Thirteen seamen of the American ship Nabob, were brought before Lieutenants Pasco and Crawford, J.P.s, at the Williamstown Bench, on Friday, and charged with desertion. The manner of their escape is sufficient cause for us to notice the case as a warning to shipmasters. The master of the vessel having sworn to the identity of the men, Sub Inspector Shillinglaw was called, and deposed that while on duty in the Bay on the day previous, he accidentally boarded the Nabob, knowing that her crew were in a disaffected state. The officer found the only persons on board were the mates and three or four men ; the rest had, it was supposed, got away in the lighter which, in tow of the Lioness steamer, had left for town, crammed with passengers, some three quarters of an hour previously.

Taking the mate with him to identify the deserters. Mr. Shillinglaw pulled immediately to Sandridge, and proceeded to the Melbourne Wharf, where he pressed a boat into the service, and boarding the steamer and lighter before their arrival at the wharf " bagged " the whole of the men, to their own great astonishment, and to the great amusement of everybody else. They were sentenced to three months, with hard labour; and we believe informations were laid against the steamer and lighter for not having taken greater precautions in transhipping the passengers.- Argus - December 27, [1854].