The next prisoner put upon his defence was John Baird, who had led the insurgents in their engagement with the King's troops, and after a patient investigation, he too was convicted of high treason. Eighteen of the remaining prisoners then pleaded guilty.

On the 20th, the Court met at Glasgow, and was occupied for nearly two days in the trial of James Wilson, who was in the end convicted. One of the remaining prisoners then requested permission to retract his plea of not guilty, and put in a plea of guilty; but the Lord Advocate, with a magnanimity which does him infinite honour, refused to accept the plea. He stated, that although he was convinced of the guilt which the prisoner wished to confess, and of the strength of the evidence on which the Grand Jury had found bills against the remaining prisoners in that county, he did not mean to ask a verdict against any of them. It was not his wish, or the wish of the government, to push the law to its utmost rigour. Some examples were necessary, but he considered the prisoners then at the bar as the deluded victims of persons who had escaped from justice, rather than the active instigators of treason. He, therefore, declined to call any evidence against them, and allowed them the benefit of an acquittal.

On the 26th, the Court met at Dumbarton, and Robert Munro, the first prisoner put upon his trial, was acquitted. The Lord Advocate, acting on the same liberal principle on which he had proceeded at Glasgow, declined to lead any evidence against

the others.

On the 1st of August the Court sat at Paisley-after a very long trial, the jury found the prisoner (John Speirs) guilty of one of the overt acts in the first count of the indictment, but the Court declined to receive the verdict in that shape, and the jury acquitted him. The Court then returned to Stirling for the trial of some of the prisoners there, who, owing to a mistake, had received their copies of indictment at later periods than the others; these were eight in number-two of them had pleaded guilty-the Lord Advocate did not call any evidence against the other six, but allowed them the benefit of a verdict of acquittal.

Lastly, the Court sat at Ayr on the

9th of August, and the first prisoner put to the bar pleaded guilty. The Lord Advocate, in the same spirit of forbearance which marked his conduct throughout the whole proceedings, called no evidence against the other prisoners in that county.

In the course of these trials, twentyfour persons were convicted of high treason, and condemned to undergo the last punishment of the law. It is however probable, that the Royal mercy will be extended to severals of them.

Whether these proceedings will be productive of the desired effect, is a question which time alone can answer, but if any thing was awanting to shew forth the efficacy and the mercy with which the law is administered, that want has now been amply supplied. The miserable offenders have seen the power of the law in repressing, detecting, and punishing crime; and they have witnessed the tenderness and compassion with which it makes alallowance for their errors. On the de luded wretches who have been spared from the gallows by the lenity of the Public Prosecutor, or the mercy of the Crown, it is likely that a just and lasting impression has been made. But, it is much to be feared, that there is another class of persons, on whose minds the same effects will not be produced. There is a class whose minds are so constituted that they cannot conceive the operation of any noble or generous principle, and who will therefore be inclined to ascribe to some sinister purpose, even the magnanimous act of refusing to accept a voluntary confession of guilt. Nothing short of the menaced vengeance of the law impending over their own guilty heads, or the sad reality of its execution on their associates, can convince such persons of the folly of their thoughts. If they could but look around them with an ordinary discernment of the means of promoting, not their own interest, but their own safety, they would see the utter folly of their conduct-they would learn, from what has passed, that however fair their plans of reform may seem in the discussions of the tap-room, where all are animated with the same desireenveloped in the same ignoranceblinded by the same prejudices-and stimulated by the same potations, they are utterly unfit for action; and, were

there no other or more serious difficulty to overcome than the unbroken union of so many minds in one system of crime, it would be impossible for them to succeed. The same treason which they plot against the government will be plotted against them, and their most secret schemes betrayed by those, perhaps, in whom they repose the greatest confidence.

Such homely truths might be expected to force their way to the most unwilling minds; but they are perpe tually scared away by those who know their influence. What are the Radical Reformers to think and expect, when they observe the conduct and hear the language of their more powerful and intelligent brethrenthe advocates of rational and moderate reform. The same undefined epithet of "Friends of Reform," indicates a similarity of sentiment and of purpose: The affected lamentation of the rational reformer over declining liberty, is readily echoed by the hungry and impatient radical: The dismal picture of distress sketched by the vivid fancy of the enlightened well-fed rational reformer, is felt in sad reality by his poor and humble follower: The cause which political rivalship points out to the rational reformer as producing that distress, is readily adopted by the illo gical radical: The elegant invective of the moderate reformer, is easily adapted, by the political empiric, to the coarser taste of his less squeamish brother: The catastrophe which the rational reformer predicts as inevitable, is gladly accelerated by the miserable radical, in the hope that it may terminate his sufferings. How is he to view, but as friends, the professed adversaries of those to whom he is erroneously taught to ascribe his sufferings? What is he to expect but support, from those who palliate every enormity, and exult in every temporary advantage gained by his associates? How is he to view, but as admirers of his principles and projects, those who laud the same principles, and glory in the success of the same projects in other countries, and daily drag these before him in parallel and

similitude to his own situation? How is he to distinguish between the motives of the Peer, who marks, by an offering of £50, his gratitude for the success of an impious parodist, and the miserable zealot, whose shilling betokens his devotion to the cause of deism or democracy?

It was thus, that while the "Friends of Reform," in their unions and reading-clubs, their tap-rooms and ginshops, thought themselves associated in common cause with the "Friends of Reform" in a more elevated sphere: The latter manifested no desire to correct the error, but rather endeavoured to turn it to their advantage. It is from a repetition of such conduct, more than from any other cause, that much of that good which might have been expected to have flowed from the proceedings of the Special Commission, is likely to be prevented. The present season may pass away, but the seeds which have been sown are not altogether crushed; and a repetition of that encourage ment, by which they were formerly nou rished, may yet make them bear fruit.

The exertions of the gentlemen of the different counties, as persons of weight and influence, may do much to bring back the minds of the people to a proper tone; and they have, as local magistrates, acquired, in the course of the late proceedings, an experience in the mode of exercising their authority, and a knowledge of circumstances and character, which must give them a much greater power and efficiency than they formerly possessed. There is no reason to apprehend that in either capacity they will be remiss, although in one county they have just cause to complain that they were deserted, at the very mo ment of greatest danger, by the individual whose paramount duty it was to endeavour, by every means in his power, to preserve the tranquillity of the county, and by him who, by their suffrages, they had marked as a worthy representative of their principles, and as the fittest depository of their trust, and best guardian of their interests.

*

Death of Tammeamca, king of the Sandwich Islands.-Accounts from Petropawlowsk, in Kamtschatka, of the 10th Nov. 1819, received by way of Petersburgh, give the following particulars of the death of Tammeamea, king of the Sandwich Islands, which event took place in the month of March of the same year. The statement is derived from the reports of American vessels.

"Before the death of the King, an extraordinary phenomenon took place: within the space of three hours, the water of the ocean rose and fell on the coasts of the Sandwich islands for a space of six feet, with such a regularity and calmness that the ships in the harbour, and the villages situated near the coast, suffered not the least injury. The inhabitants of Owaihi looked upon this as an omen of their Sovereign's approaching death. In the mean time, his Majesty had collected round his death-bed all the chiefs of the islands submitted to his power; and he made them promise religiously to maintain all the useful establishments founded by him, "which we," he said, "owe to the white people that have come to live among us." These he requested to be respected before all others; that their property should be held sacred, and those rights and privileges be preserved to the white visitors, which they had enjoyed during his reign. Hereupon he appointed one of his sons, named Rio-Rio, to be his successor. This youth, of about twenty years old, has been brought up in the European manner, and is said to speak English tolerably well. According to the custom of the country, Tammeamea made all the present chiefs take the oath of allegiance to this newly-appointed sovereign, and recommended him, on account of his youth, to the care of his consort, by which act he made her the temporary and virtual regent of all his possessions. A few hours after, this remarkable prince expired. By the law of these islanders, the acknowledged successor is obliged to leave the spot, and even the island, where the sovereign died. But the bold and ambitious young Rio-Rio said to his friends on his departure from Owaihi, "Since my father has thought me worthy to reign, in preference to my brothers, I shall suffer no other power over me: and after the expiration of the time, I declare to you, I shall either return as actual king, or never return alive." The chiefs, who had remained at Owaihi, were engaged in military exercise, and the whole island was filled with warriors, mostly armed in the European style. Even foreign ships in the barbour were obliged to arm themselves.

This was the critical situation of these remote islands, when the American ship left them. They are, however, of opinion, that young Rio-Rio, supported by a numerous party, and even by the American ships that are there, will, although not without bloodshed, succeed to the throne. The property found after the death of the King, and which he had acquired in trading with the Europeans, amounted to half a million of Spanish piasters in cash, and the same value in goods, besides several well-fitted merchantmen. An immense fortune for a chief, who, in 1795, during Vancouver's residence near these islands, exchanged, in common with his subjects, bananas and figs, for the English old nails. He then assisted the sailors in filling the water-casks, and fitting the iron hoops to the casks, in which he showed much skill. And this barbarian died twenty-four years after, a well-informed and powerful prince, master of the whole Sandwich Archipelago.

Southern or Antarctic Continent.-This important discovery, which will be attended with incalculable advantages to our trade in the South Seas, was made last year by a Mr Smith, master of the William, of Blythe, in Northumberland. Our South Sea traders, who, during hostilities between this country and Spain, have been subjected to the greatest difficulties and privations, will now be independent of Spain or any other Power possessing South America. Mr Smith ran for two or three hundred miles along this continent, which formed large bays, abounding with the spermaceti whale, seals, &c. The drafts and soundings taken by the discoverer are in the possession of our Govern. ment. The following brief account has been given of the discovery :

"A Mr Smith, master of the William, of Blythe, in Northumberland, and trading between the Rio Plata and Chili, in endeavouring to facilitate his passage round Cape Horn, last year, ran to a higher latitude than is usual in such voyages, and in lat. 62, 30, and 60 west long, discovered land. As circumstances would not admit of a close examination, he deferred it until his return to Buenos Ayres, when he made such further observations as convinced him of the importance of his discovery. On making it known at Buenos Ayres, speculation was set on the alert, and the Americans at that place became very anxious to obtain every information necessary to their availing themselves of a discovery which they saw was pregnant with vast benefit to a commercial people. Captain Smith was however too much of an Englishman to assist their speculations, by affording them that knowledge

of his secret which it was so necessary for them to possess, and was determined that his native country only should enjoy the advantages of his discovery; and on his return to Valparaiso, in February last, he devoted as much time to the developement of it as was consistent with his primary object, a safe and successful voyage.

"He ran in a westward direction along the coasts, either of a continent or numerous islands, for two or three hundred miles, forming large bays, and abounding with the spermaceti whale, seals, &c. He took numerous soundings and bearings, draughts and chart of the coast; and, in short, did every thing that the most experienced navigator, despatched purposely for the object of making a survey, could do. He even landed, and in the usual manner took possession of the country for his Sovereign, and named his acquisition New South Shetland. The climate was temperate, the coast mountainous, apparently uninhabited, but not destitute of vegetation, as firs and pines were observable in many places; in short, the country had upon the whole the appear. ance of the coast of Norway. After having satisfied himself with every particular that time and circumstances permitted him to examine, he bore away to the North, and pursued his voyage.

"On his arrival at Valparaiso he communicated his discovery to Captain Sherriff, of his Majesty's ship Andromache, who happened to be there. Captain S. immediately felt the importance of the communication, and lost not a moment in making every arrangement for following it up; he immediately despatched the William, with officers from the Andromache; and in this stage the last letter from Chili left the expedition, with the most sanguine expectation of success, and ultimate advantages resulting from it; and, if we are correctly informed, a fully detailed narrative has been forwarded to Government.

"On taking a cursory view of the charts of the Southern Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, it will be seen, that though Captain Cook penetrated to a much higher latitude, and consequently drew his conclusion from observing nothing but vast mountains of ice; it will be seen also that his meridian was 45 degrees further to the west of New South Shetland, leaving a vast space unexplored on the parallel of 62, between that and Sandwich Land, in longitude 28 west. He again made 67, or thereabouts, but in longitude 137 to 147 west. Perouse ascended no higher than 60, 30; Vancouver about 55; other navigators passing in the Straits of Magellan and Le Maire, and most of them passing as close Cape Horn as possible, in order, as they thought, to shorten the passage to the Pacific, are circumstances that reasonably account for the protracted period to which so important a discovery has been delayed. It is stated, in recent ar

rivals from Valparaiso, that the brig William had returned from the survey. On her arrival off the harbour, and making her report to Captain Searle of the Hyperion, orders were given that no intercourse with the shore should be permitted. This has naturally led to the inference, that the discovery turns out to be important, and that this precaution is taken to prevent the interference or claim of any foreign nation, previous to the usual measures of taking possession in the name of his Britannic Majesty. The only draughtsman on the station, competent to perform the scientific part of the investigation, was Mr Bone, a son of the distinguished artist of that name; he accordingly went in the Williams, and made the drawings of the coast," &c. For the above interesting intelligence, we are indebted to the Literary Gazette, from which most of the papers and journals have copied without acknowledg

ment.

Large Block of Amethyst.-A block of amethysts has been sent from Brazil to Calcutta, four feet in circumference, and weighing 98 lbs.

Substitute for Potato.-It has lately been stated, that there grows in Santa Fe de Bagota, a root more nourishing and prolific than the potato. It is called Arakatska, and resembles the Spanish chesnut in taste and firmness.

Grand Surgical Operation.-The most surprising and honourable operation of surgery is, without any contradiction, that lately executed by M. RICHERAND, by taking away a part of the ribs and of the pleura. The patient was himself a medical man, and not ignorant of the danger he ran in this operation being had recourse to, but he also knew that his disorder was otherwise incurable. He was attacked with a cancer on the internal surface of the ribs and of the pleura, which continually produced enormous fungosities, that had been in vain attempted to be repressed by the actual cautery. M. Richerand was obliged to lay the ribs bare, to saw away two, to detach them from the pleura, and to cut away all the cancerous part of that membrane. As soon as he had made the opening, the air rushing into the chest occasioned the first day great suffering and distressing shortness of breath; the surgeon could touch and see the heart through the pericardium, which was as transparent as glass, and could assure himself of the total insensibility of both. Much serous fluid flowed from the wound, as long as it remained open, but it filled up slowly by means of the adhesion of the lung with the pericardium, and the fleshy granulations that were formed in it. At length the patient got so well, that on the twenty-seventh day after the operation, he could not resist the desire of going to the Medicinal School to see the fragments of the ribs that had been taken from him, and in three or four days afterwards, he returned home, and

went about his ordinary business. The success of M. Richerand is the more important, because it will authorize, in other cases, enterprizes which, according to received opinions, would appear impossible; and we shall be less afraid of penetrating into the interior of the chest. M. Richerand even hopes that by opening the pericardium it. self, and using proper injections, we may cure a disease that has hitherto been always fatal, the dropsy of that cavity.

Chinese Account of Loo-Choo.-The following account is taken from a continua tion of the Chinese Official Memoirs, concerning the Loo-choos, first published in the reign of Kang-ke (about A. D. 1700) and now extended to the 13th year of the reign of Keaking (A. D. 1808). Printed at Peking, with moveable Chinese types.

To the Editor of the Gleaner.-SirWant of sufficient time and means to ascertain the character of a people, is a difficulty that all European voyagers, who first visit any foreign country, labour under and it is their common failing that, without sufficient time and means to know it, they venture to pronounce the character of a people, and thus communicate, without intentionally telling any untruths, erroneous impressions to the nations of Europe.

In the case before us, his Majesty's ships the Alceste and the Lyra visited Loo-choo for a few weeks. The captains, officers, and men, on the one hand, put a constraint on themselves; were harmless as doves, and liberal as princes, in order to gain confi. fidence with the natives; the natives, on the other hand, kept a constant watch on their own people, and on the Europeans, both night and day. They were afraid of giving offence; used every possible precaution to prevent crime, and supplied gratis every want of the powerful strangers who had visited them, whilst at the same time they confined them to the beach or to their ships. Both sides were acting an artificial part, which it would have been impossible to keep up for any length of time, and in which the real, natural, and undress cha racter of either side was never developed. The personal observation of the voyagers was very limited, and whatever lies the people of Loo-choo chose to tell, the English had no means of detecting them. The sample, therefore, which is given of the character of the people of Loo-choo, is not sufficient to enable us to judge of the whole; we might as well give a man a single brick of an edifice, and tell him by that to judge of the size and proportion of the whole building.

The Chinese call the Loo-choo Islands Lew-kew nations, and from the Chinese has arisen the European spelling on maps, viz. Le-kyo and Liquio. After the attention paid to the language by Lieut. Clifford on board the Lyra, there can be no doubt

that Loo-choo is more correct than the Chinese.

Statistics. The superficies of the terri tory of the United States from the Atlantic to the Great Ocean is estimated at 2,257,000 square miles, and the population at eleven millions. The proportion of Whites to Blacks has increased as follows since the year 1790: in that year there were 27 blacks to 100 whites; in 1800 the propor tion was 20 to 100; and in 1810 only 19. The number of emigrants that arrived in the different states in 1794 was about 10,000; in 1817, 22,240, of whom 11,977 were British or Irish. From the British possessions in America there arrived the same year 2901 individuals.

Population of Glasgow. By a late sur. vey, finished 26th Feb. last, the population of Glasgow and its suburbs appeared to be 148,798.

New Expeditions in the Arctic Ocean.M. the Count de Romanzow is fitting out, at his own expense, an expedition which is to set out from Tehouktches, so as to pass over the solid ice from Asia to Ame. rica, to the north of Behring's Strait, at the point where Cook and Kotzebue were stopped. The same nobleman is also fitting out an expedition which is to ascend one of the rivers which disembogue on the western coast in Russian America, in order to pene. trate into the unknown tracts that lie be tween Icy Cape and the river Mackenzie.

Trigonometrical Surveys.-The claborate survey commenced in the year 1784, by Gen. Roy, and since continued by Colonels Mudge and Williams, is now proceeding under the immediate direction of Captain Colby, of the engineer department, with a degree of accuracy hitherto unknown in this branch of local topography.

Etna and Vesuvius.-A letter from Pa lermo says, "that the academy of that city had sent some persons to Mount Etna, who affirm that, while they stood on the crater of that volcano, they heard from it the thundering of the late eruption of Mount Vesuvius; which gives room to conjecture that these two volcanoes have some subter. raneous communication with each other.

Temple of Jupiter Ammon.-M. Frediani, an Italian traveller, writes from Egypt that he has succeeded, after sixteen days of excessive fatigue across the deserts of Lybia and Marmerique, in reaching the famous temple of Jupiter Ammon, called the Great Temple, which no person ap pears to have visited since the time of Alexander the Great. M. Frediani had with him an escort of 2,000 men, and had to fight his way to this celebrated mo. nument.

Measurement of the Meridian.-The operations now carrying on, by order of the king of Denmark, for measuring an are of the meridian, in Denmark and Holstein, are to be continued through the kingdom