Admiral Thurot

: Magnanimity.

It has been said of the French naval commander Thurot,
that he was strictly honest in circumstances that made the exertion of

common honesty an act of the highest magnanimity. When this officer

appeared on the coast of Scotland, and landed in order to supply his three

vessels with provisions, he paid a liberal price for every thing he wanted,

and behaved with so much affability, that a countryman ventured to complain

to him o
an officer, who had taken 50 or 60 guineas from him. The officer,

on being called on to vindicate himself against the charge, acknowledged

the fact, but said, that he had divided the money among his men. Thurot

immediately ordered the officer to give his bill for the money, which he

said should be stopped out of his pay, if they were so fortunate as to

return to France. On another occasion, one of Thurot's officers gave a bill

upon a merchant in France, for some provisions that he had purchased.

Thurot hearing of the circumstance, informed the countryman that the bill

was of no value; and reprimanding the officer severely for the cheat,

compelled him to give another on a merchant, whom he knew would pay the

money. What makes this act of integrity still more striking and

praiseworthy, is, that Thurot's men at this time were so dissatisfied, as

to be ready to break out in open mutiny.



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