speak he did, something both in the substance of what he said and his
manner of saying it, showed the influence of unshared studies modifying and
tempering the practical training of an active career. This, along with his
phraseology now and then, was suggestive of the grounds whereon rested that
imputation of a certain pedantry socially alleged against him by certain naval
men of wholly practical cast, captains who nevertheless would frankly concede
that His Majesty's Navy mustered no more efficient officers of their grade than
Starry Vere.
    What he said was to this effect: »Hitherto I have been but the witness,
little more; and I should hardly think now to take another tone, that of your
coadjutor, for the time, did I not perceive in you - at the crisis too - a
troubled hesitancy, proceeding, I doubt not, from the clashing of military duty
with moral scruple - scruple vitalised by compassion. For the compassion, how
can I otherwise but share it. But, mindful of paramount obligation, I strive
against scruples that may tend to enervate decision. Not, gentlemen, that I hide
from myself that the case is an exceptional one. Speculatively regarded, it well
might be referred to a jury of casuists. But for us here, acting not as casuists
or moralists, it is a case practical and under martial law practically to be
dealt with.
    But your scruples! Do they move as in a dusk? Challenge them. Make them
advance and declare themselves. Come now: do they impart something like this:
If, mindless of palliating circumstances, we are bound to regard the death of
the master-at-arms as the prisoner's deed, then does that deed constitute a
capital crime whereof the penalty is a mortal one. But in natural justice is
nothing but the prisoner's overt act to be considered? Now can we adjudge to
summary and shameful death a fellow-creature innocent before God, and whom we
feel to be so? - Does that state it aright? You sign sad assent. Well, I too
feel that, the full force of that. It is Nature. But do these buttons that we
wear attest that our allegiance is to Nature? No, to the King. Though the ocean,
which is inviolate Nature primeval, though this be the element where we move and
have our being as sailors, yet as the King's officers lies our duty in a sphere
correspondingly natural? So little is that true, that in receiving our
commissions we in the most important regards ceased to be natural free agents.
When war is declared,