§ MR. W. WILLIAMSsaid, that seeing the right hon. Baronet the First Lord of the Admiralty in his place, he would beg to put to him a question of which he had given him notice yesterday. The right hon. Baronet was no doubt aware that a great number of desertions bad lately taken place from Her Majesty's ships, which had been imputed to the very strong 593 feeling of disgust which existed among the crews at the infliction of the punishment of flogging upon a petty officer on board one of Her Majesty's steamers. He wished, therefore, to ask the right hon. Gentleman whether any information had reached the Admiralty that many desertions had taken place from on board Her Majesty's ships?
§ SIR JAMES GRAHAMSir, in answer to the question put to me by the hon. Gentleman, I am bound to state to the House, that since the month of January last a considerable number of desertions have taken place from the squadron on the home station. It will, however, be recollected that there has not been so large a squadron assembled on that station for a very considerable length of time. Yet I was not aware, until the hon. Gentleman mentioned the fact just now, that the cause of that desertion had been imputed to any particular circumstance. I believe, as the result of the inquiries which I have made, that the cause of those desertions is to be ascribed to other reasons than those given by the hon. Gentleman, it is—to the unusually high rate of wages of the mercantile service—and to the most improper solicitations which have been made from various quarters to endeavour to induce seamen in Her Majesty's service to accept that higher rate of pay, and to break their fidelity to the service by deserting their duty. It is to that cause, and to that cause alone, that I ascribe that desertion. But, Sir, with reference to the causes mentioned, I have great satisfaction in stating to the House, that, in consequence of arrangements for the more frequent payment of the seamen on the home station, and the greater amount of leave of absence after those payments—that after this more protracted leave, the old seamen who have served for a long period, with hardly I may say an exception—that these men, whose experience was the greatest of the discipline and treatment on board ship, have returned to their duty with an extraordinary fidelity. But, Sir, I cannot sit down without referring especially to the case of the petty officer on whom, as mentioned by the hon. Member for Lambeth, corporal punishment was inflicted. That case was most patiently considered by the Board over which I have the honour to preside. It was a case of gross insubordination on the part of the petty officer. It was carried to this extent, that language was used of the most insulting nature, on the quarterdeck, to the lieutenant of the watch, and 594 which was followed by violence such that the sentry upon duty was knocked down upon the quarter-deck. I need hardly point out to the House how essential it is for the maintenance of a proper state of discipline on board Her Majesty's ships that such a punishment should be inflicted. In many foreign services this offence, which is even here a capital crime, would have been followed up by capital punishment. The punishment in this case was inflicted, not by the officer in command, but in pursuance of a sentence of court-martial, over which officers of the highest character and greatest experience presided. The punishment awarded was disrating, and the infliction of corporal punishment not of an excessive character, but such as it was in the power of every single officer in command to order; and it was followed up by a sentence of imprisonment in Exeter gaol, and subsequent dismissal with disgrace from Her Majesty's service. The character which this offender bore in other ships being good, this circumstance was considered by the Board of Admiralty, and they, therefore, thought it consistent with their duty to mitigate the severity of the sentence, which was not to be carried into execution as far as regarded the dismissal from the service with disgrace, which would have debarred him from receiving any pension to which he was entitled for past services. The remaining portion of the sentence was commuted, and the term of imprisonment was reduced from twelve months to three. The man, therefore, will be able to return to his ship on the expiration of his punishment without disgrace, and I hope hereafter that he will be able to serve with honour, and that at the termination of the usual period of service he may receive the pension to which his services may be entitled.
§ MR. W. WILLIAMSwished to know whether any increase in the desertions had taken place since the flogging?
§ SIR JAMES GRAHAMThere has been no perceptible increase.