out “No more irons – no more flogging.” The captain of the main-top being foremost in this act of insubordination, was immediately collared by Lieutenant Debenham, and given in charge of the sentry at the cabin door: the marines were then got under arms, and the affair soon terminated without any act of violence, no other ship’s company having evinced a similar rebellious spirit. The clamour raised against Lieutenant Debenham, of which we have taken notice in p. 313, was but a mere pretence, to get rid of an officer determined upon maintaining strict discipline.
When returning home as first lieutenant of the Favorite sloop, Mr. Debenham discovered that the magnetic force of an iron staunchion, placed by chance exactly under the double binnacle on the quarter-deck, had long affected the compasses to the extent of two points, without any one being aware of the circumstance.
This meritorious officer’s second son, Frederick Debenham, now nearly twenty years of age, was placed on the list of candidates for a commission in the royal marines, by command of his present Majesty, when Lord High Admiral, in 1828; and is, we believe, still continued thereon by Sir James Graham; but, unfortunately, without much prospect of soon obtaining that appointment, for which alone he is now fit.
end of vol iv. part i.
