In this exposed situation, our people were so taken up in attending to their own safety, that they employed the whole forenoon in filling only one ton of water.  As it was therefore impossible to perform this service, till their assailants were driven to a greater distance, the Discovery was ordered to dislodge them with her great guns, which being effected by a few discharges, the men landed without molestation.  However, the natives soon after made their appearance again, in their usual mode of attack; and it was now found absolutely necessary to burn down some straggling houses near the well, behind which they had taken shelter.  In executing these orders, I am sorry to add, that our people were hurried into acts of unnecessary cruelty and devastation.  Something ought certainly to be allowed to their resentment of the repeated insults and contemptuous behaviour of the islanders, and to the natural desire of revenging the loss of their commander.  But, at the same time, their conduct served strongly to convince me, that the utmost precaution is necessary in trusting, though but for a moment, the discretionary use of arms in the hands of private seamen or soldiers on such occasions.  The rigour of discipline, and the habits of obedience, by which their force is kept directed to its proper objects, lead them naturally enough to conceive, that whatever they have the power; they have also the right to do.  Actual disobedience being almost the only crime for which they are accustomed to expect punishment, they learn to consider it as the only measure of right and wrong; and hence are apt to conclude, that what they can do with impunity, they may do with justice and honour.  So that the feelings of humanity, which are inseparable from us all, and that generosity toward an unresisting enemy, which at other times is the distinguishing mark of brave men, become but weak restraints to the exercise of violence, when opposed to the desire they naturally have of shewing their own independence and power.[3]

[Footnote 3:  In the preceding remarks, we have another strong confirmation, if any additional one were wanting, of the opinions formerly given respecting the character and usual conduct of sailors.  Nor are they less imperative, as to the expediency of modifying the education and treatment of that useful class of subjects, than what we ventured, on another occasion, to suggest.  They have, however, the recommendation of experience, to which, in general, more regard is properly enough shewn, than can be expected towards arguments drawn from merely abstract opinions, too often so remote from the common track of life as to be quite inapplicable to the diversities and complicated relations of human societies.—­E.]