The life and services of Captain Philip Beaver, late of His Majesty's ship Nisus

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
LOS ANGELES

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THE

LIFE AND SERVICES

OP

CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER.

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LIFE AND SERVICES

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CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER,

LATE OF

HIS MAJESTY'S SHIP NISUS.

By captain W. II. SMYTH, r.n., k. s. f.,

F.R.S., AND F.S.A.

Member of the Aitrtmomkal Socii^t;/ of l/indon ; ami of the Societ!/ for the
Ceography, Statutics, and Natural History of Tuscany,

LONDON :
JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE-STREET.

MDCCQXXIX.

LONDON :
Printed by William Clowes,
Stainford-stieet.

TO

THE MOST NOBLE

JOHN, DUKE OF ATHOLL, K.T.

S[c. ^c. 4c.

My Lord Duke,

The interest which your Grace has ever taken in
the welfare of the British Navy, would induce any writer
to expect your Grace's condescension in perusing the
memoir of a brave officer; but the repeated acts of
kindness which I have experienced at your hands, give
me the strongest grounds for hoping that the pages
which 1 have now the honour of dedicating to your
Grace, will not be looked upon with an unfavourable or
an indifferent eye.

It is not, however, by the liberality displayed by your
Grace to the merits of Naval officers, that your fame will
alone be perpetuated : — large tracts of land, enriched,
by your Grace's public spirit, with upwards of thirty
millions of trees, will call forth the applause of a grateful
people, as long as the empire shall exist!

It is a satisfaction which may cause even the blood of
the illustrious House of Murray to beat high, when )Our
Grace reflects that the forests which now shadow the once
naked mountains of your extensive domains — planted in

463557

VI DEDICATION.

part by ihc luiiul of a i)elovecl parent, and since continued
on a still grander scale by yourself — may hereafter waft
the British thunder upon their proud tinribers, and echo
back the triumph to their native shades.

Ah-eady has the axe been apphed — and that fine frigate,
the Atholl, Avith several smaller vessels, has been highly
extolled, both by builders and navigators. And the
state of the brig " Larch," which I had the honour of
visiting with your Grace, on her return from a fourth
voyage to the Black Sea, and which was entirely con-
structed with the timber of Blair Atholl and Dunkeld,
was more satisfactory in the leading points of durability,
than that of any ship of her class which I ever inspected.
Who bnt must envy the gratifying feelings of him who
has stepped the deck of a vessel, the trees for the build-
ing of which he had himself planted !

That your Grace may long enjoy the happiness which
such virtuous patriotism produces, and all other blessings
so well deserved by your goodness, is the sincere wish
and prayer of,

My Lord Duke,

Your Grace's obliged.

And obedient humble servant,

William Henry Smyth.

Crescent, Bedford, I
4th April, ]«2y. ■'

INTRODUCTION.

To a nation like the English, which owes so much
to the valour of its seamen^ the life of a Naval
Officer will always be acceptable. Such a narra-
tion seems to be but a just tribute of respect to
those^ whose bravery and skill have merited the
acknowledgment of posterity, by extending- the
powers and exalting- the honour of their country ;
and especially to him, whose exploits, without
offence to any of our heroes, may safely claim a
parallel with their most successful achievements.

A relation of the actions of individuals is at
once a reward and an encourag-ement to merit;
and the province of modern memoirs, not being-
restricted, as with the minstrels of yore, to the
vicissitudes of the great, is well adapted to pre-
serve deservinof characters from the noxious breath
of envy, and the invidious whisper of detraction.
In describing a personal career, the principles of

Vlll INTRODUCTION.

action should be investigated and carefidly de-
fined, in order that g-enuine ardour may be distin-
guished from spurious. Love of glory supports the
energies drawn forth in battle ; but fortitude is,
perhaps,, more truly and extensively tried in lin-
gering blockades and pestilential climates^ in the
noise of many waters, and the darkness of the
moonless gale ; aiid^ indeed^ in most of the occur-
rences incidental to maritime life. But many a
mediocral man^ borne on the tide of ephemeral
success^ is decked with laurels^ while others of
ardent zeal and acknowledged talents pine in
the intricacies of service, and are scarcely lifted
above oblivion's surge. Thus it was with the
subject of this memoir, whose merits^ except in
the navy, were not known as they justly de-
served ; nor were the rewards he received at all
commensurate with the prosperous results of his
skill. It is, therefore, an imperious duty to point
out the claims of deserving individuals to the
notice of their country ; and to show that, though
mere chance may confer both riches and popularity,
abilities only can procure fame.

As Biography is, of the various kinds of writing,
generally admitted to be that which is most eagerly

INTRODUCTION. IX

read, and most easily applied to the purposes of life,
it may be encouraoino- to the jiuiiur oflicer to be
informed, that the rank which Captain Beaver ob-
tained was wholly acquired by his own merit.

With the sportiveness of youth, he will be found
to have cherished a zeal to excel ; and to have
cautiously meditated the path to eminence, whilst
he associated with the tliouohtless. And althous^h
the sphere of his usefulness was greatly abridged
by a premature death, his bright example may
serve as a beacon to all those who feel the glow
of conscious worth.

If Dr. Johnson be right, '" that there has rarely
passed a life^ of which a judicious and authentic
narrative would not be useful," it will be seen that
Captain Beaver's is certainly not the exception.
It might have been given in a better dress, by the
prufessed scholar, but utility was the great aim ; and
the whole relation being founded in tiuth, needs no
adventitious varnish or embellishment. 1 therefore
trust that if I fail of giving satisfaction, it will be
rather in circumstantial than essential requisites.
The general reader may find too many technical
terms for his taste, and an almost monotonous
succession of battles in the very outset. Yet it

X INTRODUCTION.

must be remembered, that nothing- could be more
appropriate^ than extracts from the young mid-
shipman's characteristic descriptions.

The peculiar talent of the French for pointing
phrases, makes many an observation pass current,
which lias but little sterling value. " Point de
heros pour son valet de chambre/' is one of those
aphorisms which gratify the vanity of common
minds, by lowering the standard of human excel-
lence. The behaviour of Beaver in sickness, in
conflict, or in tempest, fully proves the fallacy of
the silly adage ; and displays the broad distinction
between magnanimity and the bombast of acted
heroism. Indeed, the more his springs of action
are investigated, the more highly must this officer
be appreciated by the naval community.

In no profession is a steady and determined
character so necessary as in that of the royal navy.
The first step upon deck is fraught with instruc-
tion, and almost before his amazement has sub-
sided, the stripling is both tutored into obedience,
and entrusted with power. Those alone become
skilful seamen, who commence their career from
childhood : we shall see how^ early and how
diligently our youth applied himself to attain an

INTRODUCTION. XI

accurate knowledge of his duty, and how solidly
jiidg-meiit may be streng-thened, by the natural
and easy process of keeping a rational journal.

Nor is it with the acquisition of the rudiments
of navigation alone, that the accomplished oflicer
will be satisfied ; for all the more elevated branches
of astronomy, naval architecture, and nautical
science, constitute a part of his knowledge, and
fit him more immediately for the developement of
prompt resources, when occasion may urgently
demand them.

Of courage it is scarcely necessary to speak,
for where is the British seaman without it ?

But so various and important are the avocations
of an intellio'ent commander, that it is diOicult to
define them. At one time, he is seen contending
with the fury of the troubled elements ; at another,
rushing w ith impetuosity upon the foe ; — now treat-
ing with the wily savage ; and anon, prescribing
terms of capitulation to the vanquished garrison.
Every well performed deed is its own reward ; but
whilst he thinks only of the glory of his countiy,
he may be sure that the pen of the historian is
silently recording his fame.

It were visionary, however^ to suppose that life

XU INTRODUCTION.

in any station can pass wholly without some unde-
served diminution of happiness ; — our hero was a
man of too decided a character^ and engaged in
too active a scene^ not to encounter the opposition
of many rivals^ and the malignant jealousy of some
who were envious. And although it may occa-
sionally happen tliat_, when competition is at an
end_, the injured person may receive from his in-
vidious opponent an acknowledgment of his merit,
yet that w-ant of unity which tarnishes the noble
spirit of the navy, often miUtates against its best
interests ; and from such a baneful cause, the con-
necting bond of its members has been, though too
severely, stigmatized as '' a rope of sand.'' But
discarding all illiberal reflections, it may trium-
phantly be asserted, that in the loftier points of
patriotism, courage, and skill, and in defiance of
the pestilential influence of corruption, dissension,
and folly, the hardy sons of England's fleet will
ever preserve unsullied the honour and inde-
pendence, which arc so confidently committed to
their care.

It is left for the friends of this sterling- man
to deplore the early age at which they were de-
l)rived of his presence by sickness, and, with fond

INTRODUCTION. Xlll

endearment, to contemplate in idea that brioht dis-
tinction which his j>enius would undoubtedly have
achieved. Faithful extracts from his journal will
show the extent and variety of his observations_,
and that true pride of soul with which he received
the commission of a captain, as one of the most
gratifying authorities which can be delegated to a
member of the community.

As, in the tide of battle, his intrepidity was tem-
pered with coolness, so in the hour of victory it
was chastened by the tenderest dictates of humanity.
And as his principles had from earliest infancy
been imbued with devotion^ so the whole tenor of
his life confirmed the happy denomination of a sin-
cere Christian : he aflfords an instructive instance of
how well a good and lofty character may be sup-
ported, amidst the busiest scenes of martial enter-
prize, and mental exertion.

I have now merely to add^ that a few papers
which were considered unnecessary to the narra-
tive, will be subjoined as an appendix^ by which
the reader will have an opportunity of seeing
Captain Beaver's varied style, from youth to mid-
dle age. The first is a copy of verses, dated in
his fifteenth year, and affords a proof;, that althougli

\1V INTRODUCTION.

lie professed to slight the muses, he could not al-
ways resist the influence of the lyre. The second
article is introduced to show the ardent patriotism
by which he was actuated, even in circumstances of
the most trying nature, and exhibits a warmth of
feeling highly creditable to liim as an officer. The
letter to Sir Robert Wilson is an instance of his
estimation of accuracy in geography : a branch in
which naval and military men, by a little investi-
gation in the several countries they necessarily
visit, might add largely to the general stock of
knowledge, and correct the present discreditable
nomenclature of map -sellers. The detailed report
of his visit to the Caraccas will prove an interest-
ing historical document : it is here added, because
it is more carefully written in his manuscripts, than
it appears to be in the part published in the Me-
moirs of General Miller.

Captain Beaver published various strictures on
public afHiirs, under the names of Themistocles
and Juvenis ; he also printed a small pamphlet on
the importance of the Saints, a group of isles
near Guadaloupe, as a naval station. Two of his
papers, however, which have appeared before the
public, under the signatures of Nearchus and

INTRODUCTION. XV

Bimtiiij being corrected with his own liand, I con-
sidered it wonld be acceptable to reprint them.
This I do the more readily,, becanse I fully coin-
cide in the soundness of his deductions, on the
probable result of invading this country. But it
now becomes a matter of deep interest^ to watch
what changes may be effected in these points^
from the new principles of operation to be looked
for, in the application of steam. This truly formi-
dable medium of transit, defence^ and destruction,
being alike independent of tide, wind, and wave,
may yet alter the whole system of tactics, and be-
come the chief element of annoyance to our shores ;
however unnatural it would be for the glory of
Great Britain to receive any check from one of her
own inventions.

THK

LIFE

Of

CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER, R.N.

'' Ah ! who can fell how hard it is to climh
'Dw steep, when- Fame's proiul teniiile shines afar ;
Ah I who can tell how many a soul sublime
Has felt the iiifiiience of nialij^niant star,
And waijed with Fortune an unecjual war ! "

The family of Beaver came into England from the
Isle of Guernsey, and settled at an early period
in Essex ; of wbicli county Osmond Beauvoir,
Esq., of Downliam, was hig-h-sheriff in 1742.
Tliat branch from which the subject of these pages
was descended changed the orthography of their
name from Beauvoir to Beaver; and the animal
of the same appellation was assumed by them for
their crest. The former armorial bearino- was
also couched in a pun, it being a man looking from
a hioh tower. This heraldic notice mav be suffi-
cient to point out the Captain's family and descent;
it is his personal conduct which should rather be

B

i

THE LIFE OF

depicted ; lor it luis been well observed, that mere
pride of ancestry cheats only the rabble.

By flinging dead men's dust in idiots' eyes.

This stock belonged strictly to that middle class
of society which is considered as most favonrable
to virtue and to happiness, — a temperate region,
neither enervated by the blaze of prosperity, nor
depressed by the chilling blasts of poverty. Most
of the kindred were persons of education ; but
were more remarkable for solid talent than the
attainment of high rank.

It must be matter of well-founded gratification
to the clergy, when they contemplate the splendid
heroes who have emanated from their Order ; and
probably no other class of the community has
contributed so large a proportion of officers to
the army and navy as this respectable branch.
Need we mention Nelson, Hood, Bridport, Graves,
and Keats? though few of these were of families
so entirely clerical as the subject of this memoir;
for, with the exception of his paternal grandfather,
almost every one of his ancestors were divines.

.John Beaver, or Bever, was a Benedictine monk
of Westminster Abbey, and flourished about the
beginning of the fourteenth century. He was a
man of quick parts, and of great diligence and
ingenuity ; and applied himself particularly to the

CAPTAIN PHI LI 1' BEAVER. 3

study of the history and antiquities of England.
Amongst other things, he compiled a Clironidt
of British and Englis-h Ajfairs, from the fabled
arrival of Brute to his own time, which is now pre-
served among the Cottoiiian manuscripts, and has
been commended by Hearne, Leland, and Stowe.
He also wrote a book Dc Rebus Cvenobii West-
monasteritnsis, and the several transactions relating
to the abbey.

There was another of the same name, a monk of
St. Albans, who left behind him a collection of trea-
tises, which are now extant in the King's library.

Thomas Beaver, an eminent scholar and civilian,
was born at Mortimer, in Berkshire, in 1725, and
educated at All Souls College, Oxford, of which
he became a Fellow, and obtained the degree of
Doctor of Law. He published The Histori/ of the
Legal Polity of the Roman State, a work which
displays deep research, and an extensive fund of
learning. It is much to be lamented that he did
not live to complete his plan ; but, by his will, he
expressly forbade any part of his manuscripts to
be printed. Dr. Coote says, that he committed
the sequel of this work to the llames in his last
illness.

The Rev. Edward Beaver settled in Hamp-
shire, and supported a numerous family in the
greatest respectability. His seventh son, Herbert^

B 2

4 THE LIFE OF

the grand fuilier of our hero^ resided at Oxford,
wliere his wit and urbanity are still remembered
by a few surviving- members of his standing in
that university.

James, his eldest son, was educated at Wiu-
chester school, from whence he proceeded to
Oriel College, and afterwards held a benefice in
Devonshire, in the gift of that society. He mar-
ried, in January, 1760, Jane, the only child of the
Rev. Thomas Skeeler, fellow of All Souls, and
afterwards vicar of Lewknor, a man of sound piety
and erudition. Mr. and Mrs. Beaver resided on
the curacy of Lewknor, respected and beloved by
their parishioners, for seventeen years, where they
had eight children, two of whom died in their
infancy. Philip, their third son, was born in this
quiet dwelling, on the 28th of February, 1766,
and, with his brothers, received the early part of
his education at a i-espectable school in the neigh-
bouring- town of Watlhioton.

In the summer of 1777, Mr. Beaver was pre-
sented to the living of Monk-Silver, in the county
of Somerset ; but, alas ! when brighter prospects
were opening upon his large and increasing
family, he was suddenly snatched away in the
vigour of life, and in the very act of preparing to
remove to his new residence !

In the complicated misery of her situation, Mrs.

CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 5

Beiiver cxpeneiiccd the tenderest synn)athy, and
most active kiiidness_, from all who had the plea-
sure of knowino- her. The late General and Mrs.
Caillaud, of Aston^ in Oxfordshire^, immediately
proposed that one of her sons should be sent to
sea ; and^ at their request, Captain Joshua Rowley^
who then commanded the Monarch, was induced
to undertake the charge.

Philip, being' now eleven years of ag-e, was,
from his ardent predilection for a maritime life,
selected u})on this occasion, and his delight was
expressed in the most rapturous manner, although
he had never seen the sea, nor scarcely a boat.
His character, however, already began to display
itself — for being sent alone to take leave of several
families in the neighbourhood, particularly of his
godflither, Philip Viscount Wenman, they were
all strongly impressed by indications of that intel-
ligence and spirit for which he was afterwards so
remarkal)le.

The time now approached when the visions of
youthful fancy were to be realized, and in October,
1777, young Beaver commenced his naval career.
We need scarcely dwell on the feelings which
are experienced on first embarking on so grand
an element as the ocean. The interior of a
ship presents society under a phasis equally novel
and surprising — every one punctiliously plying in

6 THE LIFE OF

his own peculiar station, and scrupulously avoid-
ing- any encroachment on the duties of another.
Thus, though the power of the captain is supreme,
each subordinate rank has its special theatre of
action ; and while the deck-officer contemplates
the heavens^ the solemn day-mate seldom emerges
from his subaqueous realms. Fortune, who
reig-ns, more or less, in every profession, sways
the destinies of sailors with the utmost despotism :
yet to court this virago the bonds of social life
and domestic felicity are dissevered, and the ri-
gours of martial duty and the faithless elements
cheerfully encountered. In the navy there is a
greater community of interests than in any other
service ; and whether tossed on the billowy wave,
or lying motionless on the bosom of a glassy sea —
whether in the face of day, or the gloom of
night — the business of existence is carried on with
a regularity, cleanliness, and comfort, inexplicable
to those unacquainted with maritime life. Well
may our wonderful floating bulwarks be the pride
of their country, for they have ever essentially pro-
moted both her glory and her inde|)endence ; and
a man of war performing its evolutions must
inspire the finest feelings of patriotism of which a
Briton is capable. Thus, notwithstanding the
harassing fatigues incident to the profession, when
the noble machine is once under weigh — \

CAPTAIN PIirLiP REAVER. 7

She walks the waters like a thin;^ of life,

And seems to dai"e the elements to strife.

Who would not brave the battle fire — the wreck —

To move the monarch of her peopled deck ?

At this period Great Britain was involved in
tlio unnatural war witli her Colonies in America,
and, by the misguided councils of France, at length
also with that haughty nation. Although there
was great diversity of opinion respecting the
means of obtaining, and the terms of securing
peace with America, yet but one sentiment pre-
vailed as to France, whose treacherous inter-
ference the public regarded with due indignation.
The menaces of our ancient and inveterate enemy,
however unlikely to be realized, occasioned
vigorous exertions ; — the militia was embodied,
camps were formed, and the country resounded
with the clamour of arms.

The high reputation of Admiral Keppel in-
dicated liim as most fit to assume the command of
the Grand Fleet, His appointment was frequently
mentioned in terms of high approbation by mem-
bers of both parties in parliament, and when the
hostile designs of France were indisputable, he
was entrusted with ample discretionary powers for
the defence of the kingdoms.

With twenty sail of the line, of which number
the Monarch was one, Admiral Keppel sailed from

O THE LIFE OF

St. Helen's on the 13th of June^ 1778^ and on the
17th of that months two frigates^ the Licorne and
Belle Poiilo, were discovered reconnoitrhig- his
fleet. Althouoh war was not declared^ yet the
Admiral^ in virtue of his full powers, gave orders
to chase, and conduct them under his stern. The
former remained with the squadron during the
night, but in the morning, after attempting to sail
away, and treacherously firing a broadside into the
America, she struck her colours, and was captured.
The commander of the Belle Poule refused to
attend and speak to the British Admiral ; and,
after an obstinate eng-aofement, havinof disabled
the Arethusa, made his escape.

But as this was our young midshipman's first
cruize, I may be excused for quoting his own ac-
count of it, as a pleasing specimen of his acute-
ness of observation, within so short a time as nine
months from his first going on board.

And I may here also take occasion to observe,
that, in this Memoir, it is my design rigidly to
adhere to our officer's own descriptions, only pre-
mising, from collateral sources, such introductory
information as may render the narrative more
connected and distinct ; being fully sensible, that,
independent of the justice which is due to his
memory, his own words will best convey the per-
spicuity and energy of his sentiments to the reader.

CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 9

'' The Admiral," he observes, ^' made the sional
for a general chase, and we soon found that we
drew ahead of the fleet, which g-ave us hioh hopes
of being" the first up. In the afternoon the
strangers parted, and steered different ways, but
the largest ship, which proved to be the Belle
Poule, and a fine schooner, continued their course.
The Milford then fired several shot at the other
frigate, to make her bear down, and soon after the
Hector proceeded with her towards the Admiral.
About sunset we saw the Arethusa and Alert
cutter within hail of the Belle Poule ; the former
sent a shot across her fore foot^ which was imme-
diately returned with a broadside, and both ships
proceeded desperately to close action, as did also
the Aleit and the schooner. We thereupon
altered our course to aid them, and shewed a
light at our jib-boom end as a signal, but before
we could come up the battle w^as over. At mid-
nioht we sent boats on board the Arethusa, which
was much crippled, and had nearly fifty men
killed and wounded : at the same time we found
the Alert, after a severe struoole, had mastered
the schooner, and now desired our assistance.
Having given all the help in our power, we took
the frigate's pilot on board, and stood after the
Belle Poule ; it being thick foggy weather, all the
boats ahead towing, and the ship close to the

10 • THE LIFE OF

land. At daybreak it cleared off a little^ and we
saw our French friend in-shore of us, greatly cut
up, and marks of blood descending- from each
scupper hole. We were now joined by the
Valiant, and the boats gave way, with loud cheers,
till about seven, when the pilot thinking it
hazardous to stand in any nearer, and the enemy
beinof assisted by several small craft, we re-
luctantly hauled our wind."

Keppel, apprised by papers found on board
the Licorne, and other intelligence, that anchorage
was ordered in Brest harbour for thirty-two men
of war, and three times the number of frigates
and smaller vessels, retired into Portsmouth.
There was reason, however, to believe that the
papers were fabricated on purpose to deceive ;
nor did the Admiral escape censure for disgrac-
ing the grand fleet by a retreat without calling
a council of war. Some inveighed against the
ministry for extreme negligence, — others re-
proached the Admiral, and the public prints
even threatened him with the fate of Byng.

At this alarming crisis the exertions of the
Admiralty were equal to the magnitude of the
impending danger. Lord Sandwich himself has-
tened to Portsmouth, reinforced the Grand Fleet
with four ships of the line, and, on the Uth of
July, Admiral Keppel put to sea, and was speedily

CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 11

joined by six others. The greater part of this
force was in good condition and well appointed^
and thoug-h deficient in the ordinary proportion of
frigates^ the Admiral did not hesitate to sail in
pnrsuit of the enemy, who had already left Brest.

The hostile fleets gained sight of each other on
the 23rd of July^ off Ushant^ and Count d'Orvil-
liers manifested an inclination to engage ; but on
nearing our line, and perceiving it had been
reinforced, he altered his course, although he had
still a superiority of two men of war, and several
frigates. The weather was very squally, and as
the line could not be preserved without risk of the
French getting out of sight to the westward, the
signal flew for general chase. Four days were
consumed in manoeuvring, — the one seeking, the
other declining battle, which, as the Count was
to windward, was always at his option.

At length, on the 27th, after several evolutions,
the wind suddenly shifting brought the rival
armaments so near that a conflict became in-
evitable. The enemy, however, still determined
to avoid a close engagement, and bracing aliout
unexpectedly, crossed our fleet on the opposite
tack ; by which the Monarch and Shrewsbury, the
headmost ships of Vice- Admiral Harland's divi-
sion, received the fire of their whole line. The
reserved cannonade of the British made dreadful

12 THE LIFE OF

execution ; but. the French having", in their usual
manner, directed their battery against the rio-ging-,
the divisions which were most exposed were ter-
ribly torn and disabled. The engagement lasted
nearly three hours ; at the end of which time^ the
fleets having passed each other, the firing ceased.

During the darkness of nighty the French_,
placing three frigates with lights to deceive the
English, made sail for their own coasts^, and were
by the next morning almost out of sight. Keppel,
finding pursuit to be vain^ returned to Plymouth
to refit;, while d'Orvilliers^ unmolested^ regained
the harbour of Brest, and abandoned his trade to
the depredations of British cruizers.

The bitter dissensions which followed, be-
tween two of the Admirals, are not the object of
the present pages ; but, it may be remarked, that
however indecisive this battle proved^ yoimg Philip
was in the very heat of the fighting which had
taken place ; — for, besides the havoc made in her
crewj the Monarch had her spars and rigging se-
riously injured^ and her hammock-nettings set on
fire by the enemy's wads. Such early service is
fortunate to the boy who encounters it; for a series
of hardships and shifts are absolutely necessary to
accustom naval men to rely on their own resources :

" Ne'er from the lap of luxury and case
Shall spring the hardy warrior of the seas —

CAPTAIN I'lIlLIP BEAVER. 13

A toilsome youtli the mariner must form,
Nursed ou the wave, and cradled in the storm."

To the kindness of General Caillaud^ yonng
Beaver owed not only his introduction into the
navy but the most friendly reception on returning-
from his several cruizes. On one of these occa-
sions he met the venerable Admiral Forbes, whose
inteo'rity was inllexibly manifested in conscien-
tiously refusing- to sign the sentence upon Admiral
Byng. As the late engagement was the general
subject of attention, and the merits of the question
were discussed with all the violence and acrimony
of party, even the youth ilil midshipman was
closely examined by the aged veteran respecting-
it. Amongst other matters, he was asked his
personal opinion of the two recriminating flag-
officers, when, with that decided condemnation of
any backwardness in the performance of duty
which marked his maturer life, he warmly an-
swered, " theij both deserve to be -shot ! "

After an animated conversation. Admiral Forbes
declared that he had never heard a consistent ac-
count of the combat before, and remarked that
Beaver was an extraordinary and most promising-
boy.

On the 17th of December, 1778, Commodore
Rowley hoisted his broad pendant on board the
Sutl'olk, and took all the ollicers of the Mojuuch

14 THE LIFE OF

with him. On the 25th, they weighed anchor, in
company with a numerous fleet, and soon after the
Russel man of war ran foul of the London India-
man with such violence, that the latter lost her
foremast, fired several guns of distress, and then
foundered I From Torbay, the Suffolk proceeded
across the Bay of Biscay, where the convoy sepa-
rated for their respective destinations, and Rowley
took charge of seven sail of the line to reinforce
Admiral Byron at St. Lucia.

The disaster just mentioned deeply affected
the feelings of young Beaver, who witnessed it ;
and it is recorded in a melancholy letter from
an officer, dated Spithead, January 1st, 1779, that
the Russel sailed from that port on Saturday, the
26th of December, with one of the finest fleets
ever seen ; '' but alas ! " adds the writer, '' we
met with our usual ill-luck. On Monday last, off
Berry-head, it blowing a fresh breeze from the
S.W., and under close-reefed topsails, being near
the London East Indiaman, and finding we could
not weather her, she on one tack and we on the
other, we bore away ; during which she clapped
her helm a-weather, and we ran right on board,
which stove in her bow ; in half an hour she sunk,
and the greater part of her crew perished , out of
160 only 50 were saved ! It was a dismal sight
to behold the men standing on the gunwale as she

CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 15

went down ! What rendered the scene still more
melancholy, a man of war's boat, with several
hands, who very humanely, at the risk of their
own lives, had picked np ten or eleven of the
London's crew, and were endeavouring to save
more, got directly over the place where she went
down, the suction of which was so great that it
drew the boat under, and they all perished."

The West Indies had already become a very
important theatre of war, and Dominica was
wrested from us before any instructions were
received by Admiral Barrington. As a counter-
blow, the colony of St. Lucia was invaded ; but
we had scarcely obtained a footing, when a French
fleet, of more than double our numbers, unexpect-
edly hove in sight to rescue it. To all appear-
ance our armament was completely entrapped ;
but the celerity with which the surrendered
posts were occupied by General Grant, and the
resolute defence of the squadron against two furious
assaults of the powerful foe, baffled the attempt.
After repeated evolutions by land and sea, in all of
which he was foiled, D'Estaing sullenly relinquished
a contest from which he had augured both profit
and honour : and the whole island capitulated,
whilst he was yet in sight. Things were in this
state on the junction of the ship in which our
youngster served ; and it seemed to be his peculiar

16 THE LIFE OF

fortune to have an early and fall initiation into
positive service, for the French having- also been
reinforced^ affairs assumed an active aspect.

During the spring of 1779^ D'Estaing made
frequent manifestations, by appearing in force off
Gros-islet bay ; but pertinaciously avoided an ac-
tion. He was apparently watching, with all the
caution of a Fabius, for a favourable moment of
stril<ing a decisive blow^ and submitted to insult
fi'om an equal force rather than depart from the
prudent policy which he had adopted. His mo-
tions, however, kept our officers and seamen con-
stantly on the alert, as a battle was daily expected,
• — and young Beaver's journals testify the number
of nights he was obliged to sleep at his quarters.

The month of June was employed in collecting
tlie trade of the various settlements to the o-eneral
rendezvous at St. Kitt's. While waitino- there,
our youth was despatched by Rowley, who had now
hoisted his flag, to the assistance of the Supply,
storeship, which was on fire; but all endeavours
to extinguish the flames being ineffectual, they cut
her cables and towed her out clear of the shipping,
when she blew up with a most awful crash.

As this was an extremely valuable fleet, the me-
ritorious but unfortunate Byron*, found it necessary

*■■ This Admiral's ill fortune was so provovbial as to occasion
the remarii that he had " nt'ccr once nial u-iOi a fair wind.'"

CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 17

to escort them to a certain distance,, with the whole
of his strength. This was precisely the occasion for
which the French Commander had watched ; be-
cause^ had tlie Admiral sent an inferior force with
the convoy, he would easily have effected its
capture or destruction ; and, on the other hand,
it being- thus guarded^ there was nothing- to in-
terfere with his desig-ns agfainst such of our
Caribbean settlements as appeared to be most
defenceless. Accordingly the island of St. Vin-
cent was invested^ and being in a miserable state
of distraction, the governor yielded without re-
sistance.

D'Estaing, again reinforced by a division under
I^a Motte Piquet, commanded thirty-four ships of
war, twenty-six of which were of the line^ and a
number of transports sufficient for the conveyance
of 9000 soldiers. He proceeded to the attack of
Granada, which was defended only by 150 regu-
lars, and about 4000 militia, who, being princi-
pally Frenchmen, soon diminished the garrison,
by desertions, to less than three hundred. Lord
Macartney, the governor, considering this force
sufficient for the defence of some strong posts,
until succours could arrive, refused to capitulate.
D'Estaing, unwilling to sacrifice the time requisite
for regular approaches^ stormed the lines ; the
garrison defended themselves with skill and

IS THE LIFE OF

bravery: once tliey rei)ulsed the assailants, but
being' obliged to yield to numbers, retired into the
fort, and had the mortification to see their own
cannon turned aoainst them. Lord Macartney
now proposed terms of capitulation^ which the
ungenerous victor rejected ; and proffered others,
so dishonourable, that the high-spirited governor
preferred a surrender at discretion, to the baseness
of subscribing them, and the French plundered
without scruple or restraint.

A principal reason for pressing with such rapi-
dity the reduction of Granada, was the intelligence
of Admiral Byron's return, which had been retarded
by winds and currents. He had formed, with
General Grant, a project for the recovery of St.
Vincent's ; but receiving, while at sea, information
that the French squadron before Granada was
reduced to nineteen sail, and that Lord Macartney
could maintain his position a fortnight, he changed
his first destination, and attempted to succour that
island. Having twenty-one ships of the line, he
arranged his signals for bringing on a general
action, and did not discover the fallacy of his in-
tellioence until several of his vessels were ensras'ed.
D'Estaing, notwithstanding his superiority of force,
and the great advantage which he derived from
the excellent condition of his fleet, avoided a close
and general conflict ; and, foiled in all attempts to

CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVEH. 19

cut off the transports and intercept the disabled
vessels, retired in the night to Granada.

The British Admiral, conscious of his inferiority
in strength, despatched his transports and crippled
ships to St. Christo})her's, and calmly awaited
the morning's attack, which, judging- by his own
character, he deemed inevitable. The returning
dawn discovered to him the retreat of the enemy,
and seeing the white flag mounted on the forts of
Granada, he returned into port.

Mr. Beaver's account of the action is as follows :
— " July the ()th, at day-break, we observed
several French ships getting under weigh in St.
George's bay, and others confusedly beating on
and off" outside. Soon after, the signal for close
battle was thrown out, several of our dashers being
already at it, and the Vice-admiral blazing away
on both sides. We, having resigned the charge of
the transports, now bore down for the van ship,
and in i)assing, opened a warm, and seemingly
eflective fire on a large two-decker ; but as the
smoke cleared off, Admiral Rowley perceived,
that if he went to the leader, we should be ex-
posed to the broadsides of the whole French
weather division, and remain unsupported. On
this we wore again, but still continued hotly en-
gaged, until we had passed the rear of the enemy's
line. In this short encounter we opened a vigorous

2c

20 THE LIFE OF

cannonade, and received a corresponding" return^
having' nine fine fellows killed, and twenty-seven
wounded. \Miile we were dropping- into our sta-
tion. Admiral Barrington bravely ran in between
the poor old Lion and a huge French ship, which
was going- to demolish her, as she lay like a log'
on the water ; and he ga\ e her so terrible a dress-
ing, that she soon sheered off in dismay. At noon
the adversary was in tolerable order to leeward,
and consisted of twenty-six sail of the line, and
seven frigates, most of the former being fine large
seventy-fours, whose appearance made our vessels
l(jok rather small. The Moimiouth now attempted
to arrest the enemy's leaders, so as to bring
on a general action, but both that dashing ship
and the Prince of Wales were terribly mauled in
the endeavour. Several of our vessels, which
might have distinguished themselves and helped
the othei's, looked as fresh as if just out of a dock-
yard ; to say nothing of the Yarmouth."

This encounter was more remarkable for gal-
lantry than success ; and it has been observed,
that it had been discovered early in the day that
they were too late to relieve Granada. Byron,
no doubt, would never have adopted the dangerous
experiment of attacking the van of a superior fleet,
with a force so inadequate to ensure a general
action, but for the security of his transports : to

CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 2l

effect this object, and yet engage so powerful a
foe, required all the skill and intrepidity which were
displayed. Our ships were so cut up and damaged
in spars and rigg-ing-, that, unable to restore the
injury quickly_, they made the best of their \Yiiy to
Basseterre roads ; and D'Estaing, learning their
weakness, paraded before them with similar bra-
vado to that with which he had been treated at
Martinique.

During- the interval that was occupied in re-
fitting- and procuring- naval stores, young Beaver
was diligently improving himself in navigation and
nautical astronomy, as there fortunately was a
master's mate on board, who had a considerable
])roficiency in both of these sciences. The Suffolk
was not considered unhealthy, yet she lost several
of her best men ; and our youth was dangerously
attacked by fever, brought on by too much ex-
posure during his rambles on shore. He had
scarcely recovered from this illness, when he had
a narrow escape from drowning, by the upsetting
of a jolly-boat in a heavy surf; but nothing seems
to have affected his spirits, which, according to
the testimony of an old messmate, were, at this
period of his life, uncommonly buoyant. Yet
with his animation there was mingled an occasional
sedateness, and caustic spirit of observation, quite
remarkable at such an immature aoe — insomuch

22 THE LIFE OF

that Admiral Rowley was heard to declare^ — *^If
that boy gets safely through the snares that snap
us up between fifteen and tive-and-twenty_, he will
turn out to be an admirable officer."

News of a Spanish war^ which was always a
spring of gladness to sailors, now arrived ; and a
cruize to windward of Barbadoes was undertaken
by Admiral Hyde Parker. This part of our
midshipman's journal is written in a querulous tone,
for it seems the Admiral did not allow chasing so
often as was requested ; and they finally returned
to port with eight or ten prizes only, which would
not have been deemed indifferent, but that they
had all been dreaming of galleons.

On the morning of the 18th of December, a sig-
nal was thrown out on Gros Islet, for seeing twenty
French merchant ships under convoy of four men
of war. The fleet, although they were refitting,
and consequently unprepared, instantly cut or
slipped^ and dashed out so promptly, that by noon
they were amongst them, between the Diamond
rock and the shore, where some ran on the beach,
and the rest made the best of their way for Port
Royal bay. " At this moment," says Beaver,
*' the batteries blazed away upon us, on which we
rattled our lower deckers in return, and then hoisted
out the boats to take possession of a fine armed
ship near us, and destroy those that were aground.

CAPTAIN IMIILJP BEAVER. 23

Tlio Conqueror, in g"allantly pursnino- tlic enemy,
ran near the entrance of the harboin*^ and was
warmly attacked by the batteries and three line-
of-battle ships, which had sHpped to rescne their
convoy : we were much <»rieved to see her so
unequally engaged, without the power of render-
ing her any assistance. At six the firing ceased
on all sides, and our boats returned from securing
some of the ships and burning others, with only
one man wounded : we sent on board the Con-
(jueror, and learnt, that amongst the killed was her
Conmiander, Captain Grilliths, a man universally
beloved."

Rear-admiral Rowley was now despatched to
intercept a part of La Motte Piquet's squadron.
On the morning of the 22d of December, three
strangers were descried in the N.W., but it was
not till the evening that they were overtaken.
Our youth's journal says : — " At half-past five we
fired at a large frigate near us, and soon afterwards
she hoisted her colours, and returned the shot.
We left her to be settled by the Magnificent, and
stood towards the next, under every sail that would
draw ; but did not get near enough to fire till
midnight, when, having come up abreast, we
gave her a few random shot, which she impudently
answered with a broadside, and then struck. She
proved to be the Fortunee of 40 heavy guns,

24 THE LIFE OF

and 250 men : she informed us that the Magnifi-
cent's prize was the Blanche, a frigate of the same
force. The vessel still a-head was the Alice of 28
ouns ; and the followino- morning she was also
captured."

On his arrival in port after this success, Admiral
Rowley shifted his flag to the Conqueror, taking
our young hero with him. It was not without sen-
sations of regret that Beaver quitted the Suffolk, for
there were many associations to endear her to him.
In this ship he had enjoyed the society of some
worthy messmates, and had made considerable
advance in professional knowledge, from the kind-
ness of the officers. Once, and once only, was he
under the ban of the first Lieutenant, and that
was merely for joining in a boyish frohc, to hustle
the master-at-arms in the cock-pit ; for which,
with his juvenile companions, he was sentenced to
additional watching.

Nothing- material occurred until the 24th of
March, 1780, when Count de Guichen insultingly
menaced Gros Islet bay ; but the excellent disposi-
tion of our line, though inferior by ten ships,
daunted him. "■ At day-break on the following
morning,'' says our youth, '^'^an English convoy
was signalized coming before the wind ; but the
strength of the lee current had prevented the
enemy's gaining much to windward during the

CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 25

night, except two sail of the line. The Admiral
now called a council of war, to determine on wliat
measures to take, and every officer and man in the
fleet was very anxious till the decision was known.
Instantly all was life and bustle^ and by ten we
had all slipped to preserve the convoy^ excepting
the unlucky old Yarmouth, which had been damaged
by the Vigilant running foul of her. Immediately
on the appearance of our van, the French weather-
most ships, which were just on the point of snap-
l)ing up our countrymen, tacked away to join the
body of their fleet ; whereupon the merchantmen
stretched to the southward, while we, with flags of
defiance, remained in a regular line of battle off
the bold cliffs of the Islet, and in mid distance
between our convoy and the mortified Crapaud.
Having seen them all safely moored, we took up
the cables again that we had slipped."

De Guichen stood close in, ostentatiously pa-
rading before the anchorage until the 28th of
March, and had but just got into Port Royal bay,
when Sir George Rodney, who had been apprized,
by the Alert, of Parker's situation, arrived with five
sail of the line, to assume the command. This junc-
tion rendered the British fleet nearly equal to the
French fleet — but the skill and spirit of the valiant
Admiral gave a decided superiority. The Count
de Guichen had appeared off St. Lucia, but was

26 THE LIFE OF

deterred from making an attack, by the judicious
disposition of the naval and mihtary force ; and
in return, Rodney braved him^ during two succes-
sive days, off Fort Royal^ Martinique, though
unable to draw him from his place of refuge.

Sir George Rodney having returned to St. Lucia,
de Guichen ventured out of port with twenty-three
sail of the line. The British Admiral instantly
pursued with twenty ships, and in two days brought
him to action, and compelled him to seek shelter
in Guadaloupe.

The eventis of the 17th of April must be related
from Mr. Beaver's journal. ^ — " Early this morning,
the Commander-in-chief signalized his intention to
bear down abreast, and attack the enemy's rear ;
but the French, perceiving our design, put about
in very beautiful style to evade it, and stood to
the northward. At forty minutes past ten we
wore in succession, to come upon the starboard
tack, and seeing that we could command a fight
put us on the high ropes, and made every thing
fly again. Soon after one, the van of our fleet
commenced action with that of the enemy, and at
the same time we bore down to en^-aore the third
ship of their line, with the Intrepid in our wake ;
we then hove the main-topsail to the mast, within
a cable's length of our oj)ponent, and peppered
away at her furiously, while their shot were whist-

CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVEU. 27

ling- and vvliizziiig- in every direction. Monsieur
did not relish this^ and at three the rear gave way,
but we speedily stood after them, slappin^- ofl" our
starboard guns to spring their luff. As we edged
down to close, they gave way a second time under
a press of canvas, and left us to stopper and splice
in the best manner the time would admit of. Our
masts, yards, and rigging were much torn ; our hull
had been riddled by some heavy shot, besides the
hits between wind and water ; we had thirteen men
killed, and thirty-seven wounded. As to myself, I
have still my proper complement of legs and arms,
but I have twice to-day narrowly escaped a dive into
Davy's locker. The brave Admiral had been all
along vigorously dealing death on the French
flag-ship, and her seconds, whom he must have
taken, if all had done their duty, for some of our
ships took it easy enough — there was the Yar-
mouth cutting the same figure which marked her
off Granada."

The damages being rapidly repaired, several
ineffectual attempts were made to renew the action,
but the flying enemy dexterously evaded it, and,
after three days' successive chase, he was driven
into Guadaloupe. The various evolutions were so
admirably conducted on both sides, as to afford an
envialile field for young officers to gain a know-
ledge of naval tactics ; but the result was ex-

28 THE LIFE OF

tremcly unsatisfactory to the g-allant Rodney. The
commander of the Yarmouth^ which ship so much
attracted the notice of our youngster^ was brought
to a court-martial ; and another captain,, inquiring*
of the Admiral why he had been mentioned in
terms of reprehension^ received a most impressive
answer : '^^ Could I have imagined," said the chiefs
*' that your conduct and your inattention to signals
had proceeded from anything but error in judg-
ment^ I had certainly superseded you ; but God
forbid I should do so for error in judgment only.
I merely resolved^ Sir, not to put it in your power
to mistake again, upon so important an occasion
as the leading a British fleet to regular battle."

Incessantly alive to duty, Rodney remained at
St. Lucia, only to land the sick and wounded, and
complete the water; and on the fourth morning
after quitting the anchorage, he once more gained
sight of De Guichen. The French for several days
held the weather-gage, and having clean-bottomed
ships, frequently ran down in line of battle, as if they
were going to fight ; but when within random shot,
tauntingly braced to the wind. This conduct both
irritated our odicers and harassed the men, as it
required them to be constantly at their quarters.
At length, on the 15th of May, by a masterly ma-
noeuvre on our side, the enemy were nearly brought
to a general action against their will. But

CAPTAIN PHILIP BEWER. 29

while the belligerents were rapidly closing each
other, the wind chopped at once from S.E. to E.,
by which critical accident the van and centre of
the French line were enabled to escape. Admiral
Rowley was now leading the British fleets and Mr.
Beaver remarks, " At this change of wind, the
enemy being on our weather bow, we ran between
the Albion and Magnificent, and told the former to
lead through their line, under the stern of the
eighth ship from the rear. Two stout men of war
now opened their fire upon us, which made us
bear up, to return their salute more effectually, as
they approached; and at this moment, an arm-
chest which was struck, splintered so as to wound
several persons grievously. What business had
it there? The Albion and three others of our
division behaved nobly, especially the former, for
she sustained the battering of four heavy anta-
gonists before we could assist her. Our compli-
ments were this day mostly doubly shotted, which
made the red-sided ship we engaged flinch after
the third broadside; but her companion saved
her."

This event made the enemy less flippant in his
demonstrations. On the 19th, however, Uodney,
by a skilful stratagem, again placed him inider the
necessity of a partial engagement, to prevent the
sacrifice of his rear. Thus urged, the French ran

30 THE LIFE OF

along the British hne under a heavy cannonade^
and being' closely attacked, suffered very severely.
" At noon/' says Beaver, " the enemy's fleet be-
gan to tack and stand towards us, when we en-
gaged them at close quarters as they came up ; and
warm work it was on all sides^ the heat and smoke
being almost suffocating. The Albion and our-
selves had to stand a heavy brunt^ round and grape
flew like hail^ and amongst others, our brave cap-
tain was mortally wounded. Having soon after
passed the enemy's rear, we ceased firing, and
found we were so cut up, that we could scarcely
get the ship round ; whereupon we began to knot
and splice the rigging, and w^oold the masts. In
the evening, the Medway hailed us with Sir G.
Rodney's compliments^ to crowd more sail, but
Admiral Rowley replied, that we had been so
roughly handled, it was impossible." In conse-
quence of her damages, the Conqueror was obliged
to bear away from the fleet and run into port, where
the necessary refitment detained her from active
service.

Beaver therefore followed the flao- into the Ter-
iible, and the Princess Royal ; but in September,
as Admiral Rowley was to convoy the homeward
bound trade in the Grafton, it was considered most
eligible to leave him on so active a station. He was
consequently recommended to the notice of Sir Peter

CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 31

Parker, who held the Jamaica command. Owing to
this arrang-ement, he was comparatively safe in Port
Royal harbour during- a furious hurricane which ra-
vaged the West Indies in the beginning- of Octo-
ber, and involved both land and sea in melancholy
calamity. Our licet met with ruinous disaster, for
besides nine line-of- battle ships and four frigates
dismasted, two sail of the line, five frigates, and
six sloops of war were totally lost, with an awful
sacrifice of human lives. At Jamaica it com-
menced in excessively hard squalls, with thunder,
lightning, and torrents of heavy rain ; its greatest
violence being on the west side, where it was ac-
companied by a smart earthquake. At Savanna
la Mer, a desolating wave overwhelmed the dis-
trict, and in its resurge, not only carried the town
and every living thing w itli it, but with horrible
celeiity turned its smiling fields into dreary wastes ;
and the devastation of that neighbourhood alone
was estimated at nearly a million sterling.

It now became necessary to repair the Princess
Royal ; and the heaving down of so large a ship
required all the exertions of the officers and crew.
In the mean time, the Admiral hoisted his flag in
any of the various vessels which happened to come
in. Beaver, with a humour which we may suppose
had then some point, remarks, on the 31st of Octo-
ber,— " This day Lady Parker shifted her flag
from the Lowestofi'e to the Ruby."

32 THE LIFE OF

A relaxation of several inonths succeeded the
late toilsome operations ; and though the necessary
duties of a ship afforded but insufficient time for
study, yet the journals of our youth manifest pro-
gressive improvement and observation. This is the
more meritorious^ when it is considered how little
stimulus existed in the examples around him. A
man of war affords no academic retirement, nor do
other honours or rewards than internal satisfaction
await the naval tyro ; — he^ therefore^ whose mind is
cultivated, must be actuated purely by a love of
knowledge. Liable to every call of duty or dul-
ness, and remote from the light of day, —

" In canvass'd birth, profoundly deep in thought,
His busy mind with sines and tangents fraught,
The Mid rechnes ! — in calculation lost !
His efforts still by some intruder cross' d."

Early in the spring of 1781_, the Princess Royal
sailed_, in order to conduct a large fleet of merchant
ships safe through the windward passage. When
off Cape Nicola^ the Suffolk_, Philip's favourite
ship, brought in a fine American brig, the Good
Intent, the charge of which was given to him, as
an efficient officer. Proud of this first command,
he parted from the fleet on the 2d of April in high
spirits, but the same evening found that, by the
drunkenness of one of the men, the vessel was on

CAPTAI^^ PHILIP BEAVER. 33

fire ill the fore-peak; and all hands were half the
night in extinguishing it. Scarcely had the cha-
grin of this accident subsided^ before he had the
mortification to perceive that he was chased by one
of those privateers which hang on the heels of a
convoy, to catch up stragglers. Having but one
midshipman and seven hands with him^ and more-
over burthencd with several French prisoners^ he
tried every possible means of escape, but all proving
fruitless, he was obliged to haul down his colours
to the Molle^ of twelve guns^ and allow himself to
be carried into Port au Prince. As that relent-
less system of not exchanging prisoners, which be-
came the harshest feature of the late war, had not
then commenced, he was liberated on the 21st of
June, for a subaltern of the Port au Prince reg-i-
ment, under mutual permission to return to their
respective services.

We next find Mr. Beaver serving in the South-
ampton of thirty-two guns, on a cruize with the
Pomona oft' Cape Tiberoon. On the 3d of July,
they fell in with a French convoy, escorted by a line-
of-battle ship. The latter made an ineffectual at-
tempt, by towing, to close with our frigates ; but
could not prevent them from burning a ship of
force and a dogger, besides capturing a valuable
brig, at a little more than a mile inshore of him.

In the night of the 23d, the two frigates uncx-

D

34 THE LIFE OF

pectedly found themselves near strangers, some of
whom, by the lights appearing through their ports,
were evidently two-deckers. On observing this,
they hauled their wind till day-break, when they
discovered fifteen sail, of which three were of the
line, and there were others in sight from the mast-
head. Without balancing consequences, it was
instantly resolved to endeavour to cut off a brig
^^hich had dropped astern : but a fast-sailing cop-
pered line-of-battle ship stood after them under a
heavy press of canvass ; and by her appearance they
soon recognised the ship which they had insulted
twenty days before, off Cape Tiberoon. The pur-
suit lasted upwards of six hours, and had not the
enemy yawed, to try the distance of his guns, he
must have been successful : on firing, he hoisted
French colours, with a broad pendant; but per-
ceiving that he had dropped astern by his impru-
dence, he rehnquished the chase..

The Southampton lost sight of her enemy soon
after mid-day, and at four her boats were assisting
some shipwrecked sailors, at the great Inague
island ; so that her services were scarcely inter-
rupted by her retreat. But our youth remarks that
the ship's company were discontented ; they thought
that, when the pursuer had separated from his
companions, the two frigates should have attacked
him, — " and," adds he, ^' I would have answered
for the result."

CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 35

Four days after\vard.s_, having parted with the
Pomona, they perceived a large ship under jury
top-masts, making towards Nicolo Mole. Not-
withstanding her superiority, Captain Affleck de-
termined'on an attack ; and, although the weather
was very squally, ran close under the fort, where
they forced her to action. Mr. Beaver says^ " We
began at about a cable-length's distance, striving
to get nearer; but this the enemy endeavoured to
prevent by yawing. We soon after got upon his
starboard quarter^ within half pistol-shot distance,
and, by constantly trimming sails, continued there,
pouring in round and grape as hotly as possible
for upwards of an hour, eveiy thing working pro-
perly, and the men in high spirits ; but I am igno-
rant why we did not drop alongside her. In the heat
of the engagement, our fore-yard fell by the run^
the slings being shot away. By this unlucky ac-
cident, we became exposed to a raking fire, with
scarcely any guns to bear : we therefore filled our
main-topsail and shot a-head to get out of the
scrape, when our fool of a foe, instead of trying to
lay us on board, clapped up his helm, sent a few
straggling shot at us, and bolted into port. Our
ship was so much riddled, that we had no com-
mand over her; and, on mustering the crew, we
found that Mr. Barton, the master, with five men,
>vere killed, and twenty-three severely wounded."

D 2

36 THE LIFE OF

Having- fislied tlie spars, and repaired damages
as well as circumstances would permit, they stood
for Jamaica ; but on the 1st of August encountered
a furious hurricane. " At noon," says the Jour-
nal, ''hard gales, with a prodigious sea: employed
making every thing snug, but the wounded men
were very much tormented by the quick lurches
and deep pitching, and also from the crowded
state of the 'tw^een decks. At five, taken a-back
in a heavy squall from the eastward, and soon after
carried away the mizen-mast. Clewed up, and
handed the fore-topsail, but the main one split and
blew from the yard ; and, ere long, the foresail,
the only canvas we were carrying, was rent into
ribbands. Lay-to a hull, but finding the ship
labour very much in the trough of the sea, we got
the main sheet aft to steady her; this measure was
unfortunately followed by the loss of the main-
mast, which snap[)ed off Hush with the quarter-
deck, and, before we recovered, a tremendous gust
of wind canied away the foremast and bowsprit.
An attempt to describe the roaring of the wind and
sea at this moment would fail of giving ' Ye gen-
tlemen of England' any idea of its deafening vio-
lence; but, in spite of all, the wreck was cleared,
and the encumbered best bower anchor cut away.
While one party of hands was pum})ing, another
payed the stream cable overboard to ease the ship,

CAPTAIN PHILIP 15EAVEU. 37

by preventing her falling- round oil"; and a third
got a fore-staysail on the stump of the mizcn-niast,
Avhich, however^ was quickly torn to shreds. In
this precious mess^ about one in the morning, we
discerned land on the lee bow — to our surprise,
we found that we were in fifteen fathoms, and,
^^hat was still worse, drivino- riiilit on shoi-e. With
some ditliculty, we let go the small bower, and
veered to half a cable, which brought us up ; but,
from the heavy gales, and confused sea, we were
in momentaiy expectation of parting, or bringing
home the anchor. At daylight the weather had
moderated a good deal, and we found we were
close to the beach, near Salt Pond Bluff. Made
signals of distress to the ships in Port Royal, and
commenced rigging jury masts. Threw overboard
the boats which had been rendered useless in the
late action, and committed to the deep two men
who died durino- this horrible niofht."

Thus terminated, in less than five weeks, our
hero's first cruize in the Southampton ; and the
damages she had received in that short space of
time, from winds, waves, and enemies, occasioned
her remaining in harbour for nearly seven months.
In this dull period, nothing occurred out of the
usual dock-yard routine, except our youth being
one of a large party sent from the squadron to
Kingston, on that town taking fire. The timely

463557

38 THE LIFE OF

assistance thus afforded saved that beautiful place
from utter destruction ; for the mixture of the nef^ro
huts and warehouses^ among-st stately buildings,
was like a train for spreadinf^ the combustion.
Nothing could exceed the agility with which the
sailors tore down those houses which were in
llames, and removed the people and property from
the scene of danger. Young Beaver, with his
messmates, besides their general exertions, were
instrumental in saving an aged negro, who must
otherwise have miserably perished. The inhabi-
tants of all colours witnessed their exploits with
the highest admiration ; and a large present of
i-efreshments accompanied the hearty tars back to
their boats.

Having been completely refitted^ the Southamp-
ton sailed on the 18th of February, 1782, and
after taking two prizes, fell in with a French fleet
of eighteen sail. Escaping from them by dint of
sailing, she ran over to Port Royal, to communi-
cate the intelligence ; after which they continued
their cruize. But, on the 3d of April, the frigate^
again disabled by a hurricane which almost threw
her on her beam ends, was obliged to bear up
without topmasts, the fore and main masts badly
sprung, and making upwards of four feet water an
hour.

While lying at their old berth alongside the

CAPTAIN PHILIP REAVER. 39

Conception hulk, Mr. Beaver had the high o ratifi-
cation of seeing- the victorious fleet of Rodney cu-
ter the port, with the prizes taken on the l'2tli of
April, in the battle with Count de Grasse ; and,
while he regretted that he had not been in the en-
gagement, he was warm in his congratulations to
the many friends and messmates who participated
in that glorious day- Shortly afterwards, having
now become a well-known olHcer, he was removed
from the frigate into the London of ninety guns.
In this ship, while cruizing off Cape Tiberoon,
during a dreadful storm of thunder and lightning,
they had a narrow escape, for at two in the morn-
ing of the '28th of June, the electric fluid struck the
foremast, and shivered it from the truck to the gun-
ner's store-room, with a terrible explosion close to
the fore magazine.

Desirous of more active duties than were affl)rded
in a three-decker, Mr. Beaver obtained his removal
into the Tobago, a sloop of war, commanded by
Captain G. Martin. On the 23d of October, he
was selected to navigate the Minerva, a prize, into
port. While lying there, he was attacked by so
danjrerous a fever, that the case beino- considered
hopeless, his death was actually inserted in a Ja-
maica Gazette, and this article having been copied
into a London paper, was seen by his eldest sister,
who had the fortitude to conceal her anxiety till con-

40 THE LIFE OF

firmation of the sad event should arrive. Letters,
however, from hhnself, announcing his perfect re-
covery, soon afterwards reUeved her affectionate
sohcitude.

On the 2d of June, 1783^ Mr. Beaver was pre-
sented by his friend Admiral Rowley with an act-
ing- order to the Nemesis, though he did not pass
his examination till the 15th of the following Oc-
tober. The day after that ordeal, his patron com-
plimented him with an appointment to act as first
lieutenant of the same ship, which duty he per-
formed till she was paid off.

The return of peace almost closed the door of
promotion, and this aspiring young man might
have been overlooked, had not his merits already
made him an object of attention, not only with
those under whom he had served, but also with
those who had sailed in the same fleets. Thus, at
a period when he was rather anxious about the
success of his applications, while walking with his
sister in Kensington Gardens, they accidentally
met the Hon. Captain De Courcy, who, after pro-
fessing great satisfaction in seeing him, said,
" Lord Howe has been asking me a great many
questions about you ; — you will certainly be made."

This agreeable prediction was soon realized;
for, on the 2oth of May, 1784, our hero obtained
the desired commission, — a commission which was

CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 41

jickiiowledoed to be well merited. But, as many
oflicerS;, with ostensibly better interest, failed at
that time in obtaining their rank, Lieutenant
Beaver became an object of envy, because^ for-
soothj bearing a high character from every officer
with whom he had served, he was justly rewarded.
This is what many of the most insignificant in the
service call " luck" — as if a youth of strong natural
parts, with obedient, diligent habits, was not likely
to make his way, in a service which, however
clogged by drones of interest, must always have a
demand for efficient oflicers. It is really marvel-
lous to observe how many embark, who merely
exist in apathy and uselessness, though surrounded,
by every inducement to exertion ; and, instead
of pursuing the zealous, straightforward course of
duty, which insures both honour and happiness,
use all the subtleties and refinements which they
can resort to, for evasion. Yet it may happen to
eighty officers out of an hunched not to witness
more service during a whole professional life, than
Mr. Beaver had already encountered in his novi-
ciate : —

" How easy 'tis, when destiny proves kind,
"Witli full spread sails to nm before the wind!
But those that 'gainst stitt' gales careerin-j; go,
Must be at once resolved, and skilful too."

Our Lieutenant leturned to Europe, with the

42 . THE LIFE OF

skill of a ofood seaman, and soon after mounted the
first step of the ladder of promotion — but that was
all : endowed, however, with peculiar energy of
mind, and simplicity of character, he felt truly in-
different to riches. After the first happiness of
seeing' her son come home with good health, and
a creditable reputation, from the double dangers of
war and climate, Mrs. Beaver began to consider
that a London lodging afforded a dangerous scene
of life to an inexperienced youth of eighteen. He
also soon sighed for a change ; the absence of a
decided pursuit began to be felt by himself, and he
was wont to exclaim, that ^' he was never so happy
as when sure of meeting an enemy every day." In
this anxiety, unaware of higher studies, he fell into
an error arising from the general foible of imita-
tion, and, instead of being satisfied with gaining a
colloquial knowledge, thought he would endeavour
to acquire an idiomatic proficiency in the French
language. Mrs. Beaver, now obliged to assist her
son more than when in the West Indies, where his
prize-money had almost supported him, considered
a cheap country as very desirable, and they deter-
mined on going to Boulogne, — the Lieutenant
being probably influenced by some of his naval
associates, who had also made that selection.

Of this period of his life — that which he would,
perhaps, have looked back upon with the least

CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 43

satisfaction — but little appears. In the ardour of
youth, without occupati(jn, or any restraint except
the gentle check of an indulg-ent mother, it is not
surprising if he fell into that dissipation which he
saw around him. But a sound mind saved him
from the enervating insignificance into which so
many young men, in similar circumstances, are
irretrievably betrayed.

In the year 1787, our hero made a visit to the
Rev. James Beaver, at Stoke, near Coventry ; and
having, as he contended, no actual duties to per-
form, he rose late, lounged away the mornings in
indolence, and appeared to be losing that energy
for which he had hitherto been remarkable. His
observant brother soon perceived the danger, and
took care, after suitable comments, to throw such
books in his way as were likely to arrest his at-
tention, and awaken a sense of his deficiencies.
The ingenuous mind of Philip was alive to the fra-
ternal admonition, and with the sensibility which
marks superior understanding, declared that for
the first time he felt the shame of conscious iir-
norance. His application now became vigorous
and constant, and the fact is worthy of record, as
illustrative of the axiom, that '' he who has lost one
part of life in idleness, need not throw away the
remainder in despair."

As the Lieutenant was strongly impressed with

44 THE LIFE OF

the duties of active life^ he read to strengthen his
judgment, rather than amuse his fancy; studying
more to acquire useful knowledge, than to cultivate
taste. History, ethics, natural philosophy, and
jurisprudence engaged his attention, and the co-
pious extracts in his note-books display the assi-
duity, depth, and variety of his reading; but, with
the exception of Milton and Shakspeare, he did not
profess much regard for poets or writers of fiction.
This example may be useful to those self-sufficient
and precocious youths, who imagine they have
attained the summit of perfection; for Beaver,
amongst the many who sip rather than drink of the
stream, might have been esteemed clever and well-
informed before this period. Of his early classical
rudiments probably little remained; but good com-
mon sense, and the sound principles which had
been instilled, recalled him from puerile trifling to
studious habits, and his acquirements thencefor-
ward were commensurate with his industry.

The necessity of application cannot be too often
repeated to aspirants in the British navy ; — it is a
proud profession, and there is sufficient leisure for
attaining considerable knowledge. Instead of re-
maining satisfied with the indifference they may
too often witness around them, they should remem-
ber that, had not the greatest heroes excelled their
contemporaries in mental acquirements, they would

CATTAIN PHILIP BKAVER. 45

never have g"ained supremacy ; and tliat Alexan-
der, in the plenitude of success, tlKjught himself
more indebted to Aristotle for a good education,
than to Philip for a powerful kingdom. That tlie
multitude prefer idleness to industry, is rather to be
lamented than wondered at, and the fact has given
an edge to satire from the earliest times: — Persius
stio-matizes the ii>norance of oilicers with this keen
stroke, —

But here some captain of tlie land or fleet,
Stout of his hands, but of a soldier's wit,
Cries, I have sense, to serve my turn, in store ;
And he's a rascal who pretends to more."

But busier scenes were now approaching : a fleet
was suddenly ordered to be equipped, and about the
middle of December, 1789, Mr. Beaver was ap-
pointed First Lieutenant of the Fortunee, a smart
sloop of sixteen guns, commanded by Captain
Westcott, who was afterwards killed in the g-lo-
rious battle of the Nile. The seizure of British
vessels by the Spaniards at Nootka Sound was the
avowed cause of this threatening attitude, which
proving effectual, the officers and men were mostly
paid off again by the month of November, 1790.
The Russian armament, as it was called, in the
following year, induced him to solicit employment ;
and by the express desire of Lord Hood, he was
immediately appointed to the Saturn, seventy-four.

46 THE LIFE OF

Tliere, from April till September^ he carried on
the duties of the ship with a precision which g-ained
the friendship of Captain Linzee^ and confirmed the
character which he had already acquired^ of a zea-
lous and active officer.

Our Lieutenant seemed now to be on the high
road to preferment, for the attention of the nation
being- roused to the ambition of the crafty Cathe-
rine, appearances predicted strong exertions on
our part. A statesman, high in office, expressed
an intention of forwarding his views, but candidly
stated to Mrs. Beaver, that "^ though fully satisfied
of her son's professional merits, he could do
nothing unless a war was actually declared ; but,
in that event, his promotion was assured." The
smiling promises of the year, however, bore no
fruit ; the nation's energies were embarrassed by
the cabals of a faction, and the hopes of a deserving
officer were blighted by England being prevented
from asserting her proper dignity.

The conclusion of the sanguinary war between
the Russians and the Turks, with the chance of a
durable peace, threw Lieutenant Beaver, who was
strongly tinctured with a spirit of adventure, into
a channel of exertion which gave full develope-
ment to all his energies. But although this new
scene required no ordinary intrepidity, patience,
and presence of mind, it proved unfavourable to

CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 47

advancement in his profession^ as it occasioned his
absence at the commencement of hostilities with
France, and left him far behind in the race of
promotion. The events of this important period
of his life, — a period fraug-ht with suffering-s almost
insurmountable, are very unaffectedly described
in his '* African Memoranda ;'' an interesting- book,
written in a plain and unpolished, but manly style,
every page of which bears internal evidence of
the strictest veracity. The dilliculties which op-
posed his success, shewed the courage that could
meet, and the zeal which strove to conquer them ;
and while we lament those obstacles, we are in
some measure consoled by the reflection, that they
have, at least, placed his fortitude and intrepidity
in a light which a more prosperous adventure
might not have revealed.

As the scene which here opens to us is of the
highest interest, and shews the variety and capa-
bilities of a vigorous mind, I shall endeavour to
render a faithful picture of the occurrences. For
this purpose I have not only followed the printed
accounts, but have also carefully examined the
Lieutenant's manuscripts, and various collateral
records, whence I have made such extracts as
will considerably illustrate the "Memoranda.''

" I had a great wish," says Mr. Beaver, " to
be acquainted with both our Northern and Southern

48 THE LIFE OF

wlialo fislieiics, and therefore intended to go out
as passenger in some ship employed in those
trades^ in order to make myself master of the
subject. The season was gone by for the former ;
I was therefore confined to the latter ; and went,
in consequence, to a house at Paid's Wharf, which
owned a great number of ships in the Southern
whale fishery. Enquiring for the gentleman of
the house, to whom I was totally unknown, ' Sir/
said I, '^ I understand that you have several ves-
sels employed in the Southern fishery ?' ^ Yes,
Sir/ he replied. ' A young friend of mine,'
I continued, ' wishes very much to see your mode
of killing the fish, cutting them up, and melting
them down, as well as the manner of killing seals
and sea lions, on the Falkland islands ; where, if
your vessel should be absent about two seasons,
he will have no objection to remain one winter ;
and I am come from him to propose his going out
as a passenger in one of them : he will pay you
anything you choose to demand for his possessing
half the cabin ; and taking with him his books,
he will have nothing to do with the ship, where
he will never be in the way, but, being a bit of a
seaman himself, he may sometimes be of use.' —
^ Sir,' he replied, we never take any such persons ;
I cannot, therefore, comply with your request ; he
must be a very odd young man^ Sir.' — •'^ Yes, Sir,'
said I J * he is an odd fish/ "

(APTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 49

Tliis intention being- frustrated, he mentions the
various voyages of discovery ^vhic]l he had phnnied,
and the obstacles to each ; but^ whilst he was yet
undetermined on which to resolve, he became
acquainted with Mi'. H. Dalrymple. This gentle-
man, who had recently been disappointed of the
office of Governor of Sierra Leone, gave so cap-
tivating a description ofBnlama, an island near to
that settlement, that our hero, in his ardour, ex-
claimed,— "^ Let us colonize it ourselves!" — Mr.
Dalrymple answered, "With all my heart;" and
thus arose the subsequent association. '^ I deter-
mine," says Beaver in a note-book, ''^to give up
my whole time and attention for one year to the
success of the undertaking ;- and, however I may
be laughed at, or discredited in this money-making
world, no prospect of amassing lucre has any in-
fluence in my giving up the comforts I enjoy in
my own country, to join myself with an unknown
party, to cut down forests and plant sugar-canes in
Africa. Wealth, to be sure, has its advantages,
and if it should accrue, may render me more inde-
pendent in moral action ; but I can never hoard :
why didBacon forget his own adage, — *^that money,
like manure, is of no use, unless it be spread' ? ''

The views of the Society, in this undertaking,
were directed to cultivation ; it beinsr imao-ined
that the produce of the West Indies might be

E

50 THE LIFE OF

readily raised at Bulama, by free natives, and thus
formino" a contrast to the vicious habits of the
slave-deahng- Europeans, contribute tovt^ards the
civilization of those regions. Though commerce
was considered only in a subordinate point of
view, when compared with their grand object, it
was conceived that a new and extensive channel
would be opened to trade, which would at the
same time be the means of introducing letters,
liberty, and, above all, a knowledge of the Chris-
tian religion amongst the sable sons of that vast
continent. By this scheme, happiness was promised
to thousands, — misei7 to none: the only fear was,
that as the paucity of their wants, and the natural
fertility of their soil, render Negroes averse to
labour, they could not be relied upon ; and it was
apprehended that white colonists would be very
unequal to the toil of field-work in that enervating
climate. '' I have nothing to do," says Beaver,
''^ with the question, whether a state of uncultivated
nature, or of civilization, be most conducive to
happiness. The man who prefers being a brute,
to a rational creature, may put down the book."

Having been acquainted by Mr. Pitt, that Go-
vernment had no objection to the enterprize, the
number of subscribers increased rapidly ; though
the infant Colony was not viewed with friendly
eyes, either by the speculators of Sierra Leone, or

CAPTAIN PHILIP liEWKR. 51

tlie West India merchants. As might have been
expected, the whole of the adventurers were not
actuated by the same praiseworthy motives which
influenced our Cincinnatus, and many great errors
took place in the outset. "A plausible rascal,"
says the note-book, " of the name of Bant, who
called himself a Quaker, but was really of no
religion, and had been successively of all, pos-
sessed an exquisite facility of imposing u})on
almost eveiybody. This fellow, havijig gained the
ear of Mr. Dalrymple, was recommended as a man
so valuable and useful, that, being too poor to sub-
scribe, five hundred acres of land were offered to
induce him to embark with us. This was not only
agreed to, but he was shortly after elected into a
Committee, and would probably have crept into
the Council, had I not proposed that no member
sitting there should hold any place of profit, — the
latter of which, from his endeavours to procure the
storekeeper's office, I knew he would prefer to the
former. Now this vaunted addition to our party
was so well known to many mercantile houses in
the City, that his very name operated like a pes-
tilence on some of our proceedings ; for it was
naturally enough supposed, that no honest people
could possibly be connected with so notorious a
character." Besides this man, many prolligate
and worthless wretches enrolled themselves as

E 2

i>2 THE LIFE OF

subscribers ; and one, who died at Bulama^ was
found to have committed arson^ robbervj, forgery,
incest, and murder !

It was not attempted to obtain a Charter, as its
progress through Parhament would have required
much time, and the season for making a passage
out, previous to the rains setting in, was fast ex-
piring. In the mean time, unaware of the illegality
of the proceeding, the subscribers had drawn up
and signed a form of government, by which they
swore to abide, until a formal one should be pro-
vided by the legislature of the country. In
consequence of this, an embargo was unexpectedly
laid on their ships at Gravesend ; a measure which
subjected them to a serious demurrage, and occa-
sioned considerable alarm. On explanation with
the Secretary of State, the luckless constitution
was cancelled ; but by thus losing a legal restraint
over an incongruous rabble of various professions
and trades, from the pohshed gentleman to the
finished villain, the success of the nndertakinsf
"was rendered very problematical. The hiring of
two large ships, and the purchase of a cutter,
with provisions, stores, arms, implements, and
other heavy expenses, however, had been incurred
and matters had gone too far to recede ; — the
vessels, therefore, proceeded to Portsmouth. On
the passage thither, as if an inauspicious destiny

CAPTAIN PHILIP HEAVER. 53

governed the adventure, they luid the inoilificatujii
to find that the small-pox had been introduced on
board by a woman, who^ to avoid the anguish of
separation from lier hus])and, had concealed the
circumstance of her child beino- infected with that
contagious distemper.

While waiting at the Motherbank for permission
to sail, one person had deserted^ four had been
discharged on request, and four others were turned
on shore for turbulent conduct. On the 1 1th of
April, 1792, they finally left England with two
hundred and seventy- five colonists, of whom few
were so fortunate as to return ; for, even of those
Avho afterwards abandoned the island, a larg-e
majority died on their way home_, or had contracted
incurable diseases.

The established Council consisted of thirteen
gentlemen. Mr. Dalrymi)lc being elected Gover-
nor, and Mr. Young the Lieutenant-governor,
eighty-three men_, thirty-three women, and thirty-
three children, were embarked on board the
Calypso, of two hundred and ninety-eight tons,
commanded by Lieutenant Hancorne ; — sixty-five
men, twenty-four women, and thirty-one children,
were on board the Hankey, of two hundred and
sixty-one tons, under the authority of Lieutenant
Beaver ; and five men and a boy were in the
Beggar's Benison, a Gravesend boat of thirty-

54 THE LIFE OF

four tons^ in cliarge of Lieutenant Do])bin. Thus,
with a fiiir breeze, they stood out of the Channel,
a heterogeneous assemblage ; several of them
animated with the highest emotions of hope ;
others^ willing to barter life for profit, plunging
into what they considered a desperate undertaking;
and many, too prone to idleness to have any de-
fined object in view, —

" Hard sons of penury, abroad they roam,
To seek that competence they want at home."

After getting to sea^ the wind freshened, and
the motion becoming very disagreeable to those
unaccustomed to it, most of the landsmen_, and all
the women^ were sea-sick. As some of the latter
had infants at the breast^ and were without nou-
rishment from inability to move_, Mr. Beaver hu-
manely undertook to cook for them. " I had already
been employed/ 'says he, "^ since onr sailing, in func-
tions equally \ow, and therefore was in some degree
prepared for it ; but at times I was compensated
for the meanness of these employments^ by the
exercise of authority pertaining to more dignified
posts^ for I verily believe that there is not an office
or gradation of rank in the naval service, from the
admiral and commander-in-chief down to the Jack
of the bread- room, which I had not already exercised
in this ship. The fact is_, that to govern and main-

CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 55

t'd'in order and regularity amongst a licentious rab-
ble, without any legal povver^ was an exceedingly
difficult task, and only to be accomplished by ex-
ample. I soon perceived that I must either give
up the point, which threatened ruin to the under-
taking, or accomplish it by the constant exercise of
unremitting exertions : the latter was most con-
genial to my mind, and therefore there was no
employment, however humble in the general opi-
nion of the world, which I hesitated to undertake;
but having once done this, I ordered whom I pleased
afterwards to perform the same duty."

Owing to an unaccountable inattention on board
the Calypso, the vessels parted company soon after
clearing the Channel, on which the Hankey, being
the worst sailer, stood for Santa Cruz, with all the
speed of which she was capable. On the 3d of
May they found that an easterly current had set
them four degrees to the eastward, by which they
made Fuertaventura instead of Teneriffe.

The wind continuing westerly, they determined
to anchor at the Grand Canaria, and there endea-
vour to procure fresh provisions; for though aware
of the treatment to be apprehended from the jea-
lousy of the Spaniards, the necessity of making an
effort to keep clear of the scurvy induced Mr.
Beaver to undertake the trial. With some dilliculty
he got through the surf in a small jolly hodt, and

56 THE LIFE OF

on o'aining- the shore, was soon surrounded by a
crowd : yet he was unable to prevail on any one to
carry his request to the Governor; and he was
moreover warned by a priest against entering- the
town without leave. Urg-ency at last obliged him
to neo'lect this advice ; but he had no sooner entered
the g-ate of Palmas, than he was roughly seized by
a corporal's guard, and with his two men confined
in a tower on the beach. The disturbance occa-
sioned by this arrest brought out the Governor, who,
after some preliminaries, allowed pilots to go off to
biing the ship to an anchor; and promised a supply
of fresh provisions for the next day. On the fol-
lowing morning, the wind having become favour-
able, there was no longer any necessity for re-
maining at Canaria; Mr. Beaver, therefore, carried
back the pilots, but was obliged to exert the most
pertinacious firmness, during a warm altercation,
before he could obtain the desired refreshments.
This was partly owing to the imperfect notions
which they had of quarantine laws, and partly
to the little communication they have with Eu-
ropean ships.

The wind keeping fair, the Hankey anchored
at Teneriffe on the 7th, where they learned that the
Calypso had been there four days before them, but
being refused pratique, on account of the small-
pox, till the Governor's pleasure should be known^

CAPTAIN PHILIP RKAVEU. 57

luid sailed al)ni[)tly, without leaviiio- any intimation
of a second rendezvous. On the 8th, the Begg^ar's
Benison arrived, and three days afterwards a Li-
verpool brig-, the master of which, thinking* that
Buhinia must be the Bullam shore, near Sierra
Leone, cng-aged to be their pilot ; nor was the error
discovered till they arrived at Port Praya in St.
Jago, where the brig, having run upon a rock, was
disabled from pnjcceding.

'' This place," says the Lieutenant, " is readily
known by a wretched fort, on a small cliff, with
some date -trees in a valley to the west of it. I
say it may be thus known, but I should only know
it to avoid it, unless I was distressed for water.
The natives are black and deceitful ; the climate is
hot and unwholesome ; and the whole island is
parched and barren — beggarly and miserable.
Yet to those who delight in plantains, melons,
oranges, and guavas — and can play with parrots
and monkies, Port Praya may offer more charms
than it can to me."

After waiting in vain during several days for the
Calypso, they purchased as much live stock as they
could possibly stow, having hoisted out the long
boat, and rigged her for sailing, to gain room.
They entered the Bijuga channel on the 3d of
June, with two boats constantly a-head sounding;
and thus, on the 5th, they anchored \\ithin

f^Q

OS THE LIFE OF

sig-ht of Biilama. Judging- it expedient to have a
better knowledo-e of the strait before venturing- far-
ther^ Mr. Beaver^ with the master of the Hankey,
went in the long" boat to explore it ; and^ perceiving
two vessels at anchor near a square-bastioned fort_,
at Bissao^ they rowed thither to procure a pilot.
There they heard of a ship, answering to the de-
scription of the Calypso^ having passed a few days
before; and the appearance of a second strange
sail in those unfrequented parts, excited a strong
suspicion in the minds of the Bissaons of their being
pirates. The Portuguese Governor, actuated by
this idea^ kept the whole party in close confinement
for the nighty determined to make the master pro-
duce his papers before he would grant a pilot.
Beaver argued very warmly against condescending
to this step, but to no avail, his costume of a sailor's
jacket and trowsers not appearing consistent with
his high tone ; he was therefore detained as a hos-
tage, until the required examination had, taken
place on the following day.

In the mean time the Calypso had joined com-
pany, after a melancholy event, which struck terror
into the hearts of the colonists ; and what rendered
matters worse was, that the calamity resulted en-
tirely from the contempt of method and discipline
which characterized tliat ship. Being in want of
fresh provisions, the Calypso sailed from Teneriffe

CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 59

to GorcG;, a place well-known to be incapable of
supplying- any; but having procured a pilots tliey
mil through tlie Bijuga channel, and anchored at
Bulama on the 25th of May. The colonists were
allowed to go on shore without any kind of pre-
caution, strolling about night and day^ wherever
they chose ; some seeking crabs and muscles, others
taking oysters from the mangrove branches; while
many were inland botanizing, or hunting after
lizards ; and others chasing, " some butterflies, and
some elephants." On the 30th, a war canoe, contain-
ing twenty or thirty armed men, reconnoitred the
ship, but refused every advance towards friendly in-
tercourse. Even this act did not suffice to instil any
prudential measure, and consequently next morn-
ing- it was discovered that the natives in the nicht
had carried off all the tents which had been pitched
on shore. Although, as yet, the colonists had no
right to land, they immediately commenced erect-
ing what they ridiculously termed a block- house,
a mere hut, inclosed with inch plank; and in tiiis
place they deposited fire-arms, ammunition, and
utensils, without planting a single sentinel.

On Sunday the 3d of June, instead of being called
to prayers, and having that opportunity taken for
pointing out the diOicnltics of their situation, and
the necessity of order and industry, they were, as
usual, permitted to follow their individual fancies.

60 THE LIFE OF

Thus many were wandering' over the island with
the most incautious confidence^ while a few were
sleeping- in the block-house^ and some of the wo-
men and children sitting- in its shade. In this
criminally unguarded state^ with all their guns
lying still dismounted in the hold of the ship^ they
were suddenly alarmed by the Bijugas firing a vol-
ley of musketry into the hut^ which rousing the
sleepers_, they rushed out, and were all shot. The
savages then entered, and seized sixty stand of
arms_, loaded and primed; and with these very
means sallied forth and accomplished their object.
Loaded with booty they retreated to the bushes,
having killed five men and one woman, desperately
wounded four men, and carried off four women and
three children ; whilst not one of their own party
received the slightest hurt.

" Among all who suffered on this occasion,"
says Beaver, " the fate of Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner
was certainly the most cruel, and the most la-
mented. He had been wounded by a musket-
ball, and was endeavouring to reach the beach,
when he was intercepted by one of the party of the
islanders, who had been stationed for that pur-
pose. To go back was certain death ; to advance
towards the ship, it was necessary to pass this
man. Unarmed, and weakened by loss of bloody
Mr. Gardiner advanced, bowing as he approached ;

CAPTAIN PHILIP BKAVEK. 61

but the savage, regardless of his humiliation, made
a stroke at liiin witii his \\ell-tem[)ercd cutlass,
which Mr, Gardiner attem})ting to parry with his
hand, it was severed from the arm at the wrist.
He passed on into the water, and was one of those
standing up to his chin in it, when the boats of the
Calypso arrived to carry them on board. He died
a few days afterwards. His wife, having witnessed
the fate of her husband, was a prisoner in the
hands of the savages; these, having rifled the
block-liouse, and stripped the dead, began their
retreat, with their prisoners and booty, across the
island. Mrs. Gardiner was unfortunately lame,
and unable to keep pace with their rapid march ;
they therefore shot her."

The irrational boldness of the colonists was now
converted into the most groundless fear ; no at-
tempt was made to recover either the dying or the
dead ; but getting under sail, they were standing
towards Bissao, where the Hankey and the cutter
were seen at anchor. The communication between
the two ships produced tiic worst consequences,
for not only did the discontent and irregularity of the
Calypso spread to her consort, but also a fever which
had been contracted by her crew. Bitter reproaches
against each other were heard in that unfortunate
ship; and, finding the comfortable order in which
the Hankey was kept, and that she had been care-

62 THE LIFE OF

fully supplied with fresh provisions, they loudly
accused their members of the Council of neglect.
" They were tired with the length of the voyage,
irritated with sickness, the loss of their associates,
and the disappointment of their hopes ; and became
extremely dissatisfied with their situation." In-
deed, apprehension and despondency had already
become pretty general.

The first object after the junction of the ships
was the redemption of the captive women and
children ; which was kindly undertaken by Senor
De Sylva Cordoza, a merchant of Bissao, who sent
a boat with some of his grumetas, or native ser-
vants, to King Bellchore, a savage remarkable for
his exploits and his treachery, who resided at
Canabac, with the articles requisite for their ran-
som. On the 19tli, they returned with the pri-
soners, except a woman and child, who were
detained in the clutches of King Jalorem, on ano-
ther part of the island of Canabac. These females
had been toleral^ly treated by the natives, for which
they were indebted to the prejudice that makes
them regard European women with disgust :
'' their devil," says Beaver, " is white."

After having procured a plentiful supply of
water, provisions, and refreshments, the vessels
proceeded to Bulama. On the 26th, Lieutenant
Beaver proceeded, in the Beggar's Benison, to

CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 63

Canabac, to eflect the purchase of the new settle-
ment; being- accompanied by Mr. Moore, master
of an American slave brig, who, from his influence
with the natives, was to manage the negotiation.
The town appeared to be about a mile in circuit,
and to contain six or seven luindrcd inhabitants,
all of whom crowded around our officer, with
vociferations of astonishment, — " as if a white
man was an animal they had heard of, but never
seen." The cutter was anchored before the houses ;
but not beino- above half the lenoth of one of the
negro war-canoes, the crew were obliged to keep
her swivels constantly loaded and primed, with a
vigilant watch to guard against surprise.

Early on the morning of the 27th, Jalorem's two
sons being sent on board as hostages, the treaty
was arranged, with the full participation of a nu-
merous circle of chiefs. King Bellchore, who
ruled the shores opposite to the island, having
already experienced the sweetsoftreating with the
English, made a long oration on the subject, which
met with unanimous applause. The articles tliat
were oiTered consisted of muskets, powder, brandy,
tobacco, knives, cloth, hats, beads, cutlasses, and
iron bars, to the value of about 80/. sterling, and
-50/. were given to Moore for his agency. A deed
of cession had been prepared, to which the two
kings affixed their marks ; a British union jack was

64 THE LIFE OV

then given them^ without which no canoe was ever
to come to Bulama, and the wliole affair was con-
chided witli mutual satisfaction.

During this mission^ our Lieutenant's first care
had been to inquire after the wretched woman and
child^ who were still unredeemed in the hands of
the Bijugas, as the natives of all these islands are
called. The affecting scene which followed is
best given in his own words.

" We entered a house, composed of three
concentric circles^ with six doors through one of
its diameters; in the inner circle lay the poor
woman ; but it was so dark, that we could not see,
and she knew not of our arrival.

" The natives^ however^ lighted many little par-
cels of long straws, which they held upright in
their hands^ and when burnt down nearly to their
fingers^ others stood by^ with fresh ones to replace
them, so that we had abundance of light.

^' On a wicker frame, supported by half a dozen
posts, about a foot from the ground^ and covered
with long grass^ lay Mrs. Harley and her infemt
child. When the liii^ht enabled her to discover
that there was a white man in tlie room, she stared
upon me with such a look of hope_, of doubt_, of
fear^ and of madness, as I shall never forget, but
which I cannot describe.

*' ' Mrs. Harley/ said I, ' I am come to put an

CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 05

end to your sufferings, and to carry you back to
your husband, wlioin I left well tlic day before
yesterday.'

'*^' Who are you. Sir? IIow came you here?
Do I dream? Are you a prisoner?' — ' No, I am
come here to redeem you and your child, to take
you back to your family ; and to purchase of tiie
King- the island of Biilama.' — ' Will they let you
go back? They won't let you go back ; they will
keep you here.' — ' No danger of that,' I replied;
' we are now on friendly terms, and I trust shall
hereafter live in peace and friendship.'

" A little more conversation passed ; when I
said, that I had not yet seen the King; that I
must go to him, and enter on the business about
which I had come ; and that I would then return
to hei", and settle at what time I should take her
on board. She instantly seized my hand, and
said, ' W^ill you go away and leave me, then?' —
' No,' said I, ' you shall see me again in an hour.'
— ' I never shall see you again ; you will go away
and leave me; I won't part from you.' — *^ He
calm, Mrs. Harley, and compose yourself; de[)end
upon my word, that the moment I have fmished
my business with the King, I will return to you.' —
^ No, never, never; if you go away, 1 never
shall see you again ; you will desert me ; I see

F

6Q THE LIFE OF

that you mean to forsake me^ and I shall be left to
die amongst these murderous savages.'

^* ' By the God that made me (I hope the ex-
pression may be forgiven) I ^vill not quit the island
^vithout you.' — ' But suppose they will not give
me up V — ^ Then T will stay here^ and die with
you.' She believed me^ and was appeased; and
I proceeded to the King."

When the treaty was transacted^ Mr. Beaver has-
tened back to the unfortunate woman, who was in
the last stage of pregnancy ; but as neither she nor
her daughter had ever had their clothes off, nor been
removed from the hurdle since their arrival^ they
were in an inconceivable state of filth and disease ;
while vermin had absolutely eaten holes into their
flesh. From their debility^, and the loathing of
the natives, their removal became a matter of no
small difficulty ; nor^ indeed, did it prove of any
further avail, than to cheer their last distressino-
moments^ for both mother and child died on board
the cutter^ a few hours afterwards,, and their bodies
were committed to the deep.

Returning- to the ships on the 2d of July^ Mr.
Beaver was deeply mortified to find^ that not only
his advice of surveying the channel and coasts^
during his absence, had been neglected, but that
not one step had been taken towards preparing

CAPTAIN I'lIlLIP BEAVER. 67

habitations; for, in their improvident arrang-c-
ments, the council had declined takino- them out
in frame. " Accustomed as I had been/' he re-
marks, ^' to the weakness^ folly, and absurdity of
the measures hitherto pursued by the directors of
this enterprise^ yet I was astonished, I must con-
fess, at no intention being shown, or even thought
of^ to avail ourselves of the right which we had
now acquired ; and which had been so imprudently,
and so eagerly seized, when we had it not. Not a
word was uttered^ nor the least idea discovered
of landing and commencing our labours ; and the
council and colonists separated^ as if the written
document itself was to create them a town. I,
however, took a party of twelve men from the
Hankey, landed, and worked till sunset."

This active measure excited a warm contention
on board, as the boat rowed off. Those who
really had embarked zealously in the undertaking,
called upon the timid and the lukewarm to follow
the example; but the majority of the council —
the very founders of the Association, being partly
dissatisfied, and partly terrified, treated the matter
with a chilling coldness.

On returning to the Hankey, Mr. Beaver pro-
posed that the rest of the colonists should be sent
on shore to work, under regular inspection; but,
after various excuses for evading active measures,

I- -'

68 THE LIFE OF

the Council mot to discuss " where the ships
should be moored during' the rains?" This appear-
ing but a prelude to the abandonment of the enter-
prise_, our officer submitted^ — ^' It is the opinion
of the Council, that the present situation is the
most proper place to moor the ships in ;" in favour
of which judgment there were four; and ag-ainst
it, nine. It was then resolved, '' Seeing- that the
rainy season has already commenced, and it ap-
pearing-, from the information of Captain Moore,
as well as from every information we can collect,
that we cannot land, because of the rains and foos,
at least for four months ; and that, with every
precaution, there will probably be a considerable
mortality among- the settlers during- that time ;
and, cf)nsidering- withal, that a great proportion of
the adventurers in each ship is solicitous to re-
turn to Europe, it is the opinion of the council
that the two ships and the sloop should be removed
to Sierra Leone to water, and then the expediency
of proceeding to England, or of returning hither
after the rains, shall be taken into consideration."
Subsequent to the junction of the Calypso, Mr.
Beaver, on finding so many discontented people in
her, had already moved in the council, that those
who chose should return to England in her; but,
against such a pusillanimous determination, he
entered an immediate protest. Indeed, in his

CAPTAIN PHILIP nEA\TR. 69

ludionation at seeing a project about to be relin-
quished, without an effort at success, he declared
he would remain on the island with his servant,
even if every body else should leave it. This re-
solution becoming known, numbers of the settlers
volunteered to share his fortunes; and it was
finally agreed that the liankey and Beggar's
Benison should remain at Bulama. Our conside-
rate colonist now endeavoured to persuade the
married volunteers to return home, or at least send
away their wives ; but they, animated by the pro-
spect of an active leader, persisted in remaining
with their families. Thus, from the mutual dis-
content between the feeble directors and the dis-
gusted colonists, the enterprise was virtually de-
serted; and, if the resolute intrepidity of Mr.
Beaver had not intervened, would have been
abandoned altosfcther.

'^ Vi'hat, in the name of common sense," he
indignantly exclaims, " did we come here for?
Did we not know that the rains would commence
when they did, before we left England? That the
labourers and servants should instantly acquiesce
in the measure of abandoning the island does not
surprise me ; for most of them had no other motive
in coming hither than to avoid didiculties in their
own country, but they found them also here. To
avoid, and not to encounter diilicuUies, is their

70 THE LIFE OF

object; and^ therefore, the same motives which
induced them to undertake, will also induce them
to abandon the enterprise. But what shall we say
for the council? for those who conducted the
undertaking, in thus giving- it up^ without even
making an attempt for its success! Of all the
individuals of which the colony was composed, I
believe that I was the only one who had deter-
mined to return to Europe, after the first rains ;
or, at least, who had publicly avowed such an
intention, before leaving England. But I cannot
sneak back in this shameful manner."

The island of Bulama is situate at the east end
of the Bijuga archipelago, and was estimated to be
about seven leagues in length, by from two to five
in breadth ; Hespereleusis, as the settlement on it
was named, lying in latitude 11° 34' north, and
longitude 15° 30' west. It rises gradually from
the shore towards the centre, where the height is
nearly a hundred feet ; and it is generally covered
with wood, though there are some natural savan-
nahs, and a few clear spaces, affording ample
pasturage to irmumerable elephants, deer, buffa-
loes, and other wild animals. The soil is rich
and fertile, producing a vegetation so luxuriant,
that in their garden various vegetables, sufficient
for half a dozen such colonies as their own, were
speedily produced. From this abundance, and

CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER 71

its geographical position, it was inferred that Bu-
lania was well calculated for the growth of cotton,
indigo, tobacco, cotfec, and sug'ar of the finest
qualities. In his short and harassed residence,
though surrounded by treachery and danger, and
amidst severe mental and bodily trials, Mr. Jieaver
contrived to clear fifty acres of wood land, and to
enclose sixteen of them. This exertion, together
with the toil of keeping his account-books and
journals, building a block-house, and all the
necessary duties of governing his motley group,
are the most satisfactory criterion of the activity
which he displayed. Indeed he appears to have
been obliged to practise a little of everything,
being alternately carpenter, engineer, sexton^ rec-
tor, magistrate, and physician. •
The Calypso sailed on the 19th of July, and had
no sooner taken her departure, than the committee
met, and unanimously voted Mr. Beaver their
President, and Lieutenant Hancorne his Deputy.
Regulations for the health, safety, discipline, and
religions worship of the Establishment, which now
consisted of fifty-three men, thirteen women^ and
twenty-five children, were proposed and adopted ;
and a spirit of industry immediately manifested
itself, which formed a striking contrast to their
late inactivity. The cutter was despatched to
Bissao to negotiate a regular supply of fresh pro-

72 THE LIFE OF

visions : one party was building a roof over the
ship aoainst the rains, and another was cutting
down timber ; while those who were not artisans
endeavoured to explore the country. The ^^fell
Serjeant/' however, soon commenced his havoc^
for in two days after the Calypso had left them,
one of the women, and the newly-elected vice-
president expired.

On the 23rd of July, a schooner arrived, com-
manded by Mr. Bootle, an intelligent mulatto,
from whom Mr. Beaver found that the Biafaras,
an inoffensive nation on the main land, had a
better claim to Bulama than the Bijugas, who had
sold it to him. It was, therefore, immediately re-
solved, as an act of strict justice and prudence,
to satisfy any demand which they might make;
and being also desirous of purchasing a portion
of the opposite coast, our President requested
Bootle's assistance, offering him a recompense of
one hundred bars, a species of barter equal to
about fifteen pounds sterling. The mulatto hand-
somely declined the proffered reward, though
ready to be of all the service in his power ; and
through the whole business he displayed such
frank integrity, that it excites the deepest sympathy
to find he was shortly afterwards cut off by the
Manjacks, and murdered, together with his crew.

The instant the Beggar's Benison returned from

CAPTAIN' PHILIP BEAVER. 73

Bissao^ Mr. Beaver sailed for the Rio Grande,
with the requisite assortment of goods for effecting-
the desired purchases. In about fi\e hours he
reached Ghinala, a district of the Biafara couritry,
situated thirty miles up a most beautiful river
with sufficient depth of water for the largest ships.
Matchore and Niobana, the two kings, whose
towns were about a quarter of a mile asunder,
received him in a most friendly manner, and then
went on board the cutter to arranoe the bar^-ain ;
but repeated drams so overpowered their majesties,
that the palaver was adjourned to the next day.
On the 2d of August, Matchore embarked to select
the goods which were to constitute the price of the
land ; Niobana, being ill, sent '^ his head woman
with his cane to represent himself." This tedious
choosing continued eight hoJirs, without coming' to
a conclusion, and mioht have lasted as lono" on
the following day, had they not luckily been cap-
sized in going on board, which occasioned them to
make up their minds a little sooner, amidst the
dazzling temptations, as they were very cold, from
what little clothes they wore being wet. The
price of Bulama, a much greater extent on the
opposite shore, and all the adjacent isles, amounted
to twenty-six pounds.

" Saturday, 4th. Early this morning I went
up to Niobaiia's town, to get him to sign the con-

?4 THE LIFE OF

veyance of the land which I had yesterday pur-
chased, and which Matchore had signed on board
the cutter. He did so ; and immediately after-
wards taking- hold of both my hands, and lifting
them up near to his lips (I supposed with an inten-
tion of kissing) he spat into them, saying, ' that
now Bulama and the other lands which I had been
treating for were mine ; that his town, even where
I stood, Ijelonged to me ; and that now we were
brothers.' To be called the brother of Niobana I
had no objection, but would willingly have dis-
pensed with the ceremony by which I was made
so."

Returning to Bulama on the following day, the
President found that young Hancorne had in the
interim died, and that the sick list had increased
to twenty-two ; in consequence of which he sent
the cutter to Sierra Leone for the assistant surtreon,
who had been allowed to go thither in the Calypso,
to attend the patients. Four of the colonists took
this opportunity of requesting leave to go home ;
which, from Mr. Beaver's resolution to detain no
one, was instantly granted. Notwithstanding the
incessant rains, he proceeded to Bissao in the
cutter, whence she was despatched to her destina-
tion, while he remained to arrange, with Mr. de
Sylva, for a regular supply of refreshments. Dur-
ing this time he fell extremely ill ; yet, notwith-

CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 75

staiidiiio- his weakness, he returned to the settle-
ment the moment he had concluded his business.
Two of the colonists had expired in his absence, to
one of whom, Mr. Marston, the surveyor, he pays
a high tribute of praise, as a truly good and
valuable man, of noble mind and great acquire-
ments ; but who had been reduced in circumstances
by the American Revolution.

The exposure and fatigue which Mr. Beaver
underwent could not but retard his recovery. His
disorder, though he appeared to be convalescent,
shortly afterwards grew rapidly worse, and about
the middle of August he was so reduced, that his
life was despaired of: his feelings, and those of
the settlers, are thus described in the Journal. —
" I am aware that I shall be accused of consum-
mate vanity for what I am now about to write :
be it so — for I allow that even to the last moment
of my recollection, when I absolutely thought that
I was no longer for this world ; when I was actually
deprived of my speech, but not of my senses, I
felt great consolation in what 1 heard every one
say of me ; for as no one conceived that I was
sensible, or could possibly live an hour longer,
they probably spoke only their real sentiments.

" The people had crowded about the cabin-door
all day, inquiring after my health, and shewed
great anxiety for my recovery. As the front of

76 THE LIFE OF

my cabin, from one side of the sliip to the other,
was one continued window, I could hear everything-
that was said, but could not be seen, on account
of a canvas screen round that part where my cot
hung. Reader ! if this should ever be seen by other
eyes than my own, call me vain if you please, for
I do assure you that I was exceedingly so, when I
heard every individual speaking only my praise ;
the breath of slander itself could not accuse me of 1
any one thing which I wished not the world to
know : every one said, that I had killed myself
by my exertions for their good; that labouring
and exposing myself, so much as I had done, no
constitution could stand ; that now they must go
home ; for, as they had lost me, there was no one
left who could take care of them.

*' Between seven and eight in the evening I
could no longer articulate ; but was seized with
a rattling in my throat, which I conceived to be
a symptom of my no very distant dissolution. I
was still sensible ; and, indeed, for an hour after
the rattling had first seized me. It was now that
I heard every one say that it was all over, and
that Captain Cox, sitting by the sky-light almost
immediately over me, said that to-morrow he
should have orders to get ready to sail for England.
This, now that I am better, Mi-. Miniden and Mr.
Aberdeen, the only two members of the committee,

CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 77

have confirmed ; as they had made \\[) their minds
to i»ive such orders llie moment I was dead : lor
iieitlier of them would take charge of the colony ;
and indeed if they would, nobody would ha\e staid
when 1 was gone,

'^ I can with truth aver^ that if in these mo-
ments I had tlic least wish to live^ it was to pre-
serve this colony. Deatli, if thou never comcst in
greater terrois^ I shall never be afraid to meet
thee ; for the happiest moments of my existence
were those when I expected to cease to be. May
my future life be such, as to enable me always to
meet thee thus !"

The life of our oHicer was^ hov/ever^ providen-
tially spared for greater exertions ; and in a few
days he was again at work, tracing out the lines
for an intended block-house, on the summit of the
hill. Finding that the maxim, of individual welfare
being necessarily dependant on the general, was
not understood, Mr. Beaver determined on em-
ploying all the labourers in erecting a range of
buildings within a square inclosurc^ which should
answer the double purpose of defence and dwell-
ing ; thereby checking the interested disposition
which some of them evinced^ for erecting edifices
according to their own ideas of comfort and situa-
tion. The houses were afterwards to be drawn
for by lot^ with the only exception, that the most

78 THE I4FE OF

industrious should have theirs covered the first.
Several of tlie subscribers were dissatisfied that he
would not give them a little spot for a garden ; but
as he conceived that their whole labour would be
devoted to it^ he thought the interests of the com-
munity rather required a public one.

These disagreeable contentions occasioned him
great uneasiness, as some of the members became
extremely unruly ; and he felt it necessary, for
the safety of the whole, to act with firmness and
vigour. He was determined, with so weak a
party, to work entirely on the public account,
although he felt, could circumstances have per-
mitted, that each labourer would have rendered
infinitely more on his own allotted ground, than
when cultivating in common. One of the settlers,
irritated at being obliged to dig at the block-house,
said, ^' that he would live in a hut by himself, for
he was not afraid." — '' Yes," said Beaver, " you
are afraid ; — I order you instantly inside, and I
dare you to disobey."

On the 26th of August, Bellchore, with a large
party, came to visit the settlement. Although such
a compliment was not at all desirable at that early
period, Mr. Beaver politically welcomed him with
a salute, and most indulgently entertained him,
which kindness was returned with a present of live
stock, and in the course of two days he took his

CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 79

leave. On this occasion the uUl king- put on a
ceremonial dress over his goat skin, and changed
a red woollen cap for a three-cornered hat, deco-
rated with buttons. When the hour of sleep ar-
rived, his sable majesty, who had been unsparing
in his attentions to the spirits, would not go to bed
until a bottle and glass were placed by his })ill(j\v;
*^ for," said he, ^' suppose I must wake in the
night, that time I can drink rum too."

Towards the end of August, the number of men
who were capable of working being reduced to
twenty-four, the watches were contracted from four
to three, and several were excused that they might
commence other labour at day-light.

Mr. Hood, who went on shore with these early
parties, had, on the morning of the 1st of Septem-
ber, gone into the woods to visit a guinea hen's
nest, but being missing towards evening, appre-
hensions were entertained for his safety, especially
as he had a dysentery, and a bad ulcerated leg. At
night all was silent ^'except frogs and mosquitos,"
a gun was fired, and a light kept burning, though
they never expected to see him again. At length
on the following morning he made his appearance,
having wandered all the preceding day until night,
when, alarmed by the growling of a wild beast, he
climbed a tree, although his right of occupation
was disputed by a family of monkies. He arrived

80 THE LIFE OF

very miuli fatig'iicd at the block-house^ having-
eateii nothing-, except a small yellow plum which
grew spontaneously ; but^ what is the most extra-
ordinary, entirely cured of his dysentery, apparently
by this fruit, and his leg- a great deal better.

Mortality, fever, and heavy rains retarded the
progress of the works on shore so much, that Mr.
Beaver determined on makinof the few who were
able, continue their labour on the Sunday after-
noons, though not without meeting some objection.
As the very existence of the colony depended upon
having a place of security, before the departure of
the Hankey, his arguments were very short ; and
an order, that he who did not work should not eat
on a Sunday, quickly overcame all their scruples.

By the end of September, the establishment was
reduced to fifty-eight, of whom thirty were ill !
The President was therefore brought to " the me-
lancholy necessity" of reducing the intended block-
house from a hundred and eighty by a hundred
and fifteen, to a hundred and fifteen feet square.
A boat, which had been brought out in frame, was
launched, and called the Perseverance ; and the
rains being nearly over, the covering which had
been constructed to shelter the ship, was taken off,
and sent on shore. Notice was now given that
the Hankey would sail for England about the mid-
dle of November ; and as the people were much

CAPTAIN PIIILII' liEAVKli. 8l

depressed in spirits, Mr. Beaver demanded tlie
names of those who hitended to abaiiddii the
colony, that he might not build more houses than
were requisite.

A determined spirit hke his was now vitally ne-
cessary, as an example to those who wavered, re-
specting this last chance of returning to their native
shores. Several, who did not openly give their
opinion, were not the less earnest in trying to shake
his resolution, in order that all might retreat with
credit; and the doors of the new store-house were
found chalked with— '^ It is death to stai/:' " Yet,"
he remarks, in a letter, '^ the mortality must cer-
tainly be attributed to the laborious fatigue attend-
ing a first attempt to settle a colony ; and the ne-
cessity we were reduced to, of working in the rains,
in order to have a fort to defend, and a house to
cover us. At the beginning of the dry season,
when we expected the ship was to leave us, had we
been strong' enouoh to have worked but little, and
that during the intervals of the rains, I really think
but few would liave died. But with little strength
we found it necessary to work from morn to night,
except when th.e rains poured like torrents, and by
these we were often caught, when going in the
boat, either on board or on shore."

There is little doubt but that several of the hap-
less settlers also accelerated their own fates by an

G

82 THE LIFE OF

injiiclicious use of minerals and drugs ; for a large
quantity of Tartar emetic^ James's powders, and
other powerful medicines, were found in the chest
of Mr. Banfield. It was also proved that this igno-
rant man had been in the habit of administering
strong doses to his companions, even while they
were in sound health !

"He physic's use doth quite mistake,
Tliat physic takes, for physic's sake."

The Beggar's Benison returned from Sierra
Leone on the 6th. of October, but the assistant-sur-
geon had declined to rejoin them. She, however,
brought back Captain Paiba, one of the four who
left them on the 7th of August, with his wife, child,
and servant ; and what was of infinitely more im-
portance, two Papel grumetas, or hired native
labourers from Bissao — it being now evident that,
without such assistance, they could neither com-
plete their works, nor afterwards retain them.

"^ October 18th. — Mr. Banfield, who has been
some time in a state of lunacy, attempted to de-
stroy the ship's steward, by laying his skull open
with a three-cornered scraper ; and we have very
strong grounds to believe that the ship's cook, who
was drowned on the 2d instant, was rolled over-
board, in his sleep, by this same Mr. Banfield, at
that time insane." Beaver was obliged to confine

CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVEU. 83

this unfortunate trcntleman in irons, which, with
the trouble occasioned about the same time, by
Mr. Rowe, the surgeon, harassed him greatly in
the execution of his duties. The latter had long-
been dissatisfied, but his turbulent temper now
sought every opportunity of sowing dissension in
the minds of others, besides entirely neglecting his
medical services under pretence of illness, by which
culpable remissness several persons died without
his having even seen them. He appears to have
been harsh and profligate, and his murmurs might
have occasioned mischief, had they not provoked
general contempt. He was so pertinacious in endea-
vouring to excite cabals, that nothing would silence
him, except Beaver's threatening " to put him in
irons, and chain him like a bear to a tree."

To the varied duties of our indefatigable leader,
were now added the gloomy ones, not only of read-
ing the funeral service over the dead, but of diofSfino-
graves for their reception, owing to the disgust
which the grumetas expressed at the sight of a
white corpse. At length the time for the Hankey's
departure drawing near, the colonists landed on
the 8th of November with their baggage; but
through their incorrigible indolence, and in spite
of all admonition, there was still little or no shelter
for them. A four pounder was placed at each of
the gates, and an evening gun fired to announce

G2

84 The live of

vio-ilmicc and watebiiio' ; but the i)e()ple were [greatly
dispirited, and on the lOtli, the diary notes, —
" Though ill with a fever, turned out three times
in the night, from alarms given, through the fear
and madness of Robinson. Made him at last go
to sleep under my cot."

These ac^itations irritated the disorder of Mr.
Beaver, insomuch that he was unable to rise for a
fortnight. '' 23d. From the lOth instant I have
been too ill to keep a journal, and am now scarcely
able to scribble a few lines to the trustees, before
the Hankey sails, her charter having expired the
day after I was confined to my bed." It assuredly
required the nerves of a hero to preserve the settle-
ment, assailed as it was by treachery, disease, and
death ; and to endeavour in such confusion and
distress to establish order and prosperity, was
■W'orthy of the vigorous mind, which could under-
take to colonise and govern, without any assistance
or authority from the government of his country.

After the sailing of the Hankey, the general de-
pression increased, and strenuous exertions became
necessary to decide the fate of the colonists, for the
original number of two hundred and seventy-five
persons was now reduced to twenty-eight! Of
these few, the only seaman, and therefore the only
fit person to command the cutter, was ascertained to
be a notorious pirate. "^ However," says Beaver,

CAPTAIN PlIILIi' IJLAVKK. 85

who made the best of every thins;-, *^ tlie knowing- a
man to be a viUahi, is getting over every dillicuUy."

The whole of the estabhshment now fell ill ; but
on the 5th of December, four men had fortunately
so far recovered as to be logging the block-house
with the grumetas, when they were surprised and
annoyed to sec Bellchore coming round the point
with a strong party of well-appointed men. Bea-
ver immediately beat to arms, saluted him^ and
loaded the great guns with grape shot ; by which
time the aged savage had landed, and marched up
in battle array to within forty yards of the east
gate, where he halted. Having placed two senti-
nels at each gate^ with orders to kill the first man
who should attempt to pass by force, the President
went forth to meet Bellchore, who knew and em-
braced him very cordially. The Bijugas begged
hard to be admitted, for the sight of the cannons
terrified them from open attempts, and at length
permission was given to Bellchore alone to
enter the block-house ; but as his Majesty had been
overheard to intimate his intention of attacking
them, he was received with the most rigid caution,
tempered with politeness.

The four colonists and seven grumetas, in whom
the defence consisted, were warned that their safety
depended upon firmness and union ; and as a proof
of his own resolution, Mr. Beaver took the heads out

86 THE LIFE OF

of two barrels of gunpowder^ which were, amongst
many others, close to the cot in which he made
the old king sleep, and placed lighted matches by
them ; there being no alternative between preserv-
ing the place, or blowing the whole to atoms.
Tlie small garrison was divided into two watches,
one commanded by the Lieutenant, and the other
by Johnson, a grumeta, for not one of the colo-
nists was well enough to undertake the charge.
Only one of the cutter's crew then remained, and
he was on board, with orders to fire into the hut
amongst Bellchore's people, if he should hear the
report of two muskets.

These hints were sufhcient for the Bijuga chief,
whose hostility or friendship were balanced by cir-
cumstances, and the night passed away quietly. But
two of the colonists were much worse in the moin-
ing, from the cold dews, and the fatigue of watch-
ing ; and two of the grumetas, still less able than
the whites to bear such hardships, were taken ill.

Mr. Beaver, seeing his force thus diminish, inti-
mated to Bellchore, that '' there was much work
to do; that the people would not attend to it while
his men were on the island ; that he would be happy
if he would stay, but that he must send his Bijugas
away." The wary savage, after a pause, finding
his design was frustrated, replied, ^' My son has
reason ; I see you have much to do — we will de-

CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 87

part." Some handsome presents being- given him,
he ([iiitted the settlement about an hour before
sunset, under a sahite from the bh)ck-house.

The feverish anxiety and extraordinary exer-
tion of this memora})le night, so aflected the Lieu-
tenant's own health also^ that on the 13th^ liaving-
recovered from a dehrious (it^ he sent for Messrs.
Fielder and Hood, the only subscribers who were
able to move, before whom he made his will^ and
jj^ave them advice how to act after his death.
The following- morning-, " died, and were buried,
both Mr. and Mrs. Freeman : this couple I married
on the 4th of last month. They were both taken
ill about ten minutes after the ceremony was per-
formed, and have been so ever since. They both
died this morning- within ten minutes of each other,
and were both buried in the same grave."

The g-rumetas now became dissatisfied, and,
with the exception of two, went away on the loth.
** Harwin, one of the only three men who are well,
told me this evenins;- that he wished to leave the
colony, and go to Bissao, which I readily acceded
to, having- never asked a man to remain, who
showed the least inclination to leave the island.
Such dastardly wretches were never seen. Died
and was buried this evening, Mr. Fielder. This
is the man, who two days ago made my will,
and whom I thought likely to be my successor.

88 THE LIFE OF

He was youno- and brave — fit to draw a lion's
tootli."

Tlic two remaining" gruinctas were sent on the
l()tli to Bissao_, when Ilarwin and his son left the
colony, leaving Watson, the Lieutenant's servant,
the only colonist well, on shore, and Peter Hayles
in the cutter. " Watson and myself slept in the
east gateway, every other being barricadoed ; and
I collected the colonists, being seven sick men,
into the adjoining berth, that we might be in a
body in case of an attack."

Two days after, a cool N. E. wind sprung up, in
which the thermometer never rose higher than 77°,
whence the patients revived surprisingly. " Its
bracing coolness," says Mr, Beaver, 'Mias almost
recovered me, who have been from daylight till
dark exposed to it, while our indolent sick have
been pent up all day in their stinking eating-house,
which has scarcely been cleaned since they came
on shore, rather than exert themselves so much as
to go into this renovating air. In the evenings
when we leave off work, Peter goes on board the
cutter, and my man and myself remain to defend
the block-house! 'Tis well we are not attacked.
Since the departure of the Hankey, I have had no
one to speak to, no conversation. I do not think
it safe to show lights, and therefore cannot read in
the evenings; indeed, my head at present could

II

CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVEK. 89

ii(»l bear it; ho tliat^ after \vc leave oil" work, I sit
aljoiit two hours alone in the dark, in sullen deli-
beration on what we are to do on the morrow^ and
tiien go to bed."

These listless moments were the cause of many
j)ainfnl reflections; for it was then that imagination
forcibly excited unavailing vexation^ at the want
of conduct which disgraced all the preliminary pro-
ceedings. At those times, also^, the pensive recol-
lection of relations and friends would anxiously
intrude, and often for the moment disturb even his
stoical firmness.

" Thoughts succeed thoughts like restless troubled \YaYes
Basiling out one another."

llie deaths of Mr. Aberdeen, the last member
of the council, and Mr. Sparks, the last subscriber
but one, on the 21st of December, occasioned the
following remark : — '' Since the first of this month,
of nineteen men, four women, and five children,
we have buried nine men, three women, and one
child, which is, except one, half the whole colony.
It is melancholy, uo doubt, but many have abso-
lutely died through fear."

A reinforcement of twenty grumetas", "^ a cargo
more valuable than gold," roused the survivors
from despondency, though Mr. Beaver received
intimations from his friend de Sylva, that tlic
Canabacs would attack him.

90 • THE LIFE OF

Every precaution was according-ly taken, when,
on the 29th, some canoes filled with armed men,
led by Jalorem's two sons, arrived on a pretended
fiiendly visit, bearing and receiving presents as
tokens of perfect amity. But it was afterwards
discovered that they meditated a treacherous
attack, and were diverted from it only by the
accidental firing of a gun, which was regarded by
those savages as a bad omen. It was plotted,
that the two brothers were to stab the President,
and, on a signal from them to their companions
outside, the east gate was to have been stormed,
and the whole of the English put to death.

The negroes having reported a large ship at the
back of the island, with '' too much white people
on board," Mr. Beaver went off to pilot her to the
anchorage. She proved to be the Scorpion sloop of
war, under orders to render every possible assist-
ance to the colony; but, owing to the badness of the
charts, she was on the point of returning to Cape
Roxo, when the President got on board. Guided
by him, she was soon anchored in safety before
the block-house, and the garrison of Hespereleusis
had the proud satisfaction of having their salute re-
turned by a British man of war ! This unexpected
arrival was a source of great happiness, and a
plea for the first holiday since their disembarkation.

" January 12th, 1793. — This evening, the Scor-

CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 91

ploii sailed. From Captain Ferris, 1 received every
civility ; and, from his saying he had orders to ren-
der us any assistance in his power, I requested per-
mission of him to ask, among his crew, for six volun-
teers to strengthen the colony, as I had heard there
were men in his ship who would accept tlie ofler ;
but he told me, that was a point in which he C(mld
not assist me, as he had no authority to discharge
any of his men. However, one of his midshipmen
of the name of Scott, who was very anxious to re-
main, he at length discharged, and 1 gave him the
command of the cutter." But, although he could
not obtain the number of seamen he wished, the
visit of the Scorpion proved a most providential
occurrence, as it saved the colony from imminent
danger. For it was afterwards found, that Bell-
chore, with one hundred and fifty warriors, had
landed, and was actually within fifty yards of the
gateway, when two muskets wpre fired from the
Scorpion's boat, the officer of which w^as doubtful
where he was. These being answered by the cut-
ter and block-house sentinel, the old savage de-
camped, in the full assurance that he had been dis-
covered, and that the colonists had been rein-
forced from the ship with " too much white people
on board."

As the edifice was conceived to be perfectly
secure from sudden attacks by the 10th of Fe-

y-2 THE LIFE OF

brnary, tboy tlicnceforward ceased to work on the
Sabbath, " which," says Beaver, " I thought it
iiujiistiiiable to do, before our people could go to
prayers in safety."

After the celebration of divine worship on the
following Sunday, a disgraceful scene took })lace.
" Some of the colonists and Johnson, the gru-
meta, were very riotous, particularly the latter;
so much so, that it became necessary to beat to
arms. James Watson I was obliged to strike
with the butt end of my fusil, and was then going
to seize Johnson and put him in irons, when he
presented a cocked pistol in each hand, and said
that he would rather be killed at once than put in
irons, as he knew that I should flog him severely.
At this moment, Peter Hayles, who was close by
me, asked if he should fire at him, saying that if
I would give the orders, he would shoot him dead
on the spot. TIfs sanguinary fellow I called a
scoundrel, and, ordering his musket to be taken
from him, gave my own to Mr. Hood, and then
went up to Johnson and seized him by the collar:
he immediately burst into tears, and dropped both
his pistols, saying, that he could not fire upon an
unarmed man."

Hespereleusis was visited on the 28th by
Matchore, King of Ghinala, with his wife and
three attendants. The colonists had already found

CAFTAlN PHILIP fiEAVElt. 05

the Biafaras lo bo a peaceable race, and souk* of
Iheir bniitors, wlio came over '^ to make trade,"
had been very useful^ from the g-ame wliicli they
daily shot and brouoht in. In nine days^ one
of these killed twenty- five guinea hens, four
deer, and a mountain goat, besides wounding
three elephants: "" in short/' exclaims the presi-
dent, "■ to live here, a man has nothing- to do but
to plant yams, and be a good marksman."

With Match ore came a Manding-o priest, orgris-
gris merchant, as the venders of magical charms
arc called. '' To this priest I had made some
handsome presents, and he this day, in return,
gave me twelve gris-gris, and assured me that
they would inevitably secure me from all danger;
at the same time he gave me directions how to
dispose of them. Some were to be carried about
my person; one secretly placed over each gate-
way; another kept under my pillow; and another
under the roof of the house which I was buildino-,
&c. I received them with as much gratitude as
if 1 had implicit belief in their virtue, and promised
to follow his directions in their disposal. I was
the more astonished at this present, because in the
mornino-, when he boasted of the strensfth or virtue
of his gris-gris, I had ridiculed them, and desired
him to put all that he thought proper to protect
from death by a musket-ball, on the neck of one of

94 THE LIFE OF

my fowls, and that if I did not immediately shoot
it dead, I would give him ten bars."

^* March 15th. — Discharged this day, at their
own request, to go home in the Nancy, Thomas
Box and Thomas Griffiths, two worthless and in-
dolent vagabonds, who have never done any work,
who have never been of the least use to us ; also
Mrs. Riches, the only surviving woman, widow of
one of the labourers, and Mary Box, the only sur-
viving girl," This separation left the men of the
colony but five in number, of whom two were
blacks, and two boys ; there were also three men
in the cutter, neither of whom, however, had
come from England with the settlers.

In this weak state they received another visit
from the ferocious Bellchore, on which all the grur
metas were collected within the block-house, and
only two attendants at a time admitted with the
king. It was thought politic to make no mention of
the late treacherous plot, "though I had intended,"
says Mr. Beaver, "to reproach him with his perfidy,
and to have assured him, that nothing that he had
done was unknown to me ; then to have flogged
him, and turned him unarmed from the island."
But several displays of power were made to con-
firm them in their high idea of " all white man
witch," such as firing shot so as to make them
rise several times out of the water — bidding- the

CAPTAIN rillLlP BEAVER.

95

inaoiictic needle always to point one way — bringing
(he sun down on a man's head by means of the
(juadrant — and, above all, sitting on a cannon
while it was fned !

" So lookers on feel most delight

"Who least perceive the juggler's flight ;

And still the less they understand,

The more they admire the slight of hand."

Notwithstanding the smallness of their numbers,
the advanced state of the block-house gave Mr.
Beaver such security from attacks, that on the
night following Bellchore's departure, he writes
thus : — '' Undressed myself this night for the first
time, except when I was ill, for eight months and
nine days ; for, though I trust that I have no im-
proper fears, 1 have hitherto always thought it
prudent to have arms within my reach, and to be
ready to act in a moment, without losing the time
necessary for dressing." The progress of the
houses, also, now allowed of a portion of time
being devoted to the enclosing of fields and gar-
dens ; but, strange to relate, a wonderful sort of
stupidity seized all the colonists, except Mr. Scott,
the midshipman, and a boy, — some so completely
losing their memory as to become nearly idiots.

May the l-2th, while " playing the conjuror" to
a party of friendly Biafaras, Mr. Beaver shewed
them various prints. Of these they did not seem

96 f HK LIFE OF

to comprehend the meaniiio', until they saw an
elephant and a monkey portrayed in a view of
Sierra Leone^ after which they immediately under-
stood all that was exhibited. To the merit of
Lavater they paid the strongest tribute, in sud-
denly screaming- and (juitting the room the moment
his portrait of " the angry wicked man " was
placed before them.

Shortly after the departure of these people on
the following morning-, thirteen elephants were
discovered about two miles off, swimming from
the opposite shore. Mr. Scott, in the boat, fired
to prevent their landing, by which all but the first
were driven into a muddy bay_, where the footing
was insufficient to enable them to gain the beach,
while the constant firing of the midshipman pre-
vented their return to the river. In this situation,
luiable either to advance or retreat, the tide left
them; when the whole garrison, amounting to
fifteen men, were ordered to the attack, and con-
tinued it for three hours, at the distance of from
four to twelve yards. The fire was chiefly at a mo-
ther and her young one, the latter of which, having
had its proboscis and tail cut off, uttered heart-
rending cries. The mother received one hundred
and fifty shot about her head, and several deep
bayonet wounds in her liank, before she expired,
and was so sensible of the source of the injury,

CAPTAIN PIIIMP BF.AVF.R. 97

that she cast about lier proboscis, tossed up the
mud, and moaned himentably every time a musket
was presented at her. In short, Beaver deter-
mhied never more to a])[)roach any of those noble
anhnals, unless provided witli iron slug-s.

On the 1 Uh^ when going down to their victims,
several hippopotami were seen in the water ; but
all pursuit of them was rendered useless, by their
dexterity in diving-. '' The dead elephant g-rounded
in about three feet water, on its side, and while
Peter Hayles was cutting- out its tusks with a broad
axe, I sat on its upper side with a long- pike to
prick the sharks which surrounded it, on the nose,
and keep them from him, during- which time there
were never less than seven or eight trying to nib-
ble at it."

The rains setting in shortly afterwards, occa-
sioned considerable inconvenience, from the roofs
being ill thatched ; for, from the weakness of the
people, such imperfections were not easily re-
medied. By a Portuguese deserter from Bissao,
the president was informed that he might easily
recruit his numbers from that garrison, provided
he would receive those who iled to him : *^but,"
he exclaims, " much as I want men, and vahiable
as their acquisition would be, I had rather lose
those which 1 now have, than receive others who,
by coming, must commit a crime." Holding- such

II

98 THE tIFE OF

sentiments^ lie sent the deserter back to tlie for-
tress, having' first made the best terms he could
for him with the g-overnor.

Another visit from BcUchore, on the 16th of
July, occasions the following- remark:— "" He was
exceedingly importunate to make me promise to
come and see him at Canabac ; he was labouring
that point the whole of yesterday ; ' his women do
nothing but cry to see me ; I must come and see
them, or they will die.' The cunning old rascal !
he forgets that ' all white man witch.' He plainly
sees that he can do nothing by force, and now he
wants to get my person into his power.''

The 19th of .July was the anniversary of the
Calypso's departure, and every body was now ill,
except Messrs. Beaver and Scott. " At nine
o'clock last night," says the former, "^ I had written
my journal, and was sitting down to a broiled fowl
for my supper, when the mate of the cutter knocked
at the block-house gate, and was let in. My door
was opened, and two Europeans, two Englishmen,
appeared before me. It is impossible to express
my astonishment, my joy, my feelings, at the sight.
Their florid complexions, their appearance of health
and vigour, were such a contrast to the yellow
skins, and shrivelled carcasses, which I had for a
long time been accustomed only to see, that I
gazed upon them the whole evening. I thought

CAPTAIN rTIILT? REAVKR.

99

tlicm the handsomest mortals 1 had ever beheld."
They belong-ed to the Felicity schooner, from Lon-
don, in the service of the Sierra Leone Company,
with orders to touch at Bulama. She brought
provisions for the colony, and despatches from the
trustees, exhorting Mr. Beaver not to (]uit the
colony, and promising to send out more settlers
in about two months. These letters also gave him
notice of the war with France, but represented it
as not likely to last beyond the current year.

This intelligence was a som-ce of great inquie-
tude; by the conditions of his leave of absence,
he was bound to join his profession within six
months after being so required by the Gazette:
which time had already elapsed. Then came
the embarrassment whether to go, or to stay ;
on the one hand, he had everything to expect—
promotion, wealth, and honour; on the other,
neither pay nor support, nothing but the satisfacr
tion of having faithfully fuHilled his engagement.
Actuated by this generous feeling, he addressed a
letter to the Secretary of the Admiralty, regretting
his inability to comply with the order for all naval
officers to return to England, "" having," he adds,
" the direction of a small colony, whose very existence
depends upon my presence. If I disobey their
Lordships' orders in the Gazette, I know that I am
liable to lose my commission ; and if 1 obey them,

11 -2

100 THE LIFE OF

I never deserved one. I hope their Lordships will
observe the peculiar liardship of my situation, and
give me credit, when I aver, that the King has not
an officer more attached to him_, his country, and
constitution, than myself; that it is with the
greatest regret I find myself obliged to be absent
from the fleet in the time of war ; and that I shall
embrace the first opportunity of joining my pro-
fession."

In addressing the trustees, Mr. Beaver, in his
confidence that all the misfortunes at Bulama ori-
ginated in want of attention and industry, exclaims,
^' The good people of England need not be afraid
of coming out. They will find a fort ready to
protect them. They need not be much afraid of
the climate : I think it a tolerably healthy one.
They need not run the risk of clearing a spot of
ground to build on : I have already as much cleared
as a large town would cover. They need not
work, as we were obliged to do, for a covering or
defence, either when it rains, or in the heat of the
sun ; for I will shelter them. They need not be
frightened ; for I will insure their safety. In
short, they need not be exposed to any of the in-
conveniences which we have experienced, and
therefore I think it fair to suppose, that few of
them will die. We want a reinforcement of men ;
tliey should be carpenters, blacksmiths, and brick-

CAPTAIN PHILIP DEAVrn. 101

layers, accustomed to labour; not such as ue
brousrht out, habituated to drunkenness^ idleness,
and all the vices of the capital. Be careful that
the assistant surveyor knows his business well, and
that he be capable of acting as i)rincipal, in case
of the death of the surveyor. In this country it is
well to have duplicates of useful men."

The luckless colonists now began more heavily
to feel the effects of the rainy season, and the
grumetas took every advantage of their helpless-
ness. These men were principally from the Papcl,
or Manjack nations: the former, ignorant and
bigoted ; the latter, deceitful, lying, and disho-
nest. Much coercion was requisite to make them
feel that they were hired servants, not masters ;
and, from the baneful influence which their gris-
grishad in dispiriting the labourers, severe punish-
ment was permitted to be inflicted on two who
pretended to magic ; one of whom sturdily per-
sisted that he had frequently changed himself into
an alligator ! A Manjack, who attempted to stab
the President, was turned off the island for his
excessive folly, in trying to hurt him, " whom
twenty of them could not wound," but a rope and
block were attached to a large tree to hang the
first that should thenceforward draw his knife.
To one he was obliged to administer twelve dozen
lashes, for endeavouring to force a gate during

102 THE LIFE OF

Bellchore's last visit ; and to another still more,
for breaking' into the storehouses. Such necessary
severities kept their evil propensities in check;
but now, when all the English were afflicted with
fevers, Beaver himself dangerously ill, and poor
Scott, the midshipman, on his death-bed ; these
worthless fellows pilfered with impunity. Besides
taking" away the cow, and most of the fowls,
the store-rooms were robbed to a serious extent,
and all the Lieutenant's shirts and silk handker-
chiefs stolen. Many of these goods were reco-
vered at Bissao, and politely returned by the Go-
vernor with a kind message, " begging me not to
punish any of my grumetas, but send them away,
if they behaved ill ; and to have regard for my life,
which would be in much danger from their thirst
of revenge. A Manjack, he says, never forgives
an injury while the man lives who inflicted it. I
have never injured one of them, I have only given
them what they deserved."

The president illustrates the surly disposition of
a Manjack by a forcible anecdote. The mast of a
sloop, which anchored at Bulama, was shivered
by lightning during a violent tornado ; by which
accident one man was killed and another wounded.
"I saw the man on shore," he observes, "^ who
had been burnt by the lightning, and who,
till my approach, was bemoaning his fate. His

CAPTAIN PHILIP REAVER. 103

left side, from a little above the hip, all the way
down the outside of his thigh and Icg-^ was shock-
ingly burnt^ and perfectly raw. I ran for a bottle
of sweet oil and a feather^ with which I instantly
returned, and anointed, with the gentlest hand
and greatest care, the burnt parts ; all which time
he appeared perfectly indifferent to my attention.
When I had finished I of^^^ve him the bottle and
the feather, and, by means of our interpreter, I
told him to do the same three times a day ; that
it would ease the pain, and soon heal the wound.
He took them with the greatest coolness, without
altering a muscle of his countenance, without shew-
ing the least symptom of being pleased, or of
gratitude, and without uttering a word in reply.
He did not even look at me when 1 went away !"
With returning health Mr. Beaver renewed his
exertions, thousfh under the most discourao'ing-
circumstances ima^-inable, beinof neoflected in Ensr-
land, and therefore destitute of resources. The
ideotic lapse of memory had returned to all except
himself, and he fortunately escaped, though he
had had more mental and bodily fatigue than the
whole of the others put together. The employ-
ment now was grubbing up stumps, paling, and
sinkins: a well in the centre of the block-house
court-yard; a measure of the highest importance
to its preservation in case of attack. While work-

104 THE LIFE OF

ing' at the latter, sometliing- yellow and shining
was dug up and immediately brought to me.
*' Suppose we should find gold, Sir?' said Wil-
liams. ' I had rather find water/ said I. He
thought I was a fool."

TIjc toil^ however^ was too great for their dimi-
nished numbers ; and^ towards the end of October^
while weak and desponding^ they were so terrified
at the prospect of a hostile visit from the Bijugas^
as to become extremely importunate to abandon
the establishment. Hayles and Bennet had already
deserted, on hearing from a friendly Papel of an
intended attack ; others were detected planning
an escape ; and Mr. Hood declared he could not
sleep from the fear of having his throat cut. In-
deed he confessed that^ in dressing, his shirt got
entangled over his head so that he could not see_,
and he remained motionless for nearly a quarter of
an hour, from the dread of a Bijuga having seized
him, though he endeavoured to reason himself out
of the absurdity.

In hopes of the promised reinforcement from
home, Mr. Beaver made every possible delay, and
fruitlessly endeavoured to convince his companions
that their fears were groundless. Little did he
imagine that his despatches had been fraudulently
withholden ; and that the trustees were conse-
quently in ignorance of the state of affairs at
Bulama !

CAPTAIN I'lIILIP BEAVEK. 105

Meantime the alarms increased, and tlio rob-
beries of the griimetas became more daring ; till
at length, on the 14th of November, the colony now
consisting- of Mr. Hood_, the two blacks^ and Wil-
liams, a man who had deserted from Moore's
.vessel, flatly announced their determination of
immediately quitting- the island. Aware that his
remaining alone could answer no good purpose,
the president reluctantly yielded to necessity, and
made preparations for his departure, — a measure
he could not contemplate without the most poig-
nant regret_, after so much anxious exertion, in
which he had actually proved that the main object
of the undertaking, the raising of colonial produce,
was practicable. The clearing of ground, there-
fore, was now discontinued ; and, by some judi-
cious arrangements, having sold or embarked
everything that was moveable, he quitted for ever
this scene of calamity, and sailed for Sierra Leone
in the Beggar's Benison, on the 29th of Novem-
ber, 1793. Nor was even this trip without danger,
for the cutter had now scarcely any gear ; her
anchor was a makeshift, her cable was rotten, and
she was quite unprovided with stores of any de-
scription.

The party were most hosi)itably received at
Sierra Leone, but were unable to procure suflicient
supplies to render the cutter seaworthy ; nor, not-

106 THE LIFE OF

withstanding the reputed forests, could they get a
stick of a proper size to replace their sprung
main-boom. Indeed^ the general capability of this
colony struck our experienced leader in a much
less sanguine point of view than it had done its
projectors ; '^ when/' says he^ ^' they make a hogs-
head of suofar there, I will enorasre to do the same
at Charinsf Cross." These circumstances induced
him to abandon his intention of navigating the
cutter to England,, especially as he was able to
sell her and her cargo for upwards of a thousand
pounds sterling.

The two blacks and Williams having expressed
a wish to remain at Free-town, Beaver embarked
on board the Harpy with Mr. Hood, and arrived at
Plymouth on the 1 7th of May, 1 794. From Exeter,
with his accustomed promptness, he wrote the fol-
lowing characteristic note to M. le Mesurier.— *^ I
this day arrived in Plymouth Sound, on board the
Harpy, from Sierra Leone, and am thus far on my
way to London, where I hope to have the pleasure
of seeing you and the other trustees on Tuesday
morning. I have already applied to the Admi-
ralty for employment, therefore know not whether
my stay in town will be an hour or a month ; —
would it not be advisable to call a general meeting
of the association immediately?"

Lieutenant Beaver, having been requested by

CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 107

the Biiliima Association to state his opinion of the
cause of the kite failure, and of the probabiUty of
future success^ sent in a statement, dated the 2 1th
of June^ 1794, giving- his ideas concisely and
clearly, concluding with the frank avowal that suc-
cess might be commanded ; '' but when I say it
might be commanded, I presuppose a greater firm-
ness in those who go out, and more zeal and
activity in those who remain at home, than has
hitherto been evinced by either." This letter was
read on the following day to the convened mem-
bers, at the Mansion-house, on which occasion they
voted their unanimous thanks to him for the ability,
zeal, activity, and perseverance with which he had
conducted the affairs of the settlement; and assured
him they should ever hold his services in grateful
remembrance. They also resolved that a gold
medal be presented to him, expressive of the sense
entertained by the subscribers of his veiy merito-
rious services.

The vote of thanks and jiromise of a gold medal,
for the resolution went no further than a promise,
were the only rewards Mr. Beaver reaped for two
years of unparalleled exertion and suffering : he,
moreover, not only lost employment and probable
preferment, but also his half-pay during that pe-
riod, and the six months preceding.

Neither domestic aillictioii, occasioned ])y the
death of his eldest sister, that judicious sister who

108 THE LIFE OF

had so prudently concealed from an affectionate pa-
rent the report of his death*; nor a constitution evi-
dently injured by fatigue and climate_, could check
his eager desire for active employment; accord-
ingly we find him First Lieutenant of the Stately,
of sixty-four guns, within two months after his
landing from Africa. In. the interim, he had vo-
lunteered a cruize with Sir Sidney Smith; but the
Diamond not being destined for any particular
service, that distinguished officer recommended a
more permanent employment, remarking, " that
he could not but admire the zeal and courage
evinced in the offer."

While the Stately was detained in port, Mr. Bea-
ver was present, on the 25th of September, 1794,
at the marriage of his only surviving sister, Ca-
therine, to John Gillies, LL.D., his Majesty's
historiographer for Scotland ; an author well known
by his learned History of Greece, his elegant
Translation of Aristotle, and other writings of in-
trinsic and acknowledged merit. In this gentle-
man our Lieutenant found a friend, who duly
estimated his merits, and a companion whose well-
stored and comprehensive mind was a constant
source of improvement. The letter written by
Beaver, on this occasion, proves that neither ab-
sence, nor an almost savage life, had in the least

* Mrs. Charles Smith, who died on the 18th of June, 1793,

CAPTAIN PHILIP DEAVER. 109

diiiiinislied llic gentle iiflectious of his nature.
*' My dear Kate/' says he^ ** I am ashamed of
not havhig- answered your last letter but one, the
contents of which gave me so much real pleasure.
I would write also to Dr. Gillies on the occasion,
but your last having" determined me to come to
town, if Wednesday next will be time enough, I
now think it useless. Yes, Kate, I will come to
give you away ; and then, though I should always
remain poor, I shall have it in my power to say,
that I have given away the greatest treasure of
any man in Europe."

Mr. Beaver now began to keep a more detailed
account of occurrences than heretofore; an act the
more commendable, as the journals of commissioned
officers being no longer called for, except as official
papers, they are mostly copied from logboards,
without any benefit of the writer's professional ex-
perience. He explains his design thus: — " As it
is generally thought our destination is either against
Batavia or the Cape of Good Hope, though no
one, the commodore and general excepted, knows
which, the follow insr remarks are written with a
view to future similar voyages. More attention
will therefore be paid to hydrographic notices,
and the registering of winds, currents, magnetic
variations, and general health, than to chronicle
the hoistinsf or hauliuG: down of a staysail, the

or? •

opening of a cask of pork, the drawing or knotting

110 THE LIFE OF

of yarnSj or other equally pithy records, of which
a man-of-war's log' is generally the depository _,
and from the animation of which it probably de-
rived its name."

On the 1st of March, 1795^ the Stately, having-
embarked a party of soldiers, left Portsmouth with
a small squadron under Commodore Blankett.
Throughout the passage. Lieutenant Beaver paid
strict attention to the stowage and economy of the
water. He proved that the average quantity yielded
by Irvine's machine for distilling from salt water,
was nearly five gallons per hour. As the tube
was applied only during the hours of cooking, in
order to save fuel, this produce was a mere trifle
to divide amongst the crew ; and the flour and oat-
meal necessary for lutings, brought the expense to
a penny per gallon. The water, however, was
tasteless, and quite pure; and it was thought if the
contrivance were fitted to cover the surface of both
coppers, the produce would be sextupled. He also
made a rigorous trial of White's extractor of foul
air, a machine at first intended for mines, but sub-
sequently applied to ships of war. During this
voyage it was found efficacious on the second day
of its being used, in removing a fetid odour, which
exhaled from the bread-room scuttle, in the gun-
room, notwithstanding wind-sails had been con-
stantly kept down.

Two days after the ships made the coast of

CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. Ill

Africa, they fell in with Sir G. K. Elphinstone's
squadron, and the whole anchored in Simon's Bay
on the 13th of June. The subjugation of Holland
by the republicans of France was now made known,
and a correspondence opened with the Governor
of the Cape of Good Hope, for the surrender of his
charge to British protection . Tliis being- positively
refused, five Dutch Indiamen at anchor were taken
possession of, and the troops under General Craig
disembarked, with a body of nearly five hundred
seamen and marines to act in conjunction.

On the third of August, a little bush fightiug
took place with the Hottentots on the hills ; but it
was not till the 7th that any movement of conse-
quence occurred; and then, by a judicious can-
nonade, the Stately, America, Echo, and Rattle-
snake, drove the enemy from their entrenched
camp of Muyzenberg, while the army, flanked by
gunboats and launches, marched round to occupy
it. After several attempts to retake this position,
the Dutch, about the begiuning of September,
appeared resolutely bent on attacking with their
whole force; their advance and artillery were al-
ready in motion, when suddenly afleet of large ships
was perceived enteriug the bay, on which they re-
treated. The strangers proved to be English East
India Company's ships, with timely reinforcements
on board, which afforded the means of immediately

112' THE LIFE OF

undertaking offensive operations. Four ships
were ordered round to make a diversion in Table
Bay, while our army moved upon the strong post
of Wynburg- ; and in this advance Lieutenant
Beaver was singularly active, with a party of the
Stately's seamen, in transporting ammunition and
stores. On the 13th, the enemy made a show of
resistance, but being threatened on both flanks,
they retired on our approach. The Governor^
alarmed by the broadsides of the ships off Cape
Town, and seeing that resistance was fruitless, pro-
posed a cessation of arms. The consequent arti-
cles of capitulation were soon signed, and on the
dawn of the 16th, the Dutch hoisted their colours,
fired a solitary shot towards Commodore Blankett,
and lowered them again ; our soldiers then entered^
and thus gained one of the fairest colonies belong-
ing to the enemy.

Shortly after this successful event, the Stately
and Victorious were despatched to India, where
they joined the forces destined to act against
Columbo, the only possession then under the
Dutch in Ceylon. The service being completed
by the reduction of that place, the Stately was
ordered off the Isle of France on a cruize.

Mr. Beaver, for some months past, had not
found himself (juite so comfortable as he could
have desired; for zeal in a junior officer is not

CAPTAIN I'lllLll' UEAVF.K. 113

always a passport to ui)[)lausc : he determined,
lliereforc, to quit tlie ship on the first favourahUi
opportunity. Still no actual rupture broke forth
between him and his commander, liilly Doughis ;
though it appears that something- about this time
gave him umbrage, as he notes, — '^ The captain
wishes to make his son first lieutenant ! — strange
that he should iu)t know me better."

Having made the island of Rodriguez, our
officer was sent on shore for intelligence, and found
a wretched Luconian sailor, who had been cast
away in a schooner, which had captured the Triton
East Indiaman. From this man they procured
such information, that, on the 2oth of May, 1796,
they intercepted one of the frigates which had
been sent by the National Assembly in search of
the unfortunate Perouse, but now under Dutch
colours, and lichly laden with the spices of Mo-
lucca. Four days afterwards, the Carolina, consort
of the former, and also from Surabaya, fell into
their hands ; but a third ship, of which they had
been apprized, they never met with ; and she was
supposed to have been wrecked on the Pater-
nosters, and totally lost.

While cruizing in this vicinity, on the 23rd of
June, the ship was suddenly caught in a hard
squall. '' From the time," says the journal, " that
a few black clouds began to rise on the lee bow,

I

114 THE LIFE OP

till we were taken a-back^ was only eight minutes.
It had been the opinion of the captain, and the
officer of the watch, that the gust would pass to
leeward a-head without nearing us ; and the mo-
ment it seemed to be dying away the main clue
garnets were manned, but we were all a-back
before a tack was started. Fortunately for us,
the i)rincipal fury was two or three cables'
length distant, where the sea, with the most con-
fused motion imaginable, breaking in all directions,,
seemed to ascend to the heavens, and displayed,
without the least exaggeration, one of the most
tremendous, sublime, and awful scenes ever be-
held. If I could compare the motion and agitation
of the waters to anything which I have seen in
nature, I should say that it resembled the collec-
tion of a thousand water-spouts into the space of
a mile square. And I firmly believe that if any
single-decked ship, or probably if a line-of-battle
ship had found herself in its vortex, without her
hatches well battened, she would have been dis-
masted, swamped, and sunk."

By the beginning of July the scurvy had made
its appearance, on which the ships repaired to
Madagascar for wood, water, and refreshments.
The sick, as is usual with this complaint, recovered
with surprisiiig rapidity, and, by the 21st, were
all ready for sea again.

CAPTAIN I'lIlLll' BKAVER, 11.3

Tlic log"-l)()(jk coiilaiiis flic followiiio- remarks on
the natives of St. Aug-ustine's. '' A man came on
board, called Frlncc William. He lives a little
way up the river of this bay, and is the head man ;
his authority being- derived from the King of Baba.
It is necessary, before procuring any cattle^, to
have an interview with his highness, and to pay
him the customarv duty. We s^ave him two
muskets, a barrel of powder, one hundred flints,
and one hundred l)nllets ; besides which he was
saluted with seven guns on his leaving the ship : in
return, he sends a bulh)ck or two, and then the
natives are at liberty to barter their fruits and
cattle for European commodities. Two or three
days after our arrival, a fellow, named Tom Bush,
who is called purser to the King of Baba, came on
board and demanded similar presents for his mas-
ter : with him came half a dozen princes and
dukes, whose several demands were to be satisfied
only by a present of a musket to each. The next
business of Tom Bush, in conjunction with Prince
William, was to fix the size of the standard mea-
sure for trade, and three metisures of gunpowder,
whatever be the size agreed upon, are always
allotted to the purchase of a bullock : sheep, poul-
try, fruit, and all other procurable luxuries, arc
subservient to the same scale. These })rcliminarics
being arranged, there was no further dilliculty ;

I 2

110 TIIR LIFE OF

but as we received either ii bullock;, a cow^ or a
calf, from every person Vvho had been compli-
mented with a present^ we were enabled to supply
the ship's company till the day of our sailing-, when
we bought four head of cattle with powder.

"At the Tent Rock, a man called Tom Planter
seems to have the most consequence ; he was to
us the most useful fellow in the bay. He is sin-
gularly ugly, and has only one eye, with which,
however, he can see farther, in a worldly point of
view, than any of his countrymen can with two. Most
of the natives speak English, and many of them
French ; and in their language they have incor-
porated many Portuguese words. They are remark-
ably attached to the English, and singularly averse
to the Portuguese ; their well-grounded aversion
having arisen from the nefarious practice of car-
rying off such of the simple and credulous people
as, trusting to Lusitanian faith, have put themselves
into their power, by venturing on board their ships.
Though generally armed with a musket, or spear,
or both, they seem indolent and inoffensive, if we
except their addiction to theft. The men are
stout, well limbed, and manly in their features ;
but the women appear rather undersized, though
well proportioned and tolerably handsome. Of
mod6sty, however, these people can have no idea,
when we consider the singularly brutal and abo-

CAPTAIN rilH.ll' DEAVKU. 117

niiii;i})le prostitiilion of their wives ; and of leiuler-
iiess as little^ when we reflect tliat every child^
tlie oflspriiig- of this promiscuous intercourse, not
born perfectly black, is put to death the moment
after its birth."

Having- recruited the health of their crews, the
Stately, Rattlesnake, and Echo, sailed for the Cape
of Good Hope; and on the 10th of August per-
ceived the squadron of Sir G. K. Elphinstone,
beating' off Agulhas, in a hard gale of wind, with
a high sea. Two hours after having joined, the
Stately being- on the starboard tack, under close
reefed topsails and foresail, was so suddenly and
furiously assailed by a violent squall, as to be
thrown nearly on her beam ends, with rapid stern
way, and all her sails flying in ribands. In this
dilemma, the admirable conduct of Mr. Beaver,
who, from the indisposition of the captain, was
carrying on the deck duty, excited the applause of
all the squadron. While many of the spectators
considered her as lost, she was righted, wore, and
rounded to on the other tack, with seaman-like pre-
cision ; and was soon after near her station, under
a new foresail and balanced mizen. This smart
evolution attracted the particular attention of the
Admiral, who had already noticed (hu- oflicer's
exertions at Muyzenburg ; and thus, honourably
to both, connnencedan acquaintance which ripened

118 THE LIFE OF

into esteem and friendship, and was terminated
only by death.

" Congenial passions souls together bind,
And ev'ry calling mingles with its kind ;
Soldier unites with soldier, swain with swain,
The mariner with him that roves the main."

It appeared that the Batavian government had
fitted out an armament to recover the Cape ; and it
had already been seen from the shore : heavy gales
had however retarded the pursuit, and the anxious
Admiral, unable to discover their probable route,
now returned to the anchorag-e off Simon's Town.
Here, being apprized that the enemy had entered
Saldanha Bay, he weighed again, though the gale
was still raging with such force, that the Crescent
ran on shore, and the Tremendous, after parting
from two cables, was driven under the north bat-
tery, where she fortunately brought up. By dint
of unceasing exertion, the British fleet was enabled
to anchor, with springs on their cables, within gun-
shot of the inferior one of the enemy, on the 16th,
just as General Craig and his soldiers were seen
descending from the heights to occupy the shore.
In this position Sir George despatched a flag of
truce to the Dutch Admiral, demanding his imme-
diate surrender, in order to avoid an unnecessary
effusion of blood. Tiie latter, seeing no chance of
success by resistance, called a council of war, and.

CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 110

after a little deliberation, delivered up his ships on
the followiiio- day. Tiie [)rizes consisted of three
sail of the line, four friif-ates, a sloop of war, and a
stojeship, all well fitted, stored, and completely
coppered ; and the only opposition which had
been made, was an ineffectual fire from the Bel-
lona on our troops, as they were advancing.

Though this gratifying- event was accomplished
without other exertion than judicious demonstra-
tions of force, the spirit of Mr. l^eaver had been
displayed in constructing a very useful plan of the
position which was occupied by the two squadrons,
with the exact distances of the several ships from
each other. Sir G. K. Elphinstone, gratified by
such repeated proofs of merit, now treated him
with marked attention, and removed him into his
flag-ship, the Monarch, the same in which our
officer commenced his maritime career. It was
consequently highly pleasing to him to command
on that quarter-deck which he had so often walked
as the youngster of the watch.

All fears for the safety of the Cape having now-
subsided. Sir George quitted the station, and re-
turning homewards, was driven by severe weather
into Crookhaven, on the coast of Ireland, on the
23d of December, with a single vessel, the Daphne,
in company. They had scarcely anchored, before
several gentlemen came on board with intelligence,

120 THE LIFE or

that a numerous French ileet luul been seen the
day befoie off Bantry Bay ; and that sixteen of
the weathermost ships had already brought up
between Sheep's Head and Bear Island. Strong
easterly winds rendered every effort to get to sea
unavailing, and the Daphne was nearly lost in the
attempt; they were^, therefore, obliged to remain
some days at anchor^ near the invading enemy.
On the 27th the gale increased, and blew furiously
from the E. S. E.; many guns were fired by the
French, and in the morning it was perceived that
they had driven into the offing, where several of
the ships appeared to be in distress. A large
frioate was wrecked in Barley Cove, about three
miles from the Monarch, and seven men, rescued
by Mr. Beaver, were the only survivors. She left
France for the invasion of Ireland, with three
hundred seamen, and two hundred and sixty sol-
diers, on board ; on her striking the rocks, the
former hoisted out the boats, and, with true
"^ French fraternity," barbarously beat out the
brains of all the latter who attempted to enter
them. Neither would they admit any of their offi-
cers, through whose folly they exclaimed the ship
was lost; while thus deliberately guiHy of such
atrocious murder, these wretches were compelled
to surrender their own lives, a dreadful instance of
the savage depravity engendered by a total want
of order, discipline, and religious obligation.

CAJ'TMN IMIKIP BEAVKR. \2\

UetunuDg" to England, in tlio silnutitMi ol" lir.st
Lieutenant of Lord Keith's ilag' sliip, Mr. lieavcr's
promotion was deemed certain ; especially from
the nature of the services in which he had been
engaged. His eager hopes, however, were frus-
trated, in consequence, it was hinted, of his lord-
ship's having some coolness with the Admiralty.
This disappointment was the greater, as he used
to say, that " he would not give a pin to be made
an admiral after fifty."

On the 15th of April, 1797, the first symptoms
of that disgraceful event were disclosed, which
every officer of high feelijigs and strict notions of
naval discipline must ever deplore, a mutiny — a
mutiny in the British navy 1 1! Any periodical
publication will tell the proceedings of that most
reprehensible occurrence. But I decline it, and
hasten to record an instance of respect of those
misguided men towards their superiors, as a proof
that the flagitious principles of insubordination,
though widely disseminated, were not deeply
rooted. By an order of the delegates, no letters
were to g-o out of any shi[) without being first in-
spected by them; and on Mr. Beaver's asking,
N\ hether they intended to read his, he was answered,
^^ No, Sir, by no means ; we well know that oflicers
will not make things worse than they are." '' In-
deed," continues Beaver, ^'^ except in one ship only,

122 THE LIFE OF

all hands til rouoliout this astoundinof transgression
have conducted themselves with a degree of de-
cency and moderation,, which could scarcely have
been expected in so daring an assumption of illegal
power. I had always a hearty regard for British
tars, but I shall now like the character better than
ever. Their delegates have adopted a most des^
perate measure to obtain^ what they call, ' a redress
of grievances,' and one which I apprehend will for
some time affect our naval discipline; but they
profess neither liberty nor equality, nor do they
join in the sentimental hue and cry, that men are
to be ruled without reins. What a contrast to the
recent revolutionary excesses of France!"

Mr. Beaver remained with the grand fleet, and
displayed great professional skill in naval evolu-
tions^ of which a proof exists in some proposed
alterations for forming the line^ under different
exigencies, which he drew up at the request of
Captain Elphinstone.

In June, 1798, a circumstance occurred, while he
was serving as first lieutenant of the Formidable,
which gave him much uneasiness at the moment,
but which is only mentioned here, to preserve that
impartiality which is so essential in biography ; and
to dispel any surmise, if it be possible that any
can exist, of his mind's having ever deviated from
the paths of rectitude, lie was accused by the

CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 1'23

Secretary of the General Post oflicc^ " of having
written his name on the superscription of his own
letter, with a view that it might pass at a reduced
rate of postage, as a seaman's letter." An exa-
mination was consequently taken before Admiral Sir
C. Thompson, and he was instantly acquitted ; and
well he mighty for, independently of his own stern re-
gard to the strictest principles of truth and honesty,
it ai)peared that neither the initials nor the name
corresponded with his own, his name being Philip
Beaver, and that of the person who actually wrote the
letter in question was Robert Bloj/e; the initials
at the bottom being R. B., and not P. 13, Such
is the caution necessary in a public accusation_, and
such the possibility of error, even in a department
which is justly praised for its general correctness.

It may^ however^ be proper to record his own
manly sentiments upon this occasion. Being rallied
by a relation, upon the warmth with which he every
where repelled this unmerited allegation, and that
so serious a defence, upon so slight a charge, might
be thought, by illiberal persons, to partake of the
mock heroic, he properly answered, " No man
can be too careful of character ; such an accusation
might have been whispered at a future time, but
its utter falsehood is now placed on record."

Lord Keith being appointed to command on the
Mediterranean station, applied for Mr, Beaver to

l'-24 THE LITE OF

resume his did situation on board the Foudroyant^
for he liad now become noted as the best first
lieutenant in the service. From some cause or
other, not explained^ but resulting- perhaps from
the late mutiny^ he found that ship in such a state
of insubordination, that three days after joining
her^ he writes — " What confusion every where !
one would suppose that we were manned from the
Glory ; last night we had all but lost the ship — this
will never do." Soon afterwards he exclaims,
" Are the officers going to copy the men ? We
have here so many for promotion, that few are left
for plain duty ; we had just now nearly run over a
brig, but where from, or whither bound, the Lord
knows — a pretty look out for a smart ship."

It should be here premised,, that this captious
tone mio-ht rise, in some measure, from the view
which the writer, as a first lieutenant selected ex-
pressly to carry on all the detail duties, took of the
state of the ship. Indeed, it must be candidly ad-
mitted, that with a zeal sometimes bordering upon
heat, his rigidly exact notions did not always
(juadrate with those of his messmates. He took
umbrage at an apparent levity, not unusual in a
Hag ship, where youths of powerful interest are
brought together rather to accept than to earn
commissions; and having determined to act up to
what he considered the punctilio of service, he

CAPTAIN I'll 11.11' i5EAvr:n. 125

broiio'ht Lord Coclii'anc, despite (jf his influence
with the Commandei- in-chief, to a court martial,
for faiUng- in personal respect towards him. Tlie
frivoHty of excessive nicety about scrul)bin£>- decks^
squarino- yards^ burnishing- arms, polishing- stan-
chions, flying kites, and reefing- to a second of
time, he despised, and perhaps justly; but he
deemed every breach of olUcial decorum too dan-
g-erous an inroad upon our truly Spartan system of
discipline, to be overlooked.

On their arrival off Cadiz the flag was removed
into the Barlleui-, a change greatly to the satisfac-
tion of our ollicer, as he found her in a higher
state of regulation than he could hope to have g-ot
the Foudroyant into for some time. While watch-
ing- the Spanish fleet, the Brest di\ision, under
Bruix, were seen steering- in for the land on the
4th of May, 1799. The weather was very squally
and hazy. *^ There we were," it is Beaver who
speaks, '^ with the Spaniards on one side and the
French on the other ; but we had a compact and
well-disciplined force, with which, though less
than a third in number of the enemies' on either
hand, the admiral instantly oftered battle." A
furious uale scattered both fleets in the nioht, so
that at day-break on the 5th, only four sail of
the French were to be seen : chase was imme-
diately given, but the wind and sea being dead on

126 THE LIFE OF

the shore^ tlic pursuit was incfibctual. Indeed the
preservation of his ships became an object of pe-
culiar solicitude to the commander-in-chief, — with
an enemy's lee shore on one hand, and the force
of the Atlantic ocean on the other : —

" Some monstrous billow now the vessel heaves.
Which seems a moment to surmount the waves ;
When the wild prospect, far as sight may roam,
Is raging mountains interspersed with foam."

Lord Keith joined the Queen Charlotte on the
13th of June^ and on the 19th the squadron captured
three French frigates and two corvettes under the
command of Rear-admiral Perr6^ as they were re-
turning from a cruize on the coast of Syria. Beaver
was now selected to carry these ships into Port
Mahon ; on the accomplishment of which he was
advanced to command the Dolphin, of forty-four
guns. Those only who have toiled through the
service^ can estimate the feeling with which this
important step of promotion is received ; nor was
it the less acceptable to our officer from the hand
of his friendly patron.

Captain Beaver commanded the Dolphin about
two months, and then left her to join the Aurora,
a frigate armed '' en flute." In this ship he
remained from the 13th of September until the 6th
of March, 1800^ when, being pressed by the
admiral to return to him for a specified service,

I

CAPTAIN PHILIP BKAVEU. 127

he embarked on board the Phoenix for that pur-
pose. On the passag-e to Leg-horn, the Mutine
met them with the distressing- tidings of tlie de-
struction of the noble Queen Cliarlotte by (ire ; in
which dreadful cakunity, he with anguish heard
that six hundred and seventy-tln'ee of his late
shipmates had perished ! Some of his friends
considered his absence at this moment to have
been a fortunate escape ; but others, well acquainted
Tvith the circumstances, thought that, had he been
present, the accident would not have occurred,
because he never permitted hay to be pressed on
board : a practice to which her loss was generally
attributed.

About a week after this melancholy disaster we
find our hero complimented by Lord Keith in the
following general order: — " Havingjudgedit neces-
sary to call upon Philip Beaver, Esq., Commander
of his Majesty's prison-ship Aurora, to assist me
in the detailed duties of the command, the respec-
tive captains and commanders are hereby required
to pay the same attention to the orders, directions,
and memorandums, issued in my name, as if they
proceeded immediately from myself.' This un-
precedented appointment of a junior ollicer, as
assistant-captain to the Mediterranean fleet, a
situation equal to that of a rear-admiral, excited a
little jealousy ; but few were equal to the wcari-

12 8 THE LIFE OF

some mimitia) of its complicated arrang-ement,,
and as no objection could be made to the skilful
and zealous execution of it^ such prejudices soon
died away.

At this moment Captain Beaver addressed an
enero-etic letter to one of his old and favorite
messmates, abounding- with such valuable strictures
on personal conduct^ that it is to be regretted
motives of delicacy forbid the full insertion of it.
He apprizes him of its being generally whispered,
that he drank and slept during his watch_, and adds
most friendly hints of the danger and ruin attendant
upon such misconduct. '^ Say not/' he exclaims,
'' ' you don't care/ for one of the strongest proofs
of the inward monitor being off duty, is a dis-
regard to the opinion of your companions. You
have been well educated, and pride yourself on
your acquirements ; — but remember, if you permit
such vices to sap them, your boasted talents only
become as gay colours upon a reptile. If you
thiidv my comments free, pray, on the score of
friendship, forgive them ; if they prove disagree-
able, commit them to the flames ; but the motives
with which I act, must be accepted as sufficient
justification for the intrusion."

In Ai)ril, Captain Beaver was intrusted with an
arduous and honourable service — no less than the
bombardment of the magnificent city of Genoa,

CAPTAIN I'llILU' bEAVKll. 129

uhich was occupied by Masscna willi Iweiity-fuur
thousand French tro()i)S, the residue of the famous
army with which J^uonapartc liad overrun Italy.
A powerful Austiian force, under Mehis, havinir-
advanced simultaneously alono- the shores, partly
protected by British broadsides, the enemy was
now besieg-ed by sea and land. Tlie judicious
measures of our ollicer, with the fury of his fire,
excited the greatest consternation in the city, and
gave our allies, on the hills, tlie most animating-
courage, in the contiinial skirmishes which took
place. Indeed, the scene has been described as
beautifully terrilic ; for the palaces rising gradually
from the sea beach, were rendered awfully visible
by the explosions of the shells, and the (lames of
the vessels burnt in the harbour : —

" Hnijt' piles of smoke in cuiliiiij volumes rise,
Obscure the seas, and cUuken all the skies ;
Save where the flash illumes the sev"ring cloud,
Gleams round the mast, or quivers through the shroud.
Now through the gloom some stately vessel rears.
Now half disclosed her painted form appears ;
There crash the stayless masts, and strew the deck,
And leave the shatter'd hull a helpless wreck."

A very brilliant exploit, performed by Captain
Beaver on the night of the 21st of May, is thus
described by his commander-in-chief: — " By pri-
vate intelligence from Genoa, I understood the

K

130 THE LIFE OF

French had resolved on boarding- our flotilla in
any future attempt to bombard the town ; and
yesterday, about twelve o'clock, a very large galley,
a cutter, three armed settees, and several gun-
boats, appeared in array off the Mole-head, and in
the course of the afternoon exchanged distant
shot with some of the ships as they passed them.
At sun-set they took a position under the guns of
the moles and the city bastions, which were
covered with men manifesting a determined resist-
ance. I nevertheless arranged every thing for a
fourth bombardment, as formerly, under the direc-
tion of Captain Philip Beaver, of the Aurora,
who left the Minotaur at nine p.m., attended by the
gun and mortar vessels and the armed boats of
the ships. About one o'clock, being arrived at a
proper distance for commencing his fire, a brisk
cannonade was opened upon the town, which was
returned from various parts ; and Captain Beaver
having discovered, by the flashes of some guns,
that they were directed from something nearly
level with the water, judiciously concluded that
they proceeded from some of the enemy's armed
vessels. Calling a detachment of the ships' boats
to his assistance, he made directly to the spot,
and, in a most gallant and spirited manner, under
a smart fire of cannon and musketry from the
moles and enemy's armed vessels, attacked,

CAPTAIN rilIMP Br.AVF.n. 131

boarded, carried^ and broiif^lit oiniieir larfrcst gal-
ley. La Prima, of fifty oars and two hundred and
lifty-seven men, armed, besides muskets, pistols,
cutlasses, &c., with two brass guns of thirty-six
pounds, having about thirty brass swivels in her
hold, and commanded by Captain Patrizio Gal-
leano. The bombardment suflered no material
interruption, but was continued till day-light this
morning, when the Prima was safely brought off:
her extreme length is one hundred and iiftv-nine
feet, and her breadth twenty-three feet six inches.
On our part four seamen oidy have been wounded ;
one belonging to this ship, in the boat with Cap-
tain Beaver ; one belonging to the Pallas ; and
the other two to the Haerlem. The enemy's loss is
not exactly known ; but one man was found dead
on board, and fifteen wounded. The satisfaction
which I derive from considering the zeal, activity,
and gallantry with which this sendee has been
performed, is greatly augmented by the flattering
testimony borne by Captain Beaver to the good
conduct of the officers and seamen who acted with
him on this occasion."

The detachment with which Captain Beaver
attacked La Prima, consisted often boats, contain-
ing, between them, about one hundred olliccrs
and men. \\ hile these were proceeding, with all
possible silence, hoping to approach undiscovered

132 THE LIFE OF

ill the prevailing darkness, a Genoese gun-vessel^
stationed between the two mole-heads, opened
her fire upon them. Every moment's delay now
adding to the danger, the boats dashed on towards
their object. On arriving alongside, a new obstacle
presented itself : the gangway or gunwale of the
galley projected three feet and upwards from the
side of the hull, and was strengthened by a strong
barricade, along the summit of which the brass
swivels mentioned by Lord Keith were occa-
sionally mounted. As an additional obstruction
to the British, her oars were fixed in their places
ready for use ; with the looms secured to the
benches, or thwarts. Thus, with a crew of two
hundred and fifty-seven men, exclusive of the
galley-slaves on board. La Prima, even had she
not been guarded by numerous batteries, would
have been a formidable object of attack. All this,
however, was of no avail. The first entrance was
made amid-ships on the starboard side, in the most
courageous manner, by a boat of the Haerlem,
under the command of Mr. John Caldwell, mid-
shipman, who was promptly seconded by three
other pinnaces. In the mean time the crews of
the Minatour's cutter, and Vestal's launch, gallantly
led by Beaver, and supported by the remaining
boats, had clambered up the images on the quarter
to carry the poop, where a considerable number of

CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVru. 133

French troops had assembled. After a desperate
struggle, liand to hand, our captain and his brave
tars succeeded in their attempt ; the greater part
of their opponents jumping overboard on one side
as they secured a footing on the other. Almost
immediately afterwards a burgee, or broad trian-
gular pendant, the only flag flying on board La
Prima, was hauled down by Lieutenant Gibson,
and all finther resistance ceased. The boats were
immediately ordered a-head to tow ; and the slaves,
with seeming cheerfulness, manned their sweeps,
crying out, in broken English, '^ Got bless do
King of Gibbelterra!"

La Prima was quickly cleared from the chains
by which she had been moored to the mole, and
began moving towards the entrance of the harbour,
under a tremendous fire of shot, shell, and mus-
ketry ; the latter from a numerous body of troops,
which were drawn up on the mole-head, round
which she passed within ten yards, sustaining no
greater loss than what has been mentioned already.
Captain Beaver quitted her soon after, in order to
acquaint Lord Keith with his success, and the
command devolved on Lieutenant Gibson. Before
she had got quite out of gun-shot, an alarm was
raised of fire below : Mr. Gibson instantly rushed
down, and found a half drunken Genciese, with a
light and a crow-bar, in the act of breaking open

134 THE LIFE OF

the door of the powder magazhie, for the puipose,
as he unhesitatingly deckued, of blowing- up the
vessel ! Had the wretch succeeded in his diabolical
attempt, between four and five hundred persons
might have perished. Not being a vessel adapted
for the British navy, the prize was sold to the
Sardinians, for the comparatively small sum of
fifteen thousand dollars.

Botta, the Italian historian, draws a frightful
picture of the calamities which befel Genoa during
this siege. Even before the last extremities ar-
rived, a pound of rice sold for five shillings, and a
pound of flour for eight. Afterwards beans were
sold for a penny each, and a biscuit of three ounces
weight, when procurable, for ten shillings. A
little cheese, and a few vegetables, were the only
nourishment given to the sick and wounded in the
hospitals. Men and women, in the last agonies of
despair, filled the air with their groans and shrieks.
Sometimes, while uttering these dreadful cries,
they strove with furious hands to tear out their
ravening entrails, and fell dead in the streets.
Children, left by the death of their parents in utter
destitution, with mournful gestures, and tears^ and
heart-broken accents, implored the passing stran-
ger ; but none either pitied them, or aided them ;
the excess of his own anguish extinguishing in
each man's breast compassion for the misery of

CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 135

others. But cruel and liorrible beyond all descrip-
tion was the spectacle presented by the Austrian
prisoners of war, confined in certain old vessels,
anchored in the j)ort ; for such was the dire neces-
sity at last, that for some days they were left with-
out nutriment of any description ! They ate their
shoes, they devoured the leather of their pouches,
and, scowlino' darkly at each other, their sinister
glances betrayed the horrid fear of being- at last
reduced to a revolting- resource. In the end their
French guards were removed, under the api)re-
hension that they mig-ht be made the sacrifice of
ravening- hung-er : so great, at last, was their des-
peration, that they endeavoured to scuttle their
floating prisons, in order to sink them ; preferring
to perish thus, rather than any longer endure the
tortures of famine. As commonly happens, a
mortal pestilence was added to the ravages of
dearth ; malignant fevers carried off crowds from
the public hospitals, the lowly hovels of the poor,
and the superb palaces of the rich. " Such,"
adds Botta, *^' was the state of the once potent and
joyous Genoa; and the bitterest thought of all
was, that her present sufferings could conduce
nothing to her future good, either as to her liberty
or her independence."

The French army, being thus in absolute starva-

136 THE UlE OF

tion, and ilicir distress heJolitcncd to horror, by
the lamentable clamours of the famishing- inhabi-
tants, and the terrors of bombardment, they were
obliocd, in the beginning- of June, to accept of a
capitulation. Captain Beaver was selected to treat
on the part of the English, under another flattering
proof of Lord Keith's unlimited confidence. "^ Lest
any difficulty/' says his lordship, "should be started
in your conferences with the French oiFicers, who
may be appointed by Marshal Massena, respecting
your want of authority, I hereby empower you to
conclude the negotiation in my name, knowing
that you are in full possession of my sentiments
and intentions, and fully confiding in your fidelity
and integrity. And I shall ratify, without delay,
all the articles to which, in conjunction with his
Excellency Licutenant-General Baron d'Ott, you
may accede."

Little has transpired as to the discussions of this
negotiation ; but it appears that the arrogant style
of the republicans was well met by the manly deci-
sion of Beaver. A French account remarks, that
'Mhe English Captain, Bivera, answered, 7ion! non!
to every thing ; the Austrian general was more
polite." Massena was most urgent to retain some
small craft, for " having taken all our ships,"
said he, " a few boats are beneath your notice."

CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVEll. 137

It seems that Lord Keith afterwards softened Caj)-
taui Beaver's " no,"" and that Massena used these
very boats to smugg-le away his phmder.

Our officer's anxious services were now rewarded
by bein<»- made the bearer of the dispatches ; and
we may reasona1)ly imag-ine that, after the success-
ful issue of such a series of iin[)ortaiit events, so
implicitly confided to his direction, the prospects
he drew of futurity were tinted with the brightest
hues ; but_, alas, how short-sighted is man, and
how evanescent is the glow of puJ)lic life .' Even
his mission to England, which was intended as an
honour, unluckily proved of little use to him.
Captain Beaver landed at Leghorn, and, altliough
he exerted all possible expedition across the con-
tinent, the necessary detour to avoid the French
armies, in his route to Cuxhavcn, gave time, not
only for the fatal battle of Marengo to be fought,
but also for the account of it to reach England be-
fore him. Arriving at the Admiralty, exhausted with
fatigue, he found his dispatches were of no impor-
tance, as government could not even aimounce the
capture of a place, known to be again in the hands
of the enemy. This was not the worst, for he re-
turned to Lord Keith, without either his expected
post commission, or the gift usual on such occa-
sions. Happy the country, and noble the profes-

138 THE LIFE OF

sion^ possessing" men^ whom such chiUing" coldness
does not ahenate from either !

" Heav'n gave thee courage, not with impious rage
T oppress thy friends, and civil combats wage ;
But that thy soul with noble warmth might glow,
In fields of fight against the common foe."

The disappointed officer remained only a few
days in town, and by the 5th of July, being- exactly
one month from his leaving Genoa, was on board
the Endymion, for his passage out. Confidence
in his own exertions, and reliance on the Admiral's
patronage, fully persuaded him of future success ;
and he, therefore, on his arrival at Gibraltar, was
immediately united to a young lady, to whom he
had previously pledged his love. This happy event
he thus announced to his mother, from Minorca :
" I arrived here two days ago, and occupy my
former situation of assistant Captain of the Squa-
dron, In my way up, I was detained a fortnight at
Gibraltar, and took one of the most important
steps of my life. I was engaged to be married
there, before I joined Lord Keith the last time;
and you will, perhaps, be displeased at my not
having made you acquainted with my intention
before I left England. But I had made up my
mind on the subject, and knew your anxiety for
my happiness would, on your part, produce diffi-

CAPTAIN PHILIP BHAVER. 130

cultics, wliicli I could not give way to. I fulfilled
my engag-omentj in doing which I sought hap])!-
uess, and trust I shall not be disappointed, llcr
name was Elliott, the daughter of an oflicer in the
navy, and sister of another."

We next find Captain Beaver before Cadiz^
whence he writes on the 7th of October, — "^ we an-
chored off this place with a numerous flcet_, and a
very formidable army, under Sir Ralph Abcr-
crombie; and the appearance of upwards of one
hundred and fifty sail of ships struck the dons with
alarm. I have been over head and ears in plan-
ning operations, but we have, however, this day
given up every idea of landing, after having had
the first division of the troops actually in the boats.
Independent of the objection which a dreadful ma-
lady, called by some the plague, and by others the
yellow fever, opposed to our disembarking, the
late season of the year, the danger of the coast,
and the difiiculty of communication between the
soldiers and sailors, were deemed sufficient by the
two commanders in chief, to relinquish the attempt.
After Ferrol and Vigo, I suppose this will not be
relished at home. We are about runnino- back to
Tetuan bay, where, I trust, future operations will
be planned, more conducive to the honour and be-
nefit of our country."

It may be hoped that there was one more reason

140 THE LIFE OF

for abandoning- tliis enterprise, and that tlie manly
and interesting appeal of de Morla, the Governor,
excited a generous sympathy in the breasts of the
British. " The affliction/' says he, '' which car-
ries off, in this city and its environs, thousands of
victims, and which threatens not to suspend its
ravao-es till it has cut off all who have hitherto
escaped, being calculated to excite compassion, it
is with surprise that I see the squadron under the
command of your Excellency come to augment the
consternation of the inhabitants. I have too exalted
an opinion of the humanity of the English people,
and of yours in particular, to think that you would
wish to render our condition more deplorable.
However, if in consequence of the orders you have
received, you are inclined to draw down upon
yourself the execration of all nations, to cover
yourself with disgrace in the eyes of the whole uni-
verse, by oppressing the unfortunate, and attack-
ing those who are supposed to be incapable of de-
fence, I declare to you, that the garrison under my
orders, accustomed to behold death with a serene
countenance, and to brave dangers much greater
than all the perils of war, know how to make re-
sistance, which shall not terminate but with their
entire destruction. I hope that the answer of your
Excellency will inform me, whether I am to speak
the language of consolation to the unfortunate in-

CAPTAIN nilLIP HEAVl.R. 1 11

habitants, or whetliLM- I am to rouse them to iiidiir-
nation and revenge."

Fresh ardour was added to Captain Beaver's
zeal, by being- appointed to conunaud the llai^- sliip,
with post rank; and tlie patriotic wish expressed
in his letter from Cadiz, was now gratified, by an
expedition to expel the French from Egypt.

The armament left Malta on the 2 1st of October,
intending to tarry at Rhodes, or Makri, for the gun-
boats, horses, and forces, promised on the part of
the Porte ; but the tempestuous weather rendered
both those places unfit for so large a fleet. For-
tunately, in this dilemma, a note from Sir Sidney
Smith informed them of Marmoritsa, a superb har-
bour between those two, capable of receiving- all
the navies of Europe. To this place, till then un-
known to modern navigation, they steered; but
so narrow was the entrance, that it could scarcely
be distinguished till the ships were actually running-
in. This was a moment of awful suspense — the
scene was mai»*nificent from its mountainous nature,
and grandeur of scale; whilst a hundred vessels
under sail, amidst heavy squalls, and deafening
peals of thunder, imparted an indescribable degree
of interest.

" This port really proved a God-send," says the
Captain in a letter of the 22d of February, ISOl ;
" and the speedy transition from a heavy-rolling-
sea, to water as smooth as a mill-[)ond, gave a

142 THE LIFE OF

gladness to the harassed troops, \vhich it is difTi-
ciilt to conceive. We have since had abundance
of leisure to rehearse our intended landings for it
was not till the middle of January that the promised
Turkish supplies arrived ; and you will imagine our
vexation on linding absolutely nothing to hope from
their co-operation. Their ships are disorderly ; their
gun-boats are in want of repairs and stores ; and
worse than all, the horses which we have been so
long waiting for, are particularly unfit for use: our
poor dragoons groaned dismally^ when they saw
such pitiful Rosinantes provided for them. We
have, in consequence, lost much valuable time, and
I suppose the enemy gets intelligence of our mo-
tions, for we are at no great distance from Egypt.
In the interim, I have had an opportunity of brush-
ing up the old Foudroyant, and I trust it is ac-
knowledged she is no longer a privateer.

"^ On the 10th of this month we were visited by
a tremendous gale from the S.E., the violent gusts
of which gave us full reason to be thankful that we
were in such a place as Marmaris ; for during two
days it was almost one continued hail-storm, and
fragments, the size of bullets, kept up a spray over
the whole harbour. The fleet now amounted to
upwards of a hundred and eighty sail, and yet,
with the exception of the Victorieuse losing her
fore-mast and bowsprit, the Vestal her mizcn-mast,

CAPTAIxN PHILIP BEAVER. 113

and tlic Cruellc lier bowsprit^ none of tlic-mcii-of
war have sustained any damage. Several, indeed^
l)artcd^ and a few drove, while some transports and
small craft ran on the Ijeach ; but the event afforded
an admirable proof of the unrivalled excellence of
the anchorage. The heroic Sir Sidney Smith, who,
from his local knowledge of the Levant, is a valu-
able addition to our armament, having joined us
in the Tigre, we are all now under W'eigh, and in
anticipation of immediate success."

A tempestuous passage of a week brought the
fleet within sight of Alexandria; and by noon ofihe
2d of March, they were all at anchor in Abookeer
Bay, Nelson's late scene of incomparable glory.
The weather continued so squally, that, for some
days_, nothing could be attempted, and the enemy
was thereby afforded sufficient time to fortify the
coast. Meanwhile Captain Beaver, in whom full
confidence was reposed by both the commanders,
was incessantly employed in shifting the soldiers
from the men-of-war, into polacres, and other craft,
in-shore ; and in arranging the preparations for the
intended disembarkation.

At length, on the 8th of March, the wind having
subsided, the decisive movement was made. " At
two o'clock in the raorn^" says our gallant officer,
'^ the signal was made for the troops to prepare to
land, and_, at three^ for them to put off, and go to the

144

THE LIFE OF

appointed rendezvous. At daylight but few boats
had arrived; they were, however^ mostly coming-
up ; 1 did my utmost to second the wishes of
Sir Ralpli, but it was not till after eig-ht that
they were arranged in tolerable order. A signal
was now thrown out for the whole to advance^,
while the Tartarus and Fury bombs^, with all the
covering- vessels, began throwing shells and shot,
to discompose the enemy, and draw their fire from
the troops in the boats. This, however, was in
vain, for the French, who occupied the whole front
shore with field-pieces, flanked by a castle on the
right, and a very heavy gun on the left, kept up a
furious fire. Our lads moved admirably in a com-
pact, awful, and formidable line, direct to the ob-
ject; but a worse place for the attempt could
scarcely have been chosen — instead of the margin
of a flat plain, as expected, the beach was under a
steep hill, bristled with artillery. The opposing
cavalry, which did not appear to be lunnerous, were
in constant motion ; and from the time that the
boats were within half a mile of the shore, till the
landing was effected, at about five minutes after
nine o'clock, the enemy's fire was so animated and
galling, that the sea was literally covered with
spray, from the shot of their incessant discharges.
Many a fine fellow breathed his last while cheering
for his country's glory!

CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 145

cc

Our centre and ri^lit leaped on shore, and
formino-, witli great ra[)idity, marched briskly np
the sand-hills with apparently but little ojjposilion.
The left^ however, was vigorously attacked while
getting- out of the boats^ and never did form or
show front to the enemy ; but they sustained a
close action for a quarter of an hour with cool
gallantry, and cut oti" the cavalry to a man. Still
they must have given way, had it not been for a
column from our centre, which wheeled to their
supi)ort. The French, from that moment, began
to retire along the border of the lake, and never
after kept their ground, except for a few minutes,
behind a bush, or a sand hill, till they were com-
pletely out of sight. Meantime we rowed from
point to point, endeavouring to render succour ;
and at eleven o'clock, having sent most of the
wounded to the hospital-ships, I returned with the
Admiral to the Foudroyant.

^' A considerable degree of firmness and spirit,"
continues the captain, " was displayed on both
sides in this contest ; we, however, landed at a
very injudicious spot ; and the French general, I
think, wanted judgment. His artillery was planted
skilfully, and well served ; but, when the boats
were within sixty yards of the shore, he should
have marched down his whole force, and, from
high-water mark, opposed the disembarking. Had

L

146 THE LIFE OP

this been clone with the lequisite nerve^ he would^
in my opinion^ have defeated us ; and it certainly
was the only chance he had of rendering- our
attempt abortive^ for when did Britons care for
grape shot ?"

Without entering- minutely into the well-known
details of this expedition,, it may suffice to notice^
that Captain Beaver had so diligently arranged
the naval communications^ as to draw from Sir
Ralph Abercrombie the remark, that ^' all his
wants were anticipated as if by magic." But
some departments of supply were not under his
control, and the consequences nearly proved fatal.
^'On the 2Ist of March/' he writes, "a little
before daylight, the French made an attack on
our lines with their whole force. The principal
effort was directed against a fleche thrown up in
front of our right wing, where they even pene-
trated into the rear ; but the steady and deter-
mined valour of our excellent soldiers frustrated
every attempt, and they were finally driven back
with immense loss. The proud Invincibles marched
to the charge nine hundred strong, but of this
boasted legion not one returned, nearly seven
hundred being bayonetted in a ruin, and the rest
taken prisoners. This battle was fought under
two very extraordinary circumstances : the British
were for a long time without ammunition, even so

CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 147

much so as to be reduced to throw stones ; niid
the Frencli, incredible as it may seem, were ail
drunk ! Now, had the latter been cool and sober,
they must have defeated us, for they had the
advantage of choosing the point of attack with
their whole strength ; and, on the other hand, if
the English had been properly supplied, they must
have cut the enemy to pieces."

In the afternoon, General Abercrombie was con-
veyed on board the Foudroyant, mortally wounded.
The deepest solicitude was manifested, by all
ranks, on this distressing event ; and in the even-
in"" Beaver received a note from General Moore,
earnestly requesting his opinion : — " Independ-
ently of my own anxiety," says he, *^ to know how
Sir Ralph is, I am led to trouble you, at the
desire of Colonel Abercrombie. General Oakes,
and myself, have just arrived on board the Diadem ;
our wounds, both in the leg, are not very bad,
but such as to disable us for some days from our
duty, and we thought it gave us a better chance
of speedy recovery to come here, than to remain
where we were, useless on shore. The business
of this day has fairly proved the superiority of our
troops over the French ; and their loss is very
great. The contest was so severe, that little of
the humanity, which mitigates the usual horrors of
warfare, was shewn. Besides those wounded, three

L 2

148 * THE LIFE OF

of their g-enerals were killed outright. Letters
found iu the field, from Menou^ to one of them,
prove that their whole force is now concentrated ;
and they contain oilier curious matter^ amongst
which we see an order to ' beat us^, and bundle us
into the sea.' General Hutchinson is preparing
for another attack^ and each brigade is employed
in fortifying its own front. Guns and ammunition_,
of which we were so wofuUy in want this morning,
are forwarding ; and if the foes venture again, it
is to be hoped they will suflfer at least as much as
they did to-day. Have the goodness to remember
me kindly to Sir Ralph, to whom some of these
particulars may be interesting."

Two days after this battle^ Beaver was despatched
to examine the approaches to Rosetta, by the lakes,
and establish a garrison in the karavansera : his
orders on the occasion being accompanied by a
considerate hint from the admiral — "■ Be cautious."
This intimation of danger was corroborated, on
the 26th of March, by the following communica-
tion from Sir Sidney Smith : — "^ I heard yesterday,
from Lord Keith, that you were windbound at the
Maison (|uarree, and that you had been recon-
noitred ; if so, I conceive it probable you may be
attacked and obliged to retire ; I therefore send
Hillyar with five flat-bottomed boats, to get as
near as possible to your rear, and either supply

CAPTAIN PHILIP P.KAVri!. 149

support, or bring- you off. I also despatch a party
of two hundred Turks, with a piece of cannon, to
protect the village of Edko, which has been me-
naced by the French for having had intercourse
with you. The Ottoman fleet is here, and I must
procure lemons from somewhere, to aflord the
usual refreshment to the numerous visitors I shall
have to receive. This is the more essential, as
sherbet is the finale of a Turkish visit, and its in-
troduction is the polite way of saying one has had
enough of their company. Nothing at the camp
but stag-nation. The first act of the Holland
campaign was well commenced ; and all the world
knows, that if Sir Ralph could have acted as he
wished, the end might have been as glorious as
the beginning. Political causes paralyzed his
ettbrts there, as, alas ! physical ones do now. If
any thing lay in my power, I would proceed to
take the fertile tracts of the Delta, which would
make the capital dependant upon us for food. I
doubt much whether Menou could prevail on his
army to attempt re-conquering such districts from
Turks, natives, and English combined ; and they
would be the first, as at Malta, to cry out when
they were hungry. Taking- Egypt gives us Alex-
andria ; but the taking of Alexandria does not
yield us Egypt : — this is my opinion, long ago dis-
tinctly expressed, and still the same. I ho[)e when

150 THE LIFE OF

the Turkish fleet has sailed you wifl contrive to walk
over this ground with me, and see the advantage
we should derive by making a second lake^ as
good as this^ for all the purposes of barrier to the
enemy, and navigation to us. I should rather say
a third lake, for I mean the Mareotis, at the back
of Alexandria, now dry, but which I find to be nine
feet eight inches below the level of these waters."
From a letter of the 7th of April_, the cap-
tain's impatience and dissatisfaction may be
traced ; though, perhaps, his own indefatigable
activity led him to expect the same from others.
^'^We are now off Alexandria, looking out for
Gantheaume^ who, it is rumoured, sailed on the
19th of last month to relieve this place. You will
learn, by the despatches which the Flora carries
home, that our troops have done everything that
could be effected by bravery ; but * * * * *
It is to be lamented, that the intelligence of Sir
Sidney Smith is not brought into full play, though
he is idolized by the soldiers and sailors ; but, in
the jealous race for renown, what should excite
only honourable emulation, is often displaced by a
degree of callous feeling, very closely allied to
envy. Since the battle of the 21st, instead of
advancing on the tide of success, while the enemy
were dispirited, our army has remained strongly
encamped about four miles from Alexandria.

CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 151

The French are outside the Rosetta gate, and a
gently-declinino- valley intervenes between the two
positions. In this valley the outposts frequently
converse, whence we find the French g-enerals are
at variance ; and that Abdalla Menou, who, with
the profligate ease of a revolutionist, changed his
religion as readily as a coat, or a king, displays
the same imbecility which may be found not far
from him. The vizier is smoking his pipe some-
where, I believe, on the confines of Palestine ;
and the expected army, from India, is adrifl in the
Red Sea ; in short, all our operations drag along
with a more than Turkish languor. *****
There is one general with us, who seems to
unite talent with intrepidity, but he is one of the
youngest, and, unfortunately for his country,
wonnded : his name is Moore."

Weary of the monotony of his station, Beaver
obtained permission to exchange ships with Cap-
tain J. C. Searle, and three days afterwards, made
himself very conspicuous in rescuing the crew of
the Iphigenia, a frigate which had accidentally
caught fire : all efforts, however, to save her
were vain, for she burnt with such awful rapidity,
as to blow up with a tremendous explosion, in
less than an hour.

An interesting letter of the lOth of June, to his
sister, who has obligingly all()\Ned me to make
the following extracts, gives a lively picture of

152 THE LIFE OF

Egyptian affairs: '^ Lord Keith's kindness to
me has been unceasing. My new little vessel
is called the Determince, and to a person
not conversant with our service^ it would ap-
pear strange for a man to wish to give up the
command of a ship of eighty guns, for one of
only twenty-four. But in the former, playing
only second or third fiddle^ I could have little
prospect of distinction ; which is not the case in
the latter, and before the war concludes, as she
sails well, I may perchance fill an old leathern
bag. Though my new quarter-deck is diminu-
tive^ it is just as broad a highway to honour,
as that of a three-decker. * * * * * Things have
not gone on here so well as they ought ; indeed,
nothing could have been worse, for though the
French lines before Rosetta gate are evidently
too extensive to defend, and an attack therefore at
all times practicable, nothing has been attempted.
Even the French officers ridicule our tardiness, and
affect to despise our measures. Some inquiry
will, I suppose, hereafter take place. * * * *
The British aimy has languished, though a finer
one never was assembled ; and, in spite of the dis-
satisfaction of our great men with Sir Sidney
Smith, and the treaty of El Arish, appearances in-
dicate, that we shall be glad of similar terms, after
all this enormous labour, expense, and bloodshed.
* * * * Twice have we been on the eve of

CAPTAIN rHILlP BEAVER. 153

laying- hands on Ganthcanmc, in liis thief-like pro-
gress up the Mediterranean."

The Deterntiinee being" sent to Constantinople,
with intelliofence from the armies, Lord El<>in an-
nounced, in a very friendly note, an intended
pecuniary gift from the Porte, of 2000 piastres
for the captain, and specified sums for the officers
and ship's company ; but, knowing Beaver's re-
pugnance to acce})ting money from a foreign power,
his lordship added, "^ I am well auare of the
awkwardness of this, but attempts which I have
made, on former occasions, to alter the practice^
have proved unsuccessful, this being the esta-
blished etiquette. The matter, therefore, stands
thus : the Porte intend a politeness_, and this is the
known mode adopted by them," Notwithstand-
ing this liberal explanation, the captain refused to
countenance what he disapproved of, and he there-
fore declined the profTered favour for himself and
oflicers, but accepted the portion which was in-
tended for his crew.

That this delicacy of feeling was neither misun-
derstood, nor disregarded, e\en by Turks, was
soon proved in a second letter from Lord Elgin,
who, by unreserved communications on various
matters, appears to have placed the highest confi-
dence in the discretion of our ofllcer. " As tlie
Porte," says the ambassador, '' are particularly

154 THE LIFE OF

anxious to pay a compliment to you^ both as Lord
Keith's former captain, and as the bearer of good
news from Grand Cairo, a diamond-box is pre-
pared for your acceptance, and a gold one for each
of your lieutenants. ' ' Besides this mark of favour.
Captain Beaver's services in Egypt were rewarded
with the medal of the Crescent ; for, by a curious
solecism, the Grand Signior had been induced to
institute an order of knighthood, as a mode of re-
warding his allies.

Between August, 1801, and the following May,
several cruizes were made in various parts of the
Mediterranean sea ; but the only result was, the
capture of a few insignificant vessels. The intel-
ligent mind of the captain, however, led him to
improve our acquaintance with the coasts and
ports which he visited ; for he was as scientific as
brave :

" Him science taught by mystic lore to trace
The planets wheeling in eternal race ;
To mark the ship in floating balance held,
By earth attracted, and by seas repell'd ;
Or point her devious track, through climes unknown,
That leads to every shore, and every zone."

The then state of the charts may be estimated
by such remarks as these : '' We are now working
up between the Sporades and Asia, but can put no
faith in the ' sea cards,' as none of the islands are

CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 165

accurately i)laced, and many arc entirely omitted.*'
— "^ Tlie passage between Samos and the For-
miclie is disoracefully laid down." — "" The land
we marked last evening- for Cape Gallo^, mnst have
been Matapan, but the charts are all so infamous,
that it is impossible to ascertain where one is,
without running- close in." — ^' We are now off
Toro, which is placed at least thirteen miles south
of its proper latitude."

One of his remarks might be advantag-eously
adopted in most ships: ^^ What/' he observes,
'' has hitherto been called current, will hereafter
be termed error, whether it arise from current
only, (which is generally and ignorantly blamed
for all discrepancies of reckoning,) or from bad
steerage, neglect of the officer of the watch, humid
time-glasses, ill marking of the log-board, or from
all of these combined."

In a letter from Malta, he thus sums up the ac-
count of his proceedings : '^ My last cruize during
the war, from which I had every reason to expect
something handsome, terminated in nothing. It
commenced the very day that the prehminary arti-
cles of peace were signed, and an embargo which
immediately followed on the enemies' vessels, till
the cessation of hostilities, precluded all chance of
my taking any thing. On arriving at Minorca, I
learned that I had lost eleven hundred pounds,

156 THE LIFE OF

freight money, by a new oovernment order, which
stops all payments on public monies; that sum
havin^^ been left unpaid, in consequence of the
death of poor Motz_, the Commissary-general.
Then, on coming- to Malta, I found that all my
plate, with every thing else necessary for house-
keeping, had been sent from England in the
Utile ; and that vessel has never been heard of
since her departure. These accumulated losses
have left me ' poor indeed.' "

The Determinee was now ordered to Ports-
mouth, and paid off on the 19th of May, 1802.
After passing a few weeks in town, the captain
purchased a house at Watford, in Hertfordshire,
where he proved that the busy scenes of former
years had not disqualified him foi- domestic quiet ;
and though " bounded in a nutshell," he found his
time fully occupied with his family, his books, his
cottage, and his half an acre of garden. His
mind, however, still veered towards Bulama, his
^Mittle paradise;'' and, from an ofticial commu-
nication with the Under Secretary of State, the
command of two or three vessels, for African
colonization, appeared to be within his reach,
when the renewal of war closed the scheme.

This event caused him to regret having declined
a frigate, which was offered to him, after his return
to England; but his reason was judicious — an

CAPTAIN PIIILIl' BEAVER. 157

absolute inability, in time of peace, to maintain a
family at home, and also support the expenses of a
table afloat. As a private individual, his habits
were far from expensive, and he lived ha})py and
contented under very moderate circumstances ; but
as a captain in the Royal Navy, which he esteemed
as one of the first ranks in society, he felt it due to
the service, that his establishment should be on a
proportionate scale of expense. I ndeed there was,
in the contrast between his public a!id private cha-
racter, a marked antithesis — for though totally de-
void of all personal, he had a good deal of profes-
sional pride ; and to acquit himself well in his du-
ties, seen or unseen, was the predominant princi-
ple of his conduct. Perhaps this is a national
characteristic : — no people love the glory of their
country more than the French ; it is a public stock,
of which each individual boasts his proportion ; —
in England, it is also a public fund, but w^e unhesi-
tatingly contribute to it our fortune, our talents,
our labour, and our lives.

Though he failed in obtaining a ship, the Ad-
miralty did not overlook Captain Beaver's offer of
service, and in July 1803, appointed him to com-
mand the Sea Fcncibles on the coast of Essex.
This district was considered a very important one ;
and he olHcially proved that, if he was allowed to
organize a flotilla, the block ships at the mouth of

158 THE LIFE OF

the Thames would be uiterly useless. " I certainly
protest/' he says^ *^ those ten frioates at the Lower
Hope are thrown aw^ay; for no invader would^ of
course, land annong-st the marshes above them, and
moreover, the tide would be too strong for them
to keep their broadsides to bear, with springs."
One of the answers on this subject announced to
him the duties of the various officers of the esta-
blishment, and added, — " It is conceived you are
to act as volunteers, subject to the command of
juniors, but freely offering- advice to those not so
well informed as yourselves." Beaver's reply was
noble, — ^'^ From what you say of our rank while serv-
ing here, we shall hold no very enviable situation :
however, on the present occasion, as the tocsin is
sounded, I would even serve before the mast, rather
than be out of the w^ay, in a time of public danger;
but on affairs of less moment, I would refuse a
command, sooner than resign my right. I shall
therefore, since it is deemed necessary, act under
any junior officer, with all the good will, zeal, and
energy I am capable of."

Such deference was paid to his professional
knowledge, that he was confidentially consulted by
Admiral Markham, General Beckwith, and Sir
James Craig, on the threatened invasion ; and his
strictures are so clearly decisive, on certain points
of national impolicy, and from disdaining to tern-

CAPTAIN rillLlP BEAVER.

159

I

porizc, expressed so strong-ly, that it is not advis-
able to publish them.

One of this observant officer's remarks, on arminfr
an nndiscipUned multitude, however, deserves in-
sertion, because, to our cost, we found tiie cfiect
of flags on the Polish lances. " People unaccus-
tomed to have shot flying about them, may feel

ather awkward when first going into battle, and
this awkward sensation is felt in proportion, not to
the danger, but to the exposure of person ; a goose
will put its head under its wing, or an ostrich hide
his in a bush, thinking they cannot be seen ; and
many rational bipeds, I am persuaded, breathe
more confidently, if there be only a canvass screen
between them and their antagonists. The Sea
Fencibles, many of whom have never seen an enemy,
armed only with pikes, may, I am apprehensive,
if there was a necessity for charging, feel rather
backward in advancing against musketry, totally
unsheltered, and without having fire arms to reta-
liate. Now, it seems that something like a shield,
made of scupper leather, and carried near the end
of the front rank pikes, would resist shot at the
distance of sixty yards, after which, if we charged
the foes quickly, they could not reload. This
shield should be of such a size, as eflectually to
cover the vital parts of the body ; and it would not

only inspire boldness in our unfleshed youths, but

IGO THE LIFE OF

be likely, I think, from its novelty, to frig-hten the
cavalry, and intimidate the infantry of the enemy."

Meanwhile the men were trained, and such
arrangements made, as to draw from l^ord Keith a
testimony highly creditable to the Sea Fencibles
of the Essex district, which, he declared, ^* now
formed a respectable accession to the country's
means of defence." Indeed the Captain had very
earnestly applied himself to rouse and encourage
the spirit of the people in his command ; and had
handbills printed and circulated, prompting them
to hope that Buonaparte would realize his threat of
invasion, in order that he might find it was matter
of equal indifference to us, whether we fought
afloat or on shore.

It would be difficult to recall the impressions of
anxiety and alarm which prevailed in 1804, respect-
ing the flotilla at Boulogne. As Captain Beaver,
from his former residence there, was thoroughly ac-
quainted with the localities, he submitted a well-
concerted plan for the destruction of the French
craft, by carcasses, and offered to carry it into effect,
in person. Although this proposal was not then
deemed eligible, the Admiralty granted leave of ab-
sence, to affbrdhim an opportunity of reconnoitring;
and he sailed to the station in the Prospero bomb,
bearing various instructions from Lord Keith, toge-
ther with some valuable hints from Mr. N. Brown,

CAPTAIN PHILIP BEWER. 161

his Lordship's secretary. He appears to have exa-
mined tlie mouth of the harbour in a fisherman's
boat, but the report of liis examination is k)dg-ed in
the ofllicial archives of the Admiralty.

A whole nation arming, in defence of their
homes, was an insurmountable obstacle to the in-
tentions of Buonaparte, so that the pompous bra-
vado of invasion oradually subsided. Beaver,
therefore, now found time to arrang-e the *^^ African
Memoranda," or, as he called it, his " thing of
shreds and patches." Nor were his literary efforts
confined to the Bulama papers, for the state of po-
litics drew forth his opinions, and he was every-
where a firm opposer of the fallacious doctrines
then so widely diffused. '" No man of principle,"
he exclaims, '* should ever submit his feelings and
conclusions to the theories of an enthusiast; and
the present mock-respectful tone assumed by some
of our leading men, as to the invincibility of our
enemy, his talent, and his perfection, should be most
contemptuously spurned ; for whatever he may be.
Old Enofland can readilv furnish men to match him.
Their declamation may gratify disaflfection and igno-
rance; but it will require something more like rea-
son to persuade the better classes."

A letter which he published in the Courier of the
16th of February, 1804, under the signature of
Nearchus, tended so generally to allay the appre-

M

162 THE LIFE OF

liensions of the timid, that much curiosity was
excited as to the author. It is a fair specimen
of argumentative reasoning: he considers the
subject of a descent on our coasts, under three
heads, — the enemy's quitting their ports — their
crossing" the channel — and their landing-. Under
the first, he proves, from substantial data, the
utter impracticability of more than a fourth of the
required number effecting it in one tide ; under the
second, if they come in detached portions, with
British ships " which know no winter," we " de-
vour them like shrimps ;" and in the event of their
even overcoming both those obstacles, and "^ vomit-
ing their unhallowed crews upon our blessed shores,
they will be received there by the British army —
an army with which I have served in each quarter
of the globe ; I know its merits, I know its foibles,
I know it well; and am as fully convinced as I am
that I now write, that this army as far surpasses all
others in bravery, as British seamen surpass all
others in skill : to it I most willingly consign, with-
out the least fear of the consequence, all who may
land."

A period of more active service now approached,
for, after frequent and fruitless applications, he was
at length appointed to the Acasta, a forty-gun
frigate; and having sold his cottage at Watford,
and settled his wife and children at Swansea, in
Wales, he speedily got himself ready for sea.

CAPTAIN I'HILIP BEAVER. 163

Previously to sailino- for the West Indies, lie
tlius expressed himself to his sister: — ^*^ Your hint
about my getting rich hurts me much, for I hate
money from the bottom of my soul, with the ex-
ception only of its enabling me to do good. Glory
and renown I love, but God knows whether it be not
too late for me to acquiie them. However,, what-
ever be my fate, and which, except as it concerns
my family, I neither wish to accelerate nor retard, I
trust I shall leave behind me a reputation^ pure and
unsullied. Though my services have not been
brilliant, I feel conscious that they have been useful
to my country. May it, I pray, never stand in need
of them; may I be the worst of her children, and
then, I say it with confidence, she will always be
great. But enough, — I shall never be disgraced
by being too anxious to get wealth."

He could little have anticipated how soon these
sentiments would be put to the proof; and that of
upwards of three thousand pounds prize-money,
whicli his vigilance procured on his new station,
he was to be defrauded of every shilling, through
Maxwell, the agent at Barbadoes, dying insol-
vent,

Our officer's customaiy foresight was displayed
on the voyage out, in the disposition and manage-
ment of the convoy under his charge; for he at-
tended to the benefit of the commercial interests of

164 THE LIFE OF

his country as eagerly as he did to that of her martial
glory. Arriving at Barbadoes, it was discovered
that the stern frame of the Acasta was so loose, that
she was oblioed to be sent to Halifax for the neces-
sary repairs. " We were eight days/' says he,
" on this coast, without ever seeing it, as a thick fog
prevented our making the land ; however, when it
did clear up, we entered one of the finest harbours
I ever saw. I know of none more safe, or more
beautiful than this. The town of Halifax is well
built, the society is very good, and there cannot
be a more hospitable place in the world."

In an affectionate letter to Mrs. Beaver, of the
2d of September, 1807, he rejoices on returning
from an excursion just in time to catch the moment
of a schooner's sailing to England. " The dinner
is over, the card tables made up, and the dancing
begun ; I therefore seize the opportunity of retiring,
to write to all that I hold dear ; for I assure you,
my mind is oftener with you and the dear children,
than on the spot which I accidentally occupy. But
let me describe my journey. Sir A. Cochrane
arrived here a week ago with his squadron, to avoid
the hurricane months in the West Indies, and
having some estates thirty or forty miles off, he
took this opportunity of visiting them, when I be-
came one of the party. Pleasure, however, is too
capricious a nymph to attend a particular invitation,

CAPTAIX PHILIP BEAVER. 1G.>

and is too often scared by * the note of prepara-
tion;' at the very setting off, I found my steed was
possessed of more discretion than velocity, and we
laboured along- the road with philosophical resig-
nation. That portion of the province being almost
miinhabited, it was necessary to carry our comforts
with us; but the freighted cart which bore them,
having been sent in advance, we were only tanta-
lized by the wish to arrive. The country may be
said to be almost in a state of nature, for scarcely
ten acres in a million are cultivated; only one house
to be seen, generally speaking, in the course of
nine or ten miles, and that affording but homely
fare and miserable lodging ; we had three small
beds for six of us, and my portmanteau, w ith every
thing I wanted, was left behind. * * * Give me
a letter of half a quire, and make me one of my
own family again."

The gloomy aspect of the political atmosphere,
at this moment, seems to have imparted a de-
spondent asperity to his tone on public affairs. '' A
packet," he writes, " has just arrived from Eng-
land, bringing the heavy news of an armistice
between France and Russia! So that there is no-
thing left for us now, but our own native valour,
and, I trust, invincible fortitude. As to the
change of ministry you mention, and dissolution of
parliament, it seems of little importance at present
who is in, or who is out ; for the late special plead-

166 THE LIFE OF

ing", speech-twisting' debates, savour ratlier of the
loaves and fishes than of patriotism ; and^ indeed^
place and emohiment, the apples of the aristocra-
tical struggle of whigs and tories^ are more often
the motive than the reward of such contentions.
Yet in times of public danger, party spirit ought
to give way to virtue. But notwithstanding a full
knowledge of how many states have been ruined by
an indiscriminate love of popularity in their public
leaders, there are some of our most valuable cha-
racters foolishly sacrificing at the same shrine,
regardless of our national importance. As to
those mob-courting demagogues^ who clog their
country's efforts^, and thereby add to its burthens,
merely to exhibit themselves, they deserve trans-
portation.

*'^ Matters are very unsatisfactory on this side of
the herring-pond: the embargo may have been
considered necessary by many well-meaning mem-
bers of the Congress, though it not only straightened
their commerce, but was partial ; it was aiding
Napoleon in his projects, and practically co-ope-
rating against the existence of the last refuge of
European freedom. If either dignity or policy
guided our councils, we should have been at war
with these people, for our conciliatory system is
viewed only as want of energy. Instead of strictly
enforcing our orders in council, we enact ordinances
one day, and the next issue licenses in the teeth of

CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 167

them; tliereby decidedly sacrificing- our national to
our commercial interest.

'* The aflair of the Leopard and Chesa[)eak.e_,
arose from the hostile practice of seducing- our sea-
men ; yet the brave ollicer who did his duty, is
execrated as ' the murderer Whitby — a savag-e
who escaped hanging by a sham trial.' Indeed,
the vulgarity, mendacity, and malignity of the
American democratic press exceeds belief With
you, in Europe, where a war of weighty import is
waging-, the public mind is too ardently occupied,
to pay that attention to trans-Atlantic politics which
perhaps they merit. But the heads of departments
here should detect and expose the misrepresenta-
tions and falsehoods, which flow so profusely: what
remains uncontradicted, will generally be credited ;
for many read, while few think. If the editor of the
Halifax Gazette cannot stem the effect of the poi-
son which is disseminated in this province, and is
withholden by disaffection, indolence, or fear, the
sooner he sells his types and press, and kicks his
devil into hell, the better.

^' To oppose the insidious subtlety of detraction.
Great Britain requires nothing but naked truth ;
let that g'o forth without comment, and her mode-
ration, her justice, her forbearance, and her mag"-
nanimity, will offer such a contrast to the tortuous
policy of France, — that America will hereafter

168 THE LIFE OF

blush at her present unnatural and degenerate con-
nexion. The sons of freedom arraying- themselves
against their brethren of common ancestry, laws_,
and language, in the hour of distress ! America
leaguering against liberty, and raising her hand
against that parent, to whom she is indebted for
the principles and knowledge which should hu-
manize and ennoble her ! But the truth is, Jonathan
calculates that we are at our last gasp, and longs
to be in at the death ; he is eager for strife, be-
cause he is as yet unacquainted with the consequent
blessings of loans and war taxes ; and he will, in
the event of Napoleon's ultimate success, spit his
venom to gain our commerce and the Canadas.

^' I make these assertions from a comparison of
facts, rather than from a discussion of motives ;
but my opinions, however hiefficient to carry con-
viction, are strictly impartial. I do not impute to
the whole population, or even to the major part of
it, the low scurrility which marks and stigmatizes
the present proceedings. But under what plea do
they join the French? It cannot be as fellow revo-
lutionists, for the independence of America was
brought about by worthy leaders, and a people
who had wholesome English habits, English laws,
and English morality ; men differing as widely
from the ferocious visionaries of France, as ele-
phants do from musquitos."

CAPTAIN PHILIP REAVER.

169

The Acasta having received such repairs as
could be afforded, returned to Barbadoes ; shortly
after which, Mr. R. T. ElHs, a fine young mid-
shipman, died of a fever, and tlie event was broken
by Captain Beaver, to the father of the youth, in
the following appropriate and feeling letter: ''It
is the lot of but few to arrive at that period of
life, to which you and I have attained, without
having experienced many and severe afflictions ;
and one great drawback upon the happiness which
is produced by a numerous and virtuous family, is,
that we are thereby exposed in more points than
the isolated being, to the shafts of misfortune.
However, experience teaches us always to expect
them ; reason, to be prepared for them ; and
reliirion, to be consoled under them, whenever
they do arrive. The ways of Providence are to
us inscrutable, and to its decrees we are bound to
submit with Christian resignation. These reflec-
tions have forced themselves upon me, ere I could
commence the melancholy duty which I have to
perform. Alas ! Sir, to the lively interest and
keen sensibility of an anxious father, I have al-
ready said enough ; his foreboding mind must
have convinced him of his great, his irreparable
loss. I shall not add to the weight and pressure
of so severe an affliction any vain condolence from
myself, which might only increase, without at all

170 . THE LIFE OP

alleviatino-, the pang-s already felt; religion^ reason^
and time_, are the best comforters on such occa-
sions. Until our arrival at Barbadoes^ the 20th
of October last^ the Acasta had been uncommonly
healthy^ since which we have been obliged to re-
main idle at anchor_, in order to be ready to em-
bark troops against the Danish islands. In this
situation^ a fever made its appearance on board of
us, some ten days ago ; about twenty of our num-
ber had been attacked, and already three had fal-
len victims^ when your son was taken ill on the
25th of November. As he did not mend the next
day^ I determined to get under weigh on the 27th_,
as the best means of restoring him, and the rest of
my people^ to their health. But, alas ! notwith-
standinof the benefit of sea air. and all the care
and attention of the surgeons and nurses, he was
cut off in the bloom of youth, and the freshness of
hope,, at five o'clock on the evening of the 28th.
The only observation I will presume to make on
this distressing visitation is, that our dear de-
parted friend was universally beloved; I myself
loved him almost as one of my own children, and
have the consolation to hope, that as his life was
good and innocent, so he is at present happy. "

An active, though unprofitable series of cruizes
was successively undertaken ; but in the various
ports which were visited by the Acasta, the most

CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVEU. 171

careful attention was manifested by Captain Beaver
for the improvement of hydrot»rapliy. Indeed, his
exertions in tliis branch of pubhc duty, proved his
regard for a science vvhicli ennobles and stimulates
the minds of otiicers, renders them equal to the
highest stations in the service, and, by making
them excellent navigators and seamen, inspires a
conlidence unknown to those who must trust to
other, and often ill-qualilied heads.

Advising a young naval friend, who had just
attained the command of a sloop of war, the
Captain says, " as all who wear blue jackets are
not sailors, be careful to discriminate between the
true bred seamen, and the profligate vagabonds,
who are too often intermixed with them. Re-
collect, also, that numbers of your people have
been impressed, and are the unwilling victims of
our temporal, though urgent interests. Such consi-
derations, added to the tantalizing breaches of the
ties of home, which the very nature of the service
renders necessary, should make every good oilicer
desirous of establishing the comfort of his crew.
Temper discipline with kindness. Endeavour to
grant some respite in port, if the tenour of your in-
structions will admit it. The refitting, stowing
stores, squaring yards, working boats, and drying-
sails, with all the minor rainutia?^ leave but little

172 THE LIFE OF

leisure. And yet I know many smart gentlemen
who torment themselves to find constant labour for
their ships' companies ; and who would be asto-
nished to discover that it was not considered a
proof of knowledge. Jack knows well enough
what is necessary^ and therefore does not relish
a too frequent mustering of hammocks and bags,
polishing of iron work, and other artificial modes
of teasing the time."

Whilst beating before Martinique_, the Acasta
chased a letter of marque brig into St. Anne's Bay^
between the fortified points of Borgnesse and Du
Jardin^ on the 18th of March^ 1808. In tacking
off shorCj the batteries opened their fire^ which was
promptly returned from the ship^ while working
in^ and as soon as the shot from the two headlands
crossed over her^ she was anchored with springs
so as to have a broadside to bear upon each. An
animated cannonade was now continued for about
fifty minutes, when our frigate driving into sixty
fathoms water, she was obliged to make sail. Winds
and currents prevented a return till the 29th, when
being joined by the Ulysses, Hippomenes, and
Morne Fortunee, they stood again into the bay, for
the purpose of destroying the brig. By a well-direct-
ed attack, the enemy were soon driven out of the
Borgnesse battery, and Captain Beaver dispatched

CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 173

a formidable party, under the Honourable Lieute-
nant Gore*, to spike the guns, and roll them and
their carriages over the clitts. The fort on Point
du Jardin was then so judiciously assailed by the
ships^ as to enable the boats to api)roach, when Mr.
Gore gallantly stormed it, struck the colours, and
spiked the guns, in the face of a numerous, though
irregular force. He then dashed a couple of miles
up a narrow creek, to see what could be done with
the cor\'ette, but was so exposed to a heavy fire
which she opened, that finding it impossible to
carry her, he very prudently retreated. Besides
her own force, there were at least a thousand sol-
diers on shore, to protect her with field-pieces, and
two vessels moored on either quarter full of troops,
so that it would have been madness to proceed.

Our officer had scarcely returned into port, be-
fore he was hurried off again by the Admiral, to
communicate to the government of the Caraccas the
events which had taken place at Cadiz, in conse-
quence of the machinations of Napoleon. Arriving-
at La Guira on the IGth, he sent a flag of truce to
demand an interview with the Captain-General of

* This gallant young officer was brother to the Earl of Arran,
and promised fair to become an honour to the British flag. But he
was prematurely removed from the transitory scene ; in attemptini»
to save the lives of some seamen who had fallen overboard, he
perished in that ocean, which shall hereafter be called to give up
its dead.

174 THE LIFE OF

Venezuela, and learnt that a French corvette brig
had arrived a few hours before him, with despatches
from the Usurper. The Captain now made pre-
parations for his journey to the Caraccas ; but fore-
seeing- that the enemy would endeavour to escape,
during- his absence,, he left with his first lieutenant
the following laconic orders. '^ Permit no com-
munication whatever, either with ships or the shore,
till my return. Beat to quarters every evening,
and keep regular watch, as at sea. If the brig sails,
follow and bring her back. If the expected French
frigate arrives, clear for action ; do not commence
an engagement, but when she begins, take her."

On the following morning, the brig finding her
berth rather uncomfortable, and apprehensive of
being seized at anchor, determined to try her
chance; accordingly, with the breeze of day-
break, she weighed and ran out to sea, under all
sail. Every motion, however, had been closely
watched ; in a few moments the frigate slipped
after her, and when out of the range of the Spanish
forts, fired at her, till she struck her colours —
•taking, at the same time, especial care not to
damage her hull. She proved to be the Serpent,
a remarkably fine vessel, mounting sixteen carro-,
nades, and two long guns, with a complement of
one hundred and four men, and had been expressly
selected for this service from her well-known sail-

CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 175

ing qualities. On the IStli, the Acasta returned
to the anchorage with her prize, and was saluted
in form by all the batteries. The ship's company,
at the suggestion of their commander, resigned
their salvage of ten slaves, who were found in the
brig, and had been taken by her out of a Granada
sloop which she had burnt.

The news conveyed by the frigate had been
received with enthusiasm by the people ; but the
Captain-General, puzzled by the tenonr of con-
tradictory despatches from two belligerent powers,
could not so readily enter into the new feeling of
affairs. Owing to several palpable incivilities.
Captain Beaver addressed a severe remonstrance
to him, complaining of the superior reception which
had been given to the French officer, the day be-
fore, though he was the bearer of most mortifying
intelligence. The Governor replied in terms as
hauo'htv, desirino- him to take what refresh-
mcnts he required, and immediately quit the road.
This induced our stern envoy to reiterate his
charofes, and " as to the maimer which your Ex-
cellency conceives would have been most appro-
priate to answer my letter, ' with the cannon of
the batteries,' I can only say, that it would have
been a very extraordinary one, to the harbinger of
peace ; to one who has brought you one hundred
and thirty of your liberated countrymen, and pass-

176 THE LIFE OF

ports to protect your vessels from detention. Such
an answer, I think^ would not reflect much honour
on your Excellency, while to me it would be so
far a matter of indifference, as to cause no other
sensation than that of reofret."

Such altercation presented a contrast to the
intercourse which might have been expected; but
Don Juan de Casas felt himself in a dilemma,, for he
had a forecast of the probable consequences of the
political convulsions. He was aware that thoug-li
prejudice, bigotry^ and oppression, had jointly con-
spired to keep those regions in a condition little
differing- from barbarism, yet the rash conduct of
Spain, in joining- the American war, had already
inclined the Creoles towards a struggle for freedom,
especially as they were conscious how easy the
yoke of the British colonists had been when com-
pared with their own.

But whatever were the difficulties of his situa-
tion, the governor certainly failed in the usual
Spanish courtesy, thoug-h he professed infinite re-
gard for the " sons of the Thames," and Beaver
was therefore imperiously urged to resent his con-
duct. During the twenty-three hours that he
remained at the Caraccas, he was neither asked to
eat or drink, nor even to sit down ; but after being left
amongst the clerks and domestics, while the Junta
deliberated on his despatches, was obliged to find

CAPTAIN PHILIP DEAVER. 177

lodoiiif^aiul Hjod where he could. '' I approve very
much," writes the Admiral^ " of all you have done,
except that your letter to the Captain-General is
rather too strong", though you certainly had a right
to complain of his want of attention. I really wish
that matters may be soothed, for negotiators should
never quarrel. Keeping one's temper is of more
consequence than you are aware of. I have taken
your beautiful prize into the service, and named
her the Pert; she will be valued high, and her
stores sell remarkably well."

From the weak state of the ship, the Captain
thought it prudent to keep her on the coast of
the Spanish main, during the hurricane months,
by which he was instrumental in arresting and
destroying the Proclamations and Manifestoes,
which the emissaries of the intrusive sovereign
sent out in abundance. While wooding at Alca-
traz, near Puerto Caballo, on the •22d of August,
twelve seamen were brought on board quite blind
from incautiously cutting Manchineel trees. At
this time the ship was swarming with centipedes,
scorpions, mosquitoes, and other noxious pests of
tropical regions; while the cockroaches were so
numerous, that in endeavouring to extirpate them,
they actually destroyed, for several days, about
one hundred and fifty dozen a day ! Fortunately,
however, from Captain Beaver's constant attentiou

N

178 THE LIFE OF

to cleanliness and sobriety^ and the care of his sur-
geon, the crew escaped with scarcely any sickness.

The due consideration of this officer for the lives
of those under his command may be judg-ed of
from the following anecdote : — Remarking one day,
in conversation, upon the dangers to which many,
from a mistaken sense of courage, sometimes expose
themselves and their crews, where no correspond-
ing advantage could be gained, — he said he had
sinned occasionally in that way himself, but was
cured of the propensity by an incident, which,
though trifling in itself, had made a strong impres-
sion upon his mind. He had stood close in under
one of the batteries of Martinique, when a shot
fired from it fell at the feet of a midshipman, whom
he had received under the anxious solicitations of
a parent, to be as careful of him as circumstances
would permit. "^ I asked myself seriously whether
I had fulfilled the entreaties of my friend? I had no
business to be where I then was, for no object could
be accomplished by it ; and had this boy been killed,
I should have considered his death to have Iain at
my door. The same feeling has influenced me
since ; and as, however I may risk my own life, I
have no right, unnecessarily, to endanger that of
others, 1 take care to avoid it."

The Acasta having returned to Antigua, several
small prizes enabled our officer to render his family

CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVKU. 179

Comfortable, by sending' repeated remittances; al-
though those, as we have seen, through the liouse
of Maxwell, never reached Mrs. Beaver, and were
therefore sources of mutual disappointment. These
vexations were too intimately connected with his
destinies. The great and successful regard with
indifference such as fail in the arduous struggle of
life ; those who are born great, do not wish to be
overtaken ; whilst those who have obtained eleva-
tion, feed their conscious superiority by the belief,
that every man's failure is his own fault. The
mould of a man's fortune, according to Bacon, is
in his own hands; yet years of ceaseless toil are
often passed without attaining the desired end ;
and the mere mould, without raw material, may
be compared to the commission to make bricks
where there was no straw. But to those who re-
flect, that in this world " the race is not always to
the swift, nor the battle to the strong," our hero
may appear worthy of admiration, even in confined
circumstances ; for he never considered that po-
verty a disgrace which proceeded neither from
extravagance nor indolence.

Meanwhile the repairs of the ship were hastened
by a friendly note from the Commander-in-chief,
who, having witnessed Beaver's ability on the Me-
diterranean station, was resolved to call it into full
play. ^' Hurry on, all you can, as I intend you to

N •>

180 THE LIFE OF

take clmro-c of the disembarkation at Martinique ;
push 01)^ for if you are not very alert^ I fear you
will be behind the liohter." Thus stimulated,, a
battalion of the 60th regiment was embarked^ and
the anchor weighed by the 21st of December ; but
in a few hours, and with a light breeze, the bow
sprit snapped short off, and obliged our anxious
officer to put before the wind for Freeman's Bay.
The stump of this spar was found to be entirely
rotten, to within two or three inches of the surface,
and the decay was so regularly distributed through
the capillary system, that a portion was sent to the
commissioners of the navy as a curiosity.

"^ Many years have rolled over my head,"
remarks the Captain, " since I first visited these
regions, and J know not whether the manners of the
people have altered^ or my own taste has changed,
perhaps both may have felt the influence of the
interval. I admire the matchless tints of the
scenery, and the heavenly splendour of the climate
more than formerly ; but I no longer relish the
boisterous cheer and lax hospitality, which once
did not incommode me. The chatter of the negro
is as vociferous, and the piccaninies gambol as
wildly as ever ; while Sunday is still the happy
day which they call their own. But the planter is
certainly less gay ; and he appears already to suffer
under the interference of our legislature. I appre-

CAI'TAIN I'HILIP liKAMlR. 181

hend the result of our measures will ultimately
prove of g-reater benefit to our enemies^ than either
to our own subjects or the slaves. It seems to me
but reasonable^ that those who so warmly discuss
this question in the House of Commons should
first take the trouble to make a trip across the
water, and ascertain the truth ; for the enquiry has
hitherto been borne down more by sophistry than
by fact. I would rather see the wisdom and
philanthropy of England exerted to ameliorate the
condition of the blacks, which she can do, than
vi'itness her efforts at what she cannot do. I abhor
slavery; but feeling- that, constituted as mankind are,
it ever has existed, and perhaps ever will, I cannot
surrender the evidence of my senses to mere spfj-
culative morality. Everything- I now meet with
fully confirms me in the opinions which I have
already expressed, on this topic, in my nairatiye,
or ' African Memoranda.' "

By Christmas-day the damage was refitted, the
soldiers re-embarked, and the Acasta again under
weigh ; but to how little purpose, he describes in
a letter to Mrs. Beaver, of the 3d of January, 1809,
when, after his usual affectionate inquiries, he says,
*' I joined the Admiral off the Diamond rock, and
found everything- ready for attack, but for what
reason I know not, the attempt was yesterday finally
given up. About this time last year, after having-

182 THE LIFE OF

waited six weeks^ for no other purpose, I lost the
chance of going- against the Danish islands by one
day; and now having made such extraordinary
exertions to be in readiness, that,, from the rising to
the setting sun, no slave was ever more fagged,
the plan is given up ! It is hard — rather, it is
unfortunate ! The friendly admiral, by way of
consolation, has given me a couple of frigates,
with as many sloops, to cruize to windward of
Martinique^ where the enemy are endeavouring to
throw in reinforcements, and where a squadron of
frigates, with troops on board, is hourly expected.
If we meet, I trust I shall do nothing wrong ; and
if I do all that is right, our dear children will, at
all events, be benefited."

The invasion of Martinique, however, was only
suspended; for, spurred by despatches intercepted
from the colonial prefect, exposing the weaknesses
of his command, the expedition was speedily re-
embodied, and arrived off the island, on the 29th
of January. The Acasta, bearing a broad pen-
dant, conducted the principal division of the army
to Bay Robert, where, with an address and skill
which excited general applause, and stamped his
superiority, Beaver buoyed off the channels be-,
tween the shoals, boldly led the way, and by noon
anchored his squadron and the transports. Two
hours sufTiced to make the requisite dispositions.

CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 1«3

the soldicM'S were Jirniii(^ed in divisions, and the
boats advanced towards the shore in [)rescriljed
martial order, to tlie surprise of the French spec-
tators. Though the weather was very squally, the
approaching- force was much too formidable for the
garrisons of that part of the coast to resist ; and the
troops consequently landed in about fifteen miimtes,
without the slightest opposition.

" We sailed from Barbadoes/' remarks the
Captain^ " in two divisions; the Admiral, with all
the line-of- battle ships^ and 3000 soldiers went to
leeward ; while the squadron under my orders,
consisting- of seven frigates and three sloops, with
7000 troops in transports, came to windward.
As the commander-in-chief of the land forces^ and
two other generals, were on board with me, I was
enabled to give them sufficient notice of my plans
to ensure content. I therefore ran into the cul-de-
sac, with the whole of my division, and though the
moment was an anxious one, being on my own
responsibility, yet I never felt more confident.
We anchored about noon, on the 30th, and before
sunset debarked two whole brigades ; which being
followed the next morning by the reserve, stores,
and ammunition, General Beckwith immediately
advanced. They had a little fighting on the 1st
of February, and some very warm work indeed on
the 2d, near a commanding height called Sourrier^

I8i THE LIFE OF

in some measure overlookiiio- Fort I^ourboii, where-
fore its mastery was obstinately contested by bayo-
net charges; the French stood uncommonly well,
but our soldiers behaving- as gallantly as they
always do when well commanded, were superior,
and retained the post.

^' Feeling the disadvantage of the intricate and
dangerous navigation of Bay Robert, and aware of
the easy access to that of Trinite, where there
w ere but few troops, I took upon myself to send a
detachment of seamen and marines to occupy the
town and fort, which object was accomplished, by
my merely promising the inhabitants respect of
property and religion. The French had a sloop
of war in Maran bay, and a fine forty-gun frigate
under Fort Royal, which they have burnt in pure
spite. The surrender of Fort Bourbon, after a
bombardment of five days and nights, has placed
this valuable colony under the British flag, for the
third time ; but whatever credit may be acquired
by the conquest, no money can be expected, though,
for my own part, I rest perfectly satisfied with the
implicit confidence placed in me by both the com-
manders-in-chief."

One of the first acts of General Beckwith was,
the appointment of our worthy hero as captain of
the port, the duties to be executed by deputy. The
reputation acquired in the late successful enter-

CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 1«.J

prise pointed him out for another simihir service.
He had but just anchored at Antigua, when a note
was brought to him from Sir A. Cochrane, press-
ing- his immediately proceeding- to sea. *' Lose not
a moment's time, my dear Beaver, as the expedi-
tion against the Saints waits only for you. Three
sail of the line and two frigates, which intended to
relieve Martinique, have sought shelter there, and
it will be our duty to catch them. You shall com-
mand the landing; and the Intrepid, Gloire, Dol-
phin, Narcissus, Circe, and some smaller vessels,
will be placed under your orders."

Not an instant was lost, after rccei\ing this
exhilarating notice, in completing his stores, so
that within the week he was at the station, and
wrote thus: "April ]4th. — Early this morning,
we hoisted out the flat boats, double shotted the
guns, and bore up for the narrow channel leading
to the Saints, which we had previously buoyed off.
While standing in, we issued two days' food to
the troops, and at eleven came to an anchor, w ith
the enemy's shot going over us ; the Gloire,
Haughty, and Unique, pouring their broadsides
into the woods to clear the bushes. At noon, I
left the ship with General Maitland, to arrange the
landing, which was effected in half an hour after-
wards, in Anse a Bois Joli, abreast of the shi[).
The seamen assisted the soldiers most cordiallv.

18(3 THE LIFE OF

and the latter debarked in a ready^ orderly, and
martial manner. A smart skirmishing- now ensued
up Mount Roselle, the hill on our rights where the
enemy had made a standi but whence, by the reso-
lute advance of the rifles of the 60th regiment, he
was driven in about an hour. All hands working
heartily, before five, we began to thiow shells at
the French squadron, from two large howitzers;
and as I suspected that they would soon get an-
noyed, and be oft", I went on board, and stationed
boats to row guard. At ten, we perceived the three
line-of-battle ships were weighing, whereupon we
instantly made signal to the cruizers outside, and
beat to quarters, soon after which we heard heavy
guns fired in the direction of the Admiral.

" Early on the 15th, seeing the French frigates
still at anchor, I went on shore to reconnoitre
them ; my spirited lads making the gig fly along
in their hopes of approaching action. At the
same moment, the General requested all the boats
of the squadron to convey troops to Anse Vanouvre,
as the advance by land was extremely difficult.
This was a ticklish request at such a moment —
however, my duty was to comply ; but I warned
the Gloire and Jason, with the Unique and Swag-
gerer, to be in readiness for running out to sea,
^nd my orders were received with exultation.
Having landed and gained the summit of the hill,

CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 187

I perceived tlie friofates were close in-shore, and
apparently lian<»ing- only by warps, upon which I
hurried on board, ordered the Jason out, and tele-
graphed to the Intrepid. At ten, the two French
ships made all sail, and pushed over for Guada-
loupe, and in about twenty minutes the headmost
one was engaged with the Intrepid ; but they were
soon lost to our earnest gaze, behind the lower
Saint. For myself, having charge of the army, a
thousand of whom were then actually in the boats,
I could only anxiously look on ; and was, more-
over^ additionally mortilied that the cruizers to
leeward were not in their stations. The enemy's
batteries played the greatest part of the day, and
our men laboured with most [)raiseworthy ardour.
At night, a strong picket was surprised, when
eighteen of the enemy were bayonetted, and twelve
brought in prisoners. Just afterwards, I received
a note from General Maitland, mentioning his
having sent a summons to the French commandant,
who vauntingly replied, that he has ' des vivres,
des munitions, et des soldats,' and will not sur-
render. He \yill change his tune, 1 believe, in
Jess than a couple of days."

"April IGth. — The morning was ushered in by
the disagreeable announcement, that both the
French frigates had escaped into Guadaloupe ;
but I think their chance of ever getting back to

188 THE LIFE OF

France is an extremely slender one. All the
boats are employed in transporting stores and
ammunition for the army. The enemy's shot
rattle over us, but as I do not think it worth
moving, I have only ordered the small craft to
weigh, and cruize between us and Guadaloupe^ to
prevent communication. Nothing can exceed the
coolness of the sailors ; they scarcely deign to
notice the batteries, except in hearty ejaculations
to be at them. The troops, also, are all in high
spirits, and very bravely repulsed a sudden attempt
of the enemy to dispossess them of the posts
which they had gained.

**^ 17th. — Soldiers and seamen employed as
yesterday, and everything advancing prosper-
ously ; but, finding I had only six days' provisions
left, I have been obliged to put both services on
two-thirds allowance. A constant firing was kept
up till about two in the afternoon, when the French
sent out a flag of truce to propose terms. They
were allowed till a quarter to six o'clock, to ac-
cept those which we were willing to grant. The
time elapsed, and the concerted signal was not
made ; but as the Adjutant-General was in the
town negotiating, hostilities did not re-commence.
This was a great mortification to all those who
had laboriously constructed, and were to have had
the pleasure of working, a capital battery, of six

CAPTAIN PHI I IP BEAVI R. 180

mortars, ready to open in the evening-. By tight
o'clock, the capitulation was signed, and the gar-
rison, consisting of about a thousand persons, be-
came prisoners of war. Besides a few sloops and
schooners, with a quantity of flour, gunpowder,
and brass ordnance, we liave taken a ship worth
two thousand pounds. We also picked up all the
anchors and cables, which had been left behind by
the French squadron, and are now busily em-
ployed in destroying the works, the very founda-
tions of which we intend to blow up."

This service was satisfactory to all parties, and
was performed with an unanimity unexcelled.
General Maitland, in the report to his chief, an-
nounces that " Captain Beaver has increased
the character which I know his conduct at Bay
Robert, in your presence, gained him. His ar-
rangement, and presence of mind, render him
peculiarly qualified for joint operations." And in
the official despatch to the Admiralty on this occa-
sion, Sir A. Cochrane says, " the direction of all
the naval operations connected with the army was
left entirely with Captain 15eaver, of the Acasta,
who conducted the service with all the correctness
and celerity which I expected of him."

The evacuation of the new conquest was a mea-
sure which did not at all please our caj)tain, for he
considered the Saints most eligibly situated for a
naval and military station, to check Guadaloupe and

190 " THE LIFE OF

protect Dominica ; and by keeping open the com-
munication with the other isUxnds, become the key
of the West Indies. Its strength of position, he
asserted, mioht make it the Malta of the Carib-
bean Sea; and the anchorage is so good^ that it
may be termed the Trincomalee of the West —
while in health, from exposure to sea breezes, and
the absence of swamps, it is the Montpellier of the
Antilles. The want of water, he affirms, is an
additional security, because, all the tanks being
inside the fortresses, a besieger would very soon
be in distress in that climate.

The next service selected for Captain Beaver,
was the command of a squadron off Guadaloupe,
where the two frigates, which had escaped from
the Saints, were blockaded. On the 9th of May,
as there was a fine leading wind, he ran in towards
the enemy, to execute a plan which he had con-
certed, of boarding them from the Cherub and
Julia, while the squadron were threatening other
points, and supporting the attack. '' I reinforced
these vessels with some choice fellows, eager for
anything, and intended them to run alongside ;
but they were unfortunately becalmed under the
batteries, which opened all their powers of annoy-
ance ; and seeing that, from want of wind, nothing
could be done against the frigates, though both
sloops of war might be cut to pieces, I tacked and
recalled them."

CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 191

The day follovviiif^ this attempt, he received a
letter from Sir A. Cochrane. — " My dear Beaver,
if you like to have a very fine line-of-battle ship, I
shall be glad to give you command of the prize
which we took on the night of the 15th ult.
Should you wish for her, such of your ship's com-
pany as will volunteer may accomi)any you. She
was called the Hauti)oult, after a general killed in
Russia ; but I have named her the AbercrombiC;, in
memory of our old friend. She is a large ship, with
thirty ports on each deck, and but just launched.
She suffered a good deal in her crew. Let me
have your answer as soon as possible, for in either
case I must send the Acasta home with the June
convoy ; and whoever takes her, will be burthened
with a number of French prisoners, as we are much
overstocked. Will not your force be insufficient
to cover the two sloops of war ? At this distance,
it is impossible to give an opinion as to your plan ;
I therefore entirely depend upon your judgment :
perhaps you ought to let the Frenchmen bolt."

Meanwhile the vexatious blockade was conti-
nued, for the Admiral could spare no small vessel
to make a fireship of, by which Captain Beaver
hoped to force the enemy out. Affairs remained
thus till the 31st, when " Lieutenant Fellowes
reported to me his being unable to keep the
Unique afloat another night. Upon this, 1 immc-

192 . THE LIFE OF

diately determined to burn her^ though it was not
otherwise my intention^ because her commander is
one of my most zealous supporters. I therefore
ordered him to stand in, under cover of the Cherub
and JuUa_, with armed haunches to bring- away his
people. My wishes were admirably executed ; at
nine o'clock she was in flames, and in three-quar-
ters of an hour blew up in capital style. The
enemy were greatly alarmed, and Fort Matilda, the
frigates, and all the batteries, cannonaded till the
explosion took place ; but nothing started."

As Beaver, with a tenacity not at all uncommon
in the service, determined to stick to his old ship,
he returned to Barbadoes, whence he thus addresses
a naval friend : '' What with expeditions, carrying
troops, prisoners, or blacks, and blockading Gua-
daloupe, I have not had a minute to answer your
inquiries. Indeed, off the last place, we were
twenty-three nights within gun-shot of the enemy's
frigates, all hands at quarters, not a man went to
bed ; yet after all, I was obliged to leave them for
some luckier fellow to snap up. I regret you have
had such vexation in your applications, and that
you found ***** so indifferent; but mere ofTicial
elevation cannot confer the wisdom and judgment
so often arrogated ; nor is professional zeal always
felt, or even understood, by such men. You have
expressed yourself well ; a simple statement of

CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 193

relative circumstances is more illustrative lliaii a
whole course of abstract reasoning-, deductive (jf
positive conclusions, only from assumed positions.
Independently of the leading- and striking features
of the case, I marvel at the answer of Sir C. Cot-
ton, because, if I err not, his own preferment was
so rapid, that his name never appeared in the
Admiralty list, till it was inserted amongst the
post captains. * * * * It is, as Brown would
say, a vulgar error to assert, that because our
brethren of the army purchase their commissions,
they are entitled to greater indulgence than the
blue jackets. I wish, for the chivalry of the thing,
that money was entirely out of the question ; but
the case stands thus : an ensign paying- the regu-
lation price for his commission, not only nets, by
the pay and allowances, at least twenty per cent,
for his money, but also becomes entitled to half-
pay from the hour he ships the coat. A midship-
man, on the contrary, must fit out and support
himself three or four years, as a volunteer at nine
pounds per annum ; after which he may remain an
indefmite time in the same humble station, on very
low pay, and is lialjle to be set adrift, without
either rank or half-pay, when his services are no
longer recpiired."

The convoy having assembled, the Acasta sailed
for England, literally freighted with Frenchmen.

o

194 THE LIFE OF

During a squally, tempestuous passag'e, the ship
leaked and laboured so severely, that on being
docked at Plymouth, it became matter of surprise
that she had crossed the Atlantic in safety. She
arrived in the Downs, on the ITth of August, and
the Captain had preserved his composure so
guardedly through the voyage, that the ladies, his
guests, were not aware of the anxiety he suifered
from the craziness of the ship, the weakness of
the crew, and the turbulence of the captives. He
had not only thought it prudent himself to sleep
with loaded fire-arms, but recommended Captain
Collier and Lieutenant Fellowes, his passengers,
to do the same. One night, hearing- some unusual
noise in the ship, he apprehended instantly that the
prisoners had risen on the watch; he therefore
flew to the cabin door, with a pistol in each hand,
for the event : but his cool judgment, even at that
moment of alarm, prevented his betraying the sus-
picion, which an unguarded question to the senti-
nel might have revealed.

The Acasta was found in so defective a state,
that she was paid off, to the great disappointment
of her commander, who had hoped she could be
repaired in time to rejoin Sir A. Cochrane, and the
expedition against Guadaloupe. The meeting
with his relations was embittered by a severe visi-
tation, for arriving in town on the 20th of Septem-

CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. '195

ber, he receiv^ed the melancholy iiitellio-ence of the
death of his brother, Major Beaver, in the East
Indies. This promising- odicer had purchased his
successive steps of preferment, and as his services
claimed notice from the War Oflice, that sad
evening- was spent in drawing up memorials, for
leave to sell his commission*. But the Duke of
York, who, acquainted with the Major's merit, had
graciously promised to bestow, at a fit opportunity,
some mark of approbation, was no longer at the
head of the army ; the machinations of a vile con-
spiracy, and the measures taken in our most popu-
lar assembly, (albeit witnesses were allowed to
whom no court of justice would have listened,)
having occasioned his Royal Highness's secession
from the military councils.

The following morning, with feelings ill at ease,

* As a proof of his merit, I insert the following" General Order,
dated Colombo, the 2d of September, 1803.

" The Governor has observed with peculiar satisfaction the rapid
series of well-judsred and well-executed operations, by which Cap-
tain Herbert Beaver, of the 19th reidment.has hitherto proceeded
in recovering the important province of I\Iatura from the Candians,
and in brin<jina; back its deluded inhabitants to tlieir duty. The
indefatiirable activity, zeal, and al>ility, which that officer has dis-
played, since his assumption of the command of that district, has
fully justified tlie high opinion which liis Excellency had formed of
him from his former services, and which induced him to appoint
liini 1() that arduous station, in a time of such extreme difficidty and
discouragement."

O 2

19G THE LIFE OF

Captain Beaver accompanied his sister to Seaford^
in Sussex^ to communicate to the afflicted widow
her irreparable loss. His manly mind shrunk from
the scene of woe ; the anguish of an affectionate
wife_, and the destitution of a helpless family, spoke
too prophetically to his heart ; but he performed
the sad office with appropriate delicacy, and^ un-
der indescribable emotions, retired ag^ain to mix
with the pressing- duties of life.

He now availed himself of an opportunity to
visit Oxford, and pay a debt of the sincerest grati-
tude and affection to his early friend General Cail-
laud, v/hom he had not seen for many years, and
who, though reduced to excessive corporeal debility,
still retained his mental energy. This visit, how-
ever interesting, was of a melancholy tenour : Mrs.
Caillaud had been dead for some time, and the old
General's eyes were suffused with tears, while he
squeezed the hand of a now distinguished officer,
whom he had introduced to a profession where
honour is both gained and reflected. The topics
of conversation were often painful ; for memory
generally strengthens the dark shadows of present
afflictions, by contrasting them with the bright
rays of past happiness.

The intercourse with his relations and friends,
and the domestic happiness of his cottage at
Swansea, did not slacken our officer's applications

CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 107

for employment ; yet, for several months, he received
only replies which prove how affairs are sometimes
managed in this ^' best of all possible worlds."
" Althoiio-h," savshe to his friend. Sir R. ]5icker-
ton, ^' although on my return from the West
Indies, the Acasta was found rotten and crazy, her
captain, 1 assure you, did not participate in her
defects ; I was, therefore, in hopes that I should
not, like my ship, be laid up in ordinary."

Determined at length to apply to the fountain-
head, he removed to London, and on the 17th of
A})ril, 1810, addressed Lord Mulgrave with such
effect, that he was instantly offered the choice o f
the Phoenix, then ready manned, and to sail for
the East Indies in six days, or the Nisus, a frigate
just completed, at Plymouth. As the notice was
too brief to avail himself of the former, he preferred
the latter, and soon after took leave of his friends
and family — for ever.

It is due to the honour of Lord Mulgrave, in
recording the prompt decision with which he ac-
ceded to the reasonable request of our officer, to
insert the letter on ^^hich it was founded. '' I
yesterday came to town for the purpose of renew-
ing, in person, the application which I made in De-
cember last, for the command of one of the frigates
lately launched at Plymouth. Totally unknown as
1 am to your Lordship, it may not be impertinent

1.98 THE LIFE OF

nay, I believe, it is but just, to show upon what
ground I prefer such a request, as there are pro-
bably numerous and meritorious applicants for the
same command. Yet I hope I am not going to
embarrass your Lordship with solicitations, which
inability to comply with, or previous engagements,
rendei" impossible to grant. To be brief, I shall
shortly state, that during three- and-thirty years'
service, I have never been unemployed in the time
of war ; that twenty-seven of those years I have
borne a commission, and am now in the tenth year
of post rank; that during that time I have never
been tried by a court martial, never confined,
nor have I ever been once asked by any of my
superiors, why such or such a thing had not been
done. So much for negative merit. 1 decline
dwelling upon the earlier parts of my servitude,
that I may the less encroach upon your Lordship's
leisure. Soon after I was made a commander, I
was appointed assistant captain to the Mediterra-
nean fleet; in this situation I had charge of the
flotilla which six times bombarded Genoa; I ne-
gotiated for the same place on the part of the
British, and came home overland with the docu-
jnents announcing the event. The battle of Ma-
rengo had been fought, and on my arrival, though
I travelled from the Elbe in less time than the same
ground had ever been passed before, all Italy was

CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 199

ag-aiii ill the hands of our enemy ; the despatches of
which 1 was the bearer were therefore never pub-
lished, Rcturuiuof to the Mediterranean, 1 held the
same situation till the expedition to Eg-ypt, when
Lord Keith ap[)()iiited me his Captain in the Fou-
droyant; and I was with that ollicer and Sir R.
Abercrombie when the landing- was effected. A
few months after the late war, 1 returned to Eng--
land, and was paid off; early in this_, I was ap-
pointed to the Sea Fencibles in Essex, where I
remained three years ; and during- the last three
have commanded the Acasta. In her I have had
the charge of conducting- and landing- seven thou-
sand of our troops in the expedition against Marti-
ni(]ue; and shortly after, about two thousand five
hundred at the Saints. The ship then being found
in a state of decay, was ordered home, and paid
olF. Had I any idea of not being kept in active
service, I should certainly have accepted either the
Abercrombie or the Jewel, both of which ships
were offered to me by Sir A. Cochrane, previous
to my coming- home. From what I have stated, I
trust it will appear that my standing- as a Captain
is sullicient, that my conduct as an ollicer is unim-
peachable, and that the length of my service will
justify my solicitation. If, however, I should not
succeed, I shall return to my cottage with the sen-
timents of the Spartan who lost his election as one

200 THE LIFE OF

of the Epliori— happy that my profession produces
so many men of merit and virtue superior to
myself."

The equipment of 'Miis beautiful ship" pro-
ceeded under all that hurry with which it has been
an absurd system, in our arsenals^ to despatch
newly commissioned vessels. A consequence of
this is^ discontent amongst the seamen, who are
often drafted from ships arriving off distant sta-
tions ; and who, in the dirt and nuisance of fitting,
can neither hope for the indulgence of leave, nor
make the necessary arrangements for a foreign
cruize ; while the ship itself has generally to be
adjusted at sea. Affected dispatch, says Bacon,
is one of the most dangerous errors in business
that can be ; and this affectation of celerity has
sent many a ship to sea, in a state highly discredit-
able to our maritime skill, and the establishments
of the country.

On the 15th of June, he writes, — ^' The Admi-
ral sent for me this morning, and ordered me to
be immediately warped into the Sound, though the
wind is foul ; and I am to be in readiness to sail
to-morrow, or at a moment's notice. I must thus
go destitute of everything. I have neither a fowl
nor a bottle of wine in my ship ; but you know I
never make difliculties, and if my orders come, sail
I will, although I have not got my traps out of the

CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 201

shcer-hulk, for my ca])iii was painted l)ut yes-
terday. However, up goes the J51uc Peter."

On the 2'2i], this zealous otiicer sailed for the
Cape of Good Hope, and two days afterwards, lie
mentions a whimsical discovery which had been
made by his first lieutenant. ^' Before sailing-, I
wanted a lad as an under servant, and my steward,
George, recommended me one. Last night this
youth was discovered to be a buxom girl, dressed
in boy's clothes, a wench of the rascally steward's,
who, you know, lias a very respectable wife. I have
ordered her to dress ^ en femme' again, and ne^ er
to appear in my presence. I shall send her home
by the first opportunity; but I am thus deprived of
one servant, and have lost all confidence in the
other by this abominable deception."

A fine passage of eight days carried the Nisus
to Madeira, where, having paid a formal visit to
the Governor, Captain Beaver remained only a
few hours to get a pull at his rigging. *' The
island is romantically beautiful," he observes,
" but the town and the bay, the parts I am con-
demned to, if I stay, are alike detestable."

On the voyage to the southward, in about
19° west longitude, a sharp look out was kept, and
soundings occasionally taken, for the sandy isle,
which is stated to have been seen by the Vaillant,
Silhouette, and Fiddle, about fifty years before.

202 THE LIFE OF

These exertions were fruitless : " But, indeed," says
the Captain, "\ doubt its existence, because it
rests solely upon the testimony of the French, and
Frenchmen, we know, will sometimes indulge in
^ cui bono' imaginations."

The Governor-general of India, Lord Minto^
conceiving the great design of clearing the Indian
Ocean of all that was hostile to Britain, was alone
embarrassed by the reduction of the Isle of France,
which was considered as impracticable, either by
blockade or force. We shall soon see, that it is
characteristic of true genius and courage to act on
an accurate distinction between difficulties and
absolute impossibilities. And an expedition hav-
ing been determined upon, notwithstanding all the
apprehended obstacles. Captain Beaver had been
sent out expressly to conduct the disembarkation.
But in the interim, a series of naval misfortunes
had occurred in the Indian seas, which being
known in London soon after the departure of the
Nisus, caused no small apprehension at the Ad-
miralty for her safety.

'' I arrived at the Cape, on the 23d of August,"
writes Beaver, '^ and the morning I went to pay
my respects to Admiral Bertie, two officers came
in with news of our having taken the isle of Bour-
bon. This is good — and I have no doubt but its
companion will quickly follow its fate. There is no

CAPTAIN I'llILIP BEAVER. 203

man-of-war here besides ourselves and tlie Olvm-
pia cutter; so that I have hoisted the Admiral's
flag-, and am to carry him to Mauritius, wliich is
closely blockaded by his squadron. Troops will
there meet us from India, and ere long another
jewel will stud the crown of Eng-land. It is diffi-
cult to assign a reason why this measure has not
been resorted to before, for the island has, for many
years, nourished a vile nest of buccaneers against
our Oriental commerce.

'' Octoljer 14. We made the Isle of France on
the 2d instant, and hove to before the town, where
our appearance seemed to produce considerable
bustle along the shores, and on board two frigates
and a corvette in Port Louis. But to our utter
astonishment, Ave saw nothing of our own vessels,
though we continued cruizing off and on for a
couple of days, without any attempt of the enemy
to attack us. Lost in conjecture, we ran down to
Bourbon to procure intelligence, and being' baffled
by light winds off St. Paid's Bay, Commodore Row-
ley, with Colonel Keating, the governor of the
island, came on board. Judge, if you can, what a
damper we experienced, on hearing the bitter tid-
ings of the loss of all our ships in an unsuccessful
attack upon the anchorage of Port Sud Est. What
a feather for France ! A British squadron to em-
blazon her naval annals! Thank heaven, our

204 THE LIFE OF

countrymen did their duty in the hour of mortifica-
tion ; for tliough we may encounter distress and
disaster, we can never endure disgrace. As a
counterpoise, we are ghiddened to find that, by
Rowley's admirable skill, the enemy's ascendancy
has been already crushed ; the Africaine and Cey-
lon have been retaken, and a fine French frigate
captured ; all by the lucky Boadicea. Yet this
does not console me for the four beautiful ships we
have still lost, and I shall be unhappy if retribu-
tion is delayed."

Superior as was Captain Beaver, in ability to
conduct a distinguished or arduous enter^prise,
without undue rashness, he had imbibed all the
thorough sailor's contempt for his enemy. Long
accustomed to victory over the French, at sea, we
scarcely gave them credit for the courage and con-
duct which they really possessed. Many officers
seemed to forget that our triumphs were neither
quick nor bloodless. It may be a politic idea to
indulge, but an imprudent one to put in practice,
that an Englishman can beat several Frenchmen
at any time. Some feeling of this kind may have
influenced his mind, when on this occasion he
hinted to his officers the proba})ility of his having
to engage double his force. Such a contingency
was, in fact, more likely to happen than could have
been imagined ; for, on arriving oif Port Louis, he

CAPTAIN PTiir.TP nr. wr.R. 205

found himselfsino-le-luiiided^ and a hostile s(|ii;idr()ii
staring- him in the face. With a galhinl duriii*^-,
which must have astonished the enemy, for all the
furnaces for red-hot shot instantly be^-an to smoke,
he hove his main top-sail to the mast^ hoisted his
colours, and fired the gun of defiance — the cus-
tomary signals of invitation to those who may have
an appetite for fight ; but his spirited invitation
was not accepted. On bearing up for Bourbon, he
learned that Captain Corbett, in the Africaine, had
just made the contemplated experiment: he had
engaged two large ships off that island, and found
the usual effects of undervaluing- his enemy ; in half
an hour his vessel was a wreck_, and captured, and
himself mortally wounded — in addition to a serious
loss of officers and men. Hercules himself, as
Pantagruel sagely remarked, never undertook
against two at a time.

The ^^retribution" so earnestly prayed for was not
delayed; for, by incessant exertions, five frigates and
a brio- were ready for sea in ten days, and the ba-
lance of naval power restored to our hands. On the
14th of November, they weighed, and proceeded
off Port Louis, to the infinite surprise of the French,
who had lulled themselves into the idea of being
effectually relieved from our intrusive ])resencc.
Commodore Rowley watched the enemy, while
the xVdmiral and Major-General John Abercrombic

206 THE LIFE OF

(who had both embarked in the Nisus) sailed to the
isle of Rodriguez, to collect the expedition ; and as
those officers desired all arrangements should be
controlled by Captain Beaver^ he was removed
to the Africaine for that purpose, under the fol-
lowino' flatterino" notice from the Commander-in-
chief: — '' Whereas it is expedient that an officer
of rank and experience should be appointed to
superintend and conduct the arrangements relating
to the disposition of the forces^ both naval and
military, to be employed in the present expedition ;
and whereas I have seen fit to select you, as well
qualified^ from your judgment_, for this important
service — you are hereby required and directed to
take upon you the charge, conduct, and superinten-
dence of this branch of the service accordingly, and
to give due effect to all orders, directions, signals,
and instructions, you may from time to time deem
necessary to issue, the several captains of the squad-
ron, the commanders of the Honourable East India
Company's cruizers, and the agents of transports,
are directed to consider all such orders and signals
as coming from me, and to pay due and prompt
obedience to the same." It is no small proof of
the hiofh sense entertained of Beaver's merits, that
such important duties were always assigned to
him, notwithstanding the presence of senior officers.
On reaching the rendezvous, the expected divi-

CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 207

sions from Ben<^iil and the Capo were not found
to have yet arrived, whence, as the season was far
advanced, it was resolved to proceed with those of
Madras and Bombay only : when under weigh,
however, for this purpose, the Benoal forces joined
them, making- the aggregate strength of the army
about twelve thousand men.

What had hitherto been considered as the grand
obstacle to an attacic on the Isle of France, was
the dirticulty of tinding a ])roi)er place for the de-
barkation of a large number of troops, the whole
coast being surrounded with breakers, and the
supposed impossibility of finding anchorage for a
fleet of transports. But what dilficulties are insur-
mountable to men of resolution ? A fit beach was
discovered ; a good roadstead carefully sounded ;
and an opening in the surf was buoyed off, suffi-
cient to admit tlie passage of three vessels abreast.

Light winds rendered it prudent to defer ap-
proaching the point t)f attack, till the morning of
the 29th of November, when a fine breeze being
auspicious for the landing, the fleet, amounting to
upwards of sixty sail, bore down towards Mapou
Bay. The subsequent events may be given in
this active officer's own words, metely premising,
that he had again joined the Nisus, with the Ge-
neral and his staff; and that the com])licated de-
tails had been managed with such peculiar preci-

208 THE LIFE OF

sion and clearness, as to meet the most unqualified
approbation in both the services.

"^ November 29. A very beautiful day, and
the prospect of the ship})ing' pressing- for the scene
of action extremely animating-. Soon after eleven,
we came to between the Gunner's Quoin and Cape
Malheureux, on a bottom of coral, the heads of
which were clearly seen throug-h the translucent
waves, in ten fathoms. Having anchored, we
hoisted out all the boats; but owing- to some of the
troops, who were to be on the right flank, having
been put on board the Nereide, which was anchored
the furthest to the left, it was near two o'clock
before we pulled towards the shore. We then,
however, gave way, and landed in a quarter of an
hour w ithout experiencing any obstacle, the enemy
blowing up the magazine at Grand Bay, and re-
treating. It was well to be able to disembark and
advance without a struggle, for circumstances did
not combine as I could have wished. A strong-
tide had made to the westward, which prevented
the flat and heavy boats from preserving the ne-
cessary order; but still, better might have been
obtained. ***** It was, on the whole, very
short of what I intended. Our troops formed, and
started off for the capital at about five o'clock,
except one brigade; and by half past eight, I had
landed most of the troops, European and Na-

CAPTAIN PTIILIP BEAVER. 200

five, with all the ammiiiiitlon, footl, and spirits
which the General had requested of me. Early
associations of ideas are stubborn companions ;
Johnson says, to abstract the mind from all local
emotion would be impossible if it were endeavoured^
and would be foolish if it were possible; and I con-
fess that while we were nearinj^ Cape Malheureux,
in doubt whether it would not soon be bathed with
British blood, I could not get the imaginary ship-
wreck of Virginin out of my head."

This disembarkation was a beautiful operation,
and entirely of Beaver's management. In this he had
had, it is true, some experience ; but it was one of
those measures which^ to be well done, required no
common skill and combination of movement. The
enemy, indeed, offered no opposition; but this was
not known until the last moment, and could not
have affected the masterly details which were
desisfned to meet it. An incident at this instant
evinced the Captain's presence of mind. While
standing- in for the place of landing-, his boat,
which contained the sio-nals whence the others
were to receive their orders, was swamped by the
rapid towing" of the ship, and the contents were
totally lost. This seemed a most untoward acci-
dent, and with many would have been irretrievable,
but it scarcely disconcerted liim. Such was his
fertility of resource, that in fifteen minutes new

p

210 THE LIFE OF

dispositions were made; the troop ships^ with the
men of war ordered to cover them, anchored in their
assigned positions, and the flotilla conveying the
soldiers moved towards the shore, a magnificent
and imposing spectacle.

'' On the morning of the 30th," continues the
Captain, " considerable trouble and some confu-
sion arose from disembarking sepoys, pioneers, and
artillery at one spot, when I had expressly directed
another. About eight o'clock Colonel Smyth's bri-
gade, which had covered the landing, moved for-
wards, and at the same time I received the Gene-
ral's desire to attack any assailable point, and open
a communication with him. The army, he said,
had marched through the woods without encoun-
tering any force but a piquet, which was routed ;
and that all hands were in high spirits. Shortly
afterwards, the Admiral ran off" Port Louis; I
weighed at ten, and in passing, saw with pleasure
the union jack floating over Cannoniere fort. At
half-past one, I anchored to the eastward of bay
Tortue, and observing French colours flying, sent
the first lieutenant, with a strong party, to take
possession of the batteries ; a service accomplished
without any loss, as the enemy retreated with such
precipitation, as to throw down the lighted matches
without discharging the guns.

^' December 1st. — At dawn of day I perceived

CAPTAIN PHILIP BEA\TU. 211

a column of our troops near tlic works : they had
been despatched to cover the right llaiik^ by occu-
pying them, but finding us already there, were
enabled to rejoin the main body ; and the commu-
nication being thus secured^ I immediately sent a
day's provisions for twelve thousand men. A can-
nonade soon after commenced from the enemy's
lines, on a hill a-breast the ship, as our soldiers
advanced, which, though pretty brisk for a time,
totally ceased at half-past nine. I found the
advanced guard had had a sharp brush with the
enemy, who were strongly posted, but were forced
to retire, leaving two guns, some tumbrils, and a
few wounded men behind them. The weather
was uncommonly fine, but the troops complained
of a grievous want of water.

" December 2d. — All our boats were employed
in landing and transporting provisions for the
army ; and the seamen on shore were eminently
useful in dragging the cannon over ai)parently
insurmountable obstacles. The General came on
board and breakfasted with me, after having
enjoyed a shave and a clean shirt : he was well
satisfied with affairs on the whole, for the enemy
had receded with each of our advances, and the
only stand they made scarcely merited the name
of a skirmish. Between nine and ten o'clock, a
flag of truce came out of Port Louis ; and after

P 2

I

S12 THE LIFE OE

much extravao'ant bravado and insolence on the
part of Governor de Caen, the Isle of France was
surrendered by capitulation^ on the 3d, I wish I
had been of greater consequence at this moment ;
the terms were rather demanded than supplicated,
and are far too advantageous for such an unde-
serving and inferior garrison. These are the fel-
lows, who not only treated their prisoners with
unusual severity, but added the disgusting insult
of confining males and females indiscriminately in
a common room. A boat of mine having been
captured on the 5th ult. besides the whole being
exceedingly ill treated^, the coxswain was horse-
whipped, and another of the crew was thumbscrewed,
of which I officially informed the Admiral. They
wished to retain four frigates and two corvettes,
with their officers, crews, guns^ and stores, as car-
tels ! and they are actually allowed to march with
their arms, their eagles, and fixed bayonets. Is
not this too much ? What can justify such conces-
sions ? ' Oh I' cry out some people, ' these honours
are of no real importance ; they are only trifles
founded on opinion.' But is it not to the influence
of opinion that the French owe more of their con-
quests, than to physical strength ? Will any one
be found hardy enough to rise in the House of
Commons, and move for a vote of thanks on this
occasion?"

CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 213

It may be clue to General Abercromljie, to add,
that he was induced to grant favourable terms, from
what he deemed a regard to the interests of the
inhabitants of the island, who had lono- laboured
under the most degrading- misery and oppression ;
from a desire of sparing the lives of many brave
officers and soldiers^ and a consideration of the late
period of the season. But this liberty awarded
to the French troops was the only point on which
he had not closely adhered to the instructions of
Lord Minto, the Governor-General of India.

The Isle of France, which was by far the most
important of the enemy's possessions in those
parts, having thus surrendered, a Biitish garrison
of 5000 men was left for its protection, and the
colony again assumed its ancient name of " T/ig
Mauritius."

Scarcely had the ratification of the treaty been
signed, ere the long-expected division of two thou-
sand men arrived from the Cape of Good Hope,
and their chagrin and disappointment at finding
the enterprise already accomplished, will be easily
imagined, by all who have been on similar service.

Port Louis now presented an indeseribablv lively
bustle, and though rather disorderl), must have
formed a picture of the highest interest. " Early
on the 6th," observes Captain Beaver, "' I ran
down off the Port, where we anchored in eleven

214 THE LIFE OF

fathoms, and made the signal for a pilot to take us
in. Every ship, whether man of war, or trans-
port, without order or regularity, seems determined
to force inside, and the mouth of the harbour is
completely blocked up by shipping of all sorts and
sizes ; some of which^ as might be expected_, are
on shore. Every kind of mooring is snapped up,
whether good or bad, adequate or inadequate, for
the seizer. The four French frigates, which were
moored for defence across the entrance, are still
suffered to remain in the same station : such con-
fusion, such gross neglect,, I never before wit-
nessed."

'' December 7th. — We warped into the har-
bour, and took up our mooring chains ; there are
already near us ten other English men of war^
besides four Company's cruizers, a great many
transports, Indiamen, and smaller vessels; and,
moreover, six prize frigates, two corvettes, and
thirty other captured craft. A gale of wind would
destroy every vessel ; why were they not ordered
to remain outside, where there would not be a
hundredth part of the danger? If one ship should
catch fire, it is most probable that the whole fleet
would be destroyed, and the town also."

In a letter detailing some of these events to his
sister, Captain Beaver remarks^ that the only army
ofiicers of rank who fell. Colonel Campbell and

C/VPTAIN PHILIP REAVER. 215

Major O'Kccfe, were friends of his lamented
brother, and liad both been, the morning- of the
event, on board the Nisus, to seek liis acquain-
tance. To another correspondent, he hints at the
contempt which had been shewn by tlie French for
the usual hiws of war, in their functionaries having
given up their pubhc stores, and the i)lunder of the
Indiamcn, to be secured by individuals as private
property, when the loss of the colony became pro-
bable. *^' Some of these worthies, already profess-
ing* an inviolable attachment to our government,
are craving candidates for situations under it ; and
our official men are so partial to the pageantry and
subserviency of having foreigners in their depart-
ments, that there is no doubt of their ofainino-
something. But when the moment arrives, they
will certainly deceive us ; for such warm profes-
sions to strangers must be equally as delusive and
insincere as the smile on the face of death."

Beaver spoke with a frankness equally suited to
his natural, and incidental to his professional cha-
racter ; and, sensible of his own integrity, he
feared the frowns of no man. Indeed, his openly
expressed opinions on this occasion are said to
have given umbrage in a certain quarter, and to
have cooled the praise which would otherwise have
stamped the mental and bodily exertion he had
endured in so enervating a climate. But however

216 THE LIFE OF

reluctantly encomium may have been extorted from
somCj it appears that the Admiral could not have
been one of the dissatisfied ; for he not only warmly
expressed his high opinion of our Captain, but left
him senior oflicer on the station, as a reward for
his fatio-iies. Obliged frequently to have men of
high rank, with their staff, on board, Captain
Beaver entreated to be permitted to draw for the
trifling allowance generally accompanying a broad
pendant : this_, although inadequate to his ex-
penses, would have diminished the accumulation
of debt, in which the very nature of his distinguished
services necessarily involved him; but the request
was unheeded.

An order of the 8th was couched in the follow-
ing terms : "His Excellency General Abercrombie,
having represented to me the great advantage the
public service has derived from your very able and
judicious arrangements, in the disposition and de-
barkation of the troops for the attack of this
colony, and solicited your continued superinten-
dence of the military measures, as connected with
re-embarking the soldiers for India, I am, there-
fore, to direct that you continue to superintend this
service accordingly."

Early on the 5th of January, 1811, a vessel was
seen standing towards the port, on which occasion
jFrench colours were hoisted^ and she was decoyed

CAPTAIN PHILIP 15EAVF.U. 217

sufliciently near for the boats of the Nisus and
Illustrious to surprise her, and secure the des-
patches. She proved to be the Mouche, and it
appeared from the papers thus captured,, that De
Caen was recalled, and that three French frigates,
Avitli troops and snpj)lies for the colony, were to
sail from France, in fifteen days after the packet.
On this intelligence, Beaver, now appointed com-
modore, stationed his squadron of three frigates
and two sloops to a[)prize him of every occurrence,
but remained himself in the port, to carry on the
requisite duties. These now gave him such constant
employment, that the correspondence with his
friends slackened very considerably; and though
the letters to his family breathe the same manly
and affectionate tone, they are evidently written with
more hurry than usual. '' I have never omitted,"
he writes to his wife, " one night since leaving
England, to pray most sincerely to the Almighty,
to preserve you and the dear children in health
and happiness — health, that first of blessings!"
To another, in mentioning the death of an ac-
quaintance, of whom he had not the highest opi-
nion, he observes, '^ Poor fellow ! he was always
with a bee in his bonnet, from a conceit that he
had the faculty of comparing, combining, and
deducino- effects from causes. I wish this had
been his most harmless assumption. But perfec-^

218 THE LIFE OF

tion is not the attribute of mortals, and we should
forg-et his failings ; may they be buried in his grave,
and mercifully pardoned by a benignant Deity.

" February the 4th. — Ever since the 30th of
last month, the weather here has been unsettled,
generally blowing exceedingly hard from e.n.e.,
the sun scarcely ever seen, and the rain pouring in
heavy torrents. Two days ago I observed, for
the first time, an uncommon surf at the harbour's
mouth ; yesterday it had increased, and this morn-
ing the sea seems to break nearly across it. About
seven^ we saw two brigs standing in, one evidently
commanded by a seaman, the other by a lubber.
A little after eight, the one steered skilfully through
the swell, and anchored in safety without any
assistance ; the other rounded the outer buoy, but
with her topsails ever lifting, and her yards slackly
braced, it soon became apparent she could not
weather the shoal. She blindly stood on, till find-
ing her error, she clewed all up, and let go two
anchors, at which moment a boat I had sent to her
assistance nearly reached her, but the surges
were too violent to admit of approach. A few
minutes only then elapsed, for the waves taking
her, first on the quarter, and then on the broad-
side, completely rolled her into the surf. Her
anchors and masts were now cut away, and she
kept beating and driving over the reefs ; the poor

CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 219

creatures on board were in ag-ony and despair, and
what powerfully heig-btened the excited fecliiigs of
the spectators, was the circumstance of a lady on
board implorino- that relief, which it was now im-
practicable to afford. About eleven o'clock_, the
vessel had forg-ed to a part where the breakers were
less furious, and at noon, by the most strenuous
labour, a boat got alongside, and boldly took out
the female, and some of the people. On landing,
it happened that an army officer, attracted by curio-
sity to the spot, pressed forwards to look at the
sufferers, when the first object which struck his
sight, was the unexpected appearance of his wife_,
just rescued from a watery grave ! It was impos-
sible to refuse a tear to this meeting. By the
inimitable conduct of the officers and seamen who
volunteered, the last of the crew were saved by
four o'clock, and the vessel shortly after went to
pieces — two men only were drowned."

Commodore Beaver had now planned an expe-
dition against the fortress of Tamatave, in the
island of Madagascar, which he had proposed to
execute in person ; but Governor Farquhar made
an official request for the Nisus to remain. He
therefore despatched Captain Lynne, of the Eclipse,
under the following instructions : "From an urgent
solicitation on the part of the government of this
island,, not to leave it without a frigate, at a period

220 THE LIFE OF

when succours from France are likely to arrive, you
will take the Staunch gun-brig' under your orders,
with the Duchess of York transport and Farquhar
schooner, and j)roceed forth with to Tamatave,which_,
as a dependancy upon this colony, you will by virtue
of this capitulation summon to surrender, and in
case of resistance, forcibly take possession of the
same. In fulfilling these instructions, you will
most strenuously avoid giving offence to the na-
tives, and take especial care to distinguish between
their property and that of the French establish-
ment." The result, though successful in its object,
gave infinite concern, by the extent of the subse-
quent disaster; for, except the Eclipse, every vessel
perished by stress of weather.

From pecuharly dense clouds on the summits of
the mountains, the recession of water in the har-
bour, the agitation of sea birds, and other prog-
nostics, Beaver had been led to expect one of
those awful storms which occasionally desolate the
tropical regions. Rather than trust even the
massy mooring chains to which he was riding, he
put to sea, accompanied by the Astrea, to meet
the expected commotion on fairer terms, than if
caught at anchor. '^ March 19th. — Strong gales
and squally; made every preparation for worse
weather : handed the topsails, and sent top-gallant
masts on deck ; got the spritsail yard fore and aft,

CAPTAIN PlllT.lP PFWER. 221

rail in tlic jib-boom, swifted the rigging-, uiid clap-
ped the fore-runners to the weather-cat and knight-
lieads. Towards evening, the wind blew tremen-
dously hard, when we fuiled the foresail, battened
down the hatches fore and aft, and made every
thing snug. The morning of the 20th presented
a terrific appearance, for the gale had increased
with such violent gusts following each other in
rapid succession ; the atmosphere impenetrably
thick, looking as if it could be cut with a knife, and
a violent deluofe of rain falling. In the afternoon
the tempest moderated, and the wind veered gra-
dually, point after point; it had commenced at
S.S.E., and it ended at n.n.w., so that the ship's
head being east on the starboard tack, at the
beginning, was lying west, on the same tack,
at the end of twenty-four hours. Had the
storm suddenly shifted, or fallen, we must have
been dismasted, and I expected it, as it was,
althouofh I never witnessed so little sea with such
furious blasts of wind. The waves could not rise,
for the squalls cut off their tops and forced them
along in thick drift, resembling heavy rain. I
never felt it blow harder than on this occasion,
but the water being thus comparatively smooth,
the vessel was steadily pressed down, with less
labourino' than could have been looked for ; nor
did she ship other water than spoondrift and occa-

22:2 THE LIFE OF

sioiial g-ood-natured slaps over the weather gang-
way. I was under some apprehension for the
fate of the Astrea^ yet, relying upon Schomberg's
seamanship, hoped for the best ; it was therefore
with sincere joy I saw him about noon of the
21st, looking quite snug, and apparently but little
hurt in the elemental strife."

The little damage sustained by these two fri-
gates was certainly owing to the knowledge which
anticipated the violence of the expected commo-
tion. To each of those commanders might be
applied the well-know n lines of poor Falconer : —

" His genius, ever for the event prepared,
Rose with the storm, and all its dangers shared ;
And though full oft, to future perils blind.
With skill superior glow'd his daring mind,
Tlirough snares of death, the reeling bark to guide.
When midnight shades involve the raging tide."

Two branches of public duty were now solicited
by the colonial government, and as they were both
of an urgent nature^ the Commodore felt himself
bound to compliance. Yet this was one of those
bitter points of service, which probe the well-disci-
plined officer to the quick ; for he was obliged, in
obeying the requisition, to relinquish his long-
cherished hope of meeting the expected French
frigates, after his anxious look out of three months.
The first object was the capture of the Seychelles,

CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 223

a cluster of nearly twenty islands and rocks, all
dependencies of Mauritius, and absolutely neces-
sary for some of her commercial purposes. The
other was, a request to procure treasure in India,
for an enormous quantity of pice, or coi)per coin,
which had been put into circulation from the cap-
tured Indiamen ; and this was the more essential,
because an attempt which was made to establish a
paper currency had proved abortive.

A singular incident occurred just as they were
quitting the harbour : — '"^ John Herring, a youth
of eighteen, was discovered by the master-at-arms
crawling into one of the tiers ; he being supposed
to have jumped overboard and been drowned, on
the 4th of November last. For five months had
he secreted himself in the main hold, unseen by
any person whatever; during all which time he
subsisted upon what he could nightly steal out of
the mess kids and bread-bags between decks. His
supply was, of course, precarious, and he says he
was once five days without eating, though he could
generally procure water. When detected diving
to his hiding-place, he had two bags in his hand,
one full of biscuit, and the other of onions, w hich
he had just stolen. He could crawl pretty well,
but stood with difliculty ; he was unable to walk,
and being very weak and emaciated, would not
probably have lived many days longer. The

224 THE LIFE or

mainliold of the ship, during- the time of his hiding",
has never been worked, for \^'e got our water at
the fore, and provisions at the after hatchway,
whieli accounts for this sculker's retreat never
having' been suspected."

On duly informing the Navy Board of this cu-
rious recovery of a person long- since discharged
dead on the books, it was decided that he had vir-
tually deserted the service, though he remained in
the ship concealed ; and that therefore he should
be mulcted of his pay and provisions for the time.

The Nisus sailed from Port Louis on the 4th of
April, with a favourable breeze, and soon after
passing the Galega Islands. — " For several even-
ings we observed an uncommon change in the ap-
pearance of the water, as if it had suddenly become
shallow, with a chalky tinge. A cast of the deep
sea lead was taken every hour, but we never got
soundings, nor could we detect any thing in the
water, which we repeatedly drew up and examined
during our passage across this ocean of milk.
The time was usually between seven and eight
o'clock, with a clear and serene atmosphere ; and
as I cannot give the slightest solution of this very
singular phenomenon, I trust somebody else,
better qualified, will."

They gained sight of the Seychelle Islands on
the 17th of April, but for several days baffling

CAPTAIX PHILIP BEAVER. 22 J

currents prevented tlieir ap[)r(jucli, to the great
annoyance of the Commodore^ who strained every
nerv^e to accelerate the service which he was upon.
At lengthy on the 24th, the ship took up a command-
ing position, the marines were landed, and formal
possession taken of Mahe, under the usual salutes
on hoisting the British Hag. Lieutenant Sullivan,
who had been severely wounded at the isle of
France^ was established as Governor ; and other
arrangements being made, Beaver remained but
two days to wood and water, and then hastened
onwards for Madras.

On this occasion he took the degree and a half
channel, which, though scarcely known, is wide
and safe, and saved nearly a thousand miles of
route. '"' Having been but litde in India," he
remarks, " I had never heard of this channel, till
a gentleman at Seychelle gave me a manuscript
chart, by which it appeared to be about fifteen
leagues wide; I therefore determined io take it, in
preference to the eight degree one. On the (ith
of May, at day-break, being in the latitude of
1° 26' north, our chronometer gave exactly 73° 30',
east longitude ; and we soon afterwards saw the
palm-trees of Adumatti, one of the iVIaldive isles,
from the mast-head. We passed them fifteen or
sixteen miles distant, and never saw the land to
the southward, thougli the weather was very clear.

Q

226 THE LIFE OF

I should tlicrefore pronounce the passage to be
spacious, and most eligible for ships that are
bound to the Bay of Bengal, in the S.W. Monsoon."
On the 14th of May, the Nisus anchored in
Madras roads, where the whole shore exhibited
evidences of recent devastation, and the beach was
literally strewed with the wrecks of every descrip-
tion of vessel. In answer to the earnest inquiries
of the Commodore, it was stated that a storm of the
severest description had commenced on the eastern
quarter, on the 2d instant, which reached its acme
of violence about midnight, at which time the ge-
neral distress, both on shore and afloat, was in-
describable. The atmosphere seemed charged
with electric fluid, which incessantly darted in
vivid flashes, while angry blasts of wind, torrents
of rain, and a peculiar rolling sea, known only on
that devoted coast, conspired to render it a scene
of the ntmost awe and horror. Large trees were
torn up by the roots; doors and windows, however
barricadoed, were forced open, and the buildings
injured to a serious extent. But in the roadstead,
theeflect of this visitation exceeded all description;
a hundred and twenty ships and vessels either
bilged or foundered, and were all lost! It was
providential that the expedition against Java had
sailed two days before, or the whole armament,
comprising the squadron of India, twelve Com-

CATTATN rilN.rP RF.AVF.R. 227

pany's cruizers^ and sixty transports with twelve
thousand soldiers on board,, must have perished.
Fewer lives were lost than could have been ex-
pected, considering- the extent of the calamity ;, and
that numbers of the country ciaft went down at
their anchors; but neither the Dover, frigate, nor
Chichester^ store-ship, which were stranded^ lost a
single man : such are the benefits resulting- from
systematic discipline, even

" When hostile elements tumultuous rise,
And lawless floods rebel against the skies."

Eager to rejoin his station, the Commodore lost
no time in embarking three lacks of pagodas, which
were given in return for the pice, or copper coin,
and he gladly quitted India on the 23d, with the
ardent hope of yet being in time to intercept the
three French frigates expected from Europe. But
he had to endure a tedious and anxious passage ;
and about a fortnight after they were at sea, it
was discovered that by a nefarious stratagem of die
Purser's steward, the ship had only been victualled
with ten weeks provisions instead of four months.
This obliged him to reduce the ship s company to
half allowance ; and even of this pittance a great
portion was almost useless, from the depredation
of vermin. At length, on the 27th of June, the>y
arrived at Port Louis, not only with their food

0-^

228 THE LIFE OF

reduced to half a day's ration, but tlie wine and
spirits had been finished a week before.
■ The mino'led emotions which seized our zealous
oflicer, on Rearing- the port_, maybe imagined^ when
he beheld two fine French frigates riding across the
harbour, thereby announcing that the event which
he had so ardently sighed for -was accomplished by
another. His wonted liberality, however^ shone
brightly conspicuous through his disappointment.
'' I have been wretchedly unfortunate," he re-
marks, " in being absent, when the arrival of the
French squadron would have given me an oppor-
tunity of showing to the world of what materials I am
made. Ho^v•ever^ I presume not to repine — what-
ever is, is right. I cannot be accused of pecuniary
regret, for I share with the captors ; my feelings
are stung for my two boys, as they can only have,
for their inheritance, whatever name I may form in
the service of my country. This mortification is
partly compensated to me, by its having given an
opportunity to two of my favourite friends, Schom-
berg and Hillyar, to distinguish themselves. I
exult in their success, and hope their decision and
merit will meet the proper reward." And in for-
warding the despatches addressed to him by the
former, he generously remarks — '^ To the con-
duct of that zealous and intelligent officer, Cap-
tain Schomberg, on this occasion, I can only give

CAPTAIN Til 1 1,11' i;i:aveu. 220

the tribute of my iiiHjiialificd praise; and of" the
manner in which he was snpported by the estima-
ble Captain llillyar, I must express myself in the
same terms. But I regret * * * In this battle,
the oflicers and crews of the Astrea and Phoebe
fought most bravely ; and have rellected credit on
their country, by an additional instance of the su-
perior gallantry of its navy."

It appeared that early on the TUi of May, the
expected French frigates were discovered by the
Phoebe, Galatea, and Racehorse, two compara-
tively small ships and a brig-, who alternately
chased and were chased by the enemy. Our
squadron edged away towards Port Louis, where
they gave intelligence to the Astrea, which ship was
nearly prevented from joining them, by the very
unusual phenomenon of a strong sea breeze setting
in ; the animation inspired by the vicinity of the
foe, however, overcame all difficulties, and she was
warped ont amidst loud cheers. The enemy un-
avoidably gained this time to make off, and it was
difficult to say towards which quarter; but Captain
Schomberg, finding by a boat which had commu-
nicated with the shore, that they were in want of
water, judiciously concluded that Madagascar would
be the place to seek them. The hard-fought action
which ensued, and the capture of the Renommee
and Nereide, each of forty-four guns and four

i

230 THE LIFE OF

hundred and seventy men, besides troops, are
ably set forth in that otficer's oflicial letter to
Captain Beaver, which being" published in the
gazettes of the day, requires no further comment,
except to lament that a greater unanimity ^^•as not
displayed in so splendid a cause.

The third ship struck her colours, but afterwards
basely escaped ; she was called the Clorinde, and
was of the same class with the other two. When
she got into Brest, her Commander was dismissed
the French service, and ejected from the Legion of
Honour ; he was moreover sentenced to three years'
imprisonment. On his passage to Elba, on board
the Undaunted, Buonaparte expressed to Captain
Ussher his high opinion of Schomberg's bravery,
in attacking such heavy vessels with his six-and-
thirty-gun frigates. " I did my utmost," added
he, '' to have St. Cricq shot, but he was tried by
French naval officers! Had he done his duty, the
English squadron must have fallen into our hands."
And such was the inveteracy of his indignation,
that, finding on his return to France that M. St.
Cricq had been restored to his former rank by
Louis XVIH., the Usuri)er ordered him to be again
confuied, and he consequently continued in prison
during the memorable hundred days.

To an oflicer, battle is the chief stage on which
he must exhibit, in order to attain brilliant cele-

CAPTAIN PHILIP 13KAVER. 231

brity; but this areiui, fur which our hero ardently
thirsted, happened to be, on a g-rand scale at
letist, denied to him. He regretted his ill fortune,
as he termed it, with a fervour which no one could
mistake. There was nothing- like bravado in this ;
nor is there in general when a similar sentitncnt is
expressed by more ordinary persons. Men who
have reputation, honours, and sometimes wealth to
acquire on the one hand, and but the risk of loss of
life on the other, will always run the latter against
the former. It is, with many, a professional feeling,
almost independent of courage. In the keenness,
therefore, of his disappointment in not command-
ing on this occasion, he exclaimed aloud, '' Freely
would I have given my right arm to have been
there !" ^' And,'' says Mr. Prior, the surgeon of
the Nisus, " we, who knew the man, had no doubt
of the readiness with which he would instantly
have made the sacrifice."

Commodore Beaver had scarcely anchored, be-
fore he received a secret communication which de-
termined him to repair to Java, and assist in the
reduction of Batavia, with such force as he could
collect. He therefore ordered a slioht refit with
the utmost expedition, working day and night; and
from the want of stores, they were obliged to recur
to various contrivances, in all of which he displayed
the resources of a seaman. "^ The late action

232 THE LIFE OF

with the enemy's squadron," says he, in a letter to
Commissioner Shield, " has left us without a stick,
or a fathom of rope ; and to enable us to go to sea,
I am (.bliged to make the latter by cutting up cables.
This ship will proceed, with two others, on most
important service, and yet I shall set otl' without a
main-topsail, except one that is more than half
worn, not an inch of rope, nor a morsel of junk;
and all the running rigging fairly worn out. My
companions are in no better state ; one is without
a spare topsail yard, and the other with nume-
rous shot-holes, and all her masts fished."

In a valuable communication which I received
from Mr. Prior, — who, since his voyages in the
ISisus, has become so well known to the public by
his acute and comprehensive Biography of Burke, —
that gentleman observes, '' On points of service,
our Captain would scarcely admit the existence of,
what many were disposed to think, impossibilities;
but, at the same time, with that clearness which
belongs only to men of superior capacity, he would
not only order what was to be done, but also point
out the most safe and expeditious method of accom-
plishing it. Without neglecting details, on which
often depends the success of operations in wan
and of which he was perfect master, his mind was
more turned to great things. It seemed to expand
with the quantity of matter required to be taken in.

CAPTAIN PllirjP REAVKU. 233

WliL'ii fittiiii^- tlio s(iu;idr()ii for Java^ witli only two
or tliree days to perform it in, and one of the sliips
just out of action ; stationing' some of the remaining-
ships at the Mauritius^ and others at the Cape;
writing orders and despatclies to several quarters;
waited upon every moment^ by officers of all classes,
for directions how to proceed in their respective
departments ; teased witii applications of various
kinds^ on public business, from persons on shore;
added to the responsibility which he assumed^ of
quitting- his station,, hanging- on his mind ; yet I
never saw him more cool^ clear^ and collected,
though scarcely able to devote five minutes unin-
terruptedly to any one object."

By unceasing- attention, the Nisus was enabled
to leave the harbour on the 2d of July, in company
with the President and Phoebe. To effect a o()od
passage at this season^ it was necessary to run far
to the southward; and from the wounded state of
the Phoebe's masts, they could carry but little sail,
which impediments prevented their arrival in time
to be present at the landing- of the army in Java.

'^ At seven in the morning' of the 6th of August/'
says Beaver, " we made the west coast of New Hol-
land, and running along- shore at an oiling of perhaps
a dozen miles, we perceived some very formidable
breakers, in mid-distance. These we had i)assed
about noon, and then closing the land, found it mo-

234 THE LIFE OF

derately high, but without a vestig-e of tree or shrub
of any kind, being all of a quaker-like drab colour^
except wlien broken by dingy chffs. A more bar-
ren, nninvitinsf hind I never beheld ; so having set
the N. W. cape, we gladly bade adieu to Australasia.
Robertson, in a Memoir on the China Sea, criti-
cises Nicholson's latitude, as being forty-six miles
out; I call it 21° 50' south, which is as much to
the northward of the critic's ! And what if some
person hereafter shall point out my errors_, as
greater even than those of Mr. Robertson ?

" August the 13th. We are now running through
the Straits of Balli, all my charts of which resemble
just as much as they do the Sea of Marmora, and
no more. The shores are highly picturesque, Avith
©•roves of tall cocoa-nut trees in full verdure; there
are hundreds of boats swiftly crossing in all direc-
tions, though the current is very rapid, and the
whole forms a scene capable of filling the most
insensible hypochondriac with life and animation."

When the ships reached Batavia roads, on the
20th of August, they found Admiral Stopford rid-
ing there, with the fleet : the city had been taken
on the 9th, and the enemy driven into the fortified
entrenchments surrounding the post of Cornelius.
The marines of the Nisus, and those of her consorts,
were immediately landed, and marched to the po-
sition which was occupied by our forces, where

CAPTAIN rillLIP BEAVER. 235

tliclr assistance was bulh timely and welcome, ("or
sickness and fatig-ue had already made inroads into
the oeneral strcnii^th.

V. On the 22d the enemy made a sortie from Mees-
ter Cornelius, and drove our seamen from the
works, on which they were mounting- guns, where,
by some mismanagement, they were both unarmed
and unprotected. The Dutch, however, did not
keep possession five minutes, being beat out again,
before they had time to spike a gun. Both sides
kept up a heavy cannonade till the 26th, when that
formidable fortress was stormed. The attack was
made at dawn of day, by a select column, after a
masterly detour, in utter darkness, through a thick
jungle. So secret and silent had been the march,
that the foe was surprised, and completely routed
at the point of the bayonet, in little more than a
quarter of an hour ; leaving a thousand killed in the
works, besides the multitudes who were cut down in
the retreat. This entrenched camp was defended
by a chain of redoubts, mounting one hundred and
seventy-four guns, and defended by nearly twelve
thousand men, of whom, besides the slain, three
generals, two hundred and fifty oHlcers, and more
than five thousand soldiers, were taken prisoners.
A curious case of na^'al law now occurred.
Captain Heathcote of the Lion, being ordered for
trial, on charges preferred against him by Commo-

23C) THE LIFE OF

dore Brougliton, Beaver was appointed the presi-
dent^ and the court was directed to assemble on
board the Nisus. But a demur was started by our
inflexible officer, as to the legality of his sitting in
that capacity^ having been addressed as fourth in
command, whereas^ the 22d of George II. only
authorizes a commander-in-chief to nominate to
the third. This objection being made known to
the Admiral, produced the following explanation :
^' Although Captain Heathcote has not been ac-
tually superseded from the Lion, he is virtually so^
the moment he appears as a prisoner before the
court. I have therefore no objection to alter the
address of your order as president, and instead of
fourth, insert third in command ; as you certainly
rank next to Commodore Broughton during the
trial. And I have to thank you for detecting an
informality in style^ which I had overlooked."

The principal part of the enemy's force having
been captured or destroyed, in the successful as-
sault of Mecster Cornelius, by the British troops,
on the 26th^ Admiral Stopford intended returning
to the Cape of Good Hope^ but both his Excellency
the Governor-general of India^ then residing at
Batavia^ and Sir Samuel Auchmuty, commander-in-
chief of Ihe forces, entreated him to remain^ it
being desirable to bring the contest to a speedy
conclusion^ as the firture resources of the foe were

CArTAIN PHILIP RRAVRR. 237

unknown. Upon these sug-f^cstions^ the Admiral
waived his first intention of quitting- the station, and
prepared for immediately j)roceeding- to Surabaya.

A man of Beaver's known jiidg-ment and gaUan-
try could not remain long- without marked distinc-
tion, even in so large a fleet. Accordingly we
find that, on the 31st of August, he was detached
with the Nisus, his two consorts, the President
and Phoebe, and the Hesper, to attack Cheribon,
Taggal, and Samarang, and to cut off the enemy's
retreat from Meestcr Cornelius to the eastward ;
services which the Admiral, in oiiicially reporting*
to have been performed by these ships, pronounces
"of the greatest importance to the ultimate result
of the campaign." The strength of the squadron
was increased by the marines of the Lion ; and a
party of well- disciplined sepoys, whose courage
and fidelity had already been well tried in India.
Arriving off the first point of attack, the Com-
modore sent a summons, couched in spirited and
ciricient terms, giving the garrison five minutes to
consider them, and threatening signal retaliation,
should the least injury be done to the public ])r()-
perty in the mean time. The subsequent events
may be given in his own words : —

" September 4th.— At daylight I sent Captain
Warren with a flag of truce to summons the for-
tress, and immediately afterwards got the s(jua-

238 THE LIFE OF

dron under sail^ and ran into three fathoms and a
quarter water. At half-past eight, I had the satis-
faction of seeing the French colours hauled down,
and the old British union hoisted in their place.
I now disembarked one hundred and eighty ma-
rines, and just as they reached the shore,, Warren
learnt that General Jamelle, the enemy's second
in command, had arrived with a few troops from
Bno'tenzorg, and was procuring horses to continue
his disastrous retreat. Not a moment was lost in
securing him, and, together with some other offi-
cers of rank, he was instantly conveyed on board
the Nisus. I found, on conversing with them,
that part of the fugitive army might be hourly
expected. I therefore landed one hundred and
fifty seamen, in charge of three lieutenants and six
midshipmen, to garrison the fort, and thus leave
the marines at liberty to act as occasion required.
This fort is a square structure with four solid
bastions, surrounded by a wet ditch, and strength-
ened by a stout abbatis beyond the glacis. It is
defended by twenty guns; and to enfilade the prin-
cipal approaches, I moored three armed launches
in the river. Without sustaining any loss, we
have this day made one hundred and thirty-six
prisoners, of whom few are Europeans: I merely
disarmed the Malays to their kreeses, and ordered
them to their homes, there to await in quiet the

CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 230

issue of the contest; assuring- Ihcm^ that if again
found as enomieSj they should instantly be hang-ed.
Poor devils ! what interest can they have in our
struo'olcs for mastery ?

*^' September 5th. — My men complain bitterly
of the filthy state in which they found the interior
of the fortress ; it seems a mass of dirt and abo-
mination. I have sent orders to release the lui-
liappy beings who were found in its horrible
dung-eons ; they may have been guilty of capital
offences, but a week's confinement in the castle
of Cheribon would expiate any crime. Captain
Robison reported to me, that at Carang* Sambang-,
a place upwards of thirty miles distant^ a large
depot has been established for the enemy's stores,
and that they were then collecting their scattered
forces. As Cheribon was now secured, I deter-
mined to summons that place, for which purpose I
placed all the marines, and seventy seamen, under
the command of Colonel Wood. Away they started
with chceiful alacrity, for they were nearly all
mounted, blue jackets as well as red, — a mixture
of naval cavalry and horse marines ; whilst the
repeated falls of some, who at length preferred
finding their way on foot, excited the highest mer-
riment. These jokes, however coarse, help to
cheer the toils of war, and the oppressive heat of
the climate to boot, for the thermometer ranges
from eiglity-threc to ninety degrees.

240 THE LIFE OF

'^ September Gth. — A well-appointed troop of
Diitcli cavalry halted at Cheriboii ; we were imme-
diately in attendance, and they were as quickly
disarmed. Various other prisoners were made in
the course of the day, so that the occupation of
this post seems to have been of material use.
The seamen manage the castle very well, consi-
dering- the novelty of the duty, for Jack does not
make a very stiff sentry. One of the miserable
wretches restored to light yesterday, expired with
overpowered feelings, and it is feared two others
cannot long survive. Having been waited upon
by a party of native chiefs, whom I received with
all due ceremony, I have concerted measures for
sending a particular account of the recent events
to the Emperor and Sultan of Java.

^' September 7th. — A party of seamen and
marines brought in thirty prisoners and nine wag-
gons laden with money, which they had taken
near Bongas, a place half way between this and
Carang Sambang : Colonel Wood and his detach-
ment had entered the latter place, and secured all
the stores, spices, and coffee, in the public maga-
zines. This is capital, considering the nature of
his good-humoured forces, and that he is in the
midst of the enemy's resources. In the afternoon'
the Modesto anchored, with Sir S. Auchmuty on
board, who expressed himself highly pleased with

CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 241

our progress. T told liiiii tliat J fomid ])y dis-
coursing* with our captive French Geneml, that it
was Jansen's intention to concentrate his force at
Samarang- ; where he had been joined by Prince
Prang Wedoiia^ and a well-appointed legion of
two thousand men. Sir Samuel, on this informa-
tion, wished me to assist in the operations against
Samarang-, so soon as I should be able to quit
Cheribon, and capture Taggal. To second liis
views, I instantly dispatched the Hesper oft' point
Tndermaya, to collect all transports that were
making- for the Manara channel ; and I sent other
vessels in various directions, to apprize the men-
of-war of the General's intention."

The seamen and marines now returned on
board, and the result of their several enterprizes
cannot be better expressed than in the official
report of the 1 1th. " I have the honour to inform
you, that the last party of marines returned from
Carang Sambang late last night, and were em-
barked on board the Nisus at one this morning-.
I have thus re-embarked every seaman and ma-
rine of the two hundred and thirty-nine whom 1
landed on the 4th instant ; after having- made
about seven hundred prisoners, including one
general, two lieutenant-colonels, one major, eleven
captains, forty-two lieutenants, and above one
lunidred and eighty non-commissioned otBcers

242 THE LIFE OP

and privates,, Europeans ; the rest being- Creoles
and Malays ; without having- had a single man
either killed or wounded ; and I am happy to say,
with very few sick indeed, and those chiedy from
g-reat ft\tigue, whom, I trust, a few days will restore
to their wonted vig-our. And althouoh it has not
been our good fortune to have had it in our
power to do any thing brilliant, yet I hope that
haviug been able to secure so great a proportion
of the enemy's officers and European troops may
contribute, in some degree, to the speedy reduc-
tion of this important colony."

The health enjoyed by the crew of the Nisus
was alike creditable to both the commander and
the surgeon ; for while the latter applied to pre-
cautions strictly medical, the former established a
very judicious system of internal regulations for the
ship, which were rigidly enforced in those places
where the safety of the men was likely to be par-
ticularly endangered. No boats were then per-
mitted to leave the ship after sunset, nor any person,
except under particular circumstances, to sleep on
shore. During the hours of rest, the men were
kept strictly to their hammocks, from an impres-
sion that the night dews of the tropics are fre-
quently productive of disease ; for seamen, sooner
than endure the heat below, will, if left to them-
selves, run any risk by sleeping iu the open air.

CAPTAIN PHILIP DrWER. 243

111 the moriiiniJ', the 'tween decks were cleansed,
cleared of moveable articles, and thoroughly ven-
tilated the whole of the day ; the men, meantime,
livino- and taking- their meals on the gun deck, so
that in the evening, when their hammocks were
I)iped down, all was cool and refreshing prepara-
tory to their repose.

In addition to Captain Beaver's excellent pre-
cautions, I trust it will not be deemed irrelevant to
mention a practice which I have myself adopted^ as
being evidently attended with benefit. Upwards of
twenty years ago^ I belonged to a line-of-battlo
ship, which^ just before my joining her^ had been
nearly disabled by disease and deaths on her pas-
sage from Batavia to Madras. On clearing her
hold at Bombay, the ground tier of casks was found
imbedded in a feculent mass of putrid mud! This
palpable source of remittent fever did not excite
much remark at the time ; but I determined, should
I ever arrive at the command of one of his Ma-
jesty's ships^ never, from neglect, to suffer the
nuisance of a foul hold to contaminate her. With
this resolution, I have always had the shingle ballast
washed before stowing it ; and water was regu-
larly admitted into the bilgeways, until that which
was pumped up became as transparent as the sea
alongside. And to these practices, under Provi-
dence, I mainly attribute the superior health of

244 THE LIFE OF

my people, for a period of upwards of ten years
ill the Mediterranean sea.

Previous to sailing" for Cheribon^ the commander
was called upon for certain papers by an army
oflicer^ who considered himself entitled to the
same, in quality of agent to the Governor-General
of India. Beaver was irritated_, and returned a
reply highly characteristic of his temper : "■ In my
public capacity," says he, " I never permit my
conduct to be affected by individual feeling ; were
I to act from the latter, the former would frequently
suffer. Now, Sir, one great cause of my anger
towards the landroost was, being unable to gQi
vegetables supplied to the ships under my orders,
and yet finding them charged in the returns ; for
which, but for your intercession, I would have
clapped him into the fort. With respect to the
liorses, a receipt for which has now, for the first
time, been demanded, I know not what authority
you or any human being whatever has to demand
it. In themselves they are of no value or import-
ance, and there are only two in each ship, I
believe ; but to these I, and the other officers,
have as much right, as to the coats we wear on
our backs, and have paid for. I myself, with
a few marines, made the thirty troopers, whose
horses we took, lay down their arms ; and I fixed
on my horse, before the enemy who previously

CAPTAIN PHILIP DKAVKU. 245

possessed it had dismounted. It is mine by right,
and no man shall have a recei[)t for it; e\ery
thing- captured at Cheribon has been in conse-
quence of my measures, and performed by the
force under my orders ; accounts therefore are
due to me, and me only."

On the 12th of September, being off Taggal,
the Commodore ordered the Phoebe to take pos-
session of the fort and magazines, after which he
stood on for Samarang. Here he found that the
enemy, having witnessed the destruction of their
lltjtilla by the boats of our fleet, had retreated
towards Surabaya, where the Admiral determined
to pursue them. On the 18th, the whole force
anchored in the Manara passage, and on the fol-
lowing morning, " at half-past three, the troops
and marines of the squadron began to assemble
round the Nisus, and exactly at daybreak, they
all landed at Zidayo, in an orderly and very cre-
ditable style, with two field-pieces, and a detach-
ment of artillery. When they had marched off,
along a fine road for Gressik, I went with a flag
of truce to summons Fort Ludwyk, which, it was
at first planned, I should attack with the frigates,
but that it appeared so formidable as to threaten
much effusion of blood. On my approach, I was
blindfolded, and conducted I knew not whither ;
but from the panting and stumbling of my sup-

246 THE LIFE OF

porters^ found the way was of didicult access.
When withhi the keep, I was restored to sight,
and ft)und myself surrounded by a numerous party
of Dutch and French oilicers, to whom I opened
my mission. My eloquence, however, was not
sufliciently persuasive, and finding my representa-
tions without effect, I submitted to be again blind-
folded, and returned to the Admiral.

^'^ September 20th. — Little pleased with the ill
success of yesterday, I went at dawn of day to re-
connoitre the fortress from the island of Manara.
I landed at Zidayo, and breakfasted with the
Dipatty, who furnished me with a carriage and
four horses, and sent his chief minister as my
conductor. We drove rapidly to the Soloo river,
about seven miles distant, where there is a ferry
sixty yards across ; here we embarked on a plat-
form supported by two canoes, and paddled down
to Badantin, a village on the left bank, where the
river was stoccadoed across. Proceeding thus,
we arrived at the entrance in an hour and a quar-
ter, but the mouth was so closely stoccadoed, that
I was obliged to get into a canoe about eighteen
mches wide, to pass between the stakes, and so
make for Manara. I landed at the back of the
island, near a spot directly opposite the fort, un-
perceived by the enemy, and by the aid of a
native's hut, had a fair opportunity of observing

CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 217

the enemy's works. Tliis insulated castle was
erected by Dacndels^ on piles and rocks, after Sir
Edward Pellew's attack at Gressik, and completely
defends the northern entrance of the channel. It
ap[)eared in excellent order, and I should think
mounted nearly a hundred guns, which are planted
principally along- the north and east sea-faces ; the
west front seemed the weakest and most exposed.
As there did not appear anything- like a bomb-
proof, and the channel being about one thousand
two hundred yards wide, I concluded it could be
reduced by shells^ and accordingly marked out a
spot for a mortar battery. Having- satisfied my-
self on this head, I returned the way I came, and
o'ot back to Zidayo a little after three, where the
Dipatty had provided an excellent dinner. Our
conversation turned upon a terrific monster of an
allig-ator, which we had accidentally stumbled
upon, basking- in a creek of the island. This sur-
prising* animal was at least six-and-thirty feet in
length;, with a rotundity of belly larg-er than that
of a horse. I learned that these unsightly brutes
arc not greatly dreaded by the natives ; but for
myself, never having- seen anything- approaching-
its size, and being in a diminutive and fragile
canoe, I confess I had some respect, and therefore
kept my distance."

Surabciya had already capitulated to the force

248 THE LIFE OF

uiidcr Captain 1 larris ; and Ludwyk would pro-
bably have speedily fallen to Beaver, but that all
operations were sus})ended by the defeat of Jan-
sens, and the consequent surrender of the whole
island. This blow having destroyed the French
dominion in the East, the services of the frigate
were no longer required ; she therefore passed
through the Straits of Sunda, and returned to the
Isle of France. Previous, however, to his depar-
ture, the Admiral wrote a public despatch highly
approviiig all the Commodore's proceedings, and
congratulating him upon his success ; while in a
private letter he says, " your prompt and effectual
measures produced the happiest results in accele-
rating the final fall of Java."

Information having been received that reinforce-
ments were on their way from France to Batavia,
the Nisus left Port Louis on the 21st of November,
to endeavour to intercept them in the Southern In-
dian Ocean. Approaching the volcanic island of St.
Paul, a boat was sent into the crater, and speedily
returned, laden with seals, fish, and birds. The
crew found that live huts had been erected on the
north side of the entrance, in which were seal-skins,
and sea-stores, with the following paper carefully
deposited in a bottle.

"Ship Venus, of London, A Whalar, 3 of June 1811 Uriel
Bunker Master stoped here 84 days from london Bound lo fimour,
and Here found 8 men on the island Left by their ship Being cast

CAPTAIN PHILIP REAVER. 249

asliore wrcckit the ship fox, from Port Jackson on a skinninpj
voyage William Cox master Left here -1 months aGo with 8 of his
IkiikIs the ship as Carryiedhim would not Gary any more — he Left
a lettar with his men to beg no person or persons will by no means
carry of any of his goods or artekels he leves here As he will Come
And get them as soon as he Can get A vessel he will Come
And take away his skins And Every Arlekel Belonging to his vessel
the ship was honed By Camel & Co port Jackson Newsouthwales
or new holland."

All exact copy of this luminous production was
transmitted to Lloyd's^ as a means of consolation
to the relatives of those who navioated the Fox;
and the original was carefully rei)laccd amongst
the skins and ^' artekels."

'^ This island_," says Beaver, " is represented as
eight or ten miles in leng-th, but at the very utmost
does not exceed four. It is tolerably high, and
clear of danger ; but as to fixing its situation astro-
nomically, we scarcely had a fair sight of sun,
moon, or stars, during' the twenty-two days we
stood off and on. From the prevalence of clouds,
fog-, and wind, I never anchored, or ventured into
less than forty fathoms water ; and owing- to the
same causes, we had little pros[)ect of prizes, for
we did not perceive a large shi}), under English
colours, apparently an Indiaman, till she was pretty
close to us ; and it then blew so hard, with so wild
a sea, that we could not attcm})t to board her.
The boats had ten fathoms close to the crater, but
the water on the bar varied at each visit. Fish

250 ' THE LIFE OF

are abundant^ and so voracious as to bite instantly
at the hook, whether baited or not. The whole
island is a ruooed volcanic crater^ with scarcely
an appearance of vegetation, excepting mosses,
and coarse grass in the clefts ; otherwise it would
seem to be condemned to everlasting sterility.
Seals resort there in numbers, and it is the occa-
sional abode of the albatross, penguin, and stormy
peterel, that dread of superstitious sailors. We
did not examine Amsterdam, not having approached
nearer than eight or nine miles_, on account of the
squalls and hazy weather. It is more precipitous
and high, and appears equally barren, but rather
less than St. Paul's, from which it is distant about
seventeen leagues to the n.n.e."

In the beginning of the year 1812, the Nisus
extended her cruize to the southward ; and the
journal remarks, — '' We were told that from the
latitude of 37° 20' s. the Telemaque brig made a
true course s. by w. two hundred and twelve
miles, when she found herself on a shoal, which
the commander made out to be in 38" 11' by ac-
count. This not satisfying Mens. Petrie, he re-
computed the brig's data, and found she must have
been in 38" 50' s. I Precious bunglers ! In either
case there is an error of at least one hundred and
fifty-six miles in latitude — an error without exam-
ple, and for which the name of the navigator ought
to be gibbetted in disgrace.

CAPTAIN PHILIP REAVER. 251

" But notwithstanding- this lame conclusion, re-
ports are so numerous^ that one can liardly doubt
the existence of a reef or bank in this neit»hbour-
hood ; though it would be more creditable if peo-
ple would take the trouble to ascertain facts, pre-
vious to their propag'ating reports, which are likely
to alarm navigators unnecessarily. Those who
choose to follow our log- courses, will see that I
took some pains in examining the southern posi-
tion assigned to this danger : we could place re-
liance on our chronometers^ tried deep soundings^
and kept men at the mast-head diligently lo(jking
out for the slightest indication of shoal water. But
on the whole^ I have no hesitation in declaring-
that, in the vicinity of latitude 40" 27' south, and
longitude 2P 57' east, from Greenwich, the Tele-
maque shoal does not exist.

*' Two small islands called Denia and Marseveu
are placed near this position_, but upon whose au-
thority I know not ; and therefore endeavoured to
ascertain the fact of their existence. The incohe-
rent account of the Telemaque navigator would^
if it were believed, indicate an island near their
assigned situation. 13ut in the course of our cruiz-
ing in every direction_, we paid particular attention
over an extensive space, and tried frequently for
bottom with a very long range of line. The wea-
ther was fine and clear, yet no indication of land

252 THE LIFE OF

appeared ; I therefore hauled to the northward for
the Cape, beino- fully satisfied that where all our
charts have placed Deiiia and Marseven_, those
islands exist not."

In a letter from the Cape of Good Hope, under
date of the 21st of July, Captain Beaver breaks
forth with, — " The Cape may be a capital colony,
but its bay is an infernal one ; it is safe against no
wind, and its sea is worse than the wind. You
have generally a great swell, and even in the fair
season, the s.e. winds frequently blow so strong,
that you have no communication with the shore for
two or three days together. But a north-wester,
after the middle of May, shows Table Bay in all
its malignancy ; and he who is fool enough to an-
chor there of his own accord, may either part or
founder as luck shall befall him.

'' I regret the trouble you have had, but there
are numbers who find it difficult to combine disci-
pline with kindness, which accounts for old * * *
being at variance with all his officers sometimes,
and with some at all times. He who has never
learned how to obey, cannot be well fitted for
command ; and those who are most captious with
their superiors, are ever tenaciously rigid in exact-
inof submissive obedience from their inferiors.

^' We have just received on board a dusky person-
age, named Barrak Kumba Bombaxak, commonly

CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER.

253

called Bombay Jack, a Johanncse, who has been
deputed by the king- of the Comora islands to tlie
Cape, to solicit assistance a<:^ainst the maraudino-
natives of Madagascar. He is good humoured
and intelligent, and is moreover dignified with the
title of the Johannese ambassador. I am charged
to convey his Excellency, and his suite of two ser-
vants_, back to their native shores : after this I am
to counsel the governor of Mozambique respecting
the ajraressions of the Malag-assi; and then I am
to advise the coal-black kings of Madagascar to
refrain from their depredations on our pusillani-
mous alUes. These missions will relieve the mo-
notony of the last several months; for I have only
been examining' a water-course, and other equally
important duties. I have had to represent several
of our deficiencies, such, for instance^ as bringing-
beef for the squadron from England, when it can
be prepared here at a quarter of the expense. It
came to my lot also to conduct a very disagreeable
and delicate inquiry into the conduct of an English
ofiicer and his men^ on French evidence; and^ in-
deed, it was too clear that outrageous and disgrace-
ful conduct had occurred. Admiral Stopford, in a
public letter, has obligingly said^ that ' the mode
of investio-ation I used was the best that could be
adopted for ascertaining the facts.' "

The water-course, so slightly mentioned, was a

254 THE LIFE OF

work of considerable public utility ;, being- so con-
structed as to remedy a great inconvenience which
had always ensued in supplying- ships with that
requisite article. Captain Beaver's report was so
clear, that all his suo^o-cstions were immediately
adopted^ even to the number of trees for decorat-
ing it. '^^ The service/' says the Admiral, " at
all times receives benefit wherever you are em-
ployed ; and your work at Simon's Bay bears the
stamp of a masterly hand. I perceive you do not
like to do things by halves."

The passage of the Nisus along the east coast
of Africa g-ave Captain Beaver an opportunity of
exercising- his talents in hydrography ; and he cor-
rected the positions of various points and islands,
with a skill which afforded further evidence of his
proficiency^ both in the theory and practice of
the higher branches of nautical science.

From Mozambique, he writes : — '^' August 19th.
In the evening I paid a visit to the Governor,
which lasted about an hour; yet he never men-
tioned the subject of my coming-, although he had
been in possession of the Admiral's letter full three
hours, and reads English very well. But what
appeared to me still more extraordinary was^ his
omitting to enquire after either Portugal or Spain :
one would have su{)posed that he had forgotten
there was a portion of the globe called Europe ;

CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 255

or that he was totally indifrercnt whether the conn-
try of his birth yet retained its independence, or
was devastated by a relentless enemy. This man,
Don Antonio Manoel do Mello Castro e Mendo^*a,
has just completed the third year of his g-overn-
ment; and has never once, I was assured, gone out
of his house, or exposed himself to the sun, for
fear of fever, during the whole time. Notwith-
standing this indolence, it is stated that he has
contrived to amass a fortune of three hundred
thousand i)iastres, with which he is about to depart
for Madeira, having been recently appointed go-
vernor of that island ; in reward, I presume, for
his hard services at Mozambique. But what are
wealth and honour, without the impulse of virtuous
principle to merit them?

" I eagerly seized this opportunity of making
inquiries concerning Messrs. Cowan and Donavan,
who left the Cape about four years ago, with an
intention of reaching Mozambique by land. The
Governor informed us that there was no doubt of
their having been murdered, in their waggon, at a
place between Sofala and Iidiambana, about forty
leagues from the coast. He also assured me, that
he had used every endeavour to procure whatever
journals, letters, or other ])apers might have been
with their effects; and for that puipose he had sent
twenty blacks, with goods to purchase or redeem

256 THE LIFE OF

them, but without success: some blood-stained
linen only was procured. He added, that two
mulatto natives of Angola had found their way
across from that country to Snea on the Zambeze :
being' frequently made prisoners, they were five
years in accomplishing- it; but returned safely to
Angola, and were the only persons who had ever
crossed from the one to the other coast of Africa.

" 20th. The Governor having been silent yes-
terday on the subject of my orders, I paid him a
second visit this morning, with a view of extract-
ing what I could relative to the Malagass aggres-
sions, and the aid he required or expected from us.
All I could learn was, and that with great difficulty,
for it was solely in replies to my questions, that
the Malagassi generally came over every year, to
the number of four or five thousand men, in about
a hundred canoes ; that they always assembled at
Bambatouk, whence they stood, with a leading
breeze, over to Mayotto, and landed at which-
ever of the islands they hit fiist. Sometimes, he
said, they pass them all, in which case they stand
on, knowing they cannot miss terra-firma ; and
wherever they land, they burn the towns, make
slaves of the inhabitants, and kill the cattle. After
loading tlicmselves with booty, they return to Ma-
dagascar with the first fair wind. On asking,
whether they ever ventured in sight of Mozam-

CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 257

biquc, — 'Oh, no!' replied he; Mhey know onr
power too well.' Its insuliirity has preserved it
from continental enemies ; but I have no doubt, if
these ding-y buccaneers would muster courag-e
to try, they would soon have the town, for the mi-
litary would abandon it^ and retire into the fort.
Come 1 dare say they will, for the itch for plunder
increases by practice into au inveterate habit, and
is inflamed by success, to multiplied eflbrts, and
hardier exertions. He said he had asked for two
English corvettes, but they had not arrived. —
' Well,' said I, ' can you suggest any mode by
which I can execute my orders to assist you? If
I g"0 over and see their kings, will not that be of
use?' '^Oh no I now is their time, if they come at
all this year,' In short, such total apathy to the
happiness or interests of those placed under his
protection I never beheld. All I could collect
was, that my going" to Madagascar would be use-
less, unless I could see all their various kings and
chiefs in a given period. I therefore took leave
of the Governor, resolved to waste no more time
with such a drawling* sloth.

"■ I acquired some important knowledge from
two French g-entlemen here, as to the existence
or non-existence of various islets, reefs, and banks,
aroimd Madagascar. From one. Monsieur Sausse,
who had navin-ated in these seas durinor the last

s

258 • THE LIFE OF

tliirty yearSj I learned that at Quiloa^ spars of all
sizeSj fit for masts and yards of line-of-battie ships,
were to be procured in great abundance, and very
cheap ; and that they were^ to use his own expres-
sions. ^ learers comnme les Rio^a, et bien flexibles.'
On requesting- a specimen of this wood^ to carry
to the Admiral, he replied, that he had none but
his own masts^ to which, however, I was wel-
come, provided I made others. Taking him at
his word, I changed his fore-top gallant-mast, and
at the same time engaged him, if the Commander-
in-Chief should think proper to send transports
for spars, to pilot them to Quiloa, and purchase
the sticks that might be required.

^^ 21st. — I intended to sail at daylight, but the
wind being' rather scant, and the ebb having
made, the pilot thought it dangerous to break the
ship loose. A dense cloud of very peculiar form
appeared to precede the sea breeze, but, on in-
quiry, I found it was rather a fortuitous circum-
stance, than a characteristic phenomenon."

Detained by this circumstance. Captain Beavei',
accompanied by a party of his officers, visited the
Musreel river, at the bottom of the bay, and the
government gardens near it. He then continues
his narrative thus : — '' Reflecting the whole day
on the importance of the supply which I had heard
of, to the Cape station, 1 determined to visit

CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 209

Quiloa, from Johanna^ myself, and prevailed upon
Monsieur Sausse to accompany us. If his state-
ment be correct, I purpose receiving* on board
whatever spars may be ready cut; and to enter
into a permanent contract with the king- of the
country. But, if the Frenchman has deceived me,
my credulity will only add one more to that class
of people, already so very respectable in point of
numbers, called dupes.

" Of the harbour of Mozambique, it is useless
to add any thing to the admirable })lan of it by
Mr. Inverarity ; nothing- can exceed its truth and
precision, and by it any stranger may safely carry
his ship into the port.

'' The defence is a square fort, with bastions
and outworks on projections of the rock, and, at
the time of its construction, must have been formi-
dable ; but it is now dilapidated, and has neither
bombproofs nor casemates. There were about
fifty-seven brass guns mounted, and twenty
unanimated embrazures ; the ordnance was old,
and of all sizes, from a forty-two to a four pounder,
with most of their carriages decayed ; nor have
they any iron shot for those above nine-pounders,
several stone balls being placed near each gun in
lieu. The fort is large and roomy, and has good
quarters for its garrison ; this at present may
consist of about live hundred men, of all colours

S2

260 THE LIFE OP

excej)t white : in short, the Nisus would make
nothinof of it. But notvvithstandinof- its fallen con-
ditiou, it retains an air of magnificence^ and is a
proof that the Portuguese were once a great and
enterprising- people : and even in ruins^ it is worthy
of the Gamas_, the Almeidas, and the Albuquerques
of other times.

" Elephant's teeth^ gold-dust, gums, and cow-
rieSj, sustain a languid commerce ; and the free
people of the once mighty Mozambique^ counting
white, black_, and yellow^ scarcely exceed a thou-
sand souls. I did not ascertain the price of food
here, but boys_, about eleven years old^ were to be
bouo-ht for ten dollars each ! Villanous traffic !
Every thing else is neglected : all is ruin, and dirt^
and devilment ; for, as Bombay Jack observes, in
his characteristic, though simple style, ' Portugee
hab too much black wife ; he no work^ no fight,
no do nothing,' "

Bombay Jack^ from an honest shrewdness of
remark^ and his strong attachment to every thing
British, had become a general favourite in the
frigate. But one of his companions, having less
confidence in the professions of those around him,,
actually became insane^ under the absurd impres-
sion that the sailors sought to devour him.

A fine breeze wafted the Nisus to Johanna, in
two days, when the Captain continues thus : —

CAPTAIN PHILIP HEWER. 201

** Aiio-ust 25tli. — riaviiiu- landed the sable am-
bassador and his two attendants^ 1 this morninfr
l)aid a visit to King AUawah, and was received
with more ceremonious honours than are cus-
tomary, o^^ing• to Jack's report of the liberality
(jf the Cape government. Most of our illustrious
admirals and statesmen,, or rather their namesakes,
ostentatiously paraded before me; and, that no
mistake micrht occur, as to who was Howe, or
Rodney, or Pitt, they wore copper tallies of their
dignity on their breasts. After a very formidable
broadside of compliments to the English nation.
King George, and myself, his Majesty proceeded
to inform me, that his arch enemy, the dissolute
and potent Queen Vaheeni, of Bambatouk, was
dead ; and the Malagassi were w aging intestine
war relative to the succession, which would re-
lieve Johanna for that year. He trusted, he said,
in future, to our interference ; ' but,' added he,
' if they do continue their hostile incursions, I
must quit the island ; I cannot live here with my
lands desolated, and see my women and children
perish with hunger ; and, if I leave it, all my
miserable people will follow me.'

^' August SGth. — When the King came on
board to-day, 1 presented him, from the Governor
of the Cape of Good Hope, with one hundred
muskets, bayonets, and belts ; ten l)arrels of pow-

262 THE LIFE OF

der ; ten thousand ball cartridges ; and five hun-
dred flints. From the Admiral, I gave him two
brass swivels^ with two hundred rounds of car-
tridges ; and I added from myself, two brass wall
pieces_, a quadrant_, a compass^ and some minor
articles. I also presented his uncles, sons^ and
chief men^ with muskets^ flints^ and powder^ which,
with a salute of nine guns on their quitting the
ship^ seemed to give infinite satisfaction.

^^ The bay is extremely fine^ and the gradual rise
of the verdant hills, from the base to the summit^
being visible from the anchorage^ gives an addi-
tionally striking effect.

*^ With an admirable climate and fertile soil,
Johanna ought to return a richer produce, for
excepting cocoa-nut oil^ rice, and refresh ments_,
nothing is particularly attended to. It is an ex-
cellent place to water^ wood,, and refresh at ; there
are plenty of oxen^ but no sheep, swine^ horses,
or asses. Of the charges I know nothing, for
the King would not sufFer us to pay for any of the
bullocks, fowls^ yams^ plantains^ or maize, with
which we were abundantly supplied ; a step that
prevented me and my officers from laying in our
private stock, as we had intended, for finding we
cannot evade the civility, we will make the burden
as light as possible on the poor public. Indeed
on discovering the resolution of Allawah^ I had

CAPTAIN T'lIIMP REAVER. 203

made up my mind to decline the favour altogether;
but our jTrateful friend, Bombay Jack, with elo-
quent importunity, fell on his knees, earnestly
begging- I would permit him to shew his esteem,
to tliose who had given him ' ebbry ting-.'

" The best anchorage is opposite the middle of
a cocoa-nut g-rove to the westward of the town ;
Avhich last is of irregular form, and walled round,
with square prcjjecting towers at short distances
from each other. There are loop-holes for mus-
ketry, and a few swivels ; but the principal defence
seems to be in the stones piled up to throw on the
heads of assailants. The walls are about two feet
thick and fourteen high, and consist of stone
slightly cemented ; they are, however, sufficiently
strong to repel the attacks of the Malagassi. The
town stands on the border of the sea ; and a small
rivulet from which it is supplied with water, runs
close by, but outside, its western wall. Tlie whole
is commanded by a couple of hills, from which an
enemy, merely with musketry, can destroy every
person who appears in the street ; these hills the
Malagassi occupied, when they besieged the town
about fifteen years ago, and thereby prevented the
inhabitants from appearing abroad, or procuring
water in the daytime. But so soon as want of
provisions obliged that improvident and merciless
people to raise the siege, the Johannese built a

264 ' THE LIFE OF

castle of twelve small guns on the nearest hill,
which they sunounded with a high wall, having a
communication with the town by means of an
enclosed steep flight of steps. It is miserably
constructed ; its walls are any thing but ])erpen-
dicular; its guns are good for nothing; and it
would be commanded by cannon from the other
hill ; but as no cannon are likely to be brought
there, it may be deemed a good personal protec-
tion— though they must annually witness the sa-
vao-e devastation of their herds and their fields.
' " The town of Johanna may be about a mile in
circuit; the whole space within the wall is com-
pletely occupied with houses; the streets are only
from five to seven feet wide, and present nothing
but blind stone walls to the passenger. The po-
pulation cannot be above two thousand souls ; and
there is only one more town on the island, which
is about the same size, though not so populous.
Of all the other numerous towns and villages,
which studded this island six-and-twenty years
ago, when the Malagassi first became acquainted
with it, through the romantic Benyowski, not one
remains. Those ferocious marauders have stormed
and burnt them all. But I must not here enter on
the subject of the Johanna wars, though 1 have
collected ample materials; nor on the iniquitous
conduct of the betrtayers of the gallant Count,

CAPTAIN PHILIP RF.WER. 265

of which I know more, perhaps, lliaii any other
person in the world. How could such a man as
Rochon be led to sully his pages with such atro-
cious falsehoods ! It has not only been my fortune
to meet many persons who knew Benyowski, the
C'a[)tain, and the supercargo who ran away with his
ship; but at jVIozaml)ique I conversed with, and
wrote down from the mouth of the very person
who bought the Intrepid, the particulars of that
treacherous transaction. I hope at a future day,
in my half-pay cottage, to restore this mutilated
narrative to its proper proportions ; and with the
torch of truth to expose the villany of those, who,
by the barbarous murder of an adventurous noble-
man, have so deeply injured the cause of humanity
in these beniohted reoions."

When the period for sailing approached, Alla-
wah and his subjects regarded the departure with
despondency ; for by an Arab vessel which arrived,
it appeared that the civil wars in Madagascar had
terminated — from whence they foreboded an attack
at no distant date. As Beaver's instruction were
specific, he could only regret the apparent danger;
but he took leave of the king, and honest Bombay
Jack, with a sympathy which was felt by all the
officers and crew of the frigate.

From Johanna, the Nisus stood over to the Afri-
can main, and made Quiloa, after a passage of

266 THE LIFE OF

four days ; the consequent occurrences will be con-
tinued from the journal. '' August 31st. — In little
more than an hour after leaving- the ship, I arrived
at the town, where the heads of the people awaited
us. To my great disappointment, I found the king
was at Mongallon, where we yesterday observed
Arab flags flying ; and what was yet more mor-
tifying, an acute and intelligent minister, Missago,
who had long transacted the affliirs of the king,
was dead, and his place supplied by a stupid, in-
active old man. However, to this person I stated
the object of my visit, and received for answer,
that there were no spars ready ; but that, as he
expected the king back in about a week, I had
better defer making an agreement. Now, as I
intended to remain only a couple of days, I desired
him to send people to cut a dozen large trees
next morning, for which I would pay him hand-
somely. However, after much waste of words, all
that I could procure, was a promise to furnish me
with men to show me where the trees grew, and to
assist in getting them down.

*'^ At dawn of day, September 1st, I left the ship
in my gig, with the barge and large cutter, having
the carpenter and all his crew, with axes and cross-
cut saws ; and ofl" we went to attack the timber.
Our ardour was damped on landing at Quiloa, for
the miserable old minister swore he had been un-

CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 267

able to procure us any g-iiides^ but would endea-
vour to have them by the fullowino- morniiifr. As
I had resolved to sail the day after, I told him I
should proceed alone, and that I would cut what I
pleased, without leaving any thing for the king, as
was my first intention ; I also asserted, that he was
betraying the trust reposed in him by his master,
by depriving him of a handsome revenue from his
forests; fur which, if he did justice, on his re-
turn, he would strike oO'tlie olfender's head.. So
saying, I went down to the boat, well aware of the
freedom I had used, but also well practised in the
mode of acting with such people. And it had
some effect; for Mr. Sausse, who remained behind,
soon prevailed on Formo Sani, the king's son, and
eight others to accompany me; so that we left
Quiloa at about eight o'clock.

'* Our guides took us up the southern channel
of the northern branch of the sea, which washes
one side of the peninsula opposite Quiloa. A fair
wind and flood-tide carried us rapidly by the man-
grove-clad shores, to the appointed place, in two
hours and a half; but as we loitered for some time
to shoot hippopotami, I should take the distance to
be uo more than thirteen or fourteen miles. Here
I pitched two tents, and leaving six men with the
boats, who were armed to defend themselves
against lions and leopards, I went with the rest

268 THE LIFE OF

about three miles inland^ to a thick brown forest of
stunted wood. Here^ the natives told me_, we
might cut away, and down came three trees ; the
larg-est was a couple of feet in diameter, and forty-
nine in length ; stiaight as a poplar, but leafless,
and without branches till near the head. A small
stream of fresh water, into which the tide flows,
runs at about forty yards from them, down which
I proposed to exploit them to the principal stream ;
but the tide being already liigh, it could not be
done to-day. As the weather was intolerably hot,
and conceiving these sticks sufficient for a sample,
for fear of laying up my people, by exposure to the
sun, I returned with them to the boats, and left the
shore at three o'clock.

"^ We saw various animals; but the monkies
amused our men the most: some, which I thought
wild hogs, the natives called bango, and said they
were of a different species. I might have mistaken
them for tapirs, had I not recollected that these are
met with only in South America: others, which
appeared very large in the distance, and were at
first thought to be elephants, we were told, were
neither horses, nor cows, nor deer, and were
named poonda. Wc also passed by the remains
of a rhinoceros and a lion ; whilst antelope tracks,
as well as those of the small spotted leopard, called
tiger in this country, crossed each other in all

CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 269

directions, Tlie haunts of the hipi)0|)()tumi were
incredibly numerous, and we fired many fruitless
shut at groups of these monsters; before the (ir.'it
fire, they permitted us to approach tolerably near
them, but afterwards became shy, and dived in-
stantly. By six we got back to Quiloa, when the
minister promised to send a suOicient number of
men, to launch and bring' down our sticks. On
this better acquaintance, I complied with his earnest
and leiterated request, to leave him a pair of tup-
mast studding-sail halliards,

" September 2d. — After breakfast I went to Qui-
loa, taking- with me Mr. Sausse, to enter into some
agreement with the minister relative to supplying-
a cargo of spars, as a trial ; and to leave presents
for the absent king. On arriving- at the old
rogue's residence, we learned that nobody had
gone to launch or tow down the spars ; at which I
indignantly upbraided him ; and convinced that no
faith was to be placed in any of his promises, I
reclaimed the studding-sail halliards, and turned
abruptly from him. Before daylight next morning,
I embarked one hundred of my own men, and
being met by Forma Sani, and some guides, we
soon reached our destination. The largest tree,
with considerable labour, we launched into the
creek, when, to my great mortification, it sank like
a stone ! Here, then, our hopes were blasted, our

270 THE LIFE OF

time lost, and our toil thrown away! All that I
had now to do^ was to return as quick as possible
to the ship, for the heat had been intolerable, and
our exposure constant. Picking- up stragglers
occupied us till dark, when I returned to the barge^
many of the people not having tasted any thing
since five o'clock in the morning.

*' We had abundance of Hippopotamus shooting
when going up. One monstrous fellow was on
shore amongst the mangroves, but we were un-
luckily on the opposite side of the river; on pulling
directly for him, he gazed steadfastly for a minute,
and then made straight through the mud for the
water^ in spite of the fire of at least a dozen mus-
kets to prevent him. These animals seem capa-
ble of carrying a great deal of lead and iron, for
besides being evidently struck with a ball in the
head, I think it likely he had several in his car-
case: however, as he did not reappear above
water to snort, for a quarter of an hour, which all
the others had done in a much shorter time, I
think it probably that he was killed, and sunk.
They were generally in groups of from three to
seven, though in one place there were about
twenty young and old ; the smallest being about
the size of an ass, and the largest between that of
the buffalo and the elephant.

*^ Between nine and ten at night we got back to

CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 271

Quiloa, heartily tiied^ and merely stopyjed to land
Furmu Sani and his men ; but learnino- that the
king had just arrived, I sent all the boats except
the gig on board, and went with Mons. Sausse to
pay him a visit. Here fresh vexations awaited
me. His Majesty a})pearcd peevish and sullen ;
he was sitting in a long hall, with seats around, on
which were forty or fifty armed men. I c(jn-
gratulated him on his safe return to liis capi-
tal ; but it was easy to perceive that my words
were not well taken. I then entered upon the
subject of my anchoring at Quiloa, and he cap-
tiously promised to load a ship with spars, remark-
ing that those he should cut would float well
enouofh, because he knew which to choose. He
then rose and retired, desiring Mons. Sausse to
follow him, and leaving me in rather an embarras-
sing situation ; but when I feel in the right, I care
for nothing ; I therefore gave my armed associates
stare for stare, and determined to put the best
possible face on the matter.

" In five minutes, the King and the interpreter
returned, and 1 was exceedingly mortified, as much
as surprised, at learning that, on his passage here,
one of my boats had pursued his, fired into her,
and killed two of his men ; moreover, that the
same boat had attacked another, in which was
his brother, Solimani, though fortunately without

272 THE LIFE OF

killing- any one. I protested that the treatment
which he had received was to me incomprehen-
sible ; and^ although it had been my intention to
sail very early^ I would assuredly remain a day,
on purpose to do him justice. I therefore requested
he would produce the dead bodies on board the
Nisus the next morning-, with the vessel which had
been fired into. He promised to come off with
the dow, but as to the bodies, when he found they
were dead, he threw them overboard, for they
were merely slaves for traffic. I insisted that the
act of hostility ag-ainst him was unwarrantable and
unpardonable, and as to the slain being- slaves, the
life of no human beiii"- was to be trifled with, for
the ball which slew them mig-ht have killed him ;
a truth he seemed perfectly alive to. I then left
him, and reached the ship at midnight, after, for
this climate, a most severe day's work.

" The second lieutenant, who had been left in
command, informed me, that seeing- three dows
coming- round the point, towards the evening-, he
had sent an officer to examine them, and that the)^
not bring-ing to, he had continued chasing- and
firing- at them. Now one of these dows had
Arab colours, and another an Arab pendant
flying: we knew the King was expected from
the southward every day ; and it scarcely re-
quired sagacity superior to that of a brute, to

CAPTAIN PHILIP beavi;r. 273

discover at once, that tliese were lus vessels.
That the odicer committed murder, and deserves
condig-n punishment, 1 have no hesitation in de-
claring ; but when we consider, that at the time
of his wanton attack on these semi-barbarians, a
hundred of the crew, unarmed, except as requisite
for security against wild beasts, were more than
twenty miles from the ship ; language is insulli-
cient to express my indignation at his conduct.
Suppose the King had been killed, what could
have prevented their exercising a just retaliation,
by cutting off all our party ? Their open hostility
I should never fear ; but in the unguarded confi-
dence of peace and friendship, we might, through
this treacherous and silly act, have been sacrificed.
Thousands of lives in more civilized countries,
have been frequently lost by less provocation, and
with less apparent justice.

*' September 4th. — About three in the after-
noon, Yousoufou, the King, came on board, when
I sent the first I'eutenant, and one of the mates, to
examine the hull and sail of the dow, which the
bullets from the boat had perforated. Their report
was, that there were several holes in the sail, and
that a shot had certainly gone through the stern ;
a considerable quantity of blood was seen on one
part of the deck, and on a matted seat in another,
which wre pjinted out as the places where the

T

274 THE LIFE OF

two men had been killed. At this moment, I was
so earnestly solicited by all the natives, to take no
further steps in the matter, especially as only two
slaves were lost, that, to get rid of their importu-
nity, I g-ave a promise, which released myself, as
well as others, from the unpleasant dilemma.

" After the customary civilities, and when the
astonishment of the Sultan (for that is the title
which he affects, rather than that of King-) at the
size of the ship, had somewhat subsided, which
was not for a considerable time, I again entered
upon the subject of a contract for spars. As he
readily assented, I drew up one, consisting of
only four articles ; and his secretary, Bona Feebo,
immediately translated it into Arabic, with a
facility, and so much like a man of business, that
I was perfectly astonished. I then made the
Sultan a present of five barrels of gunpowder, and
twenty muskets ; with about half a dozen more to
his relations, or attendants ; and on his leaving
the ship a little after five, as happy and as satisfied
as I believe any man possibly could be, I saluted
him with nine guns.

" Several of the officers having requested my
permission to purchase, and of course liberate,
each a boy ; and conceiving that, in allowing it, I
should be not only doing an act of incalculable
benefit to the lads in question, but also furthering

CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 275

the intentions of the British leg-ishiturc, I sanc-
tioned the measure. The prices varied fnim
twelve to seventeen dolhirs^ and having- vacancies,
I put the purchases on the ship's books, as boys of
the third class."

The ship was now ready for startinjr, but, as con-
trary winds detained her till the 10th of Septem-
ber, an opportunity was thereby aflbrdcd of learn-
ino' further particulars of a place formerly powerful
and rich, but hitherto so little known by us, that,
with the exception of a brig-, the Nisus was the
first British man-of-war which had rode in its
waters. '' The harbour," says Captain Beaver,
*^ is very difficult to make, on account of the
lowness and general sameness of the coast ; but it
can be entered without dang-er at \\\^\\ water, as
the reefs and banks are easily distinguishable from
aloft. It may be said, that the Isle of Quiloa
forms two harbours, as there is only a shallow
channel between them ; the southern of these is a
magnificent port, capable of containing, in perfect
safety, an immense fleet. Which of these should
be chosen as an anchorage, must depend on the
state of the monsoon for esrress, for they are both
equally secure for ships of the largest size. The |
island of Quiloa is too small and too low, to have
any natural run of water, the inhabitants, there-
fore, are scantily supplied from wells. Wood is I

T -

276 THE LIFE OF

every where to be had in abundance ; but stock
and refreshments^ except plantains^ tamarhids, and
cocoa-nuts_, are both indifferent and scarce.
"~ " When Vasco de Gama first visited these re-
gions, the kingdom of Quiloa was the most potent
and extensive on the eastern coast of Africa ; Al-
meida_, the first Portuguese admiral, who actually
anchored in the port, was presented with an extract
of its history, containing a regular succession of its
monarchs^ from Ali, the founder, to Ibraim, the
then reigning sovereign_, a space of four hundred
years; and they have continued their records to
the present hour. Tlie extent of its territory,
though far inferior to former times, is by no means
contemptible ; it comprehends the sea coast, and
islands, from Delgado to Mombaz, a space of six
degrees of latitude. About thirty years ago, the
Imaum of Muscat conquered the Quiloan state of
Zangibar, where he has ever since maintained a
garrison; and as other parts were successively
overpowered, Quiloa itself submitted to receive an
Arab governor. Still the royal dignity and succes-
; sion remain undisturbed in the ancient Moorish
I family, as the Imaum is satisfied with receiving a
I fixed annual tribute. Yousoufou, who traces back
his ancestry for upwards of seven hundred years,
seems to derive but little permanent revenue from
his realms; and although indisputably acknow-

CAPTAIX PHILIP unwEii. 277

ledjred as sov^ereisrn of the whole, tlic duties be-
tween him and liis subjects seem more the effect of
habit than coercion. Despotism^ whether usurped
or hereditary, is alike detestable ; yet it will not
be denied, that a ruler without authority is a
solemn mockery of human institutions.

" The island of Quiloa has been the royal resi-
dence, with a few^ exceptions during- dissensions,
from the foundation of the monarchy. It is about
three miles in lengtb, by two in breadth, low, and
very fertile ; it is placed longitudinally across the
mouth of two deep bays, leaving an opening at
either end of it, and thus forms the two secure and
noble harbours which I have mentioned. When
the Portuguese first visited this island, its ca[)ital
was described as large, opulent, and well built ;
havinof stone houses of several stories, with ter-
rassed roofs, protected by a citadel, adorned with
stately towers, and surrounded by a ditch. But
the present town, if town it should be called, con-
sists merely of a number of huts, scattered from the
maroin of the sea, to a mile from its shore ; the
glittering white of only two stone houses enlivens
and embellishes the cocoa-thatchcd metropolis.
One of these, a spacious, but irregular and low
building, is occupied by Yousoufou ; the second
belongs to the King's brother, Solimani. On the
N.W. pohit stands the Fort, of an indiilerent

278 THE LIFE OF

rectangular fioiire, havins: a round tower, and
embattled walls, with loop-holes for the discharge
of musketry, or arrows ; three small guns are
mounted, and two of them pointed at the King's
house. In this miserable work resides the Arab
garrison of about a dozen men ; who keep the
place in awe. 1 observed the remains of solid , j
walls and various buildings in better style ; but 7^
insufficient to recall its former reputed magnifi- ,
cence. There is only this town on the island ;
thouofh habitations are scattered all over the cul-
tivated parts ; and its population appears to be
between five and six thousand souls. — «-^

'^^ The inhabitants are an indolent, pusillanimous,
inoffensive people; many of whom, from their com-
mercial connexion with Mauritius^ Bourbon^ and
Mahe, speak the French language tolerably well.
They are accused of being what the French term
^ fin/ which is not to be wondered at_, considering
who have been their European tutors, and that
the intercourse has been merely a traffic in hu-
man flesh. Of the English, the Quiloans scarce
know more than the name ; and what they know^
they derived through the French,, who cannot,
I believe, be justly reproached for represent-
ing the British nation in too favourable a light.
They feel;, however, very sensibly, that we have
diminished their wealth, by closing the channel

CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 279

throug-h which it flowed ; for they see that the Gallic
power is annihilated in these seas, and that the
odious trade in slaves is abolished. They have a
<jeneral and just impression that we are no triflers ;
but the English character cannot yet be very po-
pular at Quiloa ; and it is to necessity I may assign
JYousoufou's so readily concluding' the contract with
me. Their timber, their wax, their ivory, and
their tortoise-shell will be a more rational mode of
directing their commerce, and replenishing their
coil'ers, than the desolation of families; — darkness
should always give way to light.

" Notwithstanding these apparently unfavour-
able circumstances, I see no dilFiculty in sincerely
attaching this people to the British : Yousoufou,
1 know, wishes to drive the Arabs off his territory,
but without some powerful protection, is afraid of
consequences. He, however, makes silent and
cautious preparation, and has several cannon, with
small arms and powder, concealed in his house :
even the muskets and ammunition which I gave him,
he landed in the night. Now, to fix, to rivet the
affections of the Quiloans, I would, at the written
solicitation of the Sultan, put the Arab governor
and his garrison into a boat, and send them to
Muscat, with this message to their master — ' That
the Sultan of Quiloa, having entered into a treaty
of amity with the British nation, had complained

y

280 THE LIFE OF

of the great grievances suffered by his subjects,
from governors appointed by the Imaum of Muscat;
and requested its aid to prevent the same ; — that
the British had therefore, at the entreaty of their
ally, seized those who had dared to infringe on the
independency of Quiloa, and returned them to their
native country ; determined in future to guarantee
the rights of Sultan Yousoufou. ' After this mes-
sage, I am inclined to think we should hear of no
more Arabs at Quiloa ; and for thus rendering him
independent, all I should require on the Sultan's
part, would be, a scrupulous fulfilment of the con-
tract I made with him; that is, that he should sup-
ply us annually with four hundred large spars, for
which he should regularly receive the stipulated
price. Do this, I say, and the Quiloans will be
attached to the British for ever."

Whilst the Nisus remained at Quiloa, a party
of the officers, consisting of Lieutenant Stopford,
Mr. Prior, the Surgeon, and a midshipman, landed
for a day's sport ; expecting to find abundance of
antelopes and birds. The spot they chose, was
discovered, to their cost, to be an island, at high
water ; and the channel which, in order to pene-
trate inland, they with labour and difficulty crossed
at low water, through deep mud and a tangled net
of mangroves, became perfectly impassable on
their return. The forest was stunted, but extensive^

CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVEU. 281

and greatly encumbered with biushwood ; g;ainc
very scarce; the sun intensely hot; and hardly a
trace of human beings to be met with, except in the
grandeur of former days, intimated by the massive
ruins of buildings_, now rendered {HHicult of access
by the luxuriant vegetation of a tro[)ical climate.
These edifices appeared to deserve close investiga-
tion, but the tracks of beasts of prey observed dur-
ing the day, and the approach of evening, rendered
it necessary to seek the landing place, where the
boat had been appointed to meet them. The
morning's route was accurately retraced, but the
flowino' of the tide had altered the whole face of
nature. In vain they struggled to wade through
the maze; and in vain, torn both in clothes and
skin, they made a circuit of several miles to double
this new body of water. Night came on — they
now heard signal guns, from the Nisus, to direct
their steps; and they fired their pieces in vollies,
hoping the sound might reach the boats, which
they had no doubt were searching for them ; but
the roar of wild beasts was the only answer.
Worn out with fatigue, the party took up a posi-
tion, in a nook near the shore, with the water in
front, and fortified by impenetrable brushwood be-
hind; so that enemies, either biped or quadruped,
could not approach without being observed. Here
they made a large fire, and expected to have re-

282 THE LIFE OF

mained till the morning, when the shouts of their
shipmates agreeably saluted their ears: still neither
their answering voices, nor the report of their mus-
kets were heard, so embowered were they by thick
foliage. The boats persevering, however, in their
endeavours, at last arrived within hail of the
exhausted sportsmen, Avho, in the stillness of the
night, had been tantalized for two wearisome hours
by the distant splash of oars. On reaching the
ship. Captain Beaver, having endured much appre-
hension for their safety, gravely said, ''^Gentlemen,
if you cannot take care of yourselves in these Afri-
can woods, I shall, in future, keep you on board;"
but he softened the censure by adding, that " the
service would have suffered by their loss."

The Captain, alluding to the foregoing incident,
continues his journal thus: — '^^The evening before
we sailed, owing to a chapter of moving accidents
by land and flood, some of the officers were nearly
condemned to a night's lodging among the pan-
thers and leopards of the jungles. Understanding
from the Surgeon that, in their excursion, they had
stumbled on some extensive ruins, at Pagoda
Point, on the south side of the harbour, I went
with him and Mons. Sausse to explore them. The
whole site is overgrown with underwood ; but I
saw all around imposing vestiges of an ancient po-
pulation. I did not remain long enough to make

CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 283

such a careful examination as tliey demand, ])e-
cause Yousoufoii had sent me word that he would
visit me in the evenino-; and 1 had a tliousand
questions to ask him. Close to the water was a
very strong- parapet wall_, and about a hundied
yards further^ a spacious cemetery. In an angle of
the enclosure to this area, were the line, though
small remains, of a handsome mosque — silent as
the dead who were strewed around; it was about
twenty feet long-, a dozen broad, and ten in height,
by guess. The roof appeared to have consisted
of six domes, in two rows. An adjacent building-,
of much larger dimensions, was divided by longi-
tudinal compartments, or aisles ; and I was much
struck, on entering- the east doorway, to observe
on either side, two perfectly Saxon arches — an arch
as different from the Moorish horse-shoe, as it is from
the Gothic. Further on were the ruins of a spacious
edifice, which I thought must have been the habi-
tation of a ruler, for it united the capacity of a pa-
lace with the streng-th of a castle ; and was more-
over judiciously placed, so as to command the en-
trance of the harbour. A tree, of nine feet in
circumference, rising- within one of its former
rooms, and several of considerable size growing-
on the remaining" walls, sufliciently bespeak both
grandeur and antiquity."

Quitting Quiloa, they stood to theN.E., and on

284 THE LIFE OF

the 20th of September^ at midnight, were greatly
astonished by finding themselves in ten or twelve
fathoms water. The ship was considered to the
westward of the great bank of Mahe, but subsequent
examination tended to prove that vast platform
to be considerably more extensive than hitherto
delineated. " This," says Captain Beaver_, ^' as well
as the great shoals of Saya de Malha^ and Carga-
dos, should be examined at the public charge ; and
if the expense were to amount even to fifty thou-
sand pounds^ I contend that the benefit accruing
from the survey would render it an act of economy.
Amongst other advantages^ if it be borne in mind,
that the Seychelle islands are free from the scourge
of hurricanes, the utility and comfort of the an-
choi'ages will appear considerable. There are now
many people of local knowledge, trading inhabi-
tants of the islands, who could conduct vessels
directly to the objects required; but if we do not
speedily avail ourselves of such adventitious aid,
the work may hereafter cost double the sum which
would now be required. Of these people, some
may return to Europe, some may die, and others
may give up their occupation; after which, these
parts will be as little known to the traders here,
as to those of the Isle of Sky ; for it was the slave
traffic which led them thither, and that is now abo-
lished. Without such fortuitous hints, I should

CAPTAIN IMULIP bKAVKll. 285

derive but little comfort from a chart constructed
during runninjc^ voyag-es; for though the positions
might be correct, hidden dangers require lime to
be well explored.

^'^ Of the group of islands which studs this bank,"
continues our observant ofKcer, '' Mahe is the
largest, being about twenty miles in length, and
from two to seven in breadth; with a i)o})ulation
of 340 whites, 141 free blacks, and 2533 slaves,
who live in a rural seclusion, worthy of the pen of
St. Pierre. Praslin, so called from the Duke of that
name, is the next in size and population to Mahe ;
it has plenty of water, and is remarkable for being
the only place in the world where that extraordi-
nary plant, the sea cocoa-nut, is known to grow.
Silhouette holds the third rank ; it is hioh and varied
in outline, but as yet is only the haunt of goats,
tortoises, and wild fowl. The isles of St. Anne,
and Cerf, were always reserved by the French go-
vernment for supplying their ships with wood,
having steadily rejected every application, which in-
dividuals made, to appropriate them. When, there-
fore, this Archipelago was taken possession of by
the Nisus, I claimed them as his Majesty's appur-
tenance, which claim I oflicially made known to the
proper authorities. Yet I now find, that both the
islands have been converted into private property;
and Cerf is inhabited by a naval surgeon, in virtue

286 THE LIFE OF

of a grant most illegally made. To complete the
business, I was refused permission to cut wood, on
the very spot, which duty to my country had
prompted me to reserve,, for a public supply of that
indispensable article. I shall represent this arro-
gance in such a light, to the Commander-in-chief,
as I trust will teach these eastern civilians, that
they are not at liberty to violate any of our national
engagements with impunity."

The sea cocoa nut, thus alluded to, being very
little known, I may be excused a slight digression
respecting it. This singular production acquired its
name on the shores of India^ whither it floated, and
was found, before the place of its growth had been
discovered ; and it was therefore considered to be a
fruit from the depths of the ocean. An idea of its
size may be formed, by imagining three or four large
melons, with hard black shells, enclosed together
in a strong fibrous rind. They are multiform, but
usually double ; and one side has been held to be
poisonous, if the other be not eaten as an antidote —
a prejudice which insures its entire consumption.
Everypartof thetreeis useful; the stem affords tim-
ber ; the envelope of the nut is twisted into ropes
and mats ; the leaves are applied to huts, hats, and
numerous other purposes ; whilst the shell of the fruit
supplies jars or bowls, dishes or platters, according
to the direction in which it is cut, and the taste of the

CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 287

cutter. 1 may also mention, in addition to what has
been observed by Captain Beaver, tliat the 8(7/-
c/icllcs were discovered by Lazarus Ricault, in 1743,
and named after one of the French ministers; but
from the abundance of cowries, and the beauty of
various other cyprreas found there, our sailors, na-
turally enough, tliink them the Sca-shcU islands.
They afford pine-apples, plantains, bananas, ta-
marinds, cocoa-nuts, and other tropical fruits in
profusion : sugar-canes, yams^ cassada, rice, and
cotton, are the principal objects of cultivation ; and
their various hard woods, black, yellow^ and red,
are in high request. Their beef is excellent, the
goat's flesh extremely well-flavoured, and a nutri-
tious food is found in the terrapin, or land tortoise.
The groves are frequented by parrots, of gorgeous
plumage, and amongst the flying species, are num-
bers of immense bats. Rock-fish of every de-
scription, and fine turtle, are extremely plentiful,
so that these islands, being also free from storms,
are really enviable. But no part which I have
visited is so infested with sharks — the blue, the
white_, the tiger, the hammer-headed, and indeed
most of the varieties of that voracious tribe. In
January, 1805, an enormous monster was taken in
Mahc Bay, while cruizing round our ship, in com-
pany with many of her kind, and surrounded by a
numerous progeny. She was caught with a small

288 THE LIFE OF

liook^ whicli had been baited for rock-fish ; and it
was surprising- that her attempts to escape should
not have disengaged her. On the first perception
of dang-er, and while she was being drawn along-
side,, the fry entered the mouth of the dam^ to
seek safety. With some difficulty and much dex-
terity she was secured and slunsf ; but such was the
weight of the prey^ that it required the fore and
main yard tackles to hoist her on board. After
giving' sundry violent flaps, she was overpowered;
and I saw with astonishment, on a large gash being
made in the belly^ no less than thirty-eight young
sharks tumble out of the orifice alive! They were
each nearly two feet in length, and their mouths
admitted a man's hand with ease.

Returning by the Isle of France to the Cape of
Good Hope^ our skilful officer appears to have
been again diligently employed^ in correcting the
hydrography of the several places which he visited.
On the 5th of November, in latitude 34" 30' south,
and longitude 27° 30' east, the look-out people sud-
denly saw a phenomenon, which has no doubt often
placed a danger on the charts of those, who take
no trouble to search after truth. Captain Beaver
says, — " Discoloured water, having all the ap-
pearance of a shoal, being reported to me as not
far off", I went upon deck to examine it, when the
man at the mast head called out that there was

CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 289

more about a mile off on tlie larboard bow. The
ship was instantly brouoht to, and boats were
sent to each patch ; for I certainly never saw any
thing- that so closely resembled shallow water:
indeed, nothino- but the examination which we in-
stituted would have convinced me that they were
not dangers. The first patch was of an oval form,
nearly half a mile long, and looked exactly like a
bank of sand eight or ten feet under water, with
well-defined edges. The second spot was consi-
derably larger, and of more irregular outline, but
had equally the same appearance of a sand bank,
or coral reef. However, when the boats returned,
we found they had gained no bottom with one
hundred and fifty fathoms of line ; and that the phe-
nomenon was occasioned by inconceivable myriads
of animals, which, from specimens we procured,
I found I had neither seen before, nor met w itli
any description of. Their transparent and cylin-
drical bodies were of the consistence of blubber,
rounded at one end, and, as it were, cut off
obliquely at the other; being about three-quarters
of an inch in length, and rather more than a quarter
in diameter. Two delicate fibres were just percep-
tible, dividing the body longitudinally, and four
others, nearly equidistant, transversely ; the oblique
part was covered with a circular membrane, hav-
ing two rows of minute pearly beads around its

u

290 THE LIFE OF

circumference, and an integument like a loop, with
the bight outwards, at its centre. Two feelers,
nearly as long as the insect, projected straight be-
fore it ; and the respiration was wonderfully per-
formed by a series of valves, working like the me-
chanism of many pairs of chain pumps. Oh, rulers
of the globe, how insignificant are ye, after all!
The bucket which had been dipped amongst them
was crowded to excess ; yet in the most lively
manner, they frolicked and practised all their evo-
lutions, without running foul of each other ; the mo-
tion, to be sure, was rather ungraceful, being by
sudden jerks, stern foremost."

On the following day, a fine ship under Ame-
rican colours, joined company with the Nisus, and
both parties being ignorant of the war, they sailed
very peaceably near each other for a week ; but
afterwards, on arriving at the Cape, and hearing
of hostilities, the disappointment of the crew was
proportionate. Captain Beaver immediately hauled
out, with a view of intercepting her, though he had
only two days' bread on board ; in spite of a sharp
look out, he missed the prey ; which, however,
running into Table Bay, was there promptly taken
possession of.

Our indefatigable officer's services were now
drawing to a close ; a disorder, supposed to have
been contracted on the pestilent shores of Batavia,

CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 291

had been nuiking- insidious encroachments on a
constitution naturally vigorous, but perhaps some-
what debilitated by climate and hard duty: and
the late exertions at Quiloa were considered rather
imprudent. Zeal and energ-y bore up his spirits,
yet his mind was irresistibly engrossed with consi-
derations of the futiu-e ; he became [jainfuUy soli-
citous to rejoin his family ; and it was with infinite
satisfaction that he at length found the ship ordered
to St. Helena, towards the end of December, to
collect convoy for Eng-land. From letters written
about this period, and their not containing- the
slightest hint of bodily sufle rings, his connexions
were already prepared to greet him, with all the
aflfection which so estimable a character inspired ;
they indulged the fond hope that he would soon
reap the reward of past exertions ; and by return-
ing at the close of a successful war, enjoy the
honours which he had so meritoriously earned.
Vain anticipation ! The prospect of such happi-
ness was blighted, by the abrupt announcement
of his death ! While the solace of domestic en-
dearments and social intercourse seemed to await
him, his precarious tenure had already expired;
and the pains and pleasures of this world were
closed upon him for ever.

Mr. Prior, to whom I have already been greatly
indebted, has furnished me with so feeling and

U 2

292 THE LIFE OF

interesting a description of the last moments of
his excellent friend, that I should do but little
justice to my own feelings^ or to his talents, were
I not to give it in his own words.

'' I have much pleasure/' he writes, ''^in bearing
testimony to my late commander's merits, as he
was undoubtedly a most able and zealous officer,
and an honourable man ; and, after three years
close observation in a ship, where the peculiarities
of all on board become as well known as in a
private family, where, in fact, no characteristic
can be long concealed ; I conceive myself not only
enabled to judge, but also entitled to state the re-
sults of my judgment.

" Blessed with an excellent constitution and
temperate habits, he had been an utter stranger to
serious illness, since the African expedition ; few
men allowed themselves less indulgence ; in the
coldest weather he would not have a fire ; in extreme
vicissitudes he seldom resorted even to a great
coat ; and, when assailed by indisposition, always
professed himself independent of medicine. Habit
had confirmed these prejudices. Imbued with
uncommon strength of mind, he had been accus-
tomed to depend only upon himself, and therefore
conceived, perhaps with pardonable weakness,
that these extraneous helps were, in a great de-
gree, unnecessary to the health of the human

CAPTAIN PHILIP DEAVER. 293

frame. With such opinions, liis premature death
is scarcely surprising ; and as it proved impressive
in no common degree^ I cannot but enter into the
detail of liis dissolution.

** I may remark here, that during the three
years we were together, and enjoying, I believe,
his esteem, without an interruption, he never
applied to me professionally but once previous
to his last illness — this was a day or two after
anchoring in Batavia Roads. The symptoms
threatened dysentery, the most destructive disease
experienced on that coast ; and I urged him stre-
nuously not to join a dinner party of brother cap-
tains, on board one of the frigates at anchor. After
some deliberation, and learning from me all the
bearings of his case, he, at length, said, ' he must,
though unwillingly, go; for^ after coming so far to
join an expedition, it would have a strange ap-
pearance to be taken ill immediately on arrival.'
Accordingly he went, though I clearly saw he
suffered much more than he acknowledged. I
procured a promise, however, which to him was
no sacrifice, to take little food, and no wine. No
serious inconvenience followed ; and, if I recollect
right_, he did not take any medicine. On other
occasions I was perfectly aware of his being ill,
suffering from severe colds, or otherwise ; yet he
was either above complaint, or could not conquer

294 ■ THE LIFE OF

his repug-nance to be under obligation to the heal-
ing- art. Even virtues carried thus far^ at length
degenerate into weaknesses.

^' On the morning- of our entering Table Bay,
towards the end of March, 1813, about an hour
before arriving at the anchorage. Captain Beaver
summoned me to attend him. ^ It is not often,
Mr. Prior,' said he, smiling, ^ that I personally
call upon your professional attentions, but I do not
feel quite as I could wish ; I have been uneasy for
several days ; I have not relished my wine, or my
snufF; and when this is the case, I am sure I am
not well.' Upon further enquiry, I found to my
astonishment, that the functions of the intestinal
canal had been obstructed, with one exception, for
a space of ten days ! I pointed out in as strong
terms as I could use, the necessity of having re-
course to immediate measures for relief, and of
the danger which in all probability impended over
him. He seemed inclined to acquiesce, but after
taking two or three turns across the cabin, in deep
thought, replied, * Were I at sea, I should cer-
tainly do as you desire ; and I therefore regret
not mentioning the circumstances, to you yester-
day ; but to-day, it cannot be — I must anchor the
ship ; I must wait upon the Admiral ; I have
several other persons to see upon matters which I
do not like to postpone ; in short, it will not be in

CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER.

295

my power to-day ; but to-morrow, certainly, should
I not feel better, I will consent to whatever you
command me to do.'

'' I tried to change this determination in vain.
His resolutions once taken, were commonly unal-
terable. Intending- to sleep on shore that night,
he promised that the first boat next morning- should
apprize me of his situation ; even this he thought
a or-reat concession.

" I was roused early on the following- day, by
information that I was required on shore imme-
diately. On entering' the Captain's room, I found
there the surgeon and assistant-surgeon of the
Naval Hospital, who had sat up with him during-
the night. His first salutation v/as, ' Oh ! Mr. Prior,
had I taken your advice yesterday morning, I
might not now be in the painful situation in which
I am,' This was said, not at all in a querulous
tone, but in a calm and collected manner. He
went on to describe that, on landing the preceding
forenoon, partly in hopes of being useful as an
aperient, and partly to gratify a young midship-
man who accompanied him, he had purchased
some very fine grapes, of which he ate freely.
The day was spent in walking about in the sun,
calling upon his friends. While at the table of
Admiral Tyler, at dinner, he was taken violently
ill, and towards the conclusion of it, was obliged

n

296 THE LIFE OF

to retire. The pain increased momentarilVj, until
his agony became extreme. At this time all the
shore boats being hauled up, conformably to a
colonial regulation, no message could be sent off
to the ship. Dr. Duke was, therefore, called in,
who, perceiving the disease to be enteritis, or
inflammation of the bowels, had recourse to the
most active means for relief; which were ineffec-
tually continued through the night. He suffered
the most excruciating torments without a murmur ;
that fortitude which he professed, and always dis-
played, not once deserting him. And in this hope-
less state I found him.

" Suspecting the fatal termination of the com-
plaint, he enquired how long it was probable life
might be prolonged, should the symptoms not
amend: '^ Do you doubt my fortitude?' said he
calmly, seeing me hesitate in the reply ; '^you need
not. I await death with resignation : I have long
looked it in the face without fear, and why should
I tremble now ? I feel I cannot live long in this
situation (he was then writhing in the most dread-
ful tortures), therefore use no unnecessary reserve —
be candid.' The melancholy truth being declared,
he exclaimed with peculiar energy, ' Death has no
terrors for me, — let the awful moment arrive when
it may, I am as ready to die as most men : and
trust I have not been a great sinner !'

CAPTAIN PHILIP BF.AVER. 297

" When undressed,, prepuratory to being im-
mersed in the warm bath, T observed the trace of
a recent scar upon one of liis logs^ which was 'in
fact scarcely healed. Observing my attention
fixed upon it, he instantly said, ' That was done
by the wolf, but I thought it too trilling to trouble
you with.' Upon recollection, J had heard more
than a month before, that a Cape wolf, which being
tamed on board, was suffered to run about the
decks, had seized him by the trowsers, partly in
play, and partly perhaps in obeying the common
instinct of his kind. But I did not suspect, as no
application was made for surgical aid, that so se-
rious an injury had been indicted ; — an instance of
his patient endurance of pain, or determination
to be above the common infirmities and weak-
nesses of our nature.

*'^ Composed and firm, he lingered three days
longer, exciting alternately our wonder and regret ;
the medical art of the navy, the army, and the co-
lony being vainly exhausted for his relief. He
repeatedly thanked the gentlemen in attendance :
' When I am dead,' said he, ^ if it can in the least
benefit society, let me be opened : I can have no
possible objection.' On the evening of the 5th,
while my arm supported his head, he became ex-
hausted, and breathed his last, with scarcely a
struggle : peace be to his noble spirit !

298 tHE LIFE OF

** Admired in life, he was still more worthy of
admiration in that trial which is the touchstone of
us all. To use the emphatic words of a gallant
companion in arms. Captain Schomberg, who assi-
duously attended his sick bed, — * He has not only
taught us how to die, but also how we should live,
in order to be enabled thus to meet death.*

'^ He was opened, according to his own express
permission, the day after his demise. A consi-
derable portion of the small intestines was found
in a state of mortification. All the rest of the
viscera were sound, and healthy; and promised a
lonof continuance of life.

'' His funeral was attended by all the chief civil
and militaiy authorities of the Cape ; the pall was
borne by Captains Schomberg, Richardson, Eve-
leigh, and Bain, of the navy ; and the Colonels of
the 21st dragoons, 83d and Q^d regiments, &c.
When the corpse was committed to the ground, I
saw more than one of his brother officers affected
in a manner, that did equal honour to their feelings
and their friendship. None of us, 1 believe, were
free from such emotions."

This melancholy event, and the prominent fea-
tures of Captain Beaver's character, are also ably
detailed, in a letter of the 2d of October, 1828,
from Commodore C. M. Schomberg. "Nothing,
my dear Smyth, has given me greater pleasure

CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 299

than your resolving to make poor Beaver's merits
better known to the public ; indeed his memory
well deserves such a tribute of respect. I saw the
last of him.

*' Not long before his death, the Nisus was de-
tached to St. Helena, from the Cape of Good
Hope, to take charge of a convoy of Indiamen to
England ; but news of an American force reaching
the station, I was sent in the Astrea to recall him.
He was greatly disappointed at this measure ; and
ordered me to return to Table Bay, by the outer
edge of the trade winds, which^ with the current^
were strono^ aoainst us, while he went on the
inner, or African side. My friend was fortunate
enough to intercept and capture a fine large Ame-
rican ship^ laden with tea, and had very nearly got
hold of her consort also. This valuable prize
cheered his last hours, under the idea of its being
a provision for his family ; for he little suspected
that the greater part of the cargo would be claimed
and awarded as individual property.
' " He had slightly complained during the cruize
of indisposition, and his looks on our arrival, proved
the intensity of his disease. He landed about
noon, but while dining with the Admiral, was un-
der the necessity of quitting the table. The symp-
toms quickly increased to an alarming degree, and
after a violent struggle with nature for four days,

300 THE LIFE OF

he expired at Cape Town^ on the 5th of April,
1813 ; and in those trying- moments displayed his
usual admirable fortitude. Seeing* that we were
greatly affected, he remarked that death was an
event for which he had been daily prepared ; it was
a debt which all must pay, and therefore it should
be contemplated with calm resignation. Address-
ing- me more particularly, for I never quitted him
during this impressive scene, he continued. ' If I
am not better in an hour, I cannot live. You will
succeed me in the command of the Nisus, and I
know my youngsters will be taken care of. I hope
they will yet be an honour to the cloth.' He then
deliberately proceeded to make serious prepara-
tion for the approaching event. About five o'clock,
the anticipated return of the pangs of inflamma-
tory constipation closed his earthly troubles, and
left us in a stupor of grief.

"^ It is difficult for me to sketch his character —
he was manly and determined, with a mind very
peculiarly constituted. From the firmness of his
decision, something like austerity, and an air of con-
scious superiority, showed itself in command; but
in society, except where vice or folly drew forth his
sarcasm, he was gentle and as playful as a child.
His inflexible integrity made parts of his conduct
appear captious and irritable; while in argument,
his manner seemed rather to dictate than to per-

CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER.

301

suade, — yet I know no man who persuaded with
more conviction. His view of enterprise was ge-
nerally very bold, for he never saw didiculty, and
was a stranger to fear : but as a flag oflicer, his soar-
injr mind would have been more in its element than
as captain of a frigate. With a strong thirst after
useful information, he studied closely during every
moment of official leisure, and was therefore not
only a scientific navigator, but appeared very con-
versant in o-eneral literature. He was indiOerent
to the garb in which substantial knowledge was
clothed : and I have reason to think that this ex-
traordinary man read the Encj/clopedia Britannka
entirely through during a cruize — a curious in-
stance of a habit of perseverance.

" He was interred with military honours, and
the following modest record placed ovei- his
grave : —

HERE
OF

PHILIP BEAVER,

CAPTAIN OF HIS URITAN.VIC MAJESTY'S SHIP NISUS ;

WHO,

AFTER A SHORT BUT PAINFUL ILLNESS,

(WHICH HE BORE WITH HIS CHARACTERISTIC FIRMNESS,)

CLOSED AN ENTERPRISINCr AND VIRTUOUS LIKE,

THE 5th of APRIL,

ANNO iETATIS XLVIII.

SALUTIS MDCCCXUI."

302 THE LIFE OF

To this tribute of friendship, paid by an officer
alike brave and beloved, I shall venture to add a
few particulars^ and thus terminate the memoirs of
this exemplary man.

Captain Beaver was of a middle stature and
spare habit ; but healthy, active, and capable of
sustaining- great fatigue, both of body and mind.
His eyes were expressive^ and his countenance
animated, without being- handsome ; in deport-
ment he was genteel without a trace of foppery^
and his temper was ardent, without being- violent ;
thouQfh he sometimes allowed resolution to border
upon obstinacy. He was so habitually industrious
himself, that he could not understand, and found
it difficult to excuse, either indifference or idleness
in others. Endued by nature with something of
Roman decision of mind, and brought up from
childhood in the sharpest school of discipline under
the crown, he almost inevitably became severe.
This blemish has not been an uncommon one
amongst our most distinguished men, and even the
heroic Nelson was not popular, till this unamiable
peculiarity had worn off. It is an error arising
from the zeal without knowledge of young officers :
a bias which is corrected and cured by reflection^
and the advance of years. Beaver felt and
acknowledged this truth ; and, in conversation
on the system of terror then prevailing in a ship

CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 303

on tlie station, he rcinarkcd that it was the miscon-
ception of youthlul ardour, and that he himself
had been actuated by simihir feehng-s in the early
part of his career, '* but had long seen reason to
alter his practice." In the Acasta, and theNisus,
though the regulations were exceedingly strict,
there was nothing like tyranny ; yet the pardon-
able weakness of forgiving a little more frequently
would, perhaps, have brought the commander's
character nearer to perfection. But with him the
punishment of slight transgressions could not be
imputed to heat of temper, cloaked under the
necessities of oflicial discipline ; it was what he
considered a conscientious discharge of his duty.

He was ever exceedingly careful of the health
of his crew ; and moreover was attentive to their
welfare, by saving them from the annoyance of
unnecessary labour. He despised many of those
trifling but harassing duties, which obtained during
the late war, as taking off attention from more
important tilings ; and which occasioned much dis-
satisfaction, without accomplishing any equivalent
good. In naval evolutions, where every thing is
performed by bodily strength, men cannot, like
machines, be at all moments screwed up to the
utmost possible point of performance, as some have
expected. Rivalries are felt in fleets, for each
ship to arrive at excellence ; but what are called

304 THE LIFE OF

^^ smart vessels/' are rarely made without giving
the seamen an incurable disgust to the service.
Captain Beaver's charge, on one or two occasions,
was, *' Remember, men, if you are first on the list,
I shall like it, but I do not insist upon it ; you
must not, however, be last." No honour was lost
by this system ; for the men, feeling a freedom
from responsibility, performed their duty with
alacrity and emulation, whenever a trial of skill
was called for; and certainly were never *' last."

His personal determination in every situation
was not less remarkable than his confidence in his
own powers and capacity, in movements of diffi-
culty. Without being rash, he might justly be
said to be fearless ; it was a vigour of mind,
beyond mere courage ; and he moreover impressed
every one who came near him, v.ith the same feel-
ing. When serving under a senior officer, he was
consulted upon most occasions of difficulty ; but
when he himself commanded, he rarely, if ever,
consulted any one. This sometimes gave offence
to his brother officers, who, probably, of scarcely
inferior standing in the service, felt in this reserve
a want of confidence, either in their ability or their
discretion. In many instances, nothing of this
kind was meant; it was part oi his character;
but at the same time, wherever incapacity was
evident, he evinced contempt, even towards senior

1

CAPTAIN PHFIJP BEAVER. 30.5

oiticers. Altlioug-h lie Ijud an utter aversion to
flattery and flatterers, he appeared to feel himself
superior to most of those by whom he was sur-
ounded, whether e(juals in rank, or juniors : there
was some i)ride, or even ])resumpti()n in this,
perhaps ; but on service, he ikj doubt found re-
sources within himself, which he did not perceive
in others; and there wiis a degree of moral, as
well as physical maonanimity about him, which
rather sought than shrunk from responsibility.

With such a degree of energy, if we occasionally
discover impetuosity, and anxiety, and apparent
self-sufliciency, let us recollect, that these are
most useful qualities in an ofliccr, especially when
tempered, as they were in Captain Beaver, with
judgment.

" Who can be wise, amazed, temperate and furious,
Loyal and neutral, in a moment ?

He thought intensely, and expressed himself
most powerfully and fluently, particularly when
excited. In governing a body of men, command
should sometimes be aided by persuasion ; for it
is ofl;en more desirable, and certainly as useful, to
address their reason, as their backs; and never
was an oflicer more fitted for this purpose than
our hero. His plain and impressive manner fre-
quently drew tears from the most rugged sailors ;

X

30G THE LIFE OF

and on one occasion, on board the Nisus, where
an act of insubordination had been exhibited to-
wards a petty officer, when it became necessary
to inspire awe, or even terror, several of the men
were seen to shrink, involuntarily, from the energy
of his reproof, and the dignified vehemence of his
denunciations.

He rarely paced the deck, as is customary with
most naval officers at sea ; when he did appear,
it was chiefly for the purpose of giving orders.
Nearly the whole of his time was spent in his
cabin, principally in miscellaneous reading, or
in writing. He would scarcely, however, conde-
scend to notice the lighter departments of litera-
ture ; he declared that he required more solid food-
for his mind : " Men who go to sea," said he,
'' have enough to do, by studying assiduously, to
keep upon a par with their neighbours." The
works of poetasters and novelists he continued to
hold as extremely trifling, thinking, perhaps, that
few could, like the ducks of Pontus, find poison to be
wholesome ; but he did not disrelish those flights
of fiction, which occur in Moral Essays. Anony-
mous writers he despised ; and when Mr. Prior
enquired how he had been treated by the profes-
sional critics, as to his work on Bulama ; " The
opinion of those fellows," said he, " was to me a
matter of utter indifference. I had to state facts

CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 307

ill a plain manner^ none of which, supposing- any
of them to have known the isk\nd, or the particu-
lars of the expedition, coukl be contradicted. Some,
indeed, did not admire my opinions regarding'
Sierra Leone, but they gave me as much j)raise,
no doubt, as I deserved. However, you shall see."

Beaver's strict regard for religion was exem-
plified in the tenor of his life : he was a sincere
Christian ; and no doctiine, ancient or modern,
ever taught a more rational humanity than that
which uniformly distingxjished him, as a husband,
father, commander, and friend. He read prayers
regularly and solemnly, to his ship's company,
and was alike moral in his habits and manners ;
whilst his conversation proved, that he did not
consider swearing at all requisite to adorn a
speech, even though the contrary has the high
authority of Longinus.

He did the honours of his table with a plain, un-
affected hospitality; two or three of the oflicers,
according to the good, old, and sociable custom of
the navy, which it is to be regretted is wearing
away, dined with him almost every day. With
the systematic pertinacity in all his habits, he took
a pint of wine, neither more nor less, after dinner,
^n whatever climate. The hours kept in a man-of-
war are so uniform, that scarcely any one receives or
deserves much praise for regularity — breakfast at

x2

303 THE LIFE OF

eight o'clock^ or a little after ; dinner at two or
three ; tea at six ; some wine and water at eight ;
and to bed probably about ten ; — but Captain Bea-
ver, despising all sensual and degrading practices,
would have been a regular and temperate man in
any situation. His company was much courted
by those to whom he was well known ; and he was
a great favourite in female society ; for, disdaining
to descend to what is vulgarly called compli-
ment, he recurred to the more delicate refinement
of treating ladies as rational creatures, and con-
versing with them upon a footing of equality —
never losing sight of the purity and politeness with
which they should always be addressed.

His family, at his death, consisted of Mrs. Bea-
ver and six children ; and as fortune had not fa-
voured him in the acquisition of wealth, his widow
was, through the kindness of Lord Viscount Mel-
ville, appointed Matron of Greenwich Hospital
School — a situation which she could have little
contemplated, when her husband was so con-
spicuous on the high road to the brightest ho-
nours. This nomination, however, afforded a
refuge from pecuniary distress ; and procured her
an unexpected source of consolation, in the eager
desire with which the veteran sailors crowded her
door_, entreating to see the children, those interest-
ing portraits of their late revered commander.

CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVEH. 309

Strenuous efforts had been made in tlils lady's
behalf, accompanied with the strongest testimonials
from the admirals under whom Captain Beaver had
served ; but it is doubtful whether the high person-
age to whom they were humbly addressed was ever
informed of them.

Although the certificates of Sir A. Cochrane,
Sir A. Bertie, the Honourable Sir R. Stopford,
and Sir G. Beck with, are scarcely to be excelled
in the manly and elegant style of their commenda-
tion, it may nevertheless be pleasing to see, at full
length, that of his early and steady friend, Lord
Keith.

<(

May it please your Royal Highness,

^^ I think it my duty to certify, that in the month
of August, 1796, the late Captain Philip Beaver,
then a lieutenant in his Majesty's ship, the Stately,
was appointed by me to the Monarch, bearing my
flag, as Commander-in-chief at the Cape of Good
Hope, and in the Indian seas, in consequence of
my having personally witnessed the prompt, sea-
manlike, and skilful exertions, by which it appeared
to me that he saved the Stately and her crew, when
exposed to a state of imminent danger, during a
severe gale of wind : that he continued to serve

310 THE LIFE OF

under my fla^, as a lieutenant^ from that time till
July, 1799, when 1 had the means of obtaining for
him the first just reward of his dilig-ent and useful
services^ the rank of a commander : that in the
month of April, 1800^ when about to enter into
co-operation with the Austrian General, Baron de
Melas_, for the expulsion of the French army from the
city and territory of Genoa, I called Captain Bea-
ver from the command of the Aurore prison ship,
and appointed him to be acting assistant Captain
of the fleet under my command, to aid me in the
execution of the multiplied and complicated duties
on which my attention was at that time employed :
that the trust thus committed to him was executed
with all advantage to the service, and satisfaction
to me ; and that during the progress of the blockade
of Genoa, I accepted his voluntary offer of super-
intending the night guard, and the nightly bom-
bardment of the town, which he executed with un-
remitted zeal, gallantry, and success : that on one
of these occasions, with signal heroism., he boarded
and brought out a large galley of very formidable
force : that when the enemy evinced a disposition
to treat for surrender, I entrusted him with my
authority to negotiate the preliminaries of a treaty
for the surrender of the town ; and that in this ca-
pacity he conducted himself with great ability and

CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 311

address: and I fmtlier cefiify that, in my long- ex-
perience, 1 have not met with an olTicer, wlio, fiom
the united q uaHties of clear conception, accurate
judgment, prompt decision, and vigorous, un-
daunted execution of professional duty, was more
likely, had he lived, to have arrived at distinction
in the naval service."

(Signed) ^' KEITH."

APPENDIX.

APPENDIX.

No. 1.

On the Battle between the ]\Iilford frigate and the Dieu de
Co\2;ny— fought on the 10th of May, 1780.

Up in the wind, three leagues or more,
We spied a lofty sail ;
" Let's hoist a Dutch flag, for decoy,
And closely hug the gale."

Nine knots the nimble IMilford ran,
" Thus — thus," the master cried;

Hull up, she raised the chase in view,
And soon was side by side.

" Down the Dutch ensign, up St. George,
To quarters now all hands," —
With lighted match, beside his gun.
Each British warrior stands.

** Give lire!" the gallant captain cries ;

'Tis done — the cannons roar,
" Stand clear. Monsieur, digest these pills,

And then we'll send you more."

315 APPENDIX.

Yon French jack shivers in the \Yind,

Its hhes all look pale ;
And well they may — they must come down,

For Britons shall prevail.

Raked fore and aft, her shatter'd hull,

Admits the briny flood ;
Her decks are covered with the slain,

Her scuppers stream with blood.

Our chain-shot whistle in the wind,
The grape descend like hail ;
" Huzza! my hearts, three cheering shouts!
Our foe begins to quail."

The fight is done, — she strikes — she yields;

No more our force she braves; —
Henceforth she'll bear our cross, and prove

That Britons rule the waves.

P. Beaver.

H. M. Ship Princess Royal, )
September 25th, 1780. •'

APPENDIX. 317

No. ir.

A loyal Addreas, delivered al IJulatna, on the 3d of August, 1793,
and subscribed to by the remaining Colonists.

In times of imminent danger, when bad men have dared to
associate themselves, for the express [)ur[)Ose of overturning
our most excellent constitution ; v>hcn the mob-directed go-
vernment of France employs the basest of men to stir up
sedition in our country, and war with e\(>ry thing which has
hitherto been held sacred by the wisest of men ; — when they
publicly avow their intention of carrying their pernicious
doctrines into every kingdom of Europe — it behoves Britons
to avow their sentiments boldly. In such times it is crimi-
nal to remain neuter. That distance, and those circum-
stances, which almost prevent communication with our
Mother Country, precludes us not, thank God, from ex-
pressing our love to our Sovereign, and attachment to our
time-proved establishments.

TVe do therefore declare

Our firm attachment to our present constitution of govern-
ment, by King, Lords, and Commons, as settled at the
glorious Revolution of IGSS; in the sup[)ort and defence of
which we will, at all times, and in any place, be ready to
lay down our lives.

P. Beaver.

318 APPENDIX.

No. III.

Extract of a Letter from Captain Beaver, describing a ludicrous
interview icith a Tuscan Poet.

" Having landed at Leghorn, on my way to England with
despatches, in 1800, and, of course, in a pressing hurry to
o-et home, I was vexed and amused with one of those im-
pertinencies which will occasionally happen to travellers in
Italy. Notwithstanding there were but few moments to
spare, a gaunt stranger intruded himself, bearing a book
and a letter ; the latter ran thus : — ' The most sinser whiches
of hapeness to the Cape. Beaver, Inglese. In occasion of
his happy arrivale in Livorno. It is tw^o strange that a man
should trobble you without haveing never hapness to pressent
himself to you; but considering how noble your heart is,
and the sublime virtues that adorne you, makes a man of
genius find in you his only Mecenas, who, with the usual
great bounty, receives all those who aims at such a honor.
Encouraged by such reflexions, I don't doubt your clemency
over my poems, made in ocasion of the victorias brought
over the enemies by a conquering armies, Inglish, Austriache,
and Muscovits, which, Sir, I send you, flattering myself you
will find elegan merit in my works, and hoping from your
great goodness an act of generous gratitude, and full of great
respect and sincere, I have the honour to be, your omblest
Tuscan poet, Nicola Poggi.' "

APPENDIX. 319

No. IV.

A Letter addressed to Colonel Siii Robert Wilson, K.M.T., on
cerlain Gcograplcal Errors in /lis Map of E'^ypt.

fi atford, Herts, 1 0//t February, 1 803.

My dear Siu,

Since I had the pleasure of seeing you last, when I took the
liberty of pointing out the misnomers of the lakes, in your
map of Egypt, at the same time giving my reasons and au-
thority, I have seen our consul, Mr. Baldwin, who confirms
my assertions. Doubting not that your book will be hereafter
referred to as an authority, it becomes highly necessary that
places should be called by their proper names in it, and con-
sequently, the earlier any mistakes are corrected, the better.

I, therefore, now venture to write what I then said, for
your further consideration, convinced that you will receive
in good part, those observations, which are made with a view-
only to the ascertaining of truth.

Of the two lakes between Alexandria and the Nile, you
call the one, the lake of Aboukir, i suppose, from the castle
near it; whereas, its true name is Sed; the other you have
named Etko, probably from the village [Edko) on its banks,
but the natives call it Maadie.

The former derives its name from the Roman embank-
ment, in Arabic, Sed, that runs eastward, from the sandhills,
where our troops landed on the 8th of March, ISOl, and
which separates the two lakes ; nor was there any opening
where the pontoon bridge now is. The bed of the lake was
dry, and cultivated, although some feet below the level of the
sea. The Turks, who sufler every thing to go to ruin, never
attempted to repair a small breach made by the sea, in this
Sed, or mound, in the year 1782, or 3, and through which

320 APPENDIX.

the waters flowed, continually widening it, till they converted
that \aluable valley into an extensive marsh.

The lake Maadie, in Arabic, a ferry, or passage, was so
called, because its entrance, or mouth, lying directly between
Alexandria and Rosetta, everyone going from the one place
to the other was obliged to cross it, at the spot where the
Karavansera still remains.

1 could have entered more fully into this subject, if I had
not intended to confine myself within the bounds of a letter;
but before I close, I must mention one circumstance more,
where you appear to have been led into another error.

In narrating the operations of our army, on the sandy
tongue of land l)etween Alexandria and Abookeer, you fre-
quently connect it with the lake Maadie ; whereas you ought
to have written Sed, because Maadie was far distant from
our then operations, and must never be confounded with that
lake, Avhatever be its name, by which the army received its
provisions, and on whose border it then had a depot. Ex-
cept these faults, your map of the space between Alexandria
and Rosetta is by far the best extant.

Mr. Dalrymple's chart, and a memoir, of one sheet, ac-
companying it, was yesterday put into my hands. I find
he names the lakes as you have, but his chart has one great
error, and his memoir many, which I shall take an early
opportunity of communicating to that gentleman.
I am, my dear Sir,

Yours very truly,

P. Beaver.

APPENDIX. 321

No. IV.

A Letter published in " The Courier,'^ IGth of February, 1804,
with the Author's subsequent corrections, on the threatened
Invasion.

To the Editor of the Courier.
Sill,

In times like the present, when ^Ye daily expect the
approach of an hostile force to our shores, the various opi-
nions of men on the practicability of the attempt, or the
difficulties which attend it, by being made known, may pro-
bably produce some good ; with this view, 1 send you the
following thoughts on the chance which our active, subtle,
energetic, and great enemy, has in succeeding in iiis last

ENTERPRISE.

A seaman by profession, a middle-aged life, spent in the
constant naval service of my country, and the experience of
the frequent embarkation and debarkation of numerous troops
in every quarter of the globe, under various difficulties and
circumstances, may, or at least ought to, enable me to form
some, not very inaccurate, notions on this subject.

I shall consider it under three heads : —

1st. — The Enemy's quitting their Ports.
2dly. — Their crossing the Sea.
3dly. — Their Landing on our Shores.

ON THE enemy's QUITTING THEIR PORTS.

It would not be doing justice to the cautious foresight of
Bonaparte to suppose any thing has been neglected by him,
Avhich might facilitate the speedy embarkation of his nume-
rous troops destined to invade this island. I take it for
granted, that his whole force can be embarked \\) four hours ;
and if he cannot do that from Brest to the Texel, he is a

Y

32*2 APPENDIX.

mere tyro in the embarkation of troops ; but with this I have
nothing to do. Whether four hours or four weeks be em-
ployed, is nothing to the purpose : J suppose them embarked
— to be useful they must quit their ports, and that is the point
on which I will give my opinion.

To blockade a port, particularly in these latitudes, is im-
possible, if by blockading is meant the obstruction to the
ingress or egress of vessels at all times ; if it were possible,
it would be done by the unrivalled skill and unexampled
perseverance of our naval commanders ; but we cannot with-
stand the elements ; we already do with our ships what no
other nation will ever venture to attempt. — To British ships
there is no winter.

I consider, then, that it is not in our power, at all times,
to prevent the enemy's saihng either from Brest or the
Texel ; those from the former port would be, most probably,
destined for Ireland, and those from the latter for Scotland.
1 have hitherto only alluded to the sailing of that part of the
enemy's force which is composed of large ships, which will
sail from large ports, and which, it is conceived, will most
likely be destined to act against Scotland and Ireland ; and
these are supposed to escape from their ports, when our
blockading squadrons have been driven from their stations
by tempestuous weather.

The troops intended to be sent against England will, I
conceive, issue from all the small ports between Flushing
and Cherbourg. If the attempt is to be simultaneous, they
must have a wind which will be fair from each of those
ports — suppose S. E. ; this is an off-shore wind, which Avill
enable our cruizers to keep close off their harbours' mouths,
watch all their motions, and transmit early intelligence. If
the wind is such as to render the shore a lee one, and oblige
our cruizers to keep at a greater distance, the enemy cannot
come oat : so that it is clear, that if our enemy can quit their
ports, our cruizers can keep close in with them j and that

APPENDIX. 3*23

li our cnii/ers cannot keep done to the slton; tlie etiemy can-
not come out.

The case here is very clHrerenl from that of our blockading
squadrons being driven from their stations off" Brest and the
Texel; when that is the case, the enemy's large ships,
full of troops, may sail the first moment of a fair wind ; if
from ]3rest, the whole Atlantic is open for them to range in ;
they may run west till they arrive at America, or south till
they double the Cape : the Texel fleet may round the north-
ern extremity of this island, and have the same scope. In
these instances our fleets may hunt them all round the world,
and miss them at last ; for all is conjecture as to their desti-
nation. Not so with the small vessels in the small ports of a
narrow channel; these, crowded with soldiers, exposed to
the inclemency of the weather, must make for the nearest
shore, their safety being in proportion to the shortness of
their stay on the water, and not having room for either stores,
])rovisions, or any thing else, necessary for a long cruize,
must be seen, must be met, and must be opposed by our
cruizers.

But ivhat time will be required for them to get out of
their own ports ? Suppose, for instance, the port of Boulogne,
as the nearest, except Calais, to our shores, and the prin-
cipcd port of rendezvous for the enemy's flotilla. Those
much accustomed to the sailing of numerous vessels out of
a small port, with a narrow mouth, will not think that I
allow too much tune in supposing that each vessel will re-
quire one minide to get out of the port of Boulogne : now if
it be true that the enemy have collected five hundred vessels
in that port, it will, according to the above estimation, re-
quire five hundred minutes, or cicjJit hours and twenty mi-
nutes for them to quit their own port. But Boulogne is a
dry harbour, and has never water suflicient to float a vessel,
however small and contemptible, for ciyht hours and tuenty
minutes tuycther ; they cannot consequently all yet out in one

324 APPENDIX.

tide. How many, then, can ? The harbour of Boulogne, as
before observed, is dry at low water, indeed at two-thirds
ebb, for the shore is left dry a long way without its mouth ;
the entrance is long and narrow, between two piers, like the
neck of a bottle; and in this channel there will not be water
sufficient to float the flotilla, for more than four hours in
each tide, that is the last two hours of the flood, and the first
two hours of the ebb; consequently, according to the above
calcidation, as to the time required for the sailing of the
flotilla, not more than two hundred and forty vessels, or
rather less than one-half, can get out of port in one tide.

I have hitherto taken it for granted, that the wind is fair,
and sufTiciently strong to enable the enemy's vessels to stem
the tide, during the last two hours^ flood ; but should it not
be sufficiently strong, or if it be calm, not more than rather
less than one fourth of the enemy's vessels, would be able to
get out in one tide.

As to Bonaparte's talking of rowing all his vessels out of
port, and rowing them across the channel, it may be well
enough, when addressed to French soldiers, but folly, when
addressed to English seamen. We now come to the second
point, viz.

ON THE enemy's CROSSING THE SEA.

The fleets which it has been supposed might have escaped
from the ports of Brest and of the Texel, may arrive at their
assumed respective destinations, and may possibly there do
much mischief; but, from the vigilance and activity of our
numerous cruizers, employed in watching and communica-
ting intelligence of the enemy's motions, the j)robabilifi/ of
their being fallen in with by some of our squadrons before
they reach the places of their destination is greatly in our
favour, and if they once meet, there is an end to that jtart of
the enemy's undertaking.

I will now enquire what obstacles there are to the passage

APPENDIX. 325

of the enemy's vessels from the ports of the channel o|)[)0-
site to EngJiind.

1 consider, in the first place, that each vessel is on its
j)assaj;e from the moment it cjuits a French port, notwith-
standing the length of time which may be requisite for them
to wait for the junction of others not yet out of the harhonr.

If they come singly, we devour them like shrimps; and
they cannot all, even under the most favourable circum-
stances, get out in one tide, as I lui\e shown above. Here
then arise three questions : —

1st. — Whether the enemy's vessels will endeavour to push
over for our shores, with all sail, singly, as they quit their
own ports.

2{|ly. — Whether they will, as they get out of their j)Orts,
come-to off the harbour's mouth, and wait for all those
which can get out that tide, and then push over for our
shores ? Or,

3dly. — AVhether those which have got out in one tide will
wait olF the harbour's mouth, for the remainder to get out on
the foUoicing tide, and then make their attempt ?

In the first of these cases, as before observed, they would
he devoured like shrimps; in the last, the risk, from change
of wind and weather, as well as from their number, not
being able to remain sheltered under their own guns, is too
great to be incurred : these are I)oth impracticable. I
assume then, as incontrovertible, that the attempt to invade
us from the opposite shores, whenever it may be, will be
made by all the vessels that can get out in one tide, and that
not more than one half of the enemy can consequently be
employed in it. They quit their coast, and one continued
battle attends them to our shores. Here intelligence will
have long since arrived of the first motions of the enemy's
flotilla; our line-of-battle ships and frigates will have all
quitted our ports to meet them, and, if there be any wind,
will sail over and destroy them, with as much ease as a muii

326 APPENDIX.

can walk through a corn field. Our numerous sea fencible
flotillas will attack tJiem at a great distance from our shores}
on which at length will be landed the miserable, astonished,
and affrighted remnant of those devoted men, who have
escn[)ed the threefold ordeal of our floating force.

A thousand vessels, I think, may reasonably be reckoned
at about the number with which this attempt will be made ;
and I am willing to allow, on an average, 100 soldiers to
each vessel; for though I know that some will carry many
more, many also will carry much fewer: tlius there will be
100,000 troops employed in the undertaking. What will
become of them ? It has been shown that they cannot sail
without our seeing them, and that they cannot quit their
shores without our blockading force attacking them, which
attack will continue as long as any thing is left to attack :
the men-of-Avar of all descriptions will quit our ports, when
the enemy are known to be in motion, and join in the con-
flict ; and lastly, the numerous flotillas, manned by the sea
fencibles, will issue from every port, to the number of near
a thousand vessels, (I mean from the western point of Sussex
to the eastern point of Essex,) and oppose of themselves,
independent of our ships, a formidable obstacle to the
progress of the enemy.

I do not hold the flotilla of the enemy too cheap; 1 know
that many of the vessels of which it is composed are large,
roomy, and bulky; of little draught of water, and very con-
siderable force. If it be calm, their progress can be little;
and in a calm only Ihey will never get across, whatever
Bonaparte may make them believe on that point : the tides
run parallel to the shores, the flood will carry them to the
eastward, and the ebb back again to the westward; but
neither will approximate i\\evci to our coast ; to reach it, they
must have wind: in a calm, it is true, they may destroy
some of our attacking vessels, but these must be in their
%my towards our coast: they cannot go out of their direct

APPENDIX. 327

road, for their safety depends on the celerity of their
transit; and to hope even (or the shadow of success, they
must not (hsperse. ]iut wind is essential to their passajie;
and if there be wind, our ships can act, can run down, can
run over, can destroy by their artillery, in a very short time,
unthought-of numbers of this musquito fleet. Our flotillas,
manned by sea fencibles, though small vessels com[)ared
with those of the enemy, are unincumbered by trooj)s; they
have men only sufficient to work the vessel, and fight the
gun; these vessels will make dreadful slaughter : by their
construction, by their lightness, by their sailing, and by the
ability of (hose who manage them, they will work round the
enemy, to use a vulgar sea-phrase, like a cooper round a
cask; they will attack when and where they please ; their
reiterated attacks will resembU- that of half a dozen dogs,
when attacking a wild boar in the woods, who claps his stern
against a tree, and waits in that position, which he durst not
alter, the repeated insults of his numerous though puny
foes. So, these vessels of the enemy must keep their prow
towards our shore ; if they deviate, it will be the first symp-
tom, and certain cause, of inevitable defeat.

"Where there is no ground for precise calculation, one
must be permitted to guess, so long as we confine ourselves
within the probability of what may reasonably be expected
to take place, from an impartial consideration of all circum-
stances. What is to become of them ? This is the question
which I proposed answering. Taking all circumstances into
consideration, I hesitate not to say, and I would risk my
professional character on the result, that if a thousand vessels
quit the enemy's ports, not three hundred of them will hos-
tilely reach the British shore; that is, I think that at least
seven hundred out of the thousand will, in all human pro-
bability, be either sunk, blown up, dismasted, or disabled
(for none must be taken till the whole are defeated) by our
floating force. Here then, if I am at all within the bounds

328 APPENDIX.

of probability, is an end to the effective operation of 70,000
of the enemy.

1 have hitherto considered the enemy as making the at-
tempt under two points of view only ; that is, ivith or with-
out wind : Ijut there is a third, under which, from some late
observations in the Monileur, Bonaparte appears to thnik
that there would be the greatest probability of success, and

that is in a focj.

A foo- is a very good cloak to the approach of a few row-
ing boats, which may be sent to perform some coup de main
at no great distance, by surprise; or to cover the approach
of an unsuspected enemy to some shore, battery, town, or
castle; but to say that in an enterprise, in which probably
200,000 men may be employed, on an extent of coast of
more than 200 miles, from Flushing to Cherbourg, in which
every thing ought to be seen, every thing clear, and every
thino- well regulated ; for the success of which much will
Append on the conjunction, compression, and co-operation
of the different floLlUae of which the hostile force may be
composed; to say, I again repeat, that a fog is favourable
to such an enterprise, is the height of folly: as well might it
he averred, that a man can see better how to read in the
pitchy darkness of the night than in the noon-tide glare of
day. — Fogs are favourable to some enterprises; to this they
must be fatal. 1 could very easily point out many parti-
cular reasons for this opinion, if any were necessary j but my
letter is already too long.

I come now to the third head, under which I proposed
considering the attempt of the enemy — that is —

THEIR LANDING ON OUR SHORES.

On this subject I shall not say much ; I have before ob-
served, that of a thousand vessels which might be supposed
to have sailed on this mad expedition, not more than three
hundred will, in all probability, be enabled to vomit their
unhallowed crews upon this blessed shore ; there they will

APPENDIX. 329

be received by the British army — an army with which I
have served in each (juarter of the globe; I know its merits,
I know its foibles, I know it well; and I am as fully con-
vinced, as I am that I now write, that this army as far sur-
passes all others in bravery as British seamen sur[)ass all
others in skill: to it I most willingly consign, without the
least fear of the consequence, all who may land.

Of the 300 vessels^ with .30,000 men on board, supposed
to have escaped our general attack on the enemy's flotillas,
few can remain together, for tiieir escaping must be owing
to separation. I am confident, therefore, that any force
landed by the enemy in this country, at any one point, will
never exceed 4,000 men; I rather think it never will exceed
even 1,000, This is a force too contem[)tible to remain long
with their arms in their hands; and no hostile Frenchman,
I am convinced, will ever be seen in England, unless as a
prisoner, fifteen miles from the shore.

There is one point, however, to which I should like to mil
the attention of every military man, and that is, the moment
when the enemy, ivhaieier their force, endeavour to land:
this is a moment when the British, however unequal their

numbers, must oppose thvm ; it I« o moment, if nnnp In^t nm^or-

to he regained.

On that ever-memorable descent of the British army on
the sands of Egypt, if the French general had, instead of
remaining on the top of his sand hills, descended to the
high water mark, and there boldly opposed our troops, when
geUing out of their boats, the issue of that glorious day
might'and most likely would have been different from what
itwas— let us profit by experience. There a mild climate
and a temperate atmosphere had not benumbed the extre-
mities of the pent-up troops, nor had their confinement ex-
ceeded seven hours ; but here, whatever force may be fortu-
nate enough to land, will have been confined at least twenty-
four, most probably thirty-six hours, in a cold, boisterous,

330 APPENDIX.

and stormy clime; and when landed, cramped, cold, wet,
sea-sick, and half dead, will for some time he fitter for an
hospital than to act offensively in the field. 1 therefore hold
it to be the indispensable duty of every military body, how-
ever tinequal in number, to attack the enemy, when getting
out of their boats : they should not pollute the shore ; I
would meet them knee deep, and slay them in the water.

Though I doubt not that most of the necessary precau-
tions for driving and laying waste the country in the event
of the enemy's landing in great force on our coasts have
already been taken ; for, whatever be our opinions, it is ne-
cessary to be prepared for the worst, to foresee, and to con-
sider even as likely to happen, the most untoward events ;
although, I say, I doubt not that most of the necessary pre-
cautions are taken, such as driving back horses and cattle,
destroying bridges, breaking up roads, burning corn, hay,
and straw, &c., &c., yet, there appears to me to be one which
lias generally been overlooked, or, at least, I have not yet
heard any thing about if, and that is the filling up of wells,
and the destroying of pumps, which ought certamly to be
done, and proper persons should be appointed for that pur-
pv^oo , tKo -rt-oUo r«;j^k<^ lio filled up With auy kind of rubbish in
a very short time, and the heads of the pumps might be saived
off in still less ; an army cannot exist without water, and the
French would not find it, like my great predecessor in name,
by digging holes on the beach,

I have now sketched the three heads under which I pro-
posed to consider the attempt of the enemy to invade this
country, although what I have said is nothing, when com-
pared to Avhat might be said under each of them. Yet it
appears, from the foregoing observations, that, in the strict
sense of the word, the enemy's ports cannot be blockaded, and
that the Brest and Texel fleets must have, at times, oppor-
tunities of escaping ; that their destination would most likely
be Ireland and Scotland; but that it is highly probable

APPENDIX. 331

that, before they reached eitlier, they would he infrrcfptcd
by some of our s(|U!idrons, which would iitciitahlij f rust rale
those parts of the enemy's enterprise. It appears also, that
though the Brest and Texel fleets can get out unseen by our
own, under certain circumstances, yet that the flotillas, in
the various ports of the Channel, cannot get out unnoticed
by our cruizers ; this / hold to be impossible; it appears
also that, in all human probability, more than half of the
latter will be destroyed on their passage, that those who
escape icill owe their safdij to dispersion, and that conse-
quentli/ the enemy ivill not be able to land in force at any
one point.

The day on which the attempt shall be made will be glo-
rious to Endand — will be dreadful to France. Death itself
shall walk upon the face of the waters. AVhat has hitherto
been done upon the sea, shall appear but the amusement of
children, when compared to (he dreadful carnage of that
eventful day — the floating carcasses of slaughtered myriads,
thrown back on their own shores, shall be the mute harbin-
gers of their compatriots' fate.

With a firm reliance on the continuance of the favour of
Divine Providence to this happy country, from the justice
of its cause; and depending on the high-minded spirit of
Britons, on the skill of our seamen, on the valour of our
soldiers, and on the ardent patriotism of all, I as confidently
look forward to the happy issue of this important conflict, as
I do to the accomplishment of any one thing which appears
certain, but which has not yet taken place.

On the fate of this enterprise appears also to hang that of
Bonaparte himself, for if it does not succeed, it will be iiis
LAST ; nor can I help considering its discomfiture as the first
great step to hurl that tyrant from his tottering throne.

These, Sir, are the opinions of

Nearchus.

333 APPENDIX.

No. V.

Hislorical Memorandum on the Red Flag.

To Iho Publislier of Steel's Navy List.
Sir,

Your observations on the " revival of the Red Flag;," in
your list for December last, did not seem to me to be founded
on fact; but I waited until the one for this month made its
appearance, to see if you had corrected your mistake. You
do, indeed, in this letter say, " by desire of a correspondent,
we again repeat, that the red flag was hoisted at the main, by
the admiral of the fleet, prior to the union of the kingdoms
of England and Scotland." The historical date is here cor-
rect ; but you do not repeat the assertion, for in your List of
the preceding month, you informed us that " the red flag had
given way to that of the union, in consequence of the union
of the two crowns, in the person of James I. in 1603."

Now the change in the flag borne by the admiral of the
fleet did not take place till the reign of the last of the Stuarts,
in the eighteenth century. Sir Cloudesley Shovel was the
last English admiral who displayed the red flag at the main,
as the symbol of the admiral of the fleet's presence : he
perished by shipwreck, returning from the Mediterranean to
England, in the very year of the Union, that is, in 1707.

In making these observations. Sir, I have no other motive
than that of wishing to point out the real cause for thus
changing what was generally the emblem of the senior
admiral of his Majesty's royal navy, and, with your permis-
sion, will add the following particulars.

On the union of the kingdoms of England and Scotland,
in the reign of Queen Atme, the St. Gieorge's cross, formerly
worn by the ships of the former, and the St. Andrew's cross
of the latter, were united in the upper dexter quarter, on

APPENDIX. 333

either of the fields common to each nation — red, white, and
blue.

The admirals of the British navy, at that time, did not
exceed nine in number; their respective ranks \\as indicated
by a flag of one of these colours at either mast head ; the
red always senior, and the blue junior, whilst the admiral of
the fleet's former red flag was sui)stituted by the union jack.
Thus, the absurd story of its having been stolen by a Dutch
boy, from a ship in the Downs, is set at nought.

The rapid growth and importance of the royal navy, after
the union of the two kingdoms, requiring for its guidance
more admirals than nine, they became increased to a hun-
dred and forty-two. The recent revival then of the red flag
only gives to admirals the privilege of wearing a flag of each
colour at the main, instead of being restricted to the white
and the blue, leaving, as formerly, the fore and mizen masts
to the vice and rear admirals. 1 trust, however, that it wiU
last as long as does our country, a nautical monument of the
brilliant battle of Trafalgar.

The union still remains the flag of the admiral of the fleet,
who, with only three exceptions, has, during the last fifty
years, always been the senior admiral in the service. One
of these exceptions was Lord Anson, so appointed over
the head of Sir A\'illiam Rowley, who, however, reached
the same station on his lordship's death in 1762. Ano-
ther instance was that of Lord Hawke, when he stepped
over Admiral Osborne, who resigned in consequence, but
was granted a pension of twelve hundred pounds per annum.
The third case was of a more extraordinary nature, for
there were, in fact, two admirals of the fleet. This occurred
in the last war, when that good and immortal man, who,
when a Lord of the Admiralty, refused to sign the death-
warrant of the sacrificed i>yng, was the senior flag officer on
the list, but who, from bodily infirmity, was incapable of ac-
tive duties. His Majesty, on that occasion, authorized Lord

334 APPENDIX.

Howe, though only the fifth in rank after the venerable
Forbes, to wear the union jack, the proud distinction of the
admiral of the fleet.

I am, Sir, &c.

BUNTIN.

16thJafiuary, 1806.

No. VI.

Captain Beaver to Vice-Admiral the Honourable Sir Alexan-
der CocHRASF., K.B.,ddailing the occurrences mentioned in
pp. 174 to 177.

His Majesty's ship, Acasta,

La Guira,l'Jth of July, 1808.

Sir,

Having sailed from Barbadoes on the evening of the 9th
instant, I anchored at dark on the 11th, off Pampatar,
where, having the next morning procured a })ilot and landed
five Spaniards, I proceeded to Cumana, off which place I
arrived in the forenoon of the 13th; and, having seen the
Governor, delivered to him your despatches, procured ano-
ther pilot, and landed eighty-two Spaniards. 1 sailed at five
in the evening for La Guira.

The latter port I made on the morning of the 15th, and
while standing in for the shore, with the cartel flag flying, I
observed a brig under French colours just coming to an
anchor ; she had arrived the preceding night, from Cayenne,
with despatches from Bayonne, and had anchored about two
miles below the town, to which she was now removing, 1
was never nearer than five miles to her, and could not have
thrown a shot over her, before she was close under the
Spanish batteries ; therefore, charged as I was with a pacific
mission, I attempted not to chace, suffering her rather to

APPENDIX. 330

enter the port unmolested, than do any thing which might
at all derange the new aspect of afl'airs. iiui I claimed
her of the Spanish government, as you will jierceive by my
letter numbered 1.

Having stood close in to the town, and sent an oflicer in a
boat under a flag of truce, with my letters to the Conmian-
dant of La (juira, and to the Captain-CJeneral of Vene/.uela,
he was met by another boat, who took them from him, and
we stood out to sea.

The next morning (the 16th) a white flag being hoisted
on shore, I anchored close under the town, and having left
orders w ith my first lieutenant, to be in constant preparation
for battle, to be ready to cut or slip, and to act ofi'ensively
against whoe\er might be the aggressor; to sufTer no com-
munication whatever with either vessels or the shore, until
my return, and at all events to chace and seize the French
brig, if she attempted to go to sea; 1 started ofT for the
Caraccas.

Just before I set out on the journey, the Captain of the
French brig returned, exceedingly displeased (I was tohl),
having been publicly insulted in the capital.

About three o'clock I arrived at the city, and presented
your despatches to the Captain-general, who received me
very coldly, or rather uncivilly, observing that the hour was
very inconvenient to him or to me, and that as 1 had not
dined, I had better go and get some dinner, and return to
him in a couple of hours. I\ly reception was not, certainlj ,
what was due to me from my rank and mission ; I was not
even asked to sit down, nor could the meanest cfTicer have
been treated with more neglect.

On entering the city, I had observed a great eflerxescence
among the people, an undulation (if I may so express my-
self) which either precedes or follows a popular commotion ;
and, as 1 entered the hotel, I was surrounded by inhabi-
tants of almost every class, all of them clamorous for news.

336 APPENDIX.

The French captain, Avho arrived yesterday morning,
brought intelligence of" every thing which had taken place
in Spain, in favour of France, announced the accession of
Joseph Napoleon to the Spanish throne, and conveyed orders
to the Governor from the French Emperor. The town was
immediately in arms. Ten thousand of its inhabitants sur-
rounded the residence of the Captain-general, demanding
the proclamation of Ferdinand the Seventh, as their King,
which he promised to do the next day; but this would not
satisfy them. They proclaimed him in form, by heralds,
throughout the city that same evening, and placed his por-
trait, illuminated, in the gallery of the Town-house.

The French were first publicly insulted in the coffee-
house, whence they were obliged to withdraw. The captain
left the Caraccas privately, about eight o'clock that night,
escorted by a detachment of soldiers, and so saved his life ;
for about ten o'clock his person was demanded of the Gover-
nor, by the populace, and when they learned that he was
gone, three hundred followed him on the road to put him to
death.

Coldly received by the Governor, I was, on the contrary,
surrounded by all the respectable people of the city, the
military officers included, and hailed as their deliverer.
The news which 1 gave them from Cadiz was devoured with
avidity, and produced enthusiastic shouts of gratitude to
England.

Returning to the Captain-general about five o'clock, the
first thing I demanded was, the delivery to me of the French
corvette, or at least the permission to take possession of her
in the roads. At the same time, I told him that, if she was
not in the hands of the Spaniards on my return, I should
take her myself. He rejjlicd that he would send orders to
the Commandant of La Guira to fire upon me if I did ; to
which I simply re[)lied, that the consequence would fall
upon him j and I further told him, that I considered his

APPENDIX. 337

reception of me as rather that of an enemy, than of a friend
he having treated the French captain with greater distinc-
tion, though he knew that Spain was at war with France,
He repUed that Spain had not commenced hostilities with
France ; upon which I asked him what he considered as
war, if the captivity of two of his kings, and the taking pos-
session of their capital, was not to be so considered!-^ He
only said that he knew nothing of it from the Spanish
government, and that what your despatches informed him
of he could not consider as official. Feeling indignant at
the suspicion entertained, though not openly avowed by him,
that my despatches were mere fabrications, I expatiated
with considerable warmth on the folly and the injustice of
such surmises, and in language so strong, that the inter-
preter frequently hesitated before he would translate it ; I
insisted, however, that this should be literally done.

The translation of your despatches not being finished that
evening, I was promised an answer on the subject of the
brig at eight o'clock the. next morning. Anxious to get
back to my ship, I had intended to have left the Caraccas at
daylight, but this promise, added to the consideration that,
in the present perturbed state of the public mind, 1 might
render essential service to my country by remaining in the
city, induced me to delay ray departure.

About eight o'clock in the evening I returned to my
hotel, which was still as crowded as before. The people
having had time to reflect on the contradictory reports (for
reports only had transpired to them) brought by the French-
man and myself, they were greatly puzzled, and it was my
employment, till near midnight, to relate events, explain
circumstances, answer questions, dissipate the doubts of some,
and confirm the wavering opinions of others, as to the truth
of the intelligence which I had communicated to them.
The general objection to the absolute belief of all 1 had
asserted being summed up in these words : "If your ad-

z

338 APPENDIX.

miral from Cadiz could find time to transmit to us this
intelligence, how happens it that we hear nothing from our
own government, the Provisional Junta? Why did they not
write also ?" — To all which 1 could only reply, that the Eng-
lish admiral would write despatches in three minutes, which
might take the junta three days to decide upon. That the
vessel which brought them had a remarkably quick passage,
and that I doubted not but Spanish vessels with the proper
accounts were already on their way ; and probably were
near to La Guira.

Imagination was so much on the rack, as even to suggest
that the French brig was in reality an English one, sent in
as a means of introducing myself to the capital ; that I had
actually brought no intelligence, and that I was, in fact, a
spy ! These various rumours, however, did not prevent my
being able to ascertain, that the English party were infi-
nitely the most numerous and respectable, and that it was
dangerous to be suspected even to be of the French. Before
I left, the inhabitants, who had formerly indulged them-
selves in the custom of furnishing their rooms with the por-
traits of Bonaparte and his generals, burnt all those of the
former, and turned to the wall the faces of the latter.

This evening the Captain-general sent an order to the
French troops here (about forty of one hundred that came a
year ago from Guadaloupe) to remain in their quarters,
since, if they appeared in the streets, he could not be respon-
sible for their security.

At eight o'clock on the following morning, I again visited
the Captain-general; a junta extraordinary had been con-
vened, and he requested that I would not depart till they
broke up, v.hen I should have an answer to my letter, and
that to your despatches should be forwarded to me in a day
or two. For four long hours, that is, until twelve o"'clock, I
waited under a Piazza, amongst the clerks and domestics, for
the result of this extraordinary meeting, when his Excellency

APPENDIX. 339

the Captain-general informed me that they had decided on —
nuthimj ! but that I should have their decision that evening.

Vexed, fatigued, harassed, and disappointed, that is, with
the Ca[)tain-general only, I took my leave of him, and (quit-
ted Caraccas about two o'clock.

During the twenty-three hours that I remained in the
city, I was neither an idle spectator nor inattentive observer
of the general movements, or opinions of its inhabitants ;
and, as far as so short a residence could enable me to
form any judgment, I may venture to pronounce that they
are extremely loyal and passionately attached to the Spa-
nish branch of the Bourbon family ; and so long as there
is any probability of Ferdinand the Seventh returning to
Madrid, they will remain attached to their parent country.
But if that event does not soon occur, I think I can with equal
certainty affirm, that they will declare themselves inde-
pendent, in which, or in both cases indeed, but more par-
ticularly in the latter, they look to an alliance with England,
as the only means of securing their freedom, and encourag-
ing their commerce.

Conceiving it of importance to forward to you a rela-
tion of what has already passed, I dispatch Le Serpent
with this communication, meaning to remain here, either
at anchor, or under weigh, according to circumstances,
until I receive your further orders ; I am the more in-
clined to do this, because I think some change will take
place in the actual government of this province, ere many
days have elapsed ; for the palsied hands of the present
chief are ill calculated to hold its reins, in the present
crisis. In such a moment, I conceive that an English
frigate being on the spot may render essential service,
both to England and Venezuela. Had I any authority
so to do, I should not despair of being able to conclude a
treaty of commerce with this province, that would be
highly beneficial to both the contracting parties.

340 APPENDIX.

I beg of you, Sir, to make allowance for the haste in
which I have been obliged to write this letter, unwilling
to detain the vessel which carries it, while one more cor-
rect might have been penned.

I have the honour to be, &c.

P. Beaver.

To the Hon, Sir A, Cochrane, K.B. <^c. Sfc.

FINIS.

London : Printed by W. Clowes, Stamford Street.

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES

THE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY

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