committee-men went on fhore or on board as they pleafed, and feemed commanders of Sheernefs, as well as of the hips at the Nore. Lord Keith and Sir Charles Grey, however, who had been fent down to fuperintend the naval and military proceedings in that quarter, put an end to this indulgence inftantly on their arrival. With a view to extort compliance with their demands, they proceeded to block up the Thames, by refufing a free paffage up and down the river to the London trade. The fhips of neutral nations, however, colliers, and a few fmall craft, were fuffered to pass, first receiving a paffport figned by Richard Parker, as prefident of the delegates. In order to concentrate their force, all the fhips which lay near Sheernefs dropt down to the Great Nore. The line of battle fhips were drawn up in a line, about half a mile diftant from each other, and moored with their broad fides fronting each other. In the fpaces between the line of battle fhips, the detained merchantmen, &c. were moored. The force of the mutineers, at its greatest height, confifted of eleven fhips of the line, exclufive of frigates, in all twenty-four fail. The appearance of fuch a multitude of shipping, the London trade included, was, from the occafion, grand and awful. Each ship was governed by a committee confifting of twelve members,together with two delegates and a fecretary. To reprefent the whole body of feamen, every man of war appointed two delegates, and each gun-boat one; the mode of affembling thefe was by beating a drum. From the first breaking out of this mutiny, the delegates behaved ref pectfully to their fuperior officers. They alfo exhibited on every convenient occafion, the fame intereft in the welfare of their country, and the fame degree of loyalty as was dif. played by the feamen at Spithead. The crew of the Lancaster, of 64 guns, which lay at Long Reach, betrayed evident difpofitions to join the fhips at the Nore, but were prevented from paffing down the river, by the furnaces at Tilbury Fort and Gravefend, and other works, which were amply defended by the military. All communications being stopped with the shore, the mutineers fupplied themselves with water and provifions from the fhips they stopped, and a party of feamen landed in the Ifle of Grain and carried off a num. ber of fheep, &c. The accounts, however, of their plundering different trading veffels were ridiculously exaggerated, the chief act which they perpetrated of this kind, was robbing a veffel of 300 facks of flour, of which they found themselves in need, and which were diftributed throughout the fleet. A deputation of the Admiralty, at the head of which was Earl Spencer, went down to Sheernefs, but they had no conference with the delegates, demanding unconditional fubmiffion as a neceffary preliminary to any intercourfe. Earl Spencer departed from Sheernefs, without any attempt to compromise the difpute, after having caufed it to be fignified to the feamen, that they must expect no conceffions whatever, than fuch as has been already made by the legislature, the benefit of which they might yet enjoy on returning to their duty. On the 30th of May, the Clyde frigate was carried off from the mutinous fleet, by a combination of the officers, aided by fome of the feamen; as was the St Fiorenzo, the officers of which cut her cables, and got under weigh at the inftant when the boatswain's whistle was piping all hands to dinner. These fhips were fired at by feveral others, and the St Fiorenzo fuftained fome damage in her hull and other works. All the buoys were now removed from from the mouth of the Thames, and the neighbouring coaft, by the order of government; a precaution which is faid to have greatly perplexed the mutineers, as any large fhips which might attempt to fail away were in danger of running aground. Great preparations were alfo made at Sheer ness, against an attack from the fhips, and furnaces and red-hot balls were kept ready, &c. On Sunday, June 4, the whole fleet evinced its perfect loyal difpofition by a general falute, which was fired from all the fhips at the Nore, in compliment to his majesty's birthday; and the ships were decorated in the fame manner as is practifed on rejoicing days; the red flag being, how ever, kept flying at the main of the Sandwich. June 5, about nine at night, the Serapis frigate, of 44 guns, and the Discovery, attempted to defert the fleet, making for the fort at Sheerness, with a view of returning to obedience. When this was perceived, all the line of battle-fhips within reach, inftantly poured out broadfides at them. The frigate, however, got out of reach, although much fhattered and damaged in their mafts and rigging. The noife of the cannon heard in this firing, had a tremendous effect on fhore. On Tuesday, June 6, in the morn. ing, the Agamemnon, Leopard, Ardent, and Ifis, men of war, and the Ranger floop, joined the mutinous fhips at the Nore, having left the fleet of Admiral Duncan. Lord Northefk, captain of the Monmouth, at MY LORD, the defire of the delegates, went on board of the Sandwich, where he received propofitions for an accommodation, in the form of a letter*, which he was defired to lay before his majefty. Being furnished with a paffport from Richard Parker, he went up to town by water. The demands in the feamens' letter being thought improper, Capt. Knight, of the Inflexible, carried down the refufal of the Lords of the Admiralty. E 2 Measures were now taken by Lord Keith, and Sir C. Grey, to attack the fleet from the works at Sheerness, with gun-boats, &c.; the defection, however, of the Repulfe, Leopard, and Ardent, on the night of Friday the 9th, with other fymptoms of treachery among the mutineers to their own caufe, rendered the use of force unneceffary. On Saturday, June 10, feveral other of the fhips pulled down the red flag, as a fignal for the merchantmen to go up the river, and the store and victualling fhips to remain behind; all of thefe, however, profited by the opportunity to effect their efcape, after having been fired at by the fleet. The whole Thames, at this time, appeared covered with veffels, and fuch a multitude of fhips never, perhaps, before came up, by one tide, to its port. The mutineers now framed a more moderate fet of articles, defcribing the nature of their grievances and demands, which they fent to the Admiralty by Captain Cobb. Ministers, however, were fully determined not to grant any demands, but to force *To the Right Hon. Earl Northefk. the "YOU are hereby required, and directed, to proceed to London with fuch papers as are entrusted to your care, and to lay the fame before our gracious fovereign, King George the Third, and to represent to our gracious fovereign, that the feamén at the Nore have been grofsly mifreprefented; at the fame time, if our gracious fovereign does not order us to be redreffed in fifty-four hours, fuch steps will be taken, as will aftonish our dear countrymen." Richard Parker, Prefident. By order of the Delegates of the whole Fleet. the feamen to unconditional fubmiffion. On the 11th, the Neptune, of 98 guns, manned with prefs gangs, volunteers, &c. Sir E. Gower, commander, fell down to Longreach, with a view to act offenfively against the mutineers; the Lancaster, which had furrendered on the 8th, the Agincourt, and a number of gun-boats, were also equipped in the river for the fame deftination. The firmness of the feamen was already fhaken by the formidable preparations of government, and the want of fresh provifions and water; and it was evident that the combination was falling to pieces. On the 12th, most of the hips ftruck the red flag, and hoifted the union, to fignify their defire of returning to obedience only feven had the red flag flying. On Tuesday morning, June 13, the Agamemnon the Standard, the Naffau, the Iris, and the Vestal, ran away from the other fhips, and got under the protection of the guns at the fort, not a fingle hot being fired at them. The crews, however, of thefe veffels, were very far from being unanimous, as feveral men were wounded and killed in the ftruggles which took place on board them, between the parties of the officers, and thofe of the feamen. On board the Leopard alone, fixteen men were wounded. On the evening of the fame day, not a red flag was feen flying at the Nore, and the blue was univerfally hoifted. On Friday, the 16th, all refiftance to the authority of the officers ceafed on board the hips, and the mutiny was, in effect, terminated, although fome of the ships which had proceed. ed up the river were not reduced to entire obedience ;-the Belliqueux, and two or three more, held out the laft. The officers of the Sandwich furrendered their delegates, Parker and Davies, to a party of foldiers, sent on board by Sir C. Grey, to gether with Gregory, Higgins, and about 30 other delegates; thefe were committed to the black hole, in the garrifon, at Sheernefs. On the first appearance of the foldiers, one of the delegates, Wallace, of the Standard, fhot himself dead in the most heroic manner. During the progress of the mutiny, a letter, dated June 4, (which, however, is believed to have been fictiti ous) was fent to the delegates at the Nore, from the feamen of Sir Roger Curtis's fquadron, and another from the late delegates of the ships at Plymouth, exhorting the mutineers to return to their duty. These letters, forged or otherwife, are faid to have had confiderable effect in creating divisions among the men. On Thursday the 22d the trial of Parker commenced on board the Neptune, off Greenhithe, before a court martial, confifting of captains in the navy, of which Sir T. Paisley was prefident. Parker was charged with "making and having endeavoured to make, a mutiny amongst the feamen of his Majefty's fhips at the Nore, and with having behaved him. felf contemptuously towards his fuperior officers." The trial was continued by adjournment, to Monday the 26th, when the prefident, after obferving that the crime of which the prifoner was convicted was as unprecedented as wicked as ruinous to the navy as to the peace and property of the country, &c." adjudged him to fuffer death at fuch time and place as the Lords of the Admiralty should appoint. The leading articles of the charges against Parker, were, that he had be, haved in two inftances, though not generally, with infolence to Admiral Buckner (the first in not allowing the admiral to appear on the quarterdeck of the Sandwich; and the fecond, in forcibly taking away two marines from the commiffioner's houfe at Sheerness, in fpite of the remonftrances of the Admiral; that in the' After the fentence was paffed, the prifoner, with a degree of undismayed compofure, which excited the aftonishment and admiration of every one prefent, fpoke as follows: "I bow to your sentence with all due "fubmiffion; being convinced I have "acted by the dictates of a good "confcience.-God, who knows the "hearts of all men, will, I hope, re"ceive me. I hope that my death "will atone to the country; and "that those brave men, who have "neral pardon.-I am fatisfied they " will all return to their duty with "alacrity," different conferences with the officers, he had always taken the lead, as spokesman; that he had laid one sea man in irons, and ordered another to be flogged; that he had affumed "the honour of representing the whole fleet" (an honour, which, he faid," he should never forget"); that he had often proceeded from ship to ship, haranguing the refpective crews, who cheered him as he paffed (on which occafions, he ordered the men forwards, &c.) and that he was on board the Director when that ship" acted with me, will receive a ge opened a fire on the Repulfe, where he gave his orders to fire, &c. &c. The prifoner, in his defence, which was pithy and pertinent, and expreffed with much propriety, confidering his fituation and circumstances, made it appear, that he had endeavoured to receive Admiral Buckner with respect, by an attempt to man the yards, &c. although this defign was defeated from other causes; that, in punishing a feaman for getting beaftly drunk, he had acted with the approbation of the master of the ship: that the man laid in irons was confined for disrespect to Captain Mofs; and that feveral indifputed marks of loyalty were fhewn by the delegates, and by Parker in particular, while the differences exifted; and that he (Parker) had declared, that, were the enemy's fleet known to be at fea, they (the delegates) would take the fleet, under their direction in fearch of them, &c. &c. His conduct, during the whole of the trial, was respectful and firm; and he remained, to the last moment, apparently unmoved. He bowed ref pectfully to the perfons present, when he retired. In the crofs examination of the witneffes, Parker displayed a wonderful degree of ability, with one or two exceptions, which were to be expected from an unlettered individual not converfant with the quibbles of practitioners in the law. In the course of the month the Pompee, one of Lord Bridport's fleet, came into Portsmouth, in confequence of a mutiny which had broke out on board of her when off Breft. Four of the ringleaders have fince been convicted, and two of them executed on board the hip at Portf mouth. DESCRIPTION OF THE SIMPLE MANNERS OF A WELCH VILLAGE. [From Aikin's Journal of a Tour through North Wales, &c*.] AS S we approached Amlwch, we the fears of rock between the town were much pleased with feeing and the fea, occupied by numerous groupes * Mr Arthur Aikin, (son of Dr Aikin) the ingenious author of this "Journal," in order to improve himself in the knowledge of natural history, and to poffefs himfelf of articles of curious and useful information, which it might be worth while to communicate to the public, fubmitted to the fatigue of a pedeftrian tour through North Wales and part of Shropshire last Summer. The lovers of phyfical science will be glad to be informed that Mr A, is now on a tour thro' the northern coun ties groupes of men, women, and children, all neat and in their best clothes, it being Sunday, who were enjoying the mild temperature of a fummer evening, rendered refreshing by the neighbourhood of the fea. In one place we obferved a circle of men gathered round a point of rock, on which was feated the orator of the party reading a newspaper aloud, and commenting upon it; on other little eminences were seen family parties, the elder ones converfing, and the younger children gamboling about them, or running races with each other in a new mown meadow, close to the town, we paffed by a large company of lads and laffes feated on a green bank, chatting, laughing, and full of mirth and frolic. To one who had been a spectator of the grofs and riotous delight, too frequent on holiday evenings in the outskirts of the metropolis, or any large town in England, the contraft could not fail of being very striking, and much to the advantage of the inhabitants of Amlwch : out of the whole number we did not fee one drinking party; the pleasures of fociety and mutual converfe needed not the aid of intoxication to heighten their relish. manners of whofe inhabitants are fo unexceptionable (as far at least as a ftranger is enabled to judge of them) as Amlwch; and the favourable opinion which I was led to entertain of them on vifiting the town laft year, is confirmed by what I have obferv. ed at prefent. Not a fingle inftance have I known of drunkenness, not one quarrel have I witneffed during two very crowded market days, and one of them a day of unusual indulgence, that I paffed at this place; and I believe no goal, or bridewell, or house of confinement, exists in the town or neighbourhood. Most of the miners are methodists, and to the prevalence of this religious fect is chiefly to be attributed the good order that is fo confpicuous. Men who have been long confirmed in habits of vice and irregularity, need arguments the most potent that can be offered, to counterbalance the affociated power of habit and inclination : were it poffible forcibly to tear them from their connexions, and to place them in an entirely different fituation, reafon might then be called in gradually to perfect the cure; but where this cannot be done, (and in moft cafes it is impracticable,) what argument can be urged of fuch overbearing force as to combat with and overthrow the most rooted propenfities, even upon their own territory, unaffifted by external coercion, except a ftrong and impreffive appeal to their hopes and fears; and, by prefenting both exaggerated and in full contrast, to overwhelm the mind by furprise and alarm? After fupper we ftrolled up the mountain, which now no longer refounded with the confufed noise of pick-axes and hammers; all was hushed in profound filence; and the moonbeams which were reflected bright from ties of Scotland, upon a fimilar plan; and from this pleafing fpecimen, we venture to predict, that this new labourer in the field of fcience will, by his future exertions, ftill further adorn and enrich the walks of natural history. |