428 Notes of the Monlh on [Oct 



" That the return made by Captain Dickenson, that Captain Bathurst 

 was killed in action, knowing that he did not die until many hours after 

 the battle was over, was made without the slightest appearance of any 

 improper motive. 



" That the charge stating that the Genoa continued firing after the 

 battle was over, at the risk and to the probable injury of the allied 

 ships, until hailed from the Asia to cease firingj was vexations. 



" That the letter presented by Captain Dickenson to Sir E. Codring- 

 ton, purporting to come from the crew of tlie Genoa, appears to be a 

 petition, which was presented without any improper motive being 

 imputable to Captain Dickenson ; but, in presenting which, he was 

 guilty of an impropriety, for which he has already received the reproof 

 of his commander-in-chief. 



" And the court doth adjudge the said Captain Richard Dickenson 

 to be honourably acquitted ; and he is hereby honourably acquitted 

 accordingly." 



The judgment of the court was received with loud applause ; and Sir 

 Robert Stopford, immediately after it was pronounced, rose and de- 

 livered to Captain Dickenson his sword, saying, mei'ely, " I have the 

 honom- of returning you the sword you have worn, which has not been 

 dishonoured in the service." The court was immediately dissolved. 



' So much for carrying things with a high hand in this world of acci- 

 dent. That Admiral Codrington, in his pride of blood-royal corres- 

 pondence, thought that he might say any thing he liked, of any body, is 

 quite clear ; and that his letter, imputing blame to Captain Dickenson, 

 was a very silly and impudent piece of penmanship, is perfectly un- 

 doubted. But that he was willing to get out of his charge in any way 

 he could, after he having made it, nnd that he was desperately bored 

 by finding that he was dragged into the middle of a public prosecvition, 

 where he had only intended to figure as an accomplished letter- writer, 

 is indisputable. But he is one of those children of patronage to whose 

 rise brains not being necessary, brains are omitted in their composition. 

 lie consequently tumbled from one boobery into another, until he was as 

 fairly sloughed and horse-ponded as any blood-royal favourite within 

 memory. Captain Dickenson was acquitted, of covirse. No jury of men, 

 who knew their right hand from their left, could by possibility have found 

 him guilty of even a shadow of crime. But an admiral found guilty of 

 having brought charges frivolous and vexatious, is in a curious condition, 

 and we shall probably have the whole " go-it- Ned" correspondence, in- 

 dulging the critics with the literary skill of that illustrious individual 

 whom official overthrow did not render less submissive, and who took 

 the first opportunity of his fling upon the ground, to creep on his 

 stomach and lick the foot of the flinger. 



Let the West Indians look to the coming Sessions. The military — 

 civil — quarter master general — Secretary for the Colonies, is at work, 

 and if legislation will do them good, they will have enough of it. The 

 truncheon settles questions rapidly, and an orderly book is a capital 

 code Avhere the statute book is a nonentity. Once more, we say, " Let 

 the West Indians be awake." They are shaking off their sleep, we 

 will allow, but they must be broad awake, and that too without loss 

 of time. Let them collect their friends, prepai'e their petitions, appeal 

 to the nation ; and, above all, show tlieir enemies that they wiU 



