New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-01-05


times--ndeed, we are afraid, rather often. Beside
Drawing "tbe battle and the breeze" and taking
their full share of danger "when the battle RACES
long and loud and the stormy winds do blow"
hey are too often snubbed and scurvily treated
when they get into port. This happened short
time since at Portsmouth, on board the Princess
ROYAL. which had just returned from three years
voyage The jolly tars soon to be jolly no more
for season, applied for leave to go on shore. The
request was received by the commander passed by
him to the Captain and by him to the POrt-Admi-
ral This officer appears to have been one OF the
class who used to figure in the wOod-cuts of Punch
the real Wooden Walls Of Old England, then
at the time of the Crimean War He was hardly
to be persuaded to grant the leave at all; and, at
Last, cut it down by one half permitting only one
half of the men to go on shore. This was sore
grievance to jack but the representations OF the
officers auieted him and made him willing to have
his fate decided by lot But, after the boon Of lib
erty had been thus halved and the fortunate holders
of the prize were at the gates of the Dock.Yard,
on the other side Of which were their wives and
sweethearts, waiting for them, the POrt-Admiral
revoked his leave and ordered them ell back on
board again
Under this state of things, as there was no pre-
tense of daser to the ship from the absence OF the
crew, it is no wonder that the habits of discipline
Welded to the instincts of nature, and that mu-
tiny ensued OF course it was put down, and more
than hundred men were tried by Court-Martial
and sentenced to various terms of imprisonment at
hard labor at Winchester Jail, from eighteen
months to three, according to the degree Of their
prominence in the disturbance. This surely looks
like hard measure considering the senseless tyran-
ny of the Port-Admiral, who certainly showed him
self the wrong man in the wrong place. This case
has excited much sympathy all over England and
the comments of the press are severe upon its au-
thor. The Port.Admiral is called upon to show
reason why he occasioDed this breach of discipline,
BY his yacillation or folly. Whether any satisac-
ton will be given in this direction we think more
than doubtful But we have little question that We
shall hear, long before their term Of punishment is
over, that her Majesty has been graciousy pleased
to remit the rest of it, and to restore them 10 duty
again. And it will be nothing strange if the Ad-
miralty should find the service would be advantaged
Dy u Change Vi Tic duulltdl III COluuduu db tlot
port.
The significant thing about this affair ia, the at
tention which it instantly attracted and the freedom
of comment which it excited all over the country.
Fifty years ago such freedom of discussion would
not have been tolerated had it even been deserved
1t is barely that space Of time since Goblet was
imprisoned and heavily fined for censuring Court
Martial that sentenced soldier to receive thou
sand ashes. And at that time the yard-arm or the
cato .ninetas, in its most cruel fury, would have
been the punishment the mutineers would have en-
dured, instead of civil imprisonment. The world
does move, and the motive power is the freedom Of
speech and of the press. The increased attention
given to the condition of the common soldier and
the common sailor, which is yet to lead to improve
inents not yet entertained possible and the BEN
eficial changes which have already been accom-
pshed, are proofs of the power of public vigilance
and planness of speech. Mutinies are not things
to be encouraged either on sea or shore; but the
true remedy for mutiny as for servile nsurrection
is TO remove the occasion BY the application of the
principles Of justice and kindness.