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[66 THE NAVAL MUTINIES OF 179T
11
worthy companions " at Spithead, and the Board of
Admiralty ; for only live days before they had sent to the
Admiralty a letter of thanks for their promise of reforms,
a letter of extravagant expressions of loyalty. 1 Now,
probably owing to letters from the Channel fleet, they
began to feel suspicious of the intentions of their masters,
and showed a disposition to join with the malcontents at
Portsmouth in safeguarding the cause of the seamen.
Again on 12 May, the day of the outbreak at the Nore,
there was some trouble in Duncan's squadron, but it was
calmed by the officers, who threatened to fire if their
crews remained disorderly. 2
The reasons for these shows of discontent are not far to
seek. The causes that influenced the mutineers at the
Nore were also at work in Yarmouth. The underlying
cause was the consciousness of grievances unredressed.
The immediate occasion was the fear that the government
would try to escape from their obligation to remedy the
grievances.
And the fear was undoubtedly increased by
the circulation of newspapers and handbills hostile to the
government.
But at the time Duncan and his officers did not regard
these murmurings as serious or threatening. The seamen
were usually well-behaved, and Duncan was convinced of
their loyalty. When copies of the Act of 9 May had
been distributed among them, he wrote that the crews
were " perfectly satisfied and orderly," and added that
without doubt they would remain so—a prophecy on
1. "The seamen of the North Sea fleet beg leave to return their
grateful thanks to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty for their
ready compliance with the humble request of their worthy companions
in the Channel fleet. At the same time, to convince their Lordships
of our united and steady support of his Majesty and our country, we
will at all times risk everything that is dear to man.—Have only to
regret from the situation of the enemy we are opposed to, it has not
been in our power to shew the nation we want to do our duty and
honour to our country and worthy Commander-in-Chief " {Belfast News
Letter, 5 May). Addresses of this sort were sometimes used as a cloak
for mutinous intentions, but I conceive that the authors of this document
wrote it with honesty.
2. Times, 15 May.