Plymouth Lines, 31st May, 1797.
We, the
Non-commissioned Officers
Of the Company of Royal Military
Artificers and Labourers,
Stationed at Plymouth Lines,
Come forward at the unanimous request of the Company, to avow at this
momentous crisis, our firm loyalty, attachment, and fidelity to our
most gracious _Sovereign_ and our _Country_, and solemnly declare our
firm determination to maintain subordination and discipline to our
officers, with whom we have every reason to be fully satisfied, and
request they will accept these, our most grateful acknowledgments for
their humane attention towards us, and beg they will let this our
determination be made known to the _Right Honourable General Lord
George Henry Lennox_, Governor and Commander-in-Chief in this
district.
That, as we learn, there are men endeavouring to withdraw His
Majesty’s _soldiers_ from the duty they owe to their _King_ and
_Country_, we are determined should any such proceedings appear
amongst us, to take the earliest opportunity of checking the same;
and, as a mark of our attachment to our most gracious _Sovereign_ and
glorious _Constitution_, we do hereby offer a reward of
_Ten Guineas_,
to any _soldier-artificer_, that will discover any person, or persons,
offering them _money_, _seditious handbills_, or otherwise, with an
intent to withdraw them from their duty, on conviction of the person,
or persons, before a civil magistrate.
God save the King!
Witness our hands,
(Signed) WM. BROWNE, Sergeant-major.
ROBT. WAKEHAM, }
WM. BURGESS, } Sergeants.
JAS. MOIR, }
JNO. EVELYN, }
WM. HUTTON, } Corporals.
WM. MCBEATH, }
WM. COTTEY, }
JOSH. WELLS, } Lance-corporals.
WM. BEER. }
Some delay occurring in extending the King’s beneficence to the Ordnance
corps with respect to the increase of pay, the royal artillery at
Woolwich, impatient to obtain it, exhibited unmistakable symptoms of
discontent and insubordination. “More pay; less drill!” were their
constant complaints, and hundreds stood by their arms ready to use them
in compelling attention to their claims. One night particularly there
was much disturbance, and next morning about daybreak, the Commandant of
the garrison, Colonel Farringdon, of the royal artillery, ordered the
whole of the military artificers to proceed to the artillery barracks
and barricade the rear entrances. Captain Holloway, R.E., complied; and
whilst the men were effecting the service as quietly as circumstances
would admit, they were discovered by the mutineers, who showered upon
them sundry articles of barrack furniture; and then bursting open the
doors, fell upon the party and forced them from the barricades. Colonel
Farringdon, who was witnessing the progress of the work, felt the shock
of the sortie, and at once ordered the company of artificers to be
withdrawn to preserve them from further danger. In the course of the
morning the Duke of York made his appearance, and on promising to give
the claims of the regiment immediate consideration, the disaffected were
appeased and returned to duty.
Already the subject of pay to the Ordnance corps had been under review,
but the _émeute_ at Woolwich hastened the decision upon it. It was clear
that the various allowances—permanent, incidental, and temporary—were
insufficient to answer the objects for which they were intended; and
also, that the application of them from sundry causes was both intricate
and difficult. It was therefore recommended to discontinue all extra
allowances, except a small sum, annually, for defraying the expense
incurred in altering clothing; and issuing a rate of pay to all ranks
adequate for every purpose, which measure His Majesty approved in a
warrant dated 25th May. A comparison of the military allowances of the
artificers prior to the promulgation of the new warrant, and the pay
sanctioned on 25th May, is subjoined:—
Pay per diem Extras Pay per diem
before a-day.[105] by Warrant of
25th May, 25th May,
1797. 1797.
s. d. d. s. d.