uncil; but he died in prison before the pardon extended
to him could arrive. Mr. Brougham moved that the court-martial held
on him was illegal, and the sentence unjust; and it was with great
difficulty that ministers could procure a small majority to acquit his
judges. This discussion, however, led to beneficial results. Government
formed plans for abolishing the habitual use of the lash; for regulating
the punishment of refractory slaves; for preventing the separate sale
of husband, wife, and children; for protecting the property of slaves,
admitting their evidence, and facilitating their manumission; and for
providing them religious instruction, and a regular ecclesiastical
establishment, with two bishops at its head; one presiding over Jamaica,
and the other over the Leeward Islands, These were the principal
measures of parliament during the present session.

STATE OF THE BRITISH COLONIES.

At this time our settlements at the Cape of Good Hope were greatly
disturbed by the unpopularity of the governor, Lord Charles Somerset.
Another part of the great African continent was also the scene of more
tragical events. The administrators on the Gold Coast having taken
part in the quarrels of the natives, and violated the terms of a
treaty concluded some years before with the Ashantee monarch, he led
a well-appointed army against them. Sir Charles Macarthy, Governor
of Sierra Leone, advanced against him with a few Europeans and some
thousands of barbarian allies; but the King of the Ashantees was
victorious. Sir Charles Macarthy was slain, and his forces were defeated
with dreadful carnage. Alarm was entertained for the safety of the
principal settlements at Cape Coast Castle; but the "Thetis" frigate
having arrived with a few troops, and the garrison being strengthened
by some auxiliaries from Acra, the enemy were repulsed. They were
afterwards overthrown in several engagements by Colonel Sutherland, and
compelled to desist from hostilities. In North America our colonies were
in the enjoyment of great commercial prosperity, though in Lower
Canada dissensions had commenced, which portended future important
consequences. From the continent of Australia, also, the most pleasing
prospects continued to be unfolded. In New South Wales and Van Diemen's
Land the population, from emigration, had doubled itself; and important
returning cargoes of wool, &c, began to compensate for the expenditure
of the mother country. A brisk t