o_199m9vaui14ib1cnu10di10pocoj4h.pdf

382 THE NAVAL MUTINIES OF 1797
Duncan's squadron. They knew as well as we did that some
ships were left at Yarmouth. Lord Spencer writes about the
propriety of stopping correspondence at the P.O. They must
by every possible means, be cut off from intercourse with the
shore, and the Essex side of the river must be attended to in
this view. There is so much division among them that their
real force is not formidable. We shall be in town about noon.
Spencer to Nepean.
I
am, dear Nepean,
Yours sincerely,
WILLIAM MARSDEN.
Rochester,
29th May, 1797,
\ p. 11 p.m.
Dear Nepean,
We left vSheerness this evening at half past eight o'clock,
having failed in our attempt to restore order and obedience,
though I hope we have placed everything in a train more likely
to lead to a permanent restoration of it than any compromise
or accommodation could have done, which was produced by
further concessions on our part. We have adhered most
strictly and rigidly to the line we have prescribed to ourselves,
and at the same time that we have given the mutineers full
time to consider the subject, have avoided yielding to them a
single point. The consequence has been that several ships are
disposed to declare themselves satisfied, and to them we have
offered the King's pardon, and have taken proper measures for
endeavouring, if possible, to withdraw them from the rest.
Every precaution has been taken to defend the dock-yard and
garrison, and to resist all attempts of violence which the
mutineers may make. The best possible disposition reigns in
the dock-yard people, and the crew of the Niger and Espion ;
and to-morrow morning all the gunboats in the harbour (some
of which were obliged by stress of weather to come in from the
Nore to-day) will be taken possession of, either secured or so
placed as to contribute to the defence of the harbour.
Sir C. Grey has given the necessary orders for the protection
of the well and the ferry, and has ordered two more regiments
to march to the garrison, meaning to send away at least one of
those now there. All further communication with the disaffected
ships has been forbidden, and every boat that comes (unless for
the purpose of submission) is to be seized and the people sent
off prisoners to Chatham. No stores of any kind are to be sent
off to the Nore, and no armed vessels under the direction of