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368 THE NAVAL MUTINIES OF 1797
I. THE FIRST PROJECT OF REFORMS (18 April).
Having taken into our consideration the petitions transmitted
by your Lordship from the crews of several of H.M. Ships
under your command, and having the strongest desire to attend
to all the complaints of the seamen in H.M. Navy, and to grant
them every just and reasonable redress, and having considered
the difference in the prices of the necessaries of life at this time
and at the period when the pay of the seamen was established
we do hereby require and direct your Lordship to take the
speediest method of communicating to the fleet that
We have resolved to recommend it to His Majesty to propose
to parliament to increase the wages of the seamen in His
Majesty's service, in the following proportions, viz. —to add
:
four shillings per month to the wages of petty officers and able
seamen, three shillings per month to the wages of ordinary
seamen, and two shillings per month to the wages of landsmen
that
We have also resolved that seamen wounded in action shall
be continued in pay until their wounds are healed or until and
being declared incurable they shall receive a pension, or shall
be received into Greenwich Hospital; and
Having the most perfect confidence in the zeal, loyalty and
courage of all the seamen in the fleet, so generally expressed
in their petitions, and in their earnest desire of serving their
country with that spirit which always so eminently distinguished
British seamen,
We have come to this resolution the more readily, that the
seamen may have as early as possible an opportunity of shewing
their good disposition by returning immediately to their duty
as it may be necessary that the fleet should speedily put to sea
to meet the enemies of their country. Given under our hands
at Portsmouth the 18th day of April, 1797.
(Signed) SPENCER, ARDEN, W. YOUNG.
To the Rt. Hon. Lord Bridport, K.B., Admiral of the White,
Commander in Chief of a Squadron of His Majesty's ships
employed in
the Channel Soundings, &ca.
By Command of their Lordships,
(Signed) W. MARSDEN.
Admiral Lord Bridport delivered to R. Admiral Pole at Portsmouth,
18th April at 1 past 4 p.m.
II. THE SEAMEN'S ANSWER (19 April).
My Lords,
We received your Lordships' answer to our petition, and in