been appointed on Sir Chaloner Ogle hoisting a broad pendant, formed part of the squadron sent to England with the prizes, under the orders of Rear-Admiral Digby; and on the passage home captured the Prothée, of 64 guns and 700 men, after a close action of 27 minutes, in which the enemy had 97 men killed and wounded. She afterwards accompanied Rear-Admiral Graves to the North-American station[1], and from thence proceeded with Sir George B. Rodney to the West Indies.
Early in 1781, Sir George received intelligence of hostilities having taken place between Great Britain and Holland; and immediately proceeded to attack the Dutch settlements in that quarter[2]. On his arrival off the Bay of St. Eustatia, he made the Resolution’s signal to anchor within musket shot of a large frigate[3] lying there, and oblige her to surrender.
- ↑ Previous to the Resolution sailing for America, Lieutenant Nowell distinguished himself by his spirited conduct in quelling a mutiny which had taken place in that ship, the particulars of which are as follow: On ordering the capstern to be manned for the purpose of unmooring, the crew came up one hatchway and went down another, at the same time lowering the ports. This was the first hint the officers received of its existence. On enquiry Lieutenant Nowell learnt that the ringleader was one of the carpenter’s crew, and he immediately volunteered to go below and secure him. Accompanied by another officer, Lieutenant Shordich, he went down the after hatchway, and made the men haul up the lower deck ports as he advanced forward to the berth a-breast of the main-mast, where this rascal was haranguing and cheering the men collected about him. Lieutenant Nowell placed a blow under his throat that knocked him backwards over a chest, then seized him, and declared he would run any man or men through who should attempt his rescue. A compromise now took place, on the ship’s company promising obedience if their leader was released; but the next day they acted in a similar manner; and it was not until the officers and marines were drawn up under arms, and about to attack them, that they proceeded to get the ship under weigh, even then declaring they would surrender to the first French man-of-war they were laid alongside of. To this threat Lord Robert Manners replied, ‘I will take care you shall be placed close enough.’ Their only plea for these acts of insubordination appears to have been a draught of men lately received on board, one of which was the carpenter already alluded to, had not received their advance. No doubt they had been tutored to this before they joined the Resolution, as they declared they had no complaint to make against any officer in the ship. This batch of villains were sent into the Port-Admiral’s ship at Plymouth, and nothing mutinous took place afterwards.
- ↑ See note, at p. 127.
- ↑ The Mars, of 38 guns and 300 men.
