The Sun.
London, England, 1831-03-17 00:00:00

HIS MAJeS'IA'S SHIP TRETIs.

COURT MARTIAL 071 the CAPTAIN, OFFI-
. CER S, and CREW of H. 211. S.- TILE TIS.
PORTSMOUTH, MAhCIE 16.
I The Court opened at a quarter-past nine o'clock, when
Lieutenant Otway was c tiled, and at great length stated
the ship's course, and the sails she carried when he had
charge of her on the day she was lust ; and also stated
that when the Captain proposed to the master to alter the
course, that no objection was made to it by the master,
and the manse was accordingly altered a point or so.
Lieutenant de Butts, Second Lieutenant of the ThPti
was next sworn, and minutely gave the direction of the
ship between six and eight, which was N.E. by E., under
double-reefed topsails, fore and main top-gallant sails,
courses, jib, spanker, and reefed topmast studding sails;
her rate was about nine cr ten knots. The master was
always very attentive to his dnties and constantly on deck-
lle thought (as did the late Captain Bingham) that Mr.
Mends, the midshipman, who relieved him, was perfectly
competent to keep the watch and act.
Mr. R. H. Mends was then called, and stated in a very
distinct manner (which called forth the approbation of
the Court) what took place after he took charge of the
ship on the sth of December. " I was relieved at five
minutes passed eight, and immediately mustered the watch
under the half-deck, as it was raining very heavily. I
then went on the forecastle to look at the head sails, and
warned the look-outs, and desired the mids to keep a good
look out on the studding-sails, as it was so very dark I
could hardly be able to see front the quarter-deck, when it
lifted lightly, and as the breeze waft stiff to be ready to
take them in at a moment', notice. I then walked aft to
the weather gang-way and loolatd around, after which I
went to the compass, found it was, according to our direc-
tions, that we were steering N.E. by E.. due. I walked
forward on the peak of the gang-way, and was met by T.
Thomas, Captain of the main-top, who asked me if I re-
quired an' men aloft, as it rained so heavily ; I aaid no,
but let them remain at the foot of the latter, ready at a
moment's call; on turning to walk aft I heard a call of
land or a vessel ; however, I immediately heard a man,
apparently from aloft, call out, we are close upon the
shore, Sir; I ran to the weather gang-way, when I imme-
diately saw land apparently very high, and we were close
on the break of it. I ordered the helm to be put hard
dawn, and called down the main hatch-way to turn the
hands up ; after which I ran to the after ladder, where I
was met by the mate of the watch, who I told to go im-
mediately to the Captain, and tell him we were
very close on shore. 1, however, immediately beard
the Captain's voice calling out, put the helm hard-
a-port, which I answered was done. She was then
coming round very fast, and on the Captain's reaching the
deck the jib-boom and bowsprit went against the rock,
but the ship not striking with a jerk, or injury to herself,
I went forward and manned the main bantlings, which
were about half up, when I heard the foremast cracking,
and jumping forward, I desired the men to do the same,
The Captain at the same time crying out, stand from the
main, the foremast is going, as soon as possible. The
three masts fell nearly fore and aft, killing and wounding
several. As well as I could, I got to where the Captain
was standing, on the starboard gangway. By this
time the ship's head was conic round, off the shore,
and we attempted to set some sails on the stumps
of the fore and main-rnasts, and the helm hard a star-
board. I went below, and gave the order to the Lieu-
tenant at the helm, and again went on deck, when Mr.
Gowdy asked me for a lead and line. 1 also heard that
the best bower-anchor was clear, and the larboard one
was foul. The carpenter then reported the well dry, and
I observed she was fast drifting along shore. The anchor
was let go, but did not reach the bottom. She now
struck heavily against the rocks, and she began to make
water fast. At that time the Captain called out to stand
by to slip the cable. Watching an opportunity, when she
was hove well up on the point of the rock, in company
with others, I jumped on shore, and at that moment the
ship head paid up to the starboard, and gathering away,
ran round the point, and we lost sight of her. The re-
maining part of the witness's examination having been de-
tailed in the public prints at great length, we do not give
it. Another witness was called, but proved nothing new,
and the Court adjourned at one o'clock.