Star.
London, England, 1829-09-18 00:00:00

BATTLE OF NAVARIN.

COURT MARTIAL aeon CAPTAIN DICKENSON, R.N.
HONOURABLE ACQUITAL OF CAPTAIN
DICKENSON.
Potersmortu, Tauasoar, Sam 17.
This long-pending trial terminated this day a little before four
o'clock. The Court, as mentioned in Wednesday's report, was oc-
cupied during the whole of that day in hearing the evidence read,
a duty which occupied the Judie Advocate for the space of seven
hours. This day was entirely spent in deliberation upon the judg-
ment, and the length of the consideration was rumoured chiefly to
appertain to a difference of opinion upon the point of adding epi-
thets, by way of characterizing the sense entertained by the Court
of the nature of the charges.
As the Court sat from nine o'clock until past three o'clock with
dosed doors, the anxiety of the persons in attendance increased
with the passing of the day. It was known that several of the
members of the Court Martial were themselves peculiarly placed, so
as to make it indispensable for them to finish this business. The
Ganges was paying off since ten o'clock in the morning, and her
Captain (Inglefield) would, by the striking of his flag, he rendered
incapable of serving as a member on Friday.
The Briton, Captain Gordon, was under weigh in the harbour
for Lisbon, and he had only to row from the Victory to his own
ship, to prepare for his voyage; and Admiral thways's carriage
had the horses ready for a journey from twelve o'clock in the day.
It was evident, therefore, that there were personal as well as gene-
ral reasons fur the Court to hasten to a conclusion.
The crowd in waiting exceeded any hitherto on board the Vi
tory during this trial. A little before three o'clock the witnesses
were called into Court through a different entrance from the usual
door, and soon after the puhlic were admitted in one overwhelm-
ing rush.
The witnesses were allowed to stand within the railing which
enclosed the Court. The Members sat covered at the table, Capt.
Dickenson's sword lying upon it, with the handle towards him.
The Captain stood, with his Solicitor near him, in their usual places.
Notwithstanding the rush and uproar of the crowd, all became
still in a moment, and a breathless anxiety was evinced while the
Judge Advocate proceeded to go through the formal business
which precedes the sentence.
The Juoca-ADVOCATE read as folloWi
At a Court-martial, assembled on board His Majesty's ship
Victory, in Portsmouth-harbour, no the ::tith day of Aug., 18:29,
and continued by adjournment, front dry to day, Sundays excepted,
until the 17th day of September, 1329,—
PRESENT :
" The Hon. Sir Romer Srorroan, K.C.8., Admiral of the Blue,
Commander-in-Chtef of his Majesty's ships and vessels at
Spithead and in Portsmouth-harbour, President.
" The Hon. Sir Haney BLAORWOOD, Bart, K.C.8., Vice-Admiral
of the Blue.
"Sir RODRRT WALLS& °Tway, K.C.8., Rear-Admiral of the Red.
" Captain ALEZ•IitIRL WILMoT SVHOMDIRO.
" Captain GIORGI Nlexpv, C.B.
" The Hon. GRORGE ELLIOT.
" Captain &MIMI. Hoon isaterma.
" The Hon. WILLIAM GORDON.
'• Pursuant to an order from the !light Honourable Lords Com-
missioners of the Admiralty, clued the 18th day of July, 1829, and
directed to the President, setting forth that their Lordships had re-
ceived from Vice-Admiral Sir R. Codrington three letters, of the
dates stated in the margin,* setting forth the particular instances in
which be bad reason to disapprove of the conduct of Captain R.
Dickenson, C.B. on board his Majesty's ship Genoa, during the
action that took place at Navarino on the 20th of October, 1827.
after he had assumed the command of the said ship, in consequence
of Captain Bathurst being wounded and taken off the deck, and of
his subsequent conduct on board the said ship until his arrival at
Malta; the Court proceeded to inquire into the conduct of Captain
Richard Dickenson, C. B. on the occasions stated by the Vice-
Admiral in his said letters, and to try him for the sante ; and having
heard the evidence produced in support of the charges, and by the
said Captain Richard Dickenson in his defence, and what he had to
allege in aid thereof ; and having maturely and deliberately weighed
and considered the whole,
" The Court are of opinion, that the charges have not been
proved against the said Capt. Richard Dickenson,—that the charge
stating that the account of the battle given in the Genoa's log-
book, erroneously implies that the Genoa had three Ottoman
ships of the line opposed to her on the starboard side, three 60-gun
frigates on her larboard side and a-head; a double-banked frigate
astern,'—is frivolous and groundless.
" That the return made by Capt. Dickenson, that Capt. Ba-
thurst was killed in action, knowing that he did not die until many
hours after the battle was over,'—was made without the slightest
appearance of any improper motive.
" That the charge, stating that the Genoa continued firing after
the battle was over, at the risk, and to the probable injury of the
Allied ships, until hailed by the Asia to cease,' is vexatious.
" That the letter presented by Capt. Dickenson to Sir Edward
Codrington, purporting to come from the crew of the Genoa, and
desiring that Vice-Admiral Sir E. Codrington would appoint him
in preference to any other officer to succeed Captain Bathurst, as
Captain of the Genoa, appears to be a petition, which was pre-
sented without any improper motive being imputable to Captain
Dickenson ; but in presenting which he was guilty of an impro-
priety, for which he has already received the reproof of his Com-
mander-in-Chief. And the Court doth adjudge the said Captain
Richard Dickenson to be honourably acquitted, and he is hereby
honourably acquitted accordingly."
The instant the reading of the sentence was concluded, a burst
of applause ran through the Court.
Sir Roarer &famus, the President, then rose and said,—
" Captain Dickenson, I have the honour of returning you the
sword which you have worn, and which has not been dishonoured
in the service."
Captain Dickenson, in receiving it, made a low bow to the Court,
and the members instantly withdrew, the President having said—
.' This Court is now dissolved." As Captain Gordon (who bad to
pass near Captain Dickenson) retired, he shook bands with him ;
and several of the officers of the Genoa immediately proceeded to
congratulate their old commander upon his honourable acquittal,
and the parties who were with them came ashore in the highest
state of exultation.
Sir E. Codrington had left Portsmouth in the morning for town,
and all the vehicles of the place were in speedy requisition for the
numerous persons who were attracted either by buainess or cario-
sity to this interesting and unusually protracted trial.
It presents the only instance itt modern times, in which the
Judge-Advocate, antecedent to the sentence, was required to go
through the evidence front beginning to end, as a summing up,
before the consideration of the judgment; the members usually
pronouncing it from their own notes of the principal tacts deposed
by the witnesses. It remains to be seen whether any ulterior pro.
ending will, or can, arise from the events of this singular trial.
• June 14, 1829; June 24, 1829; July 17, 1829.

AN IRISH FROLIC.---An unfortunate affray has taken
place in the neighbourhood of Glanwonh, county of Cork. On
Sunday last many thousands of the country people assembled at the
funeral of Denis Daly, who was executed on the previous day, at
the County Gaol, for the abduction of Anne Gallagher; and his
relatives having determined, through a spirit of revenge, to de-
posit the corpse at the door of the prosecatrix, it was opposed by
tit it active and intelligent hlagistnte, Major Gen. BAaer,who bad
received information of the intention, and who had some of the
police with him, and remonstrated with the people. This had
no Abet on them, for they immediately struck the General, and
violently attacked the Police with stones. The Riot Act was
obliged to be read; and, the lives of the Police being endangered,
by orders of the Magistrate, they bred, when, as we are informed,
one man named Woman was killed, and some wounded—a horse
was killed. The Pollee was necessitated to redee,and a reinforce.
meat of the military was called out from Permoy, to preserve peace,
and prevent further outrage.