SEIZURE OF A MERCHANT VESSEL BY MILITARY PASSENGERS.

New Zealander, Volume 7, Issue 593, 20 December 1851, Page 2

SEIZURE OF A MERCHANT VESSEL BY MILITARY PASSENGERS.

The following extraoidmary nnrratife is from the Advocate, (a St. Helena paper,) of the sth of June. " In our columns of this week will be found an account of the recent occurrences onboard the barque Leven-ude — perhaps the most extraordinary vrlnch it has erer fallen to pc lot pi a public journal to report.

'' Immediately on the ]>v<>nside's auiv.il in tins poir, nn lnfoimation wns laid l>y C.ipt. Vesey, of the l{o_\:il Artillery— »n command of ibe deUchmeM of troops on bd.ii d— .ig.imit C.ipt. Campbell, the timer, Own confined l>y Capt. Veaoy's orders, in (lit- bold ot that yes-el. A wnirant foi his -apprehension was at once granted by the m.nji&tiate*., and a policeman sent off to see it enforced. 'Iha evidence attcrwaids adducd in tfe investigation cleaily pioves-, tlut Ind Captain Cunpbell been deposed to commit murdei be bad eveiy opportunity of so doing, but that be confined himself, and, as b<> alleges, for tliesupporlof hi-^ authority, to prt'-cmiu«-tbo pi-iol at C.iptain Vesey's bieast, and warning him tbiU, if be attempted to intcifeie with him, or with Ins siiilors in carrying; out Ins orders, lie would shoot him through the beait. Upon this thieat, apparently the result of much previous biclcenn^ on the voyage — UDon the fact acknowledged by the cjptain, that he did so pre-ent the pistol, and upon his alleged efforts to use it dui ing the struggle which ensued — the magistrates have commuted Cap'.ain Campbjll tor an assault and attempt to in tinier. " An information is tbpn laid by tb<* captain of the vessel, against Captains Vesey and Neill, passenger*., and against the soldieis acting under Captain Vesey's ordm, to the effect that they bad seized him, confinedo liim, chained in him the hold, and assumed ttie command of the Missel, tbeieby committing au act of puacy, lor which lie requested that a wannnt might be issued against them. This Captain Campbell does, as soon as the isolated and peculiar position in which be was placed admitted; but the magistrates, receiving his information, strangely enough refuse to give hisserioßA charge a hearing, although upon what giounds it b!S not pleased them to enlighten in in or the public. Cnptain Campbell, we understand, intends appealing to a higher court, where the decision of the magistiates will be submitted to due test." The following are the remarks of the Daily "So far as we can learn from the nairative, thfl alleged attempt to murder, and the alleged puatical seizm e, arose out of a series of previous disputes between the parties. A qudiiel had occurred, between a boldier and one of the crew; the military oflicer insisted that the seaman should bo punished ; the master insisted that the poldier was in fauU. Again, the mjhtt-r twice ordered the booby-batch to be fastened down i the military officer in command of the detachment twice successfully lesisted the fulfilment of these orders. The military officer commanded his soldiers t« take arms; the master presented a pistol at the militaiy officer. It does not clearly appear whether the command given to the soldiers or the presenting of ihe pistol occurrfod first in point of time — a point of considerable importance. The military officer alleges the sicUy state of his paity as a reason for resisting the fastening of the hatch ; tho master maintains that there whs adequate provision for ventilation even when the hatch was closed. " It is apparent, from the bringing of the vessel to St. Helena, lhat in -no slate of the facts can the military be regarded as having acted piraticaiJy except in a technical point of view. At the siune time if an exasgerated account bas not been given of the treatment experienced by the captain at their hands, he uas used more iiarshly than was required for his safe custody and the security of the passengers. It will also be an unfortunate circumstance if it shall ultimately appear that the Colonial Sercetary acted, as is asserted, on a charge made by the aide-de-camp of the Governor. " The charge against the master is a grave one. It involves, in the fiist place, an accusation ot misconduct, rendering it necessary for the safety of his passengers to confine him to his cabin ; and in the second place, of an attempt to commit murder. The charge ag»mst the military is equally grave; involving, in the first place, an accusation of having usurped the legitimate authority of the master, and in the second of having preferred an unjust cbaige against him in order to disenable him. fiotn appealing to a court of justice. Mixed up with these counter-charges, is an imputation not less serious against the colonial authorities, of perverting the law to favour fiientls and official allies."

Sin John Fhankliv. — The following is a copy of a leeiter received by the' Mayor of Liverpool, in leply to a petition to the Admiralty praying that a vessell might he sent in search of Sir John Franklin : — "Admiralty, July 14, 1851. "Sir— l am commanded by the Lords Commisioners of the Admiralty to acquaint you that they have received and have had under consideration the memorial signed by you and certain of the merchants nnd inhabitants of the city of Liverpool recommending that a pteam-vessel shoald be immediately dispatched to the Ajctic Seas to explore Jones's Sound in search of Sir John Fianklin and his party. My lords fully appreciate the humane motives which have induced the merchants and inhabitants of Liverpool to bring this subject again before the board of Admiralty, but feeling that every exertion for the general object in view has been made they are of opinion that they cannot comply with this request consistently with their sense of public duty and the responsibility in which further expeditions would involve them.— l am, Sir, your most obedient humble servant, ° J. Parker. " The Mayor of Liverpool."