-flying on board the _Sandwich_. It
being supposed that her crew had not been informed of what had taken
place at Spithead, our delegates were sent to explain matters. On
getting on board they were disgusted to find that fresh demands had been
made on the Government by the crews of the North Sea fleet, of a nature
so frivolous that they were not at all likely to be granted. Our men,
it appeared, expressed their views in a very unguarded way, and in no
courteous language. This enraged Parker--the unhappy man who had
assumed the command of the fleet--and the other ringleaders, and our
ship's company became marked as disaffected to the common cause. From
the information our delegates gave on their return, it was suspected
that the mutineers intended removing our officers. In consequence, Sir
Harry resolved immediately to quit the fleet and to run into the harbour
of Sheerness.

"Near us lay the _Clyde_, an old fellow-cruiser, commanded by Captain
Cunningham, who had, also, by kindness and justice, won the confidence
and affection of his crew. An arrangement was accordingly made between
the two captains and the ship's companies, that they would make the
attempt together, and share each other's fortune.

"Neither of our pilots, however, through fear or treachery, would take
charge of the ships. At this juncture Captain Cunningham went on board
the _Chatham_ yacht, which lay near, for Mr William Bardo, one of her
mates with whose fitness for the task he was acquainted. Mr Bardo
undertook the task of piloting the _Clyde_, and as she was the inshore
ship, she was to move first. We watched her with intense anxiety. She
cast the right way, and before one of the ships in the power of the
mutineers could make sail after her, she was safe from pursuit. Not
having a pilot we could trust, and the tide now being unfavourable, Sir
Harry decided to wait till the suspicions of the mutineers might be
lulled. Our anxiety was relieved when, soon after dusk, Mr Bardo, sent
by Captain Cunningham, came off to us in a small boat to pilot us in.
Just, however, as we were preparing to move the next morning, a body of
the delegates came on board, and, abusing our men for allowing the
_Clyde_ to escape without firing into her, ordered them to bring the
_Saint Fiorenzo_ in and place her between the _Inflexible_ and
_Director_, to unbend our sails, and to send our gunpowder on board the
_Sandwich_, the flag-ship of the so-called Admiral