so unassuming, and so calculated, from its simplicity and
truth, to touch the human heart, the whole ship's crew were melted into
tears, and declared their resolution to adhere to their admiral in life
or death. Had all the ships in the fleet been commanded by such men as
Admiral Duncan, the mutiny at Spithead would not have been succeeded by
that at the Nore: but the seamen had no confidence, either in their
officers, or in those who presided at the Board of Admiralty; and
distrust of their promises, which were considered to be given merely to
gain time, was the occasion of the second and more alarming rebellion of
the two.

The irritated mind of Peters was stimulated to join the disaffected
parties. His pride, his superior education, and the acknowledgment
among his shipmates that he was an injured man, all conspired to place
him in the dangerous situation of ringleader on board of his own ship,
the crew of which, although it had not actually joined in the mutiny,
now showed open signs of discontent.

But the mine was soon exploded by the behaviour of the captain. Alarmed
at the mutinous condition of the other ships which were anchored near to
him, and the symptoms of dissatisfaction in his own, he proceeded to an
act of unjustifiable severity, evidently impelled by fear and not by
resolution. He ordered several of the petty officers and leading men of
the ship to be thrown into irons, because they were seen to be earnestly
talking together on the forecastle,--and recollecting that his conduct
towards Peters had been such as to warrant disaffection, he added him to
the number. The effect of this injudicious step was immediate. The men
came aft in a body on the quarter-deck, and requested to know the
grounds upon which Peters and the other men had been placed in
confinement; and perceiving alarm in the countenance of the captain,
notwithstanding the resolute bearing of the officers, they insisted upon
the immediate release of their shipmates. Thus the first overt act of
mutiny was brought on by the misconduct of the captain.

The officers expostulated and threatened in vain. Three cheers were
called for by a voice in the crowd, and three cheers were immediately
given. The marines, who still remained true to their allegiance, had
been ordered under arms; the first lieutenant of the ship--for the
captain, trembling and confused, stood a mere cipher--gave the order for
the ship's company to go below, threateni