Michael D.Heath-Caldwell M.Arch.

Michael Heath-Caldwell M.Arch
Brisbane, Queensland
ph: 0412-78-70-74
alt: m_heath_caldwell@hotmail.com

1854 - 1855 - 1856

Captain Leopold Heath meets Mary Emma Marsh on the Island of Malta and a lot of begatting began.

Julia Anna Harrison (ne Heath) - age 47/48 1807-1879
Rev. John Moore Heath - aged 46/47 1808-1882
Douglas Denon Heath - aged 43/44 1811-1897
Rev. Dunbar Isidore Heath - age 38/39 1816-1888
Captin Leopold G. Heath R.N. - age 37/38 1817-1907
Emma Jane Heath (later Whatman) - age 33/34 1821-1884

1855

Rev. Dunbar Isadore Heath, aged 38/39.

He was a recognised authority on Egyptology, being one of the first English scholars to decipher the Papyri in the British Museum, and his services as a pioneer in this branch, of learning are fully acknowledged in the Speaker's Commentary, Vol. I, pt. 1, p. 468. His chief works in this department were " The Exodus Papyri," 1855

Wednesday 17 January 1855
Sun (London)

The Black Sea - The latest movements in the Black Sea Fleet are detailed in letters we have received dated December 30 and January 1 respectively.

At Balaklava were her Majesty's ships. Sanspareil, 70, Captain Heath; the Diamond, 20, Captain Peel, - - - etc.

Wednesday 17 January 1855
London Evening Standard

Malta. (from our own Correspondent, Malta, Jan 10.
The Sanspareil is also homeward bound, under the command of Captain Heath, lately promoted out of the Niger.

Friday 19 January 1855
Morning Chronicle

The Bellerophon goes home, and takes sick and wounded to Scutari. The Sanspareil is also ordered home, and leaves in ten days. Captain Heath, of the Niger, is appointed to her.

Saturday 20 January 1855
Hampshire Advertiser

The Mediterranean Station - Malta , January 7,1855
The Trafalgar and Sanspareil, Acting Captain Heath, are hourly expected en route to England, and the Brittania will sail in about a week. The Admiral, it is believed, will return to England overland.

21 January 1855
Frances I.L.Duberly - Correspondence, Crimea War 1853-56

My dear Francie
I write on the spur of the moment and while the facts I am going to mention are fresh in my mind and you will do a great service to many out here, who are living in hourly danger of their lives, if you would insert it in any paper or papers you like, and take care that it is laid before the public.

There is a great crowd of shipping now at Balaclava Harbor - steamships, powder ships, transports for the sick and commissariat vessels, and the Sans Pareil also moored in the harbour as guard ship. Captain Christie is Principal Agent of Transports, and a man who in his urbanity and kindness has won everybody's good opinion. Captain Heath of the Sans Pareil who succeeded Captain Dacres who was invalided nearly two months ago is Harbor master and directs the positions and mooring of every vessel in Harbor. The confusion and negligence attending the disposition of these ships is inconceivable. I may instance the Star of the South which is placed near the entrance of the harbour in such a position that owing to the impossibility of mooring her safely astern, should it blow a gale she must infallibly drift. Alongside, touching, are six vessels - three on each side. One of these is a Turkish Steamer which grates against her sides all day and when she first came in they blew off their Steam and were emptying their cinders between the sides of their vessel and the powder ship. That was it until after considerable time and difficulty they could be made to understand that there was Powder in the deck against the sides of which the red hot cinders fell. Vessels are moored in every imaginable direction. The harbour is almost blocked up with hawsers stretching across the harbour. Captain Heath appears to moor the ships in unsafe places purposely so inconceivably bad are the arrangements. Should one of these ships take fire the whole English expedition would be at an end.

A Master of the transports told me this morning (Captain Frain of our own ship) that he considered our lives were not safe from hour to hour. He has applied twice to Captain Christie and once to Captain Heath and has most fully represented the danger to all in Balaclava from the present unsafe position of his ship. He meets with neither attention or redress and the matter has been today submitted to Lord Raglan. You must be out here - to believe to the full extend what I write. - At this moment lying astern of these shops: (diagram) Charity, Hope, Turkish-(steamer), S.of South, Columba, Harkaway, Pride of Ocean, within 15 yards are thirteen dead horses, 3 dead camels and two bullocks, all in various stages o decomposition - to say nothing of camels humps, horses legs, parts of sheep and offal floating everywhere. This is the Harbour Master. - Why it is enough to breed the plague - even if the Turks had not already got it and are being drafted off by boatloads as I write, to the Turkish steamer.

If you can publish or make anything out of this it would be a good thing to get it in before Heath's Testimonials appear. Russell of the Times is living in Balaclava now and is going to give him a mauling. He has crowded all the powder ships together in an unsafe anchorage, as far from the Sans Pareil as possible - and appears either not to care what becomes of them or to wish them destroyed. The fact is, no Powder ought to be on board ship at all. If those wonderful wooden houses they talk so much about had come out, they could have made a Magazine in a safe place on shore - but we've been on fire once, and we've made up our minds that we don't like it.

Monday 22 January 1855
Morning Post

Metropolitan County Courts.

Sitting days appointed for the present week:
- Monday, Jan 22 - Before Mr.D.D.Heath

25 January 1855
Frances I.L.Duberly - Correspondence, Crimea War 1853-56

My dear Selina, I write more from force of habit than from having anything to say - unless indeed I expatiate on the letter I wrote to Lord Raglan respecting the unsafe mooring of the powder ship, and which has drawn down upon my head many hornets and as much murder, hatred, malice and all uncharitableness as the biggest nunnery of old women could produce. Captain Heath, Captain Powell and the clique meet to abuse me, and were heard today to express the greatest satisfaction at having discovered a separate and unsafe mooring for the vessel where they can put "that Mrs.Duberly and the whole damned lot of 'em. So Mrs.Duberly, hearing this, put her saddle into the boat and went off to Bob, who carried her into the jaws of Raglan and his staff as he was (actually) on his way to Balaclava to hold a council with Sir Edmund Lyons and I asked him there and then to give me - - -

(I was dining out last night on board Captain Hillyer's ship the Malacca. We had a very agreeable party and such a good dinner. Iced Punch after the soup and such Madeira! Captain Heath was there - I laughed when I was introduced to him - (but I have no manners) and we sat up and talked together half the evening. He is rather agreeable - but then I met also a 93rd man, one of the little single line that stood the shock of the Russian cavalry at Balaclava before the Heavies swooped down upon them, and didn't we fight the battle o'ver again.' - - -

Monday 29 January 1854
Shipping and Mercantile Gazette.

And to whom shall I attribute such unwarrantable cruelty and selfishness? And certainly, when we trace the affair to its source, we must come to the conclusion that the navy are to blame. Captain Heath, of the Sanspareil, and self-constituted harbour-master of Balaklava, has issued an order to the effect that none shall collect or lay claim to the drift-wood or spars of the wrecks which may be floating about. Such is the order, and the result is a secret and stealthy pilfering of the wood by night and day on the one hand, and an open seizure of every available spar by the powers that be, in the shape of naval authorities, on the other hand.

Tuesday 30 January 1855
Morning Herald (London)

House of Commons - Monday - The Administration of the War -Adjourned Debate.
- - - Captain Heath, of the Sanspareil, was a good officer, and most anxious to perform the duties of his situation; but were it not that Captain Peel had written to the authorities at Balaklava to the effect that no medical stores were on board the Sanspareil, and which application did elicit the supply of a medical chest, the sick would have been on board that ship without any medical comforts at all.

As it was, and notwithstanding the humanity of Captain Field and his officers, it was still a miserable spectacle to witness the state of the poor men. There were no mattresses, of course, because there never were any mattresses, and no sheet or pillow-cases; but every man had his one miserable, filthy blanket, which so swarmed with vermin that he had often seen the crew of the merchant vessels - - -

Tuesday 30 January 1855
Shipping and Mercantile Gazette

House of Commons - Monday - The Administration of the War -Adjourned Debate.
- - - He (Mr Stafford) would take that opportunity of bearing his testimony to the manner in which Captain Heath, of the Sanspareil, had performed his very arduous duties. Captain Field having received on board the sick, was obliged to write officially to the board to say that he had neither medicine nor medical comforts on board, and but for that letter he would have been obliged to go to sea without either. - - -

Thursday 1 February 1855
Shipping and Mercantile Gazette

The War - Siege of Sebastopol.
- - - - The arrangements of the harbour are better than they used to be, and Captain Heath, of the Sanspareil, has sent round a circular to the captains of transports in reference to statements made respecting the condition of the harbour at the dates of those statements, but I am not yet acquainted with the result.

This I can safely assert, that I never yet met the captain of anyone merchantman engaged in this service who had not some special ground of complaint on the score of his ship or cargo, or both, which he was only too happy to make after 10 minutes conversation. What they and their ships' logs say, if referred to, cannot be doubtful. But it is certain that the management of the harbour has improved - the evil, in fact, was curing itself at last.

Captain Powell, of the Vesuvius is a very active beachmaster; and Captain Heath is known to be a man of considerable energy, but their best efforts cannot avert the fouling of anchors and overlaying of cables in the deep and tortuous little fiord of Balaklava, crowded and blocked up as it is with innumerable vessels.

Any improvement in the harbour cannot be brought in evidence against my statements respecting it past management, and it is not unlikely the improvement has been the result of the public attention called to the state of Balaklava by Lord Hardwicke.

Thursday 1 February 1855
Saint James's Chronicle

Siege of Sabastopol - (From the Special Correspondent of the Times)
(Jan 16)
I hear that Captain Heath's circular is meeting with very favourable replies. That circumstance does not at all concern me, though, if I were so inclined, I could easily point out many instances of bad management in the harbour and on the beach of Balaklava even now. Where is the baggage of the last draughts of the Guards? How many anchors has a ship to raise before she can get at her own if she goes out tomorrow?

44 - 2 February 1855 - Appointed Principal Agent of Transport
File 914

Lyons letter again?

R.A. 21 January 1856 (1855?)
My dear Heath,

You must consider everything to the Expedition to their lot.

The armour(?), the artillery, the horses, the Ammunition, and the (provisions?) are but only as such being here the better(?)

I fear that we shall not have our (Steamer?) back from Eupatoria in time to (embark?) the infantry before Monday morning early, the earlier the better

Tell Mr Dunne that I shall send the Hebron Steamer Collins to tow the (Glance?) to (Kertha?) and that he must go in her.

I will at all events send you (early three more ?) (Steamers?) to tow any vessels may be leant for the Expedition.
Yours faithfully,
E Lyons

Friday 2 February 1855
Morning Herald (London)

House of Commons - Thursday
- - - There was another limitation, which, however, was of a more serious character - namely, the size of Balaklava harbour, and the power of managing those vessels when they did arrive at the place. In reference to Smyrna he had to inform the hon. gentleman, that nothing had as yet been done upon the subject. When it became necessary steps would be taken to place it in an efficient state for the reception of such packages. With regard to the appointment of Mr Heath, he could only say that Sir Edmund Lyons had full authority to make such arrangements as he thought necessary for the public service. - -

Friday 2 February 1855
Morning Herald (London)

There is no improvement to the notice in the general conduct of affairs at Balaklava, and to expect any now seems hopeless. Guards have been mounted on the powder ships since the fire which lately occurred on board one, but the vessels themselves still remain indiscriminately mixed with others.

Captain Heath is still seeking for signatures to his testimonial as to his character as a seaman from the commanders of merchant transports. Such assiduity and perseverance as Captain Heath has shown in getting up his "testimonial" deserves better success than he has hitherto met with, for I am informed that only the captains of the screw colliers, lately come in, have signed it.

The signatures of two masters of sailing vessels are also appended, but one of these was affixed during the temporary absence of the master by his chief mate. It was affixed without either the knowledge or consent of the master, who, I am informed, sent to Captain Heath to protest against his name being used, but up to the time I write it has not been withdrawn.

Friday 2 February 1855
Scottish Press

How the Stores are Received.

- - - -Again, a vessel - say the Golden Fleece - comes into harbour with blankets, great coats, and such articles for the army. She is ordered to discharge and proceed with all haste to sea again.

Captain Heath sends lighters alongside, and the stores are put into them. The men in the lighters go away at dinner-time, and, meantime, the Golden Fleece obeys orders, and goes off to her destination.

On her return to Balaklava the captain demands a receipt for the stores he has put into the lighters. "What stores? We know nothing at all about them. We never received them." A search is made, and some of the stores are found in one magazine and others in another, but part of them are not forthcoming. Bales of great-coast have been seen lying, I suppose under some such circumstances, under the rain, in open lighters, for 24 hours together at a stretch in the harbour.

Friday 2 February 1855
Morning Chronicle

House of Commons - The Speaker took the Chair at Four o'clock.
Private Business
Packages for the Crimea

Mr Stafford wished to ask whether any recent arrangements has been made by the Government for the delivery of packages consigned to Scutari or Balaklava - whether they were willing to take charge of such as were delivered at the dockyards in England - and also whether it was true that Captain Heath had been permanently appointed harbour-master at Balaklava? - - - With regard to the appointmet of Captain Heath, he had to state that Admiral Lyons had full authority to make such arrangements as he thought best for the public service.

Saturday 3 February 1855
Yorkshire Gazette

He entered at much detail of a most painful though interesting character, into the state of the sick and wounded on board the Avon and other ships, where the strange anomaly was presented of a miserable dietary for the soldiers, while the crews were admirably provided for. Captain Field, of the Avon, had acted most admirably, as did also Captain Heath, of the Sanspareil; but the whole system of mismanagement appeared insuperable.

He contrasted the state of the French hospital with those of the English, the former being everything that could be desired in such an institution; and spoke in the most enthusiastic terms of the conduct of Miss Nightingale and the nurses who went out with her, which had let to great alleviation of the miseries of the inmates of the hospital at Scutari.

Monday 5 February 1855
Patriot

Reinforcements, Provisions, Supplies.

Captain Heath, of Her Majesty's screw-steamer, the Sanspareil, has been appointed principal agent of transports in the Black Sea; and orders have been forwarded to him to return home and report himself to the Commander-in-Chief, leaving his ship to come home under the charge of the officer next in command.

Tuesday 6 February 1855
Morning Post

Extract of a Letter from Rear-Admiral Sir E.Lyons, dated the 13th January.

"But to revert to the inside of the harbour, the responsibility for the first three weeks rests with me, for I had the superintendence, and all I will say of myself is, that I naturally did my best to promote the success of an object I had so much at heart; but of my assistants I may say that no man ever had a more able one than I had in Captain Maude, for the details of landing the cargoes, or a more efficient one than I had in Captain Heath, for all the duties relating to the ingress, berthing, and egress of the shipping.

Thank, in a great measure, to the zeal and foresight of Rear-Admiral Stewart, boats were not wanting, and their lordships may be assured that the best use was made of them by Captain Davies and Heath and Commander Powell, whose praiseworthy conduct has won for them the admiration of the army and goodwill of all. - - -

Extract from Admiral Lyons to the Secretary of Admiralty.

"With reference to your letter of the 18th ultl., addressed to my predecessor, and to mine of the 13th inst. in reply thereto, I beg to transmit some documents which I have received from Captain Heath, of the Sanspareil, by which their lordships will observe that many of the accounts of the confusion in Balaklava harbour, if not altogether untrue, are at least greatly exaggerated."

From 36 Masters of Transports to Captain Heath, "Balaklava Harbour, Jan 13. "It is much pleasure that on the eve of your departure we bear testimony to your unceasing endeavours to regulate the berthing and insure the safety of the ships in this harbour. - We are, &c., signed by 36 Masters of Transports."

Extract from a report of Captain Robert Methden, of the steam-transport Colombo, of 1,800 tons.

"The Gale threw everything into confusion; but by great exertions a re-arrangement was effected, and since then the most watchful care of the shipping, in all cases which seemed to require interference, seems to me to have been afforded.

The pilotage of the port, under Captain Powell, requiring the largest ships to be handled, under critical circumstances, has caused me repeatedly to express my most unqualified admiration. This duty has called for incessant labour, and it has been bestowed with the most untiring zeal, temper, and cheerfulness, and with an ability not to be surpassed by the most practised hand.

On such occasions, when Captain Powell could not himself attend, or when two heads were better than one, I observed that Captain Heath was himself always present.

For some weeks past (say four) large bollards have been placed for securing moorings of a light description; and in other respects, having three times entered and departed from this port, I have to state that every application for assistance to either Captain Heath or Captain Powell has been responded to, and I consider the present state of the harbour a marvel of exact arrangement - (laughter) - and the amount of accommodation afforded only to be exampled by one of the crowded docks of Liverpool." The hon. and gallant admiral hoped the information which he had given the house would be satisfactory.

Tuesday 6 February 1855
Dublin Evening Packet and Correspondent

Imperial Parliament -
House of Commons - Yesterday
The Speaker took the chair at four o'clock. A number of private bills were read a second time and ordered to be committed.
In reply to a question from Mr Deedes

Admiral Berkeley read extracts from two letters from Sir Edmund Lyons relative to the state of the shipping in Balaklava harbour, and stated that Captain Dacres and Captain Heath had been strenuous in their exertions to keep order. Captain Heath stated that the report in the Times was unjust, as was proved by a document signed by 36 of the masters of transports at Balaklava and that everything was conducted with marvellous exactness.

Tuesday 6 February 1855
Morning Advertiser

Letters from the Crimea - The following letters from the Crimea have been received by the friends of the writers, and have been forwarded to us for publication in the Morning Advertiser.

The Crimea, Jan 12, 1855 - - - -You see in the Illustrated News fine clothing and huts - certainly a small quantity of clothing has arrived, but up to this time there are not twelve wooden huts erected in the Crimea. There is only one word out here, and that is want of forethought and gross mismanagement in every department.

The appointment of Captain Heath of the Sanspareil, as Harbour-Master here, is an instance. He moves the powder ships away from the beach, prohibits all smoking, &c., and has the lights put out at an early hour - all very good and right as some have several hundred tons of powder on board - but what did he do yesterday? He moored a Turkish steamer actually touching alongside the principal magazine ship.

The Turks smoke the chibouque all about their decks; and, as you know, it is the most dangerous of pipes for sparks. The steamer also keeps up her steam, and sparks, of course, fly from her funnel across the powder ship. Alongside another majazine-ship, the Earl of Shaftesbury, he moors, also touching, a French steamer. This is the management out here, which makes a man of any sense quite sick.

Friday 16 February 1855
Morning Post

The War in the East - Camp Before Sebastopol - January 23
- -- The party of Royal Marines, attached to the Light Division are about to be re-embarked. They will march tomorrow, and embark on board the vessels in harbour, under the direction of Captain Heath, R.N. They are much reduced by sickness. Out of 76 men they have but 25 efficient.

Saturday 17 February 1855
Saint James's Chronicle

Seige of Sebastopol - (From the Special Correspondent of the Morning Herald) - Camp, Heights of Sebastopol Jan 31.

- - - The Sanspareil has, at last, taken her departure, and to the infinite relief of all captains who valued their vessels, she has taken Captain Heath along with her, Admiral Boxer has arrived, and succeeds Captain Heath in the management of the transports; so that all are looking forward in the hope of better nautical arrangements.

Tuesday 20 February 1855
Sun (London)

The Black Sea Fleet
The Sanspareil, 71, screw, Captain Heath, left Feb. 3 for Malta and Devonport, to be paid off.

Saturday 24 February 1855
Hampshire Advertiser

Thursday 8 March 1855
London Evening Standard

English Camp, Heights of Sebastopol, Feb 23.

- - - The harbour of the place gets into a worse state each day, and the news of the appointment of Captain Heath, R.N., to supersede Captain Christie as transport agent out here, has given much dissatisfaction. Captain Heath is as universally disliked in the transport service as Capt. Christie is liked.

Thursday 8 March 1855
Morning Herald (London)

The Army before Sabastopol Committee. (Third Day)

The committee met yesterday at twelve o'clock, and the rush of the enlightened "public" was so furious that we had to make an application to the chairman to be permitted to enter the room by the members' door which request was immediately granted by the honourable and learned gentlemen. - - -

To Lord Seymour - I do not know whether the harbour would have held more vessels if they had been properly placed. The vessels in the harbour were considerably damaged by the storm of the 14th December. If the other vessels had been in the harbour, there would not have been so much damage, as there would not have been so much room for them to ride against the wind.

Captain Heath did not order us to go into the harbour - it was only his business to superintend the anchoring of the ships. During 27 days we were in the harbour, several vessels unloaded their cargo. There was plenty of room on the quay for us to have unloaded our cargo, and there would have been no difficulty in doing so. - -

(Pargh Affort?) 4 April 1855 (Another undecipherable scribble letter from Admrial Lyons - Ed)
My dear Heath,

I am (Marai) with a letter I have just received from Lord Raglan asking me to send to Malta for his (Bnffs) and (Cussr) for the Regiment of Infantry each 700 (stings?)

I consider it highly important that (bread?) Regiments should be brought here as speedily as possible and I shall be glad to know what steamer vessels you can send to (Sirpan?) for the two Regiments to be (length?) from thence and when they will be ready to start.

This (service?) must take precedence of all others.

The Regiments from Malta will, (in short?) be sent up by me of the numerous transports thence, for ships by a letter from -

- of the Santorini and French Troops is finished for now but they are but they are waiting (Steamer?) transports home.
Y. Faith
E Lyons

Saturday 7 April 1855
Isle of Wight Observer

On the 5th inst. at Brading Church, by the Rev. D.I. Heath, Mr. William Warder, jun. of Brading to Frances, eldest daughter of the late Mr.Robert Warder, of Wroxall.

On the 5th inst. at Brading Church, by the Rev. D.I. Heath, Mr. William Harvey, of Andover, to Mary, only daughter of Mr.William Warder, of Brading.

Wednesday 18 April 1855
London Evening Standard

Siege of Sebastopol - (From the Morning Herald) (From our Special Correspondent.) English Camp, Heights of Sebastopol, March 31

General Memorandum "Orient, Balaklava, March 29 1855"

"The Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty having been pleased to appoint Captain Leopold Heath, Royal navy, to supersede me as principal agent of transports, I hereby inform you thereof, and you will follow and obey the orders of that officer from and after the 31st instant." - P. Christie, Captain and Principal Agent.

Tuesday 1 May 1855
Morning Advertiser

Promotions in the Army and Navy.

The assertions which have been made in our columns respecting the conduct of Admiral Boxer at Constantinople, and Captain Leopold Heath at Balaklava, and still more the unhesitating manner in which we have stated that each of these officers has been promoted by Sir James Graham, in consequence of his inefficiency, must have astonished our readers; but, incredible as these facts appeared, they are confirmed to the letter by the evidence given before the Sebastopol Committee by Capt. Milne, one of Sir James Graham's colleagues and a Lord of the Admiralty.

That gallant officer admits that Admiral Boxer was removed from the control of the transports at Constantinople to the situation of Harbour Master at Balaclava, because he did not give satisfaction in the former post. And he adds that it was also Sir James Graham who rewarded Captain Heath's failure as Harbour-Master of Balaclava, by making him Inspector of Transports at that port!

It is rare that Ministerial delinquency is so palpably and so speedily brought home to it's author and after such an exposure we are not surprised Sir James Graham is seriously ill. With the fear of a cross-examination by Mr Roebuck's Committee before his eyes, we should be very much surprised to hear of his immediate recovery...

45 - 10 May 1855 - ? (Lyons?) to Leopold re number of ships to be catered for.
File 918 - Looks like another letter from Lyons. Extremely bad handwriting again.
Confidential
(Convicts?)
RA. May 10th 1855
My dear Heath,
Sir Charles (Wood, Hood?) in his letter of the 23rd ultimo, enjoins me to keep a sufficient number of transports of all sorts to supply provisions for
30,000 (Binthal?)
18,000 (Tartimini?) (Irishmen?)
5,000 French and
5,000 (Transport?) Troops.
58,000 - and he - - - me to supply the screw Collins and cargo steamer of light craft if (water?) in the Sea of Azoff and to arm them for that purpose, so you must keep them all and let me have a list of them with their draft of water when light and when and when landed.
Yours faithfully
E Lyons

Saturday 12 May 1854
Newcastle Journal

There are it is commonly asserted but few men, whether good or bad, who are not courageous, and it must be admitted that the late First Lord of the Admiralty gave proof of pre-eminent bravery when shortly before leaving office he secretly transferred the disgraced Harbour Master of Balaclava to a better post at the same place.

Whether are any ties, Russian or ministerial, which bind Captain Heath to office or to Sir James Graham, we do not know, but his re-appointment is not an instance of a round man being squeezed into a square hole or a square man into a round one, but of something far more abominable, namely of an officer whose inexplicable mismanagement has been mainly instrumental in destroying the lives of nearly all our horses and of many of our brave men, being in consequence of his guilt, or his incapacity, promoted to a better post.

After repeated denials, it was at last proved to the dissatisfaction of the most sceptical that the mismanagement and confusion alleged to exist in the port of Balaclava were by no means exaggerated, and although the harbour-master was faintly praised by Sir Edmund Lyons, had the honour of being defended by Admiral Berkeley, and resorted to an unprecedented step on the part of a naval officer by personally, and in most instances in vain, soliciting the masters of transports to sign a certificate of his good management, it nevertheless remained on record against him that he had suffered the carcasses of horses and camels to float about the harbour for weeks when a few hours labour would have removed them - that he caused the loss of the "Prince" and other transports lost in the great November storm, by ordering them in spite of repeated protests to their dangerous and fatal anchorage, - that both before and after the gale he compelled the ships in the harbour to take up unsafe positions, - and that he had so systematically placed one or more steamers alongside and touching each of the powder ships, that the most urgent remonstrances were made not only to himself but even to Lord Raglan.

It may regularlarly be imagined that representations poured in upon the Admiralty, not only describing the filthy, disorderly, and dangerous conditions of the harbour at Balaclava, but also demanding the removal of Captain Heath. Under these circumstances, Sir James Graham foresaw that the national indignation would, if opposed, be converted to fury, and he feared lest it might even forget the respect due to the person of a Cabinet Minister; he therefore thought it prudent to bow to the storm and he officially announced that not only the obnoxious harbour master, but also the principal agent for transports, against whom no accusations had been made, were displaced.

The latter officer, Captain Christie, immediately started for England, possibly to protest against the injustice done him, but, on reaching Malta soon after the committee of inquiry had become inevitable, he was met there by Admiralty dispatches which commanded his immediate return to the Crimea, in order, according to the official statement made in the House of Commons, that he might be put on his trial before a Court Martial.

As no charges have been made public against him, it may fairly be presumed that Sir James Graham wished to prevent him from coming to England, lest he should be called upon to give evidence before the Roebuck Committee.

This inference will not be thought unjust by those who bear in mind that the guilty Captain Heath whose removal was announced by Sir James Graham, has been neither disgraced nor recalled, but merely transferred from the office of harbour master to that of principal agent for transports, the post lately held by the innocent Captain Christie, - and it is clear that the right honourable baronet has good reason for keeping Captain Christie out of the way, since the blackest malice could not invent a tale so damaging to him, as the simple statement of facts which Captain Christie would be called upon to narrate to the committee of inquiry.

The startling revelations respecting the conduct of Admiral Boxer at Constantinople, the Capt. Leopold Heath at Balaklava, and the promotion of those officers by Sir James Graham in consequence of their inefficiency, may appear incredible to many of our readers. But they are confirmed to the letter by the evidence given before the Sebastopol Committee by Capt. Milne, Sir James Graham's colleague, and the Lord of the Admiralty who has had most to do with the transport of stores to the East.

He expressly stated to the Committee that Admiral Boxer was removed, in consequence of his not giving satisfaction as Inspector of Transports at Constantinople, to the post of Harbour-Master at Balaklava, by Sir James Graham, who also, according to his evidence, rewarded Capt. Heath's mismanagement as Harbour-Master at Balaklava by giving him the better post of Inspector of Transports at that port. After this exposure, we are not surprised to hear the Sir James Graham is seriously ill, and, with the dread of a cross-examination by the Roebuck Committee before his eyes, we cannot expect to hear of his speedy recovery.

It may be a breach of "decorum" to charge a public man with iniquity, but it must be wilful blindness or conscious participation which can venture to deny that not only four corruption and baser trickery, but even punishable crime has prevailed amongst the ministers of Queen Victoria during the past two years.

Tuesday 22 May 1855
Morning Advertiser

Mr Layard and Sir James Graham

( Though the following article, from the pen of a very able writer, only reached us in time for insertion in today's Morning Advertiser, it is right to state, that it was written before the appearance of Mr Layard's letter in yesterday's times)

The wonderful history of mismanagement at Balaclava has ended in a painful tragedy. An officer who was not responsible for the conditions of the harbour, has died of a broken heart , in consequence of unfounded charges officially made against him, in a matter wherein he had neither part nor authority.
In the beginning of February last, such repeated and urgent accusations, supported by evidence which could not be disregarded, were brought against Captain Leopold Heath the Harbour Master of Balaklava, that Sir James Graham was compelled to remove him.

He accordingly gave him a better post at the same place, superseding for that purpose Captain Christie, the Superintendent of Transports - an officer against whom no charges had been brought.

Captain Christie was coming at once to England in order to clear himself from the slur cast upon him by Sir James Graham, but that able tactician saw the danger to which he would be exposed, if Captain Christie appeared before the Roebuck Committee, and told them that he had possessed no authority whatever over the harbour, but that the responsible officer had been promoted as a reward for his mismanagement.

Sir James, therefore, sent despatches, not only to the Crimea, but even to Malta, to prevent Captain Christie from returning to England, and to order him to be tried by court-martial at Balaklava on certain charges which he specified.

Some six weeks ago we denounced this sort of baseness and tyranny, but we little thought that Sir James Graham would himself admit that our charges against him were true to the letter.

Superseded and disgraced, and then cut off from the opportunity of clearing himself before the Sebastopol Committee, Captain Christie's agony of mind has produced brain-fever and death...

One other point, and we have done with him. The only person who had brought a public and tangible charge against Captain Christie was a member of the Government. on the 20th of April, Sir Charles Trevelyan having stated to the Roebuck Committee that there was a want of arrangement and organisation in Balaklava Harbour, was asked, "Who was answerable for that?" He replied, "The Admiralty principally, and Captain Heath immediately.

The Admiralty is responsible for his appointment." If the Hon. Baronet who tried to make us believe that he had Captain Christie's interests and honour at heart, had been anxious to clear the character of that gallant gentleman, would he not have taken immediate steps to refute this public and unfounded accusation made with official authority by his own colleague? it would have been easy to cause Sir Charles Trevelyan to correct his mistake, and to declare that Captain Christie had neither the power nor authority in the harbour in question.

Saturday 26 May 1855
Newcastle Journal
... as above...
"The Admiralty principally, and Captain Christie immediately. The Admiralty is responsible for his appointment." Now, Sir James wishes to make us believe that it was out of regard for the gallant gentleman that he put him on his trial, but if had felt any interest about him, would he not have taken immediate steps to counteract this unfounded accusation made with official authority by his own colleague?

He could in a moment have explained to Sir Charles Trevelyan that Captain Christie had no authority in or over the Harbour of Balaklava, and that gentleman would not have lost a moment in correcting the serious mistake into which he had fallen. But such a step would have brought up the name of Captain Leopold Heath and have led to inquiries into his mismanagement and his promotion.

Saturday 2 June 1855
Windsor and Eton Express

Crimea Chit-Chat - The Times correspondent from "before Sabastopel" on the 15th May, says, "Miss Nightingale is suffering from an attack of Crimean fever. She has been staying on board the London transport at Balaklava for the last few days, together with Mr.Bracebridge. ; but the day before yesterday she was taken ill, and yesterday it was considered advisable to bring her up to the Sanitarium where she is under the care of Dr.Jephson, assisted by Dr.Sutherland and Dr.Anderson. The poor lady most probably owes her illness to exposure to the sun on Friday last, when she visited the hospitals and even went down to the Mortar Battery, whence she had a good view of Sebastopol. She is something better today.

M.Soyer has been inspecting the hospitals and kitchens, and it is hoped he may effect some change for the better in our abominable mode of regimental cooking - - -

- - - Mrs.Duberly, who has been out with her husband ever since the spring of 1844, is going with him on a visit to Omar Pasha at Eupatoria. - - - The harbour is now clean and in excellent order. Admiral Boxer (to whom is exclusively due the credit of filling up the waste of filth at the end of the harbour and of creating in its stead a spacious quay and landing-ground) is certainly most energetic. He is afloat all day long, from an early hour in the morning looking after the vessels, and nothing escapes his notice. He has instituted an admirable harbour police - the men have handsome uniforms and are provided with a fast pulling cutter, and at night the silence which prevails on board the ships is a great contrast to the noise and riot which existed a short time ago. A wire cable is drawn across the mouth of the harbour every night and boats row guard as usual inside. Those who remember what the harbour was till very recently were astounded at reading Captain Dacres' evidence before the Committee on the state of the harbour last October. Why, every one knows that the water was a mass of offal and filth of all kinds, yet Captain Dacres coolly says he does not believe the evidence of a witness whose testimony can be confirmed by thousands! Even now what takes place! On the beach, close to the landing place at Leander Bay, and by the powder magazine, there may be seen at this moment portions of corpses protruding through the sand, where they were buried after the storm; and it was only yesterday that I was looking at the blanket which covered one of them fluttering above ground in the breeze.

As to the part of Captain Dacres' evidence relating to poor Captain Christie and to the loss of the Resolute and Prince, all I can say is, that it is in complete contradiction to everything we have heard out here on the subject for the last four or five months, and I doubt if the matter will be allowed to drop there.

Captain Heath, who succeeded Captain Christie is on board her Majesty's steamer Triton, Lieutenant Fletcher commanding, and keeps his office there. He is very active i the discharge of his duties, which are by no means light, but a man-of-war steamer is rather a costly tenement for the use of a captain superintending the transport service."

Thursday 7 June 1855
Northern Daily Times

The Capture of the Ship Conference - We learn from Gibralter under date of the 26th May, that her Majesty's steamer Medusa, Commander Heath, had been despatched on the 21st, to the coast of Riff, in searchof the British ship Conference, of Sheilds, captured by the pirates off that coast, on the morning of the second inst., the master and crew having escaped in their boats.

The Medusa, which had a vessel in tow, proceeded as far a Cape Tres Forcas, when they came up with the wreck of the Conference. She was lying, what remained of her, close to shore, and apparently had been burned to the water's edge, as nothing remained but several of her ribs and part of her keel.

Captain Heath, perceiving it would be useless risking the lives of his men on such a barbarous coast, contented himself by throwing several shells among about 200 of the pirates who were collected round the wreck, and dispersed them.

Monday 18 June 1855
Morning Advertiser

Metropolitan County Courts.
Sitting days appointed for the present week.
Bloomsbury, Portland Road. - (Before Mr.D.D.Heath.) - Wednesday, June 20; Thursday, 21; Friday 22.

Monday 25 June 1855
Morning Herald (London)

Metropolitan County Court.
Sitting days appointed for the present week.
Bloomsbury, Portland Road. - Before Mr.D.D.Heath. - Wednesday, June 27; Thursday, 28; Friday 29.

Monday 25 June 1855
The Record

Rev. D.I. Heath's Exodus Papyri.
To the Editor of The Record
Sir,
It has been observed, that in the earlier periods of the promulgation of new views, much of the injurious effect of controversy would often have been avoided had the propounders of novelties given careful explanations of their real views and intentions at the outset.

In reference to your remarks upon my Exodus Papyri it would, I think, be a great pity that your numerous readers should not be made aware from myself how much I differ from many of those with whom your observations would lead them to class me.

It is but too apparent that parties exist among us who are religious indeed, but not Christians. They own a Creator, and theoretically they may not deny the embodiment of Deity on earth, as an event that has happened some eighteen hundred years ago, but they are content to suppose that man is habitually left unaided by present Spirit, and longs unreasonably, if at all, for the coming Christ, to grapple with the many evils which the fall of our first parents has entailed upon us.

It is apparent, I say, that many among us deny any peculiar ordinary action of the Holy Spirit in human hearts, nor do they look for any Messiah to intervene as infallible King of all our globe. The incompetent old round of popes, kings, Parliaments, and mobs, are still the only but every-failing leaders to whom they fly in their distress.

Such parties talk, it appears, not unfrequently of the ultimate all-sufficiency of human reason to put down the now dominant evil. In distinct advance of these, I am myself, not only religious but Christian. All these devices, will, in my opinion, successively fail, as they have hitherto done. It ought to be no novelty to teach that all our divisional schemes for unity, and all our dead machines for regeneration, will fail, till the nations (not good men only but the nations) shall call for Christ.

The matter of fact belief in his human success by human means is my heresy. I am glad that those few lines which you have quoted show clearly my faith in his ultimate triumph. Surely, then, I have that same faith which Abraham showed, and, therefore, I am a believer and a Christian, and as such, I hope for the support of the Evangelicals, whom I greatly love.

But, to descend to particulars, we find that the Universalists, and also Professor Maurice, so far as I can understand him, seem to imagine that wicked men here-after, will, somehow, ultimately all become good. The abyss of love beneath the abyss of hell will somehow ultimately reclaim them.

So be it; but I have repeatedly stated views quite opposed to such a mere hypothetical supposition. Neither Scripture nor common experience justify us (it seems to me) in anticipating that the fixed character of the adult vicious human being will ever become heavenly. At any rate, I have stated that heavenly and hellish men will hereafter be joined in a unity, I state, in the first place, only what the Scriptures repeatedly state, but I mean, secondly, that the hellish will be morally forced, bound, and eternally imprisoned into their hated positions in this unity.

They will ever hate, I fear, the dominant good. Their hell will, I fear, be eternal.

I am therefore, no Universalist. I accept the whole of the Scripture.

I am, &c.
D.I. Heath
Vicarage,
Brading, Isle of Wight.

From Sir Leopold Heath's letter register:-

46 - 5 July 1855 - Appointed Companion of the Bath

From Sir Leopold Heath's letter register:-

47 - 23 July 1855 - Sir E.Lyons (Type?) of Congratulations

Monday 23 July 1855
Daily News (London)

Metropolitan County Courts.
Sitting days appointed for the present week.
Bloomsbury, Portland Road - Before Mr.D.D.Heath - Wednesday, July 25; Thursday, 26; Friday 17.

Wednesday 1 August 1855 uploaded
County Courts Chronicle

Cases Decided in the County Courts.
Bloomsbury
(Before D.D.Heath Esq., Judge.)
Poland v. Tebbutt.
Surveyor's Charges - Important to the Profession.
Mr.Poland, the plaintiff, is a surveyor of No.72 Margaret St, Cavendish Square, and the defendant a tradesman in the same neighbourhood.

The action was brought to recover £9/. 9s. as follows:- "Preliminary survey of a house in Foley Place, as to the necessary repairs to be done, £1/. 1s.; drawing specification of repairs, and fair copy, and superintending work of the value of £124/. at a commission of £5/. per cent., £6/. 4s.; settling-up extra work, and going through accounts, and finally settling same, £1/. 1s.; postage, 2s. attendance upon Mr.Knight, &c. &c. as to an attempted encroachment upon the defendant's premises, £1/. 1s.: total £9/. 9s." Of this sum, the defendant paid £6/. 4s into court.

Mr.Poland proved that in cases of repairs it was not usual to charge by commission, but by time. In this case he had taken into account the position of the defendant, and had charged by commission and not time. He had no idea that the amount would be disputed, as he had sent in his bill upwards of a twelvemonth; and when he found there was a dispute, he had offered to refer the matter to Mr.Lockyer, a gentleman who had originally introduced him to the defendant. - - - continues - - -

His Honour, in giving judgment, said: - I am quite clear that where a surveyor adopts one scale of charges, he cannot afterwards vary them. I am with the defendant on that point.

The cause was then adjourned, to enable the plaintiff to show that the third items was really for commission on extra work over and above the £124/.; and to produce evidence that he was fairly instructed to resist the encroachment.

His Honour said, there was no doubt the plaintiff had not adopted the ordinary custom in such cases, but at the same time he was bound by his own election of the mode of charging.

Saturday 25 August 1855
Hampshire Independent

British Archeological Association.
The Twelfth Annual Meeting of the members of this Society commenced on Monday afternoon last, at the Town Hall, Newport, T.J.Pettigrew Esq., the Treasurer in the chair in the absence of the President, the Earl of Perth, who was detained at home in consequence of domestic affliction.

- - -
The meeting then adjourned for the purpose of the Free Grammar School, the Museum, &c. and an evening meeting was afterwards held at the Town Hall, for the reading and discussing of papers, exhibitions of antiquities, &c., the Rev. D.I. Heath of Brading delivering his opinions on the Jewish Exodus as illustrated by certain Egyptian Papyrii; and Mr.C.E.Davis.

Monday 27 August 1855
Morning Advertiser.

Metropolitan County Court.
Sitting Days Appointed for the Present Week.
Bloomsbury, Portland Road - Before Mr.D.D.Heath - Wednesday, Aug. 29; Thursday 30; Friday 31.

Tuesday 28 August 1855
Gibraltar, August 16.-H.M. St. Medusa, Commander Heath, which left on the night of the 14th instant, for Apeshill, where the Childe Harold was wrecked, returned on the following evening with the steam-tug Earl of Lonsdale in tow, which vessel had likewise proceeded to render assistance to the ship.

In consequence of having to encounter very rough weather, the Earl of Lonsdale's machinery became damaged, and she lost sails, two anchors, and two chain cables, besides sustaining other injury. The master and crew from the Chillde Harold were brought here by the Medusa.

Saturday 1 September 1855 uploaded
County Courts Chronicle

Reports.
Cases decided in the County Courts.
Bloomsbury
(Before D.D.Heath Esq., Judge and a Special Jury).

Davens and Another v. Baxter.
Goods sold - Evidence of Payment.
Dod appeared for plaintiffs.
Herring for the defendant.
This action has been before the court several times, and was of most extraordinary nature. At the former trial the judge found a verdict for the plaintiffs. The defendant then moved for and obtained a new trial on the ground of surprise, and that the verdict was against the weight of evidence; at the same time the court granted a rule allowing the defendant to have a jury. The action came on a second time for trial under these circumstances, and was to recover £3;. 7s. 6d. The witnesses on both sides were ordered out of court.

Dod, in opening the plaintiff's case, drew attention to the former proceedings of which he sketched an outline. The action was to recover £3/. 7s. 6d. for goods sold and delivered by Messrs. Davenes, who are provision merchants, carrying on business at No.73 Cow-cross Street, Smithfield, to the defendant Mr.Baxter, who carries on business in Great College Street, Camden Town, as a cheesemonger and butter-man.

As he understands the matter, it would be for the jury to say whether or not that sum had been paid to the plaintiffs through their agent. That was the defence he understood that would be set up. There was no dispute as the delivery of the goods. He would call the plaintiff's agent for them, who would state in the most positive terms that he had never been paid by the defendant. - - - -

His Honour, in summing up the case, drew attention to the very serious issue the jury had to try. They had to determine whether there was perjury on the one side, or perjury and forgery on the other. It was one of the most serious cases that had ever come before him in his judicial capacity, and he left it to their most careful consideration.

The jury retired, and an absence of three hours, returned for the defendant.

Thursday 6 September 1855
Morning Herald (London)

Her Majesty's steam sloop Medusa, Commander Heath, has proceeded to Malta.

Monday 17 September 1855 uploaded
London Evening Standard

Bloomsbury County Court, Sept.15
Before D.D.Heath Esq.
Hopper v. Smith
In this case plaintiff and defendant were costermongers, and the amount sued for was 5s., balance of money lent.

Plaintiff stated that he lent 7s. 6d. to defendant, who paid him 2s. 6d back, but being unable to get any more, he summoned him.

Defendant denied ever borrowing money of plaintiff, but Sally Crisp, who acted as his wife (laughing), told him she had. He did not pay any 2s. 6d. to plaintiff.

Sally Crisp said that she did business as well as Joe Smith, in the street line (laughter). One night, wanting some money for next morning's market, she, before plaintiff's wife, borrowed 7s. 6d. of him. She afterwards met him out and treated him to a drop of gin, and, one drop leading to another, they agreed to go to a concert-room. There they made themselves jolly, and "The Ratcatcher's Daughter" being sung, she became excited, and they both got drunk (laughter), she reaching home about one o'clock in the morning, when all her money was nearly gone. She did not for tome time tell Joe she had borrowed it, and the 2s. 6d. that had been paid she gave plaintiff herself.

In answer to the Bench.

The Witness said the reason of her feeling, when the song named was sung, was that her dead father was by "perfession" a rat-catcher, and she was his only daughter (laughter).

His Honour said, upon the evidence, he could make no order for the claim, and gave judgment for defendant, who, with the ratcatcher's daughter, made a speedy retreat.

Thursday 11 October 1855
Bradford Observer

The Times published the following intelligence from Messina:- "Letters

Letters from Malta mention that on the arrival at Messina on the 19th of September of Her Majesties Sloop Medusa for the purpose of landing 123 Sicilian muleteers, whose period of service in the Crimea had expired, she was, under the pretext of quarantine by reason of the death from cholera, at Malta within the precincts of the Lazaretto of a few French soldiers, kept some hours under observation, allowed to communicate with the shore.

Later some person and authority came on board to convey, as he asserted, these men to the Lazaretto, which however, eventually resulted in conveyance to the common goal. On this fact becoming known to Captain Heath, commanding the steamer, he proceeded to inquire the reason for this proceeding and failing in getting to any other answer then that it was by an express order from the Minister of Police at Naples he demanded that the Muleteers be immediately delivered up to him to be reconveyed to Malta, since he was persuaded Her Majesty would never permit ships of her Navy should be made a vehicle for delivering over to the tyrannical power of the Neapolitan government men whose only crime had been that of seeking bread for their starving wives and children.

This application seems to have made some impression, for, after a telegraphic communication with Naples the men were set at liberty, and, in evidence of it, repaired in person on board the Medusa, to make known the fact to Captain Heath. Subsequent letters from Messina, however, report that after the steamer's departure, most, if not all of those poor muleteers had, on some frivolous pretext or other, being arrested by the police and thrown into the already over-teeming state dungeons of Naples

1856

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