laurence , sorry to have so blundered into an existing quarrel , by way of making peace said , `` i hope you will permit me to say , i find the corps as an occupation has been given a character which it does not deserve , being no more dangerous or distasteful , in daily use , than any other branch ; i can at least say from my own experience that our sailors face as much hard duty , and i am sure captain ferris and colonel prayle will attest to the privations of their own respective services . ''