Demands of the Nore Mutineers
12
May to 13 June, 1797
Here
are Eight Articles of Demand presented to Admiral
Buckner by the Nore mutineers.
It
should be noted that the Admiralty received them and
immediately rejected them. The official reply being
"All that could reasonably be expected by the
seamen and marines has already been granted them.
Their Lordships cannot accede any further requests."
Article
1
That
every indulgence granted to the fleet at Portsmouth
(Spithead) be granted to His Majesty's subjects serving
in the Fleet at the Nore and places adjacent.
Article
2
That
every man, upon a ship's coming into harbour (a certain
number at a time so as not to injure the ship's duty)
to go and see their friends and families; a convenient
time to be allowed to each man.
Article
3
That
all ships befeore they go to sea shall be paid all
arrears of wages down to six months, according to
the old rules.
Article
4
That
no officer that has been turned down by any of His
Majesty's ships shall be employed in the same ship
again without consent of the ship's company.
Article
5
That
when any of His Majesty's ships shall be paid, that
may have been some time in commission, if there are
any pressed men on board, that may not be in the regular
course of payment, they shall receive two months advance
to furnish them with necessaries.
Article
6
That
an indemnification be made any men who have run and
may now be in His Majesty's naval service and that
they not be liable to be taken up as deserters.
Article
7
That
a more equal distribution be made of prize money to
the crews of His Majesty's ships and vessels of war.
Article
8
That
the articles of war, as now enforced, require various
alterations, several of which to be expunged therefrom;
and if more moderate ones were held forth to seamen
in general, it would be the means of taking off that
terror and prejudice against His Majesty's service,
on that account frequently imbibed by seamen from
entering voluntarily into service.
The
Committee of Delegates of the whole fleet assembled
in council on board HMS Sandwich have unanimously
agreed that they will not deliver up their charge
until the appearance of some of the Lords Commissioners
of the Admiralty to ratify the same.
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Given on board HMS Sandwich by the delegates
of the fleet, 20 May, 1797.
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