The Sun.
London, England, 1857-08-27 00:00:00

G.i:NERAL, COURT- ARTIAL OIV COLONEL

CL A RKE.

SIXTH DAY.
The members of the general court-martial for the
trial of Lieutenant-Colonel J. Clarke, Ist West
India Regiment, again assembled at 12 o'clock yes-
terday, at Chatham Barracks, under the presidency
of Colonel Jervis, for the purpose of continuing the
examination of the numerous witnesses for the de-
fence. The proceedings still appear to attract very
great interest in the garrison
Ensign W. Hartriek, let West Ind;a Regiment,
was further examined on behalf of the pro oner.
Witness stated that when the Fort-Adjutint deli
vered the message from Colonel Hill to the pri-
soner that he was ordered to embark for the Gam-
bia. He stated that Col. Hill regretted that the
disturbances there rendered h's presence necessary.
If there had been any. disturbances prisoner would
have known of them before Col.-Hill, as he had only
just arrived from a distant colony. Col©nelClarke 0
reply to tte fort adjutant was not looked upon by
witness as a refusal to embark, but only to enable
him to gain an interview with Colonel Hill. Lieu-
tenant Watson, now deceased, had told witness that
he beard Colonel Hill say he wished he was out of
it. Lieutenant Watson resigned his appointment
of fort adjutant soon after the prisoner had left for
the Gambia, owing to a misunderstanding with
Colonel Hill on some military subjects, The mes-
sage given by the fort adjutant to The prisoner, that
he was to go to the Gambia, was given officiary, and.
Lieutentant Watson was in his uniform at the time.
Witness had been informed by Lieutentant Watson
that Colonel Hill had hinted that if the prisoner
would write him a certain letter all would be well. -
Major-General Sir G. Wetherall, K.C. 8., K. 11.,
adjutant-general, was next called by the prisoner,
and identified the signatures of Lieut.-Colonel F.
A. Wetherell, commanding the Ist West India
Regiment, to two letters to the prisoner, one of
which was dated "Spanish Town, May 11, 1856,"
and addressed to the prisoner in British Guiana, in
which he was directed to take the command of
the six companies of that regiment, then proceed-
ing to Sierra Leone. The letter of the Bth Novem-
ber, 1855, investing Colonel Hill with the command
of the troops at Sierra Leone , was not written at
the instigation of Colonel Hill, but by an order
from the War-office, who were doubtless in com-
munication with the Colonial-office on the subject.
Previously to that letterbeing written the command
of the troops at Sierra Leone and thelGambia was
invested in one person, but the gallant general
could not state to the court whether that letter was
written to prevent Colonel Hill from interfering
with the troops in the Gambia, and Col. O'Connor
with those at Sierra Leone.

By the Court—The whole time that Colonel Hill
was at Sierra Leone he was considered to be the
commanding officer of the troops at that station)
and all official correspondence went through biro.
A third lieutenant colonel was appointed to Colonel
Hill's regiment, as that officer, on his appointment
to the Gold Coast, became a supernumerary officer.
Colonel-Hill was specially appointed by the Horse
Guards to command the troops at Sierra Leone.
Lieut. Wm. Cody, 3d West India Regiment, die'
proved what had been stated by Captain Mende/
that he was in command of the troops at Sierra
Leone during Colonel Hill's absence, as the late
Capt. Pearson commanded. He had never heard
of any letter appointing Colonel Hill to the cora',
mand at Sierra Leone, until the letter was read 00
parade. Witness and the other officers then welt
in a body to Colonel Hifi, and Captain Pearson re"
quested to have a copy of the letter given to hit°.
The order for the prisoner to proceed to the Gamba
was not seen by witness, and he did not believe It
was inserted in the orderly-book.
Col. H. W. Whitfield, 2d West India Regiment•
was called to character. He informed the court
that he had always entertained a high opinion 01
the prisoner, who, on a recent occasion was sent t°,,
British Guiana, with a detachment at a titne
much excitement, and on his return the men Were
in excellent discipline. Prisoner also rendered great,
assistance to witness whilst stationed in Demerara,
where the civil servants gave him much trouble.
From all he had heard and known of the prisoner's
character, witness could not have believed that nal
such charges could have been brought against 11011
until he had seen them in writing.
This closed the evidence for the defence, and oa
the application of the prisoner the court ad-
journed until Friday, when it will re-assemble for
the purpose of hearing the prisoner's address OP the
whole evidence.