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ENGLISH MISCELLANIES.
IT will be observed that we have, in our leading arti
ele, treated on the "Amelioration of the condition of the
Negroes," and argued the policy of their emancipation in
a moral and political point of view. We here subjoin a
few remarks on the advantages that would result to the
commerce of this country, were the Slave Trade totally
suppressed.
WITH regard to the produce of the West India Islands
it may be obtained at half its price, either from South
America, or the East Indies; that is, we may have sugar
raised, by, free labour, to a boundless extent; and which
will not, we think, be less palatable to Englishmen, be-
cause it is not sown in sorrow, and reaped in tears.
THE West Indies have long been stationary as regards
the consumption of our manufactures. The whole po-
pulation of all these Islands (Slave population and White)
does not exceed one million. Here, then, are limits be-
yond which consumption cannot extend; and as to any
augmentation of the people, unless by the renewal of the
Slave traffic, it is impossible. But will any one contend
that the consumption of sugar might not be trebled in
this country if it were cheaper?--Assuredly it might.
But it never will be cheaper, so long as the Slave system
lasts; on the contrary, the Planters are constantly spe-
culating on an increased price, and are indifferent as to
the quantity: the result must therefore be, that the price
will yearly advance, and the labour of the people of
England will be taxed to pay, an enormous price for a
commodity, which is monopolized to support a system
which every honest and humane man must condemn.
But let us suppose that reason and sound policy pre-
vailed over selfishness and folly, and threw open the su-
gar trade to the cheapest market. This market would
either be South America or the East Indies. In both
these countries sugar, which is the corn of the tropical
climates, might be raised to almost any extent. In South
America, there is a population of about twenty-one mil
lions; and in the East Indies, nearly one hundred millions..
The inhabitants of these countries desire nothing more
than a basis of Exchange, and will take our manufac-
tures, our woollens, cottons, silks, hardware, iron, furni-
ture, fancy goods,--in short, all that we can work up by
machinery or hands, in payment for the produce of their
soil. The gross value of the consumption of sugar in
England, at present, is about five millions annually. If
it could be obtained cheaper, it would be as largely con-
sumed as salt; and, instead of five, would increase to
twenty millions. What an immense field would this
open to the commerce of Great Britain! What an in
crease of all the comforts and luxuries of life!
We have already seen what are the advantages of a
free trade in our recent intercourse with South America.
[It appears that fifteen years ago, this trade was little.
more than a system of smuggling, and amounted only to
a few thousands. It has now reached the astonishing
amount of six million three hundred thousand pounds
annually; which is only half a million short of the value
of our commerce with the United States of North Ame
rica. And the reader will observe, that this trade has
increased to its present extent, notwithstanding we have
excluded, by high duties, the staple produce of these
provinces, namely, their sugar, &c. What point then
would this commerce not reach, if we carried it on freely
and liberally? One more word before we finish. A
termination some time or another, must be put to the
West India Slave Trade. The slaves on board this
Atlantic galley must either be loosened from their chains,
or they will rise in mutiny against their masters. It
would be humanity to the planters themselves to put an
end to it as speedily as possible.
KEAMBLE AS A METHODIST PREACHER.--In John Kem
ble's younger days, Watson, the manager of the Chelten
ham theatre, was a near ally of his, and both belonged
to a strolling company. They lived, or rather, by
Watson's account, starved together. At one time, in
Gloucestershire, they were left pennyless, and, after con
tinued vicissitudes, Watson assured me, such was their
distress, they were glad to get into a turnip-field, and
make a meal of its produce uncooked: and, he added, it
was while regaling on the raw vegetable that they hit
upon a scheme to recruit their finances; and a lucky
turn-up it turned out. It was neither more nor less than
that John Kemble should turn Methodist Preacher, and
Watson perform the part of Clerk. Tewkesbury was
their first scene of action; they drew together in a field
'a numerous congregation, and Kemble preached with
such piety and so much effect, that positively a large
Scollection rewarded his labours. This anecdote, Kemble
himselftold me, was perfectly true. Kelly's Reminiscences.
NORTIBERN EXPEDITION.---The North Pole Expedition
under Captain Parry, will be accompanied by the William,
2Iarris transport, Lieut. J. W. Pritchard. for the purpose
of carrying out propelling wheels, to be used on the ships
among the ice. It is now intended that another trans
port shall proceed at once with canoes and various neces
earies for Captain Franklin's part of the service, which
canoes are to be forwarded to the mouth of Mackenzie's
river, to which spot Captain Franklin will proceed early
in the ensuing year, to endeavour to penetrate from that
spot westward to Behring's Straits-i. e. making the
North Pole passage. The canoes are of a light descrip
*tion, but as they are to be carried over the projecting
-headlands and promontories, they are to be inflated when
used. Captain Lyon will endeavour, by the use of
similar cpnoes, to trace the coast from Repulse Bay to
•Copper-mine river, whilst Captain Parry will again pass
Melville Island renew his endeavour to make a success
ful passage thence to Behring's Straits, and thus accom
plish the great object of the Expedition. Every care
will be taken to prevent similar privations to those
experienced by the former land expedition.
LORD NELSON.-The colossal statue of this distin
guished hero, which flanks the entrance of the Choir in
St. Paul's Cathedral, is at present enveloped in scaf
folding, raised for the purpose of enabling two eminent
Italian artists to complete a cast of the figure in plaster
of Paris, which, when finished, is destined by Government
to adorn the Painted Hall of Greenwich Hospital. A
similar cast is, it is said, to be afterwards taken from
the monument of Lord Howe, in the South transept, for
the same purpose.
THE interest we take in steam navigation induces us
to notice the projected voyage of the Superb from the
Clyde to Naples. She is to sail very shortly. A corres-
pondent in the west informs us, that the Superb does not
return to this country, but is to ply between Naples and
Marseilles; and he adds, that in the course of the sum-
mer another steam vessel will probably leave Glasgow to
ply in the Mediteranean. The Superb is to touch at
Cork, Lisbon, and Gibraltar to take in coals, and will
perform the whole voyage by steam if the wind is unfa-
vourable. The introduction of steam navigation in the
Mediterranean will be a great accommodation to travel
lers, and when its advantages are properly understood,
we have no doubt that the passage from London to
Alexandria and Constantinople, by steam ships, will be
as common as that from Leith to London.
ON Tuesday week a number of persons attended at the Pa
rish Church of Lancaster to witness the novel sight of a female
doing penance. The individual was Hannah Clough, a pri
soner confined in the gaol for debt. from the Ecclesiastical
Court of Chester. In consequence of this recantation she is
set at liberty; otherwise she would have been confined for life.
THE head of the statue of Juno belonging to the Parthenon
at Athens, has been found. Though rather damaged, it is yet
in a better state of preservation than the Elgin marbles,
AN inquest was held on Tuesday, at the Sluice-house,
Hornsey, on the body of Miss PhwYwbe Darfit, a young fe
male of respectable family, who had drowned herself a
day or two before, near the New River-head, Hornsey.
It appeared that the deceased young lady had mostly
lived with her family, and was of the most unblemished
reputation. She had formed a very ardent attachment
for a young man, who for a very considerable time pro
fessed the warmest esteem, and paid her the most assi
duous attention; but, from some cause or other not ex
plained, a very sudden alteration took place in his senti
ments, and he gradually discontinued his visits--finally
absenting himself altogether. This conduct took such
an effect upon the poor girl, who in vain endeavoured to
obtain an explanation, that she lost the power of reason,
and became distracted. In this state, she called on
Thursday last on some of her friends, and in language of
incoherency, complained bitterly of the neglect of her
lover, and said, "Oh! may he never feel the pangs of
slighted love!"
THE following extract of a private letter, dated Rome,
March 20, contains some further particulars respecting
the melancholy death of Miss Bathurst:-
"The body of Miss Bathurst, Lord Aylmer's piece,has
not yet been found. The cause of this lamentable acci
dent, which has. deprived our gay circles' of one of its
most accomplished and brilliant ornaments, was as fol
lows :-the road on the banks of the Tiber beyond the
Pente Mole was so narrow and bad, that the party, who
were on horseback, were obliged to return. Lord Ayl
mer took hold. of Miss Bathurst's bridle to assist her in
turning round: but at .that moment the. horse backed
and fell into the river with the unfortuate young lady.
Besides Lord Aylmer, a young Englishman and a servant
of the French Ambassador, leaped into the water. Divers
boats, and every kind of succour were immediately enm
ployed, but it was too late. In this place the Tibetr is
winding and its waters rapid. This young lady, who is
a niece of Lord Bathurst, was 17 years of age, and was
the charm of all her friends by her beauty and cultivated
mind."
fNEXAMPLED ATROCITY.
]MARY-LE-BONE FFICE.--TWO persons, of the name
of Leyser, were brought before the Magistrate, charged
with having practised a series of the most horrible cru
elties on their children. From the evidence it appeared,
that the neighbourhood had been in a state of uproar
and alarm from conflicts between the prisoners, and from
the cries of the children, which were six and four years
of age. Their practice was, it appears, to keep the
children tied neck and heels in a closet, without food, for
days together i and when they implored the mother for
some, she beat them with a stick, and sometimes with an
iron rod.-At one time, a person who had been attracted
to the house in consequence of the children's cries, saw
the prisoners torturing them by means of large pins tied
to whipcord. An elder girl of fifteen years of age was,
when at home, also subject to the same gross ill-usage,
but succeeeded in rescuing her brother from the male
prisoner, who, when furiously intoxicated, was beating
him with a poker. By taking him into the street, he
exposed the prisoner's cruelty to the heighbours. On
the return home of the elder girl, she was seized by her
mother, who, incredible as it may appear,. actually assisted
while the poor girl was criminally abused. The prison
ers were held to bail, and ordered to give 48 hours notice.
The indignation excited against them was very great,
and it was found necessary to remove them privately to
prison, as a crodwd assembled who seemed determined to
take summary vengeance on them.
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