The Sun.
London, England, 1836-10-01 00:00:00

GENERAL COURT MARTIAL ON
LIEUT. BELLAIRS, ROYAL MARINES.

FINDING • AND SENTENCE OF . THE COURT, AND SUBSEQUENT
DUEL BETWEEN THE PROSECUTOR AND PRISONER.
The, Court having adjourned for the purpose of hearing
Lieut. Wood, the prosecutor's reply, as snob as the respective
members had taken their seats. the Court was much crowded,
as on the former day by military and naval gentlemen.
Captain VARI.O, the Acting Judge Advocate, stated that
he had received a letter from the prisoner, requesting that
Capt. Peebles, the officer of the guard, might be called, as
his evidence would prove that he (the prisoner) had made an
apology or explanation, in his and the prosecutor's presence,
on the evening of the 7th Sept., previous to the prosecutor
leaving the guard-room. The Court decided upon examining
Captain Peebles, after which

The prosecutor rose to reply, which he did at very coniile-
rabic length, reiterating the principal topics comprised in hi:
opening eloquent address, and concluded by insisting. that he
had borne out by the evidence which he had adduced the
charge he had made against the prisoner.
The Comer having been cleared, proceeded to take into its
consideration the testimony adduced for and against the pri-
soner. The prisoner was found " Guilty," and the following
asentence lov sb
ypassed
maujie)ostr which has been subsequently
fMajesty
" That he, second Lieutenant Bellairs, had been proved
guilty of the charges alleged
.against him, being in breach of
the Articles of War. the Court sentenced him to be dismissed
his Majesty's service."
Late on Thursday night the finding and sentence of the
Court was made known to the prisoner, and after consulting
with a friend he sent a message to the prosecutor, requiring
that satisfaction which a gentleman ought to receive under the
peculiar circumstances in which he was placed. The pro.
secutor, without any hesitation, appointed a friend, and agreed
to meet Mr. Bellairs the following (yesterday) morning.
Between two and three o'clock yesterday Lieut. Wood, ac-
companied by Lieut. Miller, of the Royal Marines, crossed
the water opposite the Arsenal, followed immediately by Mr.
Bellairs, and -- Lamb, Esq., a naval officer. The ground
having been measured, the principals took their position, and
on the usual signal being given, Lieut. Wood received the fire
of Mr. Bellairs, and returned it by firing in the air. The
ball fired by Mr. Bellairs shattered a stick which had been
placed as the pivot point at which his opponent was stationed
—the latter thus narrowly escaped a serious injury. The
parties then met and shook hands, and here this unpleasant
affair for the present terminates.

DINNER to MR. TRAILL at THURSO.

On Thursday, the 15th instant, about fifty of the friends
and supporters of George. Traill, Esq., gave him a public din-
ecr in M'Kay's hotel, in Thurso, as a mark of respect for his
consistent and decided attachment to the cause of free institu-
tions. 'F. Sinclair, Esq., of Lybster, in the chair.
After the usual toasts, &c., Mr. SINCLAIR gave—" Mr.
Traill, and success to his efforts in the county."
Mr. TRAILL returned thanks. He estimated highly the
honour done to him, not so much as a personal compliment,
as to his position as a candidate for their suffrages. On
public grounds, he looked on it not only as evidence of their
present feelings, but as an earnest of future exertions in a
cause which involves the interests, and even the honour of the
county. As a humble instrument, he would do all in his
power to promote and maintain the independence of the
county, and would devote his mind and heart to that object.
He would say, that all he had ever said of the principles
of the present Government had, he thought, been fully veri-
fied during► the last session of Parliament. All their mea-
sures had been of a liberal cast, though many of them had
been strangled in the stronghold of the Aristocracy. In
refusing Municipal Reform to Ireland, the Tory Lords only
demonstrated their fear and hatred of public opinion. He
considered the present state of the Irish Church as a blot on
humanity, and there could be no peace nor prosperity while it
so continued. The cry of the Church in danger had origi-
nated in the love of the Tories for its revenues, and to use it
as a political engine. There is nothing spiritual in the mat-
ter—such an establishment can never convert Catholics to the
Protestant faith.

Mr. WILSON, Advocate, gave " Lord John Russell and the
Liberal majority in the House of Commons," and after paying
a compliment to the talent and principles of Lord John
Russell, said, that it was to the constituency at large that
Ministers must look for support, and he hoped they would
soon have an opportunity of returning a largo majority to the
House of Commons.

Mr. CRAWFURD, Advocate, gave " Lord Mul,s-rave, and
Peace to Ireland." Mr. Crawfurd, in eloquent terms, de-
picted the wrongs inflicted on Ireland, and described the
healing measures offered by the present Government, and
paid a warm tribute of admiration to the energy and excellent
conduct of Lord Mulgrave.