o_199m9vaui14ib1cnu10di10pocoj4h.pdf

132 THE NAVAL MUTINIES OF 1797
some plausible excuses, and the lieutenant in command
of the gang allowed them to go. 1 They reached
Portsmouth on the
15th without any further mischance,
and they were met on shore by Valentine Joyce, the
unofficial leader of the Spithead mutiny. The ceremony
of reconciliation that ended the mutiny had begun a few
hours before their arrival. They heard the proclamation
of pardon read on the Royal George, 2 and afterwards
they had a short interview with Lord Howe in the
Admiral's cabin. Howe said that he had heard nothing
of the disturbance at the Nore, and he asked the delegates
why they had mutinied. MacCarthy, the spokesman,
answered that they wanted the same benefits as those that
had been granted at Spithead. In reply, Howe gave
them each a copy of the proclamation of pardon, and he
handed to MacCarthy another paper which probably
contained the terms of agreement with the Channel fleet.
This interview ended the business of the delegates, but
they extended their leave of absence for another day and
used up a large part of their money. MacCarthy and
Hollister returned to the Nore with their documents, and
Hinds, who was opposed to the mutiny, ran away.
Atkinson was left in Portsmouth for the whole week.
On the following Sunday he received an order which
enabled him to draw ^"io from a resident of Portsmouth,
and he followed the other two delegates, not very expeditiously,
arriving at the Nore on Wednesday, 24th. 3
In the meantime the attention
of the government and
public was chiefly occupied with the happy turn of events
at Spithead. The Times, indeed, on 15 May remarked
that there was discontent in the Nore fleet ; but no one
1. This incident has a general appearance of improbability; but it was
described in Atkinson's evidence after the mutiny (A.S.I. 3685). There
could not be any advantage to Atkinson in embellishing the evidence
with a story of this kind if it were untrue. Moreover the statement
was made under oath, and the binding character of oaths was keenly
appreciated by the seamen.
2. See above, p. 80.
3. Atkinson's evidence, Solicitor's Letters, A.S.I. 3685.