 After failing to receive any satisfactory response from those in power over the hospital , Baillie published a pamphlet in 1778 detailing the problems and corruption , which had gone so far as to include denying food to the sailors . The publication of the pamphlet reflected badly on the Earl of Sandwich , who was at the time First Lord of the Admiralty . In his efforts to gain votes and pay off political debts Sandwich had given many of the positions in the hospital to his cronies , who had never served as sailors . Although he publicly ignored Baillie 's allegations , Sandwich ensured through back channels that he was suspended from his job , and had associates go to the Court of King 's Bench and secure a writ allowing them to sue him for criminal libel . 
