APPENDIX. 543 



missioned officers, either of the Navy or Marine Corps : the original 

 of which agreement is on file in the office of the Fourth Auditor of 

 the Treasury Department. 



(Signed) John Etheridge, 



Clerk. 

 January 9th, 1843. 



GENERAL ORDER. 



The undersigned, commander-in-chief of the United States Ex- 

 ploring Squadron, in promulgating the sentences of the court-mar- 

 tial, in the cases of Ward, Riley, and Sweeny, takes the opportunity 

 to revert to the causes that have brought about the crimes with which 

 they are charged, and of which they have been found guilty. 



The intemperate use of intoxicating liquors appears by the evi- 

 dence to have had a strong influence in inciting the convicted men 

 to the commission of their offences, and the commander takes this 

 public opportunity to express his abhorrence of the practice, and to 

 state that in his opinion nothing can justify it, nor any act done in a 

 moment of intoxication palliate the offence which is alike disgraceful 

 to the individual, the navy, and the country. 



He trusts that the examples now before the squadron will have a 

 tendency to prevent the commission of like crimes, and will have an 

 effect to induce those who witness the punishment to be inflicted, for 

 offences committed while under the influence of intoxicating spirits, 

 to refrain from the excessive use of them for the future. 



In consequence of the long confinement of Ward, his sentence is 

 hereby mitigated to thirty-six lashes, to be inflicted as I shall here- 

 after direct, agreeably to the sentence of the court. 



The case of Riley is viewed by the commander-in-chief as ex- 

 tremely aggravated, he having violated the laws for the government 

 of the navy by quarrelling and getting drunk ; but the commander 

 likewise considers his long confinement and the manner in which he 

 obtained the spirits as some reason why the whole extent of the pun- 

 ishment should not be awarded. He therefore so far mitigates his 

 punishment that he shall receive but fifty lashes; and that part of 

 the sentence dismissing him from the service, is hereby remitted. 



In noticing this case, the commander-in-chief has felt some surprise 

 at several circumstances which were brought to Hght in the course 

 of the testimony; and regrets that he feels compelled to exercise 



