pardon, the late disturbances at the Nore could never have originated from the seamen at large in that fleet, but from the endeavours of the designing few, who misguided the seamen by false representations, and who kept them ignorant of the decision of the legislature, and of the acquiescence and approbation of the country, and of the navy, to that decision. No sooner were the seamen informed of what had been done, and of the detestation that the country entertained of their disgraceful conduct, than they broke through the bands that fettered them, returned to their duty, and delivered up their leaders to be tried by the laws of their country.

I look upon the business at the Nore as a phenomenon in the naval history of this country; and I can only compare it to a sudden frost, which for the moment congealed every power and faculty of action until followed by as sudden a thaw. Lest there should be still remaining any ice floating, I would recommend to seamen before they again complain,

1st. To look to the navy and the merchant's service of other countries, and see where seamen have been so well paid, so well fed, or so well treated as in this country.

2d. Where they will meet with so many hospitals, public and private, charitable funds and institutions for themselves and families in case of old age, accident, or death.

3d. Whether there are not thousands of foreign seamen who enter voluntarily into the British service in peace and in war, in preference to the pay and the service of the countries to which they belong.

Let seamen then learn to be content, and to enjoy the blessings they possess. Let them rouse themselves to a

true sense of their situation and duty, and be sensible that they cannot better serve their country than to protect it in time of war; and at the termination of it, that they cannot better promote its interest as well as their own than by the exertions of peaceful industry. The nation loves the navy ; it is a favoured service; if they have wrongs, their country will hear and redress them with kindness and with justice: but it has a spirit and an energy to suppress violence, tumult, and injustice.

Let them reflect, where will fifty or sixty thousand seamen when dismissed from the navy on a peace, find employment but in the merchants' service? Will merchants and ship-owners confide in men who have discovered a mutinous spirit and a want of subordination? Will they not give the preference to those who can and will work honestly and industriously for their livelihood, and who can have a good character given of them.

Let them also pause, and reflect that our commerce is a perpetual nursery for seamen; and if it should be found necessary, the legislature might by laws and regulations hold out encouragements to good men, to apprentices, and to landsmen, or grant greater privileges to foreign seamen, in order to deter and suppress that spirit of mutiny and dissatisfaction which has discovered itself among the few who will then be left to pine and repent their own misconduct, and at the want of countenance and the want of employment.

Many of the commercial and manufacturing towns of Great Britain have followed the example of the merchants and ship-owners of London; and it gave me infinite pleasure to find their resolutions have been received in the navy with so much satisfaction and effect. The thanks of the

country are due to the officers of the navy and the marines, and also to the great body of the seamen for their steadiness and attachment to their country during the late mutiny. I will not particularize ships or men, from the persuasion that they had rather receive thanks for actual and meritorious services, than from the comparative demerits of a few ships or a few misguided men. I hope the present trials will be a warning to the few misguided seamen who had been ignorantly misled.

Rouse, then, ye British seamen! Go join the brave Admiral Duncan, who with four sail of the line blockades the whole Dutch naval force in their own ports, while a British fleet ingloriously blockades the mouth of the Thames. Blot from the page of history the record of your shame, or a recollection of the transaction, by a return to your duty and by your exertions. It may be in your power to close a war honourably to yourselves, and favourably to your country. Emulated by the examples of Lord Howe on the glorious action of the 1st of June, 1794, and by Sir John Jervis' signal and brilliant victory on the 14th of February, 1797, go seek the enemy off their own ports; and may the laurels you gain secure to us an honourable and lasting peace; remember, however, that the British navy and that British seamen owe their fame, success, and national character to vigour, union, discipline, and subordination, and that without them the navy is like a ship in a storm, without masts or rudder.

THE SEAMAN'S FRIEND.

No. 5.

LORD DUNCAN'S VICTORY.

[Continued from p. 16.]

The active committee appointed to manage the subscriptions raised for the relief of the wounded, and the families or relations of those who were killed on board the fleet under the command of Admiral Lord Duncan, in the action of the 11th October, 1797, made a general statement on the 9th of July, 1801, of the total amount of subscriptions received, including dividends thereon; and the total amount of gratuities and annuities paid to those who were killed, and to the families of those who were severely wounded; giving at the same time a list of the names of those who had not been found, to whom gratuities had been voted, whether British or Foreign seamen. The gratuities to Foreign seamen that could not be found out, after advertising, and allowing twelve months, were voted to the consuls and heads of churches of the different nations to which they respectively belonged, for the benefit and relief of foreign and distressed sea men that may frequent our ports in time of peace. Out of the lapsed sums, 200 guineas were presented to the Merchant Seaman's Office, the Marine Society, and Naval Asylum Greenwich, respectively; as Institutions intimately connected with the welfare and prosperity of the commerce and navy of this country, and as tending to afford in peace and in war, relief and assistance to a number of seamen with their families who have served on board of Admiral Lord Duncan's fleet.

On the 29th October, 1802, the same committee resolved, -That forms of certificates be required of the life, age, and situation of the parties interested, and the number of their families, before they can be entitled to receive their respective annuities; and in case of death, then their widows and children to send certificates agreeably to the forms required; and to prevent unnecessary applications, none were to apply but those who had been in the habit of reeeiving it; and in case of death the widow or children were to apply under certain certificates and regulations. By information, and assistance of the officers in the navy, and of the magistrates, gentry, and clergy of the United Kingdom and of foreign countries, the number of cases unclaimed and entitled to relief were reduced to thirty-five out of 1,040 cases reported to have been killed or wounded; and if any of the relations of these cases will send the particulars of their claims, attested by the minister and churchwardens of the parish, they would be immediately attended to. Foreigners are equally entitled. If gratuities are not satisfactorily cleared within twelve months, the committee are empowered by the resolution in 1801, to consider them as lapsed.

17th January, 1804.-The committee endeavoured by public advertisements and other channels to find out those foreigners or their families (if any) who had an honourable and a national claim on the funds of this committee for services in defence of this country, and where they have been unsuccessful they have paid over the gratuities which the parties would have been entitled to receive, to consuls or heads of churches of foreign nations. Out of the