LAST VOYAGE OF OAPT. ROSS. 
6? 5 
state, which, perhaps, might with some semblance of truth, he 
stigmatized as one of insubordination ; but we question much, 
whether, if the men under such circumstances, had proceeded 
to break open the first chest of provisions, which they could 
come at, they would have been declared guilty of a breach of 
discipline, by a jury, even of Capt. Ross’ own picking. Thomas, 
the carpenter, was one of the men belonging to Capt. Ross’ 
tent; ,and so great was the value, which he placed uppn 
the services of this man, that it was the general opinion of 
the whole crew, that he would rather part with any three of 
them, than with him. knowing, therefore, the influence, which 
he possessed over Capt. Ross, he made no hesitation to speak to 
him in a bold and peremptory tone, declaring, that it was most 
scandalous and shameful conduct in hi$t to keep his men in such 
a state of starvation, when it was expected by all, that after their 
arrival at Fury Beach, they should have every nourishment, 
which the stores of the Fury would permit of; “ You might 
just as well,” said Thomas, “ hang up a biscuit, and let us all 
look at it, as keep us in a state of the greatest hunger, with 
plenty of provisions around us ” This was a kind of language, 
to which the autocrat of the Victory had not been accustomed, 
and to him it smacked so much of disrespect and insubordina¬ 
tion, that the pride of a captain of the royal navy of Great 
Britain was aroused, and he began to talk of the duty and obe¬ 
dience, which a sailor owes to his commanding officer, and the 
consequences, which always follow from a breach of discipline. 
Thomas perfectly coincided with every thing, which his com¬ 
mander had said: but, on the other hand, he maintained, that 
they had in every respect performed their duty towards him, 
and therefore they were not to be kept in a state of starvation, 
when they were surrounded with provisions of every kind, suf¬ 
ficient to support them for a twelvemonth. 
The members of the committee of the House of Commons, 
appeared anxious to elicit from Commander Ross, the exact 
manner, in which Capt. Ross behaved on this occasion, and 
particularly the way, in which he exerted his controlling 
power. The truth is, that it was never exerted at all: on the 
