154 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1^18. [Nov. 



consisted of at least 40 men, with 

 Field at their head, and that they 

 were encouraged by a number of 

 gentlemen and farmers. Two of 

 the men, Senly and Brown, were 

 speedily apprehended, and sworn 

 to by the keepers, but neither of 

 them would impeach his accom- 

 plices. About a week after, the 

 officer had information of one of 

 the party, named Usher, whom 

 he succeeded in taking after four 

 days and nights severe labour, in 

 a ditch, where he had a violent 

 struggle for nearly half an hour, 

 when a young man came to his 

 assistance, and they handcuffed 

 him. Usher is a very stout bony 

 man, six feet one inch high ; he 

 defended himself with a spade, 

 till the officer wrested it from 

 him, who was much hurt by the 

 blows he received. In less than 

 an hour. Usher gave a clue to the 

 whole gang, when Holyland pro- 

 ceeded to apprehend Field as the 

 ringleader, in doing which he was 

 exposed to great danger, as he 

 found him at a public-house 

 surrounded by 20 of his col- 

 leagues, who had pledged them- 

 selves to die to a man rather than 

 suffer Field to be taken. He 

 entered the room, assisted by two 

 of Lady de Gray's keepers, who, 

 to their credit, stood by him 

 until Field was taken. The officer 

 was much assaulted, and had his 

 warrant torn from him, when he 

 drew his cutlass, and by a spirited 

 and well-timed plan he carried 

 Field off. Three of the ringleaders 

 in the assault have been sent to 

 Bedford gaol to take their trials 

 at the ensuing sessions. Field, 

 Usher, Senly, Brown, and Roberts, 

 are committed for trial to Hert- 

 ford gaol ; and the officer is now 

 in pursuit of the others. This 



gang has been for some time a 

 terror to the whole neighbourhood, 

 and Field has frequently given 

 notice to the gentleman whose 

 park he was going to attack. 

 Some idea may be formed of the 

 depredations committed by Field's 

 gang, when it is pretty correctly 

 ascertained that Field has paid 

 from 60/. to 70/. a week to his 

 men, and employed a cart to 

 convey away the plunder. — Nor- 

 thampton Mercury. 



7. Exportation of Slaves for- 

 bidden. — The Legislature of New 

 Jersey, now in session at Trenton, 

 passed an act last Thursday, pro- 

 hibiting the exportation of slaves 

 or servants of colour out of that 

 State. It makes it penal in the 

 sum of 2,000 dollars, or imprison- 

 ment at hard labour for any term 

 not less than two, or more than 

 four years, at the discretion of 

 the Court, for any person to send 

 to sea, or export, or attempt to 

 export, from that State, or to 

 carry out of it, any slave or 

 servant. And it also enacts, that 

 every slave or servant so exported 

 or carried out of that State, or 

 attempted to be exported or 

 carried out of that state, or 

 sent to sea, shall be free. All 

 persons aiding and abetting are 

 deemed equally guilty as the 

 owner of a slave. It also ordains, 

 that if any person fits out, equips, 

 or mans, or otherwise prepares 

 any vessel to sail from any port 

 or harbour in that State, for the 

 purpose of exporting slaves, such 

 vessel and cargo shall be forfeited 

 to the State. It compels the 

 masters of vessels, in case they 

 discover, after they have got to 

 sea, anj' slaves on board, to re- 

 turn them to the port from whence 

 they took them, under the penalty 



of 



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