12 
subscribed, here in the presence, 
and by the favour of Mr. Ireland, 
have inspected the Shakespeare pa- 
pers, and are convinced of their 
authenticity. 
Samuel Parr, James Boswell, 
John Twedaley LAauDERDALE, 
Thomas Burgess, Rev. J. Scott, 
bart. KINNAIRD. 
John Byng, 
J. Pinkerton, 
James Bindley, 
Thomas Blunt. 
Herbert Croft, H. J. Pye, 
SomeRseEr. Rev. N. Thorn- 
T. Heard, garter bury, 
king of arms, John Hewlett, 
FE. Webb, ° Matthew Wyatt, 
E. Valpy, J. F. Newton. 
To the above an attestation is 
also subjoined as to the authenticity 
of the autographs and fac-similies 
of the deeds, with twelve signa- 
tures. ‘ 
6x The new charter of North- 
* ampton this day brought from 
London by the mayor, was met at 
the foot of the bridge by the cor- 
poration with great ceremony, and 
conducted to the Guildhall amidst 
_ the congratulations of the towns- 
men on the re-establishment of 
their ancient privileges, and the 
security and proteétion afforded to 
the poor. 
The trial of admiral Corn- 
wallis, for disobedience of or- 
ders, in not proceeding to the West 
Indies, pursuant to the instructions 
of the admiralty board, commenced 
on board the Orian at Portsmouth, 
at eight o’clock in the morning. 
The charges were three in number. 
The substance of them is as fol- 
lows: Ist, that admiral Cornwal- 
lis, after having sailed from Kng- 
land for the West Indies, and pro- 
ceeded a considerable way on his 
voyage, did return, contrary to the 
orders he had received. 2dly,; That 
7th. 
reign had be 
ANNUAL REGISTER,, 1796. 
not having a sufficient regard to 
the importance of the situation of! 
a commander in chief, be omitted 
to shift his flag on board of some 
other ship, after the Royal Sove- 
disabled, in order 
to proceed, as he ought to have 
done, to the place of his destination ; 
but that, instead of doing so, he 
gave his instruétions and the com- 
mand of the convoy to another of- 
ficer. And, 3dly, That after his 
return he disobeyed another order 
of the board of admiralty, by not 
hoisting his flag on board the As- 
trea frigate, and proceeding to the 
West Indtes, as he had been ordered 
by tkeir lordships. 
The evidence having been gone 
through, the trial closed at one 
o'clock, when the court pronounced 
the following sentence. 
‘©The court having heard the 
evidence in support of the charges 
exhibited against the honourable 
William Cornwallis, vice-admiral 
of the red ; and having heard his 
defence, and the evidence in his be- 
half, and having maturely weighed 
and considered the same, were of 
opinion, 
That, with respeét to the two 
first charges, of his returning with 
out leave, after having been ordered 
to proceed to Barbadoes, and of 
his disobeying the orders he had 
received, misconduct was imput- 
able to bim, for not having shift« 
ed his flag on board the Mars or 
Minotaur, and proceeded in either 
of them to the West Indies; but, 
in consideration of other circum- 
stances, the court acquitted him 
of any disobedience in his conduct 
on that occasion. 
“With respeét to the third 
charge, of his having, after his re~ 
turn, disobeyed the orders of the 
3 - board 
