Great Britain -- History -- George III, 1760-1820 -- Juvenile fiction; Great Britain. Royal Navy -- Juvenile fiction
Off Woolwich lay the "Neptune," a 98-gun Ship, which was manned by
volunteers raised by the subscriptions of the merchants of London. A
little lower down was the "Lancaster," 64, whose crew had returned to
their duty; as also the "Agincourt," with several gunboats. A number of
merchant vessels were also fitted up as gunboats, and manned by
volunteer crews. These were placed under the command of Sir Erasmus
Gower, as Commodore, and ordered to drop down the river, and to proceed
forthwith to attack the rebels.
We must now return on board the "Sandwich." Parker, who had assumed the
title of Admiral, was still implicitly obeyed by the crews of most of
the ships. Notice was brought to him, however, that a few were showing
signs of disaffection. This, possibly, might have made him tremble for
the stability of his power, and he resolved to collect all the ships he
had reason to suspect closer round him. In shore lay two ships at this
time: the "Clyde," commanded by Captain Cunningham, and the "Saint
Fiorenzo," commanded by Sir Harry Burrard Neale.
The "Saint Fiorenzo" had sent delegates to the fleet, but they had from
the first voted for moderate measures. Accordingly, Parker sent an
order to the two ships to come in and anchor close to the "Sandwich."
Not long afterwards they were seen to get under weigh.
One of them, however, the "Saint Fiorenzo," soon afterwards brought up
again; and the other, instead of obeying Parker's orders, stood up the
river towards Sheerness. Parker, in a great rage, ordered a body of
delegates to go on board the "Saint Fiorenzo," and to bring her in and
place her between the "Inflexible" and "Director," when her sails were
to be unbent, and her gunpowder sent on board the "Sandwich." The
delegates, on going on board the "Saint Fiorenzo," abused her crew for
allowing the "Clyde" to escape them without firing into her, and
threatened them with the vengeance of Admiral Parker, if they did not
obey his orders. In spite of the threatening aspect of the "Saint
Fiorenzo's" crew, her delegates expressed their readiness to comply, and
at length the mutineers took their departure. A short time afterwards
the "Saint Fiorenzo" was seen to get under weigh, and to stand out under
all sail towards the fleet. On she came till she got in between the two
line-of-battle ships. By the orders of Parker, who seems to have
suspected her intentions, the crews of the different ships stood at
their guns, which were double-shotted, with the lanyards in their hands,
ready to sink her. Her crew had been made aware of this by the
delegates. Suddenly all her sheets were let fly, her helm was put hard
aport, and she shot ahead of the "Inflexible." The moment afterwards
her brave captain, Sir Harry Burrard Neale, sprang on deck, crying out,
"Well done, my lads!" A loud shout rose from the deck of the "Saint
Fiorenzo." On seeing this, Parker ran up the signal to fire, the
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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