attended the fair in great numbers, and nity the occasion of that suspension of our sold their goods so low as to defy all pro-labours which has taken place since the fitable competition. The consequence 13th of this month; it will be long and would be a necessity on the part of the painfully impressed on their minds; but German manufacturers to dismiss their those of our subscribers who reside in the workmen. There was little demand for neighbouring settlements, will no doubt be fine cloths, but the commoner sorts sold desirous of knowing the cause of it. We well. Leather was in great request. The shall therefore endeavour to perform this booksellers attending the fair could not unpleasant duty, although we feel considerboast of much success. It was observable, able difficulty in the attempt. that besides the standard writings of Goethe and Schiller, the principal books ining of Easter Monday, this island was demand were those on statistics, politics, and recent historical events. The falling off in the Leipsic fairs of late years is ascribed to merchants sending their riders through every nook and corner of Germany to obtain customers. Violent Storm: Water Spout. Stutgard, May 26.-On the 20th, a violent storm, with a water-spout, broke over the villages of Blorkingen and Hindorf. The water rushed in torrents from the mountains upon the two villages. At Blorkingen, it carried off five houses and all they contained; 18 were more or less damaged, and four persons drowned. At Hindorf, one house was carried off, and four damaged. Not only is the harvest destroyed, but the seeds are covered with sand and gravel. Solar Spots. At so early an hour as two in the morn placed under martial law, in order to quell a perfidious league of slaves in the parishes of St. Philip, Christ-church, St. John, and St. George; who, in their mad career, were setting fire to fields of cane, as well as pillaging and destroying the buildings on many estates, and otherwise pursuing a system of devastation which has seldom been equalled. The inhabitants of this town were apprised of these nefarious proceedings through the personal exertions of Colonel J. P. Mayers, of the royal regiment of, militia, who, on receiving the intelligence, instantly proceeded from his plantation: and having on his way acquainted Colonel Codd, in command of the garrison of St. Ann, the troops were immediately called to arms, and put in readiness to march in the route of these incendiaries. This promptitude on the part of the Commandant was followed by his kindness in supplying the St. Michael's militia with some arms that were required, and likewise some ammunition, so that by daybreak they were ready for service; on headed by Colonel Mayers, were soon afwhich the flank and some other companies, terwards dispatched, and on their march they joined a large body of regulars, commanded by Colonel Codd, with which they proceeded to the scene of desolation. The life guards, too, were sent in that direction, and being divided into squadrons, they frequently fell in with parties of the insurgents, some of whom they killed, and dispersed the rest and from the facility with which this body conveyed intelligence to the troops, it was found to be a most essential corps on this calamitous occasion. The enterprising spirit of Colonel Best was conspicuous in this affair; for, with the Christ Church battalion, he was on duty in the very midst of the rebellious, A Bible Society is now established at and contributed in a great degree to their Iceland. INDIES: WEST. Disturbances at Barbadoes. (From the Barbadoes Mercury of April 20.) Bridge-Town, April 30.-It is unnecessary to state to our readers in this commu disperson in that neighbourhood, soon after the commencement, in effecting which seIveral of the insurgents were shot. The troops from the garrison, as well as the militia, were, on approaching "the Thicket" (one of the estates principally concerned in this outrage), sent in divisions, in different directions, with the hope of discovering, before night, those places to which the rebellious had retreated, on In performing perceiving the advance. this duty, the troops surprised many parties of them, some of whom lost their lives in attempting to escape. Besides those that were killed on the following day, many were taken prisoners, and upwards of four hundred have been sent on board of vessels in the bay, to await the result of their trial, agreeably to a Proclamation issued by President Spooner. Many have been condemned in the parishes that revolted, on full evidence of their guilt, before a court martial; and a court of inquiry is sitting in town, before whom several have been convicted, and their sentence (death) has been carried into effect, on those plantations to which the offenders belonged. It having been deemed adviseable to acquaint his Excellency, Governor Sir James Leith, G. C. B. of the state of the country, an express was sent to Guadaloupe on the 16th instant, and his Excellency lost no time in proceeding hither, having arrived on the 24th in a French schooner of war that happened to be at that island. When the last accounts left Barbadoes, the island was perfectly tranquil, and the insurrection completely quelled. The damage done to estates and houses is estimated at £120,000. The insurrection is attributed to the Slave Registry Bill, and to a report propagated that the slaves were legally free; but, that their owners concealed the law by which they were privileged with freedom. Extract of a Letter from Bristol, June 10. "A letter from a Gentleman in Barbadoes, received here, states, that in pursuit of the Negroes a flag was found, divided into three compartments; in the first of which was painted a white man hanging by the neck; in the second, a black Chief, with a white woman kneeling at his feet, with clasped hands, imploring mercy; in the third, a black Chief crowned, with a white woman at his side. It states, that the insurrection was a regular concerted plan, but that it burst forth a week before it was intended, by some of the Chiefs, who, having become infuriate by drink, commenced the work of desolation." santry having assembled to the number of some thousands on the ringing of the tocsin, laid waste all the fields of rice, under pretence that they infected the air. It is only 15 years since the cultivation of rice was introduced into this part of Italy. It is a culture attended with great inconveniences; but such acts of violence are extremely reprehensible at a period when so great a dearth prevails in Italy. POLAND. Commerce promoted: New Fair. By a decree of the Viceroy of Poland, it is determined, for the promotion of the trade of the kingdom, to establish a depot of merchandise in Warsaw, where there is to be every year a great fair for foreign and home goods, from the 15th of June to the 15th of July, which is to commence in the year 1817. The winter corn in Poland had greatly suffered by the unfavourable weather. SPAIN. Privateer from the New World. The San Joze de la Constantia, from Cadiz to Carrel; and the San Antonia y la Magdalena, from Cadiz to St. Andero, were captured on the 15th ult. about ten leagues W. of Cadiz, by a galliot of six guns, reported to be a privateer from Buenos Ayres (a corvette of 22 guns was in sight). The latter prize was ransomed, and returned to Cadiz on the 19th ult. SWITZERLAND. State of the Swiss People. We learn from Paris, that on May 3, being the anniversary of the return of the King, the Corps of Cent Suisses received a standard, to which Madame the Duchess of Angoulême deigned to fasten the cravaltes. On this standard is depicted a rock beaten by storms, with this motto-Ea est fiducia gentis-[such is the fidelity of this nation]-a motto as honourable to all Switzerland, as to the corps whose stan dard it adorns. His Majesty deigned to | Establishment and Constitution of his Maexpress to the Duke de Mortemar his sa- jesty's Mint. tisfaction at the brilliant appearance of the corps, which was in fact distinguished on that day by its beauty, its fine military air, and the high stature of the men who compose it. At Friburgh, an energetic discourse circulates in manuscript, which was pronounced by Counsellor Uffligers against foreign military service during the debates on the capitulation. This discourse is read with the greater interest, as it combines enlightened patriotism with true elo quence. His Majesty having been pleased, by his Order in Council of 7th February, 1798, to direct this Committee to take into consideration the state of the coins of this realm, and the present Establishment and Constitution of his Majesty's Miut; the Committee, in discharge of their duty, have already submitted to his Majesty their opinion on some of the points so referred to them. A new Mint has, at their recommendation, been erected, and furnished with a most complete and extensive coining appaA great many Swiss from all the Pro- ratus, including all the modern improvetestant Cantons are going soon to departments; and in a representation to your from Basle for America. Commerce and Royal Highness in Council, of 6th March, manufactures languish both at Basle and in 1815, this Committee suggested several althe parts of Germany next to the Rhine.- | terations in the establishment and constiAs no Swiss or German manufactures are tution of his Majesty's Miut; which your now permitted to enter France, many have Royal Highness was graciously pleased to almost wholly ceased to work. Last Thurs- approve; and which will, it is presumed, day a number of waggons, with manufac- render that establishment more efficient. tures, both from Germany and Switzerland, having presented themselves at the French Custom-house on the frontiers, to pay the duties, were ordered to return back; with the notification, that till further orders no waggons with goods could enter France. (Gazette de Lausanne, May 17.) These preliminary steps having been completed, the Committee have availed themselves of the return of general peace, to resume the consideration of the important subject referred to them, which the unusually high prices of the precious metals, and other circumstances arising out of a state of war, had obliged them to suspend; and they now take leave humbly to represent to your Royal Highness, that an immediate coinage of gold and silver monies would be of great public benefit. But that if your Royal Highness should be pleased to give directions for carrying the same into effect, they do not conceive it would be adviseable to make any alteration, either in standard, weight, or denominations of the gold coins. The Committee are however, of opinion, that it should forthwith be proposed to Parliament, to pass an Act declaring the gold coin alone to be the standard coin of this realm; and that the silver coins are hereafter to be considered merely as representative coins, and to be a legal tender only in payment of sums not exceeding two guineas. The Committee do not think it necessary to state to your Royal Highness the reasons which have led them to recom declared to be the standard coin of the mend that the gold coin alone should be realm, because they humbly conceive that such a declaration by Parliament would in truth be merely in confirmation of a principle, already established by the uni versal consent and practice of his Majesty's subjects, and which appears to be in great nieasure recognized by the Act of 38 Geo. III. chap. 59. With respect to the silver coins, of which an immediate supply appears to be more indispensably necessary for the public convenience; the Committee are of opinion, that no alteration should be made either in | the standard of fineness, or in the denominations of the coins; but they think it will be adviseable to diminish the weight of the pieces, in order to prevent a recurrence of those inconveniences which have hitherto arisen from the melting of the new and perfect silver coins as soon as they have appeared in circulation, for the purpose of converting them into bullion, in which state they have generally been more valuable than as coin. The Committee are, therefore, of opinion, that it should be proposed to Parliament, to authorize his Majesty to direct, that in all future coinages of silver, sixty-six shillings (and other coins in proportion) shall be struck from each pound weight Troy of standard silver, instead of sixty-two. It has hitherto been the practice in his Majesty's Mint, to return to those who import silver for the purpose of having it converted into coin, a quantity of coin equal in weight to the quantity of standard silver so imported, the expense of coining being borne by the public. So long as the silver coins were considered to be the standard coin of the realm, this principle appears to this Committee to have been a wise one, and they conceive that it should still be adhered to in respect of the gold coin, which is now to be declared the standard coin of the realm; but the Committee are of opinion that the charge of coining the silver coins, as well as a small allowance for seignorage, ought to be deducted; and that his Majesty should be authorized to direct the Master of his Mint to retain four shillings out of each pound weight troy of silver coin, hereafter to be coined, for the charge of brassage and seignorage, and that the money received for the same should be applied to the public service in discharge of the interest of the sum expended in the erection of the new Mint, and in defraying the general expences of the Mint Establishment. In thus stating the number of pieces to be struck from each pound of silver, and the amount of the sum to be deducted for brassage and seignorage, the Committee have, to the best of their judgment, endeavoured to fix on such a rate as will, on the one hand, be sufficiently high to protect the new coins, by a small increase of their nominal value, from the danger of being meited down and converted into bullion when the market price of silver rises; while on the other, it will, they trust, not be found to be so low as to afford any encouragement to the issue of counterfeit coin, if the market-price of silver should fall. Should your Royal Highness think fit to adopt the plan which the Committee have thus recommended, they think it would be adviseable, that a sum of not less than £2,500,000 in silver coin should actually be coined, before any issue of new coin takes place; viz. £2,000,000 for the use of Great Britain, and £500,000 for the use of Ireland, It will, however, be necessary before any further progress can be made in the execution of a new silver coinage, on the above principles, that the legal prohibitions against coining any silver coins of the realm, or altering the weight of such coins, arising out of the Acts of 18 Chs. II. ch. 5, 7, and 8 William III. ch. 1. sec. 1, and 2, 14 Geo. III. ch. 42, sec. 1, 38 Geo, III. ch. 59, sec. 2, should be repealed; and with this view, the Committee take leave to recommend, that in the Bill to he proposed to Parliament, provision should be made for the removal of those prohibitions. When that shall have been effected, the Committee will proceed humbly to recommend to your Royal Hignness the regulations which they conceive will be necessary with respect to the time and mode of calling in the silver coins now in currency, as well as with respect to the allowance (if any) to be made hereafter for reasonable wear, in each denomination of the proposed new silver coins. The Committee think it right, however, now to state, as their opinion, with respect to the silver coins at present in circulation, that it should be proposed to Parliament to authorize bis Majesty, whenever he shall see fit to call in such silver coins, to directthat all such pieces as shall be judged by the Officers of the Mint to have been actually coined in his Majesty's Mint, should be received by tale, and that the holders of the same should receive in return an equal value by tale of the new silver coins. May 21, 1816. An account laid before the House of Commons estimates the sum necessary for reinstating the buildings damaged or destroyed by the late fire at the Mint, at 13,0001. THIRD Report from the SELECT COM MITTEE ON SEEDS AND WOOL, &C. The Select Committee appointed to ex. amine into the policy of imposing an increased Duty on the Import of foreign Seeds, and to Report their opinion therm upon to the House; and who were instruct- | ed to consider of the Laws relative to Woollen Goods, and the Trade in Wool; and also to consider the Lws prohibiting the growth of Tobacco in Great Britain; and to whom the several Petitions on the subjects of Seeds and Wool were referred; and who were empowered to report, from time to time, to the House, together with the Minutes of the Evidence taken before them; Having submitted to the House the result of their inquiries upon the inexpediency, under the present circumstances, of introducing any alteration in the laws affecting the import and export of wool, as well as their opinion of the necesssity of raising the Import Duty upon Rape Seed to £10 per last, proceeded to an examination of the other subjects referred to their consideration, and have come to the following resolutions: Resolved, That it is the opinion of this Committee, that any legislative interference which might affect the supply of Linseed, Clover Seed, and smaller Seeds, would not hold out such a prospect of relief to the agricultural interest, as to induce your Committee to recommend measures which they find likely, in some degree, to affect the manufacturing and com mercial relations of the country; but that your Committee are of opinion, that the removal of the duties now levied on Rape Cake and Linseed Cake imported, would have a beneficial effect upon the agriculture of the country, and tend materially to increase the quantity of grain for the supply of the home market. Resolved, That it appears to this Committee, that neither the soil nor the climate of this country are ill adapted to the cultivation of tobacco; but the difficulties which would attend the collection of a duty on Tobacco grown at home, and the temptation which would be held out to defraud the Revenue, as long as the present duties on tobacco imported continue to be levied, are such as to induce your Committee to be of opinion, that no alteration under the present circumstances, should be made in the laws relating to Tobacco. Naval Force.-The following is a correct statement of the Navy in Commission, made up to the 1st of June: Of the Line, 22-Fifties, 5-Frigates, 66-Cutters, Sloops, Schooners, &c. 89– Guard Ships (not effective) &c. 12-Troop Ships, 6-Store Ships, 12-Yatchts, 5Total, 217.-Decrease this month, 9. Preparations are making at Plymouth to examine the state of the breakwater, by VOL. IV. No. 22. Lit Pan. N. S. July 1. In consequence of an application to Goverument, by a petition agreed at Cranbrook, a few days since, by the principal hop planters in the Weald of Kent, representing the inconvenience and expence to which they would be exposed in carrying into effect the conditions under which the demand of the Hop duties were directed to be suspended, the Lords Commissioners of his Majesty's Treasury have been pleased to direct, that the Bond and Sureties should be altogether dispensed with, except in such cases, where the party owing duty was no longer the occupier or possessor of the hop-ground for which the duty was due. -Kent Gazette. Shortest Voyage known. Lately arrived from China, thirteen large laden ships of the East India Company, after a passage of only 109 days, the shortest ever known, and highly honourable to the nautical skill and science of their commanders. The great events of Waterloo had been heard of in China, and the consequences justly appreciated. The ships divided into three squadrons, and arrived at St. Helena together; they were dispatched from St. Helena, two and two, and arrived again all at once off the Start Point in the Channel. Russia, commerce with. The following official letter has been recently received from the British Consul at St. Petersburgh. It produced a deep sensation in the city: To SAMUEL THORNTON, ESQ. Governor of THE RUSSIA COMPANY. St. Petersburgh, April 28 (May 10), 1816. "SIR-I had the pleasure of writing to you on the 21st April (May 8), by post, and two days after by a Courier, with the New Tariff. By these opportunities I communicated to you, for information of the Court of Assistants, all the details I could collect of this so long-expected Tariff: and I have now the mortification to acquaint you, that orders have been received with it at the Custom-house here, to continue in force the rules and regulations formed dur ing the unfortunate differences between Great Britain and Russia, and ever since acted upon, though with some temporary modifications on 2 B |