| From mid March of 1849 to the 5th of July - the day 'Constance' headed back to Valparaiso for the last time - the logs show the expected routine. Sailing between the two towns was normal; receiving and stowing treasure a chore; drunkenness and punishments as usual, but there were some diversions. On the 26th of March a British subject had been found by the captain on shore; wounded, bleeding and insensible at the mole. He was brought on board for surgical aid. The following day several men returned from shore leave drunk: their grog was stopped. Any connection between the two incidents is speculation. | |
| On the 5th of April Captain Courtenay had a note deliberately inserted into the ship's log. It was caused by an argument on the quarterdeck between himself and the captain of marines. Courtenay had given an order that marine officers were to attend when the hands were on deck. Captain Mitchell of the marines accosted Courtenay and said that such an order was contrary to the rules of the service. Courtenay said he knew the rules as well as anybody on the ship and asked Mitchell if he was going to obey the order. Mitchell said; " Yes sir, but the order is given for the purpose of annoyance". This remark made Courtenay very annoyed especially since a report to the Admiral was mooted. He called on Lieutenant Panford, officer of the watch, to hear and write down the conversation. When Courtenay asked Mitchell to repeat what he had said, Mitchell replied he had nothing further to say but that it was not the custom of the service. Courtenay repeated his order to Mitchell to repeat what he had said about annoyance but Mitchell continued to refuse to say more. There is no sign in the logs to say what happened or if the first order was carried out. |
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This copy of part of the Master's log contains the entry required of captain Courtenay to record his conversation with Mitchell the captain of marines. The first lines say; Received 12 bags said to contain silver. By order of Captain Courtenay the following is inserted. Then follows the record of the conversation which must have been rather heated. We have no record of anything resulting from those words. |
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| On the 8th of April four more drunks were put into solitary. Specie continued to be loaded and on the 14th of April two bundles of clothes were discovered in the forechains, evidently put there with the intention of the parties to desert. Next day the clothes were proved to belong to Edmund Hoston (Ord) and John Cooling (Ord). The following day a complete list of ships company clothing was compiled. On the 19th, 3 seamen deserted and Edmund Door was de-rated for drunkenness on duty, riotous conduct and hitting a petty officer 1st Class. By the second of May the ship had sailed and moored at Mazatlan. On the 3rd, four drunks had their grog stopped and one put into solitary. The American Steamer 'Edith' arrived from San Blas and delivered two deserters to 'Constance'. The next morning, after two drunks had been lashed, Thomas Scott and James Blake both received 48 lashes for desertion. Sunday was the 6th of May and the ship's company was mustered by divisions and read the articles of war. Then the two deserters punished on the previous Friday were lead around the divisions with halters about their necks as examples to the ship's company. Divine service was then performed! | |