The Express.
London, England, 1855-09-05 00:00:00

TO Till IDITOI OP TNT IMPRTSS.

Sts,—l do not like leaving my country for the
East without offering some explanation to the public
in defence of my character, and should be much
obliged if you will afford me the only means I have,
by inserting the following letter in your columns.
In consequence of the general order from the
Horse Guards relative to the practical joking at Can-
terbury, I wrote the following letter to the Com-

Hy Lord,—l have raised the communication which
your lordship conveyed in a g I order that I was dis-
10i004 from herlasity's service. I fully admit the errors
which I have committed, and admit the justice of the sen-
tence. At the same time I most humbly appeal to your
lordship'. clemency on the ground of my inezperience,
having only jollied the regiment the end of January last.
When called upon by Colon.' Pourer to 'tidy to the
charges made spinet me by Cornet Baumgarten, which be
read user to me, 1 reframod, from a sense of honour, from
casting say redaction upon others, admitting my own parti•
ciliation in the acts eomolained of, and notbiog now will
induce me to WWI forward is support of any ac-
cusations against any of my brother officers to
pilhate my own conduct; but I feel einvinceil, if your lord
ship had been acquainted with all the circumstances ems-
: sected with Cornet Baumgarten and the annoyances to
which be was subjected, as well as the particulars relating
to the sham thud, my conduct would not appear so much
more deserving of blame than that of others. should her
Majesty he graciously pleased to extend her clemency to
me, permitting me to atone for the strawy' fir which I
&red by volunteering my services in any regiment
or corps now serving in the Crimea, I trust, by my
good conduct and zeal in the service, to lender m,“11 wor-
thy of again receiving a commission in the 6th Dragoons, or ,
any othir regiment in her Majesty's service.
I cannot express to your lordship the distress and anxiety
of mind which the dismissal from the service has caused
me. The first aspiration of my heart was to distinguish my.
era in my country's etrtiell . • and this feeling alone urged
me, when was declared, to leave my firmer occupa.
tioi—to seek a sommissiou in the army. I feel quits broken-
hearted to find all my hopes &fasted through my own
thoughtless madam. I again throw myself on your lord-
ship'. kindsem to intercede for MO to her Majesty. —I have
the honour to remain, dm Juan EVAN/.
To Viscount Hardioge, 0.C.8 , General
Commanditig-in Chief.

This application was entirely refused. If it is
absolutely oecessaty for the goal of the sereicre that
one officer in the regiment must be sacrificed as a
scapegoat, let the public be satisfied that the lot has
fallen on the greatest a d most responsible eff,nder,
and I will cheerfully submit to my fate, though the
punishment is extreme : y a it can be of no service
that my character should be ruined as well as my
prospects.
I am accused in the late general order of being the
leader and promoter of the annoyances practised upon
Cornet Baumgarten. This I must most emphatically
deny.
There is a circumstance connected with the mock
duel which ought not to be overlooked, namely, that
immediately atter its occurrence, in the presence of
Colonel M'Queen, I acknowledged my fault to Cornet
Baumgarten, told him that it was merely a foolish
joke, and did " frankly explain, apologise, and offer
redress for the same," as ordered in the lith Article
of War, and we mutually agreed to forgot and forgive
the past. I, perhaps, thought too lightly of that past,
as my own bed had been watered, and the hinges of
my door kicked open, since joining the regiment. It
sounds like rough play, but I tared no worse than
others, and I took it as it was meant.

Moreover, there was no evidence whatever against
me, with regard to the practical jokes, except my
own free admission that I had participated with
others in them. Two charges only were brought
against me—neither of them against me alone—and
those were both false, as I at the time explained to
Colonel Forster. I was quite willing to bear my jest
share of blame, but I certainly did expect to have
Lad a court-martial, or a fair and open inquiry.
Rumour has bees too busy with my errors and
misfortunes. It has been said that I have reported
Captain Fitzwygram's conduct to the Horse Guards.
This I positively deny. It has also been publicly
stated that Captain Fi.zaugram privately prejudiced
the authorities at the Horse Guards against me.
This charge he, no doubt, will be able to refute.
Apologising for intruding so much upon your space,
I have the honour to remain. your obedient servant,
JOHN EVANS,
late 6th, Inniskilline, Dragoons.
Steam Ship Karoac, Malta, Aug. 27.