were supernumeraries more quickly disposed of, or a ship more quickly unmoored and under sail. We were baulked of our expected prize, and returned to Spithead just before the mutiny. Here, by a little good management and minute attention, I kept my men from cheering with the others; and although I had daily communication in my barge with the Royal George, three days after the yard-ropes had been reeved, I punished two men, who had left their duty in the dock-yard. When I received orders for sea, not a moment’s lapse of good order occurred; but having information that letters had been received, threatening a visit from the delegates, and punishment if my people did not join in cheering, &c. I called the ship’s company together, informed them that I was ordered to proceed to sea; but that under the circumstances I was aware of, I should not do so till the night tide, when I expected they would shew their sense of the confidence I had in their good conduct by weighing with the utmost silence and despatch. The reply was by three hearty cheers (which I would then have gladly dispensed with) and careful obedience to my orders during the night; and I have reason to believe, that the good conduct of my ship’s company aided the aide management of[1] the commander of the part of the western squadron I immediately joined, in the preservation of good order at that critical period. I had the honor of letters of approbation from the Admiralty, both on account of our long stay in harbour without desertion, and preventing my ship’s company from taking part in the mutiny; and after the ship’s company had also received their lordship’s thanks, they sent me a letter full of expressions of gratitude for my having, as they termed it, ‘steered them clear of the troubles so many of their brethren had been involved in.’”
Captain Penrose’s next appointment was, early in 1799, to the Sans Pareil 80, then bearing the flag of Lord Hugh Seymour, but subsequently employed as a private ship under Rear-Admiral Pole, whom she joined off Rochefort the day previous to the bombardment of a Spanish squadron, in Aix road, of which mention has been made at p. 90, of Vol. I. Part I.
After this affair Captain Penrose was ordered to escort a fleet of merchantmen to the West Indies, where the Sans Pareil again received the flag of Lord Hugh Seymour, which she continued to bear till the lamented demise of that nobleman, Sept. 11, 1801[2].
- ↑ Sir Edward Pellew.
- ↑ Lord Hugh Seymour went out in the Tamar frigate. A sketch of his Lordship’s services will be found at pp. 157-159, of Suppl. Part I.
