214] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1797. 
Subsequent endeavours were made 
to prove the ministry guilty of gross 
neglect, in suffering a business of this 
nature to proceed with a dilatoriness 
that might; and ought therefore to 
have been avoided; but they ex- 
culpated. themselves, by bringing 
forward evidence that their in= 
tentions were clearly to have acted 
with more speed, if unavoidable 
impediments. had not prevented 
them, ie 
The suppression of the distuibances 
among the seamen at Portsmouth, 
without recurring to violent mea- 
sures, and by granting their pe- 
- titions, occasioned universal satis- 
faction, and it was hoped that the 
causes of their discontent being thus 
effectually removed; no farther com- 
plaints would arise to spread alarm 
throughout the nation. _ But these 
teasonable expectations were in a 
short time whelly disappointed by a 
fresh mutiny that broke out in the 
fleet at the Nore, on the twenty- 
second of May. 
The crews on that day took pos- 
session of their respective ships, 
elected delegates to preside over 
them, anc to draw up a statement of 
their demands; ana transmit them to 
the lords of the admiralty, These de- 
mands went much farther than those 
ofthe seamenat Portsmouthand Ply- 
mouth, and from their exorbitancy 
did not appear entitled to the same 
indulgence. On the sixth of June, in 
the morning, the ficet at the Nore was 
joined by the Agamemnon; Leopard, 
Ardent, and Isis men of war, toge- 
ther with the Ranger sloop, which 
ships had deserted from the fleet 
under admiral Duncan, When the 
admiral found himself deserted by 
‘part of his fleet, he called his own 
ship’s crew together, and addressed 
them in-the fellowing speech : 
«© My lads, ox 
*© 1 once more call you together 
with a sorrowful heart, from what I 
have lately seen, the disaffection of 
the fleets ; I call it disaffection, for 
the crews hare no grievances. To 
be deserted by my fleet, in the face 
of an enemy; is a disgrace which, I 
believe, never before happened to 4 
British admiral; nor could I have 
supposed it possible. My greatest 
comfort under God is, that 1 have 
been supported by the officers, sea~ 
men, and marines of this ship ; for 
which, with a_ heart cackilisuiions 
with gratitude, E request you to ac 
cept my sincere thanks, I flatter 
myself much good may result’ from 
your example, by bringing those 
deluded people to a sense of their 
duty, which they owe, net only to 
their king and countsy, but to 
themselves. 
“© The British navy has ever been 
the support of that liberty which has 
been handed down to us by our 
ancestors, and which I trust we shall 
maintain to the latest posterity ; and 
that can only be done by unanimity 
and obedience. This ship's com- 
pany, and others, who have’ dis- 
tinguished themselves by their loy- 
alty and good order, deserve to bes 
and doubtless will be the favourites 
of a grateful country, They will 
also have, from their inward feelings, 
a comfort which will be lasting, and 
not like the floating and false confi- 
dence of those who have swerved 
from their duty. . 
“* It has often been my pride, 
with you to look into the Texel; 
and see a foe which dreaded coming 
out fo meet us: my pride is now 
humbled indeed! my feelings are 
not easily to be expressed! our cup 
has overflowed and made us wanton, 
The all-wise Providence has given 
ns 
