chors, under pretence of being in the course of payment. This sad example was followed in a few days by the rest of the squadron, leaving with the Admiral only the Venerable and Adamant. The mutinous ships proceeded to the Nore, where they joined others likewise in a state of insubordination[1].
- ↑ The mutineers, in imitation of what had been done at Portsmouth, chose two delegates from every ship, of whom a man of the name of Richard Parker was appointed president; besides these, there was, in each vessel, 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 20th May, they sent a statement of their demands to Vice-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. To these demands, on the 22d May, the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty replied, refusing the principal part of them, and promising forgiveness to them, if they should yet return to their duty. After the Vice-Admiral had delivered this reply 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 show their defiance of it. The determination of the delegates, in consequence of the above answer from London was, “That nothing could be settled till three of the Board of Admiralty fame down to Sheerness.”
On the 23rd, the mutineers at the Nore struck the flag of Vice-Admiral Buckner on board the Sandwich, and hoisted the red flag, the symbol of mutiny, in its stead. They also 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 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.
At the commencement of the mutiny, the delegates came every day to Sheerness, where they held conferences, and paraded the streets and garrison. Parker, who was considered as the rebel Admiral of the Fleet, marched at the head of these processions, which were accompanied with music and flags, and had a triumphal appearance, calculated to make new converts to their illicit proceedings. The delegates and committee-men went on shore and returned on board as they pleased. This indulgence was soon put an end to, by the arrival of Lord Keith and Sir Charles Grey, who had been sent down to superintend the naval and military proceedings in that quarter.
On the 27th, fourteen of the delegates went up the river Thames, to
