Year: 1875

mutineers were confined to the irvessels.
Here they soon grew restless, and, the
Government still refusing to enter into
any negotiations with them, they re-
solved to enforce their demands. Ac-
cordingly the mutinous fleet was put in
fighting trim, Richard Parker, President
of the congress, called to the command,
when they moved down to the mouth of
the Thames, formed in ne across the
channel and announced the blockade of
London.


Not British vessel was permitted to
enter the city or depart from it, but all
attempting it were seized and held in the
name of Parker, to whom his followers
had given the title of Admiral;" the
foreign vessels were given pass signed
by the insurgent commander, and, thus
protected, proceeded on their way. 1t
was not long before the vessels held by
Parker were enumerated by hundreds,
and the metropolis was in perfect fren-
zy of alarm. 1t was new sensation
for the British capital to be in state of
SIEGE But the Government was still
without the force necessary to compel
respect for it's authority; it, however,
firmly refused to hold any intercourse
with the insurgents, leaving them to re-
fleet during the inaction on the terrible
nature of the offense, and the attitude of
hostility they had assumed against their
country, the Parliament and the King.
At this time the force of the insurgents
was truly formidable, comprising not less
than twenty. four ships of war, carrying,
in the aggregate, nearly 1000 guns,
manned by fully $4,000 men; and short
time after this they were Joined by six
frigates from the Texal, which had been
sent home by Admiral Duncan for re-
pairs As soon as they became aware of
the reforms their shipmates were strug-
Cling for they too hoisted the red flag,
and sent their officers on shore with an
address demanding similar concessions.
The London vessels which were detained
soon formed vast fleet, representing
millions upon millions of wealth. No
violence was done to the property, but
the determination was announced to hold
the prizes until the Government should
accede to their demands. To make sure
that none should escape the war vessels
were formed into hollow square, with
in which the prizes were taken, and the
broadsides of the men-of-war turned
upon them. Over 500 ships were thus
guarded.


Though the Government had not the
means at hand to instantly crush out the
mutiny, it was not entirely idle. Every
buoy at the mouth of the Thames and
along the coast was removed, and the in
surgent vessels dared scarcely move a
league from their anchorage for fear of
grounding This compelled them to in
action and had most depressing effect
upon their spirits. Having nothing to
do but reflect, they soon became exceed
ingly nervous over the situation; they
knew that the public opinion, the law,
and the power of the nation were against
them, and that submission and punish
ment must inevitably come. Even the
boldest commenced to weaken and cast
about for some avenue whereby they
might return to duty.


The officers, who, though deprived of
their arms and all command, had been
retained on board their respective ships,
were not slow in discovering this feeling
and gave it every possible encourage
ment The officers of the frigate Clyde
were particularly Jealous in this and
perfected plot with part of the crew
by which the vessel was seized on the
Both of May, the red flag of the insurgents
hauled down and the insurgent fleet de-
serted. The vessel was fired upon and
pursued for some distance but finally
escaped up the river. A few days after
the st. Florence was also carried off by
a combination of the officers with por-
ton of the crew and was brought safely
up to the London dock. The 4th of
June was the Kings birthday, and the
insurgents showed their loyalty by fir
ing salutes and giving repeated cheers
for His Majesty.


On the 9th of June another vessel
withdrew, and on the 9th Lord Northesk
came on board the Sandwich, in response
to an invitation from the insurgents, and
Parker presented him paper drawn up
by the mutineers' congress, setting forth
the grievances and demanding redress.
His Lordship kindly but firmly refused to
receive the paper, telling him that he
had come hoping to carry back to his
Government the news Of their submis-
sion, but on no account could he treat
with men in mutiny against the laws, the
country and the King.


The final rejection of all offers of ac-
commodation seems to have destroyed
the last hope of the malcontents, and
from that time vessel after vessel with
drew without objection and returned to
their allegiance. On the 10th of June
the hundreds of detained merchantmen
were allowed to depart, and such feet
never entered port before by the same
tide. From this moment the disintegra.
ton was rapid. On the 18th only seven
vessels were flying the red flag, and on
the 18th every ship had been restored to
the command of its proper officers, and
the crews were glad to return to duty
Thus was this most remarkable mutiny
inaugurated and maintained for four
weeks, almost within sight of the turrets
of Windsor, and for the first time in hel
history was the British metropolis block
AIDED.


Parker returned to his former posi-.
tion on the Sandwich, but on the Goth Of
June a file of soldiers from the fort al
Sheerness came on board, and the in.
surgent chief was taken into custody
On the Gath a court-martial was con
vened, Vice-Admiral Sir Thos. Paisley
presiding. Parker conducted his owr
defense, and acquitted himself with
much ability. The line of argument he
adopted was that the situation he helC
was in measure forced upon him; thai
he had only consented to assume it IL
the hope of being able to restrain tht
men from excesses; that he had SO re
strained them; owing to his stringen
orders not hundred pounds worth o.
property had been destroyed by the mu
tineers; had he been disloyal, he said, h
might have taken the ships to sea or car
ried them into the enemies ports, fo
which dazzling reward had been offered
He admitted that technically he nigh
be guilty, but the purity of his purpose