- ‘wilc'~"®otouial sierra“!

COLONIAL LIBEL LAW. (From the London Colonial Gazette.)

[The following article is from the Morning Herald of Tues- day last. We congratulate the colonies that, in the task we have imposed upon ourselves, we have already gained so powerful an auxiliary. Surely the otherjournals of the mo- ther country, metropolitan and provincial, will not hesitate to follow the Herald's example, and demand justice for their colonial brethrenj

“Now that Lori Campbell has effected some improvement in the libel law of England, his lordship would do good ser- vice by turning his attention to the condition oftbe law on that subject in our colonies. Party spirit runs so high in many of those dependencies, and violentlangnage is so much the order oftbe day amongst their journals, officials are brought into such constant collision with the press, and the judical and legislative functions are so continually and per- nicioust confounded, that a general revision oftbe Colonial

~, Libel Law is most desirable. At present the most frightful (punishments are occasionally inflicted iii our colonies for ibols; personal security and private rights are not unfra- quontly utterly disregarded; prosecutions are sometimes instituted to suppress public complaints,aiid in one case that has lately occurred, it was decided in a suit at the instance of the Crown Counsel, that to show two resolutions ofa pub- lic meeting, condemnatory of'the constitution .ofthe l’i'ovin< cial Government, to the conductor of a public journal, and to ask him to iiisert them as ailVertisements, amounted to the publication ofa libel, and a verdict of guilty was recor- ded. \ 7. “ The case to which we refer took-place in Prince Edward island, and is thu stated in the Colonial Gazette :” .f [Here the Herald quotes’the statement of Mr. M‘Lean’s trial from our last, and proceeds :——]

“Anything more monstrous than this in the shape ofpiib« lic libel has not occurred oflate years; it is, as the writer whose statements we have borrowed very truly says, to make a crime, in order to obtain a pretext for punishing a man; it is more; it is an attempt to prevent the feelings of the colo~ nists reaching the ears of those whose duty it is to redress them, and is almost a proof that the complaint which con- stitutes the libel is well founded. If this be a fair specimen oftbe general condition of the law in Prince Edward Island, no wonder there are agitation, riot and disorder in that colony. That Lord Stanley will countenance or sanction such injustice is not to be supposed for an instant; but he, must go further than censure the proceedings in ques- tio‘n,‘ and direct their-instant abandonment; bis lordship must move the enactment of such a law of libel as will protect then from any such prosecutions in future. in this t'nitanc’etheproceedingsforlibelwereaimcdatthesnppressiou of a disagreeable and unpalatable public opinion; but we greatly fear that many prosecutions for libel in our colonies are directed against the very existence—if not of the press generally—at least ofa particular journal. Thus for instance, there lies, we are informed by competent authority, in the royal puisT‘j of St. Lucia, the editor of a newspaper in that colonycala the Palladium; it will in England at least be scarcelybe ieved that be has now been rotting in goal iip- Wards three years! This gentleman was cast by an ex- ceeding y ill and incongruoust constituted court of law in damages notoriously far beyond his means, and the insolvent laws of the island are in such a state that, having now no property to surrender, in gaol he must remain for the re-

‘mllindcr ofhis life, unless the plaintifl‘relent, or the law and administration ofjustice in St. Lucia be reformed. The libel thus punished was, we are told, the mere transcript of Q letter, With a few alterations, which had appeared in ii Loti- otirnal. The confinement ofthis gentleman in prison fifl'v-‘t rec years, in a tropical colony remarkable for its gene-

ral unhealthiuess, is perfectly disgraceful to our boasted-

civilization; and, great as the trouble which this tering island has given the Colonial-office may we do trust that Lord Stanley will direct, if not his own, at least the Governor-General oftbe Windward island’s atten- tion to this case, and to the disci‘editahls conditioti of the law generally in St. Lucia.”

little pes- liave been,

The Novascotian of the 7th of August contains an able exposure oftbe grievances under which the inhabitants of this colony are groanintr. We have extracted enough oftbe article in question to convey to our readers a notion of the political pressure which bears upon the colonists, and shall next 'week lay before them the economical view of the guestion. Among the whole ofour neglected colonies, there is not one that has more just reason to raise its voice against the neglect of duty which characterises the Colonial—office than Prince Edward lsliind.-—Colonial Gazelle.

RAISING WHEAT WITH STRAVV. ‘ (From the New Brunswicker.) We observe in the last number 'of the Head Quarters a letter from L. Hnthewuy, Esq., on the raising of Wheat with straw, which we publish for the information of our Agricultural readers, and trust that the benefits resulting from this discovery will be improved by our banners. We have seen it stated in an English Journal, that excellent crops of Wheat have been raised on the most barren soil by means of straw, and it gives us much pleasure to add the testimony ofone of our own farmers, in favour oftliis method of rai- sing Wheat :--

“Having seen an account of raisin!r the seed with straw, ’3 eprin of 1842.

“1 ad a piece ofclayey ground ploughed for the purpose ofplantiiig potatoes oii,and mniiuriiig along side ofa field pre- wously planted With potatoes, and then prepared for Wheat. 0n the same day that l sowed my old potato ground, 1 had a ridge of the poor clay ground borrowed, and sowed with Wheat, which, Without harrowing, lcovered with straw at the rate of about one and a half tons per acre. At the tiiiie ofharvest, 1 found that my straw-covered Wheat was better than that which had been liari'owed in on the old potato fil‘f‘tluvctlh; ulldll am certain, if it had been hat-rowed in and worthiliaqgggéplgstinw-coveiing, it would scarcely have been

“As it had been asserted that it had been produced on grass, With a straw covering, 1 had the curiositv to examine the roots, and found that, under the straw, it biid rooted in the cold clay about two inches in depth, and in the old po- tato ground four inches deep. ‘

“CotiSIderitig the great quantity of \Vlieiit and Flour an- nually imported into this Province, it is oftbe first impor: tance to Agriculturists to raise their own Wheat; and l have no doubt, from the result of mv experiment, atid what I have seen elsewhere, that the poorest soils in the Province would annually produce a good crop of Wheat, if sowed in that manner and covered with straw. As straw in the mar- ket scarcely pays the expense of conveying ii there it must be conSidered a very cheap manure. And it the stiiaw pro- duced on an acre of wheat will cover the seed of an acre the ensuing year, New Brunswick may be wholly indepen- dentof any other Country for flour.

“FAiiMsiis’ try the experiment it ' ' . I — is cheap and iiii or- .tant. lhere publish the result, for the benefit of othpers. How far repeating

_ the wheat-coverinnr ofstraw wou ‘ - pare the sod for other crops, is yet toc be learned byldeii)p:- i'ience. The bright yellow straw has a powerful influence in attaining .the rays oftbe sun, and as dry straw may be conSIdered like charcoal, purely carbon, it rnav, on expo- sure to the atmosphere, acquire again that. proportion oi hydrogen and oxygen which it formerly possessed. and thereby become a very active manure. Al’lOlltl‘l‘ llt‘liti the Wheat crop should not be forgotten. that under 11m stigvy-ctliveriug, the'wheat will be entirely free from i\'§'1‘ll!~‘ 321d "Oi: seed. ltried covering some with old bay, bill it 0 answer as wellas the bright yellow straw.

“C. L. HATHEWAY.

Wheat by covering I ventured to try the experiment in the

AV'

“Maugerville, Sept. 1, 1843.”

IRISH VVIT.—ln Darlin ton the f0 ' n ' place between a further afid ah lrish tibiii’iiiiitiiii‘llziffifi-i-b‘iif siderably under the common stature :—-Irishman- Do’ on Want anybody for the harvest ?—-Farmer: Yes —il‘lSl‘llllTfll ' Will you take me ?—Farmer: No, ye’r too littlei—lrishman: Arrah, now, and do you out your corn at the top 12 .

9 French frigate

PAPERS BY THE flCflDIfl.

(From Willmer’s flmerican News Letter, Septemer 19, 1843.)

Last Thursday week the Queen and Prince Albert, accompanied by the Prince de Joinville, embarked on board the royal yacht at Treport, on their return to Eng- land, after nearly a week’s residence at the Clutteaii d’Eu. The royal yacht, escorted by the Pluton, Archi- medc and Napoleon, French war steamers, and -a British squadron ofsliips ofwar, arrived at Brighton on the same day, after it passage oflittle more than six hours. l'ler Ma- jesty and the Prince remained at Brighton till the follow- ing Tuesday, when they rte-embarked, with the inteiitlnn ofpaying a visit to the King oftbe Belgians at Ostend. Having passed the night ofi‘Walmer Castle (the residence of the Duke of Wellington, as Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports), the royal squadron stood out to sea early ilie next morning; and the illustrious voyagers, afi r a rough passage, arrived in good health and spirit at Osteml, where King Leopold, accompanied by his queen, awaited their arrival. The royal party is to visit Bruges, Ghent, Brussels, and other famous cities of the Nether- lands, all equally rich in historical recollections, and is not expected to return to England till towards the end of the present week.

The agitation in Ireland moves on at the usual pace. The weekly repeal rent has for some months past ex- ceeded £1000, but last week it fell to £735. This, how-

lcver, appears to have been ti manceuvre to increase We

nominal amount of the following week’s subscriptian for next day we fian the. acknowledgment of £500 from Philadelphia and £390 from Connaught. which will, of course, go to swell the siirn~total of the next announce- ment. The association have issued a countermianifesto to the Queen’s speech, addressed “ to the inhabitants of the countries subject to the British Crown,” and signed by Daniel O’Connell. It is an elaborate attack on the “ Saxon" government of lrclttiid, and is ordered to be printed on a broad sheet, and posted “ iii London, and B'ith, and Bristol, and higotieil Liverpool,” and else- where. The ministerial Standard stigmatises it as sedi- tious, presumes that the signature can bra substantiate/l, and hints that the [‘2 English judges, whom O’Connell, in moving its adoption, called “ as stupid a set offellows as be ever saw.” would be of opinion that its publication would subject its author to a few years’ imprisonment. The repealers are anxiously looking forward totbe.s- sembling of Dan’s mock parliament, to consist of3 0 members, each of whom is to bring £100 with him, and whose meeting is to constitute the ” next great step” to- Wnrds the obtainme‘nt of the grand object of their desires“ Meanwhile Government is evidently preparing for the worst. The most formidable military preparations are making throughout Ireland, in the evident anticipation of a coming struggle; and such is their extent, that, ac- cording to the Spectator, they caused some alarm in [he money market last week, which was evidenced by a re- action in the funds. _

The state of South Wales is not a whit less formidable, and to such a pitch has the agitation there arrived, that parties tiilk seriously of placing the. district under mili- tary law l Some days back aniattack was made. by the Rebeccsiitcs on a gate near Poutariliilais. They were 150 in number, and well armed. . Before their work was entirely completed the police attacked them in their turn, and after some firing the mob withdrew, leaving Rebecca' and six others prisoners. This check, however, instead of suppressing the popular discontent, seems to have caused it to blaze forth with ten-fold fury. Several gates have since been destroyed: and ii few days afteulm‘ attack was made on a turnpike called Heady gate, close to Pontardulais, and an old woman who kept it, aged 75, was wilfully shot dead on the spot. The thatch oftbe toll house had previously been set fire to, and when the old woman applied to her neighbours, for assistance to put it out, it was refitsed.’ An inquest was held on the body. The Medical men examined agreed in ascribing her death to the shots she had received; and yet thejury found that “ she died from effusion of blood on the clirst. butfrom what cause is to this jury unknown !” This verdict, given directly in the teeth oftbe evidence, has very naturally, created great alarm: and, indeed, the whole district seems to be in a most frightful state. Se- vetal incendiary fires have taken place on the property of an active magistrate named Chambers. One oftliese fires was in the very centre of the town of Llanelly. Middleton Hall, the seat ofanother iiiagislrate, named Adams, has also been attacked. The military Were sent for, but the messenger returned alone, bringing‘an intimation from the commanding officer that hismeu were so barrasscd by their day’s work as to be unfit for further duty. An attack has also been made on the house oftbe harbour-master oleauelly; and the Rebec- caites have entered the dwelling ofa wealthy farther, who acted as a sort of banker to the district, and eased him of £600. A grave has been dug in the park of Lord Dynevor, and an intimation given, that it is intend- ed for his son, Colonel Trevor, who, as an active magis- trate, is obnoxious to all the true children of Rebecca. The insurance oflices decline to grant policies on farm- ing stock; bands of marauders prowl the country, de- manding alms, and threatening the vengeance of “ ’BecCa” to all who refuse them ; and, in short, since the extraordinary verdict of Pontardulais, terror seems to have established an undisputed reign over the once proverbially peaceful people of South Wales.

The Erebus, Captain Ross, and the Terror, Captain Crozier, composang the Antarctic Expedition, which left England in 1839, have returned to this country, casting anchor at Woolwicli, on the 12ili instant. The Litrrtiry’ Gazette contains a long and interesting detail of the proceedings of the expedition, and concludes its account by stating that “ the acquisitions to natural bis- lory, geology, geography, but, above all, to the elucida- tion oftbe grand mystery of terrestrial magnetism, raise this voyage to a pre-eminent rank amongst the greatest achievements of British courage, intelligence, and enter- prize.”

The l'irist Indiaman Regular, Captain Carter, from London to Bombay, sprung a leak on the 8th July. in lot. 37 30 S., lot). 36 30 E. The passengers and crew left the vessel when her gunwalcs were under water, and took to the boats, and were next day picked up by the Cluopatra, and treats-d with the greatest The Queen Vicioria, aiioilir-r Indiamah. iiHItili‘li in Liverpool, has been totally wrecked 00' ' yin The captain was saved, but the first (lfiicel’,

"‘l'|;'s*l'. and nine seaiiieti, were drowned. H. M. F ‘l‘ilflllit‘. 16. has also been lost, of? Monte Video The crew are on their way home, to abide a court inat- tial.

The seamen of Liverpool are raising a subscription to establish a Sailors’ Home and Registry Office. It is said they have already collected £2600. An action is about to be commenced by Lord William Paget against Lord Cardigan for crim-con. This last-named noble- man has been again committing himself by the treat- ment of his officers. His regiment isat present station-

I kindness. ii'lliii

ii

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ed in Dublin. Father Mathew, after administering the pledge to 74,000 individuals in London, visited Nor- wich, Birmingham, and Liverpool, in which ~towus be was most favourably received. and made numerous pro- selytes, and has since returned to Ireland. Richard Dadd, the unhappy artist, wholately murdered his father in Kent, has been apprehended in France, where he attempted the life of a fellow-passenger in a diligence. He is evidently insane. A man residing at Hernosand,

in Sweden, has assassinated his wife, and seven childreul

out offline, with a razor and hammer. He has gchu himself up to justice, and states that fear ofiuability tog provide for their necessities drove him to the act. Alf Mossina, a public scaffolding, 110 feet high, erected for‘ the exhibition of fire-works, lately fell to the ground, precipitating with it fifteen workmen. Four died imme- diately, eight shortly after, and the lives ofthe remain- ing three are despaireil of. At Maisonfort, in France, a most extraordinary duel has taken place. Two gen- tlemen qiiarrelled at billiards. They cast lots which should first throw the red ball at the other’s head, and be whom fortune favoured threw it with such force and correct aim as to kill his adversary on the spot.

Smut—The party who overthrew Espartero appear to be utterly incapable of wielding the powar of which they dispossessed him, and the Ham's ofcivil war have again burst forth in this unhappy and disturbed country. The army has been in it great measure destroyed by the weeding out of officers disaffected to the ruling party, and by the disbanding of a large portion of the rank and file. The extreme liberal party are quite as dis- contented with their present rulers as they were with Espartero, and from the various accounts received from the provinces it is evident that the whole country is hastening towards a state ofinsurrectiou and anarchy.

The Emperor of Russia arrived at Berlin on the 16th instant, on a visit to the King of Prussia.

On Tuesday, the daughter ofVictor Hugo and her husband were drowned in the river Seine. .

There are 2441 uninhabited houses in Sheffield, and 619 mills and warehouses to let, the amount of rental oti which the rate is made being £17,922 Ss. 6d.

The Rebeccaites in one night raised three pillars, built of stone, 27 feet high, on one of the hilltops, about a mile from the road, in the neighbourhood of Llanga- dock, in commemoration oftbeir success. v

The Government ruin contract for 100,000 gallons was taken last week by an individual house, at the rate of 1s.6d. per gallon. The qualities are one-half East India and one-half West India spirit, of proof strength. I

The French Naval station in the China seas is to consist of the Cleopatre frigate, of 5'2 guns ; the frigate Syretie, also of52 guns; and the corvettes Sabine, of 30; Aleineiie, of 30 g and Victorieiise, of24.

There has been for some time past a considerable emigration to America going on from the port of London ; the emigrants are chiefly of the better class, very few steerage passengers being amongst the number. One ofthese ships cleared out oftbe Katherine Dock yesterday week, with 50 cabin passengers.

The Lords Commissioners oftbe Admiralty have is- sued orders that from henceforward the Madeira, West Indian, Mexican, and Mediterranean mails are to lie embarked and landed at Southampton, instead of at Falmoutl‘, by which the steam-ships will be allowed to prpceed to their destinations, and the delays that have hitherto occurred will be avoided. .

MURDER on Loan Noasuav.--—-Tbe examination of Peter Dolan, charged with the murder of the late Earl of Norbury, has terminated in his committal to abide his trial. by Sir Nicholas Fitzsiiiion, at the next assizes for King’s County, at 'l‘ullamore. He has not made any confession ofguilt; on the contrary, he persists in, say- ing lie is innocent, and has given a plausible account of iimsclffrom the day of the murder, which he recollects, up to the present time. He admits that lie was in Dur- row on the day oftbe. fatal deed.

ARRIVAL on THE HIBERNIA AND GREAT WESTERN STEAM Sums—Great interest existed on the subject of the arrival of these two splendid vessels on their last voyage. It will, iii doubt, be remembered by our rea- ders, that the Grmt Wrslorn sailed from New York on the afternoon oftbe 31st August, and the Hibernia fro:ii Boston on the following day—twenty-fonr hours later. Taking into consideration the difference in distance and other circumstances, the start was, as nearly as could be, equal. Well, now for the result. The Iiibn'nio reached the Mersey at half-past one o’clock on the inorii- lllQ‘Of the 13th; andtlie Great lVestcrn ill half-pas' four o’clock the following morning; so that the Hibernia was the victor by exactly twenty-scum hours. The Great Wrstern's friends account for the length of her passage by having been supplied with inferior coal.

Loss or This STEAMSHIP Missouai.—\Ve regret to have to announce the total destruction, by fire, of the splendid American steam-frigate the Missouri, while at anchor in this bay, on Saturday week. She had the Hon. Mr. Cusbing on board, proceeding to Alexandria, en route to China, as Minis- ter. The alarm was first given at eight o’clock precisely, and was immediately followed by such a burst offiaiue from the engineer’s store-room, as to lead to the belief that it ori- ginated among the oil and spirits. Every exertion was made to subdue it, and the large pumps were instantly put into operation ; but the progress of the flames was so rapid, that it became necessary to flood the two magazines, which was done so effectually, that it was not until twenty minutes after three, a. m., that any explosion took place, aiid then not to an extent to endanger the shipping in the bay, the nearest of which had already been removed by the exertions oftbe acting captain of the port. Assistance was promptly sent from the Malabar, under the personal superiiiteiidcnce of'Sir George Sartorius; and the Locust got up her steam and ran alongside the Missouri, with the view of towing her into deeper water, or rendering any other aid; but, unfortunately, she had already grounded, which rendered it impossible to scuttle her. As soon as the fire broke out, the governor ordered the Waterport gate who opened, and proceeded himself to the wharf, from whence he despatclied two en- gines under charge oftbe artillery and sappers; but in spite of the united efforts oftbe crew oftbe lilissouri and her friendly auxiliaries, the progress of the flames, which at one time appeared to be got under, was such, that at length Captain Newton was forced to abandon his ship, after uni— moniug a council of his own officers and those British offi- cers about him, who unanimously decided there was no hope of'saving the ship. The order was then given by Captain Newton for all to quit the ship, which was done immedi- ately by the crew taking the water, and receiving the ready assistance of boats sent, in anticipation of‘the exigency, from the Malabar, and from the vessels in the harbour. Such was the state of the ship, when the officers and crew left her, about a quarter past eleven o’clock. We are happy to add, that the officers and crew are believed to be all saved. His Excellency the American Minister. after securing his papers of importance, returned to the ship, and zealously united his exertions to those other officers. The line wall was crowded iintila very late hour with spectators, anxiously watching the fate oftbe noble ship. The sight was awfully