The Sun.
London, England, 1864-01-26 00:00:00

"Captain Bowler" and his Friends.

A person, calling himself "IV. P. Bowler, late captain
and adjutant of the Donegal Militia," was some days ago
apprehended in Scotland, under somewhat singular circum-
stances. He called upon the Marquis of Tweeddale,
and set forth a story which will be best gathered from
the following " memorial to the Mike of Cambridge,"
which he seems to have carried about a with him :—" That
your memorialist is the son of an officer of the royal navy,
who for conspicuous services 'was presented with a vain-
' able sword from the Patriotic Fund, and who died of
wounds received in the service. That your memorialist,
having inherited no means, entered the Royal Artillery,
in order to qualify for a commission in the Marino Artil-
lery, his name being on the list at the time. Your memo-
rialist did not, however, succeed in that expectation, but
influence being made otherwise with Government, he ob-
tained in 1814 an appointment at the Post-office, Dublin,
which he held for 11 years. In January, 1855, during the
hostilities with Russia, your memorialist was, from his post-
office appointment, on the strong recommendation of several
general officers of his former regiment, presented by the
Earl of St. Germans, who was then Lord Lieutenant of
Ireland, to the adjutancy of the Donegal Regiment of Militia
Artillery. Shortly after the corps was embodied, your
memorialist was deprived of his commission on the ground
of not being qualified to drill the regiment. It would be
unbecoming in your memorialist to question the exercise
of the power confided in the Lord Lieutenant by the Act 18
Vic. cap. 19—viz , to displace at pleasure any officer of the
Irish Militia; and yet he doubts not, had his Excellency
been aware that the Civil Service Act would have come into
operation during the short time your memorialist officiated
as adjutant, he never would have been influenced to romove
him. That your memorialist, with a wife and helpless
family, being now reduced to a destitute position, and by
reason of his age (40) precluded from admission to the
Post-office, or from obtaining any other appointment in
the civil service, humbly implores your Royal Highness,
in consideration of his father's claims, and the loss he has
sustained in the present instance, to grant him employment
in a military capacity." He further produced a sort of cer-
tificate to the genuineness of his story, which purported to
be signed by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Arch-
bishop of York, the Lord Advocate of Scotland, the Lord.
Clerk Register, eight judges of the Scottish Court, about 20
peers of the realm, and numerous baronets and M.P.s. By
various representations he induced Lord Tweeddale to ap-
pend his signature to this document, and also obta ned a sum
of money from his lordship. Shortly after the marquis had.
given his money and his testimony, he heard that some of
the events in the history of Captain Bowler were not pre-
cisely as he (the marquis) had certified, and the captain
was deposited in Haddington Gaol. The marquis, not de-
airing that, n the event of the captain getting free, the
document should receive further signatures in considera-
tion of those that were there already, applied, it is said,
to the captain ior the removal of the name "Tweeddale"
from among its distinguished compeers. This request
the captain indignantly refused, and the marquis has,
therefore, applied for an interdict against him, and also
against the Procurator Fiscal of East Lothian, into
whose hands the captain and his affairs had fallen, pro-
hibiting them from permitting the document bearing the
marquis's
signature to pass out of their hands, or obtain
any further circulation or popularity. The Scotsman says
—" It is understood that, as soon as Capt. Bowler, in the
apartraents provided him by the public authorities of East
Lothian, received notice of this action, he repented of his
inveteracy towards the marquis, and deleted the signature of
Tweeddale.' But he was rather late, for not only had the
action gone beyond recall, but his detention at Haddington
had given an opportunity to some other distinguished friends
of his in Shropshire, to a sate place in which region two
Salop policeman have in the meanwhile removed him."

NORTH-EASTERN RAILWAY.—The recent Extra-
ordinary accident near Copmanthorp, where a train rolled
over an embankment, is likely to cost that company some-
thing in COIDIRLISaiIun. most serious case of irjury was
to Mr. Allen, a commere;al traveller for the firai of 111,-,83r1.
11. E. and J. Soulby, of Mutton, who, after lying some tune
at Leeds, is now able to walk about again, and !las returucd
to Melton, butt is still unable to att,nd to bustLese.

HUNTING ACCIDENT.—Daring a run with Mr.
Johnstone's hounds on Friday: iu Elie nei,s•hbour.,
hood of the Dalby Mooro, North hiding, a serious accident
occurro Ito Mr. Parkinson, solicitor, Pickering. In taking
a low rail fence, with a considerable drop to lower ground
beyond, Mr. Parkinson's horse fell, throwing him violently
to the ground, and rendering him senseless. Several
gentlemen at once dismounted, and by attention Mr.
Parkinson sufficiently recovered to ride home. It is feartd,
however, that concussion of the brie has recurred, and
on Saturday night Mr. Parkinson's irientlLt gave iiLCie is ,pa
of life.