The Sun.
London, England, 1854-10-12 00:00:00

THE DAUNTLESS AFFAIR.

CONCLUSION OF THE COURTS-MARTIAL.
PORTSMODTII, WEDNESDAY.-The court met this
morning at 9 o'clock. Besides the members mentioned
as being present yesterday, there were present to-day
Captain Hay and Captain Lyons.
Captain Ryder prosecuted. Mr. Brown (assisted by
Mr. James Hoskins, of Gosport), attended as the friend
of Lieutenant Rphinstone.

The charges against Lieut. Elphinstone were read by
the Deputy Judge Advocate as follow :-
1. For that the said Lieut. William Bulwer'Elphin-
stone, being then ofH.M.S. Dauntless,and in active servic •
and full pay of H.M. fleet, did neglect his duty as lieu-
tenant of the said ship, on the night of Sunday, the 17th
September, 1851, in that he being senior officer on board
H.M. hulk Victorious, did knowingly suffer and per-
mit two women to remain on board the said hulk after
sunset on the said 17th September.
2. For that he, the said Lieutenant William Etilwer
Elphinstone being senior officer present did neglect his
duty, in that he failed in duly repotting the presence of
two improper women on board.

3. F.or that he did on the said night, he being senior
officer present on board the said hulk, allow wine and
spirits to be given to the said women in immoderate
quantities.

The court proceeded with the first charge. The wit-
nesses examined were Paymaster Grant, Dr. Heath,
Lieut. Jervis, Lieut. Dench, and Mr. Hancock, mid-
shipman. •

The evidence was to the effect that Lieut. Elphin-
stone went on board the hulk on the night of the 17th
ult. about 11 o'clock. Shortly after he went on board
a message was sent him by the chaplain that there were
two ituproper women on board, and it was his wish
they should be sent on shore. Mr. Elphinstone was not
aware at the time that he was the commanding officer,
and he declined to interfere. As goan, however, as ho
became aware that he W 33 commanding officer, he sent
a sergeant and a file of marines, with peremptory orders
that the women should leave. It was also proved that
Lieutenant Elphinstone was not in company of the wo•
men.

Evidence. was then led on to the second and third
charges, the witnesses being chiefly the same as were
examined on the first charge.
On the second charge it was made evident that Lieut.
Elphinstone thought tne matter would be z eported by the
officer of the watch, or the chaplain, or both ; and on
the third charge it was proved that he did remonstrate
in strong terms against furnishing the women with the
immoderate quantity of brandy, which proved so fa.al
in its attendant consequences to one of them.
In defence, Lieut. Elphinstone read a statement of
some length. He said it had been proved that when he
came on board he was not aware that the first-lieutenant
was absent, but that as soon as he became aware that
he (Lieut. Elphinstonc) was commanding officer, ho
gave immediate and peremptory orders for the women
to leave the ship, and saw that as far as practicable these
orders were obeyed. There was no ev►dence to support
the first charge, and with regard to the socand, he had
reason to presume that the fact had been reported by
the officer of the watch, or the chaplain, or both, to the
first-lieutenant. With regard to the third charge, it had
been proved that he had positively remonstrated with
Lieutenant Knight, and protested that no brandy
eLiould be given. In conclusion, Lieutenant Elphin-
stone said he trusted lie had satisfied the court that
throughout the whole of this unfortunate matter he
had done nothing to tarnish the name he bore and
the commission he had the honour to hold. Mr. El-
phinstone said he had unfortunately left his testi-
monials at Sheerness. He called Lieutenant Woodman,
who corroborated a portion of his defence. He then in
succession asked several members of the court to state
what they knew of him. Captain Massie, Captain Cris-
pin, and Captain Ryder gave the prisoner a very high
character.
The court was then closed for an hour. On its re-
opening, the Deputy Judge Advocate read the following
finding :—" The court is of opinion that the charges are
partly proved against Lieut. W. B. Elphinstone, inas-
much as although he remonstrated against these dis-
graceful proceedings, brought under his notice by the
chaplain, he did not with sufficient promptness ascertain
whether he was the senior officer, and did not, as the
senior officer, prevent by the exercise of his authority,
these disgraceful proceedings ; and the court cloth ad-
judge the said Lieut. William Bulwer Elphinstone to be
admonished, and the said Lieut. W. B. Elphinstone is
hereby admonished accordingly."
The court rose about three o'clock.

DEATH FROM CHOLERA. IN THE ROYAL HOUSEHOLD.—
OK Monday week last, Mr. Bailey, livery porter in the
royal establishment, Buckingham Palace, was seized
with an attack of cholera, and he was afterwards re-
moved to his private residence, where he received the
most prompt and careful medical aid, but he expired on
the Thursday following. Mr. Bailey, just before the
attack, had received orders to proceed to Windsor Castle
by the time the Court arrived there.
IRONMASTERS' QUARTERLY MEETINGS. -- WOLVER-
HAMPTON, WEDNESDAT.—There was a large attendance
of the trade at the quarterly meeting of the ironmasters
held in this town to-day. The Corn Exchange, in which
these assemblages take place, was at one time densely
crowded with parties interested in the iron and other
manufactures of the district. As already anticipated,
the prices of last quarter determined upon a fortnight
i
ago were firmly adhered to, but pigs were stated, •f
in OsesenxPerer expected.
LINE.
]lnv Sound,
anything, to be a shade weaker. This appears to be
somewhat unaccountable, inasmuch as unusually large
orders for manufactured iron are already, or very 2000
will be, in the market. Two houses alone are, we un- i
derstand, prepared to enter into contracts for several
thousand tons. The demand is chiefly for home eon-
( I,iirvneprtpioooni,.altThioieugght.etahterineereir,einggooorfl
telxiepo,rituaoirt,ethrrswifiriz
held in Birmingham to-morrow, and the concludini,
meeting at Dcdiey on Saturday. T_li.,ekbproiucetse
eight
hct.)oa,lc
lanalo
limestone are steatly, and as winter approaches a re-
ductionlsttorbueerkt
(r)tnnda
on S il
il erweciEencn ic scarega Nr(D)' it
Y LI
Friday
The night was stormy
Alice, of Inverness,
called
11".7°
Sheh Wily remained on
apnodinctlaorffk,Barencril'tnlei:ss'ea ran high'
a thei,arrot cokfs
tfor o abouttinie twos e hours,was o n
made, she disappeared, all on boardIv
when,
the tide haviot:
help of the unfortunate crew' the strand, the cries for
perishing. During
the situationwere distinctly heard ; but,
better vessels have) assistance could have been ren-
dered,froiu
laden with herrings
even with daylight,
sharedbeing one where many larger and
similaraßrora
fo
r fate.lre l
aTn
dh
.e sloop
She waswne
27 tons register and 51 years old.
GI. 'ASGOIV
AND SOUTH-WESTERN
for the
turnn week ending Oct. 7, 1354 £5,773 14 5
4orresponding week last year 5,122 U 8

Increase in 1851