Essequebo and Demerary Royal Gazette 1812 November 24

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1812.

NOTIFICATION. [heading]
THE Honourable Joseph Beete, having this day been re-elected a Member of the Honourable Court of Policy of this Colony; took the Oath, and his seat accordingly.
King's House, George-Town, Demerary, Nov. 23, 1812.
By Command,
Charles Wilday,
Clerk of the Court of Policy.

FOR SALE, [heading]
At the Store of Mr. Finlayson, [heading]
Salt, Tobacco, and Cordage.
November 24.

ABSCONDED from the Subscriber, a yellow-skinned Boy, named Cherry, about eighteen years of age, formerly the property of Messrs. Cornfoot and Bell. Whoever will deliver him to the Subscriber, or to Mr. R. Robertson, shall receive the usual reward.
Henry Dennison.
N.B. The above slave has been seen frequently in the Town selling fish, &c. and is therefore supposed to be harboured by some white person in town. - Nov. 23.

THE Subscribers and other Friends of the Dissenters' Chapel, are respectfully informed that a Meeting will be held at the place, on Monday evening (Nov. 30.) for the purpose of appointing a Committee, and for ascertaining the number of pews required; therefore all who wish to have pews are requested to be present. The Meeting commences at 6 o'clock.
Charles-Town, Nov. 24. John Davies,
Minister.

LOST, supposed to be Stolen, a very fine GOAT, far advanced with young. She has a few black spots about here head, but her body is entirely white, and her hair long. A liberal reward will be given to the person who returns the same.
Wanted to Purchase - TWO BOYS, about twelve years of age.
Nov. 24. Apply at the Printing Office.

FOUND - a four-oared CANOE, made of colony-wood, 23 feet long, and 4 feet 7 inches wide. It is not painted. The owner may have it restored, on paying the expences, by applying at Plantation Leonora, West Sea Coast. Nov. 24.

FOR SALE, [heading]
The following Musical Appurtenances, [heading]
Imported by the Thomas: [heading]
Compleat Sets of Grand and Small Piano Forte Strings,
Violin Strings, 1st, 2d, 3d, and 4th.
Violin Bows,
Bound Books, Music Paper 10 and 12 staves each.
An Assortment of Lessons by Pleyel, Hook, &c. &c.
Overtures of Loddiska, Battle of Prague, &c.
Nov. 24 James Aikin

MARSHALS' OFFICE. [heading]

BY authority duly obtained, from His Excellency the Governor, I, the undersigned Acting Deputy First Marshal, will expose for sale unto the highest bidder, in presence of two Counsellors-Commissaries of the Honourable Court of Justice, and their Secretary, at the Court-House, in George-Town, on Tuesday the Eighth of December next ensuing - in behalf of the Heirs of H. W. Knolman, deceased, versus J. H. H. Touson, nom. ux. the following Negroes - Deliana, Christina, Dirce, Werther, Rosa, Paniva, Servius, Doris, Concurrent, Ben, Amour, Felix, and Europa.
Any person or persons having right, claim, or interest on the above-named Negroes, and wishes to oppose the sale thereof, let such person or persons address themselves to me, the Acting Deputy First Marshal, stating their reasons of opposition in writing, I will appoint such opposer or opposers a day of hearing before the Honourable Court of Justice for the trial of the same; and those inclined to purchase, please attend the sale on the day and at the place before-written.
Demerary, the 23d day of November, 1812.
B. Teyssen, Jun.
Acting Deputy First Marshal.

SECRETARY's OFFICE, [heading]
 

W. Reynolds, in 14 days or 6 weeks, . . Oct. 16.
Samuel Procter, in 14 days, . . . from Nov. 10.
Secretary's Office, Demerary, November 14 [sic], 1812.
Charles Wilday,
Sworn Clerk.
[Transcriber's note: this is the last issue which presents a bilingual (English/Dutch) format for the 'quitting' notice.]

PUBLIC VENDUES. [heading]

[Transcriber's note: no new or modified vendues in this issue.]

No arrival since Saturday. We have, therefore, from lately received London Papers, made as judicious a selection as possible.

LOCALITIES. [heading]

Departed this life on Friday evening last, C. N. Bollers, Esquire; a gentleman universally respected. He was, last year, a Member of the Honourable the Court of Justice of this Colony.

Died also, yesterday, Miss Elizabeth Rodgers, of this town.

DEMERARY, &c. [heading]
[first column]
[image of a seal - lion and unicorn]
[second column]
At a Meeting of the Hon. the Court of Policy, combined with the Financial Representatives of the Inhabitants of the Colony aforesaid, held at the Court-House in George-Town,
[end columns]
PRESENT: [centered]
His Excellency Major-General H. L. Carmichael, [centered]
Acting-Governor, [centered]
The Hon. F. P. Van Berckel, Fiscal. [centered]
The Honourable Members, [centered]
[first column]
Joseph Beete,
Peter Grant,
[second column]
James Johnstone,
John Waddell.
[end columns]
And the Financial Representatives, [centered]
[first column]
William Munro,
James Rutherford,
William King,
David Baxter,
[second column]
Thomas Dougan,
Charles Bean,
and
Peter M'Garel, Esqrs.
[end columns]

Wednesday, Nov. 18, 1812, [centered]
(After Prayers.) [centered]
His Excellency the Acting Governor arose, and addressed the Combined-Court as follows:
"Gentlemen,
"This being the first meeting of the Combined Colleges, composed of the Court of Policy and Board of Kiezers, in their capacity as Financial Representatives, upon a new formation of the latter body - I think it proper to state to you, that I received particular orders from His Royal Highness the Prince Regent, which, to the best of my abilities, have been carried into effect, as far as regards my executive authority.
"As discretionary power was at the same time vested in me, it became the more indispensible minutely to consider and adopt such measures as appeared most conducive to the public good, evidently the object of His Royal Highness, and the spirit of the commands with which I was honoured.
"This confidence has been committed to me by my Sovereign, and a high responsibility attached to it, with the arduous duties resulting from a very material change in the ancient Colonial Government of Essequebo and Demerary, by a junction and incorporation of the former into the latter, with the abolition of its establishments.
"I conceived, in effecting this important change, which must be attended with inconvenience to many individuals, that the most conciliating means should be applied; and, in those sentiments, I am happy to say, I was cordially supported by the Honourable Court of Policy.
"In the course of the various arrangements that ensued, much matter developed itself, that appeared to gain strength in its progress, and might ultimately prove prejudicial to the Constitution.
"This required a remedy, and I was enjoined immediately to apply a corrective wherever abuse appeared. The first object of every good Government is the impartial administration of justice. However honourable the former members might have been, it appeared advisable, in the general change, to have a new election; and, upon this occasion, eight gentlemen were selected, of such respectability and general character for honour and integrity, as I trust has since been fully proved by their decisions upon the bench.
"From certain concurrent circumstances, unnecessary at present to revert to, I thought it proper to put in execution an original plan, which temporary incidents induced me to defer - that of dissolving the Board of Keizers, remaining from the former system of the separate Colonies, which did not appear perfectly congenial to the one now existing.
"It therefore appeared to me the must judicious mode, was a dissolution of the Keizers, and taking the general sense of the Freeholders, and that the most unbiassed [sic] voice of the people should be resorted to, as to their Representatives, by extending the right of suffrage to all persons paying an income tax equivalent to the value of twenty-five negroes - and, in another respect, confining the votes to gentlemen holding attorneyships, to two, with their own personal vote.
"The Honourable Court of Policy unanimously coincided in this opinion; and, doubtless, the most beneficial consequences will be derived by the return of those Gentlemen now united in the present Council.
"Upon this occasion, an appropriate passage in a book written by a Foreigner (De Lolme), impresses itself forcibly upon my recollection - He compares the British Constitution to a pyramid, broad at the base, gradually ascending, until terminating in the Crown: -
"The People chose the Parliament, from these were selected the Nobles composing the House of Lords, and, as a key and check upon the whole, was the King; who, in his high executive power and authority, took care that the laws framed by the other branches of the Constitution should be carried into effect, and that the general superstructure should remain perfect and inviolate" -
"This, Gentlemen, is a subject upon which the greatest men, and the first authorities of remote and modern times, have written; and I have had an opportunity of being acquainted with the sentiments of some of the most enlightened characters upon the Continent of Europe, native subjects of Empires, Monarchies, and Republics, who all agreed that the British Governmont [sic] was the most perfect that could be formed.
"In observing to you, Gentlemen, that this piece of perfection gradually arose from the feudal system, fully and clearly described in Sullivan's Lectures, I shall not further enter into so wide a field, than the unshaken opinion, that the nearer any Government resembles in its system that of the British, the more it will approximate the zenith of human wisdom.
"It may be, Gentlemen, that the rules and regulations with the ancient system of the States General of Holland, have, in certain instances, been broken, and the laws not entirely adhered to, where material alterations were required. In this case, when part of the edifice needs renewal, it should be replaced with materials assimulating as closely as possible to those upon which it is founded, at the same time preserving in constant view the ultimate object, the general good of the State [sic - no period]
"The Financial Representatives were first formed in the year 1795, during an interregnum and internal confusion. In this emergency, every means were resorted to; and they were called on to assist in levying the taxes and raising the necessary supplies. Since that, it has continued by custom, without any known law.
"Having already adverted to the very necessary and beneficial changes that have taken place by order of the Sovereign; and, as the ancient colonial regulations, calculated for the times when first instituted, have become nugatory or obsolete, particularly since the French Revolution, which has caused convulsions in every civilized state: - and as the States General of Holland no longer exist, but are subject at present to the most absolute empire of an arbitrary individual; it does not appear, or can it be presumed, that the early institutions of an infant settlement, or the temporary resources of the moment of confusion in 1795, could properly apply to the present time - when the world, from sad experience, perceives the absolute necessity of resisting Napoleon's project of universal empire.
"The nature of the difficulties, Gentlemen, that intervened from many local causes, required the most mature consideration, for the general good of the inhabitants of the colony: divested of any partial prejudices.
"This induced me to exercise the executive authority, by a dissolution of the Body of Kiezers for a new election; and in which the general sense of the inhabitants has been fully evinced. And in this measure, which I conceived indispensible, it was my wish to be guided, as near as possible, by the Constitution of England; and to which I think it bears a strong analogy, without any essential difference, in the legislative authorities.
"To you, Gentlemen, it is unnecessary for me to depict that beautiful edifice; but as far as the case will admit, it will be advantageous to pursue the model.
"Doubtless, Gentlemen, you will take into solemn and cool deliberation, the novel circumstances under which you are convened; and may be highly beneficial to the future interests of the Colony.
"As it has of late been usual for the Court of Policy and Financiers, to arrange the taxes, and the manner of imposing them; you will certainly, Gentlemen, observe strict justice and impartiality in your decisions, where they are so essentially requisite.

"A considerable saving has been effected, by the reduction of the establishment at Essequebo; from the enquiries now going on, with the zeal and abilities of the Gentlemen upon the Committee it is certain that the former expenditurs may be considerably diminished; at the same time there is no doubt, every servant of the public will have a liberal and fair recompence for his labour.
"There have been greivous complaints of the severe and heavy fees in the different offices. By the Board now established, from the different branches of the Legislature, the suffering individuals will meet redress; and those matters placed upon an equitable arrangement.
"From the complicated nature of the public accounts, it appeared to me proper to have a minute investigation of them, by a committee of gentlemen in every respect qualified for so important an object.
"In the course of their investigation, part of the expenditures could not be accounted for, in a satisfactory manner; and a dificit [sic] to the amount of f 29,000 was returned against the Acting Receiver of the King's Chest. It then became my duty to remove him from that office.
"In the Colonial accounts under investigation, there will possibly appear to have been defrayments that may be dispensed with, and the public relieved.
"The numerous privateers off these coasts have occasioned accidental disbursements, in fitting out at two different periods, vessels to meet the enemy insulting and plundering the Colony; and which I lament to say is still continued, at the same time have sanguine hopes they will be speedily put a stop to.
The absence of a man of war appears to have been caused principally by accident, and the sudden emergency of an American war. It has not proceeded from any neglect on the part of the Admiral, Sir Francis Laforey. In mentioning this subject, Gentlemen, I feel a peculiar gratification in stating to you the distinguished conduct of the George-Town Militia, woh volunteered and went out on two occasions, to meet the enemy; and the whole of corps upon the coast have evinced their zeal and activity.
"You will now, Gentlemen, proceed to the faithful discharge of that turst reposed by your Constituents, by a provident use of the Public Funds, being careful in laying the taxes, that they do not bear partially upon any class of inhabitants, and that the lightest impost may be placed upon those least able to bear it and whose labour and industry should be encouraged."
His Excellency having concluded, the Combined-Court expressed its warmest thanks for the foregoing communication; and on the motion, of His Honor the Fiscal, His Excellency was requested to allow the same to be printed.
The Court then proceeded to the business of the day.
By Command,
Charles Wilday,
Clerk of the Court of Policy.

BRITISH INTELLIGENCE. [heading]

London, September 26. [heading]

Papers of a late date have been received from the United States, and we are not surprised to find from them, that the repeal of the Orders in Council, ample and unconditional as it was, has not satisfied the demagogues of America. The American Government has now thrown off the mask even of moderation, which its Members had assumed in their negociations with this country, and has made a common cause with France in her attempt to subjugate the world. The tone of the "National Intelligencer," the organ of Mr. Madison's Government, previous to the arrival in America of the formal repeal of the Orders in Council, was moderate if not pacific, but now that Great Britain has receded from her high and commanding attitude as mistress of the seas and dictator of the maritime law of nations, America, like an ungrateful and malignant minion, turns upon her Benefactor, and demands still further concessions. The creed of these new mushroom assertors of the rights of nations is couched in the following language: "The Orders in Council of the British Government are now no longer a question with the United States; the question of Peace now requires only a proper and vigorous use of the ample means which the Government is possessed of, to render it speedy, decisive, and glorious. Peace, when it comes, must bring with it more than the confession of British outrage by the retraction of its avowed tyranny; it is not a mere cessation to do wrong that can now produce a Peace - wrongs must be redressed, and a guarantee must be given in the face of the world for the restoration of our enslaved citizens, and the respect due to our flag, which, like the soil we inherit, must in future secure all that falls under it. The rights of neutrals must be recognized, and the British, like the first tyrants of the Swiss, must no longer expect a free people to bow down and worship the symbols of British usurpation."

The Spartan frigate, according to a private letter from Pictou, of August 21, had taken nine American privateers. The British Admiral at Halifax, having nothing left in port but a small tender, put the crew of his barge and three midshipmen on board, with one gun; they went in search of a privateer of eight carriage guns and 36 men, which they captured.

GEORGE-TOWN: [centered]
Printed & published every Tuesday & Saturday Afternoon,
By Edward James Henery.
 

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