on the demerits of his ministers. His Lordship informed the delegates, that “he certainly would bear the letter as desired; but he could not, from the unreasonableness of their demands, flatter them with any expectation of success.”
They persisted that the whole must be complied with, or they would immediately put the fleet to sea. Parker then delivered the following paper to Lord Northesk, to ratify his credentials; he was rowed on board the Duke of York Margate packet, with three cheers from the rebels.
“To Captain Lord Northesk.
“You are hereby authorized and ordered to wait upon the King, wherever he may be, with the resolutions of the committee of delegates; and are directed to return back with an answer within fifty-four hours from the date hereof.
Lord Northesk proceeded to London with this despatch; 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.
After the trials were over, Lord Northesk resigned the command of the Monmouth, and remained unemployed till the year 1800, when he was appointed to the Prince, of 98 guns, in which ship he continued on Channel service till the suspension of hostilities, when he again came on shore; and the same year was re-elected one of the sixteen representative Peers of Scotland.
On the renewal of the war in 1803. his Lordship was immediately appointed to the Britannia, of 100 guns, at Portsmouth, and soon after received the honour of a visit on board that ship, from their Royal Highnesses the Dukes of York and Cambridge. Towards the close of the same year, the Britannia was stationed at St. Helen’s, to guard that end of the Isle of Wight, in case of an invasion. She afterwards formed a part of the Channel fleet, commanded by the Hon. William Cornwallis.
