Portsmouth, a fresh mutiny broke
out at Sheerness. This gave little alarm at first, it being supposed
that the terms which had been offered Lord Bridport's ships, and which
were to be extended to all ships and fleets whatsoever, would satisfy
those fresh mutineers. It was not so. On the 20th of May, many of the
ships lying at the Nore, and soon afterwards nearly all those belonging
to the North Sea fleet, hoisted the red flag, chose two delegates from
every ship, and elected a president, who styled himself "President
of the floating republic." The demands made by these mutineers were
a greater freedom of absence from ships in harbour; a more punctual
discharge of arrears of pay; a more equal distribution of prize-money;
and a general abatement of the rigours of discipline. Compliance to
these concessions was demanded as the only condition upon which they
would return to their duty. The admiralty, however, gave a decided
negative to their demands; and, with a promise of pardon, insisted that
they should return to their duty and proceed to sea in search of the
enemy. The delegates now demanded that some of the board of admiralty
should come down to Sheerness to negociate with them; and the mutineers
of the "Sandwich," of ninety guns, Vice-admiral Buckner's ship, in which
"President Parker" was serving, struck the admiral's flag, and hoisted
the red flag in its stead; and then all the ships of war which lay near
Sheerness dropped down to the great Nore. Pardon was again offered
them and again rejected on the 24th; and on the 29th a committee of the
admiralty went down to Sheerness, and sent for the delegates, and tried
to conciliate them without yielding to any of their new demands. But
all their endeavours were fruitless. The delegates behaved with great
insolence to the commissioners; and as soon as they returned to the
fleet, the mutineers moored their ships in a line across the river, and
detained every merchant vessel bound up or down the Thames. This was in
effect blockading the port of London; and two vessels, laden with
stores and provisions, were seized and appropriated to the use of the
mutineers. On the 4th of June the whole fleet celebrated the king's
birthday by a royal salute; and on the 6th they were joined by four
ships of the line from Admiral Duncan's squadron, making in the whole
twenty-four sail, consisting of eleven ships of the line and thirteen
frigates in a state of mutiny.

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