ews thus fed, the scurvy made dreadful
ravages. The _Princessa_, when she formed part of Rodney's fleet in the
West Indies, sent two hundred men to the hospital at one time. The
purser received certain authorized perquisites instead of pay, and
one-eighth of the seamen's allowance was his right, so that their pound
was only fourteen ounces. Prize-money melted away as it passed through
the courts and offices. Not even public charities could escape; and the
noble establishment of Greenwich was defrauded by placing in it
superannuated servants, and other landsmen, as worn-out sailors, and
conferring the superior appointments, intended for deserving naval
officers, upon political friends. The well-known case of Captain
Baillie,[10] who was removed and prosecuted for resisting some of these
abuses, is a memorable, illustration.

A gradual improvement in all the departments of the public service
commenced from the time of Mr. Pitt's accession to power; and the worst
of these abuses had been corrected long before 1797. Still so much
remained, that the demands of the seamen, when they mutinied at
Spithead, were not less due to themselves than desirable for the general
interests of the service. A moderate increase in their pay, and
Greenwich pensions; provisions of a better quality; the substitution of
trader's for purser's weight and measure; and an allowance of
vegetables, instead of flour, with their fresh meat, when in port, were
their chief claims. They did not resort to violent measures till
petitions, irregular ones it is true, had been tried in vain. They urged
their demands firmly, but most respectfully; and they declared their
intention to suspend the prosecution of them if their country should
require their services to meet the enemy at sea. But though their claims
were most just, and their conduct in many respects was worthy to be much
commended, _that_ was a mistaken conclusion, and most deeply to be
regretted, which made any concession to violence. Hard as the principle
may appear, no grievance can be held to justify a breach of discipline;
and when the sailors at Spithead had placed themselves in the position
of offenders, the question of redress ought to have been preceded by
unconditional, and, if necessary, enforced submission. It was humbling
the majesty of the law to negotiate with criminals, and destroying its
authority to submit to them. If the sailors had first been compelled to
return to their duty, and t