for the worst, and provided himself with weapons such as he deemed would be the most effectual, if he should be compelled to the dreadful necessity of a personal conflict with his crew.  A pointed and two-edged blade, four inches long, was fixed in a rough buckhorn handle, with a groove for the thumb across the top.  A pair of these were carried in sheaths, secured in each waistcoat-pocket.  With these, a strong and active person, in the midst of a crowd where he could not use a sword, could strike right and left with terrible effect.

Once a mutiny was planned in the Indefatigable, but he checked it before it broke out.  She was lying with the Phoebe in Falmouth harbour, and the frigates were to sail next morning, when the crews were determined not to proceed to their station until they had received their pay.  A sailor who had overstayed his leave came in the dead of the night to inform his commander of the plot; and assured him, that though all the crew were privy to it, more than half of them would support their officers.  Sir Edward professed to discredit the information, and, apparently, took no steps in consequence.  But when the ship was to be got under weigh, the lieutenant complained to him that the men were sulky, and would not go round with the capstan.  He then came forward, and declaring his knowledge of their intentions, drew his sword, and ordered the officers to follow his example.  “You can never die so well,” he said, “as on your own deck quelling a mutiny; and now, if a man hesitate to obey you, cut him down without a word.”  The crew, accustomed to prompt obedience, and attached to their officers, at once returned to their duty, and the Indefatigable was soon under sail.  The Phoebe was earned by her crew to Cawsand Bay, and in justice to them it should be added, that although she anchored in the midst of several ships which had lately mutinied, no further irregularity took place:  and after having been paid, she hastened to join the Indefatigable off Brest.

The crew of the Impetueux supposed, and probably with truth, that Sir Edward was selected to command them in consequence of their known disaffected state, his frigate having been almost the only ship on the home station which had not actually mutinied.  Under this impression, a mistaken pride would not allow them to be controlled, and their secret spirit of revolt became more determined.  The feeling might have worn itself out in a short time if the ship had remained at sea, for the men soon learned to respect their new commander.  But when, on the 25th of April, the French fleet escaped from Brest, and sailed for the Mediterranean, the British Admiral, Lord Bridport, supposing it to have gone to Ireland, cruised for a few days off Cape Clear, and then anchored with twenty-six sail of the line in Bantry Bay.  Here the bad spirits of the fleet had leisure for mischief, and facilities to communicate with one another.  A general mutiny was planned, and the disgraceful distinction of setting the example was assigned to the Impetueux.