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.

Monday 22 January 1855
Morning Post

Metropolitan County Courts.

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

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

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.

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.

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

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.

Thursday 6 September 1855
Morning Herald (London)

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

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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