“And now, Mr. President and Gentlemen of this Hon. Court, unassisted by the talents of counsel, or the opinions of any legal adviser, I have thus laid before you these statements, founded in facts. I only request the patience of this Hon. Court for a short time, during the examination of witnesses, if the Court should deem it necessary to examine them, in corroboration of my assertions. I merely ask, would either of vou have acted differently to what I have, had your orders been set at defiance on the quarter-deck of either of your respective ships, by a midshipman whom you had brought into the service, as I had Mr. Collymore, and whom you had fostered, as I had him, in every respect as a son.
“Mr. President and Gentlemen, I have served in H.M. navy twenty-seven years, upwards of twelve years of that period as a commander, with a character unsullied, with a character respected by every officer and man I have served with; and though I have unceasingly studied to act up to what I consider to be the true discipline of the naval service, my conscience acquits me of ever having conducted myself towards any one subordinate to me with undue severity. I have been severely wounded in H.M. service, and have lost two fingers from my left hand in action, and have a musquet-ball now in my right arm. Sir, my father was in H.M. navy fifty-nine years, and died an admiral of the red squadron. I mention this merely to shew, that I am not unworthy the rank and situation I hold in the service. Sir, on the justice or injustice of the charges brought against me this Hon. Court are, I am sensible, fully competent to determine; and I beg to avow, that I have the highest respect for this Court, and that I have every reliance on its justice, and perfect confidence in the rectitude of my own conduct. With these sentiments. Sir, I close my defence, and shall cheerfully bow to your decision.”
The Court was then cleared, and after some few minutes deliberation was again opened, when they declared their opinion to be, that no charge had been proved against Lieutenant Worsfold, his evidence therefore was admissible if Commander Deans should think proper to call upon him. – I should wish, said the latter, that Lieutenant Worsfold be called, to state to the court the general conduct of Mr. Collymore, for the last three months he served in the Childers. – The lieutenant was then sworn, and deposed as follows:–
