1 86 THEIIFEOF 



in the lad chapter. This complaint was ren- 

 dered ineffectual, by our being ordered to fail 

 in about 12 hours after it was lodged ; fo that 

 the Central had not time to punilh the muti- 

 neer, or ciq iiie into the merits of the cafe. 



We l;ad not many hours left Portimouth, till 

 our convoy made a fignal for the fleet todifperfe, 

 and ro ren(iezvous at Torbay, according to our 

 orders. While we were fleering for that port. 

 Captain Wilcocks fufpctfling that the reafon of 

 the fignal bemg made might be the approach 

 of fome enemies fnips, and his men not having 

 been appointed to their quarters, he ordered 

 them to be muflered. He was in theadl of telling 

 them off, when a number of foldiers furround- 

 ed him, and drowned his voice by their noife ; 

 he defired them to go forward, and not diflurb 

 him in the execution of his duty on the quarter- 

 deck ; but they replied that they would Jiay where 

 they were. He then made application to Enfign 

 Minchin, who prevailed upon the foldiers to 

 defift, and fuffer the Captain to continue his bu- 

 iinefs for the moment in peace ; no other pu- 

 niihment however was infiided, though we were 

 foon in harbour, than laying one man under 

 arreil for the evening. 



How far fuch condu(fl was likely to flifle 

 mutiny I fnall not fay ; but when I remark 

 that the foldiers on board were a mixture of fo- 

 reigners 



