A favored midshipman encouraged sailors to attack a fishing boat and steal its catch. Jervis gave the boat's crew relatively light punishment because they had acted under an officer's orders, then made the midshipman answer for the abuse of authority. Before the ship's company, the young officer lost his uniform, rank, accumulated pay, and prize money. He was also barred from future commissioned or petty-officer service, publicly marked with a notice naming his crime, and assigned to clean the ship's heads.
Notable Point · 1:12:14-1:15:09
The midshipman punished for robbing a fishing boat
A favored midshipman's disgrace shows Jervis holding the officer who ordered a theft more responsible than the sailors who carried it out.