misconduct adduced against him by Commander Belcher. The court decided that the charges had been in part proved, inasmuch as the said Lieutenant Bond was negligent in not taking measures to prevent the desertion of two Kroomen, who left a boat under his command, at Sierra Leone; and also in not placing some person to look out for any signals which might be made from the ship whilst the boats were away watering at the Isles do Los, by which she was detained for some hours in dangerous ground, waiting for their return. The court therefore adjudged the said Lieutenant Bond “to be admonished to be more careful hereafter.”
On the 23d and 24th of the following month, another court-martial was held in Portsmouth harbour, to try Mr. Henry Grainger Backhouse, midshipman of the AEtna, on the following charges, alleged against him by Commander Belcher:–
“‘For having, during the present year, on the western coast of Africa, been guilty of repeated insubordination, neglect of duty, and disrespectful, contemptuous, and insolent conduct, towards Commander Belcher, his superior officer; and for having, since the ship’s arrival in England, namely, the 14th August last, and between that day and the 20th instant, been guilty of insulting conduct towards Commander Edward Belcher and the first lieutenant of the ship, and of insubordination in quitting the ship in defiance of the first lieutenant’s refusal of leave of absence; and also for having absented himself from his duty when it was his watch on deck.’”
“The first witness called was Edward Craydon, gunner of the AEtna, who was examined by the prosecutor. On a straw-hat being produced by Commander Belcher, he was asked if he could identify it. Witness replied yes, he had seen the prisoner wear it repeatedly. On a particular day, when the prisoner had, on the quarter-deck, neither shoes nor stockings on, and wearing the hat produced. Commander Belcher ordered him below. In answer to a question put by the Court, he said he was not near enough to hear what passed, but he did not see any disrespect on the part of the prisoner, when ordered below.
“John Harrison, the boatswain, was next called; the hat produced he had taken charge of, by order of Commander Belcher; the hat then was not so flat as it is now, but the ragged part was the same. Did not know that orders had been given that the prisoner was not to do his duty as mate of the main-deck. In his examination by the prisoner, witness said he thought the hat was much dirtier than when he wore it, from being kept in the store-room among the dust and cobwebs. In reply to ques-
