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Naval History of Great Britain - Vol II
1797 Mutiny at Spithead 27

Vice-admiral Colpoys, interfering, told them that Lieutenant Bover had acted in conformity to his, the Vice-admiral's, orders, grounded upon instructions received from the admiralty. These instructions the seamen, whom the delegates from the fleet had now joined, demanded and obtained. They then ordered Vice-admiral Colpoys, Captain Edward Griffith, and the whole of the officers, to their respective cabins. Matters remained in this unhappy state until the 11th, when the crew of the London expressed a wish that their admiral and captain should go on shore. Vice-admiral Colpoys and Captain Griffith accordingly did so, accompanied by the Reverend Samuel Cole, the ship's chaplain.

During these four days of renewed discontent, many captains and other officers, whose general conduct on board their ships was of an oppressive nature, or deemed so, were unceremoniously turned on shore. At length, on the 14th, Lord Howe arrived from London, with plenary powers to settle all matters in dispute ; bringing with him an act of parliament, which had been passed on the 9th, agreeably to the wishes of the seamen ; also a proclamation, granting the king's pardon to all who should immediately return to their duty.

On the 15th the delegates from the several ships landed at Portsmouth, and proceeded to the governor's house ; whence, after partaking of some refreshment, they marched in procession to the sally-port, and there, accompanied by Lord and Lady Howe, and several officers and persons of distinction, embarked on board the men-of-war's barges. Having visited the ships at St.-Helen's, the party proceeded to Spithead, where the squadron under Rear-admiral Sir Roger Curtis had just anchored from a cruise. The seamen of the latter had manifested symptoms of disaffection ; but ; on a representation of what had taken place, they became reconciled to their officers. At 7 p.m. the boats returned to Portsmouth, and the delegates carried Lord Howe on their shoulders to the governor's house.

Of the officers that had been turned on shore by the seamen, some were recalled, and nearly the whole of the remainder tacitly received back. A few of the captains, however, refused to resume the command of their ships, and were, in consequence, superseded by others. Affairs being amicably adjusted, the flag of disaffection was struck ; and on the succeeding day, the 16th, at 10 a.m., Lord Bridport, with his fleet amounting to 15 sail of the line, got under way, but, the wind suddenly veering to the southward, again came to an anchor. On the morning of the 17th the fleet again weighed; and, although the wind was extremely scant, got round the ledge before noon, and finally to sea.

On arriving off Brest, the admiral found the French fleet in port, and likely to remain there. In consequence of this, the Channel fleet, now augmented to 21 sail of the line, continued

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