more manner. was mainder to her four grand-daugh- owner. In January, 1826, he was ters, between whom the property seized by an officer of the Customs, was to be equally divided ; "and and proceedings were instituted I cannot conceive,” said his lord- against the owners on an informaship, “what right these people had tion, in the same terms, and to to proceed against the slaves, or to the same effect, as the others. The interfere in the matter.” General Vice-admiralty court had proDon, who sent them to Barbadoes, nounced in favour of the owners. because there were other persons Lord Stowell.-I have no doubt going there, sent them in the most in affirming the sentence. Had he convenient way; there was no oc- been properly discharged from the casion for two or three ships to be king's service, he might have been employed. They were sent, there a free subject in virtue of his disa fore, not to their place of desti- charge. nation, but, for convenience, to The King's-advocate hoped that Barbadoes, where lord Comber- it would be considered that his mere had acted, with respect to learned friend (Dr. Lushington) them, in a discreet and proper and himself had done no He was not bound by than their duty in bringing these statutes respecting merchants; he cases before the Court. a commander-in-chief and governor. “I am not,” said his lordship, “ to watch such a transa Court of King's BENCH, WESTaction as this with suspicion. I MINSTER, DEC. 18. do not think that suspicion ought to be indulged towards persons The King v. Meireillos. who are appointed to those high The indictment charged Antonio situations on account of their trust- Joao Nunez de Meireillos with worthiness. Neither do I see any having conspired with Francisco impropriety in the manner in which Antonio de Oliveira, Antonio de he carried the measure into execu- Souza Rocha, Jose Antonio Gontion. As to his not consulting his salvez Viana, and Henrico Lopez law-officers, he did consult them; Ferras de Beca, to defraud the he did not act on his own authority underwriters at Lloyd's. The demerely. I therefore I therefore pronounce fendant pleaded “ Not Guilty.” against the appeal, and affirm the The Attorney-general stated, sentence of the court below.” that the jury would have only one defendant, Mr. Meireillos, to try, as the others had fled into Portugal. The prosecution arose out of a In the matter of a Slave, named policy of insurance on the Diana, Jack Martin. a ship which belonged to Mr. Jose In this case, the slave in ques- Antonio Gonsalvez Viana. tion ran away from Antigua, and effected for 16,0001. on a voyage entered on board his majesty's ship from Oporto to Rio Janeiro, and Cygnet. Whilst that vessel was was signed by some of the most in the roadsted of Antigua, he was respectable underwriters in the taken out of it, with the consent city of London. The vessel was of the commander, who gave him lost on its voyage to Rio, and Mr. up, and he was returned to his Viana immediately called upon the It was underwriters to make the loss at Oporto, the books were examingood. They suspected that there ed before Viana was enabled to was some fraud in the demand send any orders from England on made upon them ; first, because the subject. He had left his the loss was said to be the result books in the care of his father-inof a wreck; and next, because it law, Lopez de Passos, who, on was said to have been occasioned seeing the order of the court of by holes made by rats in the ves- Exchequer, allowed them to be sel, which always made it leak the inspected. Upon that inspection, most in fine weather. The un- discoveries were made of several derwriters, therefore, called on Mr. circumstances quite inconsistent Viana to state the amount of his with the answer which Viana had losses, and to verify it upon oath. put in; and extracts were taken It then turned out, that he was from the pages in which these disnot the only person interested in coveries were first perceived. The the policy, but that there was lights thus obtained by the underanother person interested in it, writers made it necessary for them who lived at Oporto, and passed to file a supplemental bill in the by the name of Lopez. The ship court of Exchequer, and to call was valued at 2,0001. by the de- for a further answer from Viana. fendant Meireillos, who was the On discovering that his books had clerk of Lopez, and who also as- been examined, Viana made several sisted Viana in his business. Viana, alterations in his former statement. in answer to a bill filed against He made allusions to several other him in the Exchequer by the un- books in which he kept his acderwriters, swore, that he had counts, and professed his readiness purchased the Diana of two per- to bring them into court if it sons, for 7,900 milreas, which should be so required. His books amounted to about 2,000l. sterling; were accordingly exhibited in the and that he had shipped in it a court of Exchequer. As far as large quantity of silks and serges, they went, they certainly confirmwhich he had packed up in boxes ed and verified his answer. They on his premises; and with his also set forth the various purchases testimony that of Meireillos agreed which he had made in Portugal, perfectly. Viana alleged, that he of various commodities, which he made purchases of these serges swore that he had put on board and silks at different fairs in Por- his vessel, and were confirmed in tugal, and gave the names of the all their leading details by similar individuals of whom he had pur- depositions from Mr. Meireillos. chased them. After this answer It turned out, however, that had been put in, an order was these books, when examined, were made by the court of Exchequer for found not to contain the extracts the examination of Viana's books which Mr. Young had taken from at Oporto. Now, it was not the the book he had inspected, but intention of Viana, who had come passages and entries utterly incanto England to prosecute his claims, sistent with them.': A suspicion to have had his books examined arose that the books had been before he himself returned to fabricated for the occasiona si InOporto. But, owing to the alacrity quiry was made into the circuinof Mr. Young, the agent of Lloyd's stance; and it then appeared, that, answer. when Viana heard that his books entries were made in those books, had been inspected by Young, he which were not there the first had been seized by an alarm lest time that Young examined them; his books should be found incon- and those entries which regarded -sistent with his answer. The let- the price of the vessel were made ters which he then wrote to Por- in Meireillos's hand-writing: itugal were couched in a well These facts were proved ; and studied obscurity, in order to veil letters of Viana, dated the 21st of their real object. He expressed September, 1825; 28th of Septemgreat indignation at his father-in- ber, 1825; 19th of October, 1825; law for having allowed his books and 30th of November, 1825, were 'to be examined by the commis- put in and read. The first was sioners of the court of Exchequer, addressed “ To the most illustrious and obscurely hinted that new Mons. Joao Lopez Ferras de Beca, books ought to be fabricated forth- Oporto :"with. He sent, by a confidential London, Sept. 21, 1825. friend, details which he enumer- Adored and beloved Father ; ated ; and the fabricated books By your favour of the 6th current, would be found to tally exactly I remained very much surprised with those details. He likewise and full of affliction; for having desired that the price given for the warned you with anticipation by vessel in his books should be made my sundry letters, not to show any to correspond with the price stated books or papers to any one whomto have been given for it in his soever, it being for this that I The manner in which ordered them to be placed in your this fraud was to be executed care ; I see that you have fallen came, by an extraordinary piece into the snare prepared by the of good fortune, to the knowledge attornies and agents of the underof the agent at Lloyd's; and, of writers, and they, with an effrontery course, the underwriters were pre- never heard of, have availed thempared to expect that Viana's books, selves and taken advantage of you, when produced, would fully sup- merely passing in silence their not port his answer. It turned out having any order from me. Your that their expectations were cor- Excellency will have been prerect. The underwriters about the sented with the answers which same time discovered, that Viana were given in this Court upon had bought the Diana, not for oath to all the questions of the 7,900 milreas, but for 2,900 mil- underwriters, and my clerk will reas, which were not paid in cash, have given you informations and but partly in silks and serges, and explanations of things I ordered partly in bills, which were now him to put into execution, which dishonoured. Meireillos was im- will abundantly prove how much plicated in this conspiracy ; for he I am in despair and uneasiness. had corroborated by his depositions If, finally, you can give any Viana's answer : he had sworn remedy to such great torments, that he had seen certain boxes do not spare yourself, and an unpacked up and sent on board the fortunate man may yet be saved : Diana : he went to Portugal be- but should there be none, I will, - fore Viana ; he was present at the with resignation, face whatever re-manufacturing of certain books; fate you may decide. My affliction and unquiet will not suffer me to circumstances. All should comreflect, nor do I know what to do. bine and see in what way a remedy Full of grief, I beg pardon, and may be given. Now I am thinkconclude by recommending myself ing, that by November, when the to all in the most feeling manner, courts will open, there will be no confessing myself to be the most want of amusement, and it is prounlucky and tormented of mortals. bable there may be very sad deYour minor Son, cisions, if there be not some more D. J. G. VIANA. waggery.- In short, we are strivP.S. I beg as a most special ing to prevent evils of great imfavour that my adored wife may portance, and to do every thing know nothing of this. Cutting that is possible. It is necessary to by this line, this must be delivered have in the letter-book copies of with every necessary precaution. letters relating to the remittances [The letter which follows was sent and returned ; and it is morewritten on the same sheet of paper, over necessary to have letters in and is addressed to Smith, correspondence from this man in esq. who was supposed to mean a reply, to say he had received these man of the name of Da Costa.] letters, and their being with the Dear Friend ;—What bitter post-office mark would be very news you communicate to me! I much to the point; and finally, if do not know how I am able to in the last extreme, said letters live: my grief is extreme, &c. It were to mention that he had or appears to me it would be much was about to go to Spain, and that to the purpose to give every expla- he had transacted his affairs through nation there may be, and make the means of Joze Caetano Care every thing appear to the illustrious neiro, or that his residence was Mr. J. L.--. See if there be not there, as also that it was only any possibility of rescuing one through him that he performed from the precipice in which I am them, &c. &c. ; and if Joze Caetano buried. Oh, great God! Is this Carneiro should afterwards swear possible? Finally, every diligence to this in his deposition, what good should be used, and every thing luck would not be mine, since, in attempted to save an unfortunate this manner, the shipment of Now should this not be greatest consequence would be possible, and the communications saved. The post-office mark at at Braganza be followed up, and Braganza has neither date, month, they should go to make the inter or year. It would be very easy rogatories to that person (the bribe to send letters to be put in the has already been settled, as you post there, or else to have them will see by the article No. 19); written there, &c.; and this idea and should they not find him may be strengthened according as there, or find that he never lived circumstances and things may have there, of what consequence would occurred with you. Also, agreethis not be to me? If, at any ably to these ideas, it would be rate, Joze Caetano Carneiro should exceedingly necessary to strengthen arrange any friend to put the the proofs of having seen the name—in short, I consider every goods packed and shipped, &c. thing as extraordinary, and it is Also, as to those two devils, who necessary to act according to the richly deserve to be shot, prove man. a a against Y. every thing that can be, books and another examination, his being a bad man and suborned. and giving directions for that pur Immediately after this paragraph pose, and calculating the effect followed another, full of the that would be produced. writer's pious resignation to the In the letter of the 19th of divine will , and his hope that God October, Viana directs his correswill either rescue him from his pondent to satisfy his rage and misfortune, or take him to himself fury against Y. and to employ all in another and a better world. his sagacity in thwarting Y.'s plans. In the second letter Viana He is directed to get some man to writes, that his clerk is to protest swear that Y. offered him twenty against any person being indulged moidores to commit perjury in the with a sight of his books without cause, and to prove that Y. has in the commissioners being present. readiness several villains, purchasHe then proceeds : ed by gold, to swear any thing: It is necessary to triumph over The letter of the 30th of Nothese inconstant cheats. What the vember was in a similar strain, Court wants to be proved is, that arranging how the bookbinders the goods did or did not exist, and were to interpolate leaves in the whether they were shipped or not, book, and how the accounts were or if, after being shipped, they to be drawn up in the pages so were again unloaded. Now the interpolated. It contained strong proof of the shipment, and the hopes on the part of the writer, existence of the goods, is the prin- that, if this plan were ably excipal point, as also a demonstration ecuted, it would enable him to that they were not again unload- triumph over the “ shabby cheats," ed; but having in sight the his adversaries. In all the four answers I gave upon oath, and the letters, which were of extreme depositions and oaths given by the length, there was a most ludicrous witnesses here, for it is of essential mixture of piety and knavery. necessity that they should agree, The intention to cheat the underbecause, if they should not, we writers of several thousand pounds shall have sophistry, and more mentioned without sophistry, and there will be no lack being followed shortly afterwards of summoning perjured witnesses, by a declaration of the writer's besides which, our evidence would confidence in the justice of the remain without effect. To pro- Supreme Being, and his resignation . vide for this, those articles took to any calamities which it might place, which I hope may be put seem good to Omnipotence to in practice in the best form the inflict upon him. case requires, which is that which The Jury returned a verdict of would occur to a disinterested per. Guilty. son that is, the suspension of the examination; for what validity can there be in the examination INDIAN PRESS. of books, without there being on my part any person present to A judgment has been given represent me? seriatim in the King's court, at The letter then goes on at great Bombay, against the registration length, suggesting another set of of certain regulations of the press, was never |