The Sun.
London, England, 1854-09-27 00:00:00

BIRTHS IN THE WEEK.

Males
Females..

Total .

833
795

1,628

THE ALLEGED ILL-TREATMENT OF A
FEMALE ON BOARD THE DAUNTLESS.

PORTSMOUTH, Sept. 26.—Two distinct sets of proceed-
ings have been instituted to-day into the circumstances
of the alleged death of a female from ill-treatment from
officers belonging to her Majesty's screw frigate Daunt-
less, and which had taken place on board that vessel's
hulk, the Victorious, lying off the dockyard, A report
of the proceedings at the inquest on the cause of death
of this young female, Matilda Jane Lodge, aged 22,
was inserted in The Sun on Monday ; the ver-
dict being, it will bo remembered, to the the effect that
death had been mainly accelerated by the ill-treatment
alleged. _

Al 9 o'clock this morning a court of inquiry was
opened on board the Dauntless's hulk, the Victorious,
the members of the court being Captain R. S. Robinson,
Colossus ; Captain J. C. D. Hay, Victory ; and Cap-
tain Crispin, Victoria and Albert. Previous to the
court opening, Captain Ryder, the captain of the
Dauntless, mustered all the officers, and read them a
severe lesson in reference to the conduct complained
of. He also, we are informed, placed Lieutenant
Frederick Knight, R.M., the officer with whom the
deceased had been on board, under arrest. The court
has sat the whole (lay, but, of course, nothing has yet
transpired'as to whether a court-martial will result from
it or not. It is regarded as more than probable.
Civil proceedings were also instituted at the Borough
Police Court to-day, before a bench of magistrates, the
Mayor (G. C. Stigant, Esq.,) presiding. After a private
and preliminary consideration of the subject,
Mr. Henry Ford, solicitor, of Portsea, said he ap-
peared for the prosecution, in reference to the death of
Matilda Jane Lodge, which had occurred from ill-treat-
ment received on board the hulk to the Dauntless steam
frigate. He asked the bench to grant an adjournment
of the hearing, to allow of the necessary evidence being
got together.

Mr. James Hoskins, solicitor, of Gosport, said he ap•
peared on behalf of the officers of the Dauntless, who had
been requested by the Mayor to attend that court. Lieu-
tenant Seymour, Lieutenant Jervis, and Lieutenant
Knight were present, in conformity with that request ;
and other of the officers would have been present but that
they were in attendance at a Court of Inquiry on board the
ship. He (Mr. Hoskins) wished to know whether they
were there as accused persons or as witnesses, or whether
a portion were to be accused and the remainder to be
witnesses against them.

Mr. Ford- said at the present stage of the proceedings
he could not say whether they were all, or one, or any
•to be accused ; neither could he yet state.for what pur-
pose their presence would be required on any future oc-
casion. He would, however, by Friday next be prepared
to take seine decided course in reference to the question.
Mr. Hoskins's promise that the officers whose names
had been mixed up with the subject would attend on
Friday would be all that the prosecution would require.
➢Tr. Hoskins declined to give any promise on such a
footing. If he were told that such and such of his clients
were to have an accusation brought against them he
would promise that they should attend ; and he would
do the same if they were required as witnesses.
After some further conversation, _ _ _

Mr. W. Leggett, superintendent of the Portsmouth
borough police, deposed that he had charge of the pro-
secution in this case, and he said a postponement of it
was necessary for securing the attendance of material
witnesses, and which he believed he should be able to
secure by Friday next.
The case was then postponed till Friday.

NORTHAMPTONSHIRE AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION.—
The annual meeting of this association was held at Da-
ventry on Thursday last, and it was, we believe, in .all
respects the most successful meeting the society has ever
had. The showyard was full of excellent stock and
poultry, the ploughing-field presented an animated scene,
and the attendance was unprecedented for numbers. The
offering of prizes for poultry is a novel feature, but,
judging from the amount of competition and the excel-•
lence of the birds shown, the committee will have no
cause to regret its introduction. The dinner was held at
the \Yheatsheaf Hotel. No room in the hotel being
large enough for the purpose, a spacious pavilion was
erected in the hotel yard. No trifling. addition was
made to the cuisine by the liberality of Sir Charles
Knightley, who generously sent three bucks to the din-
ner, and sent his own cook to dress the venison. Mr.
Knightley, too, who had journeyed from the Highlands
the day.before, brought with him a handsome donation
of grouse, black game, and ptarmigan. Mr. Knighttey
further contributed to the pleasure of the meeting by
providing a company of professional singers from Lon-
don, who added much to the enjoyment of the evening.
Upwards of 200 persons dined, Mr. Knightley, M.P.,
as president of the association, presiding, and the vice-
president, Sir Charles Ishato, occupying the vice-chair.