o_199m9vaui14ib1cnu10di10pocoj4h.pdf

—,
APPOINTMENT OF OFFICERS 79
missed from their ships in the two squadrons was a
hundred and fourteen—forty-nine from St. Helens and
Spithead, and sixty-five from Curtis's ships. 1 Although
several of them were probably transferred to other ships,
there must have been a considerable number of vacancies
to be filled by men who were on the half-pay list.
During the last few days of the mutiny Parker and
Bridport were kept very busy with the selection of new
officers. 2
With their appointment the last occasion for mutiny
was removed, and the old admiral's last service was at
an end. But although he was quite exhausted with his
efforts 3 Howe was characteristically unwilling to resign
his charge without a final act of reconciliation. Accordingly
the whole of 15 May was devoted to feasting and
processions. In the early morning a large number of
boats came to the Sally Port, and the townspeople were
roused by the reiterated airs of " God Save the King "
and " Rule Britannia," played by the massed bands of
the fleets. After breakfast the delegates returned with
Howe and Lady Howe, Sir William and Lady Pitt, and
1. Several officers were allowed or persuaded to return to their ships.
The number of officers who retired from their commands in the various
ships is given by Howe in a letter to Bridport (A.S.I. 4172, 14 May) :
Bridport's Squadron : Duke 9, Glory 5, London 9, Defence 4,
Defiance 2, Marlborough 5, Monarch 3, Terrible 2, Pompee 5, Ramillies 1,
Nymphe 3, Jason 1.
Curtis's Squadron : Prince 16, Formidable 1, Ccesar 10, Juste 19,
Hector 6, Ganges 3, Russell 8, Thames 2.
Four from Bridport's Squadron and nine from Curtis's were marines.
It is a curious fact that one able seaman was sent ashore from Curtis's
squadron : he may have been a strong opponent of the mutiny. The
officers who were dismissed from Bridport's ships included Admiral
Colpoys and four captains : Griffith (London), Nicholls, (Marlborough)
Campbell (Terrible), Cook (Nymphe).
2. A.S.I. 1023, A 440, 454 (Parker to Nepean).
3. In a letter to Nepean (14 May, A.S.I. 579) Howe mentions that
he was half asleep when he wrote his draft of the proclamation. And
he adds "
: I have only to complain of my infirmities, as they admitted
not of that activity which the nature of the service required." And
in another note he wrote, in his usual kindly manner, that he had been
" much tired . . . with his daily employment there, and the wearying
attention to the various discussions he was engaged in, to quiet the most
suspicious but most generous minds he thought he ever met with in the
same class of men" (ibid., 14 May, enclo.).