over the safety of German navigation; and the Hans Towns may justly entertain a hope, that a proposal for the earnest consideration of this important business will meet the approbation of the Diet. On the questions being put by the President, all voices were unanimous in declaring, that their respective High Courts and constituents should be informed of these circumstances, that they might adopt the most effectual means for the protection of German commerce. The majority were of opinion that a commission, consisting of five members, should be chosen to prepare suitable propositions whereon to frame the report.

The Ambassador of the King of the Netherlands delivered the following to the Protocol:

That we should on this occasion consult all our Courts, and in particular the Great Courts, is beyond all doubt. The opinions of individuals are of little importance; the question is, what ought to be done, and what it is possible to do? I am not invested with unlimited powers on the part of the whole united Netherlands; but I will, nevertheless, in this, and on all occasions, agree with the majority when they vote for a commission; though I never or very seldom connect with the institution of such a body the idea of more prompt counsel, but only the expectation of farther elucidation and greater industry. I am therefore inclined, as in every case which occurs here, to develop all the grounds for and against the question, in order that the Courts may form their views on these investigations. In what way else can they hear public opinion? Or in what better man

ner can that opinion be directed? The very first article of the Act of Confederation speaks of the inviolability of the individual German States, not of territories or dominions. Since then the word State is not now regarded as formed merely of five alphabetic characters, but as representing honour, life, liberty, property, and the security of individuals, their activity, and their industry, the question of protection is assuredly something imperative: but the different branches of the question as to the practicability of the protection, and its extent, are worthy of serious investigation. On the conclusion of the Bourbon-Family-Compact, was it ever asked whether it included the repression of all offences and acts of injustice by sea and land? Whether it related equally to merchantmen and ships of war? The retroaction and extension of the present evils may not be confined to the propagation of disease only, but may occasion bankruptcies and loss of confidence in consequence of the execution of mercantile orders being impeded, which would not fail to produce the suspension of several branches of manufactures in the interior.

The Diet then proceeded to the election of the commission, and the choice fell uponCount von Goltz, Baron von Eyben, Baron von Gagern, Herr von Berg, and the Syndic Danz.

Resolution-That the Envoys, Count von Goltz, Baron von Eyben, Baron von Gagern, Herr von Berg and the Syndic Danz, be requested to submit a joint opinion on the most efficient precautions for securing the German navigation against the piracies of the Barbary

corsairs,

corsairs, with a view to the report to be made to the Courts and constituents of the members of the Diet.

17. Court of King's Bench.The King. v. Preston, Thistlewood, and Hooper, for High Treason.

At half past 12 the Attorney and Solicitor-General entered the Court.

The three prisoners above-named were soon afterwards introduced by the warders of the Tower.

They were then informed by the officer, in the usual form, that they must challenge the jurymen as they came to the book to be sworn, and a jury was immediately called over and placed in the box.

The prisoners, holding up their hands, were arraigned for hightreason by the master of the Crown Office, and the jury was charged with their trial. Proclamation was likewise made, after which

The Attorney-General, addressing their lordships, said, I rise for the purpose of informing the Court that it is not my intention to call any evidence in support of the charges against the prisoners at the bar.

The answer was, that they were not guilty, and that they had not fled for it.

Lord Ellenborough. —Mr. Attorney General, as there is no further charge against the prisoners, I shall order that they be discharged.

Thistlewood, Hooper, and Preston, were discharged accordingly, and retired from the Court by a private way through the jury box.

A foreigner, attended by a person whom he styled his interpreter, called at Messrs. Rundell and Bridge's, Ludgate-hill, as he sta ted, to look out an assortment of valuable diamonds, and other articles, in order to make a considerable purchase for a foreign market. He gave it to be understood, that it would not be convenient to pay for them till the following week; but, to save trouble when he came for them, he wished to have the articles previously selected and agreed for, For the satisfaction of both parties the interpreter signified that Mr. Simon Blaum, the Geneva merchant, as he styled him, was desirous that the valuables, as they were bargained for, should be put into a paper box which he had brought for that purpose, and then sealed up with his seal, and that of the house. The box was proposed, of course, to be deposited with Messrs. Rundell and Bridge. Much time was consumed in selecting the articles, and in making out the bill of parcels, which presented altogether a sum of no less amount than 24,000l. Every thing being arranged, the foreigner and his interpreter took leave, with the assurance that E

they

they would be punctual at the time appointed, with cash or unexceptionable bills. Two days over and above the time fixed for the return of the foreigners having elapsed, it was thought necessary to break the seals, in order to restore the articles to their former planes, when, to the utter astosament of the jewellers, they found the box to contain a few English pence. It was now supposed that the fraud must have been committed by a quick change of the boxes, after the valuables had been deposited in one of them. On enquiry it was found that the foreign sharper had lodged a few nights at the Huntley Coffee-house, Leicester Square; and, according to the notice at the Alien-Office, he was to be found at No. 6, Duke's-Place, Houndsditch. In contemplation of the robbery, the villain had previously prepared himself with a passport for France.

Further Account.-It has been stated that part of the jewels plundered from the above house have been traced and recovered, near Bride-Lane, Fleet-Street. We are assured from undoubted authority, that they have neither been traced nor recovered. Many persons have asked how the thief could carry about his person a box large enough to contain 20,000l. worth of jewels and pearls, without its being discovered; but their astonishment will in one respect cease when they are informed, that it was only 5 inches long, 3 wide, and about 2 inches thick. The property the thief looked out was to the value of 24,000l. but he only had put into the box to the

value of between 20 and 21,000/. the rest, which consisted entirely of pearls of a smaller size, were put into a paper parcel, and which he did not attempt to remove. One diamond necklace which was carried off was alone valued at 10,280l. and a pearl necklace, of only 37 pearls, was worth 3,000 guineas. The negotiation between the thieves and this respectable firm was ducted on behalf of the latter by Mr. Rundell, jun. who set out for Paris on Thurday last. The wife of the interpreter is in cus tody in this country.

con

19. The Rev. David Evans, of Llanvigan, Breconshire, with his eldest daughter, Miss Caroline Evans, a fine young lady about 20 years of age, were crossing the river Usk, at Skethrog-ford, on their way to dine with Sir Edward Hamilton, when the horse on which they rode, getting his feet entangled in the concealed root of a tree, by which the animal was thrown down, precipitated them into a deep part of the river, and Miss Evans sunk to rise no more. Her father saved himself with great difficulty by clinging to the horse's tail, the animal dragging him ashore. The young lady, by the exertions of a shepherd in the employ of Mr. Ball, was got out shortly afterwards, but not till the vital spark was extinct. Immediately after the body was brought on shore, the father being on the opposite side of the river, expressed the utmost anxiety to cross, and the poor shepherd kindly stripped, and endeavoured to cross the stream again, for the purpose of bringing him over,

when

when on reaching the spot where he had just before taken up the dead body of Miss Evans, melancholy to relate, the poor fellow sunk and also perished, leaving a wife and child to lament his loss. 20. Extract of a Letter from William Porter, Esq. Consul of the United States at Palermo. You will "robably have read in the newspapers, before this reaches you, an account of the piracy and diabolical murders committed by six abandoned wretches about six weeks ago, on the north of this island. If, however, you should not have seen any statement of this cold-blooded business, the following may serve.

The miscreants armed themselves at Messina with muskets, sabres, and long knives, and proceeded to a place three or four miles distant from that city, where they stole a small row-boat, and embarked themselves, taking a direction towards Melazzo, (thirtyfive miles on the coast west of Messina), near which place, in the afternoon, they took a station for the purpose of seizing upon a small vessel they knew to be ready to sail from Messina for this place, and on board of which they likewise knew of several passengers on whom they supposed money might be found.

Soon after the approach of this vessel these wretches, apparently as fishermen, rowed towards her, and at about half past 7 o'clock, being within reach of musketshot, a volley was fired into her. Shortly after they boarded her, and in a few minutes murdered and mutilated every person on board. Of the murdered were 12 men, one woman, and one child;

and of the mutilated and left for dead were three men and two women. One of the 12 men, the woman, and the child, were of one family. To the woman two alternatives were offered, one of which was instant death, which she preferred. They then searched for money and other things; al actually, with all this carnage before their eyes, cooked victuals, and partook of a supper, and remained on board the vessel until the next morning.

In a few days afterwards, these same wretches took another small vessel, only a few miles distant from this harbour, bound to one of the Lipari islands, and after murdering three men, drove the remaining six under deck, nailed down the hatches, and bored holes for the purpose of sinking her; fortunately, however, a boy, who in the confusion had covered himself with one of the sails, and was not discovered by the villains, was able, with the assistance of those below, to uncover the hatchway, and the vessel was kept above water until assistance was rendered by some fishermen.

The day after this second butchery, the villains landed at one of the king's tunny-fish establishments, about ten miles from this city, and retreated to the mountains. It was impossible, however, that such monsters should long escape being apprehended. The orders of his Royal Highness the Hereditary Prince were prompt on the occasion, and the measures immediately taken did away the possibility of their escaping from the island. In a few days after, four of them were apprehended in this city; one has since been E 2

found

found in Messina, and the other in a mountain near Catania.

The whole six were this morning exposed to the view of the inhabitants of Palermo. They have confessed their crimes, and have nothing now to wait for but the justice of this world, and the world to come."

21. Palermo. A frightful event, which makes all sensitive minds tremble with horror, has been for some days the object of public commiseration. A felucca, belonging to Petro la Camera, having several passengers on board, had set out from Melazzo for this city. Scarcely had it left the harbour, when it was assailed by a bark carrying six armed pirates, who boarded the felucca, massacred the master and part of the sailors, and threw their bodies overboard. In the mean time, the other sailors had thrown themselves into the sea, in the hopes of escaping from these robbers. Freed thus from the crew, the pirates occupied themselves with the passengers, of whom they spared none; all received severe wonnds. M. Issidore Annett, a merchant, was slain, and his body flung into the sea. Several others, including many females, died of their wounds. The pirates then cut with their sabres the sails and other objects necessary for navigation, that the felucca should necessarily be sunk. They plundered the passengers of all their effects and money, which amounted to the sum of about 5,000 ounces, which, by means of their little bark, they put on shore; and then, in the midst of the terrific spectacle, surrounded by the dead and dying, they made a repast, in which they devoured the

provisions that were on board the felucca. After this feast they left the felucca, which they abandoned to itself. The same day she foundered on the coast of Piraino. Out of 21 persons who had embarked, only eight arrived here in spite of their wounds. Of these, two have since died, and it is feared that the others will not long survive.

It appears that the same assassins who committed this horrible violence on the felucca of Pietro la Camera, had perpetrated a se cond outrage not less atrocious. The captain, Don Bran, a Neapolitan, in a little felucca, named La Generosa, having eight sailors on board, sailed from Castellamare for Lipari, and thence to Torrenauzza. After having ef fected the first part of this voyage, he had hardly sailed from Lipari, in the night of the 13th inst. when he was assailed by several armed men on board a row-boat. After having fired several musket-shots, the assassins boarded the felucca, murdered with sabres the captain and two sailors, and seized on all the property, and 1,000 ducats which the unfortunate captain had brought from a sale at Lipari. These robbers remained all night on board the felucca. On the following day they removed from the coast, carrying with them several unfortunate passengers, whom they had not massacred, and whom they destined to frightful torments. Fortunately the master, Mario Savona, excited by the cries of these unfortunates, was enabled to come to their assistar.ce. He seized on the pirates, who are now actually in the hands of justice.

24. Fire at Newfoundland, St. John's, N. B.-On Wednesday the