Mr. JEREMIE, the new Procureur-General of the Mauritius, ap- pears
to have been carrying matters with rather a high hand in that colony. The subjoined extracts, however, from which alone we derive any knowledge of the transactions to which they refer, are taken from an evidently prejudiced paper; and the statements they contain should not be received with implicit credence.
"A man named Pieretti had been denounced by the Commissary to the Chief of the Police, who is a Captain in the English Army, as dangerous to the public tranquillity. Upon this report, which was not founded, as it seems, upon any overt act, a young Judge sent from England, and who had never studied the law of the country, grants a warrant to arrest Pieretti, under which he is taken from his house and lodged in gaol. The ground of the proceeding was, as it is alleged, that Pieretti was an alien. Upon this he applied to the Supreme Court of the island for his release; when the Court took cognizance of the case, and Monsieur d'Epinay, ci-devant Procureur-General, appeared for Pieretti, and Mr. Jeremie, the present Procureur-General, for the Crown. The former com- menced his pleadings by observing, that there were two questions in this case, the one to determine whether Pieretti was in fact an alien; the other, whether, being an alien, the proceedings had against him were legal? On the first point, the counsel maintained that Pieretti though born in Corsica, was not an alien at Maurice; that he had come there when very young fourteen years since, in- -vited by his elder brother, a British subject, and of whom he is only heir. But,
however, this question was not to be:examined by the Supreme Court, but must previously be submitted to the Tribunal of First Instance. With respect to the second !Joint, admitting by hypothesis that Pieretti was an alien, it would yet seem that in this case the Commissary of Police and the Judge of First Instance had acted illegally."
This point he argued at length, and with much vehemence. Mr. JEREMIE then addressed the Court.
" He maintained, that the Court could not take cognizance of this case, in- asmuch as the Chief of the Police had acted under a superior order—order of the Governor. At these words, the President of the Court (Blackburn) ob- served to Mr. Jerernie that this was the first time the Supreme Court had heard of an ordre superieur. Mr. Jeremie seemed to feel the awkwardness of this expression on his part, and proceeded to combat the arguments of his adver- sary; but soon after, in the course of his speech, becoming more animated, he went so far as to say, that if the Court should order the release of Pieretti, he (Mr. Jeremie) would arrest him again. This menace on the part of the Pro- cureur-General produced from the counsel of the prisoner a most impassioned and eloquent appeal to the Court, which caused a very great impression. " The Court ordered the release of the prisoner ; but, at the same moment, Mr. Jeremie and the Judge of the Court of First Instance, who had signed the order of arrest, were observed exchanging little notes with each other in Court ; which gave reason to think they were arranging a new order of arrest, and created no very pleasant remarks on the part of those present. In fact, M. Pieretti was again taken into custody by the Guard of the Police, even in the presence of the Court. Upon this, Monsieur d'Epinay applied to the Court for a safe conduct for his client; which was granted. Nevertheless, two days afterwards, the same man was again arrested, lodged in gaol, and then sent on board the Jupiter man.of-war, to be conveyed to Europe upon a common sailor's allowance. At length these violent proceedings were terminated by releasing him ; but he cannot obtain justice or redress for all the persecution that he has undergone, as the existing law bars any action against a public functionary who may abuse his authority. " Some days afterwards seven citizens were arrested, under the simple order of the Procureur-General, as accused of treason, conspiracy, and rebellion. They were confined au secret; and, after several days of imprisonment, they were liberated ; but no Judge's order had been previously made for their arrest. •> It is probable that Mr. JEREMIE can give a very different ac- count of this proceeding. If he cannot do so with truth, then it is clear that he has not the requisite acquaintance with the laws of the island, and the necessary command of temper, to fit him for his post; and the sooner he is recalled, the better.
Previous page
