THE STATE TRIALS.

New Zealander, Volume 4, Issue 281, 7 February 1849, Page 3

THE STATE TRIALS.

A. special Commission was iuued for the County of Limerick, ai well as Tipperary. The Commission for the latter county opened at Clonmrl on the 18th Sept., before the two Chief Ju«tieas, and Mr. Justice Mi>ore. On that day the Grand Jury were sworn in, and Chief Justice Blackburn haviug addressed them, bills of in. dictment for Hign Treason were seat before them, against Messrs. Smith OBrien, Meagher, and the others in custody, charged at implicated in the insurrectionary proceedings in Tipperary. The Irish Treason Act require! fire clear days, st least, be given between the delivery of the indictment and the arraignment of the prisoners, thus the trial* could not commence before the 26th September. The Grand Panel of the North Riding was returned by the Sheriff, aud the persons on it were to serve on tfce Pettt Jurieit The same course has been observed at Limerick , but the judges had not then named a day (or opeuing the Court there. Mr. Smith OBrien is, without doubt, to be defended by Mr. WhitesMe, Q.C. The statement that the learned getleman bad returned b'B retainer is' unfounded. Mr. Whiteside obtained his license from the proper office for that purpose. It was supposed he would he assisted by his brother* >n4aw, Joseph Napier, Esq., Q C, and M. P. for the Dublin University, Mr. Potter was acting as Mr* O'Brien's Solicitor. Mr, Meagber abandoned the inteaiion of conducting his own defence, and Mr. Whiteside, with Sir C. O'Loghlen, were employed at Counsel on his behalf. The High Sheriff of the County of Dublin, and the Board of Superintendence, visited Mr. Smith OBrien, aud Mr. Meagher, on the 15th September, in Kil mainham Gaol. For the first time since their imprisonment they were allowed access to newspapers, books, &c. pending their transminion to the South. The prisoners were secretly removed from Kilmainham to a special train, under an eScort strongly guarded, to tike tbeir trials. The political prisoners, in Clonmel Gaol, are in good health and spirits, sate Mr. Dunn. Char es Garan Dufly, will be put upon his trial in Dublin, at the commission of Oyer and Terminer, which was to open the 21st October, and will not be removed to Clonmel, as was supposed. No attack was made on Curnghmore House ; it was only threatened. The news respecting the failure of the Potato Crop, is, we are sorry to say, too true ; the report from the different counties represent the "blight" as having attacked and destroyed two thirds of the crop. The Dublin Freeman of Thursday contains the following, " We are enabled to announce that the Prime Minister will have to pay a second visit to thii country, and that a polite invitation for that purpose was conveyed to him in the afternoon of Sunday last, bearing the signatures of Messrs. Pedder and Carmichael, Clerks of the Crown for the County of Tipperary—or, to express ourselves with less ambiguity we may simply state, that Lord John Russell, almost the moment previous to his departure from our shores, was handed a crown summons, requiring him (.o attend and give 'evidence at the easu'ng special mmmission in Clonmel, on the part of Mr. W. S. O'Bncn. The delivery vf this document, as we can collect, was nat effected without some difficulty.— Several applications were made in the course of Saturday to Mr. W. ft. Grey, the Premier's Secretary, with a view of making his Lordship acquainted with Mr. O'Brien's solicitor (Mr. Potter), but in vain ; and it waionly after the carriage was packed, aud the uoble Lord's family awaiting him to step into it, that he could spare a moment for an interview with Mr. Pottsr. It took place in the drawing room of the Viceregal Lo'lge, aud after a brief introduction Lord Xohn was handed the legal document in due form, which he read over carefully. Mr. Potier then observed that sn order to comply with the regular formalities of the Urr it was his duty to tender his Lordship a viaticum, accompanying the summons, which required his attendance, at ihe same time handing him ten sovereigns. Lord *ohn Russell h&s declined to receive the money obierving that though such might be the form of laws Mr. Potter might consider the service of the summon, complete without bis acceptance of the viaticum- His Lordship then remarked that he was going to Scotland by a special order to wait upon her Majesty, and he did not know for What purpose his attendance could be required at the trial. Mr- Potter stated that the legal advisers of Mr- Smith OBrien considered his Lordship's attendance and evidence absolutely requisite- The Premier then requested that, if it should still be deemed necessary to examine him as a witness, lio should receive intimation to that effect as early as possible, in order to enable him to nuke arrangements tor attending the trial- Mr- Potter repeated that he had reason to believe his Lordship's evidence would be indispensable on the trial, and then withdrew ; after which Lord John Russell stepped into his carri ge and drove off to Kingstown." The Soldiers encamped in the South of Ireland are laid to present a worn and fatigued appearance ; and they state that they never had in any foreign service, even in time of war, mo.c harrassing duty- For several weeks, night and day, they were obliged to be ready in a moment's noticeIn other respects, the papers are remarkably barren. The Californian fever had extended to Hobart Town — the brig Marianne, the schooners Eliza and John Bull, and a ship (being advertised as about to be chartered), for that golden region, where the surplus provisions of Tasmania may, it is imagined, be advantageously exchanged. We copy tha following from the Colonial Times :—: — We understand that some of our enterprising merchants are preparing to send cargoes of provisions and. other articles to California, to meet the great demand which is certain to exist there from the concourse of adventurers in search of all attraction — gold. We sincerely wish them every success in their spirited undertaking! promising, as it does, to prove for some time of much importance to the interests of the colony. The voyage may be made in from six to eight weeks — seven, it is said, may be taken as the average. Sup. plies can therefore be sent from Fan Diemen's Land more readily than from any other corn-growing country, except Valparaiso— and the superiority of our bread-stuffs will always command a mnrket at a rite sufficient to compensate for the greater expense of conveyance. California, however, from its natural capabilities, is not likely to stand lone in need of an external supply of food, as it is described, or rather the northern portion, where the fields of gold exist, &« being well watered and having a fertile soil. These

advantages will not be neglected by the enterprising emigrants from the United States, although in the outlet the rush will be to the *' diggings." The returns for our export of food will be of the description held by the lupporters of the balance of trade fallacy as the most desirable of all import »— gold. But we would recommend masters of vessels and supercargoes to exercise some little caution in the examination of the glittering article of payment, and keep in remembrance the homely saying— *that " all ia not gold that glitters." Extensive frauds have been, and still are, committed on the African const, in gold dust transactions, by payments being made in dust pre« pared in the workihopi of England, instead of in that the product of nature's laboratory. This hint may not be considered unimportant by our exporters, who will probably consider it advisable for their supercargoes to be provided with the proper chemical testa, and to take some instruction in their use previous to leaving Van Diemen's Land. As flour will be one of the chief articles of export, our millers a; well at our farmers will partake in the benefits of this trade.— The Adelaide was again laid on for Auckland and Wellington, and the Sisters for Wellington and Auckland. The new barque Margaret Brock of 245 tons, sailed from Hobart Town, jar New Zealand, on the 13th ultimo, with 108,800 feet of timber, 202,300 shingles, 120 pieces stone, 124 bags bread, 53 bags sugar, 340 bags flour, 2 cases boots, and 7 bundles leather. Ship building appears to be in a most prosperous condition in the neighbouring colony. At Launceston, a Ship Building and Shipping Company, (comprising amongst its shareholders most of the leading men of that city,) has been established, under the most promising auspices. Regattas are on the increase, the first of an annual series having come oft at Sandy Bay, with great eclat on New Year's day. Wheat on the 16th, is quoted at 4s. per bushel; English Barley, 3s. 4d.; Oats, 3s. j New Hay, per ton, £2 10s.; Old Hay, £4. The exportation of flour is increasing ; wheat at Launceston on the 13th, 3s. per bushel.

However desirous of a quiet life with our contemporary, The Cross, we cannot permit his, unchallenged, utterance of groundless and unseemly allegations. On Saturday last, in another splenetic fit, — induced, it would appear, because of the Commissariat department withholding from his columns the advertisements they choose to publish in ours — our jaundiced contemporary indulges once more in the stale and sorry dodge, of taxing us with being " the Government ■organ," — straining, thereby, to impeach our integrity, and to exalt, by implication, his own immaculate independence ! Our contemporary knows, quite as well as we, the dishonesty of an assertion whose truth we have, again and again, impugned ; and of whose absurdity, we have, we submit, afforded the most substantial and unequivocal cvi* dence. The Government possesses its own organ,—*th6 Gazette — and, from that, we transcribe such notifications as we deem it essential the publifc should be made acquainted with. Our circulation is limited neither to " a particular class of readers only," nor is it beyond the ken "of the whole community :" on the contrary, its issue is by far the most general and extensive. Of that fact, the Commissariat department is fully and practically conversant, and hence, we presume, they choose to profit by that medium which piesents to them the largest "commercial" facilities. If our assertion savour of a boast, it is one which our contemporary has compelled, and which we defy him to refute. As to the unworthy insinuation that our sentiments are made to measure, it is an allegation beneath a manly antagonist, and unwarranted by our public conduct. Boast of his own integrity, as much as he of The Cross, may — we, too, " have an opinion of our own," — an opinion which we never fail as fearlessly as " honestly," to express — never indeed, faCtiously. However careless of " the (unmerited) approbation of Government," we confess, we are, nevertheless, anxious to avoid wantonly insulting it. We have as little desire to vaunt our independence by coarse vituperation of authority, as wish to aggrandize ourselves by taxing a political opponent with mean or sordid motives.

The Missionary brig, John Wesley > arrived on Sunday from the Feejee Islands, having left Kandavu on the 23rd ultimo. She brings no shipping intelligence of importance. Whilst the John Wesley was at Vewa, the brig William from this portj touched at that island, and took on board a quantity of cocoa nut oil. From Vewa, the William sailed, about the 10th ult.,to Ngau, where she was to embark more oil, and then proceed to Sydney. War was raging among the several island tribes. Christianity, notwithstanding, was making progress 5 many of the chiefs under its influence, refusing to participate in. war's wanton excesses. We regret that the Rev. Mr. Ford, one of the young missionaries who came from England with the John Wesley, expressly devoted to the Feejee portion of the mission field, should have been compelled from the effects of a , tropical climate, and a shattered state of health, to return to Auckland ; especially at such a juncture, when active missionary labourers are so much required in the Feejee group. We trust that a more salubrious atmosphere may speedily restore Mr, Ford to his wuatei health

and energy, and that, in the meantime, this part of New Zealand may profit by his presence. The Rev. John Hunt, for ten yCars engaged in the arduous task of imparting the light of Christianity to the Feejeeans, was called from his labours, after a short illness, in the beginning of October. Below, we give an extract from a letter addressed to the Rev. I>r. Hannah, by the Rev. Mr. Calvert, detailing the services of one whose loss is very greatly deplored, by his missionary colleagues. Extracts from a letter addressed to the Rev. Dr. HaKnaii, Theological Tutor, Didsbury, on the occasion of the death of the Rev. John Hunt, Lhavvian of the Feejee District. Vewa, Feejee, October 25, 1848. Rev and very dear Sir : — Happy should I be to write to you, as heretofore, about our labouri, trials, and continued successes in Feejee. Bu f , alts ! an event most painful demands our first attention. We have to inform you that your faithful and approved Student— the Rev. John Hunt— has been severely a filleted, and that he finished his Christian course with joy, and the ministry which he received of the Lord Jesus, on the fourth df this month, at twenty minutes past three, p.m. Our most excellent Chairman was ardently loved, and very hifhly esteemed, by each of his brethren He was c ninently qualified for the office h6 sustained. The loss of such a man— ur<jat anywhere !— is immense in this extensive but scantily supplied District ; especially so now, as our work is in vigourom prosperity, and we now, more than at any former period, need an increase of labourers. We keenly feel our bereaVemeut —which has ti ijred our future prospects with gloom. He was born June 13th, 1812, at Hykeham-moor, near Lincoln. During his youthhood he had impressive views of the piovidence of God: and grew up in the fear of tht Lord. His con\ictions of sin were full. He deeply repented. Under the instructions of the late Rev. J. Smith he trusted fully in Christ for his personal salva# tion ;and leingjustified by faith, he then had peabe with God. This was in the eighteenth year of his age. His piety becane deep. The love of God was perfected in him. He early became, what he continued to be, a man of simple, ardent, believing prayer—agonizing with God for blessings on hiinselt and othersHe became a diligent reader of the Bible at an early period of his Christian course, adopting— what he has frequently practised since— the invaluable plan of choosing a passage for each day's meditation; by which he kept his m nd engiged, and obtained a knowledge of the word of God which was the result of deep thought. After having preached the Gospel with acceptance and success for about four years, at the Conference of 1835 you will remember he entered the Institution at Hoxton. You are aware of the improvement he there made, by hard study, extreme diligence — often as I remember, rising at four o'clock in the morning— and never entering into trifling conversation, or wasting time. Among many Institution princip'es which he carried out, one deserves prominent notice and full remem. brance — his willingness to communicate instruction and render help. Most cheerfully would he labour hard, anJ oven write for the uSe of his brethren. You have had no student more faithful to the invaluable instructions which you re iterated again and again-*-that we were to continue in those studies which were there commenced. He gave himself fully to them ; his profiting was known to all mem His dilligence told well ou himself; and his constancy, se riousness and full devotedness — without a word from him— was the most cutting reproof to those of us who hnd not got into the same plan of strict application to useful study. He was always employed-^never trifling - ly so : and that is one grahd reason of his effecting s6 much. You know we'l that he had not only a sound mind in a strdng body — but that his capabilities were more than ordinary. Yet, it was dint of application— hard thinking, and constancy in good employment that made him stand most conspicuously iar before and above his brethern — both in the Institution and since he left. His general spirit and application every one naw and felt in the Institution ; but I had a nearer view of him within the sides of a ship during a long voyage, and at places where we landed before we arrived at our destination. If, uride'r any circumstances, a man can have a plausible excuse or reason for relaxation, surely then he might. But not so with brother Hunt — he was always at work : and he had entered so fully into his duty, that it becamt his delight, and he could not be happy without fulfilling it Every day learning something useful-— in every place] doing something good. So far from desiring to rest— he could not he per* siiaded to it. He must be on full stretch ! In enteriog on his work in Feejee in January, 1839, he went on in his usual way of entire consecration— only turning the direction of his mind and efforts to the work he then commenced. He quickly learned so much of the language as enabled him to preach and converse. After remaining only six months at Rawa, he re* moved to a new Station, where he was cal led to Work without the tokens of good which would have satisfied him— conversions from sin to holiness. However, though he could not there see what he longed for, he was determined to do what he could. With his colleague he made much progress and proficiency in the language, which was made to tell considerably, when I correctness and extensive knowledge were so needed afterwards. In 1842 he removed from Somosomo to Vewa. Here he lived, laboured, and died, and here his remains are deposited* His preaching both in native and English was most excellent. All hit sermons were well-studied and well-arranged in his mind before preaching or writing. He thoroughly understood — fully explained— and most faithfully applied God's holy Word. He was • good and faithful minister of Jesus Christ, nourished tip in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto he had attained. He studied to show himself approved unto God, a workman that needed not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. He translated nearly tbe whole of the New Testament—'which has been well printed. It is esteemed by all his brethern ai a mast excellent version. On the ninth of August and some days previous brother Hunt had most severe attacks of spasm and inflammation in the bowels— and it was feared that bit life would then be finished. However, ardent prayer was made by the Church without ceasing for him ; and the Lord sanctified the means used to the alleviation of bit sufferings. ' On his 6th of September I arrived at Vewa by the ' Wetlep from Lakembi. I found brother Hunt able to tit on the sofa, and walk over the room with a stick ; but very much shattered by bis frequent attacks j and continued disease. ♦ • * • * On the morning of the 4th October) he dclircred

messages to the chiefs, people, hit brethern and in. ters : prayed for bis children, desiring them to obey and imitate their mother : affectionately commending hit moch beloved partner to tha guidance o( Divine Providende j prayed for God's blessing on a faithful servant who had been with him everiince his amv.il in Feejee : and desired me to pray. About three o'clock, p. m , he grasped me, and turned tin his tide ; and, after breathing with difficulty for about twenty minutes, his spirit departed iuty eternal ble sedness. The natives flocked to see the remains of their beloved Minister. A neat coffin was immediately made, covered with black calico, on whirh was inscribed — Ret. John Hunt— Slept in /««*— October 4th, 1848— Aged 36 Years. Early on the morning of the stb, the principal chief of Bau, with many attendants, arrived. He was impatient to see the remain* { and was evidently much, affected with brother Hunt's meisage, and the account we gave of hit good end. At three o'clock he was borne by native Students. — The Foreigners residing here, and 6 >me from is'ands near, attending the funeral — neatly attired. Mr. Lyth. read the Burial Service in English. Afterward* I ad* dresied the people in Feejeean.

The Weather.— 'We have had a seasonable change since our last. The long continued dry and scorching weather gave place on Saturday, to general and genial rain, which fell copiously throughout that day, Sunday, and Monday. We may, therefore* speedily expect the emerald to supersede the russet hue which our fields have so long and so unprofitably worn, and our stock to revel in the pas^ turage which had become somewhat of the scantiest. We trust the fcheat harvest has not suffered by the wet.

Programme.— On Thunday, B'h February, (hy the permission of Lieutenant Colonel Wyny&rtl, C.8.) the Band of the &Bth Regiment will perform the following pieces of muiic, within the enclosure of the 1 government grdUnds, from half-past fjur to half.past six d'clofck:-*. Overture ...... " Le Serment" »* Auber Galop* " Prince Albert's" Lnbitzki Waltz " Lea Pat Dcs Fluers" Ju.hea Song " Where hae you been a 1 the cUy" Polka "The Jupiter" Kd'jnig Aria....Gr»nd <( II Soave Bel ConWnto" .. ..Pacini SoQg.» ." The Hose of Allendale ". Cavatina.. " Di Piaceri,'' Op. «• Li Gazza Ladra" Ro«ini Quadrille "The Swisi " Julliea