THE FALMOUTH MUTINY OF 1810. 359 



came on board ; and, not content with satisfying himself that no 

 large quantity of goods was stored in either packet, he caused 

 the sailors' chests to be broken open, and confiscated the little 

 private ventures, which the men considered themselves entitled 

 to retain. The crew of the " Prince Adolphus " at once refused 

 to take the ship to sea ; and after trying in vain to induce them 

 to return to their duty, Captain Boulderson made the signal for 

 the Agent to come on board. Mr. Saverland lost no time in 

 boarding the packet, and reasoned with the crew, pointing out 

 that by refusing to obey orders they forfeited their claim to 

 protection against the impress. He failed, however, to produce 

 any effect ; and was returning on shore to consult with Captain 

 Slade, the senior naval officer then at Falmouth, when he was 

 hailed by Captain Bull. On pulling alongside the "Duke of 

 Marlborough," Mr. Saverland learned that the customs officer 

 was then on board that packet, acting with the same violence 

 which had provoked the sailors on the "Prince Adolphus," and 

 that Captain Bull feared the same results would follow. Mr. 

 Saverland was, however, powerless to interfere, and returned 

 on shore, were he held a consultation with Captain Slade. They 

 were quickly joined by Captain Bull, who stated that his crew 

 had, as he feared, refused to proceed to sea. He thought, how- 

 ever, that the personal influence of the Agent might have a 

 good effect ; and it was noticed that the " Marlborough's " men 

 did not return the cheers with which the crew of the "Prince 

 Adolphus " announced what they probably considered a moral 

 victory. Having arranged, therefore, that Capt. Slade should 

 forthwith board the "Prince Adolphus," and impress the muti- 

 neers, Mr. Saverland returned to the "Duke of Marlborough," 

 where he remained for two hours, using every kind of argument, 

 but in vain. Capt. Bull therefore ordered the sails to be furled : 

 and the mutinous seamen from his ship, also, were pressed. 

 This was not done without some difficulty. Several of the older 

 men resisted stoutly ; and one drew his knife on Capt. Slade, 

 fortunately, however, without injuring him. 



On the following morning, a very large number of seamen 

 assembled in the courtyard, before the Agent's office, loudly 

 demanding the release of the men who had been pressed, and 

 asserting that they would not return to their duty until their 



