Jan 23, 1789 Home Logbook Jan 25, 1789
Revised Jun 29 2021
169)
Variable and bad weather with Rain, Calms and Thunder & Lightning. Fair towards noon. Wind NE, Et, and Westly. Thermr 79° to 83°. Five Venereals in the List. In the morning I read the Articles of War to the Ships Company and Punished the Deserters as follows — Chas. Churchill with 12 lashes and Wm Muspratt and Jno. Millward with 2 dozen each, and remanded them back into Irons, for further punishment.
As this affair was solely caused by the neglect of the Officers who had the Watch, I was induced to give them all a lecture on this occasion, and endeavored to show them that however exempt they were at present from the like punishment, yet they were equally subject by the Articles of War to a condign one. An Officer with men under his care is at all times in some degree responsible for their conduct; but when from his neglect men are brought to punishment while he only meets with a reprimand, because a public conviction by Tryal will bring both into a more severe and dangerous situation, an alternative often laid aside through lenity, and sometimes necessity as it now is in both cases, it is an unpleasant thing to remark that no feelings of honor or sense of shame is to be observed in such an offender.
It may be observed that I never take any notice of Otoo Erreerahigh. The reason of it is that he is only a boy about 6 years of age and kept generally remote from us, and not suffered to have any intercourse with us any more than my now and then asking him how he does across the River about 400 yards at the back of our Post. I might be admitted to go near him if I went naked as his Parents do, but as it would answer no purpose I decline it.
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The Plants are going finely on and the season is so much in their favor that about 70 which have been potted within this fortnight, are now in a growing State, owing to the Rains which when they were taken up occasioned the Earth to ball round the Roots and by which means they suffered but very little from being removed. From the experience I have already had of this business it would have been full time enough for a Ship to have been here in all last month. Three months are fully sufficient to establish the Plants and I am thoroughly convinced had I got here by the way of Cape Horn, there would not by being so long in the Pots have had so good a chance of being carried safe home as they will at present. Some of the first potted have shown roots through the bottoms of the Pots, it therefore became necessary to move all the Pots to prevent the Roots getting into the Ground. In all these Works I have natives to assist the Gardners and I have had the pleasure to keep all the principal Cheifs with the greatest good humour and wish to serve us. Under these happy circumstances and the Plants easily cultivated, the success of the Voyage now only hinges on our passage home.
Jan 23, 1789 Home Logbook Jan 25, 1789