Star.
London, England, 1826-01-26 00:00:00

COURT M A RTIAL

-mi.-
PORTSMOUTH, JANIMAT 24.

A Court•Martrel assembled on board his Majesty's
ship Victory, on the 19th, and continued sitting until
yait.ra.? ►our o'clock this afternoon. for the purpose of
trying Captain Chapman. of his Majsty's ship A riadne,
on nine allegations, set forth by Mr. M•Coy, late Purser
of the Espiegle, to the NAVY Board, as reasons for his
refusing to sign Captain Chapman's certificate on his
leaving the Espiegletojni.i t'te Ar arsine ; also %heist at
'Lineal:int., on the coast of A►tica, he, Ca, tain Chapman,
did purchase a fern 41e slave, which slave he kept on
board fo► a fortnight, and whilst the Espiegle was
laying at Mambas, the said slave unaccountibly dis-
aopeared.

The e Court consisted of Bear Admiral Gage, President; P.
Campbell, CB. Sir M. Seymour, G.C.11. Bart. Henry lu ll,•
Frederick Warren; Charles Ingle.; C. Carroll, C. B. Lockyer, C. B.
F. ilunn, and the Itniourable Saunders Dundee. Moses Greet-
ham, Judge Advocate.
The first day was taken up in the examinalon of
Mr. NI.( •, who was cios-questioned by the prisoner
(Captain Chapman), assisted by Mr. Niinchin, an Able
Counsellor; after that Mr. M'Coy became prosecutor,
which was a difficult undertaking; he, however, in•
stantly commenced, and got through wi h the exami-
nAtion of all the witnesses for the nine allegations by
Saturday afternoon, at half-past two o'clock, when he
craved the indulgence of the Court until Monday
morning to enter on the important charge (purchase of
the ,iatec) it, contequence of indisposition, which time
was gratite.l.
_ _ _

'l'tie C urt accordingly assembled at nine o'clock on
_Monday, the whole of which day was taken up in the
a zarnina i“n of the surgeon, Mr. Hoggan, of the
Ariadrie, then in the Espiegle ; Lieutenant Marsh. the
First Lieutenant; the Captain's Cosswaio ; and John
Kite, the Captain's servant, who fully proving the pur-
chase of a young gi l for thirty dollars, by Captain
Chapman, and brought on board by the Vice-Consul,
and an Arab armed with a sword.

The psosecution closed yesterday, when Captain
Chapman requested to be allowed two days to prepare
his d fence, hut the Court considered the length of time
the Court had already been taken up, and during those
evenings he haJ had considerable time to prepare a part
of the defence, declined granting longer than eleven
o'clock this mooing, if that would suit the psi oner,
who stated he was satisfied, and would endeavour to
be ready.

At ef-ven o'clock the Court opened, which was in an
instant crowded to suffocation, and at the request of
Captain Chapman, his professional friend, Mr. M nchin,
was allov ed to read his defence, and we must do Mr.
Alinchin the justice to say he acquitted himself with
the greatest satisfaction. Ile went into all the detail of
evidence, and dii not fail to point out every little cit-
cumstance which fright in any way turn in favour of
the prisoner. Captain Chapman declined calling in
any witnesses, and threw himself on the mercy of the
Court, which, after a most patient investigation and
three hours' consultation, came to this opinion and de-
cision, that five.of the allegations had been proved, but
the Captain was justified in consequence of his orders;
two not proved, and two found frivolous and vexatious;
and that the charge of the purchase of the female slave
was fully proved, but the Court felt satisfied she had
swam hem the ship at Mombas and made her escape.
The Court, thetefore, adjudged the said Captain J. F.
Chapman to be dismissed horn his Majesty's service,
and he was dismissed accordingly.
The Court broke up soon after four o'clock.
Captain Carroll, C.B. one cf the Members, spoke
highly in favour of the prisoner as a brave, good Offi-
cer, and many letters from Officers, all went to prove
this to have been his general character previous to this
sad affair.

Wednesday, sailed his Majesty's ship Trims, from
Portsmouth, for the West Indies.
The Bank of Messrs. GINSINS, EATON, and Co. of the
Ilay, Hereford, commenced paying their notes Tuesday.
Letters are in town from Madras, dated Sd of Sep-
tember. They contain nothing farther than merely
raring at the probability of a continuance of the war.
'try likewise speak in high terms of the conduct of the
troops
The Editor of a Morning Paper, who has not followed
r3r old maxim to take care of number One,says, ',When
.:essieres was carried prisoner into Madrid a few weeks
our Corespondent, who witnessed the scene, assures
1.5 that the Spaniards in the streets, scarcely deigned
ft) turn tl.eir e)es aside to look at him." Unfortunately
31): this Corrc•pondent of the Morning Paper, Bessieres
Was never carried a prisoner to Madrid, but was shot at
d'Arragon, and that not a few weeks ago, but
011 the 26th of August last.
Dining the late frost snipes were so plentiful in the
.'ghbourislod of the marshes of l'evensey, that sere-
were ae ually caught and carried home by cats.

RORTHERN POST OFFICE AitßiiiCtmEns

•
-Somerset/lace, Jaw 20, lOW
Snss—l hare to acknowledge the receipt of the nume-
rously and respectably signed letter which you transmitted to me,
in reference to the communication by post between certain parts
of Scotland mad the town of Liverpool, accompanied by a copy of
a Memorial, which had been presented to the Postmaster General
on the subject, and by Mr. Freelihg's answer to is.
I beg to acquaint you, for the information' of the parties Inte-
rested, that I have forwarded the papers to Mr. Freeling, with a
request that be will take an opportunity of submitting the matter
to his Lordship; but as the new arrangement which forms the
ground of complaint is probably connected with, and dependent
ou, causes which may ultimately affect the convenience of other
places, and as his Lordship has already deliberately declined to
ateede to the wish of the parties, I can scarcely venture to indulge
the hope that any interference in the present state of the case will be
productive of much benefit.

I am, dear Sirs. your most obedient humble servant.
WI CLIAM HUSKISSON.
To Messrs. Rathbone, Brothers, and Co. Liverpool.