Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-05-06

tention to them as embracing much Of interest
to all directly or indirectly concerned in the
proceedings Of those courts
NAVY DEPARTMENT. May 5, 1857.
SIR: The great number of witnesses summoned
at the instance of parties coming before the Naval
Courts OF Inquiry, under the act OF Congress ap-
proved January Is, 1857, having been found pro
ductive of serious Inconvenience to the Pubhc
service. as well of delays and expense, Whlcn
may probably, by consent, be avoided In many
cases, it is recommended that in all instances
where 1t may be done with due regard 10 gustce,
the Judge Advocate and the applicant before ine
Court shall enter into stipulation to receive the
dispositions of witnesses on either side, the same
being taken by any authority competent to adj
minister an oath upon interrogatories and cross
interropatoTieS to be exhibited to the witnesses
With regard to general testimony as TO charac-
ter and - ftness for the naval service,'' and in
voving proof of important specific facts and tes-
timony merely cumulative, 1t Is not perceived
that any objection can reasonably be interposed
against the adoption of this course of proceeding
1t is proper, however, that in all cases the Judge
Advocate should be governed by the particular
circumstances in giving or withholding his con-
sent.
With a view to the same ends il is also desira-
BILE that the Judge Advocate should he advised by
the applicants as to the mateTiality of the evil
dence expected of the witnesses named by them
before the subpPnas issued. This is espe-
cially important where the witnesses are engaged
on public duty. You will be pleased to take the
proper steps to carry these views into effect in the
preparation of cases for investigation by the
eTal Naval Courts of Inquiry.
am, respectfully, your obedient servant,
J. TOUCEy.
I'M. CARLISLE, Esq, Judge Advocate.
| NOrIcE.-By the authority of the honorable
the Secretary of the Navy, as above expressed,
the undersigned Judge Advocate, charged with
the preparation of cases for investigation by the
| Naval Courts of Inquiry under the act of January
| is, 1857, hereby gives notice:
L. That il is expected that parties coming before
the said courts will transmit to him, through the
| Navy Department, as early as practicable. Il list
| of the witnesses whom they may desire to have
| summoned, specifying the particular subject
| matter md the period of time to which each
| witness respectively is to be examined.
H. That in all cases when in the opinion of the
| Judge Advocate it may be done with due regaid
to Justice counsel will be given the part of the
| Government, to take dispositions But i'm all cases
when this is proposed, specific nterrogatories to
| the witness must be submitted to the Judge Ad-
voCate, in order that croSs-inerroGatOries NAV be
subjoined by him, if deemed expedient When
this is done. and stipulation entered into for
ceiving the deposition i'm evidence, (which will
be endorsed by the Judge Advocate. on the inter
roEatoTies,) the deposition may he taken before
| any authority duly certified to be competent tC
| administer oathS in judicial proceedings, unless
otherwise specially provided in the stipulation
j. Nj. CARLISLE, Judge Advocate &c
WASHINGTON, May 1, 1857.
The WEArHER.-The following report of the
weather for this morning is made from the Morse
Telegraph line to the Smithsonian Institution
and will be continued daily when the line is in
working order. The time of observation is