The Sun.
London, England, 1853-08-23 00:00:00

CHARGE AGAINST MR. NORMAN

with the transaction, and immediately repudiated all
connexion with the party in question. In order to con-
vict the defendant of the charge that had been at-
tempted to be brought against him there must be sub-
stantial evidence adduced to establish that which was
essential to a prima facie case in matters of this de-
scription—namely, that the defendant had been a will-
ing party and had assented to the proposition of the
person whose name had not transpired. In this in-
stance Mr. Wilkinson had not acceded to such a pro-
position, but, on the contrary, his learned friend, Mr.
Clarkson, had felt himself compelled to admit that the
result of the alleged negotiation had been highly credit-
able to the character and honourable feelings of the
defendant, who, the moment he saw that anything un-
fair or illegal was about to be practised, felt it his duty
to withdraw altogether from any further participation in
the matter. Looking at the charge in a mere tech-
nical point or view, he (Mr. Bodkin) submitted that
the Lord Mayor had no jurisdiction over the al-
leged offence, as no evidence had been adduced
with reference to the spot in which the conversa-
tions between the unknown party and the de-
fendant had taken place, such conversations might
have occurred in the City or might have occurred out of
the kingdom, and until satisfactory proof was given of
the particular locality where the alleged negotiation was
said to have been carried on a party could not be in-
dicted for an offence said to have been committed in the
city of London which might in reality have been com-
mitted in some other part of the country. The learned
counsel submitted that in the first place, upon the evi-
dence as it at present stood, there was no charge for
the defendant to euswe --no proof whatever, on the
part of the prosecutors, of any corrupt contract or agree-
ment or conspiracy; that even if there were a scintilla
of proof of this fact there was no evidence to show that
the magistrate had jurisdiction to put the defendant on
his trial. He apprehended that the law was very clear
as applicable to the present case. Mr. Wilkinson was
living within his lordship's jurisdiction, and such being
the case his lordship had the power of calling him be-
fore him at any time, and if those who had now preferred
a criminal charge against another found it an infirmity
in their case—that making it out with all the power and
influence which they possessed, and the means and dili-
gence which they had been able to employ, they had yet
failed in showing where the offence was committed, it
was a natural consequence that the defendant ought to
be acquitted. His lordship would not impose upon a
citizen of London the necessity of appearing before the
Central Criminal Court to answer a charge which had
not been made out, which could not on the present evi-
dence be substantiated, particularly in the case of a de-
fendant who was always to be found at any time ready
to answer any charge which either the East India Com-
pany or any body else might have to prefer against him-
Mr. Clarkson, in reply, observed that his learned
friend kid studiously forborne any reference to the sta-
tute under which his lordship had granted the summons,
because he must have known that the words of the act
were so strong with regard to negotiations commenced,
proceeded with, and concluded, that it was impossible
for any one to shut his eyes to the fact of the merits of
the case being altogether with the pai;tie3 for whom he
Vilr. Clarkson) had the honour to appear. On the ap-
plication for the summonses, the Lord Mayor had been
abundantly satisfied of there being a sufficiently prima
facie case to warrant his calling upon the defendant to
Clarkson)thoroughly ub m
confirmedt t e d
tahpapte
this
b ,ifjoerwe
f h
the m,
case and h
by the additional evidence which had now been given on
oath, by the only witness whom the East India Com-
pany had it in their power to call. It had been clearly
proved that a negotiation had been begun and proceeded
o i
mast e (M
or .
with by the defendant and a person whom the witness
did not choose to name, and it had only been broken off
because the defendant Mr. Norman Wilkinson did not
choose to pledge himself to a false declaration, he having
said to his friend with whom he was in treaty—how is
it possible I can sign such a declaration, when you
know I have agreed to give a consideration. The
Lord Mayor, it was to be borne in mind, was not sit-
ting to try this case, but had simply to determine
whether sufficient grounds had been stated to in-
duce him to send it for adjudication before a supe-
rior tribunal. The learned counsel continued—Al-
though upon the last occasion I asked the witness,
Mr. Wilkinson, whether he had learnt from his brother
where these conversations took place, and he said he
had not, I am perfectly satisfied that your lordship will
not allow a grave offence of this sort to be disposed of
upon a technical objection. If you hold the defendant
to bail to appear at the Central Criminal Court, where
is the mischief or the breach of the law ? lam quite
sure that if your lordship feels there has been a wrong
done, and that wrong is attempted to be supported by
the circumstance of Mr. Wilkinson refusing to detail
the whole truth, which he has the power of doing, that
your lordship will not put an end to this case on any
technicality, but will hold the defendant to bail if you
agree with me that there has been a contravention of
the statute.
The Lord Mayor (after consultation with the City
Solicitor and Mr. Goodman, the Chief Clerk)—l think
that the subject brought before me is of so much im-
portance to the public, to the East India Company, and
to all the parties affected, and necessarily my know-
ledge must be so imperfect, and my experience so limited
upon a subject of this description, that it would be more
consonant to the ends of justice that I should defer
expressing any opinion until I have carefully gone over
the evidence. Under these circumstances, and in order
to enable me to consider the technical objections which
have been advanced by the learned counsel on either
side, I will postpone my decision to a future day.
Mr. Clarkson—l may as wall state at once, that what-
ever may be the result of your lordship's decision, I
shall be under the painfal necessity, supposing the mat-
ter to stand as it doe,a now, of applying to your worship
to commit Mr. Wainson.

WILKINSON.

Mr. Norman Wilkinson, 9, Threadneedle-street, share
lealer, appeared before the Lord Mayor, at the Man-
sion-house, yesterday, upon a summons issued at, the
instance of the East India Company, to answer the
charge of having unlawfully bargained with a person,
whose name is unknown, for the purchase of an office in
the gift of the East India Company, contrary to the
statute.
-- -

--------
Mr. Clarkson, instructed by Messrs. Lawfcr.rd, solici-
tors to the East India Company, appeared for the prose-
cution ; Mr. Bodkin and Mr. Hawkins, instructed by
Messrs. Burchell, attended for the defence. The City
Solicitor attended as adviser of the Lord Mayor.
The justice-room was crowded with gentlemen con-
nected with the East India-house, and with members of
the Stock Exchange, and merchants.
Mr. Clarkson, in a lengthened statement, recapitu-
lated the details which he entered into upon th e occasion
of applying for the summons on the 9th inst., and hav-
ing put in evidence some correspondence between the
secretary to the East India Company and the defendant,
in which the latter declined to give up the naane of the
person with whom it was alleged he had been, in treaty
for the cadetship in question, proceeded to call Mr. W.
A. Wilkinson, the hon. member for Lambeth,, and bro-
ther of the defendant, who underwent a precis,3ly similar
course of examination to that to which he was originally
subjected, with the exception that he was now sworn.
At the conclusion of the hon. member's examination in
chief, the following questions were put to hint by
Mr. Clarkson—Do you know the person whom your
brother named to you as the party with whom he had
been in treaty ?
Mr. Wilkinson—Yes, I do.
Mr. Clarkson—What was his name?
Mr. Wilkinson—l decline to give you the name, and
I wish to state to the court why I think I am justified
in sod oing
Mr. Bodkin
objected to any reasons
given by the wit-
ness for his refusal being entered upon the depositions.
Mr. Clarkson insisted upon whatever was uttered by
the witness being made part of the depositions.
The Lord Mayor said he thought that the reasons of
the witness ought to be recorded.
Mr. Wilkinson—l decline to answer the question put
to me, because as I am advised and believe there is no
proper foundation for this charge, and consequently no
proper foundation for this question. I have every dis-
position to give every information in my power upon
the charge attempted to be laid upon my brother,
but I
consider that this question forms no part of that harge,
and is not within the scope of the evidence which I
have sworn to give.
Mr. Clarkson then applied for permission to cross-
examine Mr. Wilkinson, on the ground that he was an
unwilling and hostile witness, which request, after being
strenuously opposed on the part of Mr. Bodkin was
ultimately acceded to, but which failed to elicit anything
further than had already. been stated by the hon. mem-
ber in his previous examination.
Cross-examined by Mr. Bodkin—Can you charge your
recollection with the distinct words used by your brother
in any one of the conversations about which you have
been examined?
Mr. Wilkinson—No, I cannot.
Mr. Bodkin—Did you in the first instance learn fro,
your brother that a friend of his had presented him with
an appointment for his son 1
Mr. Wilkinson—Was going to present him.
Mr. Bodkin—And had offered it ?
Mr. Wilkinson—So I underetood ; that was my first
impression.
Mr. Bodkin—Without any mention whatever of any
consideration of any kind ?
Mr. Wilkinson—Not at that time.
rh.eßinodkferrine luars bg
lingua
tithe
ghee ro
fafterwardsy theol d
was
thatM
talking with that some money was expected, did he also
tell you that he had taken the advice of a friend, who
d
told him that such a transaction was ?
fromW Bodkin—When
nt
hyeo
Mr. Wilkinson—No, not at the first ; that was at the
second occasion.
Mr. Bodkin—Did he soon afterwards tell you 80 ?
Mr. Wilkinson—Some little time after that he told
me so.
Mr. Bodkin—He told you that he had spoken to a
friend, who told him that if he agreed to such a proposi-
tion it would be illegal ?
Mr. Wilkinson—Yes, something to that effect ; that
lie had better take care what he was about, for he was
doing something that was wrong.
Mr. Bodkin—Did he tell you that that friend informed
him that if he inquired at the India House he would see
the declaration that was required to be made, and which
would of itself show the illegality of such a transaction ?
Mr. Wilkinson—Something to that effect. He told
me that there would be a paper to be signed.
Mr. Bodkin--Did he tell you that he went to the
India House and saw the form, the declaration ?
Mr. Wilkinson—I do not know that he did.
Mr. Bodkin—Did he tell you that he saw the form of
the declaration ?
Mr. Wilkinson—l understood him that he had seen a
paper, or that his friend had told him that there was a
paper.
Mr. Bodkin—That he had seen it l
Mr. Wilkinson—l understood that he had seen it.
Mr. Bodkin—Did he tell you that that form of de.
claration satisfied him of the illegality of such a trans-
action, and that he would have nothing more to do with

Mr. Wilkinson—Yes.
Mr. Bodkin—Did he ever tell you that he had ever
agreed with this party to give a sum of money for the
office in question, or entered into any treaty of that
kind ?
Mr. Wilkinson—No, he did not.
Mr. Bodkin—Now, you have said something about a
commission in the army; did your brother tell you that
his private opinion was that such an appointment might
be sold as a commission in the army ?
Mr. 'Wilkinson—No ;I do not remember that he did.
Mr. Bodkin—Now, with the exception of what you
have told us, do you know from your brother of any
bargain whatever, or any treaty for this appointment ?
Mr. Wilkinson—Nothing more than what I have

DEATII OF SIR GEORGE COCKBURN.

One of the oldest officers in the British service
has quitted this world, having lived with so much
honour and worn so many distinctions that his name
has long been venerated. in every circle of society
where political consistency and professional emi-
nence are rewarded with esteem, affection, and
fame. Sir George died on the 19th of this month,
at Leamington, in the 82d year of his age. From
that excellent and elaborate work O'Byrne's Natal
Biography, wo give underneath an outline of the
life and services of Sir George Cockburn, and to
this statement nothing need he added so far as re-
lates to his career afloat ; and oven the concluding
paragraph of Mr. O'Byrne's interesting notice sup-
plies a summary of his Parliamentary life. Still,
the habitués of the Rouse of Commons remember
something more of Sir George ; it is not forgotten
that even among legislators he displayed knowledge
and talents loeyond the limits of his profession.
During 14 years he had a seat in Parliament, re-
presentiiig in the course of that period Portsmouth,
Weobly, Plymouth, and Ripon. For 17 years he
had a seat at the Board of Admiralty, and was the
Parliamentary organ of that department throughout
a great part of that period. When the head of the
board happens to be a peer, and the secretary a
gentleman of no great experience, the Parliamen-
tary duties of the Admiralty necessarily devolve
upon the senior naval lord. It is well known that
Mr. John Wilson Croker, so celebrated as a secre-
tary to the board, had retired from public life long
before the last accession to power of Sir Robert
Peel ; but Sir George Cockburn held in that
Government the responsible position of senior
naval lord, discharging all its functions, especi-
ally those of a Parliamentary character, with
great credit to himself and to his Mimsterial
chief. His name will descend to posterity not
only as a man who in his time, and according to
his degree, held an important rank among the
lawgivers of England, but as a man associated
with Nelson—often in victory, never in defeat ;
as a man who frequently overcame not only
a European enemy, but contended successfully
with American seamanship and valour. The resto-
ration of peace, in 1815, naturally excited in his
mind a wish for that continued enjoyment of do-
mestic happiness to whicb, sailors rarely attain, and
probably at the same time called forth that honour-
able desire of civil distinction which was gratified
by Parliamentary success, and adorned with official
dignity. In the early part of the peace, however,
important professional duties devolved on him, for
he was appointed to a command at the Cape, and
he conveyed Bonaparte to St. Helena. To say
that his public life has been consistent, is to assert
that which no one doubts. It will be as readily
admitted that his professional career commanded
the gratitude of his country and excited the ad
be
-
ration of his brethren in arms ; but it may not
be extensively known, though it is quite as true,f
that in all the relations of official and private e
he enjoyed the esteem and regard of the society
n
which men of his eminent reputation are u, su y od
be found. The following is r.
O'Byrne B sprite
and complete summary of Sir George Cockburn's
career
00 The Right Hon. Sir George Cockburn, born in Lon-
don, is second son of the late Sir Jame. s Cockburn, Bart.,
M.P. for Peebles. by his second wife, Augusta Anne,
, daughter of the Rev. Francis Ayscoug D.D., Dean of
Bristol and Preceptor to King Geo. rge 111. H_
_e is brother
I of Major-General the present Sir James Cockburn, Bart.,
G.C.H., who formerly held in succession the aments
of Under-Secretary of State, Governor and CommCmmander-
in-Chief of Ctuncoa, Governor of the Bermudas, and Pay-
m ter of the Royal Marines ; also of the Rev. William
Cockburn, Dean of York, who married Elizabeth, sister of
the Right Hon. Sir R. Peel, Bart, M.P., and of his Excel-
lency Alexr. Cockburn, Envoy ExtraordinFyand Minister
Plenipotentiary at Columbia. Sir George is grand nephew
of the first Lord Lyttelton, and cousin of the present
Rear-Admiral John Ayscough. This officer entered
the navy March 12,
.1781,
.as captain's servant (under
Ltoari dn
the auspnincenns Aadfmriigraaltes
,StirhenJosehnumanaßanodweldeybyancda
Hood),
Bartholomew Samuel Rowley. His name was afterwardsp
borne on the books of the William and Mary yacht, but he
did not go to sea until 1786, in the course of which and of
the following year we find him cruising on the home sta-
tion, in the Termagant, 18, Captain Rowley Bulteol. In
January, 1788, he joined the Ariel, 14, Captain Robert
Moorsom, with whom he sailed for the East Indies, where
for several months he was very profitably employed in sur-
veying. Returning home, in 1791, with the same officer,
in the Princess Royal, Indianian,
Mr. Cockburn next
served in the Channel and Mediterranean, as midshipman
and master's mate of the Hebe, 38, Captain Alexander
good ; and Romney, 50, flag-ship of Rear-Admiral Samuel
Cranston Goodall. Having passed his examination, June
3,1791, he was appointed in 1792 Acting Lieutenant the
read, 32, CaTtAiii 'amp William Augwitua Cortew,

stated.
Re-examined by Mr. Clarkson—Can you tell us the
name of the friend of whom you have spoken as haYlng
put your brother on his guard ?
Mr. Wilkinson—No ; I cannot.
Mr. Clarkson—Have you never heard his name ?
Mr. Wilkinson—l may have heard his name
bro-
ther may have mentioned his name to me, but cannot
remember. ; my
Mr. Clarkson—Endeavour to recollect, and tell me
whether you are prepared to swear that you do not
know. You say that you may have heard.
Mr. Wilkinson—l should be very sorry to mislead
you. I might mention one, two, or three names, and
not the right one ; it may have been one or two persons,
but I do not know who it was.
Mr. Clarkson—Did he mention the name of one or
two persons ?
Mr. Wilkinson—l have no doubt he did •I do not
know why he should not, but I do not remember.
Mr. Clarkson—Has not this matter interested you,
and have you not been endeavouring to recollect the
circumstance ?
Mr. Wilkinson—No, I confess I thought it exceed-
ingly immaterial as to who it was who told him that

fact.
Mr; Clarkson—However you mean to state upon
your oath tat you positively do not know who it was ?
Mr Wilkihnson—l positively do not know who it was.
I might make a guess.
Mr. Clarkson—Tell me whom you guess it was.
Mr. Wilkinson—No, I will not ; that is the reason
why I will not mention it.
Mr. Clarkson—Do you believe that you recollect the
name
Mr. Wilkinson—No; I do not think I do.
Mr. Clarkson—Have you any doubt that he men•
tioned his name to you ?
Mr. Wilkinson—I dare say he did ; I have no doubt
he did ; because we are in th 3 habit of mentioning the
names of our friends to one another.
Mr. Clarkson—Do you mean to pledge your oath that
you do not believe you know that person?
Mr. Wilkinson—l do not know him. I believe I
may have heard his name. I may have been told. it was
one person or another. My brother has a great many
friends. I should be very happy to tell you. I cannot
have any possible reason for concealing it.
Mr. Clarkson—Do you believe that you know who it
was?
Mr. Wilkinson—I believe that Ido not know who it
was. I might mention a person's name, and. I might be

wrong.
Mr. Clarkson—Have you heard the name of that
person since the last examination I
Mr. Wilkinson—No.
Mr. Clarkson—Have you seen that person since the
last examination
Mr. Wilkinson—No.
Mr. Clarkson—Have you seen the person whose name
you refuse to give me, who proposed to your brother to
procure him this appointment, since the last examina-
tion
Mr. Wilkinson—No.
Mr. Clarkson—Have you heard from him ?
Mr. Wilkinson—No.
Mr. Clarkson—Have you written to him ?
Mr. Wilkinson—No, I have had no sort of communi
cation with him—that is the shortest way.
Mr. Clarkson (addressing the Lord Mayor)—I have
now to apply to your lordship that Mr. Wilkinson, for
his contempt of this court in contumaciously and wilfully
refusing to answer this question, without for ust ex-
cuse, be committed by your lordship's warrant seven
days.
Mr. Bodkin inquired whether his friend, Mr. Clark-
son, had any further evidence to offer against the de-
fendant ?
Mr. Clarkson replied he had no further evidence to
offer at present, and that he called upon the court to
order the defendant to enter into sureties to answer any
charge that might be preferred against him on the part
of the East India Company at the Central Criminal
Court.
Mr. Bodkin then addressed the bench at very con-
siderable length, and submitted that his learned friend,
on the part of the prosecution, had not made out any case
which would justify his lordship in holding the defendant
to bail. The utmost that had been attempted to be
proved against the defendant was, that a certain party
whose name had not transpired, had offered to procure
him an appointment for a member of his family in the
gift of the East India Company. It had been distinctly
stated that the party who had made that offer was not a
member of the Court of Directors, or in any way con-
cerned in the administration of the affairs of the com-
pany, and that as soon as Mr. Norman Wilkinson be-
came satisfied of the illegality of trafficking in any
appointment within the gift of the company, he at once
l abandoned all mention of having anything further to do

non, 50, and President, 52, commanded in chief on the
North America and West India station from December 6,
1832, until February, 1836. Since the latter date he has
not been afloat. His advancement to the rank of full Ad-
miral took place January 10, 1837. Sir George Cockurn
was nominated a G.C.8., with riditional armorial bear-
ings indicative of his important services, February, 1818;
was elected a F.R.S., December 21, 1820, and first obtained
a seat in Parliament, for Portsmouth, in 1818. Re was
next elected, in March, 1820, for the borough of Weobly ;
was returned for Plymouth, in 1826 ; and since October,
1841, has held a seat for Ripon. On March 25, 1818, he
became a Lord of the Admiralty, to which office he was re.
appointed September 17, 1828. He obtained a seat at the
board as first naval lord in October, 1841, but retired on
the dissolution of Sir Robert Peel's Government in the
summer of 1846. On April 5, 1821, he was also appointed
Major-General of Marines; and on April 30, 1827, a privy
councillor. In the latter capacity Sir George attended the
funeral of King William IV. He married his cousin,
Miss Mary Cockburn."

and on January 27, 1793, was confirmed in the Orestes, 18,
Captain Lord Augustus Fitzroy. On April 28, following,,
he became' isth lieutenant of the Britannia, 100, bearing
the flag of Vice-Admiral William Hotham, but removed in
June, as taa st). to the Victory, 100, flag-ship, off Toulon,
of his patron, Lord Hood, from which, on
t' attaining, in
quick rotation, the post of First Lieutenant, he was pro-
moted to the command, October 11, in Xensa year, of
the Speedy, sloop. As a reward for his skill aanilsi3
persever-
ance in maintaining the blockade of Genoa, during a
ggale
which dispersed every other ship of a squadron stationed off
that port, Captain Cockburn was appointed, January 20,
1794, Acting-Captain of the Inconstant, 36, and on the 20th
of the following month was officially posted into the Me-
leager, 32, which latter frigate he commanded in the hos-
tilities against Corsica, and as one of Hotham's repeaters
in the actions of March 14 and July 13,1795. He was after-
wards employed for 12 months in vigorous co-operatiox
with the Austrian troops in Piedmont, and during that
period obtained the hearty acknowledgments of the im-
mortal Nelson for his conspicuous zeal, ability, and courage
on various occasions, but more especially for the great
support and assistance he afforded that hero in running in
under the batteries of Larma, on May 31, 1796, and cap-
turing six of the enemy's armed vessels. Being transferred,
August 19, following, to the command of the Minerve, of
42 guns and 286 men, Captain Cockburn, who remained in
that ship until paid off in February, 1802, continued to
pursue his gallant career with intense ardour, either con-
ducting in person or assuming a prominent part in a train
of the most important achievements. He was first em-
ployed in blockading ' Leghorn • and, on next hoisting the
broad pendant of ommodore Nelson, again acquired the
admiration of the latter for his conduct at the capture and
defeat, while proceeding from Gibraltar to Elba, and in
presence of the Spanish fleet, of the Sabina, of 40, and the
Matilda, of 34 guns, December 20, 1796. The former ship
struck her colours after a combat of three hours, and a
loss, out of 286 men, of 14 killed and 44 wounded; the
other was compelled to wear and haul off at the close of a
sharp action of half an hour, the collective loss of the
Minerve on both occasions amounting to 7 men killed and
44 wounded. Captain Cockburn, who had previously as-
sisted in destroying l'Etonnant, national corvette, of 18
guns, next took the privateer Maria, of 6 guns and 68 men;
and, after witnessing the evacuation of Porto Ferrajo, bore
a very active part in the battle off Cape St. Vincent, Feb-
ruary 14, 1797. He also brought out from under the
severe fire of two strong batteries on Grand Canary Island
the Marseillaise, a French letter-of-marque of 24 gun
On the night of November 5, in the same year, while the
Minerve was lying stripped in the mole of the dockyard of
Gibraltar, we again find our intrepid captain attracting
the official notice of his superiors by a signal exploit he
performed in putting off with only three gunboats to
the protection of a convoy which had been observed to
be baffled by light and contrary winds near the Spanish
shore, whence it was threatened by a flotilla of 30 of the
enemy's gunboats. By pulling directly between the in-
shore part of the convoy and the position occupied by the
Spaniards, he successfully checked their career, and, by
his spirited exertions, kept them at bay during the whole
night, and until the merchantmen had reached their an-
chorage. In April, 1798, the Minerve returned to Eng-
land to refit, but towards the close of the year she again
sailed for the Mediterranean, where Capt. Cockburn con-
tinued to be employed on various important services, fre-
quently in command' f a small squadron, until the conclu-
sion of the war. Among other operations, he joined in the
hostilities against Malta-was in company with the Eme-
rald at the taking of La Caroline privateer of 16 guns and
90 men-witnessed Lord Keith's capture of three frigates
and two brigs under Rear-Admiral Peree, June 19, 1799-
took, during the year 1803, the three privateers, Le Furet,
La Mouche, and La Vengeance, carrying altogether 49
guns and 357 men-made prize, February 11, 1801, of a
Danish man-of-war brig-and in September following,
captured and destroyed the Success, of 32, and Bravoure,
of 42 guns. Assuming command July 12, 1803, of the
Phaeton, 38, the subject of this memoir, after serving for
some time off Havre de Grace with a squadron of frigates
under his orders, took out Mr. Merry, the British Minis-
ter Plenipotentiary, to the United States, and thence pro-
ceeded to India with the first instalment of a sumof money
which it had been arranged should be paid by the Govern-
ment of the latter as a compensation for the losses sus-
tained by the Loyalists in the first establishment of Ame-
rican independence. He was subsequently employed in
blockading the Isle of France, where he frequently came
into warm collision with the enemy's batteries ; and on
eventually exchanging, June 5, 1805, into the Howe, re-
turned to England with the Marquis of Wellesley, then
Governor-General of India. Captain Cockburn, whose
succeeding appointments were July 1, 1806, and March 10
and 25, 1808, to the Captain, .Aboukir, and Pompee, 74's,
was next present, in the first-named ship, at the capture,
by a squadron under Sir Thomas Louis, of Le President,
French frigate of 44 guns, September 22, 1806. On his
passage to the West Indies in the Pompee, he captured
Le Pilade, corvette, of 16 guns and 109 men ; and being
intrusted by Sir Alexander Cochrane, on his arrival on
that station, with the management of the naval operations
on shore in the attack on Martinique, he hoisted a broad
pendant, and by his exertions, which were unremitting
and beyond praise, greatly contributed to the reduction
of the island. The enemy offering to capitulate on Feb-
ruary 24, 1809, Commodore Cockburn, with Generals
Provost and Maitland, was directed to meet the French
commissioners to settle the terms, and under their signa-
tures Martinique became a British colony. For his ser-
vices on this occasion the commodore was personally
thanked by both Houses of Parliament, and appointed
captain of the port of St. Piorre. Removing in March
to the Belleisle, 74, he returned to Europe in charge of
the ships taken at Martinique, and of the surrendered '
governor and garrison, and soon after his arrival in Eng-
land was ordered to accompany the expedition to the
Scheldt. Thither proceeding, he took command with his
pendant in the Plover, of a division of the British flotilla,
consisting of sloops of war,bomb-ships, brigs,and gunboats ;
anditaking up a most judicious position near the south-east
end of Flushing, continued to bombard that town until the
French commandant signified his intention to surrender,
when, with an officer from the army, he entered blind-
folded into the fortress, and finally arranged the terms of
capitulation. On the retreat of the British down the
Scheldt, he subsequently took the post of honour, and
formed the rear-guard, on which occasion the Plover was
the last vessel to leave the river, checking by her fire the
pursuit of the enemy. The Belleisle, of which ship Cap-
tain Cockburn, had resumed command, being paid off in
Oct., 1809, he next in Feb., 1810, joined the Implacable, 74,
and was invested with the conduct of the naval part of an
expedition having for its object thel,beration of Ferdinand
VII. of Spain from his confinement at Valencay. He
afterwards proceeded to Cadizjwith the flag of Sir Richard
Keats, and effectually co-operated in the defence of the
place, particularly by the able and cheerful assistance he
afforded with two brigs and some armed boats in an at-
tempt to dislodge a French force at Moguer, to the north-
ward of the town. Towards the close of 1810 he safely es-
corted two Spanish !'.ne-of-battle ships of 120 guns each,
to the Havannah, after which he proceeded to Vera Cruz,
and thence to Cadiz with 2,000,00 dollars. Arriving in
England early in 1811, on board the Druid, 32, Captain
Cockburn was, by the Admiralty, again appointed a com-
modore, November 26, and directed to hoist his broad
pendant on board the Grampus, 50. About the same pe-
riod he was selected to act as joint commissioner with Mr.
T. Sydenham and Mr. J. P. Morier, for the purpose of
effecting a reconciliation between Spain and her Transeatf
-
lantic colonies. The scheme, however, in consequenc o
the narrow-minded policy pursued by the Spanish Cortes,
proving abortive, the commodore, after proceeding as far
as Cadiz, returned home, and August 12, 1812, was pro-
moted to the rank of Rear-Admiral, previously to which
he had been appointed, August 1, 1811, a Colonel of Ma-
rines. He soon, with his flag in the Marlborough, 74,
again sailed for Cadiz, in order to assume the command of
the B:itish squadron employed in its defence, but the siege
having been raised prior to his arrival, he was ordered to
North America, where hostilities had been recently dc- NOUVEAU MONDE COMPANY. -The following memo-
&area against Great Britain. We have now arrived at randum has been received by this company :-" The
an era in the history of the distinguished subject of Nouveau Monde Company have received advices from
our memoir which, for brilliancy of achievement, has their superintendent in California, dated Mount Ophir,
rarely been equalled. The dashing exploits, indeed, July 9. The reports of the proceedings at the mines for
which have perpetuated the name of Cockburn crowd the month of June show the progress that has been
upon our attention in such rapid succession, that, made during that time, which is very encouraging. The
anxious as we are to chronicle every occurrence
lodes continue to increase in size without any exception,
at all invested with interest, we fear that in what we yet
have to recount we must content ourselves with a state- and the quality of the quartz veins is as promising as
ment of the chief of those gallant performances, which, by ever. At the Reduction Works the machinery
enforcing on the enemy a proper respect for the British for grinding and amalgamating is in a forward
flag, in the end induced them to long for peace. Arriving state, and, though several unavoidable draw-
in the Chesapeake, on March 3, 1813, the Rear-Admiral backs have taken place, he now expresses his con-
commenced a deiultory mode of warfare by clearing the fidence that they will be ready to commence opera-
river James of its vessels, and carrying consternation into tions without further delay. He also encloses the cer-
the heart of Virginia. He next penetrated to the upper tificate of assay made by Messrs. Wass, Moliter, and.
part of Elk River, at the very head of the Chesapeake
Co., of San Francisco, of some crushed quartz from the
waters, landed and partly destroyed the town of Havre der
Pine-tree SeSt, taken from an average of 14 tons, which
Grace, together with a battery and cannon foundry, near
yielded at the rate of $135 or 27/. of gold to the ton.
These despatches are accompanied by a report on the
the entrance of the Susquehanna ; and, proceeding up the
Sassafras River with all the boats of h;s squadron on May
6, succeeded, after routing a body of about 400 men, who mines furnished by him to the Merced Mining Company,
had opened on them a fire from an entrenched position on at their request, from May 1, 1852 to May 31, 1853,
the two opposite banks of the river, in demolishing the and which will be printed for the information of share-
settlements of Georgetown and Frederickstown. On June holders and ready for distribution at the offices of the
company in the course of the week."
THE SMYTH FORGERY CA.SE.-The extraordinary 26 he further co-operated with Sir Sidney Beckwith inlthtee
tempt at obtaining possession of estates in Gloucester-
attack upon Hampton -and, shifting his flag on July
at-
the Sceptre, 74, assisted, in the course of that month, at
shire and Somerset, worth nearly 30,0001. a year, con-
coast capture of Ocrukoke and Portsmouth Islands, on the
of North Carolina, possessing himself at the same
time of the Anaconda, of 20, and Atlas, of 12 guns. He t 1
' nues a fruitful source of discussion, and fresh revela-
next, on the morning of July 5, with a mere handful of tions continue, to be made as to the life of the claimant,
men, made himself master of Kent Island, in the Chem, Dr. Smith, alias Provis, or, as he calls himself, " Sir
peake ;to which bay, after visiting Bermuda, he ulti- Richard Hugh Smyth." The prisoner is confined in a
matuly returned in 1814, on board the Albion, 74. In separate cell in Gloucester County Prison, and occupies
h
July of the latter year Rear-Admiral Cockburn entered occasionally with writing. He declines to re-
the Potomac, and, ascending that river, frequently landed
cei ve the prison diet, and his meals are supplied to him
at the head of about 500 seamen and marines-sometimes
by his wife, or, as he calls her, " Lady Smyth." He
in Maryland on the one side, and sometimes in Virginia
dia.. refuses to attend Divine service in the prison chapel,
on the other-and, overrunning both provinces to the
resents himself as a Unitarian. He has retained
tends of ten miles from the water's edge, destroyed all the and rep
military posts and stores to be met with in the whole the services of a Gloucester attorney to prepare his de-
of that extensive range of country, and captured and fence for his trial, which will not take place until April
shipped off several guns, stores of tobacco, flour, and other next.
articles, but not, however, without frequently coming
pr (-
into severe contact with the enemy. He ROME, AUG. 13.-The Pope has consented to the
ceeded with his boats up the Pretuxent inmodification of the oath to be taken by the bishops in
questuyex
erful flotilla under the orders of Commodore , of ay Barney,
at length, on the 22d of August, discovered the e-
au-
Holland, and he has decided that these prelates may in
his search near Pig Point, but such terror did his object of future take the oath of fidelity, in civil matters, to the
King and to the laws of the country.
sence excite that the Americans instantly set fire vetorYtphreeir-
vessels, all of which, except one, blew up. In pursuance of a PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS. -THE OXFORD AND
CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITIES.-The following provision in
bold plan which he had formed, the Rear-Admiral, joiningof Parliament,will prevent the
an army of 4,000 men under M 'a new act
borough, now advanced Exchequer for
Major-General Ross, at Mari- recurrence of 16 days' polling, as took place in the elec-
the United States itself, wh' h
upon Washington, the capital of tion of the present Chancellor of the
de main. Reaching Blad b ' - • • for either of the Univer-
le he honed to take bv a coup Oxford University •-" At any election of a member or
ens urg on the 24th of the same members to serve in Parliament
month, the British encountered the enemy's army, of sities of Oxford and Cambridge, the polling shall not
about 8,000 strong, which, days at the most, Sunday,
g, firmly posted, was continue for more than five
attacked and completely routed. Thus
Denman,SEAT IN
Good Friday, and Ascension-day being
encouraged, the
victorious troops pushed forward without .
loss of time, and Christmas-day, Goo
on the same evening entered Washington. The whole of excluded."
DofELNmorANd 's
that night and of the following day were devoted to the n Saturday information was received of
work of destruction ; and by the evening of the 25th, when DERBYSHIRE.-On DARING BURGLARY
aAtToLeosße Da
seat
the British commenced their retreat,public property to the a most daring burglarY .
n Derbyshire, where property and cash
value of between 2,000,0001. and 3,000,0001. sterling had Stoney Middleton, ,
been demolished. Throughout every detail of this splen- of the value of more
than 5001. was stolen. Amongst
did achievement Rear-Admiral Cockburn displayed his the articles was the massive gold
box presented by the
wonted ability and judgment, and, it is needless to add, corporation of London, and containing the freedom of
obtained the high eulogium of Sir Alexander Cochrane the city, and a pair of gold candlesticks which had been
and Major-General Ross. Landing again on September presented to his lordship by her Majesty. The burglary
12 near the mouth of the Petapsco, he joined next in a was effected either on Wednesday night or Thursday
descent on Baltimore, during their prottless advance on morning, and the thieves not only took the 'cash-box,
which place the British lost their general and defeated a
isi. but some gold and silver ; and a handsome gold watch,
strong body of the enemy. After conducting many °t hey
which was in one of his lordship's waistcoats, was taken
operations on the southern coast of the United States,
t t of also. Amongst the list of the property stolen furnished
where he kept the inhabitants in a constant s
a e
to thepolice •
alarm, and occupied the town of St. Mary, the Rear- is a gold box of the value of 1001., contain-
Admiral, who had been created a 5.C.8., January 2, ing the coronation medals of George IV., William IV.,
1815, ultimately, on being informed of the cessationvea of and Queen Victoria. It is said a clue has been obtained
hostilities, returned to Spithead, wheree he
Noarrthiumberlaynd, to the guilty parties.
Hoisting his flag subsequently in
th
Helena, and being PAUPERISM IN BID:MS.-The poorhouse of the Wins-
-74, as commander-in-chief at
_St. a
arts,
who had re- low Union was erected for 250 inmates. It has con-
selected to convey Napoleon B 9
thnatPisland, Sir George `tamed 270 residents ; but now, for the 17 parishes in
cently surrendered himself, to
Plymouth, and on the union, there are but forty inmates, and there has not
Cockburn, on August 8, sailed fromh
October 16 landed his important charge at t e place of his
Theme March been an able-bodied pauper in the house.
destination. Re was superseded, however, in June, 181.6, xpenses have decreased to a similar extent. Some
by Sir Pulteney Malcolm ; and, returning home, struck of the parishes formerlz paid 20s. in the pound on the
his flag in the following August. Becoming a Vice-Admiral assessment, and now e average of the onion is about
August 12, 1819, he afterwards=, with his flag in this Ver. pa in the pound.

FRIGHTFUL DISASTERS AT SEA.

By the Australian mail we aren put in possession of three
mgroasnttssehriipoubsoluonsdsetsoatNseewa,
ztwenolabyd, firnen,donte being an emi-
steamer, which was wrecked on the coast e
betweenthird
pa regr et
Philip and Sydney, when between forty and fifty unfortu-
nraatnetcrsheaiptuwreass
twhohe mwaher
ne r
noent boardshah, p ecrai shte. d.
Minter,T he
eeemi
ni-
-
gmander, which left London in the earlyP part of January
passengers
for New Zealand, with about one hundred for the colony. Se was a well-found vessel of some
600 tons, and belonging to a Captain Meeking, hneer
former captain. It appears that the voyage was safe
enough until the 18th of April, when the ship was
some thousand miles to the southward of the Cape,
being in lat. 43 deg. 3 Osec., long. 116 deg. 10 sec.
E. About neon smoke was observed to be issuing
from the forehold. It was quickly ascertained that
the ship was on fire, and every effort was made to
reach and subdue it. All the exertions of the crew failed
in suppressing it, and the general impression was that it
had originated from spontaneous combustion in the lower
part of the hold. The position of those on board the burn-
ing vessel then became most trying. Passengers and crew
were all got on deck, and the hatches battened down, in
the hope that the flames would be smothered. At this
period, a vessel, which subsequently turned out to be the
Helen, on a voyage from the Mauritius to Hobart Town,
providentially appeared in sight, and observedthe signal of
distress of Nlahomet Shah. She bore down towards her,
and la'A by her for two days and nights. On the night
of the 19th it was quite evident that the fire was fast
extending over the whole cargo, and it was resolved to
send the passengers on board the Helen. The boats
were lowered, and they were all got safely off, the crew
quickly following. Not a vestige of their baggage could
be saved. The flames had penetrated the cabin, and all
approach below was cut off. The Helen laid off the
burning ship for several hours, and at midnight all was
completely enveloped in flames. The crew of the Helen
did all they could to alleviate the sufferings of the pas-
sengers ; but, unfortunately, their provisions were not
adequate to meet the demand. To add to their mis-
fortune, the voyage to the port to which she was bound,
Hobart Town, was a tedious one, and their rations were
reduced to very little food, and half a pint of water a
day.
Had they been kept at sea much longer, starva-
tion would have set in. The Mahomed Shah was laden
with a general cargo of merchandise. Both were
iensffTeenrhteesdeother.fthe fire unfortunate owratsutnhe Englishateshi
ship which
esulvffienroehdesftreormthre.
n
Curry, master. She had sailed from Melbourne on the m
14th
May, for Newcastle, New South Wales. On thefollowing
morning the wind blew very heavily from the S.W., but
moderating the captain directed some of the men to go
below to secure the stores from rolling about. When
the hands came up one of them was noticed to have a
naked lighted candle in his hand. In the course of
ten minutes some smoke wrs seen coming up the
after hatchway. The sore-room was then discovered
to be on fire, and the crew became so confased and
alarmed, that they r ould scarcely be induced to act in
suppressing the flames. The ship speedily became
ignited from one end to the other, the masts falling over
the sides. The men took to the boat at an early stage
of the conflagration, and it would seem that they la-
boured under an impression that a quantity of gunpow-
der was on board, which was not the fact. The captain
and officers were preserved.
The ill-fated steamer was the Monumental City, a large
sized ship, of 1,000 tons. She had arrived at Melbourne
with a large number of passengers from the United
States, and having di..charged many of them at that
port, she left for Sydney, several of the colonists taking
a passage in her. She sailed from Port Philip on the
15th of May, and then had every indication of a rapid
and pleesant trip. It is statrd that she hugged the
I coast too closely during the night. She was progressing
through the water at the rate of 12 knots an hour, when
she went upon a form'dable reef of rocks in Malaquotta
Bay. A scene of the most painful consternation en-
sued. As the morning advanced, a terrible gale
sprung up, and the heavy bumping of the ship
on the reef soon caused her to make considerable
water. The engine fires were extinguished, and the
prospect of all was most alarming. The first boat
which was lowered was dashed to pieces ; the second
met with a similar fate, and the third drifted away.
The only chance of escape now let; for the unhappy crea-
tures was by the life-boat. It was got to the bow, and
a seaman named Plummer jumped into it, and, with
a rope attached, it was allowed to drill to the rocks,
but the rope broke, and all chance was then cut off.
As a last effort another line was fixed to a spar, which
floated within reach of the noble fellow on the rocks.
A hawser was then got off to the rock, and by means
of it 54 souls were rescued from a watery grave.
Many a poor fellow was washed off the hawser, and
perished in the sea. Then came the last scene of all.
The billows were running mountains high and breaking
over the ship, the quarter-deck was separated from the
fore-deck, then another sea sprt the forecastle, and no-
thing remained of the Monumental City but the float-
ing timber which covered the water. Those who were
saved were looking intently on the group clustered
on the wreck, when it suddenly disappeared in a few
seconds, with its .living burden of men, women, and
thech i l dbrre
ena, k we
rhso wanerde
tsheeenn floosrt a
for moment
ever. struggling aamvoensg.
tige remained, and out of 86 souls who sailed from
tnn atelyMelbourne,
perished. 54 only reachedhe survivors
obtained land, aansudpp3l2y
oufnpforo-r-
-hnsithnlnd was reached, when
they had been thrown. In
the
i eerie
us
rs one theef ai sfleawn d
dayson h
the which
the authorities took charge of them. Most of the bodies of
the sufferers were thrown up on the island before the sur-
vivors left, which they interred. Amongst the passengers
who perished were Mr. Wire stockbroker, of Glasgow ;
Mr. and Mrs. Stutts and child, -Mrs. Wilson, William
O'Gorman, Charles Ilopcott, Mr. Peter Stobell, Captain
White, and Mr. S. Porter. The loss of the Monumental
City will exceed 30,0001.