DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70302#0169
LIFE OF LORD CAMELFORD.
145
adduced on the occasion, and what the prisoner had to
offer in his defence, and maturely and deliberately con-
sidered the same, and being fully sensible of the neces-
sity of prompt measures, in cases of mutiny and disobe-
dience of orders, the Court are unanimously of opinion,
that the very extraordinary and manifest disobedience of
Lieutenant Peterson to the lawful commands of Lord Ca-
melford, the senior officer at English Harbour at that
time, and the violent measures taken by Lieutenant Pe-
terson to resist the same, by arming the Perdrix’s ship’s
company, were acts of mutiny highly injurious to his
Majesty’s service; the Court do therefore unanimously
adjudge, that the said Lord Camelford be honourably
acquitted, and he is hereby unanimously and honourably
acquitted accordingly.”
After this acquittal, his Lordship returned to take the
command of his ship, which he soon afterwards resigned,
together with his naval profession. His personal appear-
ance while in the service, was marked by the same ec-
centricity by which he was distinguished through life.
His dress consisted of a lieutenant’s plain coat, without
shoulder-knots, and the buttons of which were as green
with verdigrease as the ship’s bottom. His head was
closely shaved, and he wore an enormous gold-laced,
cocked hat. In his professional duties he was a severe
disciplinarian, and was particularly attentive to the com-
fort and relief of the sick.
Not long after his Lordship’s return to England, he con-
ceived an idea which certainly could not have entered into
the head of any man besides himself. Thisissaid to have
been nothing less than to repair to Paris, and in the midst
of their capital to attack the rulers of the hostile country.
In pursuance of this plan, on the night of Friday the
18th of January 1799, he took a place in one of the night
coaches to Dover, where he arrived early the following
Eccentric, No. IV. u morning,
145
adduced on the occasion, and what the prisoner had to
offer in his defence, and maturely and deliberately con-
sidered the same, and being fully sensible of the neces-
sity of prompt measures, in cases of mutiny and disobe-
dience of orders, the Court are unanimously of opinion,
that the very extraordinary and manifest disobedience of
Lieutenant Peterson to the lawful commands of Lord Ca-
melford, the senior officer at English Harbour at that
time, and the violent measures taken by Lieutenant Pe-
terson to resist the same, by arming the Perdrix’s ship’s
company, were acts of mutiny highly injurious to his
Majesty’s service; the Court do therefore unanimously
adjudge, that the said Lord Camelford be honourably
acquitted, and he is hereby unanimously and honourably
acquitted accordingly.”
After this acquittal, his Lordship returned to take the
command of his ship, which he soon afterwards resigned,
together with his naval profession. His personal appear-
ance while in the service, was marked by the same ec-
centricity by which he was distinguished through life.
His dress consisted of a lieutenant’s plain coat, without
shoulder-knots, and the buttons of which were as green
with verdigrease as the ship’s bottom. His head was
closely shaved, and he wore an enormous gold-laced,
cocked hat. In his professional duties he was a severe
disciplinarian, and was particularly attentive to the com-
fort and relief of the sick.
Not long after his Lordship’s return to England, he con-
ceived an idea which certainly could not have entered into
the head of any man besides himself. Thisissaid to have
been nothing less than to repair to Paris, and in the midst
of their capital to attack the rulers of the hostile country.
In pursuance of this plan, on the night of Friday the
18th of January 1799, he took a place in one of the night
coaches to Dover, where he arrived early the following
Eccentric, No. IV. u morning,