272 NARRA.TIVE OF THE MUTINY, &c. 



M. Lieutenant W. Seal's Report. 



St. Helena, 29th December, 1811. 



vJn Monday evening the 23d instunt, I had the command of the 

 barrack gnaid ; and about a quarter before 9 o'clock, Major 

 Wright, in company with several officers, came and enquired if 

 I liad perceived any misconduct in the soldiers in barracks: I 

 answered, no ! the men seemed quite orderly. Lieutenant 

 F. Scale requested I would be particularly alert, as Serjeant 

 Russell had informed Captain Knipe, that the soldiers intended 

 to mutiny that night ; but the uniform conduct of the men at 

 that time, as also in the former part of the evening,, induced us to 

 believe the report was erroneous. The officers quitted the bar- 

 racks about half past nine o'clock, and after passing out those 

 soldiers who have permission to sleep out of barracks, I ordered, 

 as usual, the serjeant of the guard to put the lights out. On his 

 return, I enquired if he had performed this duty, and if the men 

 were quiet in barracks? " he said he had put out the lights; 

 but that immediately after the men began to take down their 

 arms and accoutrements, and were very turbulent." I desired 

 him to accompany me and point out the room in which the men 

 were irregular : he directed me to one of the grenadier barracks, 

 in which I saw several men accoutred. I asked them the reason 

 of their being dressed in that way: they answered, " because 

 they felt themselves aggrieved." At this moment the light in- 

 fantry rushed into the upper square, and called out, " Grenadiers ! 

 are you not ready yet ? fall in ; fall in !" I endeavoured to pre- 

 vail on them to return to their barracks, but without effect. 

 Whilst some listened, others upbraided them for it. I was then 

 forced by Anderson, private, to return to my quarters, and con- 



