No. III.
Copy of an Application from Lieutenant D. Forbes
for a Court Martial.
TO LIEUTENANT-COLONEL INNES, COMMANDING THE MADRAS EUROPEAN REGIMENT.
Sir,
As the information which the officer commanding the army in chief has received of my conduct at the regimental mess on the evening of the 7th instant must have been extremely incorrect; in vindication of my character, I have requested, in the accompanying letter, a public investigation, and beg you will forward it to the Adjutant-General of the army.
(Signed) D. FORBES,
Lieutenant of the Madras
European Regiment.
Masulipatam,
22d May, 1809.
TO THE ADJUTANT-GENERAL OF THE ARMY.
Sir,
Having been accused, in the copy of a letter from you, published in regimental orders of the 22d instant, of being one of the "authors and supporters of conduct highly indecorous, and contrary to every principle of military subordination," I beg leave to request, that I may be allowed the privilege of being allowed attempting to prove my innocence of that most serious charge before a general court martial; and I have to request that you will lay this my desire before the officer commanding the army in chief.
(Signed) D. FORBES,
Lieutenant of the Madras
European Regiment.
Masulipatam,
22d May, 1809.
Letter from Lieutenant-Colonel Innes to the
Adjutant-General of the Army.
Fort St. George.
Sir,
I have the honour herewith to transmit to you an official note, received last night, from Lieutenant D. Forbes of the Madras European regiment, with one to your address; both of which I request may be submitted to the Commander-in-Chief.
If Lieutenant Forbes's application is complied with, every young officer under my command will soon be making similar applications to head-quarters.
The gross and public disrespect shown by Lieutenants D. Forbes and Maitland, of the Madras European regiment, at the regimental mess of that corps, on the night of the 7th instant, so derogatory to the dignity of the Honourable the Governor in Council and Commander-in-Chief, from the observations made by these officers on the Government orders and those of the Commander-in-Chief, then received, dated 1st May; as also on the steady conduct of the native troops at Hyderabad, which was instantly noticed by me, calling upon Lieutenant D. Forbes to change the toast he proposed from the friends of the army to that of the Madras army, which was pointedly rejected, and the former one repeated, with three times three, obliging me to quit the mess-room; and for which improper conduct Lieutenants Forbes and Maitland subsequently declined to make an apology. I therefore feel it now my duty to report the circumstance officially, for the information of the Honourable the Governor in Council, and Commander-in-Chief.
(Signed) JAMES INNES,
Lieut.-Colonel commanding at
Masulipatam.
Masulipatam,
24th May, 1809.
Letter from the Adjutant-General to the Officer
commanding the Northern Division of the Army.
Sir,
The officer commanding the army requests you will nominate Lieutenant Maitland, of the Madras European regiment, to the command of the detachment of that corps ordered to serve as marines on board his Majesty's ship the Fox; and that you will direct Lieutenant D. Forbes, of the Madras European regiment, to proceed forthwith to the Presidency, for the purpose of embarking for Prince of Wales Island, to take charge of the corps doing duty there.
(Signed) J. H. CONWAY,
Adjutant-General.
Adjutant-General's Office,
27th May, 1809.