6 NOVEMBER 1858, Page 9

DINTS TO " OPFlChRS AND GRNTLEMEN."

The Commander-in-Chief has issued a general order respecting 'a court-martial held at Portsmouth in July last, which terminates with some remarkable passages. The offender was Ensign John -James Scott of the 47th Regiment. The first charge was for quitting barracts without leave.

"Second—For conduct unbecoming the character of an officer and'a gentleman, and to the prejudice of good order and military discipline in the instances-

- nstances-

- " First Instauce—'In haring, at Portsmouth, on or about half:past 10 o'clock, p.m. the 30th day of May 1858, in company with Ensign Burnie, 7th Regiment, entered the quarters of Ensign (i. 1'. Pigott, of the Wex- ford Regiment of Militia, in Clarence Barracks, in his absence, upset his furniture and utensils, and otherwise disarranged his room, and caused the bedding to take fire. " Second instance—' In having, at Portsmouth, about 12 o'clock, p. TO. same date us above stated, been drunk and disorder', in the George Hotel, and then and there otherwise misconducted himself.

" Upon which charges the Court came to the following decision- " The Court, having maturely weighed and considered the evidence in support of the prosecution, together with what the prisoner hoe urged in his defence, is of opinion that he, the prisoner, Eusigu John James Scott, 47th Regiment, is guilty of the first charge.

" With regard to the second charge, first instance—that he, the pri- soner, Ensign John James Scott, 47th Regiment, is guilty, with the ex- ception of "conduct unbecoming the character of an officer and a gentle- man," and the words, " and caused the bedding to take fire," of which it ac- quits him.

'" With regard to the second charge, second instance—that he, the pri- soner, Ensign John James Scott, 47th Regiment, is guilty, with the excep-

tion of the words, "and disorderly," of which it acquits "

Ensign Scott was sentenced to be severely reprimanded and to have his name placed lowest on the list of ensigns. The Queen approved and confirmed the finding and sentence of the Court ; but—and here is the sting of the order- " His Royal Bigness cannot allow the officers of the army to be led astray by a tacit acquiescence in such erroneous opinions as appear to have been entertained by the members of this court-martial. " He had hoped that since the publication of the orders by the late Field- Marshal Commander-in-chief, the disgraceful habit of practical jokes had been entirely discontinued. " Those orders were personally delivered to, and acknowledged by, En- sign Scott, on his first appointment to a commission ; his disobedience thereto was, therefore, unbecoming the character of en officer ; and to con- spire with another for the personal annoyance of a brother officer by enter- ing his room uninvited, to upset his furniture and utensils, and otherwise disarrange his room, can be designated by no other term than ungentleman- like ; neither, in the opinion of his Royal Highness, can it be otherwise than disorderly in an officer to be drunk in an hotel, and then and there otherwise to misconduct himself.

" His Royal Highness considers such conduct to be fitly described by the language of the charge, and he, therefore, recommends courts-martial to check, by adequate punishment, practices a perseverance in which cannot fail to affect the character of the officers of the army as gentlemen."