mutiny in which he had been engaged, or the first man he had killed. The witness and the rest of the officers were afterwards put into the ship's long-boat, and landed at Port St. Pietro, on the coast of Brazil. The prisoner, throughout the mutiny, was one of the most active of those engaged in it.

Mr. FRENCH said, the Lady Shore was proceeding to Rio Janeiro, and at the time mentioned by the last witness, he heard a shot and went to the hatchway; he was stopped by three men armed, and ordered back again. It was at this time quite dark. As soon as it was light, he observed the prisoner standing sentry over a gun which was pointed down the hatchway, and, as he understood, loaded with broken bottles. The witness also conversed with the Captain, who told him he had been stabbed by French Jack, meaning the pri soner, who commonly went by that name.

Lieutenant WILLIAM FRASER Corroborated the above testimony in every respect.

FRANCES HUGHES, the wife of a sergeant on body the Lady Shore, deposed to the prisoner's boasting among his comrades, that he had finished the b meaning the Captain.

Mr. MIS CHIN was again called, and stated, that the prisoner voluntarily hired himself at Falmouth as a mariner to navigate the ship

The prisoner in his defence said, he had been compelled to take part in the mutiny, and that he was entirely innocent of the murder of the Captain.

Lord ELDON Summed up the evidence with the utmost precision and impar- tiality; and the jury, after a few minutes consultation, pronounced the prisoner Guilty.

Sir WILLIAM SCOTT immediately ordered the prisoner to be executed on Monday, and his body to be afterwards anatomized.

The prisoner seemed wholly to disregard the sentence, and laughed in the face of the Court as soon as it was pronounced.

FRANCIS ANTOINE SAUVAJOT

Was indicted for the wilful murder of FRANCOIS METTAUX.

It appeared from the evidence, that the deceased and the prisoner were both French prisoners on board the East India Company's ship Triton; that in September last, the prisoner had a quarrel with a black boy, called Francis Acquet, whom he charged with having moved his hammock and a tarpaulin. The deceased interfered in behalf of the Black, and a violent altercation and scuffle ensued, in which the deceased got hold of the prisoner's hair, whe, while so held, gave the deceased a violent blow in the belly with a knife, which he had just before been using about his hammock, and which blow made so deep a wound as to be the occasion of his death.

The prisoner did not deny the transaction, but in his defence endeavoured to throw the blanie on the deceased, who, he said, aggravated him, by ill usage, into such a passion, that he knew not what he did; that he was first assaulted by the deceased; and that he had not the smallest intention of being the cause of his death.

The learned Judge did not think, even by the evidence against the prisoner, that he could justly be convicted of murder in his opinion, the crime went not beyond that of Manslaughter; with which the jury agreeing, of that they pronounced him-Guilty.

PETER ENNIS AND JAMES BROTHERS Were brought to the bar, in order that the Court might decide on their cases. The former of these prisoners had been an officer, and the latter a private, in the Caithness Legion. In May last they were tried for the murder of a French prisoner on board a transport containing several French prisoners. Mr. Ennis had commanded the military on board that vessel, and claimed the right of commanding the vessel altogether. By his orders the prisoner Brothers shot the Frenchman, because he had been the ringleader in a mutiny; but that shooting took place at the time when the mutiny was totally quelled, and while the deceased Frenchman was confined on the deck.

H

The jury before whom these two prisoners were tried, found a special verdi, by the direction of Mr. Justice BULLER, who then said, he could not give an opinion on the law of a case which could only be decided by the civil law.

The Court was of opinion, that the case must be decided by the Twelve Judges. The prisoners were accordingly remanded.

The Attorney-General moved to put off the trials of THOMAS POTTER, WILLIAM SEARLE, and THOMAS BENTHAM, who stood indicted for the wilful murder of HUMPHRY GLYNN, a seaman, belonging to the Hind revenue cutter, while he with others were approaching, in a row-boat, a smuggling vessel, called the Lottery, on board of which the prisoners had acted as seamen. It appeared that a person named Roger Toms had been on board the smuggler at the time the murder took place, which was in September 1798; that when the smuggler was taken in the May following, this Toms made oath before a magistrate, that the prisoner Potter was the person who fired the shit which killed Glynn, and that the other two were aiding and assisting him. The magistrate suffered this man to be at large; he was afterwards seen in company with twenty men ; but whether he voluntarily absconded, or was forced away by them, was not certain. The fact, however, was, that he could not be found, and it was supposed that he was kept as a prisoner in a cave by smugglers, on the coast of Cornwall, for the purpose of preventing him from appearing as a witness against the prisoners at the bar. Inasmuch, therefore, as the present prosecution could not be carried on without the evidence of Roger Toms, it was required of the Court to put off this trial, in order to give further opportunities to search after him.

Lord ELDON observed, that public justice required that sufficient opportunity should be given to find out this witness.

Mr. Baron CHAMBRE was of the same opinion.

DECEMBER 21.

JOHN ROACH, THOMAS SCULLION, JOHN QUIN, AND EDWARD

COTELYN,

Were indicted for Felony and Piracy. The indictment was laid in seven counts, all of which went to charge them with aiding and abetting the King's enemies, and with entering on board a French privateer, called the Indefatigable, in order to cruise and fight against the King's subjects and their property, they being natives of Ireland, and subjects of the King.

It appeared in the course of the trial, that these men were taken on board the Indefatigable French privateer, by his Majesty's ship the Ethalion, after a considerable chace, in which several guns were fired by the privateer at the Ethalion; that they then acknowledged themselves to be Irishmen they were examined, and all told the same story, that they had been captured on board different merchant ships: that they had been sent into the interior of France; had undergone a severe confinement; had been very ill used; had, with about four or five hundred others, been marched down to Nantz on their rout for Brest, to be sent on an expedition with some French troops against Ireland; that they made their escape at Nantz; had been reduced to enter on board the Indefatigable, by an assurance that she was a Prussian; that she was going to the West Indies, where they hoped to have made their escape, either to some British armed or merchant ship; that as soon as they discovered that the Indefatigable was a French privateer, they endeavoured to make their escape; that. they had been put in irons because of their refusing to serve; that at one time they succeeded in getting away, but were taken nine miles up the country, and brought back by soldiers; that the Indefatigable only sailed the day before she was captured; that when she was pursued by the thalion, they went down into the hold, and would not fight; and that when she was captured, they came up immediately and surrendered themselves to the First Lieutenant of the Ethalion, who had been sent on board as prize-master.

This story, which they again told to the Court in their defence, was corrobo tated in some material points by the evidence of two of the French officers of the Indefatigable; and after a most impartial and excellent charge from Lord ELDON, the jury retired for a little, and brought in a verdict finding all the prisoners-Not Guilty.

JAMES THOMPSON

Was found guilty, for that he, being a natural born subject of this realm, was taken on board a French privateer in arms against his Majesty, and received judgment of death.

RICHARD BAILEY

Was convicted, for that he, on the 27th day of June last, having the command of a certain ship or vessel called the Langley Yacht, upon the high seas, within the jurisdiction of the Admiralty of England, about 150 leagues from the port of Falmouth, did feloniously, maliciously, and piratically shoot at Henry Truscott. with a certain iron cannon loaded with gunpowder, and divers iron shot, he being on board a certain other ship or vessel called the Admiral Nelson, with intent to kill the said Henry Truscott; but an objection in point of law taking place, his case was left to the opinion of the Twelve Judges.

FRANCIS ANTOINE SAUVAJOT, the man who was convicted of manslaughter on the 20th (and who is a prisoner of war), was ordered to be burnt in the hand; which sentence was inflicted before the Court.

The Session being then ended, the same was adjourned until the 9th day of January next, at Doctors Commons.

Raval Courts Martial,

FOR NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER,

PORTSMOUTH, NOVEMBER 4.

A COURT MARTIAL was held on board his Majesty's ship Gladiator, at Portsmouth, for the trial of Mr. DANIEL Ross, Master of his Majesty's ship Portland, for disobedience of orders, neglect of duty, and contemptuous, reproachful, and threatening language to Mr. WILLIAM LONG, Master of his Majesty's ship Prothee.

M. GREETHAM, Esq. Judge Advocate.

After going through the evidence, the Court were of opinion, that the charges had been in part proved against the said Daniel Ross, and did adjudge him to be dismissed from the office of Master of the said ship.

20. Pursuant to an order from the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, 2 Court Martial was held on board his Majesty's ship Gladiator, at Portsmouth, for the trial of Mr. PROSE, Carpenter of the Atalante, for disobediencé and neglect of duty.

The prisoner was found guilty; and sentenced by the Court to be dismissed from his situation as Carpenter of the talante, and to serve in such other station as the Commander in Chief of the Port should direct.

On the same day a Court Martial was also held on board the same ship, for the trial of Mr. ELLIOTT, Gunner of the Atalante, for drunkenness, when officer of the watch, and getting drunk with the seamen in his cabin. He was found guilty, and sentenced by the Court to be dismissed from his situation as Gunner of the Atalante, rendered incapable of ever serving as an Officer, and to serve in such other station as the Commander in Chief of the Port should direa.

25. A Court Martial was held on board his Majesty's ship Overyssel, on Captain Rose, of L'Espion frigate, lost on the Goodwin Sands. The decision of the Court was, that the Pilot be imprisoned six months and a day, and be rendered incapable of taking charge of any of his Majesty's ships for the time to come; that the Master be suspended; and that Captain Rose, his other Officers and crew, be honourably acquitted.

December 4. Pursuant to an order from the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, a Court Martial was held on board his Majesty's ship Gladiator, in this harbour.

MEMBERS OF THE COURT.

Rear Admiral Sir CHARLES COTTON, Bart. President.
Capt. ToTTY,

Rear Admiral Sir R. BICKERTON, Bart.

The circumstances were respecting LieutenantsJoHN M'KENZIE, commanding his Majesty's prison-ship Prothee, and JoHN Lowe, commanding his Majesty's prison ship San Damaso, as stated in the Report of Captains J. C. PURVIS, T. PICKMORE, and J. MULOCK, in consequence of a representation made by Mr. DANIEL Ross, late Master of his Majesty's prison-ship Portland, in a letter dated the 3d instant, of certain irregularities on board the prison-ships in Portchester Lake; viz. that they had made particular enquiry into the circumstances set forth in Mr. Ross's said letter, and were informed, that with respect to spirits and other articles sold in the Prothee, small quantities of the former had at times been brought for the French Officers; that strong beer was brought on board in casks, four and six at a time, of eighteen gallons, and permitted to be sold by Frenchmen, and people of the ship, to the prisoners; hat they had in general paid Lieutenant M'Kenzie for the said beer at one shilling per gallon, he paying the brewers for the whole; and the persons who sold it to the prisoners in the Prothee charging four-pence per quart; but that they were not able to find out whether Lieutenant M`Kenzie had any benefit arising therefrom.

That, in their enquiry on board the San Damaso, they were informed that Beer had been brought on board that ship in 18 gallon casks, three or four at a time, and had been sold to the prisoners by Sergeant Burke's wife, of the Marines, and by Lieutenant Lowe's direction, at five-pence per quart; that the prisoners complained of paying too much for it, and the Lieutenant directed it to be sold at four-pence; that there was on board a shop for selling vegetables, &c. to the prisoners, and that Lieutenant Lowe had prevented a competition, because it would spoil the profit of it; and that several of the - persons examined were of opinion that the Lieutenant received benefit from the sale of the articles above mentioned.

Evidence being examined on the part of the prosecution, as well as in defence of Lieutenant M'Kenzie,

The Court agreed that the charge had not been proved against the said Lieutenant M-Kenzie, but appeared to be malicious and ill-founded, and did adjudge him to be acquitted.

That the charge had been in part proved against the said Lieutenant Lowe, and adjudged him only to be severely reprimanded and admonished not to suffer beer or other articles to be sold on board by or for the benefit of any of

the officers.

Among the numerous Courts Martial we have attended, we do not recolle the sentence of any one that excited more pleasure than that passed on the above trial. The instant the Court so fully and honourably acquitted Lieut. M'Kenzie, of charges they justly styled "ill-founded and malicious," the face of every auditor, except that of the prosecutor, expressed the smile of approbation, at seeing such an evidently unprovoked prosecution defeated in its m13lignity. We were also much gratified to hear, that the Court means to report the reprehensive conduct of the prosecutor to the Admiralty; for, inde pendent of the above malevolence, we never beheld a Court evince such an indignant forbearance, where so much contempt and effrontery demanded animadversion, and even punishment.

6. A Court Martial was held on board the Gladiator, for the trial of JoHN SHEA, a seamen, belonging to his Majesty's ship Hindostan, for desertion.The prisoner was found guilty, and sentenced to be mulcted of his pay, and to receive fifty lashes.

The same day a Court Martial was also held on board the same ship, at. which Rear Admiral Sir RICHARD BICKERTON, Bart. presided, on Lieutenant JOHN HORRODEN, of his Majesty's ship Amazon, for drunkenness. The charge being in part proved, he was adjudged to be dismissed from his ship, and deprived of ten years of his rank on the list of Lieutenants.

SHEERNESS, NOV. I.

At a Court Martial assembled and held on board his Majesty's ship Expedtion, in Sheerness Harbour, on Friday November 1, 1799, in pursuance of an order from the Commissioners for executing the Office of Lord High Admiral of Great Britain and Ireland:

PRESENT,

GEORGE LUMSDAINE, Esq. Captain of his Majesty's Ship Polyphemus, and Second Officer in the command of his Majesty's Ships and Vessels in the river Medway and at the Buoy of the Nore, President;

EDW. JAS. FOOTE,

STEPH. GEO. CHURCH,

JAMES BOWEN,

GEO. EYRE,

WM. OGILVIE,

CAPTAINS,

JOHN COOKE,

GEO. PARKER,

WM. LUKIN,

JAMES BRADLEY,

And JAMES KEITH SHEPHARD.

JAMES BAIKIE, Officiating Judge Advocate.

The Court being duly sworn, proceeded to enquire into the cause and cir. cumstances of the loss of his Majesty's Ship Blanche, and try Captain JORN AYSCOUGH, his Officers, and Ship's Company, for their conduct on that occa sion; and having heard read Captain Ayscough's narrative of the same, as set forth in his Letter to Captain John Lawford, of his Majesty's chip Romney, as also what he had further to state, and examined the evidence produced in support of the same; the Court is of opinion, that the ship was run on shore through the entire fault of the Pilot; that very peculiar exertions were made, and professional skill shewn, by the Captain, Officers, and company of the Blanche to get her off, and afterwards to save the lives of the people and the stores, which redounds greatly to their credit: they do therefore most honourably acquit Captain Ayscough, the Officers and crew of the late Blanche; and they are hereby so acquitted accordingly.

SIR,

His Majesty's Ship Blanche, Now Diep, Sept. 29, 1799. IT is with great concern I have to state to you, that, agreeable to your orders, I got under weigh from the Mars Diep on the 27th instant, at one o'clock P. M. making several signals for the convoy to follow me, the wind then being at S. E. At 4 P. M. the Pilot, who had the charge and direction of the ship, got her on shore on the Middle in the Sculp Gat; we very shortly got her of, but at 6 we got on shore again, Kyck Luyn bearing S. S. P. about two miles: I then made the signal for having struck on a shoal, and repeated it several times. It being the top of high water, and finding it impossible to get her off, I struck lower yards and