Hello David,   Thank you for this reply.   The ship was the Shields barque E.D.T., ON 2219.   Richard Keys gives the master as Captain Denholm, tho' the newspaper shipping columns frequently give the surname as Denham.   >From a letter (written 60+ years later, so possibly not accurate), the master's name is given as George Thomas Denham.   The mate was possibly a Mr. Williams. (I am very interested in his first name and whether he testified, either for or against.)   The other charges, according to Keys, were using intemperate language and not having the ship properly provisioned. The master was apparently found guilty as he was fined £5.95 (but on which charge(s)?).   Amongst other things, I am looking for parallels to this case: http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=mXkqAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA294&dq=%22can+counsel+and+attorneys%22&hl=en&ei=JDEwTs3oNYjogQfLy72SDA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCoQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=%22can%20counsel%20and%20attorneys%22&f=false   Regards, Adi   --- On Wed, 7/27/11, David Asprey <dasprey@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote: In the past I have found this kind of report in the Consular papers for the place in question, in the National Archives at Kew.  These inquiries/courts were ordered by the Consul and headed by a RN captain or an experienced British master mariner, as available (and failing that, by the consul himself). In this case, possibly among following files: FO 78/1677 Consuls at Constantinople; Cumberbatch, Dunlop, Abbott, Stevens, Guarracino. 1862. FO 78/1696 Supreme Consular Court: Sir E. Hornby, Dr. Parnis, Mr. Francis. 1862 Jan.-April.  FO 78/1789 Accounts of H. M. 's Supreme Consular Court, Constantinople, vol. 3. 1862-1863.[probably financial accounts only] FO 780/368 Supreme Court, Constantinople. Despatches from Foreign Office, consular 1858-1863 FO 780/333 Supreme Court, Constantinople. Despatches to Foreign Office, judicial  1859-1862  If you have more details - eg name of ship, or people involved that would be helpful. David