Star.
London, England, 1808-10-04 00:00:00

GENERAL ORDER.

At a General Court Martial held at the Royal
Hospital at Chelsea, on the 9th of June, 1808, and
continued by adjournments to the 17th of the same
month, Lieutenant-Colonel Jolty MACKELCAN, of the
Corps of Royal Engineers, was tried upon the follow-
ing charges, viz.
asT Cnagoi.—Great misconduct as an officer, in having,
while Commanding Royal Engineer at Guernsey and commanding
the Half Company of Royal Military Artificers stationed in that
bland, by certificates or writings under his hand, dated respee.
tively the 31st March, 1805, directed or authorised the payment
of forty-five bushels of coals, and twenty-five pounds and a half
of candles, specified in the vouchers to have been furnished der-
log the March quarter, 1805, for a Barrack Guard of the said
Royal Military Artificers, and charged therein and paid for ac-
cording to the rate of allowances specified in the Barrack Regu-
lations, although he well knew that no such Barrack Guard had
been mounted within that period, and in having embezzled and
converted to his own use the whole of the coals so furnished and
paid for, together with other quantities of C 0313, amounting to
eighty-five bushels, or thereabouts, that haff been supplied for the
public service, and paid for out of the public monies.
" SECOND CHARGE.—Disobedience and neglect of his Ma-
jesty's order for regulating the rates of military working pay,
signified in the General Orders of his Royal Highness the Com-
mander-in-Chief, dated the Ist of July, 1802 ; and also disobe-
dience and neglect of the order of the Lieutenant-General and
Board of his Majesty's Ordnance, dated 2d July, 1799, in the
following manner :
44 1. In havingdfrected or knowingly permitted certain charges
of working pay to James Frost and Dennis Flynn, two of the tool-
diess belonging to the troops in the garrison at Guernsey, who I
bad been employed as labourers in the Engineer Department, at
different periods, from the Ist May, 1806, to the 30th April,
1807, both inclusive, to be made for a greater number of days
than those on which they were employed; and in having, by cer-
tificates or writings under his hand, dated respectively the 31st
May, 20th June, 31st July, 31st August, 30th September, 31st
October, 30th November, and 31st December, 1808, and the 31st
January, 28th February, 31st March, and 31st May, 1807, di-
rected the payment of such improper charges, by which mode of
charge the said two soldiers received and were paid sums amoun-
ting to a higher rate of pay per diem for their labour than is au-
thocized by the said regulations ; and,
" 2. In having, by certificates or writings under his hand, da-
ted respectively the 31st March, 1805, and on the last day of
every subsequent month down to the 28th of February, 1808,
inclusive, directed payment to be made of certain monthly
pay lists, wherein were inserted the names of F.lias Benner, John
Na:rass, Samuel Nicholson, George Illey, John Athey, David
Bain, and Edward Howe, (seven others of the soldiers belong-
ing so the said troops in Garrison at Guernsey, who had been
employed as labourers in the F.ngl:seer Department) who were
labourers only, but who were to his knowledge at the time falsely
charged in the said pay lists, under the denominations of artificers,
miners, and quarrymen,lby reason of which false descriptions such
persons were charged at, and were paid higher rates cif pay per
diem for their labour than they would have been entitled to re-
ceive under his Majesty's said order and the Commander-in-
Chief's said regulations 0 the Ist July, 1802, had they been truly
described in the said pay lists,

" Tama CHARcr.—Disobedience and negleet of the orders
40 the Niaster-General, I.leutenant-C eneral, and principal Officers
of his Ntajesty's Ordnance, contained in the said Masters Gen-
eral and Board's Circular letters of the 23d November, 1784, 7th
July, 1786, and 2d July, 1799, by having at different periods from
the Ist April, 1.805, to the 12th of Septe,mber, 1806, both inclu-
sive, employed or authorized to be etnployetl, Samuel Shaw, a
person who, in the monthly pay lists dated respectively the 30th
April, 180.5, and on the last day of every subsequent month down
to the 30th of September, 1806, was returned and charged a la-
bourer, in the capacity of a clerk, or otherwise for other purposts,
and in a different character or Capacity from that in which hes-as
returned and charged in the said pay lists; and having at different
periods, from the Ist of April, 180;, to the 31st of December,
1817, inclusive, directed or knowingly permitted Robert Brink-
o orth, James Ja Ines, Wiliam Hambly, and ethers, to be charged
err the said pay lists as lahourers or military artificers entitled to
working pay far times when not 'actually employed in the public
service, as such lahonrers or artificers' or otherwise, but employ-
ed on his own private occasions, altilfa his own particular be-
nefit.

4th Charg?.—" Great tnisconcluet u an officer. in having, at
different tines, front the Ist of April, 1805, to the 31et Decem-
ber, 11r6, both inclusive, employed on the works, and received
hire far his own hones charged in certain vouchers, dated respec-
Uv'•ly th-: 30th June, 30th September, and Slst December, 1865,
and Slat March, 30th June, 30th September, and 31st Decem-
ber, 1806, under the name of, and as belonging to one John
Lang, and in having directed, or knowingly permitted, the said
false vouchers to be so made out to cover those transactions, and,
having by certificates or writings under his hand, subjoined to the
said false vouchers, respectively directed the payment of the sums
charged in such vouchers."
Lastly.—" Disobedience and neglect of the orders of the
Lieutenant General, and principal officers of his Majesty's Ord-
nance, contained in the Board's letter of the 13th August, 1806,
signifying to Lieutenant Colonel Mackelcan that he had authority
for building such beats, as he had recommended in a previous
letter of the 7th of August then instant, as also for hiring a cox-
swain and crow when required, reporting to the Board the ex-
pence he might incur for building the boats, and transmitting
quarterly an account of the expences that might be incurred by
the coxswain and crew, by, after the receipt of that letter, namely,
at different periods specified in certain monthly pay lists, dated re-
spectively the 30th September, 31 st °etcher, 30th November, and
Slat Dec( miler, 1866, and the 31st January, 28tk February, 31st
March, 31st May, 30th June, 31st August, and 30th September,
1107, hiring a coxswain and boat's crew at tirneswhen not required
for the service of the boats of his department, and having not re-
ported to the Board the expellee incurred for building or pur-
chasing the said boats, and not having transmitted to the Board,
quarterly, or otherwise, an account of the expences Incurred for
the said coxswain and boat's crew, as therein directed."

Upon which charges the Court came to the follow.
ing decisions :
Tate Court Martial having duly and attentively considered and
weighed the evidence which has been adduced, as well what has
been offered on the part of the prosecution as that on the defence,
is of opinion with respect to the First Charge, that there was a
Barrack Go.vd, bat that no coals were specifically issued to that
Guard ; at the sane time the Court is of opinion, that Lieutenant
Colonel Mackelcan did not embezzle nor convert to hi, own use
any part Lfthe coals, and does therefore acquit him of that,part et
the charge.
The Court is farther of opinion, that Lieutenant Colonel Mao.
kelean was irregular in applying the coals to purposes distinct
Atom else service for which he ordered the payment of them.
With regard so the Second Charge, the Court is of opinion,
that Lieutenant Colonel Mackekan is guilty of the First part
thereof.
With reprd to the Second part of the said Charge, the Court
L of opinion, that the seven men therein named were not falsely
denominated in the pay lists, but that there was an irregularity In
Lieutenant Colonel NI ackelean's manner in paying these men, and I
although contrary to the Regulations and Priers, the Court is sa-
tisfied that it arose from a desire to save the public purse.
As to the third Charge the Court is of opinion, that be is guil-
ty of the lint pert thereof.
With respect to the second part, the Court is of opinion, that
James lames was knowingly permitted to be charged on the Pay
Lists as a labourer or military artificer, entitled to working pay
for times when not actually employed in the public service, but
that neither James James, nor either of the other two men stated
in this part of the Charge, were employed on Lieutenant-Colonel
Mackelean's own private occasions and for his own particular be-
eefit, and does therefore acquit Lieutenant-Colonel Mackelcan
sef that part of the Charge.
With respect to the fourth and fifth (or last) Charges, the
Court is of 4inion that Lieutenant-Colonel Niackslcan is patty.
Upon full consideration of the whole matter, the Court is of '
opinion, that Lieutenant. Colonel Mackelean has been guilty in
some instances of disobedience of orders and irregularity of con-
duct ; but it appearing that he has not, on any occasion, been
actuated by motives of per o: al interest, but on the coi.trary, by
an ardent zeal for the public good, it only adjudges Lieutenant.
Colon :1 :Maclean to be reprimanded.
His Majesty considering the conduct. of Lieutenant-Colonell
Mackelcan, in departing in several instances from posilve and
important Orders and Regulations, as highly irregular and rein.
benslbte, has been pleased to command, that she General Officer
aoinmiodistg iu Guernsey, where Vieknensat-calosethiacksksa

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was stationed, 'shaft coign/ to that Officer, In the presence of al
tie Officers of the Garrison assenibkd, his Majesty's most serious'
displeasure, that, before he departed from those Orders and
gtdations which it was his duty to obey, he should have Omitted
to consult his superior Officers, upon die expediency of such a
deviation, or to take the earliest opportunity of infoeming them
both of the deviation itself, and of the reasons, which, in his
opinion, appeared to justify it; and that in so doing, Lieutenant.
Colonel Mackelcan has set an example highly prejudicial to the
interests of his' Majesty's service. •
His Majesty has further desired to be conveyed to Lientenanr•
Colonel Mackelcan, his Majesty's great regret, that an Officer of
such long service and high character should have exposed himself
to thlS deserved censure, and that nothing but a consideration of
his services and character could have induced his Majesty to con-
firm the lenient Sentence of the Court, upon the various charges
of which Lieutenant-Colonel Mackelcan has been found guilty.
His Royal Highness the Commander in Chief directs, that the
foregoing Charges, together with the Opinion and Sentence of
the Court, and his Majesty's pleasure thereon, shall be read at
the head of every Regiment, and inserted in the Regimental Or-
derly Books. (Signed) HARRY CALTERT,
Adjutant-General of the Forces.
Dated Horse Guards, Sept. 2(1,1808.

719 THE EDITOR OF THE STAR.

Berwick, September so.

has been reported in several newspapers,
that Sir HEW DALRYMPLE had been for some time
Member of Parliament for this borough, and that he
had property in this neighbourhood. Sir HEW has
never been known here in either of these characters,
nor has he been known at all in this neighbourhood at
any time, but during the period he had the command
at Newcagle.upon.Tyne.
I have likewise to inform your Readers, that the
Convention-DALRYMPLE is no way allied to the noble
family of the same name, (Earl of STAIR,) and to
which three of our Baronets of Scotland lay claim to
propinquity Sir HEW HAMILTON DALRYMPLE, of
North Berwick, is one of those, and by coincidence
of name has been confounded with the other.