The Sun.
London, England, 1842-03-07 00:00:00

COURT-MARTIAL.

CHATHAM, AlAncu 3.—A General Court-martial was held
this day in the General Court-martial Room, Chatham Bar-
racks, for the purpo.e of try,ng the lion. Edward Sidney Plun-
kett, holding the rank of Lieutenant in the With Regiment.
The Hon. J. C. Talbot attended as counsel for the de-
fendant.

--;111e Judge Advocate read the following charges :
" I. For conduct unbecoming the character of an officer and
a gentleman, in having, at a late hour of the night, on Friday,
the 21st of anuary, 1642, together with other officers, made a
great noise and disturbance in the barracks at Chatham, in the
course of which disturbance, the door of the room of Ensign
Bridges, of the 95th Regiment, who was theri'in such room, and
in bed, was violently broken in by one of the officers, and being
the !cnior officer present while such disturbance and acts of
violence were taking place, in no having endeavoured to
prevent and repress them, but in having given encouragement
to and joining in them.
" 2. For conduct unbecoming the character of an officer
and a gentleman, in having, on the night and about tile
time mentioned in the fir-t charge, proceeded with the said
officers and with other officers, his juniors, to the room of
Ensign Carew, of the 95th Regiment, in the said barracks,
and then drinking to excess with su :h officers, and in havin.r,
on such occasion introduced into the said room, and to the
company of such officers, a woman of loose and abandoned
character, with whom he, the said Lieutenant Plunkett, was
at the time cohabiting, such conduct being subversive of good
order and military discipline.
"3. For having, after he had on the occasion beforemen_
tioned, and as senior officer present, placed Ensign Carew in
arrest for striking Ensign Bains, another of the officers pre-
sent, and afterwards continuing in his company, and at last
overturning the tables with the bottles, glasses, and other
articles thereon, at the same time throwing down the said
Ensign Carew, such conduct being, &c.

"4. For neglecting on the said night of the 21st of January,
! or on the follow it g morning, to report to his commanding
officer, Lieutenant-Colonel Trevor, the conduct of Ensign
Carew beforementioned, or that he the said Lieutenant Plan-
ket had placed the said Ensign Carew under arrest, such con-
duct being, &c.
" b. For baying at Sheerness, the.2oth of Deoember,
1841, entered the house of William Cole, butcher and confec-
tioner, and causing wine to be sent for by William Cole, and in
not having then or since paid for the same ; and for tisen and
there violently assaulting the said William Cole, and damaging
and destroying certain articles of furniture, the property of the
said William Cole, such conduct, &c."
. _

The defendant pleaded not guilty.
The Commanding Officer of the depot, Lieut.-Col. Trevor,
then addressed the Court at some length.
The first witness examined was Major Halifax, of the 95th
Regiment, whose evidence was inconclusive he did not con-
sider the disturbance such as to warrant him in reporting it to
his general officer.

Ensign William Bridges sworn, said—l remember Friday
night, the 21st of January last. Some persons came to my
door that night. One of the persons was, I believe, Mr.
Baines. I cannot speak of a certainty to any other. At the
time they came to my door I was in bed, and from what oc-
curred 1 got up, and I found the panel of my door was broken
in. I understood Mr. Baines Croke it in. I did not see Mr.
Plunkett present at the disturbance. I did not see Mr.
Plunkett until I went into Mr. Carew's room. When I vrent
there the others I alluded to in the party were Ensign Dicks,
Ensign Armstrong, of the 41st, and Lieut. Plunkett. I went
into Ensign Carew's room by myself. The party there were
taking supper, and after supper they continued drinking
wine. When Mr. Carew knocked Mr. Baines down, I saw no
provocation given for such conduct. Mr. Carew picked Mr.
I!aines up. Mr. Baines said to Mr. Plunkett, "Do you s•e
that, Lieutenant Plunkett." Mr. Plunkett said to Mr. Carew,
" Consider yourself under an arrest." Mr. Carew begged
Mr. Baines's pardon, and he was told it was too late. I saw
the table fall, and Mr. Carew under it. Mr. Baines fell like-
wise, but how it happened I cannot say. Previous to my leav-
ing I did not hear Lieutenant Plunkett release Ensign "Carew
from arrest. There was a female introduced into the room.
I cannot say by whom. I did not know her. Lieutenant
Plunkett remained drinking in the room after he bad placed
Ensign Carew under arrest. Lieutenant Plunkett was sober.
Lieutenant Plunkett remained during the whole time that I was
there. The party broke up about two o'clock in the morning.
It being four o'clock, the Court adjourned.

BEAT WESTERN STEAM-SIIIP COMPANY.—The
general meeting of the Shareholders of the above Company
was held on Thursday last, at the Company's offices, Prince's-
street. In the first place a dividend of 15s. per share was de-
clared, and it was announced that the great iron steamer,
Great Britain, would be ready to be launched in March, 1543.
A lengthened discussion ensued respecting the alternate sail-
ing of the Great Western from Bristol and Liverpool, and the
financial condition of the Company. Mr. Mare strongly con-
demned the former proceeding; the Great Western was
designed for the benefit of Bristol, and if any one would
second his proposition he would, rather than the ship
should be " bastardized," be removed to that port,
propose that the affairs of the Company should be
wound up, and closed altogether. The explanation offered of
the removal was, that owing to the difference in the port
charges, and other expenses, the Great Western could be
cleared out at Liverpool for 2001. less than at Bristol. An
examination of her freightage also showed that only a com-
paratively smel portion was•derived from and consigned to
Bristol. The original prospectus and the inducements therein
held out to subscribers, were brought on the tapis and con-
trasted with the present state of the Company's affairs. Mr.
R. Bright, by whom the chair was taken, urged the Share-
holders to go on for another year, taking advantage of the
markets of Bristol and Liverpool ; by that time their new
vessel would be completed, and they would then be better
enabled to judge as to the course which it would be adviiable
to pursue. A resolution in accordance with these views, was,
we believe, ultimately agreed to.—Bristol Mercury.
On Saturday the Duke of Cambridge paid a visit
to the Hanwell Lunatic Asylum. His Royal Highness arrived
at eleven o'clock, and remained until half-past one. The Duke
expressed himself highly delighted with all the arrangements,
and particularly with the abstinence from restraint in the treat-
ment of the patients—a principle which he considered to be
the only sound one to be acted upon in reference to the malady
with which they were afflicted.
We regret to state that the death of Sir Ale
from
Burnes is confirmed by the latest official despatches
India. He was murdered by a party of the natives, h
.w2l
tamed admission to his house under the pretence 4gr Ole .
iii.
deputation from their tribe. We learn also that
Wm.
Sale had provisions for only three weeks, d Sir
Mac-
naghten for no more than three days,
were sent off.
two members of the
A Vienna letter mentions-that
head engineer of the Em.
Central Railroad Commission, 111..Chigo,
Boron de. Leb.r_, ch.l.eef
_architect'
when the latest accounts
to proceed withoutopefrtohreFveriedninnanaadn'sdraft.dilcasbrisaadyito,:dthi;ezenSaibeented
sta:ateesreato
;,.I.l7specitn
theEmmord:.
cipablelianceesomorparnaiia lroabdsy, afonudrtpouprerrot
fonthteheiirminpeerriii4s.rotevThlieybigare
to c
school, nd are to go-via Liverpool.

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