Gazette Of The United States

PORTSMOUTH, April 8.
This morning, at nine o'clock, the Court again assembled, on board the Orion, in Portsmouth harbour, and remained deliberating from that time until one, when the Court was opened, and strangers were admitted.
The Judge Advocate then called over the names of the members: and, having noticed, in the usual forms, the occasion for which the Court had been assembled, the time it had sat, and read over the charges, proceeded to deliver
THE SENTENCE.
That the Court having heard the evidence in support of the Charges exhibited against the Hon. William Cornwallis, Vice admiral of the Red ; and having heard his defence. and the evidence in his behalf: and having maturely weighed and considered the same, are of opinion, —
That, with respect to the two first charges, of his returning without leave, after having been ordered to proceed to Barbadoes, and of his disobeying the orders he received, Misconduct was imputable to him for not having shifted his flag on board the Mars or Minotaur, and proceeded in either of them to the West Indies. But, in consideration of other circumstances, the Court acquit him of any disobedience in his conduct on that occasion.
"With respect to the third charge, of his having, after his return, disobeyed the orders of the Board of admiralty, in not going out to the West Indies in the Astraea frigate, the Court were of opinion that the charge was not proved, and therefore acquit admiral Cornwallis Upon that Charge."
Admiral Cornwallis, who, during the trial; conducted himself with great firmness and composure, heard the sentence read without any emotion ; and then making a slight bow to the Court, retired along with Mr. Erskine and some other friends.
The Court conducted itself with that grave and suitable decorum which has ever characterized the Naval Courts-Martial of Great Britain.
The Court was remarkably crowded. So many flag officers never at on any Court-Martial before.
As soon as the sentence was communicated to the people on board the Royal Sovereign, which lay at a short distance from the Orion, they all got upon deck and gave three cheers.