The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-10-26 00:00:00

THE BRITISH PRESS.

TN,: Anmr.
110.1E•ormin.. OCT. 12, 11124.
At a general Court. Martial, hobs at Malta, oat the tat
day of March, 11424, and on attlitrquent (lays, and re- ,
assembled for revision on the Nth of duly Following,
Idetitenant George Francis Dawson, of the Royal Artillery,
Traa arraigned upon the undermentioned charges, viz.:—
lat. " For diauhedience of order', insubordinate and etofficer-
like &malice, when stationed at Fort St. Angelo, in the bland of
in hesitating and deelining us carry into execution the
orders he had received, on the feet of August. for firing al-
lutes frdm that fort, ow the Oth and 10th of the shine month, accord.
leg to establtslied usage."
•
And for having written two letters, dated the 7th and
4:11 August, to Major Addams. commanding the Royal Av.
vinery. rentonatrating against carrying the aforesaid orders into ,
efirtlly. " Fair writing a lettir, dated the,lith August, IRO, of a
lifghty insubordinate nature. anti shewkig a spirit of toptino.il inn to
thetwthority of his Coninvi.tling lAcer (Maine Addams) for
having given orders to Sergeant of thin corps, to fire
salutes at fort St. Angelo. on the 11th August, 182:1, and for having
ordered the expenditure of stores, or the execution of regimental
Orders, without such order palming dirmit:ll hint (Lieutenant
I)awson). he well knowing that his own conduct. and that of
another °Meer, had led to doe iheasUree against which he was re.
monstrating."
" 'rite above conduct beieg highly subvt.xsiee of military disci-
pline, Arid holding birth a most dangerous example to the British
armAtloTitional charge preferred by Brevet-Major AiLlattis,
of the Royal Artillery-.
" For neglect of ditty anal disobedience of orates, in not
giving directions to the detachment under his emnniand, for firing
a %aloe it Fort St. Angela on the !.hh August, 10123, at noon, and
in being absent from Cavalier St. Angelo (in the aforeuld
fort) without leave, when Butch saline wee tired by the mid de-
technic:it."
' Upon which Charges the Court Pule to the following
:---
"decision
Court having maturely and delilvistely weighed and
consitkred the evidence adduced iMouffeet of the prosicutinit, as
as well the prisoner's Wising declined 'Ales any defence, le of
opinion as follows,
• With rappoil to the First Charge, that he is Cnilty of the
same."
111.11 respect to the Second Chate, that he is (toile!, of
the slate."
• With ruftect to the addi.ltmel Charge, that he is—f)uilty of
the tint part of the (binge," viz:—
" Neglect of time »anal dioniwienee of orders in not giving di-
rections to the deleellitient neater his coi ttttt and, for tiring a salute
at tart St. A mead, on the 7th August bed."
And with respect to the second and last part of the said Charge,
viz:—
" In living absent from f'svalier St. Angelo (in the aforesaid
fort) without leave, when such salute was tired by the said de-
tachment ;" " the Court finds hay only to the extent of
being absent, it appearing not to have been the practice in the
Royal Artillery for officers to attend these aalUtfra and therefore—
Acquits him of being absent without leave."
" The Court having found the pritimer—fluilty of the first and
stenrid Charges; anal first pot of the additional Charge. anti to
the extent as set htardt regarding the second anal last part of the
said additional Char,,m exhibited aerinst him, being in breach of
the Articles of War, 11111C.1 therefore scriterlee him, t".O prisoner,
Lieutenant George Francis Dawson, of the Royal Artillery—To
be cashiered anti rendered incapable of ever serving his 31sjesty in
any militarr capacity whatsoever."
•• The Court, refetring to the proceedings on record in regard
to the prienner's defence, feels itself celled upon to animadvert, in
str,f,;; terms, oat the 'extrette pertinacity of his conduct on this
particular head; awl to express its surprise and eispleasure at the
derision lie thought pmper to make of withdrawing his defence
alt irethrlr, after relic:llrd warnings."
" It could not but be the wish of thoCnurt, in tide. as in every
other cage, to arc the Trillion!r avail himself (within those botinds
which the nature of his vow warranted) of every possible means
for justification, front the charges oat winch he Vas arraigned"
" Ile had been allowed by the t:ourt (according to usual custom)
a cirri:: and is addition the comaatit amistance of a friend, Cap.
min Itirbarl Harrison l'earsou, of the royal navy, aided by a pro.
fessional gentleman, foe the purpose of taking notes."
" The whole ease had received the most patient investigation, as
the Several cross-examinations show, and the prboner wan 81111W1.11
(at hie sawn request) from Saturday to the following Thursday to
prepare his (Limier."
" It via under these circumstances that he proceeded. and to a
very Considerable length, to read to the enart the defence referred
to; hi which he was tint interrupted until he had en far travelled
out of the charges altogether (hay frequently reading largely from
tberinplies of the Clitirch of England and the Holy Seitptures),
, that the( 'ourt felt itself anitrelled Intake the niefistires which appear
on refined ; measures which allindtsi the prisoner repeated (»laws
tunnies of correcting his titiecMiceptions in this particular, anti of
returning to that proper and allowed line of stateint nt anal defence
which 0011: the Coital could, iu the iltschntge of its t:atiel, penult
the prisoner to titirsne."
" The C4lll.rirleaCtl Wall an the of the prisoner (after IV-
, potted admonitions lie the Court) a deliberate withdrawing of his
defence."
0 .Iml,.finalfir, the ('mart cannot those its proceedings without
Unwitting that a different line of conduct had not been pursued by
r boils prosecutors; an, to all pfohabiliry, a tirm and energetic Ile-
, elation on their part, In the first instance, woidd have led to other
results."

lu consetpience 'of a communication from the Judge Ad-
vocate-General, dated the 3tst of May last, to the Ik•puty
Judge Advocate, Captain Barley, of the 36th regiment,
which is insi..rtetl in the proceedinga, the Court was re-
convened by a general order, dated the 16th July, ItsYl,
and upon a revision of the proceedings, came to the fol-
lowing decision viz.:—

" 3lalts. lOth Jul.,
" The Court harinr, heard the defence, and retort:miffed its
prnixedings and former seutencr on this trial, is of opinion as fol-
lows, via.:._
" With respect to the First Charge, that he, Lieut. U. F. Daw-
son, is guilty of the same."
• With 'respect to the &Amid Charge, that he is guilty of the

" With respect to the additional Charge, that he is guilty of the
first part of the Charge. viz..— •
" Nryileet tf a.ity Led disobedience Of orders, in not girtng di-
rections to the• detachment under his easuustuul, for ruing 8 salute
at Fort St. Angel", tut theMli August last, at noon.
irith respect to the licanki sod last part of the said Charge,