The Sun.
London, England, 1829-08-28 00:00:00

COURT-MARTIAL UPON CAPT. DICKEN-
SON, R.N.-(RECEIVED THIS DAY.)

PORTSMOUTH, THURSDAY—(SECOND DAY.)
The Court was ()piled this morning at nine o'clock,
when the Second Ci.arge was gone into, as to the Genoa
firing int) the Albion, which ship had an English ensign
at her head to p., ~t such mistakes.

Captain OMMA DIM ander of Vie Albion, WILS cxe-
!
mined—From his evidence it appeared that, in the begin-
ning of the action, he had' not an opportunity of observing
the Genoa. It was about an hour and a half after the
action bad commenced when he first observed her ; he did
not then think that she was in the most favourable posi-
tion for engaging her opponent ; instead of having her
broadside towards her, she was rather in an angular sta-
tion, and he was of opinion that she could not have fired
into her without endangering. the Albion, unless she fired
over her; he observed the battle-ship with which the
Asia was engaged, as well as the opponent of the Genoa,
became entangled, and the main-mast of the one and the
fore-mast of the other falling upon board different ships;
they were drifting about for a great part of the night, and
ultimately were anchored the following morning ; they
were cut adrift by the Albion's people, and were cast upon
the rocks on the western side of the harbour, and there
lay when they came away.—(The maps and plans of
the engagement of Navarin were again produccd.)—
The head of the stern was towards the Albion, and her
stern towards the Asia, con,equently a considerable portio❑
of the broadside was towards her opponent to account for
the position of the Genoa ; the Albion had all her chain
loose with. one anchor down ; the Genoa had her two
anchors down. A question now arose as to whether, from
the position of the vessels, the Genoa could possibly,
through mistake, fire into the Albion without being aware
of what she was doing. Capt. Ommeney replied that he
went into action with a white ensign at the fore gallant
mast-head, and when the halliards were shot away, he had
ordered a man to carry one up.
To questions from time Court, the Captain stated that
when the Albion was repairing, -there were no English
shot observed to have struck her; the Genoa was in action
before the Albion was able to take up her position, and
she was engaged with a Turkish line of battle ship, which
was appointed fur her opponent.—(The Captain now
observed that the plan produced was not a correct one,
it was on far too small a scale)—the starboard guns of the
Genoa were turned towards the Albion. They were
about two or three calls' length distant.
By Sir HENRY BLACKWOOD—Did not observe any al-
teration in the position of the Genoa ; his attention was
drawn towards her by her engagement with a Turkish
ship, and seeing her fire was not so brisk the A/1)ton
joined, and the Turkish ship was soon after silenced ; but
he did not impute that to the fire of the Albion solely, but
to the united exertions of the two ships. He observed
that the firing of the Genoa was not so brisk as at the
commencement of the action, which could be accounted
for in many ways, such as men killed, the disabling of j
guns, &c. Cannot say whether the shot which struck
the Albion came from the Genoa. The first intimation
he had of it was from the second master coining to him
from the forecastle, and stating that shot was pouring in
on them from the Genoa. He immediately repaired to
the forecastle with the glass, and observed some of the
foremast guns of the Genoa in the direction of the Albion,
which must have either struck her or passed over her. The
flag, or English ensign, could not have been blown down,
yet the smoke was so thick, that they could only see each
other at intervals, and there were several small Turkish
vessels between the Albion and Genoa. After the action
the opponent of the Genoa's fore-mast and mizen-mast fell,
The fire of the Genoa was not applied to any particular
ship, but to where she could do the most execution. There
were many Turkish ships in the direction of the Albion,
and it was not only possible, but probable, that the Albion
might be hit by a shot from any of those.
By Captain DICKENSON—He had no reason to suppose
that when the Genoa commenced firing but she did her
duty. The Albion never received any stone-shot from the
Genoa's opponent, or from any other Turkish vessel.
Captain DRAKE, of the Albion, was next examined.—
It appeared from his testimony that so much was be en-
gaged in hoarding a frigate, which he did in half an hour,
as not to be able to speak with any certainty of the posi-
tion of the Genoa. Captain Drake then went into a long
detail of the manoeuvres of the Albion during the action,
and was not aware that any shots from the Genoa had
struck the Albion.

Mr. WILLIAM WHITE, Muster of the Albion, stated
tint he was standing on the forecastle when the second
master came to him, and said that grape-shot was coming
in on them from all quarters; he told him not to mind,
but to go back ; he returned in about twenty minutes,
and made a second communication to Captain Ommaney,
and stated that grape-shot was coining upon them in the
direction of the Genoa. The Albion then, and not till
then, ordered a White Horse or a St. George's ensign to
be hoisted, and it was in consequence of the communica-
tion that had been made that it was done; this occurred
about half an hour after the action had commenced.

I❑ answer to questions, Mr. White said that the shot
which was said to have come from the Genoa could not
have come from any of the Turkish ships; however, of
this he would not be positive, the smoke was so thick it
was almost impossible to see. The map now produced is
a correct one, and the positions of the Genoa and her op-
ponent are also correct. The Genoa certainly had hem
broadside to that of the enemy, and the opponent of the
Genoa was totally dismasted from her fire ; she was en-
tangled with the opponent of the Asia, and got on board
of her, but presently her fore-mast and mizen were shot
away by the Genoa. The Albion suffered no loss or da-
mage from the shot supposed to come from the Genoa,
nor was there any person hurt on board.
Sir EDWARD CODRINGTON was next called to be exa-
mined on the Third Charge—That of Captain Dickenson
being reproved for not using springs, &c., when it was in-
serted in the log-book that springs were used.
S:r EDWARD CODRINGTON was anxious, before he pro-
ceeded, to make an observation as to the arrangements
made by the Court. It apiniared to him they were going
to mike items of the allegations or charges, and the coin-
prebensive oath which he had taken (the oath administered
on theso oc ca ;ions differs from the ordinary oath adm.
nistered in Courts of Justice—it obliges you to tell every
thing, whether you are asked or not, for or against the ac-
cused) placed him in a most peculiar situation. The letters
lie had written to the Admiralty were written for a general
purpose, to give the Admiralty every information in his
power ; and, what was his surprise to receive a letter from
Mr. Croker, stating that the letters be had written upon
that occasion were considered as charges, and it was in-
cumbent on him to prove them. He took Mr. Croker's
letter to Lord Melville, who gave a direct contradiction to
it being incumbent on him. "My Lord (said Sir Ed-
ward) I beg to call your Lordship's attention to a con-
versation which you and I had on the subject. Was it not
distinctly understood that when I gave this information I
was to have nothing to do with the Court-martial ?"
" Most certainly," was my Lord Melville's reply. " Then
how comes it that I now receive a letter from Mr.
Croker, saying that it is incumbent on me to
prove the charges made in my correspondence ?" Lord
Melville replied, " that it was not the intention of the
Board that I should do so." I then observed, " How can
I answer this letter without giving a most uncourteous re-
ply, a direct contradiction to its contents ?" and I re.
quested his Lordship would take it back. His Lordship
said, " No, I'll not ; but answer it." I then retired and
wrote an answer, which I showed his Lordship, who said
I had stated fairly the conversation which bad passed be-
tween us, and did me the honour to be the bearer of the
letter to the Board. " How (said Sir Edward) can it be
incumbent on me to prove all I hear, or any thing one
person or another alleges?"

- The Couitx observed, that they were not inquiring into
his conduct, but the charges which were before them from
the Admiralty.
Sir E. CODRINGTON observed that he was aware of the
difficult situation in which he was placed, by the obliga-
tion which he was under from the oath he had taken. He
was the reporter of certain charges or allegations, and yet
itwas incumbent on him to prove, on his oath, that which
he had heard only from report.

Sir H. BLACKWOOD was of opinion that it was only
necessary for him to state what he knew of his own per-
sonal knowledge.

Sir E. ConaiNoToN said there was not the slightest
mental reservation, nor could he, such was its obligation,
reserve any. •

The COURT was of opinion that it was not incumbent
on Sir Edward to prove any thing except what came
within his own sphere of observation.
Sir EDWARD CODRINGTON-Then have I the authority
of the Court to say that which Mr. Croker stated is a
note ?—(We were unable to hear the conclusion of
the sentence, but we believe he made use of the word con-
tradiction.)