of the nation at large, were not to be concealed. This mutiny was
apparently quelled by conciliation; but conciliation is but a half
measure, and ineffectual when offered from superiors to inferiors.

In this world, I know not why, there seems to be but one seal binding in
all contracts of magnitude--and that seal is blood. Without referring
to the Jewish types, proclaiming that "all things were purified by
blood, and without shedding of blood there was no remission,"--without
referring to that sublime mystery by which these types have been
fulfilled,--it appears as if, in all ages and all countries, blood had
been the only seal of security.

Examine the records of history, the revolution of opinion, the public
tumults, the warfare for religious ascendency--it will be found that,
without this seal, these were only lulled for the moment, and invariably
recommenced until _blood_ had made its appearance as witness to "the act
and deed."

CHAPTER TWO.

This is a long description, but applies
To scarce five minutes past before the eyes
But yet what minutes! Moments like to these
Rend men's lives into immortalities.
BYRON.

The mutiny at Spithead was soon followed up by that at the Nore; and the
ringleader, Parker, like a meteor darting through the firmament, sprung
from nothing, corruscated, dazzled, and disappeared. The Texel fleet
joined, except a few ships, which the courage and conduct of the gallant
old Admiral Duncan preserved from the contagion. Let me here digress a
little, to introduce to my readers the speech made by this officer to
his ship's company on the first symptoms of disaffection. It is
supposed that sailors are not eloquent. I assert that, with the
exception of the North American Indians, who have to perfection the art
of saying much in few words, there are few people more eloquent than
sailors. The general object looked for, in this world, is to obtain the
greatest possible effect with the smallest power; if so, the more simple
the language, the more matter is condensed, the nearer we approach to
perfection. Flourishes and flowers of rhetoric may be compared to extra
wheels applied to a carriage, increasing the rattling and complexity of
the machine, without adding to either the strength of its fabric or the
rapidity of its course.

It was on the 6th of June that the fleet at the Nore was joined by the
_Agamemnon, Leopard, Ardent_, and other ships which had separated from