He gave an account of the affair, which was not exactly correct, to his uncle, Mr.Linthorne, a wealthy landowner and a magistrate.

The latter had me up at the justice room; but I brought forward witnesses, who gave their account of the affair.

Mr.Linthorne considered that his nephew--whom he had at that time regarded as his heir--had not given a correct account, and was so angry that he sent him to sea.
"I would say, sir," he said earnestly, "that, were it possible, I should have wished this unhappy affair to be passed over." "Impossible!" the admiral and general said together.
"I fear it is impossible now, sir," James said gravely; "but it might have been stopped before." "Captain Walsham wanted me to tear up the note," the midshipman put in; "but, though I was awfully sorry such a thing should happen to an officer of the Sutherland, I was obliged to refuse to do so, as I thought it was my duty to hand the note to you." "Certainly it was, Mr.Middleton," the admiral said.

"There can be no question about that." "I wonder that you even suggested such a thing, Captain Walsham," the general remarked.

"This was not a private affair.