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360 THE NAVAL MUTINIES OF 1797
them so pressingly to advance once more to face her foes, your
Lordships are entreated to reflect with what additional vigour,
with what happy minds, they would fly to their duty, could
they have the satisfaction to think their families were enabled
to live comfortabty at home.
That your Lordships' petitioners humbly request your Lordships
will take into consideration the difference between the
time their wages was settled, which was in the reign of Charles
the First, 1 and the present; at that time their wages was
sufficient for a comfortable support, both for themselves and
families, but at present, by the considerable rise in every
necessary of life, and an advance of 30 per cent, on slops, your
Lordships will plainly see that they can but barely support
themselves.
Your petitioners therefore relying on the goodness of your
Lordships again humbly implore your Lordships' consideration
of the matters before stated, and such a complyance of their
request as the wisdom and goodness of your Lordships shall
think meet.
II.
FROM THE DELEGATES TO PARLIAMENT.
[The first petition from the whole fleet, written when
the Mutiny was organized and the delegates were
elected, so that there was no longer any reason for
writing anonymously.]
To the Right Honourable and the Honourable Knights,
Citizens and Burgesses in Parliament assembled :
THE HUMBLE PETITION of
the Seamen and Marines on
board His Majesty's Ships, in behalf of themselves,
Humbly Sheweth
THAT your petitioners, relying on the candour and justice
of your Honourable House, make bold to lay their grievances
before you, hoping that, when you reflect on them, you will
please to give redress, as far as your wisdom shall deem
necessary.
We beg leave to remind your august assembly, that the Act
of Parliament passed in the reign of King Charles II wherein
the wages of all seamen serving on board His Majesty's fleet
was settled, passed at a time when the necessaries of life, and
1. Charles II in other petitions. The writer on the Defence probably
made a mistake in copying.