The Sun.
London, England, 1844-09-28 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

SIR—As a naval officer, allow me to offer you my best
and sincere thanks for the manly and disinterested course
you have taken, defending and advocating, in the true
and genuine spirit of an Englishman, the profession to
which I belong. When those whose duty it is to do so,
silently sleep, or in their waking dreams contribute to add
insult to our humiliation, pray continue that course,
fearlessly vindicating our rights, and exposing their
growing neglect ; place them before the public view, as
beacons, to warn them it is not too late to correct their
course, and avoid those quicksands of contempt that are
now under their lee. You will by so doing ingraft a
warm feeling of gratitude on us blue jackets that neither
time or circumstances will cool, and your sympathy will
sooth the wounds so unjustly inflicted. Could I but for a few
moments invoke the pen of a Junius to indite the indig-
nation I feel ; but this is a vain wish, God help me—
what can I say or write ? I feel bursting with a swell-
ing of contempt for the poltroons who could advise a
gallant and old sailor—a Britain—to issue such an order
to his squadron, humbling the flag which forty years
ago, on those very same waters, and echoed from their
very hills and caves, the thunders of Nelson, to which
Europe responded with pride, and without envy, and
Britannia, though in sorrow, hailed the glad tidings of
victory over tyranny, when mourning the loss of her
bravest son.

With your assistance, we will not tacitly submit to in-
sults, no matter from what quarter they may blow. The
articles of war may be a gag for the time, as wadding is
to powder—the explosion will be louder and the effect
more serious, when its takes place. Should any of the
old L'lmmortalites be now knocking their old hulks
about, how will their old timbers yawn and strain on
reading that Gibraltar production Even the apes on the
rock would wag their tails (if they had any) in derision,
and exclaim, " Edward I Ned Owen I sure you: are not
the man who commanded off Boulogne in days long
since !" By inserting this outpouring of an old officer,
you will oblige one, and prove to the service how deeply
some old hulks, whose hatches are anything but ginger-
bread, feel the slights cast upon them. I would not send
this anonymously, was it not through fear of one James
Graham, the celebrated Post-office extractor, so, with my
compliments to him, should he cast his eye on this, I
remain, Mr. Editor, your much obliged,
WIT AND WEATHER.
September 28, 1844.

ROBBERIES OF OFFICERS IN CHATHAM BARRACKS.
—Yesterday, Thomas Woodford, a private of the 62d
Foot, and servant to Captain William Matthias, of that ,
regiment, was brought before the bench of county magis-
trates sitting at Rochester, charged with robbing bit
master and other officers. The prisoner had been ser-
vant to Ensign R.A. Cox, of the 62d, son of Colonel Sir
W. Cox, who embarked, in the latter part of May last,
for India. He afterwards went into the service of Captain
Matthias, in whose quarters he had, during the day, the
use of a kitchen and a store-room adjoining, in conjunc-
tion with Sergeant Barnes, of the 51st, and his wife, the
latter of whom acted as female servant to Mrs. Matthias.
Shortly after Mr. Cox embarked, a report was made tt,
Captain Matthias, through another officer, that he had
lost his watch, and inquiries were made of the prisoner,
but he denied all knowledge of it. The watch was for-
gotten until Sergeant Barnes's wife saw a watch in the
drawer of a looking-glass belonging to the prisoner, and
mentioned the circumstance to Captain Matthias.
This aroused suspicion, which the following sin-
gular circumstance tended to strengthen :—One day,
as Sergeant Barnes and his wife were in Captain
Matthias's kithen, they heard a noise in the adjoining
room, and on going in found a paper parcel containing an
officer's shell jacket, which had fallen from the chimney
and broken a lamp-glass in the grate. On the 20th 01
September, Captain Matthias, accompanied by Sergeant-
Major Redman, of the 62d, questioned prisoner as to
Mr. Cox's watch, but he denied having it ; however, on
Captain Matthias telling him he should search his box,
prisoner went to his box in the kitchen, and gave the
watch, with chain and key attached, to Captain Matthias.
The box and a carpet bag belonging to the prisoner
were then emptied, and in them found a forage cap of
the officer of the 62d, three shirts with Mr. Cox's name
upon them, three shirts belonging to Captain Matthias's
sea-stock, a church service with Lady Cox's name on the
clasp, and the shell jacket, with other articles. The shell
jacket was owned by Ensign White, of the 40th, who
had lent it to Captain Ebrington, of the 78th High
lenders. The latter officer embarked for India whilst
Mr. White was on guard, and the jacket on being in-
quired for could not be found. Three distinct charges of
felony were taken Against the prisoner, one for Captain
Matthias's shirts, another for the jacket, and a third for
Mr. Cox's watch and shirts, on all of which he was com-
mitted to take his trial at the ensuing quarter sessions at
Maidstone.

The Marquis of Exeter, Groom of the Stole to his
Royal Highness Prince Albert, has, it is said, received
an intimation that his presence will be required on official
duty et Windsor on the 9th And 10th of October.