by John Marshall

“ Sir,– I have received and laid before my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, your letter of the 20th March last, representing the conduct of Captain O’Brien acting in the command of H.M.S. Cornwallis, and stating that you had ordered a Court-Martial to assemble and try him for his conduct; and I am commanded by their Lordships to acquaint you that they approve of your ordering the Court-Martial in question. ”

“ I am, Sir, your most humble servant,
(Signed) ⁠“John Barrow.” “The senior officer of H.M. ships, East Indies.”
Previous to the receipt of the above. Commodore George Sayer had written to the Admiralty informing the Secretary for their Lordships’ information, that it was his intention to try Captain O’Brien by a Court-Martial, for “pursuing a course of conduct subversive of the first principles of the Service, grounded on pretensions as futile as irreconcileable with the Discipline of the Navy.” To this communication he received the following reply:
“Admiralty Office, 20th August, 1816. ”