enforce those regulations of the Hindoo code itself, which tended to diminish the number of sacrifices, by enacting that no force or undue means shall be used with regard to the victims, and that none shall be permitted to devote themselves to the flames under sixteen years of age. The papers which he wished to have laid on the table, would show that those regulations were little attended to in practice. He concluded with moving" for copies of extracts of all communications received from India relative to the burning of females on the funeral piles of their deceased husbands."-Mr. Bathurst would not object to the production of the papers; but deprecated any legislative interference with the religious prejudices of the Hindoos. It was a mistake to suppose that the prohibitions of the Mahometan, French, Danish, and Dutch Governments had diminished the number of female sacrifices. They had only driven the victims to other districts for the purpose of self-immolation. The British Government had done every thing in its power for the purpose of enforcing the regulations of the Hindoo code, and the effect, it was apprehended, was rather injurious than otherwise, as it furnished a pretext to the Brahmins to impress on the minds of their devotees, that, within the bounds of those regulations, the practice was lawful and justifiable. Certain it was, that since the enforcement of those regulations the number of victims had doubled. In 1815 the number was 371; in 1816, 442; in 1817, 707; and in 1818, 1,339. In Calcutta alone the number was, in 1815, 153; in 1816, 289; in 1817, 442; in 1818, 544. It must, however, be observed, that this measure was, in some degree, to be ascribed to the effects of an epidemic disorder which had deprived many women of their husbands. some general observations on this horrid custom, the motion was agreed to. After June 21. Lord William Bentinck brought forward a motion relative to the affairs of Sicily, calling for the interference of the British Government on behalf of the Sicilians. The motion was opposed by the Marquis of Londonderry, and supported by Sir J. Mackintosh. On a division it was negatived by a majority of 69 to 35. June 22. Several Resolutions were moved by Mr. Rice, the Member for Limerick, relative to the conduct of the Chief Baron of the Exchequer in Ireland. Captain O'Grady, son to the Chief Baron, replied; and (the House being in a Committee), at the suggestion of the Marquis of Londonderry, it was ordered, that the Chairman should report progress and ask leave to sit again on Tuesday, in order to GENT. MAG. Suppl. XCI. Part I. H afford time to the House to deliberate on the course to be adopted. The Metropolitan Police Bill went through the Committee.. NAVIGATION Laws. June 25. Mr. Wallace addressed the House on the subject of some proposed measures, arising out of the first Report of the Committee on Foreign Trade. The first measure he should have to propose would be a measure of general repeal of many restrictive acts connected with, and arising out of, the Navigation Laws. The Hon. Member then proceeded to recapitulate the objects of his Bill, and concluded by moving a Resolution, that it was the opinion of the Committee, that the Chairman should move for leave to bring in a Bill, to repeal certain ancient Statutes respecting Trade and Commerce; and also for leave to bring in a Bill to regulate and explain the Navigation Laws. After some conversation on the impolicy of the existing statutes, the resolutions were agreed to, and leave given to bring in the Bill. June 26. Mr. Wilberforce moved an Address to His Majesty, stating the continuance of the Slave Trade on the part of Foreign Powers; and praying for the interference of his Majesty with those Powers to put a period to that nefarious traffick; and in the case of Portugal, if a remonstrance was unavailing, that it would be necessary to prohibit the importation of any Colonial produce from that Country as long as she should continue a traffic that, at the Congress of Vienna, had been reprobated by the voice of Europe. The Address was agreed to without a division. June 27. Mr. Hume, after various postponements, brought forward his motion on the reduction of the Expenditure. The Hon. Gentleman went over the same ground he had formerly trod, when the different Estimates for the various branches of the public service had been submitted to the House, and recapitulated the arguments he had then employed. He concluded by moving an Address to the Crown for an enquiry into the collection and management of the Public Revenue, and for the reduction of the Standing Army. The Motion was however negatived; and an amended Address, proposed by Mr. Baukes, expressive of the satisfaction the House felt at the steps of retrenchment by his Majesty's directions, and praying that the system should be continued, that the expenditure of the several Government departments should be revised, and every possible retrenchment be adopted, and especially that a reduction in the Army should 634 Proceedings in Parliament.Foreign Oecurrences. [XCI. should take place to the utmost extent, was carried by a majority of 80. June 29. The Appropriation Bill proceeded a stage with very little discussion. The Extra Post Bill was carried through FOREIGN SPAIN. a Committee by a very small majority; the numbers being, for the Report, 33— against it 30. Mr. Martin's Bill for preventing cruelty to animals, was read the third time, and passed, by a majority of 40 to 16. OCCURRENCES. In the internal affairs of Spain little of moment has occured. Merino still eludes pursuit, but is said to be reduced, with his adherents, to the most destitute condition. The curate of Roa, one of his friends and partizans, has been taken prisoner by the Empecinado. A party of freebooters, consisting of about 50 men, supposed to entertain similar designs with Merino, had appeared in the vicinity of Cadiz. Nothing is stated, however, that can render doubtful the general tranquillity of the kingdom. NAPLES. The King of Naples has given what he is advised to call a "Constitution" to his people. The chief features of it are that the King chooses the national representatives in the first place; and, in the next place, gives pensions to such of them as (by their zeal for liberty no doubt) shall merit such proofs of his royal favour. Advices from Naples of the 14th June mention, that the Government has given orders for the immediate sale of the national property devoted to the extinction of the debt created by the last loan with Messrs. Rothschild, the produce to be placed at the disposal of the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund. The new loan was quoted at 71 in Naples, in much request, and few sellers. TURKEY. Letters from Vienna of the 16th June communicate intelligence from Bucharest of the 3d, with further details of the state of the Greek insurrection in that quarter. The horrible cruelties committed by the Turks on entering Bucharest, when all the Greeks they could succeed in capturing were impaled alive, have awakened a spirit in the adjoining provinces of Bosnia and Servia, which may still find full employment for the Turkish army in the Northern provinces, and even raise the sinking fortunes of Ypsilanti. The Servians are said to have attacked and destroyed, on the Danube, between Porowitz and Kladora, a Turkish battalion of 800 men, who were on their march to join the main army. Ypsilanti, it is stated, has entrenched himself at Tergovitz, where he was daily joined by large numbers of recruits, irritated by the barbarities and depredations of the Turks. Near Bucharest, which is the head-quarters of the Turkish army, a force of 22,000 men, of whom one half are cavalry, is encamped. They only wait the arrival of Jussuf, Pacha of Ibrail, from Jassy, to attack the main body of the Greeks. A letter from Smyrna says, that the Turks have driven Professor Rambas (a most excellent man) from Scio, and broken up his establishment for 500 boys; and they have also broken up the school upon the British system at Smyrna, which was formed after the benevolent W. Allen left Smyrna, for 150 boys. May this triumph of ignorance be only temporary! Two French vessels have arrived at Marseilles from Smyrna, which had been boarded by Greek ships in search of Turkish property. This act had given great offence to the French, and two line-of-battle ships and five frigates have been ordered to proceed from Toulon to the Archipelago. A Dutch squadron has sailed for the same destination. RUSSIA. According to accounts from Petersburg of the 26th May, the Emperor was expected to arrive there in three days from that date. All the guards had at that time quitted it; and the artillery of the guard had begun its march. It is said that these troops are to be encamped near Witepsk. The Government of Minsk is stated to have received orders to make arrangements for the arrival of 80,000 men, who are to be quartered in that province. It is difficult to account for this extraordinary bustle. SOUTH AMERICA. Advices had been received from Vera Cruz, of the termination of the insur rection in Mexico, by the voluntary surrender of its leader Iturbide, who accepted the amnesty that was offered. Chili Gazettes to the middle of February contain some interesting details of the events in Peru, of which the fol lowing is the substance :-The Chilian troops troops occupied the coast a short distance from Callao northward, and their General, San Martin, to judge from his dispatches, had his head-quarters sometimes at Huacho, sometimes at Supe, and sometimes at Huaura. His last dispatch is dated from Retes, two leagues from Chancay, the 4th January. He therein communicates a dispatch received from the Marquis de Torre Tale, Governor of Truxillo, by which it appears that the Governor himself had favoured a revolution for independence, and that the whole coast from Callao to Guayaquil had declared for that cause. The desertion amongst the royalist troops, officers as well as men, is stated to be very great. The whole battalion of Numantia, 800 strong, in deserting to San Martin, forced even their Spanish officers to keep up with them, in a painful march of 24 hours, without rest. Col. Arenales had been ordered by San Martin to proceed with a detachment from Pisco towards the mountainous districts, to raise the country, leave officers, arms, and ammunition, and after having described three-fourths of a circle round him, to join headquarters on the Northern coast. This officer met with no opposition; the few troops he found either fled or surrendered, and the inhabitants received their visitors with open arms. After passing through Huamanges, Huancavelia, Tarma, and Jauja, where he appointed new authorities, he learnt that 1200 men, under Brigadier O'Reilly, had been sent by the Viceroy of Lima to intercept him, and that they were strongly posted at the mine of Pasco. Though he had only 920 men, he attacked and defeated them on the 6th December, after a short conflict, so completely, that not a man is supposed to have escaped; 32 officers were sent prisoners to headquarters. Colonel Campino marched as far to the Northward as Huaras, where he made a detachment, under Colonel Lantano, prisoners. Lantano afterwards took rank under San Martin. A set of letters are published, in which Lord Cochrane and General San Martin complain of the conduct of the Captain of the Hyperion, for having allowed a British vessel to break the blockade of Callao, and refusing to receive a letter from Lord Cochrane except by night. The Gazettes also give us the correspondence between the French Admiral and the Secretary of State for Chili. The former assigns the object of the squadron's appearance in the Pacific to be the extension of hydrographic knowledge, the exercise of the seamen, and the protection of French commerce, professing the most perfect neutrality, and offering to transmit to his Government any communications which the Supreme Director may choose to make. This offer is, however, declined, as the Envoy in Europe is charged to acknowledge the kind expressions conveyed by the French Admiral. DOMESTIC OCCURRENCES. INTELLIGENCE FROM VARIOUS PARTS OF THE COUNTRY. Disinterment of Mr. Baskerville.-It is in the recollection of many of the inhabitants of Birmingham, that Mr. John Baskerville, celebrated for the improvements he made in letter founding, was buried, by an express direction contained in his will, in his own grounds, in a mausoleum erected for the purpose previous to his death. Upon his death the ground was sold, and passed into the hands of John Ryland, esq. and from him to his son, S. Ryland, esq. who a few years ago demised it to Mr. Gibson for a long term, who has since cut a canal through it, and converted the remainder into wharf land. Soon after Mr Ryland became proprietor, the mausoleum, which was a small conical building, was taken down, and it was rumoured, we remember, at the time, that the body had been removed. This proves to be unfounded, for it appears that a short time before Christmas last, some workmen who were employed in getting gravel disco e vered the leaden coffin. It was, however, immediately covered up, and remained untouched until Friday last, when, the spot having been recently let for a wharf, it became necessary to remove the coffin; and it was accordingly disinterred, and deposited in Messrs. Gibson and Son's warehouse, where we were allowed, with some few others, to inspect it. The body was in a singular state of preservation, considering that it had been under ground about 46 years. It was wrapped in a linen shroud, which was perfect and white, and on the breast lay a branch of laurel, faded, but entire, and firm in texture. There were also leaves, and sprigs of bay and laurel in other parts of the coffin and on the body. The skin on the face was dry, but perfect. The eyes were gone, but the eye-brows, eye-lashes, lips, and teeth remained. The skin on the abdomen and body generally was in the same state with that in the face. An exceedingly offensive and oppressive effluvia, strongly resembling decayed cheese, arose from 636 Intelligence from various Parts of the Country. from the body, and rendered it necessary to close the coffin in a short time, and it has since been re-interred. It was at first supposed by those who examined the body, that some artificial means had been employed to protect it from putrefaction, but on enquiry we could not ascertain that this was the case. The putrefactive process must have been arrested by the leaden coffin having been sealed hermetically, and thus the access of air, which modern discoveries have ascertained is essential to putrefaction, was prevented.—Birmingham Chronicle. A case which excited a considerable degree of public interest was lately tried in Dublin before a Special Jury. The circumstances were these: Christopher Davis, a young gentleman of respectable connexions in Ireland, enlisted as a pri. vate soldier some years ago, in consequence of disputes with his family. He married, and whilst he was doing duty in London as a private in the Guards, his wife was delivered of a daughter, who was christened Theresa Davis. Some time after the birth of this child, the father was 'killed at the battle of Waterloo, and in consequence of the decease of some relations, the little Theresa, though born under such adverse circumstances, became heir-at-law to an estate of two thousand pounds a year. Her claim, however, was impeached by the husbands of her two aunts (the sisters of her father), who leged that she was a supposititious child; and it was upon this issue that the trial tcok place. Several witnesses, who went over from England, were examined on behalf of the child, and the testimony established her legitimacy in a full and satisfactory manner. A remarkable circumstance was adduced in favour of the child: the midwife who attended the mother deposed that the infant at its birth had two toes webbed or joined together on each foot, which proved to be the case with Theresa Davis, who was in Court; the midwife at the time noticed the circumstance to the mother, who wished the toes to be cut apart, but the midwife objected, observing that "the child could always be sworn to." The Jury returned a verdict, "That Theresa Davis is the legitimate daughter of Christopher and Bridget Davis." We seldom had to record a more affflicting calamity than that which lately occurred at Dunmore East, Waterford, by fire, at the concerns of Mr. Wm. Cherry, publican. Himself and family (consisting of his wife, who is in an advanced state of pregnancy, his niece, mother-in-law, and eleven children) were in bed; a servant girl alone remained up. The servant boy had gone to the stable, which adjoins the house, with a lighted candle, and there, by Mr. his carelessness, the fire commenced, and he, terrified, ran away without giving the alarm; in the stable there was a valuable horse. The girl, finding a strong smell of smoke, alarmed her master, who ran to the stable, which was all in flames, and spreading to the roof of the dwelling house, which was thatched; but his utmost exertions could not force the poor animal to quit the stable, where it was burned to ashes. The house was by this time all on fire, and Mr. Cherry's exertions were turned to the safety of his family. His wife had scarcely time to escape from the house, and in her terror had forgot a child of fourteen months old, in the bed. Cherry mounted a ladder that led to a loft, where his mother-in-law, niece, and ten children lay, and taking the old woman in his arms, ran to the trap-door, but some person having thoughtlessly taken away the ladder, he had no alternative, but to drop her to the floor below. In the same manner he saved seven of his children; the other three he could not find in their beds, being unable to see by reason of the thick smoke and darkness; and thinking they might have got down before, he leaped down, but they were no where to be found. He again ascended the ladder, and on the instant he got upon the loft, part of the blazing wood fell in, and by its light he saw his three little ones in a far corner, huddled together, with their faces to the wall, and he had barely time to snatch them from their perilous situation, when the whole fell in. The escape of the infant was most miraculous; a foreman of the works at Dunmore, endeavouring to save some bed-clothes, penetrated to the bed, in doing which he was much burned he made a hasty bundle of them, and succeeded in bringing them out, when on laying them down, out rolled the sleeping infant unhurt! Au affecting incident occurred after all the family had been so providentially extricated from the devouring element-Mrs. Cherry, standing naked on the road, and casting her eyes on her eleven children, naked also, piteously exclaimed, "Oh! my God, I had eight new suits made for my eight boys, and hoped to see them walk before me to prayers at Whitsunday, and now they lie naked on the road!"-Waterford Chronicle. An inquest was lately held on the body of Mr. Cuddie, surgeon, at Winster, near Bakewell, Derbyshire, under the following distressing circumstances:- The deceased, a native of Scotland, had an attachment, and his attentions were favourably received by a young lady; but her relatives were opposed to the connexion. Two of the brothers Messrs. William and Francis Brittlebank (sons of an eminent solicitor, of Winster), decided on calling Mr. Cuddie out, in consequence of some harsh epithets epithets used by him in an altercation with the former, a few days before; and for this purpose, waited upon Mr. Cuddie, taking with them Mr. Spencer, a surgeon, of Bakewell, as a friend familiar with all the parties; and they were also joined by Mr. Andrew Brittlebank, a third brother of the lady. Mr. Cuddie, after expressing great reluctance, at last consented to give the satisfaction demanded; and pistols being produced by Mr. Spencer, they took their ground at a distance of 15 yards, on the gravel-walk in Mr. Cuddie's garden; and, on a signal being given, they fired. Mr. Cuddie unhappily received the shot of Mr. Wm. Brittlebank in his bowels, and died the following day. A highly-respectable Jury returned a verdict of "wilful murder" against Mr. Brittlebank's three sons, William, Andrew, and Francis, and also against Mr. Spencer. The two latter brothers have been committed to the County Gaol; but William absconded, and a reward of 100%. has been offered for his apprehension. The foundations of a new Chapel are digging in Pembroke place, Liverpool, for the use of a body of sectarians, who, though we certainly never heard of them before, yet, we are told, have been several years in existence. They are denominated Beef-eaters, from a peculiar custom which distinguishes them. Immediately after Divine Service, a quantity of roast beef, with the proper et ceteras, proportioned to the numbers who attend, is brought into the chapel, and the congregation all dine together in brotherly fellowship. June 1. This morning, at half-past eleven o'clock, before a vast assemblage of persons, J. Bingley, W. Dutton, and W. Batkin, the manufacturers of forged notes, were executed at the front of Warwick Gaol. They were natives of Birmingham, and had for some years supplied the London and provincial markets with forged notes, through the instrumentality of a third person, who had been apprehended in London by Foy, the Bank officer, with forged notes in his possession. Upon his confession the above parties were apprehended, and their premises searched, in which were found 10,000 in amount of forged notes, with the plates from which they were struck; and, upon his testimony (he having been admitted as evidence for the prosecution) they were convicted at the last Warwick Assizes. June 5. At a very early hour this morning (soon after midnight), a part of the Southern gable wall of the Theatre in Shrewsbury gave way; and falling on the roof of an adjoining house, forced a part of it, together with a portion of three room floors and all that intervened, down to the kitchen floor, rather below the level of the street. Most unfortunately, a poor labouring man, named Edward Davies, with his wife and two children, slept together in a bed in the garret, immediately under the dislocated mass, which fell upon and forced them, together with a quantity of large stones, timber, the bed, &c. down to the kitchen, where they were buried in the accumulated heap of fallen materials. The man and his wife, with one child, were killed. An infant was happily unhurt. The Wexford Herald of June 25, says, "It is with the most painful feeling we lay before our readers the following particulars of a shocking event, which has occurred in the town of Wexford :-Stephen Evans, a Welshman, one of the hands of the Harriot, of Milford, lying at Customhouse Quay, was buried in Selskar churchyard, at one o'clock in the afternoon of Thursday. On Friday, about the same hour, two boys climbed the wall of the church-yard, for the purpose of robbing a bird's nest. One of them stood on the grave in which Evans was interred; and while the other was ascending for the nest, be called out to him that he heard a strange noise in the grave, in consequence of which they immediately gave the alarm. An immense concourse of people soon collected, and the body was dug up, when a spectacle truly horrible presented itself; the functions of life had been restored in the coffin, but were only restored that the miserable sufferer might experience all the horrors of a lingering death in this most dreadful situation. The struggles of the unhappy victim appeared to have been violent! The nose was somewhat flattened by striking against the lid of the coffin, the hands and knees were contracted as much as the situation would permit, and a slight excoriation of the skin was perceptible on the upper part of the knees. The body was examined by several medi-' cal gentlemen present, who pronounced that life had totally left. Shortly after his apparent death, an Inquest was held, the verdict of which was-"Died by the visitation of God." We believe that the present opinion of the Jury is very different from that recorded in their verdict, as they have since been better able to understand the subject; and as no professional as. sistance whatever was obtained, no medical gentlemen were present during the Inquest! The noise heard in the grave, the appearance of the body, and, we understand, the expressed opinion of a surgeon of long practice, who, however, not being present, was only made acquainted with the circumstance, but too evidently demonstrated that the unfortunate man had perished in the manner we have stated. There is another circumstance, too, equally remarkable, and one which powerfully supports us in our conviction on |
