Star.
London, England, 1814-07-20 00:00:00

POST OFFICE PACKZT&

Lord NUGENT, pursuant to his notice, rose to
move for ceiwin Papers relative to an action which
took place ,irs the ot ,November lass, off Madeira,
lx.twt.to the Government packets Montague, Captain
Watkio. Ind L.dy Pelham, Captain Perrin, and.the
us privateer, consisting of Copies ut
two Courts of Inquiry, and the cor..
sting thereto. The Noble Lord
of his motion to be to expose a most
justice sod partiality ou the pan of

the Post Office, to the injury of an individual and the
rinbrte service, arising out of the following chteem-
stances :—ln the month of October last, the L y
Pelham sailed from Talmoitth for the West Inscli
att
and when off Madeira, fell in with the Montiguet
another packet, -taking out the Tail. tri-JamaiCa;* Thi
day after the junctiat the packets fell in ,with Of
Globe American privateer, and the Captain of the
Lady Pelhsitirreceiiieif "his orders from the Cinrintan-
-1 der of the Montague. to assist in the engagement.—
From some unavoidable circumstances, Captain Per-
rin, of the Lady Pelham, was not enabled to come
up till the action had continued ten' minutes, in the
course of which time the Montague had been so se-
verely handled, that she had not only thrown the
mail overboard, but had actually struck her Colours.
The Lady Pelham, however, 'having by this time
been able to get into action, retorted so powerfuily
on the enemy, as to oblige him to sheer off in an al-
most sinking state, with fifty of his crew killed or.
wounded. lie was sorry that it was his duty to say
that, on this turn of affairs, Captain Waring, of the
Montague, re•hoisted his colours, contrary to every
usage of civilised nations, and el ptaiti Watkins on his
return, while the Lady Pelham ha2liiroceeded to Ja-
maica, not only proceeded to justify his conduct, btu
had the audacity to accuse Captain Perrin of neglect
of fluty in not assisting him, and to call the attention
of the Post Office to the colours which he had re.
hoisted, as a matter of triumph. The result was,
that he was immediately promoted to the rank of
•
Commander, which entitled himto a provision, and
this in the face of his having sunk the mail, and be-
fore any Court of Inquiry had sat upon his conduct.
When the Court of Inquiry was about to be held, the
brother of Captain Perrin presented a remonstrance
to have it suspended till his brcther's return,'—but
though the Lady Pelham was daily expected, the
inquiry was proceeded in, and on the ex-Itarie evi-
dence produced,'Captain Watkins was acquitted, and
his promotion justified. On the return of Ciptain
Perrin, he demanded a copy of the proceedings of this
Court of Inquiry, which was refused him ; but on
succeeding in obtaining a new Court, for the investi-
gation cf his conduct, the result was, that their re-
port was perfectly contradictory to that of the first ;
the evidence in the latter having falsified that in the
former. The Report of the second Court not only
stated that Captain Perrin and all his officers and
men had done their duty to the utmost, but that with-
out their assistance, the Montague must have fallen
into the hands of the enemy. Notwithstanding this
decision, the Post Office continued the appointment
to Captain Watkins. and took no notice whatever of
Captain Perrin for his gallant services, such indeed
as it was always usual to grant reward for ; but the
Captain sought for nothing of this kind, be only
sounht to vindicate his character. The Noble Earl
proceeded to adduce other charges of prevarication
and partiality against Captain Perrin, on the part of
certain persons connected with the Post Office, who
kept back his evidence, and denied the receipt of his
letters ; and having added, that he Irici in his hand
the affidavits of upwards of SO persons, confirmatory
of the truth of his assertions, he concluded with
making his otion for the Papers.
Mr. LUSHINGTON said, he did not rise to op-
pose the motion ; but to assure the Noble Ettl, that
when the documents were produced, the crinduet. cif
the Captain, who was the object of complairit, would
appear in a light most materially different from that
in which he had viewed it. The throwing of the
mail overboard was always justifiable when a packet
was in danger of being captured ; and this danger
appeared to have arisen from the other vessel hang-
ing back.
Lord NUGENT explained: he denied that hr had
made the throwing over of the mail a ground of corn-
Oahu against Captain Watkins ; and he repeated his
charges, as already described.
Mr: PRESTON pledged himself that Captain
Perrin's conduct would be found. to have beem of the
most honourable and praise-worthy nature. From his
personal knowledge of him he would venture to say
that so man was kikely to be less liable to reproach 4
and he hoped the inquiry would do ultimate justice
to the injured,
_

;p ay result in. putting questions upon subjects of ~'atkius, and La
-great pabilie importance, of great political and na. Ulobe American
canal moment, to the Ministers of the Crown. But die lteports of ti
1 kite it to *oUrtortlibips .to feel and to considet respontleoce
..lketbernpod a stibject of the peculiar nature of di stated the object •
ad! sesitt.the situations put an .questiuus which uugh dadtaat act of jai