Norwich bulletin., 1914-08-13
FAMOUS TRIALS
TRIAL OF ADMIRAL RYNe.

Nothing succeeds like success" is popular epigram and it is well il lustrated in the lives of many great men in the misfortunes and humiliat on that have followed unpraventable fail- ure. If a great soldier wins he re- ceives the plaudits of the world. and equally its condemnation if he loses, and not infrequently circumstances initiated against his chances to win. This is illustrated in the career of Ad- miral Byng of the English navy.
 Byng was esteemed by the British nation as an especially able seaman and as a brave man, but he was ruined by partisan aninosity. He was ex- ecuted in 1T57 for his failure in his at tempt to relieve Monorca two years before. but after party fury had sub- sided and his conduct had been dis passionately examined his intentions were allowed to have been good, his courage 1ndiSputable and his death the consequences of rancorous misrepre- sentations from personal dislike.
 On the first news of Byngs failure Tn the Mediterranean he was hurrie lily recalled by the ministry. He reached England and was placed on trial in November, 1756, by court martial This trial was continued until the following June, when he was convicted of crim- inal neglect Lord Anson had appoint ed Byng to the position as admiral of
 
 although he was equally responsible with him in the failure, there is noth- ing to show that Anson did not fully agree with the finding of the court and the justice of the sentence,
 Before leaving England Byng showed that the force he was taking out was inadequate for the service required of him, but his objections were everruls sd and he was assured that when he was joined by the ships already in the Mediterranean he would have force at his disposal equal, if not superior to ed that his ships were badly mann 3d and were short of complement.
 But in spite of the representation IS Byng made to his government, he was compelled to follow orders, and because he failed he lost his life. The court martial of Byng was the most cele- | brated ever held in England. It brought out stormy debates and discussions in | the British house of commons. When the sentence of death was passed by the court-rnartial this sentence was | accompanied by a recommendation for mercy; but it was. nevertheless, caI . Tied out and Byng was shot on the I quarter-deck of the Monarch on March | 14. 1757.
 The tragic fate of Byng formed the subject of much discussion at the time and it has often been discussed since and many of the English historians have condemned the execution as a ju- dicial murder. Boscawen, the British 1 lord of the admiralty, was the head o1 l the board that signed Byng's instrus- lions on March 30. 1756. He signed the order for the court-martial on Dec 1. following. and as commander in chiei l of Portsmouth he signed the inmedi l ate order for the execution on Marct l IT,.
 l .Byng. as were most of. the superio, ofhcers Of the navy, was a member 0, the house of commons. and 1t fell to thu lot of Boscawen to inform the hcusa on Dec. "that the king and the boart of admiralty being dissatisfied witi the conduct of Admiral Byng, he, th, said. admiral. is now in custody in or
 The king refused to commute tn, sentence. though asked to do so D, I Fit.
 | The conduct of Byng In. his last mo
 nents confirms no part of the eyidenc, of cowardice with which he wa.
 charged. for he was cool, determined
 Ggnffied and resigned. In answer tl
 this. however, historian states
 q passive courage In facing death
 which is often shown by wariIke f.a tons, notably the Chinese, and tha more active form of confronting dange
 which leads to vietoFy.o
 But in spite or Byng's misfortune a , the tir1e, an immediate ppHterity hoR
 nred him as e British admiral; and , was ohtained frem aaseng the senret
 of ministerial intrigue that he was deserving Of the disgrace ef aa exc cutl1n and ebedient to orders whie the men Ia office had aet tAs eenraE to nEbR.