"THERE is, perhaps, no event in the annals of our history," writes the talented author of the King's Own,' "which excited more alarm at the time of its occurrence, or has since been the subject of more general interest, than the mutiny at the Nore, in the year 1797. Forty thousand men, to whom the nation looked for defence from its surrounding enemies, and in steadfast reliance upon whose bravery it lay down every night in tranquillity-men who had dared every thing for their King and country, and in whose breasts, patriotism, although suppressed for the time, could never be extinguished;-irritated by ungrateful neglect on the one hand, and by seditious advisers on the other, turned the guns which they had so often manned in defence of the English flag, against their VOL. I. own countrymen and their own home, and, with all the acrimony of feeling ever attending family quarrels, seemed determined to sacrifice the nation and themselves, rather than listen to the dictates of reason and of conscience." The crews of the North-sea fleet, as well as of the ships at the Nore, imitating the conduct of those at Spithead, but exceeding them in the extent of their demands, appointed a committee of delegates from each vessel, and chose one Richard Parker, a man of strong abilities and resolute character, to be its president. The claims of the mutineers comprehended greater liberty of absence from ships in harbour, a more just distribution of prize-money, a more punctual discharge of arrears of pay, with several other privileges and exemptions, D which were considered inconsistent with the subordination of the navy and the objects of its service. Besides the arrangements alieady made, there was, in each ship, a committee consisting of twelve men, who determined, not only all affairs relative to the internal management of the ship, but decided upon the merits of the respective delegates. On the 21st of May they sent a statement of their demands to Admiral Buckner, to be by him transmitted to the Admiralty; to which they peremptorily demanded compliance, as the only terms upon which they would return to obedience. On the 22d May, of the commissioners of the Admiralty replied, refusing the principal part of their demands, and promising foregiveness to them, if they should yet return to their duty. After Admiral Buckner had delivered this answer to the delegates of the fleet, they were allowed only ten minutes to consider and return an answer; in place of doing which, they took to their boats, went into the harbour, and brought out all the gun-boats there, to the Great Nore; after they had passed the garrison of Sheerness, the gun-boats all fired at the fort, not, as they said, with an intention of doing any damage, but to shew their defiance of the fort. The determination of the delegates, in consequence of the above answer from the Admiralty was, "That nothing could be settled till three of the board of Admiralty came down to Sheerness." On the 23d, the mutineers struck the flag of Vice-Admiral Buckner on board the Sandwich, and hoisted the red flag, the symbol of mutiny, in its stead. They compelled all the ships which lay near Sheerness to drop down to the Great Nore, in order to concentrate the scene of their operations. On board this flagship, each man of war sent two delegates, who went on shore daily; and after holding their meetings, paraded the streets and ramparts of the garrison with flags and music. On the 24th, the seamen received another letter, repeating the offer of pardon, to which a peremptory refusal was sent, signed by Richard Parker, their president. Matters had now risen to such an alarming height, that a deputation of the lords of the Admiralty, composed of Lord Keith and Sir Charles Grey, were dispatched to Sheerness. On the 29th, their lordships held a board at Commissioner Hartwell's house; the delegates were sent for, and every conciliatory measure tried to induce the seamen to return to their duty; a declaration was read on board of all the mutinous ships; but this, and all the expostulations of their lordships, proved ineffectual; and finding, that instead of being inclined to submission, the mutineers grew more insolent and disobedient, their lordships returned to town, first signifying to the seamen that they were to expect no concessions whatever, further than what had already been made by the legislature, the benefit of which they might yet enjoy on returning to their duty. The seamen now begau to perceive their desperate situation, and proceeded to take measures which indicated a design either to secure their present situation, or to seek safety by flight: some of the most violent among them suggested the idea of carrying the ships to the enemy; but the majority revolted at so treacherous a proceeding, though even adopted to save their lives, alledging, that a redress of grievances was their primary, and should be their ultimate object. With a view of extorting compliance with their demands, they ordered the Standard, Brilliant, Inspector, and Swan, to get under weigh and moor across the Thames, in order to prevent a free passage up and down the river to the London trade. The ships of neutral nations, colliers, and a few small craft, were suffered to pass, having first received a passport, signed by Richard Parker as president of the delegates. In order to concentrate their force, all the ships which lay near Sheerness dropped down to the Great Nore. The line of battle ships were drawn up in a line, at about half a mile distant from each other, and moored with their broadsides abreast. In the space between the line of battle ships, the merchantmen and other vessels which had been detained, were moored. As all communication was stopped with the shore, the mutineers supplied themselves with water and provisions from these vessels; a party also landed on the Isle of Grain, and carried off a number of sheep and other provisions; besides, to supply their present wants, they took from a trading vessel, 300 sacks of flour, which they distributed to the different crews, giving in return bills drawn by the delegates on the admiralty. cers pass over immediately to the starboard side of the ship, that we may see who are our friends, and who are our opponents." In an instant the whole crew, The delegates ordered the ships of war excepting six, who had been the proto be supplied with stores out of the Gram- moters of this disturbance, ran over. These pus store-ship, which had been equipped were immediately secured in irons; but with naval and ordnance stores for the some time afterwards, expressing themfleet in the West Indies. Notwithstand-selves truly penitent for what they had ing the enormity of their offence against done, the admiral was induced to liberate the laws of disciplin and the articles of them. war, the deportment of the seamen to their officers, with some exceptions, was respectful. The surgeon of the Montague was tarred and feathered, then rowed through the fleet, with some other officers who were obnoxious to the mutineers, and afterwards sent on shore. Two midshipmen of the Ardent were ducked, and four of the best seamen on board the Brilliant severely flogged, for speaking disrespectfully of the delegates. On the 26th of May, Admiral Duncan put to sea with his squadron excepting the Montague and Nassau, whose crews refused to get under weigh, under pretence of being in the course of payment. This sad example was followed on the 29th and 31st by the rest of the squadron, leaving with the admiral only the Venerable and Adamant. Symptoms of mutiny at one time began to appear on board the Venerable: the plot was however fortunately discovered before it came to maturity. Upon which the admiral ordered the hands to be turned up, and addressed them as follows: "My lads, I am not in the smallest degree apprehensive of any violent measure you may have in contemplation; and though I assure you I would much rather acquire your love than incur your fear, I will, with my own hand, put to death, the first man who shall presume to display the slightest symptom of rebellious conduct." Turning round immediately to one of the mutineers, "Do you, Sir," said he, "want to take the command of this ship out of my hands.? "Yes, Sir," replied the fellow, with the greatest assurance. The admiral immediately raised his arm with an intent to plunge his sword into the mutineer's breast; the blow being prevented by the chaplain and secretary, who seized the admiral's arm, he did not attempt to make a second; but with some agitation called the ship's company; "Let those who will stand by me and my offi On the 4th of June, the whole fleet celebrated the king's birth-day by a royal salute. On the 6th, in the morning, the mutineers were joined by the Ardent, Agamemne, Leopard, Iris, and Ranger sloop, aving deserted the fleet under Admiral Duncan in Yarmouth Roads. Upon the return of the Lords of the Admiralty to town, a cabinet council was immediately held, when it was determined to employ the most vigorous measures to reduce the rebels. A proclamation was issued for the suppression of the mutinous and treasonable proceedings of the crews of certain of his Majesty's ships at the Nore; at the same time offering his Majesty's pardon to all such as should immediately return to their duty. The most active measures were at the same time taken to compel the rebellious crews to submit ; the shores on both sides were lined with batteries; the forts at Tilbury, Sheerness, and Gravesend, were furnished with furnaces for red hot shot. The buoys at the Nore and along the coast were removed. The Neptune of 93 guns, commanded by Sir Erasmus Gower as commodore, manned with volunteers, raised by subscription of the merchants of London; with the Lancaster of 64, whose crew had returned to their duty, accompanied by the Agincourt, and several gun boats, were ordered to drop down the river, and proceed to attack the rebels. The firmness of the mutineers began at length to be a little shaken, and they were determined to try once more to effect a reconciliation with government through the medium of the Earl of Northesk. For this purpose the two delegates of the Monmouth were rowed on board that ship, and informed his lordship that it was the pleasure of the committee that he should immediately accompany them on board the flag ship, as they had proposals to make leading to an accommodation; D 3 his lordship complied, attended by one Lord Northesk proceeded to London with this dispatch; and after stopping a short time at the admiralty, he attended Earl Spencer to the king. The demands of the seamen were rejected as exorbitant and unreasonable. Captain Knight, whom they had permitted to go on shore upon the promise to return, carried down the refusal of the lords of the admiralty. All hopes of accommodation being now at an end, measures were taken by Lord Keith and Sir Charles Grey to attack the fleet from the works at Sheerness, with the gun-boats, &c. but fortunately on the 9th of June symptoms of disunion ap. peared among the mutineers, which rendered the application of force unnecessary. On that day the Repulse and Leopard made their escape, the latter up the Thames; but the Repulse unfortunately ran aground, and in that helpless situation was pursued and fired upon in a most brutal manner by the Monmouth; happily no lives were lost; Lieutenant Delanoe lost his leg, and a seaman was wounded. At night the Ardent effected her escape, and, in passing, the Monmouth fired at her, and killed or wounded several of the | crew. On the 10th, several of the other mutinous ships struck the red flag, and the trade was allowed to pass up the Thames. On the 12th, most of the ships followed their example, and signified a desire of returning to obedience; only seven having then the flag of defiance fly ung. On the 13th, the Agamemnon, the Standard, the Nassau, the Iris, and the Vestal, deserted the rebels, and went up the Thames, or under the guns at Sheerness; the crews, however, of these vessels were far from being unanimous, as several men were killed or wounded in the struggles which took place on board them, between the partizans of the officers and those of the seamen. The crews of all the ships now intimated an inclination to submit, provided a general pardon should be granted. The crew of the Sandwich was particularly desirous, and Parker did not oppose this spirit-a spirit greatly accelerated by the arrival on board of Lieutenant Mott, with the proclamations, acts of parliament, &c. of which the men complained that they had been kept in ignorance till that period. In the course of the evening the men resolved to submit and accept of the king's mercy, conceiving, no doubt, that it would be extended to those who had not known to what extent they had offended. In this state the crew of the Sandwich carried the ship under the guns of the fort at Sheerness the next morning upon which Admiral Buckner sent his boat with a guard of soldiers to arrest Parker, and bring him on shore: as soon as he had heard that a boat was come alongside for him, he surrendered himself to four of the ship's crew to protect him from the outrages of the rest of the seamen, whose vengeance he feared; upon this the officers of the Sandwich delivered Parker, and a delegate by the name of Davies, who had acted as captain under him, with about thirty more of the delegates, into the hands of the soldiers; these were committed to the black hole in the garrison of Sheerness. On the first appearance of the soldiers, one of the delegates, Wallace, of the Standard, shot himself dead, and was afterwards buried in the highway. On the 22d of June the trial of Richard Parker commenced on board the Neptune, of 98 guns, off Greenhithe; he was found guilty, sentenced to die, and suffered accordingly on board the Sandwich, on the 29th. On the 15th of June, La Pompée or 80 guns, Capt. Vashon, one of Lord Bridport's fleet, returned to Spithead, in consequence of a most dangerous conspiracy, which was happily discovered before it was ready for execution. On the 20th, a court-martial assembled on board the Royal William at Spithead, to try six of the principal mutineers. The trial lasted till the 23d, when the charges having been proved in the clearest manner against four of them, they were sentenced to suffer death; one to be imprisoned twelve months, and the other acquitted. On the 28th, two of the mutineers were executed on board the Pompée, and the two others received his Majesty's pardon. The severe punishments (even death) which were daily inflicted on several of the mutineers, did not altogether deter the crews of many of the ships of war, from manifesting at times a considerable degree of disobedience and mutiny. On this occasion 34 of the mutineers were condemned to death; 5 to confinement in solitary cells; and 3 to be flogged. -British Trident. THE BATTLE OF TRAFALGAR. (Concluded from p. 7.) Within a quarter of an hour after Nelson was wounded, above fifty of the Victory's men fell by the enemy's musketry. They, however, on their part, were not idle; and it was not long before there were only two Frenchmen left alive in the mizen-top of the Redoubt able. One of them was the man who had given the fatal wound: he did not live to boast of what he had done. An old quarter-master had seen him fire: and easily recognised him, because he wore a glazed cocked hat and a white frock. This quarter-master and two midshipmen, Mr. Collingwood and Mr. Pollard, were the only persons left on the Victory's poop;-the two midshipmen kept firing at the top, and he supplied them with cartridges. One of the Frenchmen, attempting to make his escape down the rigging, was shot by Mr. Pollard, and fell on the poop. But the old quarter-master, as he cried out, "That's he—that's he," and pointed at the other, who was coming forward to fire again, received a shot in his mouth, and fell dead. Both the midshipmen then fired at the same time, and the fellow dropped in the top. When they took possession of the prize, they went into the mizen-top and found him dead; with one ball through his head, and another through his breast. The Redoubtable struck within twenty minutes after the fatal shot had been fired from her. During that time she had been twice on fire.-in her fore-chains and in her forecastle. The French, as they had done in other battles, made use in this, of fire-balls and other combustibles; implements of destruction, which other nations, from a sense of honour and humanity, have laid aside; which add to the sufferings of the wounded, without determining the issue of the combat; which none but the cruel would employ, and which never can be successful against the brave. Once they succeeded in setting fire, from the Redoubt able, to some ropes and canvass on the Victory's booms. The cry ran through the ship, and reached the cockpit; but even this dreadful cry produced no confusion: the men displayed that perfect self-possession in danger by which English seamen are characterised; they extinguished the flames on board their own ship, and then hastened to extinguish them in the enemy, by throwing buckets of water from the gangway. When the Redoubtable had struck, it was not practicable to board her from the Victory; for, though the two ships touched, the upper works of both fell in so much, that there was a great space between their gangways; and she could not be boarded from the lower or middle decks, because her ports were down. Some of our men went to Lieutenant Quilliam, and offered to swim under her bows, and get up there; but it was thought unfit to hazard brave lives in this manner. What our men would have done from gallantry, some of the crew of the Santissima Trinadad did to save themselves. Unable to stand the tremendous fire of the Victory, whose larboard guns played against this great four-decker, and not knowing how else to escape them, nor where else to betake themselves for protection, many of them leaped overboard, and swam to the Victory; and were actually helped up her sides by the English during the action. The Spaniards began the battle with less vivacity than their unworthy allies, but they continued it with greater firmness. The Argonauta and Bahama were defended till they had each lost about four hundred men; the |