The Sun.
London, England, 1834-09-11 00:00:00

I should rather say, the cutter being so close, we came in
contact with her and struck her on the starboard quarter.
The deplorable result of this catastrophe is already known
to this Honourable Court. Instantly I ordered the helm
to be put down—turned the hands up to shorten sail, and
brought the ship's head to wind ; the quarter boats were
lowered, and despatched to the spot where the cutter sunk.
In the examination of the witnesses I feel assured it will
appear to this Honourable Conrt that every exertion that a
lively sense of duty could dictate was made with prompti-
tude and good discipline, and I trust this Honourable
Court will permit me to appeal to Mr. Weir and all on
deck, for the manner in which I carried on the duty, under
circumstances of such great excitement. I should ill de-
serve the character I have hitherto borne in his Majesty's
service if I were to conceal from the Honourable Court my
conviction that I suffered myself to be too perfectly,
though momentarily, absorbed by the particular duty which
I had ordered, and that the attention of the look-out men,
being partially taken off from their duty whilst we were
making sail, I ought to have accompanied the order to
make sail with some caution as to the look-out ; yet I re-
spectfully submit to this Honourable Court that knowing
how efficiently I had ever been supported by the officers of
the watch, and the excellent discipline of the crew in gene-
ral, I was justified in reposing confidence that every branch
of duty would be carried -on, without any caution being
given by me. In conclusion, I venture to hope this Court
will be of opinion that a slight and momentary deviation
from the strict course of 'duty, in the full and comprehen-
sive sense of that word, if this Honourable Court shall
deem there has been any, should not be altogether judged
of by its consequences.
James Drawer, quarter-master—l was at the wheel on
the 27th of August, with John Giles, steering, from four to
eight o'clock. At six Lieutenant M'Cleverty came and
took the ship's bearings.
By Lieutenant M'Cleverty—Do you recollect my giving
orders about six o'clock ?—He gave orders to make sail
and shake a reef out. By the time the men were half way
up the rigging, a hand sung out from the lee gangway (W.
Bone), " A vessel under the bow." The master, who had
been standing at the weather side looking at the land, ran
forward and called out to me to put the helm hard up star-
board. Immediately the frigate struck the cutter. She
had answered her helm but very little. The master or-
dered the helm to be then put down hard a-port. She hove
to. Hands were ordered up to shorten sail, and three boats
lowered down directly.
What time elapsed between Bone's calling out and the
helm being ordered bard up ?—lnstantly. No time was
lost. The Lieutenant was looking at the sails when the
accident occurred. He was looking out repeatedly from
the weather gangway and abaft before the accident. Mr.
Knox, mate, Mr. Weare, master, and Mr. Hopkins, mid-
shipman, were on deck at the time. Mr. Hopkins was
employed in seeingthe people at their stations about the mast.
By the COURT—Does the Castor generally answer her
helm ?—ln general she does not.
Do you think she would have cleared the cutter if she
answered her helm quickly ?—No ; if the helm had been
put a-lee, we should have struck her.
As quarter-master of watch, have you always observed
Lieutenant M'Cleverty attentive to his duty ?—Yes.
Were you obliged to alter your course to avoid any small
vessel ?—No. •

Lieutenant M'Cleverty was always attentive to the look
out, repeatedly hailing them. The cutter was not reported
before Bone sung out.
Thomas Downe examined—Am boatswain.

By Lieutenant M'Cleverty—ln what manner did I carry
on the duty at the time the accident occurred ?—Everyway
becoming an officer and a sailor. Always attentive to your
duty. Very much so.
Lord John Hay—Mr. M'Cleverty has been Lieutenant
in the Castor under my command nearly two years. I al-
ways found him zealous and attentive to his duties. I al-
ways had the greatest confidence in his judgment as it re-
gards the watch.
Lieutenant Pike bore similar testimony.

Lieutenant Frederick Pelham recalled—By day a mast-
head-man is placed to look out after breakfast. The re-
sponsibility of the watch remains with the- nfßeor on duty,
and not with the captain; I consider the spirit of Lord
John Hay's orders is to keep the most efficient look-out
possible, which I consider effected by the manner before
related. Has been two years and four months in the
Castor. During that period this system has not always
been adhered to. _ _

By Lord John Hay—Have I not always enjoined a strict
observance of the printed regulations P—Yes. He never
received directions from Lord John Hay not to send a man
to the masthead before breakfast.
Lord John Hay spoke to the good conduct of Mr. Knox
while in the Castor.
Robert Hopkins, signal midshipman (on his defence), left
his case to the Court.
Thomas Carmichael, signal midshipman, stated he was on
duty on orders, and left his case to the Court.
The Court was cleared, and after an hour's deliberation,
the following was delivered by the President
" That it is the opinion of this Court that a proper look-
out was not kept on board the Castor, and that Lieutenant
James Johnson M'Cleverty should be dismissed the service,
and be is hereby dismissed. All the officers and crew, with
the exception of the said James Johnson M'Cleverty, are
hereby acquitted." _

The swords of the other officers were returned to them
by the Provost-Marshall.

FLOWER GARDENS.

Horticultural, romantic, and picturesque gardens in the
English style are the invention of the Chinese. Toai King
(1114), Minister of China, having built a palace for his
master, was desirous of adding a delightful park. Parterres
were designed, and thousands of workmen excavated rivers,
raised mountains, and made artificial objects, ornamented
with the most beautiful exotics, and aviaries containing
rare birds. Imitating the irregularity of nature without
the least distortion. the Chinese formed their gardens
upon the plan since adopted in England. In the ancient
gardens of China the arbour, the greenhouse, and our
modern flower-beds were perfectly known. To the Chinese
we are indebted for the amaranths, the balsams, the asters
or Queen Margaret, and monthly roses. They cultivate
in their gardens all useful plants. In marshy places they
grow the sugar-cane, and upon rocks and mountains the
tea-tree. The vine is only used in their gardens as an
article of luxury. China saw its agriculture in high per-
fection under Houpi-Tsong (1287), who granted especial
protection to useful industry. Giu Tsong, Emperor in
1318, having improved the, management of the silkworm,
engraved and printed a treatise on the best mode of culti-
vating mulberry-trees. We may naturally suppose about..
the same period, when the crusades carried thousands of
adventurers to Asia, that, returning from Syria and other
parts, they brought to Europe a variety of flowers pre-'
viously unknown to florists. Those novelties have since
adorned our gardens. The violet and lilac came from
Candia. The marigold was brought from Africa to Spain
by Charles the Fifth in 1533. The tulip came from Cey-
lon, or Turkey in Europe, about 1560. The tuberose is
a native of Java ;it came to Europe in 1632. The hor-
tensia from the same Island in 1776. The daffodil is in-
digenous to Italy. Exotic vegetables are too numerous to
allow of a concise description.

Since the 29th ult. information has been given to
the police of no less than thirty-nine housebreakings and other
depredations committed in different parts of the metropolis.
BOSTON (United States.)—The following letter
from Bishop Fenwick to the father of the young lady whose
rumoured disappearance led to the outrage on the convent at
Charlestown has been put into our hands for publication. By
this it will be seen that she left the convent in a moment of
delirium, had been brought back safely, and was gradually re-
covering her reason and health. Her parents are residents in
this city, and her brother is in Boston, and the statement that
the friends of the young lady had called for her at the convent
and could not find her is, we are authorized to say, wholly un-
founded : " Boston, July 31.
" Dear Sir,—Your son Thomas will have undoubtedly al-
ready informed you of the debilitated state of mind in which
your daughter Elizabeth has been since last Sunday, and the
temporary derangement which ensued, occasioned, as the
physician reports, by a violent fit of hysterics. While this
lasted she left the convent in her dress of a religioso, and
went to a neighbour's house, from which she was conveyed by
said neighbour to the house of one of the parents of the chil-
dren whom she had formerly instructed in the convent, where
she remained until your son and myself went thither and
brought her back to the convent on Tuesday evening. I need
not describe to you the uneasiness of 'mind and dreadful
anxiety under which we laboured whilst she continued absent
from the convent. This you can more easily conceive than I
can express. But, thank God she appears now quite com-
posed, and in a short time will be quite well again. I saw her
yesterday, after the physician had left her, and found her
again rational, and considerably better in health. She appears
quite amazed at the step she had taken, and does not know
how to account for it. I trust in a few days more she will be
herself again, and perfectly recovered.—l remain, with re-
spect, your obedient servant,
" B. FENWICK, Bp. S8'11."