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246 THE NAVAL MUTINIES OF 1797
until the crew surrendered. If the Sandwich had not
been the flagship and the meeting-place of the delegates
the crew would almost certainly have been among the
first that made their submission. Many members of the
ship's company were entirely hostile to the mutiny, and
it will be remembered that they were supposed to be on
the point of returning to their duty when the Lords of the
Admiralty were in Sheerness. The process of surrender
began on 12 June, when the officers who had been
imprisoned on board were set at liberty. But there was a
reaction, and they were confined again on the next day.
On the 14th they were released once more, and they
witnessed Parker's last appearance as President of the
fleet. He called the crew together, and asked them
whether the ship was to remain in the power of the
delegates, or whether the command should be restored
to the officers. The same men who a month before had
refused to listen to their captain, now cried out almost
unanimously, " To the officers." Two of them still held
back, but they only objected on the ground that the ships
behind them would fire if the white flag were hoisted.
The officers accordingly took command, and the white
flag was run up without any disastrous result. The other
crews, in fact, were all in the mood to surrender. Parker
yielded up the keys ; he himself led with three cheers, and
he offered help with the capstan when the order was given
to weigh anchor. As the ship was moving towards
Sheerness, Parker was taken down to a cabin. He was
confined there for the night, and on the next morning he
was put in irons. A 1 company of the Norfolk militia
1. Evidence of (Third) Lieut. Flatt at the court-martial. (Fourth)
Lieut. Mott had been sent ashore to bring a proclamation of pardon.
Command was given to the officers on his return. It was stated by
Lieut. Mott that Campbell, a coloured seaman, was the chief mover in
the surrender of the ship. He was probably the same man who had
been punished on 14 May (evidence of Snipe, surgeon of the Sandwich,
who had been taken on deck to witness the punishment of a seaman
named Campbell). At that time, however, he played a less creditable
part, for according to Parker's statement at the court-martial, Campbell
had been " beastly drunk," and Bray, master of the Sandwich, confirmed
Parker's statement (A.S.I. 3685). He is mentioned as " Black Jack
Campbell " in two other courts-martial.