Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1842-12-31
From the Neso York Tribune Extra Of December %.
THE SOMERS MUTINY!!
Naval Court OF INQUIRY!

WEDNESDAY, Dec %, l642.
The Court Of Inquiry, appointed by the Secretary of the
Navy, TO examine the facts connected with the al
legd attempt mutny board the U. States Brig
Somers, to-day III o'clock A. NJ board the North
Carolina the Navy Yard. The Court Of the fol-
lowing distinguished officers:
The President is Captain CHARLES STEWART Command
of the Home Squadron. His flag ship the fine Race
Independence temporarily this port and under sailing
orders.
The second member is Commodore A. j. DALLAS, Com
mandcr of the Pensacola Navy Yard and attending the
sessions OF this Court under special orders from Navy
Department.
The third is Commodore JACOB JONES' Port Admiral com.
mande. oal the vessels aoat this harbor His flag ship
- the North Carolina, board Of which the Court is held.
The Judge Advocate is Hon. OoDrS HOFFMAN, u.
s. Attorney for this Southern District of New York lie
formerly attached the Navy years and
on board the United States with Decatur his celebrated
action about the middle of the last war; which he capu-
red the irignte Macedonian.
Commodores Jones and Dallas present an early
hour, and the Judge Advocate fifteen minutes
before H. Capt. STEWART board at IL. There
were present at the opening OF the Court quite number OF
officers among whom noticed Captains Perry Sands and
Cooper Purse Stockton and Buchanan and Messrs San
ders and Campbell OF the Army OF the officers of the North
Carolina were present the Commander Capt GRE
CORY, Commander Whitman Lieutenants Hunt, Gibson,
Gray and Ward Purer Macauley the Chaplain Stock
bridge, Acting Sailing Master, Passed Mdshipman Eld and
Capt Dougl and Lieut. KNITTING of the Marine.
Commander ALEXANDER SIIDELL MACKENZIE of the So
mers, appeared in full uniform He is n of medium
hight with fine head covered rather nly by light auburn
hair high forehead aud of amabe and pleasing
than stern and commanding presence.
After administering the oath the several members of
the Court, the Judge Advocate read the Sc
cretary UFsuEE constituting the Court and authorizing
to inquire into all the facts touching the alleged muny on
board the Somcs, and the conduct of Commander MAcKEx-
zIE in ordering the execution of Mdshpman PHILIP SPEN-
GER and of SAMUEL CROMWELL and ELISHA SMALL and TO
report To the Department its opinion the right and pro.
priety Of those proceedings.
Some conversation then took place concerning the ar
engagements for conducting the inquiry. The Judge Avo
cate asked Conn., Mackenzie if he had drawn up narrative
OF the transaction.
He replied that he had prepared official statement
which he had forwarded To the Navy Department Wash
ngton, and of which he had a copy.
The Judge Advocate said that it appeared original
partment and might be their way this city, he
had written TO have them forwarded and he believed no
mail had arrived this morning from South of Philadelphia.
but present. and asked assisted in his
defence by Mr.. John Horn Counsel but in taking
minutes OF the proceedings of the Court.
He allowed by the Court to do So Arrangements
then made for future sessions of the Court The
Judge Advocate wished that late hour in the morning
for their meeting would be convenient might be appoint
ed all his official correspondence with the authorities at
Washington must be attended before he could convent
entity attend IL arranged that the Court should meet
at halfpast III and continue Its sessions till hapast OF
o'clock, according 10 circumstances.
The Court then adjourned till Thursday, III o'clock
A. VI.
II has yet been decided whether the proceedings of
the Court shall be public OF not