§ MR. MACDONALDasked the First Lord of the Admiralty, If he has had the facts of the late court martial on board the Admiral's ship at Sheerness before him; whether he will state what was really done by the seaman; and, if 1705 he sees no reason, when it has been considered, to remit in some degree the apparent severity of the sentence?
§ MR. W. H. SMITHSir, I have had all the facts of the late court martial at Sheerness before me; and it will be in the recollection of the House that I stated on a previous occasion that the offences committed were deliberate and repeated disobedience of the lawful and reasonable commands of a superior officer, followed up by a violent attack upon him. The offences were of a very grave character indeed, fully meriting severe punishment. It would be premature now to consider whether any portion of the punishment should be remitted, almost before, indeed, any part of it had been inflicted; but reports as to the prisoner will be made from time to time, and they will receive careful consideration.
§ MR. MACDONALDgave Notice that, on a future day, he would ask for the name of the seaman, whether he was an ordinary seaman or an A. B., whether such a sentence as that passed on this man had been passed on any seaman since the right hon. Gentleman had been in Office, and whether it had not come to his knowledge that recent discussions in the House had influenced the severe penalty which was then inflicted?