Star.
London, England, 1826-01-23 00:00:00

EUROPEAN GENERAL COURT-MARTIAL.

...
Head-quarters, Calcutta, Aug. 17, 1825.
At an European General Court-Martial held at Gawnpore on
Tuesday, the 12th of July. 1825, of which Lieutenant-Colonel Mur-
ray, C.B. his Majesty's 16th Lancers, is President, Assistant-Sur-
geon Jelin Alexander Davidson Watson, of the .12d Regiment Na-
tive !Monett, was arraigned upon the undermentioned charge, viz.
" That Mr. Assistant-Surgeon John Alexander Davidson Wat-
son, on being ordered, about the 14th of May last, to proceed In
medical charge of the left wing of the 11th Regiment of Native In-
fantry, on its march from Allahabad to Lucknow, reported him-
self sick, thereby subjecting himself to the report of a Medical
Committee; that there was not found any existing active disease to
interfere with his, Mr. Assistant-Surgeon Watson's, performing the
ordinary duties of his profession. and causing the wing of the 11th
Regiment to proceed on its route without a proper Medical Officer,.
such conduct being a disgraceful evasion of public duty, and highly
prejudicial to the service.'
Upon which charge the Court came to the following decision :
FINDING or ins Comm.—The Court having deliberately weighed
all the evidence adduced in support of the charge, together with
what the prisoner has brought forward in his defence, is of opinion
that he is guilty of the charge, with exception of the words, " on
being ordered, about the 14th May last, to proceed in medical
charge of the left wing of the 11th liniment Native Infantry, on
its march front Allahabad to Lucknow," in the former part of
the count, and of the word " disgraceful," in the latter part of the
count, of which the Court acquits hint.
Seszcoce.—" The Court having found the prisoner guilty of so
much of the charge—viz. of having repOrted himself sick, thereby
subjecting hims.lt to the report of a Medical Committee, that there
was not found any existing active disease to interfere with his, Mr.
Assistant Surgeon Watson's, performing the ordinary duties of his
profession, and causing the wing of the 11th Regiment to proceed
on its route without a proper Aledical Officer, suck conduct being
an evasion of public duty, and highly prejudicial to the service,,
which being in breach of the Articles of War, the Court doth seri-
fence him, Assistant-Surgeon John Alexander Davidson Watson„
to be reprimanded by pt• Excellency the Commauder-in-Chief."
Disapproved._

(Signed) EDWARD PAGET, General,
Commander-in-Chief in India.

SWAMIES ST NIS TXCILLTFY Till COMMANDES-IN-CIIII:T.
-The Commander-in-Chit:l disapproves of these proceedings, be-
, cause he does not conceive that a reprimand is at all proportioned
to the conduct pronounced by the Court " an evasion of public
duty, and highly prejudicial to the service."
But if he were even of a different opinion, his Excellency could
not confirm the sentence, as the Court h:ive inadvertently exercised
an undue power in sentencing a primmer " to be reprimanded by
his Excellency the Commander-in-Chief." The extent of a Courea
power, in such a case, is to award a reprimand to be pronounced in
such mode as his Excellency should direct.
Assistant-Surgeon J. A. Davidson Watson is to be released from
arrest, and return to his duty.
By order of his Excellency the Commander-in-Chief,
W. L. WATSON, AJjt..Gen- of the Army

A French Author observes. .r the En'lish are the
most extraordinary people in the world. The avidity with which
they enter into a speculation, is in direct proportion to the wildness
of the scheme. Telt them or a lurk gold ore that is suspected to
he at the bottom of a fathomless mine, filled with water, some
three or four ti.ousand miles ht the interior of South America,
competing companies Are instantly tormed—immense capital sub-
scribtd—ani the d becomes niaddeued with the hope of dis
mot ingots, which perhaps exist rattly in inirgination ;" whilst they
possess within their own reach Sterling Wealth, th.t can be rea.
day obtained by the mere tutu of a Wheel, as in this Lottety of
;it Priz,, of Twareev Tirothsatio, all to he decide t on W lIDNISOA
iA of March; and in Two mote drawings, Lotteriev end fur ev,:r.