The Sun. — 1851-08-01 (London, England)

MERCHANT VESSEL SEIZED BY THE PASSENGERS. The Advocate, or St. Helena Weekly News, a paper recently started et St. Helena, gives an account of some extraordinary occurrences said to have taken place on board a vessel called the Levcnside, and which were being investigated by the authorities of the island. The vessel had on board Captain Vesey, of the Royal Artillery, in command of a detachment of his corps, and Capt. Neill, aide-de-camp to the expected governor, Sir Emerson Tennent. She arrived on the 29th of May, and it appeared that on the 15th of that month, while at sea, Capt. Campbell, the master, ordered the booby-hatch to be closed. This was done, and immediately afterwards Capt. Vesey summoned the troops under his charge to take off the hatch in defiance of the master's order, which was immediately carried into effect. On the 17th, two days after this, a squabble appears to have taken place between one of the soldiers and the ship's carpenter. Captain Vesey insisted that the carpenter should be punished, but Captain Campbell, the master of the vessel, would not punish the man. This led to some sharp words between the officers, and it is asserted that Captain Vesey said he had a superior force on board, and should not hesitate to use it when he thought requisite. This language appears to have excited Captain Campbell. At half-past eight o'clock at night, the captain ordered the booby-hatch to be put on; but no sooner was the order given than Captain Vesey, in charge of the troops, said it should not be done. Captain Campbell then pulled out a pistol, and told Captain Vesey that if he attempted to interfere with him, and prevent any of the crew obeying his orders, he would shoot him through the heart. Upon this qualified threat being uttered, Captain Vesey immediately called his men to fall in round the hatchway, and ordered the bombsdier to go below for arms. This order was instantly obeyed, and as soon as Captain Campbell saw the arms being handed up the hatchway he went forward, seized hold of one of the muskets, and 'commanded the soldier to give it up, saying, "put that down, it does not belong to you—it belongs to the ship." The soldier refused, whereupon a struggle took place for the gun, when some one called out, " seize him!" on which several soldiers seized the captain, threw him against a boat, wrenched the pistol out of his hand, as well as the musket he attempted to take from the soldier. Captain Vesey then ordered his hands to be lashed behind his back, and it appears, at the instigation of Captain Neill, ho was hurried into the hold and secured to a stancheon. The next morning he was unlashed from the stancheon, and had strong chains fastened to his wrists by padlocks. In this position he was kept in the hold, twelve days and nights, with an armed sentinel keeping watch over him. He was not allowed to communicate with the crew during this time, nor was he released from his captivity, even on the arrival of the vessel in the roads, till the police went on board and caused him to be unchained. Immediately Captain Campbell was seized and forced into the hold, Captain Vesey commanded one of the soldiers to turn every one belonging to the crew out of the cabin, and take possession of it, which was done. He then seized the ship's papers, and the vessel was navigated by the mates, by direction of Captain Vesey, and on its arrival at St. Helena, on the 26th, he went on ellete, and obtained a warrant against the master, ou the assault and attempted murder. Captain Vesey's chars© odrf eaon for not allowing the booby-hatch to be danger the health o weatherthe was hot, and that it would enclosed is, that the a thet chargega in After four days' investigation men, about thirteen in number. CoaipatsasianuCltawmipthbell intentwas to murder. Information was then laid by committed for trial, • Captain Campbell against Captain Vesey a the others of his passen