POST-CAPTAINS OF 1806.
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through his fingers, Captain Carteret made all sail after her, but in vain; for on the fourth day of his pursuit or search, he fell in with a British man of war, and received information that the said crippled ship was la Trave of 46 guns, and that she had been captured on the 23d, without making any resistance, by the Andromache; which occurrence we have already noticed in our memoir of Captain Tobin, C.B.[1].
On his arrival at Lisbon, Captain Carteret gave a detailed report of all these circumstances to the Admiral commanding there, who was thoroughly satisfied therewith; but wishing the Board of Admiralty to be so too, Captain Carteret requested him to transmit it home. Some days afterwards, a letter, addressed to the Admiral at Lisbon, was picked up on the Pomone’s deck, which her commander immediately took to him. He read it, and gave it back to the gallant officer. Finding it to be an anonymous letter, subscribed “Pomone’s Ship’s Company,” asserting that he had “run from a French frigate,” Captain Carteret at once asked for a court–martial. That, however, could not well be granted then, because all the Captains there were his juniors; besides which the Pomone was under orders to go home, so that much time would not elapse before the desired investigation could take place. Captain Carteret, hereupon avowed his determination to have one, if possible, and implored the Admiral to forward the anonymous accusation, and his application for a court-martial, by the first packet, in order that not a moment might be lost. On arriving at Plymouth, he renewed his application to the Admiralty, and soon found that their Lordships had anticipated his anxious wishes. On the 29th Dec., Captain Carteret addressed his people; told them of the pending trial; that he had demanded it himself in consequence of the anonymous letter, which none of them would own; and that he required them all to come forward fairly and openly, to say the truth before the Court. He, at the same time, promised to guarantee them from all harm on account of their evidence, if true; and, not to be mistaken by them, he wrote an order to the above effect, and stuck it up in a conspicuous place, that all or any might come forward and subscribe their names as witnesses against him. Finding that not a man would show himself ready to become his accuser, Captain Carteret was compelled to order all those whom be suspected to be most averse to him to be summoned, as well as an entire quarter of the ship’s company taken by lot. On the 3lst, the court-martial assembled, and Captain Carteret was arraigned as the prisoner before it. Rear-Admirals T. Byam Martin was president; Rear-Admirals Pulteney Malcolm and Charles V. Penrose were also among his judges. The examinations of the Pomone’s officers and men were as strict as possible; but not one word was said in any the remotest degree affecting the conduct of the ship when in presence of the enemy. Captain Carteret declined making any defence, and the Court
