martial was accordingly directed to assemble, and Mr. M‘Coy ordered to attend it and give his evidence, and then to go on as prosecutor of the enquiry, in support of his allegations, which now assumed the nature of charges, and were as follow:–
First – For preventing Mr. M‘Coy from having a direct communication with him. Second – For having ordered fifty bags of bread to be stowed between decks, in the bows, without any other protection than a sail; in consequence of which, the bread was trampled on by the seamen in getting in and out of their hammocks, and a quantity was stolen or lost; while, at the same time, Captain Chapman had taken out of the bread-room sufficient space to make himself a stair-case. Third – For having compelled the purser to subject himself to the penalties of the 18th article of his instructions, by obliging him to take on board eight puncheons of rum, after his provisions were complete. Fourth – For ordering the purser, through the senior lieutenant (Richard John Nash), to deliver to him, for his private use, fifty dollars of the public money. Fifth – For having refused a survey which was applied for on some decayed provisions. Sixth – For having, in a written order, imposed on Mr. M‘Coy more than his regulated duties as purser. Seventh – For not having kept a slop book, during the whole time he commanded the Espiegle, which he should have done, according to his instructions, as a check on the purser’s issues, by which neglect Mr. M‘Coy was obliged to pay out of his private money, for the sake of peace and quietness, the amount of some clothing, which part of the ship’s company disputed having received. Eighth – For having taken up, through his servants, about 2000 pounds of beef more than his allowance. Ninth – For having, on the day he left the Espiegle, directed Lieutenant Nash not to allow the purser to quit the ship, though Mr. M‘Coy represented that he had vouchers to get, and public duties to perform on shore.
This series of charges was followed up by a tenth, accusing Captain Chapman of having purchased at Zanzibar, on the coast of Africa, a young female slave, for the purposes of prostitution, Which said negresse was suddenly and most unaccountably missed from on board the Espiegle, whilst that sloop was lying at anchor near the adjacent island of Mombasa.
The evidence for the prosecution having closed on the afternoon of January 23d, Captain Chapman entered on his defence the next morning; after which, and four hours spent In mature deliberation on the whole of the case, the Court pronounced the following sentence:–
