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34 THE NAVAL MUTINIES OF 1797
decided to submit their bold counsel to the officers of
the fleet before trying to put it into effect. In a spirit
of doubt and daring they adjourned the meeting.
Three days earlier the Lords of the Admiralty had
determined to yield nothing to the mutineers, and within
a few hours their resolution was completely broken down.
Now again they decided on a policy of resistance, and
again after a single night the policy was reversed. Early
in the morning of the 20th they met the senior officers
of the fleet—four admirals and sixteen captains—in
accordance with their wise decision of the previous night.
The first business of the meeting was to consider a
scheme, devised by the Board, of slipping the cables and
taking the ships to St. Helens, leaving only those the
crews of which were the most refractory. It was hoped
that by this means the greater part of the fleet could be
taken out to sea, and the mutiny brought within manageable
limits. The Lords of the Admiralty clearly thought
that the majority of the seamen were moved against their
will by a small body of agitators. The officers, who
understood the real state of the fleet, knew that the
seamen were unanimous in their determination not to
weigh anchor. They knew that it would be impossible
for them to move a single ship without the sanction of
the delegates. Bridport alone thought that the plan
might be tried; Gardner was doubtful; Colpoys and all
the captains were against the proposal.
The idea of resistance was abandoned, and Spencer
brought forward the question of conciliation. The
officers urged that the new demands should be granted,
and they expressed the opinion, which had not been
shared by the Board, that this concession would put an
end to the mutiny. Spencer and his colleagues were
forced, very much against their will, to accept this advice.
After considering and rejecting three or four suggestions
for compromise they drew up a new project in which
they granted all the financial terms which the delegates