o_199m9vaui14ib1cnu10di10pocoj4h.pdf

ig6 THE NAVAL MUTINIES OF 1797
Thames, 1 but the suggestion was not carried out. The
other method, which proved quite effective, was simpler.
The work of removing the buoys must have been
dangerous, for it was not likely that the mutineers, if
they were able to interfere, would allow the men who
were cutting off their means of retreat to go unhindered. 2
It would be interesting to know how the work was done;
whether it was done by night or by day; and what
difficulties were encountered. At present it can only be
said that the operations were directed by the Trinity
Corporation, and were carried out by Captain Bloomfield
on 7 June. 3 It would seem that the buoys were sunk the
the beacons cut down, the lights at Harwich, Orfordness
and the North Foreland put out, 4 and the lightship and
buoy removed from the Nore to Whiting Sand. 5 These
measures evidently roused the mutineers to activity, for it
was feared that they would moor boats in place of the
buoys; 6 and the Ariadne, with two gunboats, was sent to
the Swin to keep them away. 7
By the means described above, the naval officers at
Sheerness contrived, during the first week of June, to
make it extremely difficult for the mutineers to attack the
town or to make their way out of the river. The wisdom
of the Admiralty's policy may be appreciated when it is
remembered that these measures, which deprived the
mutiny of most of its danger, were carried out without
1. Buckner to Nepean, C 348, 1 June.
2. It will be shown below (p. 226) that they did actually try to
interfere, and that their attempt was not successful.
3. Trinity Corporation, 7 June (Digest) ;
Cunningham p. 70. It
,
was hoped that the marks might be removed in time to prevent the rest
of Duncan's squadron from coming up the river ; but the ships arrived
too soon (Nepean to Duncan, 6 June, A.S.O. 1352, p. 128).
4. Orders in Council, 6 June (Digest). The order to replace the
buoys and restore the lights was given on 21 June.
5. Trinity Corporation, 9 June.
6. The design of the mutineers was probably to put lights in the
boats, so that they might be able to escape by night.
7. It was suggested by the officials at Trinity House (9 June) that
revenue cutters should be sent out lor this purpose. The Board of
Admiralty approved the suggestion, but sent gun-boats instead of
revenue cutters (A.S.M. 137, 9 June).