TRIAL OF ADMIRAL KEPPEL AND VICE-ADMIRAL PALLISER.
The trial of Admiral Keppel commenced on the 7th of January, at the governor’s house, Portsmouth. It lasted thirty-two days, and the unanimous sentence of the court-martial was:—“That it was their opinion the charge against Admiral Keppel was malicious and ill-founded; it having appeared that so far from having by misconduct or neglect of duty lost an opportunity of rendering essential service to the state, and therefore tarnished the honour of the British navy, he had behaved as became a judicious, brave, and experienced officer.” The acquittal of Keppel was followed by illuminations and other demonstrations of joy on the part of the public, with whom he was in favour; and he also received the thanks of the city and the two houses of parliament. On the other hand, the house of Sir Hugh Palliser was broken open by a mob at midnight, and the whole of the furniture either destroyed or thrown out of the window, while effigies of the vice-admiral were carried about suspended by the neck and afterwards burnt. Work for the glaziers was also made by the destruction of the windows of the Admiralty, and of the houses of Lords George Germaine and North. The mob even took the great gate of the Admiralty from its hinges, and having collected all the sedan chairs in the neighbourhood made a great bonfire in the court-yard. Sixteen of the mob were afterwards captured by the soldiers, and the rest were dispersed. A day or two after this, as the acquittal of Keppel seemed to cast a stigma on the character of Sir Hugh Palliser he demanded a court-martial on himself; first giving up his seat in parliament and all his offices except that of vice-admiral. His trial was held on board the “Sandwich,” in Portsmouth harbour and after the lapse of twenty-one days the sentence of the court was:—“That, though his conduct and behaviour in battle had been in many respects highly exemplary and meritorious; they, at the same time, could not help thinking it was incumbent upon him to have made known to his commander-in-chief the disabled state of his ship, to which he attributed his not joining; but that, notwithstanding his omission in this particular, they were of opinion that he was not in any other respect chargeable with misconduct or misbehaviour, and that, therefore, they fully acquitted him.” Such was the termination of this ill-judged contest, which was rather a contest between the two parties of Whig and Tory than for personal honour and integrity of conduct. Though both were acquitted, their reputations were injured by their trials, for neither of them was ever afterwards employed in active service.