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lUUTISlI HOUSE UK COMMONS, June CO
IMMOLATION or WIDOWS IK I1PIA-
Mr. Fowl'll Buxton rose to bring on
hir motion Tor copies nml extracts ol all
communications finm India respecting
the burning of females. It might be su(-
ficient for bis purpose to state the extent
to which this shocking practice had hern
enrried in one Presidency alone—he
meant that of Fort William. Within
tlicl i't four years, in that Presidency,
2,.tt;6 females had been seen to ascend
jind perish upon the funeral piles of then
deceased husbands. That was the num
ber that had openly pcrUhed under the
eyes of the magistracy, exclusive of the
number which had been consumed in
secret, or by the connivance of a mer
cenary jVblice. By the Maliommedan
law the practice was discountenanced,
and therefore in many places discontinu
ed ; but it was to be regretted that it
still prevailed to a great extent in coun
tries under the British jurisdiction. Not
only had the disciples of Mahomet abo
lished this practice, but the French,
Dutch, and Panes had accomplished the
same object in their E. India settlements.
Many of the native princes, amongst
whom wore the Kajah Travancore, and
the Peishawa, the Utter of whom was a
Hindoo and a Brahmin, had also put an
lend to this revolting custom. He hoped
that, when the proper time arrived, the
British government would exert their
utmost efforts to extinguish so great an
evil, and show (hat they would not be
behind hand with their predecessors in
the great work of justice and humanity.
Many of the murders (for, although they
were called voluntary sacrifice, he con
sidered them to be little else than mur
ders) took place contrary to the Hindoo
Uw itself.—By that law, females under
16 years of age were not allowed to as
cend the funeral pile; yet, it would ap
pear from the papers for which he -was
about to move, that the girls of 12, 13,
and 14 years of age had been sacrificed ;
and, in one instance, a child of eight years
old became a victim of this barbarous
ci^tom. By the Hindoo law those wid.
ows arqffdso exempted, whe, in the e-
arqwiu
of The
vent of their death, should leave chil
dren behind them under three years of
age, unless some security was given that
the infants would be taken care of.—It
was also specifically set down, that the
sacrifice should be perfectly voluntary
that no drugs should be administered for
the purpose of causing intoxication ; but
these provisions of the Hindoo law were
not complied with.—No later than Tues
day he had a conversation on this sub
ject with a most respectable gentleman,
the Rev. Mr. Thompson, one of the East
India Company’s chaplains, who stated,
that a9 he was sailing on a river in the
neighborhood of Calcutta, he observed
a crowd on the bank, and found that the
people had assembled for the purpose
of witnessing the burning of a widow,
who was then performing her last ablu
tion. When that part of the ceremony
was concluded, she was led to the pile,
but she fuinted repeatedly : The peo
ple began to grow impatient ; and she
was at Inst placed on the pile in an insen
sible state, and lashed to the dead body
of her husband. The unfortunate crea
ture,’however, recovered her senses,
and struggled to escape. A Brahmin
immediately placed a torch in the hands
of one of her children, and set fire to the
pile. In that case, the child ofthe par
i'rtf about to be consumed began by ap
jdving fire to the face of his deceased
father, and then proceeded to place the
flame beneath the body of the living mo
ther. The fire soon took effect, but it
tvas a considerable time before the suf
ferings of the unhappy woman were ter
rainated. Though he did not think it
would be proper to put an end to this
practice by force, yet he was of opinion
that the natives of India ought to be res
trained within the laws of their own reli
gion. Beyond these they should not be
suffered to depart. All these evils arose
from one cause—the ignorance of the
natives ; and the only cure for them was
instruction. Every person, therefore,
must perceive how imperative it was on
the government ofthe country to extend,
as far as possible, the benefits of educa
tion to the natives of India. The hon.
gentleman, then moved “ for copies of
extracts of all communications received
from India relative to the burning of fe-
mrdes on the funeral {files of their de
ceased husbands.
Mr. Bathurst observed, that if the le
gislature took up this question, the nc
cessarv consequence must be the inler
▼ention of public officers, to prevent
breaches of the Hindoo law by the na
tives—an intervention, be it observed
Connected with points the most delicate
that could be conceived. These per
B®ns would have to enquire whether a
Woman was ready to make a voluntary
sacrifice of her existence. And if they
found that she acted voluntarily, and
therefore did not fall within any of the
exceptions Of the Hindoo law, then the
natural anil unfortunate consequence
would be, that the ceremony thus prac
tised would be described ns taking place
after the inspection and under the sane
tion of a British officer. It was an ex
tpaordinary circumstance, that since the
promulgation of certain regulations on
this subject, the number of persons who
have sacrificed themselves had been
doubled. In 1615, the number was 378:
in 1816, 442 ; in 1817, 707 ; in 1818
1,339. In Calcutta alone, the numbers
were, in 1816, 153; in 1816,289; in
1817, 442 } in 1818, 544.—Undoubted
ly the increase was in some measure at
tributable to an epidemic disorder which
raged in the country, the ravages of
which had deprived many women oftheir
liu?bauis. The Icdiao govereaient dratt
ed rcryntuch the policy ofthe interfer
ence which had already taken place,
ll was for llie House to consider wheth
er it would not be better to trust to the
gradual amelioration of the Hindoos, bv
the extension of education, the founda
tion of which had happily been laid, and
on which n moral supeistrurtnre might
be reared, rather than to sanction any le
gislative measure for the purpose of put
ting down this practice. He did not ob
ject to the production of the papers, but
he hoped the hon. member would not
call on the legislature to sanction any ac
tive interference with the religious pre
judices ofthe natives of India.
Mr. Wilberforcc briefly spoke in favor,
of the motion.
Mr. Hume wished to know how far the
motion of his hon. friend extended ? Be
cause if it did not comprise the regula
tions of 1792, 1793 and 1794. it would be
defective. He had lived at Benares,
where the Brahmins had their college,
and which indeed might be considered
the cradle of all their absurdities, and
there, he believed, the regulations had
produced a good effect. His belief was,
that under the regulations of Gov. Dun-
kin, it wns absolutely necessary to en
quire of every person about to be im
molated whether it was a voluntary act,
done in conformity with the Hindoo law.
No individual was allowed to be b'irnt in
Benares, unless the regulations ofthe go
vernment werecomplied with He doubt
ed very much the correctness of the
observation made by the right hon. gen
tleman (Mr. Bathurst] when he said that
this was not a proper subject for the con
sideration of Parliament. It was roost
extraordinary that a member of hi* M«-
jesty’s government who had voted for a
bill to prevent cruelty being exercised
towards asses and mules, should think it
improper to prevent the infliction of cru
elty (for cruelly it was in all cases) on
the females of India. His opinion was.
thatthc individuals burned witii their hus
bands were, in almost all cases, sacrific
ed to the interest of those who were con
nected with thorn. If it were rendered
necessary to take out a regular license,
at an expense of two or three thousand
rupees for the privilege to burn, the evil
would be very much diminished. Though
this, at first sight appeared ludicrous,
yet the benefit which such a system
would produce could easily be explained.
If a large sum were demanded for a li
cense, the relatives of widows, who now
urged them to burn, would not supply a
rupee towards the expense ; and the
widows would thus escape death.
Mr. Canning observed that whatever
difference of opinion there might exist on
other points of this interesting subject,
there were two points on which all must
agree—first, that it would be in the high
est degree gratifying to the feelings of
the House, if the inhuman practice in
question could be completely put down ;
secondly, that it would be extremely in
expedient that any attempt should be
made to put it down by coercion. It
was with a reference to both those con
siderations that Parliament ought to act;
and hon. gentlemen ought especially to
bear in mind, that of all the exercises of
human authority and discretion, the most
delicate and difficult was such an inter
ference on the part of a superior power
with an inferior, as, while on the one
hand it should be effectual, on the other
hand it should be divested of that harsh
ness of character which too frequently
belonged even to the appearance of con-
troul.
Mr. Fowall Buxton, in explanation,
begged to observe, that if the East India
Company had unfortunately been advised
to retract their regulations, he should feel
it his duty to bring that subject at an ear
ly opportunity before Parliament. The
British government in India had interfer
ed in other cases of almost equal enormi
ty. There was the murder of the chil-
*y-
drenof the Rajapoots, for instance, which
was made a capital offence. There was
among another tribe a singular and hor
rible custom, that of a man who fancied
himself injured by some persons in pow
er, collecting wood, making a pile of it,
and placing at the top two living animals
-—a cow and an old woman, whom he
saw consumed with fire ; being himself
impressed with the beliefthat all the tor
tures which they suffered would be ex
perienced by his enemy. Another case
was that of the Brahmins, the sacredness
of whose persons throughout all India
was proverbial, and who had, in conse
quence, long committed crimes with per
fect impunity. In both these instances,
however, the British government had
thought proper to interpose ; and did so
effectually. But this was not all : not
only had they interfered with respect to
the native priests, but on one occasion
they had taken liberties with their favor
ite god. The great Juggernaut was not
exempted from their visitation : for there
being some delay in the payment ofthe
revenue of a certain province, this go
vernment laid their hands”upon him, by
way of security, and kept him in pawn
till the whole amount was paid up. The
motion was then agreed to.
SLAVE TRACE IN NORTHERN AFRICA.
Extract from Capt. Lyon's “ Travels in Northern
Africa in the years 1618, 19, and 20.” Lon
don, 1821.
“ In August, alnvgeKaflle of Arabs,
Tripolines. and Tibboo, arrived from
Bornou, bringing with them 1400 slaves
of both sexes and of all ages, the greater
part being females. Several smaller par
ties had preceded them, many of whom
also brought slaves. 'We rode out to
meet the great kaffle, and to see them en
ter the town—It was indeed a piteous
spectacle t These poor oppressed beings
were, many of them, so exhausted as to
be scarcely able to walk ; their legs and
feet were much swelled, and by their
enormous size, formed a striking con
trast with tficir emaciated bcdicr. They
were all borne down with loads of fire
wood, nr.d even poor little children,
worn to skeletons with fatigue nnd hard
ships, were obliged to bear their bur
then, while many of their inhuman mas
ters rode on camels, with the dreaded
whip suspended from their wrists, with
which they, from time to tine, enforced
obedience from these wretched captives.
Care was taken however, that the hair
of the females should be arranged in nice
order, and that their bodies should he
well oiled, while the males were closely
shaven, to giro them a good appearance
on entering the town. Their dresses
were simply the usual cotton wrappers,
and even these, in many instances, were
so.torn, as scarcely to cover them. We
observed one girl (of what country I
know not) wlm had her back and slioul-
lers burned in little sprigs, in a very cu
rious manner, so as to resemble figured
ilk ; it hnd a very pretty appearance,
and must have been done ivffen she was
quite an infant. Some ofthe women car
ried little children on their hacics, some
of whom were so small, that they must
have been bora on the road.
11 The Tibboo, who hring the slaves
from Bornou. are of the tribes nn the road,
L some are from Fezzati. They never
trade to Soudan, on account of the dis
tance ; but prefer exchanging their slaves
fnr horses, which they sell to great ad
vantage in the interior : for though there
are horses in Bornou, they are not much,
esteemed; hut those of Tripoli uregreatly
valued. The Tibboo ride on saddles,
resembling in some respects our F.nglish
ones ; but they are smaller, and have n.
high peak in front; their stirrups resem
ble ours, but they do not put the whole
foot in them, only the four small toes, the
great toe remaining out; their shoes are
all contrived for this purpose, hy having
a separate division fnr a great toe, and
are made in the same manner as chil
dren’s mittens. Their bridles are also
in our style, being -much lighter than
those iff the Arabs. They are more
careful of their horses than of their fami
lies, sparing no expense to fatten them ;
this is done hy cramming them with large
balls of meal or dough, which are con
sidered highly nourishing. A fine horse,
will, in t-he Negro country, sell for 10 or
15 Ncgressps ; each of which, at the
Barbary parts, is worth from CO to 150
dollars.
“ All the traders speak ofslcves as far
mers do of cattle. Those recently brn’t
from the interior were fattening, in or
der that they might be able to go on to
Tripoli. Benghazi or Egypt; thus a dis
tance of 1600 or 1800 miles is to be tra
versed from the time these poor crea
tures are taken From thpir homes, be
fore they can be settled ; whilst in the in
terior they may, perhaps, be doomed to
pass through the hands of eight or ten
masters, who treat them well or ill, ac
cording to their pleasure. These devo
ted victims fondly hoping that each new
purchaser may be the last, find perhaps
that (hey have again to commence a jour
noy equally long and dreary with the one
they have just finished, under a burning
sun, with new companions, hut with the
same miseries.”
EDUCATION IN~GREAT BRITAIN.
Upon this subject we find nn interesting
article in the New-York American. Seve
ral voluminous reports hare been made to
the House of Commons. They ei ince, that
in the important business of general educati
on, England has yet made comparatively
small progress. The following is mentioned
among other facts, that “ the salary of the
Scotch parochial school-master is fixv.d at
a sum not less titan £ 16 Iris. 4d, nor more
than £ 22 4s. fid—and he has besides, a
house and small garden. But where there
are more schools than one in a parish, the
salary for both together, is not to exceed
£ 33 Gs 7d. and only one house and garden
allowed.”
Tables are given, shewing the general
state of Education in England and also the
proportion of scholars, who are educated
gratuitously, and of those who pay fur llieir
instruction—there are separate tables for
Wales, Scotland, &c. The following aie
their several result? :
ENGLAND.
Population (1811) '5,. r »43 610
Poor (1815) 6.VV24U
respecting the affair.-! of the European
Continent, moved by Mr. YVortley and
Mr. Hutchinson, wn had some hopes of
that assembly as the guardian of sound
principles of general policy, nml believ
ed that there were certain bounds which
the British minister would not puss from
dread of public opinion. But when c-
ven « ministerial member sought to ob
tain n mere expression of the dissatisfac
tion of Parliament with the pretensions
and proceedings of the Holy Alliance,
he was left on the vote, in a small mino
rity, and the British minister asserted
roundly the total absence of all ambi
tion nnd selfishness in the triumvirate
which has established a complete dicta
torship over the continent. Lord Lon
donderry “ conceived that the House
could have no hesitation in negativing the
motion of Mr. Hutchinson, because hy
entertaining it, they would he f/'ending
and provoking other powers w ithout one
document to justify the proceeding.” As
if the various circulars and manifestoes
and war bulletins of the Allies did not
constitute abundant documentary evi
dence ! As if more could he required,
when all ’Italy is in their military occu
pation ; when Naples and Sicily are gar
risoned hy Austrian troops ! Mr. Hutch
inson made n remark, the force of which
an impartial observer cannot easily re
sist. “ The noble Lord,” lie said, “ was
a sleeping partner in (lie Holy Alliance;
lie did not dare make himself a direct
party with the Allies to any state paper
or public measure, but lie came, forward
in Parliament when any question was
discussed, to defend them, and to turn
the attack on the unfortunate persons'
whose liberty they chose to assail.”
What a spectacle lias the British go
vernment exhibited for some time past !
While Russia and Austria have been
maturing, Si in part executing, a scheme
of empire which is to embrace directly,
the greater part ofthe European contin
ent, and virtually, by irresistible influ
ence, the whole,—what has been the oc
cupation of that government ? Trying
their Queen, scandalizing the world hy
foul and obscene detail*—making costly
preparations, getting up pageantry and
mummeries, for the coronation of their
king ; laboring to palliate the monstrous
doctrine*, and to justify the odious usur
pations of the two colossal powers ;
tamely acquiescing or rather corruptly
rejoicing, in the extinction ofthe British
share of weight in the affairs of the
continent, over which the ablest states
men of the last century, of all parties,
deemed a direct and considerable con
trol, indispensable to the ultimate pros
perity of England.
W e feel no apprehension fur the for
tunes of our own country, should it be
true to itself. But if the supposition be
admitted that, the Allies will finally suc
ceed in their views, and the governments
of France and Great-Britain remain uni
ted with them in spirit and interest, there
will he motive for much circumspection
and energy on the part of these United
States. The destruction of this Repub
lic must onter into the plan ofthe mon
archical league, which is one that looks
to the dominion of particular principles,
as well as of particular thrones. After tfcn
subjugation of Europe, the existence of
our republican Institutions, will he deem
ed the only obstacle to the perpetuation
of that order of things there, and the ex
tension of royal rule over the whole ci
vilized world.
FROM SOUTH*AMERICA.
New-York, August 7.
By the politeness of the editor of the Na
tional Advocate, we have been favored with
Currtcoa papers to the 11th July, inclusive,
received by the Rebecca Ann, arrived this
forenoon, which stale that Corn has recent
ly been re-captured by Lt. Col. Cliauspe.
with little or no resistance, who afterward
marched into La Valle with about l fiOO mm,
for the purpose of reducing the several small
towns on the roast which had embraced the
Independent cause.
The political rotations at Puerto Cahcllo
have not varied sinee our last intelligence
from that place. The. greatest inactivity
prevails—gm. La Torre will neither march
FROM ft TO .fANETRO.
Baltimore, Aug. 70.
Capt. Beard of the brig Amuzon, arrived
at this port yesterday in 35 days from St.
Salvador, states that (tie Governor of Rio
Janeiro had been brought to that place a
prisoner, on his way to Europe, having been
Urged with high treason in end
excit
III
dependent one. The Mug’s son had been
imprisoned by his orders. The indignation
ofthe people at St. Salvador was so much
excited at the transaction, that it was tho’t
summary justice would be performed on
the prisoner, w ithout the necessary form of
a trial.
Vio. have linen politely favored hy Capt.
Beard, w ith the “ .durora of lirrnil, of the
-Sd, 25lh, anil 26th of .hnir inclusive, re
ceived here yesterday hy the Amazon —
These papers contain the particulars of the
intelligence alluded to in the preceding pa
ragraph. We have been promised a trans
lation of them for our next paper.
[,American.
®'-T fp 3 advantage*. During C ft
culprit’s confinement lie is effectual) ,-
deprived ofthe ability to commit crime
and reflection may and probably ,| 0P g
tiring a few, perhaps very few, re
pentance nnd reformation ; this is ac .
tiing to icompliibed, and society exempted from
•xcitethe people of that place to rebel against j the demoralizing effects of frequent pub*
lie regular government and establish an iu- |j c executions. V
The most effectual mode however of
preventing the increase of crime, is
be found in (lie general diffusion of intel
ligence and religion. Remove the causa
of crime and it is prevented. Teaclx
men to know and feel the value of vir
tue and they will cease to be vicious •»
they will then feel their own responsibi
lity, reflect upon the remote as well as-
immediate consequences of theirconducl 1
Ai learn to entertain proper feelings to
wards theirfellow men. So great a blessing
as instruction, niliichinJUaiiachusettieveru
one can enjoy, ought not only to be offered
to those, who from poverty or other cir
cumstances arc peculiarly susceptible of
temptatiop, hut means ought to be found
to induce them to partake of it; and
most undoubtedly those, who by their
vices are incapacitated from performing
their duties, ns parents, to their chil
dren, should lie debarred the fatal pri
vilege of educating them, to become heirs
oftheir parents’ infamy and followers its
the downward path of shame.
DOMESTIC.
.'adowed Schools
4,167
BV THE PRESIDENT OK THE II. STATES
A PROCLAMATION.
Whereas the Congress ofthe U. States,
by joint resolution ofthe 2d day of March
Inst, entitled ” Resolution providing for the
admission of the state of Missouri into the
Union on a certain condition," did deter
mine and decree—« That Missouri should be
41 admitted into this Union on an equal foot-
“ iug with flip original states, in all resprets
“ whatever, upon the fundamental cnndili-
11 on, that the fourth clause ofthe twenty-
“ sixth section of the third article ofthe con-
" slitution submitted on the part of said
“ state to Congress, shall.never be construed
“ to authorize the passage of nnydaw, and
11 that no law shall he passed in conformitv
“ thereto, hy which any citizen of either of
“ the states of this Union shall tie excluded
“ from the enjoyment of any ofthe privile-
“ ges and immunities to w hich such citizen
“ is entitled uudhr the Constitution of the
“ United States : Provided, That the legis-
11 lature of the said state, hy a solemn pidi-
“ lionet, shall declare the assent of the said
“ s,a t R t° the raid fundamental condition,’
"nnd shall transmit to the President ofthe
United States on or before the fir3t Mon
day in November next, an authentic copy
of said act—upon the receipt whereof, the
President, hy proclamation, shall Announce
the fact: whereupon,and without any fur
ther proceeding on the part of Congress,
the admission of the said state into this U-
nion shall he considered as complete —
And whereas, by a solemn public act cf the
Assembly ofthe said state of Missouri, pas
sed on the twenty-sixth of June, in the pre
sent year, entitled “A Solemn public net, du-
“ daring the assent of this slate to thefunda-
“ mental condition contained in a resolution
“ passed hy the Congress of the U. States,
“ providing for the admission ofthe state of
*’ Missouri into the Union on a certain con-
“ dition ;” an authentic ropy whereof has
been communicated to me, it is solemnly
and publicly enacted nnd declared, that that
state has assented, and docs assent, that the
fourth clause of the twenty-sixth section of
the third article of the constitution of said
state “ shall never he construed to authorize
“ the passage of any law, nnd that no law
“ shall ho passed in conformity thereto, by
“ which any citizen of either of the United
11 States shaH he excluded from the eryoy-
“ meiTt of any ofthe privileges aod immuru-
“ ties to which such citizens are entitled un-
“ dcr the. constitution of the United States:”
Now, therefore, I, James Momiioe, Presi
dent of the United States, in pursuance of
the resolution of Congress aforesaid, have
issued this my’ Proclamation, announcing
the fact, tint the said state of Missouri has
assented to the fundamental condition re
quired by the resolution of Congress afore
said—whereupon the admission of the said
state of Missouri into the Union is declared
to be complete.
In testimony whereof,! have caused the
sea! of the United States of America
to he nfiixed to these, presents, and
[l. s.] signed the same with my hand. Done
at the City of Washington, the tenth
day of August, 1821 : and of the In
dependence of the said United State?
of America the fort v-sixth.
JAMES MONIiGE.
By the President:
JOHN QUINCY ADAMS,
Secretary of State.
moil TTIF. BOSTON PATRIOT.
Increase of Crimes.—Judging from the
facts, which a few months have develop
ed, ne may conclude that the increase
oferimes in our country, has been in an
against the Patriots nor resign tlje chief com- alarming proportion to its increase
lYiftnn—and. owing to the differences amon- ! 1 - 1
in a ml
the chiefs, there is great insubordination in
" j population. If thiicvilbe indeed extend-
( With Scholars, i 6.7,433, £ a revenue e/.CiUU,72.7)
Unendowed Day Schools » - . H-282
IVith Scholars 4/8 8-19
Sunday Schools fi|lf>2
With Scholars 450
This is followed hy a table, which shows'
that out of the grand total of children edu
cated in England, being 644,202, there are
821,764 w ho pay for their education, while
322,018 are educated 5rr of expense
WALES.
Population (1811) 6! I 718
Poor (1616) ........ 4lj’3l0
Endowed School* o ( |t,
(With scholars. 7,625, and a revenue nf£ 5,817 )
Unendowed Day Schools - . . r>72
With Scholars ....... 22,'ifi*
Sunday Schools '’• w ‘ 1
With Scholars 24,4<)H
The table which follows, state?, that'nut
ofthe total of children educated, 30,691,
there, are 17,283 who pay, while 13,311 are
instructed free nfexponse.
SCOTLAND.
Population (1811) 1,80.7,688
No return of Poor
Parochial Schools ....... p^o
(With .74,181 scholars, and a revenue e/£20,Sl 1.)
Endowed Schools . o|o
( I ith 10,176 scholars, and a revenue o/£t3,07li.)
Unendowed Day Schools .... 0,47.)
With Scholar* ...... H2.187
Sunday Schools ..... . . hot
With Scholars ........ 63,449
There are no other general table:. The
numbers of unendowed school?, and the
numbev of children attending them, vary
from year to year—hut there is every rea
son to believe that they are upon I he increase,
and have been n tig merited considerably since
1818, when most ofthe returns now digest
ed were made.
ritOS! TIIE PHILADELPHIA NATIONAL GAZETTE-
IMPERIAL CONSPIRACY.
Until we saw what were the votes of
the House of Commons, and what the
declarations of the Marquis of London
derry, 00 the oec niaa yf the. resolves
the army, and numbers of soldiers ‘nightly in « i,sclf ’ lhR qncstion becomes an in
desert.
Bolivar has nt length entered Cameras,
notwithstanding the efforts of Pereira, who is
said to have opposed jiis entrance nt the
head of 800 men in a very gallant manner.
A capitulation was agreed to between them,
hy virtue of which the latter was allowed to
embark on board a French vessel at Li
Guayra. and has been appointed a brigadier
general for his bravery manifested on many
occasions.
When Bolivar took possession ofCaraccas
and La Guayra, not a while person was to
be found in either of those once populous
places.
It i* reported that Bolivar Ins made over
tures to La Torre to enter into a new armis
tice, until the success of the mission to the
Spanish Cortes shall be known.
A (lent of Spanish merchantmen, consist
ing of a ship and nine brigs frnm Cadiz, pas
sed Curacoa onthel2tli ult. under convoy
of the Asia, of CO guns, and a frigate, on its
way to Vera Cruz.
A new Vice P.oy for the kingdom of St.
Fee, together with about fifty officers (hut no
troops) of different grades, to fill up vacan
cies iu the a*my, are said to be on board the
fleet.
Papers from Ornnocofo the 10th of May -
contain three proclamations of Gen. Bolivar
to the Patriot troops, which are in the usual
style of (hat nation.
Accounts, by way of Jamaica, slate that
the Columbian flotilla of 39 gun-boats, un-
dorCoI. Padilla, had entered the harbor of
Carthagena on the 4th of May—and would
doubtless suerecd in the reduction of that
place. The Royalists had made a sortie,
but were repulsed by the Patriots.
05“° The Columbian government has
guaranteed the payment ofthe debts of Sir
Gregor McGregor, contracted upon the
faith, and fnr the benefit, of that government.
Accounts have been received at Santa
Martha confirming the intelligence hereto
fore received of the capture of Lima b v Lord
G :7liraBo ard Gen. San Mrrfm.
teresling ono, how its farther extension
shall be checked ? If crimes are rapid
ly multiplying how is society to be pro
tected ? Are we to look for our reme
dy, in the revision of our criminal code,
and shall wc increase its rigor and de
out severity with an "nsparing hand ?—
This we know i« with some n favorite
plan, & the rehnrk is often made nnd re
peated, that society will never he safe,
till it adopt the hanging system. YVe
must confess, that wc are not prepared
to assent to this doctrine and cannot be
lieve, thatit would either accomplish the
prevention ofcrim", or produce any last
ing benefit to society. If we appeal to
experience for proof of the efficacy and
expediency nfa severe criminal code, wc
shall find in Great Britain, where the
commission of crimes is very frequent,
that the punishments and penalties of
their commission arc excessively se
vere.* The inevitable result of thi«
sort of severity is to defeat its own ob
ject ; it at once makes him, who is templ
ed by want or passion to the violation of
law, desperate and reckless of all conse
quences.
YVc have, as yet, seen nothing advanc
ed to shake our Faith in u penitentiary
syntem. It has, it is true, its imperfec
tions : prisoners may and do escape ; the
object of their imprisonment too is often
defeated ; their reformation is not effect
ed, nnd. they return to society, as unfit to
enjoy its blessings, as before their con
finement. The system however has
* tn the nutnmnal circuit oi 1820, in four
counties only, out ot fifty-three, comprising
England nnd (Vales, one hundred and twenty-
three persons were condemned und left for cxec’u-
f-oit.
BOTTA S AMERICAN REVOLUTION.
FROM T1IF. NORTH AMERICAN REVIEW.
Perhaps tho most effectual and most a-,
greeable mode of giving our readers an idea
of the translator’s style, will he to make a
few extracts from the work, and we shall se
lect passages, which may shew at the same*
time Mr. Botta’s talent for description, tho r
we must choose not the best, but such as.
can be included within the limits assigned to
this article. The sea fight between Paul
JonPBnnd Captain Pearson in 1779 is de
scribed with great spirit.
“ Paul Jones, n Scotchman by birth, but
engaged in the service ofthe United States,
had established his cruise at first in the sens
of Ireland, and afterwards in those of Scot
land where he was waiting for an opportuni
ty to make some prize, or, according to liis
practice, to land upon some point of the
coast in order to sack the country. His flo
tilla was composed ofthe Bonhomme Rich
ard of forty gur.s, the Alliance of thirty-six—
both American ships—the Pallas, a French
frigate, of thirty-two in the pay of Congress,
wish two other smaller vessels. He fell in
with a British merchant fleet, on its return
from the Baltic, convoyed hy Capt. Pear
son, with the frigate Serapis of 44 guns, and
the Countess of Scarborough, -of 20.
“ Pearson had no sooner perceived Jones,
than he Imre down to engage him, while the
merchantmen endeavored to gain the coast.*.
The American flotilla formed to receive him..
The two enemies joined battle at about se
ven in the evening, with great resolution,
and the conflict was supported on both sides
with equal valor. The Serapis bad the ad
vantage of metal and manoeuvre—to obviate
which, Jones took the resolution to fight her
closer, -lie advanced till the two frigates
were engaged yard to yard, and their sides
so near that the muzzles of their guns came
in contact. In this position they continued
to fight fom eight in the evening till ten, with
an audacity bordering on frenzy. But'tlie.
artillery ofthe Americans was no longer ca
pable of producing much effect. The Rich
ard having received Severn! heavy shot be-,
tween wind and water of her lower batteries,
and two or three of her upper guns had burst
—to the destruction of those who served
them. Jones, at length, had only three left
that could he worked, and he employed,
them against the masts of the hostile frigate.
Seeing the little impression made by chain-
shot, lie resorted to another mode of attack.
Ho threw 11 vast quantity of grenades and.
fire-works on board the British frigate. But
his own now admitted tdie water on all sides,
and threatened every moment to go to the
bottom. Gome of tiis officers having per
ceived it, asked him if lie would surrender ?
“ No,” he answered them in a tremendous
tone, and continued to push the grenade.s.—
The Serapis was already on fire, in several
places—the English could, with difficulty,
extinguish the flames. Finally, they caught
a cartridge, which, in an instant, fired all the
others with a horrible explosion. All who
stood near the helm were killed, and all the..
cannon of that part were dismounted.—
Meanwhile, Pearson wns not disheartened—
he ordered his people to hoard. Paul Jones
prepared himself to repulse them. The
English in jumping on hoard him, found the-
Americans ready to receive them on the
point oftheir pikes—they made the host of
their way back to their own vessel. But
during this interval, the fire had communi
cated itself from the Serapis to f he. Bonliom-
me Richard, nnd luftli were a prey to the
flames. No perifc could shake these despe
rate men. The night was dark, the cor. bat-
ants could no longer see each other but by
the blaze of the conflagration, nnd through
dense volumes of smoke, while the sea was
illuminated afar. At this moment the Ame
rican frigate Alliance came up. Amidst the
001151*100 she discharged her broadside into
tile Richard, and killed a part of her remain
ing defenders. A? sunn as she discovered
her mistake, she fell with augmented fury
upon the Serapis. Then the valiant Eng
lishman seeing a great part of his crew eith
er killed or disabled, his artillery dismount
ed, his vessel dismasted, and quite enveloped
in flames, surrendered. All joined to extin
guish the fire, and at length it was accom
plished. Tho efforts made to stop the nu
merous leaks of the Richard proved less
fortunate—she sunk tho next morning.—•
Out of 375 men that were aboard the vessel,
son wore, kilted or wounded. Tha Englisn
Ind lint forty nine killed, and their wounded
amounted to nn more than 68. History,
perhaps, offers no example of a rencounter
more fierce, obstinate and sanguinary.—
During this time, the Pallas had attacked tho
Countess of Scarborough & had captured her,
not however without a stubborn resistance^
After a victory so hard earned, so deplorable,
J p 'ues wandered with his shattered vessels for
some days, at the mercy ofthe winds, in the
north sea. He Anally made his way good on
the 6th of October, into the waters of tho
Texel.”—pp. 112-114.
TI10 account of the battle ofthe Cowpens
between Morgan and Tarleton is alsu highly"
animated and graphic.
“ Tarleton, after having passed with equal
celerity and good fortune the rivers Euoree
and Tiger, presented himself upon the banks
of the Pacolet, Morgan retreated thence
forthwith, and Tarleton set himself to pur
sue him. He pressed him hard. Morgan
felt how full of danger was become the pas
sage of Broad river, in the presence of so en
terprising an enemy a? now hung upon his