74 Ifcfnss ot tfoe 1Rofc, IRffle, anfc Gun 



immensely popular. Colonel Thornton was convinced 

 that the Duke, then Commander-in-Chief, instigated 

 the court-martial out of spite, and that the officers 

 backed him up out of toadyism. In a pamphlet en- 

 titled " An Elucidation of a Mutinous Conspiracy 

 entered into by the Officers of the West York Regiment 

 of Militia against their Commanding Officer in the 

 year 1794. Dedicated (sans permission) to H.R.H. 

 the Duke of York," he gave a full report of the pro- 

 ceedings, with his own indignant defence. I think the 

 final passage, descriptive of the delivery of the sentence 

 of the court-martial, is worth quoting : 



" On the day appointed by Lieutenant-General Sloper 

 and the other Generals, Lieutenant-Colonel Thornton 

 proceeded to camp at eleven o'clock. The West York 

 regiment, after some consultation, were formed into a 

 mathematical figure somewhat resembling a square, by 

 Lord Downe, their newly-appointed Colonel ; the men 

 were directed to order their arms ; a profound and 

 solemn silence ensued ; and (the officers being uncovered) 



Lieutenant-General Sloper read the charges, and 

 then pronounced the Sentence of the Court Martial, 

 nearly in the following words : 



1 Lieutenant-Colonel Thornton, it is my duty to 

 inform you that the Court have found you GUILTY on 

 both the charges exhibited against you, and its sentence 

 is that you be publicly reprimanded ; and I do hereby, 

 in obedience to its orders, reprimand you accordingly.' 



After which, Lieutenant-Colonel Thornton, with 

 equal solemnity spoke to the following effect ' Sir, 

 the very elegant and graceful manner in which you 



