The Captain's Log of HMS Espiegle notes that on 5 February 1813, Seaman Thomas Wallis received six lashes for smoking on the main deck. What it does not tell us is what led up to the punishment and why it was only six lashes. Wallis, off watch, was headed to the spot designated by Captain John Taylor for smoking aboard ship, under the forecastle. As he left the ladder from the lower deck and entered the forecastle, Wallis brought his pipe to his mouth. Somewhere from behind, the captain called out to Wallis. He stopped and turned; Taylor was there accusing him of smoking out in the open of the main deck. Wallis denied the accusation. Taylor immediately ordered Boatswain's Mate Richard Marchant to deliver a starting to Wallis. Marchant hit Wallis across his bare back twenty-five times with the maintopsail clue-line of two and a half inches diameter. Captain Taylor had Marchant stop and ordered Boatswain's Mate John Foley to continue with another twenty strokes, using the topgallant clue-line of an inch and a half diameter. After the beating, Taylor told Wallis that he ought to remember to smoke only under the forecastle. Wallis murmured a reply, which he later said was a respectful yes, but which Taylor claimed was the remark, “I’ll smoke again.” Perceiving disrespect and disobedience, he ordered an immediate summary punishment of a dozen lashes for Wallis. Seaman Wallis was thereupon taken by the boatswain's mates and tied across the gangway. With dusk turning to night, all hands were turned up to watch the punishment. After six strokes, ship's surgeon B. E. Omeara stepped forward and stopped the punishment, over the objection by Captain Taylor. Wallis was removed to the sickbay to have his back dressed. Lieutenant Dougal stated that he “observed at the time amongst the other Officers it was worse than if he had received eight dozen, the back was swelled up in large black whales … it was very black all over.” Wallis had drawn the surgeon's attention during the lashing by holding his tongue for strokes five and six, causing the surgeon to think he had passed out.

This story perfectly represents the content of the following chapter. It contains the responses to behaviour perceived as breaking or threatening the order established by the navy and its representatives.