The Sun.
London, England, 1831-09-27 00:00:00

NANTAL COURT-MARTIAL.

(17rom the Portsmouth Herald of Sunday.)
A Court-martial was held, on Friday last, on board his
Majesty's ship Melville, in this harbour, consisting of Pre-
sident, Admiral Sir Thomas Foley, G.C.8., Rear-Admiral
of the United Kingdom, and Commander-in-Chief at this
port ; Members, Captains C. J. W. Nesham, of his Ma-
jesty's ship Melville; Sir E. T. Truubridge, Bart., of his
Majesty's ship Stag; David Dunn, of his Majesty's ship
Curacoa ; and Price Blackwood, of his Majesty's ship
_ .

- - .
Imogine ; officiating Judge- Advocate, 'James Hoskins, Esq
to try Mr. Backhouse, mate of his Majesty's ship ,Etna,
on charges preferred against him by Commander E. Bel-
cher, of that ship, for having, at various times, during the
present year, while the ,Etna was employed on the
Western Coast of Africa, been guilty of repeated acts of
insubordination, neglect of duty, and disrespectful, con-
temptuous, and insolent conduct towards Commander F.
Belcher, his superior officer, on board the "'Etna ; and for
having, since the ship's arrival in England, namely, on the
14th of August last, and between that day and the 10th
of September instant, been guilty of insulting conduct to-
wards Commander Belcher and First Lieutenant Mitchell,
and of insubordination in quitting the shit), in defiance of
the First Lieutenant's refusal of leave of absence, and also
for having absented himself Irons his duty, when it was
his watch on deck. By permission of the Court, T. A.
Minehin, Esq., acted as profesSional adviser of the prisoner.
The Court met at nine o'clock, and the Judge-Advocate,
having called over the names of the various witnesses, read
the order from the Lot ds Commissioners of the Admiralty,
for assembling the Court-martial. The members of the
Court were then sworn, as well as the Judge-Advocate,
and the charges against the prisoner having been read, the
examination of witnesses commenced.
Mr: W. Craydon swarm and examined by Captain
Belcher, who produced an' old worn-out straw hat, very
carefully preserved iu a new deal box—l have seen that
hat before. It was in the same shape. Mr. Backhouse
came on deck with it on, when the Captain ordered him
below to dress in a proper manner, which he did. Mr.
Backhouse had neither shoes nor stockings on when he
quitted the deck. He had on a surtout cost, white trow-
sers, and the straw hat now produced. Shortly after our
arrival in the Gambia, when I was fficer of the first
watch, I found Mr. B. in the cutter along-side the ship.
I called him by his name, and told him to come out, but
he did not obey my orders. Several other gentlemen were
in the boat at the same time ; but I called Mr. B. out in
preference to the others, because when I relieved the
officer of the watch at eight o'clock, I received directions
not to let Mr. B. quit the ship. I don't know whether
Mr. B. was on the sick list or nut at that time. (A ques•
tion as to whether Mr. B. was sober or not, was objected
to by the Court, on the ground that a man may be drunk
and not insubordinate, and vice versa.)
By the COURT-Mr. B. hail been on the main-deck as
officer of the watch. His trousers were all splashed with
he ehein cable The hat now produced was the hat

usually worn by him.
By the Prosecutor—lt was about eight o'clock in the
morning when the Captain ordered Mr. B. to go below
and change his dress. I did not see or hear any thing
disrespectful towards the Captain on this order being given.
I was not near enough to hear.
Mr. J. Harrison, boatswain, sworn and examined by
Captain B lcher, producing the hat—l have seen that
hat before. I was ordered by Captain Belcher to take
charge of it sometime in the forenoon. I observed Mr.
Backhouse w dking the quarter-deck with his hat on, be-
fore it was pinched to its present shape. 'lt was not so
flit as it is now. When I had it, it was rounder.
I was on the forecastle when I observed the hat on Mt.
B.'s head. The gunner was also on the forecastle. Mr
B. was walking the quarter-deck before the Captain came
on deck. I did not believe hitn to be the officer of the
watch at that time. I did not know that orders had been
given that Mr. B. was not to do duty as mate of the main
deck. Mr. B. commanded the second binge previously
to this occurrence. I don't know whether this occurrence
happened on the day he was superseded in his command of
the barge. I think the hat is much dirtier now, from
heir)," exposed in the store-room to the dust and crthwebs.
By the CouaT-I am not aware of any disrespectful
conduct of Mt. 13:towards his Captain. lam not aware
of any neglect of duty. I have seen Mr. B. with that hat
on in its present ragged state in the day-time, while on
the quarter deck. It was nearly in that state.
Mr. Ross, Mate, sworn and examined by Captain
Belcher—l do not recollect being summoned to tie quarter-
deck at the time when the prisoner wore the hat pro-
duced. I don't rein tuber when the prisoner's warrant
was withdrawn. The prisoner was in the cutter on the
night that Clark, the marine, endeavoured to get ashore
in it. I believe the prisoner was then ordered out of the
boat, but lam not certain. I believe his leave was stop-
ped at that time. lam not aware whether he was on the
sick list. I was keeping watch on board at the time. I
don't recoPect that Mr. B. kept watch between that time
and the ship's arrival. I think I was on watch on or
about the evening of the 9th. I hid sonic difficulty in
tchoendp:
bring relieved, and the First Lieutenant was obliged to o
improper
irst Lieutenant
in-
terfere. I think it was about a quatter past one bell
when I was relieved. The First Lieutenant reprimanded
rd
stohneeprriivsobnaetrheoiltvatladtoirgaosfti.o(nic.ck.l hrernahe him ask F
then spoke to me and sent me below. During the short
otitnaltehle was on
o prisoner,de ci th
innigghitviingsall'is replies to the First
Lieutenant. lam aware that the prisoner's warrant was
withdrawn. 1 never recollect the prisoner treating the
Captain with disrespect; nor do I recollect any act of in s
subordination on the part of the prisoner.
Mr. R. Robinson sworn and examined by Captain
Belcher—l superseded Mr. Backhouse iu command of the
huge. I never saw the hat produced on the quarter-deck
of the I don't know why be was superseded. I
never received any general orders from Mr. B. for the
government of the second barge. I received a log ; I had
ten orders for his guidance. They were
a copy of the ship's signal book. The prisonerl
tr
traaidl,ftevirriet(.l
to me, because I did not ask him for m.
the I thin it
was on the 27th of March that I tookthe command. k
1.