#william joy

HMS 'Clyde' Arriving at Sheerness After the 'Nore' Mutiny, 30 May 1797, painting by William Joy, 1830 (NMM).

Following the Spithead and Nore mutinies of 1797, which saw British sailors rebel against poor treatment and low pay, aspiring Royal Navy officers required greater diplomacy and tact, even as employment opportunities diminished:

As early as 1800, passed midshipman Edward Baker recognized the limited prospects for gaining a commission: 'It is only by an instant and immediate application that I can hope for success as there are at this time near one thousand young men in my situation'. Young gentlemen also faced a changing social dynamic within the shipboard society which involved them on three distinct levels. The first dealt with quarterdeck authority as it related to a ship's people and the care with which it had to be administered in the aftermath of fleet-wide mutiny. The need for young gentlemen to be sensible of the delicate nature of their authority demanded a degree of personal and professional maturity that had, until then, been without obvious life-or-death consequences.

— S.A. Cavell, Midshipmen and Quarterdeck Boys in the British Navy, 1771-1831

There is no security in this world. A dissolution of parliament took place, and on the following election the Honourable Captain Delmar's constituents, not being exactly pleased at the total indifference which he had shown to their interests, took upon themselves to elect another member in his stead, who, as Captain Delmar had previously done, promised everything, and in all probability would follow the honourable captain's example by performing nothing. The loss of his election was followed up by the loss of his ship, his majesty's government not considering it necessary that Captain Delmar (now that he had leisure to attend to his professional duties) should retain his command. The frigate, therefore, was paid off, and recommissioned by another captain who had friends in parliament.

— Frederick Marryat, Percival Keene

My chest and bedding were already in the boat, and as soon as Cross and I had stepped in, he ordered the bow-man to shove off; in half an hour we arrived alongside the frigate, which lay at Spithead, bright with new paint, and with her pennant proudly flying to the breeze.

"You'd better follow me, sir, and mind you touch your hat when the officers speak to you," said Bob Cross, ascending the accommodation ladder.

— Frederick Marryat, Percival Keene

It was about a fortnight after they had quitted St. Helena that a strange sail was reported on the starboard bow; and, as they neared her, it was evident that her foremast was gone, and that she was otherwise in a disabled state. When the Indiaman was within a mile, the stranger threw out neutral colours, and hoisted a whiff, half-mast down, as a signal that she was in distress. Newton ordered the ship to be kept away, and when alongside of the vessel, lowered down a boat, and sent the third mate to ascertain what assistance could be afforded. With sailors, thank God! distress is sufficient to obtain assistance, and the nation or country are at once merged in that feeling of sympathy for those misfortunes, which may perhaps but the next hour befall ourselves.

— Frederick Marryat, Newton Forster