Star.
London, England, 1812-06-05 00:00:00

CIRCULAR.

Horse Guards, 25th March, 1812.
Stft—The Commander-in-Chiet judges it expe-
dient to transmit to you, with the enclosed docu-
ments, a tew observatiiJns on the salutary effects,
with which it is reasonable to hepe, that an occa- ,
sionti recurrence to the powers, with which you are
thereby vested, will be attended ; amongst which
the-most obvious advantage is that of limiting the
operation of Regimental Courts-Martial, strictly to
the purposes for which they are designed by the Le-
gislature, viz. for inquiring into such disputes and
criminal matters as may come before them, and for
inflicting corporal or other punishments for small
offences ; and in order to prevent the possibility of
any misunderstanding on this important point, it is
his Royal Highness's command, that on no pretence
whatever shall the award of a Regimental Court-
Martial hereafter exceed.
The Commander-in-Chief has commanded me to
take this opportunity of stating, 'teat there is no
point on which his Royal Highness is more decided
in his opinion, than that, when Officers are earnest
and zealous in the discharge of their duty, and com-
petent to their respective stations, a frequent recur-
rence to punishment will not be necessary.
The Commander-in-Chief is confident, the Officers
of the army are universally actuated by a spirit of
justice, and impressed with those sentiments of kind-
ness and regard towards their men, which they on
so many occasions have proved .themselves to de.
serve ; but his Royal Highness has reason to appre-
hend, that, in many instances, sufficient attention
has not been paid to the prevention of crime:. The
timely interference r)f- the Officer, his personal in.
tezcou. se and acquaintance with his men (which are
sure to be rei,tiel by the soldiers' confidence and at-
tachment), and Above all, his personal example, are
the only efficacious means or preventing military
offences.; and the Commander-in-Chief has no hesi-
tati<in in declaring, that the maintenance of strict
discipline, without severity of punishment, and the
support ard encouragement of an ardent and mili-
tary spirit, in a corps without licentiousness, are the
criterions by which his Royal Highness will be very
much 'guided, in forming his opinion of the talents,
ablities, and, merit of the Officers to whom the
command of the different regiments and corps of the
army are confided. I have the honour to be, Sir,
Your very obedient, humble servant.
CIRCULAR.

Horse-Guards, March 15, 1512:
have received the Commander-in•Chiers
commands to apprise you, that his Royal Highness
the PRINCE REGENT has deemed it expedient to re-
vert to the custom, heretofore in use, of entrusting
to the Colonel or Commanding-Officer of each regi-
ment, a warrant empowering him to hold la the re-
giment under his command, and composed exclu-
sively of the Officers belonging to it, General Courts-
Mat for the investigation and punishment of offen.
ces, which, though they do not fall under the descrip.
Lion of small offences, and consequently of offences
cognizable by a Regimental Court-Martial, are not,
however, from their nature, of sufficient gravity
or importance, to require the investigation of a
General Court-Martial, composed of Officers of
other corps.
This document is herewith transmitted to you, and
his Royal Highness the PRINCE REGENT, in the name
and on the behalf cf his Majesty, directs that you
shall, in exercising the power it contains, strictly
adhere to the following instructtons:
Ist. 1 hat it shall never be applied to the case of any Commis-
sioned Officer.
2d. The it shall not be applied even to the eases of non-com-
mia‘oned oilicero, or private soldiers, which, by the present pane-

tier, are retired to the &siva/ bawl. eontmanding in the dis•
triet, or on the station.

3d. You are to understand, that this warrant M intOnded
merely to apply to the more serious eases, which, at present, are
usually brought before Regimental Courts-Martial, bat which,
from their nature, or from the aggravation of the circumstances
attending them, may seem to call for a more severe punish-
ment than it is fit that such Regimental Courts-Martial should
aware.

4th. You will observe that, by the warrant, it Is left optional
with you to be yourself President of these General Regimental
Courts-Martial, or to appoint tom Field Officer of the Regiment
to that duty, and that the proceedings, if the regiment is in Great
Britain or Ireland, are to be transmtted, through *he Genaal
Officer commanding the brigade, to the General commandi .g in
the district, and that the sentences awarded by them are in no
case to be ca:ried into execution, till the.), receive his sanct.on
and confirmation. If the Regiment is on foreign service, the
sentences are to be approved by the General Officer on the T.*,
or by the General comthancting on the sta,ion, according to the
orders, which you may, from time to time, receive on this head.
In all cases, the original proceedings of General Regimental
Courts-Martial are to be transmitted to his Majesty's Judge Ad-
vocareGeneral.

Lastly, You will observe, that the 18th and 21st sections of
the Mutiny Act, authorise General Courts-Melia', consig•ing
of vine members, including the Presithnt, held ior the triad
of Non-commissioned Officers and Soldiers, in cases where there
is a difficulty or inconvenience to the service, in assembling risgre
members, provided the punishment awarded does not extend to
the loss of life or limb, or transportation; and his Royal High-
ness the PRINCE REGIN a- approves of Courts so constituted being
resorted to in all cases which fall under the spirit and meaning
of the Act.

The Commander-in-Chief directs you to be very
careful to instruct the Officers, who may at any time
be called on, to compose a General Co,urt•Martial
within the regiment under your command, as to the
nature and extent of the powers and authori'y
thereby vested in them, from the temperate and ju-
dicious exercise of which his Royal Highness expects
the most beneficial consequences will accrue to the
discipline of-the service.-1 have the honour to be, Sir,
Your most obedient humble servant.

WARRANTS FOR HOLDING COURTS-MARTIAL.
BY HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE PRINCE REGENT OF THE
UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND:

Whereas an Act has been made and passed in cilia present Ses-
elan of Parliament, for puoishing Mutiny and Desertion, and for
the better payment of the Army and their Quarters, from and
atter the 24th day of March until the 25th day of March,
, we have therefore thought fit hereby, in the name and
on the behalf of his Majesty, to authorise and direct you, from
time to time, to call, assemble, and bold Courts-Martial, and to
bePresident of the same; which Courts-Martial are to be consti- 1
tuted according to the said Act of Parliament, and to meet at
such time or times, as you the said Pre.iident shall appoint, for
punishing such mutiny, desertion, false musters, and other crimes,
as have happened or shah happen in his Majesty's regiment under
your command. And we do hereby, in the name and on the
behalf of his Majesty, further authorize and empower the said
Courts Martial, to hear and examine all such matters and infor.
mations as shall be brought before them, touching the misbeha •
viour of any Officer or Soldier, by mutiny, desertion, false mus-
ter, or otherwise, as aforesaid, and to proceed in the trial of such
offenders, and in giving of sentence, and awarding punishment,
according to the powers and directions contained in the said Act
of Parliament, and Articles of War, which are hereunto an-
nexed; and tor so doing this shall be your warrant. •
Given at our Court at Carbon-House, this 25th day of March,
in the fifty year of his Majesty's reign.
By command of his Royal Highness the Patrice Receter,
in the name and on the behalf of hi 4 Majesty.
To the Colonel of his Majesty's Regiment
of , or to the Lieut-Colonel or Major
of the said Regiment, for the time being.
The following is a copy of a General Order of
his Royal Highness the COMMANDER in CHIEF, or-
dered to be printed by the House of Commons, May
28, 1812:

" Horse-Guards, July 5, 1811.
" In consequence of the operation of the Act, fur allowing
the mutual interchange of the British and lrl,h Militias, his
Royal Highness the Commander in Chief is pleased to direct,
that the Commanding Officers of Regiments shall be particularly
attentive, that no soldier, profes.ing the Roman Catholic religion,
shall be subject to any punishment for not attending the divine
worship of the Church of England : and that every such soldier
shall be at full liberty to attend the worship of A.t.sitooTy Gon,
according to the forms prescribed by his religion ; when military
duty does not interfere.
By command of his Royal Highness the Commander in Oblet.
HAillY CALVEILT, A. G.
WILLIAM ELYORD, Eeq. is appointed to the corn-
mand of the Ist, or Plymouth-Dock Regiment of
Local Militia, vice his uncle, Sir WILLIAM ELFOII4
resigned.

The new Local Militia Act contains a clause, de-
claring, that persons not joining their regiments or
deserting, or absenting themselves from duty, may,
'on being convicted by General Courts-Martial, be
sentenced to further service in the Local or Regular
Militia, or in the Regular Forces, without limitation,
according to the extent of the offence committed.
A Regimental Court-Martial sat in Chichester
Barracks three days last week, on three young men
belonging to the West Sussex Local Militia, for dis-
respectful behaviour towards one of their Officers.—
They were severally sentenced to twenty-four hours
confinement.

The second period of volunteering for the line, be-
gan at Plymouth on Monday, and continues; the Ist,
2d, and 3d of June, for the Roscommon regiment,
-who have turned out their quota of fifty fine young
fellows fo- different regimentC; and the 4th, sth,
and 6th of June, is appropriated lir volunteering
from the English militia for the line ; who, no doubt,
will emulate the spirit of the Irish, in turning out for
the line.

Wednesday the company of flying artillery, under
the command of Captain SMITH, passed through
Brighton from Lewes, for Hive, for the purpose of
practising with shot and shells, at a target, on the
beach, nearly fronting that place. During their prat-'
tice, an unexpected accident occurred, but, providen-
tially, not a fatal one, though the consequences of it
are far from trifling. Several of the Shrapnell shells,
loaded with musket bullets, it appears, which were
not intended for•use`that day, had been fixed, in
boxes, to the carriages of the field-pieces, for the in-
spection of the General ; and to one of these boxes,
containing four shells, a spark, by some unfortunate
means, found it way, when three of the four shells
were presently exploded, and their destructive con.
tents digpersed in all directions. Major General
HAmmoND had his lip cut through, but the wound is
not considered of much consequence ; Lieutenant T.
BLAKE'', of the Local Militia, was stunned by a frag-
ment of the gun carriage striking him on the back.
part of the head ; and two of the artillery-men, sub-
ordinates, were so severely hurt, the one about the
knee, and the other in the leg, though neither bad
any bones broken, that they were conveyed from the
in the catriage of Mr. W. ATMS; which
Gentleman attended the practice. Mr. BOND, Sur-
geon, who, as an equestrian spectator, was present,
had his horse slightly wounded in the flank ; and
which, with those above mentioned, happily incuded
all the injuries sustained.