The Sun.
London, England, 1846-05-04 00:00:00

GOVERNOR.

(From the United Service Magazine.)
Guernsey, April 14th, 1846.
Mr. Editor,—The letter of ex-Captain Guerin, which ap-
peared in your number of this month, contains a foul
calumny on a very deserving soldier and his wife.
The following statement on the subject, very moderately
drawn up as regarding Mr. Guerin's conduct, I request the
publication of, in your May number, as an act of justice due
to Private Gilgas, who is a particularly well-behaved man.
WILLIAM _NAPIER, Lieutenant-Governor.
TO 'us EXCELLENCY MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM NAPIER, C. 8.,
&C., &C., LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR, GUERNSEY.

GY, April 184
Sir,—ln the last number of the uernse
United Service Journ6.
al,
there appears a letter, dated, " Guernsey, March 14th, 1846,"
bearing the signature " John C. Guerin." As the latter part
of that letter professes to give a relation of the circumstances
of the case of Private Gilgas (27th Depot), and then assumes
conclusions upon it, both at variance with fact, I trust your
Excellency will permit me to lay before you the following
statement in refutation and correction.
As your Excellency is aware, it is true that an action was
brought in November last against a man of the militia by
name George Vigors, for assaulting Gilgas, snapping his fire-
lock in his face on the high road, and that in respect of
Vigors an alibi was proved.
But so far from the Court believing that the offence had
not been committed, it directed search and inquiry to be made
for the offender, as five or six men were stated to have left
Captain Guerin's company before it was dismissed. Some
evidences deposed to more men. When Colenel Harvey as-
sembled the company afterwards to make inquiry, I have
heard ten men stepped out, to say they had quitted it before
it was dismissed, and I have also understood one of those
men in appearance was so like Vigors (the man accused by
Gilgas) as to be easily undistinguishable from him by a person
not previously acquainted with either, yet Captain Guerin
swore confidently that not more than five men had left.
To clear the character of the said five, admitted to have
left, the Lieutenant-Colonel of the regiment, who is a brother
of Captain Guerin, thought it necessary to bring a counter
action against Gilgas for wilful and corrupt perjury.
Upon the preliminary examination requisite for the action
to lie, and after a great number of evidences had been exa-
mined (causing the " repeated adjournments" the writer in
the United Service Journal mentions), the charge against
Gilgas was dismissed ; the bailiff of the Court having re-
marked that the evidence given by Gilgas and Fry at the
trial of Vigors had been throughout unequivocal and staight-
forward.

Yet in the face of this dismissal of the charge, the writer
in the United Service Journal speciously asserts the evidence
was not sufficient, legally, to convict Gilgas.
Of course it was not, or if there had been a likelihood of
it, Gilgas would have been sent to take his trial, to be con-
victed or acquitted legally.
After this dismissal of the charge the writer in the United
Service Journal plausibly goes on to state " that Gilgas con-
sidered this a narrow escape, from the fact that neither he
nor his supporters have since dared to sue Lieutenant-Colonel
Guerin for damages, well knowing in a public action for
damages it would have been impossible to prevent the most
conclusive proof of Gilgas' perjury from being brought for-
ward."

This is merely an individual's rash assertion in face of the
Court's decision after an examination qf every witness that
could be brought to bear upon it, including, I presume, " the
four impartial witnesses" the writer in the United Service
Journal states he has discovered, " who were prepared to
swear no assault whatever was committed as pretended by
Gilgas, that the whole statement was a pure invention."
That writer's sequitur of not daring to sue in fear of his
alleged consequences, is erroneous.
The simple fact was, that as the charge for wilful and cor-
rupt perjury was thus dismissed in prime vice, it was consi-
dered as entirely satisfactory to the character of Gilgas, that
he nad not made a charge of " pure invention," and it was
thought then preferable and better, to endeavour to allow
the bad feeling which with regret was observed to be in
existence between a portion of two classes of her Majesty's
subjects in this island, to subside, by taking no further steps
in the matter, than by re-cross prosecutions to keep fanning
its flame.

In this spirit and no other was the matter recommended
to be dropped, and though regretting the remooting of the
subject, yet from the publication of that letter, I deem it to
be an act of justice to Private Gilgas, as well as to others,
thus as briefly as possible to correct and refute it to your Ex-
cellency.—l have the honour, &c.

S. E. GOODMAN,
Major, 27th Regiment (commanding Depot).

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.
CHESTER RACES.
CHESTER, SATURDAY NIGIIT.—The following horses are
either already in the neighbourhood, at Delmere Forest, or
are ascertained to be en route :
Alvanley, Stream, c by Plicenix, L'Hirondelle; c by
H. Platoff, Miss Thomasina; c by Lanercost, Miss
Clifton ; Sweetmeat, Burlesque, Ironmaster, Salopian,
Redstreak, Intrepid, Felix, Roper's Daughter, Blind
Hookey, Khorassan, Little Hampton, Saddleworth, The
Baron, Billy Purvis, Miles' Boy, Robin Burns, Nerissa,
Plaudit, Dolo, Pedometer, Magnet, Finvaragh, Hope, Kis
met,: Tobacconist, Highffeld, Drillield, Dipthong, Punch,
Cataract, Vitula, Ruff, Clumsy, Best Bower, Marquis of
Conyngham, Glentilt, Princess Alice, Polish, Pride of Kil-
dare, Warp, T' Auld Squire, Pagan, Jinglepot, Hooton,
Sharston, Dr. Husband, The Prairie Bird, Duke of Rich-
mond, Poussin, Vol-au-Vent, The Correct Card, Miss Burns,
St. Lawrence.
Dawson's and Osborne's lots will be here on Monday.
ENTRIES FOR THE PLATES, &c.
FIRST DAY.
The Grosvenor Stakes of 15 sovs. each, 10 ft, with 30 added.
Grosvenor Course.
Pagan, aged ; Pride of Kildare, 5 yrs ; Lady Wildair, 4
yrs ; Burlesque, 3 yrs ; c by Phoenix, L'Hirondelle, 3 yrs ;
Lightning, 5 yrs.
Sweepstakes of 5 sovs. each, with 50 added. Heats, a mile
and a half.
The Druid, 3 yrs ; Hightield, 3 yrs ; c by 11. Platoff, Miss
Thomasina, 3 yrs ; 3 yrs ; Chartist, 3 yrs.
SECOND DAY.
Queen's Plate. Thrice reund.
Parthian, 6 yrs ; Tractarian, 3 yrs ; The Druid, 3 yrs ;
Dismed, 3; yrs; Lightning, 5 yrs; Jinglepot, 4 yrs; Cata-
ract, 6 yrs ; Highfield, 3 yrs ; Poussin, 6 yrs; Duke of Rich-
mond, 3 yrs ; c by Phoenix, L'Hirondelle, 3 yrs ; Clumsy, 4
yrs; Khorasan, 6 yrs.