redressed, and an act of indemnity passed, we are determined not to lift an anchor, and the grievances of particular ships must be redressed.
Given under our hands, the Delegates of the Fleet, on board the Queen Charlotte at Spithead, April 19, 1797.(Signed as before.)
The next day the following letter from the Admiralty, was sent to Lord Bridport, notifying their compliance with the demands of the seamen; with their final answer, and a copy of the Royal Proclamation.
By the Commissioners for executing the Office of Lord High Admiral of Great Britain, Ireland, &c.
Having taken into our consideration a paper, containing several representations from the seamen of his Majesty’s ships at Spithead, respecting the advance of their wages, and being desirous of granting them every request that can with any degree of reason be complied with, we have resolved to recommend it to his Majesty, that an addition of five shillings and six-pence per month be made to the wages of petty officers and seamen belonging to his Majesty’s navy, which will make the wages of able seamen one shilling per day, clear of all deductions; and an addition of four shillings and sixpence per month to the wages of ordinary seamen; and an addition of three shillings and six-pence per month to the wages of landmen: and that none of the allowance made to the marines when on shore shall be stopped, on their being embarked on board any of his Majesty’s ships. – We have also resolved, that all seamen, marines, and others, serving in his Majesty’s ships, shall have the full allowance of provisions, without any deductions for leakage or waste; and that until proper steps can be taken for carrying this into effect, short allowance money shall be paid to the men in lieu of the deduction heretofore made; and that all men wounded in action shall receive their full pay until their wounds shall be healed; or, until being declared incurable, they shall receive a pension from the Chest at Chatham, or shall be admitted into the Royal Hospital at Greenwich. And your Lordship is hereby required and directed to communicate this our determination to the Captain of each of his Majesty’s ships under your orders, directing him to make it known to the ship’s company under his command, and to inform them, that should they be insensible to the very liberal offers now made to them, and persist in their present disobedience, they must no longer expect to enjoy those benefits to which, by their former good conduct, they were entitled; and that in such case, all the men now on board the fleet at Spithead, shall be incapable of receiving any smart money or pensions from the Chest of Chatham, or of being admitted at any time into the Royal Hospital at Greenwich; and that they must be answerable for the dreadful consequences which will necessarily attend their continuing to transgress the rules of the service, in open violation of the laws of their country.
