The Sun.
London, England, 1863-09-12 00:00:00

THERMOMETER.

This morning
This day at Two o'clock

_
Barometer-30.23.
Wind—S.-W ; moderate, and cloudy.

I
ailtt ,0,t.-04VP)94..

LONDON, SATURDAY, SEPT. 12, 1863.

In the Times of yesterday there is a letter on the
court-martial of Colonel CRAWLEY, which contains
information that is anything but satisfactory. The
writer sends passages from a letter which he has
received from an officer at Mhow. These refer to
the steps now being taken with reference to col-
lecting evidence for the approaching court-martial.
It would seem from this authority that a totally
wrong system is being adopted. In the first place
Major MATME, the Commandant Magistrate, is
taking the summary of evidence for the prosecution.
Now, when it is remembered that he was the
Judge Advocate at the Mhow court-martial, which
judgment has since been quashed owing to the
illegality of the trial, it seems a mockery to select
him for this new undertaking. The manner in
which he is carrying it out, certainly does pet do
much to remove the unfavourable impression with
which his name is received, for the plans he has
formed are calculated entirely to defeat the ends of
justice. He examined the witnesses the first day
in the presence of Colonel CRAWLEY. Was ever
anything more preposterous? No one who was
impartial would do such a thing. Some Captains
then asked for leave to be present when their men
Were examined. This removed the examinations
to the mess-room of the 6th Dragoons, and then
Colonel CRAWLEY was not present. It seems,
however, that nothing can deter this man from
meddling where he has no right whatever so to do,
and consequently he sent for Cornet SNELL, who
had given evidence against him, and cross-exa-
mined him in the presence of only one person,
Captain BILLINGTON, for two hours. Captain ln the midst of the proverbial selfishness of our
BILLINGTON is the one who previously gave his iron age, when the incessant pursuit of business
testimony at the trial of the Mhow court-martial, and the continual toil cf money-getting is too much
to the " amenity of Colonel CRAWLEY'S man- regarded not only as the chief, but as the one duty
ners and language in conducting the affairs of of life, individual instances of the purest philan-
his regiment." It is qaite evident why he was thropy and of the most generous- hearted benevolence
selected to be present on the occasion referred to, occasionally manifest themselves, as if to bear wit-
but by what right does Colonel CRAWLEY assume ness to the real nobility of human nature, and to put
the privilege of stultifying the trial about to take to shame the indifference and the apathy of
place, by tampering with witnesses, interfering the great multitude. One of these little incidents
where he ought to be quiescent, and altogether occurred a few days back when two or three of
adopting a most extraordinary and unprecedented these unobtrusive and open-handed
course. It is truly said, in the letter from which philanthropists
gave a very sumptuous and hospitable entertain-
extracts are taken, that SNELL ought to have refused meats. A feast given not in the LORD MAYOR'S
to give any statement, but all know the influence, hall, not to the Prince and Princess of WALES, but
direct or otherwise, which is brought to bear on a banquet spread out on the green country-
these cases. Inexperienced and ignorant persons
side, in the fresh country air, for the little children
are taken advantage of, and on assumption of au-
of the Ragged Schools of London ! Some
thority goes down with a great many for a lawful fifteen hundred and more of these children,
exercise of a just prerogative, and hence, before boys and girls and little creatures of all ages, were
wiser heads can interfere, the mischief is completed, conveyed by the railway to Richmond, the heavy
and the wily stratagem succeed. It appears that expense of so large a number of passengers being
Colonel CRAWLEY had the audacity to summon
generously defrayed by one of the benevolent gen-
SNELL to another examination, so that that gentle-
tlemen above alluded to. Hence the motley troop
man has very wisely sent in a letter of remonstrance
bearing the flags of their schools through those beau-
to the General, begging to be informed whether tiful green suburban neighbourhoods. Hackney and
he is compelled to answer questions, and also Spitalfielde, and Spicer-street, and the most crowded
remonstrating against being subjected to a
rookeries of London, marching on to Petersham-
'rigid cross-examination before going into court. common, where tents were erected, and a
"The tenour of the letter," it is said, " con- plentiful feast provided, in the midst of thickly-
covered blackberry-brambles—a welcome sight to
'la an impression that the witnesses for the pro-
-scoatou were not being fairly dealt with." If such
the little inhabitants of the close-packed
l
should
alleys and narrow lanes of London! To many of
prove to be the case, indignation in this
countsY will know no bounds. It would have these children, doubtless, it was their first glimpse
been fat better to have refused a court-martial on
Colonelof the country—their first sight of green fields and
rt
4Nvla. Y altogether, if he is too sacred to waving trees and blackberries !
be treated like other officers in a similar situation, " 0 but to breathe the breath
and if he ja t
a be allowed to trifle with the Of the cowslip and primrose sweet I
solemnity
1:4 luatice, and to interfere with the With the sky above their head,
right and Bete,.
err the And grass
ti beneath their feet I "
He can have no ear
° angements of the trial. .
examination of vitae right to be present at the Or, in these autumnal days, the fresh
as". If he cross- uestioned perfume of the very moss and heather !
q
them in court afterwards that would be quite a That happy recollection they have borne away with
different affair, but in the Prefatory stages of the them to their humble homes, and the memory
back ground altogether will not be without its effect. The out-
and completely. The writer of this letter states lay occasioned by this
little festival was
very properly, that " the authorities
office ought to be made ac
at the War- necessarily great, and many utilitarians may
;
quirested -with is coldly inquire cut bono? The answer, perhaps,
point
going on at 1,
efaave," and adds what
edly enough, will not be within their comprehension, but many
that "it was proved very dangerous for
any officer of those who watched the • d little troops pass-
to
in this deplorable business •
to take any part
• • 'which ing by in fifties and hundreds, and all so helpless,
uthorit es "
is considered adverse to the a i , so he pre_
80 .
tender in age and in appearance, must have felt
-cation in tho manner re-
fers making the coniriluni
their hearts yearn with sympathy to those urchin
more direct course,
ferred to instead of adopting a
Mans who know so little of the sunny days of
re fleet that it would be
This sentence leads one to childhood, to whom so much of the freshness. And
wiser for those in authority to be mere rigid in .
th a
......., jo..0 u
eness, and, alas! too often of the simple
the individuals who innocence of
exacting suitable conduct from tied Bolden age is unfamiliar, and
are comparatively high in command, and less severe.
least
the eanc,„
--- ',Ave rejoiced to think that at
in visiting the consequences of breaches of disci- east
one eela-da—
e, one real true holiday
or was not lost Aline on the heads of the offenders who protest,
I , Was once in a way vouchsafed to
,v , them. The feast complain at the tyranny practised upon themset e-was given ' "
in the true spirit of that
or others. It is an undoubted and indisputable command which enjoins us, when we make a festival,
feetcall together the that my laxity of rule, or want of discipline in not to rich and the proud and
the army or navy is serious in itself and baneful in those who can return it to us
again, but the blind
its effects ; but let those who dilate on this theme and the maimed and the helpless. Few, indeed, in
take heed, and reflect that there are evils a hun- a moral and spiritual point of view, come so truly
dredfold
tru y
dredfold more to be dreaded than any mischances within that pitiful definition as the poor little
of that nature. If the notion once becomes current urchins of our great metropolis. Not e brought
that favouritism and prejudice are to influence the up, but dragged up,"as CHARLES LAMB touchingly
affairs of the army, and to reign paramount in the describes it, amidst squalor and penury, and
investigation of charges, and the findings of court- coo often amidst sin and shame, every nfluence that
martials, the results will be disastrous indeed. It surrounds them in that most impressionable age,
II mentioned in the Indian letter referred to, that tends to train them in the way in which they should

place ; also from frustrating the desires of those
whose remonstrances called forth the command.

There are some things that cannot be trifled with ;
the case of Sergeant •Major LILLEY is pre-eminently

one of these, and it behoves all concerned. and con

nected with that affair, either remotely or imme

diately, from the highest to the lowest, to take heed
to their ways; for, if they halt in their course, or

falter in their actions, the day of reckoning may be
sooner than they expect, and the consequences more
unpalatable than they perhaps imagine. It is long
since a similar case was heard of, and never in the
recollection of the present generation has a trial

taking place in so distant a spot engaged so much
attention and excited so deep and painful an inte-
rest throughout the length and breadth of the land.

The demand for au inquiry was based on principles
that cannot be questioned, and to disappoint that

demand will not be right, neither will it be wise,

nor answer the purpose by enshrouding the case in

mystery.