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re the eyes were； buried beneath the powder…ingrained and incrusted flesh。
For weeks； at night； I used to sit on a chest near his hammock； listening for his slightest movement； too happy if he called me for something I could get him。 In time he recovered； and was invalided home； and I lost my dear companion and protector。 A couple of years afterwards I had the happiness to dine with him on board another ship in Portsmouth； no longer in the midshipman's berth； but in the wardroom。
Twice during this war； the 'Blonde' was caught in a typhoon。 The first time was in waters now famous； but then unknown； the Gulf of Liau…tung； in full sight of China's great wall。 We were twenty…four hours battened down； and under storm staysails。 The 'Blenheim；' with Captain Elliott our plenipotentiary on board； was with us； and the one circumstance left in my memory is the sight of a line…of… battle ship rolling and pitching so that one caught sight of the whole of her keel from stem to stern as if she had been a fishing smack。 We had been wintering in the Yellow Sea； and at the time I speak of were on a foraging expedition round the Liau…tung peninsula。 Those who have followed the events of the Japanese war will have noticed on the map； not far north of Ta…lien…wan in the Korean Bay； three groups of islands。 So little was the geography of these parts then known； that they had no place on our charts。 On this very occasion； one group was named after Captain Elliott； one was called the Bouchier Islands； and the other the Blonde Islands。 The first surveying of the two latter groups； and the placing of them upon the map； was done by our naval instructor； and he always took me with him as his assistant。
Our second typhoon was while we were at anchor in Hong Kong harbour。 Those who have knowledge only of the gales； however violent； of our latitudes； have no conception of what wind… force can mount to。 To be the toy of it is enough to fill the stoutest heart with awe。 The harbour was full of transports； merchant ships； opium clippers； besides four or five men…of…war； and a steamer belonging to the East India Company … the first steamship I had ever seen。
The coming of a typhoon is well known to the natives at least twenty…four hours beforehand； and every preparation is made for it。 Boats are dragged far up the beach； buildings even are fortified for resistance。 Every ship had laid out its anchors； lowered its yards； and housed its topmasts。 We had both bowers down； with cables paid out to extreme length。 The danger was either in drifting on shore or； what was more imminent； collision。 When once the tornado struck us there was nothing more to be done； no men could have worked on deck。 The seas broke by tons over all； boats beached as described were lifted from the ground； and hurled； in some instances； over the houses。 The air was darkened by the spray。
But terrible as was the raging of wind and water； far more awful was the vain struggle for life of the human beings who succumbed to it。 In a short time almost all the ships except the men…of…war； which were better provided with anchors； began to drift from their moorings。 Then wreck followed wreck。 I do not think the 'Blonde' moved； but from first to last we were threatened with the additional weight and strain of a drifting vessel。 Had we been so hampered our anchorage must have given way。 As a single example of the force of a typhoon； the 'Phlegethon' with three anchors down； and engines working at full speed； was blown past us out of the harbour。
One tragic incident I witnessed； which happened within a few fathoms of the 'Blonde。' An opium clipper had drifted athwart the bow of a large merchantman； which in turn was almost foul of us。 In less than five minutes the clipper sank。 One man alone reappeared on the surface。 He was so close； that from where I was holding on and crouching under the lee of the mainmast I could see the expression of his face。 He was a splendidly built man； and his strength and activity must have been prodigious。 He clung to the cable of the merchantman； which he had managed to clasp。 As the vessel reared between the seas he gained a few feet before he was again submerged。 At last he reached the hawse…hole。 Had he hoped； in spite of his knowledge； to find it large enough to admit his body？ He must have known the truth； and yet he struggled on。 Did he hope that； when thus within arms' length of men in safety； some pitying hand would be stretched out to rescue him； … a rope's end perhaps flung out to haul him inboard？ Vain desperate hope！ He looked upwards： an imploring look。 Would Heaven be more compassionate than man？ A mountain of sea towered above his head； and when again the bow was visible； the man was gone for ever。
Before taking leave of my seafaring days； I must say one word about corporal punishment。 Sir Thomas Bouchier was a good sailor； a gallant officer； and a kind…hearted man； but he was one of the old school。 Discipline was his watchword； and he endeavoured to maintain it by severity。 I dare say that； on an average； there was a man flogged as often as once a month during the first two years the 'Blonde' was in commission。 A flogging on board a man…of…war with a 'cat；' the nine tails of which were knotted； and the lashes of which were slowly delivered； up to the four dozen； at the full swing of the arm； and at the extremity of lash and handle； was very severe punishment。 Each knot brought blood； and the shock of the blow knocked the breath out of a man with an involuntary 'Ugh！' however stoically he bore the pain。
I have seen many a bad man flogged for unpardonable conduct； and many a good man for a glass of grog too much。 My firm conviction is that the bad man was very little the better； the good man very much the worse。 The good man felt the disgrace； and was branded for life。 His self…esteem was permanently maimed； and he rarely held up his head or did his best again。 Besides which； … and this is true of all punishment … any sense of injustice destroys respect for the punisher。 Still I am no sentimentalist； I have a contempt for； and even a dread of； sentimentalism。 For boy housebreakers； and for ruffians who commit criminal assaults； the rod or the lash is the only treatment。
A comic piece of insubordination on my part recurs to me in connection with flogging。 About the year 1840 or 1841； a midshipman on the Pacific station was flogged。 I think the ship was the 'Peak。' The event created some sensation； and was brought before Parliament。 Two frigates were sent out to furnish a quorum of post…captains to try the responsible commander。 The verdict of the court…martial was a severe reprimand。 This was； of course； nuts to every midshipman in the service。
Shortly after it became known I got into a scrape for laughing at； and disobeying the orders of； our first… lieutenant； … the head of the executive on board a frigate。 As a matter of fact； the orders were ridiculous； for the said officer was tipsy。 Nevertheless； I was reported； and had up before the captain。 'Old Tommy' was；