North Wales Gazette

A SHORT VIEW OF THE PRESENT? STATE OF THF ISLE OF MAN. Saltis Populi, suprerna Lex. It is a certain truth, that human nature was plunged, for many ages, into a state nearly ap- proaching to that of brutes, and in some respects much inferior and in all countries that are civi- lised, not merely a long space of time, but adven- titious circumstances and happy events, together with the gradual improvements of skill and po- licy, have conspired to raise mankind to the en- joyments of rational and social life. It happens to have been the fate of this little Island, for the space of above three centuries to have been rescinded, as it were, from its neighbouring country, to have lost the protection of Majesty, and the blessings which flow from a well-founded Government. Its fate hath been yet harder, by huving, amidst the ravages of war, been despoil- ed of its ancient records, existing- for a while without fundamental laws at length recovering them by oral tradition, from the mouths of ig- norant men, and thus putting them together, a crude and undigested heap, add to this, that no attempts have been at any time made by its Lords, to improve their country, to extend their traffic, to encourage their industry. Shut out as it were from all social advantages, depiived of the means as ell as the privilege of commerce with its neighbouring countries, they have en joyed, unnoticed, the bounties of nature, dealt to them wiih too frugal a hand. Of late years some i'ew adventurers amongst: the natives, hav- ing been shewn the way by sirangers living with them,allure-dby g!ariil prolits, and denied the benefits of a fair trad; have been tempted to carry on a clandestine one. But this trade, for thefwisest reasons, hath been totally suppressed by the Legislature of Great Britain. The increas- ing profits of this clandestine trade hath drawn many foreigners hither, and invited more and more of its natives to embark in it, and some few of the n, perhaps a dozen at most, had en- riched themsel ves cons idera hi y, when all Lbso- lute stop was put to it. This trade employed some hundreds of the poorer sort in different branches, and it introduced luxury uid plenty, and made money circulate in (he principal towns in the Island; but the far greaternumberof peo- ple who inhabited villages, the mountains, and the vallies, were strangers to the trade and its advantages an industrious hardy race, paliens operum, parvoque assueta, whose most luxurious draughts were lIJik, and whose daily food was sought for in the bosom of the deep. It is now feared hy many amongst them, who have been taught to live otherwise, that they must again return to their primitive state, be re-plunged into Uieir original ignorance and rusticity; that for want of trade they must want also specie for their common mtercourse of life; that they must supply each other's necessities, by exchanging commodities, and relapse at once into poverty and barbarism. A little reflection on the nature of man in general, on the desire of knowledge when once the-seeds of it are sown, oil the expe- rience of past agd, and the natural tendency of all hufnan affairs, will evince at once the weak" ness of this apprehension. The communications which they have had, of late years, with their neighbouring countries, and the conversation of strangers residing in their own, have opened their minds, enlarged their ideas, and given them R lions of trade, of agriculture, and manufac in which they are daiJy improving, as their'seve- sal,itt)ilities will permit. The- merchants who have enriched themselves by trade, are now pur- chasing large tracts of uncultivated lands, and improving them at great expense. An emulation seems to arise amongst them who shall be the greatest and best farmer, The growth of wheat, 1)1 flax, and the manufacture of linen cloth in the last year, were treble of what they have been ever before, and the produce of next year, by all appearances, will exceed this tenfold. This spi- rit will naturally diffuse itself through the coun- try, and warm the breast of evvirv individual. The plt-d->i:res of gain drawn Houi industry are parti- cularly sweet, and the prospect of it peculiarly alluring. Naked and wild as the country now is, not one- third of it. known to culture, it will soon wear a diifefeiit face, when five love of improvement, by these examples, spreads amongst its inhabitants; and spread it now must till some degree of per- fection is attained. How far indeed the assist- ance of the Legislature of Great Britain may in- crease and accelerate their improvements; how far indulgence's in trade, when they are seen to deserve them, may open their views, enlarge their plan of manufactures, ati(I tend to the easier Increase of people and of wealth, is left to the wisdom of the British Parliament to determine. It must however, be presumed, that an Island situated as this is, and capable of affording so many advantages to Bi itaii) by its number of in- habitants (near 25,000), by its skill in maritime iiffaifg, by its liifieries, by its growing industry by its unshaken loyalty at all times, to the pre- sent happy establishment, may be worthy of the Legislature's more immediate care. Enough hath, been done to restrain its illicit trade; an effectual stop is put to it by the regulations al- ready .made, .so effectual as to make the revival of it impossible But what is yet more effectual than the several laws, is the prospect of their own interest, which is now seen in their obedi- ence to them. The effects of a trade in opposi- tion to the laws of Britain, have been visibly in- jurious to the general good of the country. True it is, that it bath enriched « few, and very few, whilst it hath taken hundreds from their natural bent of industry, and rendered them, hy their luxury and extravagance unfit almost to return to better means of subsistence. It hath called away the attention of the most considerable amongst them from their country's interest to the pursuits of their own private gain, and they have been contented to see around them barren mountains, and uncultivated deserts, whilst they have enjoyed the prospect of real or imaginary wealth. A more pteasing scene is now in view the native merchant will not desert his country, an;! since traOic is 110, more, is now .beginning-to cultivate his land; nature plead" hard for its native soil, and the joys for improving it exceed all he hath ever known; a national ardor begins to prevajjji in the place of an unnatural commerce he now looks ahoct him, and wishes to see every thing flourish, which may tend to the common happiness and comfort; whilst he studies to make his own and every one's property more va- luable, he wishes to see it secure and permanent; he is desirous to introduce plenty and peace with it, and with this view he looks towards the laws of his country as the sole foundation on which he can secure property and quiet possession.

LADIES' FASHIONS FOR JANUARY. MORNING W A LRU Q DRESS. ,Black velvet slip, finished at the bottom with a double row of perfectly novel trimming. Over this dress is a black satin pelisse, lined with rose colour sarsnet, made in a style the most novel, tasteful, and becoming, that we ever remember to have seen. The form of this dress is perfect- ly original, and has never before been introduced. The triroming, which is at once superb and taste- ful, is composed of stampcd velvet it is infi- nitely superior to embroidery, for which it is in- tended as a substitute. A piece of rich worked muslin, or pointed lace, stands up round the bo- lom, nald partly shades au Clasout ioiall tippet of the newly invented Britannia pearl fur.—These tippets, which are now much worn, are particu- larly adapted to dark silk, or velvet pelisses, as they considerably heighten their effect. Head- dress, the Britannia pearl fur hat it may he termed the most tasteful and appropriate head- dress of the season it is lined with white satin, and ornamented in a most tasteful style, with a beautiful plume of white feathers. The Britan- nia hat is exquisitely adapted to the first style of promenade dress, and. is unquestionably an ele- gant improvement on the French bonnets, and possessing infinitely more taste. The materials of this hat are extremely appropriate for head- dresses; it is so much richer, and considerably lighter, than either velvet or seal skin, and more adapted to the season than satin or any sort of silk. Large sized muff, composed also of Bri- tanuia pearl fur. WALKING DRESS. French cambric walking dress, very short in the waist, and the body a-la^chevtise, superbly appli- qued with letting-in lace" Long sleeve ornament- ed in a similar manncrall the way down. The mantle which is worn with the dress, is compos- ed of the finest Morone, or plum-colour cloth, lined with white sarsnet. The fullness at top is composed of satin, to correspond with the cloak, laid on in folds. The trimming is a mixture of floss silk and chenille. This mantle will be found particularly desirable for delicate women in the present severe weather, from its. being wadded round the shoulders and bosom, a circumstance, however, which by no means prevents its display ill; the shape to the utmost advantage in that re- spect Improved French bonnets of black Bri- tannia pearl fur, ornamented with a light elegant plume of feathers to correspond. Peach-blos- som gloves and half boots. In jewellery we have only to observe, that small French watches are now esteemed the most fashionable lockets. Un- dress shoes and boots continue the same as last month. White satin slippers for full dress, are now ornamented with small tufts, as rosettes, composed of narrow silver fringe, spotted with spangles, which has a very tasteful and novel ef- fect. Fans continue the same as last month, as do also the fashionable colours for the aionth.

MONTHLY AGRICULTURAL REPORT. The wheats upon the ground, on all well drain- ed lands, look particularly well; the early sown luxuriant. In all the great wheat counties, the quantity sown is fully equal to that. of the two last seasons, probably the most extensive ever before sown in Britain. Rye, tares, and the cattle crops, hai'e a healthy and luxuriant ap- pearance the latter sown turnips have greatly improved with HIe mild and showery weather.— Considerable breadths of early turnips which had failed, were previously hroken up, and the land sown with wheat. Early beans and peas for market, in the London districtl, have had a fine seed season, and much of them above ground. The expectation is general, that sheep and cattle food will be short in the spring, and hay is likely to be dear. The late report from Norfolk, of the insalubrity for cows, of that most exuberant root called mangel-wurzel, or the root of scarcity is universally slighted throughout the country. Lean cattle have in price, and butchers' meat iu the metropolis has lately advanced.

BANKRUPTS. William Lathbury, of Stafford, miller.-Rieli. Goodacre, of Grantham, Lincoln, victualler- Thomas John, late of Narberth, Pembroke, shopkeeper- William Alexander, of Rumburgli, Suffolk, grocer- James Harren, of Cratfield, Suffolk, grocei--Williain Greenwood, of Leices- ter, irollmonger- Robert Brearley, of Spotland Bridge, near Rochdale, Lancaster, dealer and chapman—Joseph Beard, of Great Siambridge, Essex, victualler—George Barnes, of Ewell, Surrey, builder—William Maybury, of Bristol, bottled liquor merchant—Edward Johnson, sen. and Edward Johnson, jun. of Fleet, Lincoln, and also of Sutton St. Mary, Lincoln, drapers—Rich. Feynney, of Ashby de la Zouch, Leicester, wine merchant—-Abraham Jessurtin, late of Hawford Buildings, Fenchurch-street, London, merchant I-T. Googe,Liverpool, merchant-R, Gresswell, Burgh in the Marsh, Lincolushire, shopkeeper- J. French, Northampton, ironmonger—C. T. Paynter, Falmouth, merchant—T. Parker, Arn- cliff, Yorkshire,cotton manufacturer—W.James, Westbury, Wilts, linen draper—G. Firth, Bos ton, merchant-T.Bevan, Fishguard, Pembroke- shire, linen draper—T. Pixe, flungerford, Berk- shire, victualler-J. I). Scott, Leicester, dealer in caltle- W Pix, Northitm,Stissex,inerciiint- W. Jackman, Middle Scotland-yard, Whitehall, army ciottiier-'F,. R. Ball, South Moreton, Wal- liugford, Berkshire, paper maker—W.S Turner, Bromley, St. Leonard, Roman vitriol manufactu- rer-J. Tappenden, Faversham, Kent, scrivener. i

An inquest was hetd-un the 19th ult. at Wel- liii"ore, on the bodies otvWilliam Newton, miller, and Richard Pridgeon, a fine lad ot about 8 years of age, who happened to be in Ihc IlJllllhcre belonging to Mr. S. Robinson, at the lime the same was blown down on Fri- day, the 16lh ult. From thedate inscribed on the post of the above mill, it appears that it had been standing upwards of 200 years. Reading, Jan. ft. The Bank of Messrs. Marsh, Dearie, Westbrook, &c» at this 1)lace. stopped payment at half-past eleven o'clock this morning to "attempt to depict the con- sequence would be futile, it can be better cou. ceived than described I The firm had opened Its usual, at ten o'clock, and at the above-men- tioned lime announced their insolvency I the shock was electrical, and numerous families are. to all appearance, involved in utter de- struction. It is said that the plale wrought as a present to the value of 200,0001. to the Duke of Wel- lington from the Prince Regent of I ortugal, is manufactured by Italian artists. It is ex- quisitely beautiful, and is silited to accommo- date aMable fropi six to 60 persons. The sets are in sixes, and to any inulUplication of lhat number up to 60, they are complete in their centre pieces and appropriate embellishments. The candlesticks are composed of spears, the triumphat arches are decorated with banners,, and weapons of war, and every distinct piece is of a military character. Extraordinary crop of Potatoes.-At a late meeting of the Agricultural Society of the county of Waterford, in Ireland, a Silver Me- dal was awarded to Thomas M'Dougall, Esq. of Grange, city of Waterlord,for the best crop of drilled Potatoes, with the annexetLobserva- tion on this particular premium. » The Com. mittee cannot avoid publishing the extraordi- nary produce of Mr. M'Dougall s crop ot po- tatoes, which in size and weight has proved the superiority of Drill H usbandry ■ 1 he red. apples produced 812 baarels tc-the acre, be. ing 21 tons, 16 stone, 4lbs. This, a! the pit sent Dublin prioe, arootints to 1261. Js- Being dug under the inspectiou ot tbe Judges, j it can be verified oa oath.

LONDON.. SATURDAY, JANUARY 7 Private letters recently received from Spain, represent lhai country in a stale of reat agi- 'ii< n. By accounts from Barcelona to the 17th (ilt. we learn that three rich inhabitants nf VicU, allied to some of the first and noblest fetuses in Spain, liad been thrown into the pri- son of the Inquisition of that city, and that two persons of consequence had been imprison, ed in ihe fort of M->ut,oy. 1: í lIeverlheless asserted in private letters of the 20111, from Madrid, that the moat perfect traiiquiiUiy reigned in that capi'al. By private letters luonghlby :wo vessels ar- rived at Liverpool, loaded with, cotton, we learn the inhabitants of Pensacola had invited Uie British to take possession of thai place, %viiicli liivilattoti wag I)tit it ,-)I)I)ears that the battle said to have taken place, in "which it was slated tita., Geici-al Jackson had defeated the British, Jed to tlie reoccupation of that ci'y hv the Americans. The t'#o ves sds arriv -d al Liverpool, (led in consequence. The a'Fair of l'eus~cola seeibs it) be of much more importance than our readers may be a W-IHb of. Fensacola is the capital of West ( florida, That and East Florida belong to Spain, and have not been ceded to the United Slates by any Treaty. The American Govern- ment, therefore, by this act of hostility, does, in fact declare itself at war with Spain, and we may expect tt, hear of a similar declaration from the Court of Madrid against the Ameri- fan Government, A private letter from Leghorn, 2d Decem- ber, has the following passages — I suppose you know that we have had here for a tortnight or three weeks the Duke and Duclu'ssof Bedford, who were confined in the Lazaretto,'where they were to perform quarantine; they were liberated last week, and next day they set »ut lor Florence. Ere this you will have heard somehing rela- tive to ^Napoleon's going f« the Island of St. Helena it is repinied iiere very currently in- deed. To-day 1 learn that some ordnance has arrived from Porto Ferrajo to be sold prior to his departure." A German paper adverts to live progress I made in Congresses on former occasions. That at Minister and Os.iabruck was opened in July 1843 did not actually proceed to business until March 1644, and the Weslphahan Treaty of 1843 did not actually proceed to business until March 1644. and the Weslphahan Treaty of Peace was not finally concluded unlit the ler- minatton of four years neiociation. The Con- gress ot Utrecht continued upwards of a year, namely, ir January 111.2, to the 31st of March 1713. The negotiation at Aix la- tite eii(i of the year 1747 till 1 lie ISih of October 1748. After more than 16 ui 'Dlhs discussion at the Congress at Rastasit, the proceedings were suspended on the 23d of April; and the Treaty of Peace at LiineviUe, although finally concluded, requir- ed new negotiations to effect a permanent ar- rangement. If such wa the case on former occasions, ii >g observed," a considerable tittic may elapse at the present Congress, where so many jarring interests are to be reconciled, 1'10 mallyambitiolls .vlonarchs 1.0 be satlslie¡\. The news from South America shews that the Spanish authority is completely subverted, and the jirovince of Peru become independent. TJlerc are no hopes remaining of the safety of his Majesty's ships Florida, of '20 guns, Xapl. N. Mitchell, and the s eacock, of 18 guns, Captain E. Coole: they were hot II lIil the American coast, and are supposed to have foundered. A general Brevet promotion, it is saId, wiit immediately take place in the a> mv, according- to which all Captains down to 1814, inclusive, are to have the rank of Major. The new coin-missions to be dated Irotu the 1st ot Jau, 1815. Meetings of the Proprietors and Occupiers of Land in different districts in the counties of Suffolk, Sussex. Hunli, Wilts, and Somerset, are called to consider of Petitioning Parlia- ineuton the subject of the present agricultural distresses. I In the Court of Requests, Bath, on Wednes. i div last, it was decided that the proprietors of the mail-coach were liable to make good the loss a person had sustained from an injury dy«ie to a parcel, which was conveyed by them frülL1 Lonùolllo Bath, ullder theJollowing cjr, cumsrances i—The plaintiff, a lady. had or dered a white satin gown to be sent to her by the mail, from her maiitua-maker in London. It appeared in evidence that the gown was very carefully packed til) in a deal box, which was directed to the plaint ff, in this city, with the Addition to the direction, that the box was to to be kept dry when it was delivered, it was found the gown had received much injury from the et by a bill inclosed with the gown, it appeared its value was 71. \2». The hook- keeper attended i;i the Court, and stated, on behalf ot the groprielors. lhat he believed the injury had been done by the coachman or porters not putting tbe box under cover in the coach, which perhaps was occasioned by there not being room in the inside, or in the boot of the coach and further, that the proprietors conceived they were not answCrable for any if- jury or loss t o a box or parcel of this value, as the notice suspended in their public office here and in Loudon expressed, they will not be answerable for any jewels, watches, &c. nor for aivy goods tibove I 'he value of Jive pounds, un- less they are entered as skicii, ittid paid for ac. curdingly, This box, be said, it appears, con- tained properly-to the amount of II,. 12s. and therefore (according to onr notice) ought to have been paid for as such, and as it was not, the plaiutilf can have no remedy against the jiroprieto-s. The Commissioners thought the jiroprielors were answerable, notwithstanding their notice, as the Chairman said this was hot » case for the total loss of a parcel or box, a (I bst it was to recover a compensation for the damage done by the neglect of duty in the proprietors, or their servants, for whom they are answerable; and he said a case in this point had not h>ng since been tried in the Court of King's Bench, Beck against Evans and others, reported in vol. 16 of East's Re- ports; iu which that Court held a carrier was not protected by such notice, from being #.)I)li,(Ied to litake good any loss a person has stistaiii( d by the negligence of such carrier, or their servant" in this case the box was di- rected to be kept dry," as it clearly appears that was not done, which is a neglect of duty in the j>< oprielors, though it was occasioued solely b) the misconduct of tbeir servants.

BON A PARTI W EtBAs ,r (F, •am 'the Quarterly Review, just published.) I On the 3d of May they arrived off Elbw and, after some visits from the shore, made arrangements for taking possession on the morrow. Early next morning, he went across the bay in a boat to take a walk accompa- On the 3d of May they arrived off Elbw and, after some visits from the shore, made arrangements for taking possession on the morrow. Early next morning, he went across the bay in a boat to take a walk afcompa- nied as he was by English officers, the pea sants mistook him for one, and the first sounds lie lif-ard from the lips of his subjects were praises of the English, and curses against himself, He now observed that he had no sword on recollected that the llalialls. were, by nature, assassins, and he returned hastily on board the ship. ■ In the course of the day, he lauded in form on Elba and it is not sur prising that be should have been received with greal joy by the inhabitants, who promised themselves every thing from his talents and his splendour. Their hopes have, however, since cooled, and even with the Eibese the seems to be already destroyed.— In every particular of his conduct, he adhered with a ridiculous attention to the maintenance of his imperial dignity. On landing, he re- p 11 ceived the keys of his good city of Porto Fer- rajo, and he proceeded immediately under a canopy of state to the parish church, which must needs serve as a cathedral. There he heard Te Deum, and the Itiueraire says that his countenance was dark and melancholy, and that he even shed tears this however is not slated by any other authority, and we may here say, once for at), that we hav not given the same credit to the ltineraire, in which the author is oniy an historian at second-hand, that we did to his Histoire de la Regence, of the facts of which lie was an eye witness.— One of Bonaparte's first cares was to select a flag for the Eibese empire, and after some hesitation he fixed on argent, on a bend gules, three bees or," as the armorial ensign of I t5 his new dominion. It is slrauge-that neither he nor any of those whom he consulted should have been aware that Elba had an ancient and peculiar ensign, and it is still more remark able that this ensign should be one singularly adapted to Bonaparte's situation; being no other than a wheel,-the emblem" says M. Berucaud," (Jfthevicissitudes of human life, which the Eibese had borrowed from the Egyptian mysterics.(c. 3 s. 2 ) This is as curious a coincidence as any we ever recol. It-cl ti) have met; as the medals of Elba with the emblem of the wheel are well known, we cannot butsiippose that Bonaparte was aware of the circumstance. Yet he is represented as having in vain made several anxious inqui- ries after the ancient arms of the islai)d.- During the first months of his residence there, hIs life was, in general, one of characteristic garrulous frankness. He gave dinners, went to bails, rode ail day about his island, planned fortifications, aqueducts, lazarettos, liarboties and palaces: and the very second day after he landed, fitted out an expedition of a dozen soldiers -to take possession of a little uuinha hited island called Piauosa, which lies a few leagues from Elba on this occasion he said good huruouredly, Toute I' Europe dira que j'ai-deja tail une conqfete." On the 4th June there was a ball on board the British frigate, in the harbour, in honoiir of the King's birth- day the whole beauty and fashion of Elba were assembled, and dancing with great glee, when, about midnight, Bonaparte came, tin ejected and niiiisketi, in his barge, to join the fi stiviiy. He was very afVa.ble, and visited every part of the ship, and all the amusements, which had been prepared fur the different classes of persons. On his alleged birta-day, the 15th August, he ordered the Mayor togive a ball, and for this purpose a temporary build- ing, capable of.holding three hundred persons, was to beerecled, and the whole entertainment tog.capabte ofholJlng three hundred persons, was to beerecled, and I he whole enterl aill menl building and all, were to be at the expetice. of the inhabitants themselves. Those were bad auspices under which to commeuce a ball, and accordingly nothing could have more com- pletely failed. Old Letzia, Madame Bertrand, and the two ladies of honour attended bul not above thirty of the fair islanders, and as the author of the ltlneiaire slily remarks, LebaI fut Iristequoique Bonaparte n'y parut pas." Havijigiti one of his excursions reach ed the summit of the highest hill on the is land, where the sea was visible all around him, he shook his head with affected solem- nity, and exclaimcd in a bantering tone, Eh, il fentavouer que mon lie est bien pelite."— On this mountain one of the party saw a little church, in an almost iiiiceessible sitti, itioti,atid observed that it was a most inconvenient site for a church, for surely no congregat ion could attend it, It is on that account the mofe con- venient to the parson," replied Bonaparte, 11 who may preach what stuff he pleases, with- out fear ot contradiction." As they descended tlie hill and met some peasants with their goafs, who asked for charity, Bonaparte told a story, which the present circumstances brought to his recollection, that when he was crossing the Great St. Bernard, previously to the battle of Marengo, he had met a goat herd, and entered into conversation with him the goat-herd, not knowing to whom he was speaking, lamented his own harJ lot, and en- vied the riches of some persons who actually had cows and corn-fields. Bonaparte inquired if some fairy were to offer to gratify all his wishes, what he would ask ? The poor pea- sant expressed, in his own opinion, some very extravagant desires; such as a dozen of cows, a good farm-house, &c. Bonaparte altei -• aids recollected the incident, and astonished the goat herd by the fulfilment of all his wishes. But all his thoughts and conversations were not as light a'i3 pleasant as these. Sometimes he would involve himself iu an account of the last campaign, of his own views and hopes, of the defection ofhis Marshals, of the capture of Paris, and finally of his abdication; on those topics he would talk by the hour, with great earnestness and almost fury, exhibiting in very rapid succession traits of eloquence, of military genius, of indignation, of inordi- nate vanity, and of sordid selfishness. With regard to the audience to whom he addressed these tirades, he was not very nice. Hardly any one who approached during the fit. was excluded from the imperial confidence and accordingly we fiave heard many reports of them, of which we have occasionally, when the several evidences concurred, made use in this article. The chief violence of his rage seems to be directed against Marshal Marmont, whom, as well as Augereau. he sometimes calls by names too gross for repetition, and charges roundly with treachery. (TO BJB CQKCMJDBD OVA NEXT.) J