Whether this would have been brought up against him under
other circumstances, or whether it would have been remembered that
great men, including Charles V. and Henri IV., have had their moment
de peur, I cannot tell; but there were other charges. I cannot give
date or details. There is no record among the papers before me; and
I can only vaguely recall what could hardly be read for the sense of
agony, was never discussed, and was driven into the most oblivious
recesses of the soul fifty years ago. There was a story about
having let a boat's crew, of which he was in charge, get drunk and
over-stay their time. One of them deserted; and apparently
prevarication ran to the bounds of perjury, if it did not overpass
them. (N.B.--Seeing seamen flogged was one of the sickening horrors
that haunted Clarence in the Clotho.) Also, when on shore at Malta
with the young man whose name I will not record--his evil genius--he
was beguiled or bullied into a wine-shop, and while not himself was
made the cat's-paw of some insolent practical joke on the
lieutenant; and when called to account, was so bewildered and
excited as to use unpardonable language.
Whatever it might have been in detail, so much was proved against
him that he was dismissed his ship, and his father was recommended
to withdraw him from the service, as being disqualified by want of
nerve.
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