them in
justified
lu
detaining them
Custody....
Major Roberts has not quoted (as should have been done) the authority under which he addressed the Paper to you, nor is it in that form which, even supposing it to be so important a document, authorized, would require to be drawn up. It is also, it may be added, neither correctly dated nor worded.
Under these circumstances Sir Henry Pottinger directs that you have no legal power to keep them in confinement, and your doing so might not only involve you in difficulty, but might vitiate the Proceedings of the Court Martial.
I have the honour to be,
Je.
(Signed) Richard Woosnam
(True Copy)
Richard Wosnam.