New-York daily tribune., 1842-12-29
THE soMERs MUTINY.
naval Court of Inquiry.
Reported for The Trib.une.

recent alleged attempt mutiny on board the u D.
Brig-of. Far Somers, met to-day at II oclsck, AM.
on board the U. S. receiving ship North-Caroilna,
al the Navy Yard. The Court consists of the fol-
lowing distinguished officers:
The President, Captain CHARLES STEWART,
Commander of the Home Squadron. His flagship
is the fine Race Independence, temporarily at this
port, and under sailing orders.
The second member, Commodore A. j. Dali
Las, Commander of the Pensacola Navy Yard, and
attending the sessions of this Court under special
orders from the Navy Department.
The third, Commodore JAcoB JONES, Port
Admiral, Commander of all the vessels ahoat il
this harbor. His flag ship is the North Carolina,
on board of which the Court is held.
The Judge Advocate is Hon. OGDEN HOFFMAN,
now g. S. Attorney fer this Southern District OF
New.York He was formerly attached to the
Navy for some years and was on board the United
States with Decatur in his celebrated action about
the middle Of the last war, in which be captured
the frigate Macedonian.
Commodores JONES and DALLAS were present
at an carly hour, and the Judge Advocate came IN
at some fifteen minutes before IL. Capt. STEW
ART came on board at IL. There were present at
the opening Of the Court quite number OF otfl-
GERS, among whom noticed Captains Perry,
Sands and Cooper, Pursers Stockton and buchan-
an, and Messrs. Sanders and Campbell of the Ar
nv. Of the officers of the North Carolina were
present the courteous Capt. FRANCIS II. GREGORY,
Commander Wetmore, Lieutenants Hunt, Gibson
Grav and Ward, Acting Sailing Master, Passed
Midsbipman Ed, Purser Muceuley, the Chaplain,
Stockbridge, Surgeon jackson, and Capt. Doug
lass and Lieut.. Knitting of the Marines, and 5.
Claxton, Commodore Secretary.
Commander ALEXANDER SLIDELL MACKENZIE
Of the Somcrs, appeared in full uniform. He is
man of medium hight with fine head covered
rather thinly by lghr auburn hair, high forehead
and of an amiable and pleasing rather than stern
and commanding presence.
After administering the oath to the several mem,
bers of the Court, the Judge Advocate read the
warrant from Secretary UPsaUR, constituting the
Court, and authorizing it to inquire into all the
facts touching the alleged mutiny on board the
Son,ers, and the conduct of Commander MAcREN-
zIE in ordering the execution of Midshlpman
PHILIP SPENCER and Of SAMUEL CROMWELL and
ELIJAH SMALL, and to report to the Department
its opinion as to the right and proprieiy of those
proceedings. This gives them far greater power
and invests their decision with far greater conse-
euence than usually belong to the proceedings Of
Courts of Inquiry. Their judgement will, in point
Of fact, decide the question. The law is that they
shall have no power to express an opinion on the
merits of the case unless specially ordered so to
do, as in this case they are ordered in their war
rant
Some conversation then took place concerning
the arrangements for conducting the inquiry. The
| Judge Advocate asked Com. Mackenzie if he bad
drawn up narrative of the transaction.
He replied that he had prepared an otficaf state
ment which he had forwarded to the Navy Depart
nent at yYa ashington, and Of which ho had copy.
| The Judge Advocate said that it appeared no
original, papers were here-that they were on file
in the Navy Department and might now be on ih"'r
way to this city, as they had doubtless been for
warded, and he believed no mail had arrived this
morning from South of Philadelphia.
Com. MACKENZIE said that all the witnesses in
the case but two were present, and asked leave TO
be assisted in his defence by Mr.. John Hone, not
as Counsel, but in taking minutes of the proceed
| ings of the Court.
| He was allowed by the Court to do Ar
| rangements were then made for future sessions of
| the Court. The Judge Advocate wished that as
late an hour in the morning for their meeting as
would be convenient might be appointed, as all
his official correspondence with the authorities at
| Washington must be attended to before he could
| conveniently attend. 1t was arranged that the
Court should meet at half-pas II and continue its
sessions till half.past or o'clock, according to
circumstances.
The Court then adjourned till Thursday, al,
III o'clock, A. NJ
The proceedings Of this Court will be of the
most important nature, not only to the reputation
and interests of those Immediately concerned, but
TO the honor, duties and rights of ali officers Of the
Nevy-The following are the names of the crew
now in irons-of whom the first four were brought
home in irons and the others arrested Immediately
on the arrival of the Somers:
Names Jge. Born Rate
Daniel Mckinley, y, Boston, Landsman
esaTse cs@a wos stss" Ne1"s s RPsass mate
Alexander McRea, H. Ireland, Apprentice
chas. J. Gomeenham, e S ls ssoso11, so' DO DO
eesa5d saa5Fs lia aanitoa Hs5s' f. PAsdepba DO DO
Sd05Se ssmSed h9sIys Gss r. Mha'eh MaIa, Old Seaman
Henry wiI,hau, 2s, New-York, old seaman
The following arc the officers of the Somers who
will doubtless be examiHed:
Commander Mackenzie.