they were likely to go on increasing until the Bank
would be deprived of its means of supplying that cash to government
which it might require. The committees added, that it, was proper
to continue the measures already taken for such time and under such
limitations as should seem expedient to parliament. This report was
taken into consideration by a committee of the whole house; and Pitt
moved for leave to bring in a bill to continue and confirm for a limited
time the restriction of the issue of specie by the Bank of England;
and after various clauses, added by the ministers themselves, this
bill passed. The Bank was authorized to issue specie to the amount of
L100,000, for the accommodation of private bankers and traders; and
bank-notes were to be a legal tender to all, except to the army
and navy, who were to be paid in cash. From this time till 1819 the
circulation of gold coin in a great measure ceased, and notes of one
pound and upwards became the general medium of commercial intercourse.
Pitt's bill was, indeed, limited in its operation to the 24th of June;
but the restriction was afterwards continued from time to time by a
succession of new acts, so that the return to cash payments did not take
place till the above date, when Sir Robert Peel carried his well-known
bill on that subject.

{GEORGE III. 1796-1798}

MUTINY IN THE FLEETS.

During the sitting of parliament mutinies broke out in the fleet, which
gave far greater alarm than the suspension of cash payments by the
Bank. For some time great dissatisfaction had prevailed among the seamen
respecting their pay and provisions; and in the month of February Lord
Howe received several anonymous letters, praying for his lordship's
influence towards obtaining an increase of pay, and an improvement in
the quality and quantity of food. At the same time a correspondence was
established between the crews of the different ships, and a committee
of delegates was appointed to obtain a redress of grievances. These
proceedings were conducted with great secrecy; and it was not till Lord
Bridport made a signal to prepare for sea, in April, that they became
known. Then, instead of weighing anchor as the signal imported, the
seamen of the admiral's ship ran up the shrouds, and saluted the
surrounding ships' crews with three cheers, to which a long and loud
response was given. It became manifest that the spirit of disobedience
was general; and this was soon shown by acti