The Sun.
London, England, 1824-12-27 00:00:00

INDIA.

TRIAL of a BRITISH OFFICER for the MURDER of a
NATIVE INDIAN.
BOMBAY.—SUPRUIE COURT, JULY 30, 1824.
The Court having met attlie usual hour, pro-
ceeded with the trial of Lieutenant George Richard Stovers
Fenwick, of the 2d Battalion ast Itegiment Bombay Native In-
fantry, charged with the rimeder of a Bheil Chief, at a -(lace
calleeLooner ‘Varrah on the 23d January, 1823, by causing
him to be hanged by the neck until he died.
The cireunistances.which appeared in evidence on this trial
are to the following effect :
Lieutenant T. R. Billamore, beingtalled and sworn, stated,
that he is Adjutant of the- id battalion of the Ist Regiment N.
I. now at Rajcote : that he Is well acquainted with the hand-
writing of Lieut. Fenwick; and that the letter* now shown
him is the hand writing of Lieutenant F. and is addressed to
the deponent ; that he forwarded it to Captain Morin, the
commanding officer of the Battalion, and that in consequence
of the receipt of' the sold letter, he went, by order of Captain
Morin, and. put Lieutenant F. under arrest.
Sheik Abdulla, having been sworn, deposed that he is a Su-
bailer in the 2d Battalion of the Ist. Regiment N. I. and was
employed on a detachment under Lieutenant Fenwick, the
prisoner at the bar; that the detachment consisted of eighty
Sepoys„ .one Subadar, (deponent), one Jentadar, five Havil-
dars, and five Nuiques, with several troops of the (Juice-
war's cavalry—that about fourteen months ago, whilst sta-
tioned at Lousier Warruh, the above detachment, with twelve
of the cavalry, was ordered out by Lieutenant Fenwick to
.fight the Blieels (or thieves); in the neighbourhood : that about
eleven o'clock at night, they got ready, and marched about
six coss towards a place called Sumana ; about four o'clock,
when within a costs of the said place, they 'halted ; at clay.
break they, by order of Lieut. Fenwick, attacked the village
of Sumana. The fight continued till it was clear day-light,
and all the Bheels found in the village were killed and their
houses set on fire. After the fight, 'Lieut. F. told deponent
that he had made two Dheels prisoners, and that one had
wounded a sepoy in the hand, and was a very savage fellow.—
' The detachment remained at Samaria till about ten o'clock,
and-then marched for their lines at Limner Warrah. When
nearly half-way back, Lieut. F. with the cavalry proceeded
on bet'ore them, and left the detachment under command of
the deponent to follow with the two 13heel prisoners. On the
road they met the Rajals of Looner Warrah, who said to the
deponent that many lenglish Officers had come there, but none
had done such good service as Lieut. F. and pointing-out one
of the Blieels, said that was a Inerra latranizadu, that he had
about 400 Bheels at Isis command, and that if he, the Rajah,
had caught him, he would have killed him immediately...-
About two o'clock they readied their lines at Lamer Farrah'
and after dismissing the detachment, and placing the prison.
err In the quarter guard, the deponent reported the same to
Licut.Y. at the same time telling him -what the RajaliThad
said; _Lieut. F. replied, " it is of no consequence, go to your
dinner." About seven in the evening, having been sent for
by Lieut. F. he went to him in company with his orderly, and
found him near a mowrah tree, with souse dooley bearers, and
one of the prisoners who had been taken in the morning. De.
poncnt made a salam to Lieut. Fenwick, who said, " Suba-
day, ii am going to make a little tumusha (sight.)—The
deponent asked. what tumasha2 Lieut. .P. replied, " I and
going to hang the Bheel." The.deponent, speaking in a low
tone to Lieut. F'. said, " Sir, according to the rules of the
English Government, when theygive orders from Europe, then
the man should be hangada—this is not proper." Lieut. F.
said, " never mind." At this time sonic of the dooley bearers
were on the tree, and a dooley having been brought, the psi.
Honer was placed on it, and the rope was put round his neck,
but not properly, and -the prisoner was alarmed, sand began ito
shake. Lieut. F. was angry, and desired the deponent to see
to it. Deponent did so, and put the knot under the liheel's
ear, the other end having been before fastened to a branch of
the tree. Lieut. F. then ordered the dooley to be taken away,
and the Ilheel wits left hanging, and•the deponent immediately
went to hie quarters. The MUM of the .man who wits thus
hanged was Etchit Yuggee' he was the Patellof the village of
&merits, and commanded about 400 Bheels, and was x Onto.
rious thief' and robber.
Lit ut.4 'olonel Ballentyne having been called, stated, that
he is Political Agent to the Bombay Government in the Al'
Caunta. Has been at Lower Warrah—the country round be.
longs to the Rajah of Looner Warrah, who pays tribute to die
Guicowar, and also Scindia. The Rajah is a sovereign prince,
with power of life and death In his own territories. The force
under Lieut. Fenwick was part of the (.iuicowar's subsidiary
force, and under the orders of the Resident they were Com-
pany's troops. There was an alliance between the Guicowar
and the Bombay Government—a written treaty—he• luid
seen it.
Jugga (logul proved, that, by Lieut. Fenwick's orders, lie
cut down the body of the Bheel, and threw it into the nitir,
about an hour after it was hanged.
The Clime JusTICE, in summing up, recapitulated the
leading points in the evidence, and directed the Jury particu-
larly to the difference between the taking away the life of, an
enemy in the heat of battle, and the act of destroying it in
cool blood ; that in this case twelve hours had elapsed from the
capture of the Miceli to the time that Lieut. Fenwick gave or-
ders 10 hang one of the prisoners; that this must be admitted
to be a sufficient time for any man to become cool; and if the
Jury were satisfied with die truth of the evidence that had
been adduced, there could be no doubt that Lieut. Fenwick
was guilty of the crime of murder.
The Jury 'retired, and utter an hour's consultation returned
a verdict of Guilty, accompanied by a strong recommendation
to mercy, on account of the inexperience of the prisoner, and
the peculiarity of the circumstances under which he was
placed.
" TO LIEUT. AND ADJUTANT T. BILLAMORE, 2D DATT.
Isr, oft OREL NEUT. N. I.
" Rajocote, 23d March, 1824.
"bin--It has now become my hard lot to come forward and
display to the world what I can no longer wish to conceal, if I
ever did, and in the hope that a speedy investigation will soon
put an end to my mental distress. However, before discharg-
ing what I allude to, I must beg to express my regret at hav-
ing written a letter, dated the 29th of January, 1824, disputing
or pretending to dispute the justice of my brother Officers.—
The letter in question was written when I was extremely ir-
ritated ;—and I hope will be forgiven partially, if not wholly.
"To come to the polnt :—when I commanded a detach-
ment at Loonar Warrah, under circumstances I cannot dis-
close at present, 1 caused to be hung up a lilted Chief, nam-
ed Etcha Puggee, on the 25th January, 1823. Conscious as
I am, that every thing to my disadvantage will he laid hold
of eagetly in certain quarters, I shall at least have the bene-
fit of having voluntarily come forward to disclose the above;
anti knowing, as 1 hope too, that a Jury of my country will
honourably acquit me, if I am not too confident in my cowl-
' se!, I shall not say any thing regarding the treatment I have
received here—it is quite enough to drive me to tiny disclosing.
If depriving me of 28 rupees per mensem is any object, I envy
not their feelings. I request you will lay this letter before the
Commanding Officer.
" I have the honour to be, Sir, your most obedient humble
Aervant,
(Signed) " GEORGE R. FENTVICK, Lieut. 2d,—lst."

ASIATIC STEAM ENGINES.

TO THE EMTOI-1.-0-Ir-iTIE MADRAS GOVERNMENT

GAZETTE.
SLIt,-0115P11,111,2 in your paper of Thursday
last, by an Old Inhabitant of Madras, mention made of
Steam Engines being set up at this Presidency thirty years ago
by the late Mr. Benjamin
Roebuck, worked at his gardens;
at his Indigo works at the red hills, and b the late Mr. E.
Roebuck at Cotinga in emptying the Docks he established
there ; and that they were constructed by the public spirited
gentleman above named and his brother William in Madras,
I beg leave to add, should the least suspicion exist of this not.
that I hare seen two of those engines at work,
abieldingwatisiet'l present at casting the metallic cylinders of one of them,
linden iron fly wheel of fifteen or eighteen feet in diameter,
which of the two I do not recollect, but I am inclined to think it
was of the latter dimensions. In every part the fly was very
;perfect, and turned out, in as workmanlike a manner as could
hare been done at Carron foundery. This fly was ofrered to
the -steam engine at Mr. Roebuck's, Indigo works at
the red hills. I saw it in operation, and the whole engine did,
its duty, with an ease and sweetness, not exceeded by the
engine of a hundred horse power at Chelsea, which f have
since often seen, nor by any others which have fallen under my
notice in various parts of' England. The casting of the fly of
iron, it is believed, was the first instance of so large a mass of
this metal being/aced in this country. It was cast from an old
iron gun of large calibre, but of' exactly what denomination I
do not remember. It was placed upon the floor of the furnace,
the covering built over the gun, and melted with baked wood
.and coaked sea coal. It is certain then, that whatever merit may
be due to the first introduction of steam engines, into India,
and casting of iron in large masses, it must attach to the me-
mory of perhaps one of the most public spirited gentleman,
this country ever witnessed—the. late Mr. Benjamin Roe-
buck.

tending about two leagues into the land in a North Westerly
direction, and in breadth about one league. There are in it se-
veral small islands, of which the most conspicuous is Chatham
Island, about two miles long ; it contains also several creeks
and coves; high water at 44 hours on full and change of the
moon. The entrance is about Mile wide, with 18 fathoms in
mid-channel, formed between an islet at the North point and
a reef projecting from the South point; the depths within de-
crease from 12 regularly to 7 and 6 fathoms, and the least eater
in the harbour is 5 fathoms.t To the northward of this harbour,
near the shore, there is a groupe of islands surrounded by a reef:
and about 4or ft miles to the southward, lie-Ragged Islands,
being 4 islets contiguous to the shore, with-regular sound-
ings 13 and 15 fathoms near then and 25 to 29 halloo:8V
3 miles distance. Ships comiestip,)l4.l,,,,,„rd wit], fa.lin,
wind, anti intending to stop at Port Cornwallis, ouglit to
at 4 miles distance from West Island and Landfall Island,
and at least 2 miles from the north point of the latter ; having
steered from hence, k4'ast gar 10 miles, they may haul to ,the
Southward and past outside of Ranger's, Jackson's, and
Union's Ledger. In thick weather, during the S.W. mon-
soon, it will be -prudent, after making Landfall Island, and
passing to the northward of it at a moderate distance, to steer
east until out of soundings; or to keep in deep water on
the outer verge of the bank, to round the hedges with
safety, for Union's Ledge is about three leagues from the
shore, and not far within the edge of the bank of soundings.
About three len'uesn to the southward of Port Cornwallis, is
situated Saddle Mountain, the highest on these islands, which
is discernible at 20 leagues distance ; it appears in the form of
a Saddle when viewed either from the East or Nirestward, and
its North peak, is in lat. 13. 10. N. About 5 leagues to the
southward of the Saddle Mountain, lies Sound Island, fronting
the East entrance of Andaman Strait called Stoves Sound,
having 70 and 80 fathoms very near it, anti no soundings about
a league off shore; and the win de of the East coast, from
Saddle Mountain to let. 12. 36 N., is steep and mountainous."
• H orshurgh.
•f• This excellent harbour being land-locked on every side,
and surrounded by lofty moutains clothed with impenetrable
forests, is very secure from all winds, and the scenery of nature
is here uncommonly grand. A colony from Bengal first set-
tled at Port Chatham near the South end of the island in 1791,
which was removed (by advice of Admiral Cornwallis) in 1793
to Port Cornwallis ; but the impenetrable forests being unfit-
•-vourable to cultivation, with incessant rain in the S. W. mon-
soon, rendering the place unhealthy, the Colony was withdrawn
after a few years residence on the island. The inhabitants of
these islands are Negroes of small stature, very black, but
strong and well shaped ; they subsist chiefly on what fish they
kill with darts, or shell fish procured among the rocks; but
In tempestous weather these are not always obtained ; and
hunger and cold sometimes deprive these miserable savages of
existence. .

THE ARM Y.

[From the LONDON GAZETTE of Satrirday.l
Irran.o.ifiee, Dec. 23, 18 4.

fith Regiment of Drag('Ton Guards--bieut. James William
larvey, from half-pay 60th Foot, to be Lieutenant, vice Henry
Litmus, who exchanges, receiving the difference.
4th RegiMent of Light Dragoons—John Alexander Hender-
son, Gent. to be Cornet, by purchase, vice Agnew.
4th Regiment of Foot—Lieut. Peter Bowlby to be Captain,
without purchase, vice Fletcher, deceased • Ensign itichard
Nixon Shea to be Lieutenant vice Down:),; Alured 'l'asker
Faunce, Gent. to be Ensign, vice Shea.
20th Ditto—Lieut. Thomas Leiria Butler, from half-pay
9th Foot, to be Lieutenant, vice Ovens, appointed to the 55tit
Foot.

21st Ditto—Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel Henry Thomas, from
the 27th Foot, to be Major, by purchase, vice Champion, de-
ceased.

27th Ditto—Lieut. Thomas Pakenham Vandeleur to be
Captain., by purchase, vice Thomas, promoted in the 21st Foot;
Ensign Montague Chohnondeley Johnstone to be Lieutenant,
by pludhatte, vice Vandeleur.
57th Ditto.k.bieut. John Ovens, from the 20th Foot, to be
Lieutenant, yice Peter John Douglas, who retires upon half.
pay 9th Fobt.
81st Ditto—Ensign Robert Hamilton to be Lieutenant, with-
out purchase, vice Alarsh, deceased ; Ensign Wm. Hope, from
the 45th Foot, to be Ensign, vice Hamilton.
92d Ditto—Richard Henry John Beaumont APCumming,
Gent. to be Ensign, by purchase, vice Wilton, removed from
the service.
Itifie Brigade—Second Lieutenant George Falconer to be
appointed to the
AdjutatiOlee Webb, who resigns the Adjutancy only.
• tilt Westilndia Regiment—Capt. John Anderson., from half-
yty.`ft Iket, to he Captain, vice Findlay,
eye. rteati Colonial Corps.
stant4airgeon to the Forees—Peter llPLachlan to be Sur.
gem," vice O'Beirne, deceased.
Royal African Colonial Corps—Capt. Alexander Findlay,
fromo w 2whdVes retirest
Indiauponßedimt..ptieny 28th Foot.t, to be Captain, vice Charles
p
AloserrAr. STAFF.....T. be Assistant-Surgeons to the
Forces—Assistant-Surgeon Francis M`Donogli, N.D. from
half-pay 44th Foot, vice Hosk
ltal-.Assistunt Pargeter, resigns.
ed ; Hospital-Assistant John 'lnnis, M.D. vic MD‘Lachlan,
promoted,
To be Hospital. Assistant to the Forces—Xenry Isaac Wil.
liamson, Gent. vice Kinnis.
aro u ANDA. —The appointment of Assistant-Surgeon
Henry Chiliad, front half-pay 08th Foot, to be Assistant Sur.
geon to the Forces, on the 23d October 1823, and his subse-
quent exchange to half.pay Canadian Fencibles, has not taken
place.
The date of Lieutenant Kelly's appointment, in the 54th
Foot, is 13th December 1822, and not 30th December 1824, as
stated in the Gazette of the 10th instant.
Commission signed by the Lord Lieutenant of the County of
_ Wilts.

The Hon. Duncombe Pleidalliouverie to be Deputy Lieu-
tenant ; Ernie Warriner, Esq. to be ditto, Walter Long, Esq.
to be ditto; John Whittaker, Esq. to be ditto; Peter Awdry,
Esq. to he ditto ; 'Walter Coleman, Esq. to be ditto.
Commissions signed by the Lord Lieutenant of the County of
Westmorland.
TO be Deputy Lieutenants—William fiebson Esq. Thomas
Lowis, Esq. John Perkins, Esq. John Poole, Clerk; Thomas
llellas, Clerk ; Joseph Milner, Clerk.
Commissions signed by the Lord Lieutenant of the County of
Northampton.
Northamptonshire Militia—ll. Terry, Gent. to be Surgeon.
Northamptonshire Yeomanry Cavalry—Langham Christie,
Gent. to be Cornet.

On Thursday the Depot of the 47th and sfith Regiments
(seven officers and 150 mew) landed from the Isle of Wight,
and went into Haslar Barracks, to join the Provisional Datta.
lion. _ _ . .

Entartiunott, DSc. 24.—0 n Virednesday, the last division
of the 99th regiment, one of the corps raised in the beginning
of the present year, marched into the Carle from Glasgow,—
Considering the inclement weather they had been exposed to
during the march, the. men looked remarkably well. The whole
corps, under the command of Col. Balvaird, is now in the
Castle, waiting the arrival of the transports appointed to convey
them to Portsmouth, from whence they will shortly embark for
the Mauritius.

;MMUS ACCIDENT AT DIIIIRT.LANE THEATRE.
—On Wednesday evening, just at the conclusion of Guy Man-
nering, the rope that suspended the iron balance (of three hun-
dred wci hi) to the drop curtain gave way, and tile ponderous
mass fell sixty feet, beartn_g all before it through the floors to
the bottom of the stage. It grazed the side of one person, and
a large piece of timber fell on Miss PovEYI-8 head, and wound-
ed her severely; She was of course incapable of performing in
the . new Farce of My Unck Gabriel, and Miss CAtill, at a
moment's notice, read the part. It is impossible to describe
prevailed among the different Per-
the degree of anxiety which
formers, relative to the extent of the accident which befel poor
Miss PovEY, for she is universally beloved by all who know
her, .not more for her vocal talents than for her excellent pri-
vate cbaraetert her gentleness of manners, and her amiable
disposition. A moment later, and Miss STEPHENS, with se-
veral others, who were running into the Cireen-room, might
have met with most dreadful injury, if not death. lire are
happy to hear that 31iss POVEY is better, although still suffer-
ing considerably.