The Sun.
London, England, 1845-12-19 00:00:00

COURT-MARTIAL.

PORTSMOUTH, THURSDAY.—A general court-martilll as•
sembled this day at the Royal Marine Barracks for the trial
of gunner John Hull,, of the Artillery Companies of the
Royal Marines, on the following charges, to which the pri •
Boner (a very fine young man, of about twenty-seven years
of age) pleaded not guilty.
Ist Charge. In having attempted to go out of his quarters
at Fort Cumberland, on or about the night of the 6th day of
December, 1845, when confined thereto for a former offence,
and for having disobeyed the lawful command of (12:2)
George Pratt, Corporal 68th Light Infantry, his superior
officer, in refusing to go to the guard- room when ordered so
to do by the said George Pratt, Corporal, the non-commis-
sioned officer in charge of the guard.
2. For having at Fort Cumberland, at or about the time
stated in the first charge, struck (1212) George Pratt, cor-
poral, 68th Light Infantry, his superior officer, being in the
execution of his duty.
3. For having at Fort Cumberland, at or about the time
stated in the first charge, struck (1736) Mark Lee, a private,
68th Light Infantry, being in the execution of his duty.
Four -witnesses in support of the charge were then exa-
mined.

At the conclusion of the prosecution the prisoner was put
on his defence, and stated that on the eveting in question
he had been &irking, aud that he went to his room and lay
down upon his bed, be4mecn the hums of eleven and twelve,
and that he does not remember anything more that occurred.
lie further denied having struck either the corporal or pri-
vate, as had he done so with a weapon so heavy as the one
produced in Court (a twelve pound rocket-case, not loaded,
but having the shot attached), some marks must have re-

mained, and private (Mark Lee) who has sworn that lie
was streck, has also said that the blow left no mark on his
person.

It appeared by the evidence of Lieutenant and Adjutant
Savage, of the Royal Marine Artillery, that the prisone: has
been previously tried three times by courts-marti3l, that his
character is very bad, and that he has been about nine years
in the service.

The Court concluded the proceedings at four o'clock this
afternoon, but the decision ccme to will not be known until
it has been approved by the Admiralty.
The Court was composed of the under-mentioned offi-
cers :—Colonel 31Callum, Royal Marines, President ; Lieu-
tenant-Colonel Swale, Royal Marines ; Lieutenant-Colonel
Gordon, Royal Marines ; Lieutenant•olonel Hartley, Bth
(King's) Regiment ; Major Campbell, 74th Ilighlanders ;
Captain Dawes, Royal Marines ; Captain M'Beath, 68th
Light Infantry ; Captain Campbell, 78th Highlanders ;
Captain Holloway, Royal Marine Artillery ; Captain Elliot,
Royal Marines ; Captain Holder, Bth (King's) Regiment ;
Lieutenant March, Royal Marines ; Lieutenant Fordyce,
74th Highlanders ; Lieutenant Elliot, Royal Marines ; En-
sign Deering, 68th Light Infantry. Lieutenant Adjutant
Langley officiated as Judge-Advocate.
ROYAL MARINE ARTILLERY.—The Admiralty have just
issued important regulations relating to officers of the
marines, intending to qualify for the artillery companies.
Instead of these officers residing in quarters in Portsmouth
Barracks, as at present, and attending at the Naval College
at specified hours, they are, on the commencement of next
year, to live in the college, and are to be under the same
orders and regulations as the mates of her Majesty's ship
Excellent, who study in that establishment for the lieute-
nant's commission. Officers who may have previously been
cadets in the Excellent, when reported qualified for commis-
sions in the corps, and considered elegible to go into the
artillery, are to be disembarked direct to the college, and not
to either of the four divisions to drill, &c., and will at once
commence the course of study ordered therein for that branch
of the marine corps. When their year of study expires, if
found fit for the Artillery companies, they will join the head-
quarters at Portsmouth ; if not found fit, they will pass to
one of the four divisions, and then commence the customary
drill. Officers of marines who may be selected for the artil-
lery companies, and have not been cadets in the Excellent,
are to be embarked in her, to obtain instruction in and go
through the practical course of gunnery, &c., previous to
their residence in the Naval College. The Admiralty will
probably limit the number of marine students to six. The
foregoing resolutions are to commence after the ensuing
Christmas vacation, and will oniy affect those coming for-
ward from the Excellent. In that ship and the college there
are ten officers studying for the Marine Artillery. 'he va •
cancies amount to eight.