, that it was rendered per-
fect at one effort, without a pre-
vious medel. For this contrivance
he obtained a patent, which lay
dormant for some time on account
of the prejudice of rope-makers
in favour of their received me-
thod ; but the superiority of Cap-
tain Huddart’s mode was so well
established on trial, that his own
rope-work, constructed at Lime-
house, has proved a very success-
ful concern.

@aptain Huddart was a tall
erect figure, with a countenance
strongly indicating thought, with
an expression of placid benevo-
lence corresponding with the ami-
able simplicity of his character.

28. Sir Chaloner Ogle, bart.
senior admiral in the navy, in his
89th year.

Charles Chaplin, esq. M.P. for
the county of Lincoln, aged 58.

31. Hon. Mary Bennett, relict
of Hon. Lieutenant-gen. Bennett.

221

September.

4. Sir Thos. Miller, bart. M. P.
for Portsmouth, in his 8Ist year.

5. Hon C. Herbert, M. P. for
Wilton, aged 72.

6. Robert Morris, esq. M. VP. for
Gloucester.

Dowager Countess D’ Alton.

10. Sam. Osborne, esq. admiral
of the blue, aged 62.

Richard Reynolds, of Bristol, a
member of the Society of Friends,
in his 8Ist year. This truly me-
morable person was long the prin-
cipal in the concern known by the

name

999

name of the Colebrook Dale Com-
pany, in which he raised an am-
ple property, which, in his hands,
was the instrument of larger and
more diffusive beneficence than
ean easily be paralleled in any
station of life. His charities, un-
limited by the distinctions of sect
or party, were extended as far as
his careful and assiduous enqui-
ries could detect suitable objects,
and were commonly distributed
without any knowledge of the
hand which supplied them, ex-
cept by the secret agents of his
bounty. Such were his modesty
and humility, that they would not
suffer him to assume merit from
what he regarded as an _ indis-
pensable duty, and he considered
himself as the mere steward of
the superfluity which Providence
had bestowed upon him. At Bris-
tol, where he resided during the
latter part of his life, he was re-
garded as a general good; and
the regret inspired by his loss was
participated by all ranks and de-
nominations. Besides the honour
paid to his memory by a numerous
attendance at his funeral, a gene-
ral meeting of the inhabitants of
the city was convened by public
advertisement, at which a reso-
lution unanimously passed for
instituting a philanthropic asso-
ciation under the titleof Reynolds's
Commemoration Society.

12. Mrs, Otway, relict of Vice-
adm. O.

Sir Wm. Codrington, bart. in his
78th year.

14, General John Leveson Gower,
aged 47.

15, Paul Cobb Methuen, esq. of
Corsham House, Wilts, which he
had decorated with one of the
finest collections of pictures in
England.

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

16. Sir James Wright, bart. in
his 70th year.

18. f#hilip d Auvergne Prince de
Bouillon, Vice-adm. of the Red, in
his 81st year.

22. In his 87th year, Sir Robert
Gunning, bart. formerly minister
at the courts of Denmark, Prus-
sia, and Russia.

24. John Manley, esq. Vice-
adm. of the Red.

29. Lady Susannah Wombwell.

Rev. Wm. Bell, D. D. Senior
Prebendary of Westminster, in
his 85th year. ‘This learned di-
vine was educated at Magdalen
college, Cambridge, in which uni-
versity he obtained considerable
distinction. He became domestic
chaplain to the Princess Amelia,
aunt to the present King, through
whose interest he obtained a pre-
bend of Westminster in 1765, and
two years afterwards proceeded
S. T. P. by royal mandate. He
acquired several other prefer-
ments ; and made himself known
to the public by various publica-
tions. That for which he was
principally distinguished was “ An
Attempt to ascertain and illustrate
the Authority, Nature, and De-
sign of the Institution of Christ,
commonly called the Lord’s Sup-
per,” 1780, Svo. In this work
he chiefly adopted the opinions of
Hoadly on this sacrament ; and it
produced a letter addressed to him
by Dr. Bagot. Dr. Bell followed
up the subject by ‘‘ An Enquiry,
whether any doctrine relating to
the nature and effects of the
Lord’s Supper can be justly found-
ed on the doctrine of our Lord
recorded in the 6th chapter of the
Gospel of St. John,” 1790. In
1787 he was the Editor of a cu-
rious tract by the late Dr. Cou-

rayer,

CHRONICLE.

rayer, entitled “‘ Declaration de
mes derniers sentimens sur les
. differens dogmes de la Religion,”
the manuscript of which had been
given by the writer himself to the
Princess Amelia, who left it to
Dr. Bell. A translation of this
work was published by Dr. Calder.
In 1810, Dr. Bell testified his at-
tachment to his Alma Mater and
to the established church, by
transferring to the university of
Cambridge 15,2001. 3 per cents.
in trust to found eight new scho-
larships for the sons or orphans
of clergymen whose circumstances
would not enable them to bear
the whole expense of education at
the university.
30. Sir Edw. Hulse, bart.

October.

11. John Joseph Blake Lord
Wallscourt.

16. In Barbadoes, Lieut.-gen.
Sir James Leith, Governor of that
island.

17. Catharine, relict of Sir Hen.
Fletcher, bart. aged 85.

18. Sir Arthur Davies Owen, of
Glan Severn, in his 64th year.

21. William Lygon Earl Beau-
champ, in his 67th year.

22. Lieut.-gen. Forbes Cham-
pagne.

29. Major-gen. Sir Geo. Holmes,
of the Bombay establishmeut.

30. Frederick William I. King
of Wurtemberg.

November.

3. Mary, widow of Sir Robert

@ Arcy Hildyard, bart. in her 75th
year.

7. Hyacinthe Gabrielle Mar-

223

chioness Wellesley, a native of
France.

9. The Rev. Joseph Townshend,
rector of Pewsey, Wilts, at an ad-
vanced age. He was distinguished
as a mineralogist and concholo-
gist, and in his scientific character
was advantageously known by his
«© Journey through Spain,” 3 vol.
8vo. He was also long a preacher
among the Calvinistic Methodists,
in which capacity he fell under
the lash of the author of the Spi-
ritual Quixote. He was the au-
thor of sermons and various mis-
cellaneous tracts, one of which
was a popular treatise on me-
dicine.

Dowager Lady Lawley, aged 78.

10. At Thenford, Northamp-
tonshire, Michael Woodhull, esq.
aged 76, a gentleman of exten-
sive learning, and great benevo-
lence. He was educated at Win-
chester and Oxford; and ’made
himself known by a translation
of all the Tragedies and Frag-
ments of Euripides, 4 vol. Svo.
1782, and by a volume of Miscel-
laneous Poems, in which he ap-
peared as a zealous friend of li-
berty, civil and religious, and a
warm asserter of the general
rights of mankind.

11. Vice-adm. Charles Boyles.

14. Sir Roger Curtis, bart. Ad-
miral of the Red, particularly
known for his gallant and hu-
mane conduct at the destruction
of the battering ships at the siege
of Gibraltar.

17. Patrick Dillon, Earl of Ros-
common, in his 48th year.

18. Hon. Henrietta Beauclerk,
2d daughter of Lord Beauclerk,
in her 74th year,

26. Abraham Robarts, esq. M.P.
for Worcester in his 72d year.

December.

924
December.

11. Lady Catharine Murray,
widow of W. J. Murray, esq. and
daughter of the Earl of Gal-
loway.

Richard Howard Earl of Ejfing-
ham, in the 69th year of his age.

15. Charles Stanhope, Earl Sian-
hope, in his G4th year. This no-
bleman was son to Philip Earl
Stanhope, and received a great
part of his education at Geneva.
He brought thence a warm at-
tachment to the principles of civil
and religious liberty, which di-
rected his conduct during his
whole life, regardless of all fa-
mily er party connections, and in
modes peculiarly his own; the
consequence of which was, that
in his parliamentary plans he fre-
quently acted alone, and was not
less singular in his language and
manners, than in his notions and
projects. It is, however, allowed
that many of his reforming at-
tempts were turned to useful ob-
jects, and they occasionally re-
ceived support as well from the
ministers as the opposition. This
was exemplified by their adopting
his bill respecting the prohibition
of purchasing gold at a price
higher than the numerary value
of bank notes; and their admis-
sion of his proposal for the digest
of all the statutes, which was the
Jabour that engaged his last pub-
lic cares. His knowledge was
various and extensive, and his in-
dustry indefatigable. He pursued
with ardour every thing he under-
took, unchecked by disappoint-
ment, and regardless of criticism.
From a mere boy he exhibited
talents for scientific inquiry and
mechanical invention, and almost

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

numberless were the contrivances
for improving the useful arts
which he laid before the public,
and put to the test of experiment.
Among those was an important
improvement in the printing-
press, which has been largely
adopted under his name. No one
could stand more apart from de-
signs of private interest, either in
his political conduct, or his scien-
tific pursuits ; and he appeared to
regard perfect independence as
more dignified and honourable
than high office or court favour.
He has been thought hard and
unfeeling, and his domestic cha-
racter may in various points be
impeached, but he was a kind
landlord, and a liberal benefactor
to the poor,

Lord Stanhope was married first
to Hester Pitt, eldest daughter to
the great Earl cf Chatham; and
secondly to Louisa, daughter of
Henry Grenville, esq. Governor
of Barbadoes. When he broke
off his political connection with
his brother-in-law, Mr. Pitt, his
family preferred the patronage of
the minister to the paternal roof;
which occasioned him to say, that
as they had chosen to be saddled
on the public purse, they must
take the consequences. The re-
sult was, that none of them were
named in his will, and all his dis-
posable property was bequeathed
to eight executors not in the least
related to him.

17. In France, in his 36th year,
Sir Hen. Hollis Bradford, a knight
commander of the Bath, and
knight of orders in Russia and
the Netherlands.

18. Sir William Pepperell, bart.
aged 70.

25. Mary Hallyburton, Countess

Dowager

CHRONICLE.

- Dowager of Aboyne, in her 80th

year.

26. John Disney, D.D. aged
70. This estimable person was
descended from an ancient family
in Lincolnshire, and received his
academical education at Peter-
house, inCambridge. After taking
orders he was presented to a rec-
tory and vicarage in his native
county, where he exercised with
assijuity his parochial duties.
Being led by his enquiries to dis-
sent from the articles of the
church of England, and seeing no
prospect of alteration in its ser-
vice or subscriptions, he resigned
his preferments in 178%, and re-
moving to London became first,
assistant, and afterwards sole mi-
nister, of the Unitarian chapel

Vor. LVIII.

225

founded by Mr. Lindsey, in Essex-
street. His upright and disin-
terested conduct so much ingra-
tiated him with Brand Hollis,
esq. that he bequeathed to him
his estate at the Hyde, near In-
gatestone, Essex, whither Dr.
Disney retired, and honourably
passed the remaining years of his
life. He left two sons and a
daughter by the e'dest daughter
of Archdeacon Blackburne. He
was the author of Memoirs of
Sykes, Jebb, and Jortin, of a vo-
lume of Sermons, and of various
tracts.

Erratum in the Deaths of the last
year.—In the account of Samuel
Whitbread, Esq. the date is given
September 6th instead of July 6th.

Q SHERIFFS

226 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

SHERIFFS
Appointed by the Prince Regent in Council for the Year 1816.

Bedfordshire, Henry Brandreth, of Houghton Regis, esq.

Berkshire, Richard Powlett Wrighte Benyon, of Englefield, esq.

Buckinghamshire, Thomas Tyringham Barnard, of Nether Win-
chinden, esq.

Cambridge and Huntingdonshire, John Whitby Quintin, of Hatley
St. George, esq.

Cheshire, Samuel Aldersey, of Aldersey, esq.

Cumberland, William Brown, of Tallantire-Hali, esq.

Derbyshire, John Peel, of the Pastures, esq.

Devonshire, Sir Arthur Chichester, of Youlston, esq.

Dorsetshire, John Herbert Browne, of Weymouth, esq.

Essex, Nicholas Pearce, of Loughton, esq.

Gloucestershire, Daniel John Niblett, of Harefield, esq.

Hertfordshire, Kingsmill Evans, of the Hill) esq.

Herts, Daniel Giles, of Youngsbury, esq.

Kent, Alex. Evelyn, of St. Clerc, esq.

Leicestershire, Charles W. Pochin, of Barkby, esq.

Lincolnshire, Nevile King, of Ashby, esq.

Monmouthshire, Sir Henry Protheroe, of Lantarnam Abbey, knt.

Norfolk, Sigismund Trafford Southwell, of Wroxam, esq,

Northamptonshire, Sir James Langham, of Cottisbrooke, bart.

Northumberland, Matthew Bell, of Woolsington, esq.

Nottinghamshire, Sir Robert Howe Bromley, of East Stoke, bart.

Oxfordshire, John Phillips, of Culham, esq.

Rutlandshire, John C. Gilson, of Berley, esq.

Shropshire, Sir Thomas John Tyrwhitt Jones, of Stanley, bart.

Somersetshire, John Goodfood, of Yeovil, esq.

Staffordshire, John Smith, of Great Fenton, esq.

County of Southampton, John Morant, uf Brokenhurst, esq.

Suffolk, Sir Charles Blois, of Cockfield Hall, bart.

Surrey, B. Barnard, of Ham Common, esq.

Sussex, John Ingram, of Rottingdean, esq.

Warwickshire, W. Holbeche, of Farnborough, esq.

Wiltshire, John Hussey, of New Sarum, esq.

Worcestershire, Joseph Lea, of the Hill, esq.

Yorkshire, Richard Oliver Gascoigne, of Parlington, esq.

.

WALES.

Caermarthenshire, John'Colby, of Pennywern, esq.
Pembrokeshire, H. Mathias, of Fern-hill, esq.

Cardiganshire, Thomas Lloyd, of Coedmore, esq.

‘Glamorganshire, Henry John Grant, of Gnoll Castle, esq.
Breconshire, Edward Kendal, of Dany Park, esq.

CIN it Radnorshire,

CHRONICLE. 227

Radnorshire, Sir Harford Jones, of Boultibrook, bart.
Merionethshire, Thomas Duckinfield Ashley, of Cwmllecoidiog, esq.
Carnarvonshire, T. Burrow, of Benarth, esq.

Anglesey, Robert Bulkeley, of Gronant, esq.

Montgomeryshire, Tgomas Watkin Youde, of Clogfan, esq.
Denbighshire, Edwar Edwards, of Cerrig Llwydion, esq.
Flintshire, George Boscawen, of Marford, esq.

APPOINTED BY THE PRINCE OF WALES.

Cornwall, Sir Arscott Ourry Molesworth, of Pencarrow, esq.

Q2 APPENDIX

[i 78393}

APPENDIX to CHRONICLE.

ARTICLES FROM THE LONDON GAZETTE.

INDIA-BOARD, WHITEHALL,
Aug. 10, 1816.

DISPATCH, dated Fort

William, March 11, 1816,

has been received at the Hast

India-house from the Governor-

general in Council, with enclo-

sures, of which the following are
extracts and copies :—

We desire to offer to your Hon.
Committee the expression of our
cordial congratulations on the sig-
nal success which has attended
the first operations of our arms,
and to draw your particular at-
tention to the distinguished merits
and services of the officers and
troops engaged in them, whose
zeal, gallantry, and perseverance,
demand our warmest applause.

Your Honourable Committee
will not fail to perceive in the
plan of operations adopted by
Major-Gen, Ochterlony, the same
judgment, ability, and military
skill, which have always charac-
terised that officer’s proceedings,
and which, on the present oc-
casion, supported by the bravery
and discipline of the troops under
his command, have enabled him
to surmount difficulties of no or-
dinary magnitude, in passing the
first range of hills, and to defeat
the bold and desperate efforts of
the enemy to oppose his subse-
quent progress.

The conduct of Colonel Kelly,
in the command of the detached
column directed against Hurry-
hurpore, is justly entitled to our
high approbation ; and we have
great satisfaction in pointing out
to the notice of your Honourable
Committee the testimony borne
by Major-General Ochterlony and
Colonel Kelly to the merits and
services of Lieut.-Colonel Miller,
of His Majesty's S7th regiment ;
Lieut.-Colonel Burnett of the 8th
regiment of Native Infantry, and
Lient.-Colonel O'Halloran of the
18th regiment Native Infantry ;
and the other oflicers particularly
mentioned in the enclosed reports.

Copy of a Letter and Enclosure
from Colonel W. Kelly, com-
manding the Ist Brigade, to
Major-Gencral Sir David Och-
terlony.

Sir,—I had the honour in my
letter of the 28th ultimo to ac-

‘quaint you with my intention of

proceeding to this point of the
Hurryhurpore-hill, which move-
ment IT executed accordingly.

On the best reconnoissance that
could be made without particu-
larly calling the attention of the
enemy to our movements, it ap-
peared that a strong point, with-
in about 900 yards of the ner

ace

APPENDIX TO CHRONICLE.

ade I mentioned, had been neg-
lected: This stockade runs upon
the range and to the westward of
the Hurryhurpore-Fort, supposed
to be about 1000 yards from it,
in form a semicircle, and the
mountain nearly perpendicular to
the extremities, two guns in it,
and in all respects formidable.

As the occupation of this neg-
lected point appeared to be of
great moment, it was advisable to
take it by surprise: I consequently
ordered the light infantry com-
panies of the brigade, with two
companies of each of the follow-
ing regiments, viz. His Majesty's
24th, 18th native infantry, Chum-
parun light infantry, and one
company of the 2d battalion 2.st
native regiment, with 2 3-pound-
ers, carried by bearers, to march
at three o'clock yesterday morn-
ing, under thecommand of Lieut.-
Colonel O'Halloran, who took
possession of the position a few
minutes before six, dislodged a
picquet left for its protection. The
enemy, in very considerable force,
made a most desperate and obsti-
nate attack to recover this point ;
I was therefore obliged to send a
few companies to support the rear
of the position which was threat-
ened,

It was impossi}le, from the
nature of the ground, to close or
use the bayonet, and the musketry
continued without interruption
until half-past 11 o'clock, when
the arrival of two 6-pounders,
and two five and a half-inch how-
itzers on elephants, in a few mi-
nutes decided the affair, and left
us in possession of an almost na-
tural redoubt, very advantageously
situated for further operations.

1 do myself the honour to en-

229

close a list of kiJled and wounded,
which, considering the length of
time the affair lasted, is not great.
Amongst the wounded you will
find Captain Lindsay, of the artil-
lery: although bis wounds are
not severe, I fear I shall lose his
active services for a time, which
I lament exceedingly, having
found Captain Lindsay a most
zealous able officer, both as an
artillerist and engineer.

1 am highly indebted to Lieut.-
Colonel O'Halloran for the able
and officer-like manner in which
he executed this duty; and no-
thing can possibly be more flatter-
ing or creditable than his report
of the gallant conduct of the troops
throughout.

From every report, it appears
that the enemy have suffered se-
verely; numbers of their killed
are lying in all directions round
the point of attack. Two or three
hundred Goorkahs have been
brought in, but they are, from
the severity of their wounds, un-
able to speak or give intelligence.

The advanced position only ad-
mits nine companies, which, with
a field-officer, I relieve every
twenty-four hours. It will take
some time to make the road for
the heavy guns. We are, how-
ever, this day employed in getting
up the twelve pounders, which
will probably breach the stockade.

I am still deficient of intelli-
gence, and uncertain of the real
numbers of the enemy: but I
believe them to be as I before
stated. The heavy rain of last
night and this morning interrupts
our operations ; but 1 hope it is
about to clear.

I have the honour to be, &c.

(Signed) W. KELLY, Col.
PS:

g0 ANNUAL REGISTER) 1816.

P.S. I have the highest grati-
fication in. announcing the occupa-
tion, by the advanced guard under
the field-officer, Major Robeson,
of his Majesty's 24th regiment, of
the stockade, fort, and hill, which
were evacuated some time this
morning, during the rain and
thick weather, by the Goorkah
force, under Ranjoor Kajee, who
joined during the action of yester-
day, and commanded.

(Signed) W. Keriy.

Return of Killed and Wounded in
the 1st or Col. Kelly’s Brigade,
in the action on the Heights of
Hurryhurpore, on the 1st of
March, 1816.

Camp, near Hurryhurpore,
March 2, 1816.

Total killed—4 privates of 24th
Foot, 4 sepoys. )

Total wounded—1 brevet ma-
jor, 2 captains, 2 lieutenants, 1
jemailar, 1 sergeant, 22 privates
of the 24th Foot, 2 naicks, 16
sepoys, 2 pioneers, 2 gun lascars.

(Signed) Gro. Cassment,

Major of Brigade.

ADMIRALTY OFFICE, Sept. 15.

Captain Brisbane, of his Ma-
jesty's ship’ Queen Charlotte, ar-
rived at this office last night with
the following dispatches from Ad-
mitral Lord Exmouth, G. C. B.
addressed to John Wilson Croker,
Esq: :—

Queen Charlotte, Algvers- Bay,
Aug. 28.

Sir,—In all the vicissitudes of

a long life of public service, no

circumstance has ever produced

on my mind such impressions of

gratitude and joy as the event of
yesterday. To have been one of
the humble instruments, in the
hands of Divine Providence, for
bringing to reason a ferocious
Government, and destroying for
ever the insufferable and horrid
system of Christian slavery, can
never cease to be a source of de-
light and heartfelt comfort to
every individual happy enough to
be employed in it. I may, I hope,
be permitted, under such impres-
sions, to offer my sincere con-
gratulations to their Lordships on
the complete success which at-
tended the gallant efforts of his’
Majesty’s fleet in their attack
upon Algiers of yesterday ; and the
happy result produced from it on
this day by the signature of peace.

Thus has a provoked war of
two days’ existence been attended
by a complete victory, and closed
by a renewed peace for England
and her Ally, the King of the
Netherlands, on conditions dic-
tated by the firmness and wisdom
of his Majesty’s Government, and
commanded by the vigour of their
measures.

My thanks are justly due for
the honour and confidence His
Majesty’s Ministers have been
pleased to repose on my zeal, on
this highly ingportant occasion.
The means were- by them made
adequate to my own wishes, and
the rapidity of their measares
speek for themselves. Not more
than one hundred days since I
left Algiers with the British fleet,
unsuspicious and ignorant of the
atrocities which had been com-
mnitted at Bona; that fleet, on its
arrival in England, was necessarily
disbanded, and another, with
proportionate resources, created

and

APPENDIX TO CHRONICLE.

and equipped; and, although im-
peded in its progress by calms
and adverse winds, has poured
the vengeance of an insulted na-
tion, in chastising the cruelties of
a ferocious Government, with a
promptitude beyond example, and
highly honourable to the national
character, eager to resent oppres-
sion or cruelty, whenever prac-
tised upon those under their pro-

. tection.

Would to God that in the at-
tainment of this object I had not
deeply to lament the severe loss
of so many gailant officers and
men; they have profusely bled in
a contest which has been pecu-
liarly marked by proofs of such
devoted heroism as would rouse

‘every noble feeling, did I dare

indulge in relating them.

Their Lordships will already
have been informed, by his Ma-
jesty’s sloop Jasper, of my pro-
ceedings up to the 14th instant,
on which day I broke ground
from Gibraltar, after a vexatious
detention, by a foul wind of four
days.

The fleet, complete in all its’

points, with the addition of five
gun-boats, fitted at Gibraltar, de-
parted in the highest spirits, and
with the most favourable prospect
of reaching the port of their desti-
nation in three days; but an ad-
verse wind destroyed the expec-

tation of an early arrival, which -

was the more anxiously looked
for by myself, in consequence of
hearing, the day I sailed from
Gibraltar, that a large army had
been assembled, and that very.
considerable additional works
were throwing up, not only on
both flanks of the city, but also
immediately about the entrance

231

of the Mole : from this I was ap-
prehensive that my intention of
making that point my principal
object of attack had been dis-
covered to the Dey by the same
means he had heard of the expe-
dition. This intelligence was, on
the following night, greatly con-
firmed by the Prometheus, which
I had dispatched to Algiers some
time before, to endeavour to get
away the Consul. Capt. Dash-
wood had with difficulty succeeded
in bringing away, disguised in
midshipman’s uniform, his wife
and daughter, leaving a boat to
bring off their infant child, coming
down in a basket with the sur-
geon, who thought he had com-
posed it, but it unhappily cried
in the gate-way, and in conse-
quence the surgeon, 3 midship-
men, in all 18 persons, were
seized and confined as slaves in
the usual dungeons. The child
was sent off next morning by the
Dey, and as a solitary instance of
his humanity, it ought to be re-
corded by me.

Capt. Dashwood further con-
firmed, that about 40,000 men
had been brought down from the
interior, and all the Janissaries
called in from distant garrisons,
and that they were indefatigably
employed in their batteries, gun-
boats, &c. and every where
strengthening the sea-defences.

The Dey informed Captain
Dashwood he knew perfectly well
the armament was destined for
Algiers, and asked him if it was
true; he replied, if he had such
information he knew as much as
he did, and probably from the
same source—the public prints.

The ships were allin port, and
between 40 and 50 gun and mor-

tar-

252

tar-boats ready, with several more
in forward repair. The Dey had
closely confined the Consul, and
refused either to give him up or
promise his personal safety; nor
would he hear # word respecting
the officers and men seized in the
boats of the Prometheus.

From the continuance of ad-
verse winds and calms, the land
to the westward of Algiers was
not made before the 26th, and
the next morning, at day-break,
the fleet was advanced in sight of
the city, though not so near as I
had intended. As the ships were
becalmed, I embraced this oppor-
tunity of dispatching a boat, under
cover of the Severn, with a flag
of truce, and the demands I had
to make in the name of his Royal
Highness the Prince Regent, on
the Dey of Algiers (of which the
accompanying are copies) ; direct-
ing the Officer to wait two or
three hours for the Dey’s answer,
at which time, if no reply was
sent, he was to return to the flag-
ship: he was met near the Mole
by the Captain of the port, who,
on being told the answer was ex-
pected in one hour, replied, that
it was impossible. The Officer
then said he would wait two or
three hours; he then observed,
two hours was quite sufficient.

The fleet at this time, by the
springing up of the sea-breeze,
had 1eached the bay, and were
preparing the boats and flotilla for
service, until near two o'clock,
when, observing my cfficer was
returning with the signal flying
that no answer had been received,
after a delay of upwaids of three
hours, I instantly made the signal
toknow if the ships were all ready,
which being answered in the

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

affirmative, the Queen Charlotte
bore up, followed up by the fleet,
for their appointed stations ; the
flag, leading in the prescribed
order, was anchored in the en-
trance of the Mole, at about fifty
yards’ distance. At this moment
not a gun had been fired, and I
began to suspect a full compliance
with the terms which had been so
many hours in their hands; at
this period of profound silence, a
shot was fired at us from the
Mole, and two at the ships to the
northward then following ; this
was promptly returned by the
Queen Charlotte, who was then
lashing to the mainmast of a brig,
fast to the shore in the mouth of
the Mole, and which we _ had
steered for, as the guide to our
position.

Thus commenced a fire as ani-
mated and well supported as,
1 believe, was ever witnessed,
from a quarter before three until
nine, without intermission, and
which did not cease altogether un-
til half past eleven.

The ships immediately follow-
ing me were admirabiy and coolly
taking their stations, with a pre-
cision even beyond my most san-
guine hope; and never did the
British flag receive, on any ceca-
sion, more zealous and honourable
support. To look further on the
line than immediately round me
was perfectly impossible, but so
well-grounded was my confidence
in the gallant officers I had the
honour to command, that my
mind was left perfectly free to at-
tend to other objects, and I knew
them in their stations only by the
destructive effec: of their fire upon
the walls and batteries to which
they were opposed.

| I had

APPENDIX TO CIIRONICLE.

I had about this time the satis-
faction of seeing Vice-Admiral
Van Capellen’s flag in the station I
had assigned to hin, and soon
after, at intervals, the remainder
of his frigates, keeping up a well-
supported fire on the flanking bat-
teries he had offered to cover us
from, as it had not been in my
power, for want of room, to bring
him in the front of the Mole.

About sunset I received a mes-
sage from Rear-Adiniral Milne,
conveying to me the severe loss
the Impregnable was sustaining,
having then 150 killed and wound-
ed, and requesting I would, if pos-
sible, send him a fiigate to divert
some of the fire he was under.

The Glasgow, near me, imme-
diately weighed, but the wind had
been driven away by the can-
nonade, and she was obliged to
anchor again, having obtained
rather a better position than be-
fore.

I] had at this time sent orders
to the explosion vessel, under the
charge of Lieut. Fleming and Mr,
Parker, by Captain Reade of the
engineers, to bring her into the
Mole; but the Rear- Admiral hav-
ing thought she would do him
essential service if expluded under
the battery in his frout, I sent or-
ders to this vessel to that effect,
which were executed. I desired
also the Rear-Admiral might be
informed, that many of the ships
being now in flames, and certain
of the destruction of the whole, I
considered I had executed the
most important part of my in-
structions, and should make every
preparation for withdrawing the
ships, and desired he would do
so as soon as possible with his
division.

233

There were awful moments
during the conflict, which ] can-
not now attempt to describe, oc-
casioned by firing the ships so near
us, and I had long resisted the
eager entreaties of several around
me, to make the attempt upon the
outer frigate, distant about 100
yards, which at length I gave
into, and Major Gossett, by my
side, who had been eager to land
his corps of miners, pressed me
most anxiously for permission to
accompany Lieutenant Richards
in this ship's barge. The frigate
was instantly boarded, and in ten
niinutes in a perfect blaze ; a gal-
lant young midshipman, in rocket
boat No. 8, although foi bidden,
was led by his ardent spirit to fol-
low in support of the barge, in
which he was desperately wound-
ed, his brother officer killed, and
nine of his crew. The barge, by
rowing more rapidly, had suffered
less, and lost but two.

The enemy's batteries around
my division were about ten o'clock
silenced, and in a state of perfect
ruin and dilap dation; and the
fire of the ships was reserved as
much as possible, to save powder,
and reply to a few guns now and
then bearing upon us, although
a fort on the upper angle of the
city, on which our guns could not
be brought to bear, continued to
annoy the ships by shot and shells
during the whole time.

Providence at this interval gave
to my anxious wishes the usual
land wind, common in this bay,
and my expectations were com-
pleted. We were all hands em-
ployed warping and towing off,
and, by the help of the light air,
the whole were under sail, and
came to anchor out of reach of

shells

934

shells about two in the morning,
after twelve hours incessant la-
bour.

The flotilla of mortar, gun, and
rocket boats, under the direction
of their respective artillery officers,
shared, to the full extent of their
power, in the honours of this day,
and performed good service; it
was by their fire all the ships in
the port (with the exception of
the outer frigate) were in flames,
which extended rapidly over the
whole arsenal, store-houses, and
gun-boats, exhibiting a spectacle
of awful grandeur and interest no
pen can describe.

The sloops of war which had
been appropriated to aid and as-
sist the ships of the line, and pre-
pare for their retreat, performed
not only that duty well, but em-
braced every opportunity of firing
through the intervals, and were
constantly in motion.

The shells from the bombs were
admirably well thrown by the
royal marine artillery ; and though
thrown directly across and over
us, not an accident that I know of
occurred to any ship.

The whole was conducted in
perfect silence, and such a thing
as acheer I never heard in any part
of the line; and that the guns
were well worked and directed,
will be’ seen for many years to
come, and remembered by these
barbarians for ever.

The conducting this ship to her
station by the masters of the fleet
and ship excited the praise of all.
The former has been my compa-
nion in arms for more than 20
years.

Having thus detailed, although
but iraperfectly, the progress of
this short service, I venture’ to

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

hope; that the humble and devoted
services of myself and the officers
and men of every description I
have the honour to command,
will be received by his Royal
Highness the Prince Regent with
his accustomed grace. The ap-
probation of our service, by our
Sovereign, and the good opinion
of our country, will, 1 venture to
affirm, be received by us all with
the highest satisfaction.

If | attempted to name to their
Lordships the numerous officers
who, in such a conflict, have been
at different periods more’ conspi-
cuous than their companions, I
should do injustice to many; and
J trust there is no officer in the’
fleet ] have the’ honour to com-
mand who will doubt the grateful
feelings 1 shall ever cherish for
their unbounded and unlimited
support. Not an officer nor man
confined his exertions within the
precise limits of their own duty ;
all were eager to attempt services
which I found more difficult to
restrain than excite; and no where
was this feeling more conspicuous
than in my own captain, and those
officers immediately about my per-
son. My gratitude'and thanks are
due to all under my conimand, as
well as to Vice-Admiral Capellen,
and the officers of the’squadron of
his Majesty the King of the Nether-
lands ; and I trust they will be
lieve that the recollection of their
services will never cease but with
my life. In no instance have I
ever seen more energy and zeal :
from the youngest midshipman
to the highest rank, all seemed
animated by one soul, and of
which I shall with delight bear tes-
timony to their Lordships, when-
ever that testimony can be useful.

I have

APPENDIX TO CHRONICLE, 235

I have: confided this dispatch to
Rear-Admiral Miine, my second
in command, from whom I have
received, during the whole ser-
vice intrusted to me, the most
cordial and honourable support.
He is perfectly informed of every
transaction of the fleet, from the
earliest period of my command,

and is fully competent to give

their Lordships satisfaction on
any points which I may have over-
looked or have not time to state.
I trust I have obtained from him
his esteem and rezard, and I re-
gret I had not sooner been known
to him.

The necessary papers, together
with the defects of the ships and
the return of killed and wounded,
accompany this dispatch; and I
am happy to say Captains Ekins
and Goode are doing well, as also
the whole of the wounded. By
accounts from the shore, I nnder-
stand the enemy’s loss in killed
and wounded is between 6 and
7,000 men.

In recommending my officers
and fleet to their Lordships’ pro-
tection and favour,

I have the honour to be, &c.

ExMmovuTtu.

A General Abstract of the Killed

and Wounded in the Squadron

under Admiral Lord Exmouth’s
Command, in the Attack of Al-
giers, the 27th August, 1816.

Queen Charlotte, Admiral Lord
Exmouth, G.C. 5. Captain James
Brisbane, C. B.—7 seamen, 1 mia-
rine, killed; 14 officers, $2 sea-
men, 24 marines, 2 marine ar-
tillery, 5 sappers and miners, 4
boys, wounded.

Impregnable, Rear-Admiral
Milne, Capt. Ed. Brace, C.B.—

1 officer, 37 seamen, 10 marines,
2 boys, killed; 2 officers, 111
seamen, 21 marines, 9 sappers
and miners, 17 boys, wounded.

Superb, Charles Ekins—? offi-
cers, 3 seamen, 2 marines, 1 rocket
troop, killed; 6 officers, 62 sea-
men, 14 marines, 2 marine artil-
lery, wounded.

Minden, William Paterson—
5 seamen, 2 marines, killed; 2
officers, 26 seamen, 9 marines,
wounded.

Albion, John Coode—2 officers,
1 seaman, killed; 2 officers, 10
seamen, 3 marines, wounded.

Leander, Ed. Chetham, C. B.—
5 officers, 11 seamen, 1 marine,
killed: 8 officers, 69 seamen, 25.
marines, 4 boys, 12 supernume-
raries, wounded.

Severn, Hon. T. W. Aylmer—
Qseamen, 1 marine, killed ; 5 offi-
cers, 25 seamen, 3 marines, 1 boy,
wounded.

Glasgow, Hon. A. Maitland —
9 seamen, 1 marine, killed; 8
Officers, 25 seamen, 3 marines, 1
boy, wounded.

Granicus, W. F. Wise—3 offi-
cers, 9 seamen, 1 marine, 1 ma-
rine artillery, 2 boys, killed; 5
officers, 31 seamen, 3 marines, 2
rocket troop, 1 boy, wounded.

Hebrus, Ed. Palmer, C. B—~
1 officer, 8 seamen, killed; 1 offi-
cer, 10 seamen, 1 marine, 2 rocket
troop, 1 boy, wounded.

Heron, George Bentham—=+
None killed or wounded.

Mutine, James Mould—None
killed or wounded.

Prometheus, W. B. Dashwood
—None killed or wounded.

Cordelia, W. Sargent—None
killed or wounded.

Britomart, R. Riddell—None
killed or wounded.

Beizebub,

236

Belzebub, William Kempthorne
—None killed or wounded.

Infernal, Hon. G. J. Perceval—
1 officer, 1 seaman, killed ; 6 offi-
cers, 8 seamen, | marine artillery,
2 boys, wounded.

Hecla, W. Popham—None kill-
ed or wounded.

Fury, C. R. Moorsom—None
killed or wounded.

‘Total, 15 officers, 88 seamen,
19 marines, | marine artillery, 1
rocket troop, 4 boys, killed; 59
officers, 459 seamen, 106 marines,
5 marine artillery, 14 sappers and
miners, 4 rocket troop, 31 boys,
12 supernumeraries, wounded.

Total, killed and wounded, 128
killed, 690 wounded.

Dutch Squadron.

Melampus, Vice-Admiral Baron
Van Capellen, Capt. De Mair—3
killed, 15 wounded.

Frederica, Capt. Vander Stra-
ten—5 wounded.

Dagaraad, Captain Polders—
4 wounded.

Diana, Captain Ziervogel—6
killed, 22 wounded.

Amstee, Captain Vander Hart—
4 killed, 6 wounded.

Eendracht, Captain Warden-
burgh—None killed or wounded.

Total, 13 killed, 52 wounded.
Grand total, $83.

Flotilla, consisting of 5 gun-
boats, 10 mortar-boats, launches,
8rocket-boats, flats, 32 gun-boats,
barges and yawls. Total, 55.

The whole commanded by Cap-
tain F. T. Michell, assisted by
Lieutenant John Davies, of the
Queen Charlotte, and Lieutenant
Thomas Revans, Flag Lieutenant
to Rear-admiral Milne.

ExMouTH.

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1316.

Memorandum of the Destruction in
the Mole of Algiers, in the At-
tack of the 27th August.

4 large frigates, of 44 guns;
5 large corvettes, from 24 to 30;
all the gun and mortar-boats, ex-
cept 7; 30 destroyed; several
merchant brigs and schooners ; a
great number of small vessels of va-
rious descriptions; all the pon-
toons, lighters, &c. ; store-houses
and arsenal, with all the timber
and various marine articles, de-
stroyed in part ; agreat many gun-
carriages, mortar-beds, casks, and
ships’ stores of all descriptions.
Exmourn.

His Britannic Majesty’s Ship
Queen Charlotte, Algiers
Bay, Aug. 28.

Siy,—For your atrocities at
Bona on defenceless Christians,
and your unbecoming disregard
to the demands I made yesterday,
in the name of the Prince Regent
of England, the fleet under my
orders has given you a signal
chastisement, by the total de-
struction of your navy, store-
houses, and arsenal, with half
your batteries.

As England does not war for
the destruction of cities. 1 am
unwilling to visit your personal
cruelties upon the inoffensive in-
habitants of the country, and I
therefore offer you the same terms
of peace which I conveyed to you
yesterday in my Sovereign’s name ;
without the acceptance of these
terms, you can have no peace with
England.

If you receive this offer as you
ought, you will fire three guns ;
and I shall consider your not
making this signal as a refusal,

and

4 APPENDIX TO CHRONICLE.

and shall renew my operations at
my own convenience.

] offer you the above terms, pro-
vided neither the British Consul,
nor the officers and men 60 wick
edly seized by you from the boats of
a British ship of war, have met
with any cruel treatment, or any
of the Christian slaves in your
power; and | repeat my demand,
that the Consul, and officers and
men, may be sent off to me, con-
formable to ancient treaties.

Ihave, &c.
To his Highness the Exmovurtn.

Dey of Algiers.

Queen Charlotte, Algiers
Bay, August 30.

General Memorandum.——--The
Commander in Chief is happy to
inform the fleet cf the final ter-
mination of their strenuous exer-
tions, by the signature of peace,
confirmed under a salute of 21
guns, on the following conditions,
dictated by his Royal Highness
the Prince Regent of England :

I. The abolition, for ever, of
Christian slavery.

I]. The delivery, to my flag,
_ of all slaves in the dominions of
the Dey, to whatever nation they
may belong, at noon to-morrow.

II}. To deliver also, to my flag,
all money received by him for the
redemption of slaves since the
commencement of this year, at
noon also to-morrow.

IV. Reparation has been made
to the British Consul for all losses
he may have sustained in conse-
quence of his confinement.

V. The Dey has made a public
apology, in presence of his Mi-
nisters and Officers, and begged

pardon of the Consul, in terms

237

dictated by the Captain of the
Queen Charlotte.

The Commander in Chief takes
this opportunity of again return-
ing his public thanks to the ad-
mirals, captains, officers, seamen,
marines, royal marine artillery,
royal sappers and miners, and the
royal rocket corps, for the noble
support he has received from them
throughout the whole of this ar-
duous service; and he is pleased
to direct, that on Sunday next a
public thanksgiving be offered up
to Almighty God for the signal
interposition of his Divine Pro-
vidence during the conflict which
took place on the 27th between
his Majesty’s fleet and the fero-
cious enemies of mankind.

It is requested that this memo-
randum may be read to the ships’
companies,

To the Admirals, Captains,

Officers, Seamen, Marines,

Royal Sappers and Miners,

Royal Marine Artillery,
and the Royal Rocket
Corps.

Queen Charlotte, Algiers
Bay, Sept. 1.

Sir,—I have the honour to ac-
quaint you, for their Lordships’
information, that I have sent
Captain Brisbane with my dupli-
cate dispatches, as I am afraid
that Admiral Milne, in the Lean-
der, who has charge of the ori-
ginals, may experience a long
voyage, the wind having set in to
the westward a few hours after
he sailed.

Capt. Brisbane, to whom I feel
greatly indebted for his exertions,
and the able assistance I have re-
ceived from him throughout the
whole of this service, will be able

to

238

to inform their Lordships upon
all points that I may have omitted.

Admiral Sir Charles Penrose
-arrived too late to take his share
in the attack upon Algiers, which
I lament, as much on his account
as my own; his services would
have been desirable in every re-
spect.

I have the satisfaction to state,
that all the slaves in the city of
Algiers, and immediately in its
vicinity, are embarked; as also
357,000 dollars for Naples, and
25,500 for Sardinia. The treaties
will be signed to-morrow, and I
hope to be able to sail in a day or
two. |

The Minden has sailed for Gib-
raltar to be refitted, and will pro-
ceed from thence to her ultimate
destination.

The Albion will be refitted at
Gibraltar for the reception of Sir
Charles Penrose’s flag. The Glas-
gow I shali be obliged to bring
home with me.

I have the honour, &c.
ExMovtH.
To John Wilson Croker,
esq. &c. Admiralty.

ADMIRALTY-OFFICE, SEPT, 24.

Rear-Admiral Sir David Milne,
K.C.B. has arrived at this office
with the original dispatches of
Admiral Lord Viscount Exmouth,
relative to his attack on Algiers,
the duplicates of which have al-
ready appeared in the Gazette Er-
traordinary of the 15th inst.

He is also the bearer of dis-
patches from his Lordship, de-
tailing his further proceedings, of
which the following is the sub-
stance :—

On the 28th of August Treaties
of Peace were signed by the Dey

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

with his Majesty, and with his
Majesty the King of the Nether-
lands.

On the same day also was sign-
ed, anadditional article or declara-
for the abolition of Christian sla-
very to the following effect :—

Dectaration of his most Serene
Highness Omar, Bashaw, Dey
and Governor of the warlike
City and Kingdom of Algiers,
made and concluded with the
Right Hon. Edward Baron Ex-
mouth, Knight Grand Cross of
the most honourable Military
Order of the Bath, Admiral of
the Blue Squadron of his Bri-
tannic Majesty's Fleet, and
Commander in Chief of his
said Majesty’s Ships and Ves-
sels employed in the Mediter-
ranean.

In consideration of the deep
interest manifested by his Royal
Highness the Prince Regent of
England for the termination of
Christian slavery, his Highness
the Dey of Algiers, in token of
his sincere desire to maintain in-
violable his friendly relations with
Great Britain, and to manifest his
amicable disposition and high re-
spect towards the powers of Eu-
rope, declares, that in the event
of future wars with any European
Power, not any of the prisoners
shall be consigned to slavery, but
treated with all humanity as pri-
soners of war, until regularly ex-
changed, according to European
practice in like cases, and that at
the termination of hostilities they
shall be restored to their respec-
tive countries without ransom ;
and the practice of condemning
Christian prisoners of war to sla-

very

APPENDIX TO CHRONICLE.

very is hereby formally and for
ever renounced.

Done in duplicate, in the War-
like City of Algiers, in the
presence of Almighty God, the
28th day of August, in the
year of Jesus Christ 1816, and
in the year of the Hegira
1231, and the 6th day of “the
moon Shawal.

(The Dey’s Seal.)

(Signed) Exmourn. (L.S.)

Admiral, and Commander
in Chief.

(Signed) H. M‘Dove tt. (L.S.)
By command of the Admiral,

_ (Signed) Jos. Grimes, Sec.

The Dey also, in presence of
his Divan, apologized to the Bri-
tish Consul for the personal re-
straint which had been imposed
upon him during the late trans-
actions ; and he also paid to the
Consul a sum of 3,000 dollars, as
a remuneration for depredations
committed on his residence after
his imprisonment.

After the treaties and article
before-mentioned had been nego-
tiated, and that the Dey had re-
funded 382,500 dollars, which he
had lately received from the Go-
vernments of Naples and Sardinia,
and had released 1,083 Christian
slaves who were at Algiers, it
came to the knowledge of Lord
Exmouth, that two Spaniards, the
one a merchant, and the other
the Vice-Consul of that nation,
had not been released, but were
still held by the Dey in very se-
vere custody, en pretence that
they were prisoners for debt.

The inquiries which his Lord-
ship felt himself called upon to
make into these cases satisfied him
that the confinement of the Vice-
Consul was groundless and un-

239

justifiable, and he _ therefore
thought himself authorized to
demand his release, under the
articles of agreement for the de-
liverance of all Christian pri-
soners,

It appeared that the merchant
was confined for an alleged debt,
on the score of a contract with
the Algerine Government; but
the circumstances under which the
contract was stated to have been
forced on the individual, and the
great severity of the confinement
which he suffered, determined his
Lordship to make an effort in his
favour also. |

This his Lordship did, by re-
questing his release from the
Dey, offering himself to guarantee
to the Dey the payment of any
sum of money which the merchant
should be found to owe his High-
ness.

The Dey having rejected this
demand and offer, his Lordship,
still unwilling to have recourse
to extremities, and the renewal
of hostilities, proposed that the
Spaniards should be released from
irons, and the miserable dun-
geons in which they were con-
fined; and that they should be
placed in the custody of the Spanish
Consul, or, at least, that the Con-
sul should be permitted to afford
them such assistance and accom-
modation as was suitable to their

rank in life.

These propositions the Dey algo
positively refused ; and Lord Ex-
mouth then felt, ‘that the private
and pecuniary nature of the trans-
actions for which these persons
were confined must be considered
as a pretence for the continnance
of a cruel and oppressive system
of slavery, the total and bond fide

abolis

240

abolition of which his instructions
directed him to insist upon.

He therefore acquainted the
Dey, that his Highness having
rejected all the fair and equitable
conditions proposed to him on
this point, his Lordship had de-
termined to insist on the uncon-
ditional release of the two Spa-
niards. He therefore desired an
answer, yes or no; and, in the
event of the latter, stated, that he
would immediately recommence
hostilities : and his Lordship made
preparations for that purpose.

These measures had the de-
sired effect; and the two persons
were released from a long and
severe captivity, so that no Chris-
tian prisoner remained at Al-
giers at his Lordship’s departure,
which took place on the evening
of the 3d instant, with all the ships
under his orders.

His Lordship states, that Rear-
Admiral Sir Charles Penrose had
joined in the Ister on the 28th,
and that he had employed the
Rear-Admiral in his discussions
with the Dey relative to the Spa-
niards, and his Lordship gives
the highest praise to the prudence,
firmness, and ability with which
Sir Charles Penrose conducted
himself on this occasion.

His Lordship’s last letters are
dated from Gibraltar the {2th
instant, and announce his inten-
tion very shortly to suil on his re-
farn to England.

The refunded ransoms have
been sent to the Neapolitan and
Sardinian Governments, and the
slaves released have been for-
wariled in British transports to
their respective countries.

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

DUTCH OFFICIAL ACCOUNT - OF
THE BATTLE.

The Hegue, Sept. 16.

Staats-Courant Extraordinary.—
Lieutenant Arriens, of the naval
service, this morning arrived from
the Bay of Algiers, which he left
on the Ist of September, at the
office of the marine department,
with dispatches from Vice-Ad-
miral Capellen, of the following
contents :—

flon. Sir ;—Lord Exmouth,
during his short stay at Gibraltar,
having increased his force with
some gun-boats, and mae all his
arrangements, on the 14th of Au-
gust the united squadrons put to
sea, consisting of the vessels as
per margin (1).

On the 10th, off Cape de Gate
the Prometheus corvette joined
the fleet. Captain Dashwood re-
ported, that he had succeeded in
getting the family of the british
Consul at Algiers on board by
stratagem; but that their tlight
being too soon discovered, the
Consul, together with two boats’
crews of the Prometheus, had
been arrested by the Dey, who,
having already received a report
of this second expedition, had
made all preparations for an ob-
stinate opposition; and summon-
ing the inhabitan's of the interior,
had already assembled mo:e than
50,000 men, both Moors and

(1) Queen Charlotte, 110 guns; Impregna-
ble, 98; Superb, 74; Minden, 74; Albion, 74;
Leander, 50; Severn, 40; Glasgow, 40; Gra-
nicus, 36; Hebrus, 36; Heron, 18; Mutine, 18;
Prometheus, 18; Cordelia, 10; Britomart, 10;
Express 4; Falmouth, 8; Belzebub, bomb;
Fury, idem; Hecla, idem; Infernal, idem:
(Dutch) Melampus, 44; Frederica, 44; Dage-
raad, 90; Diane, 44; Amstel, 44; and Fens
dragdt, 18,

APPENDIX TO CHRONICLE.

Arabs, under the walls of Al-
giers.

In consequence of a calm, and
afterwards by strong easterly
winds, we were not before the
Bay of Algiers until the 27th of
August in the morning. Lord
‘Exmouth immediately sent by a
flag of truce, a written proposal
to the Dey, containing in sub-
.stance, that the late atrocities at
Bona having broken all former
connexions, he demanded in the
name of the Prince Regent—

I. The immediate delivering up
of all Christian slaves without
ransom.

II. The restitution of all the
money which had already been
received for the Sardinian and
Neapolitan captives.

III. Asolemn declaration from
.the Dey, that he bound himself,
like those of Tripoli and Tunis,
to respect the rights of humanity,
and in future wars to treat all
prisoners according to the usages
of European nations.

IV. Peace with his Majesty the
King of the Netherlands on the
like terms as with the Prince Re-
gent.

On all these articles his Lord-
ship expected an answer yea or
no, or hostilities must imme-
diately commence.

His Lordship, on whom I wait-
ed in the morning, was afraid that
he should that day be obliged to
rest satisfied with coming to an-
chor, and confine himself for
the night to an attack by bomb-
vessels, gun and _ rocket-boats.
Scearcely had I returned on board
my vessel when the sea-breeze
sprung up, and the fleet bore into
the bay with press of sail; the
four bomb-vessels immediately

Vou. LVI,

241

took their station before the
town, and every thing was pre-
pared for the attack. Shortly
afterwards, his Lordship commu-
nicated to me, by private signal,
*« T shall attack immediately, if
the wind does not fail."". Upon
this I immediately made signal

_to form line of battle in the order

agreed upon, in the supposition
that all the officers must have
been well acquainted with the
position of the forts and batteries
that fell to our share, before the
attack was to begin; but as it ap-
pears that the signal was not well
understood, I resolved to change
the line, and to lead it myself in
the Melampus.

At half past one o’clock the
whole fleet bore up in succession,
the Melampus closing in with
the rearmost ship of the English
line; and at 15 minutes past two
o'clock, we saw Lord Exmouth
with the Queen Charlotte before
the wind, with sails standing,
come to an anchor with three
anchors from the stern, with her
broadside in the wished-for posi-
tion, within pistol-shot of the
batteries, just before the opening
of the mole.

The daring and unexpected
manceuvre of this vessel (a three-
decker) appears to have so con-
founded the enemy, that a second
ship of the line had already well
nigh taken her position before the
batteries opened their fire, which,
how violent soever, was fully re-
plied to.

Having told Captain de Man
that I wished, as speedily as pos-
sible, with the Melampus, and the
other frigates in succession, to
take our position on the larboard
side of Lord Exmouth, and to

R draw

249

draw upon our squadron all the
fire of the southern batteries, the
Captain brought his frigate in a
masterly manner under the cross
fire of more than 100 guns, the
bowsprit quite free of the Glas-
gow, with an anchor from the
head and stern, in the required
position, so as to open our lar-
board guns at the same minute.
Captain Ziervogel, who was fully
acquainted with the above plan,
and with the batteries, brought
his frigate, the Diana, nearly at
the same moment, within a fa-
thom’s length of the place where
I had wished it, for our directed
position. ‘The Dageraad, Captain
Polders, also immediately opened
her batteries in the best direction.
The Captains Van der Straten and
Van der Hart, by the thick smoke,
and not being so fully acquainted
with the localities, were not so
fortunate in the first moments ;
but worked with the greatest
coolness, and under the heaviest
fire, so as to give their batteries a
good direction. The HKendragt,
Captain-lieutenant Wardenberg,
which I had placed in reserve, in
order to be able to bring assist-
ance, remained under the fire of
the batteries close by.

Our ships had not fired for
more than half an hour, when
Lord Exmouth acquainted me
that he was very much satisfied
with the direction of the fire of
our squadron on the southern
batteries, because these giving
now as little hinderance as possi-
ble, he commanded the whole of
the mole, and all the enemy’s
ships.

His Majesty's squadron, as well
as the British force, appeared to
be inspired with the devotedness

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

of our magnanimous chief to the
cause of all mankind; and the
coolness and order with which the
terrible fire of the batteries was
replied to close under the massy
walls of Algiers, will as little ad-
mit of description, as the heroism
and self-devotion of each indivi-
dual generally, and the greatness
of Lord Exmouth in particular,
in the attack of this memorable
day.

The destruction of nearly half
Algiers, and, at eight o'clock in
the evening, the burning of the
whole Algerine navy, have been
the result of it. Till nine o’elock,
Lord Exmouth remained with the
Queen Charlotte in the same po-
sition, in the hottest of the fire,
thereby encouraging every one
not to give up the begun work
until the whole was completed,
and thus displayed such perse-
verance that all were animated
with the same spirit, and the fire
of the ships against that of a brave
and desperate enemy appeared to
redouble,

Shortly afterwards, the Queen
Charlotte, by the loosening of the .
burning wreck, being in the great-
est danger, we were, under the
heaviest fire, only anxious for the
safety of our noble leader; but,
upon offering him the assistance
of all the boats of the squadron,
his reply was—*‘ that having cal-
culated every thing, it behoved us
by no means to be alarmed for his
safety, but only to continue our
fire with redoubled zeal, for the
execution of his orders, and ac-
cording to his example.”

His Lordship at last, about half
an hour to ten o'clock, having
completed the destruction in the
mole, gave orders to retire with-

out

APPENDIX TO CHRONICLE.

out the reach of the enemy’s fire;
which I, as well as all the others,
scrupled to obey, before the Queen
Charlotte was in safety from the
burning ships.

In this retreat, which, from the
want of wind, and the damage
suffered in the rigging, was very
slow, the ships had still to suffer
much from a new-opened and re-
donbled fire of the enemy’s bat-
teries; at last, the land-breeze
springing up, which Lord Ex-
mouth had reckoned upon, the
fleet, at 12 o'clock, came to an-
chor in the middle of the bay.

The Queen Charlotte, under
the fire of the batteries, passing
the Melampus under: sail, his
Lordship wished to be able to see
me, in order to completely re-
ward me by shaking my hand in
the heartiest manner, and saying,
—<TI have not lost sight of my
Dutch friends ; they have, as well
as mine, done their best for the
glory of the day.”

This circumstance, and the ge-
neral order of Lord Exmouth to
the fleet, of which I have the ho-
nour to enclose a copy, must make
the squadron hope for his Ma-
jesty's satisfaction.

For our loss in killed and
wounded, I have to refer you to
the subjoined list: it is remark-
ably small for ships exposed to a
fire of eight hours’ duration, in
‘comparison with that of the Eng-
lish ships. In the damage done
to our rigging, &c. your Excel-
lency will observe that we have
been less fortunate.

The day after the action, Lord
Exmouth sent a second summons
to the Dey, of which his lordship
sent me a copy: it stated, that by
the destruction. of half Algiers,

245

and of his whole navy, the Dey
was now chastised for his faith-
less conduct at Bona, &c. and
that he could only prevent the
total destruction of the town by
the acceptance of the conditions
of the preceding day. -The signal
of the acceptance of the condi-
tions was the firing of three shots,
which, three hours afterwards, we
had the satisfaction of hearing.
In a conference with two persons
empowered by the Dey, on board
Lord Exmouth’s ship, at which
myself, together, with Admiral
Milne and Captain Brisbane, were
present, all the points were regu-
lated. The conclusion of -the
peace was for England and the
Netherlands celebrated by the
firing a salute of twice 21 cannon;
and I have now the satisfaction of
wishing you joy on the successful
termination of the efforts of his
Majesty in the cause of humanity.
[Here follow praises bestowed by
the Admiral on the different offi-
cers of his squadron. }

In proof of his adherence to the
treaty, the Dey must this day, at
12 o'clock, deliver up 300,000
dollars ; and all the slaves must
be ready for embarkation at the
wharf. ‘Those of our country are
in number 26 or 27, all well, be-
sides many others driven into the
interior of the country, and who
cannot be here before two or three
days.

I shall have the honour, on a
future opportunity, to report far-
ther to your Excellency; and am,
with the highest respect, &c. &c.

T. Van ve CapeLien.
His Majesty's Frigate Me-
lampus, Bay of Algiers,

August 30, 1816,

R 2 REMARK-

244

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

REMARKABLE TRIALS AND LAW CASES.

TESTAMENTARY CAUSES.

Prerogative Court, Doctors’
Commons.—Slack and Others, by
their Guardian, v. Slack.—This was
a proceeding relative to the will
of Thomas Cartwright Slack, Esq.
late of Gravel-lane, Aldgate, Lon-
don, and of Kentish-town, Mid-
dlesex, deceased.

The deceased was burnt in his
house at Kentish-town on the 23d
of November last, and died, leav-
ing a widow and six children,
minors. He was possessed of
personal property to the amount
of about 16,0001. and a small free-
hold estate valued at about 1,5001.;
and being a freeman of London,
his widow would be entitled to
four-ninths of the personal pro-
perty in case of intestacy. His
will, made in August 1814, was
burnt with him; but the con-
tents of it, as stated in an affida-
vit of one of the guardians of the
children, were propounded by him
and the other guardians on their
behalf, as the residuary legatees
named in it, and opposed, merely
for the purpose of obtaining the
decision of the Court, by Mrs.
Jane Hester Slack, the widow.
The contents of the will, as stated
in. the affidavit; were to this ef-
fect :—-The deceased gave to his
brother, Joseph Albin Slack, Esq.
the carriages and horses he might

possess at his death: to his wife

all the rest of his property for her
life, and at her death to his chil-
ren, in such proportions as she
should appoint ; but in default of
such appointment, then amongst
them equally ; and he appointed
his wife, his brother, and his bro-
ther-in-law, the Rev. Thomas
White, executors of his will, and
trustees and guardians for his
children, with power to apply a
portion of their shares of his pro-
perty towards their advancement
in the world.

It appeared from the evidence
in support of the will, that the
deceased had ever expressed his
intention to die. testate, and had
arranged with his brother-in-law,
the Rev. Thomas White, that they
should be each other’s executors.
He had great confidence in his
brother, Joseph Albin Slack, Esq.
who deposed, that upon one of
their meetings to arrange the af-
fairs of their deceased father, in
the latter part of July, or begin-
ning of August 1814, the deceas-
ed requested him to make an
appointment for their next meet-
ing at his the deceased's house, as
he wanted, he said, to speak to
him about making his will. Mr.
J. Slack left town for Scotland on
the Sth of August, but a day or
two previously he went to the de-
ceased’s house, and at night,
when the family had retired to
bail and they were left alone, the

deceased

- APPENDIX TO CHRONICLE.

deceased produced a paper from
his desk, informing him it was a
draft he had prepared of his will.
It was all in his own hand-writ-
ing, and he then read the contents
to him to the effect before stated,
and requested his suggestions as
to its propriety in point of form.
Mr. J. Slack observed, that. it did
not dispose of his freehold proper-
ty ; but the deceased replied that
he was aware of that, but it would
descend, as he wished, in course of
law, to his eldest son. Mr. J.
Slack then suggested some slight
verbal alterations, which the de-
ceased immediately made, and
then again read the will aloud,
and asked him if he thought it
would do, to which he replied in
the affirmative ; and the deceased
then added, that he would make a
fair copy of it, and put his name
to it. Mrs. Slack, in her answers,
admitted the truth of these cir-
cumstances, from the information
that had been given to her; and
further stated, that one day in the
month of June 1815, the deceas-
ed being employed in writing ata
secretary or desk (in the drawing
room of his house at Kentish-
town) in which he usually kept
his papers of importance, and she
being alone there with him, he
took a paper, having the appear-
ance of a letter sealed up, out of
a drawer in the desk, and holding
it up to her, told her it was his
will, and all the will he should
ever make. Mrs. Slack also
stated, that upon a subsequent
occasion, only two or three days
before the deceased’s death, as
they were sitting together in the
evening, and talking seriously on
the subject of mutual confidence,
the deceased told her, that he had

945

reposed the greatest confidence in
her, as he had left his property all
at her disposal ; upon which she
expressed a wish that he would
alter his testamentary disposition
in that respect; but he replied,
‘“No, it is done, and J shall never
alter it,’’ alluding, as she believed,
to his will contained in the sealed-
up paper he had before shown to
her. The fire at the deceased’s
house was admitted by all parties,
and it was proved that the desk
or secretary in which the will was
deposited was consumed with the
other contents of the house, no
traces of it being discovered
amongst the ruins, nor could any
copy of the will, or memorandum
of its contents made by the de-
ceased, be found amongst his pa-
pers at his house in Gravel-lane.

The King’s Advocate and Dr.
Swabey, for the children, argued
upon the authority of Lord Coke,
and the doctrines laid down in
Comyns's Digest, that under the
calamitous circumstances which
had, in the present case, deprived
the parties of the usual evidence
to be obtained from the will itself,
parole evidence was admissible to
show its contents, and that those
contents really were the final in-
tention of the deceased. These
points, they contended, the pre-
sent evidence: fully established ;
and they therefore submitted that
the contents, as proved, must be
pronounced for as the last will of
the deceased.

Dr. Adams and Dr. Creswell,
for Mrs. Slack, admitted the prin-
ciple of law contended for on the
other side, but remarked upon
some few points as to which the
evidence might be deemed insuf--
ficient, With those observations

they

246 ANNUAL REGISTER;

they left the case to the candid
consideration of the Court.

Sir John Nicholl remarked,
that the principles upon which
the case must depend had been
properly stated on the one side,
and not controverted on the other.
It was perfectly competent to par-
ties to prove the contents of a will
which had been destroyed, whe-
ther the destruction had occurred
in the life-time of the testator or
afterwards, provided it had hap-
pened without his knowledge or
concurrence: where an accident
thus intervened, and the act of
God alone prevented the comple-
tion of a person’s intentions, the
Court could not but be anxious to
supply the defect, and prevent the
ill consequences which would
otherwise accrue to innocent par-
ties, and, in looking to the proof
in such a case, must be satisfied
if it should amount to a reason-
able probability. He then stated
the circumstances of the case, and
remarked that it was clear the de-
ceased intended to die testate, and
to appoint his wife, brother, and
brother-in-law, his executors.—
The disposition he had made by
the will he had drawn up was ful-
ly evidenced by his declaration to
his brother, to whom he read it,
and who deposed that he had, as
he was likely to have, a perfect re-
collection of the contents. He
consulted his brother, and some
alterations were suggested and
made; but the deceased's declara-
tion, that he would copy it over,
and then put his.name to it, was
a complete and final approbation
of the instrument, and showed
that his mind was made up and
decided with respect to it. There
was therefore a strong presump-

1816.

tion in favour of it, unless repell-+
ed by evidence of his subsequent
conduct, Upon that point, how-,
ever, the evidence corroborated
the opinion, that he did not aban-
don but adhered to the will ; that
he completed it by his signature,
and then sealed it up in an en-
velope. It had been said that
there was no direct proof that he
did copy it, as he said he would ;
but there was every reasonable
evidetice that he did in some way
or other complete it. His con-
versation with his wife, when he
held up the sealed paper, and said
it was his will, and the only will
he should ever make, was conclu-
sive upon this point, and left no
reason to doubt that the paper he
then held up did contain the will ;
and the fact of its being sealed
showed that it had been comple-
ted, and was a perfect instrument.
His subsequent conversation with
his wife, a day or two before his
death, in which, speaking of his
will, he said that it was done, and
he should never alter it, was a
further confirmation of the instru-
ment itself, and of the fixed state
of the intentions which had led
him to make it. It had been said
that his declaration in the course
of this conversation, that he had
left his property to his wife, did
not confirm the contents of the
will as propounded, as it appear-
ed from them that she had.only a
life-interest in the whole property,
with a power of apportioning it
amongst the children at her death.
This was, however, as near an ab-
solute interest as possible, and a
conformity, in substance at least,
to the deceased’s declaration ; and
his directing the property to be
equally divided, in case his wife

left

APPENDIX TO CHRONICLE.

left no disposition of it, showed
his intention of providing against
all possible events, It was there-
fore proved, not only that the de-
ceased had duly made his will, but
that he would never alter it; and,
under all the circumstances ‘of the
case, the Court was satisfied that
the disposition he had thereby
made of his property was, in sub-
stance, that which was stated in
the contents propounded: those
contents were short, simple, and
easy to be remembered; and the
disposition altogether was a very
natural one, and not very different
from what the law would have
done, had he died intestate. The
Court therefore pronounced for
the contents of the will as stated
in the schedule annexed to Mr.
Robinson’s affidavit.

Deffeliv. Johnson and Johnsow.—
This was a proceeding for the
purpose of obtaining the decision
of the Court on the validity of the
testamentary papers of the late
James Johnson, Esq. of Wimpole-
street, formerly his Majesty’s At-
torney-general in South Carolina.
Mr. Johnson, it appeared, had
made. a will, regularly executed
in Jamaica, in the year 1793, in
contemplation, as was suggested,
of his then returning to England.
By this will he bequeathed his
property among his then children,
his wife having a separate pro-
vision under her marriage-settle-
ment. Subsequently tothe making
of this will Mr. Johnson had re-
turned to this country, and had had
four children born, and his proper-
ty had increased from 30,0001. to
200,0001. Another paper was
also submitted tothe notice of the
Cowt, which was found within
some blotting paper leaves on

247

which the deceased used to write
in his scrutoire. It purported to
contain some testamentary dispo-
sitions of the deceased, and was
written by him on the back of a
printed letter, which was dated
the 6th July 1814. ‘The death of
Mr. Johnson happened about 12
months after that time, and was
occasioned by an apoplexy. By
this latter paper certain specific
legacies, for which blanks were
left, appeared to have been in-
tended to be given to some of the
deceased’s children ; the residue
was to be divided equally among
them, and executors were appoint-
ed. The paper broke off abruptly,
and was not signed by the deceas-
ed, nor dated.

Dr. Swabey and Dr. Jenner,
in support of the first will, argued
from these circumstances against
the sufficiency of this latter paper
to revoke it. It was scarcely pos-
sible to describe a more imper-
fect paper. It purported to de-
vise real property, and was not
executed nor attested; and the
particulars left to be supplied in
it were of the most import-
ant nature. There were no de-
clarations of the deceased as to
his testamentary intention which
might tend to confirm it; and all
that could be collected with refer-
ence tu the time of its being writ-
ten was, that it must have been
some time after the 6th of July
1814, which. was nearly a twelve-
month before Mr. Johnson's death.
It must therefore be regarded as
containing merely memoranda of
the deceased for his future con-
sideration, which he afterwards
abandoned, and not, as containing
his final testamentary intentions,
which he was prevented from car-
rying into effect by the act of God.

Dr.

248

Dr. Burnaby, in support of the
latter paper, contended, that from
the material alteration of the de-
ceased’s circumstances by the
birth of four other children, and
the great increase of his property,
it could not be supposed that he
intended the first will to operate,
which was made to provide against
the contingencies of a voyage he
was contemplating from Jamaica
to England. He had accordingly
proceeded to make a new will,
which was found after his death
between the leaves of blotting
paper in his scrutoire—a situation
in which it was not probable that
he would have suffered such a
paper to remain for a consider-
able time. By this paper it ap-
peared, that the deceased had not
made up his mind with respect to
certain specific legacies ; but the
disposition of the residue and the
appointment of executors were
complete. The deceased died sud-
denly of an apoplexy ; and, under
all the circumstances, it was to be
presumed that he was thereby
alone prevented from completing
this paper, which he had left in
his scrutoire for that purpose, and
which therefore must be consi-
dered as containing his will to the
extent expressed in it,

Sir John Nicholl observed,
that the question in this case was,
whether the latter paper could he
shown to be an operative instru-
ment? Under the will of 1793
the children subsequently born
could not take any benefit. The
wife, it was said, was pro-
vided for by her marriage settle-
ment ; but that circumstance did
not appear in these proceedings.
This was a very distressing case,
but the general rule of law by

ANNUAL REGISTER, - 1816,

which testamentary dispositions
are protected could not be relaxed
on account of cases of individual
distress. The subsequent birth
of children, and the great increase
of the deceased’s property, in this
case did not amount to a legal re-
vocation of his will. It was
pleaded that this will was made
by the deceased in consequence of
his then contemplating his return
to England; but there was no
clause in it by which its opera-
tion was made to depend on that
or any other contingency. The
deceased must have been aware
of the existence of this will, and,
being a gentleman of legal edu-
cation and habits, could not be
supposed to have been ignorant
of its operation. The learned
judge then expressed his opinion
that the latter will was not sucha
paper as could receive the sanc-
tion of that court as an operative
instrument. Adverting to its va-
rious imperfections, he proceeded
to state, that the presumption of
law was against such papers ; and
it was incumbent on those who
supported them to adduce some
strong extrinsic circumstances for
that purpose. It might be pos-
sible to do so, if the deceased
were struck with death in writing
such a paper, or if there were
confirmatory declarations ; but if
there were nothing to show that
the deceased was prevented from
completing it, the paper could not
operate. In this case all that was
shown was, that the paper was
written on the back of a printed
letter, dated July 6, 1814, about
a year before the deceased’s death,
and found in his scrutoire. The
printed letter was a summons to
attend the Directors of the West

India

- APPENDIX TO. CHRONICLE.

India Docks—a paper which it
was not probable the deceased
should long keep by him; and it
did not, therefore, appear that the
document in question was written
shortly before his death. Conjec-

ture upon such a subject was not
sufficient, and there was nothing.

else in this case. ‘The paper ap-
peared to contain merely the first
thoughts of the deceased for fu-
ture deliberation. There were
no testamentary declarations, nor
any thing which the law requires ;
and as it was not sufficient to dis-
pose of his property, it could not
revoke his former will. Under
these circumstances, although
they might form a strong claim
upon the equity and humanity of
the residuary legatee, the court
felt itself bound to reject the alle-
gation pleading the latter will.

Arches Court, Doctors’ Commons.
—Sturges v. Paterson.—This was
a cause of legacy brought by Mr.
James Sturges, the nephew anda
legatee named in the will of Mr.
Joshua Sturges, late of the Hay-
market, victualler, deceased,
against the executor, Mr. Simon
Paterson.

The words of the bequest were
these, ‘‘To my nephew James
Sturges my watch and gun, and
likewise a book of manuscript te-
ceipts marked with the letter R.”
The will was dated August 12,
1813, and the testator died a few
days afterwards, possessed of four
watches ; viz. a gold repeating
watch, valued at about 601. which
he had taken in part payment of
a debt, a silver watch which had
originally belonged to his brother
Luke, a pinchbeck watch, and an
old silver watch; and the ques-

249

tion was, which of these watches
the deceased meant to give by the
bequest stated. The executor
contended, that it was the silver
watch, formerly belonging to
Luke Sturges, and accordingly
tendered that watch, with the gun
and book of manuscripts ; but the
legatee contended that it was the
gold one, and therefore refused
to accept the tender of the silver
one.

From the evidence of the lega-
tee it appeared, that the deceased
became possessed of the gold
watch about a twelvemonth be-
fore his death, and from that
time, including of course the pe-
riod of the will being made, con-
stantly wore it until his death, and
one of the witnesses stated that
the deceased told him he meant to
leave it to a nephew of his.

From the evidence for the exe-
cutor it appeared, that the de-
ceasel became possessed of his
brother’s watch at his death, in
the latter end of 1807, and from
that time usually wore it. Ina
draft of his will which he made
in January, 1811, he gave a lega-
cy to his nephew in these words,
**] will to my nephew, James
Sturges aforesaisl, at my decease,
the sum of — my gun, my late
brother Luke’s watch, and a book
of manuscript receipts, marked
with the letter“ R.”’ but in April,
1812, he became possessed of the
gold watch, by taking it in ex-
change for a debt, at 50 guineas,
which was below its value. He
wore it for some little time, but
considering it too valuable a watch
for him to wear, he offered it to
Mr. Kirk, a watch-maker, to dis-
pose of for him for 60 guineas,
and offered him five guineas for

his

250

chaser.

it to Mr. Paterson, the-executor,
for 50 guineas, in part of a debt

he owed him. Mr: Paterson had)

it on trial for three: months, but

then returned it, thinking that it’
The de-

did not keep good time.
ceased then sent it, in December
1812, to the maker, Mr. High-
field, of Oxford; to be: regulated,
who did not return it till the 7th
ef August, 1813, at which time
the deceased was confined. to his
bed by the illness of which he af-
terwards died.. It was, therefore,
deposited in a drawer, but' the de-
ceased was very particular in giv-
ing directions for its, being’ care-
fully wound up, &c, He always
wore it, except) when it was sent
to be regulated, when heresumed
the use of his brother Luke’s: sil-
ver watch, and had that in use
when he was' taken ill, and after-
wards when he made: his will, but
the gold one had been then re-
turned to him. He always:seem-
ed desirous: to dispose of the gold
one, and at one time said, “a
person gone to Ireland: had,got it
on trial, and he hoped he should
get rid ofjit ;’’ and at. another
time ‘‘ that. he had sent it to be
regulated,, in hopes that when
perfect he might get rid of it, as
it was too high priced for him."’
Dr. Jenner, for the legatee,
ocntended that the deceased broe-
ther Luke's pwatch was: the best
watch he? had when he made: his
will in 1811, and this: was: the
watch he then intended’ to leave
to his nephew, with the other, ar-
ticles and.ajsum of money. But
having subsequently acquired:a

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

his trouble if hé.could find. aypur-)
Mr. Kirk not being»able;
to dispose of it, it was returned)
to the deceased, who then. offered,

moré: valuable one, it was most
Probable the expression ‘ my
watch,” referred to that, as the
sum of money was ‘then omitted.
It was true. the deeeased had at
one time the intention of selling

‘this watch, but this intention was

not known. to. his:friends, and he
even declared to one ef them that
he meant to give it. to his nephew.

It was evident the words of the

bequest could only apply to the
gold watch, or his brother Luke’s:
the gold watch was the one he
most usually wore, and on which
he set the highest value, and the
expression ‘‘ my watch,’ was
therefore most likely to relate to
that. In his former will he had
designated the silver watch as his
brother Luke's, but had not so
designated it in the latter, and
therefore could not mean the same
watch he did then, and if not the
same, then the gold one could be
the only one meant. He trusted
therefore the Court would award
the gold one to his client, with
costs.

Dr. Swabey and Dr. Lushing-
ton for the executor, argued that
the bequest being ambigmous, not
in terms but from facts, would
adamit‘of the’ production of evi-
dence to interpret the contents,
that the onus of producing this
evidence, and of shewing to the
Court that the deceased clearly in-
tended the gold watch was upon
the legatee, because he-was the
party making that allegation, and
consequently bound to preve it,
and was’ to be a in the
light of a creditor, bound to make
out his claim. By law, the exe-
cutor was the party most favour-
ed, and, therefore,.if,, after all the
explanation given, the matter

should

APPENDIX TO CHRONICLE. »

should remain doubtful, the scale
should descend in favour of the
executor, It was clear from the
former will, that the deceased
meant to give the legatee not a
watch, but a particular watch,
and, therefore, the legatee must
shew that his intention had chang-
ed, and if the matter still remain-
ed doubtful, the executor would
have the right of election subject
to equitable restraints. The Court
could only pronounce for the le-
gatee if it should be satisfied that
the gold watch was the one in-
tended. In case of doubt or lean-
ing to the contrary, the executor
would be entitled to the prefer-
ence. They then contended, that
it was not the deceased’s intention
to give the gold watch, because
he had it not in use as an ordi-
nary watch, particularly at the
making of the will, but having
acquired it as property, he was
desirous of converting it “into
money, and though he wore it
occasionally, he constantly offered
it for sale. His original intention
was not to give valuable proper-
ty to this nephew, but memorials
of regard, family remembrances,
yather than pecuniary profit, and
this was manifest not only from
his former will, but also from the
articles associated with the gift of
the watch, the gun, and manu-
script book. There was no proof
that the gold watch was the iden-
tical watch the deceased intended
to give to this nephew, and non-
constat that the declaration of his
intention to give that watch to a
nephew of his might not relate to
some other nephew. . The legatee
had therefore failed to make out
his case, and they trusted the
Court would pronounce for the

25)

sufficiency of the tender of the
silver watch, with costs.

Sir John Nicholl stated the
circumstances of the case, and the
point in issue between the parties.
On the one-hand, it appeared that
the gold watch was a very valu-
able one, taken by the deceased
in satisfaction of a debt, and that
he had often tendered it for sale ;
but these circumstances were not
conclusive, as it appeared, on the
other hand, that the deceased,
after acquiring the gold watch,
constantly wore it, and only used
the silver one when the gold one
was sent to be repaired. It was
sent to Oxford for that purpose in
December, 1812, and not return-
ed until the 7th August, 1813,
when he desired his niece to take
care of it, and gave her particular
directions about winding it up,

‘and it was much more likely when

he made his will so soon after-
wards, that he thought of this
gold watch which he esteemed so
much more than the silver one;
The executor had brought for-
ward the former will, contending
that because the deceased had
specified the silver watch in that
will, that must be the watch he
meant to give when he had not so
specified it; but the Court was of
opinion, that an opposite con-
struction was to be put upon this
circumstance: he meant to give
the best watch he then had, having
two inferior ones; but having
afterwards acquired and used the |
gold watch, that would rather
seem to come under the descrip-
tion he then used, of ‘‘my
watch,” and that expression to
have been used in contradiction
to ‘“‘my brother Luke’s watch.’
If he did not mean the gold watch,

he

952

ke ought, and it was most likely
he would have so expressed him-
self; or the common interpreta-
tion would be that it was the gold
ene that had thus become more
peculiarly his, by purchase, and
by having superseded the silver
one in use: but theré was, be-
sides, his declaration that he did
not mean to wear it, but to give
it tohisnephew: this observation
distinctly applied to the gold
watch ; the only question then
would be, who was the nephew
intended? and that was answered
by the words of the bequest.
Whatever therefore might have
been his intention previously, it
was evident that after acquiring
the gold watch, that was the one
he meant to give to his nephew,
the party now claiming. . The
Court therefore pronounced for
the gold watch claimed, with
costs.

Prerogative Court, Doctors’ Com-
mons.—Ryan and others, by their
Guardian, v. Ryan.—This was a
question as to the interest of par-
ties claiming a right to the letters
of administration of the effects of
Philip Ryan, Esq. late of the city
of Copenhagen, deceased.

He died at Hudson's Hotel,
Covent-garden, in June 19808,
leaving a widow, several children
by a former marriage, and one by
the latter, the parties in the pre-
sent proceeding. The letters of
administration were claimed on
the one hand by the widow, and
on the other by the children of the
former marriage, denying the
validity of the latter one, on the
ground of the former wife being
still living.

The evidence in support of the

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

widow’s claim fully established
the facts of the two marriages,
and also that the first wife and
the deceased, being domiciled in
the kingdom of Denmark, had
entered into a contract of separa-
tion, in which it was stipulated
(amongst other things) that both
parties should be at liberty to
marry again with the consent of
the King of Denmark, which the
laws of that country empowered
him to give. An act of divorce
was accordingly obtained from

the King; and the authenticity of

this act, and its being, by the
laws of Denmark, an effectual dis-
solution of the marriage contract
between parties, subjects of that
country, was proved by the evi-
dence of some of his Danish Ma-
jesty's ministers, and persons con-
versant with the laws of that
country.

No opposition was offered; aud
Sir John Nicholl observed, that
the shape in which the case pre-
sented itself imposed no necessity
on the court to examine the
grounds of nullity. The divorce
was effectual, as a divorce a vin-
culo matrimonii, according to the
laws of Denmark; and it was
therefore not necessary to inquire
whether the grounds of it would
be sufficient here, as it was esta-
blished that the parties were do-
miciled in that country: nor was
it necessary to inquire whether
such a divorce could invalidate a
marriage had in England, if set
up in a suit between the parties
themselves. The present was only
a case of interest; the fact of
marriage was apparent, and not
denied; the legal presumption
was, therefore, in its favour.
Semper presumitur pro ai

an

APPENDIX TO CHRONICLE.

and this presumption was con-
firmed by evidence. The Court,
therefore, must pronounce for the
interest of the widow, and decree
the administration to her ; but he
wished it at the same time to be
distinctly understood, that sucha
decision could afford no precedent
in matrimonial cases where a
similar question might be raised.
Decision accordingly.

Jury-Court, Edinburgh, Nov. 1.
—The Right Hon. James, Earl of
Fife, against the Trustees of the
deceased James, Earl of Fife.—
This important and extraordinary
case—viz. whether the will of the
late Earl, conveying certain es-
tates in Scotland to trustees, the
rents of which amount to 20,0001.
a year, were to accumulate for
the purpose of being invested in
other estates, for an indefinite
period, ought to be reduced, on
account of certain informalities
when the deed was signed, and
the alleged blindness of the late
_Earl—occupied the court since
Tuesday morning till eight o'clock
last night. All the Judges were
present every day, viz. the Lord
Chief Commissioner, Lord Pit-
milly, and Lord Gillies.

The following were the Gentle-
men of the Jury :—

William Dunlop, Esq. spirit
dealer in Edinburgh.

Alexander Smith, Esq. banker
in Edinburgh.

George Wauchope, Esq. mer-
chant in Leith.

William Trotter, Esq. uphol-
sterer in Edinburgh.

James Pillans, Esq. merchant
in Leith.

Sir John Hope, of Craighall,
Bart,

253
Forbes Hunter Blair,
banker, Edinburgh.

David Skirving, Esq. farmer,
East Garleton.

William Calder, Esq. merchant
in Edinburgh.

Andrew Bonar, Esq. banker in
Edinburgh.

Alexander Charles Maitland
Gibson, of Cliftonhall, Esq.

Sir John Dalrymple, of Cous-
land, Bart.

The Lord Advecate, in an
eloquent speech, which lasted
above two hours, opened the case
for the pursuer. A great number
of witnesses were then examined
for the pursuer, which occupied
the Court till-half-past ten on
Tuesday night, when they ad-
journed.

On Wednesday the Court met
again a little after ten o'clock,
when Thomas Thompson, Esq. ina
very able speech, which lasted up-
wards of three hours, stated the
case for the defenders: the ex-
amination of the witnesses on that
side of the question then com-
menced, and did not finish till near
eleven o'clock at night, when the
Court again adjourned.

Yesterday the Court met at the
usual hour, when John Clerk,
Iisq. replied in a most able and
ingenious speech for the pursuer.

The Lord Chief Commis-
sioner, in a most luminous man-
ner, then summoned up the whole.

The Jury, after being enclosed
for three hours, returned. with
their verdict, which was read by
Sir John Dalrymple, their Chan-
cellor.

The following are the issues
which were appointed to be tried,
with the verdict of the Jury there-
Qi

Esq.

lst, Whether

254

1st. Whether at the date of the
deeds under reduction, viz. on the
7th of October, 1808, James,
Earl of Fife, deceased, was totally
blind, or was so blind as to be
scarcely able to distinguish be-
tween light and darkness? And
whether the said Earl was at that
time capable of reading any wri-
ting, written instrument, or print-
ed book? And if, at that time,
he could discover whether a paper
Was written upon or not;

Find, That James Earl of Fife,
at the date of the deeds under re-
duction, viz. on the 7th of October
1808, was not totally bliad, though
he could scarcely distinguish be-
tween light and darkness. The said
Earl was at that time incapable of
reading any writing, writteninstru-
ment, or printed book. He could
not at that time discover whether
a paper was written on or not.

2d. Whether the said deeds were
read over to the said Earl previous
to the said Earl’s name being put
thereto; and if so, in presence of
whom? And if read over to the
said Earl, as aforesaid, whether
they were all or any of them read
to him at one and the same time,
or at different times? And if at
different times, whether they were
deposited and kept in the room in
which they were read, during the
whole period which elapsed from
the commencement of the reading
till the name of the said Earl was
put to them as aforesaid, or where
they were deposited?

Find, That the said deeds were
read over previous to the said
Karl's name being put thereto, in
presence of Stewart Soutar, and
Alexander Forteith Williamson,
or one or other of-them. It is
not proven whether they were all

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

read to him at one and the same
time, or at different times. There
is no proof whether they were de-
pusited and kept in the room in
which they were read, during the
whole period which elapsed from —
the commencement of the reading ©
till the name of the said Earl was |
put to them, as aforesaid, or |
where they were deposited. i
3d. Whether the said Earl's |
name was put to the said deeds, ©
or any of them, by having his |
hand directed to the places of sign-
ing, or led in making the sub-
scription? Or if the said Earl
was assisted ; and if so, in what
manner he was assisted in making

his subscription ?

Find, That the said Earl put
his name to the said deeds, by
feeling for the finger or fingers of
another person on the spot for
signature, and was no otherwise
assisted than as above described.

4th. Whether the said Earl put,
or attempted to put, his name to
the said deeds, or any of them, at
one and the same time ; or whe-
ther any period of time interven-
ed? And if there was any in-
terval or intervals of time between
the said. acts, whether the said
deeds, and all of them, were in
the possession or custody of the
said Earl, or were in the ‘pos-
session or custody of any other
person during such intervals of

‘time?

Find, That the said Earl put his
name to the said deeds at one ao
the same time.

5th. Whether the said Earl. sit
his name to: the deeds under re-
duction, in presence of the two
instrumentary witnesses,or either
of them? or did acknowledge his
subscription to them, or either of

them ?

APPENDIX TO. CHRONICLE.

them? or at what period he made
such acknowledgment ?

Find, That the ‘said Earl put
his name to the deeds under re-
duction, in presence’ of one in-
strum witness, viz. Alex.
Forteith Williamson : butit isnot
proven that the said Earl didoac-
knowledge his ‘subscription ‘to
George Wilson, the other instru-
mentary witness.

6th. Whether the said Earl
was, until the dates of the deeds
under reduction, or ata later -pe-
riod, a man remarkably attentive
to, and-in the use of transacting
every sort of business’ connected
with his estates, and in‘ the prac-
‘tice and habit of executing, ‘and in
fact did execute, deeds of all sorts
connected with his own affairs, by
subscribing the same with hisown
hand, and without the imterven-
tion of notaries ?

Find, Proven inthe affirmative.

7th. Whether the ‘said . Karl
teok means to ascertain that the
deeds under reduction, alleged to
have “been signed by him, were
conform ‘to. ‘the ‘scrolls of deeds
prepared by his agents under his
spécial direction, and what were
the means he took to ascertain the
same?

Find; That the only means
which the said Earl took ‘to ascer-
tain that the deeds under reduc-
tion’ were conform ‘to ‘the -serolls
or deeds prepared by his agents,
‘under his! special directions, »were
his) having heard) the deeds _fead
‘over ‘to him. by

The Gentlemen of the Jury
were allowed to go home °éach
hight by consent of the par .

* Prerogative Court, Doctors’ Omi
Dihi'——eedercee and _ Little’ v.

Q55

Underhill and others —This was a
suit as to the validity of the will
of John Johns, of Ilfracombe, in
the county of ‘Devon, deceased.
He died on the 20th of December,
2815, possessed of about SOOO.
‘personal property, and leaving
‘two natural children, and several
‘cousins,‘ his nearest relatives. He
Jeft two testamentary papers. The
‘first of them,:No. 1, was a regu-
Jarly executed will, dated the 4th
‘of \September, 1801. By this
will he made a provision for the
mother of his children, and, after
some pecuniary lezacies, gave the
“bulk of his’ property to his two
natural children, and appointed
‘Messrs. Glencross and Birt, two
particular’ friends of his, exe-
cutors; but there was written
‘across, the back of it the words
‘*@Cancelled; and another made
out.” The paper No. 2, was the
‘draft of a will prepared for the de-
\eeased from instructions, in Feb-
-fuary, 1805, but never executed.
elt gave ‘away a greater sum in
‘legacies than the prior will, but

‘disposed of the residue in the
“same manner between the de-

ceased’s' two children, and ap-
pointed the same executors. No.1.

“was propounded on the part of

the children’ by Messrs. Glencross
and Little, as their guardians (the

-exectttors having renounced), and
“opposed *by Mr. Ambrose Bowden

Johns, one of the cousins, con-
tending -for an intestacy, upon
the ground of the cancellation of
No.1; and the non-execution of
-No. 2.’ It appeared from the evi-
dence that the deceased was former-

“ly first’clerk to the Commissioner
“of His Majesty’ sdock-yard at Ply-

‘mouth, -and resided there with

chis mother, but. was superannu-

ated

256

ated in 1801, in consequence of
an accident he then met with in
fracturing both) his legs, upon
-which he retired to his house at
Ilfracombe, near Mount-Edge-
cumbe, on the opposite; side of
Plymouth harbour. During his
residence in the dock-yard he had
a clandestine connexion with a
Mrs. Elizabeth Venton, by whom
-he had four children, two of them
the minors in the present cause,
and the remaining two died in
their infancy. His regard for
‘these children was unbounded.
Upon the death of their mother
soon after he retired to IJlfra-
combe, he received them into his
‘house, superintended their edu-
-eation himself, intending them,
as he declared, one for the church,
‘and the other for the navy ; had
them baptized and registered as if
they had been his legitimate child-
-ren, and invariably behaved to
them with a degree of fondness and
indulgence not often witnessed.
He also repeatedly spoke of his
-intention to Jeave them his pro-
perty at his death, and several
declarations of this kind were
proved down to within a very
short time of his death. Upon
breaking his leg, he sent for Mr.
Bennet Johns, of Plymouth-dock,
and gave him instructions for his
will, from which the latter pre-
pared a draft, and left it with the
-deceased; but in consequence of
some misunderstanding, they had
afterwards no further conferences
‘on the subject. The deceased,
however, on the 4th of Septem-
~ber, 1801, duly executed this
‘draft in the presence of two wit-
-nesses. In February, 1803, he
‘ gave instructions to Mr. Foot, of
-Plymouth-dock,: solicitor, for a
new will, from which No. 2 was

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

accordingly prepared in Mr. Foot's

office, and left with the deceased,
who'said he would call’ and sign
it, but never did so down to his
death, at which time these two

-were the only testamentary papers

that’ could - be. found. -It was
proved that the words ‘‘ Cancel-
led, and another made out,’’ were

-of ‘the deceased’s handwriting;

but from his invariable -declara-

‘tions down to his death of having

left his property to his children,

the withesses were convinced that

he considered he had an operating
will in existence, and for several
reasons, which went to account

-for the non-execution of No. 2,

they were further persuaded that
in such declarations he alluded to
No. 1, and that, with a precipi-
tancy not unusual with him, he

-must have written the words im-

porting cancellation when con-
templating the making of a new
will, which he afterwards aban-
doned, and not. with any delibe-
rate intention of cancelling No. 1.
absolutely and unconditionally.

Dr. Jenner and Dr. Lushington,
in support of No. 1, contended,
that the cancellation was condi-
tional: it was dependent on an-
other will being completed, and
the deceased did not intend a can-
cellation, except by completing
that new will.

Dr. Swabey, in opposition to
the paper, shortly adverted to the
circumstances attending it, and
the doctrine of revocation con-
tended for on the other side, and

-then left the case to the candid

consideration of the Court.
Sir John Nicholl - remarked,
that he had no doubt as to the

.facts’ of the case, nor as to’ the
aw applying to them.

There
Was RO question as to the ares
Q

APPENDIX TO CHRONICLE.

of the first instrument. It was
valid, and had so continued for
many years; but the question
was, whether it was cancelled.
The learned Judge then alluded
to the preparation and purport of
the second instrument, and ob-
served that the deceased had in
law abandoned that instrument
by never executing it, and it was
therefore wholly inoperative. He
then proceeded to notice the evi-
dence as to the deceased’s regard
for his children, his behaviour to
them, his testamentary declara~-
tion in their favour down to the
time of his death, and the fact of
his having recognized Messrs.
Birt and Glencroft as his execu-
tors just before that event, from
which, the learned Judge obsav-
ed, it was evident that the de-
ceased had died thinking he had
left the bulk of his property to his
sons ; but then there was written
on the back of the perfect instru-
ment the words ‘‘ cancelled, and
another made out.’’ Could it be
contended that this was an abso-
lute revocation? If not, the cir-
cumstances mentioned should re-
but it. It was a mere memoran-
dum, not signed or dated ; and
the learned Judge expressed his
opinion that it had been made
merely to remind the deceased
himself to cancel the instrument
when the new oneshould be com-
pleted, and was entirely dependent
on the new act to be done. It
was not true in point of fact, for
the will was not cancelled, but
left perfect, and not defaced. In
eases somewhat analogous, where
a mere draft or inception of a will
is endorsed by the testator as ‘‘ my
will,” the Court only considers
such an indorsement as a loose

Vou. LVUL,

257

memorandum, and not as supply-
ing the defect of execution, or
otherwise giving effect to the pa-
per; so in the present case the
indorsement was a mere memo-
randum, and did not of itself
prove that it had been done animo
revocandi. Hven the tearing off
of a seal was not an absolute re-
vocation, but open to explanation ;
and the same doctrine applied to
this case. The deceased had no
intention to die intestate, and it
was quite clear that this indorse-
ment was not a revocation until
the accompanying act in the new
will should be completed. It was
highly probable, from the paper
itself, and the circumstances in
evidence, that the indorsement
was a mere thoughtless memo-
randum, without the intention of
doing any independent act to in-
validate the instrument, and that
the deceased was not aware that
it could by possibility have any
such effect. Under these circum-
stances the learned Judge said,
that he was satisfied, that by pro-
nouncing for the paper No.1, he
was carrying into effect the inten-
tion of the deceased, and decree-
ing probate of the paper which he
considered to be his operative
will. Probate of No. 1 was de-
creed accordingly, and the costs
of the next of kin were, under
these circumstances, directed to
be paid out of the estate.

Trial, Bigamy. Old Bailey, Feb.
17.—George Harrower was indict-
ed, for that he, having married
one Mary Usher at Bombay, in
the East Indies, on the 5th of
February, 1794, did feloniously.
intermarry with one Susannah
Anne Giblett, spinster, of the

Ss parish

256

parish of St. George, Hanover-
square, on the 12th of October,
1812, the said Mary Usher, his
former wife, being then alive.

Thomas le Gard Grissen, the
first witness, deposed, that he
was employed in the secretary’s
office, in the India-house, and
now produced the book of the
register of marriages in the Hast
Indies.

The Rev. Arnold Burrowes de-
posed, that he was chaplain to the
presidency of Bombay for 42
years. In the year 1794, he knew
Miss Mary Usher. He was also
acquainted with Captain Har-
rower. Heard that the latter was
paying his addresses to the former,
and was applied to for the pur-
pose of performing the marriage
ceremony between them. He did
not, however, do so; but be-
lieved that the Rev. Mr. Owen,
the chaplain of Calcutta, then on
a visit to Bombay,. did marry the
parties. Captain Harrower and
Miss Usher afterwards passed as
man and wife, and witness was
invited to an entertainment by
Captain Harrower, when Miss
Usher presided as his wife. This,
however, was not on the occasion
of their marriage. Witness never
heard of the separation of the
parties, until Captain Harrower
left India for Europe. Witness
was in the habit of forwarding
copies of the registers of marriages
at Bombay home to the India-
house.

. The witness being referred to a
eopy of a register, signed with
his own name, and certifying that
he had compared it with the ori-
ginal register of the marriage of
Captain Harrower and Miss Mary
Usher in February 1794, Mr,

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

Alley, for the prisoner, objected _
to the question, but the objection
was overruled by the court ; and
the clerk read from the register-
book, the copy of the marriage,
dated the ‘* 5th of February,
1794, between George Harrower,
free mariner, to Miss Mary Usher,
spinster,” certified, a true copy
of the parish registers of Bombay,
between the 14th of February,
1773, and the 8th of November,
1799.—Signed, Arnold Burrowes.

Mr. Alley contended, that the
certificate just read was not fram-
ed agreeably to the marriage act.

Mr. Justice Abbott said, that
the act alluded to did not extend
to Bombay.

Mr. Alley now called upon the
cow.sel for the prosecution to
prove that the register, of which
the one put in professed to be a
copy, was drawn upin conformity
to the marriage law of Bombay.
He argued further, that it should
be proved whether the marriage
had been celebrated by license or
banns.

Mr. Serjeant Best, for the de-
fence, desired the witness, Mr.
Burrowes, to read over the entry,
and asked whether he had so com-
pared it with the original as to
swear to it?) Witness would not
positively swear to it, but he
firmly believed he had compared
all the entries to which his signa-
ture had been affixed, to be the
original registers of marriages.

Re-examined by Mr. Gurney. —
Witness was in the constant habit
of sending home by the East India
ships duplicate, triplicate, and
quadruplicate copies of the regis-
ters of such marriages as took
place in Bombay.

Mr. Baron Richards (to the

witness )

APPENDIX TO CHRONICLE.

witness) —Can you undertake to
swear whether you compared the
present register with the original
one sent home in the year 1799 ?
No, I cannot.

Examination continued. Wit-
ness saw Mrs. Harrower in the
month of November 1813, pre-
vious to his leaving India for
England. She was then residing
at the house of a Mr. Cook, a re-
lation of hers at Bombay. Wit-
ness received three letters of Mrs.
Harrower’s, which were delivered
to him by Mr. Cook. These he
brought over with him to Eng-
land, and delivered them to one
Giblett, a butcher, whom he un-
derstood to be the father of Cap-
tain Harrower’s last wife. This
was in June 1814. Prior to the
first examination of Captain Har-
rower at Bow-street, the latter
called upon him, ond requested
him not to give evidence against
him. ‘The witness told him on
that oceasion that he had seen his
wife at the house of Mr. Cook,
previous to his leaving India.

Cross-examined by Serjeant
Best.—Witness communicated all
his information in July 1814 to
Giblett. During the year 1815,
he was never called upon to give
evidence against Captain Har-
rower. Witness had heard that
Giblett was insolvent. Mrs. Har-
rower, in India, was a lunatic, at
sometimes wild. When he left
Bombay, however, she was per-
fectly quiet, and bad no doubt
she was the person who was once
called Miss Mary Usher.

Lionel Thompson knew Capt.
Harrower, and bad seen him
write frequently, |Here the wit-
ness was shown oaree letters,
which he identified as the hand-

259

writing of Captain Harrower.]
Witness, about the close of the
year 1814, was asked by Captain
Harrower to accompany him to
Calais, stating his wish to leave
the country, as there was a con-
spiracy against his life, on account
of his being married twice ; a cir-
cumstance which he (Captain H.)
declared to be as untrue as Heaven
was just. After this assertion he
accompanied him to France.
When they were walking upon
the pier of Calais, witness again
put the question to him respect-
ing his first marriage, and asked
him if his first wife were really
living orno. Captain Harrower,
after some hesitation, confessed
that she was stillalive. Witness
then advised him never to . return
to England, but he had known him
to have come to England twice
before his apprehension.
Cross-examined by Serj. Best.
—Witness was not a creditor un-
der the commission of bankruptcy
against Giblett. He had-no quar-
rel with Captain Harrower, but
the latter had withdrawn himself
from his acquaintance. “The com-
munication made to him by Cap-
tain Harrower at Calais he made
known to several persons soon
after his return from that place.
He might have known Giblett
previous to his going to France.
He had frequently called upon
Giblett ; it might be en passant.
Witness admitted he had dined
with Giblett years before his
daughter was married to Captain
Harrower. He did not reveal
the conversation he had had with
Captain Harrower, when he gave
his deposition at Bow-street
against him, because he was not
asked the question. Witness did.
Ss not

/
!

260

not know that Captain Harrower
had lent large sums of money to
Giblett, nor did he know that the
former was about to leave the
kingdom on account of the im-
portunities of Giblett, who wanted
more money. ‘Witness admitted
that Captain Harrower had paid
the expenses of the witness to
Calais and back.

(During the examination of this
witness he displayed much agita-
tion, and frequently took some
minutes to answer the questions
put tohim, some of which related
to very recent transactions. ]

David Wallis deposed, that he
was clerk to the attorney of the
prosecutor. Witness extracted
from the register-book of the
parish of St. George, Lanover-
square, a copy of the marriage of
Captain George Harrower with
Miss Susannah Giblett, on the
12th of October 1812, when the
solemnization took place, a copy
of which he now produced. The
document was dated as above, and
certified that George Harrower,
bachelor, of Rickmansworth, was
married to Susannah Anne Gib-
lett, spinster.

Miss Eliza Giblett deposed, that
she was sister to Susannah Anne
Giblett, and was present at her
marriage with Captain George
Harrower, with other of her sis-
ters, on the 12th of October
1812.

Cross-examined by Mr. Serj.
Best.—Believed her sister might
be living, up to the present time,
in perfect unity and happiness
with Captain Harrower; Mrs.
Harrower did not reside with
her father, and of course did not
seek protection. [The evidence
given by this young lady was

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

scarcely audible, from her great
agitation. }

Here the three letters already
alluded to, which were given by
Mr. Cook, at Bombay, to the
witness Burrowes, were put in
and read.

Henry Adkins, a Bow-street
officer, deposed, that he was em-
ployed by Giblett, a butcher, of
Bond-street, to apprehend the
prisoner in 1814. In this he did
not then succeed; but he had
lately met with him in Hounds-
ditch, and took him into custody.

The prosecution here closed,
when Mr. Serjeant Best rose, and
submitted an objection, founded
on the statute of James II. by
which parties intermarrying be-
yond the seas, and afterwards
separating for seven years, were
freed from the tics imposed by
the marriage act.

This objection was instantly
overruled.

Captain Harrower, being then
called upon for his defence, en-
tered into a statement of his con-
dition in life from his youth to
the present time. He adverted
to the period when he had had
the misfortune to become known
to the prosecutor Giblett, who, in
draining him of his ‘purse, and
instituting proceedings against
his liberty and character, had left
him but one consolation, an ami-
able and beloved wife, unfortu-
nately the daughter of the worst
of men. The prosecution, he
said, was the result of a foul and
infamous conspiracy, and not that.
of a desire to support the laws of
the country, or to punish those
who transgressed them. He had
been introduced to Giblett in an
unguarded way, and, feeling a

CONSCIOUS =

APPENDIX TO CHRONICLE.

consciousness of his own inte-
grity, did not suspect a contrary
principle to prevail inhim. After
the acquaintance between them
was matured, he married his
daughter, upon whom he settled
a jointure of 10,0001. He after-
wards lent Giblett sums of mo-
ney amounting to 17,0001. and
further sums, which raised the
whole of what Giblett had suc-
ceeded in drawing from him ‘to
more than 30,0001. In fact, he
had not only deprived him (Capt.
Harrower) of all the money he
could by possibility extract, but
he had robbed his own daughter
of the 10,0001. which had been
settled upon her. Every means
was used by Giblett to cause his
wife to leave him, and live at
home with himself, when he of-
fered to give up certain apart-
ments in his house for her ac-
commodation ; adding, ‘ that
they would be able to get the
whole of the money to themselves,
and he” (Captain Harrower)
** might go and starve.’ These
proposals, however, were always
uniformly and indignantly refused
by his wife. He alluded to the
commission of bankruptcy which
had been issued against Giblett,
by which he had contrived to de-
fraud him of his money, and men-
tioned a circumstance which that
person had been heard to declare,
namely, ‘‘ that he would try and
get the money into Chancery, if
other designs failed of depriving
him of the property.”” He went
into a variety of other statements,
the object of which was to repre-
sent Giblett to be a character of
the worst description, a cha-
racter such as he never thought
existed in England, and such as

261

he trusted never would be found
in itagain. He also made some
strong allusions to the ungrateful
part which the witness Thompson.
had taken against him in this
conspiracy. Finally, he protested
his innocence of the crime of
which he now stood charged, and
trusted that the sentence of the
Court would at once rescue him
from the infamous plot which had
been laid against him, and restore
him to the arms of a beloved and
only partner,

Mr. Baron Richards summed
up the evidence at considerable
length. He observed, that it was
of little consequence by whom or
by what means the prosecution
was instituted. The jury, as well
as himself, were assembled there
upon their oaths, and however
painful the duty would be, should
they determine upon the guilt of
the prisoner, still that verdict
must be pronounced. The sim-
ple question, therefore, for them
to try was, first, Had the prisoner
been proved, to their satisfaction,
according to the evidence of Mr.
Burrowes, and the confirmatory
confession of that fact to the wit-
ness Thompson, to have been
married to Mary Usher of Bom-
bay? And, in considering the lat-
ter part of this question, was the
witness Thompson to be believed ?
Next, was the marriage of the
prisoner to Miss Giblett, during
the lifetime of the before-men-
tioned Mary Usher, also satis-
factorily proved? Upon these
points he had no doubt they would
come to a safe and conscientious
conclusion.

The Jury, having retired for
half an hour, returned with a
verdict of—Guilty; but recom-

mended

262

mended the prisoner, in the
strongest manner, to mercy.

Mr. Baron Richards assured
them, in warm terms, that the
recommendation should not fail
to be attended to.

The Court throughout the
whole day was crowded to excess.

Mrs. Giblett, who remained in
court during the trial, was con-
veyed out, in an almost helpless
state, after the Jury had retired
to cunsider the verdict.

Arches-Court, Doctors Com-
mons.—The Office of the Judge
promoted by Blackmore and Thorp
v. Brider —This was a criminal
proceeding promoted ex officio by
Messrs. Blackmore and Thorp,
churchwardens of-the parish of
Harting, Sussex, against Mr.
William Brider, an inhabitant of
that parish, for incest. The suit
was instituted by letters of re-
quest from the diocese of Chi-
chester, and the charge upon
which it was founded was the
marriage of the defendant with
Mary Walton, the daughter of his
deceased wife by Thomas Walton,
her former husband.

The evidence in support of the
prosecution consisted of copies uf
the different registers necessary
to show the marriage complained
of, and the relationship of the
parties duly authenticated by pa-
role testimony; and their coha-
bitation was likewise fully spoken
to by several witnesses.

No appearance was given, nor
defence offered, by the defendant.

Sir Christopher Robinson and
Dr. Swabey, for the prosecu-
tion, shortly adverted to the
effect of the evidence, and sub-
mitted that it fully established the
accusation preferred, and they

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

therefore prayed the judgment of
the Court on the defenda t.

Sir John Nicholl expressed
himself fully satisfied with the
sufficiency of the evidence to sus-
tain the prosecution; and he,
therefore, pronounced the “mar-
riage null and void under the
canon law, condemmed the defen-
dant in costs, and enjoined him
the usual penance.

Some observations were then
made as to the terms of the pe-
nance, and reference was in con-
sequence had to the cases of Clea-
ver v. Kide, and Cleaver v. Ride,
otherwise Wooldriége, which were
similar proceedings, in i790;
from which it appeared that the
penance performed in those cases
was to this effect :—The offending
parties stood in white sheets at
the porch of the church during
the ringing of the last bell for
divine service on a Sunday, ‘and
until after the first lesson, asking
forgiveness of all persons enter-
ing the church; they were then
led into the church, and placed in
a conspicuous situation near the
minister, where they remained
until the gospel of the day was
said, when they repeated a sub-
missive acknowledgment of hay-
ing been guilty of the crime im-
puted tu them, implored the for-
giveness of God, promising not
to offend again, and entreated the
congregation to join with them in
saving the Lord’s prayer, which
was accordingly done.

Sir John Nicholl expressed
himself satisfied of this penance
having been adopted after due
reference to precedents; and he,
therefore, felt himself bound in
the same manner to enjoin it in
the present case.

A similar proceeding was then

heard

APPENDIX TO, CHRONICLE.

heard against the wife of the last
defendant, in which the evidence
being precisely to the same effect,
Sir John Nigholl pronounced the
same sentence in all respects.

_ Lady Brisco v. Sir Wastel Brisco,
bart.—This was a question as
to the alimony to be allowed to
Lady Brisco during the depen-
dence of a suit instituted by her
against her husband, Sir Wastel
Brisco, for a divorce on a charge
of adultery
The suit was commeneed to-
wards the close of the year 1813.
The usual statement of the hus-
band’s property, technically called
an allegation of faculties, was
given in, us the first step in the
alimony question, in Hilary Term,
1814. Sir Wastel Brisco gave in
his answers not long afterwards,
to which some objections were
taken ; one of which, the want of
a sufficient specification of the
value of a house and domain he
had in the country, was held sufh-
cient, and fuller answers were
decreed. The further answers
were given in Michaelmas Term
following ; and Sir Wastel then
estimated in them the net value
of the house and domain in ques-
tion at 3501. per annum. Lady
Brisco, on the cont: ary, estimated
them at 2,000]. per annum, and
_ produced two witnesses who cor-
roborated this opinion. It ap-
peared, however, on their cross-
examination, that they were in
hostility to. Sir Wastel Brisco,
were engaged in lawsuits against
him, and had indicted his steward
for perjury; but the grand jury
had thrown out the bill. The
witnesses, on the other hand,
produced by Sir Wastel Brisco,

263

his steward and some farmers,
swore that, independently of the
house which, though desirable to
a gentleman, would only be an
encumbrance to a farmer, the
land would not let for more than
2501. per annum. The rest of
Sir Wastel Brisco’s property was
evidenced principally by his own
answers. It appeared to be near
3,0001. per annum, and Lady
Brisco had 2001. per annum pin-
money. It appeared, however,
that during the dependence of the
suit, demands had been made and
actions brought ayainst Sir Was-
tel Brisco for debts cf her lady-
ship's contracting for plate, linen,
a carriage, horses, &c. to the
amount of 1,400]. or 1,500l. be-
sides a sum of 2001. which had
been paid to her on account of
alimony. Affidavits on both sides,
with several letters annexed, were
given in explanation of these
items; but the letters were re-—

jected by the Court as inadmissi-

ble. The principal purport of the
admissible explanation was, that
Lady Brisco had been obliged to
incur mary of these debts in con-
sequence of Sir Wastel having
burnt clothes of hers to the value
of above 2001. Sir Wastel, on
the contrary, denied that they
were worth more than 101., and
said, that he burnt them to in-
duce her to procure some other
clothes from the place where she
had left them. Lady Brisev also
stated, that the carriage was or-
dered on her father’s account, but
he had died before it was com-
pleted, and offered to deliver up
to her husband a piano-forte, some
plate, and other articles, for which

the debts were incurred. .
Considerable discussion took
place

264 ANNUAL REG Ee, 1816.

place between the counsel on
both sides upon the details of the
property, and the proportion to
be allotted to Lady Brisco.

Dr. Arnold and Dr. Jenner,
for Lady Brisco, argued in sup-
port of her claims to a provision,
during the dependence of the suit,
upon a liberal scale, suited to her
rank and station in society, and
endeavoured to vindicate her con-
duct in contracting the debts in
dispute.

Dr. Phillimore and Dr. Lush-
ington argued at some length
upon the extravagance of Lady
Brisco with respect to these debts,
and the diminution of Sir Wastel
Brisco’s income, owing to the
present depreciation of landed
property, and the heavy expenses
to which he had been exposed ;
from whence they inferred that
Lady Brisco, with her pin-money,
and what she had received from
Sir Wastel Brisco, having no en-
cumbrances, was richer than he
was with a larger property, fet-
tered as it was with such constant
and heavy demands—with the
maintenance also of his children,
and with the obligation of sup-
porting a dignity and appearance
suitable to his station inlife. He
was, however, anxious to have
the question of alimony, pending
the suit, settled, as his common
Jaw counsel advised him that, un-
til it was, he would be constantly
exposed to the debts Lady Brisco
so lavishly incurred ; but, under
the circumstances, they trusted
that the measure of the allowance
would be very small; and as Lady
Brisco had taken upon her to
prove what she had so palpably
failed in, with respect to his pro-
perty, the learned gentleman sug-

gested, whether it was not com=
petent to the Court to condemn} |
her in the costs of so unusual aj |
proceeding.

Sir William Scott remarked,
that the suit was originally for
adultery against Sir Wastel Bris-
co, but it had now assumed the
shape of recrimination against
the lady. The allegation of fa-
culties in these cases ought always
to be given, and the question of
alimony disposed of in an early
stage of the proceeding, to pre-
vent the husband being unneces-
sarily harassed with suits and de-
mands for his wife’s debts. He
then stated the progress of the
proceedings in the present in-
stance, and remarked, that though
it was usual to acquiesce in the
answers, particularly when re-
formed by order of the Court, yet
it was undoubtedly open to the
wife to examine witnesses, if she
thought proper: this, however,
was aright not to be exercised
wantonly, but with great caution
and tenderness. It was never
necessary to enter into an inqui-
sitorial scrutiny of the husband's
property ; but it must be taken
upon a fair estimate. Here, how-
ever, Lady Brisco charged the
value of a particular property at
2,0001. per annum, which Sir
Watsel set at 3501. per annum :
so great a difference as this in-
duced the Court to go into the
inquiry, upon the result of which,
it now turned out that Lady Bris-
co’s valuation was enormous and
unfounded in the extreme; and
that even Sir Wastel’s was above
the real value. This was a mis-
representation which the Court
must consider had been imposed
upon Lady Brisco, as it was un-

willing

APPENDIX TO CHRONICLE.

willing to suppose that she de-
signed such an imposition upon
the Court ; and by what witnesses
was it supported ?—by two only,
who were in open hostility to Sir
Wastel Brisco—persecuting him
with lawsuits, and indicting his
steward for perjury, but pre-
vented by the grand jury indig-
nantly rejecting the bill. The
testimony of such witnesses was
-of a piece with the allegation
upon which they were examined,
and was utterly undeserving of
credit. Taking the whole of Sir
Wastel’s income upon the fairest
calculation warranted by the
proof, the learned judge consi-
dered it to be 2,600]. per annum,
subject, however, to an immense
depreciation from the present
state of landed property, which
was notoriously decreased in va-
lue, some farms being let at rents
reduced 25 per cent. others pay-
ing no rent at all, and others
thrown up altogether. It had
been said that all this might be
temporary ; so might the conti-
nuance of the present suit; but
the one appeared, at present, as
improbable as the other. Sup-
posing every thing had been clear
in the case, the Court would have
been disposed to allow one-fifth
of the whole property to Lady
Brisco, including her pin-money.
This would be quite as much as
was necessary for her suitable
maintenance in a situation call-
ing, as hers did, for retirement
and prudence, and in which she
would be expected to have some
little regard for the interests of
her husband and family. He had
to maintain the expenses of the
suit, which had been carried to
an extent of which the Court

265

hoped never to see such another
instance; and, as a country wen-
tleman, living in his own county,
he had to support the dignity kept
up by his ancestors, and had also
to maintain his children. These
would have been considerations
to have influenced the Court, had
there been no misconduct on the
part of Lady Brisco ; but she had
launched out into expenditures
to an enormous amount: there
were orders for plate, linen,
china, horses, a carriage, &c. and
all without a justification, or any
communication with the unfortu-
nate husband, who was to pay for
thern. It had been said, that this
was done to replace the clothes
burnt by Sir Wastel, and this Sir
Wastel accounts for; but it was
certainly a most unfortunate ex-
pedient. The carriage, too, if
ordered on the authority of her
futher, she should have taken care
that he was responsible for; but
the bill was sent to Sir Wastel,
and it did not appear that the fa-
ther’s executors had ever been
applied to on the subject. It was
true, it was now said that Lady
Brisco was ready to give up the
articles in her own possession,
but this was but a secondary satis -
faction if made, and there was
nothing to prevent her converting
them into money for herself, if
she thought proper. Under all
these circumstances, where enor-
mous expenses were thrown upon
the husband in every mode to
which female extravagance could
apply itself, if the Court did not
feel that, by ordering alimony, it
was most consulting the protec-
tion of the husband, it would
hardly be disposed to allow any
alimony at all. Under all consi-

derations,

266

derations, however, the Court al-
loted the sum of 2001. per annum,
in addition to the sum of 2001.
per annum pin-money.

The Princess of Aremberg.—
Paris, Tribunal of the First Resort.
— Department of the Seine, Janu-
ary 10.—To-day was heard a
eldim for maintenance by the
Princess of Aremberg, against her
husband, while at the same time
she is prosecuting the nullity of
their marriage before the Tribu-
nals. The circumstances were
these:

On the 1st February 1803, the
Prince of Aremberg contracted
marriage with Mademoiselle Ste-
phanie Tascher, niece of Na-
poleon's first. wife. In the con-
tract of marriage, Napoleon set-
tled a dowry of one million for
the benefit of the future wife, un-
der condition that this sum should
be employed in the purchase of a
hotel, which should not be held
in common, but be always the
personal property of the Princess
of Aremberg. On the formally
expressed wish of the Princess,
towever, who would have a pa-
lace and not an ordinary hotel,
1,096,000 francs was vested in
the purchase, repairs, and furnish-
ing of the fine hotel of Beuillon.
The portion of this hotel let at
present produces only 10,000
francs, being scarcely enough to
keep it-in repair, and pay the or-
dinary and extraordinary taxes.

For several months past, the
Prince of Aremberg has in vain
employed persuasion in the first
instance, and thea the means pre-
scribed by law, tocompel his wife
to live with him, not in his states,
but in the conjugal domicile ; the

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

latter has constantly eluded this,
and on the 4th of October last,
entered a claim of nullity of mar-
riage, thus to obtain the pretext
of demanding a maintenance from
her husband.

M. Bonnet, Counsel for the
Prince, opposed the claim on the
ground, that the conjugal tie still
subsisted ; and the attempt made
by the Princess to dissolve it, ha:!,
as yet, no result before the tribu-
nals, beeause the whole of her
dowry was absorled in the un-
productive purchase which her
husband had been compelled to
make; and because, besides, the
respective situation of the two
parties was now altered. At the
period when the claimant had the
title of Sovereign Princess, and
figured at a superb court, she
had annually 240,000 franes at
her disposal; but now that she
had entered the ordinary class of
society, the 36,000 francs of pin-
money which she claimed was out
of proportion with her rank in
life, as well as with the present
fortune of her husband. The
Princess of Aremberg had in. her
possession moveables of great va-
lue, plate, diamonds, and a con-
siderable kitchen furniture (bat-
terie de cuisine). Wer husband
consents to leave her, as judicial
guardian, part of the kitchen fur-
niture found in the cellars. and
Which is therefore .useless to the
Princess ; 2. Her state carriage,
of. which she “can. make use ;

3. The dianionds, estimated at

231,000. francs, with the excep-

* tion of stich ‘es-the Courts may
‘deem necessary for ber use.

M. Tripier contended, in reply,
that even the total loss of the
dowry could not exempt. the hus-

band

APPENDIX TO CHRONICLE. 267

band from the obligation result-
ing from the mere fact of his mar-
riage: That the change of things
had not affected his estates, but
merely stripped him of the title of
Sovereign Prince, and the hono-
rary rights thereto attached. That
the Princess was, in fact, his cre-
ditor to the amount of the dowry
of one million, and not proprie-
trix of the hotel which her hus-
band tho. ght proper to purchase;
that the interest on that dowry
was due ; that the sentence which
should pronounce nullity of mar-
riage would grant that interest
ac ruing from the date of the
claim ; and that thus it was pro-
per to grant her during the suit a
part of that interest.

M. Bonnet, in the course of
his reply, stated, that the Prince
of Aremberg was absolutely com-
pelled to vest the dowry upon this
unproductive purchase: his wife
threatened him with her supports
(de ses apuis) if he resisted her
wish.

M. Marchangy, the King’s Ad-
vocate, noticed the remarkable
phrases which the fortune of the
Princess had assumed; _ lately
her personal establi-hment was
240.000 francs of annual income ;
now her claim for 36,000 francs
was resisted. He thought she
hada claim for maintenance while
the other suit was going on, but
as her situation under such cir-
cumstances might rather be con-
sidered as one of mourning than
of luxury, he was disposed to re-
strict her claim to. 1 2500 Fines
per month.

The Court) pronounced: for a
maintenance to be paid by the

Prince of 1000 francs per month,
on the ground that the Princess

was merely entitled to an aliment
proportio.ed to the state of re-
treat in which a woman solicit-
ing nullity of marriage should be
placed ; and ordered the Princess
to give up the moveables claimed
by her husband.

SEDUCTION.

Court of King’s Bench, Wednes-
day, June 5.—Mary Gibberson v.
E. L. Charlton, Esq.—The plain-
tif is a widow, residing in Queen-
street, Brompton; the defendant
is a person of property, The ac-
tion was to recover demayes for
the seduction of the plaintilf’s
daughter.

The Attorney General, in
opening the plaintiff's case, stated,
that the defendant was not un-
known in Westminster-hall, his
name having formerly appeared
to a transaction not very dissimi-
lar te the present: he had an
ample fortune, residing principal-
ly upon his estate at Ludford,
near Ludlow, and having filled
the important office of high sheriff
for the county of Worcester a
short time ago. The charge a-
gainst him was of a most flagrant
nature, and the case disciosed a
scene of profligacy and immoral-
ity scarcely equailed in the history
of the courts where such injuries
were redressed. ‘The plaintiff lost
her husband only a few months
before the still more afflicting ca-
Jamity which had given rise. to
this action. She resided in a
a house at Brompton, where she
and her husband had carried on
trade for upwards of 20 years,
and was assisted in the business
and the household duties by ason,

‘a lad, and three daughters, Mary,

Hannah,

£68

Hannah, and Charlotte; the first
about 20, the second about 16,
and the last not more than 15
years old. The jury would scarce-
ly believe that the two last had
become the victims of the seduc-
tive arts of the defendant and his
friend Captain Seymour, of the
guards: these two gentlemen had
united their exertions in the most
cold-blooded, and deliberate, and
persevering attempts to gratify
unbridled licentiousness ;~— lan-
guage was unequal to the expres-
sion of the baseness of the design,
the ervelty of the execution, and
the misery that had resulted from
it. The two younger daughters
of the plaintiff, Hannah and Char-
loite, had been walking in Hydée-
park, when they were accosted by
tie defendant and Captain Sey-
mour, who in vain endeavoured
to learn where they lived; the
gentlemen consequently followed
them home, watched every oppor-
tunity of speaking to the young
females in the absence of their
mother, their elder sister, or other
advisers, writing the most pas-
sionate and pressing letters, pro-
fessing that eternity of attachment
which lasts only to the moment
of gratification, and making those
most flattering promises which are
intended only to delude and betray.
Having at length succeeded in
overcoming the scruples of Miss
Hannah Gibberson (for it was to
her that the defendant paid his as-
siduous addresses, while Captain
Seymour devoted himself to Char-
lotte), he prevailed upon her to
quit her home, that she might
proceed with him to Bath: and
her sister consented to the same
imprudent step with her admirer.
In pursuance of the plot of these
gentlemen, however, they did not

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

find it convenient to leave Lon-
don on the day of the elopement,
but promised until the next to
lodge the young ladiesat the house
ofa friend. ‘The Jury would not
be astonished to hear, that that
house was the bagnio, called the
Key, in Chandos-street, where
the guilty design of the defend-
ant was perpetrated. Within a
day or two afterwards, Mr. Charl-
ton excused himself on the ground
of pressing business, which called
him immediately into Worcester-
shire; and he and Captain Sey-
mour, putting these two injured
and unprotected females into a
lodging in Seymour-place, there
abandoned them, making’ them
answerable to the woman of the
house, where they were literally
confined for some months, being:
unable to pay for the accommoda-
tion afforded. The learned coun-
sel then read some of the corres-
pondence of the defendant. He
made many severe remarks upon
their contents, and particularly
those parts which recommended,
in coarse terms, that Miss Gibber-
son should throw herself into the
arms of some other man. He
left the case to the jury to decide
upon the question of damages.
Thomas Coleraine was the first
witness. He was steward to the
defendant, and with obvious re-
luctance proved the hand-writing
of his master to the letters above
given. He said, that he had ma-
naged the estate of Mr. Charlton
for five or six years, ever since
that gentleman was of age. The
estate at Ludford was worth about
2,0001. a year, and there were 200
acres of park attached to the
dwelling. Lucien Buonaparte had
been in treaty to rent it.
Mrs, Mary Cooke said that she
lived

APPENDIX TO CHRONICLE.

lived in Sloane-street: she knew
the plaintiff, her three daughters,
and one son: it appeared to her
to be a well-regulated family.
The husband of the plaintiff, be-
fore his death, carried on the bu-
siness of a tailor.

Mrs. Susan Rogers and Mr. W.
Taylor deposed to the same effect,

Miss Hannah Gibberson said,
that her mother had. been a wi-
dow since last July: she, her two
sisters, one older and one younger,
with their brother, lived at home:
the witness completed her 17th
year last July, and her. sister
Charlotte was a year younger:
last Christmas-day was the first
time she saw the defendant; she
was walking with her sister Char-
lotte in Hyde-park, when the de-
fendant and Captain Seymour
came up and asked where they
lived: the witness refused to tell,
and the defendant and his friend
followed them home. To prevent
his coming next day, the witness
and her sister promised to meet
them in Bond-street; but the
weather being wet, the defendant
came to the house of the plaintiff;
the servant, who opened the door,
told the plaintiff they were out.
The next time she saw the defen-
dant was in St. James’s-street ;
the witness’s sisters, Mary and
Charlotte, were with her: the
defendant stopped Charlotte, and
afterwards met them again in
Bond-street, and as they were
going to tea in Berkeley-street,
he said he would escort them.
The witness appointed to meet
him at ten at night, when they
came away, and he walked home
with them; sometimes he walked
with the witness alone. He told
her he was leaving London for

269

Worcestershire, asked her to go
with him, and promised he would
take care of her for life: he add-
ed, that he had never seen a girl
he liked better, at the same time
disclosing his name and address at
Ludford. The witness refused,
but the defendant again pressed
his proposal, saying that the wit-
ness should never want a shilling
as long as he had one, and that
after his death he would provide
for her. He begged leave to
write, but she said her brother
opened all her letters, but not
those of her elder sister, and the
witness consented to read his let-
ters under cover. He asked,
when they met again, if the wit-
ness and her sisters ever went to
the play; and Charlotte, who
was with her, said they could if
they had orders. This passed on
the Monday; and on the Wed-
nesday, the witness, walking with
her sister Charlotte in Burling-
ton-gardens, met the defendant
again with Myr. Seymour, whom
they had known six weeks be-
fore. The defendant again en-
treated the witness to leave her
home, promising her every pro-
tection. Capt. Seymour obtained
tickets for the play in the way
home, which Charlotte accepted,
but the witness rejected. On
Wednesday night the witness sent
back the tickets to No. 51, Cur-
zon-street, and on Friday morn
ing the first letter was received ;
in consequence of which the wit-
ness met the defendant the next
day in Burlington-gardens, hav-
ing made some execuse to her
mother: Charlotte went with her.
The defendant and Mr. Seymour
were both there, and the witness
promised to meet him on Sunday

ny

270

in the park; and they met ac-
cordingly. The defendant asked
the witness to proceed with him
to Bath, as Seymour, who was
there, had persuaded Charlotte to
go there with him: both the gen-
tlemen promised to take care of
the witness and Charlotte as long
as they lived. The witness ap-
pointed to meet him next day in
Burlington-gardens ; but, being
wet, they could not go. The de-
fendant, in consequence, wrote
another letter requesting the wit-
ness to leave her home with Char-
lotte the following day: they did
so between 3 and 4 o'clock on
Tuesday afternoon, and met the
defendant and Seymour in Bur-
lington-gardens. Aftersome per-
suasion they both consented to go
to Bath with the defendant and
Seymour, but for that night it
was agreed they were to sleep at
the house of a friend. ‘They ac-
cordingly walked to a house of
ill fame in Chandos-street, and
the witness there wrote a note to
her sister to inform her that they
were many miles distant with two
gentlemen. Seymour went away
to dine out, and the witness, her
sister Charlotte, and Charlton,
dined together at the Key, about
nine at night: Seymour return-
ed at about eleven o'clock, and
they afterwards retired to bed in
separate apartments, the witness
with Charlton, and Charlotte with
Seymour. Next morning they
met at breakfast ; the two gentle-
men went out, and did not return
until the evening: the defendant,
and Mr. Seymour, who was in the
guards, excused themselves from
leaving town for Bath, as the lat-
ter could not obtain leave from the
Duke of York to be absent for an

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

hour from duty. It was then pro-
posed that the witness should go
into the country with Charlton,
while Charlotte remained in town
with Capt. Seymour ; but it was
finally arranged that the witness
and her sister should live toge-
ther in Seymour-place, with the
Captain, while Charlton went out
of town, promising to return in a
week or ten days. The witness
wrote to Mr. Charlton, and in
consequence received the two let-
ters read by the Attorney-General,
which, by consent, were directed
to Mrs. Hamilton, the name the
witness was toassume. ‘They re-
mained in the lodgings three or
four months, but Mr. Seymour
continued his visits to Charlotte
only for three weeks. Charlton
gave the witness 10]. the first
evening at the Key, and 51. more
the next morning, both sums to
buy linen for the journey to Bath ;
and 10]. were sent when they
were in Seymour-place. At the
end of three or four months the
witness and her sister returned to
their mother, who was obliged to
pay 171. to the woman of the

house where they had lodged.
On her cross-examination by
Mr. Topping} the witness said
that the first time they were spo-
ken to by the defendant, they had
also been addressed by two other
gentlemen in a tilbury, but the
witness and her sister did not re-
ply to them. When they went to
Berkeley-street to drink tea, they
took a walk round by St. James’s-
street, as they were too early.
Captain Seymour had several times
walked with her sister Charlotte
before the witness became ac-
quainted with the defendant. Be-
fore that tine, the witness and
her

APPENDIX TO CHRONICLE.

her sister had not been much in
the habit of walking out.

To questions from Lord El-
lenborough, she said, that she
had no reason to believe that the
Key, in Chandos-street, was a
house of ill fame before she went
out with her sister to buy linen
for the journey to Bath. They
only saw one man there, and no
beds were ordered; they were
shown into a sitting-room, and
she thought that the brothel was
a family hotel.

Mr. Topping addressed the
jury on behalf of the defendant,
pressirex all the topics in his fa-
vour allowed by the case, and par-
ticularly the facility with which
he had gained the favour of the
lady.

After a short charge from Lord
Elienborough, the jury found a
verdict for the plaintiff—Damages
5001.

NUISANCE AND TRESPASS,

The King v. Tinkler and Mount-
ford.—This was an inquiry which
took place before a special Bench
of Magistrates assembled at Guild-
ford on Saturday last, Lord Mid-
dleton in the chair, relative to the
seizure of 16,576lbs. of gunpow-
der, at the Chilwell powder-mills,
of which mills the defendants are
proprietors, on the 8th and 9th
instant.
‘great interest and importance to
the town of Guildford, and _ its
neighbourhood ; and more espe-
cially to those persons residing in
the vicinity of Messrs. Tinkler
and Mountford’s works, and oc-
cupied the Magistrates during the
whole of Saturday and Monday
last. The powder, when seized
by the constables employed under

The inquiry was one of

271

the information, was placed by
them in a hop-kiln, belonging to
a gentleman named Ryde, in tie
neighbourhood, where it remain-
ed from the time the seizure was
made, under the care of a trusty
guard, to await the decision of the
magistrates. Mr. Cowley and
Mr. Beerings now appeared as
counsel, in support of the infor-
mation, and Mr. Nolan, for the
defendants. The information,
which was founded on the act
of the 12th year of the King,
entitled “(an act for regulating
the making, keeping, and carry-
ing of gunpowder by the makers
thereof,’ (the 7th section of
which provides that no greater
quantity of gunpowder in a finish-
ed state, or in a state of process,
shall be kept 1 in any gunpowder-
mill, or places belonging or ad-
joining thereto, at any one time,
than is necessary for carrying on
the said works ; and that any ex-
cess above such necessary quantity
shall be liable to seizure and for-
feiture, and the proprietor of such
mills be further liable to a penal-
ty of 2s. per lb. upon every Ib, of
powder so forfeited, ) having been
read, and which information
charged the defendants with hav-
ing the abovementioned quantity
of powder, namely 16,576lbs. in
their works, contrary to the regu-
lations of the act, unlawfully, and
to the imminent danger, hazard,
and peril of the neighbourhood ;
and the defendants having pleaded
not guilty to the charge,

Mr. Cowley proceeded to ad-
dress the Bench in support of the
information. After adverting to
the importance of the question
which he had now to submit to
the consideration of the Bench,
one involving nothing less in it

than

272

than the safety of the property
and even the lives of the inhabit-
ants of the town of Guildford and
its neighbourhood, observed, that,
looking at the amount of powder
seized, he was persuaded he
should have but little difficulty in
showing to the Bench that what
had been called the nervous fears
of the complainants on this occa-
sion, was at least not fears with-
out foundation. As little difficulty
should he have in showing that
for alength of time past, these
gentlemen, the defendants, had,
from a love of lucre, been carry-
ing on their trade, negligent—
entirely negligent—of the safety
of their neighbours and of the
public, and in open defiance of the
provisions of the Act of Parlia-
ment upon which the present in-
formation was founded, and on
the 7th section of which he should
on this occasion principally rely.
The manufacture of powder was
not only a necessary one, but a
politic one ; and further, the Le-
gislature had made it a legal one.
At the same time, aware of the
dangerous nature of it, they had
surrounded it with precautions ;
and the act in question, the 12th
of the King, was in fact a precau-
tionary act. Notwithstanding all
the precautions which could be
taken, however, explosions would
frequently oceur. And in the
manufactory of the defendants,
two such events had occurred
within the last live years. The
object of the present act was to
render these unavoidable accidents
as little dangerous as possible.
To effect this object, one of its
provisions was, that attached to
every powder manufactory there
should be a magazine, or store-

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

house, in
powder as

which to deposit the
fast as finished, there
to remain till called for by the
consumer. A further provision
of the act was, that there should
be buildings of a certain descrip-
tion and construction, called
charge-houses, to which the pow-
der, whilst in the different states
of process, should be received, so
that not more than 4Olbs. of fin-
ished powder should be in any
building where there was machi-
nery at one time. This was in-
tended to prevent the explosion
of a large quantity. These were
some of the provisions of this act.
Ile understood it was to-day to
be contended, that the Chilworth
mills were ancient mills, erected
long before the passing of this
act, and not liable to its regula-
tions. He (Mr. Cowley) must
deny that position. He had look-
ed over the various acts of parlia-
ment on the subject, and he cer-
tainly found exceptions in favour
of some private mills in Sussex,
mentioned by name, and exemp-
tions relative to his Majesty’s
works, but in none did he find
any mention made of the Chil-
worth-mills ; but allowing it had
been so, none of the mills in ques-
tion were exempted from having
amagazine. Yet the defendants
had been going on for years with-
out one: and, if suffered to go
on, must still do so without that
necessary safeguard for the pub-
lic. They would never be allow-
cd to erect a magazine, because
they were in a situation where
they ought not to have one. For
this reason they carried on their
business without one, hiding their
powder in holes and corners ; so
that instead of having only 40 or
oOlbs,

APPENDIX TO CHRONICLE,

50lbs. of powder in a place liable
to explosion, they had accumula-
ted 16,000lbs. which might all ex-
plode in an instant, and spread
ruin and destruction around. The
charge against the defendants now
was, for having this accumula-
tion of powder stowed in impro-
per places. The 16,576lbs. had
been taken away, and he had now
to contend was forfeited. Besides
this quantity, the seizing officer
left behind him 1600lbs. of finish-
ed powder, which he ought also
to have taken, as weil as a quan-
tity in process in every part of the
works, amounting to several cwt. ;
all of which, he submitted, was,
strictly speaking, forfeited, had
they taken any account of it. The
quantity seized and brought away,
he should be able to shew, by
contradictory evidence, was an
excess above that allowed by act
of Parliament. He now had to
ask of the Bench the forfeiture of
it, and the penalty of Qs. per lb.
upon it. He should prove, that
excessive quantities of finished
powder, which should have been
deposited no where but in a ma-
gazine, were found in places the
most dangerous and exposed, in
the midst of machinery in the
corning-house, dusting-house,

drying-house, and even in a build-—

ing within a few feet of the stove-
' places, where none but the smail
quantity immediately in process
should be deposited.

After the examination of wit-
nesses, and hearing the pleadings
on both sides, the Court retired
for abont ten minutes, when they
returned, and Lord Middleton
declared their opinion to be, that
7,616lbs. of the powder were for-
feited; and upon which quantity

Vor. LVIII,

273

the defendants were also liable toa
penalty, amounting to a further
sum of 7601. 12s. The 7,616lbs,
they were to select from the fin-
ished powder, and the remainder
seized was to be returned.

Luncaster Assizes, Sapt. 5.—
Thompson v. Harris.—This was an
action to abate a nuisance.

Mr. Scarlet stated the case,
The plaintiff is a cheesemonger,
and the defendant a farrier, in the
town of Preston. A new street
was lately built in that town, call-
ed Lune-street, composed of re-
spectable houses, and inhabited
by respectable people. Among
these were a clergyman, an attor-
ney, the plaintiff, and several other
individuals of wealth and considers
ation in the place. The defendant
likewise purchased a portion of the
ground in the vicinity of this
street, and built upon it, as he
had a right to do. He built first

.a small house for keeping a cow,
about 8 yards from the back court
of the plaintiff. To this erection
the plaintiff could have no possi-
ble objection, and he made none ;
but he was rather surprised when
in April last he saw a chimney-
rising over this cow-house, and
still more surprised and annoyed
when smoke began to issue from
it, and hammers to play within it ;
in short, when he saw the cow-
house converted into a smithy,
involving his premises in smoke
and stunning his family with
noise, Nothing could be conceiv-
ed a greater annoyance than the
incessant din of this forge, or the
volumes of smoke that issue from
it, blackening every thing around
it, and forcing the plaintiff to have
the linen exposed to dry in his

T yard

a74

yard, often to be washed over
again, and his windows shut when
he would choose to have them
open. There could be no doubt
that the law would consider such
a building so placed and so used
as a nuisance. Every man has a
right to enjoy his own property,
but he must use it with a refer-
ence to the rights of others. So-
ciety could not exist without such
a principle. Society is held to-
gether in a sort of compromise of
mutual restraint and compensa-
tion. If aman, in the exercise of
his rights of property, builds his
house and establishes himself in
a particular situation, no other
man has a right to destroy his
comforts, or to molest his posses-
sion, by bringing an offensive
trade into his immediate neigh-
bourhood. If, on the other hand,
the offensive trade is established
first, no man has a right to order
its removal. The only question
in law is the priority of establish-
ment; and it either abates the
nuisance, or permits its continu-
ance according to this principle.
The law does not consult a man’s
whims, or caprices, or imaginary
wants ; but it allows no invasion
of his real substantial comforts,
nor any exercise of the rights of
property, however just in other
respects, that diminishes them.
There could be no doubt from the
‘evidence he would produce that
the plaintiff was seriously aggziev-
ed: several of the other inhabit-
ants of the street likewise felt the
injury as theirown. The defend-
ant, accustomed to such noises,
might not be so sensible of the
disturbance they give, as those
who reside near the falls of Nia-
gara are said not to be at all sen-

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

sible to their deafening roar,
but the plaintiff in the former
case, as strangers in the latter,
must feel the annoyance intoler-
able. Till it could be proved that
smoke, noise, and dust, in their
most offensive degrees,and brought
as near as possible to a man’s
dwelling, were not a nuisance, so
long must a smithy situate like
the one in question be declared a
nuisance, and entitle the plaintiff
to a verdict. He asked no dama-
ges—he merely asked a verdict,
to remove the annoyance of which
he so justly complained.

The learned Counsel then call-
ed several witnesses to prove the
nuisance, both of the plaintiff's
own family and from among his
neighbours. His servant deposed,
that the clothes hung out to dry
in the yard were often so covered
with smoke and dust that it was
necessary to wash them over again,
and that she was frequently oblig-
ed to shut the windows to exclude
such offensive annoyances. She
stated farther, that the noise was
intolerable, and often made the
floor and windows shake. Several
of Mr. Thompson's neighbours
confirmed,this statement, and add-
ed their own complaints to his.

Mr. Williams, for the defend-
ant, denied that this smithy
could be termed in law a nuisance.
He would bring witnesses to prove
that they did not consider it as a
nuisance; that the noise was by
no means what it was represented
to be, and that fewer coals, coals
of a better quality, and yielding
less smoke, were burnt in this
smithy than on any kitchen or
parlour fire of the neighbourhood.
This insignificant smithy had been
dignified with the name of forge,

and

APPENDIX TO CHRONICLE.

and the noise of this forge had
been talked of as if Vulcan and
his swarthy brothers incessantly
plied their thundering hammers
within it; but it would surprise
the jury, when he showed them
that all this mighty noise was pro-
duced, not by a congregation of
giants, but by the nerveless arm
of a boy of 14. When the noise
and the smoke of this little smithy
were made the subject of com-
plaint, it was forgotten that there
were in the small town of Pres-
ton, and within 800 yards of the
plaintiff's house, no less than
nine steam-engines, and four
foundries, which really did send
forth volumes of sound and smoke
that were formidable and annoy-
ing. These, indeed, might with
some propriety be declared nui-
sances: But it was difficult to
describe what a nuisance was in
law, or to determine that degree
of discomfort which amounted to
one. Much would depend upon
what people considered as the es-
sentials of their comfort or en-
joyments. Some thought a fine
prospect necessary to their enjoy-
ments; and according to them it
would be a nuisance to cut down
a tree in your park that added to
the beauty of their landscape, or
to build a wall that obstructed in
the least their view; some would
declare a school a nuisance, he-
cause it had noisy boys; others a
joiner’s shop; others a steam-en-
gine, and soon. But when people
determine to live in towns, they
must submit to the inconvenience
of towns; they are not to expect,
amid the noise and smoke and
dust of a manufacturing place,
the same quietness and retirement
as m the country; they must not

275
hope to enjoy in Manchester or
Preston, the same good air as on
the site of Lancaster-castle or the
top of Skiddaw. The learned
counsel called several witnesses
for the defendant with the design
of showing that the smithy was
not considered as a nuisance—
that the noise was not distressing
—that fewer coals, and coals of a
better quality, were burnt in it
than im many private houses—
that the plaintiff himself did not
consider if as a grievance neces-
sary to be remedied by law, till
the defendant had refused to
oblige him by allowing him to fix
his joists in defendant's wall—and
that the foundries and steam-en-
gines of the town were nuisances
which, if the plaintiff allowed,
took away all ground of complaint
against this trifling smithy. It
appeared much in favour of the
plaintiff that all the witnesses call-
ed to disprove the offensive nature
of the smoke and noise lived at a
greater distance from the smithy
than himself, or those whose evi-
dence he adduced in his support.
The learned Judge, in address-
ing the jury, and summing up the
evidence, explained to them fully
the state of the law respecting
nuisances. It proceeded upon
this principle—that no man in the
exercise of his own rights of pro-
perty was entitled to endanger the
security or diminish the enjoy-
ment of his neighbour in the law-
ful use of his. A nuisance in law
was not what affected the posses-
sion and enjoyment of property
through the medium of a man’s
whims, caprices, fancies, or ima-
ginary wants, /but what destroyed
or diminished his real, rational,
and substantial comforts, such as
T2 bringing

276

bringing offensive trades into his
Neighbourhood, the introduction
of offensive smells, dust, or noise.
Nor was it to be considered how
much a man could endure with-
out injury to health, but how
. much he could tolerate without
inconvenience, and that at all sea-
sons, whether in health or sick-
ness, whether feeble or robust.
Now, there could be no doubt
that the incessant din and pitchy
smoke of a smithy must be a nui-
sance to persons not’ accustomed
to them, and so situated as the
present seemed to be with respect
to the plaintiff. Nor was it any
answer to this, that the plaintiff
endured the annoyance of steam-
engines and foundries before.
The nearest of them seemed to be
at the distance of 400 yards, while
this smithy was as near as eight:
but even allowing that they were
nearer, the defendant had no
right to add to causes of disturb-
ance already existing. Because
@ man endures ene inconvenience
without complaining, no right can
be established on the ground of
his patience or forbearance to ag-
gravate it, or to add another.
The question for the considera-
tion of the jury therefore was,
what according to the evidence
was the state of the facts—was
this smithy brought to the plain-
tiff's premises, and was it so near
as to annoy his comforts ?—Ver-
dict for the Plaintiff.

The King v. Macnamara and
another—This was. an action
founded uopn ‘an _ indictment

charging the defendants with hav-
ing raised, or caused to be raised,
certain palings and fences, and
with having dug up, and other-

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

wise disturbed, a certain line of
road, from Margate to Canter-
bury, in the parish of St. John the
Baptist, to the great annoyance
and obstruction of his Majesty's
subjects.

Mr. Bolland stated the case for
the Crown, by which it appeared
that there had been established,
for more than fifty years, a line of
road through Birchington, from
Margate to’Canterbury; but that
this being considered of late years
too narrow for coaches, it became ~
necessary to have it widened. Ac-
cordingly, in the years 1809 and
1810, that measure was adopted ;
and besides the ancient or Roman
road, there were two others call-
ed the Blue and Red roads» Upon
the subject of these roads there
were already pending between
the present defendants and others
ro less than seven actions and four
indictments; one party complain-
ing of the obstruction set up by
Mrs, Macnamara, and a profess-
sional gentleman named Hill, who
had jointly attempted to stop up
the communication of the road in
question. Mrs. Macnamara, it
appeared, lived somewhere on the
read side, which being widened,
she at first endeavoured to dis-
suade the passengers from going
that way; but not succeeding in
this, Mr. Hill (who was also in-
cluded in the indictment) urged
her to stop up what was called
the Red Road, and accordingly
trenches were thrown up, palings
and fences were erected, and car-
riages passing that way were in
consequence upset, and subject=
ed to other accidents. °° Mr.
Bushell, a surveyor, immediately
remonstrated upon these obstruc-
tions, and insisted upon their

removal,

APPENDIX TO CHRONICLE.

removal, but to no purpose; Mrs.
Macnamara contending that the
passage was an innovation, and
that the Blue Road was the proper
line of communication. He pro-
ceeded, however, by force, to re-
move the obstructions in ques-
tion, but they were soon after-
wards re-established. Mr. Bushell
again remonstrated, but in vain ;
and he accordingly gave notice,
that if the obstructions were not
removed in twenty days, he would
again proceed as he had before
done. Accordingly, on the 13th
of February, he went to the spot,
accompanied by some men, where
he found the defendants marshal-
ling their labourers, and Mr. Hill,
in particular, ordering them not
to mind what Mr. Bushell said.
The parties on each side then
‘commenced, the one to fill up,
the other to dig the trenehes, and
alternately to pull down and re-
move the obstructions, the other
to replace them. During this
struggle, the defendants threat-
ened to send the other party to
gaol; but they persevered, and
succeeded in their purpose of re-
moving the obstructions. These,
however, after some time, were
again raised, and it became neces-
sary to bring the present action.
The learned counsel, having ex-
patiated upon the nature of the
offence in question, proceeded to
call a variety of witnesses, sur-
veyors, farmers, carriers, news-
men, persons who tithed the road
side, who repaired and improved
it, and individuals, some of whom
had known and traversed the road
which had been obstructed for
more than seven, others for ten,
fifteen, and even fifty years pre-
viously.

277

The foregoing facts were fully
proved by a variety of witnesses,
among whom were Messrs. Bush-
ell, Taddy, Woodward, Pasmore,
&e.

For the defence, Mr. Gurney
made an ingenious and animated

‘reply, and called nearly twenty

witnesses in support of his state-
ment.

Lord Ellenborough having
summed up the evidence, the
defendants were found Guilty.

Court of King’s-Bench, Wednes-
day, July 10. Hume, esq. v. Old-
acre—This was an action of tres-
pass. The plaintiff resides at
Pinner-park, near Stanmore: the
defendant is huntsman of a pack
of hounds employed in the Berke-
ley hunt. The trespass complain-
ed of was, that the defendant
broke and entered a close belong-
ing to the plaintiff on the 4th of
April 1815.

The Attorney-General said, that
the Berkeley hunt had been es-
tablished about 30 years ago by
the Noble Eari who bore that title,
and it had afterwards been con-
tinued by Lord Sefton. At that
time it was conducted in tie most
regular and inoffensive manner,
and a field of noblemen and gen-
tlemen .was always assembled,
who restrained their sports to
other parts of the country, with-
out wanton destruction of pro-
perty in the vicinity of Stanmore
and Watford. The hunt then fell
into the hands of subscribers, and
its character was completely
changed, for any cockney who
could hire a horse, or any groom
who could borrow one from his
absent master, repaired to it for a
day's sport, to the great injury of

property

278

‘property in the neighbourhood of
the metropolis, where the soil was
ill suited to the purpose. The
Berkeley hunt and its trespasses
were net unknown to his Lord-
ship, as actions against some of
the members had beer tried a few
years since before him at Hert-
ford, and it was hoped that no-
minal damages to settle the right
would have been sufficient. In
this expectation, however, the in-
jured party was disappointed, and
some proprietors of land were
under the necessity of instituting
new proceedings—against the
whipper-in, who was now in
confinement for the damages and
costs, though he would soon be
relieved by the operation of that
panacea for debtors of all kinds—
the insolvent act. This whipper-
in was the son of the present de-
fendant, who-by this action would
probably be placed in the same
situation as his son; but the in-
dividuals whose property had been
destroyed had no other remedy to
which they could resort. The
learned counsel therefore hoped
that the jury would give such da-
mages on the present occasion as
would give some more effectual
protection. To such an extent
had the destruction by the gen-
tlemen of the Berkeley hunt been
carried, that the noblemen and
others, proprietors of estates near
Stanmore and Edgware, had been
compelled to associate themselves
for general defence, and the Earl
of Essex and the Marquis of
Abercorn had been compelled to
put up extraordinary fences round
their property: the latter had ac-
tually put up chevaux-de-frise, and
had dug trenches but in vain,
for these mighty hunters from

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

town defied all obstacles but such
as were calculated to resist an in-
vading army. In truth, that part
of the country to which he had
referred was at present out of the
protection of the law; no rights
were held sacred, and no property
was secure; it was rather like a
border district between two hos-
tile countries, than the centre of
a land where the law restrained
wilful and repeated aggressions.

A notice from many noblemen
and gentlemen, and among them
from the paintiff, dated in 1808,
warning the members of the
Berkeley hunt from their grounds,
was the first piece of evidence:
after which Thomas Shirley and
Joseph Carwood were called to
prove, that the defendant on the
4th of April, with about 30 sports-
men, rode over two fields belong-
ing to Mr. Hume, and destroyed
turnips to the value of 40s. or
50s. Mr. Hume had become the
proprietor of the fields in question
about three years ago.

Lord Ellenbcrough observed,
that the notice being dated in
1808, could not apply to these
closes,

Mr. Gurney, in addressing the
jury for the defendant, complained
that the Attorney-General, in his
speech, had introduced statements
which had very little truth, much
exaggeration, and no relation to
the present cause. Like the
Berkeley hunt which he had de-
scribed, he had ridden over a
large field without restraint,
trampling down all obstacles that
presented themselves to his ima-
ginative course. ‘The fact how-
ever was, that the hunt at present
was confined to a few individuals
of great respectability in the

country,

‘ | APPENDIX TO CHRONICLE.

country, who were disposed to
do as little injury as possible, and
to make compensation whenever
reasonable complaint was made.
It appeared in evidence that Mr.
Hume had only recently become
possessed of the fields on which
the defendant had trespassed, and
the ignorance of the huntsman of
this purchase had led to it, for
the plaintiff was the only indivi-
dual in that parish who objected
to the diversion which the de-
fendant was conducting.

After a few remarks from Lord
Ellenborough, a verdict was found
for the plaintiff—damages 40s,

Hance v. Stone and others. This
was an action of trespass for cut-
ting down a parcel of willow trees,
in an orchard at Brixton, adjoin-
ing the river Epher. Mr. Ser-
jeant Best stated, that the plaintiff
was a respectable tradesman in
London, and the defendant Stone,
who was the principal defendant,
a magistrate of Surrey, but whose
conduct disgraced the name and
character of a gentleman. The
plaintiff was in possession of a
house at Brixton, adjoining to
which was an orchard belonging
to the defendant, and which he
wished much to possess as a con-
venience to his house. ‘This the
defendant agreed to let to him;
but, knowing he desired it much,
made a Jew’s bargain with him,
for he made him pay 101. an acre
for the land, and reserved to him-
self all the fruit, with liberty for
his own fowls to walk, and him-
self and all his company ; so that,
in fact, the plaintiff had the mere
use of it as an object of pleasure
from his house. There happened
to be some shady willow trees at
the bottom over-hanging the

279

stream, under which the plaintiff
had made a gravel walk, and had
placed a tent, and used to recreate
himself and family by sitting
there on the summer afternoons.
The defendant, as he before ob-
served, had reserved to himself
the right of walking in the orchard
also, and he used this right to the
annoyance of the plaintiff and fa-
mily, and not as a gentleman
would have done. This led to
some altercation, when, to shew
the malignant disposition of the
man, he came with his workmen
one day, and cut down all the
willow trees which were the chief
object of the plaintiff's pleasure.
Now, although he was the owner
of the orchard, he was not war-
ranted in doing this, for he had
leased it to the plaintiff for five
years, under certain: conditions ;
and although he had reserved a
great deal for himself, he had not
reserved the trees, and therefore
was a trespasser for cutting them
down during the continuance of
the term.

The lease being read, and the
demise proved, Mr. Serjeant On-
slow called two witnesses to prove
that the trees were beyond. the
bank, and not within the limits
of the orchard, but failing to esta-
blish this point, the jury found a
verdict for the plaintiff—Damages
50l.

COMMERCIAL CAUSES.

Court of Chancery, Wednesday,
Jan. 24.—Ex-parte Dyster re Mo-
line.—This was the second argu-
ment in this case, which is of the
utmost importance to brokers and
merchants in the city of London.
The facts were these :—Mr. Dy-
ster, a sworn broker, was also a

partner

250

partner in the house of Moline,
who traded in Spanish horse-
hides, and the latter having be-
come bankrupt, Mr. Dyster
claimed a debt of nearly 20,0001.
which was resisted by the assig-
nees, as illegal. Mr. Dyster then
presented w petition to the Lord
Chancellor, praying to be allowed
to prove his debt, and the facts
alleged in support of this appli-
cation formed the subject of the
present argument.

On the part of the assignees it
was contended by Mr. Hart, Mr.
Bell, and Mr. Montague, that the
petitioner was not entitled to
prove; first, because as a broker
he could not act at all as a mer-
chant; and, 2dly, on the ground
of the immorality of the trans-
action. ‘To establish the first
point, the learned Counsel insist-
ed on the construction of an ex-
pired statute of King William,
which was renewed by a sta-
tute of Queen Anne, where-
by it was enacted, that no per-
son should act as a broker in
the city of London, unless spe-
cially authorised by the Lord

~Mayor and Aldermen, and sub-
ject to such rules and regulations
for good behaviour as they should
think fit and reasonable. By vir-
tue of this statute, the Lord
Mayor and Aldermen were stated
to have made a certain bye-law,
and to have imposed on every
person who applied to be ad-
mitted a broker, the necessity of
executing a bond, with certain
conditions, and of taking an oath
-for the faithful discharge of his
duty. The bye-law, it was .ar-
gued, contained the regulations
‘to which the broker was to be
‘subject, namely, that he should

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

not deal as @ meérchant in the
same transaction ; and this’ bye-
law being authorised by the sta-
tute, had all the force of a posi-
tive enactment. In support of
the second position, it was con-
tended, that the bond and oath
restrained the petitioner from
acting ‘contrary to the before-
mentioned rules and regula-
tions, and, consequently, that the
transaction in question was im-
moral, and as such was prohi-
bited by the principles of the com-
mon law.

On the part of the petitioner,
Sir S. Romilly, Mr. Cooke, fand
Mr. Roupell, contended, that the
gentlemen om the other side had
argued upon supposition of a bye
law, which had all the effect of a
statute law, whereas the statute
in question, which was purely a
local statute, gave no power
whatever to the city of London
to make bye laws, but only to pre-
scribe regulations as to the con-
ditions on which a person should
be allowed to act as a broker. It
was, indeed, a most gratuitous
assumption that there existed any
bye-law, and if such bye-law
had actually been made, it seemed
extraordinary that the bond should
take no notice of it. All that the
Mayor and Aldermen had power
to do was, that as soon as they
found a man acting contrary to
the conditions of the bond, they
could enforce the penalty against
him. But it had been said there
was an oath, and that the Court
would not assist the petitioner to
recover his demand, in violation
of that solemn engagement. This
was much-the most serious part
of the case, not only to the indi-
vidual concerned in this question,

but

APPENDIX TO CHRONICLE.

but to every one engaged in mer-
cantile transactions ; ~for if the
learned gentlemen were right in
their construction of this oath,
there was not one man who acts
as a broker in the city of London
who was not perjured: but what
were the words of this oath?
They were, ‘‘ You shall sincerely
promise and swear faithfully to
discharge your duty as a broker,
between party and party, without
fraud or collusion, to the best of
your knowledge.” It was ad-
mitted, that if a man acted-as
broker, and principal, and took a
larger price than he would have
taken in any other character, he
had violated this oath ; but it was
material to state with precision
what brokers engaged to do, and
in what instances they were per-
jured, if they did otherwise. They
undertook, first, to keep a book,
or register, and to enter every
contract within three days, with
the names of the principals ; and,
on demand, to produce such en-
tries, in order to prove the truth
of the contracts. Secondly, they
were to produce a silver medal,
to shew that they were authorised
‘to act in the character of brokers.
Thirdly, they were not to deal
for themselves, or for their own
or any other broker’s benefit or
‘advantage, and were not to em-
ploy a deputy. The question,
therefore, came to this: whether
the petitioner had done any thing
to render his transactions with the
bankrupt illegal, so as to prevent
him from recovering his debt, on
principles of public policy. The
learned counsel asked what the
law was that he had violated,
which made those transactions

illegal? It had been said, that a

98h

man must not carry on trade,
holding out false colours, in other
words, making false. representa-
tions to the world. But what was
the case here? One might as well
say, that a man could not recover
who writes up, as many persons
do, ‘ This is the cheapest shop
in London.” The fact was, the
learned gentleman had argued
the case of persons acting as
brokers and merchants in the
same transaction: but here, 2
considerable part of the debt
arose out of other transactions.
No less a sum than 8,0001. was
for loans of money, in which there
was no mercantile transaction
whatever. Upon the whole, the
arguments on the other side were
not warranted by the facts of the
case, or the principles of equity,
and the petitioner was clearly en-
titled to recover.

The Lord Chancellor said, that
this was, indeed, a most im-
portant question to the mercan-
tile world. His Lordship had al-
ready ordered a question on the
statute of James, as to dormant
partners, to be made the subject
of a case for the opinion of the
Court of King’s Bench, and he
hoped, that when that question
came to be argued, it would be
considered ‘that the Court of
Chancery was not merely a court
of equity in matters of bankrupt-
cy, but was bound to enforce the
provisions of the several statutes.
Jn point of fact, that question had
greatly distressed his Lordship’s
predecessors, and was justly
thought a most difficult question,
The present, he repeated, was a
most important case, and he was _
guite satisfied that he did not know
enough of the facts to decide it,

He

289

He did not know, indeed, that he
should be satisfied with his own
decision. If there were no more
in the case than the bond, he
should think that would be no
objection to the petitioner's re-
covering, because he would be
liable for the penalty of the bond.
But the Act of Queen Anne had
been cited, and by that Act, no
man was to actas a broker unless
authorized by the Mayor and Al-
dermen, and under such regula-
tions as they should think fit and
reasonable. His Lordship appre-
hended, therefore, that the ques-
tion was, whether any regulations
had been made, and what those
regulations were. Jt was mate-
rial to ascertain, whether the
bond and oath were to enforce
certain regulations, or whether
such bond and oath were to be
considered as stating what the
regulations were. He was dis-
posed to think that the Mayor
- and Aldermen had made regula-
tions, and sought to secure them
by this bond and oath. The next
point was, whether those regula-
tions were such as they were em-
powered to make, according to
the true intent and meaning of
the statute. If they were such
as the statute authorised, then
the question might be brought to
this:—that brokers, being pro-
hibited from this species of trad-
ing by those regulations, they
were also prohibited by the sta-
tute. His Lordship, therefore,
wished to know what those regu-
lations were, de facto.

Sir Samuel Romilly observed,
that the word regulations did not
occur in the statute. The words
of the statute were: ‘‘ With such
limitations and restrictions as the

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

Lord Mayor and Aldermen should
think fit and reasonable.” :

The Lord Chancellor.—‘* Un-
doubtedly those words may re-
quire further consideration. We
have argued the case all along as
if the word regulation had been
employed in the statute. I should
wish to know, therefore, what
restrictions and limitations have
been established.”

His Lordship then stated, that
he had spoken to the Chief Jus-
tice of the Common Pleas this
morning on the subject of this
case, who observed, that he had
known this objection taken toa
broker’s action at Nist Prius, but
it had been over-ruled. As to
the statute, the Chief Justice de-
clared, he had never heard that it
existed.

Mr. Bell said, that the 13th
Edward IiI. expressly authorised
the city of London to administer
oaths to their brokers ; the ques-
tion was, what oaths they were to
administer.

Ordered to stand over till the
several records have been in-
spected.

Gladstone and Co. v. the Trus-
tees of the Liverpvol Docks.—Vhis
was a writ of error from the Com-
mon Pleas at Lancaster: it was
an action brought by the plaintiffs
to recover 241. Ss. 9d. as an over-
charge made upon the ship Rich-
ard, upon her arrival in the
docks at Liverpool. The record
stated, that before the passing of
the 51 Geo. II]. c. 143, for in-
corporating the Liverpool Dock
Company, the plaintiffs were
owners of the ship Richard, built
at Whitby, and registered at Li-
verpool; she had traded out-

' wards,

APPENDIX TO CHRONICLE.

wards, and had paid the duty
under the former Acts. At the
time the 5lst of the King was
passed, the Richard was ab-
sent from Liverpool, and return-
ed, paying no duty, having been
charged on her outward voyage.
This exemption was provided for
in the 5Ist Geo. III.; and after
that statute had passed, the Rich-
ard proceeded on her voyage to St.
Domingo, where she discharged
her cargo, no duty being de-
manded on her clearance out
from Liverpoo!. Having dis-
charged her outward and taken
in her homeward cargo, the
Richard returned tv London,
where she was completely un-
laden, and after she had been
again freighted for Liverpool
with other goods, she sailed for
that port: on her arrival the
trustees demanded the payment
of 341. 10s., the sum which they
contended was due according to
the rate of duties provided by the
act of parliament after a voyage
to St. Domingo. The plaintiffs
resisted ; but afterwards settling
the whole claim under a protest,
they brought an action to recover
241. 8s. 9d. being the difference
between the amount of duty pay-
able by the Act after a voyage to
London or to St. Domingo. The
question therefore was, whether,
according to the terms of the 51st
Geo. III. the trustees of the Li-
~verpool Docks, after the voyage
performed by the Richard, could
enforce the payment of the duty
on an adventure to St. Domingo,
which is 2s. per ton, or could
only claim the duty as for a voy-
age from London, at the rate of
7d. per ton.

Mr. Richardson, for the defen-

_ trustees

283

dants (the plaintiffs in error),
contended, that by the 6th sec-
tion, as explained by the 7th
section of the 51st Geo. III. the
could insist that the
owners of the Richard should pay
the rate of duty due for the most
distant port at which she had
touched in the course of her voy-
age. Under the old Acts, in the
case of Gladstone v. Geldert (2
Taunt. 97, and 12 East 439), it
had been decided, that a vessel
which cleared out from Liver-
peol with a cargo incurred only
one duty, though she might have
traded to intermediate ports, and
carried more than one cargo
during her absence; but the ex-
press provisions of the 51 Geo.
1II. were decisive upon the point,
that if a ship, as in this case,
cleared out for St. Domingo, per-
formed her voyage, discharged
her cargo at London, and took in
another, which she conveyed to
Liverpool, she was liable to pay
the dock duty as for a voyage to
St. Domingo, being the most
distant port to which she had
traded during her absence. The
reasons for the augmented duties
for distant adventures seemed to
be, that after it the vessel would
require additional accommoda-
tion, and would probably make a
longer stay in the docks, and that
the owner was supposed to be
better able, from the profits of
his speculation, to sustain a hea«
vier burden; it might also be
said, that ships making short
trips would not be long absent
from the docks, and would con-
sequently pay a smaller duty
more frequently. The learned
Counsel admitted that the 6th
clause was somewhat ambiguous,

but

284

but that all doubt was removed
by the terms of the 7th, which
declared that ships clearing out
from Liverpool should be charged,
on their return, ‘‘ according to
the rate of duty payable from the
most distant port from which
they shall so trade to the port of
Liverpool."

Lord Ellenborough.—Can it be
said, that in this case there was
any trading from St. Domingo
to Liverpool? The Richard un-
loaded the cargo she brought
from St. Domingo at London,
and there took in a new cargo,
which she carried to Liverpool:
.on this new voyage she had as
little to do with the St. Domingo
cargo, as if she had delivered it
ten years before.

Mr. Richardson submitted that
the words of the 7th sect. which
were most. explicit, controlled
and explained the duabtful terms
of the 6th section. If the Court
should decide against his argu-
ment, that determination might
lead to many evasions of the Act;
for a vessel which had performed
a long and prosperous voyage
might then discharge her cargo
at Bristol or Waterford, and af-
terwards entering the port of Li-
verpool, would only be liable to
pay a duty of 5d. per ton. The
word ‘‘ trading,’’ which had been
constantly and cautiously used
instead of ‘* voyage,’ which had
formerly oceasioned much dis-
pute, did not mean bringing the
cargo which she had taken in at
the most distant port to Liver-
pool, but re-entering after the
completion of the adventure.

Mr. Joy, on the other side,
contended, that the payment of
the duty on the entrance of the

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

ship always cleared her on her
outward voyage, and consequently
that if the defendants insisted
that the voyage was to St. Do-
mingo, nothing’ was due for that
voyage. It would be attended
with great hardship if it were
decided that duty was payable for
the most distant port on the re-
turn of the ship to Liverpool
without the cargo, which she
had discharged at another port
of the United Kingdom; since

in that case the owner would be™

twice liable to tonnage—once at
the port where the cargo was ac-
tually delivered (in this case Lon-
don), and again at the port to
which the ship belonged (in this
case Liverpool). The language
of the 6th clause was quite clear,
and the only doubt that could be
raised was upon a few words in
the 7th sect. which, in fact, had
no bearing upon the real ques-
tion, and had been intruded into
the Act. The onus of explaining
away the decided intention of the

legislature lay wpon the Trustees ©

of the Liverpool docks, and re-
ference to the 10th and 12th sec-
tions further confirmed the con-
struction for which the plaintiffs
argued. ‘The contrary had never
been suggested until two years
after the passing of the 51st Geo.
IlI.: and the 53d Geo, III. e.
156, showed that the framers of
the former Act never intended to
give to the Company that for
which they now contended.

Lord Ellenborough—The word
most in the Act, where it speaks
of the most distant port, is a
comparative term, and refers to
some other ports. Now, in this
case, the ship sails from London
with an entirely new cargo: there

her.

|

APPENDIX TO CHRONICLE.

her voyage begins, and at Liver-
pool it ends. London, therefore,
is the only port at which the
Richard touches.

Mr. Joy added, that the trad-
ing in question was not from St.
Domingo; that adventure had
been concluded in London, where
a new trading commenced, for
which the plaintiffs admitted that
a dock-duty was payable. He
cited the case of the ship William,
in Admiralty Reports, to establish
that the first voyage had been
terminated in London by the un-
loading of the cargo, and the
discharge of the port-dues there :
the Master of the Rolls had even
gone so far as to decide, that if
the identical goods had been re-
shipped, the original voyage would
have been concluded: @ fortiori,
therefore, in this case, where a
totally different cargo had been
sent to Liverpool from London.
The argument on the other side
must either go to this extent, or
it amounted to nothing—that if a
ship originally sailed from Liver-
pool, and having performed se-
veral voyages to the East Indies,
discharging all her cargoes at
London and returning to Liyer-
pool, the owner was liable to the
payment.of the rate ‘of duty fixed
for the East Indies. —

_Mr. Richardson replied; and
in. answer to a question from the
Court, allowed that he must con-

tend for the affirmative of the
case last put by Mr. Joy. He
was bound to argue, even that if
a ship sailed from Liverpool to
London, and there was taken up
by Government for the transport
service, and sent to the West
Indies, she was liable on her re-

285

turn to Liverpool to the payment
of duty as for a West India voyage.

This, however, was an extreme.
case. He submitted, that the
trading contemplated by the Act
was not completed until the re-
turn of the ship to the port of
Liverpool, from whence she had
originally proceeded.

Lord Ellenborough grounded
his decision upon the unambi-
guous terms of the 6th section
of the 51st Geo, III., which ought
not to be confounded with the
language of the 7th section,
which his Lordship did not feel
himself competent to explain. It
was clear that there was in this
case no trading but from London
to Liverpool: the whole of the
cargo from St. Domingo had
been unladen, and never was re-
shipped, and no dispute could
therefore arise upon the words
the most distant-port. The point
was rendered still more indis-
putable by reference to the 12th
section ; for if the master of the
vessel, ‘under the powers there
given, had been interrogated, he
could have given no other an-
swer, but he had come from
London with the new cargo he
had on board, and that on that
voyage he had traded to no other
place. The consequence was,
that the London duty of 7d. per
ton was only demandable ay the
Dock Company, and consequently
that the sum of 24]. 8s. 9d.
sought to be recovered by the
plaintiffs, had been improperly
received by the defendants In
this view, the judgment below
in favour of the plaintiffs (the
defendants in error) ought to be
affirmed,

Mr:

286

Mr. Justice Bayley and Mr.
Justice Abbot were of the same
opinion.

Court of Exchequer. The King
v. Ridge.—This was a proceeding
by extent against John Ridge,
Esq. calling upon him to pay the
amount, with the interest there-
on, of three bills for 10001. each,
drawn by the Earl of Moira, and
accepted by him, and made pay-
able at Messrs. Biddulph and Co’s.

Mr. Dauncey stated the case
to the jury. This, he said, was
a case, the statement and proof
of which would occupy a very
short portion of their time. The
simple facts were these :—Mr.
Austen, a partner in the banking-
house cf Austen and Maunde in
Henrietta-street, Covent-Garden,
who had been a receiver-general
of land and income tax for the
county of Oxford, had become
insolvent, and was considerably
indebted to the Crown. The
Crown wishing rather to come
upon any property of Mr. Austen
than upon that of his sureties,
Issued an extent, under which an
inquisition having been taken, it
was ascertained that he had the
three bills in question in his pos-
session, and the present proceed-
ing was instituted to compel the

‘defendant to pay their amount, as
they were accepted by him. He
understood that the ground on
which the payment of those bills
was intended to be resisted was,
that they had come into Mr. Aus-
ten’s possession by usury. Why
this defence had been set up, or
how Lord Moira could have been
concerned in an usurious trans-
action, it was not for him (Mr.
Dauncey) to say; but certain it

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

was, that such was the defence

on which the payment of those
bills was to be resisted. It would
appear to the satisfaction of the
jury, that the bills were drawn
and signed by Lord Moira, and
accepted by Mr. Ridge; and in-
deed he thought the jury would
require some very strong and
positive evidence, ~ before they
could believe that a man of Mr.
Austen’s experience would be so
dishonest, and even so rash, as
to take more than the legal in-
terest, where he must necessarily
be exposed to etection, and to
the loss of his money.

John Green, a clerk to Mr,
Ridge, proved that the signatures
to the three bills were those of
Lord Moira and Mr. Ridge. The
bills were then put in, and read:
they were dated Portsmouth, 12th
of April, 1813, and made payable
twelve months after date. Here
the case for the Crown closed.

Mr. Clarke, on the part of the
defendant addressed the Jury,
and observed, that his learned
friend (Mr. Dauncey) had anti-
cipated the truth, when he alluded
to the defence intended to be set
up on the present case. That
defence was, that these bills had
been obtained by usury. He
would show, from incontroverti-
ble evidence, that treble the legal
rate of discount had been taken
in the first negotiation of them,
and if the jury were satisfied of
that fact, the learned judge would
tell them, that whether this ille-
gal discount had been taken by
Mr. Austen or by Mr. Maunde,
the effect was the same, and the
amount of them could not he re-
covered in law. He should also
observe, that the present process

was

APPENDIX TO CHRONICLE,

was not really instituted to be-
nefit the Crown, but in point of
fact to serve Mr. Austen. Nothing
had been more remote from the
intention of Lord Moira than to
resist the payment of his debts ;
and in truth his Lordship had
made such arrangements for the
disposal of his estates as to secure
that object: nor would any re-
sistance have been made to the
present claim, but for the hasty
manner in which the demand for
payment had been pressed.

He then called Major James,
who proved that he was the con-
fidential agent of Lord Moira,
and had been in the habit of
raising money for his lordship for
several years. In the month of
April, 1613, in consequence of
some instructions from Lord
Moira, who was then preparing
to go ont to his government in
India, he went to the banking-
house of Austen and Maunde, to
know whether they could cash,
some bills for his lordship. Mr.
Maunde, who was the only per-
son he saw, said he would try.
In a day or two after he went to
Austen and Maunde with four
bills (out of six, of 1,0001. each,)
drawn by Lord Moira, and ac-
cepted by Mr. Ridge. ‘Those four
bills had been handed to him by Mr.
Ridge. Heagainsaw Mr. Maunde,
and from him he received 3,400].
for the four, instead of 3,800).
which he should have received, if
only the legal discount had been
deducted. The three bills (the
subject of the action) were then
handed to him, and he proved
them to be three of the four
which he had given to Mr.
Maunée.

On his cross examination by

287

Mr. Dauncey, he said, that Mr.
Ridge was the military agent of
Lord Moira, and in that capacity
he had been accustomed to accept
his bills, and that he used also to
accept them before he became his
military agent. He (Major James)
was in the habit of raising money
for Lord Moira since the year
1801, or 1802. Of late years his
Lordship’s credit had sunk con-
siderably in the money market,
and bills with only his own sig-
nature were not easily negotiated.
He admitted, that even with the
acceptance of Mr. Ridge, the bills
in question were not worth near
their nominal value at the time
he negotiated them with Mr.
Maunde.

Here the defence closed.

A Gentleman at the table then
rose and said, ‘‘ My Lord, I wish
to address a few words to your
Lordship.”

The Judge (Baron Richards).
—‘* Who are you, Sir?”

*« My Lord, I am the Solicitor
of the Earl of Moira.”

Baron Richards.—‘‘ Then, Sir,
if you are the Earl Moira’s soli-
citor, you should know your duty
better. Sit down.”

Mr. Dauncey addressed the
Jury in reply to the evidence, and
contended that no case of usury
had been made out in the de-
fence; on the contrary, from
what had appeared, it was evident
that Major James had sold the
bills to Mr. Maunde. That more
than their value was given for
them was certain, from the fact
of their being unpaid at the pre-
sent time, though more than two
years had elapsed since they bes
came due. Major James had
proved beyond a doubt that the

credit

ees ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816,

credit of Earl Moira had for a
considerable time previously to
the issuing of those bills been
very much depreciated in the
money market ; and if ever there
was a time when his bills would
be of less than their nominal
value, it must have been when
his Lordship was about to leave
this country for India. What
were the facts? That a few days
(five) before Lord Moira sailed
from England he drew those bills,
in order to raise money. Mr.
Ridge, who accepted them, had
not at that time his usual credit
in the money market. Would it
then be believed that any man of
common experience would have
taken those bills at their nominal
value? or could it be credited
that any man at all acquainted
with the nature of such transac-
tions would have risked his credit
and his money in taking more
than the legal discount, when he
might have done what was so
usual on such occasions—pur-
chased the bills at what he thought
they were worth ? The juryshould
remark, that Major James was
not asked whether he considered
himself as selling the bills? His
learned friend (Mr. Clarke) had
stated, that this proceeding was
instituted to benefit Mr. Austen,
and not the Crown. He (Mr.
Dauncey) denied that to be the
case. The Crown might have
recovered its debt by proceeding
against Mr. Austen’s sureties ;
but it thought that would not be
the fairest mode of acting while
Mr. Austen had any property of
his own. The jury would attach
what weight they thought fit to
the declaration of his learned

friend (Mr. Clarke)—that this

claim would not have been re-
sisted, if payment had not been
hastily pressed. Surely it could
not be thought a hasty pressing
for payment, if the amount of
bills payable 12 months after date
was called for two years after
they became due?

Baron Richards summed up
the evidence, and told the Jury,
that the simple question which
they had to decide was, whether
those bills had been obtained by
usury, or whether the transaction
between Major James, on behalf
of Lord Moira, was a bona fide
sale of them. If they believed
the former, they must find a ver-
dict for the defendant; if the
latter, they must find for the
Crown.

The Jury retired, and after
half an hour’s deliberation re-
turned a verdict for the Crown,

Court of Chancery, Thursday,
July %5.—Ex-parie Heathcott in
the. Matter of Lacjy—Mr. Bell
stated, that this was an applica-

tion to the Court, praying that

his Lordship would not put the
great seal to a patent which Mr.
Lacy of Nottingham had sought
to obtain for making lace by a
machine, to be worked by a
steam-engine. The ground of
objection to the patent was, that
Mr. Lacy wanted to keep his spe-
cification secret for the space of
15 months, which was contrary
to the policy of the law, and a
great injustice to the King’s sub-
jects in general.

On the part of Mr. Lacy, Sir
Samuel Romilly and Mr. Hart
urged, that no injustice: would be
done to the public by granting
the patent, and the state would

be

APPENDIX TO CHRONICLE.

be benefited in a peculiar way.
Mr. Lacy had invented a machine
for making French lace of the
most beautiful texture; and if
the benefit of his invention were
secured to him, by enabling him
to lodge the specification under
certain restrictions, this country
would be enabled to rival the
French in the sale of that article
in the continental markets. At
present, the French by having
the materials and labour at a
much cheaper rate, could afford
to wadersell us considerably in
that very important branch of
their manufactures; but if this
patent were granted, the saving
with respect to labour would be
more than equal to the difference
in price of the materials. This
was the principal object for wish-
ing to keep the specification se-
eret ; for there was reason to ap-
prehend, that if the particular de-
scription of the mvention should
be enrolled within the usual pe-
riotl, copies thereof would be ob-
tained by foreign agents, and
transmitted to foreign countries,
the inhabitants of which would
have the benefit of making use
of the invention before his Ma-
jesty’s subjects could by law make
use of the same; which would
not only prevent the patentee
from deriving the full advantage
which he has reason to expect,
but might also tend to diminish
the benefit which the lace-manu-
factures of this cowntry might
otherwise derive therefrom. This
was the ground upon which the
legislature had thought proper to
grant an act of parliament (53d
Geo. 3. cap. 179.) to Mr. Lee,
for securing his invention of pre-
paring hemp and flax. By a pro»
Vou, LVIII.

289

viso in the letters-patent, which
were granted for the term of 14
years, that gentleman was allowed
to keep his specification secret for
15 months from the date thereof ;
and, with a view to secure the
benefits: of his invention to this
country, the act directed, that in-
stead of causing the particular
description of the invention to be
enrolled according to the said
proviso, he should deliver to the
Lord Chancellor, .within 15
months from the date of the
letters-patent, a particular de-
scription or specification of the
nature of his invention, and in
what manner the same was to be
performed, by writing under his
hand and seal; which specifica-
tion, together with an affidavit
made before a Master in Chan-
cery, that it fully, completely,
and accurately defined and de-
seribed the whole and every part
of such invention and discovery,
and the method of using and em-
ploying the same for the uses
and purposes therein set forth,
should be enclosed in a cover
under the seal of the Lord Chan-
cellor, and lodged in the office of
one of the Masters in Chancery,
to be nominated successively,
from time to time, as occasion
might require. The second clause
of the act declared, that the said
packet should not be removed
from the custody of the Master in
Chancery on any account or pre-
tence whatever, except by order
of the Lord Chancellor, who
should have power to call for and
have the same whenever there
should be occasion to have ree
course thereto, either on account
of application being made for
patents for other discoveries .of

U inventions,

290

inventions, which there might be
reason to apprehend, might be of
a nature similar to the said in-
vention, or on account of any
trial at law respecting the same,
or in any other case in which it
might be: judged by the Lord
Chancellor necessary or proper
to inspect the same ; in all which
cases the seal of the said packet
might be broken by the Lord
Chancellor: and after such use
should have been made of the
said specification as occasion
should require, the same should
be again sealed up, and deposited
with a master in Chancery, as
before directed. And by the fifth
clause it was enacted, that the
said packet, so to be deposited,
should be kept and remain sealed
and unopened (except as afore-
said) until the expiration of the
term of seven years from the
passing of the act, at which time
the specification should be enrol-
led in the manner directed by the
proviso contained in the letters-
patent, there to be and remain
public for the benefit of all his
Majesty's subjects. These were
the particular privileges which
the legislature had given to Mr.
Lee, for the purpose of securing
the benefits of his invention to
this country; and as Mr. Lacy
had made an affidavit that he in-
tended to apply for a similar act
of parliament, the learned Coun-
sel hoped that his Lordship would
not withhold the great seal from
the patent.

The Lord Chancellor said, that
he could not put the great seal to
a patent which gave the party
fifteen months to make out his
specification. In the present reign
about 20,000 patents had been

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

granted, and this indulgence was
extended only in two or three of
them. Where the letters-patent
were for an invention to be used
in England, Scotland, and Ire-
land, the usual period for enrol-
ling the specification was six
months: but where they were
confined to England only, three

or four months was the given

time.. Mr. Lee’s case was a very
peculiar one : it was for securing
to the state, in a time of war, the
benefit of a most important dis-
covery. If Mr. Lacy could make
out that the state was to be be-
nefited by his invention in any
peculiar way, as in the case of
preparing hemp and flax, it might
be doubtful whether he might
not have a secret specification.
His lordship was of opinion, how-
ever, that the legislature would
pause a long time before they
passed such an act in future;
and he thought he might venture
to say, that if Mr. Lacy were to
apply for such an act he would
not procure it. The gentleman
had said, that if this specification
were not kept secret the French
might copy it; but his lordship
could not establish a new prin-
ciple merely to prevent the French
from smuggling, neither could
he put the great seal to a patent
without seeing the specification,
for it might turn out not to be
worth a farthing, and then public
genius would be discouraged
merely for the benefit of the pa-
tentee. Many cases of this nature
had occurred. The patent could
not pass without the responsi-
bility of the great seal; and if
his Lordship could bring himself
to pass it, he might be called
upon to give an account in par-

liarment

APPENDIX TO CHRONICLE.

liament why he had extended this
particular privilege to this indi-
vidual. It was certainly con-
trary to the general policy of the
law, and he could not in justice
to the King’s subjects affix the
great seal to it merely because it
Was a manufacture which other
countries had in common with
this.

Court of King’s Bench, Monday,
Dec. 9.—Special Juries —Philip
Hill, v. Gray, Esq.—This was an
action for a breach of contract,
in the purchase of a picture which
the defendant had agreed to buy
from the plaintiff for the sum of
1,050].

The Attorney-General ob-
served, that his client, the plain-
tiff, was a person of the highest
respectability, as he was war-
ranted in saying, from the esti-
mation in which he was held by
persons of rank and character
with whom he had had transac-
tions similar to that now before
the Court. The defendant was
one of those wealthy merchants
in which this kingdom abounded,
who, having acquired a large for-
tune, devoted a portion to the
encouragement of the arts. He
had been a considerable buyer of
paintings, and through the agency
of a Mr. Butt, a common friend
of the plaintiff and the defendant,
he had entered into a contract for
the purchase of a most beautiful
and valuable picture, by Claude
Loraine, which the eminent and
venerable President of the Royal
Academy had pronounced not only
genuine, but one of the finest of
the productions of that exquisite
master. With such an authority
in its favour, it was wholly un-

291

necessary (a8, indeed, he was in-
competent) to dilate upon the
merits of this picture: Mr. West
himself (whose time the learned
Counsel regretted he should oc-
cupy, while he was engaged upon *
a great work as an altar-piece to
Marylebone-church) would be
called as a witness, as well as Sir
Thomas Lawrence, at whose
house the Claude had been depo-
sited, and other artists of the first
rank in this or any other country,
who would all depose to the ge-
nuineness and incomparable ex-
cellence of the piece. It was
bought by the plaintiff at the sale
of Mr. Hope's pictures : the price
given by him was no more than
111l., for the learned Counsel
had no secrets to keep. Mr. Hill
had drawn, as it were, a prize
in the lottery: when he bought
it, it might be a good or it might
be a bad picture, and he took his
chance ; having employed his skill
upon it, removed the dirt, and
remedied the injuries of time, he
found that it was of greater
value, and on that account he
had sold it to the defendant for
1000 guineas. This was no unu-
sual circumstance ; nobody sup-
posed that the two Claudes be-
longing to Mr. Angerstein, now
prized at 8,000 guineas, had not
been frequently sold before they
came to that gentleman’s hands
at an infinitely less sum. Mr. Butt,
the mutual friend of the parties,
had seen Mr. Hill’s Claude, and,
admiring it of course, he advised
Mr. Gray to buy it, and after a
short intercourse, in which it was
warranted to be a Claude, Mr.
Gray became the buyer at the,
sum stated, and an early day was
fixed for the payment, In the

2 mean

292
mean time, however, the defen-
dant having informed some of
his friends of his prize, one of
them hinted, that after all it
. might not be a genuine picture
by Claude, probably without hav-
ing seen it, and Mr. Gray imme-
diately took the alarm, and re-
fused to complete his contract.
The plaintiff was consequently
under the necessity of bringing
this action; and the principal
question was, whether this pic-
ture were or were not a Claude?
Upon this point the evidence was
most decisive ; for, excepting that
the learned counsel could not
prove by eye-witnesses that the
pencil of Claude, who was born
in 1600, had been seen employed
upon it, he could adduce the most
unequivocal testimony to its au-
thenticity : the opinion of those
competent to judge was all the
law required.

Mr. James Butt deposed, that
he had seen the picture in ques-
tion for the first time at Mr.
Hill's, and esteemed it a land-
scape by Claude Loraine. The
Witness very much admired the
picture; and knowing that Mr.
Gray had been purchasing pic-
tures, not very wisely, the wit-
ness, from friendship to him,
wished to recommend a fine one
to him. He in consequence wrote
to the defendant in the begin-~
ning of August last, stating that
he had seen a yery fine Claude
that he thought would suit him,
and if the defendant were dis-
posed toinspect it, the witness
would call the next day, but that
he might take a week to deter-
Mine on the propriety of pur-
chasing. The letter also re-
(ueésted that the defendant would

ANNUAL REGISTER, 186.

consult his friends, and not act
merely upon the opinion of the
witness. The witness saw the
defendant the next day, who
agreed to look at the Claude, and
asked the price, which the wit-
ness refused to name until the
picture had been seen: he also
declined mentioning to whom it
belonged: but said that it might
be had cheap, as the owner was
much in want of money. The
defendant still pressed to be in-
formed, and the witness an-
swered in joke, “ If you think
it stolen, you had better have
nothing todo with it.” The day
following the witness understood
that Mr. Gray had seen it, and
he told him that the price was
1,200 guineas: the defendant
said it was a great deal of money,
and added, that Mr. Angerstein
had given only 2000 guineas for
his finest Claude: the witness
knew that that was only a mis-
representation, for the sake of
reducing the price demanded : at
length, in about a week, the de-
fendant offered 1000 guineas,
which the witness, on his own
discretion, considering the neces-
sity of the seller, agreed to take
for ready money only; but af-
terwards, he said that a week or
a fortnight would not be of con-
sequence.

The question being put to Mr.
Scarlett, on the other side, he
admitted that the defendant had
had the picture home, and had
returned it to Sir T. Lawrence,
at whose house it had been
placed.

Cross-examined.—The witness
said, that he was what was com-
monly called a merchant, with
very little to do: he was not a

dealer

- APPENDIX TO CHRONICLE.

dealer in pictures: he had not
represented to the defendant that
the picture belonged to Sir Felix
Agar in the letter he wrote, nor
had he ever so stated in conver-
sation. Sir F. Agar had some
pictures at the plaintiff’s that he
wished to sell for 4000 guineas,
to raise money, but the witness

* had never said that this Claude

was one of them. He had never
stated to the defendant that Sir
F. Agar was in a rage with him
for taking 1000 guineas : some-
thing has passed between the wit-
ness and the defendant, which
made an approach to it at Boy-
dell’s, where they saw an en-
graving of this picture in the
Liber Veritatis, with the name of
Mr. Agar at the bottom ; and the
defendant having fallen into the
delusion, the witness did not
think it incumbent on him to re-
move it.

Lord Ellenborough observed,
that he could imagine no reason
why the name of the owner
should be withheld: in all fair
dealing there was no concealment
of the kind. It was the duty of
the witness, seeing the delusion,
to have endeavoured to do it
away.

In the continuation of the
eross-examination, this point was
still pressed: a letter was pro-
duced to, and admitted by the
witness, in which he had men-
tioned the mame of Mr. Agar.
After the sale, the witness never
said that Mr. Gray, having bought
the picture under the misrepre-
sentation that it belonged to Sir
F. Agar, was therefore at liberty
to return it; but he had stated,
that if Mr Gray could satisfy him
that the picture was nota genuine
~~ Claude, he would never rest till

293

he was relieved from his bar-
gain.

Lord Ellenborough observed,
that the witness appeared to have
mistaken both his duty and the
law: knowing the existence of
the delusion, he ought to have
removed it ; and unless he did so,
the contract was founded upon
circumstances of deception; if
which circumstances had not ex-
isted, the defendant might not
have offered so high a price as he
proposed: not only the law, but
every principle of common ho-
nesty required that the party
should not be allowed to continue
under any delusion when it could
be prevented.

The Attorney-General hoped
that it would not be imputed to
him that he at all countenanced
the practice, because he endea-
voured to show that the delusion
could have no operation under
the circumstances; the suspicion
that the picture came out of a
particular cabinet might induce
a party to give a higher price,
but he submitted that here the
contract had been completed be-
fore any thing passed which could
be misinterpreted into a state-
ment that the picture belonged to
the collection of Sir F. Agar.

Lord Ellenborough added, that
a third person making a contract
like the present ought to take
especial care that nothing was
said or done by him to lead to
mistake. It appeared clear, that
though not directly, yet indi-
rectly, Mr. Butt had told the de-
fendant that Sir F. Agar was «the
owner of the picture.

The witness observed that he
had had great difficulty in the
business.

Lord Ellenborough.--There can

be

294

be no difficulty in plain sailing
and common honesty, while all is
entanglement and delusion when
we get out of the straight road.

Mr. Scarlett—I wish it to be
understood that it is no part of
my case to contend that*this pic-
ture is not a Claude.

The Attorney-General.—And a
very fine Claude; if that be not
allowed, I must proceed to call
my witnesses to show that it is;
for the admission that it is merely
a Claude is not satisfactory.

Mr. Scarlett—I will not say
that it is not a fine Claude, but
the value of the picture is no part
of my case.

Lord Ellenborough.—I will
take it, Mr. Attorney-general, that
your proof would go to the ex-
tent of showing that it is a ge-
nuine picture, as far as that point
can be ascertained : with regard
to some pictures, it now and then
happens that they can be traced
from hand to hand, through va-
rious families, to the original
painter : in cases, however, where
this cannot be done, the party
asserting the authenticity is only
bound to make out such a simili-
tude as leads competent judges
upon the subject to state that it is
genuine.

The Attorney-general then pro-
ceeded to re-examine his witness,
Mr. Butt, who said that-the con-
versation last alluded to took
place at the counting-house of the
defendant: this was after the
price had been agreed upon, and
the defendant had had the pic-
ture sent home. A Mr. Wright
had given the defendant a suspi-
cion that it was not an original
Claude, and that it was bought at
Mr. Hope’s sale at a low price:

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

the witness inquired, and found
the last fact to be so: at another
conversation the defendant said
positively that the authenticity of
the picture had been impeached,
and that he would not take it, as
it was not a Claude. This was
his only reason for refusing to
complete the purchase; and the
witness then used the expression,
that if it were no Claude he would
never rest till the defendant was
relieved from his bargain. This
was a week after Mr. Gray had
promised payment of a part of
the purchase-money on an early
day, and a further day had been
named for the rest : no payment,
however, had yet been made.

Lord Ellenborough.—I really
thought, and think, that the
cause had before arrived at its
termination. It appears that the
defendant entered into a contract
under a deception, from which
the agent, the witness, did not
relieve him, though he was aware
of it, and had it in his power:
that delusion might be a material
cirewmstance in governing his de-
termination as to the price of the
picture; and not being removed,
it is in law a void contract.

The Attorney General.—That
being your Lordship’s opinion in
point of law, the moment it is
intimated I am satisfied.

The plaintiff was non-suited.

LIBEL AND DEFAMATION.

Court of Common Pleas.— Wyatt
v. Gore—This was an action
brought by Charles Perkin Wyatt,
Esq. against Lieutenant-General
Gore, governor of the province
of Upper Canada, for the pub-
lication of a false and malicious

libel, -

APPENDIX TO CHRONICLE.

dibel, and for having suspend-
ed the plaintiff from his office as
Surveyor-general of the crown
lands in that province, without
any sufficient ground, whereby
he sustained considerable damage.

Mr. Sergeant Best conducted
the prosecution. He said there
were three grounds of complaint
upon the record; first, that the
plaintiff, being Surveyor-general
of the crown lands in the province
of Upper Canada, had been sus-
pended by the defendant, who
was Governor-general of the same
province, from his office, without
any just cause or reason: second-
ly, that, after having so suspend-
ed the plaintiff, he wrote letters
to the Secretary of State for the
Colonial Department containing
such representations as prevented
the plaintiff from being restored
to his situation: and thirdly, that
the defendant published against
the plaintiff a most false, scanda-
lous, and infamous libel. With
regard to the second charge, he
would candidly state that it must
fail, as it was not in his power to
support it by evidence. The let-
ters which the Governor-general
wrote home to the Secretary of
State had been applied for, but
the government refused to grant
the use ofthem. They could not
therefore be produced. Heshould,
therefore, confine himself to the
first and third charges, both of
which he had no doubt of being
able to prove to the satisfaction of
the Court and the jury. It ap-
peared that the defendant sus-
pended the plaintiff from his
office, and of course depxived him
of its emoluments, without any
just cause or pretence, In the
pamphlet (the publication of

295

which constituted the libel. com-
plained of in the last charge), he
assigned his reasons for suspend-
ing the plaintiff; and it would be
proved, not only that all those
reasons were false, but that Gen.
Gore knew them to be so, at the
time he assigned them. ‘The
learned Sergeant then read ex-
tracts from the pamphlet, which
purported to be a letter from
General Gore to Lord Castlereagh,
complaining of the conduct of
certain factious and turbulent in-
dividuals, whose intentions were
to disturb the peace and tranquil-
lity of the province. Among
those individuals the plaintiff was
included by name, together with
Judge Thorpe, Mr. Wilcox, and
others. In another part of the
pamphlet it set forth, that the
plaintiff turned out of his office
an old man, whv had been many
years in the service, merely be-
cause he voted for the govern-
ment (an allegation completely
false, for the individual in ques-
tion had solicited permission ‘to
retire) ; and it further affirmed,
that the plaintiff, having obtained
a grant of 1200 acres of land,
fixed his eye upon 200 acres near
Niagara, which had been cleared
and cultivated by a man of the
name of Young, a disbanded ser-
geant belonging to Butler’s Rang-
ers. The plaintiff, supposing
Young’s title to the land to be de-
fective, had set to work, and in
the most oppressive and unfair
manner robbed the aged veteran
of his hard-earned rewards, and
turned him out to beggary.
Young soon after died, and left a
large family in great distress.
The case was mentioned to Go-
vernor Gore, who ordered an in-

vestigation

2066 ANNUAL RE

vestigation to take place, and was
enabled to defeat the deep-laid
scheme. ‘‘Who,”’ continued the
‘Governor in his pamphlet, “ after
such aets, could question the jus-
tice and propriety of dismissing
such a person from his office ?’’
Now, not one word of the allega-
tion about the lands at Niagara
‘was known to ‘General Gore at
the time he suspended Mr. Wyatt.
There was, indeed, some inquiry
instituted afterwards, ‘but ‘that
was when Mr. Wyatt ‘had been
suspended, had left the province,
and was on his way to England.
As ‘to the charge against Mr. Wy-
att, that he was a seditious and
disaffected person, and employed
in disturbing the public tranquil-
lity, he: would call persons of
high rank, Mr. Thorpe, thejudge
of the province, and the attorney-
general of the province, to prove
that his conduct was most exem-
plary. It was insimuated, also,
that the plaintiff had been in-
triguing with the Indians ; but he
should be able to call before the
jury the chief of one of those
tribes, a British ‘subject, who
would prove there was no good
ground for ‘that accusation. —

Mr. William Frith was called.
—He was attorney-general of the
provinee of Upper Canada from
the year 1807 to 1811. The
plaintiff had left the province be-
fore ‘he arrived there in 1807;
‘the office of surveyor-general was
one of great ‘trust and confidence ;
‘its duties consisted in regulating
‘the location of lands, surveying
‘them, ‘and passing grants through
‘the office ; the fixed salary ‘was
8001. a-+year; the perquisites made
itmuch more.

Dr. Thorpe was nextexamined.
—He heli the situation of judge

GISTER, 1816.

of the province of Upper ‘Canada-
The plaintiff was there during
some of the time that the witness
was in Canada ; he remembered
the time of his suspension, but
did not remember any official in-
quiry taking place respecting the
location of lands at Niagara. The
Guardian newspaper was first pub-
lished after Mr. Wyatt had left
the province; there was no other
press before that paper was set
up, except the government press.

Mr. Sergeant Best was about
to call Colonel Norton, the Indian
chief, to prove that there existed
no understanding ‘between the
Indian nations and ‘the plaintiff ;
but Mr. Sergeant Lens objected
to his evidence, in which objection
Sir V. Gibbs concurred.

Here the case closed for the
prosecution.

Mr. Sergeant Lens then, on
behalf of the defendant, contend-
ed that no case had been made out
which proved the malicious or
unjust motives of General ‘Gore
in suspending the plaintiff from
his office ; that it did not appear
the libel had ever been shown to
any human being except Mr.
Frith; and he would put it there-
fore to the jury, whether that
was a case which called upon
them to give exemplary damages.

Sir V. Gibbs then charged the
jury. Jt did not appear to ‘him
that ‘the first charge had been
proved, as ‘there ‘were ‘no ‘state-
ments in the pamphlet which
showed that what was there urg-
ed constituted the grounds on
which Mr. Wyatt had ‘been sus-
‘pended. ‘The pamphlet, ‘in fact,
appeared to be only an ‘answer ‘to
‘something ‘which had ‘been pub-
lished ‘by Judge Thorpe and
others. As to the last charge,

that

APPENDIX TO

that of libel, it had unquestion-
ably been proved. The publica-
tion of the pamphlet was an of-
fence against the laws which
could not be defended; and so
far the plaintiff would be entitled
toa verdict. It would be for the
jury to estimate what degree of
damage the character of Mr. Wy-
att was likely to sustain from the
publication of that pamphlet, al-
ways bearing in mind the manner
of its publication, and its very
limited circulation.

The jury then retired for a
short time, and gave a verdict of
3001. damages.

Gloucester Assizes, . August.—
Carter v.. Thomas.—The plaintiff
was a Mr. Carter, who had been
living in the neighbourhood of
Gloucester, about 15 months, in
a style calculated to convey an
idea of his being a man of for-
tune and respectability.

The defendant was Mr. Thomas,
jun. son of a silversmith in the
Strand. Theaction was for a ma-
licious prosecution from a war-
rant issued from Bow-street-
office, and for verbal defama-
tion. The damages were laid at
50001.

It appeared by the evidence
and cross examination of the wit-
nesses produced for the plaintiff,
that Mr. Thomas, jun. in con-
sequence of Mr. Carter’s having
obtained goods from his father’s
shop in October last, obtained a
warrant from Bow-street for his
apprehension, on a charge of ob-
taining goods under false pre-
tences, followed the plaintiff to
Matson-house, his residence, in
the vicinity of Gloucester, and by
‘means of stratagem, contrived to

CHRONICLE. 297

regain possession of the articles
of jewellery, under the promise
of returning them the following
day, when he had given Mr.
Carter reason to suppose he should
bring with him the plate, which
he had ordered to a considerable
amount. Mr. T. returned to
Gloucester with the intention of
taking legal advice as to the most
effectual manner of exposing the
character of the plaintiff, who,
Mr. Thomas ascertained, had but
two months prior to his taking
up his residence at Matson, in a
ready-furnished house belonging
to Lord Sidney, been discharged
from the King’s Bench prison,
under the Insolvent Debtors’ Act ;
his debts, according to his sche-
dule, amounting to 12,0001. and
the assets to liquidate those debts
being only 19]. 6s. 6d. Mr,
Thomas was passed by a gentle-
man in a tilbury, who the sheriff's

* officer who accompanied him in-

formed him was Mr. Stephens, a
magistrate and banker in Glous
cester, (a material sufferer by
Carter,) and that most probably
he was going to dine with Mr,
Carter: this immediately deter-
mined Mr. Thomas to return to
the house and expose Mr. C’s
true character before Mr. Ste-
phens, as a magistrate and a per-
son who had, together with many
others of the greatest respectabi-
lity, become dupes to the specious
and plausible manners of the
plaintiff: he accordingly did so,
and entered a drawing-room in
Mr. C’s house, where the party _
were assembled, and told them
that Mr. Carter was a notorious
swindler. Much altercation then
took place, during which Mr,
Carter struck the defendant, who,

after

298 ANNUAL RE

after having convinced Mr. Ste-
phens and others of the accuracy
of his statements, left the house,
assuring them that he should go
to everyrespectable shop in Glou-
cester and make known Mr.
Carter’s character; observing,
that although he had outwitted
him in recovering his jewellery,
yet he considered he had an im-
portant relative duty to perform
to society at large. Mr. Thomas,
as appeared by the evidence of
many witnesses, did go round to
the tradesmen of Gloucester, and
in the most undisguised manner,
with honest indignation made
known to them the real history of
Mr. Carter, who, at that time,
was considered a man of immense
property, and had incurred debts
with various tradespeople to a
very considerable amount; in fact,
such was the high opinion enter-
tained of him, that the freedom
of the city of Gloucester had been
presented to him. Carter left
the neighbourhood the following
morning, and had since been
living at 57, Nelson-square,
Blackfriars-road ; and, from the
cross-examination of his wit-
nesses, it appeared, that none of
his numerous creditors had been
paid, except one person, who was
paid a small sum, in order, as
Mr. Dauncey, the counsel for
the defendant, observed, that a
larger might be contracted. Such
were the grounds on which the
action originated ; and although
the declaration contained 13
counts, only one could be proved,
which charged Mr. Thomas with
having spoken the word ‘‘ swind-
ler,” which was admitted not to
be actionable, unless special dam-
age could be proved, in which

GISTER,

1816.

the plaintiff's counsel failed ; and
those counts relative to the mali-
cious prosecution were set aside,
as no evidence was adduced to
disprove the accuracy of the in-
formation on which the warrant
was granted.

Mr. Thomas had no occasion
to call any witnesses; and after
Mr. Baron Richards had summed
up, the jury immediately return-
eda verdict for the defendant. |

MISCELLANEOUS.

PROPERTY.
Chelmsford, Friday, March 15.
—(Special Juries.) — Sutton v.
Barksworth and another.— This
was an action of a novel sort. It
was brought against the defend-
ants, as owners of a vessel called
the Gunson, for salvage of the
lives of five seamen, and also a
very small part of the vessel. The
defendants had paid 50l. into
court. The plaintiff, Sutton, is
resident at Colchester, in this
county, and is owner of a small
vessel called the Success. The
master of the vessel gave the fol-
lowing account of the transaction
—That on the 6th of December
last it was blowing a very heavy
gale of wind, with a rolling sea,
and there were several ships in
the offing making signals of dis-
tress. He went out with the in-
tention of assisting a large Rus-
sian vessel on the sands, when
he perceived the Gunson lying
on her beam-ends, and some
men sticking to the wreck. He
immediately turned his attention
towards them, and with great
danger and difficulty saved the
mate and four men from inevit-
able death—they also picked upa
yard, a boom, and some other
pieces

APPENDIX TO CHRONICLE.

pieces of the vessel, of no great
value, not in the whole amount-

ing to 501.
This case being proved, Mr.
Marryatt, for the defendants,

said they were not at all liable in
this action; for with respect to
those parts of the vessel for which
salvage was due, the defendants
had given notice to the plaintiffs
that they had abandoned them to
the underwriters, and therefore
whatever was due on that head
was due from the underwriters,
and not from the defendants.
With respect to the other head of
claim, namely, salvage for the
lives of the men, no such claim
existed in our law. It was aduty
of humanity which the plaintiffs
were morally bound to perform ;
at most it could only be consider-
ed as work and labour done for
the defendant’s servants. And it
had been ruled, that where a
servant had broke his leg in his
master’s employ, the master was
not bound to pay the doctor. The
defendants, however, though they
were not liable for any thing, had
nevertheless paid 501. into court,
which was abundant compensation
for the use of the plaintiff's vessel
for the day which it was occu-
pied.

Mr. Justice Abbott said, that
this action was the first instance
he had ever recollected of a claim
being made for saving the life of
aman. There could not be any
salvage for the life of man, for

salvage was a reward proportion-’

ed to the value of thething saved ;
but the law contemplated the life
of man as above all measure of
value. It was considered in law
as inestimable, and although no
recompence could in this case be

299

legally demanded on that ground,
he was sure that the humanity of
British seamen would always be
equa!ly exerted on behalf of their
fellow-creatures in distress. With
respect to the articles of the vessel
which were saved, and for which
a salvage would be due, the de-
fendant had disclaimed all title to
them, and therefore they were not
chargeable on that head. The
only way in which the defendants
might be at all chargeable in this
action might be for work and
labour, and saving the servants
ofthe defendants for the plaintiff's
benefit. The measure of this sort
of benefit saved to the defendants,
would be the value of the services
sosaved. The jury would on this
head consider whether the 501.
paid into court would satisfy this
part of the case.—Verdict for the
defendants.

John Bennet, Esq. and others, v.
The Rev. Thomas Prevost-—The
plaintiffs in this cause are owners
and occupiers of lands in the
parish of Tisbury, in Wiltshire;
the defendant is vicar of the same
parish.

It appeared, that in the year
1801, a bill was filed by the vicar
in the Court of Exchequer, call-
ing on the plaintiffs to account to
him for the tithes in kind of the
following articles :—cows, calves,
heifers, eggs, poultry, and gar-
dens. The plaintiffs in their
answer insisted, that there were
in existence, in and throughout
the parish, the following moduses,
viz. :—three-pence for a cow,
sixpence for a calf, three half-
pence for a heifer, one penny for
eggs and poultry, and one penny
for gardens. On the hearing in

the

300

the Exchequer, the Barons direct-
ed issues to ascertain the validity
of such moduses, and the same
were now tried before a special
jury.

The evidence on the part of the
parish consisted of the testimony
of many old persons, with re-
ceipts given by different vicars,
all of which concurred in show-
ing that the moduses had never
varied, and had been in existence
fiom time immemorial, except
that, during the incumbency of
the Rev. Mr. Nicholson, (who
preceded the present vicar, the
Rev. Mr. Prevost) there were a
few instances of 3s. having been
paid for each cow, and this sum
had also been paid by two or
three small occupiers to Mr. Pre-
vost. The vicar relied on these
variations, coupled with the cir-
cumstances of the augmentation
made to the vicarage, by the
Abbess and Convent of Shaftes-
bury, in the year 1360, and of
two terriers remaining in the
Bishop’s registry. In the former
is a grant to the vicar of “ Lac-
tagium seu Lacticinium.’”’ In the
latter is mentioned a ‘‘ Cow
White ;’’ and these words, it was
contended meant the tithes of
milk.

Mr. Sergeant Lens, on the part
of the defendant, insisted, that
vicarial tithes were justified by
the common law of the land ; and
that, although moduses_ were
taken by the late Rev. Mr. Ni-
cholson, it formed no rule for the
present vicar, Mr. Prevost. It
appeared that in the present case
various modes of payment had
been made in the parish, both for
cows and for gardens; and he
contended, that unless payments

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

were unvaried and invariable, the
modus could not be established.
Mr. Prevost, he said, had cer-
tainly, on his first coming to the
vicarage, acquiesced in receiving
the modus; but he was not on
this account shut out from his
claim for vicarial tithes : no docu-
ments of a date antecedent to the
year 1781 had now been pro-
duced, and an usage, like the
present, of 40 or 50 years, was
not sufficient to set aside the
general rule and law of the land.

Mr. Sergeant Pell, for the
plaintiff, contended, that the mo-
dus, in this state, was fully esta-
blished by the evidence of the va-
rious~ witnesses who had now

_proved its having been paid for a

great many years; and he insist-
ed it was a circumstance which
greatly strengthened his case,
that none of the books of antece-
dent vicars, proving the vicarial
tithes to have been paid, had now
been produced. The learned Ser-
geant then animadverted severely
on the two miserable witnesses
(as he called them) who had prov-
ed their having paid for the last
few years, to the present vicar,
the sum of 8s. per cow: one of
those witnesses, when repeatedly
asked why he had paid 3s. know-
ing that the other parishioners of
Tisbury only had paid 3d. de-.

clined giving an answer; and .

when asked by a gentleman of
the jury if he would have paic
more than 3s. if demanded, said
he begged to be excused answer-
ing. The learned Sergeant con-
cluded with impressing on the
minds of the jury the great im-
portance of the decision which

they were called upon to make in |

this case; and whieh decision
would,

4

APPENDIX TO CHRONICLE.

would, if given in favour of the
defendant, most seriously affect
the value of estates, not only in
the parish of Tisbury, but in
every parish throughout the king-
dom where a modus in lieu of
tithe was paid.

~ Verdicts were found in favour
of the parishioners, and in sup-
port of all the moduses except
that for heifers, which was not
insisted on, as being considered
to be included in the modus for
cows.

Wilts Assizes, July.—Lord Rivers
v. Thomas King and two others.—
This suit was instituted to ascer-
tain the boundaries of the Chase
of Cranborne; and involved, on
one side, the most extensive roy-
alty that was ever claimed by any
subject, or perhaps by any sove-
reign prince ; and on the other,
the independent enjoyment of
their property by all the owners
of the soil throughout the range
of that wide domain.

The pleadings were shortly ex-
plained by Mr. Baily, who stated,
that it was an action brought
against the defendants for enter-

ing Cranborne-chase in a certain

part, within that county, called
Trow-down, and with their dogs,
against the will of Lord Rivers,
chasing and hunting his deer;

which trespass the defendants had
' justified, on the ground that

Trow-down was the freehold es-
tate of the defendant King, that
the deer were wrongfully eating
his grass there, and that he and
the other defendants, his servants,
with his dogs, drove them off his
land; to which plea the noble
plaintiff had replied, that Trow-
down was part of his Chase of

301

Cranborne, and that his deer
were lawfully feeding there.

Mr. Sergeant Lens, in an elo-
quent address, explained to the
jury that the question upon these
pleadings involved the right of
Lord Rivers to exercise the pri-
vilege of his Chase, not only upon
the land in which the defendants
in this case were supposed to have
trespassed, but over a very en-
larged tract of country in the
three counties of Dorset, Wilts,
and Southampton, in all of which,
during the lapse of many centu-
ries, far beyond the reach of
memory or tradition, the noble
lord, and all those from whom he
claimed, had exercised those pri-
vileges. Hesaid, that the rights
of the forest and chase, now to be
exerted over this vast district,
however obnoxious they might be
to the feelings of those whom
they affected—however injurious
to the interests of individuals—
were grounded in the ancient con-
stitution of England, and were
protected by that law which held
every right as sacred, and would
never permit the irritated feelings
of men to justify the invasion of
any right. He said, it was with-
out dispute that Lord Rivers was
entitled to the ancient royalty of
the Chase of Cranborne, and that
within that Chase, however strait-
ened or extended, his deer were
entitled to run without molesta-
tion ; that the only question to be
now determined was that of
boundary ; that all objections to
the oppressive nature of his right,
and all clamour respecting its
origin, or the detriment which
others sustained from its exercise,
would be misapplied to the case.
The jury had nothing to determine

but

302

but a dry question of boundary ;
and he would undertake to define
the boundary now claimed by his
noble client, wide as it would ap-
pear, with as much certainty and
precision as that of any parish in
the county. He should be able
to define such boundary, not
merely by evidence of the exercise
of all the privileges incidental to
the Chase in various parts of that
extended district in times of high
antiquity, and in modern times
down to the moment of his ad-
dressing the jury, but by ancient
decisions of courts of competent
jurisdiction, in proceedings by
which the exercise of such pri-
vileges was resisted and such
boundary disputed. The rights
were always deemed oppressive
by those whom they affected, and
many attempts had been made
to confine their applications to
narrower limits, but such at-
tempts had led to those judicial
confirmations of the extended
claim of the Chase; and unless
those proceedings were of no
avail—unless the public records
of them which remained as the
land-marks of property could be
reversed—he rested upon them
with confident assurance that he
should succeed in behalf of his
client. ‘The manor of Cranborne
was indeed in the county of Dor-
set, but not within the narrow
limits which the defendants would
assign to the Chase, claimed as
appurtenant to that manor. He
admitted that in some ancient
documents, the Chase was describ-
ed as situate in the county of Dor-
set, but that was because the
manor to which it appertains was
in that county; still the Chase so

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

appurtenant might be, and its
narrowest bounds were, in fact,
admitted to be much more. ex-
tensive. The boundary which
he claimed had been defined by a
map made under the direction of
the King’s Exchequer in the reign
of James the First; a Court of
the Chase had always subsisted,
and had always exercised its ju-
risdiction over persons residing
without the limits which the de-
fendants would endeavour to pre-
scribe to the owner of the Chase;
and chiminage, which was a toll
payable by persons entering the
Chase at a certain period of the.
year, had always been received at
the extreme point of the extended
boundary. The rights of Lord
Rivers might seem doubtful, from
the moderation with which they
had been exercised ; in the out-
ward parts of his franchise they
had, during a long period, hardly
been felt, and might almost be
forgotten ; indeed, they remained
to the noble Lord, not as asource,
of protit—not as a means of prac-
tical injury to any one—but as a
mere honour, and that of great
expense to him—as a feather of
high estimation—which, however
lightly it might be regarded,
would, if established as a right,
be entitled to protection; and he.
had no doubt, if so established,
would be considered by the jury
as weightier in the scale of justice
than all the eloquence and all the
clamour with which it might be
questioned.

The proof of the plaintiff” s title,
by ancient documents, consisted
of grants in the 15th year of
James Ist to Lord Salisbury, in
tail, and subsequent conveyances

“through

APPENDIX TO CHRONICLE.

through several families down to
the family of Lord Rivers. They
produced also several very an-
cient proceedings in the reigns of
our earliest kings, in which agree-
ments were made between the
proprietors of the Chase and vari-
ous persons, granting them pri-
vileges in Wiltshire and in Dor-
set, within the Chase.—In the
Sth Edward Ist, 1280, a writ of
quo warranto had issued into Dor-
setshire, respecting the Chase,
against Gilbert de Clare, Earl of
Gloucester, in which it was alleg-
ed by the, King’s Attorney-Gene-
ral, that, by a perambulation
made while King John was Earl
of Gloucester, the Chase had been
marked out by certain known
bounds, (viz. the bounds this
day claimed), and those bounds
were then adjudged to Gilbert de
Clare. In the 15th James Ist, a
decree of the King’s Court of Ex-
chequer assigned to the Earl of
Salisbury the bounds now con-
tended for in Dorsetshire, Wilt-
shire, and Hampshire. In the
8th Charles 1st, a similar decree
passed in the Exchequer. The
rolls of the Chase Court were
produced, by which persons were
fined for offences in Wiltshire ;
the accounts of the stewards of
the Chase proved that such fines
were paid, and that chiminage had
anciently been levied. It was
proved that these courts were held
at Cranborne and at Wimborne
St. Giles, in Dorsetshire, far
without the narrower limits of
the Chase, and at Rushmore, in
Wiltshire ; and that recoveries of
the Chase had at various times
been suffered in Hampshire and
in Wiltshire.

Op the following morning Mr.

303

Sergeant Best entered upon the
defendant's case. He desired the
jury to consider what it was for
which the plaintiff contended,—
namely, a right to feed his beasts
of the chase over 500,000 acres
of land in three counties, which
included an extent of country
more than 100 miles in circumfe-
rence. He claimed that in that
wide range no man should plough
the land to the detriment of the
deer ; and no man should raise
a fence to the exclusion of the
deer ; that the growth of wood
should be protected only for the
benefit of the deer; that if any
man turned his sheep into his
own woods, they should be im-
pounded by the owner of the
deer ; that the growth of timber
should for ever be prevented by
the browsing of the deer ; that
the rights of the chase should in
all things be preferred to the in-
terests of man ; that all cultiva-
tion should be subservient to
those rights, and that the benefit
of the deer of Lord Rivers should
be paramount to all the rights of
property, and make the industry
of the husbandman of no avail.
He contended, that this claim was
in its nature so oppressive, that
it could hardly be consistent with
any law: that the King of Eng-
land, putting all his forests to-
gether, could not exercise such
privileges over an extent of soil
nearly so great, that it was six
times as large as the New Forest ;
that it was not eredible, nay, he
contended that it was not pos-
sible, that such a right could ever
have been given by the worst of
our kings to any subject whatso-
ever, and that, if given, it was
contrary to the great Charter of

the

304

the Forest, and could not subsist.
He pointed out, that this odious
claim, so destructive to agricul-
ture and the best rights of the
community, was made not for the
profitof any one; it was admitted
to be an expensive honour ; it
was a mere feather, of no value
to its owner. He was confident
that that feather would now be
plucked from the wing of Lord
Rivers ; and he doubted not that
the noble Lord would soon re-
nounce the last portion of that
which was now claimed for him,
and abandon altogether a right
which could never be of benefit to
~ him or to his family, and must be
always in its exercise most hateful
and most oppressive to those who
were subject to it. The judicial
decisions on which the claim of
the plaintiff rested were not the
verdicts of juries: but the deci-
sions of Courts in the worst times
of our history, which had dared
to proceed in defiance of the ver-
dicts of juries: no proprietor of
the Chase had in former times
ventured to submit his claim to
the decision of a Wiltshire jury.
He had no respect for such judg-
ments, obtained in earlier times,
to establish such odious rights :
they were void from the begin-
ning, as being contrary to the
great Charter of the Forest, and
the ancient rights of Englishmen.
They were among the grievances
which had prepared the way for
the glorious revolution of King~
William. He doubted not that
this day the verdict of a jury of
Wiltshire would set them all aside.
The decision in favour of Lord
Salisbury, upon which the plain-
tiff's claim mainly depended, was
fraudulently obtained ; the verdict

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

of a jury had just then overturn-

ed the rights; Lord Salisbury

was then tenant in fee of the}
Chase ; he was High Treasurer
of England, and the minion of
the reigning sovereign; the
judges were dependent upon his
will; he surrendered his estate
in fee, and took back his estate
in tail; the Barons of the Ex-
chequer, then pretending to main-
tain the rights of the Crown, |
gave to him that infamous decree |
without the verdict of a jury, |
which, he trusted, the verdict of
a jury would this day overturn.

The evidence for the defend-
ants proved, that the decree in
question was so obtained, and
contrary to a previous verdict of
a jury. It proved, that in many
very ancient documents, the Chase
was uniformly described as locally
situate in Dorsetshire; that in
Wiltshire it had very often been
resisted with success, and had
never been confirmed by a jury.

At avery late hour, Mr. Ser-
geant Lens replied to the defend-
ants’ case, and maintained, that,
to be rightly determined by the }
jury, it should be considered |
merely as a question of boun-
dary, and that the feelings excited
by Mr. Sergeant Best were only
calculated to mislead the judg- |
ment. }

The learned Judge recapitulat-
ed all the evidence, and under his
direction, at nearly 2 o’clock on
Friday morning, a verdict was
found for the defendants.

Mr. Sergeant Lens was ably
assisted by Mr. Gifford and Mr.
Baily, for the plaintiff; and Mr.
Sergeant Best, by Mr. Casberd
and Mr. Gunning, for the de-

|

—

SSE

Court

APPENDIX TO CHRONICLE.

Court of Exchequer, July 3.—
Rex v. Ha!l.—This was a motion
to set aside an extent in aid which
had been obtained by Messrs. Old-
acre and Co. of Worcester, who,
as sub-distributors of stamps, had
given a bond to account for stamps
in their possession when called
upon. It was sworn in support
of the motion, that it was believ-
ed that Oldacre and Co. had given
this bond for the very purpose of
obtaining extents in aid against
their debtors.

The Solicitor-General said, that
he attended on the part of the
crown, notice having been given
to the solicitor of stamps. This
extent in aid had issued without
the knowledge of the crown offi-
cers, and he therefore should not
interfere between the parties in-
terested. He would only state,
that he was informed that this

bond had never been required on

the part of the head distributor of
stamps, but had been volunteered
by Messrs. Oldacre and Co.: and
he thought such bonds should be
given under the sanction of some
crown officer, and, when given,
deposited with those who were to
make use of them if necessary.
This bond had not been so depo-
sited. He left it to the Court,
and retired.

Mr. Dauncey, in support of the
extent, said he would not deny
that this extent was issued, not
for the benefit cf the crown, but
of the individual. This is, said
he, notoriously the case in almost
every instance of extents in aid.
No one in this court will deny it
for amoment. !n another place,
this has been the subject of much
animadversion. It is said this is
a@ great abuse; and one might

Toy. LYN,

305

fancy, according to what is said
on this subject elsewhere, that it
is highly immoral fer an active
creditor to gain a preference be-
fore other creditors. The law al-
lows this. Any man may gaina
preference by suing a jieri fucias.
A crown debtor can do no more
than others, only he can do it
quicker : and it is reasonable, for
he is liable to be called on by the
crown.on a sudden; and he ought
therefore to have a speedy process
against his debtor. If the legis-
lature thought proper to take
away this right, he should have
no objection ; but while the law
remained unchanged, the court
would continue to do what it had
ever done.

Serjeant Copley endeavoured
to show, from the form of the
bond, that the crown creditor had
no right, because he was bound
not to pay money due, but to ac-
count, and he had never been
called on to account; but the
court held that, being a bond-
debtor, he possessed the right of
other bond-debtors. The rule
was discharged.

In another case of extent which
had been decided the same morn-
ing, the court held that it is not
necessary for a party applying for
an extent to swear to what amount
he is indebted to the crown, in
order that the court may see that
the debt to the crown is equal to
the sum for which the extent in
aid issues,

Misce.Ltangous, Criminan.

Court of Exchequer, Saturday,
Teb. 17.-—Smuggling on board In-
dia Ships.— The King v. Creswell.—
This was an information against

Mr.

306

Mr. Francis Creswell, first mate
of the Thames East Indiaman,
for being concerned in the unship-
ment of a considerable quantity of
China silks from on board the said
ship into boats belonging to smug-
zlers off the coast of this country,
contrary to the revenue laws : and
the penalties sought to be recover-
ed amounted to three times the
value of the said goods.

Edward Roche deposed, that in
April, 1814, he was quarter-mas-
ter on board the Thames East In-
diaman. She had sailed for Chi-
na, but he could not tell when she
arrived there. The defendant
was the chief mate, and Mr. Hen-
ry Ladd was third mate. When
at China, several small boxes
were taken on board by the di-
rection of Mr. Ladd. There were
from 17 to 20, weighing about
50 pounds each: they looked like
sea boxes. Witness was called
out of his hammock by Mr. Ladd
to take them out of the Chinese
boat. This was between two and
three in the morning. One half
was carried into Mr. Creswell’s
cabin, and the other half into the
gun room, There was a bit of
tin on each corner of the boxes
put into the gun room. There
was an iron mark on the others.
Mr. Creswell was on board at
this time, but he did not appear
during the transaction. The ship
arrived in England in August
last ; when off Scilly, a pilot boat
came towards the ship, a small
boat was launched from her,
whichcame alongside the Thames,
and some men came on board
from it. Witness, by the desire
of the boatswain, went to call the
gunner; he passed Mr. Creswell’s
cabin, and saw some silks lying
on his table, which were taken

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

from a box standing on the floor:
The box looked like one of those
which witness took in at China.
The silks consisted of shawls and
handkerchiefs. Mr. Creswell,
Mr. Daniel, one of the mates,
and Mr. Ladd, were in the cabin,
as were the men who had come
on board, smugglers he believed
them to be; he saw these men in
conversation with Mr. Creswell,
and pay some bank notes, which
they laid on the table. After this
the men, six or seven in number,
took the silks and wrapped them
round their bodies and legs, un-
der their clothes, and went off.
There were still more silks re-
maining, and one of the men said
these were to be left till they
came back again for them. The
box from which the silks had been
taken, was sent to the. cook to
burn. Before the men went off
in the boat, four boxes were
brought upon deck, which were
the same witness took in at Chi-
na. The lid of one of the boxes
was loosed, and witness saw it con-
tain silks and shawls: he believ-
ed witness was ordered to put
them into the boat alongside.
The boat was then rowed off.
The boat came alongside in the
morning, and went away between
two and three in the afternoon.
George Lancaster, aseaman on
board the Thames, corroborated
the testimony of the last witness,
as to the smugglers coming on
board off Scilly, going down into
the cabin, and going away again
with the silk. The boxes put into
the boat might contain about six-
ty pieces each. The boat came
alongside at four in the afier-
noon.
William Eckloffstein was also-a
seaman on board the Thames:
was

APPENDIX TO CHRONICLE,

was with her at China; remem-
bered a Chinese boat coming
alongside with some boxes ; they
were taken on board by order of
Mr. Creswell; came to England
in the ship ; when she arrived off
the Land’s-end, a boat came
alongside, and some men came on
board, and went into Mr. Cres-
well’s cabin; he saw them there,
and saw some boxes of silk broke
open. Mr. Creswell was present.
Some silk shawls lay on the table ;
there were about 30 crape shawls,
20 silk shawls, and 12 pieces of
silk; saw another box broke
open, containing nankeen. The
silk articles were sold to the men
who came on board, and were
taken away round their bodies ;
the men also took four boxes in
the boat, one of which he saw
contained silk. This was at half-
past four o'clock in the evening.
About two hours afterwards ano-
ther hoat came alongside, con-
taining six persons. ‘Three of
them came on board, and also
went into Mr. Creswell’s cabin.
They inquired whether there were
any silks or nankeens to sell. Mr.
Creswell answered in the affir-
mative, and said they were very
good, but very dear. Witness
was called a little while after to
fetch a rope’s end, to hand seven
boxes, which were in Mr. Cres-
well’s cabin, out of the port.
Three of these contained silk,
two nankeen, and two tea.

Mr. Lock, surveyor of the Cus-
tom House, proved that silk In-
dia shawls were worth about 30s.
each, a crape shawl 20s. China
silk 3s. a yard. The value of a
box containing such things as had
been described might be 401.

The counsel on behalf of the de-
fendant called

307

Captain Richie, the comman-
der of the Thames. He recol-
lected the ship being off Scilly in
August; did not see any boat
come alongside; had such anh
event taken place, he must have
seen the boats. Mr. Creswell’s
cabin was near his in the ship;
he did not often go into it, but,
when he happened to go in, he
saw no particular articles which
excited his attention. The cabin
was of such a size as to put boxes
in it, but he thought they could
not be concealed from view.
Knew the first witness, Roche,
and recollected his being punish-
ed three times, and once for inso-
lence to Mr. Creswell. Did not
hear the insolence ; it was report-
ed to him.

Charles Paris was servant to
Mr. Creswell during the voyage
in question, and had constant ac-
cess to his cabin. Nothing could
have been concealed in Mr. Cres-
well’s cabin without his know-
ledge. Saw some boxes in the
cabin, containing silks he believ-
ed. This was after they left Chi-
na. These boxes continued on
board till the ship got to St. He-
lena, when witness took them on
shore, where they were left. Be-
lieved these were all the boxes of
silk in the cabin. He had no
boxes when the ship arrived off
the Land’s End; nor did witness
see any silks in his cabin at that
time, or any boats come along-
side.

On his cross-examination he
said, Mr. Creswell might have
smuggled without his know-
ledge.

Mr. John Drake, second mate
of the Thames, said, his cabin was
opposite Mr. Creswell’s. He was
in the habit of going into Mr.

2 Creswell’s

308 ANNUAL REGISTER,

Creswell's cabin daily, but never
saw any box there, except a small
packet of tea for his own use.
That was the only box he saw
there. Saw no boat come along-
side from the Land’s End.

The Lord Chief Baron having
summed up the case, the Jury
found a verdict for the crown.

The King, on the prosecution of
his Majesty’s Attorney General, v.
Basil Goode, Esq.—These were
cases of two distinct criminal in-
formations filed against the de-
fendant, at the instance of the
board of taxes, under the follow-
ing circumstances :—

Mr. Goode was appointed and
acted as assessor and collector of
the assessed taxes for Coventry,
for years prior and down to the
year 1806. Mr. Goode having
become an alderman and magis-
trate, and afterwards mayor of
Coventry, he from that time took
the oaths of qualification, and
continued to act as a commission-
er of the assessed taxes; and he
procured his father and a Mr.
Thomas Price to be appointed as-
gessors and collectors in his stead.
Mr. Basil Goode continued, how-
ever, in effect to execute the of-
fice of assessor and collector for
1807 and subsequent years, un-
‘der the appointment made to his
father, who did not interfere, and
he acted with Mr. Price to the
death of the latter, in 1S12.

Mr. Basil Goode, during all
this time, made out and signed
the assessments in the name of
his father, as assessor. He after-
wards signed and sealed their au-
thenticity in the character of
commissioner, and, as had been
his practice for former years, fll-

1816.

ed up the printed tickets or re-
ceipts, which Price delivered to
persons in exchange for their
taxes, Price paying over the mo-
ney weekly to the defendant, and
the defendant in general making
all payments, and settling the
collector’s accounts, with the re-
ceiver general.

Price having died deficient in
the collection, an extent was is-
sued against his estate in aid of
the inhabitants of Coventry ; and
in the investigation of his ac-
counts, and examination of the
printed tickets of receipts in the
hands of individuals who had paid
Price their taxes for the year 1809,
several instances were discovered
by the Crown agents in which
more money had been collected
by Mr. Price, on the authority of
Mr. Goode’s tickets, than was
charged by the assessments of
that year, or was included in the
parchment duplicates under the
seals of the commissioners, by
which the receiver-general col-
lected and accounted at the ex-
cliequer.

The Attorney-General accord-
ingly tiled an information against
the defendant for fraudulently
filling up the tickets, and causing
the money to be illegally collect-
ed by Price, and converted to the
use of the defendant and Price, or
one of them. The trial took place
at the Lent Assizes of 1815, and
the defendant was convicted.

The defendant afterwards ap-
plied to the Court of King’s
~Bench, and obtained an arder for
a new trial, principally under
doubts whether a memorandum
book kept between the defendant
and Price, which was referred to
on the former trial on the part of

the

- APPENDIX TO CHRONICLE.

the crown, but which did not ap-
pear to have been relied on as evi-
dence, did or did not influence
the jury in their verdict.

On the motion for the new trial,
considerable stress was laid for
the defendant, on the circum-
stance that the instances of the
alledged false tickets, which were
confined to the assessment of
1809, were only five, and that
the sums alleged to have been
fraudulently charged were incon-
siderable.

This latter occurrence led to a
further examination of the assess-
ments and accounts between the
defendant and Price, and it result-
ed in the discovery of several fur-
ther and like instances of fraud,
under similar tickets for taxes,
not only in the year 1809, but
also in the years 1806, 1807, and
1808, and the greater part of
these sums was traced into the de-
fendant’s hand. A second infor-
mation was accordingly filed by
the Attorney General, founded on
these new charges of long prac-
tice, to which the defendant plead-
ed not guilty, and both informa-
tions stood for trial at these as-
sizes. On the trial of the new
information, on the 4th instant,
which stood first on the paper,
and occupied nine hours, the
charges were fully established, and
the defendant was found guilty.

The Jearned Judge (Mr. Baron
Richards) animadverted, in strong
terms, on the improper conduct
of the defendant, in having uni-
ted the character of commissioner
with that of assessor and collec-
tor, which his Lordship con-

sidered to be not only illegal but

criminal; and his Lordship
observed, that the evidence in
support of the defendant's good

309

character could not weigh against
facts.

After the circumstances of the
case in the new trial of the first
information had been stated to
the jury on the following morn-
ing by the counsel for the crown,
the defendant pleaded guilty.

These prosecutions excited very
considerable interest throughout
the county, and the court was
crowded to excess.

Marginson v. Howard, — This
was a qui tam action for a breach
of the game laws. The defend-
ant was a carrier between Orm-
skirk and Liverpool. ‘The chief
witness against him was William
Wyberley, a surgeon at Orms-
kirk. On the 25th of August,
the defendant entered his house.
at 8 o’clock in the evening. He
had game in his pocket. Witness,
with a littleopposition from How-
ard, took out a partridge, and
gave it to his father. Howard
then goodnaturedly drew out
another, and gave it to witness,
saying ‘‘that will make you a
brace.” Another person of the
name of Nixon, who was present,
after a little struggle, took two
more from him. Howard said
the birds were given him, and
that he did not kill them himself.
Being cross-examined, the witness
allowed that Howard did not of-
fer them for sale—that the strug-
gle in which they were taken
from him was rather jocular than
serious—and that he never de-
manded payment for his game,
and never received any, though
the witness allowed that it was
delicious.

On this evidence the learned
Judge directed to find for the
plaintiff. Possession here was

not

310

not disputed, and possession by
every unqualified person without
lawful excuse was reckoned in
the eye of the law equivalent to
an exposure for sale. There was
no difference allowed by the sta-
tute. It was incumbent on the
person to show he came by game
innocently, otherwise he was lia-
ble to the penalty by the mere
circumstance of possessing it
without being duly qualified. The
penalty was 51. for every hare,
partridge, &c. Here there were
four birds. Verdict, 201. penalty,
with costs.

Field Preaching —At the gene-
ral Quarter Sessions, holden at
Wisbech, on the 17th of July
ult. a singular and novel ap-
peal came before the magis-
trates for their determination: in
which Robert Newstead, a preach-
er in the Methodist connexion,
was appellant, and the Rev. Al-
gernon Peyton, rector of Dod-
dington, and Thomas Orton, Esq.
two of his Majesty’s Justices for
the Isle of Ely, were respondents.
It appeared from the conviction,
and the evidence adduced in sup-
port of it, that the offence with
which Mr. Newstead stood charg-
ed was, the collecting together a
congregation or assembly of per-
sons, and preaching to them,
otherwise than according to the
liturgy and practice of the Church
of England, in a field which had
not been licensed. This was Mr.
Newstead's crime : it was for this
that the Rev. Rector of Dodding-
ton caused him to be apprehend-
ed; and that he and his brother
magistrate convicted him in the
utmost penalty which the Tolera-
tion Act imposes! Against the
legality of this conviction Mr.
Newstead appealed.

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

Richard Vince, servant to Mr.
Peyton, proved that he heard Mr.
Newstead preach in a field at
Doddington, on Sunday, the 7th
of April last; that he preached
contrary to the liturgy of the
church of England; and that
there were more than 20 persons
present. On his cross-examina~
tion, he admitted that he did not
know what it was he preached,
whether it were a prayer or a ser-
mon; it was something, but he
knew not what; and that he
knew he preached contrary to the
liturgy of the church of England,
because he had not the Prayer
Book in his hand.

John Lane, another of Mr.
Peyton’s servants, corroborated
the testimony of the last witness,
but he would not swear that there
were twenty persons present.

The Magistrates confirmed the
conviction, and hence Mr. New-
stead became liable to the penalty
of 301. or to three months impri-
sonment. A case was demanded,
on the part of Mr. Newstead, for
the opinion ofthe Court of King’s
Bench ; but the prosecutors hav-
ing proposed to abandon the pro-
secution, and engaged not to en-
force the penalties, the friends of
Mr. Newstead withdrew their ap-
plication, having obtained all they
could desire. The question of
right, however, between the rec-
tor and the preacher, remains un-
decided.

The King v. Thomas Houghton.
—The defendant, the governor of .
the house of correction for the
county of Lancaster, at Preston,
was indicted for a misdemeanour
in refusing to receive into his
custody Richard Bruton, who had
been convicted of a petty larceny

before

APPENDIX TO CHRONICLE.

before the magistrates of the bo-
rough of Liverpool, at the quarter
sessions, and who was sentenced
to an imprisonment of three
months. A verdict was taken for
‘the prosecution at the assizes,
subject to the opinion of the court,
upon a special case. This spe-
cial case set out various facts—
that the magistrates for the bo-
rough of Liverpool had from
time immemorial holden quarter
sessions of the peace, that until
1309 they had been in the prac-
tice of granting warrants for the
commitment of offenders to the
house of correction of the county
at Preston, and that this power
was first disputed in the year
1809 ; that the borough of Liver-
pool had immediately contributed
to the county rate for the main-
tenance and repair of the house of
correction ; and that its propor-
tion, which in 1809 was only 80l.
had since been augmented to 3001.
annually. The. question was,
whether the justices of the quar-
ter sesions of Liverpool had au-
thority to commit persons found
guilty of petty larceny to the
house of correction of the county,
or whether they ought to be im-
prisoned in the gaol of the bo-
rough.

Mr. Richardson, who was in
support of the verdict, contend-
ed, that if any difficulty upon the
subject previously existed, it had
been removed by the stat. 53d
Geo. III. c. 162. The question
had been argued in 1811, but the
court had not come to any deci-
sion, though two doubts were
mentioned by their Lordships :
First, Whether a court of session
could commit to a county house
of correction for the specific criine
of petty larceny? Second, Whe-

311

ther, supposing it had the power,
it could commit for any term less
than six months, and exceeding
two years. ‘These questions both
originated in the terms of the act
6 Anne c. 6., which referred only
to clergiable larcenies, and point-
ed out a limited period of confine-
ment. It was followed by 6
Geo. I. c. 19., which authorised
commitment toa place of confine-
ment in the county for vagrancy
and “ other small offences,”
among which, he argued, petty
larceny ought to be included.
The 15 Geo. II. was the next ma-
terial statute: it gave power to
justices of liberties, and corpora-
tions contributing to the county
rates, to commit to country gaols
generally ; and the 52 Geo. III,
c.44. enabled them to commit of-
fenders, if they thought fit, to some
place of confinement where the
prisoners were kept to hard
labour. He relied, however,
upon the 53 Geo. III. ¢. 162,
which gave any judge or jus-
tices authority, for grand or
petty larceny, to commit prisoners
to any lawful or convenient place ;
which words were to be restrain-
ed to the county in which the
crime was perpetrated.

Mr. Williams, on the other
side, went through the various
acts of parliament, contending
that none of them gave the power
here claimed, which could not ex-
ist without some positive enact-
ment, The only act which gave
authority to commit to the house
of correction, eo nomine, was the
6 Anne ec. 6, which, it was ad-
mitted, did not apply to the of-
fence of petty larceny: the 6
Geo. I. c.19, was equally out of
the question, because it related

merely

312

merely to offences of vagrancy,
bastardy, and offences of that
kind, not meaning by the words
“* other small offences”’ to include
larceny. The 15 Geo. II. only
respected imprisonments previous
to trial; and the 52 Geo. III.
spoke of commitments to hard la-
hour, but did not, as would have
been natural had it so intended,
notice houses of correction. As
to the 53 Geo. II]. ec. 162, on
which so much stress was laid on
the other side, he submitted that
it gave no authority to justices to
imprison in gaols not before re-
cognized, and a house of correc-
tion had not before been men-
tioned.

The Court was of opinion that
the terms of the last named act
decidedly gave a power to the
magistrates of the borough of
Liverpool to commit to the county
house of correction; for it gave
authority to imprison, in any place
the judge or justices should think
fit to appoint, for such time as
they should direct, for the crimes
expressly named, of grand and
petty larceny. In this case the
borough of Liverpool paid a part
of the expense of maintaining
the house of correction, and it
was reasonable it should derive
from it a part of the benefit.

The King v. Fowle and Another.
+-—March 19.—This was an indict-
ment for an assault against the
defendant Fowle, and one of his
men, he being. churchwarden of
the parish of St. Mary the Virgin,
at Sandwich, for turning the pro-
secutor out of a pewat church on
the 4th of June last.

The prosecutor of the indict-
nent Was a man of the name of

“

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

Basden, a gardener, at Sandwich,
and he stated that he was not a
parishioner of St. Mary, but had
been so formerly, but that for
many years-he had used a parti-
cular pew in the church of St.
Mary; that Fowle, one of the
defendants, was churchwarden of
St. Mary; that on Sunday the 4th
of June last, he was at church,
when the defendant Fowle came
to him, and said that he must not
sit in that pew, for that it was
wanted for another family; he
refused to go out unless he wa
compelled ; upon which the de-
fendant went away, and brought
with him two of hig workmen, he
being a brewer at Sandwich, who
came in their working dresses,
and seizing him by the collar,
dragged him out of the pew, and
along the aile until they got him
to the church door, and then they
thrust him out. On _ cross-ex-
amination he admitted that the
defendant had been with him be-
fore, and told him that the pew in
question was wanted for a Cap-
tain Warner, who had taken a
house in the town, which had
long been untenanted; that the
defendant had also offered him a
seat in his own pew, which was
opposite, but that he preferred
sitting in his old pew. He had
not been an inhabitant of the
parish for many years, and he
also admitted that he had gone to
church early that morning be-
cause he knew that Captain War-
ner had used that pew the Sun-
day before. ‘The defendant first
asked him if he would go out?
He said, no, unless he was com-
pelled to go by force. That the
defendant came with his two men
in their working dresses, one of
” them

~

APPENDIX TO CHRONICLE.

them with a constable’s staff, and
forced him out. In doing this
the congregation was much dis-
turbed, and several persons cried
out “‘ Shame.”

The statement of his being thus
forced out was confirmed by a
Mr. Stuart, a magistrate of the
place. :

Mr. Marryat, for the defen-
dant, contended, that the prose-
cutor, not being an inhabitant,
had no right to the pew in ques-
tion; that the rector and church-
wardens had a right to regulate
the seats in church, and because
the seat in question was wanted
for Captain Warner’s family who
had come to reside in the parish.
The prosectitor was told he could
not have the pew, but that he had
told the prosecutor he should he
accommodated in his own pew ;
but the old man obstinately per-
sisted in going to the disputed
ei and therefore the defendant

owle, as churchwarden, removed
him from the place.

Mr. Justice Bailey said, the
prosecutor had clearly no right to
intrude into that pew, but they
did wrong in removing him in
the indecent manner they did.
They should have locked the pew ;
and besides, if they had a right
to remove him from the pew, they
had no right to turn him out of
the church, which they had also
done. In this they had clearly
exceeded their authority, and
upon this ground alone there
must be a verdict against them.—
Verdict— Guilty.

Kingston, Wednesday, April 3.—
Mayhew vy. the Rev. J. Lock.—
This was an action for assault and
false imprisonment against a ma-
gistrate of this county,

S13

Mr. Serjeant Onslow stated the
particulars of the case. He said
that he was glad to see that the
defendant had made this cause #
special jury, because they would
judge temperately of the amount
of damages to be awarded against
a brother magistrate for an act of
tyrannical oppression. ‘The qnes-
tion of damages would be the
only one they had to consider, for
his conduct was clearly indefen-
sible at law. The plaintiff was
tithing man of Chart, in this
eounty, and on the 22d of Sep-
tember last he executed a warrant
of the defendant's, by taking a
persen in custody for some as-
sault, or other trivial offence. He
had to carry him to Farnham,
which was near nine miles from
his own home; and when before
the defendant, he asked to be al-
lowed something for his trouble.
This the defendant refused to al-
low him, upon which the plaintiff
said he would not execute any
more of his warrants. For this
offence alone—for this affrent to
the dignity of the defendant, he
immediately ordered him to be
committed to the cage, where he
was imprisoned the whole of the
night, and not released until the .
next morning. This, the Serjeant
said, was clearly an illegal act,
and beyond the magistrate’s
power. Admitting what the pri-
soner had said was a contempt of
the justice, yet none but a court
of record could commit for a con-
tempt, which a single justice
clearly was not. ‘The question,
therefore, which the jury would
alone have to consider was, what
damages they should give.

Mr. Shuter, the attorney, proved
serving the notice of action on the

defendant,

314

defendant, which was indorsed
D. Shuter.

T. Stucey, the constable at
Farnham, stated, that he recol-
lected the plaintiff bringing a man
in custody on the 22d of Septem-
ber last. It was late in the even-
ing, and the witness was called
up to take him into custody, as
the plaintiff wanted to return to
Chart. The parties in custody
made up their quarrel, and they
went before the magistrate, Dr.
Lock, to discharge the warrant.
The witness then applied to Dr.
Lock to allow him some reward
for being called out of his bed.
The doctor thought this reason-
able, and directed the parties to
give him twoshillings. ‘The plain-
tiff then said, he thought that he
ought to be allowed something
for bringing them six miles. The
magistrate said, no; it was his
duty ; he took the office to save
himself from the militia, and he
must take the disadvantages.
Upon this the plaintiff replied,
«* Then I will serve no more of
your warrants.’’ The magistrate
asked, ‘‘ What is that you say,
Mayhew ?” To which Mayhew
replied, ‘‘ Send no more of your
warrants to me, for I will not
serve them;” and added; in an
under tone, what the witness
thought was, “‘ serve them your-
self.” Upon this Dr. Lock or-
dered him to the cage imme-
diately. The witness told the
plaintiff he had never seen a ma-
gistrate so treated before.

Mr. Marryat, for the defendant,
took two objections; first, that
the act of parliament directed
the notice of action to be indorsed
with the attorney’s name, and ob-
jected that the letter.D. was no

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

christian name, and that Lord
Ellenborovgh had so ruled in
Kent last summer; second, that
the conduct of the plaintiff was a
contempt, and that the magis-
trate had a right to commit for a
contempt in the execution of his
duty.

The learned judge saved both
these points of law ; and the jury
found a verdict for the plaintif—
Damages 51.

Middlesex Sessions.—On Satur-
day, Sept, 21, George Vaughan,
Robert Mackay, and Geo. Brown,
were put to the bar, charged with
a conspiracy to induce William

.Hurley, Michael Hurley, William

Sanderson, William Wood, and
Dennis Hurley, to commit a bur
glary in the house of Mrs. M‘Do-
nald, at Hoxton. _There was also
a count in the indictment, charg-
ing the defendants generally with
conspiring to induce certain per-
sons to commit burglaries, that
they might afterwards obtain the
reward for their apprehension.
Mr. Gurney addressed the jury
on the part of the prosecution,
and observed, that had the open-
ing of his learned friend been the
first information which they had
heard of the case they had now to
try, it would still have been a
most important one: but in a
country like this, where it was
impossible that popular discussion
and popular feeling should not
exist, it became doubly impor-
tant ; and he had now to call on
the jury to divest their minds of
every impression which they
might previously have received,
and to enter into the present in-
vestigation coolly and dispassio-
nately, and to decide on the guilt
or

APPENDIX TO CHRONICLE.

or innocence of the prisoners on
the evidence which should be laid
before them. Having said thus
much, he should proceed to state
the case. It was necessary for
the peace and well-being of so-
ciety, that crime should be re-
pressed, and offenders apprehend-
ed; and to accomplish this ob-
ject, it was necessary that reward
and encouragement should be
given to those persons who risked
their personal safety, and fre-
quently even their lives, in the
’ discovery and apprehension of of-
fenders. The law had given re-
wards to such persons, and still
the country owed much to indi-
viduals who meritoriously per-
formed such services; but as
much merit attached to those who
well discharged this duty towards
the public, great in proportion
was the guilt of those, who, for
the sake of obtaining these re-
wards, should lay traps and throw
temptations in the way of others,
to induce them to commit crimes.
Such was the offence with which
he had to charge the prisoners at
the bar: and in proving his case
he should be obliged to have re-
course to evidence, which it would
be the duty of the jury to look to
with suspicion, and receive with
caution. The witnesses might,
perhaps, differ in some immiute-
rial facts ; but if they should agree
in the main points, and after be-
ing sifted and cross-examined it
should appear that there was no
reason to doubt the truth of their
testimony, he should submit that,
whatever might have been their
former associations or modes of
living, their evidence was not
therefore to be rejected on this
occasion. This transaction wag

315

brought to light in consequence
of five persons, named Wm. San-
derson, Wm. Ward, Wm. Hurley,
Jas. Hurley, and Dennis Hurley,
being.charged with a burglary in
the house of Mrs. M‘Donald, at
Hoxton; and on that occasion
Vaughan, whv was a patrole,
Mackay, who had been in the
employ of the City Police, and
Brown, the other defendant (what
he had been, he, Mr. G., could not
state), brought the prisoners up,
and Vaughan deposed as to the
facts of the burglary in question.
{Here Mr. Gurney read the de-
positions of Vaughan and the
other defendants, and continued. }
Had these depositions been all
that passed, the magistrate would
have completed his duty by com-
mitting the prisoners for trial;
but the prisoners, on being ques-
tioned, said they were taken to
the house of Mrs. M‘Donald by a
man they met at a public-house,
and went in with him, but took
nothing. Something here oc-
curred, either a look or a word,
he (Mr. G.) could not say what it
was, which excited suspicion in
the mind of Mr. Nares, the
magistrate, who turned to Vaug-
han, and observed, ‘‘ Vaughan,
you went to the spot at the time
the prisoners were committing
the burglary in consequence of
information you received; who
gave you that information ?”
Vaughan declined to say who
gave him the information, ob-
serving, that mentioning names
might be attended with danger to
individuals, and would operate to
prevent their receiving informa-
tion in future. This, and some
other circumstances, induced Mr.
Nares to commit the prisoners for

re-exami-

316

re-examination, that he might
have time to inquire more mi-
nutely info the circumstances of
the case. Mr. Gurney then, at
considerable length, detailed to
the Jury all the cireumstances, as
they came out on the different
examinations of the defendants
and Mrs. M‘Donald. The learned
counsel was also proceeding to
read the confession of Mackay,
when—

Mr. Arabin, for the defendants,
ebjected to the reading of this
document, and contended that it
could not be taken as evidence
against Vaughan.

The Chairman observed, that

dence against any other than him-
self.

Mr. Gurney resumed, and ob-
served, it was only as such that
he wished to read it. Mr. Gur-
ney then proceeded to read it, and
it was found particularly to relate
to the burglary at the house in
Gray's-inn-lane. It detailed dif-
ferent conversations between
Vaughan, Drake, and Hubbard ;
in one of which Vaughan under-
took to furnish Hubbard with a
crow-bar, skeleton keys, and
other necessary implements of
house-breaking ; and in another
conversation Vaughan was stated
to have said to Drake, “J am
told you can do a great deal ; can
you get two or three men to do
a crack?” Drake said he could ;
Vaughan said, “If he did, he
should have 51. after they were
committed.” his testimony
might be said to be that of a
party concerned. Some other
witnesses which he should have
to call, it might be said, bore the

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816,

same character ; but he had ano-
ther witness to call, a person of
the name of Edwards, a police
officer also, but one who, it would
appear from the testimony of all,
even of Vaughan himself, had
been admitted into the transaction
occasionally, to give it credit,
though he had never been in the
secret. With this corroborative
evidence, he was persuaded the
Jury would consider the case as
complete ; and if it should so ap-
pear to the jury, they would have
no other duty to perform but to
find the defendants guilty. 1t was
impossible to aggravate the case
by calling in the aid of fancy, or
by using any terms that our lan-
guage supplied. It disclosed an
attempt to commit murder by
inaking the law and the admi-
nistration of justice subservient
to so horrid a purpose. Nothing
could be said in palliation of such
an offence—nothing could be
pleaded in its favour to reduce
our indignation against it. He
way sure that no endeavour at
mitigation would be made by his
learned friend who was counsel
for one of the prisoners. He was
convinced he would allow the
enormity of the guilt, and would
draw an argument in favour of
his client’s innocence from that
very enormity, Admitting the
blackness of the transaction if
proved, his learned friend would
attempt to show, that there was
no man so devoid of every senti-
ment of humanity, of every feel-
ing of nature, as to have engaged
in it; in short, that the com-
mission of such guilt would infer
a monster who did not exist. But
if, by the evidence which he should
lay before the jury, this guilt was

established,

APPENDIX TO CHRONICLE.

established, he should have to re-
gret, that the law had not pro-
vided an adequate punishment,
and that it was impossible, in the
present circumstances, to indict
for a higher offence than the
charge against the prisoners con-
tained.

The examination of a number
of witnesses then followed, which
it is unnecessary here to copy.
After the case was closed on the
part of the crown,

Mr. Arabin addressed the jury
on the part of the defendant
Vaughan, and observed, at so
late a period of the day, he should
not attempt to follow his learned
friend through his opening; he
would only ailude to one or two
points which had fallen from
him; one of which was to join
with his learned friend in request-
ing that the jury would now di-
vest their minds of all prejudice,
and decide only on the evidence
before them. The next point was
this—his learned friend had said
he would not ask the jury to find
_ the defendants guilty, unless the
evidence of the five men, and that
of Drake, was corroborated by
the pure testimony of unconnect-
ed witnesses. Had the evidence
of that wretched and infamous
man been corroborated ? He was
ready to contend it had not ; and,
except his testimony, there was
not a tittle of evidence to affect
Vaughan. It was far from his
intention to deny that a conspiracy
did exist somewhere, and that
Drake was deeply implicated in
it: but, in his opinion, Vaughan
had had no concern whatever in
it; on the contrary, he was per-
suaded that Vaughan, as well as
Edwards, had been made the dupe

317

of Drake's arts, and that a desire
to do his duty towards the public
had led Vaughan into the error
into which he had fallen. With
respect to the confession of Mac-
kay, the jury would be told by
the Chairman, that nothmg con-
tained in that confession could be
taken as evidence against Vaug-
han. He should be able to call
the most respectable testimony as
to Vaughan’s character, and he
was convinced the jury would
hesitate before they would, on the
unsupported testimony of such a
witness as Drake, pronounce a
verdict of guilty against a young
man, which verdict must have the
effect of blasting all his future
prospects in life, and rendering
him infamous for ever.

Mr. Arabin then called Edw
Christian, Esq. Chief Justice of
Ely, who stated, that the pri-
soner, Vaughan, had been in: his
service as a clerk, and, up to the
time of this unfortunate trans-
action, he had always had the
highest cpinion of him.

Mr. Gurney shortly replied,
and the Chairman recapitulated
the evidence. The Jury, after a
minute’s deliberation, found all
the defendants guilty.

The Court immediately pro-
ceeded to pass sentence. The
Chairman commented, in impres-
sive terms, on the enormity of
the crime of which the defendants
had been found guilty, and sen-
tenced them to be imprisoned for
five years in the House of Cor-
rection, and at the expiration of
that time to find security for three
years, themselves in S01. and two
sureties in 401. each, The case
occupied the whole of the day,
from ten in the morning till seven

m

318

in the evening. The court was
crowded throughout the day, and
a full bench of Magistrates at-
tended.

.

Sligo.—Crown Court, Thursday,
March 2\.—The King v. Fentons.*
—On this day this very interest-
ing trial was proceeded in, when
the court was crowded to excess.

The prisoners, Thomas and
John Fenton, esqrs. were indict-
ed for the murder of John Hillas,
esq. by killing him in a duel.

Mr. Vandeleur, as counsel for
the crown, laid before the jury
the following statement of the
circumstances in which the pro-
secution had originated :—

Upon the 6th of last Decem-
ber, a vessel was cast ashore, by
stress of weather, upon the coast
of Tiveragh, near to the residence
of Major Hillas, who was an ac-
tive magistrate, and a young man
of the most humane disposition.
A Roman Catholic clergyman, of
the name of Burke, sent to inform
him of this unfortunate oceur-
rence. He immediately hastened
to the spot to discharge his duty
as a magistrate, and fulfil his na-
tural inclination asa man. The
captain, he found, had fallen over-
board ; and to his exertions during
the entire of a dark and stormy
night, the safety of the mate, and
of eleven of the crew, was chiefly
to be attributed. His object in
so acting resulted merely from
motives of humanity, and was far

“ The reason for inserting this trial -is
not because duels are rare events ; but be-
cause a example can scarcely elsewhere

be found, of the publicity and disregard to

all decorum with which they are carried on
in Ireland, and of the open preference
given to the laws of custom to those of the
lend in that unhappy country.

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

from originating in any pecuniary
consideration. While he was in
this laudable pursuit, Mr. John
Fenton, one of the prisoners,
came up, and interfered in a man-
ner which appeared to him not
to be very correct: an altercation
arose; and the result was Mr.
John Fenton's telling Major Hil-
las, ‘‘ that, if he interfered fur-
ther, he would throw him into
the sea.” He, however, conti-
nued his exertions from the 6th
to the 8th of December, on
which day the other prisoner,
Mr. Thomas Fenton, arrived with
a body of yeomen, and forced
the property out of his possession.
It was in vain that Major Hillas
remonstrated; it was in vain
that he declared his object was
not salvage, and that he was
only endeavouring to save as
much as possible from the wreck,
for the benefit of the owners.
Being in this manner frustrated
in his intentions, he made a jour-
ney to Scotland, where the owners
resided, in order to make them
acquainted with the circumstances
of their loss; and on his return,
Mr. John Fenton sent him a mes-
sage, which, however, was de-
clined, upon principles which,
he must say, appeared to him per-
fectly justifiable. Thus the mat-
ter rested until the 30th January,
when Major Hillas and Mr. Fen-
ton put in their respective claims
before Mr. Wynneand Mr. Irwin,
two magistrates who were ap-
pointed to investigate the matter.
Major Hillas disclaimed before
them having been actuated by
any pecuniary motives, and pro-
fessed that he came there merely
to have the rights of the respec-
tive parties clearly ascertained.
It was upon this occasion that the

circumstances

APPENDIX TO CHRONICLE.

circumstances arose in which the
diel originated. Major Hillas
complained that he had been
treated unhandsomely by Mr.
Thomas Fenton, who had inter-
fered unjustifiably, and, by taking
the mate out of his hands, se-
cured to himself in an unhand-
some manner the legal custody
of the vessel. Mr. Wynne and
Mr. Irwin investigated the trans-
action. In four days after the
investigation closed, Mr. John
Fenton delivered a message to
Major Hillas, in the name of Mr.
Thomas Fenton, the result of
which was fatal to Mr. Hillas.

The following witnesses were
then examined :—

James Moffat knew Major Hil-
las: he died by a pistol shot fired
by Thomas Fenton; he was on
the ground at Kilmacowen, in
the county of Sligo; was there
before the parties were placed on
the ground; saw the ground
measured; Fenton and Hillas
walked backwards and forwards
on it; they passed each other
twice; Fenton was first placed
on the ground, then Hillas took
his ground; thinks from about a
minute or two before Hillas was
placed on his; cannot say who
handed Fenton his pistol; when
he had it in his hand, John Fen-
ton came up and pushed in Thos.
Fenton’s arm, opposite to Hillas’s
hip, he then stood between him
and Hillas, who also had his pis-
tol; he stood immediately before
Thomas Fenton; he cannot say
how long before the word was
given, but he remained there
about ten seconds after; John
then stepped aside, across the
muzzle of Thomas Fenton's pistol ;
Mr, Jones did the same to-

319

towards Hillas ; he thinks he re-
tired a little before Fenton re-
tired ; after that they fired imme-
diately ; Fenton fired first, and
Hillas fell: the two shots went
off just as one might say ‘‘ one,
two.”’

On his cross-examination, he
said, when John pushed Thomas's
elbow, the effect was, that he
presented a less front to his an-
tagonist—it protected his body ;
after the ground was cleared,
both were at liberty to fire imme-
diately ; he saw Hillas before the
transaction ; he gave him a paper
to copy about ten days before ;
on reading it, he remarked, that
the language was very strong,
and calculated to irritate: Hillas
said, it was not strong enough for
such conduct, and that, if stronger
could be used, it ought to be in-
serted.

Dr. Armstrong is a professional
man, and attended the deceased
as such on the ground; he saw
Loftus Jones, the deceased, and
Capt. W. Ferrall, onthe ground; a
stone marked the spud where Hil-
las stood, another the spud where
Fenton stood ; when witness came
to the stone on Hillas’s side, he
moved it a little from a rising
ground, where it was, down to
the level ground; John Fenton
asked him why he did so; he ane
swered, because the place was
not level; when on their ground,
Hillas addressed the crowd; he
was not cei tain that Fenton heard
him; he said, ‘‘ I am sorry the
mistaken laws of honour oblige
me to come here to defend myself,
and I declare to God I have no ani-
mosity to any man or woman on the
face of the earth;"’ John stood
before Thomas, he moved his

hand

320

hand a little up anddown; Jones
stood opposite Hillas, they each
moved away.

On his cross-examination he
said, that he is connected by blood
and marriage with the deceased ;
Captain Ferrall was friend to Hil-
las ; there was no better judge of
the laws of honour ; believes Fer-
rall tossed up for the choice of
the ground, and won it; Hillas
was dressed in black ; when he
threw off his frock, he had on a
black waistcoat with black sleeves
to it; he saw Hillas at Captain
Soden's house shortly before the
duel, and asked was it possible
for any friend to bring about a
reconciliation? Hillas said not,
and that he would not make any
apology while his heart beat in
his bosom; he heard that before
the duel lie said he would insult
either Thomas Fenton or one of
his family ; there was such a re-
port in the country, but he did
not hear him say ¢o.

Loftus Jones, esq.—He was
present when a message was de-
livered to Hillas by John Fenton
jin the name of ‘Thomas. The
message was to fight a duel; he
was present at the duel; he
was not on the ground exactly
when Fenton arrived; he was
walking with Hillas; not sure
who was first there, but he ac-
companied Hillas; he was 15 or
16 yards from the Fentons ; he
saw the ground measured, and
stepped out the nine paces him-
self, at Captain Ferrall’s request,
who was lame; he saw them both
take their ground; Fenton was
on his ground about a minute
before Hillas took his; he had
his eye,on Fenton; saw him
squaring himself to fight; John
Fenton was with his friend, and

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

put his pistol in his hand, and
shoved him round; Fenton got
his pistol before Hillas, because
Captain Ferrall was a lame man,
infirm, and between 70 and 80
years old ; Hillas declared he had
no animosity ; Fenton might have
heard him, as he was within seven
or eight yards of him; John Fen-
ton was behind him first, and
then he shifted before him; he
heard no word given; but sup-
poses Ferrali gave it, as he won
the toss, ‘‘ as we callit.’”’ John
Fenton remained in front of
Thomas about a minute. Wit-
ness was much agitated ; he does
not think there was half a second
between the shots ; could not say
how soon Thomas fired after John
went from before him.

On being cross-examined, he
said he was an advising friend to
Hillas, so was Mr. Taaffe ; Cap-
tain Ferrall was his acting friend ;
they were all practitioners. When
Fenton squared himself, he made
Hillas square himself also; after
the message, Hillas was in wit-
ness’s house: he made arrange-
ments for the duel there: he pre-
pared his pistols there: tried
them: there was a vast number
of shots fired: Hillas fired two
shots out of witness's pistols at a
tree, as a mark: he was dressed
in black on the ground, and had
black sleeves put on his waistcoat
after the message was delivered,
no doubt with a view to the duel.

John Armstrong was on the
ground, and deseribed the trans-
action in a manner similar to the
preceding witness. He believed
it to be the duty of a friend to
square his friend on the ground,
so as to place him as advantage-
gusly as possible—John Penton
did nothing more to his friend.

Lobert

APPENDIX TO CHRONICLE.

Robert Ormsby was present at
the wreck ; there was an alterca-
tion between John Fenton and
the deceased: John Fenton tureat-
ened to throw the deceased down
the rock ; Hillas was a great
means of saving the crew: he

heard Fenton say, ‘‘G—d damn-

you;" there were warm words
on the subject of the wreck—he
heard that the mate, on whom
the care of the vessel devolved,
gave it up into Mr. Fenton's
charge, and he saw the writing
hy which it was conveyed to him;
he hea:d Mr. Fenton had remain-
ed all night upon a rock on the
shore, endeavouring to give all
the assistance in his power. He
saw Major Hillas at Mr. Jones's
house on the day before the duel,
and saw them preparing the pis-
tols, and Hillas practising at a
board, and firing: Hilas fired
but a few shots only to try his
pistols.

Mr. Wynne was one of the ma-
gistrates who sat on the investi-
gation of the salvage claims; Co-
Lonel Irwin sat along with him ;
Mr. Hillas remained all the time
of the investigation; he used very
warm expressions to Mr. Thomas
Fenton; he stated his own case,
and alleged that the mate was
unwarrantably taken out of his
hands by Mr. Thomas Fenton ;
his words were very strony: he
recollected his concluding bv say -
ing, ‘‘ that the mate was taken,
he might say, stolen from him ;”’
the mayistrates interrupted him :
his belief was, that he meant to
apply the expression to Mr.
Thomas Fenton: as a magistrate
he wished to put a stop to the
proceeding.

Mr. Whitestone, counsel for
Vor. LYIII.

$21

the prisoners, said, he would call
but one witness.

Doctor Carter was at the duel ;
he proposed an apology to Mr.
Ferrall to be made by Major Hil-
las ; the apology he proposed was
for him to say, that ‘‘ the expres -
sion which he used relative to
Mr Fenton, were spoken in heat,
and net founded in fact, and he
was sorry for them.” This was
objected to. Ductor Carter then
proposed to expunge the words
*€ not founded in fuet,”” but Cap-
tain Ferrall would not suffer any
apology. Hillas was attended by
three men, all very competent to
advise him on sucha subject ; but
Captain Ferrall was particularly
so.

On being cross-examined, he
said, there was no written apo-
logy required from Major Hillas;
he did not know whether Mr.
Michael Fenton, the prisoner
Thomas's father, was skillel in
duelling ; but he was «uite sure
that Mr. John Fento: , his veeond,
was quite inexp rienced, anu he
believed Thomas never sent a
message before.

The case here closed on the
part of the prisoners ; and Judge
Fletcher proceeded to charge the
Jury: he said that he had an ar-
duous duty to discharge, but that
there was no exception in a case
of this kind; and he was bound
to tell them, that where in a dwel
death ensues, it is murder—mur-
der as well in the principal as in
the second. Here one of the se-
conds was the cousin, and the
other (Mr. Ferrall), though not
indicted, was equally culpable.
No matter whether the duel was
fair or foul, usual or not; the
law recognised no shades of dis.

i tinction ;

322

tinction ; and he was obliged to
tell them, that if two people went
out with mortal weapons to fight,
and if a death ensue, it was mur-
der. It was his painful duty to
tell them so; but in such a case
nothing could be innocent, unless
where two men, wearing, as for-
merly, swords, had a sudden ren-
contre; if deathensued, it wasonly
manslaughter ; but even there, if
a previous message had been de-
livered, it was murder. As to
the discussion whether this was a
fair duel or not, it was for them,
having thus laid down the law to
them, to consider. He had told
them, if they acted legally, how
they should find, but he could not
pretend to be ignorant of what
his experience had taught him ;
and he must say, in the melan-
choly course of his professional
experience, he had never seen less
deviation or corroboration in the
witnesses, or less to induce them
to suppose that a fairer duel
was ever fought. On the part of
the unfortunate deceased, there
even appeared to be some attempt
_ at display ; he made a speech be-
fore the magistrates ; he made a
speech before the crowd—there
seemed even some stage-trick in
his proceedings; and he could
not help remarking it to them,
though he must at the same-time
greatly regret that so very -wor-
thy and excellent a young man,
as he appeared to be, had met
with so untimely an end. It was
proved, also, that the deceased
not only wore a black dress, but
had prepared black sleeves to his
waistcoat ; what effect black had
in such a case he did not know,
but it at least showed a purpose
on the part of the deceased. He

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

had, perhaps, entangled himself
on this subject more than he
ought, but he had previously done
his duty, by informing them what
the law was ; and he had in ad-
dition to tell them, that they could
find no intermediate verdict be-
tween an acquittal or murder.

The Jury retired, and in a few
minutes returned a verdict of—
Not Guilty as to both the pri-
soners.

Judge Fletcher then addressed
the young gentlemen in a very
impressive admonitory address as
to the awful situation in which
they were placed, and ordered
them to be immediately dis-
charged.

Lancaster Assizes, September—
Susannah Holroyd was put to the
bar, charged with three murders ;
with the wilful murder of her
husband, at Ashton-under-Line,
by administering poison to him
on the 15th day of April, of which
he died on the 18th; as also with
the murder of her own son, a boy
of eight years of age, by the same
means; and of Ann Newton, an
infant of about 15 weeks old, by
the same means, and on the same
occasion.

Mr. Cross, Counsel for the

prosecution, stated the law ap- _

plicable to this case to the jury,
and gave an outline of the evi-
dence by which the charge was
supported. The deceased, Mat-
thew Holroyd, followed the trade
of a weaver, and had the misfor-
tune not to live on good terms
with his wife, the prisoner at the
bar, by whom he had three chil-
dren, the last of whom was men-
tioned in the present indictment.
The prisoner was in the habit of

nursing

APPENDIX TO CHRONICLE.

nursing illegitimate children, one
of whom likewise she was now
charged with murdering. About
a month before she exercised this
unrelenting cruelty, she had a
very extraordinary conversation
with the mother of this infant,
who resided in the house with
her. She told Mary Newton that
she had had her fortune read, and
that in the course of one week,
and within six weeks from the
period on which she was speak-
ing, three funerals would go
from her door. One of the des-
tined victims was her husband,
another her son, and the third
the child of the person to whom
she was addressing herself,
She did not delay her purpose,
however, till the six weeks of
the fortune-teller had expired;
for in about a month afterwards
she went to a chymist’s shop and
purchased an ounce and a half of
arsenic, to fulfil the prophecy.
This happened on Saturday, the
13th of April, or Easter-eve.
Next morning her husband had
somé coffee for his breakfast, and
soon after became ill. To restore
him, she prepared him some water
gruel, and in it she mixed the
poison. The wretched man im-
mediately felt that the gruel had
an uncommon taste, and refused
at first to drink it ; but she urged
him so strongly, by telling him
that “it was the last gruel she ever

would prepare him,” that he com- .

plied with her entreaties, not
knowing the enigma hid under
these expressions. As he grew
worse, she called in medical as-
sistance, the better to allay suspi-
cion, and was entrusted by the
medical man with remedies to be
adininistered ; but she refused to

323

administer them, saying, it was
of no use, for “ her husband
would die.” After the death of
the deceased, the prisoner was
taken into custody, and before
the Coroner made a full confes-
sion of the murder, which, as it
was signed by her, would be given
in evidence. There were two
counts in the indictment respect-
ing Matthew Holroyd: the first
charged the prisoner with petty
treason, in making an attempt on
the life of her husband; the se-
cond with administering poison,
of which he died. It was neces-
sary to have these two, as on ene
occasion, where the latter was
omitted, and the former could
not be proved, the Judge felt
himself obliged to direct the party
to be acquitted, though there was
no doubt that the deceased died
by poison.

John Taylor, achymist at Ash-
ton-under-Line, proved, that he
sold an ounce and a half of arse-
nic (or mercury, as the common
people call it) to the prisoner, for
destroying rats and mice; that
he refused at first to sell any, un-
less the prisoner would bring a
neighbour along with her, to
vouch for the purpose for which
it was to be applied; and that,
upon such attestation, he sold the
quantity in question.

Mary Newton had lodged with
the prisoner for ten or eleven
weeks previous to the murders,
and had her child, Ann Newton,
about fifteen weeks old, in the
house with her. She remembered
Matthew Holroyd becoming ill on
the 14th of April, and he com-
plained of a fire or burning pain
in his stomach. His son sickened
about the same time. When his

Y 2 wife

$24

wife gave him the gruel, the wit-
ness heard him say, ‘‘ Susy, you
have put pepper in this gruel ;”
which she denied, and he per-
sisted in declaring. She threat-
ened him with cooking no more
for him while he lived, if he did
net drink it. He died on the
Friday morning at six o'clock,
after a week of severe agony ;
and his son survived him only
six hours. ‘The child of the wit-
ness, which was under the care
of the prisoner when witness went
out to work, died on the Tues-
day at six o'clock in the evening,
with violent retchings, convul-
sions, and vomiting, like the hus-
band and son of the prisoner.
This witness recounted the story
of the fortune-telling, as stated
above. There were no rats or
mice in the house to justify the
purchase of arsenic.

John Swindels, who practises
medicine at Ashton-under-Line,
deposed, that he was sent for by
the prisoner to her husband ; that
he complained of violent pains in
the stomach; that he gave him
an emetic, which relieved him a
little; but that he gave over his
visits when the prisoner refused
to administer his prescriptions.

Jonathan Hague, clerk to Mr.
Gibbon, an attorney at Ashton-
under-Line, stated a confession
that the prisoner made to him
when in custody after her appre-
hension for the murders.

Samuel Newton, a constable,
presented to the Court the con-
fession of the prisoner before the
Coroner, stating, that no threat,
promise, or allurement was held
out to her to induce her to make
it; but that, on the contrary,
she was warned not to criminate

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

herself, and told that every thing
she said might be givem in evi-
dence against her on her trial.
The confession was read, and ac-
knowledyed the murder in the
most unreserved manner.

Thomas Ogden, a surgeon at
Ashton, was called at the inquisi-
tion taken on the body. He ex-
amined the stomach, which was
infamed nearly over its whole
extent, and in one place the in-
flammation had amounted to gan-
grene. ‘There was a quantity of
fluid on the stomach, which he
analyzed, and in the analysis de-
tected arsenic. He had no doubt
that inflammation was the cause
of the death, and the arsenic the
cause of the inflammation.

The Judge summed up this evi-
dence, which seemed very clear,
and the Jury returned a verdict
of— Guilty.

The Judge immediately pro-
nounced the awful sentence of
the law, that Susannah Holroyd,
being convicted of so atrocious a
crime, should be hanged on Mon-
day, and her body given for dis-
section. The prisoner, who had
continued during the whole of
her trial apparently insensible to
her awful situation, and had even
heard the word guilty without be-
traying any symptoms of emotion,
seemed impressed with the so-
lemn formalities and moving ad-
dress that accompanied the deli-
very of her sentence. The sym-
pathy of the numerous crowd that
attended this trial was powerfully
turned against the prisoner, not
only from the natural horror felt
at the crime for which she was
doomed to suffer, but from a very
general belief that, in her occu-
pation of nursing illegitimate enti

yen

APPENDIX TO CHRONICLE.

dren (who are of course fre-
quently neglected by their natural
guardians), she had murdered at
differ-nt times several infants, in
the same manner as she had lately
done her husband and the two
other victims of her unprovoked
malice.

Old Bailey, Monday, April 8.
—George Barnett was put to the
bar, standing charged with shoot-
ing a certain pistol loaded with
powder and shot at Frances Maria
Kelly on the 17th of February
last, with intent her to kill and
murder. The second count charg-
ed him with shooting at her with
intent to do her some bodily
harm. There were two other
counts, varying the charge ; and
a fifth count, charging him in
like manner with shooting at Ed-
ward Knight.

Mr. Nathan Harris deposed,
that he is a jeweller. On the
evening of the 17th of February,
he was in the pit of Drury-lane
Theatre, about the eighth row.
He saw the prisoner about two
rows before him, who stood up
during the performance of the
farce. Miss Kelly and Mr. Knight
were on the stage at the moment,
enbracing each other, in the cha-
racters of Nan and Joey, in the
firee of Tne Merry Mourners.
After they had parted, Miss Kelly
was retreiting backwards towards
the stige-door, when witness
observed the prisoner standing
above all the people around him,
with his right hand pointing
slinting toward; the spot where
Miss Kelly was standing. Wit-
ness saw a tiash come from his
hand, and heard the report of a
pistol: witness reached acroés to

325

him instantly, and seized him,
when he said, ‘I am not the
man who fired it; don't take
me.’ Witness said, he was sure
he was the man. At this time
the prisoner had dropped the pistol,
Witness had seen the wadding
drop at the moment of the flash.
The prisoner was then secured,
taken out of the theatre, and
searched. In his pocket was
found a small block-tin case full
of gunpowder. Witness did not
stop longer, the crowd was so
great. ;

Cross-examined.—T he distance
from the prisoner to Miss Kelly
was very great. The prisoner
seemed much agitated. He went
quietly from the pit, and said
nothing.

Mr. Birnie deposed that he
took the depositions against the
prisoner. He put a question to
the prisoner: tle answer was
not taken in writing. Witness
cautioned the prisoner against
saying any thing to criminate
himself. Witness asked him how
he came to fire a pistol in a pub-
lie theatre. He said it- was to
make an alarm. Witness then
asked him how he came to point
it so. His answer was, ‘‘She
can explain.’ He did not men-
tion Miss Kelly’s name, but her
name had been mentioned, and
that of no other female.

Cross-examined.— Could not
form any judginent of the pri-
soner’s sanity. ‘There was asort
of gloominess in his eyes.

Mr. Rorer went to the theatre
to ascertain the direction of the
shot, and found marks of shot
(very small) on the lamps on the
stage dour, near which Miss Kelly
had been standing. He found

sume

326

some shot in the orchestra, as if
they had struck against the boards
and fallen down. Those which
struck the door had left a mark
two feet nine inches from the
floor. The shot found in the or-
chestra, and ix the prisoner’s
pocket, were the same size.

Mr. E. Knight was perform-
ing at Drury-lane theatre on the
night in question. Remembered
the discharge of the pistol. Miss
Kelly was on the stage at the
same time with him, on _ his
right hand. Saw the flash of
the pistol, which came from his
left ; did not see who fired the
pistol. Thought he heard the
rattling of shot against the or-
chestra.

Cross-examined.—Neither he
nor Miss Kelly received the slight-
est injury.

Miss Kelly was now sworn,
evidently under great embarrass-
ment, and much affected. On
the night in question she was
performing at Drury-lane theatre ;
saw a light, and at the same mo-
ment heard what she supposed to
be a detonating ball. Had not
the least acquaintance with the
prisoner to her knowledge ; had
never seen him before that period,
nor till this day. [The prisoner
was observed to smile, and look
earnestly towards Miss Kelly. ]

Cross-examined.—Received two
letters signed with the prisoner's
name. Never answered them, or
took the slightest notice of them,
except to a friend, The letters
were then put in.

John Baker was in attendance
at Drury-lane Theatre on the
17th of February ; saw Mr. Tay-
lor produce the pistol now put
in ; it appeared to have been re-

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

cently discharged. (The pistol
was of the same size used by Bel-
lingham, about six inches long.)
While conveying the prisoner to
Tothill-fields, he asked him how
he could think of doing so rash
an act—was it his intention to
shoot Miss Kelly? The prisoner
answered—“‘ I tell you the pistol
was not loaded with either ball or
slugs.’ He admitted his inten-
tion was to shoot at Miss Kelly.

Cross-examined.—Saw the pri-
soner on theMonday following
at Tothill-fields. He said he was
not sorry for what he had done,
and made a sort of a laugh.

Samuel Dickons accompanied
the last witness in taking the pri-
soner to Tothill-fields. The pri-
soner said he intended to kill Miss
Kelly, in answer to a question
from Baker, Baker then asked
why he intended this? The pri-
soner answered, ‘‘ She knows
very well what it’s for.”

Here the evidence closed, when
the letters produced by Mis Kelly
were read.

Mr. Dowling now announced
his intention to call evidence to
prove the insanity of the prisoner.

The prisoner, on being asked
by Mr. Baron Wood, said, he had
nothing to say in his defence.

John Crockets had married the
prisoner’s mother, ‘The prisoner,
when a boy, was always reserved
and gloomy ; he would not play
with other boys. At times he
was very queer, and at his meals
would burst out a laughing with-
out reason. He was apprenticed
to a law-stationer ; he went down
to Seven-Oaks, in Kent, as clerk
to an attorney ; he had not been
long there, when witness was
sent for by his master to bring

him

APPENDIX TO CHRONICLE.

him away, from the bad state of
his mind. When he went down,
he found him standing in the
front of a gentleman's house,
bowing: he had great difficulty
in getting him away. About a
fortnight after, the prisoner went
to Yarmouth; he returned in five
weeks, and went to work with
Mr. Norcroft, a law-stationer.
He went to several other places,
but was always low and melan-
choly. Three or four days before
this transaction he was particu-
larly low. He burst out into a
‘laugh, and on being asked what
he did so for, he said he hada
thought in his head.

On cross-examination, the wit-
ness said, he never had put the
prisoner in confinement, or had
medical advice for him. He was
harmless.

Mrs. Crockett, mother of the
prisoner, said he was the son of
Mr. Barnett, who was a waiter
at the Piazza coffee-house. She
remembered his return from
Seven Oaks. He seemed very ill,
melancholy, and low-spirited.
The last week before this affair,
he appeared very uneasy and very
uncomfortable. On Saturday the
17th of March, the day on which
he committed the act, he was par-
ticularly uneasy. She remember-
ed his firing a pistol in the yard
on that day. She did not see
much of his mind the few days
before Saturday. She knew he
was going to the play on Satur-
day. She never knew of his
having a pistol till the day in
question. He was very unsettled
in his mind.

Mr. Noreroft, a law-stationer,
with whom the prisoner had
worked for a year, deposed, that

327

in -his opinion his close appliea-
tion to business had injured his
health. Witness recommended
him to Mr. Claridge at Seven
Oaks, who wrote to him soon
afterwards, complaining of the
prisoner’s state of mind. Witness
sent his father for him. He was
correct in business till a day or
two before the offence with which
he was charged. He then ap-
peared in a very disturbed state
of mind.

Mr. Riordan, also a law-sta-
tioner, spoke to the disturbed
state of the prisoner’s mind.

Mr. Claridge was at Seven Oaks
when the prisoner was in his fa-
ther’s employment. He once ob-
served the prisoner standing op-
posite a gentleman’s house at
Seven Oaks, gazing earnestly at
the windows. He was surround-
ed by a mob, who were mocking
him. This was in July 1813.
He was satisfied the prisoner was
not then in his right mind. In
talking of theatricals, he said he
could play better than Mr. Kean,
and was often incoherent in his
manner,

The lady with whom the pri-
soner lodged at Seven Oaks also
spoke to the circumstance alluded
to by the last witness. He some-
times sat in church with his hat
on, and, in fact, conducted him-
self in an insane manner.

Mrs. Mary Haggerty lived in
Castle-street, Holborn ; the pri-
soner lodged with her. She knew
the prisoner. Once, when one
of her children was dying, she
asked him what he thought of it?
He went to the sofa on which the
child lay, and, after looking at
it earnestly, laughed in her face,
and quitted the room. He often

danced

$28

danced all night in his room, and
was guilty of such extravagances,
that it was her firm belief he was
insane.

Mr. John Want, a surgeon,
thought the prisoner insane.

Mr. Baron Wood proceeded to
sum up the evidence. With re-
spect to the letters which had
been read, he said that they bore
evident symptoms of insanity.

The jury found the prisoner
Not Guilty, on the ground of in-
sanity.

Horse Guards, November 18.—
At a General Court-Martial held
at Cambruy, in France, on the
23d of September, 1816, and
continued by adjournments to the
26th of the same month, Lieu-
tenant the Honourable Augustus
Stanhope, of the 12th regiment
of Light Dragoons, was arraign-
ed upon the undermentioned
charge, viz :—

“Fer behaving in a scandalous,
infamous manner, such as is un-
becoming the character of an offi-
cer and a gentleman, in conspir-
ing with a certain other person,
to draw in and seduce Lord Beau-
champ to game and play with
them, for the purposes of gain and
advantage ; and that, in pursu-
ance of such conspiracy, he,
Lieutenant Stanhope, (having en-
gaged Lord Beauchamp to come
to his quarters in Paris, on Sun-
day the 17th day of March, 1816,
upon an invitation to dine with
him), did, in company and in
concert with such other person,
draw in, seduce, and prevail upon
Lord Bear: champ to play with
them at a certain game of chance
with cards, for very high stakes,
whereby, on an account kept by

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

them, Lieut. Stanhope and the
said other person, or one of them,
of the losses and gains in the
course of the play, he, Lieut. Stan-
hope, claimed to have won of
Tord Beauchamp the sum of
8,000]. and upwards, and the said
other person claimed to have won
of Lord Beauchamp the further
sum of 7,000]. and upwards.

«« That in further pursuance of
the said concert and conspiracy,
he, Lord Beauchamp, at the same
time and place, was required by
Lieut. Stanhope to write and sign
two promissory notes or engage-
ments to pay at the expiration of
three years the said several sums
of money so claimed to have been
won of him, Lord Beauchamp,
by Lieut. Stanhope and the said
other person respectively.

“That he, Lord Beauchamp,
was at that time about 16 years
of age, ignorant of and unused
to play, and affected by the wine
he had been prevailed upon to
take by the parties.”

Upon which charge the Court
came to the following decision :—
«The Court having maturely and
deliberately considered the charge
exhibited against Lieutenant the
Hon. Augustus Stahope, of the
12th regiment of Light Dragoons,
together with the evidence pro-
duced on either side, do find him
guilty of the said charge, and do
sentence him, Lieut. Stanhope,
to be discharged his Maje-ty’s
service accordi: gly.’ His Royal
Highness the Prince Regent has
been pleased, in the name and on
the behalf of his Majesty, to ap-
prove and confirm the finding and
sentence of the Court: and the
Commander-in- Chief directs, that
the foregoing charge, preferred

against

APPENDIX TO CHRONICLE.

against the Hon. Augustus Stan-
hope, ofthe 12th Light Dragoons,
together with the finding and
sentence of the Court, shall be
entered in the general order book,
and read at the head of every regi-
ment in his Majesty's service.
By command of his Royal High-
ness the Commander-in-chief.
Harry Catvert, Adj.-Gen.

Trial of Major-Gen. Sir Robert
Thomas Wilson, Michael Bruce, Esq.
and Captain John Hely Hutchinson,
for aiding and assisting in the es-
cape of General Lavalette.

Althofigh the trial under the
above title took place in France,
its remarkable nature, and the
country of the persons interested
in it, appear to give it a just claim
for adinission into the part of our
work destined to the record of
memorable occurrences in this
class.

Of these gentlemen, the first
has rendered himself conspicuous
by the vigour of his military ser-
vices, and by his account of the
Egyptian campaign under Gene-
ral Abercrombie, (in which he
brought a heavy charge of cruelty
against Buonaparte), and_ his
work on the Military Force of the
British Empire. He was at this
time out of active service. The
second was a private person visit-
ing Paris; the third a British of-
ficer, with his regiment quartered
in that capital. The following
narrative of the escape of Lava-
lette, is extracted from a letter
written by Sir Robert Wilson to
Earl Grey in England, and ac-
knowledged by himself.

The plan agreed upon was, that
Lavalette, who, after having suc-
ceeded, on Deceimber 20th, in

329

getting out of prison disguised in
his wife’s clothes, lay concealed
in Paris, should put on an Eng-
lish uniform, and be conducted
by Sir R. Wilson beyond the bar-
riers in an English cabriolet,
which should carry him to Com-
piegne, whither an officer named
Elliston should bring Wilson's
own carriage : into this they were
to enter, and to pass through
Cambray to Mons. For the exe-
cution of this design, passports
were procured from Sir Charles
Stuart, at the request and upon
the responsibility of Sir R. Wil-
son, for a fictitious general and
colonel, which were duly coun-
tersigned ; and Elliston having
obtained them, hired, post-horses
for the carriage of the supposi-
titious colonel, and tock for him
an apartment and a coach-house
at an hotel. Bruce procured La-
valette’s measure, which Huteh-
ison gave to a tailor for provid-
ing a great-coat, waistcoat, and
pantaloons ; and it was determin-
ed that on the evening of Sunday,
January 9th, Lavalette should be
removed to Hutchinson's lodgings,
in order to be taken up there on
the next morning. At the hour
appointed, Wilson, Bruce, and
Elliston having repaired to Hutch-
inson’s apartments, Lavalette was
introduced by a person who had
conducred him, but did not enter
the room. The fugitive was
dressed in a blue uniforra, and
disguised in such a manner that
he might piss without remark
among Englishmen. He appear-
ed greatly moved; but thar he
might not give vent to his senti-
ments of gratitude, Wilson and

Flliston withdrew.
On the following morning, at
haif

-

330 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

half-past seven, Wilson was at
Hutchinson's door with his ca-
briolet, in which the fugitive was
soon seated, Hutchinson accom-
panying them on horseback, and
they passed the barrier of Clichy
with little observation. Lavalette
having very marked features,
some alarm was excited at La
Chapelle, where they changed
horses, by four gendarmes, who
hovered about them ; but Hutch-
inson gave answers to their ques-
tions which satisfied them. They
passed other gendarmes who had
bills containing a description of
Lavalette, which had been disper-
sed throughout France. Some
grey hairs appearing from under
his brown wig as they were ap-
proaching Compeigne, Wilson
with a pair of scissars acted as
his friseur. In that town they
were conducted to a retired quar-
ter, where they waited till the
carriage from Paris arrived with
Elliston. Wilson caused the lamps
to be lighted, that they might ap-
pear without apprehensions, and
having taken leave of their friends,
they set out well armed ; prepar-
ed to resist in case they should
experience any obstacle. Though
much questioned at the stations
for relays, they were not detain-
ed, till they reached Cambray,
when they were kept three hours
at the gate through the fault of
the English guard. In passing
Valenciennes they were three
times strictly examined ; and un-
derwent another and last exami-
nation at some distance from that
garrison. They safely eached
Mons to dinner; and after Sir
R. Wilson had made all suitable
arrangements for the fugitive’s
further journey, he took his leave,

and returned by a different route
to Paris, after an absence of six-
ty hours.

From the official account pub-
lished by the French government,
it appears, that the first proposal
of assisting in saving Lavalette
was made to Mr. Bruce on Janu-
ary 2d or 3d, when a person
brought him an anonymous let-
ter, acquainting him that Lava-
lette was. still in Paris, saying
that he (Bruce) alone could save
him, and requesting an answer
on the subject. ‘This was sent ;
and of all that followed, Sir R.
Wilson was entirely ignorant, till
he was informed of the matter by
Bruce, who prevailed upén lim
to contribute his efforts to effect
the escape of Lavalette. Captain
Hutchinson was associated in the
same project. These gentlemen
were influenced partly by com-
miseration of the unfortunate in-
dividual, and partly by their poli-
tical sentiments. Of those of
Wilson, conclusions were drawn
from the correspondence between
himself and his brother Edward
in London, of which the French
governinent obtained possession.

The letter to Lord Grey, from
which the preceding narrative is
drawn, being intercepted by the
police, occasioned the arrest of the
three gentlemen who are the sub-
jects of this trial. Sir Charles
Stuart, the British ambassador,
being informed of this cireum-
stance, wrote a note on the same
day, January 13th, to the Duke
de Richelieu, intimating, that as
he had repeatedly manifested his
determination to extend his pro-
tection to no person whose con-
duct endangered the safety of that
government, he should have been

flattered

APPENDIX TO CHRONICLE.

flattered by a communication of
the motives for such a proceeding
against the individuals in ques-
tion. The Duke, on the same
day, not as an answer, wrote a
note to Sir Charles Stuart, en-
closing a letter from the minister
of police, which stated that Sir R,
Wilson, Mr. Bruce, and another
person, were accused of having
favoured the escape of Lavalette ;
adding, that their trial was going
to commence, but thatthey would
fully enjoy all the facilities af-
forded by the French laws for
their justification.

On that and four subsequent
days Sir Robert Wilson was sub-
mitted to interrogatories from
commissioners of the police,
which he refused to answer, and
on the 17th he was removed to
the prison of la Force. Interro-
gatories were also put to Messrs.
Bruce and Hutchinson, who were
removed to the same prison. In
the subsequent examinations, the
share taken by these gentlemen
in the escape of Lavalette from
France was freely admitted, as
indeed it was rendered undeni-
able by Sir R. Wilson's intercep-
ted letter to Lord Grey; but the
charge of conspiring against the
French government, which was
deduced from expressions in this
letter and other seized papers, was
strenuously disavowed and refu-
ted

The prisoners having demand-
ed to be released on bail, an ordon-
nance of the chamber of council
was made on January 30th,
which pronounced that there was
no ground at present for deter-
mining upon the said demand.
This produced a memorial from
these gentlemen, in which an ap-

331

peal is maintained against the or-
donnance on the legal argument
that the title of the accusation in-
dicated only correctional and not
criminal penalties, and therefore
did not exclude bail. Of this no
notice was taken. They after-
wards made an application for the
communication to their counsel of
the papers connected with the
trial, which was refused in con-:
formity with the law; and they
were transferred to the Concier-
gerie.

The result of the examinations
and inquiries was, that the Tri-
bunal of First Instance charged
Wilson with a plot directed gene-
rally against the political system of
Europe, with the particular ob-
ject of changing the French go-
vernment, and exciting the people
to take up arms against the
king’s authority ; also with effect-
ing the escape of Lavalette.
Hutchinson and Bruce were charg-
ed only with being his accomplices
in thelatter action. The Court, en-
titled the Chamber of Accusation,
after its deliberations, published
an arret, in which it was declared
that upon due consideration of the
documents produced, it not ap-
pearing that sufficient evidence
existed against the three persons
accused, of a plot against the
French government and the royal
authority, there was no ground of
accusation in that respect; but
that there resulted from the docu-
ments a sufficient charge of their
being accessary to the conceal-
ment and escape of Lavalette. In
consequence, the chamber com-
mitted to the Court of Assize of the
Department of the Seine the trial
of the prisoners for these offences.
Some Frenchmen were implica-

ted

338

ted in the same charge; but their
trial does not belong to the pre-
sent narrative. It may, however,
be remarked, that the wife of La-
valette was entirely discharged
fron prosecution.

The Assize Court sat on April
22, when the trial of the three
Knglish prisoners, which attracted
a very numerous auditory, amon
whom were many English gen-
tlemen ana ladies, commenced at
eleven o'clock. The president
wis M Romain de Seze, son of
the person honourably distinguish-
el by his defence of Louis XVI.
M. Hua, advovate-general, acted
as public prosecutor. The advo-
cite for the prisoners was M. Du-
pin. Sir R. Wilson appeared in
grand uniform, decorated with
seven or eight orders of different
European States, oue of which
was the cordon of the Russian or-
der of St. Anne. Capt. Hutehin-
son wore the uniform of his mi-
litary rank. When the accused
were called upon to vive their
names and qualities, Mr. Bruce
sail with energy, ‘ I am an Eny-
lish citizen.” The president ob-
served, that though relying on
their correct knowledge of the
French language, they did not
ask for an interpreter, yet the
luw of France willed that the ac-
cused should not be deprived of
aay means of facilitating their
jistification, een when unclaim-
e ; M. Robert was accordingly
nived and sworn to tha’ office.

Mr. Bruce, speaking in F: ench,
then said. that although he and
his countrvinen had submitted to
the law of Franee, they had not
lost he privilege of invoking the
law cfiations. Its principle was
reciprocity ; and as in Kngland
French culprits enjoyed the iight

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

of demanding a jury composed of
half foreigners, it appeared to
them that the same right, or fa-
vour, could not be refused to them
in France. The decision of se-
veral eminent lawyers of their
own nation had strengthened
them in this opinion; but the
justice which had been rendered’
them by the Chamber of Accusa-
tion, in acquitting them of one
charge, had determined them to
renounce this right, and they
abandoned themselves without re-
serve to a jury entirely composed
of Frenchmen. That, however,
no precedent might be drawn
from their case against such of
their countrymen who might here-
after be in the same situation,
they had made a special declara-
tion of the purpose of their re-
nunciation.

M. Dupin moving the court
that this declaration mizht be en-
tered on the record, the Advocate-
general expressed his astonish-
ment at a claim in France, for an
offence committed in France, of
the p ivieges of a foreign legis-
lature, and opposed entering the
declaration. After some arguing
on the subject, the court pro-
nounced the following decision :
*€ Because every offence commit-
ted ‘na territory is an object of
jurisdiction, and because the ex-
ception demanded by the prison-
ers is not allowed by any con-
struction of the criminal code of
France, the court declares that
there is no ground for recording,
at the request of the English
prisoners, the declaration now
made by them; the court there-
fore orders the trial to proceed.”

The arret of the aet of accusa-
tion drawn up by the procureur-
general was then read, which

took

APPENDIX TO CHRONICLE.

took up more than two hours.
The Advocate-general then briefly
recapitulated the facts in the in-
dictment, distinguishing them as
they applied to the different pri-
soners; and remarked that the
chamber had remitted to the three
Englishmen the charge of having
conspired against the legitimate
government of France. After the
interrogatories of some of the
other prisoners, the president ad-
dressed) himself to Mr. Bruce.
To the question, whether it was
not to him that the first overture
was made of the plan of trans-
porting Lavalette out of France ;
he replied, ‘‘ If possible 1 would
have effected his escape alone;
for 1 could not repulse a man
who had put his life into my
hands. I, however, obtained his
consent to confide his secret to
one of my friends. 1 spoke to
one friend, who gave mea charge
to another. I will not name
these friends; they will name
themselves.’ Captain Mutchin-
son then declared it was himself
who received Lavalette at his
house previously to his escape,
and escorted him on horseback ;
and Sir R. Wilson took upon him-
self the whole measures adopted
for his escape, and acknowledged
all the facts related in the act of
accusation. ‘This open confession
_ rendered supertiuous with res-
pect to them the testimony of any
Witnesses; the appearance of
Madame Lavalette was, however,
too interesting to be passed over.
At her entrance a general mur-
mur of feeling or curiosity was
heard, and the three gentlemen
saluted her with a profound bow.
Overpowered by her emotions,

333

she was scarcely able to articu=
late; at length, being told by the
president that she was summoned
only on account of some of the
accused, who had invoked her
testimony, she said, ‘‘ 1 declare
that the persons who have cul ed
me contributed in no respect to
the escape of M. Lavalette (mean-
ing from prison) : no one was in
my confidence; I alone did the
whole.” Being desired to say
whether she had ever seen or
known the English gentlemen,
she looked at them for a moment,
and declared that she had never

known nor before seen them.
After the examination of the
witnesses, the -advocate-general
made his address to the court.
When he came to the agency of
the three Englishmen in the
offence which was the subject of
the trial, he particularly directed
the attention of his auditors to
the point of the asylum given to
the culprit before his departure
from Paris, and that given upon
the road, in a house at Com-
peigne, which, in the language
of the laws, constituted what is
called a recelé. ‘The simple fact,
said he, of concealing a con-
demned criminal is of itself a
crime: and he quoted Blackstone
to shew that it is regarded as
such not less in England than in
France. his authority, how-
ever, he cited only in tee cha-
racter of written reason, for it
was sufficiently understood that
there are no other laws in exer-
cise regarding crimes committed
in France, than French laws. On
this idea he somewhit enlarged
by way of stricture upon Sir kh.
Wilson's reference to the judicial
forms

334

forms of England. Touching
upon the head of accusation, by
which the three culprits were
charged with being accomplices
in concealing Lavalette knowing
that he was condemned to die,
and asa consequence, that they
facilitated and consummated his
escape, he said, he must here anti-
cipate a dispute about words. It
would be alleged, that the escape
was the act of issuing from
prison, which was consummated
when he was on the outside of
the gates ; wherefore it was false
to charge them with facilitating
and consummating a thing al-
ready done. But the fact con-
stituting the crime was the con-
cealment, and it did not signify
whether it did or did not aid the
escape ; for had he been retaken
in the place which served as his
asylum, the person who had pro-
cured it for him would not have
been the less guilty. Art. 248 of
the penal code declares guilty
those who have concealed or
caused to be concealed. The na-
ture of the facts in this case was
such, that there was a moral cer-
tainty, that those who concerted
to get Lavalette out of France,
also came to an understanding as
to the mode of its accomplish-
ment the moment his escape from
prison took place. It has not
been asserted that they had any
communication with the first asy-
lum in which he was secreted ;

it was sufficient that they pro-

vided him with an intermediate
asylum; and by his passing the
night there, this became the place
of concealment. A person may
conceal a man either in his own
house, or in that of another ;

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

ra

hence the law speaks of conceal-
ing or causing to be concealed.
He who procures the asylum,
who has made arrangements for
procuring it, who facilitates his —
entrance into it, are all abettors
and accomplices in this species of
crime. The advocate-general then
applied these principles to the
facts acknowledged by the three
prisoners, and endeavoured to in-
clude them all equally in ihe crime
of concealment, (le recelé), which
was the essence of the accusation. |
On a subsequent audience,
April 24th, M. Dupin opened his
defence of the English gentlemen.
In the exordium, taking notice
of Sir R. Wilson’s resistance to
the first interrogatories, he im-
puted it solely to ignorance of
the French laws. ‘‘ But (said
he) the moment he had commu-
nicated with his ambassador, what
frankness, what good faith, in all
that was personal to himself!
and his two friends acted a simi-
lar part.” He proceeded to re-
mark on some serious errors,
which had crept into the transla-
tion of Wilson's and his brother’s
letters, and which had called forth
severe animadversions from the
advocate-general ; and the inter-
preter was directed by the presi-
dent to amend the translation,
when the advocate-general de-
clared that he abandoned all the
deductions which might be drawn
from this correspondence. M.
Dupin then made some apolo-
getical observations on the poli-
tical sentiments disclosed in the
letters; and proceeded to a pane-
gyrical explanation of those hie-
roglyphics of honour which Sir R.
Wilson wore on his breast, in
which

APPENDIX TO CHRONICLE.

which he introduced letters of
acknowledgment for his services
from the emperor Alexander, the
king of Prussia, and prince Met-
ternich. Coming to the principal
legal point of the case, he reduced
it to the two propositions, 1.
There was no act of complicity be-
tween the accused persons and
the principal culprit: 2. The fact
imputed to them cannot be con-
sidered as a crime, nor as an
offence. As the arguments em-
ployed to support them were
little more than legal sophisms,
it is unnecessary to recite them.
The pleading concluded with a
particular recommendation of the
accused to the court as strangers
and Englishmen.

The proceedings having closed,
Sir RK. Wilson rose, and with
a dignified confidence delivered
a speech, of which the conclusion
cannot be thought too long for
quotation. Having acknowledged
that he had been interested in the
fate of Lavalette on political
grounds, he declared that such
considerations had a very inferior
influence on his determination.
“The appeal (said he) made toour
humanity, to our personal cha-
racter, and to our national gene-
rosity; the responsibility thrown
upon us of instantly deciding on
the life or death of an unfortu-
nate man, and above all, of an
unfortunate stranger—this ap-
peal was imperative, and did not
permit us to calculate his other
claims to our good will. At its
voice we should have done as
much for an obscure unknown
individual, or even for an enemy
who had fallen into misfortune.
Perhaps we were imprudent ; but
we would rather incur that re-

335

proach than the one we should
have merited by basely abandon-
ing him, who, full of confidence,
threw himself into our arms:
and these very men who have ca-
lumniated us, without knowing
either the motives or the details
of our conduct—these very men,
1 say, would have been the first
to stigmatize us as_ heartless
cowards, if, by our refusal to
save M. Lavalette, we had aban-
doned him to certain death. We
resign ourselves with security to
the decision of the jury; and if
you should condemn us for having
contravened your positive laws,
we shall not at least have to re-
proach ourselves for having vio-
lated the eternal laws of morality
and humanity.”

This address, we are told, pro-
duced a strong’ impression, and
the respect due to the majesty of
justice would scarcely prevent the
open expression of it.

Mr. Bruce pronounced a speech
of the same general tenor in
animated language, and with a
firm and manly tone. ‘ Gentle-
men (he concluded,) I have con-
fessed to you, with all frankness
and honour, the whole truth with
respect to the part which I took
in the escape of M. Lavalette ;
and notwithstanding the respect
which I entertain for the majesty
of the laws, notwithstanding the
respect I owe to this tribunal, I
cannot be wanting in the respect
I owe to myself so far as to affirm
that I feel not the least compunc-
tion for what] havedone. I leave
you, Gentlemen, to decide upon
my fate, and I implore nothing
but justice.”’

The president then concisely
summed up the evidence, and

gave

336

gave a charge with great impar-
tiality, and with the eloquence
commonly studied at the French
bar. The jury then retired to
deliberate, and in about two hours
returned with a verdict of Guilty
avainst Messrs. Wilson, Bruce,
and Hutchinson.

The president then read the

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

article of the penal code appli-
cable to the convicts, in which
the punishment prescribed was
imprisonment for a term not ex-
ceeding two years, nor less than
three months; and without hesi-
tation he pronounced for the
shortest allowable term.

PUBLIC

APPENDIX TO CHRONICLE.

337

PUBLIC GENERAL ACTS,

Passed in the Fourth Session of the Fifth Parliament of the United King-
dom of Great Britain and Ireland.—56 GEO. II.—

Filed DE

Aw act to revive and continue,
until the 25th of March 1818,
several laws relating to the duties
on glass made in Great Britain.

An act to revive and further
continue, until the 25th of March
1817, an act of the 7th of George
2d, for the free importation of
cochineal and indigo.

An act for continuing to his
Majesty certain duties on malt,
sugar, tobacco, and snuff, in
Great Britain; and on pensions,
offices, and personal estates, in
England ; for the service of the
year 1816.

An act for raising the sum of
eleven millions, by exchequer bills,
for the service of Great Britain,
for the year 1816.

An act to extend the powers of
an act of the 37th of his present
Majesty, for enabling his Majesty
more effectually to grant condi-
tional pardons to persons under
sentence of naval courts-martial,
and to regulate imprisonment
under such sentences.

An act to continue, until the
5th of July 1816, an act of the
54th of his present Majesty, for
explaining and amending several
acts relating to spiritual persons
holding of farms, and for enforcing
the residence of such persons on
their benefices in England.

An act to continue, until the
Vou. LVI.

1816.

5th of April 1818, and amend an
act of the 48th of his present
Majesty, for empowering the go-
vernor and company of the bank
of England, to advance the sum
of three millions towards the
supply for the service of the year
1808.

An act to continue, until the
5th of July 1817, an act of the
49th of his present Majesty, for
regulating the trade and com-
merce to and from the Cape of
Good Hope. :

An act for charging certain
duties on foreign packets or pas-
sage-vessels entering or depart-
ing any of the ports of Great
Britain.

An act for punishng mutiny
and desertion; and for the better
payment of the army and their
quarters.

Anact for the regulating of his
Majesty’s royal marine force while
on shore.

An act for exhibiting a bill in
this present Parliament, for na-
turalizing his serene highness
Leopold George Frederick duke
of Saxe, margrave of Meissen,
landgrave of Thuringuen, prince
of Cobourg of Saalfeld.

An act for the naturalization of
his serene highness LeopoldGeorge
Frederick duke of Saxe, mar-
grave of Meissen, landgrave of

4 Thuringuen,

338

Thuringuen, prince of Cobourg
of Saalfeld; and settling his pre-
cedence.

An act for empowering the
governor and company of the
bank of England, to advance the
sum of six millions, towards the
supply for the service of the year
1816.

An act to carry into effect a
convention of commerce, con-
cluded between his Majesty and
the United States of America. |

An act for better regulating
the offices of receivers of crown
rents.

An act to continue, until the
5th of July 1821, certain addi-
tional duties of excise in Great
Britain. ,

An act to suspend, until the
5th April 1820, the duty on lead
exported from Great Britain.

An act to continue, until the
5th of July 1816, an act of the
47th of his present Majesty, for
granting an additional bounty on
double refined sugar exported.

An act to make further provi-
sion for the execution of the se-
veral acts relating to the revenues,
matters and things, under the
management of the commissioners
of customs and port duties, and
of the commissioners of inland
excise and taxes in Ireland.

An act to revive and continue,
until two years after the expira-
tion of the restrictions upon pay-
ments in cash by the bank of
England, an act for suspending
the operation of an act of the 17th
of his present Majesty, for re-
straining the negociation of pro-
missory notes and bills of ex-
change under a limited sum, in
England,

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

An act for the more effectually
detaining in custody Napoleon
Buonaparté.

An act for regulating the in-
tercourse with the island of St.
Helena, during the time Napo-
leon Buonaparté shall be detained
there; and for indemnifying per-
sons in the cases therein men-
tioned.

An act for better enabling his
Majesty to make provision for the
establishment of her royal high-
ness the princess Charlotte Au-
gusta, and his serene highness
Leopold George Frederick duke
of Saxe, margrave of Meissen,
landgrave of Thuringuen, prince
of Cobourg of Saalfeld.

An act. for charging certain
duties on the importation of
butter.

An act for charging certain
duties on the importation of
cheese,

An act to amend several laws
relative to the transportation of
offenders; to continue in force
until the Ist of May 1921.

An act to enable the commis-
sioners of his Majesty’s treasury
to issue exchequer bills, on the
credit of such aids or supplies as
haye been or shall be granted by
parliament for the service of
Great Britain, for the year 1816.

An act to make perpetual cer-
tain temporary or war duties of
customs, on the importation into
Great Britain of goods, wares,
and merchandize, and to repeal
so much of several acts passed in
the 47th, 49th, and 5lst of the
reign of his present Majesty, as
charge any loans made for the
service of the years 1807, 1809,
and 1811, upon the war duties of

customs

APPENDIX TO CHRONICLE.

customs or excise, and to charge
such loans on the duties of cus-
toms made perpetual.

An act for indemnifying the
commissioners of excise in Scot-
land, and all persons who may
have acted under their authority,
in relation to certain orders is-
sued and things done relative to
certain acts regarding the distil-
leries in Scotland.

An act for transferring all con-
tracts and securities entered into
with or given to the commis-
sioners for transports, to the
commissioners of the navy and
victualling.

An act for fixing the rates of
subsistence to be paid to inn-
keepers and others on quartering
soldiers.

An act to indemnify such per-
sons in the united kingdom as
have omitted to qualify themselves
for offices and employments, and
for extending the time limited for
those purposes respectively, until
the 25th of March 1817; and to
permit such persons in Great Bri-
tain as have omitted to make and
file affidavits of the execution of
indentures of clerks to attornies
and solicitors to make and file the
same on or before the Ist day of
Hilary Term 1817.

An act to charge an additional
duty on corks, ready made, im-
ported into Great Britain.

An act for the more speedy and
effectual collection of the tonnage
duty upon ships inwards; for
empowering the Lords of the
treasury to regulate the hours of
officers attendance in the port of
London; and for permitting ships
to commence and complete their
loading of coals before the deli-
very of the fitters certificates,

839

An act to repeal two acts passed
in the reigns of Edward 4th and
Richard 3rd, which prohibit the
importation of wrought goods
and certain other articles.

An act to permit the importa-
tion of prunes the produce of
Germany.

An act to empower his Majesty
to suspend the ballot or enrol-
ment for the local militia.

An act to reduce the number
of days of muster or exercise of
yeomanry and volunteer cavalry.

An act for the further conti-
nuing, until the 5th of July 1818,
an act of the 44th of his present
majesty, to continue the restric-
tions contained in the several acts
of his present majesty, on pay-
ments ‘of cash by the bank of
England. —

An act for raising the sum of
2,470,0001. Irish currency, by
treasury bills, for the service of
Ireland, for the year 1816.

An act for raising the sum of
1,700,0001. British currency, by
treasury bills, for the service of
Ireland, for the year 1816.

An act for making certain al-
lowances of the duties payable on
malt and beer.

An act to repeal the duties, al-
lowances, and drawbacks of ex-
cise, on hard soap made in Great
britain, and imported from Ire-
land; and to grant other duties,
allowances, and drawbacks in lieu
thereof.

An act for defraying the charge
of the pay and clothing of the
local militia in Great Britain, to
the 25th of March 1817.

An act for the better regula-
tion of the civil list.

An act for raising the sum of
1,200,0001, Irish currency, by

Ze treasury

-

340

treasury bills, for the service of
Treland, for the year 1816.

An act to continue, until three
months after the ceasing of any
restriction imposed on the bank
of England from issuing cash in
payment, the several acts for con-
firming and continuing the re-
strictions on payments in cash by
the bank of Ireland.

An act to explain and amend
an act, passed in the last session
of parliament, for the more easy
assessing, collecting, and levying
of county rates.

An act to regulate the sale of
farming stock taken in execu-
tion.

An act to amend an act passed
in the present session of parlia-
ment, entitled ‘ An Act to carry
into Effect a Convention of Com-
merce concluded between his Ma-
jesty and the United States of
America.’

An act to amend and render
more effectual an act passed in
the last session of parliament, for
enabling spiritual persons to ex-
change their parsonage houses or
glebe lands, and for other pur-
poses therein mentioned

An act to amend and render
more effectual three several acts
passed in the 48th, 49th, and
52d of his present majesty, for
enabling the commissioners for
the reduction of the national debt
to grant life annuities

An act for raising the sum of
13,000,0001. by exchequer bills,
for the service of Great Britain,
for the year 1816.

An act to amend an act of the
parliament of Ireland, in the 40th
of his present majesty’s reign, for
granting the sum of 900,000l,
for promoting inland navigation,

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

and for other purposes therein
mentioned; and to enlarge the
powers vested in the directors of
all works relating to inland navi-
gation in Ireland.

An act to repeal the several
stamp duties in Ireland, and also
several acts for the collection and
management of the said duties,
and to grant new stamp duties in
lieu thereof; and to make more
effectual regulations for collecting
and managing the said duties.

An act to grant certain rates,
duties, and taxes in Ireland, in
respect of fire hearths, windows,
male servants, horses, carriages,
and dogs, in lieu of former rates,
duties, and taxes; and to provide
for the more effectual collection
of the said rates, duties, and
taxes. '

An act to repeal an act made
in the 5lst of his present ma-
jesty, for allowing the manufac-
ture and use of a liquor prepared
from sugar for colouring porter.

An act to reduce the duty of ex-
cise on salt made in Ireland, and
certain countervailing duties and
drawbacks in respect thereof.

An act to authorize the trans-
ferring stock upon which dividends
shall remain unclaimed for the
space of at least ten years at the
bank of England, and also all
lottery prizes or benefits, and
balances of sums issued for pay-
ing the principals of stecks or
annuities, which shall not have
been demanded for the same pe-
riod, to the commissioners for
the reduction of the national
debt.

An act for granting to his ma-
jesty a sum of money to be raised
by lotteries,

An act for erecting a ner =

or

APPENDIX TO CHRONICLE.

for ships to the eastward of Dun-
leary, within the port of Dublin.

An act to regulate the general
penitentiary for convicts, at Mill-
bank, in the county of Middlesex.

An act to repeal several acts re-
lating to the militia of Great Bri-
tain, and to amend other acts re-
lating thereto.

An act to explain and amend
the acts for granting duties on
the profits arising from property,
professions, trades, and offices,
so far as extend to the due assess-
ment and collection of the duties
for past years; for confirming
certain abatements already made
of the said duties, and exempting
collectors bonds from the stamp
duties.

An act for reducing the duties
payable on horses, used for the
purposes therein mentioned, for
two years ; and for repealing the
acts granting allowances in re-
spect of children.

An act to enable such officers,
mariners, and soldiers, as have
been in the land or sea service,
or in the marines, or in the mi-
litia, or any corps of fencible

_ men, since the 42d of his present

Majesty’s reign, toexercise trades.

An act to provide for a new
silver coinage, and to regulate
the currency of the gold and silver
coin of this realm.

An act to continue, until the
25th of March 19818, two acts of
the 54th of his present majesty,
for repealing the duties of cus-
toms on madder imported into
Great Britain, and for granting
other duties in lieu thereof.

An act to alter and amend se-
veral acts relating to the redemp-
tion of the national debt of Ire-

34)

land, and to make further provi-
sion in respect thereof.

An act to amend an act of the
5ist of his present majesty’s
reign, for discharging certain
arrears of quit, crown, and com-
position rents in Ireland.

An act to continue and amend
so much of an act of the 43d of
his present majesty’s reign, for
authorizing the billetting and
subjecting to military discipline
certain yeomanry corps, and offi-
cers of cavalry or infantry, as
relates to such corps in Ireland.

An act for removing difficulties
in the conviction of offenders
stealing property from mines.

An act for the purchase of
certain lands, tenements, and
hereditaments at Sheerness and
Chatham, in the county of Kent,
for the use of the navy.

An act to repeal the duties of
customs upon the importation in-
to the United Kingdom of rape
seed and cole seed, and to grant
other duties in lieu thereof.

An act for repealing the several
bounties on the exportation of re-
fined sugar, from any part of the
united kingdom, and for allowing
other bounties in lieu thereof, un-
til the 5th day of July 1818.

An act to repeal certain duties
granted by an act passed in the
last session of parliament, for re-
pealing the provisions of former
acts granting exclusive privileges
of trade to the South Sea Com-
pany.

An act for the better regulating
and securing the collection of the
duties on paper in Ireland, and to
prevent frauds therein.

An act for repealing the duties
of customs on rape seed cakes,

linseed

542

linseed cakes, bones of cattle and
other animals, and of tish, ex-
cept whale fins, imported into
Great Britain; and for granting
other duties in lieu thereof.

_An act to enable the principal
officers and commissioners of his
Majesty’s navy resident on foreign
stations to grant certificates of
stores or goods, which may be
sold by such officers or commis-
sioners at such foreign stations:

An act to alter the period during
which manufacturers of oil of
vitriol are to deliver in their ac-
counts.

An act to render valid the judi-
cial acts of surrogates of vice-ad-
miralty courts abroad, during. va-
cancies in offices of judges of such
courts.

An act for regulating nee carry-
ing of passengers to and from the
island of Newfoundland and coast
of Labrador.

An act for the better accom-
modation of his majesty’s packets
within the harbour of Holyhead,
in the island of Anglesea; and
for the better regulation of the
shipping therein. »

-An act to make further regula-
tions for securing the collection
of the duties of customs and ex-
cise in Ireland, and for the im-
portation into Ireland of Ameri-
can staves, and of old plate and
books from Great Britain,

An act for establishing regula-
tions respecting aliens arriving in
or resident in this kingdom, in
certain cases, for two years from
the passing of this act, and until
the end of the session of parlia-
ment in which the said two years
shall expire, if parliament. shall
be then sitting.

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

An act to regulate proceedings
of grand juries in Ireland, upon
bills of Indictment.

An act to amend the law of
Ireland, respecting the recovery
of tenements from absconding,
overholding, and defaulting te-
nants ; and for the protection of
the tenant from undue distress.

An act to provide for the charge
of certain additions to the public

debt of Ireland, for the service of) -

the year 1816.
An act to defray the charge of
the pay, clothing, and contingent

‘expenses of the disembodied mi-

litia in Great Britain, and of
the miners of Cornwall and De-
von; and for granting allow-
ances, in certain cases, to subal-
tern officers, adjutants, surgeons
mates, and serjeant-majors . of
militia, until the 25th of March
1817.

An act to regulate the trade of
the colonies of Demerara, Ber-
bice, and Essequibo: to allow
the importation into, and expor-
tation from, such colonies, of
certain articles, by Dutch pro-
prietors of the European domi-
nions of his majesty the King of
the Netherlands; and to repeal
an act of the 54th of his present
majesty, for permitting a, trade
between the United Provinces
and certain colonies in his ma-
jesty’s possession.

An act to enable his majesty to
authorize the exportation of the
machinery necessary for erecting
a mint in the united states of
America.

An act for enabling the officers
of the customs at creeks, har-
bours, and basins of Great Bri-
tain, to take entries of ships and

goods

ee

APPENDIX TO CHRONICLE.

goods arriving from and bound
to Ireland.

An act to allow makers of oxy-
genated muriatic acid, to take
crushed rock salt, duty free, for
making such acid, or oxymuriate
of lime for bleaching linen and
cotton.

An act to authorize such per-
son as his Majesty shall appoint
to transfer a certain sum in three
pounds per cent. reduced annui-
ties, now standing in the name of
the dissolved college of Hertford,
in the university of Oxford; and
also to receive dividends due upon
such annuities.

An act for establishing an
agreement with the governor and
company of the bank of England
for advancing the sum of three
millions, for the service of the
year 1816.

An act to authorize the ad-
vancing, for the public service, a
proportion of the balance that
shall remain from time to time
in the Bank of England, for the
payment of dividends on account
of the public debt, for lottery
prizes or benefits not claimed,
and principals of stocks and an-
nuities remaining unclaimed.

An act to unite and consolidate
into one fund all the public re-
venues of Great Britain and Ive-
land, and to provide for the ap-
plication thereof to the general
service of the United Kingdom.

An act to vest the Elgin col-
lection of ancient marbles and
sculpture in the trustees of the
British Museum for the use of
the public.

An act for more effectually se-
curing the liberty of the subject.

An act for enabling the officers
in his Majesty’s navy, and their

343

representatives, to draw for and
receive their half-pay, and for
transferring the duty of making
certain payments from the clerks
of the cheque at his Majesty’s
dock-yards to’ the clerks of the
treasurer of the navy at the same
yards.

~ An act to amend the act of the
53d of his present Majesty, en-
titled, ‘ An Act for the Relief of
Insolvent Debtors in England ;’
and to give further powers to the
court appointed by the said act.

An act for further securing the
duties on paper and pasteboard ;
and for repealing the counter-
vailing duty upon pasteboard im-
ported from Ireland, and the
drawback upon pasteboard ex-
ported; and granting other coun-
tervailing duties and drawbacks in
lieu thereof.

An act for the making more
effectual provision for the pre-
vention of smuggling, and re-
warding officers and persons
making seizures and capturing
smuggling vessels ; for licensing
luggers employed in the North
Sea fishery; and obliging ex-
porters of exciseable goods on
drawback to give notice of ship-
ment.

An act to amend and continue,
until the end of the next session
of Parliament, an act of the 54th
of his present Majesty, for regu-
lating the trade in spirits between
Great Britain and Ireland reci-
procally, and to grant and allow
new countervailing duties and
drawbacks on spirits imported
and exported between England
and Scotland and Ireland respec-
tively.

An ac t to 1epeal the duties pay-
able in Scotland upon wash and

spirits,

344

spirits, and distillers’ licences, to
grant other duties in lieu thereof,
and to establish further regula-
tions for the distillation of spirits
from corn for home consumption
in Scotland, until the 10th of No-
vember, 1818.

An act to amend an act of the
last session of parliament relating
to stamp duties in Great Britain,
so far as relates to inventories to
be exhibited and recorded in any
commissary court in Scotland.

An act to repeal certain draw-
backs and countervailing duties of
excise on beer and malt ; to alter
the drawbacks on plate glass, and
to prevent frauds therein.

An act to continue, until the
5th of July 1817, an act of the
46th of his present Majesty, for
granting an additional bounty on
the exportation of the silk manu-
factures of Great Britain.

An act for the further regula-
tion of the trades of tanners and
curriers.

An act to repeal part of the
duty on spirits distilled in Ireland,
to reduce the drawback on such
spirits exported to foreign parts,
and to make further regulations
for the collection of the said du-
ties, and the duties on licences
for retailing spirituous and other
liquors in Ireland.

An act to make certain provi-
sions for modifying the several
acts for imposing and levying of
fines, in respect of unlawful dis-
tillation of spirits in Ireland.

An act for repealing the duties
payable for licences for retailing
beer, ale, cyder, perry, or spirits
in Great Britain, and for im-
posing other duties in lieu thereof.

An act to regulate the convey-
ance of passengers from the United

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

Kingdom to the United States of

America, in British vessels.

An act for ratifying the pur-
chase of the Claremont estate, and
for settling the same as a resi-
dence for her Royal Highness the
Princess Charlotte Augusta and
his Serene Highness Leopold
George Frederick Prince of Co-
boury of Saalfeld.

An act to explain and amend
an act, passed in the 55th of the
reign of his present Majesty, en-
titled, ‘An Act for the Abolition
of gaol and other fees connected
with the gaols in England.’

An act to amend an act passed
in the 39th and 40th of the reign
of his present Majesty, for the
safe custody of insane persons
charged with offences.

An act for admitting oil and
blubber from the British colonies
in North America, upon payment
of the like duty as oiland blubber
from Newfoundland.

An act to explain and amend
an act passed in the present session
of parliament for punishing mu-
tiny and desertion, in relation to
the transportation of offenders.

An act to procure annual re-
turns of persons committed, tried,
and convicted for criminal offences
and misdemeanors in Ireland.

An act for defraying, until the
25th of June, 1817, the charge
of the pay and clothing of the mi-
litia of Ireland, and for making
allowances in certain cases to sub-
altern officers of the said militia
during peace.

An act to make provision for
securing, fora time to be limited,
the profits of the office of clerk of
the pleas of his Majesty’s court
of Exchequer in Ireland.

An act to continue, until the

5th of

APPENDIX TO CHRONICLE.

5th of April, 1817, an act of the
54th of his present Majesty, for
explaining and amending several
acts relating to spiritual persons
holding of farms, and for en-
forcing the residence of such
persons on their benefices in
England.

An act to continue, until the
Ist of August, 1817, two acts of
the 50th and 55th of his present
Majesty, allowing the bringing of
coals, culm, and cinders, to Lon-
don and Westminster.

An act for the more effectual
punishment of persons riotously
destroying or damaging buildings,
engines, and machinery, used in
and about colleries and other
mines, waggon-ways, bridges,
and other works, used in con-
veying and shipping coals and
other minerals ; and for enabling
the owners of such property to
recover damages for the injury
sustained.

An act to amend an act of the
53d of his present Majesty, for
the relief of insolvent debtors in
Ireland.

An act to reduce the duty on
the exportation from Great Bri-
tain of small coals of a certain
description.

An act to amend two acts made
in the 53d of the reign of his
present Majesty, for opening a
more convenient communication
from Mary-le-bone Park to Cha-
ring-cross, and for paving the
streets to be made in Mary-le-
bone Park, and to enable his Ma-
jesty to grant small portions of
land as sites for public buildings,
or to be used as cemeteries, with-
in the bills of mortality.

An act to repeal certain provi-
sions in local acts for the main-

545

tenance and management of the
poor.

An act to repeal an act made
in the 39th and 40th of his pre-
sent Majesty’s reign, entituled,
«« An Act to extend the provisions
of an Act made in the 17th of the
reign of king George the Second,
entituled, ‘ An Act to amend and
‘make more effectual the laws
‘relating to rogues, vagabonds,
‘and other idle and disorderly
‘ persons, and to houses of cor-
* rection,’’’ and to make other
provisions in lieu thereof.

An act to revive and continue,
until the 15th of June, 1817, an
act of the 52d of his present
Majesty, for the more effectual
preservation of the peace, by en-
forcing the duties of watching
and warding.

An act for enlarging the time
for making the award respecting
his Majesty’s allotments under an
act of the 53d of his present Ma-
jesty, for enclosing Windsor Fo-
rest ; and for extending the pro-
visions of the said act.

An act for making provision to
defray the annual charge of any
loan of this session of Parlia-
ment.

An act for allowing a drawback
of the duty on coals consumed in
lead mines in Cornwall.

An act for authorizing the ba-
rons of the court of Exchequer in
Scotland, to order the payment of
a certain sum of money, to be
applied in completing the Crinan-
canal,

An act to enable his Majesty to
grant certain lands, tenements,
and hereditaments, escheated and
devolved to his Majesty by the
dissolution of Hertford college,
in the university of Oxford, and

the

246

the site of the said college and
buildings thereon, to the chan-
cellor, master, and scholars of the
said university, in trust for the
principal and other members of
Magdalen-hall, for the purpose of
their removing to such site ; and
to enable the said chancellor,
masters, and scholars of the said
university, and the president and
scholars of Saint Mary Magdalen
college, to do all necessary acts
for such removal.

An act to extend the provi-
sions of an act of the Ist of the
reign of James Ist, entituled,
‘An Act for the better relief of
‘the creditors against such as
* shall become bankrupts.’

~ An act to abolish the punish.
ment of the pillory, except in cer-
tain cases.

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

An act to regulate the binding
of parish apprentices.

An act for establishing the use
of an hydrometer, called Sikes’s
hydrometer, in ascertaining the
strength of spirits, instead of
Clarke’s hydrometer.

An act for enabling ecclesias-
tical corporate bodies, under cer~-
tain circumstances, to alienate
lands for enlarging cemeteries or
church-yards.

An act for granting to his Ma-
jesty a certain sum out of the con-
solidated fund of Great Britain,
and for applying certain monies
therein mentioned for the service
of the year 1816, and for further
appropriating the supplies granted
in this session of Parliament.

PATENTS,

APPENDIX TO CHRONICLE.

347

PA DE BTS,

From November 1815 to June 1816.

George Morton, for a mode of
attaching horses to four-wheeled
carriages.

Joseph Baader, M.D. Knt. of
Bavaria, for an improved plan of
constructing rail-roads, and car-
riages to be used on them.

James Dutton, jun. for improve-
ments in fulling mills.

Allan Taylor, Daniel Gallafent,
sen. and jun. for an engine for
raising cold and hot water.

George Young, for a method
of making a peculiar species of
canvas for military and other pur-
poses.

John Mailzi, for an instrument
called a metranome, or musical
time-keeper.

Marquis de Chambonnes, for a
method of conducting the air and
regulating the temperature in
houses and other buildings.

Christopher Dihl, for improve-
ments in distillation.

James Lee, for improvements
in his methods of preparing hemp
and flax.

Samuel Clegg, for an improved
gas apparatus.

Davis Redmund, for a machine
for the manufacture of corks and
bungs.

Robert Kinder, for.a method of
propelling ships, boats, and other
vessels.

Robert Dickinson, for an im-

provement in the hooping of bar-
rels.

William Adamson, for a prin-
ciple by which a horizontal wheel
may be so moved about its axis
hy water, as to give it a greater
power than in any other posi-
tion.

William Plenty, for an improved
plough.

John Millington, for improved
machinery for propelling floating
vessels in the water.

John Budgem, for a process of
reducing rags and other articles in
making paper, after they have been
used, into their original state.

John Géo. Drake, fora method
of expelling the molasses out of
refined sugar. ©

William Baynham, for a com-
position for making leather and
other articles water-proof.

Joseph Manton, for improve-
ments in the construction of fire-
arms, and in shoeing horses. |

Francis Turrell, for a wheel-
guard, ~

George Fred. Muntz, for a me-
thod of abating smoke, and ob-
taining a valuable product there-
from.

John Wood, and Joshua Words-
worth, for improvements in ma-
chinery for spinning.

Bryan Donkin, for a method
for effecting processes in which a

tempe-

348

temperature above that of boiling
water is requisite.

John Leigh Bradbury, for im-
provements in spinning ma-
chinery.

P. F. Monigolfer, and H. D.
Dayme, for improvements in a
machine which acts by the expan-
sion or contraction of heated air.

P. F. Montgolfier, for improve-
ments on the machine called Hy-
draulic Ram.

William and Daniel West, for
methods of applying power and
motion to presses and other me-
chanical apparatus.

James Dawson, for improved
means of producing motion in
bodies wholly or in part sur-
rounded by water or air.

Enoch Tonkin, for a globe-re-
flecting stove for light or heat.

John and William Fitkin and
Joseph Barton, for a new truss.

Samuel Jean Pauly, for an ar-
ticle for making without seams
any kind of clothing; covering
for umbrellas, &c.; and cushions
filled with atmospherical air.

Samuel Brown, for improve-
ments on the swing plough.

Robert Cameron, for a new ma-
chine for manufacturing paper.

Emerson Dowson, and John Is.
Hawkins, for improvements on
grates and stoves.

Uriah Hadock, for a new spe-
cies of paint for the exterior of
houses, ships, &e.

William Macnamara; for a me-
thod of manufacturing glass.

John Sorby, for an auger of
improved construction.

James Younie, for prevention of
smoky chimnies.

Abraham Rogers, for a method
for saving the consumption of
fuel by the setting of boilers, &c.

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

Henry Osborne, for a methed of
producing various cylinders.

William Lewis, for a machine
for fulling cloth.

Joseph Turner, for an improved
rotary engine.

William Atkinson, for a method
of forming blocks with bricks to
imitate stone.

John Woodhouse, for a method
of forming the ground for roads
and pavements.

William Stenson, for an im-
proved engine to, be worked by
steam, &e.

William Lassalle, for a new con-
trivance for improvement in the
construction of machines or in-
struments in clothing or other
manufactories.

George Bodley, for an improved
metallic engine, to work by steam
or water.

John Collyer, for a machine for
shearing woollen cloths.

John Rangeley, for improve-
ments in his hydropneumatic en-
gine.

Robert Copeland, for saving in
the consumption of fuel.

William Threadgold, for a ma-
chine to prevent obstructions to
the passage of smoke in chim-
nies.

‘Richard Banks, for improve-
ments on wheeled carriages.

Benj Rotch, for a flexible elastic
horseshoe.

Daniel Wilson, for improved
apparatus in distillation.

Thomas Roxton, for an improved
lock.

Jean Sam. Pauly, for improve-
ments in fire-arms.

William Simmons, for improve-
ments applicable to keyed instru-
ments.

Richard Fr, Hawkins, for a me-

thod

APPENDIX

thod for carrying tunnels or arch-
ways under jivers.

Philip Taylor, for a method of
applying heat to liquors, and in
several processes.

Francis Richardson, for improve-
ments in fire-arms.

Christoph. Dihl, for improve-
ments in the making of mastic or
cement, and applying it.

George Dodgson, for improving
the construction of extinguishing
engines and forming pumps.

Isaac Hadley Reddell, for im-
provements in the means of light-
ing the interior of offices, &c.

Robert Kemp, for improvements
in the manufacturing of cocks and
keys.

James Heathcoate, for improve-
ments in the machinery for making
hosiery, or frame-work knitted.

TO CHRONICLE,

$49

John Ransome, for improve-
ments on ploughs.

William Shand, for improve-
ments in the construction of arti-
ficial legs and feet.

John Foulerton, for
ments in beacon buoys.

Edward Light, for
ments on the harp-lute.

John Burnet, for a convolving
iron axle-tree for the reduction of
friction and animal labour.

John Hawkins Barlow, for ims
provements on tea-urns, tea-pots,
tea-boards, or tea-trays,

John Barlow, foranew cooking
apparatus.

John Towers, for a tincture for
the cure of coughs, &c.

Henry Warburton, for a method
of distilling certain substances and
manufacturing their products,

improve-

improve-

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

350

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351

APPENDIX TO CHRONICLE.

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ANNUAL REGIST

352

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APPENDIX TO CHRONICLE. 353

.

AVERAGE PRICES OF CORN
PER QUARTER

In England and Wales, 1816.

Wheat. Rye. Barley. Oats. Beans.
peer th Cp le Ss ay eas saokd.
Jan. 52° 6 Sto es 24 8 18,7 50. 0
Feb. 56.6 33) 4 24 8 18 5 29 6
Mar. 54 8 32 6 23 6 L738 29 5
Apr. “60° 7.0) 24.1% 24 10 18 11 2008 7
May 76 4 40 5 28 9 Bieri 33. 7
June 74 10 40 8 23 11 22° 5 S50 1
July 73 7 | 40 6} 29 8 | 92 5 34 0
Aue.4182, or 4a 2 | S84. Andi QB d 36 7
Sept. 85 6 46 2 38. 2 22 6 40 10
Oct..;..93... 9 53.11 44 9 29 4 45 0
Nov. 98 9 58.9 49 5 30 8 56 10
Dee. 103 O 66 § 51 8 31 10 62° 6
Average of the Year.
75 14. | 43 1¢-| 33 1 | 23.0% | 38 of

(Secremeene MS)

A Statement of the Quantity of Porter brewed in London by the Twelve
first Houses, from the 5th of July, 1815, to the 5th of

July, 1816:—
“s Barrels. Barrels.
Barclay, Perkins, & Co. . 330,200 | Felix Calvert and Co. ,... 85,925
Meux, Reid, and Co. :7°.189,020 | Goodwyn and Co. .,.... 77 ,%A9
Truman, Hanbury, & Co, 155,041 | Taylor and Co......... 50,533
Whitbread and Co. ......168,855 | Elliott and Co,.. ...... 46,567

Henry Meux and Co...114,277 | Cocks and Campbell.... 36,101
Combe, Delafield, & Co. 100,655 | Hollingsworth and Co... 31,273

Vou. LVI 2A LIST

354 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

LIST OF THE PRINCE REGENT’S MINISTERS,

As it stood at the opening of the Session.

m7

CABINET MINISTERS.

Earl of Harrowby ............ Lord President of the Council.
Berd Eldon: .,...... Rk: .,aste Lord High Chancellor.
Earl of Westmoreland... ....... Lord Privy Seal.

. First Lord of the Treasury (Prime
Earl of Liverpool... ;....0.. 000s Minister)

Right Hon. Nicholas Vansittart. ..

Chancellor and Under-Treasurer of
the Exchequer.

Lord Viscount Melville......... First Lord of the Admiralty.
Earl Mulgrave............. Master General of the Ordnance.
, , Secretary of State for the Home
Lord Viscount Sidmouth.,...... ; Department.
Lord Viscount Castlereagh. ..... page et! of Siete toe pee
, Secretary of State for the Depart-
Earl Bathurst oe es e ment of War and the Colonies.

Right Hon. George Canning....

Right Hon. W. W. Pole..

President of the Board of Controul
for the affairs of India.

Right Hon. C. Bragge Bathurst . . dey ey of ee

caster.
Master of the Mint.

NOT OF THE CABINET.

Right Hon. George Rose........ Treasurer of the Navy.

Earl of Clancarty............0. President of the Board of Trade.
Right Hon. F. J. Robinson..... . thie ee tae’ Boats of
Right Hon. Charles Long....... Joint Paymaster-General of the
Lord Charles Somerset...... «+ Fortes,

Eateeandeen 2 oie oie Bi Postmaster-General
Viscount Palmerston........... Secretary at War.

Right Hon.Charles Arbuthnot . S hes of the T:

S. R. Lushington..........+. Rema the SD ieaay

Sir William Grant............. Master of the Rolls.

Sir William Garrow... . ahd
Mr. Serjeant Shepherd ..

Attorney-General.
Solicitor General.

‘PERSONS IN THE MINISTRY IN IRELAND.

Viscount Whitworth ........., Lord Lieutenant.
Bor Tannen. 0 do's odes 3 ¢ Lord High Chancellor
Right Hon Robert Peel ....... Chief Secretary.

Right Hon W, Vesey Fitzgerald

Chancellor of the Exchequer.

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APPENDIX TO CHRONICLE.

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‘9I8l UALSIDAY TVOIDOTOUOULAN

356 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

STATE PAPERS.

BRITIS Gi.

CONVENTIONS AND TREATIES
LAID BEFORE PARLIAMENT.

(No. 1.)—Porrtueat.
Convention between Great Britain
and Portugal, signed at Vienna,
2st January, 1815, in the En-
glish and Portuguese Languages.

1S Britannic Majesty and his

Royal Highness the Prince
Regent of Portugal, being equally
desirous to terminate amicably all
the doubts which have arisen re-
lative to the parts of the coast of
Africa with which the subjects of
the Crown of Portugal, under the
laws of that kingdom and the
Treaty subsisting with his Bri-
tannic Majesty, may lawfully
carry on a trade in slaves; and
whereas several ships, the pro-
perty of the said subjects of Por-
tugal, have been detained and
condemned, upon the alleged
ground of being engaged in an
illicit traffic in slaves ; and where-
as his Britannic Majesty, in order
to give to his intimate and faith-
ful ally the Prince Regent of
Portugal, the most unequivocal
proof of his friendship and the
regard he pays to his Royal High-
ness’s reclamations, and in con-
sideration of regulations to be
made by the Prince Regent of
Portugal for avoiding hereafter

such doubts, is desirous to adopt
the most speedy and effectual
measures, and without the delays
incident to the ordinary forms of
law, to provide a liberal indemnity
for the parties whose property
may have been so detained under
the doubts as aforesaid ; in fur-
therance of the said object, the
high contracting Parties have ap-
pointed as their Plenipotentiaries,
viz. His Majesty the King of the
United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Right Honour-
able Robert Stewart Viscount
Castlereagh, &c.; and his Royal
Highness the Prince Regent of
Portugal, the Most Illustrious
and Most Excellent Don Pedro de
Sousa Holstein Count of Palmella,
&c.; the Most Illustrious and
Most Excellent Anthony de Sal-
danha da Gama, &c.; and Don
Joachim Lobo de Silveira, &c. ;
who, having mutually exchanged
their full powers, found in good
and due form, have agreed upon
the following articles :—

Art. 1. That the sum of three
hundred thousand pounds be paid
in London, to such person as the
Prince Regent of Portugal may
appoint to receive the same;
which sum shall constitute a fund
to be employed under such regu-
lations, and in such manner as
the said Prince Regent of Portu-

gal

STATE PAPERS.

gal may direct, in discharge of
claims for Portuguese ships de-
tained by British cruizers previous
to the Ist day of June, 1814, up-
on the alleged ground of carrying
on an illicit traffic in slaves.

Art. 2. That the said sum shall
be considered to be in full dis-
charge of all claims arising out of
captures made previous to the lst
day of June, 1814; his Britannic
Majesty renouncing any interfer-
ence whatever in the disposal of
this money.

(Signed)
(L. 8.) CasTLeReacu.
(Signed)

(L.S. Conpre De Partme tua.

(L.S.) Awnronro De Satpan-

HA Da Gama.
B.Josauim Loso De

SILveiRa.

(No. 2.) —Portvear
Treaty between Great Britain and

Portugal, signed at Vienna, the

22d of January, 1815, in the

English and Portuguese Lan-

guages.

His Royal Highness the Prince
Regent of Portugal having, by
the 10th article of the Treaty of
Alliance, concluded at Rio de Ja-
neiro on the 19th February 1810,
declared his detertnination to co-
operate with his Britannic Ma-
jesty in the cause of humanity
and justice, by adopting the most
efficacious means for bringing
about a gradual abolition of the
Slave Trade; and his Roval
Highness, in pursuance of his
said declaration, and desiring to
effectuate, in concert with his
Britannic Majesty and the other
powers of Europe, who have
been induced to assist in this be-
nevolent object, an immediate

(Li S.)

357

abolition of the said traffic upon
the parts of the coast of Africa
which are situated to the north-
ward of the Line: his Britannic
Majesty and his Royal Highness
the Prince Regent of Portugal,
equally animated by a sincere de-
sire to accelerate the moment
when the blessings of peaceful
industry and innocent commerce
may be encouraged throughout
this extensive portion of the Con-
tinent of Africa, by its being de-
livered from the evils of the Slave
Trade, have agreed to enter into
a treaty for the said purpose, and
have accordingly named as their

Plenipotentiaries — (Plenipoten-:
tiaries us before.)
Art. 1. That from and_ after

the ratification of the. present
treaty, and the publication there-
of, it shall not be lawful for any
of the subjects of the crown of
Portugal to purchase slaves, or to
earry on the slave: trade, on any
part of the.eaast of Africa to the
northward of the Equator, upon
any pretext, or in any manner
whatsoever: provided, neverthe-
less, that the said provision shall
not extend to any ship or ships
having cleared out fron_ the ports
of Brazil, previous to the publi-
cation of such ratification; and
provided the voyage, in which
such ship or ships are engaged,
shall not be protracted beyond
six months after such publication
as aforesaid.

Art. 2 His Royal Highness
the Prince Regent of Portugal
hereby agrees, and binds himself
to adopt, in concert with his Bri-
tannic Majesty, such measures as
may best conduce to the effectual
execution of the preceding en-
gagemeat, according to its true

intent

358

intent and meaning; and his Bri-
tannic Majesty engages, in con-
cert with his Royal Highness, to
give such orders as may effectu-
ally prevent any interruption
being given to Portuguese ships
resorting to the actual dominions
of the Crown of Portugal, or to
the territories which are claimed
in the said treaty of alliance, as
belonging to the said Crown of
Portugal, to the southward of
the Line, for the purposes of
trading in slaves, as aforesaid,
during such further period as the
same may be permitted to be
carried on by the laws of Portugal,
and under the treaties subsisting
between the two crowns.

Art. 3. The treaty of alliance
concluded at Rio de Janeiro, on
the 19th Feb. 1810, being found-
ed on circi.mstances of a tempo-
rary nature, which have happily
ceased tu exist, the said treaty is
hereby declared to be void in
all its parts, and of no effect ;
without prejudice, however, to
the ancient treaties of alliance,
fricndship, and guarantee, which
have so long and so happily sub-
sisted between the two crowns,
and which are hereby renewed by
the High Contracting Parties,
and acknowledged to be of full
force and effect.

Art. 4. The High Contracting
Parties reserve to themselves, and
engage to determine by a separate
treaty, the period at which the
trade in Slaves shall universally
cease, and be prohibited through-
out the entire dominions of Por-
tugal ; the Prince Regent of Por-
tugal hereby renewing his former
declaration and engagement, that
during the interval which is to
elapse before such general and

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

final abolition shall take effect, it
shall not be lawful for the sub-
jects of Portugal to purchase or
trade in slaves upon any parts of
the coast of Africa, except to the
southward of the Line, as specified
in the second Article of this Treaty:
nor to engage in the same, or to
permit their flag to be used, except
for the purpose of supplying the
trans-Atlantic possessions belong-
ing to the Crown of Portugal.

Art. 5. His Britannic M:jesty
hereby agrees to remit, from the
date at which the ratification
mentioned in the first article shall
be promulgated, such further
payments as may then remain
due and payable upon the loan of
600,0001. made in London for
the service of Portugal, in the
year 1809, in consequence of a
Convention signed on the 21st of
April of the same year; which
Convention, under the conditions
specified as aforesaid, is hereby
declared to be void and of no
effect.

ADDITIONAL ARTICLE.

It is agreed, that in the event
of any of the Portuguese settlers
being desirous of retiring from
the settlements of the Crown of
Portugal on the coast of Africa to
the northward of the Equator,
with the Negroes bona ide their
domestics, to some other of the
possessions of the Crown of Por-
tugal, the same shall not be deem-
ed unlawful, provided it does not
take place on board a slave-trad-
ing vessel, and provided they be
furnished with proper passports
and certificates, according to a
form to be agreed on between the

two governinents. 7‘
e

STATE PAPERS.

The present Additional Article
shall have the same force and
effect as if it were inserted word
for word in the treaty signed this
day, and shall be ratified, and the
ratifications exchanged at the
same time.

(No. 8.)—FRrRance.
Convention between Great Britain
and France, signed at London 7th

of March, 1815.

The trade in salt and opium
throughout the British sovereign-
ty in India having been subjected
to certain regulations and _ re-
strictions which, unless due pro-
vision be made, might occasion
differences between the subjects
and agents of his Britannic Ma-
jesty and those of His Most Chris-
tian Majesty; their said Majesties
have thought proper to conclude
a Special Convention for the pur-
pose of preventing such differ-
ences, and removing every cause
of dispute between their respec-
tive subjects in that part of the
world, and in this view have
named for their respective Pleni-
potentiaries, viz.: his Majesty the
King of the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Ireland, Robert
Ear] of Buckinghamshire, &c. ;
and his Majesty the King of
France and Navarre, the Sieur
Claude Louis de La Chartre, &c.;
who, after having communicated
to each other their respective full
powers, found in good and due
form, have agreed upon the fol-
lowing articles :

Art. 1. His Most Christian
Majesty engages to farm to the
British Government in India, the
exclusive right to purchase at a
fair and equitable price, to be re-

' gulated by that which the said

359

Government shall have paid for
salt in the districts in the vicinity
of the French possessions on the
coast of Coromandel and Orixa
respectively, the salt that may be
manufactured in the said posses-
sions, subject however to a re-
servation of the quantity that the
agents of his Most Christian Ma~
jesty shall deem requisite for the
domestic use and consurnption of
the inhabitants thereof; and upon
the condition, that the British
Government shall deliver in Ben-
gal, to the agents of his Most
Christian Majesty, the quantity
of salt that may be judged neces-
sary for the consumption of the
inhabitants of Chandernagore;
reference being had to the popu-
lation of the said settlement:
such delivery to be made at the
price which the British Govern-
ment shall have paid for the said
article.

Art. 2. In order to ascertain
the prices as aforesaid, the official
accounts of the charges incurred
by the British Government, for
the salt manufactured in the dis-
tricts in the vicinity of the French
settlements on the coasts of Co-
romandel and Orixa respectively,
shall be open to the inspection of
a Commissioner to be a; pointed
for that purpose by the agents of
His Most Christian Majesty in
India; and the price to be paid
by the British Government shall
be settled according to an average
to be taken every three years, of
the charges as aforesaid, ascer-
tained by the said official accounts,
commencing with the three years
preceding the date of the present
Convention.

The price of salt at Chanderna-
gore to be determined, in the

same

3600 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

game manner, by the charges in-
curred by the British Govern-
ment for the salt manufactured in
the districts nearest to the sail
settlement.

Art. 3. It is understood that
the salt-works in the possessions
belonging to His Most Christian
Majesty shall be and remain
under the direction and adminis-
tration of the agents of his said
Majesty.

Art. 4. With a view to’ the
effectual attainment of the objects
in the contemplation of the high
contracting parties, his Most
Christian Majesty engages to es-
tablish in his possessions on the
coast of Coromandel and Orixa,
and at Chandernagore in Bengal,
nearly the same price for salt, as
that at which it shall be sold by
the British Government in the
vicinity of each of the said pos-
sessions.

Art. 5. In consideration of the
stipulations expressed in the pre-
ceding Articles, his Britannic Ma-
jesty engages that the sum of
four lacs of sicea rupees shall be
paid annually to the agents of his
Most Christian Majesty duly au-
thorized, by equal quarterly in-
stalments ; such instalments to be
paid at Calcutta or at Madras, ten
days after the bills that may be
drawn for the same by the said
agents shall have been presented
to the Government of either of
those Presidencies ; it being agreed
that the rent above stipulated shall
commence from the lst of Oc-
tober 1814.

Art. 6. With regard to the
trade in opium, it is agreed be-
tween the High Contracting
Parties, that at each of the peri-
odical sales of that article, there

shall be reserved for the French
Government, and delivered, upon
requisition duly made by the
agents of his Most Christian Ma-
jesty, or by the persons duly ap-
pointed by them, the number of
chests so applied for, provided
that such supply shall not exceed
three hundred chests in each year ;
and the price to be paid for the
same shall be determined by the
average rate at which opium shall
have been sold at every such pe-
riodical sale. It being understood
that if the quantity of opium ap-
plied for at any one time, shall
not be taken on account of the
French Government by the agents
of his Most Christian Majesty,
within the usual period of de-
livery, the quantity so applied
for shall nevertheless be consider-
ed as so muc. in reduction of the
three hundred chests herein be-
fore mentioned,

The requisitions of opium as
aforesaid are to be addressed to
the Governor General at Calcutta,
within thirty days after notice of
the intended sale shall have been
published in the Calcutta Gazette.

Art. 7. In the event of any re-
striction being imposed upon the
exportation of saltpetre, the sub-
jects of his Most Christian Ma-
jesty shall nevertheless be allowed
to export that article to the ex-
tent of 18,000 maunds.

Art. 8. His Most Christian
Majesty, with a view of preserv-
ing the harmony subsisting be-
tween the two nations, having
engaged, by the twelfth article of
the treaty concluded at Paris on
the 30th of May 1814, not to
erect any fortifications in the es-
tablishments to be restored to
him by the said treaty, and to

SIMATPEOPAP.ER'S.

maintain no greater number of
troops than may be necessary for
the purposes of police; his Bri-
tannic Majesty on his part, in
order to give every security to
the subjects of his Most Christian
Majesty residing in India, en-
gages, if at any time there should
arise between the High Contract-
ing Parties any misunderstanding
or rupture, (which God forbid,)
_not to consider or treat as pri-
‘soners of war, those persons who
belong to the civil establishments
of his most Christian Majesty in
India, nor the officers,- non-com-
missioned officers, or soldiers,
who, according to the terms of
the said Treaty, shall be necessary
for the maintenance of the police
in the said establishments, and to
allow them to remain three
months to settle their personal
affairs, and also to grant them the
necessary facilities and means of
conveyance to France with their
families and private property.

His Britannic Majesty further
engages to permil the subjects of
his most Christian Majesty in
India to continue their residence
and commerce so long as they
shall conduct themselves peace-
ably, and shall do nothing con-
trary to the laws and regulations
of the government.

But in case their conduct should
render them suspected, and the
British Government should judge
it necessary to order them to quit
India, they shall be allowed the
period of six munths to retire
with their effects and property to
France, or to any other country
they may choose.

At the same time it is to be
anderstood, that this favour is

36}

not to be extended to tho32 who
may act contrary to the laws and
regulations of the British Govern-
ment.

Art. 9. All Europeans and
others whosoever, against whom
judicial proceedings shall be in-
stituted within the limits of the
settlements or factories belonging
to his Most Christian Majesty,
for offences committed, or jor
debts contracted, within the said
limits, and who shall take refuge
out of the same, shall be deliver-
ed up to the chiefs of the said
settlements and factories; and all
Europeans and others whosoever,
against whom judicial proceedings
as aforesaid shall be instituted
without the said limits, and who
shall take refuge within the same,
shall be delivered up by the chiefs
of the said settlements and facto-
ries, upon demand being made of
them by the British Government.

Art. 10. For the purpose of
rendering this agreement perma-
nent, the High Contracting Par-
ties hereby engage, that no al-
teration shall be made in the con-
ditions and stipulations in the
foregoing articles, without the
mutual consent of his Majesty tne
King of the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Ireland, and of
his Most Christian Majesty.

Art. 11. The present Conven-
tion shall be ratified, and the ra-
tifications shall be exchanged at
London in the space of one month
from the date hereof, or sooner
if possible.

In witness whereof the respec-
tive Plenipotentiaries have signed
it, and have thereunto affixed the
seals of their arms.

Done at London this 7th day

of

362

of March, in the year of our Lord
one thousand eight hundred and
fifteen.

(No. 4.)—Russia anpD THE Ne-
THERLANDS.

Treaty between Great Britain, Rus-
sia, and the Netherlands, signed
at London, May 19th, 1815.
His Majesty the King of the

_ Netherlands being desirous, upon
the final re-union of the Belgic

Provinces with Holland, to ren-

der to the Allied Powers who were

parties to the treaty concluded at

Chaumont on the Ist of March,

1814, a suitable return for the

heavy expense incurred by them

in delivering the said territories
from the power of the enemy ;
and the said Powers having, in
consideration of arrangements
made with each other, mutually
agreed to wave their several pre-
tensions under this head, in fa-
vour of his Majesty the Emperor
of all the Russias; his said Ma-
jesty the King of the Netherlands
has thereupon resolved to proceed
immeiliately to execute with his

Imperial Majesty a convention to

the following effect, to which his

Britannic Majesty agrees to bea

party, in pursuance of engage-

ments taken by his said Majesty
with the King of the Netherlands,
in a convention signed at Lon-
don on the 13th day of August,

1814. (Plenipotentiaries, Lord

Castlereagh, Count de Lieven,

and Baron Fagel.)

~ Art. 1. His Majesty the King

of the Netherlands hereby engages

to take upon himself a part of the
capital and arrears of interests,
the Ist of January, 1816, of the

Russian Loan made in Holland,

through the intervention of the

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

house of Hope and Co. in Am-
sterdam, to the amount of 25 mil-
lions of florins, Dutch currency ;
the annual interest of which sum,
together with an annual payment
for the liquidation of the same,
as hereafter specified, shall be
borne by, and become a charge
upon the kingdom of the Nether-
lands. And his Majesty the King
of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland engages, on
his part, to recommend to his
Parliament to enable him to take
upon himself an equal capital of
the said Russian Loan, viz. twenty-
five millions of Horins, Dutch
currency ; the annual interest of
which sum, together with an an-
nual payment for the liquidation
of the same, as hereafter speci-
fied, shall be borne by, and _ be-
come a charge upon the govern-
ment of his Britannic Majesty.
Art. 2. The future charge, to
which their said Belgic and Bri-
tannic Majesties shall be respec-
tively liable in equal shares on ac-
count of the said debt, is to con-
sist of an annual interest of 5 per
cent. on the said capitals, each of
25 millions, together with a sink-
ing fund of one percent. for the ex-
tinction of the same, the said sink-
ing fund being subject, however, to
be increased on the demand of the
Russian Government to any an-
nual sum not exceeding three per
cent.; the same to be payable till
the capital of the said debt shall
be fully discharged, when the |
aforesaid charge for interests and
sinking fund shall wholly cease to
be borne by their said Belgic and
Britannic Majesties respectively.
Art. 3. Their said Belgic and
Britannic Majesties respectively
bind themselves, on or before the
usual

STATE PAPERS.

usual day or days in each year, on
which the interest on the said
debt shall be due and payable, to
deposit with the Agent of the
Russian Government in Holland,
their respective proportions of the
said interest and sinking fund, as
above specified ; provided always,
that previously to the advance of
each successive instalment so to
be paid, the said agent shall be
authorised to furnish a certificate
to each of the said two high con-
tracting parties, declaring that
the preceding instalment has been
duly applied in discharge of the
interest, and in reduction of the
principal of the said debt; to-
gether with the corresponding
payments, on account of the Rus-
sian Government on that part of
the debt which shall remain a
charge on the said Government.

Art. 4. The Russian Govern-
ment shall continue, as hereto-
fore, to be security to the credi-
tors for the whole of the said
loan, and shall be charged with
the administration of the same;
the Governments of the King of
the Netherlands and of his Bri-
tannic Majesty remaining liable
and bound to the Government of
his Imperial Majesty, each for the
punctual discharge, as above, of
the respective proportions of the
said charge.

Art. 5. It is hereby understood
and agreed between the High
Contracting Parties, that the said
payments on the part of their Ma-
jesties the King of the Nether-
lands and the King of Great Bri-
tain, as aforesaid, shall cease and
determine, should the possession
and sovereignty (which God for-
bid,) of the Belgic Provinces at
any time pass or be severed from

363

the dominions of his Majesty the
King of the Netherlands previous
to the complete liquidation of the
same. It is also understood and
agreed between the High Con-
tracting Parties, that the pay-
ments on the part of their Majes-
ties the King of the Netherlands
and the King of Great Britain, as
aforesaid, shall not be interrupt-
ed in the event (which God for-
bid) of a war breaking out be-
tween any of the three High Con-
tracting Parties; the Govern-
ment of his Majesty the Emperor
of all the Russias being actually
bound to its creditors by a similar
agreement.

(No. 5.—Saxpin1a. )
Treaty belween Great Britain and

Sardinia, signed at Vienna the

20th May, 1815.

His Majesty the King of Sar-
dinia, &c. &c. heing restored to
the full and entire possession of
his Continental States, in the same
manner as he possessed them on
the Ist of January 1792, and to
the whole of them, with the ex-
eeption of the part of Savoy ceded
to France by the Treaty of Paris
of the 30th May, 1814; certain
changes having since been agreed
upon, during the Congress of Vi-
enna, relative to the extent and
limits of the said States ;

Plenipotentiaries—the Earl of
Clancarty, &c.: the Sieurs Don
Anthony Maria Philip Asinari,
Marquis de St. Marsan, &c.; and
Count Don Joachim Alexander
Rossi, &c.

Art. 1. The frontiers of the
States of his Majesty the King of
Sardinia shall be, on the side of
France, such as they were on the
Ist of January i792, with the ex-

ception

364

ception of the changes effected by
the Treaty of Paris of the 30th
May 1814.

On the side of the Helvetic
Confederation, such as they exist-
ed on the Ist of January 1792,
with the exception of the change
produced by the cession, in favour
of the canton of Geneva, as speci-
fied in the 7th Article herein af-
ter inserted.

On the side of the States of his
Majesty the Emperor of Austria,
such as they existed on the Ist of
January 1792; and the Conven-
tion concluded between their Ma-
jesties the Empress Maria Theresa
and the King of Sardinia, on the
4th of October 1751, shall be re-
ciprocally confirmed in all its sti-
pulations.

On the side of the States of
Parma and Placentia, the frontier,
as far as it concerns the ancient
States of the King of Sardinia,
shall continue to be the same as
it was on the Ist of January
1792.

The borders of the former
States of Genoa, and of the coun-
tries called Imperial Fie!fs, united
to the States of his Majesty the
King of Sardinia, according to
the following Articles, shall be
the same as those which, on the
[st of January 1792, separated
those countries from the States of
Parma and Placentia, and from
those of Tuscany and Massa.

The island of Capraja having
belonged to the ancient Republic
of Genoa, is ine’uded in the ces-
sion of the States of Genoa to his
Majesty the King of Sardinia.

art. 2. The States which con-
stituted the former republic of
Genoa, are united in perpetuity to

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

those of his Majesty the King of
Sardinia; to be, like the latter,
possessed by him in full sovereign-
ty and hereditary property, and
to descend, in the male line, in
the order of primogeniture, to the
two branches of his house, viz.
the Royal Branch, and the Branch
of Savoy Carignan.

Art. 3. The King of Sardinia
shall add to his present titles that
of Duke of Genoa.

Art. 4. The Genoese shall en-
joy all the rights and privileges
specified in the Act, intituled “A.
A.* Conditions which are to serve
as the bases of the union of the
Genvese States to those of his
Sardinian Majesty ;"’ ‘and the said
Act shall be considered as an in-
tegral part of the present Treaty,
and shall have the same force and
validity as if it were textually in-
serted in the present article.

Art. 5. The countries called
Imperial Fiefs, formerly united
to the ancient Ligurian Republic,
are definitively united to the States
of his Majesty the King of Sar-
dinia, in the same manner as the
rest of the Genoese States; and
the inhabitants of these countries
shall enjoy the same rights and
privileges as those of the States of
Genoa, specified in the preceding
article.

Art. 6. The right that the
Powers who signed the Treaty of
Paris of the 30th of May, 1814,
reserved to themselves, by the 3d
article of that Treaty, of fortify-
ing such points of their States as
they might judge proper for their
safety, is equally reserved, with-

* Vide General Treaty of Congress, page
125. ”

out:

+

STATE ORAPE RS.

out restriction, to his Majesty the
King of Sardinia.

Art. 7. His Majesty the King
of Sardinia cedes to the canton of
Geneva, the districts of Savoy
specified in the act annexed, inti-
tuled ‘* B. B.* Cession made by
his Majesty the King of Sardinia
to the canton of Geneva,’ and on
the conditions specified in the
same act. ‘That act shall be con-
sidered as an integral part of the
present treaty, and shall have the
same force and validity as if it
were textually inserted in the pre-
sent article.

Art. 8. The provinces of Cha-
blais and Faucigny, and the whole
of the territory of Savoy to the
North of Ugine, belonging to his
Majesty the King of Sardinia,
shall form a part of the neutrality
of Switzerland, as recognised and
guaranteed by all the Powers.

Whenever, therefore, the neigh-
bouring Powers to Switzerland
are in a state of open or impend-
ing hostility, the troops of his
Majesty the King of Sardinia,
which may be in those provinces,
shall retire, and may for that pur-
pose pass through the Vallais, if
necessary. No other armed troops
of any other Power shall have the
privilege of passing through, or
remaining in the said territories
and provinces, excepting those
which the Swiss Confederation
shall think proper to place there ;
it being well understood, that
this state of things shall not in
any manner interrupt the admi-
nistration of these countries, in
which-the civil agents of his Ma-
jesty the King of Sardinia may

* Vide’ General Treaty of Congress, page
229. ae

7

$65

likewise employ the municipal
guard for the preservation of good
order.

Art. 9. The present Treaty shall
form part of the definitive ar-
rangements of the Congress of
Vienna.

Art. 10, The ratification of the
present Treaty shall be exchang-
ed in six weeks, or sooner, if pos-
sible.

In faith of which the respec-
tive Plenipotentiaries have signed
the present ‘Treaty, and have fix-
ed thereunto the seal of their
arms.

Done at Vienna the 20th of
May, in the year of our Lord,
1815.

(Signed).
The Prince de Merrernicu.
(L.8.)
The Marquis de St. Marsan.
(L. 8.)
The Baron de WeEssENBURG.
(L. 8.)
The Count Rossi.
(L. 8.)
(No. 6.)—NeTHERLANDs.
Treaty between Great Britain and
the Netherlands, signed at Vien-

na the 31st May, 1815.

His Majesty the King of the
United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, and his Majesty the
King of the Netherlands, being
desirous of carrying into effect
and of completing the arrange-
ments contained in the Treaty of
Peace concluded at Paris the 30th
of May, 1814, which, while it es-
tablishes a just equilibrium in
Europe, and assigns to the Uni-
ted Provinces such a proportion
of territory as may enable them
to support their own indepen-
dence, secures to them the coun-

tries

366

tries comprised between the sea,
the frontiers of France, and the
Meuse, leaves undefined their li-
mits on the right bank of that
river; and their said Majesties
having resolved to conclude a se-
parate Treaty on this subject, con-
formably to the arrangements of
the Congress of Vienna, have ap-
pointed Plenipotentiaries to con-
cert, agree upon, and sign what-
ever relates to this subject, viz. :—
Plenipotentiaries, the Ear] of Clan-
carty, the Sieur Gerhard Charles
Baronde Spaen de Voorstonden,
and the Sieur Hans Christopher
Erneste Baron de Gagern, who,
after having exchanged their full
powers, found in good and due
form, have agreed to the follow-
_ ing articles :—

Art. 1. The old United Pro-
vinces of the Netherlands, and the
former Belgie Provinces, both
within the limits fixed by the fol-
lowing article, shall form, to-
gether with the countries desig-
nated in the same article, under
the sovereignty of his Royal
Highness the Prince of Orange-
Nassau, Sovereign Prince of the
United Provinces, the kingdom of
the Netherlands, hereditary in the
order of succession already estab-
lished by the Act of the Constitu-
tion of the said United Provinces.
His Majesty the Emperor of Au-
stria, King of Hungary and Bo-
hemia, acknowledges the title and
prerogatives of the royal dignity
in the House of Orange-Nassau.

Art.¢. The line comprising the
territories which shall compose
the kingdom of the Netherlands,
is determined in the following
manner :—

It leaves the sea, and extends
along the frontiers of France on

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

the side of the Netherlands, as
rectified and fixed by the third ar-
ticle of the Treaty of Paris of the
30th May, 1814, to the Meuse;
thence along the same frontiers to
the old limits of the duchy of
Luxemburg; from this point it
follows the direction of the limits
between that duchy and the old
bishoprick of Liege, till it meets
(to the south of Deiffelt) the wes-
tern limits of that canton, and of
that of Malmedy, to the point
where the latter reaches the li-
mits between the old departments
of the Ourthe and the Roer ; it
then goes along these limits to
where they touch those of the
former French canton of Eupen,
in the duchy of Limburg, and fol-
lowing the western limit of that
canton in a northerly direction,
leaving to the right a small part
of the former French canton of
Aubel, joins, at the point of con-
tact of the three old departments
of the Ourthe, the Lower Meuse,
and the Roer; parting againfrom
this point, this line follows that
which divides the two latter de-
partments, until it reaches the
Worm (a river falling into the
Roer) and goes along this river
to the point where itagain reaches
the limit of these two departments,
pursues this limit to the south of
Hillensberg (the old department
of the Roer) from whence it re-
ascends to the north, and leaving
Hillensberg to the right, and di-
viding the canton of Sittard into
two nearly equal parts, so that
Sittard and Susteron remain on
the left, it reaches the old Dutch
territory ; from whence, leaving
this territory to the left, it goes
on, following its eastern frontier,
to the point where it touches
o]

STATE PAPERS.

old Austrian principality of Guel-
dres, on the side of Ruremonde :
and directing itself towards the
most eastern point of the Dutch
territory to the north of Swal-
men, continues to encircle this
territory.

Lastly, setting out from the
most eastern point, it joins the
other part of the Dutch territory
in which Venloo is situated ; that
town and its territory being in-
cluded within it. From thence to
the old Dutch frontier near Mook,
situated below Genep, the line
follows the course of the Meuse,
at such a distance from the right
bank, that all the places within a
thousand Rhenish yards from it
(Rheinlandische Ruthen) 1,970
of which yards are equal to the
15th part of a degree of the meri-
dian, shall belong with their ter-
ritories to the kingdom of the Ne-
therlands: it being understood,
however, as to the reciprocity of
this principle, that the Prussian
territory shall not at any point
touch the Meuse, or approach it
within the distance of eight hun-
dred Rhenish yards.

From this point where the line
just described reaches the ancient
Dutch frontier, as far as the
Rhine, this frontier shall remain
essentially the same as it was in
1795, between Cleves and the
United Provinces.

This line shall be examined by
a Commission, which the Govern-
ments of Prussia and the Nether-
lands shall name without delay,
for the purpose of proceeding to
the exact determination of the
limits, as well of the kingdom of
the Netherlands as of the Grand
Duchy of Luxemburg, specified
in the 4th Article: and this Com-

367

mission, aided by professional
persons, shall regulate every
thing concerning hydrotechnical
constructions and other points, in
the most equitable manner, and
the most conformable to the mu-
tual interests of the Prussian
States, and those of the Nether-
lands. This same arrangement
refers to the fixing of limits for
the districts of Kyfward, Lobith,
and in the whole territory as far
as Kekerdom.

The enclaves of Huissen, Mal-
burg, Lymers, with the town of
Sevaner, and the lordship of Wiel,
shall form part of the kingdom
of the Netherlands, and_ his
Prussian Majesty shall renounce
them in perpetuity for himself,
his heirs and successors.

Art. 3. That part of the old
duchy of Luxemburg which is
comprised in the limits specified
in the following article, is like-
wiseceded to the Sovereign Prince
of the United Provinces, now
King of the Netherlands, to be
possessed in perpetuity by him
and his successors in full pro-
perty and sovereignty. The So-
vereign of the Netherlands shall
add to his titles that of Grand
Duke of Luxemburg, his Ma-
jesty reserving to himself the pri-
vilege of making such family ar-
rangements between the Princes
his sons, relative to the succession
to the Grand Duchy, as he shall
think conformable to the inte-
rests of his monarchy and his pa-
ternal intentions.

The Grand Duchy of Luxem-
burg being intended as an in-
demnity for the principalities of
Nassau-Dillenburg, Siegen, Ha-
damar, and Dietz, shall form one
of the States of the Germanic

Confederation,

368

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

Confederation, and the Prince,#'of the Netherlands renounces, in

King of the Netherlands, shall
form a part of the system of this
Confederation, as Grand Duke of
Luxemburg, with all the Prero-
gatives and privileges which the
other German Princes might
enjoy.

The Town of Luxemburg, in
a military point of view, shall be
considered as a fortress belong-
ine to the Confederation. ‘The
Grand Duke shall, however, re-
tain the power of appointing the
Governor and Military Command-
ant of this fortress, subject to
the approbation of. the executive
power of the Confederation, and
under such other conditions as it
may be judged necessary to es-
tablish, in conformity to the fu-
ture constitution of the said Con-
federation.

Art. 4. The Grand Duchy of
Luxemburg shall consist of all
the territory situated between the
kingdom of the Netherlands, such
as ithas been designated by Article
2; France, the Moselle, as far as
the Mouth of the Sare; the course
of the Sare, as far as the junc-
tion of the Our; and the course
of this last river, as far as the
limits of the former French can-
ton of St. Vith, which is not to
belong to the Grand Duchy of
Luxemburg.

Disputes having arisen with
regard to the property of the
Duchy of Bouillon, his Majesty
the King of the Netherlands,
Grand Duke of Luxemburg, en-
gages to restore the part of the
Duchy, which is*comprised in the
line of frontier abovementioned,
to that party whose claims shall
be legally confirmed.

Art. 5. His Majesty the King

perpetuity for himself, his heirs
and successors, in favour of his
Majesty the King of Prussia, the
sovereign possessions which the
House of Nassau-Orange held in
Germany, namely, the princi-
palities of Dillenburg, Dietz,
Siegen, and. Hadamar, together
with the lordships of Bielstein,
such as those possessions have
beendefinitively arranged between
the two branches of the House
of Nassau, by the Treaty con-
cluded at the Hague the 14th
July, 1814.. His Majesty equally
renounces all claim to the prin-
cipality of Fulda, and to the
other districts and territories
which had been secured to him
by the 12th Article of the prin-
cipal Recess, of the extraordinary
deputation of the empire on the
25th February, 1803.

Art. 6. The right and order of
succession established between
the two branches of the House of
Nassau, by the Act of: 1783,
called Nassauischer Erb-Verein,
is confirmed and transferred from
the fuur principalities of Orange-
Nassau to the Grand Duchy of
Luxemburg.

Art. 7. His Majesty the King
of the Netherlands, uniting under
his sovereiynty the countries de-
signated in the second and fourth
Articles, enters into all the rights,
and takes upon himself all the
charges, and all the stipulated
engagements, relative to the pro-
vinces and districts detached from
France by the Treaty of Peace
concluded at Paris the 30th of
May, 1814.

Art. 8. His Majesty the King
of the Netherlands having recog-
nised and sanctioned, under the

date

STATE PAPERS.

date of the 2lst of July, 1814,
as the bases of the union of the
Belgie Provinces with the United
Provinces, the eight Articles con-
tained in the document annexed
to the present ‘Treaty,* the said
Articles shall have the same force
and validity as if they were in-
serted, word for word, in the
present instrument.

Art. 9. A Commission shall be
immediately appointed by his Ma-
jesty the King of Prussia and his
Majesty the King of the Nether-
lands, to settle whatever relates
to the cession of those posses-
sions of the House of Nassau
which belong to his Majesty,
with regard to records, debts, ex-
cesses of the public chests, and
other subjects of this nature.

That part of the Records which
does not concern the ceded pro-
vinces, but only the House of
Orange, and libraries, collections
of maps, and all other objects of
the same description, belonging
to his Majesty the King of the
Netherlands, shall be retained by
him as private and personal pro-
perty, and shall be immediately
restored to his Majesty. «A part
of the said possessions being ex-
changed against other possessions
of the Duke and Prince of Nassau,
his Majesty the King of Prussia
engages, and his Majesty the
King of the Netherlands consents,
that the engayement stipulated in
the present Article, shall be trans-
ferred to his Serene Highness the
Duke and Prince of Nassau, with
respect to those possessions which
are to be united to their states.

* Vide General Treaty of Congress,
page 111.
Vor. LVIII.

369

(No. 7.)—AusTRrIa.
Convention between Great Britain
and Austria, signed at Paris, 2d

August, 1515.

Napoleon Buonaparte being in
the power of the Allied Sove-
reigns, their Majesties the King
of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Emperor
of Austria, the Emperor of Russia,
and the King of Prussia, have
agreed, in virtue of the stipula-
tions of the Treaty of the 25th of
March, 1815, upon the measures
most proper to render all enter-
prise impossible, on his part,
against the reposeof Europe. Ple-
nipotentiaries, Castlereagh, Wel-
lington, and Metternich.

Art. 1. Napoleon Buonaparte
is considered by the powers who
have signed the Treaty of the
25th of March last as their pri-
soner

Art.2. His custody is especially
intrusted to the British Govern-
ment.

The choice of the place, and of
the measures which can best se-
cure the object of the present
stipulation, are reserved to his
Britannic Majesty.

Art. 3. The Imperial Courts
of Austria and of Russia, and the
Royal Court of Prussia, are to
appoint Commissioners to pro-
ceed to, and abide at the place
which the Government of his Bri-
tannic Majesty shall have assigned
for the residence of Napoleon
Buonaparte, and who, without
being responsible for his custody,
will assure themselves of his pre-
sence.

Art. 4. His Most Christian Ma-
jesty is to be invited, in the name
of the four above-mentioned

2B Courts,

370

Courts, to send in the like manner
a French Commissioner to the
plice of detention of Napoleon
Buonaparte.

Art. 5. His Majesty the King
of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland binds him-
self to fulfil the engagements
which fall to him by the present
Convention.

Art. 6. The present Conven-
tion shall be ratified, and the
ratification shall be exchanged
within fifteen days, or sooner if
possible.

In faith whereof, the respec-
tive Plenipotentiaries have signed
the present Convention, and have
affixed thereto the seals of their
arms.

Done at Paris the 2d August,
in the year of our Lord 1815.
(Signed)

CASTLEREAGH.

(L. 8.) Wetiineton.
(L.S.) The Prince of
MEeETTERNICH.

A similar Convention is signed
between Great Britain and Prus-
sia, and Great Britain and Russia.

Next follows the Convention
between Great Britain and the
Netherlands, signed at London,
12th August, containing the re-
gulations under which the Dutch
may trade with Demerara, Esse-
quibo, and Berbice.

(.'S.)

(No. 12.)—Saxony.
Treaty between Great Britain and

Saxony, signed at Paris, Sep-

tember, 1815.

His Majesty the King of the
United Kingdon of Great Bri-
tain and Ireland, having agreed
to the arrangements made re-
specting Saxony and the Duchy

ANNUAL REGISTER,

i816.

of Warsaw, by the great Act of
Congress, signed on the 9th day
of June last, and also by the
Treaty of the 18th of May there-
to annexed, and hereinafter par-
ticularly set forth; and his Ma-
jesty the King of Saxony, desir-
ous of procuring the immediate
accession of his Britannic Ma-
jesty to the said Treaty of the
18th of May, having invited, and
his said Majesty having agreed to
accede thereto by a direct Treaty
with his Saxon Majesty, their said
Majesties have named Lord Cas-
tlereagh and Count de Schulen-
burg.

Art. 1. His Majesty the King
of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland accedes to all
the stipulations of the Treaty
entered into between their Ma-
jesties the Kings of Prussia and
Saxony, bearing date the 18th of
May, 1815, and also between his
said Majesty the King of Saxony,
and the Emperors of Austria and
Russia respectively, as hereafter
inserted,

[Here follows a copy of the
Treaty referred to, for which see
General Treaty of Congress, Act
No. 4.]

Art. 2. His Majesty the King
of Saxony accepts of the above
Accession, and renews to his Ma-
jesty the King of the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland the engagements therein
contained, and engages to fulfil
and execute, in the whole and
every part thereof, all the stipu-
lations of the said Treaty which
his Saxon Majesty has on his part
therein stipulated to fulfil and
execute.

Treaties

No.

STATE OPAPERS. 371

Treaties of Accession were entered into with the following States :

1. Baden - . - signed at Vienna, 13 May, 1815. .

2. Bavaria - - - - - Ditto 15 April

3. Denmark - - - - Paris, 1 Sept. ——
Translation of the peegeeis - -_——

4. Hanover - - - Vienna, 7 April

5. Hesse (Grand Duke). - - - 23 May ——

G. Netherlands - - - - —- 28 April ——

7. Portugal - - - oo 8 April ——

8. Sardinia - - - - —- 9 April

9. Saxony . - - - - 27 May

10. Switzerland - - = - Zurich, 20 May ——
Translation of the preceding -——_—- oo

11. Wurtemburg, - = - Vienna, 30 May

12. Princes and Free Towns of Germany - 7 April

Treaties of Subsidy were entered into with the following States :

No.1. Baden - - - signet at Brussels, 19 May, 1815.
2. Bavaria - - - ——- 7 June ——
3. Denmark - - - Paris, 14 July
4. Hanover - - - _—— 26 Aug.

5. Hesse (Grand Here - - 15 July

6. Sardinia - - Brussels, 2 May -

7. Saxony - - - Paris, 14 July ——

8, Wurtemberg - - Brussels, 6 June ——
PRINCES AND FREE TOWNS OF GERMANY, VIZ.

9. Anhalt-Dessau, Bernbourg and } Paris, 10 July
Ceethen - - -

10. Brunswick-Luneberg - - 28 Aug.

11. Frankfort on the Maine - Paris 1 Aug.

12. Hesse (Elector) - - - 15 July ——

13. Holstein-Oldenburgh = - - —— 5 Sept. ——

14. Hohenzollern-Hechingen and |] 1 Aug.
Sigmaringen = -

15. Lubeck, Hamburgh, antl Bremen —— 21 July ——

16. Mecklenburgh- Schwerin - —— 29 July ——

17. Mecklenburg-Strelitz - 8 Aug. ——

18. Nassau - - - - Brussels, 16 June ——

19. Reuss - - - Paris 1 Aug. ——

20. a -Cobourg, Meinanecn, and Brussels: 18 June

ildburghausen - -
21. Saxe-Gotha and Altenburg Paris, 1 Aug. ——

22. Saxe-Weimar and Eisenach
2B2 23. Schaumbiarg-

372

23. Schaumburg-Lippe and Lippe
24. Schwartzburg-Sondershausen

and Rudelstadt =
25. Walbeck and Pyrmont
Additional Convention with

TREATIES OF ACCESSION.

(No. 1.)—Bapen.
Accession to the Treaty of Alliance,

signed at Vienna, March 25,

1815.

Art. 1. His Majesty the King
of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, having en-
gaged conjointly with their Ma-
jesties the Emperor of Austria,
King of Hungary and Bohemia,
the Emperor of all the Russias,
and his Majesty the King of
Prussia, to unite the means of
their States for the purpose of

maintaining in all their integrity

the conditions of the treaty con-
cluded at Paris on the 30th May,
1814, as well as the stipulations
which shall be agreed upon and
signed at the Congress of Vienna,
to the end of completing the dis-
positions of that Treaty, and se-
curing them against every at-
tempt, aud especially against the
designs of Napoleon Buonaparte ;
and to direct to this effect all
their efforts against him and his
partisans, in order to put it out
of his power in future to disturb
‘the tranquillity of Europe and
the general peace; his Royal
Highness the Grand Duke of
Baden accedes to this alliance,
and solemnly engages to unite the
means of his States with those of
his Britannic Majesty, and the
Sovereigns his Allies, in order
_ thus to direct, in concert, and
- with eemmon -consent, all their
efforts to the same end.

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.
Paris, 1 Aug. 1815.
Russia Paris, 4 Oct. ——

Art. 2. In consequence of this
accession, his Royal Highness the
Grand Duke of Baden engages
on his part to keep in the field a
corps of 16,000 men of all arms,
which shall form part of the
grand army assembling on the
Upper Rhine, under the com-
mand of Field Marshal Prince
Schwartzenberg.

The troops of his Royal High-
ness shall continue united in one
corps, and shall be under the im-
mediate command of a general
named by his Royak Highness.

The Landsturm shall be called
out according to the exigency of
the case, and is not comprised in
the calculation made in the pre-
sent article, and shu!l only serve
within the country and for the
defence of the interior.

Art. 3. His Britannic Majesty
engages in hisown name, as well
as in that of their Majesties the
Emperor of Austria, King of
Hungary and Bohemia, the Em-
peror of all the Russias, and his
Majesty the King of Prussia, not
to lay down his arms without
particularly taking into consi-
deration the interests of his Royal
Highness the Grand Duke of
Baden, and not to permit the po-
litical existence of the Grand
Duchy to be violated.

Art. 4. When the object of the
present war shall have been at-
tained, his Britannic Majesty en-
gages, in concert with his Allies,
to admit his Royal Highness the
Grand Duke to bear a part in the

arrangements

SPATE -PiAiP ENS:

arrangements of the future peace,
in as far as they shall concern his
interests.

Art. 5. Every thing relating to
the subsistence, equipment, and
transport; to hospitals and all
other objects necessary to sup-
port amd facilitate the movements
of the troops, and the operations
of the war, shall be regulated by
a particular Convention.

(L. 8.) Crancarry.

(L.S.) Le Baron de Hacke.

(L.S.) Le Baron de Berx-

HEIM.

[The other Treaties of Acces-
sion are in the same style and
form. ]

TREATIES OF SUBSIDY.

(No. 1.)—Baprn.

Treaty of Subsidy between Great
Britain and Baden, signed at
Brussels, 19th May, 1815.

Art. 1. His Britannic Majesty
engages to pay to his Royal High-
ness the Grand Duke of Baden, a
subsidy of 11]. 2s. per man for
the service of the year ending the
Ist of April, 1816, to the num-
ber of 16,000 men. This subsidy
shall be paid in London at the
end of each month, by monthly
instalments, to the person duly
authorised to receive the same
on the part of his Royal High-
ness the Grand Duke of Baden,
and the first payment is to be
made upon the exchange of the
ratifications of this ‘Treaty.

In case Peace should take place
or be signed between the Allied
Powers and France hefore the
expiration of the said year, the
subsidy shall be paid up to the
end of the month in which the
Definitive Treaty shall have been
signed; and his Britannic Ma-

373

jesty promises, in addition, to pay
to his Royal Highness the Grand
Duke of Baden, the subsidy of
one month, to cover the expenses
of the return of his troops within
his own frontiers.

Art. 3. His Royal Highness
the Prince Regent, acting in the
name and on the behalf of his
Majesty the King of Great Bri-
tain and Ireland, shall commis-
sion an Officer to the Head Quar-
ters of his Royal Highness the
Grand Duke of Baden, in order
to report the military operations ;
and this officer shall be permitted
to ascertain that the contingent
of his Royal Highness is kept
complete. Signed,

{All the Treaties contain an
article similar to this.]

(L. 8.) Wetrineton.
(L. 8S.) De Francxen.

(No. 2.)—Bavaria.

Treaty of Subsidy between Great
Britain and Bavaria, signed at
Brussels, 7th June, 1815.

Art. 1. His Britannic Majesty
engages to pay to his Majesty the
King of Bavaria a subsidy of
111. 2s. per man, for the service
of the year ending on the Ist of
April 1816, to the number of
60,000 men; this subsidy shall
be paid in London at the end of
each month, by monthly instal-
ments, to the person duly autho-
rised to receive the same on the
part of his Bavarian Majesty, and
the first payment is to be made
upon the exchange of the ratifica-
tions of this treaty. f

In case peace should take place,
or be signed between the Allied
Powers and France before the ex-
piration of the said year, the sub-
sidy shall be paid up to the end of
the month in which the definitive

treaty

374

and his Britannic Majesty pro-
mises, in addition, to pay to his
Bavarian Majesty the subsidy of
two months, to cover the expenses
of the return of his troops within
his own frontiers.
(Signed)
(L.S.) WELLINGTON.
(L.S.) J. Wasnineton.

(No. 3.)—DeEnmark.

Treaty between Great Britain and
Denmark, signed at Paris 14th
July 1815.

Art. 1. His Britannic Majesty
engages to pay his Majesty the
King of Denmark a subsidy of
111. 2s. per man, for the service
of the year ending on the Ist of
April 1816, to the number of
15,000 men: this subsidy shall
be paid in London at the end of
each month, by monthly instal-
ments, to the person duly autho-
rise to receive the same on the
oe of his Majesty the King of

enmark, and the first payment
is to be made upon the exchange
of the ratifications of this Treaty.

In case peace should take place
or be signed between the Allied
Powers and France before the ex-
piration of the said year, the sub-
sidy shall be paid up to the end of
the month in which the Definitive
Treaty shall have been signed :
and his Britannic Majesty pro-
mises, in addition, to pay to his
Majesty the King of Denmark the
subsidy of two months, to cover
the expenses of the return of his
troops within his own frontiers.

(Signed)
(L.S.) Weirneron.
(L. S.) Warrersporrr.

ANNUAL REGISTER,

treaty shall have been signed; -

1816.

(No. 4.)—Hanover.

Treaty of Subsidy between his Ma-
jesty and tke Hanoverian Govern-
ment, (with eight additional Ar-
ticles annexed), signed at Paris
the 26th of August 1815.

Art. 1. His Britannic Majesty
engages to pay the Hanoverian
Government a subsidy of 111. Qs.
per man, for the service of the
year ending on the Ist of April
1816, to the number of 26,400
men. ‘This subsidy shall be paid
in London, at the end of each
month, by monthly instalments,
to the person duly authorised to
receive the same on the part of
the Hanoverian Government.
This Treaty beginning to be in
force from the 25th of May last.

In case peace should take place
or be signed between the Allied
Powers and France before the ex-
piration of the said year, the sub-
sidy shail be paid up to the end
of the month in which the Defini-
tive Treaty shall have been signed ;
and his Britannic Majesty pro-
mises, in addition, to pay to the
Hanoverian Government the sub-
sidy of one month, to cover the
expenses of the return of the
troops within the Hanoverian
frontier. (Signed)

(L.S.) Weriineton.
(L. S.) Munster.

ADDITIONAL ARTICLES.

Art. 1. Whereas his Royal
Highness the Prince Regent, in
the name and on behalf of his
Majesty the King of Hanover,
has agreed to contribute, for the
common cause, the continued ser-
vices of 16,400 men, heretofore
subsidized by Great Britain, over
and above the contingent of

10,000 men;

SRA BRE PAP BRS;

10,000 men; and as the rate of
111. 2s. per man, paid in London,
is insufficient to defray the ex-
pense of this additional corps, his
Royal Highness the Prince Re-
gent, acting in the name and on
the behalf of his Majesty the King
of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, agrees to pay
monthly to Hanover such sum as
shall be found to cover the actual
expense to {anover of the above-
mentioned 16,400 men.

Art. 2. The Commanding Offi-
cer of the said army shall give in
to the Comptroller of Army Ac-
counts with the British army,
‘monthly, an estimate of the ex-
pense incurred, including pay and
other allowances to the officers
and troops, and contingent ex-
penses of all descriptions. The
amount of this estimate, which
shall exceed the sum of 111. Qs.
per man, paid in London for the
16,400 men, after having been
examined and checked, shall be
paid to the Hanoverian military
chest with the army.

Art. 3. Hanover shall be at
no expense for provisions or hos-
pitals for the officers and troops
of this corps of 16,400 men, and
the British Government shall be
entitled to receive the stoppage of
eighteen pfennigs per diem, which
is usually deducted from the pay
of every non-commissioned officer,
musician and private, while in
hospital.

Art. 4. All arms, accoutre-
ments, camp-kettles, and other
military effects belonging to the
said corps, which may be lost, or
become unserviceable during the
existence of this Treaty, shall be
replaced at the expense of Great
Britain.

375

The British Government shall
likewise make good to individuals
the amount of their personal
losses, to which they may be en-
titled according to the regulations
of the Hanoverian army, such
losses being first investigated,
ascertained, and certified by a
Board of Hanoverian Officers,
whose proceedings, and the regu-
lations by which they are govern-
ed, are to be submitted to the
Comptroller of Army Accounts.

(No. 5.)—Hessz (Granp Duke.)

Treaty of Subsidy between Great
Britain and Hesse, signed at Pa-
ris, 15th July 1815.

Art. 1. His Britannic Majesty
engages to pay to his Royal High-
ness the Grand Duke of Hesse a
subsidy of 111. 2s. per man, for
the service of the year ending on
the 1st April 1816, to the number
of 8,000 men; this subsidy shall
be paid in London at the end of
each month, by monthly instal-
ments, to the person duly autho-
rised to receive the same on the
part of his Royal Highness the
Grand Duke of Hesse, and the
first payment is to be made upon
the exchange of the ratifications
of this Treaty.

In case peace should take place
or be signed between the Allied
Powers and France before the ex-
piration of the said year, the sub-
sidy shall be paid up to the end of
the month in which the Definitive
Treaty shall have been signed ;
and his Britannic Majesty pro-
mises, in addition, to pay to his
Royal Highness the Grand Duke
of Hesse the subsidy of one month,
to cover the expenses of the re-

turn

376 ANNUAL REGISTER,

turn of his troops within his own
frontiers.
Done at Paris this 15th day of
July, 1815.
(Signed)
(L.S.) WeLiincron.
(L.8.) Lieut. Gen. Baron
Der ScHAEFFER.

(No. 6 )—Sarpin1.
Treaty of Subsidy beiween Great
Britain and Sardinia, signed at
Brussels, May 2, 1815.

Art. 1. His Britannic Majesty
engages to pay to his Majesty the
King of Sardinia a subsidy of
11f. 2s. sterling per man, for the
service of the year ending on the

\ist of April 1816, to the number
of 15,000 men. ‘This subsidy
shall be paid in London at the
end of each month, by monthly
instalments, to the persons duly
authorised to receive the same on
the part of his Sardinian Majesty,
and the first payment is to be
made upon the exchange of the
ratifications of the present treaty.
In case peace should be signed
between the Allied Powers and

1816.

France before the expiration of
the said year, the subsidy shall be
paid up to the end of the month
in which the Definitive Treaty
shall have been signed :—and his
Britannic Majesty promises, in
addition, to pay to his Majesty
the King of Sardinia one month's
subsidy, to cover the expenses of
the return of his Majesty’s troops
within his own frontier.

Art.2. In case his Sardinian
Majesty should have it in his
power to increase his army in the
field to the number of 30,000
men, the possibility of which is
stated in the third article of the
treaty of accession of his said Ma-
jesty, signed at Vienna on the 9th
of April, 1815, bis Royal High-
ness the Regent will take the cir-
cumstance into consideration, and
will consult upon the means of
assisting his Majesty the King of
Sardinia to carry this additional
exertion into effect.

Done at Brussels the 2d of
May, 1815.

(Signed)
(L.8.) Weciineron,
(L.S8.) Sr. Martin v’Actieg.

Saxony agrees to furnish 8,000 men at the same rate.

IW urtetmbutet ett isetelsser sci. oe. 5 atte ; ve. J NQZOjO0O
he Dukes-areunbeare t.’, 2) Paes ols ee 1,600
Brunswick Dahetairel . oi c ee ce et ee TPL AS
I PAMCTOME ea ee de sie. eH MI O03 , oe, 750
LEGS A eae ease, Gators FES toi TES 4 = 7,500
Holstein Oldenbure Stic aw ain eee PP AS I cai 1,600
The Princes of Hohenzollern..............0000- . 500
Lubeck, Hamburgh, and Bremen........... ; 3,000
Mecklenburg-Schwerin.. ........ Scat eee +..+. 3,800
aoe Pat Strelitz . A altds alent eof 800
Nassau... -.... Vibe BOP, ID. whieh os Se eb
Reuss...... 5 Fiesta e) bli Soe dake Sees

Dukes of Saxe- er 2
Saxe- -Meinungen, and. ve eee
Saxe-Hildburghausen eeoereeoseevoeteoee

eeeeee Fes toe

STATE PAPERS. 37
Saxe-Gotha and Altenburg............ art a 2,2Cc0
Saxe-Weimar and Ejisenach..... TAT ES .. TENE 1,600
Schauenbourg-Lippe and Lipsse...-..........+.. 1,300
Schwartzenburg............. RRS POO Y - 1,300
Waldeck and Pyrmont ......... Pe So S800

———

Russta.

Convention of Subsidy between Great
Britain and Russia, signed at Pa-
ris, 4th October, 1815.

His Majesty the King of the
United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, King of Hanover,
and his Majesty the Emperor of
all the Russias, considering, that
at the commencement of the pre-
sent war, an anxious desire to se-
cure, by sure and paramount
means, the success of a struggle
on which the peace and security
of Europe depended, had deter-
mined the two Cabinets of Eng-
land and Russia to increase the
number of troops destined to be
employed against the common
enemy, beyond what was stipu-
lated for in the Treaty of General
Alliance :

That his Majesty the Emperor
of all the Russias has actually
marched into France about one
hundred thousand men beyond
the contingent mentioned in the
said Treaty :

Moreover, that measures had
been adopted for collecting from
different points of the Russian
Empire a second army of 150,000
men, to be brought into active
service in the field :

That this army had actually
passed the frontiers, and had ad-
vanced mto Franconia, whence it
was judged expedient to order it
to fall back, in consequence of the
happy events which had put an
end to all resistance on the part
of the enemy :

the sum of 416,666].

Considering likewise, that a
corps of 40,000 men had order
to join the army under the Duke
of Wellington, and to serve in it
during the war, that these prepa-
rations and military movements
on the part of his Majesty the
Emperor of all the Russias have
been attended with pecuniary sa-
cvifices, and have subjected his
Imperial Majesty to expenses
which it would be unjust he
should exclusively defray, and
desirous of coming to an equitable
arrangement on these points ;
Plenipotentiaries Lord Castle-
reagh and the Sieur Pozzo di
Borgo.

Art. 1. His Majesty the King
of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland engages to
pay to his Majesty the Emperor of
all the Russias, under the head of
Additional Subsidy, and as com-
pensation for a part of the extra-
ordinary expenses occasioned by
the aforementioned armament,
13s. 4d.
sterling.

Art. 2. This sum shall be pay-
able in London, by four monthly
instalments ; the first payment to
take place at one month from the
signing of the present Act.

Art. 3. The present Conven-
tion shall be ratified, and the
ratifications thereof shall be ex-
changed within two months, or
sooner if possible.

In faith of which, the respective
Plenipotentiaries have signed the
present Convention, and have

affixed

378 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

affixed thereunto the seal of their
arms.

Done at Paris the 4th of Octo-
ber, in the year of our Lord 1815.
(Signed)

(L.S.) CasTLernaGH.
(L.S.) Pozzo v1 Borco.

Copy of a Dispatch addressed to the
Portuguese Minister at the Court
of Rome, dated Palace at Rio
Janeiro, April 1, 1815.

His Royal Highness the Prince
Regent, my master, having taken
under his consideration the in-
tentions of Pius VII. as published
in his bull, Solicitudo Omnium,
dated 7th August last year, by
which his Holiness has thought
proper to revive the Company of
Jesus, which was extinct, thereby
derogating, in so far as the au-
thority of the Church is concern-
ed, from the other bull, Dominus
ac Redemptor noster, of Clement
XIV. of glorious memory: His
Royal Highness is snrprised at
this determination of his Holi-
ness, this Court never having
been informed of it in any way
before, although it has had most
reasou to complain of the offences
of the Company of Jesus, against
which Portugal proceeded in the
most energetic manner, by the
ordinance of September 3, 1759.
The positive intentions of his
Royal Highness being to main-
tain in their utmost rigour the
dispositions of the above orili-
nance, whatever may be the de-
termination of other crowned
heads, even of such as associated
for the extinction of the said
Company, my august master com-
mands me to communicate his
resolution to you, in order that

you immediately present a note
declaratory of the invariable prin-
ciples which his Royal Highness
intends to maintain, and con-
formatly to which he enjoins your
Lordship to admit no negotiation,
either verbal or written, on this
subject. This determination of
his Royal Highness being found-
ed on reasons the most solid and
proper, can never be considered
as affecting in any way the inva-
riable sentiments of his venera-
tion and filial love towards the
sacred person of his Holiness,
and which you are specially
charged to express.
(Signed)
Marquis D’Acurrar.
To Jose Manuel Pinto, Mi-
nister Plenipotentiary at
the Court of Rome.

Papers relative to the Convention
for the Evacuation of Puris, laid
before the House of Commons.

1. The first Article is the Con-
vention itself, which has already
appeared.

2. Copy of a Dispatch from Earl
Bathurst to the Duke of Wel-
lington; Downing-street, July
7, 1815.

War Department, London,
July 7, 1815.

My Lord ;—Although your
Grace has stated distinctly that
the Convention entered into by
you and Marshal Prince Blucher
on the one hand, and certain

French authorities on the other, |

upon the 3d instant, while it de-
cided all the military questions,
had touched nothing political ;
and although it cannot be imagin-
ed that in a Convention neyo-
tiated with these authorities by

Prince

!
|

SWTGAVIVE OP\A P.EIR'S.

Prince Blucher and your Grace,
you would enter into any engage-
ment whereby it should be pre-
sumed that his most Christian
Majesty was absolutely precluded
from the just exercise of his au-
thority in bringing to condign
punishment such of his subjects
as had, by their treasonable ma-
chinations and unprovoked rebel-
lion, forfeited all claim to his
Majesty's clemency and forbear-
ance; yet in order that no doubt
should be entertained as to the
sense with which this article is
considered by the Prince Regent,
in conveying his entire approba-
tion of the Convention, J am com-
manded to state, that his Royal
Highness deems the 12th Article
of it to be binding only on the
conduct of the British and Prus-
sian commanders, and the com-
manders of such of the Allies as
may become parties to the present
Conyention by their ratification
of it. I have, &c.
(Signed) . Baruurst.
His Grace the Duke of Wel-
lington, &c.

3. Copy of a Dispatch from the
Duke of Wellington to Earl
Bathurst; dated Paris, July
13, 1815.

My Lord ;—I have had the ho-
nour of receiving your Lordship’s
letter, marked ‘‘ separate,” of the
7th inst. regarding the Conven-
tion of the 3d.

The Convention binds nobody
except the parties to it; viz. the
French army on one side, and the
Allied armies under Marshal Blu-
cher and myself on the other ;
and the 12th Article cannot be
considered, and never was in-

379

tended, to bind any other persons
or authorities whatever, unless
they should become parties to the
Convention. I have, &c.

(Signed) WerLvLINcToN.
The Earl Bathurst, &c.

Memorandum of the Duke of Wel-
lington, communicated by his
Grace to the Ministers of tive
Allied Powers.

It is extraordinary that Madame
la Maréchale Ney should have
thought proper to publish in print
parts of a conversation which she
is supposed to have had with the
Duke of Wellington, and that she
has omitted to publish that which
is a much better record of the
Duke’s opinion on the subject to
which the conversation related,
viz. the Duke’s letter to the Mar-
shal Prince de la Moskwa, in an-
swer to the Marshal's note to his
Grace. That letter was as fol-
lows :—

‘** J have had the honour of re-
ceiving the note which you ad-
dressed me on the 13th of No-
veniber, relating to the operation
of the capitulation of Paris on
your case.

‘“* The capitulation of Paris of
the Sd of July was made between
the commanders in chief of the
allied British and Prussian arniies
on the one part, and the Prince
d’Eckmuhl, commander in chief
of the French army, on the other,
and related exclusively to the mi-
litary occupation of Paris.

<< The object of the 12th Ar-
ticle was to prevent the adoption
of any measures of severity under
the military authority of those
who made it, towards any persons
in Paris, on account of the offices

which

380

which they had filled, or their
conduct, or their political opi-
nions ; but it was never intended,
and could not be intended, to
prevent either the existing Fi ench
government, under whose autho-
rity the French commander in
chief must have acted, or any
French government wh ch should
succeed to it, from acting in this
respect as it might deem fit.”

It is obvious from this letter,
that the Duke of Wellington, one
of the parties to the capitwation
of Paris, considers that that in-
strument contains nothing which
can prevent the King from bring-
ing Marshal Ney to trial, in such
manner as his Majesty may think
proper.

The contents of the capitulation
fully confirm the justice of the
Duke's opinion. It is made be-
tween the commanders in chief
of the contending armies respec-
tively, and the first nine articles
relate solely to the mode and time
of the evacuation of Paris by the
French army, and of the occupa-
tion of the British and Prussian
arinies.

The tenth Article provides, that
the existing authorities shall
be respected by the two com-
manders in chief of the Allies ;
the 11th, that public property shall
be respected, and that the Allies
will not interfere “en aucune
maniére dans leur administration,
et dans leur gestion;’’ and the
12th Article states, ‘* seront pa-
reillement respectées les personnes
et les proprietés particuliéres, les
habitans, et en géneral tous les
invidus qui se trouvent dans la
capitale, continueront a jouir de
leurs droits et libertés, sais pou-
voir étre inquietées, cu recherchés

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

en rien relativement aux fonctions
qu’ils uecupent, ou aurvient occu-
pées, a leur conduite et a leurs
opinions politiques.”

By whom were these private
properties and persons to be in
like manner respec'ed? By the
allied generals and their troops,
mentioned in the 10th and 11th
Articles ; and not by other par-
ties to whom the Convention did
not relate in any manner.

The 13th Article provides, that
‘* Jes troupes etrangéres”’ shall not
obstruct the carriaye of provisions
by land or water to the capital.

Thus it appears, that every Ar-
ticle in the Convention relates ex-
clusively to the operations of the
different armies, or to the conduct
of the Allies, and that of their
generals, when they should enter
Paris ; and, as the Duke of Wel-
lington states in his dispatch of
the 4th of July, with which he
transmitted the Convention to
England, ‘‘ decided all the mili-
tary points then existing at Paris,
and touched nothing political.”

But it appears clearly that not
only this was the Duke's opinion
of the Convention at the time it
was signed, but likewise the opi-
nion of Carnot, of Marshal Ney,
and of every cther person who
had an interest in considering the
subject.

Carnot says, in the Exposé de la
Conduite Politique de M. Carnot,
page 43,—‘‘ Il fat resolu d’en-
voyer aux Généraux Anglois et
Prussiens une commission spé-
ciale, chargée de leur proposer
une Convention purement mili-
tare, pour la remise de la Ville
de Paris éntre mains, en écartant
toute question politique, puisqu’on

‘he pouvoit préjuger quelles se-

roient

SQA TE :PiAiP ERS.

roient les intentions des Alliées
lorsquw’ils seroient réunis.”’

It appears that Marshal Ney
fled from Paris in disguise with a
passport given to him by the Duc
d'Otrante, under a feigned name,
on the 6th July. He could not
be supposed to be ignorant of the
tenor of the 12th Article of the
Convention, and he must then
have knuwn whether it was the
intention of the parties who made
it, that it should protect him from
the measures which the king, then
at St. Denis, should think proper
to adopt against him.

But if Marshal Ney could be
' supposed ignorant of the inten-
tion of the 12th Article, the Duc
d’Otrante could not, as he was
at the head of the provisional
government, under whose autho-
rity the Prince d’Eckmuhl must
have acted when he signed the
Convention.

Would the Duc d’Otrante have
given a passport under a feigned
name to Marshal Ney, if he had
understood the 12th Article as
giving the Marshal any protec-
tion, excepting against measures
of severity by the two comman-
ders in chief ?

Another proof of what was the
opinion of the Duc d'Otrante, of
the king’s minister, and all the
persons most interested in esta-
blishing the meaning now at-
tempted to be given to the 12th
Article of the Convention of the
3d of July, is the King’s Procla-
mation of the 24th July, by which
nineteen persons are ordered for
trial, and thirty-eight persons are
ordered to quit Paris, and to re-
side in particular parts of France,
under the observation and super-
intendence of the police, till the

381

Chambers should decide
their fate.

Did the Duc d’Otrante, did any
of the persons who are the ob-
jects of this proclamation, did any
persons on their behalf, even then,
or now, claim for them the pro-
tection of the 12th Article of the
Convention ?

Certainly the Convention was
then understood, as it ought to
be understood now, viz. that it
was exclusively military, and was
never intended to bind the then
existing government of France,
or any government which should
succeed it.

upon

Convention between the Emperor of
Russia, the Emperor of Austria,
and the Kiig of Prussia.

In the name of the Most Eloly
and Indivisible Trinity.

Their Majesties the Emperor of

Austria, the King of Prussia, and
the Emperor of Russia, having,
in consequence of the great events
which have marked the course of
the three last years in Europe,
and especially of the blessings
which it has pleased Divine Pro-
vidence to shower down upon
those States, which place their
confidence and their hope on it
alone, acquired the intimate cun-
viction of the necessity of found-
ing the conduct to be observed by
the Powers in their reciprocal re-
lations upon the sublime truths
which the Holy Religion of our
Saviour teaches—

They solemnly declare that the
present act has no other object
than to publish, in the face of the
whole world, their fixed resolu-
‘tion, both in the administration
of their respective states, and in

|

382

their political relations with every
other Government, to take for
their sole guide the precepts of
that Holy Religion; namely, the
precepts of justice, Christian cha-
rity, and peace, which, far from
being applicable only to private
concerns, must have an immedi-
ate influence on the Councils of
Princes, and guide all their steps,
as being the only means of con-
solidating human institutions, and
remedying their imperfections.
In consequence their Majesties
have agreed on the following ar-
ticles :—

Art. 1. Conformably to the
words of the Holy Scriptures,
which command all men to con-
sider each other as brethren, the
three contracting Monarchs will
remain united by the bonds of a
true and indissoluble fraternity,
and considering each other as fel-
low countrymen, they will on all
occasions, and in all places, lend
each other aid and assistance ; and
regarding themselves towards
their subjects and armies as fa-
thers of families, they will lead
them, in the same spirit of frater-
nity with which they are anima-
ted, to prutect religion, peace,
and justice.

Art. 2. In consequence, the sole
principle in force, whether be-
tween the said Governments or
between their subjects, shall be
that of doing each other recipro-
cal service, and of testifying, by
unalterable good will, the mutual
affection with which they ought
to be animated, to consider them-
selves all as members of one and
the same Christian nation, the
three Allied Princes looking on
themselves as merely delegated
by Providence to govern three

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

branches of the one family,
namely, Austria, Prussia, and
Russia ; thus confessing that the
Christian world, of which they
and their people form a part, has,
in reality, no other Sovereign
than Him to whom alone power
really belongs, because in Him
alone are found all the treasures
of love, science, and infinite wis-
dom, that is to say, God, our Di-
vine Saviour, the Word of the
Most High, the Word of Life.
Their Majesties consequently re-
commend to their people, with the
most tender solicitude, as the sole
means of enjoying that peace
which arises from a good con-
science, and which alone is du-
rable, to strengthen themselves
every day more and more in the
principles and exercise of the du-
ties which the Divine Saviour has
taught to mankind.

Art. 3. All the Powers who
shall choose solemnly to avow the
sacred principles which have dic-
tated the present act, and shall
acknowledge how important it is
for the happiness of nations, too
long agitated, that these truths
should henceforth exercise over
the destinies of mankind all the
influence which belongs to them,
will be received with equal ardour
and affection into this holy al-
liance.

Done in triplicate, and signed
“at Paris, the year of grace, 1815,
14th (26th) September.

(L.S8.) Francis.

(L.8.) Freperick WILLIAM.

(L.S.) ALEXANDER.

Decree of the Prince Regent of Por-

tugal, respecting Brazil.
Don John, by the grace of God, :
Prince

STATE

Prince Regent of Portugal and of
the two Algarves, &c. I make
known to all who shall see these
presents, that having constantly
in my royal mind the most lively
wish to cause the prosperity of
the states which Divine Provi-
dence has intrusted to my sove-
reign administration: giving, at
the same time, due importance to
the vast extent and locality of my
dominions in America; to the
abundance and variety of the pre-
cious elements of riches which
they contain within themselves ;
and besides, perceiving how
advantageous to my faithful
subjects in general must be a per-
fect union and identity of inte-
rests between my kingdoms of
Portugal and the two Algarves,
and my dominions of Brazil, by
raising the latter to that political
rank and scale to which, for the
above-mentioned reasons, they
are entitled ; and in which my
said dominions have already been
considered by the Plenipotenti-
aries of the Powers who formed
the Congress at Vienna, both in
the treaty of alliance concluded
on the 8th of April this year, and
in the final treaty of the said Con-
gress: I have therefore determin-
ed, and it is my pleasure to ordain
as follows :—

1. That from and after the pub-
lication of these presents, the state
of Brazil shall be raised to the
dignity, pre-eminence, and deno-
mination of the Kingdom of Bra-
zil.

2. That my kingdoms of Por-
tugal, the two Algarves, and Bra-
zil, shall in future, form one sole
kingdom, under the title of the
United Kingdom of Portugal, and
of Brazil, and the two Algarves.

PAPE RS.

3. That for the titles inherent
in the crown of Portugal, and
which it has hitherto used, shall
be substituted in all public acts,
the new title of Prince Regent of
the United Kingdom of Portugal,
Brazil, and the two Algarves, .&c.

Given at the palace of Rio de
Janeiro, this 16th Dec. 1815.

(Signed) Tue Prince.

(Countersigned)

The Marquis De Acutar.

383

A Convention to regulate the Com-
merce between the territories of
the United States and those of
his Britannic Majesty.

The United States of America
and his Britannic Majesty, being
desirous by a Convention to re-
gulate the commerce and naviga-
tion between their respective coun-
tries, territories, and people, in
such a manner as to render the
same reciprocally beneficial and
satisfactory, have respectively
named Plenipotentiaries, and giv-
en them full powers to treat of
and conclude such Convention ;
that is to say, the President of the
United States, by and with the
consent of the Senate thereof,
hath appointed for their Plenipo-
tentiaries John Quincy Adams,
Henry Clay, and Albert Gallatin,
citizens of the United States ; and
his Royal Highness the Prince
Regent, acting in the name and
on behalf of his Majesty, has
named for his Plenipotentiaries,
the Right Hon. Frederick John
Robinson, Vice President of the
Committee of Privy Council for
Trade and Plantations, Joint
Paymaster of his Majesty's Forces,
and a Member of the Imperial
Parliament ; Henry Goulburn, Esq.

a

354

a Member of the Imperial Par-
liament, and Under Secretary of
State, and William Adams, Esq.
Doctor of Civil Laws; and the
said Plenipotentiaries having mu-
tually produced and shewn their
said full powers, and exchanged
copies of the same, have agreed on
and concluded the following Ar-
ticles, viz.—

Art. 1. There shall be between
the territories of the United States
of America, and all the territories
of his Britannic Majesty in Eu-
rope, a reciprocal liberty of com-
merce. The inhabitants of the
two countries respectively shall
have liberty freely and securely
to come with their ships and car-
goes to all such places, ports, and
rivers in the territories aforesaid
to which other foreigners are per-
mitted to come, to enter into the
same, and to remain and reside in
any parts of the said territories re-
spectively; al-o tohire and occupy
houses and warehouses for the pur-
poses of theircommerce ; and gene-
rally, the merchants and traders of
each nation respectively shall en-
joy the niost complete protection
and security for their commerce,
but subject always to the laws and
statutes of the two countries re-
spectively.

2. No higher or other duties
shall be imposed on the importa-
tion to the United States of any
ariicles, the growth, produce, or
manufacture of his Britannic Ma-
jesty’s territories in Europe, and
no higher or other duties shall be
imposed on the importation into
the territories of his Britannic
Majesty in Europe of any articles,
the growth produce, or manufac-
ture of the United States, than
are or shall be payable on the like

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

articles, being the growth, pro-
duce, or manufacture of any other
foreign countries; nor shall any
higher or other duties or charges
be imposed on either of the two
countries, on the exportation of
any articles to the United States,
or to his Britannic Majesty's ter-
ritories in Europe respectively,
than such as are payable on the
exportation of the like articles to
any other foreign country ; nor
shall any prohibition be imposed
on the exportation or importation
of any articles, the growth, pro-
duce, or manufacture of the Uni-
ted States, or of his Britannic
Majesty’s territories in Europe, to
or from the said territories of his
Britannic Majesty in Europe, to
or from the said United States,
which shall not be equally ex-
tended to all other nations.

No higher or other duties or
charges shall be imposed in any
of the ports of.the United States
on British vessels, than those pay~-
able in the same ports by vessels
of the United States, nor in the
ports of any of his Britannic Ma-
jesty’s territories in Europe, on
the vessels of the United States,
than shall be payable in the same
ports on British vessels. The same
duties shall be paid on the impor-
tation into the United States of
any articles the growth, produce,
or manufacture of his Britannic
Majesty's territories in Europe,
whether such importation shall be
in vessels of the United States, or
in British vessels, and the same
duties shall be paid on the impor-
tation into the ports of any of his
Britannic Majesty's territories in
Europe, of any article the growth,
produce, or manufacture of the
United States, whether such im-

portation

STAIE BA PERS.

portation shall be in British ves-
sels, or in the vessels of the Uni-
ted States.

The same duties shall be paid
and the same bounties allowed on
the exportation of any articles, the
growth, produce, or manufacture
of his Britannic Majesty's territo-
ries in Kurope to the United
States, whether such exportation
shall be in British vessels, or ves-
sels of the United States, and the
same duties shall be paid, and the
same bounties allowed on the ex-
portation of anyarticle thegrowth,
produce, or manufacture of the
United States to his Britannic Ma-
jesty’s territories in Europe, whe-
ther such exportation shall be in
British vessels, or in vessels of the
United States.

It is further agreed, that in all
places where drawbacks are or
may be allowed upon the re-ex-
portation of any goods the growth,
produce, or manufacture of cither
country respectively, the amount
of the said drawbacks shall be the
same, whetherthe said goods shall
have been originally imported in
a British or American vessel, but
when such re-exportation shall
take place from the United States
in a British vessel, or from terri-
tories of his Britannic Majesty in
Europe in an American vessel, to
any other foreign nation ; the two
Contracting Parties reserve to
themselves respectively the right
of regulating or diminishing in
such case the amount of the said
drawback.

The intercourse between the
United States and his. Britannic
Majesty's possessions in the West
Indies, and on the Continent of
North America, shall not be af-
fected by any of the provisions of

Vor. LVIII.

385

this article, but each party shall
remain in the complete possession
of its rights, with respect to such
an intercourse.

3. His BritannicMajesty agrees
that the vessels of the United
States of America shall be admit-
ted, and hospitably received, at
the principal settlements of the
British dominions in the East In-
dies ; videlicet, Calcutta, Madras,
Bombay, and the Prince of
Wales’s Island; and that the citi-
zens of the said United States
may freely carry on trade between
the said principal settlements and
thesaid United States in allarticles
of which the importation and ex-
portation respectively to and fiom
the said territories shall not be
entirely prohibited, provided only,
that it shall not be lawful for
them, in any time of war between
the Briuish Government and any
State or Power whatever, to ex-
port from the said territories,
without the special permission of
the British Government, any mi-
litary stores, or naval stores, or
rice ; the citizens of the United
States shall pay for their vessels,
when admitted, no higher or
other duty or charge. than shall
be payable on the vessels of the
most favoured European nations,
and they shall pay no higher or
other duties or charges on the im-
portation or exportation of the
cargoes of the said vessels, than
shall be payable on the same ar-
ticles when imported or exported
in the vessels of the most favour-
ed European nations. But it is
expressly agreed, that the vessels
of the United States shall not
carry any articles from the said
principal settlements to any port
or place, except to some port or

2C place

$86 ANNUAL REGISTER,

place in the United States of Ame-
rica, where the same shall be un-
laden. It is also understood, that
the permission granted by this
article is not to extend to allow
the vessels of the United States to
carry on any part of the coasting
trade of the said British territo-
ries, but the vessels of the Uni-
ted States having, in the first in-
stance, proceeded to one of the
said principal settlements of the
British dominions in the East In-
dies, and then going with their
original cargoes, or any part
thereof, from one of the said prin-
cipal settlements to another, shall
not be considered as carrying on
the coasting trade. The vessels
of the United States may also
touch for refreshments, but not
for commerce, in the course of
their voyage to or from the Bri-
tish territories in India, or to or
from the dominions of the Em-
peror of China, at the Cape of
Good Hope, the Island of St. He-
lena, or such other places as may be
in the possession of Great Britain,
in the African or Indian Seas, it
being well understood, that in all
that.regards these articles, the ci-
tizens of the United States shall
be subject, in all respects, to the
laws and regulations of the Bri-
tish Government from time to
time established.

4. It shall be free for each of the
two Contracting Parties respec-
tively, to appoint Consuls for the
protection of trade, to reside in
the dominions and territories of
the other party; but before any
Consul shall act as such, he shall
in the usual form be approved
and admitted by the Government
to which he is sent; and it is
hereby declared, that in case of

1816.

illegal or improper conduct to-
wards the laws or Government of
the country to which he is sent,
such Consul may either be pun-
ished according to law, if the
laws will reach the case, or be sent
back, the offended Government
assigning to the other the reasons
for the same.

It is hereby declared, that ei-
ther of the Contracting Parties
may except from the residence of
Consuls such particular places as
such party shall judge fit to be so
excepted.

5, This Convention, when the
same shall have been duly rati-
fied by the President of the Uni-
ted States, by and with the ad-
vice and consent of their Senate,
and by his Britannic Majesty ; and
the respective ratifications mutu-
ally exchanged, shall be binding
and obligatory on the said United
States and his Majesty for four
years from the date of its signa-
ture, and the ratifications shall be
exchanged in six months from
this time, or sooner, if possible.

Done at London, this 3d day of
July, in the year of our Lord, one
thousand eight hundred and fif-

(L. 8.) Joun Q. Avams.
(L. 8.) H. Cray.

(L.,8S.) AvBerr GaLcaTin.
(L.S.) Frep. J. Rozinson.
(L.S.) Henry Gourzsurn.
(L. 8.) Wirrram Apams.

Now therefore be it known,
that I, James Madison, President
of the United States of America,
having seen and considered the
foregoing Convention, have, by
and with the advice and consent
of the Senate, accepted, ratified,
and confirmed the same, and

every

SP AMSE 5 P A PERS,

every clause and article thereof,
subject to the exception contain-
ed in a declaration made by the
authority of his Britannic Majes,
ty, on the 24th day of November
last, a copy of which Declaration
is hereunto annexed.

In testimony whereof, I have
caused the seal of the United
States to be hereunto affixed, and
have signed the same with my
hand.

- Done at the city of Washing-
ton, this 22d day of December,
A.D. 1815, and of the indepen-
dence of the United States the
40th.
(L. S.) James Mapison,
By the President,
James Monroe,
Secretary of State.

DECLARATION.

The undersigned, his’ Britan-
nic Majesty’s Charge d’ Affaires
in the United States of America,
is commanded by his Royal High-
ness the Prince Regent, acting in the
name and on the behalf of his Ma-
jesty, to explain and declare, upon
the exchange of the ratifications
of the Convention concluded in
London on the 3d of July, in the
present year, for regulating the
commerce and navigation between
the two countries, that in conse-
quence of events which have hap-
pened in Europe subsequent to
the signature of the Convention
aforesaid, it has been deemed ex-
pedient and determined, in con-
junction with the Allied Sove-
reigns, that St. Helena shall be
the place allotted for the future
residence of General Napoleon
Bonaparte, under such regulations
as may be necessary for the per-
fect security of his person; and

387

it has been resolved, for that pur-
pose, that all ships and vessels
whatever, as well British ships
and vessels as others, excepting
only ships belonging to the East
India Company, shall be exclud-
ed from all communication with,
or approach to that island. . It
has therefore become impossible
to comply with so much of the
3d article of the Treaty as relates
to the liberty of touching for re-
freshments at the island of St,
Helena. And the ratifications of
the said Treaty will be exchanged
under the explicit declaration and
understanding, that the vessels of
the United States cannot be al-
lowed to touch at or hold any
communication whatever with the
said island, so long as the said
island shall continue to be the
place of residence of the said Na-
poleon Bonaparte.
(Signed)
AntuHony St. Joun Baker.
Washington, Nov. 24, 1815.

The Prince Regent's Speech on
Openmg the Session of Parlia-
ment, delivered by Commission,
Feb. 1st, 1816.

My Lords, and Gentlemen,

We are commanded by his Royal
Highness the Prince Regent to
express to you his deep regret at
the continuance of his Majesty’s
lamented indisposition.

The Prince Regent directs us
to acquaint you, that he has had
the greatest satisfaction in calling
you together, under circum-
stances which enable him to an-
nounce to you the restoration of
peace throughout Europe.

The splendid and decisive suc-
cesses obtained by his Majesty's

2C2Q arms,

388

arms, and those of the Allies, had
led, at an early period of the
campaign, to the re-establishment
of the authority of his most
Christian Majesty in the capital
of his dominions; and it has
been since that time his Royal
Highness’s most earnest endea-
vour to promote such arrange-
ments as appeared to him best
calculated to provide for the last-
ing repose and security of Eu-
rope.

In the adjustment of these ar-
rangements it was natural to ex-
pect that many difficulties would
occur; but the Prince Regent
trusts it will be found that, by
moderation and firmness, they
have been effectually surmounted.

To the intimate union which
has happily subsisted between the
Allied Powers, the nations of the
Continent have twice owed their
deliverance. His Royal High-
ness has no doubt that you will
be sensible of the great import-
ance of maintaining in its full
force that alliance, from which
so many advantages have already
been derived, and which affords
the best prospect of the continu-
ance of peace.

The Prince Regent has di-
rected copies of the several Trea-
ties and Conventions which have
been concluded to be laid before
you.

The extraordinary situation in
which the powers of Europe have
been placed, from the circum-
stances which have attended the
French Revolution, and more
especially in consequence of the

events of last year, has induced -

the Allies to adopt precautionary
measures, which they consider as
indispensably necessary for the
general security.

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

As his Royal Highness has con-
curred in these measures, from @
full conviction of their justice and
sound policy, he relies confidently
on your co-operation in such pro-
ceedings as may be necessary for
carrying them into effect.

Gentlemen of the House of
Commons ;—The Prince Regent
has directed the estimates for the
present year to be laid before you.

His Royal Highness is happy
to inform you, that the manufac-
tures, commerce, and revenue of
the United Kingdom are in a
flourishing condition.

The great exertions which you
enabled him to make in the course
of the last year, afforded the
means of bringing the contest in
which we were engaged to so
glorious and speedy a_termi-
nation.

The Prince Regent laments the
heavy pressure upon the country
which such exertions could not
fail to produce; and his Royal
Highness has commanded us to
assure you, that you may rely on
every disposition on his part to
concur in such measures of eco-
nomy, as may be found consistent
with the security of the country,
and with that station which we
occupy in Europe.

My Lords, and Gentlemen ;—
The negotiations which the Prince
Regent announced to you at the
end of the last session of Parlia-
ment, as being in progress, with
a view to a commercial arrange-
ment between this country and
the United States of America,
have been brought to a satisfac-
tory issue. His Royal Highness
has given orders, that a copy of
the ‘Treatv which has been con-
cluded shall te laid before you ;
and he confidently trusts, that

, the

STATE PAPERS.

the stipulations of it will prove
advantageous to the interests of
both countries, and cement the
good understanding which so
happily subsists between them.

The Prince Regent has com-
manded us to inform you, that
the hostilities in which we have
been involved in the island of
Ceylon, and on the Continent of
India, have been attended with
decisive success.

Those in Ceylon have termi-
nated in an arrangement highly
honourable to the British cha-
racter, and which cannot fail to
augment the security and internal
prosperity of that valuable pos-
session.

‘The operations in India have
led to an armistice, which gives
reason to hope that a peace may
have been concluded ou terms ad-
vantageous to our interests in
that part of the world.

At the close of a contest so ex-
tensive and imomentous as that in
which we have been so long en-
gaged in Kurope, and which bas
exalted the cha:acter aid military
renown of the British nation he-
yond all t:rimer, example, the
Prince Regent cannot but feel,
that, under Providence, he is in-
debted for the succes» which has
attended his exertions, tothe vis-
dom and firmness of Parliament,
and to the perseverance and public
spirit of his Majesty's peuple.

It will be the P ince Ri gent’s
constant endeavour to maintain,
by the justice and moderation of
his conduct, the high character
which this country has acquired
wnongst the nations of the » orld;
anil his Royal Highness has di-
rected us to express his sincere
and earnest hope, that the sam

389

union amongst ourselves, which
has enabled us to surmount so
many dangers, and has brought
this eventful struggle to so au-
spicious an issue, may now ani-
mate us in peace, and induce us
cordially to co-operate in all those
measures which may best mani-
fest our gratitude for the Divine
protection, and most effectually
promote the prosperity and hap-
piness of our country.

Treaty of Marriage between her
Royal Highness Princess Char-
lotte Augusta and his Serene
Highness Leopold George Fre-
derick, Duke of Saxe, Margrave
of Meissen, Landgrave of Thu-
ringuen, Prince of Coburg of
Saalfeld, &c. &c. &c.— Signed at
London, March 13, 1816

{n the nume of Almighty God,
Be it known unto all men, by

these presents, that whereas his

Royal Highsess the Prince Ke-

gent, acting in the name and on

the behalf of his most sacred

Majesty George the Third, by the

grace of God King of the United

Kingdom of Great Britain and

Ireland, has judged it proper that

an alliance should be contracted

between the family of his Ma-
jesty and that of his Serene High-
ness Leopold George Frederick,

Duke of Saxe. Margrave of Meis-

sen, Landgrave of Thuringuen,

Prince of Coburg of Saalfeld,

&e. &c. &e. anid has therefore, in

the name and on the behalf of his

Majes:y, consented, with the full

agreement of the parties interest-

ed, that a marriage shall be cele-
brated bets een the most high and
illustrious Princess Charlotte Au-
gusta, daughter of his Royal

Highness

390 ANNUAL

Highness the Prince of Wales,
Regent of the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Ireland, and
his Serene Highness Leopold
George Frederick, Duke of Saxe,
Margrave of Meissen, Landgrave
of Thuringuen, Prince of Coburg
of Saalfeld, &c.

In order, therefore, to attain
so desirable an end, and to treat,
conclude, and confirm the articles
of the said marriage, his Royal
Highness the Prince Regent, in
the name and on the behalf of
his Majesty, as well as his Serene
Highness Leopold George Fre-
derick, Duke of Saxe, Margrave
of Meissen, Landgrave of Thu-
ringuen, Prince of Coburg of
Saalfeld, &c. have named and au-
thorized mutually, viz.

His Royal Highness the Prince
Regent, in the name and on the
behalf of his Majesty, the most
reyerend father in God, his right
trusty and right entirely beloved
councillor Charles Manners Sut-
ton, Archbishop of Canterbury,
Primate of all England, and Me-
tropolitan ; his right trusty -and
well-beloved John Lord Eldon,
Chancellor of Great Britain ; his
right trusty and well-beloved
cousin and councillor Dudley,
Earl of Harrowby, President of
his Majesty’s Council; his right
trusty and well-beloved cousin
and councillor Henry Earl Bat-
hurst, one of his Majesty’s Prin-
cipal Secretaries of State; his
right trusty and well-beloved
cousin and councillor Robert
Banks, Earl of Liverpool, First
commissioner of his Majesty's
Treasury; his right trusty and
well-beloved councillor Robert
Stewart, commonly called Vis-
count Castlereagh, one other of

REGISTER, 1816.

his Majesties Principal Secreta-
ries of State; his right trusty
and well-beloved councillor Henry
Viscount Sidmouth, one other of
his Majesty’s Principal Secreta-
ries of State ; and his right trusty
and well-beloved councillor Ni-
cholas Vansittart, Chancellor and
Under Treasurer of his Majesty's
Exchequer.

And his said Serene Highness
Leopold George Frederick, Duke
of Saxe, Margrave of Meissen,
Landgrave of Thuringuen, Prince
of Coburg of Saalfeld, &e. &c. &e.
William Augustus Baron de Just,
Privy Councillor of his Majesty
the King of Saxony, his Envoy
Extraordinary and Minister Ple-
nipotentiary to his Britannic Ma-
jesty, King of Hanover, and Com-
mander of the order of Civil
Merit of Saxony ; who, by virtue
of their respective full powers,
which they have mutually com-
municated and exchanged, have
concluded and agreed upon the
following articles, viz.

Art. I. It is concluded and
agreed that the marriage between
her Royal Highness Princess
Charlotte Augusta and his Serene
Highness Leopold George Fre-
derick, Duke of Saxe, Margrave
of Meissen, Landgrave of Thu-
ringuen, Prince of Coburg of
Saalfeld, &c. &c. &c. shall be so-
lemnized in that part of the
United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, called Great Britain,
both being present, according to
the due tenour of the laws of
England, and the rites and ce-
remonies of the church of the
United Kingdom, as soon as the
same may conveniently be done.

II. His Royal Highness the
Prince Regent, acting in the

name

STATE PAPERS.

name and on the behalf of his
Majesty the king of the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, promises to secure to her
Royal Highness Princess Char-
lotte Augusta, and to his Serene
Highness Leopold George Fre-
derick, Duke of Saxe, Margrave
of Meissen, Landgrave of Thu-
ringuen, Prince of Coburg of
Saalteld, &c. &c. &c. during their
joint lives, and to the survivor of
them, the annual sums hereinafter
mentioned ;—that is to say, dur-
ing their joint lives, the annual
sum of 60,0001., to be paid quar-
terly; 10,0001. of which annual
sum, also to be paid quarterly,
shall be granted unto commis-
sioners, named for that purpose
by his Royal Highness the Prince
Regent, acting as aforesaid, to
be by them received for the sole
and separate use of the said Prin-
cess, notwithstanding her mar-
riage state, and without his Se-
rene Highness Leopold George
Frederick, Duke of Saxe, Mar-
grave of Meissen, Landgrave of
Thuringuen, Prince of Coburg
of Saalfeld, &c. &c. &c. having
any power over the same, and
which annual sum of 10,0001. so
payable quarterly, the said Prin-
cess shall not have power, either
separately or conjointly with his
Serene Highness Leopold George
Frederick, Duke of Saxe, Mar-
grave of Meissen, Landgrave of
Thuringuen, Prince of Coburg of
Saalfeld, &c. &c. &c. to alienate,
mortgage, or receive or direct to
be paid by way of anticipation ;
but the same shall, from time to
time as the same shall become
due, be paid and payable into the
proper hands of the said Princess
alone, upon her own sole receipt,

391

or to such person or persons to
whom she shall by writing, signed
by herself alone, from time to
time, as the same shall become
due, direct and order the same to
be paid, or otherwise to receive
the same on her sole behalf.

Il]. His Royal Highness the
Prince Regent, acting as afore-
said, engages to secure to her
Royal Highness Princess Char-
lotte Augusta the annual sum of
60,0001., to be paid to her during
her life, in case her Royal High-
ness shall survive his Serene High-
ness Leopold George Frederick,
Duke of Saxe, Margrave of Meis-
sen, Landgrave of Thuringuen,
Prince of Coburg of Saalfeld, &c.
&c. &c.; such annual sum to
commence in payment from the
death of his Serene Highness
Leopold George Frederick, Duke
of Saxe, Margrave of Meissen,
Landgrave of ‘Thuringuen, Prince
of Coburg of Saalfeld, &c. &c. &c.
in the lifetime of her Royal High-
ness Princess Charlotte Augusta,
and to be paid quarterly; and
the first quarterly payment is to
be made at the end of three ca-
lendar months after such his de-
cease, when the said annuity,
payable during their joint lives,.
is to determine.

And his Royal Highness the
Prince Regent, sv acting as afore-
said, further engages to secure
to his Serene Highness Leopold
George Frederick, Duke of Saxe,
Margrave of Meissen, Landgrave
of ‘Thuringuen, Prince of Coburg
of Saalfeld, &c. the annual sum
of 50,0001., to be paid to him
during his life, in case he shall
survive her Royal Highness Prin-
cess Charlotte Augusta; such an-
nual sum to commence in pay-

ment

392

ment from the death of her Royal
Highness, in the lifetime of his
Serene Highness, and to be paid
quarterly ; and the first quarterly
payment to be made at the end
of three calendar months after
such her decease, when the said
annuity, payable during their
joint lives, is to determine.

IV. The son or daughter, or
descendant of the said marriage
for the time being, next in suc-
cession to the Crown of the united
kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland after the Princess Char-
lotte Augusta, shall be brought
up in such manner as his Ma-
Jesty the King of the United King-
dom of Great Britain and Ire-
land, or his successors, may be
pleased to direct, and no chil-
dren of this marriage shall be
allowed to mari y without the con-
sent of his Majesty the King of
the United Kingdom of Great Bri-
tain and Ireland, or his successors
for the time being.

V. It is understood and agreed,
that her Royal Highness Prin-
cess Charlotte Augusta shall not,
at any time, leave the United
Kingdom without the permission,
in writing, of his Majesty, or of
the Prince Regent, acting in the
name and on the behalf of his
Maj‘sty, and without her Royal
Higshness’s own consent.

And in the event of her Royal
Highness being absent from this
country, in consequence of the
permission of his Majesty, or of
the Prince Regent, and of her
own consent, such residence abroad
shall in no case be protracted be-
yond the term approved by his
Majesty, or the Prince Revent,
and consented to by her Royal
VWighness. And it shall be com-

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

petent for her Royal Highness to
return to this country before the
expiration of such term, either in
consequence of directions for that
purpose, in writing from his Ma-
jesty, or from the Prince Regent,
or at her own pleasure.

VI. This treaty shall be rati-
fied by his Royal Highness the
Prince Regent on the behalf of
his Majesty, and by his said Se-
rene Highness, and the ratifica-
tions shall be exchanged in ten
days, or sooner, if possible.

In witness whereof, the re-
spective Plenipotentiaries have
signed it, and have affixed there-
unto the seals of their arms.

Done at London, the 13th day
of March, one thousand eight
hundred and sixteen.

ADDITIONAL ARTICLE.

It is hereby expressly declared,
that no article or provision, con-
tained in the treaty of marriage
signed this day, shall in any man-
ner be taken, or deemed to affect
or prejudice any right or prero-
gative of his Majesty, his heirs
or successors, touching or con-
cerning the education or mar-
riages of any of the children or
descendants of her Royal High-
ness Princess Charlotte Augusta,
or the education or marriages of
any of the Royal Family or their
descendants.

The present additional article
shall have the same force and
effect as if it were inserted, word
for word, in the treaty of mar-
riage signed this day. It shall be
included in the ratification of the
said treaty.

In witness whereof the respec-
tive Plenipotentiaries have signed

the

STA TEORPAPERS:

the same, and have affixed thereto
' the seals of their urnis.

PROCLAMATION.

Parma, March °0.
*“We, Francis, by the grace
of God Emperor of Austria, &c.
—By our letters-patent of the
Qd of April 1815, we made
known, that, on the request of
our beloved daughter, the Arch-
duchess Maria Louisa, Duchess
of Parma, Placentia, and Guas-
talla, we charged ourselves with
the preliminary administration of
these provinces. ‘Ihe circum-
stances which at that time led us
to such a determination being
happily ended, we restore the
thus intrusted government into
the hands of our beloved daugh-
ter; and we have ordered that
the same shall b+ made known to
the people by letters-patent. Done
at Milan, this 7th of March 1816,
the 25th of our reign.”
The above was accompanied by
the following proclamation :—
“We, Maria Louisa, Impe-
rial Princess, Archduchess of
Austria, by the grace of God
Duchess of Parma, Placentia,
and Guastalla, &¢e—Our illus-
trious and dearly beloved father,
his Majesty the Kmpercr and
King, having desired that on our
repairing to our duchies of Par-
ma, &c. we should again take into
our hands the government of
these vrovinces, which he had so
graciously accepted in trust for
us (as we communicated in our
letters-patent from the Imperial
Palace of Schoenbriunn of date the
Bist of March 1815), we have
therefore thought proper to make

3:3

known, as we hereby make known,
that we again take upon ourselves
the government of our subjects,
at the sume time giving thanks
for the cnrve which our illustrious
father has taken of the welfare
of our subjects :—We moreover
declare, that it is our pleasure to
confirm all the ordinances issued
by our father during his govern-
ment, and strictly enjoin the in-
habitants of our said duchies to
conform thereto. Given at Ve-
nice, this 17th March 1816.”

IONIAN ISLES.

Proclamation, by Sir Thomas Mait-
land.

Among the various and high
duties intrusted to the adminis-
tration of his Excellency by his
gracious Sovereign, theie is none
more important in itself than the
conservation of all the rights,
privileges, and prerogatives, of
the dominant and of the tolerated
religion.

It has been, and always will
be, a fixed maxim of the pcl'cy of
Great Britain, and an invariable
principle of its conduct, both with
regard to those countries that —
may be under its immediate si.ve-
veiznty, and those that may be
under its exclu-ive protection, to
guarantee and maiutain the va-
rious réligious establishments, as
being essentially connected wath
the vital principles of good go-
vernment, morals, and happi-
ness.

His Excellency, impressed with
this truth, and having observed
with regret that the French, with
that impious indifference which
distinguished their revolutionary

career,

394

career, now happily ended, forci-
bly took away many of the sacred
places of public worship in this
city, and converted them to mili-
tary and other uses: and his Ex-
cellency having understood, from
a report made to him three days
ago by the high police, whose
constant assiduity merits his high-
est praise, that some officers of
that department, led by their ex-
treme zeal, had entered a church
of the dominant religion in pur-
suit of a person suspected of a
high offence, and that no express
general rule exists on that sub-
ject, his Excellency therefore di-
rects as follows :—

Ist. That every place of public
worship shall be completely eva-
cuated, and given up to the re-
spectable head of the respective
religion to which it belonged.

2d. That no soldier, officer of
police, or other individual what-
soever, shall on any account dare
or pretend to pursue any person,
of whatever offence suspected, in-
to the sanctuary or interior of any
church, but shall confine himself
to placing around the church such
sentinels as may be necessary to
prevent the escape of the suspect-
ed person, at the same time
giving an account thereof to the
governor, who will take the ne-
cessary steps for placing this per-
son in the hands of justice, by
the intervention of the head of
that religion to whom the church
belongs.

This present shall be printed in
Greek and Italian, and published
for universal information.

By order of his Excellency,
Wn. Meyer, Public Sec.
Palace, Corfu,
March 19, 1816.

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

Speech of the Prince Regent at the
close of the Session, July 2d,
1816.

** My Lords and Gentlemen,

“* T cannot close this Session of
Parliament without again ex-
pressing my deep regret at the
continuance of his Majesty's la-
mented indisposition.

**The cordial interest which
you have manifested in the happy
event of the marriage of my
daughter, the Princess Charlotte,
with the Prince of Saxe-Coburg,
and the liberal provision which
you have made for their establish-
ment, afford an additional proof
of your affectionate attachment to
his Majesty’s person and family,
and demand my warmest acknow-
ledgments.

‘*] have the pleasure to ac-
quaint you, that I have given the
royal consent to a marriage be-
tween his Majesty’s daughter, the
Princess Mary, and the Duke of
Glocester ; and I am_ persuaded
that this event will be highly gra-
tifying to all his Majesty’s sub-
jects.

«« The assurances which I have
received of the pacific and friend-
ly disposition of the powers en-
gaged in the late war, and of
their resolution to execute invio-
lably the terms of the treaties
which I announced to you at the
opening of the session, promise
the continuance of that peace so
essential to the interests of all
the nations of the world.

‘ Gentlemen.of the House
of Commons,

“‘] thank you for the supplies
which you have granted for the
service of the year; and 1 am
sensible of the beneficial effects

which

STATE PAP ERS.

which may be expected to result
from the salutary system of mak-
ing provision for them in a way
calculated to uphold public credit.

«The arrangements which you
have adopted for discharging the
incumbrances of the civil list,
and for rendering its future in-
come adequate to its expenditure,
by relieving it from a part of the
charge to which it was subject,
are in the highest degree gratify-
ing and satisfactory to me; and
you may be assured that nothing
shall be wanting on my part to
give full effect to those arrange-
ments.

“<The provision you have made
for consolidating the revenues of
Great Britain and Ireland, will,
I doubt not, be productive of the
happiest consequences, in ce-
menting and advancing the in-
terests of the United Kingdom ;
and must afford an - additional
proof of the constant disposition
of Parliament to relieve the diffi-
culties and promote the welfare
of Ireland.

*« My Lords and Gentlemen,

“The measures to which I
have been under the necessity of
resorting, for the suppression of
those tumults and disorders which
had unfortunately occurred in
some parts of the kingdom, have
been productive of the most salu-
tary effects.

“« J deeply lament the continu-
arce of that pressure and distress
which the circumstances of the
country, at the close of so long a
war, have unavoidably. entailed
on many classes of his Majesty's
subjects.

“‘T feel fully persuaded, how-
ever, that after the many severe

895

trials which they have undergone,
in the course of the arduous con-
test in which we have been en-
gaged, and the ultimate success
which has attended their glorious
and persevering exertions, I may
rely with perfect confidence on
their public spirit and fortitude in
sustaining those difficulties, which
will, I trust, be found to have
arisen from causes of a temporary
nature, and which cannot fail to
be materially relieved by the pro-
gressive improvement of public
credit, and by the reduction which
has already taken place in the
burdens of the people.”

Treaty between the King of Spain
and the King of the Netherlands.

In the name of the Most Holy
and Indivisible Trinity.

His Majesty the King of the
Netherlands, and his Majesty the
King of Spain and the Indies,
animated with an equal desire to
put a check upon the piracies of
the Barbary Regencies, and to
procure to the trade and naviga-
tion of the Mediterranean all pos-
sible security, desiring to cement
their alliance by a solemn treaty,
and to fix the extent and the
means thereof, have given their
full powers for this purpose, viz.
his Majesty the King of the Ne-
therlands, to Mr. Hugues Zuylen
de Nyevelt, Knight of the order
of the Belgic Lion, and his Envoy
Extraordinary and Minister Ple-
nipotentiary to his Catholic Ma-
jesty, and his Majesty the King
of Spain and the Indies, to Sieur
Pedro Cevallos y Guerra, Coun-
sellor of State, Knight of the
order of the Golden Fleece, &c.

First

$96

First Minister of State, &c. who,
after having exchanged their full
powers, have ayreed on the follow-
ing articles :—

Art. 1 This alliance is purely
defensive, and its object is to pro-
tect the commerce of the powers
who are parties to it.

2. This alliance shall subsist so
long as the Regencies of Algiers,
Tunis, and Tripoli do not re-
nounce their offensive system to-
wards the property of the subjects
of the Contracting Powers.

3. If one of these should be in-
jwe.! by any corsair of the three
Regencies, it shall be the duty of
the Consuls of the Allied Powers
to claim reparation of the Govern-
ment of the offending party by
legal means, and if justice should
not be done, the Allied Powers
shall agree, if necessary, to pro-
ceed to reprisals, to an amount
answeratle to the offence com-
mitted,

4. It shall be considered as an
offence against the Allied Powers,
if one of the Regencies takes
Justice into its own hands by seiz-
ing the property of the subjects of
the Contracting Parties, without
having previously tried other
means, or established proceed-
ings to obtain justice and sa-
tisfacticn.

5. As an offence committed
against the Allied Powers shall
~be considered the ar e-t of the
Consuls for débts of private per-
sons, or of their respective Sove-
reigns, s nce the Regencies ought
to employ for the purpose of
claiming them the methods adopt-
eu by civilized nations.

6. ‘Phe Allied Powers will al-o
consile: themselves offended if
any pre-ent is demanded from

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

them as obligatory, even though
founded on custom.

7. When one of the Powers
shall be attacked by the Barbary
States, without having provoked
the attack by any hostile act, then
the alliance shall have effect.

8. The obligation of the Allies
to defend the offended party shall
subsist till just reparation has
been obtained for the damage
caused by the offence, and also an
indemnity for the expenses of the
war,

9. Neither of the Allies can
enter into a negotiation with the
common enemy without the con-
sent of the other.

10. The Contracting Parties
engage to employ a_ sufficient
force to defend and protect their
commerce against the piracies of
the Barbary Powers.

11. His Majesty the King of
the Netherlands shall furnish in
consequence a ship of the line and
six frigates, and his Catholic Ma-
jesty a ship of the line, two fri-
gates, a brig, and 16 gun-boats.

12. The chief command shall
belong to the senior officer of the
same rank.

13. Each Power shall bear the
expense of maintaining its respect-
ive forces, and all shall be sta-.
tioned in the ports of Spain the
| est situated and defended to fulfil
the object of the alliance.

14. The maritime torces of the
Netherlands shall be supplied at a
reasonable price in the. ports of
his Catholic Majesty. with all
articles of urgent necessity, as
well for the repairs as ammuni-
tion and provisions, on payment
in bills of exchange, at sight, on
the Government of the Nether

lands. di
15. The

STATE’ PAPERS

15. The convoys from one port
of the Mediterranean to another
shall be fixed at certain periods,
and the merchantmen belonging
to the subjects of the Contracting
Powers shall be equally protected
and convoyed.

16. A cruising squadron shall
be stationed before Algiers to
hinder the corsairs from going
out, or to intercept them on their
return.

17. Another squadron shall be
stationed before Tunis in case of
war.
18. Tripoli having hardly any
maritime force, it will be easy
for the above-mentioned cruising
squadrons to keep it in check.

19. When war shall be declared
against one of the Barbary Powers
of Algiers, Tunis or Tripoli, the
vessels which shall fall into the
power of the cruising squadrons
shall be immediately burnt or de-
stroved.

20. The Powers engage to pay
the value of them to the captors,
and this sum shall be divided ac-
cording to the existing regulations
of the Power whose men of war
shall have made the e:pture.

21. If vessels of war of differ-
ent nations have made the cap-
ture, these Powers shall pay the
value a cording to the number of
the respective crews : each Power
shall pay this premium to its
crews.

22. The prisoners of war shall
be divided in the same proportion.

28. The present Treaty shall
be communicated to the Courts
of Portugal, Turin, and Naples,
by his Catholic Majesty, who shall
invite them to accede to it. His
Majesty the King of the Nether-
lands shall make the same com-

397

munication and invitation to the
Courts of Petersburgh, Stock-
holm, and Copenhagen.

24. The present Treaty shall
be ratified, and the ratifications
exchanged at Madrid within six
weeks, or sooner if possible.

In testimony whereof, we, the
Plenipotentiaries undersigned, by
virtue of our respective full pow -
ers, havesigned the present Treaty,
and have affixed to it the seal of
our arms.

Done at Alcala de Henares,
Aug. 10, 1816.

(Signed)
(L.S.) H. De Zuyten Ds
NEYVELT.
(L.S.) Prpro Crevattos.

ADDITIONAL ARTICLES.

Art 1. His Catholic Majesty,
not being actually in a state of
war with the Dey of Algiers, the
commander of the Spanish naval
forces shall repair with the mari-
time forces of the King of the
Netherlands before Algiers, and
by virtue of the 4th, 5th, 6th,
and 7th articles of the treaty of
this day, shall demand fiom the
Algerine government reparation
for the offences committed ayainst
both the Contracting Powers, de-
claring at the saine time, that the
intention of the Powers is scru-
pulously to observe towards the
Barbary Powers the laws of na-
tions as established in Europe.

2. If the Algerine Government
refuses to listen to the voice of
justice, and will not give the re-
paration required, the casus fo-
deris of the present shill be re-
cognized as having taken place,
and the respective forces of the
Contracting Powers shall act ac

c riding

398

cording to the stipulations of
Articles 7, 8, 9, 19, 20, 21.

Treaty of Peace between his Ma-
jesty the King of the Netherlands,
and his Serene Highness Omar
Pacha, Dey and Governor of the
fortress and kingdom of Algiers,
agreed upon and concluded by
Admiral Theodore Frederick
Baron Van de Capellen, Com-
mander-in-Chief of the Squadron
of his Majesty the King of the
Netherlands, in the Mediterranean

Sea, and by authority of his
Majesty.
Art. 1. It is agreed upon and

resolved between the Baron Van
de Capellen, and his Highness
the Dey of Algiers, that from this
day forward there shall be a dura-
ble and inviolable peace and
friendship between his Majesty
the King of the Netherlands and
his states and subjects, and his
Highness the Dey of Algiers, his
dominions and subjects, and also
that all the articles of peace and
friendship agreed to and conclud-
ed from the year 1757, between
their High Mightinesses the States-
General and the Government of
the Kingdom of Algiers, are by
these presents renewed, ratified,
and confirmed, as if they were all
inserted word for word in the
present treaty, and that the ships
of war and other vessels, as also
the subjects of both kingdoms,
shall do each other no injury or
offence, but shall henceforward,
and at all times, treat each other
reciprocally with all respect and
friendship.

8. A Consul from his Majesty
the King of the Netherlands shall
be received at Algiers, precisely

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

on the same footing, and treated

with the same respect, as the

British Consul, in order to regu-

late the concerns of trade. He

shall be allowed the free exercise
of his religion in his hotel, both
for himself and his domestics, and
for all other persons who may
wish to make use of this advan-

tage. s

Done in duplicate, in the for-
tress of Algiers, in presence of

Almighty God, the 28th day of

August, of the year of Jesus

Christ, 1816, and in the year of

the Hegira, 1231, the 6th day of

the month Shawat.
(Signed)

(L.S.) J. F. Van De Capetren,
Commander-in-Chief of
the Squadron of his Ma-
jesty the King of the
Netherlands.

(L. S.) H.M’DoneE t, exercising
the functions of Con-
sul General.

Opposite was the signature
of Omar Pacua, Dey and
Governor of Algiers.

Proclamations from the Brazilian
Government,

The Marquis De Allegrete, of the
Council of His Most Faithful
Majesty, Gentleman of his
Chamber, Grand Cross of the
Order of the Tower and the
Sword, and of that of Christ,
Camp-Marshal of the Armies,
Governor and Captain-General
of the Captainship of St. Pedro
of the Rio Grande.

Inhabitants of the Territory

of Monte-Video !
The Portuguese troops, equally
brave and well disciplined, are
entering

SRAPRE)PAPERS

entering your territory; and
worthy men may now thank Di-
vine Providence, which, employ-
ing the powerful and always pro-
pitious arm of the King my Lord
and Master, banishes the evils
that assail you, punishes the chiefs
if they do not correct themselves,
and, not stopping at such great
benefits, will confer others which
you cannot appreciate until you
enjoy them.

Do not abandon your houses,
except to seek a shelter from the
banditti, and join the army: for
every thing that may be wanted
you shall be purctually paid. In
his most faithful Majesty’s name
I promise you security for your
persons and property. Let, then,
your lamentations and complaints
cease—let them cease for ever ;
and mingling your voices frater-
nally with ours, repeat a thousand
times with that gaiety which has
so long forsaken you—Live the
King! Live the King! Live the
King !

Charles Frederick Lecor, Lieut.-
General of the Armies of bis
Most Faithful Majesty, General-
in-Chief of the troops destined
for the pacification of the Left
Bank of the Rio de la Plata,
&e. &e.

People of the Left Bank of
the Rio de la Plata!

The reiterated insults which
the tyrant Artigas has given to
the pacific inhabitants of Monte-
Video, your own countrymen,
and those of the Rio Grande; the
absolute prohibition of communi-
cating on the frontier with your
friends the Portuguese; and,
finally, the hostile disposition in
which he places his troops, direct-

399

ing them to the neighbourhood
of the Rio Pardo, are facts which
are notorious, and more than
sufficient to prove the intentions
of that tyrant. They also suffice
to prove incontestably that there
can be no stable government
among yourselves, nor security in
the Portuguese dominions, while
you remain subject to his oppres-
sion. Toa tyrant, who, obtain-
ing the control of your armed
force, dictates to you by it his
own opinions—a tyrant whose
conduct has been hostile and in-
constant, except in what relates

‘to his interests, and who cannot

render your country happy, nor
afford your neighbours any con-
fidence in his political relations.

Inhabitants of the Province of
the North, terminate the state of
incertitude which ruins your coun-
try, and disturbs the frontier of
the kingdom of Brazil. To re-
move these evils I am sent by my
Sovereign, with the troops which
you see with me, and others who
follow us, but who do not come
to conquer or to destroy your pro-
perty. On the contrary, their
only object is to subdue the ene-
my, to deliver you from oppres-
sion, to re-establish your tran-
quillity, to put an end to the ex-
traordinary contributions imposed
on you, and to treat you ail with
kindness, those only excepted who
shall henceforth attempt to disturb
the public peace.

Inhabitants ! You who love the
welfare of your country, remain
tranquil in your houses, and place
confidence in the promises which
I make you in the name of my
Sovereign. He has constituted
me head of a Provisional Govern-
ment in this province; and 1

promise

400

promise you on the faith of an
old officer and faithful subject,
that I sha!l fulfil all the orders I
receive from my august Sovereign,
who gives none but for your hap-
piness.

Cuarctes Freperick Lecor,

Decluration of the King of the Two
Sicilies.

“ Ferdinand JI. by the grace of
God, King of the Kingdom of
the Two Sicihes, &c. &c. &e.

“* Desiring to confirm the pri-
vileges granted by us, and the
Monarchs our illustrious prede-
cessors, to our well-beluved Sici-
lians, and to reconcile the invio-
lability of these privileges with
the unity of the political institu-
tions, we have by the present law
sanctioned, and do sanction as
follows :

“ Art. 1. All civil and eccle-
siastical employments in Sicily
beyond the Straits shall, conform-
ably to the capitularies of the Mo-
narchs our predecessors, be con-
ferred exclusively on Sicilians,
Without the other subjects of our
States on this side the Straits being
ever entitled to pretend to them,
in the same manner as the Sici-
lians cannot form any claim to
civil and religious employments
in our other don:inions above-
mentioned. We place among the
number of the ; laces exclusively
to be given to Sicilians, the Arch-
bishopric of Palermo, though our
august father, Charles 1]. re-
served the disposal of it to him-
self, in the great charter which
he gra ted to the Sicilians.

“art. 2. Our Siciiian subjects
beyond the Straits shall be ad-
mitted to all the great dignities
of the kingdom of the Two Sici-

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

lies, in proportion to the popula-
tion of the island.

‘* The population being a quar-
ter of that of all our dominions,
the fourth part of our Council of
State shall be composed of Sici-
lians, and the other three quarters
of subjects of our other domi-
nions.

*« The same proportion will be
ob<erved for the places of our Mi-
nisters and Secretaries of State,
the first dignities of the Court,
and the places of our representa-
tives and agents at foreign Courts.

* Art. 3. Instead of two Sici-
lian Consultatori, who, according
to the concession of our august fa-
ther, were members of the an-
cient Junta of Sicily, there shall
be always in the Supreme Coun-
cil of the Chancery of the Two
Sicilies a number of Sicilian Coun-
sellors, according to the propor-
tion fixed in the preceding article.

« Art. 4. Offices in our army
and navy, our royal household,
will he conferred on all our sub-
jects, without distinction of the
part of cur dominions of which
they are natives.

« Art. 5. The Government of
the whole kingdom of the Two
Sicilies shall be always about our
person. When we shall reside in
Sicily, we shall have as Governor
in our states on this side of our
Straits a Prince of our family, or
another personage of distinction,
whom we shall choose among our
subjects.

‘* If it is a Prince of the Royal
Family, he shall have with him
one of our Ministers of State,
who shall correspond with the
Ministers and Secr-taries of State
who shall reside near our person,

and who shall have with him, be-
sides,

STA\LE, PAPERS.

sides, two or more directors, to
preside in those sections of the
offices of the Ministers and Secre-
taries of State which we shall
think fit to leave on the spot for
the administration of that part of
our dominions. If the Governor
is not a Prince, he shall be him-
self invested with the character of
Minister Secretary of State, shall
correspond directly with the Mi-
nisters and Secretaries of State
whom we have with us, and shall
have two or more directors for
that purpose.

«« Art. 6. (Makes the same
regulations as the 5th, in respect
to the government of Sicily, when
the King resides on this side of
the Straits.)

« Art. 7. These Directors, in
both cases, shall be chosen pro-
miscuously among all our sub-
jects, as was fixed relatively to
Sicily for the ancient offices of
Consuliator, of Conservator, which
are replaced by the said di-
rectors.

«« Art 8. The lawsuits of the
Sicilians shall continue to be
pledged even in the last resort,
by the Sicilian tribunals: in con-
sequence, there shall be esta-
blished in Sicily a supreme court
of justice, which shall be above
all the tribunals of that island,
and independent of the Supreme
Court of our States on this side
of the Straits, as the latter shall
be independent of Sicily, when we
shall reside in that island: the
organization of this Court shall
be regulated by a particular law.

“ 9. ‘the abolition cf feudal
rights shall be maintained in Si-
cily as in our other States on this
side of the Straits.

‘* Art. 10. We shall fix every
Vou. LVN,

401

year the part of Sicily in the per-
manent expenses of the state, and
we shall regulate the manner
of its partition ; but this annual
part can never exceed the sum of
1,847,687 ounces and QO tari,
which was fixed in 1813 by the
Parliament as the certain revenue
of Sicily. No greater sum can
by any means be imposed without
the consent of Parliament.

«* Art. 11. There shall be de-
ducted every year from the said
quota a sum which cannot be less
than 150.000 ounces, which shall
be applied to the payment of the
debt bearing no interest, and of
the arrear of interest of that which
does bear interest, till the entire
extinction of both: when these
two debts are extinguished, this
sum shall be annually employed
in forming a sinking fund for the
Sicilian debt.

“Art. 12.\. Till the general
system of the civil and judicial
administration of our kingdom of
the Two Sicilies shall be promul-
gated, all the branches of justice
and adiinistration shall continue
on the same footing as hereto-
fore.

“* We will and ordain, that the
present law, signed by us, certi-
fied by our Council and our Mi-
nister of State Affairs of Grace
and Justice, countersigned by our
Council and the Chancellor Mi-
nister Secretary of State, enrol-
led and preserved in our gene-
ral Chancery of the kingdom of
the Two Sicilies, be published
throughout the kingdom, with
the ordinary solemnities, by the
competent authorities, who shall
draw up a proces verbal, and see
to the execution of it. Our Chan~
cellor, Minister of the kingdom

re) of

402

of the Two Sicilies, is specially
charged with this publication.
** Caserta, Dec. 12, 1816.
(Signed) “* Ferpinanp.
“ The Minister of Grace
and Justice,
** Manuess Tommasi.
«The Minister Secretary
of State, Chancellor,
«© Tommaso DI SoMMA.”

Copy of a Dispatch from his Ex-
cellency the Lord Lieutenant of
Ireland to Lord Viscount Sid-
mouth, dated 5th of June, 1816,

12> me
ae.

A Statement of the Nature and
Extent of the Disturbances
which have recently prevailed
in Ireland, and the Measures
which have been adopted by
the Government of that Coun-
try in consequence thereof.—
Ordered by the House of Com-
mons to be printed, 14th June
1816,

the Right Hon. Lord Viscount
Sidmouth: Dublin-Castle, 5th
June 1816.

My Lord ;—TI have had the ho-
nour of receiving your Lordship’s
letter of the 27th day of April,
enclosing an Address from the
House of Commons to his Royal
‘ Highness the Prince Regent,
praying that his Royal Highness
will be graciously pleased to di-
rect that there be laid before the
House a statement of the nature
and extent of the disturbances
which have recently prevailed in
Ireland, and of the measures
which have heen adopted by the
Government of that country in
consequence thereof; and I pro-
ceed to obey the commands which
your Lordship has signified to me

To

_ ship is well

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

in that letter, that I should ena-
ble his Royal Highness to comply
with the Address of the House of
Commons.

Though I have, as your Lord-
aware, apprized
you from time to time of such
events connected with the in-
ternal interests of Ireland as have
been most worthy of notice, and
of the measures which I have
adopted with a view to restore
and maintain the public peace, it
may be satisfactory that I should
(instead of referring your Lord-
ship to the detail of my separate
letters) embody the substance of
them in this general dispatch.

It is not, I presume, wished
that I should extend the state-
ment which is required from me
beyond the period at which I as-
sumed the administration of the
affairs of this country; and I shall,
therefore, only shortly and gene-—
rally refer to events which oc-
curred during the government of
my predecessor, or to the meas
sures to which he had recourse.

The Insurrection Act was passed
by the Legislature in the year
1807; it was not enforced on
any occasion during the three
years for which it was at that
time enacted, and the state of Ire-
land was considered to be such in
the year 1810, as not to render
necessary the continuance of this
act, and indeed to admit of its re-
peal a.very short period before
that to which its duration was
limited by law.

In the early part, however, of
January 1811, in consequence of
the numerous outrages committed
in the counties of Tipperary, Wa-
terford, Kilkenny, and Limerick,
by bodies of men who assembled

in

STATE PAPERS.

in arms bynight, administered un-
lawful oaths, prescribed laws re-
specting the payment of rents and
tithes, plundered several houses
of arms, in various instances at-
tempted, and in some committed,
murder; it was considered ex-
pedient to issue a warrant for a
special commission, to be held in
the counties before-mentioned,
and in the cities of Waterford,
Kilkenny, and Limerick, for the
trial of such of the offenders as
had been apprehended. From
the evidence adduced at the Spe-
cial Commission, it appeared that
many of the outrages to which
I have referred were committed
by two combinations, very widely
extended among the lower orders
of the Roman Catholic population,
which assumed the name of Cara-
vats and Shanavests, respectively,
and between which a violent ani-
mosity subsisted, the cause of
which was not very satisfactorily
accounted for. As feuds of the
same kind, not growing out of
religious differences, occasionally
exist (though seldom to the ex-
tent to which this appears to have
prevailed), I have inserted in the
appendix to this dispatch a portion
of the evidence which was adduced
on one of the trials, from which
some information may be collected
with respect to the origin and ob-
ject of the combinations, by which
the peace of the country was at
that time disturbed.

In the county of Tipperary nine
persons were tried: two for mur-
der, and seven for attempts to
murder ; five were tried for rob-
bery of arms, and twenty-two in-
dicted and tried under the acts
which generally bear the name of
the Riot and Whiteboy Acts, for

403

assuming the name of Caravats,
and appearing in arms ; six were
sentenced to death, twenty-seven
to transportation, whipping, and
imprisonment, and three ac-
quitted.

In Waterford twelve persons
were tried; seven for attempts
to murder, one for stealing arms,
and four for burglary and rob-
bery: they were all found guilty,
and sentenced to death.

It was not thought necessary
to proceed to Limerick in execu-
tion of the commission ; and there
were no trials of importance in
Kilkenny.

Notwithstanding, however, the
number of convictions in the
counties of Tipperary and Water-
ford at the special commission,
and the severe examples which
were made, they do not appear
even in those counties to have
produced any lasting effect, or to
have materially checked the bad
spirit which prevailed in them.

In the early part of 1813, and
during the whole of that year,
many daring offences against the
public peace were committed in
these and in other counties, par-
ticularly Waterford, Westmeath,
Roscommon, and the King’s
county, the nature of which suffi-
ciently proved that illegal com-
binations, and the same systema-
tic violence and disorder against
which the Special Commission of
1811 had been directed, still ex-
isted.

The offences against the public
peace, committed in the counties
which were the seats of distur-
bance, partook of the same ge-
neral character ; reports were
constantly received of attacks on
dwelling-houses for the purpose

2D2 of

404

of procuring arms, and the fre-
quency of these attacks, and the
open and daring manner in which
they were made, were sufficient
proofs of the desire which gene-
rally prevailed amongst those con-
cerned in the disturbances to col-
lect large quantities of arms, and
thus possess the means of prose-
cuting their ulterior objects with
a better prospect of success. Se-
veral instances occurred, in which
the houses of respectable indivi-
duals were attacked, even in the
open day, by large bodies of armed
men; and others, in which the
military, acting under the direc-
tions of magistrates, met with
considerable resistance. It is wor-
thy of remark, that in the many
successful attacks which were
made upon houses with the view
of depriving the proprietors of
their arms, it rarely occurred
that any other species of pro-
perty was molested by the as-
sailants. :

The principal objects of hosti-
lity, or rather the principal suf-
ferers on account of their inade-
" quate means of defence, were
those persons who, on the expi-
ration of leases, had taken small
farms at a higher rent than the
late occupiers had offered ; and
all those who were suspected of
a disposition to give information
to magistrates against the dis-
turbers of the peace, or to bear
testimony against them in a court
of justice, in the event of their
apprehension and trial. In some
counties, particularly in West-
meath and Roscommon, the most
barbarous punishments were fre~
quently inflicted upon the persons
of those who had thus rendered

ANNUAL, REGISTER, 1816.

themselves obnoxious, and upon
the persons of their relatives.*

From the general terror which
these proceedings occasioned, it
became almost impossible to pro-
cure satisfactory evidence against
the guilty. It frequently hap-
pened that the sufferers from such
atrocities as I have alluded to,
when visited by a magistrate,
would depose only generally to
the facts of their having been
perpetrated, and not denying their
knowledge of the offenders, would
yet steadily refuse to disclose their
names, or describe their persons,
from the fear of future additional
injury to themselves or their rela-
tives. Even where the parties
offending were deposed against
and apprehended, there was fre-
quently the greatest difficulty in
effecting their conviction, from
the intimidation of witnesses, and
in some cases of jurors.

I fear few instances can be
found of late, in the counties
which I have mentioned, in which

it has been possible for witnesses,

having given evidence in favour
of the Crown, on any trial con
nected with the disturbance of the
peace, to remain secure in their
usual places of abode.

In the latter end of the year
1813, a meeting of the magistracy
of the county of Westmeath took
place, at which eighteen of that
body attended. They addressed a

* Tt is well known, that one of the com-
binations existing in these and other neigh-
bouring counties derived the name of Car-
ders from the nature of the torture with
which the objects of its vengeance were
visited, and which consisted in the lacera-
tion of their bodies with a wool-card, or
some similar igstryment.

memoria]

Slr PAPERS.

memorial to me respecting the
state of that county, which bears
date the 29th November ; they re-
presented that frequent outrages
were committed; that oaths of
increased malignity had been ad-
ministered ; that three persons
had been convicted on charges of
administering and taking an oath,
one of the obligations of which
was “to assist the French and
Buonaparte ;” and that the wit-
ness upon whose evidence that
conviction had taken place had
been recently murdered, under
circumstances which were alone
sufficient to prove the alarm-
ing state of that county. The me-
morial concluded with an earnest
prayer, that a proposition might
be made to the Legislature for
the revival of the Insurrection
Act.

From evidence adduced on the
trial of six persons concerned in the
murder alluded to in this Memo-
rial (five of whom were capitally
convicted), it was proved, that the
murder was committed by a party
of eighteen men selected from a
larger body who assembled in
divisions of 12 each from three
separate parishes, for the purpose
of planning and perpetrating this
murder. I may also add, that
nine persons were shortly after-
wards convicted on the same
charges with respect to the oath
on which the convictions men-
tioned in the memorial of the ma-
gistrates took place.

Similar meetings of the magis-
trates of Waterford and of the
King’s County took place about
the same time, and I received
from both representations of the
disturbed state of their respective
counties, and earnest application

405

for an increase to the military
force stationed in them. In the
Memorial which I received from
the King’s County, which bore
the signature of sixteen magis-
trates, it was stated, ‘* that
alarming disturbances existed in
that county, and the adjacent parts
of Westmeath ; that almost every
night houses were plundered of
arms; that they considered
stronger measures than those
which could be resorted to under
the existing laws absolutely ne-
cessary; and that the re-enact-
ment and enforcement of the In-
surrection Act would alone enable
them to maintain tranquillity.

In the month of January 1814,
I received from the governors and
28 of the magistrates of the county
of Westmeath a second Memorial,
urging the necessity of the im-
mediate revival of the Insurrec-
tion Act. In this county three
murders had been then recently
committed within the short space
of a month, two upon persons
suspected of giving information
against offenders.

Your Lordship will recollect,
that in the early part of January
1814, I felt it incumbent upon
me to call your attention to a
representation made to your Lord-
ship by his Grace the Duke of
Richmond, in the month of Au-
gust preceding, on the subject of
the disturbed state of a consider-
able portion of the interior of this
country, and expressed my deep
regret, that notwithstanding the
measures which had been adopted
by the government, in concert
with the commander of the forces,
and the general vigilance and ac-
tivity of the resident magistrates
in those parts where the distur-

bances

406

bances principally prevailed, no
effectual progress had been made
» towards the restoration of tran-
quillity ; that the same spirit of
outrage and tendency to unlawful
combination still existed in many
parts of the counties of West-
meath, Roscommon, and the ad-
joining districts ; and that the re-
ports then recently received from
the cour.ties of Tipperary, Lime-
rick, Kilkenny, and the King’s
County, had produced repeated
instances of a daring and syste-
matic violation of the law.

I stated that the principal ob-
ject of the misguided persons who
were. concerned in the outrages
which had been committed, ap-
peared to be the collection of
arms, and the intimidation of all
those who were likely to give in-
formation that might lead to their
apprehension and conviction; that
to such an extent. had this system
of intimidation been carried, that
the most savage excesses had been
committed without the possibility
of apprehending those concerned
in the perpetration of them, on
account of the reluctance of the
sufferers, from the fear of future
injury, to give information against
them.

I added, that I could not ascer-
tain, that the various combina-
tions which existed in different
parts of the country proposed to
themselves any definite object of
a political nature ; nor was there
any evidence at all conclusive, that
they acted under the immediate
guidance of leaders. of weight,
either in point of talents or pro-
perty; and that although there
had appeared symptoms of con-
cert and co-operation in some
parts, still I had no reason to be-

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

lieve that there was. any general
understanding between the com-
binations existing in the different
counties.

I stated, that it was impossible,
however, that such combinations,
although they might not have any
plan well digested and arranged,
and were not in pursuit of any
common object, could be consi-
dered otherwise than as_ highly
dangerous; that they afforded a
proof of a very general disposi-
tion among, the lower orders in
those districts in, whieh they pre-
vailed, to attempt by force and
intimidation the redress of what
they considered to be their local
grievances ; they excited the ut-
most alarm among the peace-
able and well-disposed for the
safety of their persons and pro-
perty, and if suffered to gain
strength and. consistency, they
would become instruments which
the designing and disaffected
might readily employ in the fur-
therance of their political views,
should some better opportunity
occur for the prosecution of them,

I represented to your Lord-
ship, that the state of the existing
laws which regarded the preser-
vation of the public peace, and
the expediency of extending the
powers of the government and of
the magistracy, were subjects to
which, in all probability, it would
be my duty to call the attention
of your Lordship before the ap-
proaching meeting of Parliament,
and that in the mean time |] should
depend upon a vigorous exertion
of the powers with which I was
then vested, and upon the co-
operation of the military force,
for the means, of counteracting
the spirit of outrage which pre-

vailed

STATE PAPERS.

vailed in many parts of the coun-
try, and of preventing its exten-
sion to others.

In consequence of the conti-
nuance and increase of the dis-
turbances referred to in the letter
which I have quoted above, it was
determined to submit to Parlia-
ment the expediency of extending
the powers of the Government
and of the Magistracy; and ac-
cordingly in the month of March,
in the session of 1814, a bill was
introduced, the object of which
was to provide for the better exe-
cution of the laws in Ireland, by
enabling the Lord-Lieutenant in
council to proclaim any district
to be in a state of disturbance,
and to station in it an establish-
ment of constables proportioned
to the extent of the district, act-
ing under the immediate super-
intendence of a magistrate ap-
pointed by the Lord-Lieutenant.
It was provided by the bill, that
the salaries of the magistrates and
constables, and the general ex-
penses attendant on the execution
of the act, should be defrayed by
a presentment of the grand jury,
to be levied on the district pro-
claimed to be in a state of dis-
turbance: this bill passed into a
law ; and, at a later period of the
session, the act which had been
previously passed in 1807, which
generally bears the name of the
Insurrection Act, was introduced,
and, after being slightly modi-
fied, received the sanction of the
Legislature.

The first instance in which I
had occasion to apply the powers
thus committed to me by the first
of the acts above referred to, oc-
curred in the county of Tipperary.
Early in the month of July 1814,

407

‘I had received a memorial from a

meeting of magistrates and gen-
tlemen, held in pursuance of a
public notice, requesting, in con-
sequence of the recent murder of
Mr. Long, a magistrate of the
county, and other alarming out-
rages, that the district of Ard-
moyle, in the barony of Middle-
third, in which the murder was
committed, might be proclaimed.
As the acts above-mentioned had
not then received the royal assent,
T directed that the magistrates
should be informed, that there
was no law then in force by which
that district could be proclaimed ;
but that I relied upon their exer-
tions to bring the offenders to
punishment, and was ready to co-
operate in their endeavours with
the full assistance of the civil and
military powers.

In the month of September the
resolutions of a general meeting
of magistrates of the country of
Tipperary, convened at Cashel,
for the purpose of taking the state
of the country into consideration,
were transmitted to me, praying,
that in consequence of the nume-
rous murders and other out-
yages committed, in the barony
of Middlethird, it might be pro-
claimed under the provisions of
the act 54 Geo. III. c. 131, which
enables the Lord-Lieutenant to
assign an extraordinary police
establishment to a disturbed dis-
trict.

As I felt strongly the necessity
of establishing a regular police in
a county in which the ordinary
civil power was proved to be en-
tirely inadequate to the repression
of the disorders which had long
prevailed in it, the barony of Mid-
dlethird was proclaimed in coun-

cil,

408

cil, on the 6th of September, to
be in a state of disturbance, anda
magistrate who had long been
confidentially employed by the
Government was appointed the
Superintending magistrate, with
an establishment of 30 constables.

In two other districts of the
county of Tipperary * similar po-
lice establishments have been sub-
sequently placed, on the applica-
tion of the magistrates of the

“county. Your Lordship is aware,

that the officers attached to these
establishments possess no powers
whatever in enforcing the execu-
tion of the laws beyond the ordi-
nary powers of magistrates and
constables nominated in the usual
manner ; and I have already ob-
served, that the expense incurred
by their appointment is borne by
the district in which they act.

I shall now proceed to mention
the several instances in which ap-
plications have been made by the
magistrates for the enforcement

- of the Insurrection Act, and the

measures which have been in con-
sequence adopted.

In the month of November
1814, I received a Memorial from
the governors of the fourteen ma-
gistrates of the county of West-
meath, stating, that the recent
outrages committed in that county
proved a continuance of the same
lawless conspiracy which had
existed for some time past, and
which rendered the lives and pro-
perties of every person in the dis-
turbed district insecure; and pray-
ing for the enforcement of the
Insurrection Act in certain dis-
tricts of that county.

* The baronies of Kilnemanagh and
Eliogarty, and the barony of Clanwilliam,

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

With this Memorial I did not
comply, still indulging a hope
that the continued exertions of
the magistracy, aided by a consi-
derable military force which had
been detached into this county,
would preclude the necessity of
resorting to any extraordinary ex-
ercise of authority.

On the 23d of March 1815, a
meeting of twenty-eight magis-
trates of the same county took
place, summoned by the clerk of
the peace, in the mode pointed
out by the Insurrection Act ; and
a Memorial was addressed to the
lords justices, who administered
the Government during my ab-
sence for a few weeks in England.
The magistrates observed, that
the ordinary powers entrusted to
them were totally inadequate to
ensure that security which every
subject has a right to derive from
the laws of his country; that the
punishment of criminals led only
to the murder or banishment of
those who had given information
against them, and that protection
was only to be found in the vici-
nity of the military posts; they
concluded by calling upon the
lords justices to enforce the In-
surrection Act in several baronies*
of the county of Westmeath.

On the 18th of April, a Memo-
vial, concluding with a similar
prayer, was received from twenty-
one magistrates of the county
of Clare: they mentioned, that
houses were frequently plundered
of the arms contained in them by
disorderly persons, who came from
parts of the county remote from

* Brawny, Clonlonan, Kilkenny, West
Rathcondra, Moycashel, and parts of the
barony of Moygosh, &c.

that

STATE

that in which the offence was com-
mitted, mounted on horses seized
from the owners for the occasion ;
and that other outrages of the
same character were committed
in two* baronies of the county
which they wished to have pro-
claimed.

_In the same month an applica-
tion to the same effect was re-
ceived from a meeting of thirty
magistrates of the county of Li-
merick, contained in a Memorial
representing the continuance of
disturbance in certain districts of
that county + which were speci-
fied ; and from —— magistrates
of the county of Meath, who urged
the necessity of enforcing the In-
surrection Act in’certain baronies t¢
of that county in which distur-
bance was alleged to prevail. The
lords justices did not enforce the
Insurrection Act, in any instance,
in consequence of these Memo-
rials; but required the magis-
trates by whom they had been
preferred to send depositions on
oath of the several outrages which
had been committed in their re-
spective counties. Depositions on
oath were accordingly transmitted,
in consequence of this requisition,
by the several gentlemen who had
presided at the meetings of the
magistrates.

Immediately on my return to
Treland, I took into consideration
the several applications which I
have before mentioned, and though

* Tulla and Bunratti.

+ The baronies of Pubblebrien, Coshma,
Kenry, with the exception of some parishes,
parts of the barony of Lower Connellan,
Costlea, and Small Coutty.

¢ Demifore, Upper and Lower Kells,
and some adjoining parts,

PAPERS. 409

I found in them strong proofs of
the spirit of disturbance and law-
less combination which the ma-
gistrates had complained of ; yet
being naturally reluctant to have
recourse to measures of extreme
rigour, till all hopes of producing
tranquillity by other means should
have failed, I conveyed to the ma-
gistrates my intention still to
postpone the enforcement of the
Insurrection Act.

The first instance in which I
deemed it expedient to call into
operation the provisions of this
law occurred in the county of
Tipperary. A meeting of the ma-
gistrates of this county took place
on the 22d of December 1815, for
the purpose of taking the state of
it into consideration ; and I re-
ceived from that meeting, at which
forty magistrates attended, an
unanimous application, that six
baronies of the county might be
proclaimed under the Insurrection
Act. This application was accom-
panied by 58 depositions on oath
respecting various outrages com-
mitted, for the most part, with
the view of procuring arms.

1 did not hesitate to give im-
mediate effect to this application.

The provisions of the act, which
enabled me to appoint an extra-
ordinary establishment of police,
had been in operation in one dis-
trict of the county* upwards of
a year, and in a second t+ about
four months. The exertions of
that police had been unremitting,
and many daring offenders had
been apprehended. Among the

* The barony of Middlethird.
+ The baronies of Kilnamanagh and
Eliogarty.
resident

410

resident magistrates great unani-
mity and cordiality had for some
time past prevailed, and to many
of them the utmost credit is due
for the zeal and activity with
which they discharged their du-
ties. The combined efforts, how-
ever, of the magistracy and of the
police, aided by a very consider-
able military force, were insuffi-
cient to contend with that lawless
spirit and audacity in the commis-
sion of crime, which placed in
continual hazard the lives and
properties of the peaceable and
well-disposed inhabitants,

No less than four attacks had
been made within a short period,
by considerable bodies of armed,
men, upon the coaches conveying
the mails through this county,
although they were accompanied
by a military escort : on these oc-
casions some of the dragoons
were killed, and other persons
wounded.

In the barony of Kilnamanagh,
a house had been hired as a tem-
porary barrack for the accommo-
dation of a military party, which,
with the house adjoining it, was
entirely destroyed in the month
of September, by a very large
bedy of men in arms, provided
with various instruments of at-
tack. A written notice was left,
stating that it was resolved to de-
stroy in the same manner any
house taken by the government
for a similar purpose.

Fortunately for the peace of the
country, thirteen persons, toge-
ther with their leader in this at-
tack (the son of a farmer of con-
siderable property), were capitally
convicted at the special commis-
sion, subsequently held in this

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

county, in the month of January,
1816.

The weekly reports made to
government by the magistrates
superintending the police estab-
lishments, mentioned repeated in-
stances wherein the houses of re-
spectable inhabitants had been at-
tacked, (in some cases in the day
time), and the occupiers compel-
led to deliver up their arms. Se-
veral murders had been commit-
ted, particularly upon persouns.
employed in the collection or va-
luation of tithes. One person
thus occupied, though accompa-~
nied by eight armed men for his
protection, was killed in the day-
time, and his party disarmed,
within a short distance of the city
of Cashel.

In the early part of the month
of September, in consequence of
the repeated acts of outrage which
were committed in the counties
of Tipperary and Limerick, and
the violent and open manner in
which the law was set at defiance,
I directed a large additional mili-
tary force, under the command of
Lieutenant-General Meyrick, to
march into these counties, with
the view of aiding the civil power,
and giving that confidence to the
respectable and well-disposed in-
habitants, which might induce
them to remain in the country,
and co-operate with the govern-
ment in attempting to maintain
tranquillity.

On receiving, on the 25th of
September, the memorial which I
have above alluded to, proceeding
from an unanimous meeting of
forty magistrates, | lost not a
moment in issuing a proclama-
tion, with the advice of the privy

council,

-

STATE PAPERS,

council, declaring six (*) of the
baronies of the county of Tip-
perary to be in a state of disturb-
ance, and subjecting them to the
provisions of the insurrection act.
Another (¢) barony of the
county was, ina few days after-
wards, included in this proclama-
tion, on the application of the
magistrates. :
In the course of the month of
October, another memorial was
presented to me from thirteen
magistrates of the county of Tip-
perary, assembled at an extraor-
dinary session of the peace, ex-

pressing their opinion, that four.

additional baronies, ({) not in-
cluded in the proclamations, were
in a state of disturbance, and
praving that they also might be
proclaimed.

Not having had sufficient rea-
son to think that the baronies
last mentioned were in such a
state of disturbance as to call for
the application of any extraordi-
nary measure, I directed the clerk
of the peace to be called upon to
furnish the sworn informations
of outrages committed, upon
which the allegations of disturb-
ance rested.

After a consideration of the do-
cuments with which | was fur-
nished, I did not think the neces-
sity for a compliance with the
memorial | have last mentioned
sufficiently established. I enter-
tained a confident hope, that if
the act was effectual in the baro-

(*) The six baronies were those of Mid-
dlethird, Kilnamanagh, Eliogarty, Slewar-
dagh, and Compsey, Clanwilliam, and the
eastern barony of Lifa and Oifa.

(+) That of Tifa and Offa West.

(t) Upper and Lower Ormond, Ikerrin,
and Ownay and Arra,

411

nies in which it had been recently.
enforced, its influence would be
felt inthose immediately adjoining
them.

At the latter end of September,
I received from forty-seven ma-
gistrates of the county of Limer-
ick, assembled at a special sessions
on the 26th, a representation that
the entire of that county was in
a state of disturbance, occasioned
by a very general confederacy
among the lower orders, and
praying that the county might be
proclaimed under the insurrection
act A memorial was also receiv-
ed, concluding with the same
prayer, from the magistrates of
the county of the city of Limerick.

Having had sufficient evidence
that the ordinary operation of the
law was inadequate to maintain
tranquillity in this county, and
that it was in a state of serious
disorder, it was procliimed in
council under the provisions of
the insurrection act, on the 30th
of September ; and the county of
the city, with the exception of
such parishes as are within the
city, was proclaimed on the 3d
of October.

In consequence of the number
of prisoners in the gaol of the
county of Limerick, 1 deemed it
expedient to issue a warrant for
a special commission, for the pur-
pose of bringing the offenders to
trial.

In the early part of November
it gave me great. satisfaction to
be enabled to inform your lord-
ship, that since the insurrection
act had been in force in the coun-
ties of Tipperary and Limerick,
comparatively, few crimes in vio-
lation of the public peace have
been committed in these counties,

and

412

and that they had enjoyed a state
of tranquillity to which they had
been unaccustomed for some time
past: that those provisions of the
imsurrection act which give faci-
lities to the magistrates to recover
arms from persons who are not
entitled by law to possess them,
had operated very beneficially ;
and I felt it due to the magistrates
residing in the disturbed districts
to report to your Lordship the
great unanimity with which they
acted, and the strong disposition
they had shown to give effect by
their personal exertions to the
measures of government. At
this period I received addresses
from each of the grand juries of
the county and city of Limerick,
assembled at the special commis-
sion then about to terminate, ex-
pressing their satisfaction with
the measures which had been
adopted for the suppression of
disturbance, and conveying: an as-
surance that they had been at-
tended with success.
Notwithstanding the intimation
which I had so recently conveyed
to your lordship, that the state of
the county of Tipperary was im-
proved, at least there had been of
late fewer violations of the public
peace, towards the latter end of
the month of November, Mr.
William Baker, a gentleman of
considerable fortune, and of the
highest character and respecta-
bility, was assassinated on his
return home from the special
sessions at Cashel, where he had
been discharging his duty as a
magistrate. The circumstances
under which this murder, was
committed, and which were proved
in evidence on the trial of two
persons concerned in it, are

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

strongly indicative of that depra-
vity and sanguinary disposition
of which this county had _ pre-
sented so many lamentable proofs.
It appeared that in the month of
September a house in the neigh-
bourhood of Mr. Baker’s resi-
dence had been attacked by an
armed body of men, and, after
considerable resistance on the part
of the inhabitants, had been
burned. Mr. Baker had exerted
himself with great activity and
success in detecting and com-
mitting to prison the perpetrators
of this outrage; and in conse-
quence of his exertions a conspi-
racy to murder him was formed
in the early part of November.
The murder was committed on
the 27th of November in the day
time, by a party of five persons.
It appeared that in consequence of
an order which had been issued
(it has not been traced from
whom) several persons (many of
them from considerable distances)
assembled on that day and the
evening preceding, upon the dif-
ferent roads by which it was pos-
sible for Mr. Baker to return
from Cashel, and were stationed
in small detachments in different
houses and places of concealment,
for the purpose of intercepting
him ; that Mr. Baker was watch-
ed the whole day by persons ap~
pointed for the purpose ; that his
departure from Cashel was com-
municated by signals, and_ that
when the shots were fired which
deprived him of his life, a shout
of triumph was raised by a num-
ber of people who had assembled
in the neighbourhood, evidently
to witness this barbarous murder.

On the 2d of December I issued
a proclamation in council, offer-

ing

SPATE PB AP Ess,

ing a reward of 5,000l. for the
discovery of the person by whom
the murder was committed. I
shortly afterwards received an ad-
dress, signed by 76 magistrates
of the county of Tipperary, as-
sembled at a special sessions of
the peace on the 13th of Decem-
ber, expressing the strongest ac-
knowledgments for the prompt
administration of the powers con-
fided to the executive government,
and assuring me, that notwith-
standing the recent murder of
Mr. Baker, and the manifest in-
tention of those concerned in it to
intimidate the magistrates from
the execution of their duty, they
were determined to co-operate
with the government in endea-
vouring to maintain tranquillity,
and not to relax their exertions
from the apprehension of personal
danger. They concluded by pray-
ing, that a superintending magis-
trate and police establishment
might be placed in the barony in
which the murder of Mr. Baker
had been perpetrated.

I gave immediate effect to the
wishes of the magistrates thus
conveyed ; and a chief magistrate
of police, with 50 constables, was
placed in the barony of Clanwil-
liam. On the 28th of December
a warrant was issued for a special
commission to be held in the
county of Tipperary.

In order that I might not inter-
rupt a connected account of the
measures which I was compelled
to adopt in the counties of Tippe-
rary and Limerick, I omitted to
state, that in the month of No-
vember, a memorial, signed by
several magistrates of the King’s
County, assembled at Clare on the
22d of November, was laid before

413

me, representing that various
acts of violence, viz. the robbery
of arms, the infliction of torture,
the assembling in arms by night,
and the administration of unlaw-
ful oaths, were committed in a
small district of that county (*),
and praying that it might be de-
clared in a state of disturbance
under the insurrection act.

I had previously received a me-
morial from a numerous meeting
of the magistrates of Westmeath,
assembled at Moate, on the 2d
of November, stating, that the
character of the disturbances
which had so long prevailed in
that county remained the same ;
that they were of opinion, that the
ordinary powers entrusted to the
magistracy were totally inade-
quate to ensure security to the in-
habitants ; and unanimously pray-
ing, that the provisions of the in-
surrection act might be put in
force in two baronies of that
county (+) without delay.

Having had convincing proofs,
that in the districts pointed out
by the magistrates of King’s
County and Westmeath, (and
which are contiguous districts) ,
avery turbulent disposition lad
long prevailed, many instances
having occurred (some of which
are enumerated in a former part
of this dispatch) in which illegal
oaths had been administered, in
which houses had been plundered
of arms, and witnesses and others.
suspected of aiding the adminis-
tration of justice, had been mur-
dered or most cruelly treated ;

Se

(*) The barony of Kilcoursy, and the
arishes of Durrow, Rahan, Lemanahan,
loumacnoise, and Wherry,

(+) Clonlonan and Moycashel,
and

414

and having long witnessed the
unceasing but ineffectual exer-
tions on the part of many of the
magistrates in the most disturbed
parts of those counties, I deter-
mined to accede to their applica-
tion, and with the advice of the
Privy Council, subjected the con-
tiguous districts of the two coun-
ties to the operation of the insur-
rection act, by a proclamation,
which bears date the 24th of No-
vember.

In the course of the present
year, the insurrection act has not
been enforced in any new instance.
In the month of March, in consé-
quence of a memorial from 27
magistrates of the county of
Louth, a special magistrate, with
50 constables, was appointed, for
the purpose of assisting them to
maintain the peace in four baro-
nies (*) of that county.

Various acts of outrage were
committed in these baronies about
this period. In the course of one
week 11 houses in the neighbour-
hood of Dundalk were plundered
ofarms. ‘The house and offices
of a farmer, who had prosecuted
some persons by whom he had
been robbed and nearly murder-
ed, were wilfully set on, fire and
consumed. A party of armed
persons, reported to be not less
than 200 in number, attacked the
house of another individual, and
entered it, after meeting with
considerable resistance; after
wounding very severely the owner
and two other inhabitants of the
house, they compelled him to de-
liver his arms, and to take an

(*) Upper and Lower Dundalk, Ardee,
and Louth;

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

oath that he would give up his
farm.

In the month of April in the
present year, a similar police es-
tablishment was also appointed in
three baronies (+) of the county
of Clare, on a representation re-
ceived from 20 magistrates of that
county. Fora considerable time
past, certain districts in that
county had been in an unsettled
state; but in the course of the
preceding year I had been inform-
ed by the magistrates, that the
examples made under the insur-
rection act in the counties of Tip-
perary and Limerick, had produced
a very beneficial effect in the
county of Clare. In the months,
however, of February and March
of the present year, offences of the
same general character with those
which I have before described
were very frequently committed.
Nightly meetings of large num-
bers of the lower orders took
place: in one district, in the
course of the month of March,
several houses were wilfully burn-
ed, and threatening notices were
posted up, directed against the
letting of lands to others than the
old proprietors, and against the
payment of rents, except under
certain prescribed regulations.

I have enumerated all the se-
veral instances in which I have,
with the advice of the Privy
Council, enforced the provisions
of either of those acts of the Le-
gislature which passed in the ses-
sion of 1814. It will appear,
from the detail into which I have
entered, that the insurrection act

(+) Clonderlan, Ibrachan, and Moyarta.
has

STATE PAPERS.

has been enforced in the county
of Limerick, the county of the
city of Limerick, in several baro-
nies of the county of Tipperary,
two baronies of the county of
Westmeath, and ina district of
the King’s county: and that in
certain districts of three counties,
Tipperary, Louth, and Clare,
special magistrates and constables
have been placed, having the or-
dinary powers given to civil offi-
cers, and the expences consequent
on their appointment being levied
from the district within which
they act.

I shall now state to your Lord-
ship the general result of the mea-
sures which have been thus
adopted for the preservation of
the public peace, in aid of the or-
dinary operation of the law ; and
it gives me great satisfaction to be
enabled to assure you, that tran-
quillity has been compietely re-
stored in some of the districts
which were the seat of disturb-
ance ; and that in three of those
districts in which the insurrection
act was enforced in the course of
last year, it has, in consequence
of the improved state of them,
been withdrawn since the com-
mencement of the present year.

In the month of February last,
I received from the magistrates of
the King’s county a memorial,
expressing theiracknowledgments
for the additional powers which
had been given to them under the
insurrection act, and for the judi-
cious distribution of the military
force ; stating the good effect to
the peace of the county which
had resulted from those measures,
and giving their opinion, that the
additional powers entrusted to
them might be safely withdrawn.

Al5

From the magistrates of the
city of Limerick, assembled at an
extraordinary sessions of the peace
on the 15th day of April last, a
memorial was transmitted, stating
their opinion that the circumstan-
ces which induced them to apply
for the provisions of the 54th of
the King to be putin force in the
county of the city of Limerick no
longer existed.

I have also received a memorial
from the magistrates of the coun-
ty of Westmeath, assembled at a
special session of the peace held
last month, expressing the deep
sense which they entertain of the
benefit which their county has ex-
perienced from the measures
which had been adopted; attri-
buting the tranquillity they now
enjoy to the successfiil operations
of the provisions of the insurrec-
tion act; and adding their wish,
that the powers with which it in-
vested them might be withdrawn,
and the ordinary course of law re-
stored.

I gave immediate effect to their
several applications, and the pro-
clamations enforcing the insurrec-
tion act in certain districts of the
county of Westmeath, King’s
county, and the county of the city
of Limerick, have been severally
revoked by the Privy Council.
The only counties, therefore, in
which that act now remains in
operation are the counties of Tip-
perary and Limerick.

I have annexed to this dispatch
a report of the proceedings of the
special commission held for the
county and city of Limerick in
the month of November, 1815,
and in the county of ‘Tipperary in
the month of February 1816 ; and
a return of persons tried at the

special

416 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

special session under the insur-
rection act, for offences against
the provisions of thatact. IJ have
added also a statement of the pro-
ceedings at the ¢everal assizes in
the years 1813, 1814, and 1815,
and Lent assizes of the year 1816,
so far as relates to committals and
convictions for criminal acts con-
nected with the disturbance of the
public peace in the following coun-
ties; Westmeath, Tipperary, Li-
merick, King’s county, Queen's
county, Longford, Louth, Clare,
Roscommon and Waterford.
There may appear to your
Lordship a gveat disparity in some
cases between the number of
committals and the number of
convictions; and persons unac-
guainted with the internal state of
this country may infer that com~-
mittals too frequently take place
without sufficient evidence of guilt
against the parties apprehended.
No such conclusions, however (I
mean so far as relates to the gene-
ral practice of the magistracy to
commit suspected persons on
slight and_ insufficient ground)
ought to be drawn. The frequent
instances which have come to my
knowledge, wherein prosecutors
ard witnesses have been intimida-
ted by the menaces of the friends
of the parties deposed against ;
the experience I have had of the
danger to which they, and even
their relations, are exposed ; of
‘the necessity which in almost
every case occurs, that they should
quit the place of their birth and
residence; of the odium which
universally attaches to the name
of an informer; compel me to
consider the disproportion be-
tween the number of committals
and convictions ja wary districts,

rather as a proof of the disordered
state of society, and of the impe-
diments in the way of the admi-
nistration of justice, than as a
proof of undue precipitancy on
the part of the magistracy, in com-
mitting on the suspicion of crimi-
nality. 1 may be allowed here to
add, that the danger attendant on
the giving of information or evi-
dence was so notorious, and so
much impeded the conviction of
the guilty at no remote period,
that the Legislature found it neces-
sary, with the view of deterring
from the murder of witnesses,
and of preventing the impunity of
the parties against whom those
witnesses had deposed, to enact,
that if any person having given
information upon oath of any of-
fence against the laws should be
murdered, or forcibly carried
away before the trial of the per-
son deposed against, such infor-
mation on oath should be admit-
ted as evidence on the trial.

It has been necessary in the
disturbed counties (in most in-
stances of persons having given
information on oath, or intending
to give evidence upon trial) on
account of the serious danger to
which such persons are exposed,
to remove them to places of secu-
rity previous to the trials, and ul-
timately to provide for their re-
moval from their usual abodes.
In many cases the witnesses for
the crown have, at their own re-
quest, been kept a considerable
period, previously to the trial, in
the gaol of the county, as afford-
ing them the best means of pro-
tection ; in other cases they have
been protected in barracks, or
brought to Dublin, where how-
ever, occasionally, they have not

been

Sf ATE PAPERS.

been safe from the hostility of the
friends of the parties appre-
hended.

I have not thought it necessary
to mention the numerous applica-
tions which have been, and con-
tinue to be made, for military as-

' sistance in aid of the civil power,

by magistrates and others. 1 ne-
ver recommend the commander
of the forces to accede to those
applications, without the strong-
est evidence of their necessity ;
and in almost every case, the mi-
litary officer in command of the
district from which the requisi-
tion proceeds, is directed to in-
quire personally into the grounds
on which it is made. I ought
not, however, to omit to mention,
that a very considerable military
force is employed in giving as-
sistance to the officers of revenue
in the suppression of illicit distil-
lation, which prevails to a great
extent in several of the northern
and western counties of this king-
dom. In consequence of an or-
der of the House of Commons,
made in the monih of February
in the present year, a return has
been made of the troops at that
time employed on this service,
which I have annexed to this dis-
patch, and which will give full in-
formation with respect to the
number of men employed, the de-
tachments into which they are di-
vided, and the stations at which
they are placed.

J am with great truth and re-
gard, my lord, your lordship’s
most obedient humble servant,

(Signed)
WHITWORTH.

The Viscount Sidmouth, &c.
Vou. LVIII.

417

Address of the Corporation of Lon-
don to the Prince Regent, deliver-
ed December 9, 1816; with the
Answer of his Royal Highness.

To His Royal Highness the Prince
of Wales, Regent of the Uni-
ted Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland.

The humble Address and Petition
of the Lord Mayor, Aldermen,
and Commons of the City of
London, in Common Council
assembled

May it please your Royal
Highness,

We, his Majesty's most dutiful
and loyal subjects, the Lord May-
or, Aldermen, and Commons of
the city of London in Common
Council assembled, humbly ap-
proach your Royal Highness to
represent our national sufferings
and grievances, and respectfully
to suggest the adoption of mea-
sures which we conceive to be in-
dispensably necessary for the safe-
ty, the quiet, and prosperity of
the realm.

We forbear to enter into details
of the afflicting scenes of priva-
tions and sufferings that every-
where exist: the distressand mi-
sery which for so many years has
been progressively accumulating
has at length become insupport-
able—it is no longer partially felt
nor linsited to one portion of the
empire : the commercial, the ma-
nufacturing, and the agricultural
interests are equally sinking un-
der its irresistible pressure, and it
has become impossible to tind
employment for a large mass of
the population, much less to bear
up against our present enormous
burdens.

We beg to impress upon your
Royal Highness, that our present

2E complicated

418

complicated evils have not arisen
from a mere transition from war
tc peace, nor from any sudden or
accidental causes; neither can
they be removed by any partial or
temporary expedients.

Our grievances are the natural
effect of rash and ruinous wars,
unjustly commenced, and pertina-
ciously persisted in, when no ra-
tional object was to be obtained—
of immense subsidies to foreign
Powers to defend their own ter-
ritories, or to commit aggressions
on those of their neighbours—of
a delusive paper currency—of an
unconstitutional and unpreceden-
ted military force in time of peace
—of the unexampled and increas-
ing magnitude of the civil-list—
of the enormous sums paid for
unmierited pensions and sinecures,
and of a long course of the most
lavish and improvident expendi-
ture of the public money through-
out every branch of the Govern-
ment, all arising from the corrupt
and inadequate state of the repre-
sentation of the people in Parlia-
ment, whereby all constitutional
control over the servants of the
Crown has been lost, and Parlia-
ments have become subservient
to the will of Ministers.

We cennot forbear expressing
our grief and disappointment,
that, notwithstanding your Roy-
al Highness’s gracious recom-
mendation of economy at the
opening of the last sessions of
Parliament, your ministers should
have been found opposing every
proposition for lessenmg the na-
tional expenditure, and that they
should have been able to obtain
majorities tosupport and sanction
their conduct in defiance of your
Royal Highness’s recommenda-

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

tion and the declared sense of the
nation, affording another melan-
choly proof of the corrupt state of
the representation, in addition to
those facts so often stated, and
offered to be proved at the bar of
the House of Commons, in a pe-
tition presented in 1793 by the
Hon. Charles, now Lord Grey,
whereby it appeared that the great
body of the people were excluded
from all share in the election of
members, and that the majority
of that Hon. House were return-
ed by the proprietors of rotten
boroughs, the influence of the
Treasury, and a few powerful fa-
milies.

We can, Sir, no longer support
out of our dilapidated resources
an overwhelming load of taxa-
tion, and we humbly submit to
your Royal Highness, that no-
thing but a reformation of these
abuses, and restoring to the peo-
ple their just and constitutional
right in the election of Members
of Parliament, can afford a secu-
rity against their recurrence—
calm the apprehensions of the
people—allay their irritated feel-
ings—and prevent those misfor-
tunes in which the nation must
inevitably be involved by an ob-
stinate and infatuated adherence
to the present system of corrup-
tion and extravagance.

We therefore humbly pray your
Royal Highness to assemble Par-
liament as early as possible, and
that you will be graciously pleased
to recommend to their imme-
diate consideration these impor-
tant matters, and the adoption of
measures for abolishing all use-
less places, pensions, and sine-
cures—for the reduction of our
present enormous military estab-

lishment

STATE PAPERS.

lishment—for making every prac-
ticable reduction in the public ex-
penditure, and restoring to the
people their just share and weight
in the Legislature.
By order of Court,
(Signed)
Henry Woopruorre.

To which Address and Petition
his Royal Highness was gracious-
ly pleased to return the following
answer :—

It is with strong feelings of sur-
prise and regret that I receive
this address and petition of the
Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and
Commons of the city of London,
in Common Council assembled.

Deeply as I deplore the pre-
vailing distress and difficulties of
the country, F derive consolation
from the persuasion that the great
body of his Majesty's subjects,
notwithstanding the various at-
tempts which have been made to
irritate and mislead them, are well
convinced that the severe trials

REQ

419

which they sustain with such ex-
emplary patience and fortitude
are chiefly to be attributed to un-
avoidable causes, and I contem-
plate with the most cordial satis-
faction the efforts of that enlight-
ened benevolence which is so use-
fully and laudably exerting itself
throughout the kingdom.

I shall resort with the utmost
confidence to the tried wisdom of
Parliament at the time which upon
the fullest consideration I have
thought most advisable under
the present circumstances of the
country ; and I entertain a per-
fect conviction that a firm and
temperate administration of the
government, assisted and support-
ed by the good sense, public
spirit, and loyalty of the nation,
will effectually counteract those
proceedings which, from what-
ever motives they may originate,
are calculated to render tempora-
ry difficulties the means of pro-
ducing permanent and irreparable
calamity.

PUBLIC

ANNUAL REGISTER,© 1816.

420

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ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

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STATE: PAPERS 427

An Account of the Net Produce of all the PERMANENT Taxes of GREAT
Britain; taken for two Years ending respectively 5th January 1815
and 5th January 1816.

In the Year ended Ditto,
5th Jan. 1815. sth Jun. 1896
£ hee ck af $. da

CONSOLIDATED CUSTOMS.........] 3608.910 3 68) 3:857,940 16 4%

.. -+-. Ditto.. ...... Ditto... (Isle of Man) 4,756 14 6 9501 9 5
SRT eIOILEO. s ie cies « Ditro.. .(Quarantine) 125349 10 O§ 18,149 2 8%
se eenaDIttO, 60. <5 Ditto..(Canal and
Dock Duty) itech see estes te- 29,700 16 65] - 30,841 9 7
5 otneie DIttOs 00 ae Ditto... (Permanent
Diaty Jive ap sseoe gage ses | ieeesG IS, SE) ¢ 71.467, Toy | ae
See Ditto.......... EXCISE... ..... [153835210 0 0 [16,663,879 © ©
BRITISH SPIRITS.. od F8Q0s«1s. 100 314,700 0 O 5322/00 0 ©
SIPEG. oo... Ditto.. Pood: Rebate 718,674 0 O 526,840 10 9%
FOREIGN Ditto.....--.-.-- ——..+-.6] 644383 0 © | 87,025 19 10F
CONSOLIDATED STAMPS........... 52598:574 11 8 | 35338219 3 10
BENE ks So he a: Dittoy pata Osi doe - - 25527195 4 7
er re RICE MIGES.. . 2... 1 chun s sie 32216 11 3 3961 6 ©
TAIN DY WR NES Seas cae tele savas .| 1,080,610 19 9F 1,045,536 1 6%
INCIDENTS.
Consolidated Letter Money.......-. 0.00. 15450,000° © © | 1,548,000 0 oO
Hawketsand Pedlats. «2... oeve. 0. 2s os 08 15,700 O © | 173350 © ©
BH OMRC eros is wetior oe se ee rere es 7,497 IL § | 445 7 4
BRMRIS SA, tote ep vidas ai Sale as Ver ee kb ote: 605 14 3 | 626 15 4
Comprsitions.. BPIh oo fate Alesiorcloytiatohreree 16 8
Fines and Bulettares.. ain ah atop atatetaual o\nt'c ohavayene Gir a3 4,0 BANS
Rent of Alum Mines ...... wayejate oetote oes 864. 0 oO 864 00
PBMERIGEYOTN ELLY, « ye 0: «, cha idsoiai vie) -) sree, she ie 5 45302° § 4 6,470 8 8
Hackney Coaches aid Chairs. 1711....... 10,210 0 Oo 9,720 O O
Pee MINtO soso SIILGON o'sic's, weiwsa'etl FOAsie.0s, «a 13,520 9 0 | EM sUZO AON VO
GH Reiesre spire vist sant hincae ET bs cols & = = 16 6
MERRONPET, COM.» cess v0 20's 0% 1703s. See DZone ag Se
BATMIASES: 5 s,s </e opis Byatelore LUGO Se aig era, oft = = 21 ‘oO ©
Arrears of Assessed Taxes.... ca cAaretee 30) 15, “10S —
DPA Sorts lahattadiet a0 7s ote « SOR: te < oes 4o o °¢
pate Ditto. <. Hele rarah aster MUSOA. slat ae ey ease Ob) 196 12 21
BRIE Oath SS Satchs cic ata Sait ——.. ee yy ee na f 27 7 10
Horses for Riding. . misliy Io" 8 jos 1,072 8 104 429 0 0
. Ditto... and Mules... pe ——- sae 855 1,343°00) 2& 146 0 ©
Blorse Dealers’ Licences...... ee, Sezer ye.) || —
Servants... ...: ee eee ee Peasy eTy 10 63 1 93
Hair Powder Certificates, le —— eens 502 10 6 18 17 9%
Armorial se a Mae eves ee plete : 503 18 6 33 8 ae
BEIRAZE OR ieloteis cs sive c/atcinis pin mouse 2,109 1 4 221 113 6
Dogs..0 <7. . sai ate ep de Seen oscals' wip 909 6 O 118 18 ©
£.10 per Cent. SR Ao ae PeUSEOs sates. «is 341 19 11¢ 37 16 3%
Consolidated Assessed Taxes.. 1808 ..... 6,400,258 17. 7 | 6,213,659 2 gf
6d. per lib. on Pensions ......1811...... 9972 15 8% —_—
1s. Ditto on Salaries.....-... ——. eee, 180 1 6 _
6d. Ditto on Pengions........1812....- 730 mono 49 17 10
Is. Dittoon salaries....... 0 cblee oe 602 0 0 Anz § 10
6d. Ditto on Pen-ions....+. «.1813....46 6,700 0 9 800 0 ©

(cm tinued )

428

INCIDENTS—/( Continued.) -
1s, Per lib. on Salaries .... 6.1813 ..0e
6d Ditto on Pensions... .....1814......
1s Ditto on Salaries .. 21.0001 ——=. 200.
6d. Ditto on Pensions.......+ 1815...-.
1s. Ditto\on’ Salaries... .. 20. ——...+..
Windows... ceceseeccere coves
Cartsiiis siicie eins visisis cols asiele
Servants. .02 soe cee cercee os SOE bee
Sugar and Malt.,.....
Additional Ditto.,....
_ Tobacco... ...

annually granted,

Surplus Duties” -
after ily grnted,

3,000,0001. a Annual Malt........
chequer Bills Land Tax on offices,
charged thereon, GEC a lol etetataty nisie¥e'<
Duties annually

granted to dis- Sugar and Malt .....
charge three mil-

Bills charged ‘
thereon. iuabae coerce fete ai 0<
Lankt\ Daxian Oiives., ce. Sagar stewie ose

lions Exchequer ( Additional Ditto .....

In the Year ended |
5th Jan. 1815.

eG oil BN? 0h
14,200 0 0
23300 © ©
1,900)/,9) ©
4715250 0 1%)
831,339 8 10
143,608 11 22
h2rs7 20" DY oO
1,012 F/O
3719459854 4 08,
2,617,902 13 5%
235,099 It 2
244,799 8 9%
41,043,665 17 53

42,105,817 14 oF

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

254705362 2
238,119 0
3579830 0

16 18

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5:100 oO
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283,356 19
873,368 o
91,924 0
552,419 0
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436

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816,

PARLIAMENTARY REPORTS.

Abstract of the Report of the Com-
mittee on the Laws and Ordinan-
ces existing in Foreign Siates, re-
specting the regulation of their
Roman Catholic Subjects, in Ec-
clesiastical matters.

Tue various documents refer-
red to were obtained by instruc-
tions which Lord Castlereagh gave
in 1812, and subsequently, to
the ministers resident at foreign
courts.

The committee refrain from
adverting to any question of theo-
logical controversy.

The attention of the committee
is directed to two objects :—

Ist. The appointment or elec-
tion of the Catholic Clergy, prin-
cipally those of the episcopal or-
der.

Qd. The restraints insposed
upon the intermission of Papal
rescripts ; with this they have
joined the appellative jurisdiction,
exercised by the supreme secular
magistrate.

Under a third head they include
other matters of ecclesiastical re-
gulation.

They distinguish between re-
gulations obtaining in those states
which are in communion with the
See of Rome; those of the
**non-united” Greek and Russian
church ; and those of the Augs-
burgh and Helyetian confessions.
I. AUSTRIA, BOHEMIA, HUNGARY.

The Austrian bishops are no-
minated or appointed by the Em-
peror, which appointment is in

lieu of the election or postulation
of the chapters of their respective
cathedrals, and has the same ef-
fect ; the papal confirmation being
afterwards obtained through the
Austrian minister at Rome. To
this mode of election the arch-
bishop of Olmutz forms the sole
exception, the right of choosing
him resting entirely in the chap-
ter of his see.

In Hungary the Emperor ap-
points all bishops, who perform
every part of their functions which
relates to jurisdiction before they
have been confirmed by the Pope.
In other parts of the imperial do-
minions this is not the case.

In Austria the placitum regium
is the right of requiring that all
ecclesiastical statutes and ordi-
nances besubmitted to the state be-
fore their publication. Absolu-
tions are excepted, when granted
by the Roman penitentiary, when-
ever they concern conscience only,
when the case admits of no delay,
or when the reputation of any one
is in danger.

No Austrian subject can be ex-
communicated without the Em-
peror’s consent.

Il, THE ELECTORAL ARCHBISHOP-
RICKS Ol MENTZ, TREVES, AND
COLOGNE —- AND THE ARCH-
BISHOPRICK OF SALTZBURGH—
AND THE CONGRESS OF EMS.

In August 1786 a Congress was
held at Ems by all the ecclesiasti-
cal electors, where 23 articles of
regulation, recognizing the inde-
pence of the Church of Germany,

with

Se VPLS.

with reference to the usurpations

of the Court of Rome, were

drawn up and ratified.

Yn these resolutions the ancient
discipline of the German Church
is asserted, with respect to nomi-
nations and elections to ecclesias-
tical benefices ; and it is declared
that ‘* No bulls, briefs, or ordi-
nances of the Pope shall be bind-
ing on the bishops, unless the lat-
ter regularly signify their formal
assent.”

III. STATES OF ITALY--THE MILAN-
ESE AND AUSTRIAN LOMBARDY.
The archbishoprick of Milan,

the bishopricks of Pavia, Cremo-
na, Lodi, and Como, are at the
immediate nomination and pre-
sentation of the Emperor of Aus-
tria, who is, however, with re-
gard to the four last bishopricks,
principally to appoint those sub-
jects that may be recommended
by the Pope.

In these states the sovereign
right of the regium placitum re-
mains inits full force and exercise.

IV. VENETIAN STATES.

In these states, while indepen-
dent, the two patriarchs of Venice
and Aquila were chosen by the
Senate—on a vacancy of an epis-
copal see, the names of three ec-
clesiastics were transmitted by the
Senate to Rome, and the requisite
- bull of institution was sent by the
Pope to the first on the list.

The same regulations existed
here as in the other states already
mentioned, respecting the regium
Placitum.

Vv, TUSCANY.’

On a vacancy occurring in any
Bishop's see, the Tuscan govern-
ment presents to the Pope the
names of four individuals, recom-
mending, at the same time, by

437

means of the minister at Rome,
the one more particularly designa-
ted to fill the vacancy.

Here also the regium placitum
exists.

VI. NAPLES AND THE TWO SI-
CILIES.

In Naples a negotiation is now
going on respecting the appoint-
ing of bishops.

In Sicily the nomination is ex-
clusively in the crown.

In both there is the regium pla-
citum.

VII. SARDINIA, PIEDMONT,
SAVOY.

By a brief of Pope Nicholas V.
of 145), the Sovereign of Sardi-
nia has the privilege of naming
to all the bishopricks. ‘The same
was extended by a concordat, in
1727, to Savoy.

The regium placitum is com-
pletely recognized.

VIII. FRANCE.

By the pragmatic sanction of
St. Louis, in 1268, the bishops of
France were elected (by the
Deans and Chapter); but these
elections were not valid, without
the congé d'élire of the King.

By the concordat settled at Bo-
logna, between Pope Leo X. and
the King, Francis I. in 1515, the
French Monarchs have exercised
the nomination of all bishops.

In France the regium placitum
is established.

IX. SPAIN.

The patronage of all ecclesiase
tical benefices is in the King. He
presents to all vacant sees, and
requires that the necessary bulls
should be immediately transmit-
ted by the Pepe to the newly ap-
pointed prelate. ‘

All bulls and rescripts subject
to the regium placitum.

AND

Xx. POR-

438

X. PORTUGAL AND THE BRAZILS.

The prerogatives of the crown
have been uniformly contended
for and supported, both. with re-
spect to the nomination of bishops,
and a control upon the intromis-
sion of papal rescripts.

XI. SWITZERLAND.

At Coire the Court of Rome
has no right to interfere in the
election of bishops, which is made
freely by the 24 canons. It is
only after the election that Rome
gives the placet.

In the Valais, the Chapter pro-
poses four individuals to the Diet,
which selects one, and presents
him to the Pope, who first rejects
and then names him, of his own
authority,

In the Catholic cantons, the
immediate monasteries elect their
own prelate, without the least in-
fluence on the part of the govern-
ments, their confirmation depend-
ing upon the apostolic see.

The regium placitum is in force
in Switzeriand.

X11. THE GREEK CHURCH, EMPIRE
OF RUSSIA.

The archbishop of Mohilow,
and all ether bishops, are named
by the Emperor, who are con-
firmed by. the Pope.

The regium placitum exists in
Russia.

XIII DENMARK.

Wo Catholic bishops.

Catholic priests receive their
appointments from the bishop of
Hildersheim, who exercises the
delegated authority of a vicar
apostolic, in relation to several
states of Germany, in which he
is not resident. ;

No regium placitumin Denmark.

XIV. SWEDEN.
The King autherises, ‘‘ by di-

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

ploma,’’ the vicars-apostolic to

exercise their functions through-

out the kingdom, conforming

themselves to the edict of tolera-

tion. ‘There is no provision for

the exercise of the regiwmplacitum.
XV. PRUSSIAs

The appointment to the epis-
copal order is generally in the
Crown; but whenever the ap-
pointment or nomination of the
bishop has not been reserved to
the Crown, the Chapter exercises
the right of election.

The regium placilum in force in
Prussia.

XVI. NETHERLANDS.

Negotiations are now going
forward respecting new regula-
tions between the Pope and the
King.

XVII; HAMBURGH.

No Catholic bishops, and no
papal edict allowed to be published.
XVIII. SAXONY,

No Catholic bishop since the
reformation, except the confessor
of the King, who has the autho-
rity of a vicar apostolic.

No information has been ob-
tained respecting the regium pla-
citum.,

XIX. HANOVER—HESSE BADEN.

Negotiations are now pending
relative to ecclesiastical regula-
tions.
XX. CANADA AND THE BRITISH

COLONIES.

The manner in which the bi-
shops are appointed is detailed in
the appendix, The King of Eng-
land nominates the bishop to each
vacant see, who is afterwards
consecrated. by the Pope. ,

No regium placitum in ferce in
the colonies.

Documents in the appendix ex-
plain the nature of the election by

the

SEAT E) PAPERS

the Chapter. The report would
have been more satisfactory if it
had more fully examined this part
of the subject. In vol. 3. b. 5.
ce. 1. ar. 3. of Dr. Smith’s Wealth
of Nations, is the following ac-
count of it.—‘‘In the ancient
constitution of the Christian
church, the bishop of each dio-
cese was elected by the joint votes
of the clergy and of the people of
the episcopal city. The people
did not long retain their right of
election. The clergy found it
easier to elect their own bishops
themselves. Thesovereign,though
he might have some indirect in-
fluence in those elections, and
though it was sometimes usual to
ask both his consent to elect, and
his approbation of the election,
yet he had no direct or sufficient
means of managing the clergy.”
After describing the encroach-
ments of the see of Rome in the
14th and 15th centuries, Dr.
Smith says, ‘‘ In this situation of
things, the sovereigns in the dif+
ferent states of Europe endeavour-
ed to récover the influence which
they ence had in the disposal of
the great benefices of the church,
by procuring to the deans and
chapters of each diocese the re-
storation of their ancient right of
electing the bishops. ‘The re-es-
tablishment of this ancient order
was the object of several statutes
enacted in England, and of the
pragmatic sanction established in
France in the 15th century.”

Report of the Lords of the Com-
mittee of Council, appointed to
take into consideration the State
of the Coins of this Kingdom,

459

and the present Establishment and

Constitution of his. Majesty’s

Mint, to his Royal Highness the

Prince Regent, dated the 21st of

May, 1816.

At the Council Chamber, White-
hall, the 21st of May, 1816, by
the Right Honourable the Lords
of the Committee of Council,
appointed to take into consider-
ation the State of the Coins of
this Kingdom, and the present
Establishment and Constitution
of his Majesty’s: Mint :

His Majesty having been pleas-
ed; by his Order in Council of
7th Bebruary, 1798, to direct
this Committee to take into con-
sideration the state of the coins
of this realm, and the present
establishment and constitution of
his Majesty's Mint, the Commit-
tee, in discharge ef their duty,
have already submitted to his Ma-
jesty thelr opinions on some of
the points so referred to them.

Anew Mint has, at their re-
conmmendation, been erected, and
furnished with a most complete
and extensive coining apparatus,
including all the modern improve-
ments; and in a representation
to your Royal Highness in Coun-
cil, of 6th March, 1815, this
committee suggested several al-
terations in the establishment and
constitution of his Majesty’s Mint,
which your Royal Highness was
graciously pleased to approve,
and which will, it is presumed,
render that establishment more
efficient.

These preliminary steps having
been completed, the comunittee
have availed themselves of the re-
turmof general peace, to resume
the consideration of the important
subject referred to them, which

the

440 ANNUAL

the unusuaily high prices of the
precious metals, and other cir-
cumstances arising out of a state
of war, had obliged them to sus-
pend ; and they now take leave
humbly to represent to your Royal
Highness, that an immediate
coinage of gold and silver monies
would be of great public benetit :
but that if your Royal Highness
should be pleased to give direc-
tions for carrying the same into
effect, they do not conceve it
would be advisa le to make any
alteration either in tie standard,
weieht, or denominations of the
gold coins. The committee are,
however, of opinion that it should
forthwith be proposed to parlia-
ment, to pass an act declaring the
gold coin alone to be the standard
coin of this realm; and that the
silver coins are hereafter to be
considered merely as representa-
tive coins, and to be a legal ten-
der only in payment of sums not
exceeding two guineas

The committee do not think it
necessary to state to your Royal
Highness the reasons which have
led them to recommend that the
gold coin alone should be declared
to be the standard coin of the
realm, because they conceive that
such a declaration by parliament
would in truth be merely in con-
firmation of a principle already
established by the universal con-
sent and practice of his Majesty's
subjects, and which appears to he
in a great measure recognised by
the act uf 38 Geo. III. chap. 59.

With respect to the silver coins,
of which an immediate supply ap-
pears to be more indispensably
necessary for the public conveni-
ence, the committee are of upini-
on, that no alteration should be

REGISTER,

1816.

made either in the standard of
fineness or in the denominations
of the coins; but they thir.k it
will be advisable to diminish the
Weight of the pieces, in order to
prevent a recurrence of those in-
conveniencies which have hitherto
arisen fiom the melting of the
new and perfect silver coins as
soon as they have appeared in
erculation, tor the purpose of
converting them into bul.ion, in
which state they have generally
been more valuable than as coin :
the committee are therefore of
opinion, that it should be pro-
posed to parliament to authorize
his Majesty to direct, that in all
future coinages of silver, sixty-
six shilles (and other coins in
proportion) shall be struck from
each pound weigiit troy of stand-

ard silver, instead of sixty-two.
It has hitherto been the prac-
tice in his Majesty's Mint to re-
turn. to those who impurt silver
for the purpose of having it con-
verted into coin, a quantity of
coin equal in weight to the quan-
tity of standard silver so import-
ed, the expense of coining being
borne by the public. So long as
the silver coins were considered
to be the standard coin of the
realm, this principle appears to
this committee to have been a
wise one, and they conceive that
it should still be adhered to in re-
spect of the gold coin, which is
now to he declared the standard
coin of the realm ; but the com-
mittee are of opinion that the
charge of coining the silver coins,
as well as a small allowance for
seignorage, ought to he deducted ;
and that his Majesty should Le
authorized to direct the Master of
his Mint to retain four shillings
out

SAT EP A PSR.

out of each pound weight troy of
silver coin hereafter to be coined,
for the charge of brassage and
seignorage ; and that the money
received for the same should be
applied to the public service, in
discharge of the interest of the
sum expended in the erection of
the new Mint, and in defraying
_ the general expenses of the mint
establishment. In thus stating
the number of pieces to be struck
from each pound of silver, and
the amount of the sum to he de-
ducted for brassage and seignor-
age the committee have, to the
best of their judgment, endea-
voured to fix on such a rate as
will on the one hand be suffi-
cie itly high tu protect the new
coins, by a small increase of their
nominal value, from the danger
of being melted down and con-
verted into bullion when the mar-
ket price of silver rises; while,
on the other, it will, they trust,
not be found to be so low as to
atford any encouragement to the
issue of counterfeit coin, if the
market price of silver should fall.

Should your Royal Higness
think fit to adopt the plan which
the committee have thus recom-
mended, they think it would be
advisable that asum of not less
than 2,500,0001. in silver coin
should actually be coined, before
anyissue of new coin takes place ;
viz. 2,000,000]. for the use of
Great Britain, and 500,000l. for
the use of Ireland.

It will, however, be necessary,
before any further progress can
he made in the execution of a new
silver coinage on the above prin-
ciples, that the legal prohibitions
_ against coining any silver coins
of the realm, or altering the

44}

weight of such coins, arising out
of the acts of 18 Charles I.
ch.5 ; 7 and $ William II]. ch. 1,
sec. 1 and 2; 14 George III. ch.
42, sec. 1; 38 George III. ch.59,
sec. 2, should be repealed; and
with this view, the committee
tuke leave to recommend, that in
the bill to be proposed to parlia-
ment provision should be made
for the removal of those prohibi-
tions. When that shall have been
effected, the committee will pro-
ceed humbly to recommend to
your Royal Highness the regula-
tions which they conceive will be
necessary with respect to the
time and mode of calling in the
silver coins now in currency; as
well as with respect to the allow-
ance (if any) to be made hereafter
for reasonable wear, in each de-
nomination of the proposed new
coins. The committee think it
right, however, now to state as
their opinion, with respect to the
silver coins at present in circula-
tion, that it should be proposed
to parliament to authorize his
Majesty, whenever he shall see
fit to call in such silver coins, to
direct that all such pieces as shall
be judged by the officers of the
Mint to have been actually coined
in his Majesty's Mint, should be
received by tale, und that the
holders of the same should receive
in return an equal value by tale
of the new silver coins.

Report from the Select Committee
on Tithes.

1. Resolved, That it is the opi-
nion of this committee, that it is
expedient to enable ecclesiastical
proprietors of tithes to grant

leases

44:2,

leases thereof, so as to bind their
successors under due regulations.

2. That it is the opinion of
this committee, that the term of
such leases should not exceed 14
years.

3. That it is the opinion of this
committee, that such leases should
only be granted with the previous
consent of the patron and the bi-
shop of the diocese.

4, That it is the opinion of

this committee, that the consent
of the bishop should not be given
until he has been furnished with
a@ certificate upon oath, by a com-
petent surveyor, to’ be named by
such bishop, and to be paid by
the contracting parties, that the
tithe rent, or composition pro-
posed, is a fair and just. equiva-
lent for the tithes so to be leased
during the term to be granted.
5. That it is the opinion of this
committee, that such leases should
only be granted to the proprietors
ef the land.

6. That it is the opinion of
this committee, that in any new
law to be enacted for this pur-
pose, it would be expedient to
define who should be considered
the proprietors of the land, for
the purpose of taking: such leases.

7. That it is the opinion of
this committee, that the leases to
such proprietors of lands should
be appurtenant to, and run with
the land im the nature of a real
covenant ; and that the occupier
of under leases now existing shall
have the option and the right,
ona notice within a year after
the date of the lease of the
tithes, of retaining the tithes du-
ring the:continuance of his: lease
in the land, om payment to: the

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

lessee of the tithe rent, or a just
proportion thereof.

8. That it is the opinion of
this committee, that in case of a
voidance of the living, by death
or otherwise, a proportion of the
rent should be paid to the incum-
bent, or his répresentative, up to
the time of such a voidance.

9. That it is the opinion of
this committee, that the said tithe-
rent or composition should be
recoverable by distress, as if the
same were a rent-charge upon
the lands ; and that thie lessee of
the tithes shall have a remedy by
distress for the tithe-rent against
the occupier agreeing to retain
the tithe.

10, That it is the opinion of
this committee, that the tithe-
proprietor should have the option
of voiding the lease, in case the
tithe-rent be in arrear for three
calendar months, after notice in
writing demanding the same from
the lessee, and the rent not paid,
nor sufiicient distress found upon
the premises.

11. That it is the opinion of
this committee, that the tithe-
proprietur should not be restrict-
ed from recovering the tithe-rent
or composition by due course of
law, in the same manner as he
may now recover the value of or
composition for tithes; where sub-
tracted.

12. That it is the opinion of
this committee, that a general
form of a lease or grant should
be framed; and: that’ no stamp
daty should be payable on such
lease or grant, unless the tithe-
rent or composition exceed
pounds a year.

13. That it is the: opinion. of

> this

SRA T EDP A PLES.

this committee, that the lay-own-
ers of impropriate tithes, being
tenants for life and for years, de-
terminable on a life or lives, or
tenants in tail, or tenants in fee,
subject to be determined by exe-
cutory devise or shifting use,
have the like power of leasing
such tithes for any term not ex-
ceeding: 14 years.

14. That it is the opinion of
this: committee, that a like power
be given to all corporate bodies,
whether lay cr spiritual, being
owners of impropriate tithes.

15. That it is the opinion of
this committee, that no lease shall
be valid to bind the successor,
reversioner, or remainder-man,
where any other consideration is
given than the annual tithe-rent
or composition declared in such

lease.
(16. That it is the opinion of
this consmittee, that the power
of leasing tithes, as it at present
by law exists, should net be taken
away or diminished.

June 18, 1816.

Report from the Commiitee on the
‘Game Laws.

The Committee appointed to take
into consideration the Laws re-
lating to Game, and to repert
their observations and opinion
thereupon from time to time to
the House, have considered
the matters to them referred,
and agreed upon the following
Report :

Your committee, in investi-
gating thisimportant subject, pro-
ceeded to the consideration of the
present existing Jaws for the pre-
Servation.of game; their adequacy

443

to their professed object; their
policy and justice ; and their ef-
fects upon the habits and morals
of the lower orders of the com~
munity. In considering the ex-
isting state of the law upon this
subject; their attention was na-
turally directed, in the first place,
to its state in the early periods of
the common Jaw; and in that
your committee finds concurrent
and undisturbed authorities for
contemplating game as the ex-
clusive right of the proprietor of
the land ratione soli. In a law of
Canute’s (vide 4th Institutes,
p. 230,) your committee find that
he thus: expresses himself: Pra-
terea autem concedo ut im propriis
ipsius preediis quisque tam in agris
quam in sylvis excitet agitetque fe-
ras; andin Blackstone If. p. 415,
Sit quitibet homo dignus venatione
sua in sylv@ et in agris situ propiis
et i» dominio suo. In the pream-
ble of the statutes 11th Hen. VII.
e. 17, a parliamentary recogni-
tion of the commen law is most
distinctly made, and in unequi-
vocal language. It states, that
persons of little substance destroy
pheasants and pariridges upon
the lordships, manors, lands, and
tenements of divers owners and
possessioners of the same, with-
out license, consent, or agree-
ment of the same possessioneys,
by which the same lose not only
their pleasure and disport, that
they, their friends, and servants
should have about hawking, hunt-
ing, and taking of the same, but

. also they lose the profit and avail

that should grew to their house-
hald, &c.

In the 4th Institutes, p. 204,
it is! laid down, that seeing the
wild beasts do belong to the’ pur-

lieu

444

Tieu-men ratione soli, so long as
they remain in his grounds he
‘may kill them, for the property
ratione soli is in him. In 11
Coke’s Reports, p. 876, it is laid
down, that for hawking, hunt-
ing, &c. there needeth not any
licence, but every one may, in
his own land, use them at his
pleasure, without any restraint to
be made, if not by parliament, as
appears by the statutes 11 Hen.
VII. ¢.°17, 23 Eliz. ¢: 10,-and'3
James I. ¢. 13.

In Sutton and Moody’s 5 Modern
Reports, p. 375, Holt, C. Jus-
tice, says, the conies are as much
his, in his ground, as if they were
in a warren, and the property is
ratione soli. Soin the Year-book,
12 Hen. VIII. pl. 10, if a man
start a hare in his own ground,
he has a property in it ratione soli.

In limitation, and to a certain
degree in derogation of the com-
mon law, a variety of statutes has
subjected to penalties persons
who, not having certain qualifi-
cations, shall even upon their
own lands kill any of those wild
animals which come under the
denomination of game.

By the 13 Richard IT. stat. 1,
c. 13, laymen not having 40s.
per annum, and priests not having
lol. per annum, are prohibited
from taking or destroying conies,
hares, &c. under pain of a year’s
imprisonment (this statute ap-
pears to be the first introduction
of a qualification to kill game.)
By the 32 Henry VIII. c. 8, a
penalty upon selling game was
first enacted, but this was a tem-
porary law, which was suffered
to expire, and the sale of game
was not again restrained till the
Ist James I, c. 27. By the 3d

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

James I. c. 13, the qualification to
kill game was increased to 401. in
land, and 200]. in personal pro-
perty.

By the 22d and 23d C. II. cap.
25. lords of manors, not under
the degree of esquire, may by
writing under their hands and
seals appoint gamekeepers within
their respective manors, who may
kill conies, hares, &c. and other
game, and by the warrant of a
justice may search houses of per-
sons prohibited to kill game.

It appears to your committee,
that the statute 22 and 23 C. II.is
the first instance, either in our
statutes, reports, or law treatises,
in which lords of manors are
distinguished from other land-
owners, in regard to game.

The same statute, section S,
confines the qualification to kill
game to persons having lands of
inheritance of 1001. per annum,
or leases of 1501. (to which are
added other descriptions of per-
sonal qualifications ;) and persons
net having such qualifications are
declared to be persons not allowed
to have or keep game-dogs, &c.

The 29° and 23" C.1.¢. 5;
was followed by 4 and 5 W. and
M. c. 23, and the 28 Geo. II.c.
1¥, which enacted penalties against
unqualified, and, finally, against
qualified persons, who shall buy,
sell, or offer to sell, any here,
pheasant, partridge, &c. Similar
penalties are therein enacted
against unqualified persons having
game in their possession.

Such appears to your commit-
tee to be the state of the laws re-
specting game, as they at present
stand. The various and num-
berless statutes which have been
enacted upon the subject, and to

which

STATE PAPERS.

which your committee have not
thought it requisite to allude, have
not been unobserved by them; but
seeing that they are merely sup-
plementary to those to which your
committee has male reference,
they have not felt it important to
enter into a detail of their enact-
ments.

Your committee cannot but
conclude, that by the conimon
law, every possessor of land has
an exclusive right ratione soli to
all the animals fere nature found
upon his land; and that he may
pursue and kill them himself, or
authorize any other person to
pursue or kill them ; and that he
may now by the common law,
which in so far continues unre-
strained by any subsequent sta-
tute, support an action against
any person who shall take, kill,
or chase them.

The statutes to which your
committee have referred have, in
limitation of the common law,
subjected to penalties persons,
who, not having certain qualifica-
tions, shall exercise their common
law right ; but they have not di-
vested the possessor of his right,
nor have they given power to any
other person to exercise that right
without the consent of the pos-
sessor.

It appears to your committee,
that the 22 and 23 C, II. has
merely the effect of exempting
from those liabilities, which were
previously enacted against un-
qualified persons, such game-
keepers as shall receive exemption
from them by the lords of manors
(and which exemption the said
lords of manors are thereby em-
powered to give), but that the
restraints upon the sale of game

445

equally affect tiie entire commu-
nity.

Your committee conceive, that
in the present state of society
there is little probability that the
laws above referred to can con-
tinue adequate to the object for
which they originally were en-
acted. The commercial prosperity
of the country, the immense ac-
cumulation of personal property,
and the consequent habits of lux-
ury and indulgence, operate as a
constant excitement to their in-
fraction, which no legislative in-
terference that your committec
could recommend appears likely
to counteract.

It appears, that under the pre-
sent system, those possessors of
Jand who fall within the statutable
disqualidcations, feel little or no
interest in the preservation of the
game; and that they are less ac-
tive in repressing the baneful
practice of poaching than if they
remained entitled to kill and enjoy
the game found upon their own
lands. Nor is it unnatural to
suppose, that the injury done to
the crops in those situations
where game is superabundant
may induce the possessors of land
thus circumstanced, rather to en-
courage than to suppress illegal
modes of destroying it.

The expediency of the present
restraints upon the possessors of
land appears further to your coni-
mittee extremely problematical.
The game is maintained by the
produce of the land, and your
committee is not aware of any
valid grounds for continuing to
withhold from the possessors of
land the enjoyment of that pro-
perty which has appeared by the
common law to belong to them.

The

446

The present system of game
laws produces the effect of en-
couraging its illegal and irregular
destruction by poachers, in whom
an interest is thereby created to
obtain a liveliheod by systematic
and habitual infractions of the
law. Jt can hardly be necessary
for your committee to point out
the mischievous influence of such
a state upon the moral conduct of
these who addict themselves to
such practices; to them may be
readily traced many of the irregu-
larities, and most of the crimes,
which ave prevalent among the
lower orders in agricultural dis-
tricts.

Your committee hesitate to re-
commend, at this late period of
the session, the introduction of
an immediate measure upon a
subject which affects a variety of
interests; but they cannot ab-
stain from expressing a sanguine
expectation, that by the future
adoption of same measure, found-
ed upon the principle recognized,
as your committee conceive, by
the common law, much of the
evils originating in the present
system of the game laws may be
ultimately removed.

Upon mature consideration of
the. premises, your committee
have come to the following reso-
lution :—~

Resolved—That it is the opi-
nion of this committee, that all
game should be the property of
the person upon whose lands such
game should be found.

Report from the Select Committee
of the House of Commons on the
Earl of Elgin’s Collection of
Sculptured Marbles.

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

The Select Committee appointed}
to inquire whether it be expe-
dient that the Collection men-}
tioned in the Earl of Elgin’s
Petition, presented to the House
eon the 15th day of February
last, should be purchased on
behalf of the Public, and if so,
what Price it may be reasonable | |
to allow for the same,
Consider the subject referred.

to them, as divided into four

principal heads ;

The first of which relates to the
authority by which this collection
was acquired :

The second to the circumstances
under which that authority was
granted :

The third to the merit of the |
marbles as works of sculpture,
and the importance of making |
them public property, for the}
purpose of promoting the study
of the fine arts in Great Britain ;
~—and

The fourth to their value as ob- |
jeets of sale; which includes the
consideration of theexpense which
has attended the removing, trans-
porting, and bringing them to
England.

To these will be added some
general observations upon what |
is to be found, in various authors, |
relating to these marbles.

I. When the Earl of Elgin
quitted England upon his mission —
to the Ottoman Porte, it was his |
original intention to make that_
appointment beneficial to the pro- —
gress of the fine arts in Great —

Britain, by procuring accurate |

drawings and casts of the valuable —

remains of sculpture and archi-.
tecture scattered throughout

Greece, and particularly concen-

trated at Athens.

With”

STATE PAPERS.

With this view beengaged Sig-
nor Lusieri, a painter of reputa-
tion, who was then in the service
of the King of the Two Sicilies,
together with two architects, two
modellers, and a figure paimter,
whom Mr. Hamilton (now Under
Secretary of State) engaged at
Rome, and despatched with Lu-
sieri, in the summer of 1800,

from Constantinople to Athens.

They were employed there
about nine months, from August
1800 to May 1801, without hav-
ing any sort of facility or accem-
modation afforded to them: ner
was the Acropolis aceessible to
them, even for the purpose of
taking drawings, except by the
payment of a large fee, which
was exacted daily.

The other five artists were
withdrawn from Athens in Janu-
1603, but Lusieri has continued
there ever since, excepting during
the short period of our hostilities
with the Ottoman Porte.

During the year 1800, Egypt
was in the power of the French:
and that sort of contempt and dis-
like whieh has always character-
ized the Turkish government and
people in their behaviour towards
every denomination of Christians,
prevailed in full force.

The suceess of the British arms
in Egypt, and the expected resti-
tution of that province to the
Porte, wrought a wonderful and
instantaneous change in the dis-
position of all ranks and descrip-
tions of people towards our na-
tion. Universal benevolence and
good-will appeared to take place
of suspicion and aversion. No-
thing was refused which was ask-
ed ; and Lord Elgin availing him-
self of this favourable and unex-

447

pected alteration, obtained, in the
summer of 1801, access to the
Acropolis for general purposes,
with permission to draw, model,
and remove ; to which was added
a special licence to exeavate in
a particular place. Lord Elgin
mentions in his evidence, that he
was obliged to send from Athens
to Constantinople for leave to re-
move a house; at the same time
remarking, that, in point of fact,
all permissions issuing from the
Porte to any distant provinees,
are little better than authorities
to make the best bargain that can
be made with the local magistra-
cies. The applications upon this
subject, passed in verbal conver-
sations ; but the warrants or fer-
mauns were granted in writing,
addressed to the chief authorities
resident at Athens, to whom they
were delivered, and in whose
hands they remained: so that
your Committee had no opportu-
nity ef learning from Lord Elgin
himself their exact tenor, ot of
ascertaining in what terms they
noticed, or allowed, the displacing,
or carrying away of these Marbles.
But Dr. Hunt, who accompanied
Lord Elgin as chaplain to the em-
bassy, has preserved, and has now
in his possession, a translation of
the second fermaun, which ex-
tended the powers of the first;
but as he had it net with him in
London, to produce before your
eommittee, he stated the sub-
stance, according to bis reeollec-
tion, which was, ‘‘ That in order
to show their particular respect
to the ambassador of Great Bri-
tain, the august ally of the Porte,
with whom they were now and
had long been in the strictest al-
liance, they gave to his Excel-

lency

448

lency and to his secretary, and
the artists employed by him, the
most extensive permission to view,
draw, and model the ancient tem-
ples of the Idols, and the sculp-
tures upon them, and to make
excavations, and to take away
any stones that might appear in-
teresting to them.’ He stated
further, that no remonstrance
was at any time made, nor any
displeasure shown by the Turkish
government, either at Constanti-
nople or at Athens, against the
extensive interpretation which
was put upon this fermaun ; and
although the work of taking
down and removing, was going
on for months, and even years,
and was conducted in the most
public manner, numbers of native
labourers, tothe amount of some
hundreds, being frequently em-
ployed, not the least obstruction
was ever interposed, nor the
smallest uneasiness shown after
the granting of this second fer-
maun. Among the Greek popu-
lation and inhabitants of Athens,
it occasioned no sort of dissatis-
faction; but, as Mr. Hamilton,
an eye-witness, expresses it, so
far from exciting any unpleasant
sensation, the people seemed to
feel it as the means of bringing
foreigners into their country, and
of having money spent among
them. The Turks showed a total

indifference and apathy as to the.

preservation of these remains,
except when in a fit of wanton
destruction, they sometimes car-
ried their disregard so far as to
do mischief by firing at them.
The numerous travellers and ad-
mirers of the arts committed
greater waste, from a very differ-
ent motive; for many of those

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

who visited the Acropolis, tempt-
ed the soldiers and other people
about the fortress to bring them
down heads, legs, or arms, or
whatever other pieces they could
carry off.

A translation of the fermaun
itself has since been forwarded
by Dr. Hunt, which is printed in
the appendix.

II. Upon the second division,
it must be premised, that antece-
dently to Lord Elgin’s departure
for Constantinople, he communi-
cated his intentions of bringing
home casts and drawings from
Athens, for the benefit and ad-
vancement of the fine arts in this
country, to Mr. Pitt, Lord Gren-
ville, and Mr. Dundas, suggesting
to them the propriety of consider-
ing it as a national object, fit to
be undertaken, and carried into
effect at the public expense ; but
that this recommendation was in
no degree encouraged, either at
that time or afterwards.

It is evident, from a letter of
Lord Elgin to the Secretary of
State, 13 January, 1803, that he
considered himself as having no
sort of claim for his disburse-
ments in the prosecution of these
pursuits, though he stated, in the
same despatch, the heavy expenses
in which they had involved him,
so as to make it extremely incon-
venient for him to forego any of
the usual allowances to which
ambassadors at other courts were
entitled. It cannot, therefore, be
doubted, that he looked upon
himself in this respect as acting
in a character entirely distinct
from his official situation. But
whether the Government from
whom he obtained permission did,
or could so consider him, is a

question

SeA/TE ; Bi A BE Ry§.

question which can be solved only
by conjecture and reasoning, in
the absence and deficiency of all
positive testimony. The Turkish
ministers of that day are, in fact,
the only persons in the world ca-
pable (if they are still alive) of
deciding the doubt; and it is
probable that even they, if it were
possible to consult them, might
be unable to form any very dis-
tinct discrimination as to the
character in consideration of
which they acceded to Lord El-
gin’s request. The occasion made
them, beyond all precedent, pro-
pitious to whatever was desired
in behalf of the English nation ;
they readily, therefore, complied
with all ti.at was asked by Lord
Elgin. He was an Englishman
of high rank; he was also am-
bassador from our Court: they
granted the same permission to
no other individual: but then, as
Lord Elgin observes, no other
individual applied for it to the
saine extent, nor had indeed the
same unlimited means for carry.
ing such an undertaking into exe-
cution. The expression of one
of the most intelligent and distin-
guished of the British travellers,
who visited Athens about the
same period, appears to your
Committee to convey as correct a
judgment as can be formed upon
this question, which is incapable
of being satisfactorily separated,
and must be taken «in the aggre-
gate.

The Earl of Aberdeen, in an-
swer to an inquiry, whether the
authority and influence of a public
situation was in his opinion ne~-
cessary for accomplishing the re-
moval of these Marbles, answered
that he did not think a private in-

Vot. LVIII.

449

dividual could have accomplished
the removal of the remains which
Lord Elgin obtained : and Doctor
Hunt, who had better opportuni-
ties of information upon this point
than any other person who has
been examined, gave it as his
decided opinion, that ‘‘ a British
subject not in the situation of
ambassador, could not have been
able to obtain from the Turkish
government a fermaun of such
extensive powers.”

It may not be unworthy of re-
mark, that the only other piece
of sculpture which was ever re-
moved froin its place for the pur-
pose of export was taken by
Mr. Choiseul Gouffier, when he ©
was ambassador from France
to the Porte; but whether he did
it by express permission, or in
some less ostensible way, no
means of ascertaining are within
the reach of your committee. It
was undoubtedly at various times
an object with the French go-
vernment to obtain possession of
some of these valuable remains,
and it is probable, according to
the testimony of Lord Aberdeen
and others, that at no great dis-
tance of time they might have
been removed by that government
from their original site, if they
had not been taken away, and se-
cured for this country by Lord
Elgin.

IJI. The third part is involved
in much less intricacy; and al-
though in all matters of taste
there is room for great variety
and latitude of opinion, there will
be found upon this branch of the
subject much more uniformity
and agreement than could have
been expected. The testimony of
several of the most eminent artists

2G in

450

in this kingdom, who have been

examined, rates these Marbles in
the very first class of ancient art,
some placing them a little above,
and others but very little below
the Apollo Belvidere, the Lao-
coon, arid the Torso of the Bel-
videre. They speak of them with
admiration and enthusiasm: and
notwithstanding the manifold in-
juries of time and weather, and
those mutilations which they have
sustained from the fortuitous, or
designed injuries of neglect, or
mischief, they consider them as
among the finest models, and the
most exquisite monuments of
antiquity. The general current
of this portion of the evidence
makes no doubt of referring the
date of these works to the ori-
ginal building of the. Parthenon,
and to the designs of Phidias, the
dawn of every thing which adorned
and ennobled Greece. With this
estimation of the excellence of
these works it is natural to con-
clude, that they are recommended
by the same authorities-as highly
fit, and admirably adapted to form
a school for study, to improve our
national taste for the fine arts,
and to diffuse a more perfect
knowledge of them throughout
this kingdom.

Much indeed may be reasonably
hoped and expected, from the
general observation and admira-
tion of such distinguished exam-
ples. ‘The end of the fifteenth
and beginning of the’ sixteenth
centuries enlightened by the dis-
covery of several of the noblest
remains of antiquity, produced
in Italy an abundant harvest of
the most eminent men, who made
gigantic advances in the path of
art, aS painters, sculptors, and

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

architects. Caught by the novelty,
attracted by the beauty, and ena-
moured of the perfection of those
newly disclosed treasures, they
imbibed the genuine spirit of an-
cient excellence, and transfused it
into their own compositions.

It is surprising to observe in
the best of these Marbles in how
great a degree-the close imitation
of nature is combined with gran-
deur of style, while the exact de-
tails of the former in no degree
detract from the effect and pre-
dominance of the latter.

The two finest single figures
of this collection differ materially
in this respect from the Apollo
Belvidere, which may be selected
as the highest and most sublime
representation of ideal form and
beauty, which sculpture has ever
embodied, and turned into shape.

The evidence upon this part of
the inquiry will be read with sa-
tisfaction and interest, both where
it is immediately connected with
these Marbles, and where it
branches out into extraneous ob-
servations, but all of them relat-
ing to the study of the Antique.
A reference is made by one of the
witnesses to a sculptor, eminent
throughout Europe for his works,
who lately left this metropelis
highly gyatified by the view of
these treasures of that branch of
art, which he has cultivated with
so much success. His own letter’
to the Earl of Elgin upon this
subject is inserted in the Ap-
pendix.

In the judgment of Mr. Payne
Knight, whose valuation will be
referred to in a subsequent page,
the first class is not assigned to
the two principal statues of this
collection; but he rates the Me~

‘ topes

STATE PAPERS.

topes in the first class of works
in high relief, and knows of
nothing so fine in that kind. He
places also the frize in the first
class of low relief; and consider-
ing a general museum of art to
be very desirable, he looks upon
such an addition to our national
collection as likely to contribute
to the improvement of the arts,
and to become a very valuable
acquisition ; for the importation
of which Lord Elgin is entitled .to
the gratitude of his country.

IV. The directions of the House
in the order of reference impose
upon your committee the task of
forming and submitting an opi-
nion upon the fourth head, which
otherwise the scantiness of ma-
terials for fixing a pecuniary
value, and the unwillingness, or
inability in those who are prac-
tically most conversant in statuary
to afford any lights upon this part
of the subject, would have rather
induced them to decline.

The produce of this collection,
if it should be brought to sale in
separate lots, in the present de-
preciated state of almost every

article, and more particularly of

such as are of precarious and
fanciful value, would probably be
much inferior to what may be
denominated its intrinsic value.
The mutilated state of all the
larger figures, the want either of
heads or features, of limbs or
surface, in most of the metopes,
and in a great proportion of the
compartments even of the larger
frize, render this collection, if
divided, but little adapted to serve
for the decoration of private
houses. It should therefore be
considered as forming a whole,
and should unquestionably be kept

451

entire as a school of art, and a
study for the formation of artists.
The competitors in the market,
if it should be offered for sale
without separation, could not be
numerous. Some of the Sove-
reigns of Europe, added to such
of the great galleries or national
institutions in various parts of
the continent, as may possess
funds at the disposal of their di-
rectors sufficient for such a pur-
pose, would in all probability be
the only purchasers.

It is not however reasonable
nor becoming the liberality of
Parliament to withhold upon this
account, whatever, under all the
circumstances, may be deemed a
just and adequate price ; and more
particularly in a case where Par-
liament is left to fix its own valu-
ation, and no specific sum is de-
manded, or even suggested by
the party who offers the collection
to the public.

It is obvious that the money
expended in the acquisition of any
commodity is not necessarily the
measure of-its real value. The
sum laid out in gaining possession
of two articles of the same intrin-
sie worth, may, and often does
vary considerably. In making
two excavations, for instance, of
equal magnitude and labour, a
broken bust or some few frag-
ments, may be discovered in the
one, and a perfect statue inthe
other. The first cost of the broken
bust and of the entire statue
would in that case be the same;
but it cannot be said that the value
is therefore equal. In the same
manner, by the loss, or detention
of a ship, a great charge may
have been incurred, and the ori-
ginal outgoing excessively en-

2G2 hanced ;

452 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

hanced; but the value to the
buyer will in no degree be affected
by the extraneous accidents. Sup-
posing again, artists to have been
engaged at considerable salaries
during a large period in which
they could do little or nothing,
the first cost would be burden-
some in this case also to the em-
ployer, but those who bought
would look only at the value of
the article in the market where
it might be exposed to sale, with-
out caring, or inquiring how, or
at what expense it was brought
thither.

Supposing, on the other hand,
that the thirteen other metopes
had been bought at the Custom-
house sale at the same price which
chat of Mr. Choiseul Gouftier
‘etched, it could never be said,
shat the value of them was no
tnore than twenty-four or twenty-
five pounds apiece.

It is perfectly just and rea-
sonable that the seller should en-
deavour fully to reimburse him-
self for all expenses, and to ac-
quire a profit also, but it will be
impossible for him to do so, when-
ever the disbursements have ex-
ceeded the fair money price of
that which he has to dispose of.

Your committee refer to Lord
Elgin’s evidence for che large and
heavy charges which have at-
tended the formation of this col-
lection, and the placing of it
in its present situation; which
amount, from 1799, to January
1803, to 62,4401. including
23,2401. for theinterest of money ;
and according to a supplemental
account, continued from 1803 to
1816, to no less a sum than
74,0001. including the same sum
for interest.

All the papers which are in his
possession upon this subject, in-
cluding a jonrnal of above 90
pages, of the daily expenses of his
principal artist Lusieri (from 1803
to the close of 1814) who still re-
mains in his employment at
Athens, together with the account
current of Messrs. Hayes, of
Malta, (from April 1807 to May
1811) have been freely submitted
to your committee; and there
can be no doubt, from the inspec-
tion of those accounts, confirmed
also by other testimony, that the
disbursements were very consider-
able; but supposing them to
reach the full sum at which they
are calculated, your committee do
not hesitate to express their opi-
nion, that they afford no just eri-
terion of the value of the collec-
tion, and therefore must not be
taken as a just basis for estimat-
ing it.

Two valuations, and only two
in detail, have been laid before
your committee, which are print-
ed; differing most widely in the
particulars, and in the total; that
of Mr. Payne Knight amou:.ting to
25,0001. and that of Mr. Hamil-
ton to 60,8001.

The only other sum mentioned
as a money price, is in the evi-
dence of the Earl of Aberdeen,
who named 35,c00l. as a sort of
conjeciural estimate of the whole,
without entering into particulars.

In addition to the instances of
prices quoted in Mr. Payne
Knight's evidence, the sums paid
for other celebrated marbles, de-
serve to be brought under the
notice of the House.

The Townley collection, which
was purchased for the British
Museum in June 185, for

20,0001,

STATE PAPERS.

20,0001. is frequently referred
to in the examinations of the wit-
nesses, with some variety of opi-
nion as to its intrinsic value ;
but it is to be observed of all the
principal sculptures in that col-
lection, that they were in excel-
lent condition with the surface
perfect ; and where injured, they
were generally well restored, and
perfectly adapted for the decora-
tion, and almost for the orna-
mental furniture of a private
house, as they were indeed dis-
posed by Mir. Townley in his life-
time.

In what proportion the state of
mutilation in which the Elgin
Marbles are left, and above all
the corrosion of much of the sur-
face by weather, reduce their value,
it is difficult precisely to ascer-
tain; but it may unquestionably
be affirmed in the words of one of
the sculptors examined (who rates
these works in the highest class
of art) that ‘‘the ‘Townleyan
marbles being entire, are, in a
commercial point of view, the
most valuable of the two: but
that the Elgin Marbles, as pos-
sessing that matter which artists
most require, claima higher con-
sideration.”

The A?gina marbles, which are
also referred to, and were well
known to one of the members of
your committee, who was in
treaty to purchase them for the
British Museum, sold for 6,0001.,
to the Prince Royal of Bavaria,
which was less than the British
government had directed to be
offered, after a prior negociation
for obtaining them had failed ;
their real value however was sup-
posed not to exceed 40001., at
which Lusieri estimated them,

453

They are described as valuable in
point of remote antiquity, and
curious in that respect, but of no
distinguished merit as specimens
of sculpture, their style being
what is usually called Etruscan,
and older than the age of Phi-
dias.

The Marbles at Phigalia, in
Arcadia, have lately been pur-
chased for the Museum at the ex-
pense of 15,0001. increased by a
very unfavourable exchange to
19,0001. a sum which your com-
mittee, after inspecting them,
venture to consider as more than
equal to their value.

It is true that an English gen-
tleman, concerned in discovering
them, was ready to give the same
sum; and therefore no sort of
censure can attach on those who
purchased them abroad for our
national gallery, without any pos-
sible opportunity of viewing and
examining the sculpture, but
knowing them only from the
sketches which were sent over,
and the place where they were dug
up, to be undoubted and authentic
remains of Greek artists of the
best time.

When the first offer was made
by the Earl of Elgin to Mr. Per-
ceval, of putting the public in
possession of this collection, Mr.
Long, a member of your cum-
mittee, was authorized by Mr.
Perceval to acquaint Lord Elgin,
that he was willing to propose to
Parliament to purchase it for
30,0001. provided Lord Elgin
should make out, to the satisfac-
tion of a committee of the House
of Commons, that he had ex-
pended so much in acquiring and
transporting it.

Lord Elgin declined this pro-

5 posal,

454

posal, for the reasons stated by
him in his evidence: and until
the month of June 1815, no fur-
ther step was taken on either
side; but at that time a petition
was presented, on the part of
Lord Elgin, to the House, which
owing to the late period of the
session, was not proceeded upon.
Eighty additional cases have been
received since 1811, the contents
of which, enumerated in Mr.
Hamilton’s evidence, now form
a part of the collection. The
medals also, of which the value
is more easily defined, were not
included in the proposal made to
Mr. Perceval.

Against these augmentations
must be set the rise in the value
of money, whichis unquestionably
not inconsiderable, between the
present time and the year 1811;
a cause or consequence of which
is the depreciation of every com-
modity, either of necessity, or
fancy, which is brought to sale.

Your committee, therefore, do
not think that they should be
justified, in behalf of the public,
if they were to recommend to the
House any extension of Mr. Per-
ceval’s offer to a greater amount
than 50001.: and, under all the
circumstances that they have en-
deavoured to bring under the
view of the House, they judge
thirty-five thousand pounds to be
a reasonable and sufficient price
for this collection.

Your committee observing, that
by the act 45 Geo. III., c. 197,
for vesting the Townleyan col-
lection in the trustees of the
British Museum, sect. 4, the pro-
prietor of that collection, Mr.
Townley Standish, was added to
the trustees of the British Mu-

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

seum, consider the Earl of Elgin
(and his heirs being Earls of
Elgin) as equally entitled to the
same distinction, and recommend
that a clause should be inserted
to that effect, if it should be ne-
cessary that an act should pass
for transferring his collection to
the public. \

It may not be deemed foreign
to this subject, if your committee
venture to extend their observa-
tions somewhat beyond the strict
limit of their immediate inquiry,
and lay before the House what
occurs to them as not unimport-
ant with regard to the age and
authenticity of these sculptures.
The great works with which Pe-
ricles adorned, and strengthened
Athens, were all carried on under’
the direction and superintendence
of Phidias; for this there is the
authority of various ancient wri-
ters, and particularly of Plutarch ;
but he distinctly asserts in the
same passage, that Callicrates
and Ictinus executed the work of
the Parthenon ; which is confirm-
ed also by Pausanias, so far as
relates to Ictinus, who likewise
ornamented or constructed the
temple of Apollo at Phigalia ;*
from whence, by a singular coin-
cidence, the sculptures in high
relief, lately purchased for the
British Museum, and frequently
referred to in the evidence, were
transported,

The style of this work in the
opinion of the artists, indicates,
that it belongs to the same period,

though

* The penultimate syllable should be
pronounced long; Phigalia closes two
hexameter verses, one of which is quoted
by Pausanias, and the other by Stephanus
Byzantinus, from Rhianus, a poet of Crete,

STIATE PA PERS

though the execution is rated as
inferior to that of the Elgin mar-
bles. In the fabulous stories
which are represented upon both,
there is a very striking similarity ;
and it may be remarked in passing
that the subjects of the metopes,
and of the smaller frize, which is
sculptured with the battle of the
Amazons, correspond with two
out of the four subjects mention-
ed by Pliny, as adorning the
shield and dress of the Minerva;
so that there was a general uni-
formity of design in the stories
which were selected for the in-
ternal and external decoration of
the Parthenon. ‘The taste of the
same artist, Ictinus, probably led
him to repeat the same ideas,
which abound in graceful forms,
and variety of composition, when
he was employed upon the temple
of another divinity, ata distance
from Athens.

The statue of Minerva within
the temple, was the work of Phi-
dias himself, and with the ex-
ception of the Jupiter which he
made at Elis, the most celebrated
of his productions. It was com-
posed of ivory and gold: with
regard to which, some very cu-
rious anecdotes relating to the
political history of that time, are
to be found in the same writers:
the earliest of which, from a pas-
sage in a cotemporary poet, Aris-
tophanes, proves that the value of
these materials involved both Pe-
vicles and the director of his
works in great trouble and jeo-
pardy ; upon which account the
latter is said to have withdrawn
to Elis, and to have ended his
days there, leaving it doubtful
whether his death was natural, or
in consequence ef a judicial sen-

455

tence: but Plutarch places his
death at Athens, and in prison,
either by disease or by poison.

It has been doubted whether
Phidias himself ever wrought in
marble ; but although, when he
did not use ivory, his chief ma-
terial was unquestionably bronze ;
there are authorities sufficient to
establish, beyond all controversy,
that he sometimes applied his
hand to marble. Pliny, for in-
stance, asserts that he did so, and
mentions a Venus ascribed to him,
existing in his own time in the
collection (or in the portico) of
Octavia. Phidias is called by
Aristotle, a skilful worker in
stone; and Pausanias enumerates
acelestial Venus of Parian marble
undoubtedly of his hand: and
the Rhamnusian Nemesis, also of
the same material. Some of his
statues in bronze were brought
to Rome by Paulus Aimilius, and
by Catulus. 5

His great reputation, however,
was founded upon his represen-
tations of the Gods, in which he
was supposed more excellent than
in human forms, and especially
upon his works inivory, in which
he stood unrivalled.

Elidas the Argive is mentioned
as the master of Phidias: which
honour is also shared by Hippias.
iis two most celebrated scholars
were Alcamenes an Athenian of
noble birth, and Agoracritus of
Paros; the latter of whom was
his favourite ; and it was report-
ed, that out of aifection to him,
Phidias put his seholar’s name
upon several of his own works ;
among which the statue called
Rhamnusian Nemesis is particu-
larized by Pliny and Suidas.

In another passage of Pliny,

Alcamenes

456 ANNUAL

Alcamenes is classed with Critias,
Nestocles, and Hegias, who are
called the rivals of Phidias. The
name of Colotes is preserved as
another of his scholars.

The other great sculptors, who
were living at the same time with
Phidias, and flourished very soon
after him, were Agelades, Callon,
Polycletus, Phragmon, Gorgias,
Lacon, Myron, Pythagoras, Sco-
pas, and Perelius.

The passage in which Pausani-
as mentions the sculptures on the
pediments is extremely short, and
to this effect: ‘‘ As you enter the
temple, which they call Parthenon,
all that is contained in what is
‘termed the (eagles) pediments,
relates in every particular to the
birth of Minerva; but on the op-
posite or back front is the contest
of Minerva and Neptune for the
land; but the statue itself is
formed of ivory and gold.’ The
state of dilapidation into which
this temple was fallen, when
Stuart visited it in 1751, and
made most correct drawings for
his valuable woik, left little op-
portunity of examining and com-
paring what remained upon that
part of the temple with the pas-
sage referred to: but an account
is preserved by travellers, who
about SO years earlier found one
of these pediments in tolerable
preservation, before the war be-
tween the Turks and Venetians,
in 1687, had done so much da-
mage to this admirable structure.
The observations of one of these
(Dr. Spon, a French physician)
may be literally translated thus :

“« The highest part of the front
which the Greeks called ‘ the
Eagle,’ and our architects ‘the
Fronton,’ is enriched with a

REGISTER, 1816.

groupe of beautiful figures. in
marble, which appear from below
as large as life. They are of en-
tire relief, and wonderfully well
worked. Pausanias says nothing
more, than that this sculpture re-
lated to the birth of Minerva.
The general design is this :

** Jupiter, who is under the
highest angle of the pediment
(fronton) has the right arm brok-
ea, in which, probably, he held
his thunderbolt; his legs are
thrown wide from each other,
without doubt to make room for
his eagle. Although these two
characteristics are wanting, one
cannot avoid recognizing him by
his beard, and by the majesty
with which the sculptor has in-
vested him. He is naked, as they
usually represented him, and par-
ticularly the Greeks, who for the
most part made their figures
naked ; on his right is a statue,
which has its head and arms mu-
tilated, draped to about half the
leg, which one may judge to be a
victory, which precedes the car of
Minerva, whose horses she leads.
They are the work of some hand
as bold as it was delicate, which
would not perhaps have yielded
to Phidias, or Praxiteles, so re-
nowned for (representing) horses.
Minerva is sitting upon the car,
rather in the habit of a goddess
of the sciences, than of war; for
she is not dressed as a warrior,
having neither helmet, nor shield,
nor head of Medusa upon her
breast: she has the air of youth,
and her head-dress is not dif-
ferent from that of Venus. Ano-
ther female figure without a head
is sitting behind her with a child,
which she hold: upon her knees,
I cannot say who she is; but I

had

STIAATE PAPERS.

had no trouble in making out or
recognising the two next, which
are the last on that side; itis the
Emperor Hadrian sitting, and
half naked, and, next to him, his
wife Sabina. It seems that they
are both looking on with plea-
sure at the triumph of the god-
dess. I do not believe that be-
fore me, any person cbserved this
particularity, which deserves to
be remarked.” ‘‘ On the left of
Jupiter are five or six figures, of
which some have lost the heads ;
it is probably the circle of the
gods, where Jupiter is about to
introduce Minerva, and to make
her be acknowledged for his
daughter. The pediment behind
represented, according to the
same author, the dispute which
Minerva and Neptune had for
naming the city, but all the
fiyures are fallen from them, ex-
cept one head of a sea-horse,
which was the usual accompani-
ment of this god; these figures
of the two pediments were not
so ancient as the body of the
temple built by Pericles, for
which there wants no other argu-
ment than that of the statue of
Hadrian, which is to be seen
there, and the marble which is
whiter than the rest. All the rest
has not been touched The Mar-
quis de Nointel had designs made
of the whole, when he went to
Athens ; his painter worked there
for two months, and almost lost
his eyes, because he was obliged
to draw every thing from below,
without a scaffold.”’—Voyage par
Jacob Spon; Lyons, 1678; 2
tom. p. 144.)

Wheler, who travelled with
Spon, and published his work at
London (four years later) in 1682,

457

says, “ But my companion made
me observe the next two figures
sitting in the corner to be of the
Emperor Hadrian and his Em-
press Sabina, whom | easily knew
to be so, by the many medals and
stacues I have seen of them.’’
And again, ‘‘But the Emperor
Hadrian most probably repaired
it, and adorned it with those
figures at each front. For the
whiteness of the marble, and his
own statue joined with them, ap-
parently show them to be of a
later age than the first, and done
by that Emperor's command.
Within the portico on high, and
on the outside of the cella of the
the temple itself, is another bor-
der of basso relievo round about
it, or at least on the north and
south sides, which, without doubt,
is as antient as the temple, and
of admirable. work, but not so
high a relieve as the other. There-
on are represented sacrifices, pro-
cessions, and other ceremonies of
the heathens’ worship; most of
therm were designed by the Marquis
de Nointel, whoemployed a painter
to do it two months tegether, and
showed them to us when we
waited on him at Constantinople.”
Another Frenchauthor, who pub-
lished three years earlier thanSpon,
a work called “ Athenes Ancienne
& Nouvelle, par le S' de la Guil-
letiere ; a Paris, 1675,’—says,
‘* Pericles employed upon the
Parthenon the celebrated archi-
tects Callicrates and Ictinus. The
last, who had more reputation
than the former, wrote a descrip-
tion of it in a book,* which he
* Tctinus and Carpion were jointly con-
cerned in this work, tor which we have the

authority of Vitruvius, lib. 7. praefat.
composed

458

composed on purpose, and which
has been lost; and we should
probably not now have the op-
portunity of admiring the build-
ing itself, if the Emperor Hadrian
had not preserved it to us, by the
repairs which he caused to be
done. It is to his care that we
owe the few remains of antiquity
which are still entire at Athens.”

In the Antiquities of Athens by
Stuart, vol. ii. p. 4, it is said,
** Pausanias gives but a transient
account of this temple, nor does
he say whether Hadrian repaired
it, though his statue, and that of
the Empress Sabina in the western
pediment, have occasioned adoubt
whether the sculptures, in both,
were not put up by him. Wheler
and Spon were of this opinion,
and say they were whiter than
the rest of the building. The
statue of Antinous, now remain-
ing at Rome, may be thought a
proof that there were artists in
his time capable of executing
them, but this whiteness is no
proof that they were more mo-
dern than the temple, for they
might be made of a whiter mar-
ble; and the heads of Hadrian
and Sabina might be put on two
of the ancient figures, which was
no wncommon practice among
the Romans ; and if we may give
credit to Plutarch, the buildings
of Pericles were not in the least
impaired by age in his time ;
therefore this temple could not
Want any material repairs in the
reign of Hadrian."

With regard to the works of
Hadrian at Athens, Spartian says,
‘* that he did much for the Athe-
nians ;’’* and a little after, on

* Folio Rdit. Paris, 1690. -p. 6,

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

his second visit toAthens, ‘‘ going
to the East he made his journey
through Athens, and dedicated
the works which he had begun
there: and particularly a temple
to Olympian Jupiter, and an altar
to himself.”

The account given by Dion
Cassius, is nearly to the same
effect, adding that he placed his
own statue within the temple
of Olympian Jupiter, which he
erected.*

He called some other cities
after his own name, and directed
a part of Athens to be styled Ha-
drianopolis :+ but no mention is
made by any ancient author, of
his touching or vepairing the
Parthenon. Pausanias, who wrote
in his reign, says, that ‘‘ the
temples which Hadrian either
erected from the foundation, or
adorned with dedicated gifts and
decorations, or whatever dona-
tions he made to the cities of the
Greeks, and of the Barbarians
also, who made application to
him, were all recorded at Athens
in the temple common to all the
gods.’’t

It is not unlikely, that a con-
fused recollection of the statue
which Hadrian actually placed at
Athens, may have led.one of the
earliest travellers into a mistake,
which has been repeated, and
countenanced by subsequent wri-
ters; but M. Fauvel, who will
be quoted presently, speaks as
from his own examination and
observation, when he mentions
the two statues in. question;
which, it is to be observed, still
remain (without their heads) up-

* B. 69, c. 16. + Spartian, p. 10.
+ Paus. Att. p. 5. Hd. Xyl.
on

STATE PAPERS.

on the pediment of the entrance,
and have not been removed by
Lord Elgin.

An exact copy of these draw-
ings, by the Marquis de Nointel’s
painter, is given in M. Barry's
works ; which are rendered more
valuable on account of the de-
struction of a considerable part of
the temple in the Turkish war by
the falling of a Venetian bomb,
within a short time after the
year in which they were made ;
which, however, must have been
prior to the date of 1683, affixed
to the plate in Barry’s works,
(2 vol. p. 163. London, 1809.)

Some notes of M. Fauvel, a
painter and antiquarian, who
moulded and took casts from the
greatest part of the sculptures,
and remained fifteen years at
Athens, are given with the tracings
of these drawings ; in which it is
said, with regard to these pedi-
ments, ‘“‘ These figures were
adorned with bronze, at least if
we may judge by the head of Sa-
bina, which is one of the two
that remain ; and which, having
fallen, and being much mutilated,
was brought to M. Fauvel. The
traces are visible of the little
eramps which probably fixed the
crown to the head. The head of
the Emperor Hadrian still exists.
Probably this group has been in-
serted to do honour to that em-
peror, for it is of a workmanship
diferent from the rest of the
sculpture.”

Agriculiural State of the Kingdom,
being the Substance of the Replies
lo a Circular Letter sent by the
Board of Agriculture.

The Board of Agriculture, on

459

assembling after the Christmas
vacation, considered it as an in-
cumbent duty to the Public, to
take the necessary measures for
ascertaining the real state of the
kingdom, in whatever most inti-
mately concerned its Agricultural
Resources ; and for this purpose,
ordered the following Circular
Letter and Queries to be imme-
diately dispatched to all their Cor-
respondents :

Sir ;—The Board of Agricul-
ture, attentive to those circum-
stances which concern the Agri-
cultural Interest of the Kingdom,
beg your attention to the under-
written Queries; to which they
request the earliest possible Reply.
The importance of the subject, in
the present state of the Kingdem,
will without doubt induce you to
be carefully accurate in the an-
swers with which you may favour
us, I am, Sir, your obedient, and
very humble Servant,

J. Fanz, Vice-President.
(Signed by Order of the Board.)
13th February, 1816.

QUERIES.

1. Areany farms in your neigh-
bourhooed unoccupied by tenants ;
and have landlords, in conse-
quence, been obliged to take them
into their own hands? Please to
state the number of farms, and
their size.

2. Have any tenants, within
your knowledge, given notice to
their landlords, of quitting their
farms at Lady-day, or any other
period ?

3. Have any farms been Jaiely
relet at an abatement of rent;
and if so, what is the proportion
of such abatement ?

4, What circumstances, de-

noting

460

noting the distress of the farmers,
have come to your knowledge,
which may not be included under
the above queries ?

5. Is the present distress greater
on arable, or un grass farms ?

6. Have flock-farms suffered
equally with others ?

7. Does the country in which
you reside, suffer from a dimi-
nished circulation of paper ?

S. What is the state of the la-
bouring poor; and what is the
proportion of poor-rates, com-
pared with the years 1811 and
1812?

9. What remedies occur to you,
for alleviating these difficulties ?

To these queries the Board re-
ceived 396 letters in reply, from
which the following statement
has been collected.

First Query.—Occupancy.

Three hundred and thirteen re-
plies, describing the state of oc-
cupation, have been received,
which may be thus arranged :
Letters, mentioning farms
unoccupied hy tenants, be-
ing thrown on the land-
lord’s hands......... Chae
Letters, in which no such
want of occupancy occurs.
Letters, in which farms are
stated to have been uncul-
tivated for went of being
occupied by the landlords, 18
313
It is necessary to observe, in
relation to the 147 letters, that
their not containing the article of
occupation by tenants, is not sin-
gly to be taken asa sign of pros-
perity, as a great number of
them are amongst those the most
descriptive of agricultural dis-

ANNUAL REGISTER, °1816.

tress; and 64 of them also add,
that notices have been given to
quit ; a ci:cumstance marking, in
some degree, the progress of the
evil.

It may further be remarked,
that these letters represent a large
quantity of land to be unculti-
vated.

Second Query.—Notices to Quit
Three hundred and twenty-two
replies have been received to this
query, which may be thus ar-
ranged :

Letters, in which the expres-
sion is, many farmers have
given notice to quit.....

Letters, in which the expres-
sions.are, several, or a few,
have given notice to quit. .

Letters, in which the expres-
sion is, all that can, have
given notice to qnit...... 37

Letters, in which the expres-
sion is, none have given
notice to quit s..sse.es. 71

322
It is scarcely necessary to re-
mark, that until the present pe-
riod of declension commenced,
such an idea, as giving notice to
quit a farm, except for the pur-
pose of hiring a better one, may
be said to have been almost un-
known in the kingdom; and no
circumstance can more clearly
mark the present degradation of
the employment, than these no-
tices to quit.

Third Query.— Reduction of Rent.

There have been 212 returns,
specifying the proportionate re-
duction of rent, and the average
of them all is 25 per cent.

It should however be remarked,

that

103

STATE PAPERS.

that this applies only to the letters
which specify the amount of the
reduction: many others speak of
the same fact, without giving pre-
‘cisely the proportion.

The land rents of the kingdom,
according to the returns of the
property-tax, have been stated at
34,000,000 ; if the real fact should
exceed this by only two millions,
the total will be 36 millions, and
the loss of 25 per cent. will give
a total of 9,000,000 to landlords
alone ; but this will by no means,
according to the letters received
by the Board, be the whole of one
year’s loss, as the amount of un-
paid arrears is stated in many of
the letters to be very great in-
deed, and property not ouly dis-
trained for rent, but also for
taxes.

The distress of the present pe-
riod will scarcely permit of a
doubt, were it proved by no other
circumstance than the curious
fact which occurs more than once
in the correspondence, that the
mere occupation of farms, free of
all rent, is considered as a benefit,
with the Norfolk assertion, that
the year’s rent of the county will
be lost: such asse tions may not
be accurate, but they could not be
ventured, if the distress was not
very great: proved also by twenty
advertisements of sales for distress
of rent, in that Gne county.

Fourth Query— General State | of
Husbandry in the present Period.

By far the greater number of
the letters enter into considerable
details on the circumstances which
denote the present deplorable state
of the National Agriculture —
Bankruptcies, seizures, execu-
tions, imp isonments, and farmers

461

become parish paupers, are par-
ticularly mentioned by many of
the correspondents; with great
arrears of rent, and in many cases,
tithes and poor-rates unpaid ; tm-
provements of every kind gene-
rally discontinued ; _ live-stock
greatly lessened; tradesmen’s bills
unpaid ; and alarming gangs of
poachers and other depredators.
These circumstances are generally
expressed in language denoting
extreme distress, and absolute
ruin in a variety of instances.

Fifth and Sixth Queries — Arable
and Grass Lund, and Flock
Farms, compared.

The replies to the fifth query,
very generally assert the distress
to be much greater on arable than
on grass land; but many of them
observe, that of late the prices of
grass-land produce have so much
declined, that the difference pro-
mises soon to be but small. In
general, it is asserted, that flock
farms have suffered much less
than others ; but they have begun
to feel it heavily, yet not equally
with arabie land.

Seventh Query.—Circulation of
Paper.

There is in the replies some
difference of opinion upon this
point: much mischief ts noted
from the failure of country banks :
mavy of the correspondents are
of opinion, that agriculture suffers
much for want of a larger and
safer circulation; and not a few
complain heavily of the deficiency
of paper being so extreme, that
they are forced to sell their pro-
ducts under a great depreciation
of price, merely from the want of
notes to pay for them. The great-

ness

462

ness of the inconvenience may be
easily conjectured from the case
of Lincolnshire, where that dimi-
nution is stated to amount to no
less than two millions and a half
sterling; and in Wiltshire to
300,0001. But a few others are
of opinion, that the present
amount of paper is adequate to
the object of buying and selling
at the present reduced prices.

Eighth Query.—State of the La-
bouring Poor, and Poor-Rates.

The total number of letter
containing replies on the first of
these subjects, amounts to 273.

Two hundred and thirty-seven
letters describe the state of the
poor under various expressions,
denoting a want of employment,
in terms more or less forcible.

One hundred and one of the
above letters, expatiating on the
degree of this want of employ-
ment, describe the extreme dis-
tress resulting from it as amount-
ing to great misery and wretched-
ness, and in some cases to an
alarming degree.

Kighteen letters describe the
state of the labouring poor as
neither better. nor worse than for-

merly, ‘
Twenty-five letters give a fa-
vourable report, representing

their state as not in want of em-
ployment, and therefore not dis-
tressed.

These forty-three cases, so
much more favourable than the
rest, require a few words of ex-
planation, as in fifteen of them,
there occur circumstances tending
to shew, that whatever the pre-
sent state may be, it will soon
become not superior to that of
the rest. In seven of these cases,

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

they are attended by minutes of
unoccupied farms, and notices to
quit. In two others, poor-rates
are stated to be high and. in-
creased. In one other, the fa-
vourable report combines with the
fact of fitty farmers being dis-
trained for rent. In another case,
the favourable report is confined
to one or two parishes, with much
distress in their vicinity. In one
other, in which the poor are re-
presented as not suffering, it is
admitted that they have less em-
ployment than heretofore. In
another case, employment is found
by manufacturers ; and in one,
the reporter employs all the poor
of his parish, on a principle of
charity.

Cottagers, Land, and Cows.

The Board of Agriculture, on
occasion of the scarcity in the
years 1795 and 1796, made vari-
ous inquiries into the state of the
labouring poor; which produced
some interesting memoirs on the
best means of supporting them.
Among these, one from the Earl
of Winchelsea, on a practice which
had been common in Rutlandshire
for time immemorial, that of at-
taching land to cottages, to enable
the poor to keep cows, was par-
ticularly distinguished ; and que-
vies on the same subject were
also satisfactorily answered by the
late lord Brownlow, and some
other correspondents. In _ the
year 1800, the Secretary of the
Board was directed to employ the
summer in examining the effect
of a great number of. parliamen-
tary enclosures, as well in re-
spect to the interest of cottagers,
as to those general beneficial re-
sults well known to flow from.

the

STATE PAPERS.

the measure of enclosing ; and as
it appeared upon that inquiry,

that many cottagers were deprived.

of the benefit of cows, without
any necessity for such deprivation,
the Board, in order the better to
understand the question, dis-
patched a person in 1801, for the
express purpose of fully ascer-
taining it in the two counties of
Rutland and Lincoln: the report
of that journey was one of the
most interesting memoirs ever
laid before the public ; and proved
unquestionably the immense ad-
vantages resulting from the sys-
tem, to the landlord, the farmer,
the cottager, and the public. A
few short extracts will fully sup-
port the assertion. Lord Win-
chelsea thus expresses himeelf :

‘© T am more and more con-
firmed in the opinion I have long
had, that nothing is so beneficial,
both to the cottagers and to the
land-owners, as their having land
to be occupied either for the
keeping of cows, or as gardens,
according to circumstances.

«< By means of these advan-
tages, the labourers and their fa-
milies live better, and are conse-
quently more fit to endure labour ;
it makes them more contented,
and more attached to their situa-
tion; and it gives them a sort of
independence, which makes them
set a higher value upon their cha-
racter. In the neighbourhood in
which I live, men so circum-
stanced, are almost always consi-
dered as the most to be depended
upon and trusted: the possessing
a little property certainly gives a
spur to industry; as a proof of
this, it has almost always hap-
pened to me, that when a labourer
has obtained a cow, and land

463

sufficient to maintain her, the first
thing he has thought of, has been,
how he could save money enough
to buy another; and J have al-
most always had applications for
more land from those people so
circumstanced. There are several
labourers in my neighbourhood,
who have got on in that manner,
till they now keep three, and
some four cows, and yet are
amongst the hardest working
men in the country, and the best
labourers. I believe there are
from seventy to eighty labourers
upon my estate in Rutland, who
keep from one to four cows each ;
and I have always heard that they
are hard-working industrious
men; they manage their land
well, and always pay their rent.

““ In a village near me, where
there are a great number of la-
bourers who keep cows, the poor’s
rate is not at this time above six-
pence in the pound: the number
of inhabitants 335.

«« Some difficulties may occur,
in establishing the custom-of la-
bourers keeping cows, in those
parts of the country where no
such custom has existed: where-
ever it has, or does exist, it ought
by all means to be encouraged,
and not suffered to fall into dis-
use, as has been the case to a
great degree in the Midland coun-
ties; one of the causes of which
I apprehend to be, the dislike the
generality of farmers have to see-
ing the labourers rent any land.
Perhaps one of their reasons for
disliking this is, that the land, if
not oecupied- by the labourers,
would fall to their own share;
and another, I am afraid, is, that
they rather wish to have the la-
bourers more dependent upon

them,

464

them, for which reasons they are
always desirous of hiring the house
and land occupied by a labourer,
under pretence, that by that
means the landlord will be secure
of his rent, and that they will
keep the house in repair. This
the agents of estates are too apt
to give into, as they find it much
less trouble to meet six, than sixty
tenants at a rent-day, and by this
means avoid the being sometimes
obliged to hear the wants and
complaints of the poor: all par-
ties, therefore, Join in persuading
the landlord, who, it is natural to
suppose (unless he has time and
inclination to investigate the mat-
ter very closely), will agree to
this their plan, from the manner
in which it comes recommended
to him: and it is in this manner
that the labourers have been dis-
possessed of their cow-pastures in
various parts of the Midland coun-
ties. ‘The moment the farmer
obtains his wish, he takes every
particle of the land to himself,
and re-lets the house to the la-
bourer, who by this means is ren-
dered miserable, the poor’s-rate
increased, the value of the estate
to the land-owner diminished,
and the house suffered to go to
decay ; which, when once fallen,
the tenant will never rebuild, but
the landlord must, at a consider-
able expense. Whoever travels
through the Midland counties,
and will take the trouble of in-
quiring, will generally receive for
answer, that formerly there were
a great many cottagers who kept
cows, but that the land is now
thrown to the farmers; and if he
inquires still further, he will find,
that in those parishes the poor's-
rates have increased in an amazing
degree, more than according to

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

the average rise throughout Eng-
land.”’—Earl of Winchelsea, Com-
munications, vol. i. p. 77-

Mr. Crutchley, steward to the
Earl of Winchelsea, writes thus :

‘© Wages are certainly not
raised by labourers having land.
1 am persuaded they are, in fact,
much lowered, if the wages were
the same; as a more industrious
set of men are employed in la-
bour, and having more of the
comforts of life, they are enabled
to work harder than common la-
bourers ; by this more work is
done for the same wages.

“« The difference between a cot-
tager and a common labourer is
so much, that | am ataloss for a
comparison, except it be that of
an opulent farmer to a cotiager ;
and where there are a number of
them in any parish, the rates will
be low. ‘The public must be be-
nefited by them, there being not a
yard of waste land upon any of
their premises to be found.’—
Cruichley, Communications, vol. i.
p. 93.

In a Memoir presented to the
Board, Lord Brownlow thus ex-
presses himself :

‘* In many parishes the cot-
tages are very generally let to
under-tenants by the farmers ;
but this is a practice universally
rejected on my estates.

“ To the cottager the contrary
system affords the comforts of
life; to the parish, it lowers the
poor’s-rates : a man who keeps a
cow has seldom been known to
be troublesome to a parish; and
to the public it gives an increase
ef hands, from infancy taught to
work by their parents for their
advantage."'"—-—Lord Brownlow,
Comrunications, vol. i. p. 85.

SATE; PAPERS

In the following extract, it
is Robert Barclay, Esq. who
speaks :

** It certainly is of great mo-
ment, to find some method to
enable country labourers to live
more comfortably than they do at
present, by placing them in a
situation where they may acquire
some property and subsistence,
when they become old, and un-
able to perform hard work, and
that they may not be so subjected
to the difficulties which they now
undergo, in times of scarcity,
nor become a burthen upon the
parishes where they reside ; like-
wise, that they may be enabled to
keep cows for the nourishment of
their children.— Barclay, Commu-
nications, vol. 1, p. 91.

The person employed by the
Board, and who examined above
forty parishes minutely, gives the
following general result.

“« Seven hundred and fifty-three
cottagers have amongst them 1194
cows, or, on an average, 1$ and
1-13th cow each. Not one or
THEM RECEIVES ANY THING FROM
THE PARISH! even in the present
scarcity. The system is as much
approved of by the farmers as it
is by the poor people themselves.
They are declared to be the most
hard-working, diligent, sober, and
industrious labourers who have
land and cows, and a numerous
meeting of farmers signed their
entire approbation of the system.
In the above-mentioned parishes,
rates are, onan average, 174d. in
the pound; and, but for excep-
tions of some families who have
not land, and of certain cases and
expenses foreign to the inquiry,
they would not be one penny in
the pound.

*‘ In nine parishes, where the
Vor. LVIII.

465

proportion of the poor having
cows amounts to rather more than
half the whole, poor-rates are 34d.
in the pound.

** In twelve parishes, where
the proportion is less than half,
but not one-third, poor-rates are
94d. in the pound.

“© In ten parishes, where the
proportion is something under a
fourth, poor-rates are ls. 6d. in
the pound.

«* In seven parishes, where the
proportion is but nearly one-sixth,
poor-rates are 4s. lid. in the
pound.

‘© And in thirteen parishes,
where few or none have cows,
poor-rates are 5s. lld. in the
pound.

** The poor in this considerable
district being able to maintain
themselves without parish as-
sistance, by means of land, and
live-stock, and to do it at the
same time so much by their in-
dustry and sobriety, and consist-
ently with an honest conduct,
clearly marked by the entire uppro-
bation of this system by the farmers,
&c. their neighbours, is a circum-
stance which, well considered,
does away a multitude of those
objections and prejudices which
we so often hear in conversa-
tion.” .

In the replies to the Circular
Letter of 1816, some notes occur
upon this practice, of cottagers
keeping land, which it is neces-
sary here to recite.

At Shewart in Kent, it is re-
marked by Mr. Curling, that a
late legal decision, determining
that keeping a cow gained a set-
tlement, has deprived many cot-
tagers of that comfort, as it is
properly called; an observation
which, however, does not attach

2H ; to

466

to cottagers having already a set-
tlement.

Thesame mischievous result of
that decision is noticed by a Lin-
colnshire correspondent, Mr. Par-
kinson, who laments the effects
which have flowed from it.

Mr. Gregory, of Harlaxton, in
the same county, says, ‘‘I have
several cottages, with land suffi-
cient to keep two cows annexed
to them; the cottagers who oc-
cupy them live comfortably, and
are industrious, useful labourers,
and appear to be contented with
their situation.”

In the same county, Mr. Bar-
ker, steward to Sir Robert Shef-
field, has the remarkable decla-
ration, that there can scarcely be
said to be any poor in that coun-
try, because they all have cows,
by means of which they are in a
comfortable state, and are very
generally equally sober, honest,
and industrious.

Mr. Goulton, of the same coun-
ty, also commends this system,
as productive of much comfort
amongst the poor in this period
of distress.

The Rev. John Gwillim, of the
same county: ‘* All that have
cows do well, so that we have
scarcely a pauper.”

The Rev. John Shinglar, also
of the same county: ‘‘ The poor,
though their employment is les-
sened by the distress of the
farmers, have not been burthen-
some; and the reason is, their
keeping cows.”

The Rev. Henry Basset, of the
same county, reports the state of
the poor in his parish to be very
comfortable, as they generally
keep one or more cows.

The following is the extract of

ANNUAL REGISTER, - 1816.

a letter received from Earl Brown-
low :

“The subject of cottagers’
cows, is one in which I have ever
taken a deep interest, and I
have invariably continued on my
estates, the system which my
father had established, of attach-
ing land to cottages, to enable
the poor to keep cows: I have no
hesitation in saying, that very es-
sential benefit has been derived
from this practice during the pre-
sent period of general distress,
inasmuch as scarcely any poor
family so cireumstanced, (not
more, I should think, than, one in
twenty at the most), has become
at all burthensome to the parish ;
while, on the other hand, I have
reason to believe, that the labour-
ing poor have suffered great dis-
tress, and have universally be-
come objects of parochial relief in
those places where no system of
this sort has been established.

*“ T cannot help adding, that
in a moral point of view, the
system of attaching a moderate
portion of land to cottages, ap-
pears to me highly worthy of en-
couragenient ; as the poor obtain
thus, if I may use the expression,
a capital in their labour; they
have an incitement to good con-
duct, and acquire for the most
part habits of decency and in- |
dustry, which parochial relief has
of late years so much tended to
eradicate from the minds’ of the
lower orders of the community.”

It deserves notice, that although
the cottage cow system is very in-
complete in Northumberland and
Scotland, still the mere circum-
stances of a cow forming a part
of the wages of the labouring
poor, they are stated to have suf-'

fered

fered much less than has been
almost general in England.”’

Poor-Rates.

The letters, containing returns
escriptive of poor-rates, are to
o the following purport :

etters, in which the rates
have increased since 1811
and 1812 7
N.B. In 54 of iene nee
ters, the proportional
rise is given, and
amounts on the aver-
age to 43 per cent.
etters, in which the rates
have decreased......

N. B. In 8 of ese let-
ters, the proportional
fall is given, and
amounts on an aver-
age to 28 per cent.

tters, in which the rates
are stationary, that is,
neither higher nor lower
than 1811 and 1812.....

147

29

253

But this table gives by no means
sufficient idea of the distress at
resent arising from this heavy
ax; as ina variety of instances,
he farmers who lately paid to
hese rates, have been obliged to
ive up their farms, and are ac-
ually become paupers themselves,
eceiving parochial allowances
jlike other paupers; and this in-
reased burthen in many other
arishes occurs, while farms are
occupied or run waste; and,
n the cases the most favourable,
he burthen falls with increasing
pweight on the landlords. The
etters contain many complaints,
that while the manufacturers, who
ve occasioned the chief burthen,

STATE "PA PAIRS:

467

pay scarcely any thing to the rates,
the accumulated weight falls on
the occupiers of land.

The complaints almost univer-
sally made of the increase, heavy
burthen, and most mischieyous
consequences to the industry of
the people, which result from
poor-rates, form a conspicuous
feature among the complaints of
the correspondents ; insomuch,
that many apprehensions are ex-
pressed of this system being per-
mitted to continue, and increase
till it will absorb, in union with
tithes, the whole rental of the
kingdom, leaving nothing more
to the landlords of it, than that of
acting as trustees and managers
for the benefit of others.

But the surprising circumstance
of this result, is the increase be-
ing so general at the very period
in which, from the reduced price
of provisions, a directly contrary
effect might have been expected.
To find that rates have risen,
while the principal object in the
support and nourishment of thc
poor has fallen in price above 100
per cent. seems to be extraordi-
nary; nor could such a result
have been found, but in an ad-
ministration liable to so many ob-
jections. We cannot be surprised
at a great number of these cor-
respondents calling with anxiety
for regulations in a system which
tends directly to the annihilation
of all industry.

The extreme burthen arising
from poor-rates, is a subject
which can never have too much
attention paid to it; and its na-
ture can be well understood only
by reference to particular cases :
thus, it deserves attention, that
this tax has been collected in cer-

2H 2 tain

468

tain districts of Wales, in kind, if
the expression be permitted, that
is, the substances necessary for
the support of the poor, taken in-
stead of the value in money ;—it
may be presumed, through a want
of circulating medium. The
amount to which this tax can
rise, may be understood by re-
ferring to the case of Halstead in
Essex, where it rises to 5s. 6d.
in the pound for one quarter of a
year, taken at one-fifth under the
rack-rent ; and at Coggeshall, in
the same county, much higher :
and in a parish near Sandwich in
Kent, it amounts to 22s. per
acre. Such facts require no com-
ment. ‘The abuses to which this
administration is liable, may be
felt from the Somersetshire case,
of parish paupers becoming claim-
ants as creditors on the effects of
a bankrupt.

Tithe.

The general complaints against
the weight of tithe, would open
too wide a field to permit more
than a solitary remark : it appears
from the Correspondence, that
10s. in the pound rent, is taken
as a commutation in Dorsetshire ;
and 9s. an acre for grass-land
is paid in Berkshire.

Ninth Query—Remedies proposed.
Letters, proposing the repeal

or reduction of taxes .... 205
Letters, proposing the re-

duction of rent.......2.. 90
Letters, to commute tithes. 47
Letters, to prohibit, or lay

heavy duties on the impor-

tation of all land produce. 58
Letters, to give a bounty on

the export of corn..,.,... 31

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

Letters, to increase paper
circulation ....0.:.% «.s
Letters, to regulate poor-
rates, and especially by sub-
jecting all property to bear
its fair share ..........¢
Letters, to raise the price of
corny Keay ee
Letters, to establish corn

ee @e e@e

Letters, torepeal the Act for
warehousing foreign corn.
Letters, to lend Exchequer
bills on good security...
Letters, to continue the Bank
Restriction: ,..:; 2ssge ea .
Letter, to encourage emi-
gration. ....... glee
Letters, to give the same fa-
vour toagriculture as to ma-
nufacture, as the principal
remedy ; but many allude
less decisively to the same

Of MODEY .m,.s. ce eee
Letters, to establish public
granaries, the corn to be
purchased by Government,
Letters, to encourage distil-
Mekies i5).6 cies Ads Ae
Letters, Government to take
into their own hands the
management of the poor, .
Letters, proposing to regu-
late the cottages with the
addition of lands........
5.5 oc.» s' wn sound ti
Letters, to lessen the quan-
tity of land intended to be

draining-brick .......
Letter, the Bank of Englan
to establish branch banks, ’

21

34

19

)

rhe)

roe)

fa!

1
1

1
The

STATE PAPERS.

The great object of the Board
in these inquiries, has been to
collect facts. If it be asked, what
conclusions are to he drawn from
these facts? Such will, of course,
suggest themselves with the great-
est clearness to the members of
the legislature. With this expec-
tation before us, we cannot but
be surprised at the anxiety felt,
and the apprehensions expressed
by many of the ablest persons
(being magistrates of extensive
jurisdictions) amongst the Cor-
respondents, whose letters are
the basis of this general result :
but the Board cannot forbear
making one observation, as it
may be extremely important to
the future state of the country,
when it is considered that the
tracts absolutely uncultivated are
of considerable extent, and that a
great number of farms are thrown
upon the landlords’ hands in a
period when it must of necessity
be extremely inconvenient to at-
tempt their cultivation, in many

469

cases heavily burthensome, and
in some ruinous ; it must be evi-
dent, that the management of
these farms may probably be so
very imperfect, as to occasion a
great defalcation in the produce
of corn. Of the same tendency
is another circumstance mention-
ed in the letters, the preparation
for the next crop of wheat being
extremely deficient. It may also
be observed, that among the cir-
cumstances mentioned in reply to
the Fourth Query, is that of a
very general neglect of all pur-
chased manures, together with
a discharge of labourers formerly
employed, to an amount that must
considerably affect the future cul-
tivation of the soil. These points,
if duly considered, may afford no
slight reason for apprehending
a considerable declension in the
amount of future productions ;
and should such an effect arrive,
it may come at a time in which
the pressure will be more severely
felt,

CHARACTERS.

[ 470 ]

CHARACTERS.

Biographical Account of Dr. Ben-
jamin Rush, of Philadelphia; by
David Hosack, M.D. F.R.S, &c.
&c. of New York. From Dr.
Thomson's Annals of Philosophy,
vol. viii. No. 2.

R. RUSH was born Dec. 24,
1745, on his father’s estate,
about 12 miles from the city of

Philadelphia. His ancestors fol-

lowed William Pena from Eng-

land to Pennsylvania, in the year

1683. They chiefly belonged to

the society of Quakers, and were

all, as well as his parents, distin-
guished for the industry, the vir-
tue, and the piety, characteristic
of their sect. His grandfather,
James Rush, whose occupation
was that of a gunsmith, resided
on his estate near Philadelphia,
and died in the year 1727. His
son John, the father of Dr. Rush,
inherited both his trade and his
farm, and was equally distinguish-
ed for his industry and ingenuity.

He died while his son Benjamin

Was yet young, but left him to

the care of an excellent and pious

mother, who took an active inte-
rest in his education and welfare.

Ina letter which I had the plea-
sure to receive from Dr. Rush,
a short time before his death, and
which was written upon his return
froma visit to the tomb of his
ancestors, he thus expresses the
obligation he felt for the early
impressions of piety he had re-
ceived from his parents :—

*« T have acquired and received
nothing from the world which I
prize so highly as the religious
principles I inherited from them ;
and I possess nothing that I value
so much as the innocence and pu-
rity of their characters.”’

But this was not the only source
of that virtue and religion for
which he was so eminently distin-
guished. His mother, as if in-
fluenced with a presentiment of
the future destinies of her son,
resolved to give him the advan-
tages of the best education which
our country then afforded. For
this purpose he was sent, at the
early age of eight or nine years,
to the West Nottingham Gram-
mar School, and placed under the
care of his maternal uncle, the
Rev. Dr. Samuel Finley, an ex-

cellent

CHARACTERS.

cellent scholar and an eminent
teacher, and whose talents and
learning afterwards elevated him
.to the Presidency of the College
of Princeton, At this school young
Rush remained five years, for the
purpose of acquiring a knowledge
of the Greek and Latin languages,
and other branches necessary to
qualify him, as preparatory for a
collegiate course of study. But
under the tuition and guidance of
Dr. Finley, he was not only in-
structed in classical literature ; he
also acquired what was of no less
importance, and which character-
ized him through life—a habit of
study and observation, a rever-
ence for the Christian religion,
and the habitual performance of
the duties it inculeates; for his
accomplished and pious instruc-
tor not only regarded the tempo-
ral, but the spiritual, welfare of
those committed to his care.

At the age of 14, after com-
pleting his course of classical
studies, he was removed to the
College of Princeton, then under
the superintendance of President
Davies, one of the most eloquent
preachers and learned divines our
country has produced.

At College, our pupil not only
performed his duties with his
usual attention and success, but
he became distinguished for his
talents, his uncommon progress
in his studies, and especially for
his eloquence in public speaking.
For this latter acquirement he was
doubtless indebted to the example
set before him by President Da-
vies, whose talents as a pulpit
ovator were universally acknow-
ledged, and were frequently the
theme of his pupil’s admiration.

Dr. Kush received the degree

47)

of Bachelor of Arts in the autumn
of 1760, at the early age of 15.
The next succeeding six years of
his life were devoted to the study
of medicine, under the direction
of Dr. John Redman, at that time
an eminent practitioner in the
city of Philadelphia. Upon com-
mencing the study of medicine,
the writings of Hippocrates were
amongst the very first works which
attracted his attention ; and as an
evidence of the early impression
they made upon his mind, and of
the attachment he had formed to
them, let it be remembered that -
Dr. Rush, when astudent of me-
dicine, translated the aphorisms
ef Hippocrates from the Greek
into his vernacular tongue, in the
17th year of his age. From this
early exercise he probably derived
that talent of investigation, that
spirit of inquiry, and those exten-
sive views of the nature and
causes of disease, which give value
to his writings, and have added
important benefits. to the science
of medicine. The same mode of
acquiring knowtedge which was
recommended by Mr, Locke, with
the very manner of his common-
place book, was also early adept-
ed by Dr. Rush, and was daily
continued to. the last of his life.
To his records, made in 1762, we
are at this day indebted for many
important facts illustrative of the
yellow fever, which prevailed in,
and desolated the city of Phila-
delphia, in that memorable year.
Even in reading, it was the prac-
tice of Dr. Rush, and for which
he was first indebted to his friend
Dr. Franklin, to mark with a pen
or pencil any important faet, or
any peculiar expression, remark-
able either for its strength or its
elegance.

479,

elegance. Like Gibbon, “He
investigated with his pen always
in his hand ;” believing, with an
ancient classic, “ that to study
without a pen is to dream :—
** Studium sine calamo, som-
nium,”

Having with great fidelity com-
pleted his course of medical studies
under Dr. Redman, he embarked
for Europe, and passed two years
at the University of Edinburgh,
attending the lectures of those
celebrated professors, Dr. Monro,
Dr. Gregory, Dr. Cullen, and Dr.
Black.

In the spring of 1768, after de-
fending an inaugural dissertation
** De Coctione Ciborum in Ven-
triculo,’’ he received the degree of
Doctor of Medicine. In that ex-
ercise which was written with
classical purity and elegance, it
was the object of Dr. Rush to il-
lustrate by experiment an opinion
that had been expressed by Dr.
Cullen, that the aliment, in a few
hours after being received into
the stomach, undergoes the ace-
tous fermentation. This fact he
established by three different ex-
periments made upon himself;
experiments which a mind less
ardent in the pursuit of truth
would readily have declined.

From Edinburgh Dr. Rush
proceeded to London, where, in
attendance upon hospitals of that
city, the lectures of its celebrated
teachers, and the society of the
learned, he made many accessions
to the stock of knowledge he had
already acquired.

In the spring of 1769, after vi-
siting Paris, he returned to his
native country, and immediately
commenced the practice of physic
in the city of Philadelphia, in

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

‘which he soon became eminently
distinguished.

Few men have entered the pro-
fession in any age or country with
more numerous qualifications as
a physician than those possessed
by Dr. Rush. His gentleness of
manner, his sympathy with the
distressed, his kindness to the
poor, his varied and extensive
erudition, his professional ac-
quirements, and his faithful at-
tention to the sick, all united in
procuring for him the esteem, the
respect, and the confidence of his
fellow-citizens, and thereby in-
troducing him to an extensive
and lucrative practice.

It is abserved, as an evidence of
the diligence and_ fidelity with
which Dr, Rush devoted himself
to his medical studies, during the
six years he had been the pupil of
Dr. Redman, that he absented
himself from his business but two
days in the whole of that period
of time. I believe it may also: be
said, that from the time he com-
menced the practice of medicine
to the termination of his long
and valuable life, except when
confined by sickness, or occupied
by business of a public nature, he
never absented himself from the
city of Philadelphia, nor omitted
the performance of his profession-
al duties a single day. It is also
stated that during the thirty years
of his attendance as a physician to
the Pennsylvania hospital, such
was his punctuality, his love of
order, and his sense of duty, that
he not only made his daily visit
to that institution, but was never
absent ten minutes after the ap-
pointed hour of prescribing.

In a few months after his estab-
lishment in Philadelphia, Dr.

Rush

CHARACTERS.

Rush was elected a Professor in
the Medical School, which had
then been recently established
by the laudable exertions of Dr.
Shippen, Dr. Kuhn, Dr. Morgan,
and Dr. Bond. For this station
his talents and education peculiar-
ly qualified him. As in the case
of Boerhaave, such too had been
the attention bestowed by Dr.
Rush upon every branch of medi-
cine, that he was equally prepared
to fill any department in which
his services might be required.

The Professorships of Anatomy,
the Theory and Practice of Phy-
sic, Clinical Medicine, and the
Materia Medica, being already
occupied, he was placed in the
chair of Chemistry, which he fill-
ed in such manner as immediately
to attract the attention of all who
heard him, not onlyto the branch
he taught, but to the learning,
the abilities, and eloquence of the
teacher.

In the year 1789 Dr. Rush was
elected the successor of Dr. Mor-
gan, to the chair of the Theory
and Practice of Physic. In 1791,
upon an union being effected be-
tween the College of Philadelphia
and the University of Pennsylva-
nia, he was appointed to the Pro-
fessorship of the Institutes of Me-
dicine and Clinical Practice ; and
in 1805, upon the resignation of
the learned and venerable Dr.
Kuhn, he was chosen to the uni-
ted Professorships of the Theory
and Practice of Physic and of
Clinical Medicine, which he held
the remainder of his life. ‘To the
success with which these several
branches of medicine were taught
by Dr. Rush, the popularity of
his lectures, the yearly increase of
the number of his pupils, the un-

473

exampled growth of the Medical
School of Philadelphia, and the
consequent diffusion of medical
learning, bear ample testimony ;
for, with all due respect to the
distinguished talents with which
the other Professorships of that
University have hitherto been,
and still continue to be filled, it
will be admitted that to the learn-
ing, the abilities, and the elo-
quence of Dr. Rush, itowes much
of that celebrity and elevation to
which it has attained. What
Boerhaave was to the Medical
School of Leyden, or Dr. Cullen
to that of Edinburgh, Dr. Rush
was to the University of Pennsyl-
vania.

But Dr. Rush did not confine
his attention and pursuits either
to the practice of medicine, or to
the duties of his Professorship :
his ardent mind did not permit
him to be an inactive spectator of
those important public events
which occurred in the early period
of his life.

The American revolution ; the
independence of his country ; the
establishment of a new constitu-
tion of government for the Uni-
ted States, and the amelioraticn of
the constitution of his own parti-
cular state, all successively inte-
rested his feelings, and induced
him to take an active concern in
the scenes that were passing.
He held a seat in the celebrated
Congress of 1776, as a represen-
tative of the state of Pennsylva-
nia, and subscribed the ever-me-
morable instrument of American
independence. In 1777 he was
appointed Physician General of
the Military Hospital for the
Middle Department; and in the
year 1787 he received the addi-

tional

474

tional gratification and evidence
of his country’s confidence in his
talents, his integrity, and his pa-
triotism, by being chosen a mem-
ber of the State Convention for
the adoption of the Federal Con-
stitution.

These great events being ac-
complished, Dr. Rush gradually
retired from political life, resolv-
ed to dedicate the remainder of
his days to the practice of his pro-
fession, the performance of his
collegiate duties, and the publica-
tion of those doctrines and prin-

_eiples in medicine which he con-
sidered calculated: to advance the
interests of his favourite science,
or to diminish the evils of human
life. Ina letter which I received
from him as early as the year
1794, he expresses this determi-
nation, adding, ‘‘I have lately
become a mere spectator of all
public events.’ And in a con-
versation on this subject, during
the last two years of his life, he
expressed to me the high gratifi-
cation which he enjoyed in his
medieal studies and pursuits, and
his regret that he had not ata
much earlier period withdrawn
his attention from all other sub-
jects, and bestowed it exclusively
upen his professien.

Such was the attachment of Dr.
Rush to his profession, that,
speaking of his approaching dis-
solution, he remarks, ‘‘ when
that time shall come, I shall re-
linquish many attractions to live,
and among them a pleasure which
to me has no equal in human pur-
suits; I mean that which I de-
rive from studying, teaching, and
practising medicine.” But he
loved it as a science; principles
in meilicine were the great objects

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

of all his inquiries. He has well
observed, that medicine without
principles is a humble art anda
degrading occupation: but, di-
rected by principles,—the only
sure guide to a safe and success-
ful practice,—it imparts the high-
est elevation to the intellectual
and moral character of man.

But the high professional cha-
racter and attainments of Dr.
Rush did not alone display them-
selves in his skill as a physician,
or his abilities as a teacher; he
was equally distinguished as a
writer and an author.

The present occasion does not
allow me to recite even the nu-
merous subjects of his medical
publications ; much less does it
afford an opportunity to review
the opinions they contain. I must
however, observe generally, that
the numerous facts and princi-
ples which the writings of Dr.
Rush contain, the doctrines they
ineulcate relative to the nature
and causes of disease, and the im-
provements they have introduced
into the practice of medicine, re-
commend them to an attentive pe-
rusal and study, while the perspi-
cuity and elegance of the style in
which they are written give them
an additional claim to attention as
among the finest models of com-
position. ‘The same remarks are
equally applicable to the episto-
lary stvle of Dr. Rush, and that of
his conversation ; in bethof which
he eminently excelled.

Mr. Fox declared in the British
House of Commons. that he had
learned more from Mr. Burke’s
conversation than from all the
books he had ever read. Jt may
also be observed of the conversa-
tion of Dr. Rush, that sueh were

the

a eee I a ee ee ee

CHARACTERS.

the riches of his mind; such was
the active employment of all his
faculties ; so constant was his ha-
bit of giving expression to his
thoughts in an extensive corres-
pondence, in the preparation of
his public discourses, and in his
daily intercourse with the world,
that few persons ever left his so-
ciety without receiving instruc-
tion, and expressing their aston-
ishment at the perpetual stream
of eloquencein which his thoughts
were communicated.

It has frequently been the sub-
ject of surprise that amidst the
numerous avocations of Dr. Rush,
as a practitioner and a teacher of
medicine, that he found leisure
for the composition and the pub-
lication of the numerous medical
and literary works which have
been the production of his pen.

Although Dr. Rush possessed
by nature an active and discrimi-
nating mind, in whigh were blend-
ed great quickness of perception,
anda retentivememory ; although
he enjoyed the benefits of an ex-
cellent preliminary and profes-
sional education, it was only by
habits of uncommon industry,
punctuality in the performance of
all his engagements, the strictest
temperance and regularity in his
mode of life, that enabled him to
accomplish so much in his pro-
fession, and to contribute so large-
ly to the medical literature of his
country. Dr. Rush, like most
men who have extended the boun-
daries of any department of hu-
man knowledge; who have con-
tributed to the improvement of
any art or science, was in habits
of early rising, by which he al-

Ways secured what Gibbon has

well denominated
portion of the day.”’

* the sacred

A75

The great moralist* justly ob-
serves, that ‘‘ to temperance every
day is bright, and every hour is
propitious to diligence.’ The ex-
treme temperance of Dr. Rush in
like manner enabled him to keep
his mind in continual employ-
ment, thereby ‘‘ setting at defi-
ance the morning mist and the
evening damp—the blasts of the
east, and thecloudsof the south.’’+
He knew not that “lethargy of
indolence”’ that follows the inordi-
nate gratifications of the table.
His ciesto did not consist in in-
dulgence upon the bed or in the
armed chair, to recover those
powers which had been paralysed
or suspended by an_ excessive
meal, or the intemperate use of
vinous or spirituous drinks.

Dr. Johnson, during his tour
to the Hebrides, when fatigued by
his journey, retired to his cham-
her, and wrote his celebrated
Latin ode addressed to Mrs.
Thrale.t Dr. Rush, in like man-
ner, after the fatigues of profes-
sional duty, refreshed his mind by
the perusal of some favourite
poet, some work of taste, some
volume of travels, biography, or
history. These were the pillows
on which he sought repose.

But the virtues of the heart, like
the faculties of his mind, were
also in continued exercise for the
benefit of his fellow men; while
the numerous humane, charitable,
and religious associations, which
do honour to the city of Philadel-
phia, bear testimony to the phi-
lanthropy and piety which ani-
mated the bosom of their departed
benefactor, let it also be remem-
bered that, as with the good Sa-

* Dr. Johnson, + Boswell. + Boswell.

maritan,

476

maritan, the poor were the ob-
jects of his peculiar care; and
that in the latter and more pros-
perous years of his life, one-
seventh of his income was ex-
pended upon the children of af-
fliction and want. Dr. Boerhaave
said of the poor, that they were
his best patients, because God was
their paymaster. ;

Let it also be recorded, that
the last act of Dr. Rush was an
act of charity, and that the last
expression which fell from his
lips was an injunction to his son,
“« Be indulgent to the poor.”’

**Vale egreginm academiz de-
cus! taum nomen mecum sem-
per durabit ; et laudes et honores
tui in eternum manebunt.”’

These words were addressed by
Dr. Rush, upon his taking leave
of the University of Edinburgh,
to his particular friend and pre-
ceptor, Dr. Cullen.

The King of the Sandwich Islands ;
from Campbell's Voyage round
the World.

The sudden revolution produced
in the customs of the natives of
the Sandwich islands, from their
intercourse with the Europeans,
gives a peculiar interest to any
recent accounts of them, from
which we may be enabled to trace
the progress of society in one of
its earliest stages. These islands,
from their situation, midway be-
tween the continents of Asia and
America, the fertility of their
soil, and the natural talents and
industry of the natives, are ren-
dered by far the most interesting
of the recent discoveries in the

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

Pacific ocean, and so were con-
sidered by Captain Cook.

When Captain Cook, in 1778,
discovered the Sandwich islands,
Tereoboo was king of Owhyhee ;
Teteree, of Moratai; and Pedeo-
ranne of Waoho, and the islands
to the leeward. Tamaahmaah,
the present king, is known in
Cook’s voyage under the name of
Maiha-maiha, and was present at
the death of that illustrious navi-
gator: he was only brother to
Tereoboo.

From the departure of the Re-
solution till the year 1787, no
ship visited these islands. In
1788, Captain Douglas, in the
Iphiginia, touched at Owhyhee.
Tamaahmaah at this time having
obtained the assistance of Boyd,
a ship carpenter, built a small
tender, and it was at this period
that Young and Davis, the per-
sons subsequently noticed, be-
came resident at Owhyhee. After
the arrival of Captain Vancouver,
the king, with the assistance of
the ships carpenters, constructed
this first decked vessel; and in
order to ensure the good-will of
the English, a formal surrender
of the sovereignty of these islands
was made by the king, reserving,
however, freedom in all matters
of religion, internal government,
and domestic economy. Tamaah-
maah, after various successes,
had in 1810 reduced all the islands
in this group under his domi-
nions, except Atooi and Onehooi.

Scarecly 30 years have elapsed

‘since the period of the discovery

of these islands ; and we already
find a chief who has made rapid
progress towards civilization, and
who on all occasions has availed
himself of eyery opportunity of

intercourse

CHARACTERS.

intercourse with the Europeans,
surrounded by artificers, with
guards regularly trained to the
use of fire-arms, and a navy of
60 sail of decked vessels, built on
the island; almost every vessel
that navigates the Pacific, finds
shelter, provisions, or trade in
his harbour. Much is to be as-
cribed to the natural ingenuity
and unwearied industry of the
inhabitants; but added to this,
they have received all the benefits
which are conferred on rising
communities, by the appearance
of their chief, Tamaahmaah,
“* one of those great men who go
before their age.”’

The death of Captain Cook,
and the frequent murders by the
natives of the subsequent navi-
gators, gave such ideas of the
savage nature of the inhabitants,
that for many years few ships
ventured to touch there. But
since the present chief has esta-
blished his power, his conduct
has been marked with such jus-
tice, that strangers are as safe in
his ports as in those of any other
nation. He is known in this
country from the accounts of
Turnbull, Lisianski, and Langs-
dorf, and much interest has been
excited respecting him; but none
of these navigators ever saw him.
From a volume recently pub-
lished, ‘“‘ A Voyage round the
World, by Archibald Campbell,”
we have some further account of
Tamaahmaah, and from one who,
by residing with him, had every
opportunity of personal observa-
tion. Campbell was a native of
a village near Glasgow, and hav-
ing escaped from an English
man of war, entered himself on
board an Indiaman. Whilst at

477

Canton, he was enticed from his
ship by the commander of an
American vessel, bound to the
north-west coast of America, on
which coast the vessel was after-
wards wrecked. Before they
reached Kodiak, his feet becoming
mortified from the extreme cold,
were both amputated at Kodiak,
by a Russian surgeon; here he
remained some time, employed to
teach the children of the natives
English. In the hope, however,
of meeting with American vessels
at the Sandwich islands, in which
he might return home, he was
induced to leave Kodiak, in the
Neva (the ship commanded by
Captain Lisianski, in Captain
Krusenstern’s expedition.) From
Kodiak they proceeded to the
island of Wahoo, being the one
of the Sandwich islands now
chosen by Tamaahmaah for his
residence. Campbell's appear-
ance having excited the com-
passion of the queen, he was
invited to reside in her house,
and being recommended by the
Russian captain to the king, was
employed as a sail-maker in the
royal arsenal. After remaining
in the king’s establishment for
several months, he removed to
the house of Isaac Davis, a Welch-
man, who had been on the island
about twenty years. Soon after-
wards a tract of land of about
sixty acres, on which fifteen fa-
milies resided, was granted to
him by the king. After having
overhauled all the sails of the
fleet, he managed to construct a
loom, and began to weave sail
cloth; and being by trade a
weaver, he succeeded in making
some before he quitted the island.
But in July 1810, a South-Sea

j whaler,

478

whaler, bound for England, hav-
ing touched there, the desire of
revisiting his native country, and
the hopes that the wound in his
legs (which had never healed
since ainputation) might be cured,
he was tempted to abandon his
possessions, and leave his situa-
tion of ease, for one which in his
helpless situation must at least
be precarious. On applyimg to
Tamaahmaah for permission to
depart, he said, *‘ if his belly
told him to go, he was at liberty
to do so,’ sending by him his
compliments to King George ;
expressing, however, much asto-
nishment at hearing, that Camp-
bell, together with many thou-
sands of others, his subjects, had
never seen their sovereign. By
the captain of the ship he sent a
present to the king, of a feather
cloak, accompanied bya letter,
which he dictated, reminding him
of Captain Vancouver's promise
of sending a man of war, and re-
gretting that the distance pre-
vented his assisting him in his
wars. From Wahoo, Campbell
went to Rio Janeiro, and after a
residence there of two years, re-
turned to Scotland. On his return
he procured admission to the in-
firmary, at Edinburgh; but was
at length discharged as incurable.
He was noticed by Mr. Smith on
board one of the steam boats on
the Clyde, playing on the violin
for the amusement of the steerage
passengers. Mr. Smith took him
home, and struck with the intel-
ligent manner and the interesting
nature of the incidents he related,
was induced to become the editor
of his narration, and to publish
it for his benefit. ‘‘ Few,” says
Mr. Smith, *‘ in the same situa-

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

tions of life, are possessed of
more intelligence or information,
and with the advantages common
to his countrymen, he seems to
have neglected no means of im-
provement.’ The greater portion
of this book is occupied in a nar-
rative of what occurred during
Campbell’s stay at the Sandwich
islands, and adescription of them
and of the manners of the inha-
bitants. This is by far the most
interesting ; and we shall con-
clude this article by a few ex-
tracts from that part of it.

** The king’s residence is built
close on the shore, and is dis-
tinguished by the British colours,
and a battery of sixteen guns be-
longing to his ship, the ‘* Lilly
Bird,” then unrigged in the har-
hour; there was also a guard-
house and powder-magazine, and
two extensive store-houses built
of stone for the reception of Eu-
ropean goods. His mode of life
is very simple, breakfasting at
eight, dining at noon, and supping
at sun-set. His principal chiefs
are always about his person. On
concluding his meal he drinks
half a giass of rum, but the bottle
is immediately taken away, the
liquor being interdicted to the
guests. At one period, it is said,
he was much addicted to the use
of spirits, but foreseeing the bane-
ful effects arising from indulging
in their use, he made a resolution
to abstain from them, and which
he has since religiously main-
tained. The greatest respeet is
paid to his person by all: even
when his meat and drink passes
by, his subjects uncover them-
selves, and stoop down by way of
reverence. The white people,
however, on the island, are not

required

CHARACTERS.

required to pay these honours.
Davis and Young, the two per-
sons before noticed, are much
favoured by the king, and are
raised to the rank of chiefs, and
have extensive grants of Jand.
The lands are in the highest state
of cultivation. ‘he island of
Wahoo, though only secondary
in size, is one of the most im-
portant on account of its fertility,
and because it possesses the only
secure harbour to be met with in
the group. During the thirteen
months Campbell was at Wahoo,
about twelve ships touched there.
The navy, in 1809, was about
sixty vessels: these were then all
hauled on shore, and preserved
with great care, it being time of
peace: these were chiefly sloops
and schooners under forty tons,
built by native carpenters under
the direction of Boyd. The “ Lilly
Bird” however, about two
hundred tons ; but this vessel was
bought from the Americans, In-
dian corn and many garden ve-
getables are cultivated with suc-
cess; and in a short time the
breed of cattle, horses, and sheep,
left there by Captain Vancouver,
will be abundant. ‘The king has
several horses, and is fond of
riding. Many individuals have
large flocks of sheep: and in
some of the large islands there
are considerable herds of wild
cattle. The chiefs are proprie-
tors of the soil, and let the land
in small farms to the lower
orders, who pay rent in kind;
the chiefs pay a rent and other
subsidies to the sovereign. ‘There
wereat Wahoo at one time, during
our author’s stay, about sixty
whites, chiefly English, left by
American vessels ; severalamongst

is,

A79

them were convicts who had es-
caped from New South Wales.
Many inducements are held out
to sailors to remain; if they con-
duct themselves with propriety,
they rank as chiefs, and are at all
events certain of being main-
tained, as the chiefs are always
anxious to have white men about
them. Many artificers are in the
king’s employ; all that are in-
dustrious are well rewarded by
him; many, however, are idle
and dissolute, particularly the
convicts ; the latter have intro-
duced distillation into the island,
and give themselves up to drink-
ing. Davis, a Weichman, who
was very industrious, so puzzled
the natives, that they could only
account for his singularity by
supposing him one of their own
countrymen, who had gone to
Cahiete, cr England, and after
his death had returned to his
native land. Most of ithe whites
have married native women, by
whom they have families, _but
no attention is paid by them to
their education or religious in-
struction. The chiefs about the
king have each a separate office
assigned to him—as treasurer, &c.
The king is entirely absolute.

** Though the people are under
the dominion of some chief, for
whom they work or cultivate the
ground, and by whom they are
supported in old age, they are by
no means to be considered as
slaves attached to the soil, but
are at liberty to change masters
when they think fit. The prin-
cipal duty of the executive is en-
trusted to the priests, and by
them the revenue is collected and
the laws enforced. They believe
in a future state, when they will

be

480

be rewarded or punished for their
conduct in this. world. There were
no missionaries on the islands.

«« The use of ava is now giving
way to that of ardent spirits ;
they are very fond of smoking
tobacco, which grows in great
abundance. Many of the natives
who are employed as carpenters,
coopers, blacksmiths, and tailors,
do their work as skilfully as Ku-
ropeans ; and at the king’s forge
none but natives were employed.
All dealings are conducted by
barter; they know, however, the
value of dollars, and take them
in exchange ; but these are rarely
brought out again into circula-
tion: vessels are supplied with
fresh provisions, live-stock, salt,
and other articles of out-fit,
giving, in return, fire-arms and
all other Europeanarticles. Sandal
wood, pearls, and mother of pearl,
the produce of these islands, are
frequently purchased for the China
market. It is probable that the
Russians will in future derive
from hence the principal supplies
for their settlements on the Fox
islands, and north-west coast of
America, and even Kamschatka.
Whilst the author was with the
Russians, it seems it was in con-
templation to establish a settle-
mentat one of these islands, though
this project was afterwards aban-
doned; and it is obvious that at
no very distant period, these
islands must become objects of
great importance to America.
Provisions, from the frequent
arrival of ships, are not cheap.

‘“There is no regular armed
force, except about fifty men of
the guard, who constantly do duty
about the king’s residence ; twenty
mounting guard each day, armed

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

with muskets and bayonets: in
their exercises, rapidity is more
regarded than precision. All the
natives are trained to arms, and
are bound to attend the king’s
person in his wars. Although he
is anxious to induce white people
to remain, no encouragement is
given to deserters ; nur are those
who wish to depart detained. In
1809, says Campbell, the king
seeined about 50, stout and well
made ; the expression of his coun-
tenance agreeable; mild and affa-
ble in his manners, and appeared
to possess great warmth of feel-
ing; and though a conqueror, is
very popularamongst his subjects :
he has amassed by trade a con-
siderable store of goods, and trea-
sure in dollars. He encourages
his subjects to make voyages in
the ships which touch at the
island: and many have been to
China, and even to the United
States, and has amongst the na-
tives many good sailors. His re-
sidence was built in the Kuropean
style. He had two wives, and
was about to take a third.

We shall conclude our extracts
from this book, with the follow-
ing description of the author's
journey to take possession of his
farm. ‘* We passed by foot paths
winding through an extensive
and fertile plain, the whole of
which is in the highest state of
cultivation; every stream was
carefully embanked to supply
water for the taro beds; where
there was no water, the land was
under crops of yams and sweet
potatoes ; the roads and numerous
houses are shaded by cocoa-nut
trees, and the sides of the moun-
tains covered with words to a
great height; we halted two or

three

Ci A RyA0G TE Rasy

three times, and were treated by
the natives with the utmost hos-
pitality. Fifteen persons with
their families resided on my farm,
and they cultivated the ground
as my servants; there were three
houses on the property, but I
found it more agreeable to live
with one of my neighbours, and
get what I wanted from my own
land.”

Authentic Anecdotes of the Life of
Major-General Ciaude Martine.

General Martine, a man so
well known in India, both by his
eccentricity and his riches, was
the son of a silk-manufacturer at
Lyons in France, in which city he
was born, and in which some of
his father’s family still reside.

At an early age he expressed a
dislike to follow his father’s in-
active profession, and determined
to choose one more congenial to
his disposition. He accordingly
enlisted in the French army, and
soon distinguished himself so
much, that he was removed from
the infantry to the cavalry, and
afterwards appointed a trooper in
Count Lally’s body-guard, asmall
corps of select men, that was
formed for the purpose of accom-
panying that officer to Pondicher-
ry, of which place he had then
been appointed governor.

Soon after Lally’s arrival at
Pondicherry, he began to exercise
his power with such oppressive
severity, and to enforce the disci-
pline of the army with such a ri-
gid minuteness, that his conduct
excited the disgust and detestation
of the whole settlement. Several
remonstrances were drawn up

Vor. LVIII.

48]

against him, and transmitted to
France; and many officers of dis-
tinction resigned their appoint-
ments. He, nevertheless, perse-
vered in his injudicious system of
discipline, with an unremitting
strictness, unmindful of the re-
presentations of some officers who
were in his confidence, and totally
blind to the dangers he was thus
foolishly drawing on himself, till
it was too late to avert them.
Though he must have been ‘sensi-
ble that he had lost the affections
of the army, yet he seemed not
aware of the consequences to
which that loss might lead. The
troops were so dissatisfied, that
when the English army laid siege
to Pondicherry, great numbers
deserted from the garrison ; and
at last his own body-guard went
over in a body to the enemy, car-
trying their herses, arms, &c.
along with them. This corps was
well received by the English com-
manders, by whom Martine was
soon noticed for the spirit and
ability which he displayed on many
occasions. On the return of the
British army to Madras, after
the surrender of Pondicherry,
Martine obtained permission of
the Madras government to raise
a company of Chasseurs from
among the French prisoners, of
whom he got the command, with
the rank of ensign in the Com-
pany’s service,

A few weeks after he received
this appointment, he was ordered
to proceed with his Chasseurs to
Bengal. On their passage, the
ship in which they were embarked
sprung a leak, and Martine, by
great fortitude and perseverance,
but with much difficulty, saved
himself and some of his men, in

2.1 one

482

one of the ship’s boats. The ship
foundered off Point Guadawar,
the promontory which separates
the coast of Coromandel from
that of Orissa ; and thence Mar-
tine and his men proceeded in the
ship’s boat to Calcutta, which
place they reached, after sur-
mounting many dangers and great
hardships.

He was received with much
kindness by the Bengal govern-
ment, and appointed a cornet of
cavalry, in which service he con-
tinued until he had risen by re-
gular succession to the rank of
captain in the line, when he got
a company of infantry.

Shortly after this promotion,
he was employed by government
to survey the north-east districts
of Bengal, being an able drafts-
man, and in every respect well
qualified for that purpose. When
he had completed his journey to
the north-east district, he was
sent to Oude, in order to assist in
surveying that province. While
employed in this service, he re-
sided chiefly at Lucknow, where
he amuseil himself in showing his
ingenuity in several branches of
mechanics, and his’ skill in gun-
nervy, which gave the Nabob Vizir
Sujah-ud-Dowlah so high a no-
tion of the value of his services,
that he sokcite! and obtained per-
mission from the Governor and
council of Calcutta, to appoint
him superintendant of his artil-
lery park and arsenal. Martine
was so well satisfied with his ap-
pointment, and with his prospects
in the service of the Nabob Vizir,
that he proposed to the Governor
and council, to relinquish his
pay and allowances in the Com-
pany’s service on the condition

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

of his being permitted to retain
his rank, and to continue in the
service of the Nabob Vizir. ‘This
proposal was complied with; and
from this his subsequent pros-
perity commenced.

He was now admitted into
the confidence of the Vizir; and
in the different changes which
took place in the councils of his
Highness, as wellas in the various
negociations with the English go-
vernment, he was his secret ad-
viser; he seldom however ap-
peared at the Durbar; and he
never held any ostensible situa-
tion in the administration of the
Vizir's government; but there is
reason to believe, that few mea-
sures of importance were adopted
without his advice being pre-
viously taken. Hence his influ-
ence at the court of Lucknow be-
cane very considerable, not only
with the Vizir, but with his mi-
nisters, and that influence was
the source of the immense fortune
which he amassed. Besides a
large salary with extensive per-
quisites annexed to it, he used to
receive from the Nabob frequent
presents of considerable value ;
and when any of the Nabob’s mi-
nisters, or other men of conse-
quence about the court, had any
particular measure to carry with
their master, or personal favour
to ask of him, it was their custom
to go privately to Martine, and
obtain his interest in their catse,
which, if he was at times induced
to refuse, he took due care to
precure for them ultimately, by
other means ana with adequate
compensation

during the reign of Asoph-ud-
Dowlah, father of the present
Vizir, Martine made.a consider-

F able

.

CHARACTERS.

able sum of money by encoura-
ging that prince’s taste for the
productions of Kurope, with which
he undertook to supply him. An-
other mode by which he realized
money was, by establishing an
extensive credit with the shrofis,
or bankers, in Oude, and the ad-
jacent provinces; so that no pub-
lic loan could be made without his
having a share init. The extra-
ordinary degree of favour and
credit which he thus acquired in
the Vizir’s dominions, induced all
descriptions of people to repose
in him such an implicit confidence,
that in times of public commotion,
they flocked to him from all quar-
ters, to deposit their moveable
property, which on the condition
of paying him twelve per cent. on
its full value, he engaged to se-
cure and return them on demand.
This alone must have been a
source of immense profit, in a
country where, for upwards of
twenty years of his residence in
it, personal property was so often
exposed to danger.

The vast riches which he ac-
cumulated by these various and
singular modes, he does not ap-
pear to have laid out with a very
generous spirit. He is said, in-
deed, to have been hospitable to
the English gentleinen who re-
sided at Lucknow, but his table
was little calculated to invite his
acquaintance to it, either by the
elegance of the entertainment, or
the conviviality that presided at
it. Very few instances have come
to our knowledge of his private
bounty and benevolence. He is
said to have assisted his. family at
Lyons, by occasionally remitting
small sums of money ; and by his
will he has left them 25,0001.

483

But the principal object of his am-
bition, and wish of his heart,
seems to have been to amass im-
mense treasures in order to gra-
tify himself by the possession of
them while he lived; and by be-
queathing almost the whole of
them on his death, to the support
of pious institutions, and public
charities, to leave behind him the
reputation of a philanthropist.
Meanwhile every sensible reader
will judge of his title to that
name, not from the bequests of
his will, but from the actions of
his life.

After having lived twenty-five
years at Lucknow, he had attain-
ed by regular succession the rank
of Lieutenant-Colonel in the
Company’s service.

At the commencement of the
war with Tippoo Sultan in 1790,
he presented the Company, at his
private expense, with a number
of tine horses, sufficient to mount
a troop of cavalry. He was soon
afterwards promoted to the rank
of Colonel in the Company’s army,
which object,the present of horses
was obviously designed to obtain.

In 1796, when the Company’s
officers received brevet rank from
his Majesty, Martine was included
in the promotion of colonels to
the rank of Major-General.

Some years before this he had
finished a spacious dwelling-house
on the banks of the river Goom-
tee, in the building of which he
had long been employed. This
curious edifice is constructed en-
tirely of stone, except the doors
and window-frames. Theceilings
of the apartments are formed of
elliptic arches, and the floors made
of stucco. The basement-story

comprises two caves or recesses

212 within ,

484

within the banks of the river, and
level with its surface when at its
lowest decrease. In these caves
he generally lived in the hot sea-
son, and continued in them until

the commencement of the rainy .

season, when the increase of the
river obliged him to remove. He
then ascended another story, to
apartments titted up in the form
of a grotto; and when the further
rise of the river brought its sur-
face on a level with these, he pro-
ceeded up to the third story, asa
ground-floor, which overlooked
the river when at its greatest
height. On the next story above
that, a handsome saloon, raised
on arcades, projecting over the
river, formed his habitation in
the spring and winter seasons.
By this ingenious contrivance he
preserved a moderate and equal
temperature in his house at all
seasons: on the attic story he had
a museum, well supplied with va-
rious curiosities, and over the
whole, he erected an observatory,
which he furnished with the best
astronomical instruments. Ad-
joining to the house there is a
garden, not laid out with taste,
but well filled with a variety of
fine trees, shrubs, and flowers,
together with all sorts of vegeta-
bles. In his artillery-yard, which
was situated at some distance
from his house, he erected a
steam-engine, which had been
sent to him from England; and
here he used to amuse himself in
making different experiments with
air-balloons. After he had ex-

hibited to some acquaintances his -

first balloon, the Vizir Asoph-ud-
Dowlah requested he would pre-
pare one large enough to carry
twenty men. Martine told his

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

highness that such an experiment
would be attended with consider-
able hazard to the lives of the
men; upon which the Vizir re-
plied, ‘‘ Give yourself no concern
about’ that—be you: so good as
to make a balloon.’ The ex-
periment, however, was never
tried.

Besides his house at Lucknow,
he had a beautiful villa about fifty
miles distant, situated on a high
bank of the Ganges, and sur-
rounded by a domain of almost
eight miles in circumference,
somewhat resembling an English
park. Here he used occasionally
to retire in the hot season.

In the latter part of his life he
laid out a large sum of money in
constructing a gothic castle, which
he did not live to finish. Beneath
the ramparts of this castle he
built casemates, secured by iron
doors, and gratings thickly
wrought. The lodgments within
the walls are arched and barred,
and their roofs completely bomb-
proof. The castle is surrounded
by a wide and deep ditch, fortified
on the outer gide by stockades,
and a regular covered way, so
that the place is sufficiently pro-
tected to resist the attacks of any
Asiatic power. Within this castle
he built a splendid mausoleum,
in which he was interred; and
on a marble tablet over his tomb
is engraved the following inscrip-
tion, written by himself some
months before his death :—

Here lies Claude Martine. He
was born at Lyons, A. D. 1732.
He came to India a private soldier,
and died a Major-General.

During the last fifteen years of
his life, he was much afflicted
with the stone and gravel; and

disliking

CHARACTERS.

disliking to undergo the usual
surgical operation for that com-
plaint, his ingenuity suggested to
him a method of reducing the
stone, so curious in itself, and so
difficult in its execution, that we
should have doubted the fact,
were it not attested-by the most
positive evidence of several gen-
tlemen of the first respectability.
He took a very fine stout wire of
about a foot long, one end of
which he cut in the manner of a
file. The wire thus prepared he
introduced by a catheter, through
the urethra, into the bottom of
the bladder, where the stone was
seated. When he found the wire
struck the stone, he gently work-
ed the wire up and down, so as to
give it the effect of a file; and
this he continued to do for four
or five minutes at a time, until
the pain which the operation of
the wire produced, was so ex-
eruciating, that it obliged him to
withdraw it. But finding small
particles of the stone discharged
along with the urine after the
operation, he repeated it in the
same manner from time to time,
till, in the course of twelve
months, he succeeded in com-
pletely reducing the stone.

This circumstance exhibits a
curious and remarkable trait of
the eccentricity of his character.
The contrivance was in itself in-
genious, but his patience and per-
severance in carrying it into effect,
are so very extraordinary, that
we apprehend there are few men,
who, in a similar situation, would
not rather endure the complaint
than have recourse to the remedy.

Some years after the operation,
gravelly concretions began ‘again

485

to form in his bladder ; and as he
did not choose to try the wire a
second time, these continued to
increase until the end of the year
1800, when they occasioned his
death.

Though he lived so long among
the English, he acquired but an
imperfect knowledge of our lan-
guage; notwithstanding this he
chose to write his will in En-
glish, which is altogether a very
singular production. It is too
long for insertion, but the follow-
ing are its principal bequests.—
The amount of his fortune was
thirty-three lacs of rupees, or
330,000l. sterling. To his rela-
tions at Lyons, he bequeathed
25,0001. as we have already no-
ticed ; and he left the same sum
to the municipality of that city,
for the purpose of appropriating
it to the benefit of the poor within
their jurisdiction, in whatever
manner they should think fit.
For the same purpose he be-
queathed 25,0001. to the city of
Caleutta, and the like sum to
Lucknow. To the church at
Chandernagore, in Bengal, he be-
queathed 15,0001. as a fund, the
interest of which is to be appro-
priated to the support of the es-
tablishment; and the like sum to
be laid out in the same manner,
for the benefit of the Romish
Chapel at Calcutta. He also left
15,0001. to endow an alms-house
for poor children at Lucknow.
The remainder of his fortune
(nearly one half) he left in lega-
cies to the women of his zenanah,
and his principal servants. ‘The
will concludes with a curious ex-
position of the principles by which
he regulated his conduct through

fi life.

486 ANNUAL REGISTER,

life. He avows that self-interest
-was his sole motive of action, and
that the sins of which he had
been guilty were very great and
manifold; and he concludes by
praying forgiveness of God, which

1816.

he hopes this sincere confession
of his wickedness will avail to ob-
tain.

Such are the anecdotes which
are related of this eaeercaly
character.

MANNERS,

[ 487 ]

MANNERS, CUSTOMS, &c.

OF

NATIONS anp CLASSES or PEOPLE.

EEE

THE SHOSHONER INDIANS.

(From Lewis and Clark's Travels.)

HE Shoshonees are a small

tribe of the nation called
Snake Indians, a vague denomi-
nation, which embraces at once
the inhabitants of the southern
parts of the rocky mountains and
of the plains on each side. The
Shoshonees with whom we now
are, amount to aboutone hundred
warriors, aid three times that
number of women and children.
Within their own recollection they
formerly lived in the plains, but
they have been driven into the
mountains by the Pawkees, or the
roving Indians of the Sascatcha-
wain, and are now obliged to visit
occasionally, and by stealth, the
country of theirancestors. ‘heir
lives are indeed migratory. From
the middle of May to the begin-
ning of September, they reside on
the waters of the Columbia, where
they consider themselves perfectly
secure from the Pawkees, who
have never yet found their way
to that retreat. During this time
they subsist chiefly on salmon;

and as that fish disappears on the
approach of autumn, they are
obliged to seek subsistence else-
where. They then cross the ridge
to the waters of the Missouri,
down which they proceed slowly
and cautiously, till they are joined
near the three forks by other
bands, either of their own nation
or of the Flatheads, with whom
they associate against the com-
mon enemy. Heing now strong
in numbers, they venture to hunt
buffaloe in the plains eastward of
the mountains, near which they
spend the winter, till the return
of the salmon invites them to the
Columbia. But such is their ter-
ror of the Pawkees, that as long
as they can obtain the scantiest
subsistence, they do not leave the
interior of the mountains; and as
soon as they collect a large stock
of dried meat, they again re-
treat, thus alternately obtaining
their food at the hazard of their
lives, and hiding themselves to
consume it. In this loose and
wandering existence they suffer
the extremes of want: for two-
thirds of the year they are forced
to live in the mountains, passing

whole

4388

whole weeks without meat, and
with nothing to eat but a few fish
and roots. Nor can any thing
be imagined more wretched than
their condition at the present
time, when the salmon is fast re-
tiring, when roots are becoming
scarce, and they have not yet ac-
quired strength to hazard an en-
counter -with their enemies, So
insensible are they, however, to
these calamities, that the Shosho-
nees are not only cheerful, but
even gay; and their character,
which is more interesting than
that of any Indians we have seen,
has in it much of the dignity of
misfortune. In their intercourse
with strangers they are frank and
communicative, in their dealings
perfectly fair; nor have we had
during our stay with them, any
reason to suspect that the display
of all our new and valuable wealth
has tempted them into a single
act of dishonesty. While they
have generally shared with us the
little they possess, they have al-
ways abstained from begging any
thing from us. | With their live-
liness of temper, they are fond of
gaudy dresses, and of all sorts of
amusements, particularly of games
of hazard ; and, like most Indians,
fond of boasting of their own war-
like exploits, whether real or fic-
titious. In their conduct towards
ourselves, they were kind and
obliging, and though on one oc-
éasion they seemed willing to
neglect us, yet we scarcely knew
how to blame the treatment by
which we suffered, when we re-
collected how few civilized chiefs
would have hazarded the comforts
or the subsistence of their people
for the sake of a few strangers.
This manliness of character may

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

cause, or it may be formed by, the
nature of their government,
which is perfectly free from any
restraint. Each individual is his
own master, and the only control
to which his conduct is subjected,
is the advice of a chief, supported
by his influence over the opinions
of the rest of the tribe. The chief
himself is in fact no more than
the most confidential person
among the warriors, a rank nei-
ther distinguished by any exter-
nal honour, nor invested by any
ceremony, but gradually acquired
from the good wishes of his com-
panions, and by superior merit.
Such an officer has therefore strict-
ly no power; he may recommend
or advise or influence, but his
commands have no effect on those
who incline to disobey, and who
may at any time withdraw from
their voluntary allegiance. His
shadowy authority, which cannot
survive the confidence which sup-
ports it, often decays with the
personal vigour of the chief, or is
transferred to some more fortu-
nate or favourite hero.

In their domestic economy, the
man is equally sovereign. The
man is the sole proprietor of his
wives and daughters, and can bar-
ter them away, or dispose of them
in any manner he may think pro-
per. The children are seldom
corrected ; the boys, particularly,
soon become their own masters ;
they are never whipped, for they
say that it breaks their spirit, and
that after being flogged they ne-
ver recover their independence of
mind, even when they grow to
manhood. A plurality of ‘wives
is very common ;. but these are
not generally sisters, as among
the Minnetarees and Mandans,

but

MANNERS AND CUSTOMS.

but are purchased of different fa-
thers. The infant daughters are
often betrothed by their father to
men who are grown, either for
themselves or for their sons, for
whom they are desirous of provi-
ding wives. ‘The compensation to
the father is usually made in
horses or mules ; and the girl re-
mains with her parents till the age
of puberty, which is thirteen or
fourteen, when she is surrendered
to her husband. At the same
time the father often makes a pre-
sent to the husband equal to what
he had formerly received as theprice
of his daughter, though this re-
turn is optional with her parent.
Sacajawea had been contracted in
this way before she was taken

prisoner, and when we brought .

her back, her betrothed was still
living. Although he was double
the age of Sacajawea, and had
two other wives, he claimed her,
but on finding that she hada
child by her new husband, Cha-
boneau, he relinquished his pre-
tensions, and said he did not want
her.

The chastity of the women does
not appear to be held in much es-
timation. The husband will for
a trifling present lend his wife for
a night to astranger, and the loan
may be protracted by increasing
the value of the present. Yet,
strange as it may seem, notwith-
standing this facility, any con-
nexion of this kind not authorized
by the husband, is considered
highly offensive and quite as dis-
graceful to his character as the
same licentiousness in civilized
societies. The Shoshonees are not
so importunate in volunteering
the services of their wives as we
found the Sioux were; and in-

489

deed we observed among them
some women who appeared to be
held in more respect than those of
any nation wehad seen. But the
mass of the females are condemn-
ed, as among all savage nations,
to the lowest and most laborious
drudgery. When the tribe is sta-
tionary, they collect the roots, and
cook; they build the huts, dress
the skins and make clothing ;
collect the wood, and assist in
taking care of the horses on the
route; they load the horses, and
have the charge of all the bag-
gage. The only business of the
man is to fight; he therefore
takes on himself the care of his
horse, the companion of his war-
fare; but he will descend to no
other labour than to hunt and to
fish. He would consider himself
degraded by being compeiled to
walk any distance; and were he
so poor as to possess only two
horses, he would ride the best of
them, and leave the other for his
wives and children and their bag-
gage; and if he has too many
wives or too much baggage for
the horse, the wives have no al-
ternative but to follow him on
foot ; they are not however often
reduced to those extremities, for
their stock of horses is very ample.
Notwithstanding their losses this
spring they still have at least se-
ven hundred, among which are
about forty colts, and half that
number of mules. There are no
horses here which can be consi-
dered as wild ; we have seen tivo
only on this side of the Muscle-
shell river which were without
owners, and even those, although
shy, showed every mark of having
been once in the ‘possession of
man. The original stock was

. procured

490 ANNUAL REGISTER,

procured from the Spaniards, but
they now raise their own. The
horses are generally very fine, of
a good size, vigorous, and patient
of fatigue as well as hunger.
Hach warrior has one or two tied
to a stake near his hut both day
and night, so as to be always pre-
pared for action. The mules are
obtained in the course of trade
from the Spaniards, with whose
brand several of them are mark-
ed, or stolen from them by the
frontier Indians. They are the
finest animals of that kind we
have ever seen, and at this dis-
tance from the Spanish colonies
are very highly valued. The
worst are considered as worth the
price of two horses, and a good
mule cannot be obtained for less
than three and sometimes four
horses.

We also saw a bridle bit, stir-
rups, and several other articles
which, like the mules, came from
the Spanish colonies. The Shos-
honees say that they can reach
those settlements in ten days’
march by the route of the Yeliow-
stone river; but we readily per-
ceive that the Spaniards are by
no means favourites. They com-
plain that the Spaniards refuse to

let them have fire-arms, under-

pretence that these dangerous
weapons will only induce them to
kill each other. In the mean
time, say the Shoshonees, we are
left to the mercy of the Minneta-
rees, who having arms, plunder
them of their horses, and put
them to death without mercy.
«© But this should not be,’ said
Cameahwait fiercely; ‘‘if we had
guns, instead of hiding ourselves
in the mountains and living like
the bears on roots and berries, we

1816.

would then go down and live in
the buffaloe country in spite of
our enemies, whom we _ never
fear when we meet on equal
terms.”

As war is the chief occupation,
bravery is the first virtue among
the Shoshonees. None can hope
to be distinguished without hav-
ing given proofs of it, nor can
there be any preferment, or in-
fluence among the nation, with-
out some warlike achievement.
Those important events which
give reputation to a warrior, and
which entitle him to a new name,
are, killing a white bear, stealing
individually the horses of the ene-
my, leading out a party who hap-
pen to be successful either in
plundering horses or destroying
the enemy, and, lastly, scalping a
warrior. ‘These acts seem nearly
of equal dignity, but the last, that
of taking an enemy’s scalp, is an
honour quite independent of the
act of vanquishing him. To kill
your adversary is of no import-
ance unless the scalp is brought
from the field of battle ; and were
a warrior to slay any number of
his enemies in action, and others
were to obtain the scalps or first
touch the dead, they would have
all the honours, since they have
borne off the trophy.

Although thus oppressed by the
Minnetarees, the Shoshonees are
still a very military people. Their
cold and rugged country inures
them to fatigue; their long ab-
stinence makes them support the
dangers of mountain warfare, and
worn down as we saw them, by
want of sustenance, have a look
of fierce and adventurous courage.
The Shoshonee warrior always
fights on horsebaek ; he possesses

a few

MANNERS AND CUSTOMS.

afew bad guns, which are reserv-
ed exclusively for war, but his
common arms arethe bow and ar-
row, a shield, a lance, and a
weapon called by the Chippeways,
by whom it was formerly used,
the poggamoggon. ‘The bow is
made of cedar or pine, covered on
the outerside with sinews and glue.
It is about two and a half feet
long, and does not differ in shape
from those used by the Sioux,
Mandans and Minnetarees. Some-
times, however, the bow is made
of a single piece of the horn of an
elk, covered on the back like
- those of wood with sinews and
glue, and occasionally ornament-
ed by a strand wrought of porcu-
pine quills and sinews, which is
wrapped round the horn near its
two ends. The bows made of the
the horns of the bighorn, are still
more prized, and are formed by
cementing with glue flat pieces of
the horn together, covering the
back with sinews and glue, and
loading the whole with an un-
usual quantity of ornaments. The
arrows resemble those of the
other Indians, except in being
more slender than any we have
seen. They are contained, with
the implements for striking fire,
in a narrow quiver formed of dif-
ferent kinds of skin, though that
of the otter seems to be preferred.
It is just long enough to protect
the arrows from the weather, and
is worn on the back by means of
a strap passing over the right
shoulder and under the left arm.
The shield is a circular piece of
buffaloe hide about two feet four
or five inches in diameter, orna-
mented with feathers, and a fringe
round it of dressed leather, and
adorned or deformed with paint-
ings of strange figures. The

491

buffaloe hide is perfectly proof
against any arrow, but in the
minds of the Shoshonees, its
power to protect them is chiefly
derived from the virtues which
are communicated to it by the old
men and juggiers. To make a
shield is indeed one of their most
important ceremonies: it begins
by a feast to which all the war-
riurs, old men and jugglers are
invited. After the repast a hole
is dug in the ground about eigh-
teen inches in depth, and of the
same diameter as the intended
shield: into this hole red hot
stones are thrown and water
poured over them, till they emit
a very strong hot steam. ‘The
buffaloe skin, which must be the
entire hide of a male two years
old, and never suffered to dry
since it was taken from the ani-~
mal, is now laid across the hole,
with the fleshy side to the ground,
and stretched in every direction
by as many as can take hold of it.
As the skin becomes heated, the
hair separates and is taken off by
the hand; till at last the skin is
contracted into the compass de-
signed for the shield. It is then
taken off and placed on a hide
prepared into parchment, and
then pounded during the rest of
the festival by the bare heels of
those who are invited to it. This
operation sometimes continues for
several days, after which it is de-
livered to the proprietor, and de-
clared by the old men and jug-
vlers to be a security against ar-
rows ; and provided the feast has
been satisfactory, against even
the bullets of their enemies. -Such
is the delusion, that many of the
Indians implicitly believe that this
ceremony has given. to the shield
supernatural powers, and that

they

492

they have no longer to fear any
weapons of their enemies.

The poggamogyon is an instru-
ment, consisting of a _ handle
twenty-two inches long, made of
wood, covered with dressed lea-
ther, about the size of a whip-
handle: at one end is a thong of
two inches in length, which is
tied to a round stone weighing
two pounds and held in a cover of
leather: at the other end is a loop
of the same: material, which is
passed round the wrist so as to se-
cure the hold of the instrument,
with which they strike a very se-
vere blow.

Besides these, they have a kind
of armour something like a coat
of mail, which is formed by a
great many folds of dressed ante-
lope skins, united by means of a
mixture of glue and sand. With
this they cover their own bodies
and those of their horses, and find
it impervious to the arrow.

The caparison of their horses is
a halter and a saddle: the first is
either a rope of six or seven
strands of buffaloe hair platted or
twisted together, about the size
of a man’s finger, and of great
strength: or merely a thong of
raw hide, made pliant by pound-
ing and rubbing; though the
first kind is much preferred. The
halter is very long, and is never
taken from the neck of the horse
when in constant use. _One end
of it is first tied round the neck in
a knot, and then brought down
to the under jaw, round which it

is formed into a simple noose,

passing through the mouth : it is
then drawn up on the right side
and held by the rider in his left
hand, while the rest trails after
him to some distance. At other

ANNUAL REGIST ER, 1816.

times the knot is formed at a lit-
tle distance from one of the ends,
soas to let that end serve asa
bridle, while the other trails on
the ground. With these cords
dangling alongside of them, the
horse is put to his full speed with-
out fear of falling, and when he
is turned to graze, the noose is
merely taken from his mouth.
The saddle is formed like the
pick-saddles used by the French
and Spaniards, of two flat thin
boards which fit the sides of the
horse, and are kept together by
two cross pieces, one before and
the other behind, which rise to a
considerable height, ending some-
times in a flat point extending
outwards, and always making the
saddle deep and narrow. Under
this a piece of buffaloe skin, with
the hair on, is placed so as to pre-
vent the rubbing of the boards,
and when they mount they throw
a piece of skin or robe over the
saddle, which has no permanent
cover. When stirrups are used,
they consist of wood covered with
Jeather ; but stirrups and saddles
are conveniencies reserved for old
men and women. The young
watriors rarely use any thing ex-
cept a small leather pad stuffed
with hair, and secured by a girth
made of a leathern thong. In
this way they ride with great ex-
pertness, and they hve aparticu-
lar dexterity in catching the horse
when he is running at large. If
he will not immediately submit
when they wish to take him, they
make a noose in the rope, and al-
though the horse may be at a dis-
tance, or even running, rarely fail
tofixit on his neck ; and such is
the docility of the animal, that
however unruly he may seem, he

surrenders

MANNERS AND CUSTOMS.

surrenders as soon as he feels the
rope on him. This cord is so
useful in this way that it is never
dispensed with, even when they
use the Spanish bridle, which they
prefer, and always procure when
they have it in their power. The
horse becomes almost an object
of attachment: a favourite is fre-
quently painted and his ears cut
into various shapes: the mane
and tail, which are never drawn
nor trimmed, are decorated with
feathers of birds, and sometimes
awarrior suspends at the breast of
his horse the finest ornaments he
possesses.

Thus armed and mounted the
Shoshonee is a formidable enemy,
even with the feeble weapons
which he is still obliged to use.
When they attack at full speed
they bend forwa:d and cover their
bodies with the shield, while with
the right hand they shoot under
the horse’s neck.

The only articles of metal
which the Shoshonees possess are
a few bad kniyes, some brass ket-
tles, some bracelets or armbands
of iron and brass, a few buttons
worn as ornaments in their hair,
one or two spears about a foot in
length, and some heads for ar-
rows, made of iron and brass.
All these they had obtained in
trading with the Crow or Rocky
mountain Indians, who live on the
Yellowstone. The few bridle-
bits and stirrups they procured
from the Spanish colonies.

The instrument which supplies
the place of a knife among them,
is a piece of flint with no regular
form, and the sharp part of it not
more than oneor two inches long.
The edge of this is renewed, and

ry)

493

the flint itself is formed into heads
for arrows, by means of the point
of a deer or elk horn, an instru-
ment which they use with great
art and ingenuity. There are no
axes or hatchets; all the wood
being cut with flint or elk horn,
the latter of which is always used
asa wedge in splitting wood.
Their utensils consist, besides the
brass kettles, of pots in the form
of ajar, made either of earth, or
of a stone found in the hills be-
tween Madison and Jefferson
rivers, which, though soft and
white in its natural state, be-
comes very hard and black after
exposure to the fire. The horns
of the buffaloe and the bighorn
supply them with spoons.

The fire is always kindled by
means of a blunt arrow, and a
piece of well-seasoned wood of a
soft spongy kind, such as the wil-
low or cotton-wood.

The Shoshonees are of a dimi-
nutive stature, with thick flat feet
and ancles, crooked legs, and are,
generally speaking, worse form-
ed than any nation of Indians we
have seen. Their complexion re-
sembles that of the Sioux, and is
darker than that of the Minneta-
rees, Mandans, or Shawnees. The
hair of both sexes is. suffered to
fall loosely over the face and down
the shoulders : some men, how-
ever, divide it by means of thongs
of dressed leather or otter skin
into two equal queues, which hang
over the ears and are drawn in
front of the body ; but at the pre-
sent moment, when the nation is
afflicted by the loss of so many
relations killed in war, most of
them have the hair cut quite short
in the neck, and Cameahwait has

the

AVA

the hair cut short all over his head,
this being the customary mourn-
ing for deceased kindred.

‘The dress of the men consists
of a robe, a tippet, a shirt, long
leggins, and moccasins. The robe
is formed most commonly of the
skins of antelope, bighorn, or
deer, though, when it can be pro-
cured, the buffaloe hide is pre-

ferred. Sometimes too they are
made of beaver, moonax, and
small wolves, and frequently

during the summer, of elk skin.
These are dressed with the hair
on, and reach about as low as the
middle of the leg. They are worn
loosely over the shoulders, the
sides being at pleasure either left
open or drawn together by the
hand, and in cold weather kept
close by a girdle round the waist.
‘This robe answers the purpose of
a cloak during the day, and at
night is their only covering.

The tippet is the most elegant
article of Indian dress we have
ever seen. The neck or collar of
it is a strip about four or five
inches wide, cut from the back
of the otter skin, the nose and
eyes forming one extremity, and
the tail another. This being
dressed with the fur on, they
attach to one edge of it, from one
hundred to two hundred and fifty
little rolls of ermine skin, begin-
ning at the ear, and proceeding
towards the tail. These ermine
skins are the same kind of narrow
strips from the back of that ani-
mal, which are sewed round a
small cord of twisted silkgrass
thick enough to sake the skin
taper towards the tail which
hangs from the end, and are ge-
nerally about the size of a large
quill. These are tied at the head

ANNUAL REGISTER;

1816.

into little bundles, of two, three,
or more, according to the caprice
of the wearer, and then sus-
pended from the collar, and a
broad fringe of ermine skin is
fixed so as to cover the parts
where they unite, which might
have a coarse appearance. Little
tassels of fringe of the same ma-
terials are also fastened to the
extremities of the tail, so as to
show its black colour to greater
advantage. The centre of the
collar is further ornamented with
the shells of the pearl oyster.
Thus adorned, the collar is worn
close round the neck, and the
little rolls fall down over the
shoulders nearly to the waist, sc
as to form a sort of short cloak,
which has a very handsome ap-
pearance. ‘These tippets are very
highly esteemed, and are given
or disposed of on important oc-
casions only. The ermine is the
fur known to the north-west
traders by the name of the white
weasel, but is the genuine er-
mine; and by encouraging the
Indians to take them, might no
doubt be rendered a valuable
branch of trade. These animals
must be very abundant, for the
tippets are in great numbers, and
the construction of each requires
at least one hundred skins.

The shirt is a covering of
dressed skin without the hair,
and formed of the hide of the
antelope, deer, bighorn, or elk,
though the last is more rarely
used than any other for this pur-
pose. It fits the body loosely,
and reaches half way down the
thigh. The aperture at the top
is wide enough to admit the head,
and has no collar, but is either
left square, or most frequently

terminates

MANNERS AND CUSTOMS.

terminates in the tail of the ani-
mal, which is left entire, so as to
fold outwards, though sometimes
the edges are cut into a fringe,
and ornamented with quills of the
porcupine. The seams of the
shirt are on the sides, and are
richly fringed and adorned with
porcupine quills, till within five
or six inches of the sleeve, where
itis left open, as is also the under
side of thesleeve from theshoulder
te the elbow, where it fits closely
round the arm as low as the
wrist, and has no fringe like the
sides, and the under part of the
sleeve above the elbow. It is

kept up by wide shoulder straps,

on which the manufacturer dis-
plays his taste by the variety of
figures wrought with porcupine
quills of different colours, and
sometimes by beads when they
can be obtained. The lower end
of the shirt retains the natural
shape of the fore legs and neck of
the skin, with the addition of a
slight fringe; the hair too is left
on the tail and near the hoofs,
part of which last is retained and
split into a fringe
The lezgins are generally made
of antelope skins, dressed without
the hair, and with the legs, tail,
and neck hanging to them. Each
legging is forme: of a skin nearly
entire, and reaches from the ancle
,to the upper part of the thigh,
and the legs of the skin are tucked
before and behind under a girdle
round the waist. It fits closely
to the leg the tail being worn
upwards, and the neck, highly
ornamented with fringe and por-
cupine quills, ¢rags on the ground
behind the heels. As the legs of
the animal are tied round the
girdle, the wide part of the skin

495

is drawn so high as to conceal the
parts usually kept from view, in
which respect their dress is much
more decent than that of any
nation of Indians on the Missouri.
The seams of the leggings down
the sides, are also fringed and or-
namented, and occasionally deco-
rated with tufts of hair taken
from enemies whom they have
slain. In making ali these dresses,
their only thread is the sinew
taken from the backs and loins
of deer, elk, buffaloe, or any other
animal.

The moccasin is of the deer,
elk, or buffaloe skin, dressed
without the hair, though in winter
they use the buifaloe skin with
the hairy side inward, as do most
of the Indians who inhabit the
buffaloe country.. Like the Man-
dan moccasin, it is made witha
single seam on the outer edge,
and sewed up behind, a hole
being left at the instep to ad:mit
the foot. It is variously orna-
mentes with figures wrought w ith
poreupine quills, and sometinnes
the young men most fond of dre ss,
cover it with the skin of a po le-
cat, and trail at their heels the
tail of the animal.

The dress of the women co n-
sists of the same articles as tl iat
of their husbands. The ro be
though smaller is worn in t he
same way: the moccasins are pr e-
cisely similar. The shirt or ch e-
mise reaches half way down t he
leg, is in the same form, exce pt
that there is no shoulder-stra p,
the seam coming quite up to #] 1e
shoulder ; though for women wl 10
give suck both sides are ope: 1,
almost down to'the waist. It is
also ornamented in the same wa y
with the addition of little patche s

Cc %

496

of red cloth, edged round with
beads at the skirts. The chief
ornament is over the breast,
where there are curious figures:
made with the usual luxury of
porcupine quills. Like the men
they have a girdle round the waist,
and when either sex wishes to
disengage the arm, it is drawn up
through the hole near the shoulder,
and the lower part of the sleeve
thrown behind the body.
Children alone wear, beads
round their necks; grown per-
sons of both sexes prefer them

suspended in litthe bunches from °

» the ear, and sometimes inter-
mixed with triangular pieces of
the shell of the pearl oyster.
Sometimes the men tie them in
the same way to the hair of the
forepart of the head, and increase
the beauty of it by adding the
wings and tails of birds, and par-
ticularly the feathers of the great
eagle or calumet bird, of which
they are extremely fond. The
collars are formed either of sea
shells procured from their rela-
tions to the south-west, or of the
sweet-scented grass which grows
in the neighbourhood, and which
they twist or plait together, to
the thickness of a man’s finger,
and then coyer with porcupine
quills of various colours. The
first of these is worn indiscrimi-
nately by both sexes, the second
principally confined to the men,
_ while a string of elk’s tusks is a
collar almost peculiar to the
women and children. Another
collar worn by the men is a string
of ronnd bones like the joints of
a fish’s back, but the collar most
preferred, because most honour-
able, is one of the claws of the
brown bear. To kill one of these

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

animals is as distinguished an
achievement as to have put to
death an enemy, and in fact with
their weapons is a more dangerous
trial of courage. ‘These claws
are suspended on «a thong of
dressed leather, and being orna-
mented with beads, are worn
round the neck by the warriors
with great pride. The men also
frequently wear the skin of a fox,
or a strip of otter skin round the
head in the form of a bandeau.

In short, the dress of the Shos-
honees, is as convenient and de-
cent as that of any Indians we
have seen.

They have many more children
than might have been expected,
considering their precarious means
of support and their wandering
life. This inconvenience is how-
ever balanced by the wonderful
facility with which their females
undergo the operations of child-
birth. In the most advanced
state of pregnancy they continue
their usual occupations, which
are scarcely interrupted longer
than the mere time of bringing
the child into the world.

The old men are few in num-
ber, and’ do not appear to he
treated with much tenderness or
respect.

The tobacco used by the Shos-
honees is not cultivated among
them, but obtained from the In-
dians of the Rocky mountains,
and from some of the bands of
their own nation who live south
of them: it is the same plant.
which is in use among the Min-
netarees, Mandans, and Ricaras.

‘Their chief intercourse with
other nations seems to consist in
their association with other Snake
Indians, and with the Flatheads

when

MANNERS

when they go eastward to hunt
buffaloe, aud in the occasional
visits made by the Flatheads to
the waters of the Columbia for
the purpose of fishing. ‘Their
intercourse with the Spaniards is
much more rare, and it furnishes
them with a few articles, such as
mules, and some bridles, and
other ornaments for horses, which,
as well as some of their kitchen
utensils, are also furnished by
the bands of Snake Indians from
the Yellowstone. The pearl or-
naments which they esteem so
highly come from other bands,
whom they represent as their
friends and relations, living to
the south-west beyond the barren
plains on the other side of the
mountains : these relations they say
inuabit a good country, abound-
ing with elk, deer, bear, and an-
telope, where horses and mules
are much more abundant than
they are here, or to use their own
expression, aS Numerous as the
grass of the plains.

The names of the Indians
vary in the course of their life:
originally given in childhood,
from the mere necessity of dis-
tinguishirg objects, or from some
accidental resemblance to ex-
ternal ubjects, the young warrior
is impatient to change it by some
achievement of his own. -Any
important event, the stealing of
horses, the scalping an enemy, or
killing a brown bear, entitles him
at once to a new name which he
then selects for himself, and it is
confirmed by the nation. Some-
."imes the two names subsist to-
ge ether: thus, the chief Cameah-
wai & Which means, ‘‘ one who
neve; * Walks,” has the war name
of Too, *ttecone, or “ black gun,”’

Vou, WHI.

AND CUSTOMS.

497

which he acquired when he first
signalized himself. As each new
action gives a warrior a right to
change his name, many of them
have had several in the course of
their lives. To give to a friend
his own name is an act of high
courtesy, and a pledge, like that
of pulling off the moccasin, of
sincerity and hospitality. The
chief in this way gave his name
to captain Clarke when he first
arrived, and he was afterwards
known among the Shoshunees by
the name of Cameahwait.

The diseases incident to this’
state of life may be supposed to
be few, and chiefly the result of
accidents. We were particularly
anxious to ascertain whether they
had any knowledge of the venereal
disorder. After inquiring by
means of the interpreter and his
wife, we learnt that they some-
times suffered from it, and that
they most usually die with it;
nor could we discover what was
their remedy. It is possible that
this disease may have reached
them in their circuitous commu-
nications with the whites through
the intermediate Indians; but
the situation of the Shoshonees
is so insulated, that it is not pro-
bable that it could have reached
them in that way, and the exist-
ence of such a disorder among
the Rocky mountains seems rather
a proof of its being aboriginal.

NATIONS OF THE COAST.

The Killamucks, Clatsops, Chin-
nooks, and Cathlamahs, the four
neighbouring nations with whom
we have had most intercourse,
preserve a general resemblance in
person, dress, and manners.
They are commonly of a diminu-

2K tie

498 ANNUAL REGISTER,

tive stature, badly shaped, and
their appearance by no means
prepossessing. ‘They have broad
thick flat feet, thick ankles, and
crooked legs: the last of which
deformities is to be ascribed, in
part, to the universal practice of
squatting, or sitting on the calves
of their legs and heels, and also
to the tight bandages of beads
and strings worn round the
ankles, by the women, which
prevent the circulation of the
blood, and render the legs, of the
females particularly, ill shaped
and swollen. The complexion
is the usual copper-coloured
brown of the North American
tribes, though the complexion is
rather lighter than that of the
Indians of the Missouri, and the
frontier of the United States: the
mouth is wide and the lips thick ;
the nose of a moderate size,
fleshy, wide at the extremities,
with large nostrils, and generally
low between the eyes, though
there are rare instances of high
aquiline noses ; the eyes are ge-
nerally black, though we occa-
sionally see them of a dark yel-
lowish brown, witha black pupil.

FLATTING THE HEAD.

The most distinguishing part
of their physiognomy, is the pe-
euliar flatness and width of their
forehead, a peculiarity which they
owe to one of those customs by
which nature is sacrificed to fan-
tastic ideas of beauty. The cus-
tom, indeed, of flattening the
head by artificial pressure during
infancy, prevails among all the
nations we have seen west of the
Rocky mountains. To the east
of that barrier, the fashion is so

perfectly unknown, that there the:

1816.

western Indians, with the excep-
tion of the Alliatan or Snake
nation, are designated by the
common name of Flatheads. This
singular usage, which nature
could scarcely seem to suggest to
remote nations, might perhaps
incline us to believe in the com-
mon and not very ancient origin
of all the western nations. Such
an opinion might well accommo-
date itself with the fact, that
while on the lower parts of the
Columbia, both sexes are uni-
versally flatheads, the custom di-
minishes in receding eastward,
from the common centre of the
infection, till among the remoter
tribes near the mountains, nature
recovers her rights, and the
wasted folly is confined to a few
females. Such opinions, how-
ever, are corrected or weakened
by considering that the flattening
of the head is not, in fact, pecu-
liar to that part of the continent,
since it was among the first ob-
jects which struck the attention of
Columbus.

But wherever it may have
begun, the practice is now uni-
versal among these nations. Soon
after the birth of her child, the
mother, anxious to procure for
her infant the recommendation of
a broad forehead, places it in the
compressing machine, where it is
kept for ten or twelve months ;
though the females remain longer
than the boys. The operation is
so gradual, that it is not attended
with pain; but the impression is
deep and permanent. The heads
of the children, when they ar e
released from the bandage, ¢ jy
not more than two inches t’ ji¢j
about the upper edge of the | gore-
head, and still thinner “above

e nor

MANNERS

nor with all its efforts can nature
ever restore its shape; the heads
of grown persons being often in
a straight line from the nose to
the top of the forehead.

The hair of both sexes is parted
at the top of the head, and thence
falls loosely behind the ears, over
the back and shoulders. They
use combs, of which they are very
fond, and, indeed, contrive, with
the aid of them, to keep their
hair in very good order. ‘The
dress of the man consists of a
small robe, reaching to the middle
of the thigh, tied by a string
across the breast, with its corners
hanging loosely over their arms.
These robes are, in general, com-
posed of the skins of a small ani-
mal, which we have supposed to
be the brown mungo. They have,
besides, those of the tiger, cat,
deer, panther, bear, and elk, which
last is principally used in war
parties. Sometimes they have a
blanket woven with the fingers,
from the wool of their native
sheep; occasionally a mat is
thrown over them to keep off rain;
but except this robe, they have no
other article of clothing during
winter or summer, so that every
part of the body, but the back
and shoulders, is exposed to view.
They are very fond of the dress of
the whites, whom they call pashi-
sheooks or ¢lothmen ; and when-
ever they can procure any clothes,
wear them in our manner: the
only article, indeed, which we
have not seen among them is the
shoe.

The robe of the women is like
that worn by the men, except
that it does not reach below the
waist. Those most esteemed are
made of strips of sea-otter skin,

AND CUSTOMS.

499

which being twisted are inter-
woven with silk-grass, or the
bark of the white cedar, in such
a manner that the fur appears
equally on both sides, so as to
form a soft and warm covering.
The skins of the racoon or beaver
are also employed in the same
way, though on other occasions
these skins are simply dressed in
the hair, and worn without fur-
ther preparation. The garment
which covers the body from the
waist as low as the knee before
and the thigh behind, is the tissue
already described, and is made
either of the bruised bark of
white cedar, the twisted cords of
silk-grass, or of flags and rushes.
Neither leggings nor moccasins
are ever used, the mildness of the
climate not requiring them as a
security from the weather, and
their being so much in the water
rendering them an incumbrance.
The only covering for the head is
a hat made of bear-grass, and the
bark of cedar, interwoven in a
conic form, with a knob of the
same shapeat the top. It has no
brim, but is held on the head by
a string passing under the chin,
and tied toa small rim inside of
the hat. The colours are gene-
rally black and white only, and
these are made into squares,
triangles, and sometimes rude
figures of canoes and seamen har-
pooning whales. This is all the
usual dress of females; but if
the weather be unusually severe,
they add a vest formed of skins
like the robe, tied behind, with-
out any shoulder-straps to keep
it up. As this vest covers the
body from the armpits to the ©
waist, it conceals the breasts, but
on all other occasions, they are

2K2 suffered

500

suffered to remain loose and ex-
posed, and présent, in old women
especially, a most disgusting ap-
pearance

Sometimes, though not often,
they mark their skins by punc-
turing and introducing some co-
loured matter: this ornament is
chiefly confined to the women,
who imprint on their legs and
arms circular or parallel dots.
On the arm of one of the squaws
we read the name of J. Bowman,
apparently a trader who visits the
mouth of the Columbia. The
favourite decoration however of
both sexes, are the common coarse
blue or white beads, which are
fulded very tightly round their
wrists and ankles, to the width of
three or four inches, and worn in
large loose rolls round the neck,
or in the shape of ear-rings, or
hanging from the nose, which
last mode is peculiar to the men.
There is also a species of wam-
pum very much in use, which
seems to be worn in its natural
form without any preparation.
Its shape is a cone somewhat
curved, about the size of araven’s
quill at the base, and tapering to
a point, its whole length being
from one to two and a half inches,
and white, smooth, hard, and
thin. A small thread is passed
through it, and the wampum is
either suspended from the nose,
or passed through the cartilage
horizontally, and forms a ring,
from whichother ornaments hang.
This wampum is employed in the
same way as the beads, but is the
favourite decoration for the noses
of the men. The men also use
collars made of bears’ claws, the
women and children those of
elks' tusks, and both sexes are

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

adorned with bracelets of copper,
iron, or brass, in various forms.

Yet all these decorations are
unavailing to conceal the defor-
mities of nature and the extrava-
gance of fashion; nor have we
seen any more disgusting object
than a Chinnvok or Clatsop
beauty in full attire. Their broad
flat foreheads, theirfalling breasts,
their ill-shaped limbs, the awk-
wardness of their positions, and
the filth which intrudes through
their finery; all these render a
Chinnook or Clatsop beanty in
full attire, one of the most dis-
gusting objects in nature. For-
tunately this circnmstance con-
spired with the low diet and la-
borious exercise of our men, to
protect them from the persever-
ing gallantry of the fair sex,
whose kindness always exceeded
the urdinary courtesies of hospi-
tality.

KILLAMUCKS AND OTHER
INDIANS.

(From the Same,)

The Clatsops and other nations
at the mouth of the Columbia,
have visited us with great free-
dom, and we have endeavoured
to cultivate their intimacy, as well
for the purpose of acquiring in-
formation, as to leave behind us
impressions favourable to our
country. Having acquired much
of their language, we are ena-
bled, with the assistance of ges-
tures, to hold conversations with
great ease. We find them inqui-
sitive and loquacious, with under-
standings by no means deficient in
acuteness, and with very reten-
tive memories ; and though fond

of

MANNERS AND CUSTOMS.

of feasts, and generally cheerful,
they are never yay. Every thing
they see excites their attention
and inguiries, but having seen
accustomed to see the whites,
nothing appeared to give them
more astonishment than the air-
gun. ‘To all our inquiries they
answer with great intelligence,
and the conversation rarely slack-
ens, since there is a constant dis-
cussion of the events, and trade,
and politics, in the little but
active circle of Killamucks, Clat-
sops, Cathlamahs, Wahkiacums,
and Chinnooks. Among them-
selves, the conversation generally
turns on the subjects of trade,
or smoking, or eating, or con-
nexion with females, before whom
this last is spoken of with a fa-
miliarity which would be in the
highest degree indecent, if custom
had not rendered it incffensive.
The treatment of women is
often considered as the standard
by which the moral qualities of
savages are to be estimated. Our
own observation, however, in-
duced us to think that the im-
portance of the female in savage
life has no necessary relation to
the virtues of the men, but is re-
guiated wholly by their capacity
to be useful. The Indians, whose
treatmentof the femules is mildest,
and who pay must deference to
their opinions, are by no means
the most distinguished for their
virtues ; nor is this deference at-
tended by any increase of attach-
ment, since they are equaily wil-
ling with the most brutal hus
band, to prostitute their wives to
strangers. On the other hand,
the tribes among whom the women
are very much debased, possess
the loftiest sense of honour, the

501

greatest liberality, and all the
good qualities of which their si-
tuation demands the exercise.
Where the women can aid in
procuring subsistence for the
tribe, they are treated with more
equality, and their importance is
proportioned to the share which
they take in that labour; while
in countries where subsistence
is chiefly procured by the exer-
tions of the men, the women are
considered and treated as burdens.
Thus, among the Clatsops and
Chinnooks, who live upon fish
and roots, which the women are
equally expert with the men in
precuring, the former have a
rank and influence very rarely
found among Indians. ‘The fe-
males are permitted to speak
freely before the men, to whom
indeed they sometimes address
themselves in a tone of authority.
On many subjects their judgments
and opinions are resjected, and
in matters of trade, their advice
is generally asked and pursued.
The labours of the fsmily, too,
are shared almost equally. ‘The
men collect wood and make fires,
assist in cleansing the fish, make
the houses, canoes, and wooden
utensils ; and whenever strangers
are to be entertained, or a great
feast -prepared, the meats are
cooked and served up by the men.
The peculiar province of the fe-
male is to collect roots, and to
manufacture the various articles
which are formed of rushes, flags,
cedar-bark, and bear-grass ; but
the management of the canoes,
and many of the occupations,
which elsewhere devolve wholly
on the female, are here common

to both sexes.
The observation with regard
to

502

to the importance of females ap-
plies with equal force to the
treatment of old men. Among
tribes who subsist by hunting,
the labours of the chase, and the
wandering existence to which that
occupation condemns them, ne-
eessarily throws the burden of
procuring provisions on the active
young men. As soon, therefore,
as aman is unable to pursue the
chase, he begins to withdraw
something from the precarious
supplies of the tribe. Still, how-
ever, ‘his counsels may compen-

sate his want of activity ; but in

the next stage of infirmity, when
he can no longer travel from
camp to’camp, as the tribe roams
about for subsistence, he is then
found to be aheavy burden: In
this situation they are abandoned
among the Sioux, Assiniboins,
and the hunting tribes on the
Missouri. As they are setting
out’ fur some new excursion,
where the old man is unable to
follow, his children, or nearest
relations, place before him apiece
of meat and some water, and
telling him that he has lived long
enough, that it is now time for
him to go home to his relations,
who could take better care of him
than his friends on earth, leave
him, without'remorse, to perish,
when his little supply is ex-
hausted. The same custom is
said to prevail among the Minne-
tarees, Ahnahawas,’ and Ricaras;
when they are attended by old
men on their hunting excursions.
Yet, in'their villages, we'saw no
want of kindness to old men: On
the'contrary, probably because in
villages the means of more aban-
dant subsistence renders: such
cruelty unnecessary, the old peo-

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

ple appear to be treated with at-
tention, and some of their feasts,
particularly the buffaloe dances,
were intended chiefly as a: contri-

bution for the old and infirm.
The dispositions of these people
seem mild and inoffensive, and
they have uniformly behaved to
us with great friendship. They
are addicted to begging and pil-
fering small articles, when it can
be done without danger of de-
tection, but do’ not rob wantonly,
nor to any large amount; and
some of them having purloined
some of our meat, which the
hunters had been obliged to leave
in the woods, they voluntarily
brought some dogs a few days
after, by way of compensation.
Our force and great superiority
in the use of fire-arms, enable us
always to command ; and such is
the friendly deportment of these
people, that the men’ have been
accustomed to treat them with
the greatest confidence. It is
therefore with dithculty that we
can impress on our men a cons
viction of the necessity of being
always on our guard, since we
are perfectly acquainted with the
treacherous character of Indians’
in general. We are always pie
pared for an attack, anJ uniformly
exclude all large parties of In-
dians from the fort. Their large
houses usually contain several
families, consisting of the parents,
their sons and daughters-in-law,
and grand-children, among whom
the provisions are common, and!
whose harmony is searcely ever
interrupted by disputes — Al-
theugh polygamy is permitted by
their customs, very few have more
than 2 single wife. and she is
brought immediately after the
marriage

MANNERS AND CUSTOMS.

marriage into the husband’s fa-
mily, where she resides until in-
creasing number's oblige them to
seek another house. In thisstate
the old man is not considered as
the head of the family, since the
active duties, asi well as the re-
sponsibility, fall on some of the
younger members. As these fa-
milies gradually expand into
bands, or tribes, or nations, the
paternal authority is represented
by the chief of each association.
This chieftain, however, is not
hereditary; his ability to render
service to his neighbours, and the
popularity which follows it, is at
once the foundation and the mea-
sure of his authority, the exercise
of which does mot extend beyond
a reprimand for some improper
action.

The harmony of their private
life is indeed secured by their
ignorance of spirituous liquors,
the earliest and most dreadful
present which civilization has
given to the other natives of the
continent. Although they have
had so much intercourse with
whites, they do not appear to
possess any knowledge of those
dangerous luxuries, at least they
have never inguired after them,
which they probably would have
done if once they had been intro-
duced among them. Indeed, we
have not observed any liquor of
anintoxicating quality used among
these or any Indians west of the
Rocky Mountains, the universal
beverage being pure water. ‘They,
however, sometimes almost in-
toxicate themselves by smoking
tobacco, of which they are’ ex-
cessively fond, and the pleasures
of which they prolong as much as
possile, by retaining vast quan-

503

tities at a time, till after cireu-
lating through the lungs and sto+
mach, it issues in volumes from
the mouth and nostrils. But the
natural vice of all these people
is an attachment for games of
hazard, which they pursue with
a strange and ruinous avidity.
The games are of two kinds. In
the first, one of the company
assumes the office of banker, and
plays against the rest. He takes
a small stone, about the size of a
bean, which he shifts from one
hand to the other with great dex-
terity, repeating at the same time
a song adapted to the game, and
which serves to divert the atten-
tion of the company, till having
agreed on the stake, he holds out
his hands, and the antagonist
wins or loses as he succeeds or
fails at guessing in which hand
the stone is. After the banker
has lost his money, or whenever
he is tired, the stone is trans-
ferred to another, who in turn
challenges the rest of the com-
pany. The other game is some-
thing like the play of ninepins:
two pins are plaeed on the floor,
about the distance of a foot from
each other, andasmall hole made
behind them. The players then
go about ten feet from the hole,
into which they try to roll a
small piece resembling the men
used at draughts; if they succeed
in putting it into the hole, they
win the stake ; ifthe piece rolls
between the pins, but does not
go into the hole, nothing is won
or lost; but the wager is wholly
lost if the chequer rolls outsi:le of
the pins. Entire days are wasted
at these games, which. are often
continued through the night
round the blaze of their fires, till

the

504

the last article of clothing, or
even the last blue bead is won
from the desperate adventurer.
In traffic they are keen, acute,
and intelligent, and they employ
in all their bargains a dexterity
and finesse, which if it be not
learnt from their foreign visitors,
may show how nearly the cun-
ning of savages is allied to the
little arts of more civilized trade.
They begin by asking double or
tieble the value of their merchan-
dise, and lower the demand in
proportion to the ardor or expe-
rience in trade of the purchaser;
and if he expresses any anxiety,
the smallest article, perhaps a
handfu! of roots, will furnish a
whole morning’s negociation.
Being naturally suspicious, they
of course conceive that you are
pursuing the same system. They,
therefore, invariably refuse the
first ofler, however high, fearful
that they or we have mistaken the
value of the merchandise, and
therefore cautious!y wait to draw
us on to larger offers. In this
way, after rejecting the most ex-
travavant prices, which we have
offered merely for experiment,
they have afte: wards in:portuned
us fora tenth part of what they
had before refused. In this re-
spect. they differ from almost all
Indians, who will generally ex-
change in a thoughtless mc ment
the most valuable article they
possess, for any bauble which
happens to please their fancy.
‘Jhese habits of cunning, or
prudence, have been firmed or
increased by their being e gaged
in alarge pat of the commerce
of the Columbia; of that trade,
however, the great emporium is
the Falls, where all the neigh-

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1sl6

bouring nations assemble. The
inhabitants of the Columbian
plains, after having passed the
winter near the mountains, come
down as soon as the snow has left
the valleys, and are cecupied in
collecting and drying roots, till
about the month of May. They
then crowd to the river, and fix-
ing themselves on its north side,
to avoid the incursions of the
Snake Indians, continue fishing,
till about the first of September,
when the salmon are no longer
fit foruse. ‘They then bury their
fish and return to the plains,
where they remain gathering qua-
mash, till the snow obliges them
to desist. They come back to the
Columbia, and taking their store
of fish, retire to the foot of the
mountains, and along the creeks,
which supply timber for houses,
and pass the winter in hunting
deer or elk, which with the aid of
their fish, enables them to subsist
till, in the spring, they resume
the circle of their employments.
During their residence on the
river, trom May to September, or
rather before they begin the re-
gular fishery, they go down to
the Falls, carrying with them
skins, mats, silk grass, rushes
and chappelell bread. They are
here overtaken by the Chopun-
nish, and other tribes of the Rocky
mountains, who descend the
Kooskooskee and Lewi-’s river,
for the purpose of selling bear-
grass, horses quamash, and a
few skins which they have obtain-
ed by hunting, or in exchange
fur horses with the Tushepaws.
At the Falls, they find the
Chiiluckittequaws, Enieeshurs,
Echeloots, aud Skilloots, which
last serve as intermediate traders
o1

MANNERS AND CUSTOMS.

or carriers between the inhabit-
ants above and below the Falls.
These tribes prepare pounded fish
for the market, and the nations
below bring wappatoo roots, the
fish of the sea-coast, berries, and
a variety of trinkets and small
articles which they have procured
from the whites.

The trade then begins. The
Chopunnish, and Indians of the
Rocky mountains, exchange the
articles which they have brought
for wappatoo, pounded fish, and
beads. The Indians of the plains
being ti eir own fishermen, take
only wappatoo, horses, beads, and
other’ articles, procured from
Europeans. The Indians, how-
ever,’ from Lewis’s river to the
Falls, consume as food or fuel all
the fish which they take ; so that
the whole stock for exportation
is prepared by the nations between
the Towahnahiooks and the Falls,
and amounts, as nearly as we
could estimate, to about thirty
thousand weight, chiefly salmon,
above the quantity which they use
themselves, or barter with the
more eastern Indians, ‘This is
now carried down the river by
the Indians at the Falls, and. is
consumed among the nations ,at
the mouth of the Columbia, who
in return give the fish of the sea-
coast, and the articles which they
obtain fromm the whites. ‘Ihe
neighbouring ;eople catch large
quantities of salinon and dry
them, but they do not understand
or practise the art of drying ard
pounding it in the ma) ner used at
the Falls, and being very fond of
it, are forced to purchase it. at
high prices. This article, indeed,
and the Wappatoo, form che prin-
cipal subjects of trade with the

505

people of our immediate vicinity.
The traffic is wholly carried on by
water ; there are even no roads
or paths through the country, ex-
cept across the portages which
connect the creeks.

But the circumstance which
forms the soul of this trade, is
the visit of the whites: They
arrive generally about the month
of April, and either remain until
October, or return at that time ;
during which| time, having no
establishment on shore, they an-
chor on the north side of the bay,
at the place already described,
which is a spacious and commo-
dious harbour, | perfectly secure
from all, except the south and
south-east winds; and as. they
leave it. before winter, tkey do
not suffer from these winds,
which, during that season, are
the most usual and the most) vio-
lent. This situation is recom-
mended by its neighbourhood. ta
fresh water and wood, as well as
to excellent timber for repairs.
Here they are immediately visited
by the tribes along the sea-coast,
by the Cathlamahs, and lastly by
the Skilloots, that numerous, and
active people, who shirt the river
between the marshy islands and
the Grand rapids, as well as the
Coweliskee, and who carry down
the fish prepared by their imme-
diate neighbours the Cnilluckitte-
quaws, Kneeshurs, and LKchee-
loots, residing from the Grand ra-
pids to the Falls, as well as all
the articles which they have pro-
cured in barter at the maiket in
May. The accumulated trade of
the Columbia now. consists of
dressed and undressed skins of
elk, sea otter, the common otter,
beaver, common fox, spuck, and

tiger

506

tiger cat. The'articles' of less im-
portance; aré a small quantity of
dried or pounded salmon; the bis-
cuits made of the chappelell roots,
and some of the nianufaetures’ of
the neighbourhood, In- return
they recdive guns’ (which are prin-
cipally’ old British’ or American
musk
copper and brass kettles, brass
tea-kettles, and coffee-pots, blank-
ets, frum two’ to’ three points,
coarse scarlet’ arid’ blué cloth,
plates arid strips of sheet: copper
and ‘brass, large brass wire, knives,
tobacco; fish-heoks, buttons, anc
a considerable quantity of sailors’
hats; trowsers, coats and shirts.
But as we have hud otcasion to
reinark' niore than ofice, the ob+
jects (of foreign’ trade which’ are
the most desired, are the common
chéap; blue or white beads, of
about fifty or seventy to the penny
weight, which’ are strung on
strands a fathom in length, and
sold by the yard or the length of
both arms: of these the blue
beads, which are’ called tia com-
mashuck, or chief beads, hold the
first rank in their ideas of relative
value: ' the most’ inferior kind
are esteemed beyond the’ finest
Wampum, and are temptations
which can always seduce them to
part with their most valuable
effects. Indeed, if the example
of civilized life did not completely
vindicate their choice, we might
wonder at their infatuated at-
tachment to a bauble in itself so
worthless. Yet these beads are,
perhaps, quite as reasonable ob-
jects of research as the precious
metals, sifice’ they are at~ once
beautiful ornaments for the per
son, and the great circulating

ets) powder, ball, and shot,-

ANNUAL REGILUS TER} 1816.

medium of trade with'all the na-
tions on the Columbia.

THE BELOOCHES.
(From Pottinger’s Travels.)

The Belooches, wlio’ form: the:
great bulk, or perhaps, very
strictly speaking, the’ whole: of
the poptdation throughout Beloo-
chistan, are a people whose origin
is so obscure, and whose history,
like that. of all) other’ barbarous
tribes, isso blendedwith roman-
tie fiction and tales’ of wonder)
that I have found. it exceedingly
dificult:to’ reduce either’ the one
or the other to any credible form.
They are: divided into ‘two great
classes; severally known’ by the
appellations of Belooche and Bra-
hooé, and these two are again
subdivided into such an infinite
number of tribes, who’ take their
names from the most trivial cir-
cumstances, that it is morally
impossible to account for them :
the chief under whom they serve,
the district or country to which
they belong, or the tradition
whence they derive’ their descent,
ate the most commen designa-
tions they assume. Between these
two superior classes, the leading
distinetions that I observed were
in their languages and appearance;
and unquestionably they consti-
tute the greatest that can exist
between niren’ of the same colour
and inhabiting the same nation,
The Belooche or Beloocheekee
(so the lawguage of the Belooches
is called), partakes: considerably
of the idiom of modern Persian,
and at least one half its: words

if are

MANNERS AND CUSTOMS.

are borrowed from that language,
but greatly disguised under a cor-
rupt and unaccountable pronun-
ciation: the similarity of sound
is, however, so very striking,
that during my journey amongst
these people, I latterly understood,
from my knowledge of Persian,
almost every sentence that I heard
spoken in Beloochee. The Bra-
hooékee is, on the contrary, so
dissimilar in its sound and for-
mation, that I never recollect to
have remarked in it a single ex-
pression in any way approaching
the idiom of Persian. It contains
an extensive portion of ancient
Hinduwee words, a circumstance
which will be explained in the
historical account of this class,
and as it strikes the ear, bears a
strong resemblance to Punjaubee,
the dialect spoken in that part of
India called the Punjaub.

The contour of the people of
these two classes is as unlike in
most instances as their languages,
provided they be the descendants
of a regular succession of ances-
tors of either; but the frequent
intermarriages which take place
among them, have tended to such
a degree to blend togéther the
peculiar characteristics of both,
that in many families, and even
whole tribes, they have ceased to
exist; and, therefore, the off-
spring of such unions form a
third class, who may, perhaps,
often differ to a trifling extent in
appearance, from their progeni-
tors, although they are incorpo-
rated into one or other of the
classes. I conceive it here ne-
cessury to state again, what I
have done at the commencement
of this chapter, in order to pre-
vent confusion, that the aggre-

507

gate population is exclusively
known by the name of Belooches,
which adheres to one of the two
classes it diverges into; but as
they must be considered separate-
ly, I shall henceforward always
distinguish each as Belooches or
Brahooés.

The Belooches, from the most
accurate information I could ac-
quire on this perplexing subject,
branch, in the first instance,
from the original class of that
naine, into three principal tribes,
ealled Nharooés, Rinds, and
Mughsees. The former, the Nha-
reoés, principally inhabit that
portion of Beloochistan which lies
to the westward of the desert,
and there are likewise Kheils, or
societies, of them’ at Nooshky, a
village north-west of Kelat, and
im Seistan: the other two tribes,

the Rinds’ and Mughsees, are

settled in Kutch Gundava, a low
country to the eastward, at the
base of the mountains, to which
fertile plain they have emigrated
at different periods, from the pro-
vince of Mukran, and have be-
come incorporated with the Jeths,
o¥ cultivators of the soil, as the
subjects of the Khans of Kelat ;
a few of them likewise reside in
the hills'to the north-eastward of
Kutch Gundava, and on the skirts
of the desert north of Kelat.

a net RET

THE NHAROOES.

(From the same.)

The Nharooés aré commonly a
tall, handsome, active race of
men, not possessing great physical
strength, but adapted and inured
to changes of climate and season;

and

508

and accustomed to undergo every
species of fatigue. They are fear-
less of death, and, in battle, said
to fight with great gallantry, only
requiring a leader to direct them
to the proper point for a display
of their impetuous valour. Bound
by no laws, and restrained by no
feelings of humanity, the Nha-
rooés are the most savage and
predatory class of Belooches ; and,
while they deem private theft dis-
honourable and disgraceful in the
extreme, they contemplate the
plunder and devastation of a coun-
t:y with such opposite sentiments,
that they consider it an exploit
deserving of the highest commen-
dation ; and, steeled by that feel-
ing, they will individually recount
the assistance they have rendered
on such occasions, the numbers
of men, women and children they
have made captives and carried
away or murdered, the villages
they have burned and plundered,
and the flocks they have sluugh-
tered when unable to drive them
off.

The lawless incursions, during
which these outrages and cruel-
ties are committed, are here call-
ed Chupaos; and as they are al-
most always conducted under the
immediate superintendance and
orders of the chiefs, they form a
very considerable source of profit
to them. The depredators are
. usually mounted on camels, and
furnished, according to the dis-
tance they have to go, with fiod,
consisting of dates. sour cheese,
and bread; they also carry water
in a smail leathern bag, if requi-
site, which is often the case in
the midst of their deserts. When
all is prepared they set off, and
march incessantly till within a

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

few miles of the point whence the
Chupao is to commence, and then
halt in a jungul or some unfre~
quented spot, in order to give
their camels rest. On the ap-
proach of night, they mount
again; and as soon as the in-
habitants have retired to repose,
they begin their attack by burn-
ing, destroying, and carrying off
whatever comes in their way.
They never think of resting for
one moment during the Chupao,
but ride on, over the territory on
which it is made, at the rate of
eighty or ninety miles a day, un-
til they have loaded their camels
with as much pillage as they can
po-sibly remove; and, as they
are very expert in the manage-
ment of those animals, each man
on an average, will have charge
of ten or twelve: if practicable,
they make a circuit, which ena-
bles them to return by a different
route from the one they came:
this is attended with the advan-
tage of affording a double pros-
pect of plunder, and also mis-
leads those who pursue the rob-
bers, a step generally taken,
though with little effect, when a
sufficient body of men can be col-
lected for that purpose.

From this description of Chu-
paos, which was given me by se-
veral different Belooches who had
been upon them, they are evi-
dently services of great peril and
danger Many of the marauders,
who are separated from their
companions in the night and left
behind, are seized, mutilated, and
murdered in the most cruel man-
ner by the exasperated inhabit-
ants; others are killed in the
skirmishes which take place, and
some die from fatigue and wrnt

of

MANNERS AND CUSTOMS.

of rest. It might, therefore, be
supposed to require a certainty of
great gain, as an inducement to
the Belooches to risk their lives
in such desperate undertakings ;
but so entirely is this reversed,
that the Chupaos are often un-
successful, from the natives of
the devoted districts having pre-
vious information, and taking
means to repel them; and again,
some that succeed in a partial
manner, barely repay them for
the caniels that die during or after
it from over-work. At times,
however, the robbers reap the re-
ward of their intrepidity, and
Mihrab Khan Rukhshanee told
me that he himself once shared,
from a Chupao into the Persian
province of Laristan, slaves and
other spoil to the amount of six
thousand rupees, a large sum in
the estimation of a savage.

The Rinds and Mughsees are
less predal in their habits and
mode of life than the Nharooés ;
but whether that proceeds from
an innate detestation of such out-
rages, or a dread of the Khan of
Kelat, | am unable to pronounce
with certainty. 1 should, how-
ever, be inclined to suspect the
latter cause as operating more
forcibly than the former ; for we
find that the Muzareés, Direeshks,
and other Rind tribes, who live
in the hills, and are in a great
measure out of the immediate
precincts of the Khan’s authority,
infest the roads and commit the
most atrocious robberies and mur-
ders on travellers, a practice
more to be reprobated than even
that pursued by the Nharooés ; in
extenuation of whom I may ob-
serve, that as they never enter
into any engagements, they al-

509

ways deem themselves in a state
of warfare with the surrounding
nations, and the Chupacs I have
described, form their system of
carrying on hostilities. The Rinds
and Mughseés resemble the Nha-
rooés in size and stature; and
like them, have good features
and expressive countenances, but
are not capable of bearing an
equal portion of hardships and
labour. The climate of the coun-
try, in which they chiefly now
reside, seems to have enervated
and deprived them of that energy
of mind and body which doubt-
less once appertained to thein in
their native mountains of Muk-
ran, and which is still to be tra-
ced in the tribes already men-
tioned as inhabiting the hills. They
are darker in colour than the
Nharooés, a circumstance also to
be attributed to the heat of the
climate of Kutch Gundavee. The
men of these two classes, or any
of the tribes emanating from
them, whom J met with, either
during my journey or since my
return to India, did not strike me
as differing from each other in
manners or appearance, and a
stranger might readily have sup-
posed they were all of the sane
class, which is not the case with
the Nharooé and its different ra-
mifications ; but as I shall have
an opportunity, in the course of
my nairative, of exemplifying the
distinctions 1 perceived amongst
them, I now proceed to finish the
sketch of the Belooche character,
by describing those points in
which they all appeared to me to
correspond. ,

With regard to religion, they
are, with a very few exceptions
to the westward, Soonee Moosul-~

mans,

510

mans, and inveterate in their ha-
tred and enmity against the Shee-
as, under which persuasion, I am
convinced, it would be more dan-
gerous to appear in Beloochistan,
than even as a Christian.

The hospitality of a Belooche is
proverbial, and I found it equally
conspicuous in every part of the
country which I visited. Among
them pilfering is considered a
most despicable act; and when
they once offer, or promise to
afford protection to a person who
may require or solicit it, they will
die before they fail in their trust.
They obey their chiefs with alac-
rity and willingness, but this obe-
dience seemed to me rather to
result from a confidence placed
on the propriety of what they are
ordered to perform, and a wish to
uphold the respectability of their
tribes, which depends much on
that of the Surdars or chiefs,
than from any feelings of defer-
ence and respect that they enter-
tain towards the latter ; for I ob-
served, that in many instances,
even under their immediate eye,
they acted as if they held them-
selves scarcely amenable to their
authority. In their domestic ha-
bits, the Belooches are almost all
pastoral; they usually reside in
“< Ghedans,”’ or tents, made of
black felt, or coarse blanket,
stretched over a frame of wicker-
work, formed from the branches
of the Guz (Tamarisk) bush: an
asseinblage of these Ghedans con-
stitute a’Toomun, or village, and
the inhabitants ef it a Kheil, or
society, of which, from the nature
of their formation, it is clear
there may be an unlimited num-
ber in one tribe ; and J know half
a dozen of instances where they

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

exceed twenty or thirty: they are
commonly discriminated by a ti-
tular prefix, such as Umeerée,
Daodée, Surdaree, &c. to the
word Kheil, as the Umeerée
Kheil, the noble society, Daodée
Kheil, David’s society, &c. &c.
This complicated subdivision of
the tribes into Kheils, is likely to
confuse a casual observer, and
more especially from their chang-
ing, as they often do, their dis-
tinguishing titles with their places
of residence. For example, when
I was at Nooshky, on the borders
of the desert, there was a Kheil
of Mingull Brahooés, (a people
whose country is to the south-
ward of Kelat,) encamped about
two miles off; and, on my asking
one of them his tribe, he replied,
Mingull, and his Kheil, Noosh-

. kyée, or the society of Nooshky.

It is right to add, that some of
the Belooches, particularly the
Nharooé clans, prefer mud houses
to tents, and even live in forts ;
nor is it uncommon, in the west-
ern parts of Beloochistan, to find
one half the Kheil residing in
Ghedans, and the other in huts ;
I believe that the preference which
is shewn to the latter, is on ac-
count of the cold.

Their reception of guests is
simple, yet impressive. When a
visitor arrives at a Toomun, a
carpet is spread in. front of the
door of the Mihman Khanu, or
house for guests, of which there
is one in every town or village in
Beloochistan ; the Sirdar, or head
of the Kheil, immediately appears,
and he and the stranger having
embraced, and mutually kissed
hands, the followers of the latter
successively approach, and the
Sirdar gives them his hand, which

' they

MANNERS AND CUSTOMS. 511

they press to their foreheads and
lips. So far the reception is con-
ducted in profound silence, and the
parties now sit down, on which the
chief addresses the stranger, and
asks him, four several times, how
he does, to which the other an-
swers in.the usual complimentary
terms; he then inquires in the
same manner for his family and
friends, and even for the health
of his followers who are present,
to whom the visitor turns, as if
to appeal for information; they
all nod assent to being in good
health ; and the ceremony con-
cludes, by the new-comer making
an equal number of inquiries for
the welfare of the family, Kheil
or society, followers, and friends
of the Sirdar. By nature the
Belooches are extremely indolent,
and, unless occupied by some fa-
vourite amusement, they will
spend whole days in lounging
from one Ghedan to another,
smoking and gambling ; many of
them are addicted to: the pernici-
ous custom of chewing opium and
Bhung, but I neither met with,
or heard of a single instance of
habitual ebriety, from spirituous
liquors or wine; in fact that spe-
cies of the vice of drunkenness
seems to be unknown amongst
them. Their various foods are
wheaten and barley cakes, rice,
dates, cheese, sweet and sour
a nilk, which last they infinitely
p vefer ; soup’ made from dholl, or
pe ‘as, and seasoned with red pep-
pe ©, and other heating herbs, and
fle; sh-meat whenever they can
pre cure it, including that of young
can 1els, and every kind of game:
oi vegetables they prize onions,
gat lic, and the leaves and stalk of
the; asafcetida plant, which they

roast or stew in butter, raw or
clarified. They usually limit
themselves to one or two wives,
and their chiefs four; but , this
totally depends on choice. I saw
men of the lowest station, who
had seven or eight living, and
Mihrab Khan, chief of the Rukh-
shanees, had just espoused his
sixteenth when I was at his capi-
tal. They treat their women with
attention and respect, and are not
so scrupulous about their being
seen by strangers as most other
Moosulmans, although they by
no means allow them to appear in
public at all times.

The Belooches keep great num-
bers of slaves of both sexes, the
fruits of their Chupaos, whom
they treat with a kindness and li-
berality that is quite gratifying to
see. When first taken, they look
upon themselves as the most un-
fortunate beings in existence,
and, to say the truth, the treat-
ment they then experience, is of
the harshest and most discourag-
ing description ; they are blind-
folded and tied on camels, and in
that manner transported, to pre-
vent the possibility af their know-
ing how to return; the women’s
hair, and men’s beards, are also
shaved off, and the rocts entirely
destroyed by a preparation of
quicklime, to deter them from
any wish to revisit their native
soil; but they shortly get recon-
ciled tu their fate, azid become
very faithful servants. [ shall re-
late an anecdote, which will best
exemplify the footing on which
they live with their masiters. Cap-
tain Christie, speakinjz on this
subject, expressed his s urprize to
Eidel Khan Rukhshanee, the Sir-
dar of Nooshky, that the numerous

slaves

512

slaves which he had, should work
so diligently, without any person
to look after them. ‘* Why not,”
said he, ‘they are clothed, fed,
and treated like the other mem-
bers of my family, and if they do
not labour, they are well aware
that bread will be scarce, and
they must then suffer as well as
ourselves; it is their interest to
have plenty, because they know
whatever may fall to my lot, they
getashareofit.’ Captain Chris-
tie assented to the justness of
these observations, but added,
that he should have thought them
likely to run away. “‘ Nothing
of the kind,’ replied the old Sir-
dar, ‘‘ they are too wise to at-
tempt it: in the first place, they
don’t know the way to their own
country; but even admitting they
did, why should they wish to re-
turn?) They are much happier
here, and have less worldly cares ;
were they at home, they must
toil full as hard as they now do;
beside which, they would have to
‘think of their clothes, their houses
:and their foud ; situated as they
now are, they look to me for all
‘those necessaries ; and, in short,
‘that you may judge yourself of
their feelings, I need only in-
form you, that the severest pu-
nishment we can intlict on one of
them, is to turn him about his
business.”’

The common dress of the Be-
looches is a coarse white or blue
calico shirt, open about fourteen
inches down the front, buttoning
round the neck, and reaching be-
low the knee; their trowsers are
made of the same cloth, or a
striped kind of stuff called Soosee,
and puckered round the ancles :

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

on their heads they seldom wear
any thing except a small silk or
cotton quilted cap, which is made
to sit to the shape of the skull,
and over this, when in full dress,
they add a turband, either check-
ed or blue, and a Kummurbund
or sash, of the same colour, round
their waists. The chiefs and their
relatives likewise appear in winter
with an Ulkhaliq, or tunic, of
chintz, lined and stuffed with
cotton; and the poorer classes,
when out of doors, wrap them-
selves up in a surtout made of a
peculiar kind of cloth, manufac-
tured from a mixture of goat’s
hair and sheep’s wool. ‘The wo-
men’s attire is very similar to that
of the men, their shifts are usual-
ly cotton cloth, dyed red or brown,
very long, quite down to the
heels, open in front below the
bosom, and as they wear nothing
under them, their persons are
considerably exposed ; their trow-
sers are preposterously wide, and
made of silk, or a fabrication
from that and cotton mixed. The
young women, both married and
unmarried, have a very ingenious
method of fastening their hair up,
by dividing it into different locks,
twisting them round the head,
and inserting all the ends in a
knot on the crown ; it looks very
tidy, and at a short distance I re-
peatedly mistook it for a cap.
The old women tie handkerchief ;
round their heads, flowered wit {
worsted or silk. When they ¢ :o
abroad, both young and old mu f-
fle up their faces so as not to be
seen, but in their houses tk iey
are not, as I have already stat ed,
at all particular; and wher), J
was at the village of Nooshky’, I
was

MANNERS AND CUSTOMS.

was frequently in the Sirdar’s
Ghedan, . when his whole family
was present.

A Belooche soldier, when arm-
ed cap-a-pee, makes a very for-
midable display. He carries a
matchlock, sword, spear, dagger,
and shield, besides a multiplicity
of powder flasks, priming horns,
and pouches; the latter crammed
with balls, slugs, flints, tinder
boxes, and other warlike appara-
tus, which, on active service, must
encumber hira beyond conception ;
they do not, however, seem to
mind it, and a warriors prowess
is often estimated by the weight
of his accoutrements. They are
all capital marksmen, and on that
account in battle, avoid as much
as possible, coming to close com-
bat; but when they have no-al-
ternative, they*either throw away
their fire-arms, or sling them by
the side of the camel,-or horse on
which they are mounted. The
best and most prized warlike
weapons they have, are of foreign
manufacture. Matchlocks, swords,
and daggers, they get foom Per-
sia, Khorasan, and Hindoostan :
shields from the latter country ;
and for spears they are generally
indebted to their neighbours the
Sindians. At Kelat there is an
armoury for matchlocks, swords,
and spears, belonging exclusively
to the Khan, but the workman-
ship I saw from it was bad and
clumsy.

The amusements of the Be-
looches are such as we should ex-
pect to find among a wild and un-
civilized people: they are enthu-
siastically fond of every species of
field sports; and much of their
time is passed in shooting, hunt-
ing, and coursing, for which lat-

Vor. LVIII.

518

ter purpose, they bestow a vast
deal of attention on the training
of their greyhounds: a good one
is valued at two or three camels,
or even more, and J was informed
that the Khan of Kelat has been
known to pay to the value of four
hundred rupees for one dog. Fir-
ing at marks, cudgelling, wrest-
ling, practising with swords, and
throwing the spear, are likewise,
allfavourite diversions with them ;
and neighbouring Kheils cope
with each other at these exercises ;
the four latter they understand
scientifically, and at the former,
some of them are so incredibly
expert, that I am assured they
can invariably hit a target, not
more than six inches square, off a
horse at full gallop; and I can
positively affirm, that the different
guides | had during my journey
killed, at the distance of fifty or
sixty yards, every small bird, such
as larks, sparrows, &c. they fired
at with a single ball; nor did
they appear to consider this as
any signal proof of their dexterity
as marksmen. Before I close this
enumeration of their diversions,
I may describe a very hazardous,
though popular one among all
classes, which they perform on
horseback, and call Nezuh Ba-
zee, or spear play. A wooden
stake of moderate thickness is
driven into the ground, and a
horseman at full speed, pierces it
with the point of his spear in such
a manner, as to force it out of the
earth, and carry it along with
him ; the difficulty and danger in
accomplishing this feat, is evi-
dently augmented or decreased,
according to the depth that the
stake is in the ground; but in its
easiest form, it requires a violent

2L and

514

and dexterous exertion of the arm
and wrist, combined with the
most critical management of the
horse and spear at the same in-
stant.

THE BRAHOOE.
¢
(From the same.)

The Brahooé or second great
class of the natives of Beloochis-
tan now remains to be spoken of,
but as I have been obliged to
characterize it in most instances,
while contrasting the Belooches
and that people, [ have but a few
brief particulars to add regarding
them. They are, as the Beloo-
ches, divided into an indefinite
number of tribes and Kheils, and
are a still more unsettled wander-
ing nation, always residing in one
part of the country during the
summer, and emigrating to an-
other for the winter season: they
likewise change their immediate
places of abode many times every
year in quest of pasturage for
their flocks, a practice which is
rare amongst the Belooches. In
activity, strength, and hardiness
few people surpass the Brahooés ;
they are alike inured to the cold
of the mountainous regions of
Beloochistan, and the heat of the
low plain of Kutch Gundava.
They differ so much from the
Belooches in external appearance,
that it is impossible to mistake a
man of one class for a member of

he other. The Brahooés, instead
of the tall figure, long visage,
and raised features of their fel-
low-countrymen, have short thick
bones, with round faces, and flat
lineaments ; in fact, I may assert,
that 1 have not seen any other
Asiatics to whom they bear any

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

resemblance, for numbersof them
have brown hair and beards. In
husbandry and other domestic oc.-
cupations, they are laborious hard
workers, and those who reside in
the vicinity of the plains to the
southward of Kelat, till large
tracts of land, and dispose of the
produce for exportation to the
Hindoos of Kelat, Bela, and
Khozdar; this and the sale of the
cheese and Ghee, made from the
flocks, with a few coarse blankets,
carpets, and felts, form the only
traffic the Brahocés enter into.
Their food is the same as the Be-
looches, except that they prefer
flesh-meat to every thing else,
and devour it in a half dressed
state, without bread, salt, or ve-
getables ; they are famous for
having most voracious appetites,
and their flocks of sheep and
goats, being very numerous and
prolific, enable them to indulge
their inclination for meat by con-
suminga greater quantity. They
affirm, perhaps with truth, that
in the cold mountains which they
inhabit, it would be impossible to
survive during the winter without
a certain portion of animal food,
which they deem not only nutri-
tious, but to have the same heat-
ing properties that are attributed
to spirituous liquors in Europe,
and to serve for this consumption
they accordingly cure a supply of
meat the latter end of Autumn,
by drying it in the sun and then
smoking it over a fire of green
wood: the meat thus prepared
has by no means a disagreeable
flavour, and its taste may be very
aptly compared to that of the
teindeer’s tongues exported from
Russia; it will keep for several
months, and when they store it
up for the cold weather, the only

precaution

MANNERS AND CUSTOMS.

precaution they conceive requisite
is to place itso, that one piece
shall not touch another.

The Brahooés are equally faith-
ful in an adherence to their pro-
mises, and equally hospitable with
the Belooches, and on the whole
I greatly prefer their general cha-
racter. From what I have already
said on it, it is evident that they
are a more quiet and industrious
class, and their habits are decided-
ly averse from that system of ra-
pine and violence pursued by the
other ; nor can we fairly ascribe
this to any sentiment save a good
one, for in personal bravery and
endurance of privations and hard-
ships, the Brahooés are esteemed
superior to the inhabitants of all
the neighbouring countries: their
chiefs exercise amuch more despo-
tic authority in the various tribes
andKheils,than among the Beloo-
chés, and the people are equally
tenacious of their respectability,
though they obey them from a
different feeling : in manner they
are mild and inoffensive, though
very uncivilized and uncouth ;
but as the latter is evidently the
effect of a want of worldly know-
ledye and guile, their awkward

attempts to be civil please, because

we see ‘hat they are incited to
make them by a natural propen-
sity to oblige, unaccompanied by
any interested motive. They are
free from the worst traits of the
Belooches, which are comprised
in being avaricious, revengeful,
and cruel, and they seldom look
for any reward for their favours
or services: their gratitude is
lasting, and fidelity such, that
even the Belooche chiefs retain
them as their most confidential
and trust-worthy servants,

51

The amusements of this class
are so correspondent with those
already described of the Beloo-
ches, that I need not particula-
rize them: in general the Bra-.
hooés pride themselves on being
better marksmen than the Beloo-
ches, who admit the fact, and as-
cribe it to their having more
practice, for none of them ever
quit their Ghedans, even to goa
few hundred yards, without a
matchlock ; they are likewise good
swords-men, but never use spears,
considering them a useless cum-
bersome weapon. A Brahovoé al-
wuys dresses in the same style,
and whether it be summer or
winter, freezing hard, or under a
vertical sua, his whole clothes
are comprised in a loose white
shirt, a pair of trowsers of the
same texture, and a felt cap: the
shepherds sometiines wear a co-
vering of white felt, made so as
to wrap round the body, and
come to a peak above the crown
of the head; this habit will keep
off a vast deal of rain or snow,
and is exclusively used for that
purpose. The domestic life of
the Brahocés is simple in the ex-
treme; the men tend the flocks,
till the ground, and do other out-
door labour, in which they are,
if needful, assisted by the women;
but commonly the duties of the
latter are to attend to the house-
hold affairs, such as milking,
making butter, cheese, and Ghee,
and they also weave and work
carpets, felts, and coarse white
cloth. They are not, as I have pre-
viously remarked, secluded from
the society of the men, but ail
live and eat together. Their dress
consists of a long shift and pair
of trowsers, both of cotton cloth,

2L2 and

516 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

and after they arrive at the age of
puberty they wear over the former
a kind of stays, made to lace be-
hind, the fronts of which are de-
corated with ridiculous devices of
birds or animals worked in co-
loured worsted. In religion the
Brahooés are all Soonnitte Moo-
sulmans, and their external forms
of religion, marriage and inter-
ment, are practised according to
the tenets of that sect.

People of the Teng'gar Mountains.

(From Gov. Raffies’s Speech, delivered to
the Literary and Scientific Society at
Java, Sept. 1815.)

To the eastward of Surabaia
and on the range of hills connect-
ed with Gunning Dasar, and ly-
ing partly in the district of Pasu-
raun and partly in that of Probo-
lingo, known by the name of the
Teng'gar mountains, we find the
remnant of a people still follow-
ing the Hindu worship, who merit
attention not only on account of
their being the depositaries of the
last trace of that worship disco-
vered at this day on Java, but as
exhibiting a peculiar singularity
and simplicity of character.

These people occupy about 40
villages, scattered along this range
of hills in the neighbourhood of
the Sandy Sea, and are partly un-
der Pasuraun and partly under
Frobolingo. The site of the vil-
lages, as well as the construction
of the houses is peculiar, and dif-
fers entirely from what is else-
where observed in Java. The
houses are not shaded by trees,
but built on spacious open ter-
races, rising one above the other,
each house occupying a terrace,
and being in length from thirty
to seventy, and even eighty feet.

The door is invariably in one
corner, at the opposite end of the
building to that in which the fire-
place is built. The building ap-
pears to be first constructed with»
the ordinary roof, but along the
front, is an enclosed veranda or
gallery of about eight feet broad,
with a less inclined pitch in the
roof, formed of bamboos, which
are so placed as to slide out, either
for the admission of air, or to
afford a channel for the smoke to
escape, there being otherwise no
aperture, except a small opening,
of about a foot square, at one end
of the building, above the fire-
place, which is built of brick,
and so highly venerated, that it
is considered sacrilege for any
stranger to pollute it by the touch.
Across the upper part of the build-
ing, rafters are run across, so as
to form a kind of attic story, in
which they deposit their valuables
and instruments of husbandry.
The head of the village takes
the title of Petingi, as in the low
lands, and he is generally assisted
by a Kabayan; both elected by
the people from their own vil-
lage. There are four priests, who
are here termed Dukuns, having
charge of the sacred records.
These Dukuns, who are in ge-
neral intelligent men, have no
tradition of the time when they
were first established on these
hills ; from what country they
came or who intrusted them with
the sacred books to the faith con-
tained in which they still adhere.
These latter, they state, were
handed down to them by their
fathers, their office being heredi-
tary, and the sole duty required
of them being to perform the pwa
according thereto, and again to
hand

MANNERS AND CUSTOMS.

hand them down in safety to their
children. They consist of three
compositions written on the Lon-
tar leaf, describing the origin of
the worid, the attributes of the
Deity, and the forms of worship
to be observed on different occa-
sions. Copies were taken on the
spot; and as the language does
not essentially differ from the or-
dinary Javanese, 1 hope at an
early period to place the Society
in possession of translations. In
the mean time some notices of
their custoims, and of the cere-
monies performed at births, mar-
riages, and funerals, may be in-
teresting.

When a woman is delivered of
her first child, the Dukun takes a
leaf of the Alang Alang grass, and
scraping the skin of the hands of
the child andof the mother with it,
as well as the ground, pronounces
a short benediction.

When a marriage is agreed
upon, the bride and bridegroom
being brought before the Dukun
within the house, in the first
place, bow with respect towards
the south—then to the fire- place,
—then to the earth, and lastly,
on looking up to the upper story
of the house, where the imple-
ments of husbandry are placed,
perform the same ceremony. The
parties then submissively bowing
to the Dukun, he repeats a prayer
commencing with the words,
«© Hong! Gendogo Bromo ang’ gas
siwong’go nomo siwoho sany yang
gni siro kang, &c.’ while the
bride washes the feet of the bride-

room. This ceremony over, the
friends and family of the parties
make presents to each of creeses,
buffaloes, implements of husban-
dry, &c. in return for which the

517

bride and bridegroom respectfully
present them with betel-leaf.

At the marriage feast which
ensues, the Dukun repeats two
puja, which will be found in the
collection. The marriage is not
consummated till the fifth day
after the above ceremony—which
delay is termed by the undang
mantu. A similar delay is, in
some cases, still observed by the
Javanese in other parts of the
island, under the term wndoh
mantu.

On the death of an inhabitant
of Teng’ gar, the corpse is lowered
into the grave, the head being
placed to the south (contrary to
the direction observed by the Ma-
hometans) and bamboos and
planks are placed over, so as to
prevent the earth from touching
it. When the grave is closed,
two posts are planted over the
body, one perpendicular from the
breast, the other from the lower
part of the belly. Between these
two a hollowed bamboo is inserted
in the ground, into which, during
seven successive days, they daily
pour a vessel of pure water, plac-
ing beside the bamboo, two dishes
also daily replenished with eat~-
ables. At the expiration of the
seventh day, the feast of the dead
is announced, and the relations
and friends of the deceased as-
semble to be present at the cere-
mony and partake of the enter-
tainment, which is conducted as
follows :

An image of leaves, ornamented
with variegated flowers, made to
represent the human form, and
of about a cubit high, is prepared
and placed in a conspicnous plaee,
and supported round the body by
the clothes of the deceasad. ‘fhe

Bukun

518

Dukun then places in front of
the garland an incense-pot, with
burning ashes, and a vessel con-
taining water, and repeats the
two pija to fire and water; the
former commencing with ‘* Hong
Gendogo Bromo ang gas siwong’go
nomo siwoho,” &c. and the latter

with ‘‘ Hong, hong gong’go moho
terto roto mejel saking hati,” &c.
burning dupu (incense) at stated
periods during the former, and
occasionally sprinkling the water
over the feast during the repeti-
tion of the latter.

The clothes of the deceased are
then divided among the relatives
and friends; and, the garland
burned, another puya commencing
«© Hong ! awigno mastu nomo sidam,
hong ! araning,” &c. is then re-
peated, while the remains of the
sacred'water is sprinkled over the
feast ; after which the parties sit
down to the enjoyment of it, in-
voking a blessing from the Al-
mighty on themselves, their houses
and their lands. Nothing more
occurs until the expiration of a
thousand days; when, if the me-
mory of the deceased is beloved
and cherished, the ceremony and
feast are repeated: otherwise no
further notice is taken.

On questioning them regarding
the tenets of their religion, they
replied, that they believed in a
dewa, who was all powerful; that
the term by which the dewa was
designated, was Bumi Truko San-
gyang Dewoto Bator; and that the
particulars of their worship were
contained in the book cal'ed Pan-
glawa, which they presented to
me.

On being questioned regarding
the adat against adultery, theft
and other crimes, their reply was

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

unanimous and ready; that crimes
of the kind were unknown to
them, and that consequently no
punishment was fixed either by
law or custom ; that if a man did
wrong the head of the village
chid him for it, the reproach of
which was always sufficient pu-
nishment for a man of Teng’gar.
This account of their moral cha-
racter is fully confirmed by the
Regents of the districts under
whose authority they are placed,
and also by the Residents. They
literally seem to be almost with-
out crime. ‘They are universally
peaceable; interfere with no one;
neither quarrel among themselves.
It may be superfluous to add, that
they are unacquainted with the
vices of gaming and opium-smok-
ing !

The aggregate population
amounts to about twelve hun-
dred souls. They occupy, with-
out exception, the most beautiful,
rich and romantic spots in Java.
The thermometer, in their coun-
try, is frequently as low as 42°.
The summits and slopes of the
hills are covered with alpine firs,
and the vegetation common to a
European climate generally pre-
vails.

Their language does not differ
much from the Japanese of the
present day, though more guttu-
rally pronounced: in a compa-
rison of about a hundred words
of the vernacular Javanese, two
only differed. They do not inter-
marry nor mix with the people of
the low lands, priding themselves
on their independence and purity
in this respect

BALI.

Passing from this last vestige
of the Hindu worship now re-

maining

MANNERS AND CUSTOMS.

maining in Java, (for the Bedui,
though descendants of the fugi-
tives of Pajajaran, scarcely merit
notice in this respect), | proceed
to mention some of the leading
observations which I made in Bali.
The notices regarding the preva-
lence of Hinduism in Bali, and of
the nature of the government and
country, have hitherto been so
scanty, that on such interesting
ground I may be pardoned for
entering into some detail, with-
out which it is impossible to con-
vey a just notion of the subject.

The island of Bali is at present
divided under seven separate au-
thorities, each independent of the
other; and, of this heptarchy,
the state of Klongkong is acknow-
ledged to be the most ancient ; its
princes tracing their descent from
the princes of Java, and having
once possessed authority over the
whole island. Among the regalia
of this state are reported to be
still preserved the creese of Ma-
japahit, and the celebrated gong
named Gentur Kadaton ; and, al-
though the other governments do
not at the present day admit of
any interference on the part of
this state, they still evince a
marked respect and courtesy to
that family, as the Asal Rajah
Bali, (the stock from which they
sprung).

The population is roughly esti-
mated by the number of male in-
habitants whose teeth have been
filed, and whose gervices euch
primce can command, and who
amount to upward of 200,000.
The female population is under-
stcod rather to exceed the male ;
aul, as it may be considered that
only the active and able bodied
men are ineluded in the above

519

list, an average of four to a fa-
mily may be fairly taken, giving
a total population for the whole
island exceeding eight hundred
thousand souls,

The form of government, in-
stitutions and prevailing habits,
are represented to be the same
throughout the island; and the
following sketch of B'liling may
afford a just notion of the
whole.

The goyernment iz despotic,
and vested in the prince alone,
who is assisted in all affairs re-
lating to the internal administra-
tion of the country, by a head Per-
bakal, (immediately under officers
of this name, are placed the heads
of villages), and by a Radin Tu-
mung-gung, who conducts the
details of a more general nature,
of commerce and foreign inter-
course. The constitution of each
village is the same; the head or
chief is termed Perbakal, and the
assistant, Kalian Tempek. These
officers are invariably selected
from among the people of the
village ; the son, however, ge-
nerally succeeding the father, if
competent to perform the duties.
Under the head Perbakal, who
has the designation of Perbakal
Rajah, are several inferior Per-
bakals for general duties and
communications sith the villages ;
and under the Radin Tumun’gung
a similar establishment, bearing
the rank and designation of Ka-
lian Tempek. Among the heads
of villages are many whose fami-
lies have formerly distinguished
themselves in the wars uf Bali,
apd who are termed Gusti. The
command of the military is at
present vested in a chief of the
Bramane cast, and who seems to

rective

520.

receive honours and respect next
to the prince himself.

Whatever, at former periods,
may have been the extent and in-
fluence of the Hindu religion,
Bali is now the only island in the
Eastern Seas, in which that reli-
gion is still prevailing as the na-
tional and established religion of
the country. That high spirit of
enterprize which burst the bounds
of the extensive confines of India,
like the dove from the ark, rested
its weary wing for a while in Java,
till driven from thence it sought
a refuge in Bali, where even
amongst the rudest and most un-
tutored of savages, it found an
asylum. The four grand divisions
of the Hindus are here acknow-
ledged, and the number of Bra-
mana (Bramins) attached to the
amall state of B’liling exceeds four
hundred, of whom about one hun-
dred are termed Pandita.

Without entering into the par-
ticular tenets of the prevailing
Hinduism of Bali, which can only
be treated of with propriety and
correctness after a more thorough
acquaintance with the practical
duties, and some knowledge of

_what is contained in their sacred
records, it may be affirmed with-
out hazard, that Hinduism, as it
exists at the present day in Bali,
is rather to be considered as the
nationalized Hinduism of Bali, in
which a large portion of the na-
tive institutions and customs are
admitted, than Hinduism as it is
understood to prevail on the con-
tinent of India. The Brahmins,
however, are heldain high vene-
ration; and, on being questioned
as to their doctrines and to what
sect they belong, they answer in-
variably, they are Bramana Siwa.

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

They have the same appearance
as Bramins wherever they are
met with, and the Indian features
at once distinguish them as de-
scended from a foreign race. The
town and small temples which we
occasionally observed, have the
appearance of a Maharatta vil-
lage, and the eye is struck with
every thing strictly Hindu, form-
ing a most unexpected contrast
with the present style of building
and appearance of the country on
passing through Java and the
other Kastern Islands.

On inquiring into the relative
rank and importance of their dei-
ties, they invariably described Bi-
tara Guru as the first in rank;
then Bitara Brama, the spirit of
fire; Bitara Wisnu, the spirit of
the waters; and lastly, Bitara
Siwa, the spirit of the winds.

Beside these, they describe nu-
merous subordinate deities, to
whom they pay adoration; as
Dewa Gid'e Segara, the divinity
of the great sea; Dewa Gid’e Da-
lam, the divinity who presides
over death ; Gid'e Bali Agung, the
great and popular deity of Bali;
Dewa Gid'e Gunning Agung,
the great deity of the mountain ;
which last is the deity of most
general worship.

Bitara Guru, though considered
as the highest object of worship,
is declared to be subordinate to,
and only the mediator with the
divinity, whom they designate by
the expressive and appropriate
term of Sang Yang Tung’gal,
THE GREAY AND ONLY ONE.

The bodies of deceased persons
are invariably burnt, and the
wives and concubines of the
higher classes perform the sa-
crifice of Satia. A few days pre-

vious

MANNERS AND CUSTOMS. 521

vious to my landing on Bali,
nineteen young women, the wives
and concubines of the younger
rajah, who was lately put to
death, sacrificed themselves in
this manner.

The written language of Bali
differs but little from that of
Java; but the character has a
more ancient form. The Kawi
is the sacred language, and un-
derstood or pretended to be un-
derstood by the Bramins. The
common language is a mixture
of the original language of the
country and that of Java, in which
the latter predominates.

Deferring until another occa-
sion a more particular review of
the religion, institutions and ha-
bits of this people, I will, for the
present confine myself to such ob-
servations as occur on the con-
templation of the peculiar and
extraordinary character they ex-
hibit: for the Balinese differs
widely both in appearance and
character from the Javan, and in-
deed from: every other inhabitant
of the Archipelago.

The natives of Bali are about
the middle size of Asiatics ; larger
and more athletic than the Javans
or Malays, and possessed of an
air of independence different al-
together from the appearance of
fheir more polished neighbours
on the coast of Java. The wo-
men, in particular, are well pro-
portioned. They seem to be on
a perfect equality with the men.
They are not secluded from so-.
ciety; and their general inter-
course with strangers, even Eu-
ropeans, is frank and cheerful.
They are fairer than the women
in Java; and, wearing no cover-
ing above the waist, the natural

beauty and symmetry of their
shape is neither restrained nor
concealed.

There are two kinds of slavery
existing in Bali, and sanctioned
by the laws of the country. The
first is termed ‘“ paniak;"’ by
which is understood a_ perfect
state of slavery; the second,
‘** kowang,’’ which resembles the
condition of the slave-debtor in
Sumatra and the Malay Peninsula.
“© Paniac’ is synonimous with
«© humba’’ among the Malays, and
signifies a slave. The master has
compleie possession of his per-
son; and may lawfully transfer
and punish with death, according
to his will and pleasure, it being
contrary to usage for the prince
to interfere. In the mode of ac-
quiring this absolute property
there appears to be but little re-
striction. Prisoners taken in war,
or families carried off from their
countries, are daily sold and trans-
ferred ; the deed cf transfer, called
in Bali, “ padol,’ beng authen-
ticated by the Tumung’gung. In
cases where an outrage is com-
mitied in a neighbouring state in
alliance, application from the in-
jured party, transmitted through
the proper chief, will cause the
persons to be restored, and the
perpetrators of the outrage are
liable to the punishment of death ;
but, in cases where the countries
are not immediately in alliance,
or when the parties carried off
from a friendly state happen to
want friends to make application
in their favour, no notice is taken
of such occurrences If a fiee
man wishes to marry a female
slave, he may obtain her by pur-
chase, provided hé can agree with
the proprietor; otherwise, he

may

522

may be admitted to marry her on
condition that he becomes a ser-
vant with her: this second degree

of slavery comes under the title of
Persons convicted of

”

“* rowang.
offences not of the first magnitude,
are generally sold for siaves by
the prince, or taken to serve him
as such. ‘The term ‘‘ rowang” is
used to express the second,
modified degree of slavery. If a
man happens to be indebted, and
without the means of payment
(the debt exceeding ten dollars)
he may be sold by the Jaxa, and
the amount for which he is dis-
posed of is appropriated to repay
his creditor; the surplus being
divided between the prince, the
jaxa, and the creditor, as a recom-
pense for their trouble: the man
sold in this manner becomes a
rowang. This state of servitude
embraces every feature of slavery,
excepting that the rowang cannot
be sold, put to death, nor sent out
ofthe country. Ifarowang wishes
to marry, he may do so on re-
ceiving his master’s consent, but
the woman becomes a rowang
also. But the rowang possesses
this advantage, that he may re-
deem himself at any time, by pay-
ing the amount of the debt, or
the money may be advanced for
him ; so that his condition is that
of a debtor bound to serve his
creditor until the amount of his
debt is discharged. In the event
of the debt not amounting to ten
dollars, the party cannct be sold ;
but the jaxa will order the goods
and ae ageh of the debtor to be
disposed of, and an obligation to
be given for the payment of the
remainder whenever his circum-
stances may admit, A person in-

ANNUAL REGISTER,

bride;

1816.

debted to another, and unable to
pay, may make over his wife and
children to the creditor, who, in
such case, will become rowangs ;
and, on eventual payment of his
debt, he may demand back his
family.

In marriage, the dowry esta-
blished by custom, for all persons
of equal rank, is forty dollars, to
be paid to the parents of the
but as it happens, in many
cases, that the husband is unable
to pay this sum, he hecomes in-
debted to the parents for the
amount, and this constitutes a
third branch of slavery, under the
term Tatung gon. The man and
wife reside in the house of the
bride’s father, and the man per-
forms service in attendance on
the family, or in assisting in the
cultivation of the land. When
the husband is enabled to pay the
dowry, he is then at liberty to
quit the father’s house, and to
maintain an independent esta-
blishment, under the term of
«Orang Merdika,”’ or, freeman.
If the new-married man, how-
ever, behaves to the satisfaction
of his wife’s family, it often hap-
pens, that after a certain time,
the father-in-law consents to re-
mit the whole or part of the
dowry, according to the circum-
stances of the parties.

Yhe punishments for crimes
are death, confinement, and se}l-
ing into slavery; neither torture
to obtain confession, mutilation,
nor even corporal punishment are
used. Theft and robbery are
punished with death; and, for
murder, treason, and gang rob-
bery, in aggravated cases, the
punishment of death is inflicted

by

MANNERS AND CUSTOMS.

by breaking the limbs with a
hatchet: this, though it assimi-
lates to the manner of breaking
on the wheel, does not appear to
have been adopted from Euro-
peans, the practice being of an-
cient date. ‘The party is left to
linger, sometimes for several
days, before death ensues. All
executions are in public. Other
capital punishments are usually
performed with a creese. Open
robbery by day-light is punished
by death; but steiling, by con-
finement only: robbery by night
invariably by death. All offences
are punished in the jaxa’s court,
which consists of two jaxas and
. two kancha or registers ; the per-
bakal being the prosecutor. The
sentence of the court must be
confirmed by the prince: previous
*to execution, bis warrant or lontar,
is necessary in all cases; in civil
cases, the confirmation of the
prince is only required when per-
sons are sold into slavery. A re-
gular table of fees, in civil as well
as criminal cases, is exhibited in

court; and the amount divided
between the members and the
prince. In criminal cases, when

the punishment is capital, the
property is confiscated, and di-
vided in like manner; but, in
other punishments, the parties
retain their property. Adultery
is punished with death to the
man, and the woman becones a
slave to the prince. Theft is the
most prevalent crime. Adultery is
uncommon; perhaps not twenty
cases in ayear. The husband has
the power, by law, to kill both
parties at the moment, if he de-
tects them in the fact; but not
otherwise.

In their domestic relations,

523

however, the conduct of the Bali-
nese appears unexceptionable ;
and there is indeed a superior
delicacy to what might be ex-
pected, and their tenderness to-
wards early age speaks strongly
in favour of their natural dispo-
sition. The parental authority is
exercised with such tenderness,
that it is peculiarly striking when
taken in che same view with the
appareatly rude character of the
people, They seem to evince a
careless indifference to the rod of
despotism which hangs over their
head ; and an air of good humour
and general satisfaction prevails
throughout. Temperate in their
diet, and strangers to drunken-
ness, the ruling passion is gaming,
from cockfighting to an inordinate
and unprincipled desire for con-
quest.—Such is the energy of the
character, that it must find some
powerful vent; something on
which to discharge itself; and,
not being su'jected to a form of
government calculated to repress
their energies, they evidently
feel no inclination to stand still
in the scale of civilization. As a
nation, they are certainly invin-
cible, as to any native power in
the Hastern Seas. Still maintain-
ing a high and noble indepen-
dence of character, they perhaps
exhibit in a concentrated spot as
much of human nature, checked
by regulation, and yet not lowered
or refined by it, as is to be found
in any part of the universe.

ANCIENT POPULATION OF
ISLANDS.

THE

If we contemplate the various
nations and tribes which inhabit
the Southern peninsula of India,
aud the innumerable islands com-

posing

594

posing that portion of the globe
which is comprehended within
Polynesia and Austral Asia, our
attention is arrested by the strik-
ing uniformity in habits and lan-
guage which prevails through-
out; and which induces the in-
ference, either of one common
origin, or of early and very ge-
neral intercourse.

Such customs as the singular
practice of filing the teeth and
dying them black, noticed by the
authors who have written on
Pegu, Siam, Camboja and Ton-
quin, and prevailing generally
thronghout the whole Malayan
archipelago ; the practice of dis-
tending the perforated lobe of the
ear to an enormous size, noticed
in like manner to exist in the
same parts of the peninsula, and
prevailing throughout the Archi-
pelago, ina greater or less degree
in proportion with the extension
of Islamism ; the practice of tat-
tooing the body, noticed among
the Burmans and people of Laos,
common to many tribes in Bor-
neo, and particularly distinguished
in some of the islands in the Pa-
cific Ocean, betray a common
original; and if it is recollect-
ed that this custom, as well as
that of plucking the beard, was
noticed in South America, the
question may arise, in what course
or direction the tide of population
has flowed. Jn a recent publica-
tion, an idea has been started, in
reference to the similarity of the
languages, that the population of
the Philippines and of the islands
in the South Sea originally emi-
grated from America. Jt will not
be required of me to go into any
description of those singular ap-
pendages to the virile member,

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

noticed by the writers on Pegu,
Siam and Camboja, and adopted
among many tribes of Borneo
and the Moluccas. Whatever may
have been the origin of this very
singular custom, traces are to be
found, even in Java of the vene-
ration in which it once was held.
The practice of triumphing over
a subdued enemy may be common
to the barbarous state in general;
but the deliberate system of man-
hunting, in order to procure heads
as a trophy of manliness and mi-
litary gailantry, however it may
have originated in this feeling of

uncivilized nature, may be ranked

among the peculiarities of this
portion of the globe.

The language of the different
tribes of Borneo is ascertained to
bear a strong resemblance to that
of the scattered tribes of Cam-
boja, Champa and Laos. The
position maintained by Mr. Mars-
den, that the Malayan is a branch
or dialect of the widely extended
language. prevailing through the
islands of the Archipelago to which
it gives name, as well as those of
the South Sea, appears to be esta-
blished and confirmed as our in-
formation advances; and, if we
except the Papuas, and scattered
tribes having curled hair, we find
the general description given of
the persons of the Siamese and
the ruder population of the adja-
cent countries, which have not
admitted any considerable admix-
ture from the Chinese, to come
very near to the inhabitants of
the Archipelago, who, in fact, may
be said to differ only in being of
a smaller size, and in as far as
foreign colonization and inter-
course may have changed them.

To trace the sourees whence

this

MANNERS AND CUSTOMS.

this colonization and consequent
civilization flowed, and the periods
at which it was introduced into
different states, is a subject new
to the historian, and not uninter-
esting to the philosopher.

Jf we admit the natural in-
ference, that the population of the
islands originally emigrated from
the continent, and, at the same
time, the probability, that the
country lying between Siam and
China, is the immediate source
from whence such emigration ori-
ginally proceeded, the history of
the Eastern Islands may, with
reference to that of Java in par-
ticular, in which a powerful Hindu
government was without doubt
early established, be divided into
five distinct periods.

The first division would include
the period commencing with the
earliest accounts of the popula-
tion, down to the first establish-
ment of a foreign colony in Java,
of which the written annals of the
country make mention. The date
of this is pretty accurately ascer-
tained, and may be fixed at about
the commencement of the sixth
century of the Javanese era, or
4. D. 600; at which time only the
period of authentic history can be
considered to commence.

The origin of all nations is bu-
ried in obscurity ; and, unless we
may succeed in obtaining new
lights from Siam or China, we
shall have but little to guide us,
during the early part of this divi-
‘sion, beyond conjecture, and such
general inferences as may be
drawn from a similarity in per-
son, language and usages, still
found to prevail among’ the less
civilized tribes. According to the
division of Sir William Jones, the

“595

original population of the islands
were doubtless of the Tartar race,
and probably from the same stock
as the Siamese. The Javans date
the commencement of their era
from the arrival of Adi Saka, the
minister of Prabu Joyo Boyo, so-
vereign of Hastina, and the fifth
in descent from Arjuno the favo-
rite of Krisna, and the leading
hero of the B’rata Yud’ha. This
epoch corresponds with that of
the introduction of a new faith
into China, and the further pe-
ninsula, by Saka, Shaka, or Sakia,
as he is differently termed, and
with the chronology of the Hin-
dus, as explained by Sir William
Jones, in which Saka is supposed
to have reigned seventy-nine years
subsequent to the commencement
of the christian era. But whether
Saka himself, or only some of his
followers, assuming this name,
found their way to Java, may be
questionable; and it is not im-
possible that the Javanese may
have subsequently adopted the
era, on a more extended inter-
course with the further peninsula.
A connection would at any rate ap-
pear to have existed between Java
and Siam ; as this Adi Saka is not
only represented to have founded
the present era of Java, but to
have introduced the original let-
ters of the Javanese alphabet, by
a modification of the letters used
in Western India, and in Siam.
It does not appear that either he
or his followers established them-
selves in any authority; and we
can trace but little with certainty
during the following five centu-
ries. Some of the Javanese ac-
counts refer to the arrival of va-
rious settlers during this period ;
but we find no traces either of a

govern-

526

government having existed, or of
the establishment of any extensive
colony, until the commencement
of the sixth century. J shoul! ob-
serve, in this place, that the Ja-
vanese year corresponds pretty
nearly with the Hindu year of Sa-
livarna; and that the word Saka,
in Sanserit, means an epoch or
era, and is applied to the founder
of an era.

The Javanese occasionally use
the numerals for recording dates ;
but more generally, and parti-
cularly iné dates of importance,
they adopt an’ hieroglyphical in-
vention, termed ‘‘ Chondro Sang-
kolo,” in which the different nu-
merals, from one to ten, ure re-
presented by particular objects.
This is either effected, in build-
ings and sculpture, by the actual
representations of these objects ;
‘or, in writing, by the insertion
of their names, the meaning fre-
quently having some allusion to
the fact which the date records :
thus, the date of the destruction
of Majapahit, in the Javanese
year 1400, is yecorded as follows,
the order of the numerals being
reversed :—

Sirna ilang Kertaning—burni.
Gone—gone—is the work—of the land.

0 0 4 1

Anterior to this supposed ar-
rival of Adi Saka, the two most
eventful periods in the history of
these countries of which tradition
and history make mention, are—
first, that which includes the ex-
cursions of the far-famed race,
which have been supposed to have
peopled South America, and ac-
cording to Sir William Jones,
‘* imported into the furthest parts
of Asia, the rites and fabulous
history of Rama;"’ and secondly,

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

that which includes the conse-
quences of the invasion of India
by Alexander the Great. That
the fabulous history of Rama as
well as the exploits of Alexander,
have been current in the Malayan
Arc’ ipelago from time immemo-
rial, cannot be questioned ; and
it may be remarked, that while
the Javans use the term Rama for
father, the Malitys universally at-
tempt to trace their descent from
Alexander or his followers, Su-
maitra was long considered to have
been the TFaprobané of the an-
cients; and, when we advert to
the single circumstance, that this
was said to be a country in which
the north polar star was not visi-
ble, or only partially, we must
still doubt the correctness of the
modern conclusion in favour of
Ceylon. The eastern islands fur-
nish that peculiar kind of produce
which has from the earliest times
been in demand by continental
nations, and the same avidity with
which, in modern days, Europeans
contended for the rich products of
the Moluccas, actuated, in all pro-
babilitv, at a much earlier period,
adventurers from Western India.
Traces of intercourse with Ethio-
pia may be found at this day, in
the scattered tribes of the woolly»
haired race peculiar to Africa,
which are to be found in the
Andamans, in the southern part
of the further peninsula, and
throughout the Archipelago; and
that the Hindus were at one pe-
riod an enterprizing and com-
mercial nation, may, I think, be
established, with little difficulty,
from the incontestable proofs
which at this day exist in Java,
and the traffic which still exists
in native vessels and on native

capital

MANNERS AND CUSTOMS.

capital between the Coromandel
coast and tne Malayan penin-
sula. If any country, therefore,
in the Archipelago, lays claim
to this distinction more than
another, it is Java; but, proba-
bly, it was rather to the Eastern
Islands generally, than to one
island in particular, that tae ap-
pellation was given. Both Pto-
lemy and the Arabians would
seem to have distinguished the
islands by one general name.
By the one they were termed
“ Jabadios Insule ;” by the
others, ‘“* Jau or Jawa;" and
hence, probably, the confusion
in the travels of Marco Polo,
and the still disputed question,
between Java Major and Java
Minor.

The second division would in-
clude the period between this first
regular establishment from West-
ern India, and the decline and
fall of the first Eastern Umpire in
Java, which may be fixed with
tolerable accuracy at about the
Javanese year 1000, or A.D.
1073.

During this period, by far the
most eventful in the history of
vgava, we shail find that colonies
of foreigners established them-
selves, not only in Java, but in
various other islands of the Ar-
chipelago ; that the arts, parti-
cularly those of architecture and
sculpture, flourished in a su-
perior degree, and that the lan-
guage, literature and institutions
of the continent of India were
transfused in various directions
throwgh the oriental islands. It
was during this period, that the
principal temples, of which the
ruins now exist in Java, were
built ; and, beside the concurring

527

testimonies of tradition, and the
written compositions of the coun-
try, the numerous inscriptions
and dates, on stone and copper,
the characters of which we are
now able to decypher, as well as
the aricient coins, would lend es-
sential aid in establishing a cor-
rect chronology. On the one
hand, it would be cur task to
direct our inquiries to the history
of the varicus continental nations
whence these foreigners may have
preceeded ; and, on the other, to
the nature and extent of the es-
tablishments, intercourse, and ci-
vilization introduced by them into
the different islands.

This period willcommence from
the arrival of Awap, the reputed
son of Balia Atcha, sovereign of
Kudjirat, who came in search of
a celebrated country, described
in the writings of Saka; and
who, under the name of Sewelo
Cholo, established the first re-
gular monarchy of which the
Javanese annals make mention ;
and include the adventures of the
celebrated Panji, the pride and
admiration of succeeding ages.
Our attention would also be di-.
rected, in a particular manner, to
the intercourse between Java and
the other islands, and the nature
and extent of the foreign esta-
blishments formed by Java. Tra-
dition, and the popular romances
of the country, represent, not
only the kingdoms of Goa and
Luhu in Celebes, but even the
kingdom of Menangkabati, in Su-
matra, to have been established
about the conclusion of this pe-
riod, by princes from Java.

The third division would in-
clude the period from the above
date to the final overthrow of the

second

528

second Eastern Empire, in the
Javanese year 1400. Some idea
may be formed of the power and
opulence of this second empire,
established at Majapahit, from
the extensive ruins of that city,
still extant. These I took an op-
portunity of visiting during my
late tour; and I believe I am
within the mark, when I repre-
sent the walls to have enclosed a
space of upward of twenty miles
in circumference.

Within this period will be in-
cluded the establishment of the
Western Empire at Pajajaran, the
subsequent division of the island
under the princes of Majapahit
and Pajajaran, the eventual su-
premacy of Majapahit, and the
final overthrow of the government
and ancient institutions of the
country, by the general establish-
ment of the Mahometan faith.

It is during this period that
Java may be said to have risen to
the highest pitch of her civiliza-
tion yet known, and to have com-
manded a more extensive inter-
course, throughout the Archipe-
lago, than at any former period.
Colonies from Java were succes-
sively planted in Sumatra, the
Malayan peninsula, Borneo and
Bali, the princes of which coun-
tries still trace their descent from
the house of Majapahit ; and that
adventurers from Western India,
from Siam, from Champa, from
China and from Japan, frequented
Javain the greatest number. But
the object of the first importance
will be, to trace the introduction,
progress and final establishment
of the Mahometan faith in the
various countries where if now is
acknowledged as the established
religion, and particularly in Java,

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

where we find, that notwithstand-
ing attempts to make proselytes
were as early as the commence-
ment of the twelfth century, such
was the attachment of the people
to their ancient faith and insti-
tutions, that these efforts did not
effectually succeed till the latter
end of the fifteenth century of
the Christian era.

A fourth division would com-
mence with the establishment of
the Mahometan government in
Java, and might be brought down
to the establishment of the Dutch
in the Eastern Seas, which may
be taken as A. D. 1600; and a
fifth, and by no means uninter-
esting period, might include the
history of the European establish-
ments, down to the conquests by
the British arms in 1811.

The further prosecution of this
extensive inquiry would. lead me
beyond the limits at present pre-
scribed; and I must, therefore,
conclude with drawing your at-
tention to the striking similarity
between the early state of Greece,
and that of tne Malayan islands.
Change but the names, and the
words of Mitford's Introduction
to his History of Greece will be
found equally applicable to this
more extensive Archipelago.

«« Thus,’’ he observes, ‘‘ Greece
in its early days, was in a state of
perpetual marauding and _ pira-
tical warfare ; cattle, as the great
means of subsistence, were first
the great object of plunder: then,
as the inhabitants of some parts
by degrees settled to agriculture,
men, women and children were
sought for as slaves. But Greece
had nothing more peculiar than
its adjacent sea, where small
islands were so thickly scattered,

that

MANNERS AND CUSTOMS.

that their inhabitants, and in some
measure those of the shores of
the surrounding continents also,
were mariners by necessity. Water
expeditions therefore were soon
found most commodious for car-
rying off spoil. ‘The Greeks,
moreover, in their more barba-
rous state, became acquainted
with the precious metals; for,
the Phoenicians, whose industry,
ingenuity and adventurous spirit
of commerce led them early to
explore the further shores of the
Mediterranean, and even to risk
the dangers of the ocean beyond,
discovered mines of gold and
silver in some of the islands of
the Aigean; and, on its northern
coast they formed establishments
in several of the islands, and
Thasus, which lay convenient
for communication with the most
productive mines, became the seat
of their principal factory. Thus
was offered the most powerful in-
centive to piracy, in a sea whose
innumerable islands and ports
afforded singular opportunity for
the practice. Perhaps the con-
duct of the Pheenicians, towards
the uncivilized nations among
whom the desire of gain led
them, was not always the most
upright or humane ;_ hostilities
would naturally ensue, and hence
might first arise the estimation
of piracy which long prevailed
among the Greeks as an ho-
nourable practice.”

Java has long been advanced
beyond that state in which piracy
and robbery are held to be ho-
nourable in the eyes of men; but
the picture will be found pretty
correct of those islands strictly
denominated Malayan.

The superior and extraordinary
Vor. LVI.

529

fertility of the soil may serve to
account for the extensive popula~-
tion of Java, compared with that
of the other islands; and, when,
to the peaceable and domestic
habits of an agricultural life, are
added the facilities for invasion
along an extensive line of coast,
accessible in every direction, it
will not have been surprising that
she should have fallen an easy
prey to the first invader. She
appears to have lost, by these in-
vasions, much of that martial
spirit and adventurous enterprize
which distinguishes the popula-
tion of the other isles; but, at
the same time, to have retained,
not only the primitive simplicity
of her own peculiar usages, but
all the virtues and advantages of
the more enlightened institutions
which have been intreduced at
different periods from 4 foreign
source. At all events, when we
consider that her population can-
not be less than four millions,
and when we witness the cha-
racter and literature of the people
as it is even now exhibited, we
must believe that Java had once
attained a far higher degree of
civilization than any other nation
in the southern hemisphere.

JAPAN.

You will, however, expect from
me some notice regarding Japan
—‘‘ that celebrated and imperial
island,’ which, to use the words
of Sir William Jones, bears ‘‘ a
pre-eminence among eastern king-
doms, analogous to that of Bri-
tain among the nations of the
west ;” and, however slender may
have been the imformation pro-
cured, such as it is, J venture to
submit it to you, nearly as I re-

2M ceived

530

ceived it from the verbal commu-
nications of Dr. Ainslie.

It may be satisfactory and gra-
tifying in the first place to ob-
serve, that every information
which has been obtained, tends to
confirm the accuracy, the ability,
and the impartiality of Kempfer,
whose account of Japan is per-
haps one of the best books of
the kind that ever was written,
considering the circumstances
under which he was sent. I am
_ assured that there is not a mis-

representation throughout; he
was a man of minute accuracy
and felicity of talent, who saw
every thing as it was, and not
through the mist or medium of
any preconception. The Japa-
nese observe of him, that he is,
in his History “‘ the very apostle
of their faith,”’ from whose works
alone they know even their own
country. Their first enquiry was
for a copy of Keempfer ; and, en-
deavouring to evince the estima-
tion in which this author was
held by them, their observation
literally was, that ‘‘ He had drawn
out their heart from them, and
laid it palpitating before us, with
all the movements of their go-
vernment, and the actions of their
men !”’

Referring you therefore, to the
works of Kempfer for an account
of their history, institutions, and
acquirements, as the genuine data
on which this interesting people
may be appreciated, I need only
offer a few notices on the cha-
racter which they appeared to Dr.
Ainslie to display, during a resi-
dence of four months, and as far
as he had an opportunity of
judging.

They are represented to be a

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

nervous, vigorous people, whose
bodily and mental powers assimi-
late much nearer to those of Eu-
rope than what is attributed to
Asiatics in general. Their fea-
tures are masculine and perfectly
European, with the exception of
the small lengthened Tartar eye,
which almost universally prevails,
and is the only feature of resem-
blance between them and the
Chinese. ‘The complexion is per-
fectly fair, and indeed blooming ;
the women of the higher classes
being equally fair with Europeans,
and. having the bloom of health
more generally prevalent among
them than usually found in Eu-
rope.

For a people who have had very
few, if any external aids, the Ja-
panese cannot but rank high in
the scale of civilization. The
traits of a vigorous mind are dis-
played in their proficiency in the
sciences, and particularly in meta-
physics and judicial astrology.
The arts they practise speak for
themselves, and are deservedly
acknowledged to be in a much
higher degree of perfection than
among the Chinese, with whom
they are by Europeans so fre-
quently confounded; the latter
have been stationary at least as
long as we have known them,
while the slightest impulse seems
sufficient to give a determination
to the Japanese character, which
would progressively improve until
it attained the same height of ci-
vilization with the European.
Nothing indeed is so offensive to
the feelings of a Japanese as to
be compared in any one respect
with the Chinese, and the only
occasion on which Dr. Ainslie
saw the habitual politeness of a

Japanese

MANNERS AND CUSTOMS.

Japanese ever surprized into a
burst of passion was, when, upon
a similitude of the two nations
being unguardedly asserted, the
latter laid his hand upon his
sword !

The people are said to have a
strong inclination to foreign in-
tercourse, notwithstanding the
political institutions to the con-
trary; and perhaps the energy
which characterizes the Japanese
character cannot be better eluci-
dated, than by that extraordinary
decision which excluded the world
from their shores, and confined
within their own limits a people
who had _ before served as merce-
naries throughout all Polynesia,
and traded with all nations—
themselves adventurous naviga-
tors.

There is by no means that uni-
formity among them which is ob-
served in China, where the im-
pression of the government may
be said to have broken down all
individuality and left one Chinese
the counterpart of another. Un-
like the Chinese, the women here
are by no means secluded—they
associate among themselves, like
the ladies of Europe. During
the residence of Dr. Ainslie, fre-
quent invitations and entertain-
ments were given; on these oc-
casions, and at one in particular,
a lady from the court of Jeddo
is represented to have done the
honours of the table with an ease,
elegance, and address that would
have graced a Parisian. The
usual dress of a Japanese woman
of middle rank costs perhaps as
much as would supply the ward-
robe of an European lady of the
same rank for twenty years.

The Japanese, with an appa-

631

rent coldness, like the stillness of
the Spanish character, and de-
rived nearly from the same causes,
that system of espionage, and that
principle of disunion, dictated by
the principles of both govern-
ments; are represented to be
eager for novelty, and warm in
their attachments ; open to stran-
gers, and, abating the restrictions
of their political institutions, a
people who seem inclined to
throw themselves into the hands
of any nation of superior intelli-
gence. They have at the same
time a great contempt and disre-
gard of every thing below their
own standard of morals and ha-
bits, as instanced in the case of
the Chinese.

This may appear to be contra-
dicted by the mission from Russia
in 1814, under Count Kreusen-
stern; but the circumstances un-
der which that mission was placed
should be considered. From the
moment of their arrival they were
under the influence of an exclu-
sive factor, who continued to rain
upon them every possible igno-
miny which can be supposed to
have flowed from the despotism
of Japan, through the medium of
an interested and avaricious man,
who dreaded competition or the
publication of his secret. The
warehouse in which the Russian
mission had been lodged was
pointed out to Dr. Ainslie, who
observes, that, ‘‘ asthe rats were
let out the Count and his suite
were let in, where they remained
for six long months, with scarce
room to turn; the mark of -eb-
loquy to the Japanese, and the
laughing stock of the European
factory.’’ So lively, indeed, was
the impression of the occurrence,

2M2 that

532

that the chief Japanese officer
asked the English commissioner
if he too would condescend to
play the part of the Russian
count !—the officer answering to
his own question, “ No, I trust
not.”’

The mistaken idea of the illi-
berality of the Japanese in reli-
gious matters, seems to have been
fully proved ; and the late mission
experienced the reverse in a de-
gree hardly credible, and little
expected by themselves from the
representations previously made
to them. The story of the annual
test of trampling on the crucifix,
at Nanggasaki and the other im-
portant cities, is a story derided
by the Japanese priesthood. On
visiting the great temple on the
hills of Nanggasaki, the English
commissioner was received with
marked regard and respect by the
venerable patriarch of the north-
em provinces, eighty years of
age, who entertained him most
sumptuously. On showing him
round the courts of the temple,
one of the English officers pre-
sent heedlessly exclaimed in sur-
prize, Jasus Christus ! The patri-
arch, turning half round, with a
placid smile, bowed significantly
expressive of ‘‘ We know you are
Jasus Christus; well, don’t ob-
trude him upon us in our tem-
ples and we remain friends ;”’ and
so, with a hearty shake of the
hands, these two opposites parted.
This leave-taking reminded Dr.
Ainslie very forcibly of the story
Dr. Moore tells so well of the
Duke of Hamilton and himself,
taking leave of the Pope. The
Pope, who had conceived a regard
for the young Duke, on the latter
making his congé said, “ 1 know

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

you laugh at the benediction of a
Pope; but the blessing of an old
man can do you no harm;’’ and,
so saying, laid his hand on his
head, and blessed him.

The massacre of Samebarra is
by the Japanese attributed to Eu-
ropean intrigue; and even Kemp-
fer notices that the European
ships of war formed the practicable
breach, through which the Japa-
nese entered, and perpetrated that
massacre, to which it would ap-
pear they had been originally
prompted by others.

That the negotiations from
England on a former occasion
should not have been more suc-
cessful than thelate attempt from
Russia, may easily be accounted
for, when we reflect on the pos-
sibility of the favoured factor
having said to them, ‘“ Forty
years ago your throne had been

all but overturned by the intrigue

of these heretics; this embassy
comes from the king who has
married the daughter of the head
of that caste; and from whom
you can expect nothing less than
an irruption still more fatal to
your tranquillity.” Such an ar-
gument, pushed by a narrow-
minded and interested factor,
could not but carry weight with
the Japanese, accustomed to re-
spect and to place all confidence
in their western visitors.

They are not averse to the in-
dulgence of soeial excess ; and,
on these occasions, give a latitude
to their speech which one would
hardly suppose they dared to do
in Japan. :

It is an extraordinary fact, that
for seven years past, since the
visit of Captain Pellew, notwith-
standing the determination of the

empire

MANNERS AND CUSTOMS.

empire not to enter into foreign
commerce, the English language
has, in obedience to an edict of
the Emperor, been cultivated with
considerable success by the younger
members of the College of Inter-
preters, who indeed were found
eager in their inquiries after Eng-
lish books.

While the commissioner was
at Nanggasaki, there arrived a
large detachment of officers of
rank, who had been out nearly
four years and not yet completed
one-fourth of a survey on which
they wereengaged. These officers
were attended by a numerous and
splendid retinue, and were em-
ployed in making an actual sur-
vey of every foot of the empire
and the dependent isles. The
survey appeared to be conducted
on a scientific principle, to be
most minute and accurate in its
execution and to have for its ob-
ject the completion of a regular

533

geographical and statistical de-
scription of the country.

Ina word, the opinion of Dr.
Ainslie is, that the Japanese are a
people with whom the European
world might hold intercourse
without compromise of character.
For the Japanese themselves, they
are wonderfully inquisitive in all
points of science, and possess a
mind curious and anxious to re-
ceive information, without inquir-
ing from what quarter it comes.

In the same spirit let us hope,
that now, when :

That spell upon the minds of men
Breaks, never to unite again—

no withering policy may blast
the fair fruits of that spirit of
research which has gone forth
from this hall; nor continue,
under any circumstances, to shut
out one half of the world from the
intelligence which the other half
may possess.

NATURAL

[ 534 ]

NATURAL HISTORY.

WHITE BRAR.
(From Lewis and Clarke's Tratels.)

F the strength and ferocity

of this animal, the Indians

had given us dreadful accounts :
they never attack him but in par-
ties of six or eight persons, and
even then are often defeated with
the loss of one or more of their
number, Having no weapons
but bows and arrows, and the
bad guns with which the traders
supply them, they are obliged ap-
proach very near to the bear ;
and as no wound except through
the head or heart is mortal, they
requently fall a sacrifice if they
miss their aim. He rather at-
tacks than avoids a man, and such
is the terror which he has inspir-
ed, that the Indians who go in
quest of him paint themselves and
perform all the superstitious rites
customary when they make war
on a neighbouring nation. Hi-
therto those we had seen did hot
appear desirous of encountering
us, but although to a skilful rifle-
man the danger is very much di-
minished, yet the white bear is
still a terrible animal. On ap-
proaching these two, both Cap-

tain Lewis and the hunter fired
and each wounded a bear: one of
them made his escape; the other
turned upon Captain Lewis and
pursued him seventy or eighty
yards, but being badly wounded
he could not run so fast as to pre-
vent him from reloading his piece,
which he again aimed at him, and
a third shot from the hunter
brought him to the ground: he
was a male not quite full grown,
and weighed about three hundred
pounds: the legs are somewhat
longer than those of the black
bear, and the talons and tusks
much larger and longer. The
testicles are also placed much far-
ther forward, and suspended in
separate pouches from two to four
inches asunder, while those of
the black bear are situated back
between the thighs, and in a
single pouch like those of the
dog: its colour is a yellowish
brown, the eyes small, black, and
piercing ; the front of the fore
legs near the feet is usually black,
and the fur is finer, thicker, and
deeper than that of the black bear :
add to which, it is a more furious
animal, and very remarkable for
the wounds which it will bear
without dying.

BROWN

NATURAL

BROWN BEAR.
(From the same.)

Towards evening the men in
the hindmost canoes discovered a
large brown bear lying in the
open grounds, about three hun-
dred paces from the river: six of
them, all good hunters, imme-
diately went to attack him, and
concealing themselves by a small
eminence came unperceived with-
in forty paces of him: four of
the hunters now fired, and each
lodged a ball in his body, two of
them directly through the lungs :
the furious animal sprang up and
ran openmouthed upon them; as
he came near, the two hunters
who had reserved their fire gave
him two wounds, one of which
breaking his shoulder, retarded
his motion for a moment; but
before they could reload he was
so near that they were obliged
to run to the river, and before
they reached it he had almost
overtaken them: two jumped into
the canoe; the other four sepa-
rated, and concealing themselves
in the willows, fired as fast as
each could reload: they struck
him several times, but instead of
weakening the monster each shot
seemed only to direct him towards
the hunter, till at last he pursued
two of them so closely, that they
threw aside their gunsand pouches,
and jumped down a perpendicular
bank of twenty feet into the river ;
the bear sprang after them, and
was within a few feet of the hind-
most, when one of the hunters
om shore shot him in the head
and finally killed him: they drag-
ged him to the shore, and found

H.1S,T, O;B_Y, 535

that eight balls had passed through
him in different directions.

BUFFALOK HUNTING.
(From the same.)

On the north we passed a pre-
cipice about one hundred and
twenty feet high, under which
lay scattered the fragments of at
least one hundred carcasses of
buffaloes, although the water
which had washed away the lower
part of the hill must have carried
off many of the dead. These buf-
faloes had been chased down the
precipice in a way very common
on the Missouri, and by which
vast herds are destroyed in a mo-
ment. The mode of hunting is
to select one of the most active
and fleet young men, who is dis-
guised by a buffaloe skin round
his body: the skin of the head
with the ears and horns fastened
on his own head in such a way as
to deceive the buffaloe: thus
dressed, he fixes himself at a con-
venient distance between a herd
of buffaloes and any of the river
precipices, which sometimes ex-
tend for several miles. His com-
panions in the meantime get in
the rear and side of the herd, and
at a given signal show themselves,
and advance towards the buffuloes :
they instantly take the alarm, and
finding the hunters beside them,
they run towards the disguised
Indian or decey, who leads them
on at full speed towards the river,
when suddenly securing himself
in some crevice of the cliff? which
he had previously fixed on, the
herd is left on the brink of the

precipice :

536

precipice: it is then in vain for
the foremost to retreat or even to
stop; they are pressed on by the
hindmost rank, who seeing no
danger but from the hunters,
goad on those before them till the
whole are precipitated and the
shore is strewed with their dead
bodies. Sometimes in this peri-
lous seduction the Indian is him-
self either trodden under foot by
the rapid movements of the buffa-
loe, or missing his footing in the
cliff is urged down the precipice
by the falling herd.

THE MISSOURI.
(From the same.)

We have now reached the ex-
treme navigable point of the Mis-
souri, which our observation
places in latitude 43° 30° 43"
north. It is difficult to comprise
in any general description the
characteristi¢s of a river so ex-
tensive, and fed by so many
streams which have their sources
in a great variety of soils and
climates. But the Missouri is
still sufficiently powerful to give
to all its waters something of a
common character, which is of
course decided by the nature of
the country through which it
passes. The bed of the river is
chiefly composed of a blue mud,
from which the water itself de-
rives a deep tinge. From its
junction here to the place near
which it leaves the mountains, its
course is embarrassed by rapids
and rocks which the hills on each
side have thrown into its channel.
From that place, its current, with
the exception of the Falls, is not

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

difficult of navigation nor is there
much variation in its appearance
till the mouth of the Platte. That
powerful river throws out vast
quantities of coarse sand which
contribute to give a new~face to
the Missouri, which is now much
more impeded by islands. The
sand, as it is drifted down, ad-
heres in time to some of the pro-
jecting points from the shore,
and forms a barrier to the mud,
which at length fills to the same
height with the sandbar itself:
as soon as it has acquired a con-
sistency, the willow grows there
the first year, and by its roots
assists the solidity of the whole:
as the mud and sand accumulate

‘the cottonwood tree next appears ;

till the gradual excretion of soils
raises the surface of the point
above the highest freshets. ‘Thus
stopped in its course the water
seeks a passage elsewhere, and
as the soil on each side is light
and yielding, what was only a
peninsula, becomes gradually an
island, and the river indemnifies
itself for the usurpation by en-
croaching on the adjacent shore.
In this way the Missouri like the
Mississippi is constantly cutting
off the projections of the shore,
and leaving its ancient channel,
which is then marked by the mud
it has deposited and a few stag-
nant ponds.

Description of the objects of Na-
tural History observed in Lewis
and Clarke’s Expedition.

VEGETABLES.

The vegetable productions of
the country, which furnish a

large

NATURAL HISTORY.

large proportion of the food of the
Indians, are the roots of a species
of thistle, the fern, the rush, the
liquorice, and a small cylindric
root, resembling in flavour and
consistency the sweet potatoe.
Ist. The thistle, called by the
natives shanatanque, is a plant
which grows in a deep, rich, dry
loam, with a considerable mixture
of sand. The stem is simple,
ascending, cylindric, and hispid,
and rising to the height of three
or four feet. The cauline life,
which, as well as the stem of the
last season, is dead, is simple,
crenate,and oblong; rather more
obtuse at its apex than at its in-
sertion, which is decurrent, and
its position declining; whilst the
margin is armed with prickles,
and its disk is hairy. The flower
too is dry and mutilated; but the
pericarp seems much like that of
the common thistle. The root-
leaves, which still possess their
verdure, and are about half
grown, are of a pale green
colour. The root, however, is the
only part used. It is from nine
to fifteen inches long, about the
size of a man’s thumb, perpen-
dicular, fusiform, and with from
two to four radicles. The rind is
of a brown colour, and somewhat
rough. When first taken from
the earth, it is white, and nearly
as crisp as a carrot, and in this
state is sometimes eaten without
any preparation. But after it is
prepared by the same process used
for the pascheco quamash, which
is the most usual and the best
method, it becomes black, %nd
much improved in flavour. Its
taste is exactly that of sugar, and
it is indeed the sweetest vegetable
employed by the Indians. After
being baked in the kiln, it is

537

either eaten simply or with train
oil: sometimes pounded fine and
mixed with cold water, until it is
reduced to the consistence of sa-
gamity, or Indian mush, which
last method is the most agreeable
to our palates.

2. Three species of fern grow
in this neighbourhood, but the
root of only one is eaten. It is
very abundant in those parts of
the open lands and prairies which
have a deep, loose, rich, black
loam, without any sand. There,
it attains the height of four or
five feet, and is a beautiful plant
with a fine green colour in sum-
mer. The stem, which is smooth,
cylindric, and slightly grooved on
one side, rises erectly about half
its height, when it divides into
two branches, or rather long
footstalks, which put forth in
pairs from one side only, and near
the edges of the groove, declining
backwards from the grooved side.
These footstalks are themselves
grooved and cylindric, and: as they
gradually taper towards the extre-
mnities, put forth others of a smaller
size, which are alternate, and have
forty or fifty alternate, pinnate,
horizontal, and sessile leaves: the
leaves are multipartite for half
the length of their footstalk, when
they assume the tongue-like form
altogether ; being, moreover, re-
volute, with the upper disk smooth,
and the lower resembling cotton :
the top is annual, and therefore
dead at present, but it produces
no flour or fruit: the root itself
is perennial and grows horizon-
tally: sometimes a little diverg-
ing, or obliquely descending, and
frequently dividing itself as it
proceeds, and shooting up a num-
ber of stems. It lies about four
inches under the surface of the

earth

538

earth, in a cylindrical form, with
few or no radicles, and varies
from the size of a goose quill to
that of aman’s finger. The bark
is black, thin, brittle, and rather
rough, and _ easily separates in
Hakes from the part which is
eaten: the centre is divided into
two parts by a strong, flat, and
white ligament,.like a piece of
thin tape; on each side of which
is a white substance, resembling,
after the root is roasted, both in
appearance and flavour, the dough
of wheat. It has, however, a
pungency which is disagreeable,
but the natives eat it voraciously,
and it seems to be very nutritious.

3. The rush is most commonly
used bythe Killamucks, and other
Indians on the seacoast, along
the sands of which it grows in the
greatest abundance. From each
root a single stem rises erectly to
the height of three or four feet,
somewhat thicker than a large
quill, hollow and jointed ; about
twenty or thirty long, lineal, stel-
late, or radiate and horizontal
leaves surround the stem at each
joint, about half an inch above
which, its stem is sheathed like
the sand rush. When green, it
resembles that plant also in ap-
pearance, as well as in having a
rough stem. It is not branching ;
nor does it bear, as far as we can
discover, either flower or seed.
At the bottom of this stem, which
is annual, is a small, strong ra-
dicle, about an inch long, de-
scending perpendicularly to the
root, while just above the junction
of the radicle with the stem, the
latter is surrounded in the form
of a wheel with six or nine small
radicles, descending obliquely :
the root attached to this radicle

ANNUAL REGASTER,

1816.

is a perennial solid bulb, about
an inch long, and of the thick-
ness of a man’s thumb, of an
ovate form, depressed on one or
two of its sides, and covered with
a thin, smooth, black rind: the
pulp is white, brittle, and easily
masticated. It is commonly roast-
ed, though sometimes eaten raw ;
but in both states is rather an in-
sipid reot.

4, The liquorice of this coun-
try does not differ from that com-
mon to the United States. It
here delights in a deep, loose,
sandy soil, and grows very large,
and abundantly. It is prepared
by roasting in the embers, and
pounding it slightly with a small
stick, in order to separate the
strong ligament in the centre of
the root, which is then thrown
away, and the rest chewed and
swallowed. In this way it has
an agreeable flavour, not unlike
that of the sweet potatoe. The
root of the catiail, or cooper’s
flag, is eaten by the Indians.
There is also, a species of small,
dry, tuberous root, two inches
in length, and about the thickness
of the finger. They are eaten
raw, are crisp, milky, and of an
agreeable flavour.

5. Beside the small cylindric
root mentioned above, is another
of the same form and appearance,
which is usually boiled and eaten
with train oil. Its taste, how-
ever, is disagreeably bitter. But
the most valuable of all the In-
dian roots, is

6. The wappatoo, or bulb of
the common sagittafolia, or com-
mon arrowhead. It does not
grow in this neighbourhood, but
is in great abundance in the
marshy grounds of that beautiful

valley,

NATURAL HISTORY.

valley, which extends from near
Quicksand river for seventy miles
westward, and is a principal arti-
cle of trade between the inhabi-
tants of that valley and those of
the sea coast.

The shrub rises to the height
of four or five feet; the stem
simple and much branched. The
bark is of a reddish dark brown ;
the main stem somewhat rough,
while that of the bough is smooth ;
the leaf is about one tenth of an
inch long, obtuse at the apex,
and acute and angular at the in-
sertion of the pedicle. The leaf
is three fourths of an inch in
length, and three eighths in
width, smooth, and of a paler
green than evergreens generally
are. The fruit is a small deep
purple berry, and of a pleasant
flavour ; the natives eat the berry
when ripe, but seldom collect
such quantities as to dry for win-
ter use.

FRUITS.

The native fruits and berries in
use among the Indians, are what
they call the shallun ; the solme ;
the cranberry; a berry like the
black haw ; the scarlet berry of
the plant called sacacommis; a
purple terry, like the huckle-
berry.

1. The shallun is an evergreen
plant, abounding in this neigh-
bourhood, and its leaves are the
favourite food of the elk. Itisa
thick growth, cylindrically rising
to the height of three, and some-
times five feet, and varying from
the size of a goose quill, to that
of a man’s thumb. The stem is
simple, branching, reclining, and
partially fluxuose, with a bark
which, on the elder part, is of a

539

reddish brown colour, while the
younger branches are red where
exposed to the sun, and green
elsewhere. The leaf jis three
fourths of an inch in length, and
two and a half in breadth; ofan
oval form; the upper disk of a
glossy deep green, the under of a
pale green; the fruit is a deep
purple berry, about the size of a
common black cherry, oval and
rather bluntly pointed ; the peri-
carp is divided into five acute an-
gular points, and envelops a soft
pulp, containing a great number
of smali brown seeds,

2. The solme is a small, pale,
red berry, the production of a
plant, resembling in size and
shape that which produces the
fruit, called in the United States,
Solomon’s sealberry. The berry
is attached to the stem in the
same manner. It is of a globular
form; containing a soft pulp,
which envelops four seeds about
the size of the seed of the common
small grape. It grows amongst
the woodland moss, and is, to all
appearance, an annual plant.

3. The cranberry is of the low
and viny kind, and grows in the
marshes or bogs of this neigh-
bourhood : it is precisely the same
as the cranberry of the United
States.

4. The fruit, which, though
rather larger, resembles in shape
the black haw, is alight brown
berry, the fruit of a tree about
the size, shape, and appearance
in every respect, of that of the
United States, called the wild
crab-apple. The leaf is also pre-
cisely the same ; as also the bark
in texture and colour. The ber-
ries grow in clumps at the end of
the small branches; each berry

supported

540

supported by a separate stem,
and as many as from three to
eighteen or twenty in a clump:
the berry is ovate, with one of its
extremities attached to a peduncle,
where it is to a small degree con-
cave, the wood of which is ex-
cessively hard. The natives make
their wedges of this wood, in
splitting their boards, their fire-
wood, and in hollowing out their
canoes; the wedge when driven
into solid dry pine, receives not
the slightest injury. Our party
made use of it likewise for wedges
and axe-handles. The fruit is
exceedingly acid, and resembles
the flavour of the wild crab. The
pericarp of the berry contains a
soft pulpy substance, divided into
four cells, each containing a
single seed ; the outer coat of the
pericarp, is a thin, smooth, though
firm and tough pellicle.

The plant called sacacommis by
the Canadian traders, derives its
name from this circumstance,
that the clerks of the trading
companies are generally very fond
of smoking its leaves, which they
earry about with them in a small
bag. It grows generally in an
open piny woodland country, or
on its borders. We found this
berry in the prairies bordering on
the Rocky mountains, or in the
more open woodlands. It is in-
-discriminately the growth of a
very rich or a very poor soil, and
is found in the same abundance
in both. The natives on the
western side of the Rocky moun-
tains are very fond of this berry,
although to us it was a very taste-
less and insipid fruit: the shrub
is an evergreen, and retains its
verdure in the same perfection
the whole season round. How-

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

ever inclement the climate, the
root puts forth a great number of
stems which separate near the
surface of the ground ; each stem
from the size of a small quill to
that of a man’s finger: these are
much branched, the branches
forming an acute angle with the
stem, and all more properly pro-
cumbent than creeping: although
it sometimes puts forth radicles
from the stems and _ branches,
which strike obliquely into the
ground: these radicles are by no
means general or euable in their
distances from each other, nor do
they appear calculated to furnish
nutriment to the plant: the bark
is fermed of several layers of a
smooth, thin, brittle and reddish
substance easily separated from
the stem: the leaves with respect
to their position ave scattered, yet
closely arranged, and particularly
near the extremities of the twigs :
the leaf is about three fourths of
an inch in length; oval, pointed
and obtuse; of a deep green,
slightly grooved ; and the foot-
stalk is of proportionable length:
the berry is attached in an irre-
gular manner to the small boughs
among the leaves, and always
supported by separate, small and
short peduncles: the msertion
produces a slight concavity in the
berry, while its opposite side is
slightly convex. The outer coat
of the pericarp is a thin, firm,
tough pellicle :
consists of a dry, mealy powder,
of a yellowish white colour, enve-
loping from four to six large,
light brown seeds: the colour of

the inner coat |

the fruit is a fine scarlet : the na- }

tives eat these berries without any
preparation: the fruit ripens in
September, and remains on the

bushes

NATURAL HISTORY.

bushes all winter unaffected by
the frost: they are sometimes
gathered and hung in the lodges
in bags, wheie they are dried
without further trouble.

6. The deep purple berry, like
the huckleberry, terminates blunt-
ly, and has a cap or cover at the
end: the berries are attached se-
parately to the sides of the boughs
by a short stem, hanging under-
neath, and they often grow very
near each other, on the same
bough: the berry separates very
easily from the stem; the leaves
adhere closNy: the shrub rises
to the height of six or eight feet,
and sometims's grows on high
lands, but more frequently on low
marshy grounds : the shrub is an
evergreen, and about ten inches
in circumference, divides into
many irregrlar branches, and
seldom more than one stem
springs from one root, although
they associate very thickly: the
bark is somewhat rough and of a
reddish brown colour: the wood
is very hard: the leaves are al-
ternate and attached by a short
footstalk to the horizontal sides
of the boughs : the form is a long
oval, rather more acute towards
the apex than at the point of in-
sertion: its margin slightly ser-
rate, its sides collapsing, thick,
firm, smooth, and glossy: the
under surface is of a pale or whit-
ish green, and the upper of a fine
deep green. This beautiful shrub
retains its verdure throughout
the year, and is more peculiarly
beautiful in winter. The natives
sometimes eat the berries without
preparation : sometimes they dry
them in the sun, and at others in
their sweating kilns: they very
frequently pound them, and bake

54]

them in large loaves, weighing
from ten to fifteen pounds: the
bread keeps very well for one
season, and retains its juices bet-
ter by this mode of preparation
than any other: this bread when
broken is stirred in cold water,
until it acquires the consistency
of soup, and then eaten.

TREES.

The trees of a larger growth
are very abundant; the whole
neighbourhood of the coast is
supplied with great quantities of
excellent timber. The predomi-
nating growth is the fir, of which
we have seen several species.
There is one singular circum-
stance attending all the pine of
this country, which is, that when
consumed it yields not the slight-
est particle of ashes. The first
species grows to an immense size,
and is very commonly twenty-
seven feet in circumference, six
feet above the earth’s surface :
they rise to the height of two
hundred and thirty feet, and one
hundred and twenty of that height
without a limb. We have often
found them thirty-six feet in cir-
cumference. One of our party
measured one, and found it to be
forty-two feet in circumference,
at a point beyond the reach of an
ordinary man. This trunk for
the distance of two hundred feet
was destitute of limbs: this tree
was perfectly sound, and at a
moderate calculation, its size may
be estimated at three hundred
feet. The timber is throughout,
and rives better than any other
species ; the bark scales off in
fakes irregularly round, and of a
reddish brown colour, particularly
the younger growth: the trunk

is

542

is simple, branching, and not very
proliferous, The leaf is acerose,
one tenth of an inch in width,
and three fourths in length, firm,
stiff, and acuminate. It is tri-
angular, a little declining, thick-
ly scattered on all sides of the
bough, and springs from small
triangular pedestals of soft,
spongy, elastic bark at the junc-
tion of the boughs. The bud-
scales continue to encircle their
respective twigs for several years.
Captain Lewis has counted as
many as the growth of four years
beyond the scales; it yields but
little rosin, and we have never
been able to discover the cone,
although we have felled several.
The second is a much more
common species, and constitutes
at least one half of the timber in
this neighbourhood. It seems to
resemble a spruce, rising from
one hundred and sixty to one
hundred and eighty feet, is from
four to six in diameter, straight,
round, and regularly tapering.
The bark is thin, of a dark co-
lour, much divided in small longi-
tudinal interstices: the bark of
the boughs and young trees is
somewhat smooth, but not equal
to the balsam fir: the wood is
white, very soft, but difficult to
rive: the trunk is a_ simple,
branching, and diffuse stem, not
so’ proliferous as the pines and
firs usually are. It puts forth
buds from the sides of the small
boughs, as well as from their
extremities : the stem terminates
like the cedar, in a slender point-
ed top: the leaves are_petiolate,
the footstalks short, acerose, ra-
ther more than half a line in
width, andvery unequal in length ;
the greatest length seldom ex-

‘sembles the second.

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816

ceeds one inch, while other leaves
intermixed on every bough, do
not exceed a quarter of an inch.
The leaf has a small longitudinal
channel on the upper disk, which
is of a deep and glossy green,
while the under disk is of a whit-
ish green only: it yields but little
rosin. What is remarkable, the
cone is not longer than the end of
a man’s thumb ; it is soft, flexi-
ble, of an ovate form, and pro-
duced at the ends of the small
twigs.

‘The third species resembles in
all points, the Canadian balsam
fir. It grows from two and a half
to four feet in diameter, and
rises to the height of eighty or
an hundred feet. The stem is
simple, branching, and_prolife-
rous: its leaves are sessile, ace-
rous; one eighth of an inch in
length, and one sixteenth in width,
thickly scattered on the twigs,
and adhere to the three under
sides only ; gibbous, a little de-
clining, obtusely pointed, soft,
and flexible. The upper disk is
longitudinally marked with a
slight channel, of a deep, glossy,
green; the under of a pale green
and not glossy. This tree affords
in considerable quantities, a fine
deep aromatic balsam, resembling
the balsam of Canada in taste and
appearance. The small pistils
filled, rise like a blister on the
trunk and the branches. The
bark that envelops these pistils,
is soft and easily punctured: the
general appearance of the bark is
dark and smooth: but not so re-
markable for that quality as the
white pine of our country. The
wood is white and soft.

The fourth species in size Te-
The stem is

simple,

NATURAL HISTORY.

simple, branching’, ascending, and
proliferous ; the bark is of a red-
dish dark brown, and _ thicker
than that of the third species, di-
vided by small longitudinal inter-
stices, not so much magnified as
in the second species. The re-
lative position of the leaves re-
sembles those of the balsam fir,
excepting that they are only two-
thirds the width, and little more
than half the length, and that
the upper disk is not so green
and glossy. ‘The wood yields no
balsam, and but little rosin. The
wood is white and tough although
rather porous.

The fifth species in size re-
sembles the second, and has a
trunk simple, branching, and
proliferous. The bark is of a thin
dark brown, ‘livided longitudinally
by interstices, and scaling off ia
thin rolling flakes. It yields but
little balsam: two-thirds of the
diameter of the trunk in the cen-
tre presents a reddish white ;
the remainder is white, porous,
and tough: the twigs are much
longer and more slender than in
either of the other species ; tie
leaves are acerose, one-twentieth
of an inch in width, and one inch
in length; sessile, inserted on
all sides of the bough, straight,
and obliquely pointing towards
the extremities. The upper disk
has a small longitudinal channel,
and is of a deep green, and not
so glossy as the balsam fir. The
under disk is of a pale green.

_~ We have seen a species of this
fir on low marshy grounds, re-
sembling in all points the fore-
going, except that it branches
more diffusively. ‘This tree is
generally thirty feet in height,
and two in diameter. The diffu-

543

sion of its branches may result
from its open situation, as it sel-
dom grows in the neighbourhood
of another tree. ‘The cone is two
and a half inches in length, and
three and three quarters in its
greatest circumference. It ta-
pers regularly to a point, and is
formed of inYbricated scales, of a
bluntly rounded form. A thin
leaf is inserted in the pith of the
cone, which overlays the centre
of, and extends half an inch be-
yond the point of each scale.

The sixth species does not differ
from what is usually denominated
the white pine in Virginia. The
unusual length of the cone seems
to constitute the only difference.
Ji is sometimes sixteen or eighteen
inches in length, and is about
four in circumference. It grows
on the north side of the Colum-
bia, near the ocean.

The seventh, and last species,
grows in low grounds, and in
places frequently overflown by
the tide, seldom rising higher
than thirty-five feet, and not more
than from two and a half to four
in diameter: the stem is simple,
branching, and proliferous: the
bark resembles that of the first
species, but more rugged: the
leayes are acerose, two-tenths of
an inch in width, three-fourths
in length, firm, stiff, and a little
acuminated: they end in short
pointed tendrils, gibbous, and
thickly scattered on all sides of
the branch, though they adhere
to the three under sides only :
those inserted on the under side
incline sidewise, with * upward
points, presenting the leaf in the
shape of a sithe: the others are
pointing upwards, sessile, and like
those of the first species, grow

from

544 ANNUAL REGISTER,

from the small triangular pedes-
tals, of a bark, spongy, soft, and
elastic. The under disk is of a
deep glossy green, the other of a
pale whitish green: the boughs
retain the leaves of a six years
growth: the bud scales resemble
those of thefirst species : the cone
is of an ovate figure, three and a
half inches in length, and three in
circumference, thickest in the
middle, and tapering and termi-
nating in two obtuse points : it
is composed of small, flexible
scales, imbricated, and of a red-
dish brown colour. Each of these
scales covers two small seeds,
and is itself covered in the centre
by a small, thin, inferior scale,
acutely pointed: these scales pro-
ceed from the sides of the bough,
as well as from its extremities. It
was nowhere seen above the Wap-
patoo. The stem of the black
alder arrives to a great size. It
is simple, branching, and diffuse :
the bark is smooth, of a light
colour, with white spreading
spots, resembling those of the
beech: the leaf, fructification,
&c. resemble precisely those of
the common alder of our country :
the shrubs grow separately from
different roots, and not in clus-
ters, like those of the United
States. The black alder does not
cast its leaf until the first of De-
cember. It is sometimes found
growing to the height of sixty or
seventy feet, and is from two to
four in diameter.

There is a tree common to the
Columbia river, below the en-
trance of Cataract river, when
divested of its foliage, much re-
sembling the ash. ‘The trunk is
simple, branching, and diffuse:
the leaf is petiolate, plain, divided

1816.

by four deep lines, resembling
those of the palm, and consider-
ably lobate: the lobes terminate
in from three to five angular
points, and their margins are in-
dented with irregular and some-
what circular incisures : the peti-
ole is cylindrical, smooth, and
seven inches long; the leaf itself
eight inches in length, and twelve
in breadth: this tree is frequent-
ly three feet. in diameter, and
rises from forty to fifty feet: the
fruit is a winged seed, somewhat
resembling that of the maple.

In the same part of the coun-
try there is also another growth,
resembling the white maple,
though much smaller, and is sel-
dom to be seen of more than six
or seven inches in diameter.
These trees grow in clusters, from
fifteen to twenty feet in height,
from the same bed of roots,
spreading and leaning outwards :
the twigs are long and slender,
the stem simple and branching,
the bark, in colour, resembling
the white maple, the leaf is peti-
olate, plain, scattered, nearly cir-
cular, with acute, angular in-
cisures round the margin, of an
inch in length, and from six to
eight innumber: the acute an-
gular points so formed, are cre-
nate, three inches in length and
four in width: the petiole is cy-
lindric, smooth, and an inch and
a quarter in length, and the fruit
is not known.

The undergrowth consists of
honeysuckles, alder, seven bark
or nine bark, huckleberry, a shrub
like the quillwood, a plant like
the mountain-holly, a green briar,
the fern.

1. The honeysuckle common to
the United States we found in this

neighbourhood

NATURAL

neighbourhood. We first disco-
vered the honeysuckle on the wa-
ters of the Kooskooskee, near the
Chopunnish nation, and again
below the Grand rapids.

©. The alder, which is also
common to our country, was
found in great abundance in the
woodlands, on this side of the
Rocky mountains. It di¥ers in
the colour of its berry : this being
of a pale sky blue, while that of
the United States is of a deep
purple.

3. The seven bark, or, as it is
usually denominated, the nine
bark of the United States, is also
common to this country.

4. The huckleberry. There is
a species of huckleberry, common
to the highlands, from the com-
mencement of the Columbian val-
ley to the sea-coast, rising to the
height of six or eight feet, branch-
ing and diffuse: the trunk is cy-
lindrical, of a dark brown colour;
the collateral branches are green,
smooth, and square, and put forth
a number of alternate branches of
the same colour, and from the
two horizontal sides only. The
fruit is a small deep purple berry,
held in much esteem by the na-
tives: the leaf is of a pale green,
and small, three-fourths of an
inch in length, and three-eighths
in width, oval, terminating more
acutely at the apex than at the in-
sertion of the footstalk: the base
is nearly entire, and but slightly
serrate: the footstalks are short;
their relative position is alternate,
two-ranked, and proceeding from
the horizontal sides of the boughs
only.

5. There are two species of
shrubs, first seen at the Grand ra-
pids of the Columbia, and which

Vor. LVIII.

HISTORY.

have since been seen elsewhere :
they grow in rich dry grounds,
usually in the neighbourhood of
some water-course: the roots are
creeping and cylindrical: the stem
of the first species is from a foot
to eighteen inches in height, and
about as large as an ordinary
goose quill: it is simple, un-
branched, and erect: its leaves are
cauline, compound, and spread-
ing: the leaflets are jointed, and
oppositely pinnate, three pair, and
terminating in one sextile, widest
at the base, and tapering to an
acuminate point: it is an inch
and a quarter in its greatest
width, and three inches and a
quarter‘in length: each point of
the margin is armed with a subu-
late thorn, and from thirteen to
seventeen in number: are veined,
glossy, carinated and wrinkled :
their points obliquely tending to-
wards the extremity of the com-
mon footstalk: the stem of the
second species is procumbent,
about the size of that of the first
species, jointed and unbranched :
its leaves are cauline, compound,
and oppositely pinnate: therib is
from fourteen to sixteen inches in
length, cylindric and smooth: the
leaflets are two inches and a half
long, and one inch wide, and of
the greatest width half an inch
from the base: this they regular-
ly surround, and from the same
point tapering to an acute apex:
this is usually terminated with a
small subulate thorn: they are
jointed and oppositely pinnate,
consisting of six pair, and termi-
nating in one: sessile, serrate,
and ending in a small subulate
spire, from twenty-five to twenty-
sevenin number: they are smooth,
plain, and of a deep green; and
2N all

545

eer AN WUE PE Grrr i tt,

all obliquely tending towards the
extremity of the footstalk: they
retain their green all winter. The
large leafed thorn, has a leaf
about two iaches and a half long,
which is petiolate, and conjugate:
the leaflets are petiolate, acutely
pointed, having their margins cut
with unequal and irregular inci-
sures: the shrub, which we had
once mistaken’ for the large leaf-
ed thorn, resemibled the stem of
that shrub, excepting the thorn :
it bears a large three headed leaf:
the briaris of the class polyandria,
and order poligynia: the flowers

are single: the pedunele long”

and cylindrical : the calyx is‘a pe-
rianth, of one leaf; fivé cleft, and
acutely pointed: the perianth is
proper, erect, inferior in both pe-
tals and germen: the corolla
consists of five actte, pale scar-
let-petals, inserted in the recep-
tacle with a short and narrow
cleft: the corolla is smooth, mo-
derately long, situated at the base
of the germen, permanent, and in
shape resembling a cup: the sta-
mens and filaments are subu-
late, inserted into the receptacle,
unequal and bent inwards, con-
cealing the pystilium : the anther
‘is two lobed and inflited,’situated
on the top of the filament of the
pystilium: the germ is conical,
imbrieated, superior, sessilé and
short: the styles are short, com-
pared with the stamen, capillary,
smooth and obtuse: they are dis-
tributed over the surface of the
gerny, and deciduous without any
perceptible stamen.

7. The green briar grows most
abundantly in rich dry lands, in
the vicinity of a water-course, and
is found in small quantities in

piny Jands-at a distance from the:

1816.

water. In the former situation
the stem is frequently of the size
of a man's finger, and rises per-
pendicularly four or five feet: it
then descends in an arch, becomes
procumbent, or rests om some
neighbouring ‘plants : itis simple,
unbranched, and’cylindric: in the
latter situation it grows much
smaller, and usually procumpbent:
the stem is armed with sharp and
forked briars: the leaf is’ petio-
late, térnate, and resembles in
shape and appearance that of the
purple raspberry, so common to
the Atlantic states’: the fruit is a
berry resembling’ the blackberry
in all points, and is eaten when
ripe by the natives, which they
hold in much esteein, although it
is not dried for winter consump-=
tion, This’ shrub was’ first
discovered’ at the entrance’ of
Quicksand river: it grows: so
abundantly im the fertile valley of
Columbia, and the islands, that
the country is almost impenetra-
ble: it retains-its verdure late in
summer,

8. Besides the ferm already de=
scribed, as furnishing a nutritious
root, there are two other plants
of the same species, which~ may
be divided into the large and the
small: the large fern rises three’
or four feet: the stem: is a com-
mon footstalk, proceeding imme-
diately from the radix, somewhat
flat, about the size ofa man’s
arm, and covered with innomer-
able black coarsecapillary radicles:
issuing from every part of its sur=
face: one of these roots will send
forth from twenty to forty of these
common footstalks, bending owt-’
wards from the common centre :
the ribs are cylindric, and mark~
ed longitudinally their whole

' length,

NATURAL HISTORY.

length, with a groove on the up-
per side: on either side of this
groove, anda little below its edge,
the leaflets ave inserted: these
are shortly petiolate for about
two thirds the length of the mid-
die rib, commencing from the

bottom, and from thence to the-

extremity sessile: the rib is ter-
minated by a single undivided
laneeolute leaflet: these are from
two to four inches in length, and
have a small acute angular pro-
jection, and obliquely cut at the-
base : the upper surface is smooth
and of a deep green: the under
surface of a pale green, and co-
vered with a. brown protuberance
of a woolly appearance, purtieu-
larly near the central fibre: the
leailets are alternately pinnate,
andin number, fronyone hundred
and ten to one hundred and forty:
they are shortest at the two ex-
tremities. of the common foot-
stalk, largest in the centre, gra-
dually lengthening, and diminish-
ing’ as they succeed each other.
The small fern rises likewise with
a cominon footstalk frony the ra-
dix, from four to eight in number:
from feur to eight inches long:
the central rib-iss marked with
a slight longitudinal groove
throughout its whole length: the
leaflets are’ oppositely pinnate,
about one-third of the length of
the common footstalk, from the:
bottom, and thence alternately
pinnate: the footstalk terminates:
in a simple undivided lanceolate:
leaflet : these are oblong’, obtuse,
convex, absolutely entire, and the
upper disk is marked with a slight
longitudinal groove: nearthe up-
per extremity these leaflets are de-
cursively pinnate, as'are all those’

of the large fern, Both of these’

547

species remain green during the
winter.

QUADRUPEDS.

The quadrupeds of this country
from the Rocky mountains: to the
Pacific ocean, may be conveniently’
divided into the domestic and the
wild animals. ‘The first embraces
the horse and dog only:

The horse is confined principal-
ly to the nations’ inhabiting the
great plains of the Columbia, ex-
tending from latitude forty to fifty
north, and oceupying the tract of
territory lying between the Rocky
mountains, and a range of moun-
tams which pass the Columbia
river about the Great Falls: from
longitudé sixteen to one hundred:
and twenty-one west. ‘The Shos-
honees, the Chopunnish, Sokulks,
lischeloots, Eneshures, and Chil-
luckittequaws, all enjoy: the bene-
fit-of that docile; noble, and ge+
nerous animal; and all of them,.
except the last three, possess imi-" |
mense numbers.

The horse appears: to: be of an
excellent race, lofty, elegantly:
formed, aetiveand durable: many
of them appear like’ fine Hnglish
coursers ; some of then are pied,
with large spots'of white irrezu-
larly seattered, and intermixed
with a dark brown bay: the
greater part, however, are of an
uniform colour, marked with
stars and white feet, and resemble
in fleetness:and bottom, as well asi
in form and colour, the best
blooded: horses of’ Virginia. The
natives suffer them to rumat large:
in the plains, the grass: of which
affords them their only winter
subsistence ; their masters taking:
no trouble to lay in a winter's’
store for them: nevertheless they

2N2 will,

548

will, unless much exercised, fat-
ten on the dry grass afforded by
the plains during the winter.
The plains are rarely, if ever,
moistened by rain, and the grass
is consequently short and thin.
The natives, excepting those of
the Rocky mountains, appear to
take no pains in selecting their
male horses for breed; and in-
deed, those of that class appear
much the most indifferént. Whe-
ther the horse was originally a
native of this country or not, the
soil and climate appear to be per-
fectly well adapted to the nature
of this animal. Horses are said
to be found wild in many parts of
this extensive country. The se-
yeral tribes of Shoshonees who re-
side towards Mexico, on the waters
of the Mutlomah river, and par-
ticularly one of them, called Sha-
boboah, have also a great number
of mules, which the Indians prize
more highly than horses. An
elegant horse may be purchased
of the natives for a few beads or
other paltry trinkets, which in the
United States would not cost more
than one or two dollars. The
abundanceand cheapness of horses
will be extremely advantageous
to those who may hereafter at-
tempt the fur trade to the East
Indies, by the way of the Colum-
bia river, and the Pacific ocean.
2. The dog is unusually small,
about the size of an ordinary cur:
he is usually parti-coloured, a-
mongst which, the black, white,
brown, and brindle, are the co-
lours most predominant: the
head is long, the nose pointed,
the eyes small, the ears erect and
pointed, like those of the wolf:
the hair is short and smooth, ex-
cepting on the tail, where it is

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

long and straight, like that of the
ordinary cur dog. The natives
never eat the flesh of this animal,
and he appears to be in no other
Way serviceable to them than in
hunting the elk.

The second division compre-
hends the brown, white, or grisly
bear, the black bear; the deer.
cummon red deer, the black-tailed
fallow deer, the mule deer, the
elk, the wolves, the large brown
wolf, the small wolf of the plains,
the tiger-cat, the foxes, the com-
mon red fox, the silver fox, the
fisher or black fox, the large red
fox of the plains, the kit-fox, or
small fox of the plains, the ante-
lope, the sheep, beaver, common
otter, sea-otter, mink, seal, ra-
coon, squirrels, large gray squir-
rel, small gray squirrel, small
brewn squirrel, ground squirrel,
braro, rat, mouse, mole, panther,
hare, rabbit, polecat or skunk.

First, the brown, white or gris-
ly bear, which seem to be of the
same family, with an accidental
variation of colour only, inhabit
the timbered parts of the Rocky
mountains. They are rarely found
on the western side, and are more
commonly below the Rocky moun-
tains, in the plains, or on their
borders, amidst copses of brush
and underwood, and near the wa-
ter courses. We are unable to
learn that they inhabit at all in
the woody country bordering on
the coast,.as far in the interior as
the range of mountains which
pass the Columbia, between the
great falls and the rapids of that
river.

2. The black bear differs in no
respect from those common to the
United States. They chiefly in-
habit timbered parts of the Rocky.

mountains,

NATURA DLYIH IST ORY.

mountains, and likewise the bor-
ders of the great plains of the Co-
lumbia. They are sometimes
found in the tract which les be-
tween those plains and the Pacific
ocean. One of cur hunters saw
one of this species, which was the
only one we have discovered since
our residence in Fort Clatsop.

3. The deer are of three kinds:
the common red deer, the black-
tailed fallow deer, and the mule
deer.

1. The common red deer inha-
bit the rocky mountains, in the
neighbourhood of the Chopun-
nish, and about the Columbia,
and down the river as low as where
the tide water commences. They
do not appear to differ from those
of the United States, being the
same in shape, size, and appear-
ance. The tail oh however dif-
ferent, which is of an unusi.al
length, far exceeding that of the
common deer. Captain Lewis
measured one, and found it to be
seventeen inches long.

2. The black-tailed fallow deer
are peculiar to this coast, and are
a distinct species, partaking
equally of the qualities of the mule
and the common deer. ‘Their
ears are longer, and their winter
coat darker than those of the com-
mon deer. ‘She receptacle of the
eye more conspicuous, their legs
shorter, their bodies thicker and
larger. The tail is of the same
length with that of the common
deer, the hair on the under side
white, and on its sides and top
of a deep jetty black: the hams
resemble in form and colour those

of the mule, which it likewise re-.

sembles in its gait. The black-
tailed deer never runs at full
speed, but bounds with every foot

549

from the ground, at the same
time, like the mule deer. He
sometimes inhabits the woodlands,
but more often the prairies and
open grounds. It may be gene-
rally said, that he is of a size lar-
ger than the common deer, and
less than the mule deer. The
flesh is seldom fat, and in flavour
is far inferior to any other of the
species.

3. The mule deer inhabit both
the sea-coast and the plains of the
Missouri, and likewise the bor-
ders of the Kooskooskee river, in
the neighbourhood of the Rocky
mountains. It is not known whe-
ther they exist in the interior of
the great plains of the Columbia,
or on the lower borders, near the
mountains which pass the river
above the Great Falls. The pro-
perties of this animal have already
rae noticed.

. The elk is of the same spe-
tik with that which inhabits
much the greatest part of North
America. They are common to
every part of this country, as wel
the timbered land as the plains,
but are much more abundant in
the former than in the latter. In
the month of March we discover-
ed several which had not cast their
horns, and others where the new
horns had grown to the length of
six inches. The latter were in
much the best order, and fiom
hence we draw the inference that
the leanest elk retain their horns
the ae ae

. The wolf is either the large
nit wolf, or the wolf of ine
plains, of which last there are
two kinds, the large and the small.
The large brown wolf inhabits
the woody countries on the bor-
ders of the Pacific, and the mou

430

tains which pass the Columbia
river, between the Great Falls
and Rapids, and resembles in all
points those of the United States.

The large and small wolves of
the plains principally inhabit the
open country and the woodlands
on their borders. They resemble,
both in appearance and_ habit,
those of the Missouri plains. They
are by no means abundant in the
plains of the Columbia, as. they
meet there but very little game
~for their subsistence.

6. The tiger-cat inhabits the
borders of the plains, and the
woody country in the neighbour-
‘hood of the Pacific. This animal
is of a size larger than the wild
eat ofour country, and much the
same in form, agility, and feroci-
ty. The colour of the back, neck
and-sides, is of a'reddish brown,
irregularly variegated with «small
spots of dark brown: the tail is
about two inches long, and nearly
white, except the extremity, which
is black. It terminates abruptly,
as if it had been amputated: the
belly is white, and beautifully va-
riegated with small black spots :
the legs are of the same colour
with the sides, and the back is
marked ‘transversely with black
stripes : the ears are black on the
outer side, covered ‘with ‘fine,
short ‘hair, except at the. upper
point, which is furnished with a
pencilof hair, fine, straight, and
black, thr ee-fourths ef an inch in
length. The hair of this animal
is long and fine, far exceeding
that of the wild cat-of the United
States, but inferior in that quality
tothat ofthe bear ofthenorth-west.
The skin of this animal is in-great
‘demand-amongst the natives, for
of this-they form their robes, and

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

it requires four to make up the
complement.

7. Of the foxes we have seen
‘several species.

The large red fox of the plains,
and the kit-fox or small red fox
of the plains, are the same as are
found on the banks of the Mis-
souri. They are found almost
exclusively in the open plains, or
on the tops of brush within the
level country: the common red
fox of the United States inhabits
the country bordering the coast,
nor docs this anirnal appear to
have undergone any alteration.

The black fox, or, as it is term-
ed in the neighbourhood of De-_
troit, the fisher, is found in the
woody country bordering on the
coast. How it should have acqui-
red this appellation it is difficult
to imagine, as it certainly does
not prey upon fish. These ani-
mals are extremely strong and
active, and admirably expert in
climbing : this they perform with
the greatest ease, and bound from
tree to tree in pursuit of the squir-
rel or racoon, their most usual
food. ‘Their colour is of a jetty
black, excepting a small white
spot upon the breast: the body is
long, the legs short, and .resem-
bling those of the ordinary turn-
spit ‘dog. The tail is remarkably
long, and not differing in other
particulars from that of the ordi-
nary fox.

The silver fox isan animal very
rare, even in the country he inha-
bits. We have seen nothing but
the skins of this animal, and those
in the possession of the natives of
the woody country below the Co-
lumbia Falls, which makes us.con-

“jecture it to be.an inhabitant of

From
the

that country exclusively.

NATURAL HISTORY.

the skin it appeared to be of the
size of the large red fox of the
plains, resembling that animal in
form, and .particularly in the di-
mensions of the tail. The legs
Captain Lewis conjectured to be
somewhat larger, It has a long
deep lead-coloured fur, for foil,
intermixed with long hairs, either
of a white or black colour at the
dower part, and invariably white
at the top, forming a most beau-
tiful silver gray. Captain Lewis
thought this the most beautiful of
the whole species, excepting one
. which-he discovered on the Mis-
_ souri, near the natural wails.

8. The antelope inhabits the
_ great plains of the Columbia, and
resembles those found on the
banks ofthe Missouri, and indeed
Ain every part of the untimbered
country, but they are by no means
so abundant cn this as on the
other side of the Rocky moun-
tains. The natives in this place
make themselves robes of their
skins, and preserve the hair en-
tire. In the summer and autumn,
when the salmon begin to decline,
the majority of the natives leave
the sides of the river, and reside
in the open plains, to hunt the
antelope, which they pursue on
horseback, and shoot with their
arrows.

9. The sheep,is found in many
places, but mostly.in the timber-
ed parts of the Rocky mountains.
They livein greater numbers onthe
chain of mountains forming the
commencement of the woody
country on the coast, and passing
the Cohwubia between the falls
and the rapids. We have only
seen the sking of these animals,
which the natives dress with the
wool, and the blankcts which they

‘real luxury.

55

manufacture from the wool. The
animal, from this evidence, ap-
pears to be of the size of our com-
mon sheep, of a white colour :
the wool is fine on many parts of
the body, but in length not equal
to that of our domestic sheep.
On the back, and particularly on
the top of the head, this is inter-
mixed witha considerable propor-
tion of long straight hairs. From
the Indian account, these animals
have erect pointed horns: one of
our engagees informed us he had
seen them in the black hills, and
that the horns were lunated like
those. of our domestic sheep. We
have nevertheless too many proofs
to admita doubt of their existing,

‘and in considerable numbers, on

the mountains near the coast.

10. The beaver of this country
is large and fat: the flesh is very
palatable, and at.our table was a
On the 7th of Ja-
nuary, 1806, cur hunter found a
beaver.in his traps, of which he
made a bait for taking others :
this bait will entice the beaver to
the trap, as far as.he can smell it,
and this may be fairly stated to be
at the distance of a mile, as their
sense of smelling is very acute.
To prepare beaver bait, the castor
or bark stone is. first gently press-
ed from the bladder-like bag
which contains it, into a phial of

‘four ounces, with a large mouth:

five or six of these stones are thus
taken, to which must be added a
nutmeg, a dozen or fifteen cloves
and thirty grains of cinnamon,
finely pulverized and stirred to-
gether, and as much ardent spirits
added to the composition as will
reduce the whole to the consist-
ency of mustard. All this must

be carefully cofked, as it soon

‘loses

553

lose its efficacy if exposed to the
openair. The scent becomes much
stronger in four or five days after
preparation, and, provided proper
precaution is exercised, will pre-
serve its efficacy for months. Any
strong aromatic spices will an-
swer; their sole virtue being to
give variety and pungency to ~the
scent of the bark stone. The
male beaver has six stones, two
of which contain a substance
much like finely pulverized bark,
ofa pale yellow colour, and in
smell resembling tamers’ ooze ;
these are called bark stones or
castors. Two others, which like
the bark stone resemble small
bladders, contain pure strong oil,
ofa strong rank smell, and are
called the Oil stone, and the other
two are the testicles. The bark
stones are two inches in length:
the others are somewhat smaller,
of an oval form, and lie in a
bunch together, between the skin
and the root of the tail, with
which they are closely connected,
and seem to communicate. The
female brings forth once in a year
only, and he sometimes two and
sometimes four ata birth, which
usually happens in the latter end
of May and the beginning of June:
at this time she is said to drive the
male from the lodge, who would
otherwise destroy the young.
They propagate like the fowl, by
the gut, and the male has no other
sexual distinction that we could
discover.

11. The common otter has al-
ready been described, and this
species does not differ from those
_ inhabiting the other parts of Ame-
rica.

12. The sea-otter resides only
on the sea-cvast, or in the neigh-

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816,

bourhood of the salt water. When
fully grown, he arrives to the size
of a large mastiff dog. The ears
and eyes, particularly the former,
which are not an inch in length,
are thick, pointed, fleshy, and co-
vered with short hair: the tail is
ten inches long, thick at the point
of insertion and partially covered
with a deep fur on the upper side:
the legs are very short, and the
feet, which have five toes each,
are broad, large, and webbed:
the legs are covered with fur, and
the feet with short hair: the body
of this animal is long, and of the
same thickness throughout : from
the extremity of the tail to the
nose they measure five feet. The
colour is a uniform dark brown,
and, when in good order and sea-
son, perfectly black. This ani-
mal is unrivalled for the beauty,
richness, and softness of his fur:
the inner part of the fur, when
opened, is lighter than the sur-
face in its natural position: there
are some black and shining hairs
intermixed with the fur, which
are rather longer, and add much
to its beauty: the fur about the
ears, nose and eyes, in some of
this species, presents a. lighter
colour, sometimes a brown:
their young are often seen of a
cream-coloured white about the
nose, eyes and forehead, and
which are always much lighter
than their other parts: their fur
is however much iuferior to that
of the full grown otter.

13. The mink inhabits the
woody country bordering on the
coast, and does not differ in any
point from those of the United

’ States.

14. The seal are found on this
coast in great numbers, and as
far

ct

NATURAL

far up the Columbia river as the
Great Falls, and none have been
‘discovered beyond them. ‘The
skins of such as Captain Lewis
examined, were covered with a
short, coarse, stiff, and glossy
hair, of a reddish brown colour.
This animal, when in the water,
appeared of a black colour, and
sometimes spotted with white.
We believe that there are several
species of this animal to be found
in this country, but we could not
procure a sufficient number to
make the examination: the skins
were precisely of the same kind as
our countrymen employ in the
manufacture of trunks.

15. The racoon inhabits woody
countries bordering on the coiist,
in considerable numbers, and is
caught by the natives with snares
or pitfalls: they hold their skins
in but litle or no estimation, and
very seldom make them into
robes. ?

16. The squirrels we have seen,
are,

The large gray squirrel. This

nimal appears to be an inhabi-
tant of a narrow tract of country,
well covered*with whiteoak tim-
ber, and situated on the upper
side of the mountains just below
Columbia Falls. This animal we
have only found in those tracts
which have been covered with
timber; for in countries where
pine is most abundant, he does
not appear: he is much superior
in size to the common gray squir-
rel, and resembles in form, co-
lour and size, the fox-squirrel of
the Atlantic states: the tail ex-
ceeds the whole length of the
body and head : the eyes are dark,
the whiskers long and black : the
back sides of the head and tail,

HISTORY. 553

and outward part of the legs, are
all of a blue coloured gray: the
breast, belly, and inner part of
the body, ave all of a pure white:
the hair is short, like that of the
fox-squirrel, though much finer,
and intermixed with a portion of
fur. The natives hold the skin of
this animal in high estimation,
which they use in forming their
robes. He subsists on the acorn
and filberts, which last grows in
great abundance in the oak coun-
try: -

The small gray squirrel is com-
mon to every part of the Rocky
mountains where timber abounds.
He differs from the dark brown
squirrel in colour only. The
back, sides, neck, head, tail and
outer side of the legs, are of a
brownish lead-coloured gray : the

‘tail is slightly touched with a dark

reddish colour, near the extremi-
ty of some of the hairs: the
throat, breast, belly, and inner
parts of the legs, are of the co-
lour of a tanner’s ooze, and have
a narrow strip of black, com-
mercing behind each shoulder,
and entering longitudinally about
three inches, between the colours
of the sides and belly. Their ha-
bits are precisely those of the dark
brownsgquirrel, and likethem they
are extremely nimble and active.

There is also a species of squir-
rel, evidently distinct, which we
have denominated the burrowing
squirrel. He inhabits these
plains, and somewhat resembles
those found on the Missouri: he
measures one foot and five inches
in length, of which the tail com-

“prises two and a half inches only :

the neck and legs are short ; the
ears are likewise short, obtusely
pointed, and lie close to the head,

and

554

and. the aperture larger: than will
generally be found among’ bur-
rowing animals. ‘The eyes.are of
a moderate size, the pupil black,
and the iris of a dark sooty
brown: the whiskers are full,
long, and black: the teeth, and
indeed, the whole contour, resem-
ble those of the squirrel: each
foot has five toes; the two inner
ones of the fore-feet are remank-
ably-short, and are equipped with
blunt nails; the remaining toes
on the front feet are long, black,
slightly curved, and sharply point-
ed: the hair of the tail is. thickly
inserted onthe sides only, which
gives it.a flat appearance, and a
Jong oval,form: the tips of the
hair forming the outer edges of
the tail are -white, the other ex-
tremity of a fox ved: ithe under
part of the tail resembles an iren
gray; the upper is of a reddish
brown: the lower part of the
jaws, the under-part of the neck,
legs, and feet, from the: body and
belly downwards, are of a light
brick red: the »nose:and- eyes are
of a darker shade, of the same
colour: the wpper part of ‘the
head, neck, .anid body, sare of a
curious brown.gray, witha slight
tinge of brick red: the lenger
hairs of ‘these, parts of a reddish
white colour, at their extremities,
and falling together, give this
animal a speckled appearance.
These animals form in large com-
;panies, like those on the Mis-
souri, oecupying with -their bur-
‘rows sometimes two hundred
acres of jland: the burrows are
-separate, and-each, possesses; per-
chaps, ten oritwelve of these in-
habitants. Phere:is a little mound
in-the front of the hole, formed

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1616

of the earth-thrown out of the
burrow, and frequently there are
three or four distinct holes, form-
ing one burrow, with these .en-
trances around the base of these
little mounds. These mounds,
sometimes about two ‘feet in
height and four in diameter, are
occupied as watch-towers by the
inhabitants of these little com-
munities. ‘The squirrels, one or
more, are irregularly distributed
on the tract they thus-occupy, at
the distance of ten, twenty, or
sometimes from thirty to forty
yards. When.any ope approaches,

they make a shrill whistling
sound, somewhat resembling

tweet, tweet, tweet, the signal
for their party to. take the alarm,
and to retire into their intrench-
ments. They feed on the roots
of ,grasa, &e.

‘The,small brown squirrel is.a
beautiful lite animal, about.the
size and form of the red squirrel
of the eastern Atlantic states, and.
western lakes. The tail is as long
as.the bedy and neck, and formed
like ‘that of the red squirrel: the
eyes ave black, the .iibkers long
and blaek, but not abundant: the
back, sides, head, neck, and outer
part of the legs, are of areddish
brown; the throat, breast, belly,
and inner part of the legs, are of
apale ved: the tail is a;mixture
of black and fox-coloured.red, in
which the black predominates in

-the middle, and the other on the
edges and extremity: the hair.of

the body is about half an, inch
lung, and su'fine and soft it has

the appearance of fur: the hair
-of the tail is: coarser, and double

in length. This animal subsists
chiefly on the .seeds of various
species

NATURAL HISTORY. 695

«species of pine, andis always found
in the pine country.

‘The ground-squirrel is found
in every part of this country, as
well in the prairies as in the woad-
lands, and is one of the few ani-
mals which we have seen in every
part of our journey, and differs
in no respect from those of the
United States.

There is still another species,
denominated by Captain Lewis,
the barking squirrel, found in the
plains of the Missoari. ‘This ani-
mal commonly weighs three
pounds: the colour is a uniform
bright brick red and grey, and
the former predominates: the
under side of the neck and beily
are lighter than the other parts of
the body: the legs are short, and
the breast and shoulders wide :
the head is stout and muscular,
-and terminates more bluntly,
wider, and flatter than that of the
common squirrel: the ears are
short, and have the appearance of
amputation: the jaw is furnished
with a pouch to contain his food,
but not so large as that of the
cemmon squirrel: the nose is
armed with whiskers on each side,
and afew long hairs are inserted
on each jaw, and directly over the
eyes : the eye is small and black :
each foot has five toes, and the
two outer ones are much shorter
than those in the centre. The
two inner toes of the fore feet are

long, sharp, and well adapted to
digging and scratching. From
the extremity of the nose to the
end of tie tail thisanimal measures
one foot and five inches, of which
the tail occupies four inches.
Notwithstanding the clumsiness
of his form, he is remarkably ac-
tive, and he burruws inthe ground

with great rapidity. These. ani-
mals burrow and reside in their
little subterraneous villages like
the burrowing squirrel, ‘Lothese
apartments, although six or eight
usually associate together, there
is but one entrance. They.are of
great depth, and Captain Lewis
once pursued one to the depth of
ten. feet, and did not reach the
end of the burrow. They occupy,
in this manner, several handred
acres of ground, and when at
rest their position is generaliy
erect on their hinder feet and
rump: they sit with much confi-
dence, and bark at the intruder
as he approaches, with a fretful
and harmless intrepidity. The

note resembles that of the little

toy-dog: the yelps are in quick
and angry succession, attended by
rapid and convulsive motions, as
if they were determined to sally
forth in defence of their freehold.
They feedon the grass of their
village, the limits of which they
never venture to exceed. As soon
as the frost commences, they shut
themselyes up in their caverns,
and continue till the spring opens,
The flesh of this animal is net un-
pleasant to the taste.

17. Sewellelis a name given by
the natives to a small animal
found in the timbered country on
this coast. It is more abundant
in the neighbourhood of the Great
Falls and Rapids ef the Colum-
bia, than on the coast which we
inhabit.

The natives make oreat-use of
the skins of this animal in‘ ferm-
ing their robes, which they dress
with the fur on, and attaeh them
together with sinews of theelk or
deer : the-skin when dressed, is
from fourteen ‘to eighteen inches

long,

536

long, and from seven to nine in
width; the tail is always separa-
ted from the skin by the natives
when making their robes. This
animal mountsa tree and burrows
in the ground precisely like a
squirrel: the ears are short, thin,
and pointed, and covered with a
fine short hair, of a uniform red-
dish brown: the bottom, or the
base of the long hairs, which ex-
ceed the fur but little in length,
as well as the fur itself, are ofa
dark colour next to the skin for
two-thirds of the length of this
animal: the fur and hair are very
fine, short, thickly set, and silky :
the ends of the fur, and tip of the
hair, are of a reddish brown, and
that colour predominates in the
usual appearance of the animal.
Captain Lewis offered consider-
‘able rewards to the Indians, but
was never able to procure one of
these animals alive.
18. The braro, so called from
the French engagees, appears to
be an animal of the civet species,
and much resembles the common
badger. These animals inhabit
the open plains of the Columbia,
sometimes those of the Missouri,
and are sometimes found in the
woods ; they burrow in hard
grounds with surprising ease and
dexterity, and will cover them-
selves in a very few moments :
they have five long fixed nails on
each foot ; those on the fore-feet
are much the longest, and ene of
those on each hind foot is double,
‘like that of the beaver: they
weigh from fourteen to eighteen
pounds: the body is long in pro-
portion to its thickness : the fore
legs are remarkably large, mus-
cular, and are formed like those
‘of the turnspit dog, and, as well

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

as the hind legs, are short: these
animals are broad across the
shoulders and breast: the neck is
short, the mouth wide, and fur-
nished with sharp straight teeth,
both above and below, with four
sharp, straight pointed tusks, two
in the upper and two in the lower
jaw: the eyes are black and
small; whiskers are placed in
four points on each side near the
nose, and on the jaws neat the
opening of the mouth: the ears
are short, wide, and oppressed, as
if a part had beenamputated ; the
tail is four inches in length, the
hair of which is longest at the
point of the junction with the
body, and growing shorter until
it ends in an acute point: the
hairs of the body are much long-
er on the sides and rump than
those on any other part, which
gives the body an apparent flat-
ness, particularly when the ani-
mal rests upon his belly: the
hair is upwards of three inches in
length, especially on the rump,
where it extends so far towards
the point of the tail, it conceals
the shape of that part, and gives
to the whole of the hinder parts
of the hody the appearance of a
right-angled triangle, of which
the point of the tail forms an
acute angle: the small quantity
of coarse far interniixed with the

hair is of a reddish pale yellow.
19. The rats which inhabit the
rocky Mountains, like those on
the borders of the Missouri, in the
neighbourhood of the mountains,
have the distinguishing trait of
possessing a tail covered with hair
like the other parts of the body.
These animals are probably of
the same species with those of the
Atlantie states, which have not
this

NATURAL

this characteristic distinction : the
ordinary house rat we found on
the banks of the Missouri, as far
up as the woody country extends,
and the rat, such as has been de-
scribed, Captain Lewis found in
the state of Georgia, and also in
Madison's cave in Virginia.

20. The mouse which inhabits
this country is precisely the same
with those which inhabit the Uni-
ted States.

21. The mole. This animal
differs in no respect from the spe-
cies sO cOinmon in the United
States.

22. The panther is found in-
differently, either in the great
plains of the Columbia, the wes-
tern side of the Rocky mountains,
or on the coast of the Pacific.

He is the same animal so well .

known on the Atlantic coast, and
most commonly found on the
frontiers, or unsettled parts of
our country. Heis very seldom
found, and when found, so wary,
it is difficult to reach him with a
musket.

23. The hare on this side of
the Rocky mountains inhabits the
great plains of the Columbia.
To the eastward of those moun-
tains they inhabit the plains of the
Missouri. They weigh from
seven to eleven pounds: the eye
is large and prominent, the pupil

of a deep sea-green, occupying »

one-third of the diameter of the
eye; the iris is of a bright yel-
lowishand silver colour ; the ears
are placed far back, and very near
each other, which the animal can,
with surprising ease and quick-
ness, dilate, and throw forward,
or contract, and hold upon his
back at pleasure : the head, neck,
back, shoulders, thighs, and outer

HISTORY. 557

part of the legs and thighs are of
alead colour. the sides, as they
approach the belly, become gra-
dually more white: the belly,
breast and inner part of the legs
and thighs are white, with a light
shade of lead colour: the tail is
round and bluntly pointed, cover-
ed with white, soft, fine, fur, not
quite so Jong as on the other parts
of the body: the body is covered
with a deep, fine, soft, close fur.
The colours here described are
those which the animal assumes
from the middle of April to the
middle of November ; the rest of
the year he is of a pure white,
except the black and _ reddish
brown of the ears, which never
change. A few reddish brown
spots are sometimes intermixed
with the white, at this season(Fe-
bruary 26, 1806,) on their heads
and the upper part of their necks
and shoulders: the body of the
animal is smaller and longer in
proportion to its height than the
rabbit :. when he runs he conveys
his tail straight behind, in the
direction of his body: he appears
to run and bound with surprising
agility and ease: he is extremely
fleet, and never burrows or takes
shelter in the ground when pur-
sued. His teeth are like those of
the rabbit, as is also his upper
lip, which is divided as high
as the nose. His food is
grass, herbs, and in winter he
feeds much on the bark of seve-
ral aromatic herbs growing on the
plains. Captain Lewis measured
the leaps of this animal, and found
them commonly from eighteen to
twenty-one feet : they are gene-
rally found separate, and are ne-
ver seen to associate in greater
numbers than two or three,

24. The

558

24, The rabbit is the same with
those of our own country, and
sre found indifferently, either on
tlie prairies or the woodlands, and
are not very abundant.

25. The poleeat is also found
in every part of this country:
they are very abundant on some
parts of the Columbia, particu-
larly in the neighbourhood of the

Great Palls and Narrows of that’

river, Where they live in the cliffs
along the'river, and feed on the
offal of the Indian fishing shores,
They‘are of the same’ species as:
those found in the other parts of
North America.

Brinps.

The birds which we have seen
between the Rocky mountains
and /the Pacifie may be divided
inté two classes, the terrestrial
and the aquatic, In the former
class are to be arranged,

1. The grouse or prairic-hen.
This is peculiarly the inhabitant
of the great plains of the Colum-
bia, and: dues not différ from
those of the upper portion of the
Missouri. ‘The tail is pointed,
the feathers in the centre, and

uch longer than those on the
sides. This species differs essen-
tially’ im the formation of the
plumage from those of the Ili-
nois; which have their tails com-
posed of feathers: of an equal
length. In the winter season this
bird is booted to the first joint of
the toes; the toes are curiously’
bordered on their lower edges
with narrow hard scales, which
are placed very close to each
other, and’ extend horizontally’
about one eighth of an ineh on’
euch side of the toes, adding wruch
to the broadness of the feet, a

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

seeurity which bounteous nature

-has furnished them for passing

over the snows with more ease,
and, what is very remarkable, in
the summer season these scales
drop from the feet. This bird
has four toes:on each foot; the
colour is a mixture of dark brown,
reddish and yellowish brown,
with white confusedly mixed.
In this assemblage cf colours,
the reddish brown prevails most
on the upper parts of the body,
wings, and tail, and the white
underneath the belly, and the
lower parts of the breast and tail.
Vhese birds associate in large
flocks in autumn and winter; and
even in summer are’ seeu in com-
panies‘ of five or six: They feed
on grass, inseets, leaves of vari-
ous shrubs in the plains, and on
the seeds of several species’ of
speth and wild rye, which grow
in richer soils. , In winter their
food consists of the buds of the’
willow and cotton-weod; and ‘na-
tive berries.

2. The cock of the plains is:
found on the plains of the Colum-
bia in great abundance, from the:
entrance of the south-east fork of
the Columbia to that of Clarke’s
river. It is about two and three-
fourths the size of our ordinary
turkey: the beak is large, short,
covered and convex, the upper
exceeding the lower chap: — the’
nostrils are large, and’ the back
black ; the colour is an uniform
mixture of a dark brown, re-
sembling the dove, and a reddish
and yellowish brown, with seme)
small black specks. In this mix-
ture the dark brown prevails, and
has a slight east of. the dove-
colour: the wider side of the
large feathers of the wings are’

of

NATURAL

of a dark brown only. The tail
-is composed of nineteen feathers,
and that-inserted in the centre is’
the longest, the remaining nine’
on each side gradually diminish,
The tail when folded comes to a
very sharp point, and appears
proportionably long, when com-
pared with the other parts of the
body. Inthe act of flying, the’
tail resembles that of the wild
pigeon, although the motion of
the wings is much like that of
the pheasant and. grouse. This
bird has four toes’ on each foot,
of which the hindmost is the
shortest, and the leg: is covered
with féathers about half the dis-
tance between the knee and foot.
When the wing is expanded there
are wide openings between its
feathers, the plimage being too
narrow to fill up the vacancy:
the wings are short in comparison
with those of the grouse or phea-
sant. ‘The habits of this bird re-
semlle those of the grouse, ex-
cepting that’ his’ food is that of
the Jeaf and buds of' the pulpy-
leafed-thori. Captain Lewis did
not remember to have seen this
bird but in the neighbourhvod of
that shrub, which they some-
times feed on, the prickly pear:
The gizzard is large, and much
less compressed and muscular
than: in most fowls, and’ perfectly
resembles a maw. When this
bird flies he utters a cackling
sound, not unlike that of the
dunghill fowl. ‘The flesh of the
cock of the plains is dark, and
only tolerable in point of flavour,
and is not so palatable either as
that of the pheasant or grouse,
The feathers about the head are
pointed and stiff and short, fine
and stiff about the ears; at the

HISTORY.

base of the beak several hairs are
to beseen. This bird is invariably’
found in the plains.

3: The pheasant, of which we’
distinguish the: large black and
white pheasant, thesmall speckled
pheasant, the small brown phea-
sant %

1. The large black and white
pheasant: differs but little from
those of the United’ States; the’
brown is rather brighter, and’ has’
a more reddish tint. This bird
has eighteen feathers in the tail,
of about six inches’in length. He
is’ also booted to the toes: the’
tio tufts: of long’ black feathers
on cach side of the neck, so com-
mon in the male of this species’
inhabiting’ the United states, are
no less observable in this: phea-
sunt: the feathers on the body
are of a dark brown, tipped with
white and black, in which mix-
ture the black predominates ; the’
white are irregularly intermixed’
with those of the black and dark
brown in every part, but in
greater proportion about the neck,
breast, and belly: this mixture’
makes* this bird resemble mucly
that hind of dunghill fowl, whiely
the housewives” of our country’
cal? Domminicker. On the breast
of some of this’ specics the white’
predominates: the tuffs’ on the
neck leave a space about two and’
a half inches long, and one ‘inch
in width, whereng feathers grow,
though concealed by the plumage’
connected with the higher and’
under parts of the neck; this’
space enables them to contract or
dilute the feathers’ on the neck
with more ease: the eye is dark,
the beak is black, curved, some-
what pointed, and the-upper ex-
ceeds the under chap: a narrow

vermilion

559

560

vermilion stripe runs above each
eye, not protuberant but uneven,
with a number of minute rounded
dots. The bird feeds on wild
fruits, particularly the berry of
the sacacommis, and exclusively
resides in that portion of the
Rocky mountains watered by the
Columbia.

2. The small speckled pheasant
resides in the same country with
the foregoing, and differs only ia
size and colour, He is half the
size of the black and white phea-
sant, associates in much larger
flocks, and is very gentle: the
black is more predominant, and
the dark brown feathers less fre-
quent in this than in the larger
species : the mixture of white is
more general on every part. This
bird is smaller than our pheasant,
‘and the body more round: the
flesh of both these species is dark,
and with our means of cooking,
not well flavoured.

3. The small brown pheasant
is an inhabitant of the same coun-
try, and is of the same size and
shape as the speckled pheasant,
which he likewise resembles in
his habits. The stripe above the
eye in this species is scarcely per-
ceptible, and is, when closely ex-
amined, of a yellow or orange co-
lour, instead of the vermilion of
the other species: the colour is a
uniform mixture of dark yellowish
brown, with a slight aspersion of
brownish white on the ‘breast,
Lelly, and feathers underneath the
tail: the whole appearance has
much the resemblance of the com-
mon quail: this bird is also boot-
ed to the toes: the flesh of this
is preferable to the other two.

4. The buzzard is, we believe,
the largest bird of North Ame-

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

rica. One which was taken by
our hunters was not in good con-
dition, and yet the weight was
twenty-five pounds. Between the
extremity of the wings the bird
measured nine feet and two in-
ches: from the extremity of the
beak to the toe, three feet nine
and a half inches; from the hip
to the toe, two feet; the circum-
ference of the head was nine and
three-quarter inches: that of the
neck seven and a half inches ;
that of the body inclusive of two
feet three inches: the diameter of
the eye is four anda half tenths
of an inch; the iris is of a pale
scarlet red, and the pupil of a
deep sea-green: the head and
part of the neck are uncovered by
feathers; the tail is composed of
twelve feathers of equal length,
each of the length of fourteen in-
ches: the legs are uncovered and
not entirely smooth: the toes are
four in number, three forward,
and that in the centre much the
largest ; the fourth is short, in-
serted near the inner of the three
other toes, and rather projecting
forward: the thigh is covered
with feathers as low as the knee,
the top or upper part of the toes
is imbricated with broad scales,
lying transversely: the nails are
black, short, and bluntly pointed :
the under side of the wing is
covered with white down and fea-
thers: a white stripe of about
two inches in width marks the
outer part of the wing, embracing
the lower points of the plumage,
covering the joints of the wing:
the remainder is of a deep black :
the skin of the beak and head to
the joining of the neck, is of a
pale orange colour; the other
part, destitute of plumage, is of,

a light

NATURAL HISTORY.

a light flesh colour. It is not
known that this bird preys upon
living animals: we have seen him
feeding on the remains of the
whale and other fish thrown upon
the coast by the violence of the
waves. This bird was not seen
by any of the party until we had
descended Columbia river, below
the Great Falls, and he is believed
to be of the vulture genus, al-
though the bird lacks some of
the characteristics, particularly
the hair on the neck, and the
plumage on the legs.

5. The robin is an inhabitant
of the Rocky mountains: the
beak is smooth, black, and con-
vex; the upper chap exceeds the
other in length, and a few small
black hairs garnish the sides of
its base: the eye is of a uniform
deep sea-green colour: the legs,
feet, and talons are white, of
which the front one is of the same
length as the leg, including the
talon; these are slightly imbri-
cated, curved, and sharply point-
ed: the crown, from the beak
back to the neck, embracing more
than half the circumference of the
neck, the back, and tail, are all
of a bluish dark brown; the two
outer feathers of the tail are
dashed with white near their tips,
imperceptible when the tail is
folded: a fine black forms the
ground of their wings; two
stripes of the sane colour pass
on either side of the head, from
the base of the beak to the
junction, and embrace the eye
to its upper edge: a third stripe
of the same colour passes from
the sides of the neck to the
tips of the wings, across the
crop, in the form of a gorget:
the throat, neck, breast, and

Vou. LVIII.

561

belly, are of a fine brick red,
tinged with yellow ; a narrow
stripe of this colour commences
just above the centre of each eye,
and extends backwards to the
neck till it comes in contact with
the black stripe before mention-
ed, to which it seems to answer
as aborder: the feathers forming
the first and second ranges of the
coverts of the two joints of the
wing next to the body, are beau-
tifully tipped with this brick red,
as is also each large feather of
the wing, on the short side of its
plumage. This beautiful little
bird feeds on berries. The robin
is an inhabitant exclusively of the
woody country; we have never
heard its note, which the cold-
ness of the season may perhaps
account for.

6. The crow and raven is ex-
actly the same in appearance and
note as that on the Atlantic, ex-
cept that it is much smaller on
the Columbia.

7. The hawks too of this coast
do not differ from those of the
United States. We here see the
large brown hawk, the small or
sparrow hawk, and one of an in-
termediate size, called in the
United States, the hen hawk,
which has a long tail and blue
wings, and is extremely fierce,
and rapid in its flight. The
hawks, crows, and ravens are
common to every part of this
country, their nests being scat-
tered in their high cliffs, along
the whole course of the Columbia
and its south-eastern branches.

8. The large blackbird is the
same with those of our country,
and are found every-where in this
country.

9. The large hooting ewl we

20 saw

562

saw only on the Kooskooskee un-
der the Rocky mountains. It is
the same in form and size with
the owl of the United States,
though its colours, particularly
the reddish brown, seem deeper
and brighter.

(10. The turtle-dove and the
robin (except the Columbian ro-
bin already described) are the
same as those of the United
States, and are found in the plains
as well as in the common broken
country.

11. The magpie is most com-
monly found in the open country,
and resembles those of the Mis-
souri, already described.

12. The large woodpecker or
Jaycock, the lark woodpecker, and
the common small white wood-
pecker, with a red head, are the
inhabitants exclusively of the tim-
bered lands, and differ in no re-
spect from birds of the same spe-
cies in the United States.

13. The lark, which is found
in the plains only, and is not un-
like what is called in Virginia,
the old field lark, is the same with

those already described as seen on
the Missouri.

14. The flycatcher is of two
species.

The first is of a small body, of
a reddish brown colour: the tail
and neck short, and the beak
pointed: some fine. black specks
are intermingled with the reddish
brown. ‘This is of the same spe-
cies with that which remains all
winter in Virginia, where it is
sometimes called the wren.

The second species has recently
returned, and emigrates during
the winter. The colours of this
bird are, a yellowish brown, on
the back, head, neck, wing and

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

tail; the breast and _ belly are of
a yellowish white: the tail is in
the same proportion as that of the
wren, but the bird itself. is of a
size smaller than the wren: the
beak is straight, pointed, convex,
rather large at the base, and the
chaps are of equal length. The
first species is smaller, and in
fact the smallest bird which Cap-
tain Lewis had ever seen, except-
ing the humming bird. Both of
this species are found exclusively
in the woody country,

15. Corvus. The blue-crested,
and the small white-breasted
corvus, are both natives of the
piny country, and are invariably
found as well on the Rocky moun-
tains as on this coast. They have
already been described.

16. The snipe, &c. The com-
mon snipe of the marshes, and
the common sand snipe, are of
the same species as those so well
known in the United States.
They are by no means found in
such abundance here as they are
on ihe coast of the Atlantic.

The Jeathern YOHE CS bat,
Xe fone to the natives of the
United States, is likewise found
on this side of the Rocky moun-
tains.

18. The white woodpecker
likewise frequents these regions,
and reminds our party of their
native country, by his approaches,
The head of this bird is of a deep
red colour, like that of the United
States. We have conjectured that
he has lately returned, as he does
not abide in this country during
the winter. ‘The large wood-
pecker, and the lark weodpecker,
are found in this country, and re-
semble those of the United States.

19. The black wocdpecker is

found

NATURAL HISTORY.

found in most parts of the Rocky
mountains, as well as in the wes-
tern and south-western moun-
‘tains. He is about the size of
the lark woodpecker, or turtle-
dove, although his wings are
longer than the wings of either
of those birds: the beak is one
inch in length, black, curved at
the base, and sharply pointed :
the chaps are the same in length ;
around the base of the beak, in-
cluding the eye and a small part
of the throat, there is a fine crim-
son red: the neck, as low down
as the crop in front, is of an iron
gray: the belly and breast pre-
sent a curious mixture of white
and blood-red, which has niuch
the a gael of paint, where
the red predominates : the top of
the head, back, sides, and upper
surface of the wings and tail, ex-
hibit the appearance of a glossy
green, in a certain exposure to
the light: the under side of the
wings and tail, is of a sooty black :
the tail is equipped with ten fea-
thers, sharply pointed, and those
in the centre the longest, being
about two and a half inches in
length: the tongue is barbed and
pointed, and of an elastic and
cartilaginous substance: the eye
is rather large, the pupil black,
and the iris of a dark and yellow-
ish brown: the bird in its actions
when flying, resembles the small
red-headed woodpecker common
to the United States, and likewise
in its notes: the pointed tail ren-
deis essential service when the
bird is sitting in retaining his
resting position against the per-
pendicular sides of a tree: the
legs and feet are black, and eo-
vered with wide imbricated scales :
he has four toes on each foot,

563

two in the rear and two in front,
the nails of which are much curved
and_ pointed remarkably sharp:
he feeds on buys and a variety of
insects.

20. The calumet eagle some-
times inhabits this side of the
Rocky mountains. This infor-
mation Captain Lewis derived
from the natives, in whose pos-
session he had seen their plumage.
These are of the same spécies with
those of the Missouri, and are the
most beautiful of all the family of
eagles in America. The colours
are black and white, and beau-
tifully variegated. The tail fea-
thers, so highly prized by the na-
tives, are composed of twelve
broad feathers of unequal length,
which are white, except within
two inches of their extremities,
where they immediately change
to a jetty black: the wings have
each a large circular white spot
in the middle, which is only visi-
ble when they are extended: the

-body is variously marked with

black and white: in form they
resemble the bald eagle, but they
are rather smaller, and fly with
much more rapidity. ‘Phis bird
is feared by all his carnivorous
eonipetitors, who, on his ap-
proach, leave the careass in-
stantly, on which they had been
feeding. The femate breeds in
the most inaccessible parts of the
mountains, where she makes-her
suminer residence, and descends
to the plains only in the fall and
winter seasons. ‘The natives are
at this season on the watch, and
so highly is this plumage prized
by the Mandans, the Minneta-
rees, and the Ricaras, that the
tail feathers of two of these eagles
will be purchased by the exchange

20°82 of

564

of a good horse or gun, and such
accoutrements. Amongst the
great and little Osages, and those
nations inhabiting the countries
where the bird is more rarely
seen, the price is even double
of that above-mentioned. With
these feathers the natives decorate
the stems of their sacred pipes or
calumets, from whence the name
of the calumet eagle is derived.
The Ricaras have comesticated
this bird in many instances, for
the purpose of obtaining its plu-
mage. The natives, on every
part of the continent, who can
procure the feathers, attach them
to their own hair, and the manes
and tails of their favourite horses,
by way of ornament. They also
decorate their war caps or bon-
nets with these feathers.

As to the aquatic birds of this
country, we have to repeat the
remark, that, as we remained
near the coast during the winter
only, many birds, common both
in the summer and autumn,
might have retired from the cold,
and been lost to our observation.
We saw, however,

The large blue and brown
heron: the fishing hawk; the
blue-crested fisher; several spe-
cies of gulls ; the cormorant ; two
species of loons; brant of two
kinds ; geese ; swan ; and several
species of ducks.

1. The large blue and brown
herons, or cranes, as they are
usually termed in the United
States, are found on the Colum-
bia below tide-water. They differ
in no respect from the same spe-
cies of bird in the United States.
The same may be observed of

2. The fishing hawk, with the
crown of the head white, and the
back of a mealy white, and

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

3. Of the blue-crested or king-
fisher, both of which are found
every-where on the Columbia and
its tributary waters; though the
fishing hawk is not abundant,
particularly in the mountains. —

4. Of gulls, we have remarked
four species on the coast and the
river, all common to the United
States.

5. The cormorant is, properly
speaking, a Jarge black duck that
feeds on fish. Captain Lewis
could perceive no difference be-
tween this bird and those ducks
which inhabit the Potomack and
other rivers on the Atlantic coast.
He never remembered to have
seen those inhabiting the Atlantic
states, so high up the river as
they have been found in. this
quarter. We first discovered the
corvus on the Kooskooskee, at
the entrance of Chopunnish river :
they increased in numbers as we
descended, and formed much the
greatest portion of the water-fowl
which we saw until we reached
the Columbia at the entrance of
the tides. They abound even
here, but bear no proportion to
the number of other water-fowl
seen at this place.

6. The loon: there are two
species of loons: the speckled
loon, found on every part of the
rivers of this country. They are
of the same size, colour and form,
with those of the Atlantic coast.

The second species we found at
the Falls of the Columbia, and
from thence downwards to the
ocean. This bird is not more than
half the size of the speckled loon;
the neck is, in front, long, slender
and white: the plumage on the
body and baek of the head and
neck are of a dun or ash colour :
the breast and belly are white,

the

NATURAL HISTORY.

the beak like that of the speckled
loon; and like them, it cannot
fiy, but flutters along on the sur-
face of the water, or dives for
security when pursued.

7. The brant are of three
kinds : the white, the brown, and
the pied. The white brant are
very common on the shores of
the Pacific, particularly below the
water, where they remain in vast
numbers during the winter : they
feed like the swan-geese, on the
grass, roots, and seeds which

row in the marshes: this bird
is about the size of the brown
brant, or a third less than the
eommon Canadian wild goose :
the head is rather larger, the
beak thicker than that of the wild
_ goose, shorter, and of: much the
same form, being of a yellowish
white colour, except the edges of
- the chaps, which are frequently
of a dark brown: the legs and
feet are of the same form as the
goose, and are of a pale flesh co-
lour: the tail is composed of six-
teen feathers of equal length with
those of the goose and brown
brant, and bears about the same
proportion in point of length:
the eye is of a dark colour, and
nothing remarkable in size: the
wings are large when compared
with those of the goose, but not
so much soas in the brown brant:
the colour of the plumage is a
pure uniform white, except the
large feathers at the extremity of
the wings, which are black: the
large feathers at the first joint of
the wing next to the body are
white : the note of this bird dif-
fers essentially from that of the
goose ; it more resembles that of
the brown brant, but is somewhat
different ; it is like the note of a

565

young domestic goose, that has
not perfectly attained its full
sound: the flesh of this bird is
exceedingly fine, preferable to
either the goose or brown brant.
2. The brown brant are much
of the same colour, form, and
size as the white, only that their
wings are considerably longer
and more pointed: the plumage
of the upper part of the body,
neck, head, and tail, is much the
colour of the Canadian goose, but
somewhat darker, in consequence
of some dark feathers irregularly
scattered throughout. They have
nut the same white on the neck
and sides of the head as the goose,
nor is the neck darker than the
body: like the goose, they have

“some white feathers on the rump

at the joining of the tail: the
beak is dark, and the legs and
feet also dark with a greenish
cast : the breast and belly are of a
lighter colour than the back, and
are also irregularly intermixed
with dark brown and black fea-
thers, which give them a pied
appearance: the flesh is darker
and better than that of the geose.
The habits of these birds resem-
ble those of the geese, with this
difference, that they do not re-
main in this climate in such num-
bers during the winter as the
others, and that they set out
earlier in the fall season on their
return to the south, and arrive
later in the spring than the goose.
There is no difference between
this bird and that called simply
the brant, so common on the
lakes of the Ohio and Missis-
sippi. The small goose of this
country is rather less than the
brant; its head and neck like the

brant.
3. The

566

3. The pied brant weigh about
eight and a half pounds, differing
from the ordinary pied brant in
their wings, which are neither so
long nor 80 pointed : the base of
the beak is for a little distance
white, suddenly succeeded by a
narrow line of dark brown: the
vemainder of the neck, head,
back, wings, and tail, all except
the tips of the feathers, are of a
bluish brown of the common wild
goose: the breast and belly are
white, with an irregular mixture
of black feathers, which give
those parts a pied appearance.
From the legs, back, underneath
the tail, and around its junction
with the body above, the feathers
are white: the tail is composed
of eighteen feathers, the longest
in the centre, and measures six in-
ches with the barrel of the quill :
those on the sides of the tail are
something shorter, and bend with
the extremities inwards towards
the centre of the tail: the extre-
mities of these feathers are white:
the beak is of a light ash colour :
the legs and feet, which do not
differ in structure from those of
the goose or brant of other spe-
cies, are of an orange colour: the
eye is small, the iris of a dark
yellowish brown, and pupil black :
the note is much the same as that
of the common pied brant, from
which, in fact, they are not to be
distinguished at a distance, al-
though they certainly are of a
distinct species: the flesh is
equally palatable with that of
common pied brant. They do
not remain here during the winter
in such numbers as the bird above-
mentioned: this bird is here de-
nominated the pied brant, on ac-
count of the near resemblance,

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

and for want of another appella-
tion. ;

8. The geese are either the
large or small kind: the large
goose resembles our ordinary wild
or Canadian goose; the small is
rather less than the brant, which
it resembles in the head and neck,
where it is larger in proportion
than that of the goose: the beak
is thicker and shorter; the note
like that of a tame goose. In all
other points it resembles the large
goose, with which it associates so
frequently, that it was some time
before it was discovered to be of
a distinct species.

9. The swans are oftwo kinds,
the large and the small: theJarge
swan is the same common to the
Atlantic states: the small differs:
only from the large in size and in
note: it is about one-fourth less,
and its note is entirely different.
lt cannot be justly imitated by the
sound of letters; it begins with
a kind of whistling sound, and
terminates in a round full note,
louder at the end: this note is as
loud as that of the large species,
whence it might be denominated
the whistling swan: its habits,
colour, and contour, appear to be.
precisely those of the larger spe-
cies. These birds were first found
below the great narrows of the’
Columbia, near the Chilluckitte-
quaw nation: they are very abun-
dant in this neighbourhood, and
remained with the party all win-
ter, and in number they exceed
those of the larger species in the
proportion of five to one.

10. Of ducks, we enumerate
many kinds: the duckinmallard,
the canvass-back duck, the red-
headed fishing-duck, the black
and white duck, the little brown

duck,

NATURAL HISTORY.

duck, black duck, two species of
divers, .and blue-winged teal.

1. The duckinmallard, or com-
mon large duck, resembles the
domestic duck, are very abun-
dant, and found in every part of
the river below the mountains :
they remain here all winter, but
during this season do not continue
much above tide-water.

2. The canvass-back duck is a
most beautiful fowl, and most de-
licious to the palate: it is found
in considerable numbers in this
neighbourhood. It is of the same
species with those of the Dela-
ware, Susquehannah, and Poto-
mack, where it is called the can-
yass-back duck; and in James’
river it is known by the name of
the shelled drake. From this last-
mentioned river it is said, how-
ever, that they have almost totally
disappeared. To the epicure of
those parts of the United States,
where this game is in plenty, no-
thing need be said in praise of its
exquisite flavour, and those on
the banks of the Columbia are
equally delicious. We saw no-
thing of them until after we had
reached. the marshy islands.

3. The red-headed fishing duck
is common to every part of the
river, and was likewise found in
the Rocky mountains, and was
the only duck discovered in the
waters of the Columbia within
those mountains. They feed
chiefly on craw-fish, and are the
same in every respect as those on
the rivers and the mountains bor-
dering on the Atlantic ocean.

4. Vhe black and white duck
is small, and a size larger than
the teal. ‘he male is beantifully
variegated with black and white :
the white occupies the side of the
head, breast, and back, the tail,

567

feathers of the wings, and two
tufts of feathers which cover the
upper part of the wings, .when
folded, and likewise the neck and
head : the female is darker’ ‘This
is believed to be the same speciés
of duck common to the Atlantic’ ”
coast, and called the butter-box :
the beak is wide and short, and,
as well as the legs, of a dark co-
lour, and the flesh extremely well
flavoured. In form it resembles
the duckinmallard, although not
more than half the size of that
bird. It generally resorts to the
grassy marshes, and feeds on grass
seeds, as well as roots.

5. The black duck is about the
size of the blue-winged teal; the
colour of a dusky black; the
breast and belly somewhat lighter,
and of a dusky brown: the iegs
stand longitudinally with the
body, and the bird, when on
shore, stands very erect: the legs
and feet are of a dark brown : it
has four toes on each foot, and a
short one at the heel: the long
toes are in front, unconnected
by the web: the webs are at-
tached to each side of the several
joints of the toe, and divided by
several sinews at each joint, the
web assuming in the intermediate
part an elliptical form: the beak
is about two inches long, straight,
fluted on the sides, and tapering
to a sharp point: the upper chap
is the longest, and bears on its
base, at its junction with the
head, a little conic protuberance
of a cartilaginous substance, be-
ing of a reddish brown at the
point: the beak is of an ivory
colour: the eye dark. These
ducks usually associate in large
flocks, are very noisy, and have a
sharp shrill whistle: they are fat,
and agreeably flavoured; feed

prin-

568

principally on moss and vegetable
productions of the water; they
are not exclusively confined to the
water at all seasons. Captain
Lewis has noticed them on many
parts of the rivers Ohio and Mis-
sissippi.

6. The divers are the same with
those of the United States. The
smaller species have some white
feathers about the rump, with no
perceptible tail, and are very
acute and quick in their motion:
the body is of a reddish brown ;
the beak sharp, and somewhat
curved, like that of the pheasant :
the toes are not connected, but
webbed, like those of the black
duck. The larger species are
about the size of the teal, and can
fly a short distance, which the
smaller but seldom attempt : they
have a short tail; their colour is
also a uniform brick reddish
brown: the beak is straight and
pointed : the feet are of the same
form with the other species : the
legs remarkably thin and flat, one
edge being in front. The food
of both species is fish and flesh :
their flesh is unfit for use.

7. The blue-winged teal is an
excellent duck, and in all respects
the same as those of the United
States. One of our hunters killed
a duck which appeared to be a
male. It was of a size less than
the duckinmallard ; the head, the
neck as low as the crop, the back,
tail, and covert of the wings were
all of a deep fine black, with a
slight mixture of purple about the
head and neck: the belly and
breast are white: some long fea-
thers which lie underneath the
wings, and cover the thighs, were
of a pale dove colour, with fine
black specks: the large feathers of
the wings are of a dove cvlour ; the

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

legs are dark ; the feet arecompos-
ed of four toes, of which three are
in front connected by a web: the
fourth is short and flat, and placed
high on the heel behind the leg :
the tail is composed of fourteen
short pointed feathers: the beak
of this duck is remarkably wide,
and two inches in length: the
upper chap exceeds the un-
der one, both in length and
width, insomuch, that when the
beak is closed, the under chap is
entirely concealed by the upper :
tongue indentures on the margin
of the chaps, are like those of the
mallard: the nostrils are large,
longitudinal, and connected: a
narrow stripe of white garnishes
the base of the upper chap: this
is succeeded by a sky-blue colour,
occupying about an inch; which
again is succeeded by a tranverse
stripe of white, and the extremity
is a fine black: the eye is mode-
rately large, the pupil black, and
of afine orange colour : the fea-
thers on the crown of the head are
longer than those on the upper
part of the neck and other parts
of the head, which give it the ap-
pearance of being crested.

Fisu.

The fish, which we have had
an opportunity of seeing, are the
whale, porpoise, skait, flounder,
salmon, red char, two species
of salmon trout, mountain or
speckletl trout, bottlenose, an-
chovy, and sturgeon.

1. ‘he whale is sometimes pur-
sued, harpooned, and taken by
the Indians, although it is much
more frequently killed by running
foul of the rocks in violent storms,
and thrown on shore by the action
of the wind and tide. In either
case, the Indians preserve and

eat

NATURAL

eat the blubber and oil; the bone
they carefully extract and expose
to sale.

2. The porpoise is common on
this coast, and as far up the river
as the water is brackish. The
Indians sometimes gig them, and
always eat their flesh when they
can procure it.

3. The skait is also common in
the salt water: we saw several
of them which had perished, and
were thrown on shore by the
tide.

4. The flounder is also well
known here, and we have often
seen them left on the beach after
the departure of the tide. The
Indians eat this fish, and think it
very, fine. These several species
of- fish are the same with those
on the Atlantic coast.

5. The common salmon and red
char are the inhabitants of both
the seas and rivers; the former
are usually the largest, and weigh
from five to fifteen pounds: they
extend themselves into all the
rivers and little creeks on this
side of the continent, and to them
the natives are much indebted for
their subsistence: the body of
the fish is from two and a half
to three feet long, and propor-
tionably broad: it is covered with

-imbricated scales of a moderate
size, and gills: the eye is large,
and the iris of a silvery colour:
the pupil is black, the rostrum or
rose extends beyond the under
jaw, and both jaws are armed
with a single series of long teeth,
which are subulate and inflected
near the extremities of the jaws,
where they are also more closely
arranged: they have some sharp
teeth of smaller size, and some
sharp points placed on the tongue,

HISTORY. . £69
which is thick and fleshy: the
fins of the back aretwo; the first
is placed nearer the head than the
ventral fins, and has several rays:
the second is placed far hack,
near the tail, and has no rays.
The flesh of this fish is, when in
order, of a deep flesh-coloured
red, and every shade from that to
an orange yellow: when very
meagre, it is almost white: the
roes of this fish are in high esti-
mation among the natives, who
dry them in the sun, and preserve
them for a great length of time :
they are of the size of a small
pea, nearly transparent, and of a
reddish yellow cast; they resem-
ble very much, at a little distance,
our common garden currants,
but are more yellow. Both the
fins and belly of this fish are some-
times red, particularly the male :
the red char are rather broader,
in proportion to their length,
than the common salmon: the
scales are also imbricated, but
rather larger; the rostrum ex-
ceeds the under jaw more, and
the teeth are neither so large nor
so numerous as those of the
salmon: some of them are almost
entirely red on the belly and
sides; others are much more
white than the salmon, and none
of them are variegated with the
dark spets which mark the body
of the other: their flesh, roes,
and every ether particular, with
regard to the form, are those of
the salmon.

G6. Of the salmon trout, we cb-
serve two species, differing only
in colour; they ave seldom more
than two feet in length, and nar-
row in proportion to their length,
much more so than the salmon or
red char. The jaws are nearly of

the

570 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

. the same length, and are fur-
nished with a single series of
small subulate straight teeth, not
so long nor as large as those of
the salmon. The mouth is wide,
and the tongue is also furnished
with some teeth: the fins are
placed much like those of the
salmon. At the Great Falls we
found this fish of a silvery white
colour on the belly and sides, and
a blush light brown on the back
and head; the second species is
of a dark colour on its back, and
its sides and belly are yellow,
with transverse stripes of dark
brown ; sometimes a little red is
intermixed with these colours on
the belly and sides towards the
head. The-eye, flesh, and roe,
are like those described of the
salmon: the white species found
below the Falls, were in excellent
order, when the salmon were en-
tirely out of season and not fit
for use. They associate with the
red char, in little rivulets and
creeks: the Indians say that the
salmon begin to run early in
May. The white salmon trout is
about two feet and eight inches
long, and weighs ten pounds:
the eye is moderately large, the
pupil black, with a small admix-
ture of yellow, and iris of a sil-
very white, and a little turbid
near its border with a yellowish
brown. The tins are small in
proportion to the fish; are bony
but not pointed, except the tail
and back fins, which are pointed
a little: the prime back fin ard
ventral ones contain each ten
rays, those of the gills thirteen,
that of the tail twelve, and the
small fin placed near and above
the tail has no bony rays, but is
a tough, flexible substance, co-

vered with smooth skin. It is
thicker in proportion to its width
than the salmon: the tongue is
thick and firm, beset on each
border with small subulate teeth,
in a single series: the teeth and
the mouth areas before described.
Neither this fish nor the salmon
are caught with the hook, nor do
we know on what they feed.

7. The mountain or speckled
trout are found in the waters of
the Columbia within the moun-
tains: they are the same with
those found in the upper part of *
the Missouri, but are not so
abundant in the Columbia as in
that river. We never saw this
fish below the mountains, but
from the transparency and cold-
ness of the Kooskooskee, we
should not doubt of its existence
in that stream as low as its junc-
tion with the south-east branch
of the Columbia.

8. The bottlenose is the same
with that before mentioned on
the Missouri, and is found exclu-
sively within the mountains,

Of shell fish we observe the
clam, periwinkle, common mus-
cle, the cockle, and a species with
a circular flat shell. The clam of
this coast are very small; the
shell consists of two valves, which
open with hinges: the shell is’:
smooth, thin, of an oval form
like that of the common niuscle,
and of asky-blue colour. It is
about one and a half inch in
length, and hangs in clusters to
the moss of the rocks: the natives
sometimes eat them. The peri-
winkle both of the river and the
ocean, are similar to those found
in the same situation on the At-
lantic coast. The commen muscle
of the river are also the same

with

NATURAL HISTORY.

with those on-the rivers of the
Atlantic coast: the cockle is small,
and resembles much that of the
Atlantic: there is also an animal
that inhabits a shell perfectly cir-
cular, about three inches in dia-
meter, thin and entire on the
margin, convex and smooth on
the upper side, plain on the under
part, and covered with a number
of minute capillary fibres, by
means of which it attaches itself
to the sides of the rocks: the
shell is thin, and consists of one
_ valve ; a small circular aperture
is formed in the centre of the
under shell: the animal is soft
and-beneless.

‘The pellucid substance and fuci.
The peliucid jelly-like substance,
called the sea-nettle, is found in
great abundance along the strand,
where it has been thrown up by
the waves and tide: there are
two species of the fuci thrown up
in that manner: the first species
at one extremity consists of a
large vesicle or hollow vessel,
which will contain from one to
two gallons: it is of a conic
form, the base of which forms
the extreme end, and is convex
and globular, bearing at its centre

some short, broad, and angular,

fibres: the substance is about the
consistence of the rind of acitron
melon, and three-fourths of an
inch thick: the rind is smooth
from the small extremity of the
cone; a long holluw cylindric and
regular tapering tube extends to
twenty or thirty feet, and is then
terminated with a. number of
branches, which are flat, half an
inch in width, rough, particularly
on the edges, where they are fur-
nished with a number of little

ovate vesicles or bags of the size.

of a pigeon’s egg: this plant

571

seems to be calculated to float at
each extremity, while the little
end of the tube, from whence the
branches proceed, lies deepest in
the water: the other species seen
on the coast towards the Killa-
mucks, resembles a large pump-
kin; it is solid, and its specific
gravity is greater than the water,
though sometimes thrown out by
the waves: it is of a yellowish
brown colour; the rind smooth,
and its consistence is harder than
that of the pumpkin; but easily
cut with a knife: there ave some
dark brown fibres, rather harder
than any other part which pass
longitudinally through the pulp
or substance which forms the in-
terior of this marine production.

The reptiles of this country are
the rattlesnake, the gartersnake,
lizard, and snail.

The gartersnake appears to be-
long to the same family with the
common gartersnake of the At-
lantic coast, and like that snake
they inherit no poisonous quali-
ties : they have one hundred and
sixty scuta on the abdomen, and
seventy on the tail: those on the
abdomen near the head and jaws
as high as the eye, are of a bluish
white, which, as it recedes from
the head, becomes of a dark
brown: the field of the back and
sides black: a narrow stripe of a
light yellow runs along the centre
of the back ; on each side of this
stripe there is a range of small
transverse, oblong spots, of a pale
brick red. diminishing as they re-
cede from the head, and disappear
at the commencement of the tail :
the pupil of the eyeis-black, with
a narrow ring of white bordering
on its edge; the remainder of the
iris is of a dark yellowish brown,

The horned lizard, called, and

for

572

for what reason we never could
learn, the prairie buffaloe, is a
native of these plains, as well as
those on the Missouri: they are
of the sume size, and much the
same in appearance as the black
lizard: the belly is however
broader, the tail shorter, and the
action much slower: the colour
is generally brown, intermixed
with yellowish brown spots: the
animal is. covered with minute
scales, interspersed with sinall
horny points, like blunt prickles
on the upper surface of the body :
the belly and throat resemble
those of the frog, and are of a
light yellowish brown: the edge
of the belly is likewise beset with
small horny projections, impart-

ing to those edges a serrate ap-

pearance: the eye is small and
dark : above and behind the eyes
there are several projections of
that bone, and their extremities
also being armed with a firm
black substance, resemble the ap-
pearance of horns sprouting from
the head: these animals are found
in great numbers in the sandy
open plains, and appear in the
greatest abundance after a shower
of rain: they are sometimes found
basking in the sunshine, but con-
ceal themselves in little holes of
the earth im much the greatest
proportion of the time: this may
account for their appearance in
such numbers after the rain, as
their holes may thus be rendered
auntenantable.

9. he anchovy, which the
natives call olthen, is so delicate
a fish that it scon becomes tainted,
unless pickled or smoked: the
natives run a small stick through
the gills and hang it up to dry in
the smoke of them lodges, or

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

kindle small fires under it for the
purpose of drying: it needs no
previous preparation of gutting,
and will be cured in twenty-four
hours: the natives do not appear
to be very scrupulous about eat-
ing them when a little foetid.

Account of the late Earthquake i
Scotland.

(From Thompson’s Annals of Philosophy,
Vol. VIIL.)

At Inverness, which was cer-
tainly the focus of its action, the
earthquake not only produced the
most violent effects, but also cre-
ated the greatest alarm. In the
article from that town the con-
vulsion is distinctly stated to have
lasted about 20 seconds, and to
have been really very tremendous.
The bells in many houses rung
for more than a minute, and se-
veral of the inhabitants who had
retired to rest were fairly tossed
out of bed. The concussion on
the houses was dreadful; and
such was the terror it inspired,
that they were all in one moment
evacuated. Infants were torn
from the cradle: and men, wo-
wen and children, of all ages and
ranks, many of them just as they
had risen from their beds, and
almost naked, were seen rushing
into the streets, which were in-
stantly filled with the most dole-
ful female shrieks and Jamenta-
tions. Under the dreadful ap-
prehension of a second and more
violent shock, which might per-
haps bury them under the ruins
of their houses, the motley -and
terror-struck yroups of inhabi-
tants crowded in various streams
through the different outlets lead-

ing:

NeA THAR A Li) HA S.TO RG

ing towards the country, where
many of them remained all night
in the fields. Partly from fear,
and partly from curiosity, few 1
believe occupied their homes or
their beds until day-break, and
many did not return to them till
next evening. By fortunate ac-
cident, the streets had been almost
deserted on the night of the earth-
quake, and before the shock, at an
unusually early hour ; and it was
equally lucky that the violence of
the concussion was in a great
measure over before the people
had time to crowd into them
again; for so very thick was the
shower of large stones which
were precipitated from the chim-
ney tops, as well as of slates and
tiles, which were shaken in great
numbers from the roofs of the
houses, that, if the streets had
not been empty, many deaths and
dreadful accidents must have oc-
curred. The thundering noise
made by the stones in falling ad-
ded to the other horrors of the
night ; many of them were pro-
jected completely across to the
opposite side of the way. Itis rather
remarkable, that it was chiefly
from the newer houses that the
stones were thus thrown; many
of the older ones having entirely
escaped this dilapidation. It was
not, however, until the morning’s
light that the most decisive proof
of the violence of the shock was
displayed. No sooner had day
dawned than the beautiful spire
which is attached to the county
jail was observed to have been
. rent through, at the distance of
several feet from the top: and the
part which was above the frac-
ture appeared twisted round se-
veral inches in a direction towards

573

the north-west. This circum-
stance appears to be very satisfac-
torily accounted for by a gentle-
man at Inverness, who remarks,
that “‘ the motion of the undula-
tion towards the south-east being
communicated to the lower soon-
er than to the higher parts of the
building, those parts of the latter
whose cohesion was not suffici-
ently strong would naturally be
left behind, and projected ina
north-west direction.” It is not
impossible, however, that electri-
city, which, if not sometimes the
cause of the sensation of earth-
quake, at least appears very gene-
rally to accompany such convul-
sions, might have had some share
in producing this injury. Not-
withstanding its vicinity to In-
verness, and although it was agi-
tated during the great earthquake
of Lisbon, yet there is no account
of Loch Ness having been affected
on the late occasion. But it is
not unlikely that it may have dis-
played some commotion, though
from the lateness of the hour it
would necessarily escape observa-
tion. Three gentlemen who at
the time of the earthquake hap-
pened to be approaching Inver-
ness from the west, when at a
considerable distance from the
town, distinctly heard the large
bell toll twice. This cireum-
stance was entirely unnoticed by
those who were in the streets or
houses of the place; people of
every description having been too
much alarmed, and too much oc-
cupied in providing for the safety
of themselves and their families,
to remark it. It appears to have
been admitted by many gentle-
men of Inverness, who had resid-
ed long in foreign countries, par-

ticularly

574 ANNUAL REGISTER,

ticularly in the West Indies,
where such convulsions are very
frequent, that they had never be-
fore felt so smart a shock.

From Tain, Dingwall, Dor-
noch, Wick, and all the towns to
the northward of this, there were
similar accounts to those given of
Forres, and the other towns al-
ready mentioned, I had several
very interesting and intelligent
letters from Sutherland. One
gentleman describes the sensation
he and his party felt, to have
been just as if they had been all
suddenly launched in a boat from
dry land to sea. At first he sup-
posed, for a moment, that one
side of his chair, and the wall
against which he was leaning,
had suddenly given way. The
hens made a prodigious noise on
their roost; and a pointer dog
howled for a considerable time
afterwards. On looking out im-
mediately afterwards, this genile--
man remarked that the night was
warm, and quite clear, but rather
dark ; the atmosphere heavy, and
forming one cloud, except on the
eastern and south-east horizon,
where it.had the appearance ge-
nerally observable before sun-
vise. Another gentleman, who
was on the read near Brora, in a
gig, writes me that he was not in
the least sensible-of any thing,
and was quite ignovant of the
shoek, until he heard of it on
reaching home, where he found
his family had been alarmed. A
lad who was standing on a rock
im the middle of the country, at
the time of the convulsion, de-
clared. that it moved up end down
under him like a quaking bog.

At Aberdeen, Montrose, Dun-
keld, Perth, Pitmain, and the

1816.

other places intervening between
this and the river Tay, the earth-
quake seems to have been gener-
ally felt, with equal violence, ma-
king allowance for variety of si-
tuation. At Aberdeen, a person
who had been present during the
earthquake in Lisbon on June 6,
1807, described the late shack as
exactly resembling the commence-
ment of it. In many houses the
bells were set aringing, and the
wires continued to vibrate for
some time after their sound had
ceased. ‘he houses were shaken
to their foundations, and the
heaviest articles of furniture were
moved. A second, but more
slight and partial shock, was’ felt
about halfan hour after the first ;
and this was also remarked by
some individuals in almost every
quarter where the chief one had
been experienced. At Parkhill,
the seat of General Gordon, near
Aberdeen, a circumstance occur-
red which deserves particular at-
tention. The sluice-gate of a
piece of water, weighing several
tons,.Wwas raised from its founda-
tion about 12 inches: and some
large stones having aecidentally
rolled underneath it, kept it up
in that situation till most of the
waters escaped before it could be
replaced... Several instruments
have been from time to time pro-
posed for measuring the degree of
force of the shock of earthquakes ;
but here was one perfectly fortu-
itous, which, though perhaps it
did not mark the utmest extent
of its energy, proved: that the
power of the late one had been at
least equal to an elevation of 12
inches. Inthe neighbourhood of
Montrose a very amusing oecur-
rence happened. Two excisemen

having

NATURAL

having lain down, in concealment,
on the ground, to watch for an
expected party of smugglers,
when the shock took place, one
of them started-up, exclaiming to
his comrade, ‘‘ There they are!
for I feel the ground striking un-
der their horses feet.’’ Jn the
town of Montrose, the inhabi-
tants felt their beds move, first in
a horizontal direction, and then
retura to their former situation ;
after which a tremulous motion
was felt, as when a body, after
being agitated, settles gradually
upon its basis, Some compared
it to the slight rolling of a ship at
sea. The bells in houses were
rung, and the furniture shaken,
as in other places, and the great-
est alarm prevailed. A vivid flash
of lightning was observed to fol-
low, after the shock.

The article from Perth speaks
of two distinct shocks, the second
occurring at an interval of a mi-
nute after the first. In other re-
spects the effects there appear to
have been similar to, and nearly
as powerful as, those at Aber-
deen, and Montrose. At Dun-
keld, a young inan, who was
stepping into bed at the moment
of the shock, was nearly thrown
down on the floor; and in one
house the liquor in, the glasses
Was nearly spilt by the concus-
sion. A small meteor was seen
to pass from east to west just
abuut the time of the earthquake.

A gentleman who has been for
some time on avisit to this neigh-
bourhood, who has resided long
in Italy, and who tells of him-
self. that he has always hail a kind
of luck for meeting with earth-
quakes, asserts that, whilst sitting
at breakfast, about three days be-

M13 EO RY. G7s
fore the late shock occurred, he
distinctly felt a slight concussion ;
which, from the recollection of
what he had experienced abroad,
gave him very considerable alarm,
but which he did not wish to
communicate to his friends at the
time. This gentleman was also
perfectly sensible of the second
and slighter shock, which follow-
ed on August 13, atan interval of
half an hour after the more de-
cided convulsion. In this fa-
mily, too, we all of us felt this
second concussion. But although
we noticed it to each other at the
time, yet I then suspected it to
be nothing more than the sensa-
tion of the first shock, whieh still
remained with us; as one is ac-
customed to think he feels the
motion of the waves of the sea for
a good while after he has. landed
from aship. There cannot be any
doubt, however, of the reality of
thissecond movement of the earth ;
ithaving been noticed by some in-
dividual or other, and at the same
interval of tine, in alincs: every
quarter where the more intense
shock was experienced.

There is one fact which fF con-
ceive to be so peculiarly striking,
that ] cannot allow it to escape
notice, having net only been very
sensible of it in my own person,
but haying also learned, by in-
quiry ef cthers, that the. feeling
was by no means a solifary one,
but remarked pretty generally by
anwuinber of individuals. Jmme-
diately after the shoek of the
earthquake cemmenced, 1 felt
myself assailed by a kind of faint-
ishness, Which did not, altogether
leave me until after I was asleep
in bed, about two hours after-
wards. This sensation was per-

fectly

576

fectly different from that general-
ly attending the apprehension of
immediate danger. Indeed, no
such feeling could possibly be
present with me; for I no sooner
knew it to bean earthquake, than
all sense of dread was absorbed
in the delight I felt in being so
very lucky as to have my curiosi-
ty satisfied by the actual experi-
ence of so rare a phenomenon,
the extent of which I naturally
supposed, at the moment, might
perhaps be confined to the narrow
district aroundme. | have known
several persons, quite incapable
of being influenced by fear of any
kind, who have remarked a simi-
lar sensation in themselves during
the time of a thunder-storm. This
faintish feeling, on the late occa-
sion, was in some people attended
by a very slight degree of sick-
ness.

Perhaps it might not have been
altogether without its use to have
given in this place a slight and
general geological sketch of the
various rocks composing the dif-
ferent parts of the extensive range
of country throughout which the
Jate earthquake was experienced
in the greatest intensity. But if
IT could even venture to draw
more largely on your patience, in
order to make such an attempt, I
do not feel sufficiently confident
in possessing ability or informa-
tion enough to enable me to do
justice to the subject. I may only
remark, that every geognostic
denomination of country seems
to have submitted to the influence
of the agitating power: that
rocky positions have in general
been much shaken, and in some
instances (as in that of this very
house) more so than those less

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

decidedly of that character. We
have hardly any data to enable us
to say whether the primitive or
the floetz rocks yielded most easi-
ly to the vibratory motion. But
the alluvial site of the town of
Inverness, under which I believe
there is also a great deal of peat
moss, seems clearly and decidedly
to have manifested by far the
most violent appearances of con-
vulsion ; which, if my information
be correct, was even by no means
so great on the eminences in the
immediate neighbourhood. As we
have thus the most prominent ex-
ample of the. power of the earth-
quake, displayed upon an alluvial
deposit ; so we have reason to de-
cide, from the body of the evi-
dence, that almost all alluvial po-
sitions were in general more vio-
lently convulsed than the more
stable formations in their close
vicinity ; although at the same
time we find several anomalies
militating against such a conclu-
sion.

Upon the cause of earthquakes,

.to find a perfect solution of which

has been a matter of difficulty to
philosophers of all ages and coun-
tries, I do not dare to throw out
any new speculation. I am, how-
ever, rather inclined to adopt that
explanation which assigns it to
the rarefaction, and conversion
into steam, of large bodies of wa-
ter, at considerable depths be-
neath the earth’s surface. It is
a general remark, in all countries
where earthquakes are common,
that they are preceded by the fall
of copious rains. Such, for ex-
ample, was the case with that of
Lisbon, as well as with those of
Calabria. In the domestic in-
stance in question, too, we have

had

NAD RA Le 18 FO BY:

had the same precursor in suffi-
cient abundance; such a rainy
summer as the past having been
hardly remembered by any one.
The rain water, gradually perco-
lating into the bowels of the earth,
may be converted into steam, by
a combustion, to which a variety
of causes may give excitement.
Amongst these, the moistening of
large beds of pyrites may perhaps
be offered as one of the most
simple explanations. Our late
earthquake, however, may have
not improbably had sume remote
connection with a subterraneous
volcanic influence: and an ac-
count which appeared from Na-
ples, informing us that, on Au-
gust 7 last, Vesuvius was again
in action, renders this last idea
the less unlikely. Although, per-
haps, not caused by electricity, it
is very evident that this subtle
agent was not entirely absent on
the late occasion, as may be not
only considered apparent from
some of the effects produced, but
is also proved by the flash of
lightning seen to accompany the
other phenomena at Montrose.
The electric theory of earthquakes
has been supported by Dr. Stuke-
ly, in his papers in vol. xlvi. of
the Philosophical Transactions :
and the Chevalier Vivenzio sup-
poses the same cause to have ope-
rated in producing those of
Calabria in 1783. But I cannot
conceive electricity to have been
the primary agent in producing
the shock of August 13 last;
otherwise it must have certainly
left more unequivocal effects be-
hind it. Having, however, en-
deavoured in this paper to bring
before your readers most of the
facts and appearances connected
Vou. LVIII.

577

with the late earthquake, an op-
portunity may perhaps be afford-
ed to you or them, either to
strengthen one or other of the
old theories, or to offer some new
and still more rational explana-
tion of a phenomenon which can-
not fail highly to interest the en-
lightened and reflecting mind, as
well as to impress it with the
most profound admiration of the
power of the Deity.
J remain, Sir,

Your obedient humble servant,

Tuomas Lauper Dick.

An Essay on the Oopas, or Poison-
tree of Java, by Thomas Horse-
field, M. D.

(From the Seventh Volume of the Trans-
actions of the Lit. and Phil. Soc. of Java.)

I have proposed to myself in
the following essay, to offer you
a short account of the Oopas of
Java. I feel some satisfaction in
being able, at a time when every
subject relating to this island has
acquired a degree of interest, to
furnish you with a faithful de-
scription of the tree, made by
myself on the spot where it grows,
and to relate its effects on the
animal system by experiments
personally instituted and superin-
tended; and J flatter myself that
the practical information detailed
in the following sheets will refute
the falsehoods that have been pub-
lished concerning this subject, at
the same time that it will remove
the uncertainty in which it has
been enveloped.

‘The literary and scientific world
has in few instances been more
grossly and impudently imposed
upon than by the account of the

2P Pohon

578 ANNUAL REGISTER,

Pohon Oopas, published in Hol-
land about the year 1780. The
history and origin of this cele-
brated forgery still remains a
mystery. Foersch, who put his
name to the publication, certainly
was (according to information I
have received from creditable
persons who have long resided
on the island) a surgeon in the
Dutch East India Company’s ser-
vice, about the time the account
of the Oopas appeared.* It would
be in some degree interesting to
become acquainted with his cha-
racter. JI have been led to sup-
pose that his literary abilities were
as-mean, as his contempt of truth
was consummate.

Having hastily picked up some
yague information concerning the
Oopas, he carried it to Europe,
where his notes were arranged,
doubtlessly by a different hand,
in such a form, as by their plau-
sibility and appearance of truth,
to be generally credited.

It is in no small degree sur-
prising that so palpable a false-
hood should have been asserted
with so much boldness and have
remained so long without refuta-
tion—or that a subject of a na-
ture so curious and so easily in-
vestigated, relating to its prin-
cipal colony, should not have been
inquired into and corrected by
the naturalists of the mother-
country.

To a person in any degree ac-
quainted with the geography of
the island, with the manners of
the princes of Java, and their re-

* Foersch was a surgeon of the third
class at Samarang in the year 1773. His
account of the Oopas Tree appeared in
1783.

1816.

lation to the Dutch government
at that period, or with its in-
ternal history during the last fifty
years, the first glance at the ac-
count of Foersch must have
evinced its falsity and misrepre-
sentation. Long after it had been
promulgated, and published in
the different public journals in
most of the languages of Europe,
a statement of facts, amounting
to a refutation of this account,
was published in one of the
volumes of the Transactions of
the Batavian Society, or in on
of its prefatory addresses. But
not having the work at hand, I
cannot with certainty refer to it,
nor shall I enter into a regular
examination and refutation of the
publication of Foersch, which is
too contemptible to merit such
attention.

But though the account just
mentioned, in so far as relates to
the situation of the Poison ‘Tree,
to its effects on the surrounding
country, and to the application
said to have been made of the
Oopas on criminals in different
parts of the island, as well as the
description of the poisonous sub-
stance itself, and its mode of col-
lection, has been demonstrated to
be an extravagant forgery,—the
existence of a tree on Java, from
whose sap a poison is prepared,
equal in fatality, when thrown
into the circulation, to the strong-
est animal poisons hitherto known,
is a fact, which it is at present
my object to establish and to il-
lustrate.

The tree which produces this
poison is called Antshar, and grows
in the eastern extremity of the
island. Before I proceed to the
description of it and of the effects

produced

NATURAL

produced by its poison, I must
premise a few remarks on the his-
tory of its more accurate investi-
gation, and on the circumstances
which have lately contributed to
bring a faithful account of this
subject before the public.

At the time I was prosecuting
my inquiries into the botany and
natural history of the island on
behalf of the Dutch government,
M. Leschenault de La Tour, a
French naturalist, was making a
private collection of objects of
natural history for the governor
of the north-east ceast of Java.
He shortly preceded me in my
visit to the eastern districts of the
island, and while I was on my
route from Sourabaya in that di-
rection, I received from him a
communication containing an ac-
count of the poison-tree as he
found it in the province of Blam-
bangan. Iam induced to make
this statement, in order to con-
cede, as far as regards myself, to
Mr. Leschenault de La Tour, in
the fullest manner, the priority of
observing the Oopas of Java. I
do this to prevent any reflection,
in case a claim to the discovery
should be made at a future pe-
riod: but I must be permitted to
add in justice to the series of in-
quiries which engaged me and
the manner in which they were
carried on, that the knowledge of
the existence of this tree was by
no means uncommon or secret in
the district of Blambangan, in the
environs of Banyoo-wangee ; that
the commandant of the place, a
man of some curiosity and inquirs,
Was acquainted with it, and that
it could not (in all probability)
have escaped the notice of a per-
son, who made the vegetable pro-
ductions an object of particular

History. 579
inquiry, and noted with minute
attention every thing that related
to their history and operation.

It is in fact more surprizing
that a subject of so much noto-
riety in the district of Blamban-
gan, and of so great celebrity and
misrepresentation in every other
part of the world, should so long
have remained unexplored, than
that it should finally have been
noticed and described; and since
my visit to that province I have
more than once remarked the
coincidence which led two persons
of nations different from each
other, and from that which has
been long in possession of the
island, who commenced their in-
quiries without any previous com-
munication and with different ob-
jects in view, within the period
of about six months, to visit
and examine the Oopas Tree of
Java. ;

The work of Rumphius contains

a long account of the Oopas, un-

der the denomination of Arbor
Toxicaria ; the tree does not grow
in Aniboyna, and his description
was made from the information
he obtained from Macassat.

His figure was drawn from a
branch of that which was called
the male tree, sent to him from
the same place, and. establishing
the identity of the poison-tree of
Macassar and the other Eastern
Islands with the Antshar of Java.

The account of this author is
too extensive to be abridged in
this place. It concentrates all
that has till lately been published
on this subject; but the relation
is mixed with many assertions
and remarks ofa fabulous nature,
and it is highly probable that it
was consulted in the fabrication
of Foersch’s story. It is, how-

2P¢ ever,

580

ever, highly interesting, as it
gives an account of the effects of
the poisoned darts, formerly em-

ployed in the wars of the Eastern’

islands, on the human system,
and of the remedies by which
their effect was counteracted and
cured,

The simple sap of the Arbor
Toxicaria (according to Rum-
phius) is harmless, and requires
the addition of ginger and several
substances analogous to it, such
as Ledoory and Lampoegang, to
render it active and mortal. In
so far it agrees with the Antshar,
which in its simple state is sup-
posed to be inert, and_ before
being used as a poison, is sub-
jected to a preparation which will
be described after the history of
the tree. The same effervescence
and boiling which occurs on the
mixture of the substances added
to the milky juice by the Javanese
in Blambangan, has been ob-
served in the preparation of the
poison of Macassar, and in pro-
portion to the violence of these
effects the poison is supposed to
be active.

A dissertation has been pub-
lished by Crisp. Atjmleeus at
Upsal, which contains the sub-
stance of the account of Rum-
phius ; an extract from it is given
in Dr. Duncan's Medic. Com-
ment. for the year 1790. 2d vol.
Vth Decad.

it appears from the account of
Rumphius that this tree is also
found in Borneo, Sumatra and
Bali.

Besides the true poison-tree,
the Oopas of the Eastern Islands,
and the Antshar of the Javanese,
this island produces a_ shrub,
which, as far as observations have
hitherto been made, is peculiar

»

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

to the same, and, by a different
mode of preparation, furnishes a
poison far exceeding the Oopas
in violence. Its name is Tshettik,
and its specific description will
suceeed to that of the Antshar.
The genus has not before been
discovered or described.

Description of the Antshar.

The Antshar belongs to the
twenty-first class of Linneus,
the Monoecia. The male and
female flowers are produced in
catkins (amenta) en the same
branch, at no great distance from
each other, the female flowers are
in general above the male.

The characters of the genus
are:

Mate. rrower—Caliz consist-
ing of several scales, which are
imbricate.

Corol. None—Stamines. Fila-
ments many, very short, covered
by the scales of the receptacle
anthers.

The receptacle on which the
filaments are placed, has a co-
nical form, abrupt, somewhat
rounded above.

FEmMaLe. FLOWER — Catkins
ovate. Calix consisting of a num-
ber of imbricate scales (generally
more than in the male) contain-
ing one flower.

Corol. None.

Pisti—Germ single, ovate,
erect ; styles two, long, slender,
spreading ; stigmas simple, acute.

Seed-vessel, an oblong drupe,
covered with the calix.

Seed, an ovate nut, with one
cell.

Specific Description.

The Antshar is one of the largest
trees in the forests of Java. The
stem i3 cylindrical, perpendicular,

and

NA PURADIBISTFTORY.

and rises completely naked to the
height of sixty, seventy or eighty
feet. Near the surface of the
ground it spreads obliquely, di-
viding into numerous broad ap-
pendages or wings, much like the
Canarian commune, and several
others of vur large forest trees,
lt is covered with a whitish bark,
slightly bursting in longitudinal
furrows: near the ground this
bark is, in old trees, more than
half am inch thick, and, upon
being wounded, yields plentifully
the milky juice from which the
celebrated poison is prepared. <A
puncture or incision being. made
in the tree, the juice or sap ap-
pears oozing out, of a yellowish
colour (somewhat frothy) ; from
old trees, paler; and nearly white
from young ones : when exposed
to the air, its surface becomes
brown. The consistence very
much resembles milk, only it is
thicker and viscid. This sap is
contained in the true bark (or
cortex), which, when punctured,
yields a considerable quantity, so
that in a short time a cup full
may be collected from a large
tree. The inner bark (or liber)
is of a close fibrous texture, like
that of the morus papyrifera, and
when separated from the other
bark, and cleansed from the ad-
hering particles, resembles a
coarse piece of linen. It has been
worked into ropes which are very
strong, and the poorer class of
people employ the inner bark of
younger trees, which is more
easily prepared, for the purpose of
making a coarse stuff which they
wear when working in the fields.
But it requires much bruising,
washing, and a long immersion
in water before it can be used,

4584

and even when it appears com-
pletely purified, persons wearing
this dress, on being exposed to
the rain, are affected with an in-
tolerable itching, which renders
their flimsy covering almost in-
supportable.

It will appear from the account
of the manner in which the poi-
son is prepared, that the delete-
rious quality exists in the gum,
a small portion of which still ad-
hering to the bark, produces,
when it becomes wet, this irri-
tating effect, and it is singular,
that this property of the prepared
bark is known to the Javanese in
all places where the tree grows
(for instance in various parts of
the provinces of Bangil and Ma-
lang, and even at Onarang),
while the preparation of a poison
from its Juice, which produces a
mortal effect when introduced
into the body by pointed weapons,
is an exclusive art of the inhabi-
tants of the eastern extremity of
the island.

One of the Regents in the
eastern districts informed me,
that having many years ago pre-
pared caps or bonnets from the
inner bark of the Antshar, which
were stiffened in the usual manner
with thick rice water, and hand-
somely painted, for the purpose
of decorating his Mantries, they
all decidedly refused to wear
them, asserting that they would
cause their hair to fall off.

The stem of the Antshar having
arrived at the before-mentioned
height, sends off a few stout
branches, which spreading nearly
horizontally with several irregu-
lar curves, divide into smaller
branches, and form a hemisphe-
rical, but not very regular crown.

The

582

The external branches are short,
have several unequal bends, and
are covered with a brown bark.
The leaves are alternate, ob-
long, heart-shaped, somewhat
narrower towards the base, entire,
with a waving or undulated mar-
gin, which sometimes has a few
irregular sinuosities. The longi-
tudinal nerve divides the leaf
somewhat obliquely, and the in-
ferior division is generally the
larger. The point is irregular,
some are rounded at the end,
others run off almost abruptly to
a short point. ‘The upper surface
is shining and nearly smooth :
some widely dispersed short villi
are observed on it; the inferior
surface is slightly rough, reticu-
lated, and marked with oblique
parallel veins. The petiole is
short. The flowers are produced
towards the extremity of the outer
branches, in a few scatterei cat-
kins. The common peduncle of
the males is slender and long,
that of the females is shorter.
Previous to the season of flow-
ering, about the beginning of
June, the tree sheds its leaves,
which re-appear when the male
flowers have completed the office
of fecundation. It delights in a
fertile and not very elevated soil,
and is only found in the largest
forests. I first met with it (the
Antshar) in the province of Poe-
gar, on my way to Banjoowangee ;
in the province of Blambangan
I visited four or five different
trees, from which this description
has been made, while two of
them furnished the juice for the
preparation of the Oopas. The
largest of these trees had, where
the oblique appendages of the
stem entered the ground, a dia-

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

meter of at least ten feet, and
where the regularly round and
straight stem began, the extent
of at least ten feet between the
points of two opposite appendages
at the surface of the ground, its
diameter was full three feet. I
have since found a very tall tree
in Passooroowang,, near the boun-
dary of Malang, and very lately
I have discovered several young
trees in the forests of Japara,
and one in tree in the vicinity of
Onarang. In all these places,
though the inhabitants are unac-
quainted with the preparation and
effect of the poison, they distin-
guish the tree by the name of
Antshar, From the tree I found
in the province of Passooroowang
I collected some juice, which was
nearly equal in its operation, to
that of Blambangan. One of the
experiments to be related below
was made with the Oopas pre-

-pared by myself, after my return

to the chief village. I had some
difficulty in inducing the inhabi-
tants to assist me in collecting the
juice, as they feared a cutaneous
eruption and inflammation, re-
sembling, according to the ac-
count they gave of it, that pro-
duced by the Ingas of this island,
the Rhus vernix of Japan, and the
Rhus radicans of North America ;
but they were only affected by
a slight heat and itching of the
eyes. In clearing the new grounds
in the environs of Banjoowangee
for cultivation, it is with much
difficulty the inhabitants can be
made to approach the tree, as
they dread the cutaneous eruption
which it is known to produce

when newly cut down.
But except when the tree is
largely wounded, or when it is
felled,

NATURAL

felled, by which a large portion
of the juice is disengaged, the
effiuvia of which, mixing with the
atmosphere, affects the persons
exposed to it, with the symptoms
just mentioned, the tree may be
approached and ascended like the
other common trees in the fo-
rests.

The Antshar, like the trees in
its neighbourhood, is on all sides
surrounded by shrubs and plants ;
in no instance have I observed
the ground naked or barren in its
immediate circumference.

The largest tree [ met with in
Blambangan was so closely en-
vironed by the common trees and
shrubs of the forest in which it
grew, that it was with difficulty I
could approach it. Several vines
and climbing shrubs, in complete
health and vigour, adhered to it,
and ascended to nearly half its
height. And at the time I visited
the tree and-collected the juice, [

was forcibly struck with the
egregious misrepresentation of
Foersch. Several young trees

spontaneously sprung frem seeds
that had fallen from the parent,
reminded me of a line in Dar-
win’s Botanic Garden, ‘‘ Chained
at his root two scion demons
dwell ;”—while in recalling his
beautiful description of the Oopas,
my vicinity to the tree gave me
reason to rejoice that it is founded
on fiction. The wood of the
Antshar is white, light, and of a
spongy appearance.
Description of the Tschettik,
The fructification of the Tshet-
tik is still unknown; after all
possible research in the district

where it grows, I have not been
able to find it in a flowering

fi Ss PmoRny 583

state. It is a large winding
shrub.

The root extends creeping to a
considerable distance, parallel to
the surface of the earth, sending
off small fibres at different curves,
while the main root strikes per-
pendicularly into the ground.

In large individuals it has a
diameter of two or three inches ;
it is covered with a reddish brown
bark, containing a juice of the
same colour, of a peculiar, pun-
gent, and somewhat nauseous
odour. From this bark the poison
is prepared.

The stem, which in general is
shrubby, sometimes acquires the
size of a small tree; it is very
irregular in its ascent and distri-
bution: having made severallarge
bends near the surface of the
earth it divides (at long intervals)
into numerous branches, which
attach themselves to the neigh-
bouring objects and pursue a
winding course at no great dis-
tance from the ground and nearly
parallel to it. In some instances
the stem rises to the top of large
trees; its form is completely cy-
lindrical, and it is covered with a
grey spotted bark.

The lesser branches arise from
the stem in pairs (opposite) and
are very long, slender, cylindrical,
divergent or spreading, and co-
vered with a smooth grey shining
bark ; on these the leaves are
placed opposite, in single pairs
or on 2 common footstalk, pin-
nate in two or three pairs; they
are egged, spear-shaped, entire,
terminating in a long narrow
point, completely smooth and
shining on the upper surface,
with a few parallel veins beneath.
The petioles are short and some-

what

584

what curved. Toward their ex-
tremity the shoots produce cirrhi
or tendrils, which appear without
any regular distribution opposite
to the leaflets ; and some branches
are entirely without them: they
are about an inch long, slender,
compressed and spirally turned
back (recurvati) ; at their endnear
the base a small stipula is found.

The Tshettik grows only in
close, shady, almost inaccessible
forests, ina deep, black, fertile,
vegetable mould. It is very rarely
met with, even in the wildernesses
of Blambangan.

Preparation \st of the Antshar.
—This process was performed for
me by an old Javanese, who was
celebrated for his superior skill in
preparing the poison. About
eight ounces of the juice of the
Antshar, which had been collected
the preceding evening in the usual
manner, and preserved in the
joint of a bamboo, was carefully
strained into a bowl. The sap of
the following substances, which
had been finely grated and bruised,
was carefully expressed and poured
into it, viz. Arum, Nampoo (Ja-
vanese) Kzempferia Galanga,
Kontshur, Amomum, Bengley, (a
variety of Zerambed) common
onion and garlic, of each about
half a dram ; the same quantity
of finely powdered black pepper
was then added, and the mixture
stirred.

The preparer now took an en-
tire fruit of the Capsicum frutico-
sum or Guinea pepper, and having
opened it, he carefully separated
a single seed, and placed it on
the fluid in the middle of the
bowl.

The seed immediately began to
reel round rapidly, now forming
a regular circle, then darting to-

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

wards the margin of the cup, with
a perceptible commotion on the
surface of the liquor, which con-
tinued about one minute. Being
completely at rest, the same quan-
tity of pepper was again added,
and another seed of the capsicum
laid on as before: a similar com-
motion took place in the fluid,
but in a less degree, and the seed
was carried round with diminished
rapidity. The addition of the
same quantity of pepper was re-
peated a third time, when a seed
of the. capsicum being carefully
placed in the centre of the fluid,
remained quiet, forming a re-
gular circle about itself, in the
fluid, resembling the halo of the
moon. This is considered as a
sign that the preparation of the
poison is complete.

The dried milk of the Antshar
having been preserved close a
considerable time, can still be pre-
pared and rendered active. A
quantity which I had collected
about two months before, was
treated in the following manner
by the same person who prepared
the fresh juice. Being infused in
as much hot water as was barely
sufficient well to dissolve it, it was
carefully stirred till all the parti-
cles soluble in water were taken
up; a coagulum of resin re-
mained undissolved; this was
taken out and thrown away. The
liquor was now treated with the
spices above-mentioned, the pep-
per and the seed of the capsicum,
in the same manner as the fresh
juice. The same whirling motion
occurred as above described, on
the seed being placed in the
centre. Its activity will appear
from one of the experiments to
be related.

Qd. Of the Pshettik.—The bark

of

NATURAL

of the root is carefully separated,
and cleared of all the adherent
earth; a proportionate quantity
of water is poured on, and it is
boiled about an hour, when the
fluid is carefully filtered through
a white cloth; it is then exposed
to the fire again and boiled down
to nearly the consistence of an
extract ; in this state it much re-
sembles a thick syrup. The fol-
lowing spices, having been pre-
pared as above described, are
added in the same proportion as
to the Antshar; viz. Kempferia
Galanga, (Kontshur,) Soonty, &c.
Dshey, for common onion, garlic,
and black pepper.

The expressed juice of these is
poured into the vessel, which is
once more exposed to the fire a
few minutes, when the prepara-
tion is complete. The Oopas of
both kinds must be preserved in
very close vessels.

VOLCANIC ERUPTIONS OF MUD
AND SALT IN THE 1SLAND OF
JAVA.

(By T.S. Goad, Esq. of the Hon. Com-
pany’s Bengal Civil Service.)

Having received an extraordi-
nary account of a natural pheno-
menon in the Plains of Grobogan,
fifty pals or miles N.E. of Solo,
a party, of which I was one, set
off from Solo on the 8th of Sep-
tember, 1815, to examine it.

On approaching the village of
Kuhoo, we saw, between two
trees in a plain, an appearance
like the surf breaking over rocks,
with a strong spray falling to
leeward. The spot was com-
pletely surrounded by huts for the

HiS.TO WY. 585

manufacture of salt, and at a dis-
tance looked like a large village.
Alighting we went to the Bhln-
dugs, as the Javanese call them.
They are situated in the village of
Kuhoo, and by Kuropeans are
called by that name. We found
them to be on an elevated plain
of mud, about two miles in cir-
cumference, in the centre of
which immense bodies of salt
mud were thrown up to the
height of from ten to fifteen feet,
in the form of large globes,
which, bursting, emitted volumes
of dense white smoke. These
large globes or bubbles, of which
there were two, continued throw-
ing up and bursting seven or
eight times in a minute by the
watch. At times they throw up
two or three tons of mud. We
got to leeward of the smoke, and
found it to smell like the washing
of a gun-barrel. As the globes
burst, they threw the mud out
from the centre, with a pretty
loud noise, occasioned by the fall-
ing of the mud upon that which
surrounded it, and of which the
plain is composed. It was diffi-
cult and dangerous to approach
the large globes or bubbles, as
the ground was all a quagmire,
except where the surface of the
mud had become hardened by the
sun; upon this we approached
cautiously to within fifty yards of
the largest bubble, or mud-pud-
ding, as it might very properly be
called, for it was of the consis-
tency of a custard-pudding, and
of very considerable diameter ;
here and there, where the foot
accidentally rested on a spot not
sufficiently hardened to bear, it
sunk, to the no small distress of
the walker.

We

586

We also got close to a small
globe or bubble (the plain was
full of them of different sizes)
and observed it closely for some
time. It appeared to heave and
swell, and when the internal air
had raised it to some height, it
burst and fell down in concentric
circles, in which shape it remained
quiet until a sufficient quantity of
air was again formed internally
to raise and burst another bubble.
This continued at intervals from
about one-half to two minutes.
From various other parts of the
quagmire round the large globes
or bubbles, there were occasion-
ally small quantities of mud shot
up like rockets to the height of
twenty or thirty feet, and accom-
panied by smoke. This was in
parts where the mud was of too
stiff a consistency to rise in globes
or bubbles. ‘The mud at all the
places we came near was cold on
the surface, but we were told it
was warm beneath. The water
which drains from the mud is
collected by the Javanese, and by
being exposed in the hollows of
split bamboos to the rays of the
sun, deposits crystals of salt.
The salt thus made is reserved
exclusively for the Emperor of
Solo. In dry weather it yields
thirty dudjins of one hundred cat-
ties each, every month, but in wet
or cloudy weather less.

In the afternoon we rode to a
place in a forest called Ramsam,
to view a salt lake, a mud hillock,
and various boiling or rather bub--
bling pools. ‘The lake was about
half a mile in circumference, ofa
dirty looking water, boiling up all
over in gurgling bodies, but more
particularly in the centre, which
appeared like a strong spring;

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

the water was quite cold, and
tasted bitter, salt, and sour, and
had an offensive smell. About
thirty yards from the lake stood
the mud hillock, which was about
fifteen feet high from the level of
the earth. he diameter of its
base was about twenty-five yards,
and its top about eight feet and
in form an exact cone. The top
is open, and the interior keeps
constantly working and heaving
up mud in globular forms, like
the Bludugs. The hillock is en-
tirely formed of mud which has
flowed out of the top; every rise
of the mud was accompanied by
a rumbling poise from the bottom
of the hillock, which was dis-
tinctly heard for some seconds
before the bubbles burst. The
outside of the hillock was quite
firm. We stood on the edge of
the opening and sounded it, and
found it to be eleven fathoms
deep. ‘The mud was more liquid
than at the Bludugs, and no
smoke was emitted from the lake,
hillock, or pools.

Close to the foot of the hillock
was a small pool of the same
water as the lake which appeared
exactly like a pot of water boiling
violently; it was shallow, except
in the centre, into which we
thrust a stick twelve feet, long,
but found no bottom. The hole
not being perpendicular we could
not sound it with a line.

About two hundred yards from
the lake were several large pools
or springs, two of which were
eight and ten feet in diameter.
They were like the small pool,
but boiled more violently, and
smelt excessively. The ground
around them was hot to the feet,
and the air which issued from

them

NATURAL

them quite hot, so that it was
most probably inflammable ; but
we did not ascertain this. We
heard the boiling thirty yards be-
fore we came to the pools, re-
sembling in noise a water-fall.
The pools did not overflow; of
course the bubbling was occa-
sioned by the rising of air alone.
The water of one of the pools ap-
peared to contain a mixture of
earth and lime, and from the
taste to be combined with alkali.
The water of the Bludugs and
the lake is used medicinally by
the Javanese, and cattle drinking
of the water are poisoned.

Some Observations on the Salt
Mines of Cardona, made during
a Tour in Spain, in the Summer
of 1814. By Thomas Stewart
Traill, M.D. M.G.S.

(From Transactions of the Geological So-
eiety, Vol. III.)

These celebrated mines occupy
the head of a small valley in the
immediate vicinity of Cardona, a
town in the province of Cata-
lonia.

This valley extends about half
a mile in length, from the river
Cardonero to the mines, ina di-
rection from east-south-east to
west-north-west. Its north-west-
ern side is bounded by a very
steep and lofty ridge, the summit
of which is crowned by the town
and castle of Cardona. The op-
posite boundary is somewhat less
elevated ; but both sides are con-
siderably higher than the upper
surface of the fossil salt. On
entering this valley, the attention
is arrested by bold cliffs of a
greyish white colour, which are

ml STORY.

soon discovered to consist of one
vast mass of salt. The sides and
bottom of the valley are composed
of reddish brown clay, forming a
thick bed, from which here and
there large imbedded masses of
rock salt project in the manner
of more ordinary rocks; espe-
cially along the winding ascent
which leads up to the town of
Cardona, The summits of the
ridges which bound the valley on
each side, are formed of a yel-
lowish grey sandstone of a coarse
texture, and containing many
seales of grey mica.

The great body of the salt
forms a rugged precipice, which
is reckoned between 400 and 500
feet in height at the upper ex-
tremity of the valley, and is co-
vered by a thick bed of the clay
above mentioned.

The precipitous form is partly
owing to the manner in which
the mine has been wrought for a
series of ages. ‘There is no ex-
cavation ; but the salt has been
procured by working down per-
pendicularly as in an open quarry.
The lowest part of the present
works has a solid floor of pure
salt which is not above the level
of the bottom of the valley, where
no salt is found; but the real
depth of the bed of salt has never
yet been ascertained. The upper
surface of the salt is not level;
but appears irregularly elevated,
according to the general outline
of the hill in which it occurs.

The salt has been usually re-
presented as forming an entire
mountain: but though it here
appears supplying the place of
common rock, from _ its being
confined to this valley, and not
attaining so high a level as the

surrounding

587

588

surrounding hills, it would seem
more correct to consider it asa
mass or bed of salt filling up a
valley, than as constituting a
mountain, which according’ to
some authors* is a league in cir-
cumference. ‘These dimensions
could only be sbtained by consi-
dering the neighbouring heights
as formed of this mineral; a
supposition not countenanced by
my personal observation, nor by
the best information which I
could collect on the spot.

The surfaces of the salt preci-
pice which have been long ex-
posed to the weather are not
smooth, but cut into innumerable
shallow channels, running in a
tortuous manner, and divided from
each other by thin edges, often so
sharp as to cut the hands like
broken glass. ‘The channelled
surface is evidently produced by
the action of the winter rains,
which have given the whole a
striking resemblance to the sur-
face of a mass of ice, which had
been partially thawed and again
frozen.

The general colour of the ex-
posed. surface is greyish white,
with here and there a tinge of
pale reddish brown, from the co-
louring matter of the superincum-
bent bed of clay. ‘Towards the
extremities of the mass of salt,
extremely thin layers of a pure
and plastic clay, are insinuated
between layers of salt, so as to
give it the waved delineations
which often occur in some species
of calcsniter. ‘The general mass
of salt is however of the greatest

* Bowles’ Introduction a la Historia
Natural de Espana; Dillon who translates
him, Laborde, Itineraire descriptit, &c.

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

purity; and in order to be con-
verted into snow white culinary
salt requires no other process but
grinding. The greyish hue of
the external surface is owing to
the rain penetrating a portion of
the salt, and by diminishing its
opacity, depriving it of the white-
ness which the fresh fracture
generally presents. At the period
of my visit the surface of this
immense mass was properly dry,
and in some places, where water
had most recently flowed, was
covered with a snow white efllor-
escence. ‘This circumstance, as
well as the sharpness of the edges
above mentioned, shew the little
hygrometric water in the atmos-
phere of that country, and the
general purity of the salt from
earthy muriates.

The fracture of the salt is
highly crystalline, and usually
exhibits large granular distinct
concretions, which give it some-
times the appearance ofa breccia,
or of containing imbedded crys-
tals.

A perennial brine spring Hows
at the foot of the great precipice,
and affords a strong proof of the
little effect of water on this
very compact salt, The aperture
through which the stream has
issued, for many years, is not
wider externally than two feet,
and suddenly contracts to a few
inches; while the channel worn
in asolid floor of salt, through
which the stream has long flowed,
is not a foot in depth. This is
partly to be ascribed to the water
being saturated with salt; but,
during the rainy season, the
stream is much augmented, and
thus cannot be supposed so highly
charged with saline matter. Not-

withstanding

+

NATURAL

withstanding this, neither the
solvent, nor mechanical effects of
the spring seem to have much
effect on the fossil salt of Cardona.
The waters of this spring flow
into the Cardonero, leaving in
the valley a thick scaly crust of
salt, resembling the ice formed
around our brooks in similar si-
tuations. During the rainy sea-
son, itis asserted, that the stream
carries down such quantities of
salt into the Cardonero, as to kill
the fish in that river.* This as-
sertion rests upon the authority
of Bowles, an able naturalist ;
but he undoubtedly was led into
error when he asserted, that the
waters of the Cardonero at some
leagues below the mines yield no
trace of salt: from which he in-
ferred, that salt may, by motion,
be converted into earthy matter.
At Manresa, which isabout twenty
miles below Cardona, J tested the
‘water of the Cardonero by nitrate
of silver, which indicated the
presence of an unusually large
portion of muriate of soda. The
taste of the brine spring at Car-
dona is intensely saline ; and the
hand immersed in it, on being
exposed to the air is instantly
covered with a film of salt. The
salt rock near its source is most
elegantly veined with delicate
waved delineations of an ochre
yellow colour.

The clay which covers the bed
of salt at Cardona, and forms the
sides of the valley, exactly resem-
bles the clay found in the salt
district of Cheshire, having when
dry some resemblance to shale,

* Introduccion a la Historia Natural y
a la Geografia Fisica de Espana, por Don
Guillermo Bowles. Madrid, 1775.

HIS ORY. 589

but becoming plastic when moist-
ened. It is remarkably pure, and
free from intermixture, except of
salt; large masses of which are
occasionally imbedded in it.

No fibrous salt was te be ob-
served at Cardona; nor did | dis-
cover the slightest trace of gyp-
sum in that neighbourhood; a
remark which was also made by
Bowles. On the soil near the
town, a small quantity of a saline
efflorescence was however ob-
served, which had the taste of
sulphate of soda; but the loss of
the specimen I collected, has pre-
vented a more accurate investiga-
tion of its properties.

The salt mine of Cardona is
wrought like an open quarry with
pickaxes and wedges, by which
the mineral is raised in consi-
derable tabular masses. ‘The part
at present wrought presents an
extensive horizontal fioor of pure
rock salt ; the level of which is a
little lower than the foot of the
great salt precipice. An enor-
mous mass of the same mineral
lies between this precipice and
the present mine, the removal of
which will, in ‘time, render the
appearance of this interesting
spot still more magnificent; for
then the vast front of the rock
salt bed will at once strike the
eye from the lowest part of the
mine.

Like every other public works
in Spain, the mines of Cardona
are in a languid state from the
effects of the late war, which has
desolated the peninsula. Only
100 labourers are at present em-
ployed in quarrying the salt, and
in wheeling it to the receiving
house. Over these, eight over-
seers are appointed, who do duty

in

590

in rotation; and ten centinels are
continually stationed around the
mine to defend it from the de-
predations of the peasaatry. Se-
veral clerks are employed in an
office built at the entrance to the
mine, and the whole is under the
direction of an Intendente or In-
spector, who wears the uniform
of an officer in the Spanish army ;

for the mine is the property of '

the crown, and is most rigidly
guarded. Notwithstanding the
rigour with which depredators are
punished, the peasantry frequently
attempt to deceive the vigilance of
the guardians of the mine. When
detected, the usual punishment
for a peasant is, even on the first
offence, two or three years labour
among malefactors in some of the
public works in the province. A
soldier is however less severely
punished when he commits a si-
milar transgression ; he is gene-
rally sentenced to afew days soli-
tary confinement in a dungeon of
the castle. On asking an over-
seer the reason of this dispropor-
tion in the punishment of dif-
ferent offenders, he replied, that
the soldier's poverty was supposed
to extenuate his crime, while the
peasant of Catalonia enjoyed com-
parative wealth, and could afford
to purchase salt for the consump-
tion of his family.

Such is the boldness of the
smugglers and the jealousy of the
government, that it is dangerous
to visit the mines without formal
leave from the Intendente; as
the centinels have orders to fire
on any one seen loitering about
them.

The workmen here receive con-
siderable wages, and are all free
labourers; each man _ receives

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

daily twelve reals vellon, which
at the rate of exchange last year
equals three shillings sterling :
lads are paid at the rate of eight
reals,. or two shillings ; and boys
receive six reals, or one shilling
and sixpence.* The hours for
work are from six in the morning
to seven in the evening, (in sum-
mer) ; with the intervals of half
an hour, between eight and nine
o'clock, A.M. for breakfast, and
two hours, from twelve to two,
for dinner, and its usual sequel
in Spain, the siester.

The produce of the mines is
pulverized by grinding it in mills,
on the exact construction of our
common water mills. This ope-
ration reduces it into an excellent
culinary salt of a snowy white-
ness. In this state it is sold to
the peasantry of the surrounding:
districts, at the rate of thirty
reals vellon, or seven sh. six d.
sterl. per fanega of five arrobas
of Catalonia, which equal 116
pounds avoirdupois.

As there are no roads iit
cable for wheel carriages in this
part of Catalonia, the salt is car-
ried from Cardona on mules or
asses; the only beasts of burden
that could travel in safety the
rugged defiles in which this dis-
trict abounds. It seems a part
of the ‘perverse policy of the
Spanish government to discourage
the formation of proper roads,

* This may be considered as liberal
wages where the necessaries of life, with
the exception of bread, are cheap; at
Cardona, mutton and beef costs 1 real vell.
per 12 oz. Bread of the best quality
costs 1 real vell. per 12 0z. Wine of the
country (a very good red sort) is retailed
at 6 quartos per bottle, or about two pence
sterling.

lest

NATURAL

lest it should facilitate the opera-
tions of the smuggler.

It would not be difficult to con-
nect Cardona, by means of a
canal, with the ocean; and thus
the valuable produce of its salt
mines might increase the reve-
nues of the crown, and the trade
of Barcelona. The channels of
the Cardonero and Lobregat al-
ways contain a large body of
water, and might easily be ren-
dered subservient to the purposes
of inland navigation. Besides
augmenting the value of the
mines of Cardona, sucha plan by
facilitating the intercourse with
the interior of this fine province,
would stimulate the exertions of
a people who only require an
equitable government to become
highly industrious.

It yet remains that I offer a
few remarks on the nature of the
country around Cardona, as ma-
terials for its geology.

Its general appearance is moun-
tainous. The mountains are ab-
rupt, but generally wooded. The
vallies are narrow, and, where
the declivities will permit culti-
vation, they produce abundance
of good grapes and some corn.
In coming from Barcelona, the
traveller leaves, at a small dis-
tance on the left, the majestic
Montserrat; and gradually ap-
proaches a niountain chain pro-
ceeding from its northern extre-
mity, which declines as it stretches
towards Manresa. This chain
consists of similar materials to
Montserrat ; viz. of vast beds of
farcilite, composed of rounded
masses of quartz, with angular
pieces of siliceous slate, and frag-
ments of clayslate united by a

HISTORY.

basis containing calcareous earth.
The fragments of this farcilite
become smaller as we go north-
ward, and at last bear a striking
resemblance to coarse greywack€ ;
to which formation I am inclined
to assign the puddingstone of
Montserrat, and the chain of
which it forms a part.*

On descending the rugged
mountains of puddingstone into
the valley of the Lobregat, before
coming to Manresa, we observe
strata of a bluish grey rock with
interposed layers of a softer ma-
terial of the same colour, which
crumbles into sandy clay by ex-
posure to the weather. These
strata have some resemblance to
sandstone-flag; but an attentive
consideration convinced me that
they ought to be considered as
stratified greywacké approaching
to greywacké slate. Above these
we again find the farcilite, which
is the prevailing rock about Man-
resa. All the rocks hitherto men-
tioned effervesce slightly with
acids ; a circumstance which con-
nects them in some measure with
the extensive limestone country to
the south-west of Montserrat ;
and they all shew a tendency to
split vertically into columnar

591

* It nfay not be improper here to re-
mark, that the common descriptions of
Montserrat, are in several respects erro-
neous. Itis not an insulated mountain, as
generally represented ; but is the highest
point of a considerable chain. Its insular
appearance, as seen from the high road
between Igualada and Martorel, has de-
ceived those who have never examined its
north-eastern side. The touchstone men-
tioned by Bowles and others, as entering
into the composition of its puddingstone,
appears by its fracture to be only a dark
coloured common siliceous slate.

Niasses.

592

masses. Beyond Manresa the
farcilite occurs till the traveller
crosses the ford of the Cardonero,
when it is succeeded by a lime-
stone of a dirty iron brown co-
lour, and dull, almost earthy,
fracture. Beyond the village of
Suria, a sandstone, which slightly
effervesces with acids, makes its
appearance. This rock consti-
tutes the sides of the valley which
contain the fossil salt.

The immediate vicinity of the
salt mines shews no other rock
than a yellowish grey sandstone
much charged with scales of
mica.

We find thus that the salt rock
of Cardona is accompanied by
clay and sandstone, like our
Cheshire salt formation. Lime-
stone also is found near it; but
the usual concomitant gypsum
appears to be wanting, as well as
foetid limestone. ‘The great com-
pactness and purity of this salt
merits examination.

Though the country around
Cardona is mountainous and
rugged, it is inferior in elevation
to the districts between it and the
Mediterranean; as well as to
those which bound it on the
north. Immediately behind Car-
dona the mountains begin to as-
cend with increasing boldness
until they unite with the grand
chain of the Pyrenees.

I relinquish to others the diffi-
cult task of giving a probable
explanation of the formation of
rock salt; contented if my obser-
vations on the mine of Cardona
can add any thing to the mass of
facts which should guide us in
the obscure but captivating spe-
culations of geology.

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

VISIT TO THE MUMMY PITS.
(From Legh’s Travels )

The pits we had examined at
Thebes were full of human mum-
mies, but in no place had we yet
seen any marks of those of croco-
diles. With this intention we
continued our voyage down the
Nile and halted at Manfalout
situated on the left bank of the
river, for the purpose of making
preparations for a journey to
Amabdi. Our party consisted of
my friend Mr. Smelt and an Ame-
rican of the name of Barthow,
who had traded many years in the
Red Sea, spoke Arabic extremely
well, and whom we had engaged
as a dragoman at Cairo, when we
first began our travels in Upper
Egypt. We took with us, be-
sides, an Abyssinian merchant,
of the name of Fadlallah, and
three of our boat's crew who
were Barabras, whom we _ had
brought with us from the Catar-
acts. Having provided ourselves
with asses and torches, we crossed
the ferry of Manfalout, at five in
the morning of the 30th March.
We wandered about till nine
o'clock in search of the village of
Amabdi, near which we at length
found four Arabs employed in
cutting wood. ‘They appeared at
first unwilling to give us any in-
formation about the object of our
search, and we observed them con-
sulting together, and overheard
them muttering something about
danger, and thought we heard the
expression, ‘If one must die,—
all must die.”’ This excited our
suspicions, but did not deter us
from proceeding, as we relied on

our

NATURAL

our number and strength to re-
sist any act of treachery.

We were bent on going, and
the Arabs at last undertook to be
our guides for a reward of twenty-
five piastres. After an hour’s
march in the desert, we arrived
at the spot, which we found to
be a pit or circular hole of ten
feet in diameter, and about eigh-
teen feet deep. We descended
without difficulty, and the Arabs
began to strip, and proposed to
us to do the same: we partly
followed their example, but kept
on our trowsers and shirts. I
had by me a brace of pocket pis-
tols, which I concealed in my
trowsers, to be prepared against
any treacherous attempt of our
guides. It was now decided that
three of the four Arabs should go
with us, while the other remained
on the outside of the cavern. The
Abyssinian merchant declined go-
ing any farther. The sailors re-
mained also on the outside to take
care of our clothes. We formed
therefore a party of six; each
was to be preceded by a guide—
our torches were lighted—one of
the Arabs led the way—and I
followed him.

We crept for seven or eight
yards through an opening at the
bottom of the pit, which was
partly choked up with the drifted
sand of the desert, and found
ourselves in a large chamber
about fifteen feet high.

This was probably the place
into which the Greek, Demetrius,
had penetrated, and here we ob-
served what he had described, the
fragments of the mummies of
crocodiles. We saw also great
numbers of bats flying about, and
hanging from the roof of the
chamber. Whilst holding up my

Vor. LVI.

HISTORY.

torch to examine the vault, I ac-
cidentally scorched one of them.
I mention this trivial circum-
stance, because afterwards it gave
occasion to a most ridiculous,
though to us very important dis-
cussion. So far the story of the
Greek was true, and it remained
only to explore the galleries where
the Arabs had formerly taken re-
fuge, and where, without doubt,
were deposited the mummies we
were searching for. We had all
of us torches, and our guides in-
sisted upon our placing ourselves
in such a way, that an Arab was
before each of us. Though there
appeared something mysterious in
this order of march, we did not
dispute with them, but proceeded.
We now entered a low gallery, in
which we continued for more
than an hour, stooping or creep-
ing as was necessary, and follow-
ing its windings, till at last it
opened into a large chamber,
which, after some time, we re-
cognized as the one we had first
entered, and from which we had
set out. Our conductors, how-
ever, denied that it was the same,
but on our persisting in the as-
sertion, agreed at last that it was,
and confessed they had missed
their way the first time, but if
we would make another attempt
they would undertake to conduct
us to the mummies. Our curiosity
was still unsatisfied ; we had been
wandering for more than an hour
in low subterranean passages, and
felt considerably fatigued by the
irksomeness of the posture in
which we had been obliged to
move, and the heat of our torches
in those narrow and low galleries.
But the Arabs spoke so confidently
of succeeding in this second trial,
that we were induced once more

20 to

593

594

to attend them. We found the
opening of the chamber which we
now approached guarded by a
trench of unknown depth, and
wide enough to require a good
leap. The first Arab jumped the
ditch, and we all followed him.
The passage we entered was ex-
tremely small, and so low in some
places as to oblige us to craw] flat
on the ground, and almost always
on our hands and knees. The in-
tricacies of its windings resembled
a labyrinth, and it terminated at
length in a chamber much smaller
than that which we had left, but,
like it, containing nothing to satisfy
our curiosity. Our search hitherto
had been fruitless, but the mum-
mies might not be far distant,
another effort, and we might still
be successful.

The Arab whom I followed,
and who led the way, now entered
another gallery, and we all con-
tinued to move in the same man-
ner as before, each preceded by a
guide. We had not gone far be-
fore the heat became excessive ;—
for my own part I found my
breathing extremely difficult, my
head began to ache most violently,
and J had a most distressing sen-
sation of fulness about the heart.

We felt we had gone too far,
and yet were almost deprived of
the power of returning. At this
moment the torch of the first
Arab went out: I was close to
him, and saw him fall on his side ;
he uttered a groan—his legs were
strengly convulsed, and I heard a
rattling noise in his’ throat—he
was dead.) The Arab behind me,
seeing the torch of his companion
extinguished, and conceiving he
had stumbled, past me, advanced
to his assistance, and stooped, I

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

observed him appear faint, totter,
and fall in a moment—he also
was dead. The third Arab came
forward, and made an effort to
approach the bodies, but stopped
short. We looked at each other
in silent horror. The danger in-
creased every instant ; our torches
burnt faintly ; our breathing be-
came more difficult; our knees
tottered under us, and we felt
our strength nearly gone.

There was no time to be lost—
the American, Barthow, cried to
us to “ take courage,’ and we
began to move back as fast as we
could. We heard the remaining
Arab shouting after us, calling us
Caffres, imploring our assistance,
and upbraiding us with deserting
him. But we were obliged to
leave him to his fate, expecting
every moment to share it with
him. The windings of the pas-
sages through which we had come
increased the difficulty of our
escape; we might take a wrong
turn, and never reach the great
chamber we had first entered.
Even supposing we took the
shortest road, it was but too pro-
bable our strength would fail us
before we arrived. We had each
of us separately and unknown to
one another observed attentively
the different shapes of the stones
which projected into the galleries
we had passed, so that each had
an imperfect clue to the labyrinth
we had now to retrace. We com-
pared notes, and only on one oc-
casion had a dispute, the Ameri-
can differing from iny friend and
myself; in this dilemma we were
determined by the majority, and
fortunately were right. Exhaust-
ed with fatigue and terror, we
reached the edge of the deep

trench

NATURAL

trench which remained to be
crossed before we got into the
great chamber. Mustering all
my strength, I leaped, aad was
followed by the American. Smelt
stood on the brink, ready to drop
with fatigue. He called to us
** for God's sake to help him over
the fosse, or at least to stop, if
only for five minutes, to allow
him time to recover his strength.”
It ‘was impossible—to stay was
death, and we could not resist
the desire to push on and reach
the open air. We encouraged
him to summon all his force, and
he cleared the trench. When we
reached the open air it was one
o'clock, and the heat in the sun
about 160°. Our sailors, who
were waiting for us, had luckily
a bardak full of water, which
they sprinkled upon us; but though
a little refreshed, it was not pos-
sible to climb the sides of the pit ;
they unfolded their turbans, and
slinging them round our bodies,
drew us to the top.

Our appearance alone without
our guides naturally astonished
the Arab who had remained at
the entrance of the cavern ; and
he anxiously inquired for his
ha-habebas, or friends. ‘Yo have
confessed they were dead would
have excited suspicion, he would
have supposed we had murdered
them, and have alarmed the in-
habitants of Amabdi, to pursue
us and revenge the death of their
friends. We replied therefore
they were coming, and were em-
ployed in bringing out the mum-
mies we had found, which was
the cause of their delay.

We lost no time in mounting
our asses, re-crossed the desert,
and passed hastily by the village

ma SP ORY. 595

to regain the ferry of Manfalout.
Our cangia was moored close to
the town, and we got on board
by five o’clock. We had been
expected for some time, and as it
happened to be the birthday of my
friend Mr. Smelt, we had intend-
ed to have regaled ourselves that
day with a more sumptuous meal
than ordinary. But we had no
appetite to eat, it was of more
consequence to consult what was
to be done in our present cir-
cumstances. ‘That the Arabs of
Amabdi would pursue us to re-
venge the supposed murder of
their friends, there was no doubt,
and as it would be next to im-
possible to persuade them we had
no hand in their deaths, we all
agreed our only safety was in
flight. It was resolved we should
wait till midnight, and then sail
down the Nile for Miniet, the
first Turkish garrisoned town we
should reach. Owing to the lazi-
ness or stupidity of our Reis, it
was however five in the morning
before we weighed anchor. This
at the time gave us great uneasi-
ness, but was in fact a most for-
tunate circumstance; for, as will
appear afterwards, had we sailed
earlier we should certainly have
fallen into the hands of our ene-
mies. The wind was contrary,
blowing strongly from the north,
and we had only made two leagues
by seven o'clock.

We now saw four Turks on
horseback galloping towards us,
followed by two Arabs on foot,
and as we made but little way
down the river, they were soon
near enough to fire a pistol and
order us to bring to. We stopped
our boat, and they called to us
from the shore, saying they were

2Q2 sent

596

sent by the Cacheff to bring us to
Manfalout to answer for the
murder of our Arab guides. ‘he
two Arabs on foot were violent in
their threats, and continued voci-
ferating they would have blood
for blood, and that they were re-
solved on our deaths, though it
might cost the lives of twenty
more of their countrymen. We
entered into a parley with the
Turks, and demanded of them if
they would answer for our safety
on ow way to Manfalout, and
stipulated also that we should be
allowed to carry with us our arms.
They promised us we should not
be molested on our road to the
town, and after sume demur per-
mitted us to take our swords,
pistols, and double-barrelled guns.
On these conditions we went on
shore, and walked on foot under
the escort of the Turks to Manfa-
lout. When we arrived at the
house of the Cacheff, we found
him smoking in an outer court,
attended bya few Arnout guards,
and surrounded by about forty of
the inhabitants of Amabdi.

The Arabs received us with a
shout of revengeful delight.

The Cacheff treated us in a
stern and haughty manner, and
informed us of what we were ac-
cused by, the people about him.
Through our dragoman we re-
lated our story, and produced the
firman we had received of Mach-
moud Ali, Pacha of Cairo. Our
passport ran in the usual form,
enjoining all the Governors of the
different towns through which we
should pass to afford us every
protection and assistance. A se-
cretary was ordered to read the
firman aloud, which when he had
done, the Cacheff reaching out

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

his hand took hold of it, and
looking sternly at us, observed
sarcastically, ‘‘I do not see that
this firman allows you either to
maltreat or kill the Arabs.”

He then poured out a torrent
of abuse upon us in Arabic, to
the great satisfaction of our ac-
cusers, and retired into an inner
court, leaving us, as we conceived,
to their mercy. The Arabs were
most of them armed with swords
and spears, and began now to
surround us with menacing ges-
tures. Shortly however we were
sent for by the Turk, and con-
ducted by some of his soldiers
into his presence.

The Arahs expressed great sa-
tisfaction at this, and appeared
to think our fate was decided.
The Cacheff received us on this
occasion in a much more friendly
manner than at first; he was un-
observed by the Arabs, and laid
aside the angry tone which we
now perceived he had formerly
only affected. ‘‘My good friends,”
said he, laying his hand on the
shoulder of our dragoman, “ I
know I am, by virtue of your
firman, bound to protect you, and
my head must answer for your
safety. 1 believe your story, but
I have a guard only of 50 soldiers,
and the village of Amabdi is 700
muskets strong. Should all the
inhabitants take a part in this
affair and come over, the conse-
quence will be fatal both to you
and myself; you must make your
escape secretly, and in the mean -
time I will amuse and detain the
Arabs.”

We saw the force of this ad-
vice, thanked the Cacheff for his
friendly conduct, and lost no time
in making our retreat through a

gate

NATURAL HISTORY.

gate at the back of his house.
When we had quitted our boat to
accompany the Turks to Manfa-
lout, we had given orders that it
should follow us, and now found
it waiting close to the town.

We again set sail, but as the
wind continued to blow strongly
from the north, with little pro-
spect of eluding the pursuit of our
enemies.

The Nile here is about two
musket shots broad, and we were
continually obliged to tack.
Though we rowed with all our
might we made but little way,
and had scarcely lost sight of the
town before we observed a party
of horsemen at a_ considerable
distance in the Desert, on the
right bank of the Nile, whom we
took for Bedouin Arabs. Soon
after we perceived a number of
heads peeping over the sand hil-
locks on the same side. We were
at this moment nearly in the mid-
dle of the river, and consequently
a little without musket shot.
Suddenly several Arabs jumped
up and shouted to us to come
over, or they would fire upon us.

We rowed our boat as quickly
as possible to the other bank, and
consulted amongst ourselves what
measures to take. Our danger
was imminent, we were sur-
rounded on all sides by enemies,
our friend the Cacheff at Manfa-
lout was unable to protect us,
and the distance to Miniet was
seventy miles. If the wind had
been favourable, by fast sailing
and keeping close to the left bank
of the river, we might have es-
caped our pursuers; but in the
present circumstances it would
have been madness to continue
our course.

597

At length it was resolved we
should return to Manfalout again,
claim the assistance of the Ca-
cheff, or endeavour to convince
the Arabs of our innocence. We
quickly reached the town, and
had no sooner stepped on shore
than we were assailed by three
women, and five or six children
—they were all naked and smear-
ed with mud. We were informed
that they were the wives and
children of the men who had pe-
rished, and the state in which
they exhibited themselves was ac-
cording to the custom of mourn-
ing amongst them. As we were
armed, we reached without much
obstruction the house of the Ca-
cheff, whom we now found sur-
rounded by more than four hun-
dred Arabs, and amongst them
the Shekh of the village of Am-
abdi. Making our way through
the crowd, .we luckily recognized
the person of the Arab whom we
had left and supposed to have
died with his companions in the
cavern. His appearance was most
wretched ; he was unable to stand,
and was supported by two of his
friends. We afterwards found
he had escaped by the light of
Mr. Smelt’s torch, when he was
obliged to remain for a short time
to recover his strength at the edge
of the trench. Our dragoman
related our story again, and called
upon the survivor to confirm the
truth of it, but im-vain; on the
contrary he maintained we had
taken him and his companions by
force, and compelled them to
conduct us to the place. In this
falsehood he was supported by the
Arab who had remained on the
outside of the cavern, and whom
we now saw for the first time

among

598

among the crowd. In our de-
_ fence we replied it was not pos-
sible we could have used any
means of compulsion, as we were
unarmed, This we boldly assert-
ed, as the brace of pistols I had
with me was never produced.
Besides, we recalled to his me-
mory that on our way thither one
of the guides who had died, had
replenished our bardak with water
from a well near Amabdi.—This
proved that we had gone amicably
together.

The Cacheff, who continued to
treat us haughtily in public, com-
manded the Arab to explain the
means by which the infidels (who
he confessed were without arms)
had killed his companions. He
replied, by magic, for he had
seen me burning something on
our first entrance into the great
chamber. This was the bat I had
accidentally scorched. _ Our cause
now began to wear a better com-
plexion: part of the crowd, who
treated the idea of magic with
contempt, believed us innocent,
and the rest probably dreaded the
imaginary powers with which we
had been invested. Emboldened
by this change of sentiment in
our favour, our dragoman assumed
a lofty tone, and peremptorily
insisted on our being sent, to-
gether with our two accusers and
the Shekh of Amabdi, to Siout, to
Ibrahim Bey, the son of the
Pacha of Cairo, and the Governor
of Upper Egvpt. The reputation
of tnis man for cruelty was so
great, that his very name excited
terror in the assembly. It was
now our turn to threaten, and we
talked of the alliance of our king
with the Pacha of Cairo, and the
consequence of ill-treating any

ANNUAL REGISTER

1816.

one protected by his firman. This
had its effect, and the Cacheff
having consulted for some time
with the Shekh, suggested an ac-
commodation by money. This
proposal we at first affected to
reject with disdain, as it would
in some manner be an acknow-
ledgement of our guilt, though
we were secretly anxious to ter-
minate the affair at any rate. Our
dragoman was sent to negociate
with the Cacheff, and it was
finally agreed weshould pay twelve
piastres or two Spanish dollars to
each of the women, and the same
sum we offered as a present to
the Shekh of the village. All
animosity seemed now to have
ceased, and we were permitted
quietly to return to our vessel,
and continue our voyage.

THE SPOTS IN THE SUN.
[From a Freach paper.)

The superstitious anxiety exci-
ted at present among the vulgar,
and even among people who would
be offended at being so classed,
by the great news of spots in the
Sun, must afford ample matter of
reflection to all enlightened men.
What renders these terrors ridi-
culous is, that nothing is more
usual than the appearance of spots
in the Sun’s disk: few years pass
during which astronomers do not
observe them in less or greater
numbers, and no injurious in-
fluence has ever yet resulted from
them. A spot was observed in
1779, which, from its apparent
dimensions, must have been about
17,000 leagues in diameter ; it
was therefore five or six times as

large

NATURAL HISTORY.

large as the earth. It passed off
like the rest, without doing any
mischief.

We were of course indebted to
the telescope for our first know-
ledge of the existence of such
spots. They were seen for the
first time in 1611; and nearly
about the same time by J. Fabri-
cius, at Wittenberg, by the Jesuit
Scheiner, and by Galileo. That
great man watched their course
with so much attention, and so
well developed their phenomena,
that very little has been since ad-
ded to the descriptions which he
gave, except more precise mea-
sures. ‘The spots of the Sun are
at presentviewed with astronomi-
cal telescopes, in which the great
brilliancy of that star is mitigated
and not effaced, by the coloured
glass placed between the telescope
and the eye. ‘There are in the in-
terior of the telescope, at the focus
of the object, some very fine
threads stretched crosswise, and
moveable parallely to each other,
by means of which the distance
of the spot from the nearest bor-
der of the Sun’s disk may be as-
certained, which determines its
position on the disk at the mo-
ment of observation. By follow-
ing in this manner the same spot
for several days, it is perceived to
change its place. Its size also
varies much. The spots some-
times grow thinner, and disperse

.from one day to another: and
hence it isthat, though last month
rather a large number was visible,
within these few days only two
are to be seen. But during the
whole time of their presence they
pursue a regular course, of which
the aspects are common to all.

When they first come in sight,

599

they appear on the Sun’s border
like a slender thread. In propor-
tion as they advance towards the
middle of the disk, they appear,
from day to day, to enlarge in the
direction’ of their movement.
They then decrease periodically ;
and if they last long enough to
traverse the whole disk, they go
olf by the opposite disk, narrow-
ing to a single thread, These ap-
pearances are evidently such as a
small body, adhering to a spheri-
cal surface, and revolving with or
upon that surface, must present.
‘Fhe diminution of the spots, in
proportion as they approximate
the borders of the disk, results
from this—that they then project
more obliquely, and are only seen
sidewise ; but when in the middle
of the disk they are seen in their
full extent. In fine, upon com-
paring the direction and rapidity
of their course, it soon becomes
evident that the supposition of
their adhering to the body of the
Sun is the only admissible one:
that course is so steady, that when
the same spot has been watched
for several days, all the other po-
sitions which it may take may be
predicted with certainty. On
thus tracing the route of all those
which appear, it is. ascertained
that they move in courses exact-
ly parallel, describing circles
which all have their centre ona
common axis, passing through
the centre of the Sun. The size
of these circles varies on different
points of the disk, according to
the same laws as on a sphere ;
and the rate of movement is mo-
dified in such way, that all the
circles are run through in equal
times. This perfect concordance
of revolution in spots so ebange-

able

600

able in other respects, so fleeting,
and so independent on each other,
evidently shows that they must
be attached to one and the same
round body which makes them re-
volve altogether with a common
motion. Hence it has been con-
cluded that the Sun revolves upon
itself with the general motion of
these spots, that is, in 25 days
and a half, in like manner as
our earth revolves in 24 hours.
The same calculation, applied to
the spots which have been dis-
covered on the other planets, has

in like manner made us acquaint- .

ed with their rotation.

As to the nature of these solar
spots, it is absolutely unknown.
Herschell ig of opinion that lumi-
nous clouds float in the inflamed
atmosphere of this star, as clouds
of vapour float in ours. He sup-
poses that the body of the Sun is
opaque and dark; and that the
black spots observed there at in-
tervals are merely the summits of
very elevated mountains, which
the solar clouds permit us to see
between their openings. Other
astronomers think that the globe
of the Sun is on fire, and that the
spots are merely immense scorie,
launched on the surface of that
mass by the terrible explosions of
which our terrestrial volcanoes
afford but a feeble picture. But
whatever may be thought of these
conjectures, it seems sufficient
for us to know, that the solar
spots are trifling compared with
the immense mass of that star ;
and that the eruptions of which
they are perhaps the effect take
place at too great a distance from
our earth to produce the least ef-
fect upon it. Generally speak-

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

ing, the physical state of our lit-
tle world is incomparably more
stable and steady than its moral
state.

ACCOUNT OF A SODA LAKE
SOUTH AMERICA.

By M. Palacio Furar.

(From Journal of Science and the Arts.)

IN

In Maracaybo, one of the pro-
vinceg of Venezuela (48 miles east
of Merida, about 8 degrees of
N.L. and 70 degrees some mi-
nutes of W.Lon.), is a valley,
called Lalagunilla, the small
lake. On the south of this val-
ley, which contains an extent
of country seven miles in length
and five in breadth, runs that
branch of the Andes which ex-
tends along the coast of Vene-
zuela, and rising on this spot to
the line of perpetual snow, forms
La Sierra Nevada of Merida.

The waters that descend north-
wards from La Sierra unite to
form the river Chama, which tra-
verses the neighbouring coun-
tries, Mucuchies, Merida, Exido,
Lalagunilla, and Estanques, and
loses itself in the woods which
surround the lake of Maracaybo.
Those, on the contrary, which
descend southwards from the
Cordilliera are received by several
rivers communicating with the
Apure, which falls into the Oro-
noco. At a considerable height
northwards, on La Sierra, is
found the species of Cinchona,
known in commerce by the ap-
pellation of Cinchona of Cartha-
gena. ,

The north side of Lalagunilla

is

NATURAL

is bounded by a limestone hill.
The land rises imperceptibly to-
wards the east and descends gra-
dually several fathoms towards
the west, until it reaches that
tract, of country which produces
the Cacao (cocos butiracea). The
bed of the valley is formed of
chalk; it is situated about 250
fathoms above the level of the
sea.

The village of Lalagunilla is
situate in the south of the valley ;
its inhabitants, a strong laborious
people, are Indians, whose only
occupation is agriculture and the
extraction of the Urao.

Nearly in the centre of the val-
ley is the lake which receives the
rain water that descends frona the
neighbouring mountains ; but as
even during the greatest drought
the lake never becomes dry, it is
supposed that it has some springs
which supply it with water, in-
dependent of the rains. Its di-
mensions in the rainy season, in
the widest part, are two hundred
and ten fathoms by one hundred
and six. On the eastern side,
where the waters are deepest, its
depth never exceeds three fa-
thoms. To prevent inundations
to the neighbouring cottages, a
drain is cut on the south-east
side, which carries the waters
into the Chama. On the eastern
side the waters are very shallow,
and being contracted in width,
give to the lake a somewhat oval
form. It is on this side that
many aquatic plants are found.
The air of the valley being very
dry, the climate mild, the sky se-
rene, the country in a high state
of cultivation, and the view of La
Sierra Neveda truly sublime, a
residence here is delightful, and
many families from Merida and

Hd SMORyY. 601

the environs constantly pass some
months of the year at Lalagunilla.

The waters of the lake are im-
pregnated with carbonate of soda,
which crystallizes in the dry sea-
son, and is in that state by the
Indians called Urao. ‘The ex-
traction of this salt, which is em-
ployed at Venezuela to prepare
the Mo or inspissated juice of to-*
bacco, has been long known and
practised at Lalagunilla. At the
end of the last century, when the
Court of Madrid monopolized the
cultivation of tobacco, the right
of extracting the Urao fell like-
wise to the crown. On the east
side of the lake a magazine was
erected forreceiving the Urao, and
another building as a residence for
the Teniente visitador, or captain
of Gens d’armes, in whom was
vested the government of the lake,
with a view to prevent a species
of smuggling which the Indians
are much inclined to practise, by
secretly withdrawing the Urao.

The water of the lake is of a
yellowish green colour, of a sa-
ponaceous quality, alkaline taste,
and peculiar smell. There is no
appearance of fish of any kind
in these waters; the only living
cieature I could observe was an
insect on the borders of the lake,
which appeared to me a species
of spider.

These waters having a strength-
ening quality, convalescents re-
sort thither in the morning to
bathe, and derive great benefit
from them in some cutaneous
diseases. In many disorders in-
cident to horses they are likewise
very eflicacious.

When the period for the ex-
traction of the Urao arrives,
which is every two years, those
Indians of Lalagunilla, who are

devoted

602

devoted to this employment, and
who are called Huragueros, are
embodied at the residence of the
Teniente visitador. ‘The Indians
employed at this work are easily
distinguished by their hair be-
coming red. Being embodied,
they proceed, in presence of the
Gens d’armes, to sound the lake
with a long pole, at the end of
which is fixed a bar of iron, which
serves to break the mineral.
Having by these means found
the parts where the Urav is most
copiously deposited, they divide
themselves into different parties
(quadrillas), for the sake of faci-
litating their labour. Hach party,
composed of eight, ten, or more
Indians, fixes a pole in the centre
of the district allotted to them.
Supported by this pole, the Hura-
gueros plunge into the lake, and
beginning by separating a bed of
earth which covers the mineral,
they proceed to break the Urao,
When they suppose that a consi-
derable part of the Urao is sepa-
rated from the mass, they dive
for it, and then rising again above
the water, place it in very small
canoes (piraguitas), which float
round the spot. As there are se-
veral Indians who explore the
same mine, the work goes on
without interruption, but the
same Huraguero is not able to
plunge many times successively.
The work, which begins early,
and always in presence of the
Gens d’armes, who are stationed
on the borders of the lake, ceases
at six o’clock in the afternoon,
when the produce of the day’s
labour is deposited in the royal
magazine, and is afterwards ex-
posed to the heat of the sun.

The extraction, which lasts

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

nearly two months, produces from
1000 to 1600 weight of Urao,
which is the quantity consumed
in two years at Venezuela ; but
if more were required, the lake
would probably furnish upwards
of four times that quantity. ‘The
difficulty of extracting the Urao
may easily be imagined, but what
is much worse, considerable dan -
ger attends it. If the Indian
diver happens to lose his hold of
his pole, or if some other acci-
dent prevent his rising’ promptly
to the surface of the water, and
indeed the Indians of Lalagunilla
are in general but indifferent di-
vers, he is in danger of swallow-
ingmore or less of the alkaline
solution. If the quantity drank
be inconsiderable, the bad conse-
quences may be trifling; but if
he happen to drink largely. he
cannot survive it many days. Oil
has been had recourse to in vain.
Acetic acid might, perhaps, in
such cases be administered with
better effect. Father Rendon pro-
posed, in 1808, to the Captain-
general of Caraccas, to effect the
extraction of the Urao by sinking
a caisson, which when properly
secured should be opened at bot-
tom to get at the soda. This pro-
ject, which undoubtedly at low
water might be realised at a
small expense, was rejected as
impracticable.

When the extraction of the
Urao is completed, the superin-
tendant of the tobacco, who re-
sides at Merida, repairs to Lala-
gunilla, accompanied by the Te-
niente visitador and others. ‘The
salt is weighed, and paid for in
the proportion of about one real
of plata (about seven-pence) the
pound. It is then conveyed into

the

NATURAL

the general storehouse for tobacco
at Guanare, in the province of
Caraccas, whence it is distributed
to the lesser warehouses.

If a heap of tobacco leaves
covered with the green leaves
of other plants be exposed to the
sun for a few days, the tobacco
begins to ferment. If then put
into a press a red liquor may be
drawn from it, the exhalations of
which are intoxicating, and its
taste very pungent. ‘his juice
drawn from the tobacco is called
Anvir, but when reduced to a
syrup, by evaporation, it is term-
ed Mo. If the Mo be mixed
with the Urao when dried,
roasted, and pulverised, it forms
the Mo dulce, if the proportions
be preserved of an ounce of
Urao to a pound of Md, or
otherwise Chimod, if two or more
ounces of Urao be mixed with a
pound of Mo.

In the province of Venezuela,
and especially in Barinas and part
of Caraceas and Maracaybo, Mo
is much used, and likewise Chi-
mo, which is kept in small horn
boxes, and occasionally persons
put a little into their mouths.
The Mo, and especially the Chi-
mo, produces a copious salivation,
stimulating at the same time the
nervous system, which in these
climes, where the senses are
blunted by the excessive heat, is
productive of a degree of plea-
sure.

It is likewise used in medicine
for spasmodic complaints, which
in these countries are both fre-
quent and dangerous. It is said
that a little Chimo held in the
mouth protects swimmers from
the electric power of the cramp
fish (Trembladores).

HIS TOR Y.

The sale of tobacco, the Mo
dulez, and Chimd, in the Cap-
taincy-general of Venezuela, pro-
duced, in 1804, 700,000 piasters
after every expense attending: it
was paid.

I had the honour of transmit-
ting last year to Baron Humboldt
in Paris, a specimen of the Urao,
which Colonel Duran brought to
Europe. It was analysed by M.
Guy Lussac, who pronounced it
to be natron, in no respect dif-

603

ferent from that found in the
lakes of Egypt and Fezzan. The

mass neither contains sulphuric
nor boracie acid, but a little sub-
corbonate of ammonia. On com-
paring the Urao with common
subcarbonate of soda we find that
it contains more carbonic acid and
less water.

In the environs of Lalagunilla,
as well as in the roads to Merida,
and especially near the river Al-
barregas, there are some moun-
tains which are very distinguish-
able among the others by their
superior verdure, and by the
abundance of some plants, prin-
cipally the Rosa de Muerto, and
precisely the same species of ver-
dure and the same plants are
found on the mountains where’
are the mines of rock salt at Zi-
paquira, and at Enemocon of
Cundinamarca in New Granada.
Finding these similarities, I may
venture to form a conjecture,
that in the environs of Lalagu-
nilla there must likewise exist
muriate of soda, and this being
ascertained it would perhaps con-
tribute to explain the formation
of natren at such a considerable
height above the level of the sea,
which is more than sixty leagues
distant from Lalagunilla.

MISCELLANIES,

[ 604 J

MISCELLANIES.

MUSTY WHEAT.

HE following letter at this

_ time deserves particular at-

tention; the scientific author,

Mr. Hatchett, is well known to

be one of the most eminent chy-
mists in Europe.

TO THE RIGHT HON. SIR JOSEPH
BANKS, BART. G.C.B.P.R.S. &.

Read before the Royal Society, Dec.
5, 1816.

*« My Dear Sir,—The very
great loss which this country
formerly experienced by a con-
siderable part of imported grain
having become contaminated by
must, induced me several years
past to direct my attention to-
wards discovering some simple
and economical method by which
this taint could be removed, and
you well know that my endea-
vous were successful; but as
circumstances at that time, and
since, did not appear to require
that great publicity should be
given to this process, I contented
myself with describing it to you
and a few of my other friends.
Now, however, when I reflect on

the large quantities of corn which,
during the last harvest, have been
housed in a damp state, and on
the great importations which are
expected, with the extreme pro-
bability that a considerable part
may have contracted must, and
that thus the object of importation
may be partially frustrated by the
destruction of a large portion of
grain, and the consequent increase
in the price of the remainder, I
think it incumbent on me, by
addressing this letter to you, to
lose no time in publishing a pro-
cess, by which corn, however
musty, may be completely puri-
fied, with scarcely any loss of
quantity, with very little expense,
and without requiring previous
chymical knowledge or chymical
apparatus.

‘““The experiments which I
made were confined to wheat, as
being of the greatest importance ;
but there can be no doubt that
oats and other grain may be re-
stored to sweetness with equal
success : and I have also addi-
tional satisfaction from being en-
abled to state, that the efficacy of
the process may be ascertained by

any

NATURAL HISTORY.

any person, in any place, and
upon any quantity of grain, how-
ever small.

“From my experiments I am
inclined to believe, that must isa
taint produced by damp upon the
amylaceous part of the grain or
starch: that the portion of starch
nearest. to the husk is that which
is first tainted; and that the
greater or less degree of must is
in proportion to the taint having
penetrated more or less into the
substance of the grain. In most
cases, however, the taint is only
superficial; but, nevertheless, if
not removed, it is sufficient to
contaminate the odour and flavour
of the whole, especially when
converted into flour.

‘« After various experiments, I
found the following method to be
attended with success :—

“« The wheat must be put into
any convenient vessel capable of
containing at least three times
the quantity, and the vessel must
be subsequently filled with boiling
water ; the grain should then be
occasionally stirred, and the hol-
low and decayed grains (which
will float) may beremoved; when
the water has become cold, or, in
general, when about half an hour
has elapsed, it is to be drawn off.
It will be proper then to rince the
corn with cold water, in order to
remove any portion of the water
which had taken up the must ;
after which, the corn being com-
pletely drained, is, without loss
of time, to be thinly spread on
the floor of a kiln, and thoroughly
dried, care being taken to stir and
to turn it frequently during this
part of the process.

“« This is all that is required ;
and I have constantly found that

605

even the most musty corn (on
which ordinary kiln-drying had
been tried without effect) thus
became completely purified, whilst
the diminution of weight caused
by the solution of the tainted part
was very inconsiderable.
I have the honour to remain,
Dear Sir Joseph,
Your most faithful and
obedient servant,
Cuartes Harcuertt.”
Mount Clare, Roehampton,
Dec. 4, 1816.

THE COUNTRY POOR.

The two following interesting
stories are extracted from the
“* Report of the Society for bet-
tering the Condition of the Poor :”’ ©
they are well worth the attention
of those country gentlemen who
have a sincere wish to ameliorate
the condition of their indigent
labourers.—( Times.)

‘Twenty years ago there stood a
small cottage by the road side,
near ‘Tadeaster, which for its sin--
gular beauty, and the neatness of
its little garden, attracted the no-
tice of every traveller. The re-
markable propriety which appear-
ed in every part of this tenement
made Sir T3.omas Bernard curious
to learn the history of the owner,
and he obtained it from his own
mouth. Britton Abbott (such
was the owner’s name) was a
day-labourer: beginning to work
with a farmer at nine years old,
and being careful and industrious,
he had saved nearly 401. by the
time that he was two-and-twenty.
With this money he married and
took a farm at 301. a year; but
the farm was too much for his

means,

606

means, and before the end of the
second year he found it necessary
to give it up, having exhausted
almost all his little property. He
then removed toa cottage, where
with two acres of land and _ his
right of common he kept two
cows, and lived in comfort for
nine years: at the expiration of
that time the common was en-
closed, and he had to seek a new
habitation with six children, and
his wife ready to lie-in again. In
this state he applied to Mr. Fair-
fax, and told him that if he would
let him have a little bit of ground
by the road side ‘ he would show
him the fashions on it. The slip
of land for which he asked was
exactly a rood; Mr. Fairfax,
after inquiring into his character,
suffered him to have it; the
neighbours lent him some little
assistance in the carriage of his
materials ; he built his house, en-
closed the ground with a single
row of quickset, which he cut
down six times when it was young,
and planted the garden. The
rnanner in which he set to work,
and the way in which the work
was performed, pleased Mr. Fair-
fax so much, that he told him he
should be rent-free. His answer,
as Sir Thomas Bernard justly
says, deserves to be remembered,
‘ Now, Sir, you have a pleasure
in seeing my cottage and garden
neat; and why should not other
squires have the same pleasure in
seeing the cottages and gardens
as nice about them? ‘The poor
would then be happy, and would
love them, and the place where
they lived: but now every nock
of land is to be let to the great
farmers, and nothing left for the
poor but to go to the parish,’

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

‘ Though my visit,’ says Sir
Thomas, ‘ was unexpected, and
he at the latter end of his Satur-
day’s work, his clothes were neat
and sufficiently clean. His coun-
tenance was healthy and open;
he was a little lame in one leg,
the consequence of exposure to
wet and weather. He said he
had always worked hard and well;
but he would not deny but that
he had loved a mug of good ale
when he could get it. When I
told him my object in inquiring
after him, that it was in order
that other poor persons might
have cottages and gardens as neat
as his, and that he must tell me
all his secret how it was to be
done, he seemed extremely pleas-
ed, and very much affected: he
said, ‘ nothing will make poor
folks more happy than finding
that great folks thought of them:
that he wished every poor man
had as comfortable a home as his
own,—not but that he believed
there might be a few thoughtless
fellows who would not do good
in it.’

Britton Abbot was at this time
sixty-seven, and had lived happily
with his wife for five and forty
years. He earned from twelve to
eighteen shillings a week by task
work, ‘ but to be sure,’ he said,
‘I have a grand character in all
this country!’ Five of his children
were living, and having been well
brought up, were thriving in the
world. Upon his rood of ground
he had fifteen apple trees, one
green-gage, two winesour plum-
trees, two apricot trees, currants,
gooseberries, and three beehives ;
he reared also from this garden
abundance of common vegetables,
and about forty bushels of pota-

toes

MISCELLANIES.

toes annually. When this man
was turned adrift upon the world
by the enclosure of the common,
if he had been without hope, or
if the rood of land for which he
asked had been denied, he and
his six children, and his pregnant
wife, might have gone to the
workhouse, and become a burden
to the public, instead of setting it
an example, and teaching a most
important lesson to their supe-
riors. We will transcribe Sir
Thomas Bernard’s words, and
print them, as he has done, in a
manner which may tend to excite
the attention they deserve. ‘ Five
unsightly, unprofitable acres of
waste ground would afford habi-
tation and comfort to twenty such
families as Britton Abbot's.’ The
quarter of an acre which was
granted him was not worth a
shilling a year before it came into
his hands.

Joseph Austin, a bricklayer in
the neighbourhood of Cambridge,
had often looked with a longing
eye upon a bit of ground by the
road side, part of what is called
the Lord’s Waste, by a term
which reflects little credit upon
manorial rights, or parochial ma-
nagement. Whenever he looked
at this spot he used to think what
a nice place it would be for a
house: and being a house-builder
by trade, and something of a
castle-builder by nature, he used,
as soon as he fell asleep at night,
to dream that he was at work
there with his bricks and _ his
trowel. At length he applied to
the manor court, and got a verbal
leave to build there. Two of his
neighbours, moved by envy as he
says, threatened that if he began

607

his house they would pull it
down; upon this he applied a se-
cond time to the court, and ob-
tained a legal permission with
the assent of all the copyholders,
paying for the entry of his name
on the court rolls, and sixpence
a year quit rent. And here we
must do our country the justice
to observe, that ifa man of known
industry and good character, like
Joseph Austin or Britton Abbot,
applies for an indulgence of this
kind, there is very little proba-
bility that the application will
be refused. Austin was at this
time about forty-two years of age;
he had a wife and four children,
and his whole stock of worldly
riches amounted to fourteen shil-
lings: but men who deserve
friends are seldom without them ;
and a master, with whom he
usually worked at harvest, sold
him an old cottage for nine gui-
neas, Which he was to work out.
Ife had for some time in his lei-
sure hours been preparing bats, a
sort of bricks made of clay and
straw, well beaten together, eigh-
teen inches long, twelve wide,
and four deep, not burnt, but
dried in the sun; with these and
the materials of the old cottage
he went to work. ‘The bats make
a better wall than lath and plaster
with a coating of clay, less wood
is required, and the house is
stronger and warmer; but they
must be protected from rain as
much as possible, and especially
toward the bottom. As he had
to live and support his family by
his daily labour, this building
could only be carried on when his
regular day’s work was done; he
has often continued it by moon-
light, and heard the clock strike

twelve

608

twelve before he withdrew from
an occupation in which his heart
was engaged; this, too, when he
had to rise at four the next morn-
ing, walk to Cambridge (nearly
four miles distant) to his work,
and return in the evening. If his
constitution had not been un-
usually strong, it must have sunk
under these extraordinary exer-
tions—a fate more frequent than
is generally supposed among the
industrious poor. But he seems
to have possessed an unweariable
frame of body, as well as an in-
vincible spirit. When the build-
ing was one story high, and the
beams were to be laid on, the
carpenter discovered that the tim-
ber from the old cottage would
not serve for so large a place.
This was a severe disappoint-
ment: nothing, however, dis-
couraged him; he covered it over
with a few loads of haum, and
immediately began a small place
in the same manner, at the end,
working at this with such perse-
verance that he got his family in
within four months after the foun-
dations were laid. This great ob-
ject being accomplished, he went
on leisurely with the rest as he
could save money for what was
wanting : after five years he raised
the second story, and in ten it
was tiled and coated; the inside
was not completed when Mr.
Plumtre communicated the story
to the society, but there was house
room for himself and his family,
and another apartment was let
for a guinea a year.

‘ In this manner,’ says that
ventleman, ‘ Joseph Austin, with
singular industry and economy,
in the course of ten years built
himself a house, which he began

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

with only 14s. in his pocket.
During that time his wife .had
four children, and buried as many
more. ‘he money which it cost
him was about 501., the whole of
which was saved from the earn-
ings of daily labour. The house
and garden occupy about twenty
poles of ground ; and the garden
is as creditable as the house to
the industry and good sense of
the owner ; one of the fences was
made of sweetbriar and roses
mixed with woodbine, another of
dwarf plum-trees, and against
the back of the house he had
planted a vine, a nectarine, and a
peach-tree.’

PARODY OF A CAMBRIDGE EXA-
MINATION PAPER.

[The following jeu-d’ Esprit is
written with perfect good-
humour, and we have no doubt
will excite nothing but corres-
ponding good-humour even in
the persons against whom it is
principally levelled. Every Cam-
bridge man, who has undergone
the ordeal of an examination for
an university scholarship, will,
we think, find amusement in
reading this Parody of the usual
style of the Papers of Questions.—
Times. |

UTOPIA UNIVERSITY,
Undecember 9657.

1. Give a comparative sketch
of the principal English Theatres,
with the dates of their erection,
and the names of the most emi-
nent Candle-snuffers at each.
What were the Stage-boxes ?
What were the Offices of Promp-

ter—

MISCELLANIES.

ter—Ballet-master—and Scene-
shifter? In what part of the
Theatre was the one-shilling Gal-
lery? Distinguish accurately be-
tween Operas and Puppet-shews.

2. Where was Downing-street?
Who was Prime Minister when
Crib defeated Molineux—and
where did the battle take place?
Explain the terms milling—fib-
bing—cross-buttock—neck and
crop—bang up—and—prime.

3. Give the dates of all the
Parliaments from their first insti-
tution to the period of the hard
frost on the Thames. In what
month of what year was Mr. Ab-
bot elected Speaker? Why was
he called “the little man in the
wig?’ When the Speaker was
out of the chair, where was the
mace put?

4. Enumerate the principal
houses of call in and about Lon-
don, marking those of the Tai-
lors, Sricklayers, and Shoe-
makers, and stating from what
Brewery each house was supplied
with Brown Stout. Who was the
tutelary Saint of the Shoemakers ?
At what time was his feast cele-
brated? Who was Saint Swithin?
Do you rememberany remarkable
English proverb respecting him ?

5. Give a ground plan of Gilead
House. Mention the leading to-
pics of the Guide to Health, with
some account of the Anti-Impe-
tigines—Daffy’s Elixir—Blaine’s
Distemper Powders — Ching’s
Worm Lozenges—and Hooper’s
Female Pills.

6. Give characters of Wat Ty-
ler, Jack Cade, and Sir Francis
Burdett. Did the latter return
from the Tower by water or land?
On what occasion did Mr. Leth-
bridge’s ‘“‘hair stand on ind?”

Vor. LVIII.

609

Correct the solecism, and give the
reason of your alteration.

7. Enumerate the roads on
which double toll was taken on
Sundays. Did this custom ex-
tend to Christmas Day and Good
Friday? Who was toll-taker
at Tyburn, when Mrs. Brown-
rigg was executed ?

8. Distinguish accurately be-
tween Sculls and Oars—Boat and
Punt—Jack-ass and Donkey—
Gauger, Exciseman, and Super-
visor — Pantaloons, Trowsers,
Gaiters, and Over-alls—At what
place of education were any of
these forbidden? Which? and
Why?

9. Express the following words
in the Lancashire, Derbyshire,
London, and Exmoor dialects—
Bacon— Poker — You—I — Doc-
tor—and Turnpike-gate.

10. Mention the principal coach
Inns in London, with a correct
list of the Coaches which set out
from the Bolt-in-Tun. Where
were the chief stands of Hackney
Coaches ?—and what was thenum-
ber of that in which the Princess
Charlotte drove to Connaught
House? To what stand do you
suppose this removed after it set
her down ?

11. Give a succinct account,
with dates, of the following per-
sons—Belcher—Mr. Waithman—
Major Cartwright—Martin Van
Butchell—and Edmund Henry
Barker.

_ 12. Draw a Map of the Thames
with the surrounding country,
marking particularly Wapping,
Blackwall, Richmond, and the
Isle of Dogs. Distinguish be-
tween Newsastle on Tyne, and
Newcastle under Line—Glouces-
ter and Double Gloucester—and
2R the

610 ANNUSAYD REGUS T ER,’ 1816.

the two Richmonds. What cele-
brated Teacher flourished at one
of them ?—and who were his
most eminent Disciples ?

13. What were the various
sorts of paper in use amongst the
English? To what purpose was
whited-brown chiefly applied ?
What was size? Distinguish be-
tween this and College Sizings,
and state the ordinary expense of
papering a room.

14. ‘‘ For every one knows lit-
tle Matt's an M.P.”” Frag. Com.
Inc. ap. Morn. Chron, vol. 59, p.
1624.

What reasons can you assign
for the general knowledge of this
fact? Detail, at length, the cere-
mony of chairing a Member.
What were the Hustings? Who
paid for them? Explain the ab-
breviations—Matt.—M.P.—Tom.
—Dick.—F.R.S. —LL.D.—and
ASS.

15. What was the distinguish-
ing title of the Mayors of Lon-
don? Did any other city share
the honour? Give a list of the
Mayors of London from Sir Rich-
ard Whittington to Sir William
Curtis, with an account of the
Cat of the first, and the Weight of
the last. What is meant by Lord
Mayor’s day? Describe the Apo-
thecaries’ Barge, and give some
account of Marrow-bones and
Cieavers.

16. When was Spyring and
Marsden’s Lemon Acid invented ?
Distinguish between this and Es-
sential Salt of Lemons. Enu-
merate the principal Patentees,
especially those of Liquid Black-
ing.

17. Scan the following Lines—

But for shaving and tooth-drawing,

Bleeding, cabbaging and sawing,
Dicky Gossip, Dicky Gossip is the man!

What is known of the character
and history of Dicky Gossip?

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

History.—The district of Coz
lumbia was originally inhabited
by a tribe of Indians called the
Manahoacs, who, who according
to Smith, were at constant en-
mity with the Powhatans of Vir-
ginia. Their history is but im-
perfectly known. War, the
small-pox, and the introduction
of spirituous liquors, thinned the
population rapidly. In 1669 a
census was taken; and it was
found that in sixty-two years one-
third of their former numbers
was wanting. They are said to
have migrated westwardly, and
to have become blended with the
Tuscaroras. This district was
ceded by Virginia and Maryland
in 1794, and became the perma-
nent seat of the general govern-
ment in 1800. At the time of its
cession, the principal proprietors
on the eastern side of the Poto-
mac were D. Carrol, N. Young,
and D. Burns, who cultivated
corn, tobacco, and wheat, where
the city now stands. ‘The selec-
tion of this site enriched those
proprietors, particularly the for-
mer, who, however, from a mis-
taken policy, has withered the
growth of that section of the city
in which most of his property
lies. ‘The heir of the latter, Mr.
Von Ness, pursued a different sys-
tem, and by disposing of his
ground on moderate terms, has
contributed to the rapid improve-
ment of his section of the metro-
polis, and to the consequent in-
crease of value in property.

ToProGRAPHy.

MISCELLANIES.

TorocrarpHy.—this district is
10 miles square, and includes
within its limits the city of Wash-
ington, Alexandria, and George-
town ; its diagonal lines are north
and south, east and west. The
southern angle is at Fort Colum-
bus, at the mouth of Hunting
Creek, on the left bank of the
Potomac. From this the lines
run atan angle of 45 degrees to
the distance of 10 miles.

The district is composed of por-
tions of Virginia and Maryland
on the east and west side of the
Potomac, a grand and _ beautiful
river, which rises in the Allegany
Mountains, and after a meander-
ing course of near 400 miles,
empties itself into the Chesapeake
Bay. The Potomac is navigable
to vessels of considerable burden
as high as George-town ; and by
means of Jocks which have been
erected at the great and little
falls, a navigation is afforded
to boats of no inferior mag-
nitude, for 100 miles nearer its
source.

There are several fisheries on
the Potomac very productive and
valuable, not only to the proprie-
tors, but to the inhabitants, who
are thus easily and cheaply fur-
nished with the means of subsist-
ence during the remainder of the
year. Shad are sold at the dif-
ferent landings for three dollars
per hundred, and herrings at fifty
cents per thousand. The follow-
ing is a list of the principal fish
caught at these fisheries :—viz.
shad, herrings, sturgeon, rock,
gar, carp, pike, six varieties of
the perch, mullett, and cat-fish.

The soil is various—on the
banks of the Eastern Branch and
Potomac there is a deep and rich

611

alluvium, which contains “ frag-
ments of primitive mountains,
pyrites, gravel and sand, shells,
and the remains of vegetable sub-
stances.’’ Mr. Goden says, that
Rock Creek, which divides George-
town from the city, separates the
primitive from the alluvian soil.

Though the soil in parts of the
distriet is steril, it is capable of
being highly improved by the ap-
plication of plaster or any other
species of compost, and might,
from its convenience to an excel-
lent market, be made, by enter-
prising and industrious agricultu-
ralists, eminently productive and
fertile. Its natural productions
are such as are common to the
adjacent states. There is, con-
venient to it, an extensive quarry
of free-stone on the Acquia Creek,
and another of beautiful marble
on the Seneca, which has recently
been discovered.

Cuimate, &c.—The climate of
the district is liable to frequent
and sudden changes—in summer
excessively hot, and in winter
very cold; but it does not appear
to be more pregnant with diseases
than other portions of the United
States. The healthy appearance
and longevity of the inhabitants
indicate its salubrity; and, in-
deed, when we consider the flow-
ing nature of its surface, the free
admission of pure and wholesome
air, and the excellence of its wa-

‘ter, in which it stands unrivalled

in the United States, we cannot
but believe it must be healthy.—
Mr. Blodget estimated the annual
deaths in Washington at one of
48 to 50: at New York, one of
44 to 50; Baltimore, one of 42
to 49; and in Charleston, one of
35 to 40, which establishes the

2R2 superior

612

superior healthiness of Washing-
ton to those cities. In European
cities, the annual deaths are, one
to 28, making a vast difference in
favour of Washington.
Popuvation.—tThe population
of the district of Columbia, at
the last census (1810,) amounted
to 24,023—now, in all probabi-
lity, 30,000. ‘The city contained
8,208, Georgetown 4,948, and
Alexandria 7,227; Washington
county 2,315, and Alexandria
county 1,325 inhabitants.
Commerce.—Its commercial
importance has, perhaps, never
been duly appreciated. From its
central situation, surrounded by
a rich, fertile, and flourishing
country, commanding the most
extensive internal resources, it
must soon become one of the
richest commercial territories in
the United States. In 1813, it
exported, in domestic productions
and manufactures, to the amount
of 1,387,000 dollars; thus sur-
passing in exports alone, both
Connecticut and Vermont; and
in 1803 it paid in duties on im-
ports 143,000 dollars. Its rising
prosperity is marked and percep-
tible ; and though it has been op-
posed by all the violence of pre-
judice, and all the obstacles of
conflicting interests, it has risen
with great rapidity, and promises
to be of vast political and com-
mercial importance to the United
States. Its natural advantages
are calculated to promote that ob-
ject: Situated on the great post-
road from the northern to the
southern extremities of the Uni-
ted States, andalmost equi-distant
from the Atlantic on the one side
and the Ohio on the other, which
yield it every facility of naviga-

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

tion, and open to it all the trade
of the west, it is impossible that
it can avoid becoming the most
wealthy and eligible territory in
the Union.

Manuractrures.--Its manufac-
tures are in a flourishing condi-
tion, and are daily increasing in
variety and capital.

ConstiruTion anp Laws.—
By the constitution of the United
States the national legislature have
the power to exercise exclusive le-
gislation over this territory, and
to enact such laws in relation to
it, as may be deemed necessary
and proper. Whether Goyern-
ment could assume this right,
consistently with the nature and
principles of our political institu-
tions, and thus exclude a large
population from the privileges of
freemen, we shall not now pause
to examine. It is, however, cer-
tain, we are for many years des-
tined to be deprived of the right
of suffrage ; a privilege so much
and so highly prized by our coun-
trymen.

The laws of Virginia and Mary-
land, prior to the year 1800, are
still in force in the district, ex-
cepting such as have been repeal-
ed or modified by the national le-
gislature, who have exclusive ju-
risdiction over it. Congress
have, however, lately passed a
law authorizing the Judges of the
Circuit Court,. in conjunction
with the Attorney General of the
United States, to form a code of
laws for its government, which
we trust will obviate all those
difficulties hitherto experienced
from the various and conflicting
statutes of the adjacent States,
and from the inconvenient organ-
ization of the District Courts.

WasHINGTON

.

MISCELLANTES.

Wasaineton Ciry.—The city
of Washington, which forms an
important section of the district
of Columbia, was selected by Ge-
neral Washington, from whom it
takes its name, as the metropolis
of the United States ; and no se-
lection could have been more ju-
dicious or excellent. Its central
situation—the romantic and pic-
turesque beauty of its site—the

salubrity of its climate—and the

excellence of its water—all com-
bine to render it the most desira-
ble spot in the United States. It
comprises a square of four miles
in extent, and is watered by the
Potomac and Anacostia rivers,
which add to its natural beauty,
and will contribute to the facility
of its commerce. There are on
each side of those rivers, and, in--
deed, in himost every possible di-
rection, the most beautiful eleva-
tions, calculated for the residence
of private gentlemen, of those
who may wish to retire from
the turmoil and bustle of the
town. These heights command
extensive and variegated pros-
pects of the district, of the sur-
rounding country, and of the me-
anderings of the Potomac, as
far as the eye can reach: while
their convenience to the neigh-
bouring towns of the district en-
ables them to afford every advan-
tage and pleasure that can result
from a union of town and coun-
try. The city is divided into
squares by streets running north
and south, east and west ; but to
destroy the sameness and insipid-
ity which this plan would produce
there are diagonal streets, or ave-

nues, leading from one public.

place to another, which tend to
diversify and variegate prospects

613

naturally elegant. ‘The avenues
are called after the different states
which constituted the unionat the
time the city was laid out, and are
from 130 to 160 feet wide, inclu-
ding a pavement of 10 feet, anda
gravel walk of 30 feet, planted on
each side with trees. The. other
streets are from 90 to 110 feet
wide and are named numerically
when they run from north to
south, and alphabetically when
from east to west. The Eastern
Branch, or Anacostia river, affords
from the depth of its channels,
and its security from storms, one
of the safest and most commodi-
ous harbours in the United States,
and will unquestionably become,
from the convenience which the
canal, now nearly completed, will
afford, the most commercial por-
tion of the metropolis.

The capitol is a large and mas-
sy edifice of free-stone, built ac-
cording to the Corinthian order,
and situated on a beautiful eleva-
tion of ground, equidistant from
the Eastern Branch and the Pre-
sident’s house. Lut two wings of
this elegant edifice have yet been
completed, and these were un-
fortunately very much injured
by the rude hand of our late
foe. ‘They are, however, in a fair
way to be speedily repaired, and
restored to more than their pris-
tine beauty and elegance: which
will be angmented when the ca-
pitol square, lately authorized to
be graduated, shall have been laid
off into walks, planted with trees,
and decorated with taste. The
wall around the square is nearly
completed ; the coping of. stone
is now on one third of it, anda
portion of the iron-railing will go
on this season. A delightful ave-

nue

614

nue leads from the capitol to the
President’s house, another elegant
edifice, built also of free-stone,
according to the Ionic proportions.
This, like its companion, the ca-
pitol, has been partially de-
stroyed by the hand of our late
enemy. The barbarous and ab-
surd policy of waging a savage
and destructive warfare against
the productions of art cannot be
sufficiently reprobated. We had
hoped that at this period of the
world, when the refinements of
civilization had introduced a libe-
rality of sentiment and generosi-
ty of feeling into modern war,
such arts of Vandalism would
have been avoided. We had
hoped, that a nation that had so
frequently boasted of her refine-
ment, and of the encouragement
and protection she has afforded to
the productions of human ingenu-
ity, would have been the last to
have cast the firebrand amid the
monuments of those arts she af-
fects to be solicitous to protect
and defend.

The next object in the city to
which the attention is attracted is
the naval yard. This establish-
ment is at present resuscitating
from the smouldering ruins of
war, and will, from the attention
Government seems to pay it, soon
surpass the flourishing condition
which it had once attained. They
have now nearly completed the
line of battle ship, and promise to
be speedily able to build vessels
of any magnitude less than a 74.
There is, perhaps, no situation in
‘the United States better calculated
than this for a national establish-
ment of this kind. The facility
with which materials and muni-
tions of war can be procured, the

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

depth and excellence of the har-
bour, and its security from de-
struction by storms and enemies,
particularly when the Chesapeake,
which is now in contemplation,
shall be properly and effectually
defended, contribute to render it
an essential object of governmen-
talattention. Inthis yard, near its
entrance, the officers of the navy
have erected a monument to the
memory of Wadsworth, Israel,
&c., those gallant young men
who voluntarily sacrificed them-
selves on the altar of freedom, ra-
ther than become the slaves of
despotic barbarians. This monu-
ment, which is of marble, was
executed in Italy, by eminent ar-
tists. It has not yet, however,
received its last polish, and still
remains for the hand of the mas-
ter. Itis a small column of the
Doric order, with emblematical
embellishments, and crowned
with an eagle in the act of flying.
This pillar rests on a base, sculp-
tured in basso-relievo, representing .
Tripoli, its fortresses, the Medi-
terranean, and our fleet in the
fore-ground; and on each corner
stands an appropriate figure, ele-
gantly executed. The one repre-
sents Columbia, directing the at-
tention of her children to History,
who is recording the daring and
intrepid action of the American
heroes; the third represents
Fame, with a wreath of laurel in
one hand, and a pen in the other;
and the fourth represents Mer-
cury, or the God of Commerce,
with his cornucopia and caduceus.
These are the principal monu-
ments of art which Washington
contains. We must not, how-
ever, neglect to mention, among
other curiosities of the metropolis,

a curiosity

MISCELLANIES.

euriosity of literature which it
possesses. The national library,
formerly the library of Mr. Jeffer-
son, isan object calculated to at-
tract the attention and gratify the
curiosity of the enlightened tra-
veller. It contains almost all the
rare and valuable works in litera-
ture and science; and though
much has been objected to it by
ignorant men, it is not perhaps
surpassed in literary value, selec-
tion and arrangement by any in-
stitution of the same character
and extent in Europe. This li-
brary was purchased of Mr. Jef-
ferson for a sum trifling in com-
parison with the real value of the
collection, to supply the loss of
the former library of Government,
destroyed by the British. While
the liberality of Congress was so
munificently extended to them-
selves, it ought not to have esca-
ped them, that an institution like
this, so beneficial in its moral and
intellectual tendencies, was enti-
tled to their most serious atten-
tion. It became them, in a pecu-
liar manner, as a body of enlight-
ened men, to foster and encou-
rage, by every possible means, an
establishment calculated to re-
flect so much honour on the coun-
try: and, instead of the petty ap-
propriation now made, at least
five thousand dollars should have
been annually bestowed, in order
to increase the establishment, and
render it worthy ofa free and en-
lightened nation.

It rests with us now to make a
few remarks on the prospects of
future greatness, prosperity, and
permanence held out to this city.
It has been said, that much good
often originates from much ap-

615

parent evil; and the truth of this
aphorism is exemplified by the
late calamity which the city ex-
perienced from the invasion of the
late enemy. Great prejudices had
existed in the legislative branch
of the Government against this
place, and many powerful efforts
had been made to remove the seat
of Government without success.
The shock it received by its re-
cent destruction had a tendency
to further the object of its ene-
mies. An attempt was therefore
made with every prospect of suc-
cess; but that attempt also fail-
ed, and now there scarcely re-
mains a single doubt of its stabi-
lity, or of the disposition of Con-
gress to abandon eyery effort that
may lead to the removal of the
seat of Government. ‘The inva-
sion and destruction of the city,
though an event in itself to be de-
plored, has yet been productive of
much benefit, by begetting a con-
fidence in the permanency of the
seat of Government, and produc-
ing a disposition, on the part of
Congress, to afford it every assist-
ance and encouragement within
their power. It is not necessary
to look far forward to see this the
most flourishing city in the Uni-
ted States. From the rapidity
with which it has recently in-
creased, in the value of its pro-
perty, the number and respecta-
bility of its population, and ex-
tension of its internal commerce,
we cannot avoid beholding the
brilliant destiny to which it is
hastening ; and in its progress to
that elevation to which it is cer-
tain, at no distant period, to at-
tain, it has our warmest and most
cordial wishes.

JOURNEY

616

JOURNEY ACROSS THE DESERT.
(From Pottinger’s Travels.)

March 31st. We were on our
camels this morning by four
o'clock, and moved five miles
west by south to a well, where
we filled every thing that would
contain water preparatory to en-
countering the desert. This well
was at least one hundred and fifty
feet deep, nearly square, and not
more than six feet in diameter :
the sides of it, for two fathoms
below the surface, at which depth
the strata became firm and hard,
were propped by split date trees
vertically placed, and held in that
situation by the pressure of the
ends of pieces of the same wood
running horizontally across the
pit. An aperture was left at one
corner to admit a small bucket or
copper vessel for drawing the
water, which I was both sur-
prized and disappointed, consi-
dering the deepness of the well,
to find so brackish as to be barely
palatable.

We quitted this well just as
the sun rose, and proceeded the
greater part of the way on foot,
twenty-seven miles farther, over
a desert of red sand, the parti-
cles of which were so light, that
when taken in the hand they were
scarcely more than palpable: the
whole is thrown by winds into an
irregular mass of waves princi-
pally running east and west, and
varying in height from ten to
twenty feet; most of these rise
perpendicularly on the opposite
side to that from which the pre-
vailing wind blows (north-west),
and might readily be fancied, at
a distance, to resemble a new

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

brick wall. The side facing the
wind slopes off with a gradual
declivity to the base (or near it)
of the next windward wave. It
again ascends ina straight line,
in the same extraordinary manner
as above described, su as to form
a hollow or path between them.
J kept as much in these paths as
the direction I had to travel in
would admit of, but had never-
theless exceeding difficulty and
fatigue in urging the camels over
the waves when it was requisite
to do so, and more _ particularly
where we had to clamber up the
leeward or perpendicular face of
them, in which attempt we were
many times defeated, and reduced
to go round until an easier place
or turn in the wave offered. On
the oblique or shelving side the
camels got up pretty well, as their
broad feet saved them from sink-
ing deeper than we did ourselves,
and the instant they found the
top of the wave giving way from
their weight, they most expertly
dropt on their knees, and in that
posture gently slid down with the
sand, which was luckily so un-
connected, that the leading camel
usually caused a sufficient breach
for the others to follow on foot.
All symptoms of vegetation had
ceased for the latter ten miles of
my journey this day, except a few
stunted bushes of the Taghuz
and a hardy little plant called by
the Belooches Sirrikoh, bearing a
purple flower with a very power-
ful odoriferous smell. My guide
appeared to be chiefly regulated
in his movements by a chain of
mountains that were at times just
discernible to the southward. I
did not halt until it was almost
dark, being desirous of getting

through

MISCELLANIES.

through the desert as quickly as
in my power. We spent the night
under shelter of one of the sand-
waves, where the atmosphere was
uncommonly hot and close.

Ist April. [ travelled to-day
twenty miles across a desert of
the same description as yesterday,
and consequently the like impe-
diments opposed me, which were
trifling, however, compared with
the distress suffered, not only by
myself and people, but even the
camels, from the floating parti-
cles of sand; a phenomenon which
I am still at a loss to account for.
When I first observed it, about
ten a. m., the desert seemed at
the distance of half a mileor less,
to have an elevated and flat sur-
face from six to twelve inches
higher than the summits of the
waves. ‘This vapour appeared to
recede as we advanced, and once
or twice completely encircled us,
limiting the horizon to a very
confined space, and conveying a
most gloomy and unnatural sen-
sation to the mind of the beholder :
at the same moment we were im-
perceptibly covered with innume-
rable atoms of small sand, which
getting into our eyes, mouths,
and nostrils, caused excessive ir-
ritation attended with extreme
thirst, that was increased in no
small degree by the intense heat
of the sun. On questioning my
Brahooé guide who, though a
perfectly wild savage, had more
local knowledge than any other
person of the party, he said that
this annoyance was supposed by
his countrymen and himself to
. originate in the solar beams caus-
ing the dust of the desert (as he
emphatically styled it) to rise and
float through the air; and, judg-

617

ing from experience, 1 should
proneunce this idea to be partly
correct, as I can aver that this
sandy ccean was only visible
during the hottest part of the
day. To prevent the supposition
of my having been deceived in its
reality, I may here add, that I
have seen this phenomenon and
the Suhrab, or watery illusion, so
frequent in deserts, called by
French travellers the Mirage, in
opposite quarters at the same pre-
cise moment, and that they were
to my sight perfectly distinct ;
the former having a cloudy and
dim aspect, whilst the latter is
luminous, and can only be mis-
taken for water. to corroborate
what J] have advanced, I may like-
wise state that I afterwards was
Joined by a Fakeer from Kabool,
who had come through the desert
from Seistan, and told me that
he had witnessed the moving
sands to a much greater degree
than I had described (or was wil-
ling to give him credit for), as he
talked of being forced to sit down
in consequence of the density of
the cloud which enveloped him.
To proceed with my journal.
Sixteen miles from our last halt-
ing-place, we reached the eastern
bank of a dry river called the
Boodoor : it wasat least five hun-
dred yards in breadth, running in
a south-south-east direction to-
wards the coast; the bed of it
in many places impervious from
a thick Jungul of different kinds
of trees and brush-wood, the
haunt of wolves, jackalls, and
other wild animals. We turned
to the right, and proceeded five
miles north-westerly up the river
bed to a spot where there had a
few months before been a village

aptly

618

aptly called Regan, whose inha-
bitants had gone to Gurmsyl
(which district lies north-north-
west of this place) owing to the
scarcity. Here we halted on the
western brink, and with much
digging and difficulty procured
two Mushks, or skins, of water.
I imagine the direct course from
the well we left yesterday morn-
ing to Regan, would have been
about west; but our guide, fear-
ing to lose ‘himself, kept to the
southward, where he could at in-
tervals descry the mountains.

2d April. I set out from Regan
just as the day began to dawn,
and having made a westerly march
of twenty-one miles, halted at
three in the afternoon. The de-
sert was not near so sandy, and
in many places was composed of
a hard black gravel without a
trace of verdure, or even a bush
to be seen. In the latter part of
my route I could distinctly trace
with my eye, a chain of lofty
mountains stretching all round in
front from south-west to north-
west; and when we alighted off
the camels, my guide shewed me
the break in them through which
we were to gain egress from this
inhospitable waste.

I experienced this forenoon a
violent tornado or gust of wind,
accompanied by a torrent of rain
which continued for half an hour,
and was absorbed by the earth as
it fell. It came on most unex-
pectedly, and had the guide not
apprized me of its strength, we
should probably have fared worse
thai we did, for it would have
been an act of temerity to have
tried to sit on the camels during
its impetuous fury. Before it
began, the sky was clear, save a

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

few small clouds in the north-
west quarter, and the only ante-
cedent warning it afforded, was
the oppressive sultriness of the
air and a vast number of whirl-
winds springing up on all sides ;
the moment the Brahooé saw
these whirlwinds disperse, which
they did as if by magic, and a

cloud of dust approaching, he ad-,

vised us to dismount, and we had
hardly time to do so and lodge our-
selves snugly behind the camels,
when the storm burst upon us
with a furious blast of wind: the
rain fell in the largest drops I
ever remember to have seen, and
the air was so completely dark-
ened, that 1 was absolutely unable
to discern any thing at the dis-
tance of even five yards. Moorad
happened to place himself about so
many paces in front of me, and
when [ looked up, during the
height of the tempest, I saw
nothing of him, and therefore
concluded he had shifted his po-
sition, but when it was over [
found him still in the same spot,
These bursts are by no means
rare, and though unpleasant at
the instant, have their attendant
advantages, as they cool and pu-
rify the atmosphere, which would
otherwise be quite intolerable at
any season, and is so notwithstand-
ing their prevalence, throughout
the hot months from June to
September.

Within that period, the winds
in this desert are often so scorch-
ing and destructive, as to kill any
thing, either animal or vegetable,
that may be exposed to them, and
the route by which I travelled is
then deemed impassable. This
wind is distinguished every where
in Beloochistan, by the different

names

\

MISCELLANIES.

names of Julot or Julo, the flame,
and Badé Sumoom, the pestilen-
tial wind. So powerfully search-
ing is its nature, that it has been
known to kill camels or other
hardy animals, and its effects on
the human frame were related to
me by those who had been eye-
witnesses of them, as the most
dreadful that can be imagined ;
the muscles of the unhappy suf-
ferer become rigid and contracted ;
the skin shrivels, an agonizing
sensation, as if the flesh was on
fire, pervades the whole frame,
and in the last stage it cracks into
deep gashes, producing hemorr-
hage, that quickly ends this mi-
sery. In some instances life is
annihilated instantaneously, and
in others the unfortunate victim
lingers for hours, or perhaps days,
in the excruciating tortures I have
described. To render this ter-
rible scourge still more baneful,
its approach is seldom, if ever
foreseen ; and among all the Be-
looches with whom I have con-
versed regarding it, no one as-
serted more than that they had
heard it was indicated by an unu-
sual oppression in the air, and a
degree of heat that affected the
eyes; the precaution then adopted,
is to cover themselves over, and
lie prostrate on the earth. A
curious fact is established by this
custom, that any cloth, however
thin, will obviate the deleterious
effects of the Badé Sumoom on
the human body.

THE CITY OF HERAT.

(From the same.)

The city of Herat is situated in
a valley, surrounded by lofty

619

mountains, and contiguous to the
northern ridge, which separates
it from the country of Bokhara.
The valley extends at least thirty
miles, from east to west, and is
about fifteen broad, watered by a
river rising in the mountains and
running through the centre ; it is
highly cultivated, and the whole
face of it is covered with villages
aud gardens. The approach to
Herat from the Zearutgah, lies
four miles between orchards, with
a capital road ; at the end of this
road we came to the river, over
which there is a very ancient
bridge, four hundred yards in
length, built of burnt brick, and
said to have been erected by an
oil woman at her own private ex-
pence; itis now, however, mi-
serably decayed, and will soon
tumble to pieces unless the go-
vernment repair it. Previous to
the building of this bridge the
communication between the city
and the country was yearly cut
off, on the melting of the snow
in the mountains, and the conse-
quent swell of the river. When
we had passed the bridge, we rode
four miles through the suburbs
along a good road, to the city
gate.

The city covers an area of four
square miles, and is fortified by a
lofty mud wall, with towers and
a wet ditch; in the northern face
is a citadel elevated on a mound
above the wall ; this is a small
square castle with towers at the
angles, built of burnt brick, and
the whole in line with the wall,
and encompassed by a wet ditch,
over which is adraw-bridge. Be-
yond this, there is also a recently
constructed outer wall and dry
ditch. The city has a gate in

each

620 ANNUAL REGISTER,

éach face, and two inthe northern
one; but on the whole it is very
contemptible as a fortification.
Fromeach gate Bazars lead to the
“Char Soobh,”’ or market-place,
in the centre of the town, which
are spacious and well lined with
shops ; the principal one extends
from the south gate to the Gunje
Bazar, or cattle market, in front
of the citadel, and is covered in
with a vaulted roof of the whole
length. ‘These streets and the
Char Soobh are so filled with the
crowd of people on Thursday (the
Bazar day), as to be almost im-
passable. On either side as you
go along are large spacious Su-
raés, where the merchants have
their Kothees, or factories; the
city is well supplied with water,
every Suraé having a Houz, or
cistern, independent of the public
ones on either side the Bazar
streets. The meanest building in
appearance, is the residence of the
prince, of which you see no more
than a common gate-way, over
which is a wretched building, and
in front an open square, with gal-
leries in the centre, for the Nu-
kurah Khana, or kettle-drums.
The Musjidé Jooma, or Fri-
day’s Mosque, was once a grand
building, comprising anarea eight
hundred yards square, but this is
fast going to decay. ‘The private
buildings in Heerat are by no
means in this state, for no city
has less ground unoccupied, and
none, for its extent, can boast of
a greater population. Heerat and
its suburbs are computed to con-
tain above one hundred thousand
inhabitants, of whom ten thou-
sand are Uffghans, the rest are
Moghuls, a few Jews, and six
hundred Hindoos, The Hindoos

1816.

are here highly respected, and
alone possess capital The go-
vernment is sensible of their va-
lue, and they have in consequence
much influence. They livein the
best Suraés, and have gardens
outside, but do not venture to
bring their families with them to
this city.

Heerat is a city of more trade
than perhaps any other in Asia
under a native government ; it is
called by distinction the Bunder,
or port, and is the emporium be-
tween Kabool, Kandahar, Hin-
doostan, Kashmeer, and Persia,
Bagdad, &e From the four for-
mer it receives shawls, indigo, su-
gar, chintz, muslin, bafta, kin-
cob, hides, and leather, which are
exported to Mushid, Yezd, Teh-
raun, Bagdad, and Kirman; re-
ceiving in return, dollars, tea,
sugar-candy, china ware, broad-
cloth, chintz, silk, copper, pep-
per, and all kinds of spices, dates,
shawls, numuds, and carpets.
The hides which are imported
from Hindoostan return a profit
of one hundred per cent. nett ;
indeed the whole trade is uncom-
monly advantageous to any one
possessing capital. The currency
here is that of Muhmeod Shahee
rupees, but accounts are kept in
Kureem Khanee, at one hundred
and twenty-five per hundred Muh-
mood Shahees.

The staples of Heerat are silk,
saffron, and assafoetida, which are
exported to Hindoostan ; the silk
cloths are not equal to the manu-
facture of Persia. ‘The gardens
are full of mulberry trees reared
solely for the sake of the silk-
worm, and all the plains and hills
round Heerat, particularly to the
westward, produce assafcetida. It

grows

MISCELLANIES. 621

grows to the height of two or

three feet, the stem two inches in

diameter, and the head, when

ripe, is yellow and resembles a

‘ cauliflower ; the Hindoos and the
Belooches are fond of it, they eat
it by roasting the stem in the
ashes, and stewing the head of it
like other greens. It still, how-
ever, preserves its foetid taste and
smell.

The gardens of Heerat are ex-

_tensive; the Oordooé Bagh, be-
longing to the Prince and Baghé
Shahee, planted by Tymoor Shah
(this being his favourite seat,)
are the only publicones, and now
only attended to for their annual
produce, which is sold in the Ba-
zar. Leading to the latter is an
avenue one mile in length, be-
tween fir trees; and adjoining are
four minarets of a mosque that
was intended for the tomb of the
Imam Moosa Allee Reza, who,
however, was disappointed of his
visit to Heerat by dying at Mus-
hid.

The villages in the neighbour-
hood of Heerat are numerous,
and nothing can exceed the ferti-
lity of this valley ; wheat and bar-
ley are most abundant, and fruit
of all kinds amazingly cheap.
When I was at Heerat, the horses
were all at Bagh, up a place one
stage over the mountains, for the
benefit of the fine grass procura-
ble there. They are generally
half bred, but the merchants from
Bokhara_ bring Toorkumance
horses, that sell in proportion to
their height. The most celebra-
ted breeder in this country is Boo-
niad Beg of the tribe of Huzaree;
he resides in the mountains to-
wards Mushid, and has large
herds of horses and mares: his

colts are highly prized, and are
often sold for from one to four
thousand rupees (1251. to 5001.)
each. The tolls at Heerat are
two rupees on every camel load
going out of the city, and one
anna, or sixteenth of a rupee on
every twenty rupees’ worth of
merchandize sold init. This is
levied from the purchaser by the
Suraédar, or tax-gatherer, who
farms the tolls from government.
Although the toll on camels ap-
pears so very trivial, it is avoided
by every means to a large ex-
tent, of which | had an opportu-
nity of knowing two or three in-
stances. ‘The revenues are esti-
mated at four and a half lacs of
rupees, and are levied on the Su-
raes, shops and gardens ; a part
is taken in kind, or grain and cat-
tle; and from the total amount
the prince pays fifty thousand
rupees annually to the King of
Persia.

The government of Heerat is
in the hands of the Shahzadah
Hadjee Fejroozoodeen Khan,
third son of the late Tymoor Shah,
and full brother to the present .
Muhmood Shah. He is about
fifty years of age, appears to take
little active participation in pub-
lic affairs, but leaves-every thing
to Hadjee Aga Khan, his minis-
ter. In the present distracted
state of Khorasan, he endeavours
to remain neutral, without incur-
ring the displeasufe of either of
the contending parties, The
prince has two wives, the one a
Moghul lady, the other a daugh-
ter of Shakoor Khan Douranee,
by each of whom he has two sons.
Kasim Khan, the eldest, is a good
looking young man, about twenty-
two years of age. The reins of

government

622

government being in the hands
of a Moghul excites a great de-
gree of jealousy in the minds of
the Uffghans, but the prince gives
the former a decided preference
over his own tribe, as he finds
that the rapacious exactions of
the former from the subject, are
more enforced to enrich his cof-
fers, than they could possibly be
through his countrymen, who
being accustomed to free and in-
dependent tenure of the land, are
not so likely to assist in that sys-
tem of plunder for which the Mo-
ghuls are proverbial.

The police of Heerat is strict,
not so much for the sake of mo-
rality, as for the fines which come
in to government; and no one
can appear in the streets after
dark. This city is, of all others
in Khorasan, celebrated for
cheats, who allure the unsuspect-
ing stranger into their houses to
partake of an entertainment, and
then lay him by the heels ona
false charge of seduction of their
female relatives, and breach of
hospitality, for which the accused
person may think himself fortu-
nate to escape with a mulct of five
hundred rupees. On these ocea-
sions they previously inform
themselves of the state and con-
dition of the person, and levy ac-
cordingly ; half of this fine goes
to the informer as a reward for
his ingenuity, and the other half
to the minister and government.

An Account of the Seychelle Islands
and Bank, and Admiralty Is-
lands.

Asvery little is generally known
relative to the Seychelle Islands,

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

and as their interest and import-
ance to England is considerably
increased by the Treaty of Peace
of 1814, we have great satisfac-
tion in subjoining an accurate
account of them, taken on a sur-
voy in the year 1911, by a most
intelligent and enterprizing offi-
cer of His Majesty’s Navy :—

This archipelago derives its
name from Monsieur Moreau de
Seychelle, a principal officer of
the French East-India Company |
at the time of its discovery, and
consists of about a dozen small
islands, and as many more islets
and rocks, scattered upon a large
coral and sand bank, extending
S.E. and N.W. full seventy
leagues ; its breadth various, be-
ing broadest to the N. W., where
it may be about thirty leagues ;
and thence gradually diminishing
to the S.E., where it does not
exceed as many miles. There are
soundings and anchorage on al-
most every part of it, the former
very irregular, but, generally
speaking, between twelve and
forty fathoms, except on the east-
ern edge, in the parallel of the
middle of Mahé, where there is
only seven and a half, and on the
western limit, in the latitude of
Silhauet, where there is only
three fathoms and a half; at
least, less than that has not yet been
discovered. There are scarcely
any dangers on it that do not
show themselves.

The harbour of Mahé is very
good, and no sea nor wind can
hurt you, when in the entrance ;
to the inner harbour it is narrow,
and you must warp or tow in,
should you not have a leading
wind.

Three

' MISCELLANIES.

Three only of the islands are
inhabited, Mahé, Praslin, and La
Digue.

Mahé, named after Monsieur
Mahé de la Bourdonnais, is the
largest, most populous, and of
course best cultivated of the
whole; it is sixteen or seventeen
miles in length, and generally
about four broad. It has two
good harbours ; that of Mahé on
the N-E. side of the island, where
is the principal, indeed, the only
village, and the residence of the
commandant ; and another on the
S.W. side, both perfectly secure.
Its population amounts to about
2,648 persons.

Praslin (from the minister of
that name), is the next island, in
size and population, to that of
Mahé; and it has an excellent
harbour on its north side, shel-
tered by the Isle Curieuse. The
population of this island amounts
to 261 persons.

La Digue, so called from a
ship of that name, has only
seventy-one inhabitants.

These three islands are high
and rocky, and, generally speak-
ing, poor, steril, and barren, save
only where a small valley or
sheltered glen may have secured
the soil from being washed down
its steep declivities, by the heavy
rains, in the wet season.

There are about six decked ves-
sels belonging to the inhabitants
of these islands; the largest
about eighty, and the smallest
about twenty tons; by means of
which they exchange their pro-
ductions with the inhabitants of
the Isles of France and Bourbon,
and trade to Madagascar and the
Mozambique coast, and occasion-
ally to either coast of India.

623

To give an idea of the presen
state of the population and culti-
vation of these islands, at one
view, I transcribe a general re-
turn for the last year :—

White Population.—Men,
97; Women, 59; Boys,

OZ, set GATS FF wy ob a cys 340
Free People of Colour.—

Men, 18; Women, 39;

Boys, 54; Girls, 30 . 141
Slaves.—Males, 3,533; Fe-

monless:2 533. eric pcunnss fice 6,066

Potalecia., ena,

Cultivation.—Acres in provi-
sions, 2,432; ditto in cotton,
2,720; ditto in sugar canes, 220 ;
total, 5,372.—Feet in coffee,
4,000; ditto in cloves, 3,000;
total, 7,000.

Cattle, &c.—Horned cattle,
300; sheep, 200; goats, 150;
hogs, 800; total, 1,450. Besides
turkeys, geese, ducks, fowls,
pigeons, vegetables and fruit in
great abundance.

You may purchase stock at the
following prices:—four fowls a
Spanish dollar; two ducks a
Spanish dollar; eight turkeys
for twelve dollars; a sheep for
four to six dollars. Good beef
was killed and sold, ten pounds,
for one Spanish dollar.

These islands do not appear fit
for the cultivation of any article
of export but cotton, and but for
very little of that. There is not
an acre of level ground upon the
whole island, and hardly any soil ;
it is all mountainous, full of
rocks and trees, and the heavy
rains wash down the mountains
the principal part of the mould.

The annual produce of cotton

upon

624

upon Mahé and Praslin at present
is about 350 to 400 bales, each
bale weighing about 300 pounds,
and the islands are not capable of
producing mare than twenty per
cent. above this, nor are they ca-
pable of producing any thing else
as a matter of commerce. ‘The
inhabitants have begun to plant
coffee, and will have sufficient for
their own consumptivn in twelve
or eighteen months; there it
must rest, as it never can be an
article of exportation. Cloves and
cinnamon ‘thrive here uncom-
monly well, and, were there are
any soil to plant them in, would
turn to account.

There are no kitchen vegeta-
bles here of any kind, unless you
so call the sweet potatoes of
Mameck, or some bad French-
beans. There is no reason for
this, but the negligence of the
inhabitants, and the little inter-
course they have with the world,
which renders them extremely
indifferent about most comforts
of this kind.

Fruit does not appear to be
plentiful or good; pine apples,
plantains, and bad mangoes seem
to be the principal; there are a
few grapes and a few melons:
this must be owing to the ex-
treme indolence of the inhabi-
tants.

There is some very good wood
for furniture and different pur-
poses, such as have building,
sheathing for ships, and ship-
beams, all of which would be at
a very moderate price, but for
the difficulty of transporting it
out amongst the rocks to the
water side.

Turtle are all large, in general
about five to six hundred weight ;

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816..

the price of these is five dollars
each, smaller ones three each,
but there is no demand for them ;
were they wanted in quantity,
you would have occasion to give
them some days notice to catch
them.

The inhabitants say, that they
used to have very fine land-tur-
tles, in great abundance, but that
they are nearly all consumed, and
only now and then can be got,
two or three at a time.

Oysters are here in abundance,
and the inhabitants say they are
very wholesome, but they are too
small to take the trouble to eat
them; they are picked off small
trees within the flood mark; there
are likewise sea-crabs here, very
large, but not very good.

‘Yortoise-shell, there is a few
pounds to be picked up occasion-
ally, but not sufficient to consider
it as an article of commerce.

These islands have been inha-
bited about forty years, and the
oldest inhabitant says, that he
does not remember a. gale of
wind: it is a phenomenon un-
known to. them; they therefore
afford security, at a particular
season of the year, to vessels that
might be otherwise exposed to
the destructive hurricanes off the
Isles of France and Bourbon.

Cuts and even gun-shot wounds
heal uncommonly well here, and
the climate, though necessarily
hot, from its proximity to the
equator, may be reckoned very
healthy. :

The inhabitants have very few
wants, and are in general very
poor; they have no money, and
the little traffic they have is car-
rying 'on in cotton, at so many
pounds to the dollar; conse-

quently,

MISCELLANTIES.

quently, they do not care about
selling it, and there are only two
or three inhabitants that can col-
lect it in any quantity, and they
are the only people that ever can
realize property upon these is-
lands. It seems of little conse-
quence to them, as I do not think
there are any five men of the whole
who have an idea of ever quitting
the island. ‘The principal people
here say, their only reason for
coming to settle at these islands
was, to live retired from the
world, and gaina bare existence ;
some of them had been unfor-
tunate, and had lost all their pro-
perty, and were disgusted with
the world. After remaining some
time, they found the cotton-plant
grow very luxuriant, and have
carried on the cultivation of it to
a certain extent; and some of
them now have from 150 to 200
slaves at work, and will be soon
men of fortune. The climate is
such that they have little occasion
for clothes ; their principal wants
are some white cloth and some
blue dungaree, or blue cloth
(Pondicherry). The slaves wear
nothing but a small piece of blue
cloth ; I should think one yard
would serve them a year; they
pay no kind of respect to dress ;
you will see the most respectable
amongst them going without
shoes, and some of. them with
half-shoes tied on their feet with
strings: all this is from custom,
and having no communication
with the world.

Notwithstanding, the people in
general live very well, are rather
hospitable, and have abundance
at their tables; but it is chiefly
the produce of their own planta-
tions.

Vor. LVI.

625

That these islands were of
great importance to France, while
tnat power possessed those of
France and Bourbon, there cannot
be the least doubt, not only as
affording facilities for the annoy-
ance of our trade in the East,
but, also, as being admirably
placed to keep up a constant
communication between those
islands and the Court of Persia,
if the latter should, at any time,
have entered into the hostile views
of our enemy, against the British
power. But, that any material
advantages are likely to accrue,
either to the colony of the Isle of
France, or to Great Britain in
general, from intercourse with or
possession of the Seychelle Is-
lands, other than that of keeping
the enemy out of them, I cannot

possibly foresee.
/

ADMIRALTY ISLANDS.
Before I close, I shall beg

leave to call your attention to the

Admiralty Islands, lying a small
distance to tne S. W. of Seychelle
Islands.

This group is so exceedingly
ill placed in all charts, both with
respect to longitude, and their
bearings from each other, that no
vessel can navigate the sea with
safety in that neighbourhood ;
whereas, if a couple of small
schooners were employed by Go-
vernment a few months, in sur-
veying them, their actual position
would be easily ascertained ; and,
if an European vessel, in conse-
quence of such survey, be pre-
served from shipwreck, more than
the expense of the survey (inde-
pendent of preserving men’s lives)
will have been saved.

Live Cattle -—There are about

23 two

626

two hundred head of bullocks and
about one hundred sheep; the
inhabitants could spare, to ships
in distress, about twenty bullocks,
and about sixty sheep; it would
take some’ years to replace the
latter,

Poultry —One hundred dozen
of ducks, fowls, andturkeys might
be procured here. There are no
other animals of any kind upon
these islands, but rats, which are
in abundance; there is no game
of any kind, and but few birds ;
pigeons, doves and perroquets,
seem the principal. There is no
wheat grows in these islands ;
they raise Indian corn, cassada-
rout, and a sufficient quantity of
rice, just to supply their own
wants, and feed their slaves ; but
Ido not think at any time you
could purchase ten bags of rice:
the whole of the inhabitants might
collect ten thousand pounds weight
in grain, out of their different
stores, to ships in distress.

There is a great variety of fish
at all these islands, and seemingly
very fine; salt is very scarce,
consequently they are only for
immediate use.

PRINCE OF WALES'S ISLAND.
(From the same.)

Prince of Wales's Island, called
by the natives Pulo or Poolo Pe-
nang, from a Malay word signi-
fying Areca-nut and ‘Betel, lies on
the fifth parallel of north latitude,
and in 100 deg. 20 min. 15 sec.
(George-town) of east longitude,
at the entrance of the straits of
Malacca.

It is somewhat. in the shape of
an oblong square, about sixteen

NNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

miles in length, and from six to
eight in breadth, distant between
two and three miles from the
Malay shore.

It was given to Capt. Light by
the King of Queda, and first set-
tled in 1786. The greater part
of the island is oceupied by a lofty
irregular ridge of mountains (run-
ning in the direction of the island,
north and south), the northern
extremity of which, is by far the
highest ; and here they have a
signal house, and several bunga-
lows erected.

The whole of this ridge is co-
vered with a forest of trees of im-
mense size, and between its eastern
base and the sea, facing the coast
of Queda, there is a level slip of
land, from two to four miles ia
breadth, and ten or twelve miles
long. This is well cultivated and
laid out in gardens, plantations
of pepper, betel, areca, cocoa-nut
trees, &c. intersected in all direc-
tions with pleasant carriage roads,
whose sides are lined with a va-
riety of shrubs and tvees that ave
in perpetual verdure. The whole
of this space is interspersed with
villas and bungalows, where the
Europeans occasionally retire to
enjoy the country air, as arelaxa-
tion after business in town.

On the north-eastern point of
this slip of land are situated Fort
Cornwallis and George-town,
called by the natives Tanjong
Painaique.

This island may contain Euro-
pean settlers and their depen-
dants, Malays, Sumatrans, Chi-
ESR RM 6 Sse! ae 11,000 souls,

Of itinerants ..... 1,000 do.
Total. ... 12,000

Abundance and great variety
of

MISCELLANIES.

of, excellent’ fish are caught in
every direction round the island,
which, from the salubrity of its
air, is justly ecteemed the Mont-
pelier of India.

Coups-de-soleil are seldom ex-
perienced in this settlement, al-
though the Europeans walk and
ride about at all times of the day,
completely exposed to a vertical
sun.

In short, as soon as the wet
docks are established on Poolo
Jaraja (a small island between
Penang and the main), this will
be the most beautiful, healthy,
and flourishing settlement in the
East Indies.

From the dawn of day, until
the sun has emerged above the
high mountains of Queda, and
even for some time after this pe-
ried, Penang rivals any thing that
has been fabled of the Elysian
fields.

The dews which have fallen in
the course of the night, and by
remaining on the trees, shrubs,
and flowers, have become impreg-
nated with their odours, early in
the morning begin to exhale, and
fill the air with the most delight-
ful perfumes; while the European
inhabitants, taking advantage of
this pleasant season for exercise,
crewd the roads (some in car-
riages, some on horseback, and
others on foot), till the sun get-
ting to some height above the
mountains of Queda, becomes so
powerful as to drive them into
their bungalows, to enjoy a good
breakfast with a keen appetite.

A small party of us having ob-
tained permission to occupy the
Convalescent Bungalow on the
mountain, for the purpose of
breathing a cooler and purer

627

airy, we repaired thither early in
March.

The distance from. the town to
that part of the base of the moun-
tain where the path commences,
is abeut five miles, and from
thenee to the summit, better than
three.

The pathway, which. is) not
more than eight or ten feet wide,
is cut with incredible labour,
through a forest of immensely
tall trees, whose unibrageous fo-
liage uniting above, excludes, ex-
cept at some particular turnings,
the least glimpse of the heavens,
involving: one, all the way up, in
pensive gloom.

It frequently winds along the
brinks of yawning and frightful
precipices, at the bottoms of
which one shudders to behold
huge trunks of trees rived and
fractured, while precipitating
themselves down the craggy and
steep descent.

Steep and rugged as this path
is, the little Sumatran horses
mount it with great safety; the
ladies, however, are generally
earried up in a kind of sedaa
chair, borne on the shoulders of
some stout Malays.

After a tiresome aseent of two
or three hours, we gained the
suminit; and were amply re-
warded for our labour by the
most ‘extensive and beautifully
variegated prospect we had ever
seen in India,

The eye ranges over a beauti-
ful plain, laid out in pepper plan-
tations, gardens, groves of the
cocoa-nut, betel, areea, and va-
rious other trees, checkered
throughout with handsome. vil-
las and bungalows, intersected
by pleasant. carriage-roads, and

252 watered

628

watered with meandering rills,
that flow from the mountain's
side, clear as the crystal.

ere may be seen standing in
perfect peace and amity with each
other, the Hindoo temple and
pagoda; the Chinese josshouse ;
the Christian chapel, and various
other places of worship; every
one enjoying the unmolested ex-
ercise of his religion.

From hence, the eye stretches
over the beautiful strait that sepa-
rates the island from the main ;
and whose glossy surface reflects
the faint images of the clouds
above, and lofty mountains that
tower on each of its sides.

The thermometer at the bun-
galows, generally ranges from 70
to 80 degrees ; sometimes at
night, however, it stands as low
as sixty-two degrees ; and indeed,
so cold did we feel it, that we
generally slept with a blanket
over us; a very rare occurrence
within six degrees of the equator.

As soon as it gets dark on this
mountain, there arises on every
side, a singular concert of birds
and insects, which deprived us of
sleep for the first night or two.
Far above the rest, the trumpeter
(a very curious animal, about an
inch in length) saluted our ears
y-rularly for a few hours after
sunset, with a sound so strong,
that the first time I heard it, I
actually thought a party of dra-
goons were approaching the bun-
galows, nor could I be persuaded
for some time, that such a dimi-
nutive creature could possibly

possess organs capable of emitting
such a tremendously loud note.

Deer of a very curious species,
are sometimes, though rarely,
found in the woods of this island ;

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

but lions, tigers, and other fero-
cious animals, are unknown. A
tiger did once swim across from
the Queda shore, and made for
the mountains here, but was shot
soon after his landing; he was
supposed to be the only one that
ever was 9n the island. Birds of
the most beautiful plumage, are
seen on almost every branch of a
tree, through this island; but
nature has been so very bountiful
in clothing them with her most
gaudy liveries, that shehas thought
proper to make a drawback, by
depriving them of the melodious
tones which so often charm us in
birds of a more homely exterior.

There is, however, one small
bird on this island (whose name
] forget), which perches among
the leaves of the tall areca tree,
and sings mornings and evenings,
in a style far superior to that of
any bird I have seen between the
tropics.

The Argus pheasant is found
in this island, but they are gene-
rally brought over dried, from
the Malay coast, where they
abound, and are here sold for a
dollar each.

With respect to the domesticani-
mals, they are but few; and those
brought from the neighbouring
parts : horses from Pedir, on the
coast of Sumatra; buffaloes from
Queda; and sheep, &c. from
Bengal.

The buffaloes are brought over
from the opposite coast, in a very
curious manner; six or eight of
them being collected together on
the beach, thongs of leather, or
pieces of rattan, are passed in at
one nostril and out at the other,
then made fast to the sides and
stern of the boat, whichis pushed

off

MISCELLANTIES.

off from the shore, and the
buffaloes driven into the water,
along with it; these thongs, or
rattans, keeping their ncses
above water, and assisting them
in swimming, until they gain the
opposite shore, unless seized on
their passage by the alligator.

The buffalce often becomes a
most dangerous animal when en-
raged by the heat of the sun, or
any other cause. At these pe-
riods the animal rushes furiously
upon any thing in its way, and
dashes into the houses, upsetting

and br eaking through all obstruc--
tions ; as it is possessed of great
pee ee strength, and runs about
with impetuous velocity, there is
no mode of subduing it, but by
killing the animal with spears or
shot.

A large one lately made a des-
perate sally through George-
town, while the gentlemen of the
settlement fired on him in all di-
rections, from their verendahs;
at length he rushed through the
governor's kitchen, upsetting the
cook and all his utensils; but
what was still worse, a ball from
a rifle, aimed at the furious buf-
falo, unfortunately struck the
poor harmless cook ; and between
the fright occasioned by the ani-
mal, and the idea of being shot to
boot, he very nearly died.

As these creatures have very
little hair on their bodies, they
are utterly unable to bear the
scorching rays of the sun to-
wards mid-day: at these times,
therefore, they betake themselves
to every pool and puddle in the
neighbourhood, rolling them-
selves in the mud, and then lying
with their nostrils just above wa-
ter, until the fervency of the at-

629

mosphere has somewhat abated.
On coming out from their cool re-
treats, they are the most uncouth
and disgusting objectsimaginale,
having a coat of clay an inch or
two in thickness, which, in a few
minutes, is hardened by the sun
into a crust that defends their
hides from his powerful rays du-
ring the remainder of the day.

They are the only animals used
in labour ; their flesh i is tolerably
good, and an excrescence that
grows on the top of their shoul-
ders called a hump, when salted
and well preserved (especially in
Bengal), is esteemed excellent
eating; in short, it is the most
useful animal in India.

Alligators are very common
round the shores of this island,
rendering it very unsafe to bathe
on any part of the coast. Snakes
of an immense size have likewise
been found here by the early
settlers, but are now very rare.
Bandicotes (a species of large rat)
are extremely numerous on the
island, and do a great deal of
mischief, as does likewise the
white ant. It isastonishing what
effects these very small insects
are capable of producing ; they
will destroy the interior parts of
the beams and rafters in houses ;
leaving a thin external shell of
solid wood, that completely de- -
ceives the eye, and lulls into a
false security the unsuspecting
lodger, who frequently sees with
astonishment the whole fabric
come tumbling to the ground
without any apparent cause, o1
perhaps is himself involved in its
ruins !

When these dangerous insects
find their way on board ships it
becomes a very serious concern ;

as

630

as no one can tell where they may
be making their destructive bur-
rows, perhaps through the thin
plaak that separates the whole
crew from their eternity !

In these cases there is no me-
thod of destroying them, but by
sinking the vessel in shallow water
for some days, until they are all
drowned.

The principal useful trees,
shrubs, and plants, on this island,
are those that bear the cocoa-nut,
areca-nut, pepper, and_ betel.
‘The cocoa-nut tree is raised by
burying the nut, (stript of its fib-
rous root) at some depth in the
ground; and it is very singular
that the stem is nearly as thick
when it makes its appearance
above ground, as it ever becomes
afterwards, though it sometimes
rises to the height of fifty or sixty
feet.

The aveca-tree makes averyhand-
some appearance; its branches
are small, but its leaves are very
beautiful, forming a round tuft
at the top of the trunk, which
grows as straitas an arrow to the
height of twenty-five or thirty
feet. The shell which contains
the fruit is about the size of a
wall-nut, and of a yellowish red
colour outside, and rough within ;
when ripe it is astrigent, and net
unpleasant to the taste.

It is needless to say how much
this nut (when mixed with leaves
of the betel and chunam) is used
in chewing by all classes of the
natives. This composition is
called Penang (whence the name
of the island), and though it has
an agreeable flavour, it gives the
mouths of the natives, who use
it, a most dabelical appearance,
rendering what few strageling
tecth they have as black as jet;

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

while their disgusting chaps seem
as gory as if they had been mang-
ling a piece of raw flesh.

The pepper-plant is a shrub
whose root is small, fibrous, and
flexible; it rises into a stem
which requires a tree or prop to
supportit; its wood has the same
sort of knots as the vine, and
when dry it exactly resembles the
vine branch. The leaves which
have a strong smell and pungent
taste, are of an oval shape, but
they diminish ‘towards the extre-
mity, and end in a point. From
the flower buds, which are white,
and sometimes placed in the“mid-
die, sometimes at the extremities
of the branches, are produced
small bunches resembling those
of the currant tree; each of these
contains from twenty to thirty
corns of pepper; they are com-
monly gathered in October, and
exposed to the sun seven or eight
days. The fruit, which is green
at first, and afterwards red, when
stripped of its covering, assumes
the appearance it has when we
see it; it is not sown, but plant-
ed; agyeat nicety is required in
the choice of the shoots; it pro-

‘duces no fruit till the end of three

years, but bears so plentifully
the. three succeeding years, that
some plants yield six or seven
pounds of pepper in that period.
The bark then begins to shrink,
and in twelve years time it ceases
bearing.

The culture of pepper is not
dificult; it is sufficient to plant
it in a rich soil, and carefully to
puli up the weeds that grow in
great abundance round its reots,
especially the three first years.
As the suniis highly necessary to
the growth of the pepper plant,
when it is ready to bear, the trees

that

MISCELLANIES.

that support it must be lopped, to
prevent their shade from injuring
the fruit.

The betel is a species of this
genus. Itisa climbing and creep-
ing plant like ivy ; and its leaves
a good deal resemble those of the
citron, though they are longer
and narrower at the extremity.
It grows in all parts of India,
but thrives best in moist places ;
the natives cultivate it as we do
the vine, placing props for it to
run and climb upon; and it is a
common practice to plantit against
the tree that bears the areca nut.

Fruits are plentiful on this beau-
tifulisland; the pine-apple grows
wild, while shaddocks, plantains,
jack-fruit, oranges, lemons, &c.
are reared with the greatest ease.

Though Prince of Wales's Is-
land exports very little of its own
productions, except pepper and
wood, yet there is a very con-
siderable trade carried on here,
from its being in a central situa-
tion between India, China, and
the Eastern Islands.

The merchants take advantage
of the fleets passing and repassing,
to export to China, &c. opium,
betel, pepper, tin, rattans, and
various other articles which they
have already collected ; and for
which they receive either dollars,
or the productions of China, and
the Eastern Isles, which they
afterwards ship off to India, or
send home to Europe, whichever
they may find most advantageous.

THE PLAGUE.

(From Narrative of a ten Years Residence
in Tripoli.)

April 1785.
Iw the last few weeks several

631

couriers have crossed the deserts
from ‘Tunis to this city, dissemi-
nating the plague in their way ;
and consequently the country
round us is every where infected.
Even the Moors now ailow it;
but their precautions are rendered
useless by not continuing them ;
for though from circumstances
they are induced at one moment
to check an indiscriminate in-
tercourse between the sick and
healthy, they give way to it the
next,

May 28, 1785.

The prime minister, Mustapha
Serivan’s house is at present as
much in a state of quarantine as -
he can put it, consistent with the
ideas of the Moors; yet he will
not admit to any one, nor to the
Bashaw, the necessity of taking
precautions at the castle, where
he alleges sovereignty is the
greatest shield, and whence he
says it is necessary to give the
Moors an example, not to try tu
resist the hand of fate. ;

It is against the Mussulman’s
faith to number the dead, they
are not, therefore, exactly aware
of the increasing mortality : but
the castle is much infected ; one
of the princesses, a child of six
years old, died two days since, and
one of the three remaining queens
of the last sovereign was buried
to-day. By the Bashaw’s orders,
her funeral was attended by se-
veral of tha officers of state, and
by four black slaves, freed by him
in compliment to this relict of his
father: she was buried in very rich
clothes, and with all the jewels
found in her possession. The
four enfranchised slaves who fol-
lewed her were worth about four
hundred pounds; they cost on

ve

632

five to six hundred maboobs
each. (Amaboob is about seven
shillings.)

A long succession of coffins,
purposely kept back for some
hours, were carried close after
this queen's funeral, to profit by
the mass (much grander than
usual) that was to be performed
for her. From the richness of
most of these coffins, they ap-
peared in the bright glare of the
sun, a line of burnished gold, too
dazzling for the sight. The castle
gates were for the first time
closed to-day, allowirg only a
partial admittance. Four people
who were perfectly well in the
morning were taken ill there
yesterday afternoon; they were
brought out of the castle last
nizht at ten, and died at mid-
night. Two of them went raving
mad, and they were all afflicted
with large swellings on different
parts of the body when they
died.

The symptoms of the plague at
present are, that of the person
being seized witha sort of stupor,
which immediately increases to
madness, and violent swellings
and excruciating pains in a few
hours terminated in death.

The Bashaw expresses great
regret at the thought of the Chris-
tians shutting their houses so
scon, as the country is in so fa-
mished a state; for, he says, that
will declare it in a state of infec-
tion, and prevent the arrival of
grain. The Christians’ houses
will, however, all be closed in
about a week, each one hiring a
set of servants to remain with
them imprisoned till the plague
is over. Halls, windows and ter-
races are undergoing a scrutiny

ANNUAL REGISTER,’ 1816.

for a strict, and we fear, a long
quarantine. ‘The terraces and
windows fronting the street are
to be secured from the servants,
and the halls prepared for a mode
of receiving what is wanted with -
safety to the family. Should it
be necessary to change servants,
or to take in additional ones, it
can be done only on condition
that they relinquish the clothes
they have on; go into a bath pre-
pared for them in a skiffar or hall
of the consular house; and sub-
mit to remain in one room a fort-
night to ascertain their not hav-
ing the plague. Many jars, con-
taining several pounds each, are
prepared with ingredients for fu-
migating the apartments, two-
thirds of which are bran, and the
rest equal parts of camphire,
myrrh and aloes. This perfume,
and small quantities of gunpow-
der, are burnt daily throughout
the houses. All animals and fowls
whatever are sent out of the
Christian houses, for fear of the
infection being communicated by
their hair or feathers.

The present moment is the
most dangerous period of the dis-
order for the Christians. When
once the houses are shut, their
safety will depend greatly on the
strictness of the quarantine they
keep. No business is now trans-
acted but with a blaze of straw
kept burning between tie person
admitted into the house and the
one he is speaking to. <A friend
is admitted only into a matted
apartment, where he retires to
the farther end of the room to a
straw seat, which is not touched
after his departure till it is fumi-
gated. The keys of all the ways
into the house are kept by the

master

MISCELLANITIES.

master of the family only. If

any of the Christian gentlemen
are obliged to go out on bu-
siness during this interval, be-
fore the houses are closed, a
guard walks before and one be-
hind, to prevent any person ap-
proaching too near; and, on re-

turning, the guards are put into -

quarantine for some days. With-
out these precautions, it would
be impossible to escape this dread-
ful disorder, the rage of which
increases every hour.

May 28, 1785.

It is impossible to give you a
just description of this place at
present ; the general horror that
prevails cannot be described.
Hadgi Abderrahman sailed from
the harbour of Tripoli on the
20th of this month, as ambas-
sador to Sweden and England.
From the state Tripoli is in, sink-
ing under plague and famine, the
departure of the ambassador from
his handsome Greek, Amnani, and
her children was dreadful. He
made up his mind to see but few
of them again, and with reason:
the dire infection had entered his
walls, nor was it to be imagined,
that even his own suite could em-
bark untainted with the same.
If he isso fortunate as not to fall
a victim to the plague before he
reaches Malta, he will perform
there a heavy quarantine of ninety
days at least. ‘They perceived be-
fore they quitted the harbour, one
of his people, a Jew broker, se-
verely attacked with the plague ;
and they put him on shore before
they sailed. Abderrahman is so
much beloved, that the people in
general participate in his suffer-
ings, and the screams for the
calamity of his family, which be-

633

gan before he ga‘led from the
harbour of Tripoli, have conti-
nued to the present moment, and
are still augmenting from in-
creasing deaths. At this awful
period, the care of Lilla Amnani,
his wife, and his favourite eldest
daughter, devolves on his brother
Hadgi Mahmute, who is dying in
torments unheard of, from the
singular instance of the plague
having at first seized him in his
mouth, producing violent tu-
mours, by which he is now starv-
ing: he is at times so raving that
many people are required to se-
cure him. Though none of his
family were ill when his brother
sailed for Europe, his wife and
children (one already buried),
with many more relations of Ab-
derrahman’s family, are dying
very fast. Lilla Amnani, Abder-
rahman’s daughter, and his niece,
are all the ladies that remain of
his family. Of his slaves and at-
tendants only an old black: eunuch
lives, who is confined with the
plague for the third time. In the
short space that has elapsed since
the ambassador left Tripoli, only
eight days, nearly cne hundred
persons have died belonging to
him; and consequently, it is
thought, not one will remain of
his family to give him an account
of these sad times.

The plague now depopulating
this place is said to be more se-
vere than has been known at
Constantinople for centuries past,
and is proved by calculation to
destroy twice the number of peo-
ple in proportion to those who
died of the same disorder lately
at Tunis, when five hundred a
day were carried out of that city.
To-day upwards of two hundred
have passed the town gate. The

city

634

city of Tripoli contains 14,000
inhabitants, and the city of Tunis
30,000.

Our house, the last of tbe
Christian houses that remained
in part open, on the 14th of this
month commenced a complete
quarantine. The hall on enter-
ing the house is parted into three
divisions, and the door leading
to the street is never unlocked
but in the presence of the master
of the house, who keeps the key
in his own possession. It is
opened but once in the day, when
he goes himself as far as the first
hall, and sends a servant to un-
lock and unbolt the door. The
servant returns, and the person
in the street waits till he is de-
sired to enter with the provisions
he has been commissioned to buy.
He finds ready placed for hima
vessel with vinegar and water to
receive the meat, and another
with water for the vegetables

Among the very few articles
which may be brought in with-
out this precauticn is cold bread,
salt in bars, straw ropes, straw
baskets, oil poured out of the jar
to prevent contagion from the
hemp with which it is covered,
sugar without paper or box. When
this person has brought in all the
articles he has, he leaves by them
the account, and the change out
of the money given him, and re-
tiring shuts the door. Straw pre-

viously placed in the ha'l is lighted «

at a considerable ‘distance, by
means of a light at the end of a
stick, and no person suffered to
enter the hall till it is thought
snuiiciently purified by fire ; after
which a servant witha long stick
picks up the account and smokes
it thoroughly over the straw still
burning, and locking the decor

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

returns the key to his master,
who has been present during the
whole of these proceedings, lest
any part of them should be neg-
lected, as on the observance of
them it may safely be said the life
of every individual in the house
depends.

Eight people in the last seven
days, who were employed as. pro-
viders for the house, have taken
the plague and died. He who
was too ill to return with what
he had brought, consigned the
articles to his next neighbour,
who faithfully finishing his com-
mission, as has always been done,
of course succeeded his unfortu-
nate friend in the same employ-
ment, if he wished it, or recom-
mended another : it has happened
that Moors, quite above such em
ployment, have with an earnest
charity delivered the provisions to
the Christians who had sent for
them. The Morrs perform acts
of kindness at present, which if
attended by such dreadful cir-
cumstances, would be very rarely
met with in most parts of Chris-
tendom. An instance very lately
occurred of their philanthropy.
A Christian lay an object of mi-
sery, neglected and forsaken
self-preservation having taught
every friend to fly from her pesti-
lential bed, even her mother!
But she found in the barbarian a
paternal hand: passing by he
heard her moans, and concluded
she was the last ef her family ;
and finding that not the case, he
beheld her with sentiments of
compassion mixed with horror.
He sought for assistance, and till
the plague had completed its ra-
vages and put an end to her suf-
ferings he did not lose sight of
her, disdaining ber Christian

friends,

MISCELLANITUES.

friends, who left her to his bene-
volent care.

The expense and the danger of
burying the dead has become so
great, and the boards to make the
coffins so very scarce, that the
body is brought out of the house
by friends to the door, and the
first man they can prevail on, car-
ries it ever his shoulder, or in his
arms to the grave, endeavouring
to keep pace with the long range
of coffins that go to the burying-
ground at noon, to take the ad-

vantage of the great mass. To-
day the dead amounted to two
hundred and ninety.

July 1, 1785.

The cries of the people for the
loss of taeir friends are still as
frequent as ever; not a quarter
of an hour passing witheut the
lamentations of some new afflicted
mourmer. No more masses are
said in town at present for the
it but the coffins are collected

ogether and pass through the
ve -gate exactly at noon, when
the great mass is performed over
all at once, at a mosque out of
the town, in the way to the bury-
ing ground, ‘The horrors of the
melancholy procession increase
daily. A Moor of consequence
passed to-day, who has not missed
this melancholy walk for the last
fifteen days, in accompanying re-
gularly some relic of his family :
he is himself considered in the
last stage of the plague, yet sup-
ported by his blacks he limped
before his wife and eldest son,
himself the last of his race.

Women, whose persons have
hitherto been veiled, are wander-
ing about complete images of de-
spair, with their bair loose and
fheir baracans open, crying and

635

wringing their hands and follow-
ing their families. Though a
great deal of their grief here by
custom is expressed by action,
yet it is dreadful when it pro-
ceeds so truly from the heart as
it does now, while all those we
see are friends of the departed.
No strangers are called in to add
force to the funeral cries: the
father who bears his son to-day,
carried his daughter yesterday,
and his wife the day before: the
rest of his family are at home
languishing with the plague,
while his own mother, spared
for the eruel satisfaction of fol-
lowing her offspring, still conti-
nues with her son her wretched
daily walk.
July 20, 1785.

In the beginning of this month,
owing to the increased ravages of
the plague, the events connected
with it assumed a move horrid
character, and instead of shining
coffins, Imans and friends, to
make up the sad procession, five
or six corpses were bound to-
gether, all of them fastened on
one animal, apd hurried awey to
the grave! Collogees (soldiers)

were det a to go through the
town, and clear it of objects who

had died in the streets and were
lying about. A female in the
agonies of death they would have
seized upon, while the spark of
life was still lingering, had not
the frighted victim with great
exertion extended a feeble arm,
and resisted the disturbers cf her
last moments, imploring the pa-
tience of the collogees till they
came their next round.

Sept. 10, 1786.
Since our Jong quarantine,
(having been close prisoners for
thirteen

636 ANNUAL

thirteen months, from the begin-

ning of June 1785 to the end of

July 1786), we have availed our-
selves of every opportunity to en-
Joy our liberty; though it was at
first, with great caution, that we
ventured to alight at any of the
Moorish gardens, or to enter a
‘Moorish house, particularly out
of town.

In the country, the villages are
empty, and those houses shut that
have not been opened since the
plague, and where whole families
lay interred. The Moors carried
a great number of their dead to
the sea-shore and laid them in one
heap, which seriously affected the
town, till the Christians snggest-
ed the idea of covering them with
lime, which fortunately the Moors
have adopted, but only from find-
ing themselves dangerously an-
noyed, as they consider this ex-
pedient a sort of impiety, for
which they express great sorrow.

The habitations in the moun-
tains of Guerriana, inaccessible
except to the inhabitants, remain
entirely deserted. ‘The entrances
to the dwellings are so completely
covered up with sand as not to be
discovered by strangers ; but they
are now repeopling, and the rem-
nant of those who fled thence are
hastening back from Tunis, and
the deserts around, to recover
possession of these strange re-
treats,

The city of Tripoli, after the
plague, exhibited an appearance
awfully striking. In some of the
houses were found the last vic-
tims that had perished in them,
who having died alone, unpitied
and unassisted, lay in a state too
bad to be removed from the spot,
and were obliged to be buried
where they were; while in others,

REGISTER,

1816.

children were wandering about
deserted, without a friend be-
longing to them. The town was
almost entirely depopulated, and
rarely two people walked toge-
ther. One solitary being paced
slowly through the streets, his
mind uneccupied by business, and
lost in painful reflections: if he
lifted his eyes, it was with mourn-
ful surprize to gaze on the empty
habitations around him: whole
streets he passed without a living
creature in them; for beside the
desolation of the plague, before it
broke out in this city, many of
the inhabitant:, with the greatest
inconvenience, left their houses
and fled to Tunis (where the
plagu2 then raged), to avoid
starving in the dreadful famine
that preceded it here.

Among'st those left in this town
some have been spared to acknow-
ledge the compassion and atten-
tion shewn them by the English
consul. Jn the distresses of the
famine, and in the horrors of the
plague, many a suffering wretch,
whose days have been spun out
by his timely assistance, has left
his name on record at this place.
Persons saved from perishing in
the famine who have remained
sole possessors of property before
divided among their friends (all
now swept off by the plague),
come forward to thank him with
wild expressions of joy, calling
him boni (father), and praying to
Mahomet to bless him. They say
that besides giving them life he
has preserved them to become
little kings, and swear a faithful
attachment to him, which there
is no doubt they will shew, in
their way, as long as he is in their
country,

POETRY.

[ 637 j

Peo Fier.

WATERLOO,
From the Third Canto of Childe Harold.

MERE was a sound of revelry by night,
To And Belgium's capital had gathered then
Her beauty and her chivalry, and bright
The lamps shone o’er fair women and brave men ;
A thousand hearts beat happily ; and when
Music arose with its voluptuous swell,
Soft eyes look'd love to eyes which spake again,
Ard all went merry as a marriage bell ;
But hush! hark! a deep sound strikes like a rising knell’

Did ye not hear it ?—No ; ’twas but the wind,

Or the car rattling o’er the stony street ;

On with the dance! let joy be unconfined ;

No sleep till morn, when youth and pleasure meet
To chase the glowing hours with flying feet—

But hark !—that heavy sound breaks in once more,
As if the clouds its echo would repeat ;

And nearer, clearer, deadlier than before !

Arm! arm! it is—it is—the cannon’s opening roar!

Within a windowed niche of that high hall

Sate Brunswick's fated chieftain; he did hear

That sound the first amidst the festival,

And caught its tone with death’s prophetic ear ;

And when they smiled because he deem‘d it near,

His heart more truly knew that peal-too well

Which stretch'd his father on a bloody bier,

And roused the vengeance blood alone could quell :

He rush’d into the field, and, foremost, fighting, fell.

Ah! then and there was hurrying to and fro,
And gathering tears, and tremblings of distress,
And cheeks all pale, which but an hour ago
Blush'd at the praise of their own loveliness ;

And

638 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816. ;

And there were sudden partings, such as press

The life from out young hearts, and choking sighs
Which ne'er might be repeated ; who could guess

lf ever more should meet those mutual eyes,

Since upon nights so sweet such awful morn could rise ?

And there was mounting in hot haste: the steed,

The mustering squadron, and the clattering car,

Went pouring forward with impetuous speed,

And swiftly forming in the ranks of war ;

And the deep thunder peal on peal afar ;

And near the beat of the alarming drum

Roused up the soldier ere the morning star ;

While thronged the citizens with terror dumb,

Or whispering with white lips—‘‘ The foe! they come!
they come !”

And wild and high the ‘‘ Cameron’s gathering rose 1!”
The war-note of Lochiel, which Albyn’s hills

Have heard, and heard, too, have her Saxon foes :—
How in the noon of night that pibroch thrills,

Savage and shrill! but with the breath which fills

Their mountain-pipe, so fill the mountaineers

With the fierce native daring which instils

The stirring memory of a thousand years,

And Evan’s, Donald’s fame rings in each clans-man’s ear!

And Ardennes waves above them her green leaves,
Dewy with nature's tear-drops, as they pass,
Grieving, if aught inanimate e’er grieves,
Over the unreturning brave,—alas !
Ere evening to be trodden like the grass
Which now beneath them, but above shall grow
In its next verdure, when this fiery mass
Of living valour, rolling on the foe /
And burning with high hope, shall moulder cold and low.

Last noon beheld them full of lusty life,

Last eve in beauty’s circle proudly gay,

The midnight brought the signal-sound of strife,

The morn the marshalling in arms,—the day

Battle's magnificently-stern array !

The thunder-clouds close o'er it, which when rent

The earth is covered thick with other clay,

Which her own clay shall cover, heaped and pent,
Rider and horse,—triend, foe,—in one red burial blent !

LINES

Wie FoR R XY. 639)

LINES

Written in a Choultry, situate in a very desert Tract, by Cuptain

T. A. Anderson, H. M. 19th Foot.

Wirutn this Choultry’s ample space,
The way-worn traveller’s resting-place,
Whose massy columns countless glow,
Reflected in the tank belesy,

Whose endless porticos and halls,
Whose pillar’d domes, and echoing walls,
Its proud magnificence attest,

The child of poverty may rest !—

Here wealth gives no exclusive claim,
No deference to a noble name ;

To all the race of man as free

As heaven's cerulean canopy.

Long may the pious fabric stand

Amid this boundless waste of sand ;
Like some blest island’s friendly cove,
To those who on the ocean rove !

The veriest wretch, while shelter’d here,
Shrinks from no fellow-mortal’s sneer,
Whose broken spirit ill could brook

A purse-proud landlord's scornful look ;
But, safe from noon’s destructive force,
May pause upon his toilsome course,

With food and rest his frame renew,

His homeward journey to pursue;

And, at the welcome close of light,

When fire-flies take their evening flight,
And hover rouad each fragrant flow’r ;
When burning skies have lost their pow’r,
When with fresh hopes, and thankful heart,
He girds his loins in act to part,

Warn from his soul how many a pray’r
Will bless the generous founder’s care !
Whom fancy pictures to the eye,

As passing faint and wearily

Along this drear and barren scene,

Where noontide rays smite fierce and keen,
And arid winds incessant sweep

The billows of this sandy deep,

No stunted palm, nor date-tree seen,

To yield a momentary screen,

No hut his languid limbs to rest,

Tho’ sore by toil and thirst opprest !

In

640 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

In such a scene of dread and woe,
Well might he make a solemn vow,
That if some Mercy-loving Pow’r
Should guard him in that evil hour,

To him a stately fane should rise,

A refuge from these wrathful skies,

A monument of gratitude

Amid this fiery solitude !

Perhaps the prayer was not in vain,
And hence this fabric decks the plain.
And if, as old traditions say,

The spirit, parted from its clay,

Shall still with former feelings throng
Round scenes and objects lov’d so long,
How must it gratify his shade,

To hear the homage hourly paid,

To hear the fainting traveller ery,

With throbbing breast, and tear-dimm’'d eve,
** A thousand blessings on the hand

« That first these sacred turrets plann‘d,
*¢ And plac’d this kind asylum here,
«The lone way-faring man to cheer !"

England! my country! tho’ thou art
Entwin’d around my very heart,
Canst thou the solemn truth deny,

A truth impress’d on every eye,

That while one stranger houseless lies
Beneath thine ever-varying skies,
Thou art in charity outdone

Ly Asia's rude, untutor’d son!

Batticaloa, Oct. 1815.

ee eee __neaEEEEEEEEERETEREEEERNTIRIEIR REET ERERRREEER

ADDRESS OF WINTER, TO TIMOUR.
Versifiel from Sir John Malcolm’s History of Persia.
By Miss Porpen.

Keen blew the sleety gale, the scene was drear,
One sheet of white the hills and plains appear,

Vast blocks of ice obstruct the rapid floods,

And hills of snow conceal the sable woods,

Nor bird, nor beast, nor living thing was seen,

Nor flower, nor fruit, nor blade of herbage green ;
All Nature knew the appointed time of rest,

And sheltered, slept in earth’s maternal breast.

Man’s

POR TRY. 641

Man’s heart alone no change of season knows,
And proud ambition stoops net-to repose !

The tyrant’s troops, regardless of the blast,
Blacken with countless hordes the silvery waste.
High on his Tartar steed the conqueror rode.
And ied his myriads o'er the frozen flood ;

When lo! amid a realm of subject snows,

In awful pride, gigantic Winter rose.

His hand, with arrows filled, was lifted high,

A ghastly gleam was in his frozen eye ;

Like some vast mountain his stupendous form,
His voice the howling of the Alpine storm.

ft lacked the melody of living breath,

And chill'd.the spirit as the voice of Death.

* Behold the mighty conqueror, who defies,

** Not man alone, but these inclement skies.

Yet though thy dreadful warriors onward ride,
Nor fawn the elements, to sooth thy pride,
Round thy warm limbs niy icy robe I cast.

I give thee to the snow, the hail, the blast;
Yon hill—the Spirit of the Storm is there,
And bids thee, tyrant, stop thy rash career.

No longer shalt then wrap the world in flame ,
Art thou a spirit of vengeance? I the same.
Slaves to subdue, we use our power alike,
When baneful stars in dire conjunction strike.
How terrible their foree! but on! be bold !
Make earth’s best rezion desolate and cold,
‘Then in the impotence of fury pine,

To find at length thy blasts less keen than mine.
If thou canst glory in wanumbered bands,
That waste, destroy, o’erwhelm the fairest lands,
With heavenly aid my storais as widely sweep,
Thy lance is keen, my arrow strikes as deep !
And on thy head, by Him that governs all,
The deadliest venom of my wrath shall full,
Net al! thy fires, thyself, thine host shall save
“ From the cold sleep, the tempest’s icy grave.”

ce

ins

“ee

ee

ce

TO BRITAIN.

From ‘‘ Thoughts on Wheels,” a Poem by J. Montgomery.

1 Love Thee, O iny native ISLE!
Dar as my mother’s earliest sinile,
Sweet as my father’s voice to me
is all I hear and all! see ;
Vou. LVIII, 27 When

642 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1816.

When glancing o'er thy beauteous land,

In view thy Public Virtues stand,

The Guardian-angels of thy coast,

Te watch the dear domestic Host, ”
The Heart's Affections, pleased to roam

Around the quiet heaven of Home.

I love Thee,—when I mark thy soil
Flourish beneath the Peasant’s toil,
And from its lap of verdure throw
Treasures which neither Indies know.

I love Thee,—when I hear around
Thy looms, and wheels, and anvils sound,
Thine Engines heaving all their force,
Thy waters labouring on their course,
And Arts, and Industry, and Wealth,
Exulting in the joys of Health.

I love Thee,—when I trace thy tale ,
To the dim point where records fail ;
Thy deeds of old renown inspire
My bosom with eur fathers’ fire ;
A proud inheritance I claim
In all their sufferings, all their fame :
Nor less delighted, when I stray
Down History’s lengthening, widening way,
And hai] thee in thy present hour,
From the meridian arch of power,
Shedding the lustre of thy reign,
Like sunshine over land and main.

I love Thee—when I read the lays
Of British Bards in elder days,
Till, rapt on visionary wings,
High o'er thy clifis my Spirit sings ;
For 1, amidst thy living choir, :
I too, ean touch the sacred lyre.

I love Thee,—when I contemplate
The full-orb’d grandeur, of thy state ;
Thy laws and liberties, that rise
Man’s noblest works. beneath the skies,
To which the Pyramids are tame, ;
And Grecian Temples bow, their fame :
These, thine immortal Sages wrought
Out of the deepest mines of thought ;
These, on the scaffold, in the field,
Thy Warriors won, thy Patriots seal’d ;

These,

’

GENERAL

in compliance with his Grace’s
recommendation, proceed to adopt
such measures as may appear best
calculated effectually to ensure a
strict and faithful observance of
those laws, in a manner least
burdensome to the inhabitants of
the island.”’

A motion having been made by

HISTORY. (165

way of amendment, which was
a total change in the resolution
by substituting one which men.
tioned the Registry Bill in terms
of great asperity, and implying a
determination to make no enact-
ment of that nature, it was ne-
gatived by-25 votes against 4,
and the report was agreed to.

CHAPTER

166]

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

CHAPTER XVII. R

East Indies —Renewal of Hostilities with the Nepaulese.—Actions, and
final Treaty.—Proceedings in Cutch—JInsurrection at Bareilly.—Ir-

ruption from Mahratta,—China,

N the relation of occurrences

in British India during the
last year, mention was made of
the termination of hostilities be-
tween the Nepaulese and the Eng-
lish Company, by a convention
concluded with the principal
Goorkah chiefs, who resigned a
large tract of frontier country.
It was, however, thought expe-
dient by the Governor-general to
reinforce the army opposite to
the Nepaulese; but this measure
was at that time sufficient to pre-
vent the renewal of war, and on
the 2d of December 1815, a
peac@ewas finally settled between
the Nepaul and the British go-
vernments.

It appears, however, that when
the troops were withdrawn, the
Nepaulese evinced such a relue-
tance to fulfil the conditions of
the treaty, that it was found ab-
solutely necessary to have recourse
to compulsion. Accordingly, Sir
David Ochterlony was again dis-
patched to the frontier, which he
reached about the close of Ja-
nuary. That general in the fel-
lowing month sent accounts of
his proceedings, the first of which
is dated from the camp at Muck-
wampore, Feb. 28th. It men-
tions, that after having put ina
gtate of defence the fortified

depot at Etowndah, he marched
forward his remaining force to
the ground he then occupied, op-
posite to which, on a steep hill,
he descried on his arrival a strong
party of the enemy, which eva-
cuated their position, on which
he posted a party of his own. On
the’ very next day, an attack was
made upon the British posts by
large bodies of the Nepaulese,
reckoned at 2000 men with guns
exnd repeated reinforcements ;
which, during a momentary su-
periority of numbers, approached
close to the village held by the
British. This was obstinately dis-
puted by its few defenders, until
thearrival of more troops changed
the fortune of the day ; and from
that time the repeated attacks
of the enemy, upon the Bri-
tish positions were invariably re-
pulsed, and they were at length
driven off in confusion, chiefly by
a charge of the 2d battalien of
the sth Native Infantry. . The
loss of the Nepaulese was very
considerable; and that of the
British troops amounted to a total
of 45 killed, 175 wounded, and
2 missing. On the whole, as on
former occasions, it was evi-
dent that they had to contend with
antagonists defective neither in
courage nor discipline.

On

GENERAL

On March 3d, Gen. Ochterlony
received intelligence of the cap-
ture of the important fortress of
Hurriapore, which was evacuated
by the enemy on the 2d, after
they had been repulsed in a sally
made with desperate bravery.

The Calcutta Gazette Extraor-
dinary of March 1Ath, anncunced
that the treaty of peace concluded
between the British Government
aad the Rajah of Nepaul on De-
cember 21, was finally ratified by
the Rajah in the British camp
before Muckwampore on the 4th
instant, with all the proper for-
malities; and the following cepy
of its conditions was published
for general information :

** Whereas war has arisen be-
tween the Honourable East India
Company and the Kajah of Ne-
paul: and whereas the - parties
are wutually disposed to restore
the relations of peaee and amity,

which previously to the occur-
rence of the late differences had
long subsisted between the two
States, the following tezms of
peace have hee n agreed upon:

Article 1. There shall be per-
petual peace and friendship be-
tween the Honourable the Hast
India Coupany and the Rajah of
Nepaul.

1}, The Rajah of Nepaul re-
nounces ali claim to the Jands
which the subject of dis-
cussion between the two states
before the war, and acknowledges
the right of the Hon. Company
tu the sovereign'y of those lands.

IH. he Rajah of Nepaul
hereby cedes to the Hon. Hast
India Company, in perpetuity, all
the under-meiitioned territories,
naely-——

First, Ihe

were

whole of the low

) article,

HISTORY. [167
lands between the rivers Kali and
Rapti.

Secondly, The whole of the
low lands (with the exception of
Bootwul Khaas) lying between
the Rapti and the Gunduck.

Thirdly, The whole of- the low
lands between the Gunduck and
Coosah, in which the authority of
the British Government has been
introduced, or is in actual course
of introduction.

Fourthly, All the low lands be-
tween the river Meilchec and the
‘Teesah.

Fifthly, Allthe territories within
the hills eastward of the river
Meilchec, including the fort and
lands of .Naggree and the pass of
Nagarcote, leading from Morung
into the hills, toyether with the
territory lying between that pass
anid Nag: eree. ‘Theaforesaid ter-
ritory shall be evacuated by the
Goorkah trocps within for ty days
from this date.

IV. With a view to indemnify
the chiefs and Barahdars of the
state of Nepaul whose interesis
will suffer by the alienation of
the lands ceded by the foregeing
the British Government
pecanoi to settle pensious to the
averegate amount of tao lacs of
rupees per annum on such chiefs
23 may he selected by the Rajalr
ct Nepaul, and in the proper-
tions which the Rajah may. fix.
As soon as the selection 1s made,
sunnuds shal be granted under
the seal and sivmatune of the Go-
vernor-general for the pensions
ie ectively.

. The Rajah of Nepxul re-
nonnces foy himself, his heirs,
and successors, all claim to, or
connexion with, the. eauntries
lying to the west of the river

Kali,

168]

Kali, and engages never to have
any concern with those countries,
or the inhabitants thereof.

VI. The Rajah of Nepaul en-
gages never to molest or disturb
the Rajah ef Siccem in the pos-
session of his territories; but
agrees, if any differences shall
arise between the State of Nepaul
and the Rajah of Siccem, or the
subjects of either, that such dif-
ferences shall be referred to the
arbitration of the British Go-
vernment, by whose award the
Rajah of Nepaul engages to
abide.

VU. The Rajah of Nepaul
hereby engages never to take or
retain in his service any British
subject, nor the subject of any
Eurepean or American State,
without the consent of the British
Government.

VIUTI. In order to secure and
improve the relations of amity
and peace hereby established be-
tween the two states, it is agreed
that accredited ministers from
each shall reside at the Court of
the other.

IX. This treaty, consisting of
nine articles, shall be ratified by
the Rajah of Nepaul within fif-
teen days from this date, and the
ratification shall be delivered tu
Lieut.-colonel Bradshaw, who en-
gages to obtain and deliver to the
Rajah the ratification of the Go-
vernor-general within twenty
days, or sooner if practicable.

Done at Segowley on the 2d
day of December, 1815.

L.S. od Paris Brapsnaw,
seller Lieut. Col. P. A.

LS. Be GoorooGuyraJ-
aro MISSER,

L.S. ( 22 \ Caunper Secnur
FS OPADENAH.

ANNUAL REGISTER,

1816.

A particular account of the
military operations at Hurryhur-

pore will be found in the Supple--

ment of the London Gazette,
August 10th.

The Nepaulese fulfilled all the
conditions of their treaty, the
last of which was the cession of
the fort of Nagnee, which took
place on April 18th.

In the Bombay Gazettes for
February were published rela-
tions of proceedings in the pro-
vince of Cutch, on the north-
western coast of the Peninsula.
A force under the command of
Col. East had entered that pro-
vince, and captured the fortress
of Anjar, not far from the ca-
pital of Cutch. A treaty of alli-
ance was in ccnsequence con-
cluded with the state of Cutch;
anda detachment of Col. Hast’s
army had been marched under
the command of Lieutenant-col.
Barclay, to Wagur, for the pur-
pose of reducing that uncivilized
district to the authority of the
Rao of Cutch, its legitimate so-
vereign, and of destroying all the
fastnesses of the banditti, whose
depredations have been so de-
structive to the neighhouring ter-
Vitories.

A sanguinary tumult occurred
in the month of April at the city
of Bareilly in Rehilcund. It
arose from the popular discontent
excited in that and the neigh-
bouring towns by the intrcduc-
tion of what is called the Chooke-
daree establishment, and contri-
butions for which the people of
Bareilly had for some time re-
fused to pay. On the 16th, as
Mr. Dumbleton, the chief of the
place, was riding in the city, the
mob made an attack upon him,

and

FOr R Y. 643

These, at the parricidal pyre,

Thy Martyrs sanctified in fire;

And with the generous blood they spilt
Wash'd from thy soil their murderers’ guilt,
Cancell'd the curse, which Vengeance sped,
And left a blessing in its stead.

—Can words, can numbers, count the price
Paid for this little Paradise ?

Never, O never be it lost,

The land is worth the price it cost !

I love Thee, when thy Sabbath dawns
O’er woods and mountains, dales and lawns,
And streams, that sparkle while they run,
As if their fountain were the Sun:

When, hand in hand, thy tribes repair,
Each to their chosen House of Prayer,
And all in peace and freedom call
On Him, who is the Lord of all.

I love Thee,—when my Soul can feel
The Seraph-ardours of thy zeal :
Thy Charities, to none confined,
Bless, like the sun, the rain, the wind ;
Thy schools the human brute shall raise,
Guide erring Youth in Wisdom’s ways,
And leave, when we are turn’d to dust,
A generation of the Just.

I love Thee,—when I see thee stand,

The Hope of every other land ;

A sea-mark in the tide of Time,
Rearing to heaven thy brow sublime ;
Whence beams of Gospel-splendour shed
‘A sacred halo round thine head ;

And Gentiles from afar behold

(Not as on Sinai’s rocks of old)

GOD ,—irom eternity conceal’d,—

In his own light, on THEE reveal’d.

I love Thee,—when I hear thy voice
Bid a despairing World rejoice,
And loud from shore to shore proclaim,
In every tongue, Messiah's name ;
That name, at which, from sea to sea,
All nations yet shall bow the knee.

I love Thee,—next to Heaven above,
Land of my Fathers! thee I love:
And

644

ANNUAL REGISTER, 18

And rail thy Slanderers as they will,

«© With all thy faults I love thee still: >

For faults thou hast, of heinous size ; *
Repent, renounce them, ere they rise

In judgment :——lest thine Ocean-wall
With boundless ruin round thee fall,

And that which was thy mightiest stay
Sweep all thy rocks like sand away.

Yes, thou hast faults, of heinous size,
From which ] turn with weeping eyes ;
On these let them that hate thee dwell:
Yet one I spare not,—one I te!l ;

Tell with a whisper in thine ear ;
e may it wring thy heart with fear !

O that my weakest word might roll
Like heaven’s‘own thunder thro’ thy soul !

There is a lie in thy right hand ;

A bribe, corrupting all the land ;

There is within thy gates a pest,—

Gold! and a Babylonish vest ;

Not hid in shame-concei ling shade,

But broad against the Sun display’d.
Thece,—tell it not,—it nruat be told;
These are by Lot—by Lottery—sold :

And these, thy Children, (taught to sin,)
Venture two worlds at once to win ;

Nay thy deluded Statesmen stake
THYSELF,—and lose thee, for their sake !

-———Lose thee ?—they sha'l not; —HE, whose will

Is Nature’s law, preserves thee still ;
And while the’ uplifted boit impends,

ONE WARNING MORG his mercy sends.

O Britain! O my Country ! bring
Forth from thy camp th’ ace ‘ursed thing ;
Consign it to remorseless fire,

Vatch till the latest spark eapive,
Then cast the ashes on the wind,
Nor leave one atem-wreek Eehind.

So may thy wealth and power incrense ;
So may thy people dwell in peace ;
On Tiee the’ Almighty’s elory rest,
And ail the world in Thee be blest.

FESS

Pnotst cy Fensley and Sons Vateut Machine,
Bole-court, Flect-street, London

6.