Norwich bulletin., 1921-12-23
F arraous Trials

In 1S1O the noble Marquis of Sligo, then 8 very thoughtless young man, quilted college and proceeded on : his travels, visiting places of. interest and persons of whose ancient fame and greatness he had read so much. Being partial to farine excursions and willing to indulge in one in the Mediterranean, he hired, at Malta, a brig called the Pylades. and having been introduced to at that station, he received from that naval officer much information and kindness
 The noble marquis, being frequently rowed to and from the Warrior by some of her athletic crew, seems to have thought the addition of a few of these fine fellows a desire 7e ac- qufsition to his handful of Italians Accordingly it aDpaars he succeeded in en-ictng two of them, upon which sus- picion fell upon his lordship: for # was supposed no ordinary inducernent had been held out to them as they were men of tried fidelity. long standing and had then three years arrears of wares due to them.
 Capt. Strai1ger paid the marquis r limiting his susnieions, his Iordshtp ap- pAared greatly hurt; upon which the captain, from their intimacy, contentel himself with cautioning his noble friend of the danger of having deserters. on board, as the navy was then very low, l being' nearly two thousand under its i complement. He then left the marquis and from his oyEn snip sent him a description of the men missing, re- ouestfng that, if they offered thenselves to his 1or5ship, they might be sent to sona of His Maiesty's ships at Malta. t must be admitted that at that pe- riod British seamen were not, as a rule, very loyal to the service, and no doubt 1 did not require much pressing; but still the marquis was disloyal for he kept the men concealed on board, and pledged 1 his word of honor S1at he did not know Of their whereabouts.
 1 The following day the Warrior sailed i and the maruois fired with the fame of 1 his grandfather, Lord Howe, resolved that his brig should be a letter of mar que for the purpO'e of unfolding the ! honor of the British flag For the bus 1 inegs of ravi~ation. a comparatively few 1 men wouid have done, but in this new i csnacity he required at least 40. To procure these was no difficult task on 1 3, station where men were hourly in the habit, of quitting their ships; and his i lordsFfp's servant, in the course of an 1 evening or two added II brave fellows l to their. conp1etment.
 1 On the 18th of May his lordship sated to Palmero and from thence to 1 Messina, where, on pledging his word lof honor that he had no desArters on board, he received six months pro-
 
 false names for the rnen-of-wars men course, and on the 90th of May she was chased by the Active, an officer having heard that there were 6leserters on board. Ere the boat came alongside his lordship ordered the men of-wal-'s men below, and, though 8 search took Ep,ace, they escaeed detection.
 The n7arouiS next sailed to Patmos where 10 of the men were allowed tt go an shore and that evening the vas- sel sailed without them. On this trans action so much contrary evidence was given on the trial that 1t Is difficult tc know which side to credit. The rner on shore said that his 1ordship propos ed stopping for q fortnight and tha- no signal for sailing>was made. Tht reverse Of this vas sworn by others ot the crew The abandoned men suffered great hardship and at Scio, when ac.
 connpanied by the British consul to tht Pylades, his lordship refused to receive
 any Of them except four who were use ful in the management of the vessel.
 Some of them returned to their dut,
 and were tried by a court martial Fron Constantfnor9lA the n1areuts wrote tt Captain Strainger stating that he fount
 that he had some of his men on board and that he was determined to send then | ashore the first opportunity; that, i , the business was brought Into a. court
 he would do his best to defend hin1sel and that at the worst, he had an am pie fortune and could pay the fines.
 Tired of travelling, his lordship re turned home and soon after his arriva : in England he was indicted for enticini British seamen from their duty. Tn
 trial came on at the Old Bailey, Dec. 16 : 1872, when, after a protracted inquir. !, his lordship was found guilty and sen , fenced to pay fine of S25,000 and h was imprisoned for four months in New
 gate.
 Perhaps 1t Is not the least curious par ticular attending this case that tn lordship's mother, the Dowager Mar c1lioness of Sligo, soon after her son trial, was married to Sir William Scott the judge who passed sentence on tn youthful marquis.