commanders.
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belonged to the Childers, and therefore came to complain of the outrage committed. I immediately sent for Mr. Collymore and the boat’s crew, who in the presence of the complainant and my officers, most positively denied any knowledge of the transaction; and then, not doubting the word of Mr. CoUymore, I dismissed the complaint. Two days afterwards, while I was on shore, a constable came on board the Childers, with a deposition, taken on oath, before a county magistrate, relative to the above case; and on Mr. Collymore being closely interrogated on the subject by Lieutenant M‘Donald, the then commanding officer, he unhesitatingly acknowledged the facts, as I have now stated them to this Hon. Court, and admitted that he had committed the outrage complained of. Hereupon Lieutenant M‘Donald, accompanied by Mr. Collymore, immediately appeared before the magistrate, at Felixton, who, in consideration of Mr. C.’s youth and inexperience, mitigated the severity of the fine for this outrage, by reducing it to five pounds, which Mr. C. paid. On Mr. C.’s return to the Childers, I judged it necessary to express to him mv sincere regret and astonishment at his ungentlemanly and unofficer-like conduct on this occasion. I pointed out to him how greatly at variance such behaviour was with his station in life; and, Gentlemen, I reminded him of the untruth he had spoken – that I hoped his future conduct would be correct. Mr. President and Members of this Hon. Court, I beg you will mark the sequel: instead of improving his conduct by the advice I had given him, he still proceeds in a course of inattention to his duty, and immediately afterwards commits serious acts of insubordination. The first to which I beg to call the attention of this Hon. Court was on the evening of the 2d April last. Mr. Collymore, in company with Mr. Free, also a midshipman of the Childers, quitted the ship without leave, and did not return to her until day-light the following morning. After giving them a severe lecture, and resorting to the minor punishment of stopping their leave, I was induced to forgive them this offence, assuring them that a repetition of conduct so unofficer-like and ungentlemanly would not fail to meet with its deserts, as I would not again overlook such glaring acts of misconduct. But, Mr. President and Gentlemen of this Hon. Court, instead of this admonition having the effect I hoped it would have had, Mr. Collymore, accompanied by Mr. Free, before-mentioned, during the time Mr. C. had charge of the watch on board the Childers, took a boat and went on shore, and did not return until day-light the following morning. When this disgraceful act was reported to me, I sent for these young gentlemen (not wishing to resort to severe measures, which might have proved injurious to their future prospects in life), and desired them to apply to the Admiralty for their discharge from the Childers, for private reasons, thereby giving them an opportunity of rejoining the service when any officer might be disposed to receive them. After these repeated acts of forbearance and kindness, as well as the fatherly advice I had given these misguided
