gbe Itictropotis.
A Court of Common Council was held on Tuesday, for the despatch of public business. Mr. R. L. Jones moved the adoption of the report on the improvements of the City ; and, with some amendment, suggest- ing improvements in Watling Street and Newgate Street, the motion was carried. A report from the Library Committee was read, stating that they had authorized Mr. Jones to purchase the recently-discovered autograph of Shakspere, one of the best of the six known to be in existence ; which he had done for 1451. After a smart discussion, the report was adopted, by 41 to 31.
The Anti-Slavery Convention closed its sittings on Tuesday. On Saturday, statements were made respecting the condition of slavery in Cuba, the Dutch Colonies, America, and the Danish Colonies ; and the report of a Committee was presented on the condition of the free Blacks in the United States ; on whose conduct several members pronounced enlogiums. Some recent favourable reports of Cuba were contradicted. Mr. F. R. Cocking stated, that there are 600,000 slaves in Cuba ; of whom four-sixteenths are said to be native born, one-sixteenth im- ported previously, and eleven-sixteenths since the year 1820, in direct violation of the treaties now existing between the two countries : some are persons kidnapped from the British West Indian Colonies. The subject was referred to a Committee, instructed to draw up "an urgent representation to the British Government on the present condition of those subjects of this country now illegally held in bondage in the Spanish West India and other Foreign Colonies, as well as of all in those Colonies who have been unlawfully kept in slavery since the year 1820, together with their descendants." On Alonday, Mr. Macgregor Laird, as delegate from an Anti-Slavery Society in Glasgow, delivered an address on the subject of Free Emigration from Africa to the West Indies, as a means of benefiting the Negro race: exposing the worth- lessness of treaties, the cruising system, Sierra Leone, and all other methods hitherto adopted for the suppression of the slave-trade ; argu- ing that the true mode of putting down the slave-trade, and destroying ---•-snargitself, would be by raising Tropical products cheaper by free labour ; which, he contended, might be done, by fully peopling the fer- tile lands in the British West Indies with free Negroes from Africa ; and to that end establishing "a bridge, toll-free," between the two countries—in other words, an extensive system of free passages, to and fro, in ships under the entire control and regulation of the British Government. At the close of his speech, (which was "caviare to the general," and frequently interrupted in the most disorderly manner,) he moved a series of resolutions, some of them asserting fundamental doctrines of the Anti-Slavery creed, and the rest recommending his own plan. On the part of the regular Anti-Slavery people, assisted by Colonel Nichols as an amateur, the resolutions were opposed in the lump with a direct negative, and rejected by an overwhelming ma- jority : the professional orators, however, professing their entire ft lend • liuess to free emigration, if there could be such a thing. On Tuesday, among a variety of other business, the discussions turned mainly on the subject of Texas. Mr. Stacey said that a deputation had an interview with Lord Aberdeen on Monday : and the Earl promised that no legi- timate means should be spared to effect the great object of abolishing slavery in the republic of Texas ; adding, that no underhand or sinister policy would be adopted, but that the British Government were deter- mined to proceed by the fair and open interchange of diplomatic inter- course with Texas, or its accredited representatives. Mr. L. Tappan, of New York, said that Mr. John Quincey Adams had assured him that he would resist the annexation with all the power that God had given ; but he is now at a very advanced age—eighty-four. A resolu- tion against the annexation was carried unanimously. Lord Morpeth moved a resolution expressing sympathy for the venerable J. Q. A dams ; which was also carried nemine dissentiente.
The annual meeting of the British and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society was held on Wednesday, in the large room at Exeter Hall. The room was quite filled ; Lord Morpeth being the lion. He was appointed chairman ; and on the platform were the Bishop of Norwich, Viscount Ebrington, Mr. R. Howard, M.P., Sir George Strickland, M.P., Mr. Vernon Smith, M.P., Mr. Sharman Crawford, M.P., Mr. Benjamin Hawes, M.P., Cap- tain Denman, R.N., Mr. Athill of Antigua, Mr. J. S. Buckingham, Mr. Amadee Thayer, Mr. Joseph Sturge ; many ministers of religion, and persons of Colour, from the West Indies, United States, Canada, Holland. In taking the chair, Lord Morpeth delivered a long speech. He disclaimed the right on the part of England, so recently relieved from the stain of slavery, to assume a tone of self-righteousness; but on that occasion he felt it his duty to record his impressions of slavery in Cuba and the United States. Under the unclouded Tro- pical sun, he felt that he could almost be a slave, but not a slaveholder. He called upon the citizens of America to set be- fore them the great question ; and, generally approving of the Ashburton treaty, he pointed out two matters as deserving to be jealously watched : the details for carrying out the provision of the treaty for the mutual extradition of criminals—which might he abused by the sending back slaves to the United States ; and the half promise of Lord Ashburton that new instruction should be sent to the Governors of Colonies for such cases as the release of the Creole slaves—best left alone. He was almost more painfully struck with the condition of the free Blacks than of the slaves in the United States ; and he should never forget the swell of heart which he felt on hearing in Charleston what he was told was the curfew, after which no free Coloured person might be seen in the streets without a pass from some privileged White person. Mr. Scobell, the Secretary, read a report, detailing the opera- tions of the Society all over the world. It announced the total aboli- tion of slavery in British India, Scinde, Ceylon, and the British settle- ments in the Straits. It recorded an increasing supply of sugar from the West Indies, where the crisis seems almost to have passed ; refused, however, to regard Emancipation as a political experiment ; and con- demned the Government measure of African emigration to the West Indies. Emigration of Indian Coolies to Mauritius was condemned. Separate sections were devoted to the subjects of British citizens hold- ing slaves in foreign countries ; fugitive slaves within the British domi- nions ; the progress of the Anti-Slavery cause in the United States, in Holland, in France, in Spain, in Portugal, and in Uruguay ; freer inter- course between Hayti and Jamaica; and abolition of slavery in Tunis. The receipts of the year were 2,127/. ; leaving unpaid a balance due to the Secretary of 4651., besides other liabilities amounting to 4001.
Several resolutions, setting forth the views of the Society, were passed, with many speeches. Thanks to the Chairman were moved by Mr. William Evans, ALP., and seconded by Mr. Amadee Thayer, Treasurer to the French Society for the Abolition of Slavery ; passed unani- mously ; and briefly acknowledged by Lord Morpeth.
A number of Anti-Slavery delegates, who do not think free trade in- compatible with their principles, met at Freemason's Tavern on Thurs- day, to consult on the means of giving effect to their views. A Com- mittee was appointed, apparently with a view to the formation of a separate Anti-Slavery Society, should the parent body persist in its ex- clusive practice. At this meeting, the Reverend Mr. Adey said, that the Governor-General of the Danish West Indies had stated, that if the British would receive their produce, they would abolish slavery imme- diately.
" The Friends of Universal Peace" assembled in convention, at Freemason's Hall, on Thursday ; delegates being present from America and the provinces ; and Mr. Charles Hindley presiding.
The Scottish Presbytery of London have formally withdrawn from their connexion with the Established Church of Scotland. On the 13th, at Woolwich, the Moderator, the Reverend Samuel Blair, having re- fused to put a motion in that sense, was deposed, and the Reverend Peter Lorimer appointed in hat room. The minority, consisting of the Reverend Dr. Brown and three other ministers present, besides one absent, withdrew from the meeting, and " at a convenient place in this town (Woolwich) resumed proceedings," as the Presbytery of the Scottish Church ; and took steps to enforce their legal right to possess the records of their body.
Hampton races commenced on Wednesday ; Thursday being the "grand" day. The crowd was enormous, both on the course and on the river; and the sport was good.
The Court of Common Pleas have beau occupied for two days, Tuesday and Weduesday, with the trial -‘ -- action brought by Mr. Gregory, the editor of the Satirist, against the Duke of Brunswick, and Mr. Valiance his attorney, for conspiracy. Mr. Sergeant Shee stated, that when Mr. Gregory appeared in the character of Hamlet at Covent Garden Theatre, on the 13th February, the defendants and other persons were in the 0. P. stage-box, and created a great disturbance ; and a number of persons went to hiss and hoot in other parts of the theatre at the instigation of the two. Mr. Alfred Bunn, the manager of the theatre, deposed that his engagemen with Mr. Gregory was contingent upon his success. Other witness z proved the following facts. It is unusual to sell pit-tickets, but for tat night the box-keeper sold a greater number than he ever retnea aered to have sold—six or twelve to a cabman : Mr. Bunn also authorized the issue of orders for that night. The disturbance was such as to put a stop to the per- formances. Two Irishmen said that they received a shilling each from one Joseph Banks, to go in and hiss when "the gentleman in black" came on : Joseph Banks, the keeper of a public-house io St. Giles's, said that he gave 15s. to persons to go to the theatre, out of his own pocket ; and he went himself to hoot, from a public feeling, as he dis- approved of the principles of the Satirist ; he afterwards saw two hundred persons at the Garrick's Head congratulating each other, Mr. Valiance among them. Richard Halyon, a discharged valet of the Duke's, said that the Duke went to the theatre in a hired cab: he had shaved his whiskers and mustachios ; and he afterwards was heard to boast of his success, saying, " We did it capital!" Several witnesses were called to prove Mr. dreaory's ability as an actor, from previous knowledge ; including Lord Gardiner, the Earl of Belfast, Count Bathyany, Lord Adolphus Fitzclarence, and Lord Beaumont. The Earl of Errol was in the Queen's box, but could not judge of Mr. Gregory's abilities through the disturbance, and he had not seen him before. Mr. Sergeant Talfourd admitted that the defendants had hooted and hissed Mr. Gregory ; whom they charged in their declaration with being a common libeller and defamer for hire, from the Queen on the throne down to persons in the humblest rank of life, and with extort- ing money from various persons by dishonest means. He showed in detail, that the plaintiff's counsel had wholly failed to make out his case of conspiracy. Chief Justice Tindal said that the Jury would have to decide whether or not a conspiracy had been proved; and if so, what amount of damages would compensate the injury. It had not been shown that the purchase of pit-tickets was in any way connected with the conduct of individuals in the 0. P. box ; and Mr. Banks had set aside the evidence of the two men who went to hiss, by saying that he gave the moneyout of his own pocket. The Chief Justice was pleased to seethat in his own parish (St. Giles's) a publican had spent his money iii an endeavour to put down what he conceived to be a nuisance. After retiring for three-quarters of an hour, the Jury re- turned a verdict for the defendants, amid general applause.
In the Bail Court, yesterday, Mr. Gregory withdrew a plea of " Not guilty," and pleaded " Guilty" to an indictment for a series of libels in the Satirist, which were taken cumulatively to imply that the Duke was the murderer of Eliza Grimwood. The language of the defendant's counsel was very humble and deprecatory : Mr. Sergeant Talfourd, for the Duke of Brunswick, disclaimed all compromise, and left the case to the Court. Sentence was deferred.
At the Central Criminal Court, on Saturday, George Howse, steward to the late Lord Fitzgerald and Vesey, and William Cornelius Fuller, a carman, were tried for stealing a chest of plate from Lord Fitzgerald's house in Belgrave Square, on the lath May. The servants gave evi- dence similar to that taken at the Police Court ; descritiug how the plate was taken while Howse had sent the servants to be measured for mourning, about noon ; and it was put into a cart, which was driven off. Henry Smith, the butler, said, that after Lord Fitzgerald's death he was talking with Howse, who remarked that one of the plate-chests ought to be his. Lord Fitzgerald died on the Thursday the 11th; on the Friday, Howse insisted on proceeding with alterations in the plate- closet, to which Smith had objected as not being decorous at such a time; but on Saturday, the steward would not allow the door of the closet to be put up. The box contained fifty-four silver plates, (valued at 3541.,) a quantity of silver forks, and some other articles. James Dignum, an attorney, confined in Horsemonger Gaol for debt, was produced as a witness. He said that Howse called upon him one day before Lord Fitzgerald's death- " Howse told me that his Lordship was dangerously ill; and he asked if I knew any one who was to be depended upon, as he wished to take care of him- self. I told him that his Lordship would most likely take care of him in his will. Howse said he had seen a paper, which he believed was a codicil, and he had witnessed his Lordship's signature to it. When Howse asked me for a person that could be depended on, he said he wanted a right sort of man.' There was nothing mentioned about any property of Lord Fitzgerald. I told him there was a person named Pook, in Bedford Street, Covent Garden, and another, whom lie knew, named Lawrence, who bought stolen plate. I recom- mended him to steer clear of all such thieves. He afterwards went and fetched some wine. When Howse left me, he told me to get a man he could depend upon. I remember reading the announcement of Lord Fitzgerald's death in the papers. Howse came and told me that his master was dead ; that he had died with his hand in his ; and that he meant to take care of himself. I told him not to make a fool of himself, as his master had no doubt mentioned him in his will. He then asked me if I knew any one who would buy some plate and I gave him the names I had already mentioned. He said they were a bad lot, and he did not like them. I remember nothing else that transpired. Im- mediately afterwards, I gave information to Mr. Bicknell [a solicitor and one of Lord Fitzgerald's executors) concerning what had passed." In cross-examination, Mr. Dignum said that he had before been in prison for horsewhipping an attorney, and some years ago he was tried for rape and acquitted. He had done professional business for Howse before. Sergeant Talfourd, who led the defence for Howse, complained that he had no previous notice of the evidence of Mr. Dignum, and he was therefore quite unprepared to meet it ; while without it the other evidence amounted to nothing. On the part of Fuller, Mr. Doane pro- duced several witnesses who swore that at the time of the robbery ; he was engaged in his business at other places. The prosecution against him was withdrawn, and he was discharged. With regard to Howse, the Jury returned a verdict of " Guilty "; [In letters to the Times, Mr. Lawrence and Mr. Pook have repudiated the aspersions cast on their character) and he was sentenced to fifteen years' transportation.
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