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HISTORY OP THE INDIAN NAVY. 513
shown privately to Sir John ^Vlalcohn, and I heard he was much
pleased with my determination, and the reply I had written.
During all this period, from the end of July, I was without pay,
and latterly without any resources whatever; but I was averse
to make any direct application for pecuniary assistance to Sir
Charles, as I expected to have everything finally settled to my
satisfaction."
Commander Hawkins was arraigned before the Supreme
Court presided over by Sir John Awdry, on Monday, the 2Hth
of March, 1831, and the trial lasted on that and the two fol-
lowing days. The Counsel for tbe prosecution were the
Advocate-General, Mr. Le Mesurier, and Mr. H. Morgan; and
for the defence, Mr. Morley and Mr. Hill. Eighteen true bills
were found by the Grand Jury, and the indictment containi^d
four counts. The crime charged in the first count was, for
conveying from a certain place off the island of Zanzibar to
Bombay, certain persons—here were given the Christian names
and surnames of the thirty boys Commander Hawkins received on
board the ' Clive ' at Lindey, and the four brought to Zanzibar
in the launch, of which total, one died and one was drowned
on the voyage. The second count was the same as the first,
only stating that the names of the persons conveyed were un-
known. The third and fourth counts were the same
respectively, as the first and second, only stating that the
conveying was for the jnirpose of the persons conveyed being
treated as slaves.
Commander Hawkins pleaded " not guilty," and, the da3'
being far advanced, the Court was adjourned until Tuesday,
when the trial commenced before a dense throng of excited
and attentive spectators. After the opening address by the
Advocate-General, Lieutenant C. Sharp, first of the ' Clive/
verbatim, that j'oii may consider it and write me by return of post, that I may
lose no time in communicatins; the tciiour of your reply to him."
(b) " Of course Mr. Morley gives me such advice as he tliinks best, and in so
far does his duty by me, for whicli I return liim mytlianks; but I must now
inform liim, tlu'ough you, that if ho cannot defend my cause strictly on tiio
grounds of my own innocence, without tin-owing even the shadow of blame on
either Sir C'iiurlcs Malcolm or Government, lie cannot do me tliesliglitcst service,
and I would sooner plead my own cause, with your assistance in the examination
of witnesses. I iiave no secret instructions, nor have I any private conversation
to swear to, or to have cvitlenco. I must stand on tiu' ))lain meiits of the case,
whicli never as' yet have been fairly inquired into. Morh'y befordiand
a]ipears to have decided my case as gone, witliout such aid as I have not to
produce.
" Sir Charles did not see the boys till after the disturbance in the Supremo
Court,, at least if he did, not in my presence. Neither did I receive ajiprovnl or
censure, except in taking some of tlie l)oys youiiircr lliiin I was ordi'red. I cannot
for a moment admit that I believed I was obey nig tlio uiders of Government in
doing that of which I am accused, and wliicli accusjition I repel and defy. Tiic
only report I sent him was a ]irivnte journal, which wa.* before tlie Grand Jury,
and whicli merely mentioned I liad engaged thirty-four at a bounty of liiirly-fivo
and a-half doUars each."
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