AGENT OF TRANSPORTS
I was employed on this service but a short time in Portsmouth Harbour and had several transports to superintend, and was in expectation of sailing to the Mediterranean; but as ill luck would have it, our destination was altered to that infernal bake-house, Port Royal, Jamaica. I then thought it time to be off and I wrote to the board to be superseded, which gave great offence to Sir Rupert George[159] (the chairman). However, my request was granted and I left a service that I never would accept of, had I my time to go over again, upon any consideration. For the short time I was in it I saw enough to convince me that if an officer did his duty, he would be like the hare with many friends; and if he acted otherwise, he must lay himself open to any puny whipster who might wish to take advantage of his good nature. I was succeeded by Lieutenant Jump, who refused to take charge of the stores, saying he had enough hanging over his head already (being, as I understood him, in the transport service before). However, I settled everything to my satisfaction, returning into store all the articles I had drawn; struck my swaggering blue pennant[160] and resigned my command to the above officer, wishing him joy and not envying him his appointment.