234 Ch. 37. 1797 MUTINY AT THE NORE. The second mutiny at Spithead led to an outbreak in the ships at the Nore. While Lord Howe was engaged in restoring order and discipline at Portsmouth, a disturbance of a very different character from that which had excited, if it did not strictly justify, the brave and honest seamen of the channel fleet in deviating for a time from their duty, broke out at the mouth of the Medway. The squadron at the Nore consisted of the Sandwich, a ninety-gun ship, the Montague, a seventy-four, and seventeen other ships of inferior rating. The Sandwich carried the admiral's flag; and in this ship the mutiny commenced, on the 11th of May. Many of the other ships, at the same time, rose and overpowered their officers. Delegates were appointed, after the example of the Portsmouth mutineers, and a man named Parker, a supernumerary seaman of the Sandwich, assumed the leading post. The delegates at first held their meetings at Sheerness, in open contempt of the authorities, both by sea and land, parading the town with music and banners; but they subsequently moved the ships to the Great Nore, to be out of the range of the land batteries. Admiral's flag hauled down. The next day, Admiral Buckner's flag was hauled down by the mutineers, and the red ensign was displayed in its place. They then put forward a measures. Had his advice been taken, the most disastrous consequences must have ensued.-LORD STANHOPE'S Life of Pitt, vol. iii. p. 50. PAPER OF COMPLAINTS. manifesto or statement of their grievances, which they forwarded to the Admiralty. This paper contained demands subversive of all discipline, and calculated, according to the boast of the foreign emissaries and domestic traitors, who were anxiously watching their proceedings, to convert every man-of-war into a floating Republic. But even Republics have found that men-of-war cannot be governed on their own principles; and have ever enforced a discipline not less strict than that of despotic monarchies. Parker's demands insisted, among other things, upon a revision of the Articles of War, and indemnity to deserters-the disqualification of all officers who were not agreeable to the ship's companies-and an increase of prize money. It was well observed, that this document neither contained the sentiments, nor was expressed in the language, of seamen. 235 Ch. 37. 1797. Admiralty. The Admiralty, in their reply, remonstrated Reply of the with the men on the impracticability and impropriety of these demands, but offered a free pardon to all who should immediately return to their duty. Buckner undertook to carry this answer to the Sandwich. But the Admiral's reception was very different from that which Lord Bridport and Lord Howe had experienced from the Channel Fleet. He was allowed to go on board; but he was received with none of the honours due to his rank. The offers of the Admiralty were rejected; and the Admiral was informed by Parker, that the delegates would be content with nothing less than 236 Ch. 37. 1797 Earl Spencer at the Nore, Alarm at INSOLENT BEHAVIOUR OF PARKER. unconditional compliance with their demands, and the attendance of the Lords of the Admiralty at the Nore, to ratify the conditions. To shew their determination, the mutineers, on the following day, hauled down the Admiral's flag, and displayed the red ensign of rebellion in its place. That no means of bringing back the men to obedience by persuasion might be left untried, Earl Spencer, the First Lord, accompanied by other members of the Board, went down to Sheerness, and had an interview with Parker and the delegates. Parker was the only spokesman on this occasion; and it was evidently his policy to prevent any accommodation between the authorities and the men. He conducted himself with great insolence, and ended by insulting the Commissioners in the grossest manner. The Board returned to London, and the delegates, throwing aside all shew of moderation, proceeded to the most violent extremities. They seized and plundered two storeships and a merchantman. They fired upon two frigates which would not join them; they blockaded the mouth of the Thames. All this they did with impunity; and their success induced other ships to join them; the Lancaster, a frigate, which lay in the river, and four ships. belonging to Admiral Duncan's squadron. The Mutiny at the Nore had now continued three weeks, and no attempt had as yet been made towards its suppression. The inhabitants of Sheerness, apprehensive of a bombardment, VIGOROUS MEASURES ADOPTED. abandoned the town in great numbers. Fears even were entertained for the safety of the metropolis. 237 Ch. 37. 1797 denunciation mutineers. At length, the Government determined to adopt Parliamentary vigorous measures. They had nothing to fear from of the any opposition in Parliament. At the first outbreak of the Mutiny at the Nore, party spirit subsided in the presence of a common danger; and Sheridan, the most uncompromising, if not the most factious opponent of the ministry and its measures, denounced the conduct of the mutineers as unseamanlike and un-English. He proposed, in the first place, a measure of conciliation; but, at the instance of Pitt, he postponed a proposal which might embarrass the action of the Government, and subsequently supported the Government in the assertion of their authority. On the first of June, a message from the Crown was brought down to Parliament, recommending a more effectual provision for the prevention and punishment of sedition and mutiny in the naval service. Bills were immediately introduced to attach the highest penalties of a misdemeanour to the seduction of soldiers and sailors from their duty; and to make it felony to hold intercourse with ships which were declared, by proclamation, to be in a state of mutiny. These Bills were suffered to proceed without comment from the leading members of the Opposition, and within a week, they received the Royal assent. On the following day, proclamations were issued in accordance with these 238 Ch. 37. 1797 LORD NORTHESK'S MISSION TO THE KING. Acts. Admiral Buckner, was alone empowered to hold communications with the mutineers, and only for the purpose of receiving their submission. Adequate measures were also taken to suppress the insurrection. Ships were put in commission; gun-boats were despatched; the buoys at the entrance of the river were taken. up, and batteries were erected on the shore to command the rebel fleet. The mutineers had already begun to feel alarm. While the coercion bills were passing through Parliament, the Earl of Northesk, captain of the Monmouth, who had been detained a close prisoner, in his cabin, since the commencement of the mutiny, was taken on board the Sandwich, and was charged, by Parker, with a letter to the King, containing terms which they affected to offer as their ultimatum. One of these terms was new, the most impudent and absurd that had yet been propounded. No punishment was to be inflicted without the sanction of a jury of the ship's company! Lord Northesk was enjoined to bring back an answer within fifty-four hours. He told them his errand was not very hopeful; but he executed his commission with fidelity. The letter of the delegates was laid before his Majesty, and an official answer was returned that nothing short of unconditional submission would be accepted. Cut off from all intercourse with the shore, already suffering many privations, and seeing formidable preparations to reduce them by force, |