Star.
London, England, 1810-03-09 00:00:00

COURT MARTIAL.

The Public are already acquainted with the issue
of the Court Martial upon Captain WARWICK LAKE,
for leaving a man upon a desolate island, without
trial or sentence, as a.ciunishment for having stolen
a bottle of rum and some spruce beer. We subjoin
the more important parts of the Minutes of the Court.
—Captain Lake, having been dismissed from the ser-
vice for this act, we shall say nothing more of him :
but. in relation to the informant upon this occasion,
Charles Morgan Thomas, we have a few observations
to make.
It first appears, that this person gave true intelli-
gence respecting the situation of the unhappy man
who was put on shore at Sombrero; he is, therefore,
.we apprehend, entitled to attention upon other sub-
jects. Next, it appears that Sir Alexander Cochrane,
on learning this violation of humanity, took no mea-
sures to bring the author edit to justice, only sending
him back to the island, if possible to repair the bar-
barity ,of which he had been ; while the next
tidings that we hear of the informant is—that, from
be.ng a purser, he is serving before the mast, and that
with no specific crime alleged, he is Still not. permit,
ted to return to England.—This, surely, demands
the strictest investigation.
It will be found; likewise, that the same Mr. Tho-
mas has given other important information, which,
on the mere strength of the truth, be is now known
to have brought to light, requires the same severity
of examination.— He says, that the cause of his being
detained in the West Indies is—" that he made
public his intention to develope certain circumstances,
among which one was, that Captain Simpson, late of
the STAR, made a false muster, and signed bills upon
Government before they were due, thereby to enable
a Master to desert from his Majesty's service. Lieu-
tenant Stuart, late of the STAR, with a zeal highly
laudable, applied to Sir Alexander Cochrane for a
Court Marual-on Captain Simpson; but, instead of ,
granting the wished-for inquiry, the Admiral removed
Mr. Stuart, and the investigation never took place."
We must again assert, that a due respect for the
honour of theTßritish Navy itself ought to enforce a
legal inquiry respecting the accusauoni here brought
against. Capt. Simpson and Sir Alexander Cochrane.
No. t.
His Majesty's Ship Neptune, Fort Royal Bay,
Martinique, March 24,1509.
Slit—A freeman of the City of Bristol, which you
have so long and honourably represented inarli
Pa-
ment, takes the liberty to address you, as the only
alternative fie has against oppression.
In the first place, it will be necessary for me to state,
that I lately was Purser of his Majesty's sloop Deme-
rary, but resigned my warrant to Sir Alexander Co- I
thrum, upon condition of being discharged from the
service altogether : the Admiral superseded me, but
ordered that I should be detained, being impressed
-with the idea, that it was possible I snight have de-
=frauded Government. Wiwi this came to my know-
ledge, I requested to lit*int home, where alone I
%mew this point could be decided. I was buoyed up
with promises ; since when, two ships have sailed
from this place express for England, the Goree and
Belleisle ; yet stillsm I detained a supernumerary for
victuals only, and there is at present no hopes of an
alteration in my circumstances.
The cause of my being kept prisoner is, that I
made public my intention to develope certain circum-
stances, *Mang which one was that Captain Simp-
son late of the Star, made sfaise muster, and sign-
ed 'bills upon Government before they were due,
thereby to enable a master to desert from his Majes-
ty's service. Lieutenant Stuart, late of the Star, with
a zeal highly laudable, applied .to Sir Alexandeo
Cochrane for a Court-martial on 'Captain Situpson ;
but instead of granting the wished-for inquiry, the
Admiral removed Mr. Stuart, and the investigation
lace.
a duty I owe to humanity, to in form you
Lake, when Ccenmander of the Recruit,
belonging to that vessel on shore at Som-
ritinhabitedislarid in the 'Atlantic Archi-
ve he died through hunger, or otherwise,
s never heard of him. This was likewise
it Alexander Cochrane, who suffered this
terer to escape, and he now has the corn-
te Ulysses.
to the Right HonourableCharlesßathurst ,
the Member, but as the beloved Member
to see one of your friends put in possession
:has so dear to Englishmen, and of which
so unjustly deprived.
justly observes, that streams always be-
impure the farther they are from the foun-
this assertion is just, inasmuch as the fol-
ts are incontrovertible, viz. the transport
at Trinidad, was employed upon specu-
.pos2s. The ransoming enemies has oot only
'ved at, but encouraged, and the honour of
has not only been compromised, but basely
by a set of wretches, calling themselves
fled Officers, but who, in reality, would ,
a hind compters in Cheapside and Ludgate-
if they make these their prototypes, they
very short of the original.
&c. (signed) CHAS. MORGAN THOMAS.
Hon. Charles Ba-ruunsT, M.P. London.
hope you will not construe into disrespect
lg this with a wafer only, and omitting a
I am obliged 4.0 use secresy, in order to
letection.
Its Majesty's ship Ulysses, at the Nere, July 3, 1809.
reply to your letter of the 6th ult. direct-
s) explain for the information of my Lords
;loners ef the Admiralty, a charge exhibited
. me by Charles Morgan Thomas, late Purser
Majesty's ship Demerary, of having set a man
upon an uninhabited island, when I had corn-
the Recruit ; and also to state what I knew
Ong Mr. Thomas ; I beg leave to acquaint you
lan was set on shore upon the island of Som.
;ho was a most infamous character, but that
)t dead, as represented by Mr. Thomas, he
been taken off by an American vessel a few
terwards, and conveyed to America, where he
:es. I called at the said island on my return
.badoes, frr the purpose of again taking the
hoard the Recruit, but he was not there ; and
arrived at Barbadoes, I found, by an Arne.'
newspaper, a statement of the man having been
off the island in question, and landed in Ame-

-- ,

the Sita, made a
Government befo
a Master to deser
tenant Stuart, lat
laudable, aiiplks;
CoUrt mama-0E
granting the wish
Mr. Stuart, and
We must agar
honour of the Br
legal inquiry rest
against. Capt. Sin
SIR—A freem
have so long an
anent, takes the
alternative he h
In the first pla
that I lately wa
vary, but resign
chrane, upon co
service altogeth
•tvrdered that I
-with the idea, ti
Irauded Govern
ledge, I reques
"knew this point
with promises
from this place
Belleisle ; yet s
JJ victuals only,
alteration in m
The cause
made public
stances, *Mem
son, late of 6
ed bills upon
thereby to ena
• ty's service. I
a zeal highly
Cochrane for
but instead of
- Admiral rent
never took pl
I deem it s
• that Captain
set a man bel
brero, an sift
pelago, when
for more wan
known to Sin
tided murde
larmd of the
I appeal t
not onlyasl
of Bristol, t(
of those rig)
he has been
Voltaire j
come most
tain.head ; •
lowing factn
lately wive
lacing purge
been conniv
the nation 1
abandoned,
Commission
do bean' be
hill; but
fall short,
I have,
The Rightki
,P. S. .1
the sealing
cover, as
prevent de
No. t.—Hi
ing me to
Commissi
against to
of his.*
on 'bore
:nand of 1
respecting
that a tn;
bran, wl
he is not
having b
days aftt
now live
td Barba
rnan'op
when I I
:lean tan
taken end
rita•