The Slave Trade. The following resolutions were passed by the Congress of the United States of America, on the 11th of February 1817 :

"Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the President be, and he is hereby authorized to consult and negociate with all the Governments where Ministers of the United States are, or shall be accredited, on the means of effecting an entire and immediate abolition of the traffic in slaves: and also, to enter into a convention with the Government of Great Britain for receiving into the colony of Sierra Leone such of the free people of colour of the United States as, with their own consent, shall be carried thither, stipulating such terms as shall be most beneficial to the colonists, while it promotes the peaceful interests of Great Britain and the United States; and should this proposition not be accepted, then to obtain from Great Britain and the other maritime powers, a stipulation or a formal declaration to the same effect, guaranteeing a permanent neutrality for any colony of free people of colour, which, at the expense and under the auspices of the United States, shall be established on the African coast.

“Resolved, That adequate provision shall hereafter be made to defray any necessary expenses which may be incurred in carrying the preceding resolution into effect."

The new President, Mr Munro, is continuing his tour, and is every where entertained with great magnificence.

Joseph Bonaparte has purchased of S. Sayer, Esq. formerly Sheriff of London, his elegant seat at Bordentown, on the Jersey side of the Delaware, which he is re-building in the Italian style. His income is about £6000 per annum; and he passes his time chiefly in his library, and in retirement.

BRITISH AMERICA.

Letters from Halifax, of the 16th July, state, that numerous vessels continued to arrive there with emigrants from Great Britain. Within the three weeks immediately preeeding that date, about 1000 individuals

had been landed, and immense numbers were on their way to Canada. The brig Traveller, from Leith, with 60 emigrants, foundered at sea in the month of May, but the passengers and crew were saved by the ship Valiant, and landed at Prince Edward's Island in the gulph of St Lawrence.

PORTUGUESE AMERICA. The account, in our last number, of the restoration of the royal authority at Pernambuco has been confirmed. The troops from Bahia were attacked by the insurgents on the 15th May, when an action took place which lasted all night, after which the insurgent force appears to have dispersed. On the 16th, Martinez, the leader of the insurrection, at the head of a small column, was attacked by a corps of 300 men, by whom he was defeated, and afterwards taken prisoner, and carried to Bahia, where he was executed on the 11th June. About 70 other prisoners were about to be tried, and it was expected would share the same fate. Letters from Pernambuco of the 26th June state, that every thing was tranquil there, but that trade was still in a deranged

state.

The property of those who had engaged in the insurrection was confiscated.

SPANISH AMERICA.

The accounts from this interesting portion of South America are more uniformly favourable to the patriot cause than during an earlier stage of their important and protracted struggle. Their privateering has of late proved a lucrative trade, and with the spoils of their land engagements, increased their means of supporting the contest.-On the 8th May, the independent government of Venezuela were enabled to revive their former constitution. General Bolivar and Don Fernando Toro were placed at the head of the executive power. Judges and other functionaries were also chosen, and Generals Bolivar and Marino were reinstated in the command of the armies.-A decree was at the same time issued, confirming Brion as admiral in chief of the Venezuelian squadron. Among other things, it was determined that the city of Assumption, in the island of Margarita, should be the future residence of the federal government, and that its name should henceforth be changed to that of New Sparta, in consequence of the heroic conduct of its inhabitants.

This Government has issued a decree permitting English and American goods to be imported for a duty of 8 per cent., instead of the 17 exacted from other nations; but promising to these other nations the same mitigation of impost whenever they shall shew to the patriots the same conciliatory disposition.

In Chili, at the opposite extremity of the Spanish empire, and in some respects the most interesting region of the western world,

The patriot army in Mexico, under General Mina, had, by the last accounts, left Sotala Marina for New St Ander, the capital of a district of the same name. His army was receiving constant reinforcements of young men as he passed through the country; and every thing promised the most favourable result for the cause of Mexican liberty.

In the beginning of August, a vessel sailed from Portsmouth for St Thomas's, with 10,000 stand of arms, 10,000 muskets, and 10,000 cutlasses on board; and also about 100 British officers, volunteers, to join the independent cause in South America. The Spanish minister in London complained of this to Lord Castlereagh, who told him, that no law existed for preventing British officers on half-pay from leaving the kingdom, or throwing up their commissions. The ambassador replied, that if they were taken in

company with the rebels, they must expect to meet with rebel fate. To this observation Lord Castlereagh had nothing to reply, except that British officers so eircumstanced must abide by the consequences.

WEST INDIES.

The Jamaica papers contain details relative to the predatory vessels with which the West Indies is infested. At Jamaica they give the appellation of pirates to their crews, and denounce vengeance against them. The trade of that island seems to have suffered most severely from their depredations. Nor is the evil likely to be lessened speedily, for Commodore Taylor, as he is styled, a bold and adventurous leader, has collected no less than 13 armed vessels in these seas. His immediate object was represented to be an attack on Porto Rico, the richest of the Spanish West India islands, and close to St Domingo. Much, of course, depends upon the dispositions of the troops and inhabitants. The Jamaica Courant, of the 16th of May, says, "Information from home states, that Lord Melville had forwarded to this island positive instructions to check in every instance the piratical depredations of any flag which may be found annoying the commerce of this colony."

JULY.

3.—Destruction, by Fire, of a Steam boat. The Regent steam-packet sailed from London on Wednesday morning last for Margate, with about fifty persons on board; and, about four in the afternoon, she was discovered to be on fire, which was occasioned by the flue of the chimney being blown away, and the flame having caught hold of the wood-work erected upon deck for keeping the people near the chimney from burning themselves. The Captain immediately determined to make to land, Whitstable being then eight miles distant, which he reached in the course of an hour, the fire raging in the interior of the vessel during the time, and causing a scene of terror upon deck altogether indescribable. Three boats from Whitstable took the pas sengers and crew on shore, after the vessel grounded; and, in less than three minutes afterwards, the deck fell in, and every part of the vessel was ultimately consumed, except the keel and engine, which, on the ebbing of the tide, were found buried in the sand.

18. Launch. Yesterday was launched from the King's dock-yard, at Deptford, a new yacht, named the Royal George. The

VOL. I.

Goodwin and Co.

Elliott and Co.
Taylor and Co.

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Golden Lane Brewery, Hollingsworth,

Barrels. 60,307 55,163 42,920 25,756 7,629 21.-Golfing.-On Saturday, the silver club, given by the City of Edinburgh to the Honourable Company of Golfers, was played for on Leith Links, and gained by Walter Cook, Esq. writer to the signet, the present holder of the gold medal.

Singular Discovery-A curious circumstance took place at Shadwell-Office on Saturday. Sarah Ann Brown, alias William Brown, was charged with an assault, and, during the examination, (being dressed in sailor's clothes,) confessed she was a woman, and had served 14 years in the royal navy, in the Queen Charlotte, had a pension, and had but lately returned from a voyage to the West Indies. She is a native of New York, and said nothing would have induced her to discover her sex but the unpleasant situation in which she was placed. After making satisfaction, she was discharged.

23.-Fire-damp Explosion.On Monday night last, a partial explosion took place in Sheriff-Hill colliery at Newcastle, by which John Tempest, one of the hewers, was so dreadfully burnt, that he died the following day. The accident was owing solely to the obstinacy of the deceased, who would persist in going into a part of the mine with a lighted candle, against the express orders of the overman. He has left a widow and three children.

Diving-Bell.-On the 19th, as three men, employed on the new works carrying on at Sheerness dock-yard, were descending in the diving-bell, some accident occurred, and the signal to be drawn up not being understood by the person above, two out of the three were unfortunately drowned; the one who was saved made his escape from under the bell, which the others were unable to effect. As soon as recovered, the bodies were taken to the surgery, and means used to restore animation, but, unhappily, without effect.

24. Mr Sadler's Balloon.-Crossing St George's Channel.—Mr Sadler, junior, ascended from the Cavalry Barrack, near Dublin, on the 22d inst. at forty minutes past one P. M., and landed at about a mile and a half from Holyhead, at half-past seven P. M., having crossed the Irish Channel in about six hours. Mr Sadler effected his descent, in perfect safety, in a corn field, being six hours and five minutes from the time of his ascent. He experienced various contrary currents of air, and perfect calms, with the extremes of heat and cold. Mr Sadler returned into Dublin this morning. Thus, for the first time, has the perilous attempt of crossing the

Channel been accomplished, by a youth not yet in his twenty-second year. During Mr Sadler's stay at Holyhead, he went to visit the new pier which is building there; and, seeing the diving-bell, was, at his pressing request, let down in it to a depth of several fathoms, where he remained under water a considerable length of time.

Grand Naval Entertainment.-This

day, Captain Forrest of the Ister frigate, entertained nearly 300 ladies and gentlemen of the first fashion on board that ship in Leith Roads. The entertainment consisted of a déjeuné on the quarter-deck, where ices of every description, and the finest fruits, pine-apples, grapes, cakes, noyeau, and other liqueurs, orgeat, lemonade, &c. were in the greatest profusion. The gun-deck was fitted up as a diningroom, and the table splendidly ornamented with naval and military trophies, festoons of flowers, &c. At five o'clock the company sat down to an elegant hot dinner and desert, during which the choicest wines flowed liberally. After dinner, the company went to the ball-roon, where country dances and waltzes were kept up with great spirit, during which the company were entertained with all kinds of ices and fruits till two o'clock, when they returned to the gun-deck to supper, which was served up in the same elegant style. After which the dancing recommenced, and did not leave off till five o'clock on Friday morning, Gow's band and the ship's band played alternately; and the band of the 6th dragoon guards was stationed on the beach when the company came off.

25.-Inverness-The excise-officers of this district, having had information that a considerable quantity of smuggled salt was to be conveyed from the west coast, set out with a party on the 31st, with the view of intercepting it. At the west end of the wood of Spittal, Ross-shire, they fell in with five men driving four horses laden with salt, which they seized without much opposition. In a short time thereafter, three other parties of smugglers successively came up, and the horses and salt they escorted were seized, making in all twenty horses, with a bag of salt each. In the resistance made by one party of the smugglers, one of their number was severely wounded by the officers' swords; one of the horses was killed by the same means; the others were sold at Inverness, next day, by public auction.

Archery. On the 19th, the silver arrow, given by the town of Musselburgh, was shot for on the race-course there, by the Royal Company of Archers, and gained by Sir Patrick Walker.

28.-Explosion at the New Customhouse, Thames Street, London.-About ten o'clock this morning, the foundation of the stair-case at the public entrance was blown

up, by the bursting of one of the principal pipes for conducting the gas. The explosion was tremendous, and the stones were scattered with great force in every direction. We did not hear that any person was hurt.

Trial of Luddites, &c.-The trials of the Luddites, and those concerned in the late riots at Huddersfield, took place last week at the York Assizes, when the prisoners were all acquitted; for, although it ap peared in evidence, that the riots were of an alarming description, the guilt could not be fixed on any of the persons indicted. The Judge exhorted the prisoners, before discharging them, to beware of engaging in such courses in future; to which one of them immediately replied for the rest, “We will indeed, my Lord."

30.-Lord Castlereagh.-On Sunday the 27th, as Lord Castlereagh was walking in his grounds at Footscray, in Kent, accompanied by a Wirtemberg dog of his lady's, a large Spanish dog fell upon the animal, and his Lordship immediately pulled it off The smaller dog flew at his antagonist, as the latter was taken from him, and in doing so fastened upon his Lordship's fingers, which he grasped so strongly, that Lord Castlereagh was obliged to employ his other hand in opening the dog's mouth. Lordship's hand was, in consequence, considerably lacerated, the sinews of the first and second fingers being separated, and the nail of one being nearly torn off. Dr Bankhead was immediately sent for to London, who ordered his Lordship to bed; and it was some time before he could again attend to his important duties.

His

31.-Improvements in Edinburgh.-On Monday last, stanees for seven houses, four on the north side, and three on' the south side of the Regent's Bridge, between Prince's Street and the arch, were sold to a builder for L. 25,000. By the contract, the buildings must all be finished by Martinmas 1818.

Railway. A subscription has been commenced for a railway to convey the county coal to Edinburgh and Leith. The carriage of coals to Edinburgh is reckoned to cost about L. 60,000 Sterling yearly, falling, of course, in a great degree, upon the poorer and more numerous class of the inhabitants. By the railway, it is expected, after paying 10 per cent. to the subscribers, that the carriage will be performed at onehalf of the present cost, and a saving arise to the public of about L. 30,000 per an

1.-State Trials. Yesterday, about 80 persons dined at the Crown and Anchor, London, to celebrate the acquittal of Watson, Thistlewood, &c. Mr Hunt was in the chair, and spoke several times in the course of the evening. Messrs Watson, Thistlewood, and Preston, also addressed the meeting on their healths being given. Hooper was absent from indisposition.

British Navy.-An important official document has just appeared, in the shape of proposals and regulations, relative to the navy, made by the Board of Admiralty, and sanctioned by an order of Council. After elucidating the accidental causes which have introduced the existing anomaly of rating ships at a certain number of guns, while their real complement exceeded that nominal amount, the Board, with a just and patriotic feeling, make the following observations :-"We trust we shall be excused for observing to your Royal Highness, that it is wholly unworthy the character of the royal navy of this kingdom, to maintain this system, which, though introduced without any design of deception, yet may give occasion to foreign nations to accuse us of misrepresentation, when we state that a British frigate of 38 guns has taken a foreign frigate of 44,

when, in fact, the British frigate was of equal, if not superior force." It is then stated, that the American ship President had 55 guns mounted on the day of her capture, though she was rated at only 44. In the British navy this practice will no longer continue, for it is now ordered, that the rule which prevailed prior to 1793, shall be revived, and in future all his Majesty's ships will be rated at the number of guns and carronades which they actually carry on their decks, quarterdecks, and forecastles.

Swindling. On the 29th ult. a swindler contrived to carry off a considerable sum from the Glasgow Bank, by using the name of Adamson and Logan, manufacturers; whose proceeds of bills discounted he audaciously called for and received from one of the tellers. The amount was L 1314; but this being a larger sum than the swindler wanted, or was able to utter, he next day returned L. 900, in closed in a letter, in which he promised to repay the remainder on his arrival in America.

2.-University of Edinburgh.-Yesterday, the Senatus Academicus of the University of Edinburgh conferred the degree of Doctor in Medicine on 92 gentlemen, after the usual public and private trials namely, 37 of Scotland, 18 from England, 32 from Ireland, three from Jamaica, one from Hamburgh, and one from Barbadoes.

An old Egg-About a fortnight ago, when pulling down the wall of an old house in Annan, a hen's egg was discovered in the middle of the wall, which was composed of stone and clay, and was built in the year 1648; consequently the egg must have continued there for the long space of 169 years. When found, the shell was completely whole. This relique of antiquity is now in the possession of Mr Bryce Downie, mathematician in Annan.

4.-The King-Yesterday, the following bulletin was exhibited at St James's Palace: Windsor Castle, August 2.His Majesty has been generally in good health and tranquil spirits during this last month, though, perhaps, less uniformly than for some months preceding. His Majesty's disorder has suffered no alteration." -It has been reported, and partially believed, that his Majesty had lost his hearing, as well as his eye-sight; but we are happy to state that there is no truth in the report. Indeed, as if Providence kindly intended to compensate for the loss of vision, his Majesty's sense of hearing is not merely quick, but it has become, if we may be allowed to use the term, discriminative. When his Majesty is in a composed state of mind, he can readily distinguish, and tell, by their footsteps, the name of any one who is approaching or

passing him. As but few are allowed to see him, he generally amuses himself as they pass, by calling to them by name. His Majesty's habits have not, in consequence of infirmity or old age, undergone material change. His Majesty, as usual, rises early-breakfasts at eight o'clock, or soon after-dines at one-continues partial to mutton and beef, and when in a tranquil state, he orders what his dinner table shall be furnished with.

Launch of a Frigate. The Arethusa, a very fine frigate of 46 guns, was launched on the 29th ult. from the new dock-yard, Pembroke. Her dimensions and tonnage are as under :— Feet. In.

Length of keel for tonnage 126 1 Breadth 40 1 Tonnage 1,934 60-94ths. This vessel is a sister ship to the Thetis frigate, launched from the same yard in February last.

Water Spout. On the 1st inst. between two and three in the afternoon, Cupar, Fife, was visited by a thunder-storm of about an hour's continuance. It was attended by the singular phenomenon of a water-spout, which discharged itself on Tarvit Hill, over the north side of which it descended in a torrent on the adjacent fields; and these, to a considerable extent, were entirely flooded. The violence of the torrent was such, that large stones were rolled along; deep trenches were formed; and from the ground over which it passed, every trace of vegetation has fled.

Thunder Storms.-On Tuesday the 22d ult. about two o'clock, while Mr D. Smith, farmer at Denside, in the parish of Monikie, was sitting in his parlour at dinner, along with Mrs Smith, he suddenly heard an explosion and a shriek from the kitchen, in which were Miss Smith, two servant girls, and a servant man. On hurrying to the kitchen, he found it filled with smoke, which soon cleared away, and disclosed his daughter and three servants in a state of stupor-several pieces of the pavement of the floor torn up and shattered-that on which stood the chair, where two of the servants were sitting, together with the chair, shivered to atoms, all the panes dashed out of the kitchen window-and the ceiling perforated to the extent of six feet by three. Two large holes were also made in the inner wall of the chimney, and the chimney-stalk was rent in pieces. Three rustics (two of whom were sitting on one chair), though struck to the ground, escaped with very little injury from that tremendous power by which the solid earth under them was rent, and their seat literally annihilated.

During a very heavy thunder storm on Wednesday 23d ult. a shepherd got into a small shed on Seven Oaks common, accompanied by his dog, for shelter, where