The Court Martial of Percy Grace R.N. 1824

Source: Burke, Edmund 1825. The Annual Register… 1824. Volume 66. Baldwin, Cradock and Joy, London. [Chronicle, p33]

[March] 9. Court-Martial, Portsmouth. A court-martial was held on board his majesty’s ship Queen Charlotte for the trial of Percy Grace, esq., commander of his majesty’s sloop Cyrene, on charges preferred against him by Mr Thomas Collins, master of that sloop.

The charges, as read to the court, were as follow:-

“For a breach of the eighth article of war, in taking out of the French schooner La Caroline, sundry goods, some of which were given away, the remainder brought on board, and applied for his own use.

“For acting in opposition to the orders of the Admiralty, in severely starting marines and seamen, and flogging others on their breach, without entering the same in the quarterly report of punishments and the ship’s log book.

“For unofficer-like conduct, in bringing on board, at Prince’s Island, a mulatto slave-boy, belonging to one of the inhabitants of that place, knowing him to be such, and landing him at Sierra Leone.

“For applying his majesty’s stores to purposes unconnected with the service.”

The court were occupied during Friday and Saturday in examining witnesses in support of the prosecution, and on Monday captain Grace entered on his defence, which having gone through, and the necessary witnesses to support it being examined, the court, after mature deliberation, came to the following decision:-

“that it appears that sundry goods were taken out of the French schooner La Caroline, as stated in the before-mentioned charge, but that no part thereof was applied for his own use, but were given away, and the value thereof was satisfactorily accounted for with the captain of the French schooner, and that such charge has not been proved against the said Percy Grace esq.

“That the charges of unofficer-like conduct, in bringing on board, at Prince’s Island, a mulatto slave boy, knowing him to be such, and of applying his majesty’s stores to purposes unconnected with the service, have also not been proved against the said Percy Grace esq.

“But that the charge of severely starting* marines and seamen, and flogging others on their breach, without entering the same in the quarterly report of punishments and ship’s log-book, has been in part proved against the said Percy Grace esq., and the court, in consequence, do only admonish him ‘to be more circumspect in future’”.

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* It appeared in evidence, that there were only six instances, where starting took place on board the Cyrene; yet, as that was a mode of punishment countenanced during the last few years, although more lenient than that practised at the gangway, and was in no instance severe, the court considered themselves under necessity of noticing this deviation from the present custom of the service, in the slight manner they have done.

Further Information

• Percy Grace
• 'Starting' a man was to hit him across the back with a rattan cane or short length of rope. See Nelson's Navy.