=Source.=--_Annual Register._ Vol. xxxix., pp. 214 _et seq._ of
_History of Europe._
The suppression of the disturbances among the seamen at Portsmouth,
without recurring to violent measures, and by granting their petitions,
occasioned universal satisfaction, and it was hoped that the causes of
their discontent being thus effectually removed, no further complaints
would arise to spread alarm throughout the nation. But these reasonable
expectations were in a short time wholly disappointed by a fresh mutiny
that broke out in the fleet at the Nore, on the twenty-second of May.
The crews on that day took possession of their respective ships,
elected delegates to preside over them, and to draw up a statement of
their demands, and transmit them to the lords of the admiralty. These
demands went much farther than those of the seamen at Portsmouth and
Plymouth, and from their exorbitancy did not appear entitled to the
same indulgence. On the sixth of June, in the morning, the fleet at the
Nore was joined by the _Agamemnon_, _Leopard_, _Ardent_, and _Isis_
men of war, together with the _Ranger_ sloop, which ships had deserted
from the fleet under admiral Duncan. When the admiral found himself
deserted by part of his fleet, he called his own ship’s crew together,
and addressed them in the following speech:
“MY LADS,
“I once more call you together with a sorrowful heart, from what I have
lately seen, the disaffection of the fleets: I call it disaffection,
for the crews have no grievances. To be deserted by my fleet, in
the face of an enemy, is a disgrace which, I believe, never before
happened to a British admiral; nor could I have supposed it possible.
My greatest comfort under God is that I have been supported by the
officers, seamen, and mariners of this ship: for which, with a heart
overflowing with gratitude, I request you to accept my sincere thanks.
I flatter myself much good may result from your example, by bringing
those deluded people to a sense of their duty, which they owe, not only
to their king and country, but to themselves.
“The British navy has ever been the support of that liberty which
has been handed down to us by our ancestors, and which I trust we
shall maintain to the latest posterity; and that can only be done by
unanimity and obedience. The ship’s company, and others, who have
distinguished themselves by their loyalty and good order, deserve to
be, and doubtless will be, the favourites of a grateful country. They
will also have, from their inward feelings, a comfort which will be
lasting, and not like the floating and false confidence of those who
have swerved from their duty.
“It has often been my pride, with you to look into the Texel, and see
a foe which dreaded coming out to meet us: my pride is now humbled
indeed! my feelings are not easily to be expressed! our cup has
overflowed and made us wanton. The all-wise Providence has given us
this check, as a warning, and I hope we shall improve by it. On Him
then let us trust, where our only security can be found. I find there
are many good men among us; for my own part, I have had full confidence
of all in this ship; and once more beg to express my approbation of
your conduct.
“May God, who has thus far conducted you, continue to do so; and may
the British navy, the glory and support of our country, be restored to
its wonted splendour, and be not only the bulwark of Britain, but the
terror of the world.
“But this can only be effected by a strict adherence to our duty and
obedience; and let us pray that the almighty God may keep us in the
right way of thinking.
“God bless you all.”
* * * * *
At an address so unassuming, modest, and pious, and so well calculated,
from its simplicity and truth, to touch the human heart, the whole
ship’s crew were dissolved in tears. They declared, by every expression
they could devise, their resolution to abide by the admiral in life
or death. Their example was followed by all the other ships, besides
those already mentioned. And the admiral, notwithstanding the defection
of so considerable a part of his squadron, repaired to his station,
off the coast of Holland, to watch the motions of the Dutch fleet; and
resolved, still, not to decline, should it offer him battle.
The principal person at the head of this mutiny was one Richard Parker,
a man of good natural parts, and some education, and of a remarkably
bold and resolute character. Admiral Buckner, the commanding officer
at the Nore, was directed by the lords of the admiralty to inform
the seamen, that their demands were totally inconsistent with the
good order and regulations necessary to be observed in the navy, and
could not for that reason be complied with; but that on returning to
their duty, they would receive the king’s pardon for their breach of
obedience. To this offer Parker replied by a declaration, that the
seamen had unanimously determined to keep possession of the fleet,
until the lords of the admiralty had repaired to the Nore, and
redressed the grievances which had been laid before them.
In order to put an end with all possible expedition to a mutiny
that appeared so dangerous, lord Spencer, lord Arden, and admiral
Young, hastened immediately to Sheerness, and held a board, at which
Parker and the other delegates attended; but their behaviour was so
audacious, that the lords of the admiralty returned to town without
the least success. The principal article of complaint, on the part of
the mutineers, was the unequal distribution of prize-money, for the
omission of which they much blamed their fellow seamen at Portsmouth.
On the return of the lords of the admiralty from Sheerness, a
proclamation was issued, offering his majesty’s pardon to all such of
the mutineers as should immediately return to their duty: intimating,
at the same time, that admiral Buckner was the proper person to be
applied to on such an occasion. All the buoys, by order of government,
were removed from the mouth of the Thames, and the neighbouring coast;
from which precaution, any ships, that should attempt to get away,
would be in danger of running a-ground. Great preparations, also, were
made, at Sheerness, against an attack from the mutinous ships, which
had manifested some strong indications of an intention to bombard that
place; and furnaces and hot balls were kept ready.
Emboldened by the strength of men and shipping in their hands,
and resolved to persevere in their demands till they had extorted
a compliance, the mutineers proceeded to secure a sufficiency of
provisions for that purpose, by seizing two vessels laden with stores,
and sent notice ashore that they intended to block up the Thames; and
cut off all communication between London and the sea, in order to
force government to a speedy accession to their terms. They began the
execution of this menace by mooring four of their vessels across the
mouth of the river, and stopping several ships that were coming from
the metropolis.
They now altered the system of their delegation, and to prevent too
much power from being lodged in the hands of any man, the office of
president was entrusted to no one longer than a day. This they did
to secure themselves from the attempts to betray them, which might
result from the offers held out to those in whom they were obliged to
place confidence and authority, were those to possess such a trust for
any time. They also compelled those ships, the crews of which they
suspected of wavering in the cause, to take their station in the midst
of the others. But, notwithstanding these precautions, two vessels
eluded their vigilance, and made their escape.
These transactions, while they excited the greatest alarm in the
nation, were violently reprobated by the seamen belonging to the two
divisions of the fleet lying at Portsmouth and at Plymouth. Each of
them addressed an admonition to their fellow-seamen at the Nore, warmly
condemning their proceedings as a scandal to the name of British
seamen, and exhorting them to be content with the indulgence already
granted by government, and to return to their duty without insisting on
more concessions than had been demanded by the rest of the navy.
But these warnings proved ineffectual. The reinforcement of the four
ships lately arrived, and the expectation of being joined by others,
induced them to persist in their demands. The committee of delegates,
on board the _Sandwich_, came to a determination to commission lord
Northesk, whom they had kept in confinement in the _Montague_, of which
he was the commander, to repair to the king in the name of the fleet,
and to acquaint him with the conditions on which they were willing to
deliver up the ships. The petition, which he was charged to lay before
the king, was highly respectful and loyal to him, but very severe on
his ministers, and they required an entire compliance with every one of
their demands, threatening, on the refusal of any, to put immediately
to sea. Lord Northesk readily undertook to be the bearer of their
petition, but told them, that, from the unreasonableness of their
demands, he could not flatter them with the hope of success. Confiding
in him, they said, as the seamen’s friend, they had entrusted him
with this mission, on pledging his honour to return, with a clear and
positive answer, within fifty-four hours.
Lord Northesk departed accordingly for London, and was introduced, by
lord Spencer, to the king. But no answer being returned to the message,
and information being brought to the fleet, that the nation at large
highly disapproved of their proceedings, great divisions took place
among the delegates, and several of the ships deserted the others, not,
however, without much contest and bloodshed. The mutineers, despairing,
now, of accomplishing their designs, struck the red flag, which they
had hoisted as the signal of mutiny, and restored a free passage to the
trade of the metropolis. Every ship was now left at its own command,
and they all gradually returned to obedience, though, on board of some,
violent struggles happened between the mutineers and the loyal parties.
The principal conductor of the mutiny, Richard Parker, was seized
and imprisoned, and after a solemn trial, that lasted three days, on
board of the _Neptune_, he was sentenced to death. He suffered with
great coolness and intrepidity, acknowledging the justice of his
sentence, and expressing his hope, that mercy might be extended to his
associates. But it was judged necessary to make public examples of the
principal and most guilty, who were accordingly tried, and, after full
proof of their criminality, condemned and executed. Others were ordered
to be whipped; but a considerable number remained under sentence of
death till after the great victory obtained, over the Dutch fleet, by
admiral Duncan: when his majesty sent a general pardon to those unhappy
men; who were, at that period, confined on board a prison ship in the
river Thames.