SEDITIOUS WRITFNGS.—A policeman, named Lonergan, brought to the Marylebone Office,
on Saturday, four men, whom he charged with selling straws and distributing seditious writings. The seditious writings were an extract from the Times, Lord Mayor Key's letter, and Sir Robert Peel's letter on the King's proposed visit ! The Magistrate cautioned the men against such practices, returned their straw, and burnt their papers.
SLAVE LIBERATION.— Two slaves, who had served as seamen on board the Eliza Ann, from Nassau in New Providence, were liberated lately at Cork. There were six men in all, but only two were inclined to take advantage of the law which declares a slave free on landing on the shores or entering a harbour of the United Kingdom. The case, in the shape of an action by the men for wages due from the period of their entering on board the vessel, came to be pleaded before Aldermen Par- ker and Gibbings, sen. of Cork, on Wednesday week ; and it presented a very curious specimen of special pleading. Mr. Elliot, the owner of the slaves, and defendant in the cause, answered to their demand, that the men were taken on board in conformity with colonial usage, and the laws relating to slaves in the capacity of seamen, and under certificate from the Customhouse and Registry Office : if, therefore, they were ad- mitted to be his property, they were of course not entitled to any wages but what he might choose voluntarily to bestow ; whilst, on the other Land, if considered as freemen, they were precluded from any claim by the ship's papers, as their return to New Providence was stipulated, and the contract being broken by their desertion from the vessel, all wages became forfeited. To this it was objected by Mr. Parker, agent for the Society, that as the existence of slavery is not recognised beyond the jurisdiction of the Colonial Governments, the plea of the seamen's servile condition is totally futile in a British court of justice ; while, on the other hand, they were under no obligations by the ship's papers, inas.
much as the stipulations contained therein were made, not by them ae 'Tree agents, but by their owners, as the absolute disposers of their time :and persons aboard. Such an answer and reply might have bothered -even Irish acuteness; but the members of the Anti-Slavery Society, 'through whom the action had been instituted, withdrew it on a promise from Mr. Elliot, that if the other men felt inclined to remain in the country, no restraint should be laid on them.
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