Page:History of New South Wales from the records, Volume 1.djvu/159

THE FLEET AT SEA. 61 very necessary to have such an oflScer on the spot, I have ordered 1787 Mr. Heniy Brewer to act as such, and shall be glad if he is May. approved of. I enclose a copy of the last returns, and shall send you a more particular account from Teneriflfe. At present our motion is such that I find it very diflficult to sit at table ; but the weather is good, and tho' the Charlotte and Lady Penrhyn sail clearing the very badly, the clearing the Channel is one great point gained, and with which I look on all our difficulty as ended. But one difficulty was no sooner ended than another pre- sented itself in an unexpected shape : — Since I sealed my letters I have received a report from the officers on board the Scarborough respecting the convicts, who, it is said, have formed a scheme for taking possession of the ship. '^^^JJjfJi"'*^ I have ordered the ringleaders on board the Sirius, and should not mention the affisiir at this moment, as I have no time to enter into particulars, but that I suppose it will be mentioned in letters from that ship. I did intend to write to Lord Sydney, but it is late, and I wish the boats on board the different ships. You may assure his lordship of my respects, and tell him the reason that prevents my writing to him. Two of the ringleaders in this conspiracy were flogged, and then removed into another ship. The sudden extinction of their scheme produced a wholesome effect on the minds of the convicts, for they seem to have remained quiet during the rest of the voyage. A different tale is told by the records in the Home Office of a similar conspiracy which took place a few years previously. The ship Mercury, bound a ship to America with one hundred and seventy convicts on board, was seized by them ; the captain and his officers were put in irons '^ after a very bloody resistance, in which many of the convicts were -wounded " ; but the men having brought the ship into Torbay, their career was very soon closed. " They hoisted out the boat, and about sixty went on shore, armed ; a second attempt to land was made by the remainder next morning ; but the captain and his people, having got free ^ap^ratora from their chains,^' and obtained assistance from a King^s ship, immediately secured them. Digitized by Google