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SERIOUS CHARGE.-On Saturday last, as we
learn from the Norfolk Herald, breach of the


laws Of Virginia, involving the severest penalty
in her whole criminal code, short of capital pun
ishment, was charged against Capt. Charles Hub
ert, of the British brig Charity. This was no
other than an attempt to abduct, or a permission
OF the attempt, by others, to abduct slave, the
property of a citizen of Norfolk, in the hold OF
the vessel under his command. 1t appears that
the brig had taken in cargo of slaves, and was
on the eve Of departure for Barbadoes, when
some detention was suffered in consequence ol
the desertion of several of the crew. In the eff.
fort to reclaim these, the captain brought himself
under the penalties of the law, by making forcl.
BILE entry into sailors lodging house. An ac-
ton for damages was the consequence of this il
legal step, which the captain compromised by the
payment of $ll2. Meantime the police officers
succeeded in capturing one of the sailors who had
deserted, and this man, on being taken, gave in
formation that runaway slave was secreted on
board the brig. The same information had beer
impaired to the pilot of the vessel by the cook,
free colored many who pointed out his hiding
place, which among the slaves in the hold
and in which the fugitive was found. The negro
was taken thence, and the captain of the brig was
taken into custody and committed to the county
Jail, to stand his trial. The penalties against this
act are particularly severe being, stated by the
Herald, ''frst, fine of $500 recoverable by any
person who will sue for the same; I'd, the value
of the slave, on the action of the owner-in which
action the vessel is liable to attachment, to answer
the verdict of the Jury, no matter to achon, she
belongs; Sd, fine Of ST. SO for the benefit of the
Literary Fund. And lastly, the master Of such
vessel, is liable to prosecution and three years


Imprisonment, if the slave shall be found on board
after the vessel leaves the port, hether he k,aeW
the slape aoas on board or not"


The brig had been placed under attachment, to
await the result Of judicial Observation-Disclosures
Patriot.