the quarter-deck, he
inquired how I dared disobey his orders in sending the boats away. My
reply was that his orders were not to communicate with the shore, but
that, as commanding officer, I considered it my duty to make known to
the other ships that the men were in a state of insubordination, that
they might keep their eyes upon us. He kept his eyes upon me for some
time, and then turned away, without reply. As we expected, a court of
inquiry was called, upon his representations to the admiral. About
twenty of the men were examined, but so much came out as to the _reason
why_ the head of the snake had been removed--for the sailors spoke
boldly--that the admiral and officers who were appointed strongly
recommended Captain Hawkins not to proceed further than to state that
there were some disaffected characters in the ship, and move the admiral
to have them exchanged into others. This was done, and the captains of
the frigates, who immediately gave their advice, divided all our best
men between them. They spoke very freely to me, and asked me who were
the best men, which I told them honestly, for I was glad to be able to
get them out of the power of Captain Hawkins: these they marked as
disaffected, and exchanged them for all the worst they had on board.
The few that were left ran away; and thus, from having one of the finest
and best organised ship's companies in the service, we were now one of
the very worst. Jones was sent on board of the frigate, and under
surveillance: he soon proved that his character was as good as I stated
it to be, and two years afterwards was promoted to the rank of
boatswain. I must here remark, that there is hardly any degree of
severity, which a captain may not exert towards his seamen provided they
are confident of, or he has proved to them his courage: but if there be
a doubt, or a confirmation to the contrary, all discipline is destroyed
by contempt, and the ship's company mutiny, either directly or
indirectly. There is an old saying, that all tyrants are cowards, that
tyranny is in itself a species of meanness, I acknowledge; but still the
saying ought to be modified. If it is asserted that all mean tyrants
are cowards, I agree: but I have known in the service most special
tyrants, who were not cowards: their tyranny was excessive, but there
was no meanness in there dispositions. On the contrary, they were
generous, open-hearted, and, occasionally, when not influenced by anger,