The Sun.
London, England, 1854-10-18 00:00:00

COIIItT-MARTIAL ON CAPTAIN M'CLURE.

The first case proceeded with was that of Captain
31`Clure ; and the names of the crew of the Investigator
having been called over, the Court proceeded to inquire
into the cause and circumstances attending the loss of
that vessel.
Mr. Henry Richards, clerk of the Resolute, proved
the handwriting of Captain Kellett to a document, which
was produced and put in, authorising the abandonment
of the Investigator.
Capthinll'Clure, in reply to a question by the Court,
said he. had no complaint to make against any of the
crew or officers of the ship.
To a question put by the officers and crew, whether
any of them had any complaint to make against the cap-
tain for the abandonment of his ship, no reply was given.
Joseph Clark Paine, clerk of the Investigator, proved I
the handwriting of Captain Al`Clure and Dr. Armstrong,
and slr. Richards proved the handwriting of Dr. Dom-
yille to a report of the state of the health of the crew of
the Investigator on the 23d May, 1353, made in accord-
ance with the order of Captain Kellett.
Captain M'Clare, examined by the Court—What
length of time was the Investigator in the ice before you
left her l—Three years nearly—two years and nine
months she was actually in the ice.
How long had she been in the position in which you
left her ?—Twenty months. Only four volunteered to
remain ; and I could not do otherwise than abandon the
vessel; as it would have required 20 men to bring her
home. The total number of the crew was 33.
Yon thought it impracticable to remain longer with
her ?—Yes.

What were your orders originally To make the best
of my- way up to Melville Island. They are contained
in the blue-book. The order was dated June, 1850.
When did you reach the position in which you left the
vessel?—On the 24th September, 1851.
On what day did yon abandon tho ship 4—Oa the ea
June, 1853.
What was the latitude ?—The latitude was 74 6, and
the longitude 118 15.
What time elapsed between your entering the Bay of
Mercy and your abandoning the skip I—From Sept.,
1351, to June, 1853.
The ship was frozen up all that time I—Yes, with the
exception of about six weeks in 1852.
During the time your vessel was in the Bay of Mercy,
did the ice show any symptoms of opening ?—Not any.
Were you quite satisfied as to the state of the ship
and the health of the crew ?—Yes.
The court was then cleared, and remained so for about
three-quarters of an hour. On our re-admission, the
Deputy-Judge Advocate read the finding of the Court,
which was to the following effect :—The Court is of
opinion that no blame whatever is imputable to Captain
M'Clure, his officers, or ship's company, or any of
them, for the abandonment of their vessel, but that the
said Captain M'Clure acted under the orders of his
superior officer, and who exercised a proper discretion in
the abandonment of the ship and in the execution of such
orders, there not being a sufficient number of volunteers
to man the vessel. The Court is of opinion that Captain
M'Clure, and the officers and crew, deserve the highest
commendation for their exertions ; and the Court ad-
judges them to be fully acquitted, and they are hereby
fully acquitted occordingly.
Admiral Gordon, in restoring Captain M'Clure's
ssord, said—TheCourt are of opinion that your conduct
throughout your arduous exertions has been most meri-
torious and praiseworthy.

COURT-MIRTIAL ON CAPTAIN KELLETT.
The Court then proceeded to inquire into the cattle
and circumstances attending the loss of the Resolute.
The Deprity Judge Advocate—Captain Kellett, have
you any statement to make to this Court l—Captain
Kellett—l acted under orders from Sir Edward Belcher,

commander of the Arctic squadron, in abandoning my
ship, not losing, her.
Do you produce those orders ?—I do.
The orders were handed in.
James Lewis RichardB, clerk in charge of the Assist-
ance, proved the handwriting of Sir E. Belcher.
Captain Kellett—Here is a confidential communica-
tion-to me from Sir E. Belcher. I beg to ask whether
it is to be produced to the Court ?
The Deputy. Judge-Advocate--Does it relate to the
expedition ?—Captain Kellett—Yes, it relates to tha
abandonment of the fillip.
The court was cleared, and, after a short consulta-
tion, it was reopened, when it was stated that the Court
had decided that the letter should be read.
Mr. Lewis was then sworn and examined—Are thesl
letters, dated Feb. 1, 1854, and April 2, 1854, in the
handwriting of Sir E. Belcher?—Yes.
Is this letter, dated the 21st April, 1854, Sir E.
Belcher's writing ?—Yes.
Captain Kellett-4 produci two letters written by roe
to Ciptain 11,1cher, which I wish to be real in th-ir
prop?r order. Toes letters are dated Aprl 12, 1354 -
or; of them marked " c )nfid,_•,n

I-etter, %larked " oontidential," wa3 datvd 1
It was front Sir E. Thdeher to Capt:i

TbJ fin,
FebiTary,

referrim‘ to certr.in orders which had been given
on ttle 15th October, and stating that the lives cf all him
crew must be secured at-tee,,l-lev Island, and requeAlt,g

him-to meet Sir E. Thdcller at that place, with the cress
of .r.s vcs::e's bef,,re the 2t3th of Augnit. The cecond
letter, dated from the Assistance, Wellington Chan-
hel,. April 2, 1854, and written by Sir E. Belcher,
empowered Captain Kellett to assume command over
the Investigator, and directed him to use every
means within his reach to carry out his instructions. The
third letter was the reply of Captain Kellett to Sir E.
Belcher, dated the 12th of April, 1854, stating that he
had come to the conclusion that nothing contained in
his orders would justify him in abandoning the ships
under his command, and requesting from Sir E. Belcher
(who was in possession of the orders of the Government)

to give him final, decided, and most unmistakeable or
ders ; and in a confidential letter of the same date, Cap
tarn Kellett said that it was the unanimous opinion o:
all on board, that they should not suffer from the first
break np, as the ice was of last year's formation. The
next letter read was a reply from Sir E. Belcher, dated
April 21, 1854, stating that he saw no reason for alter-
ing his original decision, that the Resolute or the ten-
der should be,abandoned, or both, and directing him to
withdraw everything valuable, &c., from the Resolute,
and to repair for further instructions to Beechey Island,
after battening down both vessels so that nothing might
be disturbed, and that they might be ready for re-occu-
pation. The orders of the 15th October, 1833, were
also read, stating that unless distinct and unmistakeable
evidence was adduced of the track of Sir John Frank-
lin's expedition, Captain Kellett was to join him at
Beechey Island before the middle of June.
By the Court—What was the position of your vessel?
—Twenty-eight miles south-west and by south of Cape
Colburn.
How long had she been in that position !—We were
first caught in the ice on the 10th of September, and
were drifting about in the pack until the 12th November,
when we became stationary. We then became fixed in
the position I have mentioned.
Then it was is consequence of those orders that yon
left the ship l—Yes, it was in consequence of the orders
of Capt. Belcher that I abandoned my ship.
Have you any complaint to make against any of your
officers or crew at the time of the abandonment of your
vessel?—l have no complaint to make of those who were
in the ship. The others were absent on special duty.
What was the date of the abandonment of the vessel ?
The 15th of May this year.
In what condition was the vessel ?—ln perfect condi-
tion ; battened down, topgallantmasts on deck, and
square sails bent.
And provisions ?—Up to July, 1855, except preserved
meats. The Intrepid was also in perfect condition.
A question was put to the officers and crew whether
they had any complaint to make against Captain Kel-
lett. No answer was given to the question.
The court was then cleared, and on re-admssien,
The Deputy Judge-Advocate read the finding of the
Court, which was to this effect :—The Court is of
opinion that no blame whatever is imputable to Captain
Kellett, his officers, or crew, or any of them, but that
he acted under the orders of Sir Edward Belcher, his
superior officer, in abandoning his ship, and that no
other course was open to him ; and the Court doth ad-
judge him and his crew to be fully acquitted, and they
are hereby acquitted accordingly.
Admiral Gordon, in restoring his
sword to Captain
Kellett, said —I
"le great satisfaction in returning you
thenword which you have worn with so much credit, and
satisfaction, and advantage to the country.

COURT-MARTIAL OX COMMANDER
RICHARDS.
The Court next proceeded with the hagainst
s, ari
Commander George Henry Richard c "gel ag
loss of the Assistance and the Pioneer.sing out of the
The Court—Have you any statement to make, Com-
ds
Commander Richards—Sir E. Belcher assumed the
command on Beechey Island on the night of
tehe 23d ofif
August is this year, and at six o'clock on th
of the ‘..sth the Assistance and the Pioneer weinrecratiaa -
cloned by his order, and under his personal direction.n-
Do you wish to call him as a witness ?--Yes.
• Sir Edward ml t her was then called and sworn.
The Deputy Judge-Advocate—lt is my duty to state
that you are n-4 obliged to an3er any questions that
May implicate yourself.
Sir E. Belcher examined—Are you captain of the A!-
eistance ?—I am.
Were you so on the 25th August last ?—I was.
Was Commander Richards under your command ?

ire was.
Did you give any orders to him as to the abandon-
ment of the Assistance and her tender the Pioneer ?
did, in pursuance of the instructions of the Lords of the
A -liniralty, and of the powers intrusted to me.
Were the ship and tender abandoned by your orders ?
—They were abandoned by my orders, then commanding
myth.lf.
Where were the ship and tender?—Sealed in the ice
42 from Beechey Island.
- Du you mean both the vessel and tender ?—Yes, both..
In reply to further questions, Sir E. Beicher said the
veAsels were 36 miles from the edge of the ice—from the
southern edge of the floe. They were on the eastern