The Sun.
London, England, 1849-09-13 00:00:00

SUN

LOl4 DON, TIIURSDAY

After that, Mr. Graham so frequently committed
himself, that he was obliged at last to make a formal
report te the commander-in chief, in which he charged
him with several distinct breaches of the articles of
war. The defence then went on to comment on the
testimony adduced in support of the prosecution, and
alleged that that evidence showed, upon the face of
it, glaring inconsistencies, contradictions, and false
statements. It complained that a good deal of irre-
levant matter had been introduced, and reminded the
Court that its attention must be confined strictly to
the specific charges which were before it. While
saying this, he did not shrink from the minutest in-
vestigation of every part of his conduct, and it was in
his power to give a full and satisfactory refutation to
the calumny that he was addicted to intemperance,
and to show that it was equally groundless with the
other charges. He reminded the Court also, that
" opinions" were nut evidence, and that it was not to
be expected that witnesses who had been punished by a
competent tribunal, as most of these witnesses had been,
would come forward to support that punishment or to
vindicate the decision of those who had been their
judges. The witness Bailey was an important
exception to this observation ; for he, though he had
been disrated, acquitted him of the charge of
cruelty. His words were, " I should say strict, but
I cannot say there was any act of cruelty." The
prisoner's defence then went on to deal with the wit-
nesses in detail. It alleged there was ne prod that
the letter mentioned by Lieut. Carter in his evidence
had its orib in in a general mutinous spirit on the part
of the crew, and it adduced in support of that allega-
tion the, fact, that when an inquiry had been, instituted
at Chatham, by direction of the Adiniralty„after the
ship's return to England, the men had unanimously
declared to .Captain • Peter Richards and Captain
Elliott, who conducted the inquiry, that they bad,no
cause of complaint. It cited at length the report
which these two officers had made to the Admiralty
on the conduct of Lieutenant Graham and Mr. Elliott,
and it remarked that although Lieutenant Carter had
stated generally that the commander's conduct had
been inconsistent and severe, it alleged no specific
instances, and the book which was upon the table
would show the Court that Lieut. Carter himself was
frequently the complaining officer, and awarded the
punishment. The case of Haigh was dealt with in the
defence at considerable length the commander
denied that he was either severely or unnecessarily
punished, or that the commanding officer could be
held responsible for the consequences of a punish-
ment properly awarded, and inflicted in the presence
of the medical officers of the ship, even though it
resulted in death. He did not wish to avoid responsi-
bility, but the particular responsibility of deciding
whether the offender was able to bear the punish-
ment was committed to the medical officers of the
ship. The man was not punished for one offence but
for an accumulation of offences; and he bad been
detected in stealing many articles belonging to his
messmates. He respectfully submitted what trans-
pired afterwards was a part of the punishment
awarded by him. That had reference to offences
committed subsequently to the flogging. It was
necessary to keep a man who was a notorious thief,
and who was becoming mutinous, as this man was,
apart from the rest of the crew in order that he
might not contaminate, the rest. It was true he was
kept night and day on deck; but he slept under the
forecastle, a place frequently appropriated to the. sick,
and which the best men in the ship considered it a
privilege to occupy. If he suffered from the wind
or the rain, a word to the surgeon, or to him
(the commander), would have ensured .a remedy,
though he frequently sent the watch there when
no other part of the ship afforded shelter. Soon
as ever he learned that the man had had an accident
which was believed to have affected his head, he di-
rectly ordered him to be released from all further
punishment and duty. While in confinement he
showed a sullen and obstinate silence. He was left
on shore at Hobart Town, and he understood that he
was now serving afloat, and that he boasted of having
cheated the medical officers of the Childers, With
respect to White, the commander denied that he had
said he would give him " four dozen" after he was
" scrubbed." If he had intended to flog him, he
should, in compliance with the rules of the service,
have proeeded in ,A different manner.. He denied
also that he had ever heard that White had, threatened
to jump overboard, or that in point of fact there was
any evidence he bad jumped overboard at all. The
man was seen to struggle and to swim,, and when an
inquiry was held, immediately after the occurrence,
nobody on board could tell whether he came into the
water accidentally or by design. With respect
to the "scrubbing" of the boys, it was proved
that it was not different from the practice of
the service, and as to the statement that Sanger had
become insensible under the operation, and had been
laid before the galley fire by Mr. Brake, to restore ani-
mation, the whole of it was a positive fabrication. Mr.
Brake had positively contradicted it, and the only
boy who had ever become inanimate, and had been
laid before the galley fire by that gentleman to re-
store him, was a boy named Blake, who had fallen
overboard, and narrowly escaped drowning. The
commander denied having called Lieutenant Graham
a liar, though he admitted having stated to him he
had told many untruths, a statement which was cer-
tified by the evidence of Mr. Chevalier himself. He
had done all in his power to promote the comfort and
happiness of his crew ; of those who left England
with him, 52 had returned-16 invalided, 13 had
died, 14 deserted, and 11 had been appointed to other
ships; of the 52 who had returned 13 were petty
officers. Why had not the boy Cleverdon been pro-
duced ? Because the prosecutors knew he would not
have supported their case. The boy was his servant.
He had taken him from school, but he was negligent,
idle, andgiven to falsehood. On one occasion he directed
him, to clean a new pair of shoes; he roasted them
so, that the first of them burst when he attempted
to put it on. In the heat of the moment he ad-
mitted that he threw the shoe, and grazed his head ;
he was extremely sorry for it afterwards. He
frequently corrected the boy, who would make a
great noise without sufficient cause ; but when he
left him it was with feelings of the deepest gratitude.
When the ship was paid off he had called to take his
leave of himself and Mrs. Pitman. The man to whose
care he had then committed him, would be here, and
when the Court had heard his statement it would
judge whether the allegations which had been made
with respect to his treatment of that boy were true
or false. The defence went on to submit that two or
, three isolated instances, if the Court should hold them
to be proved, would not support a charge of ge-
neral cruelty, and that the mode in which Mr.
Elliott had given his evidence plainly showed
the feelings by which he was actuated. In
commenting upon the, testimony of the other wit-
nesses the commander said he did not know until
the ship was paid off that words " with disgrace"
were inserted in the log-book in reference to Mr.
Smith's discharge, that he was in point of fact dis-
charged for misconduct, but after his discharge, and
particularly after the prosecutors left the ship, his
conduct was all that could be wished; and it would
have given him great pleasure to have been instru-
mental in restoring him to the service. Having
adverted shortly to the other charges of false
entry and of false expenditure, and made some
further strong remarks upon the nature of
the prosecution and the character of the prose-
cutors, the defence concluded with a statement
of Cominander Pitman's services, and with a' mass of
testimonials commendatory of those services, and of
his general character as an officer and a gentleman.
After the examination of several witnesses for the
defence, the court was ordered to be closed, When
the prisoner said he would decline calling any more
witnesses, and would leave it to the Court to call
whom they thought proper.
The Court then adjourned ,until to-morrow.
WEDNESDAY—TWELFTH DAY.

PLYMOUTH, WEDNESDAY.—The Court again
assembled this morning at nine o'clock, and after
being formally opened, was cleared by order of Sir
John Louis, Batt, for deliberation. It remained
closed till 25 minutes to three, .r.M., when it was
re-opened, and all the witnesses were called in ,after
which the public were admitted.
The Judge-Advocate then read the decision of the
Court. Having stated the constitution of the court,
it set forth the charges, which were as follows :
" General cruelty, from or about the 4th Septem-
ber, 1846, until the 20th of May,-1849; and for false
statements in the log of her Majesty's ship Childers
on or about the 9th day of October, 1848.
" General cruelty and oppression during the period
commencing on or about the 4th of September, 1646,
and ending on the 20th of May, 1849.
" False expenditure of stores, viz., a hammock
cloth represented to have been 'washed away on or
about the 14th of October, 1846 ; and a maintop-
sail to have been lost on or 'about the 9th of
October, 1848.
" False statements in the log-book of her Majesty's
ship Childers, from September, 1846, to the 20th of
May, 1849."
The Learned Gentleman proceeded to state—
" The Court having heard the evidence in support of
the charges, as well as what the prisoner has offered
in his behalf, and very maturely and deliberately
weighed and considered the same, is of opinion that
the charge of general cruelty and oppression has
been in part proved against the prisoner, Commander
J. C. Pitman ; and the Court is-further of opinion
that the, charge of false expenditure of stores, and the
charge of false statements in the log-book of Ma-
jesty's ship Childers, have been proved against the
prisoner, Commander J. C. Pitman; and the Court
doth in consequence adjudge the said Commander
J. C. Pitman to be dismissed from her Majesty's
service." • . •
. The Court then broke up.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.
DONCASTER RACES.
DONCASTER, TUESDAY NIGHT.—The following were
the general prices at the close of the room:—
ST. LEGER.
sto 2 or. Flying Dutchman 20 to 1 agat Nunnykirk
10 to 1 agst.Old Dan Tucker 30 to 1 agst Vatican (t)
18 to 1 apt Thringarth 30 to 1-agst Herbert (t)
Large sums were laid between the favourites and the
field, and several hundreds on Thringarth, at 16, 18, 20,
and 25 to 1. Lord Eglinton after observing that ho bad
not a bet on the race, offered to take 1,300 to 100 that
his horses were first and second.
GREAT YORKSHIRE HANDICAP.
4to 1 agst Thringarth I7to 1 agst Mrs. Taft
6 to 1 agst Fsalmsinger 7 to 1 agst Fernhill
CESAREWITCH. • •
12 to 1 agst Essedarius 33 to 1 agst Glen Saddel
17 to 1 agst Glenalvon 40 to 1 agst Rathmines
20 to 1 egst St. Rosalia 40 to 1 eget Black Eagle
33 to 1 agst Puffy I 40 to 1 agst OldDanTucker
33 to 1 agat Raby c I 41 to 1 agst Tophana
33 to 1 agst Fire-eater I
CAMBRIDGESHIRE.
125 to 1 agst Woolwich

14 to 1 agst Rienzi
20 to 1 agst Ribaldry

DEBIT.
5 to I agst Italian I 40 to 1 agst Windhound
7 to 1 agst Bro to Epirote I 40 to 1 agst Clincher

40 to 1 agst Sit eotheart (t)
No others mentioned.
WEDNESDAY'S RACES. •
Those who remembered • Doncaster in its palmy days
must have been -struck will the contrast between the
excitement which then prevailed on the St. Leger day—
almwt from daybreak, and the quietude of the town this
morning. Until between 9 and 10 o'clock, the sound of
wheels was scarcely heard, and, as the day advanced,
the arrivals per coach were so few that one would almost
have imagined that it was one of the "off" days of the
meeting, instead of the "grand" day. The falling off,
however, in this respect is easily accounted for. Don-
caster now has railway communication with all the ma-
nufacturing districts, from which theinass of the visitors:
come, and the Companies having afforded every possible
facility in the shape of special trains from Manchester,
Leeds, Liverpool, Sheffield, Wakefield, Btc., the number
present did not exhibit so great a deficiency as might
have been expected from the moderate character of the
racing. The special train from London held out an op-
portunity, for the first time, of seeing the St. Leger run
for, and returning the same night, and as the directors,
with more 'consideration for the public than for the
shareholders, were content to take - one fare for the
double journey, a considerable number—less, however,
than had been anticipated—availed themselves of it.. It
reached Doncaster nearly an hour after time, owing to a
detention of half an hour at Retford, the engine and
tender having got off the line, in consequence of the man
at the point having turned it the wrong way; ,no mis-
chief was done, and the passengers arrived at their di.-
tination in ample time for the races. Irrespective of
this, the only drawback was the early hour at which it
was necessary to start, an objection which will be obvi-
ated next year, by the completion of the Great Northern
main line from London to Peterborough. By one
o'clock all the " special" visitors were safely delivered,
and the crowd in the streets reminded us, faintly, how-
ever, of better times; the falling off, nevertheless, was
palpable, and it was still more conspicuous on the course.
The Grand Stand, although crowded to the roof, con-
tained few of the titled and fashionable personages,
whose patronage for so long a period made Doncaster
the most popular racing town in the kingdom. Time,
however, will not permit us to dwell on these matters;
suffice it, that there was a great numerical attendance,
and that the racing, with, the St. Leger as its feature,
went off with tolerable spirit; the weather, unfortunately,
was unfavourable.
The Doncaster Plate of 100 Soya., added to a handicap of
15 SOTS. each, 10 ft. Redhouse in. (8 Subs.)
Mr. Payne's Farthingale, 8 yrs, Bst... (Flatman) 1
Lord Chesterfield's Penthesilea, 3 yrs, 7st (G. Oates) 2
Lord Glasgow's in, out of Miss Whip, 5 yrs, 7st 71b 3
Mr. Nolan's Blucher, 4 yrs, Bst 71b... (Butler) 4
Mr. Bank's Surfe, 3 yrs, 6st 81b (W. Sharp) 5
Mr. Lawson's Keleshea, 5 yrs, Bst Mb (Noble) 6
Betting-2 to 1 agst Penthesilea-3 to 1 agst Far-
thingale-4 to 1 agst Keleshea—and 6to I agst Miss
Whip. Penthesilea made the running until within 300
yards of home, when she was passed by
a
d Whipby Farthingale,
third.ingal
e,
who won cleverly by a length; Miss
Run in 1 min. 14 sec.
The Queen's Plate of 100 guineas. Cup course.
Captain Harcoart's Ellerdale, 5 yrs. (Marston) 1
Mr. B. Green's Swiss Boy, 4 yrs (Wintringham) 3
Betting-6 to 4on Ellerdale, who waited to the dis-
tance and won in canter by half a length. Run in b
min. 1 sec. •
St. Leger Stakes of 50 Boys. each, h ft; colts, Bat 71b;
fillies, Bst. 21b. The second to receive 300 saes. out of
the stakes, and the third 100 soya. The winner to
pay 100 sovs. towards the expenses. (140 Subs.)
Lord Eglinton's Flying Dutchman ... (Marlow) 1
Mr. Nichol's Nunnykirk (A. Day) 2
Sir J. Hawley's Vatican ............. (Marlon) 3
Lord Clifden's Honeycomb (Robinson) 4
Mr. Bowes's Thringarth (Butler) 0
Lord Eglinton's Eltbiron (Cartwright) 0
Mr. Green's Westow (Wintringham) 0
Mr. Payne's Saucy Dick (Flatman) 0
Mr. R. H. Nevill's Herbert . (Rogers) 0

Mr. Medley's Old Dan Tucker (Templeman) 0
Volcano was Ecraiched at half-past ten this morning.
Betting at starting-9 to 4on the Flying Dutchman
—l6 to 1 agst Old Dan Tucker-1G to 1 agat Vatican
—lB. to 1 agst Nunnykirk-20 to 1 agst Thringarth
—4O to 1 eget Honeycomb—and 50 to 1 agst Saucy
Diek. Won by two lengths, the same between second
and third; Honeycomb a bad fourth, and Elthiroa fifth.

Run in 3 min. 20 secs.
The Municipal Stakes of 200 EON'S. each, h ft; the second
to save his stake; for tv, o yrs old colts, Bst 71b; and
fillies, Bst 41b. Red House in. (6 Subs.)
Lord Egliuton's Knight of Avenel... (Marlow) 1
Lord Glasgow's c by Bay Middleton, out of Canada 2
Colonel Anson's Sister to Sweetmeat (F. Butler) 3
Mr. B. Green's Gleam (Wintringbatn) 4
6 to 4 apt Knight of Avenal, 5 to 2 agst Gleam, and
sto 1 sgst Canada colt. Won easy by a length; the
same between second and third. Run in 1 min.
16 sec.
Sweepstakes of 10 sous. each, h ft, the second to save
his stake, with 50 sous. added, for two yrs old, 7st,
and three yrs, 9st; fillies and geldings allowed 31bs.
Red House in. (9 Subs.)
Mr. G. Hobson's Rbedycina, 2 yrs (Rodney) 1
Mr. 11. Jones's Steppingstone, 2 yrs ..........(Fenn) 2
Col. Anson's bf by Touchstone, 2 yrs. ..... (Charlton) 3
Mr. Verner's The Recluse, 2 yrs (W. Sharpe) 4
The following also started but were nut placed:—

Mr. Pedley's Lady Bountiful, 2 yrs.... (Day) 0
Lord Chesterfield's Humphrey, 2 yrs (G. Oates) 0
6 to 4 agst Rhedycina, 2 to 1 agst Recluse, and 5 to 2
agst Steppingstone. Won by two lengths; the second
beating the third by a neck, and the same between third
and fourth. Run in 1 min. 17 sec.
DONCASTER, THURSDAY MORNING.
(BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.)
LATEST BETTING ON THE GREAT YORKSHIRE HANDICAP.

7 to 2 agst Mrs. Taft.
9 to 2 Fernhill.
sto 1 - Paalmsinger.
sto 1 Thringarth.

SOUTH LONDON FLORICULTIT
RAL SOCIETY.
The last flower show of this society was held yester-
day, at the Surrey Zoological Gardens. The day, un-
fortunately, was but ill-adapted for a fete of the kind,
for the rain which fell at intervals prevented the arrival
of visitors, and but few were present at any one time.
The military bands, however, were in attendance, and
communicated as much cheerfulness by their instrumen-
tal straits as circumstances would admit of. The show
in itself was a very fine one, and bad there not been the
drawback alluded to, would have been well worth exa-
mining. The dahlias were in great profusion, and in-
cluded several beautiful and distinguished varieties.
There was also a noble array of hollyhocks, besides some
excellent and attractive specimens of fuchsias and ver-
benas. The fruit section consisted chiefly of grapes and
pine-apples, several baskets of each being exhibited.
The following were the successful competitors!--
Class I.—Private Growers.—For the beat collection.of
miscellaneous plants, not exceeding 15 pots (orchideous
plants excluded)—Messrs. Cole, Bruce, Hemp, and
Young, For the best collection of fuchsias (8 varieties
in pots)—Mr. Vickery. :For the best 24 dahlias (dis-
similar blooms)—Msssrs. Prockter, Howard, Hopkins,
and Cook. For the best lt dahlias (dissi-
milar blooms)—Messrs. Robinson, Rowden, Black,
Batts, and Pope. For the best 6 fancy dahlias
(dissimilar blooms)—Messrs. Bowden, Pope, and
Prockter. For the best 12 holly hocks (single blooms,
dissimilar)—Messrs. ParsonS,;Holder, Betteridge, and J.
Bennett. For the best collection of cut flowers—Messrs.
N. Cole, A. Parsons, and J. Bruce. For the best 12
verbenas (distinct varieties, of 3 trusses each)—Messrs.
C. Lockner and Wyness. For the best collection of ripe
fruit, 6 sorts (pines and grapes excluded)—Messrs. J.
Parker and P. Young. For the best basket of grapes
(6 lbs.)—Messrs. Collier and Argent.
Class IL—Nurserymen—For the best *collection of
fuchsias (12 varieties, in pots)—Messrs. Bromley, M.
Shuckford, Robinson, and Hook. For the best collect-
Lion of roses, in bunches (8 boxes)—Messrs. Paul and
Son and. E. Francis. For the best 24 dahlias (dissimilar
blooms)—Messrs. C. Turner, Drummond, Hunt, and
Gaines. For the best 12 fancy dahlias (dissimilar
blooms)—Messrs. Turner, Harrison, and Hunt. For the
best 12 hollyhocks (12 to 15 inches in height)—Messrs.
W. Chater and R. Birchin. For the best 24 verbenas
distinct varieties, of 3 trusses each)—Messrs. P. Smith
and C. A. Harrison. For the best collection of cut
flowers—Messrs. E Francis and Fuwle. For the best
basket of grapes—Mr. H. Chapman.
Open to both classes—For the best single specimen
plant (of any genus)—Messrs. Fairburn, W. Cole, and
W. Cole. For the best pine-apple—Messrs. Payne and
Jackson. For the best specimen of honey (in the cowb,
in glaes)—Messrs. Wells and R. W. Dalton.
Extra Prizes offered by Members to Private Growers.
—By Mr. John Keynes, of Salisbury, for the best six
blooms from the following nine dahlias, viz..—Keyne's
Purple Standard, Lilac Perfection, Miss Chaplin, Sunset,
Victoria Regina, Miss Blackmore, Rainbow, Miss
Stevens, and Sunbeam—Messrs. Black, Hunt, Pope,
Cook, and Edmonds. By John Bushell, Esq., of Slough,
for the best 3 blooms of J. Bushell's Duchess (white
dahlia)—Messrs. Robinson, Hunt, and Nukes. By Mr.
Charles Turner, of Slough, for the best six dahlias (dis-
similar blooms)—Messrs. Robinson and Howard. By
John Edwards, Esq., for the best bloom of C. Turner's
dahlia, named Mr. Seldon—Messrs. Robinson and Bur-
gess. By. Mr. E. Hunt, of Paddington, for the beet 3
blooms of E. Hunt's General Cavaignac (fancy dahlia)
—Mr. Hatchman. By John Chapman, Esq., for the
best single blooxn'of J. Buidiell's-Duchess'(white dahlia)
—Mr. Nokes. By John 110 Ward, Esq., for the