The Sun.
London, England, 1848-05-20 00:00:00

COURT-MARTIAL.

CHATHAM, MAY 18.—This morning Colonel Thomas
Weare, K. 11., President, with fourteen other officers,
forming a general court-martial, assembled at this garri-
son for the trial of Private Henry Brycent, No. 565, of
the 12th Royal Regiment of Lancers, on two charges.
Ist. For having at Hampton Court, on the 2d May,
1848, struck and made use of insubordinate language
towards Troop Sergeant Major Robert Knight, 12th
Royal Lancers, his superior officer, then and there being
in the execution of his duty. 2d. For having, at the
same time and place, seized a pistol and threatened to
kill or injure the said Troop Sergeant Major Robert
Knight, his superior officer; to which charges the pri-
soner pleaded not guilty. Captain J. S. Wood, the
major of brigade of this garrison, officiated as deputy
j udge- advocate.
Six witnesses were examined at some length ; their
evidence went to show that about half-past nine, P.M., of
the 2d of May, Sergeant-Major Knight entered the bar-
rack-room at Hampton-court barracks, in which was the
prisoner, and finding a female there, the sergeant-
major ordered her out, when the prisoner, with an inso-
lent tone, directed Sergeant-major Knight to leave the
room and take the candle away. The sergeant-major
refusing to do so, the prisoner came up to him and struck
him a blow in the mouth, and knocked the candle out of
his hand; with that the sergeant-major went out of the
room and shut the barrack-room door, and placed the
orderly sergeant there to prevent the prisoner coming
out; and the sergeant•major went for the sergeant of
the guard to take the prisoner to the guard-room. Dur-
ing the absence of the sergeant-major the prisoner seized
a pistol from the pistol rack, and declared he would
shoot the sergeant-major, for he might as well do it now
as at any other time, as he knew his doom would be
transportation to Van Diemen's Land. The pistol was
taken from him by the sergeant of the guard, which upon
examination was found not to be loaded.

The prisoner, in his defence, denied hitting the ser-
geant-major, or insulting him; that he simply took the
pistol from the rack in order to take the ramrod out to
open the door.
Cornet and Acting-Adjutant A. Wellesley Williams,
of the 12th Lancers, produced extracts from the Regi-
mental Court. martial Book, signed by Colonel E. Pole,
which showed that the prisoner was tried on the 15th
April by court-martial at Glasgow, and sentenced to
forty days' hard labour, and on the 2d of August the
prisoner was again tried by a district court-martial at
Leeds, for being drank when on duty, convicted and
sentenced to 56 days' hard labour. The prisoner has
been in the regiment nine years and nine months. His
general character formerly was bad. Within the last
three years and a half it has been good. His age is 30
years and 7 months.

- The Court found the prisoner guilty, but the sentence
must be confirmed by the Commander-in-Chief before it
can be publicly known. The prisoner was removed to
the garrison guard-house to await the issue of his trial.

CHATHAM, MAY 19.—Wm. Weller, a labourer
in this dockyard, hung himself yesterday afternoon in a
timber shed in the yard. The deceased had been missing
the greater part of the afternoon, and a search was made
for him without success. A few hours afterwards two
of his workmates had occasion to enter a shed, when
they discovered him hanging to a beam. They instantly
cut him down, but life had been extinct for some hours.
He had been observed to be very melancholy for some
days past. The deceased has left a wife and one child ;
he resided at Rochester. An inquest has been held on
the body by J. Hinde, Esq., when a verdict was returned
that the deceased destroyed himself whilst labouring
under temporary insanity.
REFEAL Or THE NAVIGATION LAWS.—MOVE-
HECHT ♦T LIVERPOOL.—LIVERPOOL, FRIDAY AFTER-
wooN.—Late yesterday a memorial to the Government,
in reference to the proposed repeal of the Navigation-
laws, was placed upon the tables of the Exchange. Up
to this afternoon the signatures amount to nearly 400,
including many of the leading merchants of the town.
The adverse feeling to the Government measure amongst
the merchants here appears to be all but unanimous ; ,
but as the adjustment of the Navigation-laws seems to
be a national and not a local question, care ought to be
observed in receiving the opinions of the Liverpool com-
mercial community. The Mayor is disposed to agree
with the requisitionsits, and it is understood that he will
call a public meeting on the subject to be held on Mon-
day or Tuesday next►

ADDRESS OF CONGRATULATION
TO LIEUTENANT-GENERAL SIR CHARLES
NAPIER, G.C.B.

A requisition having been presented to the mayor,
Thomas Ellis Owen, Esq., to cell a meeting of the in-
habitants, in order to prepare a congratulatory address
to the above distinguished soldier upon his return to
England, after a very glorious career in India, the
mayor appointed Saturday morning last, at the Guild-
hall, Portsmouth, for the purpose.
The Mayor having taken the chair,
WtLus.:it GRANT, Esq., proposed, and Tow(As
ROLIFII, Esq., seconded, that a congratulatory address
be presented to Sir Charles Napier on his return.
Mr. H. DEACON proposed and Mr. DUDLEY seconded,
that the following gentlemen form a committee to carry
out the object of the meeting, and prepare the address:—
Thomas Ellis Owen,
William Grant, Esq.,
Thomas Rolph, Esq., Major
Travers, and Dr. Stewart.
A vote of thanks having been passed upon the
Mayor for his conduct in the chair, h© meeetmg ea.
parated. EaEsq., the Rev. J. P. McGhie,

Tuesday morning, at eleven o'clock was the time de-
cided on by Sir Charles to receive the address, he
having landed at four o'clock that morning at the
Watch-house, near the Quebec Hotel from
the Express
steamer, having left Havre on Monday evening. He
breakfasted at the Lieutenant-Governor's, and was ac-
companied by Lady Napier. At a quarter to twelve o'clock
he entered the Guildhall, accompanied by Lord Frede-
rick Fitzclarence, and a brilliant and numerous staff. He
was received with much enthusiasm, and loud and long-
continued cheering, the very excellent band of the 17th
Regiment, playing Handers " See the Conquering Hero
comes."
The MAYOR having been previously called to the
chair the cheering having subsided, he rose and said—
Sir, I have the high honour of welcoming you to Ports-
mouth, and there cannot be a more fitting port at which
a warrior can touch on his return to England, after a
series of splendid services than this. I feel it a very
pleasing task, and I know it to be particularly pleasing
to the inhabitants generally, thus to offer their tribute of
admiration for your character as a warrior and a man. I
feel, indeed, that I am quite incompetent to do justice to
the gallant deeds of Sir Charles Napier, and shall there-
fore merely read the address unanimously agreed to at a
meeting of the inhabitants on-Saturday last. Mr. Owen
then read the following excellent address with great
feeling and effect:—
"TO SIR CHARLES NAPIER, G.C.B.
"The inhabitants are delighted to have this first op-
portunity afforded them of offering their warmest congra-
tulations to you on your arrival in this country, after a
career of military glory and civil fame which has equally
redounded to your honour as it has advanced the in-
terest and reputation of the empire. Selected by your
Sovereign for a most arduous cuty at a most eventful
time, you have fully justified the wisdom of the choice,
and by a combination of humanity, courage, justice, and
skill in the important services entrusted to your care,
sustained the character of the country, and won the ad-
miration of your countrymen.
"From the period, when associated with that glorious
soldier whose brilliant exploits at the victory of Corunna
will ever awaken in the minds of Englishmen feelings of
the deepest emotion, love, and wonder, to the splendid
achievement at Meanee, you have displayed a military
prowess, and exercised a civil polity that has added to
the renown of that army whose matchless valour is re-
corded in every page of British history.
"To our freedom from those struggles and convul-
sions which are now agitating and afflicting ether
countries, we are mainly indebted to the discipline and
patriotism of our soldiers, sustained by the loyalty and
gratitude of the people ; enabling us to contemplate
with satisfaction the commanding attitude of this king-
dom, its solid opulence, its strengthening institutions, its
increasing liberality, its accessions of knowledge, its un-
altered thoughtfulness of character, its unabated love of
freedom,—and gazing upon this beautiful fabric, with its
little blemishes and thousand excellencies, and to pro-
claim to other countries that its army, its navy, and its
people prize these blessings, and are determined with
God's help to preserve them inviolate and unimpaired.
" We fervently hope, that either in continued service,
or in honourable retirement, you may long enjx_healthi
prosperity, and happiness."
Sir CHARLES said he had the honour of rasiving the
address privately, and upon reading it thouerit would
be more respectful to write than to speak in die present
state of his feelings. He read the follo%in
REPLY TO THE ADDRESS:-
" Worshipful Sir,—lt is difficult for me, in this hur-
ried moment, at once to express the feelings of gratitude
to which your address to me, on landing, has given rise;
heightened as those feelings are by your beautiful allu-
sion to the death of the ever-glorious Moore ! Excuse,
therefore, a brevity which antes, not from indiffereace,
but from a redundancy of feeling, at the unexpected
honour which this celebrated town has vouchsafed to an
humble soldier, whose greatest merit has been a zealous
endeavour to perform his duty; and who owes his success
mainly to the courage and discipline of the Queen's and
Company's troops. To those troops, gentlemen, I attri-
bute my present happiness in the honourable and flatter-
ing reception which Portsmouth has given to me. To
those troops let it be my pride now, and at all times, to
ascribe the glory which their courage won. Wherever
the British soldier serves, whether abroad or at home, his
pride is to maintain that glorious Constitution, which in
times of danger, rallies all good subjects around the
virtuous Sovereign of England, and makes her throne a
marvel among the nations of the world."
After reading the above, he added, " These few words
are' very far from expressing all that. I feel at being so
warmly received in this glorious town. I feel particu-
larly attached to Portsmouth; it was fortified by an uncle
of my own. I feel intensely, but cannot express those
feelings, but allow me to wish you all success, prosperity,
and happiness."
Wm. GRANT, Esq., offered a few words in praise of
Sir Charles, and bore eloquent testimony to the gal •
!entry of our nary and army, and the blessings of liberty
and independence which their bravery bad been the
means of perpetuating.
Major Travers very neatly proposed three British
cheers for Lady Napier, which were very heartily ac-
corded; after which Sir Charles briefly acknowledged
the honour conferred upon Lady Napier, and left the
hall amidst the acclamations of all present, the band
again playing, " See the conquering hero comes." The
room was well filled; among the company present we
noticed Lady Fitzclarence, Lady Napier, and about forty
other ladies, Lord Frederick Fitzclarence, Major
Harvey, and a host of field and other officers, Thomas
Ellis Owen, Esq., (Mayor), G. Gillman, E,q., W. Grant,
Esq., Major Travers, Dr. Rolp
Stewart, h, the Vicar, Rev'
Houseman, Hon. Capt. Byng, Dr.
E. Casher, Esq., Sic. Sic. There was a vast assemblage
outside. Sir Charles looked is very good health, and
appeared highly gratified with the heartiness of his
reception. Major Robb,

DINNER TO ROBERT STEPHEN-

CONWAY, WEDNESDAY.—This h evening..
l o nchgersi successful
i of
flanenaginingeearnindg triumphantly SON, ESQ., m p
expected banquet to Robert Stephenson, tookplace
at the Castle Hotel in the ancient enson, Efsq.,Conway.
It
was intended as a demonstrationn of
no
teero
sind a
tribute of gratitude, for Mr Stephenson's public esteem,
sue,
exertions
master-piece erecting that.
over the river Conway.
The Hon. E. M. Lloyd Mostyn, M.P., presided on the
occasion ; and the list of the Vice -Presidents included
the names of many influential gentlemen.-
the tubular th e
The !pavilion; in which the dinner took place was
erected in the yard of the Castle Hotel, and every ar-
rangement had been made to secure comfort to all.
Six tables were laid, two transversely and four longitu-
dinally ; and at each end devices in laurel were arranged
with a very pleasing effect ; on either side the letters R.
and S. were formed in illuminated coloured lamps.
At five o'clock one hundred and twenty gentlemen sat
down to a sumptuous dinner. The cloth having been
withdrawn, " Non nobis Domine" was sung in ;a very
effective manner by a company of glee singers engaged
for the occasion from Liverpool.
The CHAIRMAN, in proposing the toast of the even-
ing, said—He "„could not adequately express his feel-
ings of admiration for the skill and talent of their guest.
Through his exertions how different was their position
now from what it was thirty years ago. Then the jour.
ney to London occupied upwards of forty hours, and
was only performed at an expense of seven guineas.
Now the train passed along at a speed which traversed
the distance in seven hours. The great Telford had
exercised his skill in the construction of the beautiful
suspension bridge which was placed side by side withthe
splendid triumph of their talented and honoured guest
Ile would not further expatiate on the subject, but.
would simply express their feelings of gra.titude, and
wish health, happiness, and Hong.
life to the
honoured
guest, and may many opportunities occur in
~ which his
unrivalled energies might be employed to ameliorate the
condition of his fellow-men.. ( The health of the Hon
Gentleman was thendrunk in .& bumper, amid the loudest
demonstration of respect and esteem.)
Glee—" Hail, smiling morn.
Mr. STIPHRNSON then rose to reply.lle ;,1 L
SR.., ,that en.
gineers were generally fully rewarded 1.
by the successful
termination of their labours. This was in itself a
liberal reward ; but when the warm
s3' itself
of the neighbourhood and of. those who had
an opportunity of watching day
by
day the
progress of a great experiment, were enlisted on
his behalf, ke then indeed felt rewarded far beyond any
merits of his own. If he failed to return or adequately
express his thanks for their kindness and good wishe-
s
he trusted that they .
would attribute it to anythin;
rather than a want of gratttude. He should trust toi
simple and sincere expression of his heartfelt thanks
and assure them, in unaffected sincerity, that the present
was one of the proudest moments of his professional
career. Six or seven years ago he conceived the idea of
a tubular iron bridge; but when he first broached the
plan he was met on all aides by glances and expressions
of distrust. Ho was not, however, daunted but, ; con-
scious that the plan of a tube made of cast-iron plates
was perfectly practicable, he proceeded to a series of
experiments to test 'and develop the scheme. In these
he was assisted by Mr. Fairourn and Mr. Hodgkinson;
and the result was seen under the walls of their ancient
and venerable castle. Twenty-five years ago they were
dragged *jog et a vice of melt or ton miles au hour;

_
now they passed at a speed greater than that of the
fleetest racer, and were able to command the lightning
to transmit their thoughts. The Hon. Gentleman again
returned thanks, and resumed his seat amidst loud ap-
plause.

A number of complimentary and local toasts were then
given, and duly responded to, after which the meeting
broke up.

_
SlYRestedayprE
WESTMINSTER REFORM SOCIETY.
LACY EVANS AND THE
of the WestmeivnesnteirnglieafotrameveSnocoiectlyocwka'sahaepledcaiatithmeeie'toinrkg Hotel, Wellington-street, for the purpose of taking into
consideration the following letter addressed by Sir D. L.
Evans to Mr. Huggit, the secretary of the society :
" TO THE FOURTEENTH PART or TRH WESTMINSTER
REFORM SOCIETY.
" Gentlemen,—l avail myself of this, the first non-
Parliamentary day of the week, to reply to your com-
munication. Tke above fractional denomination is, I
believe, about the numerical proportion you bear to the
society whose name you assume. And I have thus ad-
dressed you, lest your indiscreet proceedings should
prejudice the estimation of the great majority of that
hitherto judicious and public spirited association with
whom I have had the plasure of finding myself invari-
ably in accordance, since the institution of the society
some fifteen years ago, to the present time. You have
managed, by concealing your object from me and from
my friends, to scrape together a small meeting in which
to pass a resolution of censure on my past conduct in
Parliament, and of direction as to what it should be in
future. You are pleased to say that my recent course'
its the House of Commons is deeply to be regretted.
Permit me to ask you, gentlemen, how am I to mend my
ways, and so relieve you from this deep concern, unless
you will designate a little more distinctly the conduct
you
object to? I have not been left in ignorance, how_
ever, on this point. I have bees informed by several
who attended the meeting and who voted against you,
in fact, some remarks lat
an Hon. Member who had ,
then, that the cause
preceded me in the debate. beeing„
disapprobation has been so ridiculous
that the ' recent course' thuse
ly made b evasivelyy nte alluded
in t
the
eo meant,House
of Commons, in answer to
t e
and misplaced,
I shall not take h trouble of any further
reference to it.
of your anger and

" But when you order me, in the name of the West-
minster Reform Society, to place myself under the
political guidance of Messrs. Hume and Cobden,' you
must forgive me for saying that you not only compro-
mise the character of that society, but exhibit in a very
conspicuous degree your own folly, or that of those who
have set you on. Why, it was but the other day, pre-
vious to the threatened Chartist procession, that I found
myself at issue with the opinions of the Hon. Member
for Montrose. I considered it my duty to exhort the
Government to prevent that procession from passing
through the streets of the city I represent, boasting of
violent intentions, as the leaders of the Chartists did,
and escorted, as it was expected it would be, by all the
thieves of the metropolis, thus exposing the industrious
inhabitants of Westminster in particular to every species
of outrage, tumult, plunder, and even loss of life. In
opposition to which the Honourable Member for Mon-
trose saw no inconvenience to be apprehended from
a million of persons moving in procession through
our crowded streets, and ridiculed, as I understood
him, the preparations of Government, &c. And
with regard to the latter Honourable Gentleman
whom you name in your resolution to be one of
my chiefs, I feel still more astonished at your proposi-
tion. He it is who has deemed it his duty publicly to
asperse, to use no stronger term, the officers and men,
without exception, from the highest to the lowest, of the
army and navy; giving to the illustrious chief of one of
these yrofessions a peculiar and revolting measure of
disparagement, in which strain he has been followed in
various speeches, as in duty hound, by numerous parti-
sans. This may be all just—it may be quite right to
warn the country against the interested motives and evil
intentions of those persons who have shed their blood in
their country's service, and who are now systematically
held up to odium at public meetings. But as I happen
to be an humble member of one of these horrid trades,'
as the phrase now is, it is rather too nsuch,to direct me
'to take as my leader the Hon. Member who has pursue.
this course, and thus reduce myself to silence under any
amount of contumely. As to the reforms required by the
condition of the country, I considerit a gratuitous affront
to admoniliVzn the subject, as I have always sup-
ported such men res, and always will do so, be they
proposed by whom they may.
" With a population of nearly a 'quarter of a million,
superior in other respects to every city of the empire, I
have felt it of course a high honour to represent for so
many years so pre-eminent a constituency as that of
Westminster. But I should feel none were Ito submit
to be thus dictated to, silenced or restricted in the free-
dom of discussion and action, even by the whole body
of the constituency, still less by a dozen or two of misled
gentlemen, as in this instance, however respectable they
may be individually. In that case, I should fall at once
into the degraded position of a mere delegate, instead of
remaining the independent and unfettered representative
of the Liberal interest and welfare of the city and the
country generally, which it has been my uniform endea-
vour to be. Gentlemen, recommending you, when you
next assume the authority of selecting Parliamentary
leaders for your representatives, to reflect a little as to
your right to do so, and as to the qualities requisite for
useful Parliamentary leadership,
" I remain your obedient servant,
" DE LACY EVANS.

" Bryanston-square, Saturday."
The letter, as will be seen, related to a resolution
passed by the society at a meeting held on the 4th of
May, and at which the numbers for the motion were 35,
and against it 18. The terms of the resolution, which
was proposed by Mr. Healey, were_
" That the course pursued by Sir. De L. Evans is not
of a character to promote the principles of the society
and on which he was returned to Parliament, and this
society expresses a hope that ho will give his aid and
support to those members who, under Messrs. Hume
and Cobden, are united to promote those measures of
political and financial reform which are required by the
present condition of the country."
After the minutes of the last meeting had been read,
an irregular and warm discussion arose among the
members present on the propriety of entering Sir De
Lacy Evans's letter on the minutes as a record.
Atter some opposition from Mr. Geesin and another
gentleman, who thought the terms of the letter too
insulting to be recognized in such a way by the society,
a motion that it should be so entered was agreed to.
Mr. HEALEY then proceeded to open upon its merits
the question which the meeting had been called to
decide, by moving the following resolution :
" That this society is willing to overlook the insulting
tone assumed by Sir De Lacy Evans in his letter to this
society, and the indecorum of publishing it in a morning
journal before its transmission to this society, but feels
bound to declare that, while containing mistakes, on one
side, on several matters of fact, it assumes, on the other,
a position in reference to this society and the liberal
constituency of Westmin6ter deserving of the strongest
disapprobation."
The heading to Sir De Lacy Evans' letter, and the
strongest expressions used in it, were dwelt upon by Mr.
Healey in detail. He stated that the resolution adopted
by the society on the 4th was passed by a meeting sum-
moned in the usual way, and having more than the
average attendance of members. The terms of it were
not intended to be personally offensive to Sir De Lacy
Evans, and he denied that the words " under Messrs.
Hume and Cobden" were meant in a dictatorial or im-
proper sense. Mr. Healey garnished his speech by fre-
quent references to general politics, and by glowing
eulogiums upon Mr. Cobden anti the progress party.
Mr. CRIBB and Mr. SIIERLOCK followed in support of
the resolution, which was opposed by Mr. PouNcEr in a
very temperate and sensible speech. He accused the
society of having set the example in wrong-doing by the
insulting resolution which they had passed on Sir De
Lacy's parliamentary conduct, he having at the time
violated no principle adopted by the soci, and of having condemned him in his absence without etay hearing,
and without even notice given of the attack which was
to be made upon him. He warned the meeting that
their want of moderation, if they adopted Mr. HoaleY's
resolution, would, when it became known, destroy all the
authority and influence which they exercised in the con-
, stituency at large.
Mr. COPPOCK followed up the views of the previous
speaker by moving the following amendment:—
" That the indiscreet letter of Sir De Lacy Evans,
caused by, and in answer to, the resolution of this so-
ciety, can only be excused by the consideration of the
great public services of Sir De Lacy Evans, which en-
title hint to the continued confidence of this society, and
which plead his apology for the warmth and indiscretion
of this one communication—the only one displeasing to
this society—which had taken place between them.'
The folly of disunion upon a personal question, involving matters not of principle, but of pique, was strongly in-
sisted on by Mr. Coppeck. He also pointed out the
offensive character of the resolution
adopted by the
i society on the 4th of May, and the irritating effect which
such a document must have upon a man of Sir De
Lacy's profession, and his high sense of independence.
Mr. PROUT, the founder of the society, and other gen-
tlemen, spoke in support of the amendment, but on
taking the sense of the meeting it was negatived by
considerable majority. The following amendment was
then proposed by Mr. Prout:—
" That this meeting is of opinion that the resolution
of the society on the 4th, in reference to Sir De Lacy
Evans, was hastily adopted and highly impolitic; for,
however much the society may regret the speech of Sir
De Lacy Evans on the estimates, or the causes which
led to it, it was no part of the province of the society to
animadvert thereon, as it related to opinions on points
of policy, and not to any principles adopted by the
society as to its rules of government."
This amendment was also rejected, and the original
resolution, moved by Mr. Healey, was at last carried by
a large majority.
The meeting was a very full one, and the personal
character of the discussion kept alive the interest of the
proceedings, which did not terminate till eleven o'clock
at night.

Dispatches were sent off yesterday evening from
the Colonial-office, for the Governors of Fong-Hong
and Ceylon.