1797.

CAUSES OF DISCONTENT.

47

moderate and reasonable; and dangerous as it was that men, with arms in their hands, Demands of the should approach Parliament in the guise of mutineers. petitioners, and that mutineers should dictate terms to their superiors, it was more discreditable for the Government to have suffered such grievances to exist than for the men to complain of their existence. In fact, the state of the navy had not been much improved since it was described, with such terrible humour, by Smollett, in the novel of 'Roderick Random.'* Officers owed their promotion, in great measure, to family connections and parliamentary interest, and consequently, the service was infested with Whiffles and Oakums, who were either ignorant of their duty or abused their power. The ships' companies were defrauded of their right, first by the contractors, and afterwards by the pursers, until gains, which began in peculation, were openly claimed and recognised as perquisites. An almost incredible example of this prescriptive robbery is to be found in one of the grievances enumerated by the sailors in their petition; the practice, namely, of abstracting about one-fourth of the rations to which they were legally entitled. The power which is necessarily entrusted to the superior officers of a man-of-war, after every possible limitation has been imposed upon it, is so extensive, that the comfort of a ship's company depends mainly on the good sense and moderation of the captain and his lieutenants. British seamen are remarkable for their discernment of the professional qualifications of their officers, and for their obedience and fidelity to the commanders who are worthy of their confidence and respect. The frequency of mutinous conduct may, therefore, be taken as a strong test of incapacity, or wanton tyranny, or vexatious discipline on the part of the officer. No less than seventy-nine cases of

*First published in 1748.

48

VIOLENCE OFFERED TO ADM. GARDNER. CH. XXXVII.

mutiny and mutinous conduct had been tried by court-martial within the year.*

The First Lord of the Admiralty, Earl Spencer,

Earl Spencer

goes to Portsmouth.

.

with two other members of the Board, hurried down to Portsmouth at the first intelligence of the mutiny. The demands of the delegates from the Queen Charlotte' received, therefore, an immediate answer. An increase of wages, on the scale of four shillings, three shillings, and two shillings per month, to three classes of men respectively, was offered, and that pay should no longer be suspended during disability from wounds received in action; but the official reply was silent upon the other points mentioned in the memorial. The men refused to give way until their grievances were fully redressed, and an act of indemnity passed by Parliament. After two more days had been wasted in attempting to bring them to terms, partly by concessions, and partly by threats, it was determined that three flag officers should be sent on board the 'Charlotte' to confer with the mutineers. Accordingly, Admirals Gardner, Colpoys, and Pole, went alongside, and were received with the respect due to their rank. But the delegates, though respectful in their language and demeanour, were inflexible in their demands. Gardner lost his temper, and, seizing one of the delegates by the collar, swore they should all be hanged, together with every fifth man in the fleet. This rash ebullition nearly produced disastrous consequences. The crew, enraged at the insult offered to their representative, rushed towards the quarter-deck, and in the excitement of the moment

*Barrow's Life of Earl Howe, p. 321.

Lord Collingwood's opinion on the subject of the mutiny is, I believe, that of most officers of experience and good sense. When complaints were made of conduct which was designated as mutin

ous, Collingwood would exclaim, 'Mutiny, sir! mutiny in my ship! If it can have arrived at that, it must be my fault, and the fault of every one of the officers.'

-Memoirs and Correspondence of Lord Collingwood, vol. i. p. 71.

1797.

THE MUTINY AT AN END.

49

the choleric Admiral hardly escaped with his life. The conference was abruptly broken off, and the delegates, returning to the 'Royal George' in high indignation, reported what had occurred. The red flag was immediately displayed; and at the sight of this terrible emblem, Lord Bridport ordered his flag to be struck. The guns were then loaded; watches were set; in every ship the officers were detained prisoners on board; and some dreadful event was hourly expected. On the next day, however, the men repented of their violence, and addressed a dutiful letter both to the Board and to their Admiral, Lord Bridport. These overtures led to a speedy settlement of the dispute. The demands of the delegates were granted in full; the Admiral's flag was again displayed, and the King's proclamation of a free pardon came down from London. The crews of all the ships at once returned to their duty.

Throughout these proceedings, the men, conscious of the justice of their cause, were careful that their conduct should be consistent with the moderation of their professions. They maintained an exact discipline in every ship; they punished drunkenness with flogging; and every other offence received its appropriate penalty. No man was allowed to quit his ship, nor was any letter permitted to be sent on shore. Every officer was superseded, but none, however odious, was ill-used. The frigates, with convoy, were allowed to sail, that no unnecessary injury might be inflicted on commerce.

While the mouths of all men were full of thanksgiving for their happy deliverance from a new and fearful peril, it was announced that the mutiny had broken out afresh. The Admiralty, which by its negligence had been the cause of the first outbreak, was, by its folly, the cause of the second. To save their credit and authority, so grievously impaired by

50

FOLLY OF THE ADMIRALTY.

CH. XXXVII.

the late transactions, the Board thought fit, a few days after their unconditional submission to the seamen, to take a step well calculated to excite jealousy and resentment throughout the fleet. On the 1st of May, an order was issued from Whitehall, referring to the late disturbances, and enjoining upon the officers a strict attention to their own conduct, with the view to the maintenance of discipline and the prevention of discontent. So far this was well; but, in a succeeding paragraph, the captains were instructed 'to see that the arms and ammunition belonging to the marines be constantly kept fit for immediate service, as well in harbour as at sea; and that the captains and commanders be ready on the first appearance of mutiny to use the most vigorous means to suppress it, and to bring the ringleaders to punishment."

Mutiny at
St. Helen's.

Fired with indignation at this threat of keeping them in awe under the bayonets of the marines, and believing that the order itself was significant of an intention to break faith with them, the crews of the ships at St. Helen's, to which the main body of the fleet had been recently moved, again revolted against their officers, again appointed delegates, and despatched some of their number to claim the co-operation of the 'London' and the 'Marlborough,' which remained at Spithead. Admiral Colpoys, whose flag was flying in the 'London,' in obedience to the recent order, summoned his officers, put the marines under arms, and refused to let the delegates come alongside. The crew of the 'London,' after some hesitation, came aft, and demanded that the delegates should be admitted. The officers ordered them to go below; but a few only obeyed, and one man proceeded to unlash a gun and point it towards the quarter-deck. He was instantly shot dead by a lieutenant. This was the signal for a general insurrection. The men ran for their arms;

1797.

POPULARITY OF LORD HOWE.

51

the marines joined them; the officers were disarmed, and the lieutenant, who had performed his duty with such stern decision, was about to be hurried to the yard-arm, when the Admiral interposed, avowed the lieutenant's act, and declared that it was done in pursuance of the orders of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty. This saved the officer's life; but the triumph of the seamen was complete. The 'Marlborough' quickly followed the example of the 'London,' and both ships weighed anchor, and joined the rest of the fleet at St. Helen's.

Lord Howe, the Commander-in-Chief of the Channel fleet, oppressed by sickness and infirmity, had been detained at Bath during the disturbances at Spithead. But, in the present extremity, Howe was justly deemed the person of all others most fitted to bring back his mutinous fleet to a sense of their duty. Accordingly, the venerable Admiral Lord Howe at went down to Portsmouth, determined to Portsmouth. visit every ship, and to ascertain, by personal communication with the seamen, what they wanted. Lord Howe was, in age, experience, and reputation, the foremost officer in the service. A man of birth, a courtier, a diplomatist, and a person of high accomplishments, he nevertheless adapted himself to his profession, and at sea affected those blunt and careless manners which endear a commander to the sailors. No officer in the service, therefore, had higher authority; and the mutineers, in the transport of their excitement and anger, which no Lord of the Admiralty could appease, at once gave utterance to expressions of joy and hope, when they heard that Black Dick, as they loved to call their renowned Commander, was coming among them to listen to their complaints, and redress their wrongs. The conduct of Lord Howe on this trying occasion was marked by judgment and temper. Knowing the

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