The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1877-03-27 00:00:00

NAVAL COLLEGE.

HOW TIFEY DO THINGS AT THE ADMIRALTY

The above is the title of an important paper, which
we received Wednesday afternoon. The paper, which
is from the pen of our worthy Member, 'Mr. Henry
Edwards, reproduces the evidence of Dr. W. Con.lly,
staff-surgeon to the him Direeterd leviers! of the
Navy •, of gir Alex. Armstrong, the Medical Director-
General of the Navy ; Ntr. Eugene Victor de
klerie, surgeon. R.N. ; anil of Dr. W. B. laalby,
KB., R.N., all of which appear strongly unfavour-
able to the Devonshire site. The paper concludes :
"In spite of t'si overwhelming evidence and reports,
such i 4 the powerful influence at the AilnsirahY that a
vote of public money is aihed for to erect a college at
Dartmouth, and in order to lack up this curious proceed-
ing a newt extraordinary document was placed on the
table of the House of Commons—a Parliamentary paper,
being copies of two letters addressed by two Admirals to a
innior Lord of the Admiralty, who represents that part if
, the county where this college is contemplated. Can any-
Ithing be more 1111 l estrous than Adniirals who are always
seeking or expecting favours from the Admiralts-, should
write letters to a member of Parliament stating that a
place in the division of the county he represent is suitable
for a naval teollege, and more especially when he is a Lord
of the Admiralty, from whom favours might be exported?
These letters were not addressed to him as a Lord of the
Admiralty, hut as ' Dear Sr Massey Lopes.' and yet they
are published in a Parliamentary paper, and placed on the
table of the House of Commons to induce the country to
concur in favour of Dartmouth, against all the evidence
received from their high nfficials alsive alluded to.
The coat if this college cannot be expected to be less
than LIV 0,110), and the Admiralty want the House of
Commons to vote that large Rum. in spite of the evidence
of their medical officers, at the furthermost part of the
country where a ship cannot be seen, inconvenient from
it, remoteness from London, nit only with regarl fn the
, supervision by the Affiniralty and the consequent heron-
venience and expense to the cadets themselves.
Tiers ends the matter of the proceeding .4 the Board of
Admiralty respecting this attempt to tix on the nation
this e holly unsuitable site, and it Woo hoped from what
took place in the House of Commons that all con-
, sideration of Dartmouth for the purpose was disearded.
But the same extraordinary influence at the Admiralty
' which induced the Drew.' to ignore the evidence and
advice id the Medical Director( buteral and the leading
officials prevailed on the First loird immediately after the
Session to appoint a I 'on 111 l thee to advise tlwir I.srlships
of the Admiralty as to the mist desirable site for a college
I for naval cadets. Mlle iti.trueibia patrah(.• 054 , ufly
p,in(ing la Psclrrroulh, that the Committee nsust have had
I great difficulty in avoiding a path so plaitsly lahl out for
them to travel in. Put they, too. although evidently
impressed and tied in their judginent by the instrections,
state in their report, •' The &met; is r, The
average rain-fall is ILAS inches, rhieh is ur.,a,e, than ma,
or a„,, nthee south-m. 4 site risiled. Athi frll.ll llt7l in!O. hr
1'75 It was not so invigorating for young lads destined
to • Rea life as might he desired...
After such overwhelming evidence, if the money asked
for in the Naval Estimates is granted for a naval college
it ought to he an express condition the site of Dartmouth
should be excluded, and thus prevent • job being perpe-
; trated.

A LUNATIC CLERGYMAN BEFORE TIIE
MAGISTRATES.

At the Borough Petty Seasions on Nfonilay it. Is.fore
the Mayor (Mr. I.undie), Dr. Drew, Mr. B. Hopkins, and
Mr. T. Abbott, a person of superior whirro was hrought
Into court but instead of being placed in the dock, Wa .4
seated behind. . .

....
The proceedings commenced by Mr. .1. P. Collett, Great
Western station-master, twine called as a witness. Mr.
Collett said his foreman could give evidence as to the
arrival of the passenger.
Mr. C 'nett was asked to state what he knew about the
niatter ; and he said that about 12 o'clock yesterday the
Irpwey collector came to his house, and fetched him to the
station to see a passenger who hail arrived with a
Bathampton :Ird class ticket, and had no money to pay the
extras fare. Witness found the passenger (the Rev. Mr.
Cousins) seated in a chair in a state of torpor. Witness
aroused him, and very soon concluded that the gentleman
was of unsound mind. Dr. Smith happened to be at the
station, and confirmed his suspicions. Subsequently Dr.
IChisles alsoveanconsulte.

Defendant 1.-Ishtar): May I ask, is it my case or roe that
is under r.mmderatiun —lle was informed, yes.
Defendant: May I a-k what nn earth I ant here for '
May I have any statement on the subject I should wish
to know, and I believe it is my right to know, why I am
hen.. . . . . .

Mr. Arden : The charge ii that you are wandering about
not being in a fit state to take care of yourielf.
Defendant: I understand—insanity.
Dr. Rhodes, who gave his evidence very quietly. said :
I was called to the waiting ropin at the Croat Western
Motion, about one o'clock. and found this gentlenian there
in a dreamy state, and talking inc ,herently. Ile told me
he bad great trouble and anxiety on his mind ; I PAIN'
bow he came to Weymouth, when he replied that he ratite
by accident. It struck me that he was in a condition to
re was with him fir an hour
i+zire upn
e,lisayeor;is Wiol.
ht. ! "
uniler the influence of drink !—A.
Certainly not.
The Mayor asked whether defendant wacs a lunatic.
A. I cannot give any definite opinion ; it is a serious
matter to give an answer ih that kind.
The Mayor: You saw him for an hour yesterday. During
that time did he converse. or did he simply Fay what you
have toll us I—A. I had to drag everything out of him,
and this morning he did not recollect me.
Defendant : I beg to correct that; I knew you perfectly
well. .

The Mayor: Ia he competent to take care of himself
A. From what I saw of him yesterday, I should nay
certainly n ; but I should like to examine him further.
Mr. Arden (to the Bench): Perhaps he hail better be
sent to the Union, where two doctors could examine

Defendant I be your pardon, if you are referring to
no.. I should like to know wbo you or.
Mr. Arden : It does not matter what ray name is.
Defendant Who are you? I should like to know your
name and business here. (To the Iteneh): I with to a.ssert
my position in this Court. At this moment I believe nip
personal liberty is under dismission, and I think I have an
interest in it. I strongly think I should know who are
the people taking part in the discussion. (To Mr. Arden):
Who are you I
Mr. Arden :I am the Magistrates Clerk.
Defendant: Oh I thank you. Who ha.s laid the ese
against tire?
Mr. Arden: The parish lays the case against you.
Defendant ‘Vho represents the parish
Mr. Arden: There is the relieving officer.
Mr. 1,,r shook his head, and went to speak to the
magistrates.

Defendant: Who is the accuser
Mr. Vickery rose.
Defendant: What are you with reference to me ! A. I
am superintendent of pollee.
Defendant: Do you represent the prosecution in this
case /

Arden : There in no prosecution.
Defendant: I beg to state there is. I am prosecuted,
and about to be tried for my personal liberty, and if that
is no prosecution I do not know what is.
Mr. Arden (to the magistrates): I think you had better
send him to the union, to he—
Defendant: This ix a private consultation between four
maxistrates and somebody else. I object to it.
The Mayor Can you give us any rsferences, that we
may write and ascertain who or what yen are
Defendant: Give me time, please, give me time. I
want to realise the whole state of the case. I simpb object
to a private consultation between four maxistrates and
another Person who is not a magistrate, rests sting tuy
personal 'liberty. I have told three or four persons of lead-
ing positions who and what I am. It is very strange I
should be asked here again.
The Mayor told defendant he had been in the carriage
without a proper ticket, and the Bench supposed he
could state who and what he was for his own good.
Defendant One question at • time, and I will endeavour
to answer you.
The Mayor You were found in a carriage with no
ticket to Weymouth.
Defendant: I beg to state that is a wrong statement to
begin with I had • ticket
The Mayor: To save trouble, I will call upon you, Mr.
Vickery, to just inform the Bench if you have been at the
trouble of ascertaining where this person comes from.
Mr. Vickery: When he was brought to the station, he
showed me a card, and told ice what he was. I have
communicated, and the result is that I find öe is a
clergyman of Chippenham union, anti in lodgii gs at
Chippenham.
The Mayor Its state, that there was a ticket in his
pocket
Mr. Collett : The ticket was from Bath to Bathampton ;
he came on to Weymouth, and as a matter of business we
demanded the excess fare, when he stated that he had
not eullicient money; he produced IL lid. I had some
statement made to sue that he was chaplain of the