When much present Gain is the ruling principle of officers in an Infant Navy, it is no wonder that they do not cultivate by their precepts nor enforce by their Example the principles of Dutiful Subordination and Cheerful unrepining Obedience in those who are under their Command;— nor is it strange that this principle should weaken the sacred Bonds of Order and Disciplin—and introduce the baneful Idea of Licentiousness and Free-Agency under the spacious Name of “Liberty.”

On the contrary when at this Glorious Area [i.e., Æra], the Noble minded step forth together as Officers, making the cause of Injured Men their own—prefering Honor without much present Gain to much present Gain without Honor and wishing for nothing so much as for Danger when lasting Honor and the consciousness of having deserved it must be their great reward; It will be as natural for such Men to diffuse their liberal disposition to all who serve under their Command as it is for the sun to diffuse its warmth:—and under such happy circumstances dutiful Subordination, cheerful ardent unrepining Obedience, and strict Disciplin must follow of Course— Yet such subordination in a Navy would be perfectly compatible with what they call “Fighting for Liberty,” as it would be the very means of attaining it.

The former of these Characters, not alas! as I could wish the latter, may in my Opinion be applied to the Officers of the Ranger:—but it is my province only to relate circumstances?—

Before I began to fit out the Ranger Congress had without my knowlidge or expectation thought me worthy of an Appointment to Command a private Expidition of some Importance and had assigned Five Ships and Armed Vessels for that purpose.—That Expidition being prevented thro’ the Jealosy of the then Commander in chief—² Congress again without my expectation thought proper to Order me to Europe in a French Ship, to take Command of a Ship of greater force and Swiftness than any one then in the Service. My departure in the French Ship was also prevented as the Commander did not accept the Terms offered.—³ In consequence of this I was directed to fit out the Ranger at Portsmouth in New-Hampshire; being a stranger there, tho I was Joined in Commission with two other Gentlemen to appoint the Officers I could not refuse my Voice to persons whom they Named, having no dependents of my own except Captⁿ Parke of the Marines who Embarked with me.—Neither the first Lieutenant (M^r. Simpson) nor the Second (M^r. Hall) had ever before been in an Armed Vessel or Ship of War—nor in the service of the United States—yet as I have since understood M^r Simpson began with informing the Officers and Men that they were only to consider me as a passenger going to France to Command another Ship—That tho’ I would Command on the Passage, being his Senior Officer, yet they would in France receive all the Wages then due which would inable them to Purchase many fine things—and that as I would have nothing more to do with the Ranger, they would Immedeately return Under his Command to Portsmouth.—It is the more extraordinary how he could amuse them with such expectations as the Hand Bills which I published as well as the Entry Book which they Subscribed expressed that He as well as they were to serve in the Navy under my Command.

On my Arrival at Nantes I was Summoned by the Commissioners to appear at Paris—it was however found necessary to postpone the procuring of the Ship in Question.—It was not till after my return to the Ranger that I discovered the real disposition of the Men on whom I had to depend:—this they Manifested on the 14^th. of Feb^y. 1778 in the inclosed copy of a letter signed by the Lieutenants and Master against Captain Parke as a person who interfered with their Self-Intrested Views—however I even sac- rificed this Man’s Intrest and wishes to the Harmony of the Service—(i.e.) I sent him to America.⁴

A slow and half Obedience I had observed even from the beginning—but after my arrival in Quiberon, finding that the Ranger would not carry Sail, I was obliged to wait there ‘till I could receive some Lead Ballast from L’Orient to make up the quantity which I had ordered at Nantes and which notwithstanding had not been taken in.—It was now that they discovered that I had other Objects in View than mearly to Cruise after Merchant Ships—and that in consequence of this conjecture their conduct evidently implyed that they thought they had a right to Judge for themselves.—

Between Quiberon and Brest the Symptoms of the Small Pox prevailed in the Ship and the discontent became general—Eight men deserted with the Boat in the Night—they were however taken up and after remaining in Irons for some days were freely pardond upon promise of future good behaviour.—Bad weather and other circumstances detained me at Brest for some time; the first Lieutenant told me one morning very abruptly that the people refused to Obey Orders—this produced some Altercation and I could not help intimating that it was the fault of the Officers;—apparent Harmony however was again restored, but it was of short duration. The next Morning a French Officer brought on board one of the Eight deserters—the fellow being a Canadian and having called himself a Subject of France, the Officer demanded his discharge and Wages, in a manner and in Terms which I thought Unbecoming—and therefore instead of complying I ordered Mr. Simpson to detain the deserter on Board.—This Order was given and Understood upon the Quarter Deck while the Deserter remained in the Cabin, so that there was Sufficient time to have Stopped him; yet he was suffered to depart into the French Boat and from the Ship:—M^r Simpson took no measures to stop the deserter—but afterwards Seized the officer by the Collar as he descended the side—and yet became himself so much affronted that he declared he would fetch up his Commission and do no more Duty!—he went below and it was with the Utmost difficulty and length of argument and advice that I could prevail with him to return to his Duty.

Soon after this a new and extraordinary source of complaint appeared.—When the Ships Company signed the Entry Book in America, I was resolved, should I meet with any misfortune which might oblige me to put in to the Southward, not to leave it in their Power to desert the Ranger as another set of Men had done the Randolph when she was Dismasted—and put into Charlestown—therefore I gave M^r Simpson, who had the charge of overseeing that Subscription, a slip of Paper whereon was written these words to be inserted opposite to each Mans Name Under the Term of Entry.

“Twelve Months and while absent from the Eastern States.”

“For the Cruise and while absent from the Eastern States.”
This I desired him to Read and Explain to each of them—Notwithstanding before the Ship left Brest it was represented as the worst of Grievances—Almost every one was Seized with the Epidemical Malady of Home-Sick, a disease far more fatal and lasting than the Small Pox; for they have been sadly afflicted with it ever since, nor is there yet any favorable symptoms of its abatement.⁵

Before I left Brest I was informed that this had brought on a Conspiracy to Kill or confine me in Irons and to carry the Ship Back under M^r. Simpson to Portsmouth.—⁶ I however proceeded, but this Mutinous spirit of disobedience and Opinion of Free-Agency prevailed and was as high as ever even on the Morning of the Day on which we took the Drake.—As there was no appearance of the Enemies coming out I intended to put my former design in execution and Attack her at Anchor—this brought on a Mutiny and almost reduced me to the necessity of putting some of them to Death—during this tumult—fortunately for me the Drakes boat being sent out to Reconnoitre soon after came along side and was taken—this little Success tickled their Caprice and soothed them again into good Humour, in which they continued ‘till the Drake came out. Their behaviour in this happy mood of a moment was truly Gallant and would do them Immortal Honor but for the relapse which has again taken place.

Before our Success many Applications were made to me to leave the Channel, the danger being magnifyed into certain Ruin and this too by the Officers.—Tho’ I have called the party Volunteers who landed with me at Whitehaven, yet the fact is M^r. Simpson took upon himself to bargin with them previously that we should leave the Channel without attempting any new hazardous Enterprize.

While I was off Carrickfergus the first time—I gave the Lieutenants my hand and freely forgave the past—yet a day or two after without any prelude or provocation M^r. Simpson came hastily and publickly upon the Quarter Deck and addressed himself to me in terms and manner which amounted to a downright Challenge—I would not however lay hold of this but on the Contrary after the Engagement hearing him express a Wish for a Sword I presented him with the Sword of the late Brave Captain Burdon⁷ as the most Valuable gift in my possession.

His subsequent behaviour having laid me under the necessity of putting him under Suspension and Arrest on board the Drake, at the time when I intended to put the prisoners of War on board that Ship it became necessary to remove him—I found it most convenient and expedient to place him on board the Ship in the port called the Admiral where he had a good State Room and liberty to walk the Deck He sent an immediate Message to the Officers and Men which was delivered in my hearing—“that he was put into a Prison.”— In consequence of this false and inflamatory Message I could not but agree with Comte Dorvilliers that it was proper to Realize his assertion.⁸