The Sun.
London, England, 1856-04-03 00:00:00

THE MISSING STEAMER PACIFIC.

A letter received at Lloyd's; to-day, from their
agent at Figueira, dated 24th March, says
" The Skipwith, arrived here from Newfound-
land,, fell in with ice to the distance of 200 miles
from the laud, and saw the lights of a steamer
in "the ice.' " The Skipwith. left St. John's,
Newfoundland, 13th February.

THE MILITARY BOARD OF INQUIRY.

(Meeting This Day.)

The board of military officers appointed to inquire into
the conduct of those officers inculpated in the report of
Sir J. M'Neil and Colonel Tulloch, actually commenced
their duties this morning in the Great Hall, Chelsea,
which had been conveniently and comfortably fitted up
for the accommodation, not only of the persons more
immediately connected with the inquiry, the officers
whose conduct is to be inquired into, and, the witnesses
to be examined, but also the pubic. The arrangements
for the press are excellent.
A. body of police was present, under Superintendent
Gibbs; to maintain order and prevent inconvenience,
should eager crowds assemble to witness the proceed-
ings.

The inquiry was fixed to commence at 11 o'clnek?
but, probably owing to the many times the public have
' been disappointed 33 to the exact day when the commis
sion would sit, the small number of persons present this
morning is to be attributed.
At half-past 11 o'clock the following general officers,
forming the board, dressed in fu!l regimentals, and with
their various decorations, entered the hall, and took
their seats at the table :—Sir. Alex. Woodford, Lord
Beauchamp, General Rowan, Sir John Bell, General
Peel, M.P., General Kcollys, and General Sir George
Berkeley.
Sir Alexander Woodford took the chair, as president,
of the Board of Inquiry.
The Judge-Advocate (the Right Hon. C. P. Villiers;
M.„P.) read the Royal warrant appointing the Board;
and stating the purposes for which it had been con4tid,
tuteil; and, next, a letter from Lori Paltherston''tO
Lord Pannaure, informing him officially of the appoirat
ment of the commission and the scope and nature of.tlati

inquiry.
, The President inquired of the Judge-Advocate if he.
could inform the Court the names of the officers who
had been inculpated by the report in question, and who
had complained in consequence ?
The Judge-Advocate said that, before ho received the
Royal warrant, he applied to the Commander•in-Chief`
for the names of the officers whose conduct had been in
culpated by the report, and who had complained to him,
in consequence, and also a similar letter to the horse
Guards, and he received in reply the names of Earl
Lucan, Earl Cardigan, Sir R. Airey, and Lieutenant
Colonel Gordon.
The President handed to the Judge-Advocate the
form of proceedings for the Court.
The Judge-Advocate then read the regulations, whichH
stated that the proceedings of the Board wou!d be con-
ducted, as near as possible, with the practice of ordiaary
military courts of inquiry. Evidence might be given in
writing or orally. The Court was not empowered ,to
',xamine witnesses on oath. Every military witness
would be at liberty to decline making any statement that
,eight afterwards be made the subject of a charge fora
court-martial aga;nst him, but that having done 4o it
might be used against him. Toe cases of 'persons whos
conduct hid to be inquired into would be taken Siva.-
rately.
Tire. Judge-Alvocate then asked the Beard to c3n-
sider what documentary evidence they wished to, be
brought before them ?
General Berkeley asked if any summonses had been:
issued ?

The Judge-Advocate replied no, because summonses
could only be issued under the direction of the Beard.
Toe officers whose names had been mentioned had had
no official notice of the meeting of the Board that day'
communicated to them. They c mild only know of the
meeting officially by the :summonses, which would be
issued to them under the direction of the B
General Berkeley—Are all these officers in to wn ?
The Judge Advocate could not say. He thought that
->y Monday next there would be time enough for every
person interested in this inquiry to be summoned.
The Board then decided that copies of all papers that
hai been laid before Parliament relating to the officers'
In question should be laid before the Beard.
The Judge-Advocate sail tlitt all papers bearing on
This inquiry, if forwarded to the Judge-Advocate-office,
hpuld be laid before the"B mrd.

The Beard, after a short consultation, decided that
the Earl of Lucan's case should be taken first, and di-
rected that summonses should be forthwith sent to hi m
and his witnesses, requiring his attendance on alaulay.
next.

The Judge-Advocate asked if the Board would require,
n the first instance, the narnev of the witnesses to be
examined ?

The President replied in the affirmative, alai aided.
that the officers who 'wished to call witnesses haft
setter have them in readiness
upon.
0 be produced when called

The Judge-Advocate said —Then, it is decided tha

'Ms inquiry shall commence on Monday next with the
ease of the Earl of Lucan, and proceed afterwards with
,he officer next in rank to him, and observe'tbat course

[roughout the sittings of the Court ?

The President—Yea.
The Ju9e-Advocate—Tben, do I understand the
Board to direct that no summonses shall be issued to no
other persons than those whose names I have read
The President—Yes.

The Judge-Advocate said-z-Then the Board will wait
`or fresh applications from persons who think they ought

,0 appear before the Board ?
The President—Yes.

The Jndge•Advocate—Until other persons appear
complaining, you are unwilling to issue summonses to.

them t

The President—Yes,
The Judge Advocate—ls it your wish, as a matter of
courtesy, that some notification should be made to Sir J.
M'Neil and Colonel Tutloch, that their report is to be
called into qu,stion by this inquiry. I atu not aware
where they aro to be found, but I suppose there will be

no diffioulty in finding them out by applying at the
Horse Guards ?

The President--Yea. •
The Board the❑ decided that the court would sit daily
after Monday next from eleven a.m. until four p.m.
The court then adjourned td Monday next at eleven
o'clock, when the court will proceed with the case of
Earl Lucan.

The Earl of E&inton entertained a large party of
officers of the 1-t L'fa Guards, and other friend, on
Tuesday evening, in St, Ja,(nes's square. There were
present Viscount rowerscourt, "Viscount Elmley,
Vis-
count anti Visnuntess Ingestre, Sir A. Hay and the
Misses Hay, Col. Parker, Col. Hogg, Capt. 13ateson,
Capt. the !t,n. W. E. Duncombe, M.P., Mr. Biddulph,
Capt. Wyndham, Mr. Patten, Mr. North, Mr. Grosve-
nor, Capt.be Winton, and Mr. K. Fraser, &o.
The Earl and Countess of Derby and Lady Emma
Stanley are expected in town to-day from Knowsley.
Viscount and Viscountess Sydney are expected in
town to-day from Frognal, Kent.
Laly Mary Wood has issued cards for a reception on
Wednesday, the 9th inst , at the Admiralty.
The marriage of the Lady. Rachel Russell with Lord
.Tames Wandesford Butler• is fixed to take place this
morning, at St. Peter's alurch.
The Right Hon. R, Vernon Smith, M.P., gave a
dinner, last evening, to his colleagues in the Cabinet,
All the Ministers attended except the Earl Granville and
the Earl of Clarendon—the latter being absent in Parisi,.
and the former, we regret to learn, too unwell to attend.
Col. Sir H. Rawlinson, K.C.8., has been appointed.
to succeed Gen. Sir G. Pollock as one of the nominatel
Directors of tho Et* X 40,4 Compapy.