Page 515 - INDIANNAVYV1

HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NA\T. 483

any of the crew on the Company's account, and the loss
sustained by desertion was deducted from the pay of the
captains. A rule so illiberal was not applied to any other
branch of their service, nor was it to be found in any other
service whatever.
"Every liberal-minded man must suppose tluit the oOlcers of
the Bombay Marine were governed by some specihed rule.
That, however, was not the case ; and, therefore, he entreated the
attention of the Court to a few facts which would enable gentle-
men to arrive at just conclusions. Early in April, 1<S18, a
commander and all the olficers of one of the cruisers were
placed under arrest, on charges framed by Mr. Meriton, the
then Superintendent of Marine. The usual forms of trial
having been gone through, the proceedings were sent to Govern-
ment on the 8th of that month. As they were not considered
satisfactory, the Court were ordered to re-assemble, and to put
certain questions, which was accordingly done ; and the pro-
ceedings in the second instance were also forwarded to Govern-
ment. From that time, until the 28th of November, the
prisoners were kept in suspense, when they were again called
before the Court. 15y the Court they were informed that the
Government had directed certain questions to be put to them,
to which they were expected to give explicit answers. The
Counnander begged to know whether he stood before the Court
as a prisoner. This plain question the (Jourt could not answer,
but merely repeated the purpose for which they were assembled.
Tlie Commander stated his readiness to answer any question
which the Government might think proper to put to him, after
they had given tlieir final decision on his case, but declared
that he would give no answer while he ajipearetl btdbre the
(Jourt as a prisoner. The proceedings were then closed a third
time, and sent to Government, by whom a linal decision was
given some time after, and notwithstanding tlie pmiishmcnt
which he had previously sulfered, the Commander was further
suspended until some time in 18U>. Now it was hardly possible
to conceive that any i)ublic authority could have resorted to
such caj)ricious measures, which were as repugnant to every
species of judicial proceeding as they were opposed to every
liberal and honourable feeling. Having said so much for the'
practice of ]\larine (Jouns, he would next advert to their corn-
position. As the facts which he was about to state were to be
found on the (company's recorils, he took it for granted that
they would not be denied. Lieutenant Koyce, of the ' Mercinw.'
was, in IS 12, put under arrest by his commander. Lieutenant
Blast. The Supei'intendent assembled a Court in order to try
hini, on which he placed two of the ollicers of Indiamen as
members. Lieutenant Boyce, be it rememl)ereil, held a com-
mission, but these two gentlemen held no commission, and be-
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