shall cease to hold further intercourse with any men who continue in a state of disobedience and mutiny.
Given under our hands at Portsmouth, the 20th of April, 1797.
Spencer.
Arden.
W. Young.
By command of their Lordships,
W. Marsden.
To the Right Honourable Lord Bridport,
Admiral of the White, &c.
To the Right Honourable the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty.
We, the seamen and marines in and belonging to his Majesty’s fleet now lying at Spithead, having received with the utmost satisfaction, and with hearts full of gratitude, the bountiful augmentation of pay and provisions which your Lordships have been pleased to signify shall take place in future in his Majesty’s royal navy by your order, which has been read to us this morning by the command of Admiral Lord Bridport.
Your Lordships having thus taken the prayer of our several petitions into your serious consideration, you have given satisfaction to every loyal and well-disposed seaman and marine belonging to his Majesty’s fleets; and from the assurance which your Lordships have given us respecting such other grievances as we thought right to lay before you, we are thoroughly convinced, should any real grievance or other causes of complaint arise in future, and the same be laid before your Lordships in a regular manner, we are perfectly satisfied that your Lordships will pay every attention to a number of brave men, who ever have, and ever will be, true ami faithful to their King and country.
But we beg leave to remind your Lordships, that it is a firm resolution, that until the flour in port be removed, the vegetables and pensions augmented, the grievances of private ships be redressed, an act passed, and his Majesty’s most gracious pardon for the fleet now lying at Spithead be granted, that the fleet will not lift an anchor; and this is the total and final answer.
The following is a copy of the Royal Proclamation,
By the KING.
A Proclamation
For pardoning such seamen and marines of the squadron of His Majesty’s fleet stationed at Spithead, as have been guilty of any act of mutiny or disobedience of orders, or any breach or neglect of duty, and who shall upon notification of such proclamation on board their respective ships, return to the regular and ordinary discharge of their duty.
George R.
Upon report of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty of the proceedings of the seamen and marines of the squadron of our fleet stationed