Virginie, we shall have occasion to speak hereafter but merely for the purpose of proving that they were the very scum of her crew. The following verbatim copy of a curious document, now lying before us, will tend to corroborate part of what we have just stated:
“Whereas you are fitted for Foreign Service, and your coming to St. Helen’s has happened through Mistake.
“You are hereby required to obey the Orders of your officers in every respect. You have had no part in the present Differences, nor is any blame to fall on you for what has happened.
“Given under our Hands this 9th Day of May, 1797.
Notwithstanding this order, la Virginie, when returning to Spithead, was hailed by the Defiance 74, and threatened with a broadside if she did not immediately anchor. Perceiving that the mutinous crew were preparing to carry their menace into execution, and knowing that some time must elapse before they could open a fire from the stem. Lieutenant Evans pretended to obey them by giving orders to shorten sail and bring the ship to an anchor; but no sooner had he passed the 74’s quarter than he directed her three masts to be kept in one, by which adroit manoeuvre la Virginie was enabled to get out of range before a single gun could be brought to bear upon her.
The only man of war then lying at Spithead was the Latona frigate. Scarcely had Lieutenant Evans anchored there, when the delegates from that ship came on board la Virginie, harangued her crew from the forecastle, and endeavoured, both by persuasions and threats, to prevail upon them to cheer, – this, however, they unanimously refused to do; and they even requested Lieutenant Evans to lay them alongside the Latona, assuring him that if he would stand by them, neither her nor any other frigate should induce them to repeat an act so repugnant to their true feelings.
Captain Hunt now occasionally came on board, and was always well received, the men being much attached to him, and indeed to all their officers. At length the baggage belonging to the Marquis Cornwallis was landed, and la Vir-
