72 FLOGGING. 



ship being flogged ; that, as he found 

 him not fit to be trusted with authority, 

 he should incapacitate him from com- 

 mitting the same thing again, by dis- 

 rating him from the office he then held ; 

 and he was disrated accordingly, much 

 to the satisfaction of both officers and 

 men. 



This, I believe, was the only instance 

 of corporeal punishment we had in our 

 long run out a system of punishment 

 that never should be resorted to hardly 

 under any circumstances, as a too fre- 

 quent application of it tends to debase 

 the minds of the men, and render them 

 callous to every sentiment of pride in 

 their calling, or regard for their country, 

 while it renders the officers familiar with 

 acts that are degrading to humanity. 

 Much to the credit of our naval disci- 

 pline, it is now but little practised. 



After a voyage of more than eight 

 months at sea, except the three weeks 



