some of the roofs have fallen in, from the weight of the snow. Some villages, particularly in the valley of Tavesch, are entirely abandoned. A frightful avalanche has destroyed the village of Nueras in this valley. By reports from Dissentis, a little distant from that village, eleven houses and mills, along with the inhabitants and stables, have been swallowed up. On the 8th, the rector and 24 other persons, wounded, were dug out of the rubbish alive. Many dead bodies were like wise found, and 28 persons are still missing. Avalanches have likewise caused frightful disasters in the valley of Dischmah. We learn likewise from the canton of Uri, that at Meyen, an avalanche overwhelmed two men, and that another threatened the village of Realp. The passage of Mont St. Gothard is shut up. On the 10th, an avalanche destroyed a house at Gadmenthal, in the province of Bern. The news from the Tyrol are equally afflicting four avalanches have succeeded each other in one place. At Nanders, the snow filled the whole valley to the height of a tower. At Ischgel, in the Pinzgau, 21 houses were destroyed. At six leagues from Inspruck, ten persons were killed. The course of the Inn is interrupted. ARRESTS AT MANCHESTER. (From Manchester Papers.) After a meeting for reform on the 3d instant, reports were circulated, that, like the Bilston colliers, who some time ago set off with two carts of coals for the purpose of dragging them to Carlton House, it was intended to Public Meeting. -The Inhabitants of Manchester and its vicinity are respectfully informed, that a Public Meeting, according to adjournment, will be held near St. Peter's church, on Monday morning, the 10th of March 1817, when it is hoped that every person who is determined to carry his petition to London, will assemble peaceably and orderly, and provide himself with the necessary means of support requisite to bear him through this loyal and necessary undertaking. It is hoped that those friends of parliamentary reform who possess the means, will come forward on this important occasion. Persons will be appointed to receive contributions this evening, at New Islington, and at the meeting on Monday. (Signed) W. OGDEN, Printer, Wood-street: 26, Placards had been stuck up, and hand-bills distributed. The people of Stockport were invited to join those of Manchester, on Lancashire Hill. Several emissaries were at work during the week, making every effort to inflame the public mind, and to engage a large mass to assemble on the day appointed. It was insinuated, that 25,000 stand of arms at Birmingham might be secured. Information of C 2 these these proceedings was sent to the Secretary of State's office; and a magistrate and king's messenger arrived with warrants, and four persons were apprehended on Sunday. The printer of the foregoing placard was arrested, and conveyed to prison; and at the same time Orator Johnstone was put into safe custody. A meeting, however, took place at New Islington, Salford, on Saturday evening; and early on Monday there were preparatory meetings at Middleton, Oldham, and other places, to provide the pecuniary means for a march to the metropolis. On Monday, about nine in the morning, a crowd began to assemble in front of the Quakers' meeting-house, Manchester. Meanwhile the commander of the district, Sir John Byng, and the magistrates, had taken precautions. The Stockport troop had orders to meet; two troops from Macclesfield, and three from Knutsford, were also directed to be at Salemoor (the usual spot for reviews near Manchester), so as to be in readiness to act in case of emergency. Another Account. Tuesday, March 11.-We find it was among the notifications at the meeting on the 3d instant, near St. Peter's church, corroborated in the course of last week by the declarations of individuals who have been actively engaged in promoting the late seditious meetings, that the espousers of their doctrines should collect at the same place the Monday following, and proceed to the metropolis, at nine o'clock, to present a petition to the Prince Regent, that they might be enabled to 'undeceive him.' Aware of these intentions, and of the dangers which an immense influx of strangers, irritated by the inflammatory appeals of their factious leaders (who, under the pretence of promoting parliamentary reform, have been for a length of time past agitating the minds of the labouring class of society), portended, the conservators of the public tranquillity took every precaution adequate to the occasion. Yesterday morning, according to the expectations entertained, crowds of people flocked into town from all directions, as early as eight o'clock; and, at about nine, the instigators appeared on their temporary stage in a cart, and continued to harangue the multitude, till their vast increasing numbers suggested the expediency of putting into practice the wellformed arrangements of the civil and military powers. Accordingly, a party of the first regiment of dragoons, under Colonel Teesdale, accompanied by the magistrates of the district, appeared amongst them, and immediately conveyed the entire group to the New Bailey prison: their attention was next directed to the concourse of auditors, who were forthwith dispersed, without the infliction of any severity. An arrest had taken place early on Sunday morning, of Johnston and Ogden, who had previously figured at this place; and they were secured in the New Bailey. Others were seized by the soldiers on their way to deliver their charge in Salford. A considerable number of people set out on their mission to London, taking the route of Stock port; port; but about 40 of them were re-conducted to Manchester, and added to their other unfortunate companions; others were furnished with secure accommodations in Stockport. Most of them were provided with knapsacks, &c. containing blankets and other articles. Upon the examination of some of these travelling equipages, two unusually large knives were discovered. We shall desist from entering further at present into the cases of these characters, as they will probably hereafter be the subject of high judicial inquiry. The military preparations were under the direction of Sir John Byng, the commander of the district, who arrived in Manchester on Sunday. A party of the 54th regiment of foot were present, to render their assistance. No particular act of outrage or intemperance has yet reached our ears; and we cannot help feeling highly indebted to the judicious and salutary interposition of the respective authorities, for the satisfactory result of this day's trans actions. three troops were disposed in Stockport and Macclesfield, to prevent the suspected progress of the petitioners in that direction. Early on Monday morning the streets of Manchester were crowded by thousands, of whom a great part were prepared with blankets and bundles for the march to London: by the activity of the magistrates, however, and the military at their disposal, every one most active in haranguing the multitude, all who had the appearance and character of ringleaders, were arrested and imprisoned on the spot. This cautionary measure, for the possibility of which we are indebted to the suspension of the Habeas Corpus act, disorganized the plans of the petitioners to such an extent, that a few thousands only, who eluded by obscure passages the vigilance of the soldiers, succeeded in penetrating to the bridge of Stockport, and here they were encountered by a troop of the life guards, and a troop of the Macclesfield squadron of the Prince Regent's yeomanry. No attempt was made to force the bridge, but many threw themselves into the river, and crossed it wherever it was fordable. This circumstance, added to another, that the streets of Stockport were literally wedged full of the inhabitants of the vicinity, constrained the troops to withdraw from the bridge, over which of course the petitioners had afterwards a free passage. In the thoroughfare of the town, however, all those who had pre Macclesfield Courier-Office, March 10.-On Sunday morning the magistrates of Manchester deeming it necessary to strengthen the military force in that neighbour hood, in consequence of the declared intent of some thousands of the population to proceed in person to Carlton House with a petition to the Regent, forwarded expresses to the several troops of the Prince Regent's Regiment of Cheshire yeomanry cavalry, re-pared themselves with the necesquiring their immediate aid. The same evening five troops marched into Manchester, and the remaining saries of a march (commonly comprising a blanket and a few days' provision) were arrested, partly by the laudable activity of the Stockport police, and partly by the alertness of the military force; and were in the course of the day dispatched under escort to the New Bailey Prison at Manchester. The persons apprehended might be 200 in number: one individual was so severely wounded that his life is despaired of. Not more than 500, out of the many thousands assembled in the morning, penetrated so far as Macclesfield, where a troop of the yeomanry had remained to provide against such a contingency; and we have authority, on which we can rely, for positively stating, that no more than 20 persons proceeded from Macclesfield into the adjoining county of Staffordshire. Nothing could be more wretched and pitiable than the appearance of the few who reached this town; some actually fainting from wcariness; and all of them without baggage, or any apparent resource, with which to proceed 20 miles further towards London. 15. Batavia. According to accounts of three weeks' date received from Banjoewangie, the mountain of Idjeng, about 24 leagues from that place, has been burning since the middle of January, and its effects have spread alarm and distress among the inhabitants of the surrounding country. During the night of the 23d of January a violent explosion took place. Vast columns of fire, smoke, and burning matter, then began unceasingly to ascend, accompanied with noise like thunder or the firing of heavy artillery, From the mountain all the way to Banjoewangie, an immense quantity of ashes, stones, and sulphur, cover the sur rounding country, destroying the vegetation, and laying waste a great number of rice-fields, the crops on which were some in a most promising state, and others quite ripe. The explosions shook the ground all the way to Banjoewangie. The atmosphere was so filled with ashes and the vapour of sulphur, that respiration was extremely difficult, and for some days there was scarcely any daylight at Banjoewangie. The greater part of the birds have died; and it is said that the fish in the rivers are also all dead, Large trees and pieces of rock detached from the mountain rolled down with a dreadful noise, and destroyed cottages, bridges, and every thing that stood in their way; occasioning also such inundations that in some places the river rose 14 feet above the usual height. The roads are consequently covered with water, and rendered impassable. The unfortunate inhabitants fled from all quarters towards the coast and towards Banjoewangie. Accounts of a posterior date are more tranquillizing. For some days the people of Banjoewangie had observed no more fire from the mountain, but still saw an immense quantity of smoke ascending, and the atmosphere continued loaded with sulphurous vapour and fine ashes. The inundations also continued, and fears are entertained that a great scarcity must follow. Many of the inhabitants suffer from indisposition, occasioned, it is thought, by drinking the impure water, which is every where filled with ashes. Severe coughing is also a general complaint, in consequence of the strong sul sulphurous vapours. A great mortality prevails among the cattle. In the district of Gabang, belonging to the residency of Cheribon, a hill sunk down on the 27th of February, and eight families were buried alive with it. There had long been a chasm in this hill, which being enlarged by the rain, probably occasioned a separation to take place. During the night of the 4th of this month, a similar sinking occurred in the district of Talaga, in consequence of which several houses with their inhabitants were buried. A recently cultivated rice-field and the half of an upland plantation were also destroyed. 20. A sect of Christians, deviating from the Greek church, has sprung up in the south eastern parts of the Russian empire, and a rescript has been issued by the Emperor Alexander, containing directions for its treatment. The converts to the new faith are said to have been already driven from their homes, and placed in an insulated situation in order to prevent proselytism. They are called Duchoboozi: and the rescript, which is addressed to the military governor of Cherson, is to the following effect : "The sect having been removed from the Ukraine to the circle of Melitsholsk, in the Tauris, in consequence of the blameable way of life imputed to them, and to prevent their opinions from spreading, and they having petitioned for protection from oppression, the Governor is directed to consider the motives of this removal, which is said to have been ordered by the Emperor, with a view at once to protect the sect from improper mortifications, and to stop the spreading of their opinions: and the Government, not having received for many years any complaints from one side or the other, or other reports of disorders, had every reason to suppose that the measures adopted were sufficient. "The departure of this sect from the true faith of the Græco-Russian Church is stated to be a deviation founded on some erroneous representations of the true worship, and of the spirit of Christianity; but as they are not without religion, for they seek for what is divine, though not with a right understanding, it does not become a Christian Government to employ harsh and cruel means, torture, exile, &c. to bring back to the bosom of the church those who have gone astray. The doctrine of the Redeemer, who came into the world to save the sinner, cannot, it is said, be spread by constraint and punishment; cannot serve for the oppression of those who are to be led back into the paths of truth. All the measures of severity exhausted upon the Duchoboozi, in the course of 30 years, up to 1801, were not able to extirpate this sect, and only increased the number of its adherents, They are, therefore, in future to be protected from unmerited insults on account of the difference of their faith. By being removed to another settlement they would again be placed in a hard situation, and be punished on a mere complaint, without examination. "The colony is therefore recommended to the special superintendence and particular care of the Governor; who, without regarding false allegations or preconceived |