He was not, James found, popular among the men.

He was exacting and overbearing with them, and some on board, who had served with him on his previous voyage, had many tales to his disadvantage.
A fortnight after the arrival of the Thetis at Hampton, orders were issued among the ships of war for thirty volunteers for Braddock's expedition, of which the Thetis was to furnish ten.

So many sent in their names, that the first lieutenant had difficulty in choosing ten, who were looked upon with envy by the rest of the ship's company; for there seemed little chance, at present, of fighting at sea, and the excitement of a march on shore, with adventures of all sorts, and encounters with the French and their Indian allies, seemed delightful to the tars.
Upon the following day a ship arrived from England and, an hour afterwards, an order was passed forward that the first lieutenant wanted James Walsham upon the quarterdeck.
"Walsham," he said, "an order has just come from the admiralty for your discharge, and you are to have a passage in the first ship returning, if you choose to take it.

I am sorry you are leaving the ship, for I have noticed that you show great willingness and activity, and will make a first-rate sailor.

Still, I suppose, your friends in England did not care about your remaining before the mast." James touched his hat and walked forward.