voused at Bantry Bay, in Ireland, and a detachment consisting of six sail of the line was ordered from thence to the West Indies, to watch the motions of an armament which had recently sailed from France, for the ostensible purpose of reducing the blacks in St. Domingo to obedience.
On the receipt of these orders, the crew of the Temeraire broke out into the most violent and daring acts of insubordination; but by the spirited firmness and exertions of Captain Eyles and his officers, the mutiny was suppressed, and the ringleaders, to the number of twenty, were secured, and taken round to Portsmouth to be tried for their offence.
On the 6th Jan. 1802, fourteen of the mutineers were put on their trial, which continued till the 10th; when the whole of the evidence having been heard, as well as what the prisoners had to offer in their defence, the court, after the most mature deliberation, pronounced sentence of death on thirteen, the other to receive 200 lashes round the fleet. On the 15th, six of these unhappy men were executed at Spithead; the following paper, which one of them presented when they came upon the platform, was read aloud to the ship’s company of the Temeraire:
“Remember your duty to God, and for his sake to your King and Country; you must be sensible what was the chief cause that brought on the fatal consequences which now end so unhappily for us, and with so much remorse to you, if you rightly consider how much you have contributed, by your support and countenance, to bring us to this untimely end.
“We refused to put that trust and confidence in the wisdom of our rulers, which is due to them from all good subjects; they watch for the welfare of us all; and how dare we then prefer our own selfish pleasures and interests to what they saw necessary to the public good? How could we find it in our hearts to forfeit all the praises and the honors which our country had so gratefully bestowed upon her naval heroes, who have so bravely fought for her?
“How could we so foolishly surfer our impatience to get the better of us, as for the sake of a few months longer service, to sacrifice all the blessings of peace we had been toiling for these nine long years?
“Oh! that we had made these reflections sooner ourselves! But our lot is cast – our course in this world is finished. Make good use of what remains of yours. It cannot be long before we must all meet again before the judgment-seat of that God whom we have offended; but who, we trust, has seen and accepted our unfeigned repentance, and will forgive us, as we do truly and freely forgive all those who have many wise offended or injured us. Prepare yourselves also, dear countrymen, for this forgive-