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SIR CHARLES GREY 197
any passage of arms between the insurgents and the
forces at Sheerness.
While the naval officers were engaged in this work, the
military authorities, led by Sir Charles Grey, were
actively preparing for the defence of the shore. Their
functions were to strengthen the fortifications, to seize
the occupants of any boats that came to the shore, and to
arrest any mutineers who might be found on land.
Grey was an excellent commander. He was full of
enthusiasm and energy, and as he believed in the loyalty
of his troops he was likely to inspire them with confidence
in himself. Marsden was so much struck with his
ability that he expressed a wish that Grey had been
opposed to Bonaparte, in place of Wurmser or Alvintzy. 1
Grey's first care was for the defence of Sheerness. On
21 May two regiments of militia had come into the
garrison, and at the end of the month two more regiments
were brought there. 2 With these men he arranged for
the protection of the fort, the dockyard, the well that
supplied the garrison, and the ferry across the Medway. 3
His work was not free from difficulties : the fort was in
a " ruinous state," and could not withstand a vigorous
attack ; 4 the increase in the garrison must have given
some trouble to those who were responsible for the
commissariat ;
5
and the safety of the town depended
1. " Sir Charles Grey is a fine, spirited fellow, and eager that the
temporizing system should be at an end. ... I am satisfied [he] will do
everything that he ought to do. It is to be regretted that he did not
command the Austrian armies in Italy. Please to recollect that this is
written after supper" (29 May, Rochester).
2. Spencer to Nepean (29 May, Rochester) " :i Sir C. Grey . . . has
ordered two more regiments to march to the garrison, meaning to send
away at least one of those now there." It is not clear why the regiment
should be sent away. Possibly a regiment of regulars was substituted
for the militia ; or it may have been that more troops were needed to
protect the surrounding country.
3. Spencer (ibid. ) :
" Every precaution has been taken to defend the
dockyard and garrison, and to resist all attempts of violence which the
mutineers may make."
4. Grey to Dundas, A.S.I. 4172, 25 June.
5. There is no mention of actual want of provisions at Sheerness, but
Buckner mentioned on 7 June (A.S.I. 727, C 361) that bread and beer
had run short at Chatham.
In the strange report from a spy quoted in the Appendix there is a