them of a contrary opinion, I address them in the language of the Apostle, ‘Would to God you were all together such as I am, except these bonds.’
“Mr. President, and gentlemen of this honourable court, in your hands I place my honour and my existence, the hopes and fears of my family, and all that is valuable to the officer, the gentleman, and the man; fully sensible they can be no where so safely confided as to the breasts of those of my own profession, the pride and boast of my country, and the terror of its foes. I have poured before you, as before my God, the case of my unfortunate situation; and whilst you decide on my future destiny, I earnestly entreat you to remember, ‘That earthly power doth then shew likest God’s, when mercy seasons justice!’”
The Court, after due deliberation upon the case, adjudged Lieutenant Gamage to be guilty of murder; regarding him, however, as a fit object of royal clemency. The case was laid before the law-officers of the crown; the utmost intercession was made in behalf of the unhappy prisoner; and a letter from the whole of the crew of the Griffon was sent, praying a pardon, but without effect. Perhaps it was feared, that the pardoning of this offence might lead the inferior ranks in the navy to suppose that justice was not duly administered. On the Saturday previous to the execution of the sentence. Admiral William Young issued, to the fleet under his command, the following general order, and feeling and forcible address:–
“General Memorandum.
“Impregnable, in the Downs, Nov. 2l, 1812.
“Lieutenant Richard Stewart Gamage, of H.M. brig Griffon, having been adjudged, by a court-martial, to suffer death, for having murdered a Serjeant of the royal marines of that brig, the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty have directed that he shall be executed on Monday morning next, on board the Griffon.
“When the signal for punishment is made, two boats, kept quite ready, manned and armed, are to proceed from every ship to the Griffon, the officers commanding them being directed to obey such orders as they may receive from her captain. All works are immediately to cease; the crew of every ship is to be turned up to observe the execution; and, that the attention of the officers and ships’ companies may not be diverted from the melancholy scene, nor the salutary reflections to which it may give occasion be interrupted, no work is to be begun till after the body has been lowered down. Soon after the execution shall have taken place, and while the body is still hanging, the 28th article of war, and so much of the latter part of the 19th article as relates to the behaving with contempt to a superior officer, shall be read to each ship’s company, and immediately after them, the fol-