The Statesman.
London, England, 1809-08-05 00:00:00

•
NINTH DAY. •

I-

FRIDAY, AUCIOST4. .
The Covert assembled at ten o'clock, and lined
•
Gainbies. As. ing taken his usual place,
The PREStnOT asked his Lordship whether ,he
had any thing further to submit to the Court, in
addition to what was already before it ?
Lord GAmatito replied, he had nothing further
to present to the Court beyond what was con-
tained in a paper he held io his hand, and which
he begged might be read by the Judge-Advocate.
The COURT having acquiesced, the fallowing
paper was read :
ma. raestoeprr,

" I closed my evidence on Wednesday, in the full persua-
sion that bnvingestablisbed every part of my defence, it wax
unnecessary for me to examine farther witnesses, the more
especially as I ha.l called all the Officers who were in Aix
Roads, and bad been actively engaged in the attack on the
enemy.—Their teitisony would, I conceive, believe accept-
able to the Court than that of other witnesses deride' their
knowledge from subsequent information.
" The Court, however, in the decision of its discretion,
t►ought proper to call all the remaining w kaisers, and 1
heartily rejoice that nothing has been omitted to render the
Inquiry most complete. It is with no incoostderable degree
ofsetisfactioa that 1 find is their depositions testimony equally
honourable to me with that of the Officers before examined.
" Some positions laid down by two of these witoemes hive
been so completely refuted by other evidence brought for-
ward, that 1 feel myself the more confirmed ie my opinion,
that the meanies 1 pursued for the attack of the enemy,
were those hest calculated for the advantageous attainment of
the object In view. " GAMBIER."

The Pausiotwr then desired that Lord Coch.
rane might be called, and oa his Lordship's ap-
pearance, addressed him as follows:
" Lord COCHHA XL...The Court having taken
into a due consideration your note addressed to
me, have resolved (the contents of that note he.
ing foreign to the matters immediately under their
consideration, the Inquiry into the conduct of
Lord Gambier), that the request contained in that
note should nut be complied with."
Lord CoaskAns.---" I bow with due defer.
ence to the decision of the Court, but have to
request, that the note adverted to may appear
the minutes of evidence before the Court." .„„
The PRIM DIM. "My Lord, the Court w°4l
take the propriety of such a step into consider.:,
ation." •

The Court was then cleared of strangers, and
after three hours deliberation, the Court was again
opened. The -witnesses were first admitted ; and
on our aduksiou,
The President informed Lord -OCIIRANE, that
the Court, that having considered the propriety of
including his letter on the mi.,.ites, had come to a
determination to comply with his Lordship's re.
(nest.—The letter was then read, and was as fol.

lows :
.. sit,

" 4th Anitict, 1809.

Itatiog beard firm my brother Officers that a repast,
has imueahriesd. that I eetrared, in general terms, the con-
duct ofthe °dicers employed in the Road of Aix, oo the
14th of April—l wish to have an opportunity to declare the
truth on oath. considering reports of that irtture highly lajo-
sinus In the service of our couutry.

" I am also desirous to lay before the Court the ordert
given to tile ere-ships for their guidance—as they will tend
to elucidate. and clear some of those who consider that blame
has been imputed to them. I have the hooour to be, &c.
(Signed) " COCHRAN E."
" To Sir Roger Cumis, Bart. President," ice.

The PRES! DENT then desired Mr. Greethatn, the
Judge-Advocate, to read the sentence, which was
as follows e

" Pursuant to an order from the Right Honourable thz
Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, dated the sth day .41
June last, and directed to the President, setting forth thaA
admiral the Right lloaouruble Lord Gambier had by, Ilk
letter to their Lordship's Secretary of the 30th of Mass,
requested, that his conduct as Commander in Chief of the,
Channel Fleet employed in Basque Roads, between the
venteenth day of March and twenty-ninth day of April,
18t$, might be inquired into by a Court-Martial, and that by
the Log Books and Minutes of Signals of the Caledonia,
Imperieuse, and either Ships employed oo that service, it
appeared to them that the said Admiral Lord Gambier
on tie twelfth day of the said month of April, the enemy's
ships being thee on shore, and the signal having been made
that they could be destroyel, did for a considerable time
neglect or delay taking edlletual measures for destroying them.
And they, therefore, in compliance with his Lordship's re-
quest. and in consequence of whst appeared in the said log- .
hooks and minutes of signals. thought fit that a Court-Mar-
tial should be assembled fur Else purpose or examining into
his Lordship. conduct, and trying him fur the same. The
Coiumissioners proceeded to try the said Admiral, the Right
lion. Lord Gambier, fur his conduct in the instance herein
before-mentioned; and also to iaquire into his whole conduct
and proceedings as Commanderiu Chief of the Channel Fleet
employed in Basque Roads. beta een the said 17th day of March
and 19th day of April, IEO9, and to try him for the same accord
ingly 1 and baying heard the evidence produced in support of
the Charges, and by the said Right Honourable Lord Gam-
bier in his defeace, and what his Lordship had to allege le
support thereof, and having maturely and deliberately
weighed, and cooddered the whole—the Court is of opinion,
that the Charge " that the said Admiral Lord Gambier,
on the 12.111 of the Raid mouth of April, the enemy's amps
being, then on shore, and the signal having been made. the;
they could be destro)rd. did fur a considerable time neglect
or delay taking reectual mc.i .tires for destroying them," has
sot been proved against the said Admiral the Right Honour-
able Lord Gambiek, but that his Lordship's conduct ou that
occasioo, as Well as his general conduct and proceedings as
Commander its Chief of the Channel Fleet employed iu
Basque Roads, between the said lith day of March and the
Vith day of April, 1509, was marked by zeal,
.indgmeut,
ability, and an anginas attention to the welfare of his NIB-
' jetty's service, and doth adjudge him to be MOST HO-
NOURABLY ACQUITTED; the said Admiral the Right '
Honotarabie Lord Gambier is hereby MOST 11ONOURA2
SLY ACQUITTED accordingly—

(SigneJ) " ROGER cuans
M. YOUNG
J. T. DUCK WORTH
X.STAy!iOPII

Pirtitsl/1114=" Bend-ate 'opt my Lord Gam.
*tee swerd."-
• "IretraChansied tO the President.
•, giussanny.—‘.' Admiral Lord Gambier, I have
psonliat plea sere io receiving the command of the
Com+ to Mum foe your sword, in the fullest
• ,
.4mvietion that, a.: ipu hive hitherto done, you
(stare eveasioss, use it for the honour
and advantage of i country, and to your own
.personal honour: Waving so far obeyed the com.
'Maud of the'Ceurr, I beg you will permit me, in
my individual capacity, to express to you the high
gratification I have upon this occasion."
Lord Gsso et att—'s I cannot sufficiently express
the sense I feel of the patient attention of the
Court, and beg to return thanks to you, Sir, for
the obliging manner in which you have conveyed
to me their sentimenta."