The Sun.
London, England, 1824-10-26 00:00:00

TII E ,ARMY.

'finnsE.Guanns, OCT. 12, /824.
At a General Court-Martial, held at Malta, on the Ist day
of March, 1821, and on subsequent days, and re-assembled for
revision on the 19th of July following, Lieut. George Francis
Dawson, of the Royal Artillery, was arraigned upon the un-
dermentioned charges, viz.
Ist. " For disobedience of orders, insubordinate and un-
officer-like conduct, when stationed at Fort St. Angelo, in the
island of Malta, in hesitating and declining to carry into exe-
cution the orders he had received, on the 6th of August, 1823,
for firing salutes from that fort, on the 9th and 10th of the same
month, according to.istablished usage."
" Andlor having written.two letters, dated the 7th and 9th
August, to Major-Addams, commanding the Royal Artillery,
remonstrating against carrying the aforesaid orders into effect."
idly. " For writing *letter, dated the 11th August, 11123,
of a highly insubordinate nature, and sliewing a spirit of oppo-
.sition to the authority of 'hie Commanding Officer (Major
Addams) for having given orders to Serjeant lif'Clelland, of
that corps, to fire salutes at Fort St. An gdo, on the 10th Aug.
1823, and. forhaving ordered the expenditure of stores, for the
execution of regimental orders, without such orders passing
through him (Lieut. Dawson), he well knowing that ltis own
conduct, and that of another Officer, had led to the measures
against which he was remonstrating."
' " The above conduct being highly subversive of military
discipline, and holding forth a moat dangerous example to the
British army:".
Additional Charge preferred by Brevet .Major Addams, of
the Royal Artillery.
" For neglect of duty and disobedience of orders in not giv-
ing directions to the detachment under his command, for firing
a salute at Fort St. Angelo on the 9th August, 1823, at noon,
and in being absent from Cavalier St. Angelo (in the aforesaid
fort) without leave, when such salute was fired by the said de-
tachment."
Upon •which.charges the Court came to the following deci-
sion .
"The Court having maturely and deliberately weighed and
considered the evidence adduced in support of the prosecution,
as well as the prisoner's hnving declined snaking any defence,
is of opinion as follows, viz.:—
" With respect to the First Charge, that he is Guilty of the
same." . - - -

reepect.to t the Second-Charge, -that he is Guilty of
the 'erne."
With respect •talhe additional Charge, that he is Guilty
of the first part of thwCharge," -viz.:—
Neglect of duty and disobedience of orders In not giving
directions to the detachment under his command, for firing a
salute at Fort St. Angelo, on the 9th August last."
And with respect to the second and last part oldie said Charge,
"In being absent frenrCavalier St. Angelo (iin the aforesaid
fort) without leave, when such salute was fired by the said de.
tachment ;" " the Court finds him—Guilty only to the extent
of being absent,' It appearing not to have been the practice in
the Royal Artillery for Officers to attend these salutes; and
therefore—Acquits him of being absent without leave."
" The Court having found the prisoner--Guilty of the first
and second Charges; and first pan of the additional Charge,
and to the extent as set forth regarding the second and last part
of the said additional Charge exhibited against him, being in
breach of the Article% of Viral., does therefore sentence him,
the prisoner, Lieutenant George Francis Dawson, of the Royal
Artillery—To be cashiered and rendered incapable of ever
serving his Majesty in any military capacity whatsoever."
•" The Court, referring to the proceedings on record in regard
to the prisoner's defence, feels itself called upon to animadvert,
in strong terms, on- the extreme pertinacity of his conduct on
this particular head ; and to express its surprise and displeasure
at the decision he thought proper to make of withdrawing his
defence altogether, after repeated warnings."
" • It could not but be the wish of the Court, in this, as in
every other case, to ace the prisoner avail himself (within those
bounds whicirthe nature of his case warranted) of every pou-
*Me means for justification, from the charges on which he was
arraigned."
" -He had been allowed. by the Court (according to usual
custom) a clerk ; and in addition the constant assistance of a
friend, Captain Richard Harrison Pearson, of the Royal Navy.
aided by-a professional gentleman, for the purpose of taking
notes."-

" The whole case had received the mast patient investigation,
as the several cross-examinations chew, and the prisoner was
allowed (at his own request) from Saturday to the following
.Thursday to prepare his defence."
" It was under these circumstances that he proceeded, and
to a very considerable length, to read to the Court the defence
referred to; in which he was not interrupted until he had so far
travelled out of the charges altogether (by frequently reading
largely from the Homilies of the Church of. England and the
Holy Scriptures), that the Court felt itself compelled to take the
measures which appear on record; measures which afford the
prisoner repeated opportunities of correcting his misconceptions
in this particular, and of returning► to that proper and allowed
line of statement and defence which alone the Court could, in
the discharge of its duties, permit the prisoner to pursue."
" The consequence was on the part of the prisoner (after re-
peated admonitions from the Court) a deliberate withdrawing of
his defence,"

-" A nd, enally, the Court cannot close its proceedings without
lamenting that adifrerent-lineof conduct had not been pursued
by both prosecutors; as, in all probability, afirm and energetic
decision on their part,.in the first instance, would have led to
other remltlts."

In consequence of ft communication from the Judge Adm.
cate-General, dated the 31st of May last, to the Deputy Judge
Advocate, Captain ilayley, of the 30th regiment, which is in.
scrted in the .proceedings, the Court was re-convened by a ge-
neral order, dated the 10th July, 1024, and upon a revision of
the proceedings, came to the following decision, viz.:—
" Malta, 19th J01y,1624.
" The Court having heard the defence, And reconsidered its
proceedings and former sentence on this trial, is of opinion as
tbllows,"viz.:_...

F "
guilty to e First Cte.'harg,re, that be, Lieutenant G.
. Dawson, 13 th
of the san
" With respect to the Second Chtu-ge, that he is guilty of the
same."

" With respect to the additional Charge, that ho is guilty of
the first part of the Charge, viz.:--
" Neglect of duty and disobedience of orders, in not giving
directions to the detachment under his command, for firing a
salute at Fort St. Angelo, on the 9th August last, at noon.
" With. respect to the second and last part of the said Charge,

"'in being absent from Cavalier St. Angelo (in the aforesaid
Fort) without leave, when such salute was fired by the said tie.
tachment;"—" the Court finds him guilty only to the extent
of
practice
it appearing to the Court not to have been the
the Royal Artillery for Officers to attend these
p aibnsent,
salutes, and therefore does acquit him of being absent without
leave."
,r. The Court, havinl found the prisoner guilty of the first
toa the
ndsecoexnteducthaaargleest,foanrthlirresgtaprdarintg the second and last part ofof the additional charge, and
the said additional charge exhibited against him, being in
breach of the Articles of War, does therefore, upon a moat

mature and deliberate re-consideration of the whole of the cir-
cumstances attending this Officer's case, sentence him, the
prisoner, Lieut. George Francis Dawson, of the Royal Artillery,
to be dismissed his blajesty's service."

At another General Court Martial, held at La Valletta, on
the 24th of March, 1824, and on subsequent days, and re-
assembled for revision on the 21st July, 1824, Captain Thotna3
Atchison, of the Royal Artillery, was arraigned upon the un-
dermentioned charge, viz.:—
" For disobedience of orders, insubordipate and unofficer-
like conduct, in not carryibg into executibp the orders that
were conveyed to him, ty letter, from 'Acting A4jutant Somer-
ville, on or about the 9th of August last, desiringthat he would
give directions for firing salutes at Fort St. Angelo, on the tith
and 10th of that month."

" And for writing a letter, dated the 9th of August, ad-
dressed to Major Addams, his Commanding Officer, hesitat-
ing and remonstrating against carrying the said orders into
effect."

" The above conduct being highly subversive of military
discipline, and holding forth a most dangerous example to the
British army:" . _

Upon which Charge the Court came to the following de-
cision :

" The Court having most maturely and deliberately weighed
and considered the evidence adduced in support of the prosecu-
tion against the prisoner, Captain Thomas Atchison, of the
Royal Artillery, as well as what he has offered in his defence,
is of opinion, that he is Guilty of the charge preferred against
him, being in breach of the Articles of War, does therefore
sentence him, the prisoner, Captain Thomas Atchison, of the
Royal Artillery, to be dismissed his Majesty's service."
" The Court, moreover, feels itself called upon to animad-
vert in a particular manner on the conduct of Brevet Major
Addams, of the Royal Artillery, throughout; as, in all proba-
bility, the spirit of resistance, as set forth in evidence, might
have been checked, and put down in its origin ; but for the in-
decision on the part of that Officer, as then commanding the
Royal Artillery stationed at Malta."
In consequence of a communication from the Judge-Advo-
cate-General, dated 31st May last, to the Deputy-Judge-Advo-
cate, Captain Bayley, of, the 36th Regiment, which is inserted
in the proceedings, the Court was reconvened by a general
order, dated 16th July 1824, and upon a revision of the pro-
ceedings, came to the following decision, viz.:—
" Malta, July 21, 1824.

" The Court having heard the defence, and reconsidered its
proceedings, the former sentence on this trial, is of opinion as
follows, viz. :
... . __ . .. _ .

" That he, the prisoner, Captain Thomas Atchison, of the
Royal Artillery, is Guilty of the charge preferred against him,
riz. :

" Disobedience of orders, insubordinate and unoflicer.like
conduct, in not carrying into execution the orders that were
conveyed to him, by letter, from Acting Adjutant Somerville,
on or about the ilth August last, desiring that he would give
directions for firing salutes at Fort St. Angelo, on the 9th and
10th of that month."

" And for writing a letter, dated the 9th August, addressed
to Major Addams, his commanding Officer, hesitating and
remonstrating against carrying the said orders into effect."
" The above conduct being highly subversive of military
discipline, and holding forth a most dangerous example to the
British Army."
" Being in breach of the Articles of War, does therefore, on
a most ettentive reconsideration of the whole of this officer's
case, sentence him, the prisoner, Captain Thomas Atchison, of
the Royal Artillery, to be dismissed his Majesty's service."
In approving and confirming the finding and sentence of the
Court, in both these cases, his Majesty was pleased to observe,
that an occurrence of a nature so extraordinary, as that of the
direct disobedience of orders committed to Capt. Atchison, and
Lieut. Dawson, of the Royal Artillery, should not be promul-
gated to the army, without the expression of his 'Majesty's de-
cided reprobation of the mistaken principles that have led these
officers to sacrifice the feelings of subordination, which as soldiers
tdthhuellyt oloruffirgehcleitgrisio:l4l
sits vle,rp: cherished,
tiolelrse ddw::aorl de
:(111;11,edtwtro which the discipline of the
army depends ; and hi. Majesty was further pleased to observe,
of the army would sustain an injury w h
icio) br
orders,
it; riugsr,hgttehdbe
eby disciplineindivi
danger-
ous to the welfare of the State ; and that it is the duty of all
those placed in authority, to oppose a decided check to any de-
parture from that principle of obedience which forms the first
duty of a soldier.
In making this latter observation, his 'Majesty was pleased to
revert to that part of the sentence of the Court which comments
upon the conduct of the prosecutors, Lleut.-Col. Raitt, the De-
puty-Adjutant-General, and Major Addams, commanding the
Royal Artillery, at hlaltu, as being wanting in that energetic and
firm decision, which, it' properly exercised in the first tnatance,
proceedings;ansCiliohuisldMislirlryi
at Reti eren !chi e'e avdyof
Command every re en
hist
expressedni t hav eh
loshri,eigart
regret
thatthe presento tneers,
w situated,
of
getipviiinnge.a prompt check to any violation of obedience and ths-
'rhe Commander-in:Chief directs, that the foregoing charges
preferred against Captain 'l'. Atchison, and Lieutenant G. Y.
Dawson, of the Royal Artillery, together with the finding and
sohfaitlhbee Courtsentered hinlatrhtteal,geannerdalhiasrdMera.jbaaestyk',2
and
dearseuarde
th in his Majesty's service.
Royal Ui~hness
The Commander-in-Chief,
HENRY TORRENS, Adj.-Gen.

The Surrey Regiment are about to change their uniform to
the more modern one of the Light Dragoons • it is to consist of
blue jackets, with light blue turn-backs andsilver lace ; over-
alls same colour as the facings, with silver seam down the sides;
dragoon child) and plumes.
We understand that a Garrison Court of Inquiry is about to
assemble immediately in Dublin, for the purpose of inquiring,
whether there be sufficient grounds for a Court-Martial on
the Lieutenant-Colonel of a distinguished Regiment of Dra.
goons, who, it is alleged, has signed false returns for the mili-
tary allowance of coals, &.c. to an officer's guard at Newbridge
Barrack, when in fact no such guard was mounted. The
charge, if substantiated, subjects the offender to dismissal from
his Majesty's service.—( Dublin Correspondent, Oct. 23.)