No. XXV. Proceedings at the Trial of the Officers and Crew of a Ship lost. When the members of the court-martial are assembled, call over the names of the commander, officers, and company of the ship lost. (Attach the list to the minutes.) Read the order for assembling the Court. Swear the Court, &c. Read the captain's narrative of the loss of the ship. By the Court. Is the narrative just read to the Court a true statement of the circumstances of the stranding and wreck of Her Majesty's late ship? Answer. Yes. By the Court. Have you any complaint to make against any of the surviving officers and ship's company of the said late ship on that occasion? By the Court. To the remaining officers and ship's company generally. Have you or any of you any thing to object to the narrative just read to the Court, or any thing to lay to the charge of any officer or man with reference to their conduct on the occasion of the loss of Her Majesty's late ship — ? "The undersigned, formerly belonging to Her Majesty's late ship, voluntarily appeared before me, and made oath, that they have no complaint to make against any of the surviving officers and ship's company, relating to the stranding and wreck of the said ship in at Bay Form of Sentence on the Officers and Crew of a Ship lost. At a court-martial assembled on board Her Majesty's ship- at on the day of, 18-. Present. Esq., Captain of Her Majesty's ship, and second officer in command of Her Majesty's ships and dated The Court, pursuant to an order from directed to, having been duly sworn according to Act of Parliament, proceeded to the trial of, Esq., captain of Her Majesty's late ship —, together with the remaining officers and ship's company of the said late ship, on the following charge, namely, "For that he, the said, Esq., captain of Her Majesty's late ship, together with the remaining officers and ship's company of the said late ship, on the day of, 18-, all of them being at that time in actual service and full pay in the fleet, did, through negligence, run upon the shore, in Bay, at —, Her Majesty's said late ship, thereby causing the said ship to be wrecked and lost." And having heard the narrative of the said captain of the circumstances relating thereto, and examined the remaining officers and ship's company, except (here insert the names of those who did not attend the Court, and the reason of their being absent), and having deliberately weighed and considered the said narrative, and the whole of the evidence brought forward, the Court is of opinion that no blame whatever attaches to captain or any of the officers or ship's company of the said ship - for their conduct and proceedings on the occasion of her loss, as it appears to the Court that all possible precautionary measures were adopted for her preservation, but which were rendered inefficient from the extreme violence of the gale and the tremendous sea; and the Court doth in consequence thereof adjudge the said captain, the remaining officers and ship's company of Her Majesty's late ship to be fully acquitted, and the said captain, officers, and ship's company, are hereby severally and respectively fully acquitted accordingly. And the Court cannot separate without recording its approbation of the high state of discipline and good conduct maintained by the officers and ship's company throughout the whole of these trying circumstances, which have been marked by judgment and good seamanship alike honourable to all.* (Signatures of the Members of the Court, and the Judge-Advocate.) *(Where negligence is proved.) And having heard the narrative of the said captain of the circumstances relating thereto, and examined the remaining officers and ship's company, and having deliberately considered the said narrative, and the whole of the evidence brought forward, the Court is of opinion that Her Majesty's ship → was stranded through the negli gence of lieutenant who was the officer in charge of the watch at the time, and omitted to cause the lead to be hove, and report to the captain that the land was in sight, the Court doth therefore adjudge the said to be dismissed from Her Majesty's service. And the Court is of opinion that no blame whatever attaches to captain the other officers and ship's company, and doth therefore adjudge them to be acquitted. And the said lieutenant is hereby sentenced to be dismissed from Her Majesty's service, and the said captain -, the other officers and ship's company, to be acquitted accordingly. (Signatures of the Members of the Court, and the Judge-Advocate.) - belonging and whereas by an to assemble a court-martial, and try to Her Majesty's ship, for Act passed in the 22d year of the reign of King George the Second, intituled, "An Act for amending, explaining, and reducing into one Act of Parliament the laws relating to the government of His Majesty's ships, vessels, and forces by sea," it is ordered, "That in the absence of the Judge-Advocate and his Deputy, the Court-martial U shall have full power and authority to appoint any person to execute the office of Judge-Advocate:" I do, with the consent and approbation of the members who constitute this court, hereby authorise you to execute the office of Judge-Advocate on the above occasion, and for so doing this shall be your warrant. To (Signature of the President.) Given, &c. hereby appointed to execute the office of JudgeAdvocate at the court-martial above-mentioned. No. XXVII. Provost Marshal's Warrant. By &c. Whereas I have ordered a court-martial to be assembled on board Her Majesty's ship, on Majesty's ship ——, for morning next, belonging to Her I do hereby authorise and appoint you to officiate as Provost Marshal on this occasion, and you are forthwith to take the person of the said into your custody, and him safely keep until he shall be delivered by due course of law. And for so doing this shall be your warrant. To Mr. (Signature of the Commander-in-Chief.) hereby appointed Provost Marshal on the occasion. By command of the Commander-in-Chief. |