362 THE FALMOUTH MUTINY OF 1810. 



explanations were cut short ; they were told they had no claim 

 to be heard ; and they were handed over, without more ado, to 

 the City Marshall, who forthwith lodged them in the Poultry 

 Compter. 



It must be remembered, if this proceeding seems harsh, 

 that Pascoe and Parker came to London as representatives of 

 men who were in open, riotous mutiny, and whose conduct, by 

 impeding the mails, was inflicting terrible loss on the mercantile 

 community, and possibly even hampering the movements of the 

 commanders of our troops and fleets, then engaged in active 

 operations. Had these men come to London to present a 

 memorial, temperately urged by persons who were at the same 

 time performing their duty, they would have been very 

 differently received. 



It appears, moreover, that the delegates had not been 

 discreetly chosen. Pascoe, who was known in Palmouth by the 

 nickname of " Sir Francis Burdett " (it does not appear why), 

 had served as steward of the " Prince William Henry " packet, 

 and had afterwards been in the excise, whence he was discharged 

 for "seditious and treasonable expressions." Parker was an 

 American. There is no doubt that both men were noisy dema- 

 gogues. 



It had been the intention to bring the men up for examin- 

 ation at the Mansion House, on the 30th Oct., but on the morning 

 of that day, it was discovered that the Lord Mayor had doubts 

 about his powers of impressing, within the city, men whose 

 offence, if any, had been committed at Palmouth. A remand 

 was accordingly granted, in order that the matter might be 

 re-considered. 



By this time, the situation at Palmouth had materially 

 changed. That firmness and zeal against the seamen, which no 

 entreaties or arguments used by the naval officers could arouse 

 in the mayor and magistrates, was inspired in a moment by a 

 happy thought of Mr. Saverland's. He commenced to throw 

 out hints of an important decision, which would be taken very 

 shortly, if the mutiny did not subside, and which would be 

 regretted by the town for many a day. The seed thus sown, 

 sprang up in a few hours into a very promising crop of rumours 



