the free people of colour and the negroes was to take place on the ensuing evening, when the town of St. Pierre was to be set on fire in several places, and on the alarm given, the stores containing cutlasses and bill-hooks were to be broken open, and a general massacre to be made of all the white men who should appear in the streets. In case this plan did not meet with all the desired success, they were to storm St. Martin's battery, and turn its guns upon the town. On the disclosure of this plot, measures were immediately taken to prevent its execution. Some of the chiefs were seized, and others left the town. In the evening, people were seen on the heights which overlook St. Pierre; and an inhabitant brought the intelligence that from 70 to 80 of the conspirators, armed with swords, pistols, and other weapons, were assembled at his house, and that the number was fast increasing. The commandant, Lieutenant-Colonel Mackie, instantly sent a detachment to surround them, at whose approach they fired on them, and then ran away. They were pursued, but only three or four could be apprehended. During the whole of the night strong patroles of soldiers and white inhabitants paraded the streets and on the following morning several of the ringleaders were taken up and lodged in prison. Parties from the garrison and militia were also sent out to scour the country. On the 21st the town was alarmed by the attempt of a body of 4 or 500 slaves, headed by five leaders, to enter the town, where they expected to be joined by the

domestic slaves; but by the exertions of the commandant, the negroes were dispersed, and three of their chiefs taken. The head of the conspiracy, a free man of colour named Moliere, privately entered the town by night, and endeavoured to make his escape. on board a small vessel; but not succeeding, he blew out his brains. This man was a native of Martinique, and had been some time at St. Domingo, whence he returned with the title of viscount. The whole number of insurgents apprehended was about 130, of whom 26 were brought to their trial before a court of commission, upon a charge of high treason. Fifteen of these were condemned and executed in the public place by the seaside, on October the 10th. The governor of the island, Majorgeneral Charles Wale, issued a proclamation on the 15th, relative to this conspiracy, in which he observes, that "the object of this plot is inexplicable; for among the conspirators were some persons who, having the rank of freemen from the effect of the colonial beneficence, might be expected to have nothing left them to wish for but the prosperity of the country wherein they advantageously exercised their industry under the protection of the laws." He goes on to remark, that "these men paved the way for the seduction of the inferior classes, by throwing out opinions that have been repeated upwards of half a century by revolutionary writers ;" and he further explains himself by saying, that "some individuals from bad intentions, and others from imprudence, have

[M 2]

of late made it their particular business to comment upon the contents of the public papers, to discuss the opinions of journalists, and therefrom to deduce conclusions alarming to that system which has for two hundred years secured the prosperity of this Archipelago." After some other observations respecting the impostures and falsehoods thus maintained, the proclamation concludes with desiring it to be understood," that though this government wishes to undeceive the ignorant and the credulous, it can reach and strike the evildisposed, and has at its disposal the force necessary to make the guilty tremble."

That a state of society in which a great majority of the people are slaves, and many more are excluded from the rights of citizens, is not one in which free discussion can be safely allowed, is very evident; and the tenure of the West India islands has been rendered more insecure since the success of the men of colour at St. Domingo in establishing an independent government. For although that island has ever since been a prey to the most sanguinary contests, it has presented an image of liberty and equality highly captivating to men groaning under degradation and bondage. To other attractions is now added that of a semblance of European honours and dignities, open to the ambition of the sable race. Christophe, the most powerful of the competitors, caused himself and his wife to be solemnly crowned at Cape Francois as king and queen of Hayti, by a titular archbishop, on June 2d,

after which he gave a splendid entertainment, at which were present two English captains and all the English and American merchants. His Majesty drank the health of his brother the king of Great Britain, and wished for his success against the French tyrant. He has created various ranks of nobility, and has issued edicts for the establishment of a royal guard, an order of knighthood, and an ecclesiastical hierarchy; and he will probably act the monarch with as much stage dignity as any of those who have lately been elevated to that station in Europe.

As it is now become impossible to prevent the slaves in the West Indies from considering themselves as of the same species with their masters, and therefore entitled to some of the rights of human beings, it will be the safest, as well as the most liberal policy, to convince them that they are in reality under the protection of the law; for which reason, the spectacle afforded this year in one of our islands, of the execution of a man of consequence and property for the cruel murder of his negroes, however repugnant to the feelings of the other planters, may have a salutary effect on both colours. The recommendation, however, of the murderer to mercy by the jury, and the necessity of proclaiming martial law in order to enforce his execution, were proofs of the difficulty which will always be experienced in establishing a system of equal justice, where society is composed of classes so radically different in their civil condition as masters and slaves.

It was doubtless the conviction of this truth that produced a refusal of the British constitution to the newly acquired island of Trinidad, on the ground that its white inhabitants were not to

be trusted with the power which the formation of juries, and other prerogatives of magistracy, li mited to themselves, would give them over the people of colour. (See Parliamentary Debates.)

THE

HE transactions in the Peninsula of India, during the last and present years, which have come to our knowledge, have not been of great importance. An event of some consequence to the powers to the northern part of Hindostan, and which exemplifies the practice of Hindoo policy, was that of the death of the Princess of Oudipore, by poison. This lady was the daughter of the Rana of Oudipore, whose family being

accounted more ancient and ho

nourable than that of any other Hindoo prince, his alliance was sought by the neighbouring Rajas of Jaypore and Joudpore, both of whom aspired to the hand of the princess. Their rivalry produced a war, in which Scindia, Holkar, Ameer Khan, and all the other native chieftains in that quarter, have at one time or another taken a part. To terminate this scene of contention, the poor princess was sacrificed, poison being administered to her by her own aunt, with the knowledge of her father. It is said that the scheme was secretly contrived by Ameer Khan, who, finding the Rana of Oudipore (now entirely in his power) was too far engaged to the Jaypore Rajah to retract, and resolved that his own ally, the Rajah of Joudpore, should not be disgraced by the triumph of his rival,

suggested this expedient as the only method of settling their opposite pretensions.

In the south of India, a revolution has taken place which illustrates the British mode of interference in the affairs of that part of the world. The misconduct of the new Rajah of Travancore, and his ill treatment of some of the branches of the deceased Rajah's family, attracted the notice of Col. Munro, the British resident at that court; and an investigation of his right to the throne being set on foot, it appeared that by the laws of the state his title was invalid, and that the Ranah Letchma Amah, in her 18th year, was the rightful successor. The interest of the British government made it expedient that the Rajah should be dethroned, and a notification was made to him to that effect; but as he attempted some resistance, he was placed under an escort of the 17th regiment, and marched from Trivanderum to Tellicherry. On the next day, March 17th, the Princess Letchma Amah was proclaimed, and invested with the khalut, jewels, and sword of state. She was crowned at an adjacent pagoda by the principal Brahmins, the British troops being drawn up on the occasion, to each corps of which she made a donation of 500 rupees: she was also honoured

with a royal salute from the fort. On her return to the palace she ascended the throne, where she received the congratulations of Col. Munro, the officers of government, &c. and was presented with some valuable jewels, and other articles, in the name of the British government. An attempt on her life was made by the adherents of the deposed Rajah, but was frustrated. This revolution, said to have been "rendered necessary by certain political considerations," was happily free from the guilt of bloodshed. The new female sovereign has promoted to places of high trust several Brahmins, attached to the British interest. All foreigners in her military service have been dismissed; beneficial arrangements have been made at the suggestion of the British resident; and pains have been taken to reconcile the minds of the people to the new order of things. No attempt was made, as was apprehended, to rescue the Ex-rajah, and a handsome establishment has been formed for him at Tellicherry.

The province of Vellore was afflicted, in 1810, with a drought and famine, in consequence of which 6,000 people perished, together with a great number of cattle.

The occurrence of a dreadful hurricane at Madras, in May 1811, has been communicated through the American journals. The storm, which blew from the east, reached its highest violence about eleven at night, when large trees were torn up by the roots, and doors and windows, how strongly soever fastened, were forced into the houses, both in the fort, the Black

Town, and the adjacent gardens and villages. The ships at anchor in the roads were for the most part driven ashore and lost; but of these, the crews were generally saved: among them was the Dover frigate and Chichester store-ship. About 70 sail of country small craft went down at their anchors, with most of their crews.

From Bombay, news has been received of the capture by storm, and the restoration to its lawful chieftain, of the fortress of Chya, a dependency of the Rajah of Poorbunder, who had sought and obtained the protection of the East India Company. It had been usurped from him by his son. The English force employed on this occasion consisted of the 47th regiment.

While the events, passing on the continent of India, have been thus limited to a few comparatively minute transactions, its islands have afforded scenes of extraordinary interest. The most splendid acquisition made by the British arms in the course of the year 1811, was that of the capital of the Dutch settlements in the East Indies, Batavia, with the rich island in which it is situated. After the reduction of the islands of Amboyna and Banda, with the French isles of Bourbon and France, the Governor-general of India, Lord Minto, resolved to complete the British dominion in that quarter of the world by the conquest of the Island of Java. In the month of March a body of troops destined for this expedition were encamped at Madras, consisting of his Majesty's 14th, 59th, and 69th regiments of foot, four squadrons of the 22nd dragoons,