Title
A Voyage to the East Indies: Page 114
Description
Amidst the many Improprieties that are crept into the E.J. Companies Affairs, none I think call louder for attention than one at St Helena, I mean the permitting so great a sale of Liquors to the Soldiers of the Garrison, the consequence of which is, that all subordination is remov’d from amongst them, They are continually unfit for Duty, negligent and ignorant of Discipline, and Lives are frequently lost by their falling in a state of Drunkeness from Rocks over which they must necessarily pass. Scarcely a single Guard is relieve’d, without some being under Confinement for Drunkeness, or for Crimes committed under its Influence. . And whilst Liquor is procurable it is impossible to prevent their using it immoderately For a Flogging is of Effect no longer than it is felt, and its Impression on the Mind is effaced before that on the Back. This Evil is severely felt and complain’d of, by the officers, who are no longer obey’d, than their orders are enforc’d by the Drummer’s Hand. An indifferent Person would wonder why an Establishment so easily eradicable, as this appears to be, should resist the strong remonstrances of reason, but he will suspend his wonder when told that by an express order from the Court of Directors, the power of landing and disposing spirituous Liquors is lodg’d in a Society establish’d for that purpose and in them solely. . . . [end page 114]
